Whoa Nadine!

A Hey Arnold! Fanfic

by sorrowXdarkness

oooOOOooo

Chapter Four: The Lie of Omission

Today was supposed to be like any other day. Go to school and spend the rest of my afternoon with my best friends, Rhonda and Lila. Rhonda had me schedule 'Afternoon Delight'. A new tradition of ours that we started when Lila joined our once two girls group. With this, we would go to a cafe or bakery of our choice and spend an hour or two enjoying their arrays of sweets. As I woke up, I was excited for our fifth outing in town. I actually had a sweet tooth as I anticipated our savory evening. Instead, I found myself standing on trial for a crime I didn't commit. That's right. I alone sat on the stand. Principal Wartz sat-in as the judge. My peers were quick to turn on me as they were fueled by the recent 'event' for a quick verdict by the panel of juries. Just my luck, Arnold was not a part of it this time around. He simply represented one of the many that stayed to witness the trial.

My only defense was an appointed attorney by the school to represent me while consulting any possible options. And unfortunately for me, I had Sid. Honestly, I would have prefer Stinky. At least he had experience in the school's court system and more importantly, won his case for his client against P.S. 118. Successfully defending Eugene from expulsion. That made him the best person for the job. Too bad principal Wartz selected Sid to defend my case.

At first, I thought telling the truth would instantly rectify the problem. It only made it complicated as the prosecutor barraged me with questions. Details and possible witnesses to validate my story. I did my best to recreate both time and place as I revealed my tale of what happened in the third morning of November.

The weather was mainly cloudy as the teachers decided to take us students outside for recess. The wind was prominent, we all wore the appropriate attire as we ran to our location of choice. Rhonda pulled me and Lila to the side as she revealed her newest addition to her walk-through closet. A trendy scarf imported from Europe that provided protection around her neck and lower face. Lila felt a bit sad due to the material used for the scarf.

Nearby, I could hear the ball keeper passing the balls out. Of course, the boys were playing War Ball right away. Harold insisted to be the one throwing the ball. I could clearly hear Sid and Stinky complaining. Their friend held nothing back as they still had their injury from the last time they played.

"Nadine."

Across from us girls, Eugene and Sheena were practicing a dance routine. It ended with Eugene tripping and falling across a pile of bicycles. I believed that was the sixth time that same week.

"I'm okay..." He voiced as Sheena helped the poor boy up. Another trip to the infirmary, I thought to myself.

"Nadine."

I refocused and stared at the beady eyes of the prosecutor. They resembled those of a shark as they sharply displayed their attention to me. "You're digressing. Tell us, where were you at the alleged time of the incident." She adjusted her glasses.

Where was I? My mind returned to a moment where so many balls rolled around my feet. People both teachers and students falling down from all directions. Easily the worst ball incident in P.S. 118's history. My grip on a net and being the few not on the ground sealed my fate as principal Wartz came with his hand on my shoulder.

I explained to him that I was returning from the bathroom when it happened. He, however, stated he caught me 'red-handed'. Rhonda and Lily quickly defended me, but they couldn't testify as witnesses. At least Sid have half the mind to use them to build up my character. Both of them spoke highly of me. Rhonda spoke of my organization and helpfulness. Traits opposing what the crisis represented. Lila found me as a gentle spirit with a strong affinity for bugs. The balls would hurt a nearby ant or spider. She knew I wouldn't take a chance.

I nodded, agreeing with both my girls' statements. Just as Lila was about to get up, Phoebe insisted she remained where she was.

"Lila was it? It is correct to say you are friends with both Rhonda and Nadine?"

"That's correct." She replied, quite proud of that fact.

Phoebe adjusted her frame once more before resuming. She walked before Lila in an endless stroll left and right. "So in that regard, you would lie to protect your friend. Is that right?"

Sid stood up almost immediately. "Objection!"

"Withdrawn." Phoebe turned before continuing. I could only sighed. Phoebe was clearly trying to sway the juries' opinion.

