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 reached the peak of confusion, when his cousin Aaron and Helga came into the classroom together in two very different moods. Aaron, obviously flirting and teasing, while Helga seemed like she wanted him to go to hell. Not being able to contain himself, Arnold had to ask Aaron what was going on. He didn't want him to bother Helga, if that was what he was doing.

The conversation ended with Arnold being more confused than ever though, when Aaron suggested that he was being cocky when it came to Helga. That comment, plus the fact that she was looking around for Aaron, when they were eating together in the cafeteria, officially made him snap.

An angry argument, mixed with a food fight between Helga and Arnold, ended up in a heartwarming moment. And Aaron is now officially sure how to blackmail Helga about her secret.

Author's 1st note: So! A lot of this will be dialogue rather than ACTION! xD Helga and Arnold will have a heart-to-heart moment and then… bam bam BAAAAAM! xD

Chapter 5: "I know one thing"

"Look at what you did to me, you stupid football head!" Helga said in a more playful rather than angry tone. "Hey! You're not the one with tapioca pudding on your face and shirt!" Arnold answered with an equally happy manner.

"No, I'm the one with spaghetti, meat sauce and chocolate milk in my hair and on my white shirt!"

"Oh, would you let it go already? That shirt didn't suit you anyway."

"What! How dare you!" Helga said with a feigned insulted voice and threw the washcloth she had just used at him. "Hey!" Arnold said in a small shock and tried to shield himself before it bounced onto his head. She started laughing immediately the sight. He shook his head at her laughing so hard at such a small thing.

Arnold removed the washcloth off his head and threw it back at Helga. She caught it effortlessly and continued scrubbing her shirt with it.

They were standing in the mixed bathroom at the school properties and were trying to get as much food off of them as possible. The food fight ended about ten minutes ago and some teachers gave them detention for messing their table on the floor up so badly. They were also supposed to clean it up, when school was over, and then go to detention.

Helga started biting at her lower lip as she decided to ask the question, that's been bothering her ever since lunch period started. "All jokes aside, Arnold…" she started and quickly gained his attention. "Why are you so mad at me?"

Arnold hadn't expected Helga to ask him so honestly. She was looking at him with a little hurt in her eyes, and it was too much for him to bear. He sighed and threw his washcloth back to the sink. "… I'm not mad at you, Helga."

"Then why did you - "

"What I mean is… I have no right to be angry at you or Aaron, for that matter. I just… Can I be honest with you?" Arnold asked with sincerity in his voice. Helga didn't answer, but just nodded slowly. She also let go of her washcloth.

Arnold took a deep breath before talking. "I know I don't really have the right to be mad at Aaron… or you, but I can't help it. It's just, you two… You confuse me. I mean, you've always confused me Helga, but now I don't know what to think at all… One second Aaron's got his arm around you and you don't even try to push him away, and the next you look at him as if you want to kill him. I just don't know what I'm supposed to think."

Arnold sighed when he had finished his speech and he looked up at Helga. She was looking at him with pure bafflement. She didn't expect Arnold to think so much about whether his cousin was hanging out with her or not. "Well… have you asked Aaron about it?"

Arnold frowned at that question. "Yeah, I asked him yesterday and today, but that just got me more confused. He told me that you told him some secret about you, and I guess that made me… jealous."

"Jealous?" Helga asked in incredulity. "Why would you be jealous at - "

"I don't know!" Arnold lied and threw his arms up in the air in an overly dramatic way. "It's just, well… ok, maybe he's right and I am a little cocky to think that, if anyone should know a secret about you between him and me, then it should be me. But I just - "

"Hey! Hey, hey, hey!" Helga interfered and went to stand in front of Arnold. He looked up at her in confusion. "What did Aaron say to you about being cocky?"

