Chapter 19: Apologize
Arnold Phillip Shortman woke up feeling like he had been hit by a semi-truck full of bricks. He jolted awake before he saw that Helga was also awake with her head still laid upon his chest. She was now twiddling strands of her own hair between her fingers. She hadn't even noticed that Arnold was now awake.
"Good morning." Arnold said in a low voice, trying not to startle her. His plan worked. Helga looked up at him with a wide smile now on her lips.
"Good morning sleepy head. Criminy, I thought you weren't gonna wake up!"
Arnold chuckled at her comment." What are you talking about?"
Helga sighed before leaning in and planting a soft and tender kiss on his waiting lips. She pulled back for a second to now look into his emerald green eyes." I've been awake for an hour now, hair boy! I just didn't wanna wake you, so I decided to wait!"
Arnold shot her a grin. He still had his head laid back on his pillow. That's when he noticed the room they were in was empty.
"Um, Helga?" He asked in an unsure voice." Where is my mom?"
Helga sighed as she continued to look him in his eyes." She took off a few minutes ago to get your grandpa and your dad. He comes home today."
Arnold just sighed and tore his eyes away from Helga's for a moment to look up at the ceiling." Damnit, I forgot about that."
Helga just sighed as well and looked away from Arnold and to the floor now." Arnold, I'm sure he's not going to be too mad when he sees you. Hell, if anything he'll be proud of you."
Arnold laughed at her comment." Proud of me for what? For getting my ass handed to me last night?"
Helga now looked at him with a very serious look on her face." No football head. You're forgetting the fact that you saved my life last night. And, I owe you my life for that."
Arnold then looked into her soft blue eyes again with a serious look on his face." You don't owe me anything Helga. Like I said, I did all of that last night because I love you."
Helga instantly felt her heart melt at the comment her foot ball headed lover had just made. She suddenly felt a dreamy smile creep on her face.
"Can you say that again?" She asked in a very soft voice now.
"I did all of that last night because I love you?" Arnold asked in an unsure tone.
For a few moments, Helga didn't respond. She was sure what he was saying wasn't a dream anymore now. He was here in the flesh saying everything to her. She didn't feel tired anymore. This was REAL.
She looked into her love's swollen eyes and noticed that his face was starting to bruise up. His scar under his right eyes was turning into a giant bruise, but it looked as if the stitches had already helped it some already.
Helga's eyes were swollen themselves. As she had predicted, both of her eyes had turned out to be black this morning. However, her face wasn't near as bruised as Arnold's was.
"You feeling any better?" Helga asked with a worried look now on her face.
Arnold just nodded." Yeah, I feel fine. My face is just a little sore."
Arnold hadn't completely told her a lie. But truth to be told his face was buzzing with pain. He really had taken one hell of a beating last night.
Helga just looked at him with a worried look still painted on her face." Well, if you're up for it, I can help some of that soreness go away."
Arnold shot her a confused look now." How are you gonna do that?" He asked with curiosity in his voice now.
Helga sent him a huge smile as she now stood up on all fours. Slowly but surely, she approached Arnold.
Arnold just watched as she slowly approached him until her face was just inches from touching his neck. Finally, she spoke in a very soft voice." Just like this."
The next thing Arnold knew, she had softly kissed his neck. The impact of her soft lips on his neck made shots of lightning flying through his very tired body.
Helga left a trail of kisses down his neck as she slowly started to kiss down his collarbone. Arnold couldn't lie to himself. This really had made the pain go numb in his face.
Still kissing him softly, Helga now started to make her way up back up his neck. However, about the time she reached his chin she stopped. She slowly lifted her head up with a huge smile on her lips.
"Feel any better?" She asked with her voice still soft and tender.
"I feel better already." Arnold replied softly as he shot her a grin.
At that moment, Helga slowly leaned down and touched his lips with her own. Arnold quickly accepted the kiss and opened his mouth. Helga immediately deepened the kiss as she felt her tongue collide with his.
Arnold quickly felt his hands travel to her back. He quickly traced his fingers up her spine, making shots of pleasure run through her body.
