A/N: Definitions to French words are listed at the very bottom of the page, just in case you wanna know.

Hey Arnold Quote of the Chapter:

Curly: I bet she thinks I'm a geek 'cause my dad cuts my hair with a bowl…

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Chapter 4 - First Day Of School

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BE—

SLAM!

Stupid alarm clock. Helga glances up and reads the red numbers, 7:05. In another nine minutes it will go off and Helga will slam the snooze button again, as usual. But right now Helga didn't care. Her head was throbbing with pain and it didn't seem to want to go away. She pulls her big pink pillow over her head and wishes for sleep to overcome her again. What makes her head hurt more was the fact that she woke up in the middle of this great dream. She was on Sunset Arm's rooftop kissing Arnold on the cheek, or at least Cecile was, Arnold's "French pen pal", sort to speak. What made the dream so good (besides the fact she was with Arnold) was that she knew how much he was blushing, and all because of her! She lets out a large groan of aggravation. Why did she have to wake up?!

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BE—

SLAM!

Stupid alarm clock. Well, might as well start getting ready for another woopty do day at oh so lovable PS 118, no thanks to Blanche…

Helga pushes herself up in bed and lets out a long yawn, stretching her arms into the air. Huh? She brings down her hand and opens it to find a small, pink, handwritten note. It looks like a piece of her journal paper if she didn't know any better. She opens it and her eyes narrow. It is from her journal, but the handwriting is somehow different from her own. It looks more like Olga's writing, all neat and tiny. She starts reading it steadily.

Dear Helga,

Allow me to introduce myself properly. If you haven't guessed by now, this is your other half, your split personality, your yang to your ying, or all of the above if you wish.

I am Cecile.

No doubt I was as surprised as you are now when I woke yesterday in your attic. One of Madam Blanche's potions actually worked for once. How astounding. Realizing that yes, the transformation was a success, I decided why waste any more time. The sole reason for bringing me out was to win Arnold's heart and soul, is it not? Of course it is darling. That's why I went and paid Arnold a visit last night. Hence, your dream. As you know, it went perfectly. He is already on his way to falling in love with you, and hard I might add.

I also did a few other errands last night. Took care of a few loose ends. Like school, for example. Your homework will be ready for you on your dresser every night when you change back. And I've already given the school an excuse to why you are away, you are out of town. Regarding Phoebe, don't worry about her. She will be alright without you for a few trifle weeks. I'll specifically look out for her. And last of all, Arnold. Especially don't worry about Arnold. I will have him deeply in love with you before the two weeks are up.

Just remember not to answer the phone when you're at home, the door, or go anywhere outside in broad daylight. No one must know that you are still in Hillwood.

It is essential.

By now it is probably 7:17, if I'm right.

Helga looks up at the clock and sure enough, it reads 7:17. She looks back down at the letter.

You have just enough time to change so I can go to my first day of school on time at PS 118. The bottle is on your dresser.

To the beginning of a great future,

Cecile

Helga holds the letter out as if it was an alien, shocked, on several levels. But only one word escapes her lips.

"Whoa…"

~~~~~

"Good morning class!"

With a few groans, the class answers lazily, "Good morning Mr. Simmons."

The class's lack of enthusiasm doesn't falter their teacher the slightest. "Before we begin today I have a couple of announcements. Unfortunately we will be missing one of our classmates for a couple of weeks. I've been informed that Helga left town yesterday to take care of her sick aunt and won't be back until she's better."

"I bet she's the one that's making her sick! Ha ha!" says Herald. The class laughs at the joke.

"Herald…" Mr. Simmons warns. He sighs, then starts again. "I also had the delight of finding out this morning that our class has been selected to teach a foreign exchange student!" A murmur of interest buzzes in the classroom. This certainly is interesting. Mr. Simmons waves at the door. "Come on in."

A shy girl walks into the fourth grade class, nervous. She's wearing blue jeans, a light pink long-sleeved shirt, and a beret on her head that matches perfectly with the shirt. Her wavy blond hair flows over one eye, seeming to focus anyone's attention to her sapphire eye. She shifts a white and pink backpack on one shoulder. Arnold's jaw drops instantly, along with all the other boys' in the classroom.

"Class, I would like you to meet Cecile… uh…"

"Hyde. Cecile Hyde." She answers. Her eyes linger with Arnold's for a moment, a twinkle in her eye, before she turns back to Mr. Simmons. "I am sorry to say that my English is not so good Monsieur[1] Simmons. Is it possible to have… how do you say… an escort?"

"A student guide! What a special idea!" his face brightens at that the idea. "Will someone volunteer to be Cecile's student guide while she's here?"

Every single fourth grader shoots their hand up into the air, some waving frantically to be picked. Everyone wants to meet this beautiful and interesting looking girl. Lila, however, has an uncharacteristic scowl on her face, for some odd reason. Phoebe is only mildly interested at the new comer, only because her backpack looks like her best friend's backpack. How odd. Arnold, though, is still sitting in his chair, mouth open in amazement.

"Well, uh, this is certainly a pleasant surprise! Cecile? Who would you like to be your student guide?"

Cecile smiles shyly then tears her eyes from Arnold to Mr. Simmons. "Monsieur Simmons, Arnold has been my penpal for some time. Is it alright for he to be my escort?"

"I don't see why not." he looks over at his student. "Arnold? What do you think?"

"Uh…" he blinks a few times and lets the question soak in. "Sure, that's fine with me."

Mr. Simmons smiles widely, "Great. Cecile, you can have Helga's seat while she's gone. It's the seat behind Arnold."

"Merci beaucoup[2] Monsieur Simmons." She makes her way to her assigned seat, right behind Arnold. Right when she sits down, he turns around to face her, confused.

She just smiles at his expression and gives a wink. Then without a second thought, she gets out her textbook. Mr. Simmons is already beginning their first subject, so Arnold turns to face the green blackboard again, still baffled at the turn of events.

