Disclaimer: The Hey Arnold characters belong to Craig Bartlett, and to him alone. That his characters have inspired such hubris in me that would see me attempt a fan fiction based on them, speaks volumes of my reverence of the man.

ICYMI: Another heart-to-heart and an unusual proposal map the way forward for Arnold and Helga.

And so we begin the next chapter, Ladies and Gentlemen!

8. (Re)acquaintance

"…let's be strangers to one another."

It sounded like a good idea the previous evening. In fact, it sounded worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize given the sheer magnitude of what it was meant to accomplish.

"We've forgotten having ever met each other. All the drama, all the conflict, it doesn't exist anymore."

As it was with most of Arnold's ideas, the premise was simple. At least it seemed so when he first proposed it. Plus, it must have been a sound idea because Helga didn't laugh it into oblivion. She'd heard him out, she'd even kissed him for suggesting it!

"We make a fresh start."

He'd fallen asleep anticipating the joy of achieving that goal. The anticipation may even have contributed to him having a great night's sleep. It was only when he woke up the following morning when he realized: how do we make it happen?

Waking up a less tired, more healed, clearer-headed version of himself also brought with it a dose of pragmatism. Suddenly there were practical issues to consider. First was the setting: where would be most appropriate, and how could he be assured she'd even be there? We're supposed to be strangers now, he reminded himself. Meeting her was supposed to play out like a chance encounter, or so he presumed. Next he knew, he was fretting the little details. What would he say? How would he act? How much effort would he put in to seek her out without looking like he was stalking her? How could he be sure he wouldn't blow his chance? A second chance at a first impression.

Dammit, he was now second-guessing himself. Then he remembered how conflicted, how stilted Helga herself could act around him during the time she "hated" him. Is this how Helga was thinking every time she tried being nice to me? Am I now in her position?

Oh, the irony. Oh, the rub.

xxXXXxx

Helga Pataki, meanwhile, was faring only slightly better. Like Arnold, she had woken up to a sobering new reality. Exciting, yes. Promising, assuredly. But for now, sobering.

Yesterday evening had marked a significant step in their relationship, even if it was a symbolic, mutually consented step backward. It was a chance to rebuild.

Helga Pataki was savoring her last horizontal moments in bed before she'd have to rise and prepare for school. She was smiling at Arnold, who was looking back at her from within her locket. The locket itself was dangling lazily by its chain, held up by a big toe extended toward the ceiling. She smiled as the footballhead's picture swayed gently from side to side. Hypnotizing her, transporting her to worlds of love and romance and trembling girlhoods.

I wonder how he'll approach this reacquaintance act, she let her mind drift in wistful whimsy.

He's probably lying awake, thinking of just the right time and place for us to bump into each other. 'Accidentally', of course!

Her smile quickly shrank as her realization grew. He's second-guessing himself. He's treating it like it was another strategy, sweating the details. Oh god, this may take a while!

It wasn't as if she didn't appreciate his need to get their (re)acquaintance right. If anything, it spoke volumes of how much she'd come to mean to him. But maybe she was being too hard on him. Maybe she'd just need to show some more patience with him and let him be him in executing whatever scheme his cute little footballhead was concocting. After all, she'd been waiting since Urban Tots for his acceptance: what was a little more time?

Or maybe I should take the decision out of his hands, she pondered before deciding that it was time to get on her feet.

The front door of The Sunset Arms swung open to reveal Arnold to his best friend and to the rest of Hillwood. Gerald noted Arnold's new facial features – swollen left cheek and right eye – whereafter he voiced his concern as calmly and as subtly as possible: "What the hell happened to you?"

He'd foregone the greeting and the handshake to get to this question. But before Arnold could attempt an answer, Gerald followed up, his voice now conveying a complete lack of surprise: "So I take it your talk with Helga didn't go so well."

And before Arnold could respond to Gerald's second comment, another one came forth to vie for his attention. "Because…if that's how you came out of it, then you were doing something way wrong!"

