Please excuse any grammatical errors, most times I write extremely late at night when I'm trying to fall asleep. And Just for the record I have a few notes story-wise...
1..Yes I know Stella didn't (most likely) grow up in Hillwood but why Alice went to school in Hillwood will be explained in due time.
2. I will be speeding over some things time wise. I don't want to bore you all with irrelevant filibusters so some time lines may speed up a little.
3. Chapter Updates may be delayed since I go to College full time and work part time. I write when I can and when I can I write...Please bare with me?
Thanks for reading and I'll keep posting as must and as soon as I can! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At Dinner that night, everything went extremely well. Stella and Miles felt horrible about how they had been treating Arnold and there were many tears. They promised to do better and to talk to the green-eyed people about it when they got to San Lorenzo and when they left that Tuesday Arnold didn't feel bitter like he thought he would. The rest of the week went by in a flash. Wednesday Helga joined Alice and Arnold school shopping and they seemed to have a blast, Saturday Arnold and Helga had their first movie night in the boarding house which Alice was told "nothing happened" and Sunday Gerald finally got home so they all got together before school started. School started that Monday and things seemed to be working out smoothly. Helga liked her teachers so far and she seemed like she would be able to handle the work load. She went to the book store right after school and stayed for dinner most nights before going home. Bob only came around about once or twice a week depending on how drunk he was and Miriam was passed out half the time so Helga didn't have to worry about the house too much. She called Olga every Friday on her walk to the book store, making sure to keep her blissfully in the dark about the family issues, and the first month of school went by almost blissfully between school, her Saturday night movies and her job.

It was on a Wednesday that Arnold and Helga walked home together after school. Arnold had joined student council again and he was usually busy but the supervising teacher had told them to enjoy some freedom that night, if you weren't an officer, because the school was having an event that night and he's see them anyway. The chime on the door announced their arrival and they were greeted by Alice's smiling but bored expression.

"Not many guests today?" Helga asked as she got ready for work. Arnold sat down at the end of the counter with his bag next to him.

"Nope. I've pretty much cleaned the entire store too." The woman sighed and started going through a list of requests she had in front of her. From the end of the counter Arnold looked at Helga urging her to talk, mouthing her to "ask her already". She looked at him with an angry expression and mouthed "you ask her, she's your aunt." He mimicked her gaze and mouthed "she's your boss." Helga's face fell into an annoyed glare. Arnold smiled seeing as he had now succeeded in annoying her at least slightly.

"Hey Aunt Alice?" The brunette woman didn't look up from her work but she responded by raising her eyebrows and a hmm? "So tonight is Open house at school…"

Had Alice been a dog, her ears would have most definitely perked up at this. Her work now lay forgotten and Arnold had her full attention. "Is it?" she asked with a smile and sat her chin on her hands.

"Yep and Tonight is grandma's poker night so grandpa will have to supervise. Especially after last week's game had two leaving without teeth…or pants." Helga gave him an inquisitive look which he returned with one that said you don't want to know. "So I wanted to ask you." The excitement on Alice's face made the two teenagers smile. It was always apparent that Alice has always, and still, wanted children and being able to perform some parental tasks for Arnold or Helga made her very happy.

"I would love to go!" She put her hand on her cheeks as to control not only her excitement but the smile that seemed to be breaking the barriers of her face. "I am so excited." She marveled as if they couldn't tell. She looked to Helga. "Is Miriam…?" She stopped when she saw the look the blonde girl was giving her. Some kind of mix between sarcasm and disappointment. Before either of them could speak Arnold cut in.

"We have almost the same schedule. You could walk around with both of us. And since our History teacher is also the Student council adviser we can go to Helga's elective that hour." Arnold gave Helga one of his shortman smiles and Alice looked at Arnold with pride since her nephew was so generous. Helga didn't even need to answer because by that time Alice had pretty much decided that was the plan. So around 5 o' clock Alice had closed up the store and made a small and quick dinner for the three of them. 'This is almost like a real family dinner.' Helga thought. She hadn't had one of those in years, not since the last time Olga visited anyway and that was over a year ago, and it felt nice to talk and laugh over a good meal. Then about 5:45 they jumped in Alice's little blue Volkswagen beetle and headed down to the school.

