After a rocky first day, Helga was determined to give it one more chance before she called it quits. It was the following morning and she stepped out of her house and headed to school on a mission to somehow make this a better day than the last.
When Helga arrived, she spotted Phoebe across the courtyard, sitting at a picnic table with Gerald.
"Well, this is as good as time as any I suppose…" Helga approached the picnic table that the couple was sitting at and weakly began to speak.
"Hey uh… rough start. Can I please talk to you Phoebe, I promise I can explain." Helga looked at her old best friend with eager eyes.
Please let me explain Pheebs, I can't express how much I've missed you.
Knowing she couldn't avoid her for forever, Phoebe looked back at Helga. Helga had always held a soft spot in Phoebe's heart. Phoebe finally let out a defeated huff and motioned towards the picnic bench.
"Okay, fine Helga. Sit-"
"Jee Pheebs! I'm so glad you're talking to me again!" Helga went over and squeezed Phoebe into a tight hug.
"Okay, okay Helga." Phoebe patted the blonde on her back in response.
"I'll let you two ladies talk it out. I'm gonna go catch up with the others." Gerald gestured towards the entrance to the school. "See you at lunch, babe." He kissed Phoebe on her cheek and strided for the door. Phoebe gave him a small smile and turned to Helga with a flat expression.
"Phoebe, I screwed up so bad." Helga exhaled, "Where should I even begin," she paused and looked down. After a moment she collected her self and continued, "when I moved away with my mom, I felt a part of me die inside. It really didn't matter that I was living at my grandparents house, I could have been in Antarctica. At that time, I didn't know the difference." Helga looked up into Phoebe's eyes, "I had no way of getting back to you, to Hillwood, to anything I had left behind! My mom didn't… Couldn't go near this city. I was beside myself and the thought of hearing your voice," Or Arnold's, Helga thought to herself as her voice shook, "even being reminded of this place would have made me feel more isolated than I already thought I was."
"I don't understand how you could feel that way?" Phoebe raised her eyebrow.
"I know Pheebs, when I say it… It doesn't make much sense," Helga lowered her gaze she felt like there was a spotlight in her face, "But it was the best way I knew how to deal with the distance. By the time I realized how stupid I was being, I was too embarrassed to contact you or anyone else here for that matter. So time went on and on, while my fear to reach out grew deeper."
How could I let this happen? How could I go so long without my best friend? Helga thought as she looked desperately into Phoebe's eyes.
Phoebe could hear the heartache echo in her dear friend's voice and her face softened.
"I am so sorry, I was such an idiot!" Helga proclaimed and then lowered her voice to almost a whisper, "You were always on my mind and I was utterly lost without you, Phoebe… Believe me, absolutely lost."
"It's okay Helga," Phoebe placed her hand on Helga's shoulder, then thought for a moment about what to say next, "just please, don't ever do anything like that again. People here really do care about you if you didn't know and you just can't let your ego dictate your life anymore. We lost so much time together." Phoebe sighed.
"I know, Pheebs," Helga lowered her gaze sorely, "I'd give anything to get that time back."
"At least you're here now. Look, I didn't forget about you and I'll be here for you if you'll let me, I hope you can realize that."
Helga looked up, "thank you Phoebe, I won't forget that this time." Helga gave a small smile and the two friends shared a warm hug.
"You better not! If you disappear for another five years, it might not be so easy to win me back!" Phoebe pulled away and grinned, Helga let out a small laugh.
"I've missed you." Helga pulled her best friend in for another hug.