A/N: Thanks for all of the great reviews they were all greatly appreciated. Feedback and suggestions are encouraged, but don't be too harsh.

I own none of the characters (except for Sandrine Mortimer, Mr. Dale Bryan Dimmetry, Maureen Bruiser, and Nathan Bruiser) – for they are all from the mind of the genius that is Craig Bartlett, his team, and nickelodeon. No copyright infringements intended.

As always, thoughts are emphasized through the use of italics.

Sorry about deleting and reposting chapter 34 – Gogglehead Lover had interestingly pointed out in a review (which I thank you for) – "Was Eugene in love with Park or Peapod," so when I went back to look at the story to see where I wasn't clear, I realized that I had said: Eugene watched as the men threw dirt onto Peapod's casket…my apologies – I was trying to make sure I hadn't included the same things from previous funeral scenes and I spazed – my bad.

Anyways…

…

Junior Year – The First Week of April

…

Eugene held onto Sheena's arm needfully as he, Sandrine, Nadine, Sheena, and Katrinka sauntered through Hoske's.

"Do you see anything you like?" Sheena asked timidly, "or are you going to return the man ring I gave you?" she stated easily with a smirk.

Eugene shook his head, and glanced around skeptically.

There had been a weird man following them for quite sometime. Eugene had at first thought to discard the thought, and chose to believe that he was just being paranoid. But this man had continued to shadow them, and it was beginning to irk him.

"Something wrong?" Sandrine questioned suddenly as she followed his gaze.

The girls stopped walking as Eugene mumbled an "I'll be right back."

"I'm sorry but do you need something?" the redheaded boy yelled angrily at the older blonde man.

"Yeah," the man stated eerily, "how about you set me up with that fine lady right there?" he stated perversely as he motioned towards Sheena.

"That young lady is not interested," Eugene fumed.

The man turned to look at him scornfully, "Well I'm guessing that she ain't dating you," he seethed as he flicked Eugene's right ear, motioning towards the stud, as he continued, "on a count that you're a faggot!"

Eugene turned bright red. He looked at the man angrily and decked him in the face.

The man fell to the ground with a thud, as Eugene continued to kick the crap out of him.

"If I ever see you around her again! I'll kill you!" Eugene screamed.

"Is that who I think it is?" Nadine whispered fearfully to Sheena.

Sheena nodded wordlessly.

The girls ran towards him anxiously as he sucker-punched the man once more.

"Eugene stop!" Katrinka begged.

Eugene froze and looked down at the man furiously. He looked back at the girls and then brushed past them dismissively as he stormed off.

Nadine turned around and looked at Nathan Bruiser angrily, "Rapist!" she screamed hysterically, as Nathan looked at her alarmed, as he struggled to rise to his feet. All of the girls joined in screaming, as they pointed.

Nathan looked at them apprehensively as he bolted from Hoske's.

…

Stinky entered the grounds quietly. He glanced around anxiously as he hustled through the darkness towards his intended destination.

He clutched the shovel he bore tightly in his hands, as he tiptoed quietly – in effort to not be spotted.

He took a spot on something cold … and hard. He had no idea what it was, and he really didn't care. It was too dark, too cold, and he was too tired.

It had been approximately two weeks since the shooting. He couldn't exactly say that things had gone back to normal, because quite honestly after everything that happened things could never be normal.

Park and Peapod had been buried. Helga and Arnold had been hospitalized. Eugene and Nadine had to watch their love be buried. And why? Because of some stupid kid who thought that he could solve all of his problems by shooting his peers; that by killing his peers he would get some retribution.

Stinky fumed as he thought about Brainy. Brainy had ruined everyone's lives in a matter of moments. Brainy had decided to play God with everyone. He had decided to kill. Killing innocent people never solved anything…

Stinky sighed dramatically as he waited.

He stuffed his hands into his pockets and breathed in the cold night's air.

Now all he could do was wait.

…

"Be careful," Stella instructed apprehensively as she watched Arnold walk up the stairs.

Arnold had been thrilled when the hospital had finally announced his release. He was relieved, as well as his family, that no serious damage had been caused.

That however, didn't stop Stella from shadowing him. Every time he turned around his parents would be there. And God forbid he tried to walk – they treated him like he was a toddler.

