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 74: Overcoming...Sort Of
Previously
Olga soon found herself crying again, before she ran down the stairs, into and out of the beeper store, her hands covering her face as more tears fell down.
Her parents chased after her, no doubt to try to comfort her and later punish Helga for making her cry.
Helga heard the entire thing from the broom closet that she is inside and she sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Home sweet home, alright..."Helga muttered sarcastically, before taking a deep breath.
She never cared about what her parents or sister thought before and she doesn't care now. With the exception of her best friend Phoebe, the only person who truly cares about her opinions and feelings is Drake and she will not let him go.
He is all she truly has now.
Over a week has passed since Helga has return home and fall was on the verge of turning into winter soon.
Almost every day, Helga has been arguing with her parents for both her relationship with Drake and for upsetting Olga, whom Helga hasn't seen since their argument on the roof of the beeper store, where she told her the reality of things and she couldn't handle it.
Despite her dad still being a pain in her butt about Drake and his obsession with his beepers, Helga just stood her ground and tried to spend as much time away from the beeper store after school.
Fortunately for her, she had soccer practice as a good reason to stay away from home, as well as a good outlet for her ever growing frustration with her parents, who just can't understand the wonderful person Drake is.
Helga had just leaving the beeper store, ignoring her father's ranting the same thing he has been saying for over a week now.
"I AM SERIOUS LITTLE LADY, THAT DREW BOY IS A CRIMINAL IN THE MAKING AND YOU BETTER STOP THIS IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU!..."Bob yelled, despite her daughter ignoring him.
"For the millionth time, his name is Drake!...'She shouted, before she groaned.
She didn't want to waste so much of her energy so soon in the morning, on just yelling at her moronic blowhard of a father.
Heck, she officially stopped talking to them 3 days ago, since it took too much time and energy being wasted arguing with them.
"Just seven more years until I am 18 and out of here..."Helga thought as she turned the street corner, no longer seeing that stupid beeper store.
She would just have to suck it in until then...CRIMINY!
Meanwhile
While Helga was heading to her daily destination, another person was doing the exact same thing, with the intentions of seeing her.
It's Drake, who was just leaving his apartment.
"Bye mom...'Drake called before closing the door.
He was soon down the stairs and onto the sidewalk, wanting to get to the bus stop and await the arrival of his sweet and spunky girlfriend, and be prepared to cheer her up in case he needs to.
He was walking to the bus stop, really hoping that Helga's parents weren't bugging her again, like they did yesterday, and the day before that and so forth.
"Poor Helga..."Drake thought, feeling sorry that someone as amazing as her had to deal with parents like that.
Seriously, the apple fell really far from the tree in this case.
"Stupid Bob. Stupid...beepers. Who needs those anymore?..." Drake muttered.
He still didn't understand why anyone in the right mind would have a beeper store in this day and age, but as Helga's complains have told him, her dad clearly isn't in the right mind.
It made Drake like him even less, especially since his stupid is making Helga suffer, living in that lousy shop. His girl deserves way better than that.
He didn't like her parents. He didn't like how they treat her.
In fact, the only person who he didn't like as much, if not more is a certain football headed boy who, while quiet lately, is still having designs on his girlfriend.
He could feel it.
Arnold was the only one who really got under his skin. Drake didn't care what everyone else thought, that boy was no good to him.
He still didn't understand why Helga considered him a nice guy. Sure, he helped her out when they were little kids but that was years ago and all Arnold has done recently is try to break them up, claiming that he just cares about her.
"Hmpt! If Arnold cares about her so much,he'd have gotten Helga away from people like her parents..." Drake muttered hatefully, thinking about Arnold Shortman.
Why'd so many people like that blonde little weasel, anyway? Even Rhonda, the biggest snob at school likes him and holds him in high regards.
It was maddening to Drake.
He asked around and pretty much everyone had some nice story about Arnold. Saying how he stood up for them and helped them out, even humiliated himself for them in the process.
So Arnold was Ghandi for everyone who WASN'T dating Helga G. Pataki. It was driving him loco!
Drake found it totally infuriating that Arnold could be like the best friend anyone could ever have to anyone else in the world, but towards him, he treats him like an enemy.
