Helga followed Arnold down a stairway through a dark hall that led to a hidden room.

Arnold opened the door with a key Rhonda had provided him and led Helga inside, while he locked the door behind them.

The room was dark but once he turned the lights on, the room was enormous full with white roses, a living room and a king size bed. Arnold gulped , he was very nervous to have led Helga to a room with a king size bed. What will Helga think of me? Thought Arnold he was expecting a small VIP room without a bed.

He was still standing at the entrance of the room very nervous...

"Okay Arnoldo why are we here?"

Helga was looking at him with a very sexy figure, the black sparkling dress she was wearing wrap her slender curves very nicely.

Helga was upset by the fact that he had led her to a hidden room with a bed.

Arnold was feeling very anxious of being alone with Helga in such a fancy room. At the same time, he was admiring her beauty.

"Earth to Arnold can you stop looking at me like that!"

Arnold woke from his trance.
"Hugh. I'm sorry what did you say?"

"Grrrrr... look Football head if you're not going to say anything I'm leaving."

As Helga pushed Arnold out of the way, she tried to open the door and it was locked, she needed the key.

"Arnold! What are you playing at?"

Helga rushes to Arnold
"Give me the key?!" She Shouted while she began to search him.

"Helga wait... I'm very ticklish!" He laughed

She kept searching Arnold, touching and feeling his shirt and pants pockets.

"Helga wait!" shouted Arnold laughing as they fell on the bed. Helga was on top of him searching till she found the key, but Arnold held her arm tight and use his leg to turned Helga around landing on her instead.

"Let me go Arnold!" Shouted Helga

"I can't, not yet...give me the key Helga!"

Helga was quite strong, making Arnold sweat even more.
By the time Arnold was able to snatch the key from her hand, he was holding Helga down pressing both of her arms against the bed. Staring at each other breathing heavily, without thinking Arnold kissed her...

It started soft and sweet but as their kiss started to get more passionate, Arnold felt heated up all over his body and stood up quickly.
"Wait... I can't.....I mean."

Arnold disoriented walked over to the sofa and sat there, trying to catch his breath and think things through.

Helga sat on the bed quiet trying to comprehend what had happened.

Even to Helga their kiss was so intense.
It was clear to her that once Arnold kissed her, she would lose control over herself.

Arnold was seating on the sofa breathless with his face facing the ceiling and his eyes shut.

"This is not me...you're making me do things I never imagined...and I'm doing all of this just so that I can have the chance to talk to you, because I don't want to lose you." Said Arnold, then he stood up and look at Helga straight in the eyes and said " I love you Helga."

Helga exhaled slowly, looking at Arnold.
For so long she waited for Arnold to say those words and now that he finally said it, she couldn't believe it. Helga was ready to give him her heart, to her precious Arnold for so long and now that she had the chance she couldn't, something was holding her back.... could it be the memory of a boy or was it something else? There was no doubt in her heart that she loved Arnold, but was it enough... her mind was spinning she was confused and felt torn apart by two different feelings, one for Arnold and one for Andrew.

"Arnold, I loved you for the longest time, but...some things change in my heart. When I saw the text with the photo I thought you were playing with my feelings and then when Linda said about you stalking her and begging her for the photo..."

"She was lying!" shouted Arnold

"I know, because.... Andrew told me, he explained everything about Linda and he even spoke highly of you."

Arnold was just looking down, serious with a guilty conscience.

Helga stared at Arnold and knew he was hiding something. "You don't look surprised by what I just told you."

Arnold looked the other way passing his hand through his hair.

"I kind of knew Andrew had told you that."

"You knew! Explained yourself!" Shouted Helga.

"Yesterday after detention I was waiting for Andrew to confront him, to stop talking to you....and" Arnold pause.

"And what!" Helga raised her voice

"I punched him..." Arnold knew Helga will scream at him because of it, but she had to know the truth.

"YOU WHAT!! how could you Arnold?!"

Helga was upset and disappointed at the same time. Arnold run to Helga while she was seating in the bed and held her hand kneeling down.

"Helga please forgive me, I know it was wrong and I'm so sorry for it... it's just that first he was there to so called rescue you, then he gave you a teddy bear, I tried to talk to you between classes and he was always on the way, then during lunch he kissed you on your cheek and...I couldn't stand it...during detention he was also texting you, I know he was. I was insanely jealous, just the thought of you being his girl made my blood boil... believe me Helga all this is new to me, I have never felt so much rage over a guy being around you."

Helga was very upset but could understand jealousy, she did so many bad things over the past years every time Arnold was out with a girl, she could understand the rage of seeing the one you love with someone else. But still she was disappointed, she knew how bad she was, but Arnold her beloved, gentle, sweet, innocent Football head had turned in a green monster over her.

Helga breath slowly trying to calm down.

