Just wana say thanks to all of those who reviewed and have stuck by the story so far. You guys are great! and I love all of you! *tosses cookies everywhere*. Here's the next chapter. Hope you likey!
Disclaimer: Do I really have to say it? I still own nothing.
Chapter 14: "Gerald Field"
Arnold felt terrible about the way he had treated Helga. It wasn't like him to act so forward and…un-gentleman like…
Doesn't she deserve it? He asked his brain.
Isn't it about time she gets a taste of her own medicine?
Then why did it make him feel awful? Sure, he believed Gerald's story. And maybe that really was what Helga had said. But the question was…did she mean it?
The next few days seemed to drag on forever. That whole weekend, Arnold hadn't heard from Helga not once. She didn't call. She didn't text. He hadn't even seen her since that Friday in Chemistry class. It was kind of…strange.
Of course, Arnold himself contemplated whether or not to call her and apologize. But every time he built up the courage to do so and just dial her number, he would hang up and back out.
"This is stupid." Arnold said to his phone as he tossed it gently on the other side of his bed. It was a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon. And here he was, laying flat on his back on his bed. Complaining. About…Helga.
"I should be out, having fun! Enjoying my few free days before I graduate. I'm suppose to be living life to the fullest, and here I am sitting in my room, feeling bad about…uggg!" he grunted as he grabbed the nearest pillow and placed it over his face in confusion.
Knock! Knock! Came the sound of a visitor at his bedroom door.
"C'min." Arnold said muffled from behind his pillow.
"Hey man, did…I interrupt?" Gerald asked slowly as he entered the room, staring awkwardly at his best friend's position.
"Na Gerald. I'm just thinking." His blonde haired friend replied sitting up to greet him.
"Oh no, will you please get off this Helga kick? Man, Arnold! I know you're bold, but c'mon! Not everyone has a bright side." He rolled his eyes at the thought of Helga. Gerald pulled up Arnold's desk chair and sat down backwards.
"I know she does, Gerald. I just know she does. She might have said those mean things…and…maybe she does mean some of them…sometimes. But I'm telling you, Gerald. I just know. It was something about…her kiss…" Arnold could feel the heat rise to his cheeks as he mentioned the incident. No matter how many times he brought it up to Gerald, or even thought about it to himself, Arnold just couldn't help but blush.
"Uggh! Please! Arnold! I just ate man," he laughed trying to lighten the mood.
"It's not that bad, I mean…wasn't…I mean…ugh! Look. She's…not a horrible person, ok? I just have to get her to show it…" he wondered aloud.
"This is Helga G. Pataki were talkin' about. How are you gonna possibly prove a girl like that, is any good?" Gerald asked, concerned for his friend's sanity.
"Well, I could…ask her to the graduation party after the ceremony?" Arnold suggested.
"We could talk about…stuff and see what happens?"
"You're a bold kid, Arnold. A bold, kid. Crazy, but bold." He smiled at his best friend as they exchanged their thumbs in a secret handshake that had followed them since pre-school.
"Hey, I know. Why don't we go play some ball with the guys in Gerald Field? It'll be like old times? And it'll clear ya' mind of…you know who…" Gerald suggested.
"Yea…yea that sounds great. Let's go! I'll grab my mitt." Arnold jumped off his bed in enthusiasm, and ran to the corner of his room where two old boxes of his childhood things sat. These were the things he had been planning on taking with him in case he did leave home for college. At least this way, they were ready to go whenever he was. Besides, Arnold couldn't even remember the last time he and the gang played in Gerald Field.
"Run! Run!" Called a scrawny tenth grader from the bench to his teammate. Over the years, the gang slowly started to drift away. Most of the girls that would play with them lost interest in sports, and became too feminine to join in, like Rhonda and Sheena. Nadine was always too preoccupied with Science Club. And Helga…well…she just stopped playing…
"Hey, Arnold! What are you doin'? You coulda caught that!" Yelled Tyler from his Math class. Tyler was the competitive type. He was the chubby little redhead that despite his weight, could run twice as fast as anyone on the field. But when he wasn't running, he was probably eating. He reminded Arnold of a younger Harold, only slightly smaller.
"Sorry, I guess the sun got in my eye." Arnold lied smoothly.
Guess it has been a while since I've played, he admitted to himself with a slight smile.
