A/N: In the beginning of the story they start off at the age of 16. Arnold is a Sophomore and Helga and Phoebe are Seniors in High School. They both skipped grades so hence they are Seniors.

TJM did happen, but I won't get fully into it except for a mentioning of it here and there throughout the story. You'll see what that means on the whole Helga and Arnold landscape when it comes to their terms of their current relationship right now.

The story involves several of the characters in various situations. Some bit and some small. All do have the same thing of, victimization in some form or another. There are a few characters I decided to leave up to your imaginations on what happened to them until much later on.

Thank you and kindly review. Now don't flame me or I might let my dragon eat you since he hasn't eaten in a while.

I do not own Hey Arnold

He looked at her as they were loading him up onto the ambulance. The way she stood there with no emotion on her face before turning away to walk down the street, he couldn't believe that Helga saved him. He could feel one of his eyes just throbbing away from when he was beaten up. He remembered each punch. Each kick. Each hit from a board. It felt like he never trained for karate a day in his life with how quick his assailants were. If it wasn't for her, he'd most likely be dead.

She stayed by his side as she called the cops. She even called his parents at home. Helga the enigma has proven herself to have another notch added to her mystery. He remembered studying her form as she was on the phone. Watched at how the breeze played with her silky tendrils. He shamefully glanced down the barest of cleavage from her shirt in its own modesty. All he could see was a black valley that he couldn't believe he wanted to see more of. She was always in perfect shape.

After being brought to the hospital, he was questioned again before his parents went over him again as if he wasn't even examined. He was wheeled into a private room where the drugs in his system quickly came into his body. Reaching over to remove some hair from his forehead, Miles kissed it.

"Try to get some rest, Son. You've been through a lot." He whispered.

Eyes shutting, Arnold fell into the swirling darkness that he assumed was due to medication. As he slept, Arnold saw her face before she turned away. In his dream he reached out to her, only to meet up with darkness once more.

When he finally got home after a few days of being in the hospital, Arnold refused to sleep downstairs. He wanted to be in his own room knowing that it would be difficult with a broken leg, and bruised up right knee. He almost wondered if he could play sports anymore, but thought it was better that he was still living and breathing.

His first and only main visitor was Gerald. He came in with a goodie bag that, Gerald's mom provided for him. Inside were some treats, but also other things like video games. Thanking his friend, Arnold adjusted himself only to hiss out in pain.

Mouth in a thin line, Gerald stepped closer to help his friend out. "So Helga actually helped you against three thugs. That is pretty ballsy."

"Yeah." Looking at his friend hopefully, Arnold needed to ask. "Have you seen her at all in school?"

"Naw. Ever since you refused to talk to her anymore, and Phoebe even becoming sore at you for what you did, they stopped hanging out with us." Gerald grabbed the office chair to bring over to put on the side of the bed. "Ever since they skipped grades for both being extra smart, we are lucky if we get a tiny glimpse of them in the hallway."

Yeah. Helga and Phoebe are Seniors while they are Sophomores. Taking a huge breath in, Arnold felt the pain to his already broken ribs. "Ugh."

"Take it easy, Buddy." Gerald couldn't believe the amount of bruises on him. "So do you have a clear idea who did this?"

"No. I just remember walking from the bus stop, and I was blind sided. I don't understand how, Helga managed to take on three guys by herself, but this is Helga after all. She did all that amazing stuff as, Deep Voice."

"Yeah." Gerald glanced up towards the skylight. "I still don't understand why you did what you did. That girl did so much for you as you told me, but why?"

He wanted to adjust himself so badly, but Arnold stuck himself in his position. "I just couldn't take it no more. That's why." His eyes went to his best friend. "Look I get that you both were getting along, but why can't you see my side to it?"

Gerald couldn't believe his friend as he looked at him calmly. It was something he didn't want to have another fight over. So very calmly, Gerald opened his mouth to speak.

