A/N: Hello, everyone! Hope all is going well! Wow, I haven't been on this site when it comes to writing in a while. I've had a few fics on here, but deleted them. So after watching Hey Arnold and getting a bit into the fandom and their fanfics, I thought why not? I'll write my own too!

This slight AU is from Helga's POV mostly where most episodes of the show are mentioned or rewritten. She isn't a bully, but she still has that sarcastic and cynical way about her. Her family is even different in a way. But, regardless Helga's life isn't grand. She still has anger issues and deep rooted insecurities that she takes out on others. She's little more quiet, still a sort of bossy, but way more approachable. Outfits for characters will change slightly but not too much. The most change will be in Helga's (and maybe Arnold's) case. I wasn't a huge fan of Hey Arnold growing up. I just recently started watching it again, so I'm hoping that the characters aren't too OOC. We'll see.

Either way, if you've read up to this point, thank you and I hope you enjoy my little prologue!

[This chapter was beta read by The J.A.M a.k.a. Numbuh i! Check out their stories! They're amazing~]

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HEY ARNOLD!

Episode 0: Hey Helga

Ugh, not again.

"Cut! Cut! Hey, Arnold!"

"Huh?"

"Get off the stage! This isn't your scene!"

"Oh. Yeah. Sorry."

Helga scoffed, scowl softening into a mere glare. "Amateur."

He brushed past her and she caught a whiff of him. Was that cinnamon? No, the spice wasn't that strong. A fruity tinge, maybe? So sweet and just so—

Helga bit the inside of her cheek hard, giving a barely noticeable flinch at the pain. To become a swooning pile of mush was not on her to-do list today. There were other things to focus on; like whipping these idiots into shape. So, as the laughter died down and Helga went into her "motivational" speech, she purposely kept her eyes off him. Yet, despite not wanting to look his way, she almost wanted to squirm at having all of his attention at the moment. It felt as if he was begging for her to see him. Probably starving for it too. In her imagination, of course.

At the end of her inspiring pep talk, her scowl deepened. "If anyone's late, they're going to have to answer to Ol' Betsy." Her fist came up for good measure, making most of her audience's eyes widen.

Her threats weren't entirely empty, but not exactly solid either. Helga made it known throughout her educational career, however, to not get on her bad side. Harold knew of it all too well. There was a nice side to her too. People saw it more than she'd like, one person in particular catching a glimpse more than anyone in her short existence and they weren't Phoebe. That person stood amongst the crowd, eyes still trained on her as she finally dismissed everyone. No, she wouldn't look. Not yet.

Helga gathered her things as everyone rushed out of the auditorium, voices loud and echo-y. That's when she finally brought her gaze up and looked. A hint of that ridiculous blue cap nearly hidden in blonde locks came into view. Then he was gone.

A chest-deep swoon forced its way out of her lungs. "Oh, Arnol—"

Helga slapped her hands over her mouth. There wasn't anyone around, but she shouldn't be too careless! Last time, Rhonda, out of all people, nearly caught her in the girl's bathroom a week ago and some boy in another class had heard her behind the trashcans a month ago at recess. Good thing he didn't seem to care about what she had been rambling on about. He did, however, go out of his way to call her weird. In the end, he learned to watch his mouth.

With a sigh and the shake of her head, Helga hiked her backpack on, tugged on her beret, and dragged herself on home. Her locket felt unusually heavy around her neck. This was going to be hard…

"Miriam, I'm home."

Helga closed the door as Miriam peeked out of the kitchen in full business attire. Today, she wore purple. Her cell phone, as usual, was attached to her head as she motioned for Helga to come in the kitchen. Helga rolled her eyes and did as she was told. No words were exchanged between them, Miriam being too engrossed in her call. Helga sat at the table and watched in boredom.

This became the norm in the Pataki household. Wait, no, in the Soucie-Pataki household. At least, after Bob left. Their divorce happened exactly on Helga's sixth birthday and Helga had been condemned to Bob's crappy apartment on the weekends. One good thing came out of that messy affair, though. Miriam got half of everything and started her own electronics business. Not to mention she was an overall better mother. Sort of.

