Thank you for the reviews.

TheBaldOneMpls – Joshua calls her Helgs, because he don't like the name Helga (It represents he don't really knows the real Helga). But I think it's a cool name for her, and if I remember well, I read it in your story first. I hope you don't mind that I borrowed it.

Carlin – I hope H & A will end up together too. Only time can tell. :)

CHAPTER 3 – SHADOW OVER HILLWOOD

11 YEARS EARLIER

Arnold and Gerald just finished their lunch. Gerald was staring at the girls as usual, while Arnold was thinking about something very deeply. Suddenly, Harold ran into the cafeteria. He was pretty upset about something. Eugene followed him, but Harold shut the door into his face.

"I'm fine"- he said, while he tried to stand up..

"Dude what happened to Harold?" – Gerald asked.

"He asked Rhonda out to saturday's school dance, but she just laughed into his face. It was pretty cruel." – he recognized his nose is bleeding. "Ok. I think I have a date with the school nurse." – he said and left toward the corridor.

"What a jerk." – Gerald sighted.

"So, our first high school party huh? It's so cool dude!" – Arnold said. – "Do you know, who will you invite."

"Not really" – he said as he checked out the girls at another tables. – "There's so many of them."

"How about Phoebe?"

"I don't know Arnold. She's cute, but... I think she's a little dorky."

"No you not."

"What?"

"I think she's dorky." – he said. - You think she's insanely hot. I hope you won't miss her, just because some jerks like me think she's too bookish. Everybody knows you guys like each other." - he said.

"I'll think about it. And you? I guess you'll invite Lila. I see the way she looks at you lately. She's all over you, man."

"Yeah. I don't know. I like her a lot. But... don't you think she's kind of dull? So nice all the time..."

"Are you crazy? If you don't ask her I will!" – he said. – "Besides, who else is there?"

"I don't know. I was thinking about Helga..."

"Please, don't start that again!" – said Gerald. He was pretty upset. – "Since you know she likes you, you act completely nuts. If there would anything ever happen between you two, it would have been happened already! She confessed to you years ago."

"I know but... look at her." – Helga was pushing Brainy against the wall and yelled at him for something. "She has fire inside."

"Dude. Lila wants you, and you thinking about Helga. I mean, you're right Helga's pretty hot, but... dude, she's Helga G. Pataki!"

"Yes. And I know she rejected me a lot. But... look at her."

"You're weird dude. She will never..."

"I kissed her last night." – he said.

"You did what?!"

"I waited for her at their house, and when she got home I stepped in front of her from the dark, and kissed her. I didn't let her any time, to put up her shields."

"And you're still alive?"

"Oh, she kissed back. Pretty well, actually. And then, she ran to the house without a word."

"Really?"

"And now she's pretending that nothing happened." – he said – "But I won't let this, dude. This game ends here and now." – he said and stood up.

"I still think you're a lunatic to choose Helga over Lila. You're going to regret this, but it's you're life." – Arnold barely listened as he walked over to the girls table. There was Phoebe, Nadine, Lila and Helga. Lila was smiling at him, she was pretty sure Arnold is going there to invite her to the party.

"Helga, can I speak to you." – he asked. The disappointment on Lila's face was terrible. Well, she must bear it. – he thought.

"Out of my face Football Head!" – Helga said. – "Can't you see I'm eating."

"Stop it Helga!" – he said, and looked at her pretty seriously. "We have to talk about it sooner or later." – she knew that's right. They swept to many things under the rug. There were no room left for that last kiss. They've been kissing four times before they turned ten for god's shake. How could they deny it anymore. So, Helga walked to the other side of the cafeteria with Arnold.

"Listen hair boy. About yesterday..."

"Would you go to the school dance with me?" – he asked. Helga was staring at her.

"Hell no!" – she said, and started to walk back to her table. Arnold grabbed her arm, suddenly all eyes stared at them in silence.

"Hey, leave me alone Football Head, or you're gonna regret you're ever born. Took you're hands of me!"

"No." – he said, and looked into Helga's eyes. – "Not, until you hit me or kiss me. Those are you're only options."

"What?" – she asked. Obviously she got very nervous. – "What's wrong with you?."

"Come on, you just have to hit me. You always said you wanted to. Or you can come to the school dance with me. What's it gonna be Helga?" – it was a pretty risky game he played. For a moment he thought he will get a punch into his face. But he knew, the only way to end this game between him and Helga, was to force her to confess in front of everybody. So she won't have to hide her true self anymore. Maybe it's going to be painful, but he was sure, it's the only chance to free Helga at last.

"I hate you Football Head." – she said with some tears in her eyes, and with that, she kissed Arnold. There, in front of everybody. Not in some school play. Not in a Babewatch episode. The cafeteria was filled with silence. They kissed long and passionately. After a little time, while everybody had time to adjust to the picture, Phoebe smiled and started to clap her hands together. Soon stinky joined him too, than Gerald, Nadine, Rhonda and all the others clapped their hands and cheered. They knew somewhere deep inside, what an important thing just happened. The two blonds were made to each other. It was simply the most wonderful moment of Helga's and Arnold's life. On the other hand it was Lila's worst.

PRESENT DAY

"Just shot your mouth Lila!" Helga screamed at Lila, in the airport terminal. Phoebe just felt miserable. Every minute of the flight felt like an hour. There was a lot of repressed anger between the two women that exploded now, when Arnold went to the men's room.

