A/N: After numerous problems, I am finally back. School started last Thursday, and I am more than ready to juggle work, school, and writing, plus watching new episodes of Inuyasha (Cowboy Bebop's back, too). What a life, I swear.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold! nor do I own my own car (I think that's right. Oh well).
Where to Begin
Chapter 20 - The Calm Before the Storm
"Would you relax? You look like you are going to faint." Arnold paused awkwardly. "Again." He, Helga, Gerald, and Phoebe were at Helga's house helping her get ready for the preliminaries the next morning. They were helping her because Jake was busy with family stuff. Arnold was really beginning to question that boy. Then again, his great uncle or something had just died, so maybe it was true.
Helga was holding her stomach as she sat down beside him. Just looking at the pale girl made him feel queasy, or maybe that was the nachos he ate before he came over.
She closed her eyes. "No, I think I'm going to throw up again."
Gerald grabbed another slice of pizza. Somehow he could ignore Helga's current state and continue eating in front of her. He offered Phoebe a piece, but she seemed to feel the same as Arnold. "Obviously pepperoni pizza is not the best way to deal with nerves," she said, glaring at Gerald. "And what do you mean, 'again?'"
"I threw up this morning before school."
"And you still went?" Arnold asked.
"Only for a half day."
"Then you went to practice - "
"And I have been practicing my routines ever since. You don't have to go over everything I did today, Arnold. I already know what happened. I did live it, you know," she said dryly as she drank her water.
"I still can't believe you didn't have pageant practice the day before the prelims."
She glared at the clock. It was now 10:58. "They wanted us to get a good night's sleep."
He shook his head. "I'm glad that's going to happen."
She shrugged. "It's not like I sleep that much anyways."
"Yeah, you're like that girl in The Ring," Gerald said, his month half-full. He swallowed and continued. "Except you're creepier."
Helga's patience had withered away long ago, and she promptly flipped him off.
"Feisty, aren't we?" He stood up, grabbed another slice, and sat leaned in front of the glaring blond. "Tell me, Helga, are you hungry?" he asked, practically shoving the pizza in her face.
Helga, who had been eating nothing but fruit, vegetables, and fish all week, took one look at the greasy pizza and covered her mouth. "I think I'm gonna be sick!" she cried as she ran to the bathroom.
Phoebe threw a pillow at him. "What the heck did you do that for?"
He took a large bite of the pizza. "Getting revenge for years of torture from that girl."
"Do you have to do it now?"
Gerald smirked. "You know what they say: there's no time like the present."
Phoebe glared at her boyfriend. "They also say that men are idiots."
He sat down, never wanting to disappoint Phoebe, which is what he had just done. He scowled, and Arnold channel surfed until Helga returned.
"You'll pay for that, Hair Boy," she hissed, sitting next to Arnold.
Gerald shrugged. "Not like I won't get you back even worse."
"Would you two stop? Please?" Phoebe asked. "Arnold and I are sick of it."
The three looked at Arnold for confirmation. "Uh. well, though it may be entertaining at times, it's mostly just annoying."
Helga and Gerald groaned. "You fight like that with her," Gerald said, pointing at Helga.
The two exchanged glances. "We do not," they said in unison.
"That's right. It's not fighting if you are flirting," Gerald said, grabbing the last slice of pizza.
Arnold's eyes widened to the size of saucers, and Helga's face turned a strawberry color. "WE DO NOT!" they cried, immediately turning to each other. Both their faces turned deeper shades of red, and Arnold jumped up.
Phoebe elbowed Gerald. "Gerald, stop it," she hissed.
"Why? They both know it, and it beats the shit out of me why they just don't make out and get it over with."
Helga's fists clinched, and she stood up. "Get out of my house!" she cried.
"Relax, Helga, I'm doing this for your own good."
She grabbed his hand and ranked him up from the couch, surprising the hell out of him. "If you really want to help me, you will leave. Now." She dragged him to the door.
"Fine. You don't have to tell me twice." He managed to wrench his hand from her grasp. "Are you ready, Phoebe?"
"No. I'm staying here," she said from the couch.
"What? You have got to be kidding me."
"No, I'm not." She stood up. "Good night, Gerald. Helga, can I talk to you in the kitchen?"
Helga followed Phoebe, and Arnold went to the door.
"Oh, man, now look what happened. Phoebe's mad at me."
"As she should be," Arnold said darkly as they stepped outside.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Gee, I don't know, Gerald. Maybe I'm mad because of what you said about Helga and me!"
"It's true."
"So maybe it is. Hell if I know, but she doesn't need this right now."
Gerald stared directly at him. "If she only knew all the things you do for her." He patted Arnold on the shoulder. "You're pathetic, my friend."
"Why's that?"
"Because you revolve your world around a girl you can't have."
