Chapter 22: Worry

Not enough words could describe the amount of weight Helga was carrying on her shoulders. After the run in with Curly at the store, she just hadn't felt the same. She and Arnold had searched in the store for about an hour for the picture. Once again, no luck.

She made sure to keep Arnold away from the back room, telling him that she had searched everywhere before the "rat" scared her off. Fortunately, he believed her, and they didn't spend any of their hour going through the back room.

After the whole incident, she was sure that more nightmares would come. After one night of nightmares, she was actually scared to go back to sleep. That was until she came up with a solution…

Helga Geraldine Pataki yawned and stretched her arms out into the bright morning sun. The alarm clock to her left had just woken her up.

So, she fell back onto the bed again and leaned over on her side. She quickly took in the sweet scent of the football head that was still sleeping soundly beside her despite his alarm clock just going off.

You see, her solution to having no nightmares was actually just sleeping in the same bed with Arnold. It made her feel safe and secure. Like no one could hurt her while she wrapped her arms tightly around him. It had been one of the nest nights of sleep she had ever had in her life.

Helga had dreamed of this moment for years. Waking up beside Arnold, taking in his sweet scent, wrapping her arms around his well toned chest and body as he slept, softly kissing his neck to gently wake him up. They were all parts of her old nine year old dreams but at least those dreams were starting to come true for her.

She hoped they were the only dreams that would come true for her…

As Helga pecked the back of his neck lightly, and she could feel Arnold start to stir in his sleep. He slowly shifted his body to his other side. Without a word, he planted his lips on hers with a warm firm welcome.

Helga let out a sigh of pleasure through her nose as she allowed him to deepen the kiss. Carefully, she felt her tongue start to explore his mouth as her hand started to slip down his bare chest.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Helga suddenly felt herself fly backwards. Not from Arnold's force, but from her own. The next thing she knew, she was jammed down beside his bed on one side and his bedroom wall on her other side. Thankfully, she was skinny enough to fit in the tiny space between his bed and the wall.

"Arnold sweetie, have you seen Helga?" Miriam's voice seemed to echo throughout the room. Helga instantly felt her body go numb as she now heard Arnold's door open all the way. She knew she was out of sight, but she could only imagine the look Arnold probably had on his face. She loved him more than anyone, but man he was terrible at lying.

"Um, she um." Arnold said, seeming to fumble over his own words. Helga could only imagine the way Miriam was eyeing him right now.

"She uh, she went for an early morning j-jog!" She heard Arnold finally get out in a tone that at least sounded half believable.

She then heard Miriam chuckle lightly." Okay, well she must've left before we started cooking breakfast. Could you please text her and tell her that we made you two an early breakfast. My phone seems to be dead."

Helga had to hold in her sigh of relief. She could feel her hands starting to get all sweaty and clammy now. She looked down at herself to see that all she was wearing was black shorts and a white sports bra. It was a relief that Miriam had not seen her.

"I'll get right to it." Arnold said in a normal voice, yet there was a bit of relief sprinkled in the way he said it.

She heard Miriam close the door and the room was totally silent. She then heard Arnold shift on his bed, coming closer to her.

"Helga, are you okay?"

Helga looked up at her goofy boyfriend and sent him a scowl." No, hair boy, I'm stuck!" She said in a half whisper.

Arnold laughed and stuck out his hand." Well, your mom is gone, so you're free."

Gracefully, she took his hand. Carefully, Arnold lifted her with ease back onto his bed.

Before she had time to think, Arnold's lips dove back onto hers. The kiss was so full of love and tenderness. However, she had to pull away.

"Hold up Arnoldo." She said in a sly tone as she brought a finger up to his mouth." I gotta go for a run, remember."

Arnold rolled his eyes and sighed in disappointment." Isn't your mom gonna wonder why you went running without a shirt on?"

Playfully Helga pushed him back and sat up from his bed, leaving Arnold all alone." That's why." She said as she walked towards his closet." I'm gonna use one of your hoodies."

"Isn't your mom gonna wonder where you got my hoodie?"

By now, Helga had entered his closet. However, when she heard him speak, she looked outside and sent him a scowl.

"What is this, twenty questions?! Relax Arnoldo, I'm just gonna tell her that I borrowed it from you. She'll believe it."

Helga then ducked back into his closet. She had to find the perfect hoodie. One that was too WAY too big for her. And one that smelled like Arnold too. It had to smell like HIM! Not some cheap, store bought washing detergent.

She brought her attention to a dark blue hoodie that was hanging up. She brought it down and held it in her arms. It definitely was WAY too big for her. And it looked like it would be really comfy on her. Plus, it had that one of a kind football head scent on it. That was the dealbreaker right there. This was DEFINITELY the one!

