Grimmy: Wait! Those of you who have already read this chapter, tune into the ending A/N for previews for the next one. Those of you who simply want to reread now that I've actually fixed it I hope I did your patience justice. And for those new readers I welcome you with open arms. I must have typed this A/N at least five or six times because every time I added a line it did this weird thing that deleted EVERYTHING I wrote.
So, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my first ever reviewer, RaineforMadeline. I really appreciate it and I can assure you that your questions will be answered in chapters five and six.
I don't own Hey Arnold
Chapter 2 - Obedience
"Late again Miss Pataki. Should I be expecting the normal excuse or is it something else this time?"
Helga was tempted to glare at her third period teach then flip him off and call him an asshole, but she didn't test her luck. He wasn't making a big deal of it like he'd done in previous times. She simply handed him a note explaining that she had to get her assignments from her other classes and waited for him to give her, her latest assignment.
The teacher scanned the note and looked at her with a smile that wasn't at all friendly. "Hmm, I think you might want to be present for this class Miss Pataki. We have a group project." By the time he finished talking, his crooked teeth were showing and with a scowl Helga took the last seat in the classroom, in the middle of the second row.
She rested her head on her hands, staring idly out the window on the classroom door. Bob was going to pissed that she was taking so long and she could already hear him complaining now now. With an annoyed sigh she slouched down in her desk, half listening to her teacher explain the grading rubric to the class. She figured she'd simply get the information second hand from whoever was in her group.
Helga frowned when something tapped her on the ear and landed next to her desk. Looking down, she saw that it was a neatly folded piece of paper. She reached down and picked it up, pausing to look around behind her to see just who had passed it. The friendly smile tipped her off and she tried her hardest not to smile back. She opened it.
Why didn't you ever write me?
She resisted the urge to look back at the boy and ask him what the hell he was talking about. She scrunched up her eyebrow in confusion before a light bulb went off in her head. She knew exactly what he meant and the fact that he'd remembered such an old promise made her feel as if her heart was sinking in her chest. A small fluttery sigh escaped her lips as she picked her brain for an appropriate response.
Why didn't you write ME football head?
Now that she looked at the creased sheet of paper she couldn't help but to notice how neat his handwriting was compared to her own loopy script. Instead of scratching out her words, she'd been writing in pen, she folded the paper and passed it back to the boy behind her. It only took a few seconds for him to eagerly toss it back onto her desk.
Again, she looked at him, taking note of his eager smile. His green eyes crinkled around the edges and she determined that it wasn't just a friendly act. He was actually still that nice. Heat flooded her cheeks and she turned back around in her seat, ready to read her note only to see it gone off her desk. Her eye twitched when she saw her teacher standing over her, a smirk on his face as he read her note.
"You two seem chummy, why don't you work together?" he practically hissed at her. The way he'd said it made her feel unsure about his intentions and before she could object the bell for the next class period rang. Her blonde hair fell over the side of her face, she hadn't bothered pinning it up that morning, and through the cluster of strands she could see the boy collecting his things and fidgeting as he played with the clasp on his bag. There wasn't really anything wrong with it and she knew he was just waiting for her.
It had been a while since she'd smiled sincerely. To be honest, she was certain that she'd forgotten to do so. But at that moment she couldn't help it. She stood up and began to push what few things she'd taken out back into her bag as she looked out the window. And for the briefest of moments she could have sworn she saw the shadow of a little girl on the window's clear surface.
"Mind if I walk you to class Miss Pataki?"
She nearly jumped out of her skin; she hadn't expected him to actually say anything to her. Or stand so close at that. She considered just what he was asking. On the plus side, she would get a free chance to spend time with him outside of work. And it was on his request. On the negative side, she should have been gone a good five minutes ago. She wasn't so sure that Bob would wait for her.
"Do something Ellie! Make her say yes! Make her invite him back-"
"Look Moe," Ellie interrupted, irritation evident. "I can't make her do anything. I can only help guide them to their decisions. I'd get in a lot of trouble if I interfered directly." She frowned at the older boy. "Don't you pay attention at all?"
