"Can I walk you to your next class?"
Helga looked up to see Arnold staring at her patiently awaiting an answer.
Helga's mind went completely blank and her body froze.
She stared at him for what felt like an eternity. She felt a wave of emotion come over.
All the love she has ever felt for him flooded back like it never left.
In a panic she jumped up and bolted out of the classroom.
Arnold stared at the doorway flabbergasted.
"Um..a no would have sufficed..but ok.. run like I have the plague..." He muttered as he stared after her.
"You're still a bold kid Arnold. Walking up to Pataki like you've been besties this whole time." Gerald busted out laughing.
"It didn't end well before I left you know that. I just.. I just want to make sure she hasn't been holding that in." Arnold glanced at Gerald and whispered.."Has she?"
Gerald's smirk turned into a frown. He took a minute to think about how he wanted to respond to this. While Arnold may have been his best friend back then the fact is things have changed. Helga and him bonded over their pain of Arnold moving away years ago.
"I don't know if she's held things in. But.. what I can tell you is..she feels things deeply. Not like you and I ever could. " Gerald replied.
"Tell me something, Gerald. Why doesn't she have a facebook? I mean everyone has one. I have one and I lived in a jungle. Why doesn't she? " Arnold asked slightly irritated.
"Arnold, tell me why you care. You come back today and you've barely spoken to Sid,Rhonda,Stinky or anyone else in the old crow. You have done nothing but ask about Helga.
My question is 's been seven years Arnold. Seven years you didn't call, write or even try to contact her. Now you waltz back into town demanding to know seven years of history in a day? Doesn't that sound a little selfish?" Gerald asked quietly.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing
They both looked up at the second bell going off.
Both boys silently agreed to continue this conversation at a different time. Being late for class was not gonna be a good start to their day.
"You ran?"
Helga looked up at Phoebe with a sympathetic frown.
"What else could I do Phoebs?"
"Well not to sound rude Helga but most people actually respond.." The asian girl said still trying not to sound judgy.
"I responded Phoebs. With my actions and not with words." Helga retorted proudly.
Helga didn't want to tell Phoebe she wasn't ok. She didn't want her best friend to worry about her anymore. Especially not over Ice Cream. She's been lactose intolerant for so long she thought the urge for ice cream would never come back. But oh how wrong she was.
His eyes were still as beautiful as they had always been. He has gotten taller and that smile.. ah that smile. The pang in her chest just thinking about him jolted her back to reality..
She is Helga and he is Arnold. A world with them together just wasn't in her future she believed.
