Hi dear Readers ! How are you ?

OKay, now I know that I said my chapters would be longer, But I'm going for a 2 weeks long road trip, And I wanted to post a chapter before going. Today was my last free day.

Uhhhh So I wish you guys good holidays, have fun, pass time with your families and don't drink too much =D

I shivered, tightening my already hard grip on my hot chocolate cup. I didn't know if that sudden change of weather was coming from the cold of December, which would be logical, or from the presence of Gerald, Pheobe, and Lila in front of me.

I lowered my eyes, feeling awkward in this even more awkward silence.

To be honnest, I didn't expect Gerald to call today, December 20th—five days before Christmas. And I surely did not expect him to bring Pheobe, let alone Lila. These two girls, who used to be my friend and girlfriend, hated my guts now.

I looked up at them. I could tell Gerald had a fresh haircut, his usually thick and long hair was shaved on the side, and curly and frizzy on the top. He had removed his gray coat, wearing his big, red hoodie underneath. His face was freshely shaved, and he was holding a cup of coffee.

Phoebe had her hair down, as usual, in a cute and styled bob. She had removed her baby blue headband that was keeping her warm earlier. She still had her dark blue coat, and gloves. She wore her white pair of glasses today. She had two kinds: white and blue. She seemed pretty out of it.

And finally, Lila—my childhood crush and more. She was looking outside, her bright green eyes glaring at whatever she could find interesting. Her long, thick, orange hair was falling around her shoulders in curls and waves. No wonder why I fell in love with her back then. She was gorgeous. One of the kindest girls I've ever met. But it was a little too late to say that now. We had our fights, our outbursts, and disagreements, but we were happy.

I kept from giggling when I remembered our first silly fight at the age of 13. It was over a plate of sushi actually.

''Arnold...'' began Gerald with a solemn, yet friendly, voice.

I turned my eyes, silently relieved that he talked with that reassuring voice. Maybe he wasn't here to lecture me after all.

''Yes?'' I replied, trying to sound calm and like myself.

''I'm sorry...'' he mumbled at my surprise.

''You're... what ?'' I couldn't help but think I'd heard wrong.

He took a sip of his coffee. He wanted me to meet him here at Parker's Coffee where Helga did... whatever.

''I... I said things to you that I regret. I should not forget 15 years of friendship for... for a little disagreement. ''

I didn't know how to answer, so I kept quiet, looking at him in the eyes. He rubbed his neck in discomfort.

''I mean, I hate your girlfriend, and we all do. I don't trust her. At all. And she made you change and do crazy shit... But it's your life and I have no control over it. So... you know, I was just worried we could be in danger. In movies, friends are often targeted... and there was that time when I got shot, so...''

''I get your point. I get it, Gerald. Don't worry. I'm not mad. Heck, I'm even relieved. But tell me... Why are those two here?'' I asked without any agression or accusation, despite the way I said it.

Phoebe removed her glasses to rub her eyes. She was a smart girl, so she knew what I was doing wasn't the smartest thing to do.

''I guess I came to apologize, too...'' she said with little pride.

She added nothing more, so my eyes turned next to her, to Lila. She was looking at me with tenderness, but that was just the way she was.

''Well, Arnold...'' she began, stroking her hair behind her ears, ''Christmas is getting ever so close and... I... Well... this... this girl, she... she stole you from me... without any hesitation and... and if you're happy with her, I'm oh too certain that there's nothing I can do about it, but... Well... we got some pretty good memories together and... I was mad at you... Really mad... But I can't just forget all these years of friendship... and love. I mean, it would be just ever so awful, wouldn't it? And... Uh... Gerald, Phoebe, and I had a talk and... you still are our friend... Our Goody Two-Shoes... and you might skip school, smoke, and go to parties... But you are still our Arnold,'' said Lila with a sad smile.

She put her hand on mine, but I didn't mind. Lila was an emotional girl. But her speech was touching. I couldn't help the kind smile creeping up onto my face.

''Guys, you don't know how glad I am to hear you say all this. I love our friendship... And I don't want it to end. I've been... dozing off and on from reality lately... and I'm sorry... But... Lila... Pheobe... Gerald... I love you, guys!''

''Bro!'' cried Gerald, opening his arms.

''Bro!''

We hugged each other in pure bromance, making the girls giggle a little.

''So, Arnold,'' began Gerald, taking a slurp of his hot coffee, ''I'm doing a Christmas party tomorrow. It's the only day there is no school and no work and where everybody is free. Wanna join us?''

I bit my bottom lip. Not that I didn't want to. In fact, I adored going to Gerald's party. His appartment was not as big as Harold's house, but there was enough space for the whole gang.

But... then there was Helga.

''Sure,'' I said, thinking that if I refused for Helga, he would have gotten mad again. And I couldn't bring myself to ask him if Helga could join, too. I knew the answer anyway.

At least, I would be with her for Christmas. Usually I'm with my parents for the holidays, or Lila's parents, but now... I only had Helga. And I'm pretty sure she only has me.

''Tomorrow's okay,'' I assured once again.

''Great. So, see you tomorrow, okay? Now I have to go. My boss will kill me if I don't get back to work presto.''

''Sure. Thanks, Gerald.'' I smiled brigthly.

''I have to go, too,'' simply said Phoebe. ''I... have to buy presents for my parents.''

In the blink of an eye, I was alone... with Lila Sawyer. She kept looking at her hands shyly, not daring to break the tense silence. I got to say, I felt awkward, too. I rubbed the back of my neck, like I always do when I'm confused or nervous.

''So... Lila... I heard that you were dating Br-Brainy...'' I managed to say, not even looking at her.

''Y-yeah... Kinda.''

