Hello hello everyone! Sorry it took a while, but here is chapter twelve! I had so many problems with this chapter that it was amazing; I had writers block for days, and then when I finally started writing it ended up being what will be the next chapter lol. I felt like this chapter was one that I just had to put in, so I hope you like it!

Repost: Sorry for the duplicate posting. I have no idea how that happened!

Disclaimer: I own Hey Arnold!

Helga: What are you talking about?! Craig Bartlett owns it, not you!

Me: Ok, ok, I don't own Hey Arnold. But I do own this fan fiction! Wait a second...first of all, how am I talking with Helga Pataki if she's (technically) just a cartoon, and second, if I am in fact talking to Helga, shouldn't you be in the story right now?

Helga: ...

Chapter 12

Slowly the days slipped away, and soon it was Saturday. Arnold and Helga had talked on the phone a few times, but hadn't been able to spend time together since the shopping trip.

Helga was becoming increasingly nervous for the first day of school, and how things between she and Arnold would play out. She pondered this as she walked to Dr. Bliss's office for her last session before school started.

"Hello, Helga. How was your week?" Dr. Bliss asked as Helga shut the door behind her.

"It was wonderful! Arnold and I had a picnic, and I actually told him everything! And he didn't freak out or run away in terror!"

"Really Helga? That was very brave of you, and I'm very proud. That took a lot of courage. Are you happy you told Arnold how you feel?"

"Oh yeah! Things have been awesome ever since! We went back to school shopping together, and he bought us key chains for two that say, get this: "you make me smile". I make him smile!", Helga paused to breathe, "And then we went back to my house and I ended up showing him my shrine, and he thought it was creative and unique! He didn't think I was a total basket case!" Helga finished with a smile a mile wide.

"That's wonderful, Helga. You're really learning that it's okay to show your true self, aren't you?" Dr. Bliss said.

"Oh yeah! Oh, and I read Arnold one of my poems and he liked it! And he's teaching me to play piano, and he stayed for dinner, and everything is great! Except..."

"Except what, Helga?" Dr. Bliss prompted.

"Except school starts on Monday and I don't know what to do. I really want to tell people because I know Arnold hates lying, and that's pretty much what we'd be doing, but I don't know how I'd handle it if people started teasing me or Arnold. I mean, teasing me would be bad enough, but I can't bring that on Arnold, too! Dr. Bliss, what do I do?" Helga moaned in despair.

"Well, Helga, I'm not going to tell you what you should do, because only you can make that choice. But do you want to know what I think?"

"What?" Helga asked.

"I think that you should have a talk with Arnold about this, and how he feels about it. If you're both as open as possible, I think you can find a solution that you both like."

"Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks Dr. Bliss!"

"Of course, Helga. It's what I'm here for. And speaking of which, I was wondering what you thought of maybe just having one session a week during school; you're doing really well, and you're learning how to deal with your emotions better. If you want to keep two sessions a week, we can do that, but-"

"Now I'll have more time to see Arnold!" Helga interrupted. Then she realized what she had said and looked awkwardly at Dr. Bliss, "I said that out loud, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did. But you're right, you would have more free time. So, is that what you want to do?"

"Definitely! I mean, I love talking to you, don't get me wrong, but I'm a busy girl!"

"Yes, I know. Alright, so then I guess I'll see you on Saturday."

"Wait, we're done already?"

"Yes, Helga, we're all out of time for today. Have a wonderful first day of school, ok?"

"I will, don't worry!" Helga said as she left the room, thinking that she really needed to talk to Arnold.

Once she was home, Helga ran up to her room and stuck the chair under the door so Olga couldn't barge in. She grabbed the phone off of her side table and pulled the cord so that she could sit in her closet with the door closed, running the phone line under it.

She dialed Arnold's number and prayed he would pick up. No such luck.

"Sunset Arms Boarding House, Phil speaking."

"Um, hi, this is, um, Helga. Is...is Arnold there? Please?" Helga stuttered.

"Oh sure, just one second!" Helga could faintly hear Phil call to Arnold, "Hey Short Man, your girlfriend's on the phone for ya!" A second later Arnold picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Football Head, it's me. Hope I didn't call at a bad time."

"Oh no, I was just reading." Arnold reassured her, "How are you?"

"Oh pretty good I guess. You?"

"I'm good, I got all my stuff packed for school today."

"Yeah, I still need to do that. Anyway, I was actually calling for a school-related reason. I was wondering about...you know, how things between us are going to be on Monday."

"Well, I guess it's really up to you, Helga. What do you want to do?" Arnold asked.

"Well, I don't really know what I want to do. That's why I was asking you. Arnold, can you just tell me honestly how you want to go about this whole thing?"

"Well, I have to admit I don't really want to go back to our normal...routine. I want us to be able to laugh and talk and enjoy each other's company without you worrying about us being seen, but I also know that it's hard for you after hiding everything for so long, so if you still want to pretend we don't get along then I understand." Arnold finished.