"Wait, how did you know Helga and I wanted to meet up yesterday?" Arnold parried Gerald's comments back at him.

"I didn't," admitted Number 33. "But Phoebe suspected you might. Something about you and Helga at a crossroad and needing to figure some stuff out. So I'm guessing it didn't go too well, did it?"

He studied Arnold's new look and took the opportunity to add another little zinger: "Guess she's escalated since that slap."

Only, Arnold did not see the humor in the statement as he sought to correct the matter. "Gerald," he began, perhaps a bit too defensively for his own good, "Helga didn't do this. This was Wolfgang."

"Wolfgang? Oh, this just gets better and better!" Gerald reacted to the new twist which would have sounded incredulous had it not come from his straight-arrow best friend. He eventually conceded: "Well, at least the walk to school won't be a dull one."

Oh, it wasn't. Arnold informed Gerald of his altercation with the two Fifth-Graders. Hence the facial swelling, as well as the slight limp courtesy of Wolfgang and the trash can lid. Arnold's account of the fight itself survived Gerald's stringent scrutiny and cross-examination. However, the latter noted how his friend wasn't quite as forthcoming with reasons for the fight taking place in the first place. This aspect needed addressing.

"And what in the name of Malcolm X possessed you to start something with Wolfgang and Edmund? I don't care if you've got your karate! It was still two-on-one against bigger and stronger opponents! Something must have set you off!"

Arnold remained unresponsive. Unfortunately for him, he was only providing further fodder for his friend's continued questioning.

"OK, let me take a stab at it," Gerald began. "They followed you, you ran into them, doesn't really matter. They want to give you hell over Helga slapping you – You can stop me anytime I'm wrong!– then suddenly they turn to Helga and say some shit about her that doesn't fly with you. How'm I doing so far, by the way?"

He'd picked up how Arnold hadn't interjected in any way yet, and so continued.

"Next thing you know…POW!"

Still nothing from Arnold. Neither a confirmation nor a denial. Gerald was irritated into spinning in front of his friend and grabbing him by the shoulders before looking him dead in the eyes: "Look man, enough!"

Even Gerald's patience with Arnold and his idiosyncrasies was finite, and right now it had been exhausted.

"That fight started over Helga and we both know it!" There was a decisiveness in his look telling Arnold that his conclusion was no longer open to any counterargument. "Arnold, just tell me straight," Gerald resumed his line of questioning. "Despite everything you've had to endure from her since Pre-K, are you now falling for her?"

He turned to notice a new look in Arnold, one tending towards fear as if a deep, dark, innocence- and reality-destroying secret was about to be loosed upon an unsuspecting world. "Look," Gerald very quickly moved to clarify his position. "We're friends, we're brothers, so there's no judgment here. I mean, you and Pataki is messed up all the way to high heaven, but you're the brother to me that Jamie O never will be and I love you too much to not respect your decision!"

Gerald had given Arnold no choice but to relent. A pause and a breath later: "Gerald, will you hear me out, no matter what?"

"When have I not?"

"The truth is…I think…I mean, these last few days…Helga and Patty, the slap, Wolfgang and Edmund…I got to thinking. I mean they made me think all the way back to Pre-K about me and Helga. And I mean think. Over and over and over."

He paused to see that he still held Gerald's rapt concentration, and so continued.

"And every time I came back to the same conclusion…"

Despite Gerald's declaration of brotherhood – which, be in no doubt, was absolute – he instinctively groaned: "Don't tell me…"

"…that I like-like Helga. That I'm…in love with her."

They kept walking in silence for a while after that (dud?) bombshell before Gerald rekindled the conversation. "So have you told her about this earth-shattering revelation?" he asked in a now-calm voice suspiciously lacking any sense of drama or histrionics.

Arnold had his answer for that question already mapped out. He'd touch on what happened between him and Helga after her fight with Patty, then he'd also offer some of the lesser aspects of the first discussion in his room. He'd avoid the second one, the most recent one, as best he could. Even Gerald's understanding would be strained in trying to countenance the outcome and eventual agreement resulting from that talk.

