Author's Note: This is my first non-anime/non-Digimon fan fiction on
FF.net. It's centered around my favorite Hey Arnold! Pairing:
Gerald/Phoebe. They're in the fifth-grade (10 years old) in this fic.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold!
Story Title: Gerald Learns to Fence
Chapter Title: Rex's Challenge
'Man, what've I gotten my self into now?' thought Gerald. He was thinking about the challenge he'd accepted from Rex Smythe-Higgins the Third.
It all started when he and Arnold were passing by the park. There, he had literally bumped into Rex and sent the rich kid into a mud puddle.
[]FLASHBACK[]
"Whoa," Gerald said. "I'm sorry, man. I wasn't looking. I'm really sorry."
"Sorry?!" Rex replied in an English accent. "Sorry? You ruined my best Saturday clothes you dark-skinned barbarian!"
"Lay off, Rex." Arnold said, seeing Gerald's reaction to the slightly racial retort. "Gerald said he was sorry."
"Well, he should've been paying attention to where he was going instead of walking into people like a blind oaf!"
"Hey!" Gerald said. "I said I was sorry, I'd appreciate it if you'd at least not insult me."
"Oh, so now you want an apology. Is that it?" the English kid replied. "As far as I'm concerned you don't deserve one, so bugger off!"
Normally, Gerald would've let something like that slide. But Rex's attitude was getting to him, and he didn't feel like backing down.
"Okay, that's it! I'm gonna-" Gerald said as he moved toward Rex.
"Whoa, Gerald. Cool off, man." Arnold said as he held Gerald back. "Just let it slide."
Rex just smirked. "You unsophisticated ones always resort to brawn since you have so little brains, don't you?"
"You're just sayin' that 'cause a pansy like you couldn't fight worth a damn." Gerald countered.
Rex's nostrils flared at that, but he just said. "You really want to challenge me? Very well, but I would like the challenge to be a sport of my own choosing. Let's say. . . fencing."
"Fencing?" Gerald repeated. He knew nothing about fencing, but he just replied: "Sure, why not?"
"Gerald, you don't know anything about fencing." Arnold pointed out.
"Which is why I'm setting the challenge for next Saturday." Rex replied. "That should give you adequate time to learn the basics of fencing."
"Fair my butt!" Arnold spat. "How's Gerald supposed to learn how to fence in a week-"
Gerald cut Arnold off. "Don't worry, Arnold. I can do it, and I'll enjoy beating this guy at his own game. Just like in that Tour de Pond thing."
Rex rolled his eyes. "That is highly unlikely. I suggest you find a good fencing instructor and have him train you in the epee bout style. That form is much less rigid and easier to learn than the saber and foil styles. I am, as I said, a fair man."
Rex gave him directions to his home. "I shall see you at my domicile on Saturday. That is, if you decide to show up."
"I'll be there." Gerald promised. "Count on it."
[]FLASHBACK ENDS[]
"What're you gonna do now Gerald?" Arnold asked.
"I don't know, Arnold." Gerald answered. "But I'll think of something."
"You could just tell Rex that the challenge was made prematurely and back down graciously." Arnold suggested.
"What?!" Gerald replied, incredulous. "If I did that Mr. Rich-and-Snotty would never let hear the end of it."
"But how're you gonna learn how to fence?"
"Well. . ." Gerald said slowly. "There is Phoebe. I heard that she knew how to fence."
Arnold smiled knowingly when he saw Gerald's expression when he had mentioned Phoebe. He knew that Gerald really liked, maybe even liked-liked, Phoebe. But Arnold just said: "Yeah, well, when are you gonna ask her to teach you?"
"Um. . . well, right now I guess."
"Okay," Arnold said, heading toward the boarding house. "Good luck."
Gerald continued on towards Phoebe's house. Suddenly, the prospect of actually going over to Phoebe's house and asking her to teach him how to fence sent Gerald in a momentary panic. He liked-liked Phoebe and had spent a lot of time with her during the Cheese Festival and Rhonda's party, but he wasn't really sure if she liked-liked him back.
Sure, there were a few hints he saw that might confirm that as a fact. He still wasn't entirely sure though, with girls you just couldn't be sure. Lila's constant sending of mixed signals toward Arnold was a perfect example.
Gerald shook his head, trying to clear them of such thoughts. He was just going over to ask Phoebe to train him, that was all. It wasn't like he was asking for a date or anything like that.
Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the Heyerdahl's door. Gerald felt another surge of panic as he pressed the doorbell, but he fought it down. 'Just be cool, Gerald. Be cool.' He thought to himself. 'You're just asking Phoebe to teach you how to fence, that's all. Just be cool.'
