Hi all! This is my first time writing a fanfiction story. I had always adored Hey Arnold! growing up, especially the characters within the show. I plan on this being a somewhat decent sized story, but we will see how things pan out. I adore the hot/cold and complicated relationship of Helga and Arnold, so this will focus on that. This story will switch viewpoints between Helga and Arnold as needed, but will focus more on Helga. This is a post TJM fic, and I'll be starting off with a prologue to set the story. The M rating refers to sexual situations, some drug use and language. I don't really have much else to say lol. The cast and characters of Hey Arnold! belong to Craig Bartlett. Feel free to drop a review. Happy reading!
Prologue: Down the Same Road Once More
Raindrops were cascading from the sky and gently pelting the windows of the dark SUV, as it made its way through milky mists on the winding road. A girl with waist length, golden blonde hair allowed her cerulean eyes to follow the streaks of water trailing down the glass. Her head gently leaned on the cold car window, creating a small fog on the glass as breath escaped from her pouty lips. She allowed her eyes to blink as she averted her gaze to the passing conifers and dense ivies typical of the Pacific Northwest. She felt almost in a daze, as the scenery had felt so familiar yet so foreign. Her mind swirled with faint nostalgia and faded memories tickled her brain. She once again stared at the trickling raindrops on the window, watching the small streaks of water competing to reach the bottom of the glass. A small yawn forced its way from her mouth as she stretched her arms over her head and groaned tiredly.
"Criminy, Bob how much longer?" She said as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned her back against the car door. Legs stretched over the cold leather of the back seat.
"Now c'mon Helga," a tired female voice from the passenger seat replied. "You know we're close. Don't you recognize the road?"
Helga rolled her eyes. "Of course I do, Miriam. It's not my fault Bob drives like a fucking old man. We should be there by now!" she snapped back.
"Hey! Hey hey hey! You watch your mouth little lady! And I'm not the one driving like an old man, for pete's sake. It's this idiot driving this green Packard in front of us," her father shot back. Helga could see his strong furrowed brow shooting her a glare from the rear view mirror. She simply sighed and forced her eyes shut. Might as well try to get some shuteye. A shiver suddenly went down her spine and goosebumps pricked up her limbs.
"Can you at least turn the freaking heater up? I'm freezing to death back here!" she replied.
Her mother's hand cranked the knob and Helga could feel the warmth of the heater creeping towards the back seat. Suddenly her eyes flew open and her head shot up. She grabbed the two seats in front of her and leaned herself forward.
"Did you say a green Packard?" She asked quietly. Her eyes were locked on the handsome old car travelling modestly in front of them. She turned the knob of the heater back the other way as she felt a flush overtaking her pale face.
"Shit."
Helga Pataki never in her wildest dreams imagined coming back to Hillwood. It had been five years since she stepped foot on these streets. She had lived there from the time she was a baby until the end of her sixth grade year. Throughout her childhood, her father Bob (or Big Bob, as he was known back then) owned a beeper and cell phone emporium. Her father had modest success for awhile, but once the age of cellphones really took off, the need for beepers was non-existent. However Bob was a smart businessman with smart investors, and knew they had to get with the times so-to-speak. Beepers were replaced with high end smartphones, laptops and flat screen TVs. Once Helga started approaching the end of elementary school, Bob got an offer he "couldn't damn well refuse" from a reputable electronics corporation in California. The merging of the two businesses would mean more money, and Bob Pataki never said no to more money. Big Bob's Beeper Emporium had then metamorphosed into Elexus, a sleek and modern company that prided itself on offering the latest and greatest models of electronics on the market.
Helga was of course heartbroken when she had to say goodbye to the town she knew and loved. She always thought California was a joke and a yuppie's playground, even at the age of eleven. Her sixth grade year was a dream for someone like Helga, who never seemed to have anything going right for her. The summer after fifth grade was what got the ball rolling on what she thought was the best year of her life. She had helped the boy she loved since she was three years old reunite with his long lost parents in San Lorenzo. This earned her a kiss, the admiration of her classmates, and even the boy's heart. For the first time in her eleven years of life, she actually looked forward to going to school. She had her best friend Phoebe and her boyfriend Arnold at her side, as well as the support and friendship of all of her classmates. Helga had always sported a tough girl exterior, but now it was respected and even welcomed. Her bullying ways had been softened from pummeling her peers and wearing a constant scowl. She had become someone who was seen as strong, albeit still a bit fiesty, intelligent and passionate. Her classmates had grown to enjoy hearing her recite poetry and even laugh at her attempts to roast them at the student lounge known as the Coco Hut. For the first time in her life she had allowed her walls to come down a bit and had grown to love the people around her.
Before the San Lorenzo trip, Helga hadn't been viewed as someone who was considered feminine by her classmates. While she did sport pink dresses, pigtails and a large pink bow, she also wrote football plays and had a large dark unibrow that was accentuated by her signature scowl. She figured talking with your fists was always easier, and more effective, than trying to work out your feelings. It wasn't that she necessarily hated the idea of femininity per se, but more the idea that she would be deemed weak or idiotic. There was also the looming fear of rejection and vulnerability that made it easy for her to cling to her facade at the time.
