"You're telling me that Helga G. Pataki, reigning bully of P.S. 118 is in charge of the dorms?" Arnold couldn't believe his rotten luck."Now I'm going to have to room with a boulder for the next year."
"Oh, come on Arnold. Helga may be a little sarcastic now and then but she's always up to helping her friends. In fact, she's getting me tickets to the Axis concert in November." From Gerald's letters, Arnold knew he'd do anything for Axis tickets.
"Helga went out of her way to get you tickets to a band that usually has sold-out shows?"
"Well yeah, I mean her sister, you know Olga, married the C.E.O of Ticket Takers. She helps all the college kids get tickets through her brother-in-law.
"Well you can't blame me for being skeptical. I guess I have nothing to lose by asking her anyways..when should I talk to her?"
"I'd say as a soon as possible. In a couple of days demand will be really heavy and when demand goes up..well let's just say you do not want to be in the same room as Helga."
A voice suddenly came from behind them. "And why, may I ask, are you talking about me behind my back?" Arnold turned to see a cool looking girl who looked to be around 19 or 20. She was about 5'9 with tight green pants, blonde hair highlighted with strips of pink and purple, and a black t-shirt that said "Your Village Called, They're Missing Their Idiot". Arnold gulped and couldn't help staring at her.
"Hey Helga, what's up?" Gerald said, raising his eyebrows to Arnold as if to signal him to stop staring.
"Not much, although I could say the same thing about your hair. What'd you do? Hair Boy was one of my favorite nicknames." Helga laughed and put her hand out to feel the top of Gerald's head. "Does Pheobe like it? I bet she does...by the way who's the friend who keeps gaping at me like I'm from a different planet?"
She doesn't recognize me! Though I doubt that I've changed as much as her. Arnold walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Er..Gerald..why is Staring Boy hugging me?" Her eyes were filled with surprise. Who the hell does this guy think he is.
"Helga don't you recognize me? I mean, sure, my head eventually grew into a normal shape but come on! Didn't Gerald here tell you that I was coming here for college?"
"Arnold?" Helga said in almost a half whisper. "I don't believe this. First I lose Hair Boy now I have to trash Football Head?" Helga said jokingly. Then her face turned serious. "I'm glad your back though, our group was never really the same without you." With that Helga gave Arnold an awkward hug, as though she didn't know where to put her hands. Arnold was a little surprised at the gesture. Gerald looked mildly interested but, then again, he was used to seeing Helga show some emotion. To Arnold, though, this was truely a new experience.
"Anyways," Helga started a little nervously. "I heard you to talking about something...?"
"Yeah, um...I need to change my roomate. My current prospect is Micheal J. Cooney."
"Ha! What a way to start your first year of college here..with the Looney as your roommate! Well I'll see what I-" Beep, beep, beep. "Grr..damn beeper. Why don't you meet me in the Clifton Room in the library at about 7:00? We can fix your problem then." Arnold nodded as Helga rushed off in search of a pay phone. When he was a kid he'd never have imagined Helga this way. Her new personality seem to fit her somehow. She was still tough, but..you could tell that there was something under that hard exterior.
"Earth to Arnold. Man, you are STILL a daydreamer." Gerald said as he waved his hands in front of Arnold's face. "I would have thought that you'd outgrow that."
"I just can't get over how different Helga is. I mean when I think of how she was back in fifth grade...she had her moments, but.."
"Well, yeah, I guess she's different, but then again everyone is. And her change was so gradual as we were growing up that I guess we never really noticed ya know?" Gerald's eyes brightened as he looked past Arnold. Arnold turned around to see pretty asian girl. She was about medium height, wearing something that looked like a cross between a business suit and a trendy dress. It was hard to describe, but there was no denying that the overall effect worked for her.
"You don't even have to tell me Gerald." Arnold stood and walked over to Pheobe. He put his arm around her. "What's up Pheebs?"
"What are you talking about? My name isn't 'Pheebs' it's Cathy. Who are you? And would you please take your arm off of me?"
"Oh, I'm s-sorry I just thought- you see my friend over there he-"
"Pheobe that was great!" Gerald said walking over to Pheobe and Arnold. "Man, you are STILL dense. I was walking with Pheobe when I first saw you...I just couldn't resist."
"That's O.K. I'm just glad that I'm not going to get a reputation as some sicko who goes around hugging random women!"
"Although I would love to continue this reunion, I feel obligated to inform you that Student Orientation is scheduled to begin in fifteen minutes and we must hurry."
As Gerald and Pheobe walked towards the auditorium, Arnold stayed behind to look at the campus. Sure it wasn't UCLA but it was nice. It had grass and trees and even a dirt path that led to the various buildings. It may not have the most up-to-date technology but at least here he had friends. He slipped his hand into his back pocket and felt the letter. This is a new start with me, a couple of sheets of paper shouldn't change it. He took out the envelope and walked to a trashcan. He held the letter over the trash and then, after a moments thought, put the letter into his backpack. Then again, you never know.
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Author's Note: O.K. This isn't a very bad cliffhanger...actually it's just more of a good place to end the story rather then a cliffhanger. Next chapter WILL be up by...Thursday at the latest. And just to let you know I do have this story all planned out. I'm just writing the details now.