Hey guys!

You are all so kind, taking the time to read my story and give reviews. :) I am glad you are all liking the story so far!

As I was brain storming today, I found this story is going to have a little change of pace.

I hope you guys don't mind, but there are going to be some 'interim' chapters in this story, from other characters points of view. (:

This one is from Helga's, and she's a really fun character to write about!

The flow will start to make sense after a couple chapters!

Hope you guys enjoy!

"Yeah right Geraldo, I'll believe that when pigs fly."

Helga turned back around in her seat, facing the front of the class. There was no way she was going to believe the crap that Gerald was telling her and the rest of the class. Arnold was coming back today? What a laugh!

"Whatever you say Helga. That's what he wrote in his last letter to me though, look guys!" Gerald waved his letter in the air, attracting Phoebe as well as Sid and Harold to come over and look. Helga grit her teeth and pulled her beanie down over her eyes, laying her head on her desk. Did he always have to brag about how Arnold has been writing to him?

"Yes, that is what this letter indicates." Phoebe said, repositioning her glasses atop her petite nose. "And the date is the exact date Arnold said he would be arriving in Gerald's letter. How exciting!" Phoebe added, as Sid and Harold high fived each other. "No wonder he hasn't been writing!" Sid exclaimed, grabbing the letter out of Gerald's hand so he could read the rest of it. "I bet he wanted it to be a surprise!"

Phoebe looked over at Helga and saw her sulking. Phoebe noticed she had been doing that a lot these days. Phoebe sat down in the desk beside Helga, laying a comforting hand on Helga's shoulder. "Helga, what's wrong? It seems whenever Arnold is brought up in conversation, you distance yourself from the rest of the group. You guys are okay, aren't you? I would think you would be the most excited to see Arnold, out of all of us!" Helga pulled her beanie up slightly, just enough so she could see Phoebe. "Yeah, we're okay! How many times are you gonna ask Phoebe?! Criminy!" Helga spat, pulling her beanie down over her eyes again. "It was just a simple observation Helga, but if you say you guys are okay then I believe you." Phoebe removed her arm, and then started gathering her things out of her backpack.

Helga kept her head on the desk. She hasn't told anyone about it. Not even Phoebe.

Arnold had not written Helga a letter in the past 18 months, a full year and a half. Arnold had confessed his true feelings to Helga in San Lorenzo six years ago, after Helga told him how much she wanted him to come back with them . . .with her. It was the first time she had ever cried in front of anyone, and especially Arnold. Arnold told her that he liked her too, and it was very difficult to leave everyone behind, especially her. He kissed her on the cheek and promised that he would write her every week, and that before she knew it, he would be back home.

Well things went from bad to worse in San Lorenzo, and Arnold had been there for four and a half years helping his parents to take care of the village that was in such desperate need of medicine, food and shelter. Arnold had written her tons of letters about the horrible storms that kept coming through, wiping out entire huts and ruining crops. Arnold was constantly needed, and the kid had just found his parents so why would he leave them, especially in a time of need?

They kept up a routine of writing to each other every week. To be honest, it was the only thing that had kept her going. Her family situation improved, but it took 3 or 4 years. The longest 3 or 4 years Helga had been through in her life. Without Arnold though, she didn't know if she would have made it. He was her rock, and the only constant in her life. Sometimes she forgot that she wasn't writing in a journal, but in fact a letter that she was going to send to Arnold. She opened up in those letters . . . spilling out the truth of her terrible childhood, her neglecting parents and over achieving sister. She told Arnold how they made her all feel, how they treated her and why she was the way she was. Their relationship truly blossomed out of those letters, and in them, Helga had given apart of herself to Arnold that she didn't think was possible to do through letters, but she did. She even told him how long she had loved him; ever since the day he opened that umbrella for her on that rainy day in front of their pre school.

But now, that was all gone. Arnold had stopped writing her, just dead in the tracks. So suddenly things got better for her, and he was going to stop writing to her? Was he only in love with the Helga who was a train wreck? A lost cause? She couldn't believe it. The first couple of months she went without a letter, she thought maybe another storm and come and wiped out another huge part of the village. So she tried to write Arnold again, to make sure he was okay. But then another month went by, then another, and another. It was a lonely, rainy night when she was by herself in her room writing another hopeless letter to him that it hit her:

He had completely forgotten about her.

