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 72: Innocent Or Guilty?

Previously

"You think that by getting Helga in trouble with me, she'll come running to you! Well, I got news for you, Shortman! She's not dumping me, so your plan failed!..."Drake shouted and the football headed boy was getting more agitated than he already was.

"I already told you that I didn't speak to Mr. Pataki!...'Arnold yelled back.

Drake got angrier, since to him, Arnold wouldn't admit to his 'crime'.

Before things could escalate further, someone managed to find the two of them before their conversation could become potentially violent...on either side.

"There you are...That person said as they ran to them.

Drake and Arnold turned to see who that person is.

It's Helga.

When she appeared, Arnold smiled.

"Helga!..."Arnold said, happy to see her.


Earlier

"Hey! Anything you got to say to my best friend, you can say in front of me...'Gerald said.

"This doesn't concern you, Gerald...'Drake said.

"I think it-

Before Gerald could finish, Arnold placed his hand on his shoulder, telling him to stop.

"I've got this Gerald..."Arnold said in a strange tone, one that disturbed his friend.

Arnold and Drake locked glares but Arnold nodded.

"Lead the way..."He said

Gerald watched his best friend leaving with Drake Sanchez, the one guy who can't stand him and vice verse.

"Oh man, does he know that Arnold tried to film him the other day?...'Gerald thought worryingly.

He didn't like the looks of this.

He knew that Arnold is in a bad place right now and Drake looked really ticked. He needed to stop those two before things got ugly.

Gerald Johanssen was busy searching the halls, looking for the one person who could stop Arnold or Drake from...whatever it is that either plans on doing.

"I know that Arnold can be a bold kid but this is just plain crazy!..."Gerald thought as he continued to search.

He had to find the one person who could stop those guys before Drake or Arnold did something truly regrettable.

Sure, normally Arnold wouldn't hurt a fly, but with how grumpy his best friend has been lately, he wasn't sure what will happen and he doesn't really want to find out. And Drake, despite having "changed" from what Phoebe told him, doesn't look like the kind of guy you should push his buttons.

"Okay, Gerald...just find Helga before any potential homicide happens..." Gerald thought, running through the halls of PS 118 looking for Helga G. Pataki.

As he ran the corner, he-

"AH!"

"Ouf!"

He ended up bumping into a familiar combination of blonde and pink that could knock Wolfgang flat on his back, if provoked enough.

It was none other than Helga G. Pataki, who was now on the floor and looking annoyed.

"Watch it, Tall Hair Boy!..."Helga barked in annoyance.

"Helga...I have been looking everything for you..."Gerald said, for once actually relieved to see her.

"Whatever it is, can it! I'm looking for my boyfriend..."Helga said to the tall haired boy as she got up.

"Then unless you want your next date to be in prison, you gotta stop him and Arnold from killing each other..."Gerald said.

"Wait, what?..."Helga said, looking shocked.

"Drake just came by and said he has a bone to pick with Arnold, and he looked pretty ticked.."Gerald said.

Helga looked at him seriously.

"Where did they go?..."Helga demanded.

"I saw them going outside...by the dumpster, I think..."Gerald said and Helga started running.

"I've got this..."Helga said as she continued running.

"Hey!..."Gerald said, upset that he was once again ditched.

"What is with everyone keeping me out of the loop?..."Gerald muttered in annoyance.


With Helga

As soon as Gerald told her that Arnold and Drake were by the dumpsters, Helga ran as fast as she possibly could to that location, avoiding every obstacle and ignoring every hall monitor until she was now outside, on the now empty playground.

She was trying to find her lovable, if somewhat reckless boyfriend and her former love before any more misunderstandings happened.

She soon managed to spot them by the dumpster.

Just as Gerald said they'd be.

"There you are...Helga said as she ran to them, both of them looking surprised, and in Arnold's case, looking happy for some reason.

"Helga!..."Arnold said, happy to see her.

Drake saw this and practically snarled right there.

"Just in time, babe! I was just about to get the little fink to fess up..."Drake said, only for Helga to send him a scolding look.

"What?..."He asked in a clueless tone, wondering why she is giving him that look, instead of giving it to Arnold.

"I told you not to do anything extreme, Drake..." Helga chided him.

"I was just gonna get him to talk! I swear I wasn't gonna hurt him!..." Drake insisted.

"That much..". He thought.

"Seriously, Helga? What is going on here?..."Arnold asked and Helga sighed.

"Look, Arnold...My dad told us that a blonde boy went to him and told him about Drake being a delinquent and now my dad is being an even bigger hard case than usual...'Helga said.

"Helga, I didn't speak with your dad..."Arnold said.

He wasn't lying.

Big Bob Pataki was not someone who'd listen to Arnold or someone who Arnold tried to be in the presence of, especially after he protested his second store and stopping Sheck from turning his neighborhood into a giant mall, which, unknown at the time and unknown to Arnold, would be the start of the fall of his beeper empire. If anything, Big Bob would probably try to kill him if he ever found out Arnold's role in his class (and Olga) getting kidnapped by La Sombra and his river pirates

"He's lying!..."Drake shouted.

