[NEW AUTHOR'S NOTE: 9/19/2017]
Okay, I think I've got everything planned out! As of now though, this story will feature only Arnold AND Helga, with cameo appearances from Gerald and Phoebe! This story idea is based on the concept of the suspense/horror movie, "The Strangers". Now before you read, let me just say four things:
1. The ending of this will not be like the movie's ending. It'll be totally different.
2. Other than seeing the ending of the "The Strangers", I have not watched the whole movie. I do know the premise though. However, I'm going to use creative license to make it my creation, with little bits of things that I got from the trailer. :)
3. There will be five "strangers" instead of three. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing...hopefully. But seriously, I hope that's okay. :P
4. Arnold and Helga(as well as Phoebe and Gerald) are also 20 in this.
Alrighty! It's time to get this party on the road! Heads up though, things might become M rated soon…maybe. I don't know, I'm never good at making over the top gore…I get kind of uneasy. D8 Anywho, here's the prologue! :D
But first!
Disclaimer: I don't own "Hey Arnold!" or the movie concept of "The Strangers". I'm doing this out of fun and creativity. :)
[EDITED AND REVISED: 10/7/2017]
…Is Anybody Home?...
The bright red full-size car drove on the two-lane road to the backcountry away from the city limits of Hillwood, passing by many trees, their branches and leaves shading the afternoon sun. It was an hour drive to their destination, the miles now being only fifteen left.
Four people were in the car, being oddly quiet. The one who was driving was a petite half-Asian girl, her hair in a braided ponytail, wearing cute glasses, a green tank-top, a pair of light skinny jeans, and black ankle wrapped ballet flats. In the passenger seat, a tall well-built African-American guy, whose hair looked three inches tall on his head, was wearing a white undershirt under a red long sleeved shirt, pair of dark jeans, and black and white Nike's.
In the back seat, two other people, man and woman and both blonde, sat on each side of the back of the car quietly. The young woman, whose hair was flowing, sat in the back of the driver's seat, her arms crossing and looking out the window to see the passing trees, almost as if they were interesting to look at instead of the people in the car. She was wearing a pink shirt with a red stripe across her chest, jean shorts, and pink low top converse sneakers. The young blonde man was a football-shaped headed individual, who was wearing a red plaid light jacket openly with a blue shirt underneath it, jeans, and black and white sneakers. He was sitting on the other side of the car, looking out the window as well, as if trying to avoid eye contact form the young woman next to her.
The half-Asian girl, whose name is Phoebe Heyerdahl, drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. The African-American, named Gerald Johanssen, sat quietly in his passenger seat. The two people in the back seat, the girl, Helga G. Pataki, and the boy, Arnold Shortman, sat in their seats, both looking like they're seemingly trying to avoid eye contact with each other.
Phoebe kept her eyes on the road all the while checking her rear-view mirror on her friends. Ever since they got in the car and drove out of Hillwood, Helga and Arnold haven't spoken to each other. Obviously not a good way to start this trip, but she was always hopeful.
'At least they got in the car. That's saying something.' Phoebe thought as she nervously bit her bottom lip.
Remembering the resolution to the confrontation forty-five minutes ago was still a surprise. It happened when they drove to the boarding house to pick up Arnold...
"Helga!?" Arnold exclaimed in shock as he opened the right side of the car door.
Helga blinked as she looked up from her book while sitting in the middle seat. "What the-Arnold!?" she then turned to her friend in the driver's seat, her expression showing aggravation. "Phoebe, what the hell is going on!?" Helga demanded.
"Helga, sit there," Phoebe said in a firm tone.
"Hell no!" Helga unbuckled her middle seatbelt and scooted to the left side of the car to open the door. However, Phoebe turned on the lock to her door so she wouldn't get out. "Damn it, Phoebe!" She tried to fiddle with the lock but proved fruitless. Even when she did manage to pull the lock up, Phoebe locks it again instantly.
"Helga, you and Arnold need to reconcile your differences," Phoebe informed.
"Why should I!? He clearly stated that we needed a break!" Helga said in disdain.
