Where We're From

By Arnoldnhelga4eva

Disclaimer: I don't own HA, or Notre Dame.

Hey. Here's chap 2, enjoy!:D

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Chapter 2: Hard Decisions

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Ever since that sophomore year, the time when Helga and Arnold became a couple, they were inseparable. Not even a hurricane would break their bond. They did everything together, went everywhere together, spent every waking minute together. They walked each other to class, Helga went to Arnold's football games, then basketball, then baseball. She herself played soccer and softball. He was there for every game he could as well. Graduation was approaching rapidly, and he had a scholarship to play football at Notre Dame. There were scouts at a few of his football games that really liked his style, and they offered him a full ride scholarship to their school. The only thing was, how would Helga take this? He hadn't told her yet, and he didn't want to be too far from her. He knew with all her writing she'd get some scholarship, but to where?

He decided to bring up the topic one night when she decided to spend the night. They hadn't slept together, oh no. Neither of them could afford that right now, but once in a while they'd spend the night at each other's houses, just curled up in each others' arms. Tonight the iridescent moon was promising, and the stars seemed to shine off her hair. It was a perfect night, just how to tell her.

'Helga?' she turned to him. Oh how he melted just at her gaze. He swallowed, this was it, 'I-I.got a scholarship to Notre Dame.' She looked at him, then rolled to the side and sat up.

'That's the best Football College in the country, or at least one of the best.' He nodded, and she smiled, her eyes twinkling as bright as the stars, 'I got a scholarship to anywhere in the U.S. from a writing contest type thing.' He smiled and pulled her down so she was resting upon his chest. She loved the smell of his clothes; she always had. She loved his shampoo too.

'So,' he started, 'that means you'll come to Notre Dame?' she looked down at him, her eyes almost teasing him coquettishly. Then she bent down and whispered in his ear.

'I'll follow you to the ends of the earth.' He smiled and hugged her tightly. Fate made it so he would be with the girl of his dreams. His best friend and hers as well would be going to different colleges, but they could correspond. He knew Phoebe and Gerald would be able to maintain a long distance relationship.

'Everything's going to work out fine,' he whispered back to her and planted a kiss in her hair before they both drifted off into dreams.

~^~

Graduation came and went, and everyone said their good-byes.

'Hey man,' Gerald said somberly, grabbing Arnold's hand to do their secret shake, 'take care, and don't forget to write.' Arnold nodded.

'Yeah, me too. I'll email you when I get there.' Even though they were trying not to, it was clearly visible that both men were crying. Phoebe and Helga looked on, crying themselves.

'I'll miss you Phoebe,' Helga hugged her crying best friend, 'I don't know how I'll function without you.'

'Don't forget to write.' Phoebe sobbed. Helga pulled back and looked her best friend in the eye.

'How could I not? Honestly Phoebes, I think you know me better than that.' Phoebe smiled, and bowed, her Japanese way of saying goodbye. Helga bowed back as they both walked to their boyfriends. Arnold wrapped his arm around his crying Helga.

'Don't worry, we won't lose touch with them,' he assured her, 'Phoebe and Gerald have a strong relationship, and they'll both be studying in New York, They'll stay together.' Arnold said as they watched their best friends pile into Gerald's car and drive off. Arnold hugged Helga tighter to him.

'Now, about us,' Helga looked up at him with a slight smile on her face, so he continued, 'My parents are agreeing to pay for a two room apartment near the college. If your parents are willing to pay for part of it, you can stay there too.' Helga's eyes lit up and her tears seemed to evaporate. She leapt at him, hugging him, squeezing all energy from him, them producing a fresh batch of tears.

'Oh Arnold!' she cried, 'even if they won't, I will.' He looked at her skeptically, so she decided to tell her little secret, 'I've been saving up all my money since I can remember, and I have over eight-thousand saved up. If I can get a job that would work with my studying, there's no reason why I won't be able to.' His eyes widened with every word she said. Eight- thousand!?!? That's a lot. He smiled at her assumingly, then hugged her. Everything would be okay.

~*~

'No, how about we put it over here.' Helga said right after they replaced the couch for the thousandth time. Arnold looked over at her, exhausted from placing and replacing the couch.

