Helga bounds out the door of her apartment building nodding thank you to the large doorman whom held the door open before she could crash into it. Normally she'd be more polite, he was the person stopping everyone and their mother from raiding her loft on a daily basis, but tonight was not a normal night. Helga had dinner with Phoebe and Gerald every Friday night she was in town, six o'clock every Friday for the last five years, until today. Phoebe text her this morning asking to move dinner back to seven, Helga knew something was up. She races around the corner and crashes head first into a rather muscular chest causing both to go tumbling to the ground.
"Watch where you going you…" She shouted, rubbing her elbow that took the brunt of her fall, stopping the insult sitting on her lips upon closer inspection of the person who got in her way. He was taller than she remembered, more muscular less boyish. His hair was still long but now laid against his head, his head! Although it was much less oblong it still faintly resembled a football. He was on his feet much quicker than she could be and reached out to help her up, muttering apologies until his eyes locked on hers. His breathing catching in his throat and a smile rips across his cheeks. He tears her from the ground and into a bone crushing hug. Her mind as turned to mush.
"Helga, holy cow, it's really you!" He places her on the ground and steps back appraising her while still holding her hand. "Oh my, you look absolutely beautiful!" He takes in her as a whole. Her long blonde hair thrown up into a mess pony tail, tendrils slipping out of place and framing her ice blue eyes. Her lips sent a scowl so familiar he felt he knew it better than the back of his own hands. He looks down the rest of her body and appreciates her form, she is tall and thin, muscular without being too built. She had the body of an athlete with the looks of a model.
"Take a picture it'll last longer," she spits as she tears his hand away.
"Glad to see some things never change," a chuckle escapes his full, even lips. He pulls her into another hug, "It's been, God, fourteen years already?"
She pulls back, disbelief swept across her face, "Yea, fourteen years bucko. Now it's been nice seeing that you as in the way as ever, but I really have to be going, I'm expected somewhere." His face brightens ever more.
"Are you going to Phoebe and Gerald's? I'm supposed to meet them for dinner but I got lost and have been wondering around for nearly twenty minutes." Her mouth popped open slightly, how could they invite him without telling her? Didn't they have any respect for how she would feel just seeing him again? "Want to walk together? You can fill me in on what's been happening with your life!" He takes her hand again leading her the wrong way down the street.
"Well, since you won't let go of my damn hand I suppose I'll have to make sure you go the right way which, for your information, we're not." He stops immediately and smiles an apologetic half smile. She sighs and shakes her head, turning them in the correct direction and beginning to walk. "There's not much to know. I'm a writer. That's about all."
"H. Bliss is just a writer now, huh? Last I read she was regarded as the greatest author of the 21st century." He saw the blush cross her cheeks and raises his free hand in defense from the scorn he was about to receive. "I'm not stupid Helga, and I do read your books, their some of my favorites. I knew it was you from the first I read, I'd recognized the unique perspective of your words. Plus, Dr. Bliss was the school therapist who openly wanted to adopt you."
"Yea, well, if you know me so well what are you asking questions for?" She answers him defensively, he again raises his hands in surrender. "I'm H. Bliss, you happy? I'm in Hillwood because I just finished up another book and every time I finish I come home for a few months and check up on everyone. Meriam is a recovering alcoholic, Big Bob a money hungry asshat. I haven't seen him in three years, yes they're still married but I'm good at avoiding people. I've got a couple other places in some cities around the world, that way I'm never stuck somewhere I don't want to be."
"Where are they, anywhere fun?"
"Not really. One here, one in Los Angeles, one in San Lorenzo, and a few others throughout world in remote locations I'd rather keep to myself."
"You have a place in San Lorenzo? I've spent most of my life wandering around its jungles and you've been a few miles away?" Hurt flashes across his face causing her heart to grow heavy.
"It's in the heart of the city, I'm only there when I need a reminder of how beautiful it is for my books, besides there's not an easy way to reach you bucko." His hurt melts off a little, but it still mares his eyes. "Enough about me, if you're a 'fan' you'll know more than I like to share already. Tell me what you've been up too, how has traveling the world off the grid been?"
"It's been fun. This is my first time back since we all left together. I was in the rainforest when I got a call from my dad that Grandpa broke his plastic hip and needs a replacement surgery. I'm home to run the boarding house while he gets the surgery and recovers."
"You're dad called?" She tilts her head slightly to the left biting her lip, "don't you live with them?"
"Nah, when I turned 18 I began traveling on my own, I've been to every continent at least twice, my new goal is to hit every country. I got my doctorate in cultural anthropology last month actually."
