"Ohhhhhhh Schmoopsie-poo!"
Helga rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation as the now getting-REALLY-annoying voice called out to her, with that STUPID nickname. She was really, really starting to regret ever having given Lyle a chance. It only made her run into Arnold's arms more and more.
"WHAT?!" Helga growled, swiftly turning around.
"Oh, is my buttercup all angry? Well don't worry, bitsy pookums! I'll make you feel all better!" Lyle grinned.
"Okay, okay, STOP. Stop RIGHT THERE, pal!"
"What seems to be the problem, snuggy-poo?"
"THAT!" Helga said angrily, grabbing his collar with her fist. "Listen, and listen GOOD. One, you will NOT openly declare how much you love me in PUBLIC. At least not without subtleties. Two, you will STOP with those STUPID nicknames you insist on calling me! I HATE them! They affect my stomach more than my heart and make me feel nauseous! I will establish what kind of nicknames are OKAY. Three, we are NOT steady! I may be giving you a chance, but you have to go at my pace too, pal! Four, shut the hell up!"
Lyle cringed, and weakly nodded. "O-Okay, Helga. I understand."
"Good." Helga let him go. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going outside to eat my lunch."
"Y-Yes, dear..."
"And don't call me dear! It makes me feel old!"
"Eep! Y-Yes, Helga! Understood!"
Helga sighed in exasperation and hurried down the hall and around the corner, heading out the door to get to the playground. It was lunchtime at school the following day after the Chez Pierre date fiasco, and of course, most notably, her passionate make out session with Arnold. As she thought of it, a dreamy, lovesick grin came to her face. Man, Arnold was a way better kisser than he had ever given himself credit for! It was AMAZING!
But was that enough? Would it be enough to convince her to dump Lyle and go to her beloved?
She wanted to, God knows she wanted to. But somehow, it just didn't seem quite that simple. Helga sighed once more, realizing the reality of the situation. Why, why, couldn't she make out with Arnold anytime she wanted?
As she glanced around the playground, looking for something to do, she came across Arnold, sitting all by himself on a swing, looking deep in thought about something. She smiled softly and uttered a dreamy sigh as she took in the sight of her beloved. Oh, what had she been thinking? Arnold was her true love! She could never replace him, especially NOT with Lyle. Or anyone! No one could win her heart and make her love more than Arnold had. Especially now, that he loved her too.
Oh screw it. She needed her dose of Arnold NOW.
Helga marched over to the swing set, and shimmied up near Arnold, a flirtatious smirk on her face.
"Hey, football head." She drawled. "How's tricks?"
"Huh? Oh! Helga!" Arnold exclaimed in surprise, and managed a sheepish smile, standing up. "I-I didn't expect to see you out here."
"Oh, you didn't?" Helga said coolly, but smirked at him flirtingly. "And why is that?"
"I thought you'd be with Lyle...or something." Arnold admitted, jealousy evident in his eyes, but he hid it well. "You know, since he's your boyfriend and all."
"Oh, right." Helga realized, and shook her head. "Nah, never mind him. We're just having some space. Listen Arnold, there's something I want to discuss with you. Now, I'm going to go over to the side of the school in the alleyway. You wait here for a good couple of minutes, and then you come to meet me there."
Arnold looked bewildered and curious, but gave a nod. "Oh, sure, Helga. I'll meet you there."
Helga gave a flirtatious smile and poked his nose. "Good. I'll see you there, then."
She walked off, her medium-length blonde hair swaying behind her in the breeze. She had let it down today, upon finding out that Arnold liked it when she wore her hair down. Arnold watched after her with a dreamy, lovesick smile, his eyes half-lidded as he sat back on the swing. He uttered a lovesick sigh, staring at his shoes. At least now he could spend a little alone time with her.
Still, he too wondered where this was all going to go. What was going to happen? Especially between the two of them? All this uncertainty was killing him inside! But, he vowed to wait patiently and stay out of her affairs unless she needed him, and see where it all went. Just as Gerald said. And he was going to do just that.
A couple of minutes had passed, or rather, what seemed like an eternity to him. Arnold decided he'd waited long enough and got up from the swing, looking to make sure no one was paying little to no attention to him. Only Gerald was glancing at him from where he was playing tether ball with Phoebe. He gave his best friend a thumbs up to assure all was well, and Gerald nodded in return before he went back to the game.
Arnold took a breath and went out to where Helga was, on the other side of the school, near the dumpster, but far enough from it to avoid the smell. She was waiting for him against the wall, casually leaning against it. She looked at him and gave a light smirk, beckoning him with her hand.
