Alright, here is chapter 4 of my story. This chapter is Helga's POV and I decided to take the suggestion of her running into an old friend. I hope that you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold!
Dreaming was always where Helga found an escape; when sleeping, she could do anything and go anywhere. Once she opened her eyes up though, she remembered where she was as her eyes took in the dull wall paper of her hotel room and she also remembered the fact that while she had once considered this place home, it was obvious that she no longer belonged there. Helga decided to grab a quick breakfast and look to see if she could change her flight plans so that she could go home to California for the rest of her holiday before school.
The restaurant was crowded and Helga found that she was the only one sitting alone. She didn't really mind though, being alone is usually easier to deal with than having to talk to anybody. She was just digging into the stack of pancakes that had been put in front of her when, "H- Helga? Helga Pataki? I- is that really you?" she looked up to see a short girl with long black hair and a pretty face who was wearing a light blue kimono.
"Phoebe? What are you doing here?" Helga's surprise was slightly short lived at she found herself with an armful of her Japanese friend and a mouthful of the previous mentioned hair which tasted bad compared to her pancakes which were getting cold in front of her.
"Oh Helga, I knew it was you! How have you been? I am so sorry that we lost contact. I was here visiting with my grandmother, she came for New Years. We have so much to talk about! How is California and where are you going to school? Are you studying English? It was always your best subject." Phoebe leaned back from her attack, or hug if that's what it was, but stayed close as she just continued to ramble on asking questions and just gazing at her as if she were the best thing ever. But that had been how she always used to be, Helga was willing to bet that Phoebe had barely changed at all. When she finally stopped with a "so, why are you here?" Helga smiled at her and tried to answer all of her questions as she remembered them except for that last one.
They talked for a while about how their lives have been going, Phoebe had apparently finished her first semester at the college she was attending in Japan which didn't surprise Helga at all considering when they were younger, Phoebe's father had talked of no other school than the one he had attended in Japan and his hope that his daughter would follow in his footsteps. Phoebe understood Helga's interest in becoming a child therapist considering her past and the fact that Dr. Bliss seemed to have had such a huge impact on her life.
Helga and Phoebe walked from the hotel over to the park, stopping on the way to grab a couple of ice cream cones from Slausens, finally settling onto the bench which they used to frequent when they were kids. It was nice to see a friendly face and to feel as if she wasn't an unwanted guest. Phoebe was so similar to her younger self so she was familiar and yet she was so different from Helga's friends back in California that it reminded her to think before she spoke sometimes because as much as she remembered about Phoebe, she had to remember that she wasn't the same person as she had been when they were nine.
"So Helga, why are you here anyway?" Phoebe asked her.
"Well, I actually ran into Ar- someone from when we were kids and it made me realize that I actually kind of missed this place. So I figured that while I had a week to myself that I would come and visit." Helga hoped that Phoebe wouldn't catch her almost slip of who she ran into. It wouldn't be a big deal if she did know but that would start an unnecessary conversation about him that she didn't really want to get into quite yet.
"Oh well, that would make sense. I am really happy that everything has been working out for you Helga, I really am." The smile on her face was as sweet as Helga remembered which made her smile as well. Phoebe had been her best friend for a reason, and talking to her again made Helga remember why she had always kept her around.
"Me too. I am also glad that you are following your dreams to make your future better." She knew that sounded a little corny but she didn't really know what to say to her about having a good life. The main reason everything was better was because she no longer lived with her parents who were just as forgetful about her life as ever considering the fact that her mother still thought she talked to Phoebe when she had told her years ago that they didn't talk any more. But Phoebe didn't need to hear about her family troubles. When they were kids, she had no problem doing just that however, they weren't best friends any more. They had grown up, and while it was great chatting with her again, Helga knew that this could be the starting of a new friendship, but it would take a while until they could be best friends again.
The two spent the rest of the day going to old haunts and laughing together. The awkward feelings from the day before where she felt like an outsider were almost forgotten in the wake of hanging out with her old best friend. When it was time to say goodbye, they were both sad but they made plans to hang out the next day. There was a carnival in town and they both wanted to go and ride some rides along with eat some cotton candy and fried dough. Helga fell asleep that night, exhausted and excited to hang out with Phoebe the next day.
Alright, so Phoebe and Helga are going to the carnival! Please review and let me know what you think of the story and if there is any particular direction you want the next chapter to go. Should she run into Arnold there? Or should she miss him again, let me know!