"Oh, uh… I kinda… Well, when you two went into the classroom earlier, then I couldn't help but notice you seemed so angry… and I just felt that, as your friend, I should find out if Aaron was bothering you or something. He told me he wasn't, and then he mentioned that stupid secret he keeps saying you've told him about, and then… I don't know, I just said that I didn't get why you'd tell him a secret and not me. He answered that maybe my cocky attitude was the reason you didn't trust me."

Helga's body started shaking at this revelation. "He called you cocky?" she asked as if she hadn't heard him properly. Arnold nodded his head a little. She started growling in the back of her throat, momentarily forgetting he solemn vow not to show Arnold that she hated Aaron as much as she did. "That… arrogant… son of a bitch!" she mumbled while gritting her teeth and then took a hold of her hair. "How dare he talk about me like that! How dare he lie to you like that! Oh, my god, I could kill him!"

Arnold blinked rapidly while watching Helga pull on her hair in frustration. She suddenly froze and turned slowly to look at him though. She laughed nervously and let her arms fall to her sides again. "Whoo, where did that come from?" she mumbled and waved a hand in front of her face. She then shook her head and took ahold of Arnold's shoulders.

"Listen to me, Arnold… Don't listen to anything Aaron says, if it's about me, got it? And… And don't believe anything I say, when he's around, ok?" Helga asked with sincerity in her eyes. Arnold just nodded slowly. "Well, alright, Helga, if you say so, but… but what is he doing to - "

"No, Arnold, please…" Helga begged and squeezed his shoulders a little. "Just… Please, just… trust me on this… ok?"

Arnold stared at her for a second before nodding again. "Ok, Helga, whatever you say. If you think I shouldn't listen to Aaron, then I won't. And," he said while taking her hands in his own. "I do trust you, Helga. You know that… right?"

Helga could feel a million butterflies swarm around in her stomach at the feel of her hands enveloped in Arnold's. When did his hands become so big and strong? When they were children there hadn't been much difference. Now, it was clear who was the girl and who was the guy. Even if he was still a little shorter than her, and she was still stronger than most girls and even some boys.

"Yeah, I know, Arnold… A-And I trust you too." Helga admitted and looked towards the sink in embarrassment at admitting her lie from earlier. Arnold started smiling. "Really?" he asked. She rolled her eyes and punched his upper arm in a playful way. "Doi! You are the most trustworthy guy in school," she answered and went to sit on the sink behind them. "and we've… known each other since preschool."

Arnold started laughing at her last addition. So, she really did trust him. That was good to know. He felt warm inside, to be honest, just for knowing that. There was still one thing that confused him though. "But, Helga… what is going on with you and Aaron?"

Oh, brother… Helga thought and started biting at her lower lip. How do I explain this without busting everything? "Nothing's going on, football head, I swear. If it looks like he's flirting with me or whatever, then he's just doing it to annoy me or something."

"… But, if that's true… then why haven't you pushed him away yet?" Arnold asked, wondering if he was pushing his luck. Helga just looked at him though. "Haven't pushed him away…? Oh! You mean, when he… oh, don't worry, Arnoldo, that's just because…"

Helga realized what she had been about to say and stopped to think about it instead. She could admit that, couldn't she? It wasn't like she was insulting Arnold in any way at being honest. Besides, it seemed like he was really worried, so if she just let that sentence hanging there, he'd might go back to thinking she didn't trust him.

"Well… Arnold, I guess it's my turn to ask if I can be frank with you?" Helga asked. Arnold tried to contain his smile as he nodded eagerly. "Of course, Helga, you can tell me anything you want." He confirmed which made her smile. Oh, Arnold, you sweet little thing! She thought to herself.

"Want my honest opinion about your cousin?" Helga asked, a little unsure of how he'd react. He nodded slowly, also a little unsure how she would answer her own question. "I… really don't like him." She then answered.

Arnold knew he shouldn't have felt as happy, as he did. He managed to keep his smile away though. "Oh, how come?" he simply asked. Helga shrugged. "He's… been annoying me a lot, really. He's flirting with all the girls in our class, so he's really leading them on, which I hate in both boys and girls, and most importantly…" she answered and crossed her arms. "He's being way too touchy-feely with me!"

