Well, thankies to all of the positive feedback ya'll gave to me! Please go to my oldest story, Hillwood Meets Chloe, and look at the last chappie. There you will find an important author's note about that story and Time To Switch, another story of mine. Oh, and thank you so much, arnoldfan. It wasn't a review for this, but…anyway, thankies!!!! Well, anyway, onward, into the wild blue yonder…! Oh, reviews are now being answered!
Helgagurl46-Yeah, that was a symbol of her changing since she didn't have to pretend as much anymore…I tried to keep some just a pinch of violence in there, but not to much, just to be IC.
HazelIris-Why, thanks for looking at it!
Wyldheart-~wink~ you better keep it up…hope you like this chappie!
JAM-Well, that's because she went into shock and stuff…Arnold was surprised at his friend's betrayal, and Phoebe isn't the beating up type of person, but I'm glad you like it!
I have no idea what exactly I'm gonna type as I'm writing this part, so you will just have to stay patient.
I'm not going to say it. After twelve chappies and other people's stories, ya'll lawyers ought to know that an eleven year old cannot possibly take any credit in it.
"And you guys better be glad it wasn't a fart award, cuz I would've won that too."-Justin Timberlake
I am slightly bringing back the dreaming Arnold.
The second lunch period bell rang and the third through sixth grades willingly piled out of their classrooms. The other grades had lunch before, and earlier, than the rest. The cafeteria was only so big.
Of course, you don't want to hear about the cafeteria, do you? You'd rather know why it was brought up, don't you? I thought so. After this story so far, there shouldn't have to be any clarification on that, but if you like…
"Arnold, are you sure that you knew what I was thinking was right?"
"Gerald, stop bugging me."
The two were among the first in the lunch line, bringing their books along so that they'd have a moment's private time to discuss what Gerald had been, and still was, slightly surprised at. "Arnold, how can you? I know I should have brought this up a long time ago, but I thought you'd be, uh, busy with what had just happened and all. Again, how can you like her? She's been your mortal enemy since I, and possibly you, can remember!"
Arnold sighed. "I can remember a lot before that." His mind drifted off into those sweet memories he had before the meaner Helga. Most were of his parents and the boarders, but one that hadn't been used for a long time became unearthed.
~~Flashback: One that's been used plenty of times, but usually in Helga's mind. ~~
He was so excited. It was his first day of pre-school, and he had always liked new things, even if sometimes they were just a little scary. He looked out the window and was surprised to see that it had begun to rain even harder than it had been before. His grandpa had dressed him very good for the occasion, he decided.
After a few minutes, he heard his grandpa say, "Okay, Short man, here we are." He looked back into the back seat. "Do you think you can go inside by yourself? Do you want me to come with you?"
He shook his head innocently. "No, grampa, I'm fine." He climbed out of the back seat as he pulled out his yellow umbrella and said good-bye to his grandpa. He walked around the front and waved to him as the car started down the street and turned the corner.
When he turned around, he expected to see the door clear of people since he hadn't heard anything, but he discovered a little girl his age standing there. She looked really cold and very wet, while he was so very warm and dry. She shivered a little bit, and remembered that his grandma said that if you stand in the cold for to long, you can get really sick. He hated being sick and didn't want whoever this girl was to get sick, either. He walked up with his umbrella high enough to cover the slightly taller girl.
She looked up, confused at how the rain had stopped falling on her for some reason, and saw him smiling at her. There, he thought. Now she won't get sick.
The girl still seemed sad, so he said something to make her feel better. He tried to think of something nice to tell her, and then he noticed the big, puffy, pretty cute, pink bow resting between her pigtails.
"I like your bow."
She looked even more surprised, and it made him smile even more when she said, "Huh?" She's kinda nice.
"I like your bow, cuz it's pink," and an afterthought, "like your pants."
When the girl finally smiled and he was sure she didn't feel too bad now, he walked inside and took off the rubber yellow coat.
~~Flashback Ends~~
"Arnold, wake up and get your tapioca pudding!"
Arnold was jerked out of his mindless stroll down Memory Lane when he heard two people yell the same thing at the same time.
Helga and Gerald stared at each other with confusion on their eyes. After a moment, they shook their heads. Gerald turned back to Arnold as he finally took the last thing on the lunch line.
"Arnold, you've been crazy before, but this is the brink of human ability," said Gerald. "I do not understand it, and I'm supposed to!"
Arnold was beginning to get slightly annoyed again, but he was patient. "Gerald, unless you want me to give you the explanation, then I don't see why-"
Gerald held up his hand and pointed to the cash register, signaling his answer.
!@#$%^&*()_+{}:"?
Helga bit her lip tightly as she walked through the lunch line with Phoebe at her side.
Now that they were outside of the confinements of their classroom, she knew that she was vulnerable to the crude remarks that would be passed to her. Just stand strong, Helga. I think you're getting the hang of this whole 'don't be as mean but still be strong and your defensive self but not overboard' thing very nicely. Yeah, I just hope that I can get through with this, Connie.
