Herroo, everyone. I know it's been forever since I've been on here. I just graduated from high school and have been trying to find a job ever since.

Buuutttt, anyway, this is my first Hey, Arnold! fanfic. I've always loved this show, even as a child, and I've always wanted to write a story for it. Although I never actually shipped Arnold and Helga as a couple, I always thought it was cute that Helga liked him so much.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this story.

But I Didn't Mean It. Honest.

The fiesty blonde watched from a distance as he walked down the hallways waving hello to all of his friends, his bright smile practically alluminating through the crowd. Unfortunately, she knew that smile wasn't genuine, knowing the hurt that was hiding behind the saddened, dull look in his eyes. She nearly grimaced as, for a split second, he looked over at her, before quickly turning away again. He waved to the friends he had been talking to, and began quickly walking the other way. "What a maroon, that's the long way to Mr. Simmonds class. Why not just be someone with a brain and go the normal way?"

She huffed and pushed her bangs up with one swift motion of her hand. "Criminy, Helga, did you honestly think he would want to walk past you after what you did to him? You practically humiliated him, all because you were too worried about your pride. " She leaned up against the lockers, the bell for class ringing as soon as her back hit the cold metal. She waited as her fellow classmates rushed by, the last one nearly tripping as she scurried to get by Helga, and Helga scoffed, pushing herself off the wall. "That's right, keep it movin, Princess." She inwardly kicked herself. "Come on, Helga, stop doing that. Your temper and insults are what got you into this mess in the first place. If Arnold ever spoke to me again it would be too soon."

She took one look at the watch on her wrist and started to half-walk, half-run to Mr. Simmonds class; she couldn't afford another tardy. Bob and Miriam, well, mainly Bob, had threatened to take her journals and diaries away, and she just wouldn't survive that. But, she couldn't help it. She intentionally tried to be almost late so that Arnold would have an excuse to look at her, always looking up everytime the door opened. But, more recently, he began to not even look up as she entered the room anymore. Besides, now she found it much more awkward when she would already be sitting down and Arnold would walk in, and he would almost...hmm, what were the words she was looking for? Not so much "stare her down", just give her a disappointing look. She hated it. Like she didn't get that look everytime she stepped into the same room Bob was in.

She was so lost in her thoughts, she nearly jumped out of her skin when the second bell rang, signaling that she was late. "CRIMINY, pay attention Pataki!" She ran down the hall, not caring if the principal saw her, and as she burst through the door, Mr. Simmonds trailed off. Helga saw Arnold briefly look up, then drop his eyes back to his paper. She felt her heart drop down to her socks.

Mr. Simmonds walked over to Helga, placing a soft hand on her shoulder. She nearly shrugged it off, not wanting anyone's pity. "Helga, what's been with you lately? This is the fifth time you've been late to class in the past two weeks. I don't want to have to call your father again, but I'm going to hav..."

Helga shook her head violently, wanting to scream in frustration. She managed to keep her anger down in a hushed jumble of words. "Please, Mr. Simmonds. Don't calll Bo.., I mean, dad.. Please. It won't happen again, I was just distracted, is all. Please, please. I promise." She looked down at her feet, feeling everyone staring at her. Well, almost everyone.

She heard her teacher sigh, then felt as two fingers were placed under her chin. Her face was lifted up to meet his, his eyes searching hers intently. "Look, Helga, I know I shouldn't do this, but I will excuse you for just this day. This day only. Understand? This is only because you seem so out of character lately, and it's not like you to constantly be late for class. Now, go sit down and begin your work, okay?" He gave her a soft tug of a grin and a reassuring pat on the back.

Helga nodded and turned to walk to her seat, half expecting to see Arnold looking at her. Of course, he wasn't, and she looked away from him. Not wanting to cause any more of a scene in the classroom she sat down and opened her book. However, she didn't read the pages she was supposed to and she didn't write down the questions from on the board like she was supposed to.

She didn't want to be here in this classroom right now, being so close to Arnold. He was right there, just two seats away from her, and yet he felt so far away. Sure, she had caused him trouble in the past, pushing him down, calling him names, laughing when he walked a little too close to the sidewalk when it was raining and a car would splash water all over him. But nothing like this. Nothing that would make him ignore her. He always bounced back like a rubber ball, constantly putting up with her insults and her pushing him around. It's almost as though he could put up with everything she put him through in an attempt to be some type of friend to her. This time, though, she knew she had went too far, and nothing she could ever do or say would make it any better.

