New York City

10 years later

"Please welcome, Lila Sawyer!" the host says which signaled the audience to create a round of applause. In a few seconds, a woman entered the stage and waved at some people in the audience. She had long great brown hair, wearing a dark green short-sleeve button-up top, a tartan plaid skirt, and simple black Linvale Jerica shoes.

After graduating from Hillwood High School, Lila went on to college and get her undergraduate degree in History and a Master's in Museum Studies. She works as a curator assistant in the Brooklyn Museum. She also volunteers as a mentor for teens who went through being cheated on or coming from domestic violence families. Within years, she decreased her infamous sayings of "ever so" and "oh so" after always every sentence she'd say. After receiving her Master's her and Stinky got married. After years of experience of becoming a bouncer to a security guard, and worked as a personal bodyguard to a few celebrities, Stinky pursued a degree in Criminal Justice and on went to become an FBI agent in New York. Lila was selected to participate at TED Talks after writing and published her short book about how being cheated on.

"You know what subject I'm here to talk about. For a start, I will not be naming who they are to avoid drama for their own lives. They are very successful in their fields and I'm ever so happy for them. I chose for a start, I want to tell you what I didn't write in my book. The beginning of everything." Lila stated for the start of her presentation.

"I moved to a new town in the middle of fourth grade." Lila continued as she started to walk around the stage, slowly. We moved because after my mother passed away, she wanted my father and me to moved to a new town and start a new life that wasn't on a farm. My father and I struggled in the new town at first. We lived in poverty for a while. My father was struggling to find a new job. I won't get into too much detail about that situation, but eventually, he landed a great job and we eventually moved to a better area in the town."

"Moving to a new town meant moving to a new school. At first, I was picked on for my charming personality and I was getting more attention than all of the other girls put together. I was well, I still am, smart, talented, always looked on the brighter side of things, and was sophisticated. One of my classmates...he was the same. He was smart, cared about helping people, looked at the brighter side of things."

"I started to develop feelings for him when me and some old friends noticed a chalk writing on a brick wall that said...he loves me. After that, I..sort of forced him to start hanging out with me. We went out on dates, played games on his rooftop, hanging out in school as much as possible. Eventually, he dumped and told me that he never write what was said on that wall. He didn't feel the same way I felt and he friend-zoned me. In a few days, he then started to develop feelings for me, but I have already moved on. To this day, I never find out who wrote it that he loved me on the wall. But it didn't matter now. Every once in awhile between fourth and sixth grade, he took me out on dates and really tried to pursue a relationship with me. But I wasn't interested."

"Now, you would think that he'd take the hint that I just wanted to stay just friends and didn't want to get romantically involved anymore. We all know, and I mean no offense to all men out there, but it's clear that a lot of men, simply don't take a hint when a woman is uninterested. The thing is, it was my fault that he kept trying to let me be his girlfriend. It was because I, and I ever so swear that I didn't notice at first, was that I kept giving him false hope. I led him on so many times. Sometimes I thought he did it because I led him on so many times and gave him hope. I liked the attention he was giving me. Eventually, I met a family member of his, and I liked the family member, and not him. I learned that it was just a weird phase with the family member. In the middle of sixth grade, he finally stopped trying and we agreed to just stay friends, he honored it."

"During eighth grade, we started to hang out and talk more again. We developed some sort of chemistry. This time, we both were feeling it. After hanging out more, going on dates, being there for each other, he asked me to be his girlfriend on the first today of freshman year in the lunchroom. It felt like I was getting proposed." Lila stated.

"We were together for literally three years. Everything was perfect. I wanted to marry him, raise a family with him and grow old together with him. It felt perfect, being around him. I had some great girlfriends. There was one girlfriend I started to become good friends with during the summer before my senior year in high school. I found out and here's what you all come to hear... this girlfriend, was also...sleeping with my boyfriend. And the whole school knew about it in the morning of the first day of senior year." Lila stated and the crowd started to boo.

