A/N: Haha! I am back and that's a good thing. Anyways, I am busy writing and reading my stupid homework (I like to read and I wouldn't mind it, except maybe King Leer because I don't really like Shakespeare, but we have to write in a reading log and that takes forever) and I have a much better idea of how this story is going to go. So, without further adieu, here is Chapter 12.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold!, but in a few hours I will own a copy of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Where to Begin
Chapter 12 – Reconstructing Helga
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Arnold opened one sleepy eye and groaned. He had been happily snoozing over one of the books before someone woke him up. He opened the window and peered down. "Helga, why, may I ask, are you on my fire escape at," he looked at his watch, "two thirty in the morning?"
She smiled slightly. "I wanted to talk to you, and it is only one thirty."
"Oh." Arnold blinked a few times to focus his eyes as he helped her into his room. "Why didn't you use the front door?"
"Arnold, do you really want me to wake your whole house up with the door bell? Someone else would have heard it before you, and I am sure they would have been every interested to know why a pretty young girl was wanting to see you at one thirty in the morning."
"I see your point." He flopped down on his bed. "What did you want to talk about?"
She did not say anything as she pulled his desk chair over towards the bed and sat down. Even in the dim light Arnold could see her red-rimmed eyes. "Helga, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said quietly.
"Helga, you don't wake people up and crawling up their fire escape in a mini skirt in ten degree weather to talk about nothing."
"That's the problem," she said flatly.
"What's the problem? The weather? Helga, it's always like this this time of year."
"No, Arnoldo." She shifted slightly. "These stupid clothes."
"So? Just wear your old clothes."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because, Arnold, Rhonda spent a lot of money buying them for me."
"Since when do you care about that?"
Helga glared at him. "Arnold, I know that I am not the nicest person and can be a brat, but I have never been that ungrateful." She stood up and looked up at the skylight. "And everyone thinks I look great."
"You do, but you looked great before."
"Some help you are."
"What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know. I was okay with it. I was actually started to like my new look." She pulled her hair slightly. "But then the party and at home–"
"What happened at the party?" Arnold interrupted.
"Uh, Jeff Hershey kinda forced himself on me," she said slowly.
"What?" Arnold cried as he jumped up. He ran over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "What happened? Are you okay? I swear if he did anything to you I'll–"
She stared up at him, momentarily in awe of his protection of her. They locked eyes for a few seconds. Helga had forgotten how green they were. . . "Uh, Jake and I took care of it. It's no big deal," she said dropping her gaze.
"Oh," Arnold blushed as he realized he was still holding on to her. He sat back down. "That's good then," he said dumbly.
"Yeah, but it was because of these clothes. And then at home," she sighed. "At home all Mom and Dad could say was how much I now look like Olga." She sat back down.
Arnold said nothing and they sat in silence. He did not know what to say. He never felt like he could ever give her good advise in these situations since he did not have any siblings.
"I just don't feel like myself. I feel like Rhonda's little Barbie doll. Did you know she didn't even do this for me? She only did it so I could beat Lila."
"Helga, how you look doesn't change how you act. You are still the one and only Helga G. Pataki. It's just now your world-be-damned attitude is taking over the world in heels and a mini skirt." She smiled slightly. "See, you're smiling already."
"But it doesn't seem like I am me anymore. I have singing solos and dancing and people want to be me and for God's sake, Big Bob and Miriam are actually talking to me about me. This doesn't normally happen."
"Helga, you have always been able to dance and sing. People have always wanted to be like you. As for your parents, it's about time they started really seeing who you are an they will."
"That's only because I look like Olga."
"Helga, she's your sister. Most likely there will be some resemblance between you two, and you can used that to show your parents how different you are from her, and maybe they will finally see that you are far more amazing, talented, and beautiful then Olga ever was or will be."
"You really think so?" she asked.
Arnold took in everything he had just said and blushed. "Of course."
"And I can show everyone else that I am so much more then what meets the eye. A new game plan for taking over the world." She smiled widely. "Thanks Arnold. You're the best," she said as she hugged him.
"Anytime," he said, and he could not help but take everything in, how she smelled so sweet and how she felt so perfect in his arms. She pulled away and climbed back out the window and onto the fire escape. He walked over to say good-bye. She smirked at him.
