DISCLAIMER: Hey Arnold-not mine, never will be.

"So what movie are we seeing, anyway?" I asked, as Patty and I exited the corner store. We each bought a Yahoo and now were on our way.

She shrugged, "You'll see when we get there."

"I wanna know now." I said, jokingly demanding.

"Eh, that might not be such a good idea."

I shrugged and continued walking with her. It was starting to become evening as we strolled around the neighborhoods. We reached the movie theater and she stopped me before I could reach the ticket counter. "I'll get the tickets, yeah? My treat."

"Can't argue with that." I said and she nodded. She walked up to the booth and left me standing next to the movie posters. I gagged at some of the names… SO stupid…

"My Dying Words… yuk… Tell Me You Love Me… gag… Dear Diary? Jesus, they are REALLY running out of ideas for movies…" I said out loud, shaking my head. I saw Patty walking towards me and I turned to her.

She handed me my ticket then flinched, waiting for a response.

"'My True Love'?" I said, looking from the ticket to the movie poster that was to the right of 'Dear Diary', "THAT'S what we're seeing?!" I raised an eyebrow.

"Like I said before, I WAS supposed to go with Harold, you know, as a date."

"I can see now why you didn't tell me what we were seeing… I wouldn't have come!"

"Oh, I won't be that bad, just give it a chance."

"You know," I said, folding my arms and raising an eyebrow, "I wouldn't have taken YOU as the type of person that would wanna see such dribble."

"Well, I'm full of surprises…" she said, walking back to the theater entrance. She stopped then turned back to me, "Well, are you coming?"

I sighed, "I guess…"

We walked into the building and looked for our theater. There weren't many people around seeing as though it was a Tuesday, so I knew that I could make loud, obnoxious, comments to the movie screen without the thought of someone getting pissed. I loved to do that. If a movie sucked I wasn't going to stay quiet about it.

"Here we are," I proclaimed, pointing to the doors.

"You sure you don't want any popcorn or candy?" Patty asked, opening the door.

"I'm not sure that'd be a good idea. Popcorn, a bad movie, and Helga G. Pataki… it isn't a good mix. Popcorn can easily become a weapon in these hands… " I walked through the door after her and we entered the theater.

We walked up to the top row of seats and sat down.

The girl in the movie walked over to a man and threw her arms around him, "Oh, Brad, you're the only one for me!"

The man resisted, "But Sheela! You know I'm marrying your sister!"

"You paid 7.50 to see this crap?" I asked, loudly.

"Shhhhut up" Patty said without looking at me.

"On second thought, I'm going out to get some Bon-bons," I said, standing up, "be back in a minute."

"Ok," Patty seemed too into the movie to even know what I had just said. I laughed to myself. I didn't think someone like her would be into mushy romantic flicks. I shrugged and headed down to the doors. I walked out laughing at the stupidity of the movie.

"Why if it isn't Helga G. Pataki coming out of 'My True Love'!" shouted Harold, with popcorn, candy, and a yahoo soda in hand, trying to mock me. He laughed at his attempt to insult me and embarrass me.

"So?! I'm here with your girlfriend, pink boy, the one YOU were supposed to go with!" I said, placing my hands on my hips.

"Oh yeah…" he scratched his head.

"I thought you had wrestling practice?" I folded my arms.

"I did, honest! But I decided not to go and well… I looked for Patty but I couldn't find her. I still wanted to go to the movies and so I met up with Stinky, Sid, Arnold-"

"Arnold's here?" I asked, losing my bad-ass attitude.

"Yeah, him, Stinky, Sid, and Gerald." he raised an eyebrow at me, "So what are you doing out here anyway?"

"I can only take that crap for so long," I said, pointing with my thumb behind me at the door to my theater.

"Hey, why don't you guys come with us? Yeah! Then Patty won't think I ditched her!" he stated, as if he'd reached an epiphany.

"I don't know… what are you guys seeing, anyway?" I pretended not to be as interested as I was.

"Monster Truck Mayhem: The Extreme Challenge Movie," he said.

