Day Two
Arnold's POV
The next day went kind of slow I only saw Helga once or twice, the first time was on the way to school. She was walking next to Phoebe, she looked like she had been crying. I was just about to say something to her when Lila called me.
"Oh Arnold dear can you come here." Helga looks at Lila with such hate when I walked over to Lila.
"Sure Lila, here I come," Lila was standing with Rhonda. They had become best friend since Lila's grandmother died and left her all of her money that was more then even Rhonda had. "What did you want Lila"
"Oh yes, well, Arnold I was thinking about our relationship and I ever so don't think it's working out. I know you have been ever so drooling over me for years but this relationship is ever so cutting majorly into my social life. I'm ever so sorry Arnold."
I didn't know what to say or feel, my mind told me to get mad because I was getting dumped, but she was the one who begged me to date her. I mean I had finally gotten over her, and here she comes asking me to date her. OK, let me stop, that's a long story and I really don't want to get in to that right now. So don't ask me to. Anyway I didn't feel like getting mad at her will be the right thing to fell. Actually, I was kind of happy she broke up with me. I don't know why though, guess I was tried of her annoying way of doing basically everything.
"Hello? Arnold are you ever so there?" Lila said waving her hand in my face.
"Oh, Lila, sorry I must of spaced out." She gave me this 'oh you poor thing' look. It was repulsive.
"Yes Arnold I can see why you would 'space out'. The girl who you had the ever so biggest crush on is dumping you, I know it hurts Arnold but go on. I'm not your whole life Arnold. You should go out and explore the world. I would die if anyone every did that to me, not that they would." She padded me on the shoulder and walked away with Rhonda even before I could respond. Can you believe that Lila thought I was depressed because she broke up with me? Oh was she wrong, but I let it go.
"Hey Arnold my man, wha's up man?" Gerald said while we did are handshake.
"Hey Gerald nothing much just thinking." I replied as we walked towards the building.
"About Helga?" He said with a mischievous smile.
"No Gerald, I was really thinking about Lila." I said as I ran my hand through my hair.
"That's a name I ain't heard in a while. I thought Lila was out since Helga walked in." He said while laughing and pointing at me.
"HA HA very funny, Gerald I don't care about Helga. I don't know how many times I have to tell you that, man." I said with a bit of an attitude.
"All right man you ain't got to get so touchy."
"I don't think I was being touchy about it, I was just saying that I don't care about her that's all man"
"OK man what ever, lets just go to class"
"OK Gerald" But as I started to walk into the building, I saw her she was walking so slowly. Her and Phoebe were walking together, she looked so sad I just couldn't believe it was because of me. No it wasn't my fault it was her fault, yeah all her fault.
"Arnold you're staring at her" Gerald said breaking my thought.
"Oh no I was just looking that way, oh what ever lets go."
No one's POV
"OK class we will be starting on the Revolutionary War. All right lets see who's been studying," Mr. Person said as he looked around the class. "Ah Ms. Pataki would you care to tell me the year the War took place?"
Helga thought for awhile, "Your the teacher you tell me" the class began to laugh at her statement.
"Ms.Pataki this is not like you is there something wrong?"
"Nothing you can help with" Helga replied sounding very melancholy, but the bell rung before Mr. Person could respond. The kids poured out of the class heading to the next. Helga's next class was Poetry, all of the gang had that class it was the only one they all had together. Helga walked to her locker not looking at where she was going. Next thing you know she walked right in to Harold.
"Hey watch where you're going girl" Everyone stopped and turned expecting to see a fight. Helga picked up her books and dusted her pants off and straitens her shirt. Helga opened her mouth the entire hall went quiet expecting the worse.
"I'm sorry Harold I didn't see you" she said with a weak smile that she forced. Everyone just looked at each other in disbelief. Arnold was among the crowed and was as clueless as the rest as to why she didn't rearrange Harold's face. He just watched her walk away, he soon followed considering they had the same class. When he got to his class he saw that everyone was there, but only one person was missing Helga. He thought she would be there before him, but she wasn't there. Arnold went to sit down next to Sid and Stinky, ten minutes later Helga walked in. Everyone stared at her because she usual was first in class besides Lila (who continues to keep up the good girl act even thought she's a rich snob.) and Phoebe. Helga slowly walked to her seat everyone followed her with their eyes. Ms. Martinez walked in shortly after Helga, who was a very pretty young Latino woman. She was mostly everyone's favorite teacher, and mostly ever boy's crash. She had long black hair that she wore up in a bun, but two or three strands of hair would always escape.
"OK clase (For those unfortunate ones that's Spanish) we will began with to work on something Nuevo, new. I know that all of you are very good writer and can do really bueno, well by yourselves, pero, but I want you all to work juntos, together. OK the asingacion, assignment will be for tu, you to write a poem on the way your vida, life and where you want to go in life. Tomo no I will not take life historias, stories. Is that claro, clear?" Yea's and yes's started to break from the kids. "Bueno, all right let me give you your socio, partner." She turned around and grabbed a sheet of paper off of her desk. Then turned back to see a lot of anxious faces. "OK First group is Sid and Rhonda, Stinky and Lila, Harold and Nadine, Sheena and Eugene, Gerald and Phoebe, Curly and Shirly how about that Shirly and Curly." She and the classed laughed but she quickly returned to her list. " Lorenzo and Jennifer, Christopher and Laura, Carols and.........."