''Does... Does he treat you right?''

''He does. Thank you for worrying, Arnold...''

''No problem.''

Another strong silence. I guess it would take time to get back to something as akin as a strong friendship again.

''Look, Arnold, I'm... I'm not going to be friends with that gi—''

''I know, Lila. And I'm not asking you to. You have all the right to hate her, as a matter of fact...''

''So... you do love her? I mean, really, really?''

I smiled softly at that and gazed over at the window mindlessly.

''Yeah. She's everything to me...''

Lila ran a delicate hand across her long, curly, red hair, looking at me with disbelief. I never thought I'd have another decent conversation with her again.

''I don't understand...'' she murmured. '' She's so... She's ever so... Not like you.''

My smile grew bigger. I didn't know why, but I felt so happy right now.

''Well, like we say, opposites attract.''

''Yeah... But still...''

''Listen, Lila. I... I know I hurt you... And I didn't mean to... but...''

Lila interrupted me, putting her hand on mine and looking away.

''I know our relationship... wasn't... wasn't the same... I knew it...''

She scratched her arm, feeling anxious and out of it. I knew her too well for her own good. I knew she wasn't feeling right to be like this with me... So... unfamiliar.

''But... I didn't want things to change... I was... happy the way we were... ''

I smiled kindly.

''Yes, you've never been a fan of change.''

''So, Arnold... If you want, you can still go to my parents'...''

I got up and started to wrap myself in my scarf.

''I'm glad you asked me, Lila, but this year, I'm gonna spend Chrismas with Helga... You know, I doubt she ever had good holidays...''

She didn't respond. Her gaze lowered to the table. I leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.

''See you tomorrow, Lila.''

''Helga, I'm back!'' I said automatically when I came back home, locking the door behind me and removing my boots.

This was becoming a habit; coming home from whatever I was doing and greeting Helga, who was generally watching TV or talking on her new phone, that I pay for, of course. When I joined her on the couch, she smiled at me and threw something at my torso.

''What is it?'' I asked, holding the envelope in front of my eyes.

Arms crossed behind her head, only wearing brown cargo pants and a dark pink hoodie, she looked at me with a proud grin.

''Well, you'll know when you decide to look in. So, hurry and open it, damn it!''

I smirked back and opened it. My eyes grew big.

''But this is...'' I managed to say while gripping tightly to the wad of money.

''Yup! An old friend of mine called me last week. He needed a singer to replace his, since she was sick as hell. ''

''So... this is what you've been doing...?'' I muttered, my eyes growing bigger and bigger, looking at her with curiosity.

She smiled and wrapped an arm around me.

''Yeah. I've earned all of this, and today I went to pay a little of my debt.''

''And all of this...''

''This is for christmas.'' She nodded.

''Helga, you're the best!'' I exclaimed, jumping in her arms and kissing her passionately.

She was a little taken aback, but she quickly pulled me closer. Since she was living with me, she became more emotional and lovey-dovey. It was a side of her personality I didn't know, but she was rather... Heck, I must say she was much of a romantic one. She showed me some of her poems and they were beyond incredibles.

''Helga... My love...'' I couldn't help but groan at the edge of her lips.

Her face reddened slightly and I put my hand on her cheek. I loved her. I loved her so much. I loved every part of her personality. I loved her grumpy attitude as much as her tender side.

''You... You're going to be with me for Christmas... right, Arnold ?'' she asked between two kisses.

''Why wouldn't I?''

She stopped kissing me and looked in front of her, playing with her fingers. I frowned and feared that I'd said something wrong. But then she looked up.

''I... never really loved Christmas before. I was... somewhat... always alone.''

''What about your parents?'' I gulped.

She smiled sadly and stared at me with her big, blue, ocean eye.

''People fear what they can't understand. And my parents never understood me...''

''Helga...''

I pulled her back in my arms and kissed her forehead gently. And then I sent my hand to her face to mildly and lovingly caress her scar with the most tender face I could put on.

''I love you, Helga. I... may not have had the life you had, but... I'll always be with you. Don't you forget it.''

''Yeah... I know... Where were you?''

''Hm?''

''Where were you this morning?'' she asked, stroking a blond bang behind her ears.

''Oh, my friend... Gerald asked me to meet him, his girlfriend, and... Lila.''

''Lila...'' She made a thougtful look. ''You mean that cowgirl chick?''

I smiled sheepishly.

''Yeah, her.''

''Oh. What did he want?''

I put my hand in my pocket, looking at the TV without really watching it.

''To apologize. He can't change the fact that I love you, even though he thinks it's wrong.''

She smiled and leaned her head against my shoulder. She looked so cute, just like a little girl.

''Looks like your friends don't like me much...''

''Well, they think you're cool, 'specially Sid. It's just Gerald, Phoebe, and Lila that don't for... obvious reasons. But Stinky, Harold, and Sid think you're pretty cool.''

''It's not like I really care...'' she admitted.

I nodded with a smile and asked her if she wanted a coffee. While doing it, I bit my lip.

''Helga, are you doing something tomorrow?''

She didn't respond immediatly as she concentrated on the show playing on the TV.

''No, I'm not. Why such a question? Are you planning something?''

''Oh. Well, my friends, they... they... Well, they invited me to a Christmas party and... well, you're not invited, so...''

''Yeah, I figured so.'' Helga smirked before shrugging. ''Don't worry, Arnold. Go with your friends. Anyway, I gotta do something.''

''Do what?'' I couldn't help but ask.

''Just something.''

Knowing I'd get no answer from her, I simply dropped the subject andsuggested make some noodles for dinner.

What I did not know was that when I had my back turned, Helga started to shudder... with utter fear.