And Drake knowing his REASONS only made it worse.
He is just jealous since he wants Helga.
"I don't care what that little weasel does, but Helga is MINE!...'Drake thought as he continued walking to school.
Drake saw a flash of blonde in his peripheral vision, fueled by anger, he turned around to see...someone who wasn't Arnold.
It was an overweight blonde kid with glasses and a hockey stick, talking to a girl with purple hair across the street.
Drake shook his head. Ever since he caught Arnold trying to spy on him with a video camera, he has been on edge, thinking that the boy was trying to violate his privacy once more.
"Get a hold of yourself, Sanchez! You're losing it!..." Drake said, as he kept walking.
He needed to calm down. Despite how things have turned out, Helga is still his girlfriend and he still has plenty of friends at his new school, people who are giving him a second chance.
He doesn't want to waste it.
Drake was on his street when he saw another flash of blonde. However, it belonged to some female middle-school student, who was no doubt on her way to school.
Drake sighed.
"Don't be paranoid, Sanchez..." Drake said, trying to calm himself down.
Blonde was a common hair color, though he thought Helga wore it best in his 1,000,000% biased opinion.
Speaking of Helga.
He saw her just turning the corner and he smiled, feeling his previous unpleasant feelings leave, just at the sight of her.
She really does have a strong effect on him.
"Helga..."Drake whispered happily.
With Helga
She had been still bitter about her early morning argument with her parents, especially her brute of a father. Thankfully, she soon saw something to make her forget about her father's stupidity.
One of the only, very FEW people in the world who Helga legitimately respected and who's opinion actually mattered to her.
"Hey..."Drake greeted from the bus stop.
"Hey.."Helga sighed.
"I know that look...let me guess, your dad..."Drake said.
"He was just yelling at me about you again, but I mostly tried tuning him out..."Helga sighed.
Drake sent her a sympathetic look, before placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Hang in there, you're a tough girl and smarter than he'll ever be..."Drake said and Helga smiled.
"He's so sweet..."Helga thought fondly.
"Save the mushy stuff for the dates, Lover Boy. We have to get to school, I don't want to get detention...though, it can't be any worse than dealing with my dad and his crummy beepers..."Helga muttered.
"Like I said, if he's causing you too much trouble, my place is always available for you.."Drake said and Helga smiled.
"I know..."She said before kissing him on the cheek.
The two of them soon left for PS. 118, not letting Bob get them down. As long as they stuck together, they could handle the brunt of Helga's parent's disapproval.
As long as they are together, they can handle anything!
At PS 118
The young couple soon arrived to school and headed to their homeroom, both of them trying to ignore everything and everyone that annoys them.
For Drake, that includes a certain football headed blonde boy, who was still very much a thorn in his side.
"Shortman..."Drake thought bitterly as he watched his enemy taking his usual seat, pretending that he wasn't totally looking at them but he knew better.
Since the last time, Drake had kept his eyes open for any sign of 'Saint' Arnold for his video camera or anything else. So far, besides him giving him the evil eye, he hasn't caught that little jerk up to anything like the last time.
He just hoped that it stays that way, if not, Drake doubts he'll ever get to relax.
It really was a bummer that he and Helga weren't smart enough to skip a grade, just to get away from the little creep. It's bad enough he and Helga has to deal with her parents disapproval but Arnold has proven to be just as tiresome for him.
Yep, he really did wish that they could both either transfer or skip a grade like Phoebe could, but didn't because she wanted to stay with her friends. That was something Drake could respect about his girlfriends best friend, though her taste in men, not so much.
He has nothing against Gerald, but wherever Gerald as, Arnold was never too far away.
Though, he did notice that recently, Gerald seemed just as wary of Arnold as Drake did. Well,not wary, more worried. Why, he isn't totally sure.
"Probably doesn't want me killing his buddy..." Drake muttered under his breath.
"You say something, Drake?..."Helga asked and Drake shook his head.
"Nothing important, babe..."Drake said, not wanting to worry her.
He wasn't going to let Arnold spoil another good day for him, so Drake just tried to focus on his school work, soccer and most of all, his girl.
