Chapter 21: Rat

Helga Geraldine Pataki ran down the street as fast as she could. The freezing autumn wind blew her blonde hair in all directions as she rounded a block.

Her legs were tired, she could feel herself starting to slow down. But she couldn't. Not yet, not when Arnold's life was at stake.

She knew where he would be. Where else would he be? She quickly rounded another block when she suddenly saw it. Right in front of her. Big Bob's beeper emporium.

She quickly ran towards the front for when suddenly, a gunshot rang in her ears. Fear struck her heart. Her hand shook as she reached for the freezing cold door handle. Slowly but surely, she pushed it open.

Fearing she was not too late, she quickly peeked inside. The store was dark as the night sky above her. Silently she whispered his name." Arnold."

No response came from inside the dark store.

Her hands still shaking, she slowly pushed the door all the way open now, causing the bell to ring above it. That's when she saw him.

From behind the checkout counter, crawled Arnold Shortman." H-Helga." He managed out in a weak voice.

"Arnold!" She shrieked as she ran at him at full speed. He tried to stand up but fell back down to the ground, rolling over into his back.

That's when the terror of the situation hit her. Arnold was clutching his stomach with a bloody hand. He looked at her and coughed violently.

"Helga?"

His voice was weak. So lifeless. Nothing like the energetic and outgoing Arnold she always knew growing up. He was running out of time.

"D-don't worry. I'll get you out of here!" She said in terror as she quickly tried to pick him up.

However, Arnold just continued to stare into her eyes. The emerald green in his eyes seemed to sparkle as he just stared into her own eyes.

Then, in a voice that still sounded as lifeless as before, he spoke once again." Behind you."

She whipped her head around to see Curly looking down at her, the barrel of his gun pointed right between her eyes.

His face was dark, but she could see that same menacing smile growing on his lips. It seemed to glow in the moonlight as it continued to grow wider.

Finally, his lips moved as he spoke." Get ready to say goodbye sweetie." He said in a low and menacing growl.

She heard the click of the gun as he wrapped his finger around the trigger. She just watched as slowly he squeezed the trigger and BAM!

Helga bolted up right in her bed. She felt sweat on her face as she tried to catch her breath.

She looked to her left to see Miriam still sleeping peacefully in her bed next to her.

With a sigh of relief, she slowly laid her head back down on her pillow." Just a crazy dream." She mumbled to herself as she rolled her eyes.

Although it was just a dream, that crazy loon was still out there. Every second he was out there was another second he could come looking for her. For Arnold. For Miriam. But, he told her he would hurt anyone if she kept it all a secret. He had to hold up his part of the deal. Right?

Letting out another sigh, this time in annoyance, she slowly sat up in her bed again and stretched. She needed to get some sleep. She knew she did.

Sleeping in her new home had been an amazing experience. A new and comfy bed. Although she wasn't a big fan of the blue sheets, how could she complain?! It was a massive improvement over the bed she had back at the beeper store.

Also, Arnold had not been lying about the room being big. It was plenty big for her and Miriam to have their own personal space and leisure for themselves.

The room was characterized with blue wallpaper and a soft white carpet on the floor. There was a large red couch that sat at the far end of the room near Helga's bed that was accompanied with a red reclining chair beside it. In front of their beds on the opposite wall was a small flatscreen T.V. The television was turned on and was on some cooking show, however, it was turned down to where Helga couldn't hear a single thing.

Sighing once again, she turned on her side and checked her phone. Three in the morning. Great. She knew she needed sleep, but now after that crazy dream, she couldn't. She was fully awake now.

Placing her phone back down on the small nightstand to the left of her bed, she laid back down on her side.

Trying to force her eyes closed was a lot harder than she expected however. She knew she needed the sleep, but it just wouldn't come for her. The harder she tried, the more awake she was continuing to get.

With a low groan, she now stood up from her bed."Maybe I just need a glass of water." She whispered to herself as she tiptoed around Miriam, trying not to wake her softly snoring mother.

