Hey Arnold! Cafeteria Confessions: The REAL starting point of the story!


CHAPTER 1: How Things Have Changed

Arnold was just your normal positive fifth grader who was always looking on the bright side in any everyday situation. Whether he was playing a football game against his two archrivals, Wolfgang and Ludwig. Whether he was working to save Mighty Pete when Big Bob worked together with Nick to bulldoze it down, or whether he worked together with any of his friends, or with Gerald and Helga to save their neighborhood, his courage didn't sway. He was always the definition of the three C's in life—cool, calm and collected. Oh, but did I mention the three other C's Arnold could be? Y'know, the three other C's.

Confound, credulous and cynic. . .

Confound because his archnemesis, Helga G Pataki, had helped him save the neighborhood only less than three months ago and kissed him on top of the FTi Building.

Credulous because he was going back to school for his first day of fifth grade and he didn't know what to expect from her.

Cynic because even though he always tried to look on the bright side, he could bet almost anything Helga G Pataki was developing a plan to make his life turn out miserable.


The bus ride to P.S 118 was silent. Everyone was still surprised over the events in the summer and excited about their first day back.

Gerald got tired of watching his best friend sit next to the window and stare off into space, so he waved a hand in front of his face.

"Hey Arnold! Hello? Are you awake this morning bud?" Arnold blinked, looking surprised at Gerald's hand waving in front of his face.

Gerald sighed, his buddy had started daydreaming once again, and it was only seven in the morning.

"Arnold come on, please tell me your not gonna start daydreaming like that again."

Arnold turned to look at Gerald's worried expression.

"What's up with you? You've been acting like this ever since that day we saved the neighborhood. I know I've asked you this before, but I'm going to ask again. Are you completely sure you're feeling all right?"

"I'm sorry Gerald. I don't mean to worry you. It's just. . ." He sighed, looking down at his hands as if they held the answers he was seeking. "That day we saved the neighborhood . . . we almost lose it all . . . if it wasn't for Deep Voice's help, we'd probably not be on this bus right now—"

"—Arnold!" Gerald stared at his friend incredulously. "Aren't you always the one that's looking on the bright side? You've been acting really funny lately."

Arnold couldn't help but smile at his best friend's concern.

"It's nothing. I've just been thinking alot, y'know?" Gerald raised a curious eyebrow.

"You're thinking about what? What's there to worry about? We saved our neighborhood, Sheck is behind bars, we didn't have to move out—"

"—It just doesn't seem that simple." Arnold sighed, looking away out the window. "It's perfectly natural to be so concerned after everything that's happened to us, Gerald. Risking everything in the world to save the neighborhood was a pretty high thing on our 'To Do' list."

Arnold paused, seeming to think about something, then he continued.

"Now, about the other part. . ."

The bus stopped as Arnold looked up to stare at the two passengers walking in. He gave a small smile at his archnemisis.

Gerald looked at his friend. "What other part? What aren't you telling me?"

Phoebe and Helga walked past Arnold and Gerald silently. Gerald seemed surprised, watching the both of them curiously as they walked away to sit two seats behind them.

He turned to Arnold again and whispered.

"Now Arnold, that is something you should be very concerned about."

"What?" He said in wonder, but already having a hypothesis.

"Phoebe, I mean, what's with her not saying a word to us? And don't you get me started on Helga. That girl didn't even lay an insult on yo—"

"—Gerald, have you ever felt like everything in your world was...turned around? Like everything was backwards? It seemed like everything made sense and was so clear before, and now I'm only realizing how unclear everything is." Arnold put a hand on his chin in thought. "It's not things in particular, but mostly people. It still comes as a surprise to me just how much one situation can change your entire thought process."

Arnold turned to Gerald. "Do you know what I mean?"

Gerald gave a light shrug.

"Well, that's what life is Arnold. You're constantly finding out something new, and you either go with the flow or forget about it. That's just the way things are. In my opinion, I'd just stick to what your first idea was." Gerald laughed slightly. "I've learned alot from living with Timberly and Jamie-o. If I stick with the idea that Timberly is an annoying six year old sister and Jamie-O won't do nothing for me, then things are much more simple." Gerald laughed again, only slightly louder.

Arnold narrowed his eyes slightly at his friend. "Well . . . I just can't stop thinking about Deep Voice!" Helga sat up two seats behind them, hearing that. "She's risked so much to help me save the neighborhood, and she's received nothing in return—"

"—Hold up, hold up wait a sec?" Gerald held up his right hand. "You're telling me that you had this secret girl helping you save the neighborhood all night, and you didn't even tell me about this?" Arnold nodded with a slight grin. He was embarrassed about the situation.

Gerald grinned smugly at Arnold's expression. He was finally starting to understand what the problem was with his friend.

The bus came to a stop at P.S 118 and all the students quickly headed off.

Gerald stepped off the bus, putting his hands on his hips and turning to his friend who was walking off the bus.

"I think I know what's wrong with you now, Arnold." Gerald smirked as Arnold looked up from walking off the bus. "Your crushin' on Deep Voice, aren't you?"

Arnold's eyes widened, not knowing what to make of the statement. 'Liking Helga...? Helga...! Me and.. HER?'

"Gerald, no!" Arnold said, his voice full of surprise.

Gerald blinked, stepping back a little.

"Okay! I was just telling you what I thought." Arnold put a hand on his hip, not appreciating Gerald's statement. "Calm down, it was just a joke!"

Gerald noticed Arnold uncomfortable and irritated expression and tried to laugh the comment he made off.

He continued. "See, joke buddy. Complete joke."

Arnold sighed and gave up the battle as they made their way up the steps slowly. A thought also seemed to come to him. His friend had no clue who Deep Voice was.

"Gerald, I just feel I owe her something, for all that she's done for me. Nothing's going to repay her for what she's given me. She's given me her heart, her soul, her entire trust, and. . ." Arnold stopped walking once they were up the steps, only now realizing how much she risked for him.

Gerald waited silently for a reply.

"And...?"

Arnold sighed, thinking about his part in Helga's confession. . .

"I can't give it back to her, at least not yet because I don't know her that personally. It seems she's another person entirely. She's too afraid to show her real identity to me. After all that's happened between us. . ." he sighed, "She's still going to hide behind masks with me, and I'm the only one who can bring her out of it."

Gerald just stared.

"I really wish I could help you sort out this problem your having with Deep Voice, but I don't think I can do anything until I know who she is—"

Arnold looked terrified.

"Are you crazy? I can't tell you that! What if Deep Voice doesn't want anybody to know her real identity?" he sighed. "I can't have her lose the trust she already has in m—"

"Calm down Arnold!" Gerald shook his head. "This girl has got you all jittery. Don't think about it and everything will work itself out."

They walked in and sat next to each other in the front row.


Arnold was sitting at his seat as he looked around the classroom a few minutes later for Helga. He couldn't get her off his mind. . .

She came in with Phoebe and a deep scowl on her face stopping in front of him. He looked up at her nervously, trying to see through her disguise.

She narrowed her eyes. "What are you looking at, Football Head?"

She made her way to the back as he sighed to himself, looking down at his desk in hopelessness.

'Maybe she isn't a different person. Maybe she's just Helga and I'm trying to make her be someone that she isn't . . . what was I thinking? Helga? A entirely different person? That's crazy. . .'

With those thoughts, he was finally able to get his mind on something else for the morning. . .


"I'm everywhere and I'm nowhere, but mostly I'm everywhere."

- Deep Voice - 3/3/07 (Edit: 6/18/07, 4/1/12)