A/N:

Hi everyone! Finally a new chapter—thank you all for waiting, and I hope you enjoy it!

April 2nd

Chapter 9:

From Bad to Worse…to the End?


Monday morning dawned to a particularly rainy day, so naturally every fourth grader boarded the bus to take them to P.S. 118 (even Rhonda, who simply refused to let her parents' new town car get poured on and caked with city grime). Indeed, the bus held a pretty packed crowd of kids all chatting and laughing and scrambling to do last minute homework…yet Arnold, seated beside Gerald, just gazed out of the window at the grey, wet day, silently lost in thought.

He had a problem, and for once he genuinely couldn't see a simple, clear, 'right-thing-to-do' solution. Even if the 'right thing' had been a difficult thing, that would have been fine—a difficult solution was still a solution after all. But this time he just couldn't come up anything. But there had to be a 'right-thing-to-do'…right? Unless…. He sighed. How could he make everyone just accept that he and Helga wanted to be closer? How could he make Helga feel happy and comfortable? And how could he make himself feel less worried and overwhelmed by this whole thing that had escalated so much over the last few weeks?

But maybe that's where he was going wrong with his approach—after all, could anybody really 'make' anybody else do anything? And could he really 'make' himself feel a certain way if he didn't? And the same went for Helga. So maybe he really couldn't fix this problem?

But in that case, what was he supposed to do now?

"Arnold? You who?" Gerald finally prompted (he'd been trying to talk to Phoebe— located in the seat just across from them—for a few minutes, but finally his friend's clear melancholy was too much to let slide). "Man, look, I know you're kind of down about things with Helga, but I'm sure it'll get better. Just…look on the bright side." He put a hand on his best friend's shoulder and smiled encouragingly.

Arnold finally turned his head to see his best friend smiling supportively. And that smile had to make Arnold smile a little too. "I'll try, Gerald. After all, if I don't who else will, right?"

Gerald chuckled as he took away his hand and shrugged. "Exactly."

"Excuse me, Gerald?" Phoebe's voice suddenly sounded. She smiled over at him, an open notebook on her lap. "I think I figured out where you went wrong on this weekend's math assignment."

Gerald blinked and turned back to her with a smile. "Oh, really?"

She nodded. "Yes. Um…if you'd like to sit with me for a moment, we could discuss the problem. It's just something small."

Gerald's smile grew, but then he sighed. "Uh…that's okay, babe. I appreciate it, but I think Arnold might want to talk a little…"

Arnold smiled though and shook his head. "It's okay, Gerald. You should go sit with her—we might have a math pop quiz today."

Gerald glanced back at his best friend. "You sure?"

Arnold nodded. "Go, go…" He sighed and lowered his voice, still smiling. "At least one of us deserves to have a normal friendship with a girl."

Gerald smiled in return. "You are the man, my man." He turned back to Phoebe and slid over to sit beside her. "Hey babe." He gave her a smooth grin. "So about this math problem…"

Phoebe smiled more. "Yes, well…right here, you see, you forgot to move out the decimal…"

"Interesting." Gerald moved a little closer and nodded. "Tell me more…"

Phoebe laughed softly and went on, Gerald listening intently.

Arnold watched them with a warm smile…and he couldn't help but notice how even though they were acting so close in public, the other kids were still too distracted with their own gossiping and laughing and talking to notice Phoebe's blushes or Gerald's hazed gaze. It was so nice how simple and easy his two friends seemed together.

But then his smile fell a little as he tried to imagine himself and Helga in this position but genuinely couldn't see them fitting so easily into the world no matter how hard he tried. Finally Arnold sighed and went back to staring out of the window at the falling rain and the grey city, lost in thought once more. 'I can't blame Helga for being nervous, especially with the dance coming up. She was right—people do have a problem about the idea of us liking each other. Not a 'big' problem, but it's still there.' He sighed.

Then the bus pulled to a stop, and Arnold's eyes widened: framed in his window was the sight of Helga with her backpack and an umbrella waiting to get onboard.

Helga had steered clear of the bus ever since her 'confession' to the class about her and Arnold going to the end of the year dance together. After all—close quarters, classmates, no escape; not an ideal situation for someone who already felt the social walls closing in on her. But the storm really was getting bad, and thus right now her options were limited.

Arnold held his breath and waited.

The doors opened with their usual squeak, and then Helga G. Pataki stepped onboard.

Granted, a hush didn't come over the bus or anything, but almost everyone took notice of her, their conversations slowing, their eyes drifting away from their friends.

She made eye contact with no one, a dull look on her face as she closed her umbrella, kept her head high, and moved step by step toward the back of the bus.

However, considering how packed the bus was, she quickly found her seating options very low…except for one: the seat beside Arnold.

Helga paused by his seat, kept her composure, and finally turned and placed herself beside him, not looking at him or saying a word.

An unbearable moment followed in the few seconds it took the bus to close its doors and pull out into traffic, during which Helga could hear every light giggle or snicker and feel so many eyes upon her watching like she was supposed to do something to satisfy their desire to make her humiliation complete.

But then the bus finally lurched forward, and the motion and the reminder of reaching school soon prompted everyone to slowly return to their own conversations and jokes.

Arnold frowned at Helga. He kept his voice low. "Helga? Are you okay?"

She kept her gaze down, considering for a moment. "You know…" she sighed, "part of me just wishes that they would tear me to pieces about this already."

Arnold blinked.

Helga went on. "I could handle that, I think, Arnold. I've been preparing for them to come after me about my secret for my whole life actually. But with you to support me and Phoebe and even tall hair boy, I could actually probably manage to be okay walking into a wall of teasing. But this…what everyone's doing instead about us…this is a nightmare." She brought a hand to her temple.

"But, Helga, all anybody knows is that we're going to a dance together. They don't know your secret…"

"They know enough…"

"But even if they have started thinking you and I are more than friends, everyone's barely doing anything to us," Arnold tried to reassure. "They're just noticing and smiling and maybe making some jokes to each other. It's really nothing."

"And that's the problem!" She scowled and turned to him. "It's this small response that keeps lingering—it's like they're circling, closing in, waiting to strike, and I don't know when it's coming or how it's coming or if I can take much more of holding out until the end, and it's driving me crazy!"

