Whoo Chapter 4! :D

And this story is my absolute favorite, just because Arnold is simply adorable in this. Turns out I write better sad and depressing stuff than I do cute and adorable...but hey. This is an awesome song fic.

The song is called Never Knew I Needed by Ne-Yo and it's actually from the Princess and the Frog. (You know, the song in the end credits? That's this song.) And I actually thought I'd struggle with this one since the format is completely different that what I'm used to. Instead of writing around the song lyrics, I cheated and made it a talent show. xD

But yes, I have updated now because I wasn't gonna be able to update the rest of the day. So I hope you enjoy Chapter 4 of Songs of Hillwood. :D

Disclaimer: None of this I own. Characters and song wise. Or the movie Princess in the Frog. Cause it's mentioned in here.

Never Knew I Needed

Arnold/Helga

"You sure you want to go with this Arnold?"

"Yea, of course, we've done plenty of talent shows before."

"But we haven't done any that involves prizes, or winning, or being in front of our entire high school class. I'm not even that good at piano anymore."

"I heard you play yesterday, you were good. Come on, I need this!"

"The win? Or is there something else you had in mind."

He blushed.

"It's for a girl, isn't it Arnold?"

"Well…yea… but not just any normal girl."

"Who? Is it that blond girl from our biology class with the braces? What about that varsity softball captain? The punk girl who sits with you in Math with the weird bands around her wrist and the red and black hair?"

"It isn't any of them. But she's in our biology and Math class and plays softball, if that helps any."

Gerald searched his brain for this "dream girl" of his best friend.

"Can't think of a single girl. But alright man, I'll help you out."

"Thanks Gerald."

"Whatever you say, man."

"A talent show? What are we, in the 8th grade?"

"Helga, a talent show is a perfect opportunity for students to demonstrate their unique abilities. Maybe you should enter."

"Me? Enter the school talent show? You're kidding me right?"

"Oh...um…sure Helga. Just kidding. But you do know you have a very nice singing voice, in case you change your mind."

"Nope. Not changing it. Wouldn't be caught dead on that stage."

"But you were in the play last semester."

"Different situations. I'm an actress and a writer, Pheebs. Not some goody-goody who is going to make a fool out of themselves twirling plates or singing their guts out."

The two girls walked down the hallway and stopped in front a locker. Helga quickly spun the numbers around and opened it, shoving her textbooks into her locker and grabbing her notebook.

"Come on Pheebs, it's almost lunchtime and I'm starved!"

"Coming!"

"Oh look, it's Tall Hair Boy and the Football Head."

"Helga, might I remind you that Gerald and I are dating."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember. Could have someone with better taste in clothes though."

Phoebe looked down at the ground.

"Phoebe, I'm kidding! You know I'm a supporter of you and Hair Boy, huge supporter. I promise."

She stuck her pinky finger out to her best friend. They interlocked fingers quickly and continued into the lunchroom.

"So I guess we're sitting with them?"

"If you don't mind, Helga."

"Eh, whatever I guess. Let's just go and get this over with."

"Going!" She chirped happily.

Gerald watched his girlfriend and her best friend cross the lunchroom and head in their direction. Arnold moved his fork around his mashed potatoes.

"Hey Arnold, you gonna be okay with Helga. G. Pataki eating lunch with us?"

Arnold looked up at him and nodded.

"Ladies." Gerald winked. Phoebe blushed and Helga rolled her eyes.

"Hi Gerald." She kissed his cheek.

"Hair Boy."

"Pataki."

"So babe, Arnold and I are entering the talent show."

Helga looked up at Arnold, who was still maneuvering his fork around his food.

"Is that right, Football Head?"

"Yea, that's right."

"What are you and Arnold going to be doing?" Phoebe asked.

"Well, I'm gonna play the piano and Arnold is going to sing. Says he has a special girl he wants to sing it too, but won't tell me who."

"Has he given you any hints?" Helga asked quickly.

Phoebe and Gerald stared at her. It was Helga's turn to play in her food as she tried to hide her blush.

