The cacophony of the different hallway bells, all ringing at different pitches, was relief to Helga's ears as the discordant sound signaled the end of third period and the beginning of their half hour lunch break. Students milled about around her as she and her classmates filed out of the science lab and into the narrow hallway. Hillwood High was composed of two sections: the old building and the new addition. The new addition had, as the name suggests, newer and fresher flooring, paint, and equipment amidst a color scheme of blue and white while the old building's hallways were more narrow, lacked air conditioning, and consisted of a more dreary beige, tan, and black color scheme. The science labs were, thankfully, located in the new addition, as was Helga's locker. Given that the humid heat of the tail end of summer was still gripping at the September air, most students coveted the fleeting time they were able to spend in the new addition.
Helga stopped at her locker and began switching out her books so she wouldn't have to stop again before her fourth period English class after lunch.
"Greetings Helga," Phoebe's voice behind her caused Helga to turn around. Phoebe's third period class was Earth Science in the lab next to Helga's. "How did your lab report turn out?" Phoebe had spent the better part of the past week coaching Helga on proper formatting for science reports. They were much more technical than Helga was used to being in her writing - there was little room or patience for the eloquent, ornate, and flowery language Helga preferred.
"I guess we'll find out," Helga shrugged, closing her locker and beginning to walk down the hallway leading to the old building. The cafeteria, being in the old building, was usually quite hot in the beginning of the school year. Between the lack of air conditioning and all the ovens going constantly for hours to prepare food for hundreds of students, it could be pretty uncomfortable. The faculty and staff tried to accommodate for the heat by turning on fans and opening windows but the relief this offered was minimal.
As they made their way to the cafeteria, crowds of students gradually increasing as they neared the one spot everyone was headed, Helga dropped her books into Phoebe's hands.
"Here, hold these, would'ya?" she said coarsely, with scarcely a glance to check that Phoebe didn't mind, as she slipped out of the lightweight plaid button-down and tied it in a knot around her waist. She chastised herself for not thinking to remove the garment before she left her locker but with the new addition's chilly air conditioning, it was easy to forget that just several yards down the hall she would soon be sweating bullets.
Phoebe looked at her friend expectantly, assuming she would offer to take her books back now that she'd adjusted herself, but to no avail so she sighed, shifting the weight of her messenger bag to a more comfortable position and carrying Helga's books in her arms.
"Cover up, Ms. Pataki!" one of the teachers on lunch duty called to Helga across the crowd.
Helga stretched her arms out in innocent self-righteousness. "Criminy, it's just a tank top!" She disregarded the teacher's command and continued to mill into the cafeteria with the rest of the students. Murmuring under her breath, "Damn, you'd think she's never seen tits before. It's freaking hot; god forbid a bit of shoulder and cleavage shows,"
"Uh huh," Phoebe said, distracted by the weight she was carrying, her focus primarily on identifying and securing a table. "Hey Helga," Phoebe said as she began setting their things down at an empty table. "Do you mind saving our table so that I can get my -"
But Helga wasn't paying attention; she'd already slipped into one of the hot foods lines and was no longer in earshot.
Phoebe sighed and sat down, waiting as she always did for Helga to return with her food so that she could leave the table and buy her own. The trouble with that was that by the time Helga typically returned, the food lines had tripled in length because of all of the other classes letting out and bombarding the cafeteria. Phoebe usually ended up having to rush through her meal which was why she usually opted to bring a lunch from home but on this day, she'd forgotten and was paying the price.
Helga eventually returned to the table, plopping down into one of the chairs and greedily opening and chugging half of her milk down right away.
"I'm going to get my food now," Phoebe said, standing up as Helga removed the top bun from her burger and began adding ketchup to it.
"Gotcha Pheebs," Helga responded. "Oh hey, can you grab me a couple more ketchup packets? I forgot to get some for my fries. Oh, and another chocolate milk?"
Phoebe's facial expression pained but she sighed defeatedly. "Sure thing, Helga,"
"Make it snappy, Pheebs!" Helga called after her friend as she left the table. "Lunch is over in ten minutes!"
. . . . . . . .
"How's it going, Gerald?" Arnold said as he sat down next to his best friend after lunch. They had fourth period World History together with Mr. Buchanan who everyone suspected was new to teaching because he had zero clue on how to manage a classroom. They'd have classroom reading assignments but most people ended up talking the whole time while Mr. Buchanan pretended everyone was doing the assignment, focusing on the students who actually did their work instead of trying to corral the others into staying on task.
"Man, have you seen some of the dimes walkin' around these halls this year?" Gerald leaned back in his chair, one arm draped over the desk beside him. "Mmm, mmm, MMM. I don't know what happened over the summer but this has got to be the year of ducklings turned swans,"
Arnold grinned, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. "I thought you were dating Cassandra?"
"Nah man," Gerald said, sitting a little straighter in his chair. "We were just talking over the summer - nothing serious,"
"Whatever you say, Gerald," Arnold said as he opened his notebook. Arnold was one of the few students who at least attempted to focus during this class but with Gerald, Sid, Stinky, and Harold all vying for his attention, he usually ended up faltering half-way through the period.
