Hi everyone. So here is part two of this three part series. The first one dealt with Arnold, so now we dive deep into how Helga is dealing with his new crusade as Hillwood's everyday sage.
This is still part of a new series and these stories are all part of it, it may become difficult for the average reader to fully understand what is going on. To help with this, I will be listing all previous stories in chronological order at the beginning of each chapter, so any reader that wishes to know what happened in previous stories can see their titles and read them prior to the current one. I hope this helps.
1. HA! Season 6: Helga vs. Rodrigo - Rodrigo Castile starts grade six at PS 118. He is introduced to Arnold and his friends and everyone quickly warms up to him, except Helga who think he is not who he claims to be and attempts to find out what he is hiding.
2. HA! Season 6: Los Tres Caballeros - (The Three Gentlemen)After his fight with Helga, Rhonda shuns Rodrigo and avoids him. But when she unexpectedly invites him to her upcoming party, she delivers a bombshell offer that even Rodrigo cannot afford to refuse. Will he be able to get back on Rhonda's good side and become friends, or is this the beginning of a long standing rivalry?
3. HA! Season 6: Salsa vs. Jazz -Rodrigo and Arnold are paired up to go a musical project presentation. However, they soon begin to clash when their bias prevents them deciding which genre to choose. Will they be able to put their myopic tendencies aside and work together, or are they desinted to fail?
4. HA! Season 6: Deconstructing Arnold II: Since starting the sixth grade, Arnold becomes the popular, wise kid everyone seeks out for help or advise. When he realizes that Rodrigo hasn't yet sought him out, Arnold begins to hassle him to help him, despite Rodrigo's insistance that he is okay. How far will Arnold go to 'help' him and what does Rodrigo say to him that prompts him to self-reflect on why he helps people?
Arnold, Helga, Gerald and Phoebe entered school one early morning, calmly walking through its hallway to get to their lockers.. While Phoebe and Gerald chatted away, Helga had stopped talking to Arnold, knowing full well what was about happen.
"Hey Arnold!" One fifth grader quickly approached him. "Quickly, I need to ask you a question."
Right on cue. Helga thought.
"Sure Kyle. What's up?" Arnold asked as he stopped.
"I'll just meet you at your locker." Helga said to him, not wanting to bother to wait and overhear whatever probable mundane problem the kid had.
"Sure Helga. I'll meet you there." Arnold agreed.
It had become a routine habit. The second they enter the school, or even the second he leaves the boarding house, a swarm of kids would gather around Arnold to ask and heed the advise of this increasingly popular pre-teen Buddha.
Like vultures! Helga thought as she followed Gerald and Phoebe from behind.
Arnold's talent and dedication to helping out ours have reached so far and wide that kids from the other side of town would make the journey to see him! Heck, even some adults made the journey.
I wouldn't be surprised if they come from Timbuktu! Helga exclaimed in thought.
The fools. Helga thought with disdain. They don't need Arnold to help them. If they even just use a stem in their brains, they can figure it out themselves. Lazy bunch of good-for-nothing bi-pedals.
It had been a week since his fight with Rodrigo, but that did not seem to deter Arnold. If anything, now being more conscious about of what drives him to dedicate so much time to helping others, it encouraged him to take on this task with even more vigor, much to Helga's disdain.
How much longer is he going to keep doing this? Helga frustratingly exclaimed in thought. Crimeny, it's been almost two months, with no end in sight! Ever since we came back from San Lorenzo we've haven't had much time to spend together. It's bad enough he has to help his parents out, but he's spending the rest of his time helping out complete strangers who just a few months ago, wouldn't have given him a second look!
This maybe my first relationship, but I know for a fact that the first few months are crucial in creating a close and loving relationship. And with someone as erratic as I, that's gonna take even more work!
Helga had every reason to feel frustrated. Despite her deep infatuation with her beloved, Helga had set realistic expectations on how she would want their relationship to progress. She took the crucial step in making their relationship publicly known, which was harder, yet also easier than she thought, so that was done. The second step was just for them to spend some time together, preferably alone, at least to sort a few things out. However, with his parents being completely out for almost a decade, Arnold had to dedicate a good chunk of his time in not only spending time with them, but also helping them re-integrate back into society. This would have been easier if his parents weren't always pestering him. Helga knew they wanted to make up for lost time and as understanding as she was, she felt they often crossed the line a bit by constantly walking with them to and back from school, bursting into his room when they were alone unannounced, or just coming up with any excuse to spend time with him, even though it was clear that Arnold wanted to spend some time either with her, his friends or even just by himself. As if that wasn't enough, Arnold now had the added task on helping everyone else in the city.
