Swept Under The Rug
by Angela Marcisak
DISCLAIMER:(You know the drill!)I do not own Hey Arnold,and have nothing to do with owning it!This is just a harmless fanfic written by me,a harmless obsessed fan,so please,don't sue me!
AUTHOR's NOTE:Since this is the final chapter,I'm making it the longest!^_^You CAN read fast,can't you?^_^ Anywho,I've decided,I'm going to make a sequel.I'm still having a little trouble deciding how the plot should go,so bear with me as I try to get the first chapter of the sequel started.~Angie~
CHAPTER 5-Final Goodbyes
"Beep!Beep!Beep!"Helga's new digital alarm clock chimed.This time,she pressed the snooze button rather than knocking it off of her nightstand.She had been scolded the last time she had done that.Helga sat straight up,sleepily rubbing her eyes."*yawn*Man,what a dream...."She turned to look at her alarm clock and gasped.It read,"9:00 AM"."Criminey!"Helga scowled."Why does Miriam always set my clock back an hour?I wanted to sleep...."She tried burying her face in her pillow,but it was no use.She was wide awake.
Helga let out a loud sigh,rolling off her bed and onto the floor."They even took my bedsheets..."She looked over at the corner of her room and found piles upon piles of boxes lined on top of one another."I hope they haven't packed all my clothes,"Helga thought to herself.She walked over to her bureau and pulled open each and every drawer.Nothing.She walked over to her closet and opened it up.Nothing."Grrr....."Helga growled,clenching her fists tightly.She looked at one of the boxes stacked deep within the pile in the corner.It read 'CLOTHES' in bold italic letters,and was covered with a heavy layer of duct tape.In fact,such a heavy layer that the only words she could actually see on cardboard were 'CLOTHES',and that was it."Man..."Helga let out a deep sigh,flopping down onto the floor."I couldn't cut that box open myself even if I had a butcher's knife...*sigh*Bob...Miriam...why must you do this to me???"
About an hour later,Helga arrived at school for her very last day.Her hair was frizzled in most parts,her clothes wrinkled and partially mangled,and a tired look was spread across her face.She took a seat next to Phoebe and gave a depressed sigh."What's wrong,Helga?Are you tired?"Phoebe asked curiously."Nah..."Helga answered in a slurred voice,"My mom and dad taped a ...box with all my clothes in ...it,and I couldn't cut it...open..so,I headbutted it...darn box..."Helga collapsed exhaustedly on her desk.Phoebe looked at Helga concerned,then turned forward and raised her hand."Mr. Rydell?"she politely asked the teacher,clearing her throat."May I take Helga to the nurse?""Sure,Phoebe..."The whole class turned to Helga,staring strangely as she was dragged unconsciously out of the room by her best friend.
Helga woke up an hour later and found herself lying in the nurse's office.She had been resting on a small bed,you know,the kind that are cold and hard,and sometimes smell like old socks.She tried not to describe the details,though she hardly had anything better to do.In the meanwhile,Helga tried to recollect what had made her end up at the nurse in the first place."Oh yeah,now I remember...man...what was I doing?..."She stared blankly up at the ceiling when a large figure appeared before her eyes,apparently shaped like a taco."Aaah!"Helga screamed,clutching her chest in fear."Arnold!Don't do that to me!You tryin' to give me a heart attack?"She let out a deep sigh,and her hands rested at her sides as they had been earlier."S-sorry Helga!Are you okay?""Yeah,I-I'm fine..."Helga looked up at Arnold with a small grin on her face."Why,do you WANT me to have a heart attack so I can stay in Hillwood?"Helga joked.She turned away from him momentarily,expecting a somewhat positive answer to come."Well,you got the 'staying in Hillwood' part right..."Arnold sighed.Helga's humor turned to a dead solemn face as she turned back around and looked Arnold in the eye."Y-you really mean that?"Arnold looked back at Helga with a bit of a smile."Of course.Hillwood won't be the same without you."His face moved closer to Helga's,nearly centimeters away from touching her lips;their eyes still locked in a trance none of them were able to look away from.Helga didn't know what to think.She just sat there,sweatdrops rolling unnoticeably down the side of her face."Oh my god...is Arnold...trying to kiss me?"When Arnold was less than a pinky's length away from what could've been a possible kiss,the intercom boomed with the loud voice of Mr. Rydell."Ow!"Helga exclaimed,jerking straight up from the bed in which she had slept."Helga Pataki and Arnold....hmm..can't seem to make out his last name...but Helga and Arnold,please report to your classes at once!"Mr. Rydell loudly yelled into the intercom,then briefly hung up."Wh-what am I doing?"Arnold thought to himself."I almost kissed Helga Pataki.But I didn't.Though,why was I going to?This all doesn't make sense.Things are happening way too fast.One day,me and Helga are talking,and the next day,she's moving in less than five hours.I'll never even see her again..."Arnold let out a deep sigh,and looked at Helga,who was apparently staring back at him,mentally reciting some pink book poetry to herself.She smiled nervously at Arnold,then broke the awkward silence."So...what are you thinking about?"Arnold widely stared at Helga for what seemed to be a short moment,then responded."Nothing...""You're thinking about something,aren't you?"Arnold didn't want Helga to get any ideas of what he had been thinking about,even though there was no humanly way possible she could know,so he brusquely changed the subject."We'd...better get going upstairs now..."Arnold pulled Helga off of the bed and,holding her hand all the while,walked her upstairs back to their class.