"He said it's some girl in our Biology and Math class. She also plays softball."

"Hmm…what about a song?"

"Don't know yet. Arnold is picking it."

"Do you have any idea, Arnold?"

He paused, looking at Phoebe, to Helga, to Gerald and then back to Helga before adding,

"Not yet."

Two weeks had gone by and Arnold and Gerald's big performance was tonight. Gerald still had no idea what girl he was planning to sing to, but all Arnold said was that he made sure that she was going to be in the audience tonight to hear it. All he had to do was search the crowd before he sang his big lyric. Gerald nodded and warmed his hands up on the piano.

Meanwhile, Phoebe had been desperately trying to get Helga to go with her to the talent show.

"Helga, please? We can stay up until Arnold and Gerald are done performing and then we can leave. I promise."

"I wouldn't be caught dead going to some lame talent show in high school." She spit outside her window.

"Please Helga? It would mean so much to me. And Gerald, and Arnold."

"Ar…Arnold?" She stammered.

Phoebe nodded. Helga sighed.

"Alright fine Pheebs. You win, I'll go."

Phoebe squealed and hugged her best friend tight.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you Helga."

"Okay, okay I get it, you're thanking me. Let's just go, okay?"

"Going!"

After a good hour sitting in the auditorium of Hillwood High School, Helga had had just about enough of her fellow classmate's "talents". One girl tried to spin plates, another girl danced to a weird song, two guys burped the star spangled banner. There were singers, dancers, comedians and jugglers and she was getting bored with it all.

"Pheebs, I'm gonna go get a soda."

"Wait, Helga! Arnold and Gerald are up next."

"Ugh. Fine, but then we leave after this."

"Deal."

Arnold was pacing around backstage while Gerald sat on top of the piano.

"Calm down man. We've got this. With your pipes and my piano, the talent show is in the bag."

"I'm not worried about that."

"Then it's the girl you're worried about. You think she's not gonna be here."

"No, I know she's here. I saw her walking in."

"Then what is it?"

"What if she hates the song? What if she walks out in the middle of the performance before I do my big lyric? What if I mess up the big lyric? What if…"

"ARNOLD! My man, relax. You'll knock her and this whole audience dead."

"You think so?"

"I know so. Now let's do this."

"And now ladies and gentlemen, our next act is Gerald Johanssen and Arnold…there seems to be a smudge over this last name… Oh, well then, Gerald and Arnold everyone!"

As the audience clapped, Arnold felt a knot get tied up in her stomach. She was there all right, and he only had one chance to get this right or he'd never be able to show his face to her again. He looked over at Gerald who started to play.

For the way you changed my plans
For being the perfect distraction
For the way you took the idea that I have of everything that I wanted to have
And made me see there was something missing

Helga had forgotten that Arnold could sing. Sing well, as a matter of fact. She silently swooned as Phoebe smiled.

She looked further up in the seats and noticed Lila Sawyer a couple rows ahead of them. She hissed softly and sunk down a little bit in her seat.

Great. He's singing a love song to Lila. How…perfect.

For the ending of my first begin
And for the rare and unexpected friend
For the way you're something that I'd never choose but at the same time, something I don't wanna lose
And never wanna be without ever again

Phoebe looked at Helga who had been watching in pure bliss when she realized the words that Arnold was singing.

Something he'd never choose…well it has to be a girl that he doesn't necessarily like… but Arnold likes everyone… but…maybe…

Well Gerald said that this girl was in their Biology and Math class. And that she also played softball. Hmm…a girl he might not necessarily have liked, I guess at first from the song…softball…biology…math…all those things add up to…

She looked back at her best friend and back to the stage where she attempted to follow Arnold's line of vision. She gasped quietly.

"You okay, Pheebs?"

"Yeah. Perfectly fine."

In fact, she was more than fine. She was ecstatic.

