Chapter 8: "Together at last! What about Silas?"
Next day was Saturday. Silas woke up early and went downstairs for breakfast. Silas' dad was making omlettes. Silas looked tired as he entered the kitchen in his sweats.
Dad: "What's the matter, son? Rough night?" He paused. "You didn't have another run in with those muggers, did you?"
Silas: "No. I just couldn't sleep much. I have a big day today."
Dad: "My omlettes should give you back what you need, huh?"
Mom: "Well Silas, what did you have planned for today? You seem pretty busy lately. Made some new friends?"
Silas: "Yeah, and a few enemies too."
Dad: "What? What happened?"
Silas: "What makes me get so involved in things I don't need to get into?"
Mom: "I don't understand."
Silas: "Let's just say, I tried to help a good friend out, and she didn't want my help, so I helped her anyway, and now she hates me. What should I do?"
Mom: "If you were just doing it to help... That's a tough one."
Dad: "Nonsense! Did it help anyway?"
Silas: "Well, yeah. It did. But I broke a promise to her to do it, and now she wants to kill me."
Mom: "Oh, you kids. I don't think it's that bad."
Silas: "Trust me mom. It's bad."
Dad: "Well, son. You always have to think with your heart. If you did what was right, then that's all that matters. And when your little friend kills you, then you'll be happy knowing it was for a good cause." He ruffled his hair a bit. "Now, let's get some food before you go today, huh?"
Silas: "Thanks dad. Mom, what do you think? I'm probably going to do something really stupid today, but I have to anyway."
Mom: "Silas, if you're afraid of what this person will do to you, then you need to think about what it will get you. But friends are worth fighting for. Do you think you're right?"
Silas: "Yes. If I don't do something, it will get worse. But then she'll hate me even more for trying again."
Mom: "Remember that time last year with those scottish kids... What were they called... The campfire something or other? Anyway, your friend was in trouble, and you knew he couldn't do anything to escape it. You risked getting kicked out of that group, just to help him. Just do what you think is right, Silas."
They sat down for breakfast then, and Silas stuck about for a few hours, helping around the house before leaving for the arcade. It took about an hour to get there, and Gerald and Arnold were playing Dirt Rush Racing against each other while waiting for him. Silas came up and watched them finish their game.
Arnold: "Whoa, that was cool!" He got up from the chair, away from his smoking car sitting in the dirt along the side of the track.
Gerald: "Yeah man, we should come here more often." He looked at Silas. "Come on guys. Let's head back to the park."
They walked awhile down the street, until they arrived on the same bridge they had left a few nights earlier. Arnold looked across at the geese attacking the picnickers and their food.
Arnold: "So, guys. Whacha want to do today?"
Silas: "Come on, maybe we'd better sit down." They did so on the riverbank. The geese came by for a minute before realizing they had no food, and left. "Arnold, I have something to tell you, about yesterday."
Gerald: (sighed) "I think we both do." Arnold remained silent as they both related their stories to him. At first he tried joking with them, thinking they were trying to trick him. Later on, he remained serious as they told him everything. About how Silas first found out about it, his and Gerald's run in at the lockers, Helga's encounter at the dump (although he didn't tell about what was inside it), and finally, how Helga had tried time and again to be nice to him for a change, but failed miserably because of her own reputation, and finally, how Helga and Silas were now enemies because of what Curly had heard at this same spot in the park.
Silas: "So now, if I say anything else to her about anything, she'll practically kill me."
Arnold was silent for awhile.
Gerald: "Well? Arnold? Say something!"
Arnold: "Silas, why did you tell me this? If she finds out, you're in trouble!"
Silas: (looks down) "I don't care... If you found out from someone else, or nothing had happened, she'd have been just as mean to you as always. Then you'd never have the same feelings back for her."
Arnold: "But, you two hate each other. Why would you want to help her?"
Silas: "I never hated her. I just wanted to see her be a nice person for a change. She could always stand a little lesson in humility. But now that she's not speaking to me anymore..."
