I should clarify something. I am not going in any sort of chronological order. Most episodes, just like the original show, take place in different times of the year. There will be some story flow, such as if a character learns something about another character, they will have that information in every chapter afterwards. That's why it's the middle of spring in this chapter, even though they just started school, but eh, let's just go with it!
Spring Break (Part 1)
"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven!" Mr. Simmons' class chanted the countdown, shaking with excitement as the second hand approached that hallowed '60' number.
"Three! Two!" The class paused, as the second hand paused, and the chanting paused. The class looked worriedly at each other. Helga walked under the clock, and hit the wall, when the second hand moved.
"One!" The class then erupted into cheers as the last bell sounded out, indicating the end of the day.
"Have fun on your break everyone! Stay safe!" Mr. Simmons called out as his class filed for the door.
Arnold smiled at his classmates from his desk. He waited until they would all clear out, then he would leave.
"Football head, what are you waiting for? It's time to go!" Helga called out to her unofficial boyfriend.
Arnold would respond with his original plan of waiting, but the idea of spending the most amount of time with Helga as humanly possible was worth it. Arnold wordlessly rose from his desk, and grabbed his backpack.
"Criminy, you would've stayed there all break, stuck in whatever dream you're in, if it wasn't for me!" Helga said.
"Yeah Helga, that's what would've happened." Arnold responded sarcastically.
"Don't get smart with me hair-boy, I haven't used ole' Betsy in a while, and she would love to hug your face!" Helga said, as she held out her left fist in front of Arnold.
Arnold simply smirked. "Whatever you say Helga."
"That's right, and don't you forget it!" Helga told him sternly.
"Harold! Get off of me!" Rhonda cried out.
"It was my turn to go Rhonda! You tried to sneak around me!" Harold complained.
Arnold looked forward at the sight of Harold and Rhonda pinned together in the door way.
"Okay you two, Rhonda, try to shimmy out of the doorway, and Harold, stay still." Mr. Simmons told his students.
"I can't move! I'm going to be stuck to this sweaty tub of lard forever!" Rhonda cried.
"Hey, I don't even like lard!" Harold turned his gaze to Sid, "What's lard?"
Sid shrugged.
Arnold sighed at the sight. Looks like they'll need to call the fire department. Again.
Helga then tapped Arnold on the shoulder, "Come on football-head." She pointed at the windows.
Arnold looked, and nodded quickly, before leaving with Helga through the windows.
When they climbed through, and stepped on the black pavement, they were met by Gerald and Phoebe.
"Hey man, didn't want to wait in line to get out?" Gerald joked with Arnold.
Arnold chuckled, "No, it was…" Arnold was interrupted by a firetruck suddenly pulling up to PS 118. The four watched a group of firefighters run in with tubs of butter.
"Harold got stuck again?!" Gerald exclaimed.
"Yeah, and got the princess stuck with him." Helga sneered.
"Oh dear, well, I hope they will both be alright. So, shall we begin our week long vacation?" Phoebe asked Gerald.
"Vacation? Where are you two love birds going?" Helga asked.
"Upstate to Phoebe's cabin. Both are families are going. We're going to have a great time!" Gerald said as he put his arm around Phoebe.
"Yes indeed, what are you two doing with your time off?" Phoebe asked the two blondes.
"I don't know about Arnold-o, but I plan on a stay-cation. Just going to relax and unwind." Helga said, walking away from the school, followed by the other three.
"Yeah, I think I'm doing the same." Arnold said.
"Well that's dull." Gerald said.
"It's not dull, tall-hair boy, it's practical. Not all of us have to go across state to have fun." Helga said.
"If you say so Helga." Gerald told her.
Arnold smirked at Helga. She was so pretty when she got defensive, and when she was happy, and when she was bored, pretty much, she was always pretty.
"Earth to Arnold!" Helga snapped her fingers in front of Arnold's face.
"Huh? What?" Arnold blinked.
"Criminy football-head, would you get your mind out of the clouds? You passed your house!" Helga pointed behind him, and sure enough, there was the big red building.
"Oh, sorry Helga, I was just thinking about something." Arnold said.
"What could possibly so important that it would make you forget about your house?" Helga asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"How beautiful you look today." Arnold said simply.
Helga's angry face immediately melted, and turned into a bashful blush.
"Oh, well, I mean…" Helga started.
"Uh huh, hey, would you two make sure no one sees us? Just for a second." Arnold asked Phoebe and Gerald.
"Oh, sure man, no prob." Gerald told Arnold as he and Helga went down the ally, with Phoebe and Gerald guarding the entrance.
"How long do you think they'll keep it a secret?" Gerald asked.
"As long as Helga doesn't feel comfortable with everyone knowing." Phoebe responded.
"So until High School." Gerald concluded.
"Most likely." Phoebe nodded.
Arnold and Helga came back out, both wearing a lovesick smile.
"Thanks you two." Arnold said.
"Anytime Romeo. Hey Helga, when did you start wearing lipstick?" Gerald asked.
