Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.


Megan in love

Chapter 3: The Arrival

"CRIMINY! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HE STILL HASN'T NOTICED ME YET!..."A very impatient Megan thought.

She was silently fuming but keeping a superficial air of composure during the train ride.

It's been almost an hour since they boarded the train and they were nearing Hillwood. However, her numerous attempts to get closer with Albert didn't work as she expected. She tried her usual flirting strategies that had worked on her previous boyfriends and crushes, but they didn't work.

It was quite frustrating for her, as she thought about them.


FLASHBACK

A little earlier

It was during the train ride that Megan tried to make her next move on her nerdy-but-cute crush.

Her first attempt was simple.

She excused herself to go to the bathroom and there, she pulled out something from her bag, it was her perfume. She had already wore one of her best outfits and worked hard to make sure that her hair was nice, but she figured that another dab of her perfume might help.

"There we go..."Megan thought as she dabbed some more of her perfume.

Not a lot to be overwhelming but definitely enough to make her smell nice.

She smiled to herself.

"Perfect!..."She thought, eager to see Albert's reaction.

Once done, she returned to her seat. Albert was still reading his book but Megan tried to get his attention as she gently returned to her seat.

"Hey, Albert...I'm back..."Megan said in a flirty sort of way as she took her seat.

"Oh, hey Megs..."He said, still reading.

However, he sniffed something and Megan smiled.

"Huh? What's that bewitching scent?..."He asked and Megan grinned in triumph, before making her next move.

"Oh, you mean my perfume?..."She said, trying to act casual, but was pleased that she got his attention. "Oh, I just splashed a little on...for no reason..."She said, trying to act normal.

"Huh? It smells...nice..."Albert said, being earnest.

"You mean it? I mean...thanks..."Megan said, trying not to come off as too eager.

"Mmm..."Albert said before looking away. "Oh, look...the food cart is coming this way..."He said, before turning away from her.

Megan frowned, as he stopped looking at her.

"Huh? Well...at least he likes how it smells but I...I don't know...I was hoping for more..."She thought frustrated as the food cart arrived.


A little later

After they made their orders for lunch, the two college students began eating. Albert ordered a sandwich.

Normally, Megan wouldn't think twice about ordering something like a hamburger, nachos or something else that's big, but she was in the middle of trying to win over a boy and she didn't want to come across as unlady-like.

So, she ordered a salad and some ice tea, much to her dismay.

"The things I do for love..."She thought as she ate the salad.

It's not that she doesn't like it and she's eaten plenty of salads before and it's not like she doesn't care about her health, but she was really craving something more filling than this. Still, she didn't want to risk getting any grease on her clothes or coming off as a pig, so she sucked it up and ate it.

Once done, she wiped her lips with a napkin, before getting ready for her next move.

"So...Albert? What are you reading?..."She asked, trying to show some interest in the book he's had his nose buried in for most of the train ride.

The intellectual boy seemed almost embarrassed for some reason.

"Oh, it's nothing special. You probably wouldn't be interested in it..."He said.

"What? Come on?..."Megan asked again.

Albert sighed and gave it.

"Like I said, it's nothing much...Just the autobiography of Agatha Caulfield..."He said.

"Agatha Caulfield? The author? I loved her books when I was little..."Megan said, meaning it.

"Oh, you read them too?..."Albert asked, surprised.

The blonde girl nodded, happy to know that they had this in common.

"Yeah, my dad has a huge collection of them at home. He even gave me a lot of the books from when he was a kid when I asked for them..."Megan said.

"Lucky you..."Albert said.

"I always loved reading as a kid, and her books were some of my favorites. My favorite as a kid was "The Mean Old Witch and the Weird Headed Boy"..."He said.

"Mine too..."Megan said, meaning it. "My dad says he actually met her as a kid, before she came out of her retirement and wrote that story..."She said.

"That must have been cool to meet such an amazing author in person..."Albert said, smiling.

Megan wasn't sure how to respond to that.

On the one hand, she wanted to get closer to Albert but she can't lie to him to get it. Her dad told her the story of what happened with that author and how their experience was...less than pleasant to say the least, even if things worked out and she seemed to have become a better person after that meeting.

Still, she wasn't sure how to explain that whole incident without making things awkward between her and a clear fan of that author. Still, she tried her best.

"Uh...Daddy did say that she was his favorite childhood author. He really loved her books..."She said, being as truthful as possible without giving away all the details that might paint that woman in a bad light.

