"Stupid glasses. Where are they?"

The cold pavement kept scratching her knees as she felt almost blind without them. Her black hair was tickling her face. "I have to get to Helga. She needs to know why Arnold's been weird. She's already worried sick about him." Though her best friend had some idea of why her true love was acting odd, she only wanted the reassurance that he would be fine. "I almost kind of wish that she didn't have to suddenly see Dr. Bliss today because I know it probably won't go well."

As Helga's sessions with Dr. Bliss went on from fourth grade, she started to slowly open up with Phoebe. It was still a work in progress, but their friendship was improving. However, since her psychologist had to go out of town, she had informed Principal Wartz to tell Helga and her parents that she would have to come home later that day. Normally her best friend would ask to reschedule, but it wasn't a normal day for Helga and Phoebe was more than willing to help.

The Asian American girl had waited outside of Principal Wartz's office waiting for the blonde to step back out. Apparently he had called her in for "a brief moment", but it seemed to last the remainder of lunch period. The girls hadn't eaten since Helga was too flustered about what happened in the cafeteria. It wasn't that she hated complimenting Arnold; however it was hard on her with other people around.

Phoebe could relate. Sure she wasn't mean to Gerald to cover her own emotions, but there were brief moments that they shared that she wished that she could compliment him alone. She was calmer about it and treated it as a friendly gesture more than a little romantic one.

So she spent the remainder of lunch attempting to cool down Helga about the situation. They were about five minutes down the hall from Mr. Simmon's room. And then a middle aged, slightly bald man with spectacles leaned outside a door they were passing. Lowering his glasses, he asked "Ms. Pataki, can you please see me in my office. It's only for a couple of minutes."

The two students turned to him, and then pink turned to blue in confusion.

Whispering to her friend, "Helga, did you do anything that might have angered him?"

She shrugged, "I don't think so. All I did was shot spitballs at the Football Head, but that's nothing new."

Phoebe's mouth dropped. "You did that on his birthday? Why?"

The blonde's unibrow creased with tension and snapped a little with a small growl. Rubbing her forehead with her right hand and balancing her books with the other, her eyes shut. "Well I wouldn't have done that on his birthday Pheebs. Crimeny, I mean I knew his birthday was on the seventh"-

"Ms. Pataki."

"Hold it Principal Wartz; I'll be in a minute," he stared at her suspiciously, "I will. Just let me tell Phoebe something."Looking back at her best friend Helga replied, "But I didn't know which month. I'll be back in a minute. Do you mind waiting out here?"

The black haired girl nodded with a smile. "Sure Helga. And I'm sorry about accusing you of doing such things. I know you wouldn't do it had you known what day it was."As the other student walked down to the office, she grinned as well. "Don't sweat it Pheebs. It's ok. I'll be out soon."

But soon couldn't come fast enough. She was sitting there waiting for about ten minutes before the sound of a door clicking itself open and closed. Emerged was a distressed young kid who obviously did not have a good meeting with the principal. Her friend stood up clutching her books tightly around her chest. Helga looked at Phoebe, muttering about something involving going into the janitor's closet.

"But Helga we have class soon."

Once she noticed how the blonde was staring at her with what looked like guilt, her blue eyes were desperate."Please Phoebe, this really is important." Before she could respond, Helga had started pulling her hand gently trying to convince her to go.

"Sure."

Fortunately, the closet was only three doors down the hallway and in the direction of their classroom. So if they were running late, it wouldn't take them long to get back. Grasping the door knob, it felt like Phoebe was shoved in as her friend blocked the entrance with a filled mop bucket and a Wet Sign. She pulled the string while Helga did this so they could actually see each other.

Helga was pacing in circles in the small room as Phoebe sat on her "desk", since Helga sometimes referred it to as her office. She didn't say anything because knowing the whole story first was the key in order to help her think of possible solutions.

