****Once more, thanks so much to all of you who R/R-you truly inspire and
encourage me to do my best! As with my other fic I just finished, I have
another idea to work on after this one is completed. Hope everyone enjoys
this installment!
Chapter 8 Rude Awakening
" I SAW, I SAW (YOUR FACE) AND WOW! I SAW, I SAW (YOUR FACE--)"
The alarm clock blared in Helga's sensitive ears, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. "Man, THAT'S sure going to take some getting used to," she murmured, slapping at the snooze button in an involuntary motion.
Normally, she'd be sleeping like a baby still, that is, until either natural sleep patterns caused her to awaken late for school as usual, or Miriam woke her on her way to the corner grocer's for last minute smoothie ingredients. Either way, it had never occurred to her to set an alarm clock before.
She swung her long legs over the side of the bed, ready to face another day. A day where she could hopefully face Arnold, and confront him on the weird way he'd been treating her since yesterday.
As she brushed her hair, she thought about the "old" Arnold, the Arnold who, as of late, she had been thinking might possibly, for whatever reason, really like her. Now he was acting like she was some kind of pond scum. " I'll never know what's going on with him unless I ask," she spoke firmly to her reflection.
She stared at the girl in the mirror, and could scarcely believe her eyes. She had completely forgotten to fix her long hair in her standard pigtails, and it hung loose down her back. Her normal ghostly pallor was erased, and a healthy flush shone in her complexion.
" I have GOT to keep eating all those vegetables, it's doing me a lot of good," she whispered, smiling a funny, lopsided grin at herself.
" I have GOT to get a new alarm clock," Arnold muttered to himself as he pulled his shaky legs into his blue jeans, silently cursing the day. " In 7 years of schooling, I have never once been late! Why didn't Phil or Gertie at least try to wake me up?"
"HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARN-"
Arnold flung a sneaker at the faulty contraption, shattering the potato and Arnold figurine into a million pieces.
" Who asked you?" he muttered, retrieving his shoe from the rubble.
Helga grabbed a piece of fruit from the freshly stocked bowl on the counter, gathering her backpack and coat in her free arm.
" Good morning, sweetie," Her mother chirped, planting a moist kiss against her forehead. " You're up early," Miraim's normally haggard face lit up in a smile.
" Yeah, part of my new routine, I guess," Helga answered through mouthfuls of apple. " Are you going to your meeting today, mom?" she eyed her warily.
" Yes, as a matter of fact, I am, and I have you to thank for that, honey. Oh, and speaking of which, I know how much you love cappuccino, so I dug out that machine thing that makes them that Olga uses when she visits! It took a few trial runs, but I think I got it right," She held a steaming, frothy cup of caramel colored liquid in front of her. " So you won't be late,"
Helga beamed in response. " Thanks, mom! I really should cut back on the caffeine monster, but I appreciate it nonetheless," She raised the hot drink to her lips, taking a long, soothing sip of it before replacing it on the counter top. " Gotta run, tell me all about your day when I get home!"
" Would it kill anyone to make a decent cup of joe around here?" Arnold grumbled, his clothes rumpled and eyes bleary. He had already drained 3 cups of coffee into his young body, emptying the pot in the process. He stared harshly into the dank, empty pot.
" Rations is rations, Tex, and besides, you usually leave the coffee for us older cowpokes," Grandma's tongue stuck out the side of her mouth in determination, flipping a wayward flapjack onto the already towering stack. Oskar licked his lips in anticipation.
" Whatever," Arnold muttered apologetically, gathering his backpack as he stood up. " I'm running late,"
" Hope you have a better day, shortman! Tell Helga hi for me," Grandpa laughed slyly as he grabbed the morning paper, having already eaten four pieces of toast with raspberry jam.
He watched his grandson disappear amidst the usual flurry of cats and one lone pig.
Arnold only scowled in reply.
" Good morning, Helga," Phoebe stammered anxiously as her best friend plopped down beside her. She looked abnormally pretty, her face flushed from the cold air. Although Phoebe was already aware that some sort of personality switch had occurred between Helga and Arnold, she had no idea how long the effect would last, and therefore didn't know which side of her friend she was about to encounter.
" Morning, Pheebs. What, no Japanese this morning?" Helga smiled slightly, cocking an eyebrow in mock surprise.
Still switched, Phoebe concluded silently.
" Well, you normally detest the use of my second language before your customary intake of caffeine laden beverage, and I was respecting your numerous requests to withhold any foreign tongue prior to lunch period," Phoebe smiled nervously. " Speaking of which.." she held out a small, Styrofoam cup, still warm to the touch. A chocolate creme filled doughnut with pink frosting and little heart sprinkles lay amidst a flurry of white tissue paper in the bag next to her.
