In this version Helga hasn't gone to school all her life with the same kids since she has been moved to so many places because of Bob's business. Arnold is his normal helpful friendly self to others in wanting to help out others. There will be tension here and there if you catch my meaning, but Helga is mostly playing it safe along with Arnold.

Sorry there will be some family tension stuff so that is why it is rated T. And I decided to not make Lila a villain in this at all, but I won't write way too much of her character since writing "Ever so's" is a pain in the rear.

By the way I hate summaries and I'm warning you I'm not a professional writer so no flaming me please. Trust me I can kick my own rear better than you can kick mines. ;)

I don't own Hey Arnold. :(

"So... Have you heard anything from, Phoebe?" Gerald wondered as nonchalantly as possible.

Arnold narrowed one of his eyes at his friend in his attempt of playing it cool. "Yeah and she'll be back from Kentucky before the beginning of Senior year, Gerald."

"Cool. Cool." Turning his attention to the ground in hopes that his feet looked fascinating rather than the actual subject playing in his head he then decided to ask his best friend another question. "So you finally gave up on, Lila correct?"

Rolling his eyes, Arnold sighed. "Yes. I gave up on her in the 8th grade remember? We would of made a boring couple. Why are you bringing this subject up again?"

"Oh no reason. No reason at all."

"Gerald?" Stopping in his tracks, Arnold placed a hand on his hip to stare down his friend. "What is going on with you?"

Head down, Gerald turned to look at his friend. "I like Phoebe."

Arnold thought he sounded like he was about to be placed in front of a firing squad the way he finally admitted to his feelings. "Yeah I know. I've known for a long time. The thing is, Gerald, why are you wasting your time asking her out?"

Kicking a lone pebble to the street, Gerald blushed a little. "I don't feel good enough for her, that's why."

"Nonsense. Gerald I guarantee if you ask her out she'll say yes."

Perking up his head Gerald looked like he had hope for once in his life just being granted to him. "You really think so?"

Stepping close to his friend, Arnold clasped his hand on his shoulder. "I know so. Trust me."

Hearing a construction vehicle come towards a building at the corner dangling a large sign on it, both Arnold and Gerald became temporarily distracted enough to waltz over to see what was being put there. Hearing the men get louder, Arnold peered at the moving sign making his eyebrows furrow a bit.

"Big Bob's Electronics Emporium." Arnold said without much feeling. "Guess they finally spread out here."

Quirking up one half of his mouth, Gerald just shook his head. "I hear he's a blow hard."

"You can't believe everything." Laughing, Arnold thought of something. "Remember when Sid thought Stinky was a vampire?"

"Oh yeah that was hilarious."

"Or when Harold made up a lie about Lila's dad being a cannibal so that's why she doesn't have a mom?" Arnold didn't laugh at that. "That one blew, but at least Sid freaked him out by pretending to become a zombie and eat a fake corpse just to mess with Harold's head."

"Mmm mmm mmm. Sid really had it bad for Lila too in order to defend her honor, and she still didn't like him like him for it." Gerald crossed his arms.

Shrugging, Arnold and him started walking back down the street. "Well Lila was very much into my cousin and now she is into Stinky. It's all good."

There was silence for a long time between them before Gerald started getting excited. "Senior year. Our last years in school before college. I can't believe it. I wonder what this year will bring us?"

"I don't know, but I'm hoping for something really good." Grinning from ear to ear, Arnold thought of so many things of a possibility in a dreamy state.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Beginning day of school.

Heading into school, Arnold was already hugged or high fived so many times before he reached his first class which was Chemistry where he walked in saying hello to many before heading to place near the middle next to the window. Putting his notebook down and pen the teacher stepped in wishing everyone a good morning when another student came breezing in to automatically sit next to him issuing out a small morning to, Arnold.

Arnold noticed she was a new student seeing that he never laid eyes on her before. She was certainly attractive and not cookie cutter looking as the rest of the girls he has seen. She had long wavy blonde hair, pouty lips, a cute nose, an athletic body it seemed with sweet curves instead of flat. She wore faded blue jeans, a pink blouse that was sheer with a white cami underneath, and a pink beanie on her head.

"Ok class! Introduce yourselves to the person next to you because for the rest of this semester that person is your partner." The teacher announced.

Turning to face her, Arnold introduced himself. "Arnold Shortman." The girl had also the bluest eyes he had ever seen before making you feel sucked in.

"Helga Pataki. New here and who knows how long I'll be here for." Arnold loved the smirk she bestowed on him and the cute little eyebrow quirk she did before turning around.

