Author's Notes:

Hi guys I had a different plan for how last chapter was supposed to end but after watching some other Hey Arnold! episodes for reference, I realized that the story could really use some more Patty Smith. Hope you guys didn't feel like it was a bit random that Rhonda would find her way to Patty while she was down.

Here's chapter 7!

Chapter VII

"Mom, I have a friend over, I hope you and dad won't mind if she stays for a while..." Patty Smith, the misunderstood sweetheart with a fierce exterior and intimidating reputation, meekly asked her parents' permission. The Smiths, who would match their daughter's height if they stood on each other, were just delighted to hear that Patty had a friend over.

"Rhonda, just take a seat. I'll bring some stuff to, I dunno...maybe just get you comfortable..." Patty went to the kitchen as Rhonda sat in the living room.

Rhonda examined the Smiths' humble abode. She remembered how she got to know Patty just a few weeks ago because Rhonda was beyond desperate to pass the Young Sophisticate After-School Polishing Academy for Boys & Girls. She recalled how "courteous, good-listener, and practical" Patty somehow took mercy upon "pushy, self-obsessed and materialistic" her when Patty had all the reasons to leave her to fail. Rhonda, still feeling broken from Arnold's declaration of ending their friendship, felt an ounce of joy and gratitude that she miraculously found a friend in the sixth-grade behemoth.

'...why haven't I talked to Patty since our slumber party...," Rhonda thought as Patty made herself known.

Patty brought out a tea set, hoping it would help put Rhonda at ease.

"I'm sorry if our tea isn't exactly up to par with what you might have at home...but I thought that since it's getting kind of cold, this would really warm you up and raise your spirits." Patty explained, while thoughtfully pouring Rhonda a cup.

The Lloyd princess for her part did not forget her manners, graciously accepted it, and asked Patty if she would want some as well. Patty, showing some excitement at the prospect of having another moment with a dear unexpected friend, accepted the offer as well.

"So Rhonda, what brings you here in the neighborhood? I feel like if I hadn't stopped you, you would have found your way to Torvald's house eventually." Patty asked, curious what's bothering her friend.

"Oh Patty...I was being an airhead again..." Rhonda said as she sipped some tea.

Unfortunately for Rhonda, Patty broke a chuckle while mid-sip, forcing the former to cough up some of her drink.

"Sorry Rhonda, I didn't mean to laugh...," Patty said, trying to make peace but unable to keep her smile hidden.

Rhonda, finding Patty's company heartwarming, laughed at her own misfortune as well.

"Well Patty...I don't even know where to begin. I'm guessing you heard that last week, my family went poor and I had to stay at Arnold's in the meantime?"

"Yeah, it was a pretty big deal when the news broke out. I wanted to ask you how you were feeling and if there was anything I could do to help, but I figured that you already had Arnold and the other girls from your class to look out for you..." Patty observed the body language and facial expressions Rhonda was giving off. She knew instinctively that this was gonna be quite a conversation.

"Yeah..." Rhonda muttered as she took another sip. "By the way, I don't know what you were talking about earlier, this tea is splendid!"

Patty, with her long reach, put a hand on Rhonda's shoulder, and assured her that they were in a safe space. "I appreciate the compliment Rhonda, but you don't need to hide what you're feeling...you can be open and honest with me."

Just like how Arnold silently broke her when she was in denial of her family's financial status back at the boarding house, Rhonda couldn't keep the walls up. But she knew that there was no need to cry and be a drama queen about it this time. She took a deep breath, and went with her story.

"Thanks Patty...well, you can expect that, given how you knew..or know...me, that I didn't take it quite well. Frankly, I was such a pathetic brat about the whole thing. I made Arnold swear that he wouldn't tell anyone about it but I was careless and stupid enough to keep making bad lies about it to arouse people's suspicions. I'd get caught trying to collect bottles in the dumpster just to recycle them and earn some lunch money..." Rhonda stopped for a bit, remembering how filthy and useless she felt in that moment.

Fortunately for her, Patty gave her all the time to process that feeling again, allowing her to continue.

"Eventually, Arnold did his magic and helped me see the light. The day started out so promising...I made a new dress, got some fresh food from the boarding house, and even committed to power walking to save on bus fare. But the moment I saw my parents drive by with a new sportscar, the moment I knew our family's wealth was back, I ditched every lesson learned and commitment made from my time with Arnold. And to add the proverbial cherry on top..."