"You see, here's the thing. You know how I'm worried about ice cream, I mean…Arnold. Yeah of course you do. You always knew. Anyway, you also know that I don't mean to spy on him. Typically it is just to get my stuff like my locket or that parrot. I was actually going to spy on him," Phoebe gave her a look, "BUT it wasn't for the fun. I think I know why Arnold is so down today. And I just wanted to be sure that he will be okay. That's all."

"Well what's the problem with that. I think it is very considerate of you that you care so much. But may I ask what your reasoning for his apparent sadness is?" She had to admit she was curious. Arnold was always a positive classmate and open to others. Seeing him just as defensive as Helga about his life was not normal.

The girl turned to the other on the desk. "Because when we all left him and tall hair boy at the boarding house, I stayed behind for a few minutes. I wanted to know what was wrong, so I overheard them behind a car and he said it was the anniversary of the day he last saw his parents."

To say the least Phoebe was shocked. "Oh my, no wonder why he doesn't want to celebrate. It reminds him that they are not there, especially since his birthday is only two days after."

Helga nodded. Then she continued pacing for a minute. "But I can't spy on him. It has to be today because he may try to cover it up more tomorrow that he is sad," the blonde stopped and put her hands on Phoebe's shoulders looking straight into her eyes, "Wartz told me that Dr. Bliss wanted to see me after school today because she was going out of town tomorrow. So we had to call Miriam, and you know how long that takes." The Asian American girl nodded. "So I can't follow him home. And since I'm trying to be a better friend,"-

The lunch bell rang and footsteps were running rampant outside, mostly the students trying to get to class.

"I was wondering if you wouldn't mind doing it for me. And please, if you think there is anything I can do to help without the Football Head knowing about it. Think of it as like," she put a finger to her mouth in thought, "the time I helped find that boarder's daughter. Remember?" Once again Phoebe nodded.

She didn't even need to think about it. Her best friend's love for Arnold was clearer than ever. "Of course Helga, it's no problem."

That was what led her to hiding behind the garbage can. She didn't realize even that she would have all the answers that Helga needed before either of the boys left the school. Arnold's story was sad. But it gave Phoebe new hope that her friend would figure out a plan. To her, those two had something in common all right – their will and determination to get their tasks done. It might not always be school related like she was into, but it represented the goals each of them had.

It was easier to hide because she was significantly smaller than Helga, so she could use a pencil and paper over her book to write down notes – about everything. If she was going to help as well as the girl who loved Arnold, then they both had to know every detail. Anything might be a clue.

Unfortunately, a squirrel wandered behind her as the boys were leaving and ran into the trash can because there were a few left over peanuts. It surprised the "replacement spy" and she fell over while her glasses fell to the ground.

So she spent a few minutes trying to find it. It was difficult though with all of the twigs and other random pieces of litter along with the cement rubbing her joints and fingers harshly.

Fortunately, and somewhat disturbing, someone tapped her shoulder. Phoebe screamed in fear, fell on her stomach and crawled away. Unable to see, there was no way she could navigate herself out of this on. Turning on her back, she curled into a ball and lifted her arms up to protect herself.

"Please don't hurt me! Please! Please!"

"Calm down ever so much Phoebe. It's only me."

Recognizing the voice, the girl lowered her arms. "Lila," she tried to look up, "is that you?"

Lila put Phoebe's glasses on. Feeling the frame behind her ears again she smiled. Lifting her up, she stumbled but was able to stand up right after adjusting her view. "Thanks Lila. I'm sorry, I had no idea it was you. What are you doing here?"

The red head smiled too, handing the other girl her possessions. "Well, I forgot my math book. I thought that if I got here before the janitor left I could ever so make it to my locker. What about you? And why were you behind a garbage can?"

Phoebe was surprised. "Helga didn't give me an excuse to use in case someone asked me about it. Oh boy, this isn't good."

The sad part was that she was also a horrible liar. Ever since Arnold found out about her fake cast and the whole "little problem" situation last year, her ability to lie became worse and worse.

