Hi everyone. So here it is, the final three part series, but certainly not the final story. This is going to be a rather short one, but I still hope everyone enjoys it.
Because these stories are all part of the same series, it may become difficult for the average reader to fully understand what is going on. To help with this, I will be listing all previous stories in chronological order at the beginning of each chapter, so any reader that wishes to know what happened in previous stories can see their titles and read them prior to the current one. I hope this helps.
1. HA! Season 6: Helga vs. Rodrigo - Rodrigo Castile starts grade six at PS 118. He is introduced to Arnold and his friends and everyone quickly warms up to him, except Helga who think he is not who he claims to be and attempts to find out what he is hiding.
2. HA! Season 6: Los Tres Caballeros - (The Three Gentlemen)After his fight with Helga, Rhonda shuns Rodrigo and avoids him. But when she unexpectedly invites him to her upcoming party, she delivers a bombshell offer that even Rodrigo cannot afford to refuse. Will he be able to get back on Rhonda's good side and become friends, or is this the beginning of a long standing rivalry?
3. HA! Season 6: Salsa vs. Jazz -Rodrigo and Arnold are paired up to go a musical project presentation. However, they soon begin to clash when their bias prevents them deciding which genre to choose. Will they be able to put their myopic tendencies aside and work together, or are they desinted to fail?
4. HA! Season 6: Deconstructing Arnold II: Since starting the sixth grade, Arnold becomes the popular, wise kid everyone seeks out for help or advise. When he realizes that Rodrigo hasn't yet sought him out, Arnold begins to hassle him to help him, despite Rodrigo's insistance that he is okay. How far will Arnold go to 'help' him and what does Rodrigo say to him that prompts him to self-reflect on why he helps people?
5. HA! Season 6: Feeling Left Out: Arnold continues to be Hillwood's problem-solver hero, to the point where Helga begins to feel ignored. After trying and failing to convince him otherwise, she congures up a plan to back him back; make him suspicious and jealous by pretending to be 'friends' with Rodrigo. Will Helga's plan work? Will Arnold finally see his error? And what role will Rodrigo play in this?
It was in the early mid-week morning, Phoebe and Gerald had just entered the school building with Arnold Helga. The weather had been bitterly cold and wet on that day, not to mention depressingly cloudy. Yet, the two couples braved the strong weather and almost hailing rain.
Arnold and Helga quickly made their way inside the building with Gerald and Phoebe not far behind. As the two blonde pre-teens opened the door and went in, the door began to close behind them.
"Let me get the door for you, babe." Gerald courteously said as he quickly caught the door mid way and fully opened it to allow Phoebe to pass.
"Thank you, Gerald." Phoebe gratefully thanked him as she lovingly smiled and went inside the building. "Such a gentleman."
Gerald smiled back and went in after Phoebe. He then quickly caught up to her and offered his hand. Phoebe gladly accepted it and grabbed it.
Helga meanwhile looked back a bit with an envious eye to witness the loving affection the two had for each other. While Arnold was no stranger to that, he had lately been preoccupied as Hillwood's wise sixth grader, a gift he possessed in giving out wise advice and suggestions to anyone who asked. The blonde pre-teen said nothing and simply continued to walk.
Gerald and Phoebe continued to walk while looking each other with loving eyes. Not needing to say anything, the two communicated via their loving glances and smiles. That was all the needed to be said.
"Hey!" Helga then called out to them, getting their attention. "You two love birds are done hawking at each other or what?"
"Coming Helga!" Phoebe responded in her usual high pitch voice and started walking a bit faster, but refusing to let go of Gerald's hand.
The couple made their way through the hallway that was filled with teachers and kids moving and talking about. They had to wiggle, move around or even say 'excuse me' in order to get the other's attention to move. Helga made no such attempts and simply pushed her way through.
Eventually, the two finally approached their lockers.
"So," Gerald then spoke, "I'll catch you later for lunch?" He asked.
" Oh yes, very much so." Phoebe said with some eagerness. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Not as I'm looking forward to seeing you again." Gerald flirtatiously said as he grabbed her hand and tenderly kissed it.