She broke down in a way that neither of her parents had ever seen. She spent a whole night crying, the comfort of her parents not being enough. Then she spent what must have been months going back to her old self; being cold, heartless and just plain . . .mean.

Now Gerald said Arnold was coming back, and she was supposed to be happy about it? Everyone had been suspicious about her and Arnold, heck they had probably figured it out by now, yet she just couldn't seem to keep up the act that everything was okay, and that she was excited to see Arnold.

"Attention, attention class! Before we get started on this week's math lesson, I just wanted to let you know that we have a new student coming to join our class today. He might get here in time for this period, but I didn't want it to be a disruption if the principle lets him in. Now, open your books to page-"

"He's not a new kid! Arnold is coming back!" Harold interrupted, laughing and he high fived Gerald. Some other kids laughed, knowing who Arnold was.

"Be that as it may, Harold, I didn't want it to be a distraction. Now, open your books to page 345. Spend some time looking at the examples, and then we will go over them in class." The teacher retorted, moving back to his desk.

Helga opened her math book when she heard the door open. She turned around quickly, expecting to see Arnold, only it was just Eugene coming back from the bathroom. Helga sighed and turned back around, trying desperately to concentrate on the math. She didn't want to think about seeing Arnold, and as a matter of fact, she didn't want to see him. He was just going to open back up wounds that she had just begun to heal. Besides, she wouldn't be able to trust him again, would she?

They went the rest of the class without Arnold showing up. As they filed outside, Phoebe caught up with Helga, walking by her side. "Helga, are you sure you are okay? You seemed really jumpy in math . . ." Phoebe asked, genuinely concerned. Helga sighed, about to answer Phoebe when she saw him. Arnold. Walking down the hallway. She came to a completely halt. Phoebe stopping along side her. "Helga, what's-oh! Arnold you're here!" Phoebe yelled, running over to Arnold. Gerald, Sid, and Harold looked out from their lockers and saw him too.

"ARNOLD!"

They all ran towards him, crowding around him. Gerald did their old handshake with him and Arnold didn't miss a beat. "It's so good to see you man! I've been waitin' for the day I'd get my best friend back!" Arnold smiled, giving Gerald a hug. "I know, it feels like it's been forever!" Arnold replied, moving from Gerald to hug Phoebe, and high five Harold and Sid. "That's because it has been forever!" Harold yelled. Rhonda, Sheena and Nadine were passing through the hall and stopped to see what the yelling was about. "Oh, do we have a new-ARNOLD! It has been too long!" Rhonda gasped; she gave Arnold a hug, then instantly she regained her composure. She fixed her waist length black hair, and straightened her red blouse. "I mean, it's nice to see you again Arnold." Arnold smiled, half rolling his eyes.

All of their old friends continued to crowd around Arnold, except for Helga. She stayed put, almost too scared to move. He's here . . .she thought. He's actually freaking here! I can't believe it! Before Arnold could recognize her she turned around, trying to casually walk away when:

"Hey Helga! Look! Arnold is here and you didn't believe me! Come over and see for yourself!" Gerald yelled, stopping Helga in her tracks. She bit her lip, closing her eyes tightly. How am I supposed to get out of this one?

She turned around slowly, and then looked at him. He then broke from the crowd and looked at her. It felt like they had been standing there for an eternity just staring at each other. Arnold's mouth fell open a little, as if he was trying to say something . . .

Helga just wanted to get it over with.

"Nice to see you, football head." She spat. She then turned around and stalked away, not looking back.

She spent the rest of her day avoiding everyone as much as possible. She even ate lunch by herself in front of the school instead of the cafeteria. She was so angry it scared her. She hadn't been this angry in years, years. Who did he think he was, coming back here? He dare show his face to her? Helga felt tears stinging her eyes, but she held them back. She wasn't going to let anyone, especially Arnold see the affect he had on her.

Before next period, she ran to the nurses' office and asked to call her mom.

"Helga, what's wrong? Are you sick?" Her mom asked. "You seemed fine today before you went to school . . ."

"Well, now I'm sick Mariam. I'm not 18, so I can't sign myself out. Could you just come pick me up and take me home? I don't want to be here." Helga was getting angrier, and it was really starting to freak her out. "Well, okay, Helga I will be there as soon as I can.

In the car, Mariam had asked her what was wrong. Helga tried to ignore her, but her mom said she would just take her right back to school if she didn't have a good reason for wanting to go home. Helga's heart was racing, and the tears were finally starting to come.

"Mom, he's back."