Phoebe could tell from the look on Helga's face that it was Arnold on
the phone-and that it was not good news. Helga's smile turned into a look
of concern as she whispered into the phone. Phoebe strained her ears, but
could not understand what they were saying. She distinctly heard Helga sigh
as she flopped into the chair next to the phone. "Are you certain?" Helga
asked, her eyes hooded. "Yes, yes-I'll tell her. Call back in 5." Helga
hung up the phone and looked to Phoebe, who's eyes dipped deep into
Helga's, understanding quickly dawned on her face as she closed her eyes.
"He's not there." Phoebe said in a calm, tired voice.
"Arnold says his grandparents were bound and gagged when they walked in. The other boarders were all drugged. Phoebe, in order to catch this guy we'll need reinforcements."
"I will see my parents, Helga. But I cannot face Gerald. Once he sees me."
"He'll see what a strong and brave girl he's missing out on. Phoebs, we need his help. He knows how to get to Fuzzy Slippers-Phoebe, we must do this to get justice for you!" Phoebe closed her eyes as she felt her tears starting to boil up. She did not want to appear to be weak. She had to be strong.
The phone rang. Helga's blue eyes were locked upon Phoebe's face as she opened her eyes. Their eyes locked. Helga's hand was on the receiver.
"Tell him to bring Gerald."
~*~*~*~*~
Arnold got off the phone with Helga and dialed Gerald's number. It rang 4 times before a girl answered the phone and mumbled a greeting. "Timberly, I need to talk with Gerald. It's very important." He said with a sigh. The girl on the other end was silent a minute.
"Arnold, something's wrong with Gerald." She finally said. He hasn't eaten all day and all he does is sit in his room and stare out the window. Can you come by and talk with him. He's been like this since he came home." Arnold felt himself nod.
"I'll be over in ten." He said and hung up. He walked quickly to Gerald's house, sighing at the door. He knocked quietly, waiting solemnly for his best friend's sister to answer the door. Timberly slowly opened the door and stepped aside to permit him entrance.
"He's in his room." He nodded in thanks and made his way up to Gerald's room. Gerald lay on his bed; his eyes closed with his headphones on his head. He tapped his fingers slightly with the beat of the music that he heard from the headphones. Arnold came into the room and sat on the bed next to his friend, waiting for Gerald to talk to him.
Gerald was very much aware of the extra weight on the bed beside him. One eye opened up a slit to view his best friend looking out the window- waiting for him to talk. **He'll have to wait a while!** He thought to himself. **I'm not ready to talk.** And his eyes closed again. It wasn't long before his dark eyes opened again to look at his friend again who waited patiently next to him. He didn't want to talk-but what if he had news about Phoebe? Slowly, he sat up and looked at Arnold, turning off his CD player and took off his headphones. "Well?" Came the gruff voice of Gerald. It sounded false, even to himself.
"Phoebe wants to see you." The blonde said simply as he closed his eyes. "But I won't let you." Gerald's eyes locked on Arnold's face turned from soft angry eyes, to shocked wide eyes.
"You what?"
"I'm not letting you go until you become true to yourself and to Phoebe. You can't keep this up with Nadine. You don't love her. You never have. And if I permit you to see Phoebe while she's in this state and you're still with Nadine it will crush her. You're not going there until you make things right as only you can." Arnold's green eyes turned soft as he looked at his bewildered friend. "Gerald, Phoebe's crushed. She only agreed to having you come at Helga's request. You must straighten things." He lifted up the cordless phone from Gerald's nightstand and put it in Gerald's hand. "I'm not letting you come until you do." Gerald looked from Arnold to the phone and back. Brown eyes looked to the floor.
"I don't want to hurt her."
"You'll hurt her more if you don't do the right thing." Arnold watched Gerald nod as he turned the phone on and dialed Nadine's number.
"Hello?" Came her perky voice.
"Nadine, it's Gerald."
