Note: I felt this fic constituted a newer, better version, so~! Enjoy!

It was a Friday. The second week of the 6th grade school year. Everyone would be together in the same class for one more year, although, their new teacher this year was not as lively.

Thinking back on it, summer sure was crazy for Arnold. He was reunited with his parents, saved a lost civilization, stopped a crazed bandit, and.. He acknowledged his feelings for Helga G. Pataki. Helga. Now that he's thought about it, he realized something. They both hadn't properly talked since their night in San Lorenzo. He... Should probably talk to her. Especially after this revelation he had weeks ago..

"Psst! Arnold!" Arnold snapped out of this deep thoughts, and looked over to his right.

Gerald was leaning over to him, still managing to stay seated. "What's the answer for number 15?"

Arnold sighed slightly. "You know I can't tell you that Gerald."

His best friend kept at a whisper. "Come on man! Please?" They both saw their teacher heading their way, so Gerald came back to a normal seated position. As she approached Arnold, he gave her the paper, and she gave a "Thank you." Arnold looked over to his friend with a subtly smug face, noticing Gerald's expression of playful disbelief. "You betrayed me."

Arnold smiled innocently, acknowledging the kidding tone in Gerald's voice. "Sorry." Gerald glanced down to his paper, worried and nervous, but he eventually continued. Arnold, on the other hand, had his eyes on someone else. A certain someone.

Helga was sitting in the row next to his, a few seats up. She was reading something. More specifically, a book full of underrated/unknown poems, although, Arnold didn't particularly know that. He had found that when his mind was drifting, his eyes always drifted to her. But I guess that's the price you pay when you're in love with someone.

Love.

Arnold smiled softy, and glanced down at the mess of study papers he had about his desk. He shuffled a few over, grabbed a pencil, and continued sketching a picture of Helga he had "accidentally started" at the beginning of the day. He had been doing this for a while now; beginning this hobby at the start of 5th grade. Well, maybe at the end of 4th grade.

There was something just so...Endearing? Attractive? Magical? Arnold wasn't really sure. What he did know, was that when Helga was engrossed in something, it gravitated his eyes and thoughts to her every time. He continued glancing at her, then back down at his creation.

As far as Arnold could tell, Helga loved him more than the sun, the moon, and stars themselves. If what she said two years ago on the FTI building was true, then she had shaped him, in her mind, as a god among men. A truly blinding light for all to see. And for this, he felt bad. Guilty. She had so much love stored inside for him, much more than he had. He figured he couldn't give her that same amount of love back. Or, at least, that's what he thought. Helga's been uncharacteristically avoiding personal conversations with him.

The sound of the teacher bringing the class to her attention pulled Arnold back from his thoughts, and he hid his drawing with a hand, looking up to the teacher then to the clock. "You all will be working on a project involving the Boston Tea Party for history. You and your selected partner-" The class groaned with annoyance. They preferred to pick their own partners, especially since they'd just got back in school. The teacher cleared her throat, and the class hushed again. "As I was saying, you and your selected partner will be tasked in recreating the dumping of the tea into the ocean. You may recreate it in any type of media you so choose. As long as you remain factual, it will be eligible for a passing grade."

As she began to call out partners, everyone began to pack up. Arnold placed his papers in a binder, and put that in his backpack. 'I wonder who will be my partner this time?'

Arnold herd his name. "Arnold and Helga," Arnold looked up from his bag with pleasant surprise. Helga quickly turned to glance at Arnold. He looked over with a greeting smile to Helga, whom snapped her gaze away from him. Arnold sighed internally. 'Well... Better sooner than later.'

The bell rang, and Helga ducked her head down, standing up and swiftly running out of the classroom, not wanting to confront him now. Arnold stood and slung his backpack on his back, watching her run out of the room. Genuinely he felt disheartened. Gerald stood, and the two of them walked out of the classroom together.

Finally Gerald spoke up. "Man, you have to finally confront Helga G. Pataki. Say, when's the last time you two talked?" The two boys had reached their lockers by this time, and Arnold opened his to put away some books.

