p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The bell rang, and Helga bumped against Arnold. "Still haven't learned to get out my way, eh, football head?" All he could do was a laugh, especially since she had a small grin on her face along with her remark./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda placed her arm around Helga as they left the classroom. "Helga, when are you going to give me my answer regarding helping us with the initiation stuff?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I don't know..." She shook her head a few times./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda's eyebrows sank into an impatient gaze. "What is there to know? Chicken, turning into a goody two shoes?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga smirked at her and removed Rhonda's arm. "emPlease/em. Cut the mind games, princess..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda frowned, but, then started to give a mouth pout. "Come on emHeeelga/em...you got to do this with me... those girls; Lila, for example, puts on her sweet act. I'm too pretty to this; except when I'm cheering of course." Helga shot her sharp daggers. "You're just as attractive Helga, but you're a different type...You're not a priss. Right?" Helga knew she was buttering her up, but she let her continue. "Those girls won't listen to us... They won't take us seriously." She said in a whining tone that only got on Helga's nerves. She stomped her foot and took out her whistle. "Here... you'll be in charge even though you're not a cheerleader. You can have complete control, after me." Helga was still visibly unmoved. "C'mon Helga... don't make me beg anymore... You're the boss, alright? Please...Helga...please."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga side eyed her and yanked the whistle from her. "emAlright/em quit your bellyaching...I'll do it, but we can't take that shit too far...remember what it was like when we were young whippersnappers... The senior girls had no mercy, jealous cows! We should just make 'em do some drills, and as a reward, we should ask one of them to hang out with us tonight."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda poked her chest. "emAwww/em Helga, are you growing a heart in there?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""If I didn't have one, I would have punched you in the throat for blabbing endlessly about your love for the Jonas Brothers."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda huffed. "One Direction!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Same fucking difference!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Whatever. Anyway, some of my girls got the word out to the incoming freshmen about the cheerleading initiation, so we're going to recruit as soon as we vacant these wretched walls... meet me in the front, my driver will come pick us up." The girls went to their separate classes./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold because he was heading in the same direction, heard enough of their conversation and smiled a bit at the fact that it was Helga who suggested going lighter on the freshman girls. He always got excited when he heard or saw her doing something nice. In his mind, at least the girls had decided only to do it to first-year students who wanted to try out for cheerleading, while the guys; mainly his football teammates, went after any boy who looked about freshmen age. Arnold wanted no parts of it, to be honest, he never did, even when he was at PS 118; he ever partook in the initiation/hazing of younger peers./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"For everyone, it felt like the day was dragging endlessly, everyone wanted for it to be over and because of it being the last day the teachers and security were lax on discipline./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"For that reason, Stinky Peterson was just strolling the hallway ditching class, as he was dawdling, he spotted Harold in shop class./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Also in that class is Curly; making a weird-looking device. Stinky gets his attention and then gets him to signal to Harold./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold peeked up to see his instructor's head resting on the desk snoring and drooling away, so he darted out into the hall as fast as he could./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Stinks, what you doin out here?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I came to see if we were still doin what we agreed on before?" Harold looked puzzled. "About going up to the junior high to scare the kiddos?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold grinned widely. "emDuh/em Stinky, find Gerald and maybe Arnold then we can head out after this."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So as instructed, Stinky goes to peek into nearly every classroom spotting Gerald in a packed classroom with a strict teacher, so he made a hand gesture, and Gerald nodded in understanding. They had planned to leave during lunch period; which they shared for the first time since high school began./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold headed to the cafeteria for lunch when Gerald told him about what the guy's had planned. To go over to the junior high and threaten the incoming freshmen. Arnold wasn't at all enthusiastic about it./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Come on Arnold; I just want to scare them a bit that's it, after that sounded. My idea of a good vacation is not chasing boys when I could be with Phoebe."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He thought about it, just only scaring them and leaving it at that, but that didn't sound appealing to him either for some reason. "Nah, I'll just stay here and see you all when you get back."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Squinted one eye at his best friend. "Alright, if you're sure?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"At lunch period, Gerald, Stinky, and Harold drove over to the local junior high./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold took out a blow horn as soon they stopped, out in front of the school. He looked up at the windows, all of them were wide open. Initially, he grinned like a kid on Christmas, before he started shouting out his threats. "YO! You little freshman pip-squeaks! I know you can hear me! Just here to let you know that you'll be getting your wimpy asses kicked!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald snatched the horn away. "Don't be so obvious… emdamn/em." He brought the horn to his mouth and paused for a moment to think. "Ignore my tubby friend here. He's had too many Mr. Fudgies. We're here to look for potential athletes. Because once the bell rings for school to be out... we will officially be seniors, and you boys will officially be freshmen. So if want a good spot on one of the teams next fall, don't punk out and run like babies away from this; you, beautiful tradition."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold snatched the horn back. "Either way, we're gonna hunt you down like the little-"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hey, I didn't get to say nothing." Stinky bellowed, and Harold handed him the horn. Seeing an enormous security guard peek his head out and he lowered the horn for second and gulped. "AHHH ... enjoy the rest of ya day boys!" The three guys hightailed out to get back to their school./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Finally, it's the last period; everyone was staring up at the clock, including the teachers. Anxiously waiting for the final hour to end and vacation to begin./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The bell rang, and Arnold jumped up fast to immediately link up with Gerald, Stinky, and Harold out in the hall. All three guys stopped when they heard a familiar yet wickedly intimidating voice./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""emAye/em, you goons!" They turned around to see Helga standing there glaring at them. She dashed to them and poked all of them in the chest."You bozos better lay off Pataki meat today and for the rest of the summer!