Helga's Letters

Part Six: Revenge & Surprises

If there's one good thing to say about a kid like Rex Smyth Higgins, it's that he's one determined little snob…okay, so that wasn't very nice. None the less, Rex set his mind to winning Helga's favor and teaching Arnold never to mess with the best. The boat race had been one thing and it had seemed as though they might start getting along after the reenactment of the Pig War but Rex still had a reputation to uphold. Sadly, the feud between his and Arnold's grandfathers was what kept the boys from peacefully coexisting.

Rex spent the biggest part of the afternoon plotting ways to break apart Helga and Arnold and ultimately win Helga's love. That would be the one thing that would forever and always assure his victory over his childhood foe!

"I've got it!" he finally announced to himself. "Oh Helga dear do beware…the Higgins are not easily beaten!"

******

On their way back to Helga's house Arnold had offered to buy Helga an ice cream bar from the Jolly Ollie man.

They had continued talking as they ate and found themselves at the boarding house instead.

"Oops," Arnold grinned, "sorry Helga. Guess it slipped my mind where I was heading."

Helga looked up at the boarding house, "No biggie Arnoldo, I wasn't paying much attention to where we were going either."

Arnold gave her a nervous laugh, "So um, do you wanna come in?"

She looked at him with surprise, "You actually want me to come in?"

"Yeah."

"B-but," Helga was at a loss for words.

Arnold smiled and took her hand, leading her up the steps he spoke, "Look Helga, I know that we've had our differences and all but I'd like to think that all that's in the past. We can, you know, start over now."

Helga smiled back at him, She has a really pretty smile, Arnold thought to himself.

"Well hey there Short Man!" Arnold's grandpa greeted them.

"Hi Grandpa. This is Helga." Arnold introduced them.

"Ah-ha, so this is what you've been up to all day huh?" his grandpa winked, "Why didn't ya just tell me you had a date Hot Lips?"

"Grandpa…" Arnold muttered.

"Oh I'm just kidding with you Arnold," his grandpa slapped him on the back as Helga followed him up to his room.

Arnold's grandma came out of the kitchen a second later, "Well I'll be, Eleanor must be back from her important meeting."

"Pookie, when's the last time you actually knew what year it was?" Grandpa asked his delirious wife.

"I always knew she and Tex would make the perfect couple." she smiled.

Grandpa put an arm around her, "Your instincts are as sharp as ever Pookie."

Up in Arnold's room he showed Helga around a little. Pressing a button on his remote he said proudly, "And this is my couch." he plopped down on one end, "Have a seat."

Helga warily sat down. She knew she shouldn't feel this uncomfortable, she had been in Arnold's room before, but most of those were times he didn't know about.

She glanced up to find Arnold gazing at her with an expression that she'd so often given him when he was unaware she was swooning, "What?"

"It's nothing." he smirked, "It's just--after all these years--you're still wearing that bow I like."

Helga's cheeks reddened, "What? This old thing? You don't think I wear it just for you or anything do you?" she started to giggle uneasily.

"I dunno." Arnold shrugged, "I like to think that you do."

Is he TRYING to make me look like a tomato? Helga blushed more. "So Football Head, what do you do up here all day anyways?"

"Not much," Arnold replied, "I like to draw and play games and stuff on my computer."

"Oh."

"What about you?"

"Why would I be in your room all day?"

"You know what I mean." Arnold countered, "What do you do in your room all day long?"

Helga felt funny about talking to Arnold about that, Uh gee Arnold, my hobbies include building shrines to you, writing poems about you, and basically obsessing over you every waking moment of the day…plus your magnificent image haunts my weird girlish dreams.

"Uh…I write poetry. Read books…" she looked at her gift, "…poetry books. And sometimes Phoebs and I just sleep over and talk about stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" he asked.

"What is this? An interrogation?!"

"No, just trying to get to know you a little better is all."

"Fine," she relented, We talk about Ice Cream. "Phoebe and I just talk about school stuff and baseball mostly." Boy, even I'M starting to believe this garbage!

"Oh." Arnold smiled. "Um Helga…"

"Yeah Arnold?" Helga was leaning against the side of the couch, finally starting to ease up a bit.

"Would you like to do something with me tomorrow afternoon?" Arnold asked shyly.

"Like what?"

"I don't know…maybe go to the arcade?"

"Sure." Helga agreed.

"Really?"

She smiled at his genuine look of surprise, "It's not like I've got anything better to do Hair Boy."

Arnold flashed her a wide goofy grin. "Great! It's a date then." the last part escaped him before he could think about what he was saying.

Helga stared at him, "Oookay." Did I just say 'Okay'?!

Did she just say 'Okay'?!?

"I think I should get going now." Helga suddenly had the urge to flee the boarding house. Arnold was breaking down her barriers WAY too fast.

"Okay, I'll walk you home." Arnold offered.

Helga turned and grinned at him slyly, "Yeah right…like you did last time?"

"Hehe---this time I'll get it right---promise!"

"Fine."

Before she knew what was happening Arnold had his arm around hers and they were descending the stairs.

"Hey Arnold!" a heavily accented voice called, "I see you and your lady friend are heading out…are you going to steal a kiss?"

Arnold felt his knees start buckling, "N-no…"

Helga was enjoying this, "What's the matter Football Head? 'Fraid I might slug ya?"

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*I didn't forget about Rex towards the end. He's got a big part coming up soon and you'll read more about Lila and Arnie. ^_~ Please continue to read and review!*