"We haven't properly talked about- um, us, since we came back from San Lorenzo." Arnold was a tad ashamed to admit.

Gerald gasped shortly, surprised that Arnold would leave such a loose end hanging. "Seriously?! Throughout the last of summer vacation and the first week of school, you still haven't talked to her?!"

It's not like he hasn't spoken to her since then. Arnold stared at the back of his locker. He had one of his small drawings of Helga taped to the back of locker, and used it to reflect on things. "It's not that I don't want to talk to her. She just hasn't spoken to me about it."

Gerald curiously took a peak into Arnold's locker and spotted the drawing. He glanced to Arnold with a brow raised but knowing grin. Arnold's cheeks immediately flooded with a vibrant pink, while Gerald continued directing his smug expression at him.

Arnold sighed, and closed his locker ignoring the moment. "I don't know why."

Gerald closed his locker, gesturing a hand to his football-headed friend. "Have you even attempted to talk to her yourself? Or even message her?"

They both turned from their lockers, and Arnold rubbed the back of his neck. "..I tried. But I just assumed she wanted her space to reflect on it as well."

They started walking down the hallway. "You're going to have to talk to her now." Gerald stated. "You've been putting this off for way too long." Arnold just stared at the open doors to the school.

His response almost sollumn like. "Yeah. I know."

They exited the school, going down the stairs and across the crosswalk. "Who's your partner?" Arnold asked, smoothly changing the subject.

"Luckily Phoebe." Gerald answered with a little excitement to his voice. Arnold chuckled, teasing a little. "That'll be fun for you."

Gerald felt flustered at the tease while Arnold laughed at his best friend's reaction. "Hey! Not cool man!"

Arnold stifled his laughter. "Sorry Gerald. I felt like I had to since you brought her up."

Gerald sighed, and shook his head letting it slide. "Whatever." The two friends were silent for a moment before meeting their split up point. Gerald turned to Arnold. "You heading home?"

"I'm going to pick up Helga first." Arnold decided.

Gerald exhaled. Truthfully he hoped his buddy would be able to sort this out. "Good luck with that. I'm heading to Phoebe's." The two did their handshake, and went on their separate ways.

Arnold couldn't find Helga at the emporium, so he left a note there and headed home.

Meanwhile, Helga was having a heart-to-heart with Phoebe at her house.

"I don't think I'm ready to see him again."

Helga sat on a chair, positioned in front of a desk. Phoebe was sitting on her bed, listening with sympathy. "You know why I've been distancing myself from ice cream."

Phoebe nodded. "Of course I do. But I think you've had enough time to to mull over this situation, including your feelings for it."

Helga held back a sigh. "I know Pheebs, but," she stood, and started to pace around Phoebe's room, gesturing a lot. "He doesn't have the same amount of passion I do for him. That's why I've been avoiding him in the first place, remember? I don't want to come on too strong to him, cause he most likely doesn't feel that way!"

She paused in the middle of her rant, taking a deep breath and crossing her arms. She almost whispered it to herself. "That FTI incident certainly didn't help things before, what made the jungle different?"

Phoebe gestured a hand. "He acknowledged your feelings. And isn't a kiss the highest confirmation that he could give you about his own?"

Helga thought on it for a second. 'No... Maybe... Previously it was only me kissing him. But.. he was the one who initiated our kiss in San Lorenzo. It felt genuine.'

Helga sighed, rolling her eyes. "I remember telling you something to that effect yeah."

Phoebe stood up, and went to comfort her friend. "I know you've been trying to focus on other things, and that's great Helga." Phoebe placed a concerned hand on Helga's shoulder. "But you really need to talk with him. Tell him how you've been feeling. I'm sure he'll understand."

Helga sighed heavily. "Okay, okay. I'll try, I guess." Helga smiled at her friend weakly to ease her concern, and Phoebe smiled back.

They both sauntered out of Phoebe's room, and started heading for the front door. Phoebe giggled a little. "And who knows? He might love you as much as you love him after all."

