Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.
A Broken Heart
Chapter 73: Obstacles
Previously
The bell rang again and Helga knew that they'd be late if they don't hurry.
"Well, come on. Let's get to class..."Helga said as she grabbed his hand and lead him before they got detention.
Drake was silent as they walked back to class.
He didn't know what to think.
But if Arnold didn't tattle on them...who did?
From the end of the hallway, a strange boy spied on the couple, a determined look visible in their narrowing eyes.
"Soon...very soon..."He whispered before he left the hall before anyone saw him and got suspicious.
Phoebe Hyerdahl had been worried when she didn't see her best friend or her boyfriend at all.
"Where are they?..."Phoebe whispered, getting a bad feeling.
Just then, her boyfriend Gerald came walking in and saw her expression.
"You alright, babe?...'Gerald asked.
"Oh, Gerald..have you either Helga or Drake?.."Phoebe asked.
Gerald flinched when she asked that, which the brainy Asian girl noticed.
"Uh...yeah..."Gerald said.
"What happened?..."Phoebe asked.
Before Gerald could ask, the bell rang and just then, both Drake and Helga came walking in and went to their seats and 10 seconds later, so did Arnold.
Gerald was relieved that it didn't look like any blood had shed today.
"Gerald?..."Phoebe asked.
"I'll tell ya later, babe..."Gerald whispered since Mr. Simmons came in and it was time to start class.
Phoebe realized that her questions would have to wait. She did cast a glance to her best friend, who seemed to have a neutral expression on her face, while Drake looked upset about something.
So did Arnold.
And she had a feeling that there might be a connection there.
Later
As soon as it was time for free period, Gerald and Phoebe met up together. Gerald explained to her what had happened earlier and Phoebe just stood there in wide eye shock.
"Are you serious?..."Phoebe asked, stunned.
"Mmmmhmmm..."Gerald nodded.
"I don't know what this fight was about but it's obvious that Drake and Arnold aren't going to become best friends..."Gerald said.
"Oh my goodness..."Phoebe said, feeling more certain that her previous theory might be right.
After all, from what Gerald told her about Arnold's attitude lately, she doubted that whatever it is that happened by the dumpsters, it was not to negotiate peace between the two boys.
She had her theory, but she needs to be sure.
"Gerald, I have to ask you something and please, answer me honestly.."Phoebe said.
"Uh...sure, babe..."Gerald said.
"Aside from Arnold's recent anti-social behavior, has he been displaying anymore strange behaviour, particulalrly around Drake or Helga?..."Phoebe asked.
Gerald was in a bad spot. Sure, he never promised Arnold not to tell about what he has seen but there is an unspoken bro code between them...but Phoebe is his girlfriend and she asked him to answer honestly.
He didn't know who to side on this one.
"Gerald? Please, I have to know..."Phoebe pleaded.
Gerald looked into her eyes and gave in.
"Okay..it's like this.."Gerald said as he explained Arnold bitterness in regards to Drake, his suspicion that he is still up to no good and the most recent act of spying and trying to film him doing something underhanded.
"My best friend is a good guy, but he is in a bad place right now, but I don't know WHY...All I do know is that it's tied to Drake...'Gerald said.
"And he still won't tell me the whole story...'Gerald said, looking sad.
"Based on my analysis, it seems my theory is sound..." Phoebe said, looking upset for some reason.
"And that theory is...?"Gerald asked.
He just has to know why his best friend is shutting him out and acting so crazy lately.
"I have been suspecting this for a while and if what you told me is true, it just confirms that..."Phoebe paused.
"That?..."Gerald questioned and Phoebe sighed.
"Arnold has feelings for Helga... and he's jealous..."Phoebe said, looking very displeased.
Gerald just stared at her before erupting into laughter.
"And here people think you don't have a sense of humor!..." He started wiping his eyes. "Arnold?! Helga?!..." He kept laughing as he noticed Phoebe's rather emotionless expression.
"Arnold... is..." He laughter stopped when he realizes it wasn't a joke.
"Y-You're serious?..."Gerald asked.
"Indeed..."Phoebe nodded.
Gerald heard this and shook his head in disbelief.
"Oh man..." Gerald said as he had his hand on his forehead.
He tried to think back to Arnold's behavior and he hated that now it made sense. His hostility and distrust towards Drake and his recent borderline obsession with Helga makes sense now.
