Disclaimer:
I don't own Hey Arnold! or any of the characters (unless they're not seen in the series). I do own this story so please don't plagiarize or sue me. Thanks. Now enjoy!A/N:
This story is set in the future where Helga, Arnold, and the gang are all seniors in high school. I know it's been done before but I wanted to give it a shot so remember that any intense, violent, or romantic situations aren't dealing with elementary kids but high schoolers. So don't flame me about age stuff. Reviews are appreciated though.What the Time's Done
Part One: Aged to Perfection
Childhood and adolescence sometimes pass us by seeming slow in their journeys until that fateful day when we wake up and realize that they're gone. When we find ourselves suddenly transformed from carefree children or curious preteens to emotional teenagers on the brink of adulthood. We are then more than we ever thought possible. Faced with decisions that could stay with us for a lifetime. The event of growing up is a bittersweet experience fraught with danger, discovery, and at times, heartache. The sad melody of lost time plays on as we endure day after day of life with our aged comrades. That kid that always tripped over his own shoelaces is now most likely to succeed, that brainiac from the front row now has a scholarship to the top university in the state, and the quiet poet that remained anonymous through most of the early school years has been exposed and somehow transformed into the most beautiful and well respected girl in the graduating class. And then, there's that football headed kid that she finally paired up with, the one that could've been anything and everything. Now faced with the harsh reality that sometimes, love takes separate paths…
Arnold and Helga were standing outside the hallway entrance to their high school early one late winter day awaiting the arrival of their best friends Phoebe and Gerald. Both sets of couples had grown up with each other and eventually exposed their love. Aging brought forth the realizations that the heart wants what it wants, even when it makes little sense to everyone else. Arnold and Helga had been the most unlikely couple ever whereas Phoebe and Gerald were often thought to wind up together since elementary school. Helga had bullied Arnold most of his life, expressing her desire to be near him by shoving him away and taunting him with such names as 'football head' and 'little yellow haired shrimp'. Arnold had fallen for the ploy that Helga hated his guts until the day he himself realized what was really going on. He'd always suspected Helga of having a softer side, and--on rare occasions--he himself had seen it. Then one fateful day he'd wound up escorting her to a dance and finding out just how strong a bond existed between them. Jealousy had even factored in countless times over the years and finally, it was made official that they had found soul mates in each other. Gerald and Phoebe had slowly but surely came together on their own as well, Gerald finally admitting to Phoebe that he wanted to be more than just friends.
So childhood enemies and long time admirers had become couples. The second item now approached the first.
"Hey Arnold!" Gerald called out waving his hand to attract his best buddy's attention.
"Hi Gerald, c'mon the bell's about to ring." Arnold answered taking his arm out from around Helga's shoulders.
Helga greeted Phoebe in a similar fashion and the group of four headed inside and towards their separate classes.
"Has Arnold asked you to the prom yet?" Phoebe inquired once she and Helga were in their Advanced Placement English class.
"He's still got two months Phoebs, "Helga reminded her, why, has Geraldo asked you?"
"Yep," Phoebe beamed, she always had this brilliant smile that matched her intelligent personality whenever she was thrilled about something, "We were at the movies last weekend when it kind of came up."
"Whatever," Helga laughed, "I'm not counting on football head to say anything until the last minute."
"But he will ask you right?" Phoebe pressed, "I mean, I was hoping the four us would share a limo or something."
"Don't sweat it Phoebe," Helga assured her, "Arnold will bring it up the week before or something, you won't have to go alone with Gerald. Sheesh, you've been dating since fifth grade and you're STILL nervous about going solo."
In World Cultures class Arnold and Gerald were carrying on a conversation of their own before the final bell.
"And then Lt. Wrath nailed the army of Zarthic warriors and saved that Helena chick before the bomb could go off in her office," Gerald was saying.
"Sounds like a cool movie," Arnold replied flipping through his text book searching for his homework assignment.
"It is man, you should take Helga to see it this weekend."
"Helga has a poetry reading scheduled at Club Mocha," Arnold sighed, "I get to spend three hours down there listening to a bunch of gothic wannabes whine about their life and how pointless it is."
"The things we do for love huh?" Gerald laughed, "Last week I had to sit in a boring rehearsal of The Life of Abigail Adams cause Phoebe was staring in it."
"Bet that was fun." Arnold chuckled. "Helga isn't really into historic plays and stuff, thank goodness."
Just then the bell rang and their teacher, Mr. Cynic walked in with his black portfolio.
"Oh great," Gerald whispered, "you know what that means…"
"Yeah," Arnold groaned, "profiling famous international leaders."
