Arnold's Heart Helga's Eyes

by Hannah Melto

Helga's Heart Arnold's Eyes completely retold from Helga's perspective. What a blast. If you havent read it go do that.. cause this might be slightly confusing. The gang is in 8th grade ready to graduate when shenanigans begin to take place. This is Helga of course so im upping the rating. (( Temporarly discontinued, my apologies))

1. Years Left to Grow

Arnolds Heart Helga's Eyes

Hi everyone. So I had a lot of fun writing from Arnolds perspective throughout this whole story but I made the sacrifice of not sharing Helga's thoughts which to me were amusing and not always as prominently seen through Arnold's eyes.. Hes kinda thick. Theres something about the inner turmoil that Helga is very good at hiding. So I'm doing a sort of rewrite through her perspective. Obviously it won't have the same surprise factor as it did the first time around with some of the events but I hope you still enjoy Helga's thoughts as well as some more bonus scenes for when Arnold wasn't there or passed out. So I hope you enjoy and we get some fun out of it and yeah.. lets get started!

Chapter 1: Years Left to Grow

Helga awoke to the same ceiling she had been gazing at intensely the night before. As she did nearly every night. When she was alone, and her mask was off. Time left to thoughts she would rather not have. But were there nonetheless. The house was quite, a switch from last night's ruckus. Big bob had the fellas over to watch some game... She didn't really care. What ever kept him... Distracted.

Helga stretched in the early morning light shining through her window. She examined her arms. Clear no sign of... well...

Ok now shes not defending Big bob, and not... well.. not defending him. But lately when he took on partners in the company to help him run things, hes been, well... doing less. So that leaves more time to, you know, smacking your daughter around. Apparently. Honestly Helga attributed the hits to three reasons. The increase of alcohol consumption, for both him and miriam. Two, and Helga nearly vomited at the thought, lack of sex between her parents. Ugh.. gross. And third, Helga's edge had yet to dull when it came with dealing with them on occasions. She had tried, with the help of doctor bliss, to calm down while still being her. It worked a lot better at school, where she didn't completely hate everyone. No doubt fighting fire with fire was not the way to deal with big bob, and she did her best. But from her perspective they were both at a place where neither could stand the other one. Two stags interlocking, one had to give way, or both would fall.

Only in this case Helga was all words and no horns sort of speak. But for now Helga was relieved at the lack of purple on her arms, and despite the chill setting in with fall, she decided that her gray undershirt wasn't needed. It had been awhile since she last felt a nice cold breeze against her skin. A sweatshirt would suffice for the colder morning but she could shed it this afternoon and enjoy the freedom.

Standing she began to grab her clothing from her designated 'clean' laundry hamper. Her more favored clothing was in her closet, but there was too few of it these days to where it everyday and keep it clean. She saved most of her close that fit her for special occasions like going to the movies or a baseball game or something. But what she would wear on most days, to her distane, were Olgas hand me downs. Because her parents couldn't be bothered to buy her clothing of her own.

She had matured faster than she had wanted in these past few years, and now at 14 she had grown out of her old pink dress. And with it in the public eye, her pink bow. Though she generally kept it hidden safe under her hat, of which she had made a long case about and now could wear without question through the halls of hillwood high. The hat was just as special to be honest. Arnold had won it for her at a cheese festival two years ago. It had been a joke at first. Gerald had won Phoebe a toy Giraffe, it was back in the early days of their relationship, in that they needed Arnold and Helga there... for some reason. But the two made the best of it, and Helga generally played nice. He had won her the gray wool cap at one of the games, being the only price not having any relationship to cheese, and they made standard jabs at Gerald and Pheobe by imitating the flirtation. Although the intentions of a joke where clear she cherished the hat, and when she started wearing it in place of her bow, after it was altered by a close friend with a heart patch. And she would admit that when Arnold remembered winning her the small object upon her first day wearing it, she nearly died of heart failure.

She stumbled around her room, trying to find her books and papers needed for class. Which proved difficult seeing how she had a massive build up of paintings in her room left over from the show hazel had made her put together. Originally, just to keep out of the house, she worked at a small studio about two blocks from doctor bliss's office. But they were renovating so all of the paintings and supplies had to be moved back into her room. Which in retrospect, she realised it could have been a lot worse considering she did sell some. Oh god how embarrassing.

