For Her

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A sequel to "My Muse", written by Miss Matched

Dedicated to Starry Nights, for being so encouraging.

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All standard disclaimers apply. Characters from "Hey Arnold" are copyright Craig Barlett and to whomever else they're copyrighted to. Original characters are original, and the author would like sole use of them, unless contacted for permission. All poetry/music in this fanfiction are also original, and once again, may only be used with permission. Thus ends this huge disclaimer. Oatmeal is a funny word. Funny, funny, funny.

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Chapter Two: Where We Left Off

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Point of View: Arnold

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I couldn't help but smile at all the attention we were getting. It was truly pathetic how a big deal was made out of EVERYTHING in Junior High. Seriously! I acted like I didn't notice the stares, but Helga, self conscious as ever, couldn't help but stair back and blush mildly. I don't imagine she's had this much "lunchroom-attention" since fourth grade; the day we revealed our feelings for each other. I couldn't help but think of that... a lot. Sort of pointless, yeah, but hey, what can I say?

"Earth to Arnold? Come in" I heard Helga tease.

"Oh, huh?" I blinked a few time. "Sorry... just reminiscing"

Helga smiled (She's so pretty when she smiles) "Yeah... lots of memories" She looked awkward for a moment. "Is it just me, or is this really hokey?" There's the Helga I knew!

"If you pull any more shy crap on me I'm gonna blow chunks!" I laughed "Now come on!"

Helga sighed "If you make this any freaking more harder on me, head boy, I swear I'll"

This took me by surprise. "Hey hey, what?"

To my surprise and dismay, I saw tears in her eyes. "For your information, Arnoldo, I'm moving to New York"

I was completely shocked "NO WAY! You can't go!"

Helga laughed shortly "Wow, after a five minute reunion you begin to care again?"

I sighed "I'm really sorry about... everything. It's just this new school and fitting in and..."

"Don't explain yourself" Helga half-smiled "All that matters is that you're here now. I need a few days to say goodbye to my good friends."

Friends. The word nearly killed me, I swear. "Yeah... When are you moving? AND WHY???"

"Next week" She said sadly "And Pheebs already knows" she shook her head in frustration, her half-ponytail swishing in a vigorous movement. "And as for the why, Bob's found a good place for rent to build his new beeper emporium. I mean, Gerald Field and Mighty Pete were out so..."

"So you're moving..." I finished for her. She nodded back sadly.

"One whole week, head boy" She feebly joked. I liked how she was already back to calling me by her old nicknames. "After that, you'll be so sick of me, you'll never want to see me again!" she vowed

I hoped... Yeah, I know how cruel that sounded... but it would be better for the both of us if we hated each other before she left...


at least I hoped.

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"Arnold! What was THAT about today?" By that, I knew that Gerald was talking about the semi-fight in the hallway.

"Standing up for what I believe in, Gerald" I admitted.

He looked relieved. "Finally, now there's the Arnold I know again. The bold kid!"

I didn't know I had ever left... But then again, people always said I was dense....


Luckily, some things never change. I swear, all of us woulda' gone nuts if the transition between Elementary school and Jr. High caused our entire lives to change. Though the friends playing the game changed, an after school game of baseball at Gerald's field was always in order whenever the homework level was low and spirits were high. Our crew that today was Sid (who now went without the baseball cap, and sported a crew cut), Gerald (Same ol, true blue Gerald... the hair's just a bit shorter, but up in that gravity-defying style as always), Stinky (Same Stinky, he's someone who just never changes), Nick (My new friend, he's a bit on the preppy side; you know the type, polo-wearing, bowl-cut-sporting all Americans blue eyes brown hair. That was a long sentence. My English teacher would frown at it.) and some other guys who came whenever they felt like it. Gerald Field had matured along with the rest of us. It's really neat, actually; Gerald had forbid us from going there for the longest time. We we're kinda angry until we found out why. As a surprise, he painted huge murals of urban legends on the three walls surrounding the field. Believe me, Gerald is an amazing artist!

My game never changed much either. I couldn't hit for my life. And when I actually did hit, nine out of ten I beaned someone with it. I still felt bad about it, but it's like that attraction that draws those bugs to the bug zapper; for some reason I couldn't quit playing.

"Move in," Nick teased "No hit Arnold's at bat!" One thing Nick was famous for was his mean pitch. That was the difference between him and Harold, now that I think about it; only his pitch was mean. Even when he was laughing at you, you couldn't hold it against him. I used to wonder how that type of people always managed to do it. But back to the game. He pitched it, and I actually hit it. "I hit it!" Was the first thing that went through my mind. "Who's gonna be next at the hospital?" was the second. I began to run to the first base. I stopped, wondering where the ball was.

"OVA HERE!" Someone called out from across the street. Lo and behold, Helga was holding the ball high above her head. "Nice one, Arnoldo! HOME RUN!!!!" She beamed, and I finished running the bases.

"But she done caught it" Stinky pondered "I dun understand why he's not out!"
"Duh! Because Helga doesn't even play with us any more, remember?" Sid shook his head in awe at Stinky' stupidity.
Stinky's eyes got wide "Why, I plum forgot! 'ELLO THERE HELGA!" He shouted across the street, waving his arm in a huge sweeping motion.
"You dope!" Sid laughed "You're just a big dope!"

Helga walked over and handed Nick the ball. "I guess I'll see you..." she began to walk away.
"Hey, Helga. We needed another person on my team anyway" I said, catching up with her.
"Really?"
"No!" I laughed "But I want you there anyway"
She smiled another one of her prize-winning smiles "Then what are we waiting for?" I handed her the bat, and it nearly felt like fourth grade again. Nick gave her a one over, and gave me "the look", but pitched the ball anyway.

*CRACK* We watched as the ball flew up into the air, to the point that we couldn't even see it anymore. "Oops" she blushed, and looked back at Nick "You've got a strong pitch" Nick, meanwhile, was still staring agape at her.

Gerald sighed "I guess the game's over for today..." Everyone mumbled their goodbyes and drifted away. (Sometimes I think that the game and field are the only things holding some of our friendships together) I looked back at Helga.
"Hey, how did you catch that ball anyway?" I asked, curious. "Didn't it hurt?"
She burst into laughter "Catch it? That woulda' broke my hand. I picked it up off the sidewalk" I rolled my eyes as she ran off. "I'll see you tomorrow, Arnold!" she said warmly. I smiled, nothing could ruin this moment. "And don't forget your Science project's due tomorrow!"
...okay... so that could...