A/N:

Hey everyone! My life these days is pretty much madness, but for anyone still reading this fic, thank you : ) I'm doing my best to finish it up! There should be one or two more chapters then an epilogue. Enjoy, and please review!

April 2nd

Chapter 10:

Operation: Reconciliation


Life at school for the fourth grade at P.S. 118 was changing.

Certainly some of the 'changing' could be chalked up to the kids starting to grow up, and the harrowing events surrounding Future Tech Industries a mere couple of months ago, and even the buzz of a fresh summer break being in the air. Yet, there was a deeper change happening as well; every fourth grader could sense that something in their world was different now…and not in a good way.

And they could also sense that whatever was different had something to do with Arnold and Helga.

Though each fourth grader had their own unique personality and role in their group, Arnold and Helga had always stood out as the two people who most frequently left a significant impact on daily life. Arnold's optimism and Helga's leadership were a sort of necessary glue that kept the fourth grade running smoothly, especially when those traits came together and complimented each other. Maybe no one had been actively aware of that delicate balance of power until now, but with that balance disrupted it became pretty clear how important it was. Suddenly nothing felt right in their elementary school world. Arnold didn't smile much anymore. Helga didn't yell much anymore. When problems arose, Arnold didn't dive right into them to fix them and Helga didn't come forward and direct the class through them. A spark inside each of them seemed to be sleeping.

And their relationship with each other was even worse. No banter, no yelling, no calm conversation…. Arnold and Helga barely even looked at each other. A couple of times over the week they had bumped into each other in the hall, but with little more than a dull, 'I'm sorry' and 'It's fine'. They didn't blush or spend time together or bring up the dance anymore. And the kids could all see how wrong this was, but they no longer had any clear place to direct their negative response other than at themselves.

Accordingly, the entire class was in a funk at this point.

The fourth grade (minus Gerald, Phoebe, Arnold, and Helga) all sat together on the bench at Gerald field on this sunny afternoon about a week after Arnold's outburst on the bus and the sudden end of him and Helga spending time together. The class had a baseball practice scheduled to start ten minutes ago, but no one made a motion to divide into teams or think up plays or get the equipment. Instead all of them just kept gazing forward listlessly (except Lila of course—she had taken to quietly observing her classmates very closely over the last week ever since Arnold and Helga's breakup). Frowns were abundant among the silent group.

"Okay that's it…" Rhonda suddenly let out a deep sigh and sat up straight on the bench, her arms crossed. "I don't know about the rest of you, but to me it feels like this entire class is falling apart. As the most popular girl in our grade, I'm afraid I simply have to call it: we are a social shadow of our former selves."

A few of the kids rolled their eyes though that didn't stop them from sighing too and finally nodding.

"Yeah." Stinky scratched his head. "I reckon things have been plumb loco around here lately."

"Yup." Sid shrugged. "First Arnold and Helga are get all goofy together and it's weird, and then they stop but…things just get even weirder."

"I think they both seem sad," Sheena added with a frown.

"And all the giggling and teasing we did to them probably explains why we feel kind of bad too," Nadine went on. "Even if some of us weren't making fun of Helga and Arnold, we still made them uncomfortable by talking so much about how nice it was that they seemed closer and how unexpected it was that they were going to the dance together."

"And now they're not going to the dance at all!" Harold slouched with a scowl. "I was almost kind of looking forward to them being there—the April Fools Dance was actually fun thanks to them and the pranks and the pool. Now this one's just going to be boring and full of mopey people."

Curly sighed and flung himself back on the bench. "Yeah, I don't even have the enthusiasm in me to spice up the party. What's the point of letting live chickens loose in the dance or something if Helga's not going to scream at me that I'm an idiot and Arnold's not going to tell me the right thing to do to fix things once the fun is over?"

"Gee," Eugene looked down with a frown of his own, "it really is going to be a disappointing ending the fourth grade, huh? Ow!" He pulled his hand back from the bench to find it had a splinter and just sighed as he added in a dull tone, "I'm okay."

Sheena pulled a pink flyer out of her pocket decorated with bright colors and a picture of a couple dancing. "I guess these posters we made aren't going to do much good if no one's looking forward to going anymore anyway." She let it fall to the bench and frowned.

Lila lightly cleared her throat and decided now was the best time to interject. "Well, to be just perfectly honest, if all of us ruined the dance for Arnold and Helga…it doesn't entirely seem unfair to have the dance ruined for ourselves." She shrugged, swinging her legs off the edge of the bench.

Everyone glanced to the side guiltily.

"Yeah, I guess."

"I reckon you're right."

"It still seems a shame though."

"No..."

The kids blinked and looked to Rhonda as she said the single word. A scowl of determination was on her features now as she looked to her classmates and went on. "I am the social leader of this class, and I am not going to let us fall apart like this, not after such a spectacular fourth grade year. Over the past eight months we've claimed a baseball field for ourselves, thrown some superb soirees, succeeded at multiple thrilling misadventures, endured the fifth graders with poise, survived the social upheaval of changing teachers, thrown the most epic April Fools Dance in P.S. 118 history, and saved our entire neighborhood! We're coming to the finale of what could be the best fourth grade year in history—something worthy of an urban legend! And I refuse to let us ruin the legacy we've created. We are going to fix this! And we are going to make things up to Arnold and Helga at the same time!" She pounded a fist into her palm.

The other kids with wide eyes looked to each other and then back to her.

"Uh, Rhonda," Harold started, "no offense, but, well…we usually need Arnold and Helga for doing big stuff like that."

"Yeah." Sid nodded. "Arnold knows how to get things done without us getting in trouble or getting hurt."

"And Helga knows how to direct everyone and make us work together," Sheena added.

The kids all blinked a few times.

"Wow." Nadine raised an eyebrow. "This whole thing really makes you appreciate how important the two of them were in all the stuff we've accomplished this year."

"Well, maybe if we find a way to show them how important they are to us, it'll help them feel better and help us feel better too." Eugene gave an optimistic smile.

Some smiles came to the kids' faces and they all nodded.

Rhonda nodded too, her look and tone still firm. "Okay, but I think whatever we do needs to involve the dance. They were clearly looking forward to it before, and we should give them a reason to look forward to it again." Her eyes brightened with an idea. "We could all take dates—then if Arnold and Helga still really wanted to go together, they wouldn't feel awkward about it."

