Hi! I'm really sorry I took this long to send out these chapters but this was the last week of classes and I needed to tie a few loose ends. But first I would really like to thank everyone who gave me their reviews. You guys would make a girl's heart bigger. Thanks! I never expected to get this good a response. I hope you guys would enjoy all of the chapters.
Oh, before I go I'm not sending in the rest of the chapters until Friday or Thursday afternoon because of my finals. Because of that I'm sending 2 chapters today. Reviews and constructive criticisms are welcome.
Chapter Two
Day out With Friends
Helga walked out of the hotel and into a sunny and cheery Saturday. Her long blonde hair was neatly tied in a lose ponytail. She was wearing jeans and a pink blouse. She took another glance at the small cardboard paper in her hand then began to walk to her destination.
She drove on the way here but as she now went to her current destination she decided to walk there. Anyway, she missed her old neighborhood. Although the memories that drudged up were not exactly lovable she still missed her neighborhood.
She saw the Madam Blanche's shop only now it was an electronic store.
~The past
She peered in the shop. This was the solution to her problem.
She went in and saw Madame Blanche. "You have to give me an out of love potion!"
Madam Blanche was surprised at first but sensing a customer replied, "Just a minute."
Helga didn't notice Madame Blanche as her whirlwind emotions spun inside of her. As usual she began to rattle on and on. She eventually took a hold of herself and began to grow uneasy. Is this what she wanted?
In her mind's eye she saw him looking at Ruth or Lila. Then she compared herself to Arnold. No... she isn't worthy enough. He's too much for her. She has to go through with it.
~Present
Helga shook her head as if to vanish that memory. Criminey! Didn't she just vow to herself to forget about him? She decided to focus more on the scenery and began to look around her.
She walked about two blocks when she noticed an old abandoned building. She gave a small gasp and stopped.
~Past
The rain was falling and falling and was so cold. Daddy and Mommy didn't take me to pweschool.
I heard a car pass by but I didn't pay any attention to it 'cause the school was near. The rain would stop there and I wouldn't be cold anymore. Then suddenly I got really wet and sticky.
I did not really mind. I got cold and wet afore. I looked up and saw others like me with their Mommies and their Daddies...
I suddenly got sick and fell down only I didn't feel sleepy like afore. Maybe because they had their Mommies and Daddies while my Mommy and Daddy was with Olga.
And then the rain stopped...
"I like your bow."
I turned around and saw a boy with the weirdest shape head and he stopped the rain with an umbwella. Was he talking to me? "Huh?"
He smiled at me. "It's pink like your pants." He said while pointing at my pants.
I only looked at my pants then at him. Did he want something from me? Why did he say those words? What did he mean?
He smiled at me while he and his weird-looking Daddy went inside the school. Maybe I should look at that boy and ask him what he wants. I follow him inside.
~Present
Stop! Stop! STOP! Helga viciously shook her head not caring if other people think her weird.
She wiped the tears that fell down and hurriedly walked to her destination--the Heyerdahl-Johanssen home.
She stopped at an average looking house. It looked like all the other houses around it although it was the newest looking building in the neighborhood.
"I understood Harold designed this house as a gift to Phoebe and Gerald. Originally he gave it to Gerald as a birthday gift but everybody knew that it was for both of them. They started building this just before Gerald and Phoebe graduated. I understood Rhonda helped financially."
She knew to whom the voice belonged to. She shouldn't be surprised that he was here today. He came to visit his best friend but why now? Why did the Fates make it this way?
He was waiting for an answer so she gave him a sidelong glance and said, "Oh." Then she went up the stairs and knocked. She felt his presence but didn't face him and just waited for the door to be answered.
Phoebe answered the door. She smiled when she saw Helga. She then noticed Arnold beside her and gave Helga a knowing look. Helga ignored the look.
"It's good to see you both," Phoebe greeted as she opened the door for them.
Helga entered first then Arnold followed. "We met at your doorstep, Phoebs," she said with finality. She sat at one of the living room chairs and waited for the two. In the meantime she looked around at the Johanssen home.
Phoebe faced Arnold and said, "Gerald would be with you in a minute. He's just tying a few loose ends at work."
Arnold nodded. "Thanks, Phoebe. I know I'm kind of butting in but why aren't you at working today? I understand that neurosurgeons are needed almost 24 hours a day."
Phoebe gave a secretive smile. "I have my ways, Arnold." She then gave a normal smile. "Also my best friend is here. I couldn't exactly continue working when she's here."
