Explanations

Well, who would think Arnold would have a lot of trouble telling Helga that he liked her? Okay, about everyone here has read a story with that in it, but still…Well, anyway, as I type, there has been no one who has reviewed, except for one. (Thank you, person who reviewed, and I know who you are. Thankies and your welcomeies!) . If I haven't typed this, than some did. Let's go!

Uh, what to say………Connor gets an answer, and so do we, and the school year begins. Tsk, I just didn't have the heart to stop it at one point, so I extended it just a bit.

Disclaimer: for definition, go to chappie number one.

Quote: Don't let him in! I'm not even cute yet!" Amanda Bynes: What A Girl Wants.

Arnold hung up the phone and calmly walked up into his room. After pulling up the stairs and closing his door, he chuckled slightly and then he lay down on his bed.

What's so funny? Oh, nothing. It's just that this proves Gerald right. And who'd thought that I'd be close to in love with Helga? Okay, why? Why they wouldn't think that? No, why you are close to in love with her? Uh…can you give me a minute? ~Sigh~. Sure, whatever. Go read a book or something. Fine.

Arnold picked up a The Fancy Crew Mystery book "Chapter One," he said to himself, "The Small House on the Corner."

Halfway through chapter two, Arnold's mind began to drift away from the book to something else. Connor was able to look into what he was thinking, and in doing so he smiled. His thoughts were answering his question.

It would be hard to say exactly what Arnold was thinking, since he was in a small abyss, so I shall put it in the words of a common paragraph. It will be easier to understand that way.

"Hm…why do I like Helga? Probably because she's really nice when she lets you see. But, no, other people are nice, too, so that can't be it. Well, she really is quite artistic, and I know. The pink book, meeting her Cecile self, and, um, well, the shrine thing are why, but that isn't the point. But, you know, she is just so amazing. She's so strong inside from hiding herself for so long that it's made her strong emotionally, too. But it also made her soft, and both things are reasons why I love her. Oh, how are you going to say it when it can't be said? How can you put it into words when there are none? She's everything that I'm not; she's better at judging people, she's poetic, she's a better speaker, and she, she, she's just my other piece."

Aha, now you see it, and now you come off of it.

Connor suddenly speaking/thinking jerked Arnold from his state of mind into reality. He jumped up, pushed himself with his hands, and fell of off the bed. Never tell me to come off of it, Connor. Arnold, do you know what you were just thinking? Not really. I remember some stuff. I remember saying Helga was nice. No, you said much more than that. I won't get into details, but now I know my answer to both questions. You only asked one. I was thinking another. Okay, you know why I almost love Helga, so what's the other? When would you realize what is true: that you are meant to be with Helga. To say my own words, I didn't think that, and to quote Sweet Home Alabama, "Nobody finds their soul mate when they're ten years old." Did you even see the ending of that movie? No, why? Never mind, the point is, everyone has a missing piece, as you thought, and don't say that you didn't, because your mind was thinking, not you, and Helga is yours, which you also said. I think I understood that. So you're saying that deep inside my mind, I love Helga? No, I'm not. What then? Deep inside your HEART you love Helga. Okay, then, a week ago this would have surprised me. A week ago you'd be fixing up Block-a-pa-looza. Connor. Sorry, man.

Arnold sat up and put his head in his hands. School started soon, and he wasn't ready to go there where everyone knew that Helga liked him, and where everyone thought he liked her. Arnold? That's true.       

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

A few days later…

Why hasn't Arnold talked to me since the phone call? I don't know! Maybe he doesn't like me like me after all, and he's embarrassed to see my face. Helga? That's not true, and you know it. Yeah, but how are we supposed to know? He hasn't talked to us! Yeah, why isn't Connor making him do anything? Well, at least I get to see him today, no matter what he does. Even though I really don't wanna go to school right now, especially with everybody knowing and what I promised Arnold I'd do. You are going to talk to Pheebs, though, right? Yeah, whatever. Now, how am I supposed to act? Myself, or should I be my bully image? What would Arnold say? Fine, then! I'll try, but neither of you better get upset if I can't control beating Harold's gut in, and maybe yelling at Rhonda a little bit. Oh, be my guest. I may be your conscience, but I still don't mind giving an annoying brat a good slap every now and then. Okay…

Helga stopped next to the bus stop. Apparently, you must have noticed them mention school, for today is the first day of their fifth grade year. She waited for five minutes before the bus picked her up. She was the only one who attended P.S. 118 in her neighborhood, noting the fact that Bob wanted to tear down Arnold's and everyone else's homes. Anyway, that's beyond the subject.