She slid the hoodie on over her cold shoulders and shivered as she felt the warmth already start to envelop her.

Arnold watched as she opened the door to his closet and smiled at him. He couldn't deny how cute she looked standing there in his hoodie, but there was still something missing…

"Helga." He said as he pointed at her bare legs now." It's way too cold outside for you to go out in shorts."

Helga just looked at him and shrugged." Oh well, I'll just tell Miriam I didn't feel like wearing pants. Plus this hoodie comes down to my knees!"

Arnold just gave her an unsure smile as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck." Do you really think she'll believe all of that?"

Helga sighed and gave him a comforting smile." Of course she will, football head. I'm amazing at these kinds of cover ups!"

"Whatever you say, Helga." Arnold said, giving her that warm football head smile.

…

After the two teens finished their breakfast and dressed back into their normal clothes for school, they were off onto the street.

It still felt weird to Helga. The fact that she was now living with the football head. And the fact that it all happened out of nowhere. No one expected this to happen, but it still did.

She looked over to her right and saw that Arnold's face was starting to heal significantly. His bruises were starting to fade slightly, and the scar below his eye was starting to look much better, despite the stitches that were still sticking out of it. Thankfully however, the doctor would be removing them sometime later during the week.

"So." Arnold said, trying to spark up a conversation." You feeling okay?"

Helga wanted to tell him yes, but at the same time she was feeling nervous about going to school. After the run in with Rhonda yesterday, she was worried what people were gonna say. Especially since her and Arnold were officially dating now.

"Oh, I'm just peachy Arnold." She said in a small voice as she focused her eyes on the street in front of her.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" Arnold replies as he took one of her free hands, interlacing her fingers with hers. Her hand was freezing cold in his, but he didn't care. She needed to feel the touch of his hand.

Helga felt herself calm down a bit, feeling his warm hand interlaced with hers. Still, she couldn't help but feel butterflies rise in her stomach as they continued on their way to the school.

"Hey guys!" A familiar voice suddenly said from behind them. The couple looked back to see Gerald and Phoebe running at them at full speed.

Before Helga could react, Phoebe ran into her and wrapped her best friend into a powerful hug.

"You look like you're getting better." Gerald said with a warm smile as he and Arnold did their traditional handshake.

"Thanks man." Arnold said in a small voice." Guess it's time for everyone to see it now."

Helga and Phoebe walked in front of the two best friends now as they talked.

"Oh come on Arnold." Gerald said, trying to cheer him up." Everyone knows what happened and they all feel terrible for you! I hope they didn't disturb you though. I told them not to bother you!"

"It's fine Gerald." Arnold said with a small chuckle now. He was starting to feel better already." I just got a few texts, and calls. Nothing else."

"Well good." Gerald said before he suddenly raised an eyebrow at Arnold, giving him an inside look. He then looked to Helga, who was a few feet away from them now and back to Arnold.

"Is it true?" He said in almost a whisper as he looked back at Helga again.

"What are you talking about Gerald?" Arnold asked in a low tone as well.

"What I mean is, is Helga living with you now?"

Arnold almost stopped in his tracks. How did anyone know that already?! They hadn't told anyone that yet!

"Okay listen." Arnold said in the same low tone with a sigh." That is true. But! I don't know how that secret got out!"

"I mean I'm not mad about it." Gerald whispered back." I thought about it over the weekend and Pataki is good for you man."

Arnold looked away from Gerald and back to Helga in front of him. She looked so happy talking to Phoebe. So calm and collected. It was rare to see her like that nowadays. She seemed almost like she was worried about something most of the time now. Although Arnold really couldn't figure out why…

"Dude, are you staring at your girlfriend's ass?"

Arnold playfully elbowed Gerald as he felt his cheeks burn with blush." Stop it Gerald." He whispered to him in an annoyed, yet still playful, voice.

"Sorry man. Had to do it!" Gerald said as he giggled silently.

"Anyways." Gerald said as he choked down a laugh." What I was gonna tell you is, just because I'm fine with you and Pataki, doesn't mean that everyone else will be."

"What are you talking about, Gerald?" Arnold asked, raising a brow.

"What I mean is." Gerald said looking to Helga, making sure she couldn't hear him." That after you two broke up the first time, Helga wasn't exactly everyone's favorite person."

"Oh yeah, right." Arnold said looking to the ground in disappointment.

"But look buddy." Gerald said, placing a supportive hand on his friend's shoulder." Me and Phoebe will have your backs. Don't worry about a thing."

"Whatever you say Gerald." Arnold said, forcing a smile onto his lips.

…

"Oh my God…" Lila said in shock as he covered her open mouth.

"Jesus, what the hell happened to you two?" Harold said as he looked at the two of them in shock.

