Author's Notes: Alright, It's just one hour before the 2003 new year and I'm back again. Here's chapter 6 of our wonderful tale. Thanks again for the past and future reviews. Frankly I was surprised that the "Arnold-Helga moment" at the end of the previous chapter came off as something very scary for many of 'ya. But I was even more surprised that, to you guys, it was pretty cool anyway! I really really appreciate it. Personally, I didn't think it was that scary, but then again maybe it's because I already know how the story will go, lol (laugh out loud)! But if guys would still want to say something about it or about any other stuff, just let me know. :)

Well, my friends, you may have already seen several unexpected plot twists in the story and I'm telling you that there will surely be more plot twists to come. You'll surely love them. Even though I know already what will happen, I STILL couldn't get over them myself!

Why have I not updated for so long? It was because my hard drive had crashed. I was able to recover the file only weeks later.

To Alquamor, that Helga's approach which is "somehwere else" you mentioned is actually what will happen. She will have to use a different approach. All part of the story, my friend.

As to the rest, I appreciated when you guys say that you guys want me to continue writing this story, especially when you guys told me that I'm getting more descriptive as the story passes. Yehey! Alright! I'm finally improving and learning from this writing experience. (raises his right hand in pledge) In return, from here on I promise that each future chapter in this story (including this one) will be more beautifully and craftily written than the last.

Disclaimer: I STILL don't own HA, because it's by Craig Bartlett (I wish he would read this fic, though. That'll be cool.) but I claim the plot and some of the other stuff (It might spoil the plot if I mentioned it right before the chapter). Please see "Addtl. Disclaimer" at the end of this chapter for more info.

Okay, let's get on with the chapter and let's get jiggy with it...

- tst :)

Chapter 6: What Should I Do?

I hurried to the front steps of Helga's home just as it was getting dark. I leaned against the closed front door, catching my breath before I rang the doorbell. As the door opened, I was face to face with Helga's mother and I politely introduced myself. I was able to catch a glimpse of their dinner table, filled with every appetizing food imaginable. There was plenty of meat, chicken, fish, and many more. It had three seats, one for each of the family. Helga's father was already at one of them, and he sat royally like a king, helping himself to every juicy morsel in sight. Another seat had bits of food on the plate and I inferred that it was for Helga's mother. Helga wasn't there at the third one, with the plate and utensils still unused.

I inquired Helga's mother where my best friend was. She told me Helga was upstairs in her room, and she hadn't come out of her room all day. It was unusual that her mother and father seemed unworried about her. Though I was beginning to feel the pangs of hunger, I proceeded upstairs, towards my primary objective of being here in the first place. With the upcoming exams and all, I wondered whether she was alright. I hoped so, but I also thought of Arnold too. Maybe Helga would know.

I took a deep breath before I lightly knocked at her door…

"Go away, Miriam! (sniff)" shouted a muffled yet familiar sound from inside, "I said I'm not (sniff) hungry!"

"Helga?" I knocked again, desiring to correct her, "It's me, Phoebe."

"Phoebe?" I heard her once more, still muffled yet more welcoming than before, "Oh, come in Phoebes (sniff)."

I quietly entered as I carefully closed the door behind me. At the other end of the room, Helga was lying face down on her bed as she clutched on to a soft, yet firm pillow. Her head was deeply buried into the pillow and her long blonde hair was spilling on to its sides.

I marched silently as I headed towards her. Groups of closet doors lined alongside the walls, stretching from the door all the way up to her bed. Via a nearby window, I could see the barely lit sunset, grown minutely dimmer with each step I took. The closets on the walls were all closed except for the one that was just next to her bed. I halted by that open closet and saw its contents, being empty. I was perplexed yet I felt a chill in the air as I shifted my focus towards Helga whose head was still burrowed in her pillow refuge. I promptly recognized what that closet contained…

"If I could recall, Helga" I began with a slight degree of fear, though I kept going with a straight yet calm front, "you placed your 'Arnold' shrine here at this open closet. Right?" I referred her to the open closet.

Helga turned to her side little by little, as she still held on to her pillow, until she was able to finally see my eyes. Her face was dry but her pale cheeks showed evidence that she was in tears before. It seemed like she still hadn't gotten over what had happened between her and Arnold days ago. She gave a sniffle, as if she wanted to cry again.

"Yeah (sniff)," she weakly answered back. Her tone was mellowing yet somewhat monotonic, "You're right, Phoebes (sniff)."

Her face appeared as if she knew what I'd ask next, but had to ask her anyway, "Helga, where is the shrine now? What happened to it?"

She used both her arms and legs, to push herself upright and she sat on the bed close to where I stood. She was in front of me now, but with her head and hair down, as she stared pointlessly right at my feet. She tossed her fluffy pillow aside.

"Well, (sniff) you really want to know where the shrine is now, Phoebes? (sniff)" she asked without seeing me eye to eye.