"Class,if you would...there's an announcement I need to make..."Mr. Rydell shouted,clutching an earlier thrown paper airplane in his left hand."Class...class..."He looked around the room,loud conversations being told from both sides of the room.He took a deep breath and opened his mouth."CLASS!!!!"The whole room fell strangely silent;so silent,that Curly drpped his Wankyland pencil,and even that could be heard amongst the quiet cluster of teenagers."That's more like it...ehem....anyways,as most of you already know,a fellow classmate is moving away today.That classmate is Helga Pataki.I would very much appreciate it if you would show some sympathy for her,as she will be moving far away to...uh,where was it,Helga?"Helga boringly looked at Mr. Rydell."France,"she uttered loudly."Yeah,right,"she thought to herself,"Even if I am moving to France,I bet you any amount of money not even half the class is gonna show up at the airport today.Just watch."Mr. Rydell shook his head solemnly."Yes,class,Helga is moving to France.And I hope some of you will keep in contact with her,or at least show up at the airport today at 3:00 for a final goodbye.Helga has left her future address with us so any of you may write her a letter when you'd like.I'm sure she'd love to hear from all of you,wouldn't you,Helga?"Helga stared back bluntly at Mr. Rydell."Yes,sir,I'd REALLY like that."she stated both flatly and sarcastically."If Harold writes me,he's toast."Helga thought to herself,smiling at the idea of sending Harold back some old fashioned dynamite as a going away gift.She shook her head and stared back down at her desk."Well,Helga,I assure you,we all will very much miss y--"Mr. Rydell was cut off by a loud noise at the door.Big Bob burst in the classroom,eyeing Helga angrily."Olga,get in the car,pronto!We gotta load the moving van in the next hour.Then we'll be leaving for the airport.Say goodbye to the teacher and let's get going!"Helga furiously got up out of her seat and walked over to the teacher,patting him on the shoulder."Goodbye,Mr. Rydell!"she harshly stated,turning to walk out of the classroom.Her angry expression turned to a sad one as she saw Arnold's face.He looked more bummed than ever before.She gave him a small wave and walked back out of the classroom."Only about three more hours,"she sadly thought to herself,glumly stepping down a long flight of stairs."Only three more hours...."
Helga stood outside next to a large U-Haul van.She had lugged her last box of stuff out to the car,containing most of her many treasured poetry books.She wanted to read as many of them as she could on her way to the airport,though she didn't exactly know why.Helga knew it would only cause her more heartbreak and emotion,but she didn't care.No one seemed to care anyways.Besides,it was only a little more heartbreak added on to all she had received so far,which,in any other person's eyes,was a lot.Nonetheless,she found it to be completely harmless.Helga sighed deeply and looked back at the house in which she had for so long lived in.The house in which she had been tormented.The room in which she had obsessed over Arnold all the time.The closet her shrine had sat from time to joyous time,wads of Arnold's used gum to a replica mask of his oddly-shaped head.The place where it all started.Would change be better for Helga when she was to live in France?Of course not.She was only kidding herself.She knew wherever she went,she would live with torment.Torment coming from not only her parents,but torment coming from the truth.The truth of knowing she most likely wouldn't ever see Arnold again.Never.
"Come on,Helga,we're gonna be late!"Big Bob yelled,hopping into the family car."Wow...he actually got my name right,"Helga thought.She jumped in the car along with her poetry books,her treasured Arnold doll,and her even more treasured locket.With the slam of the back door and the truck driver's thumbs up,they were off to the airport."*sigh*I hope Arnold doesn't forget me..."Helga thought sadly to herself.She rested her head on the window and soon after,fell asleep.
There she was.The airport.Helga stood at the gate with a handful of suitcases.Apparently,Bob and Miriam the smoothieholic were too lazy to do the job,so Helga did it for them.Frankly,she was growing tired of being their slave girl.She longed for Arnold's grandparents to adopt her.Helga scoffed with the very idea."Yeah...like THAT'S ever gonna happen...get ahold of yourself,girl!"She sent herself a mental kick,and took off to the building with her mom and dad.
About a half an hour later,Helga sat in the waiting rooms,a suitcase sitting directly by her side.So far,it had been 3:30 and no sign of Arnold.Or Phoebe.Or any of the people from her class.It pained her heart witht he very thought that they didn't really care to show up.Maybe they couldn't bear to say goodbye,or maybe they were just too busy to pay some decent respect.Whatever it was,Helga was hurt.More hurt than she had ever been in her 13 years of living.More hurt than all the times Bob had called her Olga and all the times he had come home drunk and abused her.No one cared anymore.She sat in a slump in her gray armchair,letting her negativity get the best of her.It was no use to her anymore.She knew it all along.They weren't going to show up.
