The flower on her hand had led to a cacophony of thoughts that she became absorbed in the foreign contents of her locker. So much so she failed to notice that among the herd of students gathering at their own lockers, there was a pair of them that were approaching her from behind. The sudden obstruction to her vision startled her, but was comforted by the familiar hand over her eyes as well as the accompanying sound of (in her opinion) an annoying voice saying "Guess who?"

Leaning back into one of the newcomer's chest she opted to not answer the annoying voice and instead said "You know Stinky, when you said you'll be back I didn't think you would bring your little henchman"

"Come on Helga Sid isn't so bad plus he's supposed to help me with something" Stinky responded while moving his hands from her eyes and wrapping her in a hug from behind her shoulders.

"Yeah right whatev-"

In the middle of dismissing Sid's presence, she was interrupted by the man himself. "Boy howdy! Starting already? With a flower? What kind even is that?" Crouching slightly to see the unusual flower in Helga's hand.

Helga went still and before she could say something Stinky answered. But not before peaking at the hand Sid was looking at, by bringing it close to his eyes "That's a cornflower they are a slightly invasive species. I've had to pluck out a few on my patch so they don't feed off the rest of my crops. And I didn't! must've been Arnold trying to woo her back. He'd be a dang fool if he didn't!"

"Hey! Hey hey hey!" Stinky felt Helga shifting away from him as she said this. In response, he kissed her on her temple before letting go. A small act demonstrating he didn't hold it against her nor was he attacking her. Hoping to attenuate her aggressiveness before she became needlessly defensive. A precious gift he had, to be so adept at reading her.

The blonde turned, a scowl forming on her face. She felt as if caught with a hand in the cookie jar, trapped. She wanted to desperately defend herself but could only concentrate on the tingling left by the slight contact of Stinky's lips. Not that she had any time to reply as his smile grew amused and said "Now, you aren't gonna try to tell me that ain't true, right Helga?"

And there it was, that 'deer in the headlights' look Stinky loved. And yet the scowl returned as soon as it left muttering a "Oh! Just… Shut up!" while putting the flower and note back in her locker, and retrieving what she needed. Walking away trying to escape as fast as possible.

Trying not to think about how she couldn't find it in her heart to throw away Arnold's likeness. Or his note. So she fled, avoiding the route her thoughts were leading.

Sid simply stood there amazed at what he was seeing for the first time. A flustered Helga with a blush, fighting a smile with all her might. Yeah for the first time, he recognized her as an attractive girl. He now understood all those times that some of the newest members of the gang (when only the boys were present) asked at some point or another 'Pataki or Heyerdahl?'. Now, he understood the other duos like Rhonda and Nadine, but Helga never registered as a 'girl', only as the class bully.

Yet he was now processing that it was actually a question that had become a frequent debate as of recently. Mostly because the newer guys had never met 'Helga the bully'. In fact, he hadn't seen 'Helga the bully' in quite some time. Even more so, she was extremely sociable as of late.

Friendly, well… almost. Sid tried his hardest trying to remember when this shift happened because yeah, she was much more approachable.

Well not that he'd risk pulling a prank on her but enough to not have a foot out the door every time they exchanged some words. Was it last month? March? She had gone out of her way to invite people to her birthday, not something she'd do. February? Heck! She approached him and Harold to plan something for Stinky's birthday! How did he not notice this before?! And… The Christmas and New Year's Eve parties! Yeah! Sometime around then she showed up to the group's gathering often, even more often than when Arnold and Helga were a couple.

Some revelation that was!

Across the neighborhood, there was a giant of a man. He was rummaging in the contents of a desk, some would even say too small to be considered his. He must have found what he was looking for, as he held up a paper to his face. Skimming through the words, he murmured some of them with a concentrated frown over his face. The contents must have appeased him because without reading the whole content of the paper a disinterred look came about him. Saying to himself "I'm not even gonna ask".

It wasn't much later that he was filling out some paperwork. When he was finally done he had a proud smile on him and said "You are gonna crush these losers, Olga!"

For the next two weeks, Helga felt like a headless chicken running around, overwhelmed with whatever feelings dumb and dumber provoked her. It was insane.