You're the best thing I never knew I needed
So when you were here I had no idea
You the best thing I never knew I needed
So now it's so clear, I need you here always

Gerald quickly scanned the audience for his girlfriend who looked at him and pointed to Helga. He looked at Helga's face that seemed to look…different in his opinion. As for Arnold, he was looking in their direction, so his girl had to be sitting around Phoebe. Whoever it was, she better appreciate this song.

My accidental happily ever after
The way you smile and how you comfort me with your laughter
I must admit you were not a part of my book but now if you open it up and take a look
You're the beginning and the end of every chapter

Phoebe then managed to get Gerald's attention again. He looked at her, winked and just as he was about to turn back to the piano. She mouthed the words, "The Girl" and pointed to Helga again. He looked back at Arnold, looked at Helga, back to Arnold and then to Phoebe.

Well that was unexpected.

Arnold got up from the stool that he had been sitting on and walked down the stage steps slowly singing the next few words slower than normally.

Who knew that I could be
So unexpectedly, undeniably happier

Well. This is it.

Helga watched Arnold walk around the auditorium as the lights followed him. Was it her or was he getting closer to her? She shrugged it off until he appeared right next to her.

Sitting with you right here, right here next to me
Girl, you're the best

She froze.

This was not happening.

You're the best thing I never knew I needed
So when you were here I had no idea
You're the best thing I never knew I needed
So now it's so clear I need you here always

Arnold sang the rest of the song looking directly into her eyes. She looked almost frozen in fear, not knowing what to do or how to react. She just sat there, it got Arnold a little worried but he kept singing.

Phoebe was sitting behind Helga with a huge grin plastered on her face. It's about time those two addressed their feelings for each other.

Gerald shook his head. How did he miss that?

Helga sat in complete and utter shock. He's singing to me. He's BEEN singing to me, about me. About us. He…he… wants us to be together! Her outside remained the same as she felt her insides completely melting.

Now it's so clear, I need you here always

He ended the last note holding Helga's hand. She was still frozen as Gerald hit the last note. The entire audience burst into applause. Several people stood up and whistled. Arnold had still not let go of Helga's hand. He just watched her face to see if he'd get any reaction before he'd have to go backstage.

Helga realized that she was still looking at him in complete shock. Come on Helga! React or something! Helga felt a smile and a blush creep onto her face. Arnold breathed a sigh of relief as he quickly kissed the top of her hand and ran backstage. Arnold's heart was full of pride for finally getting the song out but full of excitement just because of one smile that Helga had given him. She liked the song and that's all that mattered to him.

After the show had ended, Helga waited in the hallway for Arnold to leave while she watched Gerald and Phoebe out of the corner of her eye.

"Helga?"

She turned to see Arnold, still in his suit behind her.

"Hey Football Head."

"So, how about that guy singing that song to that random girl in the audience, huh? What was he thinking?"

"I don't know, a bonehead move on his part."

He smirked and walked towards her.

"Yeah, who would straight out embarrass themselves like that?"

"I mean he did get a lot of Aww's out of it. I think it was a stunt to attempt to get the first place ribbon."

"For your information, it was a stunt for the second place ribbon. I would have kissed you if I wanted first."

She laughed and moved closer.

"They must have liked you then. Gave you first anyway."

"We almost lost to a guy playing a harmonica with a tap dancing chicken."

"I'll admit, that chicken is incredibly talented."

"I would have graciously lost to that chicken."

She paused, looking straight into his eyes.

"So that stunt, did you really…" He smiled.

"I did. That song was meant for you. Didn't you recognize it?"

She shook her head.

"The night we spied on Phoebe and Gerald's first date. They went to see…"

"…The Princess and the Frog…wow. Arnold-o, that date was almost 3 years ago."

"That's when I knew."

"Knew what?"

"That you were the best thing I never knew I needed." He grinned.

"Arnold, you big dork." She laughed.

He grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Wanna go meet my fans?"

"If they try flirting with you, they'll have to answer to Ol' Betsy, because the Five Avengers is a little busy at the moment." She brought their hands up to eye level.

"Whatever you say, Helga."