Chapter 6: "Double dates!"
Helga: "Would you make up your mind? How about I put it this way. I don't want your help! I don't need your help! I'd sooner die than accept any help from you!"
Silas: "Calm down! I know you're exaggerating there a bit, because you'll be thankful in the end. My plan didn't seem to work. Your secret love is a wimp, so I want you to go on with what you were doing before I told you to be mean again."
Silas had called her on the phone that night to tell her what went wrong.
Helga: "If you keep this up, they'll all know for sure! You will screw up, I'm sure of it!"
Silas: "Oh please! Your schemes have all failed, and only a handful of people know about it, and then even they don't know much."
Helga: "What? How do you know what I've done before?"
Silas: "That book of yours has everything in it. From the time you plotted against Rhonda, Sheena, Lila, and Phoebe so you could play Juliette and kiss Arnold, to the very reason that Arnold started liking Lila because you put up that message on the wall."
Helga: "I had no idea you knew so much... So it's your fault I got detention! I oughtta--!"
Silas: "Hey! We've all had our bad days. Get over it. Call that payback for making Nadine think I was some sweet-talking freak that day. Now she avoids me wherever I go."
Helga: "Oh please. Bug girl? What would you see in her?"
Silas: "Nevermind that. As long as we're even, I'll just sit back and watch... A little..." Then he hung up.
Helga: "This is getting a little interesting..." She had come to the realization that nothing bad could come from his intervention. The worst that could happen would be Arnold finding out about her love for him. She began to think, since her talk with Silas at the dump, that it might be time for it after all.
The next day...
Helga: "Hey Arnold."
Arnold jumped away suddenly, when Helga came around the corner toward Mr. Simmon's class, keeping his distance.
Arnold: "Oh, hi Helga." She looked at him.
Helga: "What's wrong with you?"
Arnold: "Oh, well, I just thought you'd be mad about yesterday, and all... I guess not?"
Helga: "Nah. I got you back, football head. Forget about it."
Arnold: "But..."
Helga: "I said, forget about it!!! Criminy!" She went on to class, and Arnold waited for Gerald.
Silas passed Arnold in the hall, but didn't say anything as he went into class. He took his normal seat, and pulled out his stuff without a word. Helga had half expected him to say something to her about last night, but he didn't so much as look at her. She sighed. Perhaps he was going to let her do things her way.
Silas: "Hey Nadine!" The bell hadn't yet rung, and she turned around to him. "I know what you were thinking of me the past few days."
Nadine: "No, that doesn't really matter. After I saw what was happening between you and Arnold, I know that you're just trying to help."
Silas: "You know about that? But how?"
Nadine: "Oh, everyone knows about it, but it's old news. I saw how you walked out of the parlor, and I assumed that Helga had just done something to get back at you for the baseball game."
Silas: "Oh! That! Ha ha... Well, she and I both learned something from that. So... Um, you wanna still go show me around your park sometime?"
Nadine: "Oh sure, I'd like that."
Mr. Simmons: "Okay class, settle down."
Silas: "Great."
After school that day, Silas and Nadine met outside the school and walked to the park. Helga watched as they left, thankful that he didn't stick around to talk to her. She pulled Phoebe to her.
Helga: "Phoebe, go and distract Gerald for a minute. I have something to talk to Arnold about yesterday."
Phoebe: "I don't understand..."
Helga: "I didn't ask you to! Just do it!" Phoebe went over to them.
Phoebe: "Arnold, Helga wishes to speak with you."
Gerald: "That's okay Arnold. Phoebe, can I walk you home?"
Phoebe: "Sure, Gerald." They both walked away as Arnold went up to Helga.
Arnold: "What did you want to talk to me about?"
Helga: (drops her stuff on the sidewalk) "Arnold, I wanted to............................................ uh... apologize for that water balloon thing yesterday. I was wrong earlier to say just cause I got you back."
Arnold: "Oh. Well..... that's okay. I suppose Silas told you what had happened?"
Helga: "About what?"
Arnold: "You know it was him who threw that apple at you yesterday?"
Helga: "Oh. Well, not exactly. But Gerald told me how Silas talked you into getting even with me. Ha ha ha..."
Arnold: "........................"
Helga: "Well, I probably deserved it anyway, after everything I've done to you. I just wanted to say that............................................................."
