heyarnoldfangirl - Well you got me blushing from your review.

LeDawn - With this version of Helga and her having to deal with the horror of Bob and truly never having people she connected with except for Phoebe, I thought it would be nice for Helga to see people wanting to do so much for her which includes wanting to find her and bring her back so she can stay in their lives.

To the Guest who wanted me to post up chapter 9 already I know I was tempted in actually doing a double update in one day.

To the other Guest yes they should go for it, but not now. I called this story This Life because in life there are up's and down's and mellow points in between.

Historia70 - Thanks girl. Guess what people she does help me edit portions of this story. The only parts she doesn't is when she writes a comment down. If I need poetry or to think of big words or such I run to her asking questions.

Arnold thought it was the cutest sight watching Helga hug Abner before they headed off to school. He had a feeling Abner developed a crush on her with the way he refused to let her go making her laugh telling him she'll see him again. What surprised him was her planting a tiny kiss on the top of his head. No girl has ever done that before or given him a full blown hug before. It made him grin so much that he couldn't stop himself until she groaned at her phone.

"What's the matter?" Arnold wondered out of concern.

Helga refused to say it even as she pulled her legs up to hug herself on his bench seat. Bob informed her via text that the dinner date at home with Wolfgang is the same day as Arnold's dark day.

"Helga please tell me."

She couldn't. That was his day. That was for him and for his parents. She'll talk to Phoebe. "Don't worry about it, Arnold."

Too late. Arnold was worried about it especially with how she left the truck and was in class. At lunch time she snagged Phoebe away so they can talk alone. Gerald came up to him as they chatted about everything that has been happening so as Arnold cleared his throat he told him what Bob is trying to make Helga do.

"What?! Oh hell no! If we have to we'll take that girl out of the country on a witness protection program to save her from that nightmare." Gerald's body was tense. "Oh that poor girl. I'm upset and I'm not being forced to do something against my will. What kind of father is he?"

"You can't say a word, but he isn't a good one to her. Favors the older sister and treats Helga like she is nothing. I don't know what her mom is doing in secret, but she might be divorcing him or just leaving him all together and taking Helga with her." Arnold stomped the bleacher in front of him in frustration.

Gerald examined his friend and scanned him throughly. "You don't want Helga to leave at all, do you? You want her to stay. You loved having her over at the boarding house with you."

"Of course I don't want her to leave she's our friend. I care for her. I consider her my female best friend." Arnold answered not getting what his friend was saying.

"Oh I get that much, but you want her around for more than just friends." Gerald hated it when he had to spell out things to him.

Rolling his eyes, Arnold had to look at him point blank in the eyes. "Yes, I am attracted to her, but I will not ruin things with it. She has expressed that she isn't looking for that at all due to her circumstances. Also! If she does stay around for much longer I would really like to get to know her far more better and such before I pursue that with her in the future. I don't wish to go half cocked and ruin a great friendship right now."

Raising his hands up in the air in mock defeat, Gerald surrendered. "Alright I hear you, but we gotta figure something out with the Wolfgang situation." Eyes him. "You can marry her instead."

Arnold had no words for that sentence right now.

Meanwhile, Helga's head was resting on Phoebe's shoulder. "So there you have it."

Phoebe's face was flushed from the story as waves of disbelief washed over her. "Too bad we can't fake your death."

Helga's head went up. "There's a thought. Also I'm seriously considering just packing up and leaving on my own. I have a passport and money. In fact that's what I'll do because I can't wait for my mother anymore with whatever plan she's launching."

"You aren't serious about leaving are you?"

"You bet your sweet patoot I am." Getting up she started to pace as she started formulating a plan. "I didn't think that Arnold and I would have that much in common on the same day. Criminy!"

"Coinciding dark days. I understand why you didn't want to tell him." But Phoebe had to say something if Helga was planning on leaving.

Stopping in her tracks, Helga lifted her phone up to pull up a site as she ignored her friend's questions. Only after she was done, Helga made an excuse to go to the restroom, but only ended up making a mad dash to her locker where she wrote a quick note to Phoebe before slipping herself out of school unnoticed.

It was getting close for lunch period to end with Helga still not coming back. Standing up, Phoebe went over to the restroom to see she wasn't in there. Having a strange feeling she went over to her locker to open it finding a handwritten note inside.

Phoebs,

I'm sorry but I have to do this. I can't wait to find out what my mom is planning and I'm so afraid of what will happen at that dinner since I know Bob doesn't care for my feelings. I already will be gone by time you reach me.

Love,

Helga.

P.S.

Apologize to Football Head for me and tell him his friendship has meant a lot to me.

Eyes wide, Phoebe ran out finding Gerald and Arnold at some bleachers. "ARNOLD!" Giving him the note she watched how his eyes widened.

Getting up, Arnold asked, "Why?"

"Bob is making her go and have dinner with Wolfgang on the fifth. Helga didn't want to tell you." Phoebe replied upset.

"Stay here and if you have to tell the school there was an emergency. Health related. I'm gonna get her." Arnold ran out to the student lot jumping into his truck and taking off not caring if he broke a thousand traffic laws.