"Oh, Gerald! I'm sorry! I was busy with my beetles. How are you? You sound upset... Gerald? Are you there? I can't hear you."
"I'm here."
"What are you doing?"
"Wondering how I'm going to say what I have to say without hurting you and ruining our fragile friendship." He replied softly. Arnold saw how hard this was for him.
"Wh-What?"
"Nadine, we can't do this anymore."
"We can't do what, Gerald?"
"We can't lie to eachother-to ourselves-anymore. We're only fighting the truth, and to fight the truth is to hide behind the lie. I don't want to fight anymore. I don't want to hide anymore. We're not meant to be, Nadine. Surely, you know this. You know I'm not myself without-"
"Without Phoebe." The voice on the other side of the line replied with a heavy sigh. "Oh, Gerald, why did this have to happen? I was so happy with you."
"I can't do this, Nadine. I love Phoebe. I always have. And I have to make things right. Now and forever. Don't hate me."
"I could never hate you. Especially not for being true. Let's just hope this truth is true for yourself." And the line went dead. Gerald's eyes closed briefly as he hung up the phone and replaced the receiver.
"Take me to Phoebe, Arnold. I need to see her now." Arnold nodded and stood, leading his best friend out the door. They took a cab with some money Arnold had been saving (Phoebe must feel pretty special, huh?). It took the cab 15 minutes to get there, and Arnold and Gerald ran straight for the elevator.
Arnold led Gerald to Phoebe's door and there they both hesitated. Was Phoebe really ready for this? Would she scream and yell, or would she be indifferent? Would she invite Gerald into her arms? Gerald sighed as he moved forward and turned the handle to open the door. His eyes locked on the small, petite girl who sat on her hospital bed with half-closed eyes. "Phoebe." Gerald called softly to her as he came in the room. The girl's raven hair flew around her as she whipped her head to the side to see Gerald. Did her eyes deceive her? His eyes were full of more than just concern and friendship. There was also love. Love was very evident in his face. "Oh, Phoebe." He said, shaking his head.
"Gerald." She looked at him with wide eyes. He approached her bed and sat at the foot of it. Phoebe looked nervously around at everyone. No one knew what she'd do to Gerald. Not even she did. With a sigh, she moved to the foot of the bed and wrapped her arms around Gerald's neck, as he shifted to pull her into his embrace. His arms tightened protectively around her as he rocked her back and forth tenderly, whispering things to her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks as he kissed her forehead.
"I'm sorry, Phoebs. I've missed you, Phoebe, and I promise you I'll kill whoever did this to you. I promise." Phoebe backed away from him and wiped her tears from her eyes and looked to Arnold.
"You didn't tell him did you?" Arnold shook his head.
"I didn't feel it was my place." Phoebe sniffled a little then smiled faintly at Arnold then Gerald.
"Then we've a long story to tell you, Gerald. A very long story." Gerald nodded at the tearful Phoebe, as he kisses her hair.
"I'm willing to hear it, if you're willing to give me another shot, Phoebs. I was an idiot. Please forgive me."
"I forgive you, Gerald. Well, I do if you."
"I already did, Phoebs..." She lifted hopeful eyes to him and he smiled at her faintly. Helga looked from the reunited couple to Arnold who stood near her, watching the two with happy eyes. A smile was on his face. Inhaling deeply, Helga decided to be bold. Taking a step closer to Arnold, she slipped her hand into his, but kept her eyes locked on her best friend and Gerald.
Arnold started at the feeling of another hand taking his. His eyes shot down to where his and Helga's hands were joined. She appeared the same, as though nothing strange had happened. It was almost as if she didn't want to appear to have noticed what she'd done. But her hand fit perfectly in his. He was shocked to realize that he didn't want to let go of her. In response to her, he lightly squeezed her hand, but looked forward. Her gaze shifted to him then back to the other couple with a soft grin.
