A/N-ok..when I posted part one (the first time) of this i must have had my hand on the enter key because there was a BIIIIIGGGGG space between the end of the story and the review box. I figured it would be annoying so I went back and deleted the space, then I deleted the story and uploaded the version w/o the space (exact same story...just no long space) Anyway...the title is still up from the first time, I don't know why, and sorry about that. It doesn't come up twice on my list of stories or anything and I don't think there's anything I can do about it. Maybe Xing will fix it. FFnet has been being kinda weird lately. Anyway, thanks to the reviewers, To K, I do mention their ages, well I insinuate it, if they all graduated from high school then they're about 18, Thanks to Nadine and her Australian friend for sending me Lila's last name! and Graq...I know, I changed Arnolds head, I don't know why, just trying to make it different ::shrugs:: plus it's really hard to imagine an ADULT (well...older teen) with a head that wide, Kimba821 thank you for the names and for reviewing!!! well...on with the story
Disclaimer-I do not own Hey Arnold or any other things in here that are big and important...but I can still dream.
Vacation in Paris-part two
Gerald got up and stretched. "Well, today has been a long day." He said offering his hand to Phoebe and helping her up, "I'm going home." They said goodbye and left.
Everyone followed that lead. Outside Helga muttered good-bye under her breath and started down the street.
"Hey Helga!" Arnold called, Helga's heart froze as she turned around, "Need a ride?" he offered.
Helga walked the few feet over to his car. "Thanks Arnold." she said climbing into his car, "I was much more awake when I walked over here."
Arnold started the car and pulled out into the street. "Pretty amazing day huh?"
"Yeah...first I graduate from high school, then I'm offered a summer vacation in Paris...It's been a great dream but I'm ready to wake up now," She said jokingly while glancing over at Arnold. Arnold smiled but kept his eyes on the road.
"So are you going?" He asked
"To Paris?" Helga said. "Well...I want to...and I'm 18 so I suppose even if Bob and Mirriam said no I could go anyway, I'm currently unemployed so I don't have a job to keep me here...Hmmm...I still need to think about it."
"You're unemployed?" Arnold said. "I thought you worked for your dad afterschool?"
"I did..." Helga said, "But then I got sick of that job and quit. Then I had a job at the coffee house downtown, I really liked working there, but then one day I was stupid enough to try and correct these two college students conversation on Shakespeare, the one student became imediatly defensive that a high school girl tried to correct him and wouldn't admit that I was right, the end result was me throwing hot coffee in his face and getting fired."
Arnold chuckled.
"So what about you Arnoldo?" Helga asked, "Planning to go?"
"Well...Now that I'm 18 I'm legally on my own. Mr. Hyunh was my legal gaurdian for a year after my grandparents died, but I'll need to check with my boss at work, I think she'll give me the month off though. I work really hard there. It would be nice to spend time with everyone one last time before we all go to college and everything changes." Arnold said with a quick glance over at Helga making her heart melt.
"It's sad really..." Helga said quietly. "We're all spliting up...I mean, what if we never see each other again?"
Arnold sighed "Well...there's reunions..."
"Still...those are only every five year or so."
Arnold was silent for a few seconds. "I really don't know Helga..." he said pulling up to the curb in front of her house.
"Well," Helga said, not wanting to leave the car, "thanks for the ride."
"No problem," Arnold said.
Reluctantly Helga opened the door to the car and stepped out. She waved goodbye to Arnold, sighed, and went inside.
Helga could hear the TV on in the other room, "Bob...Miriam?" She called.
"What? Oh Helga...we didn't know you were out..." Her mother said as Helga entered the room.
Helga rolled her eyes. 'at least she got your name right...' Helga thought.
"Look, I was just offered a month in Parris this summer, I think I'm going. I'll be leaving in three days." She said matter-o-factly.
"Wait a minute young lady!" Bob said, "How much will this cost me?"
"Not a cent Bob, I've got plenty of money saved up from my last job." Helga said, "Now, it's been a long day and I'm going to bed. Goodnight."
