Hey Arnold Fanfic

"Episode 101"

Chapter 4~~ Wind, Sand and Stars

6/3/1967

Dear mom, dear dad,

This is my first wooden model airplane we ever built together. I hope I'll be flying all around the world in an airplane like this one, just like Antoine de Saint-Exupéry! I guess I'll just have to wait and see, but no matter what, I'll always love you both.

~Miles~

As Arnold finished reading the note on the back of the photograph, Mr. Simmons wiped his eyes.

"Thank you, Arnold, for sharing that very special moment with all of us. I think we can all learn how wonderful and special a time capsule can truly be. It connects us not only to the past, but also to people we might not be able to see anymore." Mr. Simmons placed his hand on Arnold's shoulder and paused for a moment. "That's why I've decided that we're going to bury our very own time capsule this Monday."

"By golly, a time capsule!" Sid exclaimed.

"I reckon I'ma bury ma favorite lemon puddin' on account a lemon puddin' is ma favorite kinda puddin'," said Stinky as he rubbed his belly.

"Then I'm going to bury a Mr. Fudgy!" laughed Harold.

"No Mr. Fudgies, Harold. And while lemon pudding is your favorite, Stinky, I think you should think about the things that are special to you deep down," said Mr. Simmons.

Well that's what he said out loud, but we all know he was thinking they were both buffoons.

As Pheebs and I walked home afterwards, she seemed excited about the whole ordeal.

"Ooo, I'm just so excited! Maybe I should bury my lucky test pencil, or maybe my favorite yellow hair scrunchy. What about you, Helga? Any ideas of what you're going to put in the time capsule?"

I wasn't really paying any attention to her. To be honest, I was still fixed on Arnold and the way he looked today. I hope he's okay. I mean, to get a picture from your long, lost father must really be hard.

"You know what, Pheebs; I just remembered I promised I'd go meet Big Bob after school at the beeper store."

"Well okay, Helga. I guess I'll see you later."

"Sure Pheebs. See you."

I knew it was a lie, but there was something I had to do. As I rounded the corner, I spotted Arnold sitting on his stoop with a little brown book laying face down on his lap. He was staring up at the sky again, oblivious to my prying eyes. I ducked around the side of the Sunset Arms fire escape as Gerald approached Arnold from the other side of the street.

"Hey man. How you holding up?"

"I'm okay. I mean, there's not much I can do." Arnold sighed and opened the book back to the page he had saved.

"What's that book?"

"My dad's journal. He wrote about my mom, a lot. And then when I was born," Arnold smiled, "he wrote about me."

Gerald placed his hand on Arnold's shoulder. "Look man, I'm here for you when you need me, if you need me."

I risked a peek from my hiding spot just as Arnold looked up. I caught a glimpse of what I think was a shocked look in his eyes as I dove back around the corner. Stupid, stupid! He totally saw me.

Arnold started chuckling, "Thanks, Gerald."

"Did I miss something, buddy?" Gerald asked confused.

"It's nothing. Hey listen, I think Grandma wanted me to help her cook dinner tonight."

"Say no more, Arnold. We still on for Dino Land tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'll be there."

I held my breath and waited for Gerald to walk by, praying he wouldn't see me crouched against the side of the building.

"Helga, what are you doing?"

"Arnold?" I whipped around to see Arnold leaning out of his kitchen window. His elbows were resting against the edge of the sill; his soft hands cradling his face. He murmured it in my ear once more, "Helga…don't you want to answer me?"

I jumped as far away from him as I could in a single bound, facing away from him as I shrank down on my knees. Oh dear god! My…heart…is…trying…to…escape! Everything started to spin as my pulse got faster and faster. Slow down, please slow down! I think I could just die right here and everything would be okay. No, Helga. Get a hold of yourself! Arnold needs you!

"Uhh, Helga?"

I was happily having a mental breakdown when I remembered that I was the one sneaking around Arnold's building spying on him. You think he would understand that I was worried about him and just let things be. I took a deep breath and turned around.

"Arno—," I began to say, but when I looked, he was no longer in the window. I sighed and walked over to the sill, resting my hand where Arnold's elbows were a moment ago. "Arnold, what's going on in your head right now?"

"Helga…"

His voice broke on the last syllable. I turned around slowly. He was standing on the sidewalk a few feet from where I was.

"Arnold—" I gasped as tears began to roll down his cheeks. He took a step forward and I moved without thinking. Throwing my arms around his neck, I pressed his face into my chest. He cried quietly as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Helga," he whispered, turning his head to the side. "Why do I feel so alone?" He squeezed his arms tight around my waist. I placed my hand on top of his head and rubbed gently using my thumb.

"You're never alone as long as I'm here, Arnold."

His grip loosened a bit, but he didn't let go, and I didn't say a thing. He slid his hands loose just enough to be able to look at me. His eyes were red, along with his cheeks, and he continued to sob, though his tears had stopped.

"What is it?" I asked gently. His expression warmed as he slowly began to smile.

"Nothing." With that he hugged me once again, and I couldn't help but smile.

"By the way, Helga," he said in a playful voice as he placed his hand just beneath my collar bone. "That locket of yours is pretty cute."

"Eh?" was the sound that slipped out of my mouth. I grabbed Arnold by the shoulders and held him away from me. Staring directly in his eyes, I said again, "EHH?"


KiKiLoVedOnO here :)

As always, no promises that Chapter 5 will be coming soon, but comments, reviews, critiques, questions, yaa-daa, yaa-daa are always welcomed :D

And a big thank you to everyone who continues to read my story. It really does mean a lot to me! On that note, I think this update may just get me to 1000 hits! I'll finally be in the quadruple digits! =D

This chapter's history lesson:

So, I thought I would use a real aviator who went missing as a person that Miles Shortman, Arnold's father, would look up to as a child. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a French writer and aviator who experienced events in his life—such as crashing into the Sahara Desert and nearly dying, but being saved by a local man on a camel—that are similar to the events Miles Shortman will experience later in his life (but that's all you're getting for spoilers; just call me River totally a Doctor Who reference). The title of this chapter, Wind, Sand and Stars, is actually the title of a book written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that I fell in love with. I have not read the book, but if you guys are interested, there's a wikipedia page on both Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his book that you can read.