This is a new story that will at times, criss-cross with my other fanfic Pataki Secrets. If you've read that one, you'll recognize it some later chapters.

…...

Arnold looked up at the big brick building that was his new school. He was nervous, because he was starting high school knowing absolutely no one. After going to pre-K, Elementary and Middle School with the same people, he was scared that he would find no friends among his new peers.

There was no Gerald to joke about with. He'd broken up with Helga when he had found out he and his parents were moving, so she wasn't going to be there. His heart ached a bit at the thought of her. He hated it and would never tell Gerald, but he was probably going to miss her the most. Finally he sighed. The bell went and he walked up the stairs and into the building.

Kids were everywhere, laughing and joking. Some stopped and looked at him, others ignored him. Some that had taken notice were whispering about him.

He heard the occasional "cute" or "fresh meat", but chose to just keep walking til he got to the office. Finally getting there he went in. the lady at the desk was typing away and talking on the phone and still managed to look at him quickly and smile in acknowledgment. He waited patiently as she finished.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Um, I'm new," he said.

"Oh, like Freshman new?" she asked. He nodded.

"Okay, well go to the hall. They are doing orientation there for all the Freshmen," she told him smiling.

"Uh, I don't, um, know where that is," he said, blushing.

"Did you not visit the school to learn where everything was?" she asked.

"No, my family only moved here last week. We still haven't finished unpacking," he admitted.

"Oh, okay," she turned and pulled out a map, then grabbed a highlighter, drawing on it. "Here you go."

Arnold took it and thanked her, then walked out into the hallway.

He was starting to regret his decision.

…...

It was an hour before everyone was able to go to their homerooms. Some girls were crying, having been separated, and boys were just looking gloomy. Arnold knew how they felt. Even though he knew no one there, he kept looking around for a familiar face out of habit. He followed the rest of the kids he was to share a homeroom with.

"Hi," a girl said to him, coming up beside him. He looked at her.

"Hey," he said, shyly. They were both quiet for a moment.

"So, my name is Alix," she said.

"Arnold." They were quiet again. Arnold felt stupid, he was usually very friendly, but he was so nervous he couldn't even think of anything to say or how to start a conversation.

"Wow, you guys are all sorts of amazing conversationalists," a sarcastic drawl said, from behind them. Alix rolled her eyes.

"Go away, Steven," she said. Arnold looked back at the guy who had a big grin on his face. He had brown hair that looked as if it hadn't been brushed and sparkling blue eyes.

"Steven," he said, holding out his hand for Arnold to take. Arnold smiled and told him his name.

"How about our homeroom teacher, ay?" he said, nudging Arnold with his elbow. "Hawt or what?"

There homeroom teacher was a bit of alright. Arnold smiled.

"She's alright," he said.

Steven stepped back looking shocked.

"Alright? Alright!" his voice raised a bit. "Are you blind? She gorgeous! She's like a radiant light of . . . of . . . moonshine in the bleak and dreary world of, um . . . somewhere bleak and dreary."

"What's this about school?" another guy asked coming up.

"Steven is admiring the teachers assets," Alix told him.

The new guy shook his head.

"Already in love?" he asked Steven. Then noticed Arnold. "Hey, fresh meat. I'd ask if you were new, but I've never seen you around before so I'm just gonna assume you are."

"Arnold," he said.

"Reagan," the guy responded. "Into sports?"

"Yeah, I play basketball in middle school," Arnold told him.

"Girlfriend?" Alix asked.

Arnold shook his head, losing his smile, and frowning a bit.

"No. we broke up just before I moved," he told her.

"Oh, that sucks," Steven said. "Was she hot?"

Arnold looked at the guy. Was that all he thought about? Hot girls? It was as if Steven had read his mind.

"I blossomed early," he said grinning. Reagan and Alix rolled their eyes and smiled.

"You'll get used to him," Reagan said, throwing an arm around Arnold's shoulders. "So, basketball, huh?

…...

Arnold entered his house with a smile on his face. What an awesome day. They had tryouts for basketball later this week. Arnold and Reagan had put their names down for tryouts. He'd met and made some friends, Steven who was completely girl crazy and played soccor, Alix who tried out for cheerleading, Reagan who was at basketball tryouts with Arnold, and Riley, who was the quiet one of the group and kept them all focused. Or at least tried to. He wasn't a sports playing guy, but more of a sit on the sidelines and pull the game apart. And what he could do with numbers! Arnold knew who he'd be going to for math help.

"So, all up how was your first day?" his mom asked.

Arnold smiled at her.

