Love me when I'm gone
Chapter 2
Arnold banged the cabinet shut. He was at the boarding house. As he poured himself a cup coffee he stared at the card Helga had given him. It had been almost an hour since the reunion. He had called Helga about 5 times with no answer. He was starting get worried.
" Why am I so worried about her?" he said aloud, " Maybe because you're falling for her stupid."
Arnold sighed and dialed the number on the card again. The cell phone shrieked loudly on the bed. Helga looked in the hotel bathroom mirror. Chad was gone. " Stupid boyfriend." she muttered staring hard at the dark ring forming around her eye. Chad was so angry. He had found out she had turned down an acting job. She couldn't do it the filming was during the reunion. She tried to tell Chad that but he wouldn't listen. He just started hitting her. And he wouldn't stop until Helga managed to crawl and lock her in the closet. While she was in there she called Phoebe and talked to her until Chad got tired of trying to break down the door and left. This wasn't the first time Chad had beaten her. Trying to walk as painlessly as possible Helga made her way to the bed and answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey Helga this is Arnold."
" A….Arnold?"
" Yeah I was just calling to see if you were all right."
"Yeah I'm fine," she said staring at the bruises on her arms.
" I was worried about you."
" Thanks that was really sweet of you."
" Yeah…um listen I was wondering if you would like to go see a movie with me?"
" A movie?"
" Yeah and grab a bite afterwards?"
" Sure sounds great."
" I'll pick you up tomorrow night around eight?"
" Yeah sure see ya then." she turned off the phone and sighed. With tears in her eyes she flung it across the room. Her tears began sliding down her cheeks and splashing on her hands. Chad was sure to find out and beat her again.
" I was such an idiot to accept that date. Why can't I be mean like I use to be? The old Helga would never let Chad push her around. She would defend herself. Oh what's the use? I'm not like that anymore. Being mean and snappy hasn't gotten me anywhere and I've just gotten used to being nice. I can't go back to the way I use to be." Helga got up and wiped her face as the door opened. Chad stepped inside. " Hi Helga. I'm so sorry" He handed a rose. She smiled best she could despite the stinging in her lips and accepted the flower. He gathered her in his arms, " It won't happened again I promise."
Helga scoffed quietly, " where have heard that before?" she thought. He had made that promise a million times before and for a while things would get better but then he would get mad and take it out on Helga.
" Chad…."
" Yeah?"
" I need talk to you about something."
" What baby?" he asked heading for the kitchenette.
" Um tonight my family invited me to have dinner back my house and so I have to cancel our date."
Chad walked towards her and she cowered against the wall.
" It's okay, this is my chance to meet your parents and your sister."
Helga smiled weakly sweat pouring down her face.
" It's okay sweetie." he wiped her face and kissed her forehead.
She sighed heavily. Now there was only problem: How was she going to hide her bruises from her family?