Arnold's eyes went wide. "So you want them to hurt you?"

"I want them to get it over with!" Helga exclaimed as she flung out her arms.

Arnold blinked a few times and glanced around, which prompted Helga to blink and glance around now too. They both quickly noticed that her little outburst had attracted some attention to say the least.

Flushing, Helga scowled all the more. "What?! What do you chuckleheads want? Take a picture, it'll last longer!"

"Uh, Helga," Arnold started, trying to smile and speak calmly, "I don't think…"

"Oh, who asked you, Football Head!?" She turned back to him with a glare. Then she blinked; all of the fury left her features and she pulled back a little. Her voice even sounded calmer. "Sorry…Arnold, I didn't mean to—I'm sorry."

He blinked a few times and smiled normally again. "It's okay, Helga. Really."

Helga smiled a little again too.

Then the bus hit a pothole going around a corner, which unfortunately lurched Helga forward and on top of Arnold, who fell back against the bus window.

A bunch of ten-year-olds almost couldn't be blamed for latching their attention onto this moment (almost).

"Oooo!" came a chorus of most of the kids at once.

Arnold flushed scarlet as Helga went pale, and they both remained still, Arnold's arms around her and Helga's forehead nearly against his.

The kids burst into laughter. Instantly, kissy-faces, bits of a chorus of 'Arnold and Helga sitting in a tree', jokes about 'like-liking', and cutesy comments all started at once from various parts of the bus!

"Hey, they're blushing!" Stinky grinned.

"Aw, and Arnold's holding her!" Sheena clasped her hands together.

"Oh, it's so sweet!" Eugene smiled.

"And it's sort of nice to see Arnold liking a girl again." Nadine added.

"Ha, ha! Helga likes a boy!" Sid chuckled.

"Arnold's lost it, and I'm loving it!" Curly gave a maniacal grin.

"You know…I can't believe I'm saying this, but you two actually do look good together." Rhonda smirked.

"Are you two in wuuuv now? Ha, ha!" Harold pointed and laughed.

Suddenly, the bus lurched to a stop in front of P.S. 118, and Helga flung herself so far back from Arnold that she flew across the aisle and crashed right back into Phoebe and Gerald in their seat, who caught her as best they could.

"Helga?" Phoebe frowned, looking at her friend: she could actually feel Helga shaking a little and see how wide her blue eyes were.

Gerald frowned too. "Helga, seriously, you okay?"

"Helga?" Arnold leaned across his seat with a frown. He reached out to her.

The laughter on the bus increased, and Helga flinched back from him. The laughter got even louder, and another chorus of "Ooo!" filled the air.

Helga attempted a scowl. "I…" Yet she faltered. She cleared her throat to make her voice gruffer and tried to address the crowd again. "You're all just a bunch of…" She couldn't catch her breath. "I ought to…" She had a fist weakly raised, but it fell. "I should just…just…" She tried to scowl again but it faded.

And the kids kept laughing.

Arnold frowned so deeply.

Phoebe put her hand on her friend's shoulder. Gerald's brow furrowed, and he glanced at the raucous kids and then back to his friend, his voice low. "Man, this is getting crazy." He blinked. "Arnold?"

Gerald's surprise was warranted.

Arnold was scowling.

And then the football headed kid stood up on his seat and raised his voice. "Okay, that's enough!"

Arnold yelling was not a common occurrence, and so it was just jarring enough of an experience that the entire bus actually did stop and look at him in awe.

Arnold continued, scowling as he addressed the kids. "Why are all of you doing this?" He was met with silence and wide eyes—even from Helga. "We've been friends our whole lives! I know all of us get carried away sometimes, but for the past week ever since Helga and I said we were going to the dance together, you've been acting like you want her to feel bad about it! And she doesn't deserve that! If it weren't for her, we wouldn't be on this bus right now! We'd be who knows where, and maybe we'd never see each other again because all of our houses and Slausen's and Gerald Field and P.S. 118 would be bulldozed! But if you don't want to stop teasing us for her sake, then you're going to do it for mine. I've fixed enough of your problems over the years that I don't think it's too much to ask all of you to fix one of mine, and here it is—leave us alone about being friends. Now!"

Arnold took in and let out a deep breath. Then he gathered his backpack. He glanced to Helga, but her continued look of shock suggested she was better off in Phoebe's care at the moment. Finally he turned forward and walked up the aisle to the bus door (nobody making a sound or a move to follow after him). He paused just before leaving though, let out a breath, frowned, and said one final thing. "I'm really disappointed in you guys."

And, with that, Arnold left.

It finally took the sound of the warning bell ringing for the other kids to start grabbing their things and leaving the bus too.

Gerald and Phoebe remained behind with Helga until everyone had gone. Once the bus was empty, Phoebe quietly spoke to her best friend. "Helga…are you okay?"

Helga had just remained still this entire time with wide eyes. Now she finally blinked a couple of times. "I, uh…I don't know." Then she cleared her throat and tried to sit up a little. "I mean, yeah, yeah, I'm, um…I'm fine."

"Helga," Gerald spoke now, his brow furrowed in concern, "come on, Phoebe and I'll walk with you to class. I think that's the best way."

Helga blushed a little. "I…thanks. But, uh…no, no, really, I'm okay. You two go. I'll catch up." She actually tried to smile. "Have a nice morning together, really. Some of us should, at least. I'll be fine—oof!" She had tried to stand up, but her legs had buckled and she'd shifted forward to hold onto the back of the seat across from them.

Phoebe and Gerald looked at each other with frowns.

Gerald cleared his throat. "Actually, I think I'll go see how Arnold is. Last time he got left alone to walk through the halls upset about something was during his karate phase, and we all know how that turned out. Heh." He stood up. "I'll see you later, Phoebe. And Helga, I'll…" he rubbed the back of his neck, "I'll do what I can with people."

She nodded but didn't look up at him.

Gerald sighed then finally headed off the bus.

Phoebe looked to her friend and put a hand on her shoulder. "Helga, do you want me to bring you to the nurse's office? You seem a little pale."

