Chapter 5: Let Her Embarrass You
It was the end of the week, and no one was more excited than Bob. Now that Jordan had all the information he felt he needed to make his ad, he could spend the rest of the day working on it.
Helga's House
"This is gonna be great Miriam! The perfect thing to bring in more customers!" the businessman exclaimed.
The tired lady sat at the counter with her mug of coffee listening to her husband go on about his business. "That's good B, that's good."
Walk
While Bob was feeling things couldn't be more perfect, his daughter was feeling things couldn't be more messed up.
"Don't worry Helga. No one has seen anything yet." Phoebe reminded her overwhelmed friend, who couldn't stop thinking about the pictures that had been taken.
"Criminy Pheebs! He didn't take those stupid things just to humor himself. At some point, they're going to get out. At some point...THUMP!"
The nervous girl fell to the ground in front of the cause of her worries. Sitting there wide eyed, Helga screamed "ARNOLD!"
Arnold began to rise from the ground as he offered his girlfriend a hand up. "Morning Helga."
"I...I mean."
Everytime Helga had something to hide, her negative side came out. For years she was cruel to Arnold to avoid him finding out the truth about her feelings. It didn't matter how close they were now. She couldn't let anyone get wise to what had happened with Wolfgang.
On the other hand, while Arnold was learning (not to mention accepting) this about her, it was hard not questioning if she may be doing it to hide something.
Although he knew the last thing Phil wanted to do was discourage him, he did have a point. How would he know what was in those pictures if he didn't ask?
"I mean watch where you're goi…"
Before the emotionally conflicted girl could finish, Arnold stepped in with a problem of his own. Gerald and Phoebe both revealed stunned looks; not expecting Arnold to put an end to Helga's ranting.
"Actually Helga there's something I need to talk to you about."
Helga's eyes widened; this was new to her as well. She stood there nervously not knowing what to expect, as she listened to Arnold add "Guys, we'll catch up with you at school."
Gerald looked to his favorite girl and didn't hesitate to take her hand. Phoebe blushed as she took it, but didn't hesitate to join him on the walk to P.S.118.
After watching their friends get far enough away, Arnold looked to his girlfriend still standing with fearful eyes. Helga's heart was beating wildly at the idea of what would happen if word got around about her special 'activities.' Just how many people were that creative with their love lives? Not to mention continued to be that way after the relationship had started.
Taking her hand in his, Arnold said "So, you left practice in kind of a hurry yesterday."
Helga rubbed the back of her neck, hoping to think of a legitimate excuse. "Oh well you know, I figured we had gotten in all we could. Pttss...it's not like Klutzilla will ever acquire coordination skills, or Princess will get through a game without finding an outfit to complain about."
The blonde boy smiled at his vexed girl's hopeless attitude towards their team. If they all had problems, he might as well find out what hers was."
"What exactly was Wolfgang showing you yesterday? You know, in those pictures."
Helga could feel the sweat forming on her face. What would it hurt to tell Arnold? He knew everything about her. Aside from Phoebe, he was the last person she had to worry about judging her. She hadn't done anything to hurt him.
On the other hand. This could humiliate him just as much. He may not have made the shrines, but that wouldn't stop people from pointing out he had a girlfriend who was that obsessive.
She had a decision to make. Tell Arnold the truth and risk him not caring about everyone's opinion of them, or keep it a secret and pray he could let it go.
"It was just some stupid pictures of Olllgaa's room. Pttss...guy thought that he could embarrass me by taking pictures of all her stupid things. Jokes on him because everyone already knows about the torturous life I lead having to call her perfect self my relative. Sheesh!" Helga scowled, as she took her hand back and began marching towards the school.
Arnold stood there a moment feeling that could make a bit of sense. Although it didn't explain why she was so hesitant to tell him, he knew she didn't enjoy being around people when anything about Olga was brought up.
P.S.118
Edmund watched his friend walking down the halls passing out stacks of papers to random kids in the school and asked "What are you doing with those pictures Wolfgang?"
