Chapter Eleven: I Never Want To Say Good-Bye

A/N: Here's the last chapter of "Just One More Day". Have fun!!!

Arnold ignored Helga for the following week. It tore her heart to see him walk by her locker and just pretend she was air.

"Phebes – do you think I should give him back his jacket?" asked Helga sadly.

"I don't know, Helga. It's your decision," Phoebe said.

Helga drew in a deep and shaky breath and sighed. "Even though he won't talk to me – I guess I should give it back. I mean, what's the use of keeping it if he doesn't care?"

"Oh Helga...he probably does care – maybe he's scared..."

"No, Phoebe. I can't lower myself to think impossible things. That's the least of my worries." Helga took off Arnold's varsity jacket and walked over to him. He was standing next to Gerald – talking. Nothing seemed to be bothering him. Nothing. He didn't understand pain...so why did he have to get so mad at Helga?

"Hey, Arnold," said Helga, tapping his shoulder.

Arnold turned around. He glanced at her arm that held his jacket. "Yeah?"

"Here." She pushed the jacket into his stomach. "You can have your dumb jacket back. I don't want it anymore," said Helga.

"You...don't?" He asked Mindlessly.

"I figure: why have it? It's nothing. Means nothing. Only because we mean nothing. At least I mean nothing to you." Helga dropped her head and walked away.

Arnold's jaw dropped. How could she give me back this jacket? I haven't realized how badly I've treated her until now...How could I've been so cruel? This angel has turned against me...She said she loved me. And now I don't know how she feels... "She gave it back to me," he said.

Gerald shook his head. "Man, you'd better apologize or something. I hate seeing you guys like this."

"I thought you didn't like us hanging around each other so much – and now you hate seeing us apart?"

"Well, yeah."

Arnold shoved his best friend.

(two weeks later)

"Oh, Jerry...go out with you? I don't know if I can," said Helga.

"Please Helga?" He pleaded with his brown eyes weeping.

"I -," began Helga, looking around to see Arnold staring from the other side of the hallway. He looked at her absent-mindedly. Helga stood up straight and cleared her throat. "Sure. I'd love to go out with you."

"Great. Great. When?"

"How about Saturday night?" Helga said in a louder voice. "Around six?" All she could do was glance at Arnold every now and then. Just to make sure she was clear on what was happening.

"Great. I'll see you then," said Jerry happily.

"Okay, bye.." She smiled and waved as he skipped away.

"Why hello Arnold!" She said sinisterly. "Were you listening in on my conversation with Jerry?"

Arnold walked over to her. "I never knew you were into dorks."

"Better than being a care bear," she said sarcastically.

"I am not a care bear!" stated Arnold, stomping his foot.

"You care too much to even get your head straight – I think that's like a care bear."

"No, no...At least there's something good about me. I ACTUALLY CARE! Unlike SOME PEOPLE who shall not be named..."

"Excuuuussseee me," mocked Helga, putting out her hand. "You would think there would be room for a brain in that big head of yours to understand what I had to go through!" She walked away.

"Just to let you know, I didn't care to know about your condition – I don't care about anything that has to do with you!" Arnold shouted. I can't believe I said that, thought Arnold. What is wrong with me?

In class, Arnold and Helga couldn't communicate with each other without getting into an argument. Which was horrible because they were in the same group for a project.

"Tell Helga to pass the glue," said Arnold to Phoebe.

"Helga, could you please pass the glue?" Phoebe asked timidly. "To Arnold?"

Helga threw the glue to Arnold. It splattered on his shirt. "Here you go, Arnold."

Gerald had a concerned look on his face. So did Phoebe.

Arnold looked down at his sticky shirt. "Gee, thanks, Helga," he said sarcastically.

"You're welcome." She grinned.

He glanced at her hat. "Helga, isn't it against school rules to wear a hat in class?" He reached over trying to snatch off her hat.

Helga grabbed onto her hat. "I have my reasons, Arnoldo." She moved away from him. "Just back off."

The bell rang. As everyone shuffled out of the classroom, Arnold took off her hat. Only to see clumps of her blonde hair had been missing. She was half bald.

Helga gasped and took her hat back from Arnold's hand. His mouth was open. He couldn't believe he did that. She put her hat back on as tears streamed down her face. "Thanks, Arnold. You've done it this time – did you have to show everyone that I'm going bald?" She pushed him away from her and ran away.

"Sorry," said Arnold under his breath.