"Well c'mon, man, you're killin' us!" Tyler added with a stern look as he walked towards the other end of the field. It was change over, and Arnold was up to bat. Sid used to always be the first one to bat. But after Sid moved to Chicago the summer of ninth grade, Arnold's team wasn't the same since. In fact, losing one of his close friends was probably what made him lose interest in playing in the first place. It was change. And Arnold had trouble adapting to it. Stinky always played on Harold's team as Harold liked the way Stinky pitched. He was fast like lightening and hard to get past.
The bases were already loaded. Arnold stepped up to the plate like old times, as a feeling of memory lane washed over him suddenly.
'Come on football head! Ya' gonna swing that thing or what?'
'Way to go, Arnold!'
'Awesome home run!'
The old neighborhood voices brought a smile to his face.
As Harold watched Arnold step up to the plate, he pushed Stinky aside, leaving Arnold's next ball for himself.
"Hey Aaanold! Are you gonna swing sometime today you big baby? Or are you gonna wait til' we all graduate? Ahaha!" Harold teased on like usual. Arnold gripped the wooden bat in his hand ready to swing full force, when someone caught the corner of his eye. It was Helga. She was walking down the other side of the street with Phoebe. She actually kind of looked…happy…If only she could be like that around him…
"STEE-RIKE, ONE!" Yelled Gerald suddenly.
Arnold swung on instinct unaware that his batting was extremely late.
I didn't hit it? Ok, try again and this time, don't get distracted by…
"STEE-RIKE, TWO!" Shouted Gerald a second time.
Arnold swung again still late, but not as late at his first attempt.
Get it together, Arnold. One more time.
"Psst. What's up man? You ok?" Gerald whispered through his umpire's mask.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little…distracted…" he whispered back keeping his focus on Harold, who was mocking him with pitiful swinging motions.
"Oh brother. Women." Gerald rolled his eyes behind his mask as he prepared himself for the next probable miss.
"What's a matter, Aaanold? Can't you swing anymore? Little baby Aaanold, lost his touch! Ahahaha!' Harold bellowed on in laughter.
"Just, throw it." Arnold responded bitterly.
"Ooh, I'm soo scared!" Harold mocked him again, pretending to shiver in fright.
At that instant, Harold threw the ball harshly in Arnold's direction. It was coming closer, closer, closer…WHAM!
A loud wood splintering smack was heard as Arnold nailed the baseball with his bat. His bat fell to the dirt instantly with a thud, as he began to run rapidly to each base. Stinky found the ball, as Harold stood on his post complaining that their team would be behind in points now. Arnold ran and ran. Faster and faster he pushed himself as he came up to the third base. He was almost home. Until…
"Run all you want, Arnold! But you'll never make it!" Harold spat in disapproval. He was gaining on him, but was still only a few inches away. That's when Arnold decided to take a chance.
Come on, you can do this!
Arnold took a dive. His body slid all the way to home plate. After a cloud of dust dissipated away from the area, Harold jumped up and down in anger. Arnold was left sprawled out on the ground revealing his left hand just barely gripping at the base.
"SAAAFE!" Gerald screamed as he sprung up from the ground. Victory rang up from all over the field as Arnold's teammates rushed over to congratulate him. They won. Arnold's home run scored them an extra four points. He did it! It wasn't the same as one of his old victories like in the good old days, but it was just as fun nonetheless.
"You did it, man! You see, I told you you'd have fun!" Gerald ran over to Arnold with a huge smile plastered on his face, as he removed his catchers mask.
"Yeah, it was a lot of fun. Hey Harold!" he called over to his classmate.
"Yeah?" the boy asked in question.
"Good game." He smiled in hopes to make a truce. Despite the fact that Arnold never really cared for Harold's bullying abilities, he knew deep down that Harold never really meant anything by it and he could be a good person…when he wanted to be.
"Yeah, you too. Sorry for callin' you names before Arnold." He apologized.
"It's ok. Nothing wrong with competition. See ya' later." He waved goodbye.
"Later, Arnold." He watched Harold and Stinky tread in one direction, as the other newer classmates scattered in their own ways home.
"Come on buddy, let's go home." Gerald said to his friend.
"Right behind you." They walked all the way home, bats and mitts tossed over their shoulders, and talked of nothing but the awesome game that went down in Gerald Field that afternoon.
A/N: Hoped you guys enjoyed! It's a little different from the other chapters, but hey, lets face it. Not every moment can be about our favorite blonde couple. :) Though I do promise major moments between them are coming up rather soon! So please remember to keep in tuned…and REVIEW!
Cuz it's fresh out da' box!
Stop! Look and watch!
Ready yet?
Get set!
It's….ALLLLLLLLL THAT! :)
LOL Sorry I like to be random…But c'mon people! Don't deny your 90's Nick love!