Case Pink Book reopened REOPENED! Omg, ahhhh! The crowd goes wild. AHHH! ...anyways, yeah, I thought, why not? I'm not doing anything. So, after such a long wait, here is chapter 4 of CPBR! Again, I'm not sure about continuing but at least there's this for now.
-Eden
Almost a week has past since the incident last friday and the first bell of the day has just rang for class to begin. Helga sat back comfortably in her seat, her feet on the top of her desk and her hands crossed behind her head. She didn't have a care in the world and everything was right with it. She thought of herself as brilliant after the whole incident a week ago. It was like getting away with the perfect crime and, boy, did it feel good. Everything went back to normal, she thought. Arnold was none the wiser and she could continue her comfortable life of loving torture for her beloved. Yep, life was good.
"Hey, Gerald. You think that new zombie movie is going to be any good?...Gerald?" Gerald didn't seem to pay attention to his best friend. He seemed too focused on someone else. Arnold looked passed his shoulder and saw Phoebe. He smiled knowingly. "Hey, maybe we could invite Phoebe."
"Huh?" Gerald turned his attention to Arnold. "Phoebe? What do you mean?" Arnold rolled his eyes.
"I can see you goggling at her over there. I mean, I know we don't really talk about it but I know you like her." Gerald blushed and scratched the back of his neck.
"Oh, uh, yeah...I mean, wait a minute. I'm not…" Gerald seemed to overthink something. "Let's talk about this some other time." Arnold's smirk subsided.
"Oh, ok. Did you still want to go see that zombie movie?" Gerald tisked.
"I would but I'm all booked for the weekend watching Timberly."
"I can still come over, right?" Gerald laughed nervously.
"Actually, I don't think you should. Ever since the whole Timberly liking you incident it makes it hard for me to bring you over, especially when I'm babysitting, you know?" Arnold's brow furrowed.
"Oh...well, how about-"
"Look, Arnold. I'm going to be pretty busy, ok? Would you get off my back?" Arnold frowned and suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. Did he do something wrong? Gerald went back to staring towards Phoebe's direction.
Phoebe giggled to Helga. "Hey, Helga. Is it just me or is Gerald staring at me?" Helga leaned over Phoebe's shoulder and, indeed, Gerald was obviously staring in their direction. Helga shivered uncomfortably.
"Yeash, what a creep."
"Helga, shh! He'll hear-"
"He will not! Anyways, how could you not find that cotton candy for hair off putting?"
"Helga." Phoebe blushed. "We all have taste. I like cotton candy." Phoebe gestured to herself then to Helga. "And, you, like Ice cream." Helga blushed and smacked her hand against Phoebe's mouth.
"We're in the public eye, Phoebe." Phoebe laughed, rolling her eyes, and tried to talk passed her friends hand.
"Swe, whe aw haf favores."
"What?" Phoebe moved Helga's hand away from her mouth.
"I said-"
"Good morning!" Mr. Simmons walked into the classroom late today and he scattered in, dropping a couple of his books and papers. "Shoot, uh, sorry class. I was running a little late. Car trouble." He fumbled to grab the books off the floor and placed them on his desk. He hurriedly started to write on the chalkboard about an assignment they were doing today. "Ok, so we're going to be doing a group project today. Two people in every group. But, you can choose who you want to work with." Simmons turned around to face the class. "This doesn't mean fooling around in class and not working on anything. If I catch you with empty hands then you have to work alone. We're just deciding groups today so you can think of idea's during the weekend. I expect you to be in contact with your partner during so. I'll give you time in class monday to work too. So, get in your groups, this is going to be a creative writing assignment." Instantly, teams were formed by the popular with the popular, the nerds with the nerds, and the fairly normal with the fairly abnormal. Of course, it was obvious, that Helga and Phoebe would be in one group while Arnold and Gerald would be in their own group but, strangely, today didn't turn into that recurring outcome.
"So, Gerald. I thought for our project we could...Gerald?" Gerald stood up, walking away from Arnold. Arnold became confused when he started walking towards the two girls.
"Oh, Helga! He's walking over here!" Phoebe whispered loudly. "Oh, do you think he wants to work with me?" Helga glared at her.
"Well, it wouldn't matter if he did anyways. We're going to work together." Phoebe's face fell slightly.
"Oh, of course." She brushed her hair behind her ear. "Still, how do I look?" Helga wanted to gag at the thought of Phoebe getting so worked up over a weirdo like that.
"You look like...Phoebe." Helga shrugged. Phoebe's brow furrowed.
"Jee, thanks Helga." Phoebe crossed her arms and turned away from her. Helga tilted her head in confusion.
"Huh?" Wait, how was that supposed to be offensive? Gerald finally made it to them and Helga could see Phoebe physically straighten up. Oh brother, she thought, rolling her eyes. Phoebe spoke up, about to greet Gerald.