Carefully, she slowly turned the doorknob and began to open the door. A small creaking noise echoed throughout the hallway. With the door only being halfway open, she quickly slipped her slender body through.

Gently, she closed the door behind her. She turned around to walk towards the kitchen when she felt herself bump into something. Or someone.

"Helga?" She heard a deep voice say her name.

"Arnold?" She said with a bit of a shock in her voice. Why was he up at this hour?

"Sorry." Arnold said now rubbing his shoulder." I was just coming back up stairs to bed. You can't sleep either?"

She looked at her love. All she could see was his look full of concern and some parts of his bare chest through the moonlight shining through the windows of the boarding house.

"Y-yeah." Helga got out in a shaky but quiet voice as she rubbed the back of her neck ." Guess I couldn't sleep either."

Arnold just nodded." Well, if you want. You can come up to my room and talk for a bit. Until you're ready to go back to bed."

Did Arnold just invite her to his room? Not that she wasn't okay with that, but the fact that he was inviting her with the whole boarding house at home tonight.

Helga just huffed before saying." Get real Arnold, don't you remember what happened the last time we were in your room alone? Your whole family's at home now!"

The look of embarrassment that suddenly shone over his face was enough to make Helga almost laugh. He suddenly looked to the ground before scratching the back of his neck nervously.

"We can just talk Helga." He said as a nervous smile came across his lips." I'm not that much a risk taker."

She smiled now as she spoke softly." Well good, because I just got here and I would like it if I did not get kicked out my first night!"

With his normal smile now returning to his lips now, Arnold spoke." True that." He said softly and quietly." Come on, I'll lead the way."

He then took her hand and led her up the stairway to his room. Gently, he opened the door and led her in.

Once inside, Helga noticed that his room had not changed much since she stayed in it just a few weeks ago.

Immediately, she plopped down on his bed face first, enveloping the strong scent of his shampoo on his pillow.

"Did you just sniff my pillow?"

Feeling a bit offended, Helga turned to her side and shot a glare at the boy who had a wide smile on his lips.

Arnold couldn't help but notice Helga was wearing a white T-shirt where he could see the outline of her black bra she had on underneath. She accompanied the T-shirt with a pair of really short black shorts.

However, Helga was sneaking a peek at him too. Through the full moon through the skylight, she was gawking at his well toned chest. She could now clearly see him standing there in nothing but a pair of blue pajama pants on.

"Well, it would seem I have the right to, since I am your girlfriend and all." She said with a slight bit of annoyance in her voice. Although her voice sounded annoyed, that wasn't how she was feeling at all. It was just a force of habit for her to always sound like that.

With a wide smile, Arnold slowly approached his bed." You wanna know something?" Arnold asked, his tone full of excitement.

"What?" She asked, still giving him a glare. Although, the closer he kept getting to her, the more she could feel herself starting to give in. She knew she was gonna start getting sappy if he kept this up. But what was wrong with being sappy around Arnold? I mean, he is her boyfriend and all...

"That's the first time you've publicly announced that you were my girlfriend."

At first his words caught her off guard. Her glare turned into a look of shock. Had she really just said that out loud? Then, another thought hit her. It isn't like they were hiding anything anymore. Bob was gone to prison now, gone for good. Miriam was okay with it. Curly seemed to be okay with it. As long as she kept his secret, then everything was just gonna be okay.

With a small smile coming across her lips now, she spoke softly." Well, no more secrets right? No more hiding this from any-"

Arnold's warm and soft lips suddenly enveloped hers. Laying back on her back now, she let Arnold climb on top of her. Softly, he released this kiss for just a moment.

"I love you."

His voice was tender and soft. It was full of love. From the boy she had loved since she was old enough to know what love was. Finally, with no string attached, no secrets being kept, he said it to her.

"I love you too you nimwit." She said with a full smile on her lips.

However, instead of smiling at her. He kissed her lips once again with that soft and gentle touch, then a nervous smile came to his lips.

He slowly crawled off of her and sat down at the edge of his bed, now staring at the ground.