Patty, anticipating a key detail about to be dropped, took a sip of her tea.

"...I thanked Arnold by giving him a tip..." Rhonda felt sharp daggers stab her insides all over again. Hearing herself confess to doing such a ridiculously insulting act to someone she considers a very dear friend actually stung more.

Patty, for her part, was surprised despite her face not showing any signs of such shock. "So it's true...people were spreading the word but I didn't really believe it..."

"Well believe it Patty...I thanked Arnold by giving him a dollar. What I'd give to take that all back, and maybe just, I don't know...give him a big hug for being the one to always snap some sense into me, even when I'm impossible sometimes..."

Rhonda felt funny. It was as if a bit of the guilt and self-disdain she'd been carrying since Aspen was no longer there, like a weight off of her shoulders.

"Patty, I'm sorry I've just been talking about myself, this is something Madame Parvenu would scold me for...but it feels so...therapeutic..." Rhonda told the gentle giant.

"That's the idea," Patty replied. "There's nothing a cup of tea with a friend can't solve in one way or another. More?"

Rhonda, gladly and with dignity, accepted Patty's offer to pour some more tea in her cup.

Sundown...

Rhonda had just informed her parents that she was at Patty Smith's and that she can get picked up after dinner. She told her parents that given how her attempt to apologize to Arnold went poorly, she needed this badly. Her parents, hearing the humble sincerity in their daughter's voice, told her that she can take as much time as she needs.

Rhonda put the phone down. She looked at Patty who, having already put the tea set back in the kitchen, had brought out some sewing kits for some more therapeutic bonding. 'For all the dumb bad luck I've been having since Aspen, I'm blessed to have this moment to finish my week...,' Rhonda thought to herself.

By then, she had already informed Patty of everything that transpired after the tip incident. The reprimand from her mother. The painful slice of truth from Peapod Kid. The little kid kicking her shins. The rotten lobster. The extra 30 minute sauna session. The near mistake that was CJ Montgomery. The desire to come home and apologize to Arnold, and the dejection that followed. Patty, with her nearly unmatched emotional quotient, took in the gravity and cadence of Rhonda's words, and genuinely sympathized with the confused girl. It was only after she was certain that Rhonda was finished telling her story that she decided to share some of her own wisdom.

"Don't be too harsh on yourself Rhonda," Patty assured the Lloyd princess as they continued knitting their own socks to commemorate the remaining weeks before spring. "As much as it must suck for you right now, I'm sure Arnold will come around eventually. But knowing how the football head operates, I think you should focus on other things first, rather than continually pining for his acceptance. Maybe, talk to some of your other friends too?"

Rhonda knew Patty was being, just as advertised, practical. Not to mention sensibly wise.

"Yeah, I feel like I've been neglecting other people who have been kind to me despite me not returning that same kindness often enough...like you. I'm sorry Patty, we haven't really caught up huh?"

Patty smiled, knowing that it was Rhonda's way of saying that she missed her and was grateful to be friends with her. But she wanted to be a bit playful, sensing that Rhonda's mood had improved.

"Well, if you weren't so stuck in the clouds like an airhead...," Patty said, hoping that Rhonda could pick it up as a joke.

Rhonda, although surprised that Patty was capable of unleashing such friendly fire, couldn't help but laugh as they were wrapping up with their knitting projects.

"Well I guess there is some truth to that...I also got to check on Nadine...gosh, I didn't even tell her that I was poor. And she's supposed to be my best friend! What was I thinking..." Rhonda, noticing the smirk that Patty had, signifying that she had another quip ready to be launched, interrupted her. "Don't answer that!"

Patty let out a loud and infectious laugh that very well would have even been heard by Monkeyman. "Well, given how you didn't even think of not insulting me for tripping on your boot, I'd be hard pressed to say you weren't giving it much thought..."

Rhonda had to admit, Patty's sense of humor (if you can take it) was spectacular.

After putting the sewing material back in its container, Patty decided to let some of her curiosity take over.

"Say Rhonda, remember when I caught Helga and you girls saying really mean stuff behind my back?"

How could Rhonda forget. Helga had been merciless in what Rhonda considered the first glimpse of the Pataki girl's comic stand-up act. She was on the verge of crying from laughter had Patty not come in and instill fear in each and every single one of them.

