Chapter 4: Should I Tell Her?

The next day Helga and Phoebe were sitting in class, not having seen the boys yet. Helga was leaning her head in her hand, trying to ignore an intense headache that had come upon her suddenly.

"Good morning Helga. How has your list of sensitive suggestions we discussed been treating you?"

The thought of trying to adjust her attitude only made Helga's head hurt more. "Just peachy." she sighed.

Arnold and Gerald then walked through the door. Normally Helga would tense at the sight of Arnold. Her headache along with the stress of changing her behavior made it a bit tough to care at that moment. On the plus side, it made it easier for her to follow through on the first to sensitive suggestions on Phoebe's list: being polite, and no insulting nicknames.

All through class Helga was able to act like a normal student, not caring that she wasn't allowed to pay Arnold any negative attention. Towards the end of the period, Helga noticed another noted being passed back to her by her beloved…

Can I talk to you about something?

Helga looked at the note and forgot about her headache for a moment. What could he want to talk about? More importantly, why is he acting as though he wouldn't have the right to? He was her boyfriend. Why wouldn't she be willing to listen to him? Was it because of her aggressive behavior that he felt he may not have the right to ask? After considering this, Helga thought about the next suggestion on Phoebe's list… TAKE AN INTEREST IN WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

Helga then passed the note back up for Arnold to read…

Sure, what is it?

Arnold wondered if passing notes back and forth would be the right way to discuss this. It was a pretty serious discussion. He was just so anxious to know.

Do you remember sleepwalking to my house the past two nights?

Helga became flabbergasted when she read the note. It took all her strength not to screech. As she trembled writing a response in her seat, she tried to follow Phoebe's sensitive suggestion rules…

No, why do you ask?

Arnold wondered if it would be right to explain, or if he should just tell her to forget he said anything. Perhaps enough had been gotten off his chest just by saying that. That didn't mean it would fix Helga's problem however.

I've seen you in my bedroom the past two nights.

Helga nearly crumbled the sheet of paper. What could be causing her to do this? She hadn't changed her diet recently?

Oh...sorry about that.

Arnold was amazed at her response. Not only that, she was being so calm about it. There wasn't a hint of rage or an insult to go along with it.

Are you okay?

Helga was gritting her teeth by that point. She was learning to be sensitive, why couldn't he just appreciate it? Why did he have to question everything?

Yeah, thanks.

Finally the bell rang and the last of their classes ended. Helga quickly marched out of there before anything else embarrassing could happen between her and Arnold. As she was leaving, she saw Phoebe standing by her locker.

"Hey Phoebe!"

"Hello Helga. Is everything alright?" she asked.

"We need to talk." she replied.

"Coming!" Phoebe chirped.

Arnold left the class just in time to see Helga disappearing into the corner of the hallway with her best friend. He knew that was normally the case when a private matter was being discussed.

"Sleepwalking?! I thought we discovered the source of your problem." Phoebe exclaimed.

"Yeah well, I haven't had a bag of Bob's pork rinds since then so it must be something other than my diet causing the problem." Helga scoffed.

"I see. Have you changed your usual sleep patterns?" Phoebe asked.

"Well I...Arnold?!" Helga gasped.

"Hey Helga. I just wanted to apologize for bothering you in class. I should have just waited until the day was over." he replied.

Of course you should have you stupid football head!

"Uhh don't worry about it. I have to go." Helga said, while Arnold and Phoebe watched her head down the hall.

After she was out of sight, Arnold turned to Phoebe and asked "Is everything okay with her lately Phoebe? She's been acting uhh...different."

"I'm afraid she may have had a few things on her mind recently." Phoebe admitted.

"Is there anything I can do about it?" Arnold asked anxiously.

Phoebe stood silently a moment wondering if it would be the right thing to confess to Arnold the reason behind Helga's stress.

"Perhaps you could simply call her later and ask if there's anything she needs to talk about. Even better, ask if there's anything special she would like to do after dinner on Valentine's day." Phoebe suggested.

Arnold smiled at the helpful suggestion as he replied "Sounds great. Thanks!"

A few hours later, after Helga had made it past her sister's annoying welcoming screaming antics, Helga was sitting on her bed, working on her homework assignments. As she was finishing up her math, she heard the phone beside her bed ring.

Ring...Ring...Ring…

"Hello?"

"Hey Helga."

"Arnold! I mean...What do you...I mean...Hey Arnold." Helga responded, trying to keep to her sensitive ways.

"Hey. I just wanted to check on you."

"I'm uhh fine I guess. Just doing my homework. Oh joy." she scoffed.

"Haha. I was also wondering if there was anything special you wanted to do after dinner on Valentine's Day?"

Helga held the phone trembling. Great, more pressure put on me! "Uhhh you can pick. I'll be happy with anything."

Arnold was puzzled by her soft hearted attitude. She loved taking charge of things. "Are you sure? It's supposed to be a special night for both of us. I want you to be happy too."

Crimity football head! I said you could pick! "I know. I'm happy letting you decide."

"Well, alright then. Sleep well."

"Thanks. You too."

After the two of them hung up, Helga put her things away and slipped into her nightgown. The only thing she left out to look at was Phoebe's list. After staring at it for awhile, she thought to herself maybe I'm not doing too badly at this. I at least PRETENDED to care about what he had to ask me today.

While Helga was severely thinking this through, Arnold was thinking about his phone call with Helga. I hope she's okay. I hope she knows she can tell me anything she needs to. I hope I haven't done anything to upset her. I hope….

Despite Arnold's wandering mind, he soon drifted off to sleep, only to be awaken by the feel of an extra person sitting beside him.

"Helga!" he jumped, although not quite so surprised to see her again.

"Arnold, how are you?" she asked softly.

"Uhh okay. I don't think you are though." he couldn't help but say.

"I'm sorry I ran away from you." she said, placing a hand on his face.

"It's...It's okay. Are you worried about something?" he asked, hoping to get the truth out of her.

"No. Are you? Do you need to tell me something?" she asked, stroking his face with her thumb.

"Uhh no. Just that I'm worried about you. What have you been thinking about recently?" he wondered.

"Our date Saturday. I'm so nervous." she said, leaning towards him.

Arnold sat there, thinking to himself Maybe we should just cancel it. If I do then she'll just think I'm upset with her? Why is she nervous anyway? She's my girlfriend.

"What are you nervous about?" he asked.

Rather than responding, she pulled him close to kiss her. While he felt her wrap her arms around his neck, sucking his tongue, running her fingers through his hair, he thought to himself If I let her sleep here, she's just going to wonder how she ended up here tomorrow morning. Not to mention my parents will ask how she ended up here.

As she slowly released his lips, she rubbed her nose against his and said "I'm sorry I'm not sensitive."

Arnold lifted an eyebrow as he tried to sit up and asked "Is that what you've been worried about all week?"

The two then heard a noise coming from the hallway. Helga immediately snuck out the window, while Arnold was tempted to follow her out. He wasn't ready to end their conversation...even if she wasn't completely awake for the whole thing.