Starfiction123 requested I write a story where Arnold confessed his love for Helga. After reviewing my stories, I realized I had done that once before. Therefore, I updated and edited the story in which he did that. Hopefully you'll enjoy the changes and additions I've made to it :)

Chapter 1: Let's Celebrate

It was the start of their seventh grade year. Arnold was sitting in class, working on a special list of things he had planned to put together for someone when he heard…

"Out of my way Pink boy!"

He looked up from his paper to see his girlfriend had shoved their overweight classmate (who was digging into the garbage for the remains of a Mr. Fudgy bar) out of the way of the door.

As Helga stomped angrily past Arnold to take her seat behind him, he turned around to ask "Hey Helga, how are you?"

Crossing her arms, leaning back in her seat, Helga glared as she scoffed "Pttss...what's it to ya?"

Before Arnold could respond, Mr. Simmons entered the room. "Hello class! Today's going to be a very special day!"

The students all gave him unamused looks as Helga rolled her eyes, thinking to herself What makes this loser think any day can be unique if he considers them ALL to be special?

As she sat there leaning forward in her desk with her head propped against her hand, doodling pictures of her beloved in her notebook, she saw a sheet of paper being passed back to her.

Helga quickly snatched the sheet after circling the room with her eyes to make sure everyone else's attention was directed towards Mr. Simmons' boring Science lecture.

After grabbing the paper, Helga opened it to read…

It's been a year that we've been dating now. I thought we could go out to celebrate tonight?

Helga's eyes fell half-lidded along with the feel of her heart beginning to flutter. It was a dream come true for him to finally feel that way about her. There was just one problem.

We can't go out in public football head! What would happen if everyone saw us walking down the street holding hands together? Criminy! They'd never let us live it down!

Arnold shook his head disappointedly while trying not to let out too deep of a sigh.

Helga, we can't keep this secret forever.

Arnold wondered if it had been pointless to give his opinion. He already knew the type of response he would be receiving from her.

Says who, football head?!

When Helga saw he wasn't passing back a response, she sat hunched over in her desk twirling her pencil nervously.

Criminy! Why do I have to do that? Why must I let my insecurities get the best of me? Oh Arnold if only you knew how sorry I am! The torture I feel watching you become the everyday victim of my reputation. If only you…

"Helga? Helga? Helga!" a voice called, snapping her out of her fantasy world.

"What? What do you want football head?!" she scowled, pointing a finger at him.

"I was just trying to pass back the assignment." Arnold replied hesitantly, as she snatched them from him. "Yeah, yeah, hand 'em over! Sheesh!"

After a few hours of pondering her emotions and irrational negativity, Helga heard the lunch bell ring.

As she placed her books in her desk, she looked over to hear "How have you been since yesterday Helga?"

"Well, I got up this morning to hear Bob scowling about his lucky belt missing, to feel Olga wrap me in one of her death trap hugs in the hallway, and to top it off...find Miriam forgot to pack my lunch AGAIN! To answer your question, I'm just peachy." Helga scoffed.

Although Phoebe hadn't expected a much better response from her, given the fact that Helga had always been neglected by her family, she felt it would have been impolite not to ask.

Hallway

As the girls were heading for the cafeteria, Arnold and Gerald had stopped by their lockers a moment.

"Man Arnold! What were you working on this morning that was so mind boggling you couldn't answer my question?" Gerald complained.

"Uhh sorry Gerald, I was just working on something for Helga." Arnold admitted, rubbing his neck.

"Of course you were." Gerald replied, crossing his arms.

"What was your question again?" Arnold asked hesitantly.

"Mm, mm, mmm! I was going to ask if you wanted to hang out tonight, but something tells me Pataki has you booked." Gerald guessed, shaking his head.

Arnold blushed as he replied "I was just trying to think of something special to do for our one year anniversary. She's still afraid to let people know we're a couple though."