An evil smile remained on the eighth grader's face as he neared the end of his stack and replied "If we want to beat those moronic seventh graders, we can't let them think they've got a shot. What better way to destroy they're confidence than by humiliating them."
Edmund looked at the flier in Wolfgang's hand with the printed picture of the watermelon shrine and said "You're a genius Wolfgang!"
"Duh!"
When all but a few fliers were past out, the teenagers looked to see their rivals turning the corner of the hallway.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
While Gerald rolled his eyes at the harsh greeting, Helga had a hard time making eye contact with who she would normally threaten. Arnold looked to see his girlfriend eyeing the floor, rubbing her neck nervously until they heard "Did you ever tell him?"
While Helga quickly turned to face her rival, Arnold didn't find anything threatening about it. As Helga had said, the pictures turned out to be of Olga's room.
"We're not worried about anything Wolfgang. If you're just trying to scare us off, you're wasting your time. Let's go you guys."
Before the gang could move along, Wolfgang handed Arnold one of his remaining fliers and said "Before you go, you may want to take a look at this."
While Helga could feel her heart pounding, Arnold stared at the picture unsure of what to think. Helga had told him about her 'activities' but never actually shown them to him.
Gerald and Phoebe eyed the picture, knowing exactly what it was. After the night spent gathering everyone at the beeper emporium to put together the party for their friend, they had had the pleasure of witnessing a few of them.
"Oh my!" the small Asian girl gasped, looking over at her stunned friend.
Gerald shook his head as they watched their opponent walk away and said "Mm, mm, mmm. Talk about competitive playing."
Helga snatched the picture from her beloved's hand and began marching towards the class. Arnold stood puzzled as he asked Phoebe "What was that about Phoebe?"
The intelligent girl hesitated to explain her friend's dilemma. Looking into her classmate's sad eyes, she replied "I'm afraid Wolfgang may have discovered something quite personal of Helga's that could change everyone's opinion of your relationship with her."
Classroom
"Get a load of this you guys!" Sid exclaimed, while showing the flier to Harold and Stinky.
"What the heck is it Sid?" Stinky asked, not being able to make the comparison between the shrine and their classmate.
"Whatever it is, it's making me hungry!" Harold said, feeling his rumbling stomach.
Helga sat slouching in her desk as she listened to the discussions about the picture in the room. Luckily, nothing had been written about the picture on the paper. All she could do was pray no one got wise to who it was of or had had made it.
The rest of the class then entered the room, and Arnold immediately noticed his tense girlfriend. While he was anxious to ask what was on her mind, he was more curious to know what could be so bad about that picture that was capable of messing up their relationship?
There was no time for questions however. The teacher followed the remainder of his students in, excited to get to work on their next Math assignment. "Good morning class! It's another special day!"
Mr. Simmons took notice of how quiet the class was, but had yet to notice what everyone's eyes were on. Half way through the lecture, the perky teacher turned to see a student raising his hand. "Yes Stinky?"
"Will we be needing this picture for our next assignment?"
A curious look appeared on the teacher's face as he asked "What picture are you referring to?"
Before Stinky could reply, Rhonda butted in "This atrocious picture of a fruit made model. Why someone would choose to use something edible to portray clothes is beyond me!"
Mr. Simmons began approaching the desks, as he listened to Harold give his opinion. "Yeah! It's got a watermelon that looks like half a head. And...and bananas that look like big hair. And he's wearing a blue hat!"
"He kind of looks like Arnold." Sid finished.
Helga sunk as low as she could in the desk, while Phoebe was becoming just as nervous for her friend. Now that the figure had been portrayed, it was only a matter of time who discovered the artist behind it.
"It is you Arnold." Stinky said, looking over at his friend.
No longer having the picture in his hand, Arnold turned around to look at the one on Helga's desk. Eyeing up and down from the picture to his girlfriend, it was beginning to make sense.
