Chapter Ten
Reverberations
Helga was in shock for a moment as Phoebe continued sobbing into her shoulder. Finally, she grabbed hold of the girl and put her at arm's length. "Phoebe," she said in a firm tone, trying her hardest to quiet the girl. "Pheebs...are you sure? You're absolutely positive?"
Phoebe nodded through her tears, helplessly trying to wipe them from her cheeks. "I...went to the docter and...everything," she chocked out, trying to calm herself down as well. Her long dark hair was askew and her eyes were red and puffy. This was unbelievable and totally new to Helga. Phoebe had never truly broken down in front of her. Phoebe was always calm and composed.
Despite her urge to hold Phoebe again and comfort her, Helga's anger took over. "What...so you just come crawling back to me the moment you get into trouble? I can't get you out of this, Pheebs. It was your mistake." Helga's words were cold and harsh, spouting off her tongue like poison. Phoebe looked as though she'd just recieved a blow to the face.
"That's not it, Helga..." she whimpered, trying furiously not to cry again. "I--I've been wanting to talk to you for so long. I just found out about a week ago when I took a pregnancy test. I didn't get my period last month and I just wanted to make sure. It turned up positive so I scheduled an appointment. The doctor says I am pregnant. It's definite." Phoebe looked like she was about to crumble once again.
Helga's expression softened by about a fraction. A lot of couples had left upon hearing their conversation. Helga wondered if Phoebe was aware that the whole school would probably know about her pregnancy by Monday. She also wondered if Phoebe cared. "So...you actually did want to talk to me?" Helga asked, raising an eyebrow. She was still being cold towards Phoebe even though the voice of reason in the back of her mind was urging her not to.
"Of course, Helga," Phoebe replied. "I feel terrible about how we've drifted apart over the years. I didn't want it to happen. Highschool's been such a blur to me. All it consists of is going shopping and making appearances at parties and competing with Rhonda in everything I do. It's a nightmare."
Helga was skeptical for a moment, but Phoebe looked dead serious. "OK, Pheebs..." Helga wasn't quite sure what else she could say, but she managed a small smile, and Phoebe looked elated.
"This means so much to me, Helga. I really want us to be friends again, especially after...all that's happened." Phoebe's face clouded over again with sorrow.
"I'll be there for you, Phoebe," Helga confided. "Have...have you told Gerald yet?" Helga figured that it only seemed logical that Phoebe would tell her boyfriend before her old best friend.
However, Phoebe shook her head furiously, sending her raven hair flying. Helga looked incredulous.
"Well, you're going to have to tell him eventually. It's his kid after all," Helga pointed out, but she bit her lip nervously as Phoebe looked away quickly. "Phoebe...it IS his kid...right?"
"It's....it's...not Gerald's," Phoebe said finally, rubbing her hands over her arms as though she were cold, which was impossible considering it was quite warm.
Helga gasped, looking shocked. "Well...who's--who's is it?" she sputtered.
"Can we please not talk about this in more," Phoebe pleaded, her big dark eyes looking up at Helga. They were brimming over with tears once again. Helga really wanted to know more about Phoebe's said pregnancy, but the girl obviously didn't want to continue that particular conversation. So instead, Helga sat down in the sand, leaning against the wooden pillar, and Phoebe joined her. They both watched the final rays of the sun die away below the horizon. Tiki torches were lit down by the party, and people continued to have fun. Helga felt sorry for Phoebe. It was her party and she was having a miserable time.
"So, Pheebs..." Helga started off fresh, "...how's school going?"
And they talked.
As it got darker and darker, Phoebe and Helga continued to talk. Helga would have thought it was like old times--but it wasn't. Helga and Phoebe had never talked so much about anything. Not in their entire relationship as friends before high school.
(Maybe that's why we drifted away...)
The night continued to transpire and progress, and they talked about everything, save for Phoebe's recent news. School. Boys. The days of old. How Rhonda stuffed her bra. A to Z they talked. It felt good, for both of them. Helga felt like they were finally connecting as friends. Helga never realized what an intricate and--well--cool person Phoebe was. They laughed. They shed a few tears at the rare mentions of Arnold. Phoebe revealed how her relationship with Gerald wasn't as picture perfect as everyone was led to believe. They whole time, Helga looked at this amazing girl, her best friend Phoebe, and wondered who was the father of the child growing inside of her. She also wondered if Phoebe would get an abortion. Helga didn't ask.