About half an hour later,Helga heard the voice for which so long she had dreaded.Her flight had arrived."Flight number 232,one-way to Paris,France,has now arrived.I repeat,flight number 232 to Paris,France has now arrived."the announcer chimed merrily."How could she be so happy?"Helga thought."Well,it's not like that SHE gives a damn about anyone's feelings.Especially not mine.She doesn't know what it's like for someone to lose the one they love.She doesn't know how bad it feels to not get a chance to say goodbye."Helga clutched a letter she had been writing in the last half hour and got up.She grabbed her suitcase and walked towards the boarding gate,tears streaming down her saddened face,when she heard a voice call behind her."Helga!!!Wait!!!"It was Arnold.He had showed up.And so had Phoebe,Gerald,and the rest of the PS 118 gang.Arnold stood at the head of the group,desperately wanting Helga to return for her final goodbyes.She shook the tears that had fallen and faintly smiled,running back over to the group.Phoebe was the first one she hugged.What could she say?It was instinct.Phoebe was her best friend for nearly 10 years,and was always the one who had Helga's back.They embraced each other tightly,teardrops once again falling from the face of the two best friends."I'm gonna miss you so much,Helga..."Phoebe sniffed,wiping a tear from her eye."I'll miss you too,Pheebs....*sniff*Now you promise you're gonna keep in touch,right?"A faint smile spread across Helga's face."Sure thing,Helga,you know I will..."Phoebe backed away from Helga,allowing her to state her final goodbyes to the gang from PS118.
"Guys...you know I'm gonna miss you all...*sniff*I'm sorry I can't hug each and every one of you,because I wouldn't have the time...but I'll always keep you in my heart...I promise...even you,Harold."Helga weakly smiled at Harold.He blushed slightly,stepping out of the crowd and towards Helga."Helga..*sniff*I saved this for you..."Harold rubbed a tear from his eye,handing Helga a half-melted Mr. Fudgy ice cream bar.She smiled back at Harold and replied with a shrill 'thank you'."I'm going to miss you guys so much..."Helga said to the gang,wiping a dry tear from her eye."I'll make sure I keep in touch."Helga looked over at Arnold,who dealt her the same stare he had given her for the past few days.The gang looked at the two knowingly,and walked away from them,Gerald supportingly hugging Phoebe,who was now crying her eyes out,staining the floor with her many tears.
Helga and Arnold looked at each other solemnly for what seemed like forever,and about a minute later,Helga broke the silence,sighing deeply."Arnold...I'm sorry for all the torment I've put you through over the years...I was so wrong to ever mock you,call you names,and that sort of stuff.I hope you can find it somewhere in your heart to forgive me...you see...*sighing deeply*All this time...I've acted this way only because...only...because..."Helga stared back at Arnold for another endless moment.She couldn't say it.It was too hard.She turned away and headed for the boarding gate,only to be held back by Arnold."No,Helga...please tell me why...I'd really like to know...""Arnold...I-I can't....""Helga,can you please tell m--"Arnold was cut off by something he by far never would've expected.Helga turned around and embraced Arnold in a soft,strong kiss.This took Arnold completely aback.He didn't know what to think.Nor did he know what to do.He just stood there,kissing Helga."I can't believe it...."he thought."I'm kissing Helga...but strangely,I don't want to stop....why don't I want to,though?It's so strange...I actually kind of like kissing her...but why?I don't know....I wish I did...."Helga and Arnold continued kissing each other for a moment or two,then finally stopped,looking back at each other with mixed expressions.Just then,Helga's father called her name."Hey,Olga!Let's go,we're gonna miss our plane!"he yelled from the boarding gate,handing the attendant his boarding pass.Helga deeply sighed and pulled out the letter she had written fifteen minutes earlier,and handed it to Arnold.She patted his face and opened her mouth,her lips quivering with unhappiness."I'll never forget you,Arnold..."She smiled at him and turned to walk towards the boarding gate.Helga handed the attendant her boarding pass,and,looking one last time at Arnold,she was gone.
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he walked over to a nearby armchair,the one in which Helga had been sitting.He sat down quietly and opened up the letter she had giver him.It read:
"Dear Arnold,
It's me,Helga.Look....I just wanted to apologize for all the times I was mean to you.I admit,I was wrong.Calling you names,mocking your oddly-shaped head,and most of all,hating you.Arnold...I really didn't hate you.The truth is,deep down,I'm a shy,sensitive girl.My bullyish figure was just a lie.I'm not a bully at all.As a matter of fact,I love to write poetry.I have so many poetry books,it's not even funny.I acted like a bully all this time because I'm vulnerable.I'm afraid of getting my heart broken,my spirits torn....my conscience trampled.I didn't mean to hurt you,Arnold,I'm completely honest.The truth is...Arnold...I love you.I've loved you all this time and never had the humanly nerve to tell you.I was so afraid you wouldn't like me back.I was so scared.I kept to myself all the time,writing endless poetry about my admiration for you.I even built a shrine to you using your used wads of gum!(I know,very weird.)But the point is,Arnold,this has been bottled up inside me for so long,I had to tell you in my letter.I wouldn't have had the time to tell you in person,so here it is.I love you.It was me who owned the pink book.I was Cecile.That poem the parrot told was from me.I was the one who convinced that guy to get Mr. Hyunh's daughter for him for you.I did it all.