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Huh?!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald frowned and looked her up and down. "What the hell are you blabbing about Pataki?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold squinted at her and laughed once he glanced at his puzzled friends. "She's talking about Levi... her little cousin. Levi Pataki, he's starting here next fall."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga glimpsed at Arnold; she's surprised he remembered such detail. Because since her cousin's family had moved to Hillwood, she didn't recall bringing him around to the gang more than a few times and that seemed like ages ago./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""emOOOOOH/em." Harold and Stinky said at once again./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"That got a snort out of Helga. "Good thing at least one of yous has a brain. Anyway, as I was saying, he'll be staying with us while his folks go out-of-town, I better not see him come home covered in garbage or wincing in pain from a run-in with you creeps. Touch him and be prepared to meet Ole Betsy and the five Avengers." She held up a fist for effect./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald smirked. "Pataki, you need to come up with some new names. You've been threatening us with those since Urban tots..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yeah! Me especially and I'm sick of it!" Harold groaned out./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She folded her arms. "Shut the hell up Harold!" Her level of snark was so intense that he closed his mouth quick like a scared child and pouted. She snorted at his reaction. "Anyway, tall hair boy, I don't need to, those names are classic, and they do the trick." She gave them each a pointed look. "Right pink boy?!" He groaned and turned away. "Remember what I said..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Her eyes absent-mindedly wandered to Arnold, and she saw him instantly lick his lips. He seemed to get flushed for a split second after that but composed himself once he began speaking. "Don't worry Helga; Levi will be just fine, myself and the rest of the guys will make sure of it."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald smirked at Arnold and grinned at Helga. "Right, we won't hurt him."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She felt her cheeks get hot and she chewed her lip. "Uh-huh... that better be true ... because I'll be watching you ...baboons... all of yous." She resumed her scowl, pointed at all of them and then slowly turned to walk away./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What a barracuda, ah Helga is still the biggest shrew of the school!" Harold stuck out his tongue./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That's a little harsh. Helga's just protective of her little cousin; anyone would." Arnold muttered and awkwardly rubbed his arm once the other two were staring at him like he had grown another head./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Stinky was eyeing her figure from behind as she walked away. "Helga Pataki might be a barracuda-like woman, but she sure is a lovely one. She can watch me all she wants."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold and Gerald both groaned, not because they thought of her as unattractive, but both just rather not think of the girl they each bickered with daily as emlovely/em. While Stinky, however, mentally noted how he wasn't the only one looking at Helga and thinking similar thoughts./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Just at that instant, Phoebe had walked over to Helga, she peeked back at Arnold and then whispered something to Helga. "Turn around; he's giving you that look I've told you about... now."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold blinked a few times to snap himself out of falling into a daydream. Helga turned around to see him frowning, rolling her eyes she whispered back to Phoebe. "What? The look that could kill?" She poked her friend and snickered. "Pheebs I think your prescription is failing you, for the last time football head ain't checking me out...and that's emokay/em." Helga shrugged./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Phoebe in response didn't say anything, she turned and glared in Arnold's direction, sucked her teeth and speed up her stride./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold faced his friends. "So... I think it's best that you all listen to her and I think you guys should go easy on the kids in general. Remember what it was like when we were freshmen, those seniors were vicious."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold snickered. "Typical emARRRRNOLD/em... wimping out on us. This is a tradition we're talking! What are you scared of Madam fortress mommy?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He rolled his eyes. "Oh come on Harold, get serious. I'm only looking out for Levi; he's an innocent kid."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald side eyed his friend. "Sure... you're only looking out for him because he's an innocent kid and not because of..." Gerald's stopped and gave him a knowing look, and after a second, Arnold glowered at what he realized he was implying. "But I agree with you; I'm not spending any parts of my vacation chasing kids."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The four were just about to leave the building when Arnold and the others heard someone loudly yelling his name. "Arnold Shortman!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold whipped around to see the head coach of the football team. "You better cut off your little protest stop befriending that group of weird slackers, I know this anti-social behavior is their influence! Don't give me that deer in highlights look; I see everything! If you don't shape up by next fall, you'll be out!" Arnold nodded and started to walk away. "Hey, in fact, I want an answer by the end of the day...you got less than 24-hours... just be at my office ... you know I stay late. I don't want to have to call your parents. Berman! You make sure he does just that!" Harold saluted him, and the coach slowly shook his head and walked off./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"When he was outside Arnold groaned feebly. Stinky poked him. "The man's just bluffing, Arnold, you got to be the best player on that team."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald chimed in. "Yeah, no way he'll replace you."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold sighed. "Thanks, guys, I just wish my real teammates would be just as supportive and back me up here."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He eyed Harold tentatively. "Ah, who cares about girls' sports... are you a girl Arnold? No! Guy's football is a top priority at this school and most schools. The problem is that you're thinking about it too much, overthinking... emas usual/em."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""And you don't think enough, under-thinking... emas usual/em." He irritably mumbled under his breath./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"As the guys headed to the parking lot, they heard his beat-up car peeling recklessly into a parking spot. The driver jumped out. Arnold immediately sighed. "Now here comes this idiot."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald chuckled. "Did you hear that ole boy got held back?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yeah, and I can't believe they're letting him back on the team." He narrowed his eyes at Wolfgang. "God usually I can find a redeeming quality in everyone. But Wolfgang doesn't seem to have any." He shook his head and frowned. "I can't believe Helga once dated him or any girl for that matter."