~~~~~

"And then you carry the eight—"

"BRING!"

"Yeah! Lunch time! Food!" cries Herald, and like a stampede, the fourth graders pour from the classroom in a hurry to lunch.

"Hey Cecile!" Arnold calls as he tries to catch up to her, who is already in the hall.

"Bonjour[3] Arnold. How are you doing this morning?" she grins, "I am starving. Are you to show me where the café is?"

"Café? Oh, the cafeteria! Sure!" He smiles. They start making their way through the crowded hallway to the lunchroom, Arnold leading the way. "I still can't believe you're here at PS 118. It's amazing."

Cecile smiles slightly, a blush on her cheeks, "Is it that hard to believe?"

"Of course it's hard for me believe. You just disappeared that night, without telling me who you are. And now, without warning, you're back, as if you've never left." He pauses briefly, "Why did you come back Cecile?"

She stops walking at the question and he stops with her. A strange look flashes briefly in Cecile's eyes, but the next moment it was gone. The blush brightens on her cheeks. "I thought it was obvious. I came back because of you."

"But why me? Of all people, why me?"

"Arnold. I lo—"

"Why hello!" Arnold and Cecile turn and see Lila standing next to them, a tight smile on her face. "I believe we haven't been properly introduced." She does a small curtsy, "I'm Lila Ann Sawyer. It is ever so much a pleasure to met you."

Cecile just grins politely. It was clear that Lila didn't like her at all. Her manners are just for show. "Cecile Hyde." She also curtsies, but with more grace, "And the pleasure is all mine."

"Yes, I'm sure…" she says slowly, then plasters a large grin on her face and puts her arm affectionately and possessively through Arnold's, "Arnold, dear, I'm ever so looking forward to seeing the movie this weekend. When should you pick me up?"

Arnold is dumbfounded, "But Lila, you said—"

Cecile thought quickly, "I'm sorry to say Lila that Arnold has already asked me to this movie."

"I have?"

"He has?"

"Oui[4], he has." She looks over at Arnold, "But my English is not so good. Did my English get mixed up chéri[5]?"

"Uh… no, you didn't Cecile." He then speaks to Lila, "I asked her to come since you decided not to go." He tries a lame attempt at a smile, "No big deal, right?"

Lila's smile turns tight again, "Sure, no big deal." She unloops her arm from Arnold's, then plants a slow kiss on his cheek. When she finishes, she tosses a smirk at Cecile, then looks back at Arnold, "Maybe another time, Arnold." Without another word, she walks into the cafeteria, a sway in her hips.

"Ooookay? What was that about?" asks Arnold, clearly confused. Lila was acting strange. Usually she didn't give him the time of day, so why did she say she was looking forward to the movie? Lila was dead set against going, why did she lie? And what was that kiss for? Arnold shakes his head. Weird. But then again, usually he would be swooning right now because of her, but he wasn't. That's even more weird.

Cecile shakes her head, amused. That was certainly easier than planned. Thank you Lila Sawyer…

Without warning a pierce of pain flew through Cecile's veins, forcing her to double over in agony. She quickly grits her teeth to hold back the moan that wants to get out.

"Cecile!" Arnold instantly goes to her side in alarm, "Are you okay?!"

She tries to smile through gritted teeth but another wave forces her eyes to shut tight. "I… just need to take my medicine Arnold." And without another word she runs off to the girls bathroom.

