"Nope," He replies with a playful smirk. "you got beat Helga, fair and square, just face it." He laughs teasing at the way her mouth pokes out. That is until he catches a glimpse out of the corner of his eye. His expression smooths out, and Helga raises a brow at the direction he goes.

She doesn't follow only stands with her hands on her hips, tapping her foot, looking impassive. But Arnold smiles as he looks back and beckons for her to follow. She gusts out air and trails behind a dreamy Arnold.

He sits down in a cross-legged position, and she lowers down aside him, letting her long legs dangle over the edge. Both their eyes instinctively drop below, quiet without the awkwardness. Arnold breaks the silence with a chuckle. "Remember Sheena's Uncle?"

Helga snorts. "How could I not?" She then huffs, aggregately. "The man was here every time I come out here for privacy, then suddenly he vanished. I use to wonder what happen to him. Sheena herself doesn't even know."

"Maybe he finally found that pirate ship." That earn him a faint giggle. "So do you still come here?"

Her head tilts on her shoulder, "Ugh, here we go with the interrogation. God, you can be such a geek sometimes football head."

He flashes a wry smile. "Just making conversation."

"And playing twenty questions is how you go about it?" Arnold only shrugs. "I guess that's just you." She does a quiet huff when that last comment earns her a tiny smile. "I come here at times. And Uncle Jack-"

"Earl."

"Whatever - Earl would always pop up like..." She half shuts her left eye and curls up her lip. "arr want a ride across seven seas." She turns away, enjoying his calm laugh.

Once that faded, the only sound heard is the small splashing waves from below.

The two stay present in the moment, not fighting against it with mandate rambles. That is until Arnold drums his fingers on the wood.

"What do you think everyone's going to do ~, you know like after we finish school?"

She doesn't say anything, so he peeks over to see her squinting with a grin. "Curly's clearly on the road to a 3-ring circus."

Arnold coughs out an airy laugh. "I can see that." He bemuses more thinking about the wiry guy's antics. "So what's your theory on Brainy?"

"Whatever it is I hope it'll afford him to stop breathing."

Arnold holds amusement in his gaze because he can tell she's joking. "Helga..."

"What?" She heaves. "Just imagine him puffing his hot breath against your neck every day." Her shoulders shake when she exaggeratedly shivers.

He rolls his eyes. "He's not that bad." They catch eyes, and he bobs his head. "Maybe sometimes he's a little..." His eyes light up. "But you know what I think?" Helga raises her palm, in a lazy shrug. "He could be a private investigator or something along those lines." He looks at as how Helga's face stays deadpanning, but her eyes reveal some interest. "You know how good he was at making himself inconspicuous."

She brings her knees to her chest. "Suggest that and see how that works out.."

Arnold shifts back and forth between crossing his arms and raking through his hair. "I think I'd want to do something in the social service or maybe the science field. I haven't decided."

But of course. Helga exaggeratedly rolls her eyes. "Huh and here... I pegged you as an exotic dancer."

"Oh, so... does that mean you've been fantasizing about me?"

Helga now resembles a beet. Huh? Reluctantly, she glances to him, met with smug, half-lidded grin. At first, when her lips part nothing comes out except a cough. She pounds her chest, shaking her head. "Quit before you make me vomit."

Arnold laughs, but it sounds sarcastic. It's equal parts comical and cute to see her flustered. He expands his legs out, looking far away for a second. "Seriously, what about you?" He asks already anticipating a defensive or snarky response.

But Helga sits quietly, by now her natural color returns. "I'm not sure, yet." She replies uncharacteristically soft.

"That's okay." He responds without a trace of judgment, unlike what she hears in others.

His eyes lower mulling over all the possible trades she's close to mastering already. He knows she'll figure it out because the options for her are limitless.

She wraps her arms around herself. "It won't be something that'll turn me into a raging egomaniac like my pops."

"Sounds like a good plan already." Helga dares to glance over only to be meet with a lethal small smile. He even licked his lips as eyes dart back and forth at hers. He turns away, retaining a softened appearance. "So you liked the gift?"

He phrased that like a question, but it sounded more like a statement.

"Uh, y-yeah, I did. I thanked you, remember?"

"Uh-huh, but the flower wasn't too uh,..." trailing off; his fingers rub at the back of his neck.

