Arnold sighed as he took his first steps onto the grounds of Hillwood High School. Granted, all the other students in his year and felt the rush of going to high school for the first time two years ago. Still, it would be a nice change of pace from the jungle. His parents had decided it was time to move back to Hillwood when his grandma broke her hip while sliding down the stair bannister. Some things never changed. Then again, some things did. Abner had died a few years ago. Suzie and Oskar Kokoshka had gotten a divorce. Suzie was still living at the boarding house, but Oskar had been out on his own for nearly five years now. No one really knew where he was, or even really cared. Ernie Potts had moved out after he and Lola had gotten married. Mr. Hyunh still lived in the boarding house to help save up to start up his own restaurant. He wasn't sure what had changed with his classmates. He hadn't seen anyone since he'd gotten back to Hillwood. He had planned on surprising Gerald after he and his parents finished unpacking, but the process was taking much longer than they had anticipated. There was still work to be done, but at least most of it had been finished.
He readjusted his backpack before climbing up the steps. He was momentarily overwhelmed by the scene before him. It was utter chaos compared to PS 118. There were couples attached to each other by the mouth, fondling each other against the lockers, there were a few kids skateboarding down the hallway, expertly weaving through crowd. There were some familiar scenes as well. Girls greeted each other in a fit of squeals and hugs, some bookworms stepped through the halls with their faces half hidden by the tomes they poured through, bullies slammed smaller kids against the lockers in an attempt to be intimidating. He couldn't help but scan the halls for any familiar faces on his way to his first class. If he saw anyone he knew he didn't recognise them anymore and they didn't recognise him. He slipped into his first class and slid into a seat near the front of the room. He held his hands together and couldn't help but fidget uncomfortably.
It felt like it had been hours before the bell rang, but it was really only a few moments. His history teacher, a skinny and tall woman who couldn't have been much younger than his grandfather. It was almost hard to believe that she was still up and walking around, as it seemed like she was only being held together by her skin. She did roll call quickly and bluntly. Arnold was a bit disheartened to find that there were no familiar names in his class. Still, that didn't stop him from making a friend. Used to the process of elementary school, he was surprised when they were given homework on the first day. They were sorted into partners and his was the only person who didn't have someone to immediately attach themselves too. Arnold was surprised that she didn't have boys fighting each other to partner with her, as she was very pretty. She was far from oblivious to Arnold's confusion. As she pulled her desk next to his she jokingly said, "You act like you've never been to high school before." She slapped a blue notebook and a black pen onto her desk. She pushed her mass of unruly scarlet curls off of her freckled face.
Arnold swallowed a lump in his throat before admitting, "I...I haven't been to high school before." The redhead froze in the process of opening her notebook and looked up at him skeptically. Arnold shrugged, "I've been home schooled since the sixth grade."
The girl cracked an amused smile, "Shut the fuck up!" She said, a bit too loudly. The teacher sharply scolded his partner for her language and she pursed her lips to keep back a laugh, "I'm Emy. Do you have anyone to show you around?"
Arnold shook his head, "No, but I expect they'll call me into the office and I'll meet someone there."
Emy laughed at his suggestion, "Oh sweetie they don't actually do that. That's just some bullshit you see in movies. And I would know. This is my fourth high school. I'm hoping it's my last. It sucks being an army brat, but give me your locker number and I'll meet you there at lunch and show you the hell hole."
Not being one to curse very often, if at all, Arnold was a little wary of Emy's mouth, but he was glad to have a friend.
Arnold's second class was nothing like the first. He thought it would be almost the same as the first, but it wasn't at all. For starters, his teacher was a man, a bit older, but he didn't seem as harsh as his history teacher. Also, he was prepared for receiving homework on the first day. What he wasn't prepared for was roll call. There were two familiar names. First came Heyerdahl, Phoebe. Arnold craned his neck to get a good look at her. Her hair was long and silky, tied up in a ponytail. Black sleek frames perched upon her nose and she still looked as eager for class to start as ever. What took him even more aback was when Johansson, Gerald was called. "Over here, teach." Gerald spoke up from the other side of the room. Arnold wasn't surprised to find that Gerald looked just as suave and cool as ever. His tower of hair was gone, replaced by a shorter and neater cut and he was some sort of varsity jacket. When Arnold's name was called he almost didn't notice it and he hurriedly announced that he was present. Gerald and Phoebe had either hadn't noticed or they were concealing that they'd noticed. Once the teacher was done with roll call he introduced himself and gave all the students a very warm and familiar welcome to class. It wasn't until Arnold noted the name on the board that he realised that it was Mr. Simmons! He hadn't expected to encounter his fourth and fifth grade teacher in his eleventh year at school, but he was happy for the small familiarity. Now that he realised it was his old teacher he almost felt stupid for not realising it before. Mr. Simmons gave them an assignment which was brief compared to the reading and worksheets Mrs. Collins had given to them.