"Oh Gerald." Phoebe just blushed "You're so sweet."
"C'mon Phoebe!" Helga again called out to her, this time with a impatient tone. "Get your head out of the love pool for once and let's go already."
"Oh. Coming Helga!" Phoebe responded before then looking back at Gerald. "I'll see you later," as she then kissed him on his lips. "handsome." and winked at him, causing Gerald to blush hard.
Phoebe walked backwards a few steps, not wanting to stop looking at Gerald, but eventually waved at him, turned around and quickly caught up to Helga. Gerald just waved back and just sighed.
"What a gal." He remarked before happily turning around to meet up with Arnold.
"Finally, sheesh!" Helga remarked when she saw Phoebe catch up. "Took you long enough. I was beginning to think I would have had to save you from the clutches of Tall-hair boy."
"My apologies, Helga." Phoebe apologized. "It is not my intention to keep you waiting, but I am so captivated by Gerald and his charm. He is such a gentleman and is so handsome that I have this desire to be near him-"
"Phoebe, please!" Helga then interrupted. "I just had breakfast, believe it or not."
Phoebe wasn't offended by her remark and just giggled.
"Sorry, Helga." She just said.
"Anyways," Helga then said, "Arnold is 'busy' again, so it looks like I'm free today. Let's have lunch together."
"Today?" Phoebe asked.
"You busy or something?" A growing annoyed Helga asked.
"Well actually, I am." Phoebe cautiously responded. "I had already promised Gerald to have lunch together."
"Again?!" An aggravated Helga exclaimed. "Phoebe, that's the third time this week and we're only on a Wednesday! Eve since you got together with Geraldo we hardly hang out together during school anymore."
"Oh, I'm sorry Helga." A surprised Phoebe said. "I didn't realize. Okay, I'll cancel my lunch with Gerald. I'm sure he'll understand."
"No, no." Helga then quickly stopped her. "Don't do that. You're in the honeymoon phase and I get it. It's okay. Have lunch with him."
"Are you sure, Helga?" Phoebe asked.
"Yes…" Helga responded as she angrily grind her teeth in an attempt to control her anger.
"Thank you for understanding, Helga!" A happy Phoebe exclaimed as she quickly went over and hugged Helga.
Although initially angry, Phoebe's hug caused her to release some of it, even prompting her to smile and hug her back. Despite hardly hanging out with her, she couldn't be anymore happier for her best friend.
Phoebe then released her and quickly ran to their classroom to speak to Gerald for a bit before class started. She waved Helga goodbye as she ran.
"You're welcome…" Was all Helga said as she waved at her best friend as she disappeared.
"I guess I'll just have lunch by myself," she sadly said to herself, "again." and just adjusted her backpack that was on her shoulder before making her way to class as well.
A few days later…
It was now Friday and the end of school for the week couldn't have come sooner. The weather had been worsening, incentivizing people to remain more at home than to go out. This suited most kids just fine as it meant many could just stay at home and watch movies or play video games. And this is exactly what many kids were already planning. As soon as lunch recess came, many of them got together to make plans on what they wanted to do for the weekend.
"Already Pheebs," Helga said as they stepped out to the school playground from the building, "hope you did your homework already cuz we've got lots to do this weekend."
"We do?" Phoebe asked.
"Oh yes sir." Helga excitedly said. "I've booked this entire weekend with things to do for just the two of us. No boys. Just us girls."
"Oh, um actually Helga-" Phoebe tried to tell her something, but Helga didn't hear her.
"First, we're going to watch the recent Evil Twins movie that just came out." She excitedly said. "I've been dying to watch it ever since the trailer came out."
"That's nice, but I actually-" Phoebe again tried to say something in her soft tone, but Helga again didn't hear her.
"You get the movie set up while I get us some snacks." Helga continued. "and yes, I'll supply us with some tasty treats. I managed to find some extra change. But You're gonna have to host."
"Actually Helga, I really can't-" Phoebe again tried to say something, but Helga again cut her off.
"Not to worry." Helga said. "I took the liberty of asking your mom if I could come over. Good to know that my living situation has SOME benefits."
