Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold.
The new semester began January 15 and the students from Hillwood University started moving back into their dorm rooms the day before. Although the gang lived in Hillwood their whole lives and were a ten minute bus ride from home, they decided that dorming would be a good start to gaining independence and learning to be on their own. Sure, some of them left Hillwood to go to other schools for college: Stinky to Arkansas, Lorenzo to Nevada, Eugene and Sheena to Massachusetts, and Lila to California, but the rest stayed and still kept in touch with those who left.
Arnold and Gerald lived on the third floor of Kingsley Hall, while Harold and Sid were on the fourth. On the first floor, Rhonda and Nadine lived in the room directly across from Helga and Phoebe, so all eight of the friends hung out together in the Kingsley Lounge, that separated the first floor from the third. On occasion, Curly, who lived in Swartz Hall, would join them, but after six years of therapy sessions to get over the fact that Rhonda and Harold were in a relationship, he found it best not to go over too often.
Helga drastically changed the way she interacts with Arnold, from bully to friendly, but has still failed to seriously confess her love to him without denying it. They have, however, spent a lot of time together over the Christmas break, due to Gerald and Phoebe dragging the two to all of their dates, movie nights, and parties. Gerald and Phoebe have been together since the seventh grade, when they stopped being shy and told each other how they felt, but didn't let it change anything between them and their best friends; therefore, they included Arnold and Helga in most of their plans. The time together has greatly influenced Helga's new attitude, because she knew that by being "alone" with Arnold while Gerald and Phoebe acted all lovey, she would have more chances to show him that she was okay.
Even after they saw each other, Arnold and Helga would send endless text messages to each other; they talked about everything from favorite movies and books, to hobbies and family life. Helga even told him about her knack for poetry (without mentioning what the poems were about). The two were getting along great and Arnold started sensing the connection and attraction that he had for Helga, but neither realized how the other felt.
Arnold and Helga continued to get closer, but both were too afraid to share their feelings. As the new semester went on, the rest of the gang began noticing the attraction between the two and figured it was about time they got together, but decided not to interfere. However, as Valentine's Day approached and they still weren't together, Gerald chose to confront Arnold about the crush he had on Helga.
"C'mon, man. You can't tell me that after spending this whole month talking to Helga, hanging out with Helga, studying with Helga, that you haven't realized how much you want to be more than friends with Helga!" Gerald said loudly as he paced back in forth in front of Arnold.
"We're just friends, Gerald." Arnold calmly replied.
"Arnold, all you do is talk about her. You sit in bed for hours at night texting her or waiting for texts from her! How can you sit there and tell me that you have no attraction for her, and don't like her, like her?"
"Gerald, I like talking to her, she is a really good friend to me. She is nice, and we actually have a lot in common, but she doesn't see me as any more than a friend. Yeah, we get along better now that she doesn't call me football head all the time, or pushes me out of her way saying, 'move it, bucko,' or acts disgusted every time I touch her or bump into her, or…"
"Arnold! We're not nine years old anymore, she was bound to stop picking on you eventually! You have to realize that may not be the only reason you two are getting along now, and I'm sure you realized that Helga is like, a babe now!"
"We're just friends, Gerald, besides she's always hanging out with that Michael guy and his roommate. She probably likes him."
"I don't think so, man."
"What do you mean?"
"I think that she likes you just as much as you like her."
"I don't like her, Gerald!" Arnold screams as he storms out of his room, causing Harold and Sid to open the door to their room and watch him walk down the stairs.
"What was that all about?" Harold asked, looking at Gerald who stood in his room shaking his head.
"He won't admit it, Harold. We have to find a way to get him to realize it himself. You know how oblivious Arnold can be," Gerald replied.
Meanwhile, on the girl's floor.
"Helga, we all know how much you care about Arnold, and have ALWAYS cared about him," Rhonda said as she sat down in Helga's desk chair.
"Yeah, Helga, you may have only told Phoebe, but it was pretty obvious to all of us," Nadine added as she sat on the rug petting the leopard gecko that she was holding.
"Pheebs, remember to remind me not to show how much I adore the football head in public, willya?" Helga sneered, shooting a glance to her best friend.
"Remembering!" Phoebe squeaked.
"But, Helga, why not show him how much you care, or tell him that you like, like him?" Rhonda piped in again.
"Because, Princess," Helga spat, "I don't like, like him, I am in love with the kid!"
Rhonda and Nadine stared at her shocked, they never expected her to admit that to them, despite the fact that they have all gotten so close over the years, but they started smiling and got all giddy at the news. Arnold however, who walked from his floor down to theirs, couldn't believe his ears as he caught Rhonda's question and Helga's reply. The words I don't like, like him, I am in love with the kid rang in his ears as he ran out of his dorm and out into the chilly, February air. She loves someone else. I knew it, he thought to himself. His eyes began to tear up, because he knew that he couldn't stand a chance against whoever it was that Helga was interested in. I've got to do something! Arnold thought as he ran to the campus library.
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, please review and I will update as soon as possible. :)