Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story.

They all belong to their rightful owner: Craig Bartlett.

Title: "Blackmail toy"

In the last chapter of "Blackmail toy": Arnold told Gerald that he had yet another cousin named Aaron who was coming to visit that very day. Demanding to know, why he looked so down in the dumps, he also told Helga the same thing. But he didn't get to tell her it wasn't his other cousin Arnie who was coming to visit, before she ran out of the cafeteria in terror.

After about ten minutes later, he went outside to try and find her. To his big surprise he saw her standing rather close to a strange boy. She was yelling at him to get his filthy hands of her locket, before she tumbled back into the container behind her.

The boy, who didn't mean for the small accident to happen, turned out to be his cousin Aaron. So when he told him that he would bring Helga to the nurse's office, he answered that he would wait for him in the yard. But not long after he called to him and asked if he was the only Arnold at the school?

Arnold felt Helga's grip on his shoulder tense up quite a bit, when he answered that he was the only one. To his confusion, it seemed like that answer amused Aaron quite a bit.

Author's 1st note: Yeah, I'm a flashback/what-happened-the-last-time kinda girl, so you don't have to try and remember what the heck happened the last time! I will be doing that in the other chapters too, so you can just sit back and relax, without having to worry about if you can't remember the last chapter xD I know that feeling oh too well myself. Especially if the writer is a little slow :3

Chapter 2: "Painfully obvious"

"Hmm…" Aaron said thoughtfully and turned to gaze at Helga in particular, who felt like a deer in the headlights. "Interesting."

Helga could feel her heartbeat quicken at the obvious mischief in Aaron's eyes. She wanted to growl at him, but she was standing far too close to Arnold to do that, without him wondering if she'd gotten rabies or something.

And speaking of Arnold, though he was known as a little dense, not even he could not notice the tension between his cousin and Helga. She was practically digging her fingernails into his shoulder as if he was made of modeling wax! He didn't dare to point it out though.

He didn't hear much of their conversation before. He'd walked out, when he heard something about boiling something in holy water. That's when Helga had screamed for him to let go of her locket, and she'd fallen backwards into the container.

Remembering his task at hand, Arnold took ahold of the door handle to his right side and pulled at the door. "Come on, Helga." He requested and started walking slowly. She didn't seem like she heard him, but she was still somehow keeping up with his pace. "See you later, Aaron!"

"Yeah…" the two teens could hear Aaron answering. "See ya' later."

The trip to the nurse's office had been quiet and uneventful. Helga seemed to be completely distracted by something, while Arnold just wanted her to get to the nurse as soon as possible. He hoped nothing was seriously wrong with her back.

He waited inside the room, while the nurse looked at Helga. She was seated on a white bed and was told to breath normally into a stethoscope. When she just did as she was told, Arnold got worried. She'd usually complain and keep claiming that she was just dandy and there was no reason to make such a fuss, but she was just sitting there with a distant look on her face. Maybe she really did hit her head?

"Excuse me, Ms. Pataki, would you mind taking off your belt?" the nurse asked kindly while putting the stethoscope away. Helga just straightened her back and took off her belt. She was making a painful expression while doing so though. When she was done, the nurse went behind her back and pulled her top up a little. Arnold immediately looked away. It wasn't like he was seeing anything promiscuous by seeing her stomach, but he still felt a little awkward.

Helga, who truly had her thoughts elsewhere, did notice Arnold's sudden change of expression. She cocked her head to she side at the sight of him coughing a little in his hand with his cheeks slightly flushed. What in the world was the matter with him?

She sighed. Like if she had time to figure out what the football head was thinking right now. She needed a plan to make sure that this Aaron guy didn't spill the beans. Her beans! But how? She could threaten him, as she always did under such circumstances. But doing that might end up biting her in her ass, since he was Arnold's cousin.

Helga was thinking long and hard about how else she could approach this issue. If threatening him wasn't an option, then what was left? Paying him? Yeah, like she had the money for that! Besides, he was New Yorker. As if he didn't have more money than a Hillwood girl to begin with.

