The next couple of hours Arnold was dragged from corner to corner by his fellow classmates. All of them asked him the same exact questions and even if the answers were the same, he kept on repeating them gladly. He kept on explaining over and over how San Lorenzo looked like, the culture and the people. Also he didn't mind when they started to ask questions about his parents and the adventures they went through before he made contact with them. Sometimes he didn't need to go into much detail, since most of his classmates were there when it happened. But still, they kept on asking about his parents.

After that subject was worn out he turned the tables and started to ask questions about his classmates, after all he was entitled to catch up and see what happened during those six years. Deciding it was best to ask these questions to small groups he decided to go to the group he wanted the most to know.

"Hey guys" he said after taking a cup and filling it with orange soda.

"Hey Arnold" Harold said before turning to the bowl of cheese tarts next to him, dismissing him.

"Howdy fella!" Stinky responded smiling.

Arnold smiled noticing how tall his friend was, he still wore a real similar shirt to the one he remembered from the old days, black and white snickers and a pair of worn out jeans. He had on his right wrist a black leather band with silver spikes on it, there was a matching belt around his jeans and a chain hanging from his pocket. Arnold assumed it held his wallet with it.

"So what's new?" Arnold asked turning to the small figure next to Stinky.

"Nothing, just hitting the booze and watching the gals" Sid said waggling his eyebrows.

Arnold noticed that his friend wasn't taller than him and was still using the same type of green cap on top of his head, but instead of the leather jacket and white t-shirt, there was just a black shirt with a skull printed on top of it, a set of baggy jeans and black and green snickers. Arnold thought: When did Sid decided to get rid of his loyal boots? but decided to ask that later, instead he just chuckled at his silly remark. After taking in the comment he frowned and gazed suspiciously at the cup in his hand.

"Don't worry Arnold, it ain't spiked. Sid was just messing with ya"

Arnold smiled and sipped his soda more convinced.

"So… Arnold" Sid said after a minute of silence.

Arnold lifted his left eyebrow.

"How are the ladies on San Lorenzo?" Sid added.

Arnold resisted the impulse to roll his eyes and just smirked.

"They're fine, I guess" he responded.

"Just fine?" Sid yelped incredulously "No Arnold, you have to give us more than that!"

"Yeah" Stinky seconded.

Arnold chuckled and sipped again, ignoring their stares. Sid groaned and made an overdramatic gesture towards the sky.

"They had to be hot! I heard all the Latin-Americans have a huge ass and breasts" he said after gazing at the sky and silhouetting an imaginary woman with his hands.

"Yeah, and don't forget the sexy accent" Stinky added, joining the fantasy of his short friend.

"Yeah and the food!" Harold spoke with his mouth filled with cheese puffs.

The three friends turned to him with brows raised, clearly his friend didn't know what they were talking about. Sid and Stinky just rolled their eyes and Arnold half smiled. Some things just don't change. He turned to check the rest of the place and found mini groups scattered across the room. His ears caught the sound of a familiar laughter on the corner. Turning to face that spot he found Helga making an impression of someone, apparently a teacher, to her small audience. The three girls around her laughed. Arnold couldn't help but to smile.

"Hey Arnold!"

Arnold blinked surprised he was caught staring again, and turned to the owner of the voice. There was Stinky, looking at him confused.

"You ok man?" Stinky asked tilting his head.

"Yeah" Arnold responded looking at his cup on his hand.

"Who were you staring?" Stinky asked, looking at the direction where Arnold was gazing.

"No one" Arnold defended.

"Looks like he was staring at Helga" Sid sneered, joining the group.

"I was not!" Arnold said, feeling how his neck started to burn.

Noticing this, both guys started to laugh and point at him with their indexes.

"Relax" Sid said, patting him on the shoulder "we know there's no way in hell you'll be attracted to Helga G. Pataki"

"Yeah" Stinky added "And if you did, she would pound you and her boyfriend will send people to kill ya"

Arnold looked back at the place where Helga was, she was now telling a joke and making a now bigger crowd laugh to tears. Arnold stopped for a moment to gaze at her. His mind started to drift, remembering details of a certain memory. They there were, only 10 years old, staring at each other and dirt all over them. It was dark and the only light came from his pocket lamp. She said something; he didn't know what but it didn't matter. He gave a step forward, she looked up, waiting for his next move. He kept on walking to her, getting closer. She gulped and stiffed, he noticed. He was so close he could smell her scent. And then-

"Arnold. Can I talk to you?" a small voice interrupted his thoughts.

Arnold turned to the direction the voice came from and found a small female figure. He smiled after recognizing who was next to him. Phoebe Heyerdahl, one of his classmates and childhood friend. She was wearing a long blue sweater that reached just below the hips, matching sneakers and a pair of pale blue jeans. Her hair was short and tied up in a bun behind her back, her eyes were framed by a set of blue thick glasses.

"Of course" he said after checking her appearance.

She looked to each side before looking back at him.

"In private, if you don't mind" she said after glancing at the guys around him.

Arnold frowned, finding odd her petition but nodded afterwards. Excusing himself from the guys, he started to walk to the hallway. Once he checked no one was around, he turned to his petite friend.

"What's up Phoebe?" Arnold said, resting his back on the wall.

"Can I ask you a favor?" she asked timidly

"Sure" he responded with a small smile.

Phoebe hesitated, avoiding making eye contact with him. She bit her lower lip and gulped. Glancing at him and back at the room they just left, she clenched her fists and finally looked back at him.

"I would like you to stop talking to Helga"

A/N: I hate cliffhangers, so that's why I use them so you can endure the pain I deal with when reading! Muahahahahaha. Before I forget, yes this story is set after The Jungle Movie, sorry I forgot to metion that before :( hope it isn't a problem for you guys. Anyhow you know the drill:

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