Disclaimer can be found on Chapter One, but I'll restate. I don't own Hey Arnold or associated characters. I am making no profit off of this story revolving around the characters I don't own; I am just doing it for fun, like everyone else. ^_^

The Cruise: Chapter Six

After a delicious buffet breakfast, Arnold, Helga, Gerald and Phoebe all sat down on a bench with ice cream cones.

Arnold was on Helga's right, Phoebe was on her left, and Gerald was on Arnold's right.

Helga licked her strawberry/chocolate cone. "So where are we going now?" she asked dully, taking another lick of ice cream.

"I dunno," Gerald answered, equally as dull, licking his vanilla cone.

"How about we go see a play?" Arnold suggested.

"What kind of play?" Helga asked in her usual sarcastic tone, finishing her ice cream. "No romances…" she added, clutching her stomach as if she was going to hurl. "I've had quite enough of those," she said, remembering 'The Young and the Romantic.'

"Yeah," Gerald agreed. "Any kind of play, but not a romance!"

Phoebe frowned. "Oh, I was hoping we could see – "

"No!" Helga, Gerald and Arnold said in unison. Phoebe shrunk back and frowned. "Okay…well there's always –"

"No!" they all repeated in unison. Phoebe shyly smirked. "Okay…does anyone else have any ideas?"

15 minutes later…

"I don't see how you talked us into this," Helga sighed a long exaggerated sigh.

They were all standing in front of the theatre that read 'Romeo and Juliet'.

"I don't see why we have to sit through this," Gerald rolled his eyes. "I mean, our class performed this a couple of months ago. We've lived through it."

"Yes," Phoebe admitted, leading the way to the front row of seats. "But the beautiful plot never dies; and the violence underscores the real meaning of true love," Phoebe wiped a tear from her eye. Gerald and Arnold exchanged glances of raised eyebrows.

"There aren't enough seats for us to sit in our usual row of four," Phoebe stated the obvious, taking a seat in the front seat. Gerald didn't hesitate, as he sat beside her. Arnold sighed, taking a seat behind Gerald. "We'll sit here."

'Ohh!' Helga happily swooned to herself. 'I get to sit beside my beloved, in the showing of Romeo and Juliet! Nothing could be more perfect that this!' she said, taking a seat behind Phoebe, and beside her beloved.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," a middle-aged woman walked up on the stage with a microphone. She tapped it lightly and then began to speak. "We here at the Sunset Cruise Production Theatre, would like to welcome everyone here," her words echoed through the theatre. Everyone clapped in response. "Today we are lucky enough to be showing Romeo and Juliet, starring Jamie Stundell, and Stephanie Burch!" she backed off, and the lights dimmed into almost pitch black. Everyone clapped until the red curtains seperated.

"This is going to be so boring," Helga sarcastically whispered to Arnold. Arnold nodded with his eyes half open.

Later on in the play…

It was the scene where Romeo and Juliet were meeting each other for the first time. They were both dancing, when their eyes met from either end of the room.

Arnold and Helga glanced at each other, and then they both turned away, blushing furiously.

'A-am I blushing?' Arnold asked himself. 'Why am I blushing? his mind demanded. He quickly peered at Helga. 'And is she blushing too?' he asked himself, unsure of the answer. 'I…I can't be falling for…' Arnold's eyes widened. 'Oh no,' he shuddered, 'I think I…like her, like her!' he came to the conclusion. 'But I can't like Helga! I mean, she's just so…mean! She devotes her life to ruining my life, and calls me foo-' Arnold's thoughts were interrupted as he felt a warm hand on his hand. He looked down to his hand. It was Helga's hand. She was watching the play with eyes that even Arnold couldn't describe. They were dreamy and friendly…not distant and cold.

He turned to Helga with an innocent look on his face. Helga looked at him like 'what are you looking at?' and then remembered she was holding his hand. Helga cleared her throat nervously, and snatched her hand away from him. Her swooning Arnold-adoring side had gotten the best of her, and she mentally scolded herself for it.

Arnold shook his head and then rested his head in his right hand. He soon found himself drifting off.

Arnold later woke up, feeling something on him. 'Wha?' he looked down to see what was on him. It was Helga. She had fallen asleep on him. Arnold smiled to himself. Helga wasn't that bad. Although she acted mean, he had seen peeks of the real her. This was another peek at the real her. She had a content dreamy expression on her face, and Arnold chuckled inwardly at it.

