AN: Chap 4 updated and edited :)
AN: Wow, must be on a roll to bring out another chapter today. Anyways, enjoy.
The crowd was rowdy and restless today. Most of the neighbourhood was there to support their team. Blue and white filled the room. The score was 60-58 in home team favour. Everyone was excited. Gerald dribbled the basketball towards the hoop. Arnold was behind him to give him support just in case the other team tried to steal the ball. He knew that a two point lead was nothing and they had to make sure the other team wouldn't tie. There was five minutes on the clock left. Stinky, Iggy and Tucker were in the team as well as some other random guys from the school.
"Go Geraldo go!" Yelled Helga excitedly on the edge of her seat. She was sitting in the middle row of the bleachers with Phoebe. Helga was wearing one of Arnold's spare jerseys with a knot tied to the side and a short denim skirt, and a pair of pink sketchers. She had taken the jersey from Arnold after his grandma had done the laundry after school one day, she told him she wanted a school jersey to show her support but Gerald had already given his spare to his girlfriend. That was her excuse, but Arnold knew better but happily gave her the jersey and didn't say anything. The jersey had the number 7 on it with Arnold's last name, 'Shortman' above it.
"Come on Arnold! Thrash em'!" Yelled Gertie in a cheerleader's outfit that looked like it had come from the 60s. Her outfit though wasn't as short and as showy as the current cheerleaders. Arnold chuckled as he saw his grandma cheering from the bottom of the bleachers and his grandpa shaking his head in embarrassment.
"Let's go Hillwood, let's go!" Chanted the cheerleaders on the sidelines as they clapped in synchronised timing. Rhonda was there as the captain of the cheerleading squad. She wore a tight blue top that showed her belly which had a blue belly bar piercing and a tiny cheerleading skirt of blue, white and black. She had a reputation with the boys of being easy which got her popular with most of the boys in the school and hated among all the girls. Her dark ebony hair swished in a high ponytail as she led the cheerleaders into a routine. As she did, she blew a kiss to Arnold and Gerald and gave them a flirty wink. Arnold rolled his eyes while Gerald ignored her.
"Doesn't she ever quit?" Panted Arnold as he ran next to his best friend and slicked his hair back. Ever since the party last year, Arnold had avoided Rhonda at all costs but Rhonda was quite a persistent girl.
"Apparently not." Commented Gerald dryly as he turned his head to see Rhonda sucking her finger seductively while looking at him. It was his turn to roll his eyes at her.
"Ooh! Let me at her!" Growled Helga as she watched the cheerleader captain flirt with Gerald and Arnold. Her fists clenched at the sight.
"Calm down Helga." Replied Phoebe almost grinding her teeth trying to stay calm herself. She was ready to pounce on the cheerleader herself but knew she had to restrain herself. "Look, the boys don't even like it." Phoebe pointed to the boys who were scowling at Rhonda as Gerald passed the basketball to Stinky.
"Hey princess! Stop flirting with Gerald and Arnold!" Yelled Helga as she stood up.
"Hey, it's a free country! Besides, Arnold is a free man!" Rhonda yelled back smiling. She stuck her middle finger at her flipping her off then turning her back to her.
"Arnold might be but Gerald's not! You're gonna make our team lose if you keep trying to distract them!" Yelled Helga angrily.
"You're just jealous that I can get any guy I want!" Rhonda yelled smirking and turning to face her again. Many of the people around them started watching the girls yell instead of the game, even some of the players from the opposite team.
"She's treading on thin ice." Helga scowled sitting back down with her arms crossed. Phoebe agreed and secretly if Helga did lose her temper and started bashing Rhonda, who was she to stop her.
With all the commotion between the girls, they jumped in surprise when they heard the end siren go off, signalling that Hillwood High had won the game 62-58, scoring in the last-minute due to the other team being distracted from Helga and Rhonda. Everyone cheered as the team lifted Gerald up excitedly. The principal was so excited that the team won the game, that he let Helga and Arnold off the hook and cancelled the rest of their week's detention. The boys lined up to shake hands with the losing team and congratulated them on the good game.
Rhonda then approached the boys and gave Arnold a kiss on the cheek which he scowled at her. She then proceeded to give Gerald a kiss on the cheek but before she could, Helga shoved her to the ground.
"Hey! What was that for?!" Rhonda yelled as she got up and dusted herself.
"Lay a single finger on him and you'll get a personal visit from ol' Betsy." Threatened Helga with a closed fist stepping in front of Gerald and Arnold.
"Trust me; she'll get more than that if she tries that stunt again." Phoebe said with venom in her voice as she approached the girls. She would rarely get upset so for her to speak like that, it was a big deal. Gerald looked at Phoebe wondering if she was mad at him, but she smiled and took his hand which gave him a big relief.
"Whatever." Spat Rhonda as she walked away and grabbed Stinky's arm who tried to pry her off him. He knew Rhonda's reputation and tried to avoid her when he could.
The girls waited at the car in the car park in front of the school as the boys were getting changed in the locker room out of their basketball uniforms.
"I've been thinking." Arnold started as he got out of the steamy shower and wrapped his naked body in a white towel. He walked towards his locker which was next to Gerald's.
"Yeah." Gerald replied. He got out of the shower as well. The other guys in the team were chatting away as well as they got changed. Some were even fooling around whipping each other.
"Helga was pretty protective of us today, from Rhonda that is."
"Yeah so?" Gerald asked not knowing where this conversation was going.
"She really likes me doesn't she?" Pondered Arnold.
"Um, yeah." Gerald replied as if it was obvious.
"I'm gonna make Helga admit she likes me before her birthday then ask her out." Arnold finally said getting to the point as he put his green shirt on.
"Finally!" Gushed Gerald as he put on a red t-shirt. "You two, have been driving me and Phoebs crazy. You guys are still driving us crazy! What made you think about asking Helga out?"
"Well we've kissed a few times but every time we do, the next day it's like it never happened. I'm sort of over it. I'm tired of us, pretending." Arnold explained as he grabbed his pair of jeans from his locker and put them on.
"Well, I'm here for you man, if you need any help." Replied Gerald who had finished dressing. He put his hand on his best friend's shoulder.
"Thanks man." The two of them did their famous secret handshake that they've had since they could remember.
"Anytime man. You two need to get laid, all this tension between you two mustn't be good for your health." Gerald patted his best friend's back.
"Gerald! No! Just no!" Arnold howled. Gerald shrugged as he grabbed his bag and headed for the door that led to the car park. Arnold followed him with his backpack slung on one shoulder.
AN: For those who might not realise, no 7 on Arnold's jersey is actually a reference to the episode 'Bench Warmer' in season 1. Arnold's jersey is no 7 when he plays basketball with Gerald and Stinky. The colours blue and white also match the jerseys in that episode as well.