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I can. Those two were a match made in loudmouth heaven." He was speaking his mind, but also subtly trying to gauge his friend's reaction./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Gerald." Arnold lightly scolded. "C'mon, don't say that. The guys a monster and she might be loud, but she's a good person, and she's been our friend for emyears/em."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He shrugged. "Nah she's my classmate." He sighed after seeing Arnold gives him a judgmental look. "Okay, alright, she's an acquaintance that's the best you're getting out of me." He saw Wolfgang pick up an underclassman and shove him into a garbage can. "And dude shouldn't be allowed to touch any member of the female persuasion."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold nodded pleasantly until he saw Wolfgang moving in, so he and Gerald did their signature handshake. "I got to get away from this school before I lose my mind."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hey, Arnold, stop by Gerald's field so we can watch Pataki, Rhonda, and your girl crucify those freshmen."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold nodded and got into his car. Even Harold and Stinky left after briefly dealing with Wolfgang./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga stood in front of a group of freshmen girls with Rhonda and the other cheerleaders behind./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"With great amusement on her face, she tugged at the whistle around her neck. "Alright, listen up because I ain't gonna repeat myself. Memorize this face, because the sooner you do, the easier. Why? Because I run things around here. Who runs things? Me. That's right. emHelga G. Pataki/em. You want to be cheerleaders?! You wanna kick it with Rhonda and her group?" She started to circle the girls who were down in the beginnings of a push-up position. "Of course, you do... if you didn't, you wouldn't have shown up here. But before you can even think to utter the word cheerleader you got to prove yourself to me first." She blew her whistle. "For starters, drop and give me 20!" She watched as they started. "Oh, no you don't have girlies... I don't want girl pushups; you do regulars, 20 of them!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga counted and walked around the girls, all of them struggled. "This is a pathetic sight..." She paused and saw one girl who was in perfect form and completing each one with ease. She smiled proudly./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Once she counted to 20, she blew her whistle, and the girls all moaned. "Okay, now that you're done with that pathetic display of upper body strength. Now give me 20 burpees!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What's a burpee?" A minuscule girl asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The girl who did perfect push ups with a look of askance, she came to the front of the girls. "This is a burpee." She proceeded to hop down into a push-up position and hop back up a few times./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga crossed her arms and walked over to her. "What's your name?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What's yours?" She asked with complete indifference./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga tried her best to grimace, but her amusement shined through. "I already said my name, weren't you paying attention?!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She walked back to her spot with the other freshmen girls. "I guess not."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda stormed over to her. "You better tell her your name or—"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Rhonda, I can handle this." She watched Rhonda pout and walk away. "Now, since you're so good at all these drills. You get to do 20 extra of each."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The girl shrugged. "No problem."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga looked surprised, but covered it up with a scowl and blew her whistle for them to start./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The guys had gotten there in time to see everything. Arnold was sitting in the bleachers next to Curly and Harold, chin resting on his hands with his eyes seem to shift rhythmically between Lila and Helga noting the very clear differences as they made orders to the younger girls./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Lila was using her usual sweet, soft tone to keep the girls in line she had a dark look in her eyes as if she were getting a deep pleasure out of making these girls suffer. Deep down, Arnold was aggravated, he wished that she would drop the innocent act and be true to her feelings. Even though he wanted Helga would put her kinder side on display more often, over the years, he noticed there was always a hint of it mixed with her witty sarcasm. He accepted a while ago that he enjoyed her sense of humor./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold was so busy daydreaming, so he was startled at Rhonda's presence in front of him along with a freshman girl. "Ask Mr. Berman what I told you," Rhonda demanded firmly of the girl./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The freshman girl folded her hands and stared up at Harold; who was sitting on a bench next Arnold and Curly. "Will you take me to the junior high dance?" This was Lila's contributions to the initiation process to make all the girls go up to a someone male or female and ask a random question; something that would make them a bit vulnerable to possible embarrassment./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold laughed came out almost like a roar. Harold over the past years of high school had become more of a class clown jock. He still tried to intimidate people because of his size and reputation, but once they got to know him, it was evident he was big softy; albeit obnoxious and crude at times. "Me? Go to a junior high dance? Well, what's in it for me?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What would you like?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold thought for a moment he wanted to annoy Rhonda, and with a grin, he took a banana out-of-pocket. "I want to see what you can do with this?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda rolled her eyes and pulled the girl away. "Don't respond to that. Ugh. Helga's right, you're such a pig." She muttered to him./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold stuck out his tongue. "Like you didn't know that before you came over here."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""See that's why you avoid dating meat heads..." Rhonda looked over her shoulder at Harold. "Trust me." She whispered to the girl./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Curly nudged him while shaking his head. "That was emterrible/em dude, so undignified..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold chortled. "Stop using big words; school's almost out!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold didn't catch any of that exchange because he most likely would scold Harold for his perverted comment. He was gazing away at a girl whose kind of a puzzle, but a highly intriguing one./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"His eyes left her and realized he'd been caught staring by Phoebe. He got up praying that he wasn't visibly blushing. He felt some guilt as he approached Lila with his mouth formed into a thin smile as his eyes shifted to Phoebe. "I'm about to go...seems like things are simpering down here so would you like a ride...maybe we could go somewhere?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Lila's smile faltered slightly. "Oh, I thought you wanted to hang out with your friends...I'll stay here and get a ride home from my girlfriends." Rhonda and Helga who could hear this conversation rolled their eyes at her referring to them as her 'girlfriends' and cringed at the idea of spending time with her than they already had today./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold nodded and smiled. "Right...Okay, then I guess the next time I'll see you is at Sid's later."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yep." Arnold leaned in, and she jumped back. "Not in front of the kiddies." She said while giggling. Instead, she pecked him on the cheek./p
