Living in the beeper emporium was exhausting for Helga. Not only was the place not equipped with beds to sleep on so Helga had to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag, but there wasn't a kitchen so she often found herself trying to find spare change so she could stop at the gas station and grab some grub before making her way to PS 118.

And PS118 wasn't any less exhausting for her.

She trudged down the hallway with Phoebe each day, avoiding Arnold, even though he tried his best to find her through the crowded halls.

"I just can't seem to avoid the kid, you know?" She told Phoebe one day as they made their way to the sixth grade classroom.

"It certainly doesn't help that we're all in the same class," Phoebe commented with a nod of her head as she adjusted her backpack on her shoulders.

"You got THAT right," Helga said as she made her way to the drinking fountain and began sipping from the spigot.

"However," Phoebe began as Helga continued to drink from the fountain, "what I don't understand is why you're trying to avoid Arnold in the first place."

Helga spat out her water and stood up straight to wipe her face from the water she'd spit on herself and took a deep breath. "I'm just... it's just..." she sighed. "It's complicated."

"What's so complicated about your feelings for Arnold? He clearly has developed feelings for you since our experience in San Lorenzo." Phoebe stated and Helga spun around to glare at Phoebe.

"Oh yeah? And what makes you say THAT?" She demanded, though Phoebe refused to back down from her friend this time around, her confidence glaring.

"Someone who shares a kiss with another often doesn't fake returning feelings for that other person." Phoebe said and Helga's eyes widened as she hadn't told even her best friend about that kiss.

"Who told you that?" She demanded and Phoebe shrugged her shoulders.

"I suppose the only other person who was there to witness it."

Helga's eyes narrowed. "Gerald..." she hissed and Phoebe reached up to set a hand on her best friend's shoulder.

"Try not to be cross with Gerald, Helga. He's only concerned for his best friend, as I am for mine." She explained, though Helga wasn't having her friend's explanation.

"You're CONCERNED for me? What the heck is THAT supposed to mean?" Helga asked and Phoebe looked up at Helga with soft eyes.

"You aren't acting like yourself, or rather, you're acting too much like yourself. Given the circumstances."

Helga turned away from the fountain and began stomping her way down the hall towards their classroom. "Circumstances?" She asked from over her shoulder.

Phoebe jogged to catch up with her long-legged friend. "You know, since Arnold admitted to returning feelings for you."

"Pssh," Helga sounded with her lips, "He didn't admit ANYTHING to me, Pheebs."

"I feel as though a kiss speaks louder than words, Helga." Phoebe said as they entered the classroom at last and Helga rolled her eyes as they made their way to their appropriate desks.

"Maybe it does, but if it DID don't you think he'd be trying just a BIT harder?" Helga countered and it was Phoebe's turn to cross her arms over her chest and give her friend a look.

"Perhaps it's you who isn't trying hard enough, don't you think?" She asked and Helga opened her mouth to answer but was caught off guard by another person from just behind her.

"Hi Helga," Arnold said and she spun around to see him facing her and her heart immediately began to speed up inside her chest.

"A-Arnold," she stuttered out with wide eyes. "What... what are YOU doing here?" She asked and Arnold raised his brow at her.

"We're kind of in the same class you know," he said with a half-lidded gaze and her heart stopped for a moment as she beat herself up inwardly at her stupid response.

Doi, Helga, she thought, what kind of question was THAT?! Think of a better response, Helga ole' girl, think!

"Uh... well, YEAH, I knew that, obviously." She said with a roll of her eyes. "What do YOU want anyway?"

Arnold looked down at his feet for a moment as his hands went to hide behind his back. "I guess I was, well, I was wondering if you uh... if you wanted to be partners for this week's history project."

Helga raised a brow as her eyes widened. "History project? Class hasn't even STARTED, Hair Boy, how do you even KNOW that?"

Arnold looked up and pointed over to the chalkboard. "It's up on the board," He said and Helga moved to see the words, Pick your partners for this week's history project written up on the board before her.

"Huh. Well would you look at that," She mused as Arnold looked at her expectantly.

"So? What do you say?" Arnold asked again and Helga turned to look at her usual partner for such projects, Phoebe, who nodded her head slightly, encouraging her friend to accept Arnold's request.

Still unconvinced but remembering what Phoebe had said earlier about not trying hard enough, Helga nodded her head slowly. "S-sure, Arnoldo, I'll be your partner. But on one condition."

"What's that?" He asked and Helga glanced around her surroundings before saying her terms and conditions.

"We have to work on the project at your place."

Arnold smiled and nodded his head. "Sounds like a deal."