Helga left the room knowing that her parents probably wouldn't even remember this the next morning.
In her room Helga changed into her pajamas and grabbed her yearbook...she had just recieved it today and hadn't even opened it yet. She skipped through the dopey head shots (pausing briefly to gaze at Arnolds) and got to the clubs and teams...these were the photos that always turned out the best...There was Phoebe, the head of the academic team, Gerald as SCA president, Arnold, captain of the cross country team, she was there as for newspaper and drama. Helga sighed...she was going to miss all of these people...
*******************************************************
:::RING:::
"Hello?" Helga said
"Hey Helga"
"Hey Phoebs"
"So...are you going to Paris?"
"Yeah...I think so, are you?"
"Yes, my parents look at it as a great chance to broaden my horizens and practice my French."
"Sheesh Phoebs, you speak five languages!"
Helga could almost hear her friend blush over the phone, "Gerald's already asked his parents, they say it's fine."
"Oooohhhhh...Phoebe! A summer in Paris with Gerald!!!"
"Well what about Arnold?" Phoebe asked placidly, knowing that this would have an affect on Helga.
"What about him?" Helga asked immediatly growing nervous.
"Is he going?"
"I don't know! Crimeny! Do I look like his secretary or something?"
"Calm down Helga, you don't have to be so defensive."
"Sorry Phoebs, well...you know how I feel about him..." Helga said...'to an extent...' she added to herself, Phoebe had always known that Helga had a crush on Arnold, but she doubted that she knew the extend of her love, Helga had most certainly never told anyone that it was Love.
"I understand Helga, Well, I talked to Sid earlier...he's going, and he said Harold is too."
"What about Lila?"
"I don't know...her and Arnold seem to be the two undecided peoples."
"Wouldn't it be great if we all went?"
"Yeah, Ok Helga, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Night Phoebs."
Helga hung up the phone and turned out the light. It had been a very eventful day.
The next morning Helga woke up at ten. She smiled to herself...no more school. She got up and threw on some old baggy khakis and a blue tank top. Helga was never one to follow the latest trends, she wore whatever she was comfortable in and whatever she looked good in. Helga laced up her white sneakers and threw her messy blonde hair into a ponytail. She grabbed the laptop that she'd bough from her first job at Big Bob's Beepers and put it into it's shoulerbag case before heading downstairs. Helga poured herself a cup of strong coffee and grabbed a baegel. She finished her breakfast quickly and left. Helga walked down the streets slowly, she headed to the park and made her way to her favorite bench. She pulled her laptop out of it's case and opened the file marked story 47. Her latest work. Throughout high shcool and middle school Helga had been writing short stories, she'd started several novels but lost interest with them before they were done. She actually felt as though she might be getting somewhere with this one. She had about 50 typed pages, that was already a personal record for longest work, finished or unfinished. Helga picked up her story where she left off....she typed for about twenty minutes when she heard someone sit down beside her. She was too involved with what she was doing to look up and kept typing until she finished the chapter.
She glanced up and jumped. "Gerald!" she said. "I heard you sit down. That was...five minutes ago?"
"Fifteen." He said.
"Why didn't you say something." Helga said slightly irritated.
"You looked busy." Gerald said with a shrug. "What are writing?"
Helga immediatly tried to shut her laptop while Gerald was looking. "NOTHING!" she said. "It's a report for school!" Helga said, the moment the words were out of her mouth she realized what a big mistake that was.
"There is no more school." Gerald said. Helga began looking around nervously for another excuse. "Look," Gerald said, "If you don't want to tell me you don't have to...you always were one for secrets."
Helga seemed relieved.
"So, what's up tall hair boy?" she asked teasing him.
"Well Paris." He said, "Are you going?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Definatly, this is going to be the summer vacation of a lifetime."
Helga studied his fave for a minute. "Gerald...are you ok? You seem worried about something."
Gerald sighed, "Well I suppose I can tell you, over the past few years you've become one of my closest friends."