Gerald: "What he's trying to say is that he likes her now. Not just likes her, but likes her likes her. The same way you feel for Lila. You're both sick kids, if you ask me." He leaned back on the grass. "And now I'm in trouble, because I stopped her from killing him yesterday, and now I'm telling you everything. If Silas goes down, I'm going down too."
Arnold: "Come on Gerald. It's not that bad. Maybe I can talk to her."
Silas: "About what?"
Arnold: "Not staying mad at you two. I know how she can get sometimes... Silas, you got me in trouble with her, and I realized that when she's mad, she can get pretty tough. But you've stood up to her before. What's the big deal?"
Silas: "If I try that again, two things will happen. Either I'll win against her and she hates me more, or I let her win, and maybe she might realize that I was just trying to help her, and we could be friends..."
Just then Helga and Phoebe came up from over the bridge. Helga was laughing, and Silas had hoped she had forgotten about yesterday... She stopped, however, when she saw the three of them on the bank. Silas and Gerald stood, but Arnold remained sitting, watching them all.
Silas and Gerald: "Maybe we should go, Arnold." They started walking away. Helga ran up to Silas when he was out of earshot of Arnold, and grabbed his arm.
Helga: "Tell me you didn't!"
Silas was silent. Gerald spoke up.
Gerald: "Just talk to him. He'll explain everything."
Helga: "I can't believe this! You too Gerald? Why can't you just leave me alone, Silas?" Silas still remained silent. Phoebe came over and saw the look in Helga's eyes.
Gerald: "Because he's your friend, Helga. Maybe you could take the time to see that!"
Phoebe: "Come on Helga. Perhaps we shouldn't be here." They started to turn around, but saw Arnold coming up to them. Silas and Gerald were off like a shot out of the park. Phoebe saw what was going to happen, and left after them as well. "I'll see you later, Helga. Um..." She looked at Arnold. "Bye."
Helga watched them both leave. She stood there for a long time, her heart beating for what she knew would come.
Arnold: ".................Well, that Silas. What a great guy, huh?"
Helga: (turning to him) "What? Are you kidding?...... Um, so... I hope I didn't interrupt anything here. Maybe I'd better go catch up with Phoebe..."
Arnold: "Helga, Silas told me about everything."
Helga: "Everything? What could you possibly mean by that? Ah ha ha ha.... Uhhhhhh..."
Arnold: "I know why you two were fighting yesterday."
Helga: "Fighting? Us? Why would we do something like that?"
Arnold: "I suppose it's better that he told me about this instead of me hearing it from Curly yesterday."
Helga: "Listen Arnold... I know you think I'm a big mean jerk sometimes, and I would understand it if you......."
Arnold: "What? You think that because of the way you've treated me... the way you always call me football-head, yellow-haired shrimp, that kid with the weird-shaped head, the way you always throw spitwads at me, and make fun of me, and push me down? You think that would make me not like you?"
Helga: "No! Of course not! Why would I think that? It was all in good fun anyway, huh? Ha ha ha..... Um... I just thought..."
Arnold: "Listen to me, Helga. We've known each other for a long time. Even after the way you treated everyone, I knew that inside, there was someone who could really care. Silas told me about that person. I think you are that person."
Helga: "......................... Thanks Arnold... I've been waiting to hear that from you for a long time..."
Arnold: "Then why didn't you ever tell me?"
Helga: ".........I don't know... I guess I just needed to know if you could see how I really felt. I was afraid that if I told you after all this time, that... that you wouldn't even care anymore. I've loved you for a long time, Arnold. I just wasn't sure if you would ever be able to return it..."
Arnold: "Oh..."
They stood there awkwardly for a minute.
Arnold: "Helga, you've always been a good friend to me, even though it didn't seem like it... I've seen what a good person you could be. I.... Uh... That is... In a way, I've always....... loved you too..."
Helga: "You have? Really?"
Arnold: "Sure. You remember the other day in the ice cream shoppe? When I saw you and Silas together, I, uh..... that is, I got a little jealous... I had always thought that I would maybe I would have a chance to be your friend once you you had gotten over torturing me... I guess I was just upset at thinking I had lost my chance..."
Helga: "But........! But what about Lila?"
