Well here we go folks! :D

This is turning out a bit longer than I'd expected. I believe there will be about three or four chapters to it at best.

Enjoy! :)

--~~--

Helga came into school, as per usual, and this time, was on a mission. Or, at least somewhat. She looked around the hallway, and came to find her target. Phoebe, who was chatting with Gerald near her locker. She marched over, going right to her best friend.

"Pheebs, I need to talk to you."

"Huh? What's the problem, Helga?" Phoebe asked.

"Not really a problem, but it's-"

"Hold on a sec, ladies, should I just go?" Gerald cut her off.

"Nah, actually, I could use you for once, Geraldo." Helga said. "I'll need a man's point of view on this."

Gerald raised a brow, a little confused, but gave a shrug. "Well, okay. I'll do what I can."

"What do you need to talk about?" Phoebe asked.

"Well, let's say, hypothetically, I like this guy, and I really want to give him a chance. But let's say, still hypothetically, I have no idea how he feels and though I want to talk to him about this, I'm scared he'll blow me off."

Phoebe's eyes widened. "...Helga, is this about...you know, Ice Cream?"

"Ice cream?" Gerald repeated, confused.

"W-What? No!" Helga blushed. "No, I got me a new one. This one is....let's just call it Smoothie."

"Okay, Smoothie." Phoebe nodded. "So you don't know how Smoothie feels?"

"Kay, what's with all the strange code names here?" Gerald wanted to know.

"Never mind THAT, Tall-Hair boy." Helga snapped. "But anyway, from a man's point of view, do you think a guy would give a girl a chance if they came up and asked them out?"

"Well I can't speak for all guys." Gerald said. "But unless the guy likes someone else, they'll usually accept if they know the girl. Mind telling me who the guy is? I bet I can give you a clearer perspective."

Helga sighed, deciding to just come out with it. Not like she was admitting it was Arnold, right?

"...Lyle, okay?" She said in a mumble.

"Oh, Helga!" Phoebe gasped. "I should have known you liked him! Oh, that's just wonderful!"

"Ah yeah, he's a real nice guy. He'll definitely give you a chance!" Gerald nodded. "He'd be way too nice to say no!"

"I guess I should've figured." Helga said. "Well, um, thanks I guess. I'll, uh, just be going now." She walked off, thinking all this over.

Gerald watched after her, and then turned back to Phoebe. "Babe...who's Ice Cream?"

Phoebe hesitated. "I'm not sure if I should tell you, Gerald. I mean, it's not that I don't trust you, but Helga is...it's a secret."

He nodded. "I understand, Pheebers." He brought an arm around her and smiled. "So what say we head off to class and forget about this whole thing?"

She giggled. "Forgetting!"

--

Later on in class, Mr. Simmons paired everyone into groups of two to work on an assignment. Which happened to be a Marriage Assignment.

"Gerald and Phoebe....Lyle and Lila..."

Helga inwardly cursed at not getting her crush, which she figured would have been a good time to try to find out if he liked her or not. This was not going well at all.

"Curly and Rhonda....Arnold and Helga..."

YES!!!!!! Helga instantly forgot her sorrows. Maybe she didn't get her crush, but she did get her beloved. That was actually ten times better! Oh well, Lyle could wait for now.

An idea came to her then.

She got up, sauntering over to Arnold's desk, placing her hands on his desk. She smirked as he looked up at her with surprise.

"Hey, football head." Helga said flirtatiously. "You ready to get started on this? Oh dear husband?"

Arnold's cheeks turned a little red. "Uh, y-yeah...sure, Helga. I've got the paper here."

Helga smiled, and brought her chair to sit next to him, a little too closely. But that was part of her plan. She glanced toward Lyle to see if he was watching. He wasn't, he was talking happily with Lila as they worked on their project. Pausing, she decided to turn it up a notch. After all, the even better part of all this was that she was getting a chance to flirt with her beloved!

I just wish I didn't have to do it to make another guy jealous. Helga thought. She sighed and shook her head.

"Helga?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes...darling?" Helga added the last word with a tint of sweetness.

Arnold felt a rush of blood go to his head and his cheeks got hot. "Um, well, the first question on this is asking where we'll hold the...wedding."