That was his plan…which came to no fruition as Gerald followed up with: "Because I think that's one discussion you two should have. Right now!"

Arnold looked back at Gerald to see him pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. Arnold followed the direction of the thumb and – good lord! – there was Helga in the flesh, some distance behind them. She froze upon visual acquisition, as did Arnold. The latter's action also caused Gerald to stop.

"Spotted her behind us when we went face-to-face," Gerald explained while still keeping his eyes front. "Hell of a detour she must have taken. Reckon she's been following us since your place. Reckon she might have the same things on her mind that you have on yours. Good luck, brother."

He offered his hand for a long-overdue secret shake – which Arnold accepted – before continuing on his way.

Arnold was left to turn back to look at Helga, who remained rooted in place. A bit of a pause followed before she raised her hand to wave him a shy greeting, with a smile to match. He returned the gesture with a smile that mirrored hers. He then watched as she approached him.

xxXXXxx

It figured: she hadn't factored in Tall Hair Boy. If not for him, she could have staged a 'coincidental' encounter. Doing so, she'd force the footballhead's hand, force him right into the scenario that he himself proposed to her.

No planning. No fretting. No second-guessing. Straight to the point; no rehearsal.

Then Gerald freakin' Johanssen had to enter stage right to kibosh the works. OK OK! Not 'kibosh', just…'delay'. Not a train wreck…absolutely, positively not a train wreck!

Well, whatever. She'd just keep her distance, blend into the background. Do nothing to garner any attention.

But hey, old habits and all…

Instinctively she began observing the footballhead in her usual soft-focus forensic detail. His magnificent being. His somewhat labored stride. Poor thing, guess his leg is still recovering. She observed the conversation between the friends. She gathered from Arnold's punching movements that he was recalling yesterday's fight for Gerald's amazement and enjoyment.

Then she watched the mood between the two turn more serious if the change in body language was any reliable metric. Things seemed to get really serious when Gerald spun to get into Arnold's face for another round of his wisdom. Were they talking about her? Did she dare consider that possibility? It would explain why Gerald had become so critical all of a sudden. He always was critical of Arnold's romantic interests, all the way from Ruth McDougal. Why should she be any different? If anything, she more than anyone was worthy of his cynicism.

From there they continued. Until they stopped again, and Gerald directed Arnold's attention…shit, he was pointing the footballhead her way. Arnold turned around and next she knew, neither of them could avert their nervous eyes from each other. Gerald didn't turn around for some reason; in fact, he continued on his way to leave his boy to his fate.

And the best Helga could offer Arnold was a feeble wave and smile, gestures he returned her way.

OK, Helga Ol' Girl, she resolved. This is your one shot! This is the second chance you could only dream of! This is for all the marbles! Don't blow it!

"Hi there," greeted Helga, doing her all to shroud the bundle of nerves she really was.

"Hello," acknowledged Arnold, equally as apprehensive.

"Sooo…" Helga braced herself to continue, "you know, Kid? I don't think I've seen you before. I mean, I walk this route to school daily."

What a lie: the detour she had taken to be here could as well been measured in parsecs. The only thing counting in her favor was that she and Arnold were supposed to be blank slates to one another. Arnold seemed to be keeping in character, which was reason enough for her not to be discouraged.

"Oh?" was all Arnold could manage, and immediately he looked uncertain whether or not he was going off-script. Or for that matter…if there was indeed a script in the first place.

Still, he couldn't just leave it at 'oh', so: "Well, that is rather strange."

"And why's that?" Helga asked back. "'Strange' because someone can be that blind or ignorant?"

It was clear from her delivery of that question, that Helga's sassy self and her more demure character were arguing over who was in charge. Thankfully, that little aspect went unnoticed by Arnold for whatever reason.

"Wait!" Arnold quickly countered. "I was talking about me, not you! I'm the reason it's strange!"