"Afraid? Since when did 'Old Betsy' and 'The Five Avengers' turn into a couple of scaredy cats?" Gerald asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"I don't know. I wanted to take her out to dinner and a movie. If she's still not comfortable around other people though, I guess I'll just have to see if she'd like to do it all at my place." Arnold sighed, staring at the floor.

He had been with Helga for a full year. What was it about him that made her feel the need to hide their relationship? A bigger question maybe, what was it about her that made him want to stay in a relationship with her?

Cafeteria

The boys made it there to see their girlfriends sitting at a table together. Gerald wasted no time headed in Phoebe's direction, while Arnold stood and stared at Helga sadly drumming her fingers against the table; as if she were anxiously awaiting the lunch period to end.

As Gerald approached the table, Phoebe turned to hear him say "Hey babe, what's up?"

"I'm quite well Gerald. How are you today?" She replied, while Helga seemed uninterested in their conversation. As she continued tapping her fingers, she suddenly noticed a tray being placed in front of her.

"Here you go Helga."

Helga looked over to see her boyfriend had brought her a burger, two chocolate milks with two bendy straws, and some tapioca pudding. She looked up at his innocent smile with her dreamy eyes that cried out for his attention. A moment later, she shook her head and scowled "What's this for football head?"

"I saw you didn't have a lunch, and you need to eat." he insisted, while seeing her roll her eyes.

"I don't NEED to do anything...especially not if it involves anything to do with you." she smirked.

"Helga, just eat! I know you're hungry!" Arnold began to snap, not realizing how loud his voice became. Helga's eyes then widened at the thought of someone hearing their little spat. Which would be worse? Someone seeing her accept his food, or hearing him offer it to her?

"Fine! Gimme that pudding!" she scowled, while seeing him roll his eyes.

"Talk about showing appreciation." Gerald said wittingly as he took a bite of his sandwich.

Helga began to glare as she leaned back in her seat, taking spoonful after spoonful of the pudding. Arnold simply smiled at the fact that he was able to make her accept it. Although he didn't appreciate her need to keep her reputation in tact, it was nice being able to do something for her.

"So, do you have anything planned for tonight Helga?" Phoebe asked, while Arnold immediately turned his attention towards her.

"Uhhh…." she began, holding the spoon in her mouth.

Gerald rolled his eyes at the thought of not being able to just say Yes! Arnold and I are doing something special!

"Since she seems to have a bit of leftover amnesia, why don't you and I do something tonight babe?" Gerald asked, trying to help his friends out.

Arnold past Gerald an appreciative look, while Helga continued to glare at his witty remarks made towards her behavior.

"Why that would be delightful Gerald! What would you like to do?" Phoebe wondered, while Arnold wrapped his arm around Helga.

"Hmm...well we could…" Gerald began, before being interrupted.

"Look everybody! Awwnold's got his arm around Helgaaa! Arnold and Helga sittin' in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! Harold began to sing, as Arnold looked down to see his arm resting behind Helga's back.

Helga's face turned bright red, as she watched the entire cafeteria laugh at her. The whole reason Helga wanted to keep their relationship a secret was to uphold her reputation. Now here she was with a chance to prove how tough she was, but felt weaker than ever. Rather than going over to punch Harold, Helga ran out of the cafeteria as quickly as she could.

"Helga wait!" Arnold called but wasn't able to stop her. After seeing her race out, Arnold turned his angry face towards his teasing classmates and went over to approach them.

"Mm, mm, mmm! So, how about a movie?" Gerald asked Phoebe as he shook his head, not wanting to get involved in their drama.

Arnold angrily marched over to the table with Sid, Stinky, and Harold. Not long after Harold began singing his song did he have the rest of their friends spreading rumors about Helga.

"Harold! How would you feel if someone made fun of you like that?" Arnold asked sternly.

"What are you talking about Arnold? She makes fun of us every day!" Sid exclaimed.

Arnold sighed a moment, knowing it was true. It wasn't exactly easy to defend a bully who was being bullied.

"Even if that's true, it doesn't make it okay for you to do it to her." he pointed out, rubbing his neck.