But before she could finish, she was rudely cut off.
"It is Charles, Ms. Martinez Charles not Carols." She looked at him with a look of care.
"Yes I know Charles, pero I was saying your name." Charles looked like he was going to explode when Arnold called him.
"Hey Charles, she's right she was saying your name"
"What you too Arnold?"
"No Charles, Carols is how they say Charles in Spanish. (Bet you did know that) So she was saying your name only in a different language see?"
"Oh now I see I'm sorry Ms. Martinez, I didn't know" Ms. Martinez nodded at Arnold for coming to her rescue.
"That is quit OK Carols los sientos Charles. Anyway to get lomo, back to what I was doing. Carols and Alex, and last but not lease Helga and Arnold." Helga's head quickly shot up at this, she stood up and protested.
"NO I CAN NOT WORK WITH HIM," she shouted "PLEASE MS.MARTINAZ CAN I HAVE ANOTHER PARTNER." Arnold also stood up also to protest.
" Ms. Martinez I can not work with that woman," he said pointing at her still looking at his superior. " She mean, pushy and too demanding, I can not, will not work with her." Before Ms. Martinez could respond Helga was right in Arnold's face.
"Who you calling pushy, bucko."
"You, and don't call me bucko. My name is Arnold, A R N O L D, Arnold, got it."
"No I don't got it, and I'll damn well call you want ever the hell I fell like football geek."
"You know what you blonde hair freak that's it you have pushed the last, football geek, head whatever you call me, in my face it's over sister all over."
"Oh and just what are you going to do about it FOOT BALL HEAD." Arnold just looked at her. "Exactly I know you couldn't do nothing, because your nothing more then a football headed freak with no parents." Everyone just stared at her because she had gone there. Arnold had a rage in his eyes that would have made the devil go strait.
" Helga you nothing more then an obsessive, pushy, mean, demanding bitch. And I might not have parents but with the ones you got I would wish to be an orphan. Hell you wonder why they don't love you Helga because they know your good for nothing. Your nothing but talk, your nothing Helga and you'll always be nothing. You know sometimes I wish I never had met you Helga G. Pataki maybe my life would had been so much better." Arnold lowered his voice so only she could hear. "And it wasn't Lila that made me leave. It was you."
Helga was taking everything with out crying although it hurt her till the point she just wanted to die, but when he said that she just couldn't hold back. Tears stared to flow down Helga's soft skin. Helga was sobbing so hard that her sight was hardly useable, she fell to the ground grabbing her face. Arnold just stood there standing over her like she was a bug he had just killed. Helga felt hands on her shoulders she knew it was Phoebe. She lifted Helga off the ground and out the door. Helga sobs could be heard all the way down the west hall, everyone came to the door to see what had happened. Phoebe walked Helga to the nearest bathroom to try to calm her down. She opened the door and two girls where smoking, when they saw Helga they just stared at her. Phoebe looked very annoyed with them
"Can you please excuse us" the girls began to walk out the door, we they left Phoebe set Helga in the chair in the corner. She gave her some tissue, and rubbed her shoulders.
"Helga please stop crying" Helga's sobs only got louder. "Helga stop crying it won't help to just give you self a head ache. Helga stop crying a little and looked at Phoebe "OK that's better now Helga I'm sure Arnold didn't mean any of those things you parents love you. And you are something you something special." Helga looked Phoebe in the eye
"Pheebs that's not what made me cry."
"What did Helga what did he say?" Helga tried to talk will she cried.
"He said that that Lila wasn't th the re re reasoned he left th that day. He he he said th that it w w wa was me." Helga began to cry harder at her last word.
Arnold's POV
I know that what I said to Helga was a lie, everything I said to her was a lie. I know there was no way she was going to forgive me. Anyway right after Helga and Phoebe walked out the room Gerald grabbed my arm.
"Man what is up with you are you crazy. Why did you tell her that man that was low." I opened my mouth to speak when Ms. Martinez called me up to her desk.
"Arnold Please come here." She looked very disappointed.
As I was walking up to her desk all I heard was "jerk!" "asshole!" "prick!" I don't know why all of them are ganging up on me she insulted first. Anyway when I got to Ms. Martinez desk she looked down at her desk then looked up.
"Arnold I am very shocked at your comportamiento, behavior today. I am afraid I have to give you detention for a month." I couldn't believe what I was hearing I was getting detention because of Helga.
"But what about Helga, I'm the only one that has to suffer?"
"No Arnold she will also be in detention. Only she will go on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and you will go Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. OK." I nodded and went back to my seat, but before I could sit down the bell rung. I slowly grabbed my stuff and walking to my next class.
Gerald didn't say a word to me at all, which was a little weird because Gerald was never quiet, so I decided to break the silence.
"Gerald are you sure we got that test today, I'm not sure?" Gerald just made a little hump sound and kept walking. "Gerald you can't possibly be mad at me she was in the wrong as much as me." Gerald said nothing and walked in the class.