What's left? Helga widened her eyes as a single word, she usually only thought of, when she wanted others to do it, came to mind: Begging. No. No way. No stinkin' way! Helga G. Pataki did not beg! But what did Helga G. Pataki do…? Threaten people. And that didn't seem to be an option. She mentally sighed. But really…? Begging? Begging that stuck-up, arrogant, eavesdropping cousin of Arnold's to not tell on her?

"Well, Helga, your back seems to be alright, but I would recommend you to go home for the day. I'll write a note you can give to your teacher for the next period." The nurse all of a sudden said, while pulling her tank top back down again. "Alright, thanks, doc." Helga answered and hopped down from the bed. She could feel her back crunch a little, but it wasn't nearly as bad as before.

It wasn't until the nurse's words repeated in her head, that she smiled widely. She had the rest of the day off! That meant she could go and talk to Aaron before Arnold! Oh, praise her lucky stars! "I'll walk with you home, Helga." Arnold said while standing up himself. Oh, damn you! Helga thought. Oh, Arnold, how I would love for you to walk me home. You are such a thoughtful guy. But seriously, why now when I can't say no?! Your timing sucks, football head!

"Naw, that's ok, Arnoldo, I can walk by myself." Helga quickly answered trying to brisk him off, though she knew it would take more than that to stop Arnold from trying to walk her home. "Yeah, I know, Helga, but I just wanna make sure you get home ok." He explained and was about to take ahold of her back again, but she quickly pulled away. "Hey! Watch it, geek bait! I let you hold me on the way in here, because I didn't have a choice and I was still dizzy, but that does not mean I want you to go around getting all mushy on me, got it?"

Arnold's face fell a bit at her harsh words, and she couldn't help the guilt she suddenly felt. Great, now I feel like a bitch. He, as if that's anything new. "Ok, listen, Arnold, I just… wanna go home already, ok? If you really wanna help me, then could you please give that note to our teacher?" she asked of him, when she felt the nurse poke the note at her shoulder. She quickly took it and stretched her arm to give it to him. "Well, I don't mind doing that, Helga," he said while taking it. "but if you could wait just a second outside, then I would be out really quickly and then - "

Helga stopped Arnold's rant by placing a hand on his shoulder. "No can do, Arnold, I'm not gonna let you walk me home, got it? You've already helped me plenty. Thanks. See ya' tomorrow, football head." She said, patted his shoulder a couple of time in the most friendly manner she could manage and then turned on her heel to walk out of the room.

Arnold stood still, looking a bit dumbfounded at the now closed door. Had Helga… Helga Pataki… just thanked him? It was rather short and it was in the middle of everything, but she did say 'thanks'. He couldn't help the crooked smile which appeared on his face. He looked down at the note and started gazing a little at it. Their fingers had touched, when he took the note. He sighed, said goodbye to the nurse and went outside. He was definitely a goner.

"Alright. Where is that son of a bitch?" Helga mumbled under her breath, when she stepped outside into the now empty schoolyard. Except for one person that was. Aaron was currently sitting at one of the benches in the far end of the school grounds. She started stomping towards him immediately.

When Helga was in front of him, she pulled on her best scowl and crossed her arms. It took Aaron a few second before he felt her presence and looked up. He smiled in that characteristically smug way and pulled his headphones down to his shoulders. "Why, Helga, what could you possibly want from me?"

Helga didn't answer. She just kept scowling at him. His smile didn't fade, while he kept talking. "Ok, I'm sorry about your back, but it seems to me it got you the rest of the day off, so it isn't completely terrible now, is it?"

Helga didn't answer. Finally Aaron's smile disappeared and he sighed. "Ok, you obviously wanna say something, so just say it."

"… What does it take for you to shut up?" Helga asked blankly. Aaron first frowned at her question. Then his face turned neutral and he lifted his foot from the ground to let its ankle rest on the thigh of his other leg.

They just stayed as they were, looking challenging at each other. Finally Helga's patience ended. "Aren't you gonna say anything?!" she asked, feeling more annoyed than usual. She wasn't used to people ignoring her. "I thought you wanted me to shut up?" Aaron asked, starting to smile just a little bit at the corner of his mouth.

