Warning: Again, I own none of the Hey Arnold characters, nor do I own anything related to Hey Arnold.
Sorry this chapter has a lot of describing parts just to let you know what happen to everyone in the years that passed.
Chapter 2 of Helga's Astronomical Expectation
So Helga left and life went on. Gerald and Phoebe ended up together considering she was left without a best friend when Helga left. Arnold's guilt of not sticking up for Helga on her last day always tugged on his heart when he heard her name. But soon Helga grew into a childhood memory as middle school drama played out. Now it's been about 3 or 4 years since she left.
First day of school of their Junior year at North Broke High school. Most of the PS 118 gang managed to stay together. Except for Helga, Lila, and Curly. Helga was in California, but was coming back by rumor. Lila decided to go to a different High School after she was caught getting ever-so-friendly with Rhonda's boyfriend in the back of a movie theater during the summer, when she was suppose to be Arnold's girlfriend. And Curly went to a school for kids who are misunderstood geniuses. But other then that ever had made it there.
Arnold was depressed lately, his girlfriend was found cheating on him. He never pictured Lila as the type, considering he never even got to first base with her since she said it was "immoral". Apparently it wasn't immoral to do it with someone else boyfriend. He sighed. His appearance was way different from the one he had back in elementary school. Instead of a sweater and a plaid shirt hanging out, it was now replaced with a wardrobe of sport teams t shirts and a black wind breaker, today he had picked out his favorite football team's shirt and left the jacket half un-zipped to show the logo on the shirt. He put his hat away after elementary school, being one of his only mementos from his parents, he didn't want to wear it out. He cut his hair a little shorter, but it still had that huge cow-lick problem. His jeans were baggy and his shoes looking too big for his feet, just like all the other boys wore them. He hadn't grown a very manly look, he still had that boyish face and wasn't able to baulk up with muscles like the other guys. He felt maybe he wasn't going to fit in as well in high school since he had lost his edge in sports. Gerald was the star quarter back on the football team and the star pitcher of the baseball team, his throwing arm was a gift from heaven Arnold thought. Harold should be on the wrestling team, but his grades aren't enough to even qualify as the towel boy. Sid and Stinky had joined the swimming team and the volleyball team, not the manliest of sports, but at least they were playing.
"Arnold man! Why are you looking so down in the dumps? Don't tell me you still haven't gotten over that whole Lila thing?" Gerald said as Arnold approached Gerald's car in the parking lot. Gerald had grown up to look just like his brother, just slightly thinner. He no longer had tall hair and he dressed like a fashion license plate, always the name of a big fashion designer, like FUBU, across his chest. Gerald was always voted best dressed.
"I just can't get over it Gerald. She wouldn't even touch me! Why did she go for that jock Rhonda was dating?" Arnold said slumping against Gerald cherry red SUV. Gerald sighed.
"Look man, I am sorry to say this, but you are labeled as Mr. Sensitive. Girls are already emotional time-bombs, they don't need to date one." Gerald said. He then motioned for Arnold to stop leaning on the car. As soon as Arnold got up, Gerald wiped it down with a soft rag from his pocket. "No offence man, but she is my baby!"
Arnold laughed, "If you don't be careful, Phoebe will get jealous!"
"Man she already is. She is so scared I am going to dump her now that I am a star athlete and the object of all the cheerleaders' affection. I can't help it if I turned into a stud!" Gerald said in confident voice.
"You are a bold kid Gerald." Arnold said in a mocking tone.
"No, I am a bold MAN!" Gerald joked back. They slapped hands and gave their classic handshake. Stinky, Sid, and Harold came up. Sid hadn't changed much since 4th grade. He was just a bit taller, grew into his nose, and ditched the hat. Other then that, the clothes and personality stayed the same. Stinky grew even taller, about seven foot now. The basketball team was dieing to get him, but his Pa was against contact sports, saying it would make him like the violent city folk. He grew in a little wisp of a goatee on his chin, making him look like he could pass for 21. Harold, well, Harold just grew up and out really. But this just made him all the more dangerous, since he had the build of a sumo wrestler.
"Hey Arnold, Gerald. How is it going?" Stinky said. They bent their neck back a bit so they could look him in the face.
"Not bad Stinky. How are things up there?" Gerald said. Everyone laughed. Just then Phoebe walked up and Gerald went into to his boyfriend mode. "Morning Sugar!"
"Good morning Gerald, Good morning everyone" she said with a small bow. Phoebe had spent the majority of her summer in Japan with some family. She was still growing out of some customs. She had a huge smile on her face. That smile lit up Gerald's world. She was still a bit on the short side and still dressed a bit reserved compared to the other girls, but she was pure sunshine. Plus she got contacts so he could see her pretty eyes all the time now.
"Wow, Phoebe. You look like you are in a good mood." Arnold said. Phoebe nodded.
"Why shouldn't I be! She comes back today remember?" Phoebe said with a glowing smile.
"She?" Arnold asked with his eyebrow raised in confusion. The rest turned toward Phoebe with a similar look.
"Why you guys don't remember me telling you? Helga is finally coming back from California." Phoebe said. The guys heads whirled as they brought up the image of Helga pounding the life out of them.
"Helga?" Harold said and swallowed hard. " Did that girl school calm here down?"
"Wasn't she suppose to come back freshman year?" Arnold asked, Phoebe nodded.
