LeDawn - You ever notice that no one see the attraction from the person they really like except for others? I think it's because they are afraid that if they did act on it they would receive a huge let down so they keep drifting along in their thoughts. Also Helga is attracted to him but since she is always moving around she trained herself not to put herself out there.

heyarnoldfangirl - Thanks for the review. :D

Continuation from the last chapter.

Placing her stuff in a free room that Arnold showed her, Helga made her way downstairs to see if Gertie wanted any help with dinner but seeing she had everything at hand, Helga still stuck around to sit at the table while they both talked to one another. Once Gertie looked at Helga's saddened expression as she ran her finger on the side of the table deep in thought had her pulling up a chair to sit next to her.

"What is troubling you my dear sweet, Eleanor?" She asked in the sweetest gentlest way.

Helga really came to love her in a short amount of time and knew she could trust her as she told her what happened today. She felt like the hugest roadside disaster of all time that keeps getting huger as the seconds keep going on. Putting her head down more and her hands in her lap she felt shame in her own life. In herself of being born into it.

Gertie almost yelled and screamed out to call in the troops, but it seemed this poor child needed something else too right now which was people who loved her and to see how truly special she was as she came closer to wrap Helga up in her arms. "You remind me of me when I was younger. True I never had such a horrible father as yours, but I was such an insecure little girl that I lashed out. Picked on Phil the most growing up. I'll tell you that story another time. The thing is what your father is doing is terrible." Sitting back down she placed a gentle hand under Helga's delicate chin to keep her attention to her. "If your mother is unable to talk your father out of that dinner I want you to come here. In fact you are welcome here at any time even if Arnold is at school or elsewhere."

"I can't keep doing that. I don't want to wear out my welcome." Helga protested.

"You can and you will. That room that Arnold has you in will be yours for now on." Cups her face. "You are such a dear thing and you are a survivor."

At the time his grandma was talking to Helga, Arnold was downstairs listening in from behind the partition. His grandfather was coming from the living room also overhearing the whole thing with a dire look on his face.

"My mom has been doing something in secret and she won't tell me. Snuck into my room at 3 am to tell me she is working on a surprise for me. I don't know if she is working on a divorce or fixing to run away and bringing me along, whatever it is I hope she is being careful because I don't want her getting hurt." Helga said as she tried to hold back her tears. "For the longest time I thought she didn't care, but one day I saw such clarity in her face after how Bob spoke to me. I think she realized how truly horrible it has been for me, but it has been bad for her too."

Getting back up to stir her food, Gertie still looked at Helga's face. "What happens if she takes you away from Hillwood, how would you feel?"

"For once I have real friends and I would miss them all." Standing up to stretch herself she also busied herself by starting to set the table. "At the same time I want my mom happy. I want her to sober up and meet someone who will treat her the way she deserves to be treated." She smiles a bit at that thought.

"You are a selfless person just like our Arnold is. He always thinks of others before himself."

Helga loved watching that warm smile play up on Phil's and Gertie's face each time they said his name. "You both did a great job in raising him."

"Thank you my dear." Gertie watched her as she went to set the table before bringing her back over to help her with the food.

Arnold snuck over to his grandfather who went back into the living room. Sitting on the couch, Arnold went into deep thought.

"Short time in your life and she has already made a strong impact on you." Phil whispered gently so no one else can hear them. Grabbing a photo album he flipped through it before showing him a young class group photograph. "You mentioned she went to Urban Tots."

A smile creeped up his face seeing a young girl with a stoic face looking down with a bright pink bow on her head with a unibrow. "She thought she was ugly."

"Well in spite of the unibrow she's a cutie. Look what she grew up to look like." Phil pointed out gently.

Arnold thought she is gorgeous.

"Dinner is ready." Helga announced gently surprising both of them. "Gertie didn't want Oskar hogging all the food just yet." Seeing that Arnold was looking at something made her ask. "What is that your looking at?"

Arnold held it up for her inspection. "From Urban Tots." Watching her bend down to examine it, Helga stuck her tongue out mumbling again at how ugly she is before disappearing out of the room. "Can't believe she thinks she's ugly."

