CHAPTER 7:

When the school day ended, I walked with Gerald and Phoebe through the streets of Hillwood.

"So, Gerald," Phoebe said, "did Harold try to copy your quiz answers again?"

"Yeah, but you know I'll never let him," Gerald said. As usual, he was holding Phoebe's hand, but she was walking faster than him.

"My mother's making pasta for dinner," Phoebe said. "And then I plan to, um...listen to music! After dinner!" She giggled.

Gerald arrived at his house, and Phoebe became quiet. She was ahead of me, so I couldn't see her face.

"It's good that you're staying busy," I said.

Phoebe stopped walking. "Well, what else can I do?"

"I wish I could help you," I said, "but I can't even help myself with this."

Phoebe turned to face me. "I'm trying to pretend that I'm okay," she said. "I don't want people to worry about me."

"But Phoebe," I said, "it's not healthy to bottle your emotions up. You're smart enough to know this."

She sighed, "I-I know, Arnold. But it's j-just so hard! I miss her so much, Arnold!" I could see tears forming in her eyes, "she was my best friend for almost my entire life, and now she's gooooone!" She then began to cry, I sighed and pulled her into a hug. She was bawling on my chest.

"Pheebs…I—miss you too, Arnold I know I have you and I love you dearly but seeing Phoebe like this…I—OH PHOEBE!"

I winced at the loud volume.

"My sole confidant, my closest friend, the only one who understood me when no one else would try. And now she felt alone."

The voice wavered as if it were…crying?

"Yes, I'm crying football head! Look at my best friend now, I can't even do the bare minimum of giving her my usual half assed comfort hugs!"

Wait, voices can cry?

"YES ARNOLD VOICES CAN CRY!"

Alrigh-

"And I'm not a voice football head!"

Alright, jeez!

I looked back down at the crying Japanese-American girl, pouring all of her hidden emotions out on my now wet shirt, "T-t-thanks, A-arnold," she whispered, "I really appreciate the support. Anyway, I-I have to leave now! Take care!" I waved, "Bye, Phoebe!"

"Oh, and speaking of not being a voice, I've thought of the greatest evidence yet!"

I chuckled. Oh yeah, what's that?

"Remember that Christmas where you brought back Mr. Hyunh and his daughter back together?"

I never told you about that? Wait, I never mentioned that to anyone besides Gerald cause he was with me!

"You didn't have to, I was there with you."

Huh?!—what?!—how?!—

"Save your mental backflips for later, go to Mr. Bailey if you don't believe me!"

That's a load of baloney!

"Fine then, Arnoldo. If it's all baloney then go prove me wrong!"

I-I don't believe you!

"Then go prove me wrong!"

W-well, m-maybe I don't want to, how about that?!

"What's wrong, Arnold? Are you scared?!"

What?! Of course not!

"Then go do it, scaredy pants!"

You know what?! Fine! I will! And I'll put an end to all of this!

Instead of going directly home, I stopped by the Federal Office of Information. I waited outside of Mr. Bailey's office, glancing back and forth between the door and my watch.

After a few minutes, Mr. Bailey opened the door. "Arnold, come in!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

INCREDIBLE thanks to BowlingAesthetic for playing the most important role in getting this chapter done! Special thanks to celestial_lore as well!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!