I'm so caught up in all the firefighter drama in my other story I sometimes tend to forget this story even exists... I'm sorry about it and enjoy yet another short chapter. Longer chapters should come in due time.

After Arnold had walked away from his raven-haired girlfriend, it didn't take long for him to find the person who practically haunts him.

"What do you want, Arnoldo!" Helga mocked him.

Arnold only sighed with a frustrated expression. "I just came here to talk, I'm not in the mood." He said.

Helga's face immediately lit up. "Y- You want to talk? Wi- With me?"

"Yes, and it's really important for me."

"Well, say less and just say what you need!" Helga replied, thinking it was what she was thinking.

Arnold took a deep breath and sighed. "I know you have a history of messing up my dates, and practically every chance I've ever had of having a girlfriend, but that ends now." Helga stared blankly. "You've been such a thorn in my side for so long, but I'm standing for it anymore. I'm making a deal here."

Helga snorted and crossed her arms. "Well, what's your stupid little deal? A pinch to my arm?"

Arnold rolled his eyes, not having it. "No. If you even remotely try to interfere with my chance of impressing Rhonda, you can forget of ever even knowing me." He sternly said.

"What? You're not going to talk to me until your anger passes?"

"Will you clean out your ears and listen?!" Arnold snapped. "If you even try to get near us, you can just forget about me. And you and I both know that's not a risk worth running, is it?" Arnold gave a slight mean look.

"It's not like we're friends-"

Arnold cut her off. "Yeah. You're right. We were never friends, only classmates who barely talk to one another. But I'm still serious about this."

Helga exhaled through her nose. "Fine. I don't even like being near you, every time I'm near you-"

Arnold cut her off again. "Every time I'm near you, I feel like I need to shower from how horrible you are." He rolled his eyes.

"Fine! I'll stay away from you and your dumb relationship! Like I have any business being near you!" Helga started to stomp away.

"Careful on breaking the floor with your stomping." Arnold turned around and started walking away.

Arnold then looked up and saw a clock. "That was pretty quick. I should have some time for recess."

Meanwhile

At the boarding house, Miles and Stella were still settling in after being gone for years. They had to find a job, but they weren't exactly sure what.

Currently in the kitchen, while Miles flipped through a newspaper, Stella was dusting off the kitchen counters and drawers.

"Anything, hun?" Stella asked. Miles didn't answer as he looked through another page.

"… Uh… No. No, nothing." He shook his head and soon looked at Stella.

She only sighed and turned around. "There has to be something we can find!"

Miles then suggested, "Have you tried being a doctor?" Stella blinked twice blankly. "Miles, you and I both know that would take YEARS for me to complete med school. And then what? Work 48 hours and barely see you and my son? No way!" She then crossed her arms.

Miles tried to think of something. "Well… I- As far as I'm concerned, we'll need to find a job soon, we can't sit around the house either."

Stella snapped. "Don't you think I know that!?" She then put a hand on her forehead and sighed. "I'm sorry but… I know we need to find a job, but the thing is, what job would hire people like us? We've been gone for years, we're just now returning to society, practically, and there's almost no job for safari explorers like us."

"Well, you have a point there, hun…" Miles put down the newspaper.

While Stella was leaning against a counter with her arms crossed, and Miles with his arms crossed too, they genuinely had no idea what job they could get.

"For the record, no way in hell you're seeing me as a kindergarten teacher. Just saying." Stella blurted out, motioning no. Miles only chuckled.

Back at P.S.118, while everyone was mainly goofing around with one another, while Arnold had a strong desire to see his raven-haired love, he was next to the fence and looking off into the distance.

He then decided to sit down, his knees at chest level as he just looked off in the distance.

Soon, Gerald came over. "Hey. You alright? You haven't gone to see anyone." Gerald decided to sit next to him.

Arnold sighed. "I guess I just needed to take a bit of a breather." He lightly shrugged.

Gerald lightly nodded, understanding him as he also looked off into the distance. "Probably not the best view but it's better than nothing." He shrugged.

"I guess I feel more or less anxious to go home and see my parents. I mean, Gerald, I waited years to see my parents! And now that they're finally home… I- I guess it still feels surreal to me." Arnold replied while looking around. "I never knew how love from a Mom is, and I never knew how a Dad can be, and I finally have that chance to finally be with my parents and be a family for once!"

Gerald gave a warm smile as he rubbed his back. "I'm happy for you, man. Really. I'm real happy for you, Arnold."

Arnold also had a warm smile. "Thanks, Gerald." They fist-bumped.

While they sat together, taking a moment to enjoy life, two certain girls were discussing something else…

One of them scoffed. "I don't know what color I should paint them! I want my next date with Arnold to be an unforgettable one, but I don't know if there's anything else I can possibly think of!" Rhonda started to think.

"Just let it come to you naturally, don't force it!" Nadine suggested. "I honestly feel like if you try to force anything, it just won't turn out like you expect."

Rhonda looked over. "Yeah, I guess you're right… I- I guess I've been getting caught up in wanting to impress him when I can impress him even without doing anything…"

Nadine snickered. "Well, at least he doesn't have to see you when you're at the ice cream shop."

Rhonda raised an eyebrow. "What? What do you mean?"

Nadine's snickering dropped. "Nevermind…" She then noticed something in the corner of her eye. "Hey Rhonda. Look." Nadine pointed over at the fence.

"He was out here this whole time and didn't even say anything? Pfft." Rhonda got off the table she was sitting on and walked to Arnold.

Once she approached him, she tapped his shoulder. "Ahem?"

Gerald soon got up with a smirk. "I'll let you guys be." He started to walk away, while Rhonda sat beside Arnold.

She kissed his cheek and held his hand. "You doing alright, sweetie?"

Arnold smiled as he looked at her beautiful sparkly eyes. "I'm great now that you're here, my beautiful raven-haired princess." Arnold leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Say, Rhonda, I have a bit of a surprise for you after school." Arnold gave a warm smile.

"Oh really? Mind telling me what it's about?" She leaned over and playfully had her finger against his cheek.

Arnold chuckled. "Don't think you'll be able to get the answer and ruin the surprise." Arnold kissed her cheek.

"You're no fun…" She pouted. Arnold smiled and hugged her. "You still love me." And just like that, she rested her head against him.

Later That Day

As the day went by, school was finally out, Arnold and Rhonda were walking home together, specifically to the surprise Arnold mentioned.

"Can't I get at least a small sneak peek at what the surprise is?" Rhonda asked. Arnold only smirked and shook his head. She only pouted.

"Pout all you want, I'm still not giving you the answer. It's a surprise for a reason." Arnold leaned over to kiss her forehead.

Soon, they arrived at Arnold's boarding house.

"You ready?" Arnold smiled at her. Rhonda gave a confident and warm smile. "I'm more than ready."

Arnold kissed her cheek to reassure her. Soon, they walked inside, finding the place quiet for now.

"Huh. I thought they'd be here…" Arnold looked around after closing the door. "Who would be here other than your grandparents?" Rhonda asked.

Soon, small talk came from the kitchen.

"Ah! That must be them!" Arnold yanked Rhonda's hand, making her yelp as they ran toward the kitchen.

"Arnold!" Rhonda was about to shout at him, but she froze when she saw a semi-red-haired, semi-football-headed woman, and a tall blonde man in the kitchen.

While Arnold had a big smile on his face, Rhonda's jaw dropped in shock.