Chapter One
1. Gerald
In the bustling city of Hillwood, P.S. 118 was alive with the usual hum of activity. Students hurried between classes, laughed in the hallways, and whispered secrets behind lockers. Among these students were a group of fourth-graders, each with their own unique quirks and personalities. As they navigated the ups and downs of elementary school life, they slowly began to piece together a puzzle that had been hiding in plain sight: Helga Pataki had a crush on Arnold.
Gerald Johanssen prided himself on his observational skills. As Arnold's best friend, he felt it was his duty to watch out for him, both on and off the playground. One crisp fall day during recess, Gerald was shooting hoops with Arnold when he noticed something unusual. Helga Pataki, notorious for her relentless teasing and sharp tongue, was standing by the jungle gym, her eyes fixed on Arnold as he dribbled the basketball. Gerald paused mid-shot, the ball bouncing off the rim, and studied her carefully.
Helga's usual scowl had softened. Her eyes, typically narrowed in disdain, seemed almost...fond. Gerald blinked and rubbed his eyes, convinced he must be seeing things. He glanced back at Helga and saw a small, involuntary smile creep across her face as Arnold scored a basket.
"Could it be?" he thought, his mind racing. "Helga has a crush on Arnold?"
The idea was so absurd that Gerald almost laughed out loud. Helga, the girl who never missed an opportunity to call Arnold "Football Head" and make his life difficult, harboring romantic feelings for him? It was preposterous. But the more Gerald thought about it, the more he couldn't shake the image of that smile from his mind. He decided to keep an eye on Helga, just in case.
Over the next few weeks, Gerald began to notice more oddities. It started small. He saw Helga lingering near Arnold's locker, her face quickly turning red when Arnold greeted her. In class, she would steal glances at him when she thought no one was looking, her expression a mix of longing and frustration. During group projects, Helga seemed to always find a way to be near Arnold, her demeanor softening ever so slightly in his presence.
Despite these observations, Gerald still doubted himself. Maybe he was reading too much into things. After all, Helga was a master at hiding her true feelings. But then came the day of the school science fair.
Arnold and Gerald had worked hard on their project—a model of the solar system. On the day of the fair, they set up their display and were soon surrounded by curious classmates. Gerald noticed Helga hovering at the edge of the crowd, her eyes locked on Arnold as he explained their project to a group of students.
As the crowd dispersed, Helga approached the table, her usual scowl firmly in place. "Nice model, Football Head," she sneered, but Gerald caught the flicker of pride in her eyes.
"Thanks, Helga," Arnold replied, flashing his signature smile.
Helga's scowl deepened, but Gerald noticed her hands fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "Whatever. Don't let it go to your head," she muttered before stomping off.
Gerald's suspicions grew stronger. Helga's harsh words were undermined by the subtle, almost affectionate way she looked at Arnold. Could it be that her teasing was just a cover for deeper feelings?
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place during a particularly chaotic day at school. Arnold had volunteered to help clean up the art room after a paint spill, and Gerald decided to lend a hand. As they worked, Gerald noticed Helga lurking outside the door, peeking in through the window.
"Hey Arnold, I think someone's watching us," Gerald said casually, nodding towards the door.
Arnold glanced up and saw Helga quickly duck out of sight. "Oh, it's just Helga. She's always around," Arnold said with a shrug.
"Yeah, but don't you think it's weird how she's always around you?" Gerald pressed.
Arnold frowned, considering this. "I guess I never really thought about it. Helga's always been, well, Helga."
Gerald nodded, a plan forming in his mind. "Let's test something," he suggested. "Pretend to trip and fall. Just trust me."
Arnold looked skeptical but went along with it. He stumbled and fell to the floor, knocking over a stack of paint cans. The noise brought Helga rushing into the room, her eyes wide with concern.
"Arnold, are you okay?" she asked, her voice uncharacteristically gentle.
Arnold sat up, pretending to wince. "Yeah, I think so."
Helga's relief was palpable. She quickly masked it with her usual bravado. "I mean, watch where you're going, Football Head!" she snapped, but her initial reaction had not gone unnoticed by Gerald.
As Helga stormed out of the art room, Gerald exchanged a knowing look with Arnold. "You see that? Helga does care about you."
Arnold rubbed his head, still processing the idea. "I guess she does."
Gerald felt a sense of satisfaction as the pieces of the puzzle finally clicked into place. Helga's teasing and harsh words were just a front for her true feelings. She was in love with Arnold, and she was doing everything in her power to hide it.
Gerald decided to keep this revelation to himself. It wasn't his secret to tell, and besides, it was kind of sweet in a weird, Helga-like way. He watched as Arnold went back to cleaning up the paint, a small smile playing on his lips. Maybe one day, Helga would find the courage to reveal her feelings. Until then, Gerald would keep an eye on both of them, ready to support his best friend no matter what.
2. Sheena
Sheena was known for her love of animals and nature, but she also had a keen sense of empathy. One afternoon, as she and Helga were working on a group project in the library, Sheena noticed something curious. Helga, usually so focused and intense, was absentmindedly doodling in her notebook.
The project they were working on was about the ecosystem of Hillwood. Their assignment was to create a detailed presentation on the various animals and plants that thrived in their city. Sheena, naturally enthusiastic about the topic, had eagerly taken the lead, assigning tasks and gathering resources. She and Helga had divided the work: Sheena would handle the flora, while Helga would focus on the fauna. They planned to merge their research into a cohesive project.
Helga had initially been enthusiastic, diving into books about local wildlife and scribbling notes with her usual fervor. They had spent several afternoons in the library, surrounded by stacks of books, papers, and colorful markers. Sheena noticed that Helga had a surprising depth of knowledge about animals, particularly those that lived in their urban environment. It was clear that Helga was passionate about the project, which made her current distraction all the more noticeable.