"Wait, what?" Helga blurted back, now unsure of where the acting had ended and the truth had begun. Her little outburst was enough for Arnold to pause and reconsider, before resuming.

"I mean…for me not to have noticed such a pretty girl who's been walking past my front door for so long…"

And as he trailed off, he noticed Helga's pupils dilate and her cheeks redden at his remark. Dammit, he cursed to himself, too soon? Still, he read from her flustered expression that she had merely been caught off guard and was not necessarily averse to a bit of flattery.

"You know, only someone truly dense wouldn't notice something that obvious," Arnold continued. "A real paste-for-brains, you could say."

"'Paste-for-brains'?" Now Helga was somewhat amused as she repeated the term with a light chuckle. "That's an unusual term. How'd you ever come across that one?"

"Oh, some kid at school likes to use it a lot. Guess it kinda rubbed off on me."

And just like that, Arnold had signaled a turning point in this conversation. He'd made Helga chuckle a little bit louder, causing her to relax a little bit more. Her newfound relaxation would show in her more natural delivery.

"So you really meant it when you called me pretty?" she asked. "We've only just met. I mean, are you really that desperate to reach for such lines so soon?"

"Hey, I can only call 'em like I see 'em." – With that said, he extended a hand her way – "By the way, I'm Arnold."

Right, right! This was the moment towards which they were building: the introduction. Helga played her part to perfection as she took his hand and replied: "Pleased to meet you, Arnold. I'm Helga. Helga Pataki."

"Shortman," Arnold filled in his surname, "and the feeling is mutual. It's very nice to meet you too."

"Shortman, you say? That's an interesting surname, English if I'm not mistaken."

"Yeah," Arnold admitted, encouraged that they'd transitioned to the small-talk phase. "How about Pataki?"

"Hungarian," Helga responded, her voice more natural still. "Means 'near a creek'. Well you know, better near the creek than up it."

She evoked a snort of laughter from Arnold, in which she joined him. Maybe this act of getting reacquainted was a great idea all along. Which reminded her:

"Listen, not wanting to sound all self-conscious…but did you mean it when you called me pretty?"

Except, she was being self-conscious. Act or no act, she needed to be sure that she had heard him correctly. And he obliged her, his tone as sincere and smile as beautiful as only he could manage.

"Absolutely. I reckon only a complete idiot would think otherwise."

"A regular paste-for-brains, wouldn't you say," she offered to complement his previous statement.

"Nah, I was thinking more along the lines of 'geek bait'."

They shared some more laughter over 'geek bait' before Helga continued the conversation with: "Let me guess: from the same kid who came up with 'paste-for-brains'? Sounds like someone had anger management issues."

She then realized that she might have gotten careless and that she might have forced Arnold to break character – together with the flow and nature of the dialogue. But again she was to be surprised by Arnold's resourcefulness.

"Well, she did. But it turns out she's really cool to hang around with," he recalled. "At least she was, but then we had a falling out and kinda drifted apart."

She wasn't sure whether his accompanying melancholy look was an act or if he was displaying genuine emotion. Certainty came her way when she realized with whom she was dealing. This is Arnold Shortman we're talking about! He wears his feelings openly; there's no way he'd be able to fake that!

Regardless of that, she now had to respond. "Oh yeah? Well…her loss, I suppose."

"You think so?"

"Of course!" was her emphatic reply. "Look, I've only just met you but you already seem like a swell guy to me. I figure anyone who'd want to have a falling out with you ought to have their head examined and I'd challenge you to prove me wrong! Plus…since you think I'm pretty, it must mean you're an excellent judge of character!"

His smile at her response was positively radiant – nourishment for her very soul.

"It's your bow that does it for me," Arnold elaborated, his smile still well intact. "It's pink like your dress and it looks so pretty on you."

It required all of Helga's resolve and discipline not to melt at that cheeky little callback. Only her fluttering eyelids betrayed any sort of imprimatur thereof.

So now we're dueling, are we? Trying to catch each other out, eh?

