Ok, pe... I mean, Serap-89 (since she's most likely the only one reading this), forget the part where I said that the twist is in chapter 3, because it's most likely going to be in either chapter 4 or 5 now. M'kay, Serap? Ok!



Disclaimer: I own... hmm... lets see, I don't own Hey Arnold!, or Wild ARMs 3, but I own half of Cousins, Serap's cartoon that she's trying to make. ^_^



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Helga stepped into her house, smiling wide. She took a glance around, then yelled out, "MIRIAM! BOB! I'M HOME! NOT LIKE YOU CARE!" then she waited for the usual response to her shouts (a "That's nice honey," from Miriam, and a "Pipe down Olga, I'm trying to watch my new beeper commercial!!" from Bob). She then nodded her head once, and quickly rushed up the stairs to her room. She whooshed inside her room, and slammed her back up against the door in an obvious sneaky maneuver. She glanced around the room, her eyes slits and her mouth in a closed O, making sure that no one could hear her, though she didn't know why she didn't want anyone to hear, she just... didn't.



She stood up, turned around and locked the door, then turned around and walked over to the window. She closed it, making sure it was latched, and then turned to the tv she had bought herself because she couldn't stand having to let Bob take the tv when she was in the middle of watching Wrestle Mania any more. When she bought the tv and VCR, she realized that she still had about 400 dollars left (she had convinced Bob to lend her the money after telling him it was for a tv so she wouldn't have to 'interrupt' HIS shows), and she had told him that she wouldn't have any money left. So, she bought herself a Playstation2, and a game to go along with it. Wild ARMs 3 was the game.



She walked over to it, turned it on, then turned on the Ps2, all ready to play. She sat down on her bean bag chair that she had found in the attic a while ago when she put her newest Arnold shrine up in the attic. Then she grabbed the controller, and waited until the starting screen came up, so she could press start. She loaded her old game, and listened to the song that played before it, singing along surprisingly well.



"A change in time

I finally made up my mind

I raise my hand from beneath the shifting sand

And embrace the winds of change



Suddenly, everything is up to me

The pages turn, flashing full of memories

I can see all too clear

The time has come to face my fear



And there's a fire burning in my heart

Just shine when all is torn apart

And I will make it through this desert storm

Safe and warm



My shield is strong

I'll take my chances here and now

Bring on the fight

I'll find a way to win somehow

No, tomorrow's no regret

I'll risk it all for this brand new day."



As soon as the song was finished, the game began, and just as Helga pushed the forward button, the phone rang. She growled, pressed the Triangle button (in other words, she paused it), muted the tv, and rushed over to the phone. "What do ya' want?!" she asked, after she had picked it up and held it to her ear.



"He-hello, He-Helga," she heard Phoebe's timid voice answer her annoyed sounding question. She sighed, and calmed down so she wouldn't cause her best friend to have a heart attack.



"Hey Pheebs. What're you doing?" she asked.



"I was just calling to see if you were alright. I mean, I hardly saw you today because you were always on your laptop." Helga sighed, and shook head, smiling.



"Yes, I'm fine Pheebs. Just... distracted. Ok?"



"Yes, fine, but, what had you so preoccupied that you couldn't spend time with your best friend?"



"... Well... if I told you, you'd think I was stupid."



"No I wouldn't Helga. I would never think that you're stupid. That's just absurd!"





"Ok, fine then. Come over here, and I'll show you."



*****



The next day on the bus, Phoebe and Helga were both sitting in their usual place, impatient for something. Arnold looked over the seat at them, obviously confused. 'Well this is just... strange. First Helga, now Helga AND Phoebe! What could it be that is so interesting?' he thought, his face pretty scrunched up from trying to figure out an explanation. He couldn't find one.



The bus dropped the children off at the school, and the day officially began, once again. The day proceeded as normal, except the fact that Helga and Phoebe both seemed to be extremely distracted, which was very strange for Phoebe. Arnold and Gerald seemed to be the only ones noticing, however.



"Have you noticed something... different... about Helga and Phoebe, Gerald?" Arnold asked, looking over his shoulder at Helga and Phoebe, who were sitting next to each other, looking at the screen of a laptop. It was during recess, and they had been acting strangely all day. Gerald looked back, and nodded his head, to answer his best friend's question. "What do you think could be wrong with them?" he asked, and Gerald shrugged, indicating that he had no clue.



"I really don't know, man. All I know is that Phoebe is definitely acting strange. Weird, in fact." he said, and immediately Arnold stood up and began to walk over to the two girls. "Hey, man, what're you doing? Wait for me!" he called, standing up and following Arnold. They got over to the girls, but they didn't seem to even notice. The two boys cleared their throats, making the two girls jump, slam the laptop closed, and looked up at them with their eyes wide. Well, Phoebe's cheeks were flushed because Gerald was there, but other than that her face had about the same expression as Helga's.



'What're you two morons doing here?" Helga asked, crossing her arms. Gerald rolled his eyes, Phoebe sighed and shook her head, and Arnold frowned.



"We were wondering what could be so interesting that BOTH of you would be completely distracted from everything else." Arnold stated, and right away, Helga stood up, making sure she was eye-to-eye (she was slouching a little, because she's taller than him) with him. She squinted her eyes, and leaned forward a little. "It's not like we're going to kill you for being distracted or something stupid like that." Arnold said, crossing his arms.



"Helga, why don't we just go ahead and tell them about our obsession?" Phoebe inquired, and the two boys looked at her strangely. Helga sighed, plopped back down next to her best friend, and looked off to one side.



"Fine. Do whatever you like. I don't care."



Phoebe gave Helga a small glare, then she looked up to the two boys. "Well, a few days ago, Helga bought a Playstation2 for herself," the boys raised their eyebrows and looked strangely at Helga, who rolled her eyes. "And when she did, she bought this incredibly entertaining game, called Wild ARMs 3. I had been wondering what was wrong with her yesterday, so I called her house, and she invited me over to see what had her so preoccupied. I went over, and just like that," she snapped her fingers, "I was just as addicted to the game as her. If you two boys would like to join us in a game of it later today, you're welcome to. We still need two more players to play Gallows and Clive." she said, smiling brightly.



Gerald smiled brightly, all ready to answer her question. "Sure, Phoebe, we'd love t-" before he could finish his sentence, Arnold interrupted him.



"Gerald, don't you see? It's addicting like that stupid the King Rules game you got addicted to! If you get started playing it, that means that you'll never stop playing it and never talk to anyone else or... or... anything!" he said, and Gerald frowned at him.



"Ok, fine, we won't play the game, but don't say that I didn't want to play it, 'cause I do." he looked down to Phoebe, who was looking at the ground, playing with her fingernails. He sighed, and bent down next to her ear. "When and where are you guys going to be playing it?" he whispered, and she smiled, looking back up at him.



"After school at Helga's house. Don't be late. She doesn't like it when people are delayed, you know."