Hello everyone! Sorry this took so long to get posted, but every time I start writing I get more ideas :) Anyway, I decided to post this chapter now because 1) you guys have been waiting too long, and 2) if I didn't end the chapter where I did, you wouldn't have it up for a while, and it would be super long! So, without further ado, Chapter 9!

Disclaimer: You know the drill :)

Chapter 9

Helga left Dr. Bliss's office in a great mood; everything seemed perfect. Just as she rounded the corner, though, she crashed into a certain football-headed boy.

"Arnold! Um...watch where you're going!"

"Sorry, Helga. I was just..."

"Yeah?"

"Well", he took a deep breath, "I was actually looking for you."

"Me?" Helga squeaked, "Um..w-what for?"

"Well, I was...I was wondering if...ifyouwouldliketojoinmeforapicnictomorrow!" He said all in one breath.

"...what?" Helga asked. She thought she knew what he just said, but she needed to be sure that it wasn't just her imagination.

"I, um, wondered if you'd like to join me...for a picnic." Arnold said again, visibly nervous.

Helga wasn't sure what to do. On the one hand, a picnic with Arnold sounded like the most wonderful thing in the world, but on the other hand there was the chance that someone would see them.

"Where, uh, were you thinking we would have this picnic?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

"Well, I was thinking it might be fun to have it on the roof, since it's pretty secluded; we wouldn't have to worry about anyone bothering us. Unless you'd rather somewhere else..."

"No! Um, I mean the roof is fine. So, what time should I be there?" Helga asked.

"Well, how about around one? That way I can get everything set up."

"Sounds good, Arnoldo! Guess I'll see you then."

"Yeah. Well, see you then, Helga." And before she could even process what was happening, Arnold gave her a quick hug then headed on his way, waving.

Helga sighed, then floated all the way home.

Helga climbed the steps to her house, still replaying her encounter with Arnold, when she opened the door and was almost crushed with a hug and her ears were bombarded with "Baby sister! I'm SO happy to see you again!" Helga fought off her sister and sighed.

"Hello, Olga. Thank you for that near death experience; your hugs should come with warnings!"

"Oh Helga, you're such a silly! But right now I want to hear absolutely everything about how things are going!" Helga sighed again. She tended to do that around Olga, because the other option was to strangle her much too perky sister.

"Alright, Olga, you want to know how things are going?" Olga nodded eagerly.

"Ok, I'll tell you. Things are just peachy, and you want to know why? Because Bob is still work obsessed, Miriam is still always passed out in one place or another, and I'm basicly raising myself!" Helga turned and stormed up to her room, leaving Olga standing in front of the door speechless.

Helga slammed her bedroom door shut, and wedged a chair under the knob so no one could come in.

"Stupid Olga, ruining my perfect day. Stupid Miriam for never being awake enough to actually be a mom. Stupid Bob for...for just being Bob! Why is my family so messed up? Why am I so messed up? I could barely form a full sentence around Arnold today! And he still invited me on a picnic! If only I could do the same, but between keeping my secret and my screwed up family, I don't see how that could ever work out. And now Olga's here, which just makes everything so much better! At least Bob and Miriam are pretty much oblivious to my existence, so I do whatever I want, but Olga seems to think that she gets to be part of my every waking moment! How am I going to get away from her?"

Helga flopped on her bed, then bolted upright.

"What am I doing? I've got a picnic with Arnold tomorrow! I have to plan!" she jumped from her bed and ran to her closet. There wasn't much that she thought was appropriate, so she decided to just wear her dress like she always did. Just as she closed her closet door, her bedroom door was knocked on.

"Baby Sister? Helga? I know you might still be mad at me, but I made dinner and it's ready. If you want to stay in your room I can put it in the refrigerator for you, or ever sneak it up so you can eat in your room; Mummy and Daddy wouldn't have to find out." 'As if they'd even care' Helga thought acidly. But Olga seemed to really be trying to make her happy, and she really hadn't been angry with Olga, just their parents, so she walked over to the door and set aside the chair. She opened the door to see Olga standing there hopefully.

