Love is Always There

by CmarieL

It is over. Finished Since preschool they've both felt an undying love for eachother, but what happens when both are too frightened to confide in the other one their feelings. Will true love finally conquer them? FINISHED

19. Mending Love

Hey ya'll! Ok, I'll make this brief.  I know what is now going to happen with this story and it will be ending within 5-8 chapters if everything goes as I plan.  So here is Chapter 19.  I hope you like.

A huge thanks goes out to RuffMaster for all his help.  I truly do appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold!

Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter:

J.T. – I guess you weren't expecting that from Lila. LOL. I know, but I love to answer your reviews. I just tend to get carried away when I'm answering them. :) I do like to hear constructive criticism because I want my writing to be the best it can be and I truly believe I have a long way to go before I get to my best. Thank you so much for your review as always.

Tinánia Legolinde- LOL. I'm glad you liked the chapter.  Yes, Lila did always have it in her.  I couldn't help it. I had to have her do something bad.  She seemed too nice, but do understand I'm trying for her to come across as misunderstood if you know what I mean.  This chapter has everybody in it, so I think you'll enjoy it.  You have a bf? That's great! How did you get together? Is he your age? Oh, I have so many questions! Oh, and does he understand that you have another love in your life: Orlando Bloom? That's good you have a place to put your posters.  I just got Peter Pan. I love it. It's so cute. Did you see the other ending? It was good too. LOL. Thanks for your review as always.

Bosa Nova88- LOL. Well, I don't know if Lila is evil, just misunderstood.  I think Lila will be a more likeable character hopefully later on.  I'm glad you don't mind the long updates.  With each chapter it seems it takes me longer to write.  I think it's because I don't know how to write what I want to say sometimes. LOL. I'm happy you keep coming back for more of this story.  It just makes me want to write more.  My writer's block is over I think, although it could return as easy as it left. LOL. But I hope not. :) Thanks for the review.

DarthRoden- You are so welcome. But trust me; your stories deserve all the kind words they get and then some.  I am happy to review them.  And I'm so happy you liked this chapter.  Thanks for the review.

Beloved- Yea, Brainy is in for some trouble. And I wrote Lila to be dense because I'm trying to explain some of her actions at a deeper level. I just hope I accomplished that.  I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much if not more as the last. Thank you for the review!

RuffMaster- Cassandra is my name of course. LOL. I know, I know, I shouldn't apologize. But usually I don't take so long to update. It's just with these past few chapters as you already know I've been having major difficulties with writing them.  I did take some of your suggestions for this chapter, but in the next is when I'll use more of them.  I changed things just a little.  I was hoping I went into Lila and Brainys' problems deep enough.  They were difficult to write.  Thanks again for your help and the review.

Chapter 19: Mending Love

By the time Brainy and Lila arrived at P.S. 120 High School, Lila had achieved in persuading Brainy to hold her hand.  All he needs is a little attention.  It seemed almost too easy for her.  He appeared desperate for her affection or anyone's.  Since he was so desperate, it only gave Lila less work to do.  Which proved good because less work meant more play.  Turning her head to Brainy, Lila fluttered her eyelashes and squeezed tighter at Brainy's clammy palm.  At this action Brainy smiled awkwardly and blushed deeply.

As the pair continued to walk through the blatant crowds of students, Lila's eyes scanned the area in hopes of spotting Helga.  The sooner she could get her plan in action the better.  Lila did not want to have to deal with Brainy for long.  Even she had a conscience that caused her to feel remorse for manipulating his emotions; although the remorse did not last long because excitement for her future with Arnold soon replaced it.  And nobody in this world mattered, but Arnold and herself.

Many blonde haired girls stood among the students which only heightened the difficult level causing Lila to feel discouraged.  Again, her head switched from the far left to the far right.  And again she saw no Helga.  Then, Lila's eyes traveled to Brainy's face.  I will not be able to stand him all day.  Gazing down in dismay, she sighed in such a way the angels should have disposed pity on her.  But Lila deserved none which she understood.  So, replacing her frown with a smile she pushed a gaze of longing to Brainy's direction.

