A/N: This is my first Hey Arnold fic! Yeah, like I deserve a medal for that, but whatever. Hopefully you people out there will like it. I'm not entirely sure where this story is going, but it should be fun.

Rebuilding

Chapter One


Hillwood High School was a very large, very old brick building, much like all the other buildings in the district and surrounding neighborhoods. Teenagers poured into the building, bounding up the front staircase and crawling over the grass, looking for all the world like ants returning to their queen. None dallied on the lawn at this time of the morning, all too worried about the imminent tolling of the tardy bell that could spell their doom.

Helga G. Pataki was not in the least bit worried about being late. The likelihood of her actually getting to her first class on time was slim to none as she had to go to the office first and drop off her paperwork. Right now Helga was watching for familiar faces. She thought she might have spotted Sheena already, but wasn't sure. If it was her, five years had made a difference; not that Helga looked exactly the same as she had in sixth grade. Absently, she fingered a lock of her hair, shoulder-length and blonde with streaks in bubblegum pink. Olga had badgered her into getting her eyebrows waxed in her freshman year so the uni-brow was no longer. No longer were pink sundresses apart of her ordinary wardrobe, either. During the course of Junior High and High School those dresses and bows had been replaced by black miniskirts and chains, with a generous helping of combat boots and safety pins. The anger of her clothing offset her lithe body.

At the moment she was wearing a short, plaid skirt in purple and black, and a black tank top underneath a black hooded sweatshirt adorned with safety pins along the hood and pocket. The messenger bag slung across her shoulders held a few notebooks and a binder, as well as her newest journal and a selection of pens and pencils.

Suddenly a sound the sixteen year old girl hadn't heard for five years tore through her musings. Heavy breathing, over her left shoulder.

Huffing in annoyance despite the rush of nostalgia coursing through her body, Helga let her fist fly.

She heard a body hit the ground and turned to see who it was.

"Brainy?" It was him, without a doubt, though he was not wearing any glasses, and as he stood he revealed himself to be outstanding in height, and just as horrible in posture.

"I thought it was you," he said in a deep voice. Time really had done him well. Across the street a bell tolled.

"Yeah. Looks like you're going to be late," she said. Brainy shrugged not seeming to care.

"When did you get back?"

"Just three days ago."

The boy nodded, and started to cross the street glancing for cars in both directions.

"Do you know where the office is?" he asked without turning around. She didn't.

Scowling at the thought of receiving help from Brainy of all people, Helga didn't move. She would find somebody who didn't know her to ask for help. Besides, the school wasn't large; it couldn't be too hard to find the Administrations Office.

She waited until there were no more students wandering around the entrance to move from her spot. She strolled down the main hallway and was immediately, hopelessly lost. Even better, the halls were completely empty. She continued along glaring at the dirty tiled floors, and grey lockers. The Offices had been at the front of her last school. Sighing, Helga started looking for the nearest staircase.

"DAMNIT!" Startled, Helga stopped and looked back the way she came. The front doors slammed shut behind a girl with short, sandy hair and clothes similar to Helga's own. The straps and chains of her pants flapped around her legs and clanged together while she ran, and her converses squeaked on the tiles. She flew down the corridor at breakneck speed, and nearly missed her turn due to her momentum. That momentum sent her flying into Helga, and brought them both to the ground.

"I take it you're late."

Carrie rolled her eyes at the other girl's sarcasm before turning to face her.

"And you're not?" she challenged. Helga smirked.

"No, I'm just lost," she snorted. "Can't seem to find the office."

They both stood, brushing themselves off, sizing each other up.

"Well," began Carrie amiably, "Seeing as I'm late already it wouldn't be any trouble to show you the way."

The blonde girl shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat, Missy. Seemed to me you were pretty upset about being late, but okay." She made a 'lead the way' motion with her arms.

Carrie gave her a roguish smile and shrugged, obliging she walked ahead towards the stairwell.

"All the teacher's offices are on the fifth floor, for some reason. Personally, I think it's meant to make it more foreboding, having to go up there. I'm Carrie Peterson by the way."

"Helga Pataki. Thanks for the help."

"No problem. It wasn't all that important that I get to math, anyway. I'll have to suffer the detention anyway. I had some vain hope of getting out of it earlier, but the chances were slim to none."

Helga nodded following Carrie up the stairs. She had to agree; there was no good reason for the teachers to put their offices on the top floor. It made them frustratingly inaccessible.

Carrie, it turned out, was a sophomore who enjoyed anime, vampires, loud music, and talking. The prattled on through four flights of stairs, and just as Helga's patience was running out she finished.

"Well, here's where you'll turn in your new student paperwork. If you need somewhere to sit at lunch, my friends and I are usually in one of the art rooms."

She smiled and waved before bounding back down the stairs, leaving the other girl to brave the secretary by herself.

"Well everything appears to be in order. Here's your class schedule, and a map of the school, for you. The 100's are on the first floor, the 200's on the second and so on. Welcome to Hillwood High!" Helga was about done with cheerful people for the day.