A.N: Thank you for the reviews especially for those who reviewed more then once, you guys make my day (hope it's not to pathetic lol). I rewrote chapter 2 by the way, so please take the time to reread it. Ok, this is a cheesy chapter but here goes:

Chap9: Shopping

The advantage with being rich was that you didn't have to get out of your house looking terrible to work out. Helga had her own personal gym right here. Like Judy Garland use to say, there is NO place like home. It was Saturday and she was up since 7.30am doing her daily fitness exercises. Helga might have had a perfect body, but it didn't come for free, though she didn't mind working out. It was worth it. She had spent only two weeks in HillwoodHigh, and she was already quite popular. Her average of invitations on dates from single guys was at five per day. From non-single guys, three per day, which was fair enough. On the friend side, things weren't going to bad either. Most of the girls wanted to be her friend, and considered her as a real model of behavior, probably because of the spreading news she had spent six years in France, which had some class. Her phone rang interrupting her.

''Hello?''

''Olga?''

Oh, yeepi! It was dear old Bob!

''What?''

''Don't use that tone with me and get your butt downstairs right this instant!''

Helga sighed and hanged up. What was wrong with that guy? Calling her in the middle of her fitness exercises? She walked into the kitchen and was surprise to see Miriam there drinking nothing less then coffee.

''Good morning Helga'' Bob said in a happy fake voice

''What do you wantBob?'' she answered bitterly, knowing that he needed to ask her a favor for calling her by her own name.

''Alright, tonight a future partner of mine is coming for dinner with his family and wishes to meet mine in return.''

Helga rolled her eyes.

''Ok, I can take a hint, I will go to a friend's place to not bother you guys.''

Bob frowned.

''Very funny. You will stay right here, shut up and look pretty for the occasion, got it?''

Helga pretended to look sorry.

''Wish I could Bob, but I have absolutely nothing to wear.''

Bob mechanically got a big amount of dollars out of his pockets and threw it on the counter in front of Helga.

''You have to howl damn day to find a dress. You can do that can't you girl?''

''I hate shopping Bob, you know that'' she started then made a face like she had suddenly remembered a very important detail and continued, ''or maybe you forgot that little detail about me too. You know, like all the other stuff a father should know about his daughter?''

''What are you talking about kid? You're a girl you love shopping!''

''Olga loves shopping!' interrupted Miriam in her usual sleepy tone

'Oh that's right'' said Bob ''Olga is coming tonight and will stay here a few days. I don't have to pay her to be here when I need her.''

Helga opened her mouth to scream that she could give him all the money in the world, he still wouldn't be there for her. But what difference would that make? She just shrugged and left. Ok so she needed to find someone to go shopping with her, she hated being alone in public places. It made her feel like she had no friend whatsoever. She couldn't invite a girl…because it would obviously imply to spend the rest of her day trying on tons of stuff and she hated the thought of that. There was Phoebe of course and she wasn't too much of a shopping-addict either. Plus the two friends had really reconstructed their friendship. But to be honest, Helga was tired of Phoebe's constantly talking about Gerald. She could invite a guy…But what guy did she know she could trust in not trying to make a move on her or take advantage of the situation….

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"So anyway, me and Rhonda are walking down the street, going back from shopping, and this guy stops us, and ask if we ever considered modeling! Oh Arnold! Isn't that great?"

"It sure is, Lila!" the blond answered to his girlfriend.

The both of them had been talking on the phone for quite some time now. Well, Lila had been talking to be more precise. She had woke him up a Saturday morning and had insisted on telling him every single details of her quest to the mall with Rhonda, including a very complete description of her brand new shoes, until she finally went to the point and had announce him, full of pride, what she actually considered to be the "greatest thing that ever happen to her". A photographer from a very famous brand had asked them to stop by their studio, where they were recruiting young models for a very important, short-to-be-released advertisement. According to Lila, it was not in their habit to do so, they usual hired professionals. But apparently, the model that was suppose to pose for them, could not intend to meet with the staff in the country, the photo shoot was planned, so everyone had to move here to make the shoot.

"But they could not bring young models that would only be seen in background, so they're searching for people here, and apparently, Rhonda and I got what it takes!"

''That's great!'' Arnold answered for the ten thousand times

''Oh I'm so sorry honey! I'm boring you with my stories aren't I?''

''what? Hu, no, not at all!''

''You're so sweet, but a terrible liar! Enough about me, how was basketball practice last night?''

''Terrible! Gerald could not concentrate and kept on talking about Phoebe! How great she is, and fun and sweet etc…''

Lila laughed with this sweet little laugh of hers.

''They do make a lovely couple don't they? I'm ever so happy for them!''

''Yeah well you're not the one hanging out with Gerald all day! Tonight is their first official date, and that's all he's being talking about for the past two weeks!''

