Author's Notes: Hello! It's me once again guys! Long time since the last update! Whew! What a writer's block I had! I couldn't believe how long it had been! I mean, wow! Maybe caught in the HA Movie mania! (Seen it! Loved it! Got the CD! Yes we got it here, believe it or not!). I thought the movie got rid of my writer's block. Nope it didn't. So, I had to play comp. games like Warcraft 3, Final Fantasy 8, and NBA Live 2000 just to get rid of this writer's block. I also did other crazy stuff to make sure! I'm so sorry guys if you had to wait for THAT long! Lol: )

But anyways, I'm here and it's here - Chapter 5 of this "uniquely compelling" Arnold/Helga HA story. What do you guys think of this one? I have to thank all those who will review and those who reviewed the first 4 so far. I mean, while I was writing this chapter 5, I opened a separate window just reading all your wonderful feedback! Good or bad, those inspired me to go on. Also, I thought that this kind of a pretty involving story wouldn't appeal to you guys. But then maybe I AM crazy! Nah!

After you will read the whole story 'till the end, you'll realize that the whole story is no ordinary Arnold/Helga story. Some of you had already seen that by now. I wanted it that way! I love unusual (yet not out-of-this-world) plots! As for Arnold and Helga at the end, well, I'll keep you guys guessing! ;)

To LM, in my opinion, I think that's the nature of the 1st person. Helga's POV may talk to the reader or to Arnold, so she would say "you" in both ways. It should be understood from the words. There are parts where Helga is talking to herself. I've seen this in other stories and fanfics. :)

To Calengm, thanks a lot for telling me about the grammar thing. I would've made a pretty big mistake if I posted it right away. :)

But everyone, please R & R. What do you think? As I said before, flames are absolutely welcome! Not only had I spent all this time writing, and I also spent that time fire-proofing myself plus my place so I'm ready to catch 'em! Feedback, good or bad, is absolutely important! Here's one life lesson for you guys: "One learns a lot more from not-so-good feedback than from good feedback." :)

Later.

- tst : )

Chapter 5: The Consequences

The leaves in the trees rustled amidst a small cool breeze, which blew right at my face that cloudy Monday morning as I came to PS118. I passed through the school entrance, went indoors, and ventured through the long, wide hallways and marble walls, as I headed towards my classroom. When I entered the classroom doorway, I smiled to myself, as no one was around yet. I sat down at my usual front seat, faced the unwritten blackboard, and prepared my stuff, all ready for another day of classes. I was certain that I would get another A+ for last week's test. Surely my best friend Helga did well too. With that test being the last one for this term, everyone was looking forward to the very long and grueling term finals. But they were still far off though… two weeks. Let's see. Classes would only just be until the end of this week. Next week's going to be an all-study week at home. Then Monday after that…it's examination time. I'm sure that the term finals will not be as simple as a walk in the park. Even for me.

Helga was the next one who entered the classroom. She seemed pretty happy today as she cheerfully smiled as she went by me and she daintily sat at her usual seat behind mine. I could see why. She prepared all her spitballs and her other bag of tricks on her chair, ready to pull pranks on everyone again 'till the end of the week. I'm sure most of them are for Arnold. We smiled together as we waited for the rest of the class to arrive.

Sure enough, Sid and some of our other classmates came. They sat at their usual seats behind Helga's and they all started talking about last week's test. No sign of Arnold or Gerald yet. Helga stood up, winked at me and started dishing out pranks to everyone…sigh… as usual. I grinned as she pulled another fast one on Sid and on the rest. Of course, Helga also talked with them regarding last week's test. I'm sure she's saving some of the really big ones for Arnold…

…sigh…also as usual.

Speaking of him, Sid, Helga, and the rest began to talk about Arnold. It wasn't really clear what they were talking about since I was just at my seat and Helga was closer to them. It was when Helga came back to me when I knew something was up.

When she was with me again, she didn't sit down. Strangely, she now seemed a bit agitated, as her cheeks looked paler than earlier when she first came to class. I didn't know why at first. She slowly laid her prank paraphernalia down as if she suddenly lost that drive to do pranks anymore. It was strange because there was no faculty or school official in sight. Mr. Simmons wasn't here yet, either. This wasn't like Helga at all.

Not only that, she asked me to talk with her at some place private. I agreed and we went to a corner at the back of the classroom. Gee, I wonder what this was all about anyway? Once there, I was taken aback when she suddenly grabbed both my arms as she began to rant with a bit of urgency, but just loud enough so only I could hear her.

