A/N: This might be a bit important to know storyline-wise. This occurs a year or so after Doctor Bliss's interference. At this point, Helga has learned to tone down the bullying and to keep her love for Arnold under wraps (she still expects to tell him one day).
DIRECT excerpts from Arnold's E-files by Craig Bartlett (the series creator) are used in this chapter, and are used for fan fiction purposes. (no profit made and I don't claim to have written this chapter entirely)
Helga heard a familiar sound directly behind her- the sound of heavy, raspy breathing. It was Brainy, as usual, the pale, mute, spiky-haired, blank-eyed kid with the eternal half smile. Brainy's constant efforts to get close to Helga were betrayed every time by the sound of his own openmouthed breathing. Helga scowled, stuffed the locket back inside her jumper, and threw a reflex punch that solidly connected with the noise behind her shoulder. Ignoring the thud that was Brainy hitting the floor, Helga pushed open the classroom door and stomped in.
In class, nothing much of interest happened other than a sixth grade girl handing out instructions for an electronic messaging board on their elementary school's website. Brainy, who managed to sneak back into the classroom after recovering from Helga's wrath, watched with anticipation as the filled out information sheets were being passed up. If he could only get Helga's email address! He wasn't sure exactly why, but he thought that this might be his chance to speak with his beloved Helga.
As the bell rang for the end of 5th hour, Brainy waited until most everyone had left the classroom before heading for the computer lab. He didn't think that he'd be late to class; most teachers marked off that he was there whether or not he did come to school. At any rate, he was always there on test day, ready to pass with flying colors.
Brainy pulled open the door to the computer lab slowly and smoothly, letting himself in with minimal noise. Inside, his quick eye noticed that there were only one other person inside, a small, nerdy looking girl typing furiously at a computer surrounded with a bunch of papers.
Brainy stuck close to the wall as he edged closer and closer to her workplace. There must have been at least twenty different classes that the girl was inputting data into the computer for, which was a lot for one girl. He noticed that he was just in luck, the girl was just starting on Mr. Simons' class, and it didn't take much more than a quick rummage through the discarded finished pile to obtain Helga's information.
He walked out of the computer lab eager to get home.
On his way out of the school, Brainy moved on autopilot to the closest alleyway, maneuvering across the street and into the deepest part of the shadows. It seemed so natural. To him the darkness was a haven of safety and he knew the dangers and advantages of being near invisible. If his perfection of stalking…
Brainy's hand clutched the information sheet close to himself, eyes occasionally darting toward the name of his beloved, and memorizing every curve of her name, written in her hand.
His home….
On his laptop, Brainy couldn't wait to get writing. He had so much to say to her! How could he describe the feelings that he felt for Helga, how much he'd admired the girl?
He began typing.
To: Helgoth
From: GoldenHero
Subject: I Dream of a Brilliant Love
Dear Helga,
I have been silent, but now at last I can speak-by E-mail- and tell you of my love. Helga, you inspire me as I roam among fantastic shadows, as I sit behind you on the bus, and as I pick strands of rubber off my sneakers like you pick strands of love from my wounded heart.
I wait for you, sweet Helga, among the softly rustling stars.
Golden Hero
He waited anxiously for her reply.
When Helga opened up her email, she found that she already had an email waiting for her. Mouth agape, she read the email in both amazement and horror. 'Who was this guy?' she thought. She scrolled back up and reread the email. No name, but it had to be someone from school. She wrote back a reply, and sat uneasily at her chair. She couldn't imagine anyone feeling as powerfully intense as how this guy made it out to be.
When Brainy received Helga's email, he didn't know exactly how to respond. She wanted to know his name! He couldn't do that, she'd stop talking to him immediately! He quickly responded.
To: Helgoth
From: GoldenHero
Subject: My Anonymous Note
Dear Helga,
Thank you so much for your reply. I am lashed by the furious tides of love, dancing like a cork on the waves, held up only by hope. As to your question: Who am I? It doesn't matter. My name is but a pale piece of driftwood on the fitful sea.
What does matter is you. I know all about you. I know about the locket you carry. I know about the shrine you have in your locker. I know about the desperate love you harbor in your misunderstood heart, and I CARE.
Please don't let me drown in this fermenting swamp of unspoken love. Take my hand before I sink.
Golden Hero
The words flickered across the Helga's computer screen, the digitized script of standard computers in that day and age contrasting sharply with the poetic writings of an anonymous admirer.
Helga couldn't believe. He knows about my locket? She couldn't believe that anyone should know so much personal information about her, unless….Golden Hero….Arnold? That golden hair boy that she loves so much? He knows! He must've realized after all this time about her darkest most held secret.
Helga couldn't contain her excitement at this prospect, and the more she thought about it the more she figured that it had to be him. She wrote an email to Phoebe, attaching the last email she got from Golden Hero, and asked her opinion on the matter.
