Chapter 2

"HEEEELLLLLLGGGGAAAAA! Where are you?"

Good question, where am I? This has to be a dream, I was in a completely dark room. I wonder who is calling to me, so I shout back. I hear the voice again, calling my name. No it can't be, there's no way that's him. I'm afraid to do what I'm about to do, but I respond anyways with a meak, but serious "hello". When the voice said my name this time, I was certain. Absolutely 100% positive it was my dearest Arnold, my love with the flaxen hair and the cornflower blue hat. "Arnold is that you?" I call out, in hopes for the response I want. "Helga, Where are you? I need to find you. I need to get home"

Helga woke up and was troubled by her dream. She couldn't make any sense of it, but she liked trying to. Dreams are like poems, she thought. They are the same because you have to always dissect and analyze them. They take time to figure out, like a puzzle. Sometimes she doesn't even understand her own poems. When something comes from the heart, or that abstract place in your mind, it's genuine. The meaning is usually unknown, but you express and feel these things for a reason. I'm so glad I don't have to hide behind a facade anymore,Helga thought, I can just be me. There was one secret she kept for the most part though. I'm sure you know the one. She did add Gerald and Olga to her list of people sworn to secrecy. Actually, Brainy wasn't sworn to secrecy, he just was really weird and still is. Olga found out because she saw one of Arnold's letters and began to ask a lot of questions. Gerald on the other hand figured it out on his own.

"Little baby sister, come get your breakfast!"

"Coming Ooohl-gah, my best big sister."

I love doing that, it's entertaining, it's like who can act more disgustingly nice. Sometimes, I wonder if that's what both Olga and Lila do all the time to people. I have geniune feelings of positivity and niceness, but it just can't be possible to feel that way all the time. I mean if you did, you might be an alien. I have to stop thinking so much, I should hurry up and get downstairs. So I rushed through my morning routine, brushed my teeth, changed into something presentable and ran down the stairs. Eggs benedict, mine and Olga's favorite. Dad and Mom usually only join us for breakfast on the weekends. During the week Dad leaves earlier than we do and Miriam just likes to sleep in a little.

"How's Helga feeling today?"

"Oh just swell and how about you Olga?" (Sometimes I still use my sarcastic tone, especially in the morning)

"That's Nice, Helga" Olga said, completely unphased by my sarcasm. "I'm just so excited to go to work today. Today we're starting the curriculum about pilgrims, native americans and Thanksgiving."

So I asked her "Why are you so excited about Thanksgiving? Christmas is a much better holiday".

"You're so silly baby sister, I love Thanksgiving because I get to spend it with my family and be thankful for everything we have. I learned that the year you disappeared with Arnold, I really was scared that we lost you. I now know that I appreciate my family because you don't know when things could change" Olga had a valid point, although the mushy stuff gets to me a little now "That's really nice of you to say Olga. I should get going though" I said to my sister. I put my coat on, it was pink, which has become a staple in my wardrobe. Before I headed out the door, I wished my sister a happy lesson and left.

It was pretty nice outside, there were leaves all over the ground in various colors and it smelled of fall. That crisp fall air, I loved and yet hated that smell. It reminded me of that day four years ago, when Arnold said goodbye on my stoop. It was a day much like today, Brooklyn felt like fall, except it was raining a little. I should stop thinking about that, I'm almost at Phoebe's house anyways. As I came closer to Phoebe's, I could see that she was already outside waiting for me. She's always so eager to get to school, I couldn't care less. I get good grades and have a decent attendence, but I just don't enjoy it the way she does. Phoebe was about 5'4" and I'm pretty sure she's done growing. She turned into quite a pretty young lady.

"Hi Helga! How are you this morning?"

"Pretty good Phoebs, Olga made Eggs Benedict, so it's off to a good start."

"Lucky" she said. "My mom made grits.."

"I always forget that your mom is from the south" I just thought she had a funny accent.

"You know Helga, Gerald heard from Arnold last night". Oh my god, what did she just say? I tried to play it cool, even though Phoebe knows how I feel at the slight mention of his name. "Oh? What did he say?"

"Well, I guess Arnold told Gerald that he can't tell you"

"Okay, then why'd you even bring it up?"

"Arnold said that Gerald couldn't tell you, but Arnold didn't say anything about Gerald telling me though. Gerald told me not to tell you too, but I can't keep a secret from my best friend. I warned Gerald I'd end up blabbing"

"Spit it out Phoebs" I demanded.

"Okay, Helga. Please remain calm while I say this. Arnold called from the Los Angeles airport last night and he should be back in Brooklyn today. He has something planned for you and that I don't know about." It took every last piece of me to not explode, I was so ecstatic. I never thought this day would come. I had so many questions, but I couldn't bug Phoebe with it. She knows only what she told me, she's a true friend and she wouldn't hide anything from me. Especially anything about ice cream.

"Wow, I just don't know what to say. Sorry Phoebe, I got nothing. Thank you for the news though, you're a true pal"

"Certainely Helga, you would do the same for me. Also, I can tell you're happy by that giant grin on your face"

"Gee, Phoebe I really have turned into an open book" It's true. I used to be so afraid to show my real colors, now I finally have the confidence to be myself.

"I could always read you Helga" Phoebe was definitely right, she always could see right through me, Arnold could too. They always saw that deep down, I am passionate, caring and nice. I admire that because it couldn't have been easy.

"You're the only one" I lied. I couldn't mention his name, I feel like once I start talking about him, I won't be able to stop. I can't believe he's back, I won't be able to believe it until I see him. I wonder if he'll be in school today, probably not, but I can at least hope for it. Also, what the heck could Arnoldo have planned for me? He's sent me a few letters, they were nothing romantic. He would just let me know whats going on, where he is, about his parents and how he missed home. I could never write to him because he didn't have a real address. He said in order to send his letters, he had to travel 28 miles. Which I guess isn't very far, in the grand scheme of things, but if you have no vehicle then it's not a very quick journey. I never expected a letter, I almost fainted the first time I recieved one.

"I doubt that ice cream will be in school today Helga" Phoebe read my thoughts, that was weird. Was I that pathetic and obvious? Dreaming of my lover boy on our walk to school.

When we got to school, mostly everyone was already inside. Gerald was waiting near the front door for Phoebe, He had an unusually large grin on his face. Hmmm I wonder why I thought to myself. It must be because of Arnold's secret, that Gerald doesn't think I know. Gerald had grown a lot too, He was about six feet tall and usually had scruff on his face. His voice was much deeper, it was always deeper than everyone elses though.

"Hi Babe, Good Morning." Phoebe hugged Gerald. Then Gerald turned to me, if I didn't know the secret I would think he was crazy, grinning like that. "Hey Helga!" He had way too much excitement for a normal day, so I played along with it.

"Hi Gerald. Why do you look like you just won a years supply of yahoo soda?"

"I'm just happy to be at school, that's all"

"Okay, that's weird" That was all I could reply with, I hope Phoebe isn't mad at me for asking Gerald why he was so happy. She probably isn't though, because I think if I ignored his random super happy outburst, then it would be obvious I know.