"Huh?" Helga snapped back to reality.
"Look at Arnold's face, it's covered in pink splotches." Phoebe observed.
"Oh, geez." Helga took out a tissue, and started wiping off Arnold's face.
"Alright, well, if you two love birds are finished, we need to get going to leave for the cabin, see you next week!" Gerald said.
"See you later!" Phoebe joined in.
"Bye Phebs! Hey tall-hair boy! You take good care of her, or else!" Helga called after Gerald.
"I will!" Gerald responded.
Helga turned her attention back to Arnold, who was putting his hand down from waving.
"Well football-head, I guess I'll see you around." Helga told him
"Yeah, I guess. See you soon Helga, I'll call you." Arnold smiled.
Helga smiled for a second, then let it fall into an angry scowl.
Arnold was confused for a blink, but then noticed Sid, Stinky, and Harold walking towards them down the street.
"Gee-willikers, are you feeling alright Harold?" Stinky asked.
"My stomach. It feels like I've been forced through a sausage grinder. Oh no! I thought of it!" Harold looked up, and noticed Arnold, "Arnold! Can I go in and use your bathroom for a minute?!"
Arnold looked at Harold with a concerned look, then sighed, "Yeah, go on in. Don't break anything." Arnold looked down at the ground, "Again." He said under his breath.
Harold quickly climbed up the grey stairs, and opened the door, only to be met by a flood of animals, some of whom decided to try and crawl over Harold.
"Whoa! Hey, get off me!" Harold cried as he ran in. The animals did jump off, and ran in opposite directions down the street.
"Oh, sorry Harold!" Arnold called.
"Hey Arnold, what are you doing standing here with Helga?" Sid asked.
"Oh, um, yeah, she was just, um…" Arnold rubbed his arm.
"I was trying to cross the street, and the only good cross walk is down there." Helga pointed further down the street.
"I thought your house was over there Helga." Stinky pointed down the opposite way.
"We moved." Helga said simply.
"Okiedokie." Stinky shrugged.
Arnold for his part, was impressed by the calmness of Helga. Ever since they became a couple, she seemed more sure of herself, and more open with her feelings. Maybe one day, he thought, she won't be so embarrassed to be seen with me.
"So Arnold, since we're here, you wanna hang out, maybe play some cards up in your room?" Sid suggested.
"Sorry guys, I can't. Grandpa needs my help fixing the water heater." Arnold justified.
"Well shot. I thought I would finally beat you in a good game of old maid. Oh well, that's the way the cows come home." Stinky stated.
"What?" Sid turned to Stinky.
"You know, the cows, and they. You know." Stinky 'explained.
"No, I don't 'know', what are you talking about?" Sid asked.
"It's a sayin' Sid. You've never heard it before?" Sid asked.
"No, no one has! Arnold have you ever, and he's gone." Sid looked to where Arnold formally stood, and that place was empty. Helga was currently walking down the street, away from the two boys.
"Well, I guess we just wait for Harold then." Stinky said.
"Guess so." Sid crossed his arms.
Back inside the boarding house, Arnold hung up his casual jacket, and walked further in, entering the kitchen. There he saw Grandma and Grandpa sitting at the table, enjoying a snack.
"Hey Grandma and Grandpa." Arnold greeted.
"Oh, hey Arnold!" Grandpa greeted, "Oh yeah, Arnold. Your mom and dad wanted to talk to you about something in the living room."
"Really? Aren't mom and dad supposed to be at work?" Arnold asked.
"They came home early. I don't know." Grandpa went back to his snack.
"Go to them General! The Admirals need to conference with you!" Grandma shouted suddenly.
"Yeah, and so do you with a psychologist, but what do I know?" Grandpa said under his breath.
Arnold smiled, and turned around to walk in the living room. There, Miles and Stella sat on the couch, and when Arnold walked in their faces lit up.
"Arnold, we have the best news!" Stella told him.
Arnold's face broke into a grin, "Really, what?"
"The company that I work with is sending me to a work seminar, and said I could bring along three guests, and you'll never guess where!" Stella explained excitedly.
"Where, where, where?!" Arnold asked excitedly.
"France!" Miles burst out.
"Miles, I wanted to tell him." Stella said.
"You'll get the next one Stel." Miles said in a mare hushed voice.
"France!? That's great! Where in France?!" Arnold asked.
"Marseille! It's on the southern coast!" Miles again burst out.
"Miles, you've got to work on controlling your excitement." Stella said under her breath.
"Wow! This is so amazing! Wow! When do we go?!" Arnold said, barely able to stop his body from vibrating with excitement.
"We leave tomorrow early in the morning. We have six days there, then we come back!" Stella said very quickly so Miles could not interrupt.
"Wow, this is… wow! I mean… wow!" Arnold laughed, "But wait. You said three other people not counting yourself, then Dad and I. Who's the third?"
"Well, we thought, since your dad and I will be working during the day on this trip, with all of the talks I'll have to go to, and your father helping me, we thought you might want to bring Gerald!" Stella smiled.
