Helga pushed the stray blonde hairs that had fell in her face behind her ear. The Java Joint was quiter than usual today, and honestly that was fine with her. Arnold's return kind of threw off her day.
She walked over to their window display and started stacking the new cups and bags of coffee.

"H.P. How's the display coming?" a voice from the back yelled.

Helga glanced at her display and frowned. Her creativity just wasn't flowing today.

"Well the effort is there but the amazingness is not." she yelled back.

Donovan the manager of the Java Joint walked out front to take a glance for himself. He smiled at the display and said,
"You're getting there H.P."

Helga loved her boss, hell she loved her job. Most people can't say that but she definitely was one that could. When her life first started going down hill, this job, this place, the people is what saved her from herself. She owes them more than they will ever know.

Biiiing.

The sound of the door alarm brought her back to reality.

"Welcome to the Java Joint. If you need help or want to customize your beverage I can help with that. " she beamed as she leaned up.

The smile quickly faded from her lips when she noticed the gaggle of kids in front of her.

The shape of that head has haunted her since she was young. Why today? How did he know about this place/ The questions ran through her head 90 times a second.

"Helga, oh wow. You work here? That's cool." Arnold smiled at her gently.

Helga stood there frozen. She couldn't speak, she couldn't move. It was as if her whole body forgot how to function. The anxiety in her chest was starting to overwhelm her.

"Hey guys and girls, I can help you over here." Donovan called over from the counter.

"H.P. can you finish checking off that truck order in the back?" he asked.

Helga immediately walked to the backroom and took a sigh of relief. She pulled out her phone and immediately texted Donovan.

D.
Thanks. You're the best.
H.P.

Why can't I speak to him? What the hell is wrong with me? This can not be normal. Who am I kidding, I am not normal. Helga thought to herself.

Arnold watched as Helga practically ran to the backroom behind the counter.

The group ordered their coffees and sat at a table closest to the display. Arnold tried to focus on their converstaion at hand but kept finding himself looking at that door. Waiting. Hoping. Helga had to come back out eventually right?

"Earth to Arnold." Rhonda snapped her fingers in front of his face.

"As I was saying, we're going over to Phoebe' to study. Wanna come with?" she asked.

Arnold smiled politely," Actually, I promised my parents I'd help unpack today. Sorry guys."

"Oh well, at least let me give you a ride over?" Rhonda offered.

"Nah, that's ok I was actually ready for some fresh air." he replied with a smile.

Arnold watched as the group gathered their stuff and left out the doors. He smiled. He missed this. He missed his friends. Time may have changed but the feeling he got when with them sure hadn't. Arnold walked up to the man at the counter.
He could feel his cheeks get hot as he opened his mouth. "Hi, um I was wondering if it'd be at all possible if I could speak to Helga for a moment?"

Donovan looked at the boy and chuckled. " Of course, let me grab her."

Donovan oopened the swinging door and yelled,"H.P. you have a visitor!"
Helga felt her heart sink in her chest. She hoped maybe it was Phoebe but deep down she knew it would be him.

Helga walked out the door and smiled at the boy waiting for her.

"Hey Arnoldo, long time no see." she spat out trying to sound calmer than what she was.

Donovan winked at Helga and walked across the store pretending to mess with the display.

"So wow. You work here huh? That's cool. It seems like a fun job." Arnold replied.

Helga looked at him and could tell by the way he was messing with his thumbs he was as nervous as she was.

"Yeah, it's pretty great. So.. what'd you need Arnold?" she asked. Her tone turned from nervous to semi rude. From the look on Arnold's face he noticed the change immediately.

"It's just good to see you Helga. Is it weird that I wanted to catch up with you?" he glanced down at his feet.

"Well, you left without so much as a goodbye and now you're interested in me?" she questioned.

"Helga, that's not what happened and you know that." he looked at her hoping she could see that.

"Look, I gotta get back to work ok?" she said walking away from the awkward conversation at hand.