Been a long since I've done a Hey Arnold fan fiction since perusing more original fiction, but I got nostalgic for the old stories I used to write so I dusted off an old idea I had for a collection of short stories called High School Daze taking place during the gang's high school years. It will be more of an anthology series taking place as different points in time through out their 4 years of high school. (Authors note: Setting wise, this is set in the early 2000's since this was started before TJM movie came out)
So as always, enjoy the story.
Hey Arnold
High School Daze
Story one: New School New life
It's an early morning in September as the students make their way to Hillwood High School. For many students it's just another year closer to graduation but for the class of 2003 this is just the beginning and the start of new experiences, relationships, sights, sounds. It almost seemed too much for one football headed teen that was walking off the bus with his long-time friend Gerald. Arnold made a quick adjustment of his red plaid button up shirt, he also had a white t-shirt underneath, and blue jeans to match. While Gerald wears a simple red t-shirt with a white collar, and blue cargo jeans, He has long since got rid of the long stack of hair in favor of a short stack.
Arnold took a deep breath of the cool crisp morning air; he was almost lost in thought thinking about everything that could happen when Gerald interrupted his thoughts.
"So, Arnold, you ready man?" Arnold looked around taking in his surroundings.
"Huh? Oh" Arnold snapped out his trance.
"Yeah Gerald, I was just wondering what will happen in four years." Gerald looked a little stunned.
"Four years? Are you crazy Arnold? I can barely thing about what will happen next week, when the homework starts going."
Arnold cracked a smile at his friend's remark. Just as Arnold and Gerald started to walk, a voice came up from behind them, and by his cheery nature, they knew who it was.
"Hey guys, you ready for this, I sure am excited." Arnold feigned interest.
"Yeah, Eugene we're very excited." Then Eugene left as he saw Sheena in the distance. "Uh-oh here come's trouble" remarked Gerald as they looked to see Sid, Stinky and Harold walking up.
"Ah man this is so cool, we made it" Announced Sid to his two friends walking with him. "Well, I'll be we sure did make it." Added Stinky, then Harold complained.
"Aw, four more years of school, I hate this." Sid looked at Harold. "Come on Harold it's gonna be great, this is gonna be the best four years of our lives." said Sid trying to cheer up Harold. "I reckon we're gonna get into some crazy adventures." Added Stinky.
"Yep, nothing is going to stop us from having fun." Sid added as he led his friends onto the campus. Then just as they were walking off, everyone heard the sound of a moped scooter pulling up into the parking lot. The person was riding a pink colored moped with sleek black stripes running along the side. And wore a helmet with the same color and pattern. Arnold looked on in amazement as everyone else did. The first thought on his head was who is the person, but a second look at the color of the scooter and helmet and attire gave it away. It was Helga G Pataki. She reached for her helmet and lifted it off, letting here blonde hair fall out and rest on her shoulders; she had long stopped wearing ponytails and just wore it down.
There was a small, sophisticated braid ran through her hair forming a sort of v along the back of her head, with a subtle pink bow nested where the braids met on the back of her head. She looked around a bit, taking in her new surroundings, she noticed some of the stares she got, and she almost melted when she noticed Arnold looking at her, but she managed to keep her composure as she locked up her scooter and went to find Phoebe.
Arnold was a bit speechless as he watched Helga walk off to find her friend.
"Man, do you see that?" Gerald chimed in breaking Arnold out of his trance again, and it didn't go unnoticed by Gerald. "Yo, Arnold, don't weird out on me now man." Arnold blinked a little,
"Sorry Gerald, was just thinking." Gerald just smirked at him. "Yeah, I know what you were thinking about." It took a couple seconds to register to Arnold what he meant. "Aw man Gerald, nothing like that." he said with a disgusted look on his face. "I know Arnold, just teasing you man…now let's go take a look around." Arnold nodded in agreement and they both walked off to look at the campus.
The campus is a two-story building like a lot of the other schools in Hillwood, but much bigger with a football field near the back of the school and several fields. The outside of the building was just like any other building in Hillwood, it had the familiar red brick wall with gray brick on the ends and around the main door. The smells all associated with school were strong in the air as Arnold and Gerald walked inside and made their way through the halls.
"Hey Arnold, and Gerald" cried out someone from behind them, it was a girl's voice, and as they turned to see who it was, they saw Rhonda walking up to them. She wore a dark red button shirt with a lighter shade shirt underneath and black designer jeans.
"So how are two doing?" asked Rhonda. "Doing fine Rhonda, how was your summer?" asked Arnold, she thought for a few seconds before responding.
"It was fun, I went to France where I picked up some nice new clothes that all the rage…" She drifted off as she noticed they weren't really paying attention.
"Never mind, anyway I wanted to invite you guys to a little party I'm throwing tonight." She handed them little sheets with the info about the party. Gerald glanced at the paper in his hand and looked back to Rhonda. "What's the occasion?" He asked. "Glad you asked, its a little party for the class of 2003, mostly inviting the old gang and most any other freshman interested." Arnold nodded,
"Ah I see, sounds fun, I'll be there, how about you Gerald?" He turned to his friend, "Yeah sounds good, see ya tonight, Rhonda." Rhonda smiled and walked off to finish handing out the invites.