Helga's eyes widened in disbelief. "I can't believe… You're so… Oh, my god, are you really that stupid?! That's not what I meant, bucko! What I meant was - "

"I know what you meant, Helga!" Aaron cut in, starting to frown at her unnecessary anger. "Then why did you - oh, never mind! Answer me!" she ordered him and put her hands at each side of her waist. He started to look nonchalantly at his fingernails. "Ever tried asking nicely?"

"… You gotta be kidding me!"

"Afraid not, toots. Ask me nicely in that sweet tone, I heard you talk in earlier."

This arrogant, little…! Helga could have started strangling this guy in pure anger. He actually had the balls to mess with her!? Her!? It took every fiber in her being not to smack him silly right then and there. She took a deep breath and prepared herself for doing something, she'd solemnly vowed to never do.

With gritted teach and her eyes turned as far away from the boy in front her as possible, she crossed her arms again. "Would you… not tell… anyone about my… secret…?" she forced out of her mouth. She quickly eyed him to see, if it was to his satisfaction. He raised an eyebrow. "What is the magic word?" he asked. She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Please! Please don't tell my secret to Arnold, to Gerald to anyone!"

Aaron couldn't help but blink a little rapidly at the obviously serious request from the blonde girl in front of him. She was shaking with anger and embarrassment, but she had done it. She'd begged for him not to tell on her.

Aaron smiled genuinely at Helga, and it took her a little by surprise. "I'm not gonna tell anyone your secret, Helga." He told her honestly. She looked skeptically at him for a moment. "Really?" she asked. "Yes, really." He answered. She started smiling a little. "Why, thanks, that's surprisingly nice of you. Well, I'll just mosey my way home before you change your mind."

Helga only took a few steps before stopping immediately, when she heard Aaron talk again. He simply said a few words, but it was enough to make her blood run cold. "But you should."

She slowly turned around to look at him. "I should what?"

"Tell someone. Arnold, preferably."

"What!? Who gives you the right to tell me that?!"

"Oh, I don't know… Maybe that I know your secret, and for now I don't really have a reason not to tell anyone."

"Besides me practically begging?"

"You call that begging?"

"Yes!" Helga exclaimed dramatically and went back at her spot in front Aaron. "To me that was begging! You don't know me, pal, but let me tell you: If anyone in my class heard me say what I just said to you, be sure that they would have a stroke! Helga G. Pataki doesn't beg."

"Unless it's about Arnold?"

"Exactly. Unless it's about - no! Just in general!"

Aaron took a deep breath and then sighed heavily. "Boy, you're stubborn…" he mumbled under his breath, but Helga heard it anyhow. "You bet your ass I'm stubborn! I've been hiding this since I was three years old! No way am I gonna risk you ruining that!"

Aaron went wide-eyed. "Three years old?! So you've been in love with him for - "

"Thirteen years, that's right! So please can you keep your mouth shut?" Helga asked yet again. He'd already promised, but she just had this nagging feeling in the back of her mind telling her that it was far from over. Aaron crossed his arms and looked at her curiously. "Thirteen years… Boy… that didn't escalate quickly, huh?"

Helga rolled her eyes heavily. "Oh, haw-haw. Cheap shot, bucko. Now… are you gonna keep your mouth shut or do I have to literally make you shut it?" she asked again. Aaron looked pensive for a moment. "Can I confide you in something, Helga?"

She looked confused. Who could blame her? Why would he confide anything in her? He was probably joking. She waved a hand in a 'whatever' kind of way. He smiled at her. "I'm from a big city. I'm used to have excitement and drama around me all the time. When my parents suggested I went to Hillwood my first thought was that it was gonna be boring as hell. No offense to Hillwood, it's a nice lil' city. But little nevertheless."

"Is there a point hidden in there somewhere?"

"You're not very patient, are you?" Aaron asked seriously. Helga just started tapping her foot to the ground in an impatient way. He chuckled. "Alright, alright. Bottom line is: I have a feeling I'm gonna get bored here. I'm looking forward to getting to know Arnold, my uncle, aunt and my grandparents, but I can't be cooped up in that boarding house 24/7."

