A/N: Well, I'm now iffy if this is going to be a short mini-series. I might have to take it off on the summary if it gets longer than ten chapters.

Chapter Two: Arnold and Phoebe

Spring break ended and the first day of classes started for the students. Arnold had been very nervous as he walked into the school. He was afraid of how Helga would react with him dating someone else so soon, and he was afraid for Sara, his girlfriend. Even though Helga had not been physically violent (well, to an extent), she always had a knack of scaring other people with her threats. Arnold always knew she would never actually physically hurt someone except the time when Phoebe had been hurt physically by one of Gerald's ex-girlfriend. Oh, that was a terrible time. He had never seen Helga so angry before. Just one slap across the face had sent the girl flying. It was actually minor compared to how Phoebe had to go to the hospital. When Gerald got word of how Phoebe was sent to the hospital, Gerald broke up with his girlfriend in the nurse's office and went to the hospital immediately to Phoebe. Helga and Gerald never actually knew she was physically abused until Helga saw concrete evidence of it. They found out later on that Phoebe was bullied for a week. That was how she got all those bruises and scratches on her body. In Helga's words, "Nobody is allowed to hurt Phoebe and gets away with it." Arnold remembered how he was dragged along with Gerald to see Phoebe that day and how Gerald apologized profusely to Phoebe. Phoebe already said she had forgiven him even though he was not in the wrong. Gerald, having a crush on her for years, had told her he was going to make it up to you. Till this day, he continues to do so. And in the process, they started dating.

Arnold sighed at the moment when Helga told her side of the story. Even though Helga had a reason to slap her, Arnold did not like violence whatsoever. He even told her she should find other ways to peacefully resolve the issue. He remembered how she glared at him.

"If Gerald had gotten jumped right then and there after you specifically told them to stop and they didn't, would you have tried to reason with them?" Helga questioned.

Arnold was surprised at how serious Helga had gotten and became speechless. Of course, he would save him in any way he could, but he never actually did since Gerald could protect himself just fine. And even though he said that to Helga, he was proud of how she protected Phoebe.

Arnold shook his head at the thought and let out a breath he held in. He could do this. He just needed to talk to Helga in a way that would not make her angry. At the thought of her, he felt his stomach fall. He unconsciously put his hand to the center of his chest. He wondered how she was doing with the break up. He knew it was going to painful for her, but he had hoped she would do fine. His fingers always itched into wanting to see her and see if she was doing fine, but he stopped himself before he could do anything. It was best that they left each other alone for a while, well, until today, that is.

But in his nervousness, he wanted to see Helga again. He had missed her immensely. He had so many nightmares after their break up. It always ended up with Helga disappearing from either him chasing after her or holding her. He felt sick every time when he woke up from it. Even though he had Sara, he still had a place for Helga even though they aren't together anymore.

He looked around the lockers only to see Sara but no Helga. He walked over to her and kissed the top of her head and greeted her with a smile. If he was with Helga, she would always passionately kissed him after every greeting. He felt his heart thump against his chest and felt an overwhelming emptiness in the pit of his stomach, but he shook the feeling the away.

His eyes scanned around the hallway and still he did not see Helga. Sara looked at him worriedly and gently tugged his sleeve.

"Are you okay, Arnold? You seemed worried," Sara said quietly, gently. Arnold let out a half-smile and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm just looking for someone," Arnold answered. Sara nodded.

"Why don't you go and look for them? I'll just go to class first," Sara told him. Arnold, ever the gentleman, walked with her to her first class. When she had gotten safely there, he immediately walked fast, searching the hallways.

He did not see Helga after a while of looking. He then noticed Phoebe. It was rather strange Phoebe was late when she is usually the most earliest students to be there. He noticed a sad look on her face, and something inside him wrenched painfully. He had a bad feeling, and he knew he didn't like it when his gut feeling was active.

"Phoebe? Um... is there something wrong?" Arnold asked.

Phoebe looked up at him momentarily before she looked away, glumly. This morning she had been with Helga to the airport. It had hurt so much to see what Helga had to go through for the whole week of Spring Break. It had pained her when she saw how Helga had been broken beyond repair. It was just as painful when she bid Helga goodbye at the airport. Helga left, and Phoebe did not know whether she would ever come back. Her only best friend had to leave her, but Phoebe knew it was for the best. She had to be strong for Helga.

"I'm fine. I just... needed a moment for myself," Phoebe answered quietly before closing her locker. She turned to him once again and said, "If you would excuse me, Arnold, I'm going to get to class."

Arnold knew something was wrong, but he knew Phoebe was not ready to say something. He let it be. Still, he was worried about Helga. He caught her shoulder before she left.

"Uh, do you know where Helga is? She's usually with you, and I just wanted to know where she is and if she's doing fine," Arnold asked.

Something in Phoebe cracked and she glared at Arnold with animosity. He was startled, not knowing why Phoebe was giving him that look. He rarely ever seen that expression on her.

"She left, Arnold. Helga left. So if you could please let me go, I would like to get to class," Phoebe answered coldly.

Arnold was shocked but let go of Phoebe all the same. The pit of his stomach fell as he tried to process what Phoebe had said to him. Helga left, his mind repeated first into a question and then into a declaration.

Helga left him, his mind processed. And then and there, he fell to his knees. He felt pain and after that numbness.

Phoebe saw everything but she shook her head and continued on her way. She had to have a talk with Gerald later.