Helga continue walking in to the pitch black street, knowing someone was following her, she kept looking at her phone, now without battery.

"Shit..I should have charge this stupid cell during practice." Helga looked back briefly to see if someone was following her. The dark shadows of the alleys didn't allowed her to see her surroundings much less someone that could have been following her.

"Crimity what can I do?" she asked herself fearful of what could happen.

"I can't believe this is happening to me!" She began walking faster and faster continuing to look back, suddenly someone grabbed her from behind and cover her mouth to quiet her.

She was dragged in to a dark alley, struggling with her attacker to break free. She kept trying to see their faces but she was too freighting to see clearly.

"Check and see if she has any money!" said the thug who had grabbed her.

Helga was being pin down, with his knee on her stomach and his hand his hand covering her mouth. The other man yelled, "She doesn't have any money!"

"In that case let's get something else from her" said the man laughing who was holding her down. He violently ripped her shirt apart exposing her pink bra...she manage to bite his hand and cried for help.

It was her most terrifying minutes of her life. Helga continued her plead for help when out of the shadows emerged a savior. It was Andrew rushing through the alley.

The thief swung a blow at Andrew but he was able to ducked quickly before being strike. Andrés then punched the man hard on his face and again on his stomach leaving the guy without air on the floor.

"HELGA I'M COMING!" Yelled Andrew as he saw the man who was holding Helga down.

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!"

Shouted Andrew grabbing the man by the collar and punching him twice on the face throwing his body against the brick wall.

The two cowards stood up and saw Andrew standing firmly with his two fists up ready to strike them again. The bandits looked at each each other and decided to take off running.

Once Andrew saw the bandits flee he exhaled in relief. He kneel down next to Helga trying to catch his breath "Helga! Are you hurt?!" he asked with his hands shaky and sore from the fight.

Helga couldn't believe what had just happened, she was laying on the floor shaken and disoriented. Before she could say something, she heard a screaming voice in rage.

"YOU BASTARD!" It was Arnold furious by the scene he was witnessing. Andrew stood up to explain what had happen when Arnold's fist connected to Andrew's jaw with force and fury throwing him hard against the dumpster.

"STOP ARNOLD!" yelled Helga standing up quickly, jumping in front of Arnold.

"He didn't do it! He saved me from the two man who tried to take advantage of me, Andrew fought them off!" Shouted Helga with fear in her eyes.

Arnold was stunned by what he had just heard. "My God Helga did they hurt you?! Do you need to go to the hospital?!" Asked Arnold with his voice breaking from the fear and anger of knowing what happen to her. He took off his red button shirt leaving his white tank shirt on and placed it on her shoulders to cover her, since her shirt was torn.

Arnold was trying to look strong on front of Helga but seeing her scratched and terrified broke his heart. He couldn't stop gazing at her with wet eyes.

"I'm...not badly hurt Football head, I'm just bruised and... " as Helga was trying to finish what she was saying, she felt her throat tightening and lightheaded.

Arnold wrapped his harms around Helga and pull her close to him. "Your shivering, here let me warm you..." Arnold felt his heart aching by seeing his beloved princes scare and fragile. In his mind what happened to Helga was his fault, he should have been there for her, walking beside her. At that moment he breathed her in and whisper in her ear "I will always protect you" Arnold knew there wasn't a safer place for Helga then being in his arms, he didn't want that exact moment in time to end.

Cough, cough...

"I'm sorry for interrupting but we can't stay here" Suggested Andrew.

Arnold turned to face Andrew "Ugh, Andrew let me thank you for everything you have done for Helga and...please forgive me about hitting you and calling you well...bastard, for a moment I thought..."

"Don't worry Arnold I understand, I would have done the same thing in your position but don't thank me...I did it for her"' Andrew walked towards Helga looking at her with gentle eyes and asked "Do you want me to walk you home Helga?"

Arnold stepped in between them "I'll take her home and like I said, thanks for saving her" He thank him with a suspicious look. "What were you doing in this area anyways?"

Andrew smiled surprised by the question.

"I was hanging out with some friends over by the burger place when I saw Helga walked by and...I noticed two guys following her... I thought something was not right and decided to follow them from a distance."

"I'm so glad you decided to stalk me today Andrew, I owe you" said Helga still very shaky.

"Don't mention it you owe me nothing, well I'll be seeing you Helga sleep well...and Arnold make sure to take her home safe." Said Andrew as he walked away.

Arnold was still curious about Andrew being in the right place at the right time, but he decided to focus on Helga who was still very shaken and afraid after the horrible incident.

As Arnold and Helga were walking home he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Why weren't you picked up by your parents?"

She rolled her eyes in disappointment "Because they care shit about me, it's always been that way"

Arnold tried not get in to details about that since it wasn't the right time to talk to her about her parent's problems. As they were getting closer to Helga's house, Helga started to look pale and dizzy. Arnold begging to worried.

"Helga I don't think we can make it to your house... the border house is closer, let's make a quick stop at my place so you can lay down and rest a little."

Helga didn't respond. Arnold could feel her body weakening. As they arrived at the board house Helga fainted in his arms.. "Helga!"

Arnold felt like he was losing her. He manage to carry her up to his room and lay her down on his bed and put pillows under her legs.

He quickly ran to the kitchen to find juice and returned to his room in a flash. He begging tapping Helga's shoulder trying to make her responde. "Helga wake up! wake up, I can't lose you, Helga! Please wake up!...I, love you!"

After a few seconds Helga open her eyes.

"Helga can you heard me, Helga!"

"Football head" She sounded fragile.