She didn't want to risk offending Albert or make their talk awkward. After that, Albert went back to his reading and Megan sighed.

"Well, that was a bust. I gotta try something else..."She thought, trying to think of another plan.

She then recalled another strategy and went for it.

"Oh, Albert~..."Megan said again, trying to look cute as she said his name.

"Yes?..."He asked, clueless to her intentions.

"You really do like reading a lot. Have you read any good books about love?..."She asked, fluttering her eye-lashes.

The glasses-wearing boy, however, just shook his head.

"Nah… most of them are too sappy for my tastes..."Albert said simply, before he went back to reading his book.

Megan frowned, hating that her latest flirting attempt failed.

"Darn it!..."She mentally cursed, wondering why that didn't work.

End Of Flashback


Present Time

That's what happened and Albert still barely seemed to notice that she was here.

"I can't believe that didn't work. Looks like I have to up my game if I want to turn things around..."Megan thought, refusing to give up.

Soon enough, the train soon arrived to it's destination: The Hillwood Train Station.

Once there, people started getting off.

"We're here. Home sweet home..."Albert said as he and she walked out the train with their luggage.

"Yeah..."Megan said, worried.

She didn't want him to leave yet, not so soon anyway. So, she tried something else.

"Uh...Albert...uh...are you parents coming to pick you up?..."She asked.

"No, I told them that I'd arrive at their house before dinner time and looks like we're early..."He said.

Megan smiled.

"If that's the case...wanna accompany to my house. It's a couple of miles from here and...well, I'd much rather have someone with me in case trouble happens..."She said, trying to play the damsel in distress here.

"Uh, really?..."He asked.

"Yes, please. Can you help keep me company?..."Megan asked as she tried to look vulnerable to him.

"Well, alright. I guess I should make sure that you get home safely..."He said.

"YES!..."Megan thought in triumph, savoring the small victory as he called a cab for them.

"I guess it's no problem..."Albert said, still being dense as ever.

Megan sighed.

"This must be how Mom felt with Daddy when they were younger...still, I gotta keep trying..."She thought, not giving up.

After all, they still had a nice car ride to look forward to together. She could spend more time with him there while she tried to figure her next step in Operation: Relationship Upgrade.

That was her plan and she was ready for it.


Later

The two college students were now in the cab, which was heading to Megan's parents house. Just like in the train, Albert went back to reading and his blonde secret admirer kept trying to get his attention.

"Uh, excuse me...Albert?..."Megan asked, trying to get his attention once more.

"Yes?..."He asked, looking away from his book.

"How much longer until we get there?..."Megan asked.

"Another 15 minutes or so..."Albert said as he checked his watch.

Megan heard this and tried to make her next move on him.

"That's good, I can hardly wait to get there, relax and get things done..."Megan said. "And not catch up with the family..."She said in a hinting way.

"Oh, I guess you got chores too..."Albert said, her hint going over his head.

Megan heard this and mentally groaned.

"Almost an hour here and nothing! Criminy! What am I doing wrong?!..."She thought, frustrated.

Since they boarded, Megan tried dropping subtle hints about her interest in the college boy, as well as do some light flirting with him but he either didn't notice her advances or they flew over his head.

"You'd think he'd get the message I was trying to send by now. Then again, he's so focused on reading, he'd probably wouldn't even notice the cab stopping at this point..."She thought, not understanding what's happening here.

With her past crushes and boyfriends, she didn't hesitate with flirting with them and trying to win them over and get them to be her boyfriend...which she usually managed to do at one point or another.

However, her usual tactics weren't working and Albert seemed more interested in that book than her. It was frustrating, but it also made her more determined to win him over, even if he doesn't seem to be getting the many hints that she's dropping.

"How can someone so smart and cute be so clueless? Whatever, I'm not giving up. I still got time..."She muttered silently to herself, still confident as ever in her chances.

"Did you say something Megan?..."Albert asked, looking away from his book for a moment.

"Oh, it's nothing important..."Megan said, embarrassed that she almost slipped up while the cab ride continued.


15 minutes later

"We're here..."Albert said to Megan, who was still feeling bummed.

"Yay..."Megan muttered sarcastically, still feeling frustrated with her lack of progress.

"You okay?..."Albert asked as he grabbed his items.

"Yeah, I'm fine...just...a little tired from the long ride..."Megan said as she grabbed her items, feeling frustrated that he's still not into her, but she was not giving up.