"Yes," I responded to her inquiry, but I had a chilling suspicion, "Where is it now Helga?"

She didn't answer me right away as she sniffled yet again. She slowly raised her hand and arm, though she could hardly do it. Surprisingly, it took a lot of effort on her part, as if her arm was holding something very heavy, even though she was really carrying nothing.

"There (sniff)!" was what she could only say, pointed with that final ounce of her strength, as she directed my attention to the other side of the room. She began to sob loudly as she covered her face with both her hands. Renewed tears erupted from within her watery eyes.

There was an unrecognized heap on another side of her room where she pointed. I motioned towards it until I was near. I suddenly felt astonished yet weakened at the sight as I knelt in front of that. It was the Arnold shrine indeed, but it was reduced to a pile of many indescribable pieces! I reached out to touch and hold the fragments in my hand and checked them out one by one. Though they were still large enough to easily hold them, it will probably take awhile to put the shrine back in one piece.

I jumped right to my feet and sped back to Helga. She still had her head tilted downwards, with her hands remained sunk deeply into her face. I sat beside her on the same bed.

."Helga, what happened?" I inquired her immediately about the shrine, "Why?"

She stopped a bit from sobbing and she brought her head up, as she turned slightly towards me. She opened up her lips a little but she seemed as if she was trying to utter a word but couldn't say it. I placed a friendly hand on her shoulder to comfort and reassure her. I waited patiently and silently for her to say something...

Anything…

"What happened to (sniff) Football-head today? Huh, Phoebes (sniff)?" she asked without answering my question, but it was fine with me.

"I don't know, Helga," I calmly informed her, "He wasn't there either. Like you, he never came to class ever since your previous… encounter with him."

She opened her eyes and mouth wide after she heard the news, but it was only temporary. Her face frowned again, as I wanted to know what happened to Arnold. But from the looks of things she doesn't seem to know either.

"Helga, he was never like this before," I inferred, with my hand still comforting her shoulder.

"I know (sniff)," she agreed lethargically, "But why Phoebes? Why (sniff)?"

I shook my head, just as confused as she was on the subject, "I really don't know, Helga. I really don't…"

She slouched down again and wept as I rubbed her shoulder lightly. I felt really sorry for Helga. I was just as hopeless to explain Arnold's situation as she was. I continued to give her relief in the best way I could, and I gave her a chance to catch her breath from all of the sobs that she had.

Being a friend, I kept waiting and waiting for any reaction or words that she might want to let out. But the silence was too long for me not to say my mind. I was just about to say something to break the long silence, when my hand slipped away from her shoulder as she suddenly stood up. Was she finally going downstairs for supper?

No, she wasn't. I just witnessed her opening a different closet, pulling out the pink book of poems she had, and getting her trusty purple pen to write with. She plopped on the bed beside me again and began to scribble something on it.

"Helga? What is that you're writing?" I wanted to know. She didn't reply as she was just seemingly very intent on what she was doing.

I just observed her as she wrote down what would probably be another poem. She sobbed hard as she wrote, using her pen to purposely write down with conviction, whatever she felt inside her right now. Her tears trickled down her now blue water-filled eyes and to her rosy cheeks, as the drops fell to the half-written paper that she was writing on. Ignoring all those tears and sniffles, she pressed on to continue writing, but she carefully thought out her words whenever necessary. I silently sat closer to her on the bed, being careful not to agitate her in any way. I wanted to wipe her tears from her face myself but at the same time I didn't want to disturb her so I just did nothing. It was probably okay, because her poem writing might help relieve her of the awful sadness that she was going through. I'm beginning to feel her sadness myself but I just waited anyway. Sometime later, at last, she overcame all her sobs enough to finally finish.

She then carefully handed the pink book over to me and showed me what she had written. It was at this time that she finally brushed her own tears away with the back of her hand. Her cheeks were now fairly dry as I glanced upon the page. It was indeed what I had expected. It was another poem of hers neatly written in her flourishing yet glossy penmanship, all in purple.

I silently read her short poem, but I was surprised that she suddenly began to speak the verses herself. Even though she had no copy of her own poem, she said those words out loud, as if she absolutely knew them by heart.

I followed the words of her poem in her book, while she recited them at the same time.

"Since his grandparents left, that's all where it started,

All of the problems that had befallen my beloved,

All of the hardships and sufferings he had to endure,

All weighed down on him, and cracked him up, that's for sure,

"And now he's someone that once he was not,

He becomes like me - someone worthy to rot,

He was the nice guy I once knew and now, he's just so worthy to shoo,

What should I do now Arnold, my love, what should I do?"