hr style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" noshade="noshade" size="1" /
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He left Gerald field and dropped by Sid's because he asked to help out with getting ready for tonight. As he entered his room, he grinned in delight because he remembered how much Sid use to feel embarrassed of his old place in the distant past. Now his room more than made up for it, he had the coolest room, even better than Arnold's./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"There was his girlfriend Natalie and Curly passing around what looked like a joint. Curly held it up to pass to Arnold, who shook his hands. "No, thanks." He had longed stopped trying to lecture them about laying off smoking marijuana because after much persistence and not getting through; even Arnold knew when to give up. Sid started smoking thinking it would lower his anxieties; while Curly did so to calm down in general. He kneeled down. "So Sid, you needed some help?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid stretched his arms up. "Yeah, but it can wait. Just chill out."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold looked around and collapsed on a lounge chair. Curly suddenly came over to Arnold. "Hey man, try it. It'll change your whole disposition."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold nervously eyed him. "Um...no thanks, Curly."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""C'mon Shortman, just take one puff and we'll never pressure you again."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He quickly realized everyone was staring at him. He sighed and took it, not because they were insisting, but because secretly he was always curious himself. He put the joint to his lips and inhaled, coughing desperately afterward./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"They all laughed a little. "Don't worry, Arnold, that happens to almost everyone the first time. Try again; it'll get better trust me."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He took a few more puffs, and it did get better. As soon as he started to relax, there was a heavy knock on the door that made him flinch./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Sid! Open this door now!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Crap it's my dad." He whispered./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Natalie and Arnold helped him hide the stash, spray and open the windows up more; while Curly sat there twirling his fingers unsure of what to do with himself./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Now go, let your dad in," Arnold whispered to Sid./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He opened the door, and his father was standing there with a sheet of paper in his hand. It was a list of things for the party. He gulped and turned to briefly face Curly, whose eyes dart around wildly. "You were supposed to throw that out?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What was that?" His father asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Nothing. Um... what can I do for you, dad?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He violently shook the paper in his hand. "You can start by telling me what this list is about!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid gulped and felt a sweat coming on. "Nothing it's just something Cur- Thaddeus had it in his pockets; he must have dropped it." He faced Curly. "Right Thaddeus?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Curly just twirled his thumbs until Arnold elbowed him. "Yea yea, that's right sir."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid's father looked unconvinced, and he leaned against the door. "Your mother and I will not give up our trip because of your teenage shenanigans! But what we will do is hire our house-sitter to come over here and make sure things stay in order. You know who I'm referring to; you won't be able to get away with anything here." He held his forehead. "It's pathetic that I have to result to that since you're nearly an adult, but I see that I can't trust you and someone needs to be here to make sure this house stays clear of any wild hooligan behavior!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid nodded and moved past his father to go to the bathroom. He looks back at his son's friends. "Were you three in on this party?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No, sir." Sid's girlfriend Natalie answered./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He shook his head as he slammed the door./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid stormed back in. "Well, there goes plans for the tonight... With Cruella de Vil here, no way we can have any fun, sofa city, here I come."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold peeked over at him. "I didn't know you didn't have permission..." Sid punched his pillow, and Arnold was watching him getting more furious. "But don't be so quick to give up." They all looked at him curiously. "Your parents will still be gone. We can't have a party here, but we can still make the best of it. Seems like she's strict about the house, but would she care if you went out?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""emNo/em. She doesn't care about me." He threw up his arms in defeat. "Make the best of it...Typical Arnold thing to say. What are you gonna do? Carry things over to your boarding house? That's a terrible idea...your parents are more attuned than mine...you got all those people living there...besides it's not enough space."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I wasn't going to suggest that. But we could take the party over to Rhonda's." Arnold said with enthusiasm./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Curly raised his hand. "Not a good idea, the Lloyd's are having a emhoity-toity/em gathering, Rhonda barely got permission to go out." The others all stared at him, wondering how he knew such information since Rhonda avoided him, but no one dared to ask./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay...um...since your house-sitter doesn't care what you do... you can still go out and have a good time. I have no idea what we can do for tonight..." He paused and thought for a moment. A smile materialized. "And that's the fun of it all. It'll be, spontaneous."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Curly started bobbing his head. "Hey, I like the sound of that!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid chopped down at his nails. "Things could go terribly wrong... or it could just be plain boring or even worse..." Sid felt the beginnings of a panic so he takes another hit and his eyes roll back in his head. "But whatever..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold stared at Sid for a second and chuckled softly. "We'll have to risk it going bad or being boring... either way; it beats sitting at home, right?" He looked to Curly and Natalie who nodded. With a huge smile still on his face leaned back and stared up at the ceiling thinking about more than just the upcoming hang out plans. "Because that's just what I need for the evening and in my life. A little more emspontaneity/em."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"strongspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"Sid's party getting canned is based on most of my high school experiences/plans, almost every time anyone decided to throw a house party while their parents were going away. But just like for my friends and me back then... the show must go on./span/strong/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"strongspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"Thanks for the reviews on the previous chapter;)/span/strong/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda placed her arm around Helga as they left the classroom. "Helga, when are you going to give me my answer regarding helping us with the initiation stuff?