Arnold looked inside of the car to glance at Gerald incredulously. "Seriously Gerald? You were in on this?"
"Hey, this is all Phoebe's idea. I'm just helping my girl out," he said in defense. "But honestly, you and Helga definitely do need to reconcile."
"We're not going to reconcile anything!" Helga testily said.
"Look, we know of your rocky situation, and we thought maybe we could help and assist you two on the problem," Phoebe explained.
"There's nothing to help!" Helga countered.
"So what, you guys are hunky-dory now?" Gerald asked them sarcastically.
The blonde woman didn't say anything as she glared at Gerald, while Arnold stood there rubbing the back of his head in anxiety.
"You know...technially, we are still together," Arnold muttered.
Helga turned her head to him with a surprised look.
"That's right. Which means, you guys didn't officially break up. You both agreed that you two needed a break from each other." Phoebe pointed out.
Helga sat there mulling over a moment on what Arnold and Phoebe said, but mostly on what Arnold said. Shaking her head as she felt a headache coming on, she sighed loudly before saying, "You know what...you're already here, Arnoldo. Just...get in the car."
Arnold and even Phoebe and Gerald looked at her in surprise.
"R-Really?" Arnold asked stunned.
"Yeah. Why not? Don't expect me to talk to you though." Helga advised.
Arnold's face looked dejected. "...Okay then..." He turned his attention to Phoebe. "Is the trunk open?"
"Oh, um, yes, it is," Phoebe replied, still a little shocked that Helga was willing enough to let him come along. It couldn't be that easy, could it?
"Thanks." he went around to the back of the car to put his luggage in the trunk. Closing it, he went back to the opened right side of the door and climbed in, closing it and buckling his seatbelt.
"Alright...I'm ready," Arnold said.
Helga grunted.
Phoebe and Gerald turned to each other in bewilderment at the situation.
Gerald laid back in his seat. "Well...I guess we're off."
"Uh...yeah," Phoebe said, still in a daze. She shook her head and turned on the car. It was then she whispered. "I hope this works."
The ride was still quiet...
It really was mostly Phoebe's idea to arrange this get-together; her boyfriend was just in this for the ride. Gerald actually invited Arnold for a day-stay vacation with him and Phoebe at her family's lake house in the countryside, while Phoebe invited Helga as well separately. They were heading to the lake house during Spring Break on a Thursday afternoon and were staying there until tomorrow morning. Arnold and Helga actually did agree to come along so they can get away from the city, although they didn't know that the other person would be coming.
Again, Phoebe was hopeful that this could work. They agreed to come along, so that was a good sign. Gerald had his doubts about this whole thing, but he really did want to help out his buddy Arnold. However, he still was waiting for the inevitable for when those infamous Arnold and Helga 'scuffles' will start coming back. He didn't doubt Phoebe's good intentions though. It was just that if he knew those two, they were going to be upset over the most absurd things, so much, that it would take an hour for them to give each other the cold shoulder.
As for Arnold and Helga, they both really do appreciate what Phoebe is doing. Sure, one of them is a little peeved at what the other person had said back in the Christmas holidays, the argument still fresh in their minds, but in a way, they still have feelings for each other. They don't hate each other; not by a long shot. However, they soon started to realize the complications of having a relationship. Not everything is all 'happy rainbows', as Helga would say, and Arnold knows that having a relationship was going to be tough. This whole "reconnecting" idea could probably work...or maybe not. They'll just have to wait and see.
Either way, three years ago, Helga, the brash but honest young woman who was a gifted poet, finally confessed Arnold her love for him when they were seventeen. Arnold, the kind and understanding person who is willing to give people a second chance, was shocked at this revelation. It happened in one of Rhonda's parties, a New Year's Eve party to be exact.
Everyone was chatting away and drinking non-alcoholic eggnog in Rhonda's mansion, waiting for the New Year to ring around. Arnold was relaxing on the couch in the grand living room, drinking his eggnog(that hopefully wasn't punched by Curly) and looking around at the guests who were talking to each other.
