A/N: Something other than XS or HP!? NO! Impossible! Haha, but it is. This is my first HA! fanfic, and I really hope it turns out well because if it does, I'll start posting the chapters for the real story I'm planning.
Enjoy!

Just when you're about to give up, that person completely surprises you. They do a 360 and you have no clue what possessed them to do it, but you're glad that they did. It makes you take back every regret you had about them; about wanting, needing, and loving them.

It makes you fall in love all over again.

I had given up. I had loved him, admired him from afar, tortured him, hated him, and yearned for him for six years. I confessed to him my love and he shrank away as though I wasn't worthy enough to love him. As if he didn't want my love.

Of course . . . it never does help to confess your love to someone when your town is about to be destroyed.

After everything, my feelings for him slowly diminished. Not completely, but enough for me to believe that it was truly and completely gone. I felt empty, small, insignificant.

Then it seemed as though there were surprises at every corner. He began speaking with me again. Began walking me home, giving me advice and showing general interest in my being. It felt nice, but it didn't compare to what was going to happen.

"Helga," he asked hesitantly as we stood outside my house. I looked up, one side of my eyebrow raised upward in question.

He took a deep breath and began, "Is there anything wrong? You've been quiet for the last couple of months and well . . . it's unlike you. You haven't used spitballs, or yelled at me, or even so much as looked me in the eye and I need to know if something happened . . . if there's anything I can do to help you."

I gave a sad smile. "Don't worry about it."

He blinked confusedly. "I don't think you understand. You're not the Helga G. Pataki I know; that anyone knows! You're too quiet and," he paused as a slow blush crept up on his cheeks, "well I miss the old Helga. If there's any way for me to bring her back, tell me, because I would do just about anything to have her back the way she was."

My brain seemed to go haywire as he said this. Misses me? What would cause him to miss me? I'm right here! I'm here and he can see me yet somehow he thinks I'm not?

And slowly it dawned on me.

He MISSED me. Truly, honestly and wonderfully MISSED me!

And then those small feelings of love grew in that single instant back to the way they were. Those feelings I'd kept buried came back and as they did . . . so did the old Helga.

"What are you talking about Football Head?! Missed me? I'm standing right in front of you! You see me everyday! And as for looking you in the eyes, I mean crimney Arnold! Nobody in their right mind goes around looking everyone in the eye, I mean DOI! You know what? I don't have to explain myself to you, so see ya around Arnoldo!" I began to storm up the steps and opened the door, pausing only to look back to see his expression. I was slightly shocked to see a small grin on his face. I watched as he turned to go he called my name.

"What, Football Head? I don't have all day ya know?"

"I just wanted to say 'Welcome Back' was all." The grin on his face grew and I couldn't help but return it.

And as I walked into the house and gently closed the door I wondered about how something so little as him missing me could bring me back.