Split Decisions
ONE: I Take You With Me
Phoebe was awakened by the sound of her ringing cellphone. "Hello?"
Helga's voice was heard on the other end. "Phoebe, it's me, Helga."
"Oh hi, Helga." Phoebe said, stifling a yawn. "What's up?"
"Nothing, " Helga replied. "I just wanted to tell you something."
"Okay. What?"
"Don't ever take crap from others."
Silence.
"Phoebe? Are you there?"
"I'm listening. Is that it?? Phoebe asked incredulously.
"Yes. Can you remember that?"
"Remembering," Phoebe replied, but not without hesitation.
"Good. You'll be fine."
Phoebe thought her friend was sounding strange. "Is anything wrong, Helga?"
"Everything's fine," Helga reassured her. "Go back to sleep."
"Okay. Goodnight, Helga."
"Goodbye, Phoebe."
===============
The more Helga thought about it, the more she was convinced that her leaving home was a good idea:
'Big Bob will get his beloved peace and quiet, and he probably wanted just one daughter, anyway';
'Miriam already acts like I don't exist half the time';
'Olga can use my bedroom as her trophy room... doi';
'And as for everyone else, well, let's face it: I'm not exactly the city's resident sweetheart.'
But she didn't care. She wouldn't miss any of them, either.
Save for two people:
Phoebe. Her best friend. Phoebe might feel a little sad to find her gone. Helga was also worried that without her around to protect Phoebe, people might try to take advantage of her, so she called to give her some final instructions and to say goodbye.
She didn't tell Phoebe about her plans. She didn't want Phoebe to worry, and she didn't want to hear any words of discouragement either .She was scared enough as it was.
The other person was Arnold.
"Arnold," she breathed.
He was the best thing about this place, the one she loved the most. She wasn't sure she had the strength to walk away from him.
But he didn't care, either.
And who could blame him? She never gave him any reason to like her.
Loving Arnold, she decided, was a dream. She could dream any place she went.
'But still, to never gaze upon upon the radiant beauty of my beloved Arnold ever again...'
She started packing her stuff. She wouldn't take much. Some clothes, some books, all her diaries and Arnold mementos... she wouldn't leave anything incriminating, and her life savings.
She was ready to start out on her own. Her savings was fairly large. She wasn't a big spender, and if she had one good thing to say about big Bob, he was a generous man.
He even gave her a car when she turned 16. It was beautiful and brand new, but she didn't care. She hardly ever used it. She didn't need it, didn't even ask for it. She wasn't going to take it with her when she leaves. It was easier to take the bus.
She was glad that she was able to fit everything into one suitcase. That made things a lot easier, because she had one last stop to make before she headed to the bus station.
Arnold's house.
===================
"What was the plan again?" helga asked herself as she approached the sunset Arms boarding house.
She had no idea what she was doing. All she knew was that she couldn't leave without seeing Arnold one last time. She even considered having a serious heart to heart with him but quickly dismissed that notion.
"Yeah right," she chided herself. "And then what? you'll kiss him goodbye? Get real, Helga."
She assumed that by that time, Arnold was already asleep in his room. She decided that the best thing to do was to just watch him through the skylights for a while. That way, no explanations would be necessary. She wasn't good at giving those.
She was about to climb the drainpipe up to the roof when she noticed Arnold's car parked in front of the building. She walked up to the car instead.
She found Arnold sleeping in the backseat.
She stopped in her tracks and just stared. He had such a look of peace and contentment that Helga felt her heart melting.
She came closer and hoped Arnold wouldn't wake up anytime soon. She wanted to watch him like that a little longer.
She opened the door to the driver's seat, climbed in and sat down. She set her suitcase down on the other seat. She turned to face the sleeping Arnold. He didn't even stir.
'I wish I didn't have to leave you,' she told the sleeping boy in her mind. It didn't seem fair that she couldn't have the best of both worlds. She wished she could at least have something to remember that moment by.
A shocking thought came to her.
'It's risky, but...'
Blushing profusely, Helga reached for Arnold's lower body.
She found the keys to his car in one of his pants' pockets. She closed the door gently, started the car as quietly as she could, all the wghile praying he wouldn't wake up just yet, and drove away, taking what she loved the most with her.
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