~*Part Three*~

~* Next part is riiiight HERE! Enjoy! -Risma ; P*~

Pink Ribbon

~*Part Three: What Am I? Salami?*~

Helga recovers and she stands up and glares down at Arnold.

Helga: You want to know what my problem is?

She goes red in the face with anger and humiliation.

Helga: My problem, foot-ball head is YOU!!

She throws her catcher's mask on the ground and storms off, kicking trash cans as she goes.

Gerald: Man, now you're dead.

Arnold: (Great.) I should go and apologise to her. I shouldn't have yelled.

Gerald: Maybe, just maybe you could do that. Then she may not pound you as hard.

Arnold: Thanks Gerald for the confidence boost.

Gerald: You're welcome my man. Hey I know, you could come to the movies with Phoebe and me tonight at 6:30. Maybe you could relax seeing that Helga won't be there.

Arnold: Okay. See ya there.

He walks off in the same direction as Helga, though slower and not as violently.

Harold: Bring on the next batter. And you!

Harold points to Curly.

Harold: You're catcher.

Gerald watches his friend's outline get smaller as he walked away.

Gerald: Man, that kid has problems.

At the park –

Helga: You're dead foot-ball head. We'd better not meet too soon, or you won't live to regret it. (How can I bash up the one I love?) Very easily.

Phoebe walks over to the bench where Helga is sitting.

Phoebe: Helga . . .

Helga: WHAT?!

Helga turns around.

Helga: Oh it's you.

Phoebe: Helga what's wrong?

Helga: Nothing.

Phoebe: Could this have something to so with Arnold?

Helga looks startled. Then she grinds her fists.

Helga: Yeah. And I'm going to bash him senseless.

Phoebe: You sure you want to do that?

Helga: And why not?

She glares at Phoebe.

Phoebe: Oh nothing.

They sit silently for a while.

Phoebe: Maybe . . . you could come with Gerald and me to the movies.

Helga: You and Geraldo?! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! That's a good one Pheebs. Yeah alright what time? Ha! Ha!

Phoebe, being quite serious, tells her.

Helga: Thanks for giving me a good laugh Pheebs. See ya tonight. Phoebe and Geraldo. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! (They are so lucky. Pity I'm not.)

At the movies –

Arnold: What's taking Phoebe?

Gerald: She needed to ask permission. She'll be here. See there she is.

Phoebe comes across the road to the boys.

Gerald: Who's that with her though?

Gerald sees who it is. At the same time Phoebe sees Arnold.

Phoebe and Gerald: Oh GOD!

Arnold: It's HELGA!!

Arnold starts to run.

Helga: YOU'RE DEAD FOOT-BALL HEAD!!!!!

Helga charges at him and tackles Arnold from behind. She turns him over and lifts her fist.

Helga: Try to think of one good reason for me not to slog you into next week.

Arnold is shaking with fear.

Arnold: Um…um….um. Because I'm sorry. Heh.

Helga: What kind of lame excuse is that? You humiliated me in front of practically the whole city, and that's all you came up with? Grrrrr.

Arnold shuts his eyes waiting for the pain. Helga's fist comes close to his face then she stops. Arnold opens one eye then the other. Helga stands up.

Helga: You aren't even worth my time bucko!

Arnold breathes with relief. Helga pays for her ticket then waits inside for them.

After the movie –

Arnold: Wow! I know Lila would like that one.

Helga: (What would she know about humour?)

Arnold: And those special effects. Lila would be amazed.

Helga turns around and points at Arnold.

Helga: (Grrrr) If you're soooo keen on her, why not ask her out nimrod?

She sneers at him.

Helga: Oh yes, that's right. She only "likes you" not "likes you likes you."

Arnold starts to get irritated.

Helga: I bet she even dis-likes you "ever so much." Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Arnold's now steaming with anger. Gerald notices this and grabs Phoebe's hand and pulls her back.

Gerald: I suggest we stand back. Arnold's gonna blow.

Arnold: Why are you picking on her anyway? Are you jealous?

Helga is startled but not for long.

Helga: (How does he know…?) Why would I be jealous of Ms Perfect?

Arnold: Because she's nicer,

Gerald: Kinder,

Arnold: And sweeter than you.

Helga realising this has nothing to do with her crush, relaxes.

Helga: Your point?

Arnold waves his hands in the air with annoyance.

Arnold: You figure it out! 'Night Gerald. 'Night Phoebe.

Arnold glares at Helga and walks off home.

Gerald: C'mon Phoebe, I'll walk you home.

Phoebe: Ah….okay.

Then she looks at Helga, who's sitting in the gutter.

Phoebe: Um…Helga?

Helga: Go! I'm fine.

Phoebe walks with Gerald.

Helga: (Except I'm falling apart inside. Oh Arnold. I'm sorry for almost killing you. I'll make it up to you I promise.)

Next day –

Mr Simmons asked the class to get into groups and make posters. Each poster was to have something about Valentines Day and they'd all be put up on the wall.

Helga: We need some scissors.

She looks around and sees a pair with Arnold's group.

Helga: Oh great, they're at foot-ball head's table.

Helga walks over. And pushes Arnold out of the way.

Helga: Move it bucko!

Arnold: Alright Helga! You could just ask me to move you know?

Helga: Whatever makes you……..

Curly jumps on the table. He has toilet paper wrapped around his waist.

