A/N:
Nep2uune: Helga wants to sleep comfortably so she changed her clothes, which she wore on the plane, to pajamas. When she woke up, she's already late for school so John hurried her up not realizing she's still in her pj's. Thank you for the question and I hope I answered it clearly.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold
Chapter 4:
Leave me alone, bucko!
Arnold woke up with a start. Beads of sweat ran down his forehead as he sighed. He's been having these dreams more frequently from the start since last week. It was years since he got one and he's already recovered from it.
He looked at his potato clock, which hasn't even rung yet, and it says five thirty. He sighed again. He's been sighing a lot these days and it worried his friends and his parents. He chuckled. Parents. He's still having a having a hard time believing that his parents were back.
It was a year after that happened and he's still mourning from it. It happened after one ordinary day, he was walking back home from his school. A turn from the corner and he'll already be home. But that corner isn't ordinary. It's the corner where he… and her bumped into each other several times.
He's not dense. He noticed her feelings towards him. He noticed that when he hugs her, she would tense, like she's not expecting that, then she would sigh. The first time he heard her sigh, it surprised him. It sounds tired, but happy at the same time. It's like a hard-won sigh, like she's been struggling all those times and her prize was his hug. It used to scare and pleasure him at the same time. Scared because she maybe in some kind of trouble that he doesn't know and pleasured because, well, as far as he knows, he's the only one who she would show that side of hers to him. But after that, she would immediately push him away, throw in a couple of insults, then walk away. It became a little routine of hers.
He should have noticed the change of her behavior towards him. Instead, of pushing him away like she did all those years, she would accept the hug and bask in its presence, like she needs it desperately, until she opens her eyes and look around them frantically. She would shout at him, which she had never done without reason, then look at him with those electric blue eyes and threaten him. He knew she didn't mean it as her blue eyes said so. It was more like she was forced to say it. So days went by until it happened.
Everything made sense as to why she was acting strange. He wants to help her, desperately, but couldn't. It was too late. Sometimes he blames himself on as to what happened because he's the only one she has been showing the signs to. He wants to help her, but it was too late. She's gone.
Later on, he heard that her grandfather had adopted her. He remembered jumping, back then. But still, he was sad for her since he know how the feeling of not having any parents, eventhough she have parents that were never there for her at all.
Arnold sighed and slowly walked through the corner. After a couple of blocks, he was already at the front porch step.
Parents. How long was it since he wished for his parents to come back? Oh yeah, just a minute ago. Arnold chuckled to himself bitterly as he opened the front door. Abner, with his fellow animals, ran outside. Some things never change. He might not have parents but he was blessed to have a home to return to.
"Arnold!"
Arnold turned to look back to see who called him. He was greeted by the empty street. He shrugged to himself and thought that maybe it was just the wind.
"Arnold!"
He turned to look to back as he heard running footsteps coming toward him. He saw nothing again, but as his eyes passed the corner, he saw two tiny figures. One was taller than the other, obviously a male, while the other one was shorter and curvier, a female. Arnold wondered what they could possibly want with him. He didn't know them, although they look familiar. As the two people neared Arnold, he was able to observe that the male's hair was blonde and the female's hair was brown. They were both tan as if they spent their life in the jungle. The jungle…
No.
No, it can't be.
Arnold started running towards them. Adrenaline charged through his muscles, his breathing was getting harder and harder. Disbelief was enveloping his brain, but still he ran. He ran for the sake of it.
Just a little more… Just a little more and …
He stopped in front of them, back bent, hands on his knees, breathing heavily. He sees them. They're like 3D painting. So real, but you still know that they're just fake.
Arnold was scared.
He was scared because they maybe just a trick of his mind eventhough they're practically breathing on him. He's scared because maybe they're just an illusion. He's scared because-
"Arnold?"
Arnold broke away from all his other thoughts and stared at them. He opened his mouth but hesitated. No. He needs to do this. He took a deep breath and look at them in the eye.
"Are you… are you my parents?"
A sob broke out of the female's mouth but she quickly covered it with her hand. "Do you… do you remember us?"
The voice of the female sounds so foreign to Arnold's ears. It was airy, delicate. It's like threads made of wind spun her words. He was befuddled.
"Oh. Yeah, some… somehow." Arnold answered sheepishly. No, actually, he stared at the only picture he has of his parents so many times that he can tell if a silhouette is theirs or not. He was just under the illusion that the people who're standing in front of him are not his… parents. Parents…
"Parents?"