Every last one of the Arnold paintings had sold. She hadn't even intended to display them. But sure enough when she had arrived they were hanging... priced, and already being bided upon. Thats what she gets for letting Hazel setup. Though she had said it was a project of taking someone from life of which had a little effect and to explore the relationship, which must have looked interesting considering how intense some of the emotion behind them was.

But apparently a lot of the people who came were from out of town, people interested in the work mainly because she was so young. And the works bought were taken to private collections left to remain under her painter name, Hilda Hillwood. That night had been emotionally exhausting, but the result was a butt ton of money and a new dress hazel had bought her for the event.

Helga jammed papers into her bag and zipping it shut, not caring about how crumpled they would most likely become on the journey to school. As She grabbed her ipod and began stuffing into her pocket, holding her backpack on one sholder, she caught a glance of herself in her mirror; and took a moment to look at herself.

It was something she found herself doing more and more of these days. Not that she cared about her image in the hopes of improving it. More like she felt sort of odd. Even back when she was a kid she felt more Helga then she does now. As out of place as it seemed to most she liked her pink dress, pink like her old bow, they were her. But now in Olgas old clothing... which seemed to be getting bigger these days. Ah thats right, she should ask phoebe to take it in again. Or maybe she should ask Hazel, who would probably instead try to fatten her up. A full meal would be nice more than once in awhile. It seemed like these days her biggest meals were lunches at school.

She looked at her reflection and saw a younger her, scowling her trademark scowl, judging her for how she has grown. Weak. Who could blame young her, if Helga wasn't so tired, she would surely scowl at herself too. But that kinda stuff she saved for school, most of her energy was saved for school.

Sighing she said goodbye to her younger self with a thought, grabbing her sweatshirt, turned to walk out the door.

She tried to do her best to spend as little time as possible in any area of her house but her room. She quickly grabbed a banana from her mothers 'smoothie making' supplies and fled out the door. The crisp autumn breeze hitting her bare skin felt refreshing, and she could feel her brain waking up. Maybe she would hold off on putting on her sweatshirt for now. She headed down the stoop and made her way to Phoebe's house. She arrived to find Phoebe waiting outside with a light fall coat and scarf.

" Yo Pheebs" She greeted with a tired smile.

" Good Morning Helga. Aren't you cold? Its nearly 40 degrees out here."

" Eh.. its waking me up." she said finally starting to eat her banana. " So.." she spoke between bites. " How was the homework?"

" I completed it in a timely manner."

" As usual.. I'm not quite sure why I even ask anymore."

" Its your usual conversational starter."

" Yeah but you would think best friends wouldn't need icebreakers."

" I would imagine they are only needed when there is no new news. After all we did see each other yesterday."

" Good point." Helga finishing the banana, tossed it in a nearby trashcan. As the two reached the stop light Helga noticed two familiar faces heading down the cross street. " You didn't..."

" Didn't what?" Phoebe said waving at her boyfriend and the object of her affection as they came closer.

" You know it seems like mornings used to be the only time It was just girl time.. and now I don't even have that? From sunup to sundown i'm left to watch you suck face."

But Phoebe had stopped listening to 'suck face' with her boyfriend.

" Hehe I was thinking the same thing, although you being here is a nice perk." said Arnold. Grrr that flirt. He had gotten even worse over the years. Sometimes it almost seemed like he … 'like liked' her, but he never asked her out so she always tossed the idea out befor it hurt too much. After all, Arnold was known for charging in head first without thinking when it came to romance.

" Easy Football head, it's too early to get my heart all aflutter." She joked. He just smiled. And she looked up at him... Geese he had grown too much. There must have been hormones in his milk or something. Or maybe his grandma stretched him out with some medieval torcher device. Either way, it was torchered being this close and not being able to greet him as Phoebe did her lover. She relished in the fact that she had been pulled into his circle of close friends, and he allowed her a taste of affection in the form of jokes and flirtatious jabs. Harmless fun between friends... well, harmless for him. Before Helga could have another thought she felt a warmth and a scent surround her, draping around her shoulders, as too warm hand secured her in it. She looked down and noticed Arnolds coat had been pulled over her shoulders. She looked up in shock, and then quickly opened her mouth in protest.