Curly: I am CUPID!!! Hear me roar!

He stamps his foot down on a tube of blue glitter glue. And it goes all over Helga's dress and hands.

Curly: Ooops.

Helga looks up at Curly. Everyone moves away from her. Her face is red, fists are balled and she's shaking with anger.

Helga: Oh no you're not cupid. You are…..DEAD!!!!!

She knocks the table over with Curly still standing on it. Now Curly is on the ground.

Curly: AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! HHHEEEELLLPPP MMMMEEEE!!!!!!

Everyone laughs as Helga runs after Curly, except for Arnold who feels sorry for the guy. Finally she caught him and wound sticky tape around him and a chair.

Rhonda: That'll hold him for a while.

Helga storms off to wash the glitter glue off her.

Sid: She sure looks mad. I'd hate to be the one with the death wish on my head.

Arnold and Gerald glance at each other.

Arnold: I'd better go and….

Gerald: You're a bold kid Arnold. A bold kid.

They do their thumb wiggle, and Arnold walks off to find Helga. Helga's in the girls toilet trying hard to get rid of the glue. Arnold waits outside. He can hear her talking.

Helga: That foot-ball head is such a dimwit! And what's so great about Lila anyway? So she's perfect. What am I the opposite?

Helga thinks while staring in the mirror.

Helga: They're right. I am hateful, mean and lousy.

Arnold: (Why did I say that?)

Silence for a while. Arnold looks around and then walks into the toilets.

Helga: AAAHHH!!! What are you doing in here? Get out!!

She pushes Arnold out the door.

Arnold: I'm…..sorry Helga.

Helga: Sorry? Sorry for what?

Arnold: For making you feel rotten.

Helga: Huh?! (What's he on about?)

Arnold: For yelling at you last night. I shouldn't have done that.

Helga: (Oh yeah. That's right.) Yeah, whatever. Get lost before I change my mind about thumping you right here.

Arnold gives her his half smile.

Arnold: So you'll be okay?

Helga: (I just love his smile) I'm hateful, mean and lousy. Of course I'm alright!! Doi!

Arnold: Just checking.

Arnold walks back to the classroom. Helga makes sure no one's around. She leans against the lockers then it's out with the locket.

Helga: Arnold, oh Arnold. Your sympathy heals my internal wounds. But I can't compete against Lila as Helga. Maybe as Cecile I can. Then it'll be just you and me.

Brainy: *Wheeze.* *Wheeze.* *Wheeze.* THUD!

Helga leaves him there and glides back to class dreamily.

That afternoon. Pataki Residence –

Helga's is looking for the dress she wore the last time she and Arnold first went out.

Helga: Great. Just when I need it, I can't find it.

She throws all her clothes on the floor in a frenzy search.

Helga: So where the heck is it?! I've checked everywhere….Olga's room!

She runs down the hall to her sister's room and looks in the wardrobe.

Helga: Criminy! What's it doing in here? Well at least I found it.

She puts it on.

Helga: Thank God it still fits. Pity I can't get rid of that glitter. Oh well. Now where's that shoe?

She runs back to her room, and finds one, red shoe under her bed.

Helga: I hope he brings the other one. Going in bare feet feels weird.

That afternoon. Sunset's Arms

At Arnold's place, things are going a lot smoother. He's squeaky clean and wearing a suit but still he's worried.

Arnold: Grandpa have you seen my tie?

Arnold walks downstairs looking for Phil and the tie. His Grandpa is in the "office".

Grandpa: No, short man maybe Pooky has it.

So he looks for his Grandma, when he sees Abner with something in his mouth.

Arnold: Abner, come here boy.

Abner walks back slowly.

Arnold: C'mon Abner, hand it over. I'll give you…..some food!

Abner drops the tie, sits up and begs for his reward.

Arnold: Here! Good boy.

Arnold throws his pig some scraps from dinner.

Arnold: Just need the shoe and I'm outta here.

He races upstairs to get the shoe out of his wardrobe. Checks the time and walks to Chez Pierre.

7:30pm at Chez Pierre -

Helga waits across the street from the restaurant. If things didn't go according to plan she could back out right now. Soon Arnold turns up, he sits on the bench under the street light with one shoe.

Helga: (C'mon Helga get with the program.)

She walks slowly across the street in bare feet, holding her other shoe.

Helga: Uh…. Hello Arnold.

Arnold: So you came…uh …..here this is yours.

He hands her the shoe. She sits down next to him and puts them on.

Arnold: Um…Cecile?

Helga: No. I have to tell you the truth. My name really is….(Should I say it? I have to tell him sometime.) Hel…Hel….(C'mon Helga say it!)….it's Helen. (Open mouth, insert foot!)

Arnold: Helen….hmm. Suits you. You want to walk in the park?

Helga/Helen: (No! I want to sit here in you arms.) Yeah. I'd love to.

They walk slowly to the park. Arnold tries to start a conversation.

Arnold: So…you live around here?

Helga/Helen: Yes. Fairly close actually.

She looks at him. He stares at the ground as they walk.

Helga/Helen: Is there something wrong?

Arnold: No…well…yes. I'm worried about this ….girl.

Helga/Helen: (I bet he means Lila) Oh. Who?

Arnold: Helga Pataki.

~*End of Part Three*~

~* I know, I know I'm evil leaving you suspended like this. But no worries next part will be up reeeeally soon. Promise -R *~