THE SAGA CONTINUES!
Oh, oops, sorry, this isn't Dragonball Z. XD
Anyway, so here we go! Let us see how this all turns out!
--
"Hey Arnold! Your grandpa said you'd be up here and-...Arnold? What's wrong?" Gerald's excitement melted away immediately.
Arnold sat on his bed, looking absolutely miserable. His eyes were bloodshot, and he had tear stains on his face. He looked at Gerald and wiped his face with his green sweater.
"I'm not feeling too well, Gerald. I'm fine." Arnold replied.
"No, you're not." Gerald went over and sat beside him on his bed. "What's wrong? You look ten times more miserable than before."
Sighing, Arnold just took his pillow and squeezed it tightly. "...Helga loves me."
"Huh?!" Gerald jumped, nearly falling over. "Say what?! How do you know that?! When?"
"Yesterday." Arnold said sadly. "...But that's not the problem. She loves Lyle now, or at least, is going to stay with him to try."
"What?! What do you mean? What happened?"
"I was on my way home from seeing Dr. Bliss, and I saw Lyle and Helga on the sidewalk. I didn't hear what they were saying at first, so I approached and got closer to see what they were talking about. And I heard everything, when Helga said she loved me. But then Lyle convinced her that he loved her so much, and to forget about me, because I didn't deserve her. Then he kissed her, and she kissed him back, and said she would grow to love him...." Tears ran down his face, his shoulders trembling. "She saw me, and I ran off, I couldn't let her see me like that. I was so pathetic, and he was right, Gerald! He was right! I don't deserve her."
Briefly he then told Gerald the truth, about the FTi incident and Helga's very passionate confession that had taken place. All the while, tears flowed out of his eyes like a waterfall, and he felt like he'd been stabbed with a knife. Gerald listened, patting his shoulder sympathetically.
"Arnold...man, I don't know what to say." Gerald said. "I'm so sorry. But you're wrong, man. You DO deserve Helga. Maybe what happened back then was a little too soon for you."
"No! You don't understand! I should have tried to do something! I should have sat her down to talk about it! Now thanks to me being so stupid and scared, I lost the girl I love!" Arnold burst, and then calmed down. "I don't know what to do anymore, Gerald. I love her so much, and now I really lost her for good. I figured I'd have a chance if they ever broke up, but now I can see that will never happen. I blew it, Gerald. And I have to accept it."
Gerald gave a sigh, patting his back lightly in comfort. "I'm sorry, Arnold. This really must suck. Will you be okay?"
"I hope so. I guess I just need time."
"I understand. You want to be alone for a while? I'll go downstairs and watch TV for a while."
"Okay. I'll be down in a while, Gerald."
Gerald smiled and got up, going to the door, and then left the bedroom.
Once he was gone, Arnold took a small photo from his shelf, a photo of Helga. He looked at it mournfully and sighed, his shoulders trembling again.
"I love you, Helga...and I'm sorry. I'm sorry about everything."
The blonde boy cried a little while longer, silently, not even knowing that the very girl he was thinking about was doing the same.
--
"Arnold, my love...even now, I still love you..."
--
The next day, Arnold was just coming into school, deciding to face it all, even if he was sure he would not have a good day.
Still, today was full of surprises.
"Arnold?"
As he came to his locker, Arnold turned around and came to see Helga, looking just as normal as can be, in her usual attire, pigtails, her bow on her head. Despite everything, his love for her came through and he felt a warm feeling upon seeing her.
"Helga?" He looked up at her with surprise, blinking. "What are you doing here?"
"Well doi, I was just going to tell you that. Listen, I'm...s-sorry...okay? I'm sorry I've been so mean and blowing you off. I've just been so happy with Lyle, that I'm not thinking straight, okay? Can you blame me? But listen, like I said...s-sorry. Can we still be friends?"
Taken aback by her apology, and how she still wanted to be friends, Arnold was silent for a few moments, drinking it all in. He blinked, and then managed to smile warmly at her.
"Of course, Helga. Let's just forget about it. I'd love to be your friend again." Arnold smiled, despite how much he wanted to be more than just her friend.
Helga gave a little smile and then hugged him. "Thanks, Arnold."
His eyes widened at her sudden gesture of affection, but within a few moments he melted and hugged her back. Oh, how good it felt to hold her like this. She was so warm, and smelled like flowers. He held her closer, closing his eyes.
Helga didn't move, she just hugged him, having laid her cheek on his head, feeling the softness of his hair. When he hugged her back AND pulled her closer, she felt like she was in pure heaven. Who was she kidding, she could never stop loving Arnold, no matter how Lyle was to her. Frankly, right now, she didn't care about him. She just wanted to be where she wanted, in Arnold's embrace.
