"Chapter 2: Decisions, decisions."

Disclaimer: Don't own Hey Arnold!

Helga couldn't help what her next move would be but a... smile?, Arnold thought. Just after he smiled back as his puzzled response to her, he had noticed her cheeks brightening to a crimson red. It just made him smile even more. "Helga? What do you suggest of doing for our project?" the intelligent Pheobe asked.

"WHAT?" bellowed Gerald. "Who ever said we added her in 'our' group?"

"Oh come on, Gerald, she isn't that bad once you get to know her," replied Arnold as he patted his friend on the shoulder. Gerald gave him you're-a-bold-kid-Arnold look and eyed him suspiciously. What ever thought of him always defending her? It's just too complicated to ask questions to a bold Arnold.

Whatever his best friend says usually works. Right? I might as well give him a break, he thought, maybe he really knows Helga much more than anyone here. He finally let out a deep sigh and said, "Fine, fine, just as long she at least helps out for us." "So, Helga? Any possible suggestions to start out?" Phoebe asked once more.

The two boys were seated in an utmost confusion. Why would Phoebe even suggest Helga all of a sudden? Wasn't it always Phoebe who started things off? What ever made Pheobe change the usual? A deep thinking Helga aroused herself with the upcoming suggestions that burst out of her. Instead of hearing her, Arnold secretly glared at Helga's poetry since he was seated beside her. This is what he saw:

Colors of Love Spins of gold, reds, and whites

Blank colored of my words,

Spoken truth of gold

Red of the overbearing,

Swearing,

Caring,

Blaring,

Love for him.

Trails of this happiness

Blissful to be here,

Standing and living home in Hillwood.

Being in love,

Seeing that love,

Finding that love

Helping my love

And forever enslaved with these colors of love.

Arnold wasn't listening to what Helga said or done until... An extensive sound of a shriek ran across the whole vicinity. People walking in the streets immediately stopped their tracks; the birds stopped singing their harmonic summer tunes; and in the class of Mr. Simmons the children turned around to face the hysterical Helga.

"Oh dear, Helga, are you okay?" Mr Simmons asked once he cornered her. Placing a shoulder on her, he wanted to suggest, "Would you want someone to assist you to Dr. Bliss immediately?"

But on the contrary, him seeing Dr. Bliss to his eyes made him fear of sitting in that chair again with his problems. The thought made him step back away from Helga as he returned to his desk as he began to rub his 'lucky' stone hoping for the best.. Sweat glide down her terrified face; her breathing stood as a scarce piece of wool blanket and her eyes maniacally looking for word to the oddly football head. Instead, she deliberately grabbed her poem and shredded it to pieces.

"Helga, I'm so sorry!" Arnold called out to her as she stomped out of the classroom. "I-I didn't mean to!!" Unfortunately, he couldn't continue his apology since Helga was already running out of the room.

He should know...of course, he should know. Yes? No? Maybe so...err., she thought. Decisions, decisions... how she envies this- should she go back or go home to shield behind her room forever? "Nah, I'll go home. What's the point of school anyway?" she decided.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In the meantime, back to Mr. Simmons class, the children were very perplexed to Helga's odd behavior. Nevertheless, Mr. Simmons himself was busy asking: "Excuse me class! Does any of you know where Helga would be?" he called out from the boisterous class. "Class, class please s---"He lost his voice once Curly toppled on him as he busily tied him to a chair with duck tape and covered his mouth with Curly's shirt.

"Ah, who cares? Helga's gone! Let's party- yay!!" cheered Sid. The class, in absolute agreement, joined the fun. This foolishness of his friends angered Arnold and Pheobe. Though, of course, Phoebe was mainly quiet, deep inside, she knew that defending her friend at this time was definitely necessary. Nobody knows Helga...

Once she turned to see Arnold's expression she was surprised that he too, wanted to explode more than anything. Giggling slightly, her presumption of nobody actually knowing Helga was quite relieving. Arnold understood for some reason. Hmm.. but why?

"Gosh, I guess that pretty much clarifies how gallant he truly is," she whispered. Luckily, nobody heard or noticed. "HEY!!! WHAT ARE YOU GUYS CELEBRATING ABOUT?!?" yelled the minuscule Arnold to the top of his lungs. "HOW PATHETIC YOU ARE? THIS ISN'T A TIME FOR A PARTY BECAUSE SHE'S OUT OF THE PICTURE! YOU MAKE ME SICK!"

