DISCLAIMER: Hey Arnold-not mine, never will be.

For some strange reason I found myself confiding in Patty the next day in class. I told her about the movie and about Arnold coming outside with me.

"Then what happened?" she asked, resting her chin in the palm of her hand, genuinely interested.

"Nothing happened. That's the weird part. Sure, we stood there in the rain for a few minutes, but we didn't say anything to one another, almost like words were understood, you know?" I squinted my eyes trying to see if she understood. She nodded.

"Really?" she frowned, "Is that ALL that happened?"

I nodded. "Yeah, a few minutes later, Phoebe and Gerald came outside looking for us." I sighed, "The only reason Arnold was there in the first place was because Phoebe just HAD to invite tall hair boy and he HAD to drag his best friend along…" I rolled my eyes.

"Some best friend…"

"Yeah, I know, if Gerald were really a good friend to-"

"No, I mean Phoebe. I'm not suggesting anything but wasn't it supposed to be a 'girl thing'? Like a girls night out? Why would she have to invite her boyfriend too?" I looked at her. It was becoming harder and harder to put up my defensive walls with her. I looked hurt. What was she trying to say? Phoebe wouldn't do anything to hurt me like that… but what if Patty was right? What DOES that say about her? It was MY good day and all I wanted was to invite my best friend with me. Why did she always have to bring Gerald along too?

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to tell you you're friend is a bad person, I-"

"Yeah, yeah…" I didn't want to discuss it any further. I didn't like continuing on that train of thought.

Things went quiet for a while, then, "Look, Helga," she said more seriously, "since you were listening that day in class, answer me something."

"Okay?"

"Why did Arnold nearly have a panic attack at the mention of sex between the two of you?" she leaned in closer, "I mean, if it was a 'that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard' type of thing, all he had to do was say no. But he got all jumpy so I thought either he's covering up or he wants to-"

I forced out a huge laugh, "That IS the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" I continued to laugh obnoxiously, sounding completely fake.

"Look, Pataki, nothing's THAT funny, calm yourself down…" Vega said from her desk without looking up from the book she was reading.

"I see…" Patty said, leaning back, "Why do I have that strange feeling again that you're lying to me?" she perked an eyebrow.

"I'm not lying because… there's no reason to. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. nothin' to hide here," I laughed nervously. God, I'm stupid.

"Uh huh," she said lowly, "Then why would he react that way? Does the mention of sex just plain get him THAT jumpy? He must be a virgin," she said with a laugh. 'If you only knew…' I thought. I laughed with her, but not because I agreed, obviously, but because she couldn't get further from the truth.

"Unless…" she stopped, squinting her eyes in thought. I caught my breath in my throat.

"Unless?"

"Unless… no, that's crazy…" she shook her head. Good, drop the subject.

"Probably is. ANYWAY, Patty, I never DID ask you how you got into this class, what happened?" I said as nice as I could, trying to sound interested.

"Aren't you interested in what I was going to say?" she raised an eyebrow, "Come to think of it you're acting pretty weird too…" she smiled, "you DID have sex with him, DIDN'T YOU?!" she burst out laughing. "You and him!" she continued to laugh, "TOGETHER!!"

"SHUT UP!!!!!!!" I said covering my face with my hands. "No we didn't!"

"Yes you did! You can't lie to me, Helga G. Pataki!" she said, nearly falling over in her chair.

"GIRLS!" Shouted Vega from her desk. "PLEASE! I'm TRYING to read!" she sarcastically turned the page in her book. "Settle down, will you?"

"Sorry," Patty and I said.

"If I'm not mistaken…" she started, narrowing her eyes, "You girls are talking about sex, no?" she stood up and walked around her desk to sit on the edge of it.

"No." I said sarcastically, folding my arms, "Why would we be talking about crazy thing like that?"

"Because I heard the word 'sex' repeatedly and unless you have a different definition for the word, I think we're talking about the same thing."

"Fine, so what if I was talking about it? It's none of your business anyway," I raised an eyebrow.

"It IS my business to some extent. Are you a aware of something called 'safe sex', Pataki?" I shuddered; there was just something about those words coming from HER mouth that didn't settle right.

"Doi…" I rolled my eyes.

"Well, then I hope you practice it, the last thing this school needs is another pregnant teen!" she slammed her fist on her desk. I snapped out of my bad attitude and looked intently at her. Why the sudden change in attitude? "Look, it's not my job to teach you about sexual education," I said it before and I'll say it again, those words just DON'T mix well with her, "But I'll be dammed if I let another student of mine fall victim to motherhood!"

"Yeah, well, I know all this already, so just shut your trap lady!" I said, immediately covering my mouth. Oops… God I hope I didn't piss her off more than she already is, I prayed.

She and I looked at each other in silence. She seemed to be searching me for something, my eyes darted both ways trying to escape her glare, "Are you pregnant, Pataki?" she asked, narrowing her eyes again.

