The arms of an angel

Chapter 12:

Need to be freed from the pain I'm going insane, my heart aches.

~All Saints, Never Ever

" What the hell is going on?" Arnold asked.

" Arnold we need to talk," Helga tugged at his arm. She led him to a different aisle.

" What's he's doing holding Trent? And for that matter what's he doing here?"

" We're kind of back together."

" Back together? Helga are you out of your mind! He's gonna hurt you again."

" No he won't. He's changed seriously this time. He's been going to his anger management classes. I know because I drive him there and I pick him up. He's been really sweet to the kids and me. He hasn't raised his voice or lifted a finger at me."

" That doesn't mean anything…"

" It means something to me! Please Arnold try to get along with him."

" But…"

Her blue eyes pleaded with him. He sighed, " All right."

She threw her arms around him, " Thanks Arnold! You're the best!"

She started walking back to her family but he grabbed her arm gently, " But I want you to promise me something."

" What?"

" If he hits you I don't care if it's 2:00 in the morning, I want you and the twins to come to the boarding house promise?"

" Promise. But Arnold that's never going to happen. Now come on."

They walked back to Trent, Jenna, and Chad. Arnold strolled up to him casually with a fake smile plastered across his lips. " Hey Arnold I know we got off on the wrong foot before when we met but I was thinking maybe we could start over. Ya know as friends." Chad said holding out his hand.

He accepted it and they stood there shaking hands, " If you hurt her in anyway there WILL be hell to pay," Arnold said barely above a whispered but putting clear emphasis on his words, " for old time sake the old gang and I are playing football against Wolfgang and his friends and we could really use another player Helga."

" Oh really wow I…we would love to come." she said smiling wide.

" Great we will meet up at the park at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon. See you guys then." he walked away then glanced back, " as long as she's happy." he thought to himself as he watched Chad hoisted Jenna onto his shoulders.

******

" Ya know Arnold he isn't all that bad…" Gerald said. They were bowling and it was an all guy thing. It had been almost 2 months since the football game. Helga and Chad had been spotted around the city together and surprisingly there was no evidence of further abuse. Her family protested for a while but finally settled down when they realized their daughter was apparently in good health. " I still don't trust him. He's just to sly for my tastes."

" You're only saying that because you still have a thing for Helga."

" No saying that because I'm concerned for her safety."

" All this time and he hasn't hit her once."

" You don't know that. What if he has?"

" Yeah and what if he hasn't. You're always pointing out the bad in everyone."

" No not everyone just him."

" You're impossible."

" Hey Arnold you're up." Chad said trotting up to them.

Arnold cast and sidelong glance at Gerald as if saying, " watch him."

" Does he still hate me?" Chad asked folding his arms across his chest.

" Naw he just doesn't trust you."

" What can I do to change that? I don't want anyone to dislike me."

" I'm not sure. He can be really stubborn. Just give him time. You have to grow on him."

On his way home Arnold stopped him, " Listen Chad I don't know what kind of stunt your trying to pull and you may have everyone else in this town charmed over but I'm not that stupid. I know what kind of person you are. BE VERY CAREFUL. I'm watching you," he said then turning and walking away. Chad stared after him for a few minutes. As Arnold's words traveled through his mind he could feel his temper rising. He opened the front door and found Helga on the couch reading. " Hey where are the twins?"

" Upstairs playing with Rocky."

" Oh." he said.

" Your class is about to begin. Are you ready to go?"

" Would it be all right if I didn't go tonight? I have a headache right now and I just don't feel like it."

" Yeah sure honey. Why don't you relax here on the couch and I'll get you something for that headache of yours."

He stretched out on the couch and she walked into the kitchen and got some aspirin. She walked back with a glass of water and the container in her hands. " Here ya go."

" Thanks."

" My poor baby." she said running her fingers through his hair but he gripped her wrist tightly. She yelped in surprise, " what's wrong?"

" That bastard friend of yours." he growled.

" Who Arnold?" she whimpered.

" Yes." he said, his grip tighten.

" What did he do?"
" He's watching me." he spat.

She could feel his fury. It seemed to radiate from his body like an intense force. Fear slowly gripped her. She knew what was about to happen. He was going vent his anger…on her. By instinct she knew she had to get away but he had not yet released her wrist. Silently she prayed for him to let her go or to loosen his grip enough for her to slip her slender wrist out. But that was not to be. He stood yanking her up with him. She cried out as he threw her violently against a nearby wall. She slowly opened her eyes and his immense shadow loomed over her.

*********

" I knew it was too good to be true." Helga thought to herself. She was in the bathroom cleaning her face. Chad was leaning against the doorframe with a small smirk on his lips. He hadn't apologized and it was apparent that he wasn't going to. He wanted to make sure she didn't run away. " You're not getting away from me this time," he had told her. Besides she was too frightened to run. She turned to him and kept her eyes glued to the floor. She knew better than to look him in the eye when he was angry. That was one of the rules he had given her after he had beat her. He wrapped one of his arms around her, " I'm hungry," he said holding her close, " Let's me, you, and the twins go out for dinner."

" Yes…"

" YES WHAT?"

" Yes sir that's fine."

He smiled evilly. He was in complete control and he loved it. As they left, Helga head hung low the whole time. She silently prayed that her life would end right then.