A Jungle, wild, green and teeming with Wildlife. This is we're Arnold found himself as he ran, dashed and bounced through the greenery, slashing fiercely with his machete in hand.
The blonde boy was looking for something, a treasure? He thought as he slashed through a thick layer of overgrown vines to find a cave entrance. As Arnold walked into the cave. He realised it was a temple as the torches on both sides lit up to reveal the face of a divine entity. As he walked in deeper, through the cold, dry corridors and through the vast caves he came to a crypt atop of a staircase. Pushing it open, a bright, golden light blinded him as he pushed the crypt open fully. As he fumbled around he grabbed a small cold object in the crypt, the source of the light.
As his eyes adjusted to the small object. Arnold realises it was a small golden heart shaped locket. With a picture of himself in the middle.
"What!?" Is all the blonde boy could muster before he heard someone call his name over and over.
"Hey Arnold! Hey Arnold! Hey Arnold!"
As he turned and turned he couldn't find the source of the person calling until he woke up.
"Ugh!" Is all Arnold could muster before he looked over to his alarm, switching it off, slightly annoyed as he woke up.
"What a dream..." he said to himself before turning around and stuffing his head into his pillow as fresh memories of his dream played over and over.
Who would keep a locket with a picture of me in it?
He thought, trying to guess what the dream meant. Maybe it was his mother's he wondered. Or maybe it was his father's? The idea played around in his head before he realised he needed to get ready for school that day.
As Arnold got up and ready for school, he found his mind wondering again. Not to the dream, but to a certain girl, a bully.
Helga G Pataki.
It had been a few weeks since April Fools and Arnold couldn't help but think about his tormentor these days. Some days it was easier than most. Especially with how much meaner she had been since the April Fools dance.
But that was Helga, and ever since that day atop FTi Arnold couldn't help but see her in a different light. She seemed softer, brighter and on some days he could swear she was beautiful. He shook those thoughts out his head straight away. This was Helga G Pataki after all, not Ruth or Lila and after all it didn't feel the same.
As Arnold finished up, he went downstairs do grab some toast before leaving for school.
As Arnold reached P.S. 118, and eventually To class. The day played out as normal. Though he couldn't help but steal the odd glance every once in awhile, looking at Helga usually earned him a snarky remark and a few spitballs for good measure but it didn't quite sting as much as it use to, in fact it seemed oddly pleasant to know she was still there behind him, ever present. As the school bell rang to signal it was launch time, Helga barged past him making sure to hit her book heavy backpack off his football shaped head as she headed for the door.
"Wait, let me get the straight! You're thinking about her?" The loud boy said in shock before his blonde friend shushed him.
"Yeah, Gerald! I don't know, it just feels like she's different ever since FTi" Arnold said as he took another sip of his yahoo soda and watched as Gerald looked slightly annoyed before looking over to where Helga and Phoebe was seated.
"I dunno man, she looks like Helga G Pataki to me! She's just as mean as ever too! Look how she's been ever since April fools! You were prime target number one for a week straight Arnold!" He stated, taking a bite out of his cafeteria pizza that with every bite he was more convinced it was cardboard with vague pizza sauce and cheese on top.
After a few moments of silence, Arnold decided to come clean.
"Ever since FTi I can't help it Gerald. I find myself staring at her, then I think about her and how she helped us save the neighbourhood Gerald. I mean, she's a nice person deep down! That has to count for something!" The blonde boy admitted to his friend as he stole another glance over her way.
Helga seems odd today. She wasn't her normal self in a way. Nobody noticed, but Arnold knew deep down when something was wrong with Helga. If she was just annoyed, she'd be more explosive, angry, but if something was really wrong, Helga was quiet and would avoid everyone, even him.
"Mmmh, mmmh, mh! Arnold... sounds to me like you have a crush on Helga!" Gerald stated confidently as he teased his friend who now wore a similar shade of pink on his cheeks as Helga's bow.
"No! Gerald! It's not like that I just admire what she's done for us! This isn't like Ruth or Lila! It's different! I can feel it. I just think she's a nice person deep down." Arnold was almost shouting at this point, some of the other students even looked around to see the commotion, luckily Helga was to busy playing with her meatloaf to even be bothered.
