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": After spending a weekend in pure bliss, Helga had to go back to face her fears: Aaron. While both Arnold and Phoebe goes on worrying and trying to figure out, why Helga seems to be acting so odd around Arnold's cousin, Helga herself and Aaron goes to Mighty Pete to finally have "the talk."

To Helga's deep annoyance, the talk didn't consist what she had expected. Through several hours, she was forced to tell every single story she had ever shared with Arnold. So, now Aaron officially knows everything. And now all Helga can do is wait for his next move.

Author's 1st note: Ok, so we're getting real close to the first blackmail mission and again: This one isn't very sexual. More like annoyingly embarrassing to Helga. Some other girls would be fine with what she is going to be told to do, but not her. Nu-uh xD So you can be calm about this one, because it's mostly Helga's stubbornness that's her main issue in this one :3

Chapter 8: "Something is different"

Helga plopped down on her bed with the biggest sigh one could ever imagine. "It's official… This guy could literally ruin my life. He knows everything… Why oh why did I have to monologue at that very moment at that very place?! Criminy, I'm a basket case! That's it: I'm done monologging… At least until I figure out some brilliant way to never get caught while doing it."

With a sigh she sat up again. "Like not monologging… or at least wait until I get home." She snorted. "Yeah, wait 'till I get home. Good idea, old girl, as if you could do that. You'd burst within the hour and then just yell it out to the world."

Helga laid back down on her bed and stuck her hand into her pocket. She found Phoebe's number with a quick motion of her finger and waited for her to respond.

"Hi, Helga." Phoebe answered on the other side of the phone. Helga smiled at her voice. "Hey, Phoebs… So. Want the long or the short version?"

"You already know I want the long version."

"Right… Ok, here goes."

Helga told Phoebe every single detail about, what had happened between her and Arnold, but she didn't tell Phoebe about the blackmailing. As she had promised herself, she wouldn't risk Aaron pulling her into it in any way.

"Whoa…" Phoebe mumbled, when Helga declared her finish. "Yeah, you can say that again. I don't really know what to do, Phoebs. Arnold was really mad for one reason or another at Aaron for showing interest in me, which he really isn't, I think. I don't know what to make of that! Why would Arnold care about that?"

"Maybe he does like you, Helga. It's not impossible."

"I… I'd like to think so, but…"

"But what?"

"First of all, why would he? I mean really… I've done almost nothing to him through the years, other than probably giving him insecurities about… well, everything! Besides, he doesn't look at me, the way he looks at girls when he likes them."

"What do you mean?"

"I've seen him looking at both Ruth, Summer and Lila. He doesn't look at me like that."

"Maybe that's because he looks at you like that, when you're not looking?"

"… H-He also hasn't said anything! With the rest of the girls, he confessed to them! If Arnold was in love with me, then isn't he the type of guy to say it?"

"Well, to be perfectly honest, Helga, maybe he's afraid to do so. As you said yourself, you - "

"have been a cruel bitch to him through his whole life, and he would naturally be scared of saying something like that, because who knows how I'd react. Damn, I'm a sadomasochist…"

"I've always told you, that you ruin things for yourself."

"… Because I don't deserve him, Phoebs."

"Helga - "

"You know I'm right."

"No! That's not - "

"Oh, come on! How can I deserve a guy as sweet, selfless and caring as Arnold, when I, myself, am just rude, selfish and self-centered? I… I don't wanna talk about it anymore. It's been a long day, ok? I… I just wanna go to bed. Thanks for listening."

"… Ok, Helga. Goodnight." Phoebe answered and hung up. Helga looked at her phone for a second. "I'm sorry…" she mumbled and let her hand fall onto her bed and fell asleep like that.

To Helga's surprise, it took Aaron 'till Wednesday to take contact to her again. Not that she was complaining or anything. No, wait, yes, she was complaining. She would've preferred if he'd gotten cold feet or had a strike of bad conscience or something. But she was never that lucky.