She then sank into sobbing again and I just sat there, held her book, and stared nowhere. It took me awhile to absorb the words of her moving poem. I was so moved with a rush, that I could neither move nor breathe. Was it simply because of the poem's meaning? Or was it the rhythm? Or was it just how the words flowed into my own ears? Whatever the reason it may be, the poem she wrote now was something I've never heard of from her before. Sure she made poems that were gloomy, but this was of a different kind. It was not only a plea for love. It was also a plea for help. I felt even sadder at the thought because I was at a loss to help her.

Closing her poem book, I took a deep sigh, and carefully handed it neatly back to her.

"Helga…" was what I could say as I laid my hand on her shoulder again.

"Yes, (sniff) Phoebes?" she replied as she turned her eyes towards mine. She had set aside her poem book.

"Now that you mentioned it, I don't really know what we could do," I hopelessly said, as I felt sadder for her. I'm beginning to feel her crushed spirits.

She moved a bit closer to me and strangely, she gazed at me right in the eye. My hand was still on her shoulder as she started examining my eyes from all angles as if she were a doctor or something. Was there something in my eye, Helga? Finally, she faced me at eye level and she widened her eyes and mouth in surprise. Given the feeling that I am right now, I breathed in and held my breath, as I was beginning to realize why she was looking at me like that…

"P-Phoebes, y-y-you're (sniff) crying too," was the only thing that she could only conclude after all that.

"Yes, Helga," I finally admitted, as I exhaled in resignation to the truth to the sadness that I'm currently feeling, "I (sniff) know."

At last, I finally broke down and hugged my best friend. Automatically, she likewise hugged me back. I tried to recall the last time we ever hugged each other as friends.

But I really sympathized with her. I mean, she had really been in love with Arnold for about two-thirds of her life. When she saw him for the first time 6 years ago, he was the only guy who was really nice to her. That was big, considering everyone else then teased her, plus she had problems with her own family and stuff since then. Those problems of her and those feelings for him stuck with her until today, as my 9-year-old best friend Helga.

We continued to hug together…

"Oh, stay strong, (sniff) Phoebes," she cried out, a bit somewhat jokingly. Somehow, it was her way of making us both feel better.

I kept seeing the dark sky and the nightly heavens by the window. The stars began to appear one by one. I mustered enough strength inside me until I was able to say in return…

"(sniff) Same to you, Helga…"

After seeing the turn of events that Arnold experienced over the past few weeks, and now this one, it reminded me of a singer I admired sometime ago. I bought his CD's and music. I was excited when I won a contest to see him backstage, and to meet him in person for the first time. I brought Helga along though she came along just as a friend. I was in a very cheerful yet bouncy mood as I assured her that he was the best singer ever.

But when I saw him after the concert, and was at the backstage, I saw the real deal. He was not the one who actually sang those songs. His real voice was terrible. Everything was an act. I brought him up so much that when I saw the real thing I was disappointed. Helga, as a friend, reassured me and she was there for me.

I guess that today… right now… this was my chance to return the favor.

We kept hugging and somehow that really helped both of us. Finally, feeling much more relieved now, we comfortably parted from the hug. The sky was now pitch black only broken by the shimmering stars. The street lamps were shining bright glows, casting silhouettes from the outside world.

"I think I'm going to be okay now, Phoebes," she called my attention. I was glad her voice doesn't seem sad anymore. In fact, it was a bit cheerful.

I wiped my last remaining tears, and it didn't take that much effort anymore to smile at last and say in return, "Same here, Helga (sniff)."

She somehow smirked a bit, "Well, at least we won't have classes now. I mean, we have all the time in the world to study for the exams."

I finally grinned as well, "You're right, Helga."

Yes we do have plenty of chances. We have more than a week to review. That's more than enough time for anyone to study for them.

"It's getting late, Helga," I told her, as I noticed the time, "I think I have to go." She nodded silently.

I stood up while she remained on her bed. As I proceeded towards the door, I took hold of the doorknob. Before I opened it, I turned my head around and saw Helga staring back at me from the bed. I set my sights on the shattered shrine. I wanted to ask, "But how about Arnold?" but I didn't, because her sudden change of topic hinted that she doesn't want to talk about him for now. She probably wouldn't know how to answer it anyway.

"Good luck to you on the exams, Helga," was the last thing I said to her before I opened the door.

"Good luck to you, Phoebes," was the last thing I heard from my best friend before I exited her room.

After Phoebes had left, I was alone… all alone again as I laid my back on the bed and rested my head above my fluffy pillow, set to sleep for another night. As I got hold of my long, wide blanket, I remembered all the things that happened today. Somehow, that talk we had was so wonderfully relieving that I was able to easily close my eyes, drift my mind to a slumber, and slip my thoughts into a dream.

I was standing on a high point of a tall mountain. The air was cool though the sun was shining brightly amidst the cloudless, pure blue sky. I could roam around freely and explore the place. Though there wasn't any falling snow, everything around me was all white. The barren rocks, the leafless trees, and even the solid ground were all blanketed with the whitest of the silvery snow. The sunrays glistened across the snowy surfaces, and shone like smooth, shimmering crystals.