Helga was shocked but didn't say anything, she had beem more a lot more open with people and even aloud herself to make a few more friends but she hadn't realized that anyone thought of her as a close friend.
"Well..." Gerald continued, "As you know, Phoebe is going to Harvard next year...and well, I applied, and I really want to get in...I'm seriously thinking about a career as a politcian, but I don't know if I'm good enough. And if I don't...well that won't be the biggest set back in my life, I know I'm all the waiting list for Yale...but what if I loose Phoebe? What if she finds someone else during college? I can't stand the thought of loosing her..."
Helga was surprised, she knew that Phoebe and Gerald had a serious relationship, but she'd never thought that going to different colleges may split them up.
"Well..." She said, "I don't think Phoebe would do that...and you still may get into Harvard, you have all summer to find out." She paused. "Does Phoebe know how strongly you feel about this?"
"I don't know," Gerald said staring at the grass, "I think she knows I love her...I've never told her, but I think she knows.."
"Tell her." Helga said.
"Yeah. Yeah I'll tell her, in Paris..." Gerald said.
"Gerald I get the feeling you've been putting this off for some time." Helga said.
"since November..." he muttered, "That's when I realized that I love her...that I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
Helga's heart melted from the sweet sentiment. She shook her head before she could show it though, "Gerald...you need to tell her. She feels the same way."
Gerald looked up. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Thanks Helga, you know, you're actually a really nice person."
"Yeah just don't tell anyone about it Geraldo," Helga said turning her laptop so he couldn't see and saving the file.
"What are you working on anyway?" He asked.
"I told you...nothing." she said.
Gerald shrugged and let it go. "Well...I'll see ya' Pataki." he said getting up from the bench and walking off.
"Bye Geraldo." She replied.
She sat there for a moment...thinking about what had just happened. Helga sighed...she wished that she were in love...well, she was in love, with Arnold, the problem was that he didn't love her back, and soon she may never see him again...
'No.' Helga said to herself, 'no it won't happen. I'm not going to let Arnold go without telling him. I'll tell him. I'll tell him that I love him, I'll tell him in Paris.' she sighed realizing she was just as stuck as Gerald and turned back to her laptop.
A/N #2- so...helga's made a promise to herself to tell Arnold she loves him in Paris. Ok...next chapter they will actually go to Paris...I promise..and PLEASE review. I was slightly discouraged by the amount of reviews I got last time. I'd really apreciate feedback, if you all hate the story tell me...I probably won't stop because I have big plans. But at least I'll know what you don't like and I can *try* and fix it.
Disclaimer-I do not own Hey Arnold or any other things in here that are big and important...but I can still dream.
Vacation in Paris-part two
Gerald got up and stretched. "Well, today has been a long day." He said offering his hand to Phoebe and helping her up, "I'm going home." They said goodbye and left.
Everyone followed that lead. Outside Helga muttered good-bye under her breath and started down the street.
"Hey Helga!" Arnold called, Helga's heart froze as she turned around, "Need a ride?" he offered.
Helga walked the few feet over to his car. "Thanks Arnold." she said climbing into his car, "I was much more awake when I walked over here."
Arnold started the car and pulled out into the street. "Pretty amazing day huh?"
"Yeah...first I graduate from high school, then I'm offered a summer vacation in Paris...It's been a great dream but I'm ready to wake up now," She said jokingly while glancing over at Arnold. Arnold smiled but kept his eyes on the road.
"So are you going?" He asked
"To Paris?" Helga said. "Well...I want to...and I'm 18 so I suppose even if Bob and Mirriam said no I could go anyway, I'm currently unemployed so I don't have a job to keep me here...Hmmm...I still need to think about it."
"You're unemployed?" Arnold said. "I thought you worked for your dad afterschool?"
"I did..." Helga said, "But then I got sick of that job and quit. Then I had a job at the coffee house downtown, I really liked working there, but then one day I was stupid enough to try and correct these two college students conversation on Shakespeare, the one student became imediatly defensive that a high school girl tried to correct him and wouldn't admit that I was right, the end result was me throwing hot coffee in his face and getting fired."
