Responses to reviews:

Guest: Not to worry, Helga already crossed that line.

The J.A.M: Oh yeah

Veganmama: Lol definitely.


"Hm! Hm!"

Helga was instantly pulled right inside the Janitor's closet. Whoever it was, the person was very strong because she couldn't break free from the person's grasp, no matter how hard she tried. The person had wrapped one arm around her waist, while putting the other hand on her mouth, preventing her from yelling.

Helga still couldn't not see who it was, even when the person closed the closet door, which he/she did with his/her foot.

"Hmm! HMMM!" Helga muffled again and tried to breakfree.

"Shhh!" The person shushed her and turned her around to face him/her.

"Was Arnold following you?" The person asked as he lifted his hand away from her mouth.

"Crimeny Rodrigo, what is your problem?!" Helga instantly yelled at him, forgetting for a moment that it was he who should be mad at her. "I hate being touched! What are you doing here?" She asked him.

"Keep your voice down!" Rodrigo softly spoke. "And was Arnold following you?" he again asked.

"No, he wasn't." Helga answered him. "I came on my own to find you."

"Okay, great." Rodrigo sighed in relief, a fact that Helga noticed and found strange.

Just a moment ago Rodrigo looked visibly upset and angry. But now, very strangely, he looked eerily calm. It actually made Helga a bit unsettled. It was as if it was the calm before the storm. Regardless, she used that to her advantage to come fully clean with him.

"Alright. How much of it did you hear?" She asked him, referring to he discussion between her and Arnold.

"Everything." Rodrigo just calmly answered her, which again made her even more unsettled, but she pushed on.

"So then you heard when I said that I see you now as a friend?" She asked.

Rodrigo didn't say anything and just nodded.

"I meant that." She said to him. "Look, I don't really know what to say here. I know no amount of sorries is going to make up for what I did. But you gotta believe me when I said that I see you as a - "

"It's okay Helga." Rodrigo then interrupted her. "You don't need to explain. I was just playing along."

"What?" A confused Helga asked. "What do you mean you were just playing along?"

"I mean I was only pretending to be hurt and angry back there." Rodrigo explained. "But I'm okay. I only did it to get you to come find me so we can talk."

Helga stood silent whilst looking even more confused.

"What do you mean you were only pretending to be angry?" She asked "Explain."

Rodrigo took his fedora hat off from his head and held it in his hands and with a somewhat guilty face,

"I have something to confess." He said to her. "I've known sincd the beginning. I mean before your confession to Arnold. I knew what you were trying to do and how you were just using me to get back at him. I've known since you approached me and invited to come with you to the wrestling match."

Helga did not believe what she just heard.

"What?!" A highly shocked Helga exclaimed. "But I mean- ge – how? Were you spying on me?"

Rodrigo just shook his head.

"Then how did you find out?" She angrily demanded.

A few weeks prior…

Rodrigo was one of the students who arrived quite early at the lunchroom. Like the rest of the students, he was hungry and eager to put something in his stomach. But unlike the rest of the students, he paid no heed to the growing crowd that was circulating Arnold and simply headed to his usual table to sit down and eat along with Peapod Kid and Lorenzo.

By this time, he knew Arnold had amassed a very large following and it was quite normal to see a large crowd gather around him practically every day. Although he didn't see Arnold when he went in, he knew he was somewhere in that crowd.

As he sat down and ate, and while Lorenzo and Peapod Kid talked, he noticed from a corner of his eye Helga approaching the crowd. Although he didn't think anything of it, he soon realized something was off when he saw Helga just standing here, looking at first shocked, then upset, then angry. He then saw her trying, with strong eagerness, to get inside the crowd that had by now swarmed all over Arnold. Yet try as she might, she kept getting pushed aside by the other kids.

As he sat there, Rodrigo wondered why Helga looked so angry and was so eager to get through to him. And why wasn't Arnold helping her?