Helga smiled at her friend's thought, and opened the front door to leave. To their surprise though, Gerald was standing on the stoop. Gerald certainly did not expect to see Helga here. "Helga? What are you doing here?"

Helga's smile dropped and she crossed her arms defensively. "Talking to Pheebs, what's it to you tall hair?"

"Well, Arnold was going to the beeper emporium to meet with you about the school project." Gerald pointed his thumb over his shoulder.

Helga blinked in surprise, her arms uncrossing. "What? Why now?"

He seemed to ignore her second inquiry. "Yeah, I think he's probably left by now."

Helga looked over at Phoebe. Phoebe nodded encouragingly to her, and Helga dashed down the stairs without a second thought. "See ya later Pheebs!"

"Later." Phoebe waved. With Helga out of sight she started to giggle. She looked to Gerald, whom smiled, and started to chuckle himself. "Has some unfinished business I presume?"

Phoebe laughed out loud, and nodded, motioning Gerald to come inside.

As Gerald had said, Arnold was not at the emporium, but she did find a note hurriedly taped to her "bedroom" door.

Meet me at my house

-Arnold

Helga was anxious, but tired to keep herself calm as she walked to the titular boarding house. She didn't want to look too excited to see him.

She quickly found herself standing in front of the boarding house, and stole a moment to herself to take a breath. Nervously she knocked on the door, and who else but Arnold answered.

Helga stuttered at the abrupt meeting. "A-Arnold!" Like she would be surprised he was at home. 'Doi Helga! It's his house! Of course he'd be expecting you!' She tried to shake it off.

Arnold just smiled, happy to see her. Secretly admiring her sudden bashfulness. "Hey Helga. Can we talk upstairs?"

Helga gulped, and looked down at her feet, the wave of anxiousness fully hitting her. "Uh, sure."

'Get it together ol' girl. This is your only chance!' She took a quieter inhale, and entered the boarding house, following Arnold forward. Arnold called out to his parents in the other room, beginning up the stairs. "Mom, Dad! Helga and I are going to start on that project now!" His mom, Stella, responded first. "Alright honey! You two have fun!"

His dad, Miles, mischievously added to the response. "And don't get too freaky up there!"

Arnold immediately knew what his dad was implying, and blushed a rosey red in embarrassment. Helga knew too, as she had the same physical response.

Arnold yelled in embarrassment. "Dad!" Miles laughed at his son's exasperation, and Arnold continued, the lingering aftereffects from his parents following him and Helga across the hallway.

"Miles! They're too young for such a joke!"

"Well, that didn't stop them from getting it didn't they?"

That was something they certainly agreed on; both Arnold and Helga were impressively mature for them being preteens.

Soon the two were in Arnold room, and both could feel a heavy weight in the air. For a moment, both just stood around, not knowing what to say. Finally, Arnold looked at Helga to begin. "Helga... I didn't just bring you up here to work on the project. I...need to talk with you."

Helga knew this would be coming. She couldn't run from this any longer. And so, she figured she should just get it over with. She gulped, crossing her arms meeting his sight. "Well, I have something to tell you first football head."

Arnold was taken aback by her sudden forwardness. "You- You do?"

Helga walked over to his bed, and took a seat, now resting her hands beside her. She gulped again avoiding his eyes. "...Yeah."

Arnold came over to her, and sat down to the right of her. He set his hands between his legs. "Um.. Ladies first." Helga flushed at his comment, but the pink soon faded.

She didn't look at him, and had her head lowered. "You probably want to know why I've been avoiding you."

Arnold nodded, gazing to her and moving his hands to his sides. "Yeah."

"Well, that's because..." She inhaled and exhaled slowly, picking her head up. This was hard. But she couldn't lie to him. Not now. "I know that your feelings for me aren't as... Intense as mine."

Arnold blinked with surprise in his eyes. He didn't know that she too had been thinking about this in particular. She almost looked... ashamed.