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I don't know..." She shook her head a few times./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda's eyebrows sank into an impatient gaze. "What is there to know? Chicken, turning into a goody two shoes?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga smirked at her and removed Rhonda's arm. "emPlease/em. Cut the mind games, princess..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda frowned, but, then started to give a mouth pout. "Come on emHeeelga/em...you got to do this with me... those girls; Lila, for example, puts on her sweet act. I'm too pretty to this; except when I'm cheering of course." Helga shot her sharp daggers. "You're just as attractive Helga, but you're a different type...You're not a priss. Right?" Helga knew she was buttering her up, but she let her continue. "Those girls won't listen to us... They won't take us seriously." She said in a whining tone that only got on Helga's nerves. She stomped her foot and took out her whistle. "Here... you'll be in charge even though you're not a cheerleader. You can have complete control, after me." Helga was still visibly unmoved. "C'mon Helga... don't make me beg anymore... You're the boss, alright? Please...Helga...please."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga side eyed her and yanked the whistle from her. "emAlright/em quit your bellyaching...I'll do it, but we can't take that shit too far...remember what it was like when we were young whippersnappers... The senior girls had no mercy, jealous cows! We should just make 'em do some drills, and as a reward, we should ask one of them to hang out with us tonight."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda poked her chest. "emAwww/em Helga, are you growing a heart in there?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""If I didn't have one, I would have punched you in the throat for blabbing endlessly about your love for the Jonas Brothers."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda huffed. "One Direction!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Same fucking difference!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Whatever. Anyway, some of my girls got the word out to the incoming freshmen about the cheerleading initiation, so we're going to recruit as soon as we vacant these wretched walls... meet me in the front, my driver will come pick us up." The girls went to their separate classes./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold because he was heading in the same direction, heard enough of their conversation and smiled a bit at the fact that it was Helga who suggested going lighter on the freshman girls. He always got excited when he heard or saw her doing something nice. In his mind, at least the girls had decided only to do it to first-year students who wanted to try out for cheerleading, while the guys; mainly his football teammates, went after any boy who looked about freshmen age. Arnold wanted no parts of it, to be honest, he never did, even when he was at PS 118; he ever partook in the initiation/hazing of younger peers./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"For everyone, it felt like the day was dragging endlessly, everyone wanted for it to be over and because of it being the last day the teachers and security were lax on discipline./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"For that reason, Stinky Peterson was just strolling the hallway ditching class, as he was dawdling, he spotted Harold in shop class./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Also in that class is Curly; making a weird-looking device. Stinky gets his attention and then gets him to signal to Harold./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold peeked up to see his instructor's head resting on the desk snoring and drooling away, so he darted out into the hall as fast as he could./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Stinks, what you doin out here?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I came to see if we were still doin what we agreed on before?" Harold looked puzzled. "About going up to the junior high to scare the kiddos?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold grinned widely. "emDuh/em Stinky, find Gerald and maybe Arnold then we can head out after this."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So as instructed, Stinky goes to peek into nearly every classroom spotting Gerald in a packed classroom with a strict teacher, so he made a hand gesture, and Gerald nodded in understanding. They had planned to leave during lunch period; which they shared for the first time since high school began./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold headed to the cafeteria for lunch when Gerald told him about what the guy's had planned. To go over to the junior high and threaten the incoming freshmen. Arnold wasn't at all enthusiastic about it./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Come on Arnold; I just want to scare them a bit that's it, after that sounded. My idea of a good vacation is not chasing boys when I could be with Phoebe."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He thought about it, just only scaring them and leaving it at that, but that didn't sound appealing to him either for some reason. "Nah, I'll just stay here and see you all when you get back."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Squinted one eye at his best friend. "Alright, if you're sure?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"At lunch period, Gerald, Stinky, and Harold drove over to the local junior high./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold took out a blow horn as soon they stopped, out in front of the school. He looked up at the windows, all of them were wide open. Initially, he grinned like a kid on Christmas, before he started shouting out his threats. "YO! You little freshman pip-squeaks! I know you can hear me! Just here to let you know that you'll be getting your wimpy asses kicked!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald snatched the horn away. "Don't be so obvious… emdamn/em." He brought the horn to his mouth and paused for a moment to think. "Ignore my tubby friend here. He's had too many Mr. Fudgies. We're here to look for potential athletes. Because once the bell rings for school to be out... we will officially be seniors, and you boys will officially be freshmen. So if want a good spot on one of the teams next fall, don't punk out and run like babies away from this; you, beautiful tradition."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold snatched the horn back. "Either way, we're gonna hunt you down like the little-"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hey, I didn't get to say nothing." Stinky bellowed, and Harold handed him the horn. Seeing an enormous security guard peek his head out and he lowered the horn for second and gulped. "AHHH ... enjoy the rest of ya day boys!" The three guys hightailed out to get back to their school./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Finally, it's the last period; everyone was staring up at the clock, including the teachers. Anxiously waiting for the final hour to end and vacation to begin./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The bell rang, and Arnold jumped up fast to immediately link up with Gerald, Stinky, and Harold out in the hall. All three guys stopped when they heard a familiar yet wickedly intimidating voice./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""emAye/em, you goons!" They turned around to see Helga standing there glaring at them. She dashed to them and poked all of them in the chest."You bozos better lay off Pataki meat today and for the rest of the summer!