But any attempt by her at a comeback was stymied by Arnold as he slightly sheepishly pointed out: "Uh, by the way…you think it would be OK if we give each other back our hands?"

Doing so, he directed Helga to the fact that they were still holding hands; they hadn't yet released their grips from the initial handshake. "Oh!", as they hurriedly pulled away to rectify that situation. Wow…super awkward, as illustrated by them suddenly staring all over the place while at a loss for words. Much hemming and hawing later, Helga ventured forth with:

"You know, Arnold – that is your name, right? You know, I don't think I got to make my point at the beginning. I mean…I did mention how I've been walking past your place for a long time and I'm only now realizing that you exist and what an idiot I've been for not noticing such a handsome" – she had started rambling – "and, now I discover, charming boy, any sooner."

She paused for a deep breath; she'd hyperventilated quite severely during that last impassioned passage.

"But do you want to know the really crazy part?" she resumed, no less passionate. "And I'm talking ker-razy here! I'm talking straitjacket, padded cell, throw away the key, shoot the key maker just to make sure! The real crazy part is that the moment I first saw you, I already felt a connection with you. Like I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I passed up on this opportunity."

Where does the acting end and the truth begin?

She followed up in a more demure voice: "And now that I've started talking to you, I find you're every bit the person I thought you'd be! And well…if you can somehow look beyond my crazy side, I'd…I'd very much like to get to know you better."

Throughout her raving, Arnold's smile had not diminished, not even slightly. Neither did he miss his cue, such as cues existed in what he and Helga were undertaking. "And I'd like just as much to get to know you too. And don't worry. I love it when someone isn't afraid of being their true self."

Where does the acting end and the truth begin?

Helga was beside herself with joy at that line. So much so that after a few uncertain seconds, she broke character to grab Arnold by the shoulders and pull him in to kiss him flush on the lips. While Helga had her eyes closed and was savoring the moment, Arnold was a portrait of open-eyed confusion. Five-or-so seconds later, Helga ended the kiss and immediately questioned the wisdom behind her move upon seeing Arnold's dazed and confused expression.

Way to go, Helga, she internally self-flagellated. You just couldn't keep it under control and now you've gone and ruined the whole shebang!

Or did she? Because she then watched as Arnold's dazed look gradually lessened, giving way to a leery smile. "Wow!" he eventually spoke in a tone that mirrored his expression. "Being a bit forward, aren't we?"

"I…I…" Helga fumbled for an explanation. "Sorry, I don't know what came over me. And I know…I know we've just met, but…I just took one look at you and you looked just so kissable and…well, I just couldn't help myself!"

"Hey, I'm not complaining," Arnold reassured her. "I mean, if this is what I've got to look forward to from getting to know you, then sign me up!"

Helga's relief was palpable, and Arnold's follow-up would do her even more favors. "Say, we have to get going or else we'll be late for school. But I'd love to continue talking with you along the way. I just hope you don't mind walking at a not very quick pace. Leg injury, you see."

"Hey, it's not like anything important happens there anyway," Helga joked back. As they began their slog toward education, she added: "Hey listen. Seeing that you don't mind me being forward, well…tomorrow's Saturday. You wanna hang with me? You know…arcade, park, I know this one junkyard with some cool – if somewhat funky – mud features…"

"You know what? That sounds like a plan."

When Gerald arrived at P.S. 118, he quickly found Phoebe in and amongst a congregation at the main entrance, scanning the area. Perhaps she'd been unaware of Helga's little detour as she appeared to be keeping watch for her best friend. Whatever her reason, she was there where he needed her to be as he walked straight through her greeting to hug her as tightly as he could.

"Gerald!" she yelped in response. Not that she was necessarily objecting to her boyfriend's action, but she didn't know the context for said action. "Whatever has possessed you this morning!"

"Babe," Gerald explained while not relinquishing his hold, "the world's about to end today and I'd much rather be with the girl I love when it does."

"Gerald, whatever do you mean?"

