A/N:
YAY finally another update :D Lol, I'm sorry it takes so long between these guys—I don't know, I'm always running around doing a million things and not to mention these chapters, no matter the length, always take a lot out of me, lol. Anyway though I hope you all enjoy this latest installment :) This is the conclusion of Arnold and Helga's day at school, and then the next chapter will be the baseball game and then the next three chapters after that will be all about their one month anniversary and all the antics it will bring ^w^ Please R&R and thank you all so much again for your patience! You're all so sweet!
Also, there's a poem in here called Time Alone : 3 The title comes from a three shot companion fic NintendoGal did to Tutoring Arnold (Time Alone) that went into a little more detail with the content of the second epilogue and then into Arnold and Helga's weekend after that :) She published it before LTBH got started so it's not entirely continuous with it but it was still very well done! I think she's taken down all but the first chapter but I hope she puts the other two up again one day because that was the first time anyone ever wrote a companion fic for me and it just touched me so much that she did that! ^w^ Thank you, NintendoGal!
Alright, then, let's start ;) And also, I know this chapter's a tiny bit shorter than usual (only about 20,000 words) but there's a ton of fun stuff, I promise! I hope you all enjoy it!
LEARNING TO BE HELGA
Chapter 22:
To Start and End with a Poem
A snippet of Gerald and Phoebe's brief conversation on the playground before coming to assist Arnold and Helga with the other kids…
"I-I know, Phoebe…And now that…Arnold and Helga…aren't going to need us as 'cover' for public dates anymore…I guess we're just…on our own…and that's going to make things even more official and a little more tricky now..."
A slightly nervous-looking Phoebe let out a little sigh and nodded. "Precisely. Arnold and Helga's actions today, despite their intentions to have them solely affect the status of their own romantic involvement, can't help but effect on ours too. What I mean to say, pardoning my vernacular, is that we're sort of…on the spot…more than we might have realized…After all, even if we're okay with people knowing about us just as Arnold and Helga are now okay with people knowing about them, now people are also going to start to get used to openly questioning Arnold and Helga's emotional situation…And so now when the same people see the two of us inevitably together and, if they ask…how do we briefly surmise our own feelings for one another?" She gulped now…and the lightest tint of scarlet threatened her features.
Gerald saw all of that in the girl before him…the gulp, the little blush threatening…And he tried to deny to himself where she might be going with this. "W-Well, uh…we…could just say that…we've got a crush on each other…" he finally managed to get out with a nervous little clearing of this throat.
At that reply…a certain spark of anticipation and wonder couldn't help but leave Phoebe's eyes. "O-Oh…" She did her best to explain something as she continued on. "But, um…Gerald? The thing is…since it seems that everyone's always known about there being something between us, they must have always known about our crushes on each other…But now things between us are a lot different than they used to be back then so…it seems we'd have to say something a little different too…a-a little more…official sounding…a little deeper…" Phoebe couldn't help herself, she was just testing the waters…She was just curious if…he might start coming to the same conclusion about their feelings that she had maybe started coming, if not to, then towards, at any rate…
Gerald's eyes went the tiniest bit wide at this 'counter' from Phoebe. "O-Oh…" She actually made a good point, didn't she? 'Oh boy…' "Good point, babe, heh…" He smiled a little sheepishly, having to give her that. "A-And…" he also had to admit, "…with how we do more now than just sneak glances at each other, I guess…everyone's bound to notice that it can't just be a crush anymore, what we have..." He smiled a little more and suggested a touch nervously, arms behind his back, "H-Hey, um…we could just go with the old standby and say we're dating…Leave it at that…"
At his agreeing with her at first, that spark of anticipation and wonder had briefly returned to Phoebe's dark eyes…but now, at his pulling out that fail safe…to just leave their status as 'dating' with no further explanation…such sparks couldn't help but extinguish entirely in her gaze. "Oh…yes…I suppose…That, um…That doesn't really explain our 'feelings' though, of course, but…it…does explain part of what's different now I guess…" she replied with a shrug, trying not to seem as slightly disappointed with all of this as she actually was starting to become.
Gerald could tell though—he knew her like a brilliant book. He had just said the wrong thing, hadn't he? And even though he knew at the back of his mind why it had probably been wrong, he really didn't want to think about that possibility right now! It was just that there were a lot of things going on right now today and this was all so sudden and…okay, fine it had been building up for a bit but still! "Well…" he started unsurely with a gulp, "Wh-What, um…What do you think we should…say…t-to them…if they ask…how we feel…about each other…specifically?"
Phoebe blinked and her eyes went WIDE! She had not exactly expected that question to be turned to her. "Oh, I…I…" she looked up into his eyes—warm and brown and so…inviting sometimes… "I…don't know…" she said softly… "…but I think we have to discuss it soon…and stop putting it off…b-before something h-happens…and…and…" her voice had gotten so very quiet now…and she had moved a little closer…and she was still looking into his eyes…and, well…no one did seem to be around at the moment…And then, as her thoughts went to her best friends (on top of her thought about everyone and where they might be right now…), so did her gaze go just a little over Gerald's shoulder to the large crowd at the center of the playground, their best friends in the middle of it… "…and before we figure things out like how Arnold and H—" Phoebe's eyes popped open wide once more all of a sudden and she instantly stopped dead and blinked and suddenly put a hand on Gerald's shoulder too move him aside a little and look past him. "Oh dear!" She had gotten so distracted with Gerald and had let her defenses for her best friend and Arnold down so much since they hadn't been able to find them for so long on the playground that she hadn't even realized this new turn of events taking place all of a sudden! "Gerald, look! Oh we have to help them—come on!" And with that she grabbed Gerald's hand and pulled him along to assist their best friends, deciding (and maybe almost grateful for the chance) to put off their current conversation for a little while longer.
And Gerald just let himself be pulled along, grateful for Phoebe's gaze being off of him now so that he could subdue his blushing and return his rate of breathing back to normal. 'Oh boy…' IT had been about to happen again, hadn't it? Something…Something big that they couldn't take back? An intimate kiss, a deeper confession, a moment of heat, something… 'O-Oh boy…' Gerald just did his best not to panic for now though and to quicken his pace to match Phoebe's as they reached the gang of their friends surrounding Arnold and Helga.
And once there he (as well as Phoebe) were calm and supportive and helpful…and yet of course had other things at the back of their minds too now…
And with Arnold and Helga spending this whole entire weekend together…it would leave the two of them entirely alone as well…and their best friends bursting with romance at every turn…
Another couple of little thoughts that Gerald and Phoebe were both trying to avoid…
A brief snippet of Lila and Curly's conversation from the playground before Lila joined in the efforts to help Arnold and Helga as well…
"Well, I'm ever so certain I asked you, Curly, because you're the only boy besides Eugene who seems to not be laughing about and teasing Arnold and Helga, and Sheena already told me that Eugene finds the idea of them together ever so charming even if it is a little unbelievable, so…I suppose I was just curious about you're reasons for being okay with them as an ever so charming couple. Thank you again for letting me know, Curly. I appreciate it, and it makes a lot of sense." Lila smiled at the glasses-wearing and bowl-shaped-haircut-sporting boy sitting beside her on a bench against the side of the school where the two of them were just finishing up a brief private chat.
Curly just grinned and shrugged. "Don't mention it, Lila. And like I said, there's been a lot of stuff but the final nail in the coffin that made me KNOW Arnold was mad for her had to be two weeks ago when me and the other guys were over at his house and he said he stole her shoes as a prank." A chuckle escaped him. "No guy steals a girl's shoes unless he's totally gaga in love with her. Heck, I've got like three pairs of scuffed shoes Rhonda didn't want anymore in my bedroom." Curly smiled more, swinging his feet a little off the edge of the bench. "Oh and as for Helga, like I said, she's always seemed a little bit unstable in sort of a kindred way to how I'm unstable, and anyway, to put in a nutshell the point you brought up about her, she does sort of personify that whole 'methinks the lady doth protest too much' thing. Over the last few years I've mostly just been waiting for her to crack and throw herself at Arnold like I do at Rhonda, then I figured we could team up and help each other stalk our true loves until they finally broke down and realized they couldn't live without us. Hee, hee, hee…" Curly couldn't help but end on a slightly maniacal chuckle.
Though Lila found the laugh and smile…and some of the words…that accompanied it a touch creepy, not only had she seen her fair share of dramatics and emotional hysterics from Helga before but…this was also the girl who openly loved Arnie of all people. So she just smiled and took it in stride, understanding that Curly was just expressing himself in his own ever so unique way. "Aw, well, I'm ever so sure Helga would have appreciated your help if she had reached that point, Curly, and that she would have been willing to help you too, considering your feelings. But I'm oh too certain that even now if you asked her for help with winning Rhonda, she'd do everything for you she could. And Arnold would help too of course. And so would I, Curly. To be honest…" she leaned a little closer to him and whispered with a happy smile, "I think you and Rhonda would make just an oh too charming couple! And I think she's very lucky to have someone who cares about her as much as you do." Lila giggled and then pulled back again.
Curly's usual slightly insane smile suddenly softened a bit to something very warm and happy and sincere, and his voice even changed in tone in the same way. It was just…no one had ever…been supportive of him and his love for Rhonda like that. "Really, Lila? Thanks. And thanks for offering help but…actually…as of today Arnold and Helga are helping me in every way possible." A bit of the craftiness returned to Curly's grin.
"Hmm?" Lila raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Really? How so?"
Curly's smile grew. "By just being together and being open about it!" He threw his arms out in an exciting gesture. "They're challenging every social expectation ever today! Flying in the face of all those sheep who'd like to pretend they've never wanted passion and romance and who can't see how sometimes…" (by this point in his harangue he had stood up on the bench with his chin held high and proud and he was pointing off into the distance)… "…the two most insanely different-seeming people can find something together that binds them to one another for eternity and creates an amore so deep and throbbing with life and potential that the world can no longer deny what the heavens have ordained! Haa, haa, haa, haa, haa, haa!" Be broke into full on crazed laughter!
Okay, yes, by now, Lila was a 'tiny' bit 'overwhelmed' by Curly's 'enthusiasm', but…overall, of course, she could see the charm and sweetness beneath it all, and ultimately it really was just because he loved and cherished Rhonda so very much. So she just smiled and giggled…and let out a little forlorn sigh inside as she wished Arnie could act about her like Curly did about Rhonda or Arnold about Helga or even Gerald about Phoebe... "Oh Curly, that's all…ever so…poetic. And I'm certain I agree—perhaps Arnold and Helga just being together could help you and Rhonda come together as well!" she suggested supportively and sincerely. "Has she been acting at all differently toward you today?" she then asked with an interested smile.
Curly let out an amorous sigh, gazing across the playground toward where Rhonda was…along with a bunch of other kids…and Arnold and Helga…and his dark-haired vixen was scowling… 'She's so hot when she's angry!' "No, not in the least…I think my baby is still so very deep in denial…It's understandable though when you've got a red hot love like ours in your future…But I think much more time having to see Arnold and Helga together might just make her crumble! And then I'll be there to scoop her up and carry her off into the sunset! Just her and I…and all the animals we can free…Hee hee…"
Lila had to giggle a little again, her eyes going half lidded as her thoughts returned once more to the idea of Arnie acting as passionately as this toward her. She began to turn her head to look over toward Rhonda as Curly was doing as she spoke, "Oh Curly, that's ever so—Oh my!" Lila blinked! She had certainly seen kids crowding around Arnold and Helga before—that was why Sheena and Nadine and Eugene had gone over there in the first place, though she herself had chosen to stay behind and talk with Curly for a moment, finding him available. But now it looked like things were taking a turn for the worst! Despite Sheena and Nadine and Eugene's support, which Lila was certain they were giving, a lot of the boys seemed to be teasing and bothering Arnold and Helga, Rhonda was definitely deeply angry about something, and even Brainy was over there now and blushing away and looking so very distressed!
