Feeling Empty (A Hey Arnold Story)

Long Lost Feeling

A/N: For those of you that skipped the last chapter, Harold kissed Rhonda to slow her hyperventilating. She began having a panic attack after her curiosity got the best of her and she weighed herself for the first time in a while.

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Rhonda's breathing slowed as Harold pulled away. They sat in silence for a moment until Rhonda finally spoke.

"H-how did you know that would work?"

"We learned about panic attacks in health class one time and they said to either slow or stop the breathing to calm the person down. Sorry I kissed you, it was the only way I could think of in the moment, and I-"

"It's fine, you saved my life."

Harold glanced over at the scale and got an idea of what happened.

"Did you weigh yourself?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I tried not to but-"

"It's fine, the only thing that matters is that you're okay."

Rhonda hung her head and looked at the floor, ashamed of what she had done.

"You know, I think you look great. Forget what anyone else says, as long as you're happy with the way you look, you shouldn't change anything."

Rhonda smiled, knowing that the nagging voice in the back of her mind had been wrong. She didn't need to look a certain way to have people care about her.

Before she could stop herself, she threw her arms around Harold. They just stayed there in their comforting embrace for a few seconds before heading back to the couch.

-

The next few days had been strange. It seemed like Rhonda was distancing herself from Harold for no apparent reason. She wouldn't talk to him unless she had to, she wouldn't sit at the same table as him at lunch, she wouldn't play sports if he was playing and she stopped asking him to sleep in the bed with her. He couldn't recall doing anything wrong. Maybe he had offended her somehow?

Wait.

The kiss.

He knew it had been a dumb idea, why did he go through with it?

And why did it bother him so much that she wasn't with him all the time like she had been for the past week. Before all this she hadn't really talked to him all that much anyways. Maybe he just missed having a friend? Or having someone to talk to?

Then it hit him.

"Oh no Arnold was right!"

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Rhonda felt bad for distancing herself from Harold but it felt like that the only way. Ever since "the kiss", Rhonda had been terrified at how strong her feelings for Harold had grown. Some people may talk about falling for someone, but Rhonda had completely plummeted for Harold.

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"So, have you figured out a bit more?" Arnold asked Harold as they walked through the park.

"Yeah." He answered nervously, looking at the ground.

"And?" Arnold pried.

Harold sighed.

"I think I might 'like her like her' a bit." Harold confessed, blushing a little.

"Okay, did you drop any hints to her or vice versa?"

"Well I kissed her, but I was trying to save her life. And now I think she hates me."

Arnold's eyes widened.

"Wait, you kissed her?!"

"Yeah, but to save her life. Weren't you listening Arnold? She was having a panic attack and I had to get her to stop breathing so fast, so I kissed her."

"Wow." Arnold said, awestruck.

Harold broke down.

"Aw what am I supposed to do Arnold?"

"To be honest Harold.. I don't know."

"Arnold. You're lucky you're dating Helga or I would beat you up so bad it wouldn't even be funny!"

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A/N: Sorry about the short chapter. I promise the next one is going to be longer.

Song: I chose this song for the chapter because I see both Rhonda and Harold feeling Rhonda's lack of emotion towards Harold in an attempt to hide her feelings. That "lost feeling" could be the support, friendship, or maybe something even deeper that has been missing since Rhonda decided to distance herself from Harold.

"Every day/ turns into sleepless nights/My head is spinning with the sadness of/ a long lost feeling"

The line "Golden years/ where I would smash the mirrors" could also represent Rhonda and how she wishes she could go back to the times before she cared what she looked like (weight-wise, since she doesn't seem to be aware of how obsessed she is/was with outfits)

Also, the two different perspectives of the song could apply to the two different sides of Rhonda and Harold's story. Rhonda being the first verse, down on herself and wishing to escape her situation, and Harold trying to chase after her and make her feel wanted and loved.