"Well...this is an interesting gym class."
Helga thought as she watched the scene before her. The first ten minutes of class were a blur. She briefly remembered having the gym teacher, introduce himself to the class, before blowing his whistle and ordering the kids to play a fast pace brutal game of dodge-ball in order to test their endurance. Helga sighed as another fast ball flew past her head. She looked around her to see her fellow classmates all lying on the ground,feigning death, and moaning in agony. The old her would have found this quite enjoyable and amusing, however she was preoccupied by her opponent across the gym. Helga narrowed her eyes at her target, catching the ball that was flung at her and disqualifying the thrower. She smirked as Hair Boy stared at the ground forlorn, obliviously unaware of the killing intent radiating across the room.
Helga took a step back and round up her arm. When she was sure she had enough momentum, she let the ball go and watched as it soared straight for Gerald. It seemed like it happened in slow motion. She watched as Gerald looked up to see the ball coming towards him. He shifted back in a attempt to move away, but it was too late. The ball sank deep into his stomach before ricocheting off his stomach into the back of the head of a fellow player.
Double KO!
Gerald groaned in pain before joining the ball on the floor. He laid there as unconsciousness consumed him. The sound of whistle shook him out of his short slumber.
"Alright, class! Great game! Hit the showers all of you!" Mr. Brute screamed before walking to Gerald and peering down at him, in casing Gerald in a shadow.
"Johanssen." Mr. Brute addressed him.
"Yes, Mr. Brute?" Gerald lifted his head from the ground.
"That was truly pathetic." He said flatly. "I expected more from Jamie O's little brother." He shook his head as Helga walked by them. "As for you Pataki, I expect nothing less from the Pataki family of winners. Keep up the good work!" He flashed her the thumbs up sign. Helga stood there flabbergasted. She wasn't use to getting compliments from teachers. "Jeez, um...Thanks ." Helga scratched her head in embarrassment.
"No problem young lady." He smiled before turning back to Gerald."Johanssen, how long do you plan on lying on the ground! Get your butt up and head for the locker rooms pronto!" Gerald waited till walked away before letting his head hit the ground again. Another shadow covered him as Helga looked down at him.
"Hey, Hair Boy."
Gerald sighed. "What do you want, Helga?"
"Oh nothing much," Helga shrugged. "Just wondering why you let yourself get pummeled by a gal like me."
"My head wasn't in the game."
"Thanks for the stating the obvious, Captain Obvious."
Gerald rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"Seriously though, Gerald, what's up with you?" Helga crouched down next to him. "You been like this since Phoebe snubbed you. What happened between you guys?"
"What do you care for?" Gerald snorted.
Helga eyes narrowed at his snorting. "She's my friend, jerk, and I want to know why my best friend is so upset with you."
Helga took a deep breath as her voice got softer. "I mean...you guys were crazy about each other in elementary school. I really thought you guys were gonna last. But then, during the summer of 8th grade, you guys stopped talking to each other completely. I was gonna confront you sooner, but Phoebe insisted that I let it go. She didn't seem that bothered by it and you certainly wasn't trying to talk to her either, so I assumed it was a mutual agreement, and you guys would remain friends. But...I guess I was wrong. So are you going to tell me what happened between you two, or am I gonna have to pound it out of ya?" Helga cracked her knuckles. "
Gerald pouted and turned his head, mumbling something into his shoulders.
"Come again, Hair Boy?"
He mumbled again.
"Gerald, I swear if you don't speak up in ten seconds-" Helga clenched her fist.
"I CHEATED ON HER OKAY!?"
Gerald blurted out before racing out the gym and into the boys locker. Her mind began processing what she just heard.
Gerald.
Cheated.
On Phoebe.
Gerald, the one Phoebe was crazy about since the fourth grade
Cheated, did something highly inappropriate with a girl that he was not in a relationship with
on Phoebe, her best friend who loved Gerald with all her heart.
Then came the rage.
"WHY I OUTTA CHOP HIM INTO MINCE MEAT AND FEED HIM TO THE GUPPIES!"
Helga raced to the locker room door and began banging on it after discovering it was locked.
"COME OUT HERE GERALD AND TAKE YOUR BEATING!" She growled when he did the logical thing and didn't open the door. YOU'RE DEAD, DO YOU HEAR ME, JOHANSSEN? DEAD!" She gave the door one last kick before storming off.
She had to find Phoebe.
Helga sighed as she slammed her locker door shut in aggravation. After class, she tried to look for Phoebe. She looked everywhere and couldn't find her, leaving her with the conclusion that Phoebe already went home. Hmph...so be it. She still won't get away. She would corner her in her room if she had too. Not to mention, they promised they would meet up with Rhonda to discuss the events of today.