Arnold is not going to ruin this for him.
With Arnold
The Football headed boy was trying hard to keep his nerves together.
This past week, he has been receiving orders from Voz, telling him to continue to keep an eye on Drake but to remain out of sights, as well as to not let anyone know of the true nature of his mission until he says so.
It was driving him nuts, but Arnold continued because he knew that Drake was a bad influence on Helga, and that the longer she stays with him, the more she is isolating herself from those who REALLY care about her.
Like him.
"Helga..."Arnold thought as he snuck a glance in her direction, only to see her glancing at Drake, who was laughing for some reason.
It made him frown...
Hard.
Gerald, his grandfather and even Drake himself said that he was jealous.
Jealous of what?
Jealous of the fact that Helga is dating Drake?
Each time he was accused this, he said that he wasn't jealous...at least not for the reasons they believe.
"I am not JEALOUS! I mean sure...I do miss Helga...and I want her to talk to me and spend time with me again, but that's normal, given what has happened...."Arnold thought, as he was still trying to figure out his own feelings.
He did know this much however: He missed her.
He really missed her. They were suppose to be friends now and start hanging out together, like they used to, but ever since Drake came along, all Helga wanted was to spend every waking moment with him.
He just didn't understand what Helga saw in that punk. Sure, she claims that he has changed, but it's obvious that he hasn't. Voz told him that Drake is still as rotten as ever and if Helga keeps hanging around him, she is going to get hurt.
He can't let that happen.
Helga might not understand now, but sooner or later, she'll see that he is doing this for her own good. And once that happens, everything will be the way it should be.
Just as Voz promised.
With Gerald
Gerald was trying hard to focus on the lesson. He honestly was but it was hard to focus on Of Mice and Men when Drake and Arnold were glaring at each other every other minute. That how it has been going for days now.
It was driving him crazy!
The two were acting like a pair of lions who circle for a while but the claws would come out soon.
And Gerald Johansson was doing his best to keep that from happening.
The worst part is that Arnold is still in denial of having a crush on Helga, insisting that he is just trying to protect her, but Gerald knew that if this keeps up, Arnold will be the one in need of protection from Drake.
Gerald looked to Phoebe, his girlfriend looked as tired as he did. She hasn't told Helga yet about her theory about Arnold yet, probably because Arnold himself still won't admit to it.
He knew that she is tired and wary and so is he.
"What am I going to do with that boy?...'Gerald muttered as he glanced at his best friend, who was once again glaring at Drake, who was going gaga over Helga.
Yep, he really is tired at this point.
Later
During lunch time
Helga was sitting with Drake in the cafeteria and the two were sitting close together, while they ate spaghetti. Helga looked at her boyfriend with a joking look
"Don't even think about us doing the Lady and the Tramp bit, buster..."Helga said as she faux-angrily waved her finger.
Drake smirked a bit at that and sent her a playful look.
"Hmmm...kissing you and getting to taste spaghetti...You sure we can't do that?..."Drake playfully asked.
Helga rolled her eyes before kissing Drake on the cheek, leaving a lip mark made of marinara sauce on his cheek as a result.
"That's all your getting...for now..."Helga said and Drake's grin widened.
"Sweet..."Drake said and Helga rolled her eyes again, but still had that amused look on her face.
Helga and Drake turned back to their lunch until a certain red head in green plaid walked up to them.
"Hey... Helga..." Lila said, Helga had an un-amused look on her face as she approached them.
"Oh... it's you. Do you need something, Lila?..."Helga asked, while Drake was still slurping down some spaghetti noodles.
Lila looked nervous for some reason.
"Um...could...could we speak in private Helga? Please?.."Lila asked.
Helga raised a brow at this behavior. It's not every day that Lila acts nervous.
"What's up with her?..."Helga thought before she shrugged.
"Might as well see what Miss Perfect wants..."Helga thought as she pushed away from the table standing up
"Watch my lunch..." She requested.
Drake nodded.
"Sure babe..."Drake said before taking another mouthful of spaghetti.
Helga and Lila soon left to go have a little girl talk.
Oh boy.
A few moments later
Helga followed Lila into the girls room, which is currently empty.
