A/N this the first fanfiction I've ever done. Please tell me your honest opinion. This is just the first mini chapter hope you like it.
Chapter 1: "Homecoming"
He opened the envelope sitting on the kitchen table. His new school had just sent him his class schedule, locker combination, and school ID. Back in San Lorenzo, school was never this complicated, students just went to class and learned; simple as that. Now at Hillwood High everything would change for him.
His class schedule was confusing. He started off with chemistry in one floor, then to algebra on a different floor. Why couldn't they just have the classes in the same room? That's what they did in San Lorenzo. Tomorrow would be though for him, but he'd make-do.
"Criminy Phoebe, not only does Coach Wilson not let me try out for baseball, but he lets Haley James! I mean I know she's a cross dresser, but that mean nothing. I can play forty times better than her!"
Helga's hands were curled up into fists with rage. Her best friend Phoebe walked besides her in the hallway off to Helga's locker. Ever since the school hired a new baseball coach, baseball was strictly for boys.
"There's always softball."
"As if Pheebs, softball's for chumps. It's way to sissy."
Phoebe frowned. "Then why did you try out."
"Because Coach Bimbo begged me to."
Helga reached her locker and pulled out a pink book. She was off to her first period class with minutes to spare.
"Good morning Helga," Lila's sweet voice called out. With that Helga banged her head on her locker.
"Criminy Lila, I told you not to do that anymore."
"I'm ever so sorry Helga. I was just letting you know Coach May posted the softball list. I'm ever so certain you're varsity pitcher."
Helga threw her arms in the air. "Ha! What did I tell you Pheebs? No competition."
Lila smiled and hugged Helga, drowning her in her red hair. As they grew up, Helga and Lila became good friends. It was as if as soon as they came back from San Lorenzo everything fell into place.
Helga took a seat next to Phoebe and her "friend" Gerald. They sat in the back of the classroom, away from teenage madness. She sighed, just another day in chemistry.
Helga cracked open her little pink book and began to write. She had dozens and dozens of stories in her book; mostly Jane Austen fan fiction. It relaxed her to write . Her long blonder hair cascaded around her face like a waterfall, just the way she liked it. Sh was in her own little world when she wrote.
Her teacher, Mr Markey gave the class an announcement, but of course she was too caught up in her world to care.
The teacher introduced himself as Mr. Markey. He was a young man, polite, put together. Markey reminded him of his fourth grade teacher, Mr. Simmons. He missed living in American and now he was back to stay. This class was the perfect was to start off his day.
Mr. Markey whistled to the class and they all fell silent. They all stared at him with curiosity and confusion. In the crowd he recognized familiar faces he never thought he'd see again.
"Class this our new student, Arnold. Please make him feel comfortable, he's traveled all the way from South America." He turned to look at him now. "Arnold there's an empty seat next to the blonde girl in the back."
Helga started a story about a girl striving for freedom from her malevolent kidnapper, whom she desperately fell in love with. It only took two pages for Helga to push the story aside and start another. Instead she wanted a poem. It had been years since she had last written a poem, but today something in her wanted to write a beautiful masterpiece.
She stopped. Someone had take the vacant seat next to her, while she was writing! She turned with anger to see-
"Hi Helga," he chocked up shyly.
Her eyes widened with both fear and excitement. He was back. Arnold was back.
She turned to look at Gerald. He gave her a smile and rose his shoulders apologetically. Why hadn't Gerald told her Arnold (out of all people) was back in town?
"Way to pop out of the blew Arnold." She turned anxiously back to her book in hope of hiding the joy that over took her. It had been six year since she last saw him, and now he was sitting besides her like he belonged.
Arnold was the same as he was before, blonde hair, oblong head, and beautiful white smile. The only difference was that he was far more handsome than Helga had remembered. She couldn't help but notice the way his muscles flexed under his baseball shirt.
"What? No football-head?" He asked with a cocky smile that made Helga's insides melt.
Stop that! Helga yelled at herself. Arnold is ancient history you're suppose to forget about him. "Please, did you think you'd come back and meet a nine year old?"
He smiled, "I guess not." His head dropped to his class schedule and pen, even though Helga could tell he was not reading it. He turned to look at her. "I see you've changed quite a bit Helga."
"I guess so. Puberty and high school does things to girls."
He looked down again, awkwardly. She didn't blame him thought, it was just as weird for her. They both hadn't seen each other in years and their farewell was not very pleasant.
After finding Arnold's parents in San Lorenzo, Arnold stayed back to live with his parents. Helga didn't question his decision, he hadn't seen his parents his entire life. They said goodbye to each other awkwardly with a wave, and didn't talk to each other since. Helga tried to write him a letter before, but never knew just what to say to the little football-head. She never thought to see Arnold again, this was certainly unexpected.
"Helga," Arnold whispered to her.
She turned, "yeah?"
"I missed you in San Lorenzo."
"I missed you too Football-head."
Helga was nice? Out of all the things Gerald could tell Arnold, Helga being nice was the strangest thing yet. According to his friend, Helga became much more sweet when they came back. Sure she still had her sass and humor to her, but the bullying had stopped years ago. Arnold couldn't believe he would live to see the day. He thought about Helga back in San Lorenzo; her bullying, her threats, her kind side. He didn't think that coming back she would be different.
"Arnold?" He turned to see none other than Lila Sawyer standing in the hallway looking as beautiful as she was before. Her dark red hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, while wearing a short green sundress. "You're back?"
"Lila, ugh yeah I'm back."
"I'm ever so happy you've returned. Helga didn't tell me you were back, I just saw her in PE. I can't believe you're back!"
"Helga?"
"Oh she would never keep things from me. She's ever so honest."
This was getting even stranger for Arnold. Helga and Lila were friends? "It's so great to see you again Lila."
She took a strand of hair behind her ear. "Why thank you Arnold. It was very nice to see you too. I'll see you around."
Helga sat at her usual lunch table; alone. Phoebe and Gerald had different lunch periods along with any other tolerable person in school. She liked being alone, she had time to write. Today she bought a bagel and a can of soda. Miriam forgot once again to give her any lunch money, therefore she only had about a dollar in change. By now Helga was used to it.
"Hey," she heard a familiar voice call out from behind her.
It was Arnold, heading her way with a tray. "Could I maybe sit with you Helga?"
She rolled her eyes, he still didn't understand Helga wasn't a bully anymore. She could sense the fear in him. "What ever floats your boat Arnold." She smiled maybe this way he'd understand.
He sat in the seat next to her. "How has your day been so far?" Helga asked him to start some small talk.
"Uh fine Helga. Thanks for asking. I was actually pretty worried I would have to eat lunch on my own today. Thank goodness I found you here."
Helga put her notebook aside and took a sip of her soda. She tasted the foul liquid and soon regretted it. "Uh ew!"
"What's wrong Helga?"
She wiped the excess soda off her mouth. "It's nothing, I just really hate this flavor." She pushed the drink as far away from her as possible. "I absolutely despise raspberries."
Arnold smiled at Helga yet she didn't know why. With that he handed her his bottle of water from his tray. "Want mine?"