Hello everyone! I'm so excited to keep posting more for you guys! Keep giving me all the feedback good or bad I can take it.
Also I should preface this with the fact that Arnold's parents will continue to be problematic throughout the story because to me, that's just how life is.
In the canon on tv, I imagine that they are all sunshine and rainbows and that's just fine. But when I write something I want to feel all kinds of feelings. (And drama lol.)
Enjoy and Review please. :)
"Talking"
Thoughts
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN THE CHARACTERS OF HEY ARNOLD THEY BELONG TO CRAIG BARTLETT. HOWEVER THE LYRICS WRITTEN ARE MY ORIGINAL CREATION ALONG WITH THE PLOT IDEAS. DON'T STEAL. THANKS.
The boys talked for about an hour to work out the most important details. They agreed to have practice after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They would keep perfecting their original song and add in a score for the sax and drums.
It made Arnold a little nervous to have that much more music to write. He wasn't as familiar with those two instruments, so it would take him some time to learn how to write for them.
And then of course the most important part was decided— the name of the band of course had to be The Jazz Heroes of Hillwood.
Helga had been the first to laugh at their decision. But somehow that name suited them just the same. A rag tag group of individuals using their music to save the world from boring music.
"There he is! Music superstar in the making!" Phil was the first to greet Arnold upon his arrival home.
The blonde teen gave him a huge grin, "Stop it, Grandpa."
"What's your band going to be named?" Stella followed Phil into the hallway.
Gertie and Miles followed shortly after. The five of them a bubbling mass in the hallway.
The group talked for a little bit before his grandparents went off to bed. Miles had wandered off at some point during the conversation, but Stella was still letting him talk about it.
The pair of them walked upstairs and she followed him to his bedroom. She sat on the side of his bed while he continued explaining what they had figured out with a bounce to his step.
"Sounds like you guys have it all figured out." Stella said warmly.
"Yeah, the only thing I really need to figure out is if Helga will write more lyrics." He was practically pacing at this point, Oh no, I let it slip...
He covered his mouth, craning his head stiffly to look at his mother.
"Helga? She wrote those beautiful lyrics?"
"That was supposed to be a secret. Don't say anything, please."
Stella blinked, and tilted her head, "Okay, dear. She's shy about it, huh?"
"Yeah, I told her to take credit. She said she was worried about if people would like it or not. But people obviously loved it! Right?"
"Right, dear." Her smile was gentle.
"I don't understand that about her. Why would you want to hide a good part of yourself from everyone?" Arnold glanced at his mother with brows furrowed.
"I guess, sometimes it's hard to show people who you are, even the good parts." Stella offered with a shrug.
"Well, anyway, I'm really happy about this. I never thought too hard about what I want to do when I grow up—" He paused to look at his mother, "But playing music. Being in a band. It just sounds like something I could do the rest of my life."
Stella bit her lip a little at this, "Honey, I'm glad you found something you really love. I support you, but don't let it blind you to all the possibilities—"
"I know quit daydreaming." his voice sour as he turned away from her. The blonde stared at his keyboard.
"I didn't say that. It's good to have dreams."
His gaze darted back to hers. Their eyes met briefly.
She let out a breath, her words sounded earnest, "Especially since you're still young. You have so many options to explore."
"I still have a few years before college. I'm sure I can find a more practical career before then."
"I didn't say that." Stella stood up and crossed the room to put her hands on his shoulders gently, "I'm glad you love this so much already. And if you end up a musician, I'd be fine with that."
"Really?" his voice hopeful at her revelation.
"Really. As long as you're happy and can take care of yourself, that's all I can ask for."
"Thanks Mom." a look of relief on his face as he hugged her tight to his chest.
"Just promise me you'll at least consider other careers too?"
"I promise, Mom."
After a long moment, she pulled back to look up at her son, "You make me proud, Arnold. Don't forget that."
