Once she'd cried herself out, Helga returned to her journal to sort through the events of the night.
I guess I'll start at the beginning. It all began at our sound check –
"Are you sure you connected the amp, right?" Sid asked while walking across the stage to check on his equipment. "As cool as it would be, I don't think we need an explosion to win."
"Nothing will be exploding, dude" Wolfgang replied from the side of the venue where he was setting out freshly printed t-shirts with the band's name in bold lettering on the front. "Just worry about winning. I could sure use the $300 bucks after getting you guys all these shirts."
"But the merch was your idea!" Iggy hollered where he sat behind his drum set. "That 300 bucks should be ours!"
"It's not going to anybody's if we don't finish this sound check in time," Helga grumbled. "Iggy does have a point though, Wolfie. We could use the money to get better equipment or – "
"Relaaaaax, babe" Wolfgang said with a soft smile. "Between the money we'll be making from these shirts and the cash prize, there will be plenty to go around. Trust me."
Skeptical but not wanting to start an argument before their big night, Helga nodded with a half-hearted smile to her boyfriend. "You're right. Guess I wasn't thinking about that."
"Damn right you weren't," Wolfgang smirked, returning his attention to arranging the shirts on the foldout table.
Everyone was really nervous about the show, so tensions were a little high. Wolfgang set up our merch station and we breezed through our check, no problem. Anyway, RIGHT as we left the stage all confident and ready to hype ourselves up for the night, sure as shit, Arnold and his troupe showed up for THEIR turn.
Go figure.
"Well, well, well," Wolfgang greeted Helga's three classmates as they approached the stage for their chance to test their equipment "if it isn't the football-headed freak and his band of losers."
Helga frowned and she scooped Wolfgang's arm in hers, attempting to remind him to behave.
"Back off, Wolfgang," Gerald replied in a harsh tone. "Don't you have something better to do than pick on us freshmen?"
"Nope," He replied with a grin. "I'm basically the band's bodyguard so, keeping you in your place is pretty much my job."
"Is it though?" Arnold asked somewhat antagonizing, and Wolfgang looked down, narrowing his eyes in the boy's direction.
"I don't think you're up to this tonight, little man." His voice was low and controlled; his overly-confident tone sending a shiver up Arnold's spine.
Wolfgang got all in Arnold's face AGAIN and I just… froze?
I'm telling you, journal, I don't know WHAT'S gotten into him, but he is MEGA jealous of Arnold, and it isn't like he even has a REASON to be, you know?
He just… HATES him for the sake of hating him. I've asked him a couple times why he doesn't just leave him alone, but I guess I can understand his reasoning.
Wolfgang has a really big heart, that's all. Seeing me get hurt by Arnold really pissed him off and I know in my heart that he just wants to protect me. He means well, but he doesn't have to be such an asshole all the time, I'll admit that.
It puts everyone on edge and then I get blamed for it all like it's my fault or something.
"You guys just gotta give him a chance for cripes sake!" Helga insisted to Iggy, Stinky, and Sid as they sat outside by the dumpster drinking energy drinks while she smoked a cigarette. "If you saw the way he acts when it's just us… you'd understand. He's like me, you know? Gotta puff out the chest and show everyone who's boss every once in a while."
"But it's not every once in a while, Helga" Iggy argued, taking a swig from his can. "All he does when he's around is start fights with Arnold and, I know you guys had a messy break up and all, but… he's still our friend, and…"
At Iggy's sudden silence, Sid took over. "You know, Arnold. He's a good guy."
Helga sucked in a deep pull from her cigarette and let it out in a huff. "Nobody said he wasn't, Sid. Wolfgang is just… protective of my feelings."
"If he's so protective of your feelings," Stinky chimed in, "why don't you talk to him? I reckon if he loves you so dang much, he'd be a little nicer."
"I think it's just his nature," Helga excused him yet again, looking over her shoulder to see if Wolfgang happened to be within earshot. "He doesn't really have any friends since Edmund stopped talking to him last year."
"And why do you think that was?" Sid asked, though he wasn't looking for an answer. "Maybe it's because Wolfgang is a big fat bully, and he was sick of his shit."
"How can you say that about him when he's doing so much for us, huh?" Helga snapped back in an acidic tone. "How would we get our stuff here and set up on time if it wasn't for him? Who do you think would drive us around place to place and help us market our freakin' band? Not my mom without her driver's license, that's for sure. Not Iggy's dad when he works full-time or Sid's dad or Stink-O's family what with their farming mumbo jumbo going on all the time."
