Helga has a few more weeks to live. How does she spend them? A/N:: They're in High School! Please, read and review.

Chapter One: Showy Touchy

"Phebes, hold my book for me," said Helga, struggling with opening her locker. She had three books in her hands...that was partly why she couldn't open it. But also because the lockers were so old and broken down, no one could open it.

"Okay, Helga." Pheobe said sweetly. All of her items were organized (as usual).

Helga tried opening her locker. "23, 14, 5..." she mumbled. She fiddled with the handle and pulled and pulled. But nothing happened. "ARG!" She growled and slammed her hand on the black metal. "WHY WON'T YOU OPEN?!"

Just then Arnold and Gerald came walking by. They stopped and looked at Helga strangely as she pounded on her locker. Arnold and Gerald were like the big guys on campus. They were tall, awesome basketball players and strong. Oh yeah, and good looking. Helga changed a lot too. She got in touch with her girlier side and had two eyebrows! Many guys have been asking her out ever since she first got in High School (going through the summer of change). But always refused their offers.

"Uh, Helga, I don't think you're supposed to open your locker like that," interjected Arnold while Gerald chuckled.

Helga turned her head to them, as her silky blonde hair swayed. "I've tried ten times!"

"Here, let me try to open it," said Arnold. "Eleventh time is the charm! What's your combination?"

"It's 23...14...5."

Arnold turned the knob and pulled the handle. It opened. "There you go, Helga. Have fun," he said. Gerald and Arnold walked away.

Helga gently parted a sigh. "Is it just me or is Arnold being nicer and nicer to me?" she wondered aloud.

Pheobe gently giggled. "Oh Helga, you're always day dreaming about him. But you have to know he DOES have Lila..."

Helga scowled. "You're right...you're always right."

Pheobe handed Helga her book. "Well, don't give your hopes up." Pheobe was still shorter than Helga...being five foot five and Helga being five foot ten.

Helga closed her locker and walked with Pheobe to class.

"Hello, Helga!" Rhonda said loudly. Her hair was still the same. "I saved you a seat!" She patted the desk next to her. Rhonda was always wanting to be as popular as Helga has become so she was always sucking up to her.

"Hi Rhonda!" exclaimed Helga sarcastically. She sat down at the desk Rhonda saved her. Only because for the last few years she realized calling people names was childish and not being nice didn't pay off.

"Okay, Class. Today I have some very sad news for you all," said the teacher very sadly.

The class suddenly grew silent.

"I have news that my mother has just died of cancer," he said softly.

People began whispering until Helga shushed them.

"What kind of cancer did she have?" Some asked outloud.

"Cancer in her liver." He sighed. "I guess it was her time to pass..." Tears dwelled in his eyes.

Chills ran down Helga's spine. She despised hearing about death or even thinking about it. It scared her too much. She remembered how scared she was when she thought she was dying of Monkey-Nucleousus. Death was evil.

***

Helga sat in the cafeteria with a blank stare on her face. Mindlessly fidling with her tapioca pudding.

"Helga, are you alright?" asked Sid. He put his tray down next to her.

"Oh? Huh? Yeah...I'm alright...thanks for asking," she smiled.

Sid blushed and smiled. "Good...just don't get all zoned out." He walked away.

Helga gave a small sigh. Sid was always doing that to her. Just because she was so nice to him; giving him her extra candy and lending him money that he still didn't pay back.

Helga looked around while her friends chatted away. Suddenly her eyes widened to see Arnold with Lila. He had fell so badly to feed her.

Helga shook her head and focused on her food again.

Suddenly a pain hit her stomache. She held her breath. Lately (actually for a couple of months), her stomach had been hurting like that a lot. But after a while it went away.

"Helga, are you having those stomach pains again?" Pheobe asked curiously.

"Yeah...but don't worry, I'm okay now," she slightly groaned.

"Maybe you should check it out with a doctor..."

"No, no...really. I'm fine," said Helga forcing a smile on her face.

Pheobe nodded slowly. "If you say so, Helga."

***

"Arnold, you have ketchup on your chin. Here, let me clean it up for you," said Lila. She licked a handkercheif and dabbed his chin.

"Eugh, Lila! Please, not in front of everyone!" Arnold groaned. They were in the parking lot at the busy time in the day. After school.

"Hold still, dear!" She demanded in her "sweet" voice. "I need to fix your hair a bit..."

Arnold groaned some more as Lila spritzed water on his hair and made it neat.

"There. Now you're perfect," she kissed his cheek.

"Now can we get in the car?" He asked irritably.

"Oh! Sorry, I forgot to say that I'm going to a baby-sitting job down the street, so I won't be needing a ride. But thanks anyway, dearest!" She smiled and kissed his forehead and walked away.

"Bye," he said softly. Before getting into his car, he looked around. "Hey Helga!" He shouted, waving his hand. "Want a ride?"

Helga walked over to him and his car.

"So, Helga...want a ride?" He smiled.

Helga looked at his beaten up car. "Does this thing even give rides?"

"This baby runs smoothly." He grinned. "Come on and ride the magic charriot."

Helga laughed. "What about Lila?" She asked mockingly.

"She has some dumb baby-sitting job..." he said softly.

"What about Gerald?"

"His brother lent him the car. Now hurry and get in before we get caught in traffic."

Helga walked around the car and got in. "So, after five months she still gives you no kiss?"

Arnold sighed. "Yeah, she wants to take it 'slowly'." He drove out of the parkinglot.

Helga chuckled. "How slow can you get?"

"Not much slower than that. But I must say, she still gives me butterflies..."

"Are you sure it's not nausea?" Helga laughed. Arnold chuckled along with her.

Arnold turned on the radio and bobbed his head to the beat.

"Why are you still with Lila anyway?"

Arnold shrugged. "I don't know...I guess because she's sweet and smart..."

"She acts like your mother.." said Helga. Suddenly her hand clasped over her mouth. "Oops, I'm sorry...I meant that...well..."

"I know what you mean," chuckled Arnold. "You don't need to say sorry. You're right...she's always treating me like a kid. But I guess I got used to it."

Helga nodded. She glanced at him and began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Arnold asked, looking at her every now and then.

"Your hair." She tried to hold it in. "Lila's idea of neat and nice is totally bad."

Arnold rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. I guess."

"You're full of 'i guesses' while talking about Lila."

"Yeah, so?"

"So, I think you should break up with her."

"Come on. Really."

"Really?"

"Yes. Really."

"I'll think about it," he said under his breath, stopping in front of Helga's house.

"Bye," she said, messing up his hair and getting out of the car.

Arnold waved and watched her get in the door.

Oh my love, thought Helga, I do wish that you'll do away with Lila and realize that you belong with me...

She leaned against the door and sighed.

"Helga, dear, is that you?" Mariam called.