"S-Say it ain't so, Phoebe," she grilled as she shook me rapidly, acting as if I knew something she didn't, "S-Say it ain't so…"

"Say it ain't what, Helga?" I wondered, slightly pulling her own arms to ease down her nerves, "Say it ain't what?"

"I don't believe it, Phoebes! It's A-A-Arnold!" Helga exclaimed more urgently, as she shook me faster than ever, "H-He wouldn't… wouldn't DO it!" No matter how I tried, her firm arms wouldn't budge.

"Now calm down, Helga," I comforted her, as I did my best to get her arms to loosen but I just couldn't, "What did you say, again? Arnold wouldn't do what?"

She turned her head to the left, then to the right, making sure no one else was listening in on our conversation, "D-Didn't you see Arnold during the last test, P-Phoebes?"

"During the last test?" I started recalling the events last Friday, but nothing rang a bell. I gave her a slightly confused look as I mentioned, "What was there to say, Helga? We were all sitting down… all taking the test as normal. Nothing was unusual, right?"

But I wasn't prepared on what she said next…

"But Phoebes!" her arms shook me again as she tightened her grip more firmly, "Didn't you see Arnold at all copying off your paper during that test?"

At that very moment she said those words, I was shocked to say the least, unbelieving what my ears had heard. Are you sure about that, Helga? I mean, are you sure it wasn't a rumor or something?

"What? Really? No, Helga! I never noticed that! I was too preoccupied with the test."

"But it's true!" she asserted, "I heard it from Sid. Many in our class saw him do it. I don't believe it myself!"

I wished that I could say more when my best friend had suddenly let go. I could see why. We saw a pair of friends enter the classroom. Both seemed that they hadn't woken up on the right side of the bed this morning. Our hearts sank realizing that they were Arnold and Gerald… and they were both in disagreement over something. I don't know what their argument was all about. They rushed quickly over to their respective seats but they didn't sit down right away.

"Me?" Gerald questioned with thunder in his eyes, raising his voice and pointing directly at Arnold, "YOU'RE the one who doesn't understand the situation."

Arnold did the same thing to Gerald, "I think you're the one who doesn't understand, Gerald, especially since it's my problem."

"Okay, suit yourself, Arnold," Gerald sat down to his chair which was at the right of my school chair, "But I still say you got it all wrong."

"I say that you're wrong!" Arnold countered. He then sat down on the chair which was the at left of mine and he declared, "I think that this conversation is over, Gerald. You hear me? It's OVER!"

"Fine with me, Arnold, " Gerald spoke somewhat sarcastically, "Fine with me."

Then they gave an unusually cold shoulder towards one another and I shuddered, as I knew that I had to sit down right between them! But I had no choice. Helga and I did sit down on our respective seats. I viewed my left side and I could see Arnold with a lowered head and his hands covering most of it. Gerald, who was on my right, was just looking at his things and stared face front. Gerald was somewhat more relaxed than Arnold, yet a bit uneasy nonetheless. I decided to ask Gerald what was going on. Helga listened in from behind.

He explained to us what happened. What everyone in class knew was indeed true. Arnold did copy off my paper on the last test. But Arnold didn't want anyone else to know about it… just keeping it a secret for awhile. He knew that what he did was a really big mistake, but this was going to add up to his already twisted spiral of problems.

"But, man!" Gerald continued talking, "Arnold and I wondered why everybody knew about it so quickly. We've overheard everyone talking about it ever since we came. I suspected that maybe somebody else saw Arnold doing it."

"That could be so," I agreed, halting just there and not saying more, remembering what Helga had said earlier.

"I told Arnold my suspicion," Gerald explained, "but Arnold had other ideas."

"Ideas? What do you mean?" I asked.

Gerald sighed before answering my question, "He thought I was the one who spilled the beans," Gerald answered and shook his head, "Whoa, man! I wouldn't do that, but he didn't believe me." He had set his sights on Arnold who was still slumping on his seat, "And the rest, Phoebe, is history…"

Gerald left it just at that, as he slacked off and reclined back into his chair with his hands held firmly together at the back of his head. Helga and I were really intrigued about what he just said. Was that all true? Both of us still couldn't believe it so we decided to talk to Arnold about it. Arnold had his arms on the tabletop and he was just moping on the floor.

I had to be careful here though. I don't know if his mood was okay. But Helga convinced me to hear his side anyway. After getting the nod from Helga, I called Arnold's attention.