He spotted Stinky, Harold, and Sid, probably discussing sports as Stinky and Sid played basketball, while Harold played football. He also saw Rhonda, Nadine, Sheena, and along with Eugene, chatting up about drama class he would think. He also spotted Gerald talking(or flirting to be more precise) with Phoebe, the African-American wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive but teasing matter, while Phoebe just giggled. Arnold chuckled at their interaction. He then realized that if Phoebe was here, then Helga might be here as well…
Arnold and Helga's relationship really evolved drastically during the years. When they were younger at their school in PS 118, Helga was portrayed as a bully tomboy, shoving people and threatening them with her fists. She always specifically picked on Arnold the most, calling him 'football head', and always insulting him. But as time went on, the loud bully tomboy persona began to crumble. Of course, she still acts tough and has that no-nonsense attitude, but she has somewhat softened up to her classmates and friends. She doesn't even oppose to things that are girly anymore...well, kind of. She just technically wants to make herself look nice. The relationship between her and Arnold also changed in due time, as Arnold, being the nice and patient guy that he is, got to know Helga even further during the years. She even seemed to open more and even revealed her love of poetry, which stunned Arnold. To think that the tough girl he knows for so long has a soft creative side.
During the time that has passed, they even slowly became friends, Helga cracking a few harmless sardonic jokes to Arnold, which in turn made him actually laugh, to Helga not really calling him 'football head' anymore.
Arnold was glad for the friendship with Helga, finally getting to know her and letting her break down her barriers. Although…even though he's glad he's friends with Helga, he can't deny that Helga turned quite attractive during the years.
Helga transformed her tomboyish look, into a stunning beauty. She still stood almost a little taller than Arnold, just a few inches, but still looked gorgeous. Her figure matured into curves, her legs were toned and long thanks to playing basketball, and her hair flowed down to her waist.
She even took the time to pluck off the mono-brow to let her have two perfectly arched eyebrows, which to be perfectly honest, he kind of was disappointed that she did that. It's what made her her. He did ask about it one day, which she said she "had her reasons". He didn't delve any further after that. If she had a reason why she got rid of it, then he'll respect that.
Either way, her face still has the same beauty to it even when she was nine…he always did thought Helga was attractive in her own way...which led to Arnold realizing something else during the time he spent with her.
He was starting to 'like her-like her'.
After all the hanging out they've done, Arnold started to realize that Helga may be the most interesting and fascinating person he has ever met. She now revealed her true self along with her hopes, goals, and dreams, making her a truly unique woman with a beautiful soul…and that made him all the more infatuated with her.
In fact…ever since that day at the top of the FTi building, when she herself 'confessed' to Arnold about her love to him, it made him think about that day for a good while through the years. Of course, she said it wasn't for real and said it was in the 'heat of the moment', and they went back to their daily lives, but honestly, thinking about it right now…he didn't know if he should believe that anymore. He even started to think about Helga in the strangest way when he turned ten. He didn't want to admit that, because seriously, who falls in love with their former bully? At least, it didn't start out as love. It started out more as a simple liking towards someone, to admiration at age thirteen, and then to age fifteen…to fully loving every bit of her company.
All he knows is that as time went on…he was really starting to fall in love with her.
Of course, Arnold couldn't just straight up tell Helga about these feelings. What would she say, or do? Would she laugh, turn him down? Arnold couldn't face the humiliation.
While he was thinking of Helga, he turned his gaze to the open balcony over to his left.
…That was then he saw a glimpse of blonde hair in a ponytail.
It belongs to a girl(obviously), her back facing away from the party as she was looking out over the railing, her arms on the rail. Curious, Arnold put down his eggnog on the table in front of the couch and walked past the teenage guests outside to the balcony. He went closer to the girl, her back still facing away from him. He decided to say something…
"Um…Helga?" Arnold inquired to the girl.
Sure enough, the girl whirled around to look at Arnold, being none other than Helga.
"Oh! Uh…hey, Arnoldo." Helga said in surprise.
"Hey…um, what are you doing out here?" Arnold asked.
"Oh, just…you know, waiting for the fireworks to start." Helga said as she leaned her back on the railing.
"Oh…" Arnold looked at his wrist watch for the time, which read 11:55 PM. "Oh yeah, the fireworks! …Wow, time sure does fly by."
