Valentine's Day II: My Hair is Down

Hello, all! Been a while, eh? Check out either the TtCD or Explanation's Author's Note for that. While your there, check it out if you haven't. But this is supposed to be about this one, shouldn't it? Everyone, I may need either a list by email (not review) or a link to a place where I can get basic French vocabulary. I know how to say it, but spelling it is different. I know au revoiar now, but I need more. Much appreciated. I hope you all like the newest installment!

Yes, I am back! My mom's computer was finally fixed, so be ready for a flood from Phebga and I!

Midnight Oasis: Yeah, I think I've taken too much time, huh? Don't worry... as I said, check out the Author's Notes.

Draco's One and Only: Yes, you will. Very, very soon. bout a few paragraphs away soon.

Arnold Fan: Long enough for you? I hope you like this one, too!

Army Angel Girl: Thank you for your enthusiasm! Actually, there are a ton of stories about Valentine's Day! It's just that not many have written them recently. Go back a couple of pages on the site and see for yourself!

Lone Wolf Two: CLEAR! ~Beep!~ Good news... it's not dead!

Texaco Tex: Thanks again, and yeah, I've gotten a few comments on that. Thanks!

Lynx 7: Mhm..... Food......

Helgagurl46: Um.... okay..... Thanks for liking my other fics, too!

Demile: CLEAR! ~sizzle~ Sorry, it looked like you were hyperventilating there! Anyway, here you go!

Laura: Thanks! I need those words!

Kim: ~wide eyes~. Um.... okay, and thanks!

Wow, so many reviews! So many ego implants.... whoa..... POP!

Disclaimer: Don't own nothing if anything is copyrighted. If it isn't, I claim ownership! Too late if you thought it up but haven't gotten anywhere, I've got the papers. Okay, not really1 I'm just pulling your leg! Okay, I'm done. Bye.

Here Without You

Arnold jerked awake and his eyes darted straight to his clock. Soft jazz was playing from it. He really didn't understand why he chose this radio station, as it only made him calm and tired feeling. Then thoughts of last night crept over him. He sighed in realization and happiness. He had thought that it would most definitely take at least, what, two days for her to call, but it all happened in that single day.

How relieving for him!

While he stepped forth from his bed and walked to his closet, someone a few streets down was still turning in her bed.

!@#$%^&*()_+{}:"?

Helga's blanket's were tied and knotted around her, as her head turned and her lips mouthed words. Her eyes were clenched tight and perspiration dotted her forehead as she wandered in her nightmare.

A light breeze from the air system blew the window drapes next to her bed, letting light flood into her eyelids. She sat up with a start. At first she gasped at the new scenery, then took in the fact that it had all been a dream. She exhaled, and leaned back into her pillow. Arnold woke up about a half hour before she did, so she had time to contemplate her dream.

***

Her arm was twined in with his as they walked in the cold breeze of February down a path in the park. It was late twilight, and their coats were kept tightly around them. Arnold looked into her eyes, that soft, caring, loving look in them.

"I had a wonderful evening," he said to her.

She smiled. "As did I," she replied in a French accent.

Arnold smiled, too, and his eyes drifted around in nervousness. He finally looked back at her. Neither had noticed, but they had stopped and he looked at her with his arms crossed in anticipation.

"Now," he asked slowly, "will you tell me your real name?"

It was a perfect scene. She knew that know was the best time possible. She nodded her head and pulled her hair back. She untied her bow and used it to tie the blond hair into two pigtails.

When she looked back, instead of seeing a look of surprise, which she expected, she saw a look of horror and disbelief. His eyes widened and he stumbled back from her. "I... I... I can't..." he stuttered.

She looked at him, both concerned and fearful. "What is it?"

He pointed at her. "I can't believe... it's you! You of all people!"

She nodded, not knowing how it would go.

He glared at her accusingly and said, "Was this just some dirty prank? You can't be the real Cecile... you impersonated her to make fun of me! How could you?"

She gasped. Her heart had been open before she did this, so the words affected her more than it would've. She, too, stumbled back in fear. "No," she whispered. "No, it really is-"

"Here I am, fussing over everything, indulging in totally in-depth conversations with you, and you're just Helga Pataki! Just her. I can't believe I fell for this trick."

This is where she began to get angry. "This shows how much you know, Arnold!" she cried out. "It's been me this entire time. Everything else I've ever done is the prank, Arnold!" She started ranting now. "You think today was a trick, or last year? Every other day I've ever spoken to you in has been the trick, Arnold. This was real. And yet you think it otherwise!? I don't believe you."

Arnold just kept looking at her, a look of hatred. "I kissed you!" With that he turned and ran, literally ran, away.

"No, stop!" yelled Helga, reaching out and chasing him. Before she knew it, he had disappeared in the mist.

Helga started breathing hard as her eyes started to well up. "No," she whispered. "I'm sorry..." she fell to her knees and started sobbing. "I'm sorry!" she yelled.

