SOPHMORE, HIGH SCHOOL

"Who do you think you are?"

Helga closed the door to her locker to reveal a very irritated Laura and her two toadys, attempting to look intimidating. "Helga Pataki, naturally. I knew you were dense, but didn't think you were that bad." She fished out her phone from her book bag, ignoring the Sophmore.

"You need to stay away from Arnold. He's dating me. He doesn't go after pizza faces like you," she smirked.

Helga feigned a gasp. "You mean he wouldn't want to be around me because I have puberty on my chin? Because I don't wear two pounds of cover up like you to cover up my insecurity over the fact that every single kid is going through the same phase?" She placed a hand on her heart and her voice raised a notch in pitch to emphasize her fake feeling of insult.

Helga may have a pizza face, but Laura was totally a fish face. Her head was long and narrow and her eyes were too close together. They were really round and it looked like she was always sucking her lips together from the side, like fish lips. She really didn't know what Arnold saw in her. Was it the full blonde hair? Maybe the space between her ears?

Nah, Arnold liked to get deep too much for airheads. Well, at least he had philosophical topics with his friends. Laura was popular and Arnold was one of the best baseball players on the team and was definitely a rising star on the football team, so she guessed that made sense.

Helga herself was on the baseball team, thankful for a second year. The school hadn't really cared that they lost the softball team, which allowed Helga to be able to try out for baseball, but a lot of parents were bitching about it this year. Which mean that this was probably the last year she'd be able to play. It sucked, but she'd figure something out. Maybe Coach could find a loophole or something.

And if worse came to worse, she would be able to focus more on her dancing. Spring was the only time she didn't participate in dance; it was to focus solely on the game. Sure she practiced, she had to, but there were no competitions for her this season. Not that it was a big deal for her. Yeah she liked to win, but she danced because she loved it, not to win awards like her big sister and when she was a kid. She absently wondered when she outgrew that.

Laura's smirk wavered a moment, not really sure how to make a comeback. Normally girls would cover their face and run off if they had even a hint of a possible pimple and died when it was thrown into their face. "Just stay away from him." She flicked her hair over her shoulder, sauntering off. The toadys smirked at Helga and trailed after her as if those actions were more of an insult than the name-calling.

Rolling her eyes, Helga opened up her game of Snake on her phone as she started for English. She had a high score to beat and had no time to worry about jealous girlfriends. At least this girlfriend wasn't timid like Karen had been. Without looking up, Helga strolled into her next class, lazily dropping her bag to the floor next to her.

She liked the fact that this class was particularly close to her locker, which gave her enough time to play at least a couple of rounds of her obsession. That damn little dot was always out of reach because of that damn tail that would continuously grow as it ate its dot-apple.

And just like that, she failed another round. Fuck!

"If you gave it a rest and came back to it, you'll probably do better."

"Then what excuse would I have to ignore you?" She started another round. Then, "Your girlfriend was hitting on me before class."

"What?"

"Yep. She referred to me as 'pizza face' so I can only imagine that would be a compliment. Since pizza is da bomb and all."

"She called you Pizza Face? Why would she do that?"

Sighing at the early death of this round, she put her phone done and looked up at Arnold. "Because I have pimples, doi. She thought that she could scare me away from hanging out with you."

Arnold didn't look surprised at that which told Helga that Laura had probably badgered him about it at one point or another. Or maybe multiple. "What else did she say?"

"Oh, something about world domination, taking over the White House…I dunno, I wasn't really listening." She stretched her arms over her head, yawning. "Why isn't it lunch yet?"

"I'm sorry she said that to you. She shouldn't be bothering you like that."

"Oh, stop it, Football Head. I hate it when you apologize for something someone else said or did. She's just a typical teenage girl."

Arnold looked at her suspiciously. "Right. Why haven't you made any negative remarks or anything?"

Helga shrugged and put her phone away, knowing that she wouldn't be able to start another round. "It wouldn't make a difference, would it?" She had a whole list of things that she could complain about Laura, but it would only drive Arnold away. When she had complained to him about Karen, he pretty much ignored her for two weeks before he came back around.

That had been early Freshman year and it really didn't bother her too much, but they had grown a lot closer since then. She didn't want to readily admit it, but it would hurt that he would choose a bitch like Laura over her. She may have not been in love with Arnold, but she did consider him a really good friend. So, instead, she just ignored it. They broke up a couple months later.

If Arnold couldn't figure out for himself that she wasn't any good for him, then that was on him. She knew he'd eventually break things off with her. Preferably sooner rather than later because she was getting really annoyed sitting at the same lunch table as her.

"That doesn't really sound like you," he eyed her in mock suspicion. He knew she wouldn't do anything, but she did continuously surprise him. Like with that very un-Helga-like mature response.

She rolled her eyes as the late bell rang. "Turn around. You're bothering me."

