Its been a month but he finally has the keys to a large warehouse overlooking Skookumchunk River in his hands. It took more work than he realized to convince his parents to allow him into their rainy day savings account from years gone by, but he did it. For only $75,000 he was the proud owner of a 5,000 sq ft piece of crap.
He walks up to the building slowly, really taking in the area he's in. To the left of him is the river, its dark waters lapping quietly at the shore. To the right are rows and rows of debilitated buildings, most in worse state than his own. As his came into view he breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't the prettiest place, most people would continue by it without a second glance, but it wasn't completely fallen apart. The outside was intact, still doing its job of protecting the inside from the elements. The faded red facade and large metal doors were rusted but only enough to add character to the building. He struggles with the lock on the door, kicking twice to force his way in. As the door groans back, inch by painstaking inch, he is greeted with think layers of dust and debris. Garbage litters the holed floor and graffiti paints the walls. The space is open, no walls to hide behind, this would be perfect for her. He walks around the room slowly, his mind turning the scene before him into her very own studio. Nerves settle over him as he fully realizes the undertaking he's sign up for, so he calls in reinforcements to help.
Helga wraps a blanket around her shoulders, wandering around the halls of the boarding house aimlessly. With Arnold out of the house so much she was lonely, restless even. She has no idea what he's been up to lately, always being vague when she asked where he was going. She had long grown accustomed to the two of them being together day in and out. He was her glue, the sunshine in her every constant grey skies.
"Eleanor, come sit!" She sighs softly and follows the voice to the well worn living room, "its time for afternoon tea!" Helga glances at the clock, eight at night. She forces a smile to her face and curls up on the couch, Gertie pours two cups of lemonade from the teapot, muttering about the cost of coffee in China versus England. She reaches forward and cradles the cup in her hands. Her mind drifts in and out of the conversation in front of her, one of the blessings of Gertie was her ability to have a conversation for two singlehandedly. "How is the wedding going Eleanor? You never talk about it!"
Her lips pop open slightly, its been a while since Gertie had been that on it. Helga had basically given up on the woman ever knowing exactly what was going on. After all, Halloween was this weekend and the house was decorated for Saint Patricks Day.
"It's going good. We have everyone booked that we need and Phoebe is taking me dress shopping. Its been nice though, spending time together after all of these years of weekend plans. I've missed her…"
Gertie smiles and pats Helga's hands softly, "Good good, you deserve to be part of something so happy. You know Eleanor, I've been thinking…" Helga tilts her head, waiting patiently for the old woman to continue the thought. Fairly often that moment never comes but that never discourages Helga from listening. "I know in my old age I've been loosing some of my marbles. Even when you were a girl I've been known to ruffle feathers. I've read your writing, well Kimba read them to me, you have a talent that no-one in the world can replace. I was a librarian once, I know good books. I want to pass the wisdom I have left to another generation, to share my lessons and proverbs. Eleanor, you'll help me wont you? You don't even have to publish it, just keep it until you and Kimba have cubs of your own." Helga's blood runs hot as it rushes to her cheeks, she tries to stammer out a word as Gertie shakes her head and laughs. "Oh don't you try fooling me, I see the way he looks at you. Its like your ice cream on a cold winters day!"
A knock at the front door gives Helga the escape she so desperately needs. Gertie gets up, smiling at her, and walks to let their visitor in. Helga takes several deep breathes, its feels like forever since she's looked at him as anything other than her glue, she was too damaged to even think about romantic relationships. She shakes her head, attempting to shake the thoughts of him and her away. There was no point to indulging in that fantasy anymore, they were adults and he has seen her at her absolute lowest point. No-one in their right mind would want to be with someone as off kilter as her. Still, the picture of a little mix of them running around the halls of the boarding house appeared before she could stop it.
"Helga, we need to get going to the bridal shop in 10 minutes. I'll wait here while you go get dressed." Phoebe walks in the room saving her from her own thoughts.
She smiles at her best friend, "Hello to you too."
"We can talk once we get in the car, now go!" Her melodic laugh fills the room as she playfully bats at Helga's arm. With a playful roll of the eyes Helga gathers her blanket and heads up the stairs to change. Phoebe leans against the banister of the stairs and pulls her phone from her purse.
"Hey Babe. Arnold and I are down at the warehouse cleaning up. It's not too bad here, a little dirty but not terrible. We think we can get this place looking presentable by the end of November if we work hard now, its really just putting up mirrors and getting the utilities turned back on. Have fun dress shopping today and don't forget that its our wedding, not Rhonda's. Make sure you put your foot down if she gets to be…well…Rhonda. I love you foxy mama."
Phoebe smiles at the long winded text, Gerald was always like that, sending these long messages to her that would have been easier as a quick phone call. She shakes her head and puts the phone away, emotionally steeling herself for Rhonda. The minute the woman heard about the wedding she insisted on making custom dresses for the bride and maid of honor. Phoebe politely declined several times but like everything else in Rhonda's life she eventually got her way. Today they were headed to Rhonda's shop front downtown to try on gowns that she will then redesign with elements they like for the wedding. Rhonda hasn't changed a bit since her formative years and would need a firm hand to not go over the top. Phoebe was eternally grateful she had Helga by her side. She barely notices when the former bounds down the stairs, dressed in a pair of jeans and a simple black teeshirt. Phoebe is comfortable enough with herself to admit her best friend is a bombshell, under eye bags, weight loss, and all. She smiles Helga grumbles while pulling her sneakers on, the faintest hints of her best friend returning to the surface.