Lila stood up instantly, knowing she had to help. "Curly, I'm ever so sorry but I think Arnold and Helga could use my help." She turned back to the dark haired boy. "Would you be willing to join me?" she asked with a small smile.
Curly snapped out of his craziness and looked to her, hopping off the bench. "I'll be over in a second. I like to sneak up behind my hottie Rhonda and wait for the perfect opportunity to make an entrance. You go on ahead though…" Curly glanced back to Arnold and Helga, a touch of concern actually coming to his face, "They really do need some help…Poor kids…" He sighed. "And my sweet Rhonda isn't making it any easier for them with her denial…She and I will have to have to take them out on a double date sometime soon to make it up to them."
Lila smiled at Curly's sweet sincerity and nodded at him. "Alright, I'll see you over there, Curly. And thank you for the talk! It was ever so informative! Bye!" Lila gave him a little wave and then was off to help her friends…
Curly gave a little wave back and then was off into 'stealth mode' and sneaking along the edge of the school and outskirts of the crowd to find the perfect opportunity for jumping into the fray in a way sure to impress his lady love…
Alright, that's enough flashbacks…Let's return to Arnold and Helga heading back inside of the school at the end of recess, the two of them making sure not to head in, of course, until the rest of the fourth grade had gone inside as well, just for the sake of avoiding more ludicrous gossip…
Holding hands, fingers laced, and even swinging their clasped appendages a tiny bit (and not caring one lick about what anybody might have to say about that even if the hall's hadn't been basically deserted of their classmates at this point considering that the bell to end recess had rung several minutes ago), Arnold and Helga were heading down a hallway of P.S. 118 together to reach Mr. Simmons' room before the bell signaling the start of class would ring…
…when it happened…
A certain series of events occurred to make a boy…and an older one at that…make a pass at Helga… Not that it was in a really serious way and actually it only lasted for a second…Actually, it was more funny than anything else…and yet…
Oh the fun ramifications, both present and future (mostly future though), of this event.
But for just this moment, at least, things were going swimmingly and rather adorably for P.S. 118's cutest new couple.
They were in the middle of a playful conversation, which Helga had to interrupt for a moment though to point out with a grin, "Oh and by the way, Arnold…when you told Sid to shut up before…Wow, that was attractive. I've never heard you get so…bold before…Well…bold with a person you're not in the middle of giving lots of kisses to, at least…" A very impressed Helga giggled and winked at Arnold in that enticing way she had of doing.
A flustered Arnold just blushed and looked at her with a little grin and gave a modest little shrug. "O-Oh, well…h-hey, I…I can get angry with people too…And I can even tell people to shut up. I'm not THAT much of a wet blanket…" He smiled more and moved just a smidge closer to her as they walked on. "I'm happy you liked it though…"
Helga giggled more. "I adored it—you should tell people to shut up more often! Oh but not me of course otherwise I'll slug ya!" She winked and then a fresh idea occurred to her in regards to the conversation they had been having prior to this observation of hers about Arnold telling Sid to shut up, and she instantly brightened and brought it up. "Oh, oh, I've got another one—we take them all on a tour of my shrine to you! Now if THAT doesn't convince those nay-saying chuckleheads who just won't believe that you and I are a couple that you and I are indeed a couple and desperately in love, then nothing will!" Helga chuckled and winked Arnold.
Arnold chuckled as well and rolled his eyes with a little blush on his cheeks at her latest 'never actually going to happen in real life because we both would totally die from embarrassment, but still it's fun to joke about it' suggestion of a way to convince the more 'in denial' part of their class that they were dating (put on the table so far had been breaking into all of their doubting friends' houses in the night and tattooing 'A+H Forever' on their foreheads, inviting them all over to observe one of their (intimately more milder, of course) dates and see that indeed Arnold and Helga really could behave civilly and even affectionately with one another, making a blunt announcement over the PA about their status as a couple, and baking a few banana cream pies with the phrase 'We're dating, DEAL with it!' written on them to smack all of the most notorious naysayers in their faces with). Ever since coming into the school doors the two had been having this little back and forth joke about what wacky full-proof antics they could do to prove to their remaining doubtful and misguided classmates that Helga was one hundred percent in love with Arnold and that Arnold was one hundred percent in love with Helga and that was the way it was going to stay.
And now to Helga's latest suggestion of a shrine tour, Arnold smiled and replied, "Not bad, Helga…Doing that would cause me to die from humiliation at having everyone we know see your beautiful creations that you use to worship me as a love god…but otherwise not bad." A stifled giggle or two escaped Helga at this, which made Arnold chuckle a little more in return. And then he added as another playful suggestion, "Or instead I could take them to see the stack of pretty pink books always in my room and we could have a poetry jam session—Gerald could lead…in between gagging about me as an 'orzo shaped Prometheus' of course. And also, that plan would probably only paralyze me in embarrassment instead of actually killing me from it so…I'd still be around for you to love when it was done." A fully blushing and smiling Arnold winked at his love.
Helga laughed…and this time turned to look down with a little very distinct and rosy blush and slightly awkward shrug as she did so. 'Us r-reading my poetry out loud to everyone…'
"Eh…n-not too horrible of a plan, I suppose…e-especially if it would keep you alive for me to continue worshipping you with things like my shrine…" she managed to reply, and then she quickly cleared her throat.
Helga knew Arnold would probably pick up on her slight 'reaction' to his poetry suggestion (wait for the scene after the whole 'older boy making a pass at Helga' thing for the reasons behind her reaction to be revealed, please), and so she didn't give him the chance to comment on it but rather grinned and quickly tossed out a suggestion sure to distract him with blushing. "Or we could always just go with sending them invitations to the wedding. We'll get hitched right in front of them. Perfect way to kick off the summer. Sheena's uncle Earl's a boat captain—I'm sure if I slipped him a five he'd do the honors for us. We could use the dock as an aisle, I could give you such a fiery kiss after we said our 'I do's ' that it would send up steam from the salt water and make me have to carry you into the boat, and then we could go and have a little honeymoon on Elk Island…all alone…where I could give you lots of fiery lake-steaming kisses…and maybe you could give me some too… What do you say?" She gave his hand a little saucy squeeze.
Helga really did except just a ton of blushing and chuckling and cuteness from Arnold at this particular little joke of hers. After all, she'd on occasion pulled out the marriage stuff to play with him…but never the idea of their honeymoon yet…And he always was a goner for fiery kisses…
Instead though Helga found Arnold…blushing darkly, yes, but…looking forward…down…free hand behind his back…He seemed to almost be holding something inside of himself, and the touch of soft tension in his quiet voice as he replied to her now suggested it as well…And what he said was interesting too… "Is…that another marriage proposal, Helga?"
Helga raised part of her brow in curiosity at him for a moment but then she just chuckled and rolled her eyes, not getting why he was being a little funny about something like that but figuring he was entitled to a little extra nervousness today all things considered. "Eh, not as official as the last one….Think of it as more of a friendly marriage/honeymoon 'suggestion'." She winked at him.
Her beloved was silent for a moment as they walked on, still looking quite pensive and shy. Then he just sighed and smiled more and looked back at her again finally. "Alright then... Just checking, Helga. And not the worst suggestion for telling our friends either." He winked back at her.
Helga just laughed a little to herself and rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, my loopy little Football Head, whatever you say…Now come on!" She squeezed his hand a little more tightly. "If our butts don't get to class by the time the bell rings, then we'll get detention just like we almost got this morning when we were nearly running late, and then our whole afternoon'll be spoiled! Race ya, paste for brains!" She giggled and blew a raspberry at him and then ripped her hand from his own and went to take off down the hall and around the corner and…
"Oof!"
"Uhhhh…What hit me?"
"Helga, what…"
"A-Arnold, I'm fine, really…"
Helga was in the process of standing up, Arnold was in the process of helping her up.
And just to make things weird, Wolfgang was on the other end of this sudden little collision and he was standing up too now, Edmond behind him.
And was it bad that Arnold already felt a tinge of at least subconscious jealousy at the fact that Helga had just crashed into SOMEONE ELSE while going around a corner?
"Hey, look, it's that little wimpy football headed fourth grader and some girl. And the girl knocked you down, Wolfgang," Edmond observed with one of his usual obsequious and vacant smiles.
"Hey, shut up!" Wolfgang said over his shoulder with a scowl before turning back to the two kids in question (actually specifically at Arnold for a moment, whom he recognized all too well considering their past adventures together). "And hey, you shrimpy little goodie two shoes fourth grader, what's the big idea? Why don't you watch where you're going? And why are you walking around the halls now anyway? The bell's about to ring and it's time for the FIFTH grade recess so you and all the rest of those fourth grade babies better be off our playground by the time we get out there." And indeed, the sounds of other fifth graders approaching from down the halls now that it was their recess time could be heard to back up the information Wolfgang had just delivered. Then Wolfgang smirked, crossing his arms over his chest and grinning proudly down at Arnold as he added, always having to be an instigator, "Unless you're trying to be late to class to get detention because you're scared of our baseball game this afternoon. Is that it, wittle baby fourth grader?" He laughed raucously to himself and elbowed a still grinning Edmond to make him join it.
Arnold was more than ready to just roll his eyes at all of this ridiculous and obviously antagonistic talk and take his girlfriend's hand again and head off to class with her.
Helga, however, always did like a challenge.
"Hey, the Football Head is NOT scared of you—no fourth grader is, Wolfgang! And come this afternoon, you're gonna get clobbered!" she announced proudly, crossing her arms over her chest with a grin.
Arnold just let out a sigh and almost shook his head to himself and tried not to smile. 'Of course…I wouldn't have expected anything less from her…even if it is going to probably complicate the situation a lot now…'
Wolfgang blinked at the unexpected retort meeting his ears, and from the girl in this situation, no less…and it didn't help his slight embarrassment that fifth graders suddenly started trailing by them in the hall as they headed to recess…and some of them were starting to notice the little exchange currently going on at the hallway corner. Wolfgang looked to the co-ed in question. "Hey, you take that back, you little…" Of course, now really looking at the girl he had bumped into…the kind of tall girl with one blue eye that he could really see (his bump into her had caused Helga's hair to shift over part of her face once more today), and all that soft, shiny blond hair (and Wolfgang did like shiny things!)…he sort of blinked and paused for a second… "Uh…do I…know you…and…if I don't…" he grinned a tiny bit… "can I? No girl's ever talked back to me like that before. You've got…spunk."
"Wolfgang, what are you saying?" Edmond instantly whispered from behind him, glancing around at their fifth grade classmates, more of whom were passing by, meaning more of whom might notice things. "She's with the fourth grader! For all we know she's a fourth grader too!"
