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It's been only seven days since Arnold heard Helga confession behind a dumpster, which he lost his ball as he goes towards the rolling baseball which went under the dumpster. He had to lay flat on his stomach to reach the baseball that lies in the middle. 'Come on.' His fingertips touch the ball. He almost had it when he heard her, Helga's voice. His body froze as his eyes widen as the ball rolls away from him, landing on the other side of the dumpster.

"Oh, Arnold my love. How I love your eyes, that shines so bright that lights up my day and night. Your kindness is like a marshmallow that sticks in the hearts of all who comes to your aid. But you like, like Lila and you never notice me. This is what I get, always bullying you. Of course, you always walk away from me. I am always trying to be nice, but why do I always fail. I realize, I am scared to get rejected by the one that I love the most."

"Hey, Arnold!" Eugene yelled to get his attention.

Arnold stayed quiet as his heart beats fast as his breathing becomes heavy like he run a mile. He gets up from his position to straighten himself out. Helga has not realized that Arnold, the only one that she loves, and cares have heard what she has to say.

….

Being a seventeen-year-old is not an easy task for him, not only school in his mind, but Helga, the girl that still picks on him and calling him football head throughout his years, discovering her deep dark secret that he heard. "What am I going to do? She like, like me, but I…" Arnold looks away for a moment and looks at his computer that was in front of him. "Seven days has past, and I haven't told anyone about it. I don't know what to do."

Much older grandpa Phil enters the room. "Hey, Shortman, how was school today."

Arnold looks at him as he enters. "It's been fine, honestly." He looks to the side with an expression that Phil could read. "That's not it, is it? Something is bugging you. You haven't touched your food in a couple of days. You should see the cat. It's getting big like a water balloon by stealing your food."

"Grandpa…" Arnold said, annoyed.

"You know, Pookie loves that cat. That annoying self-entitled little cat. Sometimes, I feel like..." He put up his hand to show him how much he wants to strangle the cat.

"I know grandpa."

He put his arms down. "So, are you going to open up on what's bugging you or not. I don't have all day, you know." He yawns. "I have to nap soon."

"Well, I discover someone secret without them knowing. What should I do?" Arnold's innocent little eyes looked up at his grandpa to give him another strong advice that would help him get through this.

He took a seat on top of Arnold's bed as he places his hands together and looks at his incredibly young teenage grandson. "So, you discover this 'person's secret without them knowing," which he quotes with his fingers. "Well, I have a story that might help you out." He sighs, "when I was in the war, fighting and helping others. We would get letters from our love's ones back at home when we head back to base. If, of course, we make it back. I got a letter and it was not any ordinary letter, Arnold."

Arnold of interest in his story. "What was in the letter?"

"Well, it was a love letter from the girl that I have never thought it would come from, literally. I thought the way she acted towards me every time I was near her, was rude, and mean, but getting that love letter explains why she was mean and nasty towards me. Not because she wanted to be, but she was insecure about how I would reject her."

He stayed quiet, making Arnold question him. "What happened to her? Did you reject her?"

"Oh… Shortman. After the war, I got back home and holding the letter in my hands, making me realize that every time, we spent our time and days together, there was something within my heart that didn't want to let her go when I discovered or should I say overheard that one of her friends, send that letter to me after stealing it from her. So, much like you, discovering your friend secret, of course, it is different. I decided to show her the letter and explain to her that I like her back. We have been together ever since."

"Wait." Arnold realize he was talking about his grandma. "It was grandma?"

Phil stands up. "Sometimes, that friend of yours reminds me of Pookie when she was younger." He walks away, closing the door behind him. Grandpa knew that his story would help Arnold one way or the other. 'I hope is that girl that always stands outside in the sunny day, jumping rope in front of our house.' Phil teases in his mind.

…

Arnold lays on his bed. "What should I say to her? Hey, Helga, I know about your love for me?" A mental image came to him as she hits his face with her old Betsy fist.

…

Arnold had a long journey to think about how he feels for Helga, all the time he spent with her along with the bad days. 'She isn't that bad.'

On the tenth day, was the couple days of school. Since they have gotten much older, most got jobs and has girlfriends or boyfriends. They have no time to play baseball like they used to. Arnold was looking out the window think of the old times, when he was in the fourth grade and the fifth grade. 'Those were the best times of my life.'

"Arnold!" I reacted looking at Helga standing in front of me. "We have a project to do. Your space out, look at yourself. You look like you haven't been taking care of yourself. You look skinny…" Arnold heard the others friend as Helga talks about how he is skinny and looks like a wreck for the last couple of days.

"There she goes again, with Arnold. Does she like, like him?" Sid said as Helga doesn't hear him because her voice is louder than his.

Gerald has been too busy with his work and his girlfriend that he sometimes, forgets to check up on him. He overheard Sid, as Arnold hears him. "I don't know Sid, but it seems that way."

Arnold without no reason, he grabs her wrist and says to her when everyone looks at them as they remain quiet. "We have to talk." Arnold pulls her out of the room going down the hall. Helga protesting. "Hey, football head. Where are you taking me?" Of course, Helga was extremely happy deep inside that a smile slips out, Arnold happened to catch it, but does not comment on it. They make it outside in the parking lot out of all places. "Why did you take me here, football head."

"Drop the act, Helga. I know."

Arnold took her by surprise. "Know what? Look, it's a hot day, we are going to sweat under the sun, I'm going back…" Arnold grabs her wrist before she turns around. "I know you like me." She looks at him with widen eyes. "I overheard you behind the dumpster talking to yourself and I know that you like, like me." Arnold lets go of her as he looks away. "I haven't been eating and sleeping much knowing that you like, like me."

"Arnold… It must be another person…" Her excuse was cut off mid-sentence.

Arnold looks at her with an intense look. "I know it was you, no one has your voice, Helga. After days thinking about you. Also everything that we and you put me through, I realize that I like, like you too."

"Arnold…" Helga says softly.

"You are not a bad person to be around with. I want to spend my time with you." Arnold got nervous as he places his hand behind his head. "If you don't want me to, that's okay."

"So, what are you asking me?" She questions him as she crosses her arms.

He looks at her. "Can you be my girlfriend?" He was so straight forward with his emotions.

Helga face became so bright red as she says. "You of all people want me to go out with you?"

"Yes, I am not rejecting you."

Helga smiles. "Alright, football head since you're the one that is asking. I'll be your girlfriend."

Arnold smiles as he grabs her collar and pulls her into a kiss. Helga was shocked and close her eyes to kiss him back.

…

Later that day, Helga went to the shrine in her room to say. "I think I have to clean up before he discovers that I worship him."

The end.

Thank you for reading.