A/N: …

Disclaimer – I don't own Hey Arnold!

A Sure Thing

Chapter 9 – Float On

-Wednesday, April 23-

SMACK!

Arnold watched the softball sail over the left-center field fence. He rolled his eyes as Helga began running around the bases, laughing her head off and leaping every two steps. "Your ankle seems to be better."

She twirled in the air. "I'm a fast healer." She leapt onto home plate and bowed. "Thank you, thank you."

He crossed his arms as she stepped back into the box. "Obviously you've never heard of good sportsmanship when it comes to hitting homeruns."

Helga responded by hitting a line drive up the middle, nearly taking Arnold's head off and causing him to drop to the dirt.

"How'd you do that?" he cried, pushing himself up and dusting himself off.

She blew on her nails. "Just something I picked up."

Arnold shook his head. He was having the time of his life. Earlier he had pitched a one-hitter against Corbin's team (striking Cory out twice, although his friend did get the one hit). He was now helping Helga out under the bright lights, and he could not think of anywhere else he would rather be. Forgotten was Lila and Gerald, both of whom were not talking to him at the current moment, forgotten was his chemistry homework that was waiting for him, and he had even forgotten about how hungry he was because he had not eaten since lunch. All that mattered was the girl in front of him, and Arnold was so happy he did not even care about how much that scared him. "How is it that you aren't starting now? I mean, you're hitting better than some of the boys on our team."

She brightened. "Really?"

He smirked as he started his windup. "I said some." (Helga nearly hit him in the shin.) "But seriously, why not?"

Helga spit into the grass. "Apparently I have an attitude problem."

"Hmm, I never would have suspected you, Helga, would have an attitude problem."

"Shove it."

Arnold tilted his head and stared at her. He noticed she was shifting under his gaze. "What?" she demanded. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Helga…" he started, struggling to find words. "You're not that bad."

She rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks, Arnold. You're just swell, too."

"No. I mean, it's just…" He paused, trying to find the best way to talk to Helga without her discovering how much he cared about her.

She frowned. "What is it?" she asked softly. It was enough to drive him up a wall, in a good way.

"Sometimes you're really nice and sorta…sweet."

She put her hands to her head. "Oh, God."

"I'm serious, Helga! When you don't put on that stupid little façade you're a hell of a lot more likable than you are with that get-out-of-my-way-or-I'll kick-your-ass attitude." He kicked a stone and looked away from her. "It gets old and no one likes to be treated like that."

Helga blushed, and tried to hide her anger, but her temper got the best of her. "Do you think I act like that on purpose? It just happens!" She grabbed her stuff.

"Where are you going?" he asked as he followed her, leaving his glove and the balls on the field.

"Somewhere where I don't have to listen to this crap."

He groaned. "Would you just talk to me? Can't you just tell me what's wrong?"

She spun around, catching him off guard. He barely stopped from running into Helga, putting himself about three inches from her. "What's wrong, Arnold, is that you want to change me. You want me to act like Olga, or hell, maybe you want me to be like Lila. Well, let me tell you something, Arnold, I'M NOT THEM. They are fake. Yes, Lila's fake. Olga's fake. My parents are fake and so are most of the people in school. Just let me wear my emotions on my sleeve, and let me be pissed when I want to be pissed and happy when I want to be happy." With one last disgusted look she turned and continued to her car.

"I don't want you to be like Lila, Helga. I want you to be you. It's just people don't like being treated like shit." He paused. "Why do you think Phoebe broke up with Gerald, or why do you loathe your parents so much?" He turned to go and pick up his things on the diamond.

"I'm sorry," she said softly after a few minutes of standing in the parking lot watching him pick up softballs.

He turned. "What?"

She slowly walked back towards him. "I said I'm sorry." She shrugged. "I guess you're right. I suppose I could try to be nicer." She looked at him, pleading for acceptance.

He smiled. "Don't change too much."

She raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Let's just say you are very entertaining, Helga. Exhausting, yes, but very entertaining. Besides, I need somebody to put me in my place sometimes." He laughed. "You know, I actually miss being called 'Football Head'." He pointed at her. "But a deal's a deal before you get any ideas."

Helga blushed. "I'll see you tomorrow, Arnold."

"Good night, Helga."

-

-Thursday, April 24-

Helga tapped her foot impatiently on the side of her chair. She was sitting on a veranda across from her archrival and drinking cold coffee. She stole a glance at the clock. Damn. She was supposed to meet Arnold in ten minutes. She chewed her lip and stirred her coffee absentmindedly, planning her great escape.

"Helga? Are you listening to me?" Lila asked shrilly, breaking Helga's train of thought.