Arnold sat on the phone with his best friend. "I don't know what came over me, Gerald. I just had to ask her."

"Well I must say, man, I feel a little hurt, but I'm pretty stoked to be working with Phoebe." His friend said from the other line and Arnold smiled.

"I figured you might be. You two have been pretty close since San Lorenzo." He noted and Gerald adjusted the phone from one hand to the other.

"I'll say. And I figure that this project will only bring us closer together. At least, that's what I'm hoping. I'm guessing that's what you're thinking with Helga?" He pressed and Arnold blushed though Gerald couldn't see- something he was happy about the mask of a phone call.

"Honestly, I'm just hoping she'll open up with me a little more," he said while reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. "Helga was... she was a different person on that trip, you know? And now that we're back here, she's like... it's like nothing has changed and it... it bothers me."

"Why though?" Gerald asked. "Does it bother you because you LIKE her like her?" Arnold thought about this for a moment before swallowing hard and nodding his head.

"Yeah, Gerald. I uh... I think I do."

"Mm mm MM," Gerald hummed over the phone, "I KNEW that kiss wasn't a fluke," he said and Arnold sat up straight at his words in shock at his presumption.

"You thought my kissing Helga was a fluke?" Arnold questioned and Gerald sighed.

"I don't know, man, I thought it was SOMETHING, but I figured it was all, in the heat of the moment or something." He said and Arnold shook his head vigorously.

"No, Gerald, we claimed it was heat of the moment last time this all happened at the FTi building and I'm not letting that happen again. This was... this was real and I'm sure of it." Arnold said, positive of his statement and Gerald agreed.

"Alright, Arnold. Whatever you say, man." Gerald took a deep breath before letting it out and changing topics a bit. "So what are you gonna do to try and get her to open up to you? You gonna talk to her about everything that happened or what?"

"No," Arnold responded, "I don't think that will work with her, you know? I think... I think I'll have to show her that I'm serious about what happened. She's been avoiding me a lot lately and I think it's because she's scared I didn't mean what happened... the kiss and all. But I did. And I've got to show her."

"Okay..." Gerald's voice trailed off for a moment before he picked back up again. "So how are you gonna do THAT?"

"I'm not sure yet... but I know it starts with letting her feel welcome in my house and maybe with my parents. Dad said he had a moment with her when we were walking to the camp. I think he really likes her."

Gerald seemed surprised by this. "LIKES her? Geez, who likes Helga G. Pataki?" He paused for a moment before realizing what he said and backed up. "Besides you, that is."

"She's really not that bad, Gerald. If you got to know her, you'd see her the way I see her." Arnold explained but Gerald didn't want that kind of relationship with Helga.

"God, I hope not." He said and Arnold frowned.

"Not like that, Gerald." Arnold said and Gerald laughed.

"I know, man, I'm just messing with you," Gerald spoke mid-laughter before stopping his laughter and continuing talking. "Anyway, so what's your gameplan for tonight? She's coming over tonight, right?"

"Yeah, everyday this week. That was our deal." Arnold explained and Gerald seemed surprised by this.

"Your deal? What deal?"

Arnold sighed. "She said she'd only be my partner if we could meet at my house for the project. I think something is wrong with her place."

"You haven't heard?" Gerald asked and Arnold raised his brow.

"Heard what?" He asked and Gerald tsked his tongue into the reciever.

"Man, you ARE dense. The Patakis went BROKE, dude. They lost their money in the beeper empire. Word from fuzzy slippers is they're living out of the emporium now."

Arnold's eyes went wide at this information as he went silent on his end of the phone. After a moment of silence, Gerald spoke up once more.

"Arnold? You still there, man?"

Arnold cleared his throat and nodded his head. "Uh, yeah, yeah I'm still here. Wow, I uh... I didn't know that."

"Yeah. Truly pathetic." He said and Arnold frowned.

"I'd say sad is more like it. Poor Helga..."

"All I say is that WHATEVER you do, DON'T bring that up. Let her bring it up herself. THAT'S the key to opening Helga up." Gerald sounded confident in his idea and Arnold opened up his ears as he continued talking. "You get her to open up about her life, and that'll be the way to get inside Helga's head like you want to."

"More like her heart..." Arnold mumbled, but Gerald didn't catch his friend's quiet words.

"You say something?" Gerald asked and Arnold shook his head.

"Just that I uh... I gotta go. Helga will be here any minute." He said and Gerald understood and said his goodbyes.

"Alright man. Remember what I told you. Don't. Say. ANYTHING about what I told you, okay? Let her tell you HERSELF, alright?" Gerald advised and Arnold nodded his head as a knock came from his door.