It went like this for almost an hour before the juries were told to go to the library to come up with their verdict. My friends were worried for me as was I. Their faces told me this wasn't going to be a clear cut case in my favor.

There was a witness that falsely made the claim that I caused all the balls to scatter across the hallways. This same witness accused me of hurling a rubber ball at his eye, leaving a bruise mark that continued to swell as he stood his stand in court. I'll be honest, I don't know him much less seen him before. My attorney informed me that he was simply known as 'the Weasel'. The most distrustful kid in the entire school. Sid heard from Arnold that he sold him and Gerald to the fifth graders. All for the sake of making a quick buck. Which means everything that came out of his mouth was a lie. A hired task?

But by who?

As they disappeared to the room beside the cafeteria, I remembered what the liar said against me. He was clearly playing the victim card as he struggled to speak and especially look towards my direction.

"So tell us, what happened on November 3rd, here in P.S. 118?"

The Weasel spoke. "Well, I was making my way back to class after the bell rang the first time. Nothing out of the ordinary. Until I noticed someone struggling with the bag of balls. Being the nice guy I am, I approached them to give a helping hand."

The prosecutor nodded before demanding the boy to continue with his story. "What happened next?"

"The bag ripped as it scattered all over our feet..."

"So you're saying it was by accident then?" Phoebe questioned.

"I originally thought so, but then I found myself struck down from a ball. A ball flung by that girl!" His pointed to the 'culprit'.

No one said a word as he pointed his index finger at me.

"I don't know why, but it was definitely that girl."

"No more further question." Said the prosecutor as she took her seat. The judge sighed, probably already convinced by his performance.

"Does the defendant have any further questions?"

None was asked as the juries were directed to leave. My friends were worried for me as was I. Their faces told me this wasn't going to be a clear cut case in my favor. Minutes came and went, and before I knew it they returned. Each one of them returned to their seats. My life was left to those people that spent only minutes. MINUTES. Expulsion would follow me for a long time. I would be going to a different school, far away from all my friends. My loved ones, and what do I tell my family?

"Did the jury reach a verdict?"

"We have your honor. We, of the jury, find Nadine gu-"

"Hey!" The doors to the cafeteria were forcefully opened by a pair of strong arms. "Where is she?" The boy scanned the room briefly until his eyes fell on me. "YOU!"

"Excuse me, we're in the middle of a session." Spoke the prosecutor.

"Save it!" Phoebe let out a meep. "You! Do you have my hair net?"

His hair ne- "Oh!" I gestured to the evidence table.

He walked over to the table before removing the hair net from the rest.

"Your honor, I have some questions to ask to the Weasel." Sid responded as he leaned slightly forward. The judge allowed it. Sid coughed, clearing his throat. I smiled, perhaps we have a chance to win this. Weasel once more appeared to us to take the stand, as directed by my attorney.

"Now weasel, you said it was Nadine. That she was the culprit of this heinous disaster."

"Um, that's right." He replied.

"The only proof you have was the piece of mesh that you claim was a piece of the bag holding those balls." Sid walked across him. Keeping a sharp eye at the kid. No sweats yet.

"I did and it is."

"Funny..." My attorney walked to the table. He took the broken bag and head closer to Wolfgang. "May I?" He compared the two piece. They were both the same color yet the pattern from the bag differ from the 'hair net'. "You said that, yet these two are not one and the same."

The audience gasped. Sid returned the hair net to Wolfgang. Sid reviewed the testimonies. Brainy was the ball monitor for the week. He claimed that Weasel indeed helped him when he was struggling. But as soon as the balls fell, so too did Brainy. There wasn't much to tell from that alone. And because of that, Sid asked Wolfgang to the stand. Taking his seat, his eyes locked onto mine. I tried conveying my thoughts with my lips, 'I'm sorry'. Not sure he got the message as Sid began asking him some questions. Moving the hour hand back, Wolfgang revealed he was finishing up some community services. His teacher was giving out extra credit for anyone willing to help around the school. He was in charged of moving the frozen food from the fridge to the kitchen. It required some muscles as he worked up quite a sweat.

