A/N: Hey, everyone! Thank you for your lovely reviews~ I've been in a bit of a slump lately, but now I'm back with the second chapter. I realized while writing this, this chapter was going to get a little long, so I decided to break it up in parts. The next part should be out in two weeks, but don't hold your breath. I'm going to try my best. Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Hey Arnold!
Episode 1: Questions and A Rescue PT. 1
Helga couldn't stop the giggle from spilling out of her as she took her last picture of the day; Eugene's casted arm getting slammed into the bus door. What a geek! What a dope! She bit her lip as Arnold tried to call out to him for some reason, but then with a shrug, started on his way home. Helga looked on with a growing grin.
Arnold had been set on making Eugene have one of the best days of his geeky nine-year-old life. It was probably because of Arnold's own tendency to unknowingly cause some of Eugene's accidents. That bike was a beauty too, Helga had to admit. And watching it get totaled? Even she couldn't laugh at something like that.
Oh Arnold, how I love you! Where would the world be without your do-gooder ways? Your half- lidded gaze? Your overall positive outlook on life? You're perfect, just perfect!
She swooned as Arnold became a speck in the distance. The day had been very productive for her. Nice and sunny and beautiful enough for picture taking. Easy hiding spots galore and was great for listening in on mundane conversations. Not once was she caught! Perfect day, indeed!
So, at the end of this fine day, Helga had ten instant photos tucked away in her messenger bag and one lingering thought continuing to pester her. Why had he done it? Arnold was always nice, that much was true. She saw firsthand how far he'd go for someone and praised him for it even. Her love for him would grow as well. But still, why? Who would go out of their way like that for someone, especially when he could have just apologized and been on his way? It wasn't unheard of, but if it were anyone else, she'd ask them the same question. What did they get out of it?
The day Eugene lost his bike wasn't a total surprise. The guy was a jinx after all. Helga watched him scream and cry and as usual everyone only felt bad for a few minutes. The geek would bounce back like he always did. Helga knew it. Arnold knew it. Everyone knew it. Nothing new and absolutely predictable. A raging geek that was bullied almost every day, forced to sit at the back of the bus, and fashion sense nonexistent. Something destructive would have happened to him at some point even if he wasn't the definition of bad luck. Although, Helga didn't have much of a fashion sense of her own; sporting her pink overalls and crocheted beret with a gaudy bow sewn in. Still…
The big grin shortened inch by inch as she took her short walk home and in its place grew a frown when she walked into her house. The smell of meatloaf was in the air and the radio played a soft melody. Helga, still in her good mood, made her way to the kitchen. To her surprise, Miriam wasn't on the phone or decked out in business attire. She wore a nice beige sweater with a pair of dark leggings. Currently, she was smearing icing on a large chocolate cake. Helga smiled once more.
"Hi, Mir—um, mom."
Miriam looked up from her task. "Oh, Helga, honey! Where have you been?"
Helga shrugged and made her way over to the kitchen's island. "Here and there. What are you doing home?"
"Well, since we made that deal with the big wigs, I've had a bit of free time and I thought, 'Hey! I want cake!' So, I made us one. And dinner is just about," she trailed off and as if on cue, a ding came from the stove, "done! Here, finish this off for me while I take care of that."
Helga took her place and continued where her mother left off. Miriam hummed, busying herself while Helga couldn't help but feel a bit contented. One more thing to add to this wonderful day. Miriam was home, cooking and making cake. She only ever did this when she was apologizing to Helga about one thing or another or when a deal was a success. Whatever it was didn't matter; cake was cake!
"Okay, done!" Helga announced.
Helga managed to give the ladle two licks before Miriam came rushing over and snatched it from her hand with a laugh. "No, you'll ruin your dinner! Go set the table."
Helga sighed but did as she was told. Five minutes later they were sitting down to eat. For a while, it made Helga almost think they were truly happy. She wanted to believe it so bad, too. Miriam owned a successful business that was growing by the day. She paid attention to her more than she had when she was younger. And her mom completely forgot that she was supposed to spend the weekend with Bob! Although it didn't really matter if she forgot or remembered, Helga always managed to sneak home on most weekends, anyway.
"How was your day?" Miriam asked suddenly.
"Fine, I guess. I went to a baseball game."
"Did you? Hmm, I didn't know you liked baseball."
And there's the good mood, she thought, attempting to keep her smile in place.
"Yeah, well if it wasn't obvious by the new glove you bought me two days ago…"
"I did?" Miriam blinked and looked down at her food in thought. "Huh."
Helga grumbled and stabbed at her mashed potatoes. She should be used to this by now. Bob certainly made it easy to realize that her family wasn't so perfect. Olga tried to be, but they both knew how that always played out. Nonetheless, the college bound Ol-ga would try until she was blue in the face. Which reminded her of today's events. The mood lifted only a smidge.
