Whoa Nadine!

Hey Arnold! fanfiction

by sorrowXdarkness

Chapter one: A Weird Way To End The Day

Today marked the fifth consecutive school day that Wolfgang and the rest of his fifth grader goons terrorized my friends and I. Nothing we did, could prevent the inevitable chase in the busy streets of the city as we scattered. Rhonda kept to my side as we managed to hide behind the side of pick-up truck. I gestured her to remain quiet. Hearing several footsteps approaching our location, I quickly and quietly entered the back of the truck.

"Nadine! Wha-" She whispered sharply, but I motioned her to follow me. We only had a moment before the light changed to red. Although Rhonda usually held herself with high regard, she didn't complain as she got on alongside me. The truck began moving shortly after as we sat along the sidewall. I shifted for a better position to see where we were heading and for the next stop. We could finally relax as the nice breeze provided much refreshment along my cheeks. The sky was pleasant to look at as we both agreed to wait for another two minutes before I get the driver's attention.

Pushing myself below the back windshield, I knocked and waved my hand hoping to get some feedback. And I did. We felt a shift as the truck began to parallel park to the side of the street. With much discretion, we got out and I walked to the driver. I walked forth with gratitude in hand.

"Were you driving with your feet?" Quipped Ms. Rhonda Lloyd as she began dusting herself from the small dirt the back trunk had. No doubt, she was bothered that her brand-new cashmere sweater was "ruined". Though I rather had "that" than to face a bunch of fifth graders for their daily beatdown.

"Don't worry about her." I ensured the nice man as I smiled. "We're very grateful for the lift, sir."

The man reciprocated with a facial gesture of his own. "I was a fourth grader once too, you know." And although the next moment was mainly the sound of the city-life, I knew there was a sense of understanding between us. "Anyway, good luck you two." Shifting gears, he drove off.

"Nadine, I can't be caught with this! I might actually die from embarrassment!" She beckoned with her small slight dark pigment on the bottom seam of her sweater. I knew she wouldn't move unless we reached an understanding as I took a moment to look around. Fortunately for us, we were by the public library. And from there, we were close to my house. Giving in to her "crisis", I suggested we go to the library to spruce up a bit. Rhonda wasted no time as she dragged me across the street into the building. Inside, I waited outside the public restroom for a whole two minutes. For what? I wasn't entirely sure, but I kept my eyes out for any fifth graders.

The last thing we needed now, was trouble as I eventually swapped places with Rhonda. Because unlike her, I "actually needed" to go to the bathroom. From there, we managed to make our way to my house. Closing the door, we high-fived each other for a job well done. Dropping on the couch, we left out a sigh of relief.

"Thank heaven, not a scratch or tear in sight." Rhonda began saying, looking at herself with her handheld vanity mirror. "I must say Nadine, clever idea taking that filthy truck."

"Yeah... Lucky for us, there are still good people willing to give a hand." I commented.

"If only they use their hands to clean their cars." Rhonda stated as I found myself shaking my head. Rhonda may be high-maintenance, but she was still my best friend. For the next hour, we waited for either one of our parents. My mom left to buy grocery from a nearby superstore. Rhonda already called her parents, and they were returning from a business meeting. We talked about the upcoming Spring Dance for a bit. Nothing special, just that it was the current talk of the school. A P.S. 118 tradition where the fifth and sixth graders attend a school dance. Honestly, the dance didn't matter tome since we were only fourth graders. But with Rhonda, somehow it was a given that she was attending. It is only a matter of time, she said.

True. In rare cases, fourth graders could attend the dance as long as they were accompanied by a fifth or sixth grader. Rhonda was that confident that she would go, especially when she was the most popular girl in the fourth grade as she herself proposed countless times. And if she was going, then it was imperative that I go with her. I wasn't worried, because I knew no one would ask Rhonda. Despite what she may say, she wasn't the easiest to keep happy. Her standards were essentially impractical and distorted. I didn't say a thing as she kept the conversation going for the both of us.

Eventually, her father came knocking on the door. Saying our farewell, we both agreed to talk later in the evening by phone. Alone at last, I took that moment to check my babies. I currently had four eggs waiting to be hatched. Still, no development. But I noted it down on my notes. I became easily excited for their arrival. I already decided their names based on order of birth.

Minutes later, I heard shuffling of the knob. My mom was probably returning now from shopping. I ran barefoot to assist her with the food. By the door, I saw my mom thanking someone as she hopped in.