"Yeah, we're you're parents." A deep voice said. It was smooth and glazed, it was like sliding on chocolate. Arnold realized that it came from the male. He took a good look at him and realized that they have the same color of eyes. But it seems his are so much brighter since his tanned skin enhances them. But it wasn't that that caught he's attention. It was the emotion behind it.
Love.
It was something that he was not used to eventhough he was stared at with that by his grandparents. It's just… he was always envying the kids who were stared at by their parents with that. That's right, envying, not experiencing, like what's happening right now. He was being stared at lovingly by his parents and he doesn't have any idea on what to do.
"You could hug us, if you like."
Arnold looked up in surprise. How did they…?
The male chuckled nervously, scratching his neck. "You are our son, of course we would know what you were thinking." He said."Eventhough we're not there for you in your most important times." He added sadly. "Besides, you got that habit of mine of scratching necks when you're nervous." He noticed that he too was doing it so he quickly retrieved his hand and put it on his pockets while smiling sheepishly. Arnold had no choice but to smile at the antics of his… father.
"So…" he heard from the female. He turned to look at her and noticed her outstretched arms. She cocked her smiling face to the side and nodded to him closer. Arnold slowly walked to close their distances, and when he was at her arm's length, he stopped. The female looked at him; a question was on her eyes. But still, he hadn't moved.
From there, he took them in. Their musky, jungle smell. Their tattered ranger clothes, to their boots caked with mud. Their familiar faces and their eyes filled with love and longing.
Then, he was suddenly filled with warmth as his mother embraced him. He didn't know that his feet already moved by its instinct. It was followed by another as his father joined. The hug was desperate but overjoyed at the same time. They look ridiculous there, hugging and all, but they don't mind it, they were in each other's arms after all. The only thing that remained on his mind was that… he has his parents now.
A knock on his door chased out all his thoughts.
"Come in." he called out.
His mother's face popped in through the crack of the door. "Hey, kiddo. Ready for your first day of being a senior?"
Arnold smiled. "Yeah, I'll be downstairs in a sec."
"Ok," Stella smiled. "You better hurry up if you want pancakes or else someone will make it gone." His mother sang. He chuckled. He really cannot blame his father if he'll eat all of it; his mother's pancakes are just so damn good.
He took a shower then dressed himself up. He was wearing a black and white striped polo shirt and dark blue denim jeans. He put his tan, low-cut slip on sneakers on. Then, he turned to look at himself in the mirror.
Arnold looked decent enough but the most of the girl's population in PS. 118 will disagree. He looked hot enough where girls are throwing themselves everywhere near him. But, of course, being a gentleman he is, will turn down their request gently. Arnold was as not as muscled as his bestfriend Gerald but muscled he is. His height is 6'3, courtesy of Miles passing down his growth spurt through his genes. Broad shoulders and long arms allowed him to play in his basketball varsity team well. Arnold grew out his football-headed shaped head. His blonde hair was a mess as always but it was one of the things the girls liked about him. How he always ran a hand through his hair when embarrassed or shy. But his eyes were the main feature of his face. It is said that sometimes when you look hard enough at those forest green eyes of his, you'll see your own soul. Arnold wasn't idolized by most of the school population only through his good looks, but his personality too.
Arnold's personality hadn't changed. If else, it was intensified after that happened. He was everything a girl can ask for. But he seldom date. When he ask a girl out, it's for the reason that he's really interested in her. But it doesn't really last long. It was the reason why he was dubbed as the "Angel's Playboy" since he's always the one that ends it. The only relationship he had the longest was with the resident sweetheart Lila Sawyer. They were the ideal girlfriend and boyfriend so the school thought that this girl was "the one". Turns out, she's not as Arnold broke up with her. And so, there goes again another series of girl's broken hearts, and of course another cheer by most of the girl's population now that's Arnold's single again.
Arnold went downstairs to go to the dining room. The boarders were there too. Suzie was in the kitchen, getting the remaining pancakes. Mr. Hyunh was between Oskar and Ernie, stuck in a morning's argument. He saw his father on the table with his grandpa eyeing the pancake, drooling. He wondered why he hadn't started eating yet when he saw his mother giving his father a death stare. He chuckled, drawing attention to him.
"Good morning, shortman." His grandpa greeted him. Suzie returned from the kitchen, greeting him. This cause the others to greet him as well.