I know this is awkward and sudden,but I swear,every word of it is true.And I'm sorry for all I've done to hurt you.I didn't mean it.Believe me.I'm also sorry for not telling you sooner.My dad always tells me we Patakis keep things swept under the rug.I never wanted to,but I did.I hope we'll see each other someday...somewhere...but for now,I am off to France.I hope you'll at least write me letters.I'd love to keep in touch with you and all my friends back at PS118.But now,my time in America is up.The attendant says our flight just arrived.Arnold...you've been a true friend.I'll never forget you.Stay as true as you are today,and maybe we'll meet again someday....
Dearest wishes,
Helga Geraldine Pataki"
Arnold was stunned.Completely stunned.All these years of his life,Helga has bullied him like there was no tomorrow.All because she was madly in love with the boy with the football-shaped head.He just couldn't face the music."What the...?"Arnold saw something sticking out of the side of the armchair.Pulling it out,he found the proof behind Helga's letter.It was a picture of him,put in a golden heart-shaped frame.He turned it over,and engraved in the side,a message read:"Arnold,My Dearest Love.Helga G. Pataki".He held the picture close to his heart and softly wept for a few minutes.He got up and was just about to leave with the PS118 gang when he saw Helga sadly waving from her plane window,mouthing those three little words:I Love You.Her hand pressed aginst the bulletproof windows as her plane took off down the rumway and into the sky.She was off to France.
Tears ran down his cheeks as he turned to leave for the door."Hey,man...you okay?"Gerald put his hand on Arnold's shoulder for support."Yeah,Gerald...I'll be fine,I guess..."He wiped a tear with the sleeve of his sweater and headed out of the building.Arnold knew it.PS118 would never be the same again.
"Disco inferno...yeah,yeah...disco inferno..."Grandpa sang along to his favorite oldie songs,preferably disco,as he and Arnold drove back to the boarding house in Grandpa's green Packard.Arnold weakly stared out the window,nothing wandered in his ming except for Helga.When they arrived back at the apartments,Arnold walked up the stoop to the front door,opened it up,and walked up to his room.He flopped down on his bed and pulled out the letter and the picture,placing them gently above his bed.Getting up and walking over to his closet,he grabbed a boombox and walked up the stairs to the roof.Arnold pulled open a lawn chair and sat in it,hooking up the boombox he had brought with him.He turned it on,searching for a decent song to listen to in his time of depression.Nothing was on but Three Doors Down,so he sat looking up at the stars until the song was over.Gazing up at the sky,he saw what appeared to be a cluster of gathered stars.Shaped like Helga.A shooting star shot over the rest,shining brilliantly bright.A tear rolled down Arnold's cheek as he saw this happen.He hadn't cried this much since he found out his parents were 'supposedly' passed away in the continent of Africa.And now,this had happened.Helga was gone out of his life for what he thought would be forever.He would never see her again,just as he never saw his parents again.He let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes."Why,Helga....why did you have to go?"
Just then,a song came on the radio.Arnold despised it greatly.He thought Macy Gray had a terrible voice,but decided to listen to the lyrics.Besides,all he ever listened to was jazz.He had never paid any great attention to the words of songs.He took a deep breath and turned the volume up a notch.
"This is Nocturnal Ned,playing your favorite songs every night by request.Requesting a song tonight is Miss Helga Pataki from Hillwood.This was an earlier request,as she claims she would be moving away to France this very night.Helga requests,"I Try" by Macy Gray,and it goes out to Arnold....no last name given.She also told us to tell him that she will never forget him.So,here is "I Try" by Macy Gray,going out to Arnold in Hillwood."
"Games, changes and fears
When will they go from here
When will they stop
I believe that fate has brought us here
And we should be together,babe
But we're not
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
And I'll try to keep my cool, but I'm feenin'
I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
I may appear to be free
But I'm just a prisoner of your love
And I may seem all right and smile when you leave
But my smiles are just a front
Just a front, hey
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
And I'll try to keep my cool, but I'm feenin'
I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
Here is my confession
May I be your possession
Boy, I need your touch
Your love, kisses and such
With all my might I try
But this I can't deny
Deny
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
(but I'm dreaming of you babe)
And I'll keep my cool, but I'm feenin'
I try to say goodbye and I choke (yeah)
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
(when you are not near aahh)
Goodbye and I choke (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I try to walk away and I stumble (hey, hey, hey)
Though I try to hide it, it's clear (say it Lord)
My world crumbles when you are not here...."
Arnold opened his eyes,gazing back up at the starry skies,thinking deep."She...really does love me...."He eyed the picture of Helga formed by a cluster of stars,slowly fading away.Just then,a cluster of stars began to form the shape of Arnold and Helga,holding hands.He opened his mouth in amazement.A second shooting star shot across the sky.He put his hand over his mouth,yawning tiredly."What a day...."Arnold closed his eyes,going back to the moment where Helga mouthed those very words...."I Love You".A single tear rolled down his cheek and down onto the cold roof on which he lay.Arnold slowly drifted off to sleep,uttering those very words into the dark night skies."I love you too,Helga...."
Helga was gone,that was true.Something else had been true as well.Her memories remained in the hearts of Phoebe,Brainy,and many others for many years to come.Especially Arnold.Yes,Helga was gone,but never had she been swept under the rug.