Later…

The play had ended, and Gerald and Phoebe were rising with the rest of the crowd to get out of the theatre.

"Hey that wasn't too bad, was it, man?" Gerald turned to Arnold, as he slowly moved forward, Phoebe close behind. Arnold's head was leaning against Helga and Helga was still asleep on him.

Gerald and Phoebe exchanged stunned wide-eyed glances. Gerald shook Arnold awake quickly.

"Arnold, Arnold…" he called. "Hey, wake up man! The play's over!"

Arnold heard Gerald calling, as he rubbed his eyes. "Huh? What?" he tried to get up but remembered Helga was on him.

"Helga," he shook her shoulder gently. "Helga,"

Helga woke up. "Huh? Arnold?" she asked sleepily, looking up at him.

Her eyes widened, as reality coldly slapped her on the face. She quickly got off Arnold. She looked up at Gerald and Phoebe who had shy smiles on their faces.

"What are you looking at?" she snapped, standing up; their smiles faded. Arnold stood up in front of her, his back to her. "Show's over…there's nothing to see here…" she said quickly, pushing Arnold forward, towards the exit.

Gerald and Phoebe exchanged glances of 'we better follow them' and then followed Arnold and Helga to the exit.

Once they were out of the theatre.

"Hey look!" Gerald grinned, pointing forward. Arnold, Helga and Phoebe followed his finger to see what he was pointing at.

"The arcade!" Arnold smiled, as he glanced at Gerald. They exchanged glances and raced towards the arcade.

Helga shrugged. "I don't see what's so good about an arcade…what a crock! It's just a bunch of junk!"

Phoebe nodded. "I agree, Helga. All games do is rot your mind with unrealistic challenges and goals," she stated scientifically.

Helga raised her eyebrow. "Uh, right…" she said, looking at where they had run off.

"Come on," Phoebe smiled, walking to the arcade. Helga nodded, and followed close behind.

"I guess all we can do is watch them," Helga said, "because there's no way Helga G. Pataki's gonna play any stinkin' arcade game!" she announced stubbornly to no one in particular, walking into the arcade with Phoebe.

Arnold was leaning casually against the arcade machine game that read 'Car Chase.'

"Hey, look, they have car chase!" Gerald smiled.

"Yeah, but why would you want to play it, when you lived it?" Arnold grinned; remembering when he was saving the neighbourhood and the car chase that Gerald lived through. He and Helga had to control the bottom controls of the car, as Gerald steered.

Gerald hesitantly looked at the game. "I guess you're right…" he said, backing away but then quickly turned around. "But playing it never hurt anybody," he reconsidered, grabbing the controls.

Arnold chuckled heartily. "I guess," he said simply, as Helga and Phoebe appeared out of the crowd, walking towards them.

"Hey guys," Gerald said without looking back at them.

"Baby at 12:00," Arnold warned, as a baby carriage crossed the screen.

"I see it, I see it!" Gerald replied, swerving out of the way. "What else is new?" he asked with a chuckle.

Arnold laughed. "Yeah, this game is the same every time, but it never gets boring!" Gerald just nodded and continued to play.

"So, what's the meaning of this game?" Phoebe asked, watching the screen observantly.

Gerald smiled at her quickly, before returning his attention back to the game. "The goal is to race your car to the finish, without getting hit by attackers, baby carriages, and stuff. There are many obstacles that purposely try to block you from winning," he said, "but I'm a pro at this game now," he finished proudly.

Phoebe smiled. "I see…"

Game Over the screen flashed. "I won again!" Gerald said with a smile, as him and Arnold did their famous thumb wiggle.

"Here Phoebe, why don't you try?" Gerald asked her, and she smiled shyly. "Well I was never a huge fan of video games…and…" Gerald pushed her gently in front of the machine, and popped in a quarter.

"Please? For me?" he asked sweetly. Phoebe smiled and gave in. "Well…alright…" she said. Gerald put his hands on top of her hands, and helped her steer.

"Hey this isn't so bad!" Phoebe admitted. "It's actually…fun!"

Gerald laughed. "Now you know what you've been missing out on!" they continued to play the game.

Arnold and Helga watched them with a smile.

"Hey Helga, have a spare quarter?" Arnold asked her.

Helga raised half of her eyebrow. "Yeah, but why the heck would I give you my quarter, out of all people?" she sneered.

"Because I really want to play this game," Arnold gestured to an arcade machine game behind him that read Super Makio – World 3.