Arnold: "Lila? Well, I did like her... but lately, it seems like it wasn't going anywhere. She liked me once, but I didn't realize it until it was too late. I guess it wasn't meant to be anyway. After all, it was just because some jerk wrote on the wall that I loved Lila."
Helga: (gulps) "Yeah, a jerk. Huh huh. About the other day, Arnold... I... I was the one who gave you that letter..."
Arnold: "You?"
Helga: "Yeah. I guess..."
Arnold: "I wouldn't have believed it when I first saw... But I'm glad you were thinking of me anyway. Ha ha ha. But, you know... Silas is really hurt now."
Helga: (angry) "Why should I care about him? He lied to me!"
Arnold: "He did it as a friend."
Helga: "Some friend. All he did was dangle the fact that he could tell everyone about me in front of my nose!"
Arnold: "I shouldn't tell you this, but he left today saying how much he liked you. Maybe you two could be friends again."
Helga: (sighs) "Well...... maybe."
Arnold: (smiles) "Yes yes. Well, now that we're both clear on our feelings.... Um... maybe you and I could, um, you know... Do something together sometime?" He held out his hand. "Come on. It's getting pretty late. I'll walk you home."
Helga: (smiles back) "Thanks Arnold." She took his hand, and they walked back across the bridge and out of the park.
Silas didn't see anyone until Monday again. He stayed in his room the entire day Sunday, thinking about how much Helga would pound him on Monday for telling Arnold everything. Would Arnold even accept her? Silas had seen how much they didn't get along. Arnold might laugh at her, thinking her foolish after all she had done... Or maybe he would be surprised, and she would be happy with the one she loves... Well, he'd find out the next day...
Monday comes around. Silas decided to ride his bike to school... It had just been taken out of storage, and it took him about fifteen minutes to get there. The school bus was just arriving when he got there. He parked his bike, and hid behind the wall to see what happened....
Everything looked normal as they all got off the bus. Gerald and Arnold got off first, then a few others, then Curly, his eye looking less puffy than on Friday, and then Helga and Phoebe. Helga looked a bit happier this Monday. Not as angry as normal. Perhaps it had worked... She didn't do anything mean to Arnold yet... Silas stood there as they all walked into the school, and he followed after a few minutes.
The bell was several minutes from ringing, and Silas walked slowly through the halls, watching for anything out of the ordinary. He wasn't expecting someone to push him from behind into the wall. Well, maybe he was, so it didn't surprise him much.
Silas: "Go ahead Helga." He turned around, and saw her glaring angrily at him. "I know what I did. Go ahead and pummel me." Her arms went up, and Silas closed his eyes quickly. What he felt was unexpected. She was actually hugging him! Helga? Here? Where everyone could see?
Helga: (releases him) "Arnold told me about what you said to him. I didn't know you really cared about me."
Silas: "He.... Um, he..." He coughed, and then fell to the floor.
Helga: "Look Silas." She helped him up. "I know how you felt that day in the park. I also know you were just trying to help me. Maybe, we could be friends again."
Silas: "You thought of me as a friend?"
Helga: (pauses) "Well, maybe for awhile there... But I think we can forget what happened."
Silas: "You mean, you don't hate me anymore?"
Helga: "No. You helped bring Arnold and me together. I thought you were just doing it to bother me. But I can see you really cared. Thank you."
Silas: (sighs relief) "Um... Sure. Don't mention it. What're friends for?" He paused. "Since Arnold said what he did, you know how I feel about you. But I won't stand in your way. I'm just glad we can be friends."
The bell rang, and they both walked to class. Silas was still sitting behind Nadine, and he watched Helga and Arnold smile at each other as they sat down. He smiled to himself, knowing that everything was fine between them now.
Nadine turned around to him.
Nadine: "So, Silas. I see everything worked out for the best, huh?"
Silas: "What? I wouldn't know what you're talking about..."
Nadine: "Helga told me all about it that day at the park. Well, anyway... Hey! That new carnival starts this Wednesday! You, um, you wanna go?"
Silas: (looks over at Helga, smiles, and turns back) "Sure Nadine. That would be great!"