Finally, Phoebe layed back in the sand and sighed. "Thanks for everything, Helga. I think...maybe things will be OK now." She smiled serenely, closing her eyes, listening to the waves.
"Anytime, Pheebs," Helga said earnestly, watching the waxing crescent above. She couldn't see many stars. "I hope Brainy's OK without me."
Phoebe chuckled. "I'm sure he's made some friends. He seems quite good at that now." Helga felt a stab of jealousy suddenly at any girl that would try anything with Brainy. He was very good-looking now. She wouldn't be surprised if several girls were flocking around him at that exact moment. Helga remembered something suddenly. She turned to Phoebe. "Do you know what time it is?"
Phoebe was about to reply, but a voice beat her to it. "Six o'clock sharp," Sid replied as he stepped out of the shadows, and walked towards them. "Hey you two...haven't seen either of you around the party. Shame shame, Phoebe. This is your little shindig isn't it?" Sid grinned and Phoebe looked slightly embarrassed.
"You're right," she agreed, standing up and looking at Sid. "I'd better be going. I'm sure everyone's wondering where I headed off to. Later, Helga. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow?" Phoebe looked hopeful.
Helga grinned and nodded. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Pheebs. I'll be over in a few." Phoebe smiled back, and ran off. She was now the popular Phoebe again. The flawless and perfect Phoebe. Helga shook her head slightly, not really noticing that Sid had taken the initiative to sit down next to her.
"Hey, babe," he greeted her casually. Helga didn't seem to mind the annoying pet name. Her talk with Phoebe had calmed her down considerably. "I seem to remember a certain someone who wanted to meet me by the dock at six o'clock?"
Helga shook her head again, remembering all too well. "And I seem to remember a certain someone who asked me out a few hours ago," she retorted nonchalantly, shooting Sid a daring smile. Her blonde hair covered her large hazel eyes slightly, and Sid shifted uncomfortably.
"Yeah...about that..." he began. "I know you and Brainy got something going on. I talked to him earlier. He really likes you and all. He's a nice guy, too. I don't want to cause any trouble between you guys." Sid sighed. "Look, Helga. Even if you do like Brainy and the same goes for him, I have to confess: I like you. A whole lot."
Helga tried her hardest to hide her look of amusement. She really did, but the thought of Sid liking her was too much. He could obviously tell that she thought it was funny.
"I'm not kidding!" He said, his voice going about an octave higher. "I do like you, Helga. Ever since middle school when I was on acid at that Gerald's birthday party. I remember puking a whole lot and seeing stuff. Then I blacked out. It was you that took me into the bathroom and plunged my head into the toilet until I came around. You 'member that?" Sid grinned slightly and Helga chuckled at the memory as well.
"Yeah, you stupid fuck," she said, recalling. "Then I had to beat the shit out of you to get you thinking straight. You're so screwed up, Sid." It was Helga's turn to sigh. "I wish you weren't so stupid. I wish you wouldn't do that stuff to yourself. You know it's dumb don't you?"
Sid's face flushed as he looked as though he'd recieved a scolding from his parents. He looked down at the sand. "Yeah...I know. I hear it all the time."
Helga smacked him upside the head as she so often did. "Then why don't you fucking listen?!" she practically yelled. She didn't know why, but tears were streaming down her face. "I care about you, Sid. I wondered what happened to you when you left during middle school. I mean...I knew you got busted for drugs, but I was so afraid you'd gotten yourself into something much worse. We were such good friends in middle school, Sid. I didn't want anything bad to happen to you. I still don't..." Helga pulled her legs up to her chest and placed her chin on her knees. Her vision was becoming blurry because of the tears, but she didn't try to wipe them away. She hugged herself, and she suddenly held the appeal of a small little girl.
Sid looked astonished at her outburst. He'd never realized she'd had such strong feelings for him. Even if they weren't the feeling he was looking for, at least it was a start. Awkwardly, Sid wrapped his arms around Helga. "I'm sorry..." he whispered in her ear. He wanted to stop everything he was doing so that she'd be happy. He wanted to stop doing drugs. He wanted to kiss her.
It's hard to determine exactly what happened them. There was an instant when Helga turned her head to face Sid, dark brown eyes meeting hazel. Then suddenly, they collided. Lips met lips. Neither of them could tell who made the first move, or if a first move had even been made. Nevertheless, they were kissing. And not just kissing, they were KISSING.
As the party raged on in full swing, Sid and Helga became less and less vertical....