The three boys remained silent knowing that they didn't have a good argument to combat Helga's reasoning. What she said was true – to an extent. Without Wolfgang, their band might not have ever left the garage they started in.
"The only option left would be Olga and I highly doubt anybody wants to put up with Snow freakin' White getting triggered all the time by my lyrics and our 'tough' sound." She went on and took the last hit of her cigarette, soon flicking it away and blowing out her final cloud of smoke.
"We need him right now," Helga said softly. "And he cares about me in a way that Arnold apparently never did. He's mature enough to handle me and it wouldn't kill you guys to give me a little support and stop ragging on him because guess what? He's my boyfriend, not just our roadie."
Again, Helga was met with silence and, inhaling shakily, she admitted just above a whisper, "Since Arnold… Wolfgang has been the only person who's really made me feel like… like me again."
Each of the boys looked at one another, unsure of what to say. The most understanding of them all, Sid, pushed himself up to stand off the curb they'd been sitting on and walked to Helga's side.
"We get it, man" he told her in as kind of a voice he could manage. "Maybe you can just like… talk some sense into him, that's all. We don't need Wolfgang to be our enemy."
"Or for him to break up the band," Iggy added in all sincerity.
Nodding her head, Helga took a deep breath to calm her nerves before she spoke again. "Fine. But for now, let's cut the sap and focus on this show. I really think we can win if we'd just get our heads in the game."
"Ya really think so, Helga?" Stinky questioned. "Against all them other bands?"
"Hell yeah," Sid answered in her place, his smile beaming, and his eyes narrowed with determination. "Those other guys won't even see it coming."
But the guys are THERE for me, for some reason. I'm not exactly sure WHY they are, seeing as we weren't really 'friends' before all this music stuff, but I'm… really glad they're around.
ANYWAY… back to the show.
So, there we were: waiting in the crowd with everyone else to finish playing and we could take the stage. Out of all the other bands – ten total – Pearls of Witticism was slated to play seventh. Not exactly the BEST spot to perform because the middle is pretty forgettable, but it gave us a good shot at selling the merch Wolfie had set up.
As for Arnold? Three Amigos and a Keyboard (I'm still mad that's their name, but I digress) were playing next to last, ninth out of ten.
The other bands were okay. Their songs weren't as bad as I'd HOPED they'd be, but I didn't really see them as big competition. I guess you could say I was mostly focused on beating Arnold, whether that meant winning or not.
Of course, now that we DID win… it doesn't seem to matter that much.
Winning hardly FEELS like an accomplishment, NOW.
"Urban Legend, everyone!" The announcer told the crowd of teens as they applauded without much gusto. "We're taking a twenty-minute break before starting our final round of bands for the night – beginning with none other than our own, Pearls of Witticism!"
The once lackluster crowd began to whoop and holler, and Helga grinned at the prospect of bringing her new song into the spotlight where it rightfully belonged.
Taking the microphone from the emcee, Wolfgang stood on the stage to give an announcement of his own. "Don't forget to check out our insane merch we have so you can help support the Pearls in the best way possible – with shirts and hoodies! 10 bucks for shirts, 15 for hoodies, 5 for hats and 3 for stickers! Get them before their gone so you can sport the winning band later tonight!"
The emcee hip-checked him off the stage and grabbed the microphone once again, his expression shifting from annoyed back to hyper-enthusiasm.
"Alright! So, get your merch, grab some energy drinks and snacks over at our EG bar, get a round of pool going, and we'll see you all back here in twenty or so for the epic conclusion of Venus' FIRST ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS!"
The lights that were once flashing in time with the music dimmed, and the venue was replaced with ambient lighting just bright enough for teens to move about the small space in anticipation for the final group of bands.
"Well, they've, uh... improved since we last caught their act," Helga noted, walking to the side of the stage to begin setting up their equipment for their upcoming performance.
"If you ask me, they bring a bad name to all things 'Urban Legend,'" a familiar voice chimed in, unprovoked.
Turning around, Helga placed her hands on her hips and greeted Gerald with a flat voice. "Glad we could hear your opinion, Geraldo."
He smirked at this and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "As the keeper of most tales, I find it my job to protect the good name."