He nodded his understanding. The pair of them said a few more things before they parted ways. Arnold stood in his room alone for a moment. His mind still buzzing with the events of the night.
A rap on the door kept his brain from entertaining those thoughts for the too long.
"Come in." Arnold said with a slight yawn in his voice.
Miles pushed the door open slowly, "Mind if I talk to you?"
A sour feeling pricked at the teen's gut, "Come in, Dad."
The door shut promptly behind the older man, "I know you're probably tired, so I promise this won't take long."
Miles crossed the room to stand in front of his son. Arnold met his gaze with an expectant tremor in body.
"I know you're very excited about this idea you have. And you guys sound great. I really am proud of you." Miles put a hand on his son's shoulder, "But I want you to remember, music is a risky career."
"Yeah, I know. Mom told me." he looked away from his father.
"She did?"
"Yeah, she told me not to fixate on it."
"Well, you're mother's right. I know you've probably read all kinds of stories where people do amazing things!"
"Sure, Dad." Arnold folded his arms, trying his best to listen to his father's words, I haven't even had this idea for a few hours and already he's like this...
"Amazing and improbable things that had no reason to work out, but they did." Miles pointed with a concerned look on his face.
"It was just a fun idea okay, Dad?" the teen's voice pleaded.
"They never tell you how much hard work that person actually had to do to get to where they are."
"It's not like I expect to get famous overnight." he scoffed.
"Lucky Man stories are what they are." Miles narrowed his gaze still not seemingly hearing a thing his son was saying.
"Lucky Man?" Arnold raised a brow, What exactly is he trying to say here?
"My point is that you need to focus on statistical data. Research what career paths have the most stable trajectory. Don't focus on one Lucky Man's story."
"Oh, I see what you mean. They're the outliers, not the norm."
"Exactly. Goodnight Arnold." Miles gave his son a firm nod, and another pat on the shoulder before he left the room.
Arnold stared at the door with another twist in his gut. All the inflated positive emotions that had been bubbling around—
Threatening to take him into a fantasy—
Promptly burst.
All of those ideas promptly thrust back to Earth in a fiery explosion. Holes burned through all his expectations.
He swallowed heavily, Sure, maybe it's idealistic to think of it as a career, but Dad couldn't even let me have tonight to just think about it...
So many different emotions, so many different thoughts still rattled in his brain. The band, his parents, Helga, and the ever looming future.
He tugged off his clothes to put on his pajamas, I guess technically Mom didn't really fully let me have this moment either...
All very complicated feelings that he didn't have time to unpack.
Didn't want to even try to unpack so late at night.
His body slumped into the bed with eyes focused on the skylight. The stars twinkled dimly in the night sky.
Grandma and Grandpa seemed to be okay with it...Is this going to cause more trouble between them? his hand tapped the side of his leg.
He was starting to wonder if that was why he had trouble sleeping lately. He didn't even want to think about his grades on top of everything else.
He rolled onto his stomach, face pressed into his pillow, Maybe I shouldn't do this at all...Maybe just for high school... that's fair right?
His father's words still added to the fire of insecurities he seemed to tote around on the regular now.
Don't focus on one Lucky Man's story, Arnold rolled over to face the wall, But what kind of career should I choose then?
The next day, before school, Arnold walked downstairs to the kitchen. He lingered in the archway as the chatter of the family filled the room.
His fingers clutched the archway, "Mom? Dad? I made a decision last night. I hope you approve."
His parents turned with curious expressions. His grandparents warranted his parents a scrutinizing look before turning their full attention to the boy.
Arnold let out a breath, forced a smile, "I think I'll just do this band thing for high school. And then I'll figure out what I should really do soon."
"Well, that's a big decision to come to already?" Stella approached him with a concerned tremble in her voice.
"Yeah, I thought about what you said and I just wanted you guys to know." he gave her a determined look, "I don't want you to worry about me."
"I'm not worried—" Stella said.