Arnold: "You're sorry?"
Helga: "............................. Yeah! That's it. Whew, that wasn't so bad. Ha ha ha."
Arnold: "Sure Helga."
Helga: "Okay........"
Arnold: (starts turning around) "Well, I'll see ya around, then?"
Helga: "Sure, I guess so." Arnold starts to walk away. "Arnold, wait!"
Arnold: "What?"
Helga: "I got nothing planned today... Uh, that is, I mean... Would you like to, um, stop by the park for awhile? I'll get us an ice cream."
Before he could answer, the rest of the kids came out of the school. Arnold turned to see Stinky, Sid, and Harold come up to him.
Sid: "Hey Arnold! They're handing out placings at this month's carnival! I'm going to go for the Dunking tank!"
Harold: "I bet I could be one of those guys who throws stuff at those clowns! Pies, bowling balls! Oh man, that'll be cool!"
Stinky: "Arnold, you wanna come with us? No one else gets there for another hour."
Helga didn't want to ruin anything, so she turned around and was about to walk away. Arnold must have seen her, though.
Arnold: "Well.... No, that's okay. I've sorta got something else planned."
Stinky: "You're loss. Come on guys. I heard they made that Tilt-O-Puke even faster than last year!"
The girls had already gone by then, and the three of them headed towards the setup talking of all the new stuff there.
Arnold: "Sure Helga. That would be great."
(Note by the author here--- They changed the wrong person's voice. Gerald's was fine, but Arnold needs a new one! Thank you.)
The usual happenings were going on in the park that day, kids playing football and soccer on the large fields, Silas and Nadine walking along the lakeside. Of course, since it was still a weekday, all there were were kids off from school. Several of them had watered down one of the ungrassed areas, making it a huge mud pit. The football players had migrated toward that field instead.
Silas: "Wow! This is ten times better than what I was used to!"
Nadine: "Where did you come from?"
Silas: "Same kind of city, but this one had nothing in it at all. Hardly even any trees! The park was about half the size of this, with only a tiny pond in the middle. My dad moved around a lot, so he never had time to check out good spots for apartments..." He looked over and saw Helga and Arnold walking by the mud field.
Nadine: "Look at that! She's actually standing near him and not pushing him down, or yelling at him."
Silas: (smiles) "Yeah. Who would have thought?"
Nadine: "I usually come here by myself. Rhonda never wants to do what I like, anyway. It's nice to finally know someone who doesn't think it wierd or anything."
Silas: "Hey, we all like what we like." He grinned. "You know what I'd like right now?" He looked over at Helga and Arnold.
Nadine: "What?"
Silas sat down and took his shoes off.
Silas: "Shhhhh. We have to be quiet, or they'll hear us." He then stood up, and charged toward them both. Silent as he ran through the soft grass, they didn't hear him approach.
Arnold: "Now this is a good side of you Helga. I told you, didn't I? There was a nice, sensitive person inside all along."
Helga: "Yeah, whatever." She chose not to respond to that. They were walking along an embankment about ten feet from the mud pit, watching the kids playing.
Silas: "Coming through!!!!" He spread his arms and plowed them both around the waist. They all fell to the grass, and rolled quickly into the mud. Nadine ran up to the edge, laughing at them all covered in mud.
Helga: (standing quickly, her face covered) "What are you doing???!!! Are you crazy?"
Silas: "Oh, that was fun! Don't worry Arnold. Like I said, nothing a little water won't wash off."
Helga: "I'll give you something to wash off!" She jumped over and tackled Silas into the mud. "Push me over? I'll show you!" She pushed his face once more into the mud.
Arnold: "Wow, Helga. That was cool!"
Helga stood up, and wiped off her face.
Helga: "Arnold?" He threw a great glob at her, and she fell back into the mud.
Arnold: "Ha ha ha!!!"
Helga: (stands again) "Listen, you little football-head! Don't...!"
Arnold's smile slowly began to disappear, and Silas nudged her in the side.
Helga: "I mean, uh..." She grabbed a handful of mud. "I mean take this!" She chucked in right at his head. "Ha ha ha!" Then she saw Nadine chuckling on the embankment, and grabbed a handful of mud. "What are you laughing at?" Nadine ran away, but not before getting glopped.
Silas and Arnold stood up and walked out of the mud pit while Helga chased Nadine around the park.