"No." Helga shook her head. "I'm okay. I'd rather just get to class and get it over with, Pheebs. I can't hide forever. I just wish you'd gone off with Gerald." Her look became dull. "One of us really should be happy, normal…"

Phoebe blinked but quickly tried to smile. "Helga, Gerald and I can hang out anytime. But right now I want to be here with you. Come on." She took up both of their backpacks and started to gently lead Helga to the door. "I'm sure things will be better now. Arnold's speech affected everyone very deeply…"

"Yeah, including Arnold…"

Phoebe raised an eyebrow at this soft comment from Helga, who kept looking forward with a dull gaze. But she did her best to keep smiling and to keep her friend going forward. "Everything will be fine, Helga. Please don't worry about it. And maybe after school you and I could go to the pier and throw rocks in the river? What do you say?"

"I appreciate that, Phoebe." A flicker of a smile passed over Helga's lips. "But, after school, I think I need to talk to Arnold. Don't worry though—I'll have a lot more time for throwing rocks and stuff again soon."

Phoebe raised an eyebrow and frowned again but finally just nodded. "Whatever you need, Helga. Just tell me what you want to do, and I'll do my best to help you."

"Thanks, Pheebs."

"You're welcome, Helga."

The two friends finally left the empty bus.


"Arnold…it's Gerald. I'm just giving you fair warning while I'm still more than three feet behind you because I don't want you to kick flip me into a locker on reflex."

Arnold sighed as he put his backpack in his locker. "Gerald, come on, you know I'd never do that to anyone."

"I know, I know…" Gerald finally came beside him, leaning against the lockers, "It was a joke." He gave a small smile and a shrug. "But seriously, man, are you okay? I've never seen you yell at anyone like that."

Arnold gave a harsh sigh. "I'm just so tired of watching Helga live like this—like she's terrified all the time. That's not her at all. And I'm so tired of everyone else treating her so badly. She's not a bad person!" He shut the locker door rather forcefully and turned to rest back against it.

"I know that, Arnold." Gerald moved closer. "And other people do too. It's just…weird for them, seeing you two getting along so well. It doesn't make the teasing right of course, but it probably explains it a little. But they'll get used to things and come around, just like I did. And I think that little speech of yours really did help."

Arnold let out a breath, his scowl finally softening as he glanced at his friend. "Really?"

"Absolutely." Gerald smiled more. "After all, like you said, you've solved so many of their problems and done so much for everyone all these years. People might think they can get away with bothering Helga, but no one with a heart could think it's okay to bother you. That kind of guilt trip wake up call was probably just what they needed to snap them out of things."

Arnold looked down. "I hope so, Gerald. For my sake and for Helga's sake." He blinked and turned completely to Gerald. "Wait, Helga—is she okay? Maybe I shouldn't have left her on the bus. I just thought things might get even worse if people watched us walk off together, and it seemed like she was better with Phoebe, and I didn't want to—"

"Hey, hey, relax man." Gerald smiled more and held up his hands. "Helga's okay, Phoebe's got her. She seemed a little stunned, but I'm sure she'll be back to yelling and cracking jokes soon. And I'm sure she'll be very impressed with you for standing up for her like that, Casanova." Gerald gave him a little nudge and winked.

Arnold smiled again and actually blushed. "I don't know, Gerald—Helga's not really into having people do things for her. But as long as I maybe helped make things around here better for her, I'm happy."

"That's the spirit, man." Gerald's gaze warmed. "Now come on, let's get through another day of class and then you can talk to Helga after school like I'm sure you want to. And then maybe after dinner you and I can catch a movie and forget all about girls for a little while, all right?"

Arnold nodded. "Okay, Gerald. Thanks."

"Not a problem."

The two friends did their secret handshake and then started walking to class.

Arnold smiled a little more. "And Gerald? Sorry that Helga and I sort of interrupted your time on the bus with Phoebe."

"Oh." Gerald blushed and tugged at his collar. "It's okay. Phoebe and I can always talk about homework and stuff later. Ever since you and Helga started playing nice, we've had a lot more chances to spend time together actually."

He looked over to see Arnold giving him one of his classic all knowing gazes.

Gerald smirked back a little. "Of course, Phoebe and I haven't reached the point of dramatic romantic speeches and sneaking around with each other like we're in some kind of soap opera, but you'll be the first to know if we ever do. I'm not sure if you realize this, but you and Helga are dealing with some pretty advanced-level stuff for ten-year-olds."

Arnold chuckled and sighed. "I know. And I can't even imagine where we'll go from here."

"Down the aisle, probably…"

Arnold blushed at the murmured reply as Gerald just laughed, but soon he was laughing too as the guys finished making their way to class. Suddenly Arnold was very much looking forward to school being over and having the chance to talk to Helga soon. Maybe things were finally starting to look up.


However much children liked to grumble and grouse about getting through schoolwork everyday, sometimes a young person could actually be incredibly grateful for all the chores of their small daily academic grind. School had lessons to learn, teachers to answer, classes to get to, quizzes to take; in other words, school was full of wonderful methods of distraction available for anyone who had to be there but who wanted to avoid the social aspect of the public education system.

Of course, the power of schoolwork to keep a kid safe from the society of other kids did have one fatal flaw—lunchtime: peak socializing hour of the day.

And so, with a heavy heart, Helga finished getting her tray of food (more out of habit than out of any desire to eat), resisted the urge to take it to her 'office' and spend the rest of lunch and recess completely cut off from the world around her, and proceeded to go through with the first step of a decision that she had come to after four class periods of carefully thinking over the matter in her head.

The first thing she did was swing over to Phoebe and Gerald who had been just about to head to Arnold's table with their trays.

"Phoebe, come on—you're having lunch with me and the girls today."

Phoebe blinked. "Helga, are you sure? I thought maybe you'd like to have lunch with just Gerald and Arnold and I. We have a table set up right over…"

"We need to have lunch with the girls," Helga simply replied in a flat voice. "It's important."

Phoebe eyed her friend for a moment longer but then sighed and looked to Gerald. "I'm sorry, Gerald. I'll see you at recess, all right?" She smiled a little.