"So in other words, don't hit on you?" As the words fell out of his mouth he wanted to slap himself, but the way she continued smirking in good humor told him she was fine with it.

"You're cute, but yeah. I move around like I live in the military."

"That sucks."

Helga just nodded her head up and down agreeing to that. "We can talk more about this later if you want."

Arnold did have another class with her and they didn't talk anymore during that time and when he reached the cafeteria for lunch, Phoebe came up to him for a hug before sitting down.

"Hey Phoebe, you haven't told us about your trip at all." Gerald pointed out.

"Well not everyone is here, Gerald." Phoebe stated.

Looking all around their table, Arnold saw that everyone they always hung out with were there so he was curious who she was waiting for till she stood up waving her hand around.

"Helga! Over here!"

"Holy smokes! She's hot." Sid stated with his mouth hanging open.

"Hey Phoebs." Helga greeted back sitting down next to, Arnold. "Hey Arnold again."

"Oh good you met!" Phoebe cheered. "Arnold is a good friend of mines and someone you can always count on."

"You mean if I need you to find my hat just in case it blows off you'll help me?" Helga asked with a wink.

Arnold almost stammered just looking at those blue eyes again. "Yeah. Anything."

"Good to know, but I've been good at handling stuff myself, but I could deal with more friends."

Phoebe was still beaming. "Alright this is Gerald."

Helga gave off a hidden look to Phoebe. "Hey stud."

"Oh hey there mama." Gerald had no clue what to say exactly to that remark.

"Don't worry I'm not hitting on you." Helga told him in a gentle tone. "Continue Phoebe."

Standing up, Phoebe extended her hand starting at the far end of the table. "The red head with braids is Lila, her boyfriend plus our friend, Stinky, Sid, Eugene, Rhonda, Lorenzo, Curly, Harold, Patty, Sheena, Nadine, Brainy and Iggins. Guys this is Helga."

"Hey!" All of them greeted at the same time.

"So Ms Helga where you from originally?" Stinky inquired.

Helga took a sip of her water she took out of her pack. "Ummm all over so after a while I forgot."

Arnold had a feeling it was a lame excuse to dodge the question so he decided to ask instead. "Where did you and Phoebe meet originally?"

This got Phoebe and Helga to smile equally. "Originally I met her in Los Angeles where I was living at for some time. We ran into one another and started chatting. I thought Phoebs was cool right off the bat so we hung out for the next two weeks you were in town and exchanged emails."

"Why emails?" Gerald asked.

"Cheaper than phone calls." Helga raised up her hand as if that was the best response. "Anyhow, the next summer after that I was in Japan with my sister spending time with her and her fiance when we ran into one another again. That time we figured something in the universe was telling us something so we exchanged numbers."

"Thus beginning our 1 to 2 hour phone conversations together on the weekends." Phoebe chimed in happily. "It was like I met my long lost sister in her."

"Last we met was in Kentucky where I was living for the past 6 months before my dad decided to up and move here and Phoebe was there visiting family. Funny I didn't tell her I was living there but I knew she had family there." Helga gave Phoebe a mischievous look to her. "I just wanted to see if we would happen to meet up again by happenstance."

"And we did!" Phoebe cheered out reaching out to touch her hand.

"That is ever so nice to hear. You both were meant to meet." Lila held her hands close to her cheek. "What do they call it when two people are meant to be together?"

"Kindred spirits." Patty replied in her naturally calm way.

"Yes. Oh that is oh so lovely." Lila leaned against Stinky. "Isn't it, Stinky?"

"Why yes it is, Ms Lila."

Leaning against Arnold, Helga whispered, "Does she always talk like that?"

"Yes. Since the 4th grade. She's nice though." Arnold replied.

"Oh I can see that I was just curious." Resuming her natural seating pattern as before, Helga kept sharing a look to Phoebe.

"Hey ahhh Helga... Do you have a boyfriend?" Sid asked nervously.

"Nope because I've had no need to."

"Are you into girls?"

Helga gave him a lopsided smile. "No. I am into guys I just haven't met a guy that I can get into. Call me picky."

"Well do you have a type?" Putting his chin in his hand, Sid tried to give her a sexy look.

"Oh please! Even I can tell the girl has better taste than going for a guy like yourself, Sid." Rhonda snorted out as she pulled out her filer. "Oh Helga dear, I'm having a party this weekend and I would love for you to come. Phoebe will know where."

"Thanks, Rhonda." Helga blinked at the sudden invitation before responding to Sid. "Sid, I will say this about my type that I'm looking for." Sees how intent his gaze is on her. "I won't say simply because if I do it will make a guy try to fit into that mold to try to impress me and frankly I'm not into fakes."