The first few weeks of sixth grade she would have thought she was on another planet. She had people come up to sit with her at lunch and classmates texting her to join them for study sessions. Even Rhonda Wellington-Lloyd, the self proclaimed queen of the school and fashion guru who she thought hated her was suddenly catching her up on all the latest schoolyard gossip and passing her notes in class. The second week of the school year, Rhonda had approached Helga at her locker after school.
"Well hello Helga," Rhonda said casually as Helga grabbed her books from her locker, shoving them half-hazardly in her backpack.
"What's up princess?" she replied casually, still slightly surprised over Rhonda's sudden interest in her. Out of her peripheral, she saw the slim raven-haired girl staring at herself in a compact mirror, applying cherry lip gloss to her pouted lips.
"You know, I'm having some of the girls stay over at my house on Saturday night. I thought maybe you'd like to join us?" she said, eyes locked on her reflection in the small mirror in her hand, her mouth slightly agape while she touched up the corners of her shiny mouth. Helga froze, Rhonda Lloyd inviting me to one of her lame sleepovers? Well this is definitely a first. She couldn't help but smile inwardly, usually she would just hang out with the guys or write poetry in her bedroom on the weekends, this was certainly different. She couldn't help but feel a little pleased with herself for receiving an invitation, and she knew her best friend Phoebe would likely be there which gave her some relief. At least she would have someone she was comfortable with around while she waded the waters of her newly formed friendships.
Helga stood up, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and closing her locker. She crossed her arms and casually leaned her shoulder against the locker door. "Ya know what Rhonda, sure - why the hell not? Could be fun. Not like I got anything better to do on a Saturday night," she answered with just a touch of her usual sarcasm in her voice. She figured she wanted to sound casual, it's not like she was suddenly dying to fit into the inner circle of someone like Rhonda Lloyd, but it felt good to be invited for once.
"Sounds lovely. Everyone will be arriving around five o'clock. Don't trouble yourself by bringing food or anything, snacks and pizza will be provided." The dark haired girl replied. Suddenly she clasped her compact shut, sticking it into the small, red leather clutch she had in her left hand. They walked out of the school together and Rhonda walked towards a black car, a man in a uniform opened the door of the back seat for her, taking her backpack from her and placing it in the trunk. "See you Saturday night Helga, don't be late!" She called as she sat herself in the car, her driver closing the door for her, and wiggled her fingers goodbye as the heavily tinted window rolled up.
As the car drove away Helga turned to walk towards home, but instead felt herself crashing hard into a body and falling on the cement beneath her. She rubbed her head in pain and clenched her right hand into a fist, "Jesus christ you mouth breather! Look where yo - Arnold?!" She gasped and her blue eyes widened as realization washed over her. Her face softened a bit and her fist relaxed as she saw the blond-haired boy sit himself upright after their collision.
"Hey Helga," the boy said with a small smile, wincing a bit as he rubbed his own head in reply. He stood up and stretched his hand out to her, "Funny running into you again. Seems to be happening a lot eh?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Yeah, yeah real funny, Football Head. Can't you get your head outta the clouds? I don't get why you're always crashing into me like that," she retorted and rolled her eyes with a small but noticeable smile on her face. She grabbed his hand as he hoisted her off the ground.
"Sorry I guess I wasn't paying much attention. Hey was that Rhonda you were just talking with?" he asked as he dusted himself off.
"Why what's it to ya, bucko?" she asked, he couldn't help but notice a faint smile on her mouth. Arnold smirked and shook his head, putting his hands up as a passive gesture.
"Just asking. Seems like you two are off to a good start this semester," he answered cheerfully as he turned to walk with her in the same direction.
"Yeah well, I figure it's better than us biting each other's heads off all year," she responded very matter-of-factly.
"Rhonda isn't so bad Helga, who knows maybe you guys will end up friends this year?" he said simply as he walked alongside the young blonde.
Helga put her hands on her hips and frowned, "Yeah good one, Arnoldo, me and Princess Rhonda friends. I'd rather stab my own eyes out."
"Helga," he started a bit sternly, "Just give it a chance. Maybe you'll find that you genuinely like her," Arnold finished with a reassuring smile. Her face softened a bit God he always gets me with that stupid, beautiful, stupid smile of his. Even though she was secretly a little excited for Rhonda's sleepover, the idea of suddenly getting chummy with the girl was still foreign to her. After all, she knew all too well how badly they could butt heads, but she was hopeful after the several positive encounters she had had with the girl thus far. Even her rants about runway fashion and excursions to Europe didn't seem to annoy Helga the way they did in the past.
"Well we'll see about that now, won't we? She invited me to some dumb sleepover Saturday night. I wasn't even gonna go but Phoebe will be there so it can't be that bad," Helga finally said. She looked down and saw Arnold giving her a crooked grin as he stopped walking, she noticed they were already in front of the Sunset Arms boarding house, the place he called home.
Arnold took her hand in his and pulled her into a hug. Helga sighed dreamily and hugged back for a moment before pulling away suddenly when she felt her cheeks redden. "Well that's certainly motivating," she muttered with a smirk. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked away so that her blush wasn't so noticeable. Even though he always hugged her after their walks home from school since they started dating, her heart still pounded into her throat when his arms wrapped around her waist. It was such a new feeling for her, having her feelings suddenly reciprocated by the boy she had been fawning over for so long. The hug wasn't lost on her and her smile widened. "Friends with Rhonda, huh? Fingers crossed I don't turn into a mindless bimbo overnight," she stated with a snicker.
