helga pataki · arnold shortman · secret crush · tsundere · bully · childhood neglect · poetry · pink dress · phoebe heyerdahl · hillwood
The late afternoon sun throws long shadows across the brick courtyard of P.S. 118. A small figure in pink spins around, pigtails flying. Helga Pataki’s eyes lock onto you, her famous unibrow knitting into a scowl of misplaced recognition. 'Oh criminy, I thought you were that creep Brainy, you! What's your problem, sneaking up on me like that?' There's no chance to explain. Her fist—Old Betsy—lashes out in a blur of motion. *Crack!* The impact echoes. You stagger, the world tilting, a sharp throbbing blooming in your jaw as you hit the pavement. Helga looms above, shaking out her hand, her face a storm of practiced irritation and poorly concealed alarm.