A/N: Name change. In case anyone is confused, I am no longer Punk Rock Princess, which depresses me, because I love that song by Something Corporate (great band. I can't wait for their new album). Anyways, I have actually been thinking about changing it, and Fanficion.net's new policy (which I agree with. Everyone should have a unique name, and I did know that there was another Punk Rock Princess. I just loved the name) has pushed me into it. I don't want to be known as Punk Rock Princess2, cause that's gay (not that there's anything wrong with that . . . I also love Seinfeld). So let it be known that my new pen-name is Zero to Hero, at least for the time being, and now that I can finally change it.

Disclaimer – I do not own Hey Arnold!, but I am the very happy owner of Mest's new self titled release, including the song, "Jaded," featuring Benji Madden of Good Charlotte. Can't decide if it's better than Destination Unknown, but either way, it kicks it. Seriously, go to your local Best Buy (in my opinion the best place to by CDs,) and buy it today!

Where to Begin

Chapter 19 – Now You See Inside

Monday blended into Tuesday, Tuesday faded into Wednesday, Wednesday morphed into Thursday, and Arnold was as confused as ever. While it seemed like Monday night had ended any awkwardness between the two, one would have to be a fool to think that it was really over and past them, or believe that their life was like a thirty minute cheesy C-rate family or teen sitcom. They could function in each other's company rather well, but there were several uncomfortable silences that seemed almost unbearable. Arnold felt like he was living a charade, and he was deathly scared to show any emotion, so he tried to be stoic. At this point he would welcome the numbness he was feeling, because his feelings were tearing him apart.

However, he was not the only one who was going through their own personal hell. Helga had to greet her boyfriend's return from his great-uncle's funeral by telling him that she had kissed another boy. Jake took the news rather well under the circumstances, and forgave Helga, though the two also seemed slightly awkward around each other. It was the final nail in Arnold's coffin, and sent him reeling. Either Jake really did care about Helga and could not live without her, thus why he would not let her go and forgave her, or he was up to something. Arnold had a horrible feeling it was the latter, and Callie seemed to think so as well, but no one could talk to Helga about her love life. At the moment she was going insane and could lash out at anyone at any possible time.

In addition to that stress, the pageant was nearing go time, and no one seemed ready for it.

"Will you still love me tomorrow?" Callie belted out while Arnold checked the audio and a million other things backstage. She ran over to him after she finished her song. "Well, how do I sound?"

"You'll be in the top five if you don't bomb your interview," he said genuinely.

"I hope so. I can't believe this is almost over."

"Yeah." His eyes wondered to Helga, who was vocalizing on the floor while she studied for their history, which test the next day.

Callie put a hand on his shoulder. "I wouldn't worry too much about that. Things will work out." She left to go talk to Helga, who was the next person to practice.

Since when do I need to be reminded to be optimistic? he thought as he went to get a drink. He then went outside to try to clear his head. The stress was getting to him. After a few minutes he went back inside, not at all refreshed, more frustrated, and with a larger headache. He returned backstage as he heard Lila singing. She sounded better but still forced. He cringed. Lila seemed to hanging on to him at every chance lately. He had no idea of what he was supposed to do to get her to leave him alone without hurting her. He was developing a plan that he could tell was doomed to fail when Callie cried, "Arnold!"

He looked over at the two girls, and he felt his heart skip a beat. Callie was trying to hold up a lifeless-looking Helga. He ran over to them and impulsively took Helga into his arms and carried her out the door and away from the crowd of girls that had gathered around them. "What happened?" he cried.

"I don't know. She was fine one moment, and she fainted the next." Callie opened the door as Arnold carried Helga into the hallway and to a door to get some air. He laid her down as Callie propped the door open beside them.

"Go get some water and something for her to eat," Arnold said. Callie rushed off. He looked down at Helga. She was extremely pale, and he was suddenly aware of the dark circles under her eyes. He pulled his sweatshirt over his head and placed it under her head.

Her eyelids fluttered open. "Wow, Arnold, I didn't realize you were so buff," she muttered.

He looked down at himself. His t-shirt was a bit tight (it had been the only clean shirt lying around as he rushed to get ready this morning), but Helga had to be out of it to think he was well built. "Helga? Helga, are you awake?"

"Mmm-hmmm," she muttered lazily. She opened her eyes and smiled sweetly at him. "Hey."

He sighed and was glad she was okay.

