Chapter 1: Time Flown By

It was nearing the end of the school year at P.S. 118 and the school was filled with electricity and chatter as the most 'popular' class would be leaving the halls for the last time. It was 8th grade graduation for Arnold and the gang, and to be honest not much had changed in the four years since the neighborhood had almost been destroyed. Arnold was now thirteen, and over the years he had had much time to grow. He wasn't the tallest in the class, but he towered over most of the girls. He had traded up his green sweater for a t-shirt of the same color, wearing his plaid shirt over, not under, to avoid confusion over what it was. And atop his head was the faded old blue hat that had gone through so much over the years. He sat at his desk, resting his head on his hand, listening to Mr. Simmons try to control the class, as he gazed out the window.

"People listen, please!" Mr. Simmons started. Although they had managed to hold on to their dear 4th grade teacher for four years, he still hardly commanded respect in the classroom when need be. "I know you're all very excited for the end of the year and leaving P.S. 118 for the last time. I know it's going to be a very sad loss for me, and I will miss teaching all you special children. And I want to thank you for the past four years, as well as your photo contributions to our year book. As we all know this class has gone through some adventures over the years, it will make this yearbook one to remember. On that note for the final page we ask for photos of you from when you were in preschool to show how far you all have come. I want everyone to bring in a photo and I will even give out homework points for it. We don't want to leave anyone out - so on that note, I will see you all tomorrow!"

With a burst of energy the class was out of their seats and rushing to the door. Only a few students lagged behind so as not to get trapped in the hoard of escaping students.

"Can you believe this, man? What a weird assignment."

"I don't know, Gerald, I think Mr. Simmons has a good point. It's to show our growth." Arnold shrugged, picking up his books.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's something you would want to emphasize, football head." Helga said with a smirk looking up at Arnold. Despite Arnold's growth, Helga was not much shorter than him. She was pretty tall for a girl and it was not something she was quiet about. She had grown in other places as well over the years, and the fact she was stuck wearing her sisters old clothes helped her show them off. She preferred wearing jeans and a loose t-shirt over Olga's old plaid mini skirt and black vest but she said it would get Rhonda off her back. The only thing that she would wear that seemed remotely Helga was a gray beanie that she had taken a liking to, that replaced the pink bow on her head. Arnold had to admit, he kind of missed the bow.

Arnold smirked back at her. He had also been graced with the privilege of being on friendly terms with Helga, around the start of fifth grade for some reason. He didn't question it, he rather enjoyed Helga's company now that Gerald and Phoebe were an item. Arnold leaned over Helga looking at the top of her head, something he was only able to do more recently, and delighted in.

"Jealous, Pataki?" Arnold said pulling back, straightening his back, and puffing out his chest.

"Oh, of course, Arnold! I've always longed to struggle fitting through doors in more ways than one," Helga batted her eyes, adding a fake flirt to her sarcastic words.

"I guess thats why you put your hair in pigtails then? So you could get a feeling of having a wide head?" Arnold stood behind Helga, picking up her pigtails, waving and waggling them about.

"Hey it's the Helga Helicopter!" Arnold laughed adding a repetitive 'chu' to illustrate his point. "We are over the drop zone, prepare for landing."

She tried to pull away laughing but he released one of her pig tails to reach around her stomach and pull her closer, spinning the other pigtail faster to compensate. " Helga we need you to rescue the survivors... Oh no! We lost a wing!"

Helga finally managed to get away as Arnold pretended to crash land. Helga leaned over the boy playing dead on the floor. "Helga the helicopter?"

"Better than 'football head'," Arnold said, opening one eye to look up at her.

"Well hands off the goods, hair boy. This stuff made me it girl, remember?"

Arnold popped up quickly. "I thought that was your unibrow and your scowl." Arnold said trying to replicate the famous it girl scowl.

"That too..." Helga said with a laugh in her words.

The two stood there and laughed until Gerald grabbed Arnold's attention.

"Hey Arnold, we're going to the arcade! Wanna come?" Gerald asked, wrapping his arm around Phoebe.