"Good morning, guys." He replied cheerfully. He sat down on a chair next to his mom. She greeted him a smile as well as his dad too. He smiled at them both. Now there's only one person missing, and without her, their morning won't be complete.
"Where's grandma—" He should've said that sooner because in came his grandma in a circus trapeze costume. But what caught his eyes was the ring her grandma was holding, soak in gasoline.
"Pookie, what the—" his grandpa was cut off as his grandma ignited the lighter, a dangerous glint in her eye. The others were standing now in panic, all were backing away from the crazed woman.
"Mom, don't." Miles said. Gertie turned to him. "Uh, we have pancakes?" The woman smirk there and then knowing fully she won. And like a prize to a hard-won fight, she lit up the ring.
"Dude, what happened to you?"
Arnold turned to smile at Gerald sheepishly. "Uh, we had a little accident at home." Gerald raised an eyebrow. The girls around them chuckled as Arnold tried to wipe the soot away from his nose. Everyone knows about his eccentric grandmother.
"Yeah, well, from the way you're looking right now, I think it's more than an accident." Gerald wore his signature smirk, causing several girls to swoon. Gerald was taller than Arnold by an inch. His hair wasn't tall now; it even turned into a mini afro. Muscles ripped through his arms and legs every girl he passed by stare a second too long at them. But only one can own this hunk of a man and that is his girlfriend, Phoebe Heyerdahl.
They got together at some time in middle school. Everyone said 'finally!' and looked at them proudly. But there's always the knowledge that they are too different and time will break them up. So, they proved them wrong. They were still together and going strong.
"Gerald!" a timid voice called out to them. They stopped talking and walked towards her.
"Hey, babe." Gerald greeted her while sneaking an arm around her waist.
Phoebe giggled. "Stop it, Gerald. We're on public." She interjected even though she's clearly enjoying it. But nonetheless, Gerald stopped. Love can do wonders to a man.
A male stopped on his tracks and greeted Phoebe. Gerald possessively put his arms around her. Now Phoebe isn't your normal "hot" type. But she can turn heads around if she wanted to. She grew her sleek, black hair until in the middle of her back, straight bangs until her eyebrows, framed her face. Her eyes, which, most of the time, are covered by her glasses, are the color of the night. Her petite, slender frame makes boys have the urge to protect her.
They walked to their lockers, meeting Rhonda and the 'popular crowd' on the way. She was wearing a short tight-fitted black and red dress. A leather belt was on her waist making her waist look thinner. Her hair was down, shining and curled. Long legs were accentuated by the platform heels she wore. Her brand new Prada bag was gleaming. Her eyes were lathered with make-up, making it look dramatic. Her lips shined with lip-gloss on the top of her red lipstick, matching her dress. All in all, she was every guy's wet dream.
"Hey guys, how's your summer vacation?" she asked while inspecting her red polished nails.
"It was fun—"
"Well, mine was extremely pure bliss!" she said, cutting off Phoebe. Then she launched into the story of her vacation and how important it is to be tanned thoroughly. Her 'in crowd' started ooh-ing and ahh-ing at her 'blissed' vacation. Arnold had already zoned her out when he found his locker. He put his things there and shut it close, finding Lila smiling at him behind it.
"Hey, Lil'." Arnold greeted her, using the nickname he made for her when they were on a relationship.
Lila smiled at him sweetly. "Good morning, Arnold. How's your summer?" They walked away from their friends, leaving Gerald and Phoebe into the clutches of Rhonda and pretending he didn't saw they're desperate eyes calling for help. He just smirked, sometimes being a 'goody-two-shoes' was a lot of work. Lila noticed and just smiled. She straightened her plaid dress. Her black ribboned pumps were clacking through the floor. Her glorious, red hair wasn't let down today, instead it was in a low ponytail, loose strands of hair framing her face. She was carrying her black duffel bag with pink straps containing her things for the dance club. She was till your sweet country girl but her "ever-so's" were already removed from her system, although the gang would sometimes miss it
"It's fine, a little boring maybe. But, all in all, it's fine." He answered her. "Hey, where's your homeroom classroom? I'll walk you there." He offered.
Lila giggled. "You don't need to, silly. We're classmates."
"Oh." He laughed at his silliness. "Well, we're here." He said, opening the door. " After you, madame." He said, bowing. Lila giggled at his antics. They part ways as they sat on different chairs. He was at the third row, second to the window seat. Lila sat on the front row, being the good student she is.
