[A/N: Well, hey there! It's been forever since I've written anything but here we go, off on a new adventure...
This is the debut of the sequel to 'Heart to Heart' : Hearts of Glass!
If you haven't already read Heart to Heart, you should probably do that, lest you become confused! Anywho, I don't have much else to say except that I hope you enjoy this story and please let me know what you think! The story is set a few years in the future compared to Heart to Heart and I haven't explained EVERYTHING in this first chapter, but I'll explain everything as the story progresses! :) Enjoy!
Edit: Just to make it a little more clear, this chapter is set in the "present". Subsequent chapters will be in the *past*. Then we'll come back to the present. It'll be switching back and forth possibly a couple times, but I'll be sure to make a note so you all know. Hopefully this helps to avoid any confusion!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold!]
PRESENT TIME:
Helga stumbled through the darkness of her bedroom, feeling around for her furniture and making her way toward the bed. She'd dropped her purse just inside the room but still clutched her phone and keys in either hand. It had been a long night and she had been more than a little tipsy. That, and completely shocked over the events of that evening. However, exhaustion took precedence and all she wanted right now was to curl up into her bed and sleep everything off.
Her toe got caught up in a T-shirt that had been discarded on the floor, causing her to trip, but thankfully her hands found the edge of the bed and she managed to keep from falling face-first into the carpet.
Despite her state, she had managed to slink into the apartment with little discernible noise. Phoebe was in the next room, probably asleep since long before midnight, knowing her. She hadn't come out that night, choosing instead to study for the mCAT. Granted, she had plenty of time to prepare for that considering she wouldn't be taking the exam for a few years but Phoebe was never one to postpone studying.
It was nearing the end of June and their lease had just started at the beginning of the month. Upon graduation, Helga and Phoebe had decided to get an apartment together in Hillwood, close enough to the University that they'd be able to commute with ease. For graduation, Phoebe's parents had gifted her with a modestly used car and it sat outside the building in full view of her window. Phoebe was very protective of that little blue Honda.
Helga hadn't been as fortunate. She still only had her learner's permit because she hadn't had the opportunity to clock enough driving hours and her first permit had expired before she was able to take her driving test. She was planning, however, to take the exam at the end of the summer so she could at least have her license before she started college.
Helga flopped onto her bed and the springs squeaked beneath her weight. She reached over and dropped her keys and cell phone onto the desk with little thought. She didn't bother to change her clothes; she just wanted to sleep. The sun was already beginning to rise, slowly illuminating her bedroom as her eyes adjusted to the light levels. The room was relatively small but Helga felt comfortable with that. As long as she was able to fit all of her stuff in there, it wasn't a big deal. She had kept the same desk and dresser she grew up with but the bed frame and mattresses were new. Well, sort of new. She'd picked up the frame on a bargain-shopping trip with Phoebe at the local thrift store and the mattress and box-spring came from an old bed Miriam had kept in storage. It wasn't the most glamorous set-up but it worked.
In the dim light of her bedroom, as her lids began to fall, Helga could see the small window at the edge of her room. A green, flourishing tree swayed slightly in a light morning breeze. The air conditioning unit positioned in the window blocked about half of her potential view of the outside but its cooling effects were much more desirable than a pretty view.
Helga nestled her head into a fluffy pink pillow and let out a content sigh as her body finally started to relax and take comfort in this favorable position.
Just as she felt herself beginning to drift off, her cell phone began to ring and Helga immediately regretted turning the volume all the way up. Her desk was right next to the head of her bed and she scrambled up to reach the phone and silence it.
Through blurry eyes, she read the name of who it was that was calling her so early in the morning.
CAMILLE calling…
What the heck did she want?
Helga looked over at her dresser, forgetting that the current time was at the top of her phone's screen, and noted the fact that the little pink clock on her dresser said it wasn't even six A.M. yet.
Helga silenced her phone, placing it back on the desk, and curled back into bed.
Not even a minute later, the phone started to buzz incessantly, gradually skittering across the top of her desk. Helga growled, propping herself up once again and snatching the phone up. There was Camille again.
