AN:

Hello to all of my readers. As I'm sure you all know, I have two unfinished stories, and unfortunately I don't plan on posting on them anymore

Reasons being, life got so hectic and on "Things left unsaid" I completely lost track of where I was going with it. And as for "My friend ED" well, I found it was waaaaay too triggering to continue to work on it. I haven't decided yet on if I'm going to delete them all together, or leave them up and maybe one day go back to them if I get a spurt of inspiration. And they were also way too scattered, I didn't like how the story lines were so unorganized. However, I do have a new story in mind. I want to start fresh, with brand new styles and ideas. And this one I DO plan on completing. So sit tight, because I'm also going to be uploading my own artwork along with each chapter. I hope you all enjoy what I have next on the agenda. Here you go!

The sea is a good place to think of the future: Chapter 1


V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N: In the summer sun!

It was the last day of school in the town of Hillwood; students watched the clock tick away, anxiously awaiting the chime of freedom. Right as the last bell rang, high-school kids scrambled out of their seats, fighting their way through the hallways of their prison. Amongst the commotion a golden-haired girl walked beside her tiny Asian friend. "Oh boy, Phoebe! This summer is going to be great!" the long haired girl pranced around on her tip toes. "Fresh air, the smell of the ocean, free food! And the best part about this whole vacation. !" Helga chirped, making way to her locker. "Oh, yes, Helga this trip is going to be exciting to say the least!" Phoebe squeaked with excitement. Once at their lockers, the two teenaged girls ran into Arnold and Gerald.

"Hey football head" Helga leaned against Arnold's locker, pounding Gerald's fist as she did so. "Hey Helga, you excited about the trip?" Arnold asked, shooting her a crooked grin. Helga nodded eagerly "Yeah, yeah, doi football head, but were you able to convince the parental units to let you come along?" Helga asked, growing slightly frustrated. Arnold sighed and put his books in his locker in silence, this didn't sound good. Gerald knocked him in the arm "Come on, man tell her" Gerald pushed. Helga's eyebrows furrowed "Tell me what, Arnoldo? Come on, spill!" Helga demanded and crossed her arms. "Well, my parents said I could go but..."

"But... what?"

"But they said we need a chaperone" Arnold winced, waiting for Helga's fist to crash into his face.

"Are you kidding me? We're seventeen years old! Why in the name of crimeny would we need a chaperone?" Helga groaned, she could feel her plans unfurling. Their trip was in less than two weeks, and Helga would have to devise a plan that would both please Arnold's parents and let them keep their freedom. "I know that look, what's going on in that head of yours Pataki?" Gerald accused. Helga shot him a sly grin "I'll get your parents that chaperone, football head, don't you worry" she said as she began to walk away "I'll call you later!"

"Mmm mmm mmm! That Helga Pataki sure is a piece of work" Gerald said, shaking his head. "Yeah, she sure is" Arnold said with a small smile and the two boys went their separate ways.


Helga had a plan, the gang was going on this adventure and Helga would be damned if she let anything stand in the way. "Helga! Helga!" a familiar voice rang throughout the hallway, the two girls turned to see a red-headed girl sporting two long braids and overalls running towards them. "Hey, little Ms. Perfect, what's shaking?" Helga continued to walk, dragging Phoebe along by the wrist hardly giving her a moment to greet their little country friend. "Helga, I spoke to my dad and he was just ever so generous! He wrote me this check to help pay for some of our cruise expenses like activities and stuff! He said I should give it to you for your father" She ran alongside the blonde girl, waving a check around in the air. "Great, thanks" Helga snatched the check out of her hand and stuffed it into her torn jean pocket. "Where are you going in such a rush?" Lila inquired curiously, Helga stopped for a moment to explain. "Well, seems like the football-head's parents decided that we're too young to go on a cruise by ourselves so they said he couldn't go unless we bring a baby-sitter"

"Who'd you have in mind?"

"You'll see" Helga said with a confident smile and waved Lila off, starting to drag her little Asian friend once again. Phoebe shot Lila a confused look and shrugged her shoulders as she waved good-bye. Lila watched as they disappeared into the hallways. It wasn't long before they walked up to a classroom door; Phoebe looked over at Helga and raised an eyebrow. Helga winked at her best friend "wait here Phoebes" Helga instructed strictly before fixing her hair and opening the wooden door. Inside of the classroom sat a man, he was the teachers aid and in his second year of college. He was the perfect "chaperone" he was a student teacher, old enough to please Arnold's parents and young enough that he wouldn't try and ruin their teenaged fun and if Helga's suspicions were correct, he might even get them alcohol (score!) Why hadn't she thought of this sooner!? He looked up from the students papers and smiled brightly upon seeing Helga.

"Oh, hey, Helga what's up?"

She walked over to his desk and leaned against it, crossing her arms over her chest and clearing her throat "Alright, Chris. I'll cut right to the chase. So, as you probably know a few of us are going on a cruise in a couple of weeks; but one of our little crew-members parent's decided to go all over-protective on us and said he can't go unless we get a chaperone-"

"So you want me to go because I'm old enough to satisfy his parents but you think I won't spoil your fun-" he gave a slight smirk.

"Right" Helga returned the grin "And don't worry about expenses or anything, my dad can take care of that. I know its short notice but hey, it's a free cruise" Helga turned to face him and placed her hands on the table, hoping he'd accept her proposition. He chuckled lightly and removed his glasses, setting them on the table and standing to his feet. He walked around to Helga, leaning against the desk beside her.