Gerald smiled a little too and nodded. "Okay, babe." He glanced at Helga. "And, Helga, uh…hang in there." He gave her a slightly sheepish, awkward grin. "And, you know…if you need anything, I'm here."

Helga just nodded, a dull look still in her eye. "Thanks. Say 'hey' to Arnold for me. Come on, Pheebs." And then she went off to the girls table.

Phoebe watched her a moment longer, her brow furrowed, then finally followed after her.


"…So then I said 'tractor pull?', I thought you said 'fresh wool'." Lila finished one of her quaint farm town jokes (and the other girls were sharing a polite laugh) when suddenly Helga G. Pataki took a seat at the table. Phoebe sat beside her timidly.

The conversation stopped, naturally. All of the girls looked to each other and then back to Helga.

"Helga…" Lila started with a gentle smile, "It's ever so nice of you to join us. Are you…feeling well?"

"Just peachy." Helga kept her gaze dull though and her eyes forward.

Everyone's looks of unease increased.

Rhonda cleared her throat. "Er…Helga, look…after what happened on the bus today, the girls and I have been talking, and, well…if you really want to go out with Arnold to a dance…it may be a little unorthodox—Ow!" Nadine had just nudged her with a slight scowl. Rhonda pouted at her then turned back to Helga and went on. "What I was saying was, it may be a little unorthodox but you're well within your rights. After all, we all agreed Arnold's practically the nicest guy in class. He's responsible…"

"And trustworthy!" Sheena piped up.

"And funny!" Nadine added.

"And ever so kind!" Lila chimed in.

"…And he makes you happy, Helga," Phoebe couldn't help but add softly.

Rhonda nodded. "Yes, well, he's all of those things. And you have your good points too." She cleared her throat. "You're, um…very opinionated…"

"And you cared enough about the neighborhood to help save it!" Sheena again.

"And you're good at pranks and sports!" Nadine added.

"And you're ever so smart!" Lila smiled more.

"And you're very creative, Helga…" Phoebe added with a small smile.

"Exactly." Rhonda shrugged. "So if you want to go on some kind of date with Arnold, I suppose it's not a big deal. And at least you'll be able to share all of the juicy details with your girlfriends after it's over." Her smile grew.

Helga's look, however, still remained dull. "Well, that's nice, Rhonda, Phoebe, everyone. Except there's just one problem." She took a breath and held her head high. "Arnold and I aren't going to the dance."

"Helga!" Phoebe blinked.

"Uh…excuse me?" Rhonda blinked and raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just make a dramatic announcement to us last week about you and him going together and it being none of our business before storming out of the cafeteria?"

"Yeah, I did." Helga's tone was still level. "And it was a joke. All a joke. Come on, like I'd actually ever go anywhere or do anything with that football head unless I had to. It's been a stressful few weeks, and we just wanted to give you guys a laugh. But clearly it's gone too far, and the joke's starting to get a little boring to me so…there you go. No more dance, no more date, no more rumors. Gag's over, and we can all get back to normal."

The girls all looked at each other again.

Lila glanced to Helga with a frown. "Helga, I'm afraid I don't understand. You and Arnold…"

A slight scowl threatened to enter Helga's features. "Arnold and I are two people who got randomly shoved together by chance to save this stupid neighborhood a couple months ago. And now we're done with it."

"Helga, I just can't believe this." Rhonda's look went dry now. "Clearly something's been going on with you and Arnold—he wouldn't have gotten so worked up on the bus if there wasn't."

"Hey, how do I know how the brains of football heads work?" Helga shrugged. "But do you want some kind of confirmation? Fine, watch this." And then she stood up with her tray and headed briskly across the lunchroom.

The girls all watched her go, and after a second of stunned surprise, Phoebe scrambled after her.

Meanwhile, a few tables away, though Gerald and Arnold had a table alone together, the other guys happened to all be sitting at a table right next to them…and hesitantly watching Arnold from a distance as well leaning over trying to listen in on anything he might be saying to Gerald. They weren't hearing much though as Arnold had spent most of the lunch period so far just looking forward with a dull gaze and a slight frown while he chewed a couple bites of sandwich.

Gerald sighed. "Man, are you okay? Seriously. I can't remember the last time I saw you this out of it."

Arnold finally took in a breath and let out a sigh. "I don't know. I guess I'm okay." He lowered his voice. "Maybe I shouldn't have yelled at everyone though, Gerald. Instead of making things better, what if I made things even worse? I might have embarrassed Helga. And I didn't mean to make everyone feel bad about themselves. At least I probably shouldn't have told them I was disappointed in them."

"Arnold, you didn't do anything wrong. I promise." Gerald glanced over with a slight scowl to see the other guys still hesitantly looking over at them, though they quickly looked away and busied themselves with their lunches as soon as Gerald's gaze met theirs. He shook his head and looked back to his best friend. "All you want is go to a dance with a girl. And maybe now everyone finally realizes making a big deal out of it is ridiculous. And if they still don't get it, then maybe our friends really are just a 'bunch of chuckleheads' like Helga's always saying."

Arnold was actually about to smile.

And then Helga came over (Phoebe paused behind her, watching in worry).

"Hey, Football Head."

He blinked and looked up at her. "Helga?"

She just gazed down at him with that dull look still in her eyes, her brow slightly furrowed. "Look, change in plans. It was fun teasing everybody and getting them all worked up about the idea of you and I on a date, but I think it's time we laid it to rest. Don't want to get carried away like we did with the April Fools dance."

"Helga, what are you saying?" Arnold raised an eyebrow.

Helga scowled a little more. "I'm saying we're not going to the dance together. It was all just a joke, but it's time we dropped the act. And now everybody knows." She looked to the guys table with a dark scowl (they blinked and cringed a little). "No dance for Arnold and Helga. Nothing for Arnold and Helga. There, now everyone can go back to their regularly scheduled programming. Goodbye." And with that she started to walk off.

"Wait! Helga?" Arnold raised a hand and made like he was going to stand up.

Helga paused and said very levelly, not looking over her shoulder. "Arnold, this isn't one of those times when I storm off and you follow me. This is one of those times when I leave, and you leave me alone about it. I mean it. Bye." She walked off.

