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. Meep!

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Chapter Ten: Turning Points

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Gomen- sorry
Hai- yes
konbanha- Good Evening
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Future, new location...

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Minutes seemed like hours. "Time probably doesn't exist here." Arnold mumbled to himself, looking out across the oblivion. "But where is here? Am I dead? Am I in a coma? AM I INSANE???" His last word echoed around the room as if taunting him. Carefully, he stood up, afraid to note that his feet were standing on, of course, nothing. He was standing on nothing, in nothing, walking nowhere. "Wow, the irony is sickening!" he joked. But all too soon, the seriousness of his condition sank in. "HELGA!" he sobbed for his dear-loved wife, "Princess!!" Sobbing again for his precious daughter. He remembered how Helga had named their child with a promise that she wouldn't grow up like Helga herself did, with all the insecurities and pains. "I won't get to see my girl grow up! I won't get to see he first steps, her first words... read her Helga's stories..." He closed his eyes, fearing to believe in the oblivion surrounding him.

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Present

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Suitcases piled up on his bed. Clothing not-so-carefully put into it. "I can't believe I'm doing this..." Arnold muttered to himself, but he knew it was the right thing to do. "Please let it not be too late..." he carefully picked up his airplane ticket and examined it.
One way flight to New York.


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Present times

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Dress pressed? Yes. Hair fine? She looked into a mirror and grinned at what she saw. "Check, hair!" Slicking her raven hair back, she grabbed her purse and bolted to the door.
"Phoebe, doll, is Nick commin' over tonight?" Phoebe's mom asked as she watched her daughter's frenzy. Phoebe blushed and turned away from the door.
"Gomen, mother, but tonight is fairly... personal..." she nodded slowly. "I pray that's all right."
Her mom laughed. "Aw, dear, that's just fine! You know we 'xpect you home by eleven. Have a nice night, pumpkin!"
"Hai, mother" Phoebe smiled as she closed the door behind her. Her mom sighed.
"That girl! Sweet as apple pie, but I swear, she needs to loosen up!"

The night air felt cool and brisk against her fair face as she walked down the street. So many thoughts crossed her mind... two loves, one heart broken, she prayed it wasn't her own. Yet she knew in her heart of hearts she was doing the right thing that night, there was no need to hide, she should be proud. With a smile, she continued her journey under the star and lamp lit evening sky.
"It's been awhile" she admitted to herself "since I've been to this part of the town." She stopped shortly in front of an old house. A few coats of a new color of paint and a sold sign in front of if, and still she could tell what it was. "I miss Helga..." she sighed, reminding herself that she owed her dear friend a phone call. She continued on down the street.
"Here goes nothing..." the sidewalk seemed to go on for miles in her mind, up three stairs, to the front door, all of it seemed to take an eternity. "Like a walk down the aisle?" she asked herself a bit bitterly as she rang the doorbell. A familiar face, an old friend's father opened the door.
"Konbanha, Mr. Johanson. Forgive me for disturbing you and your family, but is Gerald home?"


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Present times, Manhattan

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Books were strewn across her new room, and it had finally begun to feel at home. Yes, everything about the old city seemed to fit her now, like an old glove. Sure, there were some things that would never feel like home, but she had decided not to dwell on those things.
"My, what a well adjusted girl you are!" she joked to herself, fixing her long, blonde hair in the mirror. She looked back down at the knee length pink dress and smiled, swaying side to side a few times to see how it looked. "Finally, a date! Haven't been on one of these in a while!" And yes, it was true, some new friends (namely Jill and Sam) had hooked her up on a blind date with a guy with a reported "Lovely since of humor" and "The most charming smile!"
"So, exactly how ugly is he?" Helga asked as the other two girls laughed.
"Trust us, we're the experts!" Jill nodded, leaving Helga to wonder why THEY didn't have a boyfriend then.
"Only a few more hours, Helga ol girl. Now's not the time to chicken out..."



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Point of View: Antagonist/Protagonist

(AN: You'll get it next chapter, honest!)
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"STOP IT!" I yelled as loudly as I could, but I don't think he heard me. He said he knew me better then anyone else, said that this was for MY good, but I don't understand...
He just took over, said he knew my future, and said he could make it brighter. He didn't ask, he just walked right in, made himself at home, took control. He never listens when I beg for him to stop it, to leave my friends alone. When I tell him that I don't care how my future ends up, he laughs.
I lost control of my body at the beginning of this year to my future self. I'm a back seat driver now. I never did like back seat drivers, but that's what I am. "No, don't do that! Don't run over the poor helpless squirrel", but you know that never does any good. No one likes the back seat driver...
So I'm stuck here, forced to watch MYSELF plot pain on my friends... but there's one thing I know, and it makes me glad that my future self never listens.
The playing field is even, and debts will be paid where debt is due.