Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold!

The Day You Will

By Moonlight

On Her Own

And just like that, it's gone.

She was used to feeling disappointed, however. It seemed as though most things in life were just that. A disappointment. As if nothing in the world could ever go the way she wanted it to. The way she needed it to. The years she'd spent trying so hard to mask her feelings had gone to waste because she had so desperately wanted to hear how he felt about her. How he saw her.

It had been days since they'd started sixth grade. Since he'd taken her hand in his and smiled sweetly at her. Since she'd feigned anger and pulled away from him before spatting those nasty words and walking off without him. Days since he'd made an effort to talk to her or even approach her.

Instead, Helga had caught Arnold eyeing her from across the room. A look of doubt on his face as she'd stared back at him for the few seconds that she did. She could have sworn she'd seen a tiny spark of hope in his eyes one of those times. And yet, she'd kept her distance as well.

The days had gone by as if nothing had ever happened. As if the moment they shared while dangling for their lives had never happened. As if the kiss they shared and that moment of pure bliss had...never happened.

And it didn't make sense. Why hadn't things changed? Why hadn't she just taken his hand and been happy?

What was she afraid of?

Was it that, for some reason, every ounce of hope that she held onto felt like it was fading away? Or maybe it was her locket, faded and chipped from the journey to San Lorenzo, that caused her to lose faith in herself? Arnold's picture in pieces behind the frame stared back at her as if to mock her.

Whatever it was had dropped a massive speed bump on the road to the dream she'd longed to live in.

And it hurt.

And then it hit her like a ton of bricks.

She was scared for sure. However, the thing that scared her the most… the thing that made her fear approaching Arnold was her insecurity. Her lack of self-confidence stung the deepest parts of her being. She was afraid of him rejecting her. As if he had completely lost his mind when he kissed her back in the jungle, and had regret it upon return.

"Am I not...good enough?" Helga said to herself quietly as she watched her classmates vacate the room seconds before the bell chimed.

A small voice perked up from behind her, "What do you mean, Helga?"

RIIIIING!

Startled back into reality, Helga jumped out of her seat and turned to face Phoebe. Books in one hand and the other adjusting her glasses, Phoebe eyed her friend curiously as she awaited an answer.

Settling down from her little scare, Helga gathered her belongings and sighed. "...nothing, Phoebs."

"Are you sure…?" Phoebe glanced around the room quickly and spotted Gerald waiting for her at the door. Arnold stood at his side, peering at the two girls still inside. "...um…"

Backpack on, Helga shook her head at her friend, "You should go…" she glanced over at the two boys as well, before turning back to stare down at her desk, "...Gerald is waiting for you."

Hesitating, the small girl gripped her books a little tighter and took a deep breath. "Helga...look, Arn-"

"Just GO."

Her voice was forceful. A little too forceful, causing the small girl to narrow her eyes in concern and sadness. Turning towards the door, she greeted Gerald with a small smile and followed the two boys down the hall and out of sight.

Slamming her palms on her desk, Helga took deep breaths to regain her composure. Her whole body trembled in anger at herself. "Keep it together." She breathed before standing up straight and starting for the door.

"Hey." A hesitant voice greeted her quietly from the doorway.

It was Arnold in all his football headed glory. His hands shoved in his pockets and his shoulders lifted in an uncomfortable shrug.

Helga quickly averted his gaze and, instead, looked down at her feet.

"I was wondering…" the boy continued. His cheeks filling with color, "...would you like to join us for a movie?"

She could feel her own face begin to burn up. Her chest pounded from the mere sound of his voice. He hadn't spoken to her in days, the concept seemed so foreign to her. She swallowed hard.

"I'm… I'm b-busy tonight." She stammered before pushing past him down the hallway.

Arnold moved to reach for her hand, but froze short of grabbing it, remembering her words from before. He stood still, watching her retreating figure disappear through the front doors of the school.

Feeling defeated, he wondered if Helga had somehow changed her mind about her feelings. If she decided that he wasn't what she actually wanted once he showed her affection. His mind began to wander further in that direction, but he shook his head at the thought. The boy hoisted his book bag over his shoulder and headed for the door as well. Gerald and Phoebe would be waiting.

After bursting through the double doors, Helga sprinted down the steps of the school. Her left foot involuntarily skipping a step, causing her to stumble clumsily to the sidewalk and nearly face planting on the cement. Luckily something had held her back before her face could touch ground.

"AHH-!" she yelped.

"Helga, are you alright?"

The blonde girl looked up to see Phoebe filled with concern once again. Helga glared in return. She had gotten used to this look in the past week, so it didn't phase her anymore.

Gerald, who had caught Helga by her blue jacket, moved to help her stand steady on the ground. "You gotta watch where you're going, Pataki." He chuckled, "Ready to go? Where's Arnold?" He looked back towards the doors.

Helga's hands balled into fists once more. Her whole body beginning to tremble at the sound of Arnold's name.

"A-Actually, I'm-" she started. Her voice starting to reach a point where she sounded like she would snap.

Just then, she heard the sound of the doors open, and Arnold's voice spoke up. "She's not joining us, guys. Let's just go."

The tone of his voice was low, sad even. Helga couldn't help but lift her head to meet his eyes. She felt as if her knees were buckling underneath her, as he stared back, longingly. It was as if his eyes were piercing through her soul, pleading for something.

"...th-that's right…" she agreed, turning back to face in the direction of the Beeper Emporium, which she currently called home. Her feet began to move on their own, quickening their pace with each step she took.

The three left behind only watched as she ran off until she was out of sight. Phoebe adjusted her glasses before turning to Gerald, who shared her look of concern. "Let's go, I guess…"

"Aren't you going after her?" Gerald responded in confusion.

Phoebe forced a smile and shook her head. "She… needs to resolve this one on her own."

Arnold could only sigh to himself. His eyes never having left the direction in which Helga ran.

Moonlight: I'm back? Hi~