" You're gonna catch a cold." He said with a smile, his hands still lingering on her shoulders.

" I have a jacket you know."

" How come you're not wearing it then?"

" I didn't want to."

" But you looked cold."

" Yet I feel fine."

" Helga." he leaned in close. " Even your temper isn't hot enough to keep you warm."

She scoffed.

" Maybe not when I'm half asleep." Arnold just smirked. " Just whatever, take your coat I'll put mine on." Helga started to try to shift out of the jacket, but Arnold held it in place.

" Nope. My coat is warmer.. You're better off with mine then some old sweatshirt."

Helga examined the jacket. This was true, and she hoped she could just hang on to the sent a little longer, at least till school.

" Ok.. but what about you?"

" I'll be fine."

" ' but you're gonna catch a cold!' " Helga mocked. " HERE!" She said rather grandly pulling her sweatshirt from its hiding place. Wiping it open.

" A coat to keep you warm m'lady." She said in her swavist voice she could muster.

" Ah thank you kind sir." Arnold posed bashfully, pretending to conceal a blush.

" EY Love birds!" Gerald shouted from a block away. " Keep up will ya!?"

Helga felt a blush grow on her cheeks, which she tried to conceal by flipping the color of arnolds jacket up. She looked to And noticed him clearing his throat, his cheeks also tinged with a slight rose color. Must be the cold. Helga sighed turning to Arnold.

Helga bowed.

And Arnold curtsed.

And the two linked arms and headed off running down the street to catch up with the Actual young couple.

The school day passed quickly and relatively uneventful; well as uneventful as it got at P.S. 118. And at the end of the day Helga found herself in her normal spot behind Arnold. Two seats back and one to the left to be exact. To her it hardly mattered where she sat, so long as it was behind him. She was scribbling out a short fiction, which had a poetic quality, based off this mornings happenings with the boy in her vision, who inturn was actually paying attention to whatever it was Mr. Simmons was going on about.

Somehow they had managed to pull him along through the ranks of grades the class went through. Having him teaching ,as the school found out, seemed to ground the rambunctious crew of misfits that she had grown to be a key piece off in her life. They had all contributed to driving whatever teacher had been assigned to the point of insanity. Helgas part was a rather intricate launching system that would throw something at the teacher at a random part each day, Phoebe had helped with the design. Yes everyone had their own two cents to throw in, in the reclaiming of their old teacher once more. Even Arnold, who still pleads innocent, constructed the classic office prank with the poor soul assigned to the group in 6th grade, of filling the classroom to the brim with balloons. He of course got the help of others so owns up to the actual plan, but claims he had no clue of the teachers severe balloon phobia. Helga was proud of him nonetheless. It seemed she was rubbing off on him more and more as they hung out more. Lending to more time spent, and more material and inspiration gathered to better her work. Like the piece of fiction she was jotting down now for instance.

A simple piece with a few names tweaked, an obvious take on their relationship, but where Helga could take part in a fantasy where Arnold, or his character, was only confused and afraid of hurting their friendship, rather than not having any romantic feelings. The playful joke flirting turning into a desperate attempt to test the waters on how the other feels; and the prospects of a real romance ever prominent in subtext. Sometimes she would get lost in these worlds, and they would affect how she reacted to Arnolds playful jabs.

She looked up from her work to see Arnold looking at here. As she noticed him he quickly smiled and turned back around. Honestly what the hell was that. Bring back to a point it was serious to turn around to check on someone, seeing how obvious an action it was, one had to do it with the knowledge of a chance of embarrassment. But that didn't stop him. So what was it? Probably his over caring self acting up again. It was beginning to seem like Helga was his project. Like a monkey being trained proper tea party educate, Arnold was training her to show her soft side more. But what he probably didn't know going in that if you work that close with the monkey, it may learn to hold its cup and which fork to use first, but you yourself will probably wind up throwing poo as a reaction to the party ending. In short, the proximity was changing both of them. Which was the only reason Helga was really allowing it. After all Helga could easily become nicer and just keep her mouth shut to hide it. But once the stick up Arnold's butt was gone, that was it, his boringness would surely collapse into confetti and ill natured tendencies.