Although Helga was supportive in all of this, she was quickly starting to worry about their relationship. It wasn't progressing. With Arnold's newfound 'job', they had little time to spend together and whatever time they did have, they often spent it with their friends. Despite it being almost two months, Helga could easily count how many times they had any time to themselves.
Only four! She exclaimed in thought. That's all the time I get to be with him? That's not enough!
Helga then stopped as she got to her locker. But instead of opening it, she stood there, closed her eyes and began to mediate.
Ugh, I'm getting too worked-up over this. She thought. Just calm down, Helga, take a deep breath and just think of happy thoughts.
Following Dr. Bliss' advice, she slowly inhaled, held it for a few seconds, and then released it. She did it a few times until she felt her anger and frustration dissipate.
I can't get worked-up about this. She thought as she finally began to open her locker. Arnold is going through some big changes right now and he needs my support. He just got back together with his parents and that's going to be a big challenge for him, and them. And, him helping others, what's not to love about that? I can't afford to be self-centered now. It's wouldn't do us any good.
Helga got all of her things and closed her locker.
But...what about me? She worryingly thought. What about us?
"Hey Helga." Arnold then said from behind her, catching her attention. "Thanks for waiting." He said with a smile, a smile that nearly caused her heart to skip a beat.
"Yeah, it was not biggie." She casually remarked. "So, how was Dodo-head over there? Did you help him attain 'enlightenment'?" She asked him.
"Yeah, a bit." Arnold said with a chuckle. "He just needed help on how to tell his friends that he didn't want to be part of their basketball team anymore because, he was just never a sports person."
"That's it?" A surprised Helga asked, the triviality of it caused her anger to rise again, but she managed to keep it under control.
"Boy with problems like that, who needs happiness?" She rhetorically remarked as she then made her way to class, with Arnold following her.
A few days later…
It was lunch recess. Arnold and Helga were outside, finally alone. It had been the first time in a few weeks since they were able to find some alone time at school. They had just finished their lunch, but wanted to eat and enjoy their tapioca outside.
"Well this is nice." Arnold then commented.
"It's wonderful…" Helga lovingly swooned. "I mean uh, sure, whatever floats your boat, Football Head. A little chilly out here though."
"Oh really?" Arnold asked and saw that Helga wasn't wearing her coat. "Here, you can use mine."
"No Arnold, it's okay, I don't ne-" Helga began to protest, but as soon as Arnold took his coat out and put it around her shoulders, the warmth from his body and fragrant euphoric smell soon grasped Helga and enticed her to accept the offering.
"Thanks." She said with a grateful smile.
Arnold too smiled back, but then suddenly,
"Oh Arnold, I'm so glad I found you." Nadine approached Arnold, obviously in of some help.
Helga's smile almost immediately disappeared and rolled her eyes.
"Ugh, what is it now Spider Girl?" Helga asked, looking irritated by the interruption. "Someone stomped on your Tarantula pet?"
"No, Helga." Nadine firmly answered her, not finding her remark the least bit comical. "It's about me and Rhonda."
"What happened?" Arnold asked.
Nadine then began to tell him. "Well, we were trying to come up with what to do with our upcoming slumber party. Rhonda wanted to look at the latest fashion show while I want to watch a nature documentary on the Amazon Rain forest. Then I made the comment that the attire people wear in those fashion shows are so 'blah' that Rhonda took offense to that. Then she made the comment that my nature documentaries are disgusting and boring, which is so untrue and very offensive, considering that we are in a critical stage with climate change."
You have got to be kidding me. Helga angrily thought at such a trivial 'dilemma'.
Nadine continued. "So now we've reached a dangerous conundrum where we are not talking to each other again. Normally we would just let a few days go by before we start talking again, but I think this time maybe serious. She's really ticked off! Can you help us Arnold, please?"
"Helga," Arnold then spoke to her, "is it okay if I-"
"Sure, go ahead. Whatever." Helga interjected, trying to sound as casual as possible, although she was clearly bothered by this.
"Thanks, Helga." Arnold said and leaned in to give her a small peck on her cheek.
Helga was too much in shock to respond back, but she did blush a little bit. Arnold smiled at the gesture, but he soon ran off with Nadine to act the mediator.
As soon as Arnold left, Helga's entrance gave way and sadness soon gripped her face. A sudden cold breeze then ran by and made her shiver, reminding her that she was alone. With only Arnold's coat left for warmth, she grabbed the sides and pulled them tightly closing together.