Phoebe took a step forward but then hesitated and shook her head. She looked back to Arnold. "Arnold, she really does need to be alone when she says it like that." She frowned. "I'm sorry. I'll try to sort this out with her later."

Arnold frowned too. "Phoebe…maybe I should be the one to talk to her later. If that's okay."

Phoebe considered then nodded. "Yes, it might be better for you to do it, Arnold."

Gerald looked back and forth from his best friend to his 'special friend' then did his best to smile as he put a hand on each of their shoulders. "Hey, Helga's gonna be fine, guys. She's tough. I'm sure what she just said is just, uh…one of those stories she makes up sometimes to hide what's really going on. Right, Pheebs?" He glanced at her.

Phoebe just sighed. "I hope so, Gerald. I really do."

Arnold did his best to smile too now. "It's okay, Phoebe. I'm sure after school Helga and I can work everything out."

Phoebe nodded. "If anyone can help Helga, Arnold, I do believe it's you."

The three friends all finally managed to share a smile, however weak it as they heard the cafeteria door finally slam shut behind Helga.


Meanwhile, across the cafeteria back at the girls table, while Rhonda, Sheena, and Nadine had slowly but finally gone back to eating and talking about subjects besides Helga, Lila continued to look at the exchange near the boys table and at Helga's departure with a deep frown of worry. And she remained that way until the bell rang, bringing on recess and then the return of class. By then though, Lila had already made a decision about something.

After all, she had a stronger sense about how Arnold and Helga felt about each other than most people did. So she sincerely hoped that somehow something she could do would help with whatever trouble was going on between them. And she was going to act on that helpful desire as soon as possible.


When the end of the day came, it didn't take long for Arnold to quickly gather his books into his backpack, dash out of the doors of P.S. 118 and position himself right at the bottom of the front steps waiting for Helga to come out. They needed to talk, and she simply couldn't stay in that school forever (thought she might make it as long as overnight, if she really wanted to, considering some of her exploits in his house), and of course he also knew she probably didn't want to be inside that building any longer than she had to be anyway. Besides, she wouldn't avoid him forever (as she had done for the rest of the day since lunch); not someone she loved…

He was a little surprised suddenly to see Helga walk calmly out of the building, glance around for a moment with a dull look, spot him, and actually walk over to him.

She sighed as she came to stand before him. "Arnold. Alleyway. Now please."

"Oh." Arnold couldn't help but blush a little. After all, they had done some interesting things in alleyways so far.

Helga scowled a little and rolled her eyes. "No, not for THAT. We need to have a talk. Now." And then she headed down the sidewalk and into the nearest alley.

Arnold cleared his throat, got his blushing under control, and followed after her.


A few minutes later, Lila was hesitantly making her way toward the same alley. She had been perched on the railing of the P.S. 118 steps ever since school had let out, hoping to spot either Arnold or Helga to talk with them. But when had seen the two of them encounter each other and then start walking off together, she had decided to follow for the chance to talk to both of them at once.

Lila sighed and whispered to herself as she made it closer to the alley that she thought she'd seen them duck into. "I'm ever so certain if I can just talk to the two of them, I can help. The girls and the boys are a little too nervous to try, but Arnold and I have a very good friendship, and I've felt ever so close to Helga ever since the school play. And Arnold's right—he does always help everyone with their problems. It would be ever so nice if I could help him with a problem for once. And Helga and him really do make an oh too sweet couple." Lila smiled to herself, about to round the corner and enter the alley, when suddenly the sound of Arnold speaking made her pause.

"What?"

It was a simple word but said with such an unusual amount of sadness that Lila paused at the corner.

She could just barely peek around to see Arnold standing before Helga with a small frown.

Helga looked back at him, trying to keep her gaze dull (but Lila could hear the emotional tremor in her voice). "I said, it's over, Arnold. I guess we weren't technically 'together', but whatever we were, it's time to stop. We're breaking up…or whatever you want to call it."

"Helga…" He blinked a few times. "I don't understand…"

"Crimeny, it's like you're deaf!" Helga scowled (though Lila could see the glint of tears in her eyes—but then she blinked a few times and wiped them away). "I'm saying…it's over, we're done, our little experiment failed. No dance, no dates, no nothing. So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye."

"But…why?" Arnold held out his arms. "What did I do?"

Helga threw her arms up in the air. "Nothing! Everything! I don't know, I just don't want to keep doing this!"

"Is it the other kids? Helga, I think they're going to be a lot better about things after what I said to them on the bus today. Really!"

"And THAT'S the problem!"

"WHAT is? What I said on the bus?"

"No—yes. You! You're the problem!"

Arnold scowled. "Helga, I've done everything I could to help make this easier for both of us. Maybe I'm not perfect, but this has been a big change for me. I'm doing my best!"

"You're doing more than that!" She scowled more too.

"And that's a bad thing?!"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"Because you're changing, Arnold!"

By now they were pitched close to each other, scowling, voices raised.

They remained quiet for a moment, breathing heavily.

Then Arnold blinked a few times and managed in a calmer tone. "What?"

Helga blinked too. "I'm saying…look at what my secret has done to you, Arnold." She gestured to him. "You're sneaking around, you're an emotional wreck like I am, you're constantly in the middle of some half-baked story or whacky shenanigan, and now you're getting angry—you're yelling at people! This is hurting you. And I won't let it happen anymore. I didn't sign up to turn you into just as bitter and nervous a person as I am all the time. That won't help anything, Arnold—nothing will help anything."

Arnold just watched her with wide eyes for a moment. "Helga…"

She sighed, and the anger slipped from her features. Her voice was soft "When you love someone, Arnold—when you truly love someone—you do what's best for them, even if it's not ideal for you. You don't just put your own happiness first without thinking." She came forward and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Thanks for the few weeks together. It meant very much to me; more than I can say. Goodbye, my beloved." And then she turned and left him.

Arnold remained standing still for a moment. He reached out a hand in her direction. But then he blinked a few times, and it was like some light came out of his eyes. He took a deep breath, turned, and walked briskly away out of the alley in the other direction.

Lila had watched all of this, a hand to her mouth, tears in her eyes. She pulled back to hide behind a trashcan just as Helga came by.