As they sat at a long wooden table, Sheena flipping through a book on native plants and Helga supposedly taking notes on urban wildlife, Sheena's attention was caught by a soft sound. She glanced up and saw Helga absentmindedly tapping her pen against her notebook. Curious, Sheena leaned over to get a better look and saw that Helga was drawing hearts and the initials "A+H."
"Helga, what's that?" Sheena asked with genuine curiosity.
Helga quickly closed the notebook, her face turning a shade of crimson. "It's nothing! Just bored, that's all."
Later that day, Helga approached Sheena by the lockers, her demeanor a mix of irritation and nervousness. "Hey, Sheena," she began awkwardly, "about that thing you saw in my notebook...I just wanted to say it's no big deal. I was, uh, just trying out a new pen. You know, testing the ink."
Sheena, puzzled but polite, nodded. "Sure, Helga. No big deal."
Helga forced a laugh. "Yeah, so don't go thinking it means anything. It doesn't. At all."
Sheena raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. She could tell that Helga was uncomfortable, and she didn't want to make her friend feel worse. However, the sight of those initials stayed with her. Over the next few days, Sheena began to notice more signs.
Helga's supposed indifference towards Arnold seemed to mask a deeper affection. The way she would light up when Arnold entered a room, only to hide it with a scowl, didn't escape Sheena's notice. She saw how Helga's eyes would soften for a split second before she remembered to put on her usual tough exterior. During recess, Helga would often position herself in a spot where she could keep an eye on Arnold, though she always had a ready insult if he happened to glance her way.
One day, during a class field trip to the zoo, Sheena got her final confirmation. They were in the reptile house, and Arnold was enthusiastically explaining facts about snakes to the group. Helga, standing a few feet away, was pretending to be disinterested, her arms crossed and her face set in a scowl. But Sheena, ever observant, saw the soft smile on Helga's lips and the way her eyes never left Arnold.
Arnold was talking about the different types of snakes when one particularly colorful one caught Helga's attention. She momentarily forgot to look bored and instead gazed at Arnold with a kind of quiet admiration. Sheena, watching this unfold, felt a pang of understanding and warmth.
"Helga really does like Arnold," Sheena thought to herself. It was a sweet, hidden side of Helga that Sheena found endearing. She decided to keep this little discovery to herself, respecting Helga's privacy. Sheena understood that everyone had secrets and vulnerabilities, and it was clear that Helga's feelings for Arnold were something she wasn't ready to share with the world. With a knowing smile, Sheena promised herself that she would be there for Helga, supporting her in silent solidarity.
3. Harold
Harold wasn't the brightest kid in class, but he had his moments of clarity. During a particularly boring history lesson, he noticed Helga's constant glances towards the back of the room, where Arnold sat. Harold followed her gaze and saw Arnold, obliviously taking notes. Harold scratched his head.
"Why's she always looking at Football Head?" he wondered aloud, earning a glare from the teacher.
Harold shrugged off the teacher's annoyance and continued to observe. During lunch that day, Helga's behavior became even more obvious. She was sitting with her usual scowl, but every few minutes, her eyes would dart over to Arnold's table. When Arnold laughed at something Gerald said, Helga's expression softened momentarily, only to harden again when she caught herself.
"That's weird," Harold thought. "She only looks at him like that when she thinks no one's watching."
Later that afternoon, Harold saw Helga sitting alone by the playground. She was scribbling furiously in her pink notebook, which he knew was her secret journal. Curiosity got the better of him, and he crept closer to see what she was writing. As he peeked over her shoulder, he saw Helga writing a poem about Arnold, her usual tough exterior replaced by an expression of dreamy affection.
Harold's eyes widened in surprise. "Helga likes Arnold," he thought, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. "All that mean stuff she says to him is just a cover."
Harold chuckled to himself, amused by the irony of it all. He remembered how people teased him about his crush on Big Patty and how much it hurt. He didn't want Helga to go through the same thing. Despite her tough exterior, Harold knew that Helga had feelings too. Plus, he didn't want to face Helga's wrath if she found out he had spilled her secret. He had seen her get angry before, and it wasn't something he wanted directed at him.
For the next few days, Harold kept an eye on Helga, noticing more and more signs of her crush. The way she would blush when Arnold complimented her on anything, how she would fumble her words around him, and even the occasional kind gesture she would quickly cover up with a snide remark. It all made sense now.
During recess one day, Harold saw Helga standing near the basketball court, watching Arnold play with his friends. He walked over to her, hands in his pockets. "Hey, Helga," he said casually.
Helga turned to him, her usual scowl firmly in place. "What do you want, Berman?"
Harold shrugged. "Nothing much. Just wanted to say, it's cool. You know, liking someone and all."
Helga's eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, she looked vulnerable. "What are you talking about?" she snapped, her voice trembling slightly.
Harold gave her a knowing smile. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I know what it's like to have people tease you about who you like. It's not fun."
Helga stared at him, her expression a mix of surprise and gratitude. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it, giving him a curt nod instead.
Harold walked away, feeling good about his decision. He had seen a side of Helga that few people ever did, and he respected her for it. He knew how hard it was to hide your true feelings, especially when you were afraid of being teased. From that day on, Harold decided to keep Helga's secret, respecting her privacy and silently supporting her crush on Arnold. After all, everyone deserved to like someone without fear of ridicule, even if that someone was the toughest girl in school. Plus, he didn't want to risk facing Helga's notorious wrath—he'd seen what she could do when she was angry, and that was something he wanted to avoid at all costs.