And now, we're back with this story!
Three o'clock quickly came as the final bell was heard. Arnold, who usually never rushed out and just waited until the room would quickly clear out, was one of the first kids to run out of the room in eager excitement as he stopped by his locker and opened it, collecting most of his books needed to do his homework tonight.
"Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!" Arnold's devilish side appeared on his left shoulder, dancing on it with glee. "We're going to see Lulu again after that boring day of school is done!"
"Hmph." Arnold's angelic side appeared on his right shoulder, scoffing as he turned to the side. "Personally, I think learning is very essential if we want to get through our lives. Education is the smart thing!"
"Heh, so is finding your soul mate, and oh look at that, we've found her!" Arnold's dark side smiled. "Just imagine it, Arnold. This is more than a fling we just had... she has given herself to us, and we are but mere men."
"For goodness sakes, get your bull-headedness out of your butt!" Arnold's angelic side growled. "You only made him a man because she offered temptations! Something is off with this girl, I know it! Why would she be willing to just offer herself to you?"
"Uh, because she's in love with us? Duh!" Arnold's devilish side stuck his tongue out at his angelic side. "Listen, Arnold, the minute we reunite with Lulu, do not hesitate at all. Show her you care with a big kiss! I would prefer it near that wonderful bottom area."
"Ugh, you have no taste!" Arnold's angelic side folded his arms as he disappeared.
Arnold, who had been listening to his inner mind arguing paused as he thought about his relationship with Lulu, and so far, his dark side was providing more good points than his angelic side ever did. Arnold's devilish side peered over and sighed. "Here comes your former crush, AKA, Lulu's not so hot cousin, Lila. Better keep cool. No need for her to know you lust for her cousin."
Arnold nodded as Arnold's devilish side disappeared. Arnold turned to see Lila coming up to him as she smiled, "Are you ready to go to my house?"
Arnold smiled as he picked up his backpack. "Sure, I'm more than ready."
"Oh, how ever so wonderful." Lila smiled as she and Arnold started walking together. "So, Arnold, with you and Lulu, where do you see yourselves a few years from now with her?"
"Oh, a big question coming from the not-so-hot one." Arnold's dark side whispered in his mind. "I would suggest giving her a clean version, just so she doesn't know what we did."
"Hopefully... and this is just what I think, from hanging out with her for the last couple of days... we might be able to date for a good while." Arnold explained.
"Oh, that sounds ever so wonderful, Arnold." Lila smiled. "I just wonder, does this mean that you no longer like like me like you always do?"
Arnold looked at Lila and paused as he remembered the times he used to try to get with Lila. Sure, she was more polite and courteous to him whenever he invited her on a date, but she never returned his feelings. Lulu, on the other hand, after just one sleepover together, she returned the feelings and multiplied it by two.
"Hmmm... multiplying..." Arnold's dark side smirked as if overhearing Arnold's thoughts.
Arnold paused as he turned to Lila. "After what happened this weekend with Lulu, I think it's safe to say that I no longer hold a romantic interest in you, Lila. I hope this doesn't bother you."
"Huh? Oh no, it doesn't bother me at all." Lila said as the two of them walked out of the school and started to head out in the direction of Lila's house. "I'm just happy you're able to find someone different."
"Even if it is your cousin I'm having an interest with?" Arnold said in surprise.
"And why not? Considering what Lulu says about you, she really wants to be with you. Don't tell her I said this, but I think she like likes you, Arnold." Lila smiled.
"Like likes you?" Arnold's dark side laughed. "Try 'loves you with sexual passion'!"
Arnold blushed as he said to Lila, "That's good to know, Lila. Er, do you think you can give me some advice on how to approach her?"
"I would be more than happy to, Arnold." Lila said as the two continued on their way.
Meanwhile, with Phoebe and Gerald, the bus had stopped at the bus stop near where Helga lives. Phoebe quickly got off the bus as Gerald followed her out as Gerald sighed, "If you're really sure Helga is at home..."
