Arnold blinked a couple of times, he opened his mouth to say something but no sound came from it. He tried once more, again he just ended up gaping. Suspecting he might look like a fool he ceased the attempts of voicing out his thoughts. Besides he didn't know what to say or how to react exactly. Shoul he be be angry? or laugh? but by judging the way the petite girl was staring at him, it was highly inappropriate to do the last.

He frowned and tried to put order on his emotional rampage, hoping it would lessen the confusion bubbling inside his head. First he was mad, her petition had sounded like she was accusing him from being a bad influence to her friend. But he hasn't even talked to her! Yet. How come she came all the way to him, pull him out from his friends and then have the nerve to ask him that?

Calming his first impulse of rage, he looked down at the girl and decided to give her a chance. After all it seemed she hadn't changed that much, maybe she still was the same old shy, reserved and down-to-earth Phoebe he remembered. If his suppositions were correct, she wouldn't be asking that if there wasn't a motive behind her words. So instead of complaining and arguing with her, like his initial impulse had dictated, he let her explain herself by doing a hand gesture.

Understanding the hint she cleared her throat.

"I know that I am in no position to ask you this type of favor, taking in account that our friendship wasn't that 'close' or meaningful while growing up. But I do sincerely hope that you please follow through my request"

Arnold just nodded and motioned her to continue.

"The reason I out voiced this petition is merely just to prevent any further difficulties on the already dented bond you share with my friend. I strongly believe that a perfectly stated warning before any occurrence is the best resource to avoid any sort of predicament"

Arnold blinked in confusion, sensing this, the tiny girl just rolled her eyes and sighed

"Or as is commonly referred as 'Is better be safe than sorry'"

There was silence for what it seemed like a minute or two.

"Let me get this straight" he spoke with caution pinching the bridge of his nose "You're saying that I must stay away from Helga so I don't harm her more than I already did?"

Phoebe responded with a slight nod. "Precisely"

Now Arnold had truly lost it. Hurt her? How? When? They haven't seen each other in six years! For crying out loud! How could it be possible to hurt her when he wasn't even around to begin with?

"Not all harm is done physically" she said, apparently reading his thoughts.

Arnold stared at her stupefied, he tried to speak but words crashed on his lips. His head was spinning and started to ache. Arnold shook his head and closed his eyes, trying to calm the boiling sensations building inside of him. Opening his eyes slowly he looked down and found his friend looking at him in a way he had never seen before. Her eyes weren't evaluating him like they usually did instead they were glistening. Arnold felt his throat dry and his mind disconected.

"Please Arnold" she said before taking his hands with hers and pulling them to towards her. "I am in not implying that you should stop talking to her all together, nor forbidding you to see her any more. I am just.. "she hesitated, looking over her shoulder to the room then back at him "I don't think this time I'm going to be able to pick up the pieces and put the puzzle together back again"

Arnold started to evaluate the seriousness of her request, maybe he did something bad after all. It had to be so dreadful and devastating that it had pushed this selfless person to come and almost beg him to stay away from one of the people he considered the closest to him. Arnold gulped, finding it hard to swallow. What to say or do? He didn't know. He was so focused in reviewing in his memories, finding what exactly he did to notice someone had approached them.

"Yo Pheebs! The hell you're doing here? You think is funny to hide and not answer when I'm calling you?"

Helga walked closer and watched the scene in front of her, she glanced at the joined hands and raised her left eyebrow. Almost immediately both teenagers released hands.

"What's going on?" Helga asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Nothing" Arnold said feeling embarrassment crawling behind his neck "Phoebe was just…"

"Showing him what Tui Nai is" she added, clearing her throat "Arnold told me he injured his hand so I decided to aid him. You know, the same I used on you when you injured your hand in your last tournament"

Helga just stood there, evaluating them with her gaze. Before half smiling.

"Riiight… Anyhow our ride is out, I'll get your stuff" she said before leaving.

Arnold sighed relieved, he turned to look back at the girl in front of him. Seeing that there were still no words, he started to rub the back of his neck. Thinking what exactly do or say. He gulped and cleared his throat, ready to speak.

"Listen Phoebe-"

"Pheebs! Rex is here!" Helga's powerful scream interrupted him.

A second later Helga came carrying a purse on her shoulder and one on her hand. Arnold frowned, since when she started to carry a purse? Last time he remembered she hated those things. He gazed the blond girl passed the spare purse to her little friend and started to walk to the door. She stopped for a moment and turned to her friend raising an eyebrow.

"You coming?" she said in a demanding tone.

Phoebe turned to Arnold, her eyes were still a little crystalized. Feeling the same lump on his chest, Arnold gulped and sighed before giving a slight nod.A small smile appeared in the corner of her lips before turning to her friend, who was waiting by the door. Watching this Helga just raised an eyebrow and opened the door, letting her friend pass first. Once she stepped outside she froze, after a couple of seconds she turned to face him.

"Welcome back, football-head" she said smiling.

He then remembered it had been the exact same smile she had gave him 6 years ago on the ice cream parlor, Arnold couldn't help but smile in return.

A loud horn interrupted his thoughts.

"Pipe down! I'm coming!" she yelled to the outside then turning to him "Geez… Well see ya later Arnoldo" she said half smiling and closing the door behind her.

Arnold stood there, watching the door and trying to figurate out what just happened in the short spam of time. It wasn't until a couple of seconds later that he heard someone call him that his brain started to function once again and headed back to the rest of the party.

A/N: Well of course that little girl would have a motive, wouldn't she? For those who did get it (GinaBina good job! ;)) well... I couldn't just put Phoebe all rough and demanding without having something to back up her petitition right? Anyhow thank you all of you for your kind words and pointers, they do help me A LOT.

I do get excited whenever I hear my Ipod ring and immediatly jump to my inbox and see Review Alert :D it makes my day, honestly. And also tells me I am doing something right and almost immediatly I jump to my keyboard and start to type :D so keep them coming, even if it is to say I'm doing great. But if you can spare some pointers and some wisdom I'll take them too :D

Anyhow I hope you liked this one, was a tought one to write.