The next day…
School had just ended and Arnold and Helga were walking back to the neighbourhood alone. The weather was a bit pleasant that day, so both pre-teens thought it was a good idea to go for a stroll from school. They would be away from their friends and any pestering kid. It was just them.
"I gotta hand it to you, Football Head." Helga said as they approached their neighbourhood. "that was quite a swing you made during recess. You almost knocked Harold out again. HA! That would have been a good, nostalgic laugh."
"Thanks Helga." Arnold said. "But I'm thankful I didn't hit Harold. I didn't want to give him a concussion."
"Why not?" Helga said. "It'll probably knock some sense into that kid, not to mention even put a screw loose back into place. Pink Boy really needs to do well this year if he ever wants to be taken seriously."
"Come on Helga, have some faith." Arnold said. "He's changed a lot since the fourth grade."
Helga then said, "If by 'change', you mean getting a deeper voice, a fatter tummy and pimples, then sure, he's sure changed a lot!"
"I didn't mean that kind of change." Arnold softly countered. "I mean maturity wise."
"Uh huh." Helga just remarked. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"Anyways," Arnold then redirected the conversation. "this is a pretty nice walk."
"Yeah, it is." Helga casually remarked, although deep down she was enjoying it. "It's good to have some time alone for a change."
"Yeah." Arnold agreed, almost lovingly.
"I mean uh." Helga caught on and quickly tried to dissuade from what she meant. "you know, from constantly getting bothered by random people who can't solve their own problems."
"That too." Arnold said, intentionally redirecting what Helga meant; them.
Helga saw the futility of it and relented.
"I uh, missed you." She then nervously said to him.
Arnold smiled and then gently showed him his hand. Helga, seeing that he was offering it this time, smiled back and accepted it.
"I miss-" Arnold was about to say when,
"Arnold!" Someone called out to him from behind, prompting both pre-teens to stop and turn around.
"Thank goodness you are here!" Oskar Kokoshka exclaimed as he approached them, looking visibly distressed about something.
"Oh. Hi Mr. Kokoshka." Arnold greeted him.
Helga however, angry on being interrupted again, and no less than by Oskar, showed her disdain by giving him an angry frown. Oskar however, ignored her.
"I'm glad I caught up to you." Oskar said to Arnold. "I need your help."
"What is it?" Arnold asked.
Oskar began. "I was playing a gentleman's game with a few friends of mine, a few days ago."
"Let me guess." Helga then interjected. "You took on some bad debt and these 'gentlemen' are now coming for you to get their money."
"Hey, how do you know that?!" A stunned Oskar asked. "Have you been spying on me? That's very creepy and illegal. I should sue you for that!"
"Believe me," Helga said with a tone that showed how much she disdained him, "I wouldn't spend even a second of time on you, even if I was paid to do it."
Oskar was a bit stunned, even a bit hurt, by her comment that it rendered him silent for a few seconds.
"Arnold, you are such a good kid," Oskar then said to him, "I don't know why you spend all your time helping someone who so rude and insincere."
"Helga is my girlfriend, Mr Kokoshka." Arnold politely reminded him. "I'm spending time with her."
"In the mean time," Helga then spoke to Oskar, "why don't you spend some time with my fi-"
"Uh, Mr. Kokoshka," Arnold then quickly intervened by getting in front of Helga before she delivered her punch, "why don't you head back to the boarding house and I'll meet up with you there so we can come up with a plan on how to help you."
"Oh thank you, thank you, Arnold." A grateful Oskar exclaimed as he shook Arnold's hand. "I will meet you back home. Don't be late, please. My friends told me they are coming tomorrow to get their money."
Oskar then headed back home, leaving Arnold and Helga.
"Hey! Why didn't you let him get acquainted with old Betsy?" Helga asked. "You heard the man; he is as good as dead. The mob is going to come tomorrow for their money, which he doesn't have!"
"Because it wouldn't have solve anything, Helga." Arnold said. "And it's not too late for him. Maybe I can find a way to get him out of his debt."
"I can understand any other person," Helga said, "but why on Earth would you ever bother to help him?! He's a low life, freeloading scum. Even your parents don't like him."
"Because everyone deserves a chance to be helped." Arnold said. "It's still not too late for him. Anyways, I need to head home and come up with a plan to get the money. Would it be okay if we can take a rain-check?"
Helga just sighed. "Not that I have a choice." She remarked, but then eased her tone. "Go get'em Football Head."
"Thanks Helga." Arnold said and then gave her a kiss on her hand before departing. "I promise I'll make it up to you."
"You better!" Helga playfully, but with a serious tone, exclaimed. As soon as Arnold was out of sight, "GGRRRRR!" She angrily growled and stomped on the ground.