The door opened. It was Reba Heyerdahl, Phoebe's mom. "Oh, hello there. You must be one of Phoebe's little friends."
"Uh, yeah," Gerald said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Is Phoebe there? I wanna talk to her about something."
"Sure, why don't you step inside." Reba said. "I'll call Phoebe."
"Thanks, Mrs. Heyerdahl."
"Phoebe!" Reba called out. "One of your friends wants to see you."
Gerald heard a muffled reply from upstairs. A moment later, an Oriental- featured girl came down.
"Oh, um, Gerald." Phoebe greeted, slightly surprised. A small blush tried to come to her face but she quickly controlled it before Gerald could notice. "What brings you here?"
"Uh, hey, Phoebe." Gerald replied. "Um, I was wondering. . . Could you teach me how to fence?"
"Huh?" Phoebe was perplexed. "Why?"
"Well," Gerald said, smiling sheepishly. "I kinda challenged Rex Smythe- Higgins to a fencing match next Saturday. Thing of it is, I don't know how to fence."
He looked sheepishly at her. "I, uh, thought you could help me."
"Well, yes, I do know how to fence." Phoebe confirmed. "But next Saturday? I'm not sure if that's adequate time to train you."
"Tomorrow's Sunday, right?" I could come over then, and maybe after school for the following week? I mean, if you want to, of course. Besides, Rex said something about only needing to teach me how to fight in something called an epee bout."
"That does simplify the task." Phoebe said, thinking it over. "Very well. I shall train you, Gerald. Is 3pm tomorrow okay with you?"
Gerald smiled. "Yeah, sure."
"As for the following week, how about after school foor about an hour or so?"
"Hey, fine with me." Gerald said. He took the back of his head shyly. "Uh, thanks, Phoebe."
This time a blush managed to find its way onto Phoebe's face. "Oh, um, no problem at all, Gerald."
Gerald thanked Phoebe and left. Phoebe actually had to stop herself from jumping around happily at the fact that Gerald had come to HER for help. She went up to her house's fencing room to practice. She was gonna make sure that she'd be the best fencing instructor Gerald would ever have.
Author's Note: Well, that was Chapter One. This is going to be a short and simple fic with some romance because it is Valentine's season. Although I, personally, find Valentine's to be an over commercialized, over marketed, and overrated holiday. Anyway, please R&R. Chapter Two is coming soon.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold!
Story Title: Gerald Learns to Fence
Chapter Title: Rex's Challenge
'Man, what've I gotten my self into now?' thought Gerald. He was thinking about the challenge he'd accepted from Rex Smythe-Higgins the Third.
It all started when he and Arnold were passing by the park. There, he had literally bumped into Rex and sent the rich kid into a mud puddle.
[]FLASHBACK[]
"Whoa," Gerald said. "I'm sorry, man. I wasn't looking. I'm really sorry."
"Sorry?!" Rex replied in an English accent. "Sorry? You ruined my best Saturday clothes you dark-skinned barbarian!"
"Lay off, Rex." Arnold said, seeing Gerald's reaction to the slightly racial retort. "Gerald said he was sorry."
"Well, he should've been paying attention to where he was going instead of walking into people like a blind oaf!"
"Hey!" Gerald said. "I said I was sorry, I'd appreciate it if you'd at least not insult me."
"Oh, so now you want an apology. Is that it?" the English kid replied. "As far as I'm concerned you don't deserve one, so bugger off!"
Normally, Gerald would've let something like that slide. But Rex's attitude was getting to him, and he didn't feel like backing down.
"Okay, that's it! I'm gonna-" Gerald said as he moved toward Rex.
"Whoa, Gerald. Cool off, man." Arnold said as he held Gerald back. "Just let it slide."
Rex just smirked. "You unsophisticated ones always resort to brawn since you have so little brains, don't you?"
"You're just sayin' that 'cause a pansy like you couldn't fight worth a damn." Gerald countered.
Rex's nostrils flared at that, but he just said. "You really want to challenge me? Very well, but I would like the challenge to be a sport of my own choosing. Let's say. . . fencing."
"Fencing?" Gerald repeated. He knew nothing about fencing, but he just replied: "Sure, why not?"
"Gerald, you don't know anything about fencing." Arnold pointed out.
"Which is why I'm setting the challenge for next Saturday." Rex replied. "That should give you adequate time to learn the basics of fencing."
"Fair my butt!" Arnold spat. "How's Gerald supposed to learn how to fence in a week-"
Gerald cut Arnold off. "Don't worry, Arnold. I can do it, and I'll enjoy beating this guy at his own game. Just like in that Tour de Pond thing."