"Still waiting for that point, Buster." Helga said annoyed. Aaron's smug smile appeared on his face again and he stood up from the bench. "That's where you get in the picture." He answered as if that should make her realize his intentions. She just frowned at him. "I'm not gonna like this, am I?"

"You don't really have a choice, now do you?" Aaron asked while keeping that smirk on his lips. Helga began growling at the back of her throat, while she waited for him to drop whatever bomb he was planning on dropping. "I want you make sure that I'm… entertained through this month."

"… Oh, no. No, no, no! Forget it! I'm not gonna do you any favors!" Helga cringed at the last word. Aaron looked at her confused, until it hit him. "Oh, get your mind out of the gutter, Helga! That's not the kind of favors, I'm talking about!" he told her, a little disappointed in finding out, that she thought he was that much of a sleaze ball. "Besides," he continued and put on his smirk again. "I wouldn't need to trick a girl to make her do me any favors."

Helga simply cringed again at the mere thought. It wasn't because of Aaron, it was because of Arnold. She'd never had interest in any other boys besides him. The mere thought actually made her nauseous. And it wasn't because she hadn't thought about trying sexual stuff herself… but it was always Arnold in her mind. There simply wasn't room for any other boys. No matter how handsome the majority of girls considered him.

"So… how do you expect me to entertain you?" Helga asked, not really wanting to know. "Oh, we'll figure that out along the way." Aaron asked and shoved his hands into his pockets. She looked at him in incredulity. "You gotta be kidding! You're not even gonna tell me how my torture through this month is gonna go?!"

"Well, do remember that I didn't come to Hillwood only to torture you, Helga. I'm here to get to know my family, and you're just an unexpected bonus. Besides, I need to talk to Arnold first before I decide."

"Wait, what?!"

"Don't worry, Helga, I'm not gonna talk to him like that. I just gotta find out a few things, before I decide how my blackmailing is gonna go." Aaron answered and then it truly dawned on Helga. She was being blackmailed! "Oh, god…" she mumbled and started to massage her temple. "This is gonna be one long month, isn't it?"

"You think so? I think it's just gonna fly away in front of our eyes." Aaron answered and was met with the intense stare of Helga. "Ok, ok. I'll leave you alone now. Go home, Helga, you need plenty of rest for tomorrow. Because that's when it'll all begin." With those words he took ahold of her shoulders and turned her around.

"Hey!" Helga said before he could push her. She turned around. "I have one rule, no matter what you decide for your little scheme. Do not touch me!"

Aaron was again taken aback by the forcefulness in Helga's voice. There was something in her eyes when she was angry. A kind of fire. Which was odd considered her eyes were blue. He smiled a little and stepped back. "Got it."

Helga let her intense stare linger for a moment, before turning around on her heel and started to walk away with her arms stretched to her sides and her fists curled up. She started to mumble profanities under her breath while she went on her merry way home.

While all of this went on, Arnold was sitting in class. He kept switching between being eager to get out and wanting this class to never end. But it was usually the eagerness that would win, since his current class was History.

Aaron had seemed like an ok guy, but that wasn't really the issue on Arnold's mind. Why had he and Helga been talking just before? And why did she seem so mad at him? And what locket were they talking about? He'd never noticed her wearing a locket of any sort. It must have been pretty small to not be noticed. He did remember seeing a gold chain around her neck from time to time though. Did she hide a locket beneath her clothes? Now, why would she do that?

He couldn't help but smile. She was always full of secrets, weren't she? He hoped she'd never change, but he also wouldn't mind being the one she'd confide in. Even if he was the only one. A small part of him actually wouldn't mind being the only one. Helga did seem like the kind of girl who wouldn't tell her secrets to just anyone. He couldn't help but feel that he would be the happiest boy in the universe, if she confided in him just once.

The bell shook him out of his thoughts. He quickly started to collect his things - and himself for that matter - and stood up. "Hey, Arnold." He heard Gerald say behind him. "Wanna make me come with you and give you moral support?"