Needless to say, Helga was beyond confused."Hey." She said in an annoyed tone." Don't leave me hanging over here. We're not finished yet!"

Arnold just sighed as he sent her a warm, comforting smile." Sorry." He said with an empty sound in his voice." Guess I just got too much on my mind."

Now, she couldn't help but feel concerned for the little football head." Still thinking about the picture?" She asked, sliding over to Arnold to sit next to him.

"Yeah." He said in an empty tone once again." Just still can't believe that I lost it. I'd like to have it so we could study it. Try to find something useful out of it."

The lack of confidence in his voice was enough to hurt Helga. This wasn't the Arnold that she always knew. Not the kind boy that always looked on the bright side.

"Well, hey." She said, placing a warm hand on his shoulder." I'm sure if you just retrace your steps, then you'll remember when it flew out of your pocket."

Arnold let out a deep sigh." That's the thing." He said with his voice sounding a bit annoyed now." I can't remember much of what happened at the store. I can only remember certain little things."

"Are you saying that you have amnesia?" She asked, a bit of shock in her voice now.

"I'm saying, it might be possible." He said, giving her a worried look." I was trying to avoid the idea of it at first, but then I remembered that I hit my head on the piano. Pretty hard actually." He said as he felt of the tender spot on the right side of his head.

"After that, everything is pretty much a blur." He continued." Until I woke up in the hospital. The only things I really remember from the store is seeing you point a gun at Bob. The next thing I know, I'm in a hospital bed."

Helga sighed and looked off into the dark room. She can hear the clear annoyance in his voice. Not at her, but at himself. It was time to try and cheer the football head up.

"Well, I'm sure you just dropped it at the beeper store. I'm sure if we go look tomorrow, then we'll find it!" She replied to him with hope in her voice.

Arnold just looked over at her now and smiled." I thought I was supposed to be the one who always looked on the bright side?"

"Well, what can I say. Looks like you're rubbing off on me a little Arnoldo." She said as a smile cracked across her face.

Arnold yawned as he rubbed his tired eyes." Well, tomorrow is Sunday, and I need some sleep. So-"

But he was suddenly cut off when Helga put a finger over his mouth." You can't go to sleep yet."

"Why not?" He asked with a grin as he playfully shoved the finger away from his mouth.

However, besides getting an explanation from Helga, she just dove her lips onto his once more. Before Arnold could react, she grabbed him by his shoulders and threw him down on his own bed. Slowly, she sat down on his lap.

"I'm not tired yet Shortman." She said in almost a whisper as she threw her white T off and over her head, revealing the silk black bra she had on underneath.

"But, what if someone wakes up?" Arnold asked with fear painted all over his face now.

Helga grinned as she leaned down now to be face to face with him now." Then let's just hope they don't wake up." And with that, her lips met with his once again."

…

"Ah, well. If it isn't Arnold. Wake up a little bit late Shortman? It's nearly 9:00!"

Arnold had just walked in the kitchen to see Helga and Miriam sitting at the kitchen table with Phil, each of them with a warm mug of coffee in their hand. His mother and father were both at the stove cooking something that smelled of bacon and sausage. Ernie and Oskar were at the far right of the room, arguing over who put tea in the coffee maker instead of coffee grains.

"I'll say. Looks like the football head didn't get much sleep last night."

Arnold couldn't help but notice the tad bit of amusement that Helga sprinkled onto her last statement. Thankfully, none of the adults in the room seemed to notice. Well, everyone except for Phil. He instantly shot his grandson a large smile and winked at him.

Feeling blush start to come across his cheeks, Arnold quickly tried to change the subject." What's for breakfast dad?" He asked his father with curiosity in his voice.

"Bacon and sausage son. Hope you're hungry." Miles replied with a smile on his face.

…

After the two got finished with their breakfast. They left the boarding house and out into cold Hillwood city.

"I wonder how many people know by now?" Arnold asked as they rounded a block.