With that, he stormed out of the classroom just as Helga did. Running closely to the doors he overheard someone behind calling out to him. As he glanced, it was Phoebe. A huge smile spread in her face and her eyes were brightly lit of contentment. They stopped their tracks: "I-I...just wanna...tell you 'thanks'. I didn't know whether I should have pushed everyone just like Helga would do bu-but...I guess you were the one you did it for me. Thank you," said Phoebe out-of-breath.

Smiling, "Hey, no problem. Just seeing them party off because Helga was gone really, really gets me into a fit. I mean she isn't what she seems to be. Helga has a heart and I've noticed it lately," explained Arnold. Her eyes bulged immensely once a thought ran across her- Did Arnold know already Helga's deep secret or did she somewhat confessed to him? Wow, maybe I've got to follow up with Helga more.

"Did Helga tell you anything?" Phoebe asked as she adjusted her glasses.

"What do you mean?"

"If she told you her 'insecurities' by any chance?"

All he could do was bite his lip letting himself seep into confusing thoughts... A convulsing heartbeat leapt from his body once a puzzling memory of Helga on the FTI building stood across him. The thought never occurred to him whether Phoebe might know or not. Inhaling and exhaling, he found his voice:

"Sorry, but c-can you repeat your question?"

An intimidating smile formulated on her face and reiterated her question. Arnold couldn't answer; it was like having his own voice lost with the heavy burden of Helga wandering aimlessly in his mind.

"Fine then, if you want to know, I have an idea what Helga's insecurities are. Also, it's quite clear that you reading Helga's poem so that you can have an idea what or whom Helga is, is pretty submissive of you. And to answer my question, I guess that things are getting very atrocious in your curiosity," she explained with awe in her voice, "Nevertheless, I deeply and truly know Helga if you are willing to move go on your enrapturing adventure. So, if you are going after Helga, I suggest some tips for you, but before I do, I want to ask you one question."

He instantly agreed without regret. Wasn't it his chance of helping Helga for reality?

"Do you want me to make an excuse for you while you and Helga are gone?"

Eyes bulging in surprise and disbelief- I never knew Phoebe could be mislead the truth? But she might save them from trouble...

"If you are making some sort of excuse for us, what exactly would you tell them?"

She gradually placed a finger in her mouth and brainstormed faster than the speed of light, "Easy. Just tell them that you and Helga had symptoms of the most common sickness right now...an awful stomach virus. In this time of year, a stomach virus is likely and rather painful. So lets just say, you two desperately needed a bathroom."

He slightly laughed at this, "sure, sure, just don't tell Gerald anything about me and Helga- please."

"Of course, Helga wouldn't want me to tell anyone too," she said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Oh, and as I said, once you find Helga, don't ask too much questions. It irritates her; however, don't demand her for explanations. Give her plenty of time to talk because her clarification flows in fragile state. Even if you many not understand some of the facts, be respectful. Helga has a heavier burden than you Arnold, so be patient. If she tells you not to tell a soul of whatever she says to you, that evidently means a pledge on your word."

Too bad I couldn't have brought a notepad and copied notes to this but oh well, I got to find her, thought Arnold. All he need was the truth and nothing more of it, is that all he could ask?

Giggling silently, Phoebe beckoned Arnold, "If you are really that desperate to leave, why don't you catch up with her?"

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In the meantime, once Phoebe returned to her classroom, everyone bombarded her with questions:

"Yo Phoebe! Where's Arnold?" called Gerald from the hustling class. Mr. Simmons walked towards her and the whole class became silent. Once all of them, overheard Phoebe's assumption to Arnold and Helga, some students' still was in disbelief. Even if Gerald followed Phoebe, she sat at her usual table and started the project on her own.

Rhonda, whose group was sitting right beside them asked, "I cannot believe this spreading of a virus- how unsanitary food could be! Ha, now I know Helga was in hysterics cuz' of her unsanitary stomach. Good for her; she deserves it."

"Did you see her cry in pain?" asked Sid.