Arnold smiled. "That's ok, Gerald. I actually met him just before out in the yard."

"Really? So what's he like?"

"Can't tell yet. He seems ok, but he was arguing with Helga."

"Dude, who isn't arguing with Helga?"

"Gerald…"

"Just kidding! Well, not really, but you know what I mean." Gerald answered with a smile. Arnold just sighed and made his hand ready to do their handshake. Gerald took it. "You sure you're gonna be alright, man?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. See you tomorrow, Gerald."

"See ya', buddy."

Arnold was out in the schoolyard within a minute and quickly noticed Aaron sitting on a bench. With a couple of girls surrounding him. Some of them from his old childhood gang. While walking closer, he recognized Rhonda, Lila and Nadine. Rhonda and Nadine were no surprise, but Lila was. No, wait, she wasn't. She'd always seemed to like everyone but him. He rolled his eyes at the thought. Man, was he happy to get over her back then.

"Oh, hey, Arnold! You sure have friendly classmates." Aaron said when he noticed Arnold and winked at no girl in particular. They all giggled, thinking it was them he winked at. "Yeah, I do." Arnold answered honestly. "So, wanna walk home now or do you wanna talk some more?"

"Oh, yes, please do stay." Lila answered for him and snuck herself a little closer to him. "I still want to hear all about the glamour of New York." Rhonda added. Nadine didn't really say anything besides flashing her eyelashes at him.

"I'm sorry, girls, but I really do need to get home. We'll see each other tomorrow anyways, right?" Aaron reminded them while standing up. "Oh, right." The girls all said in unison and giggled. "Bye, Aaron. Bye, Arnold."

"See ya' later, chicks." Aaron answered, clicked with his tongue and started walking with Arnold who just waved with his back turned to them. He knew they wouldn't notice anyway, so why bother saying goodbye?

"What do you mean you'll see them tomorrow?" Arnold asked, suddenly realizing what his cousin had said. "Hmm? Oh, I'm gonna be a student at your high school for the next month." Aaron answered nonchalantly. "Didn't you know?"

Arnold stopped in his tracks. "No, I… didn't know that. No one's told me anything." He answered, sighed and kept walking. "Well, I am. Sorry if that's a problem for you." Aaron said with a mix of annoyance and honesty in his voice. "N-No, it's not a problem at all." Arnold quickly answered.

It was a lie. He had a serious problem with him following him every step of the day. Arnie did the same thing back in 4th grade and look how that turned out! Oh, god, what if it was exactly the same thing? No! He could not stand to see Helga hand in hand with some other guy! Or worse, kissing another - No! The mere thought made his hands curl into fists.

Speaking of Helga, she and Aaron already had an encounter. Oh, it was already looking really bad… Then again she'd seemed really pissed at him. What was that about anyway? He never got the chance to ask her at the nurse's office. Or more like he was more concerned about her well-being rather than another one of her fights.

"Hey, Aaron, can I ask you something?"

"Sure you can ask. Can't promise I'll answer though."

"… What did you and Helga talk about earlier?"

"Sorry, Arnold, can't answer that." Aaron answered nonchalantly. Arnold look at him, surprised. "Why not?" he asked. Aaron started smiling. "Because I think Helga would rip my tongue out and wrap it around my neck, if I told anyone."

Arnold could feel something shatter in his chest. "What?" he asked in incredulity. "What do you mean? Did she… Did you two talk in secret or something?"

"Guess you can say that, yeah."

"… Impossible! Helga doesn't tell anyone anything!" Arnold exclaimed. Aaron looked at him curiously. "Well, she told me something about herself."

"Like what?"

"Now, Arnold, you aren't asking me to tell on other people, are you?" Aaron asked him with an eyebrow raised. Arnold looked away in shame. "N-No, I'm not. I just… Never mind." He answered. He could feel a sharp pain in his chest at the thought of his cousin knowing something about Helga that he himself did not. What would she tell him anyway? And why? Then again maybe he was lying. Maybe he just wanted to push his buttons or something. But he really didn't look like he was lying.