"Olga, I'm not mad at you. I'm just fed up with our parents and how they act, but that's my problem. Anyway, since it will make you happy, I'll come down to dinner."

"Oh you are just the sweetest baby sister EVER!" Olga squealed. Before she could hug Helga again, Helga stopped her with a rather blunt "I'm not too big on hugs, Olga. Could we maybe keep it to a minimum?"

"Of course, Helga, if that's what you want. Come on, we don't want dinner to get cold."

"Sounds good to me. What'd you make, anyway?"

"Well, since it's my first night back I wanted to make something super special..." Olga rambled on the whole way to the dining room, and through most of dinner, but for once she tried to keep Helga involved in the conversation. Through all of dinner and dessert, Helga couldn't help but think that maybe Olga wasn't as bad as she used to be.

The next morning Helga woke up more than a little nervous. Today was her and Arnold's picnic, and she was almost shaking with anticipation. She walked down to the kitchen only to find Olga making pancakes.

"Good Morning , Olga."

"Good Morning, Helga! Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, I slept alright. You?" Helga asked, sitting at the small kitchen table.

"Oh I slept wonderfully, thank you. Would you like some breakfast? I made pancakes, and I also got some maple syrup." Pancakes with syrup? Helga couldn't say no!

"Sure, lay 'em on me!" she said eagerly while Olga plated some pancakes. She set them in front of Helga along with the syrup and some butter. Helga covered her pancakes in butter and syrup and starting eating.

"Wow, Olga, these are amazing!"

"I'm so glad you like them!" Olga said, sitting across from Helga with her own breakfast, "So, do you have any fun plans today, baby sister?"

"Well, I, um...I'm having a picnic with a friend, but that's all."

"Oh, well tell Phoebe I say hello, ok Helga?"

"It's...not Phoebe."

"Oh? Then who is it?"

"It's...Arnold." Helga mumbled. She had decided that she wanted to try and make she and Olga's relationship better, starting with telling her the truth more often, but she was starting to think she should reconsider.

"Oh baby sister! Your first date! How exciting! what time is it at?"

"It's not a date! It's at one, but I don't need any-"

"One?! We'll barely have enough time! Hurry and finish eating so we can get started!" Olga finished her own breakfast in record time and practically dragged Helga to her room.

"Ok, so what are you wearing? Go get dressed, then come back, ok?" Olga said joyfully. Rather than argue, Helga just decided to go with it, so she went and got dressed then returned to Olga's room.

"Oh, Helga, you look so sweet! But you wear that all the time! Let's spice it up a little!" Olga took Helga's hair out of it's pigtails, and started to brush it out. As she started to style it she reached to take out Helga's pink bow. Helga whipped around at the speed of light and said through her teeth "I will let you do whatever you plan on to my hair, but do not touch my bow. Ever."

Olga was a little surprised at Helga's reaction, but she just said "Ok, Helga, if that's what you want." She twisted Helga's hair into two French braids and smiled at the finished product.

"Oh Helga! Don't you just look precious!" she bubbled. 'I look like an idiot.' Helga thought. She wasn't too upset, though; she was going to take the braids out and put her hair back into pigtails as soon as she could get away from Olga.

Olga held Helga captive for a little while longer until Helga insisted that she had to get to Arnold's, and if Olga didn't let her leave now she'd be late. Olga relented, and Helga was able to escape to her room for a few minutes before she really did need to leave. She checked to make sure that she looked alright, minus the hair, and then ran out the door before Olga got and more bright ideas about "helping" Helga get ready. Ducking into an ally, Helga combed out the braids and put them back into pigtails. She straightened her bow, and borrowed an old hubcap as a mirror. 'Guess I'm as ready as I can be' she thought.

Arriving at Sunset Arms right on time, Helga was about to knock on the door when she heard a voice on the roof. She snuck over to the fire escape to listen. She couldn't tell what was being said, but she knew it was Arnold so she decided to play a little joke on him.