Once, she had felt eyes gazing softly at her, and she glanced up, shocked to discover it was Arnold, who had turned slightly in his seat to look at her. Her heart begged her to say that she was sorry but her mind had different plans and before she knew what she was doing she spat, "what are you looking at, Hair Boy? Why don't you take a picture, it'll last longer, Football Head." "No! That's not what I meant to say! Arnold..." She instantly bit her tongue, watching as the love of her life's eyes widened, tears forming in them as he stared directly at her, his mouth dropping in shock. She opened her mouth to say something else, and at the moment she didn't even know if it would be an insult or an apology, but before the words fell out, Arnold quickly turned back around.

She knew nothing good was going to come out of this as Gerald turned his head to talk to his best friend, and after about five minutes, angrily pushing himself out of his seat. Everyone around him jumped as the bottoms of his chair scraped harshly against the floor. "Seriously, Helga? What IS your problem, home girl? With that little stunt you pulled a few weeks ago, don't you think you should treat Arnold a little better than you are right now?"

Helga's mouth became dry as her classmates all turned to face her, boring holes into her skin. Arnold was the only who remained with his back to her. Mr. Simmonds looked up from the book he was reading, and Helga silently pleaded for him to say something, and he looked as though he was, until Harold butted in. "Yea, Helga, you're always saying that I'm the biggest bully. But at least I'm not as mean as you, you big bully."

Helga stood up, her heart pounding so hard she was afraid everyone could hear it. "I am not a bully, Arnold knows I didn't mean what I did...right, Arnold?" Her voice sounded alien, far away, and she wasn't even sure if Arnold had heard the last part of her sentence. He probably wouldn't have answered her anyway. Another voice snapped her back to reality.

"I beg ta differ, Helga, yer always pickin' on Arnold and puttin him down and pushin him around. It was bound ta happen sooner'er'later that ya'd go and do somethin' like this," Stinky added, and everyone shook their head in agreement, their harsh words repeating and echoing in her ears. She just wanted to run away, away from the all the disappointed looks and the taunts of every single person in front of her.

This was killing her. But for some reason, none of this was as painful as the look that Arnold had given her when she yelled at her, the look that kept popping up in her head. That look was sure to torment her in her dreams for the rest of her life.

She hung her head, pushing her hands against her ears and trying in a futile attempt to block out what everyone was screaming at her. It seemed as if the combined voices were getting louder and that they would never stop, and she threw her hands up in the air, screaming. "LOOK! I know what I did was wrong!"

The voices died down, and she thought she saw Arnold turn his seat to look at her, but she was too afraid to look and find out. So she kept talking, just to make sure that he heard what she had to say. She took a deep, shuttering breath and began again. " I know what I did was wrong. It's been tearing me apart since that day. I really honestly didn't mean. Honest. You guys gotta believe me. Sometimes, I...I..just say things that I don't mean, and I...I really wish that...Arnold would just forgive me. But I know that he probably really doesn't want to, and I don't blame him. In fact, I never want him to forgive me. I don't even wanna forgive myself." She walked around from behind the desk, past everyone, until she was directly in front of her teacher, who was now standing up. The tears begin to stream down her face, and she tried to hide it, but there was no hiding it as she asked in a shaky, cracked voice if Mr. Simmonds could write her a note to go home.

He nodded his head yes, the sympathetic look in his eyes making her want to cry even more, and as he went to write a note she tried to make one final plea. She faced the class, looking every single person in the eyes, before looking at Arnold, who was already staring at her, that same hurt look in his eyes. She looked him dead in the eyes, and kept her gaze on him as she spoke. "Arnold, listen, I'm truly sorry. I wish I could take it back, just...to take it all back and never have seen that horrible look in your eyes. I just...want...I...I'm so...sorry...Arnold.."

Mr. Simmonds prodded her in the shoulder with the note, and she took it quickly, not even turning to look at him before running out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Mr. Simmonds, along with the rest of his class, turned to face Arnold. He seemed to not want to look at any of them, and kept his eyes down. " Arnold," Mr. Simmonds said softly, "Do you want to go and talk to Helga?"

The room was filled with an awkward silence as he waited for Arnold to respond, and Gerald placed his hand on his best friend's shoulder as Arnold wiped the tears from his eyes. After a few short minutes, Arnold quietly muttered his answer, the first time he had spoken in five weeks.

"...No.."

You like? What was it that Helga did that was so bad, and will Arnold ever speak to her again? Comment what you think what mean thing Helga did to Arnold? And make sure to keep your eyes open for the next part of this story.

Peace, love, and stories. Good bye for now, my lovlies.