Ok here we go. This is the chapter where I make a huge jump. There will be some changes I'm not sure that everybody will like, but bare with me because at the end it will be all worth it. I'm beginning to really have a feel for this story so you'll probably be noticing more twists and flavor in the writing. I hope the last chapter got you ready for this.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold. Those rights belong to Craig Bartlett, Nickelodeon, and Viacom.
Thanks those who have reviewed Unacquainted Love:
bluebear66- Do you really think so? I'm honored, thank you so much!
Cook101- Yeah, it was a little sad. I was striving for that sadness because that is how I think Helga truly feels at home. I felt kind of bad about Brainy. I almost was thinking of making Helga say I love you to him, but that thought quickly passed. Still, I'm glad you liked it.
Ms. Frosty- I'm sorry you got confused with the whole Helga saying she doesn't love Arnold anymore. You're a little off with your guess. What I'm trying to say is that Helga will always love Arnold, but she's come to a point in her life where she needs to move on. It could have something to do with Brainy or it could not. I'm definitely not trying to say Helga doesn't love Arnold anymore, she's just growing up. That's all I'm revealing now, but don't worry Arnold is not leaving the picture. This story is centered on Helga and Arnold. Please stick with me and continue reading.
PopStarOE- Oh, I really loved your story. I can't believe you never thought of Brainy that way. :) Oh well I'm glad I could bring that idea to you. It is a cute, but not spoken much about topic on the show.
Tinánia Legolinde- I loved the poem. AWESOME! I could never make that up off the top of my head. Maybe I will use it and I'll be sure to tell everyone it is yours. You definitely don't write too much, I love reading long reviews. You're so right us pure love lovers gotta stick together; me and Tony Parker and you and Orlando Bloom forever. Sigh
Estel fuga- Did I say Helga was going to give up Arnold? Oh guess I did. Please don't worry Arnold has not left Helga's heart, nor will he. That is all I'm going to write. I don't want to give too many things away. It was really important to me that I tell Helga's home life before this chapter. Please don't thank me I should be thanking you. I am really grateful that you take the time to tell me your opinions of the story. :)
Queen Artemis- Oh thank you. I was trying to go for that. I'm glad that part had an effect on you. It is really hard to be insightful with Brainy, but I don't know, it was fun to get inside his head. You always know he carry's so much emotion; he's just afraid to express it.
Chapter 6: Practical Move
Here he comes, Helga thought ecstatically. All day she had waited to see his heavenly face. It felt like fourth period would never end.
"Helga!" Brainy exclaimed as the blonde haired teenage girl leapt into his welcoming arms. Putting Helga down he engaged her with a swift peck on her moistened lips.
"Aren't you glad to see me?" Helga asked arching her right eyebrow warning her boyfriend of the consequences if he replied with the wrong answer.
"I…don't know." Uniting his index finger to his chin Brainy pondered the question seriously.
Punching him in the shoulder profoundly Helga slipped away to her locker, a deafening scowl appearing on her face. Jokes were a difficult thing for Helga to handle; her chaotic home life left it hard for her to believe Brainy's love for her. Growing more definite the scowl challenged anyone who didn't withdraw from her path in the crowded hallways of P.S.120 High School. Being a freshman did not halt Helga from standing her ground next to any upper classmen.
"Helga I'm…sorry. I was…just kidding." Running in front of her he pulled her slim waist close to his. At first Helga resisted the affection, but soon found herself obliging to it.
"You know I hate it when you do that. I can't handle that kind of stuff, Bucko," Helga complained pressing her head to Brainy's warm chest.
"I …know. I'm…s-sorry," Brainy pulled away rubbing his left shoulder lightly as if in pain, "That really hurt."
"It was supposed to," Helga grinned. Grabbing his hand she dragged him through the main entrance towards the vanishing daylight outside.
~*~*
From inside the bustling amounts of students Arnold watched in torture as the only girl he had ever loved disappear from inside the school with an estranged boy he barely knew. Why does it still hurt so much? Near the beginning of the year Helga and Brainy had announced their new stature as a couple to their shocked classmates. None were more shocked than Arnold. Now Christmas opened its grace to the season and Arnold still felt incredulous disbelief. Before the start of Helga and Brainy's relationship Arnold had come close to telling her of his undying love. Over the years they had grown close, and to Arnold it felt like a matter of time before he could reveal himself. Abruptly Helga began growing distant from the cornflower haired boy leaving him with feelings of disarrangement.