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Huh?!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald frowned and looked her up and down. "What the hell are you blabbing about Pataki?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold squinted at her and laughed once he glanced at his puzzled friends. "She's talking about Levi... her little cousin. Levi Pataki, he's starting here next fall."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga glimpsed at Arnold; she's surprised he remembered such detail. Because since her cousin's family had moved to Hillwood, she didn't recall bringing him around to the gang more than a few times and that seemed like ages ago./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""emOOOOOH/em." Harold and Stinky said at once again./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"That got a snort out of Helga. "Good thing at least one of yous has a brain. Anyway, as I was saying, he'll be staying with us while his folks go out-of-town, I better not see him come home covered in garbage or wincing in pain from a run-in with you creeps. Touch him and be prepared to meet Ole Betsy and the five Avengers." She held up a fist for effect./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald smirked. "Pataki, you need to come up with some new names. You've been threatening us with those since Urban tots..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yeah! Me especially and I'm sick of it!" Harold groaned out./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She folded her arms. "Shut the hell up Harold!" Her level of snark was so intense that he closed his mouth quick like a scared child and pouted. She snorted at his reaction. "Anyway, tall hair boy, I don't need to, those names are classic, and they do the trick." She gave them each a pointed look. "Right pink boy?!" He groaned and turned away. "Remember what I said..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Her eyes absent-mindedly wandered to Arnold, and she saw him instantly lick his lips. He seemed to get flushed for a split second after that but composed himself once he began speaking. "Don't worry Helga; Levi will be just fine, myself and the rest of the guys will make sure of it."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald smirked at Arnold and grinned at Helga. "Right, we won't hurt him."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She felt her cheeks get hot and she chewed her lip. "Uh-huh... that better be true ... because I'll be watching you ...baboons... all of yous." She resumed her scowl, pointed at all of them and then slowly turned to walk away./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What a barracuda, ah Helga is still the biggest shrew of the school!" Harold stuck out his tongue./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That's a little harsh. Helga's just protective of her little cousin; anyone would." Arnold muttered and awkwardly rubbed his arm once the other two were staring at him like he had grown another head./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Stinky was eyeing her figure from behind as she walked away. "Helga Pataki might be a barracuda-like woman, but she sure is a lovely one. She can watch me all she wants."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold and Gerald both groaned, not because they thought of her as unattractive, but both just rather not think of the girl they each bickered with daily as emlovely/em. While Stinky, however, mentally noted how he wasn't the only one looking at Helga and thinking similar thoughts./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Just at that instant, Phoebe had walked over to Helga, she peeked back at Arnold and then whispered something to Helga. "Turn around; he's giving you that look I've told you about... now."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold blinked a few times to snap himself out of falling into a daydream. Helga turned around to see him frowning, rolling her eyes she whispered back to Phoebe. "What? The look that could kill?" She poked her friend and snickered. "Pheebs I think your prescription is failing you, for the last time football head ain't checking me out...and that's emokay/em." Helga shrugged./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Phoebe in response didn't say anything, she turned and glared in Arnold's direction, sucked her teeth and speed up her stride./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold faced his friends. "So... I think it's best that you all listen to her and I think you guys should go easy on the kids in general. Remember what it was like when we were freshmen, those seniors were vicious."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold snickered. "Typical emARRRRNOLD/em... wimping out on us. This is a tradition we're talking! What are you scared of Madam fortress mommy?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He rolled his eyes. "Oh come on Harold, get serious. I'm only looking out for Levi; he's an innocent kid."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald side eyed his friend. "Sure... you're only looking out for him because he's an innocent kid and not because of..." Gerald's stopped and gave him a knowing look, and after a second, Arnold glowered at what he realized he was implying. "But I agree with you; I'm not spending any parts of my vacation chasing kids."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The four were just about to leave the building when Arnold and the others heard someone loudly yelling his name. "Arnold Shortman!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold whipped around to see the head coach of the football team. "You better cut off your little protest stop befriending that group of weird slackers, I know this anti-social behavior is their influence! Don't give me that deer in highlights look; I see everything! If you don't shape up by next fall, you'll be out!" Arnold nodded and started to walk away. "Hey, in fact, I want an answer by the end of the day...you got less than 24-hours... just be at my office ... you know I stay late. I don't want to have to call your parents. Berman! You make sure he does just that!" Harold saluted him, and the coach slowly shook his head and walked off./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"When he was outside Arnold groaned feebly. Stinky poked him. "The man's just bluffing, Arnold, you got to be the best player on that team."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald chimed in. "Yeah, no way he'll replace you."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold sighed. "Thanks, guys, I just wish my real teammates would be just as supportive and back me up here."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He eyed Harold tentatively. "Ah, who cares about girls' sports... are you a girl Arnold? No! Guy's football is a top priority at this school and most schools. The problem is that you're thinking about it too much, overthinking... emas usual/em."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""And you don't think enough, under-thinking... emas usual/em." He irritably mumbled under his breath./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"As the guys headed to the parking lot, they heard his beat-up car peeling recklessly into a parking spot. The driver jumped out. Arnold immediately sighed. "Now here comes this idiot."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Gerald chuckled. "Did you hear that ole boy got held back?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yeah, and I can't believe they're letting him back on the team." He narrowed his eyes at Wolfgang. "God usually I can find a redeeming quality in everyone. But Wolfgang doesn't seem to have any." He shook his head and frowned. "I can't believe Helga once dated him or any girl for that matter."