"Most tales," Helga smiled to herself. "If that ain't you, tall hair boy. Where's your partner in crime? Shaking in a corner somewhere?"
"Arnold is not scared, if that's what you're implying," He retorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "All three of us are ready to kick some Pataki ass, tonight." His eyes shifted over to look at her bandmates behind her. "Other Pearls included that is."
"Keep dreaming, Gerald," Sid took over, argumentatively. "Tonight, is our night, and our songs - "
"You mean Helga's songs," Gerald corrected, his words falling on Sid's deaf ears.
" -are gonna be so totally wicked awesome. The crowd loves us! Have you not seen our new merch table?" He pointed out with an enticing grin.
"Mm mm mm," he hummed in quiet response. "You sure have a lot of showmanship and talk for something you haven't even won yet."
"Just grab yourself an energy drink and watch," Helga ordered, ferocity in her tone. "By the end of our set, you three amigos and your keyboard won't even want to follow."
By the time we took the stage, Wolfie was occupied counting the stack of money he'd earned from selling all of our merch. He seemed pretty pleased with himself, and I was happy for him... but it was our time to perform, and he seemed less than excited.
I'm sure he just hadn't really been paying attention until I announced our appearance.
"Teens of Hillwood!" Helga called out into the microphone, garnering everyone's attention where she stood at the lip of the stage. "I see a lot of you out there sporting our merch, what does everybody think?"
Helga was greeted with a cheer so loud she turned her head away; her eyes meeting briefly with Wolfgang's where he sat by the merch table. "Well," she continued, "I'd like to thank my boyfriend, Wolfgang, for having the brilliant idea to give you guys stuff to show your support for Pearls of Witticism!"
Again, the crowd hollered with enthusiasm. Their audible joy filled Helga with a delight she'd never known before, and in that moment, she knew that she held each member of the crowd in the palm of her hand.
"Tonight," she announced proudly, "we're starting our set with what I think will be your new favorite song. To make things a little spicier," she proceeded, a glimmer in her eye, "I'd like to dedicate this number to one Arnold Shortman."
The eyes of the crowd slowly turned to transfix their attention on the football-headed boy lingering in the back of the venue; blush rushing to his cheeks from the gaze of all the new onlookers.
"Arnold," Helga said in what at first could be perceived as a soft voice, "Thanks for not believing in me, or in my ability to write songs for your band." The chitter chattering of gossiping teens fluttered through the crowd like kernels in a popcorn bag. Despite knowing just what the crowd was saying about him, Arnold kept his eyes on Helga; Addie's arm locked in his and trying desperately to pull him away.
He wasn't going anywhere.
Underneath Helga's talking, Iggy, as planned, began stomping on the pedal that hit his bass drum. Behind his shaded glasses, he looked over at Stinky and gave him a nod – the signal that after the next two beats, he too should join in.
"If you hadn't kicked me out, I never would have found the Pearls, here" Helga went on, bass and drums now behind her like an army of sound. "And without them, well, you just might have won the Battle of the Bands here tonight."
It was Helga's turn to look back at her bandmates, ready to strike at her command. Nodding to all of them a single time, she whipped her head around and reintroduced her lips to the mic. "Dare ya to try anyway, football-head."
At that, Sid stormed into the song playing a series of notes that flew through the spaces between Stinky's bass line. Just as soon as he'd started, both Stinky and Sid dropped out; Iggy holding his strong beat as Helga began to sing in time with the fast rhythm he kept.
From generation to the next this long-lost legend will be told
Stinky played two notes at the end of her phrase, a period of sorts to the song she sang.
I am the keeper of the tale so gather round all young and old
Again, came Stinky's bass as Gerald leaned in to ask his friend, "Is that a dig at me?"
Focused instead on the overall vibe of the song, Arnold ignored Gerald and instead allowed himself to be hypnotized by the leader of the Pearls and the song she had to share.
I light my match and breathe you in, you're up in smoke, lost in the air
You can spew your truth until you're blue, but me? I do not care.
The crowd was eating up her angsty song, and as the music shifted to incorporate the musical bridge, Sid's guitar returned playing a watered-down version of the riff he'd used at the beginning.
Spin that bottle, watch it turn
Land on me and then you'll learn
Round and round, you love to share
You may choose truth, but I choose DARE!
Helga's intro suddenly made sense, though the song didn't give Arnold the opportunity to fully absorb the message by the time the chorus rolled around.