"If it was me I would of pounded them!" Harold exclaimed. Pounding his fist into his palm for emphasis, he continued his rant. "And than I would of. Well I would kicked them for good measure."

Flipping her hair back, Rhonda rested the majority of her slim weight onto one leg. "As if. You would of been calling for your mommy, Harold."

Laughing, the group tried hard to keep it light hearted for, Arnold's sake. Leaning against his locker, Arnold couldn't take the pain he was already experiencing. He wanted to ask the group if they saw Helga around, but it seemed to be an unspoken rule not to bring it up. Though it never stopped Sid from spotting a girl out of the corner of his eyes.

"Boy howdy! She filled out nice." His attention was gripped to someone down the hallway.

It was obviously another random female. Arnold lost interest in even wondering who it could be. Though the itching he was experiencing in his cast was driving him insane. "I'm sick of this itching." He muttered out.

"Oh Arnold. You are ever so brave that I have a sure fire trick to help you out there." Lila told him as she went to her locker to open it up. Bringing out a rod, Lila came happily back up to him.

"Oh thanks, Lila. I can get that." Bringing his hand out to accept it, Arnold was shocked to find her on her knees sliding it inside his cast. "Lila I'm serious. I can get that."

"Oh don't be silly, Arnold." Batting her eye lashes at him, Lila winked at him. "Anything for you."

Hearing her release a girlish flirty giggle, Arnold brought his head back in embarrassment. He found that while his interest in her disappeared a long time ago for her, Lila's interest in him grew. Each day would become more flirtatious. Each day she would force his hand on her leg during lunch only for him to snatch it back, and move further away from her.

Studying the red head shamelessly go on with what she was doing, Rhonda scoffed. "I swear! Some girls just have no class. Come on Nadine. Let us clean our eyes of this." Looking back to her friend, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It is nice to see you back."

"Thanks, Rhonda." Arnold said as he looked back down. "Lila, the itch is gone."

Removing the rod, Lila got up quickly to kiss his chin. "I'm so happy for you. If you need anything else at all. Call me." Blowing a kiss to him, Lila went to her locker to deposit her rod away before departing.

"Man, Arnold! That girl is so into you that you wouldn't think it was a trick." Stinky told him as his eyes found the object to, Sid's hormones. "Still we know it is a trick."

"Yeah I know, but with the amount of times I told her no, she still keeps it up."

"She's coming." Sid announced. "Oh man she looks so hot today."

Turning their heads in the direction that Sid was drooling at, Arnold saw that it was Helga walking side by side with Phoebe, followed by a very reformed Ludwig following them. As Arnold tried to gain Helga's attention, Gerald tried to gain Phoebe's just to have them both ignored. Arnold had to admit that Helga looked spectacular. She was wearing a black skirt with a pink sleeveless top.

After they passed by, Sid sighed. "I can't believe I drooled after our own ex tormentor." Taking a second glance at her, Sid added. "She still torments me in a different way now." Happy, his smile disappeared the moment he looked at Arnold's sour expression. "Oh sorry man. I thought that since you both haven't."

"Forget about it." Bit out Arnold before bringing his crutches out to get out of there in a hurry. By his side was, Gerald helping him to his first class.

"Look I can tell you still love the girl. Just tell her." He advised.

Studying his desk, Arnold felt tortured at the thought of sitting there. "I will. I just need her attention, but normally it is difficult to even catch sight of her."

Seeing his friend's predicament with the desk, Gerald shook his head to point at the much larger desk in the back. The one that was normally reserved for T.A's. Knowing there was none in there, Gerald brought his stuff in the back. "I know they became seriously stuck to their studies since that time. They are determined to get out of school early."

Settling down at the desk, Arnold spotted his Algebra teacher stepping in and coming straight for them. "Yeah so I have to talk to her before she graduates."

Mr Balderino made a sour expression at the crutches and the bruises on his face. "I'm surprised you are here so soon after the attack. How are you?"

