Butterfree - I wanted I guess a bit of A/U version of their lives. So no first kiss with Arnold in her life only with some random guy.
Guest - With a dad like Bob she is suffering from lack of sleep so that is why she has the sunglasses on.
tineabean - That was a really nice review you actually made me blush there.
LeDawn - I am still nervous about writing about those type of things because I'm sensitive to negative reviews that really flame. Thank you to both tineabean and yourself for making me feel better there. As for Emma... Well you can see the jealousy there.
It had been a couple weeks since that Wolfgang incident and as Helga sat there almost ignoring everyone begging her to file charges on him she knew it would be ruined the very moment her father opened his big fat ass mouth to speak. Sure Miriam would speak, but even she was afraid of her own husband a lot of the times to the point that Helga wished she could kill Bob out right and get away with it, but she had a feeling she wouldn't.
So here she sits against a wall during lunch period watching random students either talk, play basketball, or more couples making out then she can count. Oh hail thee teenage hormones! She mocked as she thought about opening her journal up till Brainy came up to her asking for permission to sit down with her. She let him since he wasn't being a stalker right now.
Helga seemed to have a second best friend in Arnold in which she found very good to know with Phoebe being her first one along with being like a sister. She grown too attached to the others she hung out with including the wheezing wonder next to her. She told Lila that it is alright to release a little bad once in a while but at least keep it balanced. Thankfully Lila loved wearing her innocent outfits instead of going naughty. Stinky will get use to it and judging by the make out session she was seeing in the corner between them both, he didn't seem to mind even as Lila was giggling happily at his exclamations of happiness.
"You were in Urban Tots." Brainy suddenly blurted out.
Helga wasn't gonna deny that. "You remember my ugly mug? How interesting. I was there for a few weeks before my dad decided to make us move."
Brainy looked at the mystery next to him who tried to pretend she wasn't so. "You made an impression. I remember you having a crush on Arnold. You had a picture on a cut out heart."
"Never repeat that information, Brainy, or I'll hit you with Ol' Betsey."
Brainy smiled with some admiration for her. He was so happy to see her back. Sure she wasn't in pre-school for too long, but she really did quite an impression on him. Feeling the breeze hit him he also smelled her fragrance remembering it with a blush.
Helga noticed how he was acting out of the corner of her eye so she made an excuse to head to the restroom when really she didn't need to hear someone with a crush on her. Funny how most girls would want a guy to fawn all over them for some attention, but long ago, Helga trained herself to forget about such drivel just in case she had to leave again. In truth she was a romantic at heart so a 24 hour fling doesn't sound appeasing to her.
Approaching the restroom she saw Rhonda trying to head her off. "You don't want to go in there. It is uhhhhhh bad." Rhonda said weakly.
Helga almost said something very crude, but knew her audience. "Someone back talking someone in there?" Catching the look in Rhonda's eyes, she followed it up with another question. "Is it about me?" Seeing her eyes falter more, she continued. "Do you approve of the back talk or not?"
"Absolutely not. The only reason why I was listening is because I just want to hear what she's saying. I don't agree at all to it."
Seeing Rhonda look unhappy now with narrowed eyes aiming towards the door, Helga walked over to overhear the conversation hearing the clear distinct voice of Emma and another girl.
"Look I'm good with him hanging out with those other girls because I don't see it, but I wish he would stop hanging with that Helga chick." Emma complained.
"What don't you like?" Asked someone.
Emma made an exaggerated sound before answering. "I know he asks her to hang with her at the boarding house. I bet she is trying to hook her claws in him while my back is turned. That aloof act isn't fooling anyone. I heard she has sex with every guy in every place she's lived at. Just imagine that?"
Helga rolled her eyes half tempted to enact her old persona on them. Rhonda on the other hand placed her finger to her mouth out of view of Helga to another person who just came into the picture.