When I got to my seat Helga and Phoebe walked in, Helga's eyes were blood red and had a tissue in her hand. She sat in her seat that was next to Gerald and slouched down in her seat. Mr. B walked in seconds later.
"OK science bugs I got some good news and so bad. Naturally you want to hear the bad first so here goes, No test today isn't that horrible." The class started to cheer happily, only person who was upset was Phoebe. "Yes I feel your pain, anyway the good news is I have replaced the test with a project." The class cheers quickly became whines most coming from Harold.
"Aw another project I think my head's going to explode MOMMY" Mr. B turned to Harold.
"Harold I assure you that your head is not going to explode" Harold gave a sigh of relief, Mr. B quickly continued "Now the project is to grow a one celled organism and to........" Mr. B continued to tell about the project Gerald kept looking at me and shaking his head. I began to think that maybe I was wrong to tell Helga she was why I left even though it was a lie.
"Oh yea" Mr. B said interrupting my thought. "And this is a group project, figured that would be fun. Anyway your partner is the person sitting next to you. Isn't that great?" I guess I'm OK with that because I was sitting next to this kid named Thomas he was OK in Bio. I turned to see what Gerald was doing and he was looking very happy.
"What are you so happy about" "
I am happy because I got Helga, who is the smartest person in Biology, as a partner not that you would care about Helga." I wanted to tell Gerald that he was wrong to say that she was the smartest, because I was. But what he said about me not caring was wrong, but I couldn't tell him that.
"Yea whatever Gerald." I turned back to Thomas who was looking at me like I had just murdered a kid or something. I figured he had found out about what I said to Helga. I wanted to apologize but my pride wouldn't let me, you see I'm not the same kid who always apologize when he's wrong. I have grown an ego and got some pride, I guess I got that from Gerald.
When class was over I was so tired and ready to go home, but I still had one class left. I was walking to my locker when Gerald pulled me into the janitor's closet. He pushed me up against the wall, I hit my head a little.
"What is wrong with you Gerald." I said rubbing the back of my head.
"You know what's wrong with me."
"No, I don't, I wouldn't have asked if I did.."
"Well I know you know that you know, you know what I'm talking about"
"Wait, what, Gerald what are you talking about?"
"Oh you know what I'm talking about, don't play stupid."
"Gerald," I said in frustration. " I'm not playing stupid"
"Yea ,I know, you are stupid."
"What, no I'm not if anyone's stupid it's you!"
"Me?" Gerald said pointing to himself. " I know you did not just not call the sexy black man stupid. I should slap ya but I won't cause I like ya. And I ain't stupid just though you should know."
"Gerald this is stupid, what do you want?"
Oh yea, um, you know what I'm talking about." I hit my forehead, then I put both hands on Gerald's shoulders looked him strait in the eye.
"Gerald I have no idea what in the blue hell you are talking about. I know you need help, but could you please tell me what you are trying to say. Take your time if you need to." Gerald stood there with his mouth open for a minute. He slowly brought his hand up to his nose and held it with the index and thumb, while the rest stood strait up in the air. Then he put is left arm around his chest, he started making weird noises then he started to cry.
"I can not believe this I come in here to tell you about Helga and how you need to talk to her. And you in here call me names and talkin bout me, and you know I'm sensitive. You jerk." Gerald sound like that thing that comes on TV when there's a storm. You know that Television Broadcast System thing, you know, when their like this is only a test then this long beep comes on for like 15 minutes. Well that was how Gerald cried. Then he looked back at me
"I guess you just in a roll today buddy, hey I made Helga cry why not Gerald."
"Gerald stop crying you cry in horribly annoying." that only made him cry worse. "Gerald come on tell me what you were going to say." Gerald turned his back to me. "Come on I'm sorry" He turned around.
"OK, I guess I can tell you. You know that I have Helga as a science partner, right?" I nodded. "Well she ain't actin' right."
"OK what does that have to do with me?"
"Because it's your fault she actin' like tha'."
"How is this my fault she's the one acting like she depressed."
" It's yo fault cause you denied her, you called her worthless, you said nobody cared for her, and last but not least you called her a bitch."
"OK so it's still not my fault."
"You know you wrong Arnold, I'm going home. Goodbye."
"Gerald your not going home you still have one class left, which I am sure you made me late for." Gerald squinted his eyes and turned his head to the side,
"Yea you right, but I ain't make you late. You made yo self late, cause you was bein an ass clown."
"How was I being an ass clown when you were the one crying like a girl."
"Hey," Gerald said while pointing at me. "That is not womanly, I am just sensitive. And besides women like that you should try it sometimes."
"You now what Gerald," I said as I pushed Gerald to the side. " I'm out of here I don't have to listen to this." I reached to open the door, but Gerald gripped my arm looked me strait in the face. "Arnold I'm serious you really need to talk to her, cause I know whatever you said to her hurt her deeply man. I not playin, and plus my grade is riding on you come to the realization that you was wrong." I thought about what Gerald said for a while, but then I just left. I was walking to my next class when Lila bummed into me. I turned and looked at her.
'Now what the hell does she want' I said to myself. She most of read my face.
"Arnold I know I probably the last person you want to see. But I ever so need to talk to you."
