Hello everyone! Here we are for another chapter ! I'd like to thank you Jopeth 23 for correcting this chapter, so... THANK YOU JOJO!

Enjoy :) Don't forget to leave a comment, your comments are the sunshine of my day xD

I was lost in my thoughts. My pen spinned endlessly through my fingers. I then checked the equations my teacher was writing on the chalkboard. My brain was trying to concentrate on the lesson, but it was useless. My other hand was busy twirling with one of my yellow strands falling on the left side of my face, and I got lost once more in my thoughts. Next to me, Sid was diligently taking notes. He doesn't look like it , but he was very smart, and math was his favorite subject. It wasn't uncommon for him to tutor the gang, which means Stinky, Harold and sometimes Lila, they all knew they couldn't count on me when it comes to Math.

Sid was a womanizer, and I knew I can count on him. I remembered that the next class would be P.E. Gerald, Nadine and yes, I smiled at tthe thought, Helga would be my classmates for that one. Once more, her image haunted my mind. I gazed upon her. She was at the back row, taking notes but her mind seems to be elsewhere. I couldn't wait to be impressed by her athletic skills again. I sighed dreamily, and Sid was looking at me.

''Thinking about Lila ?'' He asked me, smiling knowingly.

I was startled, and nodded unconcsciously. I didn't want him to know who's in my mind. Sid grinned, and leaned closer.

''Or is it that blonde bombshell...?''

My face must have reddened like a tomato at that moment, and I was startled, not knowing that I was shouting at him.

''N-no! You're wrong !'' I blurted out loud, standing up.

Everybody turned to me. The teacher raised an eyebrow and turned to thethe chalkboard.

''Oh, yes, you're right Mister Shortman. The answer's supposed to be eight. Thanks, young man!''

At that moment, I wished for the earth to open up and swallow me whole. I sat down as Sid was trying his best to hold his laughter, his eyes tearing up. I discreetly turned to see Helga calmy texting away on her phone. It makes me wonder how this girl managed to get into the university, and how she managed to have her own way and get away with it scot-free. I sighed, and face-desked (you know, when you put your face against the desk). I had a rough start for this day. I shouldn't let my fantasies get the better of me. If someone knew that I was fantasizing a girl I barely knew, I'm dead. The thought of Helga and her beauty was nice, bu whenever the image of Lila flashes through my mind, I can't help but feel guilty. She really was a nice girl, and she didn't deserve to be hurt. What to do, what to do...?

I was so lost in my reverie that I never noticed it was time for P.E. I put on my white shorts, my blue t-shirt, and my lucky charm: my blue cap. My parents gave it to me when I was a year old before leaving for San Lorenzo. Yeah, I know, it is really stupid to wear a cap a million sizes too small. I left the dressing room with Gerald, and we were joined by Nadine. I ran my friingers through into my cornflower hair and went outside where the students were running around the field. I quickly noticed that my "goddess" was running against others in her cute gym bloomers. I sighed dreamly, but Gerald snapped me out of my thoughts, and we began to run. I wasn't really an athletic guy, but I have trained my endurance well. Back in high school, I've won second place in marathon organized by the school, and I've won a trip to... China. Yeah, China. And I don't even know a single fucking word in Mandarin... I remember it too well, I have ordered something in a roadside restaurant in Beijing, and I had no freaking clue what the hell I just ordered. But hell yeah, it was damn delicious! But when I asked the waiter in English what's on it, he answered me it was a stewed cat. I puked right away in front of him and all the other customers. The memory of that incident never failed to make me laugh whenevr that comes into mind. Yup, I decided I had enough of China. But this made me wonder. I wonder what country Helga came from. Pataki isn't an American last name. German? Nah. Hungarian? Could be. I smiled like a fool. I always thought German girls were sexy with their weird language. I shook my head. This is not the time for such thoughts.

Afterwards, we played baseball. I was surprised to see Helga was a good baseballl player! I used to play with the gang when we were young in Gerald field. As a matter of facts, I had a reputation of beaning of all of my friends. No one was safe from my"deadly lumber". We grew up together, and Stinky, Sid, Curly, Sheena, Eugene, Gerald, Nadine, Harold and I still loved playing baseball together. But as everybody became busy with their own lives, our games become more and more seldom.

I could add playing baseball in the long list of Helga's talents. When I got in the dressing room, I overheard some guys from my class talking about the girl of my fantasies.

''We're damn lucky to have Pataki in our team. You owe us 20 bucks, Ray.''

''It's so unfair! What's that girl? I thought Nadine and Sheena were the only girls in our school who are good in baseball. But it looks like this blonde headed girl is better than them.'' The boy near me groaned as I changed into my clean clothes in silence.

