Chapter 49

Sitting in a tree…

The sun shone brightly through the trees. A gentle breeze blew through the forest. A bird chirped loudly, its shrill call breaking the still air. Arnold and Helga opened their eyes at the same time.

"Good morning, Helga," Arnold said sleepily.

"What's so good about it?" she snapped back. Suddenly she cried out in surprise. She was in Arnold's arms. Any passerby would have thought that they were in a heated embrace. His arms were draped around her shoulders, and her head was resting on his chest.

Helga closed her eyes tightly and then opened them again, but it was no dream.

"Arnold, what the heck is going on here?!"

"What?" he asked, still half asleep.

"What in the name of criminy are you doing?!"
"Trying to wake up."

Helga lifted her head and stared at him in shock. "Is that all you've got to say for yourself?!"

"What are you talking about?" Arnold asked. He opened his eyes all the way.

"Whoa. Okay, that's what she's talking about," he thought. "What is going on?"

"Well?" Helga asked impatiently.

"I've never been this close to a girl before," Arnold thought in half amazement, half shock. "So, why am I? And with Helga of all people? What the heck am I doing?"

"Are you just gonna stare at me all day?"

"What? No, I…"

"Aren't you gonna say something?"

"I don't know what to say."

"How about an explanation?"

"Well…I'd give you one…if I had one," Arnold said hesitantly.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"That I'm just as surprised as you are?" he asked uncertainly, not knowing what her reaction would be.

Helga stared at him, stunned. "You mean, you have no idea why we're…like this?"

"Not unless you do."

"Hey, don't look at me! I didn't have anything to do with it!"

"At least, I don't think I did," she thought worriedly. "I thought I just fell asleep! I don't remember any of this happening…but I'm sure glad it did!"

"This is just too weird," Arnold said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Yeah." She nervously laughed. "I-it's crazy."

"Right. Crazy."

"What am I supposed to do now?" Arnold thought. "Someone should write a book, 'How to Get Out of Awkward Situations with Girls'."

"Why is he just staring at me? Why doesn't he say anything?"

"Why is she just staring at me? Why doesn't she say anything?"

Helga was strongly aware that Arnold's arms were still around her. She knew that all he had to do was give some kind of signal, and she would throw herself at him unmercifully.

"Keep it together!" she thought to herself. "You can't let your emotions get the better of you!"

"She looks so worried. Well, I guess I am too. At least this is better than having her yelling at me. But still…"

"Why the heck won't he say anything?! Gosh, he looks good. Oh, man, what I wouldn't give for us to stay like this forever…"

"Man, what I wouldn't give for this to be over!"

"I can't stand looking into his eyes much longer! I swear, I'll just die! How is it even possible that mere mortal eyes can be so beautiful?"

"I can't stand looking into her eyes much longer! They're too mesmerizing…"

"If something doesn't happen-"

"-in the next ten seconds-"

"-I swear-"

"-I'm going-"

"-to-"

Arnold shifted slightly, trying to give Helga the message that she should get off of him. It didn't exactly work that way. He momentarily lost his balance and in the panic of almost falling off the branch, grabbed Helga's shoulder.

"Oh, no. Now I'm gonna get it." He waited for her fist to come in contact with his stomach, but it never did. He looked at her cautiously. She was staring at him, just as before, only now she looked much more shocked.

"Um…Helga?" he finally spoke.

"Hmm?"

The sunlight played in the leafs, sending queer little patches of golden shapes all over the forest. Everything seemed so magical, so beautiful. Suddenly Arnold felt the irresistible urge to…do something…he wasn't sure what…

"Kiss me," Helga thought, almost deliriously, "Please, just kiss me."

The sunlight continued to dance among them.

The breeze did nothing to lessen the stifling heat.

Everything was silent.

Everything was waiting.

The desire was too strong.

The temptation was unbearable…

"We should, um, probably get going."

"Get going?"

"Yeah. Like, back to the beach."

"Beach?" What was he talking about?

"Yeah, the beach!" Now that he had her attention, he wasn't about to let the opportunity to get out of this mess slip away. "Come on, let's go."

Helga shook her head. "Oh, right, the beach." Had her imagination taken over? Or had it really happened…well, what did it matter now? The moment was ruined. "And you better not let anything like this ever happen again, got it? Sheesh, quit getting all mushy with me."

"Whatever you say, Helga."

They slid down the trunk of the tree and started to walk aimlessly through the jungle. What happened was still fresh in their minds, but they both knew it was better to just forget about it.