Chapter 7: Arnold the Heart Breaker
Arnold: Grandpa, I have a problem... a girl problem...
Grandpa: Geeze Arnold, you've had more problems with girls in your nine years than I've had in my eighty-one years. Is it your little friend with the one eyebrow?
Arnold: No, it was that girl from yesterday that called, don't you remember?
Grandpa: I can't remember what I had for breakfast unless it gives me stomach problems. So, what happened?
Arnold: Well, she started liking me, but I wasn't sure if I liked her...
Grandpa: Didn't this happen a while ago with that really cute, sweet little girl that you only started liking after you dumped her, thus missing your chance for what could have been the greatest romance of your young life?
Arnold: Lila, right. Well this was a different girl that started liking me, but I wasn't sure if I liked her, but I didn't want the same thing to happen again, so I agreed to be her boyfriend.
Grandpa: Awww... that's so cute, well, what're you waiting for, invite her over, I wanna take pictures!
Arnold: Umm... well, she kinda doesn't want to speak to me anymore, because I accidentally called her Lila...
Grandpa: WHAT!!! Arnold, how could you!! I don't know what to think of you anymore, you're like a womanizing, home wrecking, heartbreaker!!!
Arnold: Well, what should I do?
Grandpa: I ain't given you no advice you little weasel, plus, I have absolutely no idea what you should do. If I was in your position, I'd probably join the clergy, and swear myself to chastity.
Arnold: Thanks grandpa...
Grandpa: Don't mention it.
Everyone had almost gotten in trouble for the flood incident, the cops really didn't wanna believe in some evil super villain living in the sewer. They didn't have much in the way of a strong case that it was the kids that caused the flood, so they had to let them go. The only one that didn't get grounded was Arnold, mostly because his grandparents believed him, he never told lies. It was a long weekend, so he didn't get to see anyone again until Wednesday. The bus seemed strangely quiet; Gerald was missing, so Arnold sat next to Sid.
Sid: So Arnold, you hear? While the workers were down in the sewer fixing the leaks and stuff, they found the Sewer King's lair. They didn't find him, but they found a picture. They're trying to identify him.
Arnold: I doubt they will.
Sid: Why, don't you think he might've escaped from the nut house or something.
Arnold: I dunno, he did talk kinda crazy, but I think he probably went down there normal and came out crazy.
Sid: Why would anyone want to live in the sewer?
Arnold(mumbling): Probly cause it was the next best thing to joining the clergy...
Rhonda: Well, if it isn't Arnold, the bane of all females old enough to like boys!
Gerald: Can it Rhonda!
Arnold: *sigh* Come on, class will start any minute…
Most of the girls in the class were giving Arnold a cold stare, even Lila. Arnold didn't want to sit near any of them, so he headed to the back where all the boys were sitting, of course the only seat back there was right next to Helga.
Helga: Hey lover boy…
Arnold: Don't even start with me Helga, I'm not in the mood.
Helga: Don't snap at me!! Did you notice Nadine's not here?
Arnold: Yeah, so, she's at home crying, big deal…
Helga: She also wants to see you.
Arnold: What!! How do you know this!
Helga: She told me to tell you, I'm the only girl that will talk to you now.
Arnold: This is so horrible…
Helga: Don't worry, it will blow over soon. In the mean time, I think you know what you should do after school…
Arnold was used to Helga being nice sometimes. But he still didn't get why Helga was even talking with Nadine, those two weren't much in the way of friends. Nadine's father was already standing on the front porch when he got to her house. He wasn't wearing his robe, he just wore shorts and a vest, no t-shirt, just a vest. Arnold thought he looked like one of those guys that hung around on boardwalks.
Artemis: Hey Arnold.
Arnold: Hello sir…
Artemis: Don't be afraid of me Arnold, do I look like an overprotective father?
Arnold: It's not just that you're her father, its that I'm generally a jerk and everyone thinks so.
Artemis: Nadine has been telling me all about you Arnold, and it seems that you are a very nice boy. Actually, you're beyond nice, more like heroic.
Arnold: So, is she in there?
Artemis: I just have one question Arnold. Do you like her because you have a crush on her, or do you like her because she likes you.
Arnold stood dumbfounded. He hadn't thought of that.
Arnold: I dunno, there was this one other girl that liked me…
Artemis: Yeah, I know about Lila. She, Rhonda, and most of the other girls have been visiting Nadine all weekend. That weird one with the one eyebrow was here a lot, but she was never with them.
Arnold: Helga… She visited a lot?
Artemis: Yeah… I think you should head upstairs now.
Nadine's room was very different from the rest of the house, cause it was normal. Sure there were some bug posters, but that was just Nadine. She was sitting on the floor when he came in.
Nadine: Please sit down Arnold.
He did, but found himself increasingly uncomfortable. His heart beat a bit too fast. He wasn't sure if it was because Nadine was pretty, or because he was dreading this conversation. Probably both.