"I don't want to overwhelm you. I know that you probably can't handle it yet." She finally mustered up the courage to look at him. "I've been trying to lower my passions for you, but.. obviously that hasn't been working at all." Arnold was shocked at this information. Helga was avoiding him.. For him?

She could see his shocked expression clear as day. Her own face scrunched up, and she was genuinely saddened at herself. "It's a just a fool's errand then. I can't even begin with you football head. There's just too much to say, you know that right? I know.. I know you remember the things I told you when we were saving the neighborhood."

Indeed, he did. She was all too flustered about it now. Maybe even shameful in her actions on that rooftop. Helga frowned at his silence, and gazed back down to the floor. "Look. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you. Criminy, who could ever put up with a basketcase like me?" She closed her eyes, starting to feel a strange ping of guilt run through her.

Arnold knew now was the time to tell her about his thoughts. He carefully placed his hand on her shoulder. "Helga."

Her head shot up, and she moved her eyes to him. He spoke. "Don't feel bad. In fact.. I'm the one who should be sorry."

Helga's eyes widened. She felt speechless.

He gazed longingly to her as his hand started to move from her shoulder and down her arm comfortingly. "I know now that you've been in love with me ever since we met. You have so much to give to me Helga.. You've already given me so much... That's why I'm sorry I don't have that same amount of passion as you yet." He now held her hand, sincere. She began blushing lightly at his remarks. "You love me truly, deeply. Maybe more than I think I deserve. I want you to receive that same amount of feeling. Truth be told, I...Just want to make you as happy as you can be. As happy as you've seem to make me recently."

Helga began to frown again, automatically fearing the worst with that last bit, almost as a fight or flight response. "Does that mean.. You don't really love me?"

'Oh. I see.'

Arnold felt himself smile warmly, and moved his free hand to her cheek. "Helga." She blushed furiously at the touch of her beloved this close to her. Arnold's smile shrank shyly, a chery red blush brushing his face. It took a lot of bravery in him, but he had to say it. For her. She needed this.

"I do love you. In fact, I'd say I've fallen deeply for you."

Helga started to smile, irises growing big and wide, full of happiness. Even some blissful tears started to gather in her eyes. That, right there, was something she had been waiting to hear her whole life.

Suddenly, and without warning, Helga kissed him joyfully, pulling him by the arms into an embrace. Arnold's eyes widened at the abrupt reaction, but his eyes slowly closed, his hands going to hold Helga's shoulders, taking it all in. After a prolonged moment their lips departed, faces flushed, and smiles drawing long. His eyes half-lidded.

"...Wow." When Arnold looked into Helga's sky blue eyes, he felt something he had never felt before. He could hear his heartbeat directly in his ears, and the ever growing heaviness of it. "Can we.. do that again?"

Helga smirked, and leaned her face closer to his. "I'd thought you'd never ask." And they kissed again.

And again.

And again.

The kiss only grew more passionate. It was quickly blossoming into a open mouthed kiss as Helga's hands moved up to his neck and the back of his head respectively, while Arnold's hands slipped down to her waist. They found themselves in a full blown make out session, the only sound being their happy hums and the sounds of short breathing spliced with light smacking noises. Their thoughts and awareness be dammed. This is what heaven must taste like..

Arnold unconsciously started pushing his body onto hers, and Helga pulled him down rather quickly. The couple now both completely laying down on the bed, frenching not far behind their actions.

But eventually, the two had to stop and catch their breath. Lifting lips away just slightly, opening their eyes. She could feel his heavy breath on her skin. He could feel hers too. Their breathing slowed, and the two stared at the other, with love and lust in their eyes.

Something had happened to Arnold. He didn't feel fully in control of himself and felt like, whatever he did, wouldn't matter. His heartbeat heavy, practically pounding out of his chest and sending shockwaves all cross his body. Pulling him to be closer to her... Close in a.. interesting way?

Helga blushed a dark crimson, his half lidded and sultry smirk making her flashback.. to the same exact expression he gave her during the April Fool's Day dance from 4th grade.