Silas: "So Arnold, I guess you decided to take my advice? She seems to have stopped tormenting you..."
Arnold: "I can't really explain it. I didn't really do anything else to her. She just asked me here. Did you say anything to her?"
Silas: "Me? She wouldn't have listened to me if I tried."
Arnold: "Really? Gerald told me that he saw you putting something in her locker yesterday."
Silas: "He did? Well, I may have helped a little."
Arnold: "This isn't going to turn around on me, is it? I know this can't be a joke, right?"
Silas: "Arnold, listen to me. Why would I play a joke on you? I just thought Helga could stand to be a little nicer to you."
Arnold: "What made her think she should?"
Silas: "Well........ I can't really tell. Really."
Just then Helga and Nadine came back, Nadine walking far behind her and running the mud out of her hair.
Nadine: "Maybe that wasn't such a good idea, Silas."
Silas: "Oh well."
Arnold: "Hey, I think I hear the Jolly Olly Man coming down! Come on." They all walked toward the bridge in the park as the truck passed by.
Jolly Olly Man: (grumbling) "Yeah, what'll it be?"
Helga: "I'll have two double fudge and peanut-butter cones."
Arnold: "Two?"
Helga: "I said I'd buy you one. Doi!"
Arnold: "Oh, sorry."
They stood over the river watching the ducks as they ate. Afterwards, Nadine took Helga by the arm.
Nadine: "Um, I just forgot, there's something we have to do now... We'll, uh, see you tomorrow at school."
Helga: "What? No we..."
Nadine: "Ha ha ha! Come on! No use putting our responsibility off till the last minute, Helga!" She dragged her off.
Arnold: "So..."
Silas: "What?"
Arnold: "About what we were talking about earlier..."
Silas: "What? Oh that! I meant what I said. I really can't tell you because... uh... I don't really know..."
Arnold: "But I've seen you hanging around with her practically as much as Phoebe."
Silas: "Come on, Arnold! Can't you trust me a little? Has anything bad happened yet? It's been a week since I got here. I think you're too paranoid."
Arnold: "When it comes to Helga, you can never be too careful."
Silas: "Yeah, she's gone in and out of these things a few times... That is... I heard that she did... Huh."
Arnold: "Right... Anyways, I really should be going. You know, I got... stuff to take care of. See you around."
Silas: "Sure. Bye Arnold." Arnold walked off as the sky started darkening. The sky was partly clouded, and the full moon shone right into the park. Silas continued to stare into the river, watching the few remaining ducks swimming off downstream.
Silas: "Man, Helga. You were right. I'd better be careful if I'm to keep this a secret. I guess I shouldn't have read that book. I keep saying too much. Why do you have to hide your love for Arnold so tightly? Why did I even get involved? Oh well. I suppose at this rate it will only be a matter of time before you tell him everything. And then I'm off the hook." He chuckled to himself, then turned when he heard a rustling of bushes on his side of the river.
Curly: "Ha ha ha! Oh man! That's great! Wait 'till I tell everyone about this! Helga's in love with Arnold! Helga's in love with Arnold!"
Silas: "Hey! Curly, you didn't hear what I said! I never said anything about Arnold!"
Curly: "Yeah! That's just 'cos you're keeping it a secret!"
Silas: "What? Curly, I'm warning you. Don't go doing anything anyone, especially yourself, will regret! What do you think Helga would do to you if you started spreading rumors about her?"
Curly: (pauses) "Gee, I never thought about that."
Silas: "Yeah! I didn't think so. You wouldn't be back in school for a month after she finished with you. Besides, no one would ever believe you anyway."
Curly: "Well, it doesn't matter, anyway. We'll just see what they believe!" He ran off out of the park.
Silas: (shaking his head) "Great. Now I'm in for it."
Voices: (behind him) "Yeah! This is our place now, and you picked a bad time to be alone." Silas turned around to see three thugs coming up to him.
Silas: "Oh come on! Give me a break! I'm just a kid!" He climbed onto the side of the bridge. "I think you need a new hobby." With that, he fell backwards into the water, and disappeared below the dark surface.
Thugs: "Hey! Where'd he go?" They looked down into the water, bud didn't see anything besides the rippling against the shores.
Silas: (emerges from the water far enough away) "Wow, that's cold!" He shook himself off, and ran home.