"Why, hello Gerald. What-"
"Sorry, Phoebe. I was hoping I could talk to Helga for a second, if you don't mind." Phoebe was puzzled, along with being slightly shocked. Helga didn't feel much different towards the idea.
"Oh, ah, no. Of course not, I don't mind." She did. "Do you, um, need me to leave?" She pointed timidly away from where she was.
"Yeah, that would be good."
"Oh…" Phoebe stood up, grabbing her books and walking away from them. Helga looked after Phoebe; the call for help basically written on her forehead.
"Helga, we need to talk." Helga looked up at him incredulously.
"What is this all about, hair boy?" Gerald slightly gritted his teeth.
"We're going to be partners." Helga laughed.
"Stop being stupid. Why are you here."
"I'm serious." Gerald said darkly. Helga could feel herself gulp before regaining her tough girl demeanor.
"You're starting to freak me out. Why would you want to work with me? Is the ol' football head too stupid in the subject of english? I mean, I agree with you, but still-" He leaned in close, whispering to her with a killing glare.
"I know your secret." He interrupted.
"...I don't have secrets." She countered with a straight face.
"Nice pen." Helga looked at her pen that lay on her desk. It was her favorite pen. It was visibly worn out and it had very distinctive pink inc. Her eyes widened slightly and she broke in a cold sweat. She grabbed her pen and moved it to her lap, desperately to shake off this eerie feeling. There's no way he knows for sure! She destroyed the evidence. He didn't have any real proof.
"It is a nice pen, Gerald. What a nice observation." Helga clapped mockingly. Gerald sat in Phoebe's chair, right across from Helga.
"I can either say it loud and clear, where the whole class can hear me-" Gerald leaned in close again. "Where Arnold can hear me." Helga paled. "or you can stop playing dumb, Pataki!" Gerald pushed his finger to Helga's nose threateningly. She swiped his hand away, choking slightly with anxiety. "Now, I'm coming over to your house tonight for our 'project' so we can have a little talk. Phoebe also can't know about this, Ok?" She was at a loss for words. "Just nod yes if you understand." She nodded slightly. "Good. See you around five." Gerald got out of Phoebe's chair and walked back to his seat.
Phoebe noticed Gerald leaving and she walked back to where Helga was. She sat back down at her desk. "What was all of that about, Helga?" Helga didn't seem to pay attention. "Helga!" Phoebe nudged her slightly.
"Huh?"
"What did Gerald want to talk to you about?" Helga shook her head.
"Um...he wants to work on this project together."
"Oh...why?" Phoebe seemed less than happy to hear that.
"I don't know Phoebe, I'm not some kind of telepathic freak or anything!"
"Ok, sorry." Phoebe shifted in her seat. "Well, how did he react when you told him no?" Helga stiffened.
"No?" Phoebe's eyes widened.
"You said yes?"
"Well, it's not what you think Phoebe?"
"Well, what reason would you want to work with him instead of me?" Helga felt like her heart was breaking a little. Phoebe gave those rare puppydog eyes. No matter, though! She HAD to keep her secret, even if there was a chance he knew nothing.
"Just...understand that it would be in both of our best interest if I didn't tell you." Phoebe looked at her hands under her desk.
"I'm your best friend Helga. So...of course I understand."
"Thank you, Pheebs." Helga said in relief. Phoebe smiled slightly but her eyes didn't reflect her expression. Strangely, a pang of jealousy overtook her. Despite that, she looked down at her neck, remembering the special necklace Helga gave her and instantly felt better about it.
"Of course."
….
Helga chewed her nails nervously and paced back and forth through her room. Every once and awhile she would look at her clock on the wall and then go back to pacing left and right. It was almost time.
"He's bluffing. He doesn't know anything!" You're lying to yourself, Helga! He knows, and he's going to tell everyone! "I mean, it's not like he has any evidence." Are you mad? He has more on you than a museum! "Maybe he really just needs my help with his stupid homework." Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Snap out of it! Get wise! Criminy, he's going to sell you out! You're going to the looney bin after this! Face it, Geraldo has you wrapped around his finger. Helga stopped pacing and started to become angry. "No! No one threatens me! I threaten! I'm the queen bee! I rule the hallways! There's no way, even if he does have some stupid idea, that I am backing down!" A loud knock could be heard from downstairs. Helga's heart jumped to her throat as she fell to the ground. She got back up and desperately tried to slow down her breathing. Oh crap, he's here! Calm down, Helga. You are NOT going to be out throned! Just keep your chin high and your fists in front of you!
With shaky legs she made her way out of her door and down the stairs. Another loud and obnoxious knock can be heard.
"Alright, alright! Criminy, I'm coming!" Her hands still shaking, she grabbed the doorknob, taking one last confident breath, and flung the door open, revealing Gerald on the other side.