Arnold looked around the classroom and noticed that almost all of the people were his classmates during fourth grade. But of course, everyone was changed.
Sheena was talking to Eugene. Her brown hair, that's has the same color of the leave in autumn, wasn't straightened anymore, instead it was curled, bouncing wherever she goes. Face that was contorted into happiness, had a womanly appeal to it. Her athletic figure, due to track running, was outstanding, boys drool at it every day.
Arnold saw Eugene pouted and a few girls in their class sighed in his cuteness. Eugene wasn't a klutz anymore, well, sometimes. Girls were surprised that after one summer, the boy just changed. He was lanky but has pectoral muscles. His red hair was a bit long, messy bangs covered his eyes. His face has a bit of baby fat, making his cuteness pronounced, blue eyes that are covered by big-rimmed glasses scream in childishness. So all in all, Eugene is your typical girl in a boy's body. But, of course, he isn't gay or anything like that, in fact, he's the one who's handling the school's band, playing the guitar and a good one at that.
The two were complete opposite in many ways, Sheena being the sporty one and all, Eugene the clumsy, cute boy who has extreme guitar skills. But they're best friends, and friends stick together, no matter what you are and who you are. They protect each other and rely on each other, and the gang is happy about it.
Arnold heard howls of laughter at the very back of the classroom. He turned and saw Harold, Stinky and Sid. This three are what the school calls "The Idiot Amigos". Well Arnold couldn't blame them, they act… moronic? Yeah, moronic. They're good-for-nothing, lazy, assholes. If you'll ask everyone to describe them in one word, it's inevitable that they'll say idiotic, but they'll smile afterwards and say that they're compassionate, understanding and many more…
Students can see them as good-for-nothings, but they also see them as caring. They can see them as idiots, but they also see them as the wisest beings in school. They can see them as lazy, but they can see them as the hardest working fools in history. They can see them as assholes… yeah, they are assholes all the time, nothing can cure that about them, but the students can see them as the pillars supporting the school and the students in any way they can. Yeah, they are "The Idiot Amigos".
Harold noticed Arnold smiling at them. He raised an eyebrow in amusement. "What? You already fell in love with me Shortman?" he said with a smirk. His squared jaw was tightened, like he was holding out his laughter. His raven hair was in a buzz cut, a requirement for those who took CAT. His muscles was bulging through the white shirt he tucked in his tan khaki pants, his feet was laced up with boots, the uniform for those who take the subject. The other two, who're busy arguing, stopped and looked at Arnold.
Sid sighed. "About time." He said fiddling with his brown braided hair. For some reason, he decided to grow out his hair, making the other girls green with envy. His hair had grown out until in the middle of his back, swaying wherever he goes. His eyes that are usually. filled with boredness was glinting mischievously in the sun. He grew out his nose, and now it's long and elegantly shaped. His lanky but built frame was sitting lazily from the armrest of Harold. In short, he was beautiful and it earned him a fan club called 'Sidney Lovers!'. "You have too many a-few girlfriends, Arnold." Arnold widened his eyes and looked at him like he had gone crazy.
"No, I was just… uh… rem-… reminiscing things!" Arnold cried. Stinky walked toward him and put his hand on Arnold's shoulder. The brunette blew his messy hair out of his face, revealing the two hazelnut crystals that have been hiding underneath his bangs. His nose was still the main feature of his face, tall and elongated, but it's what made him the "ladies' man" of the batch. He was still the tallest between the three of them but he has muscles that claimed his bragging rights. "It's okay Arnold. I mean I reminisce about my girls all the time." He said knowingly, emphasizing 'reminisce'.
Arnold wince at his double meaning and promptly shook Stinky's hand away from his shoulders. But Stinky ignored it and instead, turned back to his fellow amigos. "So what do you think old friend? Enough for you?"
"But—"
"No, no, no, no, Arnold. It's okay. We'll help you."
"That isn't even what I—"
"It's okay, we'll handle this." Arnold groaned, knowing that he wasn't really heard. He looked back to Harold and signaled to help him, but what he saw shocked him. Because on the two cheeks of the CAT officer were two unnatural circular apple blushes. Harold Berman was actually blushing!
Harold turned to him, scratching his neck. "Well, if that's what you want." He said, avoiding his eyes. Arnold felt as his jaw snapped open.