"Once again the world yanks out my one and only beloved Arnold from under arms." She said to herself. "I have him, and yet he constantly slips through my fingers. Just this once can I have some alone time with my beloved?!
A few days later…on a Saturday...
Helga had to wait until the weekend for Arnold to 'find' time to make it up to her. Luckily for her, the waiting wasn't a waste. Arnold had it all planned out. They would go for a nice walk through Tina Park, then go to the nearest burger joint and get something to eat, then get ice cream while the weather allowed it and Helga didn't have to pay for any of it!
Not a bad deal at all. Helga thought as she and Arnold were just about to exit the park.
"It sure was nice taking a walk through the park today." Arnold commented.
"I'll give you that." Helga said. "You picked a good day."
"I'll say." Arnold responded. "It's nice and sunny out."
"Yeah yeah, it is." Hegla quickly said. "Can we eat now? I'm starving."
"Oh right." Said Arnold. "Let's go and eat."
The two pre-teens quickly made their way to the burger joint. Arnold has been so preoccupied on trying to make it up to Helga that he had forgotten that Helga had been finding trouble getting a good meal at home recently. They were still leaving in Bob's old Beeper Store and with money rapidly running out, the family was forced to reduce some expenses.
However, as soon as they were out of the park, a kid suddenly approached them,
"Hey Arnold!" A random kid called out to him, forcing Arnold to stop and glance at the kid, much to Helga's frustration.
"You got a sec?" The random kid asked. "I'm in a bit of a pickle and I could really use your help."
"What kind of a pickle are you in?" Arnold asked, but Helga then suddenly intervened before the kid could respond.
"You'll end up in a real pickle jar if you don't beat it!" She angrily exclaimed at the kid. "Arnold is on his day off so take whatever problem you have and just-"
"Hold on a second Helga." Arnold then interjected before giving his attention back at the kid. "Can it wait until later today?" He asked him
"Um, I wish it could," The distressful kid responded, "but I don't think it can. Please Arnold, I really need your help."
Arnold hesitated for a few seconds on whether to give in and help the kid. But, that day was his time to be with Helga. He promised to make it up to her after the last time he helped someone. Eventually however, his good spirited side finally getting the best of him,
"Okay sure." He said to kid. "But you have five minutes."
"Seriously Arnold?!" Helga irritatingly said. "Right now?"
"Just one second, Helga." Arnold said to her. "It won't take too long."
Helga could do nothing but frustratingly sigh and 'patiently' waited for him to finish. As angry as this was making her, she didn't want to cause a ruckus and ruin their time together. But suffice it to say, this was now really testing her patience.
Not wanting to know what the kid's problem was, Helga took a few steps away from them and waited. This was easier said than done. Her hunger was now starting to creep into her stomach and make it growl. She hadn't eaten a good breakfast meal and it was already past 1p.m. The more she waited, the hungrier she became and the more ignored she felt. However luckily, after only a few minutes,
"Done." Arnold said as he approached her. "Let's go."
Helga said nothing and with a sigh of relief, just followed him as he took her to the local burger joint. Within a few minutes they arrived and Helga wasted no time in ordering a big, juicy burger with fries. Arnold ordered the same food.
Helga was so hunger that she remained quiet throughout and gobbled on the burger that was right in front of her. The smell of it created such an insatiable appetite that she let go of all restraint and began to devour it. Arnold also quietly ate his meal, but he was a little anxious at Helga's silence. He wasn't sure if she was quiet because she was busy eating, or if she was upset on having to briefly stop their date to help someone. Whatever the reason, he saw she was enjoying her meal and so opted to stay quiet. It was only after she had swallowed a little more than half of the burger and fries that Arnold finally spoke.
"So, how do you like it?" He almost cautiously asked.
"Oh it's great!" Helga mumble as she continued to gobble the burger and fries. "It za ruisiet bug a've mmm!"
"What?" Arnold asked.
Helga signaled to Arnold to give her a minute as she munched on the last piece of food still in her mouth and then swallowed.
"I said it's the juiciest burger I've ever eaten. Thanks Football Head. You really came through on this one." As she then gave him a friendly punch on his arm.
"I'm glad you liked it." Arnold said as he rubbed his arm. "Sorry for briefly interrupting our date."
"Let's not talk about that." Helga said as she grabbed some fries and quickly ate them. "I just…wanna, you know, focus on...tip of the tongue, Arnold, tip of the tongue Arnold!"
"Us?" Arnold asked.
"Yes, that's it!" Helga exclaimed.