Helga snorted with a smirk, "Yeah, apparently Rhonda's parties do that." She drummed her fingers on the railing. "So, whatcha doing out here? The party too much for you?"
"Uh…yeah, pretty much. Just getting some fresh air." Arnold said, not completely lying.
"Heh, yeah it was getting a little stuffy in there for me as well," Helga said with a smile.
Arnold smiled back. He looked up at the late night sky and said, "I almost forgot about the city's fireworks display."
"Well, doi, it is New Year's Eve, going on New Year's Day. I don't know how you would forget about that." Helga said in a joking manner.
Arnold chuckled, "Well, I was…" he paused, "…distracted." He said, covering that bit up, not wanting to say what really was distracting him.
Helga raised an eyebrow(it's hard to believe she has those now), feeling as if there was more to that statement. But she shrugged, either way, letting it pass. "Well…" she shifted her eyes to her left, "…since you're here, do you want to wait for the fireworks? I mean, you like fireworks, right?" she said as she looked back at Arnold.
"Um…yeah, I like fireworks," Arnold said, feeling nervous quite a bit. He went to the railing and rests his arms on it, standing next to Helga. The girl turned around to rest her arms again on the rail to look up at the night sky again, waiting for when the fireworks start.
They stood there for a while in awkward silence as they looked up at the sky…until Arnold broke it by saying, "Heh, I just saw Gerald hitting on Phoebe."
Helga snorted, "That doesn't surprise me. Those two should really just make out already. It saves us all the trouble of them beating around the bush."
Arnold laughed softly, "Yeah, tell me about it."
They stood in silence once more…
"Alright, everybody! The countdown to the New Year is about to start!" they could hear Rhonda's voice inside the house, "Let's all gather around and watch the ball drop!"
Arnold chuckled, "Looks like the fireworks are about to start."
"Heh, yeah. You would think looking at them out here would be more spectacular instead of watching it on some big flat screen TV." Helga drawled.
"Yeah…it's actually more pleasant to watch them outside…with company." Arnold added that last part absentmindedly. His eyes widened at the slip up, but kept his composure.
Helga turned her head to Arnold and blinked. "Um…yeah…"
Arnold tried very hard not to look back at her enchanted face and those beautiful eyes, so he kept looking up at the sky.
The two of them still stood there out on the balcony, both leaning on it.
They were close to each other just a bit, perhaps a foot away from each other. They can hear their friends' counting down the New Year at forty-five seconds.
"So…what's your New Year's resolution?" Helga asked Arnold.
He shrugged, "Maybe try to get into a good college and get a degree in anthropology."
"Really?" Helga said interested, "Hm. Mine is like that too, except I want to get a degree in creative writing."
Arnold turned his head at Helga with a warm smile. "Cool. I have no doubt in my mind that you'll do excellent in that major."
Helga had the slightest blush on her face as she looked away bashfully, "Well…you better not…"
The crowd was now at thirty-five seconds.
Arnold kept his smile, as he turned his gaze towards the night sky once more.
He then had a thought. Could he? Should he? …Can he confess to her?
The guests now counted down to twenty seconds.
'Well…you know her for so long…maybe she feels the same way too.'
Fifteen seconds.
Arnold frowned, 'But what will her reaction be? Can I really just…say it? That I 'like her-like her'?
Ten seconds.
'…This has been bugging me for a while. I can't let it bug me anymore. …I'm gonna say it. I don't care what the consequences are.'
Five seconds.
…Four.
"Helga-" Arnold started.
But then…
Three…
…Helga grabbed the back of Arnold's head and mashed her lips into his.
Two…
Helga's eyes closed as she kissed him. Arnold's eyes were wide as saucers, but he didn't fight back, he was in too much shock.
ONE.
The fireworks instantly sprang to life.
After a couple of seconds and a couple of loud fireworks, Helga broke the kiss and looked at Arnold with a blank expression.
Arnold's face was that of in shock.
Helga's expression then slowly changed into of wide-eyed realization…and then panic.