Shrines, Me, Something embarrassing at her house, It could change everyone's opinion of our relationship
A frown formed on his face, knowing how embarrassed Helga would be if anyone found out it was her who made them.
The blonde boy looked up at the artist before turning around and said "Yeah. They did a good job, don't you think."
Helga's heart began to flutter, not just at the compliment, but at the idea of her beloved being so understanding (not to mention forgiving) of everyone witnessing her 'unusual' hobby.
"Alright class. Let's get back to Math."
While Helga spent the rest of class leaning forward in her chair, daydreaming about Arnold, the rest of the group was thinking about the game.
Arnold hadn't done anything to hurt them. He was so kind someone even went so far as to make a shrine of him. Now rather than having a reason to fear him, their focus was on who the mastermind behind this artwork was.
A Few Hours Later
Lunch at last came and Helga looked to see nearly everyone in the room walking out with their picture of her artwork. They had all found a new way to satisfy their appetites.
Arnold turned in his seat when he and Helga were the remaining two in the class and said "So, everything you said to me that night really was true."
Helga went from shaking to glaring as she sat up in her seat and scowled "Well doi!"
Arnold reached across the desk for her hand and replied "Phoebe said you're worried everyone will try to break us up if they find out it was you that made it. You know that's up to us Helga."
A somber sigh escaped the worried girl as she stared at her desk and said "Yeah, but that won't stop the losers from mocking us for all eternity. Sheesh!"
The two rose from their desks on their way to the cafeteria as Arnold tried thinking of a way to help Helga feel better. "Well to be fair Helga, you've spent the years making fun of everyone. Even if you were just trying to keep them from finding out how you felt about me, that doesn't mean they deserved it."
"What's your point?"
"My point is, everyone gets made fun of at some point or another. That doesn't stop them from being friends anymore than it would stop us from going out."
Arnold kissed his girlfriend on the cheek as they were approaching the cafeteria. Helga swooned at his sweet words, and once again his willingness to stand beside her, no matter the severity of the situation.
Cafeteria
The two entered the cafeteria to see all the students gathered in the center of the room.
Helga cocked her brow at the commotion, as Arnold turned to ask "I wonder what's going on?"
The couple began heading for the center of the room as they listened to what turned out to be familiar words to both Helga and Arnold…
Oh Arnold my love! My sultry pre-teen. Why must I hold you only whilst I dream? Will I be forever enslaved by your spell? Why must I worship you and never ever tell? Arnold, you make my girlhood tremble; my senses all go whacky! Someday I'll tell the world my love, or my names not Helga G. Pataki!
Arnold and Helga approached the center of the cafeteria to see Wolfgang not only holding, but reading out loud a poetry book he had decided to help himself to after snooping around Helga's room.
While Helga could feel herself trembling mercilessly, the crowd all turned to lay eyes on the mystery author.
"That was your poem Helga?" Sid asked in bewilderment.
"I don't reckon I recall you putting a spell on anyone Arnold. Although that would explain why she's always acting mean for no reason." Stinky said in a perplexed tone.
Wolfgang had gone from manipulating the team into believing their most trustworthy player was dangerous, to shredding the self confidence of the team's captain.
Arnold looked to see his girlfriend in what appeared to be a trance, as the rest of the pre-teens listened to Wolfgang ask "Should I read them another one freak?"
Feeling she was at her lowest point, Helga raced out of the room. Wolfgang grinned widely at the idea of bringing her to her lowest point, while Gerald stood shaking his head "Mm, mm, mmm. I guess there's no need for Pataki to sign her work 'anonymous' anymore."
Hallway
Helga hid behind a row of lockers, baffled about how to handle the situation. As Arnold had said, everyone is made fun of at some point or another. How many people faced humiliation in front of the entire school by having their most intimate thoughts announced however?
The pigtailed girl sat sulking on the floor until she heard a voice hovering over her "Helga?"
Helga opened her eyes to see her perfect classmate standing there to check on her.