"I don't know, Rhonda." Nadine shrugged. "It sounded like Arnold and Helga didn't want everyone to think of this as a date for them. And I think they'd realize pretty quickly something was weird if we all showed up at the dance suddenly paired up."

"Yeah." Stinky nodded. "Arnold and Helga are pretty sharp, I reckon."

Rhonda sighed but nodded in return. "Point taken."

"We could all just not show up at the school dance and throw a party on top of Arnold's roof instead like we did that time when you had a cool people only party, Rhonda." Harold grinned.

Rhonda's look went dry. "That only worked because Arnold threw the party. We can't throw a party at another person's house; it would just be uncouth."

Sid smiled and shrugged. "We could just tell them the dance got changed to a different night and then get them to come to the school somehow on the actual dance night."

"I don't think they'd stay, Sid." Sheena frowned. "They're already kind of upset with us, and I think they'd be even more upset if we tricked them."

"Sheena's right, they have to come to the dance willingly: it's the only way for all of us to be happy again." Rhonda's brow furrowed. "But then what can we do? How can we make the night great for them and all of us? How can put an end to all this social unrest and ennui?"

"How can we show them we're sorry?" Nadine added softly.

The rest of the kids frowned and nodded.

"Yeah…that too," Rhonda added as she cleared her throat and tried to smile again. "Come on, guys, think. Even without Arnold and Helga to help us, we must be able to come up with some kind of good idea, for their sakes."

The kids sat in quiet contemplation for a moment.

Then Lila smiled as she spoke up again. "Excuse me, but I'm ever so sure that it might be easier to come up with an oh too perfect solution if we included Gerald and Phoebe—they know Arnold and Helga best, after all."

All eyes turned to her.

"I don't know." Rhonda considered. "I think it'd be better if what we did was a surprise. We wouldn't want Gerald or Phoebe to accidentally let anything slip."

"But," Nadine started, "they probably would have a good idea of the best way we could help Arnold and Helga feel better about what we put them through and about whatever they're going through together."

"Well, I don't really think any of us have a say in whether or not to ask for Gerald and Phoebe's help at this point," Curly added.

"Why not?" Rhonda raised an eyebrow.

Curly pointed forward. "Because they're coming over here right now."

The kids turned to see Gerald and Phoebe indeed approaching them across Gerald Field, Gerald scowling slightly and Phoebe looking quite serious.

"You know," Gerald started as they came to stand before the group of kids on the bench, "I've gotta say, I was a little surprised that Arnold actually yelled at you guys last week, and I promised myself to try and let him fight his own battles about it, but after seeing how down he's been I'm starting to feel pretty inclined to yell at all of you too. I can't even count the number of times Arnold's gone out of his way to help you guys with things, keep your secrets, make you feel better when you're blue. Not to mention it was his idea to save the neighborhood in the first place: our home! And you all have the nerve to get on his back just because he's starting to like Helga G. Pataki more than just some of the time and because he wants to head to a dance with her that doesn't involve an out of control prank war." He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "Mmm, mmm, mmm—and the saddest thing is, after all that, he's the one left hurting when you're the ones who should feel bad."

"And the same goes for Helga." Phoebe took a step forward, a rare frown of anger on her features. "I also promised myself I'd try to let her handle this situation, but she's not getting any better and she deserves to have someone stand up for her for once. I know she's not always the easiest person to find camaraderie with, but she's still a good person, and she guides others and stands up to the fifth graders and she speaks for us when we need her to. And she went through some very dangerous events to save the neighborhood along with Arnold and Gerald. All of you always act like you want Helga to be nicer, especially to nice people like Arnold, and she was being that way, but then you treated her like she did something wrong. And like she doesn't deserve to be liked by someone as kind as Arnold in return."

Gerald cleared his throat and gave Phoebe a knowing look. Phoebe blinked, blushed lightly and quickly corrected herself. "I-I mean, 'liked' by him, not 'like-liked' by him. Though that's another thing." She frowned again. "Treating Helga like there's something wrong about the notion of her having a crush has been very unfair too. Helga's allowed to feel however she wants to feel about anybody."

"Yeah, and so is Arnold, and so are we." Gerald scowled at the group again. "And frankly right now I'm feeling a little sick and tired of you guys and your bad attitudes."

"We all couldn't agree more, Gerald," Lila added glancing to the other kids and frowning to herself.

"You're darn right you all couldn't agree mo—I'm sorry, what?" Gerald blinked.

Lila shrugged and went on. "Even if some of us didn't tease Arnold and Helga, we've all still been giving their new friendship a little too much attention, which means we've added to how uncomfortable they are now. And I'm oh too sure those of us who did tease them are even more sorry."

Rhonda sighed, her look dry. "Yes, we're all aware that we've behaved just atrociously, Gerald. You don't have to rub it in, believe me."

"Yeah," Harold groaned, his look dry too, "we know we've been bad, and we feel bad about it."

"We ain't exactly been obliging," Stinky added.

"And I guess we were a little too enthusiastic with Helga about Arnold even though she clearly didn't want to make a big deal about it," Nadine added sheepishly.

All of the kids nodded and sighed.

Phoebe blinked. "So…all of you understand the difficult position you've put Arnold and Helga in and regret what happened?" She smiled. "That's great!" She looked to Gerald. "Gerald, perhaps if they explain their feelings of remorse to Arnold and Helga and refrain from teasing them or paying them too much attention, things can return to normal."

Gerald almost smiled at her enthusiasm but had to sigh and add (in a slightly low voice). "Babe, uh…it might help, but you know this has gotten way more complicated than what happened on the bus. Remember our talks with your best friend and mine?"

Phoebe sighed and had to nod as she whispered back, "Yes. Our friends apologizing would be a start, but it would still fail to address the underlying problem: Arnold and Helga are uncomfortable being close among our peers, and our peers are uncomfortable with them being close."

"Um, excuse me?" Rhonda raised an eyebrow. "What are you two talking about? And seriously what is going on with Arnold and Helga? We won't make fun of them, we just want to know officially what the situation is. All of this change has been confusing to say the least."