He's jealous!
It's shocking but it makes sense but still, Gerald couldn't believe it Arnold Shortman was jealous that someone else was with HELGA, of all people.
Oh don't get him wrong, Gerald didn't have an issue with his girls best friend...anymore, and despite being a bully in the past, Arnold and Helga had been sorta friends since pre-k but Gerald had thought that Arnold had learned his lesson about chasing girls who were unavailable after Ruth McDougal, Lila and those pretty but mean 6th grade girls that used them to make their boyfriends jealous.
That was a fun night.
But this is worse, Helga has a boyfriend now and that boyfriend made it clear that he can't stand Arnold. And even though Drake claims that he is a changed guy, a jealous boyfriend can be one of the most dangerous things in the world if provoked enough.
Arnold has been provoking, alright!
"This is bad..."Gerald said, feeling both sorry and shocked by his best friend.
"Indeed, it is..."Phoebe said as she turned to her boyfriend.
"Gerald, I know that he is your best friend and Arnold has been a nice guy to me and everyone else, but Helga has made her choice to see Drake and if he can't respect that...well, I can't accept that..."Phoebe said, and Gerald sighed.
He thought back to Arnold's anti-Drake attitude and how it is agitating the boy even further.
"I see what you mean..." Gerald nodded
"You will talk to him about his position right?..." Phoebe said as she moved closer to Gerald.
"If nothing is done, things could get...rather ugly..."Phoebe said in a worried tone.
Gerald thought about it and realized that she is right. If left like this, things will only get worse between the two boys and Helga would be caught in the middle of it all. So would they.
"I know... but this is way too different a scenario. When Arnold does act so... not-Arnold, it's hard to get him to see things straight..."Gerald said and Phoebe was still unsatisfied.
"Well, you'll need to try... or else he'll do something that's going to end hurting Helga.." Phoebe told him.
"Again..."Phoebe thought bitterly.
Gerald realized that she is right and he sighed, before nodding his head.
"Okay, I'll talk to him..."Gerald said.
"Please do, Helga has told me that she is very happy with Drake and I don't want anyone to spoil her happiness..."Phoebe said seriously.
"So much for a normal afternoon..."Gerald thought with a sigh.
Later
A few more periods have passed and it was now time for recess.
Helga and Drake were sitting together, talking underneath a tree.
Unknown to Helga, someone had been glaring at them from across the playground, pretending to be bouncing a ball, when all he really did, was sent a glare in their direction, in Drake's more specifically.
It's Arnold.
He was still upset with what almost went down before class started. When Drake accused him of something he didn't do and was trying to provoke him into a fight until Helga came to break them up.
He did take some pleasure in the fact that Helga believed in his innocence, but she is still choosing to date Drake.
"I still don't get what she sees in him..."Arnold thought.
"Hey Arnold..."Gerald called, running up to him.
"Hey Gerald..."Arnold answered, only to blink when he saw the expression on his face.
"Is...is something wrong, Gerald?..."Arnold asked and Gerald sighed.
"Arnold...we need to talk, in private..."Gerald said.
Arnold looked surprised, before he nodded. He trusted his best friend, so he went to him.
He followed Gerald to a secluded part of the playground, away from unwanted ears.
"Okay, Gerald..what is this about?..."Arnold asked.
This is the second time today that someone lead him away to have some sort of private meeting.
For some reason, his best friend sighed, before giving him the most serious look imaginable.
While it was refreshing to see Arnold acting like himself again, if only for a moment, Gerald had to confront him of the issue at hand. The boy remembered Phoebe's words and took in a deep breath. To the confused concern of Arnold.
"Gerald, is everything alright?..."Arnold asked his best friend.
Gerald then spoke up, looking very serious right now.
"Arnold...Do you promise to listen to what I ask?..." Gerald questioned.
"Yes..." Arnold responded, wanting to sound like nothing is wrong.
"Remember, I need to ask you something and I want you to be serious when you answer me..." Gerald said.
"Gerald, just tell me what this is about..." Arnold said, feeling a bit apprehensive.
Gerald told him, deciding to just be upfront about it.
"Do you like Helga, and I mean like-like?..."Gerald asked, point blank.
There was a moment of silence, before Arnold finally registered what his best friend said and when he did-
"WHAT?!..." Arnold went.
Noticing how loud he was, he quiets down.
