Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.
April Fools Day II
Chapter 1: April Fools Part 1
It was a sunny Thursday day morning in the town known as Hillwood.
It's not just any day either but a certain day that is rather favorite day for some but annoying to others. Especially one particular football-headed boy, who is currently having some breakfast right now, blissfully unaware of the rest of the world right now.
His name is Arnold Shortman, who was trying to enjoy a nice, quiet breakfast... At least...for the next five seconds.
After he took a sip of water, things got wild when someone ran into the kitchen. It was his grandfather, Phil Shortman, who had a long gash with blood coming down his face.
"OH MERCY, ARNOLD!..."He shouted dramatically, surprising the young boy and making him spit out his water in shock and horror.
"Oh, there's been a terrible accident and...oh, APRIL FOOLS!..."He laughed suddenly as he took off the wound, revealing that it was one of his pranks.
"You got me, Grandpa..."Arnold said in annoyance as he wiped away the water from his sweater.
Yes, it is April first, otherwise known as April Fools Day, Arnold's least favorite Holiday of the year.
The football headed boy sighed. His grandfather did this last year and the year before that. Sure, the pranks were always different but it always caught the boy off guard, even if they happen each time.
"Don't be so glum, short-man. Today's a Holiday..."Grandpa chuckled.
Arnold said nothing as he ate while his grandpa continued to chuckle to himself. As always, his grandmother came in and once again was in her elf costume, mixing up the holidays...again.
"Oh, Happy Groundhog's day, everybody. Yippee! I saw my shadow — and you know what that means!..."The old woman said happily.
"We know, Pookie..."Phil said in annoyance.
"Twelve more days of Christmas..."Both Arnold and Phil said in monotone voices, since it's like this every year.
Grandpa just laughed merrily and twirled around, dancing to the song only she heard.
"Oh, isn't it exciting! Well, I'll be upstairs. I've got to decorate the tree and set out cookies and milk for Santa..."She said as she began singing "Jingle Bells" to herself.
Arnold sent a tired but amused look on his face. He loves his grandmother very much but she can be a bit wild. Meanwhile, his grandpa was still in a silly mood as he once again started pranking him again.
"Ah, Spring. The fresh air, the flowers. Hey Arnold, look out behind you?!..."He shouted suddenly, before he pointed behind him.
Arnold looked and saw nothing and realized his grandpa tricked him again. Even worse, he moved so fast that he accidentally spilled his water again.
"Why did I fall for that?..." He thought as his grandpa started laughing again.
"April Fool's!..."He shouted, still laughing.
"Good one, Grandpa. Funny..."Arnold said sarcastically as he cleaned himself with a napkin.
The old man saw his annoyed look and calmed down.
"Sorry, Arnold. Couldn't resist. No more jokes now. Promise..."He said while his grandson frowned.
However, Phil then then started handed Arnold a glass of juice. Arnold merely took it and when he took a sip, juice dribbled out onto his sweater. His grandfather had switched his cup and did the old glass prank trick.
Phil then burst out laughing.
"Just kidding Shortman, April Fools!..."Phil shouted again.
Now Arnold has lost his patience with his grandfather.
"Grandpa!..."He said, annoyed.
"Aww, come on, Short Man. It's April Fools' Day. Live and laugh a little before you give yourself an ulcer..."The old man said.
Arnold rolled his eyes, the boy was not a fan of April fools day but his grandfather loved the holiday and celebrated it like there was no tomorrow.
"Oh come on, short-man. Why don't we prank Mr. Hyunh by putting all his stuff into the hallway?..."Phil offered but his grandson shook his head.
"No thanks, Grandpa. You know that I'm not into the April Fool's jokes..."Arnold said.
It's like this every year, it always ended with him getting pranked a few times. It seemed like the grandfather will keep it that way.
"Oh come on, Shortman...this the first April fools day since your parents came back..."Phil said. "What do ya say we team up and mess with them?..."He suggested.
"No thanks, Grandpa. I just don't think mom and dad are really into April Fools' Day..."Arnold said.
He didn't realize just how wrong he was.
Just then they heard laughing coming from the living room. The two went there and they saw Miles laughing while wearing a joy-buzzer while Stella seemed none the wiser.
Arnold saw this and was about to warn his mom. Miles however, was the one who got pranked. When he tried to shake her hand Stella, with her own joy buzzer, was shaking Miles's free hand, shocking her husband, much to his surprise.
"April Fools!..."Stella said, laughing.
"Heh, heh. Good one, Stella..."Miles said, laughing as he shook off the effects.
Miles then grabbed Stella other hand, zapping her too.
"April Fools!..."Miles said, laughing and his wife joined in too.
Arnold saw this and resisted the urge to groan. It turns out, his parents are into April Fools Day.
"I guess Mom and Dad are really into April Fools Day..."Arnold mused as his parents then saw him and smiled.
"Oh, good morning Sweetie..."Stella said happily as she went to her boy.
"Hey, Son..."Miles said nicely.
Arnold put on a nice smile as he spoke to his parents, since he was always happy to see his mom and dad.