"Brainy."

"Y-y-yes?" he stuttered, halting his walk abruptly.  He had been enjoying the quietness between them.  Peaceful it was.  And peace in his life, if only for a short time, was not something he experienced often.

"I don't really feel like staying outside.  Why don't we go inside to wait for school to start?" Lila suggested, gesturing towards the brick building.

Nodding his head in agreement, Brain requested his legs to walk again and tugged at Lila's hand for her to follow.

Once inside the school, Lila's eyes surveyed the hallway greedily.  But all she found were abandoned lockers and other students leaning against them.

Brainy noticed Lila's balked expression, automatically concerned if he had faltered.  Confusion and worry crossed through his small eyes.  It was too soon for him already to lose Lila.  He had to say something before she had the chance to.  Opening his mouth, words sat waiting for the departure from his arid tongue.

"Lil-," the word was immediately interrupted by the sound of the bell.

Taking this as the joyous sign for her to leave, Lila quickly removed her hand from Brainy's grasp.  She had not wanted to stay to hear what he had to stay.

"Oh, I guess I need to be going," Lila affirmed, but after observing the disappointment cloud his features she reluctantly added, "You can tell me what you needed to say when we sit together at lunch." Lila immediately wanted to smack herself for telling him that.  No way could she attempt in sitting through a whole lunch period with him without tarnishing her reputation.

A brightness swiftly charged through Brainy's face at her words.  If she planned on accompanying him at lunch, it meant she had no intention of leaving him.  This thought caused a rare smile to bewitch his mouth. Now, he had a new question to ask her.

"Oh good, you look ever so better now," Lila stated as an ill feeling settled overwhelmingly in her stomach.

Brainy nodded his head happily as students began to push past the couple.

"Well, I suppose I need to get to class before I'm tardy."  With extreme loath Lila rose to her tip toes and granted Brainy with a hurried peck on his cheek.  Lowering herself, she forced a grin on her face.  Then, she turned and walked away from him, her smile transforming into a look of disgust.

Moving his hand to the exact spot where she had kissed him, Brainy savored a satisfying warmth occupy the location.  In his chest, his heart thumped at a rapid pace.  His breath sputtered as his lungs labored to gain control.  Sweat covered his palms so much he had to wipe them across his jeans.  All this Lila had caused with just a simple kiss on the cheek.  Only Helga had succeeded in making him feel this way, but now Lila had accomplished it also in a much shorter time span.  Could it be that so soon when all his thoughts should be revolving around Helga, he was falling for Lila?

Brainy smiled again at the confusion of his question.  Indeed, he was falling for Lila.  No guilt plagued him for his feelings because it seemed as if Helga was also falling for someone.  And that someone was Arnold.  Frowning at that realization, Brainy directed his body to walk down the hall in the opposite direction Lila went.  He would be late for class, but with good reason.

……………………………………………………………………..

Helga tapped her pencil to her desk impatiently.  This class is never going to end.  For the past hour Mr. Cootz had droned on about the symmetrical imbalance of a line.  But with this lecture came daydreams.  Helga's had involved escaping with Arnold to their own deserted island in the Bahamas.  These would continue until she felt a nudge against her arm from a fellow peer to get her attention.  After this would happen she would rest her head in her hand again and have another daydream.  This time they would contain her in a desperate struggle to regain Brainy's love.  But never did enough moments elapse for her to find out if he took her back or not.

Helga sighed.  Hurting Brainy had never been her intent.  It had just happened.  Just like her love for Arnold had just happened.  But like Phoebe had told her, Helga would have to talk to Brainy.  Somehow she would explain to him her love for Arnold and then move on to ask that she and Brainy still remain friends.  Of course it sounded too simple.  Somewhere in her scheme complications would emerge, but she could not think of them now.  In her mind she would force them to vacate until further notice.