"Mmm...well, why don't we weigh out some options, yes?" Helga leaned closer to him. She smiled, loving at how close she was to her love. "We could have it here in Hillwood, you know, so it'd be easier for everyone to come."

"Yeah, that's true." Arnold nodded. "Although, I guess if we want to try it differently, it would be kind of cool to have it somewhere else."

"You know where I've always wanted to get married? Or, well, one of them? I've always wanted to get married either on a beach, or even better, in Canada. With the gorgeous landscape of the Canadian Wilderness in plain view!"

The blonde boy grinned in excitement. "Wow Helga, that sounds like a really neat idea. I always did like the idea of something like that. My parents they..." Though a sad look came to his eyes, he smiled a bit anyway. "They got married in San Lorenzo, near a water source and not far from the jungle. I kind of like the idea of getting married in the middle of nature."

For a moment, Helga forgot all of her plan, and looked at Arnold sympathetically. "I see what you're saying, I understand. ...Um, hey, listen, I never got to really say this, but...I'm sorry about your parents." She looked away, a bit embarrassed.

Arnold smiled. "It's okay, Helga. Thanks anyway. Um, so anyhow, let's put that down then, we'll get married in Canada."

Going back to her usual register, she nodded. "You know it, football head. Okay, now it says the honeymoon. There are three choices."

"Well Canada should be one of them, since we'd already be there." Arnold said, and snickered. "Where else?"

"Italy, for sure." Helga said.

"Yeah! That'd be a great idea, I've always wanted to go to Italy."

She grinned. "Me too!"

Arnold smiled, and she did in return, and wrote that down also. He then blushed bright pink as she placed her hand on his knee in a flirty, suggestive manner.

"It would be interesting, especially for our wedding night..." Helga said as seductive as possible. Though it was part of her plan, she actually did mean it.

A quick glance told her that Lyle had now glanced in their direction, smiled, and then went back to work.

As for Arnold, he was blushing madly, unsure of what to make of that. Was Helga FLIRTING with him? Whatever she was doing, he...liked it. Sure, it was uncomfortable and unexpected, being in class and all, but deep down, he couldn't help but like it.

"A-Ah...yeah...I-I guess. So, um, where else...could we go...?" Arnold asked nervously.

"Hum...let's see..." Helga paused, tapping her finger against her chin, and not moving her hand from his knee. "Well, let's see...France, no wait, Switzerland. Definitely Switzerland."

Despite her hand STILL on his knee, he nodded quickly in agreement. "Yeah! That would be so cool to go to Switzerland."

She beamed at him, unable to believe how much their interests seemed to match in some areas. Helga sighed happily under her breath, daydreaming of the idea of them getting married and going to ALL those places!

"Okay, now it says where we can live. Where would you want to live?" Arnold asked.

Helga moved her hand away from his knee, much to both their regrets. "Well, I don't know, I always saw myself here in Hillwood. So, say we get a condo or a house or something here?"

Arnold nodded. "Yeah, I agree. Hillwood is definitely where I want to be the rest of my life, for sure. At least until I retire! By then I'd want to live in a quaint little farm house in the country, with a porch swing and a corn field."

Helga giggled. "You're too much, football head."

"Thanks, Helga." Arnold said sarcastically, but he smiled anyway. "So that's down. How about a job?"

"I want to travel the world!" Helga declared. "...Oh, fine. Maybe a lawyer, or even a cabinet minister."

"Those are interesting jobs." Arnold said, and put them down. He liked the idea of her becoming an attorney of law of some sort, she would be great for that job.

"What about you?"

"Me? Oh, I've been thinking about becoming a psychologist. You know, I really like helping people and giving them advice. So that's something I'd want to do."

"Ah." Helga nodded in approval. She could see him as a psychologist, hands down. "And apart from our jobs, we'll travel around the world!"

Arnold smiled. "That sounds like a great idea."

Helga moved closer to him, and smiled flirtingly, brushing her shoulder against his. "I knew you'd think so." She giggled at his light blush. "So, what next?"

"Food, or rather, our daily diet." Arnold said.

"Junk food." Helga smirked.

"That's not healthy." Arnold chided playfully.

"It is now, because I say so, football head."

"Ha ha. Whatever you say, Helga."

"Fine. Anything but strawberries."

"Oh, right, you're allergic, right?"