******
Sid and Stinky hid behind a row of lockers in the hallway as their principal Mrs. Leery headed down the hall.
"Boy howdy is she gonna be surprised," Sid snickered as the unsuspecting victim continued to patrol the halls.
"Yeah," Stinky joined in, "too bad Harold's in in-school suspension, he would've loved to do this with us."
"Well it's not our fault he couldn't get away before the stink bomb went off in the gym teacher's office." Sid exclaimed a little too loudly.
"Who's there?" Mrs. Leery demanded approaching the boys. "Sid, Stinky? Now what are you troublemakers up to?"
"N-nothing Mrs. Leery," Sid gulped hiding the paper bag behind his back.
"And why aren't you in class?" Mrs. Leery raised an eyebrow staring down the two hooligans.
"W-we were just headin' out for a drink of water Mrs. Leery," Stinky lied.
"Behind the lockers?"
"Y-yes ma'am." Sid stuttered.
"I suggest you two boys head back to class, now." Mrs. Leery instructed, truth be told, she really didn't want to know what sort of prank Sid and Stinky had planned.
"Y-yes Mrs. Leery," both boys answered taking off for World Cultures with the bag concealed under Sid's jacket.
Arnold and Gerald looked up from their review sheets as Sid and Stinky darted into the classroom and collapsed in their desks.
"Mrs. Leery catch ya before you could nail her with water balloons full of shaving cream again?" Gerald asked.
"I reckon so," Stinky grumbled breathlessly, "it's gettin' harder than uncooked corn to pull one over on these grown ups."
"Don't you think it's a little immature to keep pulling pranks like this at your age?" Arnold asked correcting number 14.
"Are you kiddin' Arnold?" Sid gasped, "It's stuff like this that makes it worth coming to school."
"Sid my man," Gerald moaned, "do us all a favor and drop out."
"Can't," Sid whined, "my mom'd kill me."
******
In the teacher's lounge across the hall Mrs. Jennings and Mr. Polk were watching the latest news report. Cathy Brinkley was reporting on local news dealing with a prison release of one of the most hated businessmen in the city's history.
"And the release of Mr. Scheck has resulted in much controversy this morning due to his unlawful actions against the residents of an historic neighborhood downtown in our fair city." Cathy continued.
"I can't believe they're letting that criminal out of jail," Mrs. Jennings commented sipping her coffee.
"I know," Mr. Polk agreed, "and just think of how poor Arnold and Gerald are gonna feel once they find out."
"I'd hate to be the one to break the news to them." Mrs. Jennings sighed, "It's something best heard from the their families I suppose."
"Yep," Mr. Polk sighed, "it's not a good day to be responsible for putting Scheck behind bars."
******
Cathy Brinkley approached the much hated businessman as he stepped past the guarded barbed wire fence of the local prison. "Mr. Scheck, a moment of your time please."
Scheck reluctantly turned to face the annoying reporter, "Yes?"
"It's been nearly nine years since you first were sentenced to prison time, what are your plans now that you've been permitted to rejoin society?"
"Why, I merely wish to give back to the community after causing it so much pain," Mr. Scheck responded.
"And exactly how do you plan to do so Mr. Scheck?"
"I thought I might try giving back starting with the educational department of our city, after all I do have the needed resources to help out in the education of our promising youth." Mr. Scheck explained.
"And what of the two boys that are responsible for putting you away?" Cathy inquired shoving the microphone closer to Scheck's face.
"If anything I'd like to extend my deepest gratitude to those boys for helping me to see the error of my ways." Mr. Scheck announced in a sincere tone, "I assure you Ms. Brinkley I bare no ill will whatsoever towards those children. Now if you'll excuse, my ride has arrived."
Scheck dismissed himself and headed towards his limousine, after getting in the driver looked towards the rearview mirror, "Nice one Mr. Scheck, throw everyone off your trail."
"Oh it was no ploy," Scheck assured his employee as he rolled the window up between them, "those boys are of absolutely no concern to me. No…I have bigger fish to fry."
Scheck meant this too, he had known for a long time that Arnold and Gerald couldn't have been responsible for his incarceration. No…he owed his prison time to one individual and one individual only. That Pataki brat that knew the location of the key. That had somehow maintained contact with the two brats that kept breaking into his business and searching for the tomato document. If not for her interference he would've bulldozed that wretched neighborhood and avenged his ancestors!
Helga Pataki
, Scheck thought darkly, you're about to learn that no one messes with a Scheck!________________________________________________________________________
*Poor unsuspecting Helga, she has no idea of the danger she's in. And will Arnold and Gerald be able to save her? Will she need saving? Review and I'll post more soon!*
