A/N1 – (this is something I'm putting in all the stories I post today); Hi! And welcome to my imagination. I have been a member here since September 4th, 2002. This is one of the first stories that I am posting and being that it is a very unusual and special event, I am posting it on a day that does not exist 3 out of 4 years! What took me so long? Well, two things: I'm a procrastinator and a perfectionist, but in general, I get many ideas that just don't seem to come out into words. However, I promised myself, that today, I would share some of my ideas with the world (and it's about time, too!). I hope you enjoy your reading and Happy Leap Year!
A/N2 – (this author's note is for the story) part of this story was a dream I had (the only HA! dream I've ever had) and I expanded on it. Enjoy what my wacky subconscious came up with! Oh, and this is after the movie!
Disclaimer – if I owned Hey Arnold! I'd be dreaming up episodes every night and creating them the next morning.
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Story 1: The Angels
Arnold turned the corner. It was 4:00 and most students had gone home. Arnold had stayed late to help clean up from "Sports Day". The schoolyard was empty except for a small group of people next to a volleyball net near the fence.
Wolfgang and his minions had cornered a student and were laughing about how they'd just beat the grade 3's at some game.
"That'll teach them."
The grade 5 bullies let go of their prey and Wolfgang stepped forward. It appeared as if a boxing match would occur, and Wolfgang would surely be the winner. But-
"Leave him alone!"
Not Arnold. A little blond girl in a white dress stood between Wolfgang and the student. The student made his get-away.
"Aww! It's one of 'em 'angels' from that gr. 3 Football Head club!" complained one of Wolfgang's minions. "Should we get 'er, Boss?"
"Nah. Let her go on being a goody-goody – we've got better things to do," commanded Wolfgang and the gr. 5's left.
The thought of what could possibly be considered a 'better thing to do' by Wolfgang never reached the gr. 4 student's mind, for when his nickname was mentioned, Football Head, I mean, Arnold's eyes widened. "The gr. 3's have a Football Head club? I mean an angel's club?"
"Looks like it, Arnoldo," came Helga's voice from behind him.
"Helga? You startled me. What are you doing here?" Arnold asked.
"Forgot a book," she shrugged, but not sounding completely convincing. "Anyway, the school's locked so it looks like I came for nothing."
"Well, it doesn't have to be for nothing. Could I walk you home?"
"What's the catch?" Helga questioned suspiciously.
"No catch. I just thought you might like some company."
Helga continued to stare at him disbelievingly.
"Ok. That and I don't want to think about gr. 3's who have a club named after my football head!" he gave in.
"Aha! Now the truth comes out!" said Helga triumphantly as they started to head home.
"Well, it's not like you're always an honest angel yourself," said Arnold flirtatiously.
"I thought you didn't want to think about The Angels," replied Helga smugly.
"I don't. I just-"
"Sure, whatever! You're really enjoying the fame and glory these kids bestow upon thee," said Helga with a dramatic flourish.
"Oh yes. I'm their king," Arnold said sarcastically. "As a king I expect all to worship me." He gave a sideways glance to Helga. "That means you, Helga! Bow down-"
They walked around a corner and into a group of gr. 3's.
"Sh! Everyone, it's Arnold! Bow down before him!" exclaimed the over-excited leader of The Angels club. All the angels bowed.
"No, you don't have to do that!" Arnold stated, embarrassed.
"We do, Arnold! You're the great one who always gives advice and is always nice to people. We look up to you and respect you!" informed the leader.
"Who's she?" asked the little blond girl from earlier.
"Hey! What are you staring at?" asked Helga aggressively.
The gr. 3's screamed with surprise and drew back behind Arnold.
"She's a bully!" uttered one of the students.
"No, no… Helga…" Arnold gave her the 'calm down' signal with his hand.
"Wow! Did you see that? Arnold can even command bullies," whispered the leader in amazement.
"No, that's only because she…" Arnold paused and looked at Helga. "…has a good heart within her."
Helga's pleading look turned into a surprised one as the gr. 3's gathered around her.
"Arnold can see within people. She has a good heart," the leader told the others.
Helga smiled.
Arnold smiled.
After a few minutes, The Angels left to help an old woman cross the street. Arnold and Helga continued their trek in silence. But it wasn't long before one of them spoke.
"Were you going to tell them that I, well I, that I-" Helga began, fumbling for the words.
"Love me?" finished Arnold and he nodded. "I think I started to, but I couldn't do that to you or to them."
"So it's true, you really are an angel," concluded Helga.
"Helga, you know that's not true."
She shook her head. "But it is. You're always helping others, giving advice, knowing what's right, seeing the good in people, and looking on the bright side; Arnold these qualities are unique and they make you an angel."
Arnold was quiet for a moment. Then, he spoke.
"Helga, I never got to tell you how I feel about you loving me."
"You don't have to," said Helga shyly and looking away.
"But I want to," he said firmly. "I've had some time to think about it. Well, actually, to try NOT to think about it, to think about you, but end up doing so because I… well I think I'm ok with it. I think I have feelings for you."
"You do?" Helga asked incredulously.
"Helga, when I look at you now all I see is the nice person inside. It gives me warmth. I think I'm… in love with you."
"You think?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I-"
But before Arnold could say another word, Helga grabbed him and kissed him. One long smooch later, they stopped to catch their breaths.
"Yah, I'm pretty sure. I mean, I'm 100% positive I do."
"I do, too," Helga said softly.
"I know," Arnold stated. "Hey, Helga, do you want to go to the movies with me Friday night?"
"Is the great football headed angel asking me out on a date? My answer is 'yes' of course," said Helga, regaining her bully composure.
"You don't have to take that tone anymore," Arnold commented.
"Hey! It's what I'm used to!" said Helga. "But I'll give you the privilege of seeing my softer side once in a while," she said as an afterthought.
"I can't wait," Arnold said sarcastically. He was going to say something else, but they had reached the porch to Helga's house.
"Well…"
"Well?"
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow at school," said Arnold.
"Yah. Will we tell everyone then?" Helga asked hesitantly.
"I guess. Or maybe we should just let everyone figure it out for themselves," Arnold suggested daringly.
Helga smiled. The looks on the faces of Rhonda, and Miss Perfect, Lila, even Harold, Sid and Stinky…everyone would be shocked. This gave Helga some satisfaction.
Arnold was thinking along the same lines and he grinned back at Helga.
They moved towards one another, then hesitated. They both wanted to say they loved each other again but changed their minds. Instead, they shifted nervously on the spot.
"I'll see you tomorrow then," Arnold said.
"Yah…" said Helga as her heart beated faster.
They both stood awkwardly for another moment. Slowly, they leaned in and kissed each other again. All unwanted feelings melted away.
"Bye," said Helga.
"See you later," said Arnold and he floated away down the street.
"My angel…" Helga sighed to herself. Coming back to reality, she thought, "Phoebe'll never believe this!" And she hurried inside, shutting the door behind her.
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A/N – YES! Do REVIEW! It is a very good thing to do.
I decided to call this "The Angels Series" because there are four more stories I came up with as a sequel to this, so stick around for more! I am going on a trip soon, so it will be a while before the next chapter is up, sorry!
That's all for now. Signing out,
*Golden Lunar Eclipse*