In the past he would be a bit doubtful of the depth of the friendship between Helga and Phoebe what with Helga being err... a bit aggressive while Phoebe was always the submissive one. But now... he was starting to notice how deep they really love each other. It was kind of like him and Gerald although much more subtle.
She broke his reverie, "Come Arnold. Why don't you sit with Helga while I tell Gerald you're here."
He nodded. She smiled and was gone but as she passed Helga she said what she was intending to do. Helga was about to protest but bit it back.
He took a seat in the sofa, perpendicular to the loveseat Helga was sitting on. Silence reigned while the two looked at everything but the other person in the room. Both were wondering what is taking Phoebe so long.
He looked at Helga and gave a hidden smile. He wondered what could have made her change so much both physically and personality-wise. Did she have a husband and a loving family? Was she successful at her job?
But a little doubt was telling him that that wasn't the case. He knew her ever since kindergarten and that little doubt was telling him that she changed because of something... something not good.
Musing what happened to her will not answer his questions so he decided to voice it out. Finding a good way to voice it out must be thought of first because you are directing it to Helga. He swallowed a bit and began, "Hi, Helga"
Disappointment. With all the questions in his head he starts out with a 'Hi, Helga'? Oh well, it's a good start anyway.
She was shocked when he greeted her. She mumbled a reply.
Silence again.
Once again, Arnold broke the silence, "So how are things?"
She looked down and rubbed her right hand to her left arm. "I'm okay, Arnold. I'm here breathing, right?"
She was becoming more nervous as the time that they spent together grew longer. What was she to say to him? After all these years she's still nervous around Arnold.
"I noticed," he said dryly.
She was shocked. Was he just sarcastic just now? She stopped rubbing her arm and looked at him in the eyes.
He was teasing her. She looked at him strangely. Did fourteen years of separation change so much in a person? He gave her worried glance. She gave a relieved sigh. It's a good thing he would never totally change.
"I was just asking how are you. You know, like what's your job, how are you at your job, what have you been doing these fourteen years, areyoumarriedandhaveanykids."
Even though he blurted the last part so fast she understood it. She was shocked then she reddened.
He saw her expression then looked down and slowly shook his head. "I'm such a football head," he muttered to himself. It was always his flaw. Family life and romantic interests isn't exactly his cup of tea. That was why he never had a girlfriend. He was too awkward with girls.
He heard a repetitive gasp. No, it wasn't gasps. It was the sound of someone stifling laughter. He looked up and saw Helga bowing her head and trying very hard not to laugh out loud.
She saw him look up at her. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She laughed uncontrollably. He looked at her and laughed with her although he couldn't understand what he was laughing about but her laughter was so contagious he couldn't help himself.
When her laughter turned into giggles he asked her, "What? What was so funny?" Which began another laughing fit from her.
He just smiled as she laughed. After a few minutes, she forced herself to calm down. "I-I'm sorry, Arnoldo. B-but..." She continued to laugh again.
"I am so happy to be a constant source of your laughter," he sarcastically said.
She looked at him. "I'm sorry but you are so funny." She wiped a few tears falling in her eyes. "I haven't laughed that hard since..." She looked at him. "...fifth grade."
He was surprised. Fifth grade, she must be referring to... His face turned red. Helga only grinned at him.
"I was laughing at you because you were laughing with me so hard. It was like you knew why I was laughing but you didn't that's why it was so funny." She was about to laugh again but controlled herself.
"Anyway, what was funny in the first place was when you muttered to yourself that you were a football head." She grinned. "In all the years I've been teasing you it was ingrained in that head of yours!"
He hid a grin as he 'sarcastically' say, "Oh so I guess it was your original plan, huh Helga. Ever since kindergarten when you saw for the first time a football and compared it to my head, you planned to infuse it to me by always calling me football head."
She smirked at him. "In a nutshell."
He was about to say something to her when a voice broke out, "Flirting? And in my own home?"
Arnold bit a small smile while Helga became red. They turned around and saw Gerald in a T-shirt and shorts grinning like a cat that ate a canary. "So shall we go?"
Stunned looks. Puzzled, Gerald turned to look at Phoebe. All she said was "Oops!"
Helga looked at Phoebe's feigned innocence then at Arnold's confused look. Her heart gave a lurch. Phoebe was setting her up with him! She wanted to leave right now but she came here to spend some time with her best friend and that's what she would do.
She looked at Arnold and then at Phoebs' grinning face. It will be a bittersweet day.
An angelfish swam by her face. It went back, stopped and stared at her. She didn't stare back just looked down wistfully.