Give it up, give it up
Watch me fly, I'll watch you fall
Give it up, give it up
I start to walk, now you can crawl
The crowd jumped in time with the heavy, fast beat of the song and it wasn't long before they began repeating the lyrics as if they'd known them the whole time.
Yeah, you don't wanna mess, wanna MESS WITH ME
You can add or subtract, but you're STUCK WITH THREE
Yeah, you don't wanna mess, wanna MESS WITH ME
Or I will dare, dare, DARE-DARE-DARE
The music stopped just brief enough for Helga to scream out the punchline of the chorus:
YOU TO LEAVE!
The venue full of hyped teenagers took the following musical break as a chance to 'dance,' a word that was better understood as unhinged head banging and wild body movements. Amid the sea of flailing limbs, Wolfgang pushed his way to the back where Arnold stood beside Gerald – Addie having left to find the bathroom.
It was almost as if Wolfgang had waited; lurked. He was a predator waiting in the darkness carefully before the time was right to make his move.
Just as Helga began singing the second verse, Wolfgang went in for the attack.
I sense the urgency beneath your steps, you can't outrun the past
You'll never win this marathon with me cause I am just too fast
"My girl is killing it up there, don't ya think, football face?" Wolfgang asked; not bothering to look down at the boy who had his eyes locked ahead on the stage.
"You act like I'm surprised Helga's so talented," Arnold replied, maintaining his gaze ahead of himself. "I'm not though. Surprised." A small smile twitched at his lips. "I always knew she was."
And when I win, tell the world that this race was never fair
Not getting the reaction he'd hoped for, Wolfgang pushed the matter with a snarky comment. "Too bad she wastes so much of it on you."
Curious about what this meant, Arnold tilted his head upward to look at Wolfgang. "I know Helga. She doesn't just waste her talent. She doesn't waste anything."
You will spew your truth until you're blue, and me, I'll never care
This elicited a smile from Wolfgang as Arnold gave him the jackpot statement he'd been waiting for. "She sure knew how to waste time with you."
Keep up your pace, don't stop now
"What's that supposed to mean?" Arnold shot back defensively, turning to face Wolfgang directly with agitation.
You think you'll win, I'll show you how
"It means that Helga may be smart, and talented, but she wasn't smart enough to see what a bozo she was dating before she met me." The sophomore sneered and leaned down to meet Arnold at his eye-level. "By the time she's at Hillwood High with me, she'll have forgotten all about you and your dumb little dating history."
Step by step, turtle and a hare
Hold onto your truth –
"It isn't some competition, Wolfgang," Arnold replied angrily. "I just want Helga to be happy... even if it is with someone like you."
"Someone like me?"
"Yeah," Arnold said with a sly smile. "A deadbeat bully."
– I still choose DARE!
"Listen here, kid, I ain't some deadbeat," Wolfgang insisted, a thumb in his chest.
"Arnold," Gerald muttered, his eyes shifting back and forth as if monitoring the imminent danger, "Hey man, we better go..."
"Not now, Gerald!" Arnold snapped back, and just as soon as the chorus was in play, so were Wolfgang and Arnold.
Give it up, give it up
Watch me fly, I'll watch you fall
"Then what should I call you instead?" The football-head pressed. "What kind of guy takes a perfectly great girl and turns her into some smoking rebel of society? Next thing you know, you'll be throwing her around and I swear to God, Wolfgang – "
Give it up, give it up
I start to walk, now you can crawl
"What, tough guy?" Wolfgang egged the boy on, clearly enjoying the rise he was getting. "What are you gonna do to me? You gonna show me who's boss?"
Yeah, you don't wanna mess, wanna mess with me
"I don't need to show you anything, Wolfgang," he answered with confidence. "I know Helga isn't dumb and I know that it's only a matter of time before she realizes what a loser she's with."
You don't wanna mess, wanna mess with me
"Even if I am a loser, I'm the loser who stole your girl, Shortman." Wolfgang practically snarled the words in the boy's face; silently asking him to throw the first sign of physicality so he could rightfully fight back. "And it'd be easy for me to fight you off if you get in my way."
I dare you to mess, you to mess with me
"What makes you think I'd get in your way?" Arnold wondered with a cocked head. "Must be a pretty fragile relationship if you're already so worried about losing her to me."
Instead of angering him, this made Wolfgang laugh and Arnold's brows furrowed in confusion at the reaction.