I did explore around, and I bore witness to more of the white stuff everywhere. Hmm, no one here. Just being surrounded by those trees and rocks, and nothing else… no birds… no animals… no one… except for that seemingly small yet peculiar object in the distance, partly buried within the glimmering, white snow. Hey! What was that?

I hiked towards it but even as I approached, I still couldn't make anything out of it except that it was as small as a baseball. I finally stopped just in front of the thing. It didn't feel that cold when I started kneeling and used both my bare hands to dig beneath the ice.

I formed a hole and pulled out the brownish gray object from the snow. I studied it from all sides and I could feel its wooden and metallic texture. I finally recognized it as being a piece from my Arnold shrine. But what's this doing here? I cast it aside, right next to the opening I newly created. My eyes and mouth frowned slightly, as I realized that it WAS from my shrine.

I checked out the hole anyway for anything else from within. I observed another small object, covered with some other snow. Though my sadness rose, my curiosity overshadowed it as I kept on digging deeper enough so I could extract it out. Another inspection… another piece of the shrine. I dropped it beside the first piece.

I found a third object inside the now deepened hole and by scooping out the surrounding chunks enabled me to possess another piece of the shrine. After also taking that out, I took a peek at the slightly wider hole and to my surprise, even the inner linings itself had many other pieces of the shrine too! So, I went on to chisel out more snow for those and arranged all that I found together with the previous ones, until they eventually formed a small hill of small "Arnold shrine" pieces, made from the same materials I used.

Now what? Still kneeling, I studied the pile and the pieces all closely. Yup. All of them are here. Now, if only I had some glue or something, I could probably join them all together. But how could I do that? All around me was snow, snow, and more snow. Sadness erupted even more in me. Oh no! What could I use? What? I seriously searched into my pockets… nothing. I aimlessly plowed further into the hole… nothing. I deeply uncovered the rest of the snow… also nothing.

At last, I finally cried, my heart sank as tears fell to the wayside while I stayed kneeling helplessly on the snow, the palms of my snowy-filled hands wiped off my newly watered cheeks. Come to think of it, whom should I blame for all this? I couldn't blame anyone else, could I? Besides, it was I…

I DID this to myself!

In the first place, I shattered the shrine out of my outburst when I ran away from school… when I ran away from Arnold on that fateful rainy day. It was out of my own emotions that brought out this fate. Now, the shrine is all broken up. Just like…just like…

…my beloved! Sniff!

Oh what happened to you Arnold? What happened to you? Why did it have to be this way?

How could you do this to me, even though I still love you?

But suddenly, I was jolted out of my reverie when I heard a rumble, and I felt the vibrating earth. I almost lost my balance but I was able to stay low, until the shaking stopped moments after.

Then, all of a sudden, from out of nowhere, I heard a very faint yet very familiar voice…

"Help! Help! Somebody help me!"

Wait! I recognized that!

It was… it was… Arnold!

Was he in trouble?

Despite my inner gloominess, I stood up, scrubbed the snow off of me, and faced the direction of the source of the sound. All in front of me was white snow. Where was he? I left the pile of shrine pieces alone and started running off and huffing away to find him.

"Help!" I heard him echo louder but I still don't know where he was, "Help!"

I frantically searched amongst the trees, the stones, and even within the troughs of the snow itself. Where could he be? I stopped to rest by a tall tree that was devoid of any leaves but with the snow partly shook off, and I leaned my hand and arm against the wooden trunk, as I pondered away.

Where IS Arnold?

But my mind started to drift differently as I laid my hand on my forehead. Hey wait a minute. Why should I help him now after all of the things he did to me? After all, he brought this on himself. He surely deserved the fate that he has now, right?

Yeah. He had to be pretty dumb to do what he did in the first place. Arnold… hmph! He always knew what WAS the right thing. He always told us what should BE the right thing! But this time he himself didn't DO the right thing. Hey! He had to face the consequences of his actions…

But I quickly slapped myself. I felt a prickling chill as the hair throughout my whole body stood up on end, frozen like the surrounding ice. Oh crimity! What was I saying? What was I thinking? I love him! I LOVE him! Even if he was so mean to me. Even if he choked me half to death in class. Even if I myself have worries of my own! It shouldn't matter… it shouldn't ALL matter… because I LOVE him! I couldn't possibly hate him for real! I must save him…I should save him…

I WILL save him…

Now with an even bigger determination than before, I resumed my vigorous search for Arnold, as I called his name out over and over. He kept on yelling and I traced his endless cries for help as they sounded louder and louder. After tracking them down, I finally saw Football-head, much to my own relief. I found myself standing right by the edge of a snowy cliff. I faced down and there he was, paler-than-usual as he held on for dear life on to the top edge of the cliff. His weakening yet exposed hands were right next to my own two feet. He never saw me as his eyes were shut tight as he continued shouting for help and trying desperately to hang on. If he lets go, he'll plunge all the way down to those sharp, jagged rocks for sure.