"Mom I'm fine," Arnold reassured her patiently.

"Are you sure?" Stella questioned as she followed him up the stairs, "maybe I should-"

"I'm fine mom," Arnold huffed.

To his delight the doorbell rang, causing Stella to turn around unwillingly.

She stomped over to the door, muttering "who could that possibly be at this hour," as she flung open the door.

She opened the door only to be greeted by Gerald.

"Hi Mrs. Shortman," Gerald greeted anxiously as he stepped into the house.

He nodded at Arnold in greeting as he flung off his jacket.

"Uh…mom, Gerald's spending the night," Arnold informed meekly.

His mother looked at Arnold uncertainly, "I'm not sure that you should be having sleepovers now. You just got out of the hospital – you need your rest…"

Gerald furrowed his eyebrows at Arnold, "I thought you said it was okay?"

"It's okay," Phil reassured as he slightly brushed past Arnold on his way down the stairs, "Stop worrying Stella," Phil lectured as he headed towards the apprehensive brunette and guided her away from the main hall, "let's go into the kitchen. Have fun boys," Phil yelled over his shoulders as he steered Stella reluctantly down the hall.

Arnold breathed a sigh of relief.

…

Helga smiled as she watched Lily crawl around on the living room floor.

The little blonde made happy gurgling noises as she quickened her pace towards Helga.

Helga laughed happily and bent down to scoop the little girl into her arms. Lily happily obliged.

She bounced Lily in her arms playfully just as the doorbell rang.

Olga screamed, "I'll get it," from the kitchen, causing Helga to blissfully remain where she was.

Within moments Helga was greeted by Rhonda. She looked totally stressed, her eyes were bloodshot – indicating that she either hadn't been sleeping, or had been crying, or maybe both. She also had piles of pages and books in her hands.

"Helga," Olga screamed from the front door, "I'm going out for a while! I'll be back later!"

"What's the matter?" Helga questioned as Rhonda hurled the books onto the table. She flung off her jacket hastily as she began to cry.

This can't be good, Helga thought fearfully, as she put Lily into her crib. The little girl looked up at her dumbfounded for a second before finding one of her chew toys. She happily jabbed it into her mouth.

Rhonda pulled Helga into a needful hug, as she continued to cry.

"Rhonda!" Helga demanded anxiously, "What's wrong?"

"Patty," Rhonda sobbed, as she motioned towards the pages and books on the coffee table.

Helga picked up a sheet, and looked at Rhonda skeptically. "Rhonda…This is about cancer!...What does this have to do with Patty?"

Rhonda bawled harder as Helga began to mentally process what Rhonda was trying to say.

"No," Helga stated as she shook her head violently, "she can't!...She can't be sick…she can't!"

…

"So what are we doing here?" Harold asked uncomfortably as he followed Patty into Hilwood's cemetery.

"You'll see," Patty stated mysteriously, as she sauntered deeper into the graveyard.

Harold jabbed his hands into his pocket uncomfortably, and quickened his pace to keep up with Patty.

Patty laughed to herself as she heard him mumble "easy squeazy lemon peazy," under his breath numerous times.

"We're here," Patty announced gleefully as she hurled the backpack she had onto the ground.

Harold watched her intently for a moment before returning to his frantic paranoia. He glanced around frightfully, "Do you always walk the cemetery at night?" he questioned nervously, as Patty pulled out a telescope from her humongous backpack.

Harold crouched down and helped her assemble it. It would provide a good distraction for the time being. Harold hummed to himself lightly as Patty eyed him knowingly with a smirk as she worked. He was still terrified of cemeteries. He avoided them as much as he could, which had proved difficult in the last couple of weeks.

Patty smiled cheerfully as they took a step back and admired her telescope.

"So you come here to look at the sky?" Harold questioned confused, "Why don't you just do that from your house?"

"The city lights don't allow you to see them in all their beauty. The cemetery is dark – not lit, and kind of isolated from the town. The stars shine brighter here." Patty stated simply as she gazed up at the sky.

Harold watched her intently as she did, "why do you like the stars so much?"

Patty averted her gaze from the sky, and focused her attention towards Harold, "It calms me," she stated matter-of-factly, "I … I just feel at peace when I do."

