My god, it was so busy. Work, birthdays, studies and being sick. Anyway, almost the end of the year and on to the new one!

We are slowly moving towards the end of season 2 but yes, a Christmas special is coming!

I've been busy making notes for season 3 since it's going to be a turbulent season.

Anyway, enjoy this chapter!


Hilton read the lines again and again. Maybe he had read it 10 times.
The silence was awful and Arnold and Helga weren't sure what was going to happen until Hilton started laughing and groaning from the pain in his ribs.

"Are you okay or should I get the doctor?" Helga asked.

Hilton shook his head no as he calmed down and looked again at the note and at Arnold and Helga.

"So you two have been dating for 8 years and no one knows about it except your best friends?" Hilton said.

"That's right," said Arnold.

Hilton looked at the two. Was that why Arnold had intervened several times when he was trying to woo Helga?

Suddenly, Hilton's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

"Wait a minute, you can't be serious, the poem you wrote... was about you and Helga?" Hilton asked in disbelief.

"That's right," said Arnold.

''I don't believe it. I can't see you two together intimately, that's just not possible. Especially since Helga is always taunting you.'' Hilton said.

Before Helga could respond she felt Arnold's hand stroke her cheek. When Helga turns her hoods she feels Arnold's lips pressing hers in a kiss. A deep, long kiss, that is.

Hilton looked at the two in amazement. Helga leaned into the kiss as Arnold let go of her and looked at her with a grin and she grinned back.

'' I know enough. Geez, you know this is going to have a huge impact if this comes out.'' Hilton said as he lays down more on the pillow.

"What's the reason you keep it a secret anyway?"

''Because of the fact that Helga was always taunting me. And that was because she was in love with me. Only I didn't know that. That's why we keep it quiet. Many will not understand and will ask questions. And that's something we don't want.'' Arnold said.

Hilton was silent for a moment and placed his hand over his face and sighed deeply.

''I feel like such an idiot. I should have already understood your first hint. And certainly the second clue.'' Hilton said. "Then this wouldn't have happened."

''Finally you get it. That took a long time!'' Helga said as she crossed her arms. Arnold looked at Hilton and wondered if Arnold was seeing the ''real'' Hilton.

"Hilton, do your parents know you play basketball?" Arnold asked and Hilton looked at him.

"No, I tried to tell them but they were oh so busy with my two older brothers," Hilton said. '' Why?''

''Then we will change that too. When is your next match?'' Arnold asked.

''In 4 months, before we go on a school trip and after the trip there is another competition.'' Hilton said.

''Then you are fit enough to participate. Nice.'' Arnold said with a grin.

"Arnoldo, what are you planning?" Helga said.

''I have an idea but I won't say anything about it yet. I have to get it done first.'' Arnold said. "And Hilton must adhere to the contract otherwise there is no point."

''I will definitely stick to it. Now it will be interesting at school to see how you two pull through. Oh, now that I think of it, does your crazy cousin know about you two?'' Hilton asked.

Helga started chuckling when Hilton said ''crazy cousin'' and Arnold smiled at that.

''No he doesn't know. Maybe better this way. We wanted to tell him until this happened and he got really upset that we were being bombarded with questions. He will know one day but not now.'' Arnold said.

''I understand that. He's stranger than strange.'' Hilton said.

"Hey Lewis, I would like you to tell your fan club that they should also act normal towards me and Arnold." Helga said and Hilton looked at her strangely.

'' What do you mean? My fan club?'' Hilton asked.

''Belle was quite angry with me and a few other ladies.'' Arnold said.

Hilton sighed and pushed his hair back.

''Belle I understand. The other ladies, I understand that they are fans of me, but nothing more.'' Hilton said.

"Hilton, you've slept with several girls, right?" Arnold asked and Hilton laughed sourly.

'' To kiss? Yes. But sex with them? No. I only slept with Belle. '' Hilton said, although it seemed like he had more to say.

''You're hiding something. Arnold always looks like that when he wants to say something.'' Helga said and Arnold stuck out his tongue at her.

''Belle is my fiancée. It's something between our families. I didn't want to but I have to obey. Same for Belle. The first time we slept together I found out she wasn't a virgin anymore," Hilton said.

''Hoo wait a minute, Belle is your fiancée? You don't love each other and yet you did the deed?'' Arnold asked.

''We were promised to each other as children. Only Belle loved someone else. She gave herself to him before our engagement became official and Belle gave him up. Then she slowly started developing feelings for me. I'm trying, but I just can't do it," Hilton said.

''Does Belle know that? That you don't love her?'' Arnold asked.

'' Yes. That's why I kissed other girls, I thought it would work, but no. She then clings more and more to myself.'' Hilton sighed.

''And you can't tell your parents because they're idiots. But what you are doing is not right either. Maybe you should react colder to Belle than usual?'' Helga suggested and Hilton thought.

''I could go talk to her parents. If I don't try...'' Hilton said. ''But please keep this a secret! ''

"Sure!" Helga and Arnold said at the same time.

Hilton sighed with relief. Why had he even told them this? Because Arnold and Helga also entrusted their secret to him?

Hilton looked up and saw Arnold reaching out to him.

"Let's end this with a handshake." Arnold said and Hilton smiled and gave his hand to Arnold and they both shook their hands.


Arnold and Helga returned to school and were asked where they were. Sid, Harold and Rhonda in particular were eager to know why they were away for a few hours.

''We were at Hilton. On behalf of the rector and our parents. We had to talk together to prevent even greater consequences. If we keep the agreement until the end of this school year, all complaints will be canceled.'' Arnold said.

''What the hell is that for? Couldn't they just arrest Hilton?'' Stinky asked angrily.

