ARNOLD'S POV
"Now class, settle down. It's about that time for our annual camping trip to the mountains. Our class will be merging with Ms. Puck's class. The camping trip will be this upcoming Friday so make sure you gather your supplies before then. Right now, i'll be passing around a checklist sheet for you to take home and an information sheet for your parents to read and sign if they want you to go on this trip. It's due by this Thursday. If your parents don't sign or if you don't bring in your sheet, you're not going." Mr. Simmons said then started to pass around the sheets of paper.
I turned around in my seat to face Gerald who was sitting behind me.
"You're gonna go?" I asked him.
"Heck yeah! Camping trips are fun. Remember that one time we went on a camping trip with your Grandpa?" Gerald said.
I smiled brightly. "Oh yeah! I remember that. That was fun."
"And remember when Helga and Phoebe were there." Gerald said.
My smile slowly faded as I suddenly remembered that Helga and Phoebe were also camping in the same woods as us. I glanced over at Helga to see her talking to Phoebe. I sighed. Boy, did times change. That camping trip was back when we were all fourth graders and now we're ninth graders.
"Hey, Mr. Simmons said that our class will be going on the camping trip with Ms. Pucks class. Isn't Marley in Ms. Pucks class?" Gerald questioned.
I looked away from Helga and looked at Gerald. My eyes widen at the realization.
"You're right. Great. Just great. Things are already awkward between me and Helga and now it's going to be even more awkward with Marley there." I sighed.
"I get it. You were hoping to have some alone time with Helga on this trip right?" Gerald asked.
I looked away and shrugged. "I...I dunno. I mean, it'll be nice to hang out with Helga again when Marley isn't around but..."
Gerald smiled. "Dude, just admit that you have a huge crush on Helga."
I felt my face flush. "Do not!" I shouted which caused everybody to stop talking and look my way. I noticed that Helga looked at me so I quickly shrunk away while my face turned more red. Eventually, everybody went back to talking to each other.
I sighed then looked at Gerald. "Gerald, i'm not sure what my feelings are for Helga."
"I do and you like her."
I rolled my eyes. "Do not."
Gerald sighed. "Why can't you just admit it? Is it that weird for you to crush on Helga because you've known her as your bully for so long?" He asked.
I gave it some thought. Gerald had a point. It IS weird to think of Helga as something more than just my childhood bully now.
"You're right. It IS weird but I still don't like Helga."
Gerald rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say. All I know is that i'm going to try to find some alone time with Phoebe."
I smiled. "You two seem to be hitting it off really well. I applaud you."
Gerald smiled. "Why thank you~" He grinned.
***
HELGA'S POV
"Isn't this cool? We're going camping like old times!" Phoebe said excitedly.
I nodded. "Yep but Mr. Simmons mentioned about Ms. Pucks class coming." I pointed out.
"Oh yeah. I think Marley has Ms. Pucks class for this period." She said.
I sighed. "There goes my alone time with Arnold. It seems like me and Arnold can't break away from her. Wherever we go, she goes. Like for example, Ronda only invited OUR class to hang out at her back to school party and guess what? Marley went. And then when we all went to the festival together. Arnold said Marley wasn't going but she did. It's like she's a bug that I want to squash!" I punched my hand.
Phoebe nodded. "I agree that it's a bit bothersome and I DO want you and Arnold to start dating like me and Gerald."
I gasped. "You and Gerald?" I grinned.
Phoebe started to blush. "W-well...we had a chance to talk at the festival. Nothing has been announced but...it's a possibility that we might start going out."
"Wow. Good job, Phoebe. At least one of us has a guy that likes them." I sighed.
"Don't fret, Helga. Arnold likes you. It's obvious." She pointed out.
"How?"
"Well, even though Marley butted in at the festival, Arnold did things like won you that stuffed monkey and bought you some funnel cake and then when you two fell into the water, he hugged you." She said.
I nodded. "I guess but..."
"Do not!" I heard Arnold shout.
I looked over at Arnold like everybody else and saw that he was blushing. That's when Arnold caught my eye and shrunk away. I shrugged then looked back at Phoebe.
"That's proof right there!" Phoebe said.
"What proof?"
"That Arnold likes you!" She said.
"How?"
"Arnold blushed when he saw you looking at him and he shrunk away. That's what guys do when they like you!" She pointed out.
I gave it some thought then shrugged. "Nah. He's probably just embarrassed about shouting in front of the class."
Phoebe sighed. "Maybe..."
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