Rodrigo continued on looking at her many attempts to get through the crowd. He would see her disappear as she made it inside, only to be pushed out again by the kids. Yet, she would attempt again. Rodrigo watched with growing concern and even sympathy as she struggled to get to him. He had noticed that Arnold had been paying more attention to everyone else than to his girlfriend. He didn't think it was anything serious, but with the way Helga was aggressively trying to get to him, it made him think otherwise.

Eventually, Helga finally made her way through the crowd and disappeared. Thinking that she got through to Arnold, Rodrigo opted to look away and continue with his lunch. However, after a few minutes Helga emerged once again, only this time instead of getting pushed out by the other kids, she pushed them aside to make way for her to get out. He then realized that whatever happened inside the crowd probably wasn't anything good. Helga had practically stormed out of there, looking even more upset than before.

Curiously, Rodrigo waited to see if Arnold would emerge out from the crowd to follow her. Surprisingly, he did not.

Did he just stay there? He thought. Why? Did they get into a fight? What's going on with them?

Normally Rodrigo wouldn't really pay much attention to other people's personal business. But considering this was Arnold and Helga, two people he had become acutely acquainted with recently, they prompted Rodrigo to be a bit concerned about them. However, there was little he could do. He had no personal experience in dating and even if he did, he wouldn't give any advice unless asked.

I sure hope they manage to resolve their issue. He thought.

After finishing his lunch, Rodrigo headed out to grab some a drink of water. The food he brought was overly salty and while he didn't mind it, it made him very thirsty. He quietly went over to the water fountain and began to drink. He wasn't even there for long when someone soon approached him,

"Hey there, Latino boy!" Helga casually greeted him with a smile. "What's shaking and bacon?"

Although unusual that Helga was greeting him, Rodrigo didn't think much of it as he assumed she wanted some water.

"Oh. Hey Helga." He greeted her back as he finished drinking. "It's all yours." He said as he moved away from the water fountain and began to leave.

"Thanks" She said before quickly realizing what was happening. "Hey, wait a minute!" She called out to him, prompting him to stop and turn back around.

"I didn't come for a drink." She said to him. "I came here to talk to you."

That surprised him.

"Oh okay." He casually said. "About what?"

Helga took a deep breath and readjusted her facial expression to one of 'sympathy' and 'regret'.

"Look," She then began. "I feel bad for the way we started out in September. I mean with you moving here from L.A. and me accusing you of things didn't really roll out the red carpet for you. So, believe it or not, I've been doing a lot of thinking on how to make it up to you."

"Really?" Rodrigo asked, surprised by this gesture, to which Helga nodded with a 'genuine' look.

"That's really nice of you Helga." Said Rodrigo. "But you don't need to do that. We already patched things up."

"I know. I just want to." She said. "Call it a life lesson. Anyways, I heard you are into wrestling, so as a way to make it up you, I bought us two tickets to go Wrestlemania." As she then pulled out to two tickets for the event.

Rodrigo was absolutely surprised by this, not least because Helga was giving him an extra ticket to a big wrestling event, the same one he was dying to go to. But despite this, he wasn't buying this charade. In the days since they patched things up, both teens pretty much stayed out of each other's way. It was only when their friends got together to play or talk did they interact in any way with each other. Although willing to let bygones be bygones, Rodrigo wasn't particularly interested in trying to befriend Helga, for various reasons. Perhaps later in the future he could try to be friends with her, but not now. Besides, he was befriending Peapod Kid and Lorenzo around that time and seeing that they were nice and cool to hang out with, he focused his attention and resources on them.

In addition to that, since they patched up, Helga made no attempt to talk to him, or even get his attention. As far as she was concerned, he didn't exist, which was okay for him. But now when he noticed her looking upset and angry at her boyfriend she, of all the days, just coincidentally chose this day to try and 'make it up to him'? Rodrigo didn't buy that. It was just too much of a coincidence and based on his experience with her, and from what he heard about her, it quickly became clear to him that she was scheming something. He wasn't sure exactly what, but if he had to guess, she was conjuring up a way to get back at Arnold, maybe even make him jealous. Although he didn't quite knew her that well, he reasoned this would be something someone like her, desperate and with no options left, would do. It just seemed like a pretty logical conclusion.