Wolfgang scowled and gave a frustrated sigh and elbowed Edmond again, glancing at him over his shoulder. "Hey, first of all, if she's a fourth grader too then how come we don't recognize her? And second of all, yeah, she's shorter than us but she's still pretty tall…definitely taller than the shrimpy football headed kid anyway! Now shut up! I'm trying to do something here!" He elbowed Edmond once more and then turned his sights back on Helga with a smile. He leaned against a locker suavely on one of his arms. "So…you live around here?"
Silence.
Then…
"Alright…" a deep…disgusted…disturbed…sigh from Helga… "I didn't realize that this whole 'girly' thing would make not just annoying but creepy people…ugh… 'like'…me too…"
Arnold…actually couldn't help but just chuckle mostly at this latest little incident on this day to befall him and his girlfriend…because honestly, if there was ONE person in the whole world he could never consider a threat, even if he ever did think Helga would ever maybe leave him for anyone ever, it was certainly Wolfgang—please! Arnold knew Helga so well…two seconds romantically with Wolfgang and she would throw her hands up in the air, punch him, and stalk off to spit in the river and then end the day by rapturously worshipping at her shrine to him, her beloved football head. So now Arnold, his small chuckles ceasing, just rolled his eyes, and moved close to his girlfriend and said to her in a lower voice so that only they would mostly hear, "See…I knew this was going to happen…You're not hiding under the scowl anymore and now twice as many boys as before can't help but fall for you…" He couldn't help but grin, "Would you two like to be left alone or something?" He hadn't been able to resist.
"Arnold, shut up!" Helga practically gasped with a surprised grin and an eye roll and the pinkest little blush he'd ever seen her get as she gave him a playful little push away, to which Arnold just responded with another little chuckle.
"Hey, Hey…" Wolfgang couldn't help but interject with a slight scowl at Arnold. "Shrimpy, the big kids are talking. Go play in the sandbox or something…" Then he turned back to Helga and instantly that smooth smile was back on his face. "So…" He even slicked his hair back a little with his hand. Even his vocal tone changed to something trying to sound a little more cool (both for Helga and for his fellow fifth graders all around him), "...you are very cute and…that kid…" he pointed to Arnold, "…is very young…I know you're probably new here and that totally explains why you're walking around with him but don't worry, I'm here now. Hey, you ever check out the school's club, The Cocoa Hut? It's, uh…very fun…after hours…" He pumped his eyebrows up twice…and he had slid very much closer to her.
Helga gasped, her eyes wide, and she was even leaning back a little at his movement closer…and he mind fully processed and recalled after a few seconds of numbness and what went on there after hours…
She blushed in SUCH indignation, her jaw hanging open a little, and unable to find words and speak! She just felt so…ugh, besides disgusted at the notion of being pursued by anybody but Arnold (which had always been her usual feeling over the years whenever a boy had shown any interest in her) she just felt utterly…mortified! What he had just suggested and having it be so random and having to accept that she really did look that pretty! Ugh it was too much! She didn't want to handle it right now! She wanted to just…
"Wolfgang, if you ever say anything like that to her again, I will hit you. I won't talk to you about it, I won't challenge you to a baseball game or something about it, I won't ignore it…I will hit you. And it will hurt."
Helga had never heard Arnold speak to anybody with that much…silent rage underlying his voice. It was almost frightening…it reminded her a little of how he had been during that whole 'karate rampage' thing but…with an extra passion underlying it…A passion for her, she realized with a gulp.
Helga was still facing Wolfgang so she couldn't see Arnold, but she could see Wolfgang…and despite the fact that he was nearly twice her beloved's height and weight and that in the past Wolfgang had tossed her poor Arnold in trashcans and pushed him in the dirt and mud during games and had even given him a black eye once…she saw a distinct flash of fear go through the older boy's countenance.
Of course, very quickly it was replaced with a scowl and a preparation to say something nasty back to Arnold and to possibly reach forward and grab him and hoist him up and pop him one, but for that first moment it couldn't be denied that Wolfgang had been afraid.
But she wasn't going to let her beloved get hurt over this. Never! And besides, they really should get to class anyway.
She was instantly between the men and she took Arnold's hand firmly and safely in her own. She spoke plainly, simply and very clearly to Wolfgang. "Wolfgang, get a life, shut up, you disgust me, and we're leaving…now." She rolled her eyes, scowling a little now. "Oh and…" He gave her head a shake to flip her hair back behind her head again so that her face was in full, perfect view and she looked him right in the eye. "Yeah, I'm Helga G. Pataki, fourth grader and proud of it…and the Football Head is more than enough man for me…So why don't you, I don't know, go practice kissing the back of your hand or your stuffed animals and leave me alone before I barf! Oh and make sure you show up at Gerald field today so we can cream you! Come on, short stop, let's get going!" And with that she gave her beloved's hand a little extra squeeze and briskly started them on making their way up the hall right toward Mr. Simmons' room and right through the remaining fifth graders coming down it…who had all noticed the incident between Wolfgang and the fourth grade girl and boy at this point and had actually stopped to watch the two younger blondes in question walking away, and after such a firm and challenging announcements from them both!
Wolfgang just stood there in silence for a moment, his jaw dropped and his eyes wide.
Instantly, all the other fifth graders who had noticed started to whisper to one another and snicker and chuckle, and especially the girls, all glancing at Wolfgang.
Even Edmond started chuckling. "Heh, you got turned down by a fourth grader, Wolfgang!" he observed obviously.
That sentence from his friend snapped Wolfgang out of his humiliated and surprised shock and instantly he scowled and sent an elbow behind him and much more sharply than usual right into Edmond's gut. "Shut up!" Then he looked back in Arnold and Helga's direction as they were heading away and called out to them, doing his best to save face, though he felt it was impossible (and it didn't help that half the fifth grade girls around him were still pointing and quietly laughing). "A-And hey, pinkie, like I really thought you were cute anyway! I remember you now with the one eyebrow! So what if you did something stupid to your hair! Like it's even all that pretty! I was just messing with you! And w-we'll clobber you later! You'd better believe it! You and your Football Headed little boyfriend! Wh-Who I could pound anytime I felt like it, you know! Like he could scare anyone! And we're gonna beat you later, you babies!" And with that he snagged Edmond and turned around to storm off through the hall past the other fifth graders and out to the playground to avoid any further embarrassment.
Meanwhile, as Helga and Arnold reached Simmons' door now after their brisk trip toward it, Helga paused before entering and let out a deep sigh (a little tremor passing through her as she did so). "Arnold…" she turned around to look at him, not having laid eyes on him once since Wolfgang had gone from casual flirting to full on making a pass at her: he was a little red in the face (though she could tell from the hue it was based in indignation as opposed romantic fluster of any kind), his mouth was quirked to the side a little funny and she realized then that it was probably because was clenching his teeth a little and might not even realize he was still doing it, and also his eyes were a bit wide with a touch of curiosity and seriousness.
He opened his mouth, about to say something, but she didn't give him the chance, speaking first. "Arnold, you listen to me. Don't you ever, ever, no matter what happens, ever talk back to someone who can seriously hurt you, ever. Please…I couldn't bear it if you—Mmm!" Helga had seen him look up and down the hall during her last few words but she hadn't realized it was to check to make sure they were alone so that he could suddenly come forward and put his arms around her and kiss her passionately.
Helga utterly melted inside and was so intoxicated that she was close to moving her arms around him as well (as well as she could move her arms, she was so emotionally overpowered all of a sudden), but the kiss ended almost as quickly as it had begun, and Arnold's embrace was gone and now she was just left standing there, catching her breath, eyes half opened, face flushed.
Arnold, meanwhile, likewise flushed and catching his breath a bit, straightened his sweater a little, cleared his throat, then looked deeply into Helga's eyes and spoke quiet plainly to her now himself. "Helga Geraldine Pataki…Sh-Shortman…" at adding his own last name to hers, which he had only ever done to her once before, he leaned over and gave her an extra kiss on the cheek and then pulled back, smiling a little now… "You know that I'm very good at 'taking orders' from you…and very willing to… You're smart, Helga, and you're a good leader and I trust you… But no matter what you say or do I will never sit by and listen to another boy suggest kissing you and right to your face and not let him know that if he ever talks to you that way again, I'll hit him." He took her hand and raised it up. "You're my beloved Helga…and if I don't defend you, then who will…and how could I be worthy of you if I didn't just for the sake of saving myself from maybe getting hit?" And then he kissed the back of her hand.
He pulled his lips back from her skin after a moment to look into a blushing Helga's wide eyes.
BRRRIIIIIIIIIIING!
The bell rang then.
Arnold smiled more, still holding her hand up. "Now come on, Helga…the last half of our first day at school as a couple awaits."
Arnold was about to reach out and open the door with his free hand when suddenly, "Whoa!" He had to pause at being caught up in a near bone-crushing hug by Helga. Her arms were tight around him and she was burying her head against his chest and under his neck a little. "Arnold…you're…" she chuckled a tiny bit and sounded like she was getting a little misty eyed…and also like she was smiling so very much… "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, you big lug…you big, loveable, caring, adorable lug…"
Arnold blinked…and then smiled…then snuggled into her hug a little, gently bringing his arms around her back in reciprocation. "Thanks, Helga…and you're welcome…" He cuddled into her a little.
Helga let out a sigh, cuddling into him for a moment as well, and then, the two of them really having to move things along, she finally let him go and just smiled at him, brushing away a near tear or two from her eyes. "A-Anyway, speaking of all of that insanity back there…" she scoffed a little, glancing to the side with a bashful smile, "First of all, I said it before and I'll say it again, I told you everyone knows what goes on at the Cocoa Hut after hours." She chuckled and winked at him. Then she sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes, still with a smile though. "And secondly, seriously, Arnold, am I that cute like this…? All smiling with my hair down and everything about me calm and fun…And don't give me the standard 'lovesick Arnold' answer about how I'm a goddess in your eyes. Just…seriously…first Sid and then this…am I really a pretty girl…in general?" She looked to him with genuine curiosity in her eyes.
Arnold, during the entire delivery of this question, had just looked at her in utter wonder. Then he smiled and sighed. "Helga…" he looked right into her eyes, "All the love I have for you aside…yes, you are a very pretty girl in general. You…just…are a delight to see…and that plus your…whirlwind personality just makes the whole package perfect. I told you you'd get compliments on your appearance and your personality today…and from boys…" He blushed a little. "I'm just happy that no matter who comes along you really do want me and only me…and that either way I'll always be there to defend you."
Helga blinked…and then of course melted into even more of a smile and a little giggle. "Thanks, Arnold…Oh but, Arnold?" She faked a little pout at him, putting her arms coyly behind her back. "Aside from your passionate quest never to let anyone insult me…before when Wolfgang was just flirting only a little bit and you were laughing and joking about it with me…weren't you even the tiniest bit jealous of him…maybe…just a little…just for the sake of my ego?" She smiled a bit at him.
Arnold smiled a little more at her…then he looked to the side sheepishly. "A-Actually, I…I…you'll think this is stupid but…" he turned his eyes to hers again, "I was jealous when you crashed into him going around a corner instead of into me…"
Helga blinked looked at him for exactly one second blankly.
And then she burst into warm laughter, shaking her head. "Arnold, just get into the classroom before Simmons has a chance to mark us tardy or any more misadventures distract us!" She pushed him toward the door and put her hand on the handle. "Oh and hey if it'll make you feel better I'll be sure to crash into you very soon." She winked and rolled her eyes to the side and laughed a little more and then opened the door and gestured for him to go first (which he did with a little laugh and nod) and then Helga stepped in behind him and closed the door behind them and they went to take their seats (Mr. Simmons was distracted at the moment with getting some things ready at his desk and most of the class was still only slowly making their ways to their seats after gossiping a little bit before the bell, so the two of them were safe despite having come in a few seconds late).
