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

"You know Patty, when I said you could do better than that, you didn't have to break someone's window to prove me wrong," I said, out of breath. The six of us found ourselves blocks away from Geraldfield, extremely worn out.

"I think I got a better work out from this than actually PLAYING baseball, fellers…" Stinky said jokingly, leaning on his knees.

"Yeah, no kidding," Gerald added, laughing slightly.

"So, I take it we're not going back there, then?" Arnold asked, sitting down on the pavement.

"Not unless you care to chance death… or many angry neighbors..." Patty said, resting up against the wall of an old building.

"So, what do we do now?" Harold questioned, scratching his head. He walked over to me, hunched over with my hands on my knees supporting myself.

"Are you asking me?" I stood up fully.

"Eh, I'm asking in general. We could go to the Arcade?"

"Harold, it's 8 o'clock at night… nothing interesting is even open anymore." Patty said.

"Yeah, and what do you take us for, kids?" Gerald asked further.

"Hair boy's right, I mean it's not like we're stupid little kids anymore and have nothing better to do than go to the arcade, or the movies." I added, folding my arms across my chest. I had just about caught my breath finally.

"Uh, Helga, what IS there to do, then?" Stinky asked, standing up straight finally.

"Hey, Patty's right… it's 8, but it's ONLY 8. There's gotta be things to do." Arnold offered, attempting to brighten the moral.

"I see you found your optimism," Gerald stated, smiling. The rest of us had no idea what that was about, so we looked on quietly.

"Yeah, guess so… it's easy to be optimistic, though."

"Yeah, sure… pump me full of painkillers and I'd be as happy and delusional as you too, football head." I couldn't resist adding a bit of sarcasm.

"Whatever you say…" he sighed.

"The point I was making is that it's not easy to be optimistic all the time. You must be superhuman, guy, we can't all be like you."

"THIS coming from someone who never fails to look at the bad side first…" he stated, folding his arms and perking a brow.

"Yeah so?" I cocked an eyebrow as well.

"Pessimism never gets you anywhere. You're the type of person who sees the glass half empty, not half full."

"Hey, hey… I don't see the glass as half empty… I sorta see it as, 'I need a refill'." he rolled his eyes.

"What does that mean, anyway?"

"It means…"

"You have no idea, do you." he said flatly, with a bit of mock-understanding.

"Hey, bucko! I know exactly what it means, it's just hard to explain it to such simpletons!" I said, defensively, pointing my finger at him.

"Try us. I mean, how can you be so sure we won't 'get it'?"

"I just KNOW." I folded my arms and glared at him again.

"Um… would it be a stupid question to ask what in damnation you're talking about?" Stinky intervened.

"Never mind." Arnold and I said, looking away from one another.

"Ok… so, then what are we doing here?" Patty stepped into the conversation, "We're all just standing around like idiots."

"Why don't we go down to the mall?" Harold suggested. We all started blankly at him.

"The… mall? What are we now, Beverly Hills 90210?" I said sarcastically.

"Pessimism…" Arnold said, warningly.

I sighed, "Well, what do you want me to say? I don't do the mall," I shook my head.

"We could go to Sears and watch movies on the big screen T.V.s," Stinky stupidly suggested. We all looked at one another.

"I'm there."

"Done."

"Let's go."

"Now, THAT doesn't sound too bad," I said, smirking.

"See," Arnold added, making a lopsided smile.

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A while later we found ourselves wandering the electronics department in Sears. While Arnold and Gerald went to look at CD players, Patty and Stinky left to look for a T.V. with something interesting playing on it. I walked over to where the bedspreads, pillows, and any other bedroom furnishings were sold and found a bed, laid out on display. I sighed and tossed myself upon it. It was so comfortable. I laid, sprawled out happily, until I felt the bed sink on one side. "Is that you, Patty?" I asked, not bothering to open up my eyes.

"N-no, it's me, Harold." my eyes shot open.

"What, what is it?! Have they found a movie to watch, yet?" I sat up.

"No, I just wanted to tell you thanks… you know for not… attacking… me, and all today." he nervously twiddled with his fingers.

"Eh, no problem," I said, laying back down, "But if you tell anyone, Pink boy, I'll-"

"Ok, ok, I won't tell… may I?" he pointed to the space next to me on the bed.

"Yeah, sure." he laid down on the bed next to me and we stared at the tiled ceiling. "You know, you're manners have seemed to improve over the years."

"I guess so… we haven't talked in so long, how would you know?"

"A hunch, I guess."

"You know, Helga… I always thought it was cool that you were 'one of the guys'… I thought it was cool that a girl could hang out with us like that and all."

"Where is THIS coming from?"

"Nowhere, I guess… just wanted to tell ya' that."