I rubbed my hands together to clear the snow off of them. I went on my knees on the snow and I firmly grabbed his cold yet weary arms.

"Gotcha, Arnold!" I smiled as I called out to him, being glad that he was okay, "Oh no, you don't! You're not getting away from me that easily, bucko!"

Upon hearing my voice, he widened his eyes with his face having surprise written all over, "Huh? Helga, I thought you…you…"

"… went away?" I completed, "Of course not, Football-head," I giggled as I pulled him with some effort, but I took care not to slip, "Now why would I do that? Come on! I'll have no one else to joke around with. Besides, you'll be my friend no matter what, and I won't let you fall for real, 'ya know?"

I pulled carefully to lift him back up. Just a few inches at a time so my hands won't strain.

"Please, Helga! Maybe you don't have to do this? I don't deserve it! Just let go of me!"

I paused from pulling. Somehow that didn't seem right for me to hear those words coming out from someone like Arnold. Nah! Maybe the snow got to him, messed up his brain or something? So I just ignored that and I resumed raising him, "Huh? Crimity! What are you talking about, Arnoldo? Get a hold of yourself! Of course I should do this! Just think about it…a world without a Football-head?" I rolled my eyes and continued, "Man! That'll be the day!" I pulled him harder up, as I kept on joking as I told him, "Now just shut up and hold on, okay?"

I won't let you go, Arnold. Besides, I still owe you one. Wait a minute! That was an understatement. I still owe you everything!

With one final tug, I was able to yank Arnold off the edge and we flipped over. We found ourselves falling flat on to the safe solid ground with our backs and arms on the crystal clear snow. We gasped for air as we finally got ourselves to laugh and enjoy the panoramic hues of the bright bluish sky.

We got up and brushed the snow off ourselves and he thanked me for getting him out of that. We started strolling together in the snow happily talking to one another. We surveyed the snowy landscape as we trekked farther and farther away from the edge of that cliff. It was so enjoyable being with him.

As we trudged on, I was looking the other way when suddenly Arnold was just about to lose his balance and slip off the edge of a snow bank. In that second, I held my breath yet I reacted quickly to clutch his hand. He held on tight, as he gasped for any air he could get. He eventually was standing upright again as he snapped back at attention. We both breathed easier after that.

"Let's be… a little more careful next time," I grinned. He smiled and nodded back to me, as we hiked onwards, surprisingly, without letting go of my hand.

Along the way, though our pace was now slower than usual, he somehow continued to stumble, a couple more times. Arnold still held my hand as we pushed on to travel along the snow. But each time he didn't completely fall because he was tightly holding on to me. I couldn't believe that he had never let go at all. My cheeks were getting warmer and I started blushing in secret, with every step we made together.

As I scanned the surrounding terrain, I suddenly realized that we're now just on the one side of the ridge, close to where the shrine pieces were. We hadn't seen it yet so I just fixed my gaze intently on his eyes and hastily convinced him into making a detour. He questioned me why, but I refused to say anything about it, yet I still tried my very best to talk him into rerouting our course.

But… gasp! I was too late…

"Hey, Helga. What's that?" he curiously asked and he stopped walking as directed me towards the direction of the shrine pieces. Eep! I didn't look. I just gulped, stayed beside him, and I concentrated on his seemingly innocent eyes as I squeezed his hand.

Still never seeing the pieces, I rambled on, as I tried to formulate an excuse. Later, I simply mumbled to him that whatever pile of pieces he could be seeing were really nothing out of the ordinary.

"Huh? What 'pile of pieces' are you talking about, Helga?" he questioned strangely, "There is no 'pile of pieces' around. I mean that thing over there," he wanted to show me as he pointed to the pile with his other hand. I got curious.

"What do you mean that there is no pile of…" I was struck with awe, when I turned around and finally got a view of what he was talking about. From where the pile of pieces had been, now stood the same shrine, miraculously fixed, unbroken, and intact, as if someone… or something… glued all the pieces together while I was gone! It now looked so flawless, unblemished, and beautiful, as if it begged to be admired, all in its wonderful majestic splendor!

Sigh! Now that he saw the shrine… my shrine, how could I explain THIS to him? I wanted to faint. My head started spinning in all directions and I could've actually collapsed right on the snow if only he hadn't caught my other hand in time, thus ensuring that I won't fall completely out of consciousness. While holding my hands, he supported me until I managed to stand on my own two feet again.

The next thing I knew was that I was in face to face with him as both of our hands were now together. I was even more nervous than ever because I didn't know what to do or say next.