That was when I arrived. Seeing him a bit worn, I gave him my carton of milk I saved for a later time. Taking his hair net off, his golden locks were finally freed. The beating sweats dripped down his face as I kept my eyes on the ground. The entire exchange was entirely novel. It was well over a minute and Wolfgang not once called me 'fourth grade wussy' or 'loser'. He finished the drink before turning his sights on me."

"Hey, thanks."

"You're welcome."

Before anything else was said, one of the cafeteria ladies came to get him to bring out some boxes. He put the hair net in his back pocket before stepping away. Wolfgang stopped only to tell me to keep this between us. No one else knew he was helping the cafeteria ladies for extra credit. And he would prefer to keep it that way.

Something that Wolfgang didn't explain to the court was how much I struggled to get the words out. "Sure." Was all I managed to say as I stared at his fleeting figure. I quickly went to the bathroom. As I came out and walked to my class, I realized Wolfgang dropped his hair net on the floor. Not even a minute later, the rest as you say, was history.

This changed everything as all eyes fell on the weasel. I did the same as we drilled into his head as he began to sweat profusely. Finally. Sid began reviewing once more his 'claims'. Something didn't add up and as we expected, Weasel begins to cave.

The truth came out as he revealed it was him. He did it. Upon seeing the ball monitor struggling, he used it as an opportunity. With the guise of helping him, the weasel took out a pair of scissors and began cutting the bag. It took no time before all the content was scattered on the floor. People were falling left and right. To him, that was a masterpiece. Each and everyone of them let out a thud followed by a groan. And quickly, he needed to come up with an alibi. And then, it came to him. The ball landed to his feet. Almost like a sign. It gave him a chance to escape unscathed. Well, almost. He simply needed someone to take the fall. Someone who hasn't fallen yet. And then Nadine came to the scene. She returned to give back the hair net that Wolfgang dropped.

It was perfect. With his target taking the fall, he flung with all his might against the locket door. The ball ricocheted back to him as it pummeled him to the ground. And as he laid on the ground with the rest, he smiled. He was safe.

Or so he thought.

oooOOOooo

In light of the new evidence, all charges against me were dropped. Weasel will have a disciplinary meeting with his folks and the principal about this matter. Not only did he cause a disaster at the school, but he tried to frame it on me. A double negative that wouldn't turn positive for him anytime soon. I thanked Sid for his services. He actually pulled it off. My girls came to my side, each one hugging me. We all there in tears. We were this close from being separate from each other. I was no longer in expulsion row. Before I left with them, Wolfgang came. He wanted to talk to me, in private. I told the girls to wait for me outside. Lila tried to say something, but Rhonda insisted as she grabbed her shoulder. I'll be with them soon as it was only Wolfgang and I in the cafeteria.

"You're an idiot." He said. "You could have gotten out of the case if you just told them about me." His arms were crossed as he looked a bit frustrated with me.

He was right. Everything would have been better for me if I told the entire truth. The whole truth. But I didn't. I still didn't. Not the whole truth anyway. When he dropped his hair net, I found myself sniffing it. Just to catch the whiff of his scent. It was because of that. But more importantly... "I didn't want to get you involved. You told me before, not to speak of it to anyone."

Wolfgang shook his head. "You shouldn't have risked your future for me."

"I'm sorry for upsetting you, Wolfgang. But I'm not sorry for doing it. Like it or not, I kept your secret safe." I stood my ground. And despite not saying it clearly, I considered Wolfgang a friend.

"You know...you're right. And for that, I owe you one. So wait for me to return the favor." He turned his back on me, planning to leave.

"When?"

"Who knows...I sure don't know yet."

As he left, I found my heart beating faster. This time, it lasted for much longer as I waited for it to simmer down before seeing my friends. Maybe, I'm over thinking it. But, I might like him like him. I squeezed my hand as I voiced that thought in my mind.

-END OF CHAPTER FOUR

Author's Notes:

What do you think? Too soon? Should I work around the scene to provide a more in-depth environment within the Hey Arnold series?