Arnold chuckled.
"So what about you Arnoldo?" Helga asked, "Planning to go?"
"Well...Now that I'm 18 I'm legally on my own. Mr. Hyunh was my legal gaurdian for a year after my grandparents died, but I'll need to check with my boss at work, I think she'll give me the month off though. I work really hard there. It would be nice to spend time with everyone one last time before we all go to college and everything changes." Arnold said with a quick glance over at Helga making her heart melt.
"It's sad really..." Helga said quietly. "We're all spliting up...I mean, what if we never see each other again?"
Arnold sighed "Well...there's reunions..."
"Still...those are only every five year or so."
Arnold was silent for a few seconds. "I really don't know Helga..." he said pulling up to the curb in front of her house.
"Well," Helga said, not wanting to leave the car, "thanks for the ride."
"No problem," Arnold said.
Reluctantly Helga opened the door to the car and stepped out. She waved goodbye to Arnold, sighed, and went inside.
Helga could hear the TV on in the other room, "Bob...Miriam?" She called.
"What? Oh Helga...we didn't know you were out..." Her mother said as Helga entered the room.
Helga rolled her eyes. 'at least she got your name right...' Helga thought.
"Look, I was just offered a month in Parris this summer, I think I'm going. I'll be leaving in three days." She said matter-o-factly.
"Wait a minute young lady!" Bob said, "How much will this cost me?"
"Not a cent Bob, I've got plenty of money saved up from my last job." Helga said, "Now, it's been a long day and I'm going to bed. Goodnight."
Helga left the room knowing that her parents probably wouldn't even remember this the next morning.
In her room Helga changed into her pajamas and grabbed her yearbook...she had just recieved it today and hadn't even opened it yet. She skipped through the dopey head shots (pausing briefly to gaze at Arnolds) and got to the clubs and teams...these were the photos that always turned out the best...There was Phoebe, the head of the academic team, Gerald as SCA president, Arnold, captain of the cross country team, she was there as for newspaper and drama. Helga sighed...she was going to miss all of these people...
*******************************************************
:::RING:::
"Hello?" Helga said
"Hey Helga"
"Hey Phoebs"
"So...are you going to Paris?"
"Yeah...I think so, are you?"
"Yes, my parents look at it as a great chance to broaden my horizens and practice my French."
"Sheesh Phoebs, you speak five languages!"
Helga could almost hear her friend blush over the phone, "Gerald's already asked his parents, they say it's fine."
"Oooohhhhh...Phoebe! A summer in Paris with Gerald!!!"
"Well what about Arnold?" Phoebe asked placidly, knowing that this would have an affect on Helga.
"What about him?" Helga asked immediatly growing nervous.
"Is he going?"
"I don't know! Crimeny! Do I look like his secretary or something?"
"Calm down Helga, you don't have to be so defensive."
"Sorry Phoebs, well...you know how I feel about him..." Helga said...'to an extent...' she added to herself, Phoebe had always known that Helga had a crush on Arnold, but she doubted that she knew the extend of her love, Helga had most certainly never told anyone that it was Love.
"I understand Helga, Well, I talked to Sid earlier...he's going, and he said Harold is too."
"What about Lila?"
"I don't know...her and Arnold seem to be the two undecided peoples."
"Wouldn't it be great if we all went?"
"Yeah, Ok Helga, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Night Phoebs."
Helga hung up the phone and turned out the light. It had been a very eventful day.
The next morning Helga woke up at ten. She smiled to herself...no more school. She got up and threw on some old baggy khakis and a blue tank top. Helga was never one to follow the latest trends, she wore whatever she was comfortable in and whatever she looked good in. Helga laced up her white sneakers and threw her messy blonde hair into a ponytail. She grabbed the laptop that she'd bough from her first job at Big Bob's Beepers and put it into it's shoulerbag case before heading downstairs. Helga poured herself a cup of strong coffee and grabbed a baegel. She finished her breakfast quickly and left. Helga walked down the streets slowly, she headed to the park and made her way to her favorite bench. She pulled her laptop out of it's case and opened the file marked story 47. Her latest work. Throughout high shcool and middle school Helga had been writing short stories, she'd started several novels but lost interest with them before they were done. She actually felt as though she might be getting somewhere with this one. She had about 50 typed pages, that was already a personal record for longest work, finished or unfinished. Helga picked up her story where she left off....she typed for about twenty minutes when she heard someone sit down beside her. She was too involved with what she was doing to look up and kept typing until she finished the chapter.