"It wasn't a one-time thing. They were seeing each other for nearly half a year before the affair was leaked. Every day during that summer, it was just lies, after lies, after lies. It was devastating. I was crushed. Embarrassed. Heartbroken. I felt completely stupid that he and she did what they did behind my back. I trusted him completely because he was the most kind-hearted and most loyal guy I ever knew."

"How could I not know what was going on? There were no lipstick stains on his shirts. I never noticed he was making certain texts on his phone. I never knew the person who was behind the leak and well, like the person who was behind the chalk brick wall stunt, it simply doesn't matter. After I broke up with him, I was depressed. I couldn't focus on school. I barely ate or sleep. I kept thinking to myself, what she has that I don't have? What did I do wrong? I thought I made him happy? Not long after, I took him back." Lila continued to walk on stage slowly.

"I took him back because it felt that taking him back will bring us closer together. But I was wrong. He developed a new personality. He started to become emotionally abusive to me. He took my virginity. Forceful. I just accepted it because I thought that he loved me. He clearly did love me, but he loved me in his own special way. I nearly slaughtered my own happiness just to be around him. Eventually, he broke up with me to be with someone else. Of course, I went through depression again."

"Some people can't fight love. It makes people do crazy things without them ever so knowing. I know. Because I was still in love with him. I thought that if I got rid of the new girl, we can be together again and forever. At a Halloween party, I went there to confront my ex-boyfriend and the new girl. I went after her with a knife, but I accidentally stabbed someone over it." Lila stated and the crowd gasped.

"The guys okay! I checked on him a couple of times but after a while, he didn't want to be around me which...was understandable." she said which made the crowd laughs. "Thankfully, he didn't press charges and I was told I will not go to prison for attempted murder if I seek counseling at a treatment center. What was amazing was, my former friend and ex-boyfriend helped me not to prison. All of us talked in a private room. I forgave her, but I didn't forgive him. Why? Some people told me it was unfair that I forgave her and not him."

"Why I forgave the girlfriend? It was simple. She loved him. She loved him more than me. More than anyone in the world. She knew what she did was wrong, but loving someone as I said, makes you do crazy things. Sometimes, you don't even realize it. As for my ex-boyfriend, I simply never forgave him for what he put me through. A couple of years ago during the holidays at our home town, we bumped into each other at an ice cream store. It was awkward at first, but we were very civil and had a small chat, catching up with each other's lives. That was the last time I saw him, and to be perfectly honest, I prefer not to ever see him again."

"After everything, I simply learned this. We just weren't meant to be. Just because two people have good chemistry, it doesn't mean that good chemistry means love. If my ex-boyfriend is watching this, all I have to say this, you're still a piece of ever so shit to me." Lila concluded and the crowd cheered and applauded.

Hillwood High School Reunion

7:52pm

A majority of the old gang attended their ten-year high school reunion which took place in the old gym. Arnold was a psychologist and was in the middle of nearly finishing his Ph.D. in Psychology. Arnold is married to an army veteran named Olivia, who's also in the psychology field, helping other army veterans with PTSD. After the ballet school in New York, Helga went to become a choreography teacher, just like her old mentor, Ms. Farber. Helga is married to a businessman named Micheal, and have a child six-year-old child named Brandon.

From her experience from Slausen's and her passion, Stephanie owns a couple of marijuana-infused ice cream shops in Colorado. Harold became a head butcher and opened a couple more butcher shops in Hillwood with the help of Mr. Green. Sid works as a graphic designer, and Rhonda became a fashion designer. Gerald is a music producer and Phoebe's finished both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Biology in five years and got her Ph.D. in Neuroscience. Everyone very was successful in their own way.

The unfortunate reality was Arnold and Helga couldn't be together due to their career fields and locations. Like Gerald to Arnold as Phoebe to Helga, both blondes were best friends. They stay in contact and communicate nearly every day. They helped each other from emotional support through texting, video chat, and whenever they could hang out and catch up in person.

In the middle of the gym, Arnold was a video skype call with Stephanie. She couldn't make the reunion due to a marijuana confidence that she was hosting the next day. After Arnold and Stephanie finished their video call, Arnold was startled when a familiar voice tapped him and called his name. It was Helga. It's been a whole year since they saw other and she looked great as usual. Her hair was down and she was wearing a pink dress velvet mini dress. Helga attended the reunion with her husband.