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I can. Those two were a match made in loudmouth heaven." He was speaking his mind, but also subtly trying to gauge his friend's reaction./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Gerald." Arnold lightly scolded. "C'mon, don't say that. The guys a monster and she might be loud, but she's a good person, and she's been our friend for emyears/em."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He shrugged. "Nah she's my classmate." He sighed after seeing Arnold gives him a judgmental look. "Okay, alright, she's an acquaintance that's the best you're getting out of me." He saw Wolfgang pick up an underclassman and shove him into a garbage can. "And dude shouldn't be allowed to touch any member of the female persuasion."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold nodded pleasantly until he saw Wolfgang moving in, so he and Gerald did their signature handshake. "I got to get away from this school before I lose my mind."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hey, Arnold, stop by Gerald's field so we can watch Pataki, Rhonda, and your girl crucify those freshmen."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold nodded and got into his car. Even Harold and Stinky left after briefly dealing with Wolfgang./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga stood in front of a group of freshmen girls with Rhonda and the other cheerleaders behind./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"With great amusement on her face, she tugged at the whistle around her neck. "Alright, listen up because I ain't gonna repeat myself. Memorize this face, because the sooner you do, the easier. Why? Because I run things around here. Who runs things? Me. That's right. emHelga G. Pataki/em. You want to be cheerleaders?! You wanna kick it with Rhonda and her group?" She started to circle the girls who were down in the beginnings of a push-up position. "Of course, you do... if you didn't, you wouldn't have shown up here. But before you can even think to utter the word cheerleader you got to prove yourself to me first." She blew her whistle. "For starters, drop and give me 20!" She watched as they started. "Oh, no you don't have girlies... I don't want girl pushups; you do regulars, 20 of them!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga counted and walked around the girls, all of them struggled. "This is a pathetic sight..." She paused and saw one girl who was in perfect form and completing each one with ease. She smiled proudly./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Once she counted to 20, she blew her whistle, and the girls all moaned. "Okay, now that you're done with that pathetic display of upper body strength. Now give me 20 burpees!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What's a burpee?" A minuscule girl asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The girl who did perfect push ups with a look of askance, she came to the front of the girls. "This is a burpee." She proceeded to hop down into a push-up position and hop back up a few times./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga crossed her arms and walked over to her. "What's your name?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What's yours?" She asked with complete indifference./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga tried her best to grimace, but her amusement shined through. "I already said my name, weren't you paying attention?!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She walked back to her spot with the other freshmen girls. "I guess not."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda stormed over to her. "You better tell her your name or—"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Rhonda, I can handle this." She watched Rhonda pout and walk away. "Now, since you're so good at all these drills. You get to do 20 extra of each."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The girl shrugged. "No problem."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Helga looked surprised, but covered it up with a scowl and blew her whistle for them to start./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The guys had gotten there in time to see everything. Arnold was sitting in the bleachers next to Curly and Harold, chin resting on his hands with his eyes seem to shift rhythmically between Lila and Helga noting the very clear differences as they made orders to the younger girls./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Lila was using her usual sweet, soft tone to keep the girls in line she had a dark look in her eyes as if she were getting a deep pleasure out of making these girls suffer. Deep down, Arnold was aggravated, he wished that she would drop the innocent act and be true to her feelings. Even though he wanted Helga would put her kinder side on display more often, over the years, he noticed there was always a hint of it mixed with her witty sarcasm. He accepted a while ago that he enjoyed her sense of humor./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold was so busy daydreaming, so he was startled at Rhonda's presence in front of him along with a freshman girl. "Ask Mr. Berman what I told you," Rhonda demanded firmly of the girl./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The freshman girl folded her hands and stared up at Harold; who was sitting on a bench next Arnold and Curly. "Will you take me to the junior high dance?" This was Lila's contributions to the initiation process to make all the girls go up to a someone male or female and ask a random question; something that would make them a bit vulnerable to possible embarrassment./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold laughed came out almost like a roar. Harold over the past years of high school had become more of a class clown jock. He still tried to intimidate people because of his size and reputation, but once they got to know him, it was evident he was big softy; albeit obnoxious and crude at times. "Me? Go to a junior high dance? Well, what's in it for me?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What would you like?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold thought for a moment he wanted to annoy Rhonda, and with a grin, he took a banana out-of-pocket. "I want to see what you can do with this?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Rhonda rolled her eyes and pulled the girl away. "Don't respond to that. Ugh. Helga's right, you're such a pig." She muttered to him./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold stuck out his tongue. "Like you didn't know that before you came over here."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""See that's why you avoid dating meat heads..." Rhonda looked over her shoulder at Harold. "Trust me." She whispered to the girl./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Curly nudged him while shaking his head. "That was emterrible/em dude, so undignified..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Harold chortled. "Stop using big words; school's almost out!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold didn't catch any of that exchange because he most likely would scold Harold for his perverted comment. He was gazing away at a girl whose kind of a puzzle, but a highly intriguing one./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"His eyes left her and realized he'd been caught staring by Phoebe. He got up praying that he wasn't visibly blushing. He felt some guilt as he approached Lila with his mouth formed into a thin smile as his eyes shifted to Phoebe. "I'm about to go...seems like things are simpering down here so would you like a ride...maybe we could go somewhere?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Lila's smile faltered slightly. "Oh, I thought you wanted to hang out with your friends...I'll stay here and get a ride home from my girlfriends." Rhonda and Helga who could hear this conversation rolled their eyes at her referring to them as her 'girlfriends' and cringed at the idea of spending time with her than they already had today./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold nodded and smiled. "Right...Okay, then I guess the next time I'll see you is at Sid's later."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yep." Arnold leaned in, and she jumped back. "Not in front of the kiddies." She said while giggling. Instead, she pecked him on the cheek./p