Helga: "Would you make up your mind? How about I put it this way. I don't want your help! I don't need your help! I'd sooner die than accept any help from you!"
Silas: "Calm down! I know you're exaggerating there a bit, because you'll be thankful in the end. My plan didn't seem to work. Your secret love is a wimp, so I want you to go on with what you were doing before I told you to be mean again."
Silas had called her on the phone that night to tell her what went wrong.
Helga: "If you keep this up, they'll all know for sure! You will screw up, I'm sure of it!"
Silas: "Oh please! Your schemes have all failed, and only a handful of people know about it, and then even they don't know much."
Helga: "What? How do you know what I've done before?"
Silas: "That book of yours has everything in it. From the time you plotted against Rhonda, Sheena, Lila, and Phoebe so you could play Juliette and kiss Arnold, to the very reason that Arnold started liking Lila because you put up that message on the wall."
Helga: "I had no idea you knew so much... So it's your fault I got detention! I oughtta--!"
Silas: "Hey! We've all had our bad days. Get over it. Call that payback for making Nadine think I was some sweet-talking freak that day. Now she avoids me wherever I go."
Helga: "Oh please. Bug girl? What would you see in her?"
Silas: "Nevermind that. As long as we're even, I'll just sit back and watch... A little..." Then he hung up.
Helga: "This is getting a little interesting..." She had come to the realization that nothing bad could come from his intervention. The worst that could happen would be Arnold finding out about her love for him. She began to think, since her talk with Silas at the dump, that it might be time for it after all.
The next day...
Helga: "Hey Arnold."
Arnold jumped away suddenly, when Helga came around the corner toward Mr. Simmon's class, keeping his distance.
Arnold: "Oh, hi Helga." She looked at him.
Helga: "What's wrong with you?"
Arnold: "Oh, well, I just thought you'd be mad about yesterday, and all... I guess not?"
Helga: "Nah. I got you back, football head. Forget about it."
Arnold: "But..."
Helga: "I said, forget about it!!! Criminy!" She went on to class, and Arnold waited for Gerald.
Silas passed Arnold in the hall, but didn't say anything as he went into class. He took his normal seat, and pulled out his stuff without a word. Helga had half expected him to say something to her about last night, but he didn't so much as look at her. She sighed. Perhaps he was going to let her do things her way.
Silas: "Hey Nadine!" The bell hadn't yet rung, and she turned around to him. "I know what you were thinking of me the past few days."
Nadine: "No, that doesn't really matter. After I saw what was happening between you and Arnold, I know that you're just trying to help."
Silas: "You know about that? But how?"
Nadine: "Oh, everyone knows about it, but it's old news. I saw how you walked out of the parlor, and I assumed that Helga had just done something to get back at you for the baseball game."
Silas: "Oh! That! Ha ha... Well, she and I both learned something from that. So... Um, you wanna still go show me around your park sometime?"
Nadine: "Oh sure, I'd like that."
Mr. Simmons: "Okay class, settle down."
Silas: "Great."
After school that day, Silas and Nadine met outside the school and walked to the park. Helga watched as they left, thankful that he didn't stick around to talk to her. She pulled Phoebe to her.
Helga: "Phoebe, go and distract Gerald for a minute. I have something to talk to Arnold about yesterday."
Phoebe: "I don't understand..."
Helga: "I didn't ask you to! Just do it!" Phoebe went over to them.
Phoebe: "Arnold, Helga wishes to speak with you."
Gerald: "That's okay Arnold. Phoebe, can I walk you home?"
Phoebe: "Sure, Gerald." They both walked away as Arnold went up to Helga.
Arnold: "What did you want to talk to me about?"
Helga: (drops her stuff on the sidewalk) "Arnold, I wanted to............................................ uh... apologize for that water balloon thing yesterday. I was wrong earlier to say just cause I got you back."
Arnold: "Oh. Well..... that's okay. I suppose Silas told you what had happened?"
Helga: "About what?"
Arnold: "You know it was him who threw that apple at you yesterday?"
Helga: "Oh. Well, not exactly. But Gerald told me how Silas talked you into getting even with me. Ha ha ha..."
Arnold: "........................"
Helga: "Well, I probably deserved it anyway, after everything I've done to you. I just wanted to say that............................................................."
Arnold: "You're sorry?"
