Chapter: I don't have a crush!

Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own Hey Arnold. Enjoy the story guys! :)

"Arnold? Arnold? Snap out of it!"

"Huh?!" He exclaimed and looked over to see who addressed him.

It was his best friend Gerald and he was waving a hand in his face. The blonde football-headed boy realized where he was at and shook his head back into reality. They had been practicing baseball at Gerald Field 2 hours before school.

"Oh, uh, sorry Gerald what were you talking about?"

"Man, is it just me, or have you been acting weird all of a sudden."

"What do you mean? I haven't been acting weird."

Gerald had a gut feeling that wasn't the truth, but he decided to just brush it off.

"Whatever man, let's just get back to practice. We're gonna need as much practice as possible if we plan on winning against the 7th graders in a few months."

Arnold nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile...

That morning, the sun hit Helga right in her eyes. She heard her mother Miriam call out for her to get up.

"Alright! Alright! I'm getting up! Criminy!..."

Sitting up reluctantly in her bed, she rubbed her eyes and made her way over to her closet. Inside was her Arnold shrine and she sat across from it on the floor.

"Atlast, another day seeing your face at school my beloved angel. I wish you knew how much I adore spending quality time with you. I just know that everyday will become better, as long as we're together my love."

She soon got up from her shrine and scanned through her closet for a new outfit to wear. Today, she was going to try something more casual, yet appealing to her. She wore a contrast black collar tee shirt (collar was vintage pink) and a matching pink plaid skater skirt. Along with that she wore pink tennis shoes with white socks. Looking into the mirror, she decided to put her hair into a pontail, using her special pink bow, and curled her bangs. Today, she went without makeup, except a light amount of bubblegum lip gloss to school. Somehow she was even more comfortable today wearing this look.

Phoebe and her walked to school together like before. Once again her best friend complimented her look. As soon as they were about to walk in through the door, Rhonda Lloyd blocked their way.

"Hi girls."

"Uh...hi?" They both said in unison.

She reached into her purse and gave them two fliers with a smile.

"What is this Rhonda?" Helga asked glancing at the flier.

"Oh nothing just an invitation to my party this weekend."

Phoebe adjusted her glasses. "Um Rhonda, isn't it a bit too early in our academic year to be hosting a party? It's only the second day of school."

Rhonda laughed and waved it off. "Why it's never too early to throw a party. So, will you two be going. It's next Saturday at 5 P.M."

Helga blinked. "Er...we'll think about it."

Rhonda grinned and clasped her hands together.

"Wonderful! Take all the time you need girls! Au revoir!" She said, walking away from them.

When she was gone Helga turned to Phoebe.

"Well she seems awfully happy today. Although she doesn't come close to-"

"Hi Arnold!"

"Hey Lila!"

Helga sighed and shook her head. "Oh brother..."

Gerald spotted Phoebe in the hallway and went up to talk to her. Meanwhile, Helga was still having a crisis seeing her love chatting it up with Lila. 'Man, he still likes her doesn't he. I'm never gonna be worthy to him.' Turning her attention back to her locker, she placed her backpack inside and grabbed her books. From the side of her eye she saw her best friend give her a sympathetic smile, making Helga feel a tiny bit better.

Walking through the hallway with Phoebe and Gerald, Helga practically ghosted Arnold and tried to keep on a fake smile and laughed to make it seem like she wasn't hurting. What she didn't realize was that Arnold wasn't exactly paying attention to Lila but he found himself curious as to what Gerald, Phoebe and Helga were laughing about.

"Arnold?"

"H-Huh?" He looked back to Lila.

She giggled.

"Well I'm certain we should get to class. It was ever so nice talking to you Arnold."

Arnold nodded. "Right. See you around Lila."

She walked in the other direction. "You too Arnold."

Meanwhile in class, Mr. Simmons was taking attendance.

"Harold?"

"Here Mr. Simmons."

"Stinky?"

"Present Mr. Simmons."

"Sid?"

"Here."

"Phoebe?"

"Right here Mr. Simmons."

"Gerald?"

"Here."

"Helga?"

"Right here Simmons!"

"Rhonda?"

"Here."

"Curly-"

"HAHAHAHA!"

Mr. Simmons looked up with a raised eyebrow at Curly.

"Eugene?"

He said he was there but then was kicked out of his chair.

"Ah! I'm okay..."

"Anyways, Arnold? Has anybody seen Arnold this morning?"

The class exchanged confused glances, but Helga and Phoebe knew that he was in the hallway earlier. Nobody said anything until Gerald spoke up.

"I don't know where he is right now but I swore I saw him in the hallway earlier-"

Arnold came running into the classroom out of breath.

"I'm h-here! M-Mr. S-Simmons! Sorry I'm late."

Helga rolled her eyes slightly and leaned back in her seat.

'Criminy...how long does it take to have a conversation with Little Miss Perfect?'

Mr Simmons gave him a confused look and told him to take his seat. The whole class looked at him in silence and then returned back to normal as if nothing happened. As soon as Mr. Simmons started lecturing his best friend leaned over to him and whispered.

"Arnold? Where were you man?"

Arnold got his breathing back to normal before he responded. "I was talking to Lila and I guess I just lost track of time."

A shiver went through Helga's spine as Arnold continued to talk every now and then about Lila. As much as she tried to listen to the 'a minute too long' lecture her teacher was giving, she couldn't take her mind off the conversation. Also it didn't help that they were sitting RIGHT in front of her. Phoebe looked over at Helga. She felt very bad for friend and sighed inaudibly. The blonde haired girl was fed up on the inside and didn't realize she snapped the pencil that was in her hand.