It'd been in the middle of lunch period, when Aaron for once left his fan girls behind to walk over to the table of Helga, Arnold, Gerald and Phoebe. "Oh, no…" Helga mumbled under her breath and put down her fork on her plate. Arnold hadn't noticed Aaron yet, so he just looked at her questioningly. "What's wrong?"

"Hey, guys."

Everyone, except Helga, turned to look up at Aaron. Oh. Arnold thought. That's what's wrong. "Hey, what's up, man?" Gerald asked casually. Aaron shrugged. "Nothing much. Just wanted to get away from the girls for once. Can I join you?"

"I don't know; Can you?" Helga asked with a seething smile. Aaron just rolled his eyes. "May I join you?" he corrected, but didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed a free chair from the table next to theirs and pulled it right next to Helga.

"What's the point in asking, if you don't care for an answer?" Helga asked with a frown. As Aaron was sitting down, she quickly scooted closer to Arnold. To his slight happiness, of course, even if it was only to get away from his cousin.

Aaron did notice Helga's obvious attempt at getting away from him, but didn't comment on it. "So, what are you guys talking about? I'm getting pretty tired of hearing about Rhonda's big party this Saturday." He admitted and rested his chin on his palm. "Are you guys going by the way?"

"I am." Gerald and Phoebe answered together, before giving each other an obvious happy smile. "I'm going too." Arnold chimed in and looked hopefully in Helga's direction. She was just moving her fork around in her food. When she could feel everyone looking at her, she looked up and rolled her eyes. "No."

Arnold nodded in understanding. Helga never did go to Rhonda's parties, so he hadn't expected anything else. Though it would be nice to party with her just once. "That's it?" Aaron asked and gained the attention of the rest of the group. "Just no?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. No way in Hell." Helga corrected and went back to her food. Despite the fact that the answer didn't exactly make Arnold happy, he couldn't help smiling at the very Helga-like humor.

"Well, why not?" Aaron asked, though he had an idea why. "Because the theme of Rhonda's parties are usually: 'Get drunk while looking classy.' And, no offense, you guys," she said. "but I have better things to do than prancing around in some big ball dress at a Saturday night."

"Hey, we're not doing to be wearing dresses." Gerald corrected and pointed between him and Arnold. Helga rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'm so sorry for the mistake. Can you ever forgive me?" she asked. "Smoking then. You know what I meant."

"Wouldn't it be fun to try just once?" Aaron inquired. Helga glanced towards him with a suspicious frown. Oh, no… He's not trying to make me… Her thoughts stopped there, because her mouth took over. "No. Definitely not. Never in a million years. Nu-uh. Nope!"

It was obvious to Aaron that Helga had caught on to his intentions, so it was time to take it up a notch. "Well, that's your choice then." Aaron said and leaned a little closer to her, mostly to get closer to Arnold. Helga already knew what he would say next, so she was already lifting her foot above his. "Hey, Arnold, did you know that - "

Aaron made a pained expression, when Helga's foot meet his own in a vicious stomp. He managed to hold down a cry in pain, as he leaned back again. He smirked a little her, as she frowned back at him.

While the rest of the group did notice the odd exchange, it was only Phoebe who tried thinking it through. Did Arnold know what exactly? She thought to herself. Does Aaron know about Ice Cream?

"So, you sure you don't want to join us at the party, Helga?" Aaron asked with a winning smile. Helga growled a bit, but then shook her head. "Even if I did want to join Rhonda's stupid party, then there's one itty bitty problem, bucko." She answered.

"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Aaron asked. Helga leaned dangerously close to him in a threatening way. "The princess hates me! She wouldn't invite me to one of her parties, even if she was dying and it was her last! Hell, even if she did, then she'd consider it as charity! So give it up." With those words she leaned back again to nibble at her food.

After a few seconds of thinking, Aaron smiled casually. "I could talk to her, if you want?" he suggested. Helga cocked an eyebrow at him. "How would that help?"

"Well, she wanted me to join the party, but I told her I wasn't sure if I was in the mood. But if you came along, I think it'd be more fun. So, what do you say?"

