Summer Camp

Well, they're finally officially "dating", and now they're on their
way back to Hillwood City. This is the chapter that changed the MOST out of all
of my chapters, so if you've read it before, please re-read it. It's not completely
different, but it is very different.

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SUMMER CAMP
Chapter 6: Hillwood City

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Helga breathed the city's air deeply, letting the familiar sights and sounds and smells fill her as she stepped out of the Packard. Arnold's grandfather, Phil, had agreed to pick the two teenagers up from the camp and bring them back to the city for their mini-vacation and drop the both of them back off their last day. Luckily, Hillwood City was only an hour drive away from the camp. Arnold smiled as he stepped up behind Helga, staring up at the tall red boarding house. He placed a hand on her shoulder and grinned at her.

"Seems like it's been forever since we've been home," he whispered.

Helga grinned at the boy and nodded. "It's only been six weeks, but it's felt like an eternity."

"It's good to have you back, Short Man," Grandpa said, giving the two teenagers a quick glance over. "Even if it is just going to be four days. By the way, Pookie made a huge lunch. Helga, you're more than welcome to join us."

Helga nodded at the older man and bit her lip when Arnold's hand found and linked hers. "I'd love to," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, but the pulsing blood rushing through her veins was not helping matters. All three stood back as Phil opened the door and about ten animals including cats, dogs and Abner the Pig rushed out, nearly taking out a small child on their trike. Helga laughed as Arnold pulled her into the elaborately decorated hallway. Streamers of white, light pink and light blue were hung from the ceiling. A giant ice sculpture of two swans with their necks entwined was standing in the middle of the hallway, no less than five fans around it, keeping it cool so that the ice wouldn't melt in the summer heat. Balloons filled the hallway, rice littered the floor, and a giant banner reading "Happy Engagement Party" hung from the doorway that led to the kitchen. From somewhere upstairs, both Arnold and Helga could hear a jazzy version of the Bride's wedding march being blasted.

Phil rolled his eyes and looked at the two teenagers. "She's been getting worse about remembering certain special occasions. When I told her that the two of you were going to be coming home from camp for the weekend, she insisted on decorating. We had everything set up for your welcoming home this morning, but I guess in the three hours I've been gone, she's changed the whole decor."

Helga stared up at the decorations in both fascination and horror. She wanted to know if there was something that Arnold's grandma knew that she didn't, and more importantly, when she and Arnold broke the news to his family that they were a couple, she didn't want them to assume that they had run off and gotten married. When she looked up at Arnold's expression, she was relieved to find the same mix of fascination and horror masking his features.

"Um, Grandpa," he began, clearing his throat. "Do you have any idea why Grandma chose this particular arrangement?" Helga elbowed him in the ribs gently and he slipped his hand out of hers. Phil shrugged and began to call for his wife as Arnold and Helga stood in the door frame, both staring at each other in confusion. "I had nothing to do with this, Helga," he whispered. "I didn't even let Grandma know we're a couple yet. I have no idea why she has engagement decorations up."

Helga pursed her lips and patted Arnold on the arm. "I believe you. You don't have to worry about that." She sighed lightly and turned toward the wonderful smells wafting in from the kitchen. "Besides, I know your grandma from personal experiences. She's, no offense, crazy."

Arnold chuckled, and slid his arm around Helga's shoulders. "I wholeheartedly agree. She's the one who will put Halloween decorations up for Easter, and Fourth of July decorations up for Thanksgiving. I'm just a bit confused as to why they already had everything decorated for our arrival and then she changed it."

"Oh! You're home!" Gertie called as she tangoed into the hallway, dressed in a very poofy, very ugly, bridesmaid dress and a bride's veil. Her veil traveled the length of the entire hall as she ran up to both Arnold and Helga and in turn, gave them each a tight hug, picking Arnold up a good foot off of the floor, despite the fact he stood nearly two heads above his grandma. When she released him, she stared at Helga for a few seconds, a wide grin plastered on her face. "Come my dear. So little time before the big day, so much to plan." Before Helga could blink, Grandma had grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her upstairs, despite her protests.