"Alright, alright, Gerald. I gotta go. I'll talk to you later okay? Bye," But he hung up before his friend could say goodbye back. Quickly, he moved to the door and opened it up to reveal his dad and Helga standing in the doorway, a smile on his father's face and a frown on Helga's.

"I brought a friend," Miles said and Helga crossed her arms.

"Hardly," she grumbled though Miles and Arnold both ignored her.

"Come on in, Helga," Arnold said while gesturing for her to enter and she did so quickly while dropping her bag on the floor beside his bed.

"I'll leave you two be," Miles said before stopping mid-way and smiling inside the doorway, "be good," he said with a wink before closing the door and Helga rolled her eyes.

"Parents, huh?" She said and Arnold smirked.

"It's nice to have them here," He said and Helga shrugged.

"Well at least you have GOOD ones," she said while taking a seat on his bed and crossing her legs.

"I do. I'm really lucky," Arnold said before taking a seat next to her, making Helga's heart flutter slightly at their close proximity to one another. "So how are you?" He asked and Helga shrugged her shoulders.

"Fine I guess. You?" She asked and Arnold shrugged back at her.

"Same, I suppose. Nothing too exciting going on here."

Helga raised her brow. "You mean to say life hasn't been crazy exciting for you since your parents have been home?"

Arnold pulled his legs up to cross them like Helga's and held his legs in place. "I mean, things have been different, but I wouldn't say exciting. Just... really different."

"How so?" She asked and he smiled over to her.

"It's just really cool to have parents for once in my life. When you go your entire life without parents, having them is something really special." He explained and Helga nodded her head before turning away from him to stare out into space.

"Wish I could say the same. I'd do anything to get away from my parents." She said and Arnold nodded his head.

"Well, you know, if you ever want to get away, you're always welcome here," He offered shakily with a slight hue of red hinting in his cheeks. "If you want that is."

Helga continued to stare out into nothing in particular. "That might be...nice." She said softly, her guard slowly falling away as she ignored her defense mechanisms that were trying to fight her way to the surface.

"You think so?" Arnold asked and Helga quickly shook her head to bring herself back into reality and frowned.

"I mean, if you think THAT sort of thing would be NICE. To be around a bunch of STRANGERS in a STRANGE house and all." Helga retorted and Arnold chuckled.

"Well Helga, to be fair, it isn't like this house is all that strange to you. You've been here quite a bit throughout our lives." Arnold said while continuing to look at her, noticing the way her blonde hair stuck out slightly from her pigtails; her bow atop her head still the bright shade of pink it had always been ever since he could remember. She smelled of vanilla, the soft scent drifting over to him from where he sat beside her. He was noticing so many things about her now, ever since their trip to the jungle, Helga seemed like a different person to him and he couldn't shake the way he felt about her since they'd returned home- no matter how hard he tried.

Granted, he hadn't tried very hard.

He didn't want to.

"Fair enough, football-for-brains," Helga said with a sly smirk before reaching for her backpack and pulling it up onto the bed with the two of them. "So what do you want to work on first? The paper? Or the research?"

"Honestly? I thought we could hangout a bit first." Arnold boldly stated and Helga turned to stare at him.

"Hangout?" She repeated and he nodded his head.

"Yeah. Dinner is going to be ready pretty soon and I thought you might want to join us. If you're hungry that is."

"Hungry?" She asked, her stomach giving out a grumble for an answer and Helga fought back the smile trying to itch its way onto her face. After a beat, she finally sighed and nodded her head. "You know what? I'm feeling generous today. I'll take you up on your dinner offer."

Arnold perked up from where he sat. "Really?" He asked.

"Really." Helga answered. "Besides, I'm starved."

"So the boarders aren't joining us because...?" Helga asked as she sat at the table with Arnold and Miles as Stella finished getting food ready in the kitchen and she came back in with a casserole and shrugged her shoulders.

"They already ate. They're still pretty stuck to their schedule of when they eat." Stella explained.

"And you guys don't eat with them?" Helga asked as Stella set the casserole on the table and Miles smiled in her direction.

"Once a week, we like to eat as a family. It's something we've missed out on for so long that we decided to make it a tradition until we get our own place." Miles said and Helga nodded her head.

"That's... cool. I guess." She said, unsure as to how to handle such a unique tradition that she was unfamiliar with. Sure, her parents and her usually shared meals together, at least when Olga was around, but it was never this nice or this... quiet and this oriented around other people besides Olga. She didn't know what to do with herself and she found herself fidgeting constantly as the dinner continued.

"Well I kinda feel like an intruder here," Helga admitted while playing with a nearby fork and Stella shook her head as she took a seat at the table.

