A/N: Hey there, Hey Arnold fans! I got this next section ready for you. The next few will be focused on Helga and Phoebe, because their friendship reminds me of a close friendship I have in my life, and I love writing about the two together. Friends will always be there for you! Thanks for the reviews and the messages. You all are amazing! I've really been enjoying reading who you guys think the culprit of the story, which will be revealed in time! Keep hanging in there, it only gets better from here! This section is where Helga and Phoebe go dress shopping, and bump into a certain someone they know. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
"How about this one, Helga?" An hour later, Helga and Phoebe are at the Hillwood Mall, shopping for homecoming dresses. Phoebe was finally able to talk Helga into continuing with their mission for the day, despite today's troubling events that she was in earlier. They had to dig up dresses for homecoming.
Phoebe held a racy, revealing, red dress. "What's the point, Phoebs? I can't even go to the homecoming dance. I don't know why you are making me pick out dresses." She stole the hanger displaying the dress and threw it into the growing pile of rejects in their dressing room.
"Helga. Did you seriously forget the theme of the dance?" Phoebe leaned over to rescue the dress from the mess to hang up on the racks located outside the dressing room.
"No. It's Masquerade Madness. Duh."
Phoebe smirks and shakes her head.
"Maybe Helga Pataki can't go to homecoming, but who says a pink princess that has a mask on can't?"
"If I have a mask on…" Helga trails off as she stands in front of the mirror by the dressing rooms. "Then no one will be able to tell it's me!"
"Exactly!" Phoebe praises. "Everyone will be wearing masks." She picks up a pink diamond studded mask from the display on the wall beside them. As Helga starts to smile, Phoebe places the mask before Helga's eyes.
"Even Arnold." Phoebe winks to her best friend.
"Thanks, Phoebe."
As Helga admires the mask before her, Phoebe swore she could see the sparkle in her irises that she has seen before this real masquerade madness began, and she knew she was standing next to the real Helga.
Helga snatches the mask from Phoebe's grasp to try it on for herself in front of the mirror. While she awkwardly adjusts it, Phoebe notices the matching dress hanging on the racks in the back of the Diana's Dress Shop.
'Perfect.' Phoebe pounces, and heads to the back to the store to discover a dress in Helga's size. When she finally reaches the rack, she spots Lila Sawyer at the front counter, speaking to a saleswoman.
Ducking behind the row of dresses, Phoebe focuses in on the conversation going on between the two ladies.
"I need these straps adjusted before tomorrow, please." Lila hands the saleswoman a white dress bag, which Phoebe assumes to contain her homecoming dress. "I had this dress custom made, and when I went to try it on at home, it was a little loose."
"Of course, ma'am. We'll be able to do that tonight. You can pick it up tomorrow morning." The saleswoman delicately accepts the bag from Lila.
"Thank you ever so much." Lila shines her smile, and turns to leave the dress shop. As she hears the ding of the shop door close, Phoebe climbs out from behind the miles of dresses.
After Lila leaves the store, the saleswoman returns to the back of the shop where Phoebe is standing. Quickly, Phoebe pretends to be shopping at the current selection of dresses before her. The clerk drops off the bag beholding Lila's homecoming dress on a rack by the employees' only door, and rushes to the front of the store by the check out counter.
An idea pops into Phoebe's head as she notices Lila's dress swing back and forth on the dress rack.
"Phoebe?" Helga suddenly slithers behind. "What are you doing?"
"Helga!" Phoebe peeps as she recognizes her best friend next to her. "You scared me."
"I have that effect on people. Did you see a dress you liked?"
"Oh, yes. I think I do. One that we'll both like."
