Disclaimer: Still don't own Hey Arnold! :'(

A/N: Sorry for the lateness and she shortness. I wasn't sure where I wanted to take this. I know what I want to do later with the story but this chapter was made up as I went basically. I'm getting more into it so hopefully next chapter will be up sooner. Enjoy!

Chapter 2:

Jungle Boy

It had been about five minute since the revelation of Helga's absence and everyone was taking the news pretty grimly. The plane was no longer immersed in that unforgiving silence as it was before; it was now filled with a tense, apprehensive chatter. Rhonda was whispering worriedly to Nadine, Sid was in a state of absolute shock, his eyes wide and babbling to himself, Stinky was comforting Harold who was in denial, saying how this was all probably one of her dumb pranks, and Phoebe was crying in the airplane bathroom. Unlike Phoebe, who wanted to be a little more discrete about her distress, Olga was openly sobbing next to a distraught Mr. Simmons.

Oh, how could I've have let this happen! Mr. Simmons chastised to himself.I should have made a double head count-no- triple head count! I just don't see how I could have forgotten my best student! Not to mention that this wouldn't be the first time. Mr. Simmons dropped his head into his hands. What am I going to do? What am I going to tell her parents? They trusted me with their precious child, and I failed! What kind of teacher am I?!

"Mr. Simmons?" Arnold asked with a small voice, interrupting his teacher from his thoughts. Mr. Simmons lifted his head, reluctantly, from his arms to look at his student. He rubbed his eyes and awkwardly cleared his throat before addressing the nine year old.

"Oh, uh-yes, Arnold. I'm sorry. What would you like?"

Arnold's voice was soft as he asked, "Well... I know I'm usually the optimistic one at a time like this... but it's been a little hard given the circumstances and I-...I just want someone to tell me things are gonna be okay...that Helga's going to come home, safe and sound." His eyes looked up at his teacher desperately, as If he would die if he didn't hear something reassuring. Arnold dropped his head. "I know it's a lot to ask, but I'd really appreciate it. My friends haven't really been the most helpful people in a bad situation, if you know what I mean. And, well, my parents are great and are trying to help, but they didn't really know Helga very well, so..."

Mr. Simmons could tell it was getting harder for Arnold to go on with his explanation and even though he did feel just a bit awkward trying to be positive when he didn't feel very positive at all, he decided to do what he could and save a bit of that 'good teacher' he still had left in him. "I'm going to be honest with you, Arnold. I don't know what is going to happen with Helga. All we can do is hope for the best." Mr. Simmons smiled pitifully. "The pilot is unable to turn the plane around so we're going to go home. Once we return we will contact the station back in San Lorenzo and see if they've found her. I'm sure Helga's probably sitting right where the plane took off waiting patiently for us to come back."

Arnold nodded thoughtfully, feeling a bit calmer, but a guilty pang still went through him at the thought of Helga sitting alone in the middle of the jungle wondering if anyone cared enough to remember her. She was already pretty down on herself as it was. This probably confirmed her belief that everyone would rather live without her.

Noticing Arnold's worried expression, Mr. Simmons placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry Arnold. Helga will be back before you know it. We already gotten a search party out there to find her and keep her safe until another plane can arrive...and Helga's a very 'special' girl, I'm sure she can take care of herself for just a few more hours."

Arnold smiled for the first time in hours. Mr. Simmons is right. Helga's the strongest person I know. If anyone could get through this, it would be her...I just wish it didn't have to be. "Thanks Mr. Simmons. I'm feeling much better now." Arnold then turned away from his teacher and walked though the panicking children back to his seat in between his parents.

Seeing their boy returning much more relaxed, Miles and Stella gathered up their boy into their arms. "Is everything alright, Arnold?" Stella asked resting her chin atop her son's head. Arnold nuzzled into the embrace of his parents, finding that comfort that he recently became acquainted with almost intoxicating.

Arnold sighed. "I'm alright for now, though I probably won't be completely calm until she's home."

Miles smiled understandingly at his son. "I know what you mean..." His expression turned sly as he stated, "Us Shortmans are worriers... especially when it comes to the women we love." Miles glanced expectantly down at his son, anticipating the obvious reaction that would come from the boy.

"Yeah..." Arnold sighed dreamily. Suddenly, his eyes shot wide open and a red hue covered his face. Arnold whipped his head in the direction of his father. "I-I'm not...I mean...m-me and H-Helga don't..." Arnold cleared his throat and wiped his clammy hands on his jeans.

"I am not in love with Helga!" He insisted firmly.

"Oh my goodness!" Stella exclaimed. "My son's is dense! How could this have happened? Everyone on my side of the family has been so perceptive! I bet you he gets it from that wily father of yours, Miles!"