Arnold sat down on Helga's stoop. "Real pathetic, huh?"
"Yeah."
"I can't stop this, Gerald. Good Lord, I want to, but I can't."
Gerald sat down beside him. "I know."
"So what do I do?"
"Wait, I guess. I don't know. I've never chased a girl who wasn't interested in me."
Arnold glared at him. "Thanks."
"It's the truth. Anyways, if I were you I wouldn't stay too much longer. You're outnumbered by the enemy now, plus the city tournament is tomorrow."
"Yeah, I know. Helga's been trying to make me feel guilty for not being at the prelims. And what do you mean 'the enemy?'"
"Women, man. Women."
"Right." The two stood up and did their handshake that was not quite a handshake.
"Later hater," Gerald said as he walked down the steps and to his car.
"Right." Arnold went back inside.
¤ ~ ¤ ~ ¤
Helga threw an orange across her kitchen and watched it hit the refrigerator. "What the hell did he do that for?"
Phoebe sat down. "I don't know, Helga. Gerald's not always the smartest."
"That's for damn sure."
Phoebe glared at Helga.
"I'm sorry, but you can't really blame me, can you?"
"No, I guess not." Phoebe bit her lip. "But Helga, what he said was true," she said in a small voice.
Helga sighed. "I know. I am more than well aware of that." She tossed the orange up and down. "I think Arnold knows it too."
"So what are you waiting for?"
"Pheebs, I've got no idea what the heck I'm supposed to do. I have really, really strong feelings for Arnold, but I like Jake too. I don't want to hurt him, especially since he took me back."
Phoebe nodded. "That's understandable."
"And there's just so much history with Arnold." She stopped throwing the ball. "I've already been hurt, and I don't ever want to feel that pain again."
"But, Helga, things are different now."
"Are they?" she cried. "Is it really so different this time? Can you tell me, Phoebe, can you promise me that he won't hurt me again?"
Phoebe remained silent.
"See? It's too big of a risk, at least right now. I'm a mess, both emotionally and physically. Maybe my head will clear after this weekend, but who knows?"
Phoebe gave Helga a hug. "It'll be okay in the end, Helga. I can promise you that much."
"Thanks, Phoebe," Helga said, pulling away. "I know it will be. It's just hard to believe that sometimes."
"I know."
"Can I come in?" Arnold asked from the doorway after the two girls talked about the pageant preliminaries for a few minutes.
"Sure." Phoebe turned to Helga. "I have to go, but I'll see you tomorrow." She hugged Helga. "Try not to go insane, okay?"
"I'll try," Helga said, laughing.
"Good night, Arnold."
"Later, Phoebe," he said as she left.
The two remaining stared at each other, both hoping the world would end and the silence would disappear. Helga finally scoffed. "I can't believe you aren't gong to be there tomorrow!"
"And what do you expect me to do, Helga? Skip the basketball tournament?"
"Yes."
"You've got to be kidding me! Why don't' you ask Ja - " Their eyes met, and his words died in this throat. He looked away. "I mean, why don't you just . . . you should . . . oh hell, you'll be fine."
She pulled a torn piece of paper out of her pocket. "Twelve years ago," she whispered softly.
"Is that where your parents are?"
"Yeah. Olga got in at," she looked at the clock, "fifteen minutes ago."
"Will they be back on Sunday?"
"That's what they promised. I guess time will tell if they'll keep it or not." She cleared her throat. "I should probably be getting to sleep."
"Right." Arnold grabbed his stuff and walked out the door.
She leaned against the frame. "Can your head explode from excessive stress?"
He laughed. "I have no idea."
"Au revoir, Et pouvoir nous espérons que le monde la pas fin pendant la nuit." She smiled grimmly. "Mais cela ne pourrait pas être si mauvais."
"I thought you said you didn't know any French. And that would be bad."
"That's about all I know, and I guess so. See ya later."
"Au revoir," he said, and he slowly walked home. The worst month of his life was almost over, but there was just one problem.
It was not over yet.
A/N: Sorry about the incredibly short chapter. Not much to say in this one. I can't wait to get Microsoft Word back. Because of a virus, my computer lost EVERYTHING that was on it (luckily I had all my chapters on a disk), but I lost Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Works Word Processor on XP sucks. That's why there are no indents. WTF is up with that? Anyways, next chapter is "Sure shot," at least that's what I'm calling it at the time being.
Disclaimer - I don't speak French at all, so that's from a translator (www.freetranslation.com). It supposed to be, "Good night, and may we all hope that the world doesn't end during the night. But that might not be so bad." If it's wrong, I'm sorry. Do you know what else is sad? I have been writing this story for five months now, and I have only just pasted the halfway mark (I'm predicting 38 chapters at the moment). Bad, bad ,bad!! I need to write faster. Until Chapter 21, later days.