Helga hangs out with the gang in the, still empty, vacant lot. With everyone starting their senior year at Hillwood High in less than a few days, Helga is trying to stay strong with everything that is happening to her that only Phoebe, Gerald, and Lila know.

I don't own the characters of Hey Arnold! They belong to Craig Bartlett, Nickelodeon, and Viacom.

Chapter 3- Hanging Out

As Arnold was in the car with his parents and Grandpa, Helga was with Phoebe and Lila as the three of them were heading to the vacant lot, known as Gerald Field.

"What a lovely day to be outside," Lila said smiling while walking with Phoebe and Helga, "Couldn't ask for an ever so perfect day." As Lila looked up into the clear blue sky, Helga just looked at Lila from the corner of her eye. "She is right," Helga said to herself.

After walking for awhile, the girls were at Gerald Field where the rest of the gang was hanging out. Ever since everyone cleaned up the vacant lot back in the fourth grade, they have been going to Gerald Field as much as they could to play baseball or football. But as everyone got older, Gerald Field became more of a hangout place for the gang.

The usual people from the gang were at Gerald Field when the girls arrived: Gerald, Stinky, Sid, Harold, Brainy, Nadine, Shenna, Curly, Eugene, and Rhonda. Along with Lila and Phoebe, the gang is the only group of friends Helga can trust.

"Well it's about time you three got here," Rhonda said as she saw Helga, Phoebe, and Lila, "We thought you guys would never show up and abandon us for the day."
"Criminy Rhonda," Helga snapped, "We just got here. Geez"

"You don't have to be such a grouch Madame Fortress Mommy," Harold told Helga. She just rolls her eyes at Harold's response and then takes a seat.

"Don't be so hard on Helga," Phoebe said as she sat next to Gerald, "It's better to be late than to not show up at all." Gerald then wraps his arm around Phoebe and pulls her close to him. "But the important thing is that you guys showed up and are here," Gerald said while smiling at Phoebe. Phoebe and Gerald had been dating since the beginning of middle school, and Helga was the first person who knew about their relationship. She wishes that she could have a relationship like Phoebe and Gerald's.

Then Helga gets back to reality with Eugene interrupting her thoughts. "What a lovely day it is today," Eugene said, embracing the clear blue sky, "It feels so refreshing today."
"Well enjoy the nice weather while you can," Sid said, "Cause then we'll be back inside all day, looking out the windows, dreaming of what it would be like smelling the fresh air again."
"Sid, it sounds like we're all going to prison," Stinky said.
"That's because the high school is prison," Sid replied, dramatically.
Brainy was wheezing for a bit before he said, "Um...yea."

"Oh it's not that bad," Sheena said.
"Plus it's our senior year," Nadine added.
"FREEDOM!" Curly shouts and then laughs hysterically. Everyone else in the group just stares at Curly.
"Almost there Curly," Gerald told him, "Just another 180 school days left til our freedom is here."
"That's too long," Harold complained, "It'll take forever to be here."
As Helga watches Harold mumbling to himself, she looks at Harold with an annoyed look on her face and said to him, "Oh quit your complaining Pink Boy. You know it'll be here before you know it."

"Helga's right," Stinky said, "So we have to live each moment during our senior year like it's really the last day there." After everyone listened to what Stinky said, everyone was quiet, deep in thought. Helga had tons of thoughts running through her head while everyone else was quiet. It was mainly about what will happen after graduation in June when everyone goes to their dream school, perusing their dreams. Will everyone still stay in contact with one another? Or will everyone go their separate ways?

Helga couldn't bare to think of losing her group of friends. That would devastate her. She lost the most important person in her life six years ago, and she isn't ready to lose the only group of people she trusts. If it wasn't her group of friends being by her side six years ago, she had no idea how she would get to this point of her life: senior year of high school.

"Well I hope this year isn't too hard on us," Rhonda said, breaking the silence, "Because I don't want to spend another year in that dreadful high school."