~THE END~
by Angela Marcisak
DISCLAIMER:(You know the drill!)I do not own Hey Arnold,and have nothing to do with owning it!This is just a harmless fanfic written by me,a harmless obsessed fan,so please,don't sue me!
AUTHOR's NOTE:Since this is the final chapter,I'm making it the longest!^_^You CAN read fast,can't you?^_^ Anywho,I've decided,I'm going to make a sequel.I'm still having a little trouble deciding how the plot should go,so bear with me as I try to get the first chapter of the sequel started.~Angie~
CHAPTER 5-Final Goodbyes
"Beep!Beep!Beep!"Helga's new digital alarm clock chimed.This time,she pressed the snooze button rather than knocking it off of her nightstand.She had been scolded the last time she had done that.Helga sat straight up,sleepily rubbing her eyes."*yawn*Man,what a dream...."She turned to look at her alarm clock and gasped.It read,"9:00 AM"."Criminey!"Helga scowled."Why does Miriam always set my clock back an hour?I wanted to sleep...."She tried burying her face in her pillow,but it was no use.She was wide awake.
Helga let out a loud sigh,rolling off her bed and onto the floor."They even took my bedsheets..."She looked over at the corner of her room and found piles upon piles of boxes lined on top of one another."I hope they haven't packed all my clothes,"Helga thought to herself.She walked over to her bureau and pulled open each and every drawer.Nothing.She walked over to her closet and opened it up.Nothing."Grrr....."Helga growled,clenching her fists tightly.She looked at one of the boxes stacked deep within the pile in the corner.It read 'CLOTHES' in bold italic letters,and was covered with a heavy layer of duct tape.In fact,such a heavy layer that the only words she could actually see on cardboard were 'CLOTHES',and that was it."Man..."Helga let out a deep sigh,flopping down onto the floor."I couldn't cut that box open myself even if I had a butcher's knife...*sigh*Bob...Miriam...why must you do this to me???"
About an hour later,Helga arrived at school for her very last day.Her hair was frizzled in most parts,her clothes wrinkled and partially mangled,and a tired look was spread across her face.She took a seat next to Phoebe and gave a depressed sigh."What's wrong,Helga?Are you tired?"Phoebe asked curiously."Nah..."Helga answered in a slurred voice,"My mom and dad taped a ...box with all my clothes in ...it,and I couldn't cut it...open..so,I headbutted it...darn box..."Helga collapsed exhaustedly on her desk.Phoebe looked at Helga concerned,then turned forward and raised her hand."Mr. Rydell?"she politely asked the teacher,clearing her throat."May I take Helga to the nurse?""Sure,Phoebe..."The whole class turned to Helga,staring strangely as she was dragged unconsciously out of the room by her best friend.
Helga woke up an hour later and found herself lying in the nurse's office.She had been resting on a small bed,you know,the kind that are cold and hard,and sometimes smell like old socks.She tried not to describe the details,though she hardly had anything better to do.In the meanwhile,Helga tried to recollect what had made her end up at the nurse in the first place."Oh yeah,now I remember...man...what was I doing?..."She stared blankly up at the ceiling when a large figure appeared before her eyes,apparently shaped like a taco."Aaah!"Helga screamed,clutching her chest in fear."Arnold!Don't do that to me!You tryin' to give me a heart attack?"She let out a deep sigh,and her hands rested at her sides as they had been earlier."S-sorry Helga!Are you okay?""Yeah,I-I'm fine..."Helga looked up at Arnold with a small grin on her face."Why,do you WANT me to have a heart attack so I can stay in Hillwood?"Helga joked.She turned away from him momentarily,expecting a somewhat positive answer to come."Well,you got the 'staying in Hillwood' part right..."Arnold sighed.Helga's humor turned to a dead solemn face as she turned back around and looked Arnold in the eye."Y-you really mean that?"Arnold looked back at Helga with a bit of a smile."Of course.Hillwood won't be the same without you."His face moved closer to Helga's,nearly centimeters away from touching her lips;their eyes still locked in a trance none of them were able to look away from.Helga didn't know what to think.She just sat there,sweatdrops rolling unnoticeably down the side of her face."Oh my god...is Arnold...trying to kiss me?"When Arnold was less than a pinky's length away from what could've been a possible kiss,the intercom boomed with the loud voice of Mr. Rydell."Ow!"Helga exclaimed,jerking straight up from the bed in which she had slept."Helga Pataki and Arnold....hmm..can't seem to make out his last name...but Helga and Arnold,please report to your classes at once!"Mr. Rydell loudly yelled into the intercom,then briefly hung up."Wh-what am I doing?"Arnold thought to himself."I almost kissed Helga Pataki.But I didn't.Though,why was I going to?This all doesn't make sense.Things are happening way too fast.One day,me and Helga are talking,and the next day,she's moving in less than five hours.I'll never even see her again..."Arnold let out a deep sigh,and looked at Helga,who was apparently staring back at him,mentally reciting some pink book poetry to herself.She smiled nervously at Arnold,then broke the awkward silence."So...what are you thinking about?"Arnold widely stared at Helga for what seemed to be a short moment,then responded."Nothing...""You're thinking about something,aren't you?"Arnold didn't want Helga to get any ideas of what he had been thinking about,even though there was no humanly way possible she could know,so he brusquely changed the subject."We'd...better get going upstairs now..."Arnold pulled Helga off of the bed and,holding her hand all the while,walked her upstairs back to their class.