"Seriously, Gerald? Why would you-"
"Be serious, man." Gerald insisted. "I'm worried for you..."
"N... no." Arnold said.
Gerald sighed and shook his head.
"We both know you're a terrible liar, it's why I felt something was wrong..."Gerald said as Arnold just looked away, unsure how to answer.
Gerald sighed.
"Arnold, I know you mean well, but if you are feeling jealous, you got to face facts here, Drake is Helga's boyfriend and you have to her be with who she wants to be..."Gerald said.
"I don't..." Arnold found it difficult to finish. "I'm not... I just don't think they work, okay?..."He said stubbornly.
"Why? if you aren't jealous, than why do you hate Drake so much? I know it's not because of his past, since you have forgiven people for even worse things in the past..." Gerald pointed out.
Arnold froze up, unsure what to say.
Gerald spoke again.
" I mean it, you have been giving Drake the third degree, trying to spy and even video tape him and Helga. So it's obvious that this isn't just concern for a friend..."Gerald pointed out.
Arnold was still unsure what to say.
Instead, he looked away, turning his back to Gerald.
"Arnold?..." He asked.
"I don't know..." Arnold said quietly.
"Huh?"
"I don't know why I'm acting like this...All I do know is that I don't trust Drake and I don't want Helga to be hurt..."Arnold confessed.
"What proof do you have that he'll even hurt Helga?...'Gerald questioned.
"I want to tell you Gerald, but...I can't..."Arnold said and Gerald got mad.
"You mean like you couldn't tell me about your deal with LaSombra..."Gerald said and Arnold's eyes widen.
"G-Gerald. No, this isn't like that...'Arnold said as he waved his hands.
"It better not be, man..."Gerald said with his arms crossed before marching away, looking mad.
Unknown to the two boys, someone had overheard the entire conversation.
It was Phoebe, who shook her head in disappointed.
"Oh Arnold, I expected more from you...'Phoebe said, not liking this at all.
Meanwhile
With Drake
Drake had been enjoying a cooling down period, with his girlfriend.
He was still unsure about the whole situation with Arnold but he tried to trust Helga's judgement.
It was pretty hard, since he noticed that football headed creep had gone back to glaring at them from a distance. He was about to go kiss Helga on the cheek just to remind him not to look at them, only for Gerald to show up and drag Arnold off to some place.
"Where are they going?..."Drake thought as he raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"What are you looking at?..." Helga asked.
Drake looked back to Helga.
"Oh... I... thought I saw Shortman staring at us..."Drake said.
Helga sighed.
"Look... I get you two don't like each other, but I'm telling you it couldn't have been him..." She insisted.
"Why exactly do you trust that guy anyway?..."Drake asked.
Helga was silent for a moment, before looking down.
"We... knew each other for years..." Helga said as she thought to the boy and what he once meant to her.
"He was always so nice..."Helga said in a soft tone.
Drake a rose a brow at that. Helga realizes how that sounded.
"Oh man..."Helga thought as she tried to make a recovery.
"Well, he's nice to everyone and I just like that he was never exactly a bad influence to anyone..."Helga said quickly, hoping Drake didn't suspect something.
Not that there is anything to suspect mind you. She is over Arnold and she is happy in her relationship with Drake. She just doesn't want to rock the boat.
Drake did look curious as he raised his brow again as he asked this.
"How exactly is he the nicest guy?..." Drake questioned.
Arnold has been nothing but judgemental and pushy, so how can Helga still consider him a nice guy?
Helga knew he was unaware, so she told him how they met. Drake leaned in to listen.
"It all happened when I was little..."Helga started.
Helga then began to tell him, without mentioning the obvious taboo's on the subject, her first day of pre school and how she met Arnold, without mentioning that she had fallen in love with him at the same time.
She just knew that now is not to time to tell her boyfriend just how significant Arnold used to be to her.
"As always, my parents were smothering Olga, gushing over her piano skills and I had to go to pre-school, I tried to get them to take me but they just wanted to listen to Olga played, I got tired of waiting, so I went-"
"Without your parents?..."Drake finished.
Helga nodded.
Drake felt like there was a stone in his stomach slushing around, it made him sick. Helga continued with a frown that went deeper.
"Anyway, it was raining and I didn't have an umbrella, plus I got mud on me, and that's when he showed up..." Helga said as she smiled a little.