"How did I get out into the hallway?" she asked. Her voice was softer than normal.

"You fainted backstage, and I carried you out here."

"You carried me?"

"Um, yeah." He nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

She nodded slowly. Callie returned and handed her a bottled water and several carrot sticks, the clichéd pageant food. That was all that was around. "Are you feeling all right, Hegla?" Callie asked.

She nodded as she sat up and began to eat. "Thanks, Cal. Wait, I have to practice and study!" she cried, but Arnold lightly pushed her back down. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and attentive. "Why can't I go?"

"Because you just fainted from overworking." He brushed a few stands of hair away from her face, pausing as he touched her forehead. "And it feels like you have a slight fever." He turned to Callie. "Tell Miss Sheltie and Mrs. Chadwick Helga's going home."

"Home? But I have to – "

"Go home," he interrupted, staring her down. She finally complied, and he could tell she was feeling better because a familiar scowl had returned to her face.

Callie had been watching with great interest and confusion before disappearing. "They have to be the most blind, dense, and thick headed people in the world," he heard her mumble. Helga, however, had been putting on his sweatshirt and was none the wiser. "I'm freezing."

He shut the door and sat down beside her. Surprisingly she laid her head on his shoulder. Not this again, he thought quickly. When they got this close it seemed like only bad things could happen (though personally he thought they were amazing, but the outcome was usually bad).

"How do you think they do it?"

"How do they do what?" he asked, trying without much success to avoid becoming completely intoxicated by her.

"Get the little boats in the bottles. I've always wondered about that. That and how do they saw the people in half and than put them back together?"

He could not help but crack up. "I have no idea."

"What happened to the Great Arnoldini?"

"Helga, that was a long time ago. And I never sawed anyone in half."

"Now that would have been cool." She sat up. "Do you ever wish you could go back to those days?"

He looked her straight in the eye. "More now than normal."

She blushed and looked away. "Can you believe it has been seven years since we were in Mr. Simmons' class?"

His thoughts rested on the seven years. Wasn't it every seven years you shed all your skin, and symbolically your old self? The thought intrigued him, and he could certainly identify with it. In many ways he was the same as he was at age nine, but in more ways he was far different. He smiled softly as Helga rambled on and on about fourth grade. It had taken him seven years to learn something that he was now sure he had felt at least a little back then. His face dropped, for it seemed that nothing but heartache was going to become of it.

Callie returned, obviously pleased at the sight in front of her, although Arnold's long face threw her slightly. "I managed to persuade both of them to let you guys go. I swear they are insane when it comes to this pageant stuff."

"Thank God," Helga said as Callie helped her up.

Arnold left to go get Helga's stuff and returned to the lobby where the two were sitting. Helga's eyes were slightly glazed over, and she seemed to be deep in thought. Callie was rambling about something or another. "You ready to go?" he asked Helga.

She nodded and said good-bye to Callie, who reluctantly went back to the stage. Helga walked ahead of Arnold, staring up at the sky. She stopped in front of the car. "Can I have my keys, please?" she asked, extending her hand.

"You are not driving home," he said as he unlocked the car and threw her stuff in the back seat.

"I beg your pardon? What the heck do you mean I'm not driving home?"

"Helga, I hardly think you are in any position to drive home."

"Than what position am I in?" she snapped.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and practically dragged her to the passenger's side and opened the door for her. "Well, in a few moments you will be sitting in the passenger's side while I drive you home."

"You are not driving my car!" she cried and tried to grab the keys from him. Unfortunately she was still fatigued, and she slumped down in his arms.

"See? Helga, please, just let me drive."

She pushed him away from her and finally got into the car. She slammed it shut herself, and he sighed as he walked to the other side and started the car. She refused to look at him as they headed home in silence because Helga refused to listen to the radio or the CD player.

"What are you looking at?" he asked after a few minutes. Helga was staring intently out the window.

"The sky."

"Oh." Another minute or two passed. "Why, may I ask?"

"It looks beautiful, don't you think?"

The sky was a deep, dark blue dotted with stars. "I suppose," he said. Helga had always been more poetic than he. She could see deeper meaning in it, while he could just see it for its beauty.

