Author's Note: Sorry for taking so long for posting the next chapter! This chapter will be the first be more in depth and more will follow. Special thanks to my faithful reviewer(s)!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold…but maybe someday?
Chapter 3: The Yearbook
Arnold slowly opened up the dusty, vintage book. He opened it to one of the first pages, the pages dedicated to the seniors of that year. He just glanced at them, for it wasn't his class. Every single senior had a huge smile on their face, and a look of confidence in their eyes. These seniors were the kings of the high school-their kingdom. They eagerly anticipated college and the world of yuppies, knowing they would divide and conquer. Arnold chuckled slightly. How naïve and gullible they had been! Arnold turned the pages again.
He came across the pep rally pictures from Homecoming Week, and the dance pictures. He looked intently upon them, and smiled when he recognized some familiar faces. A tall, African-American boy with a righteous fro was giving a big and sweet hug to a small, Asian girl with shiny black hair and sparkling eyes. It was, of course, Arnold's best friend Gerald and his sweetheart of several years Phoebe.
Arnold looked around at the pictures some more. He stopped at one of the pep rally photos, looked closer, and laughed. There he was, screaming like a lunatic, half his football head one color and the other half another.
Then something else caught his eye. He squinted, and looking hard tried to pick out the fuzzy outline of the person next to him. It was a girl with long curly blonde hair that fell down past her shoulders, who was waving her hands like crazy, a big grin on her cute face. Arnold then noticed something hanging around her neck that had obviously caught the flash of the camera.
Squinting yet more still, he tried to make out what it was. It was a piece of jewelry, a necklace, with a donut-like piece at the end of the strand.
Then it hit him. The piece of jewelry was a class ring. But not just any class ring. His class ring.
And the girl next to him wearing it wasn't any girl either. It was none other then Helga G. Pataki, at age 15, 10th grade.
Arnold sat back in his chair, and reached for his drink, taking a sip with a bewildered look on his face, a look of confusion, anger, and unstable happiness all at once.
That was sophomore year. The year he and Helga had finally, FINALLY, after all those years, gone steady. After 6 or 7 years of confusion of feelings, to about 5 years of trustworthy friendship, they finally decided that neither of them could survive without the other. So began their 1-year, 2 and a half-month relationship. It was ironic, Arnold thought. He remembered their anniversary date, even after all these years. August 30th. Their first official date as a couple.
Arnold scanned the rest of the Homecoming photos. And, not to his surprise, he found a big color picture of him and Helga, dancing slowly and closely, happily.
Arnold gave a shallow sigh, and turned the still crisp pages. He came across his classes school pictures, or for some "mug shots", and found his picture. Arnold's picture was a good one for the 10th grade, a nice smile, his famous lids half-way down, his little blue cap to the side. Arnold found other people's pictures, some kids he recongized, some he didn't. He found Helga, smiling sweetly, her hair tossed to one side, and again, a shiny class ring was found around her neck. Arnold began to fell uneasy again, and quickly turned the page.
He came across other photos, pictures around the school. There were more of Helga, and many more of him and Helga. They had been so happy, always hugging or holding hands, smiling in every single picture. Arnold grabbed his drink, and took a big gulp, and wiped his mouth. He was about to close it when he came across the autograph page.
Several people had signed it, for Arnold was, after all, a popular guy who everyone couldn't help but like. Gerald, Phoebe, Rhonda, Harold, Stinky, Sid, Curly, Sheena and others who had known him for a long time, wrote lots down.
Arnold chuckled and smiled at the little writings and sayings and signatures, but stopped when he came across a certain one. It was a curvy, curly sort of writing. He read it slowly, gulping, for a lump was forming in his throat.
It said:
To my favorite football-head,
How can I say it? I've known you for as long as I can remember, and have liked you from the moment I first met you. Life was cruel at times, and although it had it's highs and lows, when it was low you were there to raise me up, and help me through. I treated you like shit when we were kids, didn't I? LOL, but that didn't stop you from treating me decently and still caring about me. You were all I thought about way back when, and still are the only thing on my mind to this day. You became my best friend, and now you are the love of my life. You always were, and always will be. Always and forever. As long as stars sparkle at night, I'll always love you.
You're there when I need you
To hug and to hold
To tell me it'll be okay again
And that I'm not alone
You're always at my side,
No matter day or night
I know you always will too
Till the days we die.
I love you, football-head. I love you more then life.
Love-Siempre (always)
Helga
PS-Promise me that no matter what, we'll always love each other, and hold a special place for each other in our hearts.
The words " love-siempre" were a little smudged, due to some water from a single tear that had fallen out of Arnold's eyes. The words "always will be. Always and forever" echoed in his head.
Arnold quickly shut the book and placed it back in its rightful spot, and fixed himself another drink. He tried turning on the TV, trying to get into watching one of the late night shows, but it didn't help. He wound up falling into an unrestful sleep, with dreams filled with haunting pictures from that dreaded yearbook. Finally, though, he eventually fell into a deep, sound sleep, only to face his past again in the nearing future…
Hope you liked Chapter 3! Stay tuned for Chapter Four: An 8:00 Meeting! Remember I live for reviews and will be glad to answer any questions about the story with confusion or about myself. Suggestions are also welcome! Till next time…