" Thanks, but I already had mine," Helga grinned. " My mother, of all people, made a pot at home." She pressed the usual amount of coinage into her small, unoccupied hand. " But thanks for thinking of me,"
The bus screeched to a halt on Vine Street in front of the familiar, red brick building.
" Great, here we go again," Helga whispered, the hydraulics hissing as the door squeaked open. Involuntarily, she slumped in her seat as he passed, her eyes downcast. Phoebe's eyes narrowed at the sight of Helga's blatant attempt to avoid her obsession.
" How's it going, my man?" Gerald held up his hand to do their special handshake as Arnold plunked down next to him. He was swiftly rebuffed.
" No hand jive this morning, Gerald, I have a headache," Arnold muttered, his fingertips lightly massaging his aching temples.
" Whatever you say, Arnold, I told you about them late nights online," Gerald retorted, only barely disguising his hurt tone.
Arnold knew his lack of enthusiasm probably confused Gerald, but all of his attention was already fixed on the flaxen haired beauty in front of him, her head lower in the seat than usual.
If my calculations are correct, only 4 more minutes of this, he thought to himself miserably. It wasn't that the thought of being like Helga that tormented him, however. He was desperately afraid that he wouldn't remember a thing about the last 23 hours and 56 minutes. He silently willed himself to recall every emotion, every moment that he felt despair.
Things have to change, I can't just sweep her feelings under the rug any longer, he thought to himself...Nor can I ignore my own feelings now..
" Man, I'm telling you Pheebs, I don't know how Arnold does it! All this do goody stuff leaves you with barely any time, especially for yourself," Helga whispered, her eyes wide with nerves.
Maybe that's why Arnold never seems to notice me, that is, unless I'm in some kind of peril...he always comes through in a pinch. Hey, why is my head starting to hurt?
" Five, four, three, two, one,.." Arnold counted off slowly, his voice barely audible.
A deafening crack of thunder and a fiery glow of lightening lit up the entire bus.
Rain that had been threatening to escape the heavy dark clouds all morning now poured forth freely.
Instantly, Arnold's headache dissipated. "I'm back," he whispered slowly, lowering his hands to his lap.
" Crimeny, doesn't any one aboard this rat trap have any ibuprofen? My head's killing me!" Helga moaned angrily from the seat ahead of him, one finger jammed into her temple in an attempt to ease the pounding in her brain.
She's back, Phoebe observed quietly. But what will she remember?
*** Okay, kind of a little cliffie for you guys! I was afraid it was getting too lengthy, and I wanted to type their reactions in a separate chapter. I'll update soon, and as always, R/R, you guys rock!!
Chapter 8 Rude Awakening
" I SAW, I SAW (YOUR FACE) AND WOW! I SAW, I SAW (YOUR FACE--)"
The alarm clock blared in Helga's sensitive ears, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. "Man, THAT'S sure going to take some getting used to," she murmured, slapping at the snooze button in an involuntary motion.
Normally, she'd be sleeping like a baby still, that is, until either natural sleep patterns caused her to awaken late for school as usual, or Miriam woke her on her way to the corner grocer's for last minute smoothie ingredients. Either way, it had never occurred to her to set an alarm clock before.
She swung her long legs over the side of the bed, ready to face another day. A day where she could hopefully face Arnold, and confront him on the weird way he'd been treating her since yesterday.
As she brushed her hair, she thought about the "old" Arnold, the Arnold who, as of late, she had been thinking might possibly, for whatever reason, really like her. Now he was acting like she was some kind of pond scum. " I'll never know what's going on with him unless I ask," she spoke firmly to her reflection.
She stared at the girl in the mirror, and could scarcely believe her eyes. She had completely forgotten to fix her long hair in her standard pigtails, and it hung loose down her back. Her normal ghostly pallor was erased, and a healthy flush shone in her complexion.
" I have GOT to keep eating all those vegetables, it's doing me a lot of good," she whispered, smiling a funny, lopsided grin at herself.
" I have GOT to get a new alarm clock," Arnold muttered to himself as he pulled his shaky legs into his blue jeans, silently cursing the day. " In 7 years of schooling, I have never once been late! Why didn't Phil or Gertie at least try to wake me up?"
"HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARN-"
Arnold flung a sneaker at the faulty contraption, shattering the potato and Arnold figurine into a million pieces.
" Who asked you?" he muttered, retrieving his shoe from the rubble.
Helga grabbed a piece of fruit from the freshly stocked bowl on the counter, gathering her backpack and coat in her free arm.
" Good morning, sweetie," Her mother chirped, planting a moist kiss against her forehead. " You're up early," Miraim's normally haggard face lit up in a smile.
" Yeah, part of my new routine, I guess," Helga answered through mouthfuls of apple. " Are you going to your meeting today, mom?" she eyed her warily.