Helga decided then to look at Arnold to see his reaction. She didn't know, what she had expected, but it was definitely not that goofy grin. "Football head!" she said in a shocked voice and punched him on the arm. "You shouldn't be this happy, when someone tells you they don't like your cousin!"

"I-I know," Arnold answered and started rubbing that arm Helga has punched. "but I was just so worried. I thought you really liked him or something. As in liked him liked him."

"What!? No way! Are you insane?! He's arrogant, manipulative and he's got no sense of personal space! Plus, he doesn't take me seriously! I swear, I had warned him at least three times and he still held my waist in front of you guys in class today. When we went outside, I picked him up by the throat with my arm and held him there for at least two minutes!"

"Helga!" Arnold exclaimed in shock, but his smile didn't fade. "You did not do that, did you?"

"Oh, I sure did, Arnoldo! You may even see a bit of a bruise around his neck tomorrow." Helga answered proudly. "Helga, you really shouldn't hurt people like that." Arnold answered in all honesty, still with a smile though.

"First of all, I did warn him. Several times. Second of all, he deserved it. Trust me. Third of all, you're the one who is finding all of this very amusing, hair boy. Seriously, do you hate Aaron or something?"

Arnold smiled at Helga's argumentation and started leaning on the sink next to her. "Naw, not really. He's actually a pretty ok guy, now that I think about it."

"… Then why were you so worried about him and me hanging out?" Helga asked, suddenly remembering his odd fascination of her relationship with Aaron.

Arnold seemed like he hadn't expected her to ask that, and he started rubbing his neck nervously. "Well, uh… I just, you know, I, um… I was worried that… if you really did like him, you'd get hurt, you know, because… he's flirting with the rest of the girls, as you mentioned yourself. I was just watching out for you."

Though Arnold of course would do anything in his power to make sure that Helga wouldn't get hurt ever, than that particular excuse was… well, an excuse.

"Arnold…" Helga said with wonder in her voice. He had a pink tint to his cheek, while he kept rubbing his neck. She couldn't help but smile fully at the sigh. Oh, Arnold! My sweet, innocent angel! If I only had the courage to tell you that the reason I don't care of Aaron at all, is because of you! Helga sighed dreamily. I don't think I'd be interested in Aaron even if Arnold didn't exist. He's just as mean as me, really. Though on a totally different way. No, I need someone like Arnold to remind me that I can't be mean all the time. He keeps me steady.

"Well, Arnoldo, in case you've missed the last couple of years, then I'm a big girl now and I've always been capable at protecting myself, so you really didn't have to worry." Helga said in her usual dismissive manner. Arnold just rolled his eyes. He hadn't expected anything else from Helga.

"But…" Helga suddenly added in a small voice. Arnold looked up at her again. "… Thank… for worrying anyways." She continued in a grateful voice and smiled. She's thanking me… really? Arnold thought and smiled broadly. "You're welcome, Helga."

Arnold turned to look at her hand, which was laying just next to his. Did he dare? He lifted his hand a little and put on top of hers. She flinched a little at the sudden contact, but she didn't pull away. She stared at him with reddening cheeks, but then smiled, turned her hand around and intertwined her fingers with his. She felt rather brave at this moment. She could practically fly away on a pink cloud, if she wanted to! But that would mean letting go of his hand, so she decided to stay with him on earth.

Suddenly Arnold seemed to notice something and pulled his hand away from her. He looked away. "Wh-What's wrong?" Helga asked, a little hurt at the sudden change of heart from him. "I… Uh, sorry… I didn't notice until now, but… your shirt…" Arnold explained while feeling his heart try to jump out of his chest.

"My shirt?" Helga repeated in confusion and turned to look over her shoulder at the mirror behind her. She felt her breath get caught in her throat, when she realized why Arnold had seemed so embarrassed a moment ago. Her shirt was completely soaked after she'd tried rubbing the meat sauce and chocolate milk off it. Which meant her white shirt was now see-through.