Glancing away from the scene Arnold returned his attention to his locker, but still thoughts lingered in his mind. I still can't understand how they became a couple. They always seemed like complete opposites. Or maybe that was just me and Helga. Maybe that's why I never told Helga I loved her. Tracking for his Algebra book, Arnold continued rummaging through his locker. I know I put in here. I just saw it the other day.
"Hello Arnold," a sweet voice whispered from behind Arnold's locker door.
I'll find it later. Quickly, he shut the metal door to distinguish who the soft spoken speaker was.
"Lila!" Arnold burst showing an unbelievable expression.
"It's ever so nice to see you again," she responded pleasantly tucking a loose strand of her diminished auburn hair behind her acute ear.
"Wow! I haven't seen you in forever," Arnold said dropping his brown backpack to the floor to provide her with a passionate hug. During fifth grade Lila moved to Chicago where her father hoped to find better work opportunities than what Hillwood had to offer.
Her shortened hair first distracted Arnold from Lila's face. As his eyes grazed over her he noticed she no longer wore a green dress, but a desirable burgundy turtleneck and faded jeans. In her stomach she had gained weight no longer hiding a thin figure, but the features on her face still remained delicate allowing her to stay pretty.
"I know, it's been an ever so long time," she smiled.
"Does the rest of the gang know you're here?" Arnold asked lifting his backpack to his shoulder.
"Nope silly, just you." She grabbed his arm and leaded him to the outdoors.
"This is great Lila. We need to tell everyone. Are you staying here?" Arnold asked happy to follow her.
"I'm here for good. My father got a better job here somehow. Chicago wasn't working out for us, but moving on, it would be ever so wonderful to see everyone again," she paused when they reached the sidewalk, "Do you think they'll remember me?"
"Yeah, of course Lila. You can come to my house and I'll call everyone up. We'll have a reunion party."
"That would be ever so fantastic."
As they walked in silence Arnold attempted to ingest the facts that had been laid out in front of him. This is crazy that Lila is back. Besides Helga, Lila was the only other girl who had ever crossed his thoughts. Till she returned Arnold had not realized how much he had missed her. Fleetly, he looked at Lila and smiled at the serene expression fixed on her face.
"I forgot how ever so chilly it got here in Hillwood," Lila shivered rubbing her hands together. A crisp breeze floated through the air causing her to shake once more.
"Here, take my jacket," Arnold stripped off his heavy coat and wrapped it around Lila's frail shoulders.
"Thank you ever so much." She granted him with a grateful smile.
"No problem," Arnold beamed as they endured the rest of the travel to Sunset Arms Boarding.
~*~*
Within the next few hours the boarding house resounded with excited teenagers chatting in Arnold's room. Jazz music played softly in the background as everyone mingled welcoming Lila home.
"It's so great to have you back Lila," Rhonda squealed, "I love that sweater. We must go shopping sometime."
"That would be ever so terrific," Lila answered giving Rhonda a hug. Turning around Rhonda continued her conversation with Nadine. Lila began to sit down on Arnold's bed until someone stopped her.
"Gosh Lila, you still look mighty pretty, almost as pretty as lemon pudding. You know I still love lemon puddin'," Stinky Peterson wrapped his lanky arm around Lila's petite waist. Towering more than two feet above her Lila wondered how Stinky's arm could even reach her.
"I'm glad you think so." Gliding out of his strong hold Lila continued her destination to rest on Arnold's bed. Sleep threatened her heavy eyelids, but she desperately wanted to stay awake. It's ever so great to see them all again. Her eyes ricocheted over the space as she observed all of the room's occupants. There's Rhonda, Nadine, Curly, Stinky, Harold, Sid, Patty, Phoebe, Gerald, Eugene, Sheena, Iggy, Peapod Kid, and Arnold. Wait, who's missing? Where's Brainy and Helga? Thinking deeply she contemplated why they wouldn't have made an appearance at her welcome home party.
"Is something wrong?" Arnold inquired noticing Lila's absence.
"No, everything is ever so perfect. I was just thinking as to where Helga and Brainy could be," Lila said fluttering her long eyelashes towards the blushing boy.