Hillwood high was only a block from P.S. 118 so it didn't take them long to get to the old brick building that looked exactly the same as all the other schools in the area except for the green and gold trimmings on the buildings and signs. They found a place to park across the street and headed into the school towards the cafeteria where the sign outside had directed to. Alice looked around bewildered. She had dressed up a little so she looked professional; she liked to make a good first impression. She wore one of her dresses she usually reserved for meetings with her manager or editor and had her reading glasses on since she assumed she may have to do some reading. It was a school after all. She reminisced on how she hadn't been in the halls of Hillwood high for over 10 year and that nothing had changed other than the faces. Same colors, some trophy cases and the same old white linoleum floor. Inside the Cafeteria, again nothing had changed, except a makeshift stage sat on the far side where three figures stood above the crowd and there were booths set out for all the clubs to show parents what their kids were or weren't participating in. But since Helga preferred hanging out in the store and Arnold was heavily active in the Student council they only looked around for fun. At 6:05 the Dean, a pleasantly cheerful stout woman, called for the room's attention over the P.A. system on the makeshift stage. Alice recognized her at once and broke into a smile. Behind the woman to her right was a man Alice remembered as the Math teacher when she went to school, a Mr. Jones, now assistant dean in charge of discipline, and for a second she lost her smile because she remembered even when she was a teenager he was an tall, old, mean, balding military man who seemed to hate children. On the Dean's left was a pretty, younger woman who Alice thought looked familiar but couldn't place from where. She was way less intimidating and Alice was informed later her name was Mrs. Harding the assistant dean of sports and student advising.

"Hello Everyone!" The Dean greeted while causing the speakers to make a noise similar to nails on a chalkboard. Mrs. Harding moved her over away from the speakers a little to avoid it happening again. "Oh! Thank you Amanda. Welcome Students, and their Parents and or Guardians to Hillwood High. I am the Dean here, Ms. Elizabeth Kimble. I have been working as the head dean here for 5 years but started as a student teacher way too long ago to mention. I have with me our dear assistant Dean's. Mr. Samuel Jones, who use to be a math teacher and is now the Dean in charge of discipline, this will make over 35 years for Mr. Jones working at Hillwood high." Alice got elbowed by Arnold as she made a comment about Mr. Jones 'put the old mule out to pasture' but she saw him smile all the same. "And I also have Mrs. Amanda Harding with us, who just joined our school last year as dean of sports and student advising. Tonight I hope you all enjoy seeing what your students have been and will be doing this year and meeting their wonderful teachers. If anyone has any questions I will be in the front office with Mr. Jones and Mrs. Harding. You will be following your students' schedules tonight so please be sure to follow them. Enjoy your night and have fun!" Arnold began to walk away with the crowd but Alice told him to wait up. She made her way to a stage. Immediately Mr. Jones's face seemed to turn sour as he saw her approach which Alice ignored since she felt the same way about him. But as she approached the Dean, the woman showed a different expression, one of pleasure. "Is that Ms. Alice Flan?"

"Hello Ms. Kimble. How are you?" The Dean came down from the stage and hugged the brunette author.

"Wonderful! I had no idea you had a student here."

"I don't. But this is my nephew Arnold and his friend, Helga who works for me at my bookshop down the road. Their parents couldn't come tonight so I am the appointed guardian."

"I know Arnold and Helga well. I see them often…usually for good things." The Dean winked at them.

"Ms. Kimble was my writing mentor, or creative writing and English teacher, when I was here. So we knew each other very well." Alice turned to Arnold and Helga with a smile.

"Yes she was one of my best writers and I helped her through some things." They smiled at one another and that's when bell rang to get to class. "Well off you go to class. Don't want to be late for class Ms. Flan."

"Of course not Ms. Kimble." Alice gave the woman another hug and was directed out the door to Arnold and Helga's first class.

First hour was advanced placement Junior U.S. History with Mr. Mathew Tobiassen. When they walked in Mr. Tobiassen had just started speaking. And as they made their way to the back, Helga and Arnold made sure to wave at Phoebe who was with her parents in the front of the classroom and Gerald who was with his parents and Timberly near the middle. Mr. Tobiassen had a full head of blonde hair with a matching walrus mustache. Alice guessed he was most likely in his early 40' talked very enthusiastically about his class and their future projects. When he finished talking most of the parents left while Alice got in line behind two other parents to introduce herself. When it was her turn, a huge smile broke across the history teacher's face when he saw the students next to her.

"You are here for Arnold and Helga I see! Wonderful to meet you!" he shook Alice's hand as it seemed he did everything, enthusiastically.

"Wonderful to meet you sir. I'm Alice Flan, Arnold's Aunt and Helga's employer."

