Chapter 4

The next memory Cecile took Arnold to was not Helga's this time, but his own. Lila and Arnold were on the boarding house roof playing Ping-Pong.

Lila was laughing and having the best of fun, but other Arnold looked like he was doing a bothersome chore.

"Arnold I wanted to show you this. When Lila thought she liked you liked you, you didn't like it . You only liked her. Arnold, look. I'm not trying to tell you that you shouldn't get your wish and like Helga instead…I'm trying to help you see more of the big picture. Lila is a wonderful girl, But honestly I think you only like-like her because you feel guilty about how you made her feel when you told her you didn't like-like her. But take Stinky, or Sid they liked-liked Lila the instant they met her and he may be holding back because you like her."

A fog arose and Cecile faded away from Arnold. Memories flashed in front of his eyes, and his body was being whipped through moments of time faster than he could register them all.

"I could give them up, give Arnold what he wants, but then I wouldn't have anything. And these snow boots are really boss!"

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you Helga, I guess you were just trying to be my friend.' 'Yeah, well …figured it was the right thing to do…I mean she was taking advantage of you and..Uh…I couldn't just….'"

"Hey Football Head!"

"Be still my beating heart…"

"Li-LA"

"I need to fall OUT of love"

"Corn-stalk hair…"

"Pools of green like Jelly-beans that I could bathe in"

"What have I done?"

"Helga I think I love you!' 'get off you dork!'"

"Arnold…Arnold….

HEY ARNOLD!"

.

.

.

The next thing he knew, Arnold found himself sitting next to Lila on the bus. Somehow he knew that this was the moment he told her he didn't like-like her, he only liked her.

And he could change that.

He looked around and saw Cecile sitting on the railing of Helga's seat. Cecile smiled and raised a finger to her lips "Chose wisely" she mouthed. Helga, not seeing Cecile, only glared.

Arnold turned bake to Lila, almost ready to say "I really like you to!" Almost. When suddenly he stopped and whipped around. There was something about the way Cecile looked when she was next to Helga.

Cecile's smile grew and she began to change. Her hair fell in front of her face, her dress changed and although it was still white, the design changed into a skirt and a striped long-sleeved shirt. And on her foot was one red high heal shoe.

And the more he looked, the more he saw. The similarities hit him like a brick.

Cecile was THAT Cecile.

She was Cecile.

HELGA was Cecile.

All those things he had seen, everything she had said, it was all her. Looking out for him…loving him…it was all her. Helga G. Pataki.

"Arnold? Arnold is something wrong?" Asked Lila concerned. Arnold turned to her. "my goodness Arnold! You look like you've seen a ghost!"

"I think I just did."

"Oh!"

"Look, never mind. Lila, there's something I wanted to tell you…"

"Yes Arnold?"

"I-I…" he looked over at Cecile.

"Arnold Are you feeling Alright?" Asked Lila getting a little uncertain and worried.

A decision. A second chance to change to change his life, his future, the truth. But did he really like her? Or was it just guilt that caused him to think he liked her? And then there was Helga. Helga the bully. The girl forced to hide because of judgment of her peers. The girl force to be mean in order to hide love.

But this was HIS decision. What did it matter if Helga liked him? Did she even? She could have grown out of that crush…And he liked Lila…Or did he? Stinky. Helga. Lila. Love. Hate. Truth. Lies. to live or not to live. To change or stay the same.

Another chance.

He had seen the past, he had seen the future, he knew the present. Now he had a choice. Was he going to use the knowledge? Or was he going to through it to the curb.

Suddenly Lila's words echoed through his head. "And if I'm really honest with myself, I only liked you because I thought you like me to."

"And I only liked you, because I was guilty…"muttered Arnold coming to his conclusion.

"I'm sorry?" Asked Lila confused

"Lila, I need to tell you something." started Arnold.

"Why gosh , what ever could it be?"

"Look, Lila I'm not the one who wrote that on the wall. I don't like you like that. You're a really good friend of mine and I don't want that to change. I know that if you really think about it, you don't like me like that either. You just thought you liked me because you thought I like you. I like you but I don't like you like you. but, can we still be friends?

"But I read the righting on the wall, I thought that you…

"Look I don't know who wrote those words on the wall or why, but it wasn't me.

"Oh

"I'm really really sorry, I guess it was just an accident…Or a sick joke, but I'm sorry."

"I see." With that Lila got up to leave but was stopped with Arnold's voice

"Can we still be friends?"

"I-I suppose…Give me a bit of time to think. After all…this is a lot to take in."

"I understand. Again, I apologize Lila." Lila nodded and got off the bus sadly. Behind him, Arnold could have sworn he heard a sigh of relief.