Helga was surprised not to see her mother home again making her run up to her room to pack up her clothes, her favorite book, and a journal. Hearing the cab out front honking for her, Helga took her stowed away money which she labeled "Travel" and ran downstairs slamming the door behind her, and climbing into the cab. "Hillwood Airport." She told the driver.

Arnold watched her getting into the cab. Gritting his teeth he drove faster to do something so bold and something so crazy he'd need to be committed but he was desperate. He pulled his truck in front of the cab in a diagonal fashion making both vehicles brake hard. Climbing out of his truck he apologized immediately to the driver as Helga flew out of the cab.

"What the hell, Football Head?!" Helga came up to him with her arms flying around. "You have any idea how crazy that is?"

"You want to tell me about crazy? You leaving like this is crazy. Did you think I'd let you leave without a fight?" Arnold argued back as he stalked to the back seat of the cab to grab her bag. "Is this it?"

Grabbing for the bag she refused to stay but he held her back. "Damn it I'll leave anyhow, Arnold. Give that back to me!"

Ignoring her he went to his truck to put it inside. "No!"

Taking a deep breath in and out, Helga took a step back. "Fine keep it!" Turning around she said to the driver. "We're leaving."

Arnold's eyes narrowed as he quickly went up to her to turn her around, lift her up, placed her over his shoulder as he gave the cab driver some money for his trouble, and stalked back to his truck ignoring her protests and her hitting his back. Choosing to climb in through the drivers side he placed her down and buckled her in still ignoring her protests amid her anger till he placed his hands on either side of her body so he can look at her point blank.

"Look I know you are afraid and this anger you have right now is not completely against me." He refused to raise his voice at her right now. "I care about you, Helga and I made a promise to you. This is step one. Trust me if you did get on a plane to leave somewhere I will find you." Arnold watched how her mouth was about to open making him continue his own quiet rant. "You found people that care about you. Do you really want to trade us in for a life on the run?"

Closing her mouth and eyes Helga bowed her head. What can she say right now when she was so stunned to see someone do this for someone as useless as her?

Knowing he had to move his truck, Arnold went back into the drivers seat to start it back up, and left figuring maybe one place they can go to clear their heads at least till he had to head to work. They ended up at the park near the pond. Arnold has had slight disagreements with past female friends, but never to this degree. He never met someone so passionate in her fiery. Never had to pick them up to haul them off like a sack of potatoes. Honestly his thoughts that were with Helga were always so incredibly different.

"Guess I should get my money back on my ticket or at least..." She trailed off.

"At least what?" Leaning back on the bench they were now sitting on Arnold had to remind her again. "I will follow you."

"Stalker." She accused lightly. "I already have one. Thank you very much."

Arnold gave her a quizzical expression. "Who?"

She didn't reply out right she only started breathing like him.

"Brainy. Oh yeah. Sid is attracted to you and Brainy mentioned off hand how he's in love with you."

"Perhaps I'll marry my stalker to escape the would be rapist. Though leaving here is best." Giving him a puppy dog expression she leaned her head against Arnold's shoulder. "Want to come with me to another country?"

"Running away doesn't solve anything, Helga." He begged himself to ignore those eyes.

Getting up quickly she went on her knees to grab him by the collar. "Pleeeasssseeeeeeeeee."

She was too cute. Way too cute. "Begging doesn't suit you, Helga. You are so much better than that." Arnold wondered if he should make her wear contacts that were brown or something else so he doesn't practically melt under the power of those eyes, but he had a feeling she can still overwhelm him.

Getting up Helga sat back down in a almost unladylike way. "Need any help with the party?" She blurted out to avoid her stupid pity party instead.

"No, everything is all set. I just want you to bring yourself." Arnold held instant regret of him placing his hand on her leg when he felt that current rush through his body almost weakening him severely.

Helga turned her head in the opposite direction from him as her mouth opened at the affect of his hand on her. She already still felt charged with him lifting her up as if she was nothing and the way he fought with her. Helga refused to have feelings for him. She can't have them.

"Want me to drop you off at the boarding house?" Arnold almost squeaked from his still feelings he was experiencing. "I need to do something before heading to work."

"Sure. I love hanging with your grandparents." Getting up she walked back to the truck with him. "First I'll get a refund on my ticket."

"Yes please do that and please don't run off again."

"Or the dreaded Football Head will follow me." She teased pinching his side.

Grabbing her from behind around her slim waist, Arnold lifted her up in the air with her back against his front. "Swans. Beautiful but they have this hidden badness." That just earned a giggle from her.

"Oh my gosh, Arnold do you enjoy picking me up?" Helga tried to act irritated but was laughing too much mostly to try to calm the ebb she was feeling in her body.

"Well with reactions like yours, yes." Putting her back down mostly to stop the blood from rushing below his waist, Arnold couldn't help but laugh mostly out of nervousness.

She just nudged him in the side gently as they continued to his truck.

Arnold dropped her off at his home giving an excuse of having to run an errand before work. Leaving out of there he soon found himself looking up at her father's business. Arnold could see through the window that Wolfgang was in there with a customer making his mouth thin more. This was for Helga so with a deep breath, he went inside to have a conversation with Bob.

(To be continued with Arnold speaking to the mean old Bob...)

Oh Gerald, do you feel like knocking your friend in the back of the head when he doesn't get it fast enough at times? :P