"Quick Helga drink this juice!"

After Helga drank the juice she lay down again to rest.

"Your blood pressure dropped, try to relax Helga your safe!"

Arnold was patiently waiting for Helga to recuperate while his mind pounder a hundred questions at a time. Why was she walking alone after dark in the first place, why her parents didn't care about their daughter well-being and why, Andrew just happened to be around when Helga was mugged.

"Where am I?" Asked Helga after recovering.

"You're in my room Helga" Said Arnold.

"I'm where!" Helga was about to jump off the bed when Arnold held her down.

"No Helga stay down you might faint again!"

Helga couldn't believe where she was and Arnold was seating on the edge of the bed watching over her, she almost couldn't take it being in his room, on his bed. She was terrified of being alone with Arnold in his room. However she still manage to stay calm.

"Why am I here Football head? We were walking home" Said Helga with a weak voice trying to remember what had happen.

"You fainted and I had to bring you here since it's closer than your house, I carry you in...when did you last ate Helga?"

She was trying to remember. "Since noon, I was supposed to eat before volleyball practice but I forgot to bring money..."

Arnold stared at her in concern. "No wonder you fainted, not to mention what you when through today... If you ever need money for lunch or anything please let me know." He said while holding her hand.

Helga was just seating on the bed, quiet and remembering everything that happen to her. She has always been very proud of herself and has always known she is Helga G Pataki, she could do it all, on the other hand being pin down and having her shirt torn, feeling helpless was unacceptable in her mind, to her she had lost a battle, when in reality she had survived and that, was a victory.

Helga closed her eyes remembering the panic she felt in that alley, tears begging rolling down her cheeks, her lips were trembling she had no control over it, she was crying.

Arnold saw Helga sobbing feeling helpless, his heart ache with every tear she shed, he just couldn't believe Helga Pataki the girl who always shown so much strength could look so vulnerable and hurt.

His heart couldn't stand seeing her cry.

"Helga, please speak to me, let me help you?" begged Arnold with his voice breaking from the torment of seeing the girl he loved in so much pain.

Helga was sobbing in silence, she could not explain how she felt, her only release at that moment were tears.

Arnold wrapped his arms around her with such embraced, his eyes begging to water feeling her suffering and he was determine, to comfort her till she felt better again.

A couple of hours passed and Helga woke to find herself still embraced by Arnold's arms, she realize they had both fallen asleep seating on the bed leaning against one another. Helga was in paradise, she was still wearing his red button shirt. I'm in his room, on his bed, in his arms, there's both better then this...wait a minute what time is it? She thought.

Omg! She panic. "Arnold, Arnold, wake up!"

"Mmm... my treasure..." Arnold mumbled.

"Arnold wake up!" Helga moved Arnold harder..

"Ah What? What is it?" He asked still half sleep.

"We fell asleep, I have to go home, I hope my parents didn't notice I wasn't in my room."

Arnold got up and looked at his cell. He saw a text and a missed call from Gerald and 1:00am.

"I can't believe it, we slept for three hours" Said Arnold in amazement.

"This can't be happening, I need to go home!"Said Helga in shock

Arnold put on his shoes "Not alone your not... I'll go with you, we're going to have to leave through the ceiling window there's a fire escape ladder that can take us down."

Once they left the boarder house, they rushed to Helga's house and enter through Helga's room window that was un-locked.

"Send me a message when you get home Football head, I don't want your safety on my conscience."

"Sure what's your number?" Replied Arnold with a smile

"It's 912-888-1234 don't share it with anyone" Said Helga raising an eye brow.

"Are you kidding I'll guard it with my life!"

Arnold didn't want to leave her, but it was late and they had school tomorrow.

"I have to run, sleep well Helga, see you tomorrow"

Arnold was about to leave through the window when Helga thought about jumping in Arnold's arms and kiss him endlessly. Steady girl don't lose it. She thought.

"Arnold wait!" She shouted in a low voice.

Arnold turned to looked at her as she wrapped her harms around his neck and press her face on his chest. Arnold grabbed her waist and pulled her close to him feeling her warmth against his body. Helga was breathing his scent as she whispered to his ear "Thank you Football head for everything"

Arnold didn't want to release her, he look down at Helga and said "For you anything" with a smile.. Helga's heart melted, her eyes gazing at Arnold gave her in.

"Awww you better go Arnoldo before my parents hear something" She was trying to ignore her uncontrollable heart.

"Good night Helga" Said Arnold with a soft smile and dreamy look on his face as he when out the window and left.

Helga let her body fall on the bed, releasing her breath "Oh, Arnold my uncontrollable heart beats for your embrace and love, how can I continue to hold my feelings from my Romeo? Being wrapped in his arms and feeling safe by his touch made my girlhood trembler ."

Helga continued laying on her bed thinking about the way Andrew run to the alley to aid her. The way he looked so concerned and worried about her. He arrived just in time thinking how good he was with his fist. Helga continue thinking the encounters she had with Andrew and said to herself "Maybe I should be nicer to him".

At that moment Helga's cell vibrated, it was a text from Arnold.

-I'm home-

-Good I can sleep now Football head by the way, I'm still wearing your shirt 😒-

-Keep it, it looks better on you 😉-

That text left Helga breathless. Before she could recuperate another text arrived.

-Now get some rest you need it, by the way...I'll never see my bed the same way again☺️-

Helga read the last text feeling her heart jumping out her chest.

Author note:

Wow this chapter just kept going and going it's my longest chapter yet.

So who was the hero of the story? Andrew or Arnold ? Or both?