Helga rolled her eyes. "I'm not convinced," she said flatly, looking away.

"Please, Helga?" Arnold asked. Helga couldn't stand looking at his sad face. She turned away, and put her quarter in his hand in defeat.

"Fine," she grumbled. Arnold took the quarter.

"Thanks Helga!" he shot her a winning smile, and she melted as a dreamy expression formed on her face. She slapped it away, and thankfully Arnold never noticed.

"I'm only doing this because I'm in a good mood," she lied, as she leaned against the machine casually. Arnold popped the quarter in.

"Press Start," Makio said in his thick Italian voice. Arnold pushed start.

Arnold visciously jabbed the control stick right and pushed 'A' as Mafia jumped on a dark brown 'Goopa.'

"So what's the point of this crock?" Helga asked sarcastically. Arnold looked at her thoughtfully, before grabbing her by the wrist.

"Why explain it, when you can see for yourself?" he asked no one in particular, shoving Helga in front of himself.

"No way, bucko!" Helga crossed her arms stubbornly; "there's no way I'm playing an arcade game!"

"Well you better soon – or your quarters going to go to waste!" Arnold warned from behind her, grabbing her hands. It looked like he was hugging her from behind, but he was guiding her hands in the game.

"What –" Helga started to say, as Arnold guided her. 'He's actually holding my hands!' she swooned to herself. 'Arnold, my love, I hope this game never stops!'

"Push A!" Arnold directed. Helga's hand made her way to the B button. "No, A!" Arnold repeated, grabbing her hand and pushing A.

"Now cross the bridge," he ordered. Helga nodded and crossed the bridge.

"Now what?" she asked impatiently.

Arnold gasped.

"What?" Helga asked, looking at him strangely and then to the game. "What?" she panicked.

"I've never gotten this far…I…I don't know what to do!" Arnold admitted.

Helga's eyes widened.

"Push uh…B!" Arnold said quickly. "No…A!" he changed his mind. "Actually, use the control stick to – "

Helga moved out of the way. "You do it, football-head!" she yelled, and he stepped forward nervously. "Okay…" he grabbed the control stick and pointed it right as Makio did a long jump in mid air.

A large turtle-like monster stomped towards Makio.

"Bowga!" Arnold gasped. "Uh…" his hands panicked, pushing all of the buttons at once. "I…I don't know what to do!" Arnold panicked, looking away, eyes closed tightly. He pushed all of the buttons at the same time and then turned back slowly.

Makio did a victory pose as the words 'You won – Game Over' flashed on the screen. Arnold grinned widely.

"I won!" he yelled. Gerald and Phoebe smiled at him, as they finished car chase.

"That's great man!" Gerald smiled.

Helga glanced at Arnold. "Criminey- its just a game!" she said sarcastically.

"Thanks Helga…if it weren't for you, I would've never gotten that far!" he smiled, embracing her in a tight hug.

Helga melted. 'Ohhh' she swooned to herself, and unexpectedly wrapped her arms around Arnold. Arnold blinked, and looked up at her as she quickly took her arms off of him, and pushed him away.

"Don't get so close, hair boy!" she snapped, and he surprisingly smirked, shaking his head.

"Whatever you say, Helga," he said, walking away with a smile and his eyes half-open, with Gerald and Phoebe. Helga followed close behind.

'Oh Arnold, my flaxen haired angel! This is the best day of my life!' she smiled to herself, following them to the exit of the arcade.

**

Hey guys – it's me again! ^_^ *everyone groans and Satokasu Suki sweat drops*

Okay, sorry this chapter kinda took long to put up…but I had written it, and then my stupid computer lost it all…so I had to re-write the whole chapter! ;_; Anyway, the point is, I successfully wrote it again, and now its up! ^_^ Yay!

Anyway, I still have writers block – I have absolutely no clue at ALL as to what should happen next…so suggestions are more than welcome, as usual! Until the next chapter is up, please still keep reviewing! Again, I want at least 10 more reviews until I put the next chapter up.

Thanks for reading and reviewing to everyone who has stuck with me through this and I hope you're enjoying reading this as much as I'm enjoying writing it! Hey Arnold is a blast! ^_^

Keep readin',

Reviewin',

And enjoyin'!

Satokasu Suki

P.S. To all of you who have played Super Mario – World 3, or have heard of it, didja like my parody? ^_~ Lol, I know, pretty pathetic!