Disclaimer: Hey Arnold (tragically) is not in my possession. I can only claim this story about them.

A/N: Alright you all can bring out your weapons and open fire cause I know this took forever. I am so so so INCREDIBLY sorry but I hope you enjoy this chapter and hope that the next update won't ever be this long but sadly I can't promise anything. I have had a lot on my plate and my stories have had to suffer for it. I hope you haven't forgotten about this story and I hope it was worth some of the wait. Goodbye and God Bless! Read On!

Chp5

Helga groaned and fought the urge to scream as she pounded her head against the table. Years of skill and practice had allowed her to avoid Arnold for two days before he was finally able to catch her. Thirty minutes and twenty excuses later and Arnold was finally able to get her to meet in the library after school for a couple of hours to work on discovering the secret messenger or stalker of the personal, passionate love letters addressed to himself.

She had not been able to come up with a single good plan to rid herself of this situation. It was like she was having a completely out of body experience. She had been berating herself trying to figure out why she was having so much trouble with this until the answer finally came to her. It was just that. She was having so much trouble getting out of this situation because she had never been in this situation before. She had taken a major step that could never be taken back.

She had decided to write letters to Arnold as another way of expressing her feelings. Doing them in private just wasn't cutting it anymore. It just wasn't enough. Did you know how hard it was to love someone so strongly and have to keep all those feelings to yourself? To experience the agonizing pain day after day pretending to hate them so that they would never find out? To rip your heart out being so close but not having, to reach out and not grasp, forced to just be friends and nothing more? She was indeed broken. She was Arnold's Broken. She had to let her feelings out somehow. And this was the way that she chose never expecting that it would come this far.

She at least wanted him to know how she felt even if he didn't know it was her. He would know that somewhere out there someone cared deeply and passionately for him. That no matter the circumstance or the cost that she loved him beyond human expectation even if he never knew it. And now she was indeed suffering for it. She had made herself vulnerable to him. She had only done that once before but Arnold had given her an out. He had practically handed her her freedom but that wasn't the case now. Now he was tired. Now he had questions and he wanted answers. So here she was awaiting her demise. She had come straight here while Arnold said that he needed just a moment to talk to Gerald.

Helga glanced around the room once more. There were less people than before, two minutes ago. Only a few nerds huddled in the corners giggling to themselves over a discovered mistake in Einstein's formula for the atomic bomb or something to that effect. At the front desk it looked like Ms. Klunkle was falling asleep. Shame on this school for letting her work such long hours at her age. She should be at home trying to decipher stick figure pictures from her grand kids while spoiling them with hot chocolate and cookies...well at least Helga thought that was how it was supposed to go. She never knew her grandparents. Had no idea how a grandma was supposed to act so she just went on what was read in books and seen on television. To have Grandparents like that would be a dream for Helga. She shook her head and added that dream to the pile of dreams in the dark corner of her mind.

"Hey Helga. Sorry it took so long. I know this isn't the most ideal place to meet but I figured since we really have a load today, we could do our homework before we get started on everything else." Arnold was saying bringing her out of her thoughts. She looked up and met his gaze as he began to sit down. He looked at her softly.

"Is that okay?" He asked gently. She merely nodded.

For the next hour and a half Arnold and Helga worked in harmony on our several of their assignments before finally calling it a wrap. Now it was time to discuss the God-forsaken letter. She was really dreading this part.

"I think that we should go to a table in one of the far corners to avoid people overhearing." Helga stated gathering her books. She doubted anyone would hear them. This wasn't a fight. They weren't going to be yelling and shouting at each other, at least she hoped they wouldn't. Besides there was really no one here. And the only people that knew of their whereabouts were Phoebe and she was pretty sure Gerald. Honestly she was just stalling for time. Time. There never seemed to be enough time and yet at the same too much time already.