"All right, Helga. I'll go on your little cruise and be your chaperone. But-"

"But-"

"Yes, I have conditions..."

"Which are?"

He paused a moment, grin never leaving his lips, he took a moment to look her up and down. She was rather filled out for a seventeen year old, she wore slightly baggy clothes but he could still tell she had a lovely figure. A body like that would be way too hard to hide, no matter how she tried. She wore a tattered gray beanie that was patched up in some spots, a pink baggy t-shirt and torn jeans. Her hair was old-school today, pulled up into thick pigtails, and her unibrow had been retired long ago. They were still thick, but they were shaped and lovely. She cocked an eyebrow at him, feeling his intense gaze piercing through her, suddenly she felt naked and vulnerable which was a first for her. He cleared his throat.

"I'll be your chaperone if you let me take you out to dinner" He grabbed her hand and placed a kiss upon it. Helga was taken aback, was her student teacher really hitting on her? She felt her cheeks go hot, she was unsure of how to respond. He was extremely charming, and very attractive; in fact, most of the students that had this class had major crushes on him. He was every teenaged girl's fantasy. Smart, poetic, charismatic, and his eyes were blue enough to drown in. His hair was of medium length, and sort of an auburn color, he was tall, pale, and muscular. Helga started to fantasize about the two of them, how exciting that an older man would want to take her of all people out to dinner. Then she let it slip.

"Why me? Why not someone like Rhonda, or Lila...or-"

"Because, I find you rather interesting, and I'm not big on superficial women anyway"

Interesting? Was that even a good thing? What did that even mean? Was he joking? Even if this whole thing was a bust, she had no choice but to say yes. It was the only way to get him to agree to be their chaperone. She took a moment to compose herself and cleared her throat nervously. "Alright, Chris. I'll go to dinner with you, but you have to write my dad and Arnold's parents a letter" Helga tried to steady her voice, not wanting to give away her nerves. Chris nodded his head in approval and grabbed two sheets of paper and a pen writing their parents notes and leaving his phone number for them to give him a call. He then took down Helga's phone number and winked at her before she excused herself and met Phoebe outside of the classroom. She had a somewhat dazed look on her face and Phoebe couldn't help but to be curious.

"So, what happened?" Phoebe asked. Helga suddenly snapped back to reality.

"Oh, Um Mr., Parker said that he would chaperone for us" Helga tried to mask her flush. Phoebe raised an eyebrow "The student teacher?" She asked unsure of what to think. Helga furrowed her eyebrows "Yeah, the student teacher" she said in a mocking tone "Got a problem with that?"

"Well, no... It's just... Do you really think Arnold's parents will go for that?"

"Well, it's really the only option to make his parents happy without having to spoil our fun"

"If you say so, Helga..."


Once Helga made it to her house, she explained the situation to Big Bob and Miriam handing them the note, and Lila's check. Big Bob didn't see the problem with the kids having a chaperone on their cruise, in fact he even agreed with the idea. "Well, Girl you could always take Olga instead, I think I'd trust her more" Bob waved the note in her face. Helga was horrified at this idea and jumped back in terror "What!?" she yelped. Big Bob grabbed his gut and began to laugh, almost doubling over "I'm just messing with you, relax, Helga!" He had a hard time containing his laughter. "I'll talk to Albert's parents tomorrow about your little baby-sitter" Bob waved her off. "His name is Arnold!" she barked back at him then let out a sigh of relief and rolled her eyes, carrying her bags up to her room.

She flopped down onto her bed, excited about her trip and very thankful that her dad had been so generous. Ever since Olga had moved back into the house, the entire family began to see Dr. Bliss for group therapy. They had made extreme progress. Miriam stopped drinking; Bob took more days off from working at his new (cell phone) company. It gave him more time to spend with the family, and it gave him the opportunity to get to know Helga more. The more time he spent with her the more he found they had many things in common and the closer they got; he even remembered her name now! Helga had also been given the skills to cope with her anger problems, and since her family started acting like a real family her anger seemed to diminish with each passing year. She was still the same Helga that she had always been, she just didn't bully anyone anymore, and she wasn't so easily set off, it was safe to say that life was officially good. She was still good friends with the old gang, they had no animosity towards her, and she had even gotten over obsession with a certain football headed boy.

It hadn't been an easy thing to overcome, but through extensive therapy and self-reflection she had done it. She was no longer obsessed with the flaxen haired love god, she no longer worshiped the ground he walked on; and she was also able to come out with her dignity still intact. Over the years, the two became great friends, almost best friends if it weren't for Phoebe and Gerald, and Helga was OK with that. Well, Helga would still always have a love for Arnold, she had to come to terms with the fact that they just simply would never be together. She realized that her obsession was unhealthy and she couldn't continue to walk around love-sick all day. She had to admit, life without her obsession had become rather dull and lonely, but she still had him in her life which was the only thing that mattered, and she wouldn't trade their friendship for anything in the world. Life was good, yes it sure was. For the first time she could actually say she was truly happy. And to make things better. An amazingly handsome and smart man was interested in taking her out to dinner. She let out a loving sigh, and at that moment her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and read the message.

UNKNOWN: "Just spoke with your father, everything's all set. You owe me a date ;)"