"Morning, Mom and Dad..."He said as he walked towards them.
"So, are you having a happy April fools day?..."Stella asked as she hoped to spend time with her son on one of her favorite holidays.
"Well...honestly, I'm not very into this holiday..."Arnold said, surprising his folks.
" Don't you want to play a prank on someone?..."Miles asked but his son shook his head.
"Not really...I'm not a big fan of April Fool's jokes..."He said, surprising his folks.
"What? But why?..."Stella said.
"Everyone loves April Fools Day..."Miles said while Phil walked in to the room.
"Everyone but Arnold. Guy's too nice to play jokes on someone..."He said and Arnold sent a flat look at that.
The Football headed kid then turned away from his family and saw the time on the wall clock.
"I gotta get ready for school..."He said as he went to get ready.
Hoping that things would be easier at school.
Later
At PS 118
Arnold's parents had just dropped him off at school and just like last year and the year before that, the entire school was going wild for April Fools Day.
Arnold walked inside and saw all his friends pulling pranks on each other and laughing. He looked around and didn't see a certain someone he knew who probably prank him like every year.
"Where is she?..."He thought as he looked around.
He arrived to his locker and saw his best friend, Gerald, waiting for him.
"Hey man..."Gerald said.
"Hey Gerald..."Arnold said, happy to see him.
They soon saw Harold pulling a prank on Stinky by tying his shoes together, making him trip.
"HAHA! April Fools!..."Harold shouted as he kept laughing.
Arnold saw this and knew that all his friends were enjoying the holiday.
"Looks like things are getting started..."He commented.
"No kidding..."Gerald said after chuckling. "So, Arnold...you want to get in on this action!..."He said.
"I dunno, Gerald. You know that I'm still not into April Fools Day..."Arnold said and Gerald sighed.
"I know...you're not into it...you're too nice to prank anyone but as I already told you...you're the perfect target for an April Fools Day prank attack..."Gerald said.
Arnold rolled his eyes as he was about to open his locker...only to pause as a memory came to him.
From two years ago to be more precise.
FLASHBACK
Two years ago
It was April Fools Day and Arnold had just finished talking to Gerald as he opened his locker. He was then hit by a punching glove on a spring and everyone was laughing at him.
Especially the person who made up the prank.
Helga G. Pataki, his then personal tormentor.
"April Fools', Football head!..."She said, laughing.
"Good one, Helga..."He muttered as she was still laughing.
"Get used to it, Bucko, cause you're gonna get it all day long!..."She said before marching off laughing, not seeing the glare he sent her.
End Of Flashback
Present Time
Arnold snapped out of that memory and had a suspicious look in his eyes, already having an idea of what might happen since it had happen before.
"Hmmm...I wonder..."He thought as he had a suspicious feeling that a certain blonde is closer than he thinks.
He slowly put in his combination and then stepped out of the way, getting Gerald's attention.
"Hey Arnold, what's wrong?..."He asked but his friend didn't say anything.
Now no longer directly in front of his locker, Arnold quickly opened it and got out of the way. To his relief, neither he nor Gerald were in the way of all of toilet paper and shaving scream that fell out out the tiny, metallic locker.
He was happy to still be clean and toilet-paper free, before he turned to talk to the one responsible for this.
"Nice try Helga, you can come out now..."Arnold said.
He saw the blonde, pig tailed girl with a unibrow emerged from behind the lockers with an annoyed look on her face.
"Alright, how did you know that was coming?..."She said, annoyed.
Arnold sent her an almost playful smile.
"Come on, Helga. You used a punching glove in my locker in the fourth grade and a pie last year...and do I even have to bring up third grade?..."He said, listing the past pranks the blonde girl has pulled over the years on him.
Helga heard this and sighed.
"Aw, memories..."She said while Arnold gave her a look.
"Eh, what can I say...you're an easy target, Football Head..."She said in a nonchalant way while her boyfriend sent her a look.
The blonde girl knew what it meant and scoffed.
"Hey, you didn't think that just because we're an item, I was going to ignore you today, did you? It's a holiday, Football-Head..."Helga said with a smirk to her boyfriend.
Yes, they are dating. They have been since the trip to San Lorenzo last Summer where she helped reunite him with his parents. They have been together for months now but it seems that didn't change Helga's desire to prank him on April Fools Day.
Arnold sighed and looked at the mess by his feet.
"I guess some things never change..."He muttered while he looked curious at something. "But why toilet paper and shaving cream? It's not your usual style?..."He asked.
"Hey, I said I wanted to prank you but it doesn't mean I want to hurt that cute face of yours..."Helga said sweetly. "I like looking at it, you know..."She added.
Arnold had to smile at that and Gerald looked unnerved.
"And that's my cue to leave. Later, Arnold..."Gerald said as he left.
"Hmpt, whatever, Tall Hair Boy..."Helga said as he left.
The blonde girl then turned to her boyfriend and sent him a flirty grin.
"So, Football Head. Want to have so fun together...maybe go somewhere private where it can be just you and me..."Helga said flirtatiously but secretly hoping to get a chance to prank her boyfriend.