Seconds after being settled in their new area, Arnold pulled a small stack of letters from his jacket and carefully laid them on the table. Helga stared at the letters as if they were to come alive and attack her. What would it matter they were slowly killing her anyway.

Arnold slowly pulled the first letter off the stack and looked as if he were going to read them aloud to her. Helga snatched the letter so fast she was sure the both she and Arnold had suffered a serious paper cut. Arnold just stared at her mouth agape.

"Don't read it out loud, I'll read it." She skimmed over the letter quickly already aware of its contents before silently speaking.

"Maybe they don't want to be found."

"What?"

"Maybe they don't want to be found."

"Helga that's ridiculous."

"It's not actually, think about it. They never left an address or any other way to contact them. They never told you their name or any hint as to who they are."

"They could be just shy. It makes perfect sense. I mean if they weren't shy then they would come up to me and tell me how they feel to my face."

"No they wouldn't."

Arnold's eyebrows dipped in confusion. "What do you mean they wouldn't?"

"Oh come on Arnold would you tell a person you really liked that you liked them, to their face? No you wouldn't and neither would I or anyone else for that matter save a few very brave souls. Everyone is afraid that the person they have feelings for may reject them so they play it safe it's not uncommon or unheard of. We have living examples of it all over our school. Hell we have living examples of it all over our class."

Arnold looked shocked. "Don't swear Helga."

"Oh grow up Football-head. You're not the first person to hear my potty mouth and I promise your bootin' tootin' you won't be the last. Now did you hear anything I just said besides the word 'hell'?"

Arnold cocked his head and gave Helga a look. "You said that on purpose."

Helga shrugged of course she did. "Maybe. Did you get what I was trying to say or not Football-head?"

Arnold nodded. "You're right I wouldn't be able to tell someone how I felt about them to their face. It is a very nerve wracking experience. I've seen crushes in our school but I didn't know that we had so many in our own class except for the obvious few."

Helga gave Arnold a deadpanned look. "Are you serious? Come on. Rhonda and Curly, Harold and Patty, Nadine and Sid, Lila and Stinky, Sheena and Lorenzo, Eugene and Maria, Peapod and Simone, Iggy and Siobhan, Ruth and Brainy, Katrinka and Park, PHOEBE AND GERALD."

Arnold was stunned to silence, but not for long. He made to open his mouth but Helga answered his question before he could even get it out of his throat.

"I pay attention, and a lot of them are not as slick as they think they are or would like to be. Only a few of them as you said have made their relationships public but most of them are still pathetically trying to keep it a secret, pitifully making out in different janitor closets or in the kitchen storage room. Not to mention all the girls use the bathroom as their swooning place after they have made out. Sighing dreamily in the stalls. 'Oh my darling Sid' or 'I'd live in your Peapod any day'. It's vomit inducing. "

Arnold might have been stunned before but now his expression was down right appaled. "I knew about Phoebe and Gerald, Patty and Harold, and Curly's crush on Rhonda but I had no idea about the others."

"The reason most people haven't found out is because they are the most unlikely of couples. I mean come on, no one would suspect Eugene and Maria. Not only is she older than him but she's one of the most popular twelfth graders. No one would believe she was dating a sophomore let alone Eugene. The same with Peapod and Simone. And Nadine is afraid of what Rhonda will say if she finds out that she's dating Sid, one of the biggest idiots who thinks he's a class clown. Not to mention that Rhonda finds him extremely disgusting. The list goes on."

"But Rhonda is dating Curly. Shouldn't she be one of the last people with room to say anything." Arnold pointed out.

"Pampered Princesses don't think like that Arnoldo." Helga reminded him gently. Arnold simply nodded his head looking like he was still trying to gather his thoughts.

"Like I said I pay attention and I've had to use the storage room or kitchen myself from time to time."

Arnold nearly fell out of his chair at that one. Helga was secretly making out with someone. He was hurt that she didn't find him friend enough to tell him, and if he were purely honest with himself, a little angry.

