HELGA'S POV
"Phoebe, do I look nice enough to go to Ronda's party?" I asked her as I showed her my outfit.
"You're wearing the same outfit that you wore today at school." She commended as she sat on my bed.
"I know. I didn't want to wear a dress or anything. I wanted this to be casual. Should I change?"
Phoebe shook her head. "You look perfect, Helga."
I sighed. "I hope so.."
"Have you noticed how Arnold has been looking at you all day?" Phoebe asked.
All day today, I've been catching Arnold staring at me. In class, at lunch, in the library. I guess this new look of mine is working.
"Do you think he likes me yet?" I asked.
Phoebe shrugged. "He still looks like he still likes his girlfriend."
I sighed. "How did he meet her anyways?"
"Gerald told me that they met at summer camp."
"Summer camp? I should've gone to his summer camp then maybe I could've prevented them from liking each other!"
"It's possible but there's nothing you can do now." she said.
"Except...steal Arnold from her."
Phoebe gasped. "Helga, you're not..."
I shrugged. "Why not? I've liked Arnold the longest and now he has gone and liked another girl?"
Phoebe glanced at the clock in my room. "We should get going. We don't want to be late."
***
We got to Ronda's party and she invited us in. "There's snacks and drinks on the table." She said.
The only snack I wanted was Arnold. I started to look around the room to see if I can see him.
"He's probably not here yet. Let's go get something to drink." Phoebe suggested.
Me and Phoebe headed over to the snack table and got some punch. I started to drink it when Ronda opened up her door and in came Arnold, Gerald and...Marley.
"Why is she here?" I asked.
"Who knows." Phoebe commented.
When Arnold looked at me, I smiled and waved. He smiled and waved back. I watched him, Gerald and Marley walk over to me and Phoebe.
"Hey, guys." Arnold said.
"Glad you could make it." Phoebe said.
I silently took a sip of my drink.
"Hey, Phoebe, you want to go check out the games?" Gerald asked.
"Of course. See you later, Helga." Phoebe said then walked away with Gerald. I couldn't believe Phoebe left me with Arnold and his...girlfriend. I shifted uncomfortably on my feet.
"Well, i'm going to go mingle with other people in your class. I'll catch up with you later." Marley said then kissed Arnold's cheek before walking away. I watched her walk away before looking at Arnold.
"How did she get in?" I asked.
"Ronda invited her after lunch. She said that Marley seemed like a cool chick." He explained.
"Oh." I said sadly.
"Well, do you want to find somewhere quiet so we can talk?" He asked.
I quickly nodded then set the cup down on the table. Me and Arnold walked over to the other side of the living room, away from the music and sat down on the couch.
"So, how was your summer?" He asked.
I shrugged. "It was okay. I went shopping, got new clothes and I hung out with Phoebe sometimes. What about you?"
"I went to summer camp. That's where I met Marley."
I nodded. "You two seem close."
"Yeah I guess so. She's a pretty cool chick."
I looked away.
"You know, I actually missed you this summer."
I looked at Arnold. "You did?"
He nodded. I smiled. "I....missed you too."
Arnold smiled then placed his hand on top of mine.
I glanced down at our hands then slowly pulled mine away from his.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Arnold...you have a girlfriend."
Arnold stared at me. I stood up.
"I'm sorry. I don't want to cause any trouble between you and her." I then walked away, leaving Arnold on the couch.
I managed to find Gerald and Phoebe playing a dart game.
"Hey. How did it go with Arnold?" She asked.
"I dunno. He said he missed me..."
"That's good isn't it?"
I shrugged. "You know, at first, I thought it seemed like a good idea to steal Arnold from Marley but now... I sorta feel guilty."
That's when Gerald chuckled. He looked at me. "You were planning to steal Arnold from Marley?"
I nodded.
"That's not going to be too hard." He said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because, Arnold already...." Gerald trailed off. "Nevermind."
"No. Tell me."
Gerald sighed. "I can't say. You would have to talk to him yourself."
I glared. "Why can't you tell me!?"
"Because...i'm not sure it's my place to say."
I sighed. "Forget it." I turned around to walk away when I bumped into someone who was holding a cup of punch. They accidently spilled the drink on my shirt.
"Just great. I'll be right back." I said then headed up to Ronda's bathroom.
***
ARNOLD'S POV
After Helga left me on the couch, I just sat there, wondering what I did wrong. That's when Marley came over to me and sat down.
"Hey, what's wrong? Not having fun?" She asked.
I shrugged. "I guess i'm not in the party mood." I sighed. "I'll be right back. Going to the bathroom."
I got up and left the living room. I walked upstairs and to Ronda's bathroom.
"Grr! Why won't this come out!?" I heard Helga say.
"Helga?" I said as I slowly opened up the door.
"Arnold!"
I looked at Helga then glanced down to see the stain on her shirt.
"Your shirt. Let me help." I said, walking into the bathroom.
"It's okay. I got this." She said.
I ignored her and took the towel from her hand then ran it under some hot water and poured some soap in it. I grabbed Helga's shirt and started to rub at the stain.
"T-thanks, Arnold." She said.
"It's no problem." I looked at her and smiled.
She smiled back at me.
"This stain won't come out. Let me try something else." I started to lift up Helga's shirt.
She gasped.
"It's okay. This seems better." I said then tried to rub at the stain again.
"Arnold, I..."
"You don't have to say anything, Helga." I told her then looked her in the eyes. That's when I started to lean in close to Helga when I heard the door open. I looked towards the door to see Marley.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"I...uh...Helga had a stain on her shirt..."
Marley looked pissed and I wasn't sure why. She then left. I sighed.
"I'm sorry." I said then handed her the towel and ran after Marley.
"Marley, wait!" I grabbed her arm.
"Don't play dumb with me, Arnold. Just admit that you like Helga."
"I...I don't! We're just friends!"
"Then how come I keep seeing you going gaga over here?" She asked.
"What? I haven't. Why won't you believe me?"
Marley sighed. "I know how this works, Arnold. You've known Helga since Kindergarden. Gerald told me. You two have been friends for so long so it's only natural for you two to start liking each other now."
I stood there, not sure what to say. Everybody in the room stopped talking and watched me and Marley.
"We should break up." She said.
"Marley..."
"I'm sorry, Arnold." She said then left the house.
Gerald walked over to me and patted my shoulder. "That sucks, man."
"Hey, Helga. Did you get the stain out?" Phoebe asked.
I looked towards the stairs to see Helga standing there. She then walked out of the house.
"Man. It's only the first day of school and yet you're already caught between two women." Gerald said.
"Not helping." I scolded. But Gerald is right. If I had known that Helga was going to change THIS much over the summer, I wouldn't have went off to summer camp and fell for Marley. Now I broke Marley's heart and probably Helga's for saying I didn't like her. Which I don't but who wants to hear that from someone they like?
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