Suddenly, a voice cleared from across the room. Helga immediately broke this kiss, accidently knocking Arnold's head back into his pillow.
"Ow." Arnold muttered as he leaned up and grabbed his sore face in pain. However, he froze when he looked towards the doorway to his room.
Gerald and Phoebe were standing at the doorway, both with shocked looks on their face.
"What happened to you guys." Gerald said in shock as he just stared at the two teens.
Helga quickly sent him a scowl as her cheeks turned the shade of pink with blush." Oh, what do you care anyway, Geraldo. It isn't like you've cared the past few weeks!"
Gerald and Phoebe suddenly averted their eyes to the ground below them now. A look of shame suddenly came across their faces.
"Well, that's what we're here to talk about. We came here to apologize" Gerald said in a low voice.
Helga looked to Arnold who now wore the same shocked expression she was wearing.
Without saying a word, Gerald and Phoebe made their way to the couch. When they sat down, Phoebe sank down into the couch while Gerald rested his elbows on his knees and hunched over, staring at the ground.
"We came here to apologize, together." Gerald said, shooting Phoebe a quick look before he looked back at the blondes in front of him.
"We're sorry about not coming to you guys sooner and doing this. This is way past overdue."
"Yes, way past overdue." Phoebe said nodding in agreement." After I noticed that Helga wasn't picking up any of my calls, I just guessed it would be better if we apologized together in person."
Helga quickly averted her eyes to the ground and Arnold just nodded at the couple with a serious look on his face.
"We're really sorry about the way we both acted." Gerald said with a look full of regret on his face." We should have been there for you guys more."
He then shot his eyes to Arnold now." And I'm sorry for the way I reacted that day at the locker man. I shouldn't have reacted that way. It was a bad move on my part."
Phoebe then looked up and gave Helga a look full of regret." And I'm sorry for not being there for you more Helga." She said in a low voice." I'm sorry for not being the friend that I used to be. I'm sorry for letting you get wasted at the party. I'm sorry for not coming and apologizing to you sooner. That should've been the first thing I did!"
Phoebe looked at Gerald with a nervous look and he gave her a supporting smile in return." So, will you guys forgive us?" Gerald asked as he turned back to Arnold.
Arnold and Helga both looked at each other for just a moment. Helga opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She quickly shut her mouth and rubbed the back of her neck with a free hand.
Arnold then turned to his friend with a serious look on his face now." Gerald, do you remember back in fourth grade when we had to perform at that talent show?"
"Well of course Arnold." Gerald said as he nodded." Who couldn't remember that man? I mean Dino Spumoni himself stayed at the boarding house!"
Helga and Phoebe shot each other a quick look of confusion as they continued to listen to the two friends talk.
Arnold's serious look turned into a small smile as he continued to speak." Well, do you remember how we couldn't decide on what to do? And we fought about it to the point that we almost lost our friendship?"
Gerald now looked at the ground with shame on his face again." Yeah, I remember all of that too man."
"Well." Arnold continued." What was the lesson we learned out of that?"
Gerald suddenly looked up from the ground. His look of shame was now gone. It had been replaced by a small grin on his lips and a relieved look on his face." That no matter how much we fight, our friendship is more important than any of that."
Arnold just nodded as he now looked at the ground in shame." That's true." He said in a low voice." Which is why I need to apologize too."
Helga now looked at Arnold in shock as he looked back up at Gerald." I'm sorry man." Arnold said." I shouldn't have hit you back at the locker. I shouldn't have judged you because someone tried to frame you. I overreacted, and for that, I'm sorry."
A huge smile now appeared on Gerald's face." Look man, it's all in the past." He said in a voice full of joy." We're best friends, we can't let things like this get in the way of that."
Arnold nodded in agreement with Gerald." Your right man."
"So, all is forgiven?" Gerald asked as a nervous smile curved onto his lips.
"All is forgiven." Arnold said as he nodded in agreement.
The two best friends grinned happily at one another before an awkward silence settler throughout the room. Arnold looked over his shoulder to see Helga and Phoebe just staring at the ground awkwardly.
