Hey Arnold! Does not belong to me. This chapter my contain material that some readers might find offensive or disturbing. You have been warned!
Chapter Five: Being Strong Women
Phoebe got a call from Jamie O asking her and Gerald to come over for dinner. Timberly was already there. She sat watching BET and eating caramel popcorn. She had cried the whole drive there and she just didn't want to think anymore. Arnold didn't care what she had been going though these past few months. He was too busy with his career. "Damn! What the hell was I thinking? Why did I try to play house with him? H was never serious about me." She mumbled to herself.
Jamie O. was a soccer coach at the community college. His wife was an elementary school teacher. They were happy. It seemed when you live in the suburbs you get your happy card and nothing really truly bad happens...that's a lie. All Timberly wanted was what Jamie O. and Maria had and what Phoebe and Gerald had worked to create. Her brothers had been role models since she could remember and Arnold had always been part of that fantasy. She never really shared that with anyone and now it seemed like everything had become a nightmare.
Arnold was handsome and charming. His sandy blond hair shined like gold in the sun when she used to watch them play baseball or football outside. His eyes looked like the ocean on a warm summer's day. He was so kind and thoughtful. He never seemed to mind when she hung around as a little girl. She always felt different around him like she was the only girl in the room. Now she realized Arnold made everyone feel like that. Since they'd gotten together he'd become someone else; he didn't belong to her. That was what he had said too. Timberly could feel herself tear up again so she decided to rest in the bedroom for a while.
When Phoebe and Gerald arrived they brought a strawberry pie for dessert. The Johanssen Family was going to discuss the wedding. It was going to be the event of the summer. Phoebe needed all the advice she could get. Maria wanted to help badly. She never thought much of Phoebe's sense of style, which was a shame; Phoebe was beautiful. She just wasn't flashy. Maria greeted them at the door and returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Jamie O. and Gerald went to the living room to watch a football game. While the TV engrossed the guys, Phoebe went to say hello to Timberly. "What's up Tim?"
"What would you care?" She sniffed.
"I heard about you and Arnold. He's going through a lot right now." Phoebe attempted to console.
"Oh really." She answered sarcastically.
"Well, you've been acting really weird for a while. Arnold is very sensitive. He just doesn't understand you very well and..."
"Phoebe, don't lie to me. I know that Arnold confides in you and I know when you are lying. You've never been a good liar. Look, I am breaking it off with him anyway. But I just wanted to tell you my side. I had a miscarriage." Timberly retorted flatly.
"What?"
"I was pregnant for about two and a half months. I went to go see a doctor. I thought I would tell him that week but I lost it. And I wanted to tell Arnold so badly but he's like, 'the world is overpopulated and we should adopt' Not to mention that a week after if happened he said that he just wasn't really interested in starting a family until after he established himself. I haven't wanted him to touch him since then. Phoebe, I can't explain what I went through...or what I am going through and really I need to get a way for a while.
Phoebe sat in silence confused and saddened by Timberly's misfortune. She felt Timberly's pain and knew how bad she must have been grieving. She took her hand and squeezed it and a tear streamed down Timberly's cheek. Timberly continued, "I think I owe Arnold something, some kind of explanation but I am scared."
"You need to tell him. He deserves to know." Phoebe explained sympathetically. "Maybe it wasn't meant to be with the two of you but I think you should talk sensibly about what happened. You both need closure."
"I am seeing Gary, I mean it's nothing serious. But I feel like I can talk to him."
"Tim, Arnold is my friend and you need to work out these problems, break up or whatever. I don't know about Gary. Just be careful. You and Gerald already have a strained relationship. Getting together with another one of his friends isn't a good idea."
"It's really not like that at all with Gary. Like I said before everything is really complicated and I don't want to be with anyone. I thought you'd like to know the truth about Gary after what Arnold must have said to you." Timberly left the room and to go for a drive. The rest of the evening was spent arguing
over flowers and dresses.
Chapter Five: Being Strong Women
Phoebe got a call from Jamie O asking her and Gerald to come over for dinner. Timberly was already there. She sat watching BET and eating caramel popcorn. She had cried the whole drive there and she just didn't want to think anymore. Arnold didn't care what she had been going though these past few months. He was too busy with his career. "Damn! What the hell was I thinking? Why did I try to play house with him? H was never serious about me." She mumbled to herself.
Jamie O. was a soccer coach at the community college. His wife was an elementary school teacher. They were happy. It seemed when you live in the suburbs you get your happy card and nothing really truly bad happens...that's a lie. All Timberly wanted was what Jamie O. and Maria had and what Phoebe and Gerald had worked to create. Her brothers had been role models since she could remember and Arnold had always been part of that fantasy. She never really shared that with anyone and now it seemed like everything had become a nightmare.
Arnold was handsome and charming. His sandy blond hair shined like gold in the sun when she used to watch them play baseball or football outside. His eyes looked like the ocean on a warm summer's day. He was so kind and thoughtful. He never seemed to mind when she hung around as a little girl. She always felt different around him like she was the only girl in the room. Now she realized Arnold made everyone feel like that. Since they'd gotten together he'd become someone else; he didn't belong to her. That was what he had said too. Timberly could feel herself tear up again so she decided to rest in the bedroom for a while.
When Phoebe and Gerald arrived they brought a strawberry pie for dessert. The Johanssen Family was going to discuss the wedding. It was going to be the event of the summer. Phoebe needed all the advice she could get. Maria wanted to help badly. She never thought much of Phoebe's sense of style, which was a shame; Phoebe was beautiful. She just wasn't flashy. Maria greeted them at the door and returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Jamie O. and Gerald went to the living room to watch a football game. While the TV engrossed the guys, Phoebe went to say hello to Timberly. "What's up Tim?"
"What would you care?" She sniffed.
"I heard about you and Arnold. He's going through a lot right now." Phoebe attempted to console.
"Oh really." She answered sarcastically.
"Well, you've been acting really weird for a while. Arnold is very sensitive. He just doesn't understand you very well and..."
"Phoebe, don't lie to me. I know that Arnold confides in you and I know when you are lying. You've never been a good liar. Look, I am breaking it off with him anyway. But I just wanted to tell you my side. I had a miscarriage." Timberly retorted flatly.
"What?"
"I was pregnant for about two and a half months. I went to go see a doctor. I thought I would tell him that week but I lost it. And I wanted to tell Arnold so badly but he's like, 'the world is overpopulated and we should adopt' Not to mention that a week after if happened he said that he just wasn't really interested in starting a family until after he established himself. I haven't wanted him to touch him since then. Phoebe, I can't explain what I went through...or what I am going through and really I need to get a way for a while.
Phoebe sat in silence confused and saddened by Timberly's misfortune. She felt Timberly's pain and knew how bad she must have been grieving. She took her hand and squeezed it and a tear streamed down Timberly's cheek. Timberly continued, "I think I owe Arnold something, some kind of explanation but I am scared."
"You need to tell him. He deserves to know." Phoebe explained sympathetically. "Maybe it wasn't meant to be with the two of you but I think you should talk sensibly about what happened. You both need closure."
"I am seeing Gary, I mean it's nothing serious. But I feel like I can talk to him."
"Tim, Arnold is my friend and you need to work out these problems, break up or whatever. I don't know about Gary. Just be careful. You and Gerald already have a strained relationship. Getting together with another one of his friends isn't a good idea."
"It's really not like that at all with Gary. Like I said before everything is really complicated and I don't want to be with anyone. I thought you'd like to know the truth about Gary after what Arnold must have said to you." Timberly left the room and to go for a drive. The rest of the evening was spent arguing
over flowers and dresses.