But despite realizing this, he wasn't upset with her. Actually, he felt bad for her. To him, this didn't show cunning or courage, even scheming. It reeked of desperation and despair and...given how Arnold was not devoting his attention elsewhere, he didn't blame her. So now the question that arose was, what would he do?

Still surprised by all of this, Rodrigo looked at her and then looked back at the ticket in her hand as he tried to decide on what to do. Should he decline and call her out on it? Or...should he accept it?

During those crucial seconds Rodrigo struggled with this dilemma. If his theory was true, then it meant Helga's relationship's was in trouble and this ploy was practically, funny enough, her way of asking for help. Rodrigo realized that and he wanted to help, but he wasn't sure if this was the best way. What if Arnold got hurt? What if he got stuck in some vicious love triangle? Could that happen? Rodrigo really doubted the latter, but it was still a possibility.

"What about Arnold?" He asked her. "Doesn't he want to come with you?"

This caught Helga off guard, but she was prepared.

"Since I want us to start clean again, I'll be honest," She said, "I was originally going to take him. But seeing as how he's been really busy with his new 'career', I took a page from his book and gave it a positive twist by inviting you. I figured it's the least I could do for all the trouble I caused you. That, and you would be a much better companion than some of the losers in our classroom."

Still surprised by the invitation, Rodrigo was again silent and just stared at the ticket.

"So, what do you say?" She asked him as she gave him an 'innocent' smile.

For a second, Rodrigo opted to call Helga out and attempt to reason with her, even going so far as to offer to sit down with Arnold and talk to him. However, he reasoned Helga would not take too kindly on having her ploy discovered and being confronted about it. He could instantly see that she was a person who can not stand being cornered and as a result, will lash out. So, he dropped that idea.

Helga meanwhile continued to wait for Rodrigo to reply, feeling a bit awkward that he was taking so long to respond. Rodrigo noticed that and realized he had better make a decision fast.

But what should I do? He thought to himself. Should I just pretend and allow her to use me in her ploy so as to help her? Should I allow her to use me like that? Is this really the best way? That doesn't sound right. Should I even get involved in this?

Did they even talk about their issue? Rodrigo thought. They must have. Otherwise, Helga wouldn't attempt to do something like this. But, what if they didn't and they just need someone to get them in the same room to talk? Maybe that's all they really need. But then again…?

Rodrigo was growing anxious at this moral dilemma and continued to weight the pros and cons.

Wait a minute! He then realized something. I already know she is using me, so there wouldn't be anything wrong with me played along. I mean, so long as it is my decision and I don't get hurt, that should be fine. And I can perhaps get a good view on what's been going on between Helga and Arnold and maybe help them both out. And besides, I am a bit curious to see where this can go…

Finally, after a brief struggle, he made up his mind.

"Wow, thank you so much Helga!" Rodrigo finally exclaimed in excitement as he took his ticket. "I don't know what to say."

Back in the present…

"And that's how this whole thing started." Rodrigo concluded.

Helga stood there in utter silence whilst looking at Rodrigo with a highly baffled, even dumbfounded look. She could not believe what she just heard. So many emotions were going through her mind that very moment that she wasn't able to comprehend all of them. Shock, awe, anger, fear, the whole shpill.

"So let me get this straight." She finally spoke. "You realized my plan, but instead of calling me out on it, you took it upon yourself to allow me to use you so I can get back at Arnold?"

"Yeah." Rodrigo responded

"And by doing this little charade, you effectively outwitted me." She continue, but growing increasingly angry. "That's essentially what you're saying to me, right?"

Before Rodrigo could answer, Helga quickly continued.