Slamming through the door, she quickly scans for other girls, which there isn't, thank goodness. She painfully closes the stall door behind her and sits on top the toilet seat. Somehow she reaches into her pocket and pulls an object out, but with much difficulty. With each passing second the pain intensifies. Not seeming to want to leave. After what seem like an eternity, it stops.

Slowly the girl opens her sapphire eyes to the surroundings. Sweat clinging to her brow. The ends of her blonde hair damp. She quickly recognizes where she is.

"The school's bathroom?" She gets up and unlatches the stall's door. Looking into the large mirror she sees her own reflection. Helga's reflection. At school her usual trademark scowl would be on her face where it belonged, but since she was alone with herself, it wasn't needed. She looks intensely at her image. Helga could have sworn that she saw herself smirk, but she just shakes her head. She was just imagining things.

She wipes the sweat from her forehead and sees what Cecile had grabbed from her jean's pocket. Helga does smirks this time, from amusement. Last Christmas Bob had this weird idea that she would love to get a junior science kit, since Olga loved hers at Helga's age. She had stuffed it out of sight underneath her bed and hadn't thought of it since. What she holds now is one of the test tubes from that kit, containing a spoonful of potion.

"Huh. She certainly plans ahead, I give her credit for that." She thinks to herself for a moment, "I better make sure no one's gonna barge in anytime soon." It would be horrible if someone found her here when she wasn't supposed to be in the school at all. She opens the wooden door only enough to stick her head out, looking down the long hallway. The only people not at lunch was Gerald, Phoebe, Arnold, and Lila, who was clinging to Arnold's arm again. Helga grits her teeth and lets out a silent growl. What the name of criminey does she think she's doing to my Arnold?!

"And she just ran off. I have no idea where she went." Sighs Arnold.

"Maybe she went back to France." Lila says smugly.

Arnold rolls his eyes and tries to get Lila off his arm again, but she doesn't budge. "I doubt it Lila."

"She said she needed to get her medicine? Maybe she went and got it from the school nurse." Says Gerald.

"Let's go check and see if she's there Gerald."

"While you see if she's with the nurse, I will investigate the girls' bathrooms." Offers Phoebe.

"Good idea. How about you go with her Lila. We can cover more ground that way." replies Arnold.

"Oh, but Arnold, I would ever so much rather stay with you instead." She bats her eyes flirtingly.

He rolls his eyes again. He doesn't have time for this. "Sure, whatever you say Lila. Let's just find Cecile." He, Gerald, and Lila start for the nurse's office and Phoebe turns to go to the closest girls' bathroom.

"Eep!" Helga quickly ducks back in the lavatory, hoping that Phoebe didn't see her duck back in. If Phoebe found out what Helga's latest scheme was… well, she didn't want to think about it. Without hesitation, she closes her stall's door behind her again, locking it for good measure.

She just has to change back into Cecile again! Before Phoebe finds out everything! She uncorks the glass tube and in one swift motion, drinks the green potion, grimacing from the taste.

The pain is instant this time. Shooting down to every tip of her body with terrible agony. Helga shuts her eyes hard and grits her teeth to keep from screaming. Hoping that it would end soon, and before Phoebe came and found her like this.

A small but noticeable creek of the door reaches her ears.

"Hello? Cecile? Are you in here?" Phoebe looks below and sees a pair of white shoes. She knocks on the door that belongs to the person's shoes. "Cecile? Is that you?"

The door opens and a calm Cecile walks out of the stall. "Oh! Hello! Were you looking for me?"

Phoebe nods, "Certainly. Arnold was worried when you ran off. He thought you were in pain."

Cecile smiles politely. "I appreciate his concern, but I am fine."

Phoebe was unsure if that was true, but she took Cecile's word that she was. "He said that you needed to get your medicine. Do you have allergies?"

A strange smile briefly tugs at the blonde's lips before vanishing. "You could say that. I need my medicine occasionally, but not much." She smiles kindly at Phoebe. "It's not enough to worry about." She shakes her head in amusement of herself. "Now where are my manners?" she sticks out her right hand for Phoebe to shake. "I am Cecile."

Phoebe shakes Cecile's hand with her own after a moment. "I'm Phoebe."

The blonde's smile broadens. "Well Phoebe. I do not know about you, but I am starving! Could you perhaps eat with me today?"

Phoebe finally smiles back at Cecile, "I would love to dine in your company Cecile." She's certainly nice. It feels good to have a pleasant acquaintance for once, Phoebe thinks. Hopefully she'll be here awhile.

Cecile opens the door for Phoebe and walks out behind her. Phoebe never saw the smirk that was tugging on the other girl's lips as they walked to the cafeteria.

[1] Mister

[2] Thank you very much

[3] Hello

[4] Yes

[5] Dear, sweetheart