Ignoring Part 7 End

"Gimme your money, girly!"

Helga's eyes widened as she came to see that her attacker was an older teenager, a mugger even. Little did she know, it was the same punk who had stolen Arnold's bus card all those months ago. She struggled to escape, uttering grunts of protest, but it did nothing.

"Hey! You deaf or somethin'? Give me my money!" The punk snarled, grabbing the collar of her shirt. "I ain't afraid of hittin' girls, ya know."

"J-Just let me go, I have nothing on me." Was all Helga could say. She had lost all the will and strength she had, which was pathetic, and she hated herself for it. She tried hard to muster strength, but had no success.

"Ha! That's what they always say!" Laughed the punk. "I'll take it by force if I gotta!"

Helga whimpered as the teen tightened his hold, and immediately his fist struck with her cheek, a pained whimper coming from her. He just laughed and threw her to the ground, where she fell up against a few trash cans.

"What's wrong, girly? You ain't so tough, are ya? I figured as much! Hahaha! Weakling!" The punk laughed, kicking her in the side, and laughed harder when she cried out in pain.

Crying by now, Helga hugged herself and curled into a ball, shutting her eyes tightly. There was nothing she could do now. All she could do was wait for it to be over.

It's my fault. I did this to myself...

"Hey! You leave her alone." Came a voice. A familiar voice.

That...angelic voice...

"Or what, kid? What are you gonna-...YOU again? Hey, you stupid punk, how dare you show your face to me! After what you did! 'Cause of you I couldn't get on the stupid bus!"

"Don't change the subject. You leave her alone! Didn't your parents teach you that it's not right to hit girls?"

"Oh yeah? Well you ain't gonna stop me, kid! You're nothing but a big-headed little puss-"

Helga opened her eyes as she heard the sounds of punching, shoves, but the rain almost made it hard for her to see. She blinked, and now saw the teen running away, while Arnold...yes, Arnold, stood there, panting a bit, and then turning to face her. He picked up the umbrella he had discarded, and went over to her, holding it over her.

"Helga...Helga? Are you all right?"

Shaking a little, she sat up, looking at him, and then away at the ground. He's talking to me...how does he do this, making me so mad and weak, I try to just forget him but he comes RIGHT BACK! There was so much she wanted to do now, but the only thing she could do was a mistake.

"Oh sure, NOW you're talking to me! Oh yeah, you ignore me all this time and then pick a perfect moment to talk to me, just so you can play hero and have me rub your inflated ego. Well FORGET IT! I won't fall into that you stupid little...stupid head! Get away from me now! I hate you! HATE YOU!" You sweet angel, you saved my life, and yet I yell like the ungrateful meat head that I am...

But Arnold didn't falter. If anything, he looked ashamed, but stood his ground. "Helga...I'm sorry. Come on, get up. I'll take you home."

"I said GO AWAY! Didn't you hear me? I don't want you near me! You made your choice, you little freak! You want nothing to do with me! I was JUST FINE with you ignoring me, you know! In fact it was so much better, I could swear I was in heaven!"

"That won't work." Now Arnold was glaring, and BOY those glaring green eyes struck her, and were even almost intimidating. "I know it hurt you when I ignored you. ...And for that, I'm really sorry." He softened then.

Helga was about to yell again, but just couldn't do it then. He was sincerely sorry, and she knew very well that Arnold was human. He made mistakes, even selfish and stupid ones, like anyone else would. He wasn't perfect (though to her he was pretty darn close) in the least. It hurt, and he owned up to what he did, and was sorry for it.

"I wanted you to know that, Helga. I thought that ignoring you, more than I usually would...yeah, it was just stupid. But I never meant to hurt you. I didn't think it would. But now that I think of it, I can see why. Helga...I'm really, really sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me, and that's okay. I just want you to know that what I did was stupid, and I made a mistake. I'm sorry." Arnold went on, before she could say anything.

Bless his heart... Here I am, having tortured him so much...and yet HE apologizes for having hurt ME. How does he do this? Why? Oh...why must he be so wonderful? Why? Helga didn't know what to do or what to say, even more so than before.

"Walk me home."

"Huh?" Arnold blinked, having not expected her to say anything.

"Well doi, I said walk me home. Let's face it, I know you Arnold, you're not gonna let me go home by myself after that incident. So of course you're going to pull the gentleman role and walk me home. So just do it, get it over with." Helga crossed her arms, trying to stare him down.

Arnold blinked again, but then gave a smile, which honestly surprised her. How he was able to actually get a joy in doing something nice for her of all people was a mystery. Especially when he would offer to walk her home. There always seemed to be a spark of some kind of happiness whenever she'd accept and he would walk her home.

Maybe...he just enjoyed the moments where they could actually go five minutes without bickering? Mostly from her end? Did he really?

Helga thought about that as the shorter boy gave a nod and took her hand, and led her out of the alleyway and back out onto the sidewalk, his umbrella shielding them from the rain, despite that she was already pretty soaking wet.

