Disclaimer: The Hey Arnold characters belong to Craig Bartlett, and 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.

Author's Note: What started as a one-off, standalone story in "Rhonda: From 'like' to 'like-like'" has now taken on a life of its own. And I'd like to acknowledge the main driving force behind the subsequent stories: Orange Ratchet. Your reviews and requests for more stories are what kept me going, and as per your last request, this story will be a multi-parter. Shoutouts also to The J.A.M. and to Kryten for your consistent reviews and comments. Hopefully, you'll find this edition no less enjoyable. Peace out!

And yes, there's a Spotify list involved here, which covers all the 'Rhonda' chapters so far with this story:

Little Foxes - Fourplay

Looking Through Patient Eyes - P.M. Dawn

Secret Garden - Bruce Springsteen

Have Faith - Nianell

1. What About Our Friends?

"So…Arnold…"

As if Nadine hadn't already guessed the reason for this meeting with Rhonda.

"Let me tell you, Rhonda, if you were trying to keep this…are you two even an item? Well, if you meant to keep it a secret, then the game's up."

Although to be fair, the game had long been over. In a small neighborhood within a small city like Hillwood, kids notice. Like they noticed how Arnold and Rhonda were becoming closer in their interactions. How their conversations were more casual and lingering longer and longer. How they seemed to be enjoying each other's company. Observation became the word. And the word eventually became loud enough to reach the couple.

Hence, this meeting between the two best friends in Rhonda's room.

"Yes…Arnold…" was Rhonda's hesitant reply. Though she was too young to grasp the concept of irony, she was fully aware of how awkward a position she was in, given her reputation as the school's gossip girl.

"So…" ventured Nadine. "How did this start?"

And with a heavy sigh, Rhonda replied: "Remember that football game against the fifth graders?"

Meanwhile, in a park somewhere in the neighborhood, two boys – long-time friends – were tossing a football back and forth between each other.

"Arnold my man," asked Gerald out of nowhere after a particularly hard throw, "what gives with you and Rhonda?"

The question did distract Arnold, though not enough to prevent him from catching the ball. He threw the ball back to Gerald, along with his answer: "I'd like to think we're at the like-like stage."

Arnold's answer shook up Gerald in the way the latter's question was meant to do to the former, and Gerald was rendered too distracted to catch the ball, which instead harmlessly conked him on the head.

"Say what now?" With that, Gerald collected the ball and walked over to his friend. Recreation was about to make way for the impending interrogation. "And just how long were you planning on keeping the two of you a secret? I mean…for all the good it did you."

Arnold, feeling some defensiveness creep upon him, replied: "Look, why are you still asking if you already know the answer?"

"Well Arnold, there's hearing it through the grapevine, then there's hearing it straight from the mouth of your best buddy. Whom you'd think would trust you enough to share such an important bit of news."

Ah yes, Gerald. Arnold's best friend and part-time moral compass, purveyor of the strategic guilt trip. "Look, Gerald, the reason we weren't talking about it is…well, because until not long ago, we weren't sure about…well, us."

"But you're sure now, aren't you?" probed Gerald. And when he saw the prolonged doubt on Arnold's expression, he followed up with: "Look man, why don't you start from the beginning?"

"OK, but I think we're gonna need a park bench."

"He kissed you?" Nadine was flabbergasted. "Omigawd, he kissed you!"

"I know," was Rhonda's understated response, in contrast to her best friend who was moments away from hyperventilating. "Don't get your hopes up," she continued, trying to temper Nadine's enthusiasm. "It was a disaster. Maybe he was watching too many romantic movies, but he thought the pouring rain would be the best time to try his stunt. Plus, I was all muddy and sweaty and my clothes were stretched and torn and…and…what?"

She noticed how Nadine had taken on a quizzical, smirking expression. "So you're saying that if things weren't all wrong, if it wasn't raining and you weren't a mess, then it wouldn't have been a disaster."

I walked into that one, rued the raven-haired fashionista. No other choice then: "Yes. Yes, it would be."

"And that's how it started?"

"Kind of," conceded Rhonda. "I mean, we were kind of on edge with each other after that. You must have noticed how we were going out of our way to still be friendly with each other."

"Not really," answered Nadine. "Didn't look any different from how you two usually addressed each other."

"Anyway, then…it happened."

"What?"

"You know…it!", which Rhonda spoke with and an underlying tone of please don't make me spell it out.

"Oh…you mean the time your family went br—"

"Don't say it!" Rhonda interjected sharply. "I still get nightmares from that time! It was only because of Arnold that I didn't go insane!"

"Go on," encouraged Nadine.

"You know, he was first to see through my act. But still, he never made fun of me because of it. Never felt sorry for me. It's like he…he.."

"Saw you as a person?" offered Nadine as she completed the sentence.

"Exactly. Exactly!" Rhonda confirmed. "He made me snap out of it and turn my situation around. He helped with his kind words and encouragement. But then…" she let her voice trail off.