"Great job son. I'm glad to see you so focused on the future." Miles said with a wide grin.
"Yeah, why is that Miles?" Stella turned a side eye towards her husband. Phil mirrored a similar accusatory look.
"It's fine, Mom. I'll see you after school." Arnold waved to the group and scampered out the door before anything could spiral out of control.
Of course, it was possible that it did after he left, but that didn't mean he wanted to hear about it.
His desires seemed to clash with everything around him and he wasn't sure what path he was on anymore.
He had yet to tell Helga all the details the boys had worked out about the band. He was a little hesitant to bother her about it at all.
He figured it would be a headache to get Helga on board to compose more song lyrics as that was obviously a lot more work for her.
But much to his surprise, before he even had a chance to ask her, she shoved another stack of lyrics into his hands at school one day. He blinked a little at the sudden intrusion.
"Don't worry, there's more where that came from, Hair Boy." a smirk on her lips as she disappeared into the hallway crowd.
He glanced down to read the title of the new song she'd given him, "Railroad Speedway. Huh?"
It'd been a couple of weeks since Arnold had been caught with Helga in that compromising situation and Miles had kept his end of the deal by being strict with the pair.
Things had calmed down considerably, but neither teen was particularly happy about the arrangement. Being under constant surveillance at the Boarding House made them feel like they were under house arrest. Seeing each other in public or at school was the extent of their allowed interactions.
True, they had the janitor's closet at school from time to time, but there had been a few near discoveries and it just wasn't the same. The two were stuck as to what to do.
Arnold had been firm in explaining to Helga that his little lies had caught up to him and he had no desire to lie about his location. That they would just have to deal with it.
At least that kept them honest. He figured.
The pair sat next to each other at a picnic table on the playground quad. It was the last leg of their lunch and they were mostly alone. A few kids and teens periodically crossed the expanse of blacktop.
"Wish I'd never taken your advice that day. I should've worn that dumb cotton hat and called it good." Arnold said with a dreary undertone, his hand rubbed her thigh, "It's my fault that we can't even be at my house unsupervised."
"Hey, I'm not the one who told you to start lying about all this random shit. You did that all your own." She jabbed his chest, He can't be serious...
"You're right, you're right." Arnold shook his head sorely, Did I really just blame her for that? I'm the reason I'm lying...
The two were silent for a moment as their thoughts buzzed about their situation. He was the first to speak up again.
"We'll just have to find us a place that's technically public, but that we won't be interrupted." A grin on his lips as though he'd discovered some secret.
"Good luck with that. This city is busy freaken everywhere— every dark alley, every nook and cranny." Her arms folded tight, gaze sharp against his, challenging his logic.
He tensed slightly at her deduction. He hated when she was right. Why did she have to be right about this?
It was a sore spot for the pair. A frequent motivator of their arguments— the desire for both of them to be correct.
"I guess that's not too long. We'll be tenth graders in the fall. We've made it this long so what's a couple more years?" Helga spun a finger in a circle.
Some part of him felt like she was goading him on.
"Face it Football Head, unless we have our own personal island, we're not getting any time alone until college."
Like she was trying to rub in the facts and get her way again.
He was sore to admit that fact to himself, but that was a part of her he didn't like and would probably never get used to. The part of her that was so covetous she'd do almost anything to get what she wanted from him.
"Fine, what's your suggestion?" Arnold gripped the table.
"We hang out at my house, of course. You're parents never said we explicitly couldn't go." She looked very much like the cat that caught the canary.
"Helga, it was also heavily implied by Dad that he doesn't want us alone like that anywhere."
"Well, he just gave you conditions for when we're at the Boarding House. He can't control what we do at my house."
He shot her hard look, "It's like you don't listen to me at all. No more lying, Helga."
Of course for her, lying wasn't a big deal. In fact, she probably didn't actually have to lie to her parents because they could care less.