"Uncomfortable." Arnold answered as he looked up to Gerald. "I have a note and all about leaving early and stuff. Also he'll be helping me out."

Taking the note, the man placed a hand on the desk in front of him. "You are both good students so in case you aren't feeling too well, just let me know. I want you comfortable."

"Thank you, Mr Balderino." They both uttered out.

Waiting for him to leave them alone, Gerald whispered out. "Sucks to have a last name like that with a full head of handsome hair like he has."

Nodding his head was even a mistake. It was true. Their teacher was still so young and with a full head of hair. Most girls had a crush on him. Arnold liked him as a teacher due to him actually being entertaining as he taught. It seemed to allow many below average students shoot up in their grade level when it came to teacher any type of math.

"Yeah I agree."

"Well buddy I should be off to my own class. I will see you five minutes before we have to leave." Gerald waved good bye to him as he took off from his own class.

Sitting at the desk, Arnold wondered how things were going at Helga's home nowadays. Did they still forget about her?

It was their scheduled lunch time where, Ludwig was now use to both the girls busy between eating, and doing their class work. Sitting closest to Helga, Ludwig needed to bury his nose back into his bible the very moment he was tempted. The way she smelled. They way she brushed her hair behind her ear, or the way it fell towards her face. His eyes traced down to those full lips of hers, and that is when he picked up his bible to read it with a newfound passion.

Feeling Phoebe's tiny hand on her, Helga hummed a response informing her she was listening while she wrote down her answer to the problem from the online course quiz from college. "What's up?"

"There is a little one day gathering where they will speak about the latest scientific discoveries. Also there is a Professor that will be attending that I know you would like to meet." Phoebe hoped she would say yes to this. Ever since Helga got heavily into her school work, Phoebe loved everything even more with her. How they connected even more. "Would you like me to sign us up?"

"Yeah, Pheebs. Sign us up." Dancing in her seat, Helga went back to her work as she shoved a fry in her mouth.

Clearing his throat at the sight of seeing, Helga's dancing tush, Ludwig excused himself quickly.

Phoebe was confused at the sudden change in his demeanor. "What's wrong with him?"

Propping her chin to rest in the palm of her hand, Helga casually responded. "He has a boner so I'm certain he headed to the bathroom to find a passage to lessen it away."

Half snickering and half admonishing her best friend, Phoebe looked around for their friend's solace. "You don't know that. How could you say that?"

"The raised flag pole that ran past us."

Red with embarrassment, Phoebe tried to calm herself. "Oh I feel bad for him. Still." She thought about it long and hard. "How big was the pole?"

Her eyes went lazily over to Phoebe. "Why do you want to know? I mean I know you have a crush on the guy, but seriously?"

"He likes you anyhow. I'm just a sister type to him." Pouting, Phoebe wished she never brought anything up.

Helga knew the guy liked her, but she couldn't see her spending time doing bible studies with him. It was bad enough that there were times he got on her slightly for her language. "Just grab him and kiss him. Maybe that will change his mind."

"I think I would have a better job convincing you to like me instead of him." Phoebe argued softly.

Waggling her finger in front of her, Helga shook her head. "Now don't be kissing me. You know I'm fully straight."

"Even though you haven't been with anyone since." Feeling her sentence cut off by a hand on her mouth, Phoebe squeaked at how deadly a glare Helga had.

"Don't. Say. His. Name." Releasing her hand, Helga thought she knew to never bring up Arnold again. "I'm going to finish this in the library. I'll catch you later."

"Oh Helga, I'm sorry. Please don't go." Feeling bad for bringing that sore subject up, Phoebe rejected her food.

Bringing back the late books he forgot about, Sid spotted Helga in the library. A full wolfish grin was spotted on his face even as the Librarian believed he was a 'Simple' boy due to all his simple responses to each of her questions. As Sid paid off his debt, he wandered off towards Helga as she sat alone at her table.