Things had calmed down a bit between Helga and her stepfamily but they were by no means on a chummy level. Helga hadn't even spoken to Camille in months. She'd only kept her number stored in her phone so she knew if Camille was trying to call her, to keep from being blind-sided. She figured, given the time, Camille was probably drunk-dialing her and Helga wasn't in the mood to deal with that. She knew Camille had gone out that night as well, though to a different party, and figured it'd be best to just ignore her.
She watched the screen as it finally stopped vibrating and was about to put the phone back on the desk, yet again, when it vibrated in her hand once and a notification popped up stating there was a new voicemail.
Helga sighed and went into her voicemail box. It was from Camille, of course, and Helga rolled her eyes as she pushed play.
"Helga," Camille said between sniffles. "Please call me back. Bob had a heart attack and it doesn't look good," There were some shuffling sounds and the voicemail ended.
With a start, Helga sat up in bed and threw the covers off of her. She called Camille back and paced anxiously in her room for the duration of two rings.
"Hello?"
"Camille, what happened?" Helga's blood was flooded with adrenaline as she walked over to her window, looking outside restlessly.
Camille's breath was staggering and she had a hard time composing herself. Helga never knew she cared about her dad this much. "Your dad had a massive heart attack. The doctors said it doesn't look good," More sniffles.
Helga ran a hand through her disheveled blonde hair. "Okay… okay… Are they sure it's a heart attack? Cuz one time he thought he had one but it was just—"
"No, it's real! We're in the hospital now,"
"Who all is there?" Helga asked as she searched her dresser for a change of clothes.
"We're all here; Me, Alexis, mom…" Camille sniffled again.
Helga held the phone against her ear with her shoulder as she removed her jeans and tugged on a pair of shorts. "Did anyone call my mom? Or Olga?"
"They're on their way now. Alexis just talked to them,"
"Can someone come pick me up?" Helga slipped her feet into a pair of flip flops by the door.
Camille sniffled once again, "We're afraid to leave, Helga,"
Helga took a deep breath, "Okay, I'll figure something out and let you know when I'm on my way,"
"Okay,"
After hanging up, Helga threw her hair up into a messy bun and hurried out of her room, across the hall to Phoebe's door. After a few impatient knocks, Phoebe emerged, sleepily rubbing her eyes.
"Helga?"
"Pheebs," Helga's voice was urgent. "Can you drive me to the hospital? My dad just had a heart attack,"
Phoebe's eyes widened and, despite the bags under them, looked much more alert.
"Of course, Helga. Let me get dressed and we'll go right away!" Phoebe half closed her door and Helga went back to her room.
Helga looked in the mirror on her dresser and tried her best to rub away the eyeliner that had smeared over the course of this long night. Once she deemed herself presentable, she collected her purse, phone, and keys, then went to wait outside Phoebe's door.
It felt like so much time had passed but when Helga checked the clock on the dash of Phoebe's car, she realized it'd only been seven minutes since she had called Camille back.
"Which hospital?" Phoebe asked as she put the car into drive and started to pull out of her parking spot.
"Hillwood Medical Center," Helga stared blankly out the windshield. That was the closest hospital and the only one her family had ever gone to. Helga dug through her purse, pulling out her phone to call Camille again.
"I'm on my way," Was the first thing she said as her stepsister picked up.
"Okay. We're in the waiting room outside of the cath lab,"
"Gotcha. Be there soon," Helga stuffed the phone back into her purse and zipped it up. With a deep sigh, she slouched back into the seat. She knew Phoebe was driving at a normal speed, hurrying without breaking the law necessarily, but it still felt like they were moving at a snail's pace.
Things had finally started to seem like they were getting better. Sure, her and her stepfamily still hadn't mended every fence that had been torn apart, but the hostility had long since simmered down after Helga moved out. She and her dad were starting to rebuild their relationship. He'd even collaborated with Miriam on Helga's high school graduation party just a few weeks prior. How could things be falling apart just as they were starting to get better? This couldn't be happening.
Phoebe pulled the car up outside of the emergency room entrance and Helga snapped out of her trance-like state.
"Let me know how it goes," Phoebe reached and put a hand on Helga's forearm.
Helga looked over at her best friend and paused only half a second before gripping her in a solid hug. "I will,"
She then hopped out of the car and hurried through the automatic double doors of the emergency room, fearful of the uncertainty that lay ahead.
[A/N: Well, there it is! Hope you liked it! There's a LOT more to come so I hope you stay tuned! :) Toodles!]