"Well Arnold what do you think?" asked Gerald, Arnold thought for a second. "Could be interesting." Said Arnold as they walked off down the hall as school would be starting in a few minutes.
Later that night…
Rhonda's place was full of life as everyone walked inside, and Rhonda greeted the guests as they came in. Arnold walked in and was immediately greeted by Rhonda.
"Hello Arnold, nice of you to come." She said to give him a hug. "Good to see you too Rhonda."
"Well go ahead, have some punch, and mingle." She said as they separated, and Arnold walked in. There was music playing, people were chatting the night away, a few were in heavy make out sessions of in the corners. Arnold made his way to the punch bowl and started to pour himself a drink when someone spoke up next to him.
"Hi there" Arnold looked over and saw a brunette girl about his height. She wore a casual blue shirt and jeans. "Ah hello there." Said Arnold earning a smile from the girl he had met earlier that day. "I saw you in acting class today, in Mrs. Binger's class." Arnold thought back to his day to remember this person, then it hit him he remembers seeing her across the room.
"Oh yeah I remember." He took a sip of his punch. "So how do you like Highwood high so far?" She asked, he sat his drink down. "It's good, although it's only been a day." "Yeah." She said in agreement. "I'm sorry I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Kate." He lifted his hand to shake her hand. "I'm Arnold, nice to meet you." Said with a goofy grin on his face, eliciting a slight giggle from Kate
"Nice to meet you to Arnold." He smiled a bit, and then as Arnold talked with Kate, across the room Helga was watching the whole thing, all the time feeling a bit sick at the sight of Arnold chatting away with some girl.
"Hi Helga." Said Phoebe walking up to her, Helga lazily looked up at her friend. "Oh, hi Pheebs. How's it going?" Phoebe sat down next to Helga. "I'm fine Helga, how about you?" When Helga didn't answer she looked toward where Helga was looking and saw Arnold talking with another girl.
"Oh." Was all she said. "I see, don't worry Helga I'm sure everything well be fine." She didn't say anything, but just nodded. Then they could see the girl giggle slightly and Arnold smiling. Helga just gave Phoebe an annoyed look and walked off to somewhere she could think. Phoebe let out a sad sigh before going off to find her friends, perhaps to spend some time with Gerald.
Helga walked out onto the balcony, she looked around and saw no one else around. As she walked to the hand railing, she pulled out her heart shaped locket, it was a small more elegant style locket rather than the bulkier one she carried when she was young. She flipped it open staring at the picture of Arnold she took out of her yearbook.
"Oh Arnold, why does this happen to me, every time, a new point in our young lives when I might have the opportunity to show you who I really am deep down inside, and now a girl threatens to take everything I love in the world away from me." She stared more deeply at the picture.
"Can't you see I'm the one Arnold the only one that will ever love you as much as I do, will you ever see me for what I really am." She held the locket close to her and a small tear ran down her face.
A sudden voice broke the silence around Helga. "Hey Helga." She was startled to say the least. "Crimeny."
She shouted in frustration and turned to see who had said her name. It was none other than Arnold himself. "What do you want football head?" She said sounding very annoyed.
"I'm sorry I disturbed you, just I haven't seen you inside and I hadn't seen you since middle school." Her anger subsided a little and turned back to the railing. "So how have you been Helga?" he asked with a genuine sense of curiosity as he walked up to the railing next to her. She sighed a little. "I've been fine, my summer was ok, with the usual boasting from Big Bob and Miriam slept half the time, luckily for me Olga wasn't there otherwise I would have had a trifecta from heck." Arnold nodded.
"Ah, when did you get the moped?" asked Arnold. "Big Bob got a good business deal before summer and in a vain attempt to pay attention to me he asks me what I would like and that's about it." Arnold was noticing she was remaining emotionally distant from him, but he took it as her just trying to be calm and not lash out at him and this made him feel uneasy like being near a volcano before the eruption.
"Well it's been good seeing you again Helga, I'll leave you alone, and I'll see you at school." Helga didn't say anything. "See you later Helga." With that he walked back inside to meet up with Gerald.
Helga just stayed there looking out to the horizon of the city consumed by a thousand thoughts running through her head. And just like the horizon in front of her future seemed distant and unknown. Questions filled her mind, like what would happen in these four years, and what effect would have on her and if by the odd chance of fate, her and Arnold would finally be together. She had wondered how her life had ended up like this, being in love with someone who she also bullied and teased, what would have happened if she had made a different choice in pre-school, what could have happened didn't change the reality of how it did happen and how it is now and will remain. Just one thing remained certain was that she had four years to before she would begin her life and four years to win Arnold's heart. She pulled out her locket again and flipped it open looking at Arnold's picture.
"I swear to you Arnold by the time this is all over you will see who I truly am deep down inside and that you may love me the way I have loved you for years." She looked up to the cityscape and stayed there for most of the rest of the party.