ARNOLD'S POV
"Grandpa! Where's my shirt!? I'm going to be late for school!" I shouted as I ran through the boarding house.
"Calm down, shortman. Here it is." Grandpa said as he held up my red checkered button up shirt.
I smiled and took it from him then started to put it on over my plain green t-shirt. Today was the first day of school of my first year of high school. I was pretty stoked. I heard things about high school like how high school gives you more freedom and whatnot. I know that high school is going to be a breeze this year with my best friend Gerald by my side. I heard from him that everybody from our old class is going to the same high school so I guess that means that i'll be running into Helga this year. I'm not sure what to think about her. She's a pretty cool person when she's nice but other than that, I dunno. I just hope she doesn't pick on me and my new girlfriend, Marley. We met over the summer during summer camp. We hung out a lot and I totally fell for her. When she told me that she was going to attend my high school, I was totally stoked.
"I better get going. I don't want to be late. Plus, I still have to pick up Marley." I said to Grandpa then ran out to the stairs and grabbed my book bag.
"Have a good day, shortman!" He called out.
First, I ran all the way to Gerald's house to pick him up then we both ran to Marley's house and picked her up.
"Hi, guys." She greeted.
"Hey, Marley." Gerald said.
"Hey, babe." I said to her then kissed her.
"Ugh. I will definitely not get used to that." Gerald said as he stuck his tongue out.
I chuckled and we all started to head over to the school. I held Marley's hand as we walked.
"It seems like everybody this year has changed over the summer." Gerald commented.
"Why do you say that?" I asked him.
"For one, you got a girlfriend, and two, everybody looks different." He said.
"I wonder if Helga still looks the same." I said as we made our way up to the school.
"Well, your question has been answered." He said.
"Huh?" I said.
"I think that's her right now." Gerald pointed.
I looked up the steps to see a girl with long blonde hair and wearing a pink and purple long sleeved shirt.
"No, that can't be Helga. Helga..."
That's when the girl turned around and revealed to be Helga herself. My eyes slowly widen as I felt my heart stop. I looked her up and down. I couldn't believe that this girl is the Helga who used to bully me all those years.
"Wow, Helga sure is pretty. I hadn't even noticed how pretty she is until now." Gerald commented.
"Who's Helga?" Marley asked.
"Some girl we used to know in elementary school." Gerald replied.
I let go of Marley's hand and walked up to Helga.
"Hey." I greeted.
"Hi, Arnold." She greeted.
I couldn't take my eyes off her. Gerald was right. She DID look pretty. No, more than pretty. She's absolutely beautiful. I watched as Helga brushed a few strands of her blonde hair behind her ear. I started to feel my heart pounding in my chest.
"You look nice." She complimented.
Wow. Helga HAS changed. First she looks different and now she's acting different. I expected her to call me football head or something but she didn't.
"You...you changed." I commented.
Helga nodded. "I got some new clothes over the summer. Gerald said you weren't coming to this school this year."
I nodded. "I wasn't but then my...girlfriend told me she was so..."
"Oh. You have a girlfriend?"
I nodded. "Yeah...a girlfriend." I tried to remember what her name is.
"Shoot," I thought. "I can't believe I forgot my own girlfriend's name. Helga must be having SOME effect on me," I thought.
That's when Marley walked up to me and Helga. She grabbed my hand. "I'm Marley. You must be Helga." I glanced over at Marley. She didn't look happy but she also didn't look mad.
Helga nodded. "Nice to meet you."
"Um...We should get to our lockers, Helga." Phoebe interrupted.
"Right. See you in class, Arnold." She said then turned and walked inside.
There it was again. Arnold. Not football head. I stared at Helga until I couldn't see her anymore.
"Ahem."
I glanced over at Marley. "Let's go." I said then walked her inside the building. Gerald followed after us.
"This year is going to be CRAZY."
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