"Sure... Helga?"

"I can't. Sorry..."

"Oh, that's OK. How about I walk you home instead?" asked Arnold, ignoring the snickering from Gerald behind him.

"Not today, football head. You enjoy the 'show', I gotta head home. I'll see you around. Later Pheebs, and Pheebs' tumor," and with a quick wave Helga was out the door.

Later the three were stationed at the arcade by the pier, just near the entrance. Arnold didn't bother with the games, he opted for leaning up against the old arcade, watching the sunset.

"I'm telling you man, you gotta ask her, there are gonna be a lot more boys when we get to High School." Gerald said, though his eyes were focused on an Evil Twin pin ball game.

"It's not that simple Gerald. It took me years to be her friend, I can't mess it up with a rash choice by asking her out. Besides I don't even know if I really... like like her anyway. We've been best friends for years."

"And you've been talking 'bout her for years. Seriously Arnold, I know when you are crushing, and this? This is the king of crushes, ma man."

"Gerald." It was all Arnold could really think to say, he had a point. But Arnold was still not really so keen on the whole idea. With Helga came the potential for heartbreak, it took years for a friendship to develop, a love would take a lifetime. And to risk what he had on just a feeling, it was not going to happen.

"Well if you're not gonna make your move 'til you're 30 can you at least stop talking about her. It's driving me nuts."

"So? You're always going on about Phoebe."

"Yeah, but at least I got something new to contribute, you just spin the same old yarn man. 'She's so funny, and smart, and sophisticated, and pretty, and beautiful, and her eyes... her hair.' Really man," Gerald continued with out breaking his concentration from the game.

"OK, OK! Fine!" Arnold shouted, a blush growing on his cheeks. "Lets just drop the subject altogether."

"Fine by me, man."

"...So what are you gonna pick for your baby picture to put in the yearbook."

"Most of my baby pics were whack, but I think my mom's got one of the two of us playing together. We could kill two birds with one stone."

"I don't know. That's a good one, but I still got one I wanna put in. The one with me and grandpa in the Packard."

"Hmm, I think that was a little before pre-k. You think it matters?"

"Probably not. Not like I've changed much."

"Now there is a true fact! A regular urban legend. Arnold - the kid with the football shaped head, who could never go bad. Pure as the driven snow and wouldn't harm a fly. Unless you count when he was a kung-fu guy. And as the people of the neighborhood grow in shame, football head Arnold will remain the same."

"Way to make it sound negative, Gerald."

"Any time, Arnold. Ah, look who's back!"

Phoebe came walking over to the boys and planted a peck on Gerald's cheek. "I got some extra quarters, Gerald."

"You're the best, babe," said Gerald, returning the kiss. Arnold - feeling a little awkward at this point - decided to leave while the two were still distracted.

As he walked home he took note of the streets, how they seemed so old but to his eyes never seemed to age or change. His time to leave this town was drawing near - only four more years and he would be off to college. Only four more years to...

There was a lot left to be done in this town, but getting to know Helga G. Pataki better was one of his more entertaining things. The rare occasions she would let him in he could feel this warmth of light filling his being. But he knew that college was one of those things that broke people apart. He also only had four more years to save up for going to find his parents. He knew that once he was in college the option was still there but he would have less time to think about it, and he would be even more tied down with a job and classes. His grandparents had been trying to put aside money to save for the trip and a guide, but with the boarding house being as old as it was, a lot of money was needed for repairs, and Arnold knew he had to think of the boarders.

It was hard, and he had already grown so much - he was forced to wonder if they even recognize him. They probably had this picture in there head of Arnold when he was still so young - even if he did save them, it would be this strange man who had grown up without them. It hurt, but something in Arnold held on to hope. Gerald and Helga had helped that too, always being encouraging and protecting.

