Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or the characters.

"And it starts"

Sometimes people are stagnant in their ways, sometimes things don't miraculously change like you expect them to. All I knew was that I was tired of waiting for him to notice me. Although I wasn't the tomboy of my childhood anymore things still haven't changed. I was tired of letting things just fall where they may. I realized that I had to do something about. I had to grab this situation by the horns. That moment was when it all started.

It began on a blustery August afternoon a few weeks before my first year of college. Sitting on my bed I was resolute to put my plan into action. A plan that I haven't even began to formulate, but just the idea that I would somehow lure him to me seemed almost shallow. I didn't just want to have sex with him. If that were the case I could've easily taken advantage of him at one of Rhonda's notorious bashes since Arnolds such a lightweight when it concerns liquor. Not that he's a manwhore or anything like that. It's just that I want much more than that. I want him in his entirety, but that's pretty much a given considering how long I've harbored feelings for him. Nobody can know about my plans, not even my best friend Phoebe. She would think it's too immature to keep plotting since Arnold and I aren't even friends really were barely acquaintances at best.

Staring at my closet I thought of the days when I still had my Arnold shrine. I got rid of it after elementary school ended. Dr. Bliss helped me deal with my feelings in other ways. I've mellowed out over the years and even became friends with a lot of the other members of our fourth grade class. It seemed that I was on friendly terms with everyone except for Arnold. Outside of group settings he went out of his way to avoid me. When we were in group outings he would only make small talk and rarely made eye contact. What did I expect though when I was his childhood bully for years?

I was alarmed from my reverie by my cell phone ringing on my night stand. I quickly snatched it and answered it before the caller had a chance to hang up.

"Hi Helga", Phoebe cheerfully greeted.

"What's up Pheebs?" I responded.

"Did you hear about Rhonda's pre-college party? It's this Saturday. I was wondering if you wanted to go?"

"Sure. I guess I might as well go since we're starting college."With that they said their goodbyes and hung up.

Everyone from the old gang was going to Hillwood University for college. Phoebe was considering going to Stanford since she got accepted but decided to stay with her friends. They had all grown up a lot since their PS 118 days. Rhonda was no longer as stuck up as she once was. Lila had stopped saying ever so and started acting like a normal person. Helga and Lila actually got along well now since she knew that she was no longer a threat because she was dating Arnie. Gerald and Phoebe became an official couple during their eighth grade year and have been going strong ever since. Gerald was also on the high school basketball team and got a full ride scholarship to play for the university. Helga was the top editor for the school newspaper so she received a scholarship for the university also although it wasn't full ride.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

As I was brushing my hair I heard Big Bob calling for me downstairs. Walking down the stairs I saw Phoebe with a triumphant grin on her face. She was probably excited because I finally agreed to go to one of these. I haven't been to one of Rhonda's parties since junior year.

After we left my house and got into my Mitsubishi Eclipse she asked, "So why did you decide to go to this party Helga?"

I was expecting this. After "the incident" I was firmly against any of Rhonda's parties. "Well I figured since we're all going into college it'd be different, "I explained while turning the key in the ignition.

Phoebes left eyebrow was raised. She had a pretty good bullshit meter when it came to me. "Helga. You said you'd never go to one of Rhonda's parties as long as you lived though. I've been asking you if you wanted to go since senior year started and you always said no. What made you change your mind?"

"I thought it'd be a good change of scenery. There will probably be different people going anyway." My flimsy excuse didn't seem to cut it though.

She looked me in the eye. "Does this have to do with Arnold?"

At that I started getting perturbed and started driving a little faster. "What? Of course not? It has nothing to do with him. What would make you think that?"

Phoebe just sighed. "Well you still seem to like him and he did just get dumped by Audrina last week." She smirked at me when she saw my face light up.

"I didn't even know that they broke up, but I guess that just gives me more reason to go then."

At that we pulled up the long driveway to Rhonda's gleaming palace. Every time I went to her house it almost seemed to get bigger. It's already three stories with four separate wings. The freshly manicured lawn was lined with tiki lights. Inside the house was where the party was at though. Heading up to the front porch which was crowded with random couples and the occasional group of three or four you could already tell the house was packed. The thumping beat of the bass from the surround sound emanated from the front of the house.

As Phoebe and I entered the chaotic scene the scent of various kinds of alcohol lingered in the air. You could hear people cheering keg standers down the hall. There were a good mix of those who were underage and those who weren't. Some were sitting on couches while others danced in time with the 3OH3h song "Don't Trust a Hoe". Looking through the sea of bodies "dancing" I couldn't find Arnold anywhere. All I saw where a bunch of young adults grinding on each other.

Phoebe distracted me from my desperate search. "Hey Helga? I just saw Gerald go down the hall. I'm going to go catch up with him." That was her way of asking if she could ditch me.

"Ok. I was going to go to the kitchen anyway." I could use a drink plus Arnold might be there.

Phoebe smiled,"Ok. If you need me for any reason I'll be down the hall or you could call me." You could tell in her eyes that she was slightly nervous. Ever since the last party I went to I really don't blame her.

"I'll be fine Pheebs," I said with a reassuring smile. With I made a beeline for the kitchen.

The keg was already gone but there were several tubs of coronas, bud lights, and even a few bottles of red and white wine. Standing at the counter filling up her wine glass was the brunette hostess herself. Looking up from her glass she was surprised at who she found. Oh god Rhonda had seen me.

"Helga! Is that really you?" She exclaimed squinting slightly.

"No. It's Mary Queen of Scots. Who else would I be?" I sarcastically remarked back. The last thing I needed was to run into princess.

"I was just surprised by your presence since you haven't gone to one of my parties in a couple of years." She grinned like the Cheshire cat. "Why is that?"

I should have expected that from Rhonda. Even though we got along better than we used to she still liked to push my buttons from time to time. "I was busy during high school what with the paper and everything." I knew that was a shoddy excuse but she probably too buzzed to notice as Rhonda is a notorious light weight.

Going for the obvious question she inquired, "Well why did you decide to start coming now?" Her voice was laced with triumphant. It was almost like she already knew the answer to her question but just asked it to humor me.

"I just figured it would that there'd be new people here since we're starting college." I answered nonchalantly. I was about ready to come up with some excuse to bolt when I saw Phoebe, Gerald, and Arnold come in from my peripheral vision.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading. Please review.