"Really confusing!" Harold put both hands on either side of his head.

Gerald's glanced at her, his look dry and his arms crossed. "It doesn't matter what exactly is going on with Arnold and Helga—all that matters is that they're our friends and they're hurting. Okay?"

The kids hesitated but nodded.

"Good." Phoebe smiled again. "Now then, I think we should discuss the best way to help Arnold and Helga. As I said, apologizing is a start, but the bigger problem is their current discomfort around all of you and each other and your discomfort with their friendship."

"Well, we were thinking of doing something for them at the dance actually," Sheena piped up. "Something to show them we won't hurt their feelings anymore and something to let them enjoy the night like they wanted to in the first place."

"Yeah!" Eugene nodded with a big smile. "It seemed like the perfect opportunity—we kind of ruined the dance for them, but now we can make it better!"

The rest of the kids smiled and nodded.

Phoebe's smile fell a little. "It does sound like a kind gesture, but Arnold and Helga are no longer planning to go to the dance at all."

"Yeah." Gerald glanced to the side with a slight frown as he explained. "Phoebe and I were probably gonna end up staying home with each of them to keep them company."

Phoebe frowned a little too (and glanced to the side as well, blushing slightly). "Yes, we wouldn't want to leave them alone."

Stinky scratched the back of his neck and sighed. "Well, if we can't make things up with the dance to Arnold and Helga, then I reckon I don't see much point in going myself. It'd be far too depressing. I'd just spend the whole night thinking about them being all forlorn at home."

The other kids nodded.

Rhonda frowned. "I have to agree—it won't exactly be a lively social event. Not to mention all this guilt is giving me worry lines. And Arnold's a good friend, and Helga's…got her good moments." She sighed and looked to Phoebe and Gerald. "Seriously, we have to find a way to fix this mess as quickly as possible no matter what it takes. None of us is going to be able to stand feeling this bad for much longer."

The other kids nodded.

Gerald and Phoebe glanced at each other with looks of concern.

Gerald turned back to the crowd. "Okay, maybe there's a chance we can come up with something and we can save this dance and help our friends. But the first thing we'd have to figure is how to get Arnold and Helga to go there willingly."

"Yes." Phoebe nodded, her brow furrowed in concern. "I'm afraid it wouldn't be easy though."

"Pardon me, but I'm ever so certain I might be able to help with getting Arnold and Helga to the dance." Lila stood up from the bench stepped forward with a bright smile her hands clasped in front of herself.

The kids all looked at her with a mix of raised eyebrows and tilted heads.

"Uh…how would you be able to convince Arnold and Helga to come to the dance if even Gerald and Phoebe aren't sure how to?" Sid finally asked for everyone. The other kids nodded.

Lila merely shrugged. "Oh, just leave that to me. All of you just work out an ever so perfect plan for how to make the dance a special night for them, and I'll let you know as soon as everything's all settled."

Gerald and Phoebe glanced at each other again. Gerald shrugged. "Well, it feels like you and I have kind of reached our limit with getting anywhere with them, babe. Some new blood really might help."

Phoebe smiled and nodded. "I concur, Gerald." She looked to Lila. "Lila, thank you for your assistance, and please do whatever you can to convince Arnold and Helga to come."

"I promise, everything will work out ever so well." She winked, considered, and then looked to the kids and approached Brainy (tucked away behind everyone else, just wheezing lightly). "Brainy, I think I'll need your help. Will you walk with me for a little while?"

All the kids looked to him with raised eyebrows as Brainy just shrugged and came forward. "Uh, sure…"

"Wonderful! Thanks, Brainy." Lila clapped her hands together with a smile and looked to the others as Brainy came to stand beside her. "Everyone, let's meet up later, and I'll let you know how things turned out."

Gerald nodded. "Sure thing, Lila. How about Mighty Pete, after dinner? That way we'll have privacy. Come by even if Arnold and Helga turn you down—then we'll all just brainstorm other ways to convince them to come while we're thinking up plans for the dance."

The other kids all nodded.

"Good luck, Lila and Brainy," Phoebe added.

"Thank you, everyone!" Lila waved then turned and headed across Gerald Field and down the street, Brainy following her.


Once they got around the first corner, Lila paused and looked to Brainy with a smile. She kept her voice low. "Brainy, I don't mean to pry but I'm ever so good at picking up on other people's feelings for each other. So I'm oh too sure that you like Helga ever so much. Am I right?"

Brainy blushed faintly but nodded. "Uh…kind of…"

"Thank you for telling me." Her smile fell a little. "I know Arnold and Helga being close must be difficult for you."

Brainy wheezed. "If Helga's happy…I'm happy."

Lila smiled again. "That's very sweet of you, Brainy. I'm glad you feel that way, especially since you're the only boy around I would trust to help me considering how much you care about Helga's well-being. I have a plan, and if Helga and Arnold agree to it, I need you to play role."

Brainy nodded. "Uh…okay."

Lila smiled more. "Okay, here's what we'll do. And I'm ever so sure it'll work out well…"

Between wheezes, Brainy listened attentively as they continued walking along.


Meanwhile, back with the other kids….

"And in the meantime…" Gerald looked to the other kids again with a grin as Lila and Brainy departed, "I say we announce that baseball practice is 'canceled' today. We can use the extra time to come up with some plans on our own before we meet up later. What do you guys say?

The other kids grinned too and nodded then stood up and began departing Gerald Field, already discussing different options for how to help their friends.

Phoebe watched them go with a bright smile and looked to Gerald. "Gerald, this is…unexpected but wonderful. I never thought they would suddenly be so determined to help Arnold and Helga or to accept their closeness. With all of us working together, maybe we really can give them a chance to fix their relationship quickly."

Gerald's smile warmed. "Hey, we just had to take command and look on the bright side as Helga and Arnold might say. And I think it's a good sign too, babe." He scratched his head. "I'm still not sure how Lila's gonna get those two to come to the dance though, but if she does then we've really gotta make sure it's a special night for them. I'm…not really sure how we'll pull it off, but Arnold's the best at making the impossible happen and Helga's the best at making romantic shenanigans work out according to you. Maybe some of their luck'll have rubbed off on us, and we'll be able to pull this whole thing off."