Oh, how she wanted him to continue, how she wanted him to whisk her away from the world..

But, she herself was not going to be that manic. Not yet. Not now. This was heading to something a little too intimate. Even for her! She gained back her consciousness, somehow her blush getting even more colored. Bashfulness came into her expression, and she held no energy to gain back her defensive shield.

"A-A-Arnold."

And just like that, Arnold's mentality came rushing back to him. He blinked numerous times, a flush creeping up on him. Still trying to process how they got here. And what was up with Helga's face? They were just innocently kissing one moment then the next-

Helga chuckled anxiously, glancing away with an awkwardness. "That kinda escalated quickly, huh? He he."

It all suddenly clicked for him. "O-oh!" His face being brushed with a vibrant maroon red, nervously stuttering. "I-I'm sorry! I-I don't know wh-what came over m-me!"

'His nervousness -! How more modest can he possibly get?' Helga could swoon right then. But instead, she chuckled again, her cheeks flushing a pink color - not so dissimilar to her dress color, gazing back to her beloved above. The words practically spilled out of her head and into the air.

"It's alright. I.. I enjoyed it."

His flustered speechless silence said it all. For a second his heart clenched with a anxious concurrence. He nodded, English lost on him.

Another moment of silence before Helga herself felt anxious. Shuffling herself a little, trying to get him to take the hint.

"Um-"

Abruptly, he now realized what position they were in. He was on top of her. Blushing madly, he scooted himself off of her, and away to the other side of his bed hurriedly, stuttering out an apology on the way. "Oh! S-sorry. A-Again, I just kinda let myself go there and-."

Sitting up she waved off his apology with an odd type of lax. Surely swallowing her giddiness/excitement which was getting overshadowed by the fluster fighting her tone of voice. "You don't have to keep apologizing hair boy. We both liked it and that's what counts."

The two grew very shy, the room becoming very awkward. Crossing her legs they avoided eye contact, Helga having to also actively cross her arms as to not swoon, and Arnold going to hold his arm respectively. Skewing a short smile, Arnold blushed naturally. "Uh, we should just stick to kissing."

Helga agreed pretty wholeheartedly. Though for her own sanity she had to tease him for it, glancing to and subtly pointing a finger towards him. "Yeah, smooching is probably as far as we should go. We're a tad too young for anything else that might've been going through your head."

Arnold panicked a little, putting his hands up & shaking them, denying it. "I swear I wasn't-!"

She laughed out loud, a little smug. "Kidding, kidding football head. You're so gullible." He sighed shortly, relaxing a little.

Helga continued, humming curiously, leaning over for a second to lightly tap him on the shoulder. "You gave out a whole lot of passion there. Didn't know you had it in ya."

He chuckled, glancing away bashfully. He didn't know he had that in him ether. Though, that just goes to show that he had slowly been, and still continues to be, falling for her.

The word love gets stuck in his head again. Nervously scooting back to her, he took her hands in his, his green eyes meeting her lovely blue ones. He smiled warmly, sincere and sweet in his clear tone. "And I still have so much more to give you."

Helga felt like she was about to die. She couldn't help but let that hidden smile she only held in reserve for him be strewn across her lips. It all felt too good to be true. Arnold leaned himself forward a bit, hesitating. Then he let go of her hands and instead wrapped his arms around her in a close, loving embrace.

Finally, Helga let herself swoon out loud, sighing wistfully. For a moment she let all her defences fade away and hugged him back, melting into the embrace and resting her head on his shoulder. After a while she found herself nuzzling her cheek into the nape of his neck, the young doves cuddling together.

Arnold exhaled a ernest chortle, eyeing her. "You've been dying to cuddle with me your whole life, haven't you?"

She glanced sideways. "Oh shut it you."

"Whatever you say Helga." He simply responded.

He gulped, feeling as if he had already asked too much of her, but he nervously asked her anyway. Moving his head to look at her face. "Could I- could we have one more kiss?"