"Whatever you say, Helga," Arnold smirked and turned around.

Once the bell rang for lunch, Helga quickly jumped up, not waiting for the teacher to dismiss them. Mrs. Fleury liked her anyway.

Arnold stood and slipped on his jacket. "Hey, Helga, go ahead without me. I have to stop by the library really quick and print out my report for next period."

"Sure. Did you bring your lunch today or want me to pick something up?" She slung her bag on her shoulder, watching him as he put his notebook away. Slow poke.

"I brought it. But if you pick up an extra cookie, I won't complain." He grinned and stood up as Helga rolled her eyes.

"You and those cookies. You're going to get fat on them."

"How can I if you always steal one of them?"

"Hey, it's poison control!" she snapped playfully back at him as she walked out the room. They were the best cookies ever. She didn't know who made them, but they were bigger than her fist and came in a pair, wrapped in saran wrap. Obviously someone made them, because they were too delicious to have been store-bought.

Ah, lunch time! Her favorite class. Today was Jamba Juice day, which meant that she would be getting a delicious Mango-a-Go-Go. It was the only one they served on the campus that didn't have strawberries in it and luckily, she loved it. And that combined with some of those flinger-lickin' chocolate chip cookies always hit the spot. Tuesdays were the best lunch days.

Gerald was already sitting at the table when Helga showed up. She sat next to him, hoping Phoebe would get there soon and sit on the other side of her. She had no interest on being anywhere near that stupid Fish Face. "What'd you bring?"

"Only the best lunch ever. Two pizza Lunchables, rolled up ham and cheese sans bread, some brownies, pop, and a banana."

Helga eyed the buffet as she sipped her smoothie. "Best lunch ever? It looks a little light for you."

Gerald grinned as he spread the pizza sauce on the mini bread. "Well, my mom did give me some of those little pancakes that she makes, but I already ate them."

Helga's eyes grew wide. "You mean the ones with the blueberries in it? I love those!" She smacked him on the arm. "Next time, you better save some for me or I'm really going to pound you."

It had been revealed early on during Helga and Arnold's pen pal days that it had been Gerald who had provided her new address. He had his mom call her mom the night before they left. When confronted by Helga, Miriam hadn't remembered, but it was no surprise. Gerald, of course, had blabbed at some point to Arnold about that afternoon, but she had never told Phoebe. It was never brought up and she figured that Gerald had mentioned it to her years ago.

Although Helga and Gerald had not kept direct contact while she was in Kentucky, they had no problem striking up a friendship when they started school last year.

"What did Gerald do now?" Phoebe sighed and sat next to Helga.

"He ate my pancakes," she pouted, folding her arms.

"They were mine!" Gerald protested.

"Gerald, you know Helga thinks that whatever food you bring belongs to her. So it was definitely wise of you to eat those first."

"Phoebe!"

She just grinned at the irate blonde. "I'm sorry, Helga, but it's true. Maybe if you ask Mrs. Johansson nicely, she'll make you some this weekend for the marathon." Every few months they all got together for a two-day marathon of something. The host chose. Sometimes it was horror movies, other times it was chick flicks. Helga had done wrestling and video games in the recent past. Maybe they would do card and board games next time. This weekend it would be at Gerald's and he was going to educate all of them on the sensual beauty of soul and jazz music. Helga wasn't sure if she should call in sick. But then there was that promise of the blueberry pancakes. How could she bail on that?

"Sure she will," replied Gerald. "Especially if it's for you."

Phoebe looked around Helga at Gerald, her brows frowning in slightly, before back at Helga who sat expressionless, eating her cookie. Phoebe stayed silent and looked back down at her lunch, slowly picking at it.

Matt and Devin walked up then and jumped into their seats on the bench. "So who's ready for practice today?" Matt grinned at Gerald and Helga, his eyes twinkling.

Helga gave him a look. "Why? What's happening?"

"What makes you think anything is happening?" Devin asked, with his mouth full of pizza.

"Just spill it out, already!"

"Well," he continued, swallowing. "Rumor's going around that Miller's been suspended for getting caught making out with - get this! - Jessica Bines!"

Helga couldn't say she was surprised that Jordan Miller got caught making out with anyone, but she was surprised to hear Jessica's name. She looked over at Phoebe, who was staring at Devin in shock. "Really?"

"Yep! Heard it from the horse's mouth," he chomped into another bite of his pizza and grinned.

Helga continued to look at Phoebe. She and Jessica, and the other two Triple Js, had kind of drifted. She didn't doubt it was because of her, but she wasn't going to complain. They were weird. "You OK, Pheebs?"

"Yeah, fine. It's not like she didn't know the rules, right? It's her own fault." Helga frowned at her lack of concern but didn't say anything. Phoebe was obviously in a bad mood and she wasn't going to stand in her way. When Phoebe was in a bad mood, everyone had better watch out.

