CHAPTER 6:

I was taking a stroll in Tina Park again, it seemed really familiar this time, I looked to my right and I saw Helga. Now I know why it seemed familiar! This was a memory of one of our dates.

I remembered how carefree Helga acted, she was laughing more genuinely and she was acting like the Helga I knew she was. She was cracking jokes and smiling, I could feel my heart melt already.

I found myself in the middle of a picnic right under a shady tree. It was the perfect temperature and all I saw were clear skies. I saw Helga giving me the prettiest smile I've seen with her gorgeous baby blue eyes filled with love. I don't think there could have been a more perfect sight.

"Oh Arnold!" she said in that lovesick voice of her's, and I couldn't help but visibly melt at the sound of it. She came closer and closer to my face, puckering up her lips, until suddenly-

Suddenly I realized she wasn't actually saying words, she sounded muffled except for a few words.

"Green eyes—trapped—my love."

What was she saying? And why could I only hear those words?

I blinked and then realized I was in a totally different setting; I was in San Lorenzo. Helga looked at me, "Hey, football head," she said, grabbing my shoulders and turning me to her, "what's the matter with you? D-don't you love me back?" I looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "What are you talking about, Helga? Of course I do!"

"Then why didn't you save me?"

I froze at this, "B-b-b-becau-th-there was no time!" I said, tears forming, "I wouldn't let that happen on purpose, Helga! Y-you believe me, r-right?"

All of a sudden, the setting began to alter. Now we were, well, we were nowhere.

"You're such a stupid football head," she said, "how could you still not believe me after everything I've told you? The locker, the shoe, everything! Yet you still deny it!"

I began to sweat, "W-well, Helga, can you really blame me? I mean, you died in front of me!"

Shadows began to form, La Sombra appeared, "Hey Arnold!"

"H-huh?"

"HEY ARNOLD HEY ARNOLD HEY ARNOLD!"

"Gaah!" I gasped, waking up in a cold sweat. That dream was far worse than the last!

My chest was tightening again, my ears were pounding, I couldn't breathe normally, I didn't even notice I was on the ground until mom lifted my face to face her, her face was scrunched up in—in I don't know, I can't pay attention all too well.

"Sweetie, are you alright, did you roll over? Honey, I need you to answer me!" She sounded frantic, I don't think I've seen her this worked up since we reunited. "Arnold, bud, you feeling alright?" Dad was also here apparently. "Hey there Shortman, you fell pretty hard, we could hear the thump your keester made in the kitchen." He chucked a little at my apparent pain. "Grandpa!" I said in my usual way while rolling my eyes. "Get up Kimba, breakfast is ready!" Grandma was actually like herself cackling down the hall.

The tightening in my chest was slowly going away as I paid more attention to my surroundings, what a relief!

"Hey, Arnold?" my mother asked.

"Yeah, mom?"

"What happened to your eyebrows?"

"My eyebrows?" I looked at her curiously, what does she mean? Her shocked face seriously worried me. I ran down to the bathroom to get a good look at myself, and what I saw was absolutely shocking.

I had grown a unibrow! Wait—unless there's a line of dirt on the mirror? I ran my finger along my forehead, and felt the hairiness of a unibrow. Did...did it grow there overnight?

How did that happen?!

"AAAAAAAAH!" I yelled, collapsing on the floor in complete shock, "H-HOW?!"

How did this all happen overnight?

"Hey Shortman," my grandpa called out, "are you alright in there? What's the proble-" he got a good look at me then grinned, "Gee, Shortman, must be a case of a lil puberty!"

"P-puberty?"

"Yeah! You just got some hair growing, don't worry about it!"

I felt a massive amount of relief, phew! "That's a relief! Thanks, grandpa!" I said, making him smile before closing the bathroom door. Well that's good, nothing is abnormal here-

"Hey Arnold!"

Oh no, not you again! Not now, please!

There, apparently, was Helga, in my mirror. Why is she here now?!

"Because I happen to find you irresistible as well~"

I blushed. Oh, be quiet!

"Arnold, I've proven myself correct again!"

How so, Helga? Did you predict I would grow a unibrow overnight?

"Uh, no. I predicted that I'd find you to be every bit as handsome as I ever had~"

I felt my goofy grin stretch across my face, I always manage to underestimate how romantic Helga could get. But yet again this might just be all in my head. I could be coping through this. I felt my goofy grin fall.

"Stupid football head, I said I'm here and I'm not gonna stop until you're convinced!"

Alright, alright! I've got to get to school now anyway, Helga. I guess I'm going with this.

"Darn right!"

As soon as I arrived at class I immediately went to the corner my friends were usually at, I just wanted to get school over with. I don't think I slept well again.

"Hey bubba—what's wrong with your face?"

Oh great he noticed. I let out a tired sigh signaling that I didn't want to talk about it.

"Gosh Arnold, is that a un-eye-brow?"

I groaned, "Yes, Stinky," I replied, "yes it is."

"Well, that's awful odd. I don't 'member yew havin it yesturday. But then again mah memory ain't perfec-"

"No Stinky," I grumbled, "I didn't have it yesterday. Or the day before that."

"OH LOOK, AWWWWWWNOLDDDDD HAS A UNIBROWWWWWWW!", Harold was just laughing at me with all his might.

"Uh, so do you Harold..." I heard Brainy say in the background.

"AWWW YEAH, DARN IT!"

"Hey man," Gerald said, "don't pay attention to them. If you don't wanna talk about it, we won't."

I smiled, "Thanks, Gerald."

"But you gotta tell me about that haircut sometime, man."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thanks to BowlingAesthetic and celestial_love!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!