"About what you already dumped me what else can you want." As I finish what I was saying Gerald turned and looked at me with a very disgusted look. "You know you wrong man, talkin to Lila. But anyway you better talk to Helga I'm not playin wi cha. Cause you know I will wup yo ass if I fail Biology because of you". I could see it all over his face, but I turned and he kept walking. I turned back to Lila she was looking at Gerald, then she turned back to me.
" OK, anyway Arnold what I wanted to talk to you about was well Helga." I wasn't looking at her but when she said that my head turned to her very quickly. Of all the thing she wanted to talk about she wanted to talk about her, my mouth dropped.
"Um, Arnold can you ever so close your mouth, something might fly in." I did.
"Why do you want to talk about 'her' of all people." Lila lowered her head and played with her fingers.
"Because Arnold, I know why you said all those things to her was because of me. I know that you were upset about me dump you, and you got a little angry with her. I can understand but you didn't have to tell her the truth. Just because you where upset about me dumping you, you didn't have to take it out on Helga." I was literally appalled I couldn't not believe what I was hearing. I wanted to tell Lila that everything I said was a lie, even the part about her. But I couldn't.
"Lila I am not depressed over you, as a matter of fact I'm happy that you broke up with me I just hate you didn't do it sooner, maybe I would have given in to Helga." I quickly slapped my hands over my mouth. Lila got this mischievous look on her face when I said that.
"What was that Arnold, what would you have been giving in to?" I put my hands in my pockets and glazed at the ceiling.
"Oh nothing I didn't say anything about Helga"
"Oh yes you did Arnold you said that if I wasn't dating you, you would have giving in to Helga."
"Oh that, I was talking about tutoring in," I stopped to think of what class to lie about. Then I thought about what Gerald had said about Helga being the smartest in Bio. "in Biology. Yea that's it Biology." Lila looked at me like she couldn't believe what a bad lair I was.
"Arnold I'm not stupid I know what you wanted." She stepped up close stood on her toes and whispered in my ear, "Sex" I heard her lick her lips, then she kissed me on the lips and walked away.
"Arnold what are you doing in this hall you have missed thirty minutes if class." Mr. Johnson, the principal, said as he walk towered me.
"Oh Mr. J, I was just walking to class I had misplace an assignment and I was looking for it in my locker, but unfortunately I couldn't find it." I look at him with fake tears in my eyes. "And I worked so hard in it." Mr. J was actually falling for this he walked up to me and grabbed my shoulders.
"Oh that's OK my boy. I'll walk you to class and explain the whole thing to you teacher. OK?" I nodded. Luckily my last class was art, and I had to have a model do. So when Mr. J and I got to my class, he explained that I had misplaced my project. I tried to look as sad as possible.
" Ms. Buckley I am so sorry I couldn't turn my model in on time. And I worked so hard on it." I was crying fake tears she was falling for it too, but my classmates weren't. Anyway I got an extension on the model, then the bell rung and school was out. I had no idea what I was going to do on a Friday with no friends. I was the most hated person in school, and Gerald was mad at me so I guess I'll stay home tonight.
When I got home Gerald was sitting on my steps. "What are you doing here I thought you hated me?" I said while I walked pass him, and opened the door. He got up and walked behind me too my room.
"I'm am mad at you, but I considered that half the city was too. So I decided to put it aside fo the time being."
"Oh thanks for the pity I really needed it. I feel a lot better now." I said opening my door to my room. Gerald walked in behind me and jumped on my couch. He picked up my Sports Illustrated off the floor then he looked at me.
"What did Lila want?"
"Oh that well she," I laid on my bed. "wanted to talk to me about Helga."
"Helga, what she want to talk bout her fo?" Gerald turned the page of the magazine.
"Well it looks like she thinks that I said what I said to her was because I was upset about getting dumped. And just because I was mad at her I didn't have to tell Helga the truth."
Gerald looked up at me, "She think yawl argument was because of her. And yawl call me self- centered." I thought about what he said then I went back to my story.
"Anyway, I got mad at her for thinking I was mad over her, so I say 'Lila I'm not depressed over you as a matter of fact I'm happy you broke up with me. I just hate you did do it sooner, maybe I would have givin into Helga.'" Gerald dropped the magazine and looked me right in the eye.
"You told Lila" I nodded. "Are you trying to kill Helga, man you know they hate each otha."
"I know man I was just talking and it sort of came out."
"You are a dumb ass, you know that right? Because I was just letting you know in case you didn't know."
"Yea I know Gerald."
"Because if you already knew you was a dumb ass, I didn't have to tell you. Because you would had already known."
"I get it Gerald. Anyway I didn't tell her exactly. You see she was like what didn't you give into , and I was all like nothing I ain't say nothing about Helga. Then she was like naw you said that if me and you wasn't dating, you would have givin into Helga." I continued to tell Gerald what happen, till I got to the part where Lila kissed me.
"You let Lila kiss you, I can not believe my sexy black ears."
"Man, I didn't let her kiss me, she caught me off guard. I wasn' t expecting it."
"Yea, she might have kissed you off guard but, what about you tellin' her you almost had sex wit Helga. Almost being the key word."
"Man will you shut up about that, it was yesterday."
"Yea you telling me to shut up cause you know I'm right. Gone pass up a good-"
"Gerald!!!!!!!"