'Heh…This has been one screwy day at school…' Helga sighed and mused to herself as she sat at her desk. 'And with English class fast approaching…it is about to get screwier…' She gulped as she looked up to Mr. Simmons who was erasing some things from the blackboard and prepared to be taught Geography for a little bit…which she was sure would be fun since Mr. Simmons had made every subject today fun but still…She sighed again, just a touch of a frown threatening to come to her face…because…
…English really was going to be a hoot in a couple of hours….
Helga was about to let herself get part lost in doubts about some thing that was on her mind, part lost in whatever fun geography-based class Simmons had prepared for them, and part lost in the happiness of Arnold still sitting next to her today…and for the rest of their scholastic careers, if she had her way…
"Okay, class," Mr. Simmons turned to the kids now, clapping his hands together brightly! "I hope you had a very special last day of fourth grade recess! And that you all have had an extra special time today counting with and weighing the chocolate bars in math class and making your own personalized soda flavors in science and painting the back classroom wall during art class…because next we've got geography, history and English! And I have very special plans for all of them! First we'll…" But then Mr. Simmons paused, noticing finally an…obvious vacancy of about three seats in his room. "Hmm…" he looked to all of the other seated students curiously, recognizing who normally occupied those seats. "Class, where are—"
His question was preempted though by the classroom door opening and the arrival of the three missing students in question…a very furious looking Rhonda (with her hair quite out of place, fists clenched at her side…), a very frustrated looking Harold (with a bruise on his cheek and some obviously forming on his knuckles…) and a very enraged looking Curly (with a black eye and mumbling to himself).
All three of them entered the room, the door closing behind them.
Rhonda spoke for the three…her voice quick and sharp and low. "We're sorry we're late, Mr. Simmons…There was a problem on the playground." And then without a word more she walked across the room (the boys following suite)…and the entire time she glared at Helga (who caught it and proceeded to look upward with a light blush and twiddle her thumbs innocently), before finally taking her seat, as did the boys.
Mr. Simmons just watched this whole little procession with a curious look, but when the children were all finally seated he just smiled at them and then addressed Rhonda (since she was the one who had addressed him in the first place upon entering). "That's alright, Rhonda…You three were only a minute or two late anyway, so let's not worry about it and get right on to the special world of Geography!" He clapped his hands together again and then reached into his attaché case and pulled up a big, rolled up paper, then walked over to the blackboard, unfurled it, and stuck it to it with some magnets, and then turned back to the kids joyfully (he was standing in front of the large posted paper so that the kids couldn't quite see what it was yet). "Alright class, for geography today…." And then he jumped out of the way of the poster and held out his hands toward it to display it, "We're going to be studying this map of Dino Land and figuring out the best route to take to try out the maximum number of rides with the maximum number of special, and hopefully healthy, snack breaks! Isn't that special?"
Instantly, all the fourth graders (even the grumpy gus Rhonda) were smiling and cheering a little about this idea, really sort of loving Mr. Simmons' method for dealing with the 'last day of school' blues.
Seeing their enthusiastic reactions, Mr. Simmons decided to give them a little spoiler about the class after this one. "Oh my, well, if you kids like this for Geography, I hope you'll like the film on the history of baseball and this city's long stickball tradition that I'll be showing for History class…complete with Yahoo sodas for you all to drink while we're watching!" He bent over and pushed a cardboard box formerly hidden by his desk (and that he had brought in from the teacher's lounge during recess) into sight and it indeed said 'Yahoo Soda' on it and was obviously full of fresh glass bottles of the stuff!
And now the kids were all smiles and almost wishing the school day didn't have to end! Heck some of them were even clapping and whistling!
An elated Mr. Simmons' smile brightened to its utmost. "Oh class, I'm so happy that you're enjoying all the special things I planned for today." He started to get a little misty eyed and wiped a tear away from his face. "It's just that you've all been so special and I've enjoyed getting to know all of you so much and—"
A familiar sarcastic…though much more playful than usual…sigh interrupted the 'big emotional moment', followed by a familiar sarcastic (though, again, much more playfully than usual) voice saying, "Yeah, yeah, Simmons, quit getting all mushy on us…" This was accompanied by a little chuckle from Helga G. Pataki. "Let's just get on with our special Geography class, and History class…and English class…" She rolled her eyes at that last one—a little tick to soothe her nerves.
In response (and almost no one ever dared to respond or try to add to or one up a Helga G. Pataki joke), came another person's familiar voice…as calm and level headed and nice as ever…but maybe with a touch of playfulness underlying it as well. "Helga…"
Helga almost felt a touch of nervousness at first at her beloved directly addressing her openly like this…but then she just chuckled and shrugged, looking to him, still speaking out loud and publicly, just as he was. "What? I'm just saying—there's two hours of fourth grade left! Let's get in as much stuff as we can—mushy stuff can happen later!" It took a lot out for her to say that with a straight face and without a blush.
It took Arnold a lot to reply in the same fashion. "Hmm…whatever you say, Helga…" He smiled at her a little more and then turned like a good little schoolboy to his books and to listen to and start in on the lesson.
Helga just rolled her eyes to the side and turned to face forward. "Quit sucking up, Arnold…" she merely replied, her smile growing, still out loud… "It's not nearly as cute as you think it is…" She couldn't help a dusting of a blush coming to her cheeks…
Arnold's cheeks tinged with a blush too. He just shrugged a tiny bit. "Whatever you say, Helga…" he merely replied again, doing his best not to chuckle, and doing his best to keep his gaze on the board…for now, at least… No promises, though.
Meanwhile, at this whole precious little exchange, Mr. Simmons couldn't help but put a hand to his mouth and chuckle a tiny bit. He hadn't had the heart to interrupt it…and it really was the last day of class…and it certainly hadn't been one of their former 'antagonistic' little back and forths…no, not by a long shot… He smiled meaningfully down at the two children in the front row. "Yes, well, thank you, Arnold and Helga…Arnold, it was very special of you to worry about me being interrupted, and Helga it was very special of you to care about us having time to fit in all of our special plans for today."
The two kids just blinked at first at being addressed like that by their teacher but then they both looked up to Mr. Simmons with small smiles and nods and mumbled little 'uh…you're welcome' s '.
A chuckle or two more escaped Mr. Simmons, which he did his best to hide, and then he let out a sigh and turned his attention back to the full class again. "Alright then, class, so to start with our Dino Land geography project how about each of you let me know you're favorite ride from the theme park and we'll write them down on the board, that way we know which rides to try and hit twice? Won't that be special?" And instantly he had a piece of chalk in his hand and was half turned to the blackboard and ready to write.
In the front row Arnold and Helga, who had been smiling up him, turned to smile to each other now and exchanged a loving look and then went back to paying attention to the class at hand, not caring at all about what anyone might have to say about their little performance just now and feeling so much better by this point in the day.
(And Arnold snuck glances at Helga as much as he pleased as the afternoon progressed…daydreaming about her…e-except of course when she started doing it back to him which always made him turn away shyly and blush a little and focus on his notes way too much…which were as covered with doodles of her name as her notes were covered in doodles of his…).
Meanwhile, in all of those rows behind Arnold and Helga…
Their closest friends were smiling in happiness—it really did seem like Arnold and Helga had gotten over the hump with all of this public confessing stuff, and they were glad for that.
The newest supporters of Arnold and Helga looked curious at first…but then they were sort of smiling too…happy that Arnold and Helga weren't letting the misguided ideas of certain other people bring them down…
The naysayers were looking at the couple curiously but still rolling their eyes a bit at the idea of…themselves being wrong and Arnold and Helga actually not just playing some weird complicated 'make other people jealous' game now…And yet still they couldn't help but find it a little…disturbing…that now not only was Arnold staring with googly eyes at Helga…but Helga was starting to do it right back. Still though, maybe just a trick to bug them for the stuff at recess…I-It was a possibility at least…right?
And Rhonda, who gets to be in a class of her own for not-as-of-yet disclosed reasons… Rhonda was still glaring away at Helga…and really, it wasn't even so much at 'Arnold and Helga'…it was really mostly Helga. And she really was just…not happy with her blond classmates for multiple reasons at the moment.
Geography and History went off without a hitch…
Then English class came…
"Okay, class, now it's time for…that's right, you're last English class of fourth grade ever! Isn't that special?"
At this statement, on reflex, the entire fourth grade couldn't help putting down their soda bottles that they had been drinking from during the History class baseball movie and giving a quick, aching glance toward the clock on the wall which stated that there were currently only forty five measly minutes between this very instant and when they would be free for almost three months for summer break. And yet despite that promising future goal, most of the kids were able to turn their eyes away from the ticking bringer of their liberty now to give Mr. Simmons a smile and nod and some attention too… After all, he HAD been making this a pretty fun last day of class! Heck, at this point, some of the kids actually couldn't help but feel sorry that the day was already ending…and who knew what new fun English would bring?
At the sight of his students' smiling and obviously eager faces, Mr. Simmons took a breath and clapped his hands together, beaming at them. "Alright, then class. Now, I know we've had a lot of fun today and I wanted to end with a chance to really let each of you express who you are for your final minutes as fourth graders. So, since we're in English class, I thought I'd just let each of you have the special opportunity to fill the class in on your favorite genre of writing and why, and maybe read a piece of something you've been working on or something you might like, or just make some recommendations for summer reading to the other students! Oh won't that be special?"
Now, of course, the kids trusted their teacher but…they couldn't help but feel a little leery at this request…Not to be unappreciative of the easy ride they'd gotten today so far but…they were really hoping things would end with a bang and it seemed like whatever Mr. Simmons was suggesting now might involve actual work.
Mr. Simmons' next words, though, did manage to ease their doubts at least a little…. "And don't think you can only talk about books or works we've read in class—the floor is open to anything you can think of! Comic books, Purdy Boy novels, lyrics to your favorite songs—I'd just like each of you to think of one style of a few styles of reading or writing that are special to you and share with everyone else! Isn't that exciting?"
The class wasn't exactly up in arms cheering now but they were definitely smiling more and that slight look of worry on most of their faces had slipped away. Comic books, song lyrics—this could actually be a lot of fun and anyway it was only for the next half hour and change until the bell rang, right?
Seeing their nods and accepting smiles, Mr. Simmons' own smile grew. "Terrific, class! And while we're doing that, just to make this an extra special end to an extra special day…" He then went over to the classroom door and put his hand on the knob… "…Along with finishing the rest of our Yahoo sodas…we're going to have a pizza party! Isn't that exciting!" He suddenly whipped open the door to reveal Principal Wartz standing there with a bunch of familiar looking, flat, square, cardboard boxes, upon which all of the students' eyes lit up and…
"YAY!" the kids all began to cheer in excitement.
"Uh…Mr. Simmons…?" Principal Wartz, doing his best to keep his balance, entered the room and placed the boxes down on the teacher's desk. "I know you ordered these to be delivered to the school but if your class gets them then every class is going to be demanding pizza, we don't really have the budget for…"
Mr. Simmons knew where he was going though and waved him off with a smile. "Principal Wartz, it's very special of you to care about our school's budget but please don't worry—I know it wouldn't be unfair to treat one class to pizza with the school's money and not all of them so these are on me for my very special first fourth grade class!" And with that he took out his wallet, opened it up, and handed Principal Wartz the money for the pizzas.