"What do you want to do about it? Make me? Like last time?" – she asked. She still acted like an innocent, helpless little girl, but Phoebe seen trough the act. The best thing ever happened to her, was that Helga punched her. That made impossible for Arnold and Helga to get back together, so Lila left with all the prizes. She was the poor little victim, everybody wanted to help her, and Arnold never left her. She was the opposite of Helga, who tried to hide her sensitive but weaker side from the world.. Lila repressed all the anger and she never went into conflicts. They did the same thing, except for what Lila did was hypocrite, and what Helga did was stupid.

"Listen to me Ginger. You have Arnold okay. You made pretty sure, that he will never leave you. And I have a boyfriend back in New York, who's laying on a hospital bed right now. You don't have to protect you're precious Arnold from me, okay! Read from my lips: I don't love him! So stop behaving like bitch!"

"I'm sorry Helga, I'm just..."

"Lila, don't say sorry, because you're not sorry." – Helga said. "Just shut up for one moment." Helga seen that she's on the edge of crying. "Oh my god! I swear to god, if you start to cry missy, I will slap you, even if that means Arnold will never talk to me again. Do you understand that?" Lila nodded.

"Fine." Helga said. Arnold just returned from the toilet.

"Hey, what happened?" – he asked.

"Don't ask." – Phoebe said quietly as they walked toward their cab.. – "Don't want to hurt you're feelings" – she whispered – "but what's up with these hot chicks all over you?" – she asked.

"No idea."

"I mean... you do have a huge football-shaped head. You know that right?"

"Maybe I'm just such a sweet guy."

"And your short too..."

"Would you stop that?" – Helga overheard it as they entered the cab.

"And you hadn't even seen him naked Pheebs. Then you would have a lot more questions."

"Hey! I'm sitting right here!" – he said. Lila didn't say a word. The driver asked where to go, so they gave him the address of Sunset arms. The only one who knew they're coming was Gerald. They all trusted him, so he was there waiting for them in the boardinghouse. Arnold missed his friend very much, who became the Disk Jockey of a local radio. He was sitting on the stairs in his red jacket, smiling. He's still looking cool – Phoebe thought.

"Hey guys."

"Hello dude." – Arnold said. They did their special hand shake move.

"Crimney! Boys, this stuff was sweet for third graders, but it's just getting lamer and lamer each year." – Helga said.

"Nice to see you, Helga."

"My pleasure tall-hair boy." – after a little hesitation they hugged each other. They were not friends exactly but they were through a lot together. Gerald obviously tried to avoid to look into Phoebes eyes.

"Hello Gerald." – it was the first time Lila spoke since they arrived.

"Hi Red. So finally it came out you "like like" the guy." – he said, as he hugged her.

"Obviously." – she said with a shy smile. Even Phoebe felt like hit her for that fake expression on her face.

"Hi Gerald." – Phoebe said.

"Hello Pheebs. I... I really missed you."

"Me too." – they both lied of course, but it made them more comfortable. So, they hugged each other after all.

"So, what's the plan guys?" – Gerald asked – "If you really think someone from the gang went Hannibal Lecter, we have to do something."

"Yes. We thought about a gathering. Some reunion. Where we can check who left the city lately, or who ate his parents since we last met him." – said Helga.

"Who said it's a guy. A girl can handle a baseball-bat too." – said Lila. She was right of course. That's why Helga and Phoebe watched her constantly from the corner of their eyes. The possibility that Lila is the nut-case they looking for, passed trough Arnold's mind too as horrible as it was. She did have a weird obsession with Helga. Perhaps that was the reason she loved Arnold.

"Yes. I think you're right." – Helga said.

"Well, I think miles ahead of you guys. Arnold, tonight the two of us will go out to the bar with the guys. The most likely suspects. And the girls shall go over to Rhonda's place. There's going to be a minor reunion for you're respect Lila. I told them about your coming Lila, but they don't know about the rest of you."

"You put this together in one day?" – Arnold just stared at his friend.

"Hey, I'm still the shifty one you see."

"Nice work Gerald. Thanks." – Helga said.

"I don't really like this idea. I'm not in a real party mood. And we shall stick together, until we find the murderer." – said Arnold.

"C'mon dude. Think about it as bachelor parties!" – said Gerald.

"Well, I don't think Lila would like me at her bachelor party. I will check my family tonight. You know the Patakis are not the most stable people in the city. They may know something perhaps." – said Helga. Of course it was a lame excuse, but deep inside she worried for her parents. They are obvious targets for her stalker. – "So it's up to you two to snoop around the girls Phoebe and Lila. Can you do that?"

"We will try." – Phoebe said. She shared a look with Lila.

"Alright then. We will meet here at midnight." – Helga said. – "Take care of yourself. We don't know nothing about this nut-case. He might be more dangerous than you think, and he can be anywhere in this city. If any of you changed your mind, you can stay here in Sunset Arms. But I give you my word, I won't leave this city until I find that weirdo. And I'm very thankful for your help." – she said and she looked at Lila. They all nodded in silence. She told the truth

Note: I know this was a little shorter than the first two chapters, but there was nothing more to tell here. But the next two chapters DEVIL ON YOUR SHOULDER and HELGA'S SHADOW will be filled with revelations.

The horrible thing is I only notice the major errors in my English, after the chapter is up. I don't know the reason, but I'm working on that. (.