Thank you for those who have read and reviewed! I hope you like this chapter just as much. So here it is!
Disclaimer: I don't own Arnold or any of his friends, blah, blah, blah, you get the picture.
"Old Memories Never Change"The mall was packed that Saturday afternoon. Children, parents, and teens, (soon to be adults of the next graduating class), swarmed the shops as summer vacation was growing near.
"Can you believe it man? We graduate high school in two, weeks!" Gerald turned to his lifetime best friend.
"Gerald, I know." Arnold chuckled at him back.
"You don't seem excited? What's up buddy?"
"I am Gerald, its just… I don't know. I'm just thinking."
"Bout what?"
"Well, I—."
"Hey Arnold!" called a familiar voice from behind.
Arnold turned his big football shaped head around to see another fiend he had since elementary school. Stinky Peterson, the country boy of the graduating group. Stinky always looked the same as far as appearance. Blue jeans, black flat top sneakers and a long t-shirt. Today he was wearing a light green one. Stinky was a simple person who never relied much on material possessions, as long as he had his friends and his family he was just fine. Stinky had always been a good friend to Arnold. They shared many laughs and even shared most of their classes together growing up.
"Hey Stinky. What are you doing here?"
"Well, I'm here lookin' for a tie, on account a' the one I gots for ma' suit don't look good. I gotta look ma' best for grade-ation. Can you believe it? I'm actually grade-atin'!"
"I'm proud of you, Stinky. I always knew you could it." Arnold smiled confidently at his longtime classmate.
"Thank ya', Arnold. Well I'll be seein' ya'. Bye Arnold! See ya' Gerald!" Stinky waved goodbye as he walked past them and strolled into another dress shop.
"Bye Stinky… how did that boy grow so tall!" Gerald wondered, as they continued their walk forward.
"Beats me Gerald."
"Anyway, what were you sayin' earlier? Somethin' about you were thinkin'? Bout what?"
"Oh yeah, well… I don't know. Do you think… people change?"
"Uh-uh buddy, hold up." Gerald stopped his friend cold in his tracks.
"Where you goin' with this?"
"Well, I'm just curious, because as crazy it sounds, I—."
But before the blonde headed boy could finish his statement, a sudden being crashed into them from around the corner. Arnold picked up his head slowly and scanned around looking to see what knocked him over.
Gerald was already brushing himself off. But another blonde haired someone was sprawled out on the floor of the mall.
"Oh hey, I'm sorry." Arnold let out a hand to the stranger as she accepted his help up.
Oh man, no way. He thought as he noticed who it was.
"Arnold!" Helga straightened up with surprise. She was different. Sure over the years her clothes and her hair weren't the same. Even her face had changed. But there was something else about her… something different…something…mature…
"Helga, I'm sorry—."
"Well, if it isn't football head and tall hair boy. Crimety! How long has it been since I picked on you guys?" she asked snobby as crossed her arms over her chest.
Well, so much for change, Arnold thought.
"Helga baby, I don't know if you've noticed, but I cropped that top, ages ago." Indeed he did. Gerald Johansson was no longer the cool kid with the tall hair. He was now one of the cool jocks who played on the basketball team. The blue jeans he wore turned into blue silk basketball shorts. Instead of a red long sleeve jersey, it was now short sleeve. '33' was still sported on the front and back, as coincidently, that was his real number. But his hair was gone. His signature 2'ft tall flat top shortened to a smooth close cut, sitting only a half an inch tall on his head.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. To me you'll always be tall hair boy. Just like football head over here. By the way, why are you too ladies here any way? Last minute shopping or just catching some sales with the rest of the girls? Ha ha!" Helga chuckled alone at her attempted joke.
"No Helga, were just hanging out before graduation." He responded nicely to her as usual.
Why can't you change?… he thought.
Why can't you ever be nice to me?..
"Well have fun boys, I hear college is like lockdown. No fun, no parties, all study all the time. Of course, you'll be used to it, I mean, jeez Louise. When was the last time you two deadbeats had any fun?" Helga gave them both a snooty glare as she turned her nose at both of them.
"I'm sure it'll be just, fine. Besides, I'm not going to college to party Helga, I'm going there to learn. But if I do get invited to a party, you can bet that Gerald and I, will have a blast. Right Gerald?" Arnold turned to smile at his best bud.
"Right." Gerald responded with a confident smile.
"Uh, well, whatever football head. You probably wont anyway. I mean, what girl in their right mind would want to ask you to a party?"
Arnold stopped. He looked into her eyes as to search for answers to the questions that were now buzzing around in his brain.
"I never said anything about girls, I just said party. Like a regular party?" Arnold suggested.
If I didn't know any better, I'd say she just got jealous… no, not Helga. That's not like her.
"That's what I meant too." She added quickly.
"But Helga—." Gerald began.
"You know what, I'm outta here. I don't have time to waste talkin' to you two girls, I have a speech to prepare." Helga began to walk off, when Arnold caught her in her steps.
"A speech?" he asked curiously.
"Oh man, are you just plain dumb? Or is that weird shaped head of yours finally altered your brain? Yes, a speech. I'm writing a farewell speech for our class, at Graduation." Arnold could feel Helga's eyes lock on to him as if she wanted to tell him something else important.
"I didn't know you were writing that speech."
"Well, I am. Gotta problem?" she picked up her fist, and took a step towards him.
"No, I just asked."
"Well, don't!" Helga snapped rudely.
Arnold and Gerald simultaneously rolled their eyes at their fellow graduating classmate.
"Whatever you say Helga." Arnold waved a hand down at her, as he and Gerald continued their long interrupted walk towards the other end of the mall.
"That's right! Whatever I say, cause whatever I say goes!" he heard her yell back to him. Arnold didn't stop this time. He ignored her words and kept walking.
"What is wrong with that chick!" Gerald cried out after a moment of silence.
"I don't know, Gerald. I don't think we ever will." Arnold said slightly disappointed.
"Anyway, back to what you were saying? Bout people changing?" Gerald asked again casually looking into each shop they passed by.
Arnold didn't want to talk about it anymore. He had lost the urge to finish that particular conversation. Besides. Helga had proven him wrong once again. Not everyone can change. At least, she wouldn't.
Why would I think she could?..
She's always been so angry with me…
Only with me…
"Nothing Gerald. I was just thinking about something, but I'm over it now." Arnold didn't dare look at his friend for support. He didn't want Gerald to read him and know the truth. The truth about… Helga.
"Whatever you say buddy. Hey, lets go look in that sport shop!" Gerald led the way as they headed over the Sports Sore. Arnold followed close behind him, hoping their new topic of interest would steer his confused thoughts away from… her.
7
