Hello everyone! Welcome to my story This Unexpected Life. A (hopefully in your opinion) beautiful story dedicated to everyone's favorite (and now completely cannon) cartoon couple...Arnold and Helga!

This story is set in the future. The gang is in their Junior year of high school (around 17 years old).

Summary:

Arnold returns from San Lorenzo after 7 years away from Hillwood and the gang. Everyone has grown up and moved on, especially Helga. But when Arnold is set on settling some unfinished business, he turns Helga's world completely upside-down! On top of Helga trying to figure out her feelings on Arnold's return, she's trying to get over this annoying stomach bug that won't go away...

All of the Characters belong to their rightful owner and creator, Craig Bartlett.

This Unexpected Life: Prologue

"Criminy! What the heck is wrong with me!?"

This must've been the 4th day in a row that thought has crossed my mind while I was staring into the porcelain abyss. All I wanted to do was brush my teeth before I head off to school. But instead, here I was, Helga G. Pataki, with my whole entire head inside the toilet bowl trying to stop myself from upchucking yet again. This has unfortunately become my normal routine for at least the past week. Wake up, get dressed, attempt to eat breakfast, head to the bathroom, purge, and leave for school. Scary right? The worst part is I have no idea why this is even happening to me.

"Helga? Are you alright, dear?" I could hear Miriam ask softly from outside of the bathroom door. She happened to be in the kitchen this particular morning where she witnessed first hand my rushed trip to the restroom before I made a mess on the floor.

"C'mon, Olga! You're gonna miss the bus if you don't get your keester out of there. And I'm sure as heck not about to be late for work taking you to school!" I could hear my blowhart father exclaim right behind Miriam's worried voice. Leave it to Big Bob Pataki to be worried about his disappontment of a second daughter.

I was able to stop myself from heaving long enough to compose myself and respond.

"Yeah, yeah! Keep your shirt on, Bob! I'll be out in a minute." I tried to yell. I slowly stood up off of the bathroom floor and flushed the horrid remains of this morning's episode down the drain. After slowly making my way to the sink so I could rinse the stench out of my mouth, I was able to glance at my reflection in the mirror. I didn't even recognzie myself. The deep dark-colored bags under my bloodshot, blue eyes gave off the impression that I haven't slept in weeks. It made no sense. I had been so tired lately that I was even skipping softball practice just so I could be home and in bed by 6pm every night. I took one final look at my relfection before shaking my head as if to shake away the irrational thoughts of the possible disease I was dying from. I walked out of the restroom, down the stairs, and out the door after grabbing my school bag. If anything could distract me from my current medical mystery, it was school.

"Good Morning, Helga." I was greeted by a sweet voice, which could only belong to my best friend Phoebe.

"Morning, Pheebs." I replied weakly as I sat beside her on the bus.

"Gosh, Helga! You look awfully pale. Are you still feeling ill?" She gently placed her hand on my shoulder in a comforting manner. I knodded in response. "Maybe you should seek medical attention." she suggested.

"No dice, Pheebs." I responded. "This week is AP exams, and Bob has threatened my sanity by sending me to Alaska to stay with Olga for the summer if I fail. So whatever this is that's making me sick is gonna have to be put on hold. There's no way I can afford to fail these exams." Phoebe continued to stare worridly at me. I gave her a small smile to try and make her feel at ease. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. It takes a lot more than an annoying stomach bug to bring down Helga Pataki."

Phoebe chuckled. "Okay, Helga. If you say so."

I was way too prideful to ever admit it, but I was grateful to have such a great friend like Phoebe in my life. It was nice to have someone show love and concern toward me considering I never received it at home. I'm sure she knows my appreciation towards her without having to say it outright. We have a great connection like that.

"Mornin' Arnold!" At the front of the bus, I could hear my longtime classmate Stinky's southern drawl speak out.

The sound of that torturous name caused my heart to leap into my throat. I almost made a choking sound at the feeling. In as inconspicuous of a manner as I could, I gazed forward to catch a glimpse at the boy with the cornflower hair that has perturbed my heart and soul for the past 14 years of my life.

What I wasn't expecting was that the boy in question would be staring right back into my gaze. This caused my stomach to churn and I felt the familiar tingle in my chest I have felt every morning for the past week before I would blow chunks. I immediately forced my gaze to the floor and placed my hand over my mouth. I made an urgent attempt to control my breathing so the seats in front of me would'nt become a splash zone.

"Helga? Are you feeling sick,again?" I could hear Phoebe's voice echo. It was muffled by my own anxious thoughts swirling in my mind.

"Get it together, Helga! He's coming this way! You do NOT want him to think that he has any power over you. Control yourself!"

"Helga?" my internal peptalk was interrupted by the silky velvet voice that has haunted my dreams the last month. I could feel my heart cease it's beating.

I wasn't sure how, but I was able to build enough strength to pick my head up and look directly at those alluring green eyes of none other than Arnold himself.

"Are you okay?" He asked with a worried pout on his face.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before removing my hand from my mouth to respond. "W-what's it to you, football head?" Nice going, Helga. Stuttering like an idiot is so convincing.

"I'm just worried about you, that's all" he replied, seeming unfazed by my attempt to be insulting.

"Well don't be." I crossed my arms in front of my chest and turned my head slightly to avoid his gaze.

"Helga, please? It's been a month. Can't we just talk about thi-"

"She's waiting for you, Arnold." I cut off his plea. I couldn't bear to hear him anymore. At this point my head was turned completely away from him. The last thing I could hear was his defeated sigh and his footsteps fading behind me. I knew he making his way to the one girl whom he has always pined for and who would ultimately steal the affections of the boy of my dreams...Lila.

I could feel tears forming in the corners of my eyes, and I refused to let them fall. Phoebe's small hand was placed on my shoulder once again, as if trying to comfort me even though she knew there was nothing she could possibly do. I could feel my shoulders slump forward slightly in defeat. At that moment, I couldn't help but think back to that fateful day 4 weeks ago. It was by far the best day of my entire life...and the worst.

I hope you all enjoyed the prologue! The next chapter will be flashback to that fateful day 4 weeks ago. So stay tuned!

Please read and review! All critiques welcome. I am by no means a professional writer. I simply write for fun.