''Stinky, we're still young. To already have a criminal record without having had a chance in society is quite harsh. That is why those agreements were made.'' Arnold said.

'' I get it. Does that also mean that Hilton's friends will now leave you and our friends alone?'' Phoebe asked Helga.

''Yes, that is the intention. Although I now know that Belle will say something about it, but I have that under control. I'll have a good discussion with her without Betsy showing herself.'' Helga said.

''Uhm, how is Hilton now? We know he's in the hospital but for what?'' Rhonda asked carefully. She was still angry with Arnold but also with Hilton. Arnold for assaulting Hilton like that. But Hilton was the one who pulled a knife.

Arnold and Helga looked at each other. Helga could tell from Arnold that he didn't want to tell. So Helga took over.

''Arnoldo is still a bit tired of what happened so I'll tell you. Hilton has been in the hospital on an IV with pain medication since Arnold gave him 3 bruised ribs. If everything goes well he can go home at the weekend.'' Helga said.

'' Is that all? Knowing Arnold, he would have easily sent Hilton to the ICU with one punch.'' said Sid.

Gerald looked at his best friend as everyone argued with each other. He saw that Arnold was exhausted from yesterday and today and then again all the interference from his friends and classmates.

Before Gerald could even ask anything, he saw tears rolling down Arnold's cheeks. Arnold just couldn't take it anymore, all the tensions were now coming out and he couldn't hold it back.

Helga saw Gerald's face looking worriedly at Arnold and so Helga looked next to her to see her loved one in silent tears.

''Arnold...'' Helga said in a sweet and concerned voice which made everyone stop talking and look at Helga and then after Arnold.

A broken Arnold...

''I need to act thought yet as a friend... let's try.'' thought Helga and placed a hand on Arnold's shoulder.

"Need a shoulder, Football Head?" Helga asked calmly. Arnold looked at Helga before he buried his face in Helga's shoulder and started to cry softly.

Some were surprised. Arnold expressing himself to Helga? Lila saw some people starting to think so she had to do something quickly.

''You two are also having a pretty hard time because of Hilton. If it wasn't Arnold he wanted, then it was Helga.'' Lila said to cover them.

''It's done now. I had my share of crying last night. I think Arnoldo has had his share now.'' Helga said.


Belle sat next to Hilton's bed and watched him quietly review his homework notes.

"Hilton, I heard through the school hallways today that you and Shortman had discussed something." Belle said and Hilton nodded as he wrote.

"Would you like to share that with your beautiful fiancé?" Belle asked with a smile and Hilton sighed.

"We have made agreements that have been presented by the principal that Shortman and I have to adhere to, that's all," Hilton said.

"What kind of agreements are those?" asked Belle.

Hilton closed his notebook and looked at Belle.

'' What do you want? This is between me and him. I promised him that you and my friends will leave Arnold and his friends alone. So that means this is the only information you get.'' Hilton said.

''Hilton, we're engaged. I'm supposed to support you and make sure Shortman is punished."

''ARE YOU FUCKING DEAF!? LEAVE IT ALONE!'' Hilton shouted and Belle jumped out of her chair and distanced herself.

Hilton clutched his side, that damn pain too, but he was done with everything.

''Belle, it's over. Between you and me and that whole wedding thing. No matter what I do, I'll never be able to love you," Hilton said.

Belle pouted and left the room with a soft sob and Hilton relaxed into his pillow. He should have done this much earlier.


Arnie came home to find his aunt putting a blanket over Arnold who was sleeping on the couch.

"Aunt Stella, is Arnold sick?" Arnie asked and Stella looked up.

''Hey Arnie, no. He is exhausted from school and has fallen asleep on the couch. Would you like something to drink?'' Stella asked and Arnie nodded and followed Stella to the kitchen.

Arnie sat down at the table and looked around while Stella grabbed a drink. The house was always empty at this time. Everyone ran an errand or took a walk in the neighborhood.

Stella placed a glass of coke in front of Arnie and placed a cutting plan, some plates and vegetables on the table, which Stella began to cut.

Something Arnie appreciated from his aunt since it sometimes ended in conversations. Maybe today he could ask what had been haunting him for a while.

"Aunt Stella, can I ask you something?" Arnie asked.

'' Sure. You can always ask.'' Stella said while she was busy cleaning and cutting the carrots.

Stella knew Arnie needed someone he could trust. Like Arnold, Arnie also had questions that he needed to answer and she would be a bad aunt if she ignored her very own cousin, even though Arnie had strange habits.

''Arnold says he's never had a girlfriend. Yet he is no longer a virgin and is in love with someone. That's what I picked up from him when he was talking to Gerald. Like he's been dating that girl for years.'' Arnie said.

Stella almost cut her finger after that comment. She looked at Arnie, what now? She knew Arnold would tell but decided against it after the event, but Stella also knew that Arnie was smart enough to notice things.

Stella sighed and was prepared to take a risk.

''It is true that Arnold is in love and that he has been dating the girl for years. It's a secret relationship that only a few people know about," Stella said.

"Why?" Arnie asked.

''It just happened that way. Arnold and his girlfriend like not to show off the fact that they are together. Some friends will react strangely to it.'' Stella explained.

Arnie was quiet for a moment, thinking as if he were moving pieces of a puzzle. It made Stella a little uncomfortable.

"And who is that girl?" Arnie asked and Stella shook her head.

''I promised not to say anything.'' Stella said. Suddenly she heard a noise and saw her son standing in the doorway.

"Arnold...did you sleep well?" she asked.

"Yes mom.." Arnold said as he walked towards Arnie.

"Arnie... I know you can keep secrets..." Arnold said and Arnie nodded.

''Helga... that's my girlfriend.''' Arnold said.


What a madhouse, maybe this explained Hilton's behavior. But is that justified?