A/N: Sorry for the slow update. Been kind of busy as of late and haven't had much free time at all, especially due to school, but here it is, chapter 3! I hope you all find it enjoyable, and I really do appreciate everyone who left a review(Or even a favorite/follow)! It may be a small thing, but seeing one of those never fail to make me happy. (:

"...And now I don't want to know the true story of where babies come from," Gerald said, shaking his head, standing by Arnold as he rummaged in his locker. "My dad nearly turned green when I asked him. Green! I figure whatever the truth is, it is way too hard for me to handle right now."

Arnold smiled a bit. "It's probably not that bad."

"I don't know. There isn't much that makes my dad green. I can't imagine it to be good in that case. It really makes me wonder, but I can wait a couple more years for the truth I guess."

"Yeah, that's true. I plan on doing the same myself actually. Whenever I ask, my grandpa seems to always have his bathroom emergencies anyhow," Gerald wrinkled his nose at the unnecessary information. "Well, I'm about to go grab some water from the fountain," Arnold said, shutting his locker.

"Aright then, I guess I ought to look for Phoebe…If she's even still here," he said, looking nervous. Arnold chuckled.

"Sounds good to me. Anyway, see ya Gerald," he walked off, and Gerald sucked in a deep breath.

"Come on, Johanssen," he said out loud to himself. "You can do this. Just ask Phoebe the question."

"Just ask Phoebe what?" Gerald twirled around to face the person who said that, and felt his cheeks heat.

"Phoebe! What are you doing here?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You're standing in front of my locker."

"Oh, haha, so it seems I am," he blushed as he scooted aside, and she went about stuffing her books inside.

"Wasn't there something you wished to ask me Gerald?" She asked, finishing up and closing her locker.

"Um, well you see, my man Arnold can't go with me, and well I dunno, he suggested I ask you, and I thought it was a pretty good idea…" He knew he was rambling. He just didn't know how to stop. Phoebe appearing out of nowhere threw him off his A-game.

"Ask me what?" She asked expectantly.

"Have you heard of Pop Daddy?" She nodded. "Well, there's going to be an ice show this weekend based on it, and I wanted to know if you weren't busy this Saturday…if you'd go with me?"

Phoebe smiled, a light blush on her cheeks. "Sure, Gerald. It sounds like it'll be rather entertaining."

"Great! I mean, cool. Real cool." He gave her a slanted grin. Then he thought of something else he had been meaning to ask her. "So…Arnold and Helga? What do you think of the two of them…as a couple?"

Phoebe looked surprised. "I'm not sure yet. I'm not totally certain if Arnold really likes her or not honestly."

"Oh, trust me he does." Gerald said, smiling. "My boy has now become a huge pain in the backside thanks to it too."

"Helga's coming to terms with her own feelings and actually showing them I think."

"So she really does like him? It's not some elaborate scheme?"

Phoebe frowned. "Helga isn't that bad. She's just…misunderstood. If you actually took the time to know her I think you'd understand. I believe Arnold's seeing what I've always saw in her since Pre-K."

Gerald thought about how Arnold would always tell him every now and then that Helga was a good person. He didn't see it but…"I dunno how I feel about that just yet, but if both of you can see the good in Pataki I guess I'm just blind to it thanks to all the crap she's put us through over the years."

"That makes sense." Phoebe smiled.

"Well, I have to go look for Arnold again. I'll see ya Phoebe."

"Sayonara Gerald. I'll see you tomorrow." She wondered if she could count this coming outing as a 'date', but until Gerald got the courage to actually ask her without needing to make excuses for it, she'll just keep playing the role of 'friend'. She could only hope one day Gerald would return the feelings she had growing inside of her. It was hard to tell since he was a 'ladies man', but she hoped she could be the one lady in his life eventually. Thinking about that her smile grew. 'Someday,' she thought to herself happily and left.

"Miss Helga? I wanted to ask ya a question if that'd be okie dokie," Stinky said, looking uncomfortable. Helga studied him as she shut her locker. His cheeks were tinged pink, and he shuffled back and forth on his feet. She suddenly became uncomfortable fearing the worst.

"I already told you Stinko. It'd never work out between the two of us."

He looked appalled. "Oh heck no! I mean this is something different. I just…" He leaned closer to her and covered the side of his mouth with a hand as if trying to keep other people from knowing what he was about to say. "I need some girly advice."

"Girly…advice?" She blinked slowly. He was asking her for girl advice? That was a shock. Most times all the guys treated her like one of the boys. Not that she was complaining or anything. She was actually grateful for that.

"Yeah, I asked Miss Rhonda, but she told me to buzz off. Then Nadine and Sheena were busy. Phoebe was also busy and-"

"—And I was your last choice?" She said through gritted teeth.

"Well, I reckon I wouldn't say that. I didn't ask Miss Patty."

"Woopie de doo." She sighed. "Okay, what do you need help with?"

"What do girls look for in a man?"