Alright, if the kids hadn't been in love with Mr. Simmons before thins then they certainly were now! A chorus of "Thank you, Mr. Simmons!" echoed throughout the room complete with cheers and high fives and every gesture of happiness and appreciation imaginable.
Mr. Simmons just beamed and turned to his class, putting his wallet away. "Oh you're welcome, class! Now come on, let's start our special pizza party and English class!"
Principal Wartz just smiled and shrugged at the sight and pocketed the money and headed towards the door. "Hey, if it doesn't cut into the budget, have fun, Mr. Simmons!" he called over his shoulder and then departed (most likely for his last day of playing with his toys in his office until next fall).
Mr. Simmons just chuckled at his departing words and then went behind his desk and pulled out some paper plates and napkins and prepared to pass them out to the students along with the pizza. "Okay, okay, class, settle down—now, who wants to go first for English class?" He surveyed the room.
'Do it…Do it…Helga, quit being a baby and get it over with and—'
"Ooo can Sheena and I go, Mr. Simmons?" Eugene's voice instantly piped up eagerly, seconded by Sheena's.
"Oh, yes, Mr. Simmons! We have some new musicals we've been studying and we'd love to sing some of the numbers and talk about the lyrics with the class!"
"Well, sure, Sheena and Eugene! Come on up here. Thank you for being so special and kicking things off for us!" Mr. Simmons replied happily.
From her desk in the front row, Helga rested her head on her hand and let out a deep sigh. 'Great…Okay, come on, Helga, just…even if it takes you a few minutes to psyche yourself up…you know you HAVE to do this for yourself…And ironically enough, Simmons just presented you with the perfect outlet for it! You don't even have to make any special requests or anything…You just have to…go!'
Eugene and Sheena were already up at the front of the room and starting to talk/sing.
Helga sighed again and did her best to smile and buck up and to also pay attention to her peers, who happened to be in the group of a few nice people welcoming her and Arnold's love with open arms. 'It'll be okay…just…you don't have to be the first…Just take some time to prepare yourself…You've done so much already today,you can definitely do this!'
It was then that she felt a little something flick against the skin of one of her arms. She blinked and looked down. It was a spitball…and it had come from beside her.
Her eyes went wide and she blushed and then her eyes instantly went over to Arnold.
He was just looking at her with a little smile. He gave a little shrug. "What?" He was so obviously trying not to burst into laughter.
Helga's mouth popped open.
Then she grinned devilishly. " 'Bad boy'…" she whispered back.
He just smiled a little more…found it in him to give her a little wink…and then both children went back to paying attention to the class at hand…
…And Helga was feeling a lot more confident and relaxed yet again today. 'Do it when you're ready, Helga…Do it today but…when you're ready…'
And Helga then proceeded to mentally do her best to get ready…
She needed a lot of mental prep though, it seemed, as it was now almost the end of English class and almost time for the bell to ring and Helga G. Pataki still hadn't done it…the thing on her mind…
Though that didn't mean she wasn't still intending to do it…
"Alright, class, we only have a few minutes left?" Mr. Simmons announced brightly. "Would anyone else care to share or should we all just talk amongst ourselves and finish our pizza until the bell—Oh!...Helga, you…you have something to share…" Mr. Simmons eyes lit up at unprecedented sight of Helga…volunteering to share during English class! Granted, ever since the poetry tutoring thing with Arnold, Helga had gotten a little better about things like participating in English discussions and giving much more constructive criticism on the works of her peers, but…she had never offered to share yet…out loud…all by herself…ever! He was positively bursting with potential pride inside!
The young blond girl in question, her eyes closed in a slight cringe and her arm indeed having shot up high in the air not a moment ago, slowly let out a breath then lowered her hand and cleared her throat. She finally managed to open her eyes and reply in a bit of a forced voice, doing her best to stay calm and confident, "Uh…yes, Mr. Simmons. I…I was wondering if I could maybe read one of my poems out loud today…"
The look of elation on Mr. Simmons' face was indescribable. He clapped his hands together in delight! "Oh that would be wonderful, Helga! Truly one of the most special things of all! I'm certain the rest of the class would love to hear one of your pieces, especially after all of the help you gave them with our big poetry assignment last month. Would you like to come up to the front of the room or to just sit at your desk to read?" he asked so very eagerly.
Helga just swallowed and, shakily, stood. 'If I'm going to do this, might as well go all out…' "No, I'll…I'll come up to the front…" she replied. She reached into her jumper pocket grabbed a folded up piece of light pink paper out from inside of it, and then she stood up and moved a few steps out and around her new front row desk to the front of the room and then finally found the courage to turn around to face in the direction of her classmates. Helga really couldn't bring herself to look directly at the looks that must be on their faces right now though of course, and instead just did her best to focus on the paper in her hands. However, Arnold not being seated more than a couple of feet to her left, her eyes did fall on him for just a second and then she couldn't help but do a double take at just how wide his eyes were…his whole gaze and attention locked right onto her form…and at how much his jaw had fallen. She blinked at the sight of him frozen like that and then it couldn't help but make her have to hold back a little laugh at all of his adorable surprisedness, an effect which seriously helped to take some of the edge off of her nerves right now. 'Thanks, Arnold,' she mentally thought to herself. She took a breath and focused her eyes back on the page in front of her again. 'Okay, Helga old girl, don't worry. I believe in you, you can do this, piece of cake. And besides, it's not like I'm giving a reading of some epically revealing piece of poetry about the most intimate recesses of my girlish soul or anything—this one should be just vague enough that it shows a little bit more about who I really am without making me and Arnold laughingstocks for the rest of our lives and having our intimacy run in school paper headlines from now until grammar school graduation.'
Helga cleared her throat, swallowed, and then with one more breath finally found the courage to open her mouth and speak. "Okay, so…this poem's called Time Alone." She cleared her throat once more, took in a fresh breath, and began…
Time Alone
We were always together in the wrong way
Until, in a heat, everything changed
Then burned into something lovely and new…
That I made us hide…like all was the same…
So for hours and hours, for days and days, for them all
I'd fight and yell and mock and deride
And you'd sigh and scold and make excuses
And it was fun…yet it was also a lie.
But for a few brief hours at the ends
When we finally found some time alone
Then we could laugh and smile and be together,
Every moment the source of another poem.
And even though I've enjoyed our gaps
In the charade of our lives I've set into place,
I think we both know it must come to an end
And that who we really are must take its place.
Helga remained staring at the paper in front of her, practically cringing, trembling, paralyzed, still unbelieving that she had actually just read one of her poems…her love poems…ALOUD to the rest of the fourth grade. 'Please let a bolt of lightening strike me, let a meteor fall, let SOMETHING happen because I CANNOT move! Literally, I think I'm actually frozen in fea—'
The sound of a single person starting to slowly clap made her blink and look on instinct to the crowd before her…and to the first row first, of course.
Arnold was just sitting there, smiling away and indeed clapping slowly. And then the sounds of other people slowly joining in caught Helga's ears…and the applause (for that was what it had become at this point) started gaining and growing and becoming rich and full! Phoebe was following Arnold's example and then Lila and then Brainy, even Gerald was throwing in a few claps…and as Helga's eyes finished observing her friends they fell upon the other kids in the class too and noticed, much to her surprise, that no one was snickering or getting ready to laugh or even looking bored out of their skulls. They were all just sitting there, looking pretty surprised to say the least and just a bit awestruck…and even the naysayers were even clapping slightly! For her!
And for the first time in her life…Helga G. Pataki felt publicly proud of herself as a poet…genuinely and sincerely and publicly proud.
Helga came out of her trance of noticing this unexpected reaction from her classmates at the feeling of Mr. Simmons coming up behind her and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Very nice, Helga. Another masterpiece. Thank you so very much for sharing." He looked down at her meaningfully, a touch of mist coming to his eyes again.
"Um…you're welcome..." Helga managed to mumble back to him before quickly moving back to her seat and ducking into it. She was really happy that she was in the front row right now where no one could look back and see her because she could already feel the blushing that she had been doing her best to keep at bay while up there suddenly flooding her cheeks now that it was all over.
"Okay, class!" Mr. Simmons turned to the students. "Even after Helga's lovely presentation we still have a few minutes left before the final bell rings to just sit and chat and talk all about how special our summers are going to be, and please feel free to converse and move about the room as you prepare for your well deserved summer vacation!"
With smiles the whole class instantly broke into gossip and laughs and just general conversations about how boss this summer would be…and maybe other stuff too of course…
The whole class, that was, save Helga who was just continuing to sit with her eyes closed and her head in her resting in the palm of her left hand on her desk, trying not to actually allow herself to die from embarrassment at just the idea that she had read an Arnold poem out loud in front of the entire class even if the actual action of doing so hadn't seemed to cause too much social devastation to her…
And then our blond heroine felt an all too familiar warmth cup her unengaged right hand upon her desk.
"Helga…" came Arnold's soft, quiet, and obviously brimming with happiness voice to her ears.
Helga let out a sigh and turned to him, her eyes opening a little…a small smile managing to come to her lips. 'You know, I'd worry about our entire class behind us seeing him hold my hand like this again today but after what I just did, a little public affection from Arnold is going to be a drop in the bucket.' "So, how bad?" She spoke aloud now to her beloved, though in a quiet voice so only they would hear. "The humiliation, I mean. Do you think when I change my identity and skip town I'll have to leave the country or will just a relocation to somewhere in the Midwest be enough?"
Arnold, his eyes and smile and whole football shaped face beaming with love and warmth, just laughed at her joke and then he squeezed her hand a little, leaning a little bit more toward her as he rested his head in one of his hands on his desk as well. "Well, I think the Midwest would be fine but…if you head to Europe or something then when I come after you to bring you back to me at least we'll get that dinner in Paris you've always talked about…You know, the one I tried to carry you off to once one morning before school." He winked at her, recalling that little attempt of his the Monday after their one-week anniversary.
Helga just had to laugh a little. "Stop being so good at making me feel better, Football Head! Sheesh!" she joked back with an eye roll and a hand squeeze of her own.
Arnold just chuckled a little and was about to say something else comforting to her when he was interrupted by the arrival of a couple of their classmates who had chosen to use part of their few minutes of class chat time to pay a little visit to a certain blond, young poet laureate to expression their admiration and congratulations to her.
"Wow, Helga, that was a really great poem you wrote!" Sheena said with an encouraging smile.
Helga blinked, NEVER having expected direct side compliments about her poem (direct side INSULTS maybe but NEVER compliments), and looked to Sheena with a blank face. "Oh! Um…th-thanks, Sheena." She barely knew what to say! And she was so taken aback that she never once thought of separating her hand from Arnold's.
"Yeah, gosh," piped up Eugene now, which caused Helga's wide eyed blank stare to turn to him, "Sheena and I have been to a lot of beat poetry events and readings by adults, and you have a real knack, Helga! No wonder Mr. Simmons thought you'd be a good poetry tutor!"
"Uh…th-thanks, E-Eugene…" Helga stuttered out…and then she…actually managed a smile…and to add… "That's…That's really nice of you to say."
"Well gosh, no problem, Helga. You're quite welcome!" Eugene replied back brightly with Sheena nodding in agreement beside him.