"And why may I ask is that?" Rhonda couldn't help but butt in, after eavesdropping from another table.

"You all think she's a bad person. Well if you decide to pick on her, it doesn't make you any better of a person than her." Arnold insisted, placing his hands on his hips, giving them all stern looks.

"Hey! She calls me Pink boy...and Tub of Lard...and... and... makes fun of the way I eat!" Harold whined, slamming his fists on the table.

"Yeah, I mean every day she comes up with a reason to insult us. What did we ever do to her?" Sid asked, shrugging his shoulders.

"I reckon she's just your average school yard bully." Stinky shrugged his shoulders, while Arnold planted his face in his hand.

"Listen guys. I know she can be a lot to deal with, but…." Arnold began, before being interrupted.

"Why do you even care Arnold? She's paid more negative attention to you than anyone else in our class." Rhonda couldn't help but point out as his eyes began to widen. Here was his chance to tell everyone the truth about what was going on between him and Helga. The only person's opinion he had to worry about was Helga's.

After taking a gulp, he decided now was as good a time as ever to confess. "I care because she's my girlfriend."

Gerald nearly choked on what was left of his sandwich, having been listening to the argument from across the room.

"I reckon I must of heard that wrong. There ain't no way you said Helga's your girlfriend, Arnold." Stinky insisted, scratching his head.

"Yeah, it's true Stinky. So, if you all are done picking on her, I'd appreciate it if you could all just go back to eating and mind your own business from now on." Arnold sighed, marching away from the table.

Arnold made his way across the cafeteria and into the hallway to find Helga.

"Mm, mm, mmm! He's a bold kid!" Gerald said, watching his best friend head to find his girlfriend.

Hallway

"Helga? Helga? Helga!" Arnold called out, looking for his girlfriend. After not receiving a response, he turned his head towards the floor, thinking of the mess that had been made…

I guess she was right about the way everyone would react. They know about our relationship now though; the worst is over?

Arnold stood and pondered this until he felt a hand being placed on his shoulder. He turned around to see a friendly yet concerned face waiting for him.

"Oh hey Phoebe."

"Hello Arnold. I'm assuming you're searching for Helga?"

"Yeah. I don't know where she could be."

"I believe I have an idea, if you'd like to go back to the cafeteria to finish lunch. She and I will meet you in the classroom when the bell rings." Phoebe assured him, seeing a smile form on her friend's face.

"Thanks Phoebe."

Restroom

While all the commotion between their classmates was taking place, Helga had been hiding in the girl's restroom.

After making sure she was alone, she pulled out her precious piece of jewelry that had made her feel as though a piece of her beloved remained close to her heart…

Oh Arnold, what have I done? For the past year you've sacrificed your dignity by putting up with my brutality! Why? All because I'm too weak to overcome the treacherous thought of being mocked and ridiculed. I have not been fair to you my love. Here I stand lurking in the shadows while you're out there dealing with whatever reckless criticizing and behavior our immature classmates may be….

"Helga?" a voice called from behind.

Helga twirled around, hiding her locket inside her shirt.

"Phoebe! Sheesh! Don't scare me like that!" she scoffed.

"Are you okay Helga? I realize that was not the easiest situation for someone with your emotional conflictions to face." Phoebe pointed out.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Helga sighed.

Cafeteria

Arnold once again sat beside his best friend in the cafeteria to finish out the remainder of the lunch period. Sitting with his hands folded on the table and a troubled look on his face, he listened to Gerald ask "So, you find Pataki?"

"Phoebe said she knew where she might be. They're just going to meet us in the classroom."

"I gotta say. The last thing I expected was her running away from a fight. Normally, she's the one to cause them." Gerald said, seeing Arnold roll his eyes.

Although he didn't appreciate the harsh remark, Arnold took these words into consideration, making him ask himself Why do I love Helga so much?

All the kids had already pointed out she paid him more negative attention than anyone else in their school. Yeah, it was a great thing for her to have woken up his parents, but that didn't mean he owed her his heart. His friendship maybe, but not his heart.