"Know what?" Helga asked a bit confused as she pulled her pink jacket tighter around herself. She had changed into a long sleeve black shirt and jeans, but it was still not enough to fight off the cold.

"About what happened to us. I finally stopped getting calls from people last night."

Helga huffed and rolled her eyes." Well, it would seem that everyone knows by now, considering that everyone has called us by now!"

Arnold sighed as he looked at her with a small smile." Sorry, guess I didn't think about that."

Helga couldn't help but smile back at her goofy and dense boyfriend." It's confirmed, you're still a paste for brains!"

Arnold's smile grew wider as he looked back into the street before him." Whatever you say H-"

"OH MY GOD!"

The duo both stopped in their tracks. Arnold had a look of confusion on his face, but Helga had a look of pure hate on her face. She could recognize that snobby voice from anywhere.

Rhonda Wellington Lloyd.

"What do you want, princess?" Helga asked with clear annoyance in her tone as she whipped her head around to face Rhonda. She was met with Rhonda smirking at her.

"You two ARE together!" Rhonda said in a sly tone as she crossed her arms over her chest. Helga reacted by sending a huge scowl her way.

"Oh, so you see us together, all bruised up and beaten and that's the first thing you say?!" Helga yelled now as she started to approach the girl. However, Rhonda stood her ground. Meanwhile, Arnold just continued to watch.

"Relax Helga dear." Rhonda said as Helga continued to approach her." You look fine! Arnold on the other hand, geez Helga you could have taken it easy on him!"

Helga, feeling enraged, felt confusion start to take her over. She looked back to Arnold and he sent her a confused look back.

"What do you mean?" Helga asked, now just inches away from Rhonda's face.

Rhonda just smiled as she looked into Helga's scowl." Well, I know you're a tough girl Helga, but dang. You really need to tone it down a notch when you're in bed with him. You're gonna kill him!"

It was that. Just Rhonda saying that was enough to infuriate Helga. Of course Rhonda was saying something like that. Whether she was joking or not, she had some snooty response. And that snooty response was just enough to push Helga over the edge.

Until now, Arnold has just been watching the two girls go back and forth at each other. But now, it was his turn to act as Helga had suddenly grabbed Rhonda by the front of her red sweater and lifted her into the air!

"Listen here princess!" Helga spat in Rhonda's face." You've really screwed yourself over this time! Your ass is grass!"

"Helga!" Rhonda shrieked as she looked at Helga with a face full of fear now." Put me down right now! Your ripping my new three hundred dollar sweater! I was just making a joke!"

Helga didn't listen, she just continued to look into Rhonda's eyes with a look of pure hatred. That was, until she felt Arnold's warm touch on her shoulder." Come on, Helga. It's not worth it."

Once again, like so many times before, she instantly forgot about her anger towards Rhonda. She felt a calm feeling come across her body. Just one touch from Arnold could make her feel all warm and calm inside.

Slowly, she let Rhonda back down to the ground." Ugh, you stretched my collar out!" Rhonda whined as she took a few steps away from Helga and inspected the damage.

"Oh, put a sock in it!" Helga groaned as she rolled her eyes." You'll be fine Rhonda Lloyd!"

"That may be so." Rhonda said in a calmer tone as she shot Helga a small glare." But, you shouldn't have done that. All I was doing was making a joke!"

That's when, suddenly, Arnold spoke." Yeah, well it wasn't funny at all Rhonda! So, until you can find some decency in your heart to ask us if we are okay and actually be a friend to us, stay away!"

Helga and Rhonda both looked at Arnold in shock. The harshness in his tone had caught both of them off guard. For a second, he almost sounded like Helga when he had spoken to Rhonda.

While Helga still looked at him in shock, Rhonda shook the look off of her face." Fine!" She said as she dramatically threw her hands up in the air." But, until you two learn how to take a joke, stay away from me too!"

…

"Hey, I'm um, sorry about Rhonda, Helga."

After Rhonda had left them, the walk to the store had been entirely silent for the couple. Helga didn't know what to say to Arnold, and he didn't seem to wanna talk about what happened, so they just walked together silently. Now, they were standing at the entrance to the beeper store.