The students that sat close her all looked at her with surprise. Arnold and Gerald had turned around in their seats jumping a little hearing the sound. When she noticed that Arnold was looking back, her hand shot up in the air.

"Yes Helga? Do you have anything to say about the lesson?"

"No...uh...m-may I use the restroom?"

He blinked and nodded.

"Thanks."

Helga ran immediately out of room, grabbing the hall pass as she left. Arnold and Gerald looked over to her best friend Phoebe who acted like she had no clue what was happening.

In the girls restroom...

Helga stared into the mirror, sighing to herself. Luckily she was alone in the bathroom. All she wanted to do was hide in there, but obviously that wasn't going to solve anything.

"I understand why he likes Lila. She's so pretty and smart and popular. Of course he wants her. I may have gotten compliments yesterday but deep down I know Arnold would never fall for a girl like me. I guess I just have to face reality and not let him know I'm hurting."

Her mind was flooded with the events that happened yesterday at the boarding house. She felt like the two of them were actually getting along as friends for the first time. To her, that was enough even if he didn't feel the same way. Reaching into her skirt pocket, she pulled out her signature golden locket with a picture of Arnold smiling.

Sighing, Helga put it away and fought back the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Soon she was brave enough to head back to class.

The door opened and Helga walked in shutting the door softly. In the back of her mind she wasn't totally oblivious that some of her classmates were looking at her. When she sat down, it dawned on her that she needed another pencil. Her head dropped down into the sleeves of her black contrast tshirt until she felt a pencil being slid between her index and middle finger. Helga raised her head slowly to see Arnold looking at her with a small grin. A pink blush came across her face and her eyes widened. He winked at her and turned back around in his seat. From behind him, Helga swooned quietly and continued to do her work as well.

They both didn't realize that Gerald happened to witness the short interaction between them. His eyebrow was raised but he decided to think of a reasonable explanation. The only thing he could think of was Arnold just being being...well Arnold. The only thing different this time was Helga didn't look mad at all and looked appreciative.

'I have a bad feeling about this...'

Later after class, Helga stopped to have a drink at the water fountain. Behind her was Arnold and Gerald who were waiting to get a drink. When she was done, she looked up blankly at Arnold.

"Oh, here you go Arnold." She said while moving aside and walking into the cafeteria. He shrugged and drank from the water fountain while his best friend Gerald stood behind him stunned.

"Huh?" He squeaked out with an eyebrow raised.

"C'mon Gerald, let's get to lunch."

During lunch, Gerald's eyes were glued to Helga and Phoebe. Arnold ate his salad and looked up at his friend.

His head turned in the same direction and he chuckled. "Gerald, just go up to Phoebe and tell her how you feel."

"What? I'm not staring at Phoebe!"

"Oh yeah, then who ARE you staring at?"

Gerald shrugged. "I was staring at Helga."

Arnold dropped his fork and started choking on his salad. Gerald assisted him and patted his back to stop it.

"Drink some water man!" He said handing Arnold his water bottle.

He drank his water and sat it down.

"Why...were you staring at her? You don't even like her!"

"I don't like her that way man ew! I said I was just looking at her. Besides you already know who I like."

Arnold's expression softened a little and he stared down at the table.

Gerald's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Hey Arnold, why did you freak out when I told you I was looking over at Helga?"

"What?"

"You seemed...so calm when you guessed I had been looking at Phoebe. But when you found I was looking at Helga you went crazy for a second."

Arnold's eyes shifted over to Helga quickly and back to Gerald.

"Oh no, don't tell me you like-"

Suddenly a female voice interrupted their conversation.

"Hey you two, I'm having a party next Saturday! You're both invited. There will be food and music. Also wear something nicer than what you usually wear. Au Revoir!"

Rhonda handed them both fliers and walked away.

Gerald rolled his eyes and went back to their conversation.

"Man, please don't tell me you have a crush on Helga G. Pataki!"

Arnold blushed darkly. "Gerald! What in the world gave you a ridiculous idea like that?!"

"Your actions of course. Today you gave her a pencil and winked at her in class. Yesterday you were so invested in her, wondering if something was wrong-"

"Gerald that's me being my normal every day self! That doesn't mean that I like her in THAT way. I was being friendly."

"Then why did you wink at her that way? That seemed a little more than 'friendly'."

Arnold stood up from the table and grabbed his lunchbox. At this point, there was an annoyed look on his face.

"I'm not going to have this conversation." He said as he walked away from him.

"You're gonna have to tell me eventually!" Gerald called out to him from behind.

"No I won't because there's nothing to tell Gerald!" Arnold retorted and walked out the cafeteria. Gerald walked away from him in the opposite direction.

Little did they know that Helga had witnessed them arguing about something but she wasn't sure what it was about because of the loud chatter in the cafeteria. All she could do was sigh and continue to eat her lunch.

Arnold was outside, sitting on the swing before recess had began. He couldn't believe Gerald would accuse him of having a crush on the girl who used to torment him every chance she'd get. But that's the thing...she USED to torment him. Helga is not the same as she once was. He could see her in a whole new light.

The middle schoolers piled outside for recess after finishing their lunch. He was still sitting on the swing felt himself tense up at the sight of Helga. His took in her appearance and stared at her with his mouth agape. 'She looks so...so pretty.' He thought. Helga's eyes had met with his, seeing that he had been staring at her for a while. It was almost a dreamy look. Deciding to confirm the fact that he was staring, she humored him with a wink and continued to play tag with Phoebe. From across the playground however, Gerald saw everything and crossed his arms.

"Mmmm Mmm Mmmmmmm! Arnold. You've got it bad for her man. Just as I expected..."

Stay tuned for the next chapter! :3

Chapter 6: Rhonda's Party. Coming soon.