Before Arnold could once again claim his innocence, Helga spoke first, saying something that shocked one of them and pleased the other.

"No, he's not..."Helga said.

"What?..."Drake asked.

"The old Football Head is a lousy liar, I can always tell..."Helga said.

"Exact- wait... what?..." Arnold said, sounding somewhat insulted.

Drake glared to Arnold.

"Not buying it, how can you tell?..." He asked while Helga crossed her arms.

She looked at Arnold. She risked looking into his green eyes. After a moment of silence, she turned to her boyfriend.

"I just can. Whoever tattled on us, it wasn't him.." She said.

Arnold beamed a little at Helga's defense, but Drake was not having any of the same positive feelings. Especially when Arnold got what could be considered a smug look on his face as he crossed his arms.

"See?..." Arnold said and Drake gritted his teeth even more at that remark.

"Not now, you little loud mouth!..." Drake yelled but Helga got in between the two of them, a mad look on her face.

"Stop yelling at him. Drake! He's not the guy and I'm still with you..." Helga said as she held his hand to emphasize her point.

"But you need to listen to me. Arnold couldn't have done it. Besides, he's never snitched on anyone before, not even when Harold, Sid and Stinky mooned the principal and he got blamed for it. He was even going to have a mark on his permanent record..."Helga said as she jerked her thumb in his direction.

"Harold and the boys would admit anyways..." Arnold commented like it was nothing.

Drake looked confused by this whole thing, but it was obvious that he still didn't believe in Arnold's claim of innocence.

Before anything nasty could happen, Mr. Simmons soon out and saw this.

"Oh, children..is everything alright here?...'Mr. Simmons asked.

Drake and Arnold said nothing, while Helga just spoke up.

"Everything is just fine, Mr. Simmons...right, boys?..."Helga said through gritted teeth.

Drake hated this but nodded, not wanting to get in trouble. Arnold just said nothing.

"I see, well, you better come in, the bell is about to ring ..."Mr. Simmons said before leaving.

Helga, Arnold and Drake all reentered the school building.

Just in time for the bell to ring, signalling that they had to get to class and soon.

"We'll settle this later. Just know that I've got my eye on you!..." Drake poked Arnold in the nose. And with that, he left.

"Drake..." Helga muttered in exasperation.

"It wasn't me, Helga...Honest..."Arnold said.

Helga saw the look on his face and sighed. Helga felt sorry for the boy.

"I know..."She said.

She would try to calm down Drake later.

"See you later, Arnold..."Helga said before leaving.

Arnold saw her leaving and frowned.

"Helga...wait..."He reached out but she was already gone.

Just as always.


With Helga and Drake

Helga rejoined Drake, who still looked peeved.

"Drake?" She asked.

"You seriously think he's telling the truth?..." He asked, not really looking at her.

"Uh... yeah..." She stated.

He still didn't look satisfied. Helga sighed.

"Drake, Arnold told us he didn't tell Bob. Besides,all he said was that it was a blonde kid..."Helga said.

"A blonde boy, you mean...'Drake corrected and Helga rolled her eyes.

"I don't believe him...I still think he told your dad..."Drake said with his arms crossed.

"He says he didn't. Arnold is many things, some irritatingly noble...some not so much, but he's not a liar and he's not a rat..."Helga said.

Drake clenched his fist.

"How would you know? Since I've known you, you've spent as little time with the guy as possible..."Drake said.

Helga's eye's flashed with pain for a second Drake almost missed it.

"That doesn't mean I don't know him, I have known Arnold since pre school and he's never once done anything like that..."Helga said.

"Why are you defending him? Are you siding with him?..."Drake accused.

Helga returned his glare.

"I don't like the accusation..."Helga said, her own tone rising just a bit.

Drake was still glaring, and Helga sighed, not wanting to get into a fight with him about this.

"I'm not taking anyone's side, you moron! I'm just keeping you from fighting with someone for something he didn't do..."Helga said as she grabbed Drake by the shoulders.

Drake was fuming.

"How? Look...I get it that you knew him for-"

"Exactly!..." Helga stopped Drake.

"I've known Arnold for years. He hasn't lied then and he doesn't lie now! Criminy! Why can't you take my word?..."Helga demanded.

"Because I don't trust him! How can I when I know he clearly has something against me?..." Drake said, looking even worse now.

He doesn't trust Arnold Shortman as far as he can throw him. He doesn't get why everyone seems to think he is some sort of pre teen saint. He is nothing more than a judgemental busybody who has designs on his girlfriend.

Who in the right mind would trust a guy like that?!

Helga sighed as she placed a hand of his shoulder.

"Drake, Arnold isn't the kind of guy to do this..."She said, but Drake shrugged it off.

"Then who is?..." Drake asked.

Helga had no answer.

"Thought so! I'm telling you Helga, it's Arnold! Who else would speak to your dad?.."He said.