"I'm there."

-----

"You sure about this, Helga?" Patty asked as I dragged her out of the 'My True Love' movie.

"Course I am… you're gonna love this movie too. I heard that its got a lot of gruesome 'wipe out' scenes. I heard they banned it in some theaters. Plus, it's not like you won't kill anymore brain cells watching this than if you kept watching that mushy love crap. Yuck," I gagged.

"Helga, do you believe in love? Because if you don't I can see why you're so bitter about-"

"I'm not bitter." I said, contradicting her.

"Well, then why can't you appreciate a good romantic movie?"

"I can… but you're not going to stand here and tell me that the 'epic love' between Brad and Sheela is what good movies are made of."

"Haha, I guess I can't argue with that."

We reached the theater Harold told me to meet them in, and I stopped and considered going in or not for a second. Suddenly, for some odd reason, I felt as if I were betraying Phoebe just a little. I mean, I'd be at a movie with Gerald and Patty… where was Phoebe? She should have been there with me… I felt so bad…

"Helga?" I was shaken out of my thoughts by Patty's tapping on my shoulder, "Are you going in or not?"

"I'm going, I'm going… hold your damn horses…" I walked ahead of her and burst my way through the double doors. Now, I thought, where would those losers be sitting?

"Lets find some seats," Patty suggested, taking me by the arm and leading me.

"There," I pointed to a few empty seats towards the middle of the rows of seats. We pushed our way past people and sat down in our new seats. I looked around the theater for Arnold and his friends and finally made out an odd-shaped head down in the lower seats. I pretended not to notice. I started watching the movie and adjusted my legs, but I bumped my ankle on something under my seat. I moved my foot again and there, on the floor under my feet, spilled a tub of popcorn. I looked down then back at the odd-shaped head in the audience. A wicked smile formed on my face.

I picked up a handful and brought my hand up and back, ready to throw, when suddenly the movie stopped and the film seemed to split. A flood of angry groans and 'what the hell's came from the crowd. The lights in the theater came on and an intercom seemed to squeak to life. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we seem to be having some technical difficulties," the voice of a man started, "The film has mysteriously been turned off some how. As soon as we figure out what to do we'll have the movie back up and running for you, if you'll all just be patient."

I rolled my eyes and said, quite loudly, "How about pressing the ON button, genius?" I was replied by a loud roar of laughter and clapping from the audience.

The intercom came back on, "Young lady, we're doing everything we-" he stopped and in the background, not so loudly, I heard another man say, "Hey, Bill, we got it, someone accidentally turned off the projector." there was silence then the original man came back, "It seems we have everything under control, everybody… we should have the film ready in just a few short minutes." the audience laughed a little more at the stupidity.

"Hmm… I guess when you're right, it's not TECHINICALLY being obnoxious…" I said, thoughtfully.

I looked down the rows and saw Arnold turn, looking around in the audience. He knew I was the one that blurted out the comment. I slid down in my seat. I didn't want him to see me just yet, I had a plan for that. Patty, still laughing next to me, looked strangely at me.

"What are you doing?" she questioned.

"Nothing, heh," I made a half-hearted smile and continued to cower behind the seat in front of me.

Suddenly the lights dimmed down again and the film began to play again. There was another outburst of clapping from the audience. I sat up in my seat and proceeded to continue what I was doing before. With the popcorn still in my hand I pulled my arm back and up again, ready to throw, and threw my handful of popcorn down into the audience below. I looked and saw that a few of them hit Arnold. He shook the kernels out of his hair and continued to watch the movie. I glared at him. Damn, I was sure that was going to get his attention. I tried again and got the same response. Thinking for a second, I grabbed onto Patty's hand, picked up what was left of the tub of popcorn, and whispered, "Hey, lets got closer down there,"

"Why?"

"Just do it!" I whispered harshly, forgetting for a moment who I was talking to.

"What did you say?" she glared at me.

"Um, I said, will you please come with me down to the lower rows?" I seemed unsure of myself.

