You heard me pal! I love you! Love you! Who else do you think has been stalking you night and day, building shrines to you in a closet, filling volumes of books with poems about you! I love you Arnold! I've always loved you, ever since I first laid eyes on your stupid football head! And from that moment and every moment, since I've lived and breathed, I've dreamed of the moment I could finally tell you my secret feelings and grab you and kiss you…
Arnold my love, kiss me, kiss me…
…the boy with the cornflower hair, my beloved, my despair…
What if it was all a crazy dream? What if I never get the guts to tell Arnold my true feelings and we never get married?
Arnold…Arnold…Arnold…
"Ahh!!!!" I screamed. I sat up straight in my bed, finding myself gripping my sheets. I was sweating so much; there should have been a puddle. I tried to catch my breath. I looked at the clock; 7:30 am. I fell back into my pillow and stared at the ceiling. My whole body was tingling and I was shaking.
"Stupid football head!" I yelled spitefully. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and got out of bed. I walked into my closet and pulled out a white, half sleeved T-shirt, a pink over top with a reddish strip across it, and a pair of straight legged jeans. While I dressed, I couldn't help but glance over to a box on the shelf in my closet. I scowled and went back to dressing. I hadn't touched that box since I was twelve. That's when I snapped. And even though it had been three years since then, it still hurt. I slipped on my black converses and slammed my closet door. I walked down stairs and began to raid the cabinets. No food anywhere, what a surprise.
"Miriam!!!" I screamed, directing my voice to the backside of the couch. Sure enough, my mother emerged from that exact spot.
"Oh good morning, Helga honey…" she muttered groggily. I rolled my eyes.
"You know what? Forget it! I'll go to school once again, starving, but this time avoid the whole story of why I'm going to school starving!!" I yelled throwing my hands up in the air with frustration.
"Oh okay honey…" she grumbled and fell back behind the couch. Fifteen years of this crap…I was getting sick of it. I grabbed my backpack from the coat rack and slammed the front door behind me. Phoebe was waiting at the steps of my house for me.
"What up, Phoebs?" I said nonchalantly taking my place walking next to her.
"Oh nothing of great interest, what about you?" she said smiling at me. I looked around and rubbed my arm. Should I tell her about the dream? The whole waking up sweating, calling his name? It might raise questions, nothing like this had happened since the 6th grade. I decided not to tell her, I wasn't in the mood for this today.
"Nothing here, especially in my stomach." I said as my stomach growled in agreement. Phoebe looked at me concerned.
"Maybe we should stop by the deli and get you something? Going to school hungry is quite uneducated. It's been strategically proven that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and if you lack it's nutrition, you will go on the whole day-"
"Okay! Criminy! I'll get something from the deli!" I yelled. She smiled and we turned the corner to the deli. As we turned I looked back at the corner.
Sorry Helga…
Arnold! Er- I mean watch where you're going, football head!!
I shook this thought or really memory from my head and focused on getting to the deli. What was this? Horrible conflicting memories day? As we walked into the deli, my heart got caught in my throat.
"Oh hello Gerald! Hello Arnold!" Phoebe greeted the two politely.
"Hey Phoebe, what brings you here?" Arnold asked her, jabbing his elbow into Gerald. Gerald gave him a spiteful look. I couldn't blame him.
"Oh Helga didn't have breakfast so we came here to get her some." Phoebe said as if everything was all hunky dory! Arnold nodded at Phoebe and then turned his attention to me.
"So what are you gonna order Helga?" he asked. I turned away from.
"I don't know." I said bluntly, not giving Arnold an inch. This was the exact reason why I have been avoiding any encounter with Arnold for three years. I reached into my pocket for my wallet, but it wasn't there. Suddenly it hit me. Stupid Bob! He took my money again! I sighed and smacked my forehead. I looked at Phoebe with a sad grin.
"Do you need money Helga? I could lend you some…" Arnold offered. Errggg!!! I just wanted to tell him to back off, but instead I shook my head.
"No that's okay; I'll just have to wait to eat until lunch. C'mon Phoebe." I said dragging her out of the shop. As we continued to walk to school, Phoebe didn't say a thing. I think she had figured out how I was feeling and knew it was best to stay quiet. I kept my head facing the ground as we walked. I sighed. The thing I wanted most at that moment was to never see Arnold again, but I knew I wasn't that lucky.