"Aright man, whatever you say Arnold" the tall haired boy finally backed down, finishing his lunch. The blonde boy on the other hand, couldn't help but ponder on what his friend said.
Geralds words bounced around in his head the rest of the day until the bell finally rang to go home. Packing up his things at his locker, Arnold couldn't help but see a glimpse of Helga through the busy school corridor. He watched as she packed her things before looking around.
Their eyes locked for a second before she creased her brow and shot Arnold a frown before looking away. In that moment, Arnold felt hurt, that felt weird to him. The name calling, the spitballs and all the rest of the bullying she had ever thrown his way never really hurt, but that frown did. It didn't look mean, there was no anger behind it. If anything she looked a little sad.
I hope she's ok. he thought, before heading off home.
As Arnold headed down the long road home back to the sunset arms he couldn't help but wonder if he would catch a glimpse of her again. It wasn't uncommon for him to see her on the walk home after all, they lived relatively close.
Turning a corner, Arnold's football head met a soft, but firm figure before he fell backward.
"Ouch!" They both said in unison as Arnold Vision slowly came back.
"You really need to watch where you're going Football-Head!!!" The blond girl boomed standing up, slapping off Arnold's hands as he tried to help her up.
"Sorry Helga! I didn't see you, I was just turning the corner and-"
"And what Arnaldo!? You forgot to use your eyes! Sheesh! You'd think you'd be able to see round corners with that head of yours! What are you even doing around this street anyways? You live that way! Or did you already knock that stupid head of yours before trying to kill me with it!" Helga started to rant, and as much as Arnold tried to listen, he couldn't. He just watched as the the girl before him shouted at him.
She smelt like Vanilla, he thought, and her breathe smelt sweet on his nostrils. Blushing, looking at Helga more. Her face looked soft, her lips looked softer, her blue eyes looked so bright. He'd never noticed how blue her eyes were, he could get lost in them. Arnold's thoughts were becoming nonsense, he couldn't think straight. He felt his cheeks heat up more as Helga got a little closer, shouting at him. She was so close at this point it gave him butterflies.
Then he was pushed out of it, a nudge that sent him a few steps back.
"CRIMENY! Are you just gonna stand there and stare at me like a creep Arnoldo! Or are you actually going to say something!?" Helga seems beyond annoyed at this point, Arnold rubbed the back of his head trying to get his thoughts in order.
"I'm sorry Helga, I just haven't been myself lately is all! Are you ok though?" He looked up to watch Helga's expression change from annoyed to downright confused.
"I just went on a rant about how much of a klutz you are and you ask me if I'm ok? Crimeny Football-head! Of course I'm fine! Not that it's any of your business!"
And there it was. The awkwardness that had been somewhat constant since FTi Helga and Arnold couldn't interact without it setting in shortly after. Awkward glances from Helga as well as himself before they would eventually part ways, he hated it. It always felt like he was leaving behind an unfinished conversation, and her warmth. Talking with Helga always brought him some warmth, and after she felt he would feel cold. The blonde boy could never explain it and it always left him somewhat upset and lonely. If he was honest with himself he would tell the blonde girl he wanted to hug her again. He liked hugging her, it felt natural of all things.
"Uh Helga... I wanted to ask you about-"
"About what Arnold! I don't have all day!" she barked at him before rubbing the bridge of her nose.
The blonde boy wanted to ask her about FTi, was it really a heat of the moment love confession? Arnold didn't want to believe such a thing existed, then again, it was Helga he was talking about. An enigma within an enigma. At the last moment, he chickened out.
"I wanted to ask you if your, um... Well... ok? You seemed a bit off today?" Arnold's word caught her by surprise.
He noticed? She thought, her tough exterior melted away, knowing that Arnold, her love could tell that something was wrong. He cared about her, and she had noticed. Ever since that stupid confession at FTi he'd been so different towards her, even going as far as that stunt on April Fools. Truthfully, she wasn't mad, actually pretty impressed and a little proud of him for that day, but she had to keep up appearances. At least, so nobody suspected how she felt about the football-head love god in front of her.