Arnold's smile grew as he walked up the steps, "We both know Helga G. Pataki is no bimbo. Enjoy the sleepover, I'll text you tonight," he said with a wink. He opened the door to the boarding house and disappeared inside as she waved goodbye. Helga felt the blush spread across her cheeks once more as she turned on her heel and kept walking down the sidewalk towards her house.
Saturday had come rather quickly for the anxious sixth grader as she threw some clothes into a duffel bag before packing her toothbrush from the bathroom. She grabbed her phone to check the time. Crap 4:42. My first sleepover with these idiots and I'm running late. She turned and thought about grabbing her pink notebook and favorite purple pen from her room but stopped herself. Ah cripes. Probably a good idea to leave it. Rhonda will skin me alive if she doesn't have my unwavering attention. She quickly ran down the stairs, pulled her sneakers on and tied the laces in haste. "Bye Miriam, off to Rhonda's," she yelled as she grabbed her jacket from the coat rack.
"Okay honey, have fun with your friends at your little sleep over," her mother called back sleepily from the couch. Helga rolled her eyes at the sight of her mother who was currently in repose after drinking one too many "smoothies" again. Her mother had been an alcoholic as long as she could remember. It wasn't until fourth grade that Helga truly realized what was going on. She always thought her mother was kind of an airhead and couldn't remember a time not smelling a certain pungent odor emanating from her. Miriam was constantly misplacing things, leaving her purse on top of the car or falling asleep at the dinner table. It finally all made sense when she was forced to start extensive community service and went to "meetings" twice a week. Helga had finally put two-and-two together after that. Before it just seemed like her mother's normal behavior. Or perhaps Helga just denied the existence of the liquor bottles in the cupboard until it wasn't so deniable anymore. Her father was absent once again this Saturday evening, an action that had become more commonplace within the last year or so. For a while Helga just figured Big Bob was working long hours, as he often did, until one night Miriam in a drunken fit told Helga he was banging his secretary.
Helga closed her front door behind her and started jogging down the street towards the extravagant home of Rhonda Lloyd. She heard a buzzing from her duffel bag and grinned when she saw the words "Football Head 3" on her screen. She opened the message and read it while hugging her bag to her body with her left arm.
"Good luck. And remember to be yourself, you're going to have fun :)"
She smiled at the words on her screen and started tapping her phone with her right thumb.
"Wouldn't dream of being anyone else, football head ;)"
She hit send and shoved her phone back into her bag. She chuckled a bit and jogged a little faster, feeling herself getting more amped up for the impending sleepover. Never in a million would I have thought, smirking to herself as her legs carried her down the sidewalk.
Helga was huffing, slightly out of breath as she approached the wrought iron gate of the Wellington-Lloyd mansion. She pulled out her phone to look at the time Wow 5:14, I'm practically on time! she thought to herself as she pushed the button on a small box by the gate.
She heard an unmistakable voice call out from the box. "Yes, who is it?" the female voice asked in sing-song. Helga rolled her eyes a bit as the words emanated from the box.
"It's freaking Barbara Walters, princess," she replied to the little gold box with a smirk.
"Oh Helga, I'm so happy you've arrived, let me buzz you in," Rhonda replied.
The gate buzzed and swung back allowing Helga access to the estate. She looked around and saw topiaries, roses bushes and a small pond stretching out over the well manicured lawn. Criminy this place is like a fucking castle, she thought as she walked up the sidewalk, small lights lined her path as she approached the front door. She knocked nervously, suddenly feeling very small and strange standing at the grandiose granite entryway. The door swung open and a thin girl wearing a red nightgown with green smeared all over her face greeted her. She was donning pink curlers in her dark locks and had a polite smile on her face.
"Welcome Helga, I trust you found the place alright? Please come in, and leave your shoes by the door," she said as Helga gave a small eye roll and kicked her sneakers into the pile of shoes to the right of the doorway. Her eyes widened as she looked at the giant room surrounding her.
"Jesus Rhonda what do your parents do, anyway?" Helga remarked softly as she looked at the grand house in awe. Rhonda simply smiled and explained how her father was a stock broker and her mother was a defense attorney, and that together they did quite well financially. The home was shrouded in gold and marble and a large staircase took up the back half of the vast foyer, a luxurious crystal chandelier dangled from the ceiling over them. They started up the seemingly never-ending steps as Rhonda gave her an itinerary of the night. Helga was clutching her duffel bag close to her chest, unable to listen to the raven-haired girl's words as she gawked at the mansion. She snapped back to attention as they reached the peak of the stairs and entered a large room she assumed was Rhonda's. Everything from floor to ceiling was white and scarlet, her eyes fell on a sheer red canopy hung from the high ceiling that blanketed over a large bed frame. The bed itself adorned with an endless pile of pillows and a lavish red duvet. Helga looked down and felt the most soft, plush, white carpeting between her toes.
"Everyone's already arrived, the girls were just asking about you. Please make yourself at home," Rhonda said with a smirk, seeing Helga's reaction to her living quarters. Helga looked around and her eyes immediately found a short, black haired girl who was rolling a brunette lock of their classmate Sheena's hair into a pink curler.
"Helga, you made it!" the small girl squealed and ran over, wrapping Helga in a tight hug. Green stuff was smeared over her face as well, and her signature cat eye glasses were missing from her face. The other girls said hello in chorus and waved excitedly, their faces also painted green and donning different pajamas for the night.