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p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He left Gerald field and dropped by Sid's because he asked to help out with getting ready for tonight. As he entered his room, he grinned in delight because he remembered how much Sid use to feel embarrassed of his old place in the distant past. Now his room more than made up for it, he had the coolest room, even better than Arnold's./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"There was his girlfriend Natalie and Curly passing around what looked like a joint. Curly held it up to pass to Arnold, who shook his hands. "No, thanks." He had longed stopped trying to lecture them about laying off smoking marijuana because after much persistence and not getting through; even Arnold knew when to give up. Sid started smoking thinking it would lower his anxieties; while Curly did so to calm down in general. He kneeled down. "So Sid, you needed some help?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid stretched his arms up. "Yeah, but it can wait. Just chill out."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold looked around and collapsed on a lounge chair. Curly suddenly came over to Arnold. "Hey man, try it. It'll change your whole disposition."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold nervously eyed him. "Um...no thanks, Curly."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""C'mon Shortman, just take one puff and we'll never pressure you again."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He quickly realized everyone was staring at him. He sighed and took it, not because they were insisting, but because secretly he was always curious himself. He put the joint to his lips and inhaled, coughing desperately afterward./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"They all laughed a little. "Don't worry, Arnold, that happens to almost everyone the first time. Try again; it'll get better trust me."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He took a few more puffs, and it did get better. As soon as he started to relax, there was a heavy knock on the door that made him flinch./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Sid! Open this door now!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Crap it's my dad." He whispered./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Natalie and Arnold helped him hide the stash, spray and open the windows up more; while Curly sat there twirling his fingers unsure of what to do with himself./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Now go, let your dad in," Arnold whispered to Sid./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He opened the door, and his father was standing there with a sheet of paper in his hand. It was a list of things for the party. He gulped and turned to briefly face Curly, whose eyes dart around wildly. "You were supposed to throw that out?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What was that?" His father asked./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Nothing. Um... what can I do for you, dad?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He violently shook the paper in his hand. "You can start by telling me what this list is about!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid gulped and felt a sweat coming on. "Nothing it's just something Cur- Thaddeus had it in his pockets; he must have dropped it." He faced Curly. "Right Thaddeus?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Curly just twirled his thumbs until Arnold elbowed him. "Yea yea, that's right sir."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid's father looked unconvinced, and he leaned against the door. "Your mother and I will not give up our trip because of your teenage shenanigans! But what we will do is hire our house-sitter to come over here and make sure things stay in order. You know who I'm referring to; you won't be able to get away with anything here." He held his forehead. "It's pathetic that I have to result to that since you're nearly an adult, but I see that I can't trust you and someone needs to be here to make sure this house stays clear of any wild hooligan behavior!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid nodded and moved past his father to go to the bathroom. He looks back at his son's friends. "Were you three in on this party?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No, sir." Sid's girlfriend Natalie answered./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He shook his head as he slammed the door./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid stormed back in. "Well, there goes plans for the tonight... With Cruella de Vil here, no way we can have any fun, sofa city, here I come."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold peeked over at him. "I didn't know you didn't have permission..." Sid punched his pillow, and Arnold was watching him getting more furious. "But don't be so quick to give up." They all looked at him curiously. "Your parents will still be gone. We can't have a party here, but we can still make the best of it. Seems like she's strict about the house, but would she care if you went out?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""emNo/em. She doesn't care about me." He threw up his arms in defeat. "Make the best of it...Typical Arnold thing to say. What are you gonna do? Carry things over to your boarding house? That's a terrible idea...your parents are more attuned than mine...you got all those people living there...besides it's not enough space."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I wasn't going to suggest that. But we could take the party over to Rhonda's." Arnold said with enthusiasm./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Curly raised his hand. "Not a good idea, the Lloyd's are having a emhoity-toity/em gathering, Rhonda barely got permission to go out." The others all stared at him, wondering how he knew such information since Rhonda avoided him, but no one dared to ask./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay...um...since your house-sitter doesn't care what you do... you can still go out and have a good time. I have no idea what we can do for tonight..." He paused and thought for a moment. A smile materialized. "And that's the fun of it all. It'll be, spontaneous."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Curly started bobbing his head. "Hey, I like the sound of that!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Sid chopped down at his nails. "Things could go terribly wrong... or it could just be plain boring or even worse..." Sid felt the beginnings of a panic so he takes another hit and his eyes roll back in his head. "But whatever..."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Arnold stared at Sid for a second and chuckled softly. "We'll have to risk it going bad or being boring... either way; it beats sitting at home, right?" He looked to Curly and Natalie who nodded. With a huge smile still on his face leaned back and stared up at the ceiling thinking about more than just the upcoming hang out plans. "Because that's just what I need for the evening and in my life. A little more emspontaneity/em."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"strongspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"Sid's party getting canned is based on most of my high school experiences/plans, almost every time anyone decided to throw a house party while their parents were going away. But just like for my friends and me back then... the show must go on./span/strong/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"strongspan style="text-decoration-line: underline;"Thanks for the reviews on the previous chapter;)/span/strong/p