Arnold's POV
The next day went kind of slow I only saw Helga once or twice, the first time was on the way to school. She was walking next to Phoebe, she looked like she had been crying. I was just about to say something to her when Lila called me.
"Oh Arnold dear can you come here." Helga looks at Lila with such hate when I walked over to Lila.
"Sure Lila, here I come," Lila was standing with Rhonda. They had become best friend since Lila's grandmother died and left her all of her money that was more then even Rhonda had. "What did you want Lila"
"Oh yes, well, Arnold I was thinking about our relationship and I ever so don't think it's working out. I know you have been ever so drooling over me for years but this relationship is ever so cutting majorly into my social life. I'm ever so sorry Arnold."
I didn't know what to say or feel, my mind told me to get mad because I was getting dumped, but she was the one who begged me to date her. I mean I had finally gotten over her, and here she comes asking me to date her. OK, let me stop, that's a long story and I really don't want to get in to that right now. So don't ask me to. Anyway I didn't feel like getting mad at her will be the right thing to fell. Actually, I was kind of happy she broke up with me. I don't know why though, guess I was tried of her annoying way of doing basically everything.
"Hello? Arnold are you ever so there?" Lila said waving her hand in my face.
"Oh, Lila, sorry I must of spaced out." She gave me this 'oh you poor thing' look. It was repulsive.
"Yes Arnold I can see why you would 'space out'. The girl who you had the ever so biggest crush on is dumping you, I know it hurts Arnold but go on. I'm not your whole life Arnold. You should go out and explore the world. I would die if anyone every did that to me, not that they would." She padded me on the shoulder and walked away with Rhonda even before I could respond. Can you believe that Lila thought I was depressed because she broke up with me? Oh was she wrong, but I let it go.
"Hey Arnold my man, wha's up man?" Gerald said while we did are handshake.
"Hey Gerald nothing much just thinking." I replied as we walked towards the building.
"About Helga?" He said with a mischievous smile.
"No Gerald, I was really thinking about Lila." I said as I ran my hand through my hair.
"That's a name I ain't heard in a while. I thought Lila was out since Helga walked in." He said while laughing and pointing at me.
"HA HA very funny, Gerald I don't care about Helga. I don't know how many times I have to tell you that, man." I said with a bit of an attitude.
"All right man you ain't got to get so touchy."
"I don't think I was being touchy about it, I was just saying that I don't care about her that's all man"
"OK man what ever, lets just go to class"
"OK Gerald" But as I started to walk into the building, I saw her she was walking so slowly. Her and Phoebe were walking together, she looked so sad I just couldn't believe it was because of me. No it wasn't my fault it was her fault, yeah all her fault.
"Arnold you're staring at her" Gerald said breaking my thought.
"Oh no I was just looking that way, oh what ever lets go."
No one's POV
"OK class we will be starting on the Revolutionary War. All right lets see who's been studying," Mr. Person said as he looked around the class. "Ah Ms. Pataki would you care to tell me the year the War took place?"
Helga thought for awhile, "Your the teacher you tell me" the class began to laugh at her statement.
"Ms.Pataki this is not like you is there something wrong?"
"Nothing you can help with" Helga replied sounding very melancholy, but the bell rung before Mr. Person could respond. The kids poured out of the class heading to the next. Helga's next class was Poetry, all of the gang had that class it was the only one they all had together. Helga walked to her locker not looking at where she was going. Next thing you know she walked right in to Harold.
"Hey watch where you're going girl" Everyone stopped and turned expecting to see a fight. Helga picked up her books and dusted her pants off and straitens her shirt. Helga opened her mouth the entire hall went quiet expecting the worse.
"I'm sorry Harold I didn't see you" she said with a weak smile that she forced. Everyone just looked at each other in disbelief. Arnold was among the crowed and was as clueless as the rest as to why she didn't rearrange Harold's face. He just watched her walk away, he soon followed considering they had the same class. When he got to his class he saw that everyone was there, but only one person was missing Helga. He thought she would be there before him, but she wasn't there. Arnold went to sit down next to Sid and Stinky, ten minutes later Helga walked in. Everyone stared at her because she usual was first in class besides Lila (who continues to keep up the good girl act even thought she's a rich snob.) and Phoebe. Helga slowly walked to her seat everyone followed her with their eyes. Ms. Martinez walked in shortly after Helga, who was a very pretty young Latino woman. She was mostly everyone's favorite teacher, and mostly ever boy's crash. She had long black hair that she wore up in a bun, but two or three strands of hair would always escape.
"OK clase (For those unfortunate ones that's Spanish) we will began with to work on something Nuevo, new. I know that all of you are very good writer and can do really bueno, well by yourselves, pero, but I want you all to work juntos, together. OK the asingacion, assignment will be for tu, you to write a poem on the way your vida, life and where you want to go in life. Tomo no I will not take life historias, stories. Is that claro, clear?" Yea's and yes's started to break from the kids. "Bueno, all right let me give you your socio, partner." She turned around and grabbed a sheet of paper off of her desk. Then turned back to see a lot of anxious faces. "OK First group is Sid and Rhonda, Stinky and Lila, Harold and Nadine, Sheena and Eugene, Gerald and Phoebe, Curly and Shirly how about that Shirly and Curly." She and the classed laughed but she quickly returned to her list. " Lorenzo and Jennifer, Christopher and Laura, Carols and.........."
