"Foolish Heart, Chapter Three" by Black Nightshade
Disclaimer: Hey Arnold! And all it's characters do *not* belong to me, no matter how much I dream that they do. Hey Arnold! is copywritten to it's respective owner(s), though all contents of this fanfiction are purely mine and are not to be copied without permission by yours truly. Please R&R!! Also, sorry I haven't written in awhile, majior writers block!
Arnold awoke early the next morning. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and glanced around. At first he had forgotten all about last night, but it suddenly hit him in a flash. He let out a soft sigh as he stood on his feet. He remember how nice Helga was. "Would she be that nice today?" was all he could thing of as he dressed himself in his regular clothes then brushed his hair. He put his hand on the door, forcing the thoughts away temporarily as he turned the knob. Downstairs he walked then right into the kitchen. "'Morning shortman! Good rest, I see?" Grandpa said, looking up from the morning paper. Arnold nodded "Yeah grandpa, it really was." He sat down as grandma placed a huge stack of pancakes infront of him. "Eat up, cowpoke! It'll be a long day on the O.K. Coral!" Arnold looked at the food, then looked at his grandmother. "Uhm, grandma.. I don't think I can really eat that much, let alone have the time." It was at that time Oscar decided to jump in the conversation. "If the boy doesn't want them I'll be happy to-" Grandpa glared at him, slamming the paper down on the table. "Oh no you won't you rat, Kokashka!" And as usual, a full blown argument started out between the two. Arnold stood up, taking the chance to make his exit. He paused as he got outside, the wind gently rustling up his hair. He enhaled a breath of the cold breeze and looked up into the sky. "Please... make it a good day" he whispered, then started out for school.
"Olga!! Get up, breakfast is ready!!" was what Helga woke up hearing. "Yeah, coming Big Bob, and it's HELGA!" She said in a huff as she woke up. "Perfect beginning of the day" she thought to herself with a scoff. "Whatever!" her father yelled up to her. Helga stood up and stretched. She opened up her closet and knelt by her shrine to Arnold as she brushed her hair, her eyes shining with compassion. "Oh Arnold, will today be the day?" She began to slip into her dream state, but her father, as usually, ruining everything yelled out her name once more knocking her back into reality. "Hold your horses!!" She screeched. She undressed then slipped on her pink dress. She looked at herself in the mirror as she straitened the bow on her head. It had to look just right, just like Arnold had said he liked it so long ago. She then made her way downstairs and to the table. Her father was there, magazine with, what else, his ads in it, a cup of coffee in the other hand. Helga sat down and poked at her food for awhile before Marium had gave her lunch. She looked inside and groaned, mentally thinking "Looks like it's perfume and cheese again today.." She slid her coat on, then bundled herself up with her scarf and walked outside, not bothering to say she was going. She knew ahead of time no one would really care. Helga walked hurriedly today, she wanted to see Arnold, she just hoped her pride would stay out of the way, but would she actually get there in time?
Arnold stood at the bus stop, soon greeted by Gerald. They did their usually little finger thing then stood silent for awhile. Person after person arrived, but no Helga. Arnold had been keeping his eye out, Gerald picking up that he was waiting for someone after he saw him frown for the 6th time as someone arrived, but apparently not who he was looking for. "Hey man, who are you looking for?" Gerald finally spoke up. Arnold shook his head from the daze he was in and stuttered a moment. "Oh, no one inparticular, Gerald." Gerald shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Arnold." 5 minutes passed, then the bus pulled up infront of them. Arnold began to get worried, dispit himself. "She's usually here.." he thought. He made up some comforting thoughts of her walking to school today, or maybe Big Bob dropping her off, and he stuck to those ideas as he stepped up and onto the bus.
