Enjoy the story!
Things to note:
1. They characters are all 17-18 years old in their final year of high school.
2. Courtney got pregnant at 16 during sophomore year. So if you do the math, this is about a year and some change later.
"Shhhh, don't wake him up. He had a tough night."
"I knew that skank was going to do him dirty."
"Helga! What an awful thing to say!"
"I must agree with Helga. She was quite….slutty."
"I must ever so say, she was quite a...excuse my language...tramp before she was with Sid."
"You see, even Lila agrees. We all knew she wasn't right for him."
"Yeah but, I thought she changed after the baby."
"Well, once a tramp always a tramp."
"Hey! I think he's waking up!"
Sid slowly opened one eye to see Rhonda, Lila, Helga, Phoebe, Stinky, and Gerald all standing in front of him. He got up slowly and stretched his arms out.
"Hey guys." Sid looked at the time. "What are you guys doing here? It's 10am." He yawned as he sat up. They all looked at each other. Helga sighed. She was always the one to get straight to the point.
"Crimney Sid! Can't friends check on a buddy in need? We came to help, and check up on you, and shit." Sid looked at them all and saw the worry in their eyes. His eyes fogged up in tears as he realized what good friends he had. He looked at the letter on the his bedside table as his friends followed the gaze.
"If I said I was good, I would be lying. It hurts, you know? Like she just left without warning. She didn't even say goodbye to her own son. Our son."
They all stood in silence. "But she left a note, didn't she?" said Gerald.
Sid looked at the folded up letter on the bureau. "Yeah she did, but," he looked at them, "I can't read it alone." They looked at him solemnly.
"If you're okay with it, we would like to be with you when you decide to read it." Rhonda said. "The gang could all meet up tonight."
"Fine with me. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get Josh. You guys can play with him as I take a shower, since you're here now."
Sid walked out of the room and entered into Josh's baby blue room. "Hey buddy!", he cooed as the smiling little boy."Good morning."
Joshua Avery Gifaldi laughed at his father with enjoyment in his eyes. The he gurgled. "Yeah, I love you too." stated Sidas he reached for his son. He carried him out of the room, passing a picture of him and Courtney on the dresser. He sighed as he stared at their smiles. Then, he took the frame and threw it in the nearest trash can.
Because that's what people who leave their families are. Trash.
"I don't think anyone in the world loves you as much as I do."
The starry night sky shined over the group of friends as they settled in a circle around two envelopes. Summer heat and anxiety buzzed through the air. Each person in the circle eyed the two envelopes in the center.
Helga broke the silence with a sigh. "Let's rip this off like a bandage, shall we? No use of waiting." She picked up the first one and threw it unto Gerald's lap. He opened it up as and began to read.
Hey guys! Sorry my letters to each of you have been delayed. My parents and I have been really busy lately. Dad was invited to go on an expedition and we decided to make it a family trip. We travelled down to to see these hieroglyphs the team wanted my dad to translate. Mom even spotted a rare species of flowers that are only located in the region. When we came back to town, we passed by the Green Eyes temple to visit. They held a "welcome back" party for us. And I FINALLY got my honorary tattoo (I had to BEG mom to allow me to get it though. She acts like she doesn't like it but I know she does). I can't wait to show you guys! It hurt really bad getting it but, it looks awesome.
Anyways, how are you guys? Anything new? Congrats on your promise ring Rhonda! Curly, you sure picked out a good one. And Harold, congrats on that apprenticeship with Mr. Green! I'll know you'll make the best butcher. Gerald, you better have dedicated two shots for me at the game. Man, I swear you'll be in the NBA in no time! Thanks for the picture of Josh, Sid. He is sure growing up fast.
I really miss you guys. Everyone is doing such big things now, I can't even compete! Time sure does fly, doesn't it? We're all about to graduate from high school and/or starting college. It seems like just yesterday we were in the 4th grade.
I'm really dodging the real reason why I wrote this letter to all of you guys to read. Gerald already knows but, here is the main point of the letter. My folks were offered full-time teaching positions at a local university near Hillwood. And they decided that it was time to settle down once and for all. So, we're coming back to Hillwood for good! I'm going to be in Hillwood High for senior year with you guys! I'm excited to see you all again and be back home for good now.