"What?"
"You really think I'm beautiful, Football Head?"
"Uh. . ."
"You must be pretty lucky to have beautiful blondes climb your fire escape to see you in the middle of the night."
He shrugged. "It would be better if the beautiful blonde didn't have a boyfriend."
Helga stared wide-eyed at him. Arnold could kill himself for saying something so stupid, even if it was true. "And, of course, if she wasn't you."
She glared at him and he knew he was okay, at least for now. "See you, Arnoldo," she called as she climbed down.
"Good night, Helga," he said as he watched her drive away. "Shit," he cursed softly as he collapsed on his bed. Why, why does she have to have a boyfriend? he pleaded as he drifted to sleep. And why, why does it have to be Jake Richardson?
¤ ~ ¤ ~ ¤
Arnold rolled over and stared at the skylight. He could tell the sun was shining, but a layer of snow covered the windows, blocking the clear view. He rolled back over and buried his face in the pillow. "What time is it?" he asked aloud. All he wanted to do was sleep and not move for a week.
"1:30."
Arnold snapped up and stared across the room. He had not expected a response to his question since he thought he was alone. Helga was sitting at his computer typing away, working on their project. "Well, actually it's 1:32, but I figured you would just want a ball park figure this early in the morning. Oops, excuse me, this early in your day."
He propped himself on his elbows. "How long have you been here?"
"A little more than an hour. I came after work. I brought you some breakfast, but you slept so long I had to warm it up again, though I had to throw out the coffee I got you. I don't think that would have worked to well when reheating. I got you orange juice instead."
"Thanks." Arnold walked over and picked up one of the doughnuts. "How long ago did you warm these up?"
She shrugged. "About five minutes ago. You grandpa kept complaining about how kids these days never wake up, and your grandma invited me for tea."
Arnold smiled. There was no one in the world like his grandparents. He took a sip of the orange juice. "How did you know my password?"
"Huh?"
"How did you know my password to use my computer?"
"Please, Arnold, I would hardly call your last name a secure password."
He shrugged. "A lot of people don't know it."
It was her turn to shrug. "Anyways," she started loudly, "If you are done stuffing your face, I could use your help. I can't do this on my own."
Arnold stretched and yawned. "Whatever you say, Helga," he mumbled as he grabbed supplies for the poster board they were using as a visual.
"Damn right, Football Head, whatever I say." She kicked him lightly.
Some things never change, he thought as he lied down on the floor and began to work.
¤ ~ ¤ ~ ¤
"I cannot believe this stupid thing took us this long," Helga moaned as she fell backwards onto Arnold's couch.
"Well, maybe if we had worked on it during the week we wouldn't have had to spend an entire Sunday on it," he snapped back. It was six o'clock, and he was tired from a day of homework. On top of that, Helga and Stinky had again beaten him and Gerald. He was really getting tired of losing every week. She glared at him, but he was too tired to fight with her. "Well, at least it's over now."
"Yeah." She sat up. "I should probably go home."
"Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?"
Helga shook her head. "Naw, but I do feel bad not having tea with your grandma. She seemed really anxious to talk to Eleanor Roosevelt again, but we had to go to the game."
"Don't worry about it." He helped her gather her stuff together. "I'll see you tomorrow."
She nodded. "After all, tomorrow is another day." She laughed as he made a face. "C'mon, Arnold, I know deep down you really loved Gone with the Wind."
"The only good thing about it was that it took four history classes to watch it."
"Yeah, it was kinda weird how Mr. Phegley taught us the Civil War though movies and the history channel specials."
Arnold walked her to her car. "You feeling better?"
"Yeah. At least I don't think I'll have another emotional breakdown for a while."
He wanted her leave and hoped she would really be okay. She had been through enough already.
A/N: It's a bit on the dumb side and rather short, but the next chapters will be better, I promise, because there will be more cute A + H moments, though it won't be as mush as you all want. Sorry, but that comes later. Anyways, next chapter is "Back to the Drawing Board," and I have some of it done already, but it won't be up for at least a week because I have to finish writing it (and it's going to be longer) and Harry Potter comes out tomorrow so I have to give myself about two days to read it. So, happy first day of summer tomorrow and later days.