"You've been secretly making out with someone?" Arnold voice raising just slightly.

Helga had the grace to blush. "Wh-what n-no! I mean...I just...I mean I use those rooms for other things. Not making out!"

"What do you use the rooms for?" Arnold asked, more than curious.

"None of your business Arnoldo. Just forget that I said anything about that." Helga snapped. All was silent for a moment before Arnold decided to ask another question.

"Helga, you forgot two people on that list. Where's my name and where is yours?"

Helga prayed to God that her sudden pause wasn't noticeable. She tried to play off her panic by shifting the subject and pasting a sly smile on her face.

"So you wanna be on the list eh Arnold? Desperately want someone to make out with?" She could clearly see that Arnold was uncomfortable but it was her only distraction. "Play a little tonsil hockey? Swap spit with the babe of your dreams? Kiss like the Frenchies? Get as hot and heavy as that big ball of fire shinin' in the sky on a hot summer day? Have her sweltering like you've both been spending a couple a' hours in the sauna?"

"ALRIGHT. Enough." Arnold's face looked like it was on fire, it was so red.

"Calm down Football-head before I have to fetch for the extinguisher. Your face is redder than a pig over the spit." Helga laughed at Arnold's expense. After Arnold had finally regulated his breathing he shot Helga a stern look.

"You know that's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant. So are you tellin' me that you have a girlfriend Arnold? What's her name and the story behind how you two got together? 'Cause I sure as heck wanna know how I missed that."

"No I don't exactly have a-"

"You don't have a girlfriend then what the heck are ya buggin' me about this for?" Helga scolded good-naturedly.

"I never said I didn't have a girlfriend- You know what never mind. What about you huh Helga?" Arnold was on the defensive now, turning the tables on her. See how she liked being in the interrogation chair. "Do you have a boyfriend. You said yourself that you've used those make out spots before? Took someone special? Huh?" Arnold once more cocked his head to the side and started to lean in a little.

To her utter dismay Helga found herself blushing. Not only was Arnold hitting too close to home but she found herself slightly attracted to this very rare aggressive side of him. She had only seen Arnold this aggressive a couple of times. The main one being when he was getting her back as an April Fool's prank and they were doing the tango. Despite the success of his prank, Helga could not stop smiling all the way home and for the rest of that night. And her dreams had been far more vivid than usual. To put it plainly he was sexy...And hitting far too close to home!

Come to think of it, how the HELL did she end up on the other side of the questions? Before she could come up with any smart remarks, Arnold continued.

"Doing some heavy making out yourself? Getting serious with someone Helga? Do I know him?" Arnold Rounded on Helga, getting closer. "An older guy? A younger guy? Maybe he's in our class."

"Football-head-" Helga interrupted. Arnold was getting really good at this. He was almost as good as her. Almost. Huh? He must have been spending far too much time around her. She was starting to rub off on him. It didn't matter he would never find out who she loved.

"You know I'm hurt Helga. I thought we were closer than that. I thought we were becoming good friends, close enough to trust each other."

"We are-" Helga attempted again.

"Well since you won't tell me I guess I'll just have to guess."

"Is it me-"

"Why the hell would you start with you first?" Helga prayed to God that she wasn't showing any of the panic she felt.

"Well your list eliminated pretty much all of the guys in our class that we really know and I haven't seen you associate with anyone besides the people in our class... And you didn't deny it either."

"How do you know I like somebody at all? Maybe I don't like anybody?" she snapped.

"Maybe?"

"Criminey! I don't like anyone!"

"Then why are you so defensive Helga? What's got you so riled up?"

"I'm not defensive! I'm just answering your stupid questions!"

"So now they're stupid?"

"They've always been stupid!" Helga growled.

"Helga I think you're hiding something?" Arnold hoped that whatever it was it was what he had been hoping for and kinda, already, secretly knowing all along.

"I'm not hiding anything!"

"Helga?"

"What?"