-The End
Next day was Saturday. Silas woke up early and went downstairs for breakfast. Silas' dad was making omlettes. Silas looked tired as he entered the kitchen in his sweats.
Dad: "What's the matter, son? Rough night?" He paused. "You didn't have another run in with those muggers, did you?"
Silas: "No. I just couldn't sleep much. I have a big day today."
Dad: "My omlettes should give you back what you need, huh?"
Mom: "Well Silas, what did you have planned for today? You seem pretty busy lately. Made some new friends?"
Silas: "Yeah, and a few enemies too."
Dad: "What? What happened?"
Silas: "What makes me get so involved in things I don't need to get into?"
Mom: "I don't understand."
Silas: "Let's just say, I tried to help a good friend out, and she didn't want my help, so I helped her anyway, and now she hates me. What should I do?"
Mom: "If you were just doing it to help... That's a tough one."
Dad: "Nonsense! Did it help anyway?"
Silas: "Well, yeah. It did. But I broke a promise to her to do it, and now she wants to kill me."
Mom: "Oh, you kids. I don't think it's that bad."
Silas: "Trust me mom. It's bad."
Dad: "Well, son. You always have to think with your heart. If you did what was right, then that's all that matters. And when your little friend kills you, then you'll be happy knowing it was for a good cause." He ruffled his hair a bit. "Now, let's get some food before you go today, huh?"
Silas: "Thanks dad. Mom, what do you think? I'm probably going to do something really stupid today, but I have to anyway."
Mom: "Silas, if you're afraid of what this person will do to you, then you need to think about what it will get you. But friends are worth fighting for. Do you think you're right?"
Silas: "Yes. If I don't do something, it will get worse. But then she'll hate me even more for trying again."
Mom: "Remember that time last year with those scottish kids... What were they called... The campfire something or other? Anyway, your friend was in trouble, and you knew he couldn't do anything to escape it. You risked getting kicked out of that group, just to help him. Just do what you think is right, Silas."
They sat down for breakfast then, and Silas stuck about for a few hours, helping around the house before leaving for the arcade. It took about an hour to get there, and Gerald and Arnold were playing Dirt Rush Racing against each other while waiting for him. Silas came up and watched them finish their game.
Arnold: "Whoa, that was cool!" He got up from the chair, away from his smoking car sitting in the dirt along the side of the track.
Gerald: "Yeah man, we should come here more often." He looked at Silas. "Come on guys. Let's head back to the park."
They walked awhile down the street, until they arrived on the same bridge they had left a few nights earlier. Arnold looked across at the geese attacking the picnickers and their food.
Arnold: "So, guys. Whacha want to do today?"
Silas: "Come on, maybe we'd better sit down." They did so on the riverbank. The geese came by for a minute before realizing they had no food, and left. "Arnold, I have something to tell you, about yesterday."
Gerald: (sighed) "I think we both do." Arnold remained silent as they both related their stories to him. At first he tried joking with them, thinking they were trying to trick him. Later on, he remained serious as they told him everything. About how Silas first found out about it, his and Gerald's run in at the lockers, Helga's encounter at the dump (although he didn't tell about what was inside it), and finally, how Helga had tried time and again to be nice to him for a change, but failed miserably because of her own reputation, and finally, how Helga and Silas were now enemies because of what Curly had heard at this same spot in the park.
Silas: "So now, if I say anything else to her about anything, she'll practically kill me."
Arnold was silent for awhile.
Gerald: "Well? Arnold? Say something!"
Arnold: "Silas, why did you tell me this? If she finds out, you're in trouble!"
Silas: (looks down) "I don't care... If you found out from someone else, or nothing had happened, she'd have been just as mean to you as always. Then you'd never have the same feelings back for her."
Arnold: "But, you two hate each other. Why would you want to help her?"
Silas: "I never hated her. I just wanted to see her be a nice person for a change. She could always stand a little lesson in humility. But now that she's not speaking to me anymore..."