"Uh, well," her thoughts immediately thought of Arnold. She shook him out of her mind feeling a blush sprout on her cheeks. "Maybe this is a question best off waiting until Rhonda comes around to helping you…"

Stinky's eyes turned pleading. "C'mon Miss Helga. Please? Just tell me your side. I'd be eternally grateful I would."

"Um, but well…"

"And I'll throw in five Mr. Fudgey bars."

"Oh…fine, but let's go somewhere that's not the school hallway. I don't want any of the chuckleheads from our class butting in."

"Thank you Helga!" Stinky picked her up in a big bear hug. "I knew I could count on ya in a pinch."

"Yeah, well, I'm the one in a pinch now," she said, struggling to breathe. "So if you'd loosen your grip…"

"Sorry," he let her go with a sheepish smile, watching as she took in a deep breath.

She stumbled to gain her balance and scowled. "Never do that to me again." She raised and shook her fist in warning. "Got it?"

Stinky crossed his heart. "I won't."

"Good. Let's go to the library. That should be a good location where we can chat in peace."

Stinky nodded his head. Helga just hoped it wasn't going to be a hopeless case, so as she walked to the library she thought of something easy that even Stinky could catch on too.

Arnold watched as the two of them walked off. He was pressing the water fountain button, something he had been doing ever since Stinky walked up to Helga. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he was able to watch their reactions. There had been a lot of whispers, blushes, and even hugs.

His eyes went half lidded and he frowned. Helga…and Stinky? He couldn't even say it was farfetched. They had dated or something like it before. He had even been the one to console Stinky after she broke it off with him. Was he still interested in Helga? He couldn't be totally sure.

"Um, Arnold?" He turned, and looked at Gerald who now had a basketball in hand, and was spinning it on his index finger. "What are you doing?"

"Um, drinking water?"

Gerald looked at the fountain, which was still running as Arnold still had yet to let go of the button, and then back to his best friend. "Yeah, I can totally see that."

Arnold released the button and sighed. "Fine, I wasn't. I just watched Helga go off with Stinky."

"Ah," Gerald gave him a knowing glance and a smile. Arnold frowned.

"I am not jealous."

Gerald's smile grew into a grin. "I didn't say you were."

"You were thinking it."

"Maybe." He paused and studied his friend. "But aren't you and Helga a thing now? At least that's what it seemed to me when I saw the two of you yesterday."

"Well, sure it's a date, but…"

"But you still think her feelings could change."

"Yeah."

"Okay, then. Why don't you follow them if you're so worried about it?"

"No way. I'm not going to eavesdrop on them," Arnold looked shocked.

"Because you'd rather stand here wasting water and bathing in your jealousy?"

"I am not jealous." Arnold narrowed his eyes at Gerald.

"Fine, don't do it then. Just stand around while Stinky gets closer and closer to Helga. Who knows? Fireworks could fly and it would be all over for any future between you and her."

Arnold panicked. "Do you really-?"

Gerald nodded. "That guy had something on his mind all day. No clue what it could be, but maybe he's going to confess to her."

Arnold paled.

"Okay, Stinko old buddy. Lay it on me. Why do you want to know what girls look for in a…in a man." She held in a snicker at that. Stinky was pretty much oblivious.

"Well, ya see," he scratched his arm. "There's this gal, and I think she's mighty purty."

"Uh, huh, and you want to woo her and win her heart? But you don't know crap about girls and you're scared to mess it up like with Gloria?"

"Hey, Gloria was an amazing lady Miss Helga, but after some time I reckon I was with her to replace you."

"Tch, I'm irreplaceable." But she smiled.

"Ya got that one right." He rubbed the arm she swung Old Betsy at earlier that day.

"Moving on, what if…you had no chance with this girl?"

"It'd just about break my heart. I love her more than lemon pudding."

"Well…you do know there's a…a chance right? That she may not like you?"

Stinky looked at her suspiciously. "What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing! Nothing. Just that it could happen." She shrugged.

"Hmm, I guess you're right," he slouched more than he normally would and looked sad. "Maybe I should just take these feelings to the grave."

Helga bit her lip. Who was she to say that he didn't have a chance? "Oh, come on, don't feel down about it. I said I'd help you and so I will."

"Really?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, really."

"Gee, willikers you're the best Helga." He grinned but she fanned his words off.

"Say that after you get the girl." She smiled with a grin of her own. "Now here's what we're going to do…"

Arnold had finally found Helga and Stinky in the library. He had to admit it was a pretty good place for them to hide. It wasn't that popular of a hang out so chances of getting caught there was low. It also meant he'd have to be extra quiet if he wanted to get close to the two of them.

"Oh Stinky," Helga said in a voice almost similar to the one she used whenever she said sweet things to him. "Is it true?"

"Yeah, I really like ya a lot and, well, I was hoping you'd say yes to dating a young fellow like myself?"

Arnold blanched. Her and Stinky…dating?