"You're still yelling which gives me reason to believe that you are hiding something."

"CRIMINEY!" Helga grabbed her books and bag and started towards the front of the library. "I don't have to listen to this."

"Now you're just running away Helga!" Arnold called after her, scrambling to get his things and going after her.

Helga made her way to the exit. Just who did Arnold think he was? Huh? The door wasn't pushing open. She went to the one beside it.

"Helga." she heard Arnold behind her but she ignored him. This door wasn't opening either. She went to the last one. Same thing. Okay don't panic. Helga looked around, now that she was aware she noticed that the lights were dim and there was no one at the front desk. Helga looked around again..Wrong..there was no one here period. She finally had the sense to turn to the large clock right behind the front desk and the panic raced straight to her stomach when she caught the time. It was almost 7 p.m.

"...Because we really need to talk this out so you can't just walk away..." Arnold was still talking.

"Oh CRIMINEY!"

"Helga your anger is never going to solve the problem." Arnold scolded complete unaware of the situation.

"Criminey, criminey, criminey, criminey. Arnoldo would you please shut-up!"

"We need to-"

"We're locked in Football-head! WE'RE LOCKED IN!" Helga shook him.

"Helga-we're what?"

"Wake up Football-head!" Helga shook him harder. "Didn't you hear me! We. Are. Locked. IN!"

Arnold looked around and his eyes widened as their situation began to dawn on him.

"We're locked in!"

"Doi. I just said that! What idiot closes the library and doesn't check to see if everyone has left yet?"

"Ms. Klunkle is pretty old Helga. She probably forgot we were in here. We were so far in the back."

"Wonderful conclusion Football-head." She snapped sarcastically. "Now how are we going to get out of here?"

"I don't think the janitor has come in to clean yet so I think it would be smart if just wait here until he comes."

"Okay Arnoldo, you wait here and I'll find a way to get out. Kay?" Helga rolled her eyes at him and started toward the stairs. Arnold stood there silently for a moment as if weighing his pros and cons.

"Helga wait up!" She was already half way up the stairs. "We should stick together in case something happens."

"Aw, does the wittle Football-head need me?" Helga cooed. Arnold strolled right up to her and looked her straight in the eye.

"Yes and you need me too."

Helga cleared her throat and turned away before Arnold could see the blush. "Hurry up Football-head. I'm not tryin' to be in here all night."

Helga was more than frustrated now. They had checked all of the enter and exit doors on the first and second door with no luck and already a half hour had passed. And was that thunder she heard? Great yeah just add a storm and make this a typical worst night.

"What in the Criminey is wrong with this place! Don't they have some sort of way to get out of here besides the front door? It's practically dark now and I'm starvin' here!" Helga ranted.

"I know Helga, I'm hungry too but someone is bound to come in here the lights are still on and besides our family is going to worry when they realize we haven't come home yet." Arnold reminded.

"Speak for yourself. If I died tomorrow my family wouldn't give an elephant's a-" Arnold gave her a look and Helga rolled her eyes. "They wouldn't care alright. My mother would be happy for the excuse to drink more booze and my father would be happy because when he finally called Olga the real one would come down."

"Helga. Some people just show there love for others in different ways. I know your family may not be as affectionate as you would like but I'm sure if anything every happend to you they would be the first to care." Arnold tried to comfort the on the edge teen.

"Whatever." Helga muttered as she kept walking. She didn't want to talk about how much her family may or may not miss her if she didn't come home tonight. She already knew the real answer even if Arnold didn't want to see it for what it really was.

Helga took a look at her surroundings again. There! It was a small window above the bookshelf! From what Helga could gather from her position it wasn't just for decoration but it actually opened from the inside. Helga looked around again. It looked like the only way to reach it was to climb on the book shelves and then onto the sill. The book shelves were a little towering but she could make it.