"Oh yeah...honestly Patty, I thought you were gonna beat Helga to death, and then use her mangled corpse to skewer us up..." Rhonda answered.

"Rhonda, I'm a girl not an ogre. Besides, I'm not that strong..."

Rhonda looked unconvinced. "Patty, you picked Helga up with one arm and flung her into the broom closet when we-err I mean - she was trying to mess with Lila." Looking back on it now, Rhonda realized how brave or possibly foolish she was to actually not back down from Patty all because she scratched her boot!

"Guess you make a fair point...," Patty said, forgetting about her own strength. "Anyway, did you know that I didn't beat Helga up?"

Rhonda was clearly confused. "What are you talking about Patty? We saw Helga after your beatdown...she was pink, black and blue! She was groaning in pain for days!"

"That girl watches pro wrestling, she just knows how to really sell it. And of course, a bit of dirt and torn clothing can really help with the image..." Patty said with a wink.

Rhonda saw that Patty wasn't lying. "Oh...then why didn't you? Helga was beyond evil with the things she said about you..."

"Yeah she was. And about an hour before the scheduled fight, I was still convinced that I was gonna kick her butt so bad that her nose would bleed. But your friend Arnold came in, and, as you said, 'worked his magic,' and soon enough I found myself having mercy on Helga...DON'T TELL ANYONE THE TRUTH." Patty, showing a bit of the mean streak she's known for, caught Rhonda gulping and nodding.

"I told you that story because, well...Arnold did the same when we were classmates in the Polishing School. I was telling Arnold how much of a self-absorbed, arrogant, sniveling, opportunistic airhead you were..." Patty failed to notice how her words were slightly affecting Rhonda's morale. "But Arnold, despite everything I told him, vouched for you. He told me that just like Helga, there's so much more to you than meets the eye. And honestly...I'm glad he did that, cause now...we're friends...aren't we?" Patty said with a big nearly cheshire cat-like smile.

Rhonda, hearing how Arnold can even move in mysterious ways for his friends, nodded, as she appreciated how blessed she was to have someone as empathetic and kind as Patty call her a friend. Although...

"But Patty, doesn't that just mean I'm so pathetic and horrible, that someone as lovable and supportive as Arnold told me he wanted nothing to do with me anymore?" Rhonda exclaimed. "I don't know how you meant for all that to make me feel better now that I think about it..."

Patty assured Rhonda. "That's one way to see it, but...I really believe that Arnold, despite being really mad and upset with you right now, didn't mean it. He still wants you as a friend, but you just gotta be patient. That boy's heart is too big to not forgive someone who opened her own heart out to him like that. Give it time Rhonda, I promise you."

Rhonda, truly understanding just how she's never completely hopeless thanks to friends like Patty Smith, nodded in agreement. She went up to hug her dear friend.

"Thanks so much Patty. You have no idea how much I needed this after all. I'm sure we'll have another slumber party again..." Rhonda guaranteed.

Now that Patty set up the context for her final question, she was ready to test Rhonda.

"Oh and, not like I asked this to anyone else but...what's with you and Arnold, huh? Do you...like him like him?"

Patty didn't even need to wait for 3 seconds to get a response. Before Rhonda could even fully comprehend the question, her face started turning red like a tomato.

"I mean, he's adorably cute...and effortlessly cool...and is like, everyone's best friend or conscience it seems...but that's about it, ok? I just like him!" Rhonda could really feel her heart skipping beats like it was no one's business.

'She is such a bad liar when she's flustered,' thought Patty. "Ok Rhonda, if you say so..."

After...

To Rhonda's surprise, her own parents decided to pick her up rather than have the driver do so. The Smiths, feeling like a special occasion just took place in their house, invited the entire Lloyd family for dinner that night. Brooke and Buckley, hoping to set better examples as Rhonda's parents, politely accepted. To their surprise, they really enjoyed the home cooked meals and hospitality provided by the Smiths. After dinner, they even had a tea party with the two girls playing the role of tea servers for the adults. When it was starting to get late, Brooke and Buckley thanked the Smiths for their hospitality and told them that next dinner and tea date will be in their house. Rhonda gave Patty a big hug, the latter whispering, "just stick to what we planned...reconnect with your other friends first, and eventually Arnold will come to you. Good luck Rhonda..."