Chapter 1

By: Cat3192

All he felt was the cold rain streaming off of his face. His body was going numb. Who could have thought it felt like this. But a warm hand touched the side of his cheek. He could feel tears falling on his face and a faint voice calling. Who could it be? He drifted off remembering… everything.

It was a dark rainy night. He was lost in thought looking up into the dark clouds out of the skylight in his room. He lay on his bed listening to the thunder and watching rain drops fall. Arnold was thinking of how school went. He was still the same old boy with cornflower hair and the usual football like shaped head. He was now in High school and doing well in his classes. He still knew some of his friends but because of different classes he didn't get to talk to them as much as he used to back when they were kids. One friend he always kept in touch with was Gerald. He was a tall black gentleman with tall black hair. He was friends with Arnold since they were kids and they always kept in touch. Gerald had a girlfriend now which came as no surprise seeing how he was always smooth with the ladies. Plus on the bright side she was also a friend since they were kids. Her name was Phoebe and she was a small petite Asian girl with short black hair. Arnold didn't mind seeing them hang out but it made him feel lonely. As Arnold continued to get lost in his thoughts he heard a loud knock at the door. Who could be knocking this late? Arnold thought. It's almost 8 and even though this is a boarding house it's still weird especially when it's raining like this. He made his way downstairs. By the time he got near the last step he saw his grandpa, Phil, head towards the door.

"Ok, ok I'm coming. Who in the world could be knocking at this time of night?" said the 80 year old man.

His grandpa, Phil, went up to the door and opened it up. The rain continued to fall. It got heavier and a huge blinding flash lit up the whole room followed by thunder. Arnold saw his grandpa look around outside and bend over picking up a letter off the stairs. His grandpa shut the door looked at the mysterious letter.

"Who was it, grandpa? What's that in your hand?" Said Arnold.

"Not sure, Shortman. I found this letter outside and it's addressed to you."

"A letter for me?" He asked as he stepped down grabbing the letter out of his grandpa's hand.

At this time his grandma, pookie, walked downstairs to see what the commotion was about. She stood by her husband as Arnold looked at both of them unsure if he should open the wet, torn letter.

"Well Arnold read it out a loud," Phil said.

Arnold flipped it over to the front.

To: Arnold Shortman From: Rhonda Lyoid

He turned it over and opened the letter and proceeded to read the contents inside.

Dear Arnold,

I, Rhonda Lyoid, have invited you along with many others to celebrate my newest movie. I have been funding this movie and it will be in production this weekend. The party will be held tonight, Friday 13th of 2013 at 8:30 pm. It will be at my mansion at 720 Hillwood Lake. Food will be provided along with drinks, music and other activities. A limo will be picking you up at your house and will bring you here to insure safety due to the weather. Please dress in a suit and tie. See you soon! Sincerely, Rhonda Lyoid

"A party? Well you should be getting ready it's already 7:45." Said Phil.

"Yeah, but I have no idea what to wear, grandpa." Arnold said.

"What about that suit you wore when you saved our houses from being torn down by that Scheck feller?"

"Oh yeah, I completely forgot! Thanks grandpa! I just hope they still fit," Arnold replied as he ran upstairs to get ready.

After getting ready, he took one last look into the mirror. The suit still fit and didn't look to bad. He wore his black pants with a white button up shirt, a black coat and black tie. He remembered how he saved the neighborhood from being torn down by Scheck…that suit gave him so many memories. He remembered Helga, a old 4th grade classmate that used to pick on him and claimed she hated him. She had blonde hair, blue eyes and always wore a pink bow. He remembered what happened on the roof top of the FTI building between them. He then figured out that the person helping him get into the FTI building was Helga. She disguised herself as deep voice and helped him to get the documents that would save the neighborhood to the mayor. He thought of what was said on the FTI building and how she confessed her love to him but, also kissed him.

