(A/N: * at the end of the sentence is reference to the comic "Helga's Heart".)
...
...
"So what do you want to talk about?" Torvald asked. He had a feeling he knew.
"What do you want to do when you graduate and leave for college?" she asked, not looking at him.
"If I get in, you mean," he said.
"You will," she told him, finally looking at him, smiling. "I mean, with us. Do you want to try to keep up a relationship, or just be friends?"
Torvald was quiet for a while. He was thinking. No, he was wishing. He wished she were eighteen and graduating, instead of sixteen and becoming a Junior. He rub his hands rapidly over his hair. What could he say?
"If I had my way, Helga, I'd marry you," he told her. "What do you want?"
"I don't know," she said honestly. "I love you, but . . . what if you meet someone else?"
"Someone else?" he asked, amused.
"Yeah, someone else," Helga said. "Someone who wont get you into trouble just by being in the same vicinity as you. I don't want you to pass up someone who could be perfect for you, because of me."
They walked on in silence for a while, before Helga spoke again.
"So how did you do on your exams?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Well, I didn't pass with flying colors," Torvald said. "But it was enough. I have a choice of three scholorships to pick from."
"Three!?" Helga cried out, surprised. "Is your first choice in there?"
He frowned and shook his head. "No. Neither is my second or third. But it doesn't matter. Three someones want me."
"Exactly," Helga told him smiling. "And Football and Wrestling are the same anywhere you go."
"Prom on Friday," he told her. "Graduation next week."
"Excited?" she asked, deciding to walk. They had taken a walk around Tina Park. Summer was on the way. You could feel it in the air. She smiled up at the sun.
"A little," he admitted. "I can't believe I'm finally graduating! I honestly never thought I would."
Helga smiled. "I can."
"Really?" he asked. She nodded. "That helped a lot. The whole time I was in there all I could think was 'Dont screw up, for her sake.'"
"Well, I'm glad I could help," she said.
They fell into silence again.
"I'm turning twenty over summer," he told her. "Your only sixteen."
"I know," she said, looking ahead of her toward a tall tree. She looked up and smiled. Once upon a time, many years ago, okay, seven, she had climbed that tree and carved a confession into it of her love for Arnold. She couldn't remember how many times she had gone up and down that tree so other people wouldn't see it. How silly she was as a child.*
She heard him sigh.
"Maybe we should just be friends," he said.
Helga bit her lip and nodded. She looked over to see the fountain she had once dived into to avoid getting stung by bees. Wow, she had lot's of memories. She hadn't gone to City Lake yet. She couldn't bring herself to go there. It had been her sister's favorite place. She knew also, that Lila hadn't been there either.
"Maybe that's for the best," she admitted.
"But we can still go to senior prom," he said. "You do have that dress."
Helga smiled.
"I can wear it to the Sophmore one," she told him, smiling. "I'm going with Lila."
"Lila? Really?" he asked, surprised. "I thought you didn't like her?"
Helga shrugged. "I don't know. She's kind of growing on me. She knew my sister, better than even Phoebe."
"So your helping her through the loss," he said.
"Yeah," Helga admitted, tears springing to her eyes. "And she's helping me."
"So no Senior Prom then?" he asked. Helga shook her head. He sighed. "The invitation is still there if you change your mind."
Helga looked up at him and smiled sadly. "I won't."
...
...
Arnold saw her standing on the bridge looking down at the stream.
"Hey, Helga," he said, coming up to her.
"Hey, Arnold," she said, looking at him and smiling. "What are you doing out this way?"
"Picking up my grandma's prescription," he explained. Helga looked at his bike.
"You going to get your drivers license this year?" she asked.
"Yeah, I can't wait," he said, excitedly. "I've been saving for the past six years for my first car. I want a decent one, you know?"
"Yeah, Olga left her's to me in her will," Helga said, making a face. "But I might trade it in or sell it or something and get myself another. I don't think I could use it."
"Fair enough," he said. "You wanna a ride home?"
"On your bike?" she asked, laughing.
"Sure, why not?" he asked. "You can sit on the handle bars, and I can ride the bike."
"Seriously?"
"Completely."
Helga thought for a moment, looking at the bike.
"Alright then."
Arnold held the bike steady as she got herself in place, then got himself sorted. The bike wobbled a bit and Helga screamed. Then Arnold evened it out, laughing.