Phoebe giggled softly. "I concur, Gerald—I have a lot of confidence in our abilities." She took his hand, blushing lightly. "Why don't we go to my house now to think of ideas before we meet everyone later? I told my parents you might stop by for dinner one night." She glanced down shyly. "My father's making fresh sushi and udon noodles, and my mother's making a strawberry pie for dessert. And I'm making miso soup, if you'd like to help me."

Gerald was blushing quite a bit now too, and with a dreamy grin he nodded and squeezed her hand a little. "Sushi and strawberry pie? Sounds like a fun combination. And I'd love to learn all about miso soup, babe. Sounds very interesting." He gave her a charming grin.

Phoebe's smile beamed. "Very well, Gerald. Let's go."

The happy couple headed forward, still holding hands as they walked and talked, taking a rare moment to put aside Arnold and Helga's issues for the sake of exploring their own personal interests together.


Dinnertime came and went, and while most of the fourth grade headed to Mighty Pete directly afterwards, three students found themselves in Slausens for dessert.

"Arnold, Helga, I'm ever so glad you made it." Lila smiled, her crossed legs swinging a little as she took a bite of her sundae and looked across the table at the blond pair seated in the opposite booth seat. "I know the invitation was sudden, but I appreciate ever so much the fact that you decided to join me."

"Decided is a strong word, Lila," Helga replied with a scowl, not touching her shake.

Arnold blinked and raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?" He looked from one girl to the other.

Helga's scowl remained on Lila. "It means little miss sunshine over there invited me here, and when I said no because any idiot could figure out this was some kind of stupid 'invite Arnold and Helga to the same place to get them to make up' ploy, she casually reminded me that she has Olga's phone number and that Olga offered to pop down here for a visit any time she called. And she threatened to call. So I really didn't have a choice. You are twisted, sister, Lila, you know that? I'm just getting over all the damage control I had to do from Olga's last visit."

Lila simply shrugged. "I'm ever so sure I was just trying to motivate you for your own good, Helga."

"Whatever." Helga just rolled her eyes and glanced at Arnold, still scowling though she raised part of her brow as she added, "Though I've gotta say I'm still trying to figure out what she has on you that made you com here."

Arnold blinked and shrugged. "Nothing. I just came here because she asked and she's my friend."

Helga sighed deeply and slumped in her seat, her scowl darker as she shook her head. "Crimeny, you are so weak, Arnold."

Now Arnold's look went dry and he just sipped his ice cream soda.

Lila took a deep breath and kept the smile on her face. "Anyway, I asked you both here to talk about the end of the year dance."

"We are not going." The words left Helga's mouth firmly.

Arnold just kept his gaze down, looking into his soda. "Whatever she says."

Lila shook her head. "It's not about you two going. It's your choice if you want to stay home because of how everyone's been treating you. This is about Gerald and Phoebe."

Arnold's eyes came up as Helga's scowl softened. "What about them?" he asked.

Lila shrugged. "Well, they both feel ever so bad that you're their best friends but not going, so they both decided not to go. I think it was going to be an ever so special date for them, but now it's off." Arnold and Helga both frowned as Lila did her best to contain a secret smile as she went on. "I've tried talking to them, but I'm afraid they simply won't go if you two are staying home."

Arnold frowned a little more as Helga faintly scowled again. "But," she shook her head and looked to Lila, "you said it's up to us if Arnold and I don't want to go together. But how can we help Gerald and Phoebe if we—"

"You and Arnold don't have to go together," Lila interrupted politely. "You both just have to go. Show up, just not as a couple. Then Gerald and Phoebe can go on their date and have a good time."

Arnold and Helga blinked at the suggestion and considered for a moment.

"But," Arnold started, "after everything lately, won't people assume Helga and I are there together?" His look went a little dry. "I really don't want to be in a room with everyone if they're just going to give us a hard time."

"I'm ever so sure no one's going to give anyone a hard time, Arnold." Lila's gaze warmed with all the sincerity the country girl could muster. "Haven't you noticed how quiet they've all been about the two of you since the incident on the bus last week? I'm ever so sure they wouldn't want to risk you yelling at them again or Helga fighting anyone, and of course no one would want to cause a scene at the dance considering how chaotic the April Fools dance got. I'm actually oh too surprised that Principal Wartz let us hold another dance after the pool incident."

Arnold's look of concern softened. "I…guess those are all good points."

"I still don't know." Helga eyed Lila with a deep scowl. "No matter what, you can't guarantee this isn't going to turn into a fiasco for us."

Lila felt Helga's penetrating gaze on her and cleared her throat. Time to enact the rest of her plan. "Well, if you're still ever so slightly worried that people will get the wrong impression about you and Arnold being together, each of you could go to the dance with other people."

Arnold's eyes went wide.

Helga raised part of her brow in surprise. "You're serious?"

Lila shrugged. "Why not? What better way to go to the dance but make sure no one will bother you about your ever so complicated 'friendship'?" Her smile grew and her eyes hazed at the phrase.

Helga blushed lightly, and Arnold blinked. He looked from Lila to Helga back to Lila back to Helga again then blushed. "Helga…"

Before he could even ask the question, Helga muttered an answer, sinking low in her seat. "Lila knows…everything about how I feel about you. It, uh…happened during my escapade with trying to be Juliet in the school play to kiss you. Might have left out that part."

Arnold turned completely red and sunk down entirely in his seat with his head on the table.

Lila giggled softly. "Arnold, it's okay, you don't have to be embarrassed. Actually, I think it's a good thing that I'm so familiar with Helga's true feelings. I'm ever so sure I'm proof that our classmates can eventually get used to the idea of you two like-liking each other."

Arnold finally raised his head but just gave Helga a slight pout. "Is there anyone else who knows that I should know about, Helga?"

Helga scowled darkly and looked him right in the eye. "Probably Brainy since he always catches me monologuing, Big Patty definitely suspects because of that time you told her not to beat me up, and with all the sappy poems I've submitted about you to him this year Mr. Simmons has to have an inkling. And if you've got a problem with all that, suck it up. Keeping a secret this big for seven years isn't exactly easy, and I did the best I could."