"It's okay." Helga said through a sigh." Rhonda deserved it and I guess your right, I shouldn't have been so aggressive with her."

"She shouldn't have made a joke like that, and I'm sorry I didn't speak up sooner." Arnold said as he looked at her with a small smile.

Giving him a small grin, Helga spoke in a calm and sweet voice." It's okay, hair boy. Rhonda needed to be scared off like that!"

"Maybe she learned a lesson out of it." Arnold said in a hopeful tone as he started his way up the stoop to the store.

"I don't think so." Helga said as she shrugged." I don't think miss Rhonda Wellington Lloyd will ever change!"

"You never know." Arnold said as she shrugged at her as well." It could happen."

"Doubt it." Helga said as she rolled her eyes.

Arnold just smiled at her once again as she quickly whipped back around to try the entrance to the store, however, the door wouldn't budge.

"You'll probably need this." Helga said in an amused tone as she fished in her pocket. She felt the key in her pocket and instantly grabbed it and threw it at Arnold.

Despite the wild throw from Helga, Arnold still managed to secure the key in his hand with an impressive one handed catch.

"Pretty impressive, huh?" Arnold said in a sly tone as he shot her a wink.

In response, she rolled her eyes playfully at her goofy boyfriend." Oh, yeah. I'm soooo impressed." She said in a sarcastic but playful tone.

Arnold chuckled as he felt the lock click and the door open to the store." Ladies first." He said as he opened the door for her.

Helga rolled her eyes playfully once again and took a step inside." Thanks, hair boy."

Suddenly, Arnold felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Quickly, he fished for it and saw that Gertie was calling him.

"Sorry, Helga." He said as he answered the phone." I'll be right inside."

Giving him a small smile and a nod, Helga closed the door, leaving him outside.

The door closed leaving Helga inside the store alone. She turned around to see the lights were turned off. Not caring to turn the lights on and burn up the power bill, she brought out her cell phone and clicked on the light. The light was dim, but it still worked.

The dark store had never felt so empty before. For years, Helga had known this place to be her home. Heck, it still felt like home to her. She was so used to waking up and walking downstairs to a blow hard angry dad and beepers ready to stock.

Of course, after the police were done using the store for evidence Miriam still had the store in her possession. Whatever plans she had for it were still unknown. She had not mentioned anything about it since Bob was arrested.

Helga sighed as she made her way down the aisle. Cheap cell phones and beepers lined the shelves around her as she slowly walked down the aisle. Every step she took echoed through the empty store.

She made her way down the aisle and was about to turn down the next one when something caught her attention out of the corner of her eyes. The lights in the back room seemed to be turned on. A small light shone through the crack of the door.

Curiously, she approached the door. The closer she got, she could hear someone walking throughout the room.'Did someone break in?' She thought to herself.

Carefully, she opened the door. Not a single creaking noise was made. She peeked her head inside to see a man in a hoodie loading something into a crate.

"Hey you!" She called out and the man froze in his spot. Helga had a scowl on her face, but that scowl quickly turned into fear when the man turned around.

Instantly, images from her dream last night flooded her mind again. Arnold laying on the ground with a gunshot wound. Curly's sinister smile as she pointed the gun at her head. The clicking of the gun as he wrapped his finger around the trigger. Now, he was standing here just a few feet in front of her.

"Well, hello Helga dear." He said as a smirk appeared." Nice to see you today."

"What are you doing here?" Helga asked in shock. No, she couldn't let Curly know she was shocked! She had to act tough! She quickly put a scowl and her hands on her hips as she listened to his response.

"Well, Helga, if you must know, I'm running a business."

Helga, feeling confused, arched an eyebrow and asked." What kind of business?"

Curly sighed as he dramatically let his hands fall by his sides." I got to thinking the other day". He said in a low voice. He suddenly took a step towards her." That this store really is a great place to run my drug empire."