They were two very different people. He was open minded and optimistic while possessed a pessimistic personality with no guarantee of ever finding the strength to share and express her intimate feelings for Arnold in front of other people.

Recess

Sitting on the swing, twirling back and forth in the seat, Arnold sighed, wondering what his girlfriend maybe discussing with her best friend.

"Forget about it man. By the end of the day, it'll be yesterday's news." Gerald said, referring to the scene in the cafeteria.

"I guess."

Rolling his eyes at the depressing remark, Gerald replied "Alright spill it! What's the problem? Pataki's tough. Those classmates of ours make fun of everyone. What are you so concerned about?"

Arnold didn't want to tell Gerald what was on his mind. Gerald was his best friend, but if there was one thing the two of them went back and forth with their positive opinions of...it was Helga. Now was not the time for any unnecessary criticism.

"I'm just worried about what her reaction will be when she finds out I told everyone she's my girlfriend.

"And you care because?" Gerald said wittingly, proving Arnold's mistake to have mentioned anything.

"You heard what everyone said. Why do I care about her when she's always so mean to me? I've always known it was just a cover. Shouldn't my opinion be the only one that matters to her though? Why does she care about having the class' respect?" Arnold asked, thinking out loud to himself.

Restroom

"Surely the idea of keeping up the appearances for your reputation can't compare to the idea of finally having acquired Arnold's feelings?" Phoebe continued spending what was left of their free time in the restroom watching her friend sulk over the sink.

"I don't know Pheebs. I never wanted to be this person. I've been this way for so long though, everyone would see me showing a sign of weakness as the perfect opportunity to seek revenge on me!"

"Perhaps if…" Before her friend could finish, the girls heard someone entering the restroom.

"Well, well, what have we here?" a prudish voice called out, as Helga and Phoebe turned to see their stylish classmate grinning widely at them.

"What do you want Princess?!"

"I merely came to say Arnold is devastated. First you run out on him after causing such a huge scene in the cafeteria. Now here you are hiding, leaving him to deal with the drama all alone." Rhonda smirked, hoping to guilt Helga as much as possible.

Clenching her fists mercilessly, Helga exclaimed "Why do you care?! You and the rest of those lame brains were the ones who started making fun of us to begin with!"

Standing full of pride, loving the upset look on her classmate's face, Rhonda replied "Yet, you deprived yourself of what I can only assume means more to you than your relationship… the chance to show how tough you are."

Helga's eyes widened as she lowered her fist, watching Rhonda happily leave the restroom. As she stood there in shock, Phoebe couldn't help but notice Rhonda mentioning knowing about Helga's relationship with Arnold going in one ear and out the other with Helga.

Playground

Standing beside his best friend (who was still moping on the swings) Gerald said "Look man, if the saying is true 'there's someone out there for everyone' then it probably is you for her."

Lifting an eyebrow, Arnold asked "Why do you say that?"

"Arnold, do you really think a relationship could handle two people like that girl? You're just the kind of thing she needs to straighten her out. You've got more patience than everyone in the class put together. All you ever do is look on the bright side (the last side of town you'd find her on). She made it clear a year ago how much you mean to her (even if she does do a lousy job of showing it)." Gerald assured his friend, seeing a weak smile form on Arnold's face.

Classroom

Arnold made it back to the classroom with a smile on his face after his conversation with Gerald. His secret was out in the open. He had been reminded how right he and Helga were for each other. All he had to figure out now was how to celebrate their anniversary.

Although Arnold had quite a content look on his face, he couldn't help but take notice of the sorrowful expression his girlfriend was carrying.

"Alright class! We're going to pick up where we left off with math yesterday." Mr. Simmons started, while Helga didn't seem as giddy about the chance to revel at her hand made sculpture inside her math book. Instead, she leaned her head in her hand, tapping her pencil against the desk, thinking about what had happened back in the cafeteria.

