Arnold took a deep breath, trying to quell the anger burning inside himself. Usually, he could handle it, brush it off, be annoyed, and get over it. But it was old, and she always got away with it. How did she do it? "You allow her to her to." But WHY does she torment ME? … It just didn't make sense. And he was over it. Suddenly, Arnold was fed up, and something inside him snapped.

Arnold approached Helga with an annoyed look on his face.

"What's wrong football head? Can't take a joke? Haha what a moron!"

"That's It Helga! I'm done! I'm done with this and done with you. I always thought you were a nice person, and were a good person under that mean bulling you did as kids, but I'M OVER IT! Leave Me Alone. Don't Talk To Me. I Don't Ever Want You To Even Contact Me, And We Are NOT Friends… Not Anymore." And with that, Arnold walked off.

Helga stood their looking cool and un-phased, but inside she was hurting deeply. "Sheesh, whats his problem? It was just a joke…"

Phoebe popped up beside Helga with her baseball mitt and sat quietly on the grass in Gerald Field, having witnessed and analyzed the whole scene played out in-front of their classmates and old friends, who had left.

"Helga, if I may inquire, I believe Arnold is tired of how you treat him."

"I can't help it Pheebs. It's just how I am."

"I understand Helga, but Arnold and nobody in our class doesn't. And if Arnold can't stand you, then neither can they."

"Who cares about their opinions. I don't need them anyways." Helga stood up and began walking to Phoebes house for their sleepover, and Phoebe followed suit, casually walking down the street.

"I know Helga, but- nobody knows why you treat Arnold so badly. Honestly Helga, sometimes I think you honestly do hate him. I know that's not the case, but, don't you have at least any kindness or friendliness towards him? We've been friends with the gang for 10 years now Helga, we are 13 years old, almost 14, and I'm honestly starting to believe that you just might have it out to torment Arnold…"

"I don't have it out for Arnold, Phoebe, he is just an easy target it all." Helga shifted uncomfortably, realizing how badly she screwed up. She had been tormenting him all week, and every day it seemed to get worse and worse. Arnold always forgave her, and let it go- but he had never once snapped at her… he sounded serious too, which made Helga deeply regret her last prank on him. Helga begrudgingly walked up the stairs into her best friends bedroom, and Phoebe followed close behind and locked the door.

"Helga, I know Arnold is an easy target for pranks, but that can't be why you single him out all the time, Helga. Tell me the truth, Helga. Why do you pick on Arnold?"

"I told you Phoebe, he is-"

"Helga, I'm not buying into that bullshit anymore. Tell me the truth."

Helga stood mouth gaping at what Phoebe just said… "Did you just cuss? OUT LOUD?"

"Yes. Now tell me the truth Helga. I'm your best friend. I've been by your side since we were 3, and I've never told anybody about any of the secrets you've shared with me. You can trust me Helga. Just tell me why you pick on Arnold so much?" Phoebe sat on her bed, waiting for an honest answer.

Helga sat on her air mattress bed uncomfortable with the situation she was being forced into. "Phoebe… its something I'm not ready to tell you, or anybody…"

"Helga, I've been by your side since we were 3, and I've never told anybody about any of the secrets you've shared with me. Heck, I've never even mentioned them back to you, just because I didn't want to upset you with them. Just tell me WHY you pick on Arnold, Helga. It can't be that bad, can it?"

"It is that bad Phoebe. People found out ONCE and I was a laughing stock for it. I don't want to say it."

"Helga, just tell me. I'm not going to tell anybody, I never have. I just want to understand why, so I can help back you up, and possibly even support the dynamic of it, or figure out how to stop you from doing it. I promise not to tell, Helga." Phoebe reached out her pinky finger, and Helga aggressively studied the outstretched pinky, considering all the possibilities of telling Phoebe the truth. Finally Helga shook pinkies with Phoebe and sighed. Phoebe sat eagerly waiting.

"I…ke…nld." Helga

"What, Helga?"

"I…Ke.. Nld…."

"Helga, You're Mumbling."

Helga took a deep breath and kept her eyes closed as she spoke slowly while a blush crept onto her face. "I… Like… Arnold… Shortman…"

Phoebe thought she hadn't heard Helga correctly "Helga, I'm going to ask you to repeat that again. I believe I didn't hear you clearly."

Helga took another deep breath, shut her eyes tightly, and spoke even more slowly than before. "I… Helga G. Pataki… LIKE – LIKE… Arnold P. Shortman…"

Phoebe sat in place analyzing what she had heard. 'HELGA LIKES ARNOLD… But… It doesn't make any sense… she bullies him on a daily basis. She has never once shown an ounce of kindness towards him… well, actually that's not true… Helga did do…. And then there was the time she… and…' Slowly it all began to make sense to Phoebe, and the more sense it made, the bigger her smile became. 'Helga likes Arnold…'

"…Phoebe, please DON'T laugh at me…" Helga nearly whimpered

Phoebe snapped out of her thoughts and noticed Helga on the floor in a ball with her legs curled to her chest, in a ball. Phoebe was surprised to see Helga in such a vulnerable state. She had NEVER seen Helga so… afraid. Phoebe went to sit beside her best friend and comfort her. "Helga, I would never laugh at you. I was smiling because I was thinking about how true it was. I was figuring it out… Honestly, I didn't realize Arnold was 'ice cream' but now that I know how you feel about him, I want to know why you treat someone you like so much, so badly?"

Helga sat in silence and let Phoebe figure it out. Suddenly Phoebe jolted to life with realization.

"You never wanted anybody to know! That's why! But Helga! If you're nice to him, and show him the side of you that I see, I'm sure he would find it hard to resist you! You're a lovable person, Helga!"

"No I'm not Phoebe. Im Ugly, Annoying and a Bitch. You know what everybody really thinks about me. Im not going to argue it with them, and if I want my secret safe, im going to have to keep being mean to Arnold."

"Helga, you don't have to do that. You're not an awful person, they just don't know you like I do. If they got to know you the way I do, they would all want to be more like you." Helga analyzed Phoebe's worlds quietly. Phoebe suddenly had an idea "Helga, how much do you trust me?"

"More than anybody I know… Why?" Helga was suddenly nervous from the look on Phoebe's face.

"I think it's time we reinvented you." Phoebe smirked to herself. Helga's eyes grew 3 sizes, and she gulped nervously before being dragged into Phoebe's bathroom.