Helga's Letters

Part Seven: Rex Gets the Upper Hand

Saturday night Helga was on the phone with Phoebe telling her all about her trip to Arnold's house.

"And he was staring at me with googly eyes and everything!" she finished. "Can you believe it Phoebe? After all these years I've spent pining over him he actually likes me!"

"Like likes you, you mean." Phoebe smiled, "I always knew Ice Cream would come around."

"Yep, guess I finally wore him down." Helga gloated.

"Yes and you didn't even have to follow through with your plan to flirt around with Rex and Arnie…now that Arnold's already admitted his true feelings."

"Sure didn't take him long to get jealous, though he did play it off well." Helga recalled staring at Arnold in class. "Who knew the Football Head was such a good actor?"

"Well---I would think you would know that better than anyone." Phoebe teased.

"Would you drop the whole Romeo & Juliet play thing already Phoebs?" Helga laughed.

"So are you and Arnold going to hang out anymore?"

"Yep." Helga beamed, "He's taking me to the arcade tomorrow. He even made it a date."

"Wow! That's great Helga!"

"I know."

"Well, I suppose I should be going now. You'll need your rest for your first date tomorrow." Phoebe was utterly thrilled for her friend. If Helga spent more time with Arnold, then maybe she could spend more time with Arnold's best friend---Gerald. It was great the way everything was working out.

"Okay, good night Phoebs."

"Good night Helga."

******

Arnold was at Helga's house the next day ready to take her to the arcade. He was relieved that he could actually dress casually this time.

"Hi Helga." he greeted her.

"Oh, hi Arnold." she actually smiled at him. It was good to see her nicer side.

"Ready to go?" he extended his arm.

"Sure thing." she put her arm around his and they were off. Miriam actually peeked out the window and watched them stroll away. She wasn't mother-of-the-year or anything, but she really did love her daughter. Even when she wasn't sober…

Arnold held the door for Helga as they reached the arcade. "Thanks Hair Boy."

"Are you still gonna tease me like that?" he sighed with a grin.

Helga looked back over her shoulder, "Would you really have it any other way?"

"I guess not."

"Good. Cause Helga G. Pataki doesn't change for anyone geek bait."

"You got that right." he muttered.

When they entered the arcade they were greeted by two familiar faces. "Hello Arnold! Hi Helga! It's just ever so nice to see you!"

Helga's eyes bulged out. "LILA?!" It wasn't fair! Why did the one person who could ruin her first date with Arnold have to be there?!

"It's oh so delightful to find that we've both come to the same place on such a lovely day. I'm here with Arnie." Lila gave Helga a wink, "And I know who I owe for that."

Arnold gave Helga a strange look, she could only give a nervous laugh. "You don't mean that you and Arnie are-"

"That's right Arnold, we're here on our very first date. The evening at the zoo was just oh so special."

"That's nice." Arnold saw Arnie turn towards Helga, something in him got extremely protective. Arnie was the one who had dumped Helga the day before.

"Hello Helga." Arnie spoke, "I'm sorry that things didn't work out at the zoo."

"Huh?" Helga hadn't been paying attention, his voice was just so DULL. "Oh, no big deal."

"Well, I just wanted to apologize. Want some gum?"

"Lemme guess," Helga scoffed, "plain flavored gum?"

"Yeah."

"No thanks."

Arnold smiled, Helga was no one to play the heartbroken fool. She handled break-ups much better than he did. "What do you say we play some air hockey?"

Helga started laughing and mimicked the wife of a coach that Arnold was prone to helping, "You're on!"

Arnold caught her drift and countered, "You're on!"

Before either Lila or Arnie knew it, the two were off at an air hockey table giving each other their best game.

Rex watched from behind a videogame machine. "Any moment now…"

"SCORE!" Helga cheered. "Face it Arnoldo, you can't beat the best."

"Maybe not," Arnold agreed, knocking the puck into Helga's goal, "but I can beat you!"

Helga was shocked at first, it appeared as though she might get angry. Instead she started laughing, "Now THAT was pretty sneaky Arnold, I'm rubbing off on you."

"There's a scary thought." Arnold smirked.

"You're just askin' to get creamed!"

"Talk is cheap!"

Rex saw this as his moment to butt in. "Well well well," he smirked, "if it isn't the Football Head and fair Ms. Helga Pataki."

"Oh great," Helga groaned.

"What do you want Rex?" Arnold demanded.

"Why I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by and see if my beloved Helga was here…and I see she is." he replied curtly.

Helga rolled her eyes, "Listen Higgins, I don't think you've caught the hints. There's NOTHING between us. There NEVER will be. Get over it."

"I'm afraid that I'm a bit to stubborn to believe that." Rex grinned.

"Am I gonna have to pound ya?" Helga asked threateningly.

"Come on Helga." Arnold grabbed her arm, "We don't wanna get kicked out of the arcade."

"A few rounds with Old Betsy will teach him not to mess with me!" Helga hissed.

"Fighting won't solve anything Helga." Arnold reasoned.

A look of disgust crossed Helga's face, "What is with YOU Arnold? You sound like such a wimp sometimes. 'Oh Helga, we shouldn't resort to violence, it won't solve anything.'!"

Arnold looked annoyed, "And what has fighting solved? Helga, you let people bait you too much. You need to learn to let things go."

"Are you trying to tell ME how to deal with MY problems?" Helga shouted.

Rex was loving this.

"Well it's time someone did!"

"And who died and made you a guidance counselor?!"

"You're so hateful!"

"You're such a cream puff!"

"Hot head!"

"Meddler!"

"Why'd I even agree to come on this stupid date with you anyway?!" Helga yelled.

"If you hate me so much then why'd you agree to come?!" Arnold shouted back.

"Pity okay!"

"Everything's not pity Helga!" Arnold was hurt, "You said that's why you went to the dance with me---but I think you WANTED to go with me! And you wanted to come on this date with me too, didn't you?!"

Helga was at a loss, she hated the way he had her pegged. "A-and why would I want to go anywhere with a football head like you anyway?"

"Because you like me like me." Arnold stated.

Helga's anger faded. "I-I think I'm ready to leave."

Arnold was relenting to, but not quickly enough to prevent Rex's next move.

Swooping in on her he announced, "Oh Helga, I'm so sorry about all of this. I'll walk you home."

Arnold stood there with his mouth hanging open.

"Whatever." Helga muttered. She couldn't bare to look at Arnold now. Things were entirely too tense between them right now.

Rex took her arm and they headed out the door.

"Oh Arnold," Lila exclaimed heading over to him, "what happened?"

"S-she left," Arnold stuttered, "with Rex."

Arnie put a hand on his cousin's shoulder, "Tough break *snort* she was different."

"Yeah," Arnold sighed, staring blankly at the exit, "one in a million."

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*Don't anybody scream (cringes) this is NOT the end. There's more to come…you don't think I'd let Rex win do you? ^_~ *