"Mom, are you okay?" she propped herself down on the small step by the entrance. Fixing herself out of her shoes, she revealed the source of her ailment. Upon leaving the supermarket, she nearly got ran over by an inconsiderate couple in a Mercedes. As she dropped to the concrete ground, she managed to sprain her ankle.

Fortunately for her, a kind pedestrian offer her help. He gathered all the cans, bottles and cartons he could find. Most of them were battered, but not broken. The only downfall, the eggs were cracked. None of them survived the drop as the liquid seeped through the carton. She was about to thank the young man anyway, but he quickly asked her to wait before leaving. He went inside the store for a few minutes. When he returned, he brought out another dozen eggs. After explaining the situation, the manager decided to give him a new one for her. The same guy was nice enough to carry her bags to her house and inside, just in case I wasn't home in time.

I smiled, liking the idea that there were people that cared. That people would come together to help others when in need. Looks like they both got to see something good in the world.

"Where do you want these bags, ma'am?"

The voice said, though my body froze. He sounded quite familiar as the person came in with both hands occupied.

"You can gently place them on the floor and my daughter will sort them out. Thank you for your help!" My mother said from where she sat. With the bags down, I could clearly see his appearance as my suspicion proved correct. There, by the entrance of my house with their cobra emblem staring at me, stood Wolfgang.

And as our eyes met, something clicked in my head. I knew what I was becoming as my body began to tense up. My mind became clouded and before I knew it, I moved with an open-hand.

SLAP

"Did you hurt my mom, you brute!" I didn't know why, but it made sense to me. A bully. Mom was hurt. Wolfgang. To me, the only logical sense was that he hurt my mother. And for that, he deserved a hit to the face.

"Nadine! What has come over you?" She yelled. "I'm sorry, she's usually not like this. Nadine, apologize!" She said, turning her attention to me, though I merely stood in silence. Glaring my eyes at the bully. Not my best moment, but I didn't care. This was Wolfgang of all people. He didn't deserve a thing, much less an apology.

Followed by my slap, he did not scowl like he usually does when he looks at a "fourth grade wussy". Even as the inflammation began to set in on the side of his face, he simply brushed it off. "If's fine. I'm no saint, ma'am. We don't exactly get along in school."

And when I once again began to think clearly, I realized that I didn't want to owe Wolfgang a thing. So with great reluctance, I swallowed my pride and apologized to him.

My mother was satisfied for now. I knew she would press me for more detail over the matter. But for now, she wanted to thank him personally. She insisted as she tried to get up.

However, by getting up she winded up making her injury worse. The abrupt yet sharp pain took my mother by surprised as she began to descend. Both Wolfgang and I got a hold of her, slowly and steadily we brought her down to the couch.

"Hey, go get Epsom salt." He ordered me.

I didn't complain as I followed his instruction. I heard him asking my mother for a bucket. "There's one under the sink. Apologizing for the intrusion, he quickly found the plastic container before filling it up with hot water. I returned from the linen closet with the bag in hand. Moments later, my mother's foot dropped into the water as she let out a sigh of relief. She definitely needed that as she brought her other foot in as well.

Wolfgang excused himself, saying that he didn't do it for the reward. I found myself following him before my mother could say a word. Although I was grateful, I felt disappointed in myself. He by far was not a monster as I originally assumed. He did have a human heart, as he clearly displayed with my mother.

"Wolfgang, wait!" I cried out, running towards him.

"Look after your mother. I'm done for the day. Alright, puny fourth grader?" He refused to look at me, but I still pushed forward.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have slapped you. And thank you for helping my mom." It meant a lot to me, though I failed to add that just now.

"I'm going now."

It seems like he was trying to keep his emotion in check. I shouldn't test my luck anymore as I turned around. Settling with what was spoken between us for my rude behavior.

"Hey!" Wolfgang surprised me when he suddenly picked me up from the ground. I wanted to struggle, but I was still became shrouded by confusion. I wasn't sure what was going on as I found myself back on my stoop of my house.

"Don't walk outside barefoot, you idiot." He turned and finally left for good this time. I actually held my breath, but not out of fear. I found myself looking down at my toes as they squirmed, thanking him once more. But by then, he was already gone.

And like that, I found myself looking at a boy. Before Wolfgang, I had no interest in boys. My one only interest was the arthropods like butterflies, spiders and beetles to name a few. As I returned inside, I quickly began putting away our food. All while keeping my blush from showing.

-END OF CHAPTER ONE

Author's Notes:

A short series about Nadine and her life as a student in P.S. 118. What did you think? Too much? Not enough? Anything to add or remove? Until next time!-sorrowXdarkness