"I couldn't…uh…I couldn't…They didn't answer their phone," Arnold lied. After seeing them in school together he had not attempted to call them. He could not bear to be near Helga with Brainy linked to her side; it proved too painful for him.
"That's too bad. I was ever so looking forward to seeing Helga." Disappointment drifted into Lila's honey's eyes. Lila did not leave on good terms with Helga. Actually, she was never too fond of me.
"Lila, you haven't changed much," Arnold said politely lowering his self to lie on the bed.
"Neither have you," Lila replied nonchalantly, "You're still the ever so cute Arnold I remember." She crinkled her nose at him flashing a look of joy. Lila noticed the football shape of his head still dominated his upper half, but less obviously. Instead of being parted, Arnold's hair was now cut short and fell in a heap over his face. He still has those ever so cute green eyes; Lila locked her oval orbs to his round ones.
Rapidly, Arnold looked away. I'm not ready for this.
"I need to go outside. It's getting too crowded in here." In a spoiled manner he raised from his plush seat on the bed.
"I'll go with you," Lila refuted automatically.
I can't tell her not to come. That would sound too rude, Arnold thought avoiding Lila's penetrating eye contact.
"We'll be back!" Arnold hollered to those who wished to listen. Waving her farewells Lila followed closely behind Arnold.
When they reached the front door Arnold turned the knob releasing a scurry of dogs and cats from inside.
"Your place is like a zoo, an ever so charming zoo," Lila laughed as she could still hear howling when the animals reached the far end of Vineland Street.
"Yeah, it is," Arnold chuckled in agreement. She's right, my place is crazy. Discharging an exaggerated sigh Arnold found a seat on the bottom step of the stoop.
"I'm really happy to see you again Arnold," Lila took a seat next to him. He mumbled an answer, but Lila found it impossible to understand him. What is the matter with him?
"Arnold, what's wrong?" Lila approached lifting her hand to his broad shoulder.
"Lila, please." I am really not ready for this.
"Oh," placing her hand back to his lap she scooted away from him, "I'm ever so sorry."
"It's not you; I'm just dealing with some problems right now," he said casting his dark green eyes towards her silhouette.
"Bad problems?" Lila moved closer to Arnold again.
"Yeah, but I can't tell you."
"Why ever so not?"
"They're personal Lila," Arnold stated coldly not wanting the topic to change to Helga.
"Maybe I could help," Lila offered enfolding her arm around his muscular one.
"I don't think so," Arnold confided gingerly twisting free his arm from her tight grasp.
A hushed dullness led the conversation for the next few moments. This is not the same Arnold I remember from P.S. 118. The blackness of the evening enveloped the two making it hard for them to see each other. Until her eyes adjusted to the darkness Lila stared intently at Arnold's frame. His facial features had hardened since he left the inviting atmosphere inside. He really doesn't want me here.
"Um…I suppose I'll go trot myself back to the party. Sid wanted to talk to me. But I don't have to leave if you ever so want me to stay though."
"You can go. I'm alright."
"Oh, well, I'll see you later then. But before I go can I ask you an ever so small question?"
"Sure," Arnold moaned placing his hand to his forehead.
"Why don't you like me anymore?"
Gazing up Arnold saw that Lila's face was illuminated by the dim light of the full moon. She is really pretty.
"Lila, I'm not-, I do-, I don't know. I
do like you."
"Really?" A mischievous grin planted itself across her face.
"Of course."
"Then go out with me."
"What?!"
"You heard me."
Gaping his mouth open Arnold struggled to comprehend what Lila had said. This is happening too fast.
"Don't you think you're being a little forward Lila? I mean c'mon, you've only been here for less than six hours and already you want me to be your boyfriend. Shouldn't we take this a little bit slower?"
"I'm ever so certain you're wrong. It will be oh so much fun."
Arnold scratched his head still in a state of confusion. I can't go out with her. It wouldn't be right. Or could I? I mean Helga has moved on so I should too, "Okay."
"That is ever so great." Wrapping her arms around his waist she bestowed to him a kiss on the cheek.
A/N: Okay this was my big move. What did you think? I swear I was really nervous about this. To me it just seemed like the best thing to do. Please don't worry about Helga and Arnold. It will all come together in the end, I think. ;) I don't really know where I'm going next, but it will be good, I promise. So please leave me your suggestions, opinions, thoughts. I love to hear it, but I need to know if I should continue on with this story.