"Oh crap. I-I'm sorry, I was just-I mean, I…I didn't, I-I mean…criminy! Um…" Helga let go of Arnold and started stuttering, grabbing her head with one hand as she tried to think of something quickly. "Th-the fireworks! T-they make me go a little crazy! U-uh…" She stopped and stared at Arnold, who in turn still looked shocked.
...Awkward silence...
"…Ugh…" Helga groaned, giving up and putting her hand on her face, "Okay, you know what? No backing out now." She lowered her hand and stares at Arnold intensely. "Arnold…I…I like you. …Okay? I like you. I LIKE you! In fact, I even…" she paused, thinking about it for a second. She lowered and shook her head, muttering, "Come on, you can do this…" she looked back at Arnold again, "I love you, Arnold! There! No big deal! I love you! And you know what? Back at the FTi building when we were kids? I meant ALL of what I said! And after all these years, I still love you, Arnold! And I'm glad we're hanging out and getting to know each other better! I…I wanted that…more than you would ever know…" she glanced down, suddenly feeling timid… "…I love you, Arnold."
Arnold's shocked expression softened as he heard her confession…her second one, to be exact.
Helga looked back up at Arnold, still holding the doubt in her eyes, "So…yeah. Now you REALLY know…" She averted her gaze from Arnold to look over her right, trying to watch the fireworks so she doesn't have to deal more of this confession."…Look, just…forget it. I just thought…I would tell you this because we'll be all out of high school in the next several months. I want…I want to spend much time with you as possible before we go to our designated colleges…I'm…" she lowered her head with a pained expression, "…I'm sorry. I don't want to ruin what we already have. I-" but she never finished, as she felt a pair of lips pressed against hers.
Arnold…was kissing Helga!
Helga's eyes were wide, a loss of words…mostly because he was making sure she doesn't say anything as he kisses her. But after it registered to her that he was actually returning the kiss back, Helga then took the opportunity to return it. She wrapped her arms around his neck as Arnold did around hers. They continued like this for a minute, the fireworks blaring and booming in the background into the night sky.
They broke their kiss to catch a breath. Arnold, who was panting, had a sexy smirk on his face and said, "Was kissing me one of your New Year's resolutions?"
Also panting, Helga chuckled, "It wouldn't be if I've already done it."
"Hm…that's true." Arnold smiled at his angel, "Still…I want to also say that…I grew to love you as well, Helga."
Helga looked at him in shock. Is this a dream? It sounded like it could be one of her dreams. "…If this is a dream, I'll be royally pissed."
Arnold laughed, "Well…I guess I'll have to convince you that it isn't a dream."
He kissed her again, deepening it. Helga slowly closed her eyes…she's convinced that it wasn't a dream.
They stood there, kissing each other…not noticing that some of the guests were watching from inside the home.
Harold, Stinky, and Sid looked on with dropped jaws. Rhonda and Nadine were both shocked, but Sheena was trying hard to contain her excitement while Eugene was smiling, tearing up at the couple. Gerald and Phoebe stood there, their mouths wide opened as well. Curly just stood with his eggnog in his hand. He looked at the drink and back at the couple. "Wow. I haven't even spiked it yet." He said in surprise.
"Um…" Sid started, "…Is the world ending now?"
"Oh man, what am I seeing!?" Harold asked in shock.
"Gee-willikers, I never thought I'd see the day," Stinky said in awe.
"Oh…my gosh…" Rhonda said in bafflement.
"Wow…" Nadine said in astonishment.
"Yahoo! I win! Pay up girls!" Sheena cheered with a smile as she held out her hand for the money.
Eugene kept smiling and wiped away his happy tears.
Gerald shook the shock out of his head. "Holy COW! It really happened!"
Phoebe looked on, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her, as she adjusted her glasses. Seeing that it isn't a mirage, she smiled at the scene, giggled happily, and said. "Finally. It's about time!"
And so the fireworks went on as if they were congratulating and commemorating the new couple. Arnold and Helga kept their embrace going, never wanting to let go.
'That was three years ago.' Arnold thought to himself solemnly.
