Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or its characters, they belong entirely to their creator, Craig Bartlett.
Author Note: Finally, here is a longer chapter, it's not that long, but it's longer. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 3 - And the QUESTions Begin
"What am I going to do!", Helga thinks frantically, currently dreading every single second, fearful of who will come through the door next. As the tension continues to build around her, the rest of the classroom is bustling with excitement for the day's events. All are oblivious to her plight, except for one petite girl, Helga's best friend Phoebe, who is quietly watching Helga's body become more and more tense, but is smart enough to leave her alone for the moment. Suddenly, she notices Helga's whole body freeze and sees the reason for it standing right by the door, the one and only Arnold.
In his hand lies the object that could destroy Helga, the umbrella, a symbol of her kindness, a crack in her armor. Helga feels like having a heart attack at the sight of it, and it doesn't help that her body temperature is rising as her mind registers Arnold's movements toward her.
"OH NO! What am I going to do! He's coming this way! I need to act natural, right, . . . I'll act natural . . . but . . . WHAT IS NATURAL! How am I suppose to act natural in such a situation, I've never been in this kind of problem before. Ohh, my love, such an annoying goody goody to the point I could use you as a punching bag, and yet that's what I love about you . . . ohh . . ."
"Um, Helga . . . ," cuts in Arnold's nervous voice.
"Crimey!" thinks Helga as she jerks back in surprise, suddenly noticing Arnold right in front of her.
"What do you want football head," Helga sneers with an annoyed tone.
Arnold shifts uncomfortable, as he slowly tries to give Helga back her umbrella. "Um . . . , here is your umbrella, thanks for letting me use it," Arnold says with a stiff lopsided grin.
Helga just stares at the umbrella as she responds with more annoyance than what Arnold thought was normal, "That is not my umbrella Arnoldoid."
"What are you talking about Helga, you gave it to me yesterday, remember?"
"No . . . , why would I be wasting my time on an annoying little football head like you."
"Helga, I distinctly remember you helping me and giving me that encour-"
Helga nearly loses her facade at his words and quickly cuts him off, "Look bucko, I didn't see you yesterday and I certainly didn't help you, you're probably imagining things, been over frying that puny football head of yours lately? Maybe you should have that brain of yours checked."
"But, Helga I remember-"
"For the last time football head, I did not see you out there in the rain yesterday, so leave me alone before I pound you," threatens Helga.
Arnold is about to respond when he realizes, "Wait, how could she have known I was in the rain if she wasn't there . . . what is going on here . . . " Arnold changes his response and instead says yieldingly, "All right Helga, I'll leave you alone now."
"Good," humphs Helga.
"What was that about?" asks Phoebe.
"Nothing, football head was just having delusions."
"Right," Phoebe responds with a knowing smile, aware of the real truth behind the situation.
As Arnold heads toward his seat with a confused expression, several questions and thoughts run through his mind, all of them related to Helga.
"I see that didn't go too well," Gerald says when Arnold takes his seat still with the umbrella in his possession. "Are you sure you weren't imagining things, you know I have a lot of faith in your sanity, but this all seems too bizarro."
"Gerald, I know what happened. Something is wrong here, . . . I think there is more to Helga Pataki than we know, and I'm going to find out what," Arnold states with conviction.
"Sigh, all right Arnold, just don't get too carried away," Gerald responds resignedly, knowing better than to argue.
Just then Mr. Simmons interrupts them, "Okay class, quiet down please, I have a new assignment for you all. You will be doing a group art project focused on an issue that concerns you and your partner. Now I've assigned you partners, so listen up please: Sid and Stinky, Sheena and Eugene, Arnold and Helga, Gerald and Phoebe . . . "
Arnold turns to face Gerald as he whispers, "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah, what was Mr. Simmons thinking not pairing us up together."
"No, Gerald, this is perfect!"
"Arnold what are you talking about?"
"What I mean is this is the perfect opportunity for me to learn more about Helga."
Gerald just stares at Arnold for a second before he responds, "Right-, Arnold, just don't get yourself hurt putting yourself in her line of fire."
Arnold smiles as he says, "I won't Gerald, I just want to know more about this mystery surrounding her."
"Whatever you say, Arnold, whatever you say," responds Gerald, once again going along with another one of Arnold's schemes.
A few feet away sits Helga, who is well. . . . struggling at the news that she and Arnold will be partners.
"Great, now Arnold and I are going to be partners, just what I need right now, what with him almost discovering my secret . . . but. . . . ohh, to be able to work with my beloved, it'll be heaven . . . unless I feel like pummeling him . . . "
"Okay, now why don't you get together with your partner and discuss what you will be doing," Mr. Simmons instructs.
"I should go talk with Gerald about our project," says Phoebe.
Externally Helga says, "Go ahead Pheebs," but on the inside she is screaming, "NO, don't go, I don't want to deal with football head alone."
As Arnold takes a seat across from Helga, she gives him a slight glance and says nonchalantly "So . . . fixed that memory of yours . . . "
"Uh-, yeah, I must have gotten you mixed up with someone else."
Helga quickly looks back up at Arnold, and visibly relaxes. At the same time Arnold notices her reaction to his response, which just adds another question to his already long list about Helga.
"So got any lame brain ideas, football head."
"Actually, I was wondering if you had any."
"Right, I'd have a better idea than any you'd come up with, well. . .," Helga goes into deep thought and has an idea, but is unsure whether she should say it, so instead she says, "The school should have a better playing field than the shrimpy one we have now, there should be bigger space, and better equipment and . . ."
"Umm, that is nice Helga, but I was hoping for something less about us and more about others, perhaps people less well off," Arnold offers tentatively.
"That is exactly what I was thinking. Ohh, my love, I knew we were soul mates, you can read my mind so well . . . ," yet Helga scuffs as she responds,"Really, what exactly do you have in mind."
"How about . . . ," Arnold takes a moment to think when he finally lands on something, "orphans."
"Ohhh, what a lovely idea, always thinking of others," is what she thinks, but what she says is, "Fine, might as well as you obviously aren't interested in a better playing field."
Arnold gives Helga a sincere smile as he responds, "Thanks Helga." At the sight of the smile, Helga internally swoons, "Maybe this project won't be so bad after all."
After school as Arnold and Gerald heads home, Arnold realizes, "Oh, I forgot the umbrella. You go on ahead, I'll be right back."
"All right, just hurry it up," replies Gerald.
Arnold runs back to the classroom and is about to go inside, when he spots Helga near his desk. He quickly hides behind the doorframe. Helga glances about to see if anyone is around, and then quickly grabs the umbrella from Arnold's desk. "Bob is going to be glad to finally get you, now he can finally stop complaining at me."
"I knew it! That was Helga, but why all this pretending. What is she hiding, really, who is Helga Pataki. This just confuses things further, I'm no closer to understanding her."