Chapter 13

Can I walk you home?

"Wow," someone said with disbelief.

"Go, Arnold!" all the fourth graders cheered, once getting over the initial shock.

"Oh, my gosh," Helga thought to herself over and over again. "Arnold saved me. Oh, my gosh."

"Helga, are you okay?" Arnold asked, kneeling beside her, totally oblivious to the cheering, or the fact that he had just knocked out the biggest kid in school. For now his thoughts were only of her. "Are you okay?" he asked again.

She stared up at him and smiled weakly. "I'm okay."

"Wow, Arnold! That was amazing!"

All the fourth graders crowded around them.

"That was so cool!"

"It was unbelievable!"

"How'd you do it?"

"Why'd you do it?"

Arnold starred up at Gerald, who had said this last comment.

"Why should you care why I did it?"

"Maybe Wolfgang was right. Maybe Arnold likes her likes her," Sid said.

"Arnold and Helga sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Harold immediately started singing.

"Don't be ridiculous," Gerald said. "No friend of mine would ever like like her. Right, Arnold?"

Everyone fell silent, listening intently to what Arnold had to say, especially Helga.

"You know what, Gerald? I don't like her like her, but even if I did, you shouldn't be asking me to choose between the two of you, and you shouldn't interfere. Because if I had to choose, it wouldn't be you."

"Oooh."

"Dis."

"You know what your problem is, Arnold? You're too caught up in your glorious moment to realize what's important to you. Come on, everybody. Let's leave him alone so he can get back to reality."

Everyone slowly walked off, talking excitedly amongst themselves.

"What jerks," Arnold said quietly.

"Thanks."

"Oh, it was nothing," Arnold said, turning to face Helga.

"It was something though. That guy could've killed me. You risked your life to save me."

"I didn't really 'risk my life'." The most he could have done was…well, maybe you're right."

"But why'd you do it? I mean, I didn't do anything to deserve it. And he didn't do anything to make you mad."

"I just…didn't want to see you get hurt. I mean, I know that we haven't really ever gotten along before, but you never really did anything that bad. Besides, it was an accident, and you apologized. He had nothing to hold against you. Plus, you're a girl."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"Guys just shouldn't do stuff like that to girls. It's not polite."

"Obviously no one ever taught him any manners," she said, struggling to sit up.

"Here, let me help you," he said quickly, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"You don't need to help me, I'm fine. Well…at least, I would have been a lot worse," she said, glancing over at Wolfgang, who was still out cold on the ground. "You think you'll get in trouble for doing that to him?"

"No one has to know."

"It'll get out. No one is good at keeping secrets, Arnold."

"Well, if I do, I don't care. I did what I had to do, and that's all that matters."

"But that's just it! You didn't have to do anything! Frankly, I thought you'd enjoy seeing me get beaten to a pulp. And what about Lila? She got it bad too, and you didn't even notice. I thought you liked her liked her."

"How'd you know?"

"Like I said, no one is good at keeping secrets."

"Oh. Well…I don't know why I didn't care. You were just…different."

"Different?" she asked.

"I wish he'd start making sense. The suspense is killing me!" she thought to herself.

"Yeah, just different. Hey, Helga, could I maybe walk you home? I mean, you're still pretty hurt, and you might need help."

"W-walk me home?" she exclaimed, fainting inside.

"I can't seem so excited!" she thought to herself.

"I-I mean, I'm sure I can make it by myself," she said, standing up. She immediately was overcome by dizziness and fell forward, right into Arnold's outstretched arms. "Actually, football head, maybe I'll take you up on your offer," she said, staring into his eyes. "If it's not too much trouble."

"Not at all."

"Kiss me, you idiot!" she thought desperately, "Just kiss me! You're only, like, an inch from me! Kiss me!"

"Come on. Let's go."

"Arnold. I love you, but you can be really dense," she sighed to herself.

"Can you walk?"

"Um…a little," she said, taking a few steps and almost falling again.

"Lean on me," he said, putting his arm around her waist and lifting her left arm and putting it around his shoulder. "Now just go slow, and we'll make it," he said, as they started to walk out of the field and down the street.

"Pinch me, I'm dreaming," she thought to herself. "This is too good to be true. Arnold is actually worried about me! And he actually risked his wonderful existence for me! And, good grief, does his hair smell good. I wonder what shampoo he uses?"

"Okay, Helga, here we are," Arnold said, when they had walked to her house.

"It was over to soon," she sadly thought to herself.

"Well…thanks, football head. You really saved the day. I…I don't know how I could thank you enough."

"It really wasn't anything," he said, smiling at her.

She was about to go inside, when she stopped. "And, Arnold?"

"Yeah?"

"Um…if anyone asks…none of this ever happened."

"Well, everyone saw the fight-"

No, not that…"

"What? That I walked you home?"

She nodded.

"I only did that to make sure you were okay."

"Oh, I know…but they don't. I just don't want anyone getting the wrong idea. I mean…I still have a reputation."

He laughed. "Alright, Helga, if it means that much to you, I won't tell anyone."

"Good."

"Well…I guess I better get going then."

"Yeah."

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, smiling at her.

"Yeah. See ya," she said, smiling a little, before hurrying inside and closing to door.

"Only Helga," he thought, as he walked down the street towards his house.