"Helga!" Phoebe then suddenly yelled at the top of her lungs, stunning Helga and finally getting her to stop talking.
"I have been trying to tell you," Phoebe then said spoke with a soft, but firm voice. "I cannot host this weekend. I have a date with Gerald. It's our three month anniversary and he wanted to do something special."
"For the whole weekend?" A dismayed Helga asked.
"Yes." Phoebe responded.
"You have got to be kidding me?!" Helga exclaimed. "I asked for one weekend to spend some quality time with my best friend and I get blown off for a three month anniversary event? Not even a six month?! And I thought I was the madly in love one."
"My apologies, Helga." Phoebe just calmly said, but with a guilty look. "But I didn't know you had planned to hang out with me this weekend. Had I known, I would have made some time. But, I'm sure I can squeeze some time for us to-"
"No, no Phoebe," Helga then interjected with a sad sigh. "You don't need to do that. It's your three month anniversary. That is a big deal. Just enjoy."
Phoebe however wasn't sure if Helga meant that. She could tell she was really disappointed by the news.
"Are you sure?" She asked her.
"Yes." Helga replied as she tried to smile. "Go and make sure Tall-hair boy gives you the biggest night to remember."
"Thank you for understanding, Helga." Phoebe said with a smile. "I promise we will do something next weekend.
Helga smiled back, but deep down was saddened that she was starting to be sidelined.
True to her word, Phoebe made time to hang out with Helga the weekend after her three month anniversary date. As the blonde pre-teen originally planned, they watched the recent Evil Twins horror movie, much to Phoebe's fear. But they at least watched it during the day and they got to eat some snacks. Helga was even allowed to sleepover that weekend, although that was more by necessity. There was no food back at the Beeper store and not wanting to have her best friend starve, managed to convince her parents to allow Helga to stay over.
Although Helga appreciated that Phoebe kept her promise, she was still worried about their future as best friends. In the week between Phoebe's anniversary date and the sleepover, Phoebe hardly spent any time with her, preferring to spend her lunch time, or any other time for that matter, with Gerald. Helga attempted to use that time with Arnold and although the Football Head managed to squeeze in some time, it wasn't nearly the same level of attention Gerald was giving Phoebe, much to her chagrin.
Helga hoped that after the sleepover things would improve, but alas it did not. The blonde pre-teen was in a dire predicament. While happy for her best friend and wanting to give her as much room as possible to allow her to further develop and enjoy her new relationship, she was becoming increasingly aggravated at how often she was being ignored by her, let alone how this will affect their friendship. Even if Arnold was giving her his full attention, Helga did not want her life to be completely immersed in Football Head's shadow. She was already battling with her obsession over him and spending every waking hour with him would only make the situation even more. Besides, she wanted to have a life outside of her relationship and that included hanging out with Phoebe. Now, she worriedly thought if that was even possible.
Later one day…
Helga was on the bus as it was heading back to their neighbourhood. She was annoyed and in a foul mood that day. Not only was Phoebe once day completely immersed with Gerald, but Arnold was also doing his thing on being Hillwood's moral savior.
However, her attention was right now focused on Phoebe. As she glanced at her, her anger began to rise when she saw her giggling whenever Gerald complimented her. She was not only envious of her relationship, but was rather very annoyingly surprised at just how deep Phoebe was in her relationship. Given her brilliance and strong emphasis for logic, she would have figured Phoebe would have wanted to start things slowly. But instead, all she was seeing is a Phoebe completely abandoning all reason and logic and just completely enjoying her time. And to make matters worse, she was doing it right in front of her!
"Sheesh, get a room you two." She remarked at him.
"Oh right." A blushful Gerald said. "My bad Helga."
Eventually, the bus made it to the neighbourhood and the four got off. Gerald and Phoebe got off the bus without ever letting go of their hands.
"Hey babe," Gerald then spoke, "You wanna go over to my house and do our homework?"
"I would love to, Gerald." Phoebe excitedly said.
"Hey Arnold, you okay I do my homework with my lady this time?" Gerald asked him.