She smiled a bit, and then nodded. "Yeah." Aww! He remembered! Oh, the angel...

"Okay, so we'll have a balanced diet, and yes, we'll squeeze in your junk food from time to time. No need to deprive ourselves." Arnold winked at her. "We can always make up for them."

"You bet your hat, football head." Helga smirked, leaning back in her chair.

"Okay, there's one more question. Kids." Arnold blushed a bit at the idea of that.

"Huh, kids..." Helga paused, considering this.

Back when she was nine, she wasn't too fond of the idea, since it meant she would be sharing Arnold's love, and her love for him. Then again, now that she thought about it, she adored the idea of having a family with him someday. Two or three, maybe four kids.

"Yeah, let's have kids one day." Helga finally said, actually meaning it. "I wasn't into the idea at first, but, now that I think about it, especially after Olga's had her baby last year and I've gotten to babysit....well, it's not so bad."

"Really?" Arnold looked hopeful. "Well, to be honest, I know I'm only twelve now, but I know I definitely want kids one day."

Helga gave a little smile and patted his shoulder. "Then we'll have some. How does three sound?"

"Three is fine, two or three." Arnold wrote that down. "Okay, there we go. We're done."

"Good, finally." Helga took a breath, and then went in for the kill. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Thankfully, no one was looking, except for Lyle, Lila, Phoebe and Gerald.

"H-Helga?" Arnold blushed furiously, bringing a hand to his cheek where she'd kissed him. "W-What was that for?"

She smirked. "What? Can't a friend kiss another friend on the cheek? Hey, fuhgedaboudit." She took the paper and went up front to hand it in to Mr. Simmons.

As he watched her go, a lovesick smile crossed his face and he sighed dreamily.

Meanwhile, Lyle and Lila were still working on their questions, all the while having sometimes glanced at Helga as she flirted with Arnold like she was.

"Gosh, those two really have a lot of chemistry." Lyle remarked. "She seems to like him a lot. I can tell by the way she was flirting and smiling at him."

"Oh, I know!" Lila agreed. "They would make an ever so sweet couple." She recalled back when they'd been nine and Helga had told her that she liked Arnold just to get the role as Juliet in the school play so she could kiss him. "I always had a feeling she liked him. By those looks on his face, I think he might feel the same way."

They both giggled and returned to work on their assignment.

Lyle looked at Lila again, and gave a soft sigh as he took in her pretty features. As it all turned out, he was already in love with Lila.

--

Later on, it was lunchtime. As Arnold came to see that Helga was sitting ALONE with Lyle at their own table. His heart sank and he felt as if he had just been shot. He couldn't believe it. All week, he'd been feeling really bothered by those two being together like they were. Especially, upon hearing from Gerald that he and Phoebe had gone out for milkshakes with them. That of course made him inwardly seethe. Their "double dates", or date and friends thing, was their thing!

Stupid Mr. Perfect, sweeping Helga right off her feet...wait, what am I thinking?! Why do I care so much? I'm not jealous! I just think she can do better. But he's so perfect...no way, no human in the world is perfect. He's just like Lila! And I...oh man, what's going on with me?!

Arnold sat down with Gerald, unsure of what to think anymore. Gerald noticed his best friend looking troubled, and immediately turned to him.

"All right man, what's wrong?"

"Huh? What?" Arnold looked at him, a bit startled.

"All day you've been acting real weird. All week in fact! Ever since Lyle came into the picture, you've been the picture of unease!" Gerald told him. "Arnold, when are you going to admit that you're jealous of him?"

"I'm NOT!" Arnold cried. "I'm not jealous, Gerald! I just...don't feel comfortable seeing Helga with him."

"Why's that?" Gerald asked, nibbling on some chicken wings.

"I don't know, that's the problem." The football-headed boy sighed. "I mean, Helga's my friend and I care about her, and I want her to be happy, but when I see them together, I just go crazy inside and feel upset."

"Mmm mm mm." Gerald said thoughtfully. "Well man, either you're insanely jealous for ol' Lyle getting all the girls with his sweetness, or..." He gave a little smirk. "You're in love with Helga."

"WHAT?!" Arnold burst, causing a few heads to turn. He blushed and lowered his voice. "That's impossible! I'm not in love with her!"

"You have a crush on her, though."