He was gathering his belongings and about to head to his locker to meet Emy when someone tapped on his shoulder. He turned around and found Gerald looking at him sternly with his arms crossed over his chest, "You couldn't pick up a phone or anything, man?"
Arnold smiled brightly, "I didn't know your number. Everything's all...cellular now."
Gerald frowned, realising that his friend had a point, "Well you still could have come over to my house or something!"
"If I didn't know any better I'd think you aren't happy to see me." Arnold stated, a hint of joking in his voice.
"Of course I'm happy to see you!" Gerald exclaimed, "I'm just surprised!"
"Hey Arnold." The boys turned around to see Phoebe, straightening her glasses as she clutched a book against her chest, smiling warmly.
Gerald frowned, "What, am I invisible or something?"
Phoebe's smile vanished and she glared at him before shortly saying, "Gerald." She turned back to Arnold and he smile returned, "It's great to see you again. I didn't even know you were back in town."
Arnold nodded, "Yeah, I got back about a week ago. It's been a bit hectic."
"I bet. I've got to be going. I tutor math during lunch, but I'll talk to you later."
Arnold bid her farewell and Gerald glared after her as she left. "Can you believe that bitch?" Gerald asked once Phoebe had left.
"I think she was just being friendly." Arnold stated, a bit befuddled by Gerald's behavior.
"Whatever." Gerald muttered, "You wanna meet up for lunch?"
"Uh...I already promised this girl I'd let her show me around. If you're ok with her hanging around then I'd love to." Arnold explained.
"Yeah that's cool. I have to go to my locker anyway. I'll meet you in the cafeteria."
Arnold and Gerald parted ways and he stumbled through the hall until he found his locker again, where Emy was already waiting. She showed him how to get to the cafeteria, which was a good thing because without her he never would have found it. After they got their food, if it was even possible to call it that, Arnold started scanning the tables for Gerald. When he found him, Emy became the confused one. As they approached she told Arnold, "This is the strangest thing I've seen. The Queen Bee is sitting with jocks and stoners and some of the nerds."
Unlike Emy, Arnold was thrilled. Somehow Gerald had gotten almost everyone from the old gang together. Everyone bombarded him with questions about when he had gotten back, why he had come back now, and other questions of the like. He felt guilty when Emy excused herself, feeling like a black sheep in the fold. Before the lunch hour was over, Rhonda had appointed herself with the task of throwing Arnold a 'Welcome Home' party. It wouldn't take place for almost a month, as the perfect party needed time for planning. He received dozens of slips of papers with his classmates' cell phone numbers on them, as he didn't have a phone to enter them in directly.
He compared schedules with everyone and was glad to see that Gerald and Harold were in his next class, Stinky was in his last class of the day, and all of his classes for the next day, save for one , would have a friendly face. As Gerald, Harold, and Arnold all entered the art room for their 'easy' credit, Arnold came to realise a few people who had been missing from their luncheon reunion. "What ever happened to Brainy?" Arnold asked as the trio settled atop their stools.
"He's in rehab." Gerald stated calmly, as if he had just told Arnold that Brainy had gone to the bathroom. "He overdosed on something, no one really knows what."
"That's terrible!" Arnold exclaimed.
Harold shrugged, "It happens."
"What about Curly?"
Gerald laughed, "Are you kidding? That phyco split after the eigth grade. Ran away from home and no one's seen him since."
"What about Helga?" Arnold questioned, saving the one he was most concerned for for the last.
"Her dad's business exploded, in the best possible way." Harold stated.
Gerald nodded, "Big Bob's Beepers became BBP Electronics. He went from just selling TVs and phones and shit to making TVs and phones and shit. Put Helga in some fancy-ass private school in seventh grade. We still saw her occasionally for about...six months, but then she cut herself off completely. She's probably a stuck up bitch now."
"She hasn't talked to anyone?" Arnold asked dubiously, "Not even Phoebe?"
"I don't give a shit about Phoebe!" Gerald snapped.
Harold rolled his eyes and Arnold almost flew off of his seat. He didn't know what Gerald's problem was with Phoebe, and he honestly didn't care. It wasn't his buisness and if Gerald wanted him to know he would tell him. Through the first half of his drawing class, all Arnold could really think about was the party Rhonda was going to throw for him. He was suddenly determined to have Helga attend, though he didn't know why. Or how.