"Yeah," Nadine once again picked up the slack. "Your family gets their fortune back and then…Aspen."

"Then Arnold had to go and spoil it!" lamented Rhonda.

"So second time was the charm?"

The boys were now seated on a park bench, with Gerald alternating between asking probing questions and coaxing the answers out of Arnold.

"Yeah," admitted Arnold. "Apparently I made her want to cut her vacation short. If you believe her, she came all the way back from Aspen just to kiss me in the park."

"Probably to show you how to do it properly!" Gerald then let out a chuckle before continuing. "My man, Arnold! Making the ladies travel a million miles just for a taste of his fine, fine sugar!"

To which Arnold blushed furiously, suddenly grateful that no-one else was in the park to hear Gerald's outburst.

But Gerald knew that he now held the upper hand and pressed his advantage. "So after that second kiss, you kinda, sorta became a couple?"

"Something like that," Arnold replied sheepishly.

"All good and well, Arnold," continued Gerald. "But there's still one unanswered question. What in the name of all that's holy possessed you to want to kiss Rhonda Wellington Lloyd the first time?"

"Gerald, I can't explain. It was like…suddenly…I'm not seeing her as just another girl. Suddenly…I don't know…I'm seeing a girl who's tough and pretty at the same time and I'm…you know…totally into her. I know she can be a pain sometimes, but suddenly it didn't matter anymore—"

"Mm. Mm. Mm," Gerald cut him off. "Sounds like someone's got it bad."

"And why are you making it sound like it's a bad thing?"

"Oh I don't know, Arnold," retorted Gerald. "Maybe because she's Rhonda. Wellington. Lloyd. And you're…well…you!"

"That's not fair, Gerald!" Arnold sounded hurt as he replied.

"Is it? When you and she…heck, she and the entire PS118…exist in different worlds!"

"But you haven't gotten to know her better. I have, and I like it!"

"But that's just you, Arnold. Because she likes…sorry, like-likes you. But what about the rest of us!"

"You mean the rest of us she'll gladly spend whole afternoons playing football and baseball with? All of us, who people as rich as her would avoid like the plague?"

"Well…I—" Gerald stammered for a counterpoint that he likely would have found had Arnold not angrily cut him off.

"And why would someone as upper-crust as her even bother with such low-rent events like the Cheese Festival, let alone enjoy them? How come her parents haven't transferred her to a fancier private school? Did it occur to you that maybe, just maybe, she considers us all her friends and just has her own strange way of showing it?"

Gerald was taken aback by the passion with which Arnold had defended Rhonda, to the point where his entire case against the rich girl was derailed. Instead of a long list of negatives, all he could now manage was: "Wow. Sorry Man. I didn't know your feelings were that strong. You're serious about her, aren't you?"

"Gerald, I don't think I've ever been more serious about a girl."

The second bombshell brought Nadine within one step from collapse.

"Oh. My. Gawd! So you kissed him after you returned from Aspen?"

Rhonda nodded in response. "Didn't even wait to unpack my bags. Went straight to him."

Shock at her best friend's confession notwithstanding, Nadine had become fully invested in the story. "So how was it? Second time around."

She then watched how Rhonda's recollection of the event brought about a smile expressing longing and no regrets.

"It was…it was…I don't know…magical!" Rhonda, who was seated at the edge of her bed, recounted. "So much better than the first time! I tell you, something about Arnold, something about him that makes him so huggable and kissable! Once I started, I just didn't want to let go of him!"

Nadine's look following that response became one of wry, light-hearted suspicion. "Is that why you let him carry you home after the baseball incident?" she asked, feigning pointedness in her tone. "Phoebe and Sheena told me you were just about kicking and screaming as he started piggybacking you. But now…was all that an act, I wonder?"

Rhonda could only react meekly at that 'accusation'. "It wasn't an act. At least not at first…"

"At first?" Nadine was now mimicking Rhonda in the way the latter would often pursue a juicy bit of gossip.

"Nadine," Rhonda began her answer in a tone suggesting that she was about to divulge the secret of life itself, "have you ever felt Arnold?"

Nadine couldn't get a chance to respond because Rhonda didn't wait for her to answer. "He might be small, but…OH. MY. GAWD!" she explained as she let herself fall back onto the bed. "His shoulders and back and arms are so, so solidly built! I mean, you'd never think it when you see the loose clothing he wears! I can only imagine what a hunk he must be underneath all those layers…"

Rhonda capped off her description by flutter kicking her lower legs.

Nadine had gone silent all of a sudden. When Rhonda heard nothing from her, she rose back to a seated position to find her olive-skinned friend smiling a knowing smile at her.

"OK, what?" asked Rhonda.

"Rhonda," began Nadine, "the only time you go this gaga is when you're describing a new top that you really like, or the latest Nancy Spumoni boots. If I didn't know better, I'd say you've fallen for Arnold, hard."

"Nadine, I don't think I've ever been more serious about a boy."