"Phebes, what am I going to wear for my date tonight?" Helga complained on the phone. "I have no hair – and quite frankly, I don't have a variety of hats to choose from."

"I really don't know Helga," sighed Phoebe.

"I might as well cancel the date. I don't like Jerry that much anyway. He's such a loser sometimes. Like Arnold," scowled Helga.

"Surely you don't mean that."

"Yes. Yes I do. I hate him." Helga covered her mouth. Did I seriously say that I hate Arnold?

"Oh...well, um. I'm sorry you feel that way Helga."

Helga sighed. "Actually, I don't. I don't feel that way. It's just I'm not sure how I feel about Arnold now. He's been so mean – and black hearted. I don't think I even know him anymore. What happened to the old Arnold?" She sighed again. "Oh well...I'll be gone soon anyway. It doesn't really matter."

"Please don't say that, Helga." Phoebe pleaded.

"I'm sorry. I guess I have to go now. Maybe take a walk in the park."

"Okay. Bye, Helga." They hung up.

Helga picked up the phone and dialed Jerry's phone number. "Hi, Jerry? This is Helga." Pause. "Yeah. Um, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to cancel our date tonight. Why? Because, something just...suddenly came up. I'm sorry. Thanks. See you at school, bye."

"Hello?" Phoebe asked answering the phone.
"Hi, Phoebe. It's Arnold."

"Arnold? Hi. What's up?" Phoebe asked curiously.

"Well, I have to confess something to you."

"Okay..."

"I am a complete and total jerk. I can't believe I did what I did today to Helga."

"I can't believe it either – you know you really killed her."

Arnold sighed deeply. "I know. Ugh. I guess I cared too much about her. I was scared. I still am."

"Why don't you tell her?"

"I can't. Whenever I'm around her, I don't know what to do. Or how to react. I'm either sad...mad or just confused."

"You really should tell her how you feel. Let her know you're behind her all the way. She's feeling miserable and you know it."

"You're right. I guess I should. I think I need some fresh air. Bye, Phoebe. And thanks."

"You're welcome, Arnold." They hung up.

"I'm going out for a walk in the park, Mom," said Helga, walking out the door.

"Don't be out too long, Helga."

The park was the same as usual, filled with kids playing baseball, couples walking hand in hand. Trees were filled with chirping birds. The fresh spring air made her appreciate life a little more. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop thinking about – death.

Her hat covered most of her head. She wore a scarf and pink jacket. It was cold. But nice.

Suddenly, to her surprise, she bumped into Arnold.

"Oh. Arnold," she said quickly. "Sorry. I didn't see you."

"It's alright." He paused. "Are you ready for your date?" He asked.

Helga shook her head. "No, I canceled."

"Why?"

"I don't feel like it. When I die it'll be harder to tell him." She grinned and gave a restless chuckle.

"Heh." Said Arnold under his breath. "Look, Helga. I'm sorry."

Helga widened her eyes and looked deeply at Arnold. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have shot those mean insults at you."

"No. You have nothing to be sorry for. It's all me. I'm the problem – I didn't understand. It's only because I -," Say it Arnold, say you care about her. Say that you love her, he thought. "Because I was going through a bad time." You idiot.

"Oh." She said disappointedly. "Well, that's okay. I mean, I can't expect the last months of my life to be la-dee-dah. Right?"

"I guess." They began walking around the park.

"Hey, Arnold. Do you remember when we had to take care of that egg? And lost it here?" She laughed. "We were so bad to each other then."

"I guess we still kinda are. Aren't we?"

Helga nodded. "Remember the play? Romeo and Juliet?" She shook her head slowly. "It was so embarrassing." Her face buried beneath her hands.

"Nah, it was alright. Even though I wasn't a really good actor. Mr. Simons didn't really want me to be in the play in the first place."

"Hey, you still did well."

Arnold grinned. "Thanks. You weren't too bad either." He laughed. "You were just always good at everything. So talented...and great in every way." He smiled at her.

Helga looked away from him and bit her lip. There was an awkward silence.

"Arnold, I'm sorry for all those times I was yelling bad things at you whenever we played baseball."

"Don't think anything about it."

"No, really. You are really good at it. But I made you feel like low-life probably."

"You didn't. Trust me."

"Arnold," she began.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what now?"

"For everything. For all those years I've treated you like crap. For all those tricks I played on you."

"It's all right."

"Say you forgive me..."

"I forgive you." He said. "Why are you apologizing anyway?"