**Yes!**
___________________
Author's note: This is the start of the H/A part! :D Oh, btw, if anyone wishes to post this fic on their page feel free to do so (although I know it's not very good and no one will probably do it.) Just, please, tell me you're going to do it. Thanks a bunch! Hope ya'll liked the Chapter!
~*Crystaltear*~
"He's not there." Phoebe said in a calm, tired voice.
"Arnold says his grandparents were bound and gagged when they walked in. The other boarders were all drugged. Phoebe, in order to catch this guy we'll need reinforcements."
"I will see my parents, Helga. But I cannot face Gerald. Once he sees me."
"He'll see what a strong and brave girl he's missing out on. Phoebs, we need his help. He knows how to get to Fuzzy Slippers-Phoebe, we must do this to get justice for you!" Phoebe closed her eyes as she felt her tears starting to boil up. She did not want to appear to be weak. She had to be strong.
The phone rang. Helga's blue eyes were locked upon Phoebe's face as she opened her eyes. Their eyes locked. Helga's hand was on the receiver.
"Tell him to bring Gerald."
~*~*~*~*~
Arnold got off the phone with Helga and dialed Gerald's number. It rang 4 times before a girl answered the phone and mumbled a greeting. "Timberly, I need to talk with Gerald. It's very important." He said with a sigh. The girl on the other end was silent a minute.
"Arnold, something's wrong with Gerald." She finally said. He hasn't eaten all day and all he does is sit in his room and stare out the window. Can you come by and talk with him. He's been like this since he came home." Arnold felt himself nod.
"I'll be over in ten." He said and hung up. He walked quickly to Gerald's house, sighing at the door. He knocked quietly, waiting solemnly for his best friend's sister to answer the door. Timberly slowly opened the door and stepped aside to permit him entrance.
"He's in his room." He nodded in thanks and made his way up to Gerald's room. Gerald lay on his bed; his eyes closed with his headphones on his head. He tapped his fingers slightly with the beat of the music that he heard from the headphones. Arnold came into the room and sat on the bed next to his friend, waiting for Gerald to talk to him.
Gerald was very much aware of the extra weight on the bed beside him. One eye opened up a slit to view his best friend looking out the window- waiting for him to talk. **He'll have to wait a while!** He thought to himself. **I'm not ready to talk.** And his eyes closed again. It wasn't long before his dark eyes opened again to look at his friend again who waited patiently next to him. He didn't want to talk-but what if he had news about Phoebe? Slowly, he sat up and looked at Arnold, turning off his CD player and took off his headphones. "Well?" Came the gruff voice of Gerald. It sounded false, even to himself.
"Phoebe wants to see you." The blonde said simply as he closed his eyes. "But I won't let you." Gerald's eyes locked on Arnold's face turned from soft angry eyes, to shocked wide eyes.
"You what?"
"I'm not letting you go until you become true to yourself and to Phoebe. You can't keep this up with Nadine. You don't love her. You never have. And if I permit you to see Phoebe while she's in this state and you're still with Nadine it will crush her. You're not going there until you make things right as only you can." Arnold's green eyes turned soft as he looked at his bewildered friend. "Gerald, Phoebe's crushed. She only agreed to having you come at Helga's request. You must straighten things." He lifted up the cordless phone from Gerald's nightstand and put it in Gerald's hand. "I'm not letting you come until you do." Gerald looked from Arnold to the phone and back. Brown eyes looked to the floor.
"I don't want to hurt her."
"You'll hurt her more if you don't do the right thing." Arnold watched Gerald nod as he turned the phone on and dialed Nadine's number.
"Hello?" Came her perky voice.
"Nadine, it's Gerald."
"Oh, Gerald! I'm sorry! I was busy with my beetles. How are you? You sound upset... Gerald? Are you there? I can't hear you."
"I'm here."
"What are you doing?"
"Wondering how I'm going to say what I have to say without hurting you and ruining our fragile friendship." He replied softly. Arnold saw how hard this was for him.
