You Never Know...
Chapter 6
by Serena
~ Please don't give me any grief about the Gerald and Helga thing in this chapter. It's my opinion that they don't get along from what I've seen in episodes, and it's also relevant to the sequel I have planned. Also, there's only two more chapters left, Chapters 7 and 8. So stay tuned, and please review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold, but the plot is mine...You get the idea.
"So anyway, there
was a cab picking me up from the hospital, which was no big surprise to me because I doubt
anybody at home even noticed I was gone. But as soon as I get through the door,
there's Big Bob, Miriam and Olga with a big cake, yelling Surprise'. Even
weirder, they all start telling me how much they missed me."
"Perhaps you
underestimated your family's appreciation of you."
"Who knows. But
that's not even the weirdest part."
It was Monday morning,
and Helga was back at school. It was lunch period, and Helga was telling Phoebe what had
happened Saturday night. She took a bite of her hamburger and continued.
"So anyway, after
the perfect dinner that of course, Olga cooked, they drop the bomb on me. Olga had this
great idea that since this city is apparently so dangerous', that they should
send me away to a boarding school. They even had brochures and everything, and this whole
speech that they're only looking out for my," Helga made quotation marks in the
air, "well-being."
Phoebe's eyes
widened. "Oh my, are they forcing you to transfer?"
"That's the
next surprise – they're leaving the decision up to me. I mean, they want me to
go but they understand that I might not want to. So I have till the end of the week
to make up my mind."
Phoebe relaxed a
little. "I presume your decision is no?"
"Well," Helga
mumbled something.
"Pardon me Helga,
what did you say?"
Helga spoke a little
louder, "I think I might want to go."
Phoebe gasped.
"Why?"
"Think about it,
Phoebs, a fresh start! I get to go to a school where no one knows Helga the bully.
I'm away from my parents, away from everyone who hates me, and best of all, away
from" Helga lowered her voice, "Arnold."
Phoebe looked solemnly
at Helga. "I understandbut why would you want to be away fromice
cream?"
Helga looked down and
sighed. "He'll never feel the same way that I feel about him, Phoebs. I should
just come to grips with it, forget about him like you first told me. And being around him
only makes it harder to do that. I even risked my own life for him."
"It seems to me
you may be running from your problems."
"MaybeCrimeny,
I don't know. Do you think I should leave?"
"Well, the new
school and location may offer you many opportunities this school will not, but I'll
miss you terribly if you leave," Phoebe said with a bitter smile.
Helga smiled.
"Don't worry Phoebs. No matter what happens, you'll still be my best
friend."
Phoebe smiled back.
Helga got up and went to go dump her garbage. "One side, moron!" she said while
shoving some innocent nerdy-looking kid out of her way.
He watched her from
across the room, talking animatedly to Phoebe. Arnold smiled to himself as he thought of
how happy Phoebe had been this morning when Helga showed up to school. Brainy had stopped
giving him dirty looks, which was a relief. He could be pretty creepy, when he just popped
up behind you out of nowhere, wheezing away.
Arnold continued to
watch in distress as Helga's expression turned to sadness. He saw Phoebe talking
solemnly to her and more than ever wished he could hear what they were saying. Then he
cheered up a little as he saw Helga give Phoebe a warm smile. Wow, she's got a
really nice smile,' he thought.
"Hello, earth to
Arnold? You there, man?"
"Huh?" Arnold
snapped out of his thoughts and realized Gerald was speaking to him.
"I said, I'll
be right back."
"Oh, okay
Gerald." Arnold's eyes wandered over to Helga's table again, only to find
she wasn't there.
Helga finished dumping
her tray and was about to scan the room for her beloved. "Hey Helga," a raspy
voice interrupted her.
She looked up and was
surprised to see Gerald in front of her. "Why if it isn't tall hair boy. What
brings you to these parts?" she said in a mocking tone.
Gerald folded his arms.
"I just came to thank you."
"For what?"
Helga maintained her attitude. Gerald wasn't exactly her favorite person. There
wasn't really a reason, but she always got this weird vibe from Gerald. It was
apparent to her that he wasn't crazy about her either.
"For saving
Arnold. It was a pretty nice thing to do," he said as he eyed her suspiciously.
"Yeah
welldon't get used to it." Helga turned her back to Gerald, hoping
he'd take the hint and get lost. She continued to scan the room for Arnold, and her
heart sank when she saw whom he was with.
Perfect little Lila.
The object of Arnold's affections.
"Those two make a
great couple." Gerald said, his eyes cast in the same direction as hers.
Crimeny! Why is he
still there? Is he a stalker or something? The last thing Helga needed was another Brainy.
"Huh? What
two?" Helga said, trying to be casual.
"You know, Arnold
and Lila. It's too bad she doesn't like-like him. Because he really likes
her."
Helga saw Arnold
talking to Lila with a smile on his face. He looked like a lovesick puppy. "Well
whoop-dee-doo for him" she scowled to Gerald. "They can get married for all I
care." She stomped off to the bathroom angrily.
Helga's angry
façade faded as soon as she stepped into the bathroom. As soon as she confirmed that
there was no one in the stalls, she walked over to the sinks and pulled out her locket.
"Oh my love," she spoke softly. Normally this would have been followed by a
monologue, but Helga wasn't in the mood. As she traced her finger over Arnold's
picture she began to realize what was wrong with her. She had lost all hope. Seeing Arnold
with Lila today just now was the last straw. She tried to make sense of her jumbled
thoughts.
Enough is enough.
I can't keep waiting for him to notice I exist. I have to give up sometime. I'm
pathetic. Look at me, sitting in a bathroom alone, all depressed over some boy.
Another thought interrupted,
This isn't just some boyit's Arnoldthat wonderful football shaped
little guardian of my
Arg, stop it! I have to
come to grips with reality. He's never going to like-me-like-me. Even if I throw
myself in front of a truck for him, he'll still be fawning over Lila.
Helga took one last look at
her locket and put it away. The decision was made.