Everyone at the table but Sid smiled at her response to the question admiring the honesty of it. Arnold grinned at her even as he watched a girl by the name of Emma come up towards him to ask if she can talk to him in private. Nodding a yes to that, he excused himself to speak to her.

For Helga she stood up to walk around the table to Sid placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Hope you don't think I was being mean. You do seem like a cool guy who is well meaning. Hope you and I can be friends. Okay?"

"Yeah, sure." Smiling at her, Sid handed her his tapioca he handed eaten yet. "As a token of friendship."

Taking it, Helga smiled. "Accepted. I'll see you guys in a bit. Phoebe can we talk in private?"

"Coming." Getting up Phoebe used Gerald's shoulder as a way to help herself up before taking off to walk in line with Helga. Once outside she asked what she needed.

Scanning around them and only really noticing Arnold with that girl he left the table with, Helga gaze down at her friend. "You've liked Gerald for how long so really what are you waiting for?"

Blushing, Phoebe covered her mouth. "I've liked him since the 4th grade and I keep hoping he'll ask me out, but doesn't, but he flirts with me and always has to sit next to me at lunch."

"The boy has it bad for you, but he is nervous to ask you out. I know we didn't say much to one another, but he kept looking at you." Crossing her arms across her chest, Helga tried not to be distracted at the scene playing out nearby just to concentrate on her friend. "Phoebe, if you ask him if he is interested in going to that party with you, he will."

"He always goes with Arnold."

Seeing the girl hug Arnold, Helga smirked. "I believe Arnold has a date for that evening." Points with her finger towards him.

Looking over her shoulder, Phoebe giggled. "Girls adore him, but I just hope it isn't another one that is using him. He is such a nice guy."

"Yeah he seems so. Anyhow, just talk to him. Talk to your stud. Seriously, Phoebs you're a catch and that boy will be off his nut if he said no to you." Hearing a cheer from the girl before she ran past them, Helga laughed a bit as Arnold approached them. "Arnold do you mind texting Gerald to come out here for me."

"Sure." Bringing out his phone his fingers flew across the touchscreen before placing it back in his pocket. "Now what?"

Helga winked at Phoebe. "You talk to Gerald and I'll get to know this one a little bit." She might of heard an objection from her, but Helga ignored it as she grabbed Arnold's wrist to tow him away. "Pushing our friends together because she has been talking my ear off about Gerald."

"You too? I told him to ask her out too. This dance has been going on way too long." Taking a chance he glanced behind him to see their friends talking. "Well they are talking. I just hope they are actually talking."

"If they don't we are cementing their feet together until they agree to go out on a date." Helga growled.

He laughed at that. "What, no tying them up together?"

"No that is too BDSM and I don't want to elicit a response like that from them if both of us have to tie them up. Can you just imagine how comfortable we would be?" She teased. "What if they get the wrong idea and want us to participate in future trysts with them? Yuck."

"Don't worry about that since Gerald is much more interested in dressing in a giant diaper and getting a bottle from girl pretending to act like his mommy." Arnold joked back.

Pressing her hand to her stomach, Helga started laughing hard. "Ewwww I don't want to ewwwww."

Arnold enjoyed watching her laugh. She did have a different energy about herself. "So you thinking about going to Rhonda's party? She use to live near to me, but moved to a much larger place so..."

Wiping a few tears away from her eyes, Helga shook her head. "I don't know. I'm really not a party person at all. Besides I never know when my dad just wants to up and leave so it is hard to form attachments."

"Come on you never know, Helga. Can you at least give me your phone number so I can convince you?"

Contemplating it, Helga wanted to deny him but the look in his eyes made her almost growl out in frustration. "Give me your phone." Getting his phone handed to her she programmed it in handing it back watching him text sending a vibration to her front pocket. "Ohhh it was a good day for me to put my phone in my front pocket on vibrate today. Do it again, cutie." She winked enjoying his laugh as she lifted her phone up to program him in. Hearing the bell ring she put her phone back. "Now in an hour if I don't have another class with you text me again so I can get another thrill."

Arnold knew she had to be joking by the way she let out a laugh but he couldn't help enjoy that innuendo from her. "I know you don't mean that."

Giving a hop turn to look at him she grinned. "Of course I don't mean it. I hardly know you. I just can tell you are a nice guy and Phoebe trusts you. To me that is good enough for me."

Whoever her parents really were he wanted to thank them for bringing her to Hillwood.

I will try to take this story line day by day but no promises. If I do so I will warn you ahead of time.