Continued in Chapter Eleven. Ooh la la...things are finally spicing up. ^_^
Helga was in shock for a moment as Phoebe continued sobbing into her shoulder. Finally, she grabbed hold of the girl and put her at arm's length. "Phoebe," she said in a firm tone, trying her hardest to quiet the girl. "Pheebs...are you sure? You're absolutely positive?"
Phoebe nodded through her tears, helplessly trying to wipe them from her cheeks. "I...went to the docter and...everything," she chocked out, trying to calm herself down as well. Her long dark hair was askew and her eyes were red and puffy. This was unbelievable and totally new to Helga. Phoebe had never truly broken down in front of her. Phoebe was always calm and composed.
Despite her urge to hold Phoebe again and comfort her, Helga's anger took over. "What...so you just come crawling back to me the moment you get into trouble? I can't get you out of this, Pheebs. It was your mistake." Helga's words were cold and harsh, spouting off her tongue like poison. Phoebe looked as though she'd just recieved a blow to the face.
"That's not it, Helga..." she whimpered, trying furiously not to cry again. "I--I've been wanting to talk to you for so long. I just found out about a week ago when I took a pregnancy test. I didn't get my period last month and I just wanted to make sure. It turned up positive so I scheduled an appointment. The doctor says I am pregnant. It's definite." Phoebe looked like she was about to crumble once again.
Helga's expression softened by about a fraction. A lot of couples had left upon hearing their conversation. Helga wondered if Phoebe was aware that the whole school would probably know about her pregnancy by Monday. She also wondered if Phoebe cared. "So...you actually did want to talk to me?" Helga asked, raising an eyebrow. She was still being cold towards Phoebe even though the voice of reason in the back of her mind was urging her not to.
"Of course, Helga," Phoebe replied. "I feel terrible about how we've drifted apart over the years. I didn't want it to happen. Highschool's been such a blur to me. All it consists of is going shopping and making appearances at parties and competing with Rhonda in everything I do. It's a nightmare."
Helga was skeptical for a moment, but Phoebe looked dead serious. "OK, Pheebs..." Helga wasn't quite sure what else she could say, but she managed a small smile, and Phoebe looked elated.
"This means so much to me, Helga. I really want us to be friends again, especially after...all that's happened." Phoebe's face clouded over again with sorrow.
"I'll be there for you, Phoebe," Helga confided. "Have...have you told Gerald yet?" Helga figured that it only seemed logical that Phoebe would tell her boyfriend before her old best friend.
However, Phoebe shook her head furiously, sending her raven hair flying. Helga looked incredulous.
"Well, you're going to have to tell him eventually. It's his kid after all," Helga pointed out, but she bit her lip nervously as Phoebe looked away quickly. "Phoebe...it IS his kid...right?"
"It's....it's...not Gerald's," Phoebe said finally, rubbing her hands over her arms as though she were cold, which was impossible considering it was quite warm.
Helga gasped, looking shocked. "Well...who's--who's is it?" she sputtered.
"Can we please not talk about this in more," Phoebe pleaded, her big dark eyes looking up at Helga. They were brimming over with tears once again. Helga really wanted to know more about Phoebe's said pregnancy, but the girl obviously didn't want to continue that particular conversation. So instead, Helga sat down in the sand, leaning against the wooden pillar, and Phoebe joined her. They both watched the final rays of the sun die away below the horizon. Tiki torches were lit down by the party, and people continued to have fun. Helga felt sorry for Phoebe. It was her party and she was having a miserable time.
"So, Pheebs..." Helga started off fresh, "...how's school going?"
And they talked.
As it got darker and darker, Phoebe and Helga continued to talk. Helga would have thought it was like old times--but it wasn't. Helga and Phoebe had never talked so much about anything. Not in their entire relationship as friends before high school.
(Maybe that's why we drifted away...)
The night continued to transpire and progress, and they talked about everything, save for Phoebe's recent news. School. Boys. The days of old. How Rhonda stuffed her bra. A to Z they talked. It felt good, for both of them. Helga felt like they were finally connecting as friends. Helga never realized what an intricate and--well--cool person Phoebe was. They laughed. They shed a few tears at the rare mentions of Arnold. Phoebe revealed how her relationship with Gerald wasn't as picture perfect as everyone was led to believe. They whole time, Helga looked at this amazing girl, her best friend Phoebe, and wondered who was the father of the child growing inside of her. She also wondered if Phoebe would get an abortion. Helga didn't ask.