"Helga why did you stop? Did you-"

Helga cut Arnold off. "Look up Football-head. See that window up there that's our way of escape. I'm going to climb up this bookcase to be sure that it opens and when it does I'll give you the all clear sign to follow me up as I hold the book shelf steady."

"Hold on Helga." Arnold paused, "You're going to climb up that thing? Are you serious? It's almost three times your height!"

"I can do it Arnoldo."

"There's nothing for you to hold onto!"

"It's the only way to get us out of this pie hole Football-head and I'm takin' it."

"Helga there has to be some other way." Arnold reasoned. Helga gave him a look. "I can't talk you out of this can I?"

"Nope." She smilled.

"Well then let me go up first. If the shelf is unstable then I can warn you not to come up so you don't get hurt."

"No Arnoldo, it's too high." Helga refused.

"So you can risk going up there but I can't?" Arnold frowned.

"YES! I don't want you to get hurt!" Helga roared in his face.

"Well I don't want you to get hurt either!" Arnold snapped back.

"Outta my way Football-head! I have a job to do!" Helga shoved past him.

"Helga please." Arnold pleaded softly. He clamped his hand on her leg seeing as she already started climbing. "I really don't want you to get hurt. Please. Please let me go first Helga. If you got hurt I don't know what I would do."

Helga looked in those pleading beautiful green eyes and sighed. Leave it to Arnold to pull at the heart strings. She knew he wasn't doing it to manipulate her that was just Arnold's natural caring that took control whenever someone was in trouble.

"Fine! Arnoldo but you better not mess this up or I'll pound you. And you'd better not get hurt or I'll pound you twice as hard." Helga shook her fist at him. Arnold smiled softly.

"Thanks Helga, I'll keep those in mind." Helga's cheeks reddened.

"Just hurry up Football-head we don't got all day."

"Okay. Hold the shelf as stead as you can-"

"I know Football-head! Just get a move on!" Helga snapped as she grabbed the bookcase. Her nerves were on edge she couldn't believe she was letting Arnold do this waht if he got seriously hurt. What would she do? She knew what she would do. She would never forgive herself. She was tempted to pull him back down. When she looked back at Arnold he was slowly making his way up and was almost half way there.

Helga's heart was pounding as Arnold climbed higher and higher and was holding her breath when Arnold finally made it to the top. He turned back to look down at her and gave a smile and a thumbs up. The only thing she could manage was a slight nod. She was so nervous. He put one foot on the window sil and kept the other on the bookshelf as he stretched out to see if the window was locked. He tugged for a few seconds before looking down at Helga again.

"It's not locked but it is stuck. I doubt it's been opened much if at all but I'm going to try to give it one good push to see if it will open." Before Helga could offer any advice. Arnold began pushing on the latch of the window. The window finally began to crack open. Arnold was making progress. Unfortunately Arnold's foot would slip more and more off the sill the harder he pushed. Helga noticing this finally cried out.

"Arnold! Stop pushing!"

But it was too late Arnold's foot slipped off the window sill and he began falling at too fast a pace. Helga stretched her arms out and prayed that she would catch him. Arnold, at the last second, grabbed onto the bookshelf and managed to slide down the rest of the way. When he hit the bottom Helga was all over him.

"ARNOLD! Are you okay? Please be okay! TELL ME you're okay!" Helga was frantic.

Arnold stood up cautiously and smiled softly at her. "I'm okay Helga. Just a little shaken." Helga shoved him and started pacing back and forth ranting as Arnold watched her and tried to assure her that he was alright. Neither of them noticing the wobbling bookshelf behind them. Helga heard a creak and turned right as the shelf started to lean forward with Arnold standing right under it. Not again, she thought, Not tonight.

"ARNOLD! Helga screamed as she made a dive for him, pushing him out of the way. Arnold turned in terror just in time to see the shelf come barrelling down. Right on-

"HELLLGGAAAAA!"

Arnold's cry was so agonizing that even the storm brewing outside quieted and had to give respect to the young man's pain.

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