"I'm sorry, Helga," a soft voice intruded. She was referring to Helga's passive attitude when Phoebe explained to them that she and Gerald were taking Helga and Arnold out to town and visit the neighborhood. The warm atmosphere that was created before the couple arrived was never again recreated. Even when Phoebe tried to get them alone together.
Helga just watched the angelfish saw in circles, probably trying to get her attention. "It's okay, Phoebs." It was her own doing after all. She just didn't want Arnold in that way.
"I just thought setting you up with him will make you happy." She stopped. "You two were really getting along before we arrived and I thought..."
The angelfish stopped circling and just looked at Helga. She turned around and faced Phoebe. "We are getting along Phoebe. It's just not the way you think." She stopped and gave a lopsided grin, "Now lets stop being very forlorn. I plan to spend every available time with you."
She stopped and grinned. "Now is Lockjaw still alive?"
Without hearing any reply, she took Phoebe's hand and proceeded to drag her to where Lockjaw's place is. The angelfish continued to look at her.
Arnold tapped at the glass. The janitor fish didn't even flinched. He sighed and faced his best friend. "You don't know what happened to Helga?"
"No. She isn't my best friend and she never writes to Phi remember?"
"I do, but didn't Phoebe even mention anything to you after the reunion?"
Gerald looked at Arnold. He gave a small sigh and put his hand on Arnold's shoulders. "Look man, marriage is not an excuse to know every single data about your partner. There are some things that Phoebe doesn't tell me and there are some things that I don't tell Phoebe."
Arnold looked proudly at him. Marriage really suited his best friend. Only 3 years but he sounds like it's more. "Do we still have time before we meet the girls outside?"
Gerald nodded. "Yup, we could still look around."
Both men decided to take a look at the aquarium around them while reminiscing about the past. Sometimes they would remember funny memories like how Arnold tried to cheer Eugene when he accidentally got his pet fish killed.
But at the back of Arnold's mind Helga's change was nagging at him. And it seems Gerald knew about it and said, "Look, Arnold, you shouldn't punish yourself. People change all the time. You should be happy that you two are getting along great. After all those years of taunting and teasing we are finally free!" Stressing more on the last words.
Arnold smiled at his sentiments. "Okay, Gerald." And they continued visiting and talking about the past. Although, Arnold let the matter drop he still was worried. He knew something was wrong with her and Gerald didn't.
He turned his head and saw an angelfish swam by on the aquarium at his right. Maybe he should talk to her about it. Seeing her change, maybe she wouldn't pound him for it.
Oh, before I go I'm not sending in the rest of the chapters until Friday or Thursday afternoon because of my finals. Because of that I'm sending 2 chapters today. Reviews and constructive criticisms are welcome.
Chapter Two
Day out With Friends
Helga walked out of the hotel and into a sunny and cheery Saturday. Her long blonde hair was neatly tied in a lose ponytail. She was wearing jeans and a pink blouse. She took another glance at the small cardboard paper in her hand then began to walk to her destination.
She drove on the way here but as she now went to her current destination she decided to walk there. Anyway, she missed her old neighborhood. Although the memories that drudged up were not exactly lovable she still missed her neighborhood.
She saw the Madam Blanche's shop only now it was an electronic store.
~The past
She peered in the shop. This was the solution to her problem.
She went in and saw Madame Blanche. "You have to give me an out of love potion!"
Madam Blanche was surprised at first but sensing a customer replied, "Just a minute."
Helga didn't notice Madame Blanche as her whirlwind emotions spun inside of her. As usual she began to rattle on and on. She eventually took a hold of herself and began to grow uneasy. Is this what she wanted?
In her mind's eye she saw him looking at Ruth or Lila. Then she compared herself to Arnold. No... she isn't worthy enough. He's too much for her. She has to go through with it.
~Present
Helga shook her head as if to vanish that memory. Criminey! Didn't she just vow to herself to forget about him? She decided to focus more on the scenery and began to look around her.
She walked about two blocks when she noticed an old abandoned building. She gave a small gasp and stopped.
~Past
The rain was falling and falling and was so cold. Daddy and Mommy didn't take me to pweschool.
I heard a car pass by but I didn't pay any attention to it 'cause the school was near. The rain would stop there and I wouldn't be cold anymore. Then suddenly I got really wet and sticky.
I did not really mind. I got cold and wet afore. I looked up and saw others like me with their Mommies and their Daddies...
I suddenly got sick and fell down only I didn't feel sleepy like afore. Maybe because they had their Mommies and Daddies while my Mommy and Daddy was with Olga.
And then the rain stopped...
"I like your bow."