There was silence for a while, "Thanks." I smiled slightly, still not looking at him.

"Well… I think we should be getting back to the others." he sat up.

"I guess," I sat up as well.

Harold turned to me, "Oh, and Helga, if you tell anyone about what I said, I'll-"

"I know," I smiled back at him. He was so much like me sometimes, it made me wonder if we weren't separated at birth or something. Then again, he WAS quite stupid too… I knew I wasn't like that.

We walked back to where the T.V.'s were and saw the four other people sitting down in front of a massive screen. If only I could afford something so beautiful, I thought with a little humor. Upon reaching the others, Harold and I noticed something right off. There wasn't anymore room to sit. "Nice to know you thought of us!" I said, placing my hands on my hips.

"Sorry," Patty admitted, standing up, "You can take my place," she offered.

"No, no…" I sighed, I couldn't do that. That would be too unfair, even for me.

"Well, then where are we gonna sit?" Harold questioned, folding his arms.

"Wait, I think I know." Patty stood up again.

"Look, I'm not taking your spot," I said, irritated.

"This isn't for you, Helga, it's for Harold," she said, angrily, shutting me up and adjusting my attitude.

"What?" I was still confused, "Then where will you sit?"

"In the same place," Patty smiled. Harold, just as confused as I was, reluctantly obeyed his girlfriend and sat down in the spot she was just in. After giving me one last wink, she moved and sat down… on Harold's lap.

"Oh, well, that's all fine and dandy for Pink Boy, but where's my seat?"

"Um, Helga, I could share," I heard Stinky say, patting his lap. I cocked an eyebrow.

"I'd rather shove shards of glass up my ass and take a bath in Tabasco sauce." I said, flatly. Stinky shrugged and continued watching the big screen T.V.

"There might be room between us, Helga. Wanna see if you can fit here?" Gerald asked. For some reason it made happy to see Gerald actually offering me something. It was nice to know he wasn't revolted by me anymore, I guess.

"Eh, why not? What choice do I have." I shrugged and walked over to him. He and Arnold scooted in opposite directions, giving me just enough space to squeeze in between the two of them. It was the one time since puberty that I actually wished I hadn't developed hips. If only I were nine again, I mused, with that straight as a board, shapeless frame of mine.

"Is this a tight enough fit for you?" Arnold asked, trying to keep from falling off the end of the over-turned, broken-down, speaker we were sitting on.

"Well, how 'bout you take a seat on my lap? Then we'd both have enough room." I joked.

He laughed slightly, still uncomfortably struggling to stay balanced. I felt bad. I was causing him all this discomfort. Of course he having to struggle was my fault, but having no seat for myself wasn't, was it? So then why the guilt?! I watched him grimace as we began to watch the movie. It must have been tiring for him. I had to do something, I couldn't watching him like that the whole time… it was really doing a number on my conscience.

"You know what," I said, standing finally, "This just isn't going to work." I looked thoughtfully on the situation.

"Hey, I can't see the movie, Helga." Stinky said, with slight irritation in his voice.

I rolled my eyes, "Look Stinko, I'll be out of your way in a minute… not to mention the fact that we're watching Batman Forever… come on, it's Batman! Jesus H. Christ, it's been out on video for years! You wanna see it THAT bad, rent it!" I sighed, straightening myself up, "ANYWAY, I don't think me sitting here is going to work."

"Well, what else can we do?" Gerald questioned, folding his arms.

"Well, like I always say, 'when you run out of options, make a new one'. I think it'd be better if I just sit on the floor."

"Hey, never thought about that…" Patty said, smiling.

"Of course you didn't, I'm the resident genius here," I said, pointing to myself with a wink. I walked over to where I was sitting and sat down on the hard, course, floor. 'Come see the softer side of Sears', my ass! Maybe they should think about installing some softer carpeting, I thought, as I struggled to find a comfortable position. I finally decided to lean up against the speaker, and keep my legs in 'Indian style', as my kindergarten teacher used to call it. I leaned my head over to one side and rested it against Arnold right leg. Suddenly everything seemed be more comfortable and easier to deal with. I started watching the movie with the others but soon found my eyelids becoming heavier. It had been such a long day, I didn't think it would hurt to rest my eyes for a minute…

An hour later…

"Helga," Arnold whispered, taping my shoulder, "Wake up, the movie's over." I mumbled something and affectionately nuzzled closer to him. "Helga." he said more firmly.

"I think she likes it there," Gerald said with a little amusement.

"Yeah, maybe a little too much," Stinky added.

I wrapped my arms around his leg, as if keeping him there, and continued my little visit to dreamland.

"Helga, come on, we have to go now, the mall's closing." he shook me a little. He seemed a little distressed by then. I was too comfortable to move, still. I was awake then, yes, but I didn't want to let on yet.