"Gee Wilkers. You two okay?" Stinky said as he nervously approached the two.

"Oh my God, so I guess it is true..." Eugene said as he and Sheena approached them.

"Hey Arnold, when you get a chance, I need to talk to you about something." Sid said in a low voice. Arnold could only guess that he was talking about the fact that Helga was now living with him.

"Okay, okay." Gerald said as he stepped in front of the two blondes." Enough questions. If they wanted to talk, then they would have already. They're just trying to get their books from their lockers!"

Gerald wasn't lying. All Helga and Arnold were trying to do was get to their lockers, grab their books, and get to class. They had both stayed silent, even though all the questions and comments were being thrown at them.

Arnold looked at Helga and she just sent him a nervous look back. He knew she wasn't ready to open up to everyone. So, he wouldn't either. She needed more time.

"Awww." Harold whined as he crossed his arms across his chest." I came here to get some answers, and they won't even talk. That's not fair."

Patty then elbowed Harold roughly, sending him a scowl." Shut up." She growled at him in a low voice.

"Your girlfriend's right Harold." Gerald said as he also crossed his arms." If they wanted to talk, they would have already."

Arnold couldn't lie to himself, it was pretty cool that Gerald and Phoebe were standing their ground, protecting them. It was almost like he and Helga were two movie stars and Gerald and Phoebe were their bodyguards. Protecting them from the fans that wanted to squeeze answers and truths out of them like dirty rats.

"Oh come on Phoebe!" Rhonda said in an annoyed tone as she crossed her arms." I'm telling you, Helga attacked me yesterday. Something is bad off with her."

"I'll tell you what Rhonda!" Phoebe said angrily. Her small voice was starting to get louder." Helga went through something very traumatic last Friday night!"

"I know what happened to her Phoebe. Shoot, everyone in the whole school knows." Rhonda said as she looked around and all the other teens nodded." We just wanted to know what her and Arnold have going on, and why she is living with him now!"

That's when the hallway got completely silent. Gerald and Phoebe both looked at Rhonda in shock as she put a smug look on her face. She then looked back out into the crowd of people to see that they all had a shocked look on their faces as well.

Arnold looked at Helga and saw her cheeks turning red.' Uh oh. She's about to snap!'

"Rhonda, that's none of your business." Phoebe said, breaking the silence.

"We all know it's true!" Rhonda said as she looked back out to the crowd of people." Actually, I'll bet she's probably sleeping in the same bed with Arnold! There's no telling what they do while they're alone!"

Arnold tried to hide the red that was forming on his cheeks. The red was from embarrassment, but also from the anger that was building up inside of him. Who was Rhonda to sneak around and spy on them like that?! It was none of her business in the first place!

"Alright Rhonda, that's enough!" Gerald said angrily." Cut it out!"

"Oh no I won't!" Rhonda said, still wearing that smug smile." I'm just telling everyone the truth they want. The fact that Helga and Arnold have been screwing each other's brains out behind everyone's backs! There's no telling how long this has been going on!"

"YOU SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH RIGHT NOW MISS RHONDA LLOYD!"

Arnold looked over to see Helga walking angrily towards Rhonda. However, Gerald and Phoebe held her back.

"You have no idea what Arnold and I have had to go through, just this weekend alone!" Helga said angrily as she glared at Rhonda.

"Oh, I'm sure you two went through plenty." Rhonda said calmly." But, I'm sure after it was all over, you and Arnold just continued to rip each other's clothes off like wild animals!"

"Okie dokie miss Rhonda. You're going a little too far with this!" Stinky said angrily as he glared at Rhonda now.

"Oh, I am! And she's not!" She said pointing at Helga, who was looking at her with a fire in her eyes now.

"You know, I bet this girl wouldn't even do anything." Rhonda said as she started to slowly step towards Helga now." She always talks such a big game, but she never backs it. You know I bet I could-" SMACK

Well, Rhonda had done it. She had gotten within striking distance of Helga, and Helga had taken advantage of it.

"OH MY GOD!" Rhonda shrieked as she grabbed her bloody nose." My nose! You broke my nose!"

"That's what you get ,you bitch!" Helga yelled angrily at Rhonda. Gerald and Phoebe just looked at each other with a nervous look as they slowly released Helga

Meanwhile, Arnold stood dumbfounded at his locker. Not a single eye was on him anymore. Now everyone was staring at the bratty rich girl sitting on the ground with a bloody nose. That's also when he noticed the teacher that was approaching them…

…

"A whole week?!"

Helga stared wide eyed at her principal. Mr.Newman was staring right back at her, with a large frown on his face.

He was a large man. A VERY large man, in fact. He was a Caucasian man with a large white beard.