"Ah, Green-eye Arnold. Great to see you again." Micheal said as both men shook hands firmly.

"Likewise." Arnold replied. Arnold noticed his phone was buzzing from his pocket. He looked at it and put his phone back in his pocket. Oliva came to Arnold and gave him a glass of champagne and greeted Helga and Michael. In a couple of minutes, Helga told her husband that she needed to use the bathroom. Arnold had informed his wife that his phone was getting a bad signal and needed to go outside to call Gerald to know when he and Phoebe were arriving.

As Arnold walked out of the gym, he proceeded to head downstairs and went inside a boiler room that was in the basement of the high school. As he opened the door, there was a person already inside. It was Helga.

Arnold smiles at her as she smiled back.

"Did you see...Lila's TED talk?" Helga asked Arnold. She thought about asking him about Lila on the floor but figured it was best to talk about it in private with Arnold.

"Yea. I did..." Arnold answered.

"You never mentioned that you bumped into her. That happened a couple of years ago?" Helga asked. Helga was surprised that Arnold didn't mention it. After high school, they shared almost everything. Helga told things to Arnold she couldn't tell Phoebe and vice vera with Arnold when he told things to Helga he could never tell Gerald.

"I thought about telling you last year when we all hung out in Vegas. But, I didn't think you want to hear about that particular past. Especially after everything it caused." Arnold replied.

Helga knew he was right. After hanging out and catching up for ten years, neither blondes once mentioned Lila. They never talked about Arnold's phase of being abusive to Lila or when Helga joined the Sister's. Helga never told Arnold or everyone, but she went through some PTSD about Jennifer for nearly four years after high school. Helga had been through some private therapy and kept in contact with Dr. Bliss, Helga was officially got over what happened to Jennifer and learned to move on.

"Well, I appreciate it." she replied with an exotic smile.

"How's little Brandon?"

"He's doing well. Still having trouble with math. I got a private tutor for him."

"I've been through the troubles of math back in school. I know he'll do well."

"Ptff...always look on the bright side of things."

"Always."

"Well, anyways. Let's get started. I told my husband that I'll be back in five minutes."

"Same with my wife."

"Better make it a quickie then, Football-head."

"Whatever you say, Helga." Arnold replied as he smiled at her and slowly shuts the boiler room door.

A/N: Man. What a journey on this one! For the past few days, work was surprisingly slow so I've written this final chapter and been getting paid for it. But now it will get busy at my job, so in a way, this final chapter with Lila's TED talk thing and the reunion was a little rush, but I'm still happy with this ending. Way better than Rebirth. I really felt that Arnold's Secret/Rebirth and this story were written by two completely different people. I'm sure it felt the same for you. Maybe.

Arnold and Helga meeting up in the boiler room, they were discussing that in chapter 3 in Arnold's Secret. About how they will move on with life, get married to others and still have an affair. So both kept their word xD. I know, I know. Most people would want Helga and Arnold to be together completely but it's too predictable honestly. For this story, I wanted to go into a different route for an ending than other authors.

I will be publishing Opposites Attract on January 1st instead of the 3rd on Fictionpress and it WILL be on the first. New year, new story publishing story type of thing. Be sure to follow me or if you're on one those reading guests, remember to check my account during your start of the new year. Since it'll be about 3 weeks, I'll explain a little more about Opposites Attract is all about and you can decide for yourself if you're into it or not.

It's about a rich popular girl name Isabella Manfredini. She has a passion for choreography and belongs to this small girl group, The Inner Circle. The group is 5 girls who're rich and spoiled. Isabella was dared to go out with this guy who loves pot, horror movies, sometimes a troublemaker, and metalhead name Arthur Freeman. Eventually, they like each other which causes biggggg problems. Just a tad of Titanic vibes.