"I'm not worried about losing her, but you little man" he said forcefully, pointing his index finger hard into the flesh of Arnold's chest "Stay away from Helga, got it? Or you'll be the one worried about losing something."
Will you mess, won't you mess, gotta mess with ME!
An explosion of sounds took the place of Helga's voice; Arnold and Gerald left stunned by the conversation with Wolfgang. As though standing in the eye of a storm, the pair watched Wolfgang saunter away through the hordes of teenagers without incident.
"What...was... that about?" Gerald asked for both; Arnold shaking his head slowly in response.
"What was what?" A cheerful voice entered the vicinity, Addie wiping her wet hands on the sides of her long skirt. "I take it I missed something?"
"Wolfgang," Arnold muttered in confusion, "I think he – "
But before he could finish his sentence, Pearls of Witticism slid into their dramatic break by halting all their instruments but the strong beat from the bass drum.
Your sins are many and you've lost me!
Calling out over her words, the three bandmates yelled "LOST ME, LOST ME, LOST ME".
Don't confess them, no one's listening!
Again, she was followed by "LISTENING, LISTENING".
Oblivious to the music approaching its ending, Addie leaned into Arnold to repeat her question. "What happened with Wolfgang? Are you alright?"
"Dude threatened him," Gerald shouted in response; Arnold waving him off as though what he'd observed was being exaggerated. "Told him to stay away from Pataki, or else."
Yeah, we're both moving on
Addie gasped, one hand coming up to cover her mouth. "Oh my god..."
I'm no longer your pawn
"He didn't say 'or else,' Gerald," Arnold insisted, half-listening to the lyrics Helga screamed from the stage.
Time to play a new game with your time
"Give it up, Arnold" Gerald said, his words matching near perfectly in time with the song's chorus which had picked up again and surrounded them in a bubble of sound. "Wolfgang is Helga's problem now."
Give it up, give it up
Watch me fly, I'll watch you fall
"That's what I'm worried about, Gerald" Arnold replied with a sense of uncertainty. "Even if he were jealous or something, acting like that is like... a red flag or something."
Give it up, give it up
I start to walk, now you can crawl
"Helga's a big girl, man" Gerald reassured. "I mean, hell. Listen to her song! Nobody wants to mess with Pataki."
Yeah, you don't wanna mess, wanna MESS WITH ME
You can add or subtract but you're STUCK WITH THREE
Yeah, you don't wanna mess, wanna MESS WITH ME
Arnold stood stoically while the rest of the kids at Venus, Gerald and Addie included, enjoyed the remainder of the Pearls of Witticism's first song of the night. While everyone bobbed their heads to the music, Arnold's mind ran in circles as though mimicking the song he heard.
No. You don't wanna mess, wanna MESS WITH ME
You don't wanna mess, wanna MESS WITH ME
Because I dare,
Would he dare?
Dare,
Should he dare?
DARE-DARE-DARE, you to
Or should he take the song's advice and just –
LEAVE!
After our set was done, lemme tell you journal, I was riding HIGH! The electricity coming from that crowd was unmatched and I've honestly never felt so good in my life as I did walking off that stage. We'd hyped that crowd up so well, that I'm pretty sure the band after us – Walking Stiffs – benefitted from the residual energy.
By the time Three Amigos and a Keyboard were ready to play, I already felt pretty satisfied with where the Pearls were going to rank when the night was over. Nothing could bring down my confidence in that moment... until Wolfie just HAD to get himself involved.
"Kid must be scared out of his football-shaped mind!" Helga laughed to herself where she stood watching the boys take their individual turns at the pool table. "I thought at least while they were setting up or something he'd look my way or come over here all noble and wish me luck for cripes sake."
"I wouldn't waste your time waiting on him, babe" Wolfgang said mid-sling of his arm around her shoulders. "After our... little conversation, that kid won't even look at you again let alone waste his breath wishing you luck."
Confused, Helga twisted out from under her boyfriend's arm and gave him a quizzical look. "Little conversation?" She repeated. "When was this?"
He shrugged his shoulders carelessly, clearly unafraid at whatever was about to happen next. "During your set at some point."
"And just... what was it you two had to talk about, exactly?" Her words were getting colder, and Wolfgang began to notice the sudden icy chill of her tone. One by one, the other Pearls lost interest in the green felted table and their wooden cues; a more interesting turn of events playing out before their very eyes.