"About time you showed up. I was beginning to think you bailed out on me, hair boy." Helga quipped.
Arnold chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah. I wouldn't do that to you, Helga."
"Good to know." Helga said, and hooked her arms around his neck.
"H-Helga?" Arnold uttered in surprise, and tried to pull away. No, no. They couldn't do this now. That would be her cheating on Lyle! He may have been jealous of him, but he didn't want Helga to lower herself to cheating! "W-Wait, what are you doing?" His hands came to her upper arms to try to pry her off him.
"I'm sorry." Helga said, and held him closer to her. "But I have to do this, or I will go crazy. Arnold my love, kiss me. Please dear God kiss me."
She was looking down at him with those eyes, those gorgeous shimmering blue eyes of hers, practically begging him. Those eyes, that he knew he could never refuse. Before he could think to stop himself, his lips were on hers in an instant, and his arms moved down around her waist, bringing her closer. Their heated make out session from the day before was coming back full force, and he could remember so clearly, how good it felt to hold her toned but thin body close, the feel of her soft skin beneath his lips, her eager responses, the feel of her hands on his head and her arms around his neck, the feel of her lips against his, her tongue, her mouth, everything.
Helga was a dangerous addiction, she was a pure drug. A drug he knew he had to quit, at least for now, but he could never quit it.
In turn, Helga too, was in pure bliss as they kissed just as passionately as they had done the day before. It was all coming back to her full force, and she was beyond loving it. She was in heaven. Pure heaven. Maybe it was the excitement of forbidden love that was going on between them now, but this whole situation was just amazing, despite everything in between.
Just as he'd always been since she knew him, more so when she kissed him for the first time back in the fourth grade, Arnold was a drug to her. A purely addicting drug she could never quit. Even in her darkest moment of doubting their future, the addiction always came crawling back. She was addicted to him, plain and simple, and try as she may, she could never quit.
After for what seemed like forever, or what was actually just a couple of minutes, the two blondes broke away for air, their noses touching, both of them panting.
"Arnold...." Helga uttered, a smile stretching at her lips. "All of the alcohol in Miriam's cabinet couldn't come close to intoxicating me like your lips do..."
Arnold offered a shaky smile, blushing a little bit. "We shouldn't do this, Helga, it's wrong of us to do this to Lyle...and to both of us."
"I know." Helga sighed, and looked away for a moment. "I really wish I knew what I could do to fix this. I know I should dump Lyle, but it just doesn't seem that simple. I can't explain it, but, I just know somehow there's more to it than that."
His heart sank as he realized what she was saying. "...Do you love him?"
"...What?" Helga looked down at him with surprise.
"I think it's because you love him." Arnold looked away, hurt and heartbreak clear in his eyes. "Do you, Helga?"
Helga paused, taking a moment to think that over. The question was simple, but it was hard to answer. DID she love Lyle? Was that why she seemed so reluctant to break it off with him? It made sense, didn't it? Still, it just didn't seem like the right answer. She liked him, a lot, and he loved her so much, to the point of being willing to commit to her at such an early age.
Wait a minute.
Realization struck her like lightning, and she knew the answer.
"Arnold....no. I don't love him." Helga said, now realizing it. "I admit I like him a lot...when he's not acting like a crazy lovesick jerk, ten times worse than me, that's for sure, but I could never love him. Especially not like I love you." She looked down at her beloved and held him closer. "I could never love anyone else like I love you. I think what happened last night proved it to me."
Arnold, surprised, and relieved, looked at her with bewilderment. "What do you mean, Helga? What happened last night? Did he...did he hurt you?" His voice shook at the idea of that.
"Huh? No! No! Nothing like that." Helga shook her head frantically. "What happened was, after we finished eating...he...he...p-proposed to me. You know, asked me to marry him when we got older."
"WHAT?!?!" Arnold yelled, balking at the idea and jumping back from her as if he'd been shot. "He did what?!"
"I know! That's how I reacted!" Helga said, and grabbed her beloved back to her, stroking his hair absently. "I turned him down, of course. I mean, for one, we're way too young, and two, well, I didn't like him THAT much to commit to him like that! Was he crazy?!" She shook her head. "Nah, no way. Did I mention he used a Ring Pop to propose to me with?"
"A Ring Pop?" Arnold said, incredulous. "...Well, I can see why."
"I also turned him down..." Helga went on, and held him closer to her, his nose mashing into her collarbone. "Because I love you, Arnold. I love you too much. And frankly, I don't regret it!
