Arnold woke up with the same ache in his head for the 5th straight day. At least it's my day off from work, he thought, I can actually sleep off this hangover. He sat up on his bed, contemplating If he had enough energy to make it to the bathroom. "Screw it", he thought I have to piss, and I'm not gonna go in my pants.
He got up off his bed and trudged his way through his messy apartment to the bathroom. He relieved himself and started groggily making his way back to his bed. He slunked backed down on his mattress. At that moment his phone started to ring. "Crap", Arnold thought, praying it wasn't his boss calling him in to work. He picked up his phone seeing it was Gerald calling and answered. "Hello". "Arnold my man, how you doin buddy." Gerald's voice sent a sharp pain to Arnold's temple. " Ehh, got a killer headache." Arnold responded. " Another hangover huh." "Right on the money Gerald." "Gotcha man. I'll let you go, but I'm stopping over tonight, we need to talk." "Sounds good" arnold responded. Arnold hung up the phone, and tossed it on the floor beside the bed. He laid back putting his head under the pillow, hoping he could fall asleep right away.
Arnold woke up to the sound of his cell phone receiving a text message. He sat up quickly and was relieved that there wasn't a sharp pain in his head, as he did. "Well I've successfully slept one off again" he thought. He fumbled around on the floor until he found his cell phone. Pulling it up to his face he read the text message from Gerald saying he would be stopping by around 7. "Great now we will have to have a conversation I've been trying to avoid for the past week." He walked over to the fridge, pulled out a beer, and sat down at his makeshift kitchen table.
He knew he had become somewhat of an alcoholic these past few months, but honestly he didn't really care. It numbed the pain of his disappointing life. His crappy job at the warehouse, his dingy apartment, and the general awareness that everyone he grew up with saw him as a failure, including his parents. He would be lying to himself though saying those were the reasons why he was a drunk. He knew deep down the real reason he drank was losing her, but he hardly had the nerve to admit it. He put his head on the table and replayed the last words she said to him in his head for the millionth time."I think The idea of you was better than than the reality."
Arnold woke up to the sound of knocking at his door. "Damn", he thought "I must have dozed off". He quickly got up from the table, and opened the door. Arnold gazed up at Gerald who was wearing an irritated look on his face. "Man, I thought you were dead in there." Said Gerald. "What?", arnold responded. " I called you about 5 times, and have been knocking on your door for the last 5 minutes." "Oh sorry Gerald you know I'm a heavy sleeper." "Yea when you drink", Gerald remarked. Arnold ignored what Gerald said, not wanting to get into a fight with him about his drinking. "Well come in and sit down", Arnold suggested. Gerald walked into the apartment noticing how surprisingly messy it was. Gerald also noticed Arnold's messy appearance. His hair was unkempt, and his beard was longer than Gerald had ever seen it.
Gerald took a seat at the kitchen table. "Sorry I haven't been over in a while, but things have been crazy at work, and you know me and Phoebe are knee deep in planning our wedding." Arnold took a seat across from Gerald at the table. " No worries. I know that it must be crazy planning a wedding. Plus we hang out a bunch anyway." "Well we try", responded Gerald. "Anyway the reason I need to talk you is you had me concerned with what you said last week." "What do you mean?" Arnold retorted, knowing exactly what Gerald was getting at. "You know when you said you didn't know if you were going to the wedding." "Oh yeah that", Arnold responded. Arnold got up from the table and went for the fridge. "You want a beer?" Said Arnold. "No thanks" Gerald replied.
Gerald knew his friend had a real problem, but he knew it wasn't the Right time time to address it. "So were you serious about not going to my wedding?", asked Gerald. Arnold sat back down with his beer in hand. " uhh.. I don't know Gerald, is she gonna be there." A look of pain came across Arnold's face. "You mean Helga", Gerald questioned. " Yes obviously I mean Helga." Arnold responded, as he took a massive gulp of his beer. " I'm not prepared to run into that women anytime soon. I don't know how I would handle it." Said Arnold. Gerald looked at his friend feeling a bit sad for him. " Well yes I understand, but she will definitely be there she's Phoebe's maid of honour." "I don't Gerald I really don't want to see her." Arnold said. " You know what Arnold. You're gonna have to just suck it up." Arnold looked at Gerald surprised by what he just said. Gerald continued. " You're my best man, and I know you better than anyone you would never let me down. I know what happened with you and Helga was painful, and I understand completely you not wanting to see her. However I know you will pull through for me that's just how you're wired."
Gerald felt bad taking a hard tone with Arnold, but hoped it would do him some good. He really didn't have the energy to try and convince Arnold every day for the next month to come to his wedding. Arnold stood up and walked to the front door. " Let's go out and do something." he said.. "I've been cooped up in this apartment all day." "Ok" Gerald agreed, ignoring the fact that Arnold chose not to respond to what he had just said. "What do you have in mind?". "Let's go to the bar. We can walk." Responded Arnold. Gerald stood up and walked over to Arnold, patting him on the back. "Ok my man, but don't over do it tonight. I don't want to have to drag your drunk ass home again." Arnold looked at him and smirked "That was one time Gerald." He said chuckling. "I'm not that bad.
They left Arnold's apartment and hit the streets of Hillwood, like they had done so many times before. They walked the couple blocks to the bar in silence, taking in the familiar scenery, and enjoying the spring weather. As soon as they entered the bar Gerald's phone rang. " I'm gonna step out to take this." Gerald said to Arnold. Arnold nodded his head. "You know where I'll be" he said pointing to the front of the bar". Gerald rolled his eyes and smiled as he walked out of the bar.
Arnold made his way to the counter taking a seat on one of the bar stools. He glanced around noticing there was only a handful of people. "Well that makes sense" he thought, knowing it was Thursday. He did however notice something out of the ordinary. Behind the bar stood a tall brunette women who Arnold pegged at around his age. "That's odd" he thought. Usually Greg was the bartender on week days. He had actually become pretty decent friends with the guy, seeing as he frequented the bar regularly. "This is definitely an upgrade though" he thought staring directly at her, as she served a fellow patron. "She's gorgeous."
She spotted Arnold at the end of the bar, and started walking towards him. Arnold bit his lower lip nervously. "Hello", she said upbeat displaying an infectious smile. "What are you drinking?." Arnold returned the smile, while trying to think of a clever response. "What's your drink of choice?" He said. She looked at him playfully. " Well I'm not really a drinker." "Ahh well neither am I" he shot back at her with a smile. "Whatever beers on tap is ok with me." She smiled once again "coming right up", she said as she turned to walk to the end of the bar. She turned around halfway down the bar and gave him a wink.
"She's cute." Gerald exclaimed. Arnold had been so infatuated with her that he hadn't noticed Gerald walk up behind him. "Uh oh yeah" Arnold responded still a bit blindsided. "You gonna go for it?" Gerald said half jokingly. "Uhh I don't know Gerald that's not really my style." Arnold replied grinning. " Yea your going for it, I know you well enough." Gerald said laughing. " Anyway Sorry to say this buddy, but I have to split now." Arnold turned around to look at his friend. "Anything wrong?" He asked. "Oh, nah man not at all.", Gerald said smiling. " The fiance requires my presence." Gerald winked at Arnold. Arnold shot him a smirk back. " Well don't let me hold you up, get to it." Gerald patted his friend on the back and headed for the door. "I'll see you soon buddy", Gerald shouted from the door. "Yes you will", Arnold shouted back as Gerald walked out the door. Arnold turned back around seeing the cute bartender heading towards him, with his drink. "This is gonna be a good night", he thought.