A/N: This chapter is now fixed. Sorry about that. It's different from the original, but the basis is the same.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold!, and I am not quite clear on who really does. I think a lot of people own our beloved Football Head, and Helga would like to be one of those people.
Where to Begin
Chapter 17 – Up Close and Personal
Helga dragged herself down to the kitchen the next morning. It was five after seven, and the only thing she wanted to do was take two Ibuprofen, grab an orange juice and a muffin, and watch cartoons until she fell back asleep. As it was, she had basketball practice and pageant practice this morning, and then she had a boatload of homework to look forward to. Her mood was dark enough when she heard Miriam and Big Bob talking about something as if the Queen of England was interested in buying a beeper, thus leading to a whole new European market. Helga decided that was not such a bad idea; her parents could move across the Atlantic, and she could move in with Phoebe.
"Oh, Helga, honey, there you are. Sit down. We have such great news for you," Miriam chirped, ruining Helga's happy thought of having not only a country but an entire ocean between her and her parents. Reluctantly she sat down and grabbed a banana nut muffin.
"Do you want to tell her or should I?" Bob chocked out between huge bites of steak.
"Honey, Olga's coming home next weekend!" Miriam shouted.
Helga was surprised that balloons and confetti did not start falling form the ceiling. "Next weekend?"
"Yes. She's playing in Seattle on Saturday night. We are going to go see her and then spend Sunday with her before she has to fly out again."
"Next weekend? As in next Saturday and Sunday?" Helga asked, looking back and forth between her parents.
"Yes! Can you believe it? It's been so long since we saw her!"
"She was home a month over Christmas!" Helga cried, remembering the worst month of her life.
"Helga, you sound upset," Miriam said, casually taking a sip of coffee.
"Do you even remember what is happening next Sunday?"
"What's happening next Sunday?" Big Bob asked.
"The Miss Hillwood Pageant!" Helga yelled. "What you have been talking about for the past three weeks!" She turned to her dad. "You have to be there if I get into the top five so you can escort me during the evening ware competition!"
"Of course we remember, honey," Miriam said in a tone that clearly meant she had forgotten. "We'll be back. I promise."
"Right," Helga said coldly. "I have to get ready." She got up and started back to her room.
"Honey, we'll be there. Don't worry. Right, B?"
"Yeah, wouldn't miss it for the world."
Helga turned back towards her parents. "Right. Thanks." She went into her room. Olga is your world. It'll be a cold day in hell before you choose me over Olga, she thought as she brushed her teeth, and she silently curse herself as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
¤ -¤ - ¤
Arnold stared with mild interest at the stage. Most boys his age would be in heaven with all the girls running around, but all he wanted to do was go home. It was nearing two, and he had been here for too long. The girls were rehearsing on stage, and all their talent acts were blurring together. At least they were almost done.
"Lights should probably be a little dimmed, right?" Arnold asked Josh as he watched Sabrina Verducci perform. He supposed she was doing well, but in his stare of mind he would probably agree that Dude, Where's my Car? should have won an Oscar. He rubbed his eyes and scribbled a few notes down.
"I'll go tell them," Josh said, and slowly walked towards the stage. Arnold could not blame him. Everyone looked tired and was moving slower. That is what February will do to you.
"Exciting, isn't it?"
Arnold looked up from his clipboard. Callie was now sitting beside him. "Something like that. You just missed Josh."
She groaned. "Oh, thank God." Arnold raised an eyebrow at her, and she continued. "Look, I like Josh and everything, but you have to agree he comes on a bit too strong."
"He just likes you."
"Arnold, the other day he asked me to marry him, and I'm still not sure if he was joking or not."
He laughed. "I couldn't tell you. At least you know he wouldn't have any commitment problems."
"Yeah," she said, laughing with him. "Everything all set?" she asked, pointing to his clipboard.
Arnold laughed hollowly. "I wish."
She nodded. "I know what you mean. I wish this whole thing were over. Then things can get back to normal."
Arnold did not reply. What was normal anymore? Normal, at least before the pageant, was Helga being his best friend and nothing more. Now he had to hold himself back every time he saw her from taking her into his arms and kissing her passionately. And that scared the living daylights out of him. Just last night he almost kissed her before he remembered Jake. A small smiled crept on his face as he remembered the night before.
Callie noticed his mood change. "What are you so happy about?"
"What are you talking about?" he said as he blushed and tried to keep from showing his emotions.
"Arnold, you look like a giddy little girl."
He gave her a look that said, are you kidding me? She glared at him. "I'm tired, and I'm sure you are a literary genius when you haven't had enough sleep and are stressed out."
"I could do better than that."
She folded her arms. "I'm waiting."
He sat up in his chair. "Okay, okay, uh, um . . . okay, I got nothing."
She smirked smugly. "That's what I thought."
He turned his attention back to the stage. Helga had just come out and was getting the microphone ready so she could sing.
"There it is again!" Callie cried.
"What?"
"That look?"
"What? What look? There is no look!"
"Yes, that stupid, goofy look on your face! That's – " her voice died as she caught sight of the stage. She stared at Helga for a minute before turning back to him, grinning wickedly. "Now that's more interesting and makes more sense."
"No, no, no, no, no, and no," he interrupted.
"Yes, yes, yes! I knew it but I didn't think it was this bad."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Yes, you do. You know exactly what I mean! I knew it!"
"No, you have no idea what you are talking about, Callie, so just drop it."
"You are so crushing on her." Callie burst out laughing.
"Even if it were true, which it's not, I don't think it would be laughing matter."
"I'm not laughing at you, I just don't understand why I don't see it sooner. I could have had a lot more fun making fun of you," she said, punching him in the arm.
He sat in his own misery waiting for her to finish laughing at him. "Are you done yet?"