'Helga, we can rearrange things better later. How about for now we just leave it here.' He said as he slumped down on the soft cushions. She plopped down nest to him and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She looked over at him and he kissed her. He broke back and smiled, 'just think, this is our first home.' She smiled and rested her head upon his shoulder. He looked around at all the boxes that surrounded them. They had a lot of unpacking to do.

He was actually surprised that his parents were letting them live together. He was happy that Helga's parents were paying for her portion though. The apartment struck it big though when beeper demands went up, and he built a bigger beeper emporium. Helga had her own car that her father paid for. He was also surprised that Big Bob agreed to Helga living with the 'orphan boy,' but he'd agreed, and signed a contract Helga made up, then made copies of. She was smart, Helga. She'd make a pretty good business woman, or lawyer, but she had a different dream.

'I wanna set my computer up, so I can start writing,' she said suddenly. Arnold nodded and got up to go search for it. She followed his action.

'Its gotta be around here somewhere,' she said to nobody imparticular. They kept rummaging around the boxes until Helga found her laptop.

'Eureka!' she shouted, lifting it up. She walked into her room and Arnold shook his head. Oh how she loved writing. It was her dream, to become a writer. She could do it. She had a way with words. Arnold smiled and continued to unpack his things.

~*~

'Helga,' said a voice, 'Helga,' it said louder, 'MISS PATAKI!!!" Helga was shaken out of her dream at the yells of her chemistry professor. She looked down to find her solution boiling. Quickly she shut off the heat and turned to Professor Brown.

'Sorry, I just--'

'Were not paying attention, again might I add,' Professor Brown interjected quite harshly. Helga looked down in ashament. Here she thought chemistry would be a good class to take, just in case she might ever need it. But how was she supposed to know Arnold would be in the same class. Unfortunately, they were not lab partners. The professor paired him with one of the cheerleaders of the football team. Classes had started a few months earlier and he instantly made first string Varsity, very unusual for a freshman, almost impossible at this school, but he was no ordinary football player. He had talent, and not an ounce of it was ever wasted. Sure he was happy to be starting quarterback all through high school, but at Notre Dame? That was an honor, and he played his position well. No, that would be an understatement. He was beyond belief one of the best football players ever. Helga envied the cheerleader that was his lab partner. She was stuck with another guy on the team, a real jerk. He quieted down a little after she showed him what she was made of, but he was still nonetheless an arrogant jerk.

'Helloooooooooooo! Are you there Miss Pataki?' The professor waved his hand in front of her face. She shook out of her thoughts and returned to reality.

'S-sorry, It won't happen again.' She assured him. He looked at her sternly.

'I hope it doesn't ever happen to you again. I made up this last lab so you could have a good impression on the last day of chemistry. I think I've been pretty lenient, perhaps too lenient. Just be happy I gave you all your final last week so we could do experiments this week. I've known you to be a better student then this Miss Pataki, just make sure it doesn't ever happen again to you, ever.' The professor walked over to the other side of the classroom and Arnold looked over at Helga. She smiled back to tell him she was okay, and a smile returned to his face. She turned back to the lab in front of her, to be rudely interrupted by her lab partner.

'Nice going Helga,' Jeff said, 'How are you going to make it through life if you continue on like that?' he asked, faking that he was worried about her. She saw right through it, she always did.

'You'd better be happy that I don't send you to the hospital in time for the game again.' She brought up her fist.

'If you do, I'll turn the whole football team against you. They'll all take you down.'

'Guys never hit girls,' she shot back, 'besides, Arnold wouldn't let them.' A thought came to Jeff in that instant. It may be evil, but at least it would shut her up.

'Oh yeah,' he said cynically, 'you're going out with Arnold. Well to tell you the truth, I think he's losing interest in you.' Helga dropped her test tube and it shattered on the floor at the last thing he said. She turned toward him.

'You're bluffing,' she bent down to pick up the broken glass. 'Arnold loves me.' A sly smile crept across Jeff's face. He bent down to tell Helga the rest of what was in his evil plan.

'Just take a look at him now,' He said softer so no one could her. Helga looked up to where Arnold was, 'It looks to me like they're flirting.' Sure enough, Arnold was laughing along with the cheerleader, Jenny. It wasn't really flirting, was it? Jenny playfully slapped Arnold's arm and batted her eyelashes at him coquettishly. Helga's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. They were flirting. Jeff found this very amusing.

