Hey Arnold!- The Jungle Movie (Improved Version)

Chapter One- Late Night Worries

 "What will sixth grade be like? How will I survive?"

"How am I going to face Helga....."

These thoughts buzzed through the tiny, yet busy mind of young Arnold Shortman. It was the last day of summer, and the entire city of Hillwood is buzzing with anticipation. Every student would face the challenge and honor of moving up a grade, and Arnold was no exception. This year, he would be beginning sixth grade. However, this year would be different. Only because, it's the first time he would have to face Helga G. Pataki, after the incident on the F.T.I. building, saving the city, and,

the kiss.

Arnold shivered as the memory took him back to the roof of the Future Tech Industries building on a cold, stormy, late night/early morning. The wind was blowing through his hair, and there was emotional tension surrounding him. Helga was there too, wearing her trench coat and gloves and staring at Arnold with passionate sapphire eyes, which looked relieved to no longer be hiding her secret identity as Deep Voice, yet frantic to get to the point of her long, dramatic love confession.

"I LOVE you, Arnold! I've always loved you, ever since I first laid eyes on your STUPID football head! And from that moment, that moment on I dreamed of the moment that I could grab you and kiss you and, oh come here you big LUG!"

He was so confused, although deep down he knew it wasn't just "the heat of the moment". He just knew. He wasn't upset with her, but he was also very unsure how to feel. Did he like it? No... what a ridiculous-

His thoughts were interrupted by his bedroom door creaking open. In stepped Adelaide Rivera, his sisterly friend who also resided in the boarding house. Finally, a distraction from his worry. Someone to talk to.

"Hey, Shortman. What's eating ya?"

She sat down on his bed. Her reddish-brown layered hair that framed her head bounced as she made herself comfortable on his bed. She had hazel eyes and genuine smile. She wore a purple sweater and green skirt, and always wore a flower in her hair. She's had it as long as she could remember. The flower had three petals, in the colors purple, blue and pink. What was so special about it was that it never wilted, and was never damaged, even after years of wearing it. Nobody knew how or why, and she loved its element of mystery. It was given to her by her parents, who she lost at the age of four in an accident. Miles and Stella were friends of her family, and they took her in, that is, before they left for San Lorenzo,

 and never came back.

She had a slight idea of what he was worried about. School, probably. Tomorrow she would begin her eighth grade year, and she was just as nervous as Arnold. Because of her worsening insecurities about her physical appearance and how awkward she was, she just didn't want to be seen in front of an entire class of other kids her age. She just was not satisfied with herself as a person. Of course, she wouldn't tell him that, only because she had only come into his room to talk to him about his worries. She wasn't very sure how to be a good friend, for she was not very mature and couldn't give him any advice, since she didn't know any. All she could do was listen to his problems. But for some reason, she just had a never ending urge to just tell him exactly what she would do in his situation, almost like... an instinct?

Addy promised herself once, a long time ago, that she would be committed to guide her honorary brother through his life and experiences. He was a priority, and a responsibility. She had to be the one to look up to. She wasn't always sure of herself, but she knew she had to do it for him. For his parents.

She remembered Miles and Stella vaguely. She had only been four years old, but she remembered them very well. She loved them, along with the other boarders who raised her. 

Addy's memories were mostly limited to just Arnold. She remembered Miles and Stella leaving, and Arnold being left behind. She and the other boarders gathered around his crib. His grandma picked him up, and held him in her arms for them to see the newborn up close. And at that moment, he became part of the boarding house family.

"So, you're worried about school, right?"

"Actually, um.."

Arnold showed her the map and journal he found a year ago. Earlier he had been flipping through it, so he showed it to her as an excuse as to why he was worried, even though it wasn't the truth. Addy took it from him, astonished, and flipped through the pages.

"Miles' map..." She whispered.

"I found this yesterday. That's what I'm really worried about, Addy." He said, avoiding the subject of Helga at all costs. "All these clues in front of me, and I can't get to them. I just wish..."

Addy gently closed the book with a sigh. She turned to him. "Arnold, I miss them too. They were like, my own parents when I lost mine. They were caring and loving people. I'm sure they haven't forgotten about you, wherever they are now."

She sheepishly laughed. "But, can we save it for another time? Maybe not the night before the first day of school?"

Arnold sighed. "I guess so." He said in a defeated tone, smiling.

"Good, now get some rest kid, big day tomorrow. Don't stay up all night reading that journal either, okay?" She ruffled his hair, then got up and left his room.

Arnold sighed. How on earth could he NOT think about all of this? His parents? School? Helga...

Little did he know, a girl with a pink bow and blonde pigtails sat on his fire escape. She had been listening in on every word of their conversation. Helga.

She scoffed at his grief. "Pfft. Arnold. What a crybaby. What a good-for-nothing wuss. How I despise him. And yet..."

She reached into her pink dress cautiously, and pulled out a locket with Arnold's picture in it.

"I love him! Oh, Arnold! My beloved. I can only hope and pray for your good-natured self that you will one day find your dear parents, and once again be happy, as you have always deserved."

She wallowed in her monologue, until her classmate Brainy, as usual, leaned over her shoulder, breathing heavily. She socked him in the face without a care, causing him to tumble down Arnold's fire escape.

Arnold had gone to bed. Helga assumed she should go home and do the same. After all, as Addy had said,

Tomorrow would be a big day.