"Look Arnold, I'm fine, really! I need to get going to Pheebs. I'll see you around Arnaldo!" Before Arnold could say anything back, she pushed past him, heading toward her friends house. Leaving Arnold, looking slightly upset.
"What was up with him?" She thought.
"I don't know Pheebs! It's like he just zones out around me now!" Helga was pacing around her friend room, trying to figure out what had changed between her and her love.
"You know Helga, I think ice cream cares about you." She spoke before taking a sip of her tea.
Helga shot her friend a look before continuing.
"Arnold, caring about me!? No way! Nuh-uh! I've seen how he's acting! He's treating me like I'm some girl! With those puppy eyes he keeps giving me too? Like what even is that Pheebs! I've only ever seen him look like that at-"
"Lila, Ruth?" Phoebe interjected.
"Yeah..."
Helga's heart felt like it was going to explode, maybe Arnold felt something for her after all? A wave of happiness fell over Helga, but with that happiness came fear and dread.
What if this was just a crush, a phase?
"I mean Helga, You seen how he flirted with you at the April fools dance." Her friend said, watching Helga pace back and forth faster.
"That was a trick! He never meant any of it Pheebs!" The blond girl boomed, an annoyed tone in her voice.
As Helga paced more and more, Pheobe couldn't help but laugh a little at Helga's predicament. It was so clear to her that Arnold may finally have a crush on her, yet, here Helga was, wondering why he was being so nice to her all of a sudden. It was even more clear to Pheobe that Helga was scared. When Helga was scared she would always try to break the situation down, outsmart the situation like it was some sort of battle to be won. Here she was acting like the love of her love treating her differently was some big plot against her.
"I think that Arnold might have a crush on you Helga" she stated, taking of her glasses and cleaning them before continuing.
"I thought this was what you always wanted Helga?"
The blonde girl stopped pacing, as a cold flush set over, her nerves getting the better of her.
"I don't think I'm ready yet Pheebs" Helga answered truthfully.
"It's to soon and, what if he gets to know me and he realises I'm a monster!" Pheobe scoffed at the idea.
"You're not a monster Helga! Arnold can clearly see you aren't!" Phoebe stated looking slightly annoyed at Helga.
"Yeah well he didn't know me! How could he? After all I've bullied and tortured him for years!" Helga seemed defeated as she sat down beside her friend of the bed.
"I... I just don't think I'm ready Pheobe. I want him to love me, but I don't think I'm ready." Pheobe hugged Helga while she sat there, lost in her thoughts and emotions.
I can't stop seeing her everywhere I look*
Arnold thought as he looked up at the clouds while laying in his bed, watching as a bow shaped cloud went by, then a cloud with pigtails. Then, strangely one that looked like it had one eye-brow.
"Ugh!" He moaned before turning around to face the wall.
It had been a few hours since he'd bumped into her. The blonde boy was still haunted by her vanilla scent and her icey blues. He felt like the minute he looked into her eyes, he was lost for good.
Maybe Gerald was right? He thought. Maybe he did have a crush on Helga G Pataki after all? Thought it didn't sit right with him. These feeling felt different. It didn't feel like the same as Lila or Ruth. It was different, deeper. He cared about her so much and wanted to be around her, even if she was belittling him and calling him names, she was still with him, talking to him, and it made Arnold happy.
Maybe thinking about Helga all the time wasn't such a bad thing, he thought to himself. As glimpses of her flashed in his minds eye.
After coming to some terms with his new found feelings, Arnold went downstairs to get a glass of milk, the sunset arms was quiet tonight, but in the kitchen Phil was sitting making a small model plane at the table.
Pouring a glass of milk, Arnold felt like maybe asking his Granpa what to do was the right choice.
"Granpa" the blonde boy said quietly before setting his milk down on the table and sitting down.
"What is it Shortman? Something wrong?" Phil asked taking off his magnifying glasses and setting them down.
Arnold felt nervous in his seat before speaking.