First Arnold had somehow made it so that he worked in the kitchen during her lunch. Which would have been fine but, every day he somehow managed to give her some of her favorite foods. EVERYDAY! It wasn't stuff on the regular school menu but apparently, even the other lunch ladies were in it with him, because they allowed this special treatment. He must have paid for it too, as she quickly learned that they weren't trying to charge her for any additional goodies. And well to be honest she wasn't gonna say no to a good pastrami on rye. Or whatever delicacies Arnold had brought her, but dammit did it make her feel guilty for the fluttering in her stomach caused by his exceptional attentiveness. That was lunch for her.

Then the locker incident had become a routine. Roses, tulips, daisies, dahlias, iris, every day a different flower. Not only that, but the notes which accompanied said flowers. She couldn't help but save the note to read in the comfort of her room.

God did her heart melt.

Every single time.

It was embarrassing how weak she was to Arnold's words. Not that she would let him know that. She also tried not to think about how if it wasn't for Stinky she would have thrown herself at Arnold during the Thursday incident…

Ahh, but Stinky!

When they had first gotten close last December, he was an annoyance. Simply because of his disruptive entrance into her life. Truth be told he wasn't pestering her or making her life more difficult, he was just there. Giving her enough space so as to not feel suffocated and close enough so she would stop feeling so… alone. He never prodded for any intimate details and simply provided implicit support much similar to Phoebe's respect for boundaries. It was nice with the added plus of not leeching off time from Phoebe's academic pursuits.

There was also how he became a buffer of some sort in her social reintegration. Stinky wasn't a mediator who took some Switzerland-like stance. He took her side every time even when she knew she was wrong. Sometimes she would stick to her guns just to see how long he would actually support her. It wasn't out of malice, but rather apprehension; that anyone would ever do such things for her. It was something she never had. EVER. Someone unconditionally in her corner. It was often the case that either she was ignored, as she was at home. Or even making her empathize with the other party by Phoebe or Arnold; completely against her will. True, they were mostly mundane arguments, yet that combative attitude was still conjured up. No surprise given her heightened fight or flight instincts.

The thing about it was that Stinky felt that the given argument was not about the argument at all. That something was hiding behind her twisted reasoning. He relented every time, and it wasn't that he agreed every time or that he was a pushover. But after seeing the first squabble, he noticed how easy it was for most to ostracize her for her bluntness, sure her commentary may have been mean but had heard worse things being said behind peoples' backs without similar treatment. So yeah he was on her side in spirit and presence, sometimes it was fun.

After one of the first witnessed quarrels after all was said and done, they had a moment. She thanked him for not turning against her and eventually confessed how somewhere in the middle of it she realized that she was wrong, but didn't feel like admitting all their yelling had gotten to her. Eventually, following a few similar turn of events she accepted him into her small circle of trust. Allowing him in even when she wasn't keen on it at first. By the end of December, he was a welcomed individual. Additionally, it was so comforting to have an unwavering presence. So much that she began to step out of her comfort zone finally feeling safe enough to do it now. Her life began to turn more social with this new sense of ease around her. She began showing more empathy and compassion, mimicking the new treatment she was receiving. In turn, relationships began growing and others birthed.

Moments before their first kiss she had found a yearning in his eyes. One that she figured must have been similar to hers. With an appetency to deepen their connection, they proceeded to grant that wish to their deeper self. That first kiss filled her with warmth. It may have not turned her body into a puddle of nerves nor made her mind float all the way to cloud nine, but that warmth was exactly what she needed. Plus she wasn't willing to lose him, at least not at that moment.

Resorting to unconsciously giving herself to him. Unaware of the control she was surrendering for the first time. She trusted him, but not without merit. Simultaneously not wanting to know how much of herself she gave to him; resulting in avoidance of the topic, whatever was born that day went unacknowledged. It wasn't until Miriam had asked an innocent question. Might as well be looked back as the catalyst for this eventuality. One day a couple of weeks after that first kiss. Helga was putting on some mascara to go with the smudgy-looking eyeliner making sure to get the exact results she envisioned.

"Aww, sweetie getting ready for one of your little dates?"

Date? Was that what they were? And WHY did she not mind them? Sure, she didn't think they were dates to begin with but they did check many of the boxes and surprisingly didn't want them to stop. And yet that didn't answer any of the arising questions. At that point, she had made the resolution to ask about them and clear things up with Stinky. She didn't know it consciously but yeah she would accept any of his demands and compromise whenever necessary. A byproduct of the trust the taller boy had earned.