Helga watches him struggle with finding words. She tried not to notice how voice dropped an octave and how his eyes uneasily stirred. Oh, I see. I know you weren't trying to confess your undying love. "Relax. It was all right - nice, actually," She swallows hard when his amiable look doesn't falter. "I mean you are the textbook definition type to go skipping through meadows randomly picking flowers and identifying their origins."

He chuckled, ending with a crook smile. "Even though you're exaggerating, it's cool that someone knows that side of me."

She smacks her teeth. "Please, you think I'm the only one that knows you're a complete nerd?"

Arnold maintains a stubborn grin and half-shrugs. "That doesn't make it less comforting."

He observes how her blue pools skip across the sky. He lifts his hand over towards hers. But before he does such, Helga dusts herself off, while rising. Her attention still set heavenward; she stretches her arms up accidentally giving offering a glimpse at her toned stomach.

Those large expressive eyes flick to Arnold. "Enough water gazing, hair boy. Let's go."

...

By the side of his former tormentor, it's like being a preteen all over again. His heart flutters whenever Helga brushes against him as their playful banter comes so natural.

At someone from a distance, Helga's cackling cuts off abruptly, and her eyes enlarge.

"What?"

"Rex?"

His brows furl. "Who?" His gaze follows hers to a tall brown haired guy. Arnold stands at a distance watching as they briefly hug then step back to chat.

Arnold remembers he was a reasonably popular upperclassman. But he never noticed that his resemblance to a young Jared Leto. In the past, he was so surprised to see her with a serious boyfriend because she hadn't seemed too interested in romance, to observe much about him.

As vexed green eyes remain on them, the old flames engage in a tug and war of words. And out of the blue, Arnold hears a muffled voice of his best friend. "If she is as unique as you claim, there is a chance that someone else sees it too. Someone braver who doesn't have a football head..." He gulps, staring at an actual threat in the face.

An ex who seems to want to be more again by the way his heavy-lidded eyes skim from her ponytail on down.

Arnold grabs his chest, feeling something sharp. The last he felt anywhere close to this was back in the fourth grade. That time directed at his cousin, Arnie.

This time, it was much more intense. The blond teen sucks his teeth, folding his arms when Helga laughs at whatever he said. He's not that good-looking, and I bet his joke sucked. She's just sparing him, right?

His tighten facial muscles soften when she fans him over. Quickly, he obliges.

A Helga frown forms at his tight jaw and pouted mouth. What is his problem?

"You two remember each other right?"

Arnold nods. "Rex correct?" His asks dryly, a lack of his usual friendly smile. Sounds like a name you give a damn dog.

"Yes," he squints. "Arthur?"

Irritation trickles down, and it doesn't help to hear Helga's laughing. "Actually," He moves so that his shoulder is an inch from hers. "It's Arnold."

"Oh. Arnold. Not a huge difference, but my mistake." He looks poker-faced, making Arnold even further annoyed.

Helga creases her forehead and breaks the tension by clearing her throat. "So uh, enjoy the rest of your break."

Rex smiles, flashing his blinding white teeth as he briefly grabs her wrist.

If this guy tries to kiss her - wait, there's nothing you can do.

But that doesn't transpire; his mouth moves close to her ear as he whispers something to her.

Helga frowns, then goes neutral and shrugs. "I guess..." she looks at Arnold on her other side surprised by the tension in his face. "Uh, Rex and are gonna go to the arcade." She pauses. "Do you-"

"That's cool..." he smiles, but his jaw is tight. "Have fun. I'll see you at school."

Helga brows furrow watching him drift off while tugged by the wrist in the opposite direction.

"Well, did she seem interested in him?"

"I have no clue."

"Was she flirting?"

He shrugs. "Um, I don't think so," A frown etches between his eyebrows.

Gerald shakes his head. "Sounds like something else you're overthinking man. They went to the arcade, doesn't seem like a budding romance to me. And who cares if the guys' a pretty boy, have confidence in yourself." He huskily chuckles. "Besides, since when has Pataki ever been the shallow type."

Arnold stretches his neck, looks up and to Gerald. "Yeah but she's still dated him once." His hands clasp in his lap. "And what you said at the party messed with my head."

Gerald frowns for a second. "Oh. I just said that to get you motivated. It's true some guy could sweep her off her feet right under your nose. But I wouldn't sweat it." he watches in awe at the varies emotions Arnold's face reveals. "What did she do to you over those five days? You really like Helga huh?"