"Well, we'll see you at the baseball game this afternoon, I guess! Bye, Arnold and Helga!" Sheena added sweetly, and with a quick wave each, Eugene and Sheena walked away to head off to other parts of the classroom.
The smile remained on Helga's face and then only grew as, before she could even say anything or question it all, similar events suddenly proceeded to happen with Nadine and Sid and Stinky and Park and Peapod Kid…so many kids in their class! And the whole time Helga was just numb and tingling all over with some new feeling, and holding Arnold's hand warmly, never once feeling the need to pull hers from it out of fear.
"Football Head…" Helga finally turned back to Arnold at one point as things seemed to be dying down (mostly since the bell was about a minute from ringing), and her eyes were lit up like fire rockets! She spoke in a quiet voice again so only the two of them might hear. "They…they actually like my poetry! And they like me for writing it…" She sounded so amazed by this simple fact, so utterly utterly amazed! But after all, it was one thing for her beloved to like her poetry—for better or worse he had a stake in it and also he adored anything that came from her and was important to her just as she adored anything that came from him or was important to him. But…to hear other people, with no stake in her writing at all, (excluding Mr. Simmons who, for all she had ever known, had been encouraging her writing at least in part just for the sake of improving her self esteem and junk) praise it and say they actually enjoyed it…It was a heavenly sensation almost equal to her soaring love for her beloved! She was so happy!
Arnold had to smile at her adorable observation about everyone's reactions to her poetry and nod. "Of course they do, Helga," he replied sweetly and supportively, and likewise in a quiet voice to keep things just between them, "I told you—doing everything you're doing today, everyone's bound to love you just as much as I do…from your pretty hair to your pretty poetry which I didn't even realize we were all going to have the privilege of hearing today on top of every other wonderful thing about yourself you're giving everyone the privilege of in public…" He winked at her…letting his fingers start to entwine with hers…
Helga giggled, her heart fluttering a little at his actions and sweet words… "Yeah, well, okay, maybe so far overall this whole honesty thing today has led to a lot of good." She shrugged at him, her grin picking up a little on one side…her fingers starting to entwine right back with his... "I can actually kind of almost see doing this every day from now on…"
"Helga?"
Helga had to blink and pause in the near full-on flirting she was doing with her beloved at the sound of none other than Rhonda Wellington Lloyd's hesitant voice coming from behind her.
Her focus left Arnold for a moment and she turned to see the fashionable girl (who had managed to fix up her ensemble and hair a little since coming in from the 'playground incident') standing a little behind her desk with an eyebrow raised. Helga's face quickly took on a look of suspicion at this latest visitor, all things considered... "What?" she started bluntly, squeezing Arnold's hand a little for support and also just because she felt like doing it right out in the open in front of 'Miss RhondaLloyd.' "Here to point out the fact that Arnold and I are holding hands again? Or maybe the fact that he was the first one to clap when I was done reading my poem? Or maybe the fact that he and I keep talking and smiling and even blushing and actually having a good time together today DESPITE the efforts of certain people to the contrary? Take your pick, princess, because I just don't care anymore! Hmph!" And with that Helga turned right away from Rhonda and right back to her beloved, not in the least bit interested in what the dark-haired girl might have on her mind to say this time!
At such a blunt and abrupt reply, Rhonda blinked and then cleared her throat and glanced away haughtily and replied in a matter-of-fact tone, not caring if Helga was looking at her or not, "Actually, first I wanted to let you know that I'm going to find a way to get you back for that nightmare of events you set into motion with Harold and Curly before on the playground! We'll be lucky if we don't start out the fifth grade with a two week detention if Wartz ever finds out!" Rhonda glared at Helga.
Helga just scoffed and rolled her eyes, still refusing to look at her though, and still openly and freely holding Arnold's hand. "Yeah, yeah, anything else besides your empty threats about getting me back for teaching you a lesson?"
Rhonda crossed her arms over her chest and turned a little red in the face from anger and then spat back stubbornly…and yet also a touch sincerely, "Well, I also wanted to say that, everything today aside, your poem was actually really good and I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time last month about not believing you could write decently, but if you don't want to hear it that's just fine with me!" And with that Rhonda quickly turned on her heel and with a 'hmph' of her own stomped straight back to her desk.
Silence.
And then at this MOST unexpected response of all to her public poetry reading, Helga had to blink and look slowly to Arnold. She barely knew what to say at first. This entire day was so confusing…just so freaking confusing sometimes… "Did she just…kind of sort of compliment my writing?" merely left her mouth in a tone of quiet disbelief.
Arnold, equally rather surprised, managed to half smile and nod to her. "Uh…yeah, I'm pretty sure she at least tried to."
"Hmm…" Helga had to smile and even chuckle a little to herself. She gave a small shrug. "Well…I guess now I just need to get her to compliment me on snagging you instead of trying to get the class started in on a chorus of 'Helga and Arnold Sitting in a Tree', and then we'll be all good, won't we?"
Arnold chuckled a little right along with her, then just sighed, savoring the feeling of her hand still in his...and the bliss of seeing her happy right now despite all of the bumps the two of them had hit along the road of this day. "You know, Helga, I know I keep saying this but…I really am proud of you for doing all of this today…especially the poetry thing now…and I'm…I'm really happy that we can be more open about things now in front of everyone…" He glanced down, still smiling. "I mean, not that keeping our secret wasn't fun but…I think being honest about things might be good for both of us."
Helga let out a smiling sigh and nodded, glancing downward as well (and likewise just savoring the feeling of his hand and hers touching.) "Yeah, as usual you probably have a point, Football Head. And besides, as for the fun of keeping our secret…" He grin became just a bit wryer and her eyes (now half lidded) went to look to him again, "…Well, as we've said before, that there are still quite a few things that can stay just between you and I for privacy's sake…" She winked at him with a touch of suggestiveness in her grin.
Arnold felt himself blush slightly as he glanced away from her, his smile getting just a bit goofier. He swallowed. "O-Oh…well…yeah, another good point, Helga…" He cleared his throat.
He heard her giggle cutely. "I really need to start carrying around a camera so that I can snag a picture of you and half the cute looks I get out of you, Arnold."
Arnold next heard her sigh and at that point he glanced up to see her just sitting and staring dreamily at him, her head still cupped in her free hand…wavy blond hair still framing her face…cute little pink bow at the top of her head…so brave and…all his all this weekend…
He just did his best to fight the almost uncontrollable urge to release a lovesick sigh and take her in his arms and kiss her all over that pretty face until she giggled and sighed and blushed and whispered his name in love…though really the image felt so natural to him at this point that it was a little hard to resist even despite their current location. "As I've always said, whatever you say, Helga…" he managed to just say playfully back to her under his breath…putting aside his compulsion for later.
Helga just giggled more and rolled her eyes and waved him off with her free hand. "Oh Football Head…I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing those words from you…"
They chose to pass the last couple of minutes of fourth grade just holding hands and smiling and gazing at each other, not needing to actually say anything…to say everything in the world to one another.
"…Six, five, four, three, two, one…"
Suddenly the final bell trilled loudly throughout the classroom and the hallways of PS 118, officially signaling the start of summer break! Instantly, all of the students in Mr. Simmons' class flew up in elation, high-fiving each other and getting their notebooks and pencils together to bring home so they could shove them in a corner and not have to worry about them until fall!
"Oh, class, it's been such a special privilege teaching you…" Mr. Simmons began as he watched them all prepare to depart, eyes still misty with emotion. "I hope each of you has a special summer vacation and thank you so much for the card!" Mr. Simmons held up a class card that everyone had signed and that Phoebe (who had spent the better part of the last week organizing people to put the project together) had just presented him with before the traditional 'T minus ten seconds and counting' countdown to summer break. It was big and colorful and made out of construction paper and macaroni and glitter and had everyone's names and a message from each signer on the inside of it.
To Mr. Simmons' sweet parting words, all the kids just called back to him, above the din that they were making, individual 'your welcomes' and 'thank yous' as they approached the door and began to head out of the classroom.
Arnold, his backpack over his shoulder and all ready to go, smiled at Helga who currently had all of her stuff together as well and was leaning with her hip against her desk, arms folded over her chest…
And yet, despite the fact that it was now officially summer vacation…the enthusiasm of Helga's smile left a bit to be desired.
In fact, though the way her face looked right now couldn't be called 'nervous' exactly, it did at least look like she had something on her mind or like there was something she had to do and was very aware of having to do it and having still not yet done it, Arnold couldn't help but notice. 'Maybe she's nervous about how everyone might treat us at the baseball game now…and especially Wolfgang…' he wondered to himself. "Helga…are you alright?" he asked her considerately with a caring smile.
"Huh?" Helga blinked and looked up at him as though he were taking her out of an important thought, though she quickly smiled in her normal way and replied, "Oh, uh, yeah, of course, I'm fine, Football Head. Actually, I…feel really great." Her smile brightened a little. "I made it through school today being honest about myself and us, and…I feel like a million bucks, Football Head! Like I could do anything!" She grinned proudly.
Something in Arnold's countenance brightened as well and he let out a happy sigh. "I'm glad, Helga. So…" a touch of boyish shyness crept into his features and he asked softly, "Could I walk you to Gerald Field for our baseball game, maybe?" He glanced up at her hopefully, that touch of sweet uncertainty about asking for her time and presence still within him…as it always would be on some level, his love for her was so great and sweet.
Helga smiled so very warmly, so very appreciatively, so very lovingly…but she had to turn him down this time…just this once. It was for a good reason though. "A-Actually, Arnold…" she started as nicely as she could, not wanting to hurt his feelings or anything, "…I hate to ask but, could you maybe go on ahead without me…? I…just, um…wanted to say something to Mr. Simmons. Okay?" She gestured over her shoulder to their educator who was still watching the last of his students depart the room, tears in his eyes. Helga then focused back on her beloved and added sincerely, "And as long as you'll be alright without me for just a little bit on this day, of course...?"
Arnold blinked, not having expected her turning down of his offer for a walk and extra not having expected that she suddenly wanted to talk to Mr. Simmons of all people.
Still though, for all he knew this was relating back to something deep and necessary to truly finish up her last moments of her first day of school with being honest about herself and their secret. And so Arnold just let out a breath and nodded to her with a warm smile. "Alright, Helga…I understand. You go and…I'll save us two spots in the dugout for you, alright? Unless you want me to wait for you outside on the school steps? Whatever's better for you." He looked at her with a totally supportive smile. "And I'll be okay for a little while on my own, Helga, I promise. I've got Gerald and Phoebe and Brainy and Lila and that's just to start-I'll be okay." He nodded affirmatively.
"Thanks Football Head," Helga replied back with a grin and a little light punch to his shoulder. She chuckled and crossed her arms over her chest again. "But it's okay-if you wait for me then you really will be alone for a few minutes and I don't want to risk you having to take any teasing on your own. You go with our friends and save us those seats and I'll be less than two minutes behind you, I promise! Besides, I don't want to have to sit my butt on the ground on the technical first afternoon of summer vacation." She winked at him.
Arnold smiled and chuckled and shifted his backpack more onto his shoulder. "Okay Helga. I'll see you at Gerald field." He gave her a little wave goodbye.
Helga returned the gesture. "See you, Arnold…" And then watched him turn away and leave by the classroom door.