He quickly shook his head and got rid of the memory. However, he couldn't help but blush at the thought that someone loved him. He looked over at the time and saw that it was 8:15. He quickly ran downstairs to his grandpa.

"Do you have everything, Shortman?" Asked Phil.

"Yea I got everything."

Suddenly, a loud knock came from the door. Arnold went up to the door and opened it. A tall man in a suit was standing outside with an umbrella.

"Arnold Shortman?" The man asked.

Arnold nodded.

"Hello, Arnold. My name is Alfred and I will be your driver for the night. Please come this way and I will show you to the limo."

Arnold nodded and took the door handle.

"I'll be back later tonight, grandpa. I have my cell phone if you need me."

"Alright, Shortman. You be safe out there."

"I will be."

With that, Arnold shut the door and followed the man down the stairs. He almost slipped going down the stairs, but caught himself. The rain was still pouring and you could hear each drop hit like it was going to tear through the umbrella. After they came to the last step, Alfred opened the limo door. Arnold slid in and buckled up. The door shut behind him and the driver got in and started to drive towards the destination.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Football Head, Arnoldo." Said a mysterious voice.

Arnold whipped his head around only to find Helga sitting beside him. She had her hair down and a pink dress on, with lace that went from the waist down, a big pink bow that tied in the back and the same pink bow on her head. Arnold couldn't help but blush when he saw her.

"Take a photo Arnoldo it will last longer."

"Um... Hey, Helga." Arnold replied.

"Hey, man. How have you been?"

Arnold looked beside Helga to see his best friend Gerald. He was wearing the same suit from when him and Arnold saved the neighborhood. Beside Gerald was his girlfriend Pheobe. She wore a blue kimono with golden designs across it and a blue ribbon that tied in the back.

"Salutations," Phoebe said.

"Hey, you guys. I've been good, Gerald. And you?"

"Good. I was spending time with Pheebs today, when we got a letter from Rhonda about this party."

"Yeah, I did too," Said Arnold.

"I think we all got the letter, Football Head. I mean criminy!"

"Well, I was just saying, Helga," Arnold said pretty annoyed. Even though, he hadn't seen her much this year, he thought she would have changed. However, she acted the same way she did when they were kids.

"Anyway, what's this all about?" Arnold asked.

"Apparently, Rhonda has been funding a new movie that is about to go into production and has invited us to attend a celebration," Phoebe replied.

"Yeah, didn't you read the whole letter, Football Head? Little Miss Princess has been funding movies, only to come back with even more money when the movies are released. I mean, it is written in English, anyway."

"You know, Helga. After not seeing you this whole year, I'd thought you would be a little nicer to me."

"Well, you guessed wrong, bucko. I'm the same old me."

"Well-" Arnold pointed his finger at Helga.

"Hey, guys don't start. Besides, we are almost there…look," said Gerald, pushing Arnolds hand down.

Arnold and Helga both looked out the window, only to see a big, black iron gate. The limo pulled up to the gate and a man went up to the driver and talked to him. After they had talked, the gate creaked open and the limo pulled forward. You could see the mansion on a cliff side. It was a huge white Victorian mansion. In the front yard, there was a fountain and off to the side, there was an old shed and a light house. When the limo pulled up to the door, the driver got out and held an umbrella out. Arnold and Gerald let the girls go first. After they made it to the stairs, the driver came back and led Arnold and Gerald to the door.

"Wow! I knew she was rich, but I didn't think she was this rich," Gerald said as he wrapped his arm around Phoebe.

"Well, let's not sit outside all day. Someone knock already. Criminy!" Helga scowled.

"Alright, I'll do it," said Arnold as he went towards the doorbell. He pressed the old doorbell and a creepy old tune was heard throughout the mansion. Suddenly, the door creaked open and a old figure stood in the doorway. He bent down eye level with Arnold and looked at him with a very weird, but familiar grin.

"Hello…. And what can I do for you?"