Choosing not to be intimidated by her sudden change in tone, Wolfgang replied with an air of humor. "Just wanted to remind him of his place, that's all."
"And what place is that?" Helga shot back, hands in fists on her hips. "I can tell you right now that it was not your place to go talking to him about shit like that – "
In an instant, Wolfgang's cool demeanor turned sour; his eyes narrowing towards Helga, a fire burning behind his blue irises. "You certainly weren't about to do anything about it, were you, Pataki?"
"Do anything about what? He wasn't bothering anyone!" Rolling her eyes in frustration, she muttered to herself, "Jesus, I should have listened to the guys about you..."
Infuriated by Helga's aside, Wolfgang's glare turned towards the three boys who immediately returned their attention to the game they'd been supposedly playing rather than the conversation they'd been inherently eavesdropping on.
"Real tough, talking shit behind my back" he told them, acid behind his words. "So, tough guys, you got something to say to me? Say it!"
"They don't need to answer to you, Wolfgang," Helga answered, beating her bandmates to the punch. "And I don't need you fighting any battles for me. I'm Helga G. Pataki and I – "
Wasting no time to speak over her, Wolfgang interrupted to finish her sentence. "And you are blinded by feelings for that asshole who you say broke your heart!"
Oblivious to the argument taking place just feet from the stage, Addie greeted the crowd as they prepared to begin their set at the Fly Trap. "Venus, how are you enjoying Battle of the Bands so far?!"
Those in the crowd unaware of what was happening by the pool tables cheered happily in response to the brunette's question.
Meanwhile, Wolfgang and Helga's argument continued in the corner.
"He did! And I'm getting over it, alright?" Helga insisted, though Wolfgang remained unconvinced.
"That's what you say, but you're dating me now so you should already be over it!" Taking a step towards her, his attitude softened to one that mimicked genuine concern. "All you do all day is write about him and what he did or how he makes you feel but..."
"But what?"
"We're Three Amigos and a Keyboard," Gerald took over from his own mic on the stage "and tonight, we're gonna jam to some original songs we've written."
"Hopefully," Addie continued, a smile in her voice, "you'll be compelled to join us!"
More cheering emitted from the crowd; Helga's focus sticking to Wolfgang's supposed concern. "You pushing me to get over everything isn't gonna help me move on any faster."
"I know," he answered, reaching out to gently brush back a loose strand of Helga's hair from her face. "And I'm sorry, I really am. I'm just trying to help. I figured if he leaves you alone, if he's out of your bubble, you wouldn't think about him as much. You need him out of your life."
Taking his words to heart and believing in his sentiments, Helga nodded her head. "Yeah... that makes sense, I guess."
He meant well though. Wolfgang told me that he just explained to Arnold that I needed space. I'm so lucky to be with someone who understands me even better than I understand myself, you know? It's nice to have someone so mature looking out for me.
So, I told him thanks, but that he has to leave Arnold alone too, otherwise the whole 'me getting over him' thing was DEFINITELY not going to work, and he agreed.
At least I don't have to worry about him picking fights anymore. Now, all of us can just focus on the band and continuing to make killer songs.
And SPEAKING of songs –
"The first song we've got planned for you all is one that, I think, all three of us are really proud of," Addie explained, sharing a look with the two boys she shared the stage with.
Not one for taking the spotlight, Arnold stood quietly in the background beside his keyboard as his friends did the necessary talking to introduce their song.
"So," Gerald said, "without wasting any more time, we're Three Amigos and a Keyboard and this song is called 'Backtrack.'" Nodding his head once to Addie and then Arnold, Gerald counted three counts that led the trio into their song.
A dramatic and prolonged intro bled through the speakers, Addie's guitar playing an intricate melody that blended seamlessly with the chords Arnold plucked at on his keyboard. Underneath the music rested Gerald's beats which bumped the song just enough to make anyone feel the need to tap their toes or bob their heads.
Even Helga couldn't resist the call of their tune. At last, Addie started them off singing a mere few notes that supported their melody rather than enhanced it.
I helped you grow, I sowed the seeds
You bloomed, I broke, and now it is complete
But I cannot help to blame you
For up and leaving me
Gerald took over then, his voice wavering slightly as he sang their carefully crafted lyrics.
You walked away, I held my stance
I even gave our story one last chance
But nothing.
What was I expecting?
The two now sang together, Addie harmonizing at a higher pitch than Gerald who maintained the original melody of the song.