"Helga," he then softly whispered to me as he gave a firm, yet gentle hold to both of my hands and wrists, "Did you… do that?" It was obvious what he was talking about.

I was lost for words. A cold sweat ran across the side of my head as I kept staring mindlessly through my beloved's dreamy emerald eyes, amidst the serenity of the heavenly blue sky and of the sparkling white snow. He smiled to me pleasingly as he nodded lightly.

"That was so beautiful, Helga," he complemented, even though I hadn't answered. Oh no! I was trapped! He boxed me into a corner and I could hide from my facade no longer! I leaned back, looked away, and braced for the worst…

But instead of him letting me go or pushing me off, I felt that I was being slowly drawn towards him. I was speechless as turned to glance right back at him. I couldn't believe it. He's ACTUALLY pulling me closer, even though he figured me all out! I began to have shorter and lighter breaths as more streaks of sweat broke out from many different sides of my face and as my face was nearer and nearer to his. What could this all mean? This can't be real. This can't be happening…

"Y-y-you mean the s-shrine, r-right?" I meekly stuttered with a now fast-pounding heart as I could see his radiant face closer as the sunrays brightly reflected across its sides. He seemed so much like a real angel from up close, as he covered his peaceful eyes with his own two eyelids blissfully. I could hardly breathe now and I could only give an even tighter squeeze to both his hands in return.

"Well… actually… not only that…" he admitted soothingly and dreamily as I began to heartily close my eyes also. I let myself be pulled by him even so closer as I waited so faithfully until I could finally feel my beloved's warm, soft, heartfelt lips actually touch mine.

At that very instant that our lips touched, my heart suddenly had leaped out as I popped my eyes…

… and woke up only to realize that I was sitting on my bed again. I immediately pressed my palm to my chest and felt my hurried heartbeats. I was inhaling and exhaling even more rapidly than that. I did not move until my breathing and heartbeats finally slowed. I shook and cleared my head. Only after bringing my breathing and heart rates back to normal, did I become aware that it was now morning. Wow! That was some unbelievable dream! I wiped off any real sweat off my face, until I was surer than sure that it was finally dry.

The streaming light from the Saturday sun spilled into my room. It provided a serene yet heavenly air that somehow made me feel so peaceful all over, despite that dream. I jumped right out of bed and stretched out my arms, twisted my hands, and wiggled my fingers for this great new day. I felt so refreshed as I went to my shrine pile and I stooped down on the floor beside it. Yup, that dream was just a dream, because in reality, the shrine was still in pieces. But strangely, I wasn't sad today. In fact, I even smiled, as I finally realized that, yes, it doesn't have to always be this way.

"Helga, breakfast!" called my mom as she knocked from outside.

"Coming, mother!" I cheerfully replied right away, as I opened a nearby closet door, rummaged through my clothes, and got dressed for the first meal of the day.

I rushed downstairs and I saw all the food. As soon as I sat down on the dining room, I had transformed myself into an eating machine as I just gobbled up everything that was on the table. The toast… the eggs… the fruits…everything. I drank a lot of juice and water too. I didn't mind my parents staring wide-eyed at each other and weirdly at me. Am I in a buffet table or what? Not really, but my newly found energy will help me in what I'm going to do upstairs later. Ahh, that was good! My stomach's surely full by now.

After that sumptuous breakfast, I climbed upstairs to my room, pulled out my drawers, and brought out some glue, paints, pieces of wood, plus some metal. I headed towards my broken shrine, sat down on the floor, and got to work. I took some of the old broken pieces and started applying some glue on them. I joined one piece here and there, left and right. I persevered merging the pieces, as I kept my fire alive to do this. I didn't know where this spirit in me is coming from. To those old pieces I couldn't put together, I just glued some new wood and some new metal for them.

I wasn't aware I had been working for so long, that it was soon lunchtime. Over the window I couldn't believe my eyes that the sky was already grayish and it was actually pouring outside. Huh? When did it start raining? I never noticed that. I zoomed down and ate as fast as I could and ran back upstairs, as I did not waste a second on doing anything else except on the shrine. Oh Arnold, I promise you. I will do everything to have you back! I don't care whether you will love me or not for doing this! I just... just... want the "good" you back. I still love you. I'm sure that somehow… you still have that kindness left somewhere in your heart… I believe there still is. How do I know that?

Because you yourself told me…

You're the one who was always been saying to all to have faith in people. You're the one who was always convincing others to realize the goodness of a person. You're the one who was always prodding others, never to give up on anyone.

Looks like it's time for a taste of your own medicine, huh, Football-head?

"Helga, dinner!" Miriam calls on me by the door. Huh? It's evening already? I glanced by the window. I dragged my hair as if I wanted to pull it out in my disbelief. Man, oh man! I never even knew that the rains had already stopped!