Arnold watched in stunned horror as Helga was dragged upstairs by his "frail" old grandma. "Helga," he whispered as the two women rounded a corner and then were gone. He quickly turned to see his Grandpa walking through the kitchen and called out. "Grandpa, where is Grandma taking her?"

Grandpa, who was holding a giant white frosted cake, shrugged and continued walking to put the cake down on the table. "Just let your grandma have some fun, Short Man. It's been a while since we've had someone like Helga in the house, and since she's your girlfriend and all, your grandma just wants her to feel like part of the family."

Arnold flushed dark red and bit his lip. "I never told you she was my girlfriend."

Grandpa smiled as Arnold walked into the kitchen. "It was pretty obvious, Short Man. Your grandma and I know Helga. We've always known Helga, ever since you two were little babies, we've known her. We've watched the two of you grow up together, and we've noticed that you two are quite fond of each other, despite the fact when she was younger, she tormented and teased you to no end. And then, when you wrote us your first week of being a counselor and told us that Helga was there and was being civil, we knew that the two of you would become close friends. And then, when we got a call from you asking for the both of you to be picked up from camp because you were both spending the weekend at home, well, we knew you were at least friends. And Arnold, you couldn't stop staring at her the entire car ride home, and don't think I've missed the secret little hand-holds and things like that."

Arnold stared at his grandfather in shock and sighed nervously. "Grandpa, I love her. I don't know when I started loving her, but every time I'm around her, my heart starts pounding and my palms sweat. And when I'm not around her, she's all I think about." He sighed, and sank into a kitchen chair, rubbing the sides of his head. "Helga's technically been my girlfriend for about a month now, Grandpa, but I've known her my whole life. She's tortured me, mocked me, insulted me, and injured me, but still, I love her. She's the most amazing, passionate, wonderful, inspiring person I've ever met."

Phil chuckled lightheartedly and set a hand on his grandson's shoulder. "That's the exact same thing your dad said when he first told me about your mom." He sighed softly and sat down across from the young man. "Arnold, I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I am going to tell you that your grandma and I are behind you one hundred percent in any decision you make. But let me just remind you that you've only been dating for about a month, and should you be thinking what I think you're thinking, give it some more time."

Arnold sighed and nodded, albeit a little sadly. "Grandpa, I know I'm still only nineteen, but I do love her, and the thought of being anywhere away from her for anything more than a couple hours at a time is nearly unbearable."

"I know, Short Man, but give it time. At least until the end of the summer. When you come back and you've been dating her for a little longer, then we'll bring this subject back up again. I approve, Short Man, I really do, and I want you to be happy, but let others get used to the idea. If I'm not mistaken, your friends are going to freak out when they find out you've been going out with your childhood bully. I should know. Mine did when your grandma and I started dating." He smiled when Arnold's eyes grew larger, and he quickly turned away from his grandson, digging for something in his pocket. "Like I said, I approve, but wait to give her this, okay?"

Arnold gasped in shock as Grandpa dropped an small gold ring into his palm. The three stone diamonds glistened under the lights of the kitchen, making the young man's eyes water. "I'll wait. Thank you, grandpa," he whispered, and pocketed the small ring, just in time for Grandma to appear in the doorway and start belting out the wedding hymn in a booming voice. Both Arnold and Grandpa looked up in surprise as the frail old woman came parading into the kitchen.

"Here comes the bride, all dressed in white," she sang at the top of her lungs. "Bah bum de da dum, de da dum de da!" She turned to look back at the door frame and frowned. "Don't be scared my dear, come on out."

