Arnold gazed up at the sky, His mind still in the act of processing what he had just seen. He couldn't believe he meet such a beautiful girl within minutes of returning to Hillwood. Did she move here? She had to, he thought, he would have definitely remember her if he knew her in P.S.118. Despite that he couldn't shake off the this eerie feeling that he knew her. But as He tried to search his mind for the right face of his past to compare to this new vibrant face, he felt a sharp blow to his side that sent all thoughts of the girl on a temporary halt.
"OW!" Arnold immediately jolted up and grabbed his injured side. He muttered inaudible words under his breath and looked up angrily to see his offender. That anger was quickly replaced with joy at the sight of a familiar Afro head.
" Dude,What are you doing on the ground? I know you miss Hillwood but Dang, you don't just lay down in the middle of the street. Do you know how many people walked on this sidewalk?" Gerald said with a raise eyebrow.
"Gerald!" Arnold leap from the ground and wrapped Gerald in a huge bear hug.
"Hey Man, How you been?" Gerald chuckled as Arnold removed himself from him and they did they signature handshake.
"I've been great! It's great to be home!"
"Yeah I'm glad you're here to stay this time. Those annual summer visits wasn't cutting it for me. But enough about that." Gerald stared at Arnold questionably. "Seriously, What was you doing on the ground?"
Arnold smiled sheepishly as he scratched his head. "Oh you know, Admiring the scenery."
Gerald rolled his eyes at Arnold pathetic lie, He knew Arnold will tell him eventually so instead of pushing the subject he just responded with a "Whatever you say Arnold."
"Anyway, Come on Gerald we can talk upstairs. I have so many questions." Arnold eagerly led the way to his house as Gerald shook his head and follow in a slow pursuit.
Phoebe let out a happy sigh as she reread her summer homework. She did it the first day of summer vacation and all through she knew she did it to perfection she still felt obligated to read it again in case she missed something. After all school starts in a few days she would hate to make a stupid mistake like forgetting to write her name on the paper. But sometimes even she can admit that she was over thinking it. But she couldn't help it. What if she made a spelling error or grammar mistake? What if she used the wrong 'there' or the wrong 'night'? She couldn't bear to make such a kiddish mistake, that's why the day before school begins she would always call Helga so she could come over for a much needed girl chat and another set of eyes to look over her homework. Helga always complained and reassured her that her work was fine but she eagerly came anyway. This was beneficial for both Helga and Phoebe. It was a chance for Helga to get some much needed time away from the Pataki household, and it was a chance for Phoebe to make sure that her work was to the highest peak of perfection, which it usually is. Just as Phoebe was about to dial the number to Helga house, her door was flung open. Phoebe smiled as she set her phone down; she knew exactly who it was. She heard Helga collapse on her bed and Phoebe turned her chair away from her computer desk to see Helga faced down on her bed. This wasn't the first time that she seen Helga like this, now it was the time to just sit back and listen while Helga laid all her troubles out to her.
Helga muffled voice was barley heard but Phoebe was able to make out, "You wont believe who I just saw."
"So Gerald…" Arnold causally started.
"Yeah?" Gerald asked distracted as he tried to past Arnold car in the game.
"Is there anyone new in the neighborhood?"
"Huh? What do you mean by new?"
"Oh you know maybe a, just for random visual purposes, a beautiful blond hair girl who looks to be about my age wearing a pink headband?"
"Ugh! No!" Gerald exclaimed in annoyance as his car crashed into a haystack and blew up. He sighed and turned his attention to Arnold as he just now realize what he just said. "Wait…What did you just ask me?"
Arnold got up from his place on the floor and began to pace the room. "I meet this really amazing girl just now, I swear Gerald she was like the best looking girl I ever seen! She was just gorgeous! I know I never seen her before so she must be new that's why I'm asking you. So do you know her? Huh? Come on tell me!"
"Wait! Slow down!" Gerald said as he raised his hand signaling Arnold to stop. "Okay...Now start from the beginning."
"Who?" Phoebe asked confused. This is the first time Helga ever started a conversation like this. She would usually start ranting about how terrible Bob is or how useless Miriam is but this conversation is totally different and Phoebe was taken a back.
