Author drabble-

Wow! I can't believe I got so many positive reviews with the first chapter. I'm really happy. So happy that I'm hauling ass to update this story. I made a bit of a mistake in the first chapter with the strawberry smoothies. Though I'll explain it away by saying that Helga grew out of that allergy. Helga and Arnold won't immediately get together because love is never that simple. Other well loved PS 118 couples may or may not make an appearance because when do you ever marry someone you met in the fourth grade. Life isn't ever that simple or nice for everyone. If this offends your shipping minds I'm sorry. Another warning there will be a lot of OC's and I am not going to make Helga an angsty miserable teen. Please review and give me a suggestion for a new title for the story.

Pink Ribbons and Baseball Caps

Chapter 2:

Things Change

"Hey Arnold!"

Arnold dropped his parent luggage and hit his head on the Packard door. He cringed rubbed his head and looked towards the car that was currently driving away. A pretty girl with blonde hair whipping in the wind smiled brightly and waved at him from the passenger seat of an SUV. The car sped away leaving Arnold confused and dismayed. He heard Gerald chuckle from his porch.

"Pataki can still yell louder than train conductor."

"That was Helga?" Arnold exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yup. Been a lot of changes since you were last here."

"That was Helga?"

Gerald laughed at his friend's look of disbelief.

" Tweezers," he said with a grin "They can work miracles."

"Wow… she looks really different."

"Different isn't the word I would use. Come on, I'll fill you while we unload the car."

Arnold listened intently while Gerald spun the tale of Helga's transformation from tomboy to popular girl.

"It all started in the seventh grade when Helga hit puberty and started hanging out with this local band called Insomniacs Dream. No one knows how she met them or why exactly she's friends with the lead singer but apparently that was enough to make all the cool kids kiss her ass. The fact that she didn't care made the cool kids follow her around even more. She stopped wearing those pigtails, plucked her eyebrows, and started wearing makeup. The real change wasn't physical. Phoebe told me that when her mom ran over her Comodo dragon her mom started sobering up and taking the family to group counseling. Helga stopped scowling at everyone and yelling at everything. The biggest surprise to everyone was when she started becoming an artsy student. Poetry readings, sculptures, paintings, she even won a few awards and sold some pieced. Her writing and artwork got her a scholarship to the St. Rose all girls private school. So now she hangs out with Rhonda, Lila, and Phoebe and the four of them walk around town in their catholic school uniforms being…perfect."

"Private school?"

"Yeah, Phoebe got in because of her grades. Rhonda because of her parents and money, Lila…well cause she's Lila, and Helga got in because of her awards."

"So I won't see those four at school on Monday."

"Unless you sign up for tutoring or one of the art clubs…no."

"Art Clubs?"

"Since our school is so cheap, art and music clubs meet at the academy where they have better tools and instruments. And the girls go to school on Mondays and Thursdays to tutor. Helga just gave me back my rough draft and she massacred my intro."

"Everything is so different,"

Gerald laughed and slapped Arnold on the back.

"Don't worry man. I'll help you catch up. Why do you think I took the day off of school."

"Thanks man."

"No problem"

Arnold and Gerald did their handshake then went into the boarding house dining room. Arnolds parents were sitting around the table showing his grandparents their family photo album while his sister Xitlali played with her doll. His mother was pointing excitedly at a picture of spider monkeys grooming his hair while his father was showing off a picture of Lali covered in monarch butterflies.

"Dad, we finished unloading the car."

"That's great kiddo."

"Jimba, you never told me your first girlfriend was a monkey."

Arnold cringed. His grandmother was no doubt talking about Socorro, the spider monkey that followed him everywhere and attacked anyone that got near him. This was not something he wanted Gerald to find out about and later on weave into one of his tales.

"Shortman, why don't you take Gerald up to your old room while we sort out these things."

Grandpa saves the day! Arnold nodded and dragged Gerald up the stairs before he could look at his family photos.

"So fill me in on everyone else from PS 118."

"Well I told you about Helga. Rhonda is still a snob but since she started hanging out with Helga she's toned down. She knocks Rhonda down when she gets too full of herself. She's also dating Curly."

Arnold raised and incredulous eyebrow.

"Yeah, he's still crazy but now in the good kind of way. Lila isn't serious about anyone, in case you start wondering. Phoebe… well we stopped dating."

"What happened?"

"Stuff man…Shit I don't know. I fucked up. Slept with one of the girls on the volleyball team, and the cheerleading squad. I let being quarterback get to my head."

"That doesn't sound like you."

"Yeah, well who ends up with the person you met in elementary school."

"My grandparents."

"Someone who doesn't remember WWI"

"…."

"I won't make up excuses for what I did, but It's over, and I'm not getting into it"

"OK, ok, I won't talk about it again. So who else are you still in contact with?"

"Harold is on the team with me and dating Big Patty…Eugene isn't as clumsy as before. Sid's a pot head, Stinky ….well he's Stinky and those are the only people I still stay in contact with."

"So what does everyone do for fun?"

"Besides keg parties and local concerts. We hang at the ice cream parlor or Café Metro. I think everyone is going to open mic night. Can I check on your computer."

"Sure. But be gentle the computer on my desk is ancient. I think I'll give it to Lali."

"Your parents are going to buy you the laptop you asked for?"

"Hopefully"

"Alright, according to everyone on facebook open mic night is on. You feel like going to see some local bands and poets?"

"Yeah that sounds like fun."

"You think they'll let you take the pacard?"

"No I still have to take the drivers test."

"Alright, then I'll go home and get my car. Be ready at 8."

Arnold walked his friend out then took a shower. He collapsed on his bed and let out a sigh. Everything was so different, and according to Gerald everyone was different too. Arnold closed his eyes and tried to see Helga. The uno-brow was definitely gone, her hair fell straight and she still had her bangs. The ribbon in her hair was gone and there was a pink strand of hair that whipped in the wind. Helga was pretty and for the first time since they were in preschool she looked happy. Gerald had also changed. He'd gotten bigger, his voice was lower but he still retained that confidant cool demeanor. It was silly but he half expected everyone to be waiting on the boarding house steps. But things were different ,most of the boarders had moved out because of family or work, and he had come back with his pregnant mom, little sister and a slightly balding father. It was silly to think that Hillwood would be the same but the surprise still ate at Arnold.

Authors note: Please review this story and help me figure out a new less shitty title. I like Things change but I feel like it may have been done too many times. Btw concept art will be up soon. Most of it is in manga form.