"I'll make sure Arnold forgets all about that skank Helga when I'm done with him. That boy is such an amazing kisser that I hope I get a chance to go around with him in bed." Emma continued on.
"I bet Helga has already slept with him if she's had guys in every state imaginable." Another girl countered.
A shocked gasp was heard. "OH that is true. Oh well... I'll still make him forget about Helga Pataki when I'm done with him." Emma started cackling.
Helga wasn't in a mood to get into any fights right now because if she did she would be hauled into the Principals office and then the school would call Bob and she would get hit with an inch of her life or at the very worse, her mother would get her punishment. Either way she couldn't chance it. So taking a deep breath in, but still growling out, Helga stormed off in search for another restroom to use still not realizing about the other person who joined the fray to listen in on the conversation.
Arnold watched Helga stalk away as Rhonda looked back towards him. "Thanks for letting me know." He whispered.
Looking back to Helga disappearing through another door, Rhonda whispered back, "I'm gonna check on her. Will you be fine?"
Nodding his head, Arnold watched her take off as he waited for Emma to come out of the bathroom.
Meanwhile after some time in the other bathroom, Helga stopped tearing up after feeling ridiculous about some jealous remarks, but something about it just brought up feelings of the past. It had nothing to do with being easy since she never gave herself away to anyone. It was just stupid petty things that get brought up and more.
"I remember a long time ago I was this horrible gossip to the point I would make up facts just to gain more popularity for myself." Rhonda informed her. "I was awful. So awful in my self entitlement that I felt it was my simple obligation to be this way. Oh I was horribly spoiled."
Helga studied her as she went on. "So you would of done the same thing a long time ago about me?"
Rhonda nodded. "I'm ashamed to admit this, but yes. Arnold is the one that finally brought me down to Earth telling me if I don't wake up and treat people with respect then soon you'll never have a friend who can truly trust you again because they will turn their backs to you." Taking a tissue she handed it to her. "I texted Arnold to overhear that conversation because I was afraid he wouldn't believe me even after all these years after me stopping the foolish gossiping. He was standing behind you the whole time listening. He wasn't happy."
"You know how weird it is for me to have actual friends for once and be afraid that it will all be taken away from me?" She sniffed. "I have the worst luck in the world without me exaggerating and I'm scared that it will be snatched away."
Rhonda closed the gap between them to put her arm around her shoulder. "For once I'll brag about the money I have and say if you are going to another city I'm gonna convince my father to fly us there to visit you or at least haul your butt back here to stay."
"That is the best thing I've heard so far today, Ms Lloyd."
"Well don't you forget it." Rhonda said proudly.
Helga had to admit that it was really nice to hear that from her.
Sometime later, Arnold brought out his cell during the last period of the day so he can text Helga.
Hey can I drop you off later or if you want we can hang out? - A
I've already gone home since I didn't feel good. Thanks anyhow. - H
Can I at least still see you because I would like to talk to you. -A
Arnold waited for her response which didn't come so soon until he was right at his truck.
I'll see you tomorrow at school. Night. - H
Arnold was curious as well as concerned as he drove to her place anyhow. Parking his truck a little down the block he walked the rest of the way down till he caught sight of her sitting on her windows ledge at least looking the other way. He saw how she dangled her arm out while seeing how she was fingering them making him wonder if she was pretending to play the piano right now. What surprised him was to hear her sing. She was singing the song from Paramore, Misguided Ghosts. She looked so unhappy that it made his heart ache. Only when she finished he thought:
Is she leaving again?
Arnold didn't want that as he suddenly stepped away to head back to his truck and head over to Phoebe's place to speak to her.
The kinder gentler Rhonda being far more supportive. Emma truly showing that ugly side. I did want Helga just to start out in high school but with her being friends with Phoebe and how each place they kept meeting up, I thought Helga being as secretive as she is would tell Phoebe not to share that. I always thought it was cute that Arnold showed her kindness by covering her up with an umbrella when she was feeling her absolute worse because of her family.