"It won't be a hard year Hot Stuff," Curly said, "Because I'll be by your side to help you out." Rhonda gave Curly a disgusted look on her face after hearing what Curly said. "Don't worry Rhonda," Lila said with a perky smile on her face, "I'm ever so sure that everyone and everything will be just fine and we'll all graduate together."

Then Harold's cell phone rang.

"Oh, that must be Patty," Harold said as he reached for his phone from his pocket, "I promised her that I would stop by before she leaves for school."
"Tell her good luck and we'll miss her," Phoebe said.
"I will," Harold said and then answers his phone.

While Harold was on the phone with Patty, Helga began to think about how Harold is going to do with Patty going to college in another city while he is stuck in Hillwood finishing up high school with everyone. Helga did help out Harold and Patty go to the next level in their friendship while in middle school and then the two became inseparable. Patty leaving for school is a challenge for their relationship, and Helga knows what Harold is going to go through and will be by his side to help him.

She then sees Harold get off the phone. "I'm going to start heading over to Patty's place," Harold said, "She will be leaving in a few hours."
"Did ya need us to head over with ya for support?" Stinky asked.
"Because bros stick together," Sid said.
"Um….yea," Brainy replied after a few heavy breaths.
"No," Harold said, "I should do this alone since it'll be hard for us to be separated until she comes home for break. Once I'm done hanging with Patty and back home, I will call."
"Okie dokie," Stinky said. Harold then gathers himself, said his goodbyes to everyone, and then heads out of the vacant lot to meet up with Patty.

"It's so good that despite leaving the area, Harold is supporting Patty with this new change," Sheena said.

"Um...yea," Brainy said.

Helga just sat there, unsure of what to say after hearing what Sheena just said about Harold and Patty. She then checked her phone for the time: 12:07pm.
"Criminy, I have to get going or I'll be late," Helga said while gathering her belongings.

"Is everything ok Helga?" Nadine asked.
"I got my talk at 12:30," Helga answered.
"You still see Dr. Bliss?" Rhonda asked Helga in a shocking matter, "It's been almost 8 years seeing her." Helga just glares at Rhonda as she was standing up.
"Yes I do Miss Princess," Helga told Rhonda, "But I do know a few friends from this group that supports me to go see her." She then looks towards Phoebe, Gerald, and Lila, giving the three of them a small smile.

"Gosh Helga," Stinky said, "What will happen when you turn 18 and can't see Dr. Bliss anymore? Since she's only a child psychologist and can't see adults."
Helga gives Stinky an angry look. "I don't want to think of that just yet," she replied to Stinky, "Now I have to go so I won't be late." She then turned away from Stinky, walking away. Before she left, Helga told Phoebe, "I'll call you when I'm done." Helga then walks away to head towards Dr. Bliss' office.

"Geez, what's up with Helga?" Sid asks.
Gerald looks at Sid. "Don't you remember what happened around this time six years ago?" Gerald responded, asking Sid that question.
"She's trying to be strong not to think about that," Phoebe told everyone.
"Even though she won't ask for help, she needs us more than ever," Lila said.
"Oh is it because of what's his face left with his parents and never came back," Rhonda said. Gerald, Phoebe, and Lila all gave Rhonda a glare after she said that.
"What?" Rhonda asks.

"Helga Pataki, Dr. Bliss is ready for you," the receptionist told Helga.

Helga was all out of breath from rushing into the office when she heard her name getting called. "Just in time," she said to herself, "Good."

After catching a few breaths, Helga proceeds past the receptionist's desk towards Dr. Bliss' office. The receptionist gave Helga a small smile, and Helga gave a small smile back to the receptionist.

There Helga stood: in front of Dr. Bliss' office door, thinking of her first time visiting the office almost 8 years ago. She took one deep breath, and knocks on the door.
"Come in," the voice on the other side responds.

Helga opens the door and steps inside the office, shutting the door behind her.