Helga leaned against the wall by the paper towel dispenser, wanting to get this over with.
"All right, Lila. what's so important that you gotta talk to me in private?..."Helga asked, wanting to get back to Drake as soon as possible.
Lila looked uncomfortable for some reason, which made Helga raise a brow at her behavior. Lila is usually so nauseatingly chipper and "ever so" optimistic, so seeing her look like this is rather unusual.
"Helga..."Lila started, but looked down...
"Uh...how have you been?..."Lila asked, obviously procrastinating.
Helga rolled her eyes, impatience already setting in.
"Why do you care? We weren't exactly at each others' throats all the time but it's not like we were buds..."Helga said
"Oh... you know..." Lila said. "Just wanted to see how you've been...uh...how are things with..that new boyfriend of yours?..."Lila asked.
"We are just fine...not that it's any of your business..."Helga said with her arms crossed.
" Are you sure? Do...Do do you think maybe possibly that you could perhaps be-...uh..."
Helga was losing her patience now.
"Criminy! Stop beating around the bush and say what you've gotta say..." Helga said, getting frustrated.
"That you are moving too fast!..." Lila said in a super quick voice, but Helga heard it and she frowned.
Lila saw it and tried to make some recovery.
'Uh...after all, other than Stinky, you haven't really dated anyone..."Lila said weakly.
Helga sighed, clenching her fist.
Lila noticed, got nervous and began stepping back.
"Olga put you up to this, didn't she?..."Helga asked in an acid tone and Lila gulped.
"What? No!..." Lila lied poorly. "So... how is Arnold?..."Lila said, obviously trying to change the subject.
"Criminy... ask him yourself..."Helga spat.
"Okay... so... is it true about this Drew boy that-"
"His name is DRAKE! You know that Lila!..." Helga snapped.
"Okay! Drake! I'm sorry, Olga told me the wrong n- Oops..."
"I KNEW IT! She DID ask you to tell me to leave him, didn't she?!..."Helga accused.
Lila's eye's darted around before she nodded.
"Yes, I'm sorry but Olga personally asked me to talk to you. I ever so understand that you might find this annoying but I am ever so certain that she's just worried about you, Helga..."Lila said, while Helga rolled her eyes.
"Believe me, Lila. It's not "worry", our dad is telling her to say this stuff..." Helga said, very frustrated now.
She should have seen this coming. Olga wouldn't be crying forever so she'd try to go at her through her classmates.
It really is something that she'd do. Whine and cry about something, before asking someone to fix things for her. Usually it's her parents but it seems that this time, she has asked Lila to do such a thing.
"Do you know if Olga's talked to anyone else?..." She asked.
Phoebe would have told her if Olga approached her but she wasn't sure about the others.
Thankfully, Lila shook her head.
"No, not that I know of Helga..."Lila said and Helga sighed in relief.
Well, thank God for small miracles..." Helga thought
"Let me guess she wanted you to try and talk up 'Arthur' to me right..."Helga said and Lila nodded.
"Well yes, but I honestly have no idea who that is..."Lila said and Helga rolled her eyes.
"Criminy! So much for Olga the Genius. How could she forget his name? At least Bob kind of had an excuse for not knowing Arnold's name but Olga actually taught him one time. Heck Arnold met that dirtbag Doug once, so there's no reason she shouldn't be able to remember his name!..."Helga thought in annoyance.
"Apparently, I'm the only person in my family that is capable of remembering Arnold's name..." Helga explained.
"Oh, she meant Arnold..."Lila said and Helga sighed.
"Yes, she did and don't try to talk him up to me, since you and I both know that he practically threw himself at your feet and you turned him down for his weird cousin Arnie..."Helga pointed out.
Lila looked offended, either because of how she treated Arnold or because that creepy Arnie had left their date to flirt with her. Helga still shuddered when she thought about that weirdo who shared a small part of of Arnold's DNA but none of the looks, brains, charms or manners.
"We...we are getting off topic here..."Lila said.
"Yes, we are..."Helga challenged.
Lila sighed.
Helga also sighed, as she knew that she had to make Lila understand things. She just hoped that she was less stubborn than Olga.