"No!" Helga's voice rang clear as a bell and Arnold flinched. She was obviously peeved. Grandma gave her husband and grandson a fleeting look, rushed into the hallway and proceeded to push Helga, who was dressed head to toe in the most poofy, hideous, lacy white wedding dress from what looked like the thirties, complete with veil and wilting bouquet of flowers, back into the kitchen. Helga grunted in annoyance at being pushed and froze when Arnold stood up and hid a smile behind a hand. "She made me," she whispered, and pushed back the veil.

Arnold snickered. "No, you're right. It's definitely not you," he whispered, noticing that the frills and poofs extended around her and made her appear smaller than she really was. "Something a bit different would be better."

"Soup's on!" Grandma cried, ringing a large golden bell, snapping the two men out of the snickering trance. Helga yelped when she heard a mass rush of footsteps coming from the upstairs rooms and leapt into Arnold's arms as Ernie, Mr. Hyunn, Suzie and Oskar came running down, nearly trampling her. Arnold chuckled as she gripped his arms tightly and slid his hand onto her waist.

"I'm gonna go let Helga get into something a bit more comfortable to wear," he said, noticing that no one was paying any attention to him. He smiled at her, and led her up to his room, where their suitcases were waiting for them. He blinked in confusion, but assumed that Grandpa had put them up there without him knowing.

"Arnold," Helga began, and he could tell she was seething. "I am going to kill your grandma." She huffed and tried to step into his room, but Arnold quickly grabbed her and lifted her into his arms. He laughed as she squealed. "What are you doing, Football-Head? Put me down!"

"Is it a crime to want a beautiful bride to be carried over the threshold?" he asked and Helga went still in his arms, staring at him in disbelief. "You haven't called me Football-Head in a while, Helga. I was starting to think you loved me or something." He smiled as Helga rolled her eyes and a sappy grin replaced her disbelief. He chuckled and set the girl down on his bed, leaning over her. "Now, then. We need to somehow get you out of this dress and into something a bit more suitable for whatever meal my grandma has cooked up."

Helga smiled and slid her hands over his shoulders, clasping behind his neck. "It zips in the back," she whispered, pressing her mouth to his in a deep kiss. He groaned into the touch and slid his hands behind her back, unzipping the massive dress from her delicate skin. It fell like a feather, and pooled around her waist. Not breaking the kiss, she lifted her hips and he slid the gown around her and to the floor. "Arnold," she breathed as he traced little circles around her stomach, "they're still waiting for us."

He purred in her ear and gently pushed her down so that her head was resting on his pillow. "Let them wait," he whispered huskily, kissing her throat. He smiled to himself as she moaned at the touch. His hand grabbed onto her waist and he purred again, watching as goosebumps rose onto her flesh.

"Helga! Short Man! Are you two coming?" Grandpa's voice rang clear through the house and Arnold groaned.

"Be there in a second, Grandpa," he called back, willing away his excitement. He turned to Helga and frowned. "Guess they really are expecting us, darling," he whispered, his lips mere centimeters above her earlobe. He smiled when she shivered at the affectionate name and softly growled in the back of her throat. "Tonight, we finish this."

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Helga smiled as Arnold closed his bedroom door, locking it behind him. It couldn't have been a more perfect night, either. The stars were exceptionally bright for the city, and the full moon was hanging over Arnold's skylight, illuminating the otherwise dark room. Arnold smiled and quickly turned on his stereo to his favorite jazz station, turning the music down so that it wasn't the main focus of the evening. His bedroom was tinted with a wonderful blue hue. Helga gasped as he grabbed her around the middle, pressing his mouth to hers. Her heartbeat was quickening as he walked her backwards to his bed. She muttered his name when he broke the kiss and proceeded to attack her neck instead. The pale pink shirt she was wearing was quickly discarded. "Arnold, slow down," she whispered as he started to work on his own clothing. "Don't forget, this is supposed to be romantic. I'm your girlfriend, not a one-night stand."

Arnold blushed and smiled at the girl under him. "Helga, I'd never consider you a one-night stand. You're too beautiful to make love to just once." He slowly pulled off his shirt and pressed his bare chest into the sheets next to her. "I'm just excited," he whispered, nibbling on her earlobe.