"Well yeah, but that's different!"

"Arnold, man, deny it all you want, but I've lived through seeing you crush on girls. But Helga...I don't know man, I see somethin' different."

"Gerald...I care about Helga, and I guess I do like her like her, but I'm not in love with her!"

"If you just liked her liked her, you would have accepted defeat when she found another boy, even though you'd be sad about it." Gerald told him. "But no, you're jealous, Arnold. Admit it."

"I'm not!"

"Suuuuuuuure you're not."

--

Meanwhile, over where Lyle and Helga were sitting...

"Go out with me." Helga said bluntly.

"Huh?" Lyle's eyes widened in surprise.

"I said, go out with me. ...I think I like you, okay?!" Helga said, nervously and fiercely. "I want to give you a chance!"

Lyle gaped at her, not sure what to think of this. He did have a small crush on Helga, because her ferocity and passion really attracted him to her, but he liked Lila a lot more. He also didn't want to be mean, in fear that she would go ape on him if he said no. Plus, he had a hard time saying no.

"Well, okay, Helga." Lyle said nervously, but he smiled. "I don't see why I can't give you a chance too. Would you like to go get a milkshake at Slausen's after school?"

She nodded quickly. "Fine, fine! We'll do that then. Could you excuse me?"

Lyle nodded, and Helga fled from the table, going over to where Phoebe was sitting.

"It worked, Pheebs! We're going on a date after school!"

"Oh Helga, that's great! I'm sure it'll be fun! Where are you going?"

"Nowhere special, just Slausen's."

"Well, it's a good start! Lyle sounds like such a great guy, Helga..."

Gerald, who had been walking by not far from them, overheard their conversation and tensed up a little. Oh boy. He returned to the table, and dragged Arnold out into the hallway, and then outside onto the playground to have utmost privacy. This was not going to be pretty.

"Gerald...what are you doing?" Arnold wanted to know.

"Arnold, what I'm about to say may shock you."

"What? What's wrong? Did Jellybean eat another sock?"

Jellybean was Timberly's cat, who they had rescued a year ago. A few months ago the Johansen had the fright of their life when the orange tabby cat had eaten one of Timberly's socks and ended up having to take him to the vet.

"No, man! Lyle and Helga are goin' out on a date after school today!" Gerald said, deciding not to tell what Helga had told him and Phoebe earlier this morning.

Arnold was gut-punched. Date. Date. That meant Helga liked Lyle, at least enough to go on a date with him. He could never treat her wrongly. He would treat her like a Princess, enchant her with his sweetness and utmost generosity, just as he was, Mr. Perfect. She was incredibly chummy with him. She was by his side so much at school, and often shared her drinks and food with him. In fact, she opened up more to him than she ever had with himself.

That was why she was flirting with him in class today. To make Lyle jealous. That was why she acted so happy. To make Lyle want to chase her. And now he caught her. Hook, line, and sinker. He had to face it. Helga had moved on. She was tired of waiting, and so she moved on.

Helga...despite she still had a shred left of her bullying persona, she was a lot more tolerable and sweet. She was still Helga. He enjoyed hanging out with her more than before, and when she flirted with him at any time, be it minimal or the way she had been doing so today, he liked the feeling, attempting to try it right back. Even if today it caught him by surprise. She let her hair down more often, and he admittedly thought she was really pretty with her hair down. She was open, about her poetry, her dreams in life, her goals, all kinds of things. He could listen to her talk for hours, he enjoyed chatting about random things with her, getting into heated but mature debates with her, walking around town with her, he just loved to be with her. Helga Pataki was always full of surprises. Her tough life wasn't easy on her, but, she was rising through these days and doing her best to make it. He'd always encouraged and supported her as best as he could, and even at one point offered her a shoulder to cry on when things got really tough.

I can't help it, I've grown to like her so much over the past few years. Helga can be such a great girl, and I love everything about her. ...Wait.

Realization struck him like a ton of bricks.

"Arnold?" Gerald questioned him, waving his hand in front of hi face. "Arnold, you okay?"

"Gerald...you were right." Arnold said glumly, staring at his shoes.

"Huh? About what?"

"I am jealous."

Gerald raised a brow, seeing that there was more to be said.

In a choked voice, Arnold admitted it.

"And I'm in love with Helga...!"