Chapter 4: Where Are They?
Dream
Bus Station
Arnie: Snort
Helga: Would you get the heck away from me?!
Arnie: Wanna see my lint collection?
Helga: No, I do not want to see your stupid lint!
Arnie: Snort. Will you go out with me?
Helga: Hey! Who said you could touch me?
Arnie: Snort. I want us to spend every waking minute together...
HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD!
Arnold shot up from his bed, having been interrupted from his disturbing dream by his loud alarm clock. Not only had he been dreading seeing his cousin, but now he couldn't help but wonder if his dream meant anything.
After getting dressed and ready, he headed downstairs for breakfast. As he entered the kitchen to see Phil with a stack of pancakes, he listened to him say "Hey there shortman!"
"Hey grandpa." Arnold sighed.
"Ooohh what's the problem?" Phil asked, seeing Arnold ignore the food that had been laid out for him.
"Well Arnie's coming today…"
"Yeah, don't remind me." Phil butted in.
"I was thinking I could take him to Lila's housewarming party tomorrow, then maybe sneak away with Helga without him knowing."
"That's an evil trick to play on your friends."
"What do you mean?" Arnold asked, feeling if anything, Arnie was the one who would be hurt.
"Would YOU want to be left to take care of that freak?!"
Arnold rolled his eyes, having already been responsible for Arnie every time he came to visit.
"See you later grandpa."
"See ya shortman!"
Helga's House
"Criminy Miriam! Can't you find another place to pass out?" Helga scowled, pushing her mother out of the way of the counter, as she sat down with her cereal.
Rather than eating it, Helga stirred it over and over as she propped her head in her hand, thinking to herself…
Just ten more hours before Ms. Mary Sunshine returns. Oh brother!
Sighing at her bowl, Helga heard another member of her family stomping into the kitchen. "For crying out loud Miriam! Did ya drink all the coffee again?!"
Not being in the mood to deal with her family's usual rantings, Helga tossed aside her untouched cereal and headed for the door.
Before she could make it there, Bob scowled "Hold it there little missy!"
"What Bob?!" Helga scowled, clenching her fists.
"Where do you think you're going?" Bob pointed a finger at his irritated daughter.
"School dad! Ever heard of it?" Helga scoffed.
"Fine. Go learn. Don't forget about your sister this afternoon!" Bob warned her, taking his attention away from his hungover wife.
Rolling her eyes at the reminder, Helga headed out the door early, anxious to once again have the day over and done with.
Walk
Helga began an early walk to school, not caring to take the bus. If it meant getting away from her family sooner, she was willing to put in the extra effort walking.
Staring sadly at the ground, she thought to herself…
I guess I shouldn't be complaining. My family may neglect me, but it's better than having to babysit a loser like Arnold's lame cousin. Oh Arnold, why must the world insist on looking for ways to come between us? I have you in my grasp, and now here I am constantly tortured by…
THUMP!
After bumping heads with a familiar face, Helga looked up to see her boyfriend on the ground in front of her.
"Arnold!"
"Sorry Helga." the blonde boy said, as he held out a hand to help his girlfriend to her feet.
"What were you in such a hurry to get away from? Your cousin's not here yet is he?" Helga scoffed.
Arnold began to think about his dream, not sure if he should mention it to Helga. Talking about it with someone may feel good, but how repulsed would she be by it?
"Uhh nothing. I just wanted to get to school." he said, taking her hand in his.
Helga cocked her brow suspiciously, not understanding his anxiousness. "Whatever."
Walking hand in hand down the street, Helga took notice of the troubled look on her boyfriend's face and said "Your cousin's not here yet football head. Save that look for after school."
Turning his face towards hers, Arnold smiled weakly and asked "Would you like to come with me to pick up Arnie?"
Helga cocked her brow yet again, not knowing what would make him ask such a thing.
Arnold knew she would find it to be a ridiculous question. His dream made it seem as though the two of them had disappeared however. If Helga joined him to pick up Arnie, he wouldn't have to worry about losing the two of them.
"I'd rather have a root canal." she scoffed.
Arnold began to rub her hand with his thumb, not able to blame her for the harsh remark. All he could do was hope this was just another crazy nightmare.
P.S. 118
Classroom
Not having said much to each other after Helga turned down Arnold's offer to join him at the bus station, the two entered the classroom together to hear…
"Hey Arnold! Why weren't you on the bus this morning, man?"
Arnold turned to his best friend and said "Oh sorry Gerald. Helga and I kind of left for school in a hurry."