"Make love to?" she whispered softly as he began to unclasp her bra, letting her creamy breasts fall from their captive holder.

Arnold smiled. "I'd never fuck you, Helga. That's for people who are lusting after someone. I'm in love with you." He slipped his hands to where his belt still held his pants around his waist and smiled. His hand made its way into the pocket of his jeans, where he felt the ring, cold and longing to be worn, but he had promised his grandfather that he would wait to finally ask the big question, at least till the end of the summer, but he never promised anything about finally being with the woman of his dreams. He shook off his thoughts and continued to strip both himself and the girl of their clothing. He bit his lower lip as the pair of jeans fell to the floor, crumpled and unceremonious. "Helga?" he whispered as she began to pry his boxers away from his skin. "Hang on for just a second, okay?"

She looked up at him, hurt masking her otherwise normal features. "Why?" she asked.

"There's just something I gotta do first," he whispered. He picked up the jeans and folded them neatly, making sure that the ring was still in his pocket. He would have to remember to take it out and put it somewhere safe until the time was right. He returned to her and smiled weakly.

"OCD, much, Football-Head?" she asked.

"You'll find out why someday," he replied softly. "Now, where were we?"

Helga smirked and pulled him back to her mouth. "Right about here, I think," she said and kissed him, sliding her fingers across his shoulder blades as he pried her legs apart with his knee.

He groaned when the cloth of his boxers met the cloth of her panties and frowned. Resentful of the two barriers, he peeled her panties off her body, leaving the only fabric between them as his own. "I love you," he whispered huskily and dipped his lips back to her ear. "And I want to be inside you." He felt her shiver again and finally discarded his boxers, leaving his length to extend freely. He gently extended a finger into her wet folds and smiled when she gasped in satisfaction, her muscles tensing around the thin digit. After a few seconds of pumping her, he added a second finger, grinning when a low growl escaped her throat.

"Arnold, I swear to God, if you keep teasing me I'll chop something vital off." She looked at him as he laughed softly and moaned when his thumb found her clitoris. "Arnold, please," she begged, running the back of her hand down the side of his face. "Please..." The ministrations stopped and he stared at her in sympathy.

"You'll let me know if I'm hurting you, right?" he asked, removing his fingers from inside of her. He watched her nod as she put her hands above her head. He sighed deeply and positioned himself so that his length was at her opening. It twitched in anticipation and he moaned when he moved a couple of centimeters into her hot moist depths. He heard her gasp softly and immediately stopped. "What's wrong?"

"Big," she mouthed, her eyes clouded over. "Much bigger and thicker than a finger," she whispered, blushing.

She didn't even notice that Arnold had gone bright red from the comment. "Am I hurting you?" he asked, and smiled when she shook her head. He nodded and pressed a little deeper into her depths, feeling the small barrier that proved to him that she truly was a virgin. He bit his lip and kissed her softly. "I've heard it hurts like hell the first time," he whispered.

Her bright blue eyes popped open and she stared at him. She smiled softly and traced his features with a finger. "Arnold, I don't care how much it hurts. I want you inside of me, and I've been prepared for this all day. No, all week. I know it'll hurt, but damn it all, it won't after a while." She breathed slowly and ran a hand through his messy blond hair. "Besides, I love you with all my heart, and the pain will be minimal compared to how it'll feel if we're ever apart from each other." She sighed slightly as he kissed her throat. "Please, Arnold. Make love to me."

Arnold nodded and pressed himself deeper, feeling the barrier of flesh break and watching as Helga bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood. He clasped her hand tightly and felt the warm rush of blood from the skin breaking away coat his length. He tried to ignore the warmth around his length and instead focused on Helga's pain, kissing away tears as the rolled down her cheeks. His free hand came up to her chest to try and cause her some pleasure in retaliation to the pain she was feeling in the lower portion of her body. He placed his palm over her heart and gently trailed his fingers over the skin. "Are you okay?" he whispered when her breathing slowed and the tears rushing from her eyes ceased to exist.

