Love's Follies

Part Two: Let's Talk

Helga sat at a lunch table with Phoebe on the other side of the cafeteria from where Arnold and Gerald were eating lunch. "Ahh…"

"My Helga," Phoebe observed her friend intently, "you've been staring at Arnold and sighing an awful lot today. Does this by chance happen to have anything to do with what Sid said at recess today?"

"Huh?" Helga looked up, inwardly scolding herself for having acted like such a lovesick schoolgirl, even if that was what she was.

"Your behavior Helga," Phoebe pointed out, "are you sure you're not just getting your hopes up? I mean, Arnold has yet to officially ask you to the dance you know."

"Oh, so you think that he's gonna back out of it, eh Phoebs?" Helga sounded insulted.

"I-"

"You're saying that he'll come to his senses and realize that he can do BETTER than me?!"

"Well no, I-"

"Save your pessimistic thoughts you prude," Helga turned away from Phoebe and glared out the window. Staring at her reflection a moment she groaned and turned back around, "Well, maybe you're right. Maybe he will chicken out. Or worse, pick someone ELSE to go with. Oh I couldn't bare it! Not when I'm so close!"

"What are you going to do Helga?" Phoebe asked, recognizing that determined spark in Helga's eyes.

"Forget Cupid Phoebs," Helga stood up and started stomping off to Arnold's table, "It's time Helga G. Pataki took matters into her own hands!"

"Ahh," Phoebe muttered, reluctantly following Helga, "I guess it's true. Love truly isn't for the faint of heart."

Arnold looked up from his milk carton and meatloaf surprise and saw the dreaded figure of Helga towering over him, "Oh, hi Helga. What's wrong?"

"Wrong? Nothing's wrong bucko!" Helga snapped, she couldn't seem too desperate. "Just wanted to let you know that I know all about your little plans for the dance Friday."

"You do?" Arnold asked puzzled.

"That's right Hair Boy," she spat, "and if you plan on taking me anywhere then we're gonna get a few rules straight."

"WHAT?!" Arnold gulped.

"Rule one. Don't TOUCH me!"

"But Helga-"

"Rule two. Be on time!" she clinched her fist and stuck in his face, "Or else!"

"Listen Helga I think there's been some kind of mistake."

"Rule three! Just because I'm actually taking pity on your pathetic football head and agreeing to go with you to the dance DOES NOT mean that I like you!" she was sure to emphasize this so that the whole cafeteria could hear. "Consider this my good deed for the century!"

Arnold swallowed hard as Helga spun around on her white heel and stormed back off. Phoebe took a moment to wave shyly at Gerald. It was no big secret that he'd be taking her to the dance.

Gerald shyly waved back then turned to his dumbstruck friend, "Well Arnold my man, looks like you can relax. Helga's done the hard part for ya. Now you KNOW she's said yes."

"B-but I wasn't going to ask the question." Arnold couldn't believe that he'd somehow gotten himself into this! At least now he knew why everyone had been snickering at him earlier.

"Hey Arnold!" a nasally voice called, "Looks like you've gone and got yourself a date for the dance after all. Congratulations, Helga's no Lila but she's a pretty girl as far as they go…I reckon."

"Stinky, I do NOT want to go to the dance with Helga." Arnold stated flatly.

"Oh sure you don't." Sid walked up with Harold and winked at the others.

"What are you talking about?" Arnold groaned.

"I heard what you said at recess Arnold. You said, Who am I supposed to take? Helga Pataki?!."

"I was being sarcastic Stinky!" Arnold shouted, it wasn't often that he raised his voice.

"Whoa whoa, hold it." Gerald spoke up, "You mean that Sid here blabbed that you wanted to go with Helga to the WHOLE playground and you actually don't?"

"Right." Arnold sat back folding his arms and glaring at Sid.

Gerald and the other boys exchanged glances, "HAHAHAHA!!!!!"

"Well," Gerald cackled, "it looks like you're stuck taking her now!"

"Yeah Arrrnold!" Harold teased, "You're so stupid!"

Arnold groaned and pushed his tray away, this had to be the worst thing that had ever happened to him. He would be marked with this embarrassment for the rest of his life. "I'll see ya later guys," he mumbled.

"Where are you goin'?" Gerald asked.

"The bathroom," Arnold's face turned green as he clutched his stomach, "I think I'm gonna be sick."

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*Thanks for the reviews everyone! I hope you like this chapter too. I'll try to post more soon. ^_^*