The whole group stared at Aaron in disbelief. Gerald couldn't believe that anyone would think that Helga joining a party would make it more fun, while Phoebe was starting to lean more and more towards the theory of Aaron crushing on Helga rather than blackmailing her, and Arnold could feel a bit of jealousy boiling within him again.

Helga, on the other hand, was seething with anger. This guy just wouldn't give up! Well, it's not like the princess will agree. She thought in relief. No way in Hell. Not even if Aaron asks her. "Go right ahead and try to convince her, but I'm telling you: It's a lost cause."

"But if Rhonda agrees, then you will come along, right?" Aaron asked. Helga frowned at him. "She's not going to agree."

"But if she does?"

"She won't."

"Maybe she will."

"Very unlikely."

"Very likely if I ask."

"You arrogant - "

"Just go and ask her already!" Phoebe, Gerald and Arnold interrupted, all annoyed with both Helga and Aaron's stubbornness. "I will – I will. Be back in a few." Aaron said, stood up and walked towards the "popular" table.

Helga's scowl got deeper and deeper as she watched Aaron go. There's no way in a million years she'll say yes. She tried to convince herself. If she does, then she'll need to get a new hairstylist, because that would mean her brain's gotten deep-fried with too much hairspray.

On Aaron's side of things, he already knew that Rhonda would say yes. How hard could it be? She'd seemed very disappointed, when he said that he wasn't sure if he would come. "Hey, girls. Missed me?" he asked as he got closer to their table. "Ever so much." Lila answered with a big smile. That same big smile Helga had made while impersonating her, he noted.

"So, Aaron, you're sure you don't want to come to my party? It'll be so much fun." Rhonda said with a small pout. "Actually," Aaron started and sat in-between the two girls. "I think I would like to go after all. I mean, who can say no to you?"

Rhonda giggled a bit at that. "Why, thank you. I knew you'd come along eventually. No one say no to a Rhonda party." She bragged and took out a folded list in her pocket. "I'll just write down your name, so the butler knows he can let you in."

"I do have a condition, Rhonda." Aaron said. Rhonda's pencil that had been just about to touch the paper, stopped. She looked at him in skepticism. "A condition? And what's that?" she asked.

"I want to bring a date of my choice with me."

"Oh!" Rhonda said in a mix of relief and unhappiness. Relief, because that seemed like an easy condition, and unhappiness, because that meant he was probably going to hang out with that girl all evening. "Wh-Who do you want to bring along?"

"Helga Pataki."

The pencil between Rhonda's fingers snapped at that name. "What!? Why would you want Helga as your - " Rhonda had seemed furious until this very moment, but now she seemed relieved. "Oh, wait, you're joking, right?"

Aaron shook his head. "I'm dead serious. I want Helga with me at your party. It's the both of us or none. We're a package deal." He answered. Rhonda seemed like she'd seen a ghost, and Lila turned to look towards Helga and the others. She cocked her head to the side, trying to study her. He wants to bring Helga? But why? She thought with a small pout. I don't see what a guy like Aaron would want with a girl like Helga. She's just ever so rude and she dresses like a rag doll most of the time. Maybe he sees something we don't? But how would that be possible? We've known her much longer.

"I… I just don't understand why you'd want to bring Helga." Rhonda cringed at the name. "I-I mean… you could do so much better." She added and leaned a little closer to Aaron, obviously trying to hint at herself as his date.

"That's none of your business, why I want to bring her, Rhonda. So, are we invited or not?" Aaron asked, slowly losing his patience. Or so it seemed. He was ready to start arguing with Rhonda if necessary. It wasn't. With a dramatic sigh, as if she was signing her death penalty, she took a new pencil in her pencil case and wrote down Helga's name on the paper.

"Thank you, Rhonda, we'll be looking forward to the party." Aaron said with a charming smile, kissed her cheek and stood up. Rhonda sighed dreamily for a second, but then shook her head to get herself out of it. "You'd better keep a leash on her though! If she ruins this party, it'll be bad for you too!"

