HELGA'S POV
"I have to go ask my parents to see if it's okay for me to go on the camping trip. How about I call you and we both can start going supply shopping together?" Phoebe suggested.
I nodded at the idea. "Sounds good. See you later." I said as I walked down the steps of the school and started to make my way home. When I got home, the first person I looked for was my mom.
"Hey, mom! Where are you?" I shouted.
"In the kitchen, Helga." She said.
I walked into the kitchen to see my mom trying to make a fruit smoothie.
"Can you sign this sheet of paper for me?" I asked as I pulled out the information sheet from my bag and handed it to her. My mom took it and looked it over.
"Oh! A camping trip. Remember when you used to like going camping?" She questioned.
"I still do.." I rolled my eyes. "So can I go?" I asked.
"Sure. I don't see why not." My mom grabbed a pen from one of the kitchen drawers and signed her name on the sheet then handed it back to me.
"Thanks!" I said then rushed upstairs to my room. I shoved the sheet of paper into my bag and pulled out the checklist sheet.
"Let's see...I'll be needing good quality boots, a thick jacket, a backpack with a lot of pockets..." I read off.
"Hey, I heard you're going camping." Bob said as he entered my room.
"Yes, dad." I rolled my eyes.
"Let me the checklist." He said. I handed him the sheet.
He looked it over. "You don't need to go shopping. We have all this stuff right at home. Remember when we used to go camping all the time?" He asked.
I nodded and sighed. "Yes. I do."
He handed me the checklist back. "I'll be right back with the stuff." He said then left my room.
Twenty minutes later, Dad came back with what looked like everything on the sheet of paper.
"Here's your backpack, boots, a thick jacket-"
"Thanks, dad." I said then heard the phone ring. I quickly rushed downstairs and answered it.
"Hello?"
"It's Phoebe. My parents said I can go. Ready to go shopping?" She asked.
"Um...yeah. Look, my dad pulled out all the stuff I will be needing on the trip so..."
"Oh." She said, sadly.
"But I can still go with you to help YOU prepare?" I suggested.
"Sure! I'll come over right now to get you." She said then hung up.
***
A few minutes later, Phoebe came by and we both went to the camping store in town. It had all sorts of things you'll be needing to camp. Me and Phoebe walked in and started to look at stuff.
"Look, a lantern." I said as I picked up a green lantern and looked it over."
Phoebe giggled. "I don't think we'll be needing that."
Just then, I heard the door to the store opening.
"Welcome." The store's cashier said.
"What should we look for first?" I heard Arnold ask.
"I don't know. Maybe the boots?" I heard Marley say.
I quickly looked towards the front to see Gerald, Arnold and Marley in the store. My heart started to pound in my chest. I quickly set the lantern back down then went to find Phoebe.
"Psst! Phoebe! Arnold's here with Marley!" I loudly whispered as I tried to hide in the clothes section of the store.
"What's the problem if Arnold's here? I wouldn't be surprised if our whole class ends up coming here." She said.
As if on cue, Sid, Stinky and Harold, the main childhood bully, walked in.
"See. You don't have to worry now that the rest of our class is here." Phoebe assured.
I sighed then stood straight up and nodded. "Alright. Let's go over that checklist." I said then started to help Phoebe.
***
ARNOLD'S POV
"I'm going to go look at the jackets first." Gerald said then walked away.
Me and Marley decided to look at the flashlights.
"I think my grandpa has one that I can use."
Marley nodded. "My mom wants me to buy one."
As we were looking around, I glanced over at the jackets section of the store to see Gerald talking to someone. I backed up a bit to see who he was talking to when I saw blonde hair.
"Helga!" I thought.
"What are you looking at?" Marley asked.
I quickly looked away from Helga and shook my head. "N-nothing. Um...i'm going to go see if Gerald needs some help. Be right back." I said then quickly walked over to the group.
"H-hey guys..." I greeted.
"Hey, Arnold!" Phoebe greeted with a smile.
"Hey," Helga said shyly.
"It seems like everybody is shopping for supplies today." Gerald said, jerking his thumb at Stinky, Sid and Harold.
"Yup. Would you like to help me, Gerald?" Phoebe asked.
"Sure." He said then walked away from us with Phoebe.
I looked at Helga. "You uh...need some help?"
Helga shook her head. "Bob already had a collection of supplies I need."
I nodded. "That's cool. My grandpa has some supplies too. I'm just here helping Marley."
"You should go back and help her. I'll be fine."
I blinked my eyes. I didn't expect Helga to say that. I sorta hoped that she would want to look around at least. I know I should be helping Marley right now but deep down, I kinda wanted to hang out with Helga here.
I slowly nodded. "Um...okay. See you later." I said then walked back over to Marley.
***
HELGA'S POV
"Arnold seemed really sad when I told him to go back and help Marley." I said to Phoebe once Arnold left. I watched her and Gerald pick out things.
"He's probably sad because he wanted to hang out with you instead." She pointed out.
I sighed. "I know. I wanted to also but...we can't. Especially not with Marley around."
Gerald sighed loudly. "You and Arnold are like a soap opera. I wish you two would just kiss and date already so we can get on with our lives."
I started to hear Phoebe giggle. "Sorry but it's true."
I rubbed my arm then glanced over at Arnold and Marley. I sighed. "I can't wait till this trip is over..."
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