Then she woke up.

***

"Oh, my God," moaned Helga. She sat in a tight ball and started rubbing her temples. "It can't end up like that... it can't." She looked up to see the clock to see that it was ten minutes earlier than she usually woke up. She was late. She shook off the remnant memories of the nightmare and tried to be calm as she pushed the covers back and walked out of her room to the bathroom.

!@#$%^&*()_+{}:"?

"So... do you think she'll talk to you today?"

Arnold lifted an eyebrow at Gerald. "What do you think?" he asked.

Gerald grinned sheepishly. "I'm thinking," he said, "no?"

"Yeah," Arnold said. "Most likely not." He sighed and leaned back against the brick school wall. "I wish she would, though. Secretly or something. I just didn't get to do much on the phone except plan a date."

"But you still have the date, man," assured Gerald. Then, in a sappy, mocking voice, he said, "You two lovebirds can talk all you want there."

Arnold narrowed his eyes and elbowed him in the arm. "Shut up, man," he said.

In all seriousness, though, he really did hope the two of them could talk more. Nothing totally big happened last year... they were only nine. But now, they were ten, and an entire year of maturity had spurred in Arnold. He hoped the same had gone for Cecile, and the two of them could converse about more... and have a better date than last time. The running between two restaurants hadn't done him wonderfully. According to Gerald and Stinky, he was a 'romantic', so he at least partially had a better chance this year.

"Arnold? Arnold? Hey, Arnold!"

"Huh?" He jerked out of his thoughts and looked up at Gerald. "Oh, what?"

Smiling, Gerald shook his head and laughed. "You really, really are looking forward to this, hmm?"

Arnold turned his gaze out to the main part of the recess area dreamily. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I am. I really can't wait. I feel sort of giddy. In only a few days..." He let it hang there.

Gerald chuckled again and hit him on the back. "Arnold, you're a-"

"I know, I know-" said Arnold. "I'm a bold kid."

"Well... yeah, there's that," said Gerald, shrugging. "But I was going to say that you are a good kid. Sure, you're girl crazy, and you're last date with her wasn't a bowl of cherries, but-"

"Is this supposed to be helpful, Gerald?" Arnold looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"Let me finish, man! Dang, you've got a thing for interrupting a brother, hmm?"

Arnold stared expectantly at his friend. Gerald returned it with a sarcastic glance.

"I was about to say that you're a good kid, and Cecile seems like a really nice chick. Just take it nice and cool, and don't set up a date for another girl this time, all right?"

Laughing, Arnold closed his eyes and remembered again the disaster of last year. "Whatever you say, Gerald," he replied. "Whatever you say..." Then, unexpectedly, he jumped into a frenzy.

"Oh, man, what am I going to do? It's going to be so awkward because of last year! What am I going to wear? Where am I gonna get the money for dinner? What am I supposed to wear? What am I going to say to her? Oh, man, Gerald, you've got to help me! Can you go to the restaurant and watch over like last time?"

Gerald just leaned back and rolled his eyes. Those raging hormones, he thought. Ten years old... jeez... "Arnold, like I said," he answered. "Just play it cool and it'll all blow over nicely from there, okay?"

Arnold nodded and looked up at his friend. "So," he asked, "are you gonna go watch over for me?"

The look on Gerald's face wasn't assuring for Arnold. He bit his lip and rubbed the back of his neck, looking guilty.

"Gerald," he said monotone. "Gerald? What is it? Why are you making that face?"

Grinning uncomfortably, Gerald answered, "Uh... Arnold, my man? You're my best friend, right?"

Arnold lifted an eyebrow. "Um... yes," he replied slowly.

"Then you'd understand," continued Gerald, also slowly, "that I, too, also had plans on Valentine's Day that... um... didn't have anything to do with, you know... you?"

At first, Arnold was confused, but after a moment he smirked mischievously. "What are you doing, Gerald?"

Gerald giggled nervously. "I'm going to the dance that night," he said.

Already having a pretty good idea about the answer, Arnold asked, "With who?"

"It ought to be obvious, man," said Gerald. "Phoebe."

Arnold nodded his understanding. It didn't ease his anxiety of Valentine's Day, but he approved the fact that his friend had previously thought up plans. He shook himself back into the original conversation. "Gerald, what am I going to do for money?" he asked desperately. "I had it covered last year, but this year it's different! you don't happen to have fifty bucks to spare, do you?"

Gerald crossed his arms and stared at him. "My turn. What do you think?"

Arnold sighed and hit the back of his oblong head on the wall. "I'm doomed. I was so excited, but where am I going to get that money. Maybe a fund raiser?"

"Ha!" laughed Gerald. "Sorry, Arnold, but who's going to donate money for a date?"

"Well," thought Arnold, "maybe I could sell something..."

"Arnold, are you insane?" cried Gerald. "It's not that big of a deal! Why don't you make reservations somewhere like McDonald's?"

Silence.

"Or... not," said Gerald.