As time went on, Helga had been feeling more and more in need to talk to Arnold about the amount of time he had been dedicating to helping others. The more time he spent on others, the less time he spent on them and Helga was beginning to worry. She was no fool. She knew she came with heavy baggage and thus, would require a lot of time in communicating and trying to form a strong, loving bond. She initially opted to say nothing, but with the help of Dr. Bliss, Helga gained enough confidence to see the need to talk to him about this before she eventually loses it and the last thing she wanted was to get into another argument with her beloved.
"Look," She began, "you helping people is all good and all, but I need to be frank here. Over the last two months you've-"
"There he is!" Someone suddenly called out from inside the restaurant, prompting Arnold, Helga and everyone else inside to look at the entrance. It was another kid, but he was soon joined by his friends who all quickly entered the restaurant and approached him.
"Hey Arnold!" One girl said to him. "Listen, you need to help me something. I need-"
"Hey, I was here first!" Another kid interrupted the first and pushed the girl away. "This'll be quick, Arnold. I - "
"No, I was here first!" The girl then came back and pushed the second kid away, with a few more pushing each other to be the first in line.
Helga silently sat there with much shock. She couldn't believe how Arnold had become. He practically had celebrity status. No matter where he went, or who he was with, people approached him without any consideration.
"Guys! Guys!" Arnold the yelled the group, prompting them to go quiet.
"Calm down." He said to the group. "One at a time, please."
"Arnold." Helga tried to get his attention.
"Just a second, Helga." Before Arnold interrupted her. "There's no need to be pushing each other around. Everyone will get their chance."
"Arnold." Helga again tried to get his attention.
"Be right with you, Helga." Arnold again interrupted her and looked back at the group of kids. "Just form a line right now, be patient and I promise I will help each and every one of you."
"Arnold I need to talk you! Now." Helga said as she suddenly stood up and spoke with such a serious tone in her voice that it finally got Arnold's attention.
"Outside." She directed him, but instead of waiting for him to move, she merely grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the group.
The other kids, hearing the seriousness in Helga's voice, just stood there and quietly glanced at the couple as they left the restaurant.
"So, is she the first in line?" A kid randomly asked.
Once outside, Helga silently continued to drag Arnold through the streets, around the corner until they were at the back of the restaurant.
"Helga!" Arnold exclaimed as he yanked his arm away from Helga's grasp. "What gives?" He asked with a frown.
"Arnold, this has got to stop." Helga firmly spoke. "For two months you have been acting as the world's knight in shining armor by spending so much time getting into other people's problems, people who before last summer wouldn't have given you a second look!"
"I'm not trying to be anyone's knight in shining armor." Arnold countered. "I'm just trying to help people."
"Oh come on, Football Head!" Helga exclaimed. "You know that's not true. You practically live off this. At least you can do is be honest with me."
"Okay fine." Arnold relented. "Maybe I have been over doing it a little. But, someone's gotta do it Helga. Look around you. These are crazy times and these people, especially kids, need help."
"Need help?" Helga rhetorically asked. "Arnold have you even been listening to what kind of problems you have been helping people with? They are not life-threatening or life-altering problems, just everyday kind of problems that they can easily figure out themselves. They are just either too lazy or too stupid to do it."
"And secondly," Helga quickly continued before Arnold could answer, "What about me?! Or more precisely, what about us? We've been back at school for almost two months and we've hanged alone only a few times. I never get to see you anymore! And the few times when we do, you can't resist the temptation and just go running to the nearest crybaby."
"It's like you are just using this as an excuse to avoid me. Are you?" She then genuinely, but also a bit emotionally asked him.
"What?!" A shocked Arnold exclaimed. "No, not at all! I would never do that, especially to you!"
"Well, that is what it feels like." She said with a hurtful pout.
Arnold then realized the seriousness of the situation. Seeing that he had been unintentionally sidelining her, his guilt began to terribly grip him. Just looking at Helga's sad, hurtful expression was creating a type of pain in his chest that have never experienced before. He didn't just feel bad for her, he felt the pain that he had inflicted and it was killing him.
"I'm so sorry." He softly said as he placed his hand on her shoulder and then rubbed her back. "I didn't realize what I was doing to you. I never meant to sideline you like that. You know I would never do that to you on purpose."
"I know." Helga softly, but sadly said. "It's just that, with your parents being back and all, you have been spending a lot of time with them, which you definitely should. I'm not saying you shouldn't. But, coupled with that and now you hell-bent on helping every single soul that comes your way, well, lately I've just been feeling… argh crimeny I don't want to say it! Alone, like you and I never really...existed."