"Did Andrew punched you back?" She asked

"Yes, he did." Answer Arnold looking serious.

"Good you deserved it.... okay Arnoldo since, were here and you wanted to talk to me so badly, you better tell me everything and I mean everything."

Arnold took a deep breath.
"I don't know what change in me during the summer, I was suddenly thinking a lot about you, about all our encounters. Then when you met him that first day and I saw you walking in to class with him I knew he meant trouble.
Then when you wear mugged I was so disappointed at myself that he was there to rescue you and not me. That night I had a feeling Andrew was going to wait for you after practice and I was worried about you, I didn't trust him. After that he started to get closer to you, giving you gifts and flowers."

Helga's eyes widened.
"Wait what!!.... you were there that night at my performance, weren't you?!" Yelled Helga frustrated.

Arnold still kneeling could not look at Helga in the eyes and said. "Yes, I was"

Helga was angry and breathe in deep.
"I KNEW IT! I had a feeling you were there.... ARNOLD...WHY!??!"

"You did? I mean... l'm sorry Helga, I saw your solo dance invitation that day when you dropped your papers and I just had to see you...You're a wonderful, beautiful, talented dancer and I never knew. That night when you dance I was mesmerized, your dance revealed a side of you I have never seen... you were more beautiful and special than I knew. I just had to record it."

"WHAT!!!!" Shouted Helga "You have to delete it!"

Arnold nodded and smiled
"Over my dead body, I watched that video every night, seeing you dance you look so delicate, so beautiful, so free brings me such peace and joy."

Arnold looked so sincere by everything he was saying, instead of Helga being upset she was just stunned listening to all the beautiful things Arnold was saying about her.

Arnold stood up and sat next to Helga.
"I don't know why you invited Andrew and not me to your dance solo, I felt so bad after your performance I wanted to hug you and kiss you." Arnold looked sad "but I couldn't because I was not supposed to be there, but he was."

Helga felt bad for Arnold she could feel his pain and sadness as he was telling the story.

"Arnold, the reason why Andrew was there was because he saw my dance invitation by mistake and he asked me about it. On the other hand, when you saw it, you didn't tell me instead you hid the paper... why?"

Arnold felt so stupid and ignorant.

Man, I should have asked her about the invitation. He thought.
"I was afraid you were going to yelled at me to stay out of your business."

Helga raised her eye brow looking at Arnold.

"You don't know that...Andrew took a chance to ask me about it and I end up inviting him because of his little sister that loves ballet, that was the only reason why he was there."

Arnold nodded in shame of himself.
"I didn't know that... I guess I been a real jerk."

Helga couldn't imagine not in a million years, that Arnold the perfect golden boy referring to himself as a real jerk.

"Okay Arnoldo...you and me both have made mistakes. I'm guilty of not believing you that night at the movies when I saw the text.... you told me the truth and I didn't listen. I should have believed you and I'm sorry about that."

Arnold looked down, "I have more to confess. The other day at the cafeteria I told Andrew to stay away from you and.....I grabbed him by the collar while I told him that." Said Arnold shamefully.

"I can't believe you! so that's the real reason why you got aggressive with him that day!!" Helga was trying to control her temper. "And I even ask Andrew about it, the other day at his house and..."

Arnold eyes widened by what he had heard.
"What do you mean, his house!?!? You were at his house Helga!?!?" Yelled Arnold while he grabbed her shoulders.

Crap you said to much Helga she thought to herself.

"If you must know Arnoldo it was this past Sunday night when I ran from you and my knee was bleeding because I had fallen, when Andrew found me he took me to his house so that I could clean my knee cut."

Arnold was staring at Helga closely still holding her shoulder.

"What?" Asked Helga
"You're not telling me everything!!!" Said Arnold concern.
"Crimity!! What are you taking about, I just told you I clean my cut and afterwards he took me to Phoebe's house."

Arnold was still staring at Helga, looking deep in to her eyes.

"Arnold quit it, you're making me nervous!!!" Yelled Helga.

"Helga...what else happen? I can see it in your eyes." Asked Arnold, he knew Helga too well to know she was hiding something.

"Nothing Football head" she turned red.

"Helga...tell me!!"insisted Arnold still looking at her.

Helga gasp... she took a deep breath and said it really fast. "Okay if you must know, I was in his room and he had to take a quick shower before he could take me to Phoebe's he forgot to take some clothing so he came back to the room for it, dripping wet with only a towel wrapped on his waist. Is that what you needed to know! Are you happy now!! Shish!"

Arnold stood up, turned around and put his hands on his head.

"Son of a bitch!" Yelled Arnold extremely mad.

Helga was in shock, she had never seen Arnold so upset about someone much less cursing.

Then Arnold turned to face her again.
"Tells me, he didn't change in front of you!?"

By now Helga was afraid to say anything.
"Ah...no of course not...he changed somewhere else I was in his room for only 10 minutes, then we left."