"Hey Pheebs, hey guys" she said greeting everyone casually, "Mind telling me what the hell is on all of your faces?" Helga asked as she snickered at the sight of her classmates. They simply laughed in reply, by now they had learned to take the remarks of Helga G. Pataki in stride.
"We're doing facials Helga!" Sheena responded excitedly in her high-pitched voice, "Hurry and get changed and we'll do you next!"
"Ohh no, sorry girls but Helga here doesn't do face masks," she stated firmly, shaking her head as she crossed her arms. "Rhonda, where can I change into my pajamas?" she asked and Rhonda pointed to a door on the left wall of her room. Helga went in closing the door behind her and quickly changed into her oversized pink nightshirt, looking at the bowl of green stuff on the bathroom counter. She frowned a bit and leaned her face down to smell the contents, Hm it actually kinda smells good. Sort of fruity. She exhaled harshly and looked at herself in the large bathroom mirror, seeing her reflection under the bright bulbs and against the stark white of Rhonda's personal bathroom.
She had never been self conscious until recently, and it had been increasing since returning from San Lorenzo. Once sixth grade started it didn't go unnoticed that her fellow female classmates were all sporting makeup and brand new clothes. Helga would have to blind not to see that she was the only one not to participate in the newfound rituals brought on by puberty, and she felt her self confidence wavering as of late. Her new relationship with Arnold had been making her analyze herself a bit more as well, and the desire to look good around him started clouding her mind.
She sighed and stared at her dark unibrow and pigtails in the mirror, suddenly hating how they looked. She carefully spooned some of the green goop out of the bowl and smeared it on her face. It was colder than she expected but it felt somewhat soothing on her pale cheeks. Not as horrible as it could be I guess, she thought and carefully pulled her hair out of her signature pigtails. Her hair was longer than she remembered when it was down, and she gulped as she took the pink bow from the top of her scalp and used it to wrap her hair in a low ponytail. She took a deep breath and opened the door, when the other girls caught sight of her with her matching green face they gave small cheers of excitement.
"Oh Helga, I'm ever so glad that you decided to participate!" a petite girl with auburn hair named Lila said with a giggle.
"Whatever sunshine, don't get too excited. I just figured when in Rome…" Helga responded, arms crossed not daring to make eye contact with her peers. She ventured across the room, sat down next to Phoebe and sighed.
"You know Helga, sometimes allowing yourself to experience new things, while a bit scary, can also be rather enjoyable," Phoebe said with a smile, "I hope you're not feeling too nervous in being here with our classmates."
"For crying out loud Pheebs, pipe down will ya?!" Helga exclaimed and clapped her hand over the mouth of her friend. "The last thing I need is Rhonda freaking Lloyd thinking I'm nervous around her," she looked around ensuring that no one was listening in, and took her hand from Phoebe's mouth once she was sure no ears were prying.
"Helga I think you're reading the situation all wrong. I'm sure Rhonda didn't invite you to torment you, she seems to have taken a genuine interest with you. Perhaps she is hoping to forge a new friendship," Phoebe responded in a near whisper, watching Helga's face soften a bit from her reassuring words.
"We've been hanging out with Geraldo and Football Head too much Phoebe, they're rubbin' off on ya," Helga muttered. However Phoebe noticed the small smile hidden on her best friend's face. She giggled as she shook her head at the blonde girl, but smiled encouragingly.
Suddenly Helga felt a gentle tug at her ponytail. Startled, she whipped her head around and saw Rhonda curiously running her fingers through her golden locks. "Helga, I never realized how lovely your hair is. I'm honestly a little jealous, how do you keep it so healthy?" Rhonda asked, genuine curiosity ringing in her voice.
"W-well I dunno, geez! I don't sit and paw at it like you are right now. B-but thanks, Rhonda," Helga replied, Phoebe noticed the usual harshness in her voice wasn't as pronounced. If anything, she thought, she merely sounded surprised at the interaction taking place.
"Well I hope you decide to wear it like this more often, it suits you, you know," Rhonda said with a smile as she gently dropped Helga's hair against her back. She stood up and clapped her hands together, "Alright girls, before the pizza gets here it's time for everyone to try something new," she announced. "We're waxing our eyebrows!" Helga's eyes simply widened but she didn't protest. She knew she was probably the only one who really needed it, and she was relieved she didn't feel anxiousness gripping her anymore. That's new, she thought to herself as she breathed a little more easily. Rhonda Lloyd, huh? Who would have guessed I might actually like you, princess.
Bob made the moving announcement two weeks before Helga's sixth grade graduation. She in turn made that same announcement the next day at lunch sitting on a large table in the cafeteria. The dark cloud looming over the sixth grade class of P.S. 118 was evident as she explained the details. She hated the idea of moving, especially now that she had finally gotten a bit more comfortable around everyone. Her self confidence no longer wavered the way it had at the beginning of the year, and Phoebe and Rhonda had been really successful in helping Helga feel more attractive. Today she was clad in dark washed skinny jeans, a plain light pink t-shirt with a pocket over her left breast, and white sneakers. She wore her hair down around her shoulders, something she had done more often as of late. Most notably her eyebrows had remained separated ever since Rhonda's party at the beginning of the year. She still avoided wearing makeup even now after deeming it too ridiculous to put the effort into.