As she boarded the bus, she tried to keep her cool. As she walked to the seat that Phoebe sat in, she closed her eyes tightly, trying to ignore the snickers and gossips that she heard about her. When she sat in her seat, she put her backpack at her feet and covered her head with her hands and put her head between her knees.

Phoebe looked on at the first glimpse of a scared and nervous Helga. Well, except for when she fell into the flood, this was the first. Plus, this was more emotionally concerned for Helga's sake. She had made Gerald apologize to Arnold, but what he'd said wasn't exactly accurate or what he should have said. Yet she still felt like something should be done. With all of the times Helga had helped her, she should help her in return, shouldn't she? But how could she make anything better for Helga?

"Just don't make anything worse and stay by me, okay, Pheebs?"

Phoebe covered her mouth. Had she said that out loud? "Don't worry, Helga," she reassured. "I'll try to stand up for…"

"Well, if it isn't Helga G. Pataki."

They turned to see the person in the seat behind them. Rhonda was leaning over the back of their seat. "Wait until everyone who hasn't heard hears that Helga has a soft spot for somebody!" She stood up in the aisle and said very loudly, "If you didn't know, Helga loves Arnold! It's true!"

The laughs and talking grew even louder than before. Helga covered her ears again and sunk into her seat. What am I supposed to do know? Don't show your fear. Just try to ignore them. What they think doesn't have anything to do with you. Yeah. Okay.

Helga sat up in her seat, dug in her backpack, and pulled out a book. With absolutely no readable expression on her face, she began to read. The people on the bus looked at her. Usually she'd be pounding Rhonda's brains in, or at least be yelling at them. This was definitely not Helga, but some other form of her. While most of the conversations about her continued, a few ceased and started somewhere else.

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

Arnold, are you sure you can get through this? I mean it could be hard for you to keep your cool. Don't worry, Connor. It'll be fine, except for the fact that I'm going to have to face Helga. I thought that would be a good thing. Yeah, well, it could be embarrassing to confront her, let alone the entire class. ^^I hit writers block here, but I recovered! Yeah! ^^ Come, on, man, you can do this! Once Helga told you, she's been talking to you a whole lot better. It should be the same for you, now, since there are no more awkward feelings about her liking you, and you most likely not, but since it turns out that your feelings are the same, than there shouldn't be. Connor? I think I would have understood without you making such a long sentence. Sorry, man. Still, I'm worried! What if something happens and Helga loses it? Connie ought to take care of that. Okay, then. All right. Hey, here's the bus.

The bus pulled up to the second to last stop before the school, and Arnold boarded it. Before the bus even stopped, though, he could see people looking at him in awe that Helga would actually fall in love with him. He tried to take advice Connor had given him before and ignored them.

Helga stared at a spot on the bus seat in front of her when Arnold passed by. They both gave each other a quick glance, but even as quickly as it was, they were both telling each other to stay cool and be prepared for some sinister tricks.

Arnold took his usual seat next to Gerald and sunk down into it. Gerald knew plenty well why he was so down in the dumps today. No, it wasn't the fact that it was the first day of another nine months of school, but something that was his entire fault. Of course Arnold would be embarrassed! Who wouldn't be if the whole school knew that your arch nemesis actually secretly loved you! Gerald couldn't even imagine it. Oh, how little people could know.

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

Arnold walked toward his locker and began to fiddle with the combination. It was a different locker, so for some reason, the combination was somehow even more difficult to memorize and do than last year's. Well, he didn't really have the time to finish trying, because an annoying, yet vaguely taunting voice caught his ear.

"Hey, Aaaaaaaaarrrrrnold. What's the matter? Haven't seen your girlfriend Helga to open your locker for you?"

As expected, Harold had appeared behind Arnold to have the pleasure of trying to make somebody mad. Arnold looked down, and then up at Harold with his I'm-annoyed-so-I'm-only-opening-my-eyes-to-the-half-way-point look. It just made Harold laugh even harder.

"Oh, look everybody!" he cried out. "Arnold's embarrassed about Helga lovin' him! Aw, so you don't want that big girl to like you like…"

"Did I hear somebody mention my name?" Arnold turned around and, thankfully, there stood Helga.

Okay, now, Helga, remember, just keep it down a tiny little notch, okay? Connie, let me handle this, okay? Fine, but just to let you know, if it gets up there, I'm coming in, okay? Sure, fine, all right then.