Helga walked away, and Lila was about to stand up when suddenly she heard wheezing behind her. She blinked and turned to see Brainy hiding in a trashcan next to her.

"Brainy?" Lila raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here? Did you hear everything?"

Brainy just wheezed. "Uh…maybe…"

"Please make ever so certain not to tell anyone."

Brainy just nodded, still wheezing.

Lila smiled then she let out a deep sigh. "Though I'm afraid there are two people I'm ever so certain I should to tell. This isn't good at all, Brainy—Arnold and Helga are making an ever so big mistake. And I have to help them if I can."

Brainy wheezed some more. "Uh…yeah."

"Well, um…" Lila smiled sheepishly and shrugged, "I'll see you later, Brainy. It was ever so nice running into you."

Brainy nodded then disappeared back into the trashcan.

Lila just raised an eyebrow again then shrugged and dashed off in the direction of a certain classmate's house.


Lila reached Phoebe's house in only a few minutes. She rang the bell, then caught her breath and straightened her dress as she waited for the door to be answered.

Suddenly it opened, and there stood Phoebe. The dark haired girl blinked but smiled. "Oh, hello, Lila. It's nice to see you."

Lila smiled and nodded. "It's ever so nice to see you as well, Phoebe. I'm sorry to drop by so unexpectedly, but would it be possible for me to come in? I have something oh too important to talk with you about."

Phoebe hesitated for a moment, smiling sheepishly as she blushed slightly and adjusted her glasses. "Well, erm…"

"Hey, babe! It's your turn in the video game! Do you want me to go for you? And is that the pizza already?"

And now suddenly Gerald came strolling up the hall with a smile…until he saw Lila in the doorway upon which he blushed and grinned sheepishly. "Oh, uh…hey, Lila. Nice to see you."

Lila's smile and gaze warmed. "Hi Gerald. It's ever so nice to see you as well. And I'm very glad you're here—it saves me a trip."

"A trip about what?" Gerald raised an eyebrow.

Lila sighed. "Gerald, Phoebe, I'm ever so sorry to interrupt your afternoon, but I have something to tell you about Arnold and Helga. And it's not ever so good news."

Gerald and Phoebe's smiles fell. They shared a look and then back to Lila and nodded.

"Of course, Lila." Phoebe smiled.

"Yeah, sure, come in." Gerald gestured down the hall.

Lila frowned as they headed toward the living room together. "I'm afraid I heard the news because I was eavesdropping, which I know is oh too wrong, but it was ever so much an accident. And I wouldn't tell anybody of course, but you're both their best friends and I thought maybe you could do something before Arnold and Helga make an ever so big mistake and ruin their new relationship together."

"You know about their relationship?" Phoebe raised an eyebrow now.

Lila shrugged. "It's a long story."

Gerald sighed but smiled as they entered the living room. "All right, all right, well, we've got a pizza on the way and a whole afternoon. Let's start at the beginning and get to whatever it is you just heard."

"Okay, Gerald." Lila nodded as she took a seat on a chair while Gerald and Phoebe sat upon the couch across from her. And then she proceeded to relate how she knew about Arnold and Helga's special relationship and also what she knew about the latest development between them.


When Arnold, just resting on his bed and listening to the sounds of smooth jazz, heard a tap at his skylight, his heart skipped a beat—maybe Helga was there, maybe she'd take it all back, maybe she'd say it had just been an act, maybe it would turn out that he had been dreaming and she was just here to spend another afternoon with him. And everything would be okay, and…

"Phoebe?" Arnold's eyes widened as he sat up—sure enough, there was Phoebe Heyerdahl's face in the window of his skylight. She waved, a hesitant smile on her features.

Arnold blinked a few times but then waved her in.

Phoebe pushed open the door and climbed down to his bed, then came to stand on his floor, dusting off her sweater. "Thank you, Arnold. I know this is a rather unorthodox way of entering your room…at least, for me…but I appreciate you letting me do so. I was concerned that if you seemed unwell when you got home, your grandfather might not want friends to speak with you."

"Unwell?" Arnold raised an eyebrow then his face fell. "Phoebe…did Helga say something to you?"

"No." Phoebe sat on the edge of his bed and looked at him. "But Lila did—she overheard what happened with you and Helga."

Arnold blushed slightly then pulled up his legs and sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Then don't talk, Arnold, but just listen to me. Please." She saw him blush a little more, and Phoebe sighed. "I know trying to go over these matters with me might feel strange, Arnold. And I seriously considered having Gerald come here instead, but…you and I haven't directly discussed yet your situation with Helga. And I know Helga better than anybody. It might help you to hear something from me."

His eyes came up to hers; finally he nodded.

Phoebe took a deep breath and went on. "You do understand why she broke up with you; that it was to save you distress. You'd be surprised how little Helga cares about what happens to herself…and how much by comparison she cares about what happens to you."

Arnold frowned a little. "I understand. But I think it would have been better of her to talk to me about what was best instead of just deciding for both of us."

"Arnold, if she had tried to have a discussion with you about breaking up, would you have gone along with the idea?"

Arnold blinked then frowned again. "I would have talked about why she wanted to stop being close, but I wouldn't have said it was something we should do. I like her, and I know she more than likes me. I mean…" he blushed again, "I guess there are some things that would have made me think about us 'breaking up' in the future if they came up…"

Phoebe's eyes widened. "Like?"

Arnold shrugged. "Like…like if some time went by and I realized I couldn't love her like she loves me. But now I guess we'll never know how that'll turn out, will we?" He threw himself back on his pillows again to gaze up at his skylight ceiling once more.

"You could try to persuade her to be close with you again," Phoebe replied quietly. "If you seemed more hurt by your breakup than by being together, I'm almost certain she would at least consider the idea." She looked down a little. "It's probably not fair of me to tell you that, Arnold. But you need to know the truth. Everyone being only half sure of everyone's motivations and intents in this situation has caused too many problems already."