"Sure, Arnold was rude Monday, questioning the validity of your stories, he hasn't returned your calls, and you think that there's someone else." Thank God Arnold told me the whole story yesterday. She threw in that last part because she did vaguely hear that at some point while Lila was droning on, and she was finding it very hard not to think that she might be the other girl…

"Well?" Lila asked, sipping her latte.

Helga frowned at Lila's pinkie, which was actually pointed out. "Well what?"

"Well, what should I do?" Lila demanded.

Since when did I become Princess Pill's number one gal pal? Helga wondered. "Well, maybe you should give you and Arnold a rest for a while, you know? Reflect on it and see how important he is to you." There, I'm not completely killing Arnold's chances with her; it will still be her own choice to forget about my lovely Football Head. See, no guilt on my conscience today!

"And risk loosing him to another girl forever?" Lila shook her head, causing her curls to bounce (Helga decided she looked like a redheaded Little Bo Beep, especially in her frilly pink sundress. It was nearly enough to make her puke). "No, I can't do that. He means too much to me!"

Two weeks ago you didn't even know Arnold still existed! "You really feel that strongly about him?"

Lila nodded. "Of course. Oh, I like him ever so much." She paused. "I wonder who the other girl is…"

But Arnold doesn't return your phone calls. He calls me more than he calls you (never mind the fact that he mostly calls to talk about you, but that's died down lately). Arnold nursed me back to health and defended me against his best friend. He kissed me on the cheek, takes me to his house, and doesn't want to leave me. He never even talks about you anymore. Helga smiled, suddenly feeling much better. "Lila, I really don't think you have anything to worry about." Because there's no way you can compete with me.

"Really?" She looked hopeful.

Helga stared at her curls and smiled. "Really really."

Lila sat back, smiling. Helga was grinning as well, but for much different reasons. She looked at the clock again. 7:20. She stood up quickly.

"Helga, where are you going?" Lila asked, clearly confused as to why anyone would want to leave dinner with her early.

"I have a meeting to get to." Helga threw a few bills on the table. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure. Bye, Helga," Lila called, but Helga was already gone. She jumped into her car and drove as quickly as she could across town to where she and Arnold practiced. It was 7:35 by the time she arrived, and Arnold was nowhere to be found.

"Damn it." Helga drove home, cursing herself for missing a chance to be alone with Arnold. An even worse thought occurred as she spotted a billboard for a casino.

Arnold's going to make me do something horrible for this.

-

Arnold stepped out of the florist, his wallet much more empty than it was ten minutes earlier. I can't believe Helga stood me up. He kicked a broken beer bottle as he walked. In spite of himself, he had really looked forward to seeing her. He sighed. Helga haunted his every thought anymore. She was what he thought about before he fell asleep, and she was his first thought in the morning. He was even beginning to dream about her regularly. If he did not know better, he would think he was falling in love with her.

But that's ludicrous, he thought.

Isn't it?

Why's that so crazy? A voice asked in his head.

Because it's Helga.

So? She's beautiful, funny, talented, and complete in need of someone. She's much better than Lila, who doesn't have an original thought in her head.

Arnold frowned. Lila turned out to be much different that who he thought she was. She was a bore and a drama queen. She was predictable, unlike Helga. With Helga, you never knew where you stood with her or what would happen next. She was spontaneous and so full of life…she made him feel alive…

If that's not love, what is? the voice asked.

I'm falling in love with her.

"Arnold!" A gasp. "Are those for me?"

He smiled. "Of course they are for you. Who else?"

She threw herself at him, and Arnold gladly held her close, careful not to crush the flowers. But something was wrong. He looked down. The girl he was holding was shorter, thinner, and her hair was red…

He'd imagined Helga, but he was holding Lila.

Shit.

She pulled away. "Oh, Arnold, you're ever so sweet." She frowned as she looked at him. "What's wrong?"

Arnold blinked and quickly recovered. "Uh, nothing, Lila. I'm, uh, just surprised to see you."

She smelled the flowers. "What's the occasion?"

Helga sprained her ankle and is still playing awesome, plus her family sucks, he thought dimly. "I just wanted to apologize for Monday and for being too busy to call you back," he lied, feeling worse with every word that came out of his mouth. Why am I leading her on? Just tell her the truth!

"Oh, Arnold!" She kissed him on the cheek. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I really have to get home. Ellen doesn't want me out to late because my grades are slipping, but I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Right. Bye, Lila."

"Good night, Arnold."

