Chapter 5
Images flashed on the white board. A cheap projector whined as the teacher swapped images from a picture of William Shakespeare to a picture of a piece of paper with more notes for the students to take.
With a huff, Arnold picked up his pencil and started to copy the notes onto his sheet of paper. A strong yawn escaped him as she quickly tried to write down the notes before the teacher quickly tried to change the slide.
Arnold yawned and tried to stay awake. Just a few more minutes until class was over. Then he had to meet with his tutor for the next few weeks. For the exact class he was in now.
To his right, Harold snored softly, Sid was chewing on his pencil staring at the ceiling, and Stinky was reading the newest edition of 'Sweet Country Livin.'
RING RING RING
"Come on Arnold." Stinky said as he jumped up from his desk." I'll give you a ride home."
"Actually Stinky." I think I'll just walk home today." Arnold said as he stayed put in his desk.
"Oh yeah." Harold said as he elbowed Stinky." I forgot Arnold has that lame tutor to deal with today."
"Oh yeah." Stinky replied with a sigh. "Poor Arnold."
"Ah, shut up." Sid replied back with a yawn." He's a dumbass for getting stuck in this anyways."
"Thanks for that Sid." Arnold replied as he held up a thumbs up and a sarcastic smile to his jerk of a friend.
"You're welcome." Sid replied with a wink." Have fun in hell Arnold." He stated as he started to make his way out of the classroom.
"Yeah, have fun." Stinky said with a weak smile as he followed Sid."
"Ha, loser!" Harold said with a laugh as he also followed the duo out of the classroom.
With a sarcastic wave, Arnold watched his friends leave the classroom.
'What great friends I have.' He thought to himself as an irritated sigh escaped from his lungs.
If he was completely honest with himself, Stinky was really the only real friend he had. Sure, he found ways to get himself into trouble. But he was a down to earth, good ole fashioned country boy. And he would never change.
No matter how much trouble he found himself in. He would always back his friends up when they needed him the most. He would always help them out of their own tough situations and he was always there to help them pull through.
'Good ole Stinky.' Arnold thought and chuckled to himself as Mrs. Denson walked in the room.
"Mr. Shortman." She said with a quick nod directed at the teen." Your tutor should be here any minute now."
"Thank you." Arnold replied with a quick nod back to the teacher." I'll be here waiting."
…
"Damnit! Of course I'm late!" Helga Pataki thought to herself as she spun tires into the parking lot of P.S. 120.
She quickly found a parking spot and screeched to a stop right in front of an old run down pickup truck.
"Of course Olga got back from the store late! She's always going out, wasting her damn money!" Helga said to herself with a huff." She needs to get her own frickin car!"
Helga gathered up her purse and keys, and opened the door with a strong push. However, the door suddenly came to a stop and she heard a loud "OOF."
She quickly looked up to see a familiar overweight teen rubbing his belly.
"Harold?!" She said in disbelief.
"You almost knocked me out madam fortress mommy!" He said with a snort as he looked Helga up and down.
"Nice to see you too, pig boy." She said with an eye roll." Sorry about the door."
"Ah, It's okay." Harold said as he brushed off his belly." It was an accident."
"Yes." Helga said as she turned to shut her door." Yes it was."
She quickly locked her car when she heard another familiar voice. However, this one had a deep southern drawl to it."Well, looky there, it's miss Helga." Helga looked up to see a familiar country boy leaned over on the trunk of her car.
"Well, no shit. I see her." Sid said as he walked up and playfully jabbed Stinky in his side.
"Hey guys." Helga said with a short smile." Haven't seen you guys in a long time."
"Been a few years." Sid replied as he eyed her." Still living off daddy Scheck's money?"
Stinky suddenly jabbed Sid in his side as Helga placed a scowl on her lips.
"Don't take nothin from that Helga." Stinky said as he eyed Sid." We just saw you and we wanted to say hello."
"Yeah right." Sid replied in a low, raspy voice as he rubbed his now sore side." I see daddy's money has been treating you good Helga." He nodded in her direction." Those fake boobs you got there?"
"Cut it out Sid." Stinky said, looking at Sid with an angry look." We ain't here to-"
Sid suddenly felt someone grab him by the collar of his shirt and shove him down onto the car.
