An Act Of Care
By ~*Silver Kitten*~
Disclaimer: Hi, I don't own Hey Arnold or anything remotely
associated with it, because if I did, Helga and Arnold would already be a
couple ^_^v
Note: Hey this is my FIRST Hey Arnold! Fic and I'm nervous
on how I did, cuz personally I think it sucks though I tried my best, but if
you read this, I would SO appreciate any constructive criticism, just ways I
can improve, how I did, should I stop/keep writing??? I'll continue if some people actually like this fic. Thanks and enjoy…hopefully :-S
Shortened Summary:
P.S. 118, a school kids could feel safe in, take pride in
attending class in, socialize with friends in.
What will happen to P.S. 118 when tragedy strikes that is
irreversible? Terror hits hard, and an
act of care takes place that could forever change everything…
~~
Helga's POV~
Again the sound of the bell rings
vibrantly throughout the school. Time
for lunch, the worst part of the day where I sit helplessly watching Lila flirt
with Arnold. I groaned and got up out
of my seat, kicking some paper below my desk, and went off to lunch.
"So Helga, what do you think you're
going to write about for Mr. Simmons essay assignment?" Phoebe inquired,
obviously trying to divert my thought from Arnold so I didn't look so miserable
maybe.
"Oh I don't know Phoebs. We're supposed to write about something
interesting right? Nothing interesting
happens in my life, well," I sighed disgusted "except for hearing about all the
interesting things OLGA goes through." I said my sister's name with a small
scoff. Phoebe smiled.
"Cheer up, Helga. Things won't always be that way." She said
reassuringly. I accepted her token of
pity and reassurance. Yet deep down I
couldn't shake the feeling she could be wrong for once. Yes, Phoebs, wrong. I nodded to her and grabbed a lunch tray,
moping over to grab some food I spotted Lila walking "ever so sweetly" over to
Arnold, who was already eating and discussing football with Gerald and
Sid.
After Phoebe and I sat down across
the cafeteria, I sat watching them, my eyes silently stalking her every
move. It made me want to throw up! The way she batted her eyelashes whenever
she said Arnold's name, the way his face almost flushed incandescently; was it
chemistry or nuclear war here? I
couldn't take it anymore and rested my head between my hands, perched up on my
elbows and looked out the window.
"Helga, I hate seeing you so
distressed all the time. I don't
comprehend why you can't talk to Arnold, let alone be nice to him-" she
suddenly quit in her words and turned her head down, ashamed. "I'm sorry," she said, her tone hastily
changing from serious to apologetic. "I
didn't mean it the way it sounded," I winced.
The truth is that the way she meant it WAS the way it sounded,
hurtful.
"No, Phoebs don't be sorry. You're absolutely right. I can't go a day without calling him
Football head or other things besides his real name. I always hafta put him down?
And why Phoebe, why?" I halted my statement and closed my eyes, eyebrows
coming together in a moment of sorrow.
"Please, lets just changed the subject, I don't wanna talk about this
anymore." I muttered harshly, yet I didn't mean to sound such. Phoebe understood; she always understood
me. She is probably the single most
person on this entire earth that truly understands me.
No perhaps understand isn't right,
I don't even understand myself, how can someone understand me when I
can't? No, she just puts up with
me. And I can't even show her the
gratitude she deserves, Phoebe, my best friend, my only friend…
"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOIN!" someone
yelled, disturbing my thoughts. It
caught the attention of the whole cafeteria, Harold starting a fight with
Brainy. Brainy, that kid was freaky yes
but he never seems to cause any commotion.
Okay, when he's suddenly showing up behind me and wheezing, I just have
to punch him. That's beside the point.
"Ugghhh huuu ughh, sorry…" Brainy
wheezed, pushing his glasses up further.
"Sorry? That's all you're gonna say when you dumped my tray? That was my lunch!" Harold shot out
furiously. I guess when the kid was hungry,
he was hungry. Then something out of
the ordinary happened, when Brainy tried walking away, Harold pulled him back
and punched him. A little bit of blood
trickled down his lip and Brainy wiped it away, standing back up from the
ground, his back hunched as usual. Was
it tears in his eyes? I couldn't tell,
but I could tell that I was laughing, crudely, my laughter instantaneous from
my reputation, which I secretly hated.
I didn't really feel like laughing, but I did, and so did a lot of other
kids now.
As I saw Brainy run out behind
trails of mocking laughter, I caught Arnold staring at Lila, not in affection
but in confusion. Lila
was…laughing? Did she hit her funny
bone or something while flirting with Arnold?
It was not like Lila to laugh at violence. Oh well it didn't matter; I turned repulsed back to Phoebe.
"Lets get back to class Phoebe." I
said.
