Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold!
I'm actually having fun, smiling and enjoying the show. Maybe I really do have a shot after all. He looks at Helga from the corner of his eye and notices her attention is divided. He looks at where she keeps glancing, and a part of his optimism deflates.
Arnold. She's looking at Arnold. He sighs in despair. So maybe I don't have much of a shot after all, not if she's still hung up over that guy. He looks at Arnold from the corner of his eye too. What's so great about him anyway? That weirdly shaped head, it sort of looks like a football. He looks too skinny to be a jock. But then again, I'm not one either, so maybe she isn't into those type of guys.
Helga leans in to say something to him and his attention snaps back to the present. "This is so amazing," she whispers, barely able to contain her excitement and downright awe. "It's like she's expressing all of my thoughts, my feelings. All of this just explains who I am." She leans back and continues to focus on the stage. After hearing that, he starts paying attention, fully this time, to the words being uttered. Some things just make sense now. I guess I'll learn more about her by listening to this and understanding it. His brow furrows just a bit. The poems are so grim and depressing, though.
He listens carefully, making mental notes the whole time. When he finally hears the words 'thank you' he breathes a silent sigh of relief. That was getting much, much too emotionally intense. He hears a sniffle and immediately thinks it's either Helga or Phoebe, but when he turns his head he notices Arnold giving Gerald a look.
"I'm fine, something just went in my eye," Gerald reassures him and rubs his eyes for good measure. Noticing that Arnold clearly doesn't buy his excuse, he says, "Alright, so maybe I was a little touched by what that woman said up there. You would be too if you really listened to her words and understood it."
"Geraldo here is right," Helga says and scoffs. "Who knew you could be so deep." She rolls her eyes at Gerald and gets up. "Come on Pheebs, let's go to the restroom."
"Coming," Phoebe says in that musical way Alex finds strangely amusing.
"How come she's still hostile to me?" Gerald asks Arnold. "I thought you said poetry makes her nicer."
Arnold shrugs and chuckles. "I don't know, she's nice to me."
"She didn't talk to you at all, more like."
Arnold stiffens. "Shut up, Gerald." He gets up abruptly and says, "I think I'm going to get a drink. Want anything?"
"I'll go with you, I wanna see what they've got in this place. How 'bout you Alex?" Gerald asks. Arnold turns around and walks off without waiting for an answer. Alex just shakes his head and mumbles 'no thanks'.
Well, it's obvious he likes her too. This isn't an even playing field. Arnold likes Helga and Helga likes Arnold; at least I think she does. I like Helga, but does she like me too? Is it possible for a girl to like two guys at once? She might see me as just a friend, though. Alex stares into space pondering this, oblivious to his surroundings now.
The cold splash of water brings Helga's head out of the cloudiness surrounding her brain. Why do I feel so lost? What's there to be confused about? I should be happy now, so why aren't I? She stares at her reflection in the mirror. She lifts points to her reflection and almost speaks out loud when she remembers where she is. She immediately drops her hand and splashes more water on her face. Get a grip. You're Helga G. Pataki; suck it in already.
Phoebe steps out from one of the cubicles and washes her hands at the sink. "So," she begins tentatively, knowing the topic she's about to open is a sensitive one.
Helga quickly captures where she's going and beats her to the punch. "I'm still not sure how I feel, Pheebs." Phoebe is inwardly relieved that she didn't have to be the one to bring it up. "I'm still a bit lost."
"So, do you have feelings for… both of them?" she asks carefully.
Helga stares at her reflection again, face expressionless. "I don't know, maybe," she finally says. "Does that make me a bad person, Phoebe? That I somehow have feelings for two people at once?" Helga looks at Phoebe, her eyes betraying her confusion.
"No, of course not." Phoebe says quickly. "It's possible for it to happen to anybody, that doesn't make you bad; it makes you human."
Helga sighs deeply. "Sometimes I wish I wasn't human. I bet dogs have it easy."
Phoebe is intrigued by her statement; it's very random. That's not like her.
Helga shakes her head and laughs bitterly. "Looks like Alex is rubbing off on me. He always says the oddest things." Phoebe nods in understanding. That makes sense now. Perhaps she really does like both Arnold and Alex. What a tough predicament.
"Come on, let's go back to the table. I haven't talked to Arnold yet," Helga says and leaves the restroom. Phoebe follows her, still thinking of the situation her best friend is in. A very tough predicament indeed.
"Where did Arnold and Gerald go?" Helga asks Alex, who's sitting at the table by himself. He doesn't answer her, instead he just stares straight ahead. "Hello? Earth to Alex." Helga waves her hand in front of his face and he snaps back to reality.
"Sorry, what?" he asks, disoriented. "Oh, they went to get some drinks or something." He looks at his watch. "Come to think of it, that was while ago and they're still not back. Wait," he says and looks at the girls. "What took you two so long?"
"You're asking a couple of girls what they do in the bathroom for so long?" she asks and gives him a look. "To think having a little sister would make you wiser on this kind of things."
"She's only eight, so I guess all the girly stuff hasn't kicked in yet," he says simply and shrugs. "Maybe in a few years."
"Mmm," Helga says distractedly and looks around. Alex notices and cringes inwardly. She's looking for him and not paying attention to our conversation. Great. Without realizing he's looking for them too, but doesn't see them anywhere. Did they… no, they couldn't have.
"They left," Helga says, dumbfounded. Her face falls, then it shifts to anger. "How could they just leave us like that? The nerve of them, I oughtta punch their lights out for being so rude."
"Now, now Helga, let's not be so drastic," Phoebe tries to calm her down. "I'm sure they have a good reason for leaving."
Or maybe he's just trying to avoid me. Helga sighs and takes a seat. Suddenly she feels exhausted. "Let's go home, I'm pooped."
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea," Alex says and gets up. Extending his hand, he helps Helga get on her feet and smiles warmly. Helga returns the smile and they start walking out. Having seen the gesture Alex gave Helga, Phoebe has her own conclusion now. Looks like Helga is caught in a love triangle. The problem is, if she doesn't know which one she likes, then this isn't going to end well. The thought worries her the more she thinks about it. I'm getting stressed and this isn't even my problem. I can only imagine what it's like to be in her shoes.
I know it's short and I'm sorry. Of all times, of all weekends, it just had to be this one that I fall sick? During the past two weeks at home I was as healthy as a horse. Now the weekend before school reopens comes along and bam! I'm sick. Coincidence? I think not. :O I'm rambling, yes. Sorry about that.
I'll try and update as soon as I can, I haven't really mentioned Arnold's input in this, have I? Like, why did he leave? What did Gerald say about it? And the most pressing question; who does Helga really like? ;) The answer to that last one... will be revealed in due time. Vague, I know. Tough luck. :P
(This A/N is turning out to be long.) (Sorry.) Thanks soooo much for reading and to those who have reviewed, you have a special place in my heart. :) AWWW. If I mention names, the A/N would end up being longer than the actual story sooo I'll just end it here. :) Thanks again!