"Helga." Arnold said, trying to grab her attention." You have something to tell Phoebe."
Helga just looked up from the ground to look at Phoebe. They instantly shot a nervous smile at each other.
"Oh, okay." Helga said with a sigh." Look Pheebs, I'm sorry for not answering any of your calls. Like hair boy and Geraldo have been saying, we shouldn't let things like this get in the way of our friendship. Not after we've been friends for so long."
"I totally agree with you Helga." Phoebe said as she looked at the ground once more." And I'm sorry for not coming to you and apologizing in person. I guess I was just too nervous."
That made Helga's lips curve into a large grin." Oh come on Pheebs! It's just me Helga. I wouldn't hurt you! Your my best friend!"
"And you're my bestfriend too." Phoebe said as she quickly stood up.
"So, truce?" Phoebe asked with a large grin as she approached the hospital bed.
Before she could even react, Helga had pulled her friend into a tight hug." Truce." Helga said in a joyful voice.
Gerald laughed at the scene as he stood up as well. He walked over to Arnold and stuck out his hand." For old times sake?" He asked quietly as Arnold eyed his hand.
Arnold quickly stuck his hand out in response. "Anytime man." Arnold said as they did their traditional handshake.
Helga and Phoebe immediately rolled their eyes at the sight. "They are so immature." Helga whispered to Phoebe causing her to giggle.
"So tell me." Gerald said as he walked back to the couch." What happened to you guys?"
"Yeah." Phoebe said as she returned back to the couch with her boyfriend." Mrs. Shortman just told us there was an incident last night that you guys were involved in. When we asked her what happened, she just told us that it wasn't her thing to tell."
Arnold just looked to Helga who sent him a nervous look in return." You don't have to tell them if you want." Arnold whispered to her.
She quickly shot him a confident look in response." No, it's okay." She whispered." They're our best friends, they should know."
Arnold just nodded as he gave her a confident smile." If you don't wanna tell them, then I can for you."
"No." Helga said out loud now." I'll tell them."
Arnold just nodded as he looked back to Gerald and Phoebe who were looking at them attentively.
Helga took a deep sigh as she looked at the ground again. Images of the night before suddenly entered her brain again. She saw Arnold laying on the ground beneath Bob with blood all over his face. She saw the sinister way that Bob was looking at Arnold as he punched him. She saw the sly smile Bob had on his face as she pointed the gun at him.
She quickly shook her head trying to clear the thoughts out of her head. They were too much for her to think about right now.
"Okay." She said in a low voice as she looked back up at Gerald and Phoebe." This is what happened last night…"
…
"Where is he?" Miles Shortman asked as he swung the door to the beeper store open.
"I told you he'd act this way." Phil said with a sigh as he stepped inside the store behind his son.
"Well, I just figured he would listen to me since I'm his wife and all!" Stella said in an irritated tone as she walked in behind Phil.
"Well." Phil replied as he shook his head." That boy is more stubborn than his own mother is. He won't listen to anyone!"
Stella just shook her head with a frown as she looked across the now empty beeper emporium. The lights in the store had been turned off since the store had obviously been closed down until further notice. The store almost looked normal besides the police tape that was surrounding the Pataki living room.
"Miles!" Stella called out into the store, but she didn't receive a single reply from him. He had disappeared into the store with no sign of where he went. That's when suddenly, someone appeared from the living room and stepped under the police tape.
"Harvey!" Stella and Phil gasped in shock as they saw the ex-mailman step out into the light.
"Hey guys." He said with a wave." What brings you guys here? Wanna see the crime scene?"
"No no no." Stella said as she shook her head." Anything but that."
Harvey just nodded his head." It's okay, I totally understand."
"No." Phil said in an annoyed tone as he spoke up." We came here because my son thought it would be a good idea to confront Big Bob Pataki about all of this!"
In response, Harvey just gave them a confused look." Does Miles not realize that Bob is sitting in a jail cell right now?"
Phil and Stella shot each other an annoyed look." He does this every time he gets mad!" Phil answered in annoyance." He just runs off and does what he wants and he doesn't listen to anyone!"