Drake was furious and rightly so, ever since his exposure on his past, things haven't been the same, even with Rhonda's, there were still some kids who didn't seemed to be completely nice without some form of fear or anger.

"Drake, my dad hates him as much as he hates you..."Helga pointed out.

"Wait, seriously?..."Drake questioned.

Bob Pataki hates Arnold?

Sure, he wasn't a fan of the guy but what's he do to get on that lunatics bad side? Date his daughter?

No, that was stupid. Besides, Arnold wouldn't hesitate to mention any pass romantic link to Helga just to bug him and he knew that Helga wouldn't keep something like that from him? It has to be something else.

"Yeah, he's never liked Arnold because the old Football Head's goody two shoes ways got in the way of his business more than once. And even more petty, just last year at the fifth grade parents day, he tried to get Arnold disqualified because he was an orphan who beat Bob with his 80 year old grandpa the previous year..."Helga said, still mad over what her dad tried to pull last year.

She truly was glad that she sabotaged him from behind the scenes that year too. It served him right.

"Seriously?...'Drake asked with a raised brow and his girlfriend nodded.

"Okay, whoever Arnold's grandpa is, needs to get a medal for taking down Helga's humongous brute of a father..."Drake thought, mildly impressed.

He did pause when he finally register a word.

"Wait? Orphan? What are you talking about? I've seen his parents before. Heck, the first time I saw them, I thought they were YOUR parents..." Drake said, thinking to the first soccer game and how they were cheering for and taping Helga with a video camera.

Helga sighed.

"Ever heard of the sleeping sickness?..." she asked

Drake remembered his mom mentioning it once before they moved. How it was a disease that put your body into a prolonged state of hibernation like something out of a fairy tale. His mom mentioned something about it affecting a remote civilization in the central Americas for nine years, including the doctors who tried to stop the sickness.

"Arnold's folks got infected with it and only awoke last summer. I helped spread the medicine that woke them up and they feel like I saved their lives or something and they almost want to adopt me into their family..."Helga explained.

"Okay, I guess that kind of explains Arnold's fixation with you...a bit..but it still doesn't make what he did right..."Drake said.

"I keep telling you that Arnold didn't squeal, he and I might not be..close...but I know that he wouldn't lie to me..."Helga said.

"Drake, if you don't trust him, at least trust me..."Helga said.

Drake was silent. He looked into her blue eyes and he could see her faith in that football headed boy that he despises. Drake sighed.

"Alright, say I believe your idea that Arnold didn't snitch on us. Then who did?..."He asked again.

"Besides Arnold, who'd hate my guts enough to do this?...'He thought.

"I don't know. Anyone who found out about your past or someone who still has ties to it..."Helga suggested

Drake tried to speak, but Helga's idea wasn't so far off.

"Could that be it?...'Drake thought.

He didn't think about that. He didn't think anyone would track him down. Heck, who would want to?

He has been clean for a long time now, ever since he was let out of military school.

He tried to think of potential squealers or anyone who'd have it out for him. With the exception of Arnold, the only people who are against him are all the way back in Boston and they don't have the means to come here just to ruin his life again.

Ironic, that after all this time getting away from his past, his past comes back to haunt him.

"Who blabbed?.."Drake thought.

"Drake? You okay?..." Helga waved a hand in front of his face.

Drake came to but shrugged, He didn't have an idea about anyone from his delinquent days.

Helga stepped closer to Drake, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, getting his attention. Once she got his attention, she placed a chaste kiss on his cheek, something she didn't usually initiate in public.

Once his attention was fully on her, not that it usually isn't, she spoke to him in a soft but serious way.

"Look, I don't know who ratted on us but I do know this, I like you and I don't care what my parents think!.."Helga said as she looked him in the eye.

"Face it Sanchez, you're stuck with me..."Helga teased.

Drake heard this and smiled.

"I think I can live with that...' Drake said with a smile as he placed a hand on Helga's shoulder.

Helga smirked.

"Well, part of that is listening to me, Drake. Especially when I am right..."Helga said confidently.

RING!

The bell rang again and Helga knew that they'd be late if they don't hurry.

"Well, come on. Let's get to class..."Helga said as she grabbed his hand and lead him before they got detention.

Drake was silent as they walked back to class.

He didn't know what to think.

But if Arnold didn't tattle on them...who did?

From the end of the hallway, a strange boy spied on the couple, a determined look visible in their narrowing eyes.

"Soon...very soon...."He whispered before he left the hall before anyone saw him and got suspicious.

-To be continued-

Next time on A Broken Heart

Obstacles


A/N(1): Special thanks to Anonymous Latino, BeConfuzzled Writer, 61394 and NeoMark for their help. You guys are the best ;)


A/N(2): Things are getting juicy! Remember, if anyone has questions or suggestions, feel free to PM me or leave it in a review.


REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewer:

Invader Johnny: Well, she didn't hurt him...physically, that is.

Giovy and Madi Anivar: I can't say who Voz is yet or who tattled on Helga and Drake but all will be answered in due time.

Rose Tiger: Uh-huh!


:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)