Arnold let out a deep sigh, his annoyed look falling away, and turned to Lila again. "Just in case Helga hasn't filled in the gaps yet, I found out her secret too, and we were…um…exploring the idea…until last week…when she decided for both of us that we weren't going to anymore."

"I did what I had to do."

Despite the bitter, dismissive tone of Helga's mumble, Lila could see the quick shine of sadness in her eyes as she looked away. Lila did her best to keep up her own smile though as she addressed the couple once more. "Well, I'm ever so sorry to hear that, Arnold. It's a shame that things ended so quickly. But as I said, I'm oh too sure it's your business whether or not you two would like to try again. For now I'm just here to help out about Gerald and Phoebe. And speaking of which, if you two do decide to go but with other people, I'd be happy to help." She glanced to Arnold. "Arnold, I know you might be a little hesitant about approaching the girls in our class at the moment, so I'm oh too sure I wouldn't mind going with you to the dance myself."

"You?" "You?" Arnold and Helga said at once.

"Yes." Lila nodded. "Just as friends, of course. No pressure. And I wouldn't ask you about Helga at all."

Arnold looked down in thought for a moment then finally looked over at Helga. "But…then who would Helga go with?"

Helga blinked then scowled at him. "Oh, thanks for assuming I'd be so hard up to find another guy to take me."

Arnold rolled his eyes. "Helga, you know that's not what I meant."

"Of course it's not." Lila giggled softly and looked to Helga with hazed eyes. "And I know one guy who would take you."

Helga's eyes widened. "Lila, if you call Arnie, I swear I'll…"

"Arnie?" Arnie blinked and raised an eyebrow. "What about him?"

"Oh for Pete's Sake…" Helga dropped her head into her palm.

Lila swung her legs and glanced off to the side 'innocently'. "Well, I'm ever so certain that last time he was here Arnie told me he has an ever so big crush on Helga."

Arnold's eyes went wide.

"And that crush is totally irrelevant because I'm NOT going with Arnie!" Helga finally spat with a scowl at Lila. "Also, we need to pick another topic of conversation. Now."

"But how did he—" a blushing Arnold started.

"Now!" Helga repeated.

"Of course, Helga." Lila took another casual bite of her sundae. "Let's go back to talking about your date for the dance. I was thinking of Brainy."

"Brainy?!" "Brainy?!"

While Arnold sat there in shock, Helga put a hand to her chin and finally went on in a thoughtful tone, "Well, he did ask me once already."

"He what?" Arnold blinked and looked at her. "When did that happen?"

Helga scoffed. "Just after you finally got yourself together enough to ask me, not that it's any of your business."

"My point is," Lila interrupted gently, "Brainy thinks you're nice, Helga. I can tell. And he's quiet, so you wouldn't have to worry about him asking you about Arnold. And if he's already asked you, then what have you got to lose?"

Helga considered then finally sighed with a dry look. "The sad thing is, this wouldn't be the most pathetic way I've ever spent a Friday night." She slammed a fist onto the table. "Okay, I'm in. For Gerald and Phoebe's sake. But on the condition that you're definitely the one Arnold takes to the dance, Lila." She blushed a little. "At least he's already gotten a crush on you out of his system so I don't have to worry about him getting all loopy and me having to save him from another doomed romantic escapade."

Arnold let out a breath, his look dry. "I'll go as long as you really are okay with me taking you, Lila…and on the condition that all of us talk more about this Arnie thing at some point." He blushed slightly, looking down into his ice cream soda.

Helga just rolled her eyes.

Lila's smile brightened. "Great, then we're all agreed! Arnold, I'll go with you, Helga, you ask Brainy, then Gerald and Phoebe can go on their date, and we'll all have an oh too wonderful time!"

Arnold sighed. "I hope so, Lila."

Helga twirled a finger in the air. "Whoop-de-freaking-do."

The three friends went back to finishing their ice cream in awkward silence.


After Lila's ice cream parlor ambush, Helga had insisted on heading home by herself—she'd said something about needing a little less football head exposure and also needing to deal with the details of the 'date with Brainy' thing alone.

So, since they lived in the same general direction, Lila and Arnold had left her and started walking home together. Arnold has his eyes down, a sullen look on his face, while Lila moved along with her usual interested smile. They walked in silence for a little while before she spoke up.

"I'm ever so glad you and Helga are going to the dance, Arnold. I think it'll be good for you. And I'm oh too sure you'll have a nice time."

Arnold swallowed but nodded. "We'll try…as long as it'll help Gerald and Phoebe be happy." He glanced at Lila. "Are you really sure you're okay going with me to the dance though, Lila? I don't want to ruin your night or anything…or to make people think that you like-like me again." He shrugged sheepishly.

Lila shook her head. "I'm glad to help, Arnold. And maybe a night with a friend and surrounded by friends will be just what you and Helga need to feel better."

"Maybe." His eyes went down again. "But honestly it's hard to think of everyone else as friends right now."

Lila frowned a little and nodded. "I understand, Arnold. But, if it's any consolation, I don't think they meant to hurt you. And I think they'll be glad to see you and Helga enjoying yourselves next weekend."

"I hope so." He sighed but then a moment later smiled.

"Something funny?" Lila smiled too.

"I just realized—for once I'm not the one looking on the bright side. Someone else is." He smiled a little more.

Lila laughed softly. "Yes, I suppose so." She considered. "Arnold, I'm ever so sure it's not my place to say anything, but I hope you and Helga can find a way to be together again. I know you were trying to keep your special friendship private, but I could tell over the last few weeks that both of you seemed…happier somehow. You were laughing more and Helga was yelling less. It was ever so nice."

He swallowed, frowning a little again. "I know. It's…a problem. But it's not one I can fix by myself."

"Yes," Lila nodded, "I understand." She lowered her voice and smiled a little more. "But if it helps you feel better, I'm ever so sure Helga will want to resolve it soon just as much as I know you do. She likes you ever so much, Arnold. In fact I think the exact words she used when she told me about it were 'head over heels, loop-de-loop in love with the boy'."

Arnold cleared his throat, blushing darkly. "Uh, Lila, I'm…I'm not sure if I want to talk about this with, you know…a girl. And especially one I used to like-like."