Gerald: "What he's trying to say is that he likes her now. Not just likes her, but likes her likes her. The same way you feel for Lila. You're both sick kids, if you ask me." He leaned back on the grass. "And now I'm in trouble, because I stopped her from killing him yesterday, and now I'm telling you everything. If Silas goes down, I'm going down too."
Arnold: "Come on Gerald. It's not that bad. Maybe I can talk to her."
Silas: "About what?"
Arnold: "Not staying mad at you two. I know how she can get sometimes... Silas, you got me in trouble with her, and I realized that when she's mad, she can get pretty tough. But you've stood up to her before. What's the big deal?"
Silas: "If I try that again, two things will happen. Either I'll win against her and she hates me more, or I let her win, and maybe she might realize that I was just trying to help her, and we could be friends..."
Just then Helga and Phoebe came up from over the bridge. Helga was laughing, and Silas had hoped she had forgotten about yesterday... She stopped, however, when she saw the three of them on the bank. Silas and Gerald stood, but Arnold remained sitting, watching them all.
Silas and Gerald: "Maybe we should go, Arnold." They started walking away. Helga ran up to Silas when he was out of earshot of Arnold, and grabbed his arm.
Helga: "Tell me you didn't!"
Silas was silent. Gerald spoke up.
Gerald: "Just talk to him. He'll explain everything."
Helga: "I can't believe this! You too Gerald? Why can't you just leave me alone, Silas?" Silas still remained silent. Phoebe came over and saw the look in Helga's eyes.
Gerald: "Because he's your friend, Helga. Maybe you could take the time to see that!"
Phoebe: "Come on Helga. Perhaps we shouldn't be here." They started to turn around, but saw Arnold coming up to them. Silas and Gerald were off like a shot out of the park. Phoebe saw what was going to happen, and left after them as well. "I'll see you later, Helga. Um..." She looked at Arnold. "Bye."
Helga watched them both leave. She stood there for a long time, her heart beating for what she knew would come.
Arnold: ".................Well, that Silas. What a great guy, huh?"
Helga: (turning to him) "What? Are you kidding?...... Um, so... I hope I didn't interrupt anything here. Maybe I'd better go catch up with Phoebe..."
Arnold: "Helga, Silas told me about everything."
Helga: "Everything? What could you possibly mean by that? Ah ha ha ha.... Uhhhhhh..."
Arnold: "I know why you two were fighting yesterday."
Helga: "Fighting? Us? Why would we do something like that?"
Arnold: "I suppose it's better that he told me about this instead of me hearing it from Curly yesterday."
Helga: "Listen Arnold... I know you think I'm a big mean jerk sometimes, and I would understand it if you......."
Arnold: "What? You think that because of the way you've treated me... the way you always call me football-head, yellow-haired shrimp, that kid with the weird-shaped head, the way you always throw spitwads at me, and make fun of me, and push me down? You think that would make me not like you?"
Helga: "No! Of course not! Why would I think that? It was all in good fun anyway, huh? Ha ha ha..... Um... I just thought..."
Arnold: "Listen to me, Helga. We've known each other for a long time. Even after the way you treated everyone, I knew that inside, there was someone who could really care. Silas told me about that person. I think you are that person."
Helga: "......................... Thanks Arnold... I've been waiting to hear that from you for a long time..."
Arnold: "Then why didn't you ever tell me?"
Helga: ".........I don't know... I guess I just needed to know if you could see how I really felt. I was afraid that if I told you after all this time, that... that you wouldn't even care anymore. I've loved you for a long time, Arnold. I just wasn't sure if you would ever be able to return it..."
Arnold: "Oh..."
They stood there awkwardly for a minute.
Arnold: "Helga, you've always been a good friend to me, even though it didn't seem like it... I've seen what a good person you could be. I.... Uh... That is... In a way, I've always....... loved you too..."
Helga: "You have? Really?"
Arnold: "Sure. You remember the other day in the ice cream shoppe? When I saw you and Silas together, I, uh..... that is, I got a little jealous... I had always thought that I would maybe I would have a chance to be your friend once you you had gotten over torturing me... I guess I was just upset at thinking I had lost my chance..."
Helga: "But........! But what about Lila?"