Just like it was back on the day they had first met. She was already soaked, and yet Arnold didn't care. He had shielded her with his umbrella anyway, because he knew it would cheer her up, to show he cared and wanted to help her through her misfortune.

He was doing the same now.

Arnold...the things you do... I love you so much, it means more than any mistake you make...because hey, you're only human.

XXX

The walk to her house seemed to end all too soon. Because it wasn't long before they were standing in front of her stoop, not saying a word, with the heavy silence all around them, raining down on them much like the rain itself.

Helga cleared her throat, and reluctantly let go of his hand. She had barely even noticed that they were holding hands during the entire walk home. Kind of like back when he had accidentally beaned her, and then the day after, when she was keeping up the facade, they'd held hands more than she could have imagined!

Despite what had happened, feeling down and hurt about him having ignored her more than he usually did, which back then was mere brush offs and trying not to let her insults and teasing get to him more than anything. The ignoring was extreme. It not only made her realize how much it hurt to have her beloved ignore her completely as if she didn't exist, but also, it reminded her how much of an idiot she was. If she had treated him better...

"Well, um...you know, thanks...for helping me out back there, and walking me home, and stuff." Helga said nervously, rubbing her arm.

"You're welcome." Arnold gave a little smile. "Guess I'll, get going..."

She was about to agree, but another thought came to her. Bob nor Miriam were home right now, and it seemed too soon to let this go as if it were nothing. So much had happened, it actually inspired her to...prolong it. Sure, she sometimes would subtly prolong their time together to be with him longer, but this was pretty different.

And frankly, no one was around, no one would care, and no one would have to know. Besides, Arnold would think she was simply just returning the favour, nothing more, nothing less.

It was almost too perfect.

"Wait a second. ...You know, it's kind of cool out with all this rain. Come on inside, Bob and Miriam aren't around and won't be for a while. I'll give you hot chocolate or something. You know, so we'll be even."

"Um...well, are you sure?"

"I just offered, didn't I? Now come on. I won't take no for an answer."

Arnold chuckled and smiled at her, nodding. "All right then. Whatever you say, Helga."

"Darn right, Football Head, whatever I say." Helga gave a smirk, that was more playful than mocking, and ascended the steps of her stoop, taking her house key and unlocking the door. She went inside, motioning for him to follow, and he did.

Once inside the dry sanctity of her home, Helga shut the door and exhaled the breath she had not realized she was holding. Arnold shook his umbrella dry, and placed it in the umbrella stand next to the door. She went into the kitchen, going to make some hot chocolate. She heard Arnold silently following after her, probably with the intention to help her out.

The angel... She thought, hiding a smile. "And I suppose you want to help me?"

"Yeah, well, you know." Arnold rubbed the back of his neck, blushing a bit. "If that's okay."

"Eh, what the heck. You can get the mugs and mini marshmallows. Mugs are over in that cupboard, marshmallows are in the one next to it on the left."

"All right Helga, I'll get them."

As he did so, she went over to get the tea kettle, which filled with water, and placed it on the stove. She then took two packets of hot chocolate powder, just in time as Arnold placed two mugs on the counter for her. Helga mumbled a thank-you and then poured the powder into each mug.

"Seriously Arnold, how the heck do you do it?"

"Do what, Helga?" Arnold asked, genuinely curious.

"Admit and even apologize for your goof ups. I mean, don't you have any pride at all?" Helga turned to him then, raising one side of her eyebrow.

"Helga... Admitting you made a mistake and apologizing for it, doesn't make you weak or harm your pride. Saying you're sorry doesn't mean you're admitting the other person is right and you're wrong."

"Please, it's not that simple."

"I never said it was. But what I'm trying to say is, admitting you made a mistake and apologizing to someone you hurt, is a really brave and strong thing to do. People always say it makes you weak and look stupid, but it doesn't. If anything, it makes you stronger. Being brave...doesn't mean always fighting off bad guys and being able to punch your way out of trouble, it means facing everything. Life, your emotions, things you're afraid of, things you want to accomplish, things you want to overcome."

Darn it, how does he ALWAYS know the right thing to say? Why does everything he say make such perfect sense? Why do I question the way I go about things when I listen to this little philosophical freak? ...This lovable, sweet, adorable, kind, generous, polite and wondrous philosophical freak...

Helga just sighed, shaking her head. "You make some good points. But you haven't seen anything yet, Arnoldo. You can choose to hurt your pride and admit the other person is right, even when they are, but you do not let your pride be smashed. Face it. Nice guys finish last."

The kettle was hissing and whistling loudly by now, so she turned to the stove to turn it off, then take it to pour into the mugs.

"Well...maybe sometimes, good guys would rather finish last, and think for themselves."

"Heh, you freak." Was all she said before handing him one of the mugs. "C'mon, we can go watch TV or something and drink this stuff."

Arnold nodded, and followed her into the living room, where they sat down on the couch to drink their hot chocolate, and Helga took the remote, turning on the TV.

"Oh for crying out loud, do they HAVE to show this kind of thing?" Helga moaned, shaking her head.

"What? It's just a celebrity's wedding."