That night arnold climbed up the fire escape to the roof, and then climbed through the skylight, not wanting to really interact with the boarders. As he landed on his bed he pulled a draw string just by his shelf and faintly heard a bell ring in the distance. He had installed it in the 6th grade when he needed more time alone for his studies and less time helping the boarders, so the bell was to let everyone know that he was there safe, just not to be disturbed. He collapsed on his bed letting his eyes wander to the sky above him. Gazing at the stars he thought of a better life where his parents had never left, and Helga was open with him, and he wasn't left to solve everyone's problems. Just once he wanted someone who would take it upon themselves to help him. But then again, it was only wishful thinking.

The next day in class Arnold found himself ill at ease due to the fact that Helga had yet to show. This has happened a few times before and was never for a good reason. Arnold wasn't clueless to the fact that Helga had a troubled life at home and knew that she couldn't really rely on her parents. Normally, when Helga showed up on these days, she was back to her old, bullying self, and Arnold could get through to her less than under normal circumstances. Mr. Simmons had began talking about the works of Homer around twenty minutes ago, but Arnold just watched the door, waiting for the hurricane that was ready to storm in.

SLAM

And there she was. In one fell swoop she had gained the attention of the entire class, the door shaking with the impact of her entrance. Her eyes were filled with such a powerful rage it had students starting to sink slightly behind their desks; the more afraid looked away while the more stupid couldn't stop staring. The room was silent but for the door rattling quietly, and then her gaze was directed toward Simmons, and a low growl made its way from between her gritted teeth. Simmons jumped back a little and stuttered, trying to start the lesson up again. Luckily for Helga, Simmons cared more about the results that you were learning rather than attendance, and he had decided not to really count Helga's countless tardies against her. Helga hated interrupting class, but sometimes her rage got the best of her, and in that low growl he understood that she wanted Simmons to continue.

As class started up again Helga shuffled over to her seat by Arnold. Arnold took note of how she looked, hair pulled into messy pigtails while her bangs stuck out messily from her gray cap. Under her white button down shirt and vest was a longer blue-gray shirt that covered her arms and she was wearing leggings. She slouched in her chair, pulling out her notebook and pretending to start taking notes.

"Hey," Arnold whispered, trying to get her attention. He had learned a few ways to calm these crazy spells that Helga went through, and sometimes she would tune out his existence without even thinking. So first thing first was to remind her that he was still there. She glared over at him, still furious, but he offered her a smile, and he immediately saw her begin to calm... not completely, but progress all the same.

It continued like that for the rest of the day, Helga lost in her own world, and Arnold trying to break his way in. By the end of the day, Simmons had begun to collect the photos from the class. Everyone was lost in a sense of nostalgia over their photos, and Helga was even more quiet than usual.

"Hey Helga." Arnold pulled up a chair to sit by her desk.

"Hey," she said, not looking up from a blank notebook page. Writer's block, he guessed.

"So... Where's your photo?"

"Didn't bring one."

"Why not?"

"None of your beeswax, Football-head!" Helga snapped, looking up at him. "It's a stupid assignment and I don't even need the points, so I'm not bringing in a crummy photo."

Arnold simply sighed. He was well accustomed to Helga's rage and mood swings.

"It's more for the class than the points, Helga."

"Well I doubt anyone would want to remember younger me anyway," she, said closing her book and putting it her bag, getting ready to leave.

"I would." Arnold reached out to touch her arm but she jumped back. There almost seemed to be fear in her eyes. "Helga?" He came towards her, but without a word she ran out of the classroom.

"You gonna go get her, man?" asked Gerald having seen the interaction.

"No.,. If I've learned anything over the years, it's sometimes Helga needs time alone. Besides..."

"Oh no. I don't like that look, man."

"If there's anything else I've learned about her, it's sometimes you need to act like Helga to deal with Helga." Arnold smirked dangerously at Gerald, who let out a tired sigh. "And I've got a plan."

Ok! First chapter done! That was fun, right? All them intros and drama. I'm actually checking this myself, but I'm stupid so if i missed anything or it sounds weird let me know in a review and I'll be glad to repair it and edit corrections. I hope to start on the next chapter right away but I won't be too quick about this if I don't think people are reading so let me know what you thought.

Editing by Novellanouveau