Harvey chuckled to himself before responding." Well, it's okay. Just calm him down before he messes up the crime scene. We still have some investigating to do."
"What are you talking about?" Stella now asked, giving him a confused look." I thought Arnold and Helga were beat by Bob last night. What else is there to investigate?"
Harvey sighed as he suddenly looked away from them with a small frown on his face." Bob wasn't alone." He said in a low voice." According to Arnold, there was another man holding a gun to Helga."
Stella suddenly covered her mouth in shock as Phil felt his own jaw drop himself.
"But, so far we haven't found any clues leading us to who the gunman was." Harvey said as he turned to face them again." So with no clues and no leads, we're kinda just stuck."
"You mean to tell me." Stella said in shock." That Arnold barged in here to face not only one maniac! But two maniacs, and one of them had a gun!"
Harvey just looked at the ground now with regret on his face." I'm sorry Stella." He said in a voice full of regret.
For a moment there was an awkward silence between them. Suddenly, there was the sound of footsteps coming from the back room of the store. The trio looked to see Miles headed their way with a much calmer look on his face.
"Bob isn't here." Miles said as he sent as his wife with a content look. However, his eyes widened when he saw Harvey look at him.
"Harvey, is that you?!" Miles asked in shock.
Harvey just sent him a small smile in return." What's up Miles?" He asked in a calm voice.
"So, Harvey." Stella suddenly said calmly." We didn't see your patrol car parked out front, where is everyone?"
"A few minutes ago, I sent one of the deputies to the hospital to question Arnold and Helga. I figured I'd let them sleep on it for the night before bombarding them with questions." He replied in a very calm tone.
However, Stella still sent him a confused look his way." Well, why aren't you questioning them? Isn't this your case?"
Harvey then looked over his shoulder, almost like he was looking for someone."Well." He said in a low voice as he turned to look at them again." Miriam Pataki passed out last night when she saw all of this and I was waiting here with her until-"
"Harvey?" A confused voice suddenly asked from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see a very confused Miriam Pataki standing behind the police tape. Her hair was an absolute mess and glasses were crooked on her face. She looked like hell.
She then looked from Harvey to the Shortman family that was standing there looking at her in shock. She suddenly felt her room start to spin again as she felt her legs collapse from beneath her.
"Well, I guess I have a little longer left to wait." Harvey said as they all stared at Miriam laying on the floor.
…
"I think it's a good thing you told them." Arnold said, giving Helga a supportive smile as she stared at the ground with a look of gloom on her face. She was now sitting up on the bed, swinging her legs nervously.
"I don't know football head." She said with a deep sigh." I think I freaked Phoebe out bad with all of it."
After Helga had told them the story, Phoebe had to be consoled by Gerald from all the crying she was doing. Helga honestly hadn't known what to say. Instead, she had just watched as Gerald took her out of the room and announced that he was taking her home. Arnold bid them goodbye while Helga had just stayed there staring at the ground.
"I'm sure she was just shocked that it happened." Arnold said trying to reason with the clearly upset Helga.
"No." Helga said in a low voice as she suddenly took her legs up and tucked them into her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them." I've been her best friend for years. I know how she thinks. She's gonna think that this is somehow her fault."
At this statement, Arnold sent her a confused look." Why would Phoebe think this is her fault? She had nothing to do with it."
Helga just sighed as she laid her head down on her knees now." It's more than that." She said in a soft voice." Phoebe knew about Bob being abusive. Heck, she was the only person who knew. So, I made her swear on her life that she could never tell anyone."
Arnold felt a look of shock come across his face now as he continued to listen to Helga talk.
"She's gonna think that maybe if she would have went to the police about this that none of this would have ever happened. She's gonna think that this is all her fault."
Helga sighed again as she sunk her face deeper into her knees. After the night she had last night, she wasn't just physically tired. She was mentally exhausted as well. She was tired of thinking about all of this and she just wanted to forget it all even happened, but she couldn't. It was like every time she blinked, she saw Bob's sinister smile. Curly's creepy smile. Arnold lying on the ground beaten to a pulp. It was all like a huge cycle.