But maybe she was overthinking this. He could have just been talking with his eyes to his boyfriend Gerard, who sat behind her, and caught a glance of her as he returned to swivel around. No one would ever know. Or he could have been stretching... class was almost over.

" People listen please!" Mr. Simmons started. Ah here we go again.

" I know you're all VERY excited for the end of the year and leaving P.S. 118 for the last time. I know it's going to be a very sad loss for me, as I will miss teaching all you special children. And I want to thank you for the past four years, as well as your photo contributions to our yearbook. As we all know this class has gone through some adventure over the years, it will make this yearbook, one to remember. On that note for the final page we ask for photos of you from when you were in preschool, to show how far you all have come. I would ask for everyone's photos and will even give out homework points for it. We don't want to leave anyone out. And with that I will see you all tomorrow."

Like caged animals at the zoo, the class poured out of the room in a chaotic mess, no doubt anxious to get home, relax, and get another day out tomorrow as part of this epic final countdown. Few stayed behind to collect their books, or to avoid getting killed in the process of leaving with the rest of the bunch.

Helga stayed in her seat, she had no rush to get home, infact she was planning to go to Hazels first. Big Bob was supposed to have some sort of game with some of his equally alcoholic friends. Which ment noise. Also she hadn't by since the show. It was so much nicer now that she was out of college, she didn't have to wait for phone calls or letters.

" Can you believe this man? What a weird assignment." She heard Gerald who was now in front of her, talking to Arnold who was still gathering his things. Helga too began packing up.

" I don't know Gerald, I think Mr. Simmons has a good point. It's to show our growth." Helga snuck up behind him.

" Yeah I'm sure that's something you would want to emphasize football head." I gave him a smirk, looking up at him. Seriously! He was too goddamn tall for having only grown in these past four years. He was probably nearly done growing though.. right? And Helga still had some growth in her.

He smirked back.. Sexy.. but she truly missed the days where she felt more in control of this car wreck of a relationship.

" Jealous Pataki?" He puffed out his chest in what he must consider a manly action.

Ahh last names.. he felt like being a smart ass today. Fine. It was time to pull out the big guns, and by big guns she means some of the best goddamn sarcasm your ears will ever hear.

" Oh of course Arnold! I've always longed to achieve the ability to make it hard for me to walk through doors in more ways than one." She topped it off with a fake flirt, a bat of the eyelids, aaanndd.. perfect.

" I guess that's why you put your hair in pigtails then? So you could have the feeling of having a wide head?" Before Helga could react he was behind her grabbing hold of her pigtails, spinning them around like a jump rope.

" Hey it's Helga Helicopter!" His warm laugh filled her ears and sent sparks to her stomach, she began to laugh herself, but only slightly as she was trying her best not to swoon at his closeness.

" We are over the drop zone. Prepare for landing." He continued in a radio voice. Making propeller noises to coincide with the flips of her pigtails. She tried to pull away but Arnold managed to sneak an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. She felt a jolt in her stomach, giving the butterflys new life. She continued to struggle, trying to seem unaffected, while he held her and spun the pigtail left in his hand even faster.

" Helga we need you to rescue the survivors.. OH no we lost a wing!"

Helga managed to pull away, reluctantly, but they were still at school and she could only take so much Affection. She watched with an amused look as her beloved pretended to crash, falling to the floor. She leaned over his 'dead body'..

" Helga the Helicopter?" she asked trying not to laugh as he continued to play dead. She could feel herself beginning to calm down slightly now that the physical touch was gone. But the warmth remained. And her smile grew affectionate. How many other girls had special nicknames that he used just for them. None! That's how many!

" Better than 'football head'." Arnold said peeking out of one eye. Helga just straightened up, grabbing her bag.

" Well hands off the goods hair boy, this stuff made me it girl remember." Oddly enough she had meant her hair, but she played with the idea that Arnold ment her figure. Now that would be something.