"Eh, why not." the two of us stood up and crept down to the lower seats. I looked out for Arnold, making sure he didn't see us. We found a few empty seats a couple rows above Arnold's and we crept into them. "Helga, what's-" she looked down at where I was looking, "Oh."

"Yeah, so, shhhh" I raised a finger to my lips, "I don't want hair boy to know I'm here."

"I see… and the point of this is…?"

"You'll see…" I reached down into the tub of popcorn and brought out a few pieces. I threw them hard at the back of his head. Just as I thought would happen, he didn't turn around, only swatted at the back of his head. Grr…

"You're an idiot…" Patty said, jokingly, "Here, gimmie some…" she reached into the popcorn and brought out a handful. She reached her hand back in the throwing position and let him have it!

"Jesus, who keeps doing that?!" I heard Arnold say, he turned around in his seat and sat up higher so he could get a better look at everyone.

Here's my chance, I thought… "Yo, down in front, football face!" I said, receiving 'shhh's from the people around me. Arnold sat taller in his seat.

"Helga?" he looked disbelievingly at me.

"In the flesh," I said with a wink. He grinned and sat back regularly in his seat. He then turned around and faced the screen again.

"You did all of that just so he could turn to you for 5 seconds?" Patty asked, looking at me strangely again.

------

"Haha! What an awesome movie!" I said, as the movie ended. The lights came on and Arnold, Sid, Harold, and Stinky stood to face us.

"Hello, Helga." Stinky said, twiddling his fingers.

"Uh, hey, Stinko." I stood up.

"Well, well, if it isn't Sid…" I said evily, cracking my knuckles.

"Um, h-hi Helga," he backed towards the exit.

"Where are you going?" I asked innocently, walking out from my row. I began to advance towards him.

"Look, I don't think a woman in your condition should be starting a fight," he said, shakily, holding up his hands in defense.

"Who says I'm starting a fight? And in what condition, Sid, my friend?" I still advanced toward him, raising the sleeves on my shirt.

"DON'T HURT ME!! AHHHH!!!" he turned and ran out of the theater exit. I stopped and raised an eyebrow. I burst out laughing and walked back to the rest of them. "Poor guy," I said, wiping a tear away, "he really thought I was going to let him have it!"

"I reckon that wasn't very nice," Stinky said, folding his arms, "but… it WAS funny." the rest of the guys followed with laughter.

Me, Patty, Stinky, Arnold, Gerald, and Harold all walked outside, afterwards. We stood outside in the cold and waited for someone to start a conversation.

"So… what do we do now?" Arnold asked.

"I don't think it matters, really… something interesting," Patty said.

"Hey, guys… I got an idea." Stinky started, putting his hands in his pockets. He looked down then back to us and smiled, "Whatdya guys say we go by Geraldfield?"

We all smiled. We knew what he meant. We hadn't been back to Geraldfield as a group since 8th grade. Oh, the memories…

We all began the short journey to the abandoned lot of our youth. We all walked side by side in a row, talking about things not too important. I spoke with Patty most of time, Harold and the other boys talked amongst themselves mostly. Half way there, I was suddenly interrupted in my conversation with Patty by a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Gerald. He had a worried expression, and I knew somehow that it had something to do with Phoebe.

"Can I talk to you… alone?" he asked, leading me away from the others.

"Um, yeah, ok?" I looked at him funny, "What about, tall hair boy?" I winked, signaling to him that the name wasn't meant to be an insult.

We walked a little ways behind everyone and rested up against the wall. It was quiet at first, I don't think he knew exactly where to start. "Look, Helga, you probably know what this is about…"

"Uh huh…" I looked away from him.

"Phoebe was supposed to come out with us tonight, but she said no and she seemed really sad."

"I know."

"You know? Then why didn't you do anything about it? You're supposed to be her best friend…"

I glared at him.

"Ok, sorry, that came out a little harsh…" he sighed, "I know about this great new friendship you have with Patty, but… for the sake of Phoebe would you consider… ending it?"

"What?!" I looked straight at him, "You're telling me to chose between the two?"