"Look, Lila. Drake might have made mistakes before..."Helga said and to her surprise, Lila did an eye roll of all things.
"Mistakes are one way to call what he did..."She muttered.
Helga ignored it as she had to get her message across.
"But that was LONG ago. He's a different person. He's a good guy and he wants to move on. I want to move on. He has shown me that he is a good guy and I happen to like him. Heck, he's the best thing to happen to me in a really long time! Tell Olga that Drake makes me happy and if she cares, she and our so called parents can DROP it!..."Helga said, a very sharp edge in her tone.
Hearing that made Lila flinch at Helga's words.
They also made her realize how annoying Helga must find her right now. Although she didn't believe her about being over Arnold. Still, it was clear her heart is set on Drake and is convinced he's a better person.
She then nods.
"Okay... I'll take your word on Drake..."Lila said.
"Sorry to have bothered you..."Lila said.
"You better be..."Helga muttered before walking out of the bathroom. Leaving Lila alone.
Lila stayed for a minute longer. She knew Helga had a crush on Arnold. She has known ever since the play in fourth grade. While it wasn't blatantly obvious, there were enough hints for the red head to figure out even before the blonde girl practically screamed it at her in order to get the part of Juliet just to share a kiss with the oblong headed boy.
Lila always thought that Helga's crush was sweet and has secretly been rooting for them to get together since then.
However, things changed after they came back from that trip from San Lorenzo.
While she didn't go unlike like the rest of the class but she'd seen the look in Helga's eyes after they came home.
A look that only someone who knew the truth of Helga's emotions could possibly understand. A look that no person should ever have to have.
A look of complete and utter heartbreak.
She didn't know all the details about what happened but she felt sorry for Helga. However, when she saw that Arnold had acquire a new fondness for her, she figured that the two of them would get together soon and she'd be alright.
Now Arnold was looking at Helga the way he used to look at her, He might not realize it but it's obvious. Unfortunately, unlike before, Helga wouldn't give Arnold the time of day.
She had moved on to Drake
It made Lila feel sorry for Arnold but she has no say in who Helga should date. She only did this because Olga practically begged her to.
The redhead girl soon left the girl's room to go back to her lunch. She knew that Olga won't be pleased but all she promised was that she'd at least talk with Helga.
There is nothing else she can do here.
She just hoped that whatever happens, Arnold won't feel too hurt.
Later
Arnold had just left school, but he was not on his way to his own house.
Voz had told him to go to Helga's house, saying something along the lines that he has to understand the full extent of Drake's bad influence.
Arnold didn't completely understand, but here he was, on his way to Helga's house.
"This is ridiculous but...I just have to see her...maybe once I am there, we can talk without Drake being around..."Arnold thought.
As he made his way to downtown, Arnold stopped by an old, rundown looking building. It took a while, but Arnold realized that he was in front of Bob Pataki's beeper store.
Arnold was amazed at how decrepit the place appeared while the inside managed to seem...a bit cleaner.
"Mr. Pataki is having hard times? Why didn't Helga tell me bout this?..."Arnold thought out loud.
He'd ask her once he saw her at her house.
He soon arrived to the blue stone building that is the Pataki residence.
Arnold knocked on the door. He wanted to tell Helga, with her parents present, what he has to say to her.
He heard someone turning the door handle.
"Okay... here we go..."Arnold thought, emotionally preparing himself to deal with Mr. Pataki.
Then someone else answered. Someone he knew wasn't Helga's father.
Because this man was a middle aged, chubby, African American man, and unlike Mr. Pataki, he looked like a friendly kind of guy.
"Can I help you, young man?..." He asked in a friendly tone.
Definitely not Mr. Pataki...
Arnold looked around, confused.
"Uh... sorry... I must be at the wrong house. I'm looking for the Pataki household..."Arnold said, feeling weird.
He has been to Helga's house before, but could it be that he somehow took a wrong turn and just found a house that just looked like it?
The man laughed heartily.
"Well... you're half-right. This WAS their home, Bob Pataki sold it to me a while back..."The man said.
Arnold was surprised.
"Uh... when was this?..."Arnold asked, trying not to sound like he was in great shock.