''At least it differs from who all the other boys talks about…''started Lila

''Helga Pataki'' said Arnold with a smile

Helga, since her arrival, had pass from the reputation of ''hot new girl'' to ''High School goddess''. Arnold had been amazed to see how easily that girl could make others like her. It must have been inner-talent. He himself, would have really liked spending more time with her, especially since the day they had talked before his basketball practice, but she was always to busy hanging out with older and better looking guys or with a crowd of girls.

''Well'' said Lila,'' I guess I better go or my dad is going to kill me for using the phone to long. Plus I have to get ready to meet the people from Chanel.''

''Ok. Bye Lila.''

''Bye Arnold.''

There was a little pause.

''You didn't hang up!" noticed Lila

''Neither did you!''

''I wont hang up on you, you hang up!'' She said playfully

''No way, you hang up!''

''No'' she giggled, ''you hang up!''

''No, you hang up!''

''Tell you what?" Arnold heard Lila's father say on the other line, "I'll hang up!"

There was a click and no more noise. Arnold hung up too, but as soon as the phone was down, it rang again. She must be calling back he thought smiling.

"What is it Lils? Feel bad about hanging up on me? Well you're going to do it again because tell you what? I'm not giving up!''

"Oh no!" Arnold heard a voice that was not Lila's say on the other line "don't tell me you do the typical 'no you hang up' thing with her! It's sad Football Head! Really, really sad!"

Arnold dumbfounded, remained silent for a few seconds before asking still in shock:

"Helga?"

"That's me! Man, you must be so glad it wasn't Gerald calling! You're welcome, you're welcome!"

Arnold cracked a smile.

"Sorry about you know…earlier."

"Don't worry about it Arnold-o! I already forgot all about you and your lame little couples games!"

"Well thanks, I feel way better knowing this! Anyway, may I ask what gives me the pleasure of receiving a phone call from the one and only Helga Pataki?"

"You may!" then she added in a more serious tone, "actually I have a very small, tiny favor to ask you…"

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Arnold had only gone shopping with a girl once in his life. It was with Lila, she had forced him to help her pick a dress for a wedding she was attending. By the end of the day, Arnold had mentally promised himself that he would never go shopping with a member of the opposite sex ever again. That was probably why he was on his way to the mall right now with Helga. Why couldn't he learn how to say no to people? This was probably going to be a very long day. As soon as they got there, Helga went straight into the first shop she saw. And so it begins Arnold thought. A blond woman went up to them.

"Hello, there. May I help you in some ways?"

"Actually, yes you can" said Helga sweetly "give me the cheapest dress you have."

The woman looked at this beautiful girl, dressed with a lot of class, surprise painted on her face. She seemed like a very wealthy girl. Why would she come here and ask for something cheap? The woman left anyway and came back with apple green cotton dress, that wasn't very…nice. Helga thanked her, took the dress and paid for it without trying it on or looking carefully at it. Then they got out of the shop.

"Ok, done!" Helga said smiling at Arnold

"Hum…" he said confused, "why did you buy this dress? Are you really gone were it at your father's dinner tonight?"

"Of course not!" said Helga still smiling

"Oh…ok. So where do you want to go next?"

"You still want to hang out? Sure, what do you want to do?"

Arnold didn't understand. Did she mean what he thought she meant?

"Wait…We're done shopping?"

Helga looked at him and said cheerfully:

"I bought a dress didn't I? It's not like I'm going to shop all day long. Who do you take me for Rhonda Lloyd?"

He couldn't believe it! He felt like hugging her of joy.

"Helga, you're, you're….amazing!" Arnold exclaimed grinning from ear to ear.

"Yeah I know!"

"No really you are! But you said you weren't going to wear this dress….so what about the dinner?"

Helga shrugged.

"I have plenty of outfits at home. This morning I was just hoping that if I said I had nothing to wear, Bob would grab a perfect opportunity to get rid of me and tell me I could leave without having to feel guilty."

Arnold put a hand on her shoulder.

"Helga, I'm sure your father wants you to be there tonight!'

Helga laughed at his remark.

"Dear old Arnold! You haven't change at all! Still think all people are truly good deep down don't you?"

She looked in his soft blue eyes and smiled at him, but with no mockery behind it this time. Arnold: so sweet, naïve and innocent. He really was a great guy. Helga could now remember why she used to be so crazy about him. She grabbed his hand.

"Come on! I know what we can do!"

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"Helga I suck at rollerblading!" said Arnold laughing

"It's the 10th time you fell down! I think I kind of noticed that Football Head!"

She grabbed his hand and helped him up, laughing too, but not at him.

The two blonds had rented rollerblades and were rolling threw the park. To Helga it seemed like e perfect idea since it was a warm and sunny day. And actually Arnold didn't really suck. Most of the times he had fallen was her fault.