Now is part is for Helga only. (But Gerald didn't care and still read it out loud, dodging Betsy and the Five Avengers and ignoring Helga's angry protest.)
Helga, I really would like to spend some time with you when I get back. There is something I want to tell you, and a letter won't suffice. I wish you would respond to my letters and answer my Skype calls. I really do miss you Helga. You can't ignore me in person.
Okay wow, that got personal real quick. Sorry Gerald for all the "mush". See you guys soon!
Sincerely, Arnold
Everyone looked at Helga w. She blushed and looked at her nails which were in dire need of a manicure.
She looked up slowly and squeaked. "Do I have something on my face?" Gerald, gave her an exasperated look. She glared at him, "Yes?".
"Man, you gotta give my boy Arnold a break. For the love of all things good, talk to him!" Gerald exclaimed.
Helga quickly turned to face her best friend's boyfriend. "Gerald, it's complicated. And definitely not as easy as it seems. You out of all people should know that I was in a bad place for far too long. I've forgiven him but, I can't allow myself to back track. He shouldn't have that power over me. No one should..." Helga's voice wavered and Phoebe looked solemnly at her friend.
The room stood silent for a minute. The only sound heard was the wind howling and cars passing by.
Gerald sighed. "I know Helga, I know. He fucked up and I ripped him a new one for that. But he's still hurting too, you know? I'm not saying take him back. Just sit down and talk to him, okay? Hear him out a little, just to give him a little peace. To give yourself peace."
Helga nodded as she rubbed her eyes. "I think we should continue", she quietly said. Sid nodded.
Over the years, he and Helga became very good friends. They bonded over similar interests in music and the abandonment of a parent (but in Helga's place it was both parents). He knew how much Arnold meant to her and how much it hurt her when he left. No one in the group besides Phoebe and Gerald knew their last conversation. All they knew is that the couple broke up before Arnold left over some fight. Arnold wrote her an apology and she had answered it, accepting his apology but leaving all other letters he sent to her unanswered. And it broke Arnold's heart. He and the others were curious at first but quickly let it go when they realized that the situation was too personal for the blonde couple. They didn't want to pick sides between their friend's when they didn't know the whole story. And especially since everyone involved was hurting.
He too felt pained when Arnold left. Arnold was one of his closest friends next to Stinky. Sometimes, Stinky didn't understand things like Arnold did. Arnold knew how to comfort Sid by being personal, something Stinky had trouble doing sometimes. Sid honestly could say that if Arnold was still around, he wouldn't have been through some of the situations he had put himself in. But he couldn't blame Arnold for that. His decisions were his own doing and he couldn't rely on Arnold to be his moral compass.
Weirdly enough, Helga started to fill the void of moral reasoning and personal therapist after he had gotten Courtney pregnant. She always knew when to let Sid understand his mistakes (in a way only Helga could) or comfort him in his sadness. Rumors started spreading that Sid and Helga were going to be a couple after they had gotten close, which made them both laugh. They were as close as much as siblings are. The idea of dating was weird, awkward, and a little gross to the both of them. Besides, everyone knew that Arnold and Helga were meant to be, despite their issues.
Sid looked at the next envelope with anger. He didn't want to read it, but he had to. At least he would know why. He needed to know for his son.
Stinky grabbed his shoulder and gave it a squeeze as Sid took the letter in his hand. He looked up at the others.
"No matter what she writes in this letter and no matter what happens, I will never forgive that her unless she was kidnapped, raped, or forced to leave against her will. And I hope everyone understands that." he darkly states. They all nod.
"Good." Sid replies as he teared open the letter. He unfolds the letter and starts reading…..
Ooooooooooo. What does the note say? What happened between Helga and Arnold? Will Courtney come back? What new character will be introduced next chapter? Ok, I know some of you thought this was gonna be a HelgaxSid story and I was thinking about it. But I decided against it because I am a HUGE AxH shipper and writing a story without Helga and Arnold together would make me have a huge creativity block. Sorry guys! But Helga does have a big role in this story, you'll see soon. Anyways, Thanks for reading! Please leave reviews and comments. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ONLY. Until next time!
