Chapter 1: What Made Me Do That?

Rhonda's House

Helga could not be happier that her plan was working. Acting like Lila, little Ms. Perfect, had been getting her Arnold's attention all night. Was he doing it because he was enjoying his time with Helga, or because she reminded him of his favorite person?

Gerald had a hard time believing anyone (let alone his best friend) could fall for Helga G. Pataki. All night he and Phoebe watched Arnold and Helga not only spend time together, but enjoy it!

No name calling, no pranks, no pointless arguments; just the happiness of each other's company...or so one thought.

The two of them stood on the back porch, preparing to play one of the games Rhonda had set up: Pin the tail on the monkey."

The more he saw of it, the more ridiculous it became to Gerald that his best friend was having such a great time with the class bully.

"Arnold, can I see you for a minute, buddy?" he asked.

Arnold assured Helga (who was by that point overjoyed), that he would be back shortly.

Helga took off her blindfold, dreaming about where this wonderful night could lead to. All the annoying coaching Lila had given her was finally getting her somewhere. So what if it was destroying her reputation? Her dreams were finally coming true!

She then watched Arnold approach her and ask "Where were we?"

A soft smile remained on the content girl's face as she reminded him "You were just about to spin me around, Arnold."

"Right Lila."

Helga then cocked her brow in suspicion. Her beloved wasn't thinking of her the entire night. He just saw the costume she was wearing and thought to himself "Eh, close enough."

"WHAT did you just call me?"

Arnold shrugged his shoulders, not knowing what his friend was getting so worked up about and asked "I don't know? What DID I call you?"

After a small debate about his words and why they came out as they did, Helga decided it was time for her to step back inside a moment as well.

Rhonda's Bathroom

There the aggravated girl stood staring at herself in front of the mirror, knowing the truth behind it all. No way would Arnold be paying her that type of attention if she was dressed as anything BUT Lila. It wasn't her that was winning him over. It was just the idea of another person being like the girl he hoped to someday be with.

Enough was enough. Even if it meant acquiring Arnold's feelings, Helga was acting like everything she hated. Since when did she compliment things she didn't care about in a high pitched voice?

Rhonda's Porch

Arnold sat there in the dark, wondering what he could have done wrong. Was it really that big a deal he called her Lila? Why would it be, if she was willing to dress like her?

Moments later he saw his friend return...without the costume. Even before she spoke, Arnold could feel the excitement leaving himself…

What happened to her?

Helga watched him stare; confirming he really was picturing Lila the entire time.

After turning down a game of Pin the tail on the monkey with the REAL Helga, Arnold decided to go inside. Helga sat in the cold, not knowing what felt worse; the fact that he didn't like-like her, or that he didn't want to be around her at all.

Rhonda's Living Room

Helga began to creep inside the house on the way out the door, when she heard Arnold discussing his night with Lila.

"Sometimes Helga can be pretty mean, but then other nights like tonight, she can be pretty okay. When she is, I actually sort of like her."

Although the hope this brought to Helga's heart put her mind at ease, it made someone else rethink what they had just said.

Walk

Gerald and Phoebe had already left, leaving Arnold to walk home alone. On the way there, he remembered what he had told Lila…

I actually sort of like her.

Remembering this a moment, Arnold thought to himself…

If I like her, why didn't I finish the game with her? Maybe I just thought it would be weird for everyone to see us acting like friends. That was pretty shallow, and nothing like me though. I never did ask her why she was dressed like Lila to begin with? From what I've seen, she's never been a big fan of hers.

The Boarding House

Those thoughts ran through Arnold's mind until he at last made it home. After watching the animals pour past him, he found Phil sitting in the kitchen.

As he took a seat beside his elder, Phil asked "Hey there short man! How'd that party of yours go?"

Arnold began to rub his arm and replied "I'm not so sure?"

Phil lifted an eyebrow at the response and said "What do you mean you're not sure? Someone hit you in the head with something?"

"No grandpa, I just spent the night with Helga and…."

"Ahh you mean your cranky little friend with the big pink bow and the one eyebrow?" Phil interrupted. "What's she do this time? Ask why you weren't wearing a costume? Hehe!" The elderly man winked as he laughed at his own joke.

Arnold rolled his eyes at the joke and said "No grandpa, we were having a good time. That is, until she took off her costume?"

"Was it an ugly one. Like the kind your grandma runs around in?" Phil guessed.

"No. She was dressed like Lila all night, but when she took it off, I didn't feel like hanging out with her anymore. I don't know why I did that to her?"

"I told ya she liked you! You're not making things easy for her though."

Arnold lifted and eyebrow and asked "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Women don't like mind games! They want the straight up truth. Unless it involves cooking or anything pertaining to their looks. Then you can lie all you want to make 'em happy."

The confused boy then headed for his room, wondering what the real answer was behind spending the night with who was considered to be his arch nemesis. As he stood from the chair he replied "So, I'm supposed to lie, and tell Helga I might have feelings for her?"

"No! Just give her a chance to be herself around you. Based on the way she treats you, she's obviously having a hard enough time as it is. Geeze, some relationship councilor you'd be!"

Arnold rolled his eyes at the partial insult as he thought about the advice given to him and said "Good night grandpa."