Truce.

'We need to talk.'

Her eyes widen at those words. Her heart thumps at the sound of that voice. His voice.

'Helga?' The voice asks, no doubt with a furrowed brow on his face, that football shaped head tilted to one side in that ridiculously adorable way. Crimeny Helga, TURN AROUND!

'What Football Head?' Helga rolls her eyes as she turns to face him. The tough-girl façade falters for the slightest moment as she takes in every fine detail of his face; as the sudden gust of wind forces his scent into her nostrils. Please don't let him see that, please.

He stands there with his arms folded, as if waiting for something. An eyebrow arches up and he gives her a look that says 'You're forgetting something'. Then it clicks.

'Oh, right. Sorry Arnold, I guess old habits die hard,' Helga laughs nervously and shrugs. She completely forgot about the truce they came up with last week. Seemingly satisfied with her reaction, he shakes his head and smiles.

'Hey, at least you didn't shove me to side and walk off like last time,' he says as he leans against the wall.

'Don't think it didn't cross my mind. You're lucky I didn't actually do it,' Helga says, thinking back to all those times she acted so harshly towards him, never giving him the time of day. Oh, what was I thinking? I'm such an idiot. She sighs heavily and mentally prepares herself for the worst. 'So what is it you wanted to talk about?' she says, trying to sound cool and indifferent, but couldn't stop that tremor in her voice from showing. Her mind panics as she sees that Arnold registers something in his head. He noticed. Crap.

'Well—' he begins, but stops abruptly when something behind Helga catches his eye.

'Hello Arnold. It's oh-so wonderful to meet you here,' Helga stiffens as she recognizes the owner of that dainty voice. Slowly turning around, she comes face to face with no other but Lila. She curses inwardly. Oh-so wonderful indeed.

'Lila,' Helga says, feigning pleasant surprise in her voice. 'What a coincidence that you're here as well! Can I help you with something?' She smiles, teeth gritted together. Out of the corner of her eye she sees that Arnold is looking straight at her with a puzzled look written all over his face.

Stop it, Helga. Lila never did anything to you, except steal Arnold's attention away. But he doesn't know that, does he? Don't lead him on.

Lila doesn't notice Helga's facial expression as she continues to talk to Arnold. 'Actually I was on my way to the library. Have you been there recently Arnold? They just brought in a whole new selection of books, it's just—'

'Wonderful?' Helga cut in sarcastically. Shut up, Helga.

'Yes, oh-so wonderful. You should go Arnold,' she carries on.

'Uh, now?' he asks, looking back and forth between Helga and Lila.

'Well, if you want,' Lila says, twirling the end of her hair braid with her finger. Helga rolls her eyes. Pfft, and she says she doesn't like him. Sure doesn't act like it. Arnold takes a moment to think, then his eyes darted to Helga's for a second.

'Nah, maybe next time,' he decides, throwing an apologetic look at Lila. 'Thanks, anyway. I'll be sure to check out the new books soon.' Helga tries her best not to let that smile creep to the edges of her lips.

'Oh, okay. See you Arnold. Bye Helga,' Lila says with slight disappointment in her voice and walks off. Inwardly Helga breathes a small sigh of relief. Good riddance.

'So…' Arnold begins again, catching Helga's full attention. He pauses, thinking of the best way to say it. 'I was thinking—'

'Helga!' another voice interrupts their conversation. Exasperated, Helga turns around angrily to see Phoebe running up the pavement. 'You have to see this!' she thrusts a poster into Helga's hands. She reads the flyer and a wide smile spreads across her face.

'I have to see this!' Helga exclaims. 'Do you know how often she comes into town, let alone do a recitation? I can't miss this!'

'I've got it covered. My parents got us seats already!' Phoebe says, beaming.

'You're kidding me. Pheebs, I don't know what I'd do without you,' Helga says and puts an arm around her best friend. Arnold watches silently as this unfolds in front of him. He's never seen her so excited about something.

'I should go now, I just ran here to tell you that. See ya!' Phoebe says, and just as quick as she came, she left.

'What was that about?' Arnold asks, though he already knows the answer.

'Sheila Canton is coming into town tomorrow night and she's doing a poetry recitation at the Coffee bean,' Helga says, remembering the stacks of poetry books she has in her closet. 'You know how much I like poetry.'

'Yeah, I do know. When I saw the flyer the other day I thought you knew about it already.'

'Well, I didn't,' she says, wondering where this conversation is going. He spaces out for a bit. 'Arnold, you were saying?' she prompts.

Arnold snaps out of it and tries to gather his thoughts. He shakes his head and smiles. 'It's nothing, I'll tell you tomorrow. I gotta go, Grandpa said he needed help with something.'

Arnold turns around and walks off to his house, leaving Helga to stand there in puzzlement. She shrugs and walks in the opposite direction to her house. Well, since he says he's gonna tell me tomorrow, he'll tell me tomorrow. She sighs in disappointment. I wish he could go with us to the show.

While walking, Arnold reaches into his pocket and pulls out two tickets to Sheila Canton's show. He shakes his head ruefully. Looks like I have to think up some cover story to tell her tomorrow.