He had huge thick eyebrows to go with a completely bald head.

"That's right, Miss Pataki." He said in a very deep voice." You've violated some very strict school policies. You assaulted a girl in the hallway!"

"Oh, you would've done the same thing too!" Helga growled back at the man as she stood up from the small blue chair she had been sitting in.

His office looked similar to Mr Wartz's back at P.S.118. It was a small room with one large desk and not many other decorations. There was a small, empty bookshelf behind his desk, but that was all the furniture in his office.

"She was talking about something she doesn't even understand!" Helga said, rolling her eyes and crossing arms across her chest.

"Young lady." Principal Newman said as he also crossed his arms." I understand that you went through a lot this weekend."

"You don't know crap!" Helga yelled at the man." If you knew half of what I went through this weekend, then I wouldn't even be in your office right now!"

Principal Newman, seeing he was losing the argument, did what every other adult does in this situation.

"You know what Miss Pataki! Get home and don't come back until next week! Maybe a week away from everyone will give you a change of heart!"

Helga just rolled her eyes. It took everything in her power to not flip the man off as he sat back in his chair, giving her a smug look.

Outside, Arnold had been listening to all the bickering. He had skipped the first period just to make sure she was okay. However, when she stepped out of his office, he could see that she clearly wasn't.

Her hair looked to be a mess, her face was full red with anger, and her fists were white from how hard she had been clenching them.

Not knowing what else to do, Arnold just enveloped her into a warm hug." You okay?" He asked as he held her in a tight embrace.

"Oh yeah, just peachy." She said in a sarcastic tone. As she felt Arnold gently pull away from the hug.

"Yeah, well. I heard you're gonna be gone for a week." Arnold said, giving her a small smile. He was trying his best to try and cheer her up.

Helga just shrugged." It's okay, I think I actually need it. I'm not ready for all these questions and people."

"Your right." Arnold said as he nodded." I can deal with them."

"You sure?" Helga asked, a bit concerned. She knew everyone would bombard him with questions. It would be a lot of the football head to deal with alone.

"I'm positive." He replied, giving her a warm smile in return." Now, you want me to walk you home?"

Of course Helga wanted him to walk her home. After all, she felt so much safer when she was with him. Especially with Curly still out on the loose. But, as always, she couldn't let him know that. Plus, he still had class!!

"No, I'll be fine." She said with a warm smile." You have class anyways, paste for brains."

Arnold just smiled." Whatever you say, Helga."

…

Thankfully, none of the teachers decided to bombard Arnold with a bunch of questions throughout the day. They obviously knew that he was going through something, and he needed to be left alone. Especially after they saw what happened in the hallway, earlier that morning.

Coach Johnson had also told Arnold that he'd sit him for the rest of the season, even if Sammy got hurt at any point in the last two games of the season. He didn't think Arnold was ready to be back on the football field. Heck, he even gave Arnold the whole week off from practice. And Arnold was eternally grateful for that.

As for his friends and classmates, they seemed to avoid him through the day. Everyone just kinda stared at him awkwardly as he passed by them in the hallways. Plus, with Gerald and Phoebe by his side the whole day, no one dared to try and question him. Of course, Harold apologized to him, but Arnold was pretty sure it was just because Patty was making him do it.

Either way, the day has went pretty smoothly for Arnold.

Now it was the end of the day. Since he was relieved of football practice for the week, Arnold stopped by his locker to drop off his books.

He quietly approached his locker in the now empty hallway of Hillwood High. He rubbed his still sore face as he started to unlock the combination on his locker with his other free hand.

He was beyond ready to go see Helga back at the boarding house. He hoped Miriam wouldn't be mad at her. Hopefully, Helga explained what happened in a calm manner, and Miriam understood her.

Arnold opened his locker, but he suddenly dropped his books. His eyes widened at what sat in front of him.

It was the picture. The same picture that flew out of his pocket sometimes during the night.

Arnold picked up the picture and held it in his hands. It was the same picture all right. Helga walking down the street. Earbuds in her ears. Her hands shoved in her pockets.

He then flipped the picture over to see the same exact note "ONE WEEK!" Still in the same exact writing style he had found it in.

That's when he noticed the note that had been sitting under the picture.

With a shaky hand, he reached out and grabbed the note.

It read:" Thought you might want this. I guess you dropped it somewhere! P.S. Your girlfriend is really hot!"

Arnold felt his knuckles turn white as he clenched them by his side. His face was also turning red with anger.

"You son of a bitch." He muttered to himself.

Authors Note: I'm back football heads! Sorry for the shorter chapter, but I kinda felt like it was needed! Anyways, still hope you guys enjoy! As always, don't forget to drop a review, and I'll see you guys next time!