"I just gotta try something else. I know that I can get him to notice my feelings some way!..."She thought, ready to make her next move.

Or she would have been...had the following not happen.

The moment the two college students stepped out of the cab, a group of people rushed to them...to Megan specifically.

"Meggie-kins!..."Was shouted.

Megan turned and saw her parents and little brother, Henry, rushing towards her, along with her paternal grandparents too.

"Mom? Dad? Henry? Grandma? Grandpa?..."The blonde girl said, as she soon found herself in a hug with her parents.

"Welcome home, Angel!..."Helga said as she hugged her daughter.

"We missed you so much!..."Arnold said as he hugged his only daughter.

"Hey..."Henry said, being more composed than her parents.

"Hey..."Megan said as her little brother waved at her.

Helga was overjoyed to have her only daughter back. However, her excitement was cut short when she saw who was accompanying her.

"Oh, hello there Mr. Matthews?..."She said in a less than pleased way.

Albert frowned but tried to mind his manners, since this woman is technically his employer.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Shortman. You both look well..."He said.

"Hello, Albert. It's nice to see you again..."Arnold said, being more polite and friendly.

"Likewise, sir..."Albert said, still having a stoic look on his face.

"Albert...not that we aren't happy to see you, but why are you here?..."Arnold asked, being curious.

"Well, I was on my way to visit my parents for the long weekend, and Megan asked me to accompany here. I just came here to make sure that she got here safely..."Albert answered in a stoic kind of manner, as Helga kept sending him less than friendly looks.

"Well, thanks. For making sure our daughter got here safely..."The blonde woman said, but she didn't look like she wanted him to stay here long.

"You're welcome..."Albert said in a similar tone.

Megan cringed, noticing the tension but tried to liven things up.

"Uh, so hey Mom. So, any plans for tonight?..."She said, getting the attention back on her.

Helga smiled as she turned her attention to her only girl and sounded different.

"Well, Angel. We're so happy that you are home and you're big brother Andy is on his way too, along with you're future sister-in-law..."She said, referring to Kiara.

"Your mom's made a really big, special dinner for all you kids and a special surprise as well..."Arnold said.

"A special surprise?..."Megan asked.

"Mom made her famous apple pie, along with some cherry pie and even pecan pie too..."Henry said in excitement.

"Henry! That was suppose to be a surprise!..."His mother scolded.

"Sorry..."Henry said apologetically.

Megan smiled, happy to hear that since she's always loved her mother's home-made pies.

"Awesome, this just keeps getting better..."She said, sounding pleased.

"That all sounds lovely, anyway. I should be going now. I don't want to keep my parents waiting..."Albert said, heading to the taxi.

Megan heard this and panicked. She composed herself and went to him as he got in the cab.

"Uh, Albert...thanks again for coming here with me...uh...so, we're still on for hanging out tomorrow?..."She asked, trying not to come off as desperate.

Thankfully, Albert didn't think she was and answered honestly.

"No worries, I promise. We can get some coffee together or something tomorrow. My treat..."He said.

Megan smiled.

"Great..."She said, sounding happy.

Once her crush left in the cab, Megan went to rejoin her family in her childhood home.

There she was bombarded with more hugs and kisses from her parents, who kept asking her how her trip was and how things were at college as they waited for the arrival of Andy and Kiara.

Megan did her best to answer them and catch up, but her mind was still on Albert and her love for him, as well as her frustration of her lack of progress.

However, she was always an optimist and never gave it.

This was only Day 1 and she still had a long weekend to change things.

"Sooner or later, Albert will be mine!..."The blonde girl thought, still as determined as ever to win her love.

-To be continued-

Next time on Megan In Love

The Shortmans


A/N(1): I would like to dedicate this chapter to my loved ones :)


A/N(2): Special thanks to NeoMark for helping out with this chapter. You rock :)


REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:

Invader Johnny: Oh boy, indeed.

RoseGirlXS: Thank you :)

RonaldM40196867:

1) Currently, he sees her as a friend and a girl he tutors.

2) I do believe that ghosts do, given what we all saw with Four-Eyed Jack.

3) Some episodes were.

4) That will be shown later on. Sorry, no spoilers.

5) Not really, aside from "The Return of Four Eyed Jack".

Guest: Yeah.

Ellande CAMPBELL: Yeah.

The J.A.M. a.k.a. Numbuh i: Huh?

Guest: Gracias.


:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)