"And by doing that," She said, now giving him an angry frown and even stepping closer to him. "You flipped everything and ended up using me for your own little amusement!"

"How so?" Rodrigo asked, unfazed by her growing anger.

"Let me spell it out for you." She retorted. "You took advantage of the situation by accepting to go with me to Wrestlamania for free! Then you proceeded to toy with my emotions by getting me to believe that you actually cared about me, let alone lying to be about us being friends. Need I go on?"

"That's not true." Rodrigo quickly countered. "I only agreed to go along with this to help you; that's it. I didn't do it to get something out of it. I didn't even think about Wrestlemania until after I made my decision. And I meant what I said about us being friends. Nothing of what I said to you during these last few weeks was a lie."

"How am I suppose to believe you?!" She yelled. "You knew I was using you, yet you stayed quiet and just pretended to go along with it. You do realize that makes it very suspicious. Who does that?! Unless they are trying to get something out of it. Instead of coming clean about it, you effectively lied to me."

"Are you honestly going to be lecturing me about lying?" Rodrigo just said to her. "Who really lied to whom?"

"Hey, don't twist things here!" She snapped at him. "Now answer my question; how am I suppose to believe that you actually wanted to help me when you weren't being honest with me from the get go?"

"Apart from Wrestlemania," He began. "Did I take any money from you?" He asked.

"No." Helga reluctantly groaned in agreement.

"Did I take advantage or used you in any way?" He asked. "Resources, connections, etc?"

"No." Helga had reluctantly groaned

"So there you go." He concluded.

"But that's not enough!" She countered. "How do I know you weren't just biding your time before you smelled blood in the air and pounced?!"

"You're right." He agreed. "And the answer is that you don't." He flat out said to her.

Helga was surprised by that.

"Look," Rodrigo then spoke, "Clearly we didn't start out in the right foot. So, can we just start over?" He asked.

Although a bit surprised by this offer, Helga was skeptical and remained silent.

"I mean it Helga." Rodrigo said. "I only did it to help you. I wasn't even expecting us to become friends. To be honest, that surprised me. But you know what? I'm glad it happened." He smiled.

Again, she was surprised by that, but still remained silent.

"Really." He continued. "I got to see this other side of you that you don't normally show. It's nice."

Helga wasn't buying his compliments and remained silent and distant.

"Hey if it's any consolation," He continued, "I did confess. I could have just kept my mouth shut. But I thought you deserved to know the truth."

He then stretched out his hand to her.

He does have a point. Helga thought to herself. Oh shut up! Her said to herself.

Helga sighed but still remained skeptical. But despite still finding this whole thing suspicious, she knew she was in no position to judge him. What she tried to do was far worse. And besides, she meant what she said; she saw him not as a friend, but one of the few people she trusted, or at least was willing to trust. When will she ever get a chance to meet someone who can gain her trust?

Finding herself buckling under the pressure, Helga tried to restrain herself, but she was finding the attempt fruitless. She wanted to start over, with a clean slate. She wanted to give him a chance. It's the least she can do for him. After all, it was she that started this. She now had the chance to end it.

"Oh, okay." She finally relented and shook his hand. She even pulled out a small smile.

Rodrigo in turn smiled back.

But then, Helga's smile disappeared and gave way to a stern face. She then instantly pulled him closer to her.

"Don't make me regret this." She warned him.

"I won't." He said. "So long as you don't try to use me again as your little pawn." He warned her back.

"I'll think about it." Was all she said to him with a smirk.

Rodrigo got the hint and smirked back.

"Alright, enough of this mushy stuff." She said as she let go of his hand. "Let's get out of here. There's still a certain Football Head I need to talk to."

Helga then went over the door, opened it and got out with Rodrigo following suit.

Later that day…

Arnold was outside waiting in the cold. Everyone else was on their way home, but he remained on the building's stoop waiting for Helga. After her talk with Rodrigo, they had agreed to talk after class and so agreed to meet outside. He didn't have to wait long. Helga soon appeared from the doors and made her way towards him while she zipped up her jacket.