"Nonsense, you're always welcome, even to our family meals," she said warmly while sharing a look with Arnold from across the table.

"Thanks, I uh... I don't know what else to say," Helga said and Miles smiled while shaking his head.

"You don't have to say anything else. Just sit with us and enjoy!" He said while taking a scoop of the casserole and placing it on his plate before handing the spoon to Helga. "After you, milady."

Shakily, Helga reached out and took the spoon from Miles and scooped up some of the casserole and put some on her plate before transferring the spoon to Arnold's waiting hand. Once everyone had some of the casserole, Stella began passing around the bowl of vegetables before beginning her interrogation, or rather, her introduction to that of Helga G. Pataki.

"So Helga, why don't you tell us about yourself." She said and Helga looked up from her plate while taking the bowl of veggies and putting some onto her plate.

"Oh, there's uh... there's not much to tell." She said before Arnold chimed in.

"That's not true, Helga. There's lots to tell about you."

Helga turned and narrowed her eyes in his direction, her front coming up once again to protect herself. "Oh yeah? And just what would THAT be, smart guy?"

Arnold's parents shared a look, though Arnold was unphased by Helga's harsh tone. "You're very smart. You get some of the best grades in our class. She scored nearly a perfect score on our aptitude test in the fourth grade. Even better than her sister."

"You have a sister?" Miles asked while taking a bite of his food. "How old is she?"

Helga sighed, the conversation already turning to that of Olga. "23. She's off back in Alaska doing something with children or something. Or maybe she's back at college. It's hard to keep track."

"Oh? Why's that?" Stella asked and Helga frowned.

"Because she's practically perfect in every way. Just like Mary stinkin' Poppins." Helga grumbled while taking a bite of her own food and chewing with disdain at the subject.

Miles and Stella exchanged a look before Arnold cleared his throat and tried to change the subject. "Helga's also a great writer. She's even been published."

"Wow," Miles exclaimed, "that's quite a feat especially for someone your age! What did you have published?"

Helga shrugged her shoulders. "Just a stupid poem. It wasn't that exciting," she said while reaching up to scratch her head and Arnold begged to disagree.

"That's not true. It was a big deal in our school. Our teacher even read the poem in front of the whole class. I think it was the best poem I've ever heard." He said and Helga looked up from her plate to turn and look over at him.

"You really thought that?" She asked and he nodded his head.

"Yes, Helga. I really did. You're very talented." He said and Miles turned to face Helga.

"So you're into writing. Do you ever journal?" He asked and Helga shook her head, becoming more open to talking the more they conversationalized.

"Not really," Helga admitted, "I mostly just write stories and poems. I've never tried journaling. I don't have much to say, I guess."

"I think it's very therapeutic," Miles said. "You can really dig deep into yourself and get out some feelings you didn't know you had in you. Not to mention it's fun to look back and see how you were feeling once years have passed. It's a great way to collect memories. You should try it some time."

Helga shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I'll try it some time. If I ever find the right journal, I 'spose."

The rest of the dinner went well, all things considered. Miles and Stella were gracious hosts and were genuinely interested in Helga which was something she had never been used to. Usually dinners were so focused around Olga that Helga hardly got a word in edgewise but this dinner was completely different. She soon found herself talking more and more and soon she was even laughing- something she hadn't done in a long time. It seemed that she felt comfortable around Arnold's parents, something she didn't feel around most adults and the feeling was a strange one indeed.

At the end of the dinner, Arnold and Helga worked on their project without guards up, nothing serious coming up in topics beside that of their project. It was nice to be around someone and feel open, especially with Arnold. Why had she been avoiding him for so long when it felt so good to be around him? Could it be like this at school too? And further more, would she ever allow it to be like this at school? There were certain appearances she had to keep up after all, and in that case, how could anything ever be normal?

Helga went home to the beeper emporium feeling lighter than she'd ever felt before knowing she could go back to the boarding house tomorrow after school. Maybe things could be normal, at least in the boarding house. Maybe it could be their little secret. Maybe... just maybe.

Shoutout for the AWESOME cover thanks to MSID (MarySueIsDead on fanfiction, who is not ONLY an amazing artist, but also an amazing fanfiction writer so go check out some of her fics! She's someone I admire greatly and one of my truly favorite fanfiction writers of all time not to mention an amazing friend -insert big heart here-) I absolutely love it!

having a lot of fun writing this and i hope you're having a lot of fun reading this as well. much more is to come, we are just getting started so hang on for the ride folks! make sure to leave me a REVIEW and let me know what you think!

-Polka