He can't remember the last time he heard Gerald use her first name. "I do."

"Well, hey..." He stretches his arms wide in a shrug with a grin. "Then you know what to do. Next time I talk to you I want you to have said something to Helga. Look at yourself; you're about to burst with envy. Deal?"

"No, I'm..." Gerald gives a smirk, so Arnold gives in. "Okay. Deal."

...

On top of his covers, he squirms and rolls around at the scene playing in his mind.

Her slightly wavy hair is twirling in the pleasant breeze. Arnold has no clue where he is, but it doesn't matter. All he can focus on is the view before him anyway. Dressed in all pink, she smiles and reaches her arms out to him. His bare feet stay cemented, completely in awe of her angelic glow, those sweet blue eyes, the satin fabric clinging to her figure. Eventually, after no movement, her smile drops along with her hands to her hips. "What are you blind?! I'm not going to stand here in these rags all night. Now get your butt over here and kiss me!"

He shifts his foot an inch. However, a taller man has his skinny fingers on her waist. "What the..." his eyes dart around. "This has to be a dream." His stomach sinks at the man's lip suddenly melding on hers. Her eyes shut, evidence that she's enjoying the embrace. It is a stomach-turning, to say the least. Again, he attempts to move, but it feels like he's in quicksand. Looking down in terror, he shouts her name, but apparently, that goes unheard by her.

However, it's obvious the other guy can, once his mouth backs from hers. And his lip curls up in a snarl, then amusingly watching as his blond opponent continues to sink.

Falling, and screaming he lands on something surprisingly soft. And his eyes pop open.

His skin and hair are dripping with perspiration, and the room is spinning. "That was so weird; I haven't had a Helga dream in years." He sits up and rubs his fingers down his face, resting them in his lap. He stares wide-eyed aimlessly. "Either I'm going mental, or my feelings for her are stronger than I thought."

Some sheets bunch up in his grasp as he continues to zone out. His calendar comes into view, in last than a few hours he'll have to build up his courage.

Helga beams when her peers disappear into their perspective classrooms. Alone at last. Now she can finally release the tension inside her. Today hadn't been her day; she woke up ready to do bodily harm and feeling hadn't passed. Though of course, she didn't act on that.

So in cracking open her locket, she wasn't particularly overjoyed when an envelope falls out.

To Helga

And despite her foul mood, becomes a tiny bit intrigued.

Ripping open the envelope and taking out the small card the handwriting is recognizable instantly.

I think I've finally gained the courage to approach you directly. I'd like the opportunity to talk face to face. Don't worry I'm no psychopathic mass murderer or anything crazy, or dangerous. Just a guy whose heart you have. If you want to know who I am; though it's probably obvious, then look up.

Helga's eyes nearly pop out of her head. "Arnold?!" Her brows furl. "Geez, are you trying to kill me?"

His eyes are shining a nervousness. "Hi...sorry," his green eyes trickle down to her hand. "But you read that note, so you saw it coming." He shakily teased then grips his forehead. "Sorry, my mind blanked out what I was planning to say." His tenor voice echoes in the empty hall. "But I guess the gist of it is that I like you, like really like you, a lot and what I need to know is if you feel the same about me?" His hand meets the back of his neck, waiting for something.

"Did you say you like me?"

"Yes."

"You mean. you like-like me?"

He does a quivering laugh at the elementary phrase. "Very much so, yeah."

Helga's teeth sank into her lower lip nearly breaking the skin. Her eyes do rapid flutters from the card in her hand to the space between his eyes. A string of memories, cause her dizziness."Um," She leans on the door. Shit, I can't think around this. "This is...uh...wow...look at the time...can we talk about this later? I have to go."

Arnold's face falls and upper body slumps. "That wasn't the reaction I wanted."

...

Arriving home Arnold slugs down on his couch, blowing out a breath. He looks eyes staring back at his. "I know I'm taking the hard route by pursuing ... but she's worth it. Don't you like her too right?" releasing an inhale he moves his fingers against the short fuzz. "What do you think I should do next Abner?" His tail twitches and he springs out the door, and before Arnold could move, he rushes back in and hops on Arnold, licking all over his face. He drops his head into the cushion, getting a good belly laugh. Once that died down, Arnold leans over and hugs his round pet grinning wide. "Thanks, buddy."