"Well, yes. But that's when her parents divorced and they thought it would be best if she stayed there till they got everything settled." Phoebe said. "But apparently she was sent to another all girls school."
"Don't you guys know what happens at girl schools in California?" Sid said. Everyone turned towards him and nodded no. " Well I seen it happen all the time in music videos and stuff. A dork of a girl can go to all girls school and come out looking a pin up girl! They all get really good looking, especially ones in California. They all have tans and look great in bikinis!"
"Sid, you have been watching too much TV to think Helga is going to come back looking like some babe. " Harold rolled his eyes and stuffed a chocolate pastry into his mouth from the bakery bag he was carrying.
"Well it's going to be interesting to seeing Helga after all these yea……." Arnold was cut off the roar of a motorcycle engine. They turned around to see a Suzuki GSX-R750 Sport Bike ripping into the school parking lot, which just happen to have it's paint job done in pink .
"That's not who I think it is?" Gerald said. The bike pulled up to them. It's rider was a girl most defiantly, any one could see that in those tight leather pants and jacket she wore. All the guys got that foolish glazed over look in their eye, this girl was pretty built in all the right ways. She removed her helmet and a single long blond braid fell to the small of her back. At the end of the braid was a very familiar pink bow.
"Helga?" Phoebe asked with cautiously. The girl turned to them with stunning blue eyes. There was an uncanny resemblance to Olga Pataki, but her face was a little less chubby.
"Damn, I leave for just a few years and everyone forgets what I look like? Gawd, I could spot you losers all the way across the parking lot." Helga said with a joking tone to her voice. Phoebe cried with joy and ran over to Helga and gave her a hug. Phoebe was the envy of every guy standing there.
"My, My Helga. You certainly grew into a fine young woman!" Stinky said as he looked her up a down. Helga put her trademark scowl on her face.
"Yeah and if you keep looking at me like that Stinky, I'll show you that my fists grew too." Helga said. She decided best that the leather look might be too distracting, so she took the jacket off to reveal simple pink t-shirt. But off course with Helga's new larger chest, the shirt didn't seem all that plain. The guys just seem to be staring even harder now.
"Gee Helga. Who ever thought you would turn out so hot!" Harold said. Of course this was the totally wrong thing to say. Helga threw a punch right into his gut. He curled up in a ball and held his stomach. "Gawd, that hurt more then a guy's punch."
"Oh! Did I forget to tell you guys that Helga joined a Kung Fu school while in San Francisco?" Phoebe said. She should have warned them that Helga made it to be a black sash.
"Oh god, the last thing Helga need was to be thought how to beat us up more effectively, she already did a good enough job at PS 118." Sid said. Helga gave off a laugh.
"Well if you guys will excuse me I have to be going now, I gotta to my locker to put my helmet away." Helga said and started to walk off. Arnold nervously cleared his thoart.
"Helga, wait up, I'll walk with you." Arnold said and jogged to catch up to her.
"Whatever does it for you football head." Helga said as he caught up to her. She smiled a bit, she was thankful that she wasn't taller then him anymore, it's always weird liking a shorter guy. She didn't know if she still liked Arnold. While in California she wasn't the same girl, she hardly had time to herself to break out in a poem or make a shrine. Olga had tried to baby her the whole time and rule her life.
"You still call me 'Football Head' huh?" Arnold said in a kidding tone. Helga looked at him for the first time really, she noticed he was still the charming little blond kid she loved back then.
"Well yeah I guess, I didn't change over there really." Helga said in a defensive way. Arnold smiled, she really hadn't changed personality wise, everything else, well that was a way different story. She certainly grew up in all the right places he thought.
"I just thought living with Olga for a few years would have had some effect on you." Arnold said. She shot him a icy glare and he saw this wads the wrong thing to say.
"I have been trying for 4 years not to be Olga. It's bad enough I grew into a spitting image of her. But I found a way to get my revenge. I did everything Olga told me but I did it my way! She asked me to play the violin so I would get musical talent, so I took up the electric guitar instead. She said I should take up ballet so I would fill out better, so I took Kung Fu. She said I should learn balance by walking around with books on my head, I learned balance by racing my motorcycle." Helga said proudly, she turned to Arnold expecting him to look fearful of her new wild side, but he just had this big smile on his face. "What are you smiling at?"
"Well, it's just you sound like you learn to do a bunch of cool stuff over in California." Arnold said. Helga looked puzzled at him.
"You mean you are not taking Olga's side?" Helga asked.
"No, I think it's cool you are your own person. Also I have been playing the electric bass for a while, maybe sometime we can jam. And Grandma thought me Karate, so that's another thing in common." Arnold said, his face in a blush. 'Gawd!' he thought to himself, 'Whoever thought I would be blushing over Helga?'
"Really?" Helga said with amazement. Arnold and her had something in common?
"Yeah, and you didn't grow up to look just like Olga. I mean look at you!" Arnold said and accidentally let his eyes wander over her body. Helga growled and pulled back her fist. Poor Arnold didn't get his eyes up fast enough to see Helga's fist nail him. His head hit the lockers behind him and he fell to the ground and she stormed off. Arnold rubbed his black eye as he got his senses about him.
"Yeah, I was wrong, same ole' Helga." Arnold sighed to himself as he sat on the floor of the hallway.
To be continued
Okay I am trying to get these out as soon as I think of them, so it might be really soon or a long time till the next one