Five minutes until school lets out,
once again I've remained in a complete stature looking at the back of Arnold's
head. Urged to pull out my locket to
see his sweet composure under a slick cover of glass, I stopped, when I heard
the teacher write on the board.
"Now remember class, since you're
all special, I expect some very special and unique essays from you by next
Monday." Mr. Simmons exclaimed, his smile queer yet satisfied. "You are to write about an experience that
made a huge, significant impact on your life, and explain how and why it
changed you, and what you learned from it." He finished, and with that the bell
rang.
I walked solemnly from my locker to
outside. Again feeling the torment that
I won't see my love until tomorrow, and with that came the feeling of
self-pity, why I gravel over some boy.
Alas, the controversy between why I feel and act the way I do begins,
and I start to slowly unwind on my way out of school. That's when I fixate on a fight.
Wolfgang picking on Eugene for the umpteenth time this month. Then a sudden thought of remorse from him,
which of course I hid from any eyes that so happened to be watching. Maybe if I just walked away, pretend I
didn't see it; no one would expect me to "cheer the fight on". I did just that, dashing off the school
premises, and made my way to home that always felt abandoned…
Arnold's POV~
"Oh no not another fight!" Gerald
groaned. I sighed in contempt that
Wolfgang, or anyone for that matter, had to pick on people. I would have gone in to stop it, but then
that would just be a death wish come true.
A few minutes later the fight was
over. Wolfgang had gotten his daily
thrill on beating a kid younger than him senseless. Gerald and I hurried over to help Eugene, who immediately spoke-
"I'm Okay…" but we all knew he wasn't.
"Why did he pick on you this time?"
I asked, concerned. Eugene smiled
wearily and shrugged.
"Just lucky I guess…" he said,
wobbling as he tried to stand on his own.
Knowing he was just trying to put a little humor in the situation was
well enough he should be fine by tomorrow.
I laughed slightly, and grabbed my books.
"Guess I should get home now." I
said, while waiting for Gerald to gather his things, and then we headed off.
Mystery POV~
Gah! I can't believe this!
Does no one stand up for themselves here? It's ludicrous! I guess I
shouldn't be talking though; I never was much of a defense on my part. Oh well…but seeing all the crap people like
me take…the "geeks" or whatever, I can't take this any more! Gah!
I'm going to do something about this…I just need to know who to talk to
well enough to convince them of my plan…HAHA yes…as long as I have a constancy
in a small group, this plot will prevail…and geeks will no longer be
geeks! We'll be the only ones left
standing…HA! I just need the right
people…hmmm…A-ha! There's one…
~The Next Day- Helga's POV~
I plopped down on my usual bus
seat, looking at the lines go by one by one as the bust drove on and on…the
same thing every day. Now I can expect
Arnold to get on the bus, sit in his usual seat, Lila will get on, sit next to
Arnold, Phoebe will get on, sit next to me, the bus will stop, we'll get off,
walk to class, the day continues; mild separation from my beloved except for
the anguish from my eyes painful watch, and the rapid growing jealously for
Lila. I sighed, yes such things of
interest always occur in Helga G. Pataki's life.
For once though, the common routine
witnessed a change, when the bus stopped for Arnold and…what? He's sitting next to me! …Ooookay Helga, keep breathing. Maybe for once you don't have to snap at him! Yes, your open chance to be nice from the
start!
Instead of being mean, instead of
being nice, I was silent. Oh crimany,
was it that hard to show some courtesy for the guy?
"Hi Helga." Arnold said, his usual
low but soft tone of voice. My mouth
grumbled to sneer at him, but I finally forced down any word of insult.
"Hey..Foo- eh…Arnold." I
replied. Okay I know he's a nice guy,
but he never sits by me! Oh but he
smiled that wide spacious grin and I could have melted.
"I saw you looked sorta sad and
rushed out of school yesterday. I was
wondering if you were okay. You are
okay, right?" He asked, a little worried.
I tried to stop my heart from fluttering and my stomach from turning
over, but I couldn't. Yet I saw Rhonda
and Sid and Harold slightly eyeing, perhaps listening intently only
inconspicuously at our conversation, which brought on severe contempt from my
well-known reputation.
"Yeah Arnoldo I'm fine. Thanks but no thanks for your concern. Listen buddy no need to get all chummy
okay?" I spat, and I detested myself for it.
Arnold looked…as if I had said just what he had expected. I sighed a silent sigh that acts as a
distress call to yourself when you know no one is listening or more so no one
can hear. His expression hurt me
probably worse then when I saw him smile.