"How do you go to college when you're hiding in the jungle?" She cuts him off, confusion coloring her eyes.
"I have a laptop, and a hot spot." He laughs, squeezing her hand, "anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted," she glares at him, "the only person I really talked to all these years was Gerald. Fill me in, what's happened to our fourth grade gang?"
She snorts, "They're exactly how you'd imagine. Rhonda is a designer in Milan, she's decently successful at it. Curly is her business partner."
"Curly is a fashion partner?"
"Well, doi. 1. He's working with the love of his life. 2. His family owned that dry cleaners up the street from our school. 3. He's always been a little eccentric, don't you remember his dancing?" He shrugs his shoulders, slightly embarrassed at her tone, "Anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted, they sleep together once after every collection, beyond that it's strictly business. Eugene and Sheena live in NYC. He's an actor on Broadway and she's a playwright and director. They moved in together during college and date on and off. They invite me to a lot of their opening nights since I'm in a similar business. Uhm, you know about Phoebe and Gerald. Harold and Patty have two kids and are happily married since the summer after high school. Stinky and Sid live in a 'bro pad' downtown, they own a popular restaurant that specializes in seasonal dishes. Sid cooks the food and Stinky grows almost everything himself on his family's old plot. Lila and Arnie moved in together, he finally gave up on me and she's smitten. Nadine is a new age hippie who travels the county collecting bugs, according to her blog she's a vegan and believes in meditation. I will admit her dreads are pretty cool. Everyone else is still around town or off at college."
"Wow, I'm honestly a little impressed you kept up with everyone."
"You'd be surprised what writers block can cause you to do." She smirks a him. She stops short and ushers him with her free arm to the entrance of a historic apartment building.
Phoebe rushes around the apartment one last time making sure everything was ready for their friends to come over. She felt dizzy and slightly overwhelmed, this would be interesting. Gerald sits at the counter in the kitchen watching her, a smile etched into his face. She was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. She was still petite but had grown have the same shape as her mother. Her hair was worn to her chin, accentuating her gray eyes. He is a lucky man indeed. They hear voices approaching their door, voices discussing the pros and cons of historic buildings. Phoebe stations herself at the entrance and Gerald walks over behind her, lying an arm around her waist, she is nervous for the tongue lashing she is about to receive. There is no knock, no ringing of a doorbell, just the bang as the door hit the back wall and the sight of Helga walking in and kicking off her shoes. Arnold stands behind her and much taller than either Phoebe or Gerald remember. He watches with amusement as Helga strolls over the couch and flops down.
"My man!" Gerald nearly shouts out causing Phoebe to jump forward slightly. Arnold and he exchange their handshake from childhood before hugging tightly and slapping each other's backs. Arnold then turns his attention to Phoebe noting how much she had changed but how her eyes were still calculating everything around her at a million miles a minute. They hug, not nearly as hard as he and Gerald had, but hard enough to crack a few vertebrae in her upper back.
"Crap, I'm sorry Phoebe it's just so amazing seeing you guys again. You've both changed so much, like Gerald," he turns addressing his friend, "the goatee is a lot cooler than I thought it would be."
"Well of course it is, you know the ladies love good facial hair."
"Oh the ladies, Gerald. Just how many females are you corresponding with?" Phoebe asks with mock jealousy.
"Just you foxy mama." Gerald's arms wrap around her waist, pulling her into him from behind and kissing her neck. Arnold feels a pain of jealousy stab at his chest, he wants a relationship that was loving and teasing. His attention is diverted when he hears the sound system click on and a Dino Spumoni song begins to play.
"You're really comfortable here aren't you Helga," he teases the brilliant blonde as she puts the remote down and walks back over to her group of friends intently.
"She should be, this was her apartment before she gifted it to Gerald and I."
"Wait, she gave you guys this place?"
"Yes, when Gerald and I decided it was time to move in together. She had bought it when she turned 18 with money she had saved from publishing her poetry. She furnished it for us and everything. We're still trying to find a way to repay her." Arnold stands silent for a long moment. Helga gave her first apartment to her friends free of charge. She's changed much more then Arnold initially realized and he is determined to discover how deep that change traveled.
"Phoebe Heyerdahl!" Helga screams while grabbing Phoebe's left hand and pulling it to her face, "When the hell were you planning on telling me about this?!"
"Over a nice dinner…" Phoebe sheepishly smiled at her best friend whose own eyes were glistening. Helga pulls Phoebe into soul crushing hug, both girls giggling and crying. Arnold looks to Phoebe's hand and sees what the fuss is about, on it is a ring with a diamond so large it could be used as a marble. He slaps Gerald on the back, he had said it was important for Arnold to be at dinner tonight.