"So yeah I guess he just got some deal from this hotshot down in California. He said he is going to finish selling most of his stock next week, then we leave right after the graduation ceremony," Helga told her classmates, biting her bottom lip in discomfort. Arnold was holding her hand, tears swimming in both of their eyes thinking about her sudden and likely permanent departure.
"Well dang, guess we gotta find ourselves a new catcher. I'm awful sad to see ya leave us," a tall boy with a southern accent said as he rubbed the back of his neck with a frown.
"Stinky's right, this really blows! None of these schmucks can keep up with me at the skatepark like you do Helga," a boy with a backwards hat covering his black hair said in agreement.
Helga forced a smile, "Sid for fuck's sake we all know you're the one keeping up with me."
"She's right Sid you suck!" a large boy named Harold said mockingly as obnoxious laughter escaped him. Everyone joined in laughing for a moment before continuing to offer their grievances at the thought of their friend leaving them for good.
"Well what am I supposed to do? Who will come shopping with Nadine and I now?" Rhonda asked as she flipped her hair and sighed, a girl with a dark complexion and braided blonde hair sadly nodded in agreement.
Helga looked up and smiled at the girl, but simply shrugged her shoulders. "Look guys, I know this whole thing is shit, but now that it's out there I really don't wanna think about it anymore right now. Let's just raise hell the next two weeks and we can all cry like a bunch of babies together when I actually leave." A few tears fell to her cheeks but she plastered a forced smile on her face in reassurance. Her eyes met with Arnold's, he offered her a small smile and squeezed her hand gently. She squeezed back in reply before shutting her eyes tight to keep the tears from pouring out. Her head fell to look at the floor, hoping to mask some of her misery behind her golden hair.
She felt a small hand on her knee and looked up to see the face of Phoebe Heyerdahl, her best friend and confidante since preschool. Helga stood, pulled her into a hug and the two girls sobbed over the terrible news. Phoebe's boyfriend Gerald had come over to put a reassuring hand on his girlfriend's shoulder, and Helga felt a tender touch around her waist from Arnold.
"Don't worry Pataki, I'll keep her safe while you're gone," Gerald said while running a hand through his coarse hair, relieving the somber silence. Helga looked up and playfully hit his shoulder with her fist.
"You freaking better Geraldo or I'll have your head on a platter!" She laughed as the tears kept falling, "Keep an eye on 'em for me Football Head, god knows without me around they'll need your morality to keep 'em in check. Make sure your best friend Gerald here doesn't try any funny business with Phoebe." Arnold smiled up at her, gently taking her face in his hands and wiping the wetness from her cheeks. She pulled him into a death grip of a hug and he gasped a bit at her sudden display of affection. He simply kissed the top of her head lovingly and sighed into the hug, Helga was rarely the one to initiate these things.
"I'll keep them in line for ya, Helga," he said with a weak chuckle, not allowing his arms to unwrap from the blonde until the bell rang for class.
The daily routines of the next two weeks played out in normalcy. Helga studied with her friends for their final exams, she met Harold, Stinky and Sid at the skatepark, and played catch with the whole gang. She had dinner with Arnold at the boarding house with his family several nights before she had to leave. Arnold's grandparents Phil and Gertie were especially saddened by the news of Helga leaving, and made it very clear how special she was to the family. One evening, his parents Stella and Miles did their best to try to cheer everyone up by going through pictures of them and all their classmates during their trip to San Lorenzo. Helga appreciated the gesture but couldn't help but feel immense dejection at the sight of everyone's smiling faces from a happier time that she knew was gone forever.
The night before graduation, after enjoying dinner with Arnold's family and the boarders, Phil and Gertie were leading everyone in singing rounds of "Camptown Races." Helga was laughing and shaking her head in amusement, but was happy to join in the merriment that was distracting her from her current predicament. She was clapping and singing along with everyone, when suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at Arnold who was nodding his head towards his room, ushering her to follow. She took his hand and they ran down the hall and up the stairs to his room. He smiled as he opened the skylight, and climbed the ladder onto the rooftop. She giggled as he grabbed her hand and helped hoist her up into his arms. They laughed together as he spun them around until they finally collapsed. They laid there out-of-breath and with goofy smiles stuck on their faces.
Arnold got up, and held a hand out to Helga, helping her onto her feet. She kept his hand in hers, her face flushing as she smiled and kissed his cheek. She turned herself westward and noticed the sunset painted on the horizon before them. Arnold followed her obediently as she pulled them to the railing at the edge of the building. The city skyline was engulfing the great blood orange sunburst that seemingly ripped into the sheet that was the evening sky. Vibrant scarlet and salmon hues streaked across the setting sun as bright stars slowly poked holes into the velvety blue backdrop. He looked at the angelic face of the girl next to him, tears brimming her sapphire eyes. She caught sight of him watching her, and laid her golden clad head upon his shoulder. He rested his cheek on her temple in response, and they stayed like that until the darkness finally defeated the light.
"I'm going to miss you, you know," Helga finally said. Arnold could feel her warm, wet tears on his shoulder. He took a lock of her blonde hair and gently twirled it between his fingers and she sighed in content.