"Damn," she replied. "I knew it would hurt, but that was torturous agony." She laughed as Arnold gave her a look that clearly stated he was both hurt and sorry. "Oh, Arnold, I'm kidding. It hurt, but the pain's all gone now. The only thing I'm feeling is you." She smiled deviously and clenched her lower muscles, causing Arnold to moan in pleasure and collapse onto her chest.

He looked down at her and grinned wickedly. "Helga, you devious little cu-" The rest of the swear word was cut off by Helga slamming her lips to his, her long fingers dancing through his hair as they kissed. Arnold groaned into the kiss, pulling his length almost all the way out of her. She broke the kiss and stared up at him, her eyes beseeching him to continue. He wiggled his brows at her and plummeted himself in the hot, soaking folds. Her muscles contracted once more around his length and he groaned. The pleasurable sensation of his release was coming up and fast, but he held it at bay. He wanted her to experience it first. His ministrations became faster and with less time in between. She was panting with desire now, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. He was silently glad that his bed was built into the wall, so that it didn't creak with each thrust. He felt her lock her legs behind his back, keeping him pinned inside of her. Her hips bucked with his every thrust and he clambered to his knees, lifting her hips off the bed as he did so. He pummeled her deeply, causing her to do something that she never did back at camp. She squeaked. He bit back a chuckle as her voice, which started out as small pants, raised an octave and she squeaked with every thrust. He pushed himself up on his hands so that he could watch her expressions as he took her, deeper and deeper into eternal bliss. "Helga," he whispered, feeling himself almost about to explode. She had her eyes tightly closed but when he muttered her name, they opened a little. "Please." She must have known what he was thinking and was holding back herself because once the second word left his lips, she pulled him to her, his mouth collapsing on her own to muffle her screaming as she finally released. Arnold, who had been close behind, groaned in pleasure as he rode out his own. It spilled into her depths as her own wetness rushed out and covered his length.

He felt her shudder in his arms, and silently wondered when they had both gotten to a sitting position and when his arms had wrapped around her thin frame. He felt her body collapse in his arms and gently fell with her back into the pillows. She groaned softly when he finally pulled out of her and covered the both of them with his quilt. "Arnold?" she muttered sleepily, snuggling into the crook of his arm.

"Hmm?"

Her eyes opened slightly and she stared at him with her azure blue orbs. "That was absolutely amazing," she whispered, and her eyes finally closed, and her breathing slowed until she was sound asleep. Arnold chuckled as the girl he adored fell asleep in his arms. He chewed on his bottom lip and leaned deeply into the pillow, which smelled just like apples, and felt his own need for sleep overcome him.

"Amazing," he muttered before falling into a deep slumber.

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Arnold bit his lip nervously as Phoebe and Gerald stared at their two best friends, horror, astonishment and a little bit of relief on their features. Next to him, Helga was turning bright red, trying very hard not to make eye contact with anyone. Phoebe was the first to break the silence. "So, Helga, you've finally had your fill of ice cream?"

"PHOEBE!" Helga cried, collapsing her head into her palms, completely and utterly mortified at her best friend's choice of words. Arnold and Gerald exchanged confused looks.

"So," Gerald said trying very hard to keep his cool, "let me see if I got this straight. Helga's been in love with Arnold for God only knows how many years, Arnold realized his feelings for her about a month ago and now you two are getting it on?"

Arnold blushed, rubbing his eyes and Helga growled deeply. "Not so loud," she muttered, eyeing a group of kids who looked like they were in the fourth grade playing catch nearby. "The whole reason we came out here to tell you was so that we wouldn't be overheard." Arnold glanced down at the girl he loved and smiled softly. She usually wasn't one for telling people things, but they had both agreed that they needed to let their best friends know. Well, know that they were dating at the very least. Gerald was just a good guesser.