"Exactly! The news broadcasts that garbage when it just...come on Arnold, think of it, a wedding is a moment where two people in love finally join together under the union of Holy Matrimony. But then you get this millionaire movie stars who just publicize the heck out of it! It's a private moment, shared with their friends and families! Hello? I don't want my wedding to be plastered on every magazine in America!" Okay, maybe in a way I do so that the world would know I love him and he's all mine...but still!

"...Well, I guess that's a good point." Arnold admitted. "I guess some people would rather keep it quiet. Nothing wrong with that."

"See? Even you agree with me! And that's saying something! Whatever, I'm changing the channel." Helga took the remote and changed the channel.

"Darling, just know that whatever happens, I will never leave you."

"Oh come on." She changed the channel again.

"No matter how your heart is grieving... If you keep on believing...the dream that you wish... will come true..."

Change.

"Someday my Prince will come..."

Change.

"I love you, okay? I love you! Will you just listen to me? I love you!"

Change.

"I'm so confused. I think I love her, and yet, I...I just don't know."

Change.

"Promise me you won't abandon me!"

"I won't."

Change.

"Duck Tales, whoo-hoo!"

"Okay, that's enough of that, nothing's on." Helga turned off the TV and went back to her hot chocolate, trying to will off her blush.

"Um, okay." Arnold shrugged, deciding to just roll with it as he took a sip of his hot chocolate. But then a thought came to his mind. "...Helga, what are we going to do, when we're back at school?"

"You're asking me? I figured I'd be asking you! Well doi, we gotta keep things on the low-brow."

"I know, but, it doesn't seem that simple. I know you hate me and all but-"

"...I don't hate you."

"I wanted to-...what?" Arnold looked at her in surprise.

"I said I don't hate you, okay?" Helga looked away, biting her lip. "I never hated you. I jut say I do because of...well, you know. Everything. I have to."

"Why? It's not good to lie."

"I know that, Arnoldo! But I have a reputation to uphold! Can't you understand that? If I show I like things and do nice things, I'll look weak and everyone will eat me alive and walk all over me! You ever see that Stephen King-based movie, The Langoliers?"

"I only read the short story once, actually."

"Either way. But you know the message Craig Toomy's father gives to him, that if he doesn't get his act together and work hard, ending up lazy and weak, laying down on the job...that the langoliers will eat him alive?"

"Yes...?"

"That's what I've got going. If I don't work hard, if I don't show people who's boss, and if I take lip from them, I'll lose my power and they'll be my langoliers."

"Helga, that isn't true."

"YES, it is, Football Head! Don't you understand? Classroom politics! I'm not like you! People expect you to be the nice guy, to go-to kid, the one who knows the answers, the kind one, the one with advice! Me? Everyone expects me to be the bully, the one ruling the class with an iron fist, the angry one who will step on anyone who gets in the way! If you did the opposite, or I did the opposite, it would kill us and everyone would eat us alive!"

"It...makes it sound like you let our classmates define who you are." Arnold said, placing his mug down. "But shouldn't you think for yourself?"

"Arnold, I just said I can't do that. I have to-"

"No one is making you do anything. And if they are, you're only letting them control you. You're giving them your power. Only you can control yourself. Giving someone your power is letting them walk all over you. You can yell and push them aside all you want, but that's because they expect it of you. You're expected to defend yourself and put up walls. It's as if you're letting them not allow you to be yourself. Helga...there's nothing wrong with being a nice person. Being nice doesn't mean you have to be someone like Lila, or even your sister. You can still stand up to people, be assertive, use your aggression when it's necessary. You can still be a good person, but not take lip from anyone."

Helga's eyes widened, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"And Helga, I know we...don't always get along, but when we do, I really enjoy it. It's part of why ignoring you was pretty much a bummer." Arnold looked away a bit. Not quite ready to admit the whole thing about Cecile either. "I do honestly, like you a lot. You know, when you feel you can be yourself and do as you please. You're a smart, passionate, articulate, pretty, talented and interesting girl Helga, it's a shame that you hide it under your hostility. Because you shouldn't have to. You should be free to express who you are. No matter what side of you it may be. And again Helga, I'm sorry I had to ignore you like that. It was a stupid mistake, and I can see it hurt you a lot. I never wanted to do that. If I had known it would hurt you, I would never have done that. I'm not blaming you for that, of course. I'm just saying that I need to pay more attention, since I can be pretty dense and oblivious sometimes."

More like all the time, my dense but loving little fool... Helga thought, and felt herself smile. He likes me! I know he's said it before, but now he said it to my face! He likes me!

"...Well Arnold...you gave me something to think about. And if you think you can handle it..." She smirked, playfully. "This could be the start of an...interesting friendship."

Arnold blinked, but smiled then. "Whatever you say, Helga."

And from that day forward, things were never the same between them ever again. To think it only took ignorance...to the extreme. But now, no more. Things could only go uphill.

...Or would it?

No one knew.

A lot of work was taken to get to this point. And even down the road, more work would be needed to keep things going.

Who knew what could happen in the course of a few days. Weeks. Months. Even years. Who knew.