Being careful not to make any sound, Helga crept up the very familiar fire escape until she was just below the edge of the roof. She peeked up to make sure Arnold was still there, which he was. His back was to her, and he appeared to be setting up the picnic blanket. Just as he lifted the blanket to let the slight breeze aid him, Helga climbed onto the roof.

"Hey, Arnoldo! How goes it?" she asked calmly. Arnold, not knowing she had been there, spun around at her voice.

"Huh? Whoa!" he yelled as in turning around he managed to get very tangled in the blanket he had been holding. He fell over and lay on the rooftop, staring up at Helga.

"H-Helga? W-what? How did you-?" he stuttered.

"Oh Arnold. Arnold, Arnold, Arnold." Helga sighed, ignoring his questions. She walked over and started to help him untangle himself.

"Sorry about that. I wanted to surprise you, but I didn't mean for you to fall over! You ok?"

"Um...yeah, I think so." he said, coming out of his shock.

"Good. Now, let's see about getting you out of this mess. Sheesh Hair Boy, you really did it this time; how did you even manage to get this tangled?" she asked sarcastically.

After successfully freeing Arnold, Helga helped him spread the blanket on the roof.

"I'll be right back, Helga," Arnold said as he walked towards his skylight, "I'll just go get lunch. Do you want anything in particular to drink?"

"Anything's fine. Need a hand getting anything?" She asked.

"Oh no, that's fine, Helga. Just make yourself comfortable." he assured her. Once she was alone, Helga sat on the blanket trying to take in the fact that she was at Arnold's house again for a special meal. And this time it just the two of them. There was so much potential for things going wrong, but there was also so much potential for things going right! On the brink of a monologue, Helga heard the sound of the skylight door opening, and turned to see Arnold trying to open the door without dropping the large picnic basket, pitcher of lemonade, and cups that he was holding.

"Criminy Football Head!" Helga exclaimed as she opened the door and took some of the things from his hands, "Why didn't you let me help you get all that stuff? Or at least make more than one trip!" Arnold gave a small shrug, then started setting out everything he had brought. When he was done there were two plates and cups set out, holding peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and lemonade.

"Wow, Arnold, you sure know how to pack a picnic!" Helga exclaimed, "And this sandwich is awesome!"

"Really? Thanks, Helga. I wasn't too sure about plain old peanut butter and jelly, but I'm not allowed to use the stove, so I wasn't sure what else to make." Helga almost choked on her sandwich. 'Arnold made these sandwiches all by himself? For me? I'm eating Arnold's cooking! Ok, metaphorically, but still! How many times have I dreamed that he would cook for me?' Helga, regaining control of herself, looked at Arnold in amazement, "You made this? Arnold, this is the best sandwich I've ever had!"

"Well thanks, Helga", Arnold replied with a light blush on his cheeks. Ever since his grandpa had mentioned Helga liking his as more than just a friend/person to torment, he had realize than he really wanted to make her happy, and maybe even a little impressed. He wasn't sure why, but the thought of Helga liking something he did was something he wanted to make a reality.

The two continued eating and making small talk until, in a span a silence, Arnold posed the question, "So, um, Helga? I was wondering something, and I wanted to know if we could talk about it without you feeling like you have to run away?"

Helga felt her heart stop, then start again at double, no triple time. 'He wants to talk about something that might make me want to...oh no. No, no, no, no, no, this can not be happening!'

"Um...well what kind of 'something' did you have in mind?" She asked tentatively.

"Well," Arnold said slowly, "I wanted to talk about...the beach. And what happened there...with us." Helga's eyes widened to the size of the plates in front of them. She couldn't do this here! Not now, with no warning! she needed time to prepare herself! without another thought she jumped up and started running to the fire escape. She only stopped when she felt Arnold take her wrist, just like he had at the beach.

"Helga, please don't run away. I just want to talk, ok? I promise, that's all."

"But Arnold," Helga said quietly, "Talking is exactly why I'm trying to leave. Can't we just...forget about the beach?"

"Helga...I don't want to forget about the beach."