Chapter 1: When This Is All Over

While the idea of being rich easily overpowered the sight of losing her home town, one thing mattered more to Helga.

Her father's dream to improve his business meant destroying the dream of the one she loved. The one who was always there to include her in their group activities, no matter her attitude. The one person who not only believed, but did his best to convince her to find and show the good in herself which he was sure existed.

Now here she was, faced with the dilemma of getting rich off the town or the feeling of proving to her beloved he was right.

An even bigger problem however, why would it matter if she still wasn't brave enough to allow him to know it was her helping him? Should this just be another one of those "I guess we'll never know how it happened" times for him and Gerald?

That question seemed to be answering itself the night Arnold decided it was his last chance to save the neighborhood, while receiving clues from someone named "Deep Voice."

After hearing from him all night, the only thing Arnold was more anxious about than saving the city, was finding out who Deep Voice was.

FTI Roof Top

After Arnold spotted who he knew had to be Deep Voice (considering how easily the character was able to help him in the building), the blonde boy went outside, ready to get to the bottom of the act.

Act, or so he thought. "Helga?! You're Deep Voice?!"

The overwhelmed boy screamed in disbelief.

So he had caught her. That didn't mean she was ready to start pouring out her feelings as to why. Ready or not, he just kept pushing.

"Because why Helga! I want to know why and I want to know right now!" A demand he would surely regret.

Helga was caught; no childish excuse could overcome the truth. "What else are you supposed to do when someone you love is in trouble?!"

Hearing this turned Arnold's mind to jello. Obviously she wasn't serious; he just didn't know how to respond.

"You heard me pal. I love you, love you! Who else do you think has been stalking you night and day, building shrines to you in a closet, filling volumes of books with poems about you? I love you Arnold I've always loved you, ever since I first laid eyes on your stupid football head…"

Arnold continued to back away, as Helga continued on with her confession. By that point, she was so far gone, she didn't care what his opinion of her was. It was just such a relief to have it off her chest. It was as though all that existed was, her, her love, and the moment she was letting him hear the truth.

While Helga went on, Arnold stood with an absurd look, wondering who this girl was? The girl who had tortured him for 6 years, was saying she had basically thought of him as a god this entire time.

Before he could REALLY think things through, he heard "Oh come here you big lug!"

The kiss was as long, yet ten times as passionate as the one in their school play. What was happening? It was crazy enough she was choosing to help save an old, quiet neighborhood over being rich. Now here he was finding out...it was all for him!

"I'm confused, did you just say you love me?"

For a brief moment, Helga was back to her old self, as she shook him and asked "What, are you deaf?!"

The interruption from Gerald didn't help to calm her as he asked "Hey Arnold."

Helga irritably grabbed the walkie talkie and screamed "Not Now!"

All she wanted more than anything at that moment was for him to return her feelings. He didn't need to say anything. She had finally lifted that huge burden from her shoulders; now all she wanted was to be near him.

Letting that out easily tore her mind away from saving their homes. As much of a shocker as it was, it wasn't enough to make Arnold forget. Would he actually bother to stop and consider rather or not he had feelings for her when this was all over, or was that just too big a dream?