"Well then," Sid said, putting his hands behind his back. "Congratulations, my two homo friends—Ow!" Arnold turned to him and saw Nadine smacked Sid in the arm, her eyes clearly showing she's annoyed.
"Will you stop harassing Arnold, you three useless slobs!" she said, snatching something from Sid's hands. Nadine's dirty blonde hair wasn't noodle-frizzed anymore. Instead, it was straightened, ending in the middle of her back, swaying to her every command. She was in dance club with Lila, causing her body to be toned. It was actually a miracle when the girl actually found another hobby besides something concerning insects. She was quite popular, earning a few, decent boyfriends for herself. Arnold couldn't blame them. Nadine was fun to hang-out with.
Arnold squinted at the object in Nadine's hand so he can take a closer look at it. He found out that it was make-up. He sighed in relief, but was still disturbed by the scene of Harold's blushing. He didn't notice that the class was listening in on them so he was surprised when they all laughed. Realizing the silliness they made, he had no choice but to join in.
The door was slammed opened and in came Curly or what the school now calls him, Thad. He was panting hard, sweat ran through his forehead.
"Another run-in with your fangirls, Thad?" Sid snickered. Thad glared at him and huffed.
"No, actually it was yours." He said, glaring accusingly at Sid. "Plus, those annoying girls who you call my fangirls, showed up, causing chaos."
Everybody in the class stared at him in pity. But Sid snickered and soon, the whole class followed in suit. Thad's face got red in embarrassment.
"It's not funny!"
Puberty had been generous to Curly, or Thad, or…whatever. The whole school labeled him as the "Geek" mascot. He had been so devastated that his outbursts eventually stopped. Everyone expected him to cry and wallow at the corner but he proved them wrong. He did his, best in all the things he do, especially swimming. It never occurred to anyone that he was doing the sport but damn, was he good at it. So, it was no miracle when one day he was offered a full-time swimming scholarship, and with the gang's support, he took it. But one day, he just appeared in on them in their sophomore year, changed. The whole school was buzzing a whole week because of it. The school resident geek was turned into full –time hottie. That was the time when he changed his name Curly into Thad.
Thad was still burning red from the teases courtesy of his classmates when the bell rung. Everybody sat on their seats. The door opened and in came the couple, Gerald and phoebe, hand in hand, just barely escaping Rhonda. Arnold smiled to them and signaled them to sit at the two chairs behind him. They walked toward him and muttered a sarcastic thank you for not saving them earlier. Arnold just smiled wider.
Rhonda came in next, not missing her usual elegance and her air of glamour. A few wolf-whistled at her, but she simply blew a kiss towards them. She walked towards the seat besides Nadine. The two were still best friends after all this years even if they were completely different.
The class was still noisy with all the chattering about their summer when the door opened again. Arnold didn't saw the teacher clearly because he immediately proceeded to the board to write his name.
"Good morning to all of you." The teacher said. "My name is Mr. Robert Simmons, but you can call me Mr. Simmons." He said cheerfully, now fully facing them.
Arnold and the gang gasped in surprise and in sheer pleasure. The whole class were talking in hushed tones about Mr. Simmons. Who knew that they will be reunited again as a class?
Mr. Simmons was wearing a blue polo shirt tucked in his black slacks. On the top of it was a plaid vest in different shades of green. His shoes were black. He was still the Mr. Simmons they knew, cheerful, always on the bright side, except for the fact that, well, he doesn't have any hair anymore. He was currently discussing about the school rules and the activities that they should expect.
"I know that most of the people here know who I am, even if I'm bald now—" the class laughed at that. "—and even if we didn't saw each other for what, eight, nine years, right?" he took a deep breath and smiled at them, the class following on suit. "I hope to make your last year of high school the as good as it can be." The class cheered for him. "And also, I will be your teacher in English so we'll see each other again later." The class kid him by groaning.
Arnold remembered why he had liked Mr. Simmons in the first place. He didn't promise anything, and unlike any other teachers, he hadn't said "best" but "good". He wasn't aiming for the best but what he was aiming was what the students want. The bell rang a second time, saying that whoever comes in the room is already considered late. He continued listening in onto him not noticing that Mr. Simmons signaled someone to come in because Arnold was looking out to the window. He heard the door opened and saw a tall girl come in.
