I own nothing.
Helga walked through the doors of P.S. 118. The class seemed to stop. Helga tried to be confident. This was who she was. No masks. No hate.
"Cecil?" Gerald asked. "Does Arnold know you're back in town and going to our school?" He pointed a finger at her face.
"Actually, I'm not Cecil. I mean I am, or was, but I'm someone else too." Helga said. Her confidence wavering.
"Well then if you're Cecil and someone else then who has my man been tripping over himself for since valentines day?" Gerald said.
"Take a wild guess Geraldo." Helga said. Not as an insult, but as a way of confessing. She couldn't just tell him. She was still Helga.
"Helga? Why are you dressed like Cecil? Are you trying to mess with Arnold's heart? You are one sick sister if you think this is some kind of joke." Gerald stated making sure to block the hallway from where Helga was to the classroom Arnold had already taken a seat in.
"It isn't a joke hair boy. I am and was Cecil. And what I said and did, even though it was ender a false name, was not meant to hurt Arnold. I actually have a heart." Helga said getting annoyed at the situation.
Gerald laugh, "Oh Helga that is the funniest thing I have ever heard. You actually having a heart? Good one." He held his side as they ached from laughter.
"Gerald, it appears as though Helga is being honest." Phoebe interrupted.
"What? Nah Phoebe. It is Helga as in Helga G. Pataki! The meanest most heartless girl in school." Gerald said in defense of his claim.
"I've been Helga's best friend since we were three. It seems she wants to come clean about an incident that she has tried her hardest to FORGET." Phoebe said. Not understand why Helga was being different, but accepting the change.
"Gerald, it was me. I'm not as mean as you think I am. And tell you the truth? You and Phoebe are both right." Helga said holding her books in one hand and hugging herself with the other. This was the first step of many.
"Huh?" Phoebe said.
"Excuse me?" Gerald said.
"I am mean, but I do want to come clean about Valentines day. I did something stupid, time to face the music." Helga said as she walked down the hallway past a very confused Gerald.
She rounded the corner into the classroom with her head high and her confidence low. Arnold stopped doodling in his note book. His eyes grew wide with hope.
"Before you get all excited-" Helga said
"Cecil?" Arnold said in a voice barley above a whisper.
"Please let me finish. I'm not who you think I am." Helga said holding her hand up in hope of keeping him silent.
"I know. You're name isn't Cecil. I don't know what it is, but I am so glad you're here. When did you get here?" Arnold said.
"I've always been here. Right behind you. Always spitting spit balls and writing poetry. I'm the girl no one messed with or spoke to. The one that was too much of a girl to be one of the guys and too much of a guy to be one of the girls. I was the outsider and the bully." Helga said with her face to the ground.
"I don't understand. Helga sits back there and you aren't her."
"Actually Arnold-"
"Wait!" Phoebe yelled. "You shouldn't do this. You've kept this so long. Are you willing to through that away? Think about it." Phoebe said.
"What makes a reputation worth keeping, if only one person gets to know you." Helga said. Her eyes almost in tears.
"Then make sure this will make you happy." Pheobe said holding on to her best friends selves than letting go.
"I don't know if it will make me happy, but it will stop making me miserable. I have to be me. I have to remove my mask before it really does become who I am."
"What mask?" Arnold said.
"This mask. Arnold I'm Helga. I always have been. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have lied to you, but every word I said that day I meant. I don't expect you to like me. In fact I expect you to hate me, but maybe we can start being friends?" Helga said.
"I'd like that." Arnold said. He offered her a seat near him.
"I promise no spit balls this time." Helga said as se took a seat and phoebe took the one beside her.
"You are one bold kid Arnold." Gerald said
"I told you she wasn't all bad." He whispered back.
"Okay, okay. I was wrong, but I still say she goes back to being evil in a week."
"And I say. We are finally getting to know Helga for who she is." Arnold argued.
"Why do you always have to look at the bright side?" Gerald asked.
"Someone has to." Arnold said with a shrug. Arnold glanced over and gave her a smile. She shyly returned it.
"Alright class? Ready for another special day of learning?" Mr. Simmons said as he walked into the classroom.
19 years in the future.
"I just head the weirdest dream." Helga said to her husband as she woke in there queen sized bed. He was over by the dresser tying his tie.
"What was it about?" He replied.
"I was talking to myself back when I was nine. The dream that changed my life except this time I was the older one.
"Ah, the dream that changed your life. We'll you better get up we have to leave for the reunion." He said with a laugh.
"Oh man, we're late. Why didn't you wake me up?" Helga asked.
"Because you look so adorable when you sleep." Her husband answered.
"Flattery will get you everywhere except our reunion. Go warm the car." Helga said.
"Whatever you say." And he left the room.