Gerald understood Helga's need for doing that. It wasn't unusual to hear about the constant drama that took place in the Pataki household. Arnold didn't have a reason to leave early however.
"What for? Last time I checked, she made it here without a chaperone." Gerald said wittily, watching his best friend roll his eyes.
Arnold glanced back to see his girlfriend already doodling in her notebook, with her head propped in her hand, sighing about any moral dilemmas that maybe going through her mind.
"I'll tell you later." he said softly, assuming Helga was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to care.
"Whatever you say Arnold."
A few Hours later
Lunch at last came and Gerald was anxious to hear Arnold's excuse for skipping the bus that morning.
Before he could mention it, Gerald watched Arnold turn in his seat to ask Helga "Are you ready for lunch?"
As she was about to give her boyfriend her answer, a small voice butted in. "If it's alright Arnold, I would appreciate it if Helga and I could eat alone today."
After listening to Phoebe's request, Arnold placed a hand on Helga's and said "Okay. I need to talk to Gerald anyway."
While the class was stepping out into the hallways, Rhonda turned to hear Lila say "I'm looking ever so forward to the party Rhonda! Especially now that Arnie will be there!"
Rhonda's eyes widened at the thought of Arnold's hillbilly cousin attending and ruining her thoroughly planned event.
"Excuse me? Did you just say Arnie will be attending the party?"
"Why yes. It's going to be oh so perfect!" Lila said happily, walking past her stylish yet irritated classmate.
Cafeteria
"I gather you're not looking forward to seeing your sister?" Phoebe asked, sitting at a table with her best friend.
Passing a look that implied she could not have been asked a more stupid question, Helga scoffed "Pttss...are you kidding?! The only thing worse about today is football head's idiot cousin arriving."
"Don't worry Helga, Gerald and I will keep an eye on him as you requested."
*Previous Afternoon*
Helga's Bedroom
As she sat there, being held in the arms of the boy of her dreams, Helga thought to herself…
I can't let some idiot hillboy whose IQ is as low as his head is big ruin my time with Arnold. I've got to find someone to watch the freak!
With his arm around her waist and her face pressed tightly against his, Arnold held Helga close thinking to himself…
If I ask someone to watch him, it'll just ruin their night. How is that any more fair than letting him ruin my night?
When both their minds were back on each other, Arnold barely released her lips, resting his nose against hers. A comforting sigh released from him that couldn't help but make Helga swoon as she hug him tight.
"I should get going." he said regretfully.
"Alright football head." Helga said, stepping out of her boyfriend's lap.
As she walked him down the stairs and to the door, Arnold saw Miriam hadn't budged from her spot. "Has she gotten enough sleep recently?" he couldn't help but ask.
"Pttss...there's no catnap big enough to cure her problem."
As he reached for the door, he turned to say to Helga with his sweet half lidded eyes "Have a good night. I'll see you tomorrow."
After watching him leave, Helga ran upstairs to her room. Once she fell onto her bed, she pulled out her locket that was safely tucked away in her shirt and said to her beloved's picture…
Arnold my love! How could I risk allowing anything to come between us? Your special plans thrashed by our least tolerable acquaintances. Alas my love! I shan't waste another minute! I will right this injustice!
RING RING RING…
"Hello?"
"Pheebs. It's Helga."
"Hello Helga, how are you?"
"Fine. I need a favor."
Cafeteria
"Mm, mm, mmm! Sounds like quite a dream man." Gerald shook his head, having listened to his best friend's description of Helga being bothered by his creepy cousin.
"Do you think it means anything?" Arnold asked worriedly.
"Beats me. Even if it does, something tells me there's only a certain amount of snorts your lady will take before introducing your cousin to Ol' Betsy." Gerald said wittily.
Arnold looked back and forth from his best friend to his girlfriend. He wanted more than anything to have the night to spend with her. He didn't feel right asking Gerald to watch his cousin however.
After letting out a deep sigh, he turned to his best friend and said "Hey Gerald…"
"You want me to watch you cousin at the party." Gerald said in a monotone voice as Arnold's eyes widened in surprise.
"Uhhh yeah, how did you know?"
"Pataki's always one step ahead of you man; be it unbearable families or unfair requests."
Rolling his eyes at the remark, Arnold sighed and said "Whatever you say Gerald."
Classroom
Arnold walked into the classroom to see Helga already sitting in her seat. As he was about to approach his desk he heard…
"Arnold, may I have a word with you?"
He then turned to see Rhonda standing with a frustrated look, as if someone had just ruined her plans for something.
Hallway
"What is it Rhonda?"
