"Arnold and Helga? Seriously?"

Rhonda had spoken to Nadine in the locker hall, and Helga overheard. Recess had just ended, and Arnold had gone to the bathroom.

"I knew she couldn't hate him," Nadine said. "No one hates Arnold."

"Yeah," Rhonda said, "but what does he see in her?"

"Maybe he feels bad for her?" Nadine suggested.

"Or maybe he was afraid to reject her," Rhonda said. "Maybe he thought she'd go crazy."

A mix of anger and embarrassment washed over Helga. "Ex-cuse me?"

Rhonda and Nadine turned around.

"For the record," Helga said, "Arnold likes my sense of humor."

"So?" Rhonda replied. "Curly's occasionally funny, but I wouldn't date him."

"You don't even know how we got together! It's none of your beeswax anyway!" Helga stormed off, clutching her textbooks against her chest. I wouldn't have gone CRAZY if Arnold had rejected me! I mean, sure, I would've been heartbroken...but I doubt he would've even expected THAT! He spent seven years believing that I hated him! He's just STARTING to realize how strong my love is!

Phoebe was already at her seat when Helga entered the classroom. "What's wrong, Helga? Didn't you have fun at recess?"

"Yeah, at recess." Helga slammed her books onto her desk. "Then Rhonda had to go and gossip about my relationship."

Phoebe didn't say anything else, and Helga simmered until Arnold arrived. He greeted her with a smile before sitting down in front of her, and Helga's anger disappeared. It wasn't replaced by happiness, though.

It was replaced by emptiness.

"Oh, Arnold...what's missing in my life?"

Helga stared at the picture in her locket as she walked home from school. Part of her wished Arnold would take her home—because Gerald always walked Phoebe home—but she couldn't blame Arnold for wanting to walk home with his parents. He just got them back two weeks ago after nine years without them, and they seemed nice.

"You deserve the nicest parents in the world," Helga said to Arnold's picture. "But I don't think I can be the nicest girlfriend. I mean, I'm just like my parents! My dad is a jerk, my mom is miserable, and me? I'm a miserable jerk."

Ever since she returned from San Lorenzo, Helga tossed and turned in bed every night, worrying that she might hurt Arnold with her tactless words. She almost wished Nadine was right; if Arnold was only dating her out of pity, it wouldn't matter much if she ever snapped out at him like—

"WHAT? You LOST the coupon?"

Big Bob was so loud that Helga heard him through the closed doors. She hesitated before going inside the store.

"Welcome to—baby sis!" Olga wrapped her arms around her sister. "How was school?"

"It was on the table earlier," Miriam said. She glanced at Olga. "Did you move it, Olga?"

"No," Olga said, releasing her grip on Helga. "But I'll help look for it."

"You better find it, Miriam!" Bob shouted. "I didn't marry you just so you could sleep all day and lose coupons!"

"I wasn't asleep all day."

"Well, you usually are! You're as useless as our old—"

"Dad!" Helga interrupted him. "Are you sure you didn't put it in your wallet with the other coupons?"

Bob took out his wallet and looked inside. "Oh, there it is. Thanks, Olga."

Helga went to bed at ten p.m. that night, but her thoughts kept her awake past midnight. Does Dad really mean it when he insults Mom like that, or does he get too angry to think before he speaks? I mean, if he REALLY thinks she's useless...wouldn't he have divorced her by now and married some other woman?

Helga was familiar with uncontrollable anger. It was the reason why she continued to punch Brainy after Dr. Bliss told her to stop, the reason why she would attack Harold over trivial teasing, the reason why she ripped up the picture of Lila that Arnold used to have in his bedroom…

All I know is anger and jealousy.

Helga wanted to believe that she could provide love to Arnold, but could she? She spent all her time longing to receive love, and feeling disappointed when she couldn't get it anywhere. She even tried to get love from Phoebe's parents, but quickly gave up because they kept asking about her grades.

Then the Shortmans had to ask about my parents. Why couldn't people ask about her hobbies, or her favorite movies or metal bands? Was she nothing more than an underachiever? An underachiever with dysfunctional parents?

Her first breakfast with Arnold's parents hadn't gone great, but at least they didn't scold her for being a bully. She recalled Miles's reaction to her confession: he laughed and said that his mom used to bully his dad. That's a good sign, right? I mean...if Arnold's grandparents are sill happily married, maybe there's a chance that I WON'T break his heart.

That sliver of hope allowed Helga to fall asleep.