Arnold…
She gave a small smile and it probably looked goofy to an outsider, but who cares? Arnold put her in this state over and over again and half of her hated him for it. And yet, despite imagining his gaze looking her way, the "whys" continued to surface. Arnold's need to make everyone a charity case didn't sit well with her. So…maybe she'll try something of her own.
"So, mom…I was wondering. There's this gee—I-I mean boy in my class whose bike was totaled the other day and he's been really torn up about it. What should I do?"
Miriam hummed while chewing thoughtfully. "Did you have anything to do with it?"
"What? No—"
"Then what can you do but comfort him?"
Helga grimaced but quickly wiped the look from her face. Comfort him? It almost made her want to gag, but if she wanted this plan to work she had to keep going with it. Biting her lip, she looked down at her food, poking at the meatloaf.
"I know, but…bad things are always happening to him and he had this one thing. This one joy that he could call his own and then it's obliterated in the blink of an eye, shattering his soul into tiny little pieces!"
Miriam gasped. "Oh my!"
"Yeah! And I felt so bad, I thought maybe," she trailed off, already regretting her next words. "Maybe I could do something nice for the kid. Like…get him a new bike."
And there was the thoughtful frown. Helga got a decent allowance every week from Miriam and every few weekends from Bob. If anything, she saved up enough to buy that new book boxset she'd been eying for some time, but hardly enough for a spitting image of Eugene's bike.
"You want to buy him a bike?" Miriam questioned slowly.
Helga nodded. "Uh-huh. It's tearing me up inside and if I don't help him, it's going to eat at me forever!"
"Oh, Helga, you're just being dramatic. I'm sure his parents will get him a new bike. You don't have to worry yourself over something like that." Miriam patted her arm. "But I know he'll appreciate you worrying for him. He's one lucky guy."
Oh puh-lease, she thought, the urge to roll her eyes strong.
"But, mom! He's been moping around all week! He stares at the dumpster they threw his busted bike in with heartbreaking longing and don't get me started on the doom and gloom in class because of him. We're not getting anything done and the teacher can't teach so we're all destined to fail!"
Okay, white lie, but enough to make her mother stare in horror. Then that horror morphed into a scowl to Helga's surprise.
Uh oh…
"Your teacher can't teach?"
"Um—"
"What type of school allows this?"
"That's not—"
"Do I need to come up there? Should I call?"
Helga blinked before shaking herself out of her stupor with a growl of frustration. "Forget about that, Miriam! He needs my help! And since his parents nor anyone in class can't do anything, why can't I help him? I have half of it with the allowances I saved up. If you can loan me the other half, I promise I won't expect anything from you for at least a month and I'll double my chores! I'll even fix my own lunches!" She paused, leaning closer while Miriam leaned back in shock. "And think of it this way! If you help me, you'll be making some poor kid's life a gazillion times better! He'll never forget it! What you do can make the way he lives for the rest of his life! Think about it!"
She panted, not realizing that she stood and was practically leaning over Miriam during her speech. With a nervous giggle, she sat back down and attempted to eat again. Miriam was just as silent. Helga prided herself on controlling her impulsiveness, but this? Why would she go out of her way to help a geek? Well, there's another "why" to add to the collection.
Miriam cleared her throat, interrupting her musings. "Since you feel so strongly about it, I'll help you." Helga squealed and jumped up hugging her mom tight. It was like an instinctual thing to do. She couldn't even fathom why it made her so happy. Miriam hugged back with a laugh and continued, "BUT! But, you will do those extra chores to pay me back and don't worry, your allowance per week is still intact."
"Oh, mom, you're the best! When can we go get the bike?"
"Maybe sometime this week, but you're going to have to introduce me to this boy one day. He sounds like he's really taken hold of your little heart."
Wait…
…
…
What?!
"Huh?! N-no! It's nothing like that!"
Miriam giggled. Giggled… "Of course, Helga. Finish your food."
Helga opened and closed her mouth like a dying fish. Her and Eugene?! Never in a million years! She shook with rage, but reluctantly went back to her meal. The "whys" of this situation was becoming too much, but for scientific purposes (for Arnold…) she'll see this through.
It took a whole week, but by the weekend, Miriam took her to get the bike and by that Monday morning, Helga was riding it to park in front of Eugene's house. It wasn't hard to find an exact replica. She would even say it shone better than the old one. She got a few extra things; a helmet, a nifty bike chain, knee pads, a fluffy pillow (he definitely needed more cushion for his inevitable accident). Then she spent all weekend trying to write a note to him. Many balled up paper balls later, Helga settled on simply saying:
Sorry for your bike. Here's a new one. Stop being a klutz. –Anonymous
It probably could lead back to her. Harold wouldn't do something like this, nor would anyone else in their class. Well, except for Arnold, but he already put in his time. Either way, Eugene would probably be too busy enjoying the bike to figure it out.