Helga jumped down from the sink and went to get some toilet paper to dry herself. "Th-Thanks." She mumbled while starting to dry herself.

Arnold just nodded at her muffled appreciation and did his best not to turn around and look at her – Tempting as it was. He just tried to keep a steady breath. He finally opened his eyes to look at nothing particular, but quickly realized that he was in front of the mirror and could clearly see Helga behind him.

Arnold just kept gawking at her. She was rubbing the toilet paper in her hand around her chest and that pink bra beneath just seemed to pop out more and more. He didn't want to look away, but did so when she looked up at him in the mirror. He prayed she hadn't noticed him eyeing at her.

Helga continued to dry her shirt, as if she hadn't noticed Arnold look at her with lust in his eyes. She could feel her hands shaking. Those eyes… If I didn't know any better… Helga thought to herself and could feel her heart pick up its pace, though it should be humanly impossible for it do go any faster really.

Helga started biting at her lower lip when she got an idea. Something she had read in a novel once. She'd always wanted to try something like that herself, but a chance like this didn't come everyday. Did she dare?

Helga decided that it was now or never. It was a perfect way to test Arnold on several levels and besides… she had a valid excuse. Kind of. "Hey, Arnold?" she asked as innocently as she could. He didn't answer, but just mumbled a sound to show he heard her. "I need to take off my shirt for a sec to dry it properly. Is that ok?"

Arnold pretty much resembled the first dog with the copper pence in the story: "The tinderbox", when he heard Helga ask that; His eyes were as big as teacups. "Huh?" was all he could manage to mumble, while he kept staring at the wall, wishing for it to create a rabbit hole for him to jump into, so he didn't have to answer such a question!

"Well, it's just really hard to properly dry it with just paper, so… I… I had hoped I could use that hand dryer… next to you." Helga explained. Arnold turned his head a little and, as Helga has just stated, he truly was right next to that goddamn thing!

"Oh… uh… o-ok. I, uh, wouldn't want you to catch a cold or anything." Arnold answered and started smacking himself repeatedly in his own mind. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Yeah, that's not creepy sounding at all! He scolded himself and moved away from the hand dryer. "G-Go right ahead."

"Thanks." Helga answered and quickly went over to the hand dryer, before she could chicken out. She practically ripped her shirt off and almost pulled out a button in the process. She tried looking at Arnold in the mirror, and she could see enough of him to know, that he was shaking. "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"Huh?" Arnold stuttered and was about to turn around, but then quickly turned back again, realizing that he was about to look at her in bra and jeans only. "Uh, n-no. You just, dr-dry your bra… I-I mean your shirt! Shirt!"

Helga had to really hold back her snicker. She started the hand dryer to cover a small giggle that did escape her mouth. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't quick enough before Arnold heard her. What in the…? Did Helga just… laugh? Wait a second… She's doing this on purpose, isn't she?! Is this another one of her schemes to torture me? He thought to himself. At first, he felt rather annoyed with the fact, that she'd take advantage of him being a boy alone with a girl only wearing a bra. But not long after he started smirking. Well, fine, then. If you wanna play like that, Helga, then I can do that too.

"Hey, Helga, this hand dryer thing is actually a pretty good idea. Mind if I borrow it too?" Arnold asked. Helga's eyebrows practically went up over her forehead. "Borrow it too? What do you mean, football - " She had been in the middle of turning around, until she saw Arnold starting to pull at his t-shirt. "A-A-A-A-Arnold!"

Arnold just simply held his t-shirt in front of his stomach, while looking at Helga with his most innocent eyes. As luck would have it for him, he was good at that. "What? Am I making you uncomfortable, Helga?"