"You gonna live your whole life by what you think you owe them?"
He watched her for a long moment. The twinge of hurt on her face was not lost on him. Breath caught in his throat at the idea of bending the rules to see her alone.
Completely alone.
"Just tell him you're coming over one day and see what he says—"
"No, Helga—"
"But I want you alone. No interruptions." Her voice a quiet whine as a finger trailed down his shoulder.
He let out a remorseful sigh, hand squeezing her thigh, "Yeah, me too."
She let out a sigh as her gaze softened, "Please try and if he says no, then I'll leave it alone."
"I'll think about it." he conceded glancing at her sideways.
Helga sat next to him with an unreadable expression. Her folded arms and deep scowl no real indication of anything significant as she'd been wearing it most of the conversation.
She acts like I don't want to be alone with her, Arnold's brows suddenly set deep, his fingers tapped the edge of the table as he looked her over, Can't she understand I want a good relationship with my parents?
She looked ready to get up and leave so he put a gentle hand on her shoulder. Her gaze lazy to meet his. The twinge of frustration still lingered in her eyes.
Arnold let out a hoarse sigh, "Isn't Rhonda's summer bash coming up?"
"You mean that School's Out shindig she throws every June? Yeah."
"Well," he clenched his hands, "I really hate lying. I never should've done it—"
"I get it, Mother Mary—" her gaze irritated as she didn't understand where he was going.
"But I bet we'll be able to make out at Rhonda's party uninterrupted. Everyone's usually drunk or doing something stupid to pay attention."
"Actually, not a bad idea. Might have to start going to all of her parties then." She wiggled her eyebrows with a smirk.
He warranted her a wide grin, his hand squeezed her thigh again, "Any chance we can hang out after school? I think I need some help writing new music."
"Hopeless." she chided, "And your excuse when Sid walks in on us again?"
"Practicing a new musical chord." he folded his arms, Well that's a no from her clearly...
"I'll see you in class, alright?" Helga said with a sigh, leaning to kiss him briefly.
He sat at the bench for a few more minutes and watched her leave.
He felt so torn.
It was like that stocking cap all over again. His parents overreacted to their slightest concerns with a full blown, five alarm bell.
Ringing the bells when the farm only had a candle in the window.
He had hoped that after months of being honest and showing his parents they had nothing to worry about, that they would loosen the restrictions on their meeting places.
He had tried convincing them that he was resolute in his promise to not have sex. That just because other teens were doing crazy stuff didn't mean he fell into that category too.
But his parents wouldn't be swayed, they looked at him like he was a volcano ready to explode into full teenagedom at any moment. A volcano intent on burning a path through as many girls as possible like the boys did on tv or in the movies.
It hurt his feelings to be given so little credit, but by the same token it was his fault for lying about stupid things that broke their trust.
Even though they would never believe him, he was determined to keep that hot volcano under control.
Keep that molten flame merely a candle.
One day after school Arnold walked into the Boarding House in his usual way. Helga had a lot to tend to that afternoon so she'd headed towards her house on her own. Insisting that she was fine to walk home alone.
As the teen put his jacket on the coat rack, he called for his parental units. Glancing through the house he searched for them. He strangely got no reply.
With a shrug, he headed towards his room. But as he passed the doors, he noticed his parents' door opened. With a happy spring, he went to say hello. Peeking into the door arch, he was ready to blurt out a greeting.
What they were talking about made his words stop like a train crash.
"This one sounds nice." Miles pointed at the computer screen.
"Well, it would have to be at least a year to make it worth it." Stella motioned to the website.
Arnold's gaze blurred as he saw a familiar humanitarian logo on the website screen.
"I'm sure we could make a few calls. They always need more help."
Arnold clenched his fist, "Hey Mom, Dad, what's up?"
The pair of them twisted to see him. Their expressions very much like they'd been caught in the cookie jar. Miles glanced towards his wife rubbing the back of his head. Stella put a steadying hand on her husband.