'Just think twice the next time he says he loves you.' He took the pile of broken glass over to the garbage and left Helga there, her mouth ajar. The teacher signaled the end of class, wishing everybody a nice holiday break, and everyone walked out of the classroom. Arnold walked over to Helga, and was shocked to see her on the floor. He bent down to her level.

'Hey, you okay?' He asked as he helped her up. She nodded idly and started cleaning her lab up. He helped her put away the glass beakers, test tubes, and other equipment, then took her books and his own. She still looked in a daze so he helped guide her out of the room. Once he found a bench, he sat her down and sat next to her.

'Helga, what's wrong?' she looked up at him for the first time really.

'N-nothing,' she stuttered, 'Its nothing.' He wasn't convinced.

'Are you sure? Was Jeff being a jerk again?' she shook her head, so he decided he'd ask her later. Sometimes it was better to let her think things out first, then answer questions. HE decided to change the subject.

'So, you coming to the game tonight?' she shook her head and he looked hurt, 'Oh, you never miss a game. Why?'

'I got homework,' she replied vaguely. What homework? The semester was over. This was their last class of college until after break. He'd ask her later. She was obviously troubled by something. He'd get it out of her later. She wouldn't answer anything now.

'Come on, let's go home.' She nodded. He wrapped his arm around her waist and she almost jumped. He felt her uneasiness too. What had he done? He led her to the car and once they were both in, he turned to her again, 'Helga, what's wrong?' she shook her head and stared straight forward.

'Nothing, I've just got to straighten some things out.' HE turned the car on and looked at the road.

'Okay, but you know I'm always here for you, right?' he asked turning his head to her again. She continued to stare blankly forward.

'Sure,' she replied. It was dumb, but he shrugged it off and drove to their apartment. He had to get ready for the big game tonight. He turned on the radio, and a song came on. He recognized it because a college buddy of his listened to soft rock. It seemed to fit the occasion perfectly.

~When you feel the sunlight

Fade into the cold night

You don't know where to turn

You don't know where to turn

And all the dreams you're dreaming

Seem to lose their meaning

Let me in your world

Baby let me in your world

And all you need

Is someone you can hold

Don't be sad you're not alone

Chorus:

I will be here for you

Somewhere in the night

Somewhere in the night

I'll shine a light for you

Somewhere in the night

I'll be standin' by

I will be here for you

In this world of strangers

Of cold and friendly faces

Someone you can trust

I will be your shelter

I'll give you my shoulder

Just reach out for my love

Reach out for my love

Call my name

And my heart will hear

I will be there there's nothing to fear

Chorus x2

Chorusx2

He looked over at Helga and he could have sworn he saw a tear roll down her cheek. If the song was written any better for the occasion, well.it couldn't be. He'd be there for her, always. (A/N: Hey, that's the title of another story of mine! :D) He just wished she'd open up more. She had been pretty open with him ever since they started going out, but all of a sudden, she closed the door again. He'd get this out of her later. And Oh! How he wished she'd go to his game.

They reached the apartment and walked upstairs in silence. She walked over to her room, but turned back before she closed the door. 'Oh, good luck at your game tonight Arnold. I'm sorry I can't come. Knock em' dead like you always do. I'll see you tonight.' She walked into her room and closed the door. He stood there for a minute, almost confused again at what was happening. He walked into his own room to get ready for the game, but this matter of Helga just wouldn't leave his mind. He was worried, and couldn't think of anything else, not too good for mental preparation for the game.

~^~

'What are you doing out there Arnold!?' the coach screamed at his most valuable player, something he was not disposed of doing to Arnold often, 'Why isn't your head in the game!?' Arnold looked up at the coach as a medic was patching up a cut on his arm.

'Sorry coach, I guess-I just have something on my mind, and it won't go away. No matter how hard I try it just won't go away.' The coach nodded. Maybe it was time Arnold took a break. This was obviously too stressful for him, and the team couldn't sacrifice one game. Arnold just wasn't himself tonight.

Meanwhile, Helga watched her TV, the channel all the students had. They were losing, and Arnold wasn't doing too well. The announcer's voice came on the TV again.

'The Notre Dame coach is deciding to bench their best player, number 26, Arnold for the rest of the game,' Helga was enraged and didn't take time to listen why. She picked up her pillow and hurled it at the small TV.