Gerald rolled his eyes and placed his hands on the picnic table. "Look, Arnold, I'm all for you and Helga finally getting your feelings in check after nineteen years, but did'ya have to spring all of this news on us all at once? I mean, the last time we saw the two of you, you were at each other's throats, intent on murdering each other, and now you're going at it like rabbits? You've only been gone for a little over a month and a half! What's next? Getting married in a week?"

Phoebe hid a small smile and placed her hand on top of Helga's. "I'm Maid of Honor, right Helga?" she asked in a small voice, and Gerald whipped his head around to look at her so fast it could have caused everyone at the table whiplash.

"PHOEBE!" he cried. "I was kidding!"

Phoebe rolled her eyes, but still smiled. "I was too," she replied and quickly mouthed "sort of" so that only Helga could see. The blond girl chuckled softly.

Gerald turned toward Helga and glared at her. "If you hurt him," he threatened, but Phoebe quickly cut him off.

"She won't. Ever."

Arnold smiled, happy that his best friend would do so much to stand up for him, even go as far as to threaten the one girl who could probably snap him in two. "Gerald, will you relax? See, this is why we told the two of you before we told anyone else. If you take the news that we're finally a couple like this, imagine what everyone else will be like? I don't even want to know what Rhonda's reaction will be."

"Or Big Bob," Helga replied, throwing her face back into her hands and groaning sadly.

Gerald smiled and soon the smile grew into a quiet chuckle. Phoebe, Arnold and Helga looked up at him in confusion and he burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Phoebe asked, when the laughter didn't stop.

"Fourth... grade... Rhonda..." Gerald muttered between breaths of laughter. The remaining three looked at each other in confusion before Arnold got the joke and began to laugh uncontrollably with Gerald, who by the time had nearly fallen out of his seat. Phoebe and Helga looked at each other and Phoebe shrugged. "Oragami," Gerald breathed and the two girls realized why the boys were laughing. Soon the four of them were laughing harder than they'd ever laughed before.

"Should we tell her they're finally dating?" Phoebe giggled, leaning into Gerald's arm for support.

"One hundred and ten times?"

Helga bit her lip tightly as she leaned into Arnold's chest. "What was it she said exactly?" she breathed, finally calming herself down enough to get the question out.

Arnold chuckled a bit, thinking back to that fateful day. "Something along the lines of 'you're marrying Helga, deal with it' I think." He shrugged as the laughter started to die down. "It's been so long, I can't even remember anymore. All I know is I was terrified at the thought of marrying you back then." He groaned when Helga punched his arm. "I said 'back then'."

"So, any ideas on how you want to explain the new relationship to everyone else? I mean, they're all gonna freak out when you tell them that P.S. 118's toughest bully and her number one prey have finally gotten together," Gerald asked, leaning forward so that his head was resting on the table.

"Well," Arnold replied, looking over at Helga. "We haven't really given that much thought. I mean, it would be nice if all of our friends knew because we told them and not through some other form of communication." He sighed as Helga intertwined her fingers with his. "But we were a little preoccupied last night to discuss much about it."

Gerald flinched slightly and put his hands out to stop Arnold. "Arnold, dude, you're my best friend, but please, no details. The last thing I need in my head is an image of the two of you fucking each other's brains out."

"That's mature," Phoebe commented, slapping Gerald playfully across the hand. He looked down at her and shrugged.

"It's true though," he muttered. "I'm happy that the two of you have finally admitted your feelings for each other. Really happy. But please, I don't need details about your sex lives. I'm not really into hearing what kinds of faces my best friend makes during climax, nor do I really want to even think about picturing the two of you in that type of situation. The most skin I want to even think about seeing between the two of you includes bathing suits."

Arnold chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Gerald. We'll keep you in the dark about that kind of thing."

"Thanks."

Phoebe sighed. "So, when do you two head back to the camp?"

"Day after tomorrow," Helga replied, a little sadly. "I love it there, but I didn't realize just how homesick I really was until recently."