"Man," Gerald said, shaking his head as he scooted up closer to his desk, eyeing his friend like he was a lost puppy. "When are you gonna taste some of the finer things in life? And by life, I mean this school and by the finer things, I mean, the finer things," Gerald said pointedly, nodding his head toward a particularly pretty classmate of theirs who was walking in.
"I don't even like her like that, Gerald," Arnold dismissed him.
Gerald stared at his friend incredulously. "Dude, what's not to like?"
Arnold sighed, chuckling at his friend's animated behavior. "How about you talk to her?"
"Don't turn this around on me, Arnold," Gerald shook his head. "We're talkin' about you. Besides, I got enough honeys flockin' to me, baby,"
Arnold chortled, "Oh, okay,"
"Man, why you hatin'?" Gerald sat back in his seat, shaking his head. "Watch this,"
Arnold watched as Gerald turned around in his seat toward the girl who had just walked in. She was pretty enough - shoulder length brown hair with a fading summer tan and hints of freckles across her nose.
"Hey Amber," Gerald called to her in a lower voice, hooding his eyelids and giving her a half-smile. "'Sup?"
Amber quirked her head in a combination of confusion and amusement. "Really?"
"How you doin'?" Gerald said, apparently not getting the message before Arnold grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around.
"You sound like Joey from Friends," Arnold stifled a chuckle.
"Man," Gerald huffed. "That's cool, that's cool,"
"Real smooth," Arnold grinned, turning his attention back to his notebook.
. . . . . . . .
After school, Phoebe caught up with Helga on their way to the bus stop as students dispersed in a myriad of different directions. Hillwood High pulled in students from multiple districts and so their classmates consisted of more than just the neighborhood kids they'd grown up with.
"There you are," Helga greeted her friend as she approached.
"Yes," Phoebe said, slightly flustered. "Helga, could you save me a seat on the bus, please? Mrs. Lankowski asked me to bring these files over to her classroom after the final bell,"
"Sure thing, Pheebs," Helga nodded.
"Thank you!" Phoebe said, her face brightening as she nodded in return and ducked back into the school building.
Helga turned around, watching the cars pass by as she waited for the bus. Dozens of students were congregated in small groups around her, chatting about everything from clothes to classes to weekend plans.
"Hey Helga," a familiar voice beside her snapped her out of her people-watching. "How was your summer vacation?"
Composing herself after the initial shock of his presence, Helga retorted, "Well, summer vacation ended three weeks ago, Football-head,"
"Yeah, I know," Arnold shrugged, following her gaze down the road as they searched for the bus in the traffic. "But I haven't seen you since school started,"
"And that's a problem, why?" Helga scoffed icily.
Arnold rolled his eyes. "Fine," he shrugged in resignation. "I'm just trying to make conversation,"
"Well don't," Helga replied, stepping closer to the curb as she saw the bus approaching. "It's weird,"
Arnold's head quirked. "Why would it be weird?" He asked as he stepped up to the curb with her, the bus gradually coming to a stop in front of them.
"Because it just… is, I don't know!" Helga said vaguely as she stepped up into the bus, dropping a couple tokens into the meter and making her way down the aisle.
"You're really convincing," Arnold said smugly, taking the seat behind her and leaning forward, crossing his arms over her seat to which he received a sharp glare.
"I don't need you telling me what I am or am not, bucko," Helga snapped. "You must be really bored - where's Tall-Hair Boy?"
"He's staying after school for football try-outs," Arnold replied casually, still leaning over the back of Helga's chair and making her shudder with how close he was to her. Her crush on him had never subsided, though she had matured enough to ditch the shrines and stalking in favor of more poetry and avoidance.
"Great," Helga mumbled, trying to maintain a scowl even as the warmth emanating from Arnold's face, just inches behind her, proved to be a formidable distraction. She could feel his slightest movements and every time he exhaled, the wind of it blew slightly at the baby hair at her neck, tickling her.
"What about your other half?" Helga resisted the urge to shiver when the tickle at the nape of her neck became too much. She started to turn toward him but stopped halfway because otherwise, she'd be face to face with him and only inches apart - dangerous territory.
"Um, what?" She asked dumbly.
"Phoebe," Arnold chuckled, at the very least aware of how uncomfortable she was right now. A small part of him was enjoying seeing her squirm a little bit.
"Oh," Helga said, registering the question in her mind as she also noticed the fact that the bus was moving. "Oh, shit! I told her I'd hold the bus for her,"
"Oh man," Arnold said, looking out the window as they'd already pulled out into traffic.
"Oh well," Helga shrugged, reasoning that there was no stopping the bus now. "She'll be fine. Besides, if she asks, it was your fault, Football-head,"
"My fault?" Arnold feigned offense.
"Yes, your fault," Helga's voice discovered its edge once again and she snapped the blame back at him, making sure to meet his gaze with a scowl but all she saw were dancing green eyes with little gold flecks catching the dwindling sunlight from the windows. His confidence radiating from his gaze, the upturned eyebrow and slight quirk of his lips in a half-grin, his casual posture as he seemed completely content to lean against the back of her bus seat for the entire ride. She quickly turned back around, ignoring the fire burning in her belly and inwardly cursing him for being so damned attractive.