Arnold: Nadine, I'm soooo sorry. You know I didn't mean it when I said it, I mean I really, really like you, its just been I've liked Lila for a long time and stuff…
Nadine: Arnold, please shutup.
He was shocked at first, but calmed down when he noticed she was giggling.
Nadine: I've been thinking a lot, you know, I like you like you, but I don't think you feel the same way…
Arnold: But I do, I like hanging around you, and I love doing stuff together. I also like being near you, and you know…
Nadine: Arnold, you're a boy, of course you like being near me. Just because you like hanging around me and stuff doesn't mean you really like me like me. Basically it boils down to this one question, and I need for you to answer it honestly. If you could have Lila as your girlfriend, would you? Or would you rather be with me.
He knew the answer; he just didn't want to say it. Unfortunately for him, his highly evolved consciousness kicked in, making him think differently than most boys his age. Wisdom and guilt flooded his brain, urging him to do what he knew was right.
Arnold: *sigh* Lila. Please don't cry or anything.
Nadine: Its ok Arnold, I knew you were going to say that. Now, do you want to go with me and the other girls to go see the opera tonight? Rhonda has great seats…
Arnold: Wait a minute, the other girls? Don't they hate me?
Nadine: How could they? You're just too darn sweet.
Arnold: Oh, heh, heh, um… Ok, I'll go.
Nadine: Great, meet us at the opera house at eight. Now, get out of here!! I have homework to do..
Arnold: Ok…
Arnold walked out of her house in quite a daze, thinking a bit too much about the girls thinking he was sweet.
Nadine: Its ok, you can come out now…
Helga stumbled out of the closet.
Nadine: So… satisfied?
Helga: Umm… *giggle* yeah, I guess…
Nadine: Did you just giggle?
Helga: No…
Nadine: *sigh* I think you should just tell him. How could he not like you if you tell him all the things you've been doing for him this year alone?
Helga: Hey sister, I'll tell him when I'm ready. I mean I'm only ten for god sakes!
The End
Author's Notes: Nadine was the most obvious choice for another Arnold crush because she doesn't have other attachments. There's peapod kid, but she doesn't know about that. There's Sid, but he likes all the girls. If any of you didn't notice, one of the time's they showed Sid's room, there was a picture of Rhonda on the ground. The Sewer King is a perfect villain, he's seems nice enough at first, but then he betrays you cause he's, well, the king. Everyone has to obey him or they're rat food. Monkey man versus the Sewer King seemed appropriate for a classic battle between good and evil. I hope the writers stop tormenting Arnold with girls; he's been through so much crap for a nine year old. Please review if you've gotten this far… I could really use the insight.
Arnold: Grandpa, I have a problem... a girl problem...
Grandpa: Geeze Arnold, you've had more problems with girls in your nine years than I've had in my eighty-one years. Is it your little friend with the one eyebrow?
Arnold: No, it was that girl from yesterday that called, don't you remember?
Grandpa: I can't remember what I had for breakfast unless it gives me stomach problems. So, what happened?
Arnold: Well, she started liking me, but I wasn't sure if I liked her...
Grandpa: Didn't this happen a while ago with that really cute, sweet little girl that you only started liking after you dumped her, thus missing your chance for what could have been the greatest romance of your young life?
Arnold: Lila, right. Well this was a different girl that started liking me, but I wasn't sure if I liked her, but I didn't want the same thing to happen again, so I agreed to be her boyfriend.
Grandpa: Awww... that's so cute, well, what're you waiting for, invite her over, I wanna take pictures!
Arnold: Umm... well, she kinda doesn't want to speak to me anymore, because I accidentally called her Lila...
Grandpa: WHAT!!! Arnold, how could you!! I don't know what to think of you anymore, you're like a womanizing, home wrecking, heartbreaker!!!
Arnold: Well, what should I do?
Grandpa: I ain't given you no advice you little weasel, plus, I have absolutely no idea what you should do. If I was in your position, I'd probably join the clergy, and swear myself to chastity.
Arnold: Thanks grandpa...
Grandpa: Don't mention it.
Everyone had almost gotten in trouble for the flood incident, the cops really didn't wanna believe in some evil super villain living in the sewer. They didn't have much in the way of a strong case that it was the kids that caused the flood, so they had to let them go. The only one that didn't get grounded was Arnold, mostly because his grandparents believed him, he never told lies. It was a long weekend, so he didn't get to see anyone again until Wednesday. The bus seemed strangely quiet; Gerald was missing, so Arnold sat next to Sid.
Sid: So Arnold, you hear? While the workers were down in the sewer fixing the leaks and stuff, they found the Sewer King's lair. They didn't find him, but they found a picture. They're trying to identify him.
Arnold: I doubt they will.
Sid: Why, don't you think he might've escaped from the nut house or something.
Arnold: I dunno, he did talk kinda crazy, but I think he probably went down there normal and came out crazy.
Sid: Why would anyone want to live in the sewer?
Arnold(mumbling): Probly cause it was the next best thing to joining the clergy...
Rhonda: Well, if it isn't Arnold, the bane of all females old enough to like boys!