Arnold was stunned by her words.
"But it does exist." Arnold firmly assured her as he gently grabbed her hands.
"I meant what I said back in San Lorenzo and what we talked about this past summer. None of that was a lie, nor was I caught up in the 'moment'. Everything I said about how I feel about you, even though I'm still not quite sure how to really express it in words other than that I 'like' like you, is true."
"Really?" She asked, still looking sad, but having a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Yes." Arnold said, his confidence reassuring Helga, enough to make her smile a bit and regain some confidence in their relationship.
"I know things haven't been easy for you at all these past few months." Arnold continued. "And I'm sorry for making you think that your problems are not as important as anyone else. They are. Believe me when I say this, you take priority. Just know that whenever you want to talk, I'll be here."
Helga's smile almost completely faded and almost gave way to a disappointed look. She realized that Arnold did not yet completely grasp the whole situation. He thought she was upset because he was focusing and prioritizing other people's problems and not hers. This was only partially true and Arnold failed to take into account the other part; Helga's intense, passionate feelings for him.
This was the real issue and why Helga was so worried about their relationship. She was well aware of their imbalanced emotional affections for each other and was almost desperate to try and get him 'up to speed' with it, at least in part to solidify their relationship. However, with Arnold's attention seemingly everywhere else, that re-balancing has proven to be elusive. But, Arnold failed to take that into account because he did not know how much he meant to her. How could he, when Helga never told him?
"Thanks Arnold." Helga thanked him. " But, it's not just about that." She soon began to grew anxious and nervous. "There's...something else that...needs to be considered."
"Like what?" Arnold asked.
Helga however, struggled to tell Arnold about how she truly felt about him. She didn't just 'like' liked him, she was madly in love with him. Her mind soon became plagued by the amount of questions running through her head. How will she tell him? Where would she start? Would he be alright with this? Will it scare him? Or worse, will he make fun of her?
"I...I…I…" Helga tried to say it, at least give him a clue about it so he can understand her and their situation bit more. "It's...It's…"
"Yes?" Arnold again asked.
"There's just is, okay?!" Was all she was able to blurt out. "And-And-And it's something that we need to deal with but you're not helping when your attention is elsewhere!"
Arnold didn't really quite understand what Helga meant by that and wanted to press her for more information. However, he knew by this time that if Helga was unable to tell him something, it meant that she wasn't ready to and if he pushed her, it would only upset her. With situations like these, it was best to just wait and let Helga gather the confidence and strength to tell him.
"Okay." Arnold said. "Look, whatever else we need to consider, I promise to make sure we move past it."
Helga said nothing and with a pouting look, merely glanced back at him.
"Listen, I don't want to waste anymore time." He continued. "This is our date time. So, let me just go back to the restaurant and help those kids so we can get back to-"
"Did you hear what I said?" Helga then suddenly interrupted. "I said this has to stop; which means right now!"
"Helga, you don't need to feel that I am sidelining you." Arnold tried to reason with her. "I'm not. I'll always be here for you whenever you need-"
"This isn't about that, Arnoldo." Helga quickly interjected. "It's about that thing we need to consider, but cannot be mentioned."
"Well, what do you need me to do then?" Arnold then asked.
"Go back to that restaurant," Helga explained, "tell those kids that you are on a day off and you are with your girlfriend and to bother you another time."
Arnold just sighed.
"Okay Helga." He agreed to do it, but showed that he was slightly annoyed by this. He wasn't sure why she was acting up like this. It most likely had something to do with that 'thing that needs to be considered', but until she tells him, he would not know how serious, or not, it really is. He learned that with Helga, you can never really know.
Arnold kept his promise and went back inside the restaurant and told the kids who miraculously were still waiting for him to see him another time. Helga followed behind him, but waited outside of the restaurant. She didn't have to wait long. Pretty soon, all the kids left the burger joint, looking disappointed or frustrated, but Helga didn't care. It was their time now, not theirs. As soon as the last kid left, Helga went inside.
"Okay, they are gone." Arnold said with a calm, yet still annoyed look on his face.
"Thank you." Helga just genuinely thanked him.
"Now can we go back our date?" He asked.
"Yes." She said as she cracked up a grateful and happy smile, but which Arnold interpetrated as a selfish smirk. But, he didn't say anything to her.
Both pre-teens sat down and quietly finished their food. After some time, when they were full, Arnold tip the bill and left the place.
"Oh yeah, that hit the spot!" A deeply satisfied Helga exclaimed as she rubbed her seemingly round bell and used a toothpick to clean her teeth.