"You don't?" Arnold managed to pull his head out and looked up at her.
"Doi, love is something you never regret!" Helga exclaimed, and softened a bit. "And, I think I know why I feel I shouldn't break up with him."
"Why?"
"He's crazy in love with me, so much so that he's ready to marry me. Just as how I feel about you." She blushed a bit and continued. "...I guess I latched on to that because I knew how it felt, and that if I pushed him away or broke up with him, it would break his heart. Just as how I'd feel if you told me you didn't love me."
Arnold's grip on her tightened as she said that last bit, and she smiled.
"...I think I understand." Arnold said softly. "He loves you, like you love me, and you know how it would feel to be rejected, so you keep him along so he'll be happy and not be sad, because you know how it would feel if you dumped him."
"That's pretty much it." Helga sighed. "Arnold, I know you think the right thing to do would be to break up with him, but, like I said, it's not that easy."
"I can see why." Arnold nodded. "...So what do we do?"
"Either he has to fall out of love with me on his own, or I have to grow a pair and do the right thing by dumping him." Helga sighed, and lay her head against his, uttering a soft sigh. "Arnold, you're the one I want... I want to be your girlfriend!"
Arnold hugged her tightly, rubbing her back in comfort. "I know, Helga. I want to be your boyfriend, too. But I guess unless things change..."
"I know we shouldn't sneak around, like I figured we'd do if we ever got together, but now... Man, I want to cheat! But I'd never do that, especially not to him."
"I understand, and trust me, I don't like us sneaking around with you cheating on him either. Sure, being with you is always great, but not like this."
"Oh, if it were ethical..." Helga sighed again. "I love you, Arnold..."
Arnold smiled. "I love you too, Helga. ...You know, you're awfully affectionate."
She giggled. "Oh shut up, you yutz."
Unbeknown to them, Lyle had witnessed the entire scene. At least, after they stopped making out. Before they noticed, he slipped away.
--
The rest of the day went by pretty fast. But what was most strange, was Lyle. He seemed quiet, and not at all "crazy in love" like he had been the past few days. It puzzled Helga, but he always claimed all was well, acting sheepish. He was hiding something. She figured as much.
But what?
Helga wanted to find out.
So, after school was out, she grabbed said boy by the arm, despite his protests, and dragged him out to an alleyway near the school, and was ready to interrogate in a way only Helga could.
"Okay Lyle, what the heck is up with you?! This morning you're all ready to woo me like crazy, and then all of a sudden you're all elusive and acting weird!" Helga said. "You better tell me what's going on, bucko!"
Lyle heaved a sigh, and looked her in the eye. "...Helga, I saw you and Arnold earlier today. At the side of the school. You were embracing, and talking about us, and the two of you. I knew you loved him all along. You had no intentions of giving him up, did you?"
Helga took a step back, in absolute shock by his accusation. He had seen them?! She didn't even notice. No no, this was not going well. She had not planned this. She could have denied it, but there was no denying it. He was right on the money.
"Lyle, I...it's not that I don't like you." Helga sighed, looking away. "It's just that... well, you were so madly in love with me, like I'm in love with Arnold. I just didn't have the heart to break it off and make you miserable, because I know how that would feel if Arnold said he didn't love me. I'm so sorry. I-I love Arnold, he loves me too, and I want to be with him. I'm sorry that it had to be this way."
"Helga..." Lyle looked at the ground sadly, and then, he snapped up and grinned. "That's fantastic!"
"Huh!?" Helga jumped as if she'd been shot. "Excuse me?!"
"You heard me." Lyle smiled, his hands behind his back. "I'm glad it all worked out! FINALLY! You guys are together."
"Wait, what?! You're happy for me?! But...aren't you jealous?! Upset?! What the hell!?"
"Of course not! Helga, I'll come clean. All of that stuff I said, about being in love with you and wanting to marry you and all those nicknames....yeesh...." Lyle shook his head. "It was all a trick. I didn't mean any of it! Well, of course, I do like you a lot and I consider you a friend, however."
Helga was stunned. Ultimately relieved, but shocked. She had just been tricked! By Mr. Perfect! This was not boding well at ALL.
"You TRICKED me?!" Helga yelled, and grabbed his sweater with her hands. "How could you do such a thing?! Do you have any idea how much I suffered at not being with my beloved after he said he loved me too!? And what if I DID fall in love with you?! What would you have done then, huh!? You jackass! I can't believe you did that to me! Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to dump you!? I figured you were just like me with your feelings of love, but no, you weren't! I can't believe you!"