After their relationship status had been confirmed by both, Helga began to see him with different eyes, appreciating how his smile always pointed to the same side as his head tilted. The way he'd hover above her after a flirty comment. Finding how much she liked those things and ultimately growing fond of them. She really did learn to love Stinky, especially during the short span of their relationship. Not sure if it was head-over-heels, hook, line, and sinker, over-the-moon type of love. But it was calm, warm, and cozy. It would be the hardest thing in the world if she were to let go. Helga did love too much for her own good.

Not that Stinky and his lovable personality helped.

So… so… cute and sweet, so caring.

And understanding.

Aww

Oh, the agony.

Woe unto the memory of that Thursday!

AHH!

That Thursday. That Thursday, when on her way back from taking some papers to the principal at the request of the teacher, he found her. He was as surprised as she was, he didn't expect or plan to actually talk to her alone. he didn't plan to do that yet, their encounters had been under the keen public eye. Knowing how private the matter was he resorted to only making complimenting comments to her.

By then the fact that he was back or here to stay was irrelevant to Helga, but it was rather how hurt she still was. That any time she saw him it reminded her of the broken promise, the fact that he knew what her heart wanted and dangled it in front of her. Lying that it was within reach only to snatch it away knowing that it would devastate her. She loved him but the essence of resentment was still lingering in her heart. A resentment that was born after he hung up the phone. Either she unconsciously knew or feared that she was right and he was lying. That's why she never opened his subsequent letters, and by the time Christmas came she wanted to burn them all and at the same time read them. so she kept them; and hid them away from herself and others. Out of sight, out of mind.

As it often happened it was Helga who broke the silence. "A-Arnold!"

"Hey, Helga! looking good. A-as always"

Almost as if on cue Helga blushed and frowned towards the floor. That was what their interactions had been reduced to, in the last couple of days. But this time was different because Helga would not walk away due to the passing traffic, or other students pushing their way off the line in the cafeteria. Today the hall was quiet and they were alone with no immediate responsibilities and no bell that would mark their delay and they both knew that.

when Helga looked up she mustered a serious face, as best she could despite the redness remaining on her face. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that, Arnold. You can't keep saying that stuff to me. You know, the little flirty comments, and then expect me to fall at your feet every time. Iit's not right."

"What do you mean? I know since I left, we aren't… I mean you said… well anyway I want us to be together again. Hopefully, you've read my notes the ones I've left in your locker''

"Yeah about that Arnold, I'm with Stinky now. Like I'm with him with him"

At that, Arnold smiled and almost burst out laughing. "Helga everyone with eyes can see that, I mean why do you think I'm back? the news reached me! across international lines, jungle and all."

Before Arnold could say anything else, he was interrupted by Helga. "And you think Stinky is just some placeholder, a hand warmer that I would toss out for you? Is that what I'm hearing? Do you think that's right Arnold?" Emotions always ran high when they were together. A small comment did incite the spark to burst into flames.

"wouldn't be the first time you used Stinky to try to get my attention" Arnold was no exception, his faster-than-brain mouth did get him into trouble a couple of times. Plus he was already mad at himself for not approaching her sooner, face to face at least.

The blonde long hair moved back along with the head's involuntary jerk, shocked by his response, using an old confession of hers to get his point across. "I'm not using him to make you jealous we just happened and you know what i kinda like him a little, heck you might even say than I like him a lot…" A bittersweet sensation overtook her, caused by the remembrance of a similar confession of feelings. But somehow felt like confessing to Arnold would cut ties with him completely. And definitely wanted to avoid that, he was special and very dear to her. "He's okay and…"

"Okay fine!" Arnold interrupted. "You aren't dating him to bug me okay, I get that. But do you love him like you love me? you know like how we would basically be inseparable because we couldn't help it. Or does he make you almost faint with every kiss?" By then Arnold had begun to walk into Helga's personal space and trapped her with his precedence rather than his body.

resistless to the fluttering of her stomach, basking in the feeling of his closeness. The blood rushing to her extremities causing perspiration on the palms of her hands, a lightness in her head, and her feet on the verge of giving in against her weight. All caused by him, his words bringing back the memories of every time he managed to make her swoon to the point of a short unconscious spell. "Does he make you write that poetry you don't share with anyone else but me, about how you… tremble all over."