"No problem, Gerald." Arnold said. "I've gotta help my grandparents anyways."
Helga did not like the news of that. Already seeing that Phoebe was now busy, again, she was hoping she would at least be able to do her homework with her beloved. But alas, even that the Fates would not heed for her.
"You wanna come with, Helga?" Arnold asked her. "We could do our homework together and you can stay for dinner after."
"No, it's okay." Helga lied. "I've….also got some things...to do back home."
Helga had to really force herself to lie. As much as she wanted to accept Arnold's invitation, she did not want to be alone in his room while he was downstairs. Although she would have loved to spend time in his room alone, the whole point was for them to spend time together. Then there was also the fear that she may be overstepping her welcome at the Sunset Arms. Ever since they came back from San Lorenzo, Helga had been spending a lot of time in Arnold's house, mostly to be around him. But when her situation at home worsened, she was obliged to go over there even more frequently. Even though Arnold's family always welcomed her, the last thing she needed was for them to think she was taking advantage of their hospitality.
"You sure?" Arnold asked.
"Yes...very sure." Helga again lied as she grind her teeth just to say it.
"Well okay." Arnold said. "I'll talk to you later." He said as he gently grabbed her hand and kissed it.
As always, the kissed caused Helga's heart to stop, only for it to start beating and allowing her to exhale romantically.
"Later guys." Arnold said to both Phoebe and Gerald as he waved at him and began to head home.
"Later Arnold." Gerald replied back. "C'mon babe." He said as he began to walk with Phoebe.
"Have a good evening, Helga." Phoebe said to her as she left.
"You...too." Helga just sadly said as she watched her best friend leave, leaving her alone in the streets.
Helga just sighed.
"What a life." She said to herself as she began to walk home. "I gained the man of my dreams, only to risk losing my best friend. Can I not have it all just this once?!" She bitterly exclaimed as she kicked an empty can on the ground.
"I'm not asking for much here!" She continued to exclaim. "I mean, Fate already took my home, my financial inheritance. What else does it want from me?!"
"I really need to talk to Phoebe about this!" She continued to talk to herself. "She's taking this way too far. Nay, she's becoming obsessed! And this is coming from a person with a long history of obsession."
"She can't just keep in ignoring me!" She continued. "It just can't end like this. We've been best friends since pre-school and have been through too much for her to just let it all go. No siree Bob! Coming tomorrow, she and I are going to have a talk."
Tomorrow…
Helga was at her locker waiting for Phoebe to arrive. Luckily, she didn't have to wait long.
"Hi Helga." Phoebe greeted her with a smile.
"Hey Pheebs." Helga greeted her with a serious look on her face.
As they both began to head to class, Helga got right to the point.
"we need to talk about something." She said.
"About what, Helga?" Phoebe asked.
"It's about you and Gerald." She began. "You see Pheebs, you two have been inseparable since San Lorenzo. And while I think that's great, I also think it wouldn't do any harm if you just stand back a bit. You know, take a breather, go on a vacation."
"Really? Why though?" Phoebe asked. "We are doing great."
"Because," Helga was about to explain, "you don't want to overload the poor guy. He's a guy, he needs to - "
"Morning ladies!" Gerald then suddenly approached from out of nowhere.
"Morning Gerald." Phoebe happily greeted him.
"How you doing, babe?" Gerald said as he leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the chick, causing her to blush.
Helga said nothing and just watched Phoebe converse with Gerald and was soon became dissuaded from attempting to get Phoebe away from him. She looked so happy, even glitty. Indeed, she had never seen her like this before and it only served to make her feel guilty from ever trying to separate them. Why would she do that? Especially with the way she used to treat her back in the fourth and fifth grades; more like a servant than a friend. Not to mention all the things she did for her. And now she was attempting to get her way from something that was making her happy?
How selfish of me...Helga sadly and guiltily thought. No. She deserves to be happy…
"Oh Gerald, stop it!" Phoebe just giggled. "Helga is right here." She told him.
"Oh right." Gerald quickly realized and adjusted himself. "Sorry Helga."