"Hey." She softly greeted him from behind.

"Hey." He greeted her back and sat down on the stoop. Helga sat down beside him.

"So are you and Rodrigo okay?" He asked.

"We have an understanding." Was all she said to him.

Arnold got the hint and noticed she was more interested in them than on Rodrigo. He was too but he didn't know how to start.

"As much as I want to say how sorry I really am," He began, "I think I used that phrase so many times that it's lost its potency."

"Pretty much." Helga agreed. "Try harder."

"Fair enough." He agreed. "I'll cut to the chase; I was really scared. I thought I really lost you." He sadly said. "When I realized what I thought was happening, I don't know what came over me, but I felt this serious pain in my chest and this extreme sadness that I never felt before. There were times I couldn't even get out of bed."

Helga was surprised at how hard Arnold took this, but it only served to feel more guilty about ever going through this. But, she didn't say anything and with a neutral face, waited for Arnold to continue.

"I felt a lot things; pain, regret, anger. It was mostly anger. I wasn't angry at you or Rodrigo. I was angry at myself. I realized too late that I took things too far."

"Despite the pain, I don't blame you if you wanted to move on with someone else." He continued. "You deserve being happy with someone who is actually there for you. I realized I was not being that guy. I guess that's why I never tried to fight for you; I felt I deserved feeling this way. I was helping everybody, but it came at the expense of the person who I care a whole lot about; you. I never meant to ignore or hurt you, but that's what I did and that's what has been killing me. I was really dumb and blind. I sacrificed you for a bunch of strangers who the year prior never even noticed my existence. There is no way around it really. I just can't believe how selfish I was."

Helga was surprised at not only how open Arnold was with his feelings, but at how hurt he was. She knew he cared about her, but judging with the way he was describing the level of pain he was in, it sounded as if he was more romantically involved with her than even he knew. This revelation made her all the more glad, but it deepened the level of guilt she was feeling.

"You're right" She finally spoke with a firm voice. "You were being selfish." However, she then released some of that firmness and gave way for a more sympathetic tone. "The thing is, I'm sorry too. I took things way too far. I never wanted you to think I was leaving you for someone else. I only wanted to make you jealous and get you back to focusing on us again. But I got so caught up with hanging out with Rodrigo that I lost track of things and I underestimated how much this was affecting you. I figured that with you still being busy with helping others, it wouldn't have been such a big deal. I didn't realize that I was dragging you around in the dirt to the point where it was just overkill. It was a serious miscalculation and neglect on my part so, I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me."

"No, Helga." Arnold then said. "You don't have anything to apologize about. This was all my doing. You tried to talk to me about this, but I refused to listen. This one is on me. I had the chance to stop and get our relationship back on track, but I wouldn't do it. It doesn't matter what the reasons were. It was me and I'm really, really sorry for doing this to you. I hope you can forgive me one day." As he then put his hand on her shoulder.

With guilt and sadness, Helga looked up to glance at Arnold's green eyes and saw just how genuine he was. She could see that she finally got through to him and saw that he finally accepted his fault. Actually, if she didn't know any better, her plan may have worked too well. She could tell this experience almost crushed him. Even though it was very unlikely, Arnold genuinely believed he lost her and it was an almost unbearable pain for him, although not as painful as it would have been for her.

Helga could not express just how happy and grateful she felt on finally having Arnold back in her arms, both figuratively and literally. She felt such joy that she had to restrain herself from jumping up in the air and landing right on top of him.

Instead, Helga just sighed and chose her words carefully before she spoke.

"Arnold," She said, "I still don't feel comfortable in telling you about that 'thing' that needs to be considered, but believe me when I tell you; I would never betray you, with anyone. I...care an awful lot about you to ever consider being with anyone else. Actually the thought of not being with you, well, it's something I do not ever want to think about. You mean a lot to me, you always have and you always will. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that, I forgive you, if you forgive me."

