A/N: Please read! J And, uhm, yeah. It's kinda corny. But, oh well. You guys like that kind of stuff, right?
Chapter Three: Are You Listening?
"I'm going to surprise her," said Gerald excitedly. "I've got this bracelet for her – ya know, maybe this will change things around for us."
"What kind of bracelet?" Arnold asked curiously.
"A silver tennis bracelet. Engraved underneath is a heat with her name and mine. I've been saving since forever. Plus I borrowed money from my mom."
"Nice. You're really getting a hang of this sensitivity stuff," Arnold chuckled. "But what sucks is that she's leaving. For vacation in Japan today. Remember?"
"I know. I'm going to go before she leaves and then surprise her. Even though it's the day after Christmas, I'm pretty sure that she'll appreciate it."
"Hey, Gerald, what time does her flight leave?"
"One o' clock I think."
"And, what time is it now?"
Gerald looked at his watch. "HOLY --- it's 11:30. Gotta go!" He quickly hung up the phone and ran off.
He dashed out of his room and out of the house, taking a scarf on the way out and quickly wrapped it around his neck. As fast as he could, he trudded through the layer of snow left over from Christmas.
By 11:45 he was in front of Pheobe's house. He drew in a deep breath. Before he even knocked on the door, it opened. "Hi there Gerald," Pheobe's mom greeted happily. "How ya been?"
"Good, Mrs Hyerdahl…"
"Good, good. We haven't seen each other in such a long time. You must come over for dinner again soon! And bring your mom's recipe for that superb chocolate cake of hers!"
"No problem." He grinned. He stepped aside and let her walk to her car. "You need some help with your luggage?"
"Nah, I'm fine." She put her suitcases in the back of the trunk. "Phoebe will be out in a sec. So, you just hold your horses, k?"
Then Mr Hyerdahl came out the door. "Hello Gerald."
"Hi Mr Hyerdahl." Gerald smiled. "Hope you have fun on your trip."
"Thank you. I hear you are doing well?"
"Yes. Very well. And yourself, sir?"
"Very good. Thank you." He walked to the car.
Phoebe drew in a deep breath. It's now or never, she thought. She admired the way Gerald was so friendly with her parents and the way her parents liked him so much. It wasn't that she didn't like him – she loved him. But, he just couldn't show her that love.
It was like kissing a tree. She'd say "I love you", but he'd say nothing else. Their relationship has been a long one, and it seemed as if it only began – both of them were acting more uncomfortably around each other.
"Hi Gerald," said Pheobe with a weak smile on her face.
"Pheobe. Hi," said Gerald, kissing her briefly on the lips. "Glad I caught you before you left for the airport."
"Me too." She nodded. Before Gerald could say anything else, she drew in a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. "Gerald – I really can't bear this feeling any longer…I'm afraid we are drifting further and further apart from each other." She bit her lower lip and gripped onto her suitcase tightly.
Gerald gulped and gripped the box in his pocket.
She looked down. "I just don't feel the passion anymore. It's too hard being with you. It's like I'm sharing dates with – with a tree or something. And unless there's any change from you - "
"I knew this was coming," he admitted. He lowered his head too. "If you really feel that way – then…"
"It's over?" she sighed softly. He nodded. Then she nodded. She didn't want it to happen this way – she wanted him to suddenly say that he loves her and that he didn't want to let her go…
"There's so much more out there for you. I don't want to hold you back." He had never felt so crushed before. "There are guys so much better for you…"
He put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a last kiss on her cheek. "Have fun in Japan," he said, walking away.
"Bye Gerald," she muttered. "I'll miss you."
She felt her insides tear apart – it felt as if there was a razor shredding her heart into strands. Never before has she felt this badly before. Never.
***
(New Year's Eve)
Helga and Bob sat around the living room as usual on their New Year's Eve. There was a big bowl of porkrinds, cheetos, ruffles, and dip. Helga was lying on her stomach, and Bob was reclined in his big leather chair. Miriam walked down the stairs and down the hall.
"Bye you guys!" she said happily.
"Bye?" Helga repeated, sitting up and facing Miriam who just stood at the other side of the living room. "Where are you going?"
"Better be going to get us some more Yahoo sodas," Bob grunted.
"I'm going to a, uh, friend's house. Yes. A friend's house," she said.
"A friend's house?" Helga repeated. "On New Year's eve?"
"Yes."
"You have friends?" Helga said again.
"Wait – what about this whole family time crap you've been griping about?" Bob complained.
"Oh well. Must've slipped my mind. I really can't break this date. So, why don't you two just have fun together? Hm?"
"You're really going?" Helga asked with utter shock and amazement.
"Yep. You two have fun now, k?"
"Damnit Miriam!" Bob stood up angrily. "I can't take your sudden disappearances! You're never home anymore! Nothing in this fucking house is in order! What the hell could you be doing?"