"H-Helga!" Lyle uttered. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry. But, you're wrong. You would never have fallen in love with me. I know how much you love Arnold. Even when we were together, you still looked at him with those eyes, and I always hear you talking about him with Phoebe. I knew I could do this, to give you and Arnold a push, without you falling for me. Why do you think I acted the way I did? I did it to turn you off. When I figured out Arnold was in love with you, I decided to take things up and make you want to break up with me. Trust me, I would never treat the girl I like that way, it's just too much. I'm sorry about everything, Helga. I really am. I just wanted to help you and Arnold finally get together."
"Wait wait wait wait wait wait wait, wait." Helga said, still holding his sweater. "How did you know Arnold was in love with me?! He just told me through a little note yesterday!"
Lyle gave a sheepish smile. "Well Helga, all the signs were there. I've seen the way he looks at you, the way he gets all lovesick when you're around, the way he stares at you lovingly in class.... I could go on. I always suspected he had a thing for you, but it was less than obvious than how you felt. But anyway, I also overheard him talking to Gerald about it. He was talking about you so much, and not one sentence didn't contain 'love' and 'Helga'. I know he loves you, Helga. And when I found it out, I did everything I could to make you want to break up with me. But, I guess things changed! I didn't expect you guys to go and make out behind my back! But man, that was something!" He grinned.
Helga studied him a moment, and then released him, wiping off her hands. "...Well Lyle, I see what you did there. ...I guess I should be thanking you. But, you should have dumped me beforehand!"
"Please Helga, if I did that, you would have taken longer to tell Arnold you loved him. That's pretty much where the forbidden love came into play."
"I-......oh fine, I guess you're right."
Lyle smiled. "And hey, not like I haven't done so myself. Last week, I told Lila my plan, and that I loved her. And she likes me too, and wanted to give me a chance! But, we decided to wait until this all blew over. So Helga...I'm now setting you free. Arnold is all yours now."
"....Well, fine. I'll let you off the hook this time, bucko." Helga said, turning away.
"But don't EVER do this again!"
He saluted. "Yes Ma'am! Now go find your true love, I'm sure he'd love to walk you home!"
Helga gave a weak smile and nodded. "Right. ...See ya later."
"Bye bye, schmoopsie-poo!" Lyle teased. "Sorry, I had to."
She smirked at him and then left the alleyway. Lyle did as well.
--
"So let me get this straight, it was all one big act?" Arnold confirmed.
"Yep!" Helga nodded. "Can you believe it? He was such a good actor, even with all that over-the-top romancing! I didn't suspect a thing!"
"Neither did I." Arnold agreed. "Even with all that over-the-top stuff, sure it made ME feel weird too, but I sure didn't suspect anything."
"I know! It's weird. Well, I'm just glad it all turned out to be easier than I thought. Still...you know, I'm sorry about everything."
"It's okay, Helga. I completely understand. And hey, it's over now, and we can finally move forward."
"Exactly." Helga took his hand and smiled. "But hey, football head, people are going to start talking and spreading rumours if they see us together all of a sudden. So what say we keep our love under wraps for about a week or two, when everyone either forgets or can see Lyle and I broke up?"
Arnold gave a smile. "I understand, Helga. I guess that's our best bet. Besides, I kind of thing the forbidden love aspect is fun."
She grinned. "Me too. So we'll keep it that way for a while. And hey...you want to come inside?" She smirked a little. "My parents are going to be gone until Sunday. So I have the house to myself."
Blushing a bit, he nodded. "Sure, Helga."
"Heck, let's not stop there! We'll take in a movie, get a pizza, and totally like, hang out!" She imitated a ditzy girl voice.
"That sounds like, totally awesome, girlfriend." Arnold did the same.
They both laughed, and came up to Helga's front stoop. She took out her key and unlocked the door, and they went inside, shutting it behind them. Once inside, Helga grabbed her beloved to her and smirked down at him suggestively.
"I love you, Arnold."
"I-I love you too, Helga."
And once more, they proceeded to make out like crazy, now accompanied by the freedom to be together, but also bound away by the shackles of society. At least for now. Soon, they would express their love freely.
--
Lyle and Lila ended up together, and were one of the cutest couples of P.S. 118.
Helga and Lyle remained to be friends.
Arnold and Helga eventually came out with their relationship about three weeks after Lyle dropped the bomb on her. They too, were one of the hottest couples of P.S. 118.
Lyle joined in the with the gang, and was well-received as before.
No one mentioned the whole scandal being an act, or anything like that. It was all their little secret.
Everything turned out just well.
The End.