Arnold: "Lila? Well, I did like her... but lately, it seems like it wasn't going anywhere. She liked me once, but I didn't realize it until it was too late. I guess it wasn't meant to be anyway. After all, it was just because some jerk wrote on the wall that I loved Lila."
Helga: (gulps) "Yeah, a jerk. Huh huh. About the other day, Arnold... I... I was the one who gave you that letter..."
Arnold: "You?"
Helga: "Yeah. I guess..."
Arnold: "I wouldn't have believed it when I first saw... But I'm glad you were thinking of me anyway. Ha ha ha. But, you know... Silas is really hurt now."
Helga: (angry) "Why should I care about him? He lied to me!"
Arnold: "He did it as a friend."
Helga: "Some friend. All he did was dangle the fact that he could tell everyone about me in front of my nose!"
Arnold: "I shouldn't tell you this, but he left today saying how much he liked you. Maybe you two could be friends again."
Helga: (sighs) "Well...... maybe."
Arnold: (smiles) "Yes yes. Well, now that we're both clear on our feelings.... Um... maybe you and I could, um, you know... Do something together sometime?" He held out his hand. "Come on. It's getting pretty late. I'll walk you home."
Helga: (smiles back) "Thanks Arnold." She took his hand, and they walked back across the bridge and out of the park.
Silas didn't see anyone until Monday again. He stayed in his room the entire day Sunday, thinking about how much Helga would pound him on Monday for telling Arnold everything. Would Arnold even accept her? Silas had seen how much they didn't get along. Arnold might laugh at her, thinking her foolish after all she had done... Or maybe he would be surprised, and she would be happy with the one she loves... Well, he'd find out the next day...
Monday comes around. Silas decided to ride his bike to school... It had just been taken out of storage, and it took him about fifteen minutes to get there. The school bus was just arriving when he got there. He parked his bike, and hid behind the wall to see what happened....
Everything looked normal as they all got off the bus. Gerald and Arnold got off first, then a few others, then Curly, his eye looking less puffy than on Friday, and then Helga and Phoebe. Helga looked a bit happier this Monday. Not as angry as normal. Perhaps it had worked... She didn't do anything mean to Arnold yet... Silas stood there as they all walked into the school, and he followed after a few minutes.
The bell was several minutes from ringing, and Silas walked slowly through the halls, watching for anything out of the ordinary. He wasn't expecting someone to push him from behind into the wall. Well, maybe he was, so it didn't surprise him much.
Silas: "Go ahead Helga." He turned around, and saw her glaring angrily at him. "I know what I did. Go ahead and pummel me." Her arms went up, and Silas closed his eyes quickly. What he felt was unexpected. She was actually hugging him! Helga? Here? Where everyone could see?
Helga: (releases him) "Arnold told me about what you said to him. I didn't know you really cared about me."
Silas: "He.... Um, he..." He coughed, and then fell to the floor.
Helga: "Look Silas." She helped him up. "I know how you felt that day in the park. I also know you were just trying to help me. Maybe, we could be friends again."
Silas: "You thought of me as a friend?"
Helga: (pauses) "Well, maybe for awhile there... But I think we can forget what happened."
Silas: "You mean, you don't hate me anymore?"
Helga: "No. You helped bring Arnold and me together. I thought you were just doing it to bother me. But I can see you really cared. Thank you."
Silas: (sighs relief) "Um... Sure. Don't mention it. What're friends for?" He paused. "Since Arnold said what he did, you know how I feel about you. But I won't stand in your way. I'm just glad we can be friends."
The bell rang, and they both walked to class. Silas was still sitting behind Nadine, and he watched Helga and Arnold smile at each other as they sat down. He smiled to himself, knowing that everything was fine between them now.
Nadine turned around to him.
Nadine: "So, Silas. I see everything worked out for the best, huh?"
Silas: "What? I wouldn't know what you're talking about..."
Nadine: "Helga told me all about it that day at the park. Well, anyway... Hey! That new carnival starts this Wednesday! You, um, you wanna go?"
Silas: (looks over at Helga, smiles, and turns back) "Sure Nadine. That would be great!"
-The End