Speaking of the reigning queen of fashion, where the heck was she? She would usually be perched up against the lockers next to Helga with a scowl on her face and immediately start nagging her about how long she's been waiting. Helga looked around the hallway, but saw no sign of . Criminey! Did everybody bail on her today? Guess she will have to talk to them later. No way could she start a conversation with Phoebe without Rhonda. Especially one that had this much juicy drama.
She'll kill her!
Helga grumbled to herself as she went out the school entrance and started to walk down the steps. She paused when she heard a familiar scream.
"GET AWAY FROM ME YOU FREAK!"
Helga stood on the steps and watched the amusing game of tag that Rhonda was in the middle of.
She watched as Rhonda veered between pedestrians as she ran down the street, all while being chased by the bane of her existence.
"OH COME ON, RHONDA MY DARLING! DON'T BE LIKE THIS!" Curly cried after her, right on her heels. "JUST ONE KISS BABY! I PROMISE YOU'LL BE BEGGING FOR MORE!"
"I RATHER WEAR THRIFT CLOTHES FOR A MONTH!" Rhonda shrieked as she dodge Curly's wandering hand. She twirled around and ran back the way she came, towards the school.
"It doesn't matter what you wear as long as I get to remove them, Rhonda Baby." Curly's wiggled his eyebrows suggestively as Rhonda screamed in disgust.
"YOU'RE ARE TOTALLY DISGUSTING!" It was then she noticed Helga who was still watching the spectacle with a gaping mouth. "Helga! Please save me!" Rhonda ran up the stairs and hide behind her back as Curly came running up as well. He stopped in front of Helga who took a step forward and put her hands on her hips.
She meant business.
"Alright, Curly's that's enough. You can chase after the princess another day. But right now, we got business to take care of." Helga glanced at Rhonda and winked before turning back to Curly with her signature glare.
It's such a shame really, Helga thought as she eyed the boy who was looking at Rhonda like was she a piece of Mr. Green's delectable prime ribs. God, she could even see him salivating. It truly was a shame, especially since in the looks department, Curly's was totally Rhonda's type. He changed a lot since the fourth grade. He replaced his glasses with a pair of red stylish rims, that complimented his big eyes, instead of hiding them. He was still skinny, but Helga could see it was a healthy kind of skinny and he wasn't just skin and bones. He could definitely hold his own in a fight if it ever came down to it. His face was charming in a weird way and his black hair was longer and slicked back gracefully. With a dashing tux and few squirts of cologne he could even fool Rhonda's parents into believing he was a young man of high prestige. Too bad his personality hadn't changed much. Once he opens his mouth, the Curly everybody knows and loves would reveal himself with a vengeance.
"Tch...Fine, Helga, you win today." Curly turned his back towards her and slumped his shoulders in mock glum before turning around suddenly and pointing his finger dramatically in her face. "But I will be back tomorrow! For my love is like a burning inferno! It can never be put out! Only halted! Until then, Rhonda,my love!" He blew her a sloppy kiss before running down the street laughing madly.
"Ugh...I'm so embarrassed to be the object of that thing's affection." Rhonda shuddered as she came from behind Helga's back. "Thanks a lot, Helga. I really appreciate it." Rhonda smiled warmly.
Helga waved her off. "Oh, Please. What are friends for?"
Rhonda chuckled. "Protection against mentally unstable stalkers?"
Helga shrugged as they started walking down the street together. "It comes with the contract. Luckily for you, I don't have any. I would love to see how you would stop them. Perhaps you'll throw a wad of cash at them and tremble in a corner before escaping?"
Rhonda shrugged back. "Hey, it worked before. Most of my stalkers are obsessed with my money. Unfortunately Curly's is more difficult than that." Rhonda sighed deeply. "I once threw my gold plated watch at him, hoping he take it as bait. All he did was sniff it before putting it in his pocket and demanding my bra in exchange. Disgusting freak!"
Helga hollowed with laughter. "Seriously? Oh my gosh, that's hilarious. I can just imagine him sighing lovingly and inhaling your scent deeply before stalking after you like a hungry lion." Helga wiped her tears and sighed. "Too bad. If only he was normal. He might actually have a shot with you."
"Yeah, well, whatever. That's never gonna happen." Helga arched her eyebrow at the slight disappointment etched on Rhonda's face. She would have thought she would deny that accusation completely. But it seemed like she was actually sad. Hm...did she mean that her going out with Curly was never gonna happen or...Wait a minute, Pataki! What on earth was she thinking? Rhonda? Actually having feelings for Curly other than complete and utter disgust? Yeah, right when pigs fly! The odds of her and Curly getting together were the same as her and Arnold getting together. The chances of either of those relationship happening was a big fat zero! Like she said before...when pigs fly.
"Hey, Helga?" Rhonda voice brought Helga back to reality.
"Yeah?"
"Where's Phoebe? Weren't we suppose to have an emergency meeting at her house today?"