Her mind was so far gone, she didn't notice the note thrown on her desk. It wasn't until she noticed the clicking of her pencil against the desk was being interrupted by a sheet of paper underneath it, that she pulled her head out of its fantasy land.

Helga opened the sheet to read…

I'm really sorry about what happened. You don't have to worry though, because I took care of it.

A weak smile formed on her face. That is, until she asked herself What does he mean 'took care of it?'

Helga anxiously wrote her response, not thinking about the attention she maybe drawing towards them.

What do you mean you 'took care of it?'

Arnold gulped at her question. He knew he was taking a risk back in the cafeteria. Still, he didn't regret his actions. Whether or not Helga realized it, the humiliation of having her emotions exposed was no worse than the torture of bottling them up all those years.

I told them to stop picking on you.

Helga didn't like people fighting her battles for her. Just the fact that she ran away from something as childish as Harold singing about her and Arnold made her appear weak enough. She didn't need Arnold standing up for her on top of it.

And….

Arnold knew she would always assume there was a catch to everything. This case was no different.

I told them you're my girlfriend.

Helga crumpled up the paper, tempted to use it to shoot her first spitball at him that day. She could feel her body trembling. Although the class' eyes remained on the teacher, she felt as though they were all focused on her.

Arnold waited and waited for a response, but never received one. It got to the point where he was becoming just as, if not more, tense than his girlfriend. He continued staring at the clock counting down the minutes, waiting for the opportunity to turn around and face her.

At last, the moment came. When the bell rang, Arnold whipped his head around and said "Helga I'm sorry! I had to make them leave you alone! It was the only way! Please forgive me!"

As she patiently stood up from her desk with a hand on her hip, she rolled her eyes and smirked "Criminy! Is Sid's paranoid attitude contagious? If so, I'm going to need you to stay five feet away."

Arnold gave a puzzled look, not knowing what made her so calm all of a sudden. "Uhh right. So, did you want to come back to my place, or did you want to go out now?"

"Hmm...We can go out, but it's gotta be good. What you did to me in the cafeteria wasn't exactly first class, and I'm not just talking about your arm on my shoulder!" she scoffed.

"Whatever you say Helga." Arnold sighed, leaving the room with Gerald.

While the boys left the room, Helga turned to her best friend and said "Thanks for the pep talk."

"Why certainly Helga!" Phoebe replied

Last hour of class

What am I going to do Pheebs?! He told everyone we're in a relationship! Criminy!

Helga, carrying the burden of this secret on your shoulders for the past year couldn't have been any better than the stress of repressing your unrequited love for Arnold. If I recall your feelings correctly, it was just as torturous for you not being able to tell him how you felt as it was not knowing how he felt.

What's that in English?

You no longer have to live with the stress of worrying who may find out about the two of you. Everyone knows now. Arnold has taken care of the hostility. You've nothing left to fear.

After school

As the girls were leaving class, Helga approached Arnold at his locker "So, should I just come on over to your place, Romeo?"

"Are you really that comfortable expressing your feelings for him that way now, or are you just referring to our fourth grade play?" Gerald couldn't help but ask.

Arnold rolled his eyes at the remark before turning to face Helga "If you wouldn't mind waiting awhile, I've got some homework to finish. Is six o'clock okay?"

"Whatever floats your boat football head. Come on Pheebs." she scoffed, heading for the door.

"Coming!" Phoebe chirped, following her demanding friend.

Once the girls were out of sight, Gerald turned to Arnold and asked "So, are six math problems really going to take you until six o'clock to do, or do you have something special planned for your lady?"

"Even though I couldn't be happier we're out in the open, I feel pretty guilty about the way it happened." Arnold admitted, rubbing his neck.

"Of course you do." Gerald said, crossing his arms.

"Yeah well, I want to make it up to her." he replied, grabbing his backpack.

"Uh huh? So what's your plan?" Gerald asked, leaning against the lockers.

"I'll tell you later. Have fun with Phoebe." Arnold said, anxiously leaving his friend.

"Whatever you say Arnold."