"You know Helga, I never got to thank you properly for everything you did back in San Lorenzo. You gave me my family back and I'm so grateful to you. I never thought that after all that, I'd lose you too," Arnold's voice cracked as he spoke, and Helga could feel quiet sobs overtaking her. He pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her as they both wept. She looked up, took his face in her hands, and bestowed a tender kiss on his lips. Their hearts did backflips and the contact sent tingles down both their spines. Helga pulled back a little, exhaling raggedly with hooded eyes as their lips left each other. She looked as if she was going to say something but her phone buzzed suddenly in her pocket. She growled as she pulled it out to look at it, and started typing out a message in clear annoyance at the interruption.
"That was Bob. I have to go and help Miriam finish some last minute packing, Football Head. See you tomorrow at the ceremony?" She asked with a hopeful smile. Arnold couldn't help but see a hint of sadness on her face. He wanted to ask her what she had wanted to say, but thought better of it. He didn't want to risk ruining this absolutely perfect moment with his questions.
"Of course, see you at the ceremony," he said and crashed his lips into her once again with more force than the last time. His face was obviously flushed and his green eyes were slightly glazed over with lust as he stared at her. He leaned forward one last time, his cheek pressed into hers. "Y-you uh...you look really beautiful tonight. By the way," he whispered to her in a low voice. Pink spread across her cheeks and her face cracked into a heartfelt smile. She finally backed away from him in a playful manner, locking her eyes with his.
"Flattery won't get you anywhere bucko," she said with a sly smirk. He just laughed as they said their goodbyes and he watched Helga disappear through the hole in his skylight.
Graduation went as expected, with Phoebe giving a powerful speech to the student body about welcoming changes and celebrating new beginnings. Everyone was wearing broad smiles as their names were called one by one, but the joy Helga felt with her classmates was fleeting as they anticipated her departure. Tears were shed after the ceremony finished, and she promised she would keep in touch and visit as much as she could. Phoebe and Helga cried together, sharing hugs repetitively and promising to talk as soon as Helga was in California.
Her and Arnold had managed to sneak off to hug and kiss a few times before Bob finally found her and drove her home. Afterwards, Helga grudgingly helped her parents pack up the moving truck and made sure everything was in order before the long drive ahead. She had a habit of keeping a pink notebook with her whenever possible, to transfer her emotions to paper in the form of poetry. After she put the last of her boxes in the moving truck, she carefully tossed the pink notebook into the back seat. She figured she would need the emotional outlet after the day she had. She noticed the sun was starting to set, and her mind went back to the rooftop of the Sunset Arms boarding house. She touched her fingertips to her mouth and felt the imprint of Arnold's lips on hers from the night before.
Bob and Miriam were doing a final sweep of the house as she sat in the backseat waiting. She felt a buzz in her pocket and she smiled when her eyes read the name of the sender. She bit her lip as she opened the message.
"Look behind you :)"
Helga smiled as she saw a silhouette with a distinct oblong head on a bike behind her. She quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and ran to Arnold as he dismounted.
"What the heck are you doing here, Football Head?" She asked in surprise. Arnold said nothing as he pulled her into a hug and kissed her temple.
"I'd be kicking myself later if I didn't get a chance to say goodbye again," he finally said with a weary chuckle. Helga looked up at him and smiled before scrunching her face and giving him a swift flick on the forehead.
"What were you thinking? Little last minute, don't ya think? I could have been gone by now, idiot!" She replied as water welled up over her bright blue eyes. Arnold rubbed the back of his neck, he felt a sharp pain in his chest as he stared into the blue orbs of sadness fixated on his own.
"S-sorry, I came as fast as I could, I swear! As soon as I got home I scarfed down dinner and rode my bike here as fast as I -," he never finished his sentence as Helga pressed her lips into his. He kissed her back fiercely and pulled her closer, his grip tightened around her waist and he never wanted to let her go. A booming voice quickly interrupted them.
"Hey Olga! Quit kissing that strange boy and get in the car, we're leaving!" Bob yelled. Helga's body tensed as she pulled back, a scowl taking over her face.
"Hold your horses Bob! I'll be there in a second geez!" She yelled back. Arnold looked up at her, tightening his grip around her further as he did.
"Guess this is it then, huh?" He asked, forcing a soft smile.
She cracked an unconvincing smile back before replying, "Seems like it. I'll text you when I get to California, Arnold. I...I-I'm really gonna miss you Shortman." She gave his shoulder a gentle shove.
"I'm going to miss you too Helga, s-so much," he choked on the words, "I'll be waiting for your message, let me know you've made it there safely," he said and they shared one final soft kiss. Helga pulled away from him and he watched her walk back to the car, turning once to wave one last time before getting in. He held up his hand to wave back feebly, and a lump appeared in his throat that made it increasingly hard to breathe as it grew. He watched the car as the lights popped on, and never once averted his gaze until the vehicle disappeared into nothingness.
"I love you, Helga," Arnold quietly confessed to the black cloak of night that had appeared around him.
The message never came. Arnold faithfully kept his phone by his side at all times, checking it frequently. He was sitting in his room playing video games with Gerald and pulled out his phone. He sighed when he didn't see any new messages and cradled his head on his hand watching his friend blow up characters on the screen. Helga's probably tired from the move. Maybe she just forgot. He shot a quick glance to Gerald before typing out a message to her on his phone.
"Hey there, guess who? :) How was the drive?"
