CHAPTER 5:

It took less time than I thought it would to convince Nurse Shelly that I need to go home. I heard my dad's voice over the phone and the nurse told me to stay on the medical bed until he picked me up.

Eventually my dad came and as soon as he saw me I could tell that he wanted to ask a billion questions but to my surprise, he didn't. Maybe that was for the better, I don't think I could give him any good answers now anyways. I climbed into Grandpa's packard and tried to relax a little until I saw Helga's house.

"Hey bud," I heard my dad call out, waking me up a bit from the stress I had just by looking at Helga's house, "what's the matter? You seem awfully down right now."

"I'm still grieving, Dad," I said. The Pataki house left my field of view as the car continued moving. "And being in school, knowing that Helga SHOULD be there, but isn't...it's really bothering me."

"A counselor could help you with that," Dad said.

"I'd rather distract myself with a book or something," I said.

"Maybe a book about dealing with grief?" Dad suggested. "I'm sure they exist."

"Maybe," I said. "Maybe I'll go to the library later."

The voice in my head spoke again. "You won't NEED a book about grief if you just listen to me! Don't go to the library, sneak into my room! I'll prove to you that my soul is still alive!"

Well, I do have a lot of time on my hand-wait, WHAT?! Sneak in your room?!

"Uh, yeah?"

Why on earth would I do that?! You're dead!

"Criminy Arnold, how many tim-oh, forget it, do you want to just stay home doing nothing with me talking to you all day or do you actually wanna do something?"

Well, I mean, I am interested in what you have to offer.

Wait.

I'm not actually considering this, am I?

Cut to a few hours later, and not only did I consider it, I'm actually doing it! What's wrong with me?!

"I dunno Arnoldo, maybe you still can't handle my charm~"

Oh, cut it out! Why am I here again?

"Like I said, remember when I told you I was your French pen pal? Well, I forgot to give you back the shoe! So I'm gonna tell you where it is in my room, just to prove that you aren't crazy!"

If I get caught trying to sneak in, consider me crazy. Seeing as I had to actually get past Bob Pataki to go into my dead girlfriend's room. This might not be the greatest plan.

"Jeez football head, all you have to do is climb the tree closest to my window and get in, I've done it since I was 6! it's not that difficult."

If this voice proves to me that I can find Cecile's shoe, then I'm so sorry that Helga had to sneak into her own house since that young.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever hair boy, I don't need a pity party right now! I just need to prove to you I'm not dead!"

I climbed to the branch closest to Helga's bedroom and I don't think I could have ever expected what I saw.

Mr. Pataki was sitting on Helga's old bed with his face in both of his hands. Mrs. Pataki was beside him rubbing his back, it looked like she was talking but it was muffled.

I did manage to make out something, "B, it's not your fault that she's…gone, I miss her too but you can't sit here all week," she mumbled, "You need to get up and change, it's not gonna do you any good staying here."

"I don't think I've ever seen dad like this before, I didn't even think it would take him this long to get over me."

After Helga's parents left the room, I climbed through the window and landed on Helga's bed.

So where's the shoe, voice in my head?

"It's the only thing in the lowest drawer of my cabinet."

I opened the lowest drawer of her cabinet and gasped. The shoe WAS the only thing in there!

"W-wai-, b-but how-" I stammered, there's no way this was actually happening! This doesn't make any sense!

"NOW do you believe me?"

"W-well I gues-wait, NO!" I yelled out loud, "You aren't real! M-maybe you told me this before you died! Yeah, that's it! Wait, why am I referring to you as you? Y-you're dead! Yeah, that's right! This is just all in my head!"

"Miriam, what the hell was that?"

Oh no.

I've gotta get out of here, quick! Voice, how do I get out of here?!

V-voice?

"H-how would I know, huh? I'm just a stupid, dumb voice in your head, aren't I?!"

Alright, I'm sorry! Just please help me get out of here before I get stomped into dust!

"Sorry's not gonna cut it, Arnoldo."

I heard Mr. Pataki's foot stomps up the stairs and I was desperate, I had to convince her-I mean it! Which is it by this point?

"Helga," I whispered, "if that really is you in there, then I'm begging you. Please. I need to get out of here. If you help me then I promise that I'll be more open to your theory. I love you."

"Oh Arnold~, I-I mean grr, fine! Whatever! Hide in the closet or something!"

I looked to my left, alright! Here goes nothing!

"ACTUALLY WAIT DON'T GO-"

Not listening to her words, I bolted into the dark closet and closed the door. From my view I saw Mr. Pataki barged in and, judging by his face, was incredibly shocked, "B-but I heard someone, I could've sworn that I did!" he said, clearly distraught, "Maybe I'm hearing things." Tell me about it!

Once he left, I was about to get up and leave before I tripped over a cable.

"Oof," I said before tumbling to the ground. I looked up and saw a very bright and certainly interesting surprise.

I looked up only to see a sculpture looking like…me? But it also looked like those statues from San Lorenzo!

"A-arnold, it's not what it looks like! I was really interested in those statues and I wanted to remember the day you kissed me so I took it home and it's sorta embarrassing to have that out in open so it's in my closet and yeah-"

I wasn't going to question it but that's really sweet of Helga to do. I wonder if she'll let me read her poems-

"Oh no no no bucko, just cause I'm not there physically doesn't mean I can't beat you into a pulp or I swear-"

I chuckled a little, I don't think I'd ever miss her empty threats but here I am.

"Watch it football head!"

I walked home not long after, finally getting home at around 9 PM. I was spending hours talking to the voice, which sounds extremely odd out of context. Anyway, I walked upstairs and was suddenly met with my very angry mother, "Arnold, where were you?! It's past your bedtime!" she told me angrily, "And what happened to your hair?!" I raised an eyebrow at this statement, "My hair? What's wrong with it?" I asked, much to my mother's confusion, "It's so much lighter, a-and now it's straighter!" she replied, "Mom, it's probably just overthinking because I was out so late, I promise I won't do it again. I love you!" I kissed my mom on the cheek before heading to bed.

I hope I will dream about Helga again~

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

And that's done! Special thanks to BowlingAesthetic and celestial_lore!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!