"Helga."

If she worried too much about what could happen she would never focus on what would happen.

"Helga."

Still, Helga's mind raced with endless possibilities.  It was too easy. Never would it work out.

"Helga!"

Automatically, Helga's eyed popped open to meet the irritated stare of Mr. Cootz.  No words left her mouth.  Instead, she waited patiently for him to lecture her on the importance of paying attention in class.  Moving just her eyes she observed that the people and her sides and in front also stared at her.  Is there something on my face? Quickly, she rubbed her hand across her mouth, hoping to remove any foreign material. A few snickers erupted from her classmates after she did this.  Indignation began to fire through Helga's cheeks.  Never would she allow anyone to laugh at her.  From her chair she began to rise curling her fists and tried to decide at who she should hold responsible for the laughing.  But Mr. Cootz interrupted her before she could decide.

"Helga," he spoke sternly.  Unlike the students, Mr. Cootz showed no smile on his aged face.  Helga's name had become a permanent word in his vocabulary.  Not exhibiting attention proved her worst quality.  And he would continue to repeat her name until she acknowledged it with her own words.

Noticing that he refused to continue, Helga took it upon herself to answer him.

"I heard you the first thousand times you said my name," she lied, "Why don't you go on with all that mumbo jumbo you were talking about now?"

From his standing position, Mr. Cootz sat on his desk and twitched impatiently.  He longed to lash out with his own sarcastic remark, but he knew better as her elder and teacher.  Instead, he would lash out with a question that she could not possibly answer.

"And what mumbo jumbo would that be Miss Pataki?"

Helga fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat at the query.  She had no idea what he was referring to.  Barely audible, she mumbled under her breath, "I don't know."

"What was that?" Mr. Cootz inquired pleasantly.  He loved to seize the opportunity when Helga G. Pataki had no sarcastic backlash to vent at him.  Now, the corners of his mouth pulled at him to grin.

"I don't know," Helga repeated, this time in a louder mumble.

"I'm sorry. What?"

"I don't know!"

"That's what I thought.  Now, maybe your mind would like to rejoin the rest of the class as we further our studies in Algebra," he said, amused at his quick remarks.

Without responding, Helga slumped lower into her chair.  Mot many people could embarrass her, but it seemed Mr. Cootz had a remarkable talent in doing just that.

"Okay then. I suppose class, now we can finish our lesson," Mr. Cootz announced, directing his attention to the other students.  Still, random snickering vibrated through the classroom causing Mr. Cootz to cast a warning, "If that does not stop immediately I will keep you all after class with Helga."

Helga's head looked up at the mention of her staying after class.  She felt ready to counter with another argument, but decided against it.  There presented no point in arguing with this old man today.  He had already beaten her.  And she would not permit herself to come out as an even bigger fool in front of her peers.

Ten minutes past and after the tenth minute the bell rang.  Every student shot up from their seat like an impatient Jack who had waited in his box far too long.  They all rushed to the door, including Helga.  But unfortunately she had been seen.

"Not so fast Miss Pataki," Mr. Coots called, clearing his throat.  From the chair behind his desk, he watched as the young woman heaved a deep sigh and then fell into an empty desk closest to the door.

"I'm going to be late for my next class," Helga informed him as she brought her icy eyes to his.

"Maybe you should have thought of that before you decided to daydream during my class.  And if I'm not mistaken your next class is lunch."

Raising her eyebrow at him annoyed, Helga commented sarcastically, "Gee, good job Mr. Cootz!  Would you like a gold star?"

A soft chuckle erupted from the barren man which surprised Helga.  She had expected anything but a laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" she asked, puzzled.