"HEY! Watch where your going!" Helga forced her way through the crowds of people, determined to make it there for her 'beloved'. "Woah! Slow down Kid!" Helga growled lowly, clenching her fists, trying not to loose her cool so early. "Gak! Little girl you should be more careful!" yelled out a lady as they collided. She looked over her shoulder. "You should have been paying atten-WHAM!" Helga fell to the ground with a thud, papers of all sorts flying around her. When she opened her eyes she saw she had ran strait into a lengthily man caring a briefcase, who now stared at her with a vengeful sneer. Helga started grabbing up the papers to help the man, but looking around, she gasped in horror. The wind was blowing the papers in every which direction, and she knew if she didn't get every single one of them she was going to be in some big trouble. 5 minutes passed, then another 10, then finally 5 more before she finally announced "done". She started a mad dash to the bus stop. Skidding to a halt she was welcomed by the bus driving off, leaving her behind. "H-Hey! Wait a minute! You can't just leave me here!" She started chasing after the bus, waving her hands back and forth in the air. "This is going to be a very long day.." she thought as she took a sharp turn in the corner, keeping her eyes glued to the bus at all times.
The bell rang, still no Helga. Arnold leaned against his desk, his head in his hands, his mind filled with the images of the night before, the worries of today, and the feelings of that terrible experience on the bus. He wasn't the only one worried, even Phoebe looked a little concerned. Gerald usually would have inquired Arnold about his current state, but he was too wrapped up in worrying over Phoebe. The clock ticked by, then suddenly the door was flung open. Helga stood in the door way, her hands and knees dirty from kneeling, her coat covered in snow, and a very angrily look adorning her face. "Oh my! Miss Pataki, you are pretty late I..never mind, please take a seat.." Mr. Simmons said, seeing how messed up Helga looked. Helga slumped into her seat, not even bothering to remove her coat. Arnold took a glance behind him. "Arnold, please turn around." Mr. Simmons said in his usual soft tone. Arnold looked forward again, though he found his own eyes wandering every now and then when Mr. Simmons turned his back. The one thing he forgot to notice is how concerned he was getting over a girl only a day or two ago he had sworn to hate.
First period slid by, followed by second and third. Forth and Fifth period was blown off with the wind, and Arnold soon found himself at lunch, more worried then he was before Helga had even shown up. She hadn't said a word to him. At the moment he would have given anything for a "Out of my way, Foot Ball Head!". Arnold took his time getting lunch then sat next to Gerald. Now by this time everyone had noticed how Arnold had been acting, and they also remembered the fight. "This is *all* Helga's fault, I tell you!" Rhonda said taking a bite of her apple. Everyone couldn't help but agree. One thing led to another, and soon a plan was formulated to get Arnold feeling better, and to get back at Helga for what she was doing to him. The time set was at recess, and by no means would they stop.
Helga took her seat next to Phoebe, after the hard day Helga had been going through Phoebe didn't even speak a word on the topic of what had happened on the bus. Phoebe talked of the regular topics..homework, teachers, grades, projects, and what not. Helga seemed not even to be paying attention. After the fifth attempt at a conversation Phoebe gave in and they both ate their lunch in silence, similarly to the way Gerald and Arnold had mysteriously been eating their lunch as well.
Lunch was over and everyone had headed outside for recess. Eugene danced around the playground doing ballet moves, eventually tripping and falling into a garbage can. Brainy stood in the shadows away from the rest, observing Helga. Arnold and Gerald stood by the monkey bars looking around. "I don't like this Gerald.." Arnold whispered as he watched the pack of kids in the corner talking. Not a soul was around besides for the occasional 'geek'. Phoebe and Helga where leaned against the gate, Helga talking and Phoebe dictating. Suddenly the group began to move, but they weren't unprepared. Lila came over and began talking to Arnold, asking if he was okay. This was just enough to get Arnolds attention off Helga for the time being, and consequently, also Geralds. The large pack of children made their way to Helga, and finally stopped dead infront of her.
"Hey!" Rhonda shouted out, pushing infront of everyone. Helga stopped talking and looked over to Rhonda. Phoebe had a nervous expression on her face. "Rhonda do you really think..." "Stay out of this, Phoebe, it doesn't concern you!" Rhonda snapped. Phoebe winced and backed down. "Now you can get off talking to me like that but you can't do that to Phoebe!" Helga shouted. The kids moved in a formation, encircling around Helga, and Helga alone, leaving Phoebe on the outside of it. Helga looked around and gulped hard. She could take on one person easily, but over five?! "What you did to Arnold is inexcusable! You had no right to do that to him!" Rhonda said, glaring. Sid stood next to her and took over. "We're going to teach you a lesson on what happens when you hurt one of our friends, especially someone as nice as Arnold!" Helga shifted her weight from one foot to another uncomfortably, looking to each of their snickering faces. "Ohhh, is Helga-Welga scareeedd" Harold taunted. "I'm only afraid of that chubby face of yours, pig boy!" Helga screamed, this catching the attention of Arnold. "That's it! get her!" Harold shouted out.