Phoebe smiled at her friend's email, but felt skeptical about the identity of her friend's admirer. Sure, it would be great if it was from Arnold, but it just didn't sound like him. She wrote an email back expressing these concerns.
To: Helgoth
From: RonnieNumberOneFan
Subject: The Mystery Hero
Dear Helga,
I want to help you find out the identity of Golden Hero- just in case you might be wrong about who you think he is. So I'm wondering if it's okay with you if I ask around a little among our classmates and possible suspects? Very casually, of course, and using no names?
To: RonnieNumberOneFan
From: Helgoth
Subject: Re: The Mystery Hero
Phoebe:
No, no, no, absolutely NOT! Say one word about any of this to anyone and you, my former best friend, will face the wrath of Helga!
Helga hit the send button and wiped the sweat from her brow. That was a close one! Helga knew that she shouldn't have been so harsh, but she was sure that Phoebe's asking around would be a bad idea. Out of all her classmates, Helga was sure that only she was able to keep a secret.
To: GoldenHero
From: Helgoth
Subject: US!
Dearest Golden Hero,
You have made me so happy! I think I've always known that one day you would find me, but I confess I came close to despair at times. And now we have truly found each other at last!
Yet I think we must meet for our joy to be complete. Think of it! Each of us so very shy, so modest, so insecure, yet we will be able to gaze into each other's eyes at last and know the truth that is our beautiful love.
I shall always be grateful to this electronic medium that allowed you to emerge from your shy, retiring shell, but-enough already. Let us meet for real!
Devotedly yours,
Helga
P.S. Carry a red rose when we meet so I shall know it is thee!
When Golden Hero read this E-mail, he was overcome by a serious choking fit. His dream had come true- and he felt like throwing up.
She LOVED him- his darling Helga, whom he had worshipped since their first day of meeting.
…..now, finally, she returned his love- but she didn't know it was him! What was he going to do?
Brainy sat, wringing his hands for several minutes. Then he had an idea…and began to type.
To: ZenBoy
From: GoldenHero
Subject: A Huge Favor
Dear Arnold,
Iggy gave me your E-mail address. I have a favor to ask. I realize there is no reason why you should help me- I know I've never said more than three words to you in all the years we have been in the same class. But I have always respected you, Arnold, and I know how much certain other people esteem you.
You see, the girl of my dreams knows of my feelings for her. But she does not yet know my identity, and she wants to meet me IN PERSON. And I just can't. I can't!
But Arnold- YOU can. In fact you are the perfect person to help me out. You can prepare the way with her- easing the heart of my lady love so that she will accept me. Please, Arnold. Help my dream come true.
Sincerely,
Golden Hero, aka Brainy.
Arnold read Brainy's E-mail with amazement. Brainy! A guy who was just…there, always- for years and years- on the edge of every group, listening, never saying a word. Brainy, possibly the weirdest kid in a class full of weird kids, the guy who just …breathes. Arnold realized with a shock that not only did he not know anything about Brainy- but he had never even wondered.
The poor guy. He must be really desperate, Arnold realized, to reach out to me like this.
To: GoldenHero
From: ZenBoy
Subject: Re: A Huge Favor
Dear Brainy,
I'm sorry, but I really don't see what I can do. You have ot meet your dram girl in person, that's all there is to it. Good luck.
Brainy read Arnold's E-mail and decided to take another approach.
To: ZenBoy
From: GoldenHero
Subject: Re: Re: A Huge Favor
Thank you so much, Arnold, for agreeing to meet her! I knew you'd come through! It'll be great!
My gratitude is deathless,
Brainy
To: GoldenHero
From: ZenBoy
Subject: Re: Re: Re: A Huge Favor
Wait a second, Brainy. I can't meet anyone for you. You don't understand…..
To: ZenBoy
From: GoldenHero
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Huge Favor
But, ARNOLD! You must! If I have to meet her in person, face-to-face, all alone- I'LL DIE! Please!
That Saturday Helga was forty-five minute early for her meeting with Golden Hero. She stood at the corner of Ninth Street and Washington, anxiously checking the clock in the window of the watch repair shop across the street, agonizing over both how slowly and how fast it moved. She was so excited and nervous about her big moment of truth with Arnold.
Suddenly she had a horrible thought: What if….oh, my gosh!….What if Golden Hero isn't Arnold? Helga froze in place, stricken. Then she shook her head and though: Impossible. Who else would it be? It must be him. It MUST be…
Suddenly a movement on the far end of the block caught her eye. It was him. Arnold was heading her way.
When Arnold saw Helga he hesitated, then looked around. "Helga is Brainy's secret love?" he said to himself. He couldn't believe it. "Oh man. Poor Brainy."
Helga beamed at Arnold as he came walking up. "Oh, how I have hoped and prayed for this moment!" she cried. "This is the best day of my life, thanks to you, Arnold! Oh, how do I tell thee? How do I convey the depth of my lo-"
Then she stopped. Arnold was no longer looking at her. Instead, he was looking at something behind her. That's when Helga heard the sound over her right shoulder. It was a familiar sound, a wheezing, rasping, breathing sound. Helga scowled and delivered her usual reflexive back-punch, which landed perfectly as always. Then she smiled at Arnold- "Where was I? Oh, yeah-"
But Arnold interrupted. "Helga, you're here to meet Golden Hero, right?"