Placing one hand on the chair, Sid leaned against it while smoothly addressing her. "Hello, Helga. Fancy meeting you here."

"Hmm." Not even lifting her head up, Helga continued doing her work till she heard a loud slam on the floor. Getting up, she stood up to look over the table at a demented looking Sid pointing his fingers at her.

"Hey." He told her cooly.

Shaking her head at how stupid he was being, Helga sat back down. "Seriously." She muttered out.

As he was on the floor, Sid stared up at those long stems of hers. The hidden area between those legs. "Say Helga."

Hearing all sorts of noise coming from him, Helga spotted how the Librarian was even becoming vastly annoyed. Sighing, she stood up once more to look down at the idiot unable to get up. "Get up or she'll ban me from here because of your stinking ass." She harshly whispered.

Doing so, Sid sat on the seat opposite of her. "You look good."

Lifting her eyebrow up, Helga frowned at him. "Yeah. Thanks." Rolling her eyes she felt her phone vibrating. "Get back to class so I can do my work. Unlike you, I'm serious about my future."

"And what is your future, Beautiful?"

She had herself a regular Rico Stupido in front of her right now. "To get as far away from you."

"And what about, Arnold?"

Standing up, Helga growled. "Leave me be, Sid." Turning away from him, Helga retreated to the farthest edge of the library to pull up her voicemail. After listening she smiled knowing she could fulfill that request for a friend. Turning to grab a book, she left to happily see that Sid left, but he decided to leave his phone number behind in its place. "As if." She muttered.

Wandering up to the parking lot after school, Arnold and Gerald were among the first up there due to his early pass out. As they did they heard someone cursing about touching the wrong car. Sighing as he hauled himself up the slight ridge to find one of their fellow students pushing away another from a beast of a car. A car that even had Arnold curious about, but not enough to look inside.

"Mmm mmm mmm. Verbal rule is not to touch that car." Gerald remarked as the two other males in the lot ran off yelling not to tell on them.

Making a face, Arnold saw it was a later model vehicle. A Charger fast back, but he didn't know what year it was. "Is that Wolfgang's?"

"Nah and of course you wouldn't know seeing you are so respectful of other peoples belongings." Gerald answered as they neared his own car. "That is Helga's car. A '67 Dodge Charger. That car has the engine of a beast and it seems fitting for her." Pointing at it as he opened the doors up, Gerald said. "It looks tame. It almost looks like a family vehicle until you hear that engine start up. An engine that I have to admit is something I'm jealous of."

"Her parents let her have that. Doesn't seem safe." Arnold said as he carefully got into the car.

Getting in himself, Gerald shook his head. "Seriously? Look! I don't look at Helga in that way. This I promise you. I will admit that seeing a girl in a muscle car is actually pretty exciting. It is something that I have to look away blushing."

Ignoring the fact that his own friend got hot under the collar over Helga, Arnold suddenly had an idea form in his head. A girl that wants to ignore him for the most part. That car will prove helpful to him.

Sitting across from her longtime friend who was between normal and insane, Helga almost snickered at how Curly wanted to tear off his regulated outfit. Something she could understand seeing how horrible it was. Though the way he was fussing around with his hands had her halting him.

"Curly." With a low voice she shook her head as her eyes flittered across to where the nurses were. "Do you want to be in the rubber room again."

Angrily his eyes lifted towards them before glancing to her again. "No. I mean sure it is fun sometimes to bounce around in there, but last time there were mice in there, and the bastards didn't believe me."

Her eyebrow flickered up just for the barest of seconds. "Come on so we can stay caught up with school. I don't want you too far behind when you finally return."

Sighing, Curly felt depressed all of a sudden. "How is she?"

"Rhonda? You know I don't talk to her."

"Yeah, but you see her."

Ever since that incident that caused Curly's meltdown, Helga knew he wouldn't be able to be in the same school as her. "I do." She hesitated. "She is seeing someone on the Football team."