Harold smirked at his opportunity. "Hey, Helga. You trying to protect your boyfriend, huh? Ha, ha, ha!"

Helga crossed her arms and took a sideways glance at Arnold. He knew that she would try not to go too far, but still get the point down. "Yeah, Harold," she said, looking the older boy in the face. "Maybe I am, but what's it to you?"

Well, you can expect the shock and surprise that arose in everyone, including Arnold, Connor, Connie, and even Helga. When the stun wore off, Harold laughed really hard. "Now, you woulda thought that would happen? Helga really does love him!" He pointed and started up everyone within hearing range to giggle or laugh out. Arnold looked over at Helga like she was going to do something to Harold that she would regret.

Helga walked even closer to Harold to the point where she was six inches away from his face. She wasn't smiling mockingly anymore. Now, she had absolutely no visible expression except slight aggravation. "Look, Pink Boy," she began, "so what if I like somebody? If it's me doing it, focus all of your attention on me." Five inches with everyone watching. "Now, how come every time somebody even hints at teasing you, you always run away to scream and cry, but you always overdo it to everybody else? Why is that Harold? Do you cry from laughter?"

Harold shook his head slowly from side to side with his eyes wide. Four inches with a few teachers watching. "I didn't think so. I'm not gonna blow you this time, bucko, because Wartz looks out at all of the fifth and sixth graders each year. But next time I see you do this to anybody who didn't do anything except something they couldn't control, I will do something to make Wartz look at me, got it, weasel?"

Five inches, six inches, and then seven inches as Harold backed away from Helga before she could do anything worse to humiliate him or hurt him anymore, nodding his head.  Helga walked back a little bit to where Arnold was. She turned her head and looked at him. "Are you going to open that locker or not…" She paused for a moment. "Football Head?"

Arnold smiled and for the first time since he said his goodbyes to his grandparents, he spoke. "Yeah, Helga, I am. See you in class."

Helga turned toward Mr. Packenham's room while Arnold struggled to open his locker and get to class before the bell rang. Gerald, who had seen the whole thing, walked over with a curious look on his face. "Arnold?"

Arnold looked up at his friend, smiled, and then looked back down into his locker again.

Gerald lifted an eyebrow and said, "Arnold, how come the first words you've said all day were to Helga, and how come you're looking okay with all of this Helga liking you thing?"

Arnold pulled out his books and shrugged. "I guess I'm seeing a side of Helga I had never see-"   

Hands went up in between Gerald and Arnold and shook. They were, apparently, Gerald's hands. "Whoa, whoa, hold up there, man." He put his arms down at his sides. "I think I know what's going on here."

Arnold knew exactly what he was thinking. "Yeah, I know what you think you know, and it's right." As an after thought, he said, "But don't tell anybody right now, okay?"

As surprised, freaked out, and pleased with himself as he was, he nodded slowly. Then he said, "Actually, Phoebe gave me the hint. That girl's got an eye on her."

Arnold put his books under his arms and walked to class with Gerald. They sat down two seconds before the bell rang. Lots of the kids were looking at them, but the two main characters of this story looked at Mr. Packenham the whole time.

Phoebe and Gerald exchanged looks that meant two different things. Gerald's meant: "I can't believe that you were right!"

The girl across the room's look meant the opposite: "Weren't you waiting for this to happen? I was."

Well, do you guys like it? Is it a cliffie, because if it was, that was unintentional. Well, tell me how you guys liked it, okay? Yes, okay, do it.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD MAKE IT TO THIS POINT!!!!!! I mean, I thought that it would have like six chappies, but here it is! I already did this, didn't I? Oh, well, here it is again! Thank you everyone, and more thankies if you keep on! Tell me if it's gotten boring, because readers aren't reading as much, and I like my stories to be interesting. See, I'm not a review beggar, just an I-want-my-fics-to-be-cool person. Well, anyway, I love advice and stuff, so review me!

Read:

Through The Compact Disc: Arnold's child, Deana, receives a gift for Christmas. It's a CD. The singer is Helga Pataki. How does the family, including Arnold, react?

Time to Switch: The angels are at it again, with two little girls who are totally clueless on the other person's part. Helga and Lila are the subjects.

Valentine's Day II: My Hair Was Down: A story about the V-Day's dance approaching…and somebody is taking whatecer measures possible to find a person he may just love…

~~Briana LFBH (Briana Loves Foot-Ball Head)~~
                                                                                   

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