Arnold was staring at Helga again.
"He didn't try to disrespect you?" Asked Arnold
"No of course not" Replied Helga worried.

Arnold was quiet looking at her.

"Mmmm..Okay... I'm glad I punched him then." said Arnold as his shoulders relax.

"Anyways...Like I was saying, Andrew never mention you had told him to stay away from me, and I asked him several times."
Said Helga once she saw Arnold calmer.

"Maybe he didn't want you to know that I cared for you and that I loved you." Said Arnold with a low tone.

"You told Andrew you loved me?!?!" Asked Helga very surprised.

Arnold thought for a second.
"Yes, I did. Anyways, it's my fault I could have told you I loved you a long time ago." Said Arnold while seating next to her on the bed.

"I had lots of opportunities to express my feelings for you since FTi....I just let time passed...it wasn't fair for you to just wait on me to tell you my feelings....and that kiss at FTi truly left me lightheaded, I loved it. Actually, I loved all the times you kissed me, that's why I never complained to you about it."

Helga's eyes got watery, all this time Arnold remember FTI and all the times Helga had kissed him and he loved her.

"Here, take this." Said Helga while she took off the locket necklace hidden underneath her dress.

Arnold looked at the locket and said.
"The locket my grandpa found long ago... why do you have it." Hi eyes widened
"Wait...Helga this is yours!?"

She was just looking down at the locket with tears running from her eyes. "Yes, it's mine" said Helga while looking at Arnold's eyes.

He was stunned looking straight at her, his heart was beating strongly for the girl he loved.

"I had this locket for the longest time, dreaming of you in every corner of the school, in every alley, wishing for the impossible, till now. Take it Arnold" Said Helga while putting the locket in his hands... "I'm the one that needs time now." Said Helga.

Arnold couldn't understand.
"Helga, what do you mean!?"

"I love you Arnold and when we're together there's a passionate attraction between us...but I need to find myself again. I feel like I been lost in a feeling for the longest time that I forgot what it feels like to be free... I also need to settle somethings with Andrew."

Arnold didn't want to let her go.
"Helga do you Like Andrew?" Asked Arnold worried.

"You know me so well, I believe you know the answer to that." Replied Helga smiling.

"Helga but..."
She cut him off by putting her finger on his lips.

"Do you love me Arnold?" Asked Helga
"You know I do" Replied Arnold
"Then let me go, so that I can come back to you."

"What if you don't" Said Arnold

"I guess we're just going to have to figure it out. Till then keep my locket, it's still mine I'm just letting you take care of it, till I ask for it again."

Arnold eyes were watery, it hurt him more than anything to heard Helga say those words to him. He thought their one night alone to talk things through would end up differently, he was hopping for Helga to become his girlfriend, but that would have to wait.

Arnold grabbed the locket necklace and put it on himself, "at least I'll have something of you."

"You have my heart Arnold." Said Helga while grabbing his chin.

" I may have to change the photo." Said Arnold looking at the locket with sadness. "How do you open it?" She showed him how.

"Which photo do you have in mind?" Asked Helga.

"The one that Phoebe took of us at the restaurant" Replied Arnold with a smile.
"Perfect" Said Helga while standing up from the bed.

"Helga, how long will this take?"
"Not nearly as much as I had to wait." Said Helga smiling. "Don't worry Football head hopefully it will be soon. Till then can I ask a favor of you?"

"Anything" Replied Arnold

"well two favors... don't hit Andrew again and....please...oh I hate to say this, no more surprise kisses from you, I want my lips to find yours again."

Arnold took a deep breath..."I can't promise the kiss."

"Please try Football head for me."

Arnold grabbed her hand and held it tight.
"Okay, but...I want you to invite me to all your dance recitals, to call me whenever you just want to talk, it doesn't matter the time and to call me if you ever need anything it doesn't matter what it is or when it is and....."

"Shish Arnoldo you ask for a lot" Said Helga smiling while rolling her eyes.

Arnold smiled "not as much as you're asking from me, now like I was saying, and.... you owe me a movie that we couldn't watch this past Sunday...only us two"

Helga laughed
"Deal!" confirm Helga while she hugged Arnold. Arnold treasured her hugged like a diamond in his heart. Helga breathe him in, feeling Arnold close to her she almost wanted to back up from everything she just had said and shower him with kissed.... but she knew something was missing in her heart, something was no right.

She wanted to find the real Helga G Pataki and feel worth it again, because of her. Not because Arnold loved her or because Andrew made her feel special, but because like once she said I'm a pretty amazing person she wanted to find that girl again.

Then Helga walked to the door and Arnold pulled the key from his pocket and unlocked it. While Helga open the door, she kissed Arnold on his cheek and whispered to his ear " I love you Football head." As she walked away.

Notes:
Art created by Rei-Hikaru from DeviantArt