Helga felt her fake scowl turn back into shock now as she continued to listen to him." You see." He said in a sly tone." The cops never found my stash I brought over here. They have no idea I was even a part of this still. Looks like you're holding up your end of the bargain."

"Well, what else was I supposed to do." She said in a low voice." You threatened Arnold."

"Ah yes." Curly said as he looked up at her with a full smile again." And tell me, Helga. How is Arnold doing? Is he recovering well?"

"He's doing fine." Helga said bluntly. She did not want to discuss Arnold with this creep. It was none of his business in the first place.

"Okay, good." Curly said as he crossed his hands across his chest." I was hoping he would make a full recovery."

"Cut the crap you creep!" Helga said with anger in her voice now." Now I want you out of this store right now! You will not run your little 'drug empire' out of my family's store!"

"And who says I can't?" Curly said as a frown appeared on his lips.

"Miriam." Helga said as she smirked at the creep now." See, Bob isn't the one running this store anymore. And Miriam isn't gonna like it when she finds out you're here!"

She expected Curly to look defeated by her last statement. Instead, he smiled at her and winked." Well, that's what you think."

"What are you talking about?!" She asked angrily as she crossed her arms across her chest.

"You see Helga." Curly said as he put both his hands in his front hoodie pocket." Your mother isn't gonna find out, because you're gonna help me hide it."

"And what makes you think that I would do that?" She spat back at him in a low voice.

However, Curly just calmly sighed and pulled up his sweatshirt, revealing the gun he had stuck in his pants." Because if you don't, neither your mother or your boyfriend will like it too much."

How could he do this to her?! Yet again, he was using her loved ones against her. First, hiding his identity from the cops. And now, helping him hide his drug operation from her own mother?!

Helga felt her body go into shock. She couldn't move, she just stood there staring at Curly as she smirked at her." Is Arnold here now?" He asked her calmly.

Helga suddenly felt fear overtake her. How long had she been talking to Curly?! Was Arnold still talking to Gertie?! Had he been listening to everything they had been talking about?! Where was Arnold?!

…

"Yes, grandma." Arnold said as he suddenly faked a cough." I'm really sick! That's the reason I haven't seen you all weekend."

The truth was, Arnold really did wanna go see his grandma. But, he didn't wanna go see her while he was all bruised up. He knew the stress would not be healthy for her. Heck, it would probably hurt her in the long run. So, he wanted to hide it from her.

"Well." Gertie said over the phone." Get well Kimba.

I expect to see you over here as soon as you are over your little cold!"

"Sure thing grandma." Arnold said as he chuckled into the phone.

After a few more moments of talking, he bid farewell to his grandma and hung up the phone.

He opened the door to the store to see Helga standing there looking at him. Her face was pale with fear. She looked like she had started sweating as well.

"Helga?" Arnold asked, concerned." Helga, are you okay?"

She suddenly seemed to snap out of her trance as she answered him nervously." Oh, um, y-yeah football head. I was just checking the back room and I-I saw something."

"Saw what?" Arnold asked concerned once again.

Helga swallowed the lump in her throat as she answered his question." A rat."

Arnold winced at the sound of that. He knew that rats were Helga's biggest fear in life. And he knew that's probably what had her scared so bad now.

Arnold suddenly leaned in and hugged her." Well, it's okay Helga. The rats gone now." He said softly as he kissed her neck lightly.

Helga just sighed as she leaned into his hug. Normally the calm and warm touch from Arnold would instantly calm her nerves. However, it didn't even seem to effect her this time.

Author's Note: Thanks for all the continued support everyone! Just wanted to make this author's note to say that there might be a delay on the next chapter! College is starting to heat up and I'm starting to spend a lot more time on trying to pass! Also, don't worry, we will get into more classroom shenanigans next chapter! It's time for some more character to come make another appearance!

Anyways, would like to give a huge shout out to an author named Bugdork! The dude has some really good stories and I would suggest for all of you to check em out!

As always, don't forget to leave a review and I'll see you guys next time! Take is east football heads!