"Well, were do you wanna go next?" Arnold asked. "Movies perhaps?"
"Sure, what the hey." Helga casually agreed and the two headed off to catch the bus.
Despite the rather tense situation back at the restaurant, both pre-teens tried to make the best of it as they tried to get back into their date mood by talking about whatever came to mind, even the food they just ate. That was going to stick in Helga's mind for a while.
"We're here." Arnold said as he pulled the string to inform the driver.
As soon as the bus stopped, they made their way out and headed to the movie theater.
"Ooh, let's see this one!" Helga excitedly exclaimed as she pointed to the movie poster.
"Space Aliens Part IV?" Arnold asked. "Sure, sounds good."
Arnold then made his way to the booth to buy the tickets. However, before he had a chance to,
"Hey Arnold!" Another kid suddenly showed up from his side, catching his attention and Helga's.
"Thank goodness I found you!" The kid exclaimed, looking very distressed about something. "I need your help!"
The kid was younger and smaller in stature than the two pre-teens, being perhaps in the fourth or fifth grade.
"What is it?" Arnold asked.
"Sorry kid." Helga then approached them and interjected before the kid could respond. "But Arnold has the day off today. You'll have to come back another time."
"Another time?!" The fearful kid exclaimed. "I don't think I can last that long. I really need his help."
"Forget it!" Helga yelled at him.
"Hold on, Helga." But Arnold calmly interjected and placed a gently touch on her shoulder. "Let's hear him out."
Helga was now livid that Arnold was breaking his promise, but the gentle touch she felt calmed her down enough to not say anything.
"What problem do you have?" He asked the kid.
"Some bullies have been stealing my lunch money for days now." The kid explained. "I've tried to avoid them, but they keep finding me. I tried telling my teacher, but that only made things worse. Now they saw me and are wanting to take my money even on the weekends!"
"What? That's terrible!" An outraged Arnold exclaimed.
"That is so unjust and unfair." Helga agreed, much to Arnold's surprise and hope. "And Arnold will most certainly be able to help you with this...tomorrow." She said with an unsympathetic smile.
"Oh come on Helga." Arnold countered. "He needs our help."
"Hey! It's your day off, remember?" Helga snapped.
"Yes, but this is serious." Arnold countered back.
"I'm not telling you that you shouldn't help him." Said Helga. "You are more than welcome to, tomorrow. But right now, your focus is with me. Now come on, hurry up and get us those tickets!" She ordered him and began to head to the ticket booth.
"No Helga." But she was stopped dead in her tracks when Arnold gave her a firm response.
"Excuse me?" Helga asked as she turned around, clearly irritated now. "What do you mean 'no'?"
"I mean that we cannot just leave while there is someone who clearly needs our help." Arnold explained.
"Actually," the shy kid said, "I just need your help Arn-"
"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear to you." Helga interrupted the kid as she angrily stomped her way back to Arnold until she was right in his face, but he maintained his stance.
"We are on our date," Helga angrily, but softly said, trying to maintain the last bit of her cool, "you are here to make up for all the times when you stood me up to help those other buffoons. Me! You're girlfriend! Now I am willing to allow this charade to continue, but on you're own time. While you are with me, you dedicate your full attention to me! That is not an unreasonable demand!"
Despite the now growing tensions between the couple, Arnold remained defiant, but retained his sense of calmness and cool.
"I understand that, Helga." He said. "But it just seems really cruel to abandon someone in their time of need. I know I promised you a make up date, but I think you can look deep int your heart and know that helping this poor kid overtakes-"
"Need I remind you again," Helga angrily cut him off, "that there is still that 'thing' in our relationship that needs to be considered and taken care of."
"Helga, I don't know what this 'thing' is." Arnold annoyingly remarked. "How can I know where to go or what to do in our relationship unless you tell what this 'thing' is that we need to consider."
"I don't need to tell you because it'll be taken care off if you just listen to me!" She angrily shouted at him.
"I..I'm sorry Helga." Arnold said with a strong remorse in his voice, "If it was any other situation, I would have, but I can't with this one."
By this point, Helga had lost all patience. Without even thinking, she angrily grabbed hold of Arnold by his shirt and pulled him so close to that the football head to see the fiery anger in her eyes.
"Why is it so hard for you to just stop being everyone's her for just one day!" She angrily shouted at him as she shook him around. "You claim to have my best interest at heart, but you can't even commit to one stupid date night with me! You tell me right now why helping this stupid kid is so important to you that would even risk upsetting me to the point of getting pummeled!"
"Because he's going through what we went through when we got bullied by the bigger kids." Arnold just calmly and empathetically said to her.