He quickly hit send and hastily stuck his phone back in his pocket. He was struggling to keep his focus on the screen, instead sitting on his bed, his leg bouncing in anticipation. His phone buzzed and he quickly grabbed at it in excitement, but his face fell when he realized it was just Sid asking him to come skate with him and Stinky. He sighed heavily, tossing the phone on his bed and throwing himself onto his mattress.
"Man what is going on with you?" Gerald quirked an eyebrow at him, taking notice of his friend's obvious fidgeting and downcasted demeanor. "You still not hear any word from Pataki?" Arnold simply grunted and shook his head in response before finally opening his mouth to speak.
"I just don't get it Gerald. I thought everything was fine. We've been planning on trying to make things work, I don't understand what happened. I don't know what I did," Arnold's sullen words made his friend frown and pinch the bridge of his nose.
Gerald sighed, "Dude we gotta figure out what's going on, it's been almost a week. Lord knows she's been in California for a few days by now. Listen, Phoebe is supposed to go to the beach with her parents today, but you might still be able to catch her if we hurry. Why don't we just go over there and see if she's heard anything?"
It was like a lightbulb went off as Arnold jumped from his bed, slipped on his shoes and ran down the stairs and out the door. He sprinted through the city streets, taking a few turns until he made it to Phoebe's house. He realized he had just left Gerald sitting in his room, but continued his quick footing. I'll apologize later, he thought. He was relieved to see a black-haired girl standing on the front steps, facing the door to lock it.
"Hey Phoebe!" He blurted out somewhat breathlessly as he ran up the steps and the girl jumped in surprise.
"Arnold you startled me! You look a bit disheveled, are you in some sort of hurry? What are you doing here?" she questioned, an eyebrow raised at him in confusion as she turned to him.
Arnold forced a small laugh, still out of breath, "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you," he took a deep breath to steady his words, "I actually wanted to talk to you about Helga. She told me she would text me when they got to California, but it's been a few days since she's been there and I still haven't heard anything. I'm just worried about her, I think she's mad at me." Phoebe frowned at that, Helga never mentioned having any issues with Arnold. She figured they were still on good terms since the move.
She simply cocked her head and said, "Well Arnold to be quite honest I'm as surprised as you are. Helga and I have already talked on the phone several times since she arrived in California. She never gave me any reason to think that the two of you weren't corresponding or that something has upset her." Arnold groaned in frustration and ran his hand through his blonde hair.
"You're sure she never said anything about being mad at me or anything like that?" Arnold asked, his heart sank as Phoebe shook her head at him.
"No I'm certain she never mentioned anything like that. I don't mean to leave the conversation like this, but my parents are waiting for me in the car," she motioned to a brown sedan and two people waved at Arnold from inside. He gave a quick wave before his head fell and he stared at the concrete, sticking his hands in his pockets.
"Well, would you mind talking to her for me Phoebe? Tell her I'm really sorry for whatever I did, and that I just want to speak to her? You're kinda my last hope here," He lifted his head and looked Phoebe in the eyes as he spoke. She made note of the obvious anguish they reflected and nodded in agreement.
"Yes of course Arnold. I'll do my best to speak with her on the matter, but do keep in mind that she may not be willing to tell me anything. Helga is still Helga after all." Phoebe sighed and then cracked a small reassuring smile, "I'll do my best though, I promise. See you later Arnold." She waved and headed down the steps just as Gerald came jogging up to her. He shot Arnold a glare as he pulled Phoebe into a hug, telling her to enjoy the beach and to text him later. They finally unwrapped from their embrace and the boys watched as Phoebe got into the car and drove off with her parents.
Weeks had passed and Arnold still hadn't heard anything from Helga. Phoebe wasn't much help, being Helga's best friend she was privy to her secrets but told him that Helga simply shut down at the mention of his name. Helga never told her if or why she would be upset with him, and that her only response was that she didn't want to talk about it. Arnold wasn't ready to give up yet, still trying to call and text her everyday.
Finally one night, he called her once again at the same time he always did on a whim. He was expecting it to go to voicemail as per usual, but he heard the line click as his call was finally accepted.
"Helga?!" He gasped in astonishment and excitement. His heart rate accelerated slightly knowing that she was on the other line. Thank god, he thought. The voice that came through the phone was not Helga however, and his heart sank to his stomach when it spoke to him.
"No this is Big Bob Pataki! And who the hell is this? Why are you harassing my daughter?" Bob's voice bellowed over the phone, and Arnold's eyebrows furrowed in frustration. Big Bob wasn't his favorite person in the world, and he had put the fear of God into Arnold a few times prior.
"S-sir, this is Arnold. Helga's boyfriend from Hillwood, can you put her on the phone?" he asked with as much conviction as his voice would allow.
"Boyfriend? Olga doesn't have a boyfriend! Look kid, my daughter doesn't want to talk to you," Bob yelled in response, Arnold could hear a small voice say something in the background.
"I-I don't believe you. Is that Helga? Please, please sir, just let me talk to her," he pleaded in a low voice.
"Oh for crying out - Helga! The kid wants to talk to you," Bob said and Arnold could hear her protesting in the background for a bit until her voice finally reached the receiver.
"What do you want, Arnold?" Her voice was cold, and Arnold's mouth was left slightly agape at the unfeeling emotion behind her question.