"Lila has informed me your dull cousin will be attending the party tomorrow." Rhonda smirked.
Not wanting to reveal his plan to sneak away, Arnold replied "Uhh yeah. Sorry about that. My grandpa won't let me leave him at home."
"Well let me assure you I have put quite a bit of thought into this party. Therefore, I expect him to be on his best behavior!" Rhonda pointed a finger, hoping to make herself clear.
Arnold's eyes widened at the somewhat serious warning. Although Gerald and Phoebe could watch Arnie, they couldn't change his behavior.
"Uhh okay Rhonda."
Classroom
Helga watched her boyfriend enter the room with a somber facial expression. After taking his seat in front of Helga, he listened to her say "What was Princess doing? Writing you a fashion ticket?"
"She was actually warning me to make Arnie behave at the party tomorrow."
Helga did her best to hold back her laugh. "Pttss...joke's on her! After we slip away, she'll be the one getting snorted at all night."
"Yeah I guess so." Arnold sighed, feeling guilty about the idea of leaving his friends alone to watch his relative.
When three o clock finally came, Arnold turned in his seat and said to his girlfriend "Well, I guess this it it."
Standing from her seat, Helga scoffed "Yep. While you're getting reacquainted with your worse half, I'll once again be being compared to The Golden Child."
Arnold took his girlfriend's hand in his, as he replied "It won't be so bad."
Cocking her brow at his optimistic assumption, Helga asked "How do you figure?"
Giving her his half lidded eyes and signature smile as he began to rub her hand with his thumb, Arnold replied "I get to give you your gift tomorrow."
Helga let out a heave swoon, loving more and more how happy the idea of being with her made Arnold.
Having that special moment to look forward to was enough to give Arnold hope for their chance at a happy weekend.
The Boarding House
Arnold made it home around 3:30, knowing he would need to leave in an hour to pick up his cousin at the bus station…
Guess I'll go inside and enjoy what little time I have left before he gets here.
After watching the sea of animals pour past him, Arnold walked inside to hear "That you shortman?"
He followed the voice into the kitchen to see Phil reading his paper at the table.
"Hey grandpa."
"Hey there shortman! How was school?"
"Okay I guess." Arnold sighed, not looking forward to seeing Arnie.
"Don't forget about your weirdo cousin! What time's he supposed to be gettin' here anyhow?" Phil asked.
"I'm going to go get him in an hour."
"Hmm alright then. If you plan on taking something to eat, I'd put it in a ziplock bag. You know how much that kid likes to read the ingredients."
"Uhh right grandpa."
Helga's House
"Put some hustle in it Miriam! We can't be late picking her up!" Bob scowled, waiting for his wife to get her things together.
"I'm doing the best I can B!" Miriam insisted, grabbing her purse from the counter.
Helga leaned against the front door with her arms crossed, anxious to leave and return.
Once the tired mother had her things together, Bob said "Alright! Next stop, Hillwood Bus Station!"
Oh brother! Helga sighed to herself, knowing she would once again be going back to being neglected.
Walk
Arnold was walking down the street on his way to the bus station when he heard…
"OW! I'm Okay!"
He looked over to see Eugene had ridden his bike into a pothole and flown across the street. Immediately after seeing his clumsy classmate laying on the ground, covered with dirt and scratches, Arnold ran over to ask "Are you okay Eugene?!"
"Oh I'm fine Arnold. Don't worry, it happens all the time."
Although Arnold was well aware of that, he still felt the need to help his friend who now appeared to be limping. "Why don't you let me hold your bike? You just try to walk slowly until we make it to your house."
"Gee thanks Arnold. You're a pal!" Eugene smiled, despite having to limp home.
The Bus Station
Helga had never enjoyed picking Olga up from her vacations and this time was no exception. While her parents waited eagerly for her sister's arrival, Helga sat in a chair with her head propped in her hand against the arm rest. Closing her eyes while waiting to get out of there, she said to herself…
Stupid Olga and her stupid trip! Why can't she just stay the heck away for good? Why can't she just…
No one bothered to notice Helga drifting off to sleep from all the 'excitement.' When Olga's bus finally arrived, Bob and Miriam ran over to give their oldest daughter a tremendous hug.
"Oh mommy! Daddy! I'm so happy to be home!" Olga screeched, standing between them.
"Glad to have you back Olga. Let's get something to eat." Bob insisted, grabbing her bags for her.
Eugene's House
"Thanks again for walking me home Arnold! You didn't have to do that." Eugene said, walking up his porch steps.