Helga said nothing and just continued to look at a Phoebe with a guilty look.
"You'll join me later for lunch again?" Gerald asked.
"Of course." Phoebe responded and leaned in to give him a kiss on the chick. "I'll see you in class."
"Later, babe." Gerald said with a smile and a wink and then headed off.
"Apologies about that Helga." Phoebe then said to her. "Now what was it that you were saying?"
"Nothing." Helga said as she tried to stave off the sadness she was feeling. "Nothing at all."
"Are you sure?" Phoebe asked. "It sounded like it was something important."
"No, it wasn't." Helga said. "Forget I said anything." She tried to smile.
"Oh. Well, alright then." Phoebe said as the two headed down the hallway.
Some time later…
After school, Helga was in no mood to head home. She instead opted to take a walk through the neighbourhood, pondering about her options.
"Oh man, what do I do?" She lamented. "I feel like I'm losing my best friend. I need to do something! But, she is so happy and I would absolutely hate to do anything that will risk that. It's not like any of my plans ever work. So why would this one? No, I cannot! I cannot take a risk with Phoebe's relationship. She will never forgive me and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy."
"Oh rats!" She groaned as she went to sit on the bus stop bent. She then leaned back to look up in the sky.
"So depressing." She said to herself about the sky. It wasn't an exaggeration. The light was already sliding away and it was very cloudy. The sky was very dark grayish.
"I need to get a hold of myself!" She then said as she sat up. "I mean think about it; am I really losing Phoebe? She's my best friend. We've gone through so much for either of us to break apart. She is just going through the honeymoon phase. And it's not like she is ignoring me or anything. She still takes the time to hang out with me."
That reason actually made her feel a bit better.
"Hmm." She said as she continued to think about it. "Maybe I am just over-worrying things. And besides, why am I sitting here moping around about my friendship when I have more important things to consider; Arnold!"
"If anyone that has been ignoring me is that stupid Football Head." She angrily remarked. "He's too busy being everyone's savior when he should be focusing on me. I mean our relationship. What's his problem, anyways? Why is he so adamant on getting into other people's problem?"
It didn't take long for Helga to realize that she had misdirected her situation. Arnold was a more pressing concern. Her friendship with Phoebe was well over a decade old, while her relationship with Arnold was only a few months old. Whatever issue she may have been having with Phoebe, she was confident she can resolve it. Not so with Arnold. Helga quickly realized that things are a little bit unbalanced, at least emotionally. Not to mention that after many years, she finally had Arnold in her arms so the pressure was really on to do whatever it took to keep him! Arnold's attention at other people's problem was clearly getting in the way and she needed to find a way to resolve it.
"Right!" She said as she got off from the bench. "Starting tomorrow I need to have a talk with him and get him to re-focus some of that energy on to us."
And with that she quickly ran home to put her plan into motion.
A few weeks later…
Gerald and Phoebe entered the lunchroom and had just grabbed their lunches and were preparing to sit down and sit.
"Looks like Arnold is busy again." Gerald remarked as he noticed the now increasingly normal swarm of kids surrounding him.
He couldn't see Arnold, but he had a good hunch he was somewhere inside that group of kids.
"Oh dear." Phoebe said in surprise when she saw just how many kids were around him.
"Man, I never though he wanted to be the center of attention." Gerald said as they made their way to their table and sat down.
Phoebe took a bit from her lunch but then glanced back that swarm of kids to look for someone.
"You okay, babe?" Gerald asked her when she noticed her a little distracted.
"Yes," Phoebe replied while still looking around. "I'm just wondering where Helga is."
"Probably inside there with Arnold." Gerald said as he pointed to the group of kids.
Phoebe however, wasn't so sure. She knew Helga hated being surrounded and so close to her by so many kids and wouldn't have lasted long in there. She also knew that Helga was becoming increasingly bothered by Arnold's attention being elsewhere, although she wasn't aware at how seriously it was now becoming.
Phoebe continued to eat her lunch whilst glancing back at the group, but when she couldn't see Helga or Arnold emerging from it after some time, she began to suspect that Helga was elsewhere, but where? And was she upset?