She knew exactly what pieces he was talking about. But also knew that he wasn't one to delve into the explicit nature of them because he was like that. In fact, she never actually shared any of them with him. He found them, and as it usually went, it left her mortified. She had resigned herself to accept his rejection of them and even a possible breakup but he was surprisingly receptive of them. Even asked for those of a similar nature to not be hidden from him. Deterring her from writing more until… well they just bursted out of her mercilessly.

"Do you dream about him? or about us just like I do, WE do, Helga?" He continued. Now in her face close enough that if she stood up correctly instead of leaning back she could kiss him. She really could, the ghost of his lips was already touching hers and in her mind's eye, they were already kissing. All the memories of them, each caress he ever gave her was now felt by her present self, burning her skin. Inciting her to finally give in. To be honest she wasn't even sure what was holding her back at this point. Stinky didn't have to know and if he found out, he would understand, and… if she tossed him aside it wouldn't matter. Right? But it wasn't right and she knew that, deep in her conscience it was an inherent fact. Plus it would lead to a distancing between them and she could already feel the mourning of that type of loss.

"I- I mean it's not…"

Helga never had to resist an invitation from Arnold of this nature, any rebuff towards him in favor of another tried to fight its way towards her brain. Yet his closeness to her warded off any and all of those threats to their union. The vapors of their breaths were intermingling with one another, becoming the one air they shared. Arnold took her hand and, in an innate response closed her eyes waiting for his inevitable kiss. Except it never came. At least not where she expected it. Arnold had taken her hand and kissed her there instead.

"Come on, we have to get going. I know you'll do the right thing, Helga"

It was only then that she opened her eyes. Just in time to see him wink at her. With a squeeze of her hand as a parting he left. Leaving her stewing in a mix of frustration and desire.

A/N

I have been too emotionally exhausted that writing that tension at the end left me DRAINED. I'm pretty sure I could've done better but that would require me to feel better and would have taken a while.

Thank you to those who have commented!:))))
Ill start answering to the comments from now on. starting with those from 5
Esmeralda- omg yes i really do want her to move on from that obsession but at the same time they are su cuteeee!
He does love her but maybe just hasn't been able to give her the love she NEEDS.
Now relating to Helga's physical activity and how she should give her virginity to Arnold even if she picks Stinky. And well in response I will say that it's not a topic that I intended on touching I'm sure it's in respect to the scene where she offers herself to Stinky. Which was more about Helga being like "hey this is a boundary we haven't crossed but will now because I feel guilty and I'm trying to make up/overcompensate".
BUT hey I mean I have been very careful to not confirm nor deny any activity thereafter or even before. So if you picture them waiting till marriage they do, if it was a line that she had already crossed with Arnold then, sure. It's ambiguous enough that it'll allow everyone to picture them however it makes their little heart happiest. But it did bring me to question how that aspect may develop so maybe I'll do a different story exploring that?… who knows ?￢ﾀﾍ ️
CaffeinatedBunnyGirl- you know i love that there's some duality to the characters that you get to explore. Often Arnold's gets neglected or simply the saint version of him fits better within the story. and well his sneakiness/less than saint ways contributed to his distancing from Helga so I guess it was the perfect storm for this rendering of him. glad you like it.

Also someone had mentioned the time frame, yes it's short! That, along with their ages is to encapsulate how serious and definitive everything feels but it really isn't so… fun!

Omg! Also I didn't think y'all would be on team Stinky until at least hearing Helgas side which well there it was lol.

On the topic of that you might be tired of hearing the same series of events just in different perspectives. Well I was exploring the unreliable narrator but due to perspectives… if that makes sense. Well that's all the perspectives you are gonna get. hell you even got a Sid perspective now! Btw that 'Pataki or Heyerdahl' was based on an actual question that went around in my school just much more explicit and more choices…

Anyways hope this was a fun chapter for you guys.

Sending love and light wherever you are! ❤️

-kat

PS before I forget. This site doesn't allow me to show how many chapters are left... and well i though you all should know that there aren't many left. now in my crazy little head it was only 3 but after writing a bit i found myself writing a little more than expected. Plus I didn't even plan the story its all been ridding on vibes and such (completely new at this I'm a science girly not arts/literature) Im expecting it to have two more chapters plus an epilogue:)