DISCLAIMER TIME! I don't own Hey Arnold, which belongs to Viacom, Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett!

Okay, here's something I've decided to do, a bit of a short story, about five to six chapters long, starring our favorite bug-lover, Nadine! Just a little Hey Arnold side-project while I write my stories. Anyway, enjoy!

Inside the confines of PS 118, Rhonda and Nadine were hanging out together as Nadine was smiling, drawing a brand new picture. Rhonda sighed as she laid her head back. "Nadine, I will never understand your love for these disgusting creatures."

"Hey, come on, Rhonda. I'm a bug enthusiast!" Nadine said. "It's who I am, after all."

"Nadine, I understand where you're coming from, and I can understand your love for these creatures, but I can't." Rhonda groaned. "I mean, no offense, but I can't just stand the bugs you collect. I will never understand WHY you love these creatures."

"Oh sure, Miss I-Can't-Go-Five-Seconds-Without-Screaming-When-I-Hold-Nadine's-Pet-Tarantula." Nadine glared at Rhonda.

"Well, I can't." Rhonda sighed. "Nadine, you're a great friend, one I can ask for... but when it came to a choice between getting randomly picked on by Helga, be hugged by Curly, OR stand in a room of bugs, the room of bugs would be the second thing I'd have to worry about."

"Your first one is being hugged by Curly?" Nadine asked.

"Wouldn't you know it." Rhonda groaned. "Anyway, I have to get going to my house. Mom is expecting me. See you later, Nadine."

"Bye, Rhonda." Nadine waved as the two departed.

As Rhonda went on her way home to get herself ready for something important, Nadine decided to stop by the park, where she knew there were plenty of bugs around to help out.

Unlike other girls, Nadine was the only girl that didn't seem to be afraid of any bug, whether it was the beautiful butterfly or the hairy-legged tarantula. She wanted to go around, look at every bug, see if they were doing okay. She smiled as she was walking around a few trees, slowly examining some ladybugs that were laying on some grass.

"Aww, how sweet." Nadine smiled as she saw the ladybugs fly on her way. She then noticed a few butterflies flying around the area as she giggled. She dug around her backpack and dug out her butterfly net.

Meanwhile, around the same time, a young boy wearing a red and blue shirt with brown khaki shorts was walking around, holding up a net. This young boy seemed to be wanting to catch butterflies as well.

"Looks like I've got a target." The boy smirked as he spotted a spotted orange monarch butterfly fluttering about. He carefully pulled out his butterfly net as he was chasing after his target... little knowing that he was about to run right into someone with a similar interest.

Nadine was giggling as she let go of a blue butterfly out of her net. "Here you go, little girl."

Nadine looked up and noticed an orange butterfly fluttering over. She smiled as she raised her net up a bit. She ran up to the butterfly as she was about to swing down... but the butterfly changed altitude as it flew up, causing her to miss... or rather, she did catch something, but she got hit by another net in the process.

"Ow." Nadine said as she rubbed her head.

"Oh, I'm sorry." A male voice said. "I didn't see you there."

Nadine looked over to see the young brown haired boy, being a little concerned for Nadine. Nadine gave a little smile. "No, it's all right. My fault, really. Sorry I caught you with my net."

The boy shrugged. "Eh, it probably happens to somebody."

"So, you're a butterfly catcher?" Nadine asked the boy as she picked up her net.

"More of a... bug collector." The boy said.

Nadine gasped a little bit at what she heard the boy said.

The boy laughed a little as he said, "No, no, don't worry, I don't kill bugs. I usually release them. You can say it's a bit of a hobby I have."

"Wow." Nadine said as she sat down. "I've been a bug enthusiast most of my life. Raised by parents born in the sixties can do wonders."

"Wow..." The boy said. "I was mostly raised for sporting events myself. My parents train me up for just about every sport. After all, a Wittenberg's belief in sports is that everything is competitive, as long as you make your own goals."

"Wait... Wittenberg?" Nadine raised an eyebrow. "As in Coach Wittenberg?"

"Yeah, my father." The boy said as he sat down. "You heard of him?"

"One of my friends participated in a bowling team that had your father as a coach!" Nadine said. "He also remarried your mother, I believe?"

The boy nodded. "Yeah. I wasn't there for the wedding because I had to visit my grandmother who was out of town, but I heard it was a very eventful wedding."

"Yeah, you should have been there. Your mother and father were being competitive over an air hockey match." Nadine laughed.

The boy laughed a little. "Yeah, that's Mom and Dad. Always competing for the top prize... but they still love each other."

"Have you ever participated in any of the teams they coached?" Nadine asked.

"Sometimes, but mostly on my mother's teams. I've been on a couple of my father's teams, I was in his basketball one for sure." The boy explained.

"Wait, basketball team..." Nadine paused. "I think I've heard of you from one of my friends. Your name is Tucker, right? As in 'Pass the ball to Tucker'?"

"Yep, same person." Tucker said. "Though if that's what your friends are quoting every time they think of me... that's pretty depressing."

"Why's that?" Nadine asked.

"Because I know my father means well, but throughout that season, he relied on that strategy of me being the best player too much. Heck, I couldn't make free throws until Arnold helped me." Tucker explained.

"Wow." Nadine said.

"Anyway, you already know my name, so I should probably ask for yours." Tucker smiled. "What might your name be, lovely maiden?"

Nadine giggled a bit at the fake chivalry. "Well, my name is Nadine Robinson... but you can call me Nadine."

"Very well, Nadine." Tucker smiled as he and I got up. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Same here." Nadine smiled. "Say, you're a bug collector of sorts?"

"Of course." Tucker smiled. "I've been collecting bugs and letting them go most of my life."

"Do you like spiders?" Nadine asked as the two walked together.

"What boy doesn't?" Tucker laughed. "Hey, you mind if I hang around with you for a while? I want to practice my bug catching... for an upcoming bug catching tournament."

"Oh, the Bug Catcher's Tournament! Yeah, I've heard about that!" Nadine smiled. "First prize is five hundred dollars for the biggest insect!"

"Yeah!" Tucker smiled. "While I don't really care as much for winning as my mom and dad do, I still want to compete just for fun."

"Yeah, I want to compete in that for fun as well." Nadine smiled, holding her net. "So, you want to do a little contest to see what bug we can get that's big? Best two out of three?"

Tucker laughed. "You kiddin'? I'm going to enjoy this!"

Nadine smirked as she and Tucker readied their nets. "Great! Let's get ourselves pumped up, shall we?"

"We shall." Tucker smirked as he clenched his butterfly net.

Nadine giggled a bit as the two were about ready to find the biggest bug they could get. And once Nadine snapped her fingers, giving the 'go' signal, the two started to play around, just for fun, of course.

And there's the first chapter! How do you like it? More is coming on the way, so don't miss it! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, everyone!