"About a year ago next month..."The main said with a shrug.
Arnold heard this and was stunned, before he realized that he has no business here, after all.
"I see... sorry, sir..."Arnold said politely to the man.
The man nodded and closed the door.
Once along know, Arnold stepped away and though about it.
"She moved? Why...why didn't she tell me?..."Arnold asked, unable to believe it.
It didn't make sense to him? Why would Helga hide something this big from him?
He pondered.
"Why didn't she TELL ME?!..."
His cellphone went off. He saw no ID but figured who it was when he answered.
"Voz?..."Arnold said in a neutral tone.
"You sound happy to hear me,Shortman..." Voz quip, the sarcasm was not hard to miss.
"Sorry..."Arnold apologized.
"I see you visited Helga's old home..."The mysterious voice said.
Arnold paused. He looked around, seeing nobody present watching him.
"Is he... watching me?!..."Arnold thought, getting creeped out.
"How do you know that?..."Arnold asked.
"I keep an eye out... so, did you learn anything?..."Voz said in a sort of teasing way.
Arnold sighed.
"I just found out that she moved..."Arnold admitted.
"Ah yes...You're probably wondering why she's not living there anymore..." Voz went.
"Why exactly is that?.."Arnold asked, both worried and a little hurt that Helga kept something like this from him.
"Let's just say it was the work of a stubborn, prideful idiot..."Voz said.
"Drake..." Arnold rationalized.
"Get real, Shortman. Even a rotten punk like Drake can't do that kind of damage in such short time...I meant her father..."Voz said.
"Oh..."Arnold said, feeling silly.
"I mean seriously, how many people have you seen in the past 2 years actually use a beeper? VHS tapes? Maybe… Old school game systems? Probably… But no one would use those things because cell phones exist and Helga's father refuses to get with the times...hence, what you have just seen....'"Voz said.
"Okay! I get it!..."Arnold said, before frowning.
He still felt bad. He knew that beepers weren't popular anymore, but he didn't think that Helga's folks were doing so bad that they had to move out of their own home.
What's more, is that he couldn't believe that he had to find out this way.
"I just don't understand why she didn't even tell me that she moved..."Arnold said, feeling hurt.
It didn't make sense to him? Why Helga would hide something this big from him?
"Ah, yes..." Voz thought quickly. "Another reason why Drake is terrible..."He said.
"What!?..."Arnold exclaimed.
"He brings this kind of thing with him. You really shouldn't be surprised at this point..." Voz was smiling at his end. "He can be... controlling with people..."
If Arnold had any common sense, he would have questioned that statement. Unfortunately, common sense was often overridden by jealousy.
"Drake..." He thought as he began to believe Voz's words.
In his angst induced mind, that theory began to make sense, enough that Arnold was entertaining it enough with new thoughts.
"Could that be it? Drake does seem to hate me alright. That must be it! He must have said something or done something to Helga... why else would she not tell me?..."Arnold thought, feeling his anger and hatred of Drake frowning more and more
Arnold started to feel Drake was responsible.
"He's gone too far this time. It's bad enough that he is influencing Helga but making her keep secrets from me?!...'Arnold said.
"Jealousy and possessiveness are diseases, Arnold. They can spread from one person and keep spreading until someone else gets hurt in the process..."Voz said.
Voz continued to speak to him, giving him more and more instructions as he got off the stoop and started walking away, going home.
And Arnold's distrust and anger continued to grow, along with his sadness as he realized that Helga has kept more from him than he previously believed.
-To be continued-
Next time on A Broken Heart
Misunderstandings and More Tension
A/N(1): Special thanks to BeConfuzzled Writer, 61394 and NeoMark for their help. You guys are the best ;)
A/N(2): Just a reminder that this fic is on TV TROPES, so feel free to add any tropes you see fit.
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewer:
61394: Huh, never thought about that. LOL!
The J.A.M. a.k.a. Numbuh i: Jealousy can affect a person's judgement and priorities.
Invader Johnny: You can say that again...
Kryten: Mmmmmm...
DanteVirgil09: You got that right.
DeepVoice'06: You're welcome and thank you ;)
Mani Anivar: It's sad, isn't it?
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)