"Class,if you would...there's an announcement I need to make..."Mr. Rydell shouted,clutching an earlier thrown paper airplane in his left hand."Class...class..."He looked around the room,loud conversations being told from both sides of the room.He took a deep breath and opened his mouth."CLASS!!!!"The whole room fell strangely silent;so silent,that Curly drpped his Wankyland pencil,and even that could be heard amongst the quiet cluster of teenagers."That's more like it...ehem....anyways,as most of you already know,a fellow classmate is moving away today.That classmate is Helga Pataki.I would very much appreciate it if you would show some sympathy for her,as she will be moving far away to...uh,where was it,Helga?"Helga boringly looked at Mr. Rydell."France,"she uttered loudly."Yeah,right,"she thought to herself,"Even if I am moving to France,I bet you any amount of money not even half the class is gonna show up at the airport today.Just watch."Mr. Rydell shook his head solemnly."Yes,class,Helga is moving to France.And I hope some of you will keep in contact with her,or at least show up at the airport today at 3:00 for a final goodbye.Helga has left her future address with us so any of you may write her a letter when you'd like.I'm sure she'd love to hear from all of you,wouldn't you,Helga?"Helga stared back bluntly at Mr. Rydell."Yes,sir,I'd REALLY like that."she stated both flatly and sarcastically."If Harold writes me,he's toast."Helga thought to herself,smiling at the idea of sending Harold back some old fashioned dynamite as a going away gift.She shook her head and stared back down at her desk."Well,Helga,I assure you,we all will very much miss y--"Mr. Rydell was cut off by a loud noise at the door.Big Bob burst in the classroom,eyeing Helga angrily."Olga,get in the car,pronto!We gotta load the moving van in the next hour.Then we'll be leaving for the airport.Say goodbye to the teacher and let's get going!"Helga furiously got up out of her seat and walked over to the teacher,patting him on the shoulder."Goodbye,Mr. Rydell!"she harshly stated,turning to walk out of the classroom.Her angry expression turned to a sad one as she saw Arnold's face.He looked more bummed than ever before.She gave him a small wave and walked back out of the classroom."Only about three more hours,"she sadly thought to herself,glumly stepping down a long flight of stairs."Only three more hours...."
Helga stood outside next to a large U-Haul van.She had lugged her last box of stuff out to the car,containing most of her many treasured poetry books.She wanted to read as many of them as she could on her way to the airport,though she didn't exactly know why.Helga knew it would only cause her more heartbreak and emotion,but she didn't care.No one seemed to care anyways.Besides,it was only a little more heartbreak added on to all she had received so far,which,in any other person's eyes,was a lot.Nonetheless,she found it to be completely harmless.Helga sighed deeply and looked back at the house in which she had for so long lived in.The house in which she had been tormented.The room in which she had obsessed over Arnold all the time.The closet her shrine had sat from time to joyous time,wads of Arnold's used gum to a replica mask of his oddly-shaped head.The place where it all started.Would change be better for Helga when she was to live in France?Of course not.She was only kidding herself.She knew wherever she went,she would live with torment.Torment coming from not only her parents,but torment coming from the truth.The truth of knowing she most likely wouldn't ever see Arnold again.Never.
"Come on,Helga,we're gonna be late!"Big Bob yelled,hopping into the family car."Wow...he actually got my name right,"Helga thought.She jumped in the car along with her poetry books,her treasured Arnold doll,and her even more treasured locket.With the slam of the back door and the truck driver's thumbs up,they were off to the airport."*sigh*I hope Arnold doesn't forget me..."Helga thought sadly to herself.She rested her head on the window and soon after,fell asleep.
There she was.The airport.Helga stood at the gate with a handful of suitcases.Apparently,Bob and Miriam the smoothieholic were too lazy to do the job,so Helga did it for them.Frankly,she was growing tired of being their slave girl.She longed for Arnold's grandparents to adopt her.Helga scoffed with the very idea."Yeah...like THAT'S ever gonna happen...get ahold of yourself,girl!"She sent herself a mental kick,and took off to the building with her mom and dad.
About a half an hour later,Helga sat in the waiting rooms,a suitcase sitting directly by her side.So far,it had been 3:30 and no sign of Arnold.Or Phoebe.Or any of the people from her class.It pained her heart witht he very thought that they didn't really care to show up.Maybe they couldn't bear to say goodbye,or maybe they were just too busy to pay some decent respect.Whatever it was,Helga was hurt.More hurt than she had ever been in her 13 years of living.More hurt than all the times Bob had called her Olga and all the times he had come home drunk and abused her.No one cared anymore.She sat in a slump in her gray armchair,letting her negativity get the best of her.It was no use to her anymore.She knew it all along.They weren't going to show up.