"Well they say if you've been told it so many times you end up believing you are." Taking the photo back, Phil placed it away. "Such a shame though because she is such a beautiful thing." Winks at Arnold. "Guess you better convince her, Shortman."

Catching his drift, Arnold stood up. "Grandpa! We are just friends."

"Ha! I may be old, but I'm not blind." Bringing his arm around his grandsons shoulder they walked into the dining room to eat. Seeing Helga placing a serving dish down with a gentle smile on her face he whispered in Arnold's ear. "I hear what your thinking."

Arnold wasn't gonna push things with her when he wanted to be sure. Helga deserved stability in her life and he wanted to be 100% in his feelings with her before ever proceeding to the next step with her.

After dinner he thought she was still in the bathroom when he heard the piano on the roof prompting him to lift up the window to peer out to see her sitting there at the bench playing. Smiling softly, Arnold went down to grab his guitar hoping she would like for him to join him so as he came up, and looked at her more fully he saw how much she appeared like an angel. It was a soft melody she was playing with her emotions pouring through her fingers while her eyes were shut. It took his breath away knowing that all she needed to complete this look was a white gown and wings. He was entranced and had no clue if she knew any other was there until she sung some made up lyrics on her own.

There are those with ever prying green eyes who've come listening to me

Why do you bother when I may mess up a key or two?

The girl whom once had a unibrow and still the ugly scowl...

Why does your sweet angelic heart come prying on me?

What have I done to deserve thee?

Come here to me and pluck those strings of yours.

Helga laughed at herself at that embarrassing part knowing how much she flubbed her own made up lyrics. "Seriously come and pop a squat."

Grabbing a chair to place next to the bench seat so they can easily look at each another's faces, Arnold grinned at her. "Were those questions for real?"

Helga didn't reply to him. "Why don't you lead us off." Her tone gentle.

Picking up his guitar Arnold wondered how she would follow him when he basically started plucking the guitar strings like he was scatting. Helga listened for a bit before following him as she complimented him perfectly. Smiling up at her, Helga also returned his smile as they continued playing till they were both done and laughing happily. Arnold played with other females in his past in school when he had to be paired up, but it was so by the book with no chemistry. This was the only time and it was exhilarating.

"So we can do that freestyle, but it makes you wonder if we can do it from a known song." Helga thought out loud before ending up playing a Dino Spumoni song with Arnold coming in instantly before he started singing out the lyrics. Helga was impressed as she provided background for him.

Arnold's grin was larger than before after they finished their song. They had unmistakable chemistry, but he still wasn't willing to ruin their beginning friendship. Heck, he already thought of her as his female best friend in the short time he has known her. "Wanna head inside my room?"

"Sure." Standing up she went through his hatch and used his ladder being careful not to put her feet on his bed as she put herself on the ground. Turning around as he started down she reached up to take his guitar from him.

"Thanks." Closing his window he heard her playing making him turn his head to her in surprise. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"There is a lot of things you still don't know about me, Football Head." Helga winked at him before placing his guitar away. "I don't own a guitar anymore though."

"Why not?" Down on the floor now Arnold saw how she shrugged.

"Bob." Helga didn't wish to explain any further as she went over to sit on his couch.

"What was the color of your guitar?" Coming over he sat beside her.

"Bought it at a garage sale for $10.00 and it was a scratched up brown guitar. It was all right to have at the time. Bob came home pissed and took it out on me. Just to add insult to injury he decided to say why couldn't I be more like Olga." Without thinking she leaned her head against Arnold's shoulder. "He named me after her."

Arnold cringed inwardly. "So what is your sister like exactly out of curiosity?"

"You already heard the age difference thing. I've only done a couple trips with her mostly to get away from Bob. Olga has this high pitched whiny sounding voice. She has always been gorgeous and over achieving in so much that she has done. The living room is saturated with all her trophies and every picture of her. Before you ask, no pictures of me except for a few when I was much younger unhappy. She also plays piano in concerts. Has an obsession with screaming out calling me baby sister. I swear when I'm 70, if I reach that age, she'll still call me that." Glancing over at his computer she got up to ask if she can use it.