Some minutes later, Gerald sticks his head, receiving a glimpse of his best friend. "Hey. I got your text about what happened with your girl." Arnold's chin lowers. " Ah man, stop moping over some dame."

Thanks for the reminder. Arnold's bottom lip pokes out as he watches the pig run out happily sniffing the aroma of food. "Helga isn't just some dame Gerald, she's not my girl either."

"See that's just the line of thinking where you'll never get what you want."

"But, I told her how I felt, and she didn't answer my question. And she looked almost terrified."

"Yeah, well Pataki's always been a super strange chick." He snickers when Arnold rolls his eyes. "Listen she didn't answer, so she also didn't exactly say no, right? And one thing I know for certain is that Helga G. Pataki has no problems letting everyone hear loud and clear when she's not feeling something. So I say you probably just shocked her. I say the window is still open my brother. And trust me I never misjudge these situations." A slight grin forms on Gerald. "Can't believe I'm showing Mr. Optimism himself the bright side." His brown eyes look his less sullen friend up and down." So you good?"

Arnold nods, a hint of his natural smile shaping. "Yeah, thanks, Gerald."

The spectacled-clan girl can't miss that Helga wasn't as grumpy as she normally was in the morning. Phoebe gives Helga a tap on her upper arm. "I hear you've been indulging in a lot of ice cream lately."

Before she could remark something gets caught in her throat when he rounds the corner; making them nearly collide.

A smiling Phoebe glances back and forth between the two. "Well, I'll give you both some privacy."

"Hold on, Phoebe, I have something to-"

"Give me a call, later, Helga."

Unlike before he sees apprehension, pleading desire and affection. He takes a glance over his shoulder. "No one's around again. Can we talk?"

"Talk about what?"

"What I said."

Nervously she backs up. "I don't know what you're referring to."

Arnold experiences a mix of disappointment and even a twinge of impatience. "If you don't feel the same, could you just tell me rather than doing this?" The corners of his mouth downturn, in remembrance of his dream.

The both of them stand still, Helga eyes burning a whole in his. She clicks her teeth, and her gaze blinks off him. "This is just too bizarre."

His eyes are unshifting, his lips part and close a few times as his feet move. "Why is it bizarre?" He chuckles and sighs at the same time after some silence between them. "What's truly bizarre is that it took me this long to see you this way and to do something about it. I didn't want to miss my chance...when I saw you with your ex, it...well, nevermind. I'm sure you can imagine." He half-grins sheepishly, but the seriousness returns to his face. "I couldn't sit back pretending you don't take my breath away with every time you appear and when you open your mouth to speak. You are beautiful."

Her thin arm hair stands high, at the level of conviction in his voice.

On their own, his feet step forward, and her eyes close like in anticipation. His eyes when she bites her lip a nervous tick picked up years ago. Still oblivious to the effect it has on the opposite sex, Arnold in particular at this very second.

There's an inner battle, should he act with logic or go with his urges. But that ends in a draw as he realizes that both are plummeting him closer to what his heart desires.

His eyes spin over her face absorbing everything he can, making sure he isn't overstepping any boundaries. But seeing a green light, he quickly seizes the moment by pressing his lips to hers.

His mouth intertwining with hers unleashes a level of pleasure he hadn't experienced yet. Her lips are so soft and fit against his so flawlessly. He knows he'll quickly get addicted to the feeling and want more. But it is time to let go and try to make things clear.

Helga let out a gasp when their lips part and Arnold gives a half-lidded eyed grin. Helga only looks up with rounded eyes; no words fall out of her mouth. So Arnold thinks of something to say in place of her dreadful silence. "If you felt anything from that..." he notices her eyes dropping to his throat when as he swallows. "whatever happens next," He licks his lips unintentionally receiving another taste of her. "It's your call." He brushes a few flyaways back and strokes her cheek. "You know how to find me."

She throws her head back against the white wall. Her thumbs groves the span of her lips. Her still stunned eyes drift in the direction he went, getting distracted by the massive throbbing in her chest. She attempts to wrap her brain around his actions, but her head is a racing wreck.

This is insane... Her bottom lip is still twitching.

She blinks a couple of times, reminding herself of her surroundings. So pushing off the wall, she flees the school ground to settle the chaos in her mind.