"On account of Helga's stomach virus an' all," spoke Stinky, "Gosh, last week I was sick of all the lemon puddin' and I reckon, it was a stomach virus. Holy cow! My stomach was in hurting too much...like someone twisting my insides. Reminds me of bakin' some wheat bread of my grandmas'- yum-yum. I reckon the lemon puddin' was spoiled or something. Papa took over the toilet after me, and couldn't flush the thing...it was even smelled over at my neighb---"

Rhonda dropped her nail filer, and squealed, "Eww! Disgusting! Hmp! Mr. Simmons! I demand a seating arrangement all due to these...these sick people!"

"Yes sweetheart?" asked Curly who poorly impersonated Mr. Simmons just as he gradually lifted Rhonda's chin. His attire seemed somewhat similar to their teacher except his voluminous, beetle-like spectacles.

"AHHH!!! Not you again! Get away from me! NADINE!" yelled Rhonda. Instead of understanding what she meant, Curly kept on chasing Rhonda and she was madly in great need. Soon, they were running in all different directions of the class. Alas, the heel on Rhonda's new 'Vogue' shoes broke off allowing her to fall flat-faced resembling a totally-expensive-one-of-a-kind-Vogue carpet of the century. "It definitely matches your floral shirt, and of course, the flatness of it," is what Helga would say. Finally, Mr. Simmons, who finally accompanied Rhonda to her feet. "Phoebe tell me, I know you're covering up for them- what's wrong.

"In my family portrait

we look pretty happy,

lets play pretend,

lets go back to that,"- she sang repeatedly in a melancholy tone. Holding a picture of her around the age of 3, her family and surprisingly her too, was smiling ever so fondly as if they had the times of their lives together. It wasn't a usual picture that you see in an everyday basis, it was a picture of what Helga has always dreamed off- well, lets just say, what could have made her to show her true colors. Unfortunately, she never knew why she was so happy in that picture. Tears weren't able to escape her eyes for dry and unemotional face. They were clearly expressed by the shakiness in her voice.

Can I help you Helga?

I know youre hiding,

But please stop abiding,

From the hurt inside. Why are you hiding?

From all this pain?

Why cant you stop to gain,

instead of feignin. Though I know they love you,

No matter they say its true,

I know that they hurt you

But deep inside they truly love you too.

"A-Arnold!" Helga bellowed. He was somehow singing his words out and tried to help her by that unusual welcome. Helga was sitting on her stoop with no mind of the world that she didn't even notice Arnold stopping by.

"W-what you're doing here? You're supposed to be in school! she blurted with utter surprise.

"Why you followed me?"

Before she arrived there, she would never expect her shining armor to come save her... "What do you think Helga?" smiled Arnold with a hint of feigned curiosity written all over his face. Without knowing if he was allowed or not, he respectively sat down beside her, preparing to hear her out.

Fumbling with his small fingers, he held his mouth tight from the many accusations of questions jumping inside him.

Smiling, she glared at his fingers and began to speak, "Ah, curious ol' football head, whad'ya want from 'hysterical Helga'? My biography? Who my physiatrists? Oh, I know, its so obvious, questions, questions, questions, QUESTIONS!"

He bit his lip for the millionth time. "Actually, I'll start this off differently. How about no questions?"

All she can do was glare in suspicion and in fright. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Somewhere around Hillwood, two anonymous people scrutinized Helga. They weren't just strangers; they were more of her mystery. They knew her past and her life before also revolves around them. But having her know the truth that could have changed her life, was harder than you think... Just so hard.

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She gave a feeble laugh. This was not going to be good. No, no, not at all, she thought. Somehow, she felt trapped and had nowhere else to go and nothing else to say. The words of explanation had to be simple and cool. But how can that be?

"Please, can we talk this out another time? I-I-I-

Bud-dump!!!

Heat of the summer consumed every breath she had to make. Explaining everything (or at least some of it) was all of the suffocation and the dread of dehydration. Imagine if you had so much to say at such an inopportune time.

"Helga!"

Her fall was saved by her weight falling on Arnold's small body. As for the sound, it was Arnold's head that got knocked on her door as she fell on top of him.

"Helga, Helga? Helga...are you alright? Speak to me..."

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A/N: Okay...I guess you liked this story, so I decided to update...More chapters coming soon!