"Helga, most of the times I've fallen were your fault!"

"No it wasn't!" she said playfully, "you just suck!"

"Come on just admit that it was your fault!" he said in the same tone

"I won't because it wasn't Arnold-o! You know its ok; there is nothing to be ashamed off!"

Arnold grinned at her.

"Fine" he said "let's have a race! If I win you buy me lunch and proclaim me king of the rollerblades!"

Helga smiled and rose and eyebrow.

"And if I win?"

"Vice versa! "

They shook hand and sealed their deal.

"OK" said Arnold "ready, set…"

Helga started going.

"Catch me if you can!" she laughed

"Helga, come back here right now!" Arnold said skating after her.

They both raced across the park laughing playfully like little kids would.

"I won!" said Helga proudly "what do you have to say to that? Getting beaten up by a girl!"

"I say…CHEATER!" said Arnold taking her in his arms and tickling her.

"No please!" she said laughing "please Arnold I beg you!"

"What do you say?" he said and evil smile on his face

"Ok…ok!" said Helga trying to catch her breath, "ok I…I admit it! You win!"

Arnold stopped tickling her, looked into her turquoise eyes and smiled innocently at her.

"I'm glad you admit it!" he said

She smiled back softly. Arnold realized he was still holding her close to him. He couldn't help but notices the small details about her, like the tiny freckled on her nose, the vanilla sent of her hair, or the soft touch of her skin. He lost his eyes in hers. Suddenly she blinked.

"Arnold, you can let go now."

He did.

"Right, sorry."

There was an awkward silence for a moment.

"Ok "Helga finally said" So, what do you want for lunch O mighty King of the rollerblades?"

Arnold laughed.

"Hum…hotdogs? Or perhaps….HOTDOGS!"

"I will have to go with the hotdog!"

Since it was starting to get really too warm, they sat down under a tree to eat their lunch. Helga opened her mouth to eat but stopped in the middle of her action. It was there! It was the tree.

"I like you Arnold! Like you like you!"

"I like you too, but not too much of a surprise there I guess!"

The blond football headed boy and the pretty redheaded girl moved toward each other they lips finally sealing in a kiss, both unaware that, she, on the other end, was dying inside.

"Helga?"

She blinked and saw Arnold looking at her a worried expression on his face.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, sure" she answered slowly shivering a little.

For while she had felt the pain again, as the image the two eleven years old finally getting tighter was brought back to her mind, which for years had kept away. She ironically remembered every single details of the scene like she was meant to replay it over and over in her head. Why did it still hurt so much? It's not like she was still in love with Arnold. She got up.

"Helga what's wrong?" he said getting up too.

"I told you nothing!" she answered coldly

Arnold was taken aback by the answer.

"Aren't you going to eat your hotdog?" he asked trying to sound like nothing was wrong

"I'm not hungry." She replied still as bitterly as before.

They both advanced in silence.

"So anyway" said Arnold desperately trying to make conversation "where did you learn to rollerblade like that? First karate now this? You learned a lot in Fr…"

Helga turned around and looked at him looking furious.

"Well haven't you heard it on TV?" she asked harshly "Barbie can do anything!"

She started gliding faster to get away from him.

"Helga wait!" he said trying to catch up with her.

What had he done? Why was she suddenly acting this way? Lost in his thoughts, Arnold suddenly tripped and hit the back of his head hardly.

Helga turned around and saw her friend lying on the ground looking unconscious. All the anger boiling inside her body disappear in a second and worry took its place.

"Arnold?"

He didn't move an inch.

"Arnold are you o.k.?"

She was now getting really worried about him. She breathed deeply before rolling to him trying to stay calm. She kneeled down beside his body.

"Oh my god Arnold, please wake up! Please be ok! I'm so sorry!"

Receiving no answer, she was getting up to get help when he suddenly opened his eyed and grabbed her by the wrist!

"Got you!" he said happily

Helga couldn't utter a word nor move for a few seconds, while Arnold got up still laughing at her.

"You….you" she said still in shock "you're horrible!"

He was now cracking up. She hit him on the arm.

"How could you do this to me?" she said desperately "you scared the life out of me!"

He took her hand and helped her up.

"Awww" Arnold said still laughing "you were so cute getting all worried about me!"

"I wasn't worried!" Helga pouted not looking at him

"Yeah right!"

"I wasn't!"

He smiled sweetly at her

"Sure! Not even a tiny bit?"

She shook her head stubbornly.

"Nope!"

"Come on Helga, you and I both no you were worried about me!"

"Believe what you want Football Head! I know I wasn't."

As they were passing by next to a fountain, Helga pushed Arnold in the water.

"Hey!" he said throwing water at her.

As she got closer to help him get out, he pulled her in!

