Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.
A Broken Heart
Chapter 62: I am NOT jealous!
Previously
"You are really special, you know that right..."Drake said, his arms still wrapped around her.
"Yeah...I guess...but the only thing I did was tell Rhonda off and your friends too...I didn't-
She was silenced by another kiss on the cheek.
"Don't do that...don't sell yourself short...everything that has happened to me is because of you and I can never thank you enough..."Drake said in a way that actually made Helga feel something warm and fuzzy.
She smiled.
"Aw, come here ya big lug..."Helga said as she returned his hug.
He hugged her tighter.
Helga smiled as she and Drake shared a kiss in the privacy of the closet.
Unknown to them, the door was slightly ajar and one student, who had been alerted by the noise, heard their conversation and saw, through the crack, the kiss.
It made him frown deeply before he marched away in anger.
Anger...and jealousy.
Oh boy.
Arnold was not having a good day at school at all.
No, scratch that.
He was having a TERRIBLE day.
He could still remember his fight with Helga yesterday.
He had come here, hoping to find Helga and try to convince her again to dump Drake but she wasn't on the bus and he didn't see her when he arrived.
When he did see her, she walked hand in hand with Drake.
He needed to speak to her but he couldn't with Drake around, so he decided to just wait until she was alone and then talk to her.
Unfortunately for him, Helga stuck with Drake all morning, sitting next to him in class and being practically attached to him whenever they were in the hall.
It was sickening to see.
Sickening and concerning too.
"I still don't see why she still is around him...it's almost like she is doing this to worry me on purpose...'Arnold thought, still frustrated.
After a grueling, agonizing morning of watching Helga holding Drake's hand before, during and after class, it was soon time for free period.
He tried to follow them but soon the entire hall was swarming with kids, and he lost them.
"No! Where are they? I have to speak with her...'Arnold thought as he pushed through the crowds, but to his surprise, everyone seems to be buzzing about the newspaper again.
"Hey Arnold...did you see the paper?..."Eugene said as he walked to him, only to trip over his own two feet.
Arnold, being Arnold, helped him up and sighed.
"Eugene, have you seen Helga?..."Arnold asked the class jink.
"I think she's with Drake right now..."Eugene said, and Arnold frowned when he heard that name.
"That's also what I want to talk to you about...'Eugene said.
"Not now, Eugene..I have to go find Helga...I need to speak with her..'Arnold said.
"But the newspaper is talking about Drake again..."Eugene said.
That caught Arnold's attention.
"What?...'Arnold said as he quickly snatched the paper and his eyes widen when he saw what was on the cover.
"WHAT?!..."Arnold shouted at the top of his lungs, getting everyone's attention but he didn't care.
He was more concern over the fact that the newspaper had just printed out a retraction, where the "anonymous" reporter, Rhonda Wellington Llyod issued a formal apology, saying that the story was wrong.
"What...the...heck?..."He thought, stunned.
Everyone was reading the retraction and to Arnold's horror, everyone suddenly liked Drake again, as if by magic.
"Has the entire world gone crazy?...'Arnold muttered, still unable to believe everyone's attitude.
Just yesterday, everyone was afraid of Drake for his actions and wanted nothing to do with him, but now, thanks to Rhonda's retraction, they suddenly like him again.
It's mind boggling to say the least.
The blonde boy walked through the halls, still stunned and confused over the entire thing.
He did snap out of it when he heard something in a nearby closet.
"You are really special, you know that right...."A voice said.
A voice that made Arnold feel a strange form of anger that he is not familiar with.
"That voice...Drake?...'Arnold whispered.
He then heard another voice that made his heart jump out of his body.
"Yeah...I guess...but the only thing I did was tell Rhonda off and your friends too...'A feminine voice said and Arnold instantly recognized it.
"Helga?!...'Arnold squeaked out.
He realized that they must be in the closet...which happens to be slightly open for some reason.
He realized that Drake had Helga inside the janitor's closet...and it didn't sit well with him, at all.
The next bit was a little hard to hear...they must be whispering or something and it made Arnold paranoid.
"What are they doing in there?...'Arnold said, he was about to open the door, only to catch something from the crack that made him freeze in place
"Aw, come here ya big lug..."Helga said as she was hugging Drake.
Then Arnold saw something that he wish he could unseen...
She and Drake shared a kiss in the privacy of the closet.
As the kiss continued, Arnold felt a strange feeling swell inside him. He wanted to go in there, to break them up and to tell Helga to stop but he was frozen in place.
When he finally did snap out of it, he found himself walking away, still feeling a strange feeling swell inside him.
He didn't know what this feeling is but one thing is for sure, he doesn't like it.