It took Helga a second to realize the obvious change of tone in his voice, when he said the word 'uncomfortable'. She eyed him a little suspiciously. You're just full of surprises today, aren't you, football head? She thought to herself and smirked a little while shrugging. "No, it's fine with me."

And it really was perfectly fine for Helga. Arnold never stopped playing football and he was hence quite fit. A little too fit. She noted, trying to hide the obvious blush on her cheeks. "Thanks, Helga." Arnold said and went to stand next to her.

They were both ridiculously focused on drying their garments, both doing their best at not looking at each other. Or at least not get caught while doing it. This little game of 'see-but-not-get-seen-doing-it' went on for about a minute, before Arnold decided to give Helga the victory. After all, he was the one out of the two of them, who wouldn't be able to hide his excitement forever. He already felt a little tight in his jeans.

"I think that's enough." Arnold mumbled and put on his t-shirt. Helga didn't answer, but kept on drying her shirt. She noticed how the stains, she'd tried so hard to get away, still was noticeably there. She sighed a little and held it up to see it better.

While studying the shirt, she didn't notice that Arnold was looking at her. At first to expect an answer to his statement, since he'd figured she would've put on her own shirt too or something, but now he was just looking at her. Helga usually wore baggy clothes. That white shirt of hers was also ridiculously large, though it still did suit her. Seeing her without something big and unfit on her… made him notice how fit she actually was.

Like Arnold, Helga was also still playing the football team. She had and would always be their best quarterback right next to him. Since they had so different ideas for plays, they usually switched who got to decide depending on the other team. While she was more aggressive, he was more sneaky and in that way, they could create deathly plays together. Ever since learning to work together, their team hadn't lost a single game.

Whoa, the more I think about it, Helga's a really cool girl. Arnold thought with amusement to himself. I can't believe she got teased for being such a tomboy when we were children. Most of the boys had also started warming up to Helga through the years, together with the girls. After getting more composed, Helga really had taken a turn for the better in many ways.

Baggy clothes or not, the boys also seemed to notice her more and more these days. It was after all hard to hide a growing chest. It'd become much more obvious the last time Olga had come to visit. The boys had seen the two girls standing next to each other and noticed that, despite the age difference, Helga was definitely the one more… 'gifted'.

Even if Helga wasn't considered ugly anymore, she also wasn't the center attention of the boys' minds. That place belonged to girls like Lila and Rhonda, and all the other cheerleaders really. Prancing around in mini skirts and tops showing off their uterus', being on the field or not.

Arnold wouldn't know what to do, if Helga suddenly started dressing like that. No way, he definitely couldn't imagine her strutting her stuff in a waving miniskirt leaving less to the imagination and some top barely covering her breasts. Ok, so he could imagine it, but if she came to school one day, he was sure to have a heart attack – For several reasons.

Luckily Arnold didn't have to worry about that from Helga. If she started dressing like Rhonda and Lila, she wouldn't be Helga anymore. She was of course entitled to dress however she pleased, but if he had a word to say in that, then she'd stay the way she was forever. He reminded himself that he really didn't have a word to say in it though.

"What's on your mind, geek bait?" Helga asked out of the blue. Arnold turned to look at her. She was wearing her shirt again. How long had he been in his personal fantasy world? "Oh, uh, nothing really. Just… wanting to apologize again for snapping at you like that."

"Oh, that's ok." Helga answered and punched his upper arm lightly. "I've done worse things to you through the years anyways, haven't it?"

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I have to stoop to your level."

"Whoa, you're really rebellious today, aren't ya'?" Helga asked with an impressed grin. Arnold just shrugged and went over to stand in front of her again. "Well, you gotta fight the people with power sometimes."

"Oh, ho-ho!" Helga said and laughed. She bend down a little to his level and looked at him in a challenging way. "Well, bring it on, football head! I'm always in for a little competition. Be it food based or not."

"Then I'll make sure to challenge you again." Arnold answered and stepped a little closer to her. Helga had been about make a snide remark, when she noticed how close they were. Arnold seemed to notice at the same time, and they both bend back.