He looked up at the sky for answers, but saw nothing but a cloudy sky. He hailed a cab and went over to Helga's; the only thing keeping his mood good was the thought of her. His thoughts went back to their conversation the day before, and he realized how fake he was acting to Lila and how truly unfair he was treating both girls.

He walked into her building and cursed silently as he saw Marquis standing just inside the door. "Can I help you, sir?" he asked mockingly.

"Is Helga Pataki here?"

He smirked. "I am sorry, but Miss Pataki is not taking any visitors, seeing as she is currently, er, indisposed."

"So she is here?"

"No, but even if she was I could not let you see her. Sorry, and good day." He gestured for him to leave.

"And why is that?" Arnold demanded.

The door opened behind him. "Would you two both relax? I could hear you fighting outside."

Arnold turned and smiled. "Helga."

"Miss Pataki, I was merely—"

"Refusing to show my dear friend some hospitality." She glared. "You better hope my parents get home too late for me to tell them about this little incident."

Marquis turned bright red. "Yes, Miss Pataki, I shall hope for it."

She rolled her eyes and pulled Arnold's arm. "Let's go."

A shock flowed through his body, and he felt his heart jump. He grinned back at a sneering Marquis as he and Helga stepped into the elevator. "Some timing, huh?"

She realized that she was still holding his hand. Helga let go quickly and pressed the button for the penthouse. "Yeah." Her face was bright red, but Arnold guessed his was the same hue. "So, what brings you by?"

"I came to see if you were okay since you didn't show up."

"Oh, uh, I um, was running late, and you were gone by the time I got there."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

They stood in silence until the doors opened again. Arnold followed Helga inside the empty house. "Where's everybody?"

"Out. I'm home alone. Well, not now, but, well, you know what I mean," she finished quickly.

"Right," he muttered.

She walked into the living room. "So, I'm okay…is there anything else?"

Arnold shifted his weight awkwardly onto his other leg. "Do you want me to go?"

"No," she said quickly. She cleared her throat. "No, I mean, you don't have to go, I just don't want you to keep you from anything important, like calling Lila back or something." She flipped threw the pile of mail that was lying on the table.

He sat down. "I wasn't planning on calling her tonight."

"Oh?" Helga asked, finally looking squarely at him. "Why not?"

"Because I ran into her before I came over here."

"Oh." Helga viciously opened a letter. "And how did that go? Did you finally ask her to prom?"

"No. Actually, can we not talk about Lila?" It's making me feel like slime, he thought.

"Fine." She put the pile down. "What do you want to talk about?"

He looked at her leg. "So the ankle's okay?"

"Yes, Arnold, it's fine. I told you, I'm a fast healer."

So you just wanted to miss a chance to be with me, he thought grimly. Wait a minute… He smiled at her.

Helga frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Helga, do you happen to remember part of our agreement?" he asked, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

She pouted, causing him to burst into laughter. "Damn," she wined. "I was hoping you'd forget that part."

"Now, what should I make you do? It has to be something good, since this was your idea, and you figured I'd be the one who'd stand you up."

"I also figured you'd be too nice to do anything to me."

Arnold laughed. "Seems like all that verbal abuse has caused me to get a backbone, or, as you tend to put it, grow a pair."

She groaned. "I really should learn to keep my mouth shut."

Arnold walked around the penthouse, quickly realizing that Helga was right. He was too nice to do this, or at least to come up with anything good. He leaned against the bar in the kitchen spotted a piece of bright turquoise cloth. She hates to be like Olga…

Payback time.

He returned to the living room, keeping the clothes behind his back. "Helga, I decided to take it easy on you. I'm only going to make you wear something to school. Just school, and that's all."

She stood up and looked at him. "What are you going to make me wear?"

He threw the pile of clothes at her.

She caught the wad and examined it. "No, no, no, and no. You can't make me!" she cried. She held up a tiny, sparkly halter-top and an even tinier black micro-mini skirt.

"With heels." He added.

"Arnold, please don't make me wear this! These are Olga's clubbing clothes, and I'm about three inches taller than her! Do you have any idea how short that is on me?" she cried.

Now that's a very nice thought. He shook his head. "No, Helga, you know the rules, especially since you made them up. You have to do what I say and I say you have to wear those, with high heels, and underwear and a bra to school, but nothing else." He smiled at her. "I'm sorry, my dear, but I believe this is what they call payback."

"I can't wear heels, you dolt, I just sprained my ankle!" She was turning redder every second.

"I believe you said it was fine and that you were a fast healer."

She sighed. "I'm not getting out of this, am I?"

He shook his head. "But, I am sorry to say, I've got to get going, but I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing you tomorrow."

"Pervert."

"Good night, Helga."