After dinner, the shrine was almost done. All I had to do now was make some finishing touches before I head off to bed. Okay just a little bit more paint here. Just another dash here… another brush there… and here… and yes! It's finished!

I gave myself one final view of my masterpiece before finally retiring for bed. Sigh! What a view! My Football-headed shrine is shining in its sacred yet beautiful form, amidst the room lights, just like the shrine in my dream, and was ready once again to remind me of my beloved. I carried the shrine and arranged it properly, and I laid it back in its proper place inside my closet.

I didn't really know why, but that night, I somehow had one of my most peaceful sleeps ever. I remembered smiling away all night in my bed and be reminded of the last day's work. It was somehow an achievement in itself that the shrine was finally okay.

But of course it was far from over…

The next day, I studied all day for the exams, yet I also can't stop thinking of Arnold. I thought of giving him a call that evening. I still don't know what happened to him. Nobody does. Just to say sorry for what happened.

But I had to be careful here. Even though I memorized my beloved's number by heart, I really never call him and he never really calls me … except maybe for that very, very rare time when he called to say sorry because he spilled paint all over me in class, long time ago. He did so because I teased him during class that time, and I actually spilled paint on him first, by accident. He just fought back, I guess.

But today, it's going to be different…I mean, this time, I'm the one who's going to call him, not the other way around.

Had he cooled off by now? What would he feel if I called him? Was he okay? Or would he just ignore me? Or do something else?

I was afraid, but I gave it a shot anyway and I nervously dialed his number in my room. My fingers quivered as I held the phone and my other hand was twisting the phone line mindlessly. The phone was ringing… ringing… ringing…

…then it stopped…

Someone just lifted the handset up.

It must be Arnold…

I held my breath...

I firmed my grip to the phone… still no voice from the other line…

Looks like I had to say something. Here goes…

"Uh, hello? H-Hello, Arnold?" I called over the phone, eager to hear his voice again, "Are you t-there?"

I waited for an answer…

… and waited…

… until I got some reply from the other line. It was a single sound…

Click!

The phone hung up! I slowly shook my head! Hmph! Oh great! Some response!

I tried dialing the same number again. After I said something, the phone hung up again. I called up Phoebe to check if that was the right number. She told me she got it from Gerald recently so she's absolutely sure that it was Arnold's number.

Oh great! Just great! That could only mean one thing…

Football-head's ignoring me! Crimity!

I asked Phoebes over the phone if she could call Arnold for me. Minutes later, she called back and told me that the same thing happened… the phone just hung up. He didn't say anything at all. Looks like I'm not the only one. He's ignoring everyone! I called him once more. This time, the phone just kept ringing and ringing and ringing. This time, he didn't even lift up the handset.

I called up Phoebes again…

"I don't understand why he's doing that, Helga," she told me over the line.

"Same here! But that does it, Phoebes!" I made up my mind, "I'm getting to the bottom of this. I'm going to head over his place tomorrow and I'll just tell it to him straight. He can't ignore me now."

"Well, be careful, Helga. Good luck," she said lastly.

She was right. Somehow, I had a feeling I'll going to need that, "Thanks, Phoebes!" After saying goodbye, I hung up the phone and dragged myself to bed.

As I pulled my blanket to sleep, thoughts swirled as ideas drifted. Of course I'll heading to his place tomorrow. But THEN what? What would I say? What would I do?

But then I decided that a good sleep is important so I just slept that night fitfully.

Monday morning greeted me with a tender, bright sunlight as the birds flew through the thinly veiled clouds. I tossed myself right out of bed, in a hurry to get up, but I sat right back and smiled to myself, almost forgetting that the exams are still a week from today and there was no school between now and then.

That afternoon, I set off to do the most important thing today. I burst out of my house and started hiking towards Arnold's. Earlier, I spent the morning, sitting in front of my shrine and figuring out my approach. Okay Helga, let's go through that one more time. Just knock at his door, say hi to him, ask him of he's alright, and apologize. Piece of cake.

Well, it would have been a simple plan, torn out of a textbook or something. But I when I turned to Vine street… his street…I hid right at the nearest corner I could find. From there, I used my "spy girl" skills to stealthily approach his house without him seeing me, even if he was outside. I was on the same side of the street as Arnold's boarding house was, so I won't have to cross the street at all.

I took advantage of hiding on the corners of every house, approaching Arnold's place, with caution. From corner to corner, I moved stealthily yet inconspicuously. When I stayed on one corner and the coast was clear, I silently moved to the next corner. Tensions rose as I moved from one corner to another, as I was getting more worried than ever whether he was alright. I was breathing heavily again. Steady, Helga, steady. He's probably eager to say sorry to 'ya.

Just near his house, I saw a large wall, but I was appalled to see some graffiti written on it. I studied it closely. It was a coating of fresh red paint. The writings were random and unintelligible. As I noticed how wet the paint was, it seemed that someone had vandalized the wall just minutes ago. Probably it was from some kid who thought it was just some prank or something.