Helga: "............................. Yeah! That's it. Whew, that wasn't so bad. Ha ha ha."
Arnold: "Sure Helga."
Helga: "Okay........"
Arnold: (starts turning around) "Well, I'll see ya around, then?"
Helga: "Sure, I guess so." Arnold starts to walk away. "Arnold, wait!"
Arnold: "What?"
Helga: "I got nothing planned today... Uh, that is, I mean... Would you like to, um, stop by the park for awhile? I'll get us an ice cream."
Before he could answer, the rest of the kids came out of the school. Arnold turned to see Stinky, Sid, and Harold come up to him.
Sid: "Hey Arnold! They're handing out placings at this month's carnival! I'm going to go for the Dunking tank!"
Harold: "I bet I could be one of those guys who throws stuff at those clowns! Pies, bowling balls! Oh man, that'll be cool!"
Stinky: "Arnold, you wanna come with us? No one else gets there for another hour."
Helga didn't want to ruin anything, so she turned around and was about to walk away. Arnold must have seen her, though.
Arnold: "Well.... No, that's okay. I've sorta got something else planned."
Stinky: "You're loss. Come on guys. I heard they made that Tilt-O-Puke even faster than last year!"
The girls had already gone by then, and the three of them headed towards the setup talking of all the new stuff there.
Arnold: "Sure Helga. That would be great."
(Note by the author here--- They changed the wrong person's voice. Gerald's was fine, but Arnold needs a new one! Thank you.)
The usual happenings were going on in the park that day, kids playing football and soccer on the large fields, Silas and Nadine walking along the lakeside. Of course, since it was still a weekday, all there were were kids off from school. Several of them had watered down one of the ungrassed areas, making it a huge mud pit. The football players had migrated toward that field instead.
Silas: "Wow! This is ten times better than what I was used to!"
Nadine: "Where did you come from?"
Silas: "Same kind of city, but this one had nothing in it at all. Hardly even any trees! The park was about half the size of this, with only a tiny pond in the middle. My dad moved around a lot, so he never had time to check out good spots for apartments..." He looked over and saw Helga and Arnold walking by the mud field.
Nadine: "Look at that! She's actually standing near him and not pushing him down, or yelling at him."
Silas: (smiles) "Yeah. Who would have thought?"
Nadine: "I usually come here by myself. Rhonda never wants to do what I like, anyway. It's nice to finally know someone who doesn't think it wierd or anything."
Silas: "Hey, we all like what we like." He grinned. "You know what I'd like right now?" He looked over at Helga and Arnold.
Nadine: "What?"
Silas sat down and took his shoes off.
Silas: "Shhhhh. We have to be quiet, or they'll hear us." He then stood up, and charged toward them both. Silent as he ran through the soft grass, they didn't hear him approach.
Arnold: "Now this is a good side of you Helga. I told you, didn't I? There was a nice, sensitive person inside all along."
Helga: "Yeah, whatever." She chose not to respond to that. They were walking along an embankment about ten feet from the mud pit, watching the kids playing.
Silas: "Coming through!!!!" He spread his arms and plowed them both around the waist. They all fell to the grass, and rolled quickly into the mud. Nadine ran up to the edge, laughing at them all covered in mud.
Helga: (standing quickly, her face covered) "What are you doing???!!! Are you crazy?"
Silas: "Oh, that was fun! Don't worry Arnold. Like I said, nothing a little water won't wash off."
Helga: "I'll give you something to wash off!" She jumped over and tackled Silas into the mud. "Push me over? I'll show you!" She pushed his face once more into the mud.
Arnold: "Wow, Helga. That was cool!"
Helga stood up, and wiped off her face.
Helga: "Arnold?" He threw a great glob at her, and she fell back into the mud.
Arnold: "Ha ha ha!!!"
Helga: (stands again) "Listen, you little football-head! Don't...!"
Arnold's smile slowly began to disappear, and Silas nudged her in the side.
Helga: "I mean, uh..." She grabbed a handful of mud. "I mean take this!" She chucked in right at his head. "Ha ha ha!" Then she saw Nadine chuckling on the embankment, and grabbed a handful of mud. "What are you laughing at?" Nadine ran away, but not before getting glopped.
Silas and Arnold stood up and walked out of the mud pit while Helga chased Nadine around the park.