"Sheesh, am I really that good Arnoldo?" Helga played down her response. On the inside she swooned. 'Yes, my football headed angel, kiss me all you want! Nothing else compares to your tender gentle nature!'

Arnold answered with unexpected honesty. "Yes. You are."

This time, the kiss they shared was soft, gentle and sweet. Warm fluffy feelings filled the room's atmosphere, and the sound of strings made unheard music in Helga's mind. Shortly after their lips departed, the couple just smiled at each other.

Arnold's grandpa suddenly called from downstairs. "Arnold! Supper's on the table!"

The two let go of each other taking a scoot back and hanging their legs over the bed. Phasing out of the moment rather smoothly, Arnold called back. "Coming Grandpa!"

He stood from his bed and turned to Helga. "Would you like to join us? We can call your parents to let them know you're staying over."

Helga, now feeling a whole lot better about everything and also taking a stand from his bed, decided to take up his offer. "Eh, sure, why the heck not? It's way better than eating a can of beans for dinner."

"I'll tell my mom to set a plate for you then." Arnold said with a grin, turning and making his way out the door.

When he was gone from sight, Helga let herself swoon completely, hands on her heart as she fainted backwards onto his bed. Only for a moment though, as she was sure to craft an expert soliloquy after getting up from the bed again. Taking out her locket she began, almost practically fluttering around the room. "Oh, my football headed love god! How you continue to surprise me, the lengths you seem so willing to go! Your tantalizing touch, the feel of your perfect soft angel lips against mine, your modesty. Oh your gentleman nature! Holding back when we both need to, how could've I been so foolish to believe that you wouldn't know how to handle me?"

Meanwhile, Arnold was already making his way back up the stairs. When he reached the open door, he stopped, watching Helga saunter around the room, seemingly lost in her thoughts out loud. Instead of interjecting like he tended to often do, though unknowingly before, he leaned himself against the doorframe, watching and listening with a certain affection in his half-lidded eyes.

She failed to notice his presence, still gushing. "It's obvious we still have so much of our lives to go through. But we're here now, and that's all that matters to me! To have my feelings for you reciprocated equally, I doth swoon, my heart taking flight higher than any winged bird that always seemingly dares to fly up towards the sun. My love, how wonderful it is to hear you speak those words that have stayed unspoken for so long. And I shall shout it out to the heavens, out to where you've been brought down from my golden haired angel! I love you, I love you, I love you! More than you'll ever hope to know. And maybe like you've said, you'll learn to love this deeply for me too. Oh Arnold..."

He was astonished. "Helga."

She literally jumped a little in surprise at his voice, turning around to meet his gaze, pressing her locket against her chest. "A-Arnold!"

"Did you just come up with all that on the spot?" He inquired, pushing himself off the doorframe.

His stare flustered her immensely, and she put her locket away as she spoke. "Y-yeah.. so what if I did?! Stop spying on me, you little creep, you creep!"

Arnold could almost chuckle. His lidded stare a constant through his sincere complement. "Sorry. I was just coming to get you for dinner and happened to overhear the most beautiful poet reciting her soul."

She felt stunned with affection. However she quickly tried to brush it off, walking past him and down the stairs. "W-whatever. Let's eat buko, I'm starving to death here!"

He followed her though the second story hallway with a simple smile. Arnold briefly pondered if he should say something about getting her locket repaired, and/or, giving her a replacement picture of him (or even one of them together) but decided against it for the moment.

One step at a time right?

She spent all her spare time with Arnold through the weekend to work on the school project. And on Sunday she had even managed to convince (or rather, have them acknowledge at least) her parents to let her stay that night at the boarding house. As morning rolled around that Monday, they each were getting ready for school.

Helga was walking down the hallway from Arnold's room, listening to a song on her brand new phone with wired earbuds. It seemed Big Bob finally seemed to swallow some of his pride at least and started ordering and selling cell phones & the like since the end of summer vacation. Though he still wasn't too happy about his former beeper empire now in obscurity. Maybe they'll finally get enough money to live in a house again. Helga could only hope on that one.