She stammered. "Well I was...I was just walking by and I tripped over because of my shoe lace. Yeah that's what happened." Hoping it was a believable lie, maybe Lila would just say ok. She really had to talk to Helga after knowing all of this information.

But the country girl shook her head. "I'm pretty sure I ever so sure that isn't what happened. I saw you writing some of those notes before that squirrel scared you. What I don't understand though is why you would sit there of all places."

Backing away, Phoebe retorted, "Um, I was, oh boy." Her head fell with disappointment at herself for failing miserably with something that she promised Helga she would complete. Lila walked up and put a hand on her shoulder again, making the girl lift her gaze. "I'm sorry Phoebe if I'm being ever so rude. It's obviously something personal. But may I ask you one question?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"Why are Arnold and Helga's names on it? Are you trying to help them get together? Because if you are that is just ever so sweet," she continued on, "I've been waiting ever so long for that to happen!" Phoebe's eyes went wide. Lila knew about Helga's feelings for Arnold?

"Actually," her head hung over wishing the same, "I'm doing Helga a favor. But how did you find out?"

"About her feelings you mean?" The shorter girl nodded, somewhat grinning sheepishly. But Lila just kept smiling, "Well I already had an idea with how much attention she gave Arnold. She gives more to him than anyone else. But she told me when I got your understudy of Juliet in the play last year. I had to ever so ask if it had to do with him. At first she denied it, but eventually she admitted it and I gave her the role."

"So you've known that long? Well I guess that's why she used my fear of stage fright on me to become stage manager instead. She wanted to kiss Arnold." Phoebe giggled at the thought. Sure she had reason to be mad at Helga. But it would have been way too weird for her to be the one kissing the boy.

"Well I'm ever so certain that she didn't want to upset you Phoebe. It was probably the only way she could ever get a kiss from him." Lila sighed romantically with a tear in her eye. "That kiss was so sweet, and long." She laughed at the other girl arched an eye. "Are you ok Lila?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," she slowed down a little to breath, "I was just thinking of how long Helga made that kiss last." Phoebe tightened her hold of her books, shivering from a gust of wind. However she didn't mind as she laughed along for a couple seconds in agreement. Once the girls calmed and took time to return to their normal voices, Lila chose to return to the subject.

"Can I still ever so ask why their names on the paper? I promise I won't say anything. I made it when Helga told me to. So I'm sure she won't mind." She rubbed her arms as the wind as well was nipping at her dark haired girl looked to her. She trusted Lila, but Arnold liked her. Ever since, Helga has had it against the country girl. "Then again, she knows of Helga's feelings. Helga must trust Lila a little bit."

"But what about Arnold? Doesn't he still like you?"

"Of course, but only as a friend now. After I told him that I wasn't interested after the whole thing with Gerald's sister. You know, how Arnold used her to get to me," she continued, "Anyway, he came to me the next day and said that he fully accepted how I felt and would stop trying. He even gave me Arnie's number as proof."Lila pulled a piece of crumpled paper with some writing and numbers on it. "So ever since, he hasn't done anything. So we are just friends."

Finally! Phoebe and Lila both couldn't stop smiling. Helga finally had a better chance of getting to be with Arnold! She pulled Lila down the road along with her, jumping ever so often. "Phoebe, where are you taking me?" the country girl shouted, "I have to get my math book!"

"You can borrow mine! I already did the homework! And we're going to Helga's house!" the other girl responded. The excitement in her was about to burst. In her eyes this was the second greatest thing ever in her life – the first being Gerald.

"Even so, Helga will be so excited. If she can figure out a way to help Arnold and he doesn't have feelings for another girl, maybe she will finally become the girl he loves."

"Why?" Lila was losing breath again and getting stopped suddenly by Phoebe's feet as she turned to Lila. "Because when Helga finds out that she has nothing to worry about with you and Arnold, I can tell you both what I found out when I was doing her the favor I mentioned earlier."

The grin on her face couldn't be removed.