"Hey, Shortman! Are you ready for practice today?" Excited to tell someone else, Devin caught sight of Arnold making his way up to the table.

"Oh, lay off, Devin. Geeze, you're worse than a hoard of gossipers." Helga flicked some condensation that had been building up on her straw towards her teammate.

"What happened?" As Arnold sat down on the other side of the table, Helga tossed him his set of cookies. "Thanks."

"Miller got caught-hey!" Devin glared at Helga and leaned down to rub his leg. "Don't kick the messenger. I heard it from the horse's mouth!" he repeated.

"I don't think that Miller is quite the kiss-and-tell kind of guy, Monroe." Gerald also was having a hard time believing this particular bit of news.

"What happened?" Arnold asked again, already eating one of the cookies.

"The rumor of the minute is that Miller is going to get suspended for making out with Jessica Bines." Devin snickered at Helga who attempted to kick him again.

"Oh really?" Arnold frowned, taking another bite. He had seen Miller flirting with someone else just yesterday. He didn't think that Miller was such a player. "When did that happen?"

"This morning, during first period," Devin responded matter-of-factly, finishing his pizza. "They skipped and got caught in one of the girl's bathrooms."

"Wait, I have first period with her," piped in Gerald. "She was there the whole time."

Everyone stayed silent for a few moments before Helga burst out laughing. "Geeze, you can't even get your gossip right!"

Devin frowned in complete confusion. "But…"

Helga continued to laugh as Phoebe reached out to pat his arm. "It's ok, Devin. This is why you should find out the facts first or else really bad rumors can start."

"Geeze, you ninny. What horse did you hear that from?"

Devin's face burned red and he mumbled, looking slightly over to Arnold. "Forget about it."

"Uh-huh. Knew that you didn't hear it from 'the horse's mouth'. Sheesh." Helga finished her smoothie and tossed it into the trash can a few feet from their table without standing up.

"Arnold," Phoebe started, "I notice that Laura and her friends aren't here yet. Did she have to stay late in class again today?"

"Well, um…no." Arnold put down his sandwich and rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly slightly uncomfortable. "We kind of broke up today." He flinched when everyone's eyes shifted to him. It was silent and he knew they were waiting for an explanation. "Well, you know, it just wasn't working out." He picked up his sandwich and resumed eating as if saying that was the end of the conversation.

But then Devin's hand smacked him on his back, effectively forcing his mouthful down this throat. Arnold coughed and turned to give Devin a 'what-the-hell-was-that-for' look as he tried to regain his breath. "Well it's about damn time! That chick was crazy. She tried to start this rumor about Miller making out with poor Jessica. What a sleaze!"

Helga would have made a comment about Devin's remark, but she kept her eyes fixed on Arnold, trying to figure out if he was telling the truth or not.

But of course he was. Why wouldn't he be? Had he really broken up with her right after she told him about their run-in? He must have been planning on that for a while. Oh, if she had only known. She would have stuck it to Laura even harder than she had.

It wasn't until practice after school did Helga ask. She was warming up with Arnold, throwing the ball back and forth as they warmed up their arms. "So how did the fish-face take the breakup?"

Arnold frowned a little at that. "Helga, you shouldn't make fun people's faces. Laura did that to you this afternoon and I know you didn't like it."

"Whatever."

He sighed as he caught the ball and shifted feet. "Well of course she was upset-"

Helga interrupted him, laughing. He looked at her oddly. "Geeze, put yourself on a pedestal why don't you."

Arnold rolled his eyes and threw the ball more at her rather than to her. "Fine. She was upset. And that was that."

She caught it. "What, no blubbering? No begging to get back with you?"

Arnold knew that Helga was just trying to lighten to the mood, but he was really ok with it. Laura had been bothering him for a while now and it seemed that every thing she did was annoying.

Her laugh was too high, the constant biting of her pencils grossed him out, she ate too loudly…the list went on. Weekends had become some of his most relaxing days but even those were starting to get too much of Laura. At first he thought she was a nice enough girl, but he had been seeing another side of her he didn't really like. And today with her threatening Helga was really the last straw for him.

Laura hated the fact that he was friends with Helga. It didn't make any sense to him. Why was it OK for him to be friends with Phoebe, since she was in the group too, but not Helga? And it wasn't like he didn't have other friends who were girls, or that Helga was still the ultimate bully like she used to be. Anyone would be lucky to be called a friend by Helga.

Arnold flushed at her comment. "I thought you didn't like gossip."

"Hey, when you start breaking hearts, Arnold-o, I want to hear it!"

He just smiled and shook his head and threw the ball to her one last time before Coach called them over, signaling that warm-ups were over. "When that happens I'm sure you'll be the first to know."