Lila watched Helga glare harshly, not enjoying her presence. This didn't stop her from explaining her need to follow her however. "I'm ever so sorry about what happened Helga. We all think it's ever so sweet you love Arnold."
The emotionally troubled girl stood from the floor with her hands on her hips and scoffed "Pttss...yeah? That's not going to stop them from using those sensitive qualities on mine to their advantage. Whenever I threaten someone, all anyone has to do now is bring up what happened back there."
Lila placed a hand on her troubled friend's shoulder and replied "I'm ever so certain no one would do that to you Helga."
While Helga appreciated the support, she had a hard time believing this.
Cafeteria
Once Wolfgang was through causing a scene, everyone separated to their tables. Most of the pre-teens were still looking at the pictures they had received in the hall that morning.
"First a shrine of Arnold, now a book of poems. I can't help but feel the artist behind this statue is also the writer of those poems." Rhonda grinned, while eyeing the picture.
"You really think Helga made this?" Nadine asked.
"Of course I do! We just listened to a book of sensitive written work about her boyfriend. Who else would have a reason to do anything implying how obsessed they are with someone?" Rhonda sneered.
Lunch soon ended and it was time for everyone to gather back into the classroom. Helga could only pray no one would mock her for everything that had happened that day.
Classroom
The students began heading back for the room, while Helga was already in her desk, waiting for the day to end.
The nervous girl hid her face inside her book, not wanting to make eye contact with any of her classmates. None of which were afraid to face the game now.
The only person afraid to show their face was tempted to not show up at the game. Arnold then entered the room to see his girlfriend hiding her face inside her school book. If he said anything to her then, it would just cause a scene. Now that everyone knew how severe her obsessiveness was, they would have to take into consideration how open they were willing to be in public.
While Helga sat nervously eyeing her beloved through the rest of the classes, she heard snickering behind her. After hearing those poems, it wasn't hard for the class to notice where (or who) Helga's attention remained during the day.
The moment the final bell rang, the blonde girl raced out of the room.
"Helga wait!" Arnold called out.
Gerald looked at the way the nervous girl didn't think twice about stopping and said "You may have better luck texting her."
Gerald Field
"Come on let's go! Who's catching?" Harold whined.
The group looked around after making it to the field to see Helga hadn't bothered to show up. A worried look remained on Arnold's face, wondering if he should go search for her.
"I'm afraid we're unable to practice without all the needed positions filled." Phoebe pointed out.
"Ya reckon she'll even be at the game tomorrow?" Stinky wondered, knowing how embarrassed she was at school.
"She better! I didn't sacrifice my shopping time this week just to watch her bail on us." Rhonda sneered.
After seeing what little good practicing would do shorthanded, Arnold sighed and said "Maybe we should just call it quits. We've gotten enough practice in this week."
"Whatever you say Arnold." Gerald shook his head, not expecting to do well at the game the next day.
The Boarding House
The somber boy walked inside past the pets to see his grandpa sitting in the kitchen.
"Hey grandpa."
"Hey there shortman! How'd practice go?"
Arnold propped his head in his hand as he sadly stared at the table and replied "We canceled it once we saw Helga didn't show up."
"Hmm...that's a shame. Did you ever find out who was in that picture with her?" the elderly man winked.
"It was actually a shrine she built of me." Arnold blushed, not knowing what type of response to expect from his grandpa.
"A what now?"
"A figure she made of me out of fruit. Apparently it's a hobby of hers."
Phil chuckled at the description of Helga's interests and said "Hehe you can sure pick 'em can't you shortman!"
"I don't know what to do. She was really embarrassed at school today. Now she's afraid to come to practice. What if she bails on the game?"
"Well my advice, go over there and offer to let her embarrass you somehow. Girls always feel better when they see someone else is getting more negative attention than they are. Yet, they don't mind saying anything bad themselves."
Arnold sat there a moment wondering how that would work out. While he was more than willing to help Helga, what could he do to make himself seem just as obsessive as her?