Immediately the group started closing in around her, getting tighter and tighter. Arnold pushed Lila out of the way and sped over, just as Harold raised his hand to throw the first punch Arnold lept infront of her and grabbed onto Harold's hand. A confused Harold blinked, everyone gasping. "Leave her alone!" Arnold shouted protectively, spreading his arms and legs out to block her. "Arnold.." Helga whispered as she watched him, full of gratitude and admiration. "How can you stick up for her after what she did?!" Sid screeched. "It was a huge misunderstanding that we cleared up last night! Helga has been having a bad enough day already, you all should be ashamed at yourselves! Even if things weren't better I hate violence so what would even make you *think* I would benefit from it!" Arnold retorted, screaming. Everyone looked down and whispered a sorry, then the group slowly disbursed. Arnold slowly turned and faced Helga, a concerned look on his face. "Are you okay Helga?" Arnold spoke softly. Helga's cheeks began to turn a rosy red color. She found herself wanting to shout out her true feelings, though also she found her pride wanting to do just the opposite. Both of the conflicting sides finally combined. "Yes, Arnold, I'm perfectly fine.." she said dryly, though the look on her face was obvious that she was grateful. Arnold nodded his head then walked Helga back to class.
The end of the day came fast. Arnold was always at Helga's side for the rest of the day, even on the bus. Soon a different type of talk began to stur up about Arnold being so nice to Helga, and Helga actually being pretty decent back. Arnold got off at the same stop as Helga and walked her home. They both stopped when they had reached the same spot as they had the night before. "Thanks for everything today, Arnoldo. I owe you big time." Helga said, one hand on her arm. "It was nothing Helga, really.." Arnold smiled at her. "No..Arnold, it was something. If you hadn't broken that up I would have been food for the rats. No one else would have done that for me, especially with the way I've treated you over the years.. anyways..just..know It was appreciated" Helga said, her face now bright red as she began to walk up the stairs. Arnold stood dumbfounded for a moment before he found the words he wished to speak. "I couldn't just let them hurt you after I had been worrying about you all day, I was really concerned about you, Helga, I wouldn't have dared not help you, even if you have teased me..and pushed me around.. and called me names..and trip me..and..." he stopped himself before he totally spoiled everything. Helga froze on the stairs. "he..was worried about me" Helga thought to herself, a smile crossing over her face. "Well..Foot Ball Head...I guess I would have done the same for you. Thanks again!" She said, her voice calm and low, almost sweet. Arnold watched her for a moment, studding her movements. He looked away. "I..better go now. I'll see you tomorrow, Helga. Oh yeah..please don't call me that." Arnold said hesitantly. Helga grimaced at her mistake, but tried not to make it noticeable. "Sorry, Arnoldo. I'll try to keep that in mind." Arnold smiled widely as he yelled one more 'good bye' then ran off.
Helga stumbled into her house, a goofy smile on her face. She didn't even make it into her room this time. She twirled into the living room and feel down on the couch, face first, her face hitting into a pillow. She swooned and repeated Arnold's name over and over again hugging the soft silken pillow. "This day didn't turn out so bad after all!" Helga whispered to the pillow before hugging it again then, when finally calm enough, walked upstairs to her room, the curled up by her shrine and wrote poetry until she fell asleep, letting her homework be neglected for awhile longer while her dreams filled with the corn-color haired boy who had said he was worried about her. Nothing could have ruined the moment now. She let her emotions run rampid and express her feelings while she lay in the trance of her dreams, her face against the slightly rough paper of her little pink book, secretly admitting in those dreams that she sometimes was happy she had such a foolish heart.
Well that was the end of this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! Since you asked for more, you got more! Still want more? So you respond and tell me! Thanks for reading this chapter of 'Foolish Heart'!