He rolled his eyes and leaned forward in the tree, pushing leaves out of his way so he could get a better look. "Yeah well she almost saw you boss lady. Talk about irresponsible." He sniffed and glanced back at her out of the corner of his eyes. "Besides, this is something that you can influence."
She shook her head at him and pressed her palm flat against her forehead. "No I can't because this is the first ultimate decision. This is how we find out if this is what she truly wants. It's the changing point."
Moe sighed and leaned back in the tree, it was oddly comfortable. He waved a hand at Ellie, completely dismissing her. "It's no fun watching them if they aren't going to do anything," he said in a rather obnoxious tone. He crossed his legs and put his hands behind his head, opting to watch the clouds drift across the sky instead of studying the potential couple.
"Oh, you're just a pervert," she replied, slapping him on his chest. A satisfied smirk tugged at her lips when he cried out. It probably didn't hurt him but it did shock him to the point that he almost fell out of the tree.
He pouted at the younger girl. "I didn't mean like that Ell."
While she did believe him she folded her arms across her chest and stared him down. "The sooner you learn to do what you're supposed to, the sooner I can get rid of ya'. I never knew having a student would suck."
"Hey!"
A walk from class to class to collect school work had soon turned into a walk home. Helga hadn't expected to be at school longer than a couple of minutes so she hadn't brought bus fair. And of course Bob had to leave after she stayed an entire class period. If people weren't so stupid in the first place she would have actually considered staying the rest of the day. It wasn't often that she got to go to school anymore and a part of her missed it.
It just so happened that her companion didn't have too much change on him at the moment either. He was planning to get a ride with a friend of his. Someone she remembered rather well. Gerald Johanssen. She hadn't seen much of him lately but the few people she managed to keep in contact with mentioned him quite a bit. Last she'd heard he had won a full ride football scholarship to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
She wasn't surprised that the boy next to her chose him of all people to ride with. They had been the best of friends before he left and that didn't seem to have changed with the way he talked about the boy. It was almost like he admired him.
But as soon as he heard that she didn't have bus fair he insisted that she let him walk her home. He even willingly decided to skive off of the rest of the day, saying that they could get started on their project early. Not only that but he also offered to carry her books, hold open doors, and any other gentlemanly thing he could think of. No, he certainly hadn't changed.
"I'm tellin' ya' Arnold. The Hurricanes are just gonna swoop in and kick everyone's ass. Just you wait. Miami is gonna completely dominate." Football had become the topic of conversation, and although she didn't watch it religiously she knew quite a bit about it. It would be impossible to live with a father like hers and be completely clueless when concerning the sports world.
Arnold groaned and shook his head. "No way," he argued. "It's gonna be between Georgia and Alabama this year for sure. I just know it."
She rolled her eyes, smiling nonetheless. He looked like a boy receiving Christmas presents and she had no choice but to deduce that baseball was no longer his favorite sport. Football was and while her love for it had dulled over the years she had to admit, it was entertaining. She wished she could play it like she used to.
He shot her a mischievous grin. "Besides, you only like the Hurricanes because The Rock played there. Do'ya' smell what The Rock is cookiiin'," he said in his best impersonation voice. He'd remembered her love for wrestling and she almost let out a fluttery sigh.
Helga stopped walking so she could lean forward and laugh at the boy. "Arnold, your imitations suck!"
Happy didn't even describe her mood at that moment.
Grimmy: Did I sound like I knew what I was talking about when it came to football? I'll tell you now. I'm a football NOOB. Although I do know a bit about the Miami Hurricanes, thanks to my being a fan of wrestling. I read The Rock's autobiography, lol. It was funny. Figured I should tell you all. And of course, because I'm from Georgia I had to toss in the Bulldogs. Of course, the only thing I ask for is reviews. They feed mah sooooul. And here's your preview for the next chapter.
Helga stared at the empty sofa and it was as if she realized that Miriam wasn't there for the first time. Even still she had hope that she'd come home and find out her mother was passed out drunk while the TV played old episodes of General Hospital. Shestared at it for a while before Arnold tapped her on the shoulder, confused.
"You okay Helga?"
She hadn't realized it but the look she gave him was one so sad that he had to shift uncomfortably. "I'm fine," she lied through her teeth.