She began singing, softly and sweetly, not caring that he could hear her. She was lost in her own world and her own thoughts. "Never seen a bluer sky. Yeah I can feel it reaching out and moving closer. There's something 'bout blue. Asked myself what it's all for. You know the funny thing about it I couldn't answer. No I couldn't answer. Things have turned a deeper shade of blue, and images that may be real may be illusion. Keep flashing off and on. Free . . . wanna be free, gonna be free, and move among the stars. You know they really aren't so far. Feels so free . . Gotta know free . . . please . . . don't wake me from the dream. It's really everything it seemed. I'm so free . . . . No black and white in the blue. Everything is clearer now. Life is just a dream, you know, that's never ending. I'm ascending."

She finished as he pulled up to her house. Her song was both lovely and haunting. She turned to him, half asleep, and he wondered if she even knew she had been singing. "Home sweet home," she muttered and exited the car.

Arnold followed Helga into the house, which to no surprise was empty. She quickly ate some cold pizza. "Want some?"

He shook his head. "Don't you think you should eat something other than that?"

She shrugged. "I doubt it, since I am going to bed here pretty quick." She looked at her watch. "Eight fifty-three. A new record!"

"At least you will finally be getting some sleep."

She stuck her tongue out at him, and an uncomfortable silence followed. Their lives were now full of that. She finally clapped her hands together. "Well, Football Head, I appreciate everything you have done, but I am going to bed, so good night." She quickly took some medicine and waved as she went upstairs. Helga barely changed into her pajamas before collapsing onto her bed and fell asleep almost instantly.

Arnold peaked in at her nearly five minutes later. She was sleeping peacefully. Whatever doubts he had had about his feelings towards her had disappeared. He watched the woman he loved for a short while, then returned downstairs to wait for Mr. and Mrs. Pataki to return home. He figured he should tell them about Helga's current predicament, though it was anyone's guess how much they would care.

They returned home nearly two hours later, Big Bob's voice booming while Miriam laughed shrilly. Bob was the first to notice Arnold sitting on their couch. "What the hell are you doing here?" he snapped.

"Oh, honey, he's one of Olga's friends. Arnie, right?" Miriam asked, trying to calm her husband down, though it also seemed like she could care less.

"Helga and Arnold," he replied blandly.

"Oh, yeah, you're the weird little orphan boy. So what are you doing in my house? And where is the girl?"

Arnold felt his anger begin to boil, although he was used to the greeting from Big Bob. "Helga's upstairs, and I wanted to tell you – "

"What's she doing upstairs?" he interrupted.

"She's sleeping, but she – "

"So you thought you could bum a night on our couch? Look, I ain't running a charity house here and – "

"I do live in a house," Arnold hissed.

"You still live in that old shack? I thought they condemned that place long ago. It hardly looks fit to live in, and that crazy old lady is enough to flatten it to the ground as is."

Arnold's hands began to shake. "Yes, I still live at Sunset Arms with my grandpa and grandma," he managed to say through gritted teeth.

"Oh, isn't that nice," Miriam said, clearly bored with the whole conversation. "What did you want to tell us about Helga, dear?"

He glared at Big Bob before addressing Miriam. "Helga fainted today at pageant practice and – "

"Oh, my poor little Helga!" she cried, but Arnold notice she did not seem to care until he mentioned the pageant. "How is she?"

"She's sleeping now, and I think she's okay besides being exhausted."

"Oh, poor girl. She must have worn herself out by trying to please us."

"Yes, I'm sure that's what it was," Arnold said sarcastically.

"Well, thank you for staying and making sure she was okay," Miriam said, hugging him. "But we can look after her now. Thank you, Arnie."

"No problem," Arnold said as he grabbed his stuff. "Good night, Mr. and Mrs. Pataki."

He was nearly out the door before Big Bob stopped him. "Look, uh, Arnie – "

"Arnold."

"Whatever. I appreciate you looking after the girl and all, but next time remember not to overstay your welcome."

For years, Arnold had been afraid of Big Bob, but now anger seemed to have turned off every other emotion in his brain. "I would hardly call looking out for Helga's best interests overstaying my welcome." He opened the door. "Good night, Mr. Pataki," he said coldly.

"Lousy orphan," Big Bob muttered as he shut the door and joined Miriam in the kitchen.

Tears filled Helga's eyes. She had seen the whole thing unfold. She ran upstairs and cried herself to sleep, wondering how she could care for two people so much and one so much more than the other.

A/N: I really need to write longer chapters. I don't know what is wrong with me lately. Chapter 20, "The Calm before the Storm," is next so stay tuned. Later days.