Arnold popped up quickly off the ground. " I thought that was your unibrow and your scowl." Helga watched as his face twisted into a half hearted attempt of her scowl, coupled with crossing his arms and slouching to achieve the full effect. But it looked more like he was a kid pouting over a toy. Either way, it was funny.

" That too..." She said with a chuckle in her tone. The two laughed until Gerald appeared to Grab Arnolds attention with a subtle cough.

" Hey Arnold, We're gonna go to the arcade! Wanna come?" Gerald asked, his arm coiling around Helgas friend, like a snake strangling its prey. Only the color in phoebe's cheeks were not caused by lack of oxygen.

" Sure.. Helga?"

Helga wasn't expecting Arnolds attention to fall back upon her so fast. She could have easily said yes and spent the remainder of the day with her friends, but she had made up in her mind to go to Hazel's, especially now that her skins cleared up.

" I can't. Sorry..." Not that she was ashamed of her godmother Hazel, but it was just another world. She was like some weird aunt, not something that often came up in conversation with friends in Helga's opinion. It was best to keep family separate from friends, because with Hazel came about the story of how she became her godmother, and brought with it tons of other issues she would rather keep out of the limelight.

"Oh that's ok, how bout I walk you home instead?" Asked Arnold. Odd how persistent he seemed today, then again it seemed he often did these things. Another gorilla tea party she supposed. Ones she enjoyed usual and rarely ever ended in the throwing of poo. Helga raised an eyebrow at a snickering Gerald, odd.

" Not today football head, you enjoy the.." she glanced over to Gerald who was done with his snickers and decided instead to make googly eyes at her friend.

"... 'Show'. I gotta head home. I'll see you around. Later pheebs, and Pheebs tumor." She gave a quick wave at the bunch and darted out the door, but not before stealing a short glance at Arnold, whose face had fallen slightly.

Hey she would be pretty down if she found out her plans consisted of an afternoon watching a couple suck face.

The journey over to Hazels went faster than usual, maybe because she timed her arrival to the bus stop perfectly, and soon she found herself outside the rather odd looking shop that was Hazels home. She walked up to the front door, glancing at it. The carving next to the door as weird as ever. ' Hero's only'. Freaky. She grabbed the doorknob, turning it. Or trying too.. the damn thing was stuck. It was nearly always stuck. According to Hazel she had only seen few people open the door consistently. There had been more of course in the history of the shop, making one wonder how it has lasted so long when it was so picky with its customers. Well that was obvious now. The city payed for let out a sigh... around back it is then. Hopping down the steps she headed through the back gate.

She opened the back door and was met with the familiar scent of dust and musty old paper. Books were covering nearly every inch of wall space, and majority of the floor too, say for this room. The clearest of them all the kitchen. Not to say it wasn't home to more books than needed, but it was a shocking difference from the rest of the house, which was old and full of old things. The kitchen was the best kept, and full of random kitchen equipment ranging throughout the ages. Helga's personal favorite being the old 1950's fridge, usually stocked with fresh food and more importantly, fresh Yahoo. Helga dropped her bag on the dining table and make a BEeline straight for the fridge. Cracking open the ever refreshing beverage. The sound carried through the house and it wasn't long after Helga finished her first sip that Hazel popped through the doorway.

" When did you get here?"

" Just now.. nice to see you too." Helga waved sarcastically.

" Oh come now Helga its always nice to see you, I shouldn't have to repeat myself." Hazel examined the fridge, opening it, pulling out a Yahoo of her own.

" As rare and frequent as it is to see you though. I would gladly by more Yahoo if your worried about the stock."

" Haha, no need."

" seriously though. Its been a few weeks since you were last here.. at least. Let me get a look at you."

She pulled back examining Helga thoroughly with her eyes. Helga kinda hated when she did this, she could read her like a book. Hazel grabbed a part of Helga shirt, felling how loose it hung on her.

" You're too thin... I'll make pasta tonight. Fatten you up."

" Haha thanks. Mind if I do my homework?"

" Not at all. I fact I would prefer you did it over not doing it." Helga chuckled.