She glanced up and jumped. "Gerald!" she said. "I heard you sit down. That was...five minutes ago?"
"Fifteen." He said.
"Why didn't you say something." Helga said slightly irritated.
"You looked busy." Gerald said with a shrug. "What are writing?"
Helga immediatly tried to shut her laptop while Gerald was looking. "NOTHING!" she said. "It's a report for school!" Helga said, the moment the words were out of her mouth she realized what a big mistake that was.
"There is no more school." Gerald said. Helga began looking around nervously for another excuse. "Look," Gerald said, "If you don't want to tell me you don't have to...you always were one for secrets."
Helga seemed relieved.
"So, what's up tall hair boy?" she asked teasing him.
"Well Paris." He said, "Are you going?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Definatly, this is going to be the summer vacation of a lifetime."
Helga studied his fave for a minute. "Gerald...are you ok? You seem worried about something."
Gerald sighed, "Well I suppose I can tell you, over the past few years you've become one of my closest friends."
Helga was shocked but didn't say anything, she had beem more a lot more open with people and even aloud herself to make a few more friends but she hadn't realized that anyone thought of her as a close friend.
"Well..." Gerald continued, "As you know, Phoebe is going to Harvard next year...and well, I applied, and I really want to get in...I'm seriously thinking about a career as a politcian, but I don't know if I'm good enough. And if I don't...well that won't be the biggest set back in my life, I know I'm all the waiting list for Yale...but what if I loose Phoebe? What if she finds someone else during college? I can't stand the thought of loosing her..."
Helga was surprised, she knew that Phoebe and Gerald had a serious relationship, but she'd never thought that going to different colleges may split them up.
"Well..." She said, "I don't think Phoebe would do that...and you still may get into Harvard, you have all summer to find out." She paused. "Does Phoebe know how strongly you feel about this?"
"I don't know," Gerald said staring at the grass, "I think she knows I love her...I've never told her, but I think she knows.."
"Tell her." Helga said.
"Yeah. Yeah I'll tell her, in Paris..." Gerald said.
"Gerald I get the feeling you've been putting this off for some time." Helga said.
"since November..." he muttered, "That's when I realized that I love her...that I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
Helga's heart melted from the sweet sentiment. She shook her head before she could show it though, "Gerald...you need to tell her. She feels the same way."
Gerald looked up. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Thanks Helga, you know, you're actually a really nice person."
"Yeah just don't tell anyone about it Geraldo," Helga said turning her laptop so he couldn't see and saving the file.
"What are you working on anyway?" He asked.
"I told you...nothing." she said.
Gerald shrugged and let it go. "Well...I'll see ya' Pataki." he said getting up from the bench and walking off.
"Bye Geraldo." She replied.
She sat there for a moment...thinking about what had just happened. Helga sighed...she wished that she were in love...well, she was in love, with Arnold, the problem was that he didn't love her back, and soon she may never see him again...
'No.' Helga said to herself, 'no it won't happen. I'm not going to let Arnold go without telling him. I'll tell him. I'll tell him that I love him, I'll tell him in Paris.' she sighed realizing she was just as stuck as Gerald and turned back to her laptop.
A/N #2- so...helga's made a promise to herself to tell Arnold she loves him in Paris. Ok...next chapter they will actually go to Paris...I promise..and PLEASE review. I was slightly discouraged by the amount of reviews I got last time. I'd really apreciate feedback, if you all hate the story tell me...I probably won't stop because I have big plans. But at least I'll know what you don't like and I can *try* and fix it.