Gerald: Can it Rhonda!
Arnold: *sigh* Come on, class will start any minute…
Most of the girls in the class were giving Arnold a cold stare, even Lila. Arnold didn't want to sit near any of them, so he headed to the back where all the boys were sitting, of course the only seat back there was right next to Helga.
Helga: Hey lover boy…
Arnold: Don't even start with me Helga, I'm not in the mood.
Helga: Don't snap at me!! Did you notice Nadine's not here?
Arnold: Yeah, so, she's at home crying, big deal…
Helga: She also wants to see you.
Arnold: What!! How do you know this!
Helga: She told me to tell you, I'm the only girl that will talk to you now.
Arnold: This is so horrible…
Helga: Don't worry, it will blow over soon. In the mean time, I think you know what you should do after school…
Arnold was used to Helga being nice sometimes. But he still didn't get why Helga was even talking with Nadine, those two weren't much in the way of friends. Nadine's father was already standing on the front porch when he got to her house. He wasn't wearing his robe, he just wore shorts and a vest, no t-shirt, just a vest. Arnold thought he looked like one of those guys that hung around on boardwalks.
Artemis: Hey Arnold.
Arnold: Hello sir…
Artemis: Don't be afraid of me Arnold, do I look like an overprotective father?
Arnold: It's not just that you're her father, its that I'm generally a jerk and everyone thinks so.
Artemis: Nadine has been telling me all about you Arnold, and it seems that you are a very nice boy. Actually, you're beyond nice, more like heroic.
Arnold: So, is she in there?
Artemis: I just have one question Arnold. Do you like her because you have a crush on her, or do you like her because she likes you.
Arnold stood dumbfounded. He hadn't thought of that.
Arnold: I dunno, there was this one other girl that liked me…
Artemis: Yeah, I know about Lila. She, Rhonda, and most of the other girls have been visiting Nadine all weekend. That weird one with the one eyebrow was here a lot, but she was never with them.
Arnold: Helga… She visited a lot?
Artemis: Yeah… I think you should head upstairs now.
Nadine's room was very different from the rest of the house, cause it was normal. Sure there were some bug posters, but that was just Nadine. She was sitting on the floor when he came in.
Nadine: Please sit down Arnold.
He did, but found himself increasingly uncomfortable. His heart beat a bit too fast. He wasn't sure if it was because Nadine was pretty, or because he was dreading this conversation. Probably both.
Arnold: Nadine, I'm soooo sorry. You know I didn't mean it when I said it, I mean I really, really like you, its just been I've liked Lila for a long time and stuff…
Nadine: Arnold, please shutup.
He was shocked at first, but calmed down when he noticed she was giggling.
Nadine: I've been thinking a lot, you know, I like you like you, but I don't think you feel the same way…
Arnold: But I do, I like hanging around you, and I love doing stuff together. I also like being near you, and you know…
Nadine: Arnold, you're a boy, of course you like being near me. Just because you like hanging around me and stuff doesn't mean you really like me like me. Basically it boils down to this one question, and I need for you to answer it honestly. If you could have Lila as your girlfriend, would you? Or would you rather be with me.
He knew the answer; he just didn't want to say it. Unfortunately for him, his highly evolved consciousness kicked in, making him think differently than most boys his age. Wisdom and guilt flooded his brain, urging him to do what he knew was right.
Arnold: *sigh* Lila. Please don't cry or anything.
Nadine: Its ok Arnold, I knew you were going to say that. Now, do you want to go with me and the other girls to go see the opera tonight? Rhonda has great seats…
Arnold: Wait a minute, the other girls? Don't they hate me?
Nadine: How could they? You're just too darn sweet.
Arnold: Oh, heh, heh, um… Ok, I'll go.
Nadine: Great, meet us at the opera house at eight. Now, get out of here!! I have homework to do..
Arnold: Ok…
Arnold walked out of her house in quite a daze, thinking a bit too much about the girls thinking he was sweet.
Nadine: Its ok, you can come out now…
Helga stumbled out of the closet.
Nadine: So… satisfied?
Helga: Umm… *giggle* yeah, I guess…
Nadine: Did you just giggle?
Helga: No…
Nadine: *sigh* I think you should just tell him. How could he not like you if you tell him all the things you've been doing for him this year alone?
Helga: Hey sister, I'll tell him when I'm ready. I mean I'm only ten for god sakes!
The End
Author's Notes: Nadine was the most obvious choice for another Arnold crush because she doesn't have other attachments. There's peapod kid, but she doesn't know about that. There's Sid, but he likes all the girls. If any of you didn't notice, one of the time's they showed Sid's room, there was a picture of Rhonda on the ground. The Sewer King is a perfect villain, he's seems nice enough at first, but then he betrays you cause he's, well, the king. Everyone has to obey him or they're rat food. Monkey man versus the Sewer King seemed appropriate for a classic battle between good and evil. I hope the writers stop tormenting Arnold with girls; he's been through so much crap for a nine year old. Please review if you've gotten this far… I could really use the insight.