" I meant here."

" Ah yes of course, pull up a chair. You can keep me company while I work."

" Thanks." Helga did just that, pulling up a chair she sat down pulling out her books. Trying to get the work out of the way so that she could talk to Hazel. The room soon filled with the smell of garlic and chopped onions, Helga looked up to see Hazel chopping away in an apron and science goggles, she looked more like a mad scientist the usual.

It wasn't long before the work was done, Helga stretching back, taking a deep breath of the sweet aroma filling the room.

" Hows work Hazel?"

" Slow. But animation tends to be.. Slow and tedious. But what about you. Ive obiously been animating for the past few weeks after you're wonderful art show! But what have you been up to?"

" Not much more than school."

" I see. Well in about what.. 8 years? That will all be done with!" Helga chuckled.

" Hey Hazel... I was actually wondering if you could help me with an assignment."

" Sure!"

" I.. kinda need a photo for class, of myself, when I was in pre-k. For year book ya know? And I know there are none at home, and you have tons of stuff here. Think there's a picture of me?"

" Hmm... I'll be honest, unless you were in the newspaper, most likely not. The more personal references I have here are collected from people donating. Unless you handed in a pic I don't think i have anything." Helgas face fell, but she tried to hide it as Hazel started serving food.

" Now I'm not gonna ask why there are none at home. But I'll see if I can contact olga, I'm pretty sure she has a framed baby picture of you." Helga grimmised, she was about to take a bite when the idea of that image nearly made her lose her appetite.

" I was butt naked in that... that is the worst baby pic in existance of me."

" By what seems to be the case its the only one."

Helga felt rage building up, which she released by eating her dinner furiously, as well as hungrily. Damn this was good grub.

" Just forget it... I don't need the extra credit points anyway." Helga said between bites

Hazel looked sad, but dropped the subject and continued to allow her to eat.

Dinner was over fast and with the sun going down, and it being a school day tomorrow, Hazel sent Helga home. With a big tub of leftovers she would keep in her mini fridge she had in her room, so that big bob couldn't devour it the second she looked away. She had arrived home just as the streetlights had begun to flicker on, and willingly opened her front door entering her 'home'.

She had tried her best to sneak up stairs, when..

" HEY HEY HEY! Where werrre you.. misssy." Great.. big bob was big time drunk.

" At a friends Bob."

She had been halfway up the staircase, and he had come out of the living room, but surprisingly it didn't take him long to get within arms reach, considering he was drunk as a skunk. He grabbed Helgas wrist tightly pulling her back down the steps, Helga could feel the bruises begin to form under the meaty fingers of Big Bob. His grip tightened and he pulled her close grabbing her other arm.

" You.. You.. fuckking bwitch.. You had better be homew before thosea laps turn on... or yur BURB grouanded!" Bobs breath was hot and thick, reeking of alcohol, and right in Helgas face. She tried to pull away to keep from gagging. But big bob clocked her one in the right cheek.

" Fuckin lisssion to me when im t talwlkin!" He shouted before stumbling backward passing out on the steps. Honestly he was easer to deal with when he was like this. She hated when he was sober.

" Goodnight.. fucking bastard."

She fled to her room to check the damage. Sure enough, the right side of her face was swollen, and would be a bruise in the morning. As well as the marks on her arms. And she had another appointment with Dr. Bliss. This would not be easy to cover up. Putting her leftovers away and grabbing an ice pack from her fridge she began to nurse her eye. She pulled out one of her journals and a pen, flopping on her bed not bothering to set her alarm for earlier she began writing of how she felt during the better moments of this day, laughter with friends, warm food and greetings. And clear skin void of any reminders of what awaited her when she got home.

So thats the first chapter! Yay! Incase you couldn't tell I'm having a bit more fun writing these. Kinda making them a bit more flourished. As a note if you haven't read my first one I would go read that, the order kinda matters only in that somethings I won't be explaining twice, and some I will. Really I just think its more fun... Anywho I'm hoping that this won't take as long as the last one did but who knows... school sucks. SO what will happen next time? Well if you have read HHAE you already know but.. HEY! Different perspective. See you all soon!