Suddenly, she felt the soft feeling of a warm hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Arnold sitting up giving her a warm smile." Well, it's all over now Helga." He said in a calm and warm voice." I'm sure after Phoebe realizes that everything is okay, then she'll be fine. You did nothing wrong Helga."
Just the feeling of his hand. The simple touch of his warm hand on her cold shoulder could make her feel like that happiest woman alive on the inside.
She suddenly felt herself forget about last night for just a moment to give Arnold a small smile in return." Well, thanks Arnold. That really helps."
Arnold grinned at her now when suddenly there was a knock on the door." Come in!" Arnold announced across the room. He was expecting to see his mother and father walk in the room, but instead was met with a sheriff's deputy.
He was a short Caucasian man with a large and bushy mustache rested below his small but pointy nose. He had thick brown eyebrows that seemed very out of place with his currently balding head.
The deputy sent them a nervous smile before removing his hat and walking into the room." Hey there guys." He said in a calm and deep voice." I'm deputy Thompson and I need to ask you guys a few questions about what happened last night."
Helga nervously looked at the cop as a nervous smile formed on her face." You mind if I sit?" The cop asked as he pointed at the couch.
"S-sure, whatever floats your boat." Helga said as calmly as she could as she tugged at her collar. She had mentally been trying to prepare for this moment. She knew a cop was going to come and ask her a bunch of questions about who the gunman was. She also knew that through all of it she had to keep it all a secret.
Deputy Thompson just nodded as he sat down on the couch. As he sat, he pulled a small notepad out of the front pocket of his blue uniform.
"So." He began in a calm voice once again." We know most of what happened last night. Now, I don't wanna push you two for questions." He said now eyeing them both." I know you two both had a very rough night last night. But I need to know all I can, so it would help if you answer my questions as honestly and as descriptive as you can."
He then cut his eyes towards Helga, giving her a warm smile." Especially you Miss Pataki. You're actually the main one I need to question."
In response Helga swallowed the lump in her throat nervously. She felt Arnold's warm touch on her shoulder again and she sighed." Sure." She said in a low voice as she looked down at the ground." I'll try to remember everything that happened."
"Okay, great!" Deputy Thompson announced in an excited tone as he turned his attention to Helga." So, can you describe the man that was holding you at gunpoint last night?"
Helga felt her stomach instantly drop. Although she knew this moment was coming, it still somehow managed to catch her off guard.
"Well, I um." She said nervously as she scratched the back of her neck. Arnold still had his hand rested on her shoulder. She turned to look at him and he gave her a supporting smile once again.
"You can do this Helga." He said quietly." Just try to remember."
Helga nodded her head slowly at Arnold as she turned to look back at the cop who was staring at her attentively.
Helga wanted to see Curly's smug look as he sat in the back of a cop car. She wanted to see the cops take him away. She wanted to see him rot in jail for a long time.
BUT, she couldn't let anything happen to Arnold. Her muse. Her love. Her everything.
She inhaled a deep sigh and looked up at the cop." I'm sorry officer, but like I told Arnold last night, I don't remember anything about him. He had a hood over his head and his face was hidden."
"I need you to try and remember Miss Pataki." The cop said in an impatient voice now." This is important to us that you kids stay safe."
"I'm sorry." Helga said softly as she looked at the ground." I just really can't remember anything about him."
"Don't you wanna see this guy in jail?" The cop asked her with a small frown on his face now.
That was exactly what Helga wanted to see. But she wasn't about to let the cop know that. She had to hide this.
She did her best to try and shrug in front of the cop." Look, as long as Bob is in prison, I'm fine." She said in a calm tone." I don't think this mystery gunman is gonna come after me and Arnold anymore after what happened last night."
…
"Bob Pataki, you have a visitor."
Bob groaned as he sat up in his bed. Only one night and prison and his back was already killing him from the small bed he had been laying on.
His jail cell wasn't exactly the homiest place in the world. It was a small white room with nothing but a small sink and a small toilet that resided in the back of the room.