"Well the thing is Granpa, I can't stop thinking about this girl in my class and well, she use to like me, well, like me, like me? And I think I like her now..." Arnold felt the words fall out his mouth, like they were dying to be said. Looking over, Phil folded his arms and laughed a little.
"Let me guess, Shortman... this is about the girl with the one eyebrow, isn't it?" Phil said, waving his finger above his eyebrows while he spoke, making Arnold blush.
"You could say that" the blonde boy said before continuing.
"I know she liked me, well she said she did? But then she said it was a heat of the moment confession and to just forget about it. At the time I agreed, but if I'm honest Granpa. It doesn't feel right because, well I think I like her? I just don't know if she still likes me?" Arnold looked nervous and it didn't go in noticed by the old man.
"You know Arnold. It seems like you're in between a rock and a hard place, but, have you actually talked to her about it?" Phill asked, and Arnold looked surprised at what his grandpa had asked. Sure, Arnold wanted to ask her about FTi but never thought to ask her is she still felt something for him.
"No...I haven't talked to her about it all all" Arnold finally answered.
"Well maybe you should Shortman! You're not going to know until you march up to her house and ask her if she still likes you ya know! And an-" phill was cut off short.
"That's actually not a bad idea Granpa! I'll be back soon!" And before Phil could finish his sentence, the blonde boy ran out the door and down the street.
"It's half 7 at night?" Phil said out loud as he looked over at the clock.
The streets of Hillwood were being basked in the sunset, long cold shadows along with streaks of warm sun painted itself across the city. As Arnold ran all the way to her house he couldn't help but feel a little stupid, but he had to know, he had to ask her if maybe there was a chance.
Reaching her stoop, Arnold took a second to give himself his breathe back before finally walking up the stoop.
Knocking on the door, it only took a moment before Arnold heard loud, thumping footsteps walk up behind it and the door swung open, it was big Bob Pataki.
"What do you want!?" He boomed at the blonde boy
"Uh, I need to speak to Helga? If she's home?" He asked nervously as he peaked inside a little. Bob suddenly walked away mumbling something before Arnold jumped at him shouting.
"HEY OLGA! THAT ORPHAN BOYS AT THE DOOR!" The words stung. He couldn't lie, but before he could really think about it, the door swung open and swiftly closed.
"Arnold!? What are you doing here? It's nearly 8 o'clock!"
Arnold froze for a moment, Helga wasn't dressed in her normal clothes, instead she wore a long t-short that went down to almost her knees, her hair was wet and wild, and her fringe covered one eye, her skin looked soft, and for a moment Arnold didn't recognise the girl infront of him as Helga, but he couldn't put a finger on it either.
Before Arnold got to lost in thought. Helga punched him in the shoulder.
"Will you stop zoning out around me Arnold! I don't like it!" The words caught Arnold off guard. They were genuine. The look of annoyance on her face proved it. She stood there crossed armed looking down at the boy from stop her stoop.
"I'm sorry Helga, I didn't think you noticed" Helga snickered at his response.
"You didn't think I noticed!? Arnold, of course I noticed it's all you do around me now? I try to bully you for petes sake and all you do is stand there with that glazed, half lid smile looking like an idiot! It's hard not to notice when you're looking at me like that!" She scorned, then took a deep breathe before continuing.
"Arnold I, you've been different ever since that stupid dance! And I don't like it." A soft pink stained her cheeks ash she looked away.
Arnold realises that the Helga, infront of him. Wasn't his bully. But Helga, being completely honest with him and in that honesty, was sadness. It's true, he had been treating her different, after April fools, all Arnold done was treat her different, he stared at her, she always caught him, glancing away but she knew. Then there was the zoning out he done around her, then the awkwardness too. Sure, she was being more mean to him than every, but in reality she was just trying to snap him out of giving her those puppy eyes of his.
"I'm, I'm sorry Helga, it's just I... Care... about you?" The words left Arnold mouth before he could really stop them, to his surprise Helga looked dumbstruck.
"You care about me?" She repeated, before giving him a sarcastic half-asses laugh.
"So what has made you suddenly care about me Arnoldo huh!?" She asked him stepping down closer to him. Which made Arnold in return, take a step back.
