*CRASH*
"Arnold!?" Helga gasped looking up at the boy she hadn't seen in years. She panicked, rolling down her selves.
"Hey Helga," Arnold sat up, his head spinning. "Man it's good to see you again, have you seen Gerald?" Arnold stood up and began to dust himself off. He reached for Helga's hand to help her up.
" what are you doing back Football face? Thought you were having the greatest time playing happy family with your folks." Helga felt a bang of familiar feelings come rushing back at her.
"Uh yeah, that was great. But I really missed the gang and all, I had to come back. I missed you a lot too Helga." Arnold scratched his head awkwardly. Helga tried her hardest not to smile.
"You did?"she said quietly "I mean of course you did football, what's not to miss?" Helga dusted herself off. Arnold watched her, Helga had really grown, her limbs long and slender. "What are you looking at bucko?" Helga said, making Arnold jump a little.
"Haha uh nothing, just you're changed, no bow and I see you've gone with the color purple now. It looks good." Arnold smiled, making Helga blush a little. "So you wanna go see the gang with me? I'm gonna need someone to catch me up a it."
"Don't get to chumy with me Arnoldo, but if you really insist, I'll walk with you. So you wanna hear about the gang do yeah? Well where do I begin? Gerald and Phoebe got a on and off thing going. That's pretty annoying. Oh speaking of annoying Rhonda and Nadine still have their weekly fights, Sheena tries to keep the peace between them now-"
"What about Eugene? Stinky? Sid? Curly? Oh and what about Harold and Lila?" Arnold asked, interrupting Helga.
"I'm getting there Hairboy, calm your horses. Eugene is pretty popular now that he's outta the closet. Still a walking jinx. Curly is being studied by some psychologists. Harold is still an ass, but has joined wrestling and football. Oh Brainy, almost forgot about that kid. Him and Lila dated for a bit but broke up when Brainy moved to Chicago. Lila's dating Stinko now. Sid and I are pretty close now." Helga continued, kicking pebbles as they walked, she shoved her hands in her pockets. Helga's head hung low, and she seemed to speak softer than her usual outspoken self.
"Hm things haven't changed too much. So why were you out on that side of town? That's pretty far from your place, isn't it?" Arnold asked her, a gentle fall breeze blew by them.
"Bob and Miriam got into another fight, things were getting outta hand. So I left." Helga shrugged, "Nothing outta the usual eh, Football head?" She said looking over to Arnold, he frowned at hearing Helga's story.
"I guess not, I'm sorry you have to put up with that stuff Helga, no wonder you were so mean in elementary school." Arnold said looking up at her, their eyes met. Helga's heart stopped, along with time it's self. "no no no no this wasn't happening, I can't love Arnold again, no no no. I just got over the boy not again." Helga's mind began to race, pulling away from Arnold gaze. Helga shrugged again. The two fell quiet as they approach "Gerald Field" where the gang was gather. "Hey guys." Arnold said with a wave.
"Arnold?!" Gerald said with pleasant surprise, running up to his old friend. Gerald gave Arnold a big hug and grinned sticking out his thumb. "You still got it?"
Arnold smiled, sticking out his thumb, touching Gerald's and the two wiggled their thumbs like they use to as children. "Sure do."
"Boy howdy Arnold, is that really you?" Sid said, walking up to his old pal. Sid's ears were gauged, he wore a green beanie, a black leather jacket with a white V-neck under, some dark washed jeans and, surprisingly sneakers.
"Hey Sid, where'd your beatle boots go?" Arnold asked, pointing at Sid's new kicks. Sid's smile faded, putting his head down. Sid fiddled with his fingers and began to stutter out a few words.
"Uh, yeah, um, oh you know, I was uh um m-mu-mugg- I was um jumped a couple weeks after you left. M-mm- Monkeyman couldn't catch up to the pu-punks that did it." Sid stammered out, kicking his foot into the dirt.
"Oh I'm so sorry Sid. Well your new shoes look good too." Arnold put his hand on Sid's shoulder, letting him no it was okay.
"Well I'll be, is that Arnold?!" Stinky said, walking up to the small group holding Lila's small hand
"Hello Arnold, it's ever so pleasant to see you again. If I'm not mistaken I believe you said you were going to study the Green Eyed people with your parents, why are you not with them?" Lila asked, smiling at Arnold.
"Oh yeah, I was and I got a lot of research done, I just needed a break. I really missed everyone." Arnold explained, he looked at his former crush feeling strange. feeling nothing. Arnold didn't love Lila anymore, but why? Helga looked over at him and noticed Arnold staring at Lila.
"I know that look, it's the look of love. Great it's elementary school all over again. Arnold still loves Lila. I mean of course he loves her, look at her. She's beautiful, she's thin, she's on the cheer-leading team, she's the best singer in the school. I don't think Arnold would ever love a girl like me." Helga thought to herself, she looked at him longingly. She looked at him long enough for Sid to notice, he walked over and nudged her giving her a sympathetic. Like Helga said her and Sid were good friends now.
"Salutations Arnold, back from your trip?" Phoebe greeted Arnold. She gave him a hug, still holding a textbook. Releasing from the hug Arnold got a good look at the textbook.
"12th grade bio? Phoebe why are you taking 12th grade courses? we're only in grade 10." Arnold said puzzled, "I thought you were done with jumping ahead classes" He smirked, "typical Phoebe." he thought.
"Oh I am Arnold, my teacher gave this to me so I wouldn't get bored in his class." Phoebe explained.
"So where is everyone else? Rhonda? Nadine? Sheena, Eugene, Harold?" Arnold asked looking around.
"Rhonda and Nadine are at Harold's football game, and I believe Sheena and Eugene are practicing for the school play." Phoebe answered. "They'll be thrilled to see you Arnold, would you like me to text them?" She asked, already reaching for her cellphone.
"No I'll see them tomorrow. It's getting pretty late, and I should go home and unpack some stuff." Arnold said, stretching his arms. He looked over at Helga who was talking quietly to Sid. "Night guys, night Helga." He shouted as he walked away, waving goodbye. The gang all shouted back to Arnold and decided it was getting pretty dark. Saying their good nights and goodbyes, they departed ways, leaving Helga and Sid alone in the dark lot.