Helga's New Best Friend

I don't own Hey Arnold, (c) Craig Bartlett/Nickelodeon

Helga G. Pataki, a now highschooler has befriended the school wallflower/new girl Riley S. Winston, little do they both know they share much in common.

Chapter 1- Boys, Boys, and Footballheads?

Helga Geraldine Pataki was storming down the halls of Hillwood High in rage! No, fury! Why? Even though she had given up her childhood "bully" streak years and years ago, it didn't mean Helga couldn't lose it once in awhile. Especially when it came to her "beloved" footballhead.

Helga made it to her locker, then caught something in the corner of her eye.

"Lila." Helga gritted her teeth in anger, in extreme jealousy.

"Oh Arnold, that is ever so sweet of you!" She laughed with glee in stride with Arnold who was talking in a modest tone with her, words Helga couldn't quite make out. It didn't matter much to Helga, she quickly turned away only to be met with the gaze of her "new" best friend, Riley Sarah Winston.

"Hey, Helga!" She smiled cheerily. Riley then dropped her smile when she saw the duo walking down the hall together.

"Oh, Helga. I'm so sorry." Riley said quickly in remorse.

"Have you seen Pheebs around?" Helga asked ignoring her comment.

"Yeah! Actually, she wanted me to give this to you. I think this is the Algebra 2 worksheets?" Riley handed them over, as Helga just snatched them out of her hands. "Thanks." Helga half-smiled, then walking off down the hall.

"Helga! Wait! Can I-Well, can I walk with you to class? Or would this not be the right time-?"

Helga stopped momentarily, as Riley began to catch up to her. "So, how are things going?" She smiled awkwardly trying to start conversation.

"Just peachy." Helga stated sarcastically.

"Did you hear Rhonda Wellington Lloyd is throwing another party? And you're invited! She has her "list" on her page. I didn't seem to make it."

"Well, I know most people wouldn't find me on the "cool" list." Riley started to look down sadly.

"Helga, sorry for bother-"

"Criminey! Riley don't be talking about yourself like that, bucko! "Princess" has always seen herself on the highest pedestal, you should have seen her in the fourth grade."

"Thanks, Helga." Riley started to smile.

"Don't mention it. Ever."

"Helga, what's eating you up? I mean you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to-is it about you know-Arnold?"

"Arnold?! Please, footballhead? Huh, I rather I never see his oblong face ever again!" Helga kicked a nearby can, that went hurtling toward Eugene Horowitz. He was near the stairwell picking up his fallen books, where the can offset him and he went flying backward down the stairs.

"AHHH!"

"Was that-?" Riley turned around.

"Yep Good ol' Eugene the Elephantine. Heh, earned that name in junior high."

"Poor Eugene. He's always-"

"Yep, that's just the way he is."

Riley regained posture. "Helga, who are you kidding? I know you like him! He's your best friend-it's only natural and he might-"

"Arnoldo? We can't even tolerate each other in the same room!"

"Helga, if you don't "like" him, how come I see you writing his name all over your notebooks as well as poetry? Remember in English yesterday? The Group Project? You weren't even paying attention-all you could think about was Ar-"

Helga in panic covered her mouth. "Arnolfo? You know the-uh-artist? Arnolfo DaVinci?" She said quickly to onlookers.

"Helga, it's actually Leonar-"

"Let's get to class! Come on all you wussies! Move it!"

"Really, Helga?" Riley raised an eyebrow.

"Listen, I promise you with my life I have no utter interest in Arnold!" Helga shouted. "Okay?!"

Something fell out of Helga's pocket then, right in front of Riley. She picked it up, and at first a look of shock wore her face. Then a playful smirk, "Helga, if this isn't love, I don't know what is."

Riley revealed in her hand, Helga's locket of Arnold!

Helga then started wigging out, big time. She pulled Riley aside one of the hallways. "SWEAR TO ME YOU WON'T SPEAK A WORD OF THIS TO ANYONE!"

"YOU HAVE TO SWEAR TO ME!"

"Helga, listen I promise I won't reveal your secret. You can trust me, I just have a question. Why can't you tell Ar-"

"Because I can't ok! He doesn't-He never felt the same."

"Helga, I'm here for you. You want to talk about it?"

Riley rested her hand on a now slouched and vulnerable Helga G. Pataki walking the rest of the way to their first class of the day, Biology.

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