"Gerald, I KNOW she's home. She wouldn't just not show up to school unless it was for a good reason!" Phoebe said as the two quickly arrived at the Pataki household. She quickly grabbed some small rocks and threw it at Helga's bedroom window. "Helga? HELGA!"
Gerald raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Why are you throwing rocks at her window?"
"It's sort of a system we set up." Phoebe explained as she threw another pebble at the window. "Since her parents aren't home, if she's not up, I would throw a couple rocks at the window to get her attention."
"Hm mm mm. I think you're going to need something bigger than a rock, because I don't think she's hearing you." Gerald frowned.
Phoebe sighed as she turned to Gerald. "You're right, I don't think she's answering. I think we'll just have to come in the house."
The smart girl then went up to the door and tried it, but it didn't seem to budged. "Locked."
She then pulled out a spare house key as she put it in the knob and turned it, surprising Gerald as he asked, "The Patakis gave you a spare key?"
"Helga did. Just in case of emergencies." Phoebe said as she opened the door. The two immediately walked in as Gerald felt a slight tingling down his spine.
"Sheesh, the place feels kinda spooky when entering." Gerald shuddered as the two continued walking.
"Right... why don't you check the downstairs level of the house. I'll go check the upstairs." Phoebe said as she quickly ran upstairs, leaving a confused Gerald behind.
As soon as Phoebe ran up, the first thing she did was find Helga's room and enter inside. When she peered inside, she yelped upon seeing the room... or rather, what was IN her room.
"Helga's definitely not here... if she was... she wouldn't have been able to leave her dedicated gum shrine to Arnold out in the open!" Phoebe said as she quickly picked up Helga's Arnold shrine and quickly walked into the closet as she settled it back in.
As she set it back in place, she paused in worry as she sat down. "Let me see... she probably put her shrine to Arnold out to probably air it... or maybe since her parents weren't home, she would be free to take it out and do her usual odes to Arnold anytime she wanted to. I guess that makes sense, since Helga doesn't expect much company. But where is Helga, and why didn't she arrive at school this morning? This is a problem that needs to be solved."
"Phoebe, I checked downstairs, but- what th-?"
Phoebe's thoughts ceased immediately upon hearing Gerald's voice as it was entering the closet. Phoebe turned around fast as she saw Gerald looking around the closet in shock. Phoebe yelped as she said, "Er, this is an illusion?"
Gerald was not convinced. "Phoebe... what is all this? Why does Helga have a shrine dedicated to Arnold in her closet?"
"What shrine?" Phoebe try to pull an innocent card as Gerald pulled out a pink book and started to read it.
"Hey... some of these poems in her pink books... did Helga write all these?" Gerald raised an eyebrow.
"What pink books?" Phoebe smiled nervously.
Gerald frowned as he put the book away. "Okay, stop denying what I'm seeing. I just saw it with my own eyes, and I want the truth! Spill!"
Phoebe groaned as she held her head, "Helga is going to kill me for this..."
Phoebe looked up to Gerald as she sighed, "All right, listen. This is a secret that Helga trusted me with, a secret so big, Arnold doesn't even KNOW about it. Heck, I think most people in our class don't know about it. You might want to sit down for this."
"Trust me, I'm sitting." Gerald said as he pulled Phoebe out of the closet as the two of them sat down in chairs. "Talk."
Phoebe sighed as she said, "You aren't going to believe it when I tell you this... but Helga is in love with Arnold."
Gerald shook his head in shock as Phoebe sighed, "I know it doesn't seem like she does, but believe me, when you hang out with her, she does have feelings, ESPECIALLY for Arnold."
Gerald looked at Phoebe awkwardly as he said, "Maybe you better start at the beginning... I'm trying to wrap my mind around this."
"Very well." Phoebe nodded as she took a deep breath. "I am so sorry about this, Helga..."
And thus, Gerald knows Helga's secret... next time, Arnold meets Lila and Lulu's dad, and Arnold and Lulu share a private moment without the twins' father and Lila being aware! Keep your eyes out!