Silas: "So Arnold, I guess you decided to take my advice? She seems to have stopped tormenting you..."
Arnold: "I can't really explain it. I didn't really do anything else to her. She just asked me here. Did you say anything to her?"
Silas: "Me? She wouldn't have listened to me if I tried."
Arnold: "Really? Gerald told me that he saw you putting something in her locker yesterday."
Silas: "He did? Well, I may have helped a little."
Arnold: "This isn't going to turn around on me, is it? I know this can't be a joke, right?"
Silas: "Arnold, listen to me. Why would I play a joke on you? I just thought Helga could stand to be a little nicer to you."
Arnold: "What made her think she should?"
Silas: "Well........ I can't really tell. Really."
Just then Helga and Nadine came back, Nadine walking far behind her and running the mud out of her hair.
Nadine: "Maybe that wasn't such a good idea, Silas."
Silas: "Oh well."
Arnold: "Hey, I think I hear the Jolly Olly Man coming down! Come on." They all walked toward the bridge in the park as the truck passed by.
Jolly Olly Man: (grumbling) "Yeah, what'll it be?"
Helga: "I'll have two double fudge and peanut-butter cones."
Arnold: "Two?"
Helga: "I said I'd buy you one. Doi!"
Arnold: "Oh, sorry."
They stood over the river watching the ducks as they ate. Afterwards, Nadine took Helga by the arm.
Nadine: "Um, I just forgot, there's something we have to do now... We'll, uh, see you tomorrow at school."
Helga: "What? No we..."
Nadine: "Ha ha ha! Come on! No use putting our responsibility off till the last minute, Helga!" She dragged her off.
Arnold: "So..."
Silas: "What?"
Arnold: "About what we were talking about earlier..."
Silas: "What? Oh that! I meant what I said. I really can't tell you because... uh... I don't really know..."
Arnold: "But I've seen you hanging around with her practically as much as Phoebe."
Silas: "Come on, Arnold! Can't you trust me a little? Has anything bad happened yet? It's been a week since I got here. I think you're too paranoid."
Arnold: "When it comes to Helga, you can never be too careful."
Silas: "Yeah, she's gone in and out of these things a few times... That is... I heard that she did... Huh."
Arnold: "Right... Anyways, I really should be going. You know, I got... stuff to take care of. See you around."
Silas: "Sure. Bye Arnold." Arnold walked off as the sky started darkening. The sky was partly clouded, and the full moon shone right into the park. Silas continued to stare into the river, watching the few remaining ducks swimming off downstream.
Silas: "Man, Helga. You were right. I'd better be careful if I'm to keep this a secret. I guess I shouldn't have read that book. I keep saying too much. Why do you have to hide your love for Arnold so tightly? Why did I even get involved? Oh well. I suppose at this rate it will only be a matter of time before you tell him everything. And then I'm off the hook." He chuckled to himself, then turned when he heard a rustling of bushes on his side of the river.
Curly: "Ha ha ha! Oh man! That's great! Wait 'till I tell everyone about this! Helga's in love with Arnold! Helga's in love with Arnold!"
Silas: "Hey! Curly, you didn't hear what I said! I never said anything about Arnold!"
Curly: "Yeah! That's just 'cos you're keeping it a secret!"
Silas: "What? Curly, I'm warning you. Don't go doing anything anyone, especially yourself, will regret! What do you think Helga would do to you if you started spreading rumors about her?"
Curly: (pauses) "Gee, I never thought about that."
Silas: "Yeah! I didn't think so. You wouldn't be back in school for a month after she finished with you. Besides, no one would ever believe you anyway."
Curly: "Well, it doesn't matter, anyway. We'll just see what they believe!" He ran off out of the park.
Silas: (shaking his head) "Great. Now I'm in for it."
Voices: (behind him) "Yeah! This is our place now, and you picked a bad time to be alone." Silas turned around to see three thugs coming up to him.
Silas: "Oh come on! Give me a break! I'm just a kid!" He climbed onto the side of the bridge. "I think you need a new hobby." With that, he fell backwards into the water, and disappeared below the dark surface.
Thugs: "Hey! Where'd he go?" They looked down into the water, bud didn't see anything besides the rippling against the shores.
Silas: (emerges from the water far enough away) "Wow, that's cold!" He shook himself off, and ran home.