She laughed suddenly causing Harold to arch an eyebrow curiously.

"When I was little, my parents took me to see the Lion King," she informed, "and I actually believed Mufasa…I actually believed that when you die, you become one of the stars."

Harold looked at her uneasily.

"I think a part of me will always believe that, because that's what I actually want to happen," she stated quietly, "To become a star…"

…

"So what are you going to do?" Gerald questioned as he looked at Arnold expectantly.

"I don't know Gerald," Arnold admitted, "I mean if it were just coming from Brainy, I would have just thought he was crazy – The guy was wielding a gun…but Mr. Bailey tells me that she gave up her snow shoes to help me, and then my dad tells me about the rescue mission-"

"I still can't believe that she convinced Olga to do that?" Gerald interrupted incredulously.

Arnold ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

"You do know what this means?" Gerald stated matter-of-factly.

"It means that her confession on the FTi building was definitely not in the heat of the moment," Arnold droned as he collapsed backwards onto his bed.

Gerald looked at him skeptically.

Arnold sat up suddenly and buried his head in his hands, as he let a small groan escape his lips.

"If I didn't know better," Gerald informed uneasily, "I would think that you're not thrilled about this…"

"Gerald I spent my entire life thinking that this girl despised me," Arnold explained with a huff, "she treated me like crap, and I tolerated – and why? I have no idea why! … I get that I'm a goody-two shoes sometimes, but there is definitely a limit to emotional abuse, and I tolerated it, because – because I knew … I guess I knew there was always a part of her that was lying to the world. That maybe she wasn't this sarcastic, bitter, uncaring girl. Maybe she was just afraid to let people see the real her."

Gerald looked at Arnold intently as his friend looked at the ground.

"And then … then I find out this! … That she was secretly in love with me for God knows how long? … Can you imagine what she must have felt when I was chasing after every other girl but her! … and then I blamed her for something that wasn't even her fault! – something horrible. I treated her like crap, and you know what I just proved to her that I wasn't worth taking a risk on. She didn't even get the chance to tell me how she felt, and I publicly bashed her! – I – I have no idea why she loves me?...I mean I wouldn't even love me after all of that…"

"But she does love you Arnold," Gerald stated quietly, "That's got to count for something – there has got to be a reason…"

Arnold looked at him glumly as he shook his head, "I don't deserve her…she needs to just take me down from whatever pedestal she has me on, because I'm not worth it."

"Arnold you're a great guy," Gerald stressed, "There are so many girl's that would kill to go out with you…and you want to know why?... because you're a good guy Arnold. A good guy!"

Arnold looked at him uncertainly. He shook his head in disagreement.

Gerald huffed dramatically, "You know what – I think that you thinking that you're not good enough is only half of the reason…I think that you're scared."

"What exactly do you think that I'm scared of Gerald?" Arnold demanded hesitantly.

"Oh I think you already know," Gerald informed knowingly, "You're scared of the way that girl makes you feel. Arnold you've been having seemingly erotic dreams about this girl for what - about six months now?"

Arnold looked down at the ground angrily as Gerald continued, "Man if you don't think your subconscious is trying to tell you something then I will. You more than just like Helga Pataki, your far gone the whole like-like part. I've seen the way you look at her Arnold and you've never looked at another girl like that."

"Well it doesn't matter how I feel," Arnold stated angrily, "because I'm not worth it. She deserves someone better! Gerald if she really loved me she would just tell me. My mother was mortified when my father accidentally told me about the rescue, because she said that she wanted Helga to tell me herself. Helga refuses to even admit the kindness that she's shown me to the world, because …"

"Because what?" Gerald questioned uneasily.

"Because she knows we'll never happen. Because she doesn't want us to happen. And because she probably already knows that I'd disappoint her if we ever did happen."

Gerald looked at Arnold defeatingly.

"She obviously doesn't trust me with her heart Gerald. So how could I ever be worthy of her if she doesn't even at least trust me."

…

"I can't – I can't believe it," Helga stated glumly, "I mean – the signs were right there in front of us…how could we not have known!...we are the worst friends ever!"

"Look, you can't tell anyone!" Rhonda demanded, "not even Patty. I kind of weaseled this out of Harold. He was so persistent in me helping him complete all these romantic gestures…and I kind of ambushed him when he was hysterical – after the shooting – he was an emotional wreck and he cracked!...So you can't tell! - Patty doesn't want anyone to know."