Ever since that day, Arnold and Helga officially became a couple, hanging out in school, and everywhere in Hillwood. They were almost inseparable. They even call each other pet names at times, Football Head being one of the names Helga still calls him, only this time, it was in a teasing and affectionate way. They even gave each other timid but sweet kisses to each other. They were actually a great pair, their attitudes mixing well with their personalities.
After high school, they went to their respective colleges, Helga at a small but prestigious liberal arts college, and Arnold a university that studies research and anthropology. They set up a time to talk to each other whenever they have the chance, sharing what they've studied and basically telling each other how their days went.
It was all going really well…until the calls started to become less and less frequent through their junior year.
When this happened, Helga got worried about it, wondering if she's been calling too much. So she texted him, trying to ease her doubts. Arnold replied back saying that he was just busy with certain studies, and will try to call back when he can. Helga understood this as she's also busy as well with her literary studies, so she waited for Arnold to make the calls.
However, he hadn't called back until three days later. Soon it became four days until he called back. Then five days. Then it became a week. This started happening all throughout their first semester, and it was really starting to worry her now. It was then she decided to call him during the Christmas holidays when they went back to Hillwood. She called Arnold at the boarding home as they finally talked about their lack of communication...but that was until their conversation took an ugly turn that day.
"Helga?" Arnold said in surprise.
"Hey Arnold! Um...you're not like...doing anything right now, are you?" Helga asked a little uncertain.
"Uh, no, no, just...relaxing on the bed right now. Um...how are you?"
"Good, good...I just, um...well, just want to make sure if..."
"...Helga?"
"...Okay, I'm gonna be blunt. Are you avoiding me?"
Arnold blinked. "What?"
"Just please answer the question." Helga pleaded.
Arnold cringed. He kind of knew this was coming. "H-Helga, no, I'm not. I'm just...very busy."
"Doing what?"
"...I'm..." he sighs. "Look, Helga, I...I have to do something personal."
"...Like what?"
"...There's a reason I want a degree in anthropology. I...I'm actually trying to look for my parents."
Silence on the other line.
"...Arnold-"
"Look, before you say anything, I know, I know, but...I just...I need to know."
"...Arnold, there's a chance that they're-"
"Please don't finish that statement, Helga."
"Arnold, I'm just...stating possible facts."
"Well, I don't like those possible facts."
Helga sighs also. "Arnold, look, I...I just don't want you to get your hopes up if that's the case."
"Helga, I feel like they're out there somewhere!"
"But how can you really tell?"
"I just...I just do, okay!?" Arnold said, a little frustrated at Helga's negative outlook on the situation.
"Arnold, it's been who knows how long since you last saw them when you were young. It-It can't be possible that they could be-"
"I thought you would understand," Arnold muttered in aggravation.
"...What?"
"I thought you would be supportive on this."
"Wha-Arnold, I just...don't want you to be disappointed."
"Right now, I'm disappointed in you."
"What!? Arnold, I'm just-"
"Being realistic? Well, so am I. I just have a feeling they could still be out there, and they could still be alive."
"Arnold, please, I was just saying-"
"No, you know what? I don't want to hear it. I thought you would understand."
"Arnold, I do understand! Would you just let me-"
"Let you what!? Tell me that it's possible that my parents are dead!?"
"...Arnold...I just...I just want to see you again, okay? I don't...I don't want us to fight."
Arnold sat there, almost mulling over her words.
"...So that's what this is about."
"What?"
"Helga, I know that I haven't called since the end of September, but please consider this. I need to find out what happened to my parents."
"Wait, what are you saying?"
Arnold sighed. "Helga, I don't want you to cling onto me about this. Please don't be selfish."
"Wait, selfish!? You think I'm being selfish!? Arnold, I was just trying to-"
"Just please support me on this, Helga," Arnold said softly.
A silence was on the other line...
"...You know, I think you're the one that's being selfish."
Arnold blinked. "What?"
"Sure, I can see why you're upset and dedicated on finding them, but don't you think you're being too hopeful about this? The chances right now are too slim. They've been gone ever since you were a toddler."
Arnold sat there in silence...
"...I really thought you would understand."