Helga mumbled into the pillow.
"Helga I can't hear you, the pillow is muffling you."
Helga sighed and lifted her head up, her lips moving indicating that she said something.
"I'm sorry Helga but can you please speak up."
"ARNOLD! OKAY! I SAW ARNOLD!" Helga shouted as she tossed her hands up in defeat and collapse back onto the bed this time with her face facing the ceiling.
"Y-you saw…Arnold?" Phoebe asked her mouth slightly gaped. That was the last thing she expected to come out of Helga mouth.
Helga nodded her head and place the pillow over her face.
"Well…What happened?"
"What happened? He was hot and gorgeous and I freaked and ran."
Phoebe nodded her head in understanding still processing this sudden information.
"Do you think he recognize me?" Helga asked removing the pillow from her face revealing the look of fear on her face.
"I don't know…I doubt it. Arnold not the best at putting faces together. Remember that time you pretended to be Cecile?"
Helga scowled. "Yeah, I remember. That stupid football head, how can you not tell that was me! Although I guess it was a good thing since I didn't want to explain my reasons for doing that."
Phoebe nodded her head and smiled as realization dawned on her.
"This is great!" Phoebe exclaimed. "You can use this to your advantage Helga!"
Helga face showed her confusion. "What do you mean?"
Gerald nodded his head as Arnold began to tell his story about the mysterious girl.
"So what do you think? Do you know her?" Arnold said after he finally finished.
"Hm…That's a tough one. I'll have to see her. But jeez Arnold, why do you always have to fall for the girls you don't know?"
"What do you mean, I don't fall for girls I don't know?" Arnold said confused and slightly offended
"Remember Ruth McDougal?"
"Ugh…Can we not talk about her." Arnold shuddered at the memory of his picture perfect crush being shattered before his eyes on that terrible date. "She was the only one."
"Cecile?"
"Oh…Yeah her too…"
"And let's not forget the pink book." Gerald motioned to his bookcase where the old fading pink book still stayed. "You obsessed over her for months, trying to find out who wrote it."
"And I would have too; If Helga didn't rip the last page. I just know the answer was on that page. But Helga just had to use it for a spit ball." Arnold crossed his arms and frowned at that memory.
"Who knows maybe the girl you met on the street was Helga G. Pataki."
Arnold and Gerald stare at each other for a moment before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
"Whew…That was funny. Speaking of Helga how is she?" Arnold asked wiping the tears from his eyes.
"I don't know, It's not like we have any classes together and she doesn't eat in the lunchroom so I barely see her. Hey remember the FTI incident?"
"Yeah, I remember that was weird…" Arnold touched his lips. "She kissed me and told me she loved me only for her to say it was the heat of the moment."
"Psh, I would have went off on her if she did that to me."
"But you know sometimes I wonder if she was just lying."
"Why would she lie about that?"
"Maybe she was scared that I would have rejected her."
"Well…Would you have rejected her?"
A knock on the door interrupted Arnold response.
"Hey we got sandwiches downstairs waiting for you guys if you want some." Miles voice came from the other side of the door.
"Coming!" Gerald and Arnold said in unison, the conversation forgotten at the offer of food.
"Think about it Helga. This is your chance to finally to have a clean slate with Arnold."
"How?" Helga asked skeptical
"By being yourself. Be the mushy gushy Helga that you always wanted him to see. Instead of hiding it just let him see it."
"You mean don't act like I did in P.S. 118?"
"Exactly, After all people change. I know Arnold not the type to hold a grudge. If you show him that you truly have changed he will surely accept you. You may become friends and maybe even fall in love. Than you will get married and have kids and I'll be the god mommy and-" Phoebe said squealing at the thought. She stopped herself and coughed as she realized she was over thinking again. "Um…well maybe that's thinking too far ahead but at least you guys will be friends."
"You know what Phoebe, you're right! It's time for Arnold to discover the real Helga G. Pataki! I won't repeat the past, this time it will be different! I swear! Thanks Phoebe you're the best!" Helga hugged Phoebe and bounced out of the room with a new found determination.
Phoebe chuckled at her friends antics but her face quickly was overcome with dismay when she realize Helga forgot to read her homework.