I turned around and saw a boy with the weirdest shape head and he stopped the rain with an umbwella. Was he talking to me? "Huh?"
He smiled at me. "It's pink like your pants." He said while pointing at my pants.
I only looked at my pants then at him. Did he want something from me? Why did he say those words? What did he mean?
He smiled at me while he and his weird-looking Daddy went inside the school. Maybe I should look at that boy and ask him what he wants. I follow him inside.
~Present
Stop! Stop! STOP! Helga viciously shook her head not caring if other people think her weird.
She wiped the tears that fell down and hurriedly walked to her destination--the Heyerdahl-Johanssen home.
She stopped at an average looking house. It looked like all the other houses around it although it was the newest looking building in the neighborhood.
"I understood Harold designed this house as a gift to Phoebe and Gerald. Originally he gave it to Gerald as a birthday gift but everybody knew that it was for both of them. They started building this just before Gerald and Phoebe graduated. I understood Rhonda helped financially."
She knew to whom the voice belonged to. She shouldn't be surprised that he was here today. He came to visit his best friend but why now? Why did the Fates make it this way?
He was waiting for an answer so she gave him a sidelong glance and said, "Oh." Then she went up the stairs and knocked. She felt his presence but didn't face him and just waited for the door to be answered.
Phoebe answered the door. She smiled when she saw Helga. She then noticed Arnold beside her and gave Helga a knowing look. Helga ignored the look.
"It's good to see you both," Phoebe greeted as she opened the door for them.
Helga entered first then Arnold followed. "We met at your doorstep, Phoebs," she said with finality. She sat at one of the living room chairs and waited for the two. In the meantime she looked around at the Johanssen home.
Phoebe faced Arnold and said, "Gerald would be with you in a minute. He's just tying a few loose ends at work."
Arnold nodded. "Thanks, Phoebe. I know I'm kind of butting in but why aren't you at working today? I understand that neurosurgeons are needed almost 24 hours a day."
Phoebe gave a secretive smile. "I have my ways, Arnold." She then gave a normal smile. "Also my best friend is here. I couldn't exactly continue working when she's here."
In the past he would be a bit doubtful of the depth of the friendship between Helga and Phoebe what with Helga being err... a bit aggressive while Phoebe was always the submissive one. But now... he was starting to notice how deep they really love each other. It was kind of like him and Gerald although much more subtle.
She broke his reverie, "Come Arnold. Why don't you sit with Helga while I tell Gerald you're here."
He nodded. She smiled and was gone but as she passed Helga she said what she was intending to do. Helga was about to protest but bit it back.
He took a seat in the sofa, perpendicular to the loveseat Helga was sitting on. Silence reigned while the two looked at everything but the other person in the room. Both were wondering what is taking Phoebe so long.
He looked at Helga and gave a hidden smile. He wondered what could have made her change so much both physically and personality-wise. Did she have a husband and a loving family? Was she successful at her job?
But a little doubt was telling him that that wasn't the case. He knew her ever since kindergarten and that little doubt was telling him that she changed because of something... something not good.
Musing what happened to her will not answer his questions so he decided to voice it out. Finding a good way to voice it out must be thought of first because you are directing it to Helga. He swallowed a bit and began, "Hi, Helga"
Disappointment. With all the questions in his head he starts out with a 'Hi, Helga'? Oh well, it's a good start anyway.
She was shocked when he greeted her. She mumbled a reply.
Silence again.
Once again, Arnold broke the silence, "So how are things?"
She looked down and rubbed her right hand to her left arm. "I'm okay, Arnold. I'm here breathing, right?"
She was becoming more nervous as the time that they spent together grew longer. What was she to say to him? After all these years she's still nervous around Arnold.
"I noticed," he said dryly.
She was shocked. Was he just sarcastic just now? She stopped rubbing her arm and looked at him in the eyes.
He was teasing her. She looked at him strangely. Did fourteen years of separation change so much in a person? He gave her worried glance. She gave a relieved sigh. It's a good thing he would never totally change.
"I was just asking how are you. You know, like what's your job, how are you at your job, what have you been doing these fourteen years, areyoumarriedandhaveanykids."
Even though he blurted the last part so fast she understood it. She was shocked then she reddened.
He saw her expression then looked down and slowly shook his head. "I'm such a football head," he muttered to himself. It was always his flaw. Family life and romantic interests isn't exactly his cup of tea. That was why he never had a girlfriend. He was too awkward with girls.
He heard a repetitive gasp. No, it wasn't gasps. It was the sound of someone stifling laughter. He looked up and saw Helga bowing her head and trying very hard not to laugh out loud.