"Well, your father and I were thinking about," she breathed out, "Remember when we first came back and we talked about traveling a little before you went to college?"
"Um yeah, but I was like twelve. It just sounded like a good idea." Arnold swallowed heavily, I said that in passing and we haven't talked about it since!
"Well, it is a good idea!" Miles insisted standing up, "We were just looking into some of the Humanitarian efforts we could help with in South America."
"But you promised—"
"We promised we wouldn't go without you. That's what we meant."
"No," Arnold shook his head, "You said you didn't want to go at all. That you were just reminiscing."
Miles let out a sore breath and glanced at Stella.
She shrugged, her gaze reflective, "I think Arnold's right on that one. But, why did you say you wanted to travel with us then?"
"I just told you." Arnold said stiffly, "I said it because I thought it'd make everything better between us."
His parents were quiet for a moment as though this came as a shock to them. They had been convinced he would love the idea of a family excursion to the jungle.
"Just come look with us for a minute." Miles finally said, "Now that you're older I think it'd be a great experience to give back you know?"
"I already do give back." The teen's voice tart, "I volunteer down at the homeless shelter a couple times a month, and I helped with a food drive a few months ago."
"That is true, honey." Stella glanced at her husband.
"Well, if you're that against it," Miles looked wounded at that point, "Then I guess there's no point in looking anymore."
Arnold gripped his book bag strap tightly. He'd been resolute in his decision, but the crestfallen expression on his father's face motivated him in a direction he didn't want to go.
"I'm pretty sure I don't want to go do something like that." The teen bit his lip, and dug his feet into the ground, "But if you've been researching, it wouldn't hurt to show me, I guess."
"Oh, just wait 'til you see! It might change your mind, it's so beautiful." Miles's kicked puppy expression being promptly replaced with an ecstatic look.
Stella shook her head and chuckled at the flip in his emotions. Arnold shared a similar thought. They would never get used to his turbulent emotions.
The teen crept closer to his parents and watched over their shoulders as his father enthusiastically showed him the newest projects listed on the Helpers for Humanity website.
The three of them spent a few hours looking everything over. A small pit started to form in Arnold's stomach the longer they talked. He may have been similar to his mother in many ways, but for a long time he lacked the knowledge of what he had in common with his father specifically.
But over those years they'd been together, he soon found out that persistence was the trait they shared. That his father may have claimed they were just looking. That it was just an idea, but Arnold knew at the back of his mind, any time his father got an idea, he just couldn't leave it alone.
That he was just as persistent and stubborn as the teen boy was. He figured that's why they clashed. Both having their own big ideas and they always seemed to drive in different directions.
Arnold was starting to understand why Helga often chastised him for being overbearing.
The apple didn't fall far from the tree on that fact.
It was quiet at two in morning as Arnold lay in his bed. Eyes still stubbornly wide awake as fingers strummed against his leg. He hummed to himself, a click of his tongue as he thought of a new beat.
Swinging his legs off the bed, he crossed the room to his desk. He figured he may as well get something productive done if he couldn't sleep.
The earlier conversations with his parents caused a spike in his stress levels. His mind mulling over that it might not be so bad. It was only for a year, and he still didn't like the idea of them being out of his sight.
He picked up a pencil ready to compose some music. His pencil flying across the staff music sheet. A determined look creased his brow. A ring from his phone interrupted his flow.
He picked up the phone with a confused tone, "Helga?"
"Yeah, who else would it be?" Her voice demanded.
"We have to quit meeting like this." He chuckled, Typical Helga...doesn't even care if I was awake or not...
"Ok, so get this— Bob in his infinite wisdom has decided that college can't come soon enough."
"Yeah?"
"So, he's making me take college prep classes this summer! And I have to work at the shop a lot more."
"Harsh." He sighed, leaning the phone against his shoulder while he scribbled some notes onto the paper.