''But she's damn hot."

''Tell me about it. I'd like to fuck her body.''

My fingers tensed on my clothes, and I grit my teeth until my jaw was sore. How dare they talk about Helga like that?! I bit my lip, and took a deep breath. Arguing withh these bozos would cause nothing but trouble. But nothing can stop me from defending this girl.

''Guys, you shouldn't talk about a girl like that. That's not right.''

Ray rolled his eyes, and crossed him arms.

'Yeah right, Mister Goodie-Two-Shoes. You can talk, you have a sweet hot girlfriend.''

I sighed. These people are hopeless. I knew my girlfriend was beautiful, attractive, gentle and sweet, but at this moment , it didn't matter.

...

It was nutrition time. Me and the gang always reunites at this time to share a happy eat-together. Everybody had already took their seats, and I was here, stupidly waiting in line for my lunch for almost 45 minutes now. Lila forgot to buy bread for the sandwiches yesterday. What a scatter-brain. Finally, my turn to order came.

''That will be 12.45.'' She said annoyingly, her gray hairs falling covering her old and wrinkled face.

I dug into my pocket only to pull out only five-dollar bill, and I bit my lip harder in exasperation. Shit, I took a five instead of a twenty. How can I be such a... Well, I'm no better than Lila at this point. The students behind me were losing their patience, and I wondered what part of my order I should take out, when I noticed that someone handed a twenty-dollar bill to the old woman.

Stunned, I looked up to see Helga Pataki holding her tray with her left hand, and taking her change with the other.

''Uh... Thanks.'' I muttered, feeling my heart melt with that show of generosity.

''Can I have a minute ?'' She asked me indifferently.

My heart started to race ferociously as I nodded, adding an awkward ''Yes, of course.'' to my answer. We headed into one of the empty classrooms. At this point, I didn't care if Lila or someone else sees me with her. I just wanted to know what she wanted from me. She put her tray one of the desks and I understood I should do the same. She drew closer, and I gazed upon her ocean-blue eyes, blinking more than usual.

''Thanks for last Saturday, Football Head. I owe you one. So how do I pay you back?''

I open my mouth, about to say something, but nothing came out. Only several naughty thoughts popped in my head, but I quickly pushed them away, staring at her, trembling.

''N-no need to pay me back. You were in danger back then, and...''

''Money ?'' She went on like she didn't hear me. ''A fake ID?''

I was about to refuse politely. Saving a girl from danger for reward's sake was definitely not my thing, but she didn't give me the time to reply.

''... Or maybe you want to have sex with me ?'' She said nonchalantly.

I almost choked in my own saliva, and I had to take a hard gulp of my juice to keep myself from dying. What the hell did I just hear!? Did I really hear her right? She... She said...''

''E-excuse-me!? I-I'm ever so sure I heard you wrong...''

Helga tilted her head left and right as she stared at me, looking at me incredulously.

''Crimeny, do I have to repeat myself?! You want to have a thank-you sex from me, don't you? I can give you a blowjob right now for all I care.''

I felt my body melting soft, well, hard, but I didn't faint. How this girl could say that like it wasn't a big deal ? She wanted... to have s-s-sex with me... Even if the idea of having sex with this goddess was not that bad, well, no, forget it. It was wrong, and unfair to Lila. My face was burning, blushing redder than I ever imagined.

''N-n-no need to do s-such a t-thing." I stammered, avoiding eye contact with her.

''So what do you want? Money?''

''How about a dinner?''

Me and my big mouth. I bit my lip again. I knew it wasn't right, and not only I'm going to spend money, I'm gonna cheat on Lila... In a way... No, I didn't do anything with Helga, and I won't do anything. She stared at me incredulously, like she just heard the stupidest thing from me.

''A dinner?''

''Yeah. A dinner for two in Chez Paris, maybe?"

Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, what the hell did I just put myself into? It's gonna cost a fortune, for god sake! I let out a loooooong sigh, and looked the girl who raised an eyebrow.

''Look, Football head, I'm not in the mood to play around with you. Are you sure you don't want cash, or something else, and we can call it quits?'' She asked, obviously in a bad mood, not used to being shown kindness.

I shyly rubbed the back of my neck, staring my tray like it was the most interesting thing in the world. I remembered that I have to hurry so that others won't worry.

''I want to invite you to Chez Paris''. I said again, uncertain and embarassed.

I saw her let out a deep sigh as it was the most boring job to do, and she pulled out pen and paper from I-don't-know-where and started to write something before hadning it over to me.

''Pick me up tonight. Be there at 7 in the evening.

I stared the paper with a weird look before looking up at her.

''But I have a job.''