She laughed softly. "Oh Arnold, I'm ever so certain how shy and modest you can be is another reason someone as bold passionate as Helga finds you appealing. But if you're ever so sure, then we don't have to talk about it."

"Thanks, Lila." Arnold managed a small, grateful smile. "And thanks for thinking about Gerald and Phoebe and talking to us about them," he added. "I guess Helga and I have been so wrapped up in our own problems we forgot that it might be affecting them. I'll call Gerald once I'm inside and let him know what's going on."

"Oh, I'm oh too sure there's no need, Arnold. I can let them know myself," Lila quickly added, still smiling brightly. "I was planning to visit Phoebe now anyway, and I'm ever so sure Gerald will be with her. Besides, I think it's better if a third party lets them know in a casual way so that it seems like you and Helga made the decision to go with other people for your own sakes. That way Gerald and Phoebe won't feel so pressured about this weekend being a date for themselves."

"Oh." Arnold smiled. "Okay. Well, thanks, Lila."

"Of course, Arnold."

The two kids reached the corner of Vine Street now and paused.

"Well, I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow and then at the dance on Saturday. Is 7 okay for me to pick you up?" He shrugged.

"I'm ever so sure that'll be perfect, Arnold." Lila nodded.

"Great." Arnold nodded in return. "Bye, Lila." He took a step toward the boarding house but then paused. He glanced back at her, his smile falling a little. "Hey, Lila?"

"Yes, Arnold?" She tilted her head, still smiling.

"Arnie…really has a crush on Helga?" He blushed.

Lila blinked. Her smile fell a little as she nodded. "Oh yes, quite an ever so big one too. He told me last time he visited just before he broke up with me." Her gaze fell.

Arnold blinked and frowned. "I'm sorry, Lila. I know what that's like…to like someone who likes someone else... I'm sorry again he dumped you."

Lila looked up a little and managed a small smile again. "It's okay, Arnold. But thank you." She shrugged. "Besides, it doesn't matter right now. What's most important is you and Helga and Gerald and Phoebe all being happy. And I'm ever so sure all of you will be by the time the dance happens."

Arnold smiled a little, his gaze warm. "You're a good friend, Lila."

Lila smiled in return. "Thanks, Arnold. You are too." She stepped away. "Have a good night."

"Good night, Lila." Arnold gave her a wave and went around the corner, smiling to himself with at least a little of his usual optimism as he approached the boarding house stoop. Having someone accept his feelings for Helga felt nice…and for a moment he understood a little better about Helga's craving for it in the middle of all of the rejection they'd had to face lately (and all of the extra rejection she'd had to face in little ways over the years from their friends and even her family about other things). And maybe he had to admit to himself that he didn't want to have to be constantly fighting against their teasing and attention either. He supposed he could hope for something better from them at the dance, but frankly he didn't have the heart to trust them at the moment. But as long as he and Helga lay low, he figured they would be okay (and as long as they laid low, shenanigans would probably be at a minimum too which meant no one would need them much). They could at least get through one night.

'And then it'll be summer break soon…' he thought to himself as he went inside and headed for his room. 'And then Helga and I can spend all the time away from people that we want…' A sad but almost comforting reason to look forward to summer break.

Just one school dance to get through first. What could happen?


While Lila and Arnold had been having their little heartwarming talk, Helga had gone off on her own from Slausens, stomping down the street at first (anger was one of the only emotions she was willing to show Arnold at the moment, and just in case he was watching her leave she wanted him to get an eyeful). But after a block or so she resumed her usual even stride. She glanced around, then found a dim alley and went into it. She turned her back to some trashcans and sighed. "Okay, Brainy, I know there's an excellent if creepy chance you're around here, but you probably know that I'm a little disinclined to give an Arnold monologue right now. But I have something to talk to you about, so if you could just come out on your own for once, I'd appreciate it." She sighed. "It's kind of important—oh!"

She jumped as Brainy surprisingly popped out of a trashcan right in front of her. He was wheezing, a few pieces of trash in his hair. "Um…problem?"

Helga sighed and scowled a little. "Yeah, sort of."

"Arnold?" he wheezed.

"Who else?" she rolled her eyes, blushing slightly. "Anyway, here's the deal…" arms behind her back, she started to pace in front of him, "we all know the end of the year dance is coming up and that Arnold and I are clearly are not going together anymore. But I just had a meeting with Little Miss Sunshine Lila, and apparently if Arnold and I don't go, then Gerald and Phoebe are going to be too guilty to go. And I'm not about to let Phoebe suffer just because my love life's a mess. Even if Arnold and I just show up to the dance separately though, we'll still look like a couple. So Lila decided Arnold and I should go to the dance with other people—AS FRIENDS—so that no one can say anything about football head and me being an item. Arnold's going with Lila, so that leaves me with the pesky predicament of needing a date…" Her scowl softened. "Thing is, I'm not the biggest fan at the moment of most of the guys in our class. But, well…you're the only one who hasn't made me feel bad about this Arnold thing. And you're…okay—you know, when you're not stalking me to death. And I wouldn't feel entirely weird about this. So…" she turned to him, arms crossed, cheeks pink, "Brainy would you take me to the dance? As friends?"

Brainy just stood there with his usual smile and usual wheeze. Then… "Uh…okay. Pick you up at 7?"

Helga blinked. "Uh…sure. Great, um…thanks, Brainy."

"Uh huh…" He just wheezed some more.

Helga cleared her throat. "Well, um…" she gave him a wave, "Bye."

He waved too. "Bye…"

Helga faked a smile and then zipped out of the alley and dashed down a block heading in the direction of her house. "Well, that was surprisingly easy." She furrowed her brow. "Almost too easy…" She considered, mumbling to herself as she came in sight of her stoop. "Little Miss Perfect, I don't know what exactly is going on, but the fact that it's going to help Phoebe is the only thing keeping me from buying a bus ticket out of this town until this whole dance fiasco is over." She gave a firm nod and headed inside to spend a couple of hours looking over her Wrestlemania trading cards and pretending she didn't want to muse over Arnold instead.


Lila (after secretly doubling back and taking a shortcut to make sure she wasn't followed) walked up to the field where Mighty Pete was, climbed the ladder, and rapped at the closed trap door leading into the tree house.

