"Foolish Heart"
by Black Nightshade
Disclaimer: Hey Arnold! And all it's characters do *not* belong to me, no matter how much I dream that they do. Hey Arnold! is copywritten to it's respective owner(s), though all contents of this fanfiction are purely mine and are not to be copied without permission by yours truly. Please R&R!! Now go ahead and read!
In a world where only the strong survive, I suppose I'm doing all right. But really do the strong survive at all? I've lived with the shadow of my older, perfect sister Olga my entire life. The one person who acknowledged me I walk all over in fear of him finding out my true feelings for him. If that's surviving, I don't think I want to. My name is Helga Geraldine Pataki. I'm a 12 year old girl in PS118, also the bully of the school, minus Big Patty, and even she is nicer then I am. I try to be tough but it just doesn't work right. I hate hurting the ones I care about but what else can I do? I've been in love with Arnold since I was 3 years old but never had the guts to tell him, I don't know if I ever will. I treat him so badly I wouldn't be surprised if he totally hated me by now. Why can't I say what I feel? I must not be that strong if I'm so afraid. Oh Arnold..why must I always berate you, torture you..why mu-RIIIINGGG!!!
"All right everyone, class is over, remember to work on your 'uniquely you' assignments!" Helga's words she was scribbling down suddenly came to a halt as Mr. Simmons said those final words of the day. The class groaned, though in a rush of papers flying and people yelling, the class was empty. All except for 2 people, that is. Arnold stood up from his desk and headed for the door..and collided with Helga. "Doi! Watch where your going football head!" Arnold shook his head. "Sorry Helga.." He quickly got to his feet and ran off. Helga sighed and ducked behind a nearby garbage can. "Arnold you little football headed freak why can't you watch where your going..and yet.." Helga looked over both her shoulders before reaching down her shirt and pulling out a locket. With a deep sigh she stared at the picture within it. "I love you with a passion! Oh my dear, sweet, Arnold why must I keep this secret hidden from you, why must I always hurt you with unkind words, why.." Helga's thoughts where cut short by a heavy wheezing over her shoulder. Her face switched from a lovestriken look to an annoyed sneer as her hand flew back, hitting Brainy right between the glasses. Brainy fell backwards, his glasses snapped in half. Helga got up and walked to her locker, putting away her books then heading outside the school walls.
The sun shown down on her, though there was a chill in the air. Helga stepped down into the icy abyss, snow crunching underneath her feet. She trudged onto the bus, snowflakes in her hair. Glancing around, all seats seemed filled..all but one. She groaned and slumped down next to Arnold, not even asking if it was all right. Arnold looked out the window, trying to ignore Helga's presence, not in the mood for an argument. This went on all to the point where Helga's stop was but a block more. Helga shifted uncomfortably in her seat, subconchiously knocking into Arnold, pushing him right into the window. "Sorry Arnol-" Helga's apology was again blocked off as an angry Arnold turned to face her. "That's it! I've had it!" Arnold shouted out. Helga looked at him with a puzzled face. "Woah! Calm down girl! Let him get it out! Don't loose your cool!" Helga thought to herself as Arnold glared at her. "All day you've been on me! Throwing spitballs, Knocking over my books, Calling me names! I don't know what I've ever done to you but personally of all the people I know your the last person I'd ever want to be near, especially right now! So if it's fine with you I'll just get off right now so I don't have to stay near you one more second then I have to!" A flash went over Helga's face, she found herself stuttering, but instead she spouted out a group of words which she'd hate herself for not much later. "Fine you football headed orphan be that way! See if I care what you and your crazy grandparents do! Doi! It's no skin of my nose!" Helga froze as she yelled out those words. Everyone on the bus was looking at them. Tears welled up in Arnold's eyes as he squeezed by Helga and ran to the front of the bus, his hat flying off next to Helga as he did. The busdriver stopped, letting him off. Arnold ran into the street, tears rolling down his face. "What have I done..." Helga whispered as she looked next to her, his precious hat there. She picked it up, just as the bus driver was about to go and rushed to the front of the bus and jolted off after him. The bus took off as Helga yelled out "Arnold wait! You forgot your..." She looked off as the snow fell down infront of her, the powdery white stars hitting her skin, each one feeling like a hard blow. "...hat"
Helga slowly began her way to her house, hugging the hat to her chest, tears in her eyes. "How could I be so stupid..." The world seemed to mock her as she looked around. Little children throwing snowballs at eachother, old men and women sitting on park benches reading the news paper or feeding any birds that would be out in the snowy weather, lovers holding tight to eachother for warmth. Yet she knew on the other part of town a young boy's heart was breaking over words she so clumsily let slip out just to keep up a dumb reputation. Was it really worth hurting the one she loved this much? When she reached her house she slowly turned the door knob. Big Bob was in his favorite chair watching, what else, his beeper commercials. Miriam was in the kitchen cooking god knows what, but it sure didn't smell too appetizing. Noone noticed she was home, she supposed for once this was a good thing. She didn't want to be inquired right now, especially with the look she had plastered on her face. She made her way up the stairs, snow being tracked up following after her from the snow boots. When she got into her room she striped off her jacket and scarf then fell down upon her bed. In the shelter of her own room she laid her head down and cried, never letting go of the hat she held. She couldn't believe how mean she had just been to Arnold. She expected such behavior from her father, but not from herself. The last thing she wanted was to be like her father... but it finally hit her. That's what she was turning into..the person she hated the most.. She had to apologize! She had to return his hat at all costs..even if her own heart was at stake. But first, she had to calm down. She'd wait awhile before she made her move, she supposed he needed some time himself, and that's exactly what she was going to give him, it was the least she could do.