After twenty minutes of congratulations and crying, everyone was calm enough to sit at the dinner table and begin eating as well has hearing of Hillwood High's class couple finally decided to tie the knot.
"Helga nearly had an aneurism when I asked her to come an hour later to dinner tonight." Gerald chuckled.
"Look hairboy, we've had this tradition for years, changing up tradition is grounds for some anger, granted now I can forgive you indiscretion seeing how happy Phoebe is about pushing the time back."
"I needed to wait until sunset to make it perfect!"
"How did you propose, Gerald?"
"Well, you see, I wanted to do something special, something that would mean a lot to her. Phoebe and I had our first kiss in 5th grade at the end of the year picnic on Elk Island. It was at sunset and it was exactly thirteen years ago today. I had lead her down to the water's edge while everyone else set up a bonfire for s'mores. I confessed that I had a crush on her for a while and that I wanted her to know how I felt and she could do with it whatever she wanted. I was pretty convinced she'd let me down easy but I got the surprise of my life when she stood up on her toes and gave me the smallest, softest kiss of my entire life before walking back to an angry Helga yelling for her without a word."
"I didn't know she was with you! I thought she was lost or something." Helga defends herself blushing pink.
"At the time I was quite grateful for the pardon. You gave me a lot to think about." Phoebe takes his hand in hers smiling.
"I've known I wanted to marry her when she didn't stop loving me for failing my first ten showcases. I feel like most women would have been out the door and there she was, at every show, supporting me and laughing at all of my terrible jokes. I used the money I saved not needing to pay for an apartment on the ring, thank you Helga, and brought her back to the spot that started it all. I made her turn to the water and watch the sunset and got down on one knee behind her. I was nervous as hell. I memorized this whole speech and completely forgot it as soon as I got down. To be honest, I have no idea what I said to her."
"You said, 'Do you remember this spot Phoebs? This is the first place I told you that I had a crush on you. When my best friend left you decided to be there for me and to care about me. You actually never told me if you liked me back, to this day it could all be some big elaborate prank, but I know how I feel about you. The best memories in my life all involve you. Some of them are from when we were kids but most of them are from being your man. Waking up next to you on lazy Sunday morning, watching your eyes come alive when you're trying to figure something out, how patient you are teaching me things, how you're so beautiful but have no problem getting down and dirty. I love you Phoebe, I love your laugh, your smile, your compassion, your determination, everything about you. Phoebe Heyerdahl, will you do me the honor of being my wife until time stops existing?" Phoebe wipes her eyes on her napkin while Gerald wraps an arm around her.
"That's beautiful…" Helga smiles looking down, "I'm not sure even I could have written something better."
"Well thank you, do you know how she answered me though?" He pauses for a moment, "she turned around, kissed me softly, and walked away! I nearly had a damn heart attack, laying my heart on the line and she did that."
"Well, I had to do something memorable!" she laughs, "Moreover when you didn't get up and follow me I turned around and told you yes." Everyone dissolves into laughter.
The rest of the meal is spent catching up old friends and sharing jokes from years gone by. By the time the meal was finished it felt like no time had passed at all between them, they were still a bunch of fourth graders who had all the time in the world.
"There is a reason we asked you both hear tonight, beyond Friday night tradition," Phoebe starts softly, "Helga you have been my best friend my whole life. You have seen me through thick and thin and although we have had our differences I consider you my sister. As such I would be lost without you by my side on my wedding day. Helga, will you be my maid of honor?"
"When you put it like that I don't have much of a choice do I?" Helga smiles. She scoots her chair out and walks around the table, pulling Phoebe into a tight hug. "I would be honored to stand next to you Phoebs, I love you, you know that."
"Arnold, man, it's been fourteen years since we've spent time hanging out but I can't get married without my main man by my side. We'll have a ton of time while the girls plan the wedding to catch up. Will you be my best man? Lord knows I can't trust Jamie O not to lose the rings on me." Arnold laughs and both men get up to exchange a handshake and hug. As Helga steps back she takes in the scene happily. She is going to be the Maid of Honor in her best friend's wedding. The thought fills her with contentment although dread is creeping up her spine. She realizes with slight horror, she just agreed to walk down the aisle with the love of her childhood.
Hey guys! Thank you so much for reading! Although I do have Another Chapter which is also a Hey Arnold fic I had the idea for this buzzing like a damn hornet in my head for weeks. I will update both on a semi regular basis. I'm sorry for the weak ending I didn't want to stop writing but I had to because this is already over three thousand words! Please leave reviews to help guide me!