"What's the password?" whispered a voice through a chink in the wood—Curly.

A sigh sounded, and Gerald's voice spoke now. "Curly, take it down a notch. Lila, is that you?"

"I'm ever so sure it is." Lila smiled.

The trap door opened to reveal all of her classmates gathered in various parts of the tree house with Gerald and Phoebe standing by the trap door entrance. They each held out a hand to help her up and inside.

Lila brushed off her dress and closed the trap door behind her. "I'm ever so glad to see you all made it." She blinked and smiled more. "Brainy, how did you get here before me?"

Brainy just wheezed and shrugged. "Uh…I don't know."

"Did things work out on your end?"

Brainy nodded and gave a thumbs up. "Uh huh…"

She clapped her hands together. "Splendid!" Beaming, she addressed their classmates once more. "Anyway, I'm ever so glad we're all here now."

Instantly she was bombarded with eager questions from everyone.

"Well?"

"Any news?"

"What happened?"

"Are they definitely coming?"

"It's been so boring waiting here!"

Lila cleared her throat and made the announcement. "Everyone, Arnold and Helga will be going to the dance."

The fourth graders all smiled in return.

Lila went on. "But, they would only go if they could be sure people wouldn't think they're a couple, so they'll be taking other people with them. I'll be going with Arnold, and Brainy will be going with Helga. And I'm oh too sure no one would think of teasing them for that, right?" She kept her smile, making eye contact with everyone one at a time.

Though a few of the boys looked at each other for a moment with snickers, finally the class all turned to her and nodded their heads with frowns.

"No, Miss Lila. I reckon we learned our lesson," Stinky replied.

"Yeah, nothing's fun with Arnold and Helga being all boring and sad," Harold added.

"Agreed. Fourth grade society is in ruins without them," Rhonda chimed in.

"We're just glad their coming!" Nadine finished.

Everyone else smiled and nodded too.

With a grin, Gerald came to the front of the room beside Phoebe. "Okay then, everyone, phase one is complete: Arnold and Helga are going to the dance. Now we can move full steam through phase two: figuring out how to make it up to them for all the drama they've been put through lately. Let's get to work!"

Instantly, the chatter of ideas shared among the kids started.

Gerald and Phoebe looked out on the room with smiles.

"You know, babe, I think things are actually going to work out. Go figure." Gerald's smile grew.

Phoebe nodded. "I have to concur, Gerald. And I think Arnold and Helga will be very happy with the results."

"I do too." Lila added, stepping closer, her voice lower. "By the way, there's one other oh too small thing I should mention. Arnold and Helga also only agreed to go to the dance because I told them that you two wouldn't go if they stayed home…and I told them the night would be a very special one both of you. So I'm ever so afraid you'll have to pretend it's a very serious date for both of you. I hope that's all right."

Gerald and Phoebe blushed.

"Oh, uh…" Gerald rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged, "Sure, sure, that's fine."

Phoebe glanced down. "Yes, well, as long as we can help Arnold and Helga."

"Wonderful." Lila glanced behind her. "Come on, Brainy, let's go help the others."

"Uh…okay…" Brainy replied as she pulled him along.

Left alone and still blushing, Gerald and Phoebe glanced away and then finally to each other.

Gerald cleared his throat. "Actually…I-I mean, I was going to ask you to the dance, anyway, so…"

Phoebe smiled. "And I was going to ask you myself if you didn't ask me soon."

Gerald blinked.

Phoebe shrugged, her arms behind her back. "Being Helga's friend has shown me the benefits of actively pursuing your goals."

"Ah." He smiled and chuckled. "Well, then, we're on the same page, I guess." He shrugged. "And, you know, as long as we're both going anyway, I think we'll be able to pull off the 'big, official, serious date' thing in front of Arnold and Helga pretty easily, don't you, Babe?"

"Yes." Phoebe nodded, smiling more too. "And it's very sweet that Arnold and Helga would be so concerned for our welfare that they would put aside their discomfort to attend the dance."

"Yeah." Gerald nodded. Then he lowered his voice and moved a little closer to her. "Hey, babe? Um…you know, I'm sure the dance is gonna be full of wacky stunts and fun moments and crazy memories—after all, we are dealing with Arnold and Helga here. But, uh, when the night's over…maybe you and I could go on a walk or something alone or get some ice cream. Just the two of us. What do you say?"

Phoebe blushed and smiled very much. "I say I'd be delighted to extend our activities for the evening, Gerald, and to have some time to ourselves after assisting Arnold and Helga."

"Really?" His smile brightened.

Phoebe looked up into his eyes. "Yes, Gerald, really." They shared a tender look, then she cleared her throat. "For now though we should probably help our friends come up with some way to make things up to Arnold and Helga, don't you agree?"

"Oh." Gerald blinked, coming out of his near daze. "Uh, yeah, sure, sounds good, babe." He gestured forward with his arm and a smooth grin. "Ladies first."

"Thank you." Phoebe smiled more and held back a giggle as she went to join the crowd and Gerald followed.

Ideas were already flying around.

"We could start a fundraiser at the dance and tell Arnold and Helga we need their help with it," Sheena suggested brightly.

"Maybe we could decide to do some line dancing, and tell Arnold and Helga we need them to lead," Eugene added. "After all, they did some great dancing at the April Fools dance."

"We could, uh…oh, maybe we could hide all the snacks at the dance and tell Arnold and Helga we have to get more, and they could lead us on a mission to the vending machine for it." Harold grinned.

"Or we could tell them we need better decorations and have them lead us on an expedition for those," Rhonda added, glancing at her nails. "Besides, you know the school decorations are always so passé."

"We could pretend some of us are in trouble with Principal Wartz and ask Arnold and Helga how to get out of it." Sid shrugged with a grin.

"Or we could tell Arnold and Helga that some of the lunar moth population in the neighborhood got displaced after all the construction and ask them to head to the park and help us relocate some of their nests." Sheena grinned.

Gerald held up his hands at everyone. "Okay, okay, time out everyone. Look, these are all great plans, but they also feel a little, well…"

"Constructed," Phoebe supplied as she adjusted her glasses with a smile. "Heavily constructed. It's nice that you're all willing to make such sincere attempts to help Arnold and Helga, but they would quickly realize instantly that you had orchestrated these scenarios all to possibly get them back together."