"Took you long enough!" Gerald had his backpack on his back and a baseball bat resting over his shoulder with a one hand grip on it. Helga's eyes widened, a bit terrified at the idea of him needing to bring a bat. Gerald looked puzzled until he followed her stare. "Relax, Pataki. I just got done playing some ball. I'm not as crazy as you." She raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly. "Are you going to let me in or not?" Helga glared for a few seconds before stepping away from the door and directing him inside with her hand. "Thank you." Gerald stepped inside but once he was in and the door was closed he suddenly didn't feel the most comfortable. Trying to look confident while walking straight into the lion's cave was one thing but to look confident when walking into the Pataki household was basically impossible. To say the least, he got this far but he wasn't exactly sure where to go from here. Helga just stood there impatiently, tapping her foot on the ground and glaring at him with crossed arms. "Anyways, should we go to your…" Gerard blushed slightly. "Your room."
Helga wanted to gag."And be alone with you? As if, casanova."
"Ew! I'm sure you would!" Helga scoffed.
"As if, Gernaldo!"
"Same here, Pataki!" They both were at a stand still as if the clock struck noon in the wild west. Bob suddenly walked into the room, interrupting their showdown.
"Hey, kid. We ain't buying!" He grumbled.
"He isn't selling anything, Bob." Gerald raised an eyebrow at Helga. "He's here to work on a school project."
"Listen, missy, I won't take that kind of sass. If I find out this is one of your little boyfriends, he's out of this house!" Helga wrinkled her nose. "After all, you're only eight. Way too young to date." Is this guy for real? Gerald thought.
"First off Bob, never in a million years." Gerard silently agreed. "Secondly, I'm ten now."
"Oh, yeah, sure you are. I won't have you lying in this household." Helga just tisked. "Anyways, don't interrupt me when my show comes on. So that means the living room is off limits!" He walked back into the living room and sat in his recliner, putting some kind of soap opera on.
"Your dad thinks your eight?" Gerald stated matter of factly.
"Like it's any of your business. Come on, we can go in the kitchen." They both walked into the kitchen where Miriam was stumbling around and struggling to make herself a smoothy. "Miriam, beat it. I need to work on homework." Miriam turned her attention to her daughter.
"Oh? Hello, sweety. Who's your little friend?" Miriam pushed the off button on her blender and turned around to face them, leaning her back on the counter behind her.
"He's someone from school. We need the kitchen."
"Oh, I was just about to make you some breakfast!" She walked over to the cabinets and fumbled with the seasonings.
"No, mom, I don't want breakfast." Gerald shifted his weight from his left foot to his right and looked around uncomfortably. Helga just sighed annoyed as if she was dealing with a frequent daily dilemma.
"Well, it's the most important meal of the day, honey! So, you and your friend just sit! Now, lets see lets see." She grabbed a box of stale crackers and the salt shaker and looked at it skeptically. "Hmm." She hummed.
"Miriam! It's seven at night! I don't want breakfast, and I don't want you in here! We need to work on something." Miriam started to hum a tune, turning her blender back on and continued rummaging through the cabinets. "Mir-i-am!" Helga continued to try to get her attention but the blender drowned out any sound. Unfortunately Miriam seemed to be in her own world by now. Helga blushed, looking at Gerald who looked just as equally uncomfortable as her. Where else were they going to go? The bathroom? She pondered the thought but shook it off and started thinking realistically. I guess she didn't have any other choice.
"J-just follow me!"
…..
Arnold was walking through the neighborhood bored out of his mind and kicking a rock in the path of the sidewalk. He was confused about the whole thing with his best friend and wasn't sure when they were going to talk about the project. He felt like he didn't need to clarify they were doing it together, seeing they always did the group choices together. He sighed heavily and suddenly stopped, noticing the sun starting to set. He was about to turn around when he heard a familiar laugh. He looked over to where it was coming from. He squinted his eyes unsure and walked a little closer. Suddenly, he could see very clearly who it was. "Timberly?" She was playing hopscotch with one of her friends on their driveway. She perked up when she heard Arnold s voice.
"Oh, Arnold! Hi!" She ran towards him, her feet slightly jumpy and her face perky to see him. "Do you want to do some jump rope with us? We need a third hand." She started to pull at his sleeve and lead him to the house but he made sure to stand firm in his place.
"Um...no, I'm about to head home." He scratched his head confused. "Have you been here all day?"
"Yeah, why?" She stopped jumping.
"So, is Gerald babysitting you?" She frowned.
"Why would you think that?" Arnold stayed silent then smiled softly.
"Ah, forget about it. I'll see you around Timberly." He patted her on the head and continued his walk home. She didn't notice the concerned and hurt expression he held on his face.
Ok! I hope you've enjoyed part two of Case Pink book reopened and hopefully I'll have the energy to continue. :)