"Listen up bucko!" He heard a powerful feminine voice in his ear." Don't you ever, and I mean ever, talk to me like that again!"
"Woah, Helga!" Harold yelled as he grabbed Helga's arm before she recoiled and pushed him off of her.
"Don't touch me, fat boy!" She yelled at him." I'll sock you like I used to in the fourth grade!"
"Okay, okay." Harold said with an innocent tone on his voice." I'm sorry Helga."
"Come on guys." Sid said as he sniffled and straightened back out his shirt." Our work is done here."
Helga just continued to stare at Sid with a fire in her eyes. How dare he talk to her like that! Oh well, what else did she expect from a little creep like him.
"Come on. Let's go guys." Harold said as he waved his hand towards Stinky's truck." Bye Helga."
Helga just rolled her eyes as she started her walk to the school. Trying to stay out of trouble. Trying to stay away from them.
"Hey, Helga." She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder." I'm sorry about Sid. I didn't know he was gonna be a dang fool like that."
"I know Stinky." Helga replied, her fists still clinched at her sides." They just pissed me off."
"I know Helga." Stinky replied with a sigh." They got a way of doing that to folks."
Stinky looked at the ground in shame. Even through all the nasty behavior he had experienced with Helga, she had always been a good, true, friend to him.
Helga looked over and saw the look of sorrow in Stinky's eyes. She grinned to herself and placed her hand on his shoulder.
Stinky felt Helga's hand on his shoulder and looked over at her." Hey Stinko." Helga said with a small grin." Thanks for being a good friend. It means more to me than you think."
She quickly patted his shoulder and set her hand back at her side." You've always been a good friend to me, Stinky."
"Well." Stinky replied with a grin." I have always tried my best, miss Helga."
"I know." Helga said, before clearing her throat." Shit, I gotta go. I have to tutor some guy that goes to school here."
"Bye Helga." Stinky said with a quick wave as she darted off towards the school.
"Man." Stinky said to himself as he watched Helga run off." Almost screwed that one up. Wouldn't want her to think I was a bad friend of something."
…
Arnold tapped his pencil on his desk. He took a quick glance up at the clock above the whiteboard. Almost three thirty!
"Where is this guy?" Arnold whispered to himself as he stood up from his desk." Might as well go take a look."
He crept up to the doorway to hear a voice." Hey, sorry I'm late! Got caught up in traffic. Rush hour, you know?"
The voice was followed by a nervous laugh. It all sounded so familiar. Arnold however, couldn't exactly pinpoint to who exactly it was.
"It's okay dear." He heard his English teacher say as she walked out of her office down the hall. He's right down there, waiting in my classroom."
"Thanks Mrs…"
"Denson. Kathy Denson."
"Right, thank you, Mrs. Denson. I'll try and make quick work today!"
Arnold tried to stick his ear out of the door, without any of his football headed frame sticking out. He didn't want to get caught sneaking a peek, he just wanted to know who it was. And why their voice sounded so familiar.
"No, it's fine dear. Take as much time as you need. I am in no rush."
"Oh, well good. Because I'm ready to give this bucko one heck of a lesson!"
Arnold suddenly shot backwards into the classroom, as if someone had grabbed him.
'No, it can't be! Can it? No, not her! Why would she be tutoring?! Well, I guess she was good at English. She had one of the best grades in English back in Mr. Simmon's class.'
Arnold's mind was in a million places.' I guess it wouldn't hurt to look. I'm sure they're still talking.'
He silently crept back up to the door. Slowly but surely he started to stick his head out the door. He was just about to look when BAM!
Arnold felt something run into him as he recoiled backwards, followed by a feminine scream. He fell to the ground before feeling a lady fall on top of him.
Arnold shook his head in shock." Are you okay, miss?" Arnold asked the blonde headed lady, who was currently coming to her senses.
She quickly looked up and for the first time in a very long time, a pair of ocean blue eyes met a pair of emerald green eyes.
For a moment, Arnold felt peaceful. The blue eyes seemed to calm his nerves. He was ready to confront someone about running into him, but now. All he wanted to do was relax and just look at this view for hours.
Meanwhile, Helga wasn't having as much fun as her crush. Her heart instantly fell to the floor. She felt herself behind to shake.' Get it together Helga!'