But before she could finish, she was rudely cut off.
"It is Charles, Ms. Martinez Charles not Carols." She looked at him with a look of care.
"Yes I know Charles, pero I was saying your name." Charles looked like he was going to explode when Arnold called him.
"Hey Charles, she's right she was saying your name"
"What you too Arnold?"
"No Charles, Carols is how they say Charles in Spanish. (Bet you did know that) So she was saying your name only in a different language see?"
"Oh now I see I'm sorry Ms. Martinez, I didn't know" Ms. Martinez nodded at Arnold for coming to her rescue.
"That is quit OK Carols los sientos Charles. Anyway to get lomo, back to what I was doing. Carols and Alex, and last but not lease Helga and Arnold." Helga's head quickly shot up at this, she stood up and protested.
"NO I CAN NOT WORK WITH HIM," she shouted "PLEASE MS.MARTINAZ CAN I HAVE ANOTHER PARTNER." Arnold also stood up also to protest.
" Ms. Martinez I can not work with that woman," he said pointing at her still looking at his superior. " She mean, pushy and too demanding, I can not, will not work with her." Before Ms. Martinez could respond Helga was right in Arnold's face.
"Who you calling pushy, bucko."
"You, and don't call me bucko. My name is Arnold, A R N O L D, Arnold, got it."
"No I don't got it, and I'll damn well call you want ever the hell I fell like football geek."
"You know what you blonde hair freak that's it you have pushed the last, football geek, head whatever you call me, in my face it's over sister all over."
"Oh and just what are you going to do about it FOOT BALL HEAD." Arnold just looked at her. "Exactly I know you couldn't do nothing, because your nothing more then a football headed freak with no parents." Everyone just stared at her because she had gone there. Arnold had a rage in his eyes that would have made the devil go strait.
" Helga you nothing more then an obsessive, pushy, mean, demanding bitch. And I might not have parents but with the ones you got I would wish to be an orphan. Hell you wonder why they don't love you Helga because they know your good for nothing. Your nothing but talk, your nothing Helga and you'll always be nothing. You know sometimes I wish I never had met you Helga G. Pataki maybe my life would had been so much better." Arnold lowered his voice so only she could hear. "And it wasn't Lila that made me leave. It was you."
Helga was taking everything with out crying although it hurt her till the point she just wanted to die, but when he said that she just couldn't hold back. Tears stared to flow down Helga's soft skin. Helga was sobbing so hard that her sight was hardly useable, she fell to the ground grabbing her face. Arnold just stood there standing over her like she was a bug he had just killed. Helga felt hands on her shoulders she knew it was Phoebe. She lifted Helga off the ground and out the door. Helga sobs could be heard all the way down the west hall, everyone came to the door to see what had happened. Phoebe walked Helga to the nearest bathroom to try to calm her down. She opened the door and two girls where smoking, when they saw Helga they just stared at her. Phoebe looked very annoyed with them
"Can you please excuse us" the girls began to walk out the door, we they left Phoebe set Helga in the chair in the corner. She gave her some tissue, and rubbed her shoulders.
"Helga please stop crying" Helga's sobs only got louder. "Helga stop crying it won't help to just give you self a head ache. Helga stop crying a little and looked at Phoebe "OK that's better now Helga I'm sure Arnold didn't mean any of those things you parents love you. And you are something you something special." Helga looked Phoebe in the eye
"Pheebs that's not what made me cry."
"What did Helga what did he say?" Helga tried to talk will she cried.
"He said that that Lila wasn't th the re re reasoned he left th that day. He he he said th that it w w wa was me." Helga began to cry harder at her last word.
Arnold's POV
I know that what I said to Helga was a lie, everything I said to her was a lie. I know there was no way she was going to forgive me. Anyway right after Helga and Phoebe walked out the room Gerald grabbed my arm.
"Man what is up with you are you crazy. Why did you tell her that man that was low." I opened my mouth to speak when Ms. Martinez called me up to her desk.
"Arnold Please come here." She looked very disappointed.
As I was walking up to her desk all I heard was "jerk!" "asshole!" "prick!" I don't know why all of them are ganging up on me she insulted first. Anyway when I got to Ms. Martinez desk she looked down at her desk then looked up.
"Arnold I am very shocked at your comportamiento, behavior today. I am afraid I have to give you detention for a month." I couldn't believe what I was hearing I was getting detention because of Helga.
"But what about Helga, I'm the only one that has to suffer?"
"No Arnold she will also be in detention. Only she will go on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and you will go Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. OK." I nodded and went back to my seat, but before I could sit down the bell rung. I slowly grabbed my stuff and walking to my next class.
Gerald didn't say a word to me at all, which was a little weird because Gerald was never quiet, so I decided to break the silence.
"Gerald are you sure we got that test today, I'm not sure?" Gerald just made a little hump sound and kept walking. "Gerald you can't possibly be mad at me she was in the wrong as much as me." Gerald said nothing and walked in the class.
