Here's the next chapter! Anyway, enjoy!
The next day, inside the school bus, Helga and Phoebe were riding along their way as Helga turned to Phoebe. "Okay, remember our little deal?"
Phoebe nodded. "I believe I do. When Arnold and Gerald come in, you distract Arnold, and I get Gerald alone. Then, the bet will officially begin."
Helga snickered a bit at the idea. "Well, I couldn't put it any better. Let's get to work!"
After a couple minutes of riding, the bus came to a stop as Helga peeked out the window and smirked, seeing two familiar kids waiting outside. "Ah, here they are now!"
Helga and Phoebe watched as they saw the two boys enter the bus and pay the bus fare as per usual, with Arnold and Gerald seemingly talking about something big that was going to happen tonight. And thus, Helga decided to get the boys's attention, the best way she could.
"Yo, Football Head!"
Gerald groaned as he and Arnold turned towards Helga, the latter raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "Yes, Helga?"
"You're a man that can give good advice! I need some!" Helga frowned as she got up and motioned to him.
"Uh, sure, I could do that, Helga. Maybe I can..." Arnold started to say as he tried to sit between Phoebe and Helga.
"No, I need you to sit next to me!" Helga frowned as she grabbed Arnold's hand, making him yelp.
"But, isn't Phoebe already..." Arnold pointed over towards the smiling Japanese girl as she waved.
"Right, so she is. Phoebe, take Tall Hair boy and leave us be." Helga ordered.
"Wait a minute, Helga!" Gerald frowned. "Why should I not be invol-"
The words Helga just said hit him as he realized Phoebe was already getting up and going to the next couple seats below. "...uh, carry on."
Gerald then went over to where Phoebe was and sat next to her as Gerald gave a warm smile to Phoebe. When Phoebe looked up to see Gerald, Gerald recovered as he asked, "So, Phoebe, I have to ask. Has Helga been treating you well?"
Phoebe giggled. "Don't worry, Gerald. Helga treats me all right."
"Are you sure? She seemed a bit ornery... I mean, she's mean all the time, but she's not as mean..." Gerald started.
"It's fine, really." Phoebe blushed. "Say, Gerald... we're friends... right."
Gerald found himself blushing as well. "Of course we are... good friends. Great friends."
"Why did I say that!" Gerald groaned inside. "Man, how am I supposed to admit to Phoebe I like her like her... this is not as easy as it looks!"
"Gerald only likes me as a friend... hmmm..." Phoebe looked down, disappointed, then gave an inward smile. "Well... I'm not giving up JUST yet! If I can get close to him and get that kiss... I win Gerald's heart, and I win the bet! Helga Pataki, you will be confessing to Arnold before you know it!"
"What did you want to talk about, Helga?" Arnold asked as Helga was watching. "Helga?"
"Huh?" Helga blinked.
"What did you want to talk about?" Arnold asked.
"Oh, nothing." Helga said.
"...Then why did you ask Phoebe to leave?" Arnold frowned. "If you didn't want my advice..."
"Shut up a minute and look over there, football head." Helga said as she turned his head around, making him stare at their two friends sitting next together. "Look, Arnoldo, it's becoming very clear that Tall Hair Boy and Pheebs like each other."
Arnold paused... before he smiled. "They do make a very cute couple, don't they?"
"Yeah..." Helga sighed. "Almost like you and me..."
"What?" Arnold said in confusion.
Helga yelped as she quickly said, "I said almost like... Curly and Rhonda!"
"What?" Rhonda heard what Helga had said in the other end and turned to Helga, glaring at her.
"Can't deny that." Curly, hearing what Helga said, smiled as he was busy drawing a picture in his notebook.
Helga blushed in embarrassment, but shook her head as she turned to Arnold. "Anyway, Arnoldo, I need your help. See, it's so obvious that Phoebe and Gerald like each other... but the problem is, none of them can make the first move!"
"Say, Gerald." Phoebe looked up.
"Yes, Phoebe?" Gerald looked over to Phoebe in curiosity.
Phoebe opened her mouth... then squeaked. "Uh... nothing much. Just... your hair's great today. How is it styled?"
Gerald smirked. "Thanks. Believe it or not, I have a barber style this for me. Though I might change it. There are some roller coasters that don't appreciate how I style my hair..."
"Oh, but Gerald, I'm sure your hair is pretty... divine." Phoebe smiled, offering her best compliments.
"Your hair's not as bad." Gerald smiled. "And your eyes... even with glasses, you're a real beauty."
Phoebe giggled. "Thanks, Gerald."
"They seem to be complimenting each other." Arnold noted as he watched Phoebe and Gerald talking with each other.
"Yeah, but like I just recently said, the problem is, they can't make the first move. You know what I'm saying?" Helga sighed. "We need to get this chocolate cake and blueberry pudding served together in the same dish!"
"Chocolate cake? Blueberry pudding?" Arnold blinked in confusion, turning to Helga.
Helga looked at Arnold, before realizing that he probably didn't get the food metaphor she was trying to display. "A little inside thing between Phoebe and myself, you wouldn't understand. Look, if you help me out, I promise I won't... well... I promise I won't do spitballs on you for a week."
Arnold raised an eyebrow. "This is asking for something big... how about we make it three months?"
"No. Two weeks." Helga narrowed her eyes.
"Two months." Arnold gave a small smirk towards the girl.
"Three weeks!" Helga glared. "You know, you're not making this ANY easier!"
"How about a month?" Arnold smiled. "Will a month work?"
Helga opened her mouth... then closed it as Arnold's offer entered her mind. She then moved to a direct pose, to think. "A month without spitballs... this is asking something big... but..."
Helga smirked as she offered her hand. "Okay... one month without spitballs. But you got to help me get Gerald and Phoebe together! All right?"
"Deal." Arnold smiled. "I'll try to help Gerald get closer to his feelings with Phoebe. You try to set up Phoebe in the perfect meeting place!"
"Where's that?" Helga asked, raising part of her unibrow.
"Hmmm... how about after school... at the park? Gerald and I were planning on going there for some kite flying, but with you two here, we could make it a sort of double date..."
Helga's eyes widened at the words 'double date', which caused her to smile a bit goofy for a moment... before shaking her head and retaining her signature frown. "Well, sure, I'll try and see if I can make it work. You just help me help you!"
"Good idea..." Arnold gave a nod as Helga gave a small chuckle.
With that, the school bus stopped as everyone was getting off. Arnold paused as he looked at Helga as Gerald and Phoebe came close as Helga stood up. "Thanks for the advice, Arnoldo, not that I needed it!"
Arnold paused... before shrugging. "Whatever you say, Helga."
"Come on, Pheebs." Helga said as Phoebe followed her out the bus.
"You okay, man?" Gerald asked.
"Yeah... can you believe Helga just told me she's not going to do spitballs for a month?" Arnold smirked.
Gerald laughed as he rolled his eyes. "How do you know Helga's not just saying that to catch you off-guard?"
"I trust her." Arnold shrugged.
Gerald rolled his eyes as he turned to his friend, just as they got off the bus. "Whatever, man. Let's see how long THAT lasts..."
"I got a little nervous..." Phoebe looked down.
"Relax, Phoebe, you still have plenty of time." Helga smiled. "Just be patient. You're going to kiss Gerald pretty soon..."
"...All right, Helga. I trust you." Phoebe said as they both arrived at their lockers to get themselves ready for the school day.
That's the second chapter. How'd you like it? Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!