She sighed. "I think so."
"Good."
Her expression became serious. "So what are you going to do about it?"
"About what?"
"Helga!"
"Nothing. I mean, the lights are good, and the mic sounds fine – "
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
"Nothing."
"Nothing? How can you do nothing, Arnold? You care about the girl. Tell her!"
"Oh, yes, that'll be a pleasant conversation. 'Helga, I know you have a boyfriend that you care about deeply, but I am crushing on you really bad, so what do you say? How about a dinner and a movie?' Hello! Have you forgotten about Jake?"
"So what?"
"So what? So plenty! SHE HAS A BOYFRIEND, not to mention one that hates me! She is dating Jake!"
"Arnold, I would bet money on it that Helga cares far more about you than she does about Jake."
"Sure."
She pounded on his head. "Are there any brains inside that football head of yours?"
"Hey, hey, hey! Do you mind?"
"Arnold, you are completely blind. Helga is just as crazy about you as you are about her."
"Really?" he asked skeptically.
"Yes. So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know."
"Well, if I were you, God forbid, I would tell her. What's the worst that would happen?"
"She would laugh in my face, be so embarrassed she would never talk to me again, and I would lose her as a friend."
"That wouldn't happen and you know it."
He rolled his eyes. "You really think I should tell her?"
"Yes! It will turn out better than you think."
Josh came back and sat beside them. "So, what are you to talking about?"
Callie looked at Arnold and smiled. "Arnold seems to think that the Spurs don't have a chance to win the championship this year. He thinks the Lakers will win again."
"Really? I agree with Callie. Sorry man, but I am a Webber fan, and I think it will be the Kings on top this year."
Callie shook her head and kept smiling at Arnold. "No, the classy guys will win over the flashy guys in the end. Trust me."
He eyed her, suddenly deciding that Callie was an amazing person and a good friend. But he still was not sure if her advice was the best way to go.
¤ -¤ - ¤
"What the hell do you mean you're not coming?"
"Jesus, Arnold, I didn't think you would care that much. Give me a break," Gerald muttered, holding the phone slightly away from his ears to spare them from Arnold's yelling.
Arnold began pacing angrily across his room. "First Stinky, now you. What the hell happened to Sunday being basketball day?"
Gerald rolled his eyes. "So I've missed one in the past three years, or whatever. Kill me." He yawned. "I'd much rather play than have to go to Timberly's concert. Where's Stinky at?"
"Out of town with his dad."
"Oh. Well, I still don't see your problem. Helga'll still be there, and she'll be happy kick your ass all by herself."
There was no answer from Arnold's end.
"Oh, so that's what this is about." Gerald could not suppress a laugh. "You don't want to be alone with Helga."
"That's not it at all!" Arnold cried. He could feel his face turning red.
"You're probably right. After all, you didn't mind being alone with her Friday night."
Arnold groaned. "That's my point exactly. Gerald, I almost kissed her! Do you know what Jake would do to me if he found out? The guy's not exactly my biggest fan." He finished darkly.
"Would you really care if you actually got to kiss Helga G. Pataki?"
Arnold remained silent.
"Look, if I were you, I'd still go. She'll go berserk if you don't show, but just try not too close to her." Gerald laughed loudly. "Obviously you're having trouble restraining yourself and your animal urges around her."
"Shut up!" Arnold cried, blushing more. "I need your advice, Gerald, not to be the punch line of every joke! I think I've been laughed at enough for this to last a coupla weeks," he finished darkly.
Gerald swallowed hard to keep from laughing. "Who else has been laughing at you?"
"Callie. She knows how I feel about Helga too."
"Arnold, I hate to tell you, but just about everyone but Helga knows how you feel about Helga."
Arnold groaned. "Callie thinks I should tell her."
"Good for Callie," Gerald said shortly.
Arnold paused. "You don't think I should?"
"No, I don't, but my opinion doesn't really matter, and I've never been a big Helga Pataki fan anyways. Look, what matters is what you want and how far you are willing to go to get it." He paused. "I got to go. Just, don't do anything stupid, alright?"
"Right. Bye, Gerald."
Arnold gazed up at the gray sky through the skylight. Just how far am I willing to go?
¤ -¤ - ¤
"And Pataki scores again, retaking the lead." Helga jumped up and down after making her lay-up. "Honestly, Football Head, you're off today."
He glared at her as he checked the ball. "And you're still only beating me by one." He shot faked, dribbled right, and pulled up, making a long jump shot. "That's two points for me."
"Yeah, but you should be killing me. After all, you are the boy," she shot back as she made a long three.
Arnold laughed as he grabbed the ball. "Helga, that may be true, but we were never completely sure that you are in fact a girl."
She stuck her tongue out at him. "We? So you do have voices in your head."
He pulled up and shot from the wing. The ball hit the rim hard and ricocheted in the opposite direction.
Arnold quickly looked over at her. She winked at him before running away.
"Helga! You cheater! Get back here!" he cried as he ran after her. She was about a foot away from the ball when he dove to stop her. The two collided and tumbled away from the ball, which continued rolling. They stopped after a few seconds, Arnold landing on top of Helga.
She was shaking from laughter. "Hamburger is definitely a bad game to play on cold cement."
He smiled down at her. "Ya think? God, my knees are gonna be all tore up."
Helga grinned. "Aw, poor baby. You need a kiss to make them feel better?"
Arnold froze, and Helga's smile faded as she realized what she said. "Arnold—" she began, but the words died in her throat as he brushed a few stray strands of hair out of her face. She closed her eyes as Arnold lowered his lips to hers.
It was bliss, it was perfect, and the rest of the world melted around them. The only thing that mattered was that moment.
A/N: Next chapter is "It Happened One Night." I'll leave you with that. Later days.