Chapter 69

Revelation

Arnold's first thought was of Lila. He felt guilty about it, but if it could only be one, then it was going to be the one he liked most. And that was definitely Lila.

He took a step toward Lila, but something made him turn and look back at Helga. She looked scared to death, and who wouldn't?

"But why would I choose her?" he thought. "She's treated me awful her whole life! And even if she loves me, Lila's been so much nicer to me! I mean, Helga's done nothing, and Lila's…" He had to stop at that. "Well, she's…for one thing she…um…" But try as he might, he couldn't think of one solitary nice thing that she had ever done for him. The only thing he could think of was her saying over and over again 'I don't like you like you, I just like you. I don't like you like you, I just like you'.

"Okay, yeah, but it's not like Helga's ever done anything for me either. Well…I guess there was that time she found my hat. And the time that she helped me overthrow the Jolly Olly Man. And when she went with me to that haunted train station. And when she stopped Harold from killing me." Once he got started, he found that he couldn't stop. "She helped me get Gerald Field back from the adults and from Wolfgang. She was nice to me the whole time when we went camping. She lost on purpose so I could win the spelling bee, and she lost the place of class president for me, even if I didn't end up winning. She helped with that one trick when I did that magic show, and I guess she somehow got Mr. Hyun's daughter back for me. She went against her dad to help me save Mighty Pete, and then she jumped into my arms…" He blushed slightly at this, but was it because of her or the fire?

"Wow. Maybe I was wrong. She has done a lot. But Lila has to have done something."

"I don't like you like you, I just like you," a little voice in the back of his head taunted him.

"Oh, shut up. Okay, so maybe Lila hasn't done much of anything, but Helga couldn't have done that much more. Well, I guess she did save my life when we had to spend twenty-four hours together in that green house, and it flooded. And when I needed money for that parade float and for the skateboard ramp, she got her dad to donate it. And when she thought she was about to die she was really nice to me. I think she would have told me everything right then, if Phoebe hadn't interrupted. That was before I even liked Lila, wasn't it? I wonder what would have happened if Helga had told me. I guess Lila sort of ruined everything for her… But even when Lila dumped me she was understanding. She even tried to get me and Lila back together, even if she did have us pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend. And on then on Thanksgiving she spent the whole day with me and didn't once do anything mean. And then…of course, there was that whole Romeo and Juliet play." The fire was growing stronger, but he barley even noticed. "Our first kiss," he thought absentmindedly.

I don't like you like you, I just like you.

"She invited me to dinner that one time," Arnold continued, trying to ignore the voice. "She was really nice to me towards the end of that egg project. She tried to apologize for everything her dad said during that parent's day tournament, even if I was a jerk and wouldn't listen. She always seems to follow my advice, even if she doesn't think it's any good. She was especially nice when she had amnesia, and when she was back to normal and found out that it was my fault, she didn't even get mad. And then, of course, there was spring break. She had been trying to help me that entire time, but I didn't even give her a chance. Well, at least it all worked out in the end. We even got to go on that Babewatch thing. Even if she did end up kissing me…"

Lila looked up at Arnold for the umpteenth time, wondering what the heck was taking him so long. "Why hasn't he saved me already?" she thought worriedly. "And why does he keep looking at Helga? He couldn't…no! Of course not. I'm ever so sure he'll choose me. I mean, what on earth has she ever done for him?"

"And when she tried to break away," Arnold thought in amazement, "I didn't let her. Why on earth did I do that? Maybe I was just too caught up in the heat of the moment, or maybe I was just trying to be professional, or maybe…maybe I didn't want it to end." He quickly shook his head. "The smoke must be getting to me. I've got to get out of here! But…who should I take? I mean, I like Helga, but I love Lila. Don't I? I mean, why else would I hang out with Helga the entire time we were at Rhonda's costume party, when she had dressed up as Lila? Okay, so maybe she didn't act much like Lila, except for saying 'ever so' all the time, so I guess I liked her just for being…herself. Besides, it's annoying how Lila is constantly saying 'ever so'."

I don't like you like you, I just like you.

"'Ever so'. What's that even mean? Why doesn't she just say 'very' like everyone else? Why does the always feel like she has to be different?"

I don't like you like you, I just like you.

"And not only different, perfect. Why is she always so faultless? Doesn't she know that people make mistakes? No one can be that perfect all the time, not even her! Why does she pretend?"

I don't like you like you, I just like you.

"It's not like she acts perfect to help anyone. If anything, the opposite. She's more fashionable than Rhonda, smarter than Phoebe; she's everything that everyone wants to be! But she doesn't keep it to herself; she has to go around flaunting it in other people's faces. It's like she lives off their jealousy."

I don't like you like you, I just like you.

"Why did she never give me the time of day? If she would have just said 'Stop' I would understand. But she didn't; she allowed me to continue showering her with affection, attending to her every will and need, treating me like her slave! Was I worth anything to her other than a servant?"

I don't like you like you, I just like you.

"Or even worse, she'd play at love. Telling me one thing and then going back on her word. Giving me hope and then snatching it away. Always trying to make me miserable. Did she not know how much I loved her? Did she not care? Was she too preoccupied with herself to notice that I even exist?"

I don't like you like you, I just like you.

I don't like you like you, I just like you.

I don't like you like you, I just like you.

"Lila's nothing but a selfish brat, isn't she?" Arnold thought, realization finally dawning on him. "I can't believe myself! Why didn't I listen to Helga? Lila is worse than Ruth and Summer put together! My whole life I've been chasing the wrong type of girl! Summer was just trying to use me, Lila was trying to manipulate me, and Ruth didn't even know who I was! I can't believe I kept switching back and forth between her and Cecile…I mean, Helga." He stopped at how ironic it all was. "Doesn't it figure that the only girl who's ever truly been nice to me in my entire life is my arch nemesis? I mean…I loved Cecile. I still do. But Helga is Cecile, so does that mean…no! It can't be!"

He suddenly thought back to a conversation he had had with Gerald before any of this had ever happened.

"And Cecile?"

"Well…let's just say…"

"Lila's got competition?"

"You don't get it, Gerald! There wouldn't be a competition! Cecile was the most beautiful, funny, nice, caring girl I've ever met in my entire life! I'd give up Lila in a heartbeat over her!"

"Then what the heck am I doing?!" he thought. "Helga loves me, I love Cecile, and Helga is Cecile!" It suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks. "How could I have been so stupid?!" he scolded himself. "It's so obvious! I love Helga! I always have! Before I even knew that she was Cecil I loved her! I've loved her ever since the first day of preschool, when I first laid eyes on her! I was just afraid to show it to myself or anyone else! Well, not anymore!"