He instantly deflated. "I never had a chance with her, didn't I?" His hand went through his hair. "Just like you never had a chance with."

"Shut it." She hissed out before standing up.

Seeing his error, Curly stood up to take her hand. "I'm really sorry, Helga. Please sit back down. Besides you and Phoebe. Well also my parents. No one wants to visit me."

Seeing how sad he appeared, Helga reached over to cup his hand in hers. "You are a passionate guy like I've always been a passionate girl. You always say the first thing off the top of your head."

"Yeah you use to be passionate. Sure there is schoolwork, but since that moment it was like something stopped in you. I like my fellow passionate friend." He grinned. "Passionate. Not insane like me."

Helga shrugged. "I just don't want to think about it. When I do it is like no time has passed between us. It is like it just happened." Their work was forgotten. "I just wish I can stop loving him."

"Well maybe you shouldn't of saved his ass that night." He said playfully nudging her.

"You know I couldn't of done that. I couldn't walk the other way. Still." Her eyes left the side of the room where someone was busy playing with themselves. "Sick."

Spotting that person being hauled away, Curly decided to keep talking. "Still?"

"I'm certain he forgot all about me in that way. I'm certain he was happy when I called it quits between us."

He doubted that himself as he watched his friend pick up her pencil to begin working again. "I guess let us get back to work."

"Mmmhmm." She hummed out as she started to ask questions again.

Flashes of the assault happened as he slept. The way they didn't let up. They way they laughed. He thought he could hear something being said, but chose to turn a deaf ear to it. It felt more disturbing that the assault itself.

He could smell his blood mixed in with the smell of the alley itself. He tried so hard to fight them off and yet they were overpowering him. Of course he felt how spongey his arms and legs were. His eyes focused up on the night sky. The source of all his zen and now it will be the last thing he'll ever see.

Seeing a flash of someone on the fire escape above, Arnold believed it was another one of them waiting to get in on attacking him. He tasted his blood before he heard a strong couple of yelps accompanied by a well meaning zapping sound. His eyes shut as he heard someone beating up another, and before too long, there was an Angel above him.

"Arnold?"

That scent of hers. That aura she exuded. It had been a long time since he heard her voice, and he wondered if he said a word to her till he began to cough.

"Crap." She muttered out loud. Looking at her phone she cursed at the signal as her head turned possibly to his attackers. "Fucking 911." She griped before someone was heard on the other side of the call. "Yeah hey. A teenager who is sixteen years old was just attacked by three assholes. They are out now, but who knows for long."

Arnold tried to get up but he cried out in pain only to have her keep him down.

"Yeah well I'm in the alley on Buxton street. We are between this corny deli and some horrible pet shop." She sighed as more questions were being hurled at him. "I just know his name is Arnold Shortman. We just go to the same school together. That is how we know one another."

It seemed to sting him more than being attacked. Arnold's eyes were stinging as he tried so hard to remain focused on her. If he was about to die than let her be the last thing he lays his eyes on. "So beautiful."

Helga sighed. "Get him an ambulance right now. The boy is acting delirious now."

Arnold's eyes opened up as they focused through the glass of his skylight. She didn't believe him that night. It hurt that she didn't, but he only had himself to blame.

XX

In her own bedroom, Helga woke with a start from the same flashback, but from a different angle. Regardless of them not speaking anymore, Helga still cared about him still. To watch him be beaten up in that state angered her. It infuriated her in such a way that she felt possessed. So possessed that it didn't take much effort for her to knock three very large brutes out.

Getting up, Helga walked to the bathroom to splash some water onto her sweat soaked skin. Water falling from her face, her eyes focused to the basin, Helga needed to calm herself. She couldn't let this control her.

She just hoped it didn't destroy him.

A/N 2: Helga's car is the same car that I had when I was in High School I had a 1967 Dodge Charger that remained a dark gray primer colar until it was painted white before my folks sold it. I absolutely loved that car, but the upkeep was unfortunately too much for me.