Miles laughed warmly at the memories of the stories that his father used to tell him consisting of a mean little pig-tailed girl named Gertie, who lived to make his life a living hell only to find out that she was the love of his life. He ruffles his fingers through his son's unruly, blonde locks that resembled his own. "Don't worry Stella; he'll grow out of it. Besides, judging by how red he is, I'm guessing he's not far from figuring it out." Miles said, giving Arnold a knowing smile.

Arnold's face only got redder at the final comment from his father. What did he really think of Helga? She certainly wasn't just a friend at this point. And he definitely liked her a lot. Maybe he did really lo-

"Hey guys?" Eugene piped up worriedly from the back of the plane, causing everyone to stop what they were doing and turn towards him.

"Eugene, what did you do?" Rhonda exclaimed with wide eyes, thinking the worst considering his past experiences with bad luck.

"Oh, I haven't done anything, Rhonda...but I just noticed..." Eugene looked around the plane one last time before continuing. "Where's brainy?"


"They left me..." Helga whispered to herself in disbelief as she watched the plane depart into the air. "They LEFT me!" She repeated. Helga fell to her knees, no emotion showing on the features of her face.

I knew it! All that Arnold did was only to distract me so they could leave this place without me! I knew everything he said was just a load of crap! I just didn't think he actually hated me enough to do something so...so...she sighed...not like Arnold.

Helga knew Arnold would never try to get rid of anyone. He just wasn't that type of person. They had probably just forgotten her in the heat of the moment; everyone celebrating and hugging. She wasn't part of their world. She didn't belong in the happy picture that was their life...and that hurt. When she watch the family in tears as they embraced their new found family, all Helga could do was watch, awkwardly scratching her arm, and wishing she could get just a tiny piece of what they had, that overwhelming happiness she could just never obtain.

Helga hugged her knees to her chest with one arm and was drawing in the dirt with her other. She had no problem making out the shaped she wanted for she had memorized the patterns and curves of the lines long ago. She gazed sullenly upon her football headed drawing. He'd surly be panicking about now; looking all over for the girl clad in pink and her signature scowl present upon her face. Then he'd be feeling guilty and responsible and finally, he find a way to bring her back home, safe in his protective embrace, promising to never leave her again. Helga swooned hopelessly.

If only! She thought. But that would never happen...because Arnold didn't love her like Gerald had claimed he did, and it was all the more proven when Arnold had forgotten about her and flew off without her. There was no way in heck that she'd ever forget Arnold...because that's what love was...you never leave them behind...and you never forget.

They all forgot. Every single one of them, even my sister! How could they not notice I wasn't there? I noticed when Harold wasn't with the class that one time and I barely tolerate the kid. Why am I surprised though? It's not like they remembered me any other time. They even forgot my birthday! Every year! Yet they all went out of their way to throw the class klutz the greatest birthday ever! The only person that remembered was Arnold but he didn't even give a second glance to me on my actual birthday. He waited an entire week later to even mention it and then he temporarily blinded me! Why am I even sitting here pathetically awaiting the return of the people who obviously could care less whether I was there or not?

Helga stood up angrily from the dusty jungle floor, and turned on her heel towards the depths of the jungle. No way was she going to sit there any longer. For all she knew, no one was coming for her.

Little did she know, not five minute after she left, a man emerged from the jungle in search of her whereabouts.

Helga was walking for hours in no specific direction, just wanting to get as lost as possible and it seemed like that was succeeding because she no longer recognized where she was. The sun would be setting soon and she had no shelter, no food, nothing. She didn't even have her ribbon anymore. She had given that to Arnold when he scraped his arm, in order to bind it, stopping the bleeding.

What am I doing? Now I'm more lost than ever! Okay let's see I'll just backtrack; find my way back than I'll-ILL- what? Sit like a helpless little princess awaiting her prince to come and save her? Not in a million years bucko! She sighed. Not like I could even find my way back anyhow. I suppose I could at least may myself a shelter for the night. That can't be very hard, right?


"Why is this so FREAKIN' hard?" Helga shouted after her stick canopy collapsed for the twentieth time.

She roughly grabbed two of the branches that fell and leaned them against each other till they were standing up on their own. She let go keeping her hands shakily close to the craft. Once she was sure it wouldn't fall she dropped her arms in relief.

"¿Qué estés haciendo?"

"AHHHHHH!" Helga screamed falling on her back on top of her shelter in shock. Hearing a crack, she looked down at the broken sticks in horror and shot a glare at the tan boy that seemed to have dropped from the sky. Quickly, she shot up and dusted off her khaki short.

"Criminy! Don't sneak up on me like that you-you CREEP!" Helga scolded.

"Creep?" The boy question amused. He snickered at the clearly shaken up blonde who seemed to have to skill surviving in the jungle.

The girls eyes widened in disbelief at the sound of him laughing. The look quickly turned into one of hatred as she turned on her heel and stomped away from him. The boy instantly realized he had somehow offended that interesting young girl who seemed vaguely familiar. In attempt to remedy the situation, he leapt from his spot and ran in front of the blonde, blocking her path.