Helga lost it. "ARNOLD! I DO!"
"Just admit that you're selfish," he said with such defeat.
...Now there was dead silence.
"...No. I'm not."
"Helga-"
"Arnold, if you were having this problem, we would have talked about it. But you didn't! You just kept it to yourself, wanting to do this on your own! You're the one that's being selfish! I was beginning to think you were losing interest in me! Do you know how that makes me feel!?"
"Helga, please-"
"How could you say that I'm being selfish when I just don't want you to be hurt!? And maybe it is a little selfish that I want you to stay here in the country and not go anywhere! But I don't want to risk you breaking down if you find out that your parents could be dead!"
"HELGA, JUST STOP!"
...Helga stopped talking.
Arnold took a deep, shaky breath. "Helga...maybe...maybe we should take a break."
"...What?"
"I just...I just need some time to myself..."
...A pregnant pause.
"...F-...Fine." Helga said in shock, feeling...betrayed. It soon turned into hurt anger. "We'll take a break. Just know that you're also being selfish about this whole thing, Football Head."
And that was when she hung up.
"Hel-" But it was too late. For a moment, Arnold felt like he should have taken back what he said. He sighed and dropped the phone and rubbed his eyes with his hand, trying to not let any tears escape from his eyes.
He never felt so low in his life.
They all sat there in the car in silence as it drove...
Phoebe broke the ice. "We're almost there. I can remember going to the lake house back when I was younger. It's really nice."
"Hey, this part of the countryside is really nice. I'm sure it's beautiful." Gerald said with a smile to his girlfriend.
Phoebe glanced at Gerald with a sweet smile of her own. Arnold hummed in distractedly, while Helga grunted in agreement as well.
Gerald glanced back at the two and sighed in frustration as he leaned his head back of his chair. "Okay, seriously you guys, at least pretend that you're happy!"
Arnold lifted his head and blinked at his friend, while Helga turned to Gerald with a raised eyebrow.
"Gerald…" Phoebe said quietly.
"I'm sorry, babe, but I can't take this any longer!" Gerald turned in his seat to the both of them. "Look, my gal Phoebe is trying her best to let you guys reconnect with each other. If you two want to be so pouty against each other, then you guys should have just stayed home! I mean, the least you could all do is act like you guys might have a good time!"
Arnold and Helga blinked at Gerald's outburst and looked at each other, wondering what the other is thinking.
Helga stared at Arnold for a moment in silence...
She would be lying if she said she wasn't hopeful, and she was hopeful...
Arnold stared at Helga in silence for a moment as well...
He loves her, he really does to this day…he just feels like during that day back then, he failed her...
They both looked at each other for a couple of more seconds…
…Arnold slowly formed a small smile.
…Helga looked away, holding a pained look on her face.
Arnold frowned…he looked away, a pained expression on his face as well.
Gerald just rolled his eyes and sat back into his seat.
Phoebe, who looked in the rear-view mirror at her two friends, sighed glumly.
Gerald turned to his girlfriend and frowned. Perhaps he should've kept his mouth shut. He sighed and said softly so the people at the back seat wouldn't hear, "I'm sorry, Phoebe, I-"
"No no." Phoebe whispered as well, reassuring him, "It's okay. I appreciate you trying to help out..."
Gerald frown deepened, now feeling embarrassed about going off at his friends. He leans back in his seat and sighs.
They were all quiet...
"...I just hope this works." Phoebe mutters.
Gerald had a solemn look on his face, "Yeah…I hope so too." he mutters as well.
They drove a couple more miles until reaching their destination…
[EDITED AND REVISED: 9/19/2017]
Okay! This is the whole revised first chapter! I hope everything looks great! Tell me if it is! And if you've already read this and are reading this again, then tell me how I did again! XD
And as I said before, stuff will go down real soon. I promise. ;D
I hope the flashback scenes were good! And once again, go on ahead and follow the story if you want! Heck, maybe even fave it while you're at it! But most importantly, leave me a review! I would definitely love to know if it sounds any better! :D
See you all later! As of now, the second chapter is in the process of being written. :)
Keep on rocking everyone! ^_^
-TSP