Arnold had to ask. "Would he make your sister marry a guy against her will?"

"His precious Olga? Never. That right is reserved for me just like every other horrible thing."

Hearing her growling tone and hearing her talk more and more about her father made Arnold unable to believe the injustice happening to her. Turning to glance at her he watched how she scowled at the screen.

"Here she is."

Arnold saw how much emotion she held in her voice saying it making him believe she would love to see paint dry instead of her sister. Standing over her shoulder he watched a tall willowy woman with short hair come up to the piano to curtsey. To him it was a blonde version of Lila. Soon she was sitting down at the grand piano before she performed a piece which was the same as the one he caught Helga playing but far more better than her older sister. After it was done. Arnold shook his head.

"She has no soul."

Helga blinked at his analysis as she left this clip to find another one of her singing.

Arnold thought she had an ok voice, but still it made him stop the clip. "Again... She has no soul, Helga." Stepping back to scan that innocent face of hers, he had to really ask. "In your opinion, do you think she is better than you?"

Helga turned her head away from him. Away from those piercing eyes that seemed to stare right into your soul. "Doesn't matter." She said meekly.

Crouching down on the ground on the side of her, Arnold turned the desk chair so she would be facing him. He was determined to make her see how wonderful she truly is. "I've never met your sister and in a way I really don't."

"Every guy wants to meet her regardless. She has been the stuff of every guys dreams."

He heard how sarcastic and at the same time lifeless she sounded there. "Sure your sister is attractive but she is nothing but a doll. That is it. A doll with no personality. No soul. I hate talking like this about others especially about people I haven't met in person before, but what I saw just now was someone who in fact is merely just performing." Reaching up to place his hand on the side of her face, Arnold wanted her to listen to him. "I was up there listening to you and by god you are beautiful when you perform. You have so much soul in you. So much passion. When I hear you speak it is the same thing. You have so much intelligence inside of you that I hate that all the negative you received all your life has made you feel this way. Helga, I'm so happy to call you my best friend and if you were to go and leave this state I have a feeling I'd figure out a way to visit you or drag you back here."

"What the hell is with people wanting to drag me back when so many wanted me to up and die before?" Helga was in disbelief.

"Guess you found people with good taste for once and know what a find you are."

"Criminy you are cheesy, Football Head." Slipping down on the ground she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to hug him. "Were you trying to make me cry?"

"No, but I want you to open those big eyes of yours." He closed his eyes at the feeling of her in his arms. "I do need to tell you something, Helga. Something I'm sure no one has said about me yet."

Pulling back to look into his eyes, Helga frowned. "I'll talk to my mirror when I see it next time to tell it to stop pinching your behind."

Smirking at her, he brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "No, but I appreciate it."

"That is what friends are for correct?"

Arnold was enjoying her far too much in his arms. "October is coming up scary quick and on the fifth I don't see or talk to anyone that day." It has been a very long time since he had to explain this to anyone so it made it hard for him luckily she got it rather quickly.

"Phil told me about that day and of course around that time is your birthday." She kissed his cheek. "I understand but will you have time for me when you turn 18 and I'm still a lowly 17 year old?"

He appreciated her humor. "Always. Now when is your birthday?"

Standing up abruptly, Helga managed to move past him. "I might be gone by then."

Getting up quickly, Arnold went up to her to turn her around. "I'm still dragging you back here."

Helga felt weak in the knees at the tone in his voice. She couldn't feel this way about him. She won't again. It was just a silly 3 year old crush when she first saw him and to see him again with that same baseball cap on his head and that same sweet attitude, she refused to be caught up in some school girl crush. Arnold deserves someone far better than her.

"Promises promises." She joked.

"I have never broken a promise, Helga." Those blue eyes were speaking way too much to him right now and he was still flustered by his own thoughts in whatever tango that they were doing right now.

She cued up a coy smile. "We'll see when it comes to me, Football Head."

Arnold knew she had far too many broken promises in her entire lifetime to make her say such a thing. He'll make that up for her one way or another.