"Uh, good morning, Arnold," I politely began, as I tried to select my words very carefully, "Is there something I can…"

"Leave me alone!" he interrupted as he suddenly shooed me away with his right hand, as if I had some contagious ailment, or something.

"Okay, okay," I said, as I quickly jerked away from him, and I tried to make him feel that I wouldn't want any harm, "I'm sorry, Arnold. I'm sorry."

I left him alone as he requested. Arnold sulked back and he went back to moping again. It seemed logical that he really had a rough time. I've never really seen this side of Arnold before. He would of course be moody at times, but I've never seen him this upset. I was beginning to wonder what happened to the old Arnold who was our great cheerful companion and friend. I didn't say anything to Helga but I just scratched my head in utter confusion, still perplexed at the things that Arnold uttered just now. Helga pondered in her own seat for awhile until she made up her mind.

She finally decided to talk to Arnold herself.

"But Helga?" I protested, trying to stop her, "Arnold may cool off soon, but maybe not now."

"Let me handle this, Phoebes," my best friend told me.

"Uh, Helga," I worriedly advised, "I don't think that teasing him today would be a course of action on this one."

"Trust me, Phoebes," she winked with confidence, as she was seemingly sure with what she was going to do.

Helga changed back from 'worry'-mode to 'bully'-mode again. She had taken a fresh deep breath while leaning towards a moping Arnold, and she got ready on what she will say to him. Here we go…

"Hey! Football-head!" she started off in her usual mocking voice, as she would normally say to him, "Well, well! Looks like the word's out that you copied off Phoebe's answers during our last test." Arnold pulled himself up and shifted his head towards her.

"Yeah, Helga," Arnold replied lethargically as he gave a hard look at her, probably for not minding her own business and not leaving him alone to cool off, "And so?"

"So?" she echoed as she leaned a bit closer, "I mean, crimity! You'd never ever do that. That's pretty unusual to do, even for you, Arnoldo."

"So what?" he grunted back, somewhat insensitively, "There's always that first time, right?"

Helga would have given a response to that but all of a sudden Mr. Simmons came in to the classroom. He was cheerful this morning and greeted everyone as usual. Everyone went back to their respective seats and he immediately started class.

In my seat, I was in deep thought. My goodness! Who would have thought that Arnold would do something like that? He wouldn't possibly do that, but I'm baffled as to why. I'm sure he felt all mixed-up inside him. Very, very mixed up feelings indeed. As classes continued, my thoughts would be at today's lectures but I was beginning to worry about Arnold, just like Helga was. At least, Mr. Simmons probably didn't know what happened to Arnold last Friday.

During morning recess, everyone would play as usual except for Arnold. He still wasn't in a good mood. He would just stay in one corner and sat there in the doldrums all by his lonesome. He would just shoo anyone away especially anyone who would ask him what's up.

At lunch, he just sat alone on a table, with his food, and he was all fidgety. Many of my classmates, including Helga, would pass by his table and continued to tease him for his actions during the test. Though he had a lot of food on his tray, he somehow lost the will to eat. I just sighed as I passed his table, not saying a word.

During the afternoon class, the clouds were a lot grayer than this morning. Cracks of thunder could be heard as Mr. Simmons reminded us again about the term finals two weeks from now. "It will be the longest and most difficult," he said, "We're just going to review our 'special' lessons this week with no new ones. There won't be any classes next week, but you've got to study hard, even as early as now, okay? This early, I'm already saying good luck to you all."

Arnold, who was in his seat, was seemingly unimpressed by that. He just lowered his head down and I was beginning to wonder whether he would be ready by then. I wished I could do something for him.

Helga continued to torture Arnold during that afternoon class. I asked her to stop, but she wouldn't. Oh please, Helga, please. He could do something… unthinkable.

"Arnold is a cheater! Arnold is a cheater!" she teasingly whispered behind him, during the afternoon class.

"Can it, Helga!" he snapped back her as another loud thunderous roar could be heard from the clouds outside. The whole sky was now filled with all grayish clouds.

But Helga continued on unfazed, like the strong winds outside were. No raindrops were present yet, though I was expecting it, judging from the dark clouds.

"Arnold is a cheater! Arnold is a cheater!"

"I said, quiet!" he snapped back. I wondered why Helga was doing all this?

"Arnold! I won't stop teasing you unless you tell me why you did it?" she said. Oh, I see now. Under all that teasing, she was actually trying to help him.

