There's Always Something

A Fan Fiction by Lizzie D

Setting:

Arnold: 17

Gerald: 17

Helga: 16

Phoebe: 16

The gang is in their Junior year together and some of them have drifted apart and some even closer. Arnold and Helga are dating and so is Gerald and Phoebe. Could feelings develop between 2 individuals that would rock the foundation of the high school? Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language. Look for new and interesting sparks.

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"Hello class!" exclaimed an overly happy, Mr. Simmons. He had grown very attached to his students. They were like his very own children. He loved them like his own.

Moans and groans flooded the classroom.

"Today, we are assigning a very new and special project that I know all of you will enjoy. You get to take your creative instincts and finally put them to good use!" Mr. Simmons informed with excitement.

Ughh... another lame-o project with our special teacher. I wonder what trash he'll force us into this time around. Helga's thoughts were interrupted by Mr. Simmons giving another special talk about the project.

"You know what makes this project even better than the past projects????" Mr. Simmons said encouragingly. He expected the class to answer, but they were still idle.

"We will be making totally new partners! That's right guys! Completely new partners for a change, they will be people you have never worked with. Even as far back as the 4th grade, I will look in the records. Maybe you'll make new friends!" he said ecstatically.

"What is he on?" Helga mumbled to Arnold. Arnold chuckled but returned his attention to Mr. Simmons.

"Now let me find that list...hmm, where could it be?" Mr. Simmons went fumbling through papers.

Harold, now 18, ran up to Mr. Simmons desk to steal his lunch.

"He does that every day," Arnold said to Helga, "it is such an annoyance."

Pathetic, Helga thought to herself. Helga had changed quite a bit since the fourth grade. She had ditched the tacky, pink bow and gotten rid of her unibrow. He didn't necessarily make her change her looks. Now that she has a one-and-only she decided to take more pride in herself. Helga wasn't a beauty queen, but she did use a little bit of make-up: some mascara and some foundation was all she needed. She was blessed with long flowing golden hair that went to her shoulders like silk. Helga got along with Arnold's friends a lot better since her and Arnold were dating, specifically Gerald and Helga developed somewhat of a friendship as opposed to being mere acquaintances.

"Ah here it is," Mr. Simmons said with relief, "wait- where is my lunch?"

It had become part of the daily routine for everyone in the class to point to Harold.

"Ughh, I'll be taking that, Harold," said Mr. Simmons with a hint of annoyance.

"Sorry, Mr. Simmons," Harold said with out care.

"That's all right, Harold. Now, since you will be working with new people, we are going to make this as fun as possible! You will create a type of product and then you will creat an advertising campaign to support it! Each project will be graded for it's 'special' qualities including: grammar, creativity, and cooperation!" He said with excitement.

"Now, Onto the list. Arnold, you will be working with Phoebe for a change. Rhonda and Eugene. Sheena and Harold. Big Patty and Sid..." Mr. Simmons droned on.

Many faces in the class turned to frowns. They had wanted to be with a certain person, and the chances were nothing.

"I guess it's me and you, Geraldo," Helga said jokingly. Gerald just smiled. She didn't mind working with Gerald. She didn't hate him as much as she used to.

This won't be so bad. Helga isn't that bad of a person, it'd be worse to work with Rhonda or something. He remembered the project Arnold was forced into with Rhonda and Nadine back in the fourth grade. Somehow Gerald ended up being in a fashion show for the project.

"Oh my goodness. Lila, it seems I forgot to give you a partner. I'm terribly sorry, I don't know how I could make such an error," Mr. Simmons said sympathetically.

"It is ever so okay, Mr. Simmons. We will figure something out," she said in her perky voice.

Lila had changed as well. Her father hit the lottery and she completely changed. She turned into a red-headed Rhonda. Lila still upheld the fake perkiness, but she wasn't so nice anymore. She treated everyone as inferiors, including Helga G. Pataki. She revealed Helga's secret to Arnold back in Freshman Year. Her evil plan backfired, and Arnold felt the same way.

"Well, I just don't know what to do," Mr. Simmons said with a worried expression upon his aged face.

Principal Wartz walked into the classroom. He had also aged greatly, he was about to retire at any time now.

"Simmons, come out into the hall for a moment..." he said as Mr. Simmons exited.

The class was stirring with gossip.

"He probably got fired again!" Helga laughed.

"The odds are slim, Helga," Phoebe interjected.

Helga shook her head as Mr. Simmons, Principal Wartz and a new student walked into the room.

"ARNIE???!!?" Arnold exclaimed and nearly fell out of his chair.

"What the hell?" Helga was just as shocked.

"I can't believe this..." Arnold whispered to Helga.

"Don't worry, Football-Head. He can't hold a candle to you." Helga reassured him.

I still can't believe this... ARNIE?!! It's unreal. The infamous Arnie who enjoyed chewing gum, reading food labels, and counting things. He was as odd as Stinky. No, odder. No one was as screwed up as Arnie, Arnold thought.

"Well class, we have a new student. Meet Arnie," said an overjoyed Mr. Simmons, "tell us about yourself!"

Arnold sighed as he watched his weird cousin make an idiot of himself.

"Well. I like gum, I like reading the nutrition labels on food stuffs, and I like to count things," said Arnie in his usual monotone voice.

Lila practically melted.

"Here is your new partner, Lila. Meet Arnie," Mr. Simmons stated.

"We will have just ever so much fun on our project, Arnie!" Lila said excitedly.

The bell finally rang and the students rushed out of class. Gerald caught up with Arnold.

"Arnie. Wow man, that's really unbelievable. That idiot and Lila. Heh! See ya later, man!" Gerald said.

He had to find Helga so they could set a date for their project.

"Hey Helga!" Gerald shouted and Helga turned around.

"Yes, Geraldo?" she replied with a smile.

"When do you want to work on the project?" he inquired.

"How about tomorrow night? You can ask Arnold for my number because I have a bus to catch!"

She was about to run off when Gerald stopped her.

"I'll give you a ride home, don't think anything of it. I'm already taking Pheebs home, anyway." he said.

"Thanks," she simply said.

Phoebe caught up with Gerald.

"I don't need that ride, so don't wait up. I have to talk to the Biology teacher about some homework," Phoebe said, almost out of breath.

"Okay Pheebs," Gerald replied, "-- I'll call you tonight!"

"Just me and you then, let's go, Tall-hair boy," Helga stated with prominence.

Gerald and Helga walked to his red sports car. He was just about to drive off when Rhonda stopped him.

"Wow, Helga and Gerald. Never thought I would see the day. I didn't know you were going to take me up on it when I told you that you could do better than Phoebe," Rhonda said with a smug smile.

"We aren't together, Rhonda. Get lost!" Gerald yelled as he pulled out.

"I hate her too," Helga tried to cheer him up.

"She just doesn't know when not to talk," Gerald said angrily.

"Hey, don't let her get to you, Geraldo. That's my job!" she said jokingly.