''Be there.''

And without any further delay, she grabbed her tray and headed back to the cafeteria. I stood there, dumbfounded, wondering what should I do, biting my lip until it bled. I was in deep shit. I just threw myself in the real fucking deep shit. Not only I have to find a excuse for Lila for the money I would spend, but I gotta find an excuse for my boss too. Well, I'm blond after all.

Feeling down in the dumps, I joined my friends and my girlfriend who cheered when they saw me, and for a moment I was afraid they might had seen me with Helga. But when I saw Lila smile, my fears instantly disappeared.

''It's been a while! What took you so long ?'' She asked me with a kind, soft and sweet smile making me feel guilty.

''It was... full.'' I said avoiding her gaze.

Then she gave me a peck on my cheeks, but for some weird reason, it didn't feel the same. My relationship with Lila have always been very good, but for the past few months now, the flame has been slowly dying. It was even before I met Helga, I felt that the spark in our love has left us. I don't know if the feeling was mutual. I didn't dare to ask. We were perfect, they said, but I found it annoying. When I think she's someone that boys would kill for to have... I sighed. Harold seemed to notice my distress, and as an idiot that he was, he asked me the worst question I could ever imagine.

''Hey Arnold, what were you doin' with the blonde girl earlier ?''

I stopped in mid-chew, and I turned to the fat guy, horrified. Harold wasn't one of my close friends, he was Gerald's. I remembered he got a crush on Rhonda for years, and her leaving made him more grumpy and irritable. Now, Gerald, Pheobe and especially Lila stared at me with a puzzled look on their faces. I couldn't just lie.

''She wanted to ask me about something... For a homework in math. You know, Sid... The one the teacher gave to us in the last minute.''

''Uh?'' Sid raised his head from his Gameboy, clueless of what's going on.

''Arnold, man, can I talk to ya for a minute?''

I couldn't answer, Gerald grabbed my arm and we walked off before he pushed me against the wall of the men's bathroom. He wasn't upset, more worried.

''What's happening to you, buddy?''

I looked away, avoiding the concerned gaze of my bestfriend.

''I don't know what you are talking about.''

''Do not play this game with me, Arnold. I'm your bestfriend. Do you think I never noticed? That way you look at her, she's all that's in your head. I'm not that blind!''

It was bad. Damn bad. Gerald discovered it, I'm bad. My heart raced faster, so fast I could've died of a heart attack. Finally, Gerald backed away.

''I know what's in your head. This girl is talented and really sexy. But you have Lila, Arnold. You have to take care of her, and stay way from Pataki. Ya know, I heard things about her, and they said that she would be a member of a gang, and she'd be a dealer or something. She's not in the same world with us, and if you want an advice buddy, you shouldn't even try to be friends with her. She's dangerous.''

I had listened Gerald silently, nodding slowly, taking in each word he said, saving them in my brain. I hate to admit but, he was right. Horribly right. But I couldn't help but to think of her the whole day and night. It was against my will, my reason. I turned my head away, guilty. It would be stupid to lie even more to Gerald right know. He stared at me for quite a while before patting my shoulder.

''I hope you know what you're doing, man. I do really hope. I'm your buddy, but I don't want to be involved again in drugs stuff, and I don't want Phoebe to be into this either. Choose wisely, my man.''

I nodded, still silent. His anger was justified. Sid was an old junkie. Gerald, Stinky, Harold and I helped him to put a stop on his addiction. But the dealer to whom Sid got his drugs from wasn't really happy with his decision. Gerald has been shot and almost died, and the dealer had been arrested. He almost died back then, so I could easily understood him telling me to stay away near this girl.

I watched Gerald walking away, and I ran my finger through my hair. For a moment, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. I saw how this girl could be a bad habit. I knew it. So why was I still staring at her like she was an angel or something ? I sighed. I was stupid. I came back to the cafeteria where Lila stared at me coldly. The day went without problem, and I even got class with Lila and Sheena in the afternoon. When the classes has been all over, I waited for Lila, and then we headed to our apartment. No one talked, The tension was so thick you can cut it with a knife. I bit my lip. I should say something to break this silence, or I'm gonna go crazy.

''Li...''

''I told you to stay away from her.'' She told me angrily.

I was stunned. Never, NEVER has Lila spoke to me like that. I could feel the fury in her voice, and jealousy as well. Well, she had all the right to be jealous.

''But Lila, she needed help for our homework. I couldn't just say no. You know me...''

''Yes, yes, always this oh so too good habit of doing the right thing, I got it. I just don't trust her.''

I didn't answer. What could I say? I entered our apartment. Now, I have to find a good excuse for the money for my date with Helga...