She threw a magazine at him as he walked to the door. Yes, I'm definitely looking forward to tomorrow.

-

-Friday, April 25-

Helga apparently decided that it was a good day to sleep in, because Arnold did not see her at all before first period. He had spent the great majority of his chemistry class staring into space, wondering if she was going to chicken out or not. She certainly did not seem happy about it, but that was the point. He would not make her do something easy or something that she would not mind doing. No, Helga had put herself in that position by trying to control him.

Besides, Helga had great legs, and he was going to enjoy staring at them.

"Psst, Arnold."

He looked over and raised his eyebrows. How'd I miss the fact that Gerald's sitting beside me? "I'm trying to pay attention."

"Arnold, you and I both know you don't give a flying shit about enzymes."

"True." He turned slightly in his desk. "What is it?"

"I, uh, just wanted to apologize for what I said the other day. Maybe Helga's right, and maybe you're right for siding with her."

"Maybe?" Arnold asked skeptically.

"Okay, you were right." Gerald paused. "I guess I was just upset that you took her side and not mine and that you two have been spending so much time together."

"Gerald, that's so sweet, but please stop crushing on me."

He snorted. "If anyone would be gay out of the two of us, it would be you, Mr. Sensitive." He smirked. "Though I have to admit I'd be hanging around Helga as much as you have if she dressed the way she did today all the time."

Arnold's eyes widened. "You saw her? I was looking all over for her earlier."

Gerald blew a large bubble with his gum. "She was rushing to her first class, quite early to be honest." He shook his head. "Poor thing, she crossed the hunting ground of the wrestling team and got lots of cat-calls." He stared off into space. "Damn she has a nice ass."

"Gerald!" Arnold spat.

"Oh, sorry. But really, Arnold!"

Arnold frowned and tried to suppress the urge to punch Gerald. "What about Rosalie?"

Gerald leaned back. "Well, she's 'seeing'," he made air quotes, "that boy from Roosevelt or whatever, and we are just going to prom as friends."

"And you're okay with that?"

"Sure. That means I get to go after whomever I want without having to worry about her feelings. Actually, I think I like this better." He stopped and stared at Arnold. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you think I treat women badly."

"You do, but you knew I already thought that," Arnold said vaguely.

"Okay, so what's wrong?"

"I think I made a huge error in judgment."

"Okay, you've lost me."

Arnold swallowed hard. "I'm falling for Helga. Hard."

Gerald shrugged.

"That's it? I tell you that I'm failing in love with someone and that's all you can do?"

"Well, I figured that. You've always been a little soft on her, so I figured it was only a matter of time. Not my first choice of a girl, but to each his own." He frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm the reason why she's dressed like that today. I made her do it as part of a bet-type thing."

"Oh, well, uh." He paused. "Good luck with that."

I am such an idiot. Helga's going to kill me.

-

"Ow, Pataki, break me off a piece of that ass!"

"Oh, but save a piece for me!"

Arnold locked eyes with Helga briefly before she walked past him in the lunch line. She did not look mad. It was much worse; she looked like she did not feel anything. She went to sit down with Mickey, but he noticed that all the boys, and some of the girls, were all making nasty comments about her. This cannot be happening.

"Ugh, can you believe her, Arnold?" Lila asked behind him.

"Who?" he asked, praying that she was not about to start talking about Helga.

"Helga, of course." Lila crossed her arms. "Can you believe she'd wear something like that to school? She's such a slut."

Arnold turned on her. "She's not a slut, Lila. Being a slut requires you to sleep around, and she doesn't do that."

Lila rolled her eyes. "Well, maybe not, but still, Arnold. Look at her. I guess she just wanted attention from all the guys." She sneered. "I hate girls like that. And to think I listened to her for relationship advice yesterday." She stuck out her bottom lip. "Last time I'll ever talk to her about that stuff again. My God, taking advice from someone who dresses like a hooker? She'll probably next be telling me about the best birth control drugs."

"I told you, Lila, she doesn't sleep around or do anything close to that," Arnold spat through gritted teeth. "Wait, when did you talk to Helga yesterday?"

"Mmm, before I ran into you. We were having a light dinner, but she rudely ran off for some meeting." She rolled her eyes. "Probably some meeting with a thirty year-old man in a crap-hole motel."

"That's where she was last night, talking about relationship advice with you?" he demanded.

"Mm-hmm. See," she blushed. "I was getting a little worried about us, so I talked to Helga about it." She smiled. "But I won't have to worry about that anymore, now will I?"

"I'm sorry, Lila, but I just remembered I have to go take care of something." He left her before he heard her response. He was halfway across the room when he collided with one of the freshmen on the JV baseball team.