As I continued on to Arnold's house, I saw more walls with more of the same unrecognizable red graffiti on them. The paint was also fresh. The sky was getting darker as I stealthily continued on to Arnold's door, carefully avoiding being blemished by the red paint.

Finally, I was hiding by the side of his boarding house. I crept slowly as I took a peek at the front door, just a couple of steps away from the corner that I hid. There was no one. Perhaps he's studying inside, I thought. I stayed awhile in that corner, thinking of my next move, yet made opportunistic glances at his front door.

But in one of those glances, I saw someone come to Arnold's front door from the other side of the street. I saw a Football-headed guy, carrying a can of red paint with one hand, and a brush on the other. He had a blonde cornflower hair, just like Arnold. He had also a blue cap, just like Arnold. I rubbed my eyes but after that I still couldn't believe it…

It WAS Arnold!

I shook my head and it was very hard for me to get over the shock. I could never expect that Arnold would…would do such a thing. I hid back at the corner. I leaned my back firmly up against the side of his house. I was mindlessly viewing at his rooftop fire escape and the darkening sky when I heard Arnold's front door open, then close.

I looked back at the front door. No one was there anymore. I began to breathe more uneasily.

Okay, Helga… easy there, ol' girl. Pretend you never saw that. Pretend that you never saw any of it. It was probably someone who looked like Arnold who vandalized those walls and was just visiting his boarding house and…slap! No! I'm not fooling myself with this. I was certain without a doubt that it was Football-head.

But I had no choice. From the corner, I walked carefully until I was by his front door. I took one huge breath before I called his attention by bravely ringing the boarding house doorbell. My hands were shaking again. Steps could be heard from inside, as they shuffled with the wooden floors from within. The doorknob turned…

The door creaked a bit… opened…

At this point I wanted to run away, but I clenched my hands and repeatedly convinced myself that I'll not be doing this for me… I'll be doing this for… for… him.

The door stopped midway. And without a doubt there he was … right in front of me. The clothes he wore were the same as the one who entered the boarding house. Arnold looked at me very seriously, searched me all over from head to toe. He seemed surprised as to why of all people who would be at his front door, it was I who had to show up. There was silence between us. No words were spoken. Seconds passed, but I heard nothing from him. I was beginning to sweat all over. Despite me being his "Bully of the Year," the Arnold I knew would've already smiled and greeted me, "Hey Helga! What's up?" by now. But I never heard a word from him. Oh no. This isn't good…

Should I say something about those walls? But I felt like wanting to keep it to myself because he appeared unusually serious…

My heart was pounding.

My knees were shaking.

My spine was tingling.

My body was shivering.

I wanted to turn back… to run away… to get away…

But I was certain, despite what he appeared to be, he's probably screaming inside … maybe yelling… just like in my dream.

"Help! Help! Somebody help me!"

I gulped, slightly pulling my collar. I cleared my throat as I remembered the final line of my poem with Phoebes…

"What should I do now Arnold, my love…

What should I do…"

Addtl. Disclaimer: Now that you've read the whole chapter by now, I also claim the dream seq. and the poem. The Helga poem in this chapter is something I had to make for this story. Though it was pretty short, I had to make so many revisions (as many as twenty times!) of the poem until I was finally satisfied with it. I wanted it to sound as 'Helga'-like as possible. I actually tried to imagine her voice in my head as she was reciting that same poem. How did I do?

And as far as Helga's writing poems are concerned, I couldn't write a poem that quick and that spontaneous in real life. See how long it took me to write and rewrite? I'm not THAT talened, you know? You can actually say I'm just a "newbie" poem writer as well as a "newbie" story writer:)

In fact, I have a pretty unusual mindset. I remember when I was in high school and college. I could grasp very complicated concepts like physics, chemistry, and advanced algebra very easily, and actually get high grades for them (ehem, but not to brag though). But for some unknown reason, I had such an extreme difficulty interpreting poems, literature, and poetry.

That's why I wanted to write. If you guys know me in person, I'll probably be the last guy on earth to be expected to do something like this. But the only way I will ever know myself more is to do new stuff like this. Just daring to be different, 'ya know? ;)

What do you think? Was this chapter too short or too long? I've looked at the number of words so far in this fic and I've noticed that other fics should have been around 15-20 chapters by now. But mine is only 6 chapters. Or is the length of each chapter just okay?

Chapter 7 is next... ooh... you guys are going to love this one... (evil grin)... mwahahahahahahahah. The next chapter's going to be a real shocker, as if this story isn't shocking enough:)

Later, you guys! And keep guessing what happens next, okay? (Mental note to myself: Consider making a suspense HA fic after this one...)

Happy Holidays to everyone!

- tst :)