"Oh mom! That's a great idea, I'll…" Arnold paused, "Wait. He can't. Gerald's going to Phoebe's cabin over break."
"Oh, that's too bad. How about someone else?" Miles asked.
"Everyone else has plans, except for…" Arnold's eyes widened, and then became half-lidded, "…Helga."
"Oh that would be fun. We do enjoy Helga's company." Stella said.
Arnold, still in a half-awake gaze, responded, "Yeah…"
"Well, you better ask her!" Miles suggested.
Arnold blinked and shook his head out of his gaze. "Oh, yeah!"
Arnold quickly ran out of the house, not even bothering to grab his jacket. He ran past a confused looking Sid, and an agitated Stinky.
"Listen, the cows come home, and if they get beat up, then that's the way you take 'em." Stinky said, still explaining.
Harold then returned by them, after his excursion in the boarding house bathroom.
"You feeling better Harold?" Sid asked.
"Sure, but guys, Arnold's going to France for vacation!" Harold told them.
"No way! Lucky!" Sid cried.
"And that's not all. Guess who he's inviting to come with him." Harold smirked.
"Well, Gerald, obviously." Sid said.
"No, he's busy. He's running right now to invite his personal bully Helga G. Pataki." Harold's smirk deepened.
Arnold ran to Helga's blue tall house, and rang the doorbell. When the door opened, a tall man wearing a robe and holding a coffee mug answered.
"Yeah?" The man asked.
"Ummm… hi. Is Helga here?" Arnold asked.
"Who?" The man asked.
"Helga Pataki?" Arnold raised is eyebrow.
"Oh! You mean the family who lived here before. No, they moved to the corner of fifty-ninth and Wilson." The man explained.
"Oh, okay. Thank you." Arnold turned and walked down the stairs, before sprinting down the street.
He finally arrived at the corner, where he saw the beeper store. Odd. He thought.
Arnold walked up to the front door, and knocked on it. Almost at the same second, the door burst open, and Big Bob pulled Arnold in.
"Hey young man! Sick of cell phones? Well I have just the thing for you! Beepers! Get them now on sale for only $5.99!" Big Bob smiled.
"Ummm… hi Mr. Pataki. I was wondering if Helga was here?" Arnold inquired.
"What? You want Helga? Alright. HELGA! SOMEONE WANTS YOU!" Big Bob shouted in the opposite direction of Arnold.
"Alright! Alright! I'm coming!" Helga shouted back.
Big Bob walked away and sat back down in his recliner, watching the twenty-inch TV.
Arnold looked around. He saw the Pataki trophy case shoved into one corner of the show room floor. The checkout counters served as a storage locker, and the floor looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. Miriam Pataki caught Arnold's eye. She was sleeping in on of the shelves that used to hold beepers, but now held the Pataki photo albums and other books.
"Arnold!" Arnold spun around when he heard Helga's voice.
"Helga! Hey! Umm… how are you?" Arnold asked.
"What are you doing here football-head?! How did you find me here?" Helga asked.
"Well, I went to your house and… look it doesn't matter. I just wanted to invite you on a surprise trip my parents and I are going on." Arnold smiled.
"Oh, well, how long is the trip?" Helga asked.
"Six days. We leave tomorrow, so I kind of need to know now." Arnold smiled.
"Oh, wow, umm… yeah, sure I could come, oh wait. Dad?" Helga asked.
"What?" Big Bob responded.
"Can I go on vacation with Arnold?" Helga asked.
"I don't care. How long?" Bob inquired.
"Six days." Helga answered.
"Yeah, sure Olga, go have fun." Bob responded, fully immersed into his game.
"Okay, so, where are we going football-head?" Helga asked.
"Well, it's across the ocean, and they speak French there!" Arnold said.
"Oh my gosh! We're going to Epcot?!" Helga smiled.
"Ye… what? No." Arnold began to grin even more in his amusement.
"Oh." Helga said.
"We're going to France!" Arnold cheered.
"OH! Awesome!" Helga hugged Arnold, which he returned.
"So, get packed, and meet me at the boarding house in a few hours. You might as well spend the night." Arnold said.
"Alright, I'll go do that! See you in a few!" Helga said.
Arnold left the store, and ran back to the boarding house.
"This is going to be great!" Arnold said,
-TO BE CONTINUED-
So that's part one of what I'm planning to be a multi-chapter epic! I hope you all enjoyed the first part. Sorry this took so long, but I kept rewriting it, and originally was going to write a REALLY long first part so I could do my whole planned story in two parts, but that didn't work, it was way too dense and intense, so multiple parts it is.
As for the holiday special, I was going to write one, but I just wasn't feeling the story I had picked out, so instead, I decided to write this one!
So, is there anything you would like to see happen in Arnold and Helga's trip though France? Leave any and all ideas in reviews and who knows? I may borrow a few and give you a shout out!
As always, Read and Review!