Now, Nicole's got a rumour to clear up. Thanks for reviewing, Beth.

On Monday morning, I told Rhonda my cover, first thing. "Fuzzy Slippers – have you heard of him – he told me all that stuff I knew. Because I had to stay in the boarding house, Arnold knew me already, and he got Gerald to direct me to him, and I specifically asked for information about our class so I'd know what to do and what not to do. Remember when I started that first day and I said I wouldn't try to start new trends? It's because he told me that it was your job, being the most fashionable person in school."

Rhonda's eyes widened. "And that's also how you knew all our names?" she said. "But what about the stuff you know that happened ages ago?"

I shrugged. "Some of it I was told about by some of the group. Other stuff I did get from him. Asking specific questions helps, like, for example, asking what went on between you and Curly before this dating thing?" I grinned, liking the feeling of power. "And yes, I do mean the whole thing with the mink coat."

This time, Rhonda looked horrified. "Y – you wouldn't tell anyone, right?" she whispered.

I laughed. "Rhonda, I thought we were friends. I wouldn't tell. Although I thought it would've gained you more sympathy if you had told. In retrospect, does remembering that incident make you decide to quit the thing with him you've got after all?"

Rhonda sighed, stopped and thought about it, then shook her head. "He's changed since then. I didn't notice it until now, but he's not nuts anymore, and I can see that he's trying. I actually kind of like him..." she whispered the next part. "Maybe I could see myself liking him even more later on."

I knew what she meant, and I didn't continue talking about the subject. It seemed like my plan had worked...at least a bit. Most of the kids who had thought about the rumour believed my story, and within a week, the rumours died down again. Of course, new ones sprouted right back up, but this time, it wasn't about me.

I had known over the week that Arnold had wanted to move past the 'friendship' facade with Helga and get to the open relationship. Him living in the same house, I'd have to have been deaf not to know. Not to mention on Wednesday night, Arnold confided to me that Helga was being difficult about it. "We agreed," he said, "But she wants to keep prolonging it. She doesn't say, but I'm pretty sure she's still scared about what people will think."

I shrugged. "What are you suggesting I do? Sure, sometimes she listens to me, but we both know that Helga Pataki has a talent in complicating life. She never makes things easy on herself or anyone else. I told her from the start, just do what I did. After what I said in the cafeteria, things went fine. Sid and me, we never did anything in school more than holding hands and apart from a few immature people giggling and some older ones whispering, things went okay." I sighed. "I think Helga has the misconception that allowing herself to show love means that she is also showing weakness. Most of our class knows nothing of love. Heck, I'm supposed to be seven years older than the rest of you and I don't, apart from books and movies. My point is, even though Helga listens to me some of the time, whenever I talk about someone other than you knowing, she shuts off. By deciding to date her, Arnold, you've basically signed a contract saying that you will take all complications, so this is your problem."

Arnold, surprisingly, just gave me a guilty grin. "Nicole, I was going to ask you to talk to her, but you kind of just told me exactly what I wanted you to tell her, so I'll do it. I kind of got you to help me without asking, so thanks." His smile was becoming more of a smirk by that time, and he immediately turned and ran up to his room while I was still comprehending what he'd just made me do without even trying.

But by Friday, it looked like it had worked, because Helga not only walked with Arnold into PS118, but she didn't pull away when he took her hand.

The whole class went silent when they entered the fifth-grade room. Helga immediately let go of Arnold's hand, but the class had seen it already. I glanced at Sid, who was obviously about to laugh. I shot him a warning glance, and he quickly straightened his face. However, it was harder to stop the other kids.

Harold started laughing in his annoying way, beginning to chant the "K-I-S-S-I-N-G" rhyme. At least that was until Helga grabbed the collar of his shirt, shoved him against the wall and threatened him. After that, the boys mostly shut up, but I knew, I just knew that Rhonda was going to try to interrogate Helga at recess.

I tried to stop her. So did Lila. But neither of us could stop the dark-haired girl approaching Helga and saying "Why, Helga, where did this thing from Arnold come from? I always got the impression you couldn't stand him, and now you two are holding hands and smiling at each other? What's going on?"

Helga glared at her. "Nothing's going on, Princess." she scowled. "So maybe I don't hate the Football Head. What's the big deal? You're the one going out with the twisted little freak. At least I decided to be friends with someone who doesn't have a few screws loose."

"Oh, but it's more than friendship, isn't it?" Rhonda pressed. "I'm not stupid, Helga, I can see it in the way you two look at each other."

Finally, Lila spoke up. "Rhonda, I'm certain that if Helga wanted to tell you about this, she would have told you already." she said softly, but firmly. "We ought to leave it alone. Helga, I'm ever so sorry we crowded you like that." And we all walked away.