"Aw! You are the Famous Alice who had traveled the country!"

"Yes sir. After college I got a job as a Travel writer."

"That's wonderful!" Alice began to wonder if anything wasn't wonderful.

"Sir, I have to go and speak with Helga's elective teacher during Arnold's student council hour. Anything I need to know?" Mr. Tobiassen talked Alice's ear off until the bell rang to switch classes. She politely provided him with her e-mail in case he needed anything and she excused herself. As they walked out of class Alice let out a tired breath.

"I cannot imagine being in class with him for an hour… He can talk." The teenagers just laughed as they directed her to the next class.

Second Hour was math and Alice hated math so she dreaded going to this class. They had made it before the bell this time so they didn't have to worry about disturbing the room. Phoebe was not in this class; her math scores put her in a higher Math class which Alice could not understand why you would want to even do that. Arnold directed them to the middle this time where Gerald's family was. Arnold and Gerald did their little thumb thing and Helga gave him a high five in good sport.
Gerald's Dad, Martin, directed himself at Alice.

"Hello, I believe I have met you before."

"Yes you have Mr. Johansson. I'm Arnold's Aunt Alice." They shook hands.

"Yes, Alice, this is my wife Tabatha, who I do not believe you have met. "

"Nice to meet you Tabatha. Your son Gerald studies in my store often." With that the last bell rang and the teacher began to speak welcoming the parents. The teacher, Mr. Ben Camancho, taught this Advanced Placement College Algebra and he had been at Hillwood high for about the same amount of time as Dean Jones. He was older and his hair was almost completely grey whereas when Alice was at school it was only starting to grey. She had never had Mr. Camancho but she had friends who did and she knew he was a somewhat boring teacher. He drug on and on for what seemed like eternity. When he excused the parents, Alice again lined up with another parent to introduce herself. Mr. Camancho seemed to recognize her a little and smiled. She proved him with her e-mail as she did the last and as they left he called out.

"It always nice seeing an old student. Makes us feel good whither we had them or not." Alice smiled back and bided him farewell.

Third hour was shop and Alice recognized a lot of faces from P.S. 118. She earned a few hellos from several of Arnold and Helga's classmates who remembered her from Mr. Simmons. Sid, Harold and Sticky all stood with their parents or guardians in the back and the others spread themselves out around the room. Again Arnold found a spot by Gerald as the bell rang. The shop teacher at Hillwood high was a woman, which surprised many of the parents. Mrs. Joy Neeley was the shop teacher and she looked more like a model than a shop teacher. Her jet black curly hair was pulled back into a ponytail. And she wore a nice skirt that most assumed she didn't wear while she was wielding or working a saw. The only real indication that she worked with wood and metal was the scars on her otherwise perfect dark skin. As she talked and demonstrated things on the board about the class Alice realized she knew the woman. They had graduated together. So after she was done talking Alice made sure she was the first up to introduce herself.

"Alice?"

"How are you Joy?" They hugged one another and smiled.

"I'm wonderful! I haven't seen you since you ran off to WSU! I hear your doing well."

"Yes. I'm a fully published Author. How about your family? I heard you married your high school sweetheart!"

"Yep. Roger and I have two kids now in elementary school. I never told Arnold this but I remember him from when he was little coming over to hang out in the boarding house."

"He doesn't remember, I'm sure. But I'm glad you're doing well." With that Alice gave Mrs. Neely her phone number and E-mail and told her to contact her anytime for Arnold or Helga and to call her later so they could have lunch and caught up. She didn't want to take up time from the other parents. On a school day Helga and Arnold would have headed to lunch but instead they went to the next class would have been student council for Arnold but they heading to Helga's elective.

Fifth hour, Helga took art. It was hard for Helga to decide what to take at the time but Alice had suggested Art since she was pretty good at it initially and it would help Helga with her in publishing and illustration in the long run. The ponytailed blonde was skeptical at first but after they got started with actual art stuff, Helga couldn't deny she enjoyed it. The teacher was a happy looking young man fresh out of college, Mr. Timothy Kanada. It was only his second year teaching but he seemed confident and his plans were very well, planned out. Helga showed them her recent work, which was surprisingly lacking a football shape, and Alice went to introduce herself before they headed to the next class.