The moment Arnold said that, Helga felt all the anger and her heart melting away, only to be replaced with an even greater love and admiration for her beloved football head. But then, another feeling began to crept over her; remorse and shame.
Arnold's stance on wanting to help those who were victims of bullying forced her to think back to many unpleasant, even painful memories of when Helga used to bully him. Helga could painfully see him taking the side of those less fortunate who became victims of her rampage, making herself feel ever more self-conscious and less confident that she deserved to be with anyone like Arnold. It wasn't just painful for him, it was the same for her as well, and it has haunted her since. But, she had never told him that. She never even apologized to him for all the times she humiliated him. Like a true Pataki, she pushed all such memories 'under the rug' and hoped to forget them.
"That's why I can't say 'no' to him." Arnold continued, getting Helga's attention again. "it would be wrong to turn away someone who is going through the same thing we went through. We managed to survive, so it is right to teach him how to survive his ordeal, perhaps even put a stop to it so he doesn't have to go through it. We can make a difference here."
Helga continue to show him an angry look, but she was struggling to maintain it under Arnold's logic and strong empathy, the latter being irresistible.
"Look, there's still time before the movie starts." Arnold continued, "Let me quickly speak to him so I can help them and then we can go-"
"Back to our date night, blah blah blah." Helga interjected with a frown. "You know what? You can go right ahead and help the little twerp." As she then let him go. "As for me, I'm heading home. You're clearly more worried about others than about me, about our relationship."
"Helga, that's not what I'm-" Arnold tried to explain himself, but Helga quickly cut him off.
"So don't let poor little ol' me stop you." She sarcastically said to him. "I'll just be on my merry way. Have fun watching the movie by yourself." And with that, Helga quickly began to walk way.
"Helga!" Arnold called out to her, but she refused to stop and continued to head home.
Despite being swooned by Arnold's good, idealistic nature at moment ago, she was still furious that he was prioritizing other people rather than their own relationship, even after talking to him about it!
It's like he can't stop being himself, not even for me! If that makes any sense. Helga thought.
"Helga, wait!" Arnold called out to her again, this time moving in front of her and getting her to stop.
"I didn't mean it like that." He continued. "Our relationship is important to me. Look, if it matters that much to you, then I'll tell the kid to see me tomorrow." He then offered.
That kind of surprised Helga, if not irritated her as that would mean there was no point in arguing about it a moment ago. However, instead of feeling relieved, or at least satisfied, something was off. She didn't feel happy about this arrangement at all. She looked back at the kid who was still there and the second she glanced at him, guilt once again to began to creep over her. As she looked at the kid, she saw an innocent child who was being bullied and suffering at the hands of bigger kids like herself, just for their own satisfaction, just to take out their angry and frustration at someone. Helga tried to push away the feeling and take up on Arnold's offer, but with sympathy gripping her, she was unable to. She couldn't also turn him away.
"Aarrghhh! Fine!" Helga then angrily yelled.
"Okay." Said Arnold. "I'll tell him see me tomorrow. One day won't make a difference." And was about to walk toward the kid, but then Helga stopped him.
"What I meant was for you to just forget about our date night and help the kid!" Helga frustratingly exclaimed. "He...needs your help."
"Really?" A surprised Arnold said.
"Yes." Helga replied as she grinned her teeth. "Now go!"
"Thank you, Helga." A grateful Arnold said and was about to go help but Helga again spoke.
"I'm still heading home." She declared. "The mood is gone now."
"What?" A surprised Arnold said. "But we still have plenty of time. "It'll only take a second, I promise. We can still enjoy our date night."
"Just forget it, Arnold." Helga insisted with some sadness. "I'm not in the mood anymore. I just want to go home. I'll see yeah around."
"Helga…" Arnold again tried to get her attention, but Helga was having none of it. Remaining adamant, she continued to walk away and head for home, leaving a confused Arnold right there, alone.
Realizing that it was no use, Arnold relented and allowed her to leave, but continued to watch her as she left.
I get that she was annoyed that I kept putting our date on hold, He thought. But, I don't understand why she was so adamant about it? It's like our entire relationship depended on it. Why? And what is this 'thing' that we need to consider? Is it that serious? But, I have no clue what it is and unless she tells me, I can't take the appropriate actions.
"Um, excuse me?" The kid then addressed Arnold as he tapped his shoulder, getting his attention. "Are you going to help me?"
Arnold initially said nothing and glanced back at Helga as she disappeared into the city. When she was completely gone,
"Sure." He responded back to the kid. "Come. Tell me everything."