"Are you worried about her, Arnold?" Aaron suddenly asked after what felt like forever in silence. Arnold's head jerked right up and he looked a little baffled at his question, Aaron noted. "Uh… I-I… I mean I, uh… Wh… Why?" he asked. Aaron shrugged. "Curiosity, I guess. I'm trying to guess your relationship. You seemed really worried about her, when she fell, and it seemed like you guys flirted a little bit."

"Flirted…? Really? You… think so?" Arnold asked with a little bit of hope in his eyes. Aaron smiled and nodded. "Oh, and what's with that nickname football head?" he asked and started laughing a little. Arnold cringed a little, but couldn't hide his smile. "She's called me that ever since preschool."

"Preschool? Whoa, so you guys meet when you were three?" Aaron asked, remembering how Helga had said she'd been in love with Arnold since that age. Arnold nodded. "How did that go?" Aaron asked.

Arnold started staring off into the sky while remembering that rainy day. "Well… I remember seeing her all covered in mud. I never found out why, but she looked really down back then. It was raining really heavily, so when I saw her, I tried covering her from the rain with my umbrella. I remember telling her I liked her bow."

"Bow? As in that one she had around her neck today?"

"Yeah, that's the one, but she used to tie it up in her hair, when we were kids." Arnold answered. Aaron cocked his head to the side in a pensive way. So besides that locket, she also wore a bow even after thirteen years, just because he had complimented it? Either there was more to this story than Arnold knew or this chick had a serious problem with attachment.

"Then that was kinda the first encounter." Arnold continued with a smile. "The next one was when I saw that Harold, who is also in the same high school as us, stole her crackers from her. She looked really sad, so I asked if she wanted mine."

"Aw, aren't you just adorable?" Aaron asked while bashing his eyelashes in an overly girly manner at Arnold. He laughed at that and pushed him away from him in a playful way. "She did seem really happy at getting them…"

Then Arnold's smile turned into a frown. "What happened?" Aaron asked after noticing that. "That was when… she started bullying people. When I went back to my seat, Harold made fun of how happy she was at getting my crackers. The others started laughing at her. You know, I've never told anyone, but I've always felt a little guilty. Like, if I just hadn't given her my crackers that day, then maybe they wouldn't have laughed and she wouldn't have pushed Harold. It kinda feels like it's my fault that she turned out the way she is now."

Aaron just stared at Arnold as they were walking. "So… is that why you accept her calling you football head and such?" he asked. Arnold shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know… In a way, yes, I guess so, but mostly it's because I know for certain that she doesn't always mean it in a bad way."

"What do you mean?"

"She's… complicated. One moment she can be really mean and push people around, but the next she can be really kind and caring. I remember back when I had this crush on Lila, the redheaded girl sitting next to you before. When she dumped me, Helga suddenly fell down from a tree when Lila walked away."

"Fell from a tree?!"

"Yeah… she said something about it being exercise or something." Arnold answered while laughing a little. Aaron also laughed but for a different reason. Exercise my ass! He thought. She was stalking him. Man, she's really something. "And then what?"

"Well, we talked about Lila and she was… really understanding. I think that was the first time she ever considered my feelings so much." Arnold answered and started to look up in the sky. Aaron started smirking at that obvious lovesick grin that was on Arnold's face. "So… is it safe to say that you like her, Arnold?"

Arnold stopped dead in his tracks with a big blush on his cheeks. "Wh-What?! No! I-I mean, yes! I mean… sure I like her. I've always liked her." He babbled. Aaron stopped too, now a few steps ahead of him. "Yeah, but I meant… like her like her. But, hey, you don't have to tell me."

Because it's painfully obvious that you do, Arnold. Aaron thought with a smirk while he kept on walking towards the boarding house with Arnold following him a few steps back.

Author's 2nd note: OK! So that was chapter 2 :D I hope you guys liked it and will keep reviewing and following this my first ever long fan fiction :D See ya next time, when Aaron will finally tell Helga what he's got planning for her.