"Since when have you ever cared about me, huh?" Miriam pointed a finger at him.
"You're never here, Miriam. No one can make any more food…"
"Is that the only reason you need me? To wash your clothes and fix your dinners?" She gave him a cold look and shook her head. "I've had enough of you. I'm leaving and you can't stop me." She stomped out of the door and slammed it behind her.
For a while, Helga really thought Bob and Miriam had changed – they were all happy together – and lovey dovey. But then Miriam began to put on a nightly disappearing act and came home at odd hours. Things are screwy. Helga didn't have a clue what was going on – and usually she was the skew one in the family.
Bob – filled with anger – went to the kitchen. Helga silently followed him in and watched him open up a bottle of beer and gulp it down. He took the rest of the 12-pack with him.
"This is crap," he mumbled. "Pure c-r-a-p. I took time off work to be in this crap-hole. I could be in the office getting ready for the annual New Year sale. Damn Miriam…screwing my day up…"
Helga just stared at his eccentric behavior as he sat in front of the TV. "Dad," she said softly.
"Shut up Olga."
"Helga, Dad."
He looked at her with furious eyes and threw the remot at her, hitting her head. "I don't need any bullshit from you. Now go upstairs and stay the hell away from me."
Helga didn't need any words to express her hatred. Her eyes filled with hot tears, and her insides raged with fury. Angrily, she walked out of the door with her winter coat on. Luckily, there wasn't a lot of snow left over and it was a cool 38ºF.
"Helga? What are you doing at my house?" Arnold asked in surprise, opening the door on the dark New Years eve. Helga was the last person on earth he'd expect outside his door.
"I – I just had no where else to go. Phoebe's out of town, and – and…" she tried hard not to cry, but the tears flooded from her eyes.
"Come in," he said urgently. "So, what happened?" He put his hand on the small of her back and led her to the living room. They sat down on a large brown couch.
"It's just Miriam is gone and Bob is acting all psycho. I – I can't bear to stay there in that hell hole. Who ever knew life could get so screwed up?" She curled up into a ball, sobbing. "Plus my head hurts…"
Arnold instinctly put his arms around her and held her tightly. "It's okay, Helga. Just spend New Years with me. Yeah? We can make things better."
She nodded as she pressed her forehead on his chest – crying. "I know that I said I didn't care about my family before, but I do. I really do care. It's hard not to…"
"I know, Helga." Arnold patted her on the back, and stroked her hair. "I know. It's okay."
She drew in a shaky deep breath and let it out.
"Are you hungry? Do you want some chips? A sandwich?"
"I'm fine." Her breath slowly steadied. She lifted up her head and sniffed.
"That's better," Arnold grinned, touching her pink cheeks. "That's the Helga Pataki that I grew up with…"
"Arnold," she said.
"Yeah?"
"Can we please not tell anyone about me crying?"
"Sure." He smiled. "My lips are sealed."
"Thanks." She smiled too and wiped a tear off her cheek.
"Now let's go get some bottles of apple cider and sit in front of the TV until next year," he chuckled. "Sound like a good idea to you?"
Helga just nodded.
"Good. Come on," he got up from the couch and pulled her up with him. Their faces were just inches apart – he could feel her breath on his chin. Quickly, he turned away without giving it a second thought.
Helga looked down at her feet and sniffed again. Damn, she thought. You got so close, Helga…so close.
***
"Good morning, Phoebe. I brought you some tea," said Mrs Hyerdahl, placing a tray on the table next to Phoebe's bed.
"Thank you," Pheobe said softly, taking a sip of her green tea. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, with her legs crossed, looking down sadly.
Her mother rubbed her back with her hand and sat down next to her. "Don't be sad, dear. Break ups are a way of life."
Pheobe nodded. "Yes, I know. But, I can't help but feel bad. Every day on this trip I've felt bad. I'm supposed to be feeling good! I mean, we're in Japan! WHY DON'T I FEEL GOOD?"
"Well, Dear, have you ever considered that, maybe, you could still have feelings for Gerald?"
"Of course not." Phoebe looked away. "If I did, why would I break up with him?"
"I don't know. Love is funny like that sometimes."
"Ha!" Phoebe scoffed. "Love. Love is when two people can actually say 'I love you' without gagging and actually mean it. And not get cold feet. When you love someone, nothing holds you back from telling them…"
"It's not that way for everyone, Phoebe. It's not like the movies, ya know."
Phoebe sighed.
"When your father and I were get'n married, he had the coldest feet ever. He didn't even look at me, he didn't even say anything to me until the middle of the reception."
"Really?"
"Yes really. But I didn't think that he didn't love me. Of course I knew he loved me – not because he told me before, but because when two people do care about each other the way they're supposed to – you often don't need words."