"You sure are quite a fire cracker Miss Pataki.  In fact, quite so much it's laughable," he answered, unyielding with the words he chose.  Only the truth, even if harsh, would cause Helga to open.  Anyone else exhibited too much compassion for her selfish ways, when Mr. Cootz fully believed she honestly deserved none.  He knew she was strong.  So strong, he felt she could grant herself with her own compassion if needed.  In all his years of teaching he had never come across such a unique and defensive student.  It was as if she honestly had something to defend.

Silence came from Helga.  She refused to respond to such a critical statement.

"Oh, I see, you're brave enough to argue with me in front of your classmates, but do not possess the courage to hear the truth.  You know that is not good."

Who does this bozo think he is?  A cold scowl marked Helga's face, and yet she still refused to respond.  Instead, she referred her body from his stare.

"You know, by your not answering it is your lunch period that is being wasted," Mr. Cootz reminded her, knowing that would cause some reaction.

He was correct.  As soon as Mr. Cootz finished, Helga twisted to encounter his rueful glare again.

"What would you like me to say?" she asked bitterly through clenched teeth.

Placing his palms to his desk's surface, Mr. Cootz replied, "Well, you can start by telling me why this is the fifth time this week I have caught you daydreaming in my class."

"Because I have better things to think about than your lectures," Helga answered staunchly.

"Well, I don't think that is the answer or you wouldn't have a failing grade in my class."

The blue in Helga's eyes appeared to have turned a fiery red.  She despised hearing that fact even though she had already guessed its truth.  Out of all her classes algebra seemed as the only subject she could not pass.  Numbers and equations did not click in her mind.  And she did not enjoy to be reminded of that.  But she gritted her teeth and responded incredibly too sweetly, "Thank you for letting me know," then she looked to the clock, "May I go now?"

"No," Mr. Cootz responded.

"Why not?" Helga cried out in frustration.

"Because you still have not told me why you've chosen to daydream rather than listen to my as you would call non important lectures," he told her, leaning back in his chair and then folding his arms against his chest.

Exasperation crowded Helga's mind.  Make something up. But there was no lie she could confide in him that would force him to let her leave.  So she would tell somewhat of the truth.

"Because I have problems."

"What type of problems?" Mr. Cootz asked quickly, pleading silently that she would go on.

"Problems at home," Helga somewhat lied.  It was true she did experience problems at home, but these were not the same problems that caused her to lose attention in class.  Why can't he just accept that he's boring?

"Would you care to talk about them?"

"There's not much to talk about, so no."

"Okay," Mr. Cootz replied, slightly disappointed, but if he could not assist her then maybe someone else could, "Then I think you should go see Dr. Bliss."  From the drawer of his desk he pulled out a pink pass and began to fill it out before Helga could respond.

And Helga never did respond.  She would do anything to leave this classroom and Mr. Cootz.  Very quietly she accepted the pass and walked from the room.  There proved no point in even attempting to go to lunch.  It would be over shortly which upset Helga.  Not because she felt hunger did she want to go to the cafeteria; it was one of the few opportunities she had to see Brainy.

……………………………………………………….

Arnold's eyes scanned the cafeteria in search of a familiar blonde that should remain anonymous for the moment.  All lunch period he had looked for her, but instead of seeing her he kept seeing Lila.  He wondered if it was only coincidence or if she had planned it that way.  The even more unusual thing was that every time he saw her, Brainy appeared attached at her hip.  Is she trying to make me jealous?  If she is, it's not working.  Before, he had clarified to her he felt nothing for her.  All his love belonged to Helga which should now be named the anonymous blonde.  Arnold had no desire to think of Lila still liking him; it only complicated his situation surrounding Helga more.

"Yo Arnold."

Arnold looked up to see Gerald, still his best friend, eye him suspiciously.

"What?" Arnold asked, irritated to be interrupted from his thoughts, but almost relieved at the same time.  It was nice to hear from someone that knew nothing of his problem.  He needed a fresh perspective, but he felt unsure of it to be Gerald's.  Sometimes Gerald had a judgmental way about him, but most of the time he did speak the truth.

"What is with you, man?"