Arnold's eyes widened and an eyebrow quirked up in amusement. Hanging in the girl's frothy mouth was a pink toothbrush. Her hair was blonde and was tied in to two low messy pigtails by pink ribbons. But what was even more stranger was what she was wearing. It was pajamas.
It was pink and long-sleeved, her top and her pants were decorated by hundreds of… gummi bears. The only thing missing to complete her outfit were bunny slippers, or more specifically, gummy bear slippers, except she was wearing sandals. She looked oddly familiar to him.
Mr. Simmons didn't looked at the girl because he was busy finding the information about the girl in a bunch of papers in his envelope. "Ms. do you know that you are late—" Mr. Simmons was cut off because the girl pushed him to the side to open the window. She spit something out, the froth from the toothpaste, pulled a big bottle of water out of her hot pink backpack, rinse her mouth and toothbrush, then turned to face them again.
Now that Mr. Simmons was clearly seeing the girl, his mouth snapped open. "Ms. what are you wearing—"
"Now that's what you call fashion sense!" Rhonda hollered out, bursting into laughter. The class can't hold out their laughter anymore so they just burst it out. Even Arnold let a giggle or two to escape.
The girl, surprisingly, just smirked in amusement. The class went silent for her reaction. "And she talks to me about fashion sense when she's dressed up as a slut."
Rhonda, who was clearly taken by surprised, turned red. No one talks to her like that. The class eagerly anticipated for her comeback. "At least, I'm not humiliating myself to social death."
The girl, if possible, widened her smirk. "At least, I'm not wearing a smaller-sized-than-normal-for-boys-to-ogle-at-my-chest of a bra."
The class ooh-ed at that. Rhonda turned red with anger and started coming towards her. "You bitch!"
The girl merely raised an eyebrow at her reaction. "Says you."
"Enough!"
The class turned to see Mr. Simmons. He had a look on his face that says I'm-disappointed-at-all-of-you. "Ms. Wellington-Lloyd, please! Sit down."
"But she humiliated me!"
Mr. Simmons sighed and closed his eyes. He was massaging his temple for he didn't expect this to happen on the very first day of the class. "Well then, I advise that you wear more appropriate clothes if you don't want it to happen again." Rhonda, who's not anticipating that reply, scoffed and went back to her seat to save her dignity.
Mr. Simmons turned to the girl. "And you, young lady," he reprimanded her. "it's the first day of class and you're already causing trouble, add the information that you are late!" He put his hands unto his waist. "Didn't you know that we have a school bell-ring system?" He walked to his desks and leaned on it. "The first time the bell rings, it says to go to your classroom. After thirty minutes have passed, the bell will ring again signaling that you are late—"
"Unless I have an excuse letter for being late." The girl cut off Mr. Simmons, a bored look on her face. Mr. Simmons stood up properly, embarrassed that he didn't inquired the girl if she have a letter or not.
The girl dug through her backpack for her letter and gave it to him. , after receiving it, read it. "Ahh, so you just landed here earlier in the morning." He looked at her and put his arms around her and turned to the class, like nothing happened earlier.
"Okay, so, guys, this is—" he turned to look at the girl. "what's your name?" The bell had rung again, signaling that it's time to change subjects. The class started to gather their things. Mr. Simmons sighed. "Okay, you will sit beside…" he scanned the room for available chairs when he spotted the chair beside a certain green-eyed, blonde student. "Arnold."
The girl sighed, then turned to their teacher. "Well, I had fun in your class, Mr. Simmons."
smiled at her. "I had fun too dear, even though—wait," He looked at the girl, confusion in his eyes. "how did you know my name? I don't remember it being mentioned in front of you. And if you had even asked the information window, they would have given the wrong name because there was a mix-up of teachers earlier." He looked at her face, inspecting it closely. "Now that you mention it, you look familiar to me. What's your name, dear?"
By now, that class had stopped what they are all doing, deciding that this conversation is more interesting than being late for their second subject.
The girl smiled at Mr. Simmons so sweetly that it's obvious it was faked. Mr. Simmons shuddered at this, realizing that this is a person who is not what she seems. The girl stepped closer to Mr. Simmons, and he, by instinct, stepped back. The girl's smile widened, like she knows something that they don't know.
The class felt the building tension in the atmosphere, and for some reason, they want to know the girl's name too. She turned to all of them, hands in her back, smiling like the Cheshire cat.
"Why, Mr. Simmons, I'm Helga. Helga Cecaniah…Pataki."
A/N: Review please.