"I want to clear my conscience before I'm gone."

There was an awkward silence. "Helga?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you scared?" He asked.

Helga shrugged her shoulders. "I duno. I guess my feelings are numb. I don't really know how to feel. Or what to feel. But –," she nodded. "No matter how hard I try, I'm still scared."

Arnold looked at her. He admired how courageous she was. No matter what, she never caved in. She always had to show everyone she was strong. He loved that about her...in fact, he loves her.

"I admire your strength, Helga. I really do." He said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Helga looked at him and smiled and put her hand on top of his as she stopped walking. "You're too sweet." Tears were rolling in her eyes.

He leaned in and kissed her soft lips. "Helga, I -," he started. Then noticed Helga groaning and clenching her stomach, slowly falling to the ground. "Helga?!" He asked nervously, holding her hand. He was on his knees as she curled up on the ground with her hand on her stomach; moaning in pain.

"Arnold – I can't live like this any longer," she said, still not crying.

"Helga, no...," urged Arnold.

"Tell my mother I love her." She moaned. Tears slowly began dropping.

Arnold felt like crying himself. "Please..."

"I never told her that before – and tell my dad that I'm sorry I couldn't win as many trophies as Olga. Tell him I'm sorry for never spending any quality time with him. I do truly care. Bless Olga and her baby. Hug Jonathan for me. Hold the baby for me. Okay?" Her grip tightened on Arnold's hand.

Arnold nodded. He didn't know what else to do. "Do you want me to go get some help?"

"No. No Arnold. I don't want to spend anymore nights at the hospital." She gulped. "Oh God...Arnold. I'll miss you and Phebes and Gerald. Everyone at school..."

"Don't talk that way, Helga. You're not going to die! Please, don't die...I – I love you Helga." He broke down crying. "I love you Helga G. Pataki...I always have."

Helga closed her eyes and nodded slightly, tears still rolling down her cheeks. "I know," she said softly. Then her hand lost its grip on Arnold's. Her body went limp.

Arnold put his hand on her wrist. No pulse. He looked up. "I always will, Helga. I always will."

There was no hope for Helga. She was rushed to the hospital – the doctors couldn't help. It was too late. It was the way Helga wanted it. No more medical attention, no more nights at the hospital crying herself to sleep. Now she was at rest.

Her funeral was lovely. Full of pink flowers and everything. Phoebe and Arnold said something individually to the crowd of friends and family.

"...I'll never forget Helga's spirit. Personality...everything about her was special." Tears ran down Phoebe's face. "May you rest in peace, Helga." She cried, looking at the coffin that layed Helga's body. She went and sat down. Then Arnold went up to the podium and cleared his throat.

"I loved her," said Arnold wearily. "I loved every moment I had with her. The only thing I regret from being with her is that I didn't tell her how I felt sooner." He lowered his head. "Helga was perfect in every way. If only I told her sooner – if only I wasn't such a jerk. Everything could've been different. Now all I can think is that it's my fault she passed away so soon." He drew in a deep breath. "I cared for her with all my heart. And she'll always be in my dreams. There will never be another Helga G. Pataki. Nor will anyone live up to her spirit or be better than her. As far as I'm concerned, she was, and still is, the best person who ever existed in this world." He bowed his head and walked back to his seat.

Just before they were going to lower her six feet deep at the cemetery, everyone placed a flower on the cherry-brown coffin.

"Oh Helga," sobbed Olga, placing the flower on her little sister's coffin. "I'll miss you, baby sister." She handed her newly born baby girl (named Helga) to Jonathan. She sniffed and looked at her sleeping baby. "Jonathan, I'm so sad," she sobbed.

"It's okay, Darling," said Jonathan, stroking her hair. "It's okay."

"Bob – Helga was the greatest, wasn't she?" Mariam cried.

"Yeah. The girl was impossible, and was so much like me. I'm just sorry I didn't realize it. I treated her so badly when she was a kid." He shook his head and looked down. "God, I wish she was still here. Even though we didn't always get along, she never stopped making me smile more and more each day."

Finally, Arnold walked up to her coffin. He didn't have a flower to give her. Instead, he took off his varsity jacket and blue cap and put them on top of the casket. "I'll never forget you," he whispered.

~The End~

A/N: Yes, well...I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE ENDING! Thanks for your reviews, Everyone. I tried to make it as sad as possible. And not as confusing but...oh well. Sorry if some conversations confused you. But thanks for your support!