"It was no problem. I'll park your bike in the garage."
The Bus Station
Half an hour after Helga's family left without noticing they had left her behind, the sleepy girl's eyes began to flicker as she sensed something (or someone) in front of her.
"AHHH!" Helga screamed, as she anxiously lifted her head seeing her boyfriend's creepy cousin standing less than an inch away from her.
"Snort. Hey Helga."
"Criminy! What are you doing here?! Shouldn't you be with football head?"
"Snort. Arnold's late by thirty three minutes. I counted." Arnie said, looking down at his watch.
Helga smacked her face in disbelief she wound up stuck with Arnie, yet not surprised her family had left without her.
As she began marching away, Arnie asked "Snort. Where are you going?"
"Away from you! Doi!"
Rather than responding, Arnie continued to follow her, not caring what Arnold would think when he saw Arnie wasn't there waiting for him.
Pataki Car
"And my friends and I all took wonderful dance lessons together that were given to us by a sweet man we met on the beach!" Olga went on, explaining how much fun she and her friends had on their trip together.
"That's wonderful sweetie!" Miriam said excitedly.
After finishing her story, Olga expected to see her younger sister sitting beside her as she turned to ask "So Helga, tell me what you've been up to? Helga? Daddy, where's Helga?" Olga asked worriedly.
Cocking his brow as he noticed the empty seat through the rearview mirror, he said "Where the heck's the girl Miriam?"
"That's funny. She was with us when we left to get Olga?" Miriam replied, wondering what could have happened to her.
"Oh no! Helga's missing?! Oh this is just terr-terrible!" Olga cried, throwing her face into her hands, as her mascara began dripping down her face.
"Oh for crying out loud! Now we gotta drive all the way back to the stinkin' bus station!" Bob scowled, turning the car around.
The Bus Station
Arnold stood at the stop Arnie's bus was meant to arrive at. Although Arnold knew he had shown up late, he expected Arnie to still be there waiting for him. After not seeing him, Arnold began walking around, searching the area, as he called out "Arnie? Arnie? Ar...Olga?!"
The Walk
Helga was walking irritably down the street. Her family left her behind, she had a party she wasn't looking forward to the next day. To top it off, she was being followed by her boyfriend's lunatic cousin who hadn't moved more than three inches away from her since they left the bus station.
"Snort. I found some lint on the bus. Do you want to touch it?"
Clenching her fists mercilessly, Helga scowled "Look paste for brains! Unless you want to start snorting lint, I suggest you stop following me!"
After making her threat which in no way seemed antagonizing to the simple country boy, Helga began marching away. As she began to turn away, she listened to him ask "Snort. Why didn't you call me?"
The Bus Station
"Helga's missing?!" Arnold asked worriedly after listening to Olga's story.
"I'm afraid so." Olga sniffled.
After taking this into consideration, Arnold thought to himself…
Helga's missing and Arnie's not here. I was late getting here and Helga's family left without her. Could Arnie have found Helga and driven her away?
"What's with this kid? Have you seen her or not?!" Bob asked, seeing the constant stare on Arnold's face.
Snapping out of his daze, Arnold said "Uhhh I'm sorry Mr. Pataki."
The Walk
"Why would I call a loser like you?' Helga scoffed with her hands on her hips.
"Snort. I saw you chewing purple gum." Arnie reminded her, thinking back to the week he and Lila had gone out.
"So what?!" Helga scowled, throwing her hands in the air.
"Snort. I like gum too. Plain flavored gum."
Rolling her eyes at the remark, Helga began to continue her walk towards her house. A thought soon popped into her head however…
I can't lead this loser back to my house! He'll know where to find me every time he visits after this!
The Boarding House
Nearly tripping over the stream of animals after opening the front door, Arnold raced inside to find his grandpa in the kitchen.
"Grandpa!"
"Hey there shortman!"
"Grandpa! Arnie and Helga are missing!" Arnold said worriedly.
"Ho boy! Talk about luck!" Phil exclaimed.
"Grandpa…"
"Now now calm down. I'm sure they haven't gone far." Phil insisted.
Slausens
Helga sat at the counter feeling lower than ever. If she went home, her stalker would forever know where she lived. Then again, it wasn't like anyone at home cared she was missing. After all, they didn't even notice they left without her.
As she sat at the counter, slowly sipping her extra large triple chocolate shake, she did her best to ignore the heavy breathing to the side of her.
"Snort. Can I have a sip?"
Smacking her face with her hand, she shook her head and mumbled to herself "I'm surrounded."