"Oh, yes!" Helga breathed, leaning closer to Arnold. "Speaking of Golden Hero, where's your red rose?" she asked coyly.
Arnold pointed at the sidewalk behind her.
Helga turned to look. There at her feet lay Brainy, clutching a single red rose.
Helga screamed, then whirled on Arnold. "Is this your idea of a JOKE?" She shook her fist in his face. "Well, I hope you got a big kick out of it…." Tears welled up in her eyes. "You sure got me good, football head!" She shoved Arnold out of her way and ran off down the street.
Arnold watched her go. Then he turned to help Brainy up.
But Brainy was already gone. All that remained was the red rose, crushed on the pavement at Arnold's feet.
To: RonnieNumberOneFan
From: Helgoth
Subject: Sorry
Dear Phoebe,
Please forgive me for being so mean. I know you are, were, and always will be my true friend. I'm sorry for getting all mad about nothing. And boy, was it. I have been cruelly disappointed. Golden hero is no hero, Phoebe. He's hardly even human, and my tender heart has been knocked flat by the entire horrible experience.
So, enough of this E-mail stuff. Can you come over ASAP?
"Watch it!" Helga yelled as she rounded the corner, crashing into him.
"Helga," Arnold said, picking himself up off the sidewalk.
"Keep your eye on the road, football head!" She snarled, dusting herself off.
"Look, Helga, I'm glad we, uh, ran into each other. I wanted to talk to you."
"About what? New ways to humiliate me?"
"Helga- I want to apologize for that whole thing. It really wasn't meant to hurt you. I'm really sorry that you were disappointed about who Golden Hero turned out to be."
"Just forget about it, okay?" she snapped, then sighed. Her expression softened. "Look…I guess you weren't setting me up. Let's pretend the whole thing never happened."
"Sure, Helga. I'll never mention a word of it to anyone."
Helga looked relieved. She even smiled a little as she turned to go. "Good."
"Helga?"
"What?"
"I just want to say- I know how it feels to be disappointed like that."
Helga blinked at Arnold, surprised. "You do?"
"Yeah. I feel really dumb because I hoped someone liked me who didn't even know I existed. Look, I'm sorry Golden Hero wasn't who you wanted to be. I just hope that whoever the guy is- the one you wished Golden Hero was- well, I hope he does find you someday. You deserve it."
Helga was so touched, she nearly swooned. Then she quickly recovered , put her hands on her hips, and snorted sarcastically. "Yeah, maybe someday. In his dreams!" And with that she tore off down the street.
When she turned the corner, Helga paused and looked around to make sure she alone. Then she jumped for joy. "Oh, Arnold, my golden hero!" she cried.
It was strange that once Brainy got home after hours of just wandering the streets feeling heartbroken and lost, he found an email waiting for him. It turned out to be from a girl he'd never met or heard about before, and she wanted to be pen pals with him. Though he liked the idea of having someone to talk to, he didn't feel like he could communicate all that well while he felt so torn up over his failed meeting with Helga. He would try though. He wrote her an email back.
To: MensaMiss
From: GoldenHero
Subject: Re: Greetings
Dear Siobhan,
Thank you for your kind E-mail. My heart is a tattered shipwreck drifting amongst the broken chips of my soul's ocean of love. So I might not be the greatest correspondent right now. But if you can be patient and permit me to wallow in longing for HER, then yes, I think we could be excellent E-mail pals.
Sincerely,
Brainy
P.S. I love poetry, but I'm allergic to cats.
It seemed fair that he'd made a friend out of all this heartbreak, but he couldn't think that what he did made sense. Did Helga fall in love with his words? Or was mistaking his email for that of her love's the selling point that made her think she was in love? He couldn't see the truth in any event. He held only half of the story and he knew there was now no way he'd be able to ask for the other.
END FLASHBACK
It seemed that no matter what happened, he always came back to her. His undying love for her was eternal.
He used painstaking restraint in his message. He simply advised her not to go to the dance, and with minimal details told her of Daimin's plot. He signed it Brain, hoping she didn't connect it too readily with him and that the name would just add some credibility to the seemingly hectic message. He hoped that she'd heed his warning.
He paused in delivering the message. Gazing at it one final time, he added one last post script-
"I'm so sorry, but I love you".
Those words never make its way into Helga's hands. All that remained was the scrap of paper it was ripped hastily from, leaving jagged edges and creases where the hands who wrote them tore it.
A/N: Well, I hope this chapter makes more sense to you about Brainy's character and his relationship with Helga. The next chapter will be a major turning point in this story and I'm pretty excited about it. I'll write as soon as possible, so continuing reading and reviewing!