"I'm not telling you, I'm asking…" he put his hand on my shoulder, "She cares about you Helga, and she thinks that you're losing touch with her."

"So?" I shrug off his hand, "So I'm finding a good friend in Patty, she shouldn't feel so insecure… as if I'd actually replace her, or something." I scoffed.

"She thinks you are."

"She thinks wrong."

"If you say so… just, please… consider what I'm saying to you. I'm not trying to tell you who to be friends with… I'm only telling you how Phoebe feels…" he smiled, signaling that the conversation was over.

"Fine, fine… lets go play some baseball," I found it in me to smile back at him, despite myself.

"Can I ask you something?" he started, as we started our walk back to the others.

"Shoot."

"You would never REALLY replace Phoebe, would you? I'm asking, so whatever you say it stays between us…"

"Truthfully?"

He nodded, looking slightly worried.

"The thought never crossed my mind." I grinned. I lied, but I knew that THIS lie wouldn't hurt anyone. The truth was, the more and more I thought about it… the more I realized just how much in common Patty and I had… how much alike we were…

"You know, Helga… you're alright." Gerald admitted, playfully punching me in the arm.

------

"Let's play ball!" Gerald shouted. The six of us divided into two teams. On the first team there was me, Patty, and Stinky, and on the second it was of course, Harold, Arnold, and Gerald. My team was up to bat, and Stinky stood on home base, waiting to be pitched the ball.

"Ready to lose?" Harold asked, getting ready to throw the ball. He wound up.

"I reckon-" the ball flew right passed him.

"Strike one!" Gerald said, squatting behind him as the catcher. Gerald threw the ball back to Harold on the pitcher's mound.

"Don't miss this one, Stinko!" I said, harshly, waiting to bat next.

"I wo-" the ball flew passed him again.

"Strike two!"

"Pay attention!" I shouted. Gerald tossed the ball back.

"I'm tr-" the ball, yet again, flew right passed him.

"Strike three! You're out, man!"

Stinky hung his head, "I reckon I'm just no good at this game," I walked up to bat. Stinky handed me the bat as he walked away from me. I stared at him, regretfully. I didn't want to admit it, but I felt bad for him. Not only was he on 'the girls' team, but the girls were better than him.

"Well, if it isn't HELGA." Harold said, annoyingly.

"Just throw the ball, pink boy," I said, gritting my teeth.

"Ok, but I bet you can't hit like you used to… now that you're a girly-girl," he mocked.

"I'm not a girly-girl," I said, trying not to get distracted.

"Sure you are, you're not tough as steel like you used to be…"

"Watch it, fat boy," I said, warningly.

"Why? Are you gonna beat me up with those scrawny little GIRLY-GIRL arms of yours? Haha, Helga's a girly-girl!" he said, sort of like a song. Stinky, the only one of Harold's 'gang' there with us, laughed a little. I flashed him an angry glare.

"No, I'm not, I could still beat the crap out of you any day," I stated, matter-of-factly. I stayed ready to bat.

"Yeah, right! Look at you! You couldn't beat up Arnold's grandma!" he laughed, making his gut jiggle.

"Hey!" Arnold protested.

"Ah, don't take it personally!" Harold dismissed, "Well, Helga G. Pataki… are YOU ready to lose?" he asked, mockingly again.

"Just throw the damn ball…" I held the bat tightly.

"You don't even have your mean unibrow anymore," he started, disregarding my last statement, "What happened, finally get acquainted with the tweezers?"

"THAT'S IT, PINK BOY!" I threw down the bat and charged for him.

His eyes grew wide. "MOMMY!" he turned around and began running down the street. I blew by Patty and Arnold, standing on the sidelines and continued to chase my prey.

"Get back here!" I said, bringing up my fist, "It's time to get acquainted with OLD BETSY!"