"You'll see soon enough," was all reply he offered as he held on to his diminutive girlfriend.

Sure enough, she did eventually. She witnessed Arnold and Helga approaching the schoolyard, only they seemed to be all chatty and chummy and all smiles between one another. Her reaction thereto was as profound an "Oh my!" as she had ever heard herself issue.

Unlike Gerald, she regarded the spectacle playing out in front of her as an inevitability. She was, however, completely thrown off by the timing. She distinctly recalled the tentative steps she laid out for Helga in discussing romantic matters with Arnold. One topic at a time, a gradual build-up. That was supposed to be the strategy.

But this?

Too soon, way too soon. How could they have made that amount of progress in barely a day? Too much for her to fathom. Too much to compute.

"Oh my!"

Overwhelming her, forcing her to reciprocate her boyfriend's embrace. Although Gerald's back was turned to Arnold and Helga, he knew exactly why Phoebe was returning his hug.

"See what I mean?" he asked, not expecting an answer.

"Gerald," responded Phoebe, "let's just savor this moment while we still can."

And here we are, all you wonderful readers! Another chapter concluded. My apologies for the delay, but I had an op two weeks ago that set back my writing quite significantly. Not really the op itself, more the two days I spent working the anesthetist's painkillers, muscle relaxants, and barbiturates out of my system. To say the least, I was feeling groovy for all the wrong reasons. About all I could do was read chapters and post reviews. Even when I finally started this chapter, it took some time before I settled into a groove and the words started flowing.

We're not quite done yet, since two loose ends still need to be addressed. I hope to have that done by the next chapter, but then I also said that this one would be the last one.

Anyway, onward to the reviews!

The J.A.M. a.k.a. Numbuh i: I don't know if it counts as 'snapping', but Arnold has told off Helga at least twice for her behavior towards him in the series, the most fondly remembered example occurring in 'Summer Love'.

acosta perez jose ramiro: Yeah, that's how I approached Arnold in the chapter. His willingness to put up with Helga must have had more to do with than just wanting to do the right thing. I mean, I'm glad he returned her feelings in TJM but I'm sure he must have been harboring his own feelings towards her throughout the series.

Guest: Thank you. That was exactly what I hoped to address in the chapter.

Clau Calcetin: I hope this chapter cleared up at least some of your doubts with them putting their pasts behind them. Of course, there was nothing stopping them from making some sneaky references to said past...

So now we go to the notes.

Helga dangling the locket from her toe was only added in after the chapter was completed; originally she'd be holding it in her hand. Then I happened across a song I hadn't heard in a long time ('Tip Taps Tip' by Halcali) that I recognized as the third closing theme for Eureka Seven. Nostalgia then got the better of me and I watched the third closing of that title, which made me think: 'Nope, Helga must dangle that locket from her toe!'

OK, so 'parsecs' was a deliberate exaggeration in quantifying Helga's detour. But hey, it does get the point across, right?

In writing Gerald for this chapter, I considered all the times in the series where he would voice objections to Arnold pursuing any given girl. At least, I thought that was his objection. I realized it's much more nuanced than that. Gerald realizes that Arnold always wears his heart on his sleeve and as such is very vulnerable to having it broken. And being Arnold's best friend, he'll do whatever he can to prevent that from happening, usually by trying to be a voice of reason. Of course, he's not immune to any of this ('Gerald vs. Jamie O'). Nevertheless, I hope to have made apparent that Gerald is always looking out for his boy's best interests.

So that's it for the notes. To the Deezer list, with some help from YouTube. Apparently, Deezer isn't all that big on Miles Gilderdale, nor on China Black and Halcali:

Stars – China Black

Tip Taps Tip – Halcali

Love in a Peaceful World – Level 42

Strange Girl – Miles Gilderdale

Cupid – Rowlene

Say You Love Me – Simply Red

Advice For The Young At Heart – Tears For Fears

And that wraps up this chapter. Thank you, one and all, for sticking along for the ride. See you next time.