"Who? Arnold?..."Drake questioned and Helga nodded.
"Yeah, he and I went to the same pre-school and he shared his umbrella with me..." Helga said, turning away so Drake wouldn't see her blushing a little.
"He even said my bow was nice. Needless to say, I had a bad day and he cheered me up.."Helga said, giving the most abridged, censored version of what happened when she first met Arnold.
Once Helga was done, Drake looked even more upset, but for once, it wasn't directed towards Arnold.
"I can't believe your folks are so... messed up..."Drake said, feeling even more hate for Helga's so-called parents, especially her big brute of a dad.
Who ignores their own child's first day of pre-school, just to listen to their other child play the piano?!
"I know... right?" Helga said. "That's why I doubt he's the one who did this..."She said.
Drake was aghast.
He didn't know Arnold except for the spying kid he is right now. Drake didn't think things went that far back, with Arnold that nice as a kid.
Drake was silent, as he looked and saw Arnold was now alone, Gerald leaving him to go do whatever. Drake's eyes narrowed at the sight of him.
Even if he did help his girl back then, it doesn't matter. To him, that was then and this is now. And right now, all he sees is an obviously jealous boy trying to steal his girlfriend away from him.
"I still don't trust him..." Drake said.
"Then trust ME..." Helga insisted. "I know Arnold's not a bad guy..."She said in a confident voice.
Drake rose a brow when she insisted that.
"She's always so quick to defend him, even when things are suspicious..." Drake thought.
He remembered that Helga also didn't believe that Arnold was capable of putting his secret into the school paper. Okay, she was technically right since it was Rhonda who did that, but Arnold's bumbling was what made that possible in the first place.
Before he could speak, Helga put a hand on her face.
"Like I know YOU'RE not a bad guy...'She said in a sweet tone.
Hearing that calmed him down.
"You're probably right..." He said, more to convince her then himself.
"So, what now?..."He asked.
"I should talk to my parents. I'll have to go back to them soon...not today, though..."Helga said, as she was still too mad at them.
Drake shook his head.
"You shouldn't have to if you don't want to..."Drake said, knowing just how big of a jerk her dad is and he'd probably start pressuring her again.
"Look, tomorrow at the most, I'll go back home and TRY to talk to my folks, even if Phoebe is my best friend, I can't overstay my welcome..."Helga said.
"But just know this, you are my boyfriend and nothing my parents say will make me let you go...like I said, you're stuck with me..."Helga said.
"You don't know how happy I am to hear that...'Drake said as he placed his hand on hers.
Helga smiled, feeling confident, but at the same time, a little apprehensive.
It went away when Drake smiled at her, making her feel that she is indeed worthy of someone's affection and that as long as she has someone who cares about her, she can handle whatever obstacles that are coming up.
"Just so you know, Phoebe isn't the only one with a place that you can crash whenever your dad is being a jerk to you..."Drake said and Helga smirked.
"I might hold you up to that one of these days, Drakie..."Helga teased.
Drake smiled as they continued to hold hands, knowing that they still had each other.
And as long as Drake had her, he was happy.
Later that day
Arnold had arrived home and immediately went to his room, barely acknowledging his parents and grandparents who asked him about his day.
He just said that it was fine.
He lied.
He has been doing a lot of that lately.
He was now on his bed, recalling the almost fight he had with Drake earlier, Helga's intervention and Gerald's accusation.
He was so confused right now. Especially as the more he thought about Drake, the worse his feelings got.
"What am I doing?!..." Arnold asked himself.
It's not like he's never disliked anyone, but he always tries to find some good in people. Drake being with Helga shouldn't be making him this mad.
He thought back to what Gerald said earlier, then to his talk with his grandfather and lastly, one of his not-so friendly encounters with Drake.
They all accused him of the exact same thing.
That he is jealous and that's why he is so against Drake and Helga's relationship.
"Am I... really jealous? How could I be this jealous?..."Arnold questioned.
He can't understand why he's acting like this. I mean, he has always cared about Helga, despite the complicated relationship that they have had all their lives but to be jealous because she has a new boyfriend...
A boyfriend whom she spends all of her spare time with, a boyfriend who makes her laugh and gets to hear the sound of her laughter, a boyfriend who makes her smile and actually feels the pleasure of making that smile happen...and a boyfriend who gets to hold her hand, receive hugs from her and even k-
Arnold paused as he realized the direction that his thoughts were heading. He shook his head and still felt so lost.