" Yes, as a matter of fact, I am, and I have you to thank for that, honey. Oh, and speaking of which, I know how much you love cappuccino, so I dug out that machine thing that makes them that Olga uses when she visits! It took a few trial runs, but I think I got it right," She held a steaming, frothy cup of caramel colored liquid in front of her. " So you won't be late,"
Helga beamed in response. " Thanks, mom! I really should cut back on the caffeine monster, but I appreciate it nonetheless," She raised the hot drink to her lips, taking a long, soothing sip of it before replacing it on the counter top. " Gotta run, tell me all about your day when I get home!"
" Would it kill anyone to make a decent cup of joe around here?" Arnold grumbled, his clothes rumpled and eyes bleary. He had already drained 3 cups of coffee into his young body, emptying the pot in the process. He stared harshly into the dank, empty pot.
" Rations is rations, Tex, and besides, you usually leave the coffee for us older cowpokes," Grandma's tongue stuck out the side of her mouth in determination, flipping a wayward flapjack onto the already towering stack. Oskar licked his lips in anticipation.
" Whatever," Arnold muttered apologetically, gathering his backpack as he stood up. " I'm running late,"
" Hope you have a better day, shortman! Tell Helga hi for me," Grandpa laughed slyly as he grabbed the morning paper, having already eaten four pieces of toast with raspberry jam.
He watched his grandson disappear amidst the usual flurry of cats and one lone pig.
Arnold only scowled in reply.
" Good morning, Helga," Phoebe stammered anxiously as her best friend plopped down beside her. She looked abnormally pretty, her face flushed from the cold air. Although Phoebe was already aware that some sort of personality switch had occurred between Helga and Arnold, she had no idea how long the effect would last, and therefore didn't know which side of her friend she was about to encounter.
" Morning, Pheebs. What, no Japanese this morning?" Helga smiled slightly, cocking an eyebrow in mock surprise.
Still switched, Phoebe concluded silently.
" Well, you normally detest the use of my second language before your customary intake of caffeine laden beverage, and I was respecting your numerous requests to withhold any foreign tongue prior to lunch period," Phoebe smiled nervously. " Speaking of which.." she held out a small, Styrofoam cup, still warm to the touch. A chocolate creme filled doughnut with pink frosting and little heart sprinkles lay amidst a flurry of white tissue paper in the bag next to her.
" Thanks, but I already had mine," Helga grinned. " My mother, of all people, made a pot at home." She pressed the usual amount of coinage into her small, unoccupied hand. " But thanks for thinking of me,"
The bus screeched to a halt on Vine Street in front of the familiar, red brick building.
" Great, here we go again," Helga whispered, the hydraulics hissing as the door squeaked open. Involuntarily, she slumped in her seat as he passed, her eyes downcast. Phoebe's eyes narrowed at the sight of Helga's blatant attempt to avoid her obsession.
" How's it going, my man?" Gerald held up his hand to do their special handshake as Arnold plunked down next to him. He was swiftly rebuffed.
" No hand jive this morning, Gerald, I have a headache," Arnold muttered, his fingertips lightly massaging his aching temples.
" Whatever you say, Arnold, I told you about them late nights online," Gerald retorted, only barely disguising his hurt tone.
Arnold knew his lack of enthusiasm probably confused Gerald, but all of his attention was already fixed on the flaxen haired beauty in front of him, her head lower in the seat than usual.
If my calculations are correct, only 4 more minutes of this, he thought to himself miserably. It wasn't that the thought of being like Helga that tormented him, however. He was desperately afraid that he wouldn't remember a thing about the last 23 hours and 56 minutes. He silently willed himself to recall every emotion, every moment that he felt despair.
Things have to change, I can't just sweep her feelings under the rug any longer, he thought to himself...Nor can I ignore my own feelings now..
" Man, I'm telling you Pheebs, I don't know how Arnold does it! All this do goody stuff leaves you with barely any time, especially for yourself," Helga whispered, her eyes wide with nerves.
Maybe that's why Arnold never seems to notice me, that is, unless I'm in some kind of peril...he always comes through in a pinch. Hey, why is my head starting to hurt?
" Five, four, three, two, one,.." Arnold counted off slowly, his voice barely audible.
A deafening crack of thunder and a fiery glow of lightening lit up the entire bus.
Rain that had been threatening to escape the heavy dark clouds all morning now poured forth freely.
Instantly, Arnold's headache dissipated. "I'm back," he whispered slowly, lowering his hands to his lap.
" Crimeny, doesn't any one aboard this rat trap have any ibuprofen? My head's killing me!" Helga moaned angrily from the seat ahead of him, one finger jammed into her temple in an attempt to ease the pounding in her brain.
She's back, Phoebe observed quietly. But what will she remember?
*** Okay, kind of a little cliffie for you guys! I was afraid it was getting too lengthy, and I wanted to type their reactions in a separate chapter. I'll update soon, and as always, R/R, you guys rock!!