She walked down the second fight stairs to see Arnold feeding Abner. "Hey football head."

Arnold looked up at her after giving Abner a piece of bacon. "Yes Helga?"

She came down next to him, and handed him her earbuds with a playful grin. "Listen to this."

Arnold put the earbuds on, and Helga played back the song from the beginning. It look a minute for the lyrics to finally hit him. When it did, he blushed furiously, beginning to panic, quickly taking the earbuds out of his ears. "Helga! Wh-Why are you listening to that?!"

Helga smiled smugly. "It's just funny. It'll happen for us one day, yeah? And besides, it's not like I was going to play this in front of the whole school. We're still trying to keep "us" on the down low right?"

Suddenly, that gave Arnold an idea. A very cheeky idea. He just chuckled. "Right."

Arnold and Helga walked side by side to school that day, listening to music. It was all very pleasant. Until reaching the school that is. Since the two were still trying to keep themselves secret, Helga had to keep up appearances, lightly "bullying" her boyfriend throughout the day. Though, if you looked closely, it didn't really look like bullying at all. How had no one caught on yet? That was a question Arnold often asked himself.

It was around lunchtime.

Arnold was a little late to lunch, because of this plan he had thought up. He stood just outside the cafeteria doors with a brand new Bluetooth speaker, one that his parents had graciously just bought him, in his backpack. He pulled out his phone (also given to him as a present by his parents), and got a song ready to play. He smirked to himself. 'Oh Helga's gonna kill me.'

He inhaled, and walked into the lunch room, the song playing on full blast. Phoebe, Gerald and Helga were sitting at the same table together, as they were waiting for him.

Sometimes

His classmates immediately began to notice the music coming from him, and started to stare. Gerald was quickly confused at his BFF; Arnold never comes into the cafeteria playing music.

(Ohh-oh)

Something beautiful happens in this world

Helga instantly knew the song. And started to internally panic, a blush rising on her cheeks. Phoebe, whom was sitting on the other side of the table with Gerald, looked at her friend curiously.

(Akon)

You don't know how to express yourself so

(And Lonely Island)

Taking some sunglasses out from somewhere, he flicks them open and puts them on with style. (Also to hide his eyes, because truth be told, he felt a little a anxious about what he was doing.)

You just gotta sing-

The chorus rang out while Arnold made his way to the lunch line. Needless to day, everyone was shocked at the musical content. They did not expect this type of reference coming from Arnold. Gerald's eyes widened, dumbfounded. He could not believe that it was Arnold playing that music.

Helga only got more and more flustered as the song went on, not going unnoticed only by Gerald and Phoebe. He let the song play as he made his way down the line. One lunch lady looked almost disgusted, while the other gave a look of strange approval and admiration.

He flipped up his glasses to let them sit on his head briefly. On the bridge to the last chorus, he turned and directly winked at Helga while smirking, making her blush even more. No one seemed to notice that however as he quickly flipped the glasses back down.

Helga hid her face in her hands, her head lowering to lay on the table, feeling the embarrassment hit her like a sack of bricks.

The song finally ended, and he waited for everyone's eyes to fall off of him before sitting down next to Helga and taking the sunglasses off, putting them away. He looked at her, and smiled smugly. Helga talked through her hands. "That wasn't an invitation for you to play it!"

Arnold started to laugh up a storm, making Helga look up to him with an expression of anger.

"S-sorry,b-b-ut I just couldn't resist!" He wheezed out, and just kept laughing. "You should have seen your face!"

Helga knew now her face was beet red. She wanted to punch his lights out. She hated that his laughter was so contagious. Because she found herself laughing along despite herself. She summized it was pretty funny, after all. As soon as they both stopped laughing, Helga lightly punched Arnold in the shoulder, still a little peeved. Arnold holding those signature lidded eyes. It was a silent understanding between each other. A bewildered Gerald started at Arnold with wide eyes. "Wait a minute, man. Don't tell me you-"

Arnold started laughing again, waving his hand, a pink tint over his cheeks. Helga's red flush bloomed across her entire face, almost slamming her hands onto the table, but stopping herself before causing any more attention to their table. "We didn't! He's just being an idiot!"