Arnold was confused about everything right now. Helga, Drake, that talk with Gerald, his talk with grandpa. It was a lot to think about. Arnold thought back to the years he had known Helga. what did she mean to him? And does he feel this way now?
"I am-"
Before Arnold could finish that thought in order to understand the true nature of his feelings, his cell phone began ringing and he noticed a strange number on it.
He groaned as he had a feeling he knew who it was.
"Hello?..."Arnold greeted.
"Hello Arnold..." The familiar voice said.
"Voz?...'Arnold said.
"Indeed... you're doing good but we have to continue..."The mysterious caller said.
Voz then told him of the next phase of his plan and all Arnold did is shake his head. Hating this more and more.
"Look, Voz. I... I think this is wrong. I mean, I don't like Drake, but I think maybe we are going too far..I don't want to risk getting Helga upset with me or getting in trouble...Arnold said.
"She will thank you in the end..."Voz said.
"I doubt that..." Arnold muttered.
"You must continue..." Voz continued. "You are close... You care for her, don't you?..."He asked.
Arnold paused when he heard that.
"Yeah, I do..more than anything but... is it really worth hurting her?...'Arnold asked.
"It's necessary for her to see Drake is not fit for her..." Voz said. "Remember... Drake is the enemy...he is a violent brute who is no good for her, this is the only way to protect her..."He said.
Arnold took a breath as he thought back to his fight with Drake, and the sight of the jerk holding Helga's hand and receiving a kiss on the cheek from her before school let out.
Arnold frowned more, his apprehension soon replaced with bitterness, before he nodded. Although, he was still reluctant deep down.
"Okay... what do you need me to do.?..."Arnold asked reluctantly.
"Okay..." Voz said. "Follow the instructions on the list I will leave you. Here's where to go..."He said.
The Next Day
It was Friday in the afternoon and after the 'traditional' cool down period had ended , Helga had just gathered all of her items into her bag as she decided that it was time to go home and try and see if she could really give her parents another chance...to see if she can finally reason with them.
Or at the very least, make them act less irritating than they normally do.
Did she expect everything to magically be better? Did she expect her mom to be attentive to her needs or her father to start selling anything that's been outdated since the 90's?
Of course not!
This wasn't a movie and Drake was no Prince Charming and Helga wasn't Cinderella.
No, Helga wasn't expecting the world to change for her but who knows? Her parents had surprised her in the past, maybe two days of silence would get them to understand. To make them see that they are overreacting and to show them that Drake really is a good guy.
It was worth a shot, right?
"I think that's everything..."Helga said as she placed everything in her bag.
She then turned to Phoebe and even Drake, who had come for emotional support.
"Are you sure about this, Helga?..."Phoebe asked.
"Yeah, are you sure? I am sure I can convince mom to let you spend the night..."Drake offered but Helga shook her head.
"No, it's fine..I have to go back there some time..."Helga said in defeat.
"At least let me walk you there..."Drake said.
"You can walk me to the bus stop but no further, my parents are still mad at you. I just need some time to get them to calm down and hopefully, I can tell them how much of a great guy you are and that they are wrong about you..."Helga said.
Drake didn't like this but he knew that she was probably right. So he nodded.
"Good luck Helga.."Phoebe said.
"Thanks..."Helga sighed.
Later
Drake walked her to the bus stop, just as promised and Helga walked the rest to the accursed beeper store that she is forced to call her home.
She soon arrived, just a few feet away.
"You can do this...whether you like it or not, they are your only parents..unfortunately..."Helga said, before noticing a car parked in front of the Beeper store.
One that looked familiar for some reason.
Not wanting to waste any more time and ultimately not caring too much, Helga opened the door and was given a loud irritating reminder of just WHO owned that car.
"BABY SISTER!..."Olga shouted as she hugged Helga, crushing her face against her chest.
"Criminy! Olga! Let go!..."Helga shouted as she tried to wriggle, but Olga kept hugging the daylights out of her.
Olga wasn't listening, she was still hugging too hard and practically crushing Helga's spleen as she began to wail.
"Oh my poor baby sister! Don't worry, I'll make everything better..."Olga wailed.
What would make things better for Helga, is if she could have sweet oxygen. Helga slipped out of Olga's grasp, taking in a deep breath before talking.