"Oh I wish you could have told me this earlier, Mother." Phoebe fell back on the bed and groaned. "I feel like such a fool."
"Well, love often feels like that too." She patted her leg and got up, took the tray, and walked out of the room.
Phoebe took her pillow and covered her face as she screamed and kicked her feet. When she was done, she threw the pillow at the opposite wall. "Stupid, stupid, stupid…"
"Sure Phoebe, you can solve chemical equations and memorize pi to a hundred decimal places…but you can't get yourself to think logically in love." She sighed and shut her eyes.
***
Helga woke up on the couch the next morning. She yawned and stretched out her arms and noticed Arnold still asleep on the floor, hugging a pillow. She chuckled softly and looked at her wrist watch. 8:00. "Happy new year," she muttered.
She got up and scratched her head, yawning again. Then she walked to the bathroom upstairs. She opened the door and almost fainted of shock. "Oh my God," she mumbled, quickly crouching on the floor.
There Grandma was – lying there on the floor with her bathrobe on. "Oh no, oh no," Helga groaned. She put two fingers under her jawline and felt a pulse. Luckily Helga took First Aid classes before. With two of her hands, she began to press down on Grandma's chest. "Someone!" Helga shouted, "anyone! Help!"
Arnold showed motions of being awake and rubbed his eyes.
"Someone in this house WAKE UP!" Helga shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Helga?" Arnold grunted. He looked around. "Helga," he shouted, "where are you?"
"In the bathroom," she replied.
Arnold quickly raced up to the bathroom to find her and his grandma on the floor. "Oh my…"
"Hurry – call 9-1-1," Helga said. "Hurry."
Arnold rushed to the phone and dialed the numbers on the phone. Soon enough, the loud sirens came and Grandma was carried away in a stretcher. Grandpa came home with a look of bewilderment. He left her for only 10 minutes, and so much has happened.
Helga had no choice but to go home. There was not much else she could do. Arnold and Grandpa went to the hospital with the ambulence. They would probably stay in the hospital for most of the day. Perhaps even most of the week. She decided that she'd just go home and cause some harm there.
She walked out the door, taking her jacket off the rack. Close by, she heard noises in the basketball court nearby. Curiously, she walked towards the courts. Who's crazy enough to play basketball in this cold? She thought. She stopped to see Gerald, throwing balls angrily at the hoop. Figures.
She leaned against the fence and chuckled. "What are you doing out here, Geraldo?"
He turned around and held the ball next to his body. "Helga? What are you doing here?"
"I think I asked you that question first," she said.
"Well, I guess I'm here to let out a little steam. Life sucks," he groaned, and threw the basketball at the hoop again – probably purposely missing it.
"Tell me about it," Helga replied under her breath.
"You don't live around this street. Why would anyone come all the way out here when it's the new year?" He dribbled the ball between his legs.
"Hey, it's a free country, am I right?" Helga snapped, "and besides, why do you get an OK to come here?"
"Because I actually play the game," he said, taking another shot, and obviously making it in. He groaned and picked up the stray ball, and fell on the ground.
Helga walked over to him and sat down. "I'm sorry about you and Phoebe," she said softly.
"How'd you know? Not even Arnold knows."
"I guess, because, Phoebe told me. Actually, she'd been planning it for a while," Helga said reluctantly.
"She'd been planning it?!" He gawked at her.
Helga merely nodded. "She just couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't handle that you wouldn't tell her you love her. Just public displays of affection isn't enough. Girls want more than that."
Gerald sat up, leaning back on his arms. "I was stupid."
"You and every other guy in this city, buck-o."
"I have to find a way to get her back. I just have to…"
"Don't try too hard there. From my experiences, I've learned that if fate wants you two back together, you two will get back together…do you believe in fate?"
Gerald looked up at the sky and thought for a second. "Yeah, I guess."
"Well, then just let fate take its course." She smiled, holding a jacket closer around her frozen body. "I can't believe you're out in freezing weather playing basketball."
Gerald shrugged.
"I'm going to get going now," said Helga, getting up. "Have fun freezing to death." With that, she walked away.
She trotted through the melting snow and saw a bright red car drive past her. Inside, though she only caught a glimpse, she could have sworn she saw Miriam sitting next to the driver, going the opposite of their house. Helga decided to follow her, just for kicks. Well, also because she was curious.
Time to play secret agent, she thought.
Helga ran behind a shop and peered out from the corner to see the car stopped at the red light. This gave her time to sneek up on their car. Luckily this traffic light was the busted one that waited ten minutes to turn green. Helga inconspiciously snuk up behind the car and looked in through the back window.
It wasn't a pretty sight.
"It can't be," she muttered. "Miriam doesn't do this kind of thing…"
Then the light turned green and the red car raced off.
Helga was left with her mouth wide open – staring in confusion.
A/N: Hope you ENJOYED…please r/r!