"Oh, trust me we still are. Phoebe just went on ahead of us it seems, but don't worry," Helga and Rhonda stopped in front of Phoebe's door. "We're gonna get to the bottom of this right now." Hegla smiled confidently before ringing the doorbell. One way or another, she was gonna get all her answer today.
"Well, Well, Well, if it isn't Charlie Johnson back from the great war!" Gertie smiled at Gerald, who looked around awkwardly, before realizing Gertie was talking about him.
"Um, hello." He still didn't quite know how to talk to Grandma Gertie when she acted like this. Grant it, she always seemed to have a "vivid imagination" when it came to people and holidays, however it seemed like her memory has gotten even worse as years went by. In Gerald's mind, the evidence was like flashing red lights and sirens. The problem was convincing everyone else of the warning signs. Maybe they got used to it over the years. Even he did at a certain time, but now he was beginning to worry that Gertie's scenarios and stories had less to do with her wisdom and fun, and more with her age and health.
"I'm so flattered to have you visit me, Charlie." Gertie interrupted Gerald from his thoughts as she leaned against the door post. A nostalgic look spread across her face as she smiled warmly. "It's been awhile since our last rendezvous, hasn't it? With you being naval officer now. My, My, where did the time go?"
"Um...Y-yeah…" Gerald glanced behind the older woman for any sign of a certain football head with blond hair. He sighed gratefully when he caught sight of Arnold rounding the corner.
"Grandma?" Arnold cocked an eyebrow. "Who are you talking too?"
"Oh, it's just my old buddy Charlie." Arnold sighed as he approached Gertie's "Charlie". "He came to visit me." Gertie smiled happily before bringing Arnold closer to her and pushing him forward proudly. "This handsome man is my grandson, Arnold."
"Oh, um, hello?" Gerald mumbled with a half-hearted wave.
Arnold shook his head sadly before working his way out of Gertie's grip. "Grandma, why don't you invite your friend in?"
"Good idea, Arnold!" Gertie ushered Gerald in. Come on in, Charlie, I'll introduce you to my husband, Phil."
"Oh, that sounds...nice."
"I'll go get him. Arnold, be a good boy, and make our guest comfortable, okay?"
"Yes, Grandma." Arnold reassured her and watched Gertie leave before turning back to Gerald.
"Sorry, about that."
"Hey, no problem man." Gerald smiled gently. "Is everything okay? I mean, I know she's been like this since we were kids, but I thought she at least recognize me as Gerald by now."
Arnold frowned before sighing heavily. "She's fine, Gerald…"
"You sure, dude? Because my grandpa started acting like that a year ago and well-"
"Gerald, please," Arnold ran a hand through his messy hair as he gave Gerald a pleading look. "Can we drop this topic and move on to something a little less serious?"
Gerald hesitated before nodding his head in agreement. "Yeah...I guess you're right. We've had enough drama for one day."
Arnold smiled gratefully for a moment before replacing that grateful smile with a teasing smirk.
"Yeah, and speaking of drama. What's going on between you and Phoebe?"
"Oh, no you don't!" Gerald pointed an accusing finger at Arnold. "You owe me an exciting tale first! Or, did you think I wouldn't notice how much Helga's appearance matched your description of that gorgeous blond girl you saw the other day."
Arnold sucked his teeth in defeat. "Fine...I'll start at the beginning, but after that, you're telling me what happened between you and Phoebe!"
Gerald sighed and rolled his eyes."One way or another, you're gonna get all your answer today huh?"
Arnold merely smirked.
"You know it."
Hello, it's been awhile hasn't it? I apologize so much for the long wait! I have been going through a lot these past months. Anyway, I want to make it up to you guys by posting at least 3 chapters, and maybe even a bonus chapter for keeping you waiting for so long. If my internet holds up, you should see them by tonight or tomorrow. Please, forgive me! I hope you guys enjoy these chapters and will continue to read this story till the very end. I didn't realize it before, but this is going to be a longggggggg story. It didn't hit me till just now when I realized I wrote 11 chapters for just two days. Yeah..right now my outline for this story last for the whole school year. Since it took me it me a 11 chapters (and even more since the first day of school still isn't over yet) to get this far, I can only imagine how long it will take for me to get to the middle of the school year! But, I can't help it, you know? I don't like rushing into things or ending chapters on a weird note. I'm definitely going to try to speed things up a bit, but i want the story to make sense, and build up to all the awesome turning points that I have set up. I already started putting the subliminal and not so subliminal details in these chapters, and I have so much more in store for you guys. There will be comedy, romance, and tons of drama. Drama, i want to build up to and make sense. While this story will be long, I think you guys will enjoy the ride. So, I hope you guys will stick with me. I'm gonna try my best to complete this story as quickly as possible without rushing into key points. Anyway, thanks for all the support and reviews! I will see you guys in the next chapter! Byez~
