After English, I walked to math with Phoebe.

"So, I saw you and Arnold holding hands." Phoebe said and smirked.

"Shhh! Not so loud." I said.

"You totally had a moment though." Phoebe said.

"He was feeling claustrophobic and holding someone's hand makes him feel better."

"What if that was an excuse?"

"I don't think it was, Phoebe."

"Maybe, maybe not. But I think you like him."

"Okay, yes, I like Arnold. But just lowkey."

"That's exciting that you admitted it!"

"Oh my lord, Phoebe, you better not tell ANYBODY about this..."

"Helga likes Ar-" Phoebe started excitingly saying.

"Shut up!" I said as I covered her mouth.

"I wasn't actually going to announce it. I just wanted to mess with you. Keeping the secret!" Phoebe said.

"I was about to have a heart attack, Phoebe, damn." I said.

"You wanna know who I like?" Phoebe asked.

"Sure, why not."

"Gerald. Arnold's best friend."

"PHOEBE LIKES-"

"Helga, stop trying to pull my own trick on me."

I laughed. "I was kidding." I told her.

Phoebe laughed too. "I know."

One week later...

Arnold and I have got to known each other a bit more through our project. The more I spend time with him, the more I realize I like him. A part of this scared me because I didn't have a good experience with popular people. The people who bullied Olga were popular, and the popular people at my old school were not the best people.

I know that I shouldn't judge people based on their popularity. Arnold may be one of the most popular guys at PS 118, but he is nice, charming, and caring. And he seems like a really good person. I'm glad to see a popular person that I can trust.

Arnold and I still never mentioned the kiss at Rhonda's party. I never had the chance to ask him about it. I know it was just a kiss on a dare, but it's pretty much what caused us to feel closer to each other. I just wanted to know what he thought about it. Probably nothing, but I wanted to know his thoughts.

"Okay class, I want to announce our class trip for this winter break! You aren't required to go, but it would be very special if you all did!" Mr. Simmons announced.

"Ooh I wonder where we're going!" Phoebe said.

"It better be somewhere good! Rich people like me can't be seen at some poor place!" Rhonda said.

"Can you go one minute without bragging about how much money you have?" Gerald said.

"Okay class, settle down. During winter break in two weeks, we are going on a class trip to Anaheim. I will hand out your permission slips." Mr Simmons announced to the class.

Did I hear him correctly?

ANAHEIM?!

Where I used to live? Where Olga's bullies are?

Why has fate been messing with me ever since I got here? And would I actually go on the trip? Or would I stay in Hillwood for winter break?

"Helga? Why do you look so surprised?" Phoebe asked.

"That's where I used to live!" I said.

"Well that's bizarre and weird." Phoebe said.

"Tell me about it."

"Do you think you wanna go back?"

"Maybe. If we aren't close to these certain people. And also if..."

I stopped myself before I could say more. Maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to say what I was planning to say in class.

"And also if what?" Phoebe asked.

I sighed. "If Arnold goes."

Phoebe smirked at me.

"Wipe that look off of your face." I said.

"I ship it." Phoebe whispered.

"Remember, this is a secret right now."

"Remembering!"

After class...

I started thinking about whether I wanted to go on the class trip or not. For one, it would be another good opportunity to get myself out there. And also spend some more time with Arnold.

But I didn't want to see Olga's bullies. But then again, what were the odds that I would? Anaheim isn't a secluded area like here in Hillwood.

I decided that I would go on the trip, and I'll just say, it was both the best and worst decision of my life.

I was getting my math textbook out of my locker when heard Arnold by his locker, not far away from mine, talking to Gerald. There I was again, eavesdropping on Arnold's conversations when I wasn't supposed to.

"You going on the trip bro?" Gerald asked.

"Yeah, even though it was kind of a last minute announcement. Also, I hope Helga goes." Arnold said.

Arnold wants me to go on the trip?! Oh my god, now I really want to go on the trip.

"You've been staring into your locker for a while now, Helga. But you already have your textbook." Phoebe said.

"Phoebe! Don't scare me like that!" I shrieked as I jumped.

"Whatcha doing?" Phoebe asked.

"I.. I was um... looking for my pencil!"

"You already have your pencil, Helga."

"Damn it."

"It's okay to want to listen to Arnold talk."

"You're too smart Phoebe, and you're not gonna shut up about this, are you?"

Phoebe leaned over to my ear and whispered in it, "Shortaki for life."

"What the hell does Shortaki mean?" I asked.

"Shortman plus Pataki equals Shortaki." Phoebe said.

"You are really wildin, Phoebe. I don't know why you're so excited about this."

The two minute bell rang very shortly after I said that.

"Saved by the bell. See you later, Phoebe!" I said.

After school...

I arrived home after yet another school day at PS 118, along with my permission slip.

"Hello, girls." Inga said.

"Hi, Inga. Can you sign this paper?" I said as I held out my permission slip.

"That depends, Helga. What is it for?" Inga said.

"School trip this winter break." I said.

Inga started reading the permission slip. "In Anaheim? That's out of state! You can't be miles and miles away from this house during break with me or your mom." Inga said.

"But Inga! There will be supervision and everyone else in my class is going." I said.

"You can go ONLY if your older sister goes too." Inga told me.

I didn't think I could actually convince Olga to go with me on the trip. I know she didn't want to go back to that place. But I'm Helga G Pataki, so I always get my way. So I'll find a way to convince Olga.

I went to Olga's room so I could ask her about the class trip.

"Hi, baby sis." Olga said.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked.

"Sure, anything."

"So Inga will only let me go on this school trip if you go too. But the thing is... it's in Anaheim."

"Wait, your class is taking a trip to our hometown?! That's a very weird quirk of fate. But I'm not ready to go back there. I can't go back to that place right now, especially since we just recently moved here."

"Olga, don't let yourself become traumatized to go somewhere just because a few horrible idiots live there."

"I know I shouldn't let it haunt me, but I'm just not ready.

Also, I have a question. Why do you wanna go on the trip?"

"Ugh... do I really have to tell you too?

Well, hypothetically speaking... I MIGHT like this boy who is going who wants me there too... but it's hypothetical!"

"Does my baby sister have a crush?"

I sighed. "Don't tell anyone, Olga."

I then suddenly got an idea. An idea that might not work, but I was gonna try it anyway.

"I have an idea. How about you check into a hotel or something, and say you're going on the trip with me?" I suggested.

"Damn it Helga, why do you always come up with these diabolic plans?

But I guess we could try that. You're lucky that I care enough about you." Olga said.

"Yay. Since you just recently got your driver's license, you can just drive me to the airport, and then leave for the hotel. Inga will never know."

"I can't believe I'm actually gonna go through with this..."

Author's note: Just as a disclaimer, there is nothing wrong with being popular as long as you treat people nicely. As you might be able tell, this fanfic uses quite a bit of high school tropes. That's why Helga was feeling iffy about popular people. I do not think being popular is bad as long as you treat people nicely :)