A/N: I normally wouldn't be happy that I'm sick, but if it gives me time to work on this story, then yes, that makes me happy, haha. I'm extremely sorry for the delay in updates, but the only time I really have to work on this is when I don't have homework or no after school activities, which rarely happens anymore. And especially when play rehearsals start, gah. Oh well, I hope you all enjoy chapter 16.

"Heat of the moment! What the heck were ya thinking, Shortman?" Phil shouted incredulously at Arnold after being told about what happened that afternoon.

"Well, it kind of was…"

"But ya shouldn't tell her that!"

"Then what was I supposed to tell her? Despite what everyone else seems to think for whatever reason, I'm not in love with her."

Grandpa sighed, and took a seat next to Arnold on his bed. "Maybe you should…I don't know…give her a chance?"

The young boy looked up at him, curiosity evident in his eyes. "Where are you going with this?"

"I've been where you are, Shortman: confused, miserable, always thinking about her…"

"Grandpa…"

"Yup, I've been through it. When I was your age, there was a girl just like your little friend who I kissed. Of course, I had absolutely no idea why. So what do you think I did? I thought about it for a while and said, ya know what? Maybe if I give her a chance, I'd discover something that I never would've even thought about before."

"…So then what happened?"

"Well, I became very good friends with her after I asked her if she wanted to…oh, what do you kids call it these days…chill with me sometimes."

"Just friends though, right?"

"Well, actually…" Phil chuckled, and sighed thoughtfully. "I ended up marrying her!"

"Grandpa!"

"Jeez Louise, what! You asked me!"

"I know what you're trying to say. You're saying that I should invite Helga to hang out with me somewhere, get to fully know her more, and then I'm just gonna…fall for her?"

"Yuppers!"

"That's crazy talk. I wouldn't fall in love with her. I mean…yeah, she's a great person, even though she doesn't show it to everyone. And she's really smart, and a great writer…and…."

"See that, Arnold? I think ya got a little somethin' somethin' going on with her right now."

"GRANDPA!"

"Okay, okay I'll stop. But do me and you both a favor and think about it, alright?"

"Fine…I-I'll think about it."

"There's the spirit! Now, I have to go. I stayed in here too long the way it is."

"…Wait, why are you in such a rush?"

"Well…let's just say Pookie gave me some raspberries before, and…"

"Alright, alright…I get it." Arnold interrupted him with a chuckle. "Oh, and thanks, Grandpa."

"No problem." Phil smiled while closing Arnold's door, only fast footsteps being heard.

'Okay, all I have to do is call Helga and…I don't know…ask her if she wants to go get some ice cream with me or something. How hard could that be? Unless I upset her with what I said before. Well, she didn't seem to mind.' Taking a deep breath, Arnold picked up his phone, and dialed Helga's number. Unlike last time, he didn't have the nervous butterfly feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Alright fine, he did.

After about only two rings, he heard a voice on the other end of the line. "Hello?"

"Helga! Hey, it's Arnold."

"Arnold? Boy, you sure have been calling me a lot lately…"

"Oh uh, yeah. Sorry, did I…interrupt something"

'Only me crying,' Helga thought to herself, but decided not to say that out loud. "Nope, not a thing."

"Okay, good. Listen…I just wanted to see if maybe you wanted to go to Slausen's with me later tonight?"

'Just remember…Chez Paris.' "Arnold…are you sure about this?"

Arnold was taken aback by the sudden change of tone in Helga's voice. "Y-yeah…why not?"

"Well, last time you asked me to go somewhere with you…well, I don't really have to explain that, do I?"

"Just as friends, this time. No Rhonda or Lila…well…hopefully."

There was a bit of silence for a long time; something the two of them were used to by now. "Okay, fine then. What time?"

"Whatever time is good for you."

"Good, seven, 'cause Wrestlemania is on at eight." 'Actually I'd rather be with you than watch wrestling…I'm just not about to say that.'

"Okay, seven it is. I'll see you then. Bye, Helga."

"See ya." She hung up the phone, and then just sat on the edge of her bed taking in all of what just happened. "Nothing will screw this up tonight. Nothing out of the ordinary will happen. Everything will be just fine."

Well, she hoped nothing out of the ordinary would happen.

A/N: Just in case everyone is wondering, no, their little get together at Slausen's won't be a repeat of what happened at Chez Paris. I do have an idea up my sleeve for the next chapter, though, which I'll try to get typed up and posted next weekend. From the way my ideas are looking, expect about 2 or maybe 3 more chapters before this story is finally completed. Feedback and suggestions are always appreciated, as well. I hope everyone enjoyed this. :)