"It's like I have no freakin agency at all. And then to top it all off, he and Miriam will be going on business trips like every weekend starting next week."
"So you'd get the house to yourself? Sounds like fun to me."
"The ass wants me trained so I can run the shop without him!" She threw her arms and started pacing around her room, "It's not about my future or making sure I'm taken care of— it's just what he wants, as freakin usual."
"Did you talk to him? Tell him any of that?" he paused to glance at the phone as if he could see her.
"Oh right, Arnoldo! Let me just tell him to kick rocks— that'll go over well." she flopped back onto her bed.
The pair silent once more. The only thing that met his ears was the faint sound of his pencil as it scribbled.
"Can I tell you something else?" she finally said, her voice edged in a tense emotion.
"You can tell me anything you like."
"Why am I excited about it?"
"What?" he stopped writing to look at the phone again.
"I'm excited to be in charge of the store. What the heck is wrong with me!? That's Bob's dream, not mine."
"Well, you do like being in charge, Helga." he giggled a little at her defiant tone.
"Oh really, and when is that?"
"Pretty sure the softball team would like a word with you." He rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, but being in charge of a whole store while they're gone!?" there was a strange giddiness to her tone.
"I'm sure you'll do great. You've always been great at big productions." His voice genuine, a slight giddiness infected him.
A sigh left her, "What are you still doing up anyway?"
Well, I can't tell her the real reason as usual... His voice caught a little, before he forced it to sound chipper again, "I was inspired."
"Weird time for inspiration." a wry chuckle in her voice.
"Hey, I don't question your artistic tendencies. Plus you sound happy about this, so it's not like you're up because you're upset."
"You got me there, smart ass."
He crossed the room to sit in front of his keyboard. Turning the volume down low so as not to disturb the other Boarders, "So how does this sound to you?"
He started playing the newest song that his anxious mind had created. Playing the section all the way through to the end, before putting the phone back to his ear.
"Well, it needs a little something in the second verse." Helga said thoughtfully.
He could already tell that she was probably biting her lip as she thought. He felt his heart calm as they continued talking for at least an hour knowing full well that tomorrow at school there would be hell to pay.
But he didn't care, and he found that once again he'd avoided telling her what was really bothering him.
And still she made his heart comfortable once more.
He hoped he made her feel the same way.
"Hey Helga, I just want you to know that- I love you," he let out a breath, "I should say it more."
"Yeah, you should, Arnoldo." she sounded irritated, but the chuckle in her voice gave her away.
He'd hoped that his parents would stop talking about the jungle, but it seemed it was as much a part of them as their hair color.
"I love you, I love you, I love YOU!"
"Criminy, you're such a dork!" the pleased giggle in her voice answered his question.
It was there to stay—
Stained on their minds and permeating their heart's desire.
A desire he still didn't share.
His desire belonged elsewhere.
Arnold still managed to wake up fairly early the next day. He figured it was the lack of deep sleep. Lucky for him he managed to get to the shower door practically first that morning.
"Arnold?" Miles' voice sounded behind him.
So close...The teen clutched the door handle, "Yeah, Dad?"
"Okay, if I talk to you a minute?" his father looked sheepish.
"I have to get ready for school—"
"Please, just a minute." Miles brows furrowed.
Arnold forced a sigh down and retracted his claim on the door. He followed his father diligently to his parents' bedroom. The door shut quietly behind him.
Arnold folded his arms, and couldn't help himself, "What'd I do wrong now?"
Miles looked like he'd been shot, "Excuse me, mister? Did I say that?"
"No, but it's all over your face." the teen huffed, Sorry Dad, I'm not really in the mood...it's probably about yesterday's jungle talk...
"Fine, I'll get to the point."
"Please." Arnold waved him on.
"I swear you teens." Miles planted a firm hand in his hair, "You were up pretty late last night, huh?"
"I— maybe. Why?"