Just then, someone working at the store walked quickly over to us. I could feel the stomping of his dress shoes on the rough floor. "You guys gotta get outta here, like now," the man said, irritably.

"Well, we would but our friend here is asleep." Stinky said politely.

"Well, wake her up!" The man said, losing his patience, "I've got a kid at home and I don't need to be wasting my time on you teenagers."

"Hey, you don't have to act like that," Arnold said defensively, "we're trying to get her up, it's just-"

"Let me give it a try," the man interrupted walked around and kneeling in front of me. He grabbed a hold of my shoulders and brought his face inches from mine. "YO, SLEEPING BEAUTY, WAKE YOUR ASS UP!" he shouted, shaking me harshly.

My eyes shot open with harsh realization, "How 'bout brushing once in a while, yeesh…" I winced. He sneered at me then released me, letting me fall back against the speaker.

"Stupid teenagers…" the man said, walking away. I laughed, standing up and straightening my clothes.

"You sure got up fast," Arnold commented, finally being able to stand up without my death grip in his leg.

"Guess so…" I yawned.

"You look really tired, and considering you were just sleeping in the middle of a department store I think it's about time you went home."

"Oh, so you're trying to get rid of me now?" I folded my arms.

"No, I didn't say that. I just think that you should go to bed soon, or at least rest a little."

"I was until mi amigo over there," I paused to look at the man who woke me up helping out one last customer, "woke me up." we both looked at the man, then turned to look at one another again when he noticed us staring at him.

"Yeah, I noticed you clinging to me… were you having a nightmare or something?" he asked, actually believing it. I realized then that I could agree with him and that would be the end of it. That was taking the easy way out, though. I'd done that enough.

"No, not really," I said, and walked off to meet up with the others who were already at the door to the department store. I left him there, confused. He'd be thinking about it for a while, I already knew…

"So, Helga, are you rested enough?" Patty asked, jabbing me in the side with her elbow.

"Heh, yeah." I blushed.

"Why don't you two go somewhere alone?" She whispered.

"Why?" I looked at her strangely.

She gave me 'the look'. "For someone who 'so smart' you sure can act dumb sometimes." Hey, wait a minute… didn't I say that to Phoebe once? Oh yeah… Phoebe. I forgot about her. Guilt drove right into me again. I suddenly felt sick.

"You know what, guys" I started, gaining everyone's attention, "I think I'm gonna go home early tonight. I don't feel so good and I'm really tired."

"Yeah, don't we know it," Stinky said, with a lopsided grin.

"Yeah, well… I think it'd be better if I just catch you guys later."

"You sure about that?" Gerald asked. Why was he all of a sudden caring about me? Was he concerned for me or just trying to keep an eye on me to make sure I didn't spend too much time with Patty? It was starting to bug me, more than I thought it would. Before all this, if Gerald had treated me the way he was tonight I would think it was great, even if I'd never be able to admit it. But now…

"Yeah, I'm sure." I sighed and turned back to Arnold, who was still in the place I left him. He looked as if he were in deep thought. Gee, I mused, I wonder what he could be thinking about for SO long.

"Well, ok then," Patty said, in slight disbelief.

She leaned in and whispered, "Is this about what I just said, cuz if it is-"

"No, it's not that," I waved my hand, dismissively.

"Will you tell me what it IS about tomorrow?" she asked, concerned.

"Yeah," I smiled weakly. I turned to everyone else and said, a bit louder, "See you all around,"

"Bye Helga," Harold said, walking over to Patty.

"See ya, " Gerald smirked.

"Talk to you tomorrow, chick," Patty said with a smile.

I nodded and walked past them to the doors. "Wait up, Helga!" I heard Stinky say as he hurriedly walked to me. We walked through the doors and breezeway together and then outside. "May I walk you home, miss Helga?" he asked, politely.

I looked at him for a second, then said, "No, I think I'll go by myself this time." he looked letdown, but nodded anyway.

"I'll see you around, then," he quietly said, walking back into the department store to the others. I felt bad about leaving Arnold without saying so much as a good-bye, but I felt I had to. I knew Arnold wouldn't appreciate me walking home alone in a city such as this with it's high crime rates.

My last thought as I turned to walk home was, 'Well,' I smirked, 'I guess I never DID get my dad those potato chips…'

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Wow… this was like the never-ending night, no? Damn. It's over now, thank God. I can move on now. Poor Arnold, I made him out to be a little dumb… but with Helga, I guess he's always been a little dumb, heh ;D

Also, thanks for the 'Arnold Visits Arnie' summary thing! That was really nice of you, KawaiiKaren

Oh yeah, come on peoples, review! ;)