Helga was speechless. Arnold would let her go back to being like she had been? Teasing him and tripping him and being practically unbearable every day just because it would make her happier?

'I can't do that to him. I can't do that to us! I actually told him how I feel, and he basically said that likes me back, and then we'd just throw that all away? No...'

"Helga? Are you still there?"

"Yeah, sorry, I was a little lost in thought. Arnold...I don't want to go back to how things were, especially since it's not fair to you to keep putting up with all of my crap. But I don't know how much I can really reveal at once. Is that okay?" Helga asked slowly.

"Of course it is, Helga. I think it's great that you want to show more of yourself to people. Do you want me to help you plan what you want to do?"

"You would do that, Arnold?"

"Of course I would, Helga! If you ever need my help, don't be afraid to ask, okay?"

"Okay. Do you want to come over and we can talk about me throwing my whole reputation the heck and trying to be the real me?"

"Sure, Helga. I'll be there in a few minutes."

When Arnold arrived, Helga raced Olga for the door, then pulled Arnold up to her room as fast as she could before Olga had a chance to embarrass her.

"Sorry about the rush, Arnold. It's just that my sister can be...enthusiastic, and I really didn't want us to have to stand there while she makes her cutesy comments."

"That's alright. So, about Monday..." Arnold began.

"Right. I've been thinking that the backpack is one thing. And maybe, if you'd want to, we could...walk to school together?" Helga waited for his reaction.

"Sure, that sounds nice. Should I meet you here around 7:30?"

"Um, yeah, that's fine." Helga said. 'Arnold's going to meet me at my house before we walk to school! I thought this dream wouldn't happen until high school at least!' she thought joyously.

"And in class and stuff I'm not going to torment you like I used to. I already decided that. And...Arnold?"

"Yes, Helga?"

"If you wouldn't mind...could you maybe sit with me at lunch? Gerald can come too, as long as he keeps his jokes to a minimum."

"Helga, I would love to sit with you! And don't worry about Gerald; I'll talk to him about not teasing you or making any jokes."

"Ok, thanks Arnold. Just don't tell him too much about why I'm suddenly doing a complete 360, ok? Let's just keep...those reasons between us."

"Of course, Helga. I would never share something private like that, especially not without talking to you about it first."

"Ok, thanks Arnold." Helga gave Arnold a hug, which he returned after a moment of surprise. They talked for a while about other things, then Arnold went home and Helga perfected her Monday plan.

Monday morning Helga was a wreck. As nervous as she had been about the things she and Arnold had done this past week, she was ten times more nervous now. There was every chance for everything to go horribly wrong and for today to be the worst day of her life. 'But you'll have Arnold with you, and he'll help you get through anything' she assured herself, thought she only half believed it.

Bringing her attention back to the matter at hand, Helga forced a brush through her tangled hair. Her hair had to look perfect today, since she had a little surprise for Arnold that she had just decided on the previous night.

Satisfied with her hair, Helga went down to the kitchen to look for breakfast. Olga had left the night before so that she could go back to her teaching job, but she had promised to keep in touch like always. That being said, there were no more fancy breakfasts waiting for Helga in the kitchen anymore. She settled on an apple, and packed a pack of crackers and an orange for lunch, along with a yahoo soda she found in the refrigerator.

Just as she was closing her lunchbox she heard the doorbell. 'Arnold!' she thought excitedly. Checking her reflection one last time in the mirror on the wall, Helga took a deep breath and opened the door. In the back of her mind she realized that lately, opening this door had been pretty stressful for her. But nothing like today.

All of her worries dissipated though when she saw Arnold, dressed in his classic style, standing on her front stoop with a shocked look on his face.

"Hey Football Hey, you ready for the first day of school?"

"Helga...your hair!"

"Is on my head?" she patted her head as though checking that she indeed had hair, "Yep, it's there! Thanks for checking Hair Boy."

"No, your hair...Helga, you're wearing your hair down!" Arnold finally managed to say.

"What? Oh, yeah, that. Well I figured if I'm throwing my reputation to the wolves I might as well go all the way, huh?" truthfully, Helga had other motives for wearing her hair down. She knew Arnold liked it, and she wanted to thank him for helping her have the courage to do all of this, along with putting up with her bullying for so many years. This was her small gift to him.

"It looks beautiful, Helga! Really, you look great!" Arnold said as they started walking down the street.

"Thanks Arnold. Just go easy on the complement near the school. I don't need my face to be read as a tomato when we walk in there, do I?"

"No, I suppose not. Helga...I'm really proud of you for doing this. I know it's hard for you, but I think you're going to happy once you don't feel like you have to hide."

"Thanks, Arnold. For everything."

"Of course, Helga. Like I said, anything you need, I'm here for you."

The two walked for a ways just enjoying each other's company, but neither seemed to realize when their hands met, and didn't separate an inch as they approached P.S. 118.

A/N

Hope you enjoyed it! Don't worry, plenty of other super cute stuff to come in the next chapter! Thanks again for your reviews, follows, favorites, and of course just for even reading it in the first place!