"It's really none of your business, Helga!" he shunned her.

"Well, if you're not going to do anything, then…" she softly answered him again. I was relieved myself but then she suddenly teased him back as she made a funny face, "Ha! Ha! Arnold is a cheater! Arnold is a cheater!"

Helga's chants went on as class continued. Both of them weren't that noisy enough to disrupt the class, though they were beginning to get snickers and laughs from the rest of my classmates. I didn't snicker. Don't they just realize what they're doing? Arnold just stayed in his seat, trying to ignore her and everyone else throughout class as Mr. Simmons continued his discussions for the day. I don't know how much more Arnold could take this from her.

Finally, it was only a few minutes before the dismissal bell. Helga continued with her taunts towards her beloved. Arnold had each of his hands tightly closed into a ball and his cheeks were burning red. Arnold was really feeling it, wasn't he? Don't worry, Arnold. Just let it go. Today's class would soon be over, anyway.

The school clock on the wall read that it was just a little over a minute before dismissal. It would be a prudent idea for Helga to back off a bit now. Arnold's patience was getting thinner by the moment. But alas, she would still continue, just laughing it up, despite my own objections.

But after one of her taunts, Arnold had finally reached his breaking point. He quickly stood up, went to Helga and I screamed in horror as he lifted her off her seat with one hand by the collar!

Eep! Oh no! Too late…

"FOR THE LAST TIME HELGA, JUST SHUT UP!" he shouted to a now standing yet bewildered Helga, as his face was just inches to hers, with his hand grabbing very tightly on her collar.

I gasped… the class gasped… all of us stood silent and stunned. All eyes were glued at the scene, even Mr. Simmons' eyes. A large crack of thunder could be heard as Arnold closed his other hand so firmly that it was shaking violently. He then stretched his shaking hand as far away as possible, ready to smack Helga with it with full force.

Mr. Simmons at that time was writing something on the blackboard when this happened. When he saw the scene, he held the chalk in the air, and he was suddenly frozen like a statue. He somehow appeared as if he had something in his throat that prevented him from uttering a single word. He could not say, "Arnold, could you let go of Helga? Please?" or something like that. No, he could not say it. He never did.

The seconds passed by, yet everyone was very silent. I saw the dark clouds outside and the tall sturdy trees swaying with the ever-stronger gales. I looked back at the scene. Arnold still has his hold on Helga's collar. He seemed he could really hit her if he wanted to. No. Please, Arnold. Please don't…

No one in the room spoke a word at all… not even me, not even my classmates, and not even Mr. Simmons… It was less than a minute before the end of classes. I then saw at the second hand of the same clock… 50 seconds before the school bell…

Though I was closest to the two, I was so jittery that my nerves forced me to stay stuck in my seat. I held my grip tightly around the edges of my chair as though I had some super glue. I wished I could stand up and just run to the back of the classroom as far as I could, away from all this, but somehow I couldn't…40 seconds before the dismissal bell…

Even Helga at that moment had her mouth wide open, ready to shout loudly to Arnold if she wished. Her face was just inches to his. Arnold's face showed an unusually thunderous look towards her. But just like Mr. Simmons, no words came out of her. Instead, she just swallowed hard and gulped, probably regretting what she had done. Her hands were limp, as if Arnold sucked the life out of those hands of hers. I saw lightning, then I heard another loud thunder from the skies outside… 30 seconds before the bell…

Then I saw a few students from outside the classroom stopping by our doorway, watching at this same scene. I turned to Helga and I saw my best friend's eyes and she was trying her very best to blink and hold back her tears. Her hands were just by her sides, both were still limp, helplessly doing nothing. Since she's always known as a bully to everyone, she couldn't cry, even if she wanted to. She could hit anyone who would dare hold her collar like that, but she couldn't possibly hit back at Arnold, for very obvious reasons… 20 seconds…

I tilted my head a little to see Arnold's face. I saw tears continuously bursting from his eyes. I don't know whether these were tears out of hate, pity, confusion, anger, or probably all of those emotions combined. The first raindrops outside had finally started to pour… slowly at first. Arnold's free yet shaking hand was still shaking, more violently than ever, but I could still exhale for he didn't make any attempt to hit her or anything. I then looked back at the window. From a few drops, the rains now poured more and more, louder and louder, heavier and heavier… 10 seconds…

9…8… more seconds passed. More students from other classes gathered by the doorway. Some of them were murmuring with each other, and asked questions about what happened. I realized that this very tense minute was about to pass…

"RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNGGGGG," the school bell rang. It made the loudest noise in the room. It made the only noise in the room. Arnold brought down his clenched hand, which, to my relief, finally stopped shaking.