"WHAT?!" Patty and I both said. We looked at one another then back to Vega.

"Mrs. Vega, pardon me, but don't you think you're a little out of line by asking a question like that?" Patty asked, coming to my defense. I smiled.

"Not at all." Vega folded her arms.

"Well, I doubt Principal Wartz would like you interrogating students in this manner," Patty folded her arms as well. She wasn't stupid at all… how could I have ever thought that about her? "Not to mention, the content is extremely questionable." I looked at her in amazement. She was so articulate. How? When did Big Patty get so smart? Could it be that I just never gave her a chance? Never realized it before?

"Fine, fine… I'll leave it alone, Smith." Vega waved her hand dismissively, "Just don't let me catch you talking about sex in THAT MANNER either…"

-----

"Pst, Arnold!" Sid whispered as he just sat back down in his desk after leaving the classroom to use the pass. "Hey, Arnold!" he said in the loudest whisper he could.

"What?" Arnold turned around in the desk in front of him.

"You'll never believe what I heard." Sid lowered his voice more.

"What is it?" Arnold persisted.

"Well, see, I went to the restrooms on the far side of the school because, let's face it, this class is SO boring and I needed some exorcise. I went outside too, 'cause I needed some fresh air and-"

"Get to the point, Sid."

"I was just getting to that. See, there I was walking on the far side of the school and I passed by Mrs. Vega's room, you know the I.S.S., room? I had to go there once for-"

"Sid!"

"Ok, ok, well… I saw Vega talking to someone about 'safe sex' or something," he chuckled.

"Yeah, so?" Arnold raised an eyebrow.

He started laughing more, "The student was Helga!" he started laughing out loud, "But that's not the best part!"

"Boys, shhhhh!" their Chemistry teacher said, standing up from his desk. "Start working on the assignment."

"Sorry Mr. Leighton." they replied in unison.

"Well, what's the best part?" Arnold asked.

"Well," Sid started to laugh again, "It seems Vega was upset 'cause Helga's… pregnant!" he busted out laughing again. "Who would Helga even let get that far with her?!"

"SID!" shouted Leighton. "If I have to tell you one more time to be quite, I'm moving you across the room!"

"Sorry, sir." he said, still in a slight laugh.

Arnold's blood ran cold. He went pale. His eyes shot open.

"Surprised huh?" Sid asked, noticing his friend's sudden change in composure.

"Yeah… S-Sid are you sure? I mean, that's crazy, i-it's Helga!" Arnold said a bit too loudly.

"Yeah, sure am! And it is crazy… like you said, it's Helga…" Sid shook his head, "I just HAD to tell you. I mean, on account of she used to bully you like crazy and all… maybe it's karma. I mean, she's been ruining your life since preschool and now HER life's going to be ruined…" Sid started mumbling off.

Helga, Pregnant? What the hell… that doesn't make any sense. She'd only been with him! Unless she lied… but that seemed to be one thing he knew Helga wouldn't lie about. Who was the father, then?

-------

I sat in class, doodling on a piece of paper when there was a loud knock at the door. I glanced up and saw none other than…

"Lorenzo?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You know this guy?" Patty whispered to me.

"Yeah, we went to elementary school together…" I gaped at him standing in the doorway.

"Ah, just as I lost a student, I'm blessed with another one, "Vega said sarcastically, getting up from her desk to greet the 'new guy'. "And your name is?" before Lorenzo could answer on his own, the teacher with him answered for him.

"Lorenzo," said the tall man next to him. "He's to spend the next two days in here." the guy spoke sternly, accenting each word.

"Ok, then. Lorenzo, take a seat." he looked at the two of us then walked back to sit in the desk where Arnold sat.

"Lorenzo? Is that you?" I asked again. He sat down in the desk and looked at me for a while. "Hello!" I said sarcastically.

"Oh, well if it isn't Helga!" he said, shaking my hand. "How have you been? I didn't recognize you at first, you've certainly changed."

"Since when do you go to this crappy school? I would have thought you would have gone to one of those rich academies…" I asked, leaning in my desk.

"Well, I've been here since the first day," he chuckled, "of high school that is. You mean to tell me you've never seen me around?"

I shook my head.

"Oh, well, I guess that shouldn't surprise me… mother forced me to take all AP classes in an attempt to get me more prepared for college," he sighed, "but it was all part of the deal. See, she said that I'd only be able to go to high school here if I agreed to take only AP classes, advanced classes, that is."

"Sucks to be you." I said, smirking. "Now, what would a smart guy like you have done to get in here?"

"Mr. Frockner sent me here for using my cell phone too many times during class. He tried to confiscate it, but I refused to let him. I couldn't help it! If I have a call I have to take it!" he said, putting his head down. "What's mother going to say about this? I doubt this is going to look good on my record or college application for that matter…"

"Ah, it's not that bad!" I said, dismissively waving my hand, "I got it in here for two weeks and two days! HA! NO college will even LOOK at MY application, probably!" I laughed pointing my thumb at myself.