What, is he covering up his pain with a smile? I laughed to myself. Cute
but frankly when does that work? Then I
suddenly remember that his cover reminded myself of someone…me…
With that, Arnold replied "Whatever
you say, Helga." The moment he said that, Lila had gotten on the bus. What timing. Arnold had said hi to her as she walked by.
"Ever so nice to see you today,
Arnold." She beamed, and then looked at me.
"Helga." She nodded and proceeded to sit down 2 seats back from us. Why didn't Arnold go get up to sit with
her? I wanted to ask, but that would
imply my curiosity to his 'love' life.
Oh what the heck.
"Hey why didn't you go sit with
Lila?" I asked, trying yet not trying to sound envious by the mention of her
name. He shrugged.
"Well I sat next to you. I thought getting up and sitting with
someone else would be rude." He explained.
Once again those meddling flutters in my heart, those intrusive stomach
flips, all brought on by his sincere and warm-hearted attitude towards
others. His sweet logic in reasoning,
his- oh my god, how do I reply to what he just said?! Luckily I was saved any response when the bus jolted forward,
stopping to let Phoebe on.
All the way to school, I sat
motionless, hiding both my natural smile and my false exterior anger for every
second of the day. Well maybe not so
much false as it began a lie only to become the basic truth now. Arnold, Arnold sat there motionless too; the
time the bus stopped for school would be too soon to bear and too late for any
conversation. Nothing left to me but
regret.
Finally in my desk, in class, which
is starting, yet still in this critical mood.
My normal self, my front to others has been hidden inside for the past
43 minutes and 26 seconds, one thing could set me off, and I'm scared to death
at the thought. Somehow I knew
something would happen, I just couldn't decide if it would be to my
disadvantage or my benefit. Really, it
could go both ways, but would it go the way I wanted? Probably not…
Arnold's POV~
There was something peculiar today,
in the static of the room. It was quiet
and eerie; I got this blind premonition something bad would happen and yet I
couldn't understand why. I can't
contemplate any sufficient reasons why I feel today is on the verge of
disaster. I just tried to shrug it
off. At least lunch wasn't too far
away.
Then I preoccupied myself towards
Helga. I remembered seeing her run from
the school yesterday, like she was being chased or something. I remember that grave look plastered over her
face, like she didn't want to go home but it was all she had to return to. I don't know what advocated that intuition;
I guess maybe I felt sorry for her. But
I know from the way she responded this morning she's herself…I suppose.
Class was going on while I, in the
midst of thought and unnatural feelings, had dazed off, not realizing lunch was
in less then a minute.
"And that completes today's history
lesson kids. After lunch we'll talk
about Geometry." Mr. Simmons said excitedly.
The bell had rung for lunchtime.
It appeared normally, the exact
noon rush of kids, flooding in the cafeteria, trays flying and food furnishing
the floor as kids bumped into one another.
No, something was not right. I
stood in line, waiting to get my lunch, anticipating something to occur. Was I the only one feeling this bad
feeling? Maybe I'm just taking this too
far, yes; it's just my imagination. I
relaxed, presumed as usual to my regular table.
That's when it happened, out of
nowhere, in a blink of an eye. No! It was quicker than that! Like the ceiling was collapsing in, the sky
crumbling down through the walls, breaking over the bustle of the cafeteria,
this now was the only bustle for a moment.
Crackling, flaring, fire passed by wisps of air. What were they?
I don't know if it's when the
screaming condemned by the immense sound of gunshots happened, or when I saw
Harold hit the ground and lay in a pool of blood. I grew furiously cold, my body chilled and shaken, so frigid that
I became numb and unable to run along with the other rampaging students. Screaming filled the room almost as fear
filled my eyes when there went down Sid and Rhonda, their cries shrieking so
horridly it could shatter glass.
More crackling, more bursting fire
from 3 dark, masked fiends, their mission to obliterate whomever is in their
site. No idea who they were, only an
idea to run. The concept of safety is
diminished, and the hope of getting out alive…weakened.
I slid across a puddle of crimson
liquid; saw blood spattered on the cafeteria walls. Then I thought of Gerald, where was he? Was he okay! I spotted
him, escaping through the emergency exit; he hurriedly pulled Phoebe with him
as she tried leading people out. Phoebe
was crying, her glasses had fallen and were smashed beneath the room's floor
that appeared to move on its own with the sight of more than half the student
body.
I sighed a heavy sigh of relief,
but now I needed concern for myself, I was nowhere near an exit. I thought of all my friends, and Helga, I
had no idea where she was. Frightened,
we were all so frightened. I made my
way, more hurdling crowds, and flying bullets.
I was shocked beyond belief, and then it got worse. Lila, trying to get out, her green eyes
turning red from tears, her ruby red hair frizzled and her facial features
terrified and uncertain. She looked at
me briefly, then another flare of shots fired.