"Helga, who's Connie? Not that sixth grader, I hope."
Helga looked beside her and saw Phoebe looking up at her. "Oh, um, I guess I just got a little caught up in my thought, Pheebs." She sighed and took her tapioca pudding and walked toward the cash register.
When she had paid and Phoebe joined her, they walked toward their usual table and sat. Phoebe could tell that Helga didn't feel like talking, so she stayed quiet.
But Helga's mood took a sudden U-turn as she smiled to herself and had an urge to scream, "Oh, I love that little, gorgeous football head!" Ah. I was wondering when you'd finally say that! This whole time and barely one swoon from you! I was getting worried about ya, Helga. Who cares, Connie, I'm in love with the boy! And there's a possibility that he does, too! Okay, but remember: there is a place that is NOT Cloud Nine, okay? Whatever. I know that. Now let me eat!
!@#$%^&*()_+{}:"?
Come on, man, you can do it. It was your idea, now I get to make it happen for you. Now, either you do it, or I will. Connor, no, I don't want to anymore. It'll be embarrassing. Ugh, you're hopeless! I'll do it! No, Connor!
This conversation started when the kids at Arnold's table began to discuss Arnold's 'problem'. Only he and Gerald knew how Arnold felt, though. Harold made another remark about it (only not as tauntingly) and Sid created a small speech about how wrong they were for each other, etcetera. Then, for some odd reason, an idea came into his mind to prove them wrong, or at least give a hint. Connor thought it was an awesome idea, which apparently made Arnold turn it down.
Connor, no, don't do it. Too late, Arnold, I'm hyped up. I'm doing this, okay? No, please, don't!
Connor turned Arnold's body around while Sid said, "I mean, come on, just look at how Helga-"
Connor took a deep breath and yelled, "Hey, Helga! What are you doing after school?"
There was a small pause. "…treats…him."
!@#$%^&*()_+{}:"?
Oh, my god, oh, my god, what did he DO that for? He's still such a bonehead! Helga, don't do anything. I may be aggressive, but I'm not stupid
Helga's eyes shot straight up to look into Arnold's. There was an awkward feeling between the two. As Connor sunk back into Arnold, Arnold realized how stupid his idea had been. Now there was even more of it out.
Okay, so maybe not everyone noticed, but there were some people in the area who were not idiots.
"Oh. My. Word. Arnold likes Helga back!!!!"
Rhonda had her hand against her chest and her eyes open in shock that was only partly exaggerated. Don't get me wrong, there was still shock in it, but…
Those who hadn't gotten the picture before finally did, and howled laughter at the now semi-unofficial couple. Connie, what do I do??? I have no idea. All I know is that the person who spoke had to be Arnold's conscience thing. Whoever it was, everyone's busy, so I'm going to sneak out. At least you're not punching anybody out…
!@!#$%^&*()_+{}:"?
Connor, why did you do that? What? Now everyone will stop busting on you. No, they'll start busting on me for liking Helga, too! Huh? Wait, I didn't…oh. Sorry. Hey, isn't that Helga crawling under the janitor's little pushy cart? If it is, then I'm meeting her out there. If it isn't, well, then I'm just getting out of here. Good plan. Temporarily at least.
!@#$%^&*()_+{}:"?
Helga was leaning against the hallway wall. Listening to all of the jokes and cracks everyone in the cafeteria were either laughing at or worse, making them up, was possibly the worst humiliation she had ever experienced…except for the Day After, but that wasn't embarrassing anymore.
Anyway, to what Helga was thinking about.
Why did Arnold have to do that? He may know what I feel, but he is STILL the densest boy ever! He knew what would have happened if he said that! He may be sinkable, but he isn't an idiot! How could he do this to himself… and me!
Cool it Helga. Maybe it was that Connor dude. Maybe Arnold didn't realize it would hurt either of you, but maybe help it. Yeah, Connie, like having everyone mock us helps us. It's a suggestion.
Helga sighed and turned around toward her locker.
"Uh, hey Helga."
She stopped dead in her tracks as she recognized the voice. A small glare formed on her face as she turned around and yelled, "What could have made you DO that, Football Head?"
She turned, and Arnold wasn't there. At least he wasn't there alone.
Her eyes widened as she said calmly, but very, very dangerously, "Gerald, Phoebe, what the HECK are you doing here?"
Heeheehee. I know, I haven't had one of these, and I felt like doing it…If you wanna tell me I'm evil, go ahead…Sometimes I like to be. Well, how about it? I might make the 50 point mark…but only if you guys help me w/ it. And will you guys check out Valentine's Day Two, and Time to Switch, and most important, you guys have GOT to read at least the last chappie of HMC, okay???? Good, you understand. Thanks everybody! Oh, yeah, and visit Phebga's stories and her upcoming BSSEI experiment, a sci-fi. Well, see you guys later!
Briana Luvs Foot Ball Head ~~~
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