I introduced him to Patty and pretty soon we were all reminiscing about elementary school. I can't say I didn't enjoy it. It was nice having someone from my grade around to talk to, even if it WAS just Lorenzo. The time seemed to fly by almost and suddenly I realized it was almost time for the bell to ring.

"See you tomorrow guys," Vega said as the bell rang. Patty got her things together, hurriedly, seeing as though she was supposed to meet Harold after school, but I took my time.

"Bye Helga! See ya' Lorenzo!" Patty said, running out of the classroom.

"Later." I replied, putting my paper back into my backpack.

"You know, Helga, I really enjoyed talking to you today. If you don't mind me saying, you've really changed since the last time I saw you. I mean, last time I saw you, you were still, how should I say this…" he paused, "Mean? Now, it seems you've actually grown up a little. I know we didn't really get to know each other when we were younger, but I hope we can now." he looked at his watch, "Ah, I've got orchestra practice to get to. I'll be looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Gotta run!" he picked up his laptop and satchel and walked quickly out of the room. Have I really changed that much? I didn't seem to see what everyone else saw, I guess. Sure, even I knew I wasn't as mean as I was before, but I was still pretty mean, right? Or… was I actually becoming nicer to people? I knew dammed well that back in 4th grade I would NEVER have opened up to someone, especially Patty, the way I had. Was I really changing?

I walked up the row of seats and was about to leave when Vega called me back to her desk.

"What is it?" I asked, approaching her.

"I just wanted to apologize for that scene earlier today," I shrugged, "I have something to show you." she picked up her purse and began fumbling through it. She pulled out a picture and handed it to me.

"What's this?" I asked, looking down a picture of a teenager, maybe about the at the age of 15 or so.

"That's my grandson." she said sadly. A grandmother? Sure, she was an older looking woman, but she couldn't be older than 50ish.

"Really?" I softened, "Why show me this, though?" I frowned.

"My daughter had him when she was 16... About a year younger than yourself, I suspect. Now she's 31, an adult, but she never really got to enjoy being a kid. She had to grow up before her time." I nodded. "I just wanted you to know that my heart was in the right place today, even if I went about it wrong. I just don't want someone to go through what she did. Understand, Pataki?" I did. She sighed and touched the bridge of her nose, "Since the first day you, Smith, and that other boy had been here all you talked about was sex. I didn't say anything then, but I can't let you keep talking so irresponsibly. I mean it, Pataki, safe sex." she said, glaring at me. "I've got to be getting home now, I'll see you tomorrow, and remember what I said."

"I appreciate you telling me this, but…I think I have it under control." she made a lop-sided smile and I smirked in return.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Mrs. Vega." she nodded as she got up to leave. I followed her to the door and she locked up.

I stood there, outside the door, watching Vega walk away. Suddenly I realized I still had that picture of her grandson and attempted to call after her but it was too late. I figured I'd just give it to her tomorrow. I decided I'd better go to my locker before it was too late and they wouldn't let me stay in the building.

No one was left in the halls when I got to my locker. I put my notebook away and glanced at the photo of the kid. Did she deliberately leave it with me? To make me think? True, I never did use a condom that time with Arnold, but it was so long ago and no harm came out of it, right? But… I guess she was right. I should be more careful. I slammed my locker closed and right where my locker door had been Arnold was now standing.

I shrieked and stepped back, "Don't DO that, football head!" he just looked at me. Did he look… angry?

"How could you?" was all he said.

"Come again?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You know what I'm talking about, Helga, what did Mrs. Vega talk to you about today?"

"Huh?" I was confused. "What's your problem, football head? It's none of your business anyway!" I started walking away. I needed sometime to think about what he was saying. I still didn't get it.

"If there was someone else, why didn't you tell me anything that day at my house?!" he called after me.

I spun around, now I was utterly confused, "What are you talking about?! There's no one else. Else? What do you mean else?" I frowned.

He blushed. I think even HE didn't mean to say the else part. He looked down. "Look, football head, I don't know what all this nonsense is about, I gotta catch a bus and so do you, so lets go, yeah?" I pointed over my shoulder to the door with my thumb.

He sighed. "Yeah… I guess so…"

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This is probably a weird chapter. I don't know if you got the reason I stuck Lorenzo in there. Part of the reason was to show that other people realize that Helga's changed. Why would I want to show that? Well, because I like the idea that Helga doesn't realize she's pretty. She has confidence, I'll give her that, but she doesn't seem like the type to realize how beautiful she is to other people. So, no offence to the people writing the stories but… I just don't really buy into the fact that Helga would dress in tight clothes and flaunt herself around like in a lot of the Hey Arnold fan fiction I've read. And to clear it up, no, Helga's not pregnant. This isn't a fic about that.