Hi! this is my first fanfict story. As the story progress, there will be stops in between with a summary. I know this can be annoying, but it is necessary in order for everyone to get an understanding of the situation that is taking place.
Please note: I do not own any of the Hey Arnold characters and series.
The story takes place during the Patakis spinoff that was never brought to light. Before entering high school, Arnold moves away from Hilwood. By their 11th grade year, a new kid has started his class at Highwood High. His name is Rodrigo, a Latino with an uncharacteristic personality who befriends everyone, including none other than Helga Pataki. It becomes apparent to everyone that since the start of their friendship, Helga has slowly been coming out of her destitute shell, coming to grips with living a life without her beloved football head. But what happens and she overhears them talking about her?
In addition, I am currently writing a prequel to this story, called Helga's Transference. It takes places months before this story and it covers the friendship between Rodrigo and Helga. Go check it out!
Chapter 1
It has been a long and cold winter. It is now the beginning of March and only now the snow has just started to melt. through the whole week, it was constantly snowing, cloudy and sometimes foggy, bringing an aura or deep melancholy throughout the city. People struggled to get to work through the deep snow; children often had to stay home because of the school bus' inability to reach their stop and take them to school. For the teenagers attending Hilwood High school, it was a struggle as well, to get to class. some had to carpool because of their friends' parents' car being more able to get around in the snow. Others made no effort to even get up, agonizing over the dreadful weather that they had to ensure, should they venture out. It was one of those winters that has overstayed its welcome and everyone was relieved that see that spring was just around the corner.
Rodrigo and Helga have just ended their dancing lessons together and are now starting to clean up the gym that the last class used before the end of the school day. They have arranged with the teacher of this last class that they can use the gym, on the condition that they clean up after the mess her class made. It was a small price to pay, but well worth it as they are able to use the gym for as long as they wished.
Much has changed since September when Rodrigo first stepped into the halls of Hilwood High, yet he remembers it like it was yesterday. As he was cleaning up the balls and chairs left in the wake of the last class, he couldn't help but stare at his closest friend and dancing partner Helga Pataki, who just months prior would show threatening hostility and apprehension towards him, was now confidently close to him as any friend would be. He was one of the people, aside from Arnold and Phoebe, who was able to become friends with this person, a girl known for her short temper, sarcastic remarks and a grin that would often confuse people if whether she was being flirty or threatening them. That is the thing about Helga, she would always keep you on your toes, would constantly test you to see if you would fail to meet her standards and boy were they high! Few ever met them, but Rodrigo was one of the few.
Rodrigo's personality had a lot to do with this. Like Arnold, he was known to be a very patient and sympathetic person towards other people's problems and would always give out a helping hand. He was very observant and a good listener, a trait well suited to deal with someone like Helga. However, he also encompassed Helga's assertive and independent personality traits. He can be very patient and sympathetic in one situation, but contrary in others. Additionally, he can be diplomatic, charming and cunning, but also direct and assertive, if not aggressive if need be. Although a joking kind of person, he was known for having serious and deep conversations when the situation called for it.
His appearance can also be given credit. Although roughly the same height as Helga, he always wore a black fedora hat, had jeans that were sometimes ripped on the sides or knees, with a shirt that was either a simple color or would sometimes had colour patterns, depending on his mood. If he wanted to look more 'sophisticated', he would sometimes wear a bright coloured polo shirt.
In sum, Rodrigo was the type of person that had an...active and dualistic personality, but it was not too much that would overwhelm or annoy those around him. For Helga, he was fun to be around with, but never enough to irritate her.
Helga's appearance has changed over the years. While no longer wearing a pink dress, she wore a big blue cap that covered head, hiding her pink ribbon that she refuses to part with; a reminder of Arnold. Tonight she was a pink lighter sweater with blue jeans and white shoes. She was thin, but not enough to be anorexic. She had curves that she has put to good use during her dancing lessons, all while still retaining her famous unibrow.
It was now 6pm when they ended their dancing lessons and both were annoyed at the mess that they now have to clean up. As Rodrigo was cleaning up he could not help but wonder just what kind of class was here. He could not tell if the last class was practicing a particular sport or playing musical chairs.
"Ugh! I hate cleaning up after these losers. What kind of gym class uses chairs to play sports?!" Helga asked.
Rodrigo laughed. "My thoughts exactly Helga. I was actually trying to guess the class that was here. And I hear ya, but it was part of the deal with Mrs. Henderson to use the gym so unfortunately we gotta do this".
"Ya ya whatever Latino boy". Helga remarked.
It was now 6:30pm and they had mostly cleaned up the gym. They were now just stacking the chairs and putting them in the closest that was just outside the hallway. As they were stacking them, Rodrigo called out,
"Helga, just stack them close to the doorway and let me put them in the closet. I just want to run by my locker and put my cd's and radio there so I don't forget them like last time."
"Whatever floats your boats, just don't leave me here carrying these chairs on my own like last time, got it?" Helga warned.
"Nah, I won't. I got off easy last time, I know that I will not be given a second chance," replied Rodrigo with a smirk on his face.
Helga returned with her own smirk, then carried on with her duties.
She is soo cute when she smiles, Rodrigo thought. She needs to learn to smile more.
Rodrigo grabbed his stuff and started walking towards his locker, which was only just around the corner from the gym entrance. As he approached his locker, he heard some commotion around the corner.
Why are there still people here at this time?, he thought to himself.
As he walked around he saw that it was only Gerald and everyone else still lingering down the hallway.
Well this is a rare occurrence, Rodrigo thought. I know that it was football practice today and the guys would be here, but why are Phoebe, Rhonda, Lila, Sheena and Nadine here as well?
Although not by choice, he walked towards his locker to put his stuff away and ask them why they were still here.