"ARNOLD?!" Helga shrieked as she recoiled off of him." Yo-your the guy I have to tutor?"
"Nice to see you too, Helga." Arnold said with a strong grunt as he picked himself up off of the ground.
'Oh no! Oh my gosh no!'
"S-so, how ya been, football head? Looks like your head is still as wide as I remember." She said with a nervous laugh.
'I can not let him find out he saved me from that creep! If I say a word I'll spill my guts to him about my true feelings towards him!'
"Yeah, yeah very funny." Arnold said with a smirk." Looks like you're just as charming as ever."
"It just comes naturally." Helga replied with a satisfied huff." Now come on, we have work to do."
"Like what?" Arnold asked.
Helga rolled her eyes as she turned around to face the teen." For your tutoring. Damn, head boy, are you still this dense? Now come on and sit down!"
Arnold was a little taken back from this sudden outburst from Helga." Well come on Helga, cut me some slack."
"You want slack cut back?" Helga snapped back." Let this be known football head, there will be no slack cut while I am here tutoring you. Now get your butt in this desk so we can get this over already!"
She inhaled and exhaled a heavy and deep sigh." I haven't seen you in years and you still somehow find a way to annoy the piss out of me."
Arnold could feel his heart start to drop." Well gee Helga, I'm sorry." His voice was constantly raising." I haven't seen you in years and maybe I just wanted to talk to you. See how you've been over the years. But no, looks like you haven't changed a bit have you?"
Helga turned around, feeling a bit stiff. Did Arnold just get angry at her? I mean hell, she would understand if he did, but this wasn't like him. Not to get angry that easily.
"You're right." Helga said in a much lighter tone." You're right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone off like that."
Arnold's eyes widened significantly. Did Helga Pataki just… apologize?To him, of all people?
"Well, it's okay Helga." Arnold said as he put a hand on her shoulder.
Helga instantly felt herself become stiff from his touch. Gentle and warm, just like the old Arnold she used to know. Streams of electricity spread through her shoulder. He really needed to sit down.
"Hey, don't touch me!" Helga replied, shoving his hand off of her." I might have apologized, but that doesn't mean get all sappy with me, okay?"
"Okay." Arnold replied, holding his hands in front of him in defense." Guess some things never change, don't they?"
Helga felt herself smirk. She looked over at the football head and he smirked back at her." Yeah." She replied with a sigh." I guess they don't."
Helga took this moment to observe Arnold. His jawline had more features than it used to. His muscular frame could easily be noticed through the thin blue T-shirt he wore. He still wore that same stupid blue cap. And he still had that stupid football head charm he had possessed all of these years.
'Why did he have to get even hotter after all these years?!'
Meanwhile, Arnold was also checking out his former classmate.' Well, she's still Helga Pataki. Not a lick of makeup on. Her unibrow is gone. I wonder why she shaved it off?'
"Okay, bucko." Helga said with a sigh." Enough lollygagging around, we have work to do."
"Yeah, I know." Arnold replied with a sigh." Guess it is time we hit the books."
Arnold calmly took a seat at his desk to see Helga putting her backpack on the desk to his left.
" Today I'm not going to do much teaching." She said with a strong huff as she pulled a giant binder from her pink book bag.
"I just want to see what I'm dealing with, you know. Then I'll take your work home, study it, and see what needs improvement."
"Sounds smart." Arnold replied as he shrugged his shoulders.
"I know it's smart, head boy." Helga replied with a grin as she laid a piece of paper, and a pencil on his desk." That's why I'm doing it."
Arnold looked up into her blue eyes once again. All he could do was nod and place a goofy grin on his face.' Why did she have to get so hot over the years?'
"Now get to work." Helga said as she walked away." I'll be over here if you have any questions."
Arnold just watched as Helga walked over and sat down in the desk to his left.
He shook the thoughts from his head, and tried to focus on the task at hand. He picked up the pencil, looked at his piece of paper, and realized something.
"Hey, Helga." He said as he looked over to see the teen on her phone, texting someone.
"Yeah, Arnold?"
"What's the topic I should use to write about?"
"Hold on, just give me a minute."
Arnold just stared as the girl continued to text rapidly on her phone.' I wonder who she's texting…'
"Now what is it?" She asked, looking up at him.