"I do." A grateful Arnold said with a smile as he gestured to her if he could take her hand.

Helga obliged and put her hand on top of his. With a loving smile, Arnold bend down and gave her a kiss on her hand.

At that instant, Helga's heart melted and froze.

"Ooohhhh…" She let out a soft, romantic swoon. But then,

"I mean- uh, finally you admit that it's your fault." She retorted and quickly withdrew her hand from his grasp. "I told you there will be consequences for sidelining me."

"You're right, Helga." Arnold agreed, unfazed by her retortness.

"Well since we're in the spirit of forgiving," She continued, "there's still that make up date you owe me."

"Definitely." Arnold agreed. "I'll plan something special."

"You better." She warned him. "But better make it first class all the way. Nothing on the cheap side."

"It wont be. I promise." He promised her.

"I'll believe it when I see it." She said to him.

"Fair enough." He said.

The next day…

Helga was at her locker with Phoebe right next to her. After settling things with Arnold, she finally found the time to enlighten her best friend on what had transpired during the last few weeks. Not surprisingly, Phoebe was shocked by the story, but was happy that Helga managed to patch things up with the two male pre-teens. Well, except for one little thing…

"I must admit Helga," Phoebe said as they made their way to class that morning. "I am a little surprised that you decided to give your friendship with Rodrigo a fresh restart. Considering how he outwitted you at your own game, I would have concluded a rather – how can I put this? - conventional reaction from you."

"Phoebe," Helga said. "You know that old saying, 'keep your friends close and your enemies even closer'?"

"Yes I do." Phoebe replied.

"That phrase is very, very much relevant to Rodrigo." She said. "Apart from being a bit impressed, I learned it is better to have this kid by your side than against you. This kid is not to be underestimated."

"Oh, I see." Phoebe said as she took Helga's words into deep consideration.

Not long after, the two made it to class. Rodrigo was at the entrance, waiting for them.

"Morning ladies." Rodrigo greeted the two with a warm smile on his face.

"Good morning Rodrigo." Phoebe politely greeted him back with her own smile.

"Hey Latino boy." Helga greeted him as well, albeit without the smile. "So, ready for your first day as part of our little gang?"

"Sure." Rodrigo replied with a delighted smile. "But um, wasn't I already a part of this group?"

"Not in mine you weren't." Helga replied as she pointed to herself and Phoebe. "Ours is more of an exclusive club; very few are eligible. You just became member #3."

"I see." Rodrigo said, but nevertheless appreciative on being welcomed into this exclusive group. "Thank you. Do I have to do anything?"

"Not really." Helga just casually remarked. "Normally I would have had you sharpen my pencils, carry my stuff around, get my lunch for me and do my homework. You know, administrative supportive stuff. But I realized that's somehow a bit too 'selfish', so I did away with those favors."

"Well I'm thankful for that." Rodrigo remarked.

"Anyways, welcome to the group Latino boy!" She welcomed him as she gave him a big pat on his back, which caused him to leaned forward a bit.

"Of!" He grunted a bit "Thanks, Helga." He gratefully said as he rubbed the area where Helga patted him.

"Now let's hop to it!" She then ordered them. "I wanna get to my usual seat before any of these losers try to take it." She then went inside.

"Coming!" Phoebe exclaimed in her usual high-pitch voice and followed her.

Rodrigo obliged and followed them as well. As he did, he felt both relief, yet happiness on having been included in Helga's group. Given how few friends she had, Rodrigo was grateful he became a member in her little clique, especially after how things started out between them. He was now more confident that, with Helga by his side, things would get a lot more easier from here on in.

The End


Alright, that about sums this story up. The next story will be the final story on this three part mini-series, but definitely not that last story of this whole series.

I hope most of you were surprised by Rodrigo's revelation. Didn't expect Helga would be outwitted? Let me know what you guys think? Was Rodrigo being genuine in helping her? Or did he do it for selfish reasons? And if so, what were they?