After a little request from a friend, I'm going to update this story! Sorry it took a while, but here's the next chapter of "A Romantic Favor"! Anyway, enjoy!
About two days later, at the entrance to the school building, Helga was busy humming to herself as she gave a smirk, knowing that she had beaten Curly's high score and so much more... she also wondered how well he did with Arnold and Rhonda. She looked over towards the bus and saw Arnold and Rhonda coming out, talking excitably. She frowned a bit as she shook her head. Not good, no doubt.
Before she could take her leave, she heard the voice she always adored.
"Helga!"
Helga stopped shortly as she turned with her eyes to see Arnold leaving Rhonda and waving her down. Helga, being the tsundere that she is, rolled her eyes as she said, "Don't shake your hand too much, football head, it might fall off!"
Arnold rolled his eyes, somehow expecting that from her as he came up to her. "Listen, Helga, we need to meet in private. Alone. After school. I need to talk to you about something."
Helga's eyes lit up for a moment when she heard the words 'private' and 'alone'. But Helga shook her head as she glared at him. "Why not just tell me right here and right now?"
"Because I know you and your nature, Helga." Arnold crossed his arms. "I know that whatever front you have, you don't want to risk it in front of others. At least in private, we can be calm and collected."
Helga paused as she thought to herself, "Maybe the Rhonda crush was just a phase after all? No, because he's still talking with her. And yet, they seem to be getting close. Too close, I don't really like it... and yet, I know he should be happy... and... I might as well see what's so important."
"All right, sure. We can talk after school." Helga said. "How about the classroom where we used to do the newspaper club?"
"That sounds like a good idea." Arnold nodded as he started to walk off. "See you in class."
"Yeah, yeah." Helga waved her hand as Arnold walked off. Helga felt like swooning a bit... but shook her head, thinking to herself, "Just because he's wanting to meet me in private DOESN'T mean he wants to confess to me. Remember, Helga, baby steps."
The school day easily went by without trouble as everyone listened to Mr. Simmons' usual teaching methods and working together on group projects. It wasn't too long before the last bell rang for the day as everyone got up.
Helga had already got up and left first as she proceeded to head to the former newspaper club room before anyone else. Arnold was about to get up and collect his things as Rhonda caught up to him.
"Hey, buddy!" Rhonda smiled. "There's a new café in town where I promised to meet the musical act there. Do you want to go with me to meet him?"
"Sure, Rhonda." Arnold nodded... and paused. "But do you think you can wait for me after I'm done. I promised to meet up with someone to discuss something. Don't worry, I won't take too long."
"Take your time. I'll meet you on the steps of the school." Rhonda said as she started to run off. Arnold nodded as he waited a bit before going off towards the direction of the newspaper club room.
Helga was sitting at the big desk, patiently waiting as she looked at the clock, curiously wanting to know about what Arnold wanted. The door turned and she saw Arnold entering inside as he came over. Helga snarked, "What kept you so long?"
"Just had to collect my things, like we do every day, BUT I'm here now." Arnold said as he sat down in front of Helga.
"Okay, football head, what was so important that you had to see me after school about? Are you the teacher giving me a detention?" Helga snarked.
Silence filled the room for a couple of minutes as Helga's face started to change from a snarky girl to a very concerned girl's face. "Er, Arnoldo? You're starting to freak me out here."
Arnold took a deep breath as he said, "Helga, I have to ask... what do you think of me?"
Helga jumped from her seat. "Wh-what? That's just something random."
"Helga, I'm just asking a simple question, because... well, we're friends, right?" Arnold said.
"Well... it varies from time to time according to our behavior, but... for the most part, I would say... we are." Helga said.
"Ah, yes, yes, I see..." Arnold nodded. "And you remember that little confession you made at the 'Future Tech' thing, correct?"
Helga frowned as she crossed her arms. "I thought we both agreed it was 'heat of the moment'."
"Maybe so, maybe so... and yet your actions would say otherwise." Arnold paused.
Helga looked at Arnold in surprise as she asked, "Okay, suppose you are right and I DID, in fact, have a crush on you. How would you have figured that out?"
Arnold paused. "I don't have a lot of evidence to go on, but even if I don't think you have a crush on me... I DO know that you still care for me."
Helga sighed in relief, but still kept firm. "Care for you... how?"
"Do you remember the time in the beach, when you were trying to break up me and Summer because of who she was?" Arnold asked.
Helga paused as she said, "Well... yes, I remember you catching me in the act... and you didn't believe me then..."