When I got to my seat Helga and Phoebe walked in, Helga's eyes were blood red and had a tissue in her hand. She sat in her seat that was next to Gerald and slouched down in her seat. Mr. B walked in seconds later.
"OK science bugs I got some good news and so bad. Naturally you want to hear the bad first so here goes, No test today isn't that horrible." The class started to cheer happily, only person who was upset was Phoebe. "Yes I feel your pain, anyway the good news is I have replaced the test with a project." The class cheers quickly became whines most coming from Harold.
"Aw another project I think my head's going to explode MOMMY" Mr. B turned to Harold.
"Harold I assure you that your head is not going to explode" Harold gave a sigh of relief, Mr. B quickly continued "Now the project is to grow a one celled organism and to........" Mr. B continued to tell about the project Gerald kept looking at me and shaking his head. I began to think that maybe I was wrong to tell Helga she was why I left even though it was a lie.
"Oh yea" Mr. B said interrupting my thought. "And this is a group project, figured that would be fun. Anyway your partner is the person sitting next to you. Isn't that great?" I guess I'm OK with that because I was sitting next to this kid named Thomas he was OK in Bio. I turned to see what Gerald was doing and he was looking very happy.
"What are you so happy about" "
I am happy because I got Helga, who is the smartest person in Biology, as a partner not that you would care about Helga." I wanted to tell Gerald that he was wrong to say that she was the smartest, because I was. But what he said about me not caring was wrong, but I couldn't tell him that.
"Yea whatever Gerald." I turned back to Thomas who was looking at me like I had just murdered a kid or something. I figured he had found out about what I said to Helga. I wanted to apologize but my pride wouldn't let me, you see I'm not the same kid who always apologize when he's wrong. I have grown an ego and got some pride, I guess I got that from Gerald.
When class was over I was so tired and ready to go home, but I still had one class left. I was walking to my locker when Gerald pulled me into the janitor's closet. He pushed me up against the wall, I hit my head a little.
"What is wrong with you Gerald." I said rubbing the back of my head.
"You know what's wrong with me."
"No, I don't, I wouldn't have asked if I did.."
"Well I know you know that you know, you know what I'm talking about"
"Wait, what, Gerald what are you talking about?"
"Oh you know what I'm talking about, don't play stupid."
"Gerald," I said in frustration. " I'm not playing stupid"
"Yea ,I know, you are stupid."
"What, no I'm not if anyone's stupid it's you!"
"Me?" Gerald said pointing to himself. " I know you did not just not call the sexy black man stupid. I should slap ya but I won't cause I like ya. And I ain't stupid just though you should know."
"Gerald this is stupid, what do you want?"
Oh yea, um, you know what I'm talking about." I hit my forehead, then I put both hands on Gerald's shoulders looked him strait in the eye.
"Gerald I have no idea what in the blue hell you are talking about. I know you need help, but could you please tell me what you are trying to say. Take your time if you need to." Gerald stood there with his mouth open for a minute. He slowly brought his hand up to his nose and held it with the index and thumb, while the rest stood strait up in the air. Then he put is left arm around his chest, he started making weird noises then he started to cry.
"I can not believe this I come in here to tell you about Helga and how you need to talk to her. And you in here call me names and talkin bout me, and you know I'm sensitive. You jerk." Gerald sound like that thing that comes on TV when there's a storm. You know that Television Broadcast System thing, you know, when their like this is only a test then this long beep comes on for like 15 minutes. Well that was how Gerald cried. Then he looked back at me
"I guess you just in a roll today buddy, hey I made Helga cry why not Gerald."
"Gerald stop crying you cry in horribly annoying." that only made him cry worse. "Gerald come on tell me what you were going to say." Gerald turned his back to me. "Come on I'm sorry" He turned around.
"OK, I guess I can tell you. You know that I have Helga as a science partner, right?" I nodded. "Well she ain't actin' right."
"OK what does that have to do with me?"
"Because it's your fault she actin' like tha'."
"How is this my fault she's the one acting like she depressed."
" It's yo fault cause you denied her, you called her worthless, you said nobody cared for her, and last but not least you called her a bitch."
"OK so it's still not my fault."
"You know you wrong Arnold, I'm going home. Goodbye."
"Gerald your not going home you still have one class left, which I am sure you made me late for." Gerald squinted his eyes and turned his head to the side,
"Yea you right, but I ain't make you late. You made yo self late, cause you was bein an ass clown."
"How was I being an ass clown when you were the one crying like a girl."
"Hey," Gerald said while pointing at me. "That is not womanly, I am just sensitive. And besides women like that you should try it sometimes."
"You now what Gerald," I said as I pushed Gerald to the side. " I'm out of here I don't have to listen to this." I reached to open the door, but Gerald gripped my arm looked me strait in the face. "Arnold I'm serious you really need to talk to her, cause I know whatever you said to her hurt her deeply man. I not playin, and plus my grade is riding on you come to the realization that you was wrong." I thought about what Gerald said for a while, but then I just left. I was walking to my next class when Lila bummed into me. I turned and looked at her.
'Now what the hell does she want' I said to myself. She most of read my face.
"Arnold I know I probably the last person you want to see. But I ever so need to talk to you."
