She looked up at the boy who fell with wide eyes. It's hard to know, hard to it's in the quiet things she knew she was staring but she couldn't tear her eyes away from him. He looked so much like Arnold but it was the differences that she noticed. His eyes were the same light green but it was his wavy brown hair so different from Arnold's that made them glow. His lips were fuller, nose narrower and cheeks plumper, but he was a Shortman; that much was understood. She raised an eyebrow waiting for his response. She hoped he wasn't another cousin. She couldn't handle another Arnie situation. She shivered a little thinking about Arnold's weird, boring, country cousin who would stalk her mercilessly during his visits.

Ethan wanted to talk but he lost all coherent thought when he saw her. It was her eyes. After spending a lifetime in the Central American jungle, he never saw anyone with blue eyes and he couldn't avert his gaze at hers. Maybe that was his excuse for staying there. Her piercing eyes had him cemented in that spot. Willing himself to answer her question he stood and offered his hand. "I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."

He seemed distracted, lost somehow. His voice lacked the chipper tone present in Arnold's that Helga found both endearing and annoying. She took his hand slowly and wiped her hands on her jeans. "Don't be. It was my fault anyway. I mean, I was laying on the ground."

He frowned a little, his eyes focused on the damp splotches on her cheeks, a telltale sign of her tears. "Yeah. Why were you lying on the ground anyway?" He fell into step with her as she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulders. "None of your business." She was hurt and embarrassed—a dangerous combination. She reverted to her usual defensive mode. She might know his family (she guessed he was a Shortman but she wasn't really sure. It wasn't like he offered his name. To be fair she never asked) but she didn't know anything about him.

He put his hands up. "I didn't mean to pry."

She sighed and looked down, kicking the grass under her feet. It wasn't his fault Arnold didn't want her. In fact she was pretty sure she repulsed the blonde teen. "Sorry...sorry." She shook her head and sighed, feeling like a complete jerk. "I didn't mean to be a bitch. It's just personal."

He nodded, completely understanding. "No need to apologize, trust me. I get it." He stepped in front of her slightly. She looked confused and she followed his hand where it rested on her cheek, brushing off a small piece of dander he noticed. He was, however, completely oblivious to how his actions produced a blush from Helga. His hands lingered longer than they should have and a small grin danced across his face. He looked up then when he heard a small commotion towards the park's entrance. "Oh no," he mumbled when he saw the small stampede of Shortmans headed his way, without the youngest of the group.

"What?" Helga whipped around to see why his smile dropped. She recognized the two older couple immediately, but the other two she couldn't place. Squinting before they came into view, her jaw dropped as she remembered where she'd seen them before—in a picture on Arnold's bookcase. Holy shit. Arnold's parents were back in Hillwood after all this time? Saying his name made a small pain rip through her body. She was happy for him. He finally got the family he had longed for. She smiled watching the group together and knew Arnold must be beyond ecstatic to have his parents back. Congratulations Arnold.

Ethan gave her a small wave and a smile before walking over to his family slowly. There was something about him that made her take notice. She saw something in him, something she recognized in herself and for the life of her she couldn't put a name to it. She looked back as he was fussed over by his family and with a sigh headed home to hers.

Arnold paced in his best friend's room trying to gather his thoughts. As soon as they panicked when they realized Ethan had ran off, he packed a duffel bag and called his friend. Everything he knew was wrong. He was just so hurt, so angry, he couldn't stay in that house anymore.

"Can you believe it Gerald? After all these years they come back with a secret brother."

Gerald shook his head. He'd never seen his friend so upset.

"I mean. All these years and they couldn't even bother to send a fucking postcard! All they had to do was drop me a few lines: Hey Arnold, sorry we disappeared from the face of the earth but we have this other kid to take care of so we stuck you with your grandparents."

Gerald sighed. He was sure Arnold was going to create a permanent groove in the floorboards. "I know what your parents did was bad but you have to cool out. Arnold your parents are alive. YOUR PARENTS! Now you find out you have a brother too? I know this is a messed up situation but aren't you a little bit happy about any of it?"

Arnold stopped and looked at his friend. If someone would have told him his parents were alive a day ago he would have been the happiest kid in the world. But that was before he found out they lied to them, that they chose Ethan over him. Their secrets cut deep and he wasn't sure he could ever get over it. "No," he said grabbing his duffel bag and setting up for the night. "Thanks for letting me crash here."

Gerald nodded. He wished his friend would face his family, but he understood he needed time. "No problem man. You can stay as long as you need to."

Arnold smiled. He was grateful for Gerald. In his eyes Gerald was the only brother he would ever have.

Up Next: Ethan's first day of school.

Thanks for sticking with me!