Arnie comes for a Month: Part 3

Arnie went back inside the boarding house and sat down at the table again, this time studying the contents of the butter. Arnold on the other hand was dumbstruck. He was still in the doorway watching Helga walk slowly away to her house. He remembered where he saw her like that, with her ponytail before. It was in his dream about when he visited Arnie and he liked Hilda, who resembled Helga. She looked exactly like Hilda! He had actually started to like-like Helga a little, he couldn't believe himself. His dream was becoming reality. He sort of liked Helga, but Helga liked Arnie… or so he thought. He went back into the boarding house and told Arnie that he was going up to his room. Arnie snorted and followed Arnold right on up to his room. Arnold needed some time to himself. Some time away from Arnie.

"Hey Arnie? Can I have a few minutes by myself? I have something important I need to think about."

"K."

Helga was on her way home. She couldn't get it out of her head what Arnold's face looked like.

"He turned bright red! It was priceless! Maybe your plan is working Helga ol' girl!

Arnold was going crazy. He needed to talk to someone, but he was not about to resort to talking to Arnie about this type of problem. And Grandpa, well, he wasn't going to help much. He thought of talking to Gerald and got his phone. He dialed the number… It rang two times and Gerald's little sister picked up.

"Hello?" She said in her small voice.

"Oh, hey Timberly. Is Gerald there?"

"Yeah Arnold, hold on."

Arnold could hear only Timberly's tiny, innocent voice turn into a huge, monstrous scream for her brother to pick it up.

"Alright alright Timberly! I got it!" Gerald said with a tone indicating annoyance.

"Hello?"

"Gerald?" Arnold said frantically.

"Hey Arnold, what's up man?"

"Gerald- I'm going crazy. Helga changed and came over and looked real nice and I think I'm starting to like her and-" Arnold said with almost no spaces between the words.

"Arnold, slow down man! What happened?"

Arnold took a deep breath.

"Ok. Helga came over and was wearing a different, prettier dress and changed her hair. She looked really nice."

"Arnold, you ARE going crazy!"

"I kind of like her like her, but she likes Arnie!"

"Well Arnold, I have no idea what to say! You're talking about HELGA PATAKI! I don't get how you can't someone one minute, and the next you like them like them!"

"I don't either. I should tell her. Should I tell her? I think I will. Should I? I'll tell her tonight when we go to the movies."

"Whose WE?

"Helga, Arnie and me."

"Arnold, you gotta have a date too. Its gonna be weird with her and Arnie and you sitting there alone."

"Well, maybe I'll ask Lila, that way she'll distract Arnie so I can talk to Helga."

"Whatever you say man. Whatever you say."

"Well Gerald, I better go before Arnie or Grandpa hears what I'm talking about… see ya Gerald!"

"Bye Arnold." Gerald said with a sigh… "That boy is CARAAAZZZAY!"

What Arnold didn't know was that Grandpa had been listening with his ear on the door the whole time. He wanted to hear because Arnie told him that Arnold needed to think about something important. The doors' latch suddenly let go, and Grandpa came flying in.

"Heya shortman! What's up?"

Arnold was lying on his back on his flip couch with a pillow over his head.

" Oh, hey Grandpa. Where's Arnie?"

"Don't worry about him shortman, I found some new lint under the couch for him to get."

"Ha ha, ok Grandpa."

"So I couldn't help overhearing you talking to Gerald about another one of your boyhood problems…"

"Oh, what'd you hear?" Arnold said a little nervous.

" Just that you're goin' crazy."

" Oh, Ok, that's it?" Arnold said slightly relieved.

"Well, to tell you the truth Shortman, I heard every word."

"Oh…"

"So who's the lucky girl eh?"

"Sorry Grandpa, I just don't feel like talking about it right now. Maybe later."

"Ok, but remember, if you wanna talk, I'm here for you shortman."

"Thanks Grandpa."

Arnold decided to go over to Lila's to see if she wanted to go to the movies with Arnie, Helga and himself.

He went out of the boarding house and headed for Lila's. He still like liked her, but not as much as he used to. He got to her little house, and knocked three times, and waited for a minute. Then he finally heard footsteps and with that the doorknob twisted and the door opened. It was Lila's dad.

"Oh, Hi is Lila here?"

"Yeah, just a minute."

Lila's dad called her, and she came to the door.

"Oh, hey Arnold, what brings you here on this oh so beautiful day?"

"Hey Lila, Arnie, Helga and I are going to the movies, do you wanna come with us?"

"I'm ever so sorry Arnold, but I only like you, I don't like you like you."

"I know, the thing is, well…" Arnold paused for a few seconds thinking if he should tell Lila.

"Well what Arnold?"

"Well, I'm starting to like like Helga, and, since you obviously like Arnie, I was thinking you could maybe distract Arnie from her for a few minutes so I could tell her."

"Oh that's ever so sweet Arnold, of course I will. You two look just oh so cute together!"

"Thanks Lila, I'll see you tonight."

"Helga was glancing in her mirror again, the only thought on her mind was Arnold, and him being next to her in the theatre. It was the first movie they were going together, the first one that she wasn't just sitting behind him, but actually next to him, or, she hoped.

"Ohh, my love! Tonight I'll be nice and caring, you'll see! Perhaps I shall tell you my deepest darkest secret."

That night Helga didn't know who was picking up who, it hadn't occurred to any of them that they forgot to plan that part out. She figured she might as well pick them up, so she took one look at her Arnold shrine in her closet, then stepped out of her room and closed the door.

"Miriaaaaaaamm!! I'm going to see a movie with some friends! I'll be home later!" She yelled to her mom.

"Ok Helga."

When Helga was just about to open the door, the doorbell rang. She didn't expect it, and jumped back with a start.

"Oh! Its them! He he! Ok, Helga, remember your plan. Pretend to like Arnie, and don't talk much to Arnold.. and most important.. be NICE. Don't blow it!"

Helga answered the door, and none other than Arnie and Arnold were on Helga's stoop.

"Hey Arnold… Hey…. Arnie…" She tried to sound lovingly.

"Hey Helga" Arnold said, with a slight smile.

"(Snort) Hi." Arnie said, still just changing his tone by one pitch.

"You two ready?"

"Yeah, but, uh, we have to pick up Lila, I invited her to come along as my date, since you two are going together." Arnold said, with little joy in his tone.

"Oh no Helga, you've lost him. He's still hooked on little miss perfect! I shoulda known he would never like me." She thought to herself, and her smile vanished, showing a little disappointment in her facial expression for no longer than a second. Arnold swore he could have seen the change in her face.

"Ok, let's go get her." Helga said with a sigh.

They walked over to Lila's house, and she was already waiting on her stairs.

"Oh, hey Arnie!" Lila said dreamily.

"(Snort) Hi."

"Hey Lila, you ready?" Arnold said.

"Oh yes, I'm just ever so ready."

Helga saw Arnold whisper something into Lila's ear. She thought he was whispering "sweet nothings" to her, but she had no idea what it could have possibly been.

"OK Lila, remember to distract Arnie so I can talk to Helga, OK?"

"Oh don't worry Arnold, I won't forget."

They got to the theater, bought their tickets and went in to find a seat.

Ok guys, tell me what you really think, I need to know! I know Helga's mom doesn't call her Olga, I forgot that for a while lol. There will either be one more or two, but I haven't written them yet! =) Hopefully I will soon, since tomorrows Saturday and I have nothing else to do! Hope you enjoy this so far! Please let me know if you do, thanks!

~Cassie