"Nothing.  Why?"

"Well, for one you've been up in your own a little world all lunch?" Stinky explained from Arnold's side.  Arnold noticed that everyone at the table watched him curiously.

"No, I haven't," Arnold responded defensively.  He would not talk about this in front of everyone.

"Yeah, you have," Gerald countered.

"Look a here, you haven't even taken the time to eat your lemon puddin'," Stinky said, pointing to the dessert on Arnold's tray.

"Go ahead and take it."

"Gosh willikers, thank you much Arnold.  You know, I love lemon puddin'," Stinky replied gratefully as he grabbed the yellow mixture and began to gobble it speedily, using his fingers as utensils.

Shrugging, Arnold looked back to Gerald who still watched him suspiciously.

"Really, I'm okay," Arnold tried to reassure him.

"Whatever you say, Arnold," Gerald sighed.

"Hello Arnold, Hello Gerald," a soft voice spoke from above.

Both boys looked up immediately to see Phoebe smiling down at them.  Gerald responded before Arnold.

"Hey Phoebe, baby," Gerald greeted, beginning to rise from his seat, "What's goin' on?"

"No need to get up, Gerald," Phoebe said, raising her hand to stop him, "I just came by to inquire something of both of you."

Gerald dropped back to his seat, slightly embarrassed that Phoebe had not come to talk to just him.

"What did you want Phoebe?" Arnold asked, brushing a strand of hair from his eyes.

Pulling her gaze from Gerald, Phoebe glanced towards Arnold and then quickly reminded herself of the question.

"Oh, well, I've been searching for Helga everywhere and I wondered if either of you has seen her?"

"Now, come on Phoebe, I never talk to Helga in the first place so why would I see her?" Gerald asked incredulously as he grimaced at the thought of spending time with the obnoxious blonde.  Helga never had been a friend of his.  The only reason he would even make eye contact with her was because she was Phoebe's friend.

"Oh, ok, I apologize for asking," Phoebe said hushed as she appeared quite hurt from his reaction.

As Gerald began to voice his own apology Arnold answered.

"I haven't seen her either.  The last time I saw her was yesterday," Arnold spoke slowly, his voice low as his thoughts traced back to the events of the other day.

I know, Phoebe thought to herself.  She dare not say those words out loud.  It could jeopardize any slim chance Helga and Arnold had at being together.

"Very well then.  I guess I'll just go and look for her again," she replied, beginning to turn around.  As she walked away Gerald let his head fall to his arms.

"I'm never gonna be able to tell her, Arnold," he complained.

"Tell her what?" Arnold questioned, looking to Stinky for an answer, but he simply waved his gigantic nose back and forth.

Obviously, he had expected Arnold to comprehend what he meant because his eyes rolled as he lifted his head.

"I'm talking about tellin' Phoebe I like her?" Gerald replied wearily.

"You like Miss Phoebe?" Stinky asked incredulously.

"He has since fourth grade," Arnold cut in for Gerald.

"Gosh, willikers, Gerald.  You sure have got a mighty hang up right there," Stinky paused to ponder it for a moment, "I would have never thought."

"Neither has Phoebe," Gerald groaned, bringing his head back to his arms.

"Why don't you just tell her?" Arnold inquired, but as soon as those words left his mouth he wished he could exchange them for another set.  How could he tell Gerald that when he had never done it himself?  Since preschool he had loved Helga and never had he rightfully told her so.  The thought struck Arnold.  Maybe that's what I need to do.  Maybe I just need to tell her I love her without doing anything else.  She doesn't know it.   Not able to wait another moment longer, Arnold jumped from his chair and ran to the cafeteria's exit just as the bell rang.

Gerald and Stinky watched Arnold dumfounded, neither saying a word.  But their thoughts hovered over the same question. What had come over him?

A/N: Okay, this was a huge transition chapter; expect lots more from the next chapter.  Thanks for reading and I would to read your reviews.