He shared the jail cell with a weird man named Nathan. Nathan was a very short Caucasian man in his late 30s. His hair was buzz cut and his head was covered in tattoos with weird writing and markings.
At one point in the night after Bob had been thrown in the cell, he had been whispering to himself on the top bunk. Bob had just punched the bottom of them bunk and said." Kid if you don't shut up, then I promise you that I will make you."
Nathan has just stayed silent for a moment before replying and saying." I'm sorry. I'm on the phone with my sister. Would you care to leave a message?"
Bob had just rolled his eyes and whispered to himself." Sheesh, what a nut job!"
Bob had slept the rest of the night before the cops came banging on his cell and telling him he had a visitor.
Now he was walking towards the visiting center of the prison. He was staying in the Hillwood maximum security prison. It was an extremely large prison that was located just outside the city. There were freaks and serial killers around every corner, but there was absolutely no way any of them would ever get out of here. There were also heavily armed guards with a loaded 12 gauge shotgun sitting around every corner as well.
Bob huffed to himself as the cops led him down and dark corridor and to a set of wooden double doors." Okay Bob." One of the guards said from behind him." You have 10 minutes, make it quick."
Bob just kept his icy glare away from the cops as he opened the door. He slowly walked towards the stall his visitor was at and he sat down.
He quickly picked up the phone on the wall to his right, however, when he looked up he almost dropped it.
"Nice to see you again Bob." Curly said in a very low and almost silent tone. He had his hoodie covering most of his face. All that could be seen was the sinister smile he had resting on his lips.
Bob quickly gripped the phone in his hand to the point of it almost breaking." You son of a bitch. I should yell for the guards right now." Bob said in the same low voice that Curly was speaking in.
Curly just sighed over the phone." Well, that would not be a smart idea Bob."
"Well why not? You left me for the cops. Shouldn't I return the favor?" Bob asked with a smile forming on his lips now.
Curly's sinister smile suddenly turned into a low frown." I'm warning you Bob, I have connections all throughout this prison. Gang members, old drug dealers, old friends. Almost everyone in this prison knows who I am. And they all have respect for me."
"Respect for you?" Bob asked in a sarcastic tone now." How? You're just a kid."
Curly suddenly leaned forward in his chair, causing his hoodie to fall back a little now. This revealed a cold and icy stare he was now giving Bob from behind his glasses.
"Because back when they were on the streets, I took care of them when no one else would, I gave them a reason to live. Now they're all stuck in here. Waiting for the day that they can get out and be free with me again."
"Your crazy." Bob said, continuing to talk in his low voice. His smile had now disappeared from his lips.
"Crazy isn't the word I would call it." Curly said, his smile slowly returning." I call it smart. You want to stay safe, get connections and earn people's respect. It's how living on the streets works Bob."
Bob just gave Curly an icy stare in return." I swear, when I get out of here I am going to-"
"Do what?" Curly said, suddenly cutting him off." Come find me? Kill me? You wouldn't dare. Come on Bob, I thought you were a smarter man than that."
Bob just continued giving Curly an icy stare." Also." Curly continued." If I find out that you gave my identity up to any of the cops in this prison, then I will get one of my many 'friends' in this prison to take care of you."
"You wouldn't dare." Bob growled into the phone as he tightened his grip in it once again.
"Oh, I wouldn't?" Curly spat sarcastically back at him." Just go ahead and test that theory and find out for yourself then."
Bob suddenly felt footsteps approaching him from behind and turned around to see the guards approaching him." Okay, Bob." One of the guards said in a deep voice." Your times up."
Bob quickly turned back around to see that Curly had vanished from his seat." Who were you talking to anyway?" One of the guards questioned.
Bob swallowed the lump in his throat before he gave a nervous response." Just one of my old drinking buddies."
Authors Note: And, chapter 19 is finally here. I'm sorry it took forever. With college starting to get into full swing now, I'm going to try and upload as often as possible, but I can't promise how soon each chapter will come.
Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. I decided to take a slower pace in this chapter to kind of take a break from all the craziness that had been going on in the past few chapters. As always, don't forget to review and I'll see you guys next time!