Arnold let out a deep breath. "You're probably right, Phoebe—maybe I could convince her to try again. But I don't think I should. Helga's not the only one who can do things for other people even if they hurt her; if she doesn't want me around, I can't force her. And I won't. I've seen how much stress us trying to be together has put on her. If she wants to stop…then maybe we should. I don't want to put her through anything else." He frowned. "She didn't even mean to confess to me anyway; it was all just in the heat of the moment. She wasn't ready. Maybe I wasn't ready either."

"Maybe…" Phoebe stood up now, "but what's done is done: Helga told you she loves you, and you've started to find feelings for her. There's no hiding from that anymore for either of you." She took a breath. "Arnold, Helga needs you. I don't know any other way to put it. And if you think there's a chance you need her too, then please find a way to show her. It doesn't have to be a big way or a dramatic way—that's more Helga's style. But find some small, quiet way. Because she's not any happier about this than you are. And because she wants to be happy with you just as much as you want to be happy with her."

Arnold felt the movement of Phoebe as she climbed over the end of his bed and then proceeded to scale the wall steps to the skylight. She paused before she left. "You did a good thing, Arnold, standing up for her today. But you really did seem so much like Helga for a moment, and I think it scared her. She admires something calm and good in you, Arnold. And even though she's seen you angry before, I don't think she could stand having been the source of that anger. Don't worry about our classmates for a moment. Just take some time and think and do the right thing—for you and for Helga. I know you'll realize what it is soon. I have almost as much faith in you as she does. And I know you have faith in her too."

Arnold blushed lightly, his brow furrowed in thought. He finally nodded. "I…thanks, Phoebe."

Phoebe glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled. "Anytime, Arnold."

She was about to turn and leave when Arnold sat up again. "Phoebe? If you're here talking to me, that doesn't mean that Gerald's…"

Phoebe smiled more. "I'm afraid so. He's attempting a conversation with Helga. I'm not sure how well it'll go, but I thought she could use a fresh perspective from someone too. Of course, if my talk with you and his talk with her don't show any results, perhaps Lila should try with you two. She's very disappointed at the idea of you and Helga not being together; she described you as an ever so charming couple."

Arnold sighed but had to smile a little. "Okay, Phoebe. Thanks for letting me know."

Phoebe nodded. "Have a good evening, Arnold."

"You too, Phoebe."

Phoebe climbed through the window and left the room.

Arnold sat in through for a moment. Then he lay down on his back and put his jazz music back on. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander, searching his feelings and his moral instincts for the best thing he could do next. It didn't have to be some perfect 'right' thing, it just had to be something good. And though he had been through a lot lately, he felt he was at least capable of that much.

He only hoped Helga took some comfort from her talk with Gerald the way he had from his talk with Phoebe.


Gerald just wanted to go on record as saying he was not very happy about this situation. Phoebe talking to Arnold—well, maybe it would be a little awkward for Arnold to try talking about his love life with a girl, but he'd get through it; he was sensitive and Phoebe was sweet.

But now he, Gerald, had to try and talk to Helga? About her feelings for Arnold?

Needless to say it was with some trepidation that he climbed her stoop to ring her bell.

He was saved from doing so though by the sound of, "Crimeny!" coming from her backyard.

Gerald hopped down from the stoop and went over to the fence alongside Helga's house. He climbed on top of a trashcan and peeked over.

Helga's garage was open, and he could hear her familiar voice. "Where is that freakin' extension cord for the freakin' chainsaw? I just want to get that stupid shrine torn down once and for all!"

Gerald raised an eyebrow but then blinked, shook his head, seriously considered retreating from a potentially chainsaw-wielding Helga. Yet, he remembered Phoebe's pleading look to help her friend before he'd left to come here, and finally sighed and called out. "Uh…Helga? It's Gerald. I, uh…I need to talk to you. It's important."

He was met with silence at first.

Then, in a low, acidic tone, "Is anybody else with you?"

Gerald shook his head. "Nope. Just me. Not Arnold, not even Phoebe. And speaking of Phoebe, I promised her I'd give talking to you right now a shot, so just five minutes, please. It seemed important to her."

A deep sigh came out of the garage. And then Helga emerged wearing safety goggles. She pulled them off to reveal a scowl. "Five minutes, and only for Phoebe's sake. Got it?"

Gerald nodded. "It's a deal." He reached over the fence and undid the latch then hopped down from the trashcan and strolled into her backyard. "So…" he cleared his throat, "what, uh…what were you thinking of doing with a chainsaw, exactly?"

"None of your business." Helga crossed her arms over her chest. "And you're down to four minutes and forty five seconds…forty four…forty three…forty two…"

Gerald pouted a little. "Okay, fine, let's get down to the basics then. I know you broke up with Arnold."

Helga's eyes widened, then she scowled more. "What, you and football head have a little powwow about that?"

"Actually, Lila overheard you guys and told me and Phoebe. And seriously, you and him got to quit having dramatic talks out in the open." He gave her a dry look.

"Oh great…" Helga rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Lila—just what I needed. "

Gerald sighed and crossed his arms. "Yeah, I honestly think she is just what you needed, or Phoebe and I would have probably had to wait days for you and Arnold to quite moping and just tell us what was going on."

Helga scowled more. "Hey, maybe you would have had to wait because it was none of your business! And what's with this attitude anyway? No one talks to Helga G. Pataki like this and gets away with it…"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Gerald rolled his eyes. "Cut the act, Helga. It's just me, remember?"

"Oh….!" Helga crossed her arms too. "You're down to three minutes, Geraldo, what do you want?"

"To talk to you about why you broke up with Arnold!" He flung his arms out. "That boy's completely gone for you in case you've been too wrapped up in worrying about everyone else to realize. And you hurt him today Helga, big time!"

Helga blinked a couple of times; for a moment her look softened. "I…I…no, I didn't." She tried to scowl again. "I saved him from getting hurt. All of this stuff with me lately has been draining him, and now he lost it on everyone today! I'm not letting him turn into some kind of raging maniac like I am!"

"Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm…" Gerald gave one of his classic headshakes, his hands on his hips. "First of all, if you ask him, he just thinks you're passionate. And second, yes you did hurt him, Helga! You know how big of a heart he has, and you know how carried away he gets when he cares about girls. And you also know that in the last year he's been dumped by every crush he's had! Ruth, Summer, Ms. Felter, Lila…"

"Ms. Felter?" Helga arched part of her brow.