"Will do." Aaron answered with a smirk and started walking towards Helga and company. Rhonda and Lila just stared at each other. "Aaron and Helga?!" they both whispered in disbelief. Rhonda sighed deeply and let her chin rest on the back of her hand. "This is gonna be one interesting party…"

Helga was in the middle of drinking from her juice box, when Aaron put his palm on the table and leaned down to her ear. "Looks like we have ourselves a date this Saturday." He whispered. Her eyes went big and she spit out the juice in her mouth. "Helga!" Gerald yelped, when he was hit.

"We have a WHAT?!" Helga shrieked and looked at Aaron. He started leaning closer to her, as she started leaning back. "Rhonda gave you permission to attend her party." He explained and leaned even closer, forcing her to start leaning a little up against Arnold. "You're kidding! The princess would never let me in at one of her parties. And that doesn't mean we have a date!"

"I'm sorry to say that you're wrong. All it took was a bit of manipulation from moi, and then you were good to go." Aaron said and leaned a little closer again. As Helga leaned back again, she could feel Arnold's hand hold her back as a way to support her. If he didn't, she probably would fall backwards onto his lap or something.

"Whoa, if you convinced Rhonda to let Helga join her party, then you're a better manipulator than Helga and Rhonda together!" Gerald observed with an impressed grin. "Shut up, tall hair boy!" Helga said with a frown and stood up to glare at Aaron. "E-Even if what you're saying is true, then it's not like I have anything to wear that will satisfy her demands for that over-the-top party!"

"Then we'll just have to go shopping for something, won't we?" Aaron asked with a slight smirk. Helga felt herself lose touch with the ground beneath her. Everything got too much all of a sudden. She should have seen it coming: Her tendency to faint, when her feelings became too strong, had only gotten worse through the years. She should've realized Aaron would make her pass out at some point.

"Helga!" Arnold yelped, when he could see Helga's back get closer to him. He reached out for her, as she was about to fall over his lap and down to the floor. "Helga!" Phoebe also squawked and stood up to lean over the table. She also knew that Helga tended to faint a lot, if she was too overwhelmed – And she knew how much Helga despised shopping.

Though this passing out was due to so much more than just shopping. It was everything. Having someone know every single one of her secrets, having someone blackmailing her, and now having to go to party hosted by a person she hated and having to dress up for at, as if she was some wind-up doll like her sister. Everything she'd considered safe was gone within a few days.

Helga's eyes fluttered open and she sat straight up onto Arnold's lap, because that's where she had landed as she was fainting. "We're gonna what?!" she asked, not noticing where she was sitting at all or whose arms were holding her up.

Aaron blinked a little at her. Unlike the rest of the table, he didn't know that Helga having a semi passing out was somewhat regular. "Uh… you okay?" he asked gently. Her scowl got deeper. "No! I am not okay! What did you saw we were gonna do?!"

"Uh… sh-shopping." He said carefully, as if expecting her to faint at the mere word. Helga just kept scowling as usual though. "I am not going out shopping! I hate shopping! Ask Phoebe. I've lost count on how many times she's asked me, and I've said no." she said. "Uh, th-that's true. She really does hate it." Phoebe chimed in, trying to help her. She sat down, when she'd confirmed Helga's health.

She flashed her a quick grateful smile, but it didn't last long. "Well, if you don't have any clothes that lives up to the demand of the princess, then you don't really have a choice, do you? I'll get back to you later about where we'll go, ok? See you guys later." Aaron said and walked away, as if his words were final.

The gang just stared at Aaron, as he walked away. "Is it just me… or did he just come over here to begin with to fuck everything up?" Gerald asked and turned to look at Phoebe, who nodded in agreement.

Helga sighed heavily and let her forehead rest on Arnold's shoulder. She was still rather dizzy after almost fainting for a second and still hadn't realized what position she was in. Arnold, on the other hand, was very much aware what position Helga was in.

I can't figure out if Helga not realizing is a good or a bad thing. Doesn't she realize because it just feels natural to her? Or doesn't she realize because it's no big deal because it's me? Arnold thought to himself. He hoped for the first theory, but nevertheless: There was no way he was going to point it out to her.