Rex rolled his eyes. "That is highly unlikely. I suggest you find a good fencing instructor and have him train you in the epee bout style. That form is much less rigid and easier to learn than the saber and foil styles. I am, as I said, a fair man."
Rex gave him directions to his home. "I shall see you at my domicile on Saturday. That is, if you decide to show up."
"I'll be there." Gerald promised. "Count on it."
[]FLASHBACK ENDS[]
"What're you gonna do now Gerald?" Arnold asked.
"I don't know, Arnold." Gerald answered. "But I'll think of something."
"You could just tell Rex that the challenge was made prematurely and back down graciously." Arnold suggested.
"What?!" Gerald replied, incredulous. "If I did that Mr. Rich-and-Snotty would never let hear the end of it."
"But how're you gonna learn how to fence?"
"Well. . ." Gerald said slowly. "There is Phoebe. I heard that she knew how to fence."
Arnold smiled knowingly when he saw Gerald's expression when he had mentioned Phoebe. He knew that Gerald really liked, maybe even liked-liked, Phoebe. But Arnold just said: "Yeah, well, when are you gonna ask her to teach you?"
"Um. . . well, right now I guess."
"Okay," Arnold said, heading toward the boarding house. "Good luck."
Gerald continued on towards Phoebe's house. Suddenly, the prospect of actually going over to Phoebe's house and asking her to teach him how to fence sent Gerald in a momentary panic. He liked-liked Phoebe and had spent a lot of time with her during the Cheese Festival and Rhonda's party, but he wasn't really sure if she liked-liked him back.
Sure, there were a few hints he saw that might confirm that as a fact. He still wasn't entirely sure though, with girls you just couldn't be sure. Lila's constant sending of mixed signals toward Arnold was a perfect example.
Gerald shook his head, trying to clear them of such thoughts. He was just going over to ask Phoebe to train him, that was all. It wasn't like he was asking for a date or anything like that.
Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the Heyerdahl's door. Gerald felt another surge of panic as he pressed the doorbell, but he fought it down. 'Just be cool, Gerald. Be cool.' He thought to himself. 'You're just asking Phoebe to teach you how to fence, that's all. Just be cool.'
The door opened. It was Reba Heyerdahl, Phoebe's mom. "Oh, hello there. You must be one of Phoebe's little friends."
"Uh, yeah," Gerald said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Is Phoebe there? I wanna talk to her about something."
"Sure, why don't you step inside." Reba said. "I'll call Phoebe."
"Thanks, Mrs. Heyerdahl."
"Phoebe!" Reba called out. "One of your friends wants to see you."
Gerald heard a muffled reply from upstairs. A moment later, an Oriental- featured girl came down.
"Oh, um, Gerald." Phoebe greeted, slightly surprised. A small blush tried to come to her face but she quickly controlled it before Gerald could notice. "What brings you here?"
"Uh, hey, Phoebe." Gerald replied. "Um, I was wondering. . . Could you teach me how to fence?"
"Huh?" Phoebe was perplexed. "Why?"
"Well," Gerald said, smiling sheepishly. "I kinda challenged Rex Smythe- Higgins to a fencing match next Saturday. Thing of it is, I don't know how to fence."
He looked sheepishly at her. "I, uh, thought you could help me."
"Well, yes, I do know how to fence." Phoebe confirmed. "But next Saturday? I'm not sure if that's adequate time to train you."
"Tomorrow's Sunday, right?" I could come over then, and maybe after school for the following week? I mean, if you want to, of course. Besides, Rex said something about only needing to teach me how to fight in something called an epee bout."
"That does simplify the task." Phoebe said, thinking it over. "Very well. I shall train you, Gerald. Is 3pm tomorrow okay with you?"
Gerald smiled. "Yeah, sure."
"As for the following week, how about after school foor about an hour or so?"
"Hey, fine with me." Gerald said. He took the back of his head shyly. "Uh, thanks, Phoebe."
This time a blush managed to find its way onto Phoebe's face. "Oh, um, no problem at all, Gerald."
Gerald thanked Phoebe and left. Phoebe actually had to stop herself from jumping around happily at the fact that Gerald had come to HER for help. She went up to her house's fencing room to practice. She was gonna make sure that she'd be the best fencing instructor Gerald would ever have.
Author's Note: Well, that was Chapter One. This is going to be a short and simple fic with some romance because it is Valentine's season. Although I, personally, find Valentine's to be an over commercialized, over marketed, and overrated holiday. Anyway, please R&R. Chapter Two is coming soon.