"Well, we better get to class, paste for brains." Helga observed and was about to go for the door. "Uh, wait!" Arnold said and took ahold of one of her hands. She immediately froze at his touch and turned her head around to look at him. "Wh-What?"

Arnold didn't know 'what'. There had just been something inside of him that didn't want Helga to leave just yet. But now he didn't know what to say. "Uh… H-Helga, I, uh… Actually, there's something I've been meaning to tell you…" he said and grabbed her hand a little firmer for support.

This couldn't possibly be it, could it? Am I about to tell Helga, what I think I am?

N-No way… The way he's looking at our hands, his choice of words… Is he going to…?

"Helga, I… um… I-I just thought you should know that… Uh…" Arnold could feel the word on his tongue, but it kept rolling around into knots in his mouth. Helga gulped and stepped a little back to him. "Y-You can tell me anything, football head." She confirmed for him and gulped again. I'm most likely getting ahead of myself. Arnold's doubtlessly just worried about something else, or wants me to know I'm an ok friend or something.

Arnold felt a little braver after Helga telling him his own words, so he straightened his back. Ok, you can do this. You've imagined telling Helga in how many ways exactly? Oh, god! How am I supposed to say this anyways?! Arnold started to panic in his own head and his eyes darted around the room.

"Helga… I…" Arnold started and then took a deep breath. "I just want you to know that I am in - "

The sound of a soft knock muffled Arnold's words and Helga immediately felt the urge to kill. She turned around to see who had now stepped into the room and felt the urge to kill get stronger. Aaron was standing in front of them, looking a little confused. Undoubtedly because they were standing so close while holding each other's hand.

"Uh… Excuse me. I was never here. Please continue." Aaron said and closed the door softly behind him after stepping out. Problem was he had been there, and Arnold wasn't sure if he still had the guts to say anything.

He sighed deeply and let go of Helga's hand, much to her disappointment. She could, in all severity, walk outside and officially introduce Aaron to both her fists. She didn't know what Arnold had been about to say, but it had obviously been important and now he didn't seem to plan to continue. Maybe a push would make him want to say it again?

"What did you want to say, A-Arnold?" Helga asked with a little shyness to her voice. Arnold looked up into her eyes and then shook his head a little. "I'll tell you some other time, ok? Aaron seems like he wants to speak with you, so I'll just… I'll just dry up a little more in here, ok?"

Helga nodded in understanding, though she felt more like shaking her head ferociously and grab his shoulders, demanding him to tell her whatever he had been about to. "I'll see you later, hair boy." She said and went to grab the door. "Yeah, see you later." He answered before she went outside with a small smile on her lips.

Arnold knocked his head backwards into the wall behind him and went to sit on the floor. Well, that was just perfect timing on my cousin's part. He thought to himself and started to scratch his head. At least now I know one thing… I do have the guts to tell Helga my feelings… someday.

Author's 2nd note: So! A dialogue-based chapter. Was it awful to have to imagine their voices to this extend? xD

I got a small concern from a guest reviewed who is very interested in reading this story, but wanted to confirm what I had said in the beginning, so I'm gonna do the same for the rest of you: There will be absolutely NO rape, NO trauma of any kind, and Helga (nor any other characters) will get physically or emotionally hurt. (When I say emotionally hurt, then again: I'm talking about trauma.) Sure, Helga is being blackmailed into doing some things in the future (kinky things so to speak) and even if she'll be mad, she won't be hurt by it. I swear that.

And when I finally reach the chapter for the first questioningly kinky thing, then I'll write what it is in the author's 2nd note. Why second note? Because if you're sure you can handle whatever I'll dish out, then I don't want to spoil it to you, so when I write in the author's 1 note in the future: "Spoiler warning down below", that will mean it will say EXACTLY what is going to happen, so that you can decide if it's too much for you to handle. Don't worry, I'm not out trying to emotionally disturb you forever.