He wanted her to keep sitting in his lap for two different reasons and those two reasons was from two different Arnolds: The first one was his caring side, the one that wanted to make sure that if she felt dizzy again, then she wouldn't hurt herself. The second one was the boy in love, the one that would keep her on his lap forever as a lapdog if he could.

"When is your cousin leaving again?" Helga asked, still with her forehead on Arnold's shoulder. "S… Saturday. Fourth of May." He answered, trying to calm his beating heart. Helga's head popped up at his answer. "What!? But… But he was only supposed to be her during April!"

"He's supposed to be here for a month… He arrived Thursday, April the fourth, and he's leaving Saturday, May the fourth."

"Ugh…" Helga mumbled and let her forehead land on Arnold's shoulder again. "I wanna hibernate trough this month…" She decided. He chuckled at that. "Hibernations usually only lasts through the winter though, don't they?"

"Don't question my logic, football head."

"Whatever you say, Helga."

"That's right," Helga said and raised her head from Arnold's shoulder again. "whatever I s…" Then she froze, when she noticed her arms around his neck. He sighed a little inwardly when he detected her shocked expression. Damn, she noticed.

"Uh… how did I end here?" Helga asked, as she felt her heart trying to leap out through her ribcage. "Wh-When you almost fainted, I grabbed you. Then you sat up and… yeah." Arnold explained.

"Oh… Th-Thanks for catching me, Arnoldo…" Helga replied with reddening cheeks and looked him in the eyes. "You're… welcome…" he answered and felt his own cheeks get a little warmer at her gaze. He was sure that for a second she smiled at him, before standing up to sit at her own chair again.

That wasn't my imagination, was it? Arnold thought and glanced a little at Helga. She was about to smile, wasn't she? She also didn't push me away or said "ew", like when we were children. Again, the ew could just be because she's matured, but…

It wasn't until this moment, Arnold and Helga noticed the eyes of their best friends. Phoebe was doing her very best not to smile in happiness, while Gerald was frowning with confusion. "Is it just me, or does Helga always end up in your arms one way or another?" he asked.

Helga felt her breath hitch in her throat and she reached out to take her juice box again. Now that he's mentioning it… Arnold have always been there to catch me, hasn't he? She thought with an almost invisible smile on her lips.

Arnold just shrugged as his reply to Gerald. Now that he's mentioning it… Helga did always jump into my arms whenever she was scared, when we were children… But this is the first time in years I've held her like that. He thought and felt heat rising in his lower abdomen. This was also way different. She's never been on my lap before.

Gerald started grinning, when he noticed that special smile on Arnold's face that only boys knew exactly what meant. "Oh, man!" He exclaimed, gaining the attention of everyone around the table. "Arnold, don't tell me that because Helga was on your lap for a minute, then you got a - "

Gerald didn't get to finish his question, before Arnold took ahold of his bread and threw it at him to shut him up. "Gerald!" he scolded and felt heat spreading around his face. He turned to look at Helga, who was staring at him in confusion. He shook his head violently as an answer. Please don't let her figure it out! He begged in his mind. Please make her believe me!

Helga just looked at her juice box again and started drinking from it. What in the world were they talking about? She wondered. Because I was on his lap, he got a… what? Then it hit her. She almost choked on her juice yet again and started coughing violently.

She felt Arnold's hand starting to clap her back to help her. When she caught her breath again, she nodded thankfully. "Th-Thanks. Don't know what happened." She lied and glanced a little at him, but couldn't help lowering her eyes for a second. It's not like I can confirm it with such loose pants!

Phoebe, who had been just as much in the dark as Helga until this very second, turned to bang her forehead down on Gerald's shoulder, trying very hard to hold down a giggle. "Something wrong?" he asked. She shook her head, still having her shoulders shaking with her inaudible laughter.

Don't tell me Phoebe figured it out… Arnold thought and sighed a little. Well, as long as she doesn't tell Helga, and Helga doesn't realize on her own…

"Well," Helga suddenly said with a noticeable worn-out voice. "looks like I'm gonna be partying with you guys this Saturday…" She lifted both her thumbs and made a big, obviously fake smile. "Yay!" she then just sighed and let her head tilt backwards over the backrest.