. . . . . . . .
It wasn't that Phoebe had been surprised when she came outside to find Helga gone and no bus in sight. Maybe she was a little disappointed but this had been a pattern throughout their friendship. Helga didn't often see or understand how she affected people and was often focused more on her own needs and desires. This wasn't to say she didn't care - Phoebe knew she did but some part of her still wondered at times. They'd had falling outs in the past in which Helga always promised to be a more attentive, thoughtful friend but it always wore off. Helga was Helga and this didn't seem to be a pattern that was going to go away any time soon.
Phoebe took a seat at a nearby bench by the bus stop to wait for the next one to arrive. Most of the students who had been outside in throngs earlier were gone so she was able to sit in moderate quiet without the chatter of her peers. As she pulled out one of her books from her messenger bag, she skipped to the page she had delicately marked with a bookmark from the library and began to read.
Voices behind her pulled her out of her book and she turned around to see some guys exiting the building clad in sweat-drenched gym clothes, among them was Gerald.
Phoebe had harbored a crush on Gerald since they were children but was much too shy to say or do anything about it. Besides, despite her crush, he didn't seem to be the type of guy she would be compatible with. He was always flirting with or going out with a different girl and her quiet personality was nothing compared to his gregarious and outgoing style.
Still, she felt butterflies in her stomach when he sat down on the bench next to her. She stole glances at him as he lifted his shirt to wipe sweat from his brow and begged herself not to look, though she did anyway. The flutter in her stomach increasing, she opened her book up again and tried to force herself to read.
"Hey Phoebe," Gerald said casually and Phoebe paused to collect herself. "Do you know when the next bus is coming?"
"I'm afraid I didn't see when the last one left but they usually arrive in half hour intervals so I don't imagine it should be too long," She said automatically and then when he didn't immediately respond, she sank back down into her seat and returned her eyes to her book.
"What are you reading?" Gerald asked as he pulled a bottle of water out of his bookbag and took a swig.
"Oh, um," Phoebe stumbled, turning the book cover over to read the title even though she fully knew exactly what she was reading. "To Kill A Mockingbird,"
Gerald nodded thoughtfully. "Isn't that on the senior class reading list? Trying to get a head start on next year, huh?" He chuckled.
"Actually, Mr. Hendrix has a list of recommended books that I'm working my way through," Phoebe responded, barely lifting her gaze.
"Gotcha," Gerald replied. "So how many are on it?"
"A hundred," Phoebe stated matter-of-factly. "Then there's also the British and European literature lists,"
Gerald's eyes widened in surprise. "Well, good luck with that,"
"Thanks," Phoebe squeaked, her heartbeat thumping as she thanked the heavens that she could finally see another bus approaching in the distance.
. . . . . . . .
Phoebe sat in almost complete darkness in her room sans the desk lamp illuminating the homework in front of her and the light from a smaller lamp by her bed. She knew many of her friends would be going to the movies or hanging out at the mall like any other Friday night and for a moment, envied them.
"Sugar?" Phoebe's mom knocked at the door, stirring her from her thoughts.
"Come in, Mother," Phoebe called cheerily, turning around in her desk chair.
"Hey sweetheart," Phoebe's mom said as she came in and walked over to her daughter, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and bending down to rest her cheek against the top of her daughter's head. "How you feelin'?"
Phoebe shrugged. "I'm alright," She nodded assuringly.
"Okay baby," Phoebe's mom stood up straight and Phoebe noted the way her mother stared at her, not in a weird way but in the way a parent watches their baby in awe. A combination of hope, worry, pride, awe, and love. "Your appointment's at 8 tomorrow so don't forget to set your alarm,"
"I won't, Mother," Phoebe offered a small smile. "Thank you,"
Phoebe's mom pursed her lips, nodding before she made her way over to the door. "Get some sleep, Phoebe,"
As Phoebe's mom exited the room, Phoebe yawned and turned out her desk lamp, looking at the time on the clock by her bed. It was barely 10 but she was already feeling drained and with her appointment in the morning, she knew she needed to get adequate rest. She hoped this would be the last time she'd have to go. That would make her life so much easier. She was supposed to take her SATs later this year and begin researching colleges. There was junior prom and a ring ceremony to look forward to as well as the standard school dances and events. She'd spent the better part of a year hiding this secret, much to her parents' chagrin. The sooner she could put this past her, the sooner she could feel normal. Things would be normal without the weight of this on her conscience.
As she crawled into bed, she hoped against hope that she wouldn't have to tell anyone. That this could be a part of her past that when she finally did confide in someone outside of her immediate family about it, she could say "Oh, don't worry, it's over now,"
Phoebe flipped the switched on her bedside lamp before settling into her blanket and falling into a restless sleep.
[A/N: Not the most dramatic chapter but I do have some drama planned in later chapters! We'll work up to it. In the meantime, comments are appreciated! :)]