"Great, I'm part of a group already. I put my name down for basketball tryouts today with Reagan," he told her.

"Reagan?" she asked.

"Yeah, a guy from my homeroom. He's into basketball, too, so we put our names down together," he reached into the fridge and grabbed a yahoo soda then sat down, going quiet.

"So what's up?" Stella asked, eyeing her son. She was still getting used to reading him. Sometimes he was an open book, other times . . .

"I got invited to hang out tonight at the local pizza place," Arnold told her. Then he looked at her, pleading in his eyes. "Can I go?"

Stella thought about it for a moment. She wanted her son close, being in a new town and all, plus she didn't know these friends, or their parents, but then again she didn't want to isolate her son and keep him from getting to know other people.

"Okay, but I want you home by eight," she said.

Arnold grinned at her.

"Thanks, mom."

…...

"So that's how we met," Alix finished.

Arnold was feeling a little out of loop. Turns out Alix, Steven, Reagan and Riley had grown up together. He was the new edition, which made him nervous. What if he upset one of them, or one of them didn't like him? Would they all not like him?

"What about you?" Steven asked. "Tell us about your friends back in Hilltown."

"Hillwood," Arnold corrected him. "We all went to kindy and school together. My best friend was Gerald. My girlfriend . . . she was something . . ."

"Yeah, I've met her," Alix said. "Helga. G. Pataki, right?"

Arnold was surprised.

"Yeah, how do you know her?" he asked, curious.

Alix sighed.

"It was hard not too. Her and that Rhonda girl," she said. "Connie and Maria are setting them up to be the next captains of the Hillwood High squad."

"Hillwood High Squad?" Arnold asked. He was feeling stupid.

"Didn't she tell you?" Alix asked, incredulous.

"Tell me what?"

"Cheerleading Boot Camp," she said.

Arnold smiled. Then bit his lip to keep from laughing. But a snort escaped and he gave up and just outright laughed. Everyone was staring at him like he was mad.

"I'm sorry . . . I'm sorry . . . It's just . . . Helga? A cheerleader?" he started laughing again. "No seriously, where do you know her from?"

"Cheerleading Camp," Alix repeated, seriously.

Arnold's smile slowly disappeared, turning into a look of shock.

"Are you serious?" he asked.

"Yeah. I heard it's only because she's getting paid to do it though," she said.

Arnold nodded.

"Okay, that sounds like the Helga I know, love and dated," he said finally. "But Helga . . . she's not the cheerleading type."

"Maybe not, but she's damn good at it!" Alix said. "She's strong and fast, and has the stamina to keep going. And is she scared of anything? Even some of the more experienced girls were impressed."

Arnold was still trying to wrap his head around the idea of Helga cheerleading. Helga was more of the play a sports type, not cheer for the players type. He'd never known her to stand on the sidelines. And yet . . . A cheerleader? He would have to ask Gerald about this.

"Rats," he finally said.

"Rats what?" Reagan asked.

"Helga. She's petrified of rats," he told them.

Alix laughed.

"So she is human!"

…...

Arnold closed the door after waving good-bye to his friends. His dad was sitting in the lounge reading a book.

"Hey, how'd it go?" he asked as Arnold walked in and sat next to him.

"Great," Arnold said. He was quiet for a moment.

"Just great?" his dad pursued. Arnold was quiet a moment. Stella came in and sat down.

"Well?"

"Alix knows Helga," he finally said.

"Oh, really?" Stella said.

"Yeah, but get this. Cheerleading Boot Camp!" Arnold exclaimed.

Miles and Stella looked first at each other then at Arnold.

"Cheerleading?" they both said at the same time.

"Apparently. It's where she spent all summer," he told them.

The small family were quiet, Stella and Miles stunned. Cheerleading? Helga?

"Are you sure she just didn't mean another Helga?" Stella asked. Arnold shook his head.

"Same Helga. Apparently Rhonda, the rich girl? Apparently she's paying Helga to do it though," he explained.

Both his parents faces got the "Ah ha" look on it when they heard that.

"I'm gonna confirm it with Gerald, though," he said.

"Why not ask Helga?" Miles suggested. Arnold looked down.

He wasn't ready to talk to Helga yet. The break up had been hard, and it was pretty swift and final. How many times, since he'd left, had he wanted to pick up the phone and hear her sarcastic observations, even her moaning about her family. But he couldn't. not yet. So he shook his head.

"Not yet," he said quietly, then got up and left the room. "I have homework."

Miles and Stella watched him go, then looked at each other.

"Did we do the right thing?" Stella asked.

…...