Helga was feeling better already. When they arrived at her house she carefully got off and smoothed down her skirt, then turned to Arnold.
"That was better than any car ride," she told him laughing.
"You think?" he asked, looking at it.
"Definately," she said. "You wanna come in for a drink or something?"
Arnold looked up at the Pataki residence, uncertainly.
"Is it okay?" he asked.
"It's fine. Come on," she said, walking up the stairs and opening the door. "Mom, dad, I'm home!"
Silence greeted her.
"Huh. They must be out," she said, waving him in. He hadn't been in the house since the day he had brought her back after she had found out her sister had died. He entered the house tentatively, looking around. He noticed taht photo's had been removed. The only ones left were family ones. The ones of Olga on her own were gone. He looked towards Helga, but said nothing.
"Everyone grieves in their own way, Shortman," his grandpa had told him. "Everyone's different."
"So are you looking forward to the Senior Prom?" he asked, coming into the lounge and sitting down. He looked up as Helga came in with two soda and a bowl of chips.
"I'm not going anymore," she said quietly.
"Oh."
"We broke up," she explained. "I'm sixteen, he's turning twenty, I'm staying here in High School, he's going off to College that's not here. You know."
"Sorry," he said. Helga looked at him.
"Wanna see what's on TV? I feel like company. I don't feel like being alone right now, and I don't want to disturb Phoebe and Gerald."
"Sure, why not?" he said, leaning back. They channel surfed for a while, before settling on a show about water parks.
...
...
Sophmore Dance
Rhonda and her group had put it together, going with a Rock n Roll Fifties theme. Helga had ended up buying a new dress to match the theme more appropriately. She had kept to her word and gone with Lila. She and her boyfriend had broken up recently. Apparently she was depressing. Helga had been so angry at him. Lila wasn't depressed. She was still grieving! Lila told her he wasn't worth wasting her energy on. If he couldn't be here for her through this, it was probably best he didn't stick around.
Eventually though, she lost Lila and found Arnold. He'd danced with a couple of girls, but then danced with Helga. She didn't know how it happened, but they ended up spending the rest of the dance talking and laughing and enjoying each other's company. Then they made plans to hang out over Summer, since their best friends were both going away. Arnold's grandmother was too sick. She could tell he was worried about her.
All in all it ended well, and she had a great time.
Graduation Day
Helga, Phoebe and Gerald stood in the crowd with Torvald's mother, and waited until he was called up. When he was they stood up and clapped and cheered. Torvald's mother turned and hugged Helga.
"Thankyou, thankyou so much!" she cried, kissing her cheek, then going back to cheering for her son.
Helga smiled and hung back to give Torvald a hug herself. It had been a week now. He'd made hi choice, and was going to be leaving early. He wanted to see his family before travelling so far away. He was heading for Texas.
She wished him well, and accepted a gift from him, that he told her not to open until summer holiday's started. She could tell his mother was curious. She gave him one last hug, and said goodbye. Then made her way to Gerald's brothers car, where his brother was waiting for them.
"About time," he said.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Gerald said, as they piled into his car.
"Hey, I have things to do man," his brother informed him.
"Knocking up your wife doesn't count," Gerald retorted.
"Too much information," Helga whispered to Phoebe, who covered her mouth to keep from laughing.
...
...
"I'm going to miss you, Phoebe," Helga said, hugging her best friend tightly. "You too, Hair Boy."
"Thanks, Hel," Gerald said, giving her a one armed hug. "I better get going."
Phoebe and him shared one last kiss, and then he headed off.
"I better go too, and leave you to finish," Helga said.
"We're Junior's next year, Helga," Phoebe told her excitedly.
"Yep."
"Aren't you excited?" she inquired.
Helga thought on her new blossoming friendship with Arnold. She had been getting old feelings resurfacing. In a way she felt terrible. Only weeks ago she had been convinced she was in love with Torvald. But now . . .
'Oh, man,' she thought.
"Yeah," she finally answered. "Yeah I am. I can't wait!"
She gave her friend one last hug and then headed home. She passed by Arnold's on her way and saw him sitting on his stoop.
"Ready for that movie?" she asked.
"Popcorn's popped and waiting," he told her, standing up.
Helga followed him inside.
...
...
(Finished. I want to move on and do a Junior year fic, and might, then move onto a Senior year. But not sure. Should I continue the story through this or start anew?)