But now that I'm, not on my own
It's like you've lost all the height you've grown
And I just see shade below you
Your distance set the tone
Here I stand
Holding my own hand
But I don't feel like I'm alone now, any longer
I feel stronger...
Listening to the lyrics, Helga's face softened and the anger in her heart melted into a pool of absolute heartbreak as the trio reached their chorus.
Don't wanna get back, what you gave back
I'm moving forward, not moving on
Her azure eyes sunk from the stage to look down at the dirt that crusted the tops of her pink converse.
It's such a setback, when you talk smack
I don't miss that now that you're gone
"Hey, isn't that Arnold's dad?" Sid asked vaguely, his finger pointed toward the back of the room where a familiar – still bearded –Miles stood with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Sure is," Helga mumbled, still looking down. "He's probably just here to support his son."
"I don't know, Helga" Stinky answered, his gaze too fixated on the man now waving his hands wildly in the air. "I reckon he's not back there dancing to the song..."
Sink or swim –
Helga's face shot up to look at where Miles stood in the back, now talking to one of the security guards who was nodding his head repeatedly.
– now's your time –
"What's going on back there...?" she wondered aloud, her eyes following the security guard as he rushed towards the stage as though on a mission.
– prove to me you're not mine
The security guard at last found his way to the lip of the stage and flagged down Gerald's attention mid-lyric, though Addie continued singing with a puzzled expression.
Unless all you wanna do is,
Addie stomped her feet three times to go with the pause in the song while watching as Gerald immediately left his drum machine in lieu of Arnold where he stood in the back with his keyboard. The crowd mumbled to one another in confusion at what was happening – whether this was a rehearsed stunt or something to be worried about.
After whispering something in Arnold's ear, the football-headed boy's eyes grew wide and as Addie sang the final word in the first round of their chorus –
Backtrack!
– the sound of electric abandonment ran through the speakers as Arnold ditched the stage and ran to met his father at the back of the venue, soon disappearing out the door altogether.
Silence filled the once lively space and Gerald cleared his throat awkwardly before leaning in to the mic to say, "Sorry everybody. There's a uh..." he glanced over to Addie who was just as confused as the rest of the crowd. "There's been a family emergency and we aren't going to be able to finish our set tonight."
Nobody knew what to do or how to process what Gerald had said. He and Addie practically jumped off the stage at that point and took off in the direction Arnold had gone as if they might catch up with him.
But they didn't.
Despite my best efforts and everything Wolfgang had just told me about getting over Arnold, I couldn't help myself. Maybe it was simple curiosity or maybe I was worried about the kid. There's no way he'd just leave during the competition like that. The fact that his dad came to get him was even MORE worrisome. Against my better judgement, I left the Pearls and Wolfgang and went outside to find Addie and Gerald whispering to each other in the empty parking lot.
"What was that all about?" Helga interrupted; her arms crossed to hide her visibly shaking body. Whether it was from the chill of the fall air or her own nerves, she didn't know. "Is Arnold okay?"
"He's fine, Helga" Gerald answered in an almost catatonic voice. "His grandma had a stroke."
The color drained from her face at the statement. "G-Gertie? She had a..." Helga shook her head and tried to compose herself. "Well, is she going to be alright?"
For the first time in what felt like ages, Gerald and Helga looked at one another without any animosity or emotion other than compassion. Both of them were well aware of what Gertie meant to Arnold and his family. Both had grown up with her wild antics and flair for life.
"I don't know, man," Gerald mumbled with a tired shrug. "But considering Miles came all the way out here in the middle of the show to get him... it can't be good."
The rest of the night went by so slowly and so fast all at once. It was like I wasn't even present for the last band's performance or for the big announcement that Pearls of Witticism were the first ever champions of the Battle of the Bands.
All I could, and all I CAN think about is Gertie.
And Arnold.
I don't know what to do, journal. I don't know what to FEEL. Wolfgang told me that there's nothing I can do, and it isn't my responsibility anymore to be so concerned about Arnold and his family, but I can't help it, you know?
Arnold aside, Gertie and I... I always thought we shared something special. I can't stop thinking about all that time I spent with her when she broke her hip. All the advice she gave me in the middle of jokes and wacky stories from her youth.
If she dies, life won't be the same and neither will Arnold.
I guess I'm happy he has Addie now. She's nice enough. A little vanilla when it comes