"Wh-What?"
"Nadine, we can't do this anymore."
"We can't do what, Gerald?"
"We can't lie to eachother-to ourselves-anymore. We're only fighting the truth, and to fight the truth is to hide behind the lie. I don't want to fight anymore. I don't want to hide anymore. We're not meant to be, Nadine. Surely, you know this. You know I'm not myself without-"
"Without Phoebe." The voice on the other side of the line replied with a heavy sigh. "Oh, Gerald, why did this have to happen? I was so happy with you."
"I can't do this, Nadine. I love Phoebe. I always have. And I have to make things right. Now and forever. Don't hate me."
"I could never hate you. Especially not for being true. Let's just hope this truth is true for yourself." And the line went dead. Gerald's eyes closed briefly as he hung up the phone and replaced the receiver.
"Take me to Phoebe, Arnold. I need to see her now." Arnold nodded and stood, leading his best friend out the door. They took a cab with some money Arnold had been saving (Phoebe must feel pretty special, huh?). It took the cab 15 minutes to get there, and Arnold and Gerald ran straight for the elevator.
Arnold led Gerald to Phoebe's door and there they both hesitated. Was Phoebe really ready for this? Would she scream and yell, or would she be indifferent? Would she invite Gerald into her arms? Gerald sighed as he moved forward and turned the handle to open the door. His eyes locked on the small, petite girl who sat on her hospital bed with half-closed eyes. "Phoebe." Gerald called softly to her as he came in the room. The girl's raven hair flew around her as she whipped her head to the side to see Gerald. Did her eyes deceive her? His eyes were full of more than just concern and friendship. There was also love. Love was very evident in his face. "Oh, Phoebe." He said, shaking his head.
"Gerald." She looked at him with wide eyes. He approached her bed and sat at the foot of it. Phoebe looked nervously around at everyone. No one knew what she'd do to Gerald. Not even she did. With a sigh, she moved to the foot of the bed and wrapped her arms around Gerald's neck, as he shifted to pull her into his embrace. His arms tightened protectively around her as he rocked her back and forth tenderly, whispering things to her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks as he kissed her forehead.
"I'm sorry, Phoebs. I've missed you, Phoebe, and I promise you I'll kill whoever did this to you. I promise." Phoebe backed away from him and wiped her tears from her eyes and looked to Arnold.
"You didn't tell him did you?" Arnold shook his head.
"I didn't feel it was my place." Phoebe sniffled a little then smiled faintly at Arnold then Gerald.
"Then we've a long story to tell you, Gerald. A very long story." Gerald nodded at the tearful Phoebe, as he kisses her hair.
"I'm willing to hear it, if you're willing to give me another shot, Phoebs. I was an idiot. Please forgive me."
"I forgive you, Gerald. Well, I do if you."
"I already did, Phoebs..." She lifted hopeful eyes to him and he smiled at her faintly. Helga looked from the reunited couple to Arnold who stood near her, watching the two with happy eyes. A smile was on his face. Inhaling deeply, Helga decided to be bold. Taking a step closer to Arnold, she slipped her hand into his, but kept her eyes locked on her best friend and Gerald.
Arnold started at the feeling of another hand taking his. His eyes shot down to where his and Helga's hands were joined. She appeared the same, as though nothing strange had happened. It was almost as if she didn't want to appear to have noticed what she'd done. But her hand fit perfectly in his. He was shocked to realize that he didn't want to let go of her. In response to her, he lightly squeezed her hand, but looked forward. Her gaze shifted to him then back to the other couple with a soft grin.
**Yes!**
___________________
Author's note: This is the start of the H/A part! :D Oh, btw, if anyone wishes to post this fic on their page feel free to do so (although I know it's not very good and no one will probably do it.) Just, please, tell me you're going to do it. Thanks a bunch! Hope ya'll liked the Chapter!
~*Crystaltear*~