"I think it'll be fun, Helga. I'm looking forward to go to a party with you." Phoebe said, doing her best to sound cheerful and to lift Helga's mood. "In a way I look forward to it too. I mean, you are made to make this party a disaster and that's always fun." Gerald chimed in. Helga just stuck her tongue out at him.

"I'm excited about seeing you at the party too." Arnold said and started nibbling a bit at his straw to hide just how excited he was about going to a party with Helga. His smile tried to crack his face, if he let go of the straw for even a second.

Helga glanced towards him. "Thanks, guys, but… no party is worth having to go shopping… with him." She added while wrinkling her nose and eyebrows at the mere thought. Arnold looked at her. "Why do you hate shopping so much to begin with?"

"It's not the shopping experience. It's… the shopping memories."

"… Memories?"

"… When I was a child, Olga was the one to take me out shopping, because Mariam and Bob had more important things to do." Helga said and took a deep breath at once again being reminded of the rotten family life she had. "And Olga always tried to dress me like a… like a… fucking Lolita Doll or something! And it just drove me nuts! I'm not a picture perfect princess like her, like Hell if I'd ever dress like one!"

Arnold suddenly felt stupid. Of course it would be a reason like that. He thought. I would've hated shopping too, if my only memories of it, was to be told to wear clothes I hated. "This time it'll be different though, right?" he asked. "I mean, Aaron is obviously not your sister."

Helga frowned and crossed her arms. "I'm still going to be looking for clothes I hate, and I don't exactly like your cousin much more than my sister, Arnoldo. I think I even actually prefer her."

Arnold smirked for a second but then forced it away. I should get over this happiness of Helga not liking Aaron. Maybe it's still there because it seems like he's interested in her? He wondered. But that shouldn't be a problem since she obviously hates him… but she still plays nice with him when other people are around. What is going on between them, seriously?

"I think it'll be fine, Helga. Give it a chance. Maybe it won't be horrible if you just look at the bright side." Arnold suggested with a smile. "Oh, yeah?" Helga asked, put her chin on her palm and her elbow on the table. "Then give it to me, Mr. Brightside. What is the bright side here?"

Arnold looked thoughtful for a moment before smiling again. "Aaron will definitely not try to dress you up as a Lolita Doll." He answered proudly. Helga stared at him for a couple of second, trying to comprehend his words. She then lifted her hand in front of her mouth and giggled into it.

Arnold felt his proud smile get even bigger. I really do like that giggle. He thought. Where have she been hiding it all these years?

When Helga could feel her herself breathing regularly again, she nodded and held her hand to her heart. "Yeah, I-I hope so… We'll at least be looking at beautiful gowns rather than frou-frou dresses, I guess." She agreed and turned to look at him with a big thankful smile. "Thanks, Arnold, I feel way better now."

Arnold's smile wasn't supposed to be able to get any bigger, but it got at those words anyways. "You're welcome, Helga. I'm always here to give advice and to look at the bright side." He answered and held his juice box out to her. She laughed again and grabbed her own. "And may you always give advice and look at the bright side." She added and bopped her juice box against his.

Gerald and Phoebe watched in wonder, as Helga and Arnold kept talking. Gerald leaned a little closer to his girlfriend. "Tell me… do you feel something different between those two?" he asked in a whisper.

Phoebe leaned closer to him too. "Different? What do you mean?"

"Well… ever since that fight, haven't they been awfully… chummy? First with the obvious caretaking when Helga fixed Arnold's hat and he fixed her bow. Then they barely noticed us sitting in front of them while they talked all through lunch period. Now she sits on his lap, he doesn't mind, he gives her an advice that she's actually grateful for, and now they're toasting? What's going on?"

Phoebe glanced to Helga and Arnold who seemed to be laughing at something one of them said. Her smile picked up on one side of her mouth. "Well, I'll agree with you on something, Gerald." She said and looked back to him. "Something is different."

Author's 2nd note: So there you have it! In a way the two first blackmails. Shopping and a Rhonda party. Yikes! xD