"Lo siento, chica. No era mi intencíon ofenderte. M-Me llamo Lu-"

"Hold it, jungle boy!" Helga interrupted, placing a finger to his lips. "I've had a long day. Basically an emotional roller coaster that has been giving me a horrendous head ache that I can't even begin to describe. So if you can understand me at all would you mind speaking in a language I can understand! Sheesh! Even Japanese would be better than this!"

The boy blinked a moment, processing the strict request from the girl, then smiled, removing her finger from his face.

"Of course, miss. What I had said was that I was sorry. I did not mean to offend you in anyway." Helga stared dubiously at how well the boy spoke English despite the strong Spanish accent he held which was oddly endearing. She finally took a good look at the boy. He had dark brown hair that fell in messy lengthy tufts on his head. He was thin and quite muscular for his age which she assumed to be around her age if not older. She looked up and noticed he was slightly taller than her by a few inches. Then she looked at his face. He had a kind face, one of a person who would never be judgmental, but his eyes held that of a childlike mischief. His eyes. They were an incredible green that almost seemed to glow. They reminded her so much of Arnold. She shook her head and glanced down. She quickly noticed his lack of clothes, only bring covered up by some leaves and animal skin pieces. She snapped her eyes back up with a burning blush adorning her cheeks.

"Whoa... How cute!" The boy mused as he took hold of her chin and held it towards his face. Helga's blush deepened at their close proximity and broke free from the boy who seemed to have no sense of personal space.

"Hey! Who said you could touch me!"

Helga bellowed. She got down on her knees and started observing her broken branches trying to ignore him.

"What are you doing?" He asked looking over her shoulder at the pile of useless sticks.

"I am making shelter. And you are distracting me."

He quirked an eyebrow at her use of shelter knowing it wouldn't do much good in the middle of the jungle. Not only that, but her location was terrible. There was no source of food or water and the direction it was facing would get all the wind at night. In short, this was a recipe for certain death.

"Umm a sh-shelter? W-wow I mean-uh if I could make just a little suggestion?"

She exhaled defeated. "Fine, what?"

"Don't do...everything you're doing."

She blinked. "Excuse me? I've been on my own longer than you would ever know, so I think I know what I'm doing when it comes to finding a place to sleep. Especially when Miriam forgets to put the spare key under the mat when she's done using it and doesn't answer the door." She added that last part to herself. "Who are you anyway?"

"O-oh. Am Lucas."

"Lucas eh? Well Luke, do ya think you can go find me some more branches? Mine are kinda broken...thanks to you."

"Are you alone?" It was odd for anyone to be out in the middle of the jungle alone, not to mention dangerous. Especially for someone as young as her. He could also tell that she definitely wasn't from around here. No one here had blonde hair as bright gold as she did and absolutely no one had blue eyes as mesmerizing and pure as hers.

"What's it to ya?" She didn't understand this boy. Why couldn't he just leave her alone? She's been nothing but cold to him since he piped up from behind her. Where did he come from anyway? Sure she was a little calmer that she wasn't alone, and you could say she was just a smidge hopeful that he wouldn't abandon her like everyone else had.

"W-well it's just that...I-I mean not to say that you can't handle yourself out here. You've made that perfectly clear that you can." He paused a moment, thinking she would comment on that bout nothing came so he continued. "There's this village in the jungle...and it just seems like that would be much more comfortable than sleeping on the cold hard ground...with all those dangerous animals." He added as an afterthought and quirked an eyebrow when she stiffened when he mentioned the animals. Helga has never been good with animals, it always seemed like they had something against her. The parrot, Arnold's pig, birds, and especially rats. So the mention of animals prowling in the darkness at every corner didn't seem to be so appealing.

"A-animals you say." Helga responded uncomfortably. "Why would that bother me?"

"Oh no reason. I mean it's not even that big an issue. They're just animals...lurking through the darkness, searching for their next meal on ground level. Who knows what kind of animals might be out there...but you're right. Why would you be bothered by a few rodents?" That word struck her. She could already feel her hands shaking at the mere thought of little rodent feet crawling all over her as she slept.

"Well I'll just be going then, sorry again about your uh thing you're making there."

"Hey! Hey hey hey hey!" She called stopping Lucas. "If you really want me to stay there, who am I to break your little heart, right? Sheesh stop begging already!" She announced as she pulled Lucas into the trees and far away from the atrocious pile of useless sticks. Lucas was confused about exactly what had just happened, but he wasn't complaining. For some reason he felt really attached to this girl with the glittering eyes as blue as the sea and hair as golden as the sun. He couldn't quite place why this al sounded so familiar to him but it didn't matter at the moment. What matter was that this girl was now safe and by his side. The thought made a small tingle go down his spine but he brushed off. The only thing he had to do now was how to convince the green eyes to allow her to stay when he wasn't even supposed be seen by anyone outside, but it was clear to him that she meant no harm and that she was in need of help.

"Now, tell me more about this safe haven you spoke of."