Before he could say anything, Arnold took a deep breathe and sat on the stoop, patting the seat beside him.
"I just want to talk to you Helga." He waiting as the blond girl sat beside him. They both stole a glance at each other before the girl huffed and looked away.
"I asked you a question football-head." She shot at him before looking away again.
After a moment, Arnold picked up the courage to finally say what he had been there to say.
"That day, on top of FTi, when you said all those things Helga... I've been thinking about it. Actually, I've been thinking about you a lot too" the words caught Helga off guard, she looked around, before bringing her knees up to her chest, listening to Arnold continuing.
"And well, I think that maybe I kinda want to know if you really do like me?" The blonde girls cheeks turned a crimson red before she looked down at her toes.
"Why do you suddenly want to know how I feel Arnold? We both agreed that day it was a heat of the moment exchange, nothing more." Despite Helga being tough, the words didn't come off as threatening as she'd hoped.
The blonde boy looked at her, she glanced at him from the side of her eye before booking forward again. Arnold noticed her hand at her side, flattened out on the step. Inching his closer he placed his pinky on top of hers, which caused Helga to freeze in place.
"Because I think I like you Helga. At least, more than just a friend." The words rang in Helga's mind. This is what she had always wanted. Beside her right now, the love of her life confirmed he had feeling for her and even held her pinkie.
Helga's sat there quietly. Still as a rock before she spoke.
"Arnold, I'm not Lila or Ruth, you know? I'm not some 'girl' that needs swept off her feet by you. You don't need to give me those puppy eyes of yours or chase after me like you have been. You know how I feel about you Arnold." She said, taking her pinky away, holding Arnold's hand instead while looking away.
They both blushed, Arnold looked at their hands as they intertwined while Helga looked away down the road.
"I know that you don't fully believe what happened at FTi was a heat of the moment confession, and you have a right not to believe a lie, but Arnold I asked you to forget because the truth is, I'm not ready."
Helga pulled her hand away, leaving Arnold hand feeling bare and cold without her warmth.
"You know how I feel Arnold, it was true, all of it, but I'm not fully ready to see what will happen between us, I don't just like you, like you Arnold. I Love you... I know you care about me, and I'm glad you like me back. But you don't love me Arnold, I just want things to be normal between us, at least for a little longer."
They sat there in an awkward silence, the streets were quite and all that could be heard was police sirens in the distance along with big Bobs TV booming behind the door.
Arnold looked at the blond girl trying to think of the right words to say, but he couldn't, it's true, he liked her, but he didn't love her... at least, not yet.
"Can you please look at me Helga?" Arnold asked, as his voice broke. In a way, Arnold felt like he was being dumped all over again. He couldn't explain it but The idea of Helga rejecting him hurt. It hurt more than anything and he wanted to look into her eyes one last time before he said anything else.
The blonde girl looked at him. Her eyes filled with sadness.
As Arnold looked into her blue eyes he felt himself get lost in her yet again. He searched her gaze for an answer, but he knew deep down that Helga wasn't rejecting him or even turning his advances down. She just wasn't ready. The fear in her eyes confirmed that all to well. She wasn't ready, at least not yet, but Arnold had his answer. Helga Loved him, and for a moment, as their eyes remained locked, Arnold swore that he loved her too. But it just wasn't the time.
"Ok Helga. I'll stop being weird around you" Arnold finally answered, pulling his gaze away.
"But Helga, maybe I don't feel the same, but I want you to know that I think about you a lot. In fact, I'm glad that I have you on my mind so much. You make me happy Helga." Arnold looked over to the blond girl again looking for some sort of silver lining. Hoping she would say something at least to acknowledge his feelings.
"You make me happy too football-head" She finally said looking at him with a soft smile.
They both sat on the stoop gazing at each other for a moment. Before Arnold scooted closer putting his arm around her.
"See before things go back to normal between us Helga? Can we hug? Just for a bit?"
Helga blushed, but didn't resist as she leaned into his hug, resting her head on his shoulder and blushing.
"Sure thing Arnold, just for a little while"