Disclaimer: Hey Arnold and it's character belong to Craig Bartlett.
Please comment. Hope you liked it.

Chapter 6: So, is that a yes?

Arnold took a deep breath, as if he needed time to find the right words.
"Thank you very much for the ticket, Helga"
She did not see that coming. She thought he would just throw up a bunch of questions.
"I-It's no big deal, football head. Like Central America was a great deal"
"You probably did your best to win that contest, and you give a ticket to me… you even said I could have them all" said the blonde boy looking at his feet, with such a warm voice, Helga lowered her defenses. "Can I know why?"
Helga was stunned
"Well you see football head, it's not like it's any of your business, but I did it to tease Princess Lloyd. She mucked at my writing skills so I thought if I chose a crappy place and gave the tickets to someone I hate so much, she would get even more angry"
Arnold for the first time on his life noticed she was lying. "Because I like a good mystery" he remembered she saying that moments before admitting she loved him. He could totally let her know he knew it was all a bunch of lies, but…
If he did, he would be pushing her to tell him she loved him. Again! And that just wasn't fair. He didn't love her. So he decided to play along with her, a little more.

"I see" Arnold blushed and stared at the floor.
Meanwhile, Helga knew that was not convincing. And felt her heart rushing inside her chest. She'd probably have to tell Arnold how much she loved him.
"So you were so sure you could win, you felt insulted when she doubted it"
"ah?" asked Helga. Did he believe her? Or was he playing dumb?
"Why were you so sure you would win, Helga?" continued Arnold. He expected driving away the conversation would calm her down. Besides, he could try to know her a little bit more. He didn't love her. That was right. But what she was doing for him was such a kind gesture he wanted to love her back. How many people are willing to give up such a chance. She really loved him.
"Well… I… am good at writing. I like to do it, so it's easy for me"
"So you've write thing before?"
Arnold wasn't asking more questions about San Lorenzo. "Why?" Helga wondered "He's asking about me…"
"Well... y-yeah. So what. It's not a big deal, ok, Arnoldo?" He noticed she was getting nervous. "Don't force it Arnold" he instructed himself.
"Have you written stories, essays, tales… or maybe… poems?" Helga felt he was implying it, rather than asking it. "The pink book! He's wondering if I wrote the pink book"
Arnold saw her so shy. She blushed. She looked really cute with that look. In return, he looked at her so tenderly. Maybe it had been her… but, he didn't want to blew it and he knew she was not going to answer that question. He got up and sit next to her on her bed. She was speechless.

Suddenly Helga reacted, and was about to yell at Arnold for sitting so close to her. But Arnold thought faster.
"You know Helga. This means a lot to me. I was willing to go to San Lorenzo, you know?" he said smiling at her. "And you are giving me tickets to travel there"
"Crap! He knows. He must think I'm such a stalker" thought Helga feeling dizzy.
"Talk about coincidences" continued Arnold.
"ah?" "He can't really think it's a coincidence!"
"what?"
"I mean. Well it's an awful place, no wonder why an awful person would like to go there"
Arnold opened his eyes wide. He did not see that coming. He thought he had taken control on the situation. He laughed and said "Well it doesn't matter. It still means a lot to me Helga. You know, that's where my parents went before they disappeared. I hoped they would still be there, but there were no clues on their whereabouts. Until I found a map. And this trip is the last piece to this puzzle" said Arnold with his arms lying on Helga's bed and his eyes looking at the roof. "But you already know that, don't you? He did his best not to say that out loud.
Arnold looked at Helga once again. She had a sad look. He swore he could have just leaned and kiss her. But he knew that kiss would have come out of gratitude, and that was not was she deserved.
He knew what he had to do.
"But you know Helga. There are just two problems with your gift"
"I already told you. If you don't want them, I'll give them to Phoebe" growled Helga
Arnold let out a little laugh. Helga was confused.
"Why are you laughing, you moron"
"It's not that I don't want the ticket. I want it, really" He smiled at her. "It's just you know. When I think about it… I'm not sure the prize is valid if you're not coming. You know? The tickets, the restaurant, the hotel… all those stuff must be under your name" Helga wanted to make herself a face palm. She didn't think this through. "Besides… I can't take my grandparents. I had not think about it, but they wouldn't let me go on a search quest to find my parents. It's "too dangerous", soo… you should come to. If I say you're inviting me, with the supervision of your parents… then they should be fine with it. I don't have to tell them the truth of where we're going…"
"You? Lying? I want to see that"
"So, is that a yes?"
She bit her lowerlip. "Ok ok. Yes. But we're not taking Bob and Miriam. We'll go there with Olga, after all… she is easier to manipulate. Besides, if she's taking her boyfriend, it wil be easier to sneak out and look for our parents. And that means... we've got two tickets left… so… Gerald & Phoebe…?
"Sounds like a plan"

Arnold wanted Helga to come with him. After all, it was her prize and most importantly… he wanted to know her better. He would give them a chance… He didn't love her… but he was not giving up so easily. If Helga was capable of demonstrating so much love with this kind gesture, then he wouldn't say that again until he met the true Helga.
If still, he couldn't love her back, then he would be by her side forever, taking care of her, as she has taken care of him.

"In that case… I'm leaving. I'm gonna tell my grandpa the good news. I'll star to pack my suitcase right now" He stand up and smiled. Helga had never seen him so happy. She smiled as well. "Thanks again, Helga" his word somehow warmed Helga's heart.
"It's no big deal, Arnoldo. I'll see you Monday at 6:00"
"Wasn't it 6:20?"
Helga planned to go there minutes earlier to just say one of the tickets was for Arnold Shortman, and then head back home, so she wouldn't run into him.
"Ah… no, no. 6:00 am. Don't mix up things"
He rolled his eyes and said "Whatever you say Helga" closing the door behind him. Helga laid down on her bed and sighed "My love invited me to go with him"

Arnold was on the other side of the door. He had the chance to listen those last words. He, for some reason, felt his heart a little warmer.

The End