I wasn't with Arnold on that fateful August night, but my imagination has burned the scene into my mind. It's a sick movie that plays over and over every time I close my eyes. It's like a true memory, like I was there the whole time.
But we all know I wasn't. It would have been so, so different if I was.
It was raining, of course. Pouring, actually. He's driving down the slick roads, frowning, not paying attention to just have fast he is going. His girlfriend, Amber Haus, is sitting in the passenger seat. I can see her bloodshot eyes, her running nose, the tears in her eyes, on her cheeks.
They were arguing. No one ever talks about what they were arguing about. In their opinion, it's not important to the story. But it is important. It's everything. They do not know there is another story here, a bigger one. The story that followed Arnold and Amber down that street and in that car and through everything else. What they do not know, the cause of their argument, is the story of me. The story of us.
I can see everything. The rain-slicked road and the flashing lights of the ambulance and police cars cutting through the silent darkness of the night. This is a warning to anyone who looks on. Catastrophe has struck here, please move along. I can see Amber, sitting in the back of the ambulance, swinging her feet, clutching a blanket tightly around her shoulders as she talks. She tells them the cause of the argument. I can't hear her words but I see her lips move and her face, oh her face. And just like always I know I know I know if Arnold had I had been together everything would have been different.
My mind rewinds and I see them right before the accident. The rain, coming down in buckets, wind howling. The road, wet and slick, as if someone had oiled it down. Arnold's face twisted in frustration. He is distracted. He is not thinking of the rain or the road or the car. He is thinking of this argument. He is thinking about Amber. He is thinking about me. I can see the ghost of a smile on his face before he hits the puddle and the world is turned upside down. The car jerks and Amber screams. Arnold turns the wheel and slams on the breaks. And then the everything stops.
Arnold, of course, is wearing his seatbelt. But he is alone in the car because Amber was not. Amber had flown through the windshield and out into the darkness of the night. Improbably, miraculously suffering only minor cuts and a knock to the head. She'll be fine. But Arnold doesn't know that. All he sees is the hole in the windshield. He can just make out her silhouette in the wet night. Dirty, bloody, and unconscious.
Arnold is untouched. He breathes in and out, shocked into complete silence. His mind is blank. He feels nothing, he thinks nothing. He exists, completely perfect and unscathed. He doesn't hear the rain or the sirens in the distance. He looks out to Amber on the pavement.
My Arnold. My perfect, wonderful Arnold. "Please. Don't go. Stay where you are. Stay in this moment. Stay with me" I whisper.
But of course he never does. Since when does Arnold Shortman ever listen to Helga Pataki?
Of course...
Disclamier: I own absolutely nothing. Not a thing. I'm a waitress/bartender so going after me for money is pretty pointless.
A/N: So I'm the new girl in town. This is my first story! I have to say it brings back memories of writing fanfics on the Nick message boards with my friends when I was like 10. Ahhh the 90's how I miss them. Anyways, lovely to meet you all! I'm such a fangirl of so many of you. Mouse9, Polkahotness, Pointy Objects, Writer25, Arnold's Love to name a few! I'm missing a ton but that's just off the top of my head. Little background about me. Writing for me (as I'm sure most likely for all of you) is cathartic. Right now I'm at a bit of a crossroad in my life. So I'm using writing and the antics of Arnold and the gang as a mini-vacation for my mind and real life. My only goal is to have a blast and hopefully entertain you! So of course I'd be really appreciative if any and all of you lovelies out there would leave me a review. Let me know what you think! Don't be shy! Advance thanks to everyone who took the time to read this. More to come. Yay! This is exciting!
Kisses! xox