"Not until I saw for myself, yes, I remember that too." Arnold said. "And there was also the time where we worked together at the Shakespeare play, you gave me a little comfort in terms of losing Lila... the point is, Helga, whether or not you knew it, I knew that you cared for me. And I do appreciate you helping me out in my toughest times."
"Well..." Helga paused. "Maybe I care for you... only a little, though. Don't take it with a grain of salt."
"That's why I'm here today." Arnold explained. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I've been hanging out with Rhonda lately."
"Trust me, I'm sure most of us have noticed at this point." Helga rolled her eyes. "So what, you going to confess your wove for her?"
"Cut the snark, Helga." Arnold rolled her eyes. "Look, I don't know whether or not you DO have a crush on me, but... they say that if you love something truly, you would have to let it go, right?"
"I don't like where you're going with this..." Helga said uncomfortably when she heard Arnold's last sentence.
"What I'm trying to say is that Rhonda and I have something going and I'm just worried that if you interfere with this... I don't think I would ever trust myself with another girl." Arnold explained.
Helga looked in surprise as she laughed. "Arnold, if you're worried about me interfering with your little rendezvous with Rhonda Lloyd, don't be. Look, if it makes you feel better, I won't even make one step towards you guys. Whatever feelings you have, I won't interfere. It's your life, Arnold, not mine."
"You really promise that?" Arnold looked up to Helga in surprise.
"I give you my word." Helga smiled. "I won't interfere whatsoever with your date."
"Curly's already got that covered anyway..." Helga snickered to herself.
"Oh, well, that's good. That'll make this a whole lot easier." Arnold said as he dug in his backpack and pulled out a sheet of paper and placed it in front of Helga.
Helga raised an eyebrow. "What the heck is this?"
Helga started to pick up the paper and read it. "This contract stipulates that I understand..."
Helga laughed as she said, "A contract? Promising that I won't interfere with your relationship with any girl? You can't be serious."
Helga's eyes widened as she looked up from the contract and noticed Arnold holding a pen towards her. Helga's eyes widened as she dropped the contract. "Y-you're really serious about this."
The blonde haired girl looked at the contract again as she stuttered, "B- wh- ho- Where and how did you get a contract filled out and certified?!"
"You'd be surprised that I know Gerald's inside info guy." Arnold smiled. "Fuzzy Slippers, I believe."
"Remind me to kill him." Helga frowned as she looked over the contract. "So, you really want me to sign this?"
"If it's not too much trouble." Arnold said, still holding the pen out.
Helga grumbled as she looked over the contract again, but grabbed the pen. "Fine, I'll sign it. Criminy, you're being paranoid today!"
Helga put the pen towards the signature line, before stopping. "Er, wait. This says that if I somehow break you guys up, then you lose whatever friendship I had with you? Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"Maybe it is, but I'm sure we don't want to risk that, now, can we?" Arnold said.
"What if you guys broke up on your own terms?" Helga asked.
Arnold paused. "If I do break up with Rhonda on our own terms, then the contract will be null and void."
"What if someone ELSE wanted to break you up and it wasn't me who did it?" Helga asked.
"If you have good evidence, I might be a little lenient with you." Arnold pointed out. "Now, are you going to ask more questions, or are you going to sign?"
"Geez, fine." Helga frowned as she signed her name on the contract. "There, my name is signed."
"And just to make sure you didn't sign under a different name..." Arnold frowned as he took the contract and pulled out another paper which Helga recognized as one of their old homework assignments that they did together.
"Really? You really don't have THAT much confidence in me? I'm hurt!" Helga frowned.
"I'm just being careful." Arnold said as he looked over the contract's signature and compared it to the homework assignment's signature. "Yep, it all checks out."
Arnold sighed in relief as he put the contract back. "Thank you, Helga. You've been a big help today."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Helga rolled her eyes. "Now go out and enjoy your date, football head."
"Thanks, Helga. And thank you for being cooperative with this. I know it's hard, but..." Arnold said as he got up.
"No, I totally understand. Besides, I gave you my word." Helga said. "Now go, have fun!"
Arnold nodded as he started to leave. As soon as she was sure she was alone, Helga dropped her smile as her face turned into a shocked face. "Unbelievable! I can't believe he pulled this on me! I'm just going to have to hope Curly goes through with his plans..."
And with that, I will end this chapter here! How did you guys like it? I know, I know, it was a bit cruel of me to do that to Helga, but I would imagine Arnold attempting to pull this on her if he did figure out that Helga cared for him more than he thought, but he was seeing someone else. So, make of that what you will! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!