(Original Authors Notes)

Notes: Okay, just so you guys know, I upload everything as a .doc (Word) file. As a result, text that is underlined, italicized, bolded or made a larger font won't show up here. This story will be on my website when it's done and will be up as a downloadable Word doc. You can find my URL in my profile. This sucks, cause now the fic loses its expression, force, and meaning in some areas. In chapter 2, a link didn't show up in my notes, I dunno why. Just go to my profile, hit the link to Arnold's Room, and then go to the "About Me" page. If you don't get why the following link is here, read the notes from that chapter. As for the "F-bomb" Jae, yes, there are some in my story, mostly just in MY inner thought dialogue. I have put the rating up to PG-13 to be safe; and I feel it's still far clean enough so it won't be rated R. And Jae, my eyes are blue, like oceans...pun intended. Mmmm, I should fix that when I upload the fic to my site. Thanks for the heads up. Here is Chapter 3...whooo, can you feel the action building:)

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After the dust cleared, my arms were in front of my face and my eyes where tightly shut. Without my knowing, I had accidentally walked off the sidewalk and onto the road. 'Great, I just got myself killed and I was only in the city for five minutes.' I thought.

"Momma Leonie! Are you okay?"

That voice…that familiar elderly voice. I opened my eyes to find the green Packard inches away in front of me, and Phil was coming out of the car to see if I was okay.

"Oh man, you're not hurt are you?"

That other voice…that caring voice of concern…oh my god, it was Arnold! Arnold…ah who gives a damn about his name; it was Arnold, in the flesh…well, not quite. But it was him none the less and he and his Grandpa were by my side. I was so shocked I couldn't find the words to say anything.

"Uh, bah, I…-" I stuttered.

"Oh no, we've scared the ability to form words right out of him!" Phil exclaimed. "He'll sue!"

"Clam down Grandpa. Hey, what's your name?" Arnold said as he put his hand on my shoulder.

"Name? My name?" In all this commotion I almost couldn't remember my own name. "It's…Stephen, name's Stephen."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Arnold." he said as we shook hands.

"Yeah, I know…I mean…I know…that's a Packard, isn't it?" I had almost let my guard down.

"Why yes it is," the old man stated, "a 1946 Clipper, built to last this baby, not like those plastic Japanese econo-boxes of today." he said as he pat the hood, then the driver's side mirror fell off. "Mmm, looks like I'll have to use more ductape next time." he said as he quickly picked it up and pressed it back on.

"Uh Grandpa, I think we should continue this conversation somewhere else, like not in the middle of the street. Stephen, you want a ride. I mean, we did almost hit you."

"Hey, totally my fault, I wasn't watching where I was going. But I will take you up on that ride."

So we all piled into the Packard, me in the backseat with Phil and Arnold up front. We started driving and soon Arnold turned around – and as I predicted from his character, fired away with the questions.

"So Steve – mind if I call ya that?…"

"No problem."

"…I haven't seen you here around the city before. Did you move here recently?"

"Uh, yeah…I just moved here from, Canada. Yeah, that's it, Canada."

"Oh, great country. First-class maple syrup and bacon. You gotta love Canadian bacon!" Phil commented as he drove.

"Really?" Arnold said, "That's an awfully far move from home."

"Oh well, needed a change of pace I guess. I like this city, it has a certain…quality that I find every interesting."

"So what school do you go to?" Arnold asked.

"Uh", I stammered, "I'll be going to PS 118. Since I just moved here I'll be going there this Monday, fourth grade."

"Really, I'm in the fourth grade too. Glad to see that you'll be in our class."

We had pulled up in front of the boarding house now. It was everything it looked like from the series, except it was much bigger when you got to see it up close.

"You want to stay for dinner, Stephen?" Phil asked, "We'll be having pizza."

"Sure, pizza sounds good." I said.

"C'mon Stephen, we can hang out in my room until its ready." Arnold said as we got out of the Packard.

As I entered the boarding house, I was so floored. It looked so…real. The kitchen was straight ahead, the staircase was to my right and the dining room to my left.

"Steve, you comin'?"

"Huh?" I didn't notice Arnold was halfway up the stairs already. I quickly followed up to him and soon we were at the door of his room. He opened the door and I was absolutely taken away. I was in his room – Arnold's totally kick ass room! The skylight, the stereo, the flip out couch, the colourful carpeting, it was all there, it was all so cool.

"Oh man Arnold, I love your room, its fu-…". I stopped myself. I wasn't 19 in appearance anymore, so I had better watch my language. "It's totally amazing, it looks even better up close."

Arnold looked at me with a confused look. "What do you mean up close?"

'Oh crap, keep it cool Stephen'. I thought. "Uh, I mean, I saw the skylight when we were outside and man, does that skylight ever look cool, look at it!"

"Yeah, it's okay I guess." he said as he sat down at his desk.

Arnold probably thought I was a total nut job. I sat on the couch while he typed away on his computer. It was then I noticed a small sliver microcassette recorder on the small table beside me. 'This could come in handy.' I thought as I quickly pocketed the device. After a moment of silence, Arnold started to drill me with more questions.

"So Stephen, where do you live?"

"Uh, well, thing is…no where right now. I know it's a little short notice, but maybe your Grandpa could rent me a room for a while?"

"Well, what about your parents?"

"Uh, parents…" I had to make up another lie right on the spot. "Well, uh, they'll be along in a while. They're really busy, running a company that distributes high tech software. They were looking to move to this area of town and merge with another company. They're too busy to come looking for a place to live right now, so they sent me down here…y'know, to check out the town." I was so bad at lying, plus I was starting to sweat.

"Really? But you're only a kid."

"No, I'm ninete-…, nine. Don't worry Arnold, I can take care of myself."

"Well, if you say so." Arnold replied, buying my lame story. As I looked across the room, I found a little pink book on a shelf. I went over and picked it up.

"What's this little pink book here?" As if I didn't know.

"That?" Arnold got up from his desk. "This is a book that belongs to someone, some girl. Who knows whose it is. My friend Gerald and I worked on it all day one time trying to find who owned it."

"Why is this page ripped out here?" It felt so funny knowing it all.

"It's a long story, a girl named…-" suddenly he was cut off from a voice downstairs.

"Tex and company! Come on down to the corral and grab the grub while the grub is hot! Yeee-haaa!"

Arnold just looked at me. "Don't ask."