"Look, Cayden. Calm down. I'll be there in fifteen minutes, you hear me? I need to get my daughter situated. You keep those picky investors busy. You sell. Or you're fired. Alright, buh-bye now."

Cayden's frantic voice reached an all-time high before Miriam clicked the line dead. Helga shook her head in pity. Poor fool.

Miriam didn't pause as she bustled around the kitchen. A sandwich was placed in front of Helga as well as a juice and a bendy straw. The older woman hummed to herself while putting a frozen lasagna entrée in the microwave. Helga rolled her eyes, knowing what would be said next. Like usual, no one remembered…

"Hi, sweetie, how was school?"

Helga sighed. "It was—"

"That's nice, honey. Dinner's cooking. Make sure to keep your phone on and check the battery. Do not leave the house or open the door for anyone. In case I'm not home, make sure to be in bed on time and set the house alarm."

Helga blinked then grumbled leaning her head on her hand. "Sure, Miriam."

The older woman paused briefly to give Helga a pointed look. "No, I'm mom. We talked about this."

Helga groaned. "Sure, mom! Crimney…"

Miriam rushed up to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek which Helga promptly wiped at harshly with another grumble. "Have a good night, sweetheart. Love you!"

Then she was gone with the door slamming behind her. Helga, finally alone, sat in silence for a good two minutes and gave a hateful stare at the surprisingly good looking sandwich. It wasn't enough that her mom didn't remember her play that night, but she still had the nerve to care enough to make sure she had an after school snack. It was almost hard to be angry about anything anymore!

"Everything and everyone bites."

She shoved from the table, snatching the sandwich right off the plate and taking a large bite. Up she went to her room, mind going to where it had always gone. Arnold. Beautiful, wondrous Arnold. The last few days he wasn't really talkative. In fact, he spoke to her less and less because of his recent crush for that stupid airheaded bimbo of a sixth grader Ruth.

"What could he possibly see in her? She's doesn't know he exists, the idiot! And she's a sixth grader, for Pete's sake! All they ever care about are their looks and the next trend!" She pushed her way into her room and went straight to her closet, taking another large bite of her sandwich and spraying crumbs everywhere. "I mean, what's a girl got to do to get a little attention! Bully him? Is that what will make that stupid Football Head acknowledge me? Is that it?"

She paused. Well, maybe not. Back in second grade, just for a chance to be closer to him, she tried the whole bullying thing. But once those emerald green orbs glistened with tears because of her torture, Helga couldn't bare to keep it up. And Arnold, being the nice boy that he was, and still is, forgave her almost instantly. She didn't even apologize and Arnold didn't ask her to. It caused such a crisis within her, she had to distance herself for a while. Oddly, that was the one thing he couldn't forgive easily.

Books upon books in various shades of pink neatly stacked in boxes snug against the walls inside the closet while flickering Christmas lights hung sloppily on the back wall. In the middle of everything sat jars of the most important things in her life, but she ignored them in favor of setting her gaze on the unfinished bubble gum shrine of her dearly beloved. She sighed longingly.

"If only," she said trailing off. The words wanted to pour out, sitting on her tongue so pretty. But… "I can't do this right now! I need to practice my lines!"

Helga slammed the closet shut and glared at her costume sitting in the corner. She had failed to see the bouquet of daisies sitting on her nightstand before. Curious, she went over and snatched up the card that was attached.

Good luck on your big production tonight, Baby Sister! –Love, Olga

Helga's scowl melted from her features. It was strange that Olga always knew when to come through when it mattered…some of the time anyway. Helga couldn't help looking back at the closet, the urge to pick up one of her books and write a few lines was getting stronger by the minute. But no, she promised herself. No Arnold until after the play. This was too important. It had to be, right? She flopped on her bed and finished up the sandwich.

No Arnold, huh?...

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Then an hour. She hadn't moved, eyes till trained on the door.

"Oh, who am I kidding? I can't stay away!"

She tripped out of the bed and ran to the closet, flinging it open. No, she couldn't and wouldn't stay away. Impossible. Simply hopeless…