She saw him look up at her. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She laughed uncontrollably. He looked at her and laughed with her although he couldn't understand what he was laughing about but her laughter was so contagious he couldn't help himself.
When her laughter turned into giggles he asked her, "What? What was so funny?" Which began another laughing fit from her.
He just smiled as she laughed. After a few minutes, she forced herself to calm down. "I-I'm sorry, Arnoldo. B-but..." She continued to laugh again.
"I am so happy to be a constant source of your laughter," he sarcastically said.
She looked at him. "I'm sorry but you are so funny." She wiped a few tears falling in her eyes. "I haven't laughed that hard since..." She looked at him. "...fifth grade."
He was surprised. Fifth grade, she must be referring to... His face turned red. Helga only grinned at him.
"I was laughing at you because you were laughing with me so hard. It was like you knew why I was laughing but you didn't that's why it was so funny." She was about to laugh again but controlled herself.
"Anyway, what was funny in the first place was when you muttered to yourself that you were a football head." She grinned. "In all the years I've been teasing you it was ingrained in that head of yours!"
He hid a grin as he 'sarcastically' say, "Oh so I guess it was your original plan, huh Helga. Ever since kindergarten when you saw for the first time a football and compared it to my head, you planned to infuse it to me by always calling me football head."
She smirked at him. "In a nutshell."
He was about to say something to her when a voice broke out, "Flirting? And in my own home?"
Arnold bit a small smile while Helga became red. They turned around and saw Gerald in a T-shirt and shorts grinning like a cat that ate a canary. "So shall we go?"
Stunned looks. Puzzled, Gerald turned to look at Phoebe. All she said was "Oops!"
Helga looked at Phoebe's feigned innocence then at Arnold's confused look. Her heart gave a lurch. Phoebe was setting her up with him! She wanted to leave right now but she came here to spend some time with her best friend and that's what she would do.
She looked at Arnold and then at Phoebs' grinning face. It will be a bittersweet day.
An angelfish swam by her face. It went back, stopped and stared at her. She didn't stare back just looked down wistfully.
"I'm sorry, Helga," a soft voice intruded. She was referring to Helga's passive attitude when Phoebe explained to them that she and Gerald were taking Helga and Arnold out to town and visit the neighborhood. The warm atmosphere that was created before the couple arrived was never again recreated. Even when Phoebe tried to get them alone together.
Helga just watched the angelfish saw in circles, probably trying to get her attention. "It's okay, Phoebs." It was her own doing after all. She just didn't want Arnold in that way.
"I just thought setting you up with him will make you happy." She stopped. "You two were really getting along before we arrived and I thought..."
The angelfish stopped circling and just looked at Helga. She turned around and faced Phoebe. "We are getting along Phoebe. It's just not the way you think." She stopped and gave a lopsided grin, "Now lets stop being very forlorn. I plan to spend every available time with you."
She stopped and grinned. "Now is Lockjaw still alive?"
Without hearing any reply, she took Phoebe's hand and proceeded to drag her to where Lockjaw's place is. The angelfish continued to look at her.
Arnold tapped at the glass. The janitor fish didn't even flinched. He sighed and faced his best friend. "You don't know what happened to Helga?"
"No. She isn't my best friend and she never writes to Phi remember?"
"I do, but didn't Phoebe even mention anything to you after the reunion?"
Gerald looked at Arnold. He gave a small sigh and put his hand on Arnold's shoulders. "Look man, marriage is not an excuse to know every single data about your partner. There are some things that Phoebe doesn't tell me and there are some things that I don't tell Phoebe."
Arnold looked proudly at him. Marriage really suited his best friend. Only 3 years but he sounds like it's more. "Do we still have time before we meet the girls outside?"
Gerald nodded. "Yup, we could still look around."
Both men decided to take a look at the aquarium around them while reminiscing about the past. Sometimes they would remember funny memories like how Arnold tried to cheer Eugene when he accidentally got his pet fish killed.
But at the back of Arnold's mind Helga's change was nagging at him. And it seems Gerald knew about it and said, "Look, Arnold, you shouldn't punish yourself. People change all the time. You should be happy that you two are getting along great. After all those years of taunting and teasing we are finally free!" Stressing more on the last words.
Arnold smiled at his sentiments. "Okay, Gerald." And they continued visiting and talking about the past. Although, Arnold let the matter drop he still was worried. He knew something was wrong with her and Gerald didn't.
He turned his head and saw an angelfish swam by on the aquarium at his right. Maybe he should talk to her about it. Seeing her change, maybe she wouldn't pound him for it.