"I'll be right back, Gerald." Phoebe then said as she got up from her chair. "I'm just going to go find Helga and see if she is okay."
"Oh. Okay." Gerald said as he took a bite out of his lunch.
Phoebe left the lunchroom and entered the hallway. She didn't really know where she was, but suspected she may be somewhere by her locker.
"I'll start there." She said to herself as she began to walk there.
Soon enough, Phoebe reached Helga's locker and saw her not far off. She noticed she had just finished talking to someone who was leaving.
"Is that Rodrigo?" Phoebe asked in surprise.
Phoebe knew that ever since they amended things, both pre-teens settled to staying out of each other's way. So it was a bit surprising to find them talking to each other. From what she could tell, it looked like they had a friendly conversation so at least they were on friendly terms.
Wanting to double check, Phoebe approached her.
"Hi Helga." Phoebe greeted her. "Is everything okay?"
Helga heard Phoebe and turned around, surprised to see her here.
"Hey Pheebs." She greeted her. "Couldn't be better. I just invited Rodrigo to go with me to Wrestlemania this Saturday."
Now Phoebe was even more surprised.
"Oh really?" She said. "Well that's exciting."
"Oh you bet it is!" Helga somewhat exclaimed in excitement, although for clearly different reasons.
"If I may ponder," Phoebe then asked, "Why the sudden desire to affiliate yourself with Rodrigo?"
"Oh um," Helga tried to quickly come up with something. "For...no particular reason. I would have invited either Arnold or you but you both have been with 'other' people lately. And when I heard that Rodrigo is into wrestling, well it just seemed like a natural choice. I didn't want to go alone."
"I see." Was all Phoebe said, but for some reason, she didn't quite like how Helga simply bypassed her for someone else. Yes, she isn't really into wrestling, but the fact that Helga simply assumed she was busy, when in reality she actually wasn't, and just bypass her, brought this rather unsettling feeling. However, it was just a small tingly feeling and it was only just a wrestling event which again, she had no interest in, so why fret about it?
"Well, I hope you have fun this Saturday." Phoebe said. "Is it a big event?"
"Oh you bet ya!" Helga exclaimed. "It's the biggest match of the year. I can't wait to see it!"
Some time later…
Some time passed since Helga took Rodrigo to Wrestlemania. Phoebe heard about how Helga's night went the day after and was even more surprised at how much fun she had with Rodrigo. She told the her how much they had in common, at least when it comes to wrestling, and how easy going he was. He didn't judge, wasn't opinionated, was attentive and allowed Helga to express herself without the fear of being judged. But most importantly, he didn't annoy her.
As for that initial unsettling feeling Phoebe initially felt, well to her surprise, that did not arise when she spoke with Helga. Actually, she was quite pleased with the result of last night's event. It seemed that Helga was quickly warming up to Rodrigo and she in fact encouraged her to continue hanging out with him. Like Arnold, she had been a bit concerned about Helga's very limited friends. Although understanding why, she felt she was restricting herself by sticking to only people she knew. Hence, Phoebe was rather happy that she was starting to come out of her shell and bond with other people. That and it gave her the opportunity to spend more time with Gerald without having to worry about attending to Helga's needs and emotional well-being.
This could be good for the both of us. Phoebe concluded in thought. Her establishing a new friendship could be the solution to being less dependent on Arnold and myself. Yes, this is good. What could go wrong?
Confident by this conclusion, in the coming days Phoebe took advantage of it and used her time to do her extracurricular activities and hang out with Gerald. She still checked up on Helga whenever she could, but no plans were made to hang out. Helga was busy trying to 'befriend' Rodrigo, so that at least took her mind off the boredom, loneliness, and home situation.
Phoebe for her part was enjoying this new-found freedom. For years, she had to concern herself with much of Helga's emotional well-being, her scheming and until recently, her constant demands and 'requests'. But now with her being occupied by other things, Phoebe felt quite relieved of the burden that she had to weight in her shoulders. Not that she was resentful of Helga. It was just that she can be overwhelming at times. In her mind, a little break from her was not only needed, but well deserved.