"Well I guess she'll tell us in her own time," Helga replied glumly as she dried her eyes.

"So…" Rhonda stated quickly changing the subject. She hated sad, and she knew Helga did too. Sad was an emotion that they had to endure way to many times this week, and she needed a quick distraction. She also knew Helga would question her about Curly, and she didn't feel like crying again, so she acted quickly, "what's up with Olga?...she seemed mad when she left?"

"She went to report the rape," Helga replied uneasily, "She hasn't been sleeping well since she came home from the hospital. It's like she's constantly reliving the event in her dreams."

Rhonda looked at her stunned, "Why did she wait so long?"

"I think a part of her thinks that if she doesn't admit what happened happened then maybe it never happened," Helga admitted glumly.

"That's crazy!...But at least she went to report it finally," Rhonda stated with a weak smile.

"The cops said they can't do anything, because there is no proof. She should have reported it within days of it happening. And the fact that she chose to have Lily and keep her makes it seem suspicious. The cops went to question Nathan and he said that Olga willingly slept with him. Bob even spoke up against her. He claimed that she was faking the rape to get back at him for dating Maureen."

Rhonda shook her head in disbelief. She was speechless.

"I'm just worried about Olga," Helga stated fearfully, "I just hope she doesn't do anything rash!"

…

"So you think he's gonna snap?" Sid questioned as he struggled to balance his cordless phone on his shoulder, as he pulled out his mother's lasagna from his oven.

"You didn't see him this afternoon," Katrinka gushed, "he went postal on that guy. He just seems to snap at everything. Yesterday, we were at the movies, and he yelled at this little girl for chewing too loud. He's on edge about everything. He just hasn't been the same since after the funeral. I'm worried Sid."

"Oh come on Kat," Sid assured, "We're talking about Eugene here. What could he possibly do?"

…

"Hello 911. What is your emergency?" An operator questioned as she accepted a call.

To her dismay she heard no answer. She did however hear sobs from the other line.

"911," the operator stressed once more, "What is your emergency?...Are you there?...Hello?"

"Help!" an anxious voice sobbed, "t-ther-…There's someone here!"

"Okay calm down," the operator reassured, "Where are you?...What's your address?"

"I-I…I'm at my brother's…" the voice sobbed, "It-it's 25 Walnut Crescents."

"Are you in danger?"

"Y-Yes! Yes! Please! Please hurry!"

"What's your name?"

"Ma-Maureen…I need help!" she sobbed heavily, "Please! – please…"

"I've sent police cars and ambulances, but can you stay on the phone?"

Maureen continued to sob.

"Who are you with? Are you with your brother?"

"I-I went into the house! I found- I found…"

"What did you find?"

Maureen cried harder, "There-There's blood on the walls!...HELP ME! PLEASE HELP ME!"

"Maureen you're going to need to calm down. Are you hurt? Is someo-"

"There's so much blood!" Maureen sobbed, "There's so much blood! It's everywhere!"

"Maureen! Maureen! Please try to calm down. What happened?"

"There's blood everywhere!"

…

A/N – Yes I know the drama keeps coming… now we're gonna have a "who-dun-it" story.

So I actually have some good news and bad news.

Good news – I finished this chapter faster than I thought I would. And I finally got to see Twilight today! I probably shouldn't have read the book before watching it though, but nonetheless I thought it was okay. The book and the movie are good, but I choose to separate them as different in my mind so I won't experience Harry Potter déjà vu. The HP books are awesome. And to me I've now decided that the movie is something else in its own right – so I'm not going to set certain expectations anymore when it comes to "books-turning-into-movies." I learned this after my experience with A Walk To Remember – the movie was awesome, but there were so many little things in the book they didn't include in the movie – and I was mad. But I still love the movie.

Bad news – my university has been on strike for about a little over a month – hence all the quick updates. Since the holidays are coming up – negotiations between the T.A. union and the school can not continue until the first of January. My boss (I work parttime) asked me to come in during the next two weeks, so updates will probably not be as fast as they were the last month. I will try my best though to at least update one chapter a week. Sorry for the inconvenience.

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