Here it is folks! The final chpaters! Thanks for great reviews. Hehe....I wanted to like, hold off finishing in order to get more reviews
and requests to continue but I think that's a little too desperate even for me don't you? Anyway...I'd still like to see more reviews! -JIA


Arnold saw Helga look at their hands. No doubt, she was surprised. She looked up at him with a questioning look.

He met her gaze and said nervously, "Helga, will you be my girlfriend?"

For a full minute she just stared at him, her eyes as big as dinner plates. Her deepest desire, her darkest secret, the one she'd found so hard to confess for six years and he'd said it so plainly. Could she, maybe, finally do the same?

"But, why?" she finally managed to ask. "What-?"

Arnold felt encouraged. He'd come this far and Helga hasn't punched out his lights. He took that as a good sign.

Maybe she had felt it as well.

"Well, " he began. "You know that final scene in the play?" Helga nodded, eager for his explanation..

"Well, everyone said it was really great, and I thought so, too. And I think there might be something there. So maybe, you and I could, y'know, try out being girlfriend and boyfriend and see what happens. "

Helga was pained. He hasn't fallen in love with her, but he thinks he might. If she told him how she felt now, he'd feel obligated to return her feelings, and she'll never know the truth.

But it was her big chance to be with Arnold! Maybe she could overlook this technicality.

Maybe if he got to know her, he might fall in love with her eventually.

This was better than never being his, she told herself. This was definitely better.

This was almost what she wanted.

Almost, but not quite... and a miss is as good as a mile.

I'll take him anyway I can... And Arnold's the nicest guy ever. He would never mean to break my heart...

Too late, she retorted.