He squealed like the pig he was and continued fleeing from me. When I was finally close enough to him I lunged forward and tackled the mass of lard to the ground. He laid under me, shielding his face. I raised up my fist to punch him, when… something stopped me. I looked down at the pitiful being below me and… almost felt sorry. I grit my teeth and tried again to hit him but I couldn't do it… I just couldn't do it… for some reason this felt so familiar… this how I felt when I tackled Arnold that first time… the reason I got into I.S.S. in the first place.

After a few moments, he removed his hands from his face and opened his eyes.

"Aren't you going to hit me?" he asked, confused.

"No," I dropped my fist to my side and defeatedly got up off the guy.

"W-why not?" he stood up after me.

"Because you're a waste of energy, fat boy!" I said, trying to hold onto my intimidation somehow. He smiled a little. I'm sure he knew I didn't mean that. "Now get back there, they need a pitcher!"

"You're still up to bat," he said.

"Eh, let Patty go in my place."

"Ok, I guess," he gave me one last look then took off running back to Geraldfield. I didn't move to run after him just yet. In a way I felt strangely relieved that I hadn't beat the crap out of the guy… but on the other hand, I felt like I'd been stripped of my pride. No doubt Harold would run back there and tell the others that 'HELGA G. PATAKI.' chickened out. That would just reaffirm their belief in what he'd said before… that I was a girly-girl… that I couldn't even win a fight against Arnold's grandma… I was pitiful…

I sighed and decided I'd better make an appearance back there before they thought I'd left home crying from humility. I walked out from the alley that Harold and I had been thrown into, which was technically my fault, and suddenly someone touched my arm. Thinking it was a mugger, at first, I swung my arm out, hoping it would hit the person. I jumped back and was ready to run when I saw who it was.

"Football head? WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?!"

"I followed you," he put his hands up in defense, "don't hurt me." he grinned.

"You saw, didn't you."

"Yep."

"And I bet you think I'm a wimp too, huh?"

"Nope."

I frowned, "Why not? I had the perfect chance to beat the hell out of pink boy but I let it slide… he's right, I'm not tough anymore… who am I, if I'm not Helga G. Pataki, the feared class bully?"

"You're Helga, simple as that." he smiled.

"Um, what?"

"You'll know what I mean sooner or later…"

"Whatever you say, football face." I walked closer to him, "Lets get back to the game."

----

"So, Patty, ready to-"

"Throw the ball, Harold." Patty said, lowly, standing ready to bat.

"Aw, you messed up my speech," Harold whined as he got ready to throw the ball. He did some fancy pitch movement, no doubt to impress his girlfriend, then tossed the ball, full speed. Patty swung and missed. She didn't seem to try very hard considering how determined she was moments before. He wound up again and threw the ball. Again, Patty seemed to let the ball get the best of her and swung half-heartedly.

"Come on, Patty! You can do better than that!" I shouted from the sidelines, placing my hands on my hips.

"I know." she said with a wink. Huh?

"Here goes, Patty… get ready for a strike three, Gerald!" Harold said, laughingly. He wound up and pitched the third ball. We all watched it in slow motion make it's way to the batter. Patty smirked and began to swing. BAM!

"It's outta there!" Gerald said, taking off the catcher's helmet he had over his face.

"Holy…" I said, watching the ball soar into the sky.

"What was that you said about a strike, Harold?" Arnold asked, folding his arms. After making it's way seemingly into space, the ball began it's descent back to earth. Suddenly there was a loud crash near by. The ball had smashed through someone's window. Dogs started barking and lights in people's homes started turning on.

"What was that?!" an angry neighbor squealed, opening her window.

"Run!" Harold yelled. Patty dropped the bat and followed him. Gerald dropped his helmet and ran passed Stinky, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him with him. Arnold and I looked at one another, shrugged, then started running after the others.

------

Damn, this is BY FAR the longest chapter I've written… and I'm still not done! I decided, though, that it'd be better to just end it and continue in the next chapter. Oh well, tell me what you think of it! Review, people, review!

Oh yeah… I still haven't seen "Arnold Visits Arnie"!! Dammit! …I also wanna see "April Fools Day" and "Beaned"… but that's another story, heh, ;)