That's when Arnold noticed something.
"Helga, you're eye." Arnold said, pointing towards her left eye. How had he not noticed this before?
"Yeah, what about it?" Helga asked, scowling at him.
"You're left eye. There's a small bruise underneath it. What happened?" Arnold asked, concern filling his voice.
Helga's heart instantly dropped.' Oh, criminy! He noticed! Just play it cool Helga! Just play it cool!
"Oh, I just ran into a street lamp the other day." She replied with a shrug.
"A street lamp?" Arnold asked, his eyes wide." Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's no biggie." She replied with a smirk." You should've seen the street lamp after I was done with it."
"Knowing you, it probably wasn't pretty." Arnold replied with a smirk of his own.
'Whew! He bought it.' Helga thought to herself in relief.
"Yeah, I guess so." Helga replied in a calm and collective manner.
"Well, I was just worried." Arnold said as his smirk turned into a more serious look." You know, the crime is getting real bad back in the old neighborhood."
"Yeah, it is." Helga replied, feeling herself grow nervous again.
'I hope he doesn't bring it up. Please Arnold, do not bring it up! I have to do something!'
"Hey!" Helga said, breaking the tension." I know what you can write about."
"What?" Arnold asked, leaning back in his desk once again.
"How about, you write about the growing crime in cities, and how we can stop it!" Helga replied.
"Hmmm." Arnold said, as he tapped his pencil on his desk." You know, that's not a bad idea, Helga."
"Of course it's not." Helga replied, her smirk back on her face." Now get to work! We only have about thirty minutes left."
…
BEEP BEEP BEEP
"Times up, football head." Helga said with a sigh as she stood up from her desk.
"Hold on, just finishing up." Arnold said as he carefully spelled out his name at the top of the paper.
"Come on Arnold, it doesn't take twenty years to spell your name!" Helga said with an impatient huff.
"All done!" Arnold said as he reached up in the air above him to give her the paper.
Helga quickly snatched the paper from his hand and walked over to her desk to put the paper away.
"So, we'll meet again Thursday?" Arnold asked as he watched her shove the large binder back in her backpack.
"No, Arnold tomorrow. Doi! Of course it's Thursday!" Helga replied, rolling her eyes.' Football head is just as dense as he's always been.'
"Okay." Arnold said with a smirk as he stood up from his desk." Well, I guess I'll see you Thursday then."
"Bye, Arnold." Helga replied as she zipped her backpack up.
"Wait." Arnold said as the girl who used to be taller than him turned around.
"You know." Helga said as she looked up at him." Puberty was a bitch to you. Now, you're taller than me. And I don't really like it."
"Ha ha ha, really funny." Arnold replied in a sarcastic tone.
"It was." Helga replied with a large smirk." Now what is it, head boy?"
Arnold felt his chest get tight. He felt his palms grow sweaty. Butterflies threatened to fly in his stomach as he looked into her diamond blue eyes.' Why do I feel like this?'
"Well, I just wanted to say, it was nice talking to you again. I-I've missed you Helga. A-and, I'm glad you're my tutor. H-hell, maybe we can bond from this!"
'That was horrible.' Arnold thought to himself.' Why do I feel like this? It's Helga of all people, she hates me!'
Meanwhile, Helga felt her heart melt. Arnold had said one of the sweetest things she had ever heard in her life.
"W-well, gee, thanks football head." Helga replied, doing her best not to stutter.
"Until, next time." Arnold said with a smirk as he took her hand and shook it.
"Bye, Arnold." Helga said a small smirk as she watched the football headed dork walk out of the classroom.
When the coast was clear, she sat down on the desk behind her. She touched her red hot cheek with the hand Arnold shook.
"That stupid football head. He sure does have a dorky way of cute."
…
Helga turned the wheel of her car onto her block. For the first time, she felt peaceful. It's almost like she could see her life clearly. For one of the first times in a long time.
She was honestly surprised everything with Arnold went as good as it did. She somehow controlled herself and they sat and talked like normal human beings.
'Oh, Arnold.' She thought to herself.' My sweet cornflower hair prince. Maybe one day in the near future I can muster up the strength to tell you how I feel. And I can show you the real Helga Pataki. The girl that cares deeply about you. Cares about you more than life itself. Maybe. Just maybe.'