"Criminy Olga! At least ask if I have any last words before you strangle me..." Helga said, getting her breathing back to normal.
Behind Olga, she noticed Bob and Miriam and they didn't look happy.
Wait, Olga was here and they weren't happy?
Okay, that is unusual.
"Ya see what I mean, Olga! Your sisters been around that thug and now look at her, her looks are different, her attitude is different and she's talking about strangling people!..."Bob yelled.
Helga heard this and rolled her eyes.
"Different? The only thing about my looks is that I am wearing a piny tail now and I have ALWAYS had this attitude, they just never bothered to notice..."Helga thought, realizing that once again, she is apparently the only Pataki that is capable of adapting.
Olga nodded.
"Don't worry Daddy, that's why I'm here to stop that horrid little boy..."Olga said dramatically.
Helga heard this and realizes what this is about and she shook her head. Her parents called Olga to come over and try to "fix" her of all things. No doubt telling her a totally bias and incorrect interpretation of Drake and she knew her sister would be too air headed to even ask for her side of the story.
As her sister kept talking, Helga realized that her theory was right.
"Mummy and Daddy told me everything how a horrid little gangster has been taking advantage of you and your feelings how he was awful and threatened Daddy when they met...'Olga said.
"That's not how I remember how it went..."Helga said, as she tried to control her temper.
"Also, he is NOT a gangster!...'Helga said, mentally adding "anymore".
"Listen to your sister, she knows what she's talking about..."Miriam said.
"No, she's doesn't.."Helga thought,as she bit her cheek to keep her from screaming.
Despite her relationship with Olga, she didn't hate her sister. if she did, she would've let her marry that lying creep Doug What-his-name.
'You love your sister...You love your sister...you love your sister...' Helga repeated in her head like a mantra. One that she was trying very hard to believe.
"Now Helga..." Olga added. "You should listen to mummy and daddy. I understand that bad boys are catching but you can't just be such a little girl when you find a boyfriend..."She said and Helga frowned even harder.
"Drake is not a bad boy!..."Helga said but her sister didn't seem to listen to her, she just began a big spiel.
"Now come with me we'll go to the salon and boutique make you look like a proper young lady. Once I am done with that, I'll arranged for you to go out on a proper date with a young man from a family of proper standing...maybe that nice boy from your class..Arthur is it?..."Olga said.
"Hey, hey, hey. Olga, your sister is too young to date and even if she wasn't, that Alfred boy is almost as bad as that thug..."Bob said.
Unknown to them, Helga's fist clenched as her anger kept rising.
Her teeth were grinding together and she was beginning to see red.
"Daddy, are you sure? I thought he was a nice boy when I was acting as student teacher, besides, baby sister is becoming a young lady...Besides, the thing that we should concern ourselves is that this despicable predator is taking advantage of her naiveté ..."Olga said, oblivious to her sister's rising anger.
She then turned to Helga.
"But if you follow my example you'll be on the right path to being a proper lady and a proud Pataki..."Olga said in an air headed sort of way.
Miriam nodded.
"That sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Your sister is gonna find you a real boyfriend instead of that Darren boy..."Miriam asked.
To their surprise, they notice that Helga looked like she was shaking a bit. It was then that Olga finally noticed the look in her younger sister's eyes.
A look that she did not approve of.
"Helga?..."Olga asked in concern as her sister kept shaking.
"Baby sister, what's wrong? Do you need a doctor?..."Olga asked.
"She'd better not! Doctors are expensive!..." Bob yelled
Her sister opened her mouth to speak, and she didn't say what she expected her to say.
"HIS...NAME...IS...DRAKE!..."Helga yelled, her face red and looking pretty peeved.
"H-Helga..."Olga stuttered, but her sister just shook her head, still looking mad.
"Criminy Olga, for someone who is suppose to be considered smart, what you just said was the dumbest, most inane, moronic narrow minded, stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life!..." Helga yelled to her flabbergasted sister.
"H-Helga!..."Olga said, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"Do you think after everything I've been through, you can just magically show up and make me leave my boyfriend because 'Mommy' and 'Daddy' ask you too?!..."Helga said coldly . "That I would follow your advice on love after the losers you've brought home!..."She yelled at her.
Olga already had tears in her eyes but Helga was past the point of caring about her sisters feelings.