I love you, Helga...
I love you, Arnold...
They stayed like this a few moments longer, not even noticing or caring of the students passing them in the hall. Finally they parted, and their eyes met, their gazes locked.
"I'd...better go to Lyle now." Helga said.
"Helga, wait." Arnold gently took her hand.
"What?"
"Helga, I..." Arnold hesitated, and looked at her again, coming closer to her. "I'm so sorry."
Before she could reply, he leaned up on tiptoe, and his lips met hers. It wasn't the most romantic place or the most romantic time, but he couldn't bear it any longer. He had to express his love to her, even for just one, fleeting moment. All the while, he pressed something into her hand, and kissed her gently, sweetly, pouring his love into it.
A few moments later, he pulled back from her, let go of her hand, and then hurried away. Before she could call after him, she felt the thing he had pressed into her hand. Curious, she opened her hand, coming to find a piece of folded paper. She unfolded it, seeing a simple message written there.
I love you, Helga. And I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you, since I had no idea if I did or not. But now there's no doubt in my mind. I just wanted to let you know of it.
I wish you and Lyle all the best. He was right. You do deserve better. I'm glad there is someone who can give you the love you need and want, you deserve it, Helga. I want you to be happy.
Please be happy. And know that I will always love you, and I'll always be your friend.
Helga's eyes widened, and she read the note over and over again, as if checking to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. It was true. Everything written on the paper was exactly as she read it. Arnold loved her, but was willing to let her and Lyle be happy together, and he was sorry, everything. For so long she longed to hear those words, but now it was too late.
Still, he was so sweet about it, since she now had Lyle. She couldn't help but be overwhelmed with warmth, peace, and love. It reminded her once again why she loved him so much.
"Oh Arnold..." Helga uttered, tears pouring down her face as she held the note to her chest, against her locket where it was tucked into her inner pocket. "I love you too, football head...I love you so much, and how sweet of you to hand me over to Lyle... I'm so sorry, darling...I never knew this would break your heart."
"Oh, Helga my love!" Came the cheerful voice.
Helga quickly tucked away the nose into her pocket with her locket, wiping her eyes as Lyle came up to her.
"Hey." She said plainly.
"Helga, you know, this will be our first official date as a couple! Let's go out to Chez Paris tonight!" Lyle said, leading her to class with his arm around her waist.
Helga recoiled, and shook her head. NO WAY was she going to eat there, not the most important restaurant to her and to Arnold.
"Um, I don't like it there. Let's go to Chez Pierre instead."
"Oh come on, Helga, let's go to Chez Paris!" Lyle insisted.
"NO! We are NOT going there! Anywhere but there, bucko!"
Lyle jumped, letting go of her, staring at her with surprise. "Oh...okay, okay, I understand. I'm sorry, Helga, I didn't mean to force you. We'll go somewhere else."
Helga smiled in relief. "Good. Sorry about that, it's just...I didn't want to...think... about Arnold, since we've eaten there before, and I gotta, forget him and stuff."
"Of course, Helga. I understand. That was insensitive of me. Would you like to go for Chinese instead?"
"Works for me."
--
Later on, in class, Mr. Simmons was explaining the class's next project, all the while earning no attention from two students in particular.
Arnold was doodling in his notebook, writing Helga's name several times, along with hearts, little A + H in hearts, on and on. He sat, expecting her to be throwing spit balls his way. But she hadn't done that since fifth grade. Still, he looked over his shoulder to where she sat, staring hard into one of her books. Her expression was bored, but her eyes were telling a different story. They looked sad and longing as she stared into her book. A tug came to his heart, and figured she must've been suffering over not sitting next to Lyle.
He sighed, turning back to face the front. This was going to be a long day.
Still, he couldn't help but smile a little as he thought about the little kiss he had given her earlier. Granted, it was probably a stupid move, but he had to do it, to tell her goodbye, to tell her this was what he should have done a long time ago, that he was sorry, everything. He wanted for one moment to express his love, and to give her one last little kiss shared between their lips. She had been stiff as a board, he didn't hold it long enough for her to respond, no matter how much he wanted to kiss her longer. He knew he couldn't. She was Lyle's girlfriend, whether he liked it or not.
Hugging her too, was a bonus. So despite the immense sadness and heartbreak he was feeling, he did feel a little lift of happiness from having been able to hug her and give her a kiss.
"All right! We are now going to set you up in pairs! Gerald and Phoebe, Harold and Rhonda, Curly and Eugene, Lyle and Lila, Arnold and Helga..."
"Mr. Simmons!" Lyle suddenly called out.