Helga smiled as she gently placed her foot on the brake of her car and eased it to a stop.
After a few moments of getting her things together, she opened the door to the humble abode of the Pataki residence.
She took a right to the kitchen, half expecting her mother to be passed out drunk on the kitchen table. However, that was not the case.
I'm fact, Helga was witnessing one of the weirdest events she had ever seen go on in her home.
"Hey dear. How was your day?" Miriam Pataki asked as she looked up and smiled at her daughter.
Helga was dumbfounded at the sight of her mother. Miriam was standing in front of Helga, purse in hand. She had on a bright pink jacket with a comfy pair of jeans on to go with it. Her hair was actually fixed up for once and she had it made into a neat bun.
"Mom." Helga said, still dumbfounded." You look beautiful."
"Oh, stop it honey." Miriam replied, beaming a smile at her daughter." I'm just getting ready for my little AA meeting I'm going to tonight."
"That's great mom!" Helga replied in a loud tone as she lurched forward and hugged her mom in a big tight bear hug.
"Oh sweetie." Miriam said with a sniffle as she patted Helga on the back gently.
"Mom." Helga asked, concern raising in her voice." Are you crying?"
Miriam sniffled before finally breaking the hug. Helga looked at her mother to see streaks of eyeliner running down her face.
"I know I haven't ever been the best parent to you." She took off her glasses to gently wipe her eyes with her wrist.
"Hold on mom." Helga said in a soft voice. She quickly walked over to the kitchen sink, grabbed a clean dish towel, and dabbed a few drops of water on it.
"You don't want to mess up your makeup before your big night." Helga said with a smile as she wiped the tears away from her mother's eyes.
"Oh, Helga." Miriam said with a sigh as she looked up at the ceiling." How do I deserve such a great daughter like you after all these years of putting you through hell?"
Helga was in shock." Mom, where is this coming from? You've never been this emotional, about anything my whole life. Why the big change? And why didn't you tell me?"
"Well." Miriam replied as Helga continued to wipe away at her face." I was going to surprise you tonight, but you got home a bit earlier than I thought you would."
"All done." Helga said as she stepped away from her mom." And I'm sorry Miri- I mean mom."
"It's okay Helga." Miriam said as she placed her glasses back on her face." And the reason I'm making this change is because I'm sick of the life I was living."
"What do you mean exactly?" Helga asked, sounding intrigued. Helga knew what life her mother was talking about. She just wanted to hear her reasons.
"A few days ago." Miriam said with a strong huff, trying to hold back more tears." I woke up sober, no headache this time. Those wore off years ago. Anyways, I got a call from Olga."
'Should've known.' Helga thought to herself as she continued to listen to her mother's story.
"And Helga, Olga sounded so happy to talk to me. I told her I hadn't had a drink since the morning before, and she was so excited to hear that."
She sniffled again, trying to hold back more tears." And that's when I realized that I had missed all those years of you two girls being happy. While you girls were always out and about doing your own things, here I was at home, drowning myself in a bottle. And I know that I'll never get to see those days, and-"
"Mom." Helga said calmly, placing a hand on her mother's shoulder." It's okay. The only thing that matters is the decision you are making right now. To make a change. And that means the world to me mom."
"Oh, Helga." Miriam said, tears flooding her eyes once again." That was the sweetest thing but-"
She suddenly looked away from her daughter.
"Miri- I mean, mom?" Helga asked, curiously." What is it?"
"Nothing, sweetie." Miriam said with a sniffle.
Helga gave her mother a knowing look."Mom, you can tell me."
Miriam looked back at her daughter, a single tear ran down her face." Helga, promise me you won't tell your father."
Helga's eyes widened significantly." Mom." She said, starting to worry now." What happened?"
"Just promise me you won't tell him." She suddenly placed her hands on both of Helga's shoulders." Please, just promise me."
"Okay, I promise." Helga said, her tone still sounding more worried by the second.
"Okay, good." Miriam said as she cleared her throat." Well, after I got off the phone with Olga. Your dad came into the room. He was scrounging around for some clothes in our closet and he looked over at me."