"I hear ya." Curly crossed his arms. "I'm the only one here at a higher level of extreme emotional instability than Helga, and even I wouldn't not deluded enough to actually fall for any of these things."

"Hmm…" Lila put a hand to her chin, frowning a little at Gerald. "Then what should we do, Gerald? I'm ever so sure you and Phoebe are right—our plan has to be significant but subtle all at once."

Gerald considered, his brow furrowed as he put a hand to his chin. "Whatever we do, it just…needs to seem natural. Something closer to the normal shenanigans you guys get into…."

"Gerald…that's it!" Suddenly Phoebe's eyes brightened as she turned to him. As he looked back at her with an eyebrow raised, she leaned up and quickly whispered something into his ear then pulled back. "Well, what do you think?" She blushed a little. "Helga's normally the one who concocts the details of the 'crazy scheme', so I can't be certain if it's a fully adequate plan, but—"

"Babe, it's genius!" Gerald's eyes lit up. "And it works on two levels." When she raised an eyebrow, he grinned and whispered something back to her.

When he pulled back she was grinning too. "Yes, of course!"

"Um, excuse me?" Rhonda's look went dry. "Can someone fill us in please?"

Gerald and Phoebe blushed a little then turned back toward their classmates.

Gerald cleared his throat. "Oh, uh, yeah, sorry. Phoebe, want to do the honors?"

Phoebe nodded with a shy smile. "Thank you, Gerald." She addressed their classmates. "Well, whatever we do can't seem too forced, so my idea was that we simply play to our natural tendencies for mishaps and misadventures. All of us naturally get involved in situations that require Arnold and Helga's help. This time, we'll just push those natural situations to the forefront and make sure they all occur one after the other. This way Arnold and Helga won't suspect that our problems are fabricated and they'll be forced to see over and over just how important their presences are in our lives. And if, at the same time, we show enjoyment at the two of them working together, it should help them be more comfortable being close."

For anyone who still looked a little confused after Phoebe's long explanation, Gerald grinned and summarized quickly. "Basically we're going to make a lot of mistakes we'd probably make anyway, and when Arnold and Helga see how clueless we are without them and how cool we are with them now, it'll fix everything."

The kids finally all smiled and nodded to each other.

"Sounds like it could work."

"I reckon we don't have much to lose."

"Aw, yes, this means I get to free the animals from the zoo somehow!"

"A little on the nose, but maybe just enough that it's actually not gauche."

"I can't wait for the dance already!"

Gerald and Phoebe smiled more at their classmates' enthusiasm. Then Phoebe leaned toward Gerald again and added in a whisper, "It appears 'Operation: Reconciliation' is well underway."

Gerald raised an eyebrow at her, his grin ready to burst.

Phoebe just shrugged with a little smile. "What? Helga always came up with codenames for her schemes. And I always found it very motivating."

Gerald finally laughed, and Phoebe joined him.

"You know, I think it is too." Gerald moved closer to her, his gaze warm. "Glad to have you as a partner in crime."

Phoebe blushed, smiling more. "I feel the same way, Gerald."

The two of them shared a warm look then looked forward with shy smiles and finally joined their classmates in hammering out the details of their plans for helping their friends.

The school dance was going to be a very interesting night indeed.


The baseball practice schedule for the fourth grade was common enough knowledge around P.S. 118—the kids talked about their meet-up times freely in the halls and at lunch and recess, and it wasn't like baseball practice as a secret or anything.

However, the fact that the fourth grade had suddenly canceled baseball practice this afternoon for a sudden gathering away from Gerald Field was sort of a secret…which explained why the fifth grader Wolfgang was standing in an empty fourth grade baseball field now with a scowl and his arms crossed, his friend Edmund at his side.

Wolfgang glared at the fourth-grader-less lot. "Come on, they were supposed to have practice today, and the fifth grade was supposed to give them a final surprise sneak wedgie attack of the year! But it's been an hour, and no sign of those stupid fourth graders, and now all the other fifth graders got bored and went home."

"I'm still here, Wolfgang." Edmund grinned and held up a finger.

Wolfgang sighed and rolled his eyes. "Shut up…" He stomped over to the bench and plopped himself down on it. "We're fifth graders—that means when school starts after summer, we'll be sixth graders: the oldest kids in the school! We have to make sure these lame fourth graders know who's boss for next year when they're the fifth graders. Especially since they've been so uppity this year with trying to fight trashcan day and trying to keep us out of this vacant lot and all that junk they put everyone through with dealing with that Future Tech Sheck guy."

Edmund raised an eyebrow. "But…didn't the fourth graders save the neighborhood by dealing with him?"

"Hey, that's not the point!" Wolfgang shot back. "The point is, they're starting to act like they're the ones who deserve the most attention at this school instead of us older kids. Plus they made me look bad by not being here today, and now all the guys are gonna be annoyed with me."

"I'm not annoyed with you, Wolfgang." Edmund shrugged with a smile.

Wolfgang just rolled his eyes, scowling more. "We've only got a couple weeks left where they're going to be the wimpy fourth graders and we're going to be the awesome fifth graders! There's gotta be someway to really get them before summer starts!" He slammed a fist down on the bench but then raised an eyebrow and glanced over where his hand had hit. There was a pink flyer. He picked it up and started to read.

"Wolfgang?" Edmund raised an eyebrow and came closer. "What's that?"

Wolfgang lowered the flyer and smirked. "The perfect chance to mess with the fourth graders and make sure they won't forgot who's boss straight through high school." HE stood up, flyer in hand. "Come on, let's find the guys. We've got some planning to do."

Edmund shrugged with a smile. "Okay, Wolfgang. If you're sure…"

"Duh, of course I'm sure." Wolfgang scoffed. "Now hurry up!"

Edmund followed as Wolfgang ran off…the flyer for the fourth grade dance in hand.

XX

A/N:

That's all for now. Next chapter is the dance (I haven't decided if it'll be one or two chapters long) and then there'll be an epilogue that takes place in the summer. Thank you all so much for reading!

~Azure129