"About what you already dumped me what else can you want." As I finish what I was saying Gerald turned and looked at me with a very disgusted look. "You know you wrong man, talkin to Lila. But anyway you better talk to Helga I'm not playin wi cha. Cause you know I will wup yo ass if I fail Biology because of you". I could see it all over his face, but I turned and he kept walking. I turned back to Lila she was looking at Gerald, then she turned back to me.
" OK, anyway Arnold what I wanted to talk to you about was well Helga." I wasn't looking at her but when she said that my head turned to her very quickly. Of all the thing she wanted to talk about she wanted to talk about her, my mouth dropped.
"Um, Arnold can you ever so close your mouth, something might fly in." I did.
"Why do you want to talk about 'her' of all people." Lila lowered her head and played with her fingers.
"Because Arnold, I know why you said all those things to her was because of me. I know that you were upset about me dump you, and you got a little angry with her. I can understand but you didn't have to tell her the truth. Just because you where upset about me dumping you, you didn't have to take it out on Helga." I was literally appalled I couldn't not believe what I was hearing. I wanted to tell Lila that everything I said was a lie, even the part about her. But I couldn't.
"Lila I am not depressed over you, as a matter of fact I'm happy that you broke up with me I just hate you didn't do it sooner, maybe I would have given in to Helga." I quickly slapped my hands over my mouth. Lila got this mischievous look on her face when I said that.
"What was that Arnold, what would you have been giving in to?" I put my hands in my pockets and glazed at the ceiling.
"Oh nothing I didn't say anything about Helga"
"Oh yes you did Arnold you said that if I wasn't dating you, you would have giving in to Helga."
"Oh that, I was talking about tutoring in," I stopped to think of what class to lie about. Then I thought about what Gerald had said about Helga being the smartest in Bio. "in Biology. Yea that's it Biology." Lila looked at me like she couldn't believe what a bad lair I was.
"Arnold I'm not stupid I know what you wanted." She stepped up close stood on her toes and whispered in my ear, "Sex" I heard her lick her lips, then she kissed me on the lips and walked away.
"Arnold what are you doing in this hall you have missed thirty minutes if class." Mr. Johnson, the principal, said as he walk towered me.
"Oh Mr. J, I was just walking to class I had misplace an assignment and I was looking for it in my locker, but unfortunately I couldn't find it." I look at him with fake tears in my eyes. "And I worked so hard in it." Mr. J was actually falling for this he walked up to me and grabbed my shoulders.
"Oh that's OK my boy. I'll walk you to class and explain the whole thing to you teacher. OK?" I nodded. Luckily my last class was art, and I had to have a model do. So when Mr. J and I got to my class, he explained that I had misplaced my project. I tried to look as sad as possible.
" Ms. Buckley I am so sorry I couldn't turn my model in on time. And I worked so hard on it." I was crying fake tears she was falling for it too, but my classmates weren't. Anyway I got an extension on the model, then the bell rung and school was out. I had no idea what I was going to do on a Friday with no friends. I was the most hated person in school, and Gerald was mad at me so I guess I'll stay home tonight.
When I got home Gerald was sitting on my steps. "What are you doing here I thought you hated me?" I said while I walked pass him, and opened the door. He got up and walked behind me too my room.
"I'm am mad at you, but I considered that half the city was too. So I decided to put it aside fo the time being."
"Oh thanks for the pity I really needed it. I feel a lot better now." I said opening my door to my room. Gerald walked in behind me and jumped on my couch. He picked up my Sports Illustrated off the floor then he looked at me.
"What did Lila want?"
"Oh that well she," I laid on my bed. "wanted to talk to me about Helga."
"Helga, what she want to talk bout her fo?" Gerald turned the page of the magazine.
"Well it looks like she thinks that I said what I said to her was because I was upset about getting dumped. And just because I was mad at her I didn't have to tell Helga the truth."
Gerald looked up at me, "She think yawl argument was because of her. And yawl call me self- centered." I thought about what he said then I went back to my story.
"Anyway, I got mad at her for thinking I was mad over her, so I say 'Lila I'm not depressed over you as a matter of fact I'm happy you broke up with me. I just hate you did do it sooner, maybe I would have givin into Helga.'" Gerald dropped the magazine and looked me right in the eye.
"You told Lila" I nodded. "Are you trying to kill Helga, man you know they hate each otha."
"I know man I was just talking and it sort of came out."
"You are a dumb ass, you know that right? Because I was just letting you know in case you didn't know."
"Yea I know Gerald."
"Because if you already knew you was a dumb ass, I didn't have to tell you. Because you would had already known."
"I get it Gerald. Anyway I didn't tell her exactly. You see she was like what didn't you give into , and I was all like nothing I ain't say nothing about Helga. Then she was like naw you said that if me and you wasn't dating, you would have givin into Helga." I continued to tell Gerald what happen, till I got to the part where Lila kissed me.
"You let Lila kiss you, I can not believe my sexy black ears."
"Man, I didn't let her kiss me, she caught me off guard. I wasn' t expecting it."
"Yea, she might have kissed you off guard but, what about you tellin' her you almost had sex wit Helga. Almost being the key word."
"Man will you shut up about that, it was yesterday."
"Yea you telling me to shut up cause you know I'm right. Gone pass up a good-"
"Gerald!!!!!!!"