"Is this so you get to drop a bucket of water me like last year?..."Arnold said suspiciously.
"Oh come on, Football head! Since when am I that obvious?..."She said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I've known you for years, Helga. You aren't as subtle as you think you are when it comes to this stuff. So, yes... after all these years, I know you have something planned..."He said and Helga sent him a faux surprised look.
"Arnold, I am your girlfriend. Do you really think I'd try something like that to you?..."She said but he sent her a dry look.
"On April Fools Day? Yes..."He answered flatly and the blonde girl didn't deny it.
"Okay, fine...you got me, Arnoldo..."She said with a grin.
Hey, she liked April fools day...sue her.
The football-headed kid sighed as he knew Helga would try to prank him again. Sure, Arnold knew she loved him but he knew she loved April fools day too, given how she always celebrated it, every year.
Arnold thought of how silly things were in the old days with how Helga hid her feelings before smiling to his girlfriend in a playful sort of way.
"Just be careful, Helga. I might be tempted to prank you again..."Arnold said, subtly reminding her of what happened the last time she pranked him too much.
"Hey, I wasn't the one who blinded someone. So, forgive me if I wanted to have some payback for that. Besides, it lead to us together at the dance that year...can't complain about that..."She said with a small smile.
Arnold smiled at that, remembering how he believed she was blinded by his prank and how it turned into a full blown adventure with him taking care of Helga while she pretended to be blind and then getting back at her at the dance.
He even recalled that tango they did and how...rough it got. He blushed for a moment before speaking again.
"I suppose it wasn't too bad then..."He said and the blonde girl chuckled at that.
"Careful, Arnold. People might think you have feelings for me..."Helga said with a mischievous look on her face.
"Good..." Arnold said before they laughed.
"Besides, a football head like you couldn't pull a prank of me if you wanted to..."She said and Arnold paused at that.
"Is that so? Why not? I did get you back in fourth grade, remember..."He asked and Helga shrugged a bit.
"Hey, I'll admit you caught me off guard with that pool stunt but that was because I got you mad..."She said before smiling at him. "Besides, everyone knows I'm the pranking master in this school and you're too much of a sweet guy to be able to try and seriously prank someone lime me...again. Your heart is too pure to get a laugh out of pranking someone..."She said.
She didn't say that to be mean, but Arnold heard this and frowned. Sure, he said that he doesn't like April Fools Day all that much but it wasn't like he didn't have a sense of humor. Now everyone, including his girlfriend was saying he was "too nice" to pull a prank on someone and that no thought he had the guts for anything on this day.
Plus, he's sick of being the butt of the jokes and the easy target every year. Even his parents were in on the holiday. Well, at least they were more understanding than Grandpa.
Still, he felt a little annoyed before looking at his girlfriend.
"Well, maybe I'll get you this year..."He said and Helga blinked before she chuckled, thinking he is joking.
"Is that so? Tell ya what, how about a wager?..."Helga suggested playfully.
To her surprise, Arnold leaned in and he was actually accepting the challenge.
"You're on..."He said and Helga gaped.
"Seriously?..."She said and Arnold nodded.
"Yeah, Helga...unless you're scared..."He said playfully and Helga laughed.
"Scared? I'm not scared..."Helga said in a competitive voice.
"Okay, then let's do it..."He said and Helga smirked.
"Oh, it's on... Football Head..."She said, still with that smirk.
"I take it you have something in mind?..."He said and Helga smiled mischievously as she spoke.
"Simple, whoever gets the other with the better prank by the end of the day wins..."She said and Arnold nodded.
"Yeah, that's fine but I want to know what the winner gets..."He said and Helga smirked, liking this side of him.
"Okay, my dashing do-gooder. The winner gets to pick where we go on our next date..."Helga said.
"Whatever you say, Helga..."Arnold said as they shook on it.
Soon the bell rang, signalling that they have to get to class and soon. The blonde couple soon left together but not before Arnold said this.
"We are still going to the dance together tonight...right?..."He asked.
"Doi! And don't worry, I promise not to hit you with my cane...again..."She said jokingly.
Arnold rolled his eyes as he left with her but he knew that this April Fools Day is not over.
Not by a long shot.
-To be continued-
Next time on April Fools Day II
April Fools Part 2
A/N(1): I hope that you all enjoyed the first chapter of my latest Hey Arnold Fic.
A/N(2): I would like to give a special thanks to Invader Johnny for suggesting this fic. I would also like to thank 61293 and BCW for assisting me in this chapter. You guys rock :)
A/N(3): Good news. I will now be taking requests for my "After The Jungle Series".
If you have an idea for my HA universe, PM me or leave it in a review and I will consider it and I MIGHT make it into a one shot or multi-chapter fic. Just remember to keep the requests with the K-T rating and not ask for stuff involving gore, religion, politics, slash or other mature themes.
I look forward to see what you all have to suggest.
A/N(4): This is dedicated to my family, my friends and my love for God! Enjoy :)
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)