It only took another few seconds for the rest of the kids to clear out, upon which Helga then hesitantly approached Mr. Simmons' desk. "Uh…Mr. Simmons?"
The teacher, who had been in the process of getting the empty pizza boxes and soda bottles together to throw away, paused at the sound of Helga addressing him and turned to her with a smile. "Oh, Helga, I'd thought you'd gone off with the others already. Did you need something?"
Helga took a breath, glancing away shyly, rubbing one arm with her opposite hand... "Uh…actually I just…well…" Then Helga let out a breath and looked up at him and told what was on her mind, because if she had managed to be open enough to do half the other stuff she had done today, she figured she could certainly be open enough to do this, and especially considering the fact that that none of other peers were even around to mock her about it, "I just wanted to say, well…I wanted to say thank you, Mr. Simmons." She gave him a polite, appreciative nod, arms still crossed over her chest.
Mr. Simmons, smiling at her a little curiously, put down the empty pizza boxes and soda bottles on his desk and sat down in his usual chair behind it. "Well," he started appreciatively, "…it's very special of you to come and tell me that in person Helga, and you're welcome and thank you very much, but," he reached into his attaché case and pulled out and held up the class card again, "I think the wonderful card you and the others made for me won't ever let me forget just how much each of you seemed to like having me as a teacher."
Helga blinked and couldn't help but smile at him. "Oh, well, that's great Mr. Simmons and I'm glad you liked the card…I'll let Phoebe know—she's been working on putting it together for a while now…but…I didn't mean 'thank you' just for being our teacher for most of this year and stuff…I…well, I…I meant it for how you…" She hesitated and considered her words, a touch of shyness coming to her countenance. Her arms relaxed and then went behind her back. "I meant it in a more…personal way… for how…uh…you know… cool you were about m-my poems and…and always saying 'anonymous' instead of my actual name and never…never bringing up the fact that a lot of them…okay, all of them… were pretty obviously about…you know…Arnold…and…certain private f-feelings of mine…" She gulped and cleared her throat, doing her best to keep moving with this. "And then also I meant it for that whole thing with the poetry tutoring last month and kind of nudging me into it even though I didn't want to do it…and then helping me and Arnold out when things went a little crazy with his poem…" She almost had to laugh at the memory…and then she sighed and added, looking to him a little sheepishly… "…oh and also for not, uh…pointing out Arnold's hat on top of Principal Wartz's toys in his office after that whole food fight thing last week, heh…" She took in and let out another breath, and looked at her teacher confidently and sincerely. "So, anyway, that's what I meant—that I just…wanted to say thank you for all of that, specifically, between us, because, well, thanks to all of those things and all of your help with them I'm a lot happier now and I think Arnold's a lot happier too, and, well, now I'm not scared anymore to have my poems get read out loud and have people know they're by me…and I'm not even scared to have people know that I li…that I love…Arnold…" She let out a breath, a little twitch going through her at having to use that particular 'L word' in front of another person and especially in front of an adult, but she trusted Mr. Simmons, very much actually, so it felt more right than nerve-wracking… "So…thank you, Mr. Simmons. You're not just good at teaching us things, you're also…" she searched for the right words once more, though they barely took a moment to come as she looked up at him, "You're also really good at helping us grow up. And I think that sometimes that can be even more important than the stuff we learn in class everyday. So, yeah…thanks." She let out a breath and smiled at him…having meant to get all of that off of her chest since that girly slumber party with Olga after her first date with Arnold when she had realized just how much of she and Arnold suddenly ending up together had been due to the indirect efforts of their teacher, and how (and especially if things worked out with her beloved) she would be eternally grateful to him for all of his 'special' assistance.
And Mr. Simmons, who had been just beaming more and more and the little blond student before him had spoken, was now grinning ear to ear at her, and almost in full-on tears as opposed to his misty-eyedness from just before with saying goodbye to the class! "Oh Helga…" was all he could manage at first, just looking at her. He wiped a tear from his eye and finally took a breath, managing to regain his voice again. He leaned over toward her, his face full of sincerity and happiness. "Thank you…I'm…I'm so happy that you've had such a special experience from having me as a teacher. Both you and Arnold." He sighed, something in his countenance seeming even more touched by and proud of her now, if that was even possible. "And what an insightful point to make, about the difference between teaching kids curriculum and teaching kids how to grow up…I knew you'd make a great teacher yourself one day, and if anything could have proved it to me even more, it was that." He chuckled a little, just so very pleased with her at the moment.
In response to all of his sentimentality, a still smiling Helga just sighed and chuckled slightly herself, glancing to the side with a little eye roll. "Hey, hey, Simmons," she started in feigned sarcasm, putting her hands on her hips, "don't get all mushy on me with the water works and the big dreams for my future, or anything. Just wanted to clarify how incredibly awesome you've been—I didn't mean to turn this into some big emotional scene." She looked back to him with a little grateful smirk.
Mr. Simmons just laughed, sitting back a little from her again and putting away his class card. "Of course, Helga," he replied, understanding her way of doing things perfectly. "No need to get all sentimental, I suppose. You'll accomplish great things when the time comes and when you're ready. And I'll still have plenty of special chances to remind you of how special you are in the future since you and me and the rest of the class will probably see each other over the summer now and then, and then of course fall's not too far away either when we'll all be back to school." He swung his fist through the air in a little show of sincere enthusiasm.
Helga gave an appreciative smile to him letting her off the emotional hook, but also had to fake a dramatic cringe at his last point. "Hey, hey, now, teach, you're talking to a ten-year-old who just got done with her last day of school before summer vacation—don't start bringing up how quickly fall can arrive, okay?" She laughed, but then couldn't help her face falling slightly as another thought occurred to her now, considering the concept of fall and a new school year, "It is kind of a bummer though that we're not going to be your class anymore next year..." She sighed but then did her best to look happy and to put on a touch of optimism for the 'special' educator before her. "But at least we'll see you around the halls." She couldn't help but laugh and add, "Oh and good luck with teaching this year's third graders next year…Chocolate Boy's in that group, if you remember from the whole Yahoo Chocolate and Soda Factory field trip. And I heard that sometime during recess today he went on a bit of a rampage throughout the halls screaming something about 'his kingdom for a chocolate fondue pot for his radishes'." She rolled her eyes, still grinning away and then pointed at her teacher with the index finger of one of her hands. "All I can say is good luck to you, Mr. Simmons—though if anyone can whip a group like that into shape, it's definitely you!" She winked.
Mr. Simmons had to laugh at her comments, and then he just rested his head on one of his hands on the desk and smiled, quieting his voice a little as he spoke. "Well, thank you, Helga, that's very special of you to say…But actually…" He glanced from side to side as though making sure they were alone, and then pulled a piece of paper out of his attaché case, "I'd appreciate if you wouldn't let it get around too much since Principal Wartz still has to sign off on the decision, but…" He held up the official looking sheet with the school's letterhead on top and smiled happily and hopefully, "I've actually applied to teach a fifth grade class next year…and I'm hoping I can convince Principal Wartz to let me have your same group again. Isn't that exciting?"
Helga's eyes lit up at the sudden news and instantly she was grinning quite a bit herself. "Really? That's great, Mr. Simmons! I-I mean…" she blinked and cleared her throat and shrugged, trying to remain casual but still unable to help smiling away, "G-Good…At least that means I won't have to break in a new teacher on the whole 'anonymous' thing." She gave him an appreciative look once again for that whole part of their relationship.
Mr. Simmons just laughed at her little joke (and her obvious happiness with the idea of being in his class again) and put the paper away in his case once more. "Thank you, Helga, I'm happy you like the idea. I've been thinking about doing it for some time now. Since I didn't start being your teacher until almost the second half of the year I feel like I didn't get to spend as much time working with and getting to know each of you as much I would have liked, and I think another full year together would be the most special way ever of fixing that. And besides, I've taught most elementary grade levels in jobs I've had before so it wouldn't be a very big change for me." He smiled at her.
Helga smiled back at him and shrugged. "Hey, works for us! And don't worry, I'll keep the news under wraps, Simmons." She gave him a wink and a nod. "Besides, I'd love to see everyone's faces when we walk into the classroom in September and see you behind the desk."
Mr. Simmons chuckled and nodded as well. "Thank you Helga. And yes, I'd like to see all of their surprised special faces too." He smiled at her and Helga smiled back.
For a moment, teacher and student just remained looking at each other in this happy accord…but Helga knew she had somewhere to be right now…and someone to be there with…and so she sighed, now that her work here was done, and glanced in the direction of the clock and then the door. She turned back to her teacher. "Well, anyway…I'd better get going…The gang's expecting me at Gerald Field for our last fourth graders versus fifth graders game…"
Mr. Simmons smiled and nodded. "Of course. You go have fun with your special friends, Helga. After all, it is officially summer now."
"Thanks, Simmons!" Her smile brightened and she gave him a little salute and turned to head for the door. Just as she was about to exit into the hallway though she turned back around once more. "Oh and Mr. Simmons?"
Mr. Simmons, who had stood and been about to place all of the boxes and bottles into some trash bags for the janitors, looked over to Helga, still smiling kindly as always. "Yes, Helga?"
Helga's smile picked up a little on one side and a touch of a blush threatened to come to her features as she asked with a little shrug, "I know you can't tell me anything specific since it's about another student but…has Football Head been keeping on the ball with his poetry?" She rolled her eyes a little to the side. "I've been giving him tips all this past month whenever we've had another assignment but he gets so self conscious about his stuff and about how much he likes my stuff that he barely lets me see any of it…so I just want to make sure the little shrimp's not slacking." She smirked a little.
Mr. Simmons did his best to hold back some serious laughter. "Well, like you said, I can't get too specific because it's about another student, but…I think you'd be proud of Arnold, Helga. He only writes small things and brings them in to me, in terms of poetry, but…there's something in them that wasn't there before at all…Why don't we say that just like I noticed a shift in your writing a couple of months ago…there's definitely been quite a shift in his writing as well, to say the least…and I think it's a good shift." He smiled at her.
She smiled back at him. "Good…" She put a hand on her hip. "I'll be sure to keep him running drills over the summer though, just to keep us both fresh." She winked and waved. "Well, bye, Mr. Si—Oof!" Helga had been about to venture out into the hall when she had definitely bumped into someone…tall…wearing a skirt… 'Well, at least I know it's not Wolfgang…' she couldn't help joking internally as she sat up on the floor and rubbed her head for a second. Then she looked up and her eyes brightened and a big smile grew on her face and she was standing instantly. "Dr. Bliss! What are you doing here today?" Yes indeed, it was her faithful and intelligent therapist!
"Dr. Bliss!" Mr. Simmons announced with a smile, standing up from his desk and clapping his hands together. "Oh please come in, I'm happy you hadn't left yet! I know our talk got cut a bit short this morning because I was running late, but I was actually just about to come look for you in the teacher's lounge before I went to our final faculty meeting of the year."
Dr. Bliss smiled at her two friends eagerly greeting her. "Hello Helga," she nodded to her little patient, "Hello, Mr. Simmons…" she nodded to the educator before her. "Yes, I know, I was hoping to find you too. I definitely wanted to finish up our talk from this morning…" She looked back to Helga now, her grin picking up on one side a little. "And Helga…well, you didn't think I'd not show up on a day like today—even if it is a Friday." Dr. Bliss glanced to Mr. Simmons and then back to Helga for a moment as a way to let the young girl know that since a third party was here she would only talk in vague terms about things of course.