"Princess, this color looks like something someone threw up." Helga's arms crossed insecurely in front of her chest, dresses always did this to her. The color wasn't really that bad but she hated being in yellow, all the color ever did was wash her out. She watches Rhonda roll her eyes and wave her hand in response.
"It's not all about you Helga, Phoebe is best complimented by yellow tones and your going to be standing up there next to her, you need to compliment her." She walks around Helga and sticks pins too close to her skin for comfort, bringing the already tight dress closer to a second skin. Looking beyond the color the dress wasn't half bad. It was tight around the bust, with sleeves that hung softly off her shoulder. If she was brutally honest it looked like a slimmed out Belle dress from Beauty and the Beast. The fit, once taken in, would be perfect and incredibly flattering.
"Rhonda, although I greatly appreciate the attention to detail I was hoping to have Helga in pink. It is one of my wedding colors after all." Phoebe is standing slightly off to the side, watching the scene unfold with a small smile painted onto her lips. Rhonda heads juts to the side as she considers the change.
"Goddess, it is her wedding, you need to listen if this is really going to be a gift." Thad steps out from the back, carrying four flutes of champagne. He has grown tall, filled out, and traded glasses for contacts. He looks like a man who was not only trendy but was take charge and didn't tolerate anyones crap, everyone except for her. His goddess, was still stick thin, tall, and absolutely stunning. Her hair was kept lob length and jet black, she was known to model her own creations from time to time. She smiles at her jester wickedly, the chemistry between them visible to both Phoebe and Helga. "Besides, if I'm not mistaken, Helga does look stunning in pink."
A blush rushes to her cheeks as she looks down at the awful yellow fabric wrapped around her body.
"Do you know how infuriating it is when you come in and do that?" Rhonda's voice goes shrill as his smile grows. She snatches a flute from his hand and throwing in back in a single gulp. "I'll be back in a moment ladies, I need to pull some color swatches to show you." Thad shakes his head, smile tugging at his lips. He walks a flute over to Helga before presenting one to Phoebe. He lifts the remaining glass into the air with gusto.
"To the future my dears, may you take on whatever lays ahead by the horns and ride the beast into the night." He clinks their glasses and chugs his down. "Alright darling," he extends a hand to Phoebe, "its time to dress the bride."
They walk back down the hall toward the dressing rooms as Helga stands, alone, for the first time in hours. She wanders back over to the mirror, her hands running over the chiffon fabric as sweat beads upon her forehead. She hears them talking, hears the excitement in their voices. Why the hell wasn't she sharing in those feelings? Why was her chest tightening instead of fluttering?
Her best friend in the entire world, no her sister in this chaotic and miserable life, was making a lifelong commitment to the man who has stood by her for years. The man had proven time and time again to love Helga much like Phoebe had. The three of them were friends, it was the closet thing she had to a real family. This union has been coming for years, it was something she's wanted for them for years which is why she gave them an apartment. But now, confronted with the reality of it all, she felt sick to her stomach. They were a team, the two of them, and she was left with the realization that she had nowhere to belong, no home, no family. Phoebe appears in the mirror behind her and she turns.
Her breathing quickens as the panic courses through her veins. The white dress, the permanence of the future for them and the free fall of her own was too much to take. Tears cloud her eyes, but not for the right reasons, she feels as if she is floating above her body, she watches as Rhonda steps forward and wraps Phoebe, who looks radiant, in a hug as both girls choke on sobs of excitement. Her hands lift to her mouth wordlessly as she watches her best friend step forward toward the mirror. The gown clung to all of the right places, its flowing fabric leaving her looking like an angel or a goddess. The blushing bride and her seamstress gush over the perfection of the gown on her, as if it wasn't made for her. The tears slowly slide out of her closed eyes as she pinches her hand.
"Helga… are you okay?" The concern in Phoebe's voice was so palatable it hurt her more, this moment should be so exciting and happy and here she is having a panic attack in the middle of it all. "Helga, whats going on?" Her lip juts out against her will and shivers as she bites against it, she breathes in deeply and deliberately, trying and failing to keep her emotions under control. Phoebe's hand rests gently on her shoulder causing a sob to rip from her chest. She faintly hears Rhonda excuse herself as the chokes tear through her body and shatter the sound barrier. She collapses in on herself, so angry at her inability to just hold it together.
"I'm so sorry Phoebe, you look so incredible, I mean that." Phoebe kneels next to her and rubs her back, shushing her sobs softly, patiently. "This is so disgustingly selfish of me, today is supposed to be about you." Sobs choke out as Phoebe smiles at her friend.
"Helga, its ok, you can go. This isn't weakness, this is a sign that you have been strong for far to long. As silly as this is, the fitting is over, this is the dress. I can feel it in my bones and, frankly, your reaction cements that. I know you are feeling alone and afraid that once I am married you wont have a place in my life. I know you know how absurd that is and I understand that you can't control these feelings. You are my best friend, and I love you."
"I need to leave for a little bit," She chokes out softly, "I need space, perspective. I need just a week or two to just get myself back under control." Phoebe smiles and presses her forehead to Helga's, leaving them eye to eye, and nods her head. A shaky smile paints her face as she rubs her eyes and stands.
"I'll be back soon, I promise." She turns and walks out of the room as quickly as possible, yanking the gown up past her knees as she moves. She closes the door of the dressing room and slides to the ground against it. It was 11pm, she was just thankful she had her purse and credit card and could head directly to the airport.