"Yes, Lyle?"
"If it would be possible, could I by chance work with Helga instead?"
"Lyle, I appreciate your enthusiasm to work with Helga, but I'm afraid that-"
"Please, Mr. Simmons! I have to work with her...I-I love her! And I cannot bear to be apart from her for more than five minutes! Please Mr. Simmons, I really want to work with her!"
Helga gaped at him, sinking low in her seat. He couldn't believe he just did that! Announcing his love for her in front of the ENTIRE class?! How dare he! All the kids, except Arnold, Gerald, Phoebe and Lila all laughed out loud, hooting and whistling at him with approval.
Angry, Helga stood and walked over to him.
"FORGET IT, Lyle! Now you shut up and work with Lila like a good school boy while I work with Arnold!"
"B-But sweetheart, I only wanted to work with you, buttercup!"
"For crying out loud, just stop!" Helga yelled, and everyone laughed some more. She marched over to Arnold's desk, shooed Gerald away, and sat down in his place.
"All right, football head. Let's get to work, shall we?"
Arnold blinked, both shocked by the outburst, and also, that Helga wanted to work with him, even after Lyle, her BOYFRIEND, wanted to work with her. A hug from her, a kiss to her, and now working with her?
At least he could be near her for a while.
"Sure, Helga." He smiled, beaming at her.
Helga smiled back at him, and went to go get her things so that they could get started.
At least she could work with her beloved now.
Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.
--
"Ohhhhhh schmoopsie-poo!"
"Eh?!!!" Helga uttered in terror, her eye twitching.
"Oh Helgie-poo, you're so adorable when you're all surprised!" Lyle laughed. "Come on my kinder-strudel, I'll walk you home!"
"Huh?! Whoa whoa whoa, what's with all these stupid nicknames?!" Helga cried, pulling away from him.
"Oh Helga, I'm only showing you how much I love you, sweetiepie! Now then, let's go and I'll walk you home!"
"Er...um....well, actually Lyle, I uh...I can't, because...."
"W-Why?" Lyle uttered, looking ready to cry.
"Because...um...." Helga then noticed Arnold walking toward them. She beamed visibly at her beloved and immediately grabbed him over. "Because Arnold already offered to walk me home!"
"I did?" Arnold squeaked, confused.
"He did?" Lyle asked.
"Yes he did!" Helga said, and nuzzled her cheek against his, feigning it to be a friendly action. "Oh Arnold, my super special awesome best guy friend! You were so sweet to offer to walk me home!"
Arnold's gaze became lovesick and his eyes half-lidded as Helga nuzzled her cheek to his, her arm around his head and his middle. He cooed dreamily under his breath, though neither of them heard, or could see his expression.
"Yeah, sure Helga..." He said softly. "No problem..."
"B-But..." Lyle protested. "Helgie-poo! We have a date tonight! I should walk you home!"
"I'll meet you at Mei Ling's Chinese place at six! Sheesh! Come on, Arnold!" Helga grabbed his hand and dragged him out the doors before Lyle could protest any further.
Once outside and down the block, Helga took a breath and let go of Arnold's hand, allowing them to walk normally together. Both of them were silent, unsure of what to say of the whole situation, and also, inwardly basking in the fact that they were walking together.
"Um....hey Arnold, ya know, sorry about that."
"About what?"
"Suddenly making you walk home with me. It's okay! You don't have to! We can just go halfway and then we can go our separate ways!"
"What? No, no! Helga, it's okay. I don't mind walking you home. I want to." Arnold said kindly.
Helga breathed in relief. "Well...all right then, whatever floats your boat."
"But, why did you do that, though? I figured you would jump at the idea of walking home with your boyfriend." This was said with undisguised contempt.
"Are you kidding me?! He's been showering me with all those stupid nicknames, putting poopsie or something at the end, using stupid...ugh. It all affected my stomach more than my heart! I like a few romantic nicknames, but sheesh!"
Arnold blinked, and gave a light nod. "Yeah, I understand, Helga. I wouldn't do that. I mean, sure, I think some names are cute, but even I wouldn't go that far."
Helga giggled. "Nah, I don't think you would. But you do have a tendency to recite poems in the names of your crushes and charm them!"
"Hey!" Arnold protested, but he grinned. "I don't!"
"You do too, football head."
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"AH! You admitted it!" Helga smirked, laughing, her finger at his nose.
"Huh? Wait...hey! You tricked me!" Arnold accused her.
"Oops. Sorry, football head." Helga kept her playful smirk, not sounding the least bit sorry.
The two of them laughed heartily, and were, once more, enjoying each other's company. So much so, that they forgot all about Helga's date that was to follow in the evening.