Arnold burst into his house, the animals skidding to a halt as he ran before them. Arnold jogged up the stairs, much to his grandparents surprise. From upstairs the sound of a door slamming was heard. "Maybe I should talk to the boy, Pooky?" Grandma looked up and nodded. "Yes, but make sure young Kimba is down before the grub gets cold!" Grandpa nodded and walked up the stairs. From behind the door he heard heavy sobs. He knocked gently at the door. "Shortman?" Arnold looked up from his bed, his eyes red and puffy from crying. "Go away grandpa.." Grandpa frowned at this response and opened the door. "Okay but after I see what's wrong! What happened Arnold? One of your little friends say something that upset you?" Arnold whipped his eyes off on his sleeve. "Yeah grandpa..." Grandpa looked thoughtful for a moment. "Was it that skinny blond haired girl with the pink bow? What was her name again... Helen..Heather..." "Helga, grandpa...and yeah it was her. I don't understand why she is always picking on me. I do nothing to her.. but she still seems to hate me..she said such mean things to me grandpa.." Grandpa put a hand on Arnold's shoulder. "You know there is one thing my father always told me as a boy.." Arnold almost smiled, though he sighed heavily. "I know..I know... don't eat berries.." Grandpa's face lighted up. "That's a boy! Now if you'll excuse me.. the office is a'waitin'!" he said dashing out of Arnold's room. Arnold laid back and looked up at the sky, sobbing slightly. He curled up in a little ball, his head ducked down and cried himself to sleep.
Back on the bus, all the kids where talking. "Can you believe Helga? Man she went too far this time!" Gerald said, pounding one fist into his hand. "Garsh I never thought she was tha' mean!" Stinky replied. "Yeah! How could she do that to Arnold?" Sid broke in. "Someone really should teach her a lesson, at least in manners though she is seriously lacking in fashion sense!" Rhonda retorted. Phoebe looked at the others nervously. "Maybe we should just let them work it out between themselves.." Everyone looked at Phoebe oddly. "Well..it couldn't hurt!" Phoebe spoke softly. "It's good that your sticking up for your friend, Phoebe, but you have to admit that was harsh!" Gerald spoke out. "Ever so mean!" Lila said in her regular sing-song voice as she peered over Gerald's shoulder. As always her voice caught the attention of all the boys in the bus as they nodded vigorously. Phoebe thought to herself as she watched the others talk. "Good luck Helga..please hurry and make up with Arnold before something really bad happens!"
Arnold woke late in the night, rubbing the sleep from his eyes he looked around. Outside everything was dark, the stars shining down upon him. He lay back once more, the starts reflecting in his eyes, twinkling. A tear slowly found its way down his still damp cheeks. He began thinking to himself of everything that happened, something hit him as he replayed the scene in his mind, his eyes growing large. "Sorry Arnol-" Helga's apology was again blocked off as an angry Arnold turned to face her."That's it! I've had it!" Arnold shouted out. Helga looked at him with a puzzled face. "She was trying to apologize to me..." he thought of everything he had said following it. The look on Helga's face was etched into his mind. He felt a slight pang of guilt deep inside it, he kept tossing it away but it kept returning. He rolled over onto his side, hugging his pillow. "She deserved everything I said...she did!" A voice suddenly spoke up in his restless mind.
"She did, did she?" the voice mocked.
"Of course she did...after all she's done to me she-" Arnold began
"What was she doing this time? Sitting next to you not saying a word, what a horrible
thing she did! How could you ever forgive her?"
"No it's not that it's...I...don't know what she did..."
"Aha! So you admit it!"
"Who are you anyways?! Just leave me alone!"
"Now if your conchious left you alone it wouldn't be doing it's job correctly!"
"We're talking about Helga G. Pataki here! She probably hasn't given it second thought!"
"How would you know this unless you where her. She's not all that bad at times, you
know it!"
"Come on now your making no sense either!"
"Fine Mr. Know it all you tell me who was there when Lila dumped you! Oh, and what
about that thing with your grandfather on parent's day. Looked mighty suspicious, no?"
"Well I never did think about that much..."
"Maybe it's time you should!"
"All right so she's not all that bad but she still hurt me!"
"And maybe you hurt her as well..."
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"She's a person too, don't forget that..but you figure this out yourself! I'm only your right
judgment, it's up to you weither you follow through or not!"
"Yeah Well I-"
The phone began ringing, ending the conversation between Arnold and his conchious. "Hello?" Arnold said into the receiver. "Hey Man! How are you doing, I mean after that whole Helga thing.." The voice was Gerald's, no doubt about that. "Hey Gerald..Yeah, I'm feeling alittle better. What happened after I got off the bus anyways?" Arnold softly questioned, expecting an answer like Helga was flaunting hurting him or something along those lines, but that sure isn't what he got. "I don't know man. Right after you bolted Helga up and ran off after you. She didn't bother you after you got off, did she?" Gerald said, sounding alittle concerned. "No Gerald, she didn't. Listen, I'll call you back, okay?" "Yeah, all right. See you later Arnold. Oh! One thing, you get your hat back?" Arnold paled as he reached up, feeling around. "No! My hat!" Arnold began panicking. "Chill! Helga took it, I don't know what she'd do with it so you'll get it back probably tomorrow" Arnold sighed. "Yeah, your right, thanks Gerald." The phone clicked as Gerald hung up. Arnold knew what he had to do, he just hoped he wouldn't regret it after.
Well that's the end of this chapter! Will Phoebe be able to restrain the gang out of Helga and Arnold's affairs, will Arnold get his hat back, will Helga ever be forgiven, and will Grandpa *ever* lay off the berries? Find out most of the answers to those questions in the next chapter of "Foolish Heart" really soon! Please remember to R & R! Thanks!