"Wh-what do you mean? Helga, why won't you talk to me? Is he making you do this, is your dad not letting you take my calls?" he felt a lump forming in his throat that he tried his best to swallow down as he questioned her. Callous laughter rang in his ear in response.
"My old man's not making me do anything. Look Arnold, just forget about me okay? I don't want to hear from you. So stop calling me, stop texting me, stop thinking about me and lose my number," the coldness in her voice was seething and Arnold could feel his heart breaking as she hurled the words at him.
"Helga. Please. Please, why are you doing this? Why won't you talk to me?" Arnold softly begged as he fought back the tears in his eyes. He gripped the top of his head, feeling dizzy from the confusion and heartbreak over taking him. The icy breath at the other end of the line's words fired back like sharp knives into his heart.
"Don't call me anymore," filled his ear followed by a soft click. He looked at his phone and "Call ended" met his mossy colored eyes. His heart sank to the floor as bursts of sobs came out of him and he threw his phone on the nightstand. After several minutes, he hissed and picked up his phone again. He hiccuped a few times and his eyes were clouded with sorrow as he pulled up his contacts. He scrolled slowly and allowed his thumb to linger over Helga's name for a moment before finally pressing delete. He fell onto his bed, pulling his blanket around him snugly, and cried himself to sleep.
Helga's azure eyes analyzed the green Packard in front of them. There's no fucking way, she thought as she carefully watched the car follow the curves of the wet road leading into the city. She finally sat down in her seat with a heavy sigh, crossing her legs over the cool, black leather next to her. Even if it wasn't Arnold in the car ahead, she knew a confrontation was inevitable at some point anyway. She had been playing it out in her head for a while now and absolutely dreading it since the news broke that they were moving back home.
Bob and Miriam were just as miserable as Helga in California. Bob quickly realized that having a partner was a shit gig and took it out on Helga and Miriam with fervor. Miriam was drinking more than ever before in response to his hate-filled words, not even bothering to conceal the liquor in her "smoothies" any more. Bob wasn't used to so many parameters and didn't enjoy having to seek permission for his business decisions. Of course at a certain point he realized it was too late, Big Bob's Beeper Emporium was really gone. He sold his shares of Elexus, not wanting to answer to anyone anymore, and told the family they were going back to Hillwood. An old buddy of his back home was retiring and selling his furniture store. Bob was offered the opportunity to run his own business again, and he quickly jumped on it without any protest from Helga or Miriam. He found them a decent sized home in the city, and Helga was able to enroll in school just a week later than her classmates.
Helga had been sick with worry in the months leading up to the move. She was relieved to be leaving California, she hated the constant sticky heat and overbearing sun. Plus the events that preceded the moving announcement left her more than ready to get out of there. The people there were amoral and superficial, and after several confrontations with her classmates, she was deemed an outcast once again. She never stopped longing for the rainy weather and contentment of her former home. She missed her friends and the comforts the town she grew up in afforded her. Phoebe and Rhonda were of course ecstatic when she told them the news, and she made Rhonda fucking swear she wouldn't say a word to any of their classmates about her return. Helga promised a fist in her face if she dared utter a breath about it to anyone. Phoebe assured her that Rhonda had kept her word, and no one had any knowledge of Helga's homecoming.
She thought back to the night she left Hillwood, and the countless tears she silently cried in the backseat of Bob's car as they ventured towards her new life in California. Helga had loved Arnold, she had loved everything about him. His green eyes and fair hair, his dopey lopsided smile, his gentle laughter, his good-hearted nature and selflessness. He was perfect, and Helga wasn't. She couldn't handle knowing someone like that was pining over her and longing to be with her. She didn't deserve that kind of pure and wholesome love. He needed someone better, someone who could match his unbridled kindness and lust for life. Someone beautiful and smart and sweet. Arnold's heart was too great to be trapped with her in California. So she did what she did best, pushed him away and used harsh words to elicit feelings of loathing with the hope that he could give himself to someone worthy. Following the last phone call Helga had had with the blonde boy, she and Phoebe made a pact to never speak of him again.
She thought about the hundreds of times she composed text messages and deleted them. Or pressed his name on her phone but never daring to hit the call button. She filled several notebooks with poems about him, even now at the age of sixteen he was her muse and her inspiration and he meant the world to her. Her heart still bore the scars of their breakup and she was terrified to see him, even five years after she broke both of their hearts.
Helga snapped back to reality when a text message buzzed in her pocket. She had stopped fully anticipating seeing any messages from Arnold at this point, though she always held onto that shred of hope every time her phone lit up. The text on the screen however, belonged to none other than her best friend Phoebe Heyerdahl.
"Hello Helga, I trust you'll be arriving soon! Text me when you've safely reached your destination and we'll make plans for the week."
Helga smiled as she read. What a nut bar. She probably calculated the travel time and everything, she thought as she typed her reply.
"Hey Pheebs. We are basically here. I gotta help do some unpacking and then hit the hay. Bob's slow ass driving is putting me to sleep. I'll text ya tomorrow."
She hit send and almost immediately received a message back.
"Very well, get some rest. I look forward to hearing from you tomorrow. It's good to have you home Helga!"
Helga slipped her phone into her pocket, she looked out the car window and saw they had finally made it into the city. She allowed her eyes to once more tentatively graze the front windshield. The green Packard was no longer in sight and she sighed in relief as she closed her eyes. You're gonna have a lot of explaining to do, Helga ol' girl.