!@#$%^&*()_+{}:"?

Once again, the two boys were being listened to without their knowledge. Helga was in the same spot she had been in yesterday, eavesdropping.

Last night had scared her, and made her more alert and prepared for anything. This, however, was hurting her. One, she didn't like seeing Arnold panic over something like money (even though it was for her...). Two, she didn't want to seriously talk to Arnold in a fast food restaurant! What she was planning on doing was a stretch... she had to do it, though. Maybe it would make the revealing a little bit easier on him.

She took a deep breath and stepped out from her hiding place. "So Football Head's got girl troubles again," she said. The two boys turned to see her.

Gerald glared at her. "How long have you been here?"

Helga hacked a laugh. Placing her hands on her hips, she said, "Enough to know that Football Head either has to get some cash or gain some calories. Personally, I think it's a shame for a girl to have to put up with that on a reunion date."

Especially me, she thought. Well, I guess I'm paying for half of my date, technically...

Arnold frowned. "I think so too," he said, "but where am I supposed to get the money for it?"

"Well..." Helga said slowly. "It may be easier than you think."

"Really?" asked Gerald, suspicious of the answer. "How so?"

Helga rolled her eyes. He thinks I'm about to blow it in their faces. Well, I'll prove him wrong. "Down, Gerald. I'm here to help." It was hard for her to keep her cool posture while she did this. "What if I do what I did in the fall of fourth grade, huh? Lend you the money to make your perfect dreams come true?"

Arnold lifted his eyebrows in surprise. "Your going to give me the money?" he asked in disbelief.

"Fifty bucks up front," she said as seriously as she could. She was trying to be the bully and yet friendly at the same time, and the whole thing was really hard for her to do. "But the float thing was a deal. I got something in return." She crossed her arms. "What's in it for me?"

Gerald shifted gaze from Arnold to Helga and back. He was wondering and boiling at the same time. "Don't answer her, Ar--"

"What do you want?" asked Arnold.

Helga smirked and pretended to think. As soon as he asked, though, she knew what she wanted. "I don't know..." she said.

"How about your money back, with interest?"

"Nah," she answered. "I don't need it. I think that I know what I want, though." She smiled. This works out perfectly for me. "The day after Valentine's Day, bring her to the Gerald Field," she said. "I want you to kiss her."

"What?" asked Arnold and Gerald simultaneously.

"Kiss her," she said simply. "Anywhere. The lips, her cheek, her nose, her hand. Any one of those will do. It's not that big of a deal since apparently you already like her," she explained. "I just want to know who she is. It's a Saturday so we couldn't know at school. Also, neither of you are to speak of this after our hands meet." She held out her hand, hopefully. A serious dealer on the outside and a melting girl on the inside.

Gerald looked at the hand with a stone face. "Arnold," he pleaded. "Don't shake her--"

"Deal." Arnold took Helga's hand in his and shook it firmly. Not letting go, he said, "One question. Do you have the fifty with you now?"

"Luckily enough," she said, also not letting go, "I do." She reached into her dress's pocket and took out two twenties and a five. She placed them in Arnold's other hand and let go of the shake.

Gerald rolled his eyes and glared at Arnold. "Why didn't you--?"

"Watch it, Gerald," Helga said, almost evil sounding. "Don't you remember?"

You can't say a single thing about this, Gerald. You can't ask me anything, speak of this to anyone, not even Arnold, or fume about it. Watch it, Tall Hair Boy. Helga watched as Gerald stomped away, pride filling her heart. She did it. the plan was perfect. Even how everyone else would find out was perfect.

Arnold started to follow him, but turned back and smiled at Helga. "Thanks, Helga," he said enthusiastically. "Thanks a lot!"

She only smiled. She was waiting for when he would get happy about it. He left the shadow of the corner and ran off, excited, back to where his other friends were.

Once out of sight, Helga grinned and started to jump up and down. "Oh, this is brilliant, Helga! How on earth did you think of a sly move like that? The plan is even better than it was before! He has to kiss you in front of everyone now! Oh, my love, I can't wait until you finally see how it is I you just promised to kiss! That it was Cecile herself who paid for your date! How it was always me!" She pulled out her locket from her dress and hugged it. She swooned and leaned on the corner.

Then she heard the familiar sound.

The sound of breathing.

Completing the scene, she thought, annoyed but still giddy. She turned around to see Who she thought would be there. "Brainy, i don't feel like hitting you right now," she said happily. "I owe you one." She stuffed her locket back in it's place and ran toward Phoebe.

Brainy stood there where the three others had previously spoken. He started to shiver, then shake violently. Finally, he forced a fist and lifted it quickly to his face.

"Ugh..." He slumped to the concrete, where a teacher found him five minutes later.

So, I had no idea when I started this that the deal would take place. Inspirational moments I guess. So, give me a review and tell me what you think! I hope you stay tuned for more chapters! It's gonna get really good!

BrianaLFBH