"Arnold!" Helga said looking at him shocked "first you make me think you're really hurt, which by the way, didn't get me worried at all, and then you pull me into the fountain! What happened to the nice Football Head I use to know?"

"He got turned over to dark side by an evil blond girl!" he said throwing some more water at her."

They spent a few more hours hanging out in the park, Helga's sudden bad mood having totally disappeared. Just after they brought the rollers back both of their cell phones rang.

"Hello?"

"Helga its Phoebe!"

"Oh, hi Phoebes!"

"Look Helga I need your help!"

At the same time Arnold was having almost the same conversation with Gerald.

"Tonight is my first date with Phoebe, and since things are going so well between you and Lila I thought maybe…."

"You could help me prepare!" finished Phoebe "if you're not busy."

Arnold and Helga both looked at each other looking sorry.

"Hum….no!" they said in the same voice.

They hung up.

"It was Phoebe" started Helga

"Yeah, it was Gerald!"

"Their first date…"

"Need some advice, so…"

"I guess …we both… need to go don't we?" said Helga

"I guess so."

They both stared at each other.

"Well, that was fun." finally said Arnold

"Yeah!" nodded Helga "let's do it again sometimes?

"Anytime!" he answered smiling.

"OK, well…"

"Yeah bye!"

They both left in opposite ways, only to turn around and retrace one's step.

"Went the wrong way!" they said in union while crossing paths.

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"Relax Phoebe! You look great! This dress was like, designed for you or something!"

"Are you sure?" ask the very pretty but nervous Japanese girl

Helga had spent the last three hours help Phoebe pick a pretty yet simple black dress, with a pink cardigan and a silver necklace. She had also put light make up on her beautiful face, and arranged her hair in a nice but not too sophisticated way. Helga was pretty proud of the result.

"Yeah! Trust me ok? Gerald is already crazy about you but after seeing you like this I can assure you…"

"What if I mess up?" asked Phoebe pacing around her room

"Mess up? What do you mean mess up? This is a date Phoebe not an exam damn it! And it's with Gerald! The guy you've been dreaming off since the middle ages!"

Phoebe smiled a little.

"Come on, you two are so right for each other! It's about time you get together!"

"I hope you're right…"

"I know I'm right!"

Phoebe smiled at her friend.

"Helga?"

"What?"

"I missed you!"

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"No way!" Gerald said

"Yes way!"

"Let me get this straight. This girl is beautiful, sexy, funny AND she hates shopping!"

"Yeah that's about it!" said Arnold

"Then what are you waiting for? Death to Lila long live Helga!" said Gerald happily

"Gerald!" Arnold said "stop saying stuff like that about Lila! She's my girlfriend and I love her!"

"Right, chill man no need to get all…grumpy!"

"Well imagine I didn't like Phoebe…"

"You don't like Phoebe?" asked Gerald suddenly getting aggressive

"No..;"

"What's wrong with my girl? Hu? Hu?"

Arnold sighed.

"Nothing, nothing, I said imagine ok? Phoebe is my friend and I like her. My point is, what do YOU have against MY girl?"

It was Gerald turn to sight.

"I don't know man. I'm sorry I really am…but I don't know, I feel like you deserve better then Lila and beside you've been with her for such a long time it's like almost a habit! You could date other people…"

"Gerald, I'm lucky to be with someone as great as Lila, sometimes I feel like I don't deserve her…."

Gerald, who had been sitting down, got up.

"God Arnold, is that how she makes you feel? Get real you say you're lucky to have Lila? Most girls say she's the one who's lucky to have you! I'm telling you there are tons of girls who are dying to go out with you…"

Arnold raised his hand to stop him.

"Let's just drop it ok? I'm fine with Lila…I'm mean happy with her and Helga is just a friend, ok?"

Gerald gave him a small smile.

"Whatever you say Arnold."

Knowing really well what this comment meant, Arnold was about to answer when his cell phone rang.

"Hey Lils!"

Gerald rolled his eyes.

"Arnold I did it! I was chosen for the ad!"

"That's great!"

"I know! Oh Arnold, will you go with me to the photo shoot tomorrow? I'm so nervous!"

"Sure Lila!" said Arnold without really thinking about it.

"Great! I have to call the others to tell them!"

"Ok, bye!"

He waited lost in his thoughts.

"You didn't hang up!" giggled Lila,"Come on hang up!"

"Ok."

And he did.

So I tried to get Arnold and Helga become closer in this chapter. I want them to be true friends in the future .But I don't want my story to be only on what's going on between the two of them, so that's why I added the little scene between Arnold and Gerald, so you guys can see they are close too. I also want Phoebe and Helga to be the best friends they use to be, and to talk about other characters as well, although they won't be very important. But anyway I pretty much know were I'm going with this story, apart from a few details. Ok, please review!