Helga Pataki had just started a new school year, she was now in sixth grade.
Not that that made much of a difference, her class mates were still all the same, her teacher was the same, the school building was the same. Their class room was only slightly longer down the hall way.

Still Helga had to wake up by herself, make herself ready for the day, make her own lunchbox, make sure all her homework was in order.

Sometimes her mother would be passed out on the couch, snoring while a line of salvia would fall down her cheek.
Sometimes Bob would shout at her and say she didn't do enough for the household, reminding her she lived there rent free…. Sometimes it was hard to forget he was in fact her father.
And then Helga would have to remind him she had to go to school! Which only earned her an frown and a huff.

Thankfully as soon as Helga got outside she could meet up with her best friend Phoebe who would smile at her and they would start their traditional morning walk to school.

The same roads, past the same houses. And at the same corner they would run into the same two boys. Gerold and… Arnold.

When Helga saw Arnold, that's when she would stop and suddenly it seemed like everything had changed anyhow, like nothing was the same and everything was wonderful.

Still Helga tried to wrap her head around it…. She had… Kissed him! No, he had kissed her! Arnold was the one whom had kissed her! And told her that he… he…

Helga couldn't even finish the sentence in her own mind before her entire face turned red and she was about to faint.

They were only a few days into the new school year, yet their meetings had been consistent. Arnold hadn't hesitated to take Helgas hand.

Sometimes Helga would pull away and shout at him, but other times she would gleefully allow him to hold her hand. And Arnold seemed to be okay with the slow, easing in approach. Always accepting either of her reactions, never treating her badly for it. It was so much like him.

Oh Arnold! So considerate! So sweet!
I'm so sorry I am so bad at showing my true feelings my love! I wish I didn't become so scared, but when you look at me like that. Oh, what am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to think? My dear sweet Arnold.

"Helga."

"ARGH!" Helga screamed as she jumped up, she had been caught in one of her daydreams while standing in the cafeteria line wide-eyed did she turn to Phoebe.

"It's your turn." Phoebe helpfully pointed out.

"Ah, yes. Sorry." Helga blushed deeply as she reached for the item she had been standing in line for, just an ordinary milch. And then she also picked up an apple now she was here anyway. Still embarrassed did Helga take her items with her lunchbox and seated herself down at a table soon joined by Phoebe whom was smiling as she unpacked her own food then she frowned.

"Rice pudding again." Phoebe muttered. "Here Helga." she offered Helga the item.

Helga smiled a little thankful. Helga loved rice pudding it was one of her favorite food items, Phoebe how-ever didn't seem to like them and always gave hers to Helga.

Though, Helga had begun to suspect that Phoebe actually liked rice pudding just fine, but would gives her to Helga out of charity.

Helga did feel a bit bad about it, but didn't know what to say. Her own lunchbox was a sad affair, she had become better at making it so it wasn't just a celery stick and yogurt anymore, now she actually figured how to make sandwiches.
But nice things like rice pudding or cake… That wasn't something her own lunchbox ever contained, if she wanted something like that she had to buy it herself. And her parents weren't the greatest when it came to pocket money.
The few pocket money Helga had she took great care in saving for better things, like school books and its like.

"Hey. Helga!" Phoebe gave Helga an elbow in her side.

"What?" Helga asked.

"Hihi, look!" Phoebe grinned pointing to another table and Helga glanced over to see Arnold look at her, though the moment he was caught he looked back down, only for Gerold to push at Arnold.

"Ar-Arnold?!" Helga asked blushing deeply.

"He's been looking at you all day!" Phoebe grinned. "I think something is up."

"What?" Helga asked. "What do you mean something is up?! ANSWER ME!" she shouted angrily.

"Hey relax, you know Arnold is the nicest person around. He wouldn't do anything bad." Phoebe pointed out.

"Well, maybe he has just pretended to be nice this whole time!" Helga exclaimed. "Maybe this was his plan, to let my guard down! To make myself vulnerable, and then the ultimate humiliation." she squirmed grabbing her pig tails as she bowed down. "I knew it! It was all to good to be true, he just wants to make fun of me he just.."

"He's coming over." Phoebe pointed out.

"What?!" Helga asked wide-eyed and looked up as true enough Arnold was approaching her as he blushed.

As he reached her he lifted a hand as he spoke nervously. "Hallo Helga."

"MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS FOOTBALL HEAD I WONT FALL FOR YOUR DIRTY TRICKS!" Helga screamed at the top of her longs.

Arnold blinked as he stopped in his tracks. "Are you okay?"

"Okay? Of course i'm okay! I'm better than okay! Why do you ask?" Helga asked.

"Well." Arnold blushed. "Helga, I just… I wanted to ask you. Have you anything planned for this Saturday?" he asked.

"What?" Helga asked surprised. "I mean why? I mean what's it to you?!" she asked.

"Well." Arnold scratched his neck. "I never got to thank you probably, for all you did for me have I?" he asked. "So I thought that maybe, you would like to go with me for a walk in the park?" he asked.

And Helgas eyes widened.

"And then dinner." Arnold offered. "I wish I could do something better, like take you to an amusement park but… I don't have the money." he admitted. "But at least, I can buy you ice cream in the park, and give you a dinner."

"Par-Park?" Helga asked. "Di-dinner? Arnold are you… Are you… Asking me on a da…. da… daaaaa."

There was absolutely silence. Phoebe gasped, Gerold was giving a thumbs up from the sideline, Helga seemed like she had gone into a pt stop and Arnold's eyes were locked on the ground. Then finally he spoke.

"Yes, I am asking you if you want to go on a date." Arnold admitted in a blush glancing down. "With me."

Helga glanced at Arnold then turned her head. "Date huh?" she asked. "Fine, saturday then. Pick me up at one. Don't be late." she asked as she started to walk, then walked outside, then she started to run before she was way outside at the dumpster, and there she bowed together before she finally let out a big scream.

"EHHHHHHHHH! I can't believe it! Is this a dream?!" she asked in a loud shout tears coming from her eyes. "Or, Ronaldo, asking me. meee." she twirled around as a ballerina. "Oh, if this is really just a fantasy I don't care, it is all I ever wanted. Because I lo… Looove." and then she fell down on the ground on her back.

She didn't know how long she had been laying there before a head appeared in her field of vision, it was Phoebe. "Helga?" she asked. "Are you okay?"

"Heh gfjlmokleje." Helga grinned in a happy none sensible voice.

"I see." Phoebe smiled amused. "You better get up, the break will be over soon." she pointed out. "Wow, finally it's really happening it's so romantic! You and Arnold on a date!"

"Yeaaah." Helga exhaled deeply. "Me and Arnold.." then her eyes widened and she sat up. "ON A DATE! oh no." she grabbed her face. "On a date?! With Arnold! No I can't! What have I done?! PHOEBE HELP ME!" she screamed grabbing Phoebes shoulders. "I can't go on a date with Arnold!"

"Why not?" Phoebe asked.

"Because… Because… You don't understand!" Helga cried. "What if I screw everything up! What if he actually hates me! What if a meteor falls down and kills all of us!"

"Because you went on a date?" Phoebe asked.

"YES!" Helga screamed.

Phoebe blinked then smiled. "Helga, don't worry about it. It'll be fine." she assured. "I'll help you."

"How can you help me?" Helga asked. "You'v never been on a date!"

"Yes I have, with Gerold." Phoebe reminded Helga. "Come on then." she grabbed Helgas hands and pulled her up. "Let's go to class, and after school. Let's talk about your date."

"But I… But…" Helga stammered.

Phoebe how-ever smiled just as the school belle rung and it was time for them all to re-assume class.