Arnold's Room
RING RING RING…
"Hello?"
"Phoebe? It's Arnold."
"Hello Arnold. Is everything alright?"
"Actually, I was calling to ask if you've seen Helga?"
"No? Isn't she picking up her sister?"
"They left her behind at the bus station and now no one knows where she is."
"Oh goodness!"
The Walk
Helga moped down the street knowing who was following closely behind her. Staring at the sidewalk with her arms swinging at her sides, she thought to herself…
I guess I could go to Arnold's. Get this freak back where he belongs.
The Park
After having no luck hearing from his girlfriend by contacting her best friend, Arnold decided to go search for her himself. He circled the park again and again thinking to himself…
What if Arnie makes Helga never want to see me again? She can barely stand listening to Rhonda go on about her fashion tips. How long can she deal with Arnie's annoying traits?
Boarding House
"Snort. I know this place." Arnie said in a monotone voice as Helga rolled her eyes and scoffed "Pttss...ya think?"
After watching Arnie approach the front door, Helga raced around the corner to the fire escape. Spying at him from around the corner, shocked he had been smart enough to dodge the animals pouring out the front door, Helga thought to herself…
The loser's taken care of, but I don't want to deal with Olga. Maybe I could hang out in Arnold's room for awhile.
Helga climbed the fire escape to enter her beloved's bedroom. There she climbed onto his soft bed, anxious to finish the nap she had been interrupted from at the bus station.
One Hour Later
Boarding House
After not finding his girlfriend or his cousin, Arnold sadly made his way back to the boarding house. Entering the kitchen to see his grandpa eating a roast beef sandwich, he listened to him ask "Any luck shortman?"
"No grandpa. I didn't see Helga or Arnie."
"You're lucky! Your weirdo cousin's been here for an hour."
Arnold's eyes lit at the sound of this. Although it didn't explain where Helga was, it sounded as though he didn't need to worry about Arnie interfering with their relationship.
"I sent him upstairs when he kept trying to count the words in my newspaper." Phil said, seeing Arnold head for his room.
"Thanks grandpa."
Arnold's Room
Arnold entered the room expecting to see his cousin looking at lint, chewing gum or counting the words on any of the books that happened to be laying around his bedroom.
When Arnold opened the door, he did see his cousin, but not doing any of the above…
"What's going on?!"
Not caring that they were asleep, Arnold gasped at the sight of Arnie laying in bed with his arm wrapped around Helga.
"Arnie what are you doing?" Arnold asked, walking towards his bed as his cousin began to sit up.
"Snort. Helga loves me." Arnie replied, seeing Arnold's eyes widen.
Arnold began to shake his girlfriend who had fallen into a deep sleep. "Helga? Helga wake up!"
"Okay Okay, I'm getting...AHH!" Helga screamed, having been awoken to the sight of her boyfriend's creepy cousin for the second time that afternoon.
"Are you okay Helga?" Arnold asked, unsure of how or why she was there.
"No, I'm not okay! Your idiot cousin has been following me around like a lost puppy all freakin' afternoon!" She scowled.
Letting out a deep sigh, Arnold turned to his cousin and said "Arnie, could you give us some privacy please?"
"Snort. Okay. See you later Helga." Arnie turned to leave as Helga rolled her eyes and scoffed "Pttss...yeah I don't think so."
After shutting the door behind his cousin, Arnold took a seat on the bed beside his girlfriend and asked "What happened? How did you and Arnie end up leaving the bus station together?"
Rolling her eyes at his inability to consider her family's lack of concern for her, Helga scoffed "I fell asleep waiting for Olga at the bus station only to wake up with Sir Snorts A Lot in my face. As usual, my family didn't care (let alone notice) I wasn't leaving with them."
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Arnold said "Your family was there looking for you when I showed up late to pick up Arnie."
"Oh how generous of them to notice me half an hour after they left." Helga scoffed, rolling her eyes at her boyfriend's attempt to comfort her.
"They were worried about you, and I know they still are." he said softly, placing a hand on her face. Stroking her cheek with his thumb, he watched her eyes fall half lidded. The way her family neglected her was hurtful. The sweet gestures Arnold made to show her she was worth being noticed always made up for it however.
Resting his nose against hers, he said "Not quite as worried as I was though."
Helga let out a swoon as she felt him pull her lips to meet his own. Chills began to flow through her as she felt him slowly sucking her lips. She didn't care about their classmate's (said to be) popular party, or the surprise that was planned for her. Just being held in the arms of the only person she had ever felt welcomed by was enough for her any day.