"Well, I overheard you when I got up to go to the restroom. It was Helga, right?"
"Yeah, she called me. Having trouble with her parents too." Arnold covered his mouth at the admission, Crap! Did I seriously say that?
Miles warranted him another incredulous look, "What has gotten into you this morning?"
"Sorry, Dad."
"Well, I was just thinking about our potential trip." Miles scratched his chin, "I realized why you might be hesitating on going with us. It's because of Helga, right?"
"I mean, she's one reason, yes." Arnold bit his lip, I don't like where this is going at all...
"You're letting too many of your decisions be dependent on her. I like her—I really do—" The older man rubbed his neck.
"You have a funny way of showing it—"
"Look I get it son, I was young too once." Miles reached for him in a comforting way, but his son recoiled.
"No, you don't. Helga's the one for me."
Miles scratched the back of his neck, "Maybe you think that now, but you've got your whole life—"
"That I'm going to spend with her." Arnold started walking towards the door, I don't need this conversation right now...
A heavy sigh left his father, "Look I think you're old enough to understand. When I was your age, there was a girl I met before your mother, Sally Hetridge."
Arnold turned slightly, his hand still gripped the door handle, Someone besides Mom?
"We did everything together. I was really in love with her, but she wanted to stay around here and I wanted to go into Anthropology."
"So, what happened then?" Arnold's grip like a vice on the door, I'm pretty sure I know what he's getting at...
"We had to break it off, but I promised if I was ever her way, we'd reconnect. But as fate would have it, I met your mother a few years after that." Miles ran a rough hand through his hair, "And guess what? Sally met someone soon after I left. It wasn't meant to be."
Arnold snorted, "What are you always telling me? That's one person's lucky story? That you never know?"
"I mean, about some things. But this is different, you're high schoolers. What do you know about being in love?"
Arnold let out a sharp sigh, "Guess you're forgetting how Grandma and Grandpa met?"
"That was a different time period—"
"So, the rules of love have changed now?"
"Arnold, that's not fair. I'm just trying to help you see what's best." his father looked wounded as his brows tilted.
There was a tense silence in the room. A new energy divided the pair further apart like a pool of lava separating the land into patches and you didn't quite know which next step might lead to a dead end.
Arnold swallowed heavily, his voice quiet now, "What exactly are you trying to say, Dad?"
Miles' expression was a mix of concern and remorse to bring it up at all, "I don't want you two throwing away your future because you're in love right now."
Magma that slowly ebbed onto the shore to consume what was left piece by piece until nothing was left to salvage.
Nothing, but decisions petrified in molten stone.
"So what, break up? Is that the right answer, Dad?!"
"No," Miles let out a ragged sigh, "Just make your decisions based on a career and a long term life."
"You mean whatever you say is correct." Arnold glared at his father with a newfound intensity.
"And if she happens to stay in it, then great." Miles gave him a weak smile.
"Fine." Arnold shot his father another look, and slammed the door behind him.
Arnold opened his eyes as some of the water dripped down his nose. His gaze bleary as his father's words still pummeled his brain.
He thought he'd never get to the shower. Their short conversation caused him to almost be at the end of the line.
He was probably late at this point, but he didn't care.
He knew his parents had voiced concerns about Helga in relation to his behavior. That they were under the impression that she encouraged him to make bad decisions.
But most of those 'bad decisions' were usually code words for not listening and obeying every word Miles had to say.
Or sometimes even a slight mishap that snowballed into a problem.
Arnold really could be a jinx sometimes.
He swallowed heavily and knew that he couldn't keep what his father thought from her forever, but now wasn't really the time to bring it up either.
He'd probably never bring it up.
He could fix it.
Fix it before she was any the wiser.
She'd never have to know that they reason he was tapping the brakes so hard in their relationship was the thought of taking those things from her and then leaving—
Wasn't something he wanted on his consciousness.
I'm sorry Miles is such a dick :p