Arthur Freeman is highly based on me and my friend's personalities I see at concerts. Imagine 40 hardcore metalheads and stoners rolled up into one 17-year-old teenager who has no filter on what he says to people and a wicked sense of humor. Arthur's name was based on the Joker movie and his last name was based on a video I watched that had Morgan Freeman the other week. If you're thinking that "Arnold Shortman" and "Arthur Freeman" are similar...trust me, it's a coincidence haha. The Inner Circle name was thought of from the game Max Payne, which was what I got the AddressUnknown name from as well.

The high school in Opposites Attract is the typical modern type. Jock privilege, bullying, mistreatment of other students for being different, people arguing over politics, etc. Something that I'm sure we all went through or at least witness in high school.

I'm highly sure you'd enjoy Arthur. He talks to people him to say things that all of us can't say to coworkers, rude people, etc. Arthur simply just didn't give a shit. Arthur has a sister named Amanda who's in community college, loves coke and mess around with men for drugs. They have an insane love/hate relationship and it's so amusing. On my bio here, have my Fictionpress link and I made the default avatar picture is the cover I made for the new story.

I think it's going to be between 25-30 chapters and maybe a full year project. I decided that I'm not going to pursue the ArnoldxHelga Experiment story BUT, I will have a couple of chapters about that story in Opposites Attract. I have a plan where Arthur needs to write a story for his creative writing class. A witch named Helga falling in love with a zombie named Arnold. Yea, it's a little weird, but it'd be great to not delete the notes I worked on for that story before coming up with Opposites Attract. Maybe I'll make a full story about the zombie and witch thing back here on fanfiction when I'm finished with the Opposites Attract. Who knows what I'd come up with next year.

I learned a lot of trials and errors from Arnold's Secret, Rebirth, and Resurrection since they were my first stories. Tell me what you like, dislike, and whatever I could do to get better. I'll be visiting here to check the comments. I pretty much knew my strengths and weakness from writing the 3 stories. Lately, I've been researching, reading more books, and more FanFictions to see how authors capture flows, tones, etc.

I promised myself to not rush Resurrection but I kinda did a few times. Any of you who are authors, you know that it's always tempting to share but I learned to have patience. Waiting another day or even a couple of days of more editing and detailing can make a big difference. I will be treating each chapter on Opposites Attract like the 20 fucking page capstone paper I had to write and pass to get my college degree. My capstone teacher always said to "Tattoo this on your brain. Proofread, proofread, proofread. And proofread one more time. Add details. Every word counts and can make a difference." There was a phrase I heard from a Mike Judge interview the other day. "The difference between good and great is in the details."

Arnold's Secret will always be my pride and joy. Since it was my first story and because it's a fanfiction that I don't think anyone has ever done. Really, I looked up about Arnold being a cheater. So dibs on that bragging rights.

I still remember the night when I decided to write the story after playing the Catherine game. I created a fresh google document and simply wrote "Arnold dates Lila. He has an affair with Helga. They get caught eventually." before going to bed. Then bam, started to write about Arnold and Lila seeing a movie and then Helga visited Arnold after and just took it from there. As I said before, them getting caught was planned since day one. I don't condone cheating in any form, shape, or way. Even though yea, Arnold, and Helga continued their affair at the ending xD

This is the final chapter, but I'm releasing dialogues that I decided to cut right after this. So Resurrection is officially complete!

The guy who played Fez from That 70's Show came to my museum a couple of days ago. That was pretty sweet. People say he's a dick though. Danny Glover was at my job last summer.

I wondered if any of you watch any of the horror movies I recommend/parodied? If so, which ones? :D

Since I decided to not go back to school and just live my life and focus on my career/field, it's easier to not feel like I'm writing on a deadline. Hell, who knows what his little side hobby could lead to? This time last year, I would've laughed at the thought that I'm writing. Hell, the high school version of me would laugh that I work and developed an interest in museums in my mid-20s. Your past, present, and future self are always different.

But enough with this long author note shit. I hope you guys have a nice Merry fucking Christmas and Happy New Year! Recreational marijuana will be legal in my state on New Years Day and you know I'm so fucking excited about that. But still going to my guy, because fuck taxes. I live in Illinois. Worst tax state ever.

Hopefully I'll see some of you guys at Fictionpress!

*Lights the Stephanie bong and watches a documentary about Ed Gein*

AU- 12/10/2019