She stiffened as she slowly fell to her knees, her eyes holding mine
until hers went black and along with her world. Blood the fine fluid that ran coarsely from her back.
I winced, oh god this extreme
terror. This could not be happening, I
must be dreaming. Arnold wake up! Wolfgang gone down, distress fled from him,
I saw. Nadine is running out,
bleeding from the right shoulder blade, an injured and limping Stinky trying to
help her out. Sure Eugene, Brainy,
Joey, all my friends, they all must have gotten out- panic still, no sign of
Helga. I fought tears emerging now; I
fought to keep making my way, all my strength for one step as screaming
frightened kids surrounded me.
Then I saw them, the 3 dark and hidden
pilots in this malicious shoot out. I
was unable to identify them, wearing all black clothing including pants,
military style boots, and tight cloaks with a facemask on. All 3 armed heavily and defiantly. The mere sight of them shook me wildly, I turned
again and pushed harder to get out.
Arnold, you're still not waking up…
Before I could reach at least two
more steps, someone yelled my name and I looked astonished behind. No more than 20 feet away stood one of the
cynical shadows bringing this terror on P.S. 118. They held a gun towards me, aiming. An instant, a single instant, and time stood still. Enough time to recognize they were going to
shoot me, and I was going to be hit- shock.
Within a flash and a loud bang and haze of whirling smoke, time withheld
an abrupt shift from reality to impossible.
Before I knew it, it was too late.
A yell, a pound, a collapse. It
hit me. The ground hit me with such
force, or no? I hit the ground with
such force. Why? My nerves no witness to be shot, yet still
this undying apprehension of hurt. I
looked up and stammered.
"HELGA!" she had pushed me from the
bullets path and accepted my fate.
No! An evil laugh from the
treacherous murderer! And they turned
and grabbed the others, and ran out. My
eyes had more disbelief then my mind as I watched Helga stagger forward. Instantly I pulled myself up in the nick of
time to catch her as she gave way in my arms.
Trying to hold her, trying to hang on as she slips away into
unconsciousness, but failing.
Wake up NOW Arnold! I beg, I pray…
I brought her down, one of my arms
supporting her neck, the other holding the wound near her chest. Things were becoming fuzzy from the tears
swelling in my eyes, on the brink of falling as I on the brink of madness
pushed them back. I saw her lips try to
form a word, I think it was 'help'. She
coughed and a little blood trickled down from her mouth.
"…A-Arnold, it h-hurts…" she
trembled.
"Oh please, Helga, hang on!" I was
panicking in a crazed fashion, yet I had a waver of security. The menaces were gone, but the threat of
life flurried more intensely now.
Perhaps the most fortunate thing to hear now was the siren's that
bellowed infamously. Most of the
cafeteria was lost in dead quite, scattered cries and sniffles were heard, but
the silence had deeply penetrated, almost seemingly as the casualties had
through the sight of lain bodies.
Helga, she lay there in my arms so
delicately, her tough exterior ultimately faded. Instead of seeing Helga the bully, I saw Helga the small lost
girl searching now for a way to hang on, hopefully not a way to say good bye.
God, I'm not waking up…
Helga's POV~
Excruciating this vile pain. Torn from inside to out, breaking. Inside I can't think of how I feel, its too
much, its all too much! I can't decide
if I want to scream and cry or simply let go and…
Ahg! Who knew this pain could ever exist, burying this torment through
every nerve and limb in my body, like acid burning within. Oh but such sweet relief, Arnold, the one I'd
sacrifice anything for yet a pleasant civil attitude; he was okay. Unwounded, untouched by the bullet that came
to him so violently. Rest in peace,
Helga?
It grows dark, breath comes shorter
every second…Sirens roar so hideously like they're inside my head. I looked up into Arnold's gaze full of
anguish and sorrow. Pity. What is that? A tear from Arnold's moist eyes formed…for me? I cried, if not more than the pain, the act
of care towards me was enough. I wanted
to say goodbye, I wanted to tell him I love him…now I don't know if I'll ever
get the chance…
Sirens…they're slowing. I'm slowing. Time is slowing. Where's
Arnold going! No come back please,
don't leave!
Blackness in sleeps forlorn
solitude. Sleep…
~~~
Well guys that was it…Sorry it was
long, I just had a lot to say -_- so please now, let me know what you think,
and if you think it sucked, go ahead and flame me, I'd deserve it right? (sorry for the negativity) I apologize ahead
of flames that characters had to die. I
have nothing against them! Well maybe
Lila…eheh *sweatdrop* kiddin. Anyways I
still have yet to say who the 3 masked villains were, any ideas? ^_^
To be continued?? I'll let you decide.
~*Silver Kitten*~