'NO! Damnet!' the TV fell to the floor and broke. Still mad, she sat down on her bed and looked over at the picture of the tow of them on her dresser. They were so happy. The picture had Arnold in his high school uniform with his arm around her. She herself had her arms wrapped around his neck and clad a pink tank top and white shorts. It was the last game of their high school career. Gerald had taken the picture. Helga had been so proud of him. It was the state tournament and he had made the winning touchdown. They celebrated later at a party thrown by Arnold for all the football players. Naturally, he invited Helga and Phoebe too, and Gerald was on the football team with Arnold, but more people showed up. People got pretty drunk and the four of them had a hell of a time trying to clean up the mess before Arnold's parents, or grandparents found out there had been alcohol. One of his teammates snuck it in. Needless to say, Arnold's parents found out and weren't' too pleased about the alcohol, but lightened up after one of his teammates explained that it wasn't Arnold's fault.

'I've gotta go see Arnold,' Helga said to herself, 'he needs me, and I think I'm the reason he sucks tonight.' She grabbed her coat, and her keys and drove to the game.

~^~

'Its okay Arnold,' Jeff said, feigning to show how much he was actually enjoying this, 'Its just one game.' He patted Arnold's shoulder to show the fake sympathy he was acting.

'Its just, Helga's been ignoring me all afternoon. I-I don't know what happened, and.I guess I was worrying about that more than the game.'

'Oh Arnold!' Jenny, one of the cheerleaders and his lab partner shouted in her skimpy uniform. She ran over to Arnold. Jeff's plan was working great. All he needed to do was slip Jenny a few twenties before the game and she would finish off his plan.

'I'm so sorry about the game.' She looked at Arnold with puppy dog eyes that didn't fool Arnold. He started to walk away from her.

'Yeah, me too.'

'Wait!' she shouted, and he turned around as she walked up to him and hugged him close to her. Arnold started backing up.

'Jenny, let go of me, I have a girlfriend.'

'Oh Arnold, just one kiss.' She pulled Arnold's head to hers and latched her lips upon his. They tasted like poison to him, poison from the serpent of the devil.

It was her plan to apologize and talk this whole thing over with him, but when she saw their lips connect, Helga lost all feeling. It felt like someone had just given her the biggest slap of her life. He struggled to get out of Jenny's grip, but Jeff was too quick for him. He walked over to a shocked Helga and said something that officially broke her heart.

'See, I told you so.' Her eyes flooded with tears as she shook her head and ran out of there, as fast as she could. Arnold finally got free of Jenny and started to fun after her.

'Helga! Wait!' he yelled as he ran, 'Its not what you think!' she stopped suddenly and turned to him. He saw the hurt in her eyes, but he knew it was Jeff who had hurt her. This was all Jeff's fault. Her eyes turned from hurt, to icy cold. He felt the change, as her eyes pierced through and froze his heart.

'WHAT!' she screamed, 'Its not what I think!? What, do you think I'm stupid Arnold!? I know what I saw, and I also know that I never want to see you again!' she turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm to turn her around. She turned around all right, and then she slapped him as a burning, stinging sensation floodid to his face. She stared him dead in the eye as he held his cheek in pain.

'No, you listen to m. After break, I'm moving out. I never want to see you or your stupid football head ever again, ever!!' He let her go and she walked out of there. He could feel a moist sensation falling onto the hand that still held his face. He was crying. He never cried.

Jeff and Jenny watched triumphantly at the end of the hall as Arnold hung his head and headed for the locker room.

'Mission, complete.' Jeff said to Jenny as he gave her a hi-five, 'Good work sweetie.' He said as he kissed his girlfriend that nobody knew about. He had told her to flirt with Arnold, and he'd come up with a plan later, and he did. Jenny would only do it if he paid her though. Oh well, at least Helga was hurt now. Maybe she'd never return to Notre Dame after this. She may never return to Indiana as a matter of fact. He would never have to see her ever again. Perfect, he smiled.

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Wow. What's going to happen to Arnold and Helga? Well, there's still a lot more to come, so don't stop reading. I'll have the next chapter up soon. You honestly don't think I'd end it between those two after two chapters? Nope. Just wait till the next chapter. So, r/r ,and

C ya l8ter!

Arnoldnhelga4eva