Helga leaned it against his stoop with a scowl and a grumble. "And he'd better! Or I'm gonna—"
Eugene's door began to open and Helga's heart nearly jumped out of her throat. She raced across the street and dived behind the nearest trashcan. At least she didn't have to go through the trouble of knocking anymore. Body still and mouth clamped shut, she heard the redhead shout something back into the house—probably with that smile he was always sporting—and shut the door.
"Huh? What's this?"
Nerves took over. A number of thoughts ran through her mind. His mom could have really gotten him a new bike. What if she wasted her time? Or worse! What if he really didn't care anymore? She bit at her nails. Whatever the end result would be, she had to see it. So, with a hard swallow, Helga peeked over the trashcan.
Eugene stood on his stoop, mouth hanging open. Was that a good or bad reaction? She couldn't tell by his expression. It didn't take long for her to find out when he all but screamed, jumping for joy. Helga's heart sped up at the sight.
"Oh my gosh! A bike! A new bike!" He tripped down the steps, falling flat on his face. "Ow! I'm okay…A bike!" He was on his feet again.
A blush painted her cheeks. That pure happiness shining in his teary eyes. That huge smile that showed all of his teeth. His energetic hops and squeals. Helga never felt so good in her whole life (except when she first met Arnold, of course). His elation was because of her. When he read the note and hugged it to his chest, she gasped softly, tears threatening to fall. Was this the 'why'? Was this what it was like to help others?
"Mom, mom! Come see! I got a new bike!" Eugene ran back into his house.
She took that as her cue to get lost. Once Eugene's voice faded, Helga started her trek to Phoebe's house. There was a certain high flowing through her and made her feel as though she were floating. There was no material gain involved. Only her good will. And this time it wasn't just for Arnold!
"Oh, I am awesome," she said with a chuckle and went to turn a corner.
"Oof!"
"Ow!"
Helga groaned, tailbone throbbing painfully. "Who in the heck?! Watch where you're—Arnold!"
What in the world was he doing there?! The boy in question rubbed his head, and to her confusion, there was this dopey smile on his face, dazed gaze trained on her. Then he snapped out of it with the shake of his head. Helga watched as he jumped to his feet and brushed himself off.
"Sorry, Helga." His hand came up to help her stand. "I-I didn't see you."
Helga's anger was momentarily forgotten and without hesitation, she grabbed his hand. "Thanks, Arnold." Her smile came back before she could stop it. She failed to notice that being too nice to Arnold was a no-no in her book.
Arnold's breath caught, but Helga didn't stay long to see what that was about. She started her walk again and chose to not look back. Helga became so deep within her high again that when she noticed that Arnold started walking beside her, she got up the nerve to actually speak.
"So, how are you this morning, Football Head?"
Arnold stumbled a bit. "I'm good, thanks Helga! You seem to be in a good mood."
"Not that you would care but, I am in a good mood. Today could be a good day for me."
"Really? How so?"
"None of your beeswax, Arnoldo. Just take my word for it."
"Whatever you say, Helga."
"That's right. Whatever I say."
They continued on in silence for a few more blocks and Helga's mind was replaying Eugene's reaction over and over again in her mind. It felt good. Really good. Too good, in fact. What was she going to do about all this happiness? She peeked over at Arnold who looked as content as can be. She wondered what that was about.
"So, Football Head, answer me this?"
"Hm?"
"What do you get out of being the goody two shoes that you are?"
"Um…"
"I mean, there has to be some personal gain in there somewhere. You can't be happy for others all the time."
Arnold hummed and looked at the ground as if thinking. "Well," he started. "I don't get anything out of it. I just like helping people. Seeing them happy is reward enough, right?"
She scoffed. I knew it. Of course, he's as noble as I knew him to be.
It almost made her regret the experiment since she'd always knew the results, but seeing others do it could only inspire and Helga choosing to go out of her way for something other than personal gain should have been done a long time ago! Although, a part of her wanted to tell the boy what she did so that he could look at her in a new light. If only, if only.
"Huh. That's stupid."
Arnold shrugged. "You should try it sometime, Helga. It always brightens your day. Sort of like this one, right?"
Helga almost tripped over her own feet. What? He knows?
As if reading her thoughts, Arnold grinned, half-lidded gaze sparkling with a secret. "You're amazing, Helga, do you know that?"
This time she did trip, heat covering the majority of her face. "I-I—"
"Gotta go meet Gerald. See you at school!" He crossed the street and stopped only to turn and grin at her. "Oh, right! I almost forgot! Good morning, Helga!" Then he jogged away.
Helga stood dumbfounded. What just happened?
"Am I going nuts?" she whispered.
Despite her confusion, she couldn't help but swoon at his words. Amazing? He thought she was AMAZING?! Helga spun and danced in glee. Yes, today was definitely going to be a good day!