She looked away from Helga again for just a moment." And he said to me,' what are you still doing in bed you good for nothing deadbeat?' And then I heard him whisper to himself,' why did I have to marry a woman who isn't even good enough to clean up around this dump.' And-"
"Mom, stop." Helga said as she narrowed her eyes at her mother, she started to grow angry. She wanted to go punch Bob in the mouth for that. Sure he was always mean with his words, but he had never been that hateful to Miriam.
Miriam sighed and looked back at her daughter." So, yeah. That's why I'm doing this. I'm going to prove your father wrong, Helga. I'm going to show him that I am a strong, independent woman."
Helga sighed and looked up at Miriam. And for the first time in a very long time, she was proud of her mother." Well, I think you can do it mom. I believe you're strong enough."
"You think so?" Miriam asked, hope filling her voice.
"Of course mom." Helga said with a smile. She embraced her mother once more with a strong hug.
"I love you so much, dear." Miriam said as she hugged her daughter back." Thank you for still being here for me after all the wasted years."
"It's nothing mom." Helga said with a huff as she released her mother." Now come on, I'll walk with you to your car."
…
"What a day." Helga said with a smile as she spat into the bathroom sink. She wiped her mouth with the pink cloth she had laid beside the sink and ran her tongue over her smooth teeth.
"Finally, something goes right in this joint. Maybe things are actually starting to turn my way." She said to no one as she walked out of the bathroom.
"I actually had a good reunion with Arnold. And my mom did something that totally blew me off guard." She said as she walked to her room.
She opened the door to her room, closed it back shut, and plopped down on her bed.
"Maybe if this all goes to plan, I can actually tell Arnold how I feel. And maybe, just maybe, he still feels the same after all the years."
She swooned and felt butterflies in stomach, just thinking about the goofy football head.
"Might as well read his paper before I go to bed." She said as she leaned over and unzipped her back pack.
"Here it is." She exclaimed as she pulled out a thin piece of paper.
She looked at the neatly written name above the essay and swooned once again. She then shifted her eyes and started to read the introduction.
"Have you ever found yourself walking down the street late at night? Before the street lights went out? Well, as a matter of fact, I have. And I have seen terrible things. Strange men attempting to rape innocent women. Cops not doing their jobs. Criminals running rampant in the streets, burning down buildings, tearing down monuments, and there is one person to blame for all of this. The man who is the root of all these problems. All because he has the police force under his thumb. His name is Von Scheck."
Helga looked away from the paper for a second, her eyes wide.' Wait, this is Arnold who wrote this, right?'
She looked back up at his name at the top of the sheet, just for confirmation.
That's when she heard a voice come from downstairs." Yeah, this Bob. Of course I can be there, Scheck. Just tell the boys that Big Bob Pataki is on his way to clean up their mess." He then hung up the phone.
"OLGA!" He shouted upstairs." I'm heading out for a bit. I don't know where the hell your mother is, so fix us some dinner before I get home, got it!"
Helga stayed silent. Her mind was in a million places a minute.
"OLGA!"
"Yes dad, I got it!" Helga yelled back at her father.
All she heard in return was a grunt and a slam of the front door.
"This isn't good." Helga whispered to herself." Oh, who am I kidding? If I let Arnold into my life everything would turn to shit!"
She looked back at the paper one more time." Don't get me wrong, I hate Scheck as much as Arnold does. But, if I let Arnold into my life. He would get himself killed trying to stop Scheck. All because my stupid dad works for him!"
She sighed as tears threatened to leak from her face now." I can't see that happen. I can't see anyone hurt Arnold."
Author's note: So, this is going to be a pretty lengthy note this time. First of all, where have I been? Trust me, I know I have been pretty distant lately. But it's mainly been with family issues. My girlfriends family has also been going through a lot these past few months. And, with all of this going on. I just haven't been motivated to write anything. I actually had already lost my motivation in the last chapter, I just sluggishly wrote it and posted it anyway. So, I apologize for the lack of trying in the past few chapters I posted on here. But now, I'm feeling so much better about how I stand here on fanfiction. I know I have a log of stories to get caught back up on here in the forum. And I plan to do that very soon. I never forgot about any of you guys, trust me I thought about this story and the people waiting for an update every single day. So, I'm am sorry for the wait guys. But don't worry. I am back and better than ever as far as I am concerned! Thank you to everyone who has always stuck with me through everything! I really do appreciate all of you!