But no one started packing his or her things up. Everyone was still watching the scene. Arnold loosened his other hand off Helga's collar without hitting her once. Helga wearily lost her balance and fell to the floor. She seemed okay as was able to break her own fall. She struggled to get back on to her seat. I immediately grabbed her hands to help her get up. When she did got back to her seat, she examined the earth… in agony.

Only Arnold started fixing his own things. As he was doing so, I saw him quickly brushing off some of his tears away with his arm. He then spun his head all around him and he finally realized what he had done. He had stirred up the entire class and all eyes, except those of Helga's, were staring right at him. Helga was now moping helplessly, just like Arnold was this morning.

"What are you all looking at?" he addressed to everyone around him, seemingly unmindful that Mr. Simmons was still there, also a member of the audience he unknowingly gathered.

Nobody gave an answer. Nobody even moved. Instead, everyone still stared back at him. The outdoor storm was now pouring hard, and the trees swayed very violently. Nobody even bothered to close the windows as some of the raindrops were seeping into the marble classroom floor. Arnold was still the only one in the room who was packing up.

"(sniff) WHAT ARE YOU (sniff) ALL LOOKING AT (sniff)?" he suddenly lashed out at everyone, using his arm to shoo all away, as if anyone would like to get near him right now.

When he was finished, he ran out of the classroom in a hurry. The students from outside stepped back to give way to a "Runaway-train" Arnold. He didn't look at anyone as he zoomed out.

After he left, Helga started fixing her own things up. I glanced at her fixing her things but she didn't say a word to me. She just nodded at me and sobbed a bit in secret. She quickly sped towards the door, making her the second student out of the classroom.

After she left, everyone else finally started slowly packing up his or her things. Unlike Arnold and Helga, everyone cautiously walked, rather than ran, out of the classroom.

I didn't pack my things up yet. I raced to the window and I saw Arnold as he ran towards the puddle-filled roadway. Though the rains were pouring continuously, he had no umbrella. Even though the school bus was there in front of the school entrance, he didn't take it. Instead he avoided it and just ran into the streets, going home on foot, but he would be surely drenched. He was then out of sight.

Just moments later, I saw my best friend running out from the school into the rain too. She also had no umbrella with her. She did the same thing as Arnold did. She ignored the school bus. But this time, she ran in the opposite direction probably heading towards her home too.

In the schooldays that followed, all of us were searching for the whereabouts of Arnold and Helga, but no one saw them in class, in the playground, in the school bus, or in the usual places where we usually played games after classes. I just stayed with Gerald during lunchtime. Even he had no idea where Arnold was.

On Friday, the last day of classes, everyone was still talking about the two. Arnold and Helga were still absent ever since that incident. That afternoon, I decided that the best plan of action was to proceed to Helga's home after today's Friday class.

I ran as fast as I could towards her place. When I saw her house in the distance that Friday, my heart had beaten faster and faster, as I approached closer and closer to the door. Though the heavens were getting darker, as night was falling, I didn't mind. I had to know, Helga. I had to know, Arnold. I had to know…

… what happened to both of you?

Author's Notes: Ooookaaaay, it seems like a preview of chapter 6 would be in order. In the next chapter, Helga can't just stay there and do nothing. She finally begins to act on Arnold's case...

Also, to the HA fans, you're beginning to see some OOC on our Football-headed guy. This is to let you know, that it's all part of the story. Actually, my intent was "justified OOC". What I mean is that, would the previous events so far in the story would've led him to do the stuff he did? Was that justified, or not? That goes the same for Helga. Were her actions "justified"? Please R & R about it.

But don't you guys worry! As I said earlier, this story will have a happy ending! Even for Arnold and for Helga! That's actually the beauty of it. You might ask, how could this very involving story possibly have a happy ending? Hmm, that's a good question! But the future chapters will tell how that's going to be possible. Believe me! I'm not pulling a fast one here. I promise. If you're still worried, just remember that Arnold and Helga will not be like that at the very end. They will change for the better. Just let the story take its course, okay?

Again, thanks a lot for your reviews! Thanks! Arigato! Salamat: )

On to the next chapter we go...

Later.

- tst : )