"Now listen here, young lady! You can't talk to your sister like that!..."Bob yelled, while Helga glared.
"Oh and she can say what she wants about Drake? She's never even met him. Shes just listening to the angry rants of some dinosaur who refuses to change with the times!..." Helga said grabbing her bag from the floor.
"Hey! Where are you going?..."Bob bellowed and Helga rolled her eyes.
"Criminy! I can't believe I even bothered to come back to this place! I thought I could give you people a chance, I thought maybe you could warm up to Drake and see what a great guy he is, but clearly I was wrong"..."Helga said as she walked passed them, knowing that if she stayed any longer, she was going to hit something again.
She also knew that it would be pointless, her parents are just incapable of changing and only want things to be their way. So, she just wasted her time in coming back here.
Well, right now. She just wants to be alone.
"Hey, get back here right now!..."Bob ordered but Helga ignored him as she went up to the roof of the beeper store, mostly just to get as much distance as possible between them.
"That girl..."Bob growled.
Before he could do anything, Olga stepped in front of him. She had just finished wiping the tears from her eyes after Miriam comforted her. Now she seems willing to try again.
"Daddy, let me talk to her...alone...this is a girl matter, after all. Baby sister didn't mean those things she said, those are just hormones talking. I am sure that I can reason with her..."Olga said to her father.
Since she is the only person who Bob ever listens to, the hulking man nodded, leaving everything in the hands of his older and favorite daughter.
Oh boy.
Up on the roof
Helga just sat there, brooding as she looked out to see the town from here.
"Why did I even bother coming back here?..."Helga grumbled under her breath.
She noticed someone join her on the roof. It's Olga.
"Oh perfect..."Helga thought sarcastically.
"What?..."Helga snapped.
Her sister frowned.
"Baby sister, this is not how to talk to grown ups...You were also very rude to mummy and daddy and to me down there..."Olga scolded her as if she was a misbehaving three year old.
Helga rolled her eyes.
"That's not the only reason I am here...I am hear to talk to you about this delinquent that you are seeing..."Olga said.
She tried to sound polite, but that made Helga angry.
"Helga, daddy is trying to protect you. He knows what's best for you..."Olga said and Helga rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Bob doesn't even care. He just wants another free employee to help run his crashing beeper business!..." Helga exclaimed.
Downstairs
Bob Pataki was sitting on the couch, waiting for Olga to give him results, when he suddenly felt a sharp pain. A pain he only got when he felt his livelihood was being mocked.
"Big Bob's Beepers can beat anything..."He said to himself, while his wife saw this and sighed.
"I need a smoothie..."She muttered as she went to go make one.
Back to the girls
Olga shook her head, obviously in denial over the reality of their family's business.
"You shouldn't say that, Helga! " Olga scolded.
"The beeper business is a little...stale right now but-"
"Criminy Olga! Get your head out of the clouds!..." Helga waved her hands in front of Olga's face.
"Bob doesn't know what he's doing and hasn't for months. Nobody buys beeper anymore. They have phones that do more than beepers ever did. No one wants beepers anymore!...'Helga yelled.
Olga didn't like her tone, and she also didn't like the fact that she couldn't say anything else in defense to her father's business practices.
"Helga...we're getting off topic. Look, you know that it's because I care, that I want to steer you in the right direction. And seeing this Drew boy-
"Drake!..." Helga corrected with fury.
"Fine, Drake, can't lead to anything good..." Olga sat down next to Helga, but the girl moved away from the older sister. "You know I care for you, right?"
"You care for me?..." Helga's eye twitched.
"Yes, I care for you. I want to help you. And this boy, Drake-"
"You don't even know him!..." Helga shot up straight from the floor of the ceiling.
"All you know is what Bob told you, and I can already guess what his words were. That it's bad for the family and business or did he say how I shouldn't waste my time on some punk and should go see a rich fella to take care of me?..." Helga was almost seething with anger, but Olga frowned.
"Helga.."Olga scolded.
"No, if you want to talk to me, you have to listen to what I say!..."Helga argued.
"First, Drake isn't the bad person that Bob says he is. He is WRONG! And so are you! You say you want to be a teacher and help kids, but you don't get to know one kid and judge him without giving him a chance..."Helga yelled at her sister.
"You once called me a good judge of character. If you really think that, than why can't you listen to me when I say that Drake is a nice guy and he doesn't deserve to be treated like this?..."Helga said.