"Don't mention it, Miss Perfect." I heard Helga mutter as we left, but she sounded less hostile than usual (was it because Lila wasn't her rival anymore, but still probably set her teeth on edge with her sweetness?).

Sid started asking me questions at lunch, although he had the sense to choose a table far away from the other tables and talk quietly.

"So you were talking about Helga?" he asked. I nodded in confirmation and he gasped. "Boy howdy, I can't believe it! So that means that she's the most popular person with the watchers?"

I nodded and grinned. "Thought that would shock you." I said casually. "It's always a ton of fun to watch Helga. Some of the tropes I left out were things like Vitriolic Best Buds – with Phoebe – Tsundere, Stalker With A Crush, Evil Laugh, Brilliant but Lazy, and Because You Were Nice To Me. That's where her thing with Arnold comes from."

"Just because he was nice to her?" Sid repeated. "Why? He's nice to everyone."

I sighed. "I really don't want to go into Helga's family life," I explained, "But long story short, her family let her walk to preschool on her own in the rain, then Arnold showed up outside the school and shared his umbrella with her. Then when Harold stole her crackers at snacktime, Arnold offered her his."

"I remember!' Sid exclaimed. "I sort of remember her waving to him, and then clasping her hands and sighing. And then seconds later, she just threatened Harold."

"You oh-so-conveniently skipped the part when you and the other kids started laughing at her." I remembered. "It's no wonder she hid the way she really felt about Arnold, with the way you guys treated her. She never forgot it, and never showed her feelings again until now. Some of her tropes reflect that, like Hypocrite, Cannot Spit It Out, Beneath The Mask, and Sour Outside, Sad Inside."

"Wow..." muttered Sid. "You've just made me realize that I've known Helga for seven years, but I don't really know her at all if she can fit everything you just listed."

I shrugged. "Never too late to learn. If you don't make fun of her, maybe I'll help you get to know her – and you won't even have to say a word to her."

"Nicole, I don't make fun of people!" Sid protested. "Maybe I used to, but I don't now! I wouldn't make fun of her, or say anything to anyone! Please, I want to hear more about what you know. I mean, obviously Helga's one secret was that she liked Arnold deep down. How much worse can anything be?"

I finally smiled at my boyfriend. "Well, I'll tell you." I said. "Not everything. Helga deserves to have some things kept secret. But...well, what do you want to know?"

"What did you mean by Brilliant but Lazy?" Sid asked. "She's not brilliant."

"Oh yes she is." I argued. "She's extremely intelligent, but she's lazy, duh. She doesn't get top marks much because she doesn't try, but she did get top marks on the aptitude test, when her test got mixed up with Harold's. Haven't you noticed her marks are erratic? She flunks one math test and aces another. And last year, remember when Mr Simmons read out love poems in class that were anonymous?"
"No way!" gasped Sid. "Helga wrote those? They're all so mushy!"

"That's the type of poetry Helga writes." I answered calmly. "She writes her feelings. I remember, even though this year, no one's work gets read out. Who did you think wrote them?"

"I didn't really think about it." Sid replied. "One of the girls, I thought, but not Helga. I guess I'd think Lila." He smiled at me. "So...you know any other interesting things about some others in our class?"

I shrugged. "Maybe. I'm only telling you this stuff because it'll come out sooner or later, though. Oh, and remember what I said when you said you thought Helga was a ninja?"

"That if she was dating anyone by the end of fifth grade then I was..." Sid trailed off. "Oh, yeah." He sighed. "I was sure you were going to lose that one. You sure she's not a ninja?"

I giggled. "Yep. Although she once climbed up a rope to get into Arnold's house because his grandpa had something of hers that betrayed her secret and she thought he might open it and see the inscription with her name." Then I frowned and said "That's enough gossip about Helga, really. I swear, you're worse than Rhonda for asking questions."

Sid gave a sheepish grin and said "At least I'm not as bad as Harold for blabbing anymore."

But our gossip aside, everyone in our grade was talking about Arnold and Helga. But amazingly, Helga's reputation still seemed to keep anyone from teasing her, except for Harold who didn't get the memo the first time and couldn't stop it.

So that was my secret's problem closed, and my matchmaking scheme for them complete. But there was still one more thing I had to take care of. And before I started my revenge schemes, maybe I should find out from my victim exactly what he said and why he said it.

Nicole will talk to Curly in the next chapter. Am I writing Sid's character OK? He's supposed to be a bit more mature than he was in the show, but still kind of a scaredy-cat and a bit insecure and paranoid, although he's not as much of a douchebag, for lack of a better term. Please review and tell me!