"I don't know…" He felt relieved at those words. At least it wasn't a straight out yes, but he also felt anger. Wasn't she supposed to be going on a date with him this weekend? Did she have mixed feelings about the two them? Or would she break it off completely with him and date Stinky exclusively? So many thoughts began to run through his head. He was so distraught; half of them wasn't even logical.

"Please my lady? Just one date? I'll show you I can be a good enough man for ya."

"Oh, what the heck? Sure why not?"

Arnold could feel his heart speed up. He placed his hand on a bookshelf feeling lightheaded, and the book his hand fell upon slid making him lose his balance. He fell over causing a loud crash.

"Arnold?" Helga looked shocked; her mouth was gaped wide open. "What are you doing in here football head?"

"Um, getting a book for…" he checked out the cover of a book close to him. "Our art history class?"

"Arnold, you're a bad liar." 'More reason why I love you my love,'she couldn't help but think. "We don't have an art history class, doi. Why are you really in here?"

"What are you and Stinky doing?" He asked to deflect the question. Helga looked like she wasn't going to drop her interrogation, but Stinky happily spoke up.

"Miss Helga here is helping me learn how to woo a girl."

"Learn?" Arnold looked confused.

"Yep, it was all her idea. She wanted me to be comfortable in asking Mary out, so she decided to pose as her so I could be comfortable during the real thing."

"Wait, who the heck is Mary?" Helga asked confused as well now.

"The purdiest gal I ever did lay my eyes on." Stinky looked dreamy eyed. "I don't want to blow my chance."

Helga patted his back. "You're not that bad Stinko. Just be yourself and I think that girl would be pretty fortunate to have you."

"Aww, geez, thanks Helga. That's gosh darn nice of you to say."

"Yeah, yeah, just don't get used to it."

As Stinky left Arnold stared at Helga. "Shouldn't you follow your own advice?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" She folded her arms and frowned.

"Well, you just told Stinky he should be himself, but I don't see you doing too much of that yourself."

"I am myself. When am I ever not myself?"

"Now." He watched as she froze.

"I…I'm afraid I have no idea what you mean."

"I think that you do." He said, picking up the books that fell and putting them back on the shelf. "Do you know how relieved I was when I realized that Stinky wasn't really asking you out on a date?"

"Relieved?" She squeaked.

He nodded, blushing realizing what he had just revealed. "Um, yeah…" Mind as well keep moving forward now. "I thought you might have been thinking you'd like to be with him more than me."

"Arnold…you really have no reason to worry about that," she bit her lip.

"Really?" He asked, hopefully.

"Doi, Arnoldo. Really."

"So we're still fine for this weekend?"

"I guess…if you promise not to spy on me anymore."

"Not sure I can keep that promise," he admitted. She stared at him in mild surprise. She was so sure he'd agree fast. This was very unexpected.

"Why not?"

"Helga," he lowered his voice a little, and it was enough to send a shiver through her. "I realize that I'm a pretty jealous guy."

"O-Oh?" her voice died after that. The look he was shooting her made her all but lose it.

"Uh-huh," He said, dropping his voice a little more. "And I don't know, maybe it's terrible of me, and I'll understand if you hate me for it, but whenever I realize that you're not paying me any attention," he blushed deeply, and turned pages absently in a book he was holding. "Well, simply put, I can't stand it."

Helga pulled on the collar of her shirt feeling extremely hot all of a sudden. Cripes did he have to say stuff like that? "I-I see, haha," she stepped back and bumped into a bookcase. Luckily, nothing fell, but she was all but seconds from being the one to do so.

Arnold looked up and raised an eyebrow at her. Then he smiled once he saw the blush covering her cheeks and the panicky way she watched him. "Yep," he rocked on the back of his heels, then put the book he was holding back on the shelf. "Have you ever felt jealous Helga?"

"Um…" What was with unexpected Arnold today? He kept throwing her curveballs when all she wanted was straight shots. "I-well, I mean I guess so."

"Over me?"

"Y-Yes," she whispered.

He smiled shooting her a soft smile and a half lidded glance. "So is Saturday good?"

"What?" She had a little bit of her voice back.

"For our date?"

"Oh, um yeah. That's just fine."

"Okay, I'll pick you up about six then."

"Sounds good. Just don't be late." She said trying to scowl.

"Wouldn't think of it." He couldn't help, but think about how adorable she was being right then.

"Well, I should be going now…" She was just about to leave the library when Arnold grabbed her arm. She turned and looked at him surprised, and he blushed.

"Could I maybe walk you home?" He asked her. Helga could feel a blush on her own cheeks now.

"S-sure. I'd like that-I mean if it'd make you happy."

Honestly it would make him very happy. But he kept that to himself and just nodded.

"Yeah, it would."

The two left the library with red cheeks. The librarian smiled knowingly, but went back to her book. Perhaps for now she'd just observe. It was certainly interesting that was for sure.