Finally, Phoebe layed back in the sand and sighed. "Thanks for everything, Helga. I think...maybe things will be OK now." She smiled serenely, closing her eyes, listening to the waves.
"Anytime, Pheebs," Helga said earnestly, watching the waxing crescent above. She couldn't see many stars. "I hope Brainy's OK without me."
Phoebe chuckled. "I'm sure he's made some friends. He seems quite good at that now." Helga felt a stab of jealousy suddenly at any girl that would try anything with Brainy. He was very good-looking now. She wouldn't be surprised if several girls were flocking around him at that exact moment. Helga remembered something suddenly. She turned to Phoebe. "Do you know what time it is?"
Phoebe was about to reply, but a voice beat her to it. "Six o'clock sharp," Sid replied as he stepped out of the shadows, and walked towards them. "Hey you two...haven't seen either of you around the party. Shame shame, Phoebe. This is your little shindig isn't it?" Sid grinned and Phoebe looked slightly embarrassed.
"You're right," she agreed, standing up and looking at Sid. "I'd better be going. I'm sure everyone's wondering where I headed off to. Later, Helga. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow?" Phoebe looked hopeful.
Helga grinned and nodded. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Pheebs. I'll be over in a few." Phoebe smiled back, and ran off. She was now the popular Phoebe again. The flawless and perfect Phoebe. Helga shook her head slightly, not really noticing that Sid had taken the initiative to sit down next to her.
"Hey, babe," he greeted her casually. Helga didn't seem to mind the annoying pet name. Her talk with Phoebe had calmed her down considerably. "I seem to remember a certain someone who wanted to meet me by the dock at six o'clock?"
Helga shook her head again, remembering all too well. "And I seem to remember a certain someone who asked me out a few hours ago," she retorted nonchalantly, shooting Sid a daring smile. Her blonde hair covered her large hazel eyes slightly, and Sid shifted uncomfortably.
"Yeah...about that..." he began. "I know you and Brainy got something going on. I talked to him earlier. He really likes you and all. He's a nice guy, too. I don't want to cause any trouble between you guys." Sid sighed. "Look, Helga. Even if you do like Brainy and the same goes for him, I have to confess: I like you. A whole lot."
Helga tried her hardest to hide her look of amusement. She really did, but the thought of Sid liking her was too much. He could obviously tell that she thought it was funny.
"I'm not kidding!" He said, his voice going about an octave higher. "I do like you, Helga. Ever since middle school when I was on acid at that Gerald's birthday party. I remember puking a whole lot and seeing stuff. Then I blacked out. It was you that took me into the bathroom and plunged my head into the toilet until I came around. You 'member that?" Sid grinned slightly and Helga chuckled at the memory as well.
"Yeah, you stupid fuck," she said, recalling. "Then I had to beat the shit out of you to get you thinking straight. You're so screwed up, Sid." It was Helga's turn to sigh. "I wish you weren't so stupid. I wish you wouldn't do that stuff to yourself. You know it's dumb don't you?"
Sid's face flushed as he looked as though he'd recieved a scolding from his parents. He looked down at the sand. "Yeah...I know. I hear it all the time."
Helga smacked him upside the head as she so often did. "Then why don't you fucking listen?!" she practically yelled. She didn't know why, but tears were streaming down her face. "I care about you, Sid. I wondered what happened to you when you left during middle school. I mean...I knew you got busted for drugs, but I was so afraid you'd gotten yourself into something much worse. We were such good friends in middle school, Sid. I didn't want anything bad to happen to you. I still don't..." Helga pulled her legs up to her chest and placed her chin on her knees. Her vision was becoming blurry because of the tears, but she didn't try to wipe them away. She hugged herself, and she suddenly held the appeal of a small little girl.
Sid looked astonished at her outburst. He'd never realized she'd had such strong feelings for him. Even if they weren't the feeling he was looking for, at least it was a start. Awkwardly, Sid wrapped his arms around Helga. "I'm sorry..." he whispered in her ear. He wanted to stop everything he was doing so that she'd be happy. He wanted to stop doing drugs. He wanted to kiss her.
It's hard to determine exactly what happened them. There was an instant when Helga turned her head to face Sid, dark brown eyes meeting hazel. Then suddenly, they collided. Lips met lips. Neither of them could tell who made the first move, or if a first move had even been made. Nevertheless, they were kissing. And not just kissing, they were KISSING.
As the party raged on in full swing, Sid and Helga became less and less vertical....
Continued in Chapter Eleven. Ooh la la...things are finally spicing up. ^_^