He doesn't like it at all!
Later
During lunch time
After the thing with the newspaper, Arnold tried to ask Rhonda about it, asking why she took back her story.
She only told him that she was wrong to put in someone's story without "doing real research", whatever that means.
Normally, Arnold would be proud that one of his friends would try to right a wrong but this time, he was just flabbergasted to say the least.
Arnold soon sat as his usual table, but he could still see Helga having lunch with Drake. They were still holding hands too.
The sight of it made him feel sick, for some reason.
"I can't believe that Helga is letting him do this..."Arnold thought, feeling that strange feeling from earlier act up again.
How could Helga let him hold her hand?! How could she let him have lunch with her?! How could she let him keep carrying her books, holding doors for her or just look at her with those big, googly eyes?! And, how could she let him kiss her again?!
He had already seen them kiss before and he was just astounded that she would let him do it again...does she really not know that he is no good for her?
And how could she let herself accept his actions?!
Her words in the closet, just before the kiss echoed through his mind...
"Aw, come here ya big lug~..."
The only other time he heard those words was when-
Arnold realized where his thoughts were leading and shook away from him, instead opting to just glare at the "happy couple".
Across him was Stinky, since Gerald was having lunch with Phoebe again.
Stinky was also looking in the direction of the "happy couple", mostly since Drake's issue was still a hot topic to talk about, it seems.
"Well, garsh...I am sure glad that nasty business about Drake is all over with...I mean, Drake really hasn't done anything rotten to us directly anyway..and the girls do seem to like him...especially, Helga..."Stinky said, unknowingly making Arnold get even more angry and agitated as he kept speaking.
"I mean...sure, Helga might not be the prettiest girl at school but she has been a lot nicer this year and she really seems to like Drake a whole lot. Look at her glow!..."Stinky pointed out, agitating Arnold even more...
"Stinky, shut up. ..."Arnold said through gritted teeth.
"What'd I say?..."Stinky asked in a clueless tone.
Arnold said nothing as he walked away, having lost his appetite.
He left the cafeteria and soon found himself sitting by the stairs...feeling worse by this whole thing.
"What's wrong with me?...'Arnold thought, feeling so many horrible things right now.
Anger, disgust, suspicion, confusion and frustration...
A lot of frustration...
He was REALLY frustrated.
Frustrated and confused over the fact that Helga still wants to be with Drake, that she is flat out ignoring his every warning.
Just yesterday, he spoke to his grandpa, trying to find some sort of guidance here...but the conversation went to a very STRANGE direction.
FLASHBACK
Yesterday
"This is so confusing..."Arnold thought with a sigh, getting a headache.
He had to get advice from the only person he could think of.
"I just hope Grandpa is available..."Arnold whispered as he went inside, hoping that his grandfather will say something useful.
He's truly lost here.
The football headed boy soon opened the door, avoiding the usual stampede of animals that came rushing out.
Once inside, he was greeted by his parents.
"Hey son, how was school?..."His dad, Miles asked.
Arnold didn't want to lie to his parents, he can't say that he had a good day since that wasn't true but he also didn't want to worry them.
"Well, we had a pop quiz in math today..."Arnold said, which technically wasn't a lie.
"Oh, I hated those as a kid..."Miles said and Stella smiled.
"I know what can cheer you up, how about we go get some ice cream...'Stella suggested.
Normally, Arnold would have jumped at the chance to spend as much time as possible with his parents but right now, he has a problem and he didn't want to worry them.
"Maybe later..." Arnold said, as he really needed to discuss his problem.
"Um...have you guys seen grandpa?..."Arnold asked.
"He's in the bathroom..or his "office"..."Miles said with air quotes.
Arnold nodded as he went upstairs and soon saw his grandfather coming out of said "office".
"Don't go in there, short-man..."Phil said.
"I won't..."Arnold said as he sighed, which his grandfather nodded.
"What's the matter, short-man? Something troubling you?..."Phil asked.
"Yes..."Arnold said.
He was about to talk, only for his elder to wave his hand to silence him.
"Wait! Wait! Don't tell me, school bully wants to beat you up?..." Phil asked.
"No..." Arnold said, shaking his head.
"Another wacky childhood misadventure?..." He suggested.
Arnold shook his head once more in a way to say "No".
"Girl trouble?..." He asked and Arnold sighed.
"Something like that..."Arnold sighed.
Phil raised a brow at that.
"It wouldn't have anything to do with your your angry friend with the big pink bow and one eyebrow?.."Phil asked and Arnold nodded.
"What happen? ..."Phil asked in concern.