Phoebe seemed to take the hint, and understood that Arnold was just joking around. But Gerald didn't.

Gerald was flabbergasted, the shock now turning into horror.

Phoebe couldn't help but take great amusement in the situation; her best friend's flushed embarrassment secretly hiding impressiveness, Arnold's relishing laugher at now his best friend, and Gerald's horrified "pale as a sheet" look at what he assumed Arnold was implying.

Suddenly, a very angry principal Wartz marched into the cafeteria, looking particularly pissed. He must have heard from the hallway. "Who was playing such profanity?!"

Arnold and Helga snapped their heads towards the voice. A handful of students in the lunchroom pointed at Arnold, and he gulped nervously.

Wartz also looked shocked at the perpetrator. He slowly walked up to the table, and stared at Arnold. "You?"

Arnold nodded once, glancing down at the table.

Wartz sighed, and began writing up a detention slip. "I'm disappointed in you Arnold." He really was. He handed the slip to Arnold, and Arnold just stared at it. "Make sure to be there on time."

Arnold nodded again, and Wartz walked out of the lunchroom. Chatter picked up again in the room and left the group of four to their devices.

Arnold blinked blankly at the piece of paper. Then, he started to smirk, not feeling bad at all and shoving it into his pocket. He looked up, and over at Helga, with his signature half-lidded eyes, settling one hand on the table, the other holding his cheek, keeping his head up. "Worth."

Helga blushed, and focused down to her food, trying to ignore his stare. At this moment, Arnold couldn't help but stare at her with a long, lovestruck smile. He couldn't deny it.

Gerald was going to say something, before Phoebe nudged him. He looked at her, seeing the giddy smile upon her face. It was apparent she was loving this. And finally he got the hint that it was all a prank. So Gerald kept his mouth shut, heavily relieved.

A few minutes passed, before Helga groaned with frustration. She looked over at Arnold. "Will you stop starring hair boy?! Criminy! I'm not some supermodel."

Arnold's expression didn't change. "If you let me stare for a few more minutes, I'll let you look inside my locker."

Helga blinked. Did he have something embarrassing in there? She smirked back, liking the idea of finding something like that. "Deal." And so, he continued to admire her before eventually having to rest his eyes, going to finally eat his food.

The lunchroom was quiet now, until Stinky spoke the students' thoughts. "Whillikers Arnold, why'd you 'ave to come in here all causal with a song like that?"

Arnold looked up and over to him at his asking. Rhonda followed up from another table. "And why did it have to be so graphic and repulsive?! Uch, it's so immature!"

"Yeah Arnold, what was the point of that?" Harold gave his two cents genuinely confused.

Finally, Sid spoke. "I mean, I love The Lonely Island as much as the next guy, but why that song?"

Arnold smirked at Helga as he responded. "Because it's true." How did everyone keep missing the glances he gave to Helga when answering? Helga was thankful everyone was that non-observent. Arnold's response turned the entire lunchroom silent, everyone slowly trying to figure it out.

Helga remembered what she had also said this morning, and blushed again, but this time, with a confident smirk to back it up. The two hid their hands under the table, and Helga grabbed his. "Now that's what I call clever wordplay, football head." Arnold chuckled once, squeezing back. "Whatever you say Helga."

Surprise! I was re-watching Hey Arnold with the fam, and decided to rewrite this past fic in particular. Mainly because I'm still a little iffy on the original in general. I mean, even back then, like I said in the A/N there, I was super hesitant to publish it. But now that my writing has improved I came back to write a better version! And I like this one a lot more. Maybe a second chapter too? I don't know, I'll have to see. For now though it's finished. Thanks for reading, lemme know whatcha think!

Write you later!

(P.S. let me know if you'd want this fic uploaded to A03 too just for accessibility)