"I'm just saying you should pick boys more carefully..." Olga said, as she looked offended and upset by her sister's word.
"You think you have better taste in men? That's rich coming from you!..." Helga was furious at Olga's comment.
"I'm not the one who was acting ga ga over a PIRATE who locked you in a cage with the rest of my class and was going to do God-knows-what to you when La Sombra got what he wanted! And how did a 'Proper Young lady' like yourself act, after you spent the rest of the summer crying like a baby because you got your heart broken?!..."Helga said, her throat cracked with emotions.
"We do not speak of Che anymore!..."Olga shrieked and Helga rolled her eyes.
"Criminy, you are pathetic! Not only that, a hypocrite too!..."Helga yelled.
"Helga!..."Olga yelled.
"As for the men that YOU chose, such as Doug. Remember Doug? You think that he was such a good person,? Well, news flash sister, he was nothing more than a deadbeat con artist who was going to mooch off of you and dad! Also, you weren't the love of his life, you were just a mark, an easy con. He had another girlfriend named Linda..."Helga said.
Olga looked mad now, mad and tears were leaking from her eyes.
"Helga, that's not true! There was an emergency in the Namibia! Don't be ridiculous!..."Olga yelled.
Helga rolled her eyes at that.
"No! Ridiculous is how you, little miss perfect were going to leave college, before finishing your degree and running off with a con artist, who would have scammed you and dad for everything we had!..." Helga raged on.
"Stop saying that! Doug loved me! He even wrote me a letter explaining why he had to leave me!..."Olga yelled.
"Wake up and smell the coffee Olga! Doug never left the country to go on some humanitarian mission! He didn't even leave the city! I saw him at the store one day,before I saw him leaving with another woman, whom I assumed was Linda or just another one of his cons..." Helga admitted, having seen deadbeat Doug buying milk before he left with his girlfriend.
They made eye contact for a second before walking away. It's not like either really had anything to say. But she did see him walk away with another woman.
"If you don't believe me, want me to recite the letter 'he' sent you? I wrote it!..."Helga said.
"Very funny Helga..." Now Olga was really mad as she had her back facing Helga. "There's no way you could have wrote that...convincing...letter..."Olga said.
To her surprise, her sister just stood up, closed her eyes and began speaking.
"My dearest Olga, words can never truly express my regret and sorrow for what I am about to tell you. But I find that I must leave you, darling. I have been called away to help solve the crises in Namibia. It would be selfish and unfair of me to ask you to marry me under these tragic conditions. I hope you know that my love for you is eternal.
Yours always,
Doug..."Helga finished reciting, before sending a scolding look to her older sister.
"Not only that, just at the end of the letter, there was a little heart right next to his name...I added that..."Helga said, while her sister was, for once, silent.
Olga just stood there, in a stunned sort of way, while Helga rolled her eyes.
"I am out of here..."Helga angrily downstairs and snuck to the closet that was her room, locking it.
She didn't want to deal with her parents or her sister anymore.
Olga would have followed her, but her mind was still stuck with what she just heard.
Is Helga right? Could Doug have lied to her?Did he really never love her?
She didn't like this...
She didn't like it at all.
Olga soon found herself crying again, before she ran down the stairs, into and out of the beeper store, her hands covering her face as more tears fell down.
Her parents chased after her, no doubt to try to comfort her and later punish Helga for making her cry.
Helga heard the entire thing from the broom closet that she is inside and she sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Home sweet home, alright..."Helga muttered sarcastically, before taking a deep breath.
She never cared about what her parents or sister thought before and she doesn't care now. With the exception of her best friend Phoebe, the only person who truly cares about her opinions and feelings is Drake and she will not let him go.
He is all she truly has now.
-To be continued-
Next time on A Broken Heart
Overcoming
A/N(1): Special thanks to BeConfuzzled Writer, 61394 and NeoMark for their help. You guys are the best ;)
A/N(2): Just a reminder that this fic is on TV TROPES, so feel free to add any tropes you see fit.
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewer:
Invader Johnny: You got that right.
Kryten: You can say that again.
The J.A.M. a.k.a. Numbuh i: Seems like it.
Madi Anivar: Uh huh.
Guest(1): Well, agree to disagree seems like the way to go here.
Guest(2): Well, we have to wait and see.
Ezza: How's this?
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)