About half an hour later,Helga heard the voice for which so long she had dreaded.Her flight had arrived."Flight number 232,one-way to Paris,France,has now arrived.I repeat,flight number 232 to Paris,France has now arrived."the announcer chimed merrily."How could she be so happy?"Helga thought."Well,it's not like that SHE gives a damn about anyone's feelings.Especially not mine.She doesn't know what it's like for someone to lose the one they love.She doesn't know how bad it feels to not get a chance to say goodbye."Helga clutched a letter she had been writing in the last half hour and got up.She grabbed her suitcase and walked towards the boarding gate,tears streaming down her saddened face,when she heard a voice call behind her."Helga!!!Wait!!!"It was Arnold.He had showed up.And so had Phoebe,Gerald,and the rest of the PS 118 gang.Arnold stood at the head of the group,desperately wanting Helga to return for her final goodbyes.She shook the tears that had fallen and faintly smiled,running back over to the group.Phoebe was the first one she hugged.What could she say?It was instinct.Phoebe was her best friend for nearly 10 years,and was always the one who had Helga's back.They embraced each other tightly,teardrops once again falling from the face of the two best friends."I'm gonna miss you so much,Helga..."Phoebe sniffed,wiping a tear from her eye."I'll miss you too,Pheebs....*sniff*Now you promise you're gonna keep in touch,right?"A faint smile spread across Helga's face."Sure thing,Helga,you know I will..."Phoebe backed away from Helga,allowing her to state her final goodbyes to the gang from PS118.
"Guys...you know I'm gonna miss you all...*sniff*I'm sorry I can't hug each and every one of you,because I wouldn't have the time...but I'll always keep you in my heart...I promise...even you,Harold."Helga weakly smiled at Harold.He blushed slightly,stepping out of the crowd and towards Helga."Helga..*sniff*I saved this for you..."Harold rubbed a tear from his eye,handing Helga a half-melted Mr. Fudgy ice cream bar.She smiled back at Harold and replied with a shrill 'thank you'."I'm going to miss you guys so much..."Helga said to the gang,wiping a dry tear from her eye."I'll make sure I keep in touch."Helga looked over at Arnold,who dealt her the same stare he had given her for the past few days.The gang looked at the two knowingly,and walked away from them,Gerald supportingly hugging Phoebe,who was now crying her eyes out,staining the floor with her many tears.
Helga and Arnold looked at each other solemnly for what seemed like forever,and about a minute later,Helga broke the silence,sighing deeply."Arnold...I'm sorry for all the torment I've put you through over the years...I was so wrong to ever mock you,call you names,and that sort of stuff.I hope you can find it somewhere in your heart to forgive me...you see...*sighing deeply*All this time...I've acted this way only because...only...because..."Helga stared back at Arnold for another endless moment.She couldn't say it.It was too hard.She turned away and headed for the boarding gate,only to be held back by Arnold."No,Helga...please tell me why...I'd really like to know...""Arnold...I-I can't....""Helga,can you please tell m--"Arnold was cut off by something he by far never would've expected.Helga turned around and embraced Arnold in a soft,strong kiss.This took Arnold completely aback.He didn't know what to think.Nor did he know what to do.He just stood there,kissing Helga."I can't believe it...."he thought."I'm kissing Helga...but strangely,I don't want to stop....why don't I want to,though?It's so strange...I actually kind of like kissing her...but why?I don't know....I wish I did...."Helga and Arnold continued kissing each other for a moment or two,then finally stopped,looking back at each other with mixed expressions.Just then,Helga's father called her name."Hey,Olga!Let's go,we're gonna miss our plane!"he yelled from the boarding gate,handing the attendant his boarding pass.Helga deeply sighed and pulled out the letter she had written fifteen minutes earlier,and handed it to Arnold.She patted his face and opened her mouth,her lips quivering with unhappiness."I'll never forget you,Arnold..."She smiled at him and turned to walk towards the boarding gate.Helga handed the attendant her boarding pass,and,looking one last time at Arnold,she was gone.
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he walked over to a nearby armchair,the one in which Helga had been sitting.He sat down quietly and opened up the letter she had giver him.It read:
"Dear Arnold,
It's me,Helga.Look....I just wanted to apologize for all the times I was mean to you.I admit,I was wrong.Calling you names,mocking your oddly-shaped head,and most of all,hating you.Arnold...I really didn't hate you.The truth is,deep down,I'm a shy,sensitive girl.My bullyish figure was just a lie.I'm not a bully at all.As a matter of fact,I love to write poetry.I have so many poetry books,it's not even funny.I acted like a bully all this time because I'm vulnerable.I'm afraid of getting my heart broken,my spirits torn....my conscience trampled.I didn't mean to hurt you,Arnold,I'm completely honest.The truth is...Arnold...I love you.I've loved you all this time and never had the humanly nerve to tell you.I was so afraid you wouldn't like me back.I was so scared.I kept to myself all the time,writing endless poetry about my admiration for you.I even built a shrine to you using your used wads of gum!(I know,very weird.)But the point is,Arnold,this has been bottled up inside me for so long,I had to tell you in my letter.I wouldn't have had the time to tell you in person,so here it is.I love you.It was me who owned the pink book.I was Cecile.That poem the parrot told was from me.I was the one who convinced that guy to get Mr. Hyunh's daughter for him for you.I did it all.
