Chapter#8: Who am I to judge people?.
"Hey Sid I need to ask you something." Joey whispered to Sid as they were buying lunch at the school cafeteria.
"What is it?."
"I need your skills," he looked around to make sure no one was listening. "in getting detention."
"Detention?." Sid wrinkled his nose.
"Yeah you get that all the time, I want to know your secret."
"I hate to disappoint ya Joey, but I got no secret. Trouble just follows me like my shadow."
"But Sid I really really need this!." Joey pursued.
"What for?."
"I uh… " Joey's eyes darted around nervously, he didn't prepare for this Stupid!. "I have this aunt who I really hate, and she's visiting all afternoon tomorrow and I don't wanna be around when she's there."
Sid rolled his eyes, "I know how it is. But seriously Joey, I can't help you with that. Like I said, I don't look for trouble. It just lures me in. See ya buddy."
As Sid walked away Joey realized one thing.
I guess I'll have to figure it out myself…
"So you coming to my basketball game this Saturday Helga?." Arnold asked his girlfriend who was sitting beside him in the bus on their way after school.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," she wrapped her arms lovingly around his. "Ice-cream."
Arnold felt a silly grin tear across his face at the sound of his nickname.
"Arnold?."
"Yeah Helga?."
"Could you? Um…" she fumbled with her fingers and looks away nervously, "see Arnold, I'm not really ready to be introduced to your family as your girlfriend yet. It's not that I don't want to, I just- I just need to… adjust first- I really hope you understand."
Arnold smiled sincerely and placed his hand gently over hers. "I understand."
Helga smiled back apologetically, "I'm sorry but-."
"Helga really you don't need to apologize."
"Ok."
"But you're still coming for dinner tonight right?."
"Of course Arnold."
"Anyone seen Joey?." Harold looked around the bus that was getting ready to leave.
"Detention." Sid replied as he sat beside him.
"What for?."
"Not doing his homework."
"Joey? No way!." Rhonda exclaimed from the seat behind them.
"Yeah, he's always been that good boy ever since he's been hanging out less with you guys. No pun intended." Nadine said.
"Uh-oh." Sid muttered under his breath.
Joey marched to the detention room with his head hung low.
I guess you don't get to stay back in class for detention like in PS 118…
"Helga! Come in." The blonde boy greeted his shy girlfriend when he opened their front door.
"I got some yahoo soda." She showed him a couple of six-packs.
"Great, I'll take those." Ernie Potts butted in and grabbed them from her.
"Let's go to the kitchen, everyone's waiting for you."
"Well look everyone! it's Eleanor all grown up!." Pookie as demented as ever greeted the girl.
"Hello Helga, we're so glad we could finally meet you." Stella gave her a warm smile.
"Hello Mrs. Shortman." Helga smiled back.
"Here, this is your seat Helga." Arnold pulled out a chair for her and motioned for her to come sit down so he could push her seat inside.
Stella and Miles smiled at how cute their little gentlemen was.
"And she gets the second highest grades in almost all her classes." Arnold explained as they were having dessert.
"Why that's wonderful Helga." Stella told her.
"Beauty and brains, sounds like a catch huh Arnold?." Susie winked cheekily at Arnold causing the blonde couple to blush.
"Uhm, thanks for the dessert Mrs. S." Helga wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and stood up. "But it's getting late and my parent's will be worried."
Yeah right…
"Alright Helga, we had a great time with you."
"Ditto." Helga tried to act casual.
"I'll drop you to your place. Can I mom, dad?." Arnold almost pleaded. "It's not so far away from here."
"Sure son, just be careful on your way back." Miles advised.
"I will." And with that he grabbed his girlfriends hand and dashed away with her.
"They're dating." Suzie told Stella who nodded in agreement.
"Oh hey, Arnold's little friend forgot her purse. I better go give it to her before they've gone too far." Grandpa ran after them.
"Sorry about my family Helga." He apologized once they were out the door.
"You don't have to apologize football head I liked them."
"You did? Wow, I thought you'd be bothered because they're all weird and stuff."
"They are," she casually shrugged. "but who am I to judge people?."
Arnold gave her the most loving smile she's ever seen and it melted her insides.
Did he know he could do that?...
And then there was this other look in his eyes, those beautiful green circles seemed full of want… an innocent desire that she felt had to do with her lips.
She was right, as soon as she decided to lean in he did too…