"Watch it!" the kid cried. "Oh, sorry, Arnold. I didn't realize it was you."

"It's okay. Excuse me." He tried to get by but the kid would not move.

"Hey, Arnold, did you see what Helga Pataki's wearing today? Damn, I wish every girl'd dress like that. See ya."

Arnold could feel his blood boiling. What gave all these perverted boys and mean-spirit girls the right to talk about Helga like that? Nothing was different about her except the clothes she was wearing. She was the same old Helga, but now everyone thought she was some easy whore and nothing else, and nothing could be further form the truth.

And I'm to blame.

"You stupid asshole! Get off me!"

He looked up and saw Helga rushing away from a group of senior boys. "Helga—"

She did not stop, but he saw the tears sparkling in her eyes. He followed her out of the cafeteria and into the courtyard. "Helga. Helga! Wait up, please!"

"Go away, Arnold! Don't you think you've done enough?"

"Helga—"

She turned to stare at him, tears failing freely down her face. "Tell me, Arnold, have you ever had a group of sleazy senior boys grab your ass? Well, have you?" she cried when he did not answer.

"No."

"Have you ever been called a slut and a whore by your classmates?"

He swallowed hard. "No."

"Have you ever been treated like dirt by hundreds of people at a time? Because that's what's happened to me today. And lucky me, the day's only half over. Congratulations, you have me completely at your mercy, and I hope you got your payback." She fell to the ground with one loud sob.

He watched her for a few seconds, unable to move. "Can you please just call me an asshole or hit me or something? Please stop crying." I can't stand you watch you so hurt.

She sniffed. "Arnold, this is so much more than merely pissing me off." She looked up at him. "You humiliated me. You took away my dignity. And for what?"

Arnold sat down beside her. "Helga, I had no idea that this would happen. I just couldn't think of anything else and…" he sighed. "This is ridiculous, me making excuses. There's no excuse for what I did to you and what I caused you to go through. Helga, I," he lifted her chin so she would look at him. "I never meant to hurt you. I would never deliberately hurt you. I'm just an idiot sometimes, you know that."

She stared at him. Her eyes were puffy and her face was blotchy, but she was as beautiful as ever. He was getting to see her at her simplest, and he loved her even more for it. "I know you never wanted to hurt me."

"I tell you want, I have pair of sweats and a sweatshirt in my locker, mostly clean…anyways, if you want them, they're yours."

She smiled slightly. "Please." She stopped. "Arnold?"

He leaned towards her a bit, not realizing how close he was to her yet again. "Yeah?"

"Were you telling the truth when you said you would never deliberately hurt me?"

He smiled in spite of everything, and he felt his cheeks turn red. "Of course, Hegla, I'd never purposely hurt someone that I care about."

Helga blinked in surprise and was for a moment speechless. "You care about me?"

"Of course," he said automatically. More than you know… He cleared his throat as she smiled nervously at him. "Of course I care about you, Helga." Just do it, he told himself as he leaned closer to her. He placed his hand on the curve of her jaw, and she started to close her eyes. "Helga, I'm in—"

Brrring.

Arnold pulled his hand away as he bell rang and ended lunch. He wished that he and Helga had left thirty seconds earlier. Than Helga would know exactly how he felt about her, and he would know how she felt about him. Damn it!

"Saved by the bell, uh?" she asked, standing up.

"Yeah." Saved from myself is more like it. They walked back to his locker in awkward silence, and he handed her his clothes. "Sorry that they'll be too big for you."

"Arnold, I think you're smaller than I am, so I doubt that will be a problem."

"Thanks, Helga," he said sarcastically.

She shrugged. "I call 'em like I see 'em." She took a stop back. "Well, I guess I'll see you later." She started off towards the girls' bathroom. Helga was halfway there when Arnold raced after her. "Helga!"

She turned. "Arnold, we're going to be really late." She made a face. "What is it?"

He placed his hands on the curve of her jaw and lowered his lips to hers. His heart suddenly seemed like it would explode, but all Arnold could think of was how amazing it was to be kissing Helga G. Pataki. He ran his hands through her hair as he deepened the kiss, and he had to move them to her back when she suddenly weakened. He pulled away reluctantly; if it were up to him the moment would last forever. "I just wanted to tell you how sorry I was." He stared at her once last time. "See ya."

Helga watched him walk away, hardly aware of what had just happened. "Oh my God," she muttered, her heart still hammering away. "Arnold's falling in love with me."

I don't think I'm the other girl anymore. I'm the only girl.

A/N: Nice stopping point. Later days.