"Don't change the subject!" Gerald went on. "He got dumped by them all no matter how much he cared. And even though he acted fine and even though he knew he was probably better off without them, I could still see how much each time hurt him. But you actually liked him, really and truly liked him for him…" He lowered his arm and his look softened. "Do you know how much that meant to him? And now you dumped him! So do you know how much that must be hurting him?"

Helga's eyes were wide again. "I…I…" She looked away and shook her head. "Believe me, he'll be better off without me. Then everything can just go back to normal."

Gerald sighed. "You know it can't go back to normal, Helga…because Arnold knows, Phoebe knows, I know, everyone knows that there's something there between you two." His tone softened. "Helga, you didn't do anything bad to him by liking him. Arnold's got a temper deep down if people push him enough…and especially if he has to see them pushing around one of his friends…and especially someone he, you know…cares about as much as you." He blushed lightly.

Helga's gaze stayed down. "Look…maybe I did hurt him when I broke up with him. And maybe he can get protective of his friends. And maybe he can have a little bit of a temper if he gets pushed enough. But still…I'm not making his life any easier. And I won't keep going on making him miserable with me." She sighed. "Besides, I know him; once he gets over today, Mr. Optimism will find a way to be happy again." She turned away and took a step toward the house.

"He's not going to be happy if you're sad."

Helga paused.

Gerald gently went on behind her. "Helga, you're…maybe you and I don't get along so well…but I'm Arnold's best friend, which means I'm probably the only person around who knows him just a little better than you do. He's happy when he's with you. And you're both better together. Only break up with Arnold if you really don't love him anymore, not because you're worried about the future or because you've convinced yourself you're not worth the trouble. Arnold cares about you, and so does Phoebe…and so do I. Don't let a few bad days make you forget about that."

Helga remained still for a moment longer. Then she let out a breath. Her voice was quiet. "I do love Arnold. But that's a very complicated thing Gerald. And sometimes it's not enough to make everything okay for everyone, no matter how much you care." She swallowed. "I have to go now. I, um…I don't feel very well. Excuse me." And then she dashed into her house.

Gerald watched her go with a deep frown. Then he headed out of her yard. He was due somewhere soon anyway.


In Slausen's a little while later, Gerald and Phoebe sat together on one side of the booth with (untouched) sundaes in front of them while Lila sat on the other side of the booth with an (untouched) milkshake in front of herself.

Lila frowned at her two friends. "I'm afraid neither of those talks sound like they were ever so promising. And I'm oh too sorry to hear Arnold and Helga are feeling so sad."

"Still," Phoebe sighed, "I think it's good that we went to talk with them. I think they both needed a reminder about how much their time together has given them and how much they would lose if they stayed apart, especially for the wrong reasons."

"Yeah," Gerald nodded. "Plus, both of them can get a little caught up in feeling kind of down lately with everything they've been through between saving the neighborhood and the April Fools Dance and trying to figure out their feelings. I think us trying to snap them out of it might give them the incentive to snap themselves out of it eventually. It's a start, at least.."

"Perhaps I could talk to them both." Lila smiled and shrugged.

Phoebe grinned a little. "I actually did suggest the option to Arnold." Her smile fell again. "But still, it might be best to see how things play out first at school before any of us pushes anything farther with them."

The three friends nodded.

Then Gerald raised an eyebrow. "Say, Lila…now, I've gotta ask—why are you so keen on Arnold and Helga being together?"

Lila smiled more and giggled. "Oh, well…I've known about Helga's feelings or a while, like I told you, and I realized a while ago that Arnold and I weren't very compatible. So I've thought for a while they would make an ever so sweet couple. And also, well…I'm not sure if anyone knows this but I've got an ever so big crush on Arnold's cousin Arnie…" her gaze went a little dreamy, "…and sometimes I daydream about an ever so wonderful double wedding with us and Arnold and Helga. And Olga could be the maid of honor for Helga and for me. It would be just oh too perfect, don't you think?"

Gerald and Phoebe just sat there staring at her with wide eyes for a moment and light blushes.

Then Phoebe finally cleared her throat and managed a smile. "Oh, er…yes, well, that's a lovely thought to have Lila."

Lila laughed softly and looked down, playing with the straw in her milkshake. "I know it sounds oh too silly. That's actually only a small part of it. I really do think Arnold and Helga seem good together. It's like watching true love. It's ever so beautiful in a way. And I want them to be happy."

Gerald grinned a little and rolled his eyes to the side.

Phoebe's smile warmed. "That's very kind of you, Lila. And Gerald and I appreciate your help with this."

"Yeah." He nodded. "Arnold and Helga are definitely growing into a three person job."

The three shared a laugh.

Then Gerald took up his spoon. "Now come on, I know we're all under a little stress but we all ordered and paid or this ice cream, I saw we eat it before it melts—we deserve it."

Phoebe took up her spoon and nodded. "I concur Gerald." And then the two of them took their first bites with smiles.

Lila did smile and nod and put her straw between her lips to sip her shake, but her eyes wandered out to the window in thought. She remembered a few weeks ago, after FTi, Helga's birthday party here, catching glimpses of her and Arnold near each other and looking so happy. It was very hard to believe that the two of them would ever be okay with being apart no matter what they claimed.

She decided to wait and see what the rest of the week would bring like Gerald and Phoebe had suggested.

Lila's eyes drifted back to Gerald and Phoebe, sitting together and smiling, stealing glances at each other). She smiled more. 'And Gerald and Phoebe really have done oh so much already, and I'm ever so sure they have their own nice relationship they're trying to build. They deserve a break. And since I'm the only other person who knows the truth about Helga's feelings, I'm the perfect person to help take care of things if something comes up.' She nodded to herself and went back to sipping her shake, hopeful for a good outcome to everything for all of her friends.


A/N:

Thank you all for reading. There should be two chapters left and a brief epilogue. I'm working on chapter 10 now, but I can't way when it'll be up—I've had a lot of things to manage lately, and today I'm actually sick unfortunately. Thank you all again for your patience.

Happy Reading!

~Azure129