RECIPROCATED LOVE
CHAPTER 2
PHOEBE
The flight from Palo Alto to Hillwood wasn't silent enough for her taste but thanks god, a lot better than that waiting back at the airport. She knew it was because the summer vacation was only starting. The plane was mainly filled with young students and kids, it explained the bluster that was almost impossible to be silenced.
The young girl was a bit nervous about this summer back in town. After three years at Pre Med in the School of Medicine of Stanford University -and with most of her spring and summer vacations spent in Palo Alto, either in summer courses or temporary jobs at the local hospital - Phoebe was used to live in a rush... and was also used her new group of friends.
Of course she missed Helga, a lot, and the rest of the gang. She had hardly seen them in winter vacations, which were the only times she spent at home. It was somewhat painful to think of all those people who were so meaningful in her childhood and teens years, now had almost become strangers. And even when all them remained in friendly terms and kept in touch, three years could create a deep gap in their friendship, especially after… that happening.
Helga was still her best friend and unlike the others, she understood perfectly the reason behind her acting. Breaking up was never easy and after almost ten years of courtship, leaving him had been the most difficult thing Phoebe had faced in her life. But keeping a relationship with a flirtatious boyfriend who lived in the opposite side of the country was a strained task; especially when the bonds were so worn out and the trust lost.
On the other hand, and being completely selfish, there were a lot, gorgeous fish in Californian's rivers.
Phoebe knew that most of the gang thought she had cheated on Gerald, but that wasn't the truth…exactly. Their relationship had been damaged since their teen years. Gerald kept thinking of himself as 'the ladies man' and had loved feminine admiration to a sickly point; It had been easy made fun about this in the first years but at some point Phoebe was so tired of being a pushover and of her feelings were disregarded that she just couldn't go on.
Unlike Helga, Phoebe guarded herself against discussions, but in certain way, the continued indulgence that had been her trademark demeanor as a girlfriend, finally made her snap in the form of a payback. She knew her feelings for him were attenuated and that lately their relation was just out of habit and not of love. She was sure Gerald had also resented the lack of passion in their lives. Not passion in the literal sense of the word, of course not. That has been present since …well… it has been present; but the novelty, the emotion, the mutual admiration, the wit has been lost. Besides, deeply within him Gerald had a basic need of hunting that ought to be released… the rupture was necessary. Phoebe knows better that it had been very welcome to Gerald too.
However, she had avoided the gang while the gossip eased off. She knew Gerald was over it and had had a good hunting season. So did she. The Gossip Queen had had a large amount of talking to do and the rest of the guys too much to listen. She knew it and was forced to endure the antipathy of their friends because she had been the one who cheated on him. But it all had happened almost two years ago and she was coming home now hoping that the issue had been left behind. She and Gerald were now in talking terms thanks to Helga and she remained good friends with the rest of the gang. Well… as good friend as one would be when the only interaction came through Facebook.
Trying to change the course of her thoughts, Phoebe forced herself to think about her best friend. Helga was still in Boston where she attended to the College of Communication in Boston University. Despite the end of the semester, she had to remain in town until next Tuesday because her job as Feature Writing's aide. Besides, her teacher, Ms. Robinson had prompted Helga to apply for a job at Random House Inc. so Helga had been preparing her portfolio with such effort than had been almost unavailable the last week. The appointment was scheduled for Monday afternoon.
After that, Phoebe knew Helga would drive to Hillwood where she should attend to a lecture in Hillwood Auditorium next Wednesday where she was scheduled as one of the orators. Despite her majority in Journalism, Helga still loved poetry and was the best defendant of English language that Phoebe ever knew. Well…exceptions regarding all those florid Helgish expressions. Phoebe couldn't stop the smile curving her lips when her mind replayed those 'Doi!' or 'Sheeesh' she mouthed silently to herself. She felt a warm comfort inside herself at the thought of her friend. Helga Pataki was always so… passionate … about everything. It was the most missing token in her life en California. Just having Helga around would bring emotion to every single day, either she were reciting poetry to a bum lying on the street or fleeing away from the aftereffect of one of her pranks. Or one of her personal favorites, watching her causing a heated debate amongst friends any given evening. People always reacted intensely to her. It was always fun having her close.
After a deeply sigh, the petite black-haired girl wished her blonde friend could be there for her arrival. But she knew better, Helga still had a lot of work ahead and she must be looking forward to Wednesday evening to meet everyone at Rhonda's place for 'Welcome Summer Party', where the old gang will be attending.
Phoebe knew well that the gang used to meet at the evenings in a relatively new coffee shop just in front of Tina Park, a cool place founded and running in society for Sid and Harold's parents. Anyone could be there if they wanted. There was no need of confirmations or excuses. Knowing that Helga won't be there for her arrival, or for her re-introduction to the old friends either, Phoebe wasn't sure about attending or not to The Coffee Shed those first days. Besides, she knew she will be busy at home because her parents were renovating their house and they needed her help. A light frown crossed her immaculate visage while her mind wondered if she could be able to avoid the gang for the next four days.
The petite girl recalled also that after leaving town to go to their respective colleges, the kids should be back in town for one of the last summer vacations they'd spend together. Rhonda went to Princeton; Nadine to Seattle; Sheena went to Miami; Curly and Lorenzo parted to Harvard. Eugene and Brainy went to NYU. Iggy went to UCLA. Harold had make a two years career in Utah; something about food. Stinky, Sid and Lila had stayed in Hillwood to attend to the Community College. And of course there was Arnold, who attended to Suffolk University to become a lawyer; and Gerald who was along with Helga to the very same College, the threesome in Boston.
At some point in middle summer it was probably that everyone plans would changed: Phoebe and her parents were routing to the beach; Rhonda was planning visiting Paris again, and she knew Helga would have to pay her debt to Big Bob, so she must stay in Hillwood the whole summer. The same story went to Arnold, whose presence was necessary in the boarding house to help his grandparents in the daily running of the place. In the other hand, she didn't know about Gerald…
Phoebe felt a knot her stomach then, she hadn't talked to Gerald face to face since their break up. They had seen each other from afar at that Christmas Ball, a year and a half ago, but have managed to avoid each other; and last winter they hadn't coincided at any place at all. Phoebe didn't know why suddenly she felt that way; she knew that she was really over him, and also knew that Gerald had had a few girls after her, even when nowadays he was single. 'Too much information to be over, isn't it?' She berated herself, but her mind retorted presto 'Well, having your best friend in the foreground makes impossible not to know, right?
She breathed deeply expecting to build up courage for their inevitable first encounter.
I don't own Hey Arnold!
Not any other place, college, social network or item recognizable.
P. August 2010
E. Septiembre 2013