Helga picked up on her ethical point and blinked and then smiled and jerked her thumb back to indicate her teacher. "Oh, you can say whatever you want about all of this stuff today in front of Mr. Simmons, Dr. Bliss. He's cool. And yup, today was the day for my plan of honesty…and thanks for showing up, doc, I appreciate the support."
Dr. Bliss just smiled more. "Yes, well, I had to see how things went after all. And by the way, from what I've been able to observe, I have to say that things are going beautifully. You were honest and brave and patient… I'm very proud of you, Helga." Then she knelt down to the floor and hugged her ten-year-old little charge.
Helga's breath caught in her throat at first at the sudden affectionate gesture, but then she quickly smiled and melted into it and hugged her therapist back. "Thanks, Dr. Bliss. I'm happy I did alright with it all…although there's still a big baseball game to get through—we'll just have to see how I handle that, I guess." She chuckled a little, but then blinked and pulled back, looking to the doctor in curiosity. "But, wait, you've been here all day…why didn't you let me know until now, Dr. Bliss?"
Dr. Bliss looked at her with a sincere smile at the question and explained quite simply and logically, "Because I knew you could do things on your own without any of my help, and because you did them so well that I didn't have any need to step in, and also because I thought feeling like you had an 'audience' might make you a little self conscious. But if I didn't see you by the end of today, I was going to tell you Tuesday that I had been here…" she assured the last words with a nod.
Helga's happy smile returned and she nodded in understanding to all of that. "Ah, I get it…Very crafty, doc." Then she crossed her arms over her chest and grinned proudly. "And yup, I have kept it together all day—not bad if I do say so myself."
Dr. Bliss chuckled a little, standing up from the floor. "Yes, well, I'm sure all of your friends are very proud of you just like I am…Phoebe and Lila and Brainy and Gerald…and Arnold…" She smiled at Helga with a touch of meaning.
Helga's smile grew and she looked down to the side a little bashfully and nodded. "Yeah, that's…what I've been hearing from them…Phoebe and Brainy…and Arnold…and all the rest…"
Dr. Bliss did her best to hide a chuckle behind her mouth at Helga's shy acknowledgement of Arnold. Then she just smiled at her and added, "But speaking of your friend's you still have the baseball game to get through, like you said…" And then she leaned down close and added with a little smirk, "And I for one am looking forward to hearing all about how you manage to finally convince every one who might be doubting you that you're love for Arnold is real is his is real for you too. I know you, Helga, and if you've set your mind to having everyone know you're with Arnold today then by the end of the day they'll know it. And I know you'll find the perfect way to convince them all once and for all." She winked confidentially at her little patient.
Helga beamed, very glad for the confidence boost. "Thanks, doc. And you know, you're right—I've decided today's the day everyone realizes Arnold and I are together and if some people are trying to put me off schedule, well, then they'd just better look out because when she has a mind to, nobody stops Helga G. Pataki from doing what she wants to do!"
Dr. Bliss smiled widely, her eyes lighting up a bit as she straightened up and gave Helga a nod. "There's my girl. You do what feels right, Helga, and everything will work out—you have a good sense of people and what they can handle and I know you'll make the right decisions for the rest of the day."
Helga looked up at her very sincerely. "Thank you, Dr. Bliss…" Then she let out a breath and added, her tone deeply sincere and obviously referring to more than just her pep talk right now. "Thank you…" And then instantly the ten-year-old girl had shot forward and wrapped her arms around Dr. Bliss's waist in a tight hug. "You and Simmons are completely boss!" she added, hugging Dr. Bliss a bit more tightly. Then she let out a sigh and released her a little and looked up at her. "And I'll fill you in on everything on Tuesday, including about my and Arnold's dates this weekend." She winked up at her.
Dr. Bliss chuckled a little, looking down at her with a smile and then a wink of her own as she replied with, "I'll be looking forward to it all. Would you like to schedule a double session back to back, just to be sure to have time to fit it all in. I'll bake us cookies again…" Dr. Bliss added with a little extra smile, recalling how towards the end of Arnold and Helga's fight the other week with Helga scheduling all double sessions, the therapist had been kind enough to start cooking them up little snacks to eat to help get them through the two emotional hours at a time.
Helga's grin grew at the suggestion and she put her hands on her hips and stepped back, still looking up at the doctor. "Hey, you make them chocolate chocolate chip and you've got yourself a deal." She winked at her.
Dr. Bliss gave her a sincere nod and winked back at her. "You've got it."
"Thanks again, doc." Helga chuckled a little and then let out a sigh and glanced from the doctor to her teacher and then to the clock and door. "Well, I've definitely gotta be going now. Bye Simmons, Bliss! See you when I see you!" She gave a little salute and then she was out the door with her things, moving lightly down the hall to reach her beloved and their friends and the baseball game as soon as possible.
Mr. Simmons and Dr. Bliss just watched Helga leave…
And then when she was gone they turned to each other and their smiles grew at a certain silent understanding between them…about a certain young person who had just exited the room.
Mr. Simmons was the first to speak as he finished up the last bits of the pizza party clean up and organization at his desk. "It really was very special of Principal Wartz to let you come for the last day of school to make observations, Dr. Bliss. I must thank him again at the faculty meeting."
Dr. Bliss smiled a little more. "Actually, that's part of why I'm here right now, Mr. Simmons—I was hoping to catch you here before you went to the meeting. I'll be joining you at it, actually—I just finished talking with Principal Wartz for my last interview and as of next year I'll officially be starting as the school's part time guidance counselor on Mondays and Wednesdays in the afternoon."
Mr. Simmons blinked at the unexpected news at first and then he put aside the now full trash bags of pizza boxes and Yahoo soda bottles and beamed happily at the woman before him! "Oh, Dr. Bliss…congratulations! That's the most special news I've heard all day! I'm certain the children and Helga will be thrilled!"
Dr. Bliss chuckled and nodded her head, sort of obviously beaming herself at this new happy turn of events. "Thank you, Mr. Simmons, I'm quite happy about it too. I enjoy my private practice but…I know children have to talk to their parents first before they can come to me there and sometimes that's hard…so this way they'll be able to come to me whenever they need to. And I really do love to work with children at this age…" A thoughtful and pensive look came to her face as she glanced off…in the direction Helga had gone, actually…and added, "Around nine, ten…if there are problems…it's the best time to work through them before they grow into something worse later…A lot of…unnecessary heartache can be eased and cured…or at least helped…And that can mean a world to a child." She smiled at Mr. Simmons again…a bit more meaningfully this time…
Mr. Simmons smiled back…a bit more meaningfully as well… "I agree, Dr. Bliss…"
There was a moment of quiet and silent mutual understanding between them again.
Then Mr. Simmons smiled a little more and let out a sigh as he walked out from behind his desk, grabbing his attaché case to take it with him. "Dr. Bliss, I know I started to say this this morning but I…really did want to thank you again for coming to me and speaking with me about Helga last month. I know that it was a little difficult for you to express your concerns and opinions while still making sure you maintained your doctor/patient confidentiality…it was the same for me in a way with us talking since I sort of like to think I have a kind of an 'unofficial' teacher/student confidentiality with the kids…But I'm glad we both knew enough mutually just from observation that we didn't have to say too much but were still able to help her…"
Dr. Bliss nodded, smiling a little more herself. "No, thank you, Mr. Simmons, for taking my advice…Normally I wouldn't interfere in this way and especially not with you since you're one of the best educators I've come across in a while but…it was just a thought…and I just had a gut feeling, I guess, that it would help. But you were the one kind enough to set it into motion, and I appreciate that very much."
Mr. Simmons nodded as he walked over towards her so that they could both head out the door and go to the faculty meeting. "You're very welcome any time, Dr. Bliss, but without you I don't think I ever would have tried something like that for her, at least not this year. Of course, I've always tried to pair Arnold and Helga up for as many class assignments and subjects that call for partners as there are considering their…'special friendship', but I never considered giving them a special project all their own…or making it poetry." He had to laugh a tiny bit as he added, "Helga's so possessive and quiet about her poetry, after all, that I was half afraid she's sock me in the nose for suggesting something like tutoring Arnold in it, considering the silent agreement between the two of us that as long as she keeps being brave enough to submit her most special poetry, I'll always say her work is by 'anonymous' when I read it out loud to the other kids until she tells me to do otherwise."
Dr. Bliss's smile picked up on one side and she chuckled a little too and let out a little sigh, reaching out and opening the classroom door for them to leave by. "Yeah, I knew it would be hit or miss that she'd go along with the tutoring…but I figured there was a chance now considering the way their relationship has…shifted…since a couple of months ago…" Dr. Bliss looked meaningfully to Mr. Simmons. Ethically she was bound not to directly say 'since Helga confessed to Arnold' since Helga had told her that confidentially, but Mr. Simmons had pretty much guessed about the confession after Helga's first post-confession poem (on top of which, right around then had been the April Fools Day tango fiasco followed by Arnold and Helga not coming within ten feet of one another for several days). Mr. Simmons, though, of course, was personally ethically bound not to share about Helga's poetry or any changes in it with another person, even if it was Dr. Bliss…But overall the two professionals knew Helga very well…and saw each other a couple of days a week at school…and so eventually with little to no speaking at all they had come to be on the same page about the young blond girl whose welfare they both cared about so deeply, just like they were right now.
To Dr. Bliss's comment, Mr. Simmons nodded. "Yes, and I…think it might have been a shaky weekend for them at first with the 'tutoring'…and in school over the last month there have been some pretty obvious bumps now and again…but it just…feels like they've reached a new, special place together. I'm happy for them, and I think they're happy too." He smiled to Dr. Bliss as he gave her a small nod of thanks and headed out the door.
Dr. Bliss smiled back and nodded as well. "I agree, Mr. Simmons…and I'm happy that I'll get to work here now to see their relationship grow and develop over the next two years first hand." She stepped out along with him and shut the classroom door behind them.
"I'm happy for the chance for that too, Dr. Bliss," Mr. Simmons agreed.
Dr. Bliss smiled more and then added quickly. "Oh but please don't mention it to Helga if you see her—I want it to be a surprise." She winked.
Mr. Simmons chuckled and nodded back to her. "Of course, Dr. Bliss, not a word. After all, Helga already knows I'll probably be her teacher next year…I think she at least deserves the surprise of finding you as the guidance counselor."
Dr. Bliss nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Simmons."
Mr. Simmons smiled more. "You're welcome, Dr. Bliss…"
And with that the two new colleagues left the classroom with smiles to go to their staff meeting…
…While at Gerald Field the children were just about to commence their baseball game…
A/N:
Woo, another chapter down! How many more to go? Lol, I think I was doing it out in my head the other day and there should be like 9 more after this XD This story doesn't end, lol! Anyway, I'll try for the next one as soon as I can! Please R & R! And thank you guys so much for all of your support with this story! It keeps me going! Love you all!
Oh and Happy belated Halloween 8D I went as Sally from TNBC! Lol, speaking of which, if you like TNBC and you like either my writing or NintendoGal's writing or both, you should totally check out the TNBC writing we've been doing on her account lately, if you have time :) Lots of fluff, a little bit of steaminess, tons of cuteness! If you get the chance, I hope you enjoy it! ^w^
Happy Reading!
AXH FOREVER!
~Azure129 aka Jenna