HEY ARNOLD!
FAN-FICTION STORY
By Megawacky Max

Original found at - http://megadimension.freeservers.com/fanficing_beatles03.htm

Part 3: Loud feelings

Arnold raises his view and stays in complete silence for a few minutes.

Arnold: (Slowly) fall... in love?

Helga: Yes, you know. You look at her and you think she is the most perfect human being on earth, and things like that.

Arnold: Now that you mention it ... yes, I did. So many times... But (turns his view to Helga), why are you asking me that?

Helga: Because ... I ... (silence) I think I'm in love with a boy I know. That's why.

Arnold: (Shocked) in love? Helga G. Pataki is in love? Woah! Now, that's a big scoop! Can I write it in the school's newspaper? (starts laughing)

Helga: (Ticked off) Hey! It's true! I've been in love with him since the second grade!

Arnold: (Stops laughing) Oh! I ...! (slowly) Sorry ... I didn’t want to hurt you.

Helga: (Calms down) it's ... OK. (Tears start to fill her eyes) but that boy doesn't know how much I love him.

Arnold: Didn't you ever talk to him?

Helga: Believe me, I've tried. I've always tried to tell him: "Hey, did you know I love you?". But it was useless.

Arnold: (After a long silence) I know how you feel, Helga. The same thing happened to me, once.

Helga: (In a small voice) Really?

Arnold: Yes! Really! It happened a long time ago. I was in love with a sixth-grade girl, but she had no idea about my feelings.

Helga: Yeah? Tell me about that, please.

Arnold: Alright, I'll tell you the whole story. I remember the first time I saw her ...

Flashback scene: One of the school's halls. Arnold and Gerald are walking to their class. They look one or two years younger. Then, Ruth walks near to Arnold, and he stops walking and looks at her with big eyes. Gerald stops too and looks to his friend.

Gerald: Hey, Arnold! What are you doing? Hurry up, we're gonna be late!

Arnold: (Amazed) Huh? ... Yeah... be late.

Gerald: Are you right?

Arnold: (Still amazed) Sure ... go ahead. I'll catch you later.

Gerald: If you say so ...

Gerald leaves the scene. Arnold starts following Ruth to the cafeteria. She sits down to lunch. Arnold is totally amazed.

Arnold: Woah ... she is ... she is ... She is the most beautiful thing I ever saw!

Arnold: (Narrating the flashback) In the moment I saw her, I though she must be mine. I can't explain it, but I couldn't think about anything else but HER. I started to daydream ... and wasn't paying much attention.

Arnold looks back to Ruth's seat, but she isn't there.

Arnold: (Surprised) What? Where did she go? I must know her name!

The bell rings.

Arnold: Oh, no! I'm late! I'd better hurry!

Arnold runs to his class. The flashback scene is over. Back to reality, Arnold sighs while Helga is paying attention to him.

Arnold: Since that day, I was in love with that girl ...

Helga: And you never tried to tell Ruth all what you loved her?

Arnold: Of course I tried! It's only that...

Arnold stops suddenly. He is shocked by something. Helga starts getting worried.

Helga: Arnold? Hey, are you OK?

Arnold turns slowly to Helga. She gets more worried by each moment. He rises to his feet.

Helga: Ar ... Arnold? Are you... feeling alright?

Arnold: (Shocked, as slowly as possible) Helga ... How did you know ... I was talking about Ruth?

Helga: (Totally worried) What do you mean?

Arnold: How did you KNOW I was talking about Ruth P. McDougal? Only Gerald knows what I felt about her!

Helga: (Surprised) Oops...

Arnold: Helga, is there anything you want to tell me?

Helga: (Worried) I ... I ... I ... actually ...

Arnold: (Serious) Helga ...

Helga: Arnold ... I ... I want to tell you ...

Arnold: (Impatient) Yes?

Helga: The guy who I'm in love with... is (gulps) you, Arnold, and nobody else.

Arnold is so shocked that he can't stay on his feet, so he sits down in the boat.

Arnold: (Shocked) Please ... repeat that, Helga. I think I didn't hear you correctly.

Helga: It's true, Arnold. It's a fact. I love you and that's all.

Arnold: (A bit less shocked) I don't understand it. You say you love me ... and also, you annoy me each day of my life. Why?

Helga: Well ... (she looks at him sadly.) Arnold, I'm not asking you to be my boyfriend. It's just that I can't keep it a secret anymore. The only thing I always was sure about, is this one: I love you, and nothing is going to change my mind.

Arnold is speechless. Just after a long and annoying moment, he decides to speak.

Arnold: (Serious) I ... I will think about it.

He starts rowing to the coast. On the way, Helga breaks the silence.

Helga: (With her head hung) you know, Arnold... I can't explain how much I love you. I've made a sculpture of you with your chewed chewing gums ... I ... I've got this ... (she shows Arnold her locket) ... this heart-shaped locket, with a photo of you in it!

Arnold: (Serious) Yeah ... it's nice ... I'm not even going to ask where you got the photo!

Helga notices Arnold is a bit angry.

Helga: Uhmm ... Arnold ... ?

Arnold: (Angry) What! ...

Helga: If you're mad with me and, well, if you don't want to talk to me for the rest of our lives ... Can you, at least, give me back my shoe?

Arnold: (Still angry) What shoe?

Helga: The shoe I had in our last date on Valentine's Day. Don't you remember?

Arnold stops rowing and feels like he's about to die.

Arnold: (Shocked) Oh, my ... no! No, you can't be...

Helga lets her hair down and shows him that she is ... Cecil.

Helga: Yes, Arnold. I was Cecil.

Arnold: (Shocked) it can't be possible! That means I had dinner with ... (almost jumping out of his skin) Helga Pataki!!

Helga: A very romantic dinner, I must say. Too bad the real Cecil showed up.

Arnold: (Starting to calm down) I can't believe it. You're really in love with me! I never thought that you ... well ...

Helga: You never thought I could love someone? Arnold, I'm a girl! You're my love since the beginning of time!

Arnold: Hey ... Helga. Is this book (he takes out the Little Pink Book from his pocket) yours?

Helga: (Smiles) Yup, it is, smart boy.

Arnold: (Sighs) I always carry it with me. I've always wanted to know WHO wrote it. (looks at Helga) Now I know it (Smiles).

Helga: It's a nice book. All my feelings about you are written there.

Arnold: May I ... ask you something?

Helga: Sure.

Arnold: Helga ... (slowly and shy) If I fell in love with you, would you promise to be true? 'Cause I've been in love before and I've found that love is more than just holding hands. So, would you love me for who I am?

A tear rolls over Helga's face.

Helga: (Happy) Oh, Arnold! Of course I'll love you!

Arnold: (Smiles) So, I guess, I love you too, Helga.

Helga: (Excited) Really?

Arnold: It could work. Who knows! Maybe we are the perfect couple. Only time will tell.

Helga: Oh, Arnold!

They hug each other. Phoebe and Gerald watch the show carefully from the coast. They're looking through a couple of binoculars.

Phoebe: Looks like the beginning of something really beautiful (stops watching).

Gerald: Something like that? Good for Arnold? (Looks at Phoebe.) Say... Do you want an ice cream?

Phoebe blushes.

Phoebe: Well ... If you want ...

Gerald: So, let's go! I'm pretty hungry!

Gerald and Phoebe leave the scene.

- End of part 3 -