"It's a long story, grandpa..."Arnold admitted.
He and his grandfather soon went up to his bedroom in order to talk in private. Arnold explained his issues with Drake, that he is Helga's boyfriend, a total delinquent who did a lot of bad stuff but Helga refuses to break up with him.
"I'm serious, grandpa! Even after I showed her proof of the awful things that Drake did, she still wants to date him! I just can't believe it!..."Arnold said in exasperation, voicing his frustration.
"Let me see if I have everything in order, short-man..."Phil said suddenly.
"You said that you have been having trouble with your loud friend with the pink bow and the one eye brow..."Phil started.
"Her name is Helga, grandpa...'Arnold said.
"Right, right...you said that after San Lorenzo, you both decided to become friends, but lately, she's gotten all sweet on some new boy and that she hasn't had any time for you..."Phil said and Arnold nodded.
"Uh-huh...His name is Drake Sanchez and he's a total jerk!..."Arnold said in an angry way that surprised his grandfather.
"I see...you say that he's scum, a trouble maker but your friend with the one eyebrow is still sweet on him...is that, it?..."Phil asked and Arnold nodded, still looking upset.
"So she has a boyfriend now? I guess that explains why she hasn't come over to see him as she did in the past..."Phil thought in mild disappointment.
He always knew that Helga had a crush on his grandson...or she used to...
What happened?
"I just can't understand this! How could she still want to be with him?!..."Arnold said as he paced around the room, in front of his grandfather.
"Well, maybe the kid really has changed...I mean, some of my old friends did some pretty nasty things when they were young and they still became decent people..."Phil suggested.
"Oh come on, grandpa! The guy was in a gang and he sent someone to the hospital! But Helga still sees him as boyfriend material!.."Arnold said as he kept pacing around ,still understanding.
"Well, some girls like the bad boys...it's sad but true..."Phil joked but Arnold still looked upset.
"Grandpa, no jokes! This is serious!..."Arnold shouted suddenly, getting worked up now.
"I'm suppose to be her friend but she won't even listen to me...Heck, I hardly get to speak two words to her anymore! She just wants to spend all of her time with Drake! She doesn't want to see how dangerous he is, all she see is a cute, funny guy that she wants to kiss! I can't stand seeing them together anymore. It's driving me crazy!..."He let out, only to stop when he realized what he let out.
His grandfather heard this and looked interested for some reason.
"Hmmm..."Phil let out, getting his grandson's attention.
"Short-man...go with me here...are you sure that maybe the reason you are so upset isn't because you are worried that something might happen to your friend...do you think that it's possible that maybe..."Phil paused as a he raised a brow in an interested sort of way.
"What?...'Arnold questioned, not liking that look he was sending.
"Maybe...just maybe...you might be just a little..."Phil paused again, a teasing smile forming on his face.
"A little what?...'Arnold questioned.
"Jealous..."Phil said and Arnold's eyes widen in shock upon hearing that.
End Of Flashback
Arnold shook his head, shaking the memory away.
He remembered that he spent the next half hour, trying to explain to his nosy grandfather that he was NOT jealous, he was just concern for his friend but his grandfather didn't seem to believe him at the end of it, judging by the grin he sent it.
It made Arnold upset for more reasons than one.
He was NOT jealous about Helga and Drake. He was just worried about her, that's it!
Arnold sighed, feeling so many things right now, but he is NOT jealous.
He is NOT!
I mean, sure...he cares about Helga but she is suppose to be his friend now. He doesn't like her that away...
He just doesn't...right?
"I...I mean...I know that I care about her, but not in that way..."Arnold thought to himself.
He doesn't know what is happening to him but all he did know that whenever he so much as think of Helga being with Drake, he feels awful.
Awful, but NOT jealous!
He is just not jealous! He's WORRIED!
There is a BIG difference!
Right?
Suddenly, the football headed boy got a text message on his cell phone and he frowned when he saw who it was from.
Voz
Arnold hasn't heard from him since he gave him those photos...
"Voz..."He whispered as he read the text message.
"Things haven't gone as expected, but do not worry...we will convince your friend about Drake..it's for her own good..."Voz said as he then sent another text, with more details and instructions.
Arnold read then before turning his phone off.
Looks like he will have plans this afternoon, after all.
He is NOT jealous but...
He was going to save Helga from Drake, one way or the other...
-To be continued-
Next time on A Broken Heart
Voz's Instructions
A/N(1): Uh Oh...Voz is back...
A/N(2): I dedicate this chapter to my friends, my family and my love for God :)
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewer:
Kryten:You can say that again...
Anonymous Latino: Looks like something else has happened.
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)