I know this is awkward and sudden,but I swear,every word of it is true.And I'm sorry for all I've done to hurt you.I didn't mean it.Believe me.I'm also sorry for not telling you sooner.My dad always tells me we Patakis keep things swept under the rug.I never wanted to,but I did.I hope we'll see each other someday...somewhere...but for now,I am off to France.I hope you'll at least write me letters.I'd love to keep in touch with you and all my friends back at PS118.But now,my time in America is up.The attendant says our flight just arrived.Arnold...you've been a true friend.I'll never forget you.Stay as true as you are today,and maybe we'll meet again someday....
Dearest wishes,
Helga Geraldine Pataki"
Arnold was stunned.Completely stunned.All these years of his life,Helga has bullied him like there was no tomorrow.All because she was madly in love with the boy with the football-shaped head.He just couldn't face the music."What the...?"Arnold saw something sticking out of the side of the armchair.Pulling it out,he found the proof behind Helga's letter.It was a picture of him,put in a golden heart-shaped frame.He turned it over,and engraved in the side,a message read:"Arnold,My Dearest Love.Helga G. Pataki".He held the picture close to his heart and softly wept for a few minutes.He got up and was just about to leave with the PS118 gang when he saw Helga sadly waving from her plane window,mouthing those three little words:I Love You.Her hand pressed aginst the bulletproof windows as her plane took off down the rumway and into the sky.She was off to France.
Tears ran down his cheeks as he turned to leave for the door."Hey,man...you okay?"Gerald put his hand on Arnold's shoulder for support."Yeah,Gerald...I'll be fine,I guess..."He wiped a tear with the sleeve of his sweater and headed out of the building.Arnold knew it.PS118 would never be the same again.
"Disco inferno...yeah,yeah...disco inferno..."Grandpa sang along to his favorite oldie songs,preferably disco,as he and Arnold drove back to the boarding house in Grandpa's green Packard.Arnold weakly stared out the window,nothing wandered in his ming except for Helga.When they arrived back at the apartments,Arnold walked up the stoop to the front door,opened it up,and walked up to his room.He flopped down on his bed and pulled out the letter and the picture,placing them gently above his bed.Getting up and walking over to his closet,he grabbed a boombox and walked up the stairs to the roof.Arnold pulled open a lawn chair and sat in it,hooking up the boombox he had brought with him.He turned it on,searching for a decent song to listen to in his time of depression.Nothing was on but Three Doors Down,so he sat looking up at the stars until the song was over.Gazing up at the sky,he saw what appeared to be a cluster of gathered stars.Shaped like Helga.A shooting star shot over the rest,shining brilliantly bright.A tear rolled down Arnold's cheek as he saw this happen.He hadn't cried this much since he found out his parents were 'supposedly' passed away in the continent of Africa.And now,this had happened.Helga was gone out of his life for what he thought would be forever.He would never see her again,just as he never saw his parents again.He let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes."Why,Helga....why did you have to go?"
Just then,a song came on the radio.Arnold despised it greatly.He thought Macy Gray had a terrible voice,but decided to listen to the lyrics.Besides,all he ever listened to was jazz.He had never paid any great attention to the words of songs.He took a deep breath and turned the volume up a notch.
"This is Nocturnal Ned,playing your favorite songs every night by request.Requesting a song tonight is Miss Helga Pataki from Hillwood.This was an earlier request,as she claims she would be moving away to France this very night.Helga requests,"I Try" by Macy Gray,and it goes out to Arnold....no last name given.She also told us to tell him that she will never forget him.So,here is "I Try" by Macy Gray,going out to Arnold in Hillwood."
"Games, changes and fears
When will they go from here
When will they stop
I believe that fate has brought us here
And we should be together,babe
But we're not
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
And I'll try to keep my cool, but I'm feenin'
I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
I may appear to be free
But I'm just a prisoner of your love
And I may seem all right and smile when you leave
But my smiles are just a front
Just a front, hey
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
And I'll try to keep my cool, but I'm feenin'
I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not here
Here is my confession
May I be your possession
Boy, I need your touch
Your love, kisses and such
With all my might I try
But this I can't deny
Deny
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
(but I'm dreaming of you babe)
And I'll keep my cool, but I'm feenin'
I try to say goodbye and I choke (yeah)
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
(when you are not near aahh)
Goodbye and I choke (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I try to walk away and I stumble (hey, hey, hey)
Though I try to hide it, it's clear (say it Lord)
My world crumbles when you are not here...."
Arnold opened his eyes,gazing back up at the starry skies,thinking deep."She...really does love me...."He eyed the picture of Helga formed by a cluster of stars,slowly fading away.Just then,a cluster of stars began to form the shape of Arnold and Helga,holding hands.He opened his mouth in amazement.A second shooting star shot across the sky.He put his hand over his mouth,yawning tiredly."What a day...."Arnold closed his eyes,going back to the moment where Helga mouthed those very words...."I Love You".A single tear rolled down his cheek and down onto the cold roof on which he lay.Arnold slowly drifted off to sleep,uttering those very words into the dark night skies."I love you too,Helga...."
Helga was gone,that was true.Something else had been true as well.Her memories remained in the hearts of Phoebe,Brainy,and many others for many years to come.Especially Arnold.Yes,Helga was gone,but never had she been swept under the rug.
~THE END~