Sixth hour came along as Science, Advanced placement Physics. Alice was starting to feel a little silly with this special smart kid classes. She took some in high school, sure, but it seemed that all these two seemed to take when I came to the core stuff. This class had Gerald and Phoebe in it so they all sat together. The teacher here was a Ms. Leslie Kurek. She was older than Alice by quite a few years and her long Brown hair styled so perfect not a hair was out of place. She was a kind enough woman but strict on what she expected out of her students. She guaranteed her students would pass if they did their work and she always offered help to those who tried. And as she had before Alice waited until she was done talking and introduced herself, gave her e-mail and headed on her way. There was only one last class and Alice was excited since it English. She bounded down the hallway with a smile until she entered the class room.

Seventh hour was Advanced Placement English and the Teacher had just transferred to the school this year. His name was Mr. Callan Flanagan and he was the reason Alice's smiled disappeared and a blush ran across her face. Mr. Flanagan was in his late twenties or early thirties, but Alice wasn't quite sure, and was one of the most gorgeous men Alice had ever met according to her. He was about as tall as Miles and had dark red hair. His glasses said professional and his smile said "yes I know I'm good looking".

"Alice? You okay?" Helga looked at her boss a little worried about her sudden change in attitude.

"Why didn't you tell me your English teacher was amazingly good looking?" Helga watched as Alice made a dreamy face, she knew all too well.

"Because he's my teacher and I didn't think about it." Mrs. Johansson and Mrs. Heyerdahl had now entered the room and instead of following their husbands, they joined Alice in staring.

"He is handsome." Reba said in her thick southern accent.

"Very." Tabatha nudged Alice with a smile.

"Come on. He is most likely married ladies because let's be honest here. Who would let that get away?" As they walked into the room Mr. Flanagan handed them a handout. When Alice found that their eyes had met she blushed a deeper red and took her seat with the other woman quickly before she said something silly. In the next few minutes as Mr. Flanagan talked, he had every woman in the room hanging on his every word. The room was so focused on the handsome redhead that everyone was surprised as the last bell rang and an announcement come over the P.A. speakers. Ms. Kimble's voice was heard.

"Thank you all for coming tonight and I hope you enjoyed meet the teachers. Have a safe drive home and students! Get a good night's sleep for school tomorrow morning," The parents began to file out while Alice waited a moment not wanting to leave without introducing herself to Arnold and Helga's last teacher or miss a chance to introduce herself to Helga's favorite teacher or miss the chance to speak to the man. She waited to be last before walking up to his desk.

"Hello." He held out his hand which Alice shook without hesitation.

"Good Evening. I'm here for Arnold and Helga. I'm Arnold's Aunt and Helga's boss, Alice Flan." Mr. Flanagan stopped dead and a look of disbelief took Alice by surprise.

"You mean Alice Flan…as in the Author, Alice Flan." Alice had now noticed he was still holding her hand and laughed at his reaction to her name.

"That's me. I didn't think I was well known." Mr. Flanagan released her hand and reached down into his desk drawer pulling out a blue covered book with "The Pen Name Executioner" written on the front with Alice's name on the spine.

"This is one of my favorite books so far. You are one of my favorite authors. I have read all of your books. You are an amazing young adult author and I have to tell you, I teach one of your books in my freshman class." Alice was even more embarrassed now that not only was she talking to the amazing striking man but he was also one of her fans.

"I am flattered." It was then at Alice noticed his tie. "Oh my goodness, is that a space invaders tie?" Mr. Flanagan smiled.

"Yes it is! Thanks for noticing. You must have grown up playing arcade games."

"My dad loved them and I spent a lot of allowance getting high scores and making the neighborhood boys mad."

"I bet. So you are Helga's mentor right? We talked about you a few times after I was blown away by her astounding writing talent." Alice beamed at Helga who rolled her eyes with a smile.

"Yes. I have been helping her for the last four years but it is 95% her natural talent. I just help her clean it up and branch out. Wait until you have her write in Shakespearean verse. She will blow your mind." The two of them may have gone on talking all night if Arnold hadn't intervened.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but Aunt Alice tomorrow is a school day and I have some homework to finish." Helga nodded in agreement though she felt bad that they had to stop Alice's flirting.

"Oh. Sorry guys. Um well this is my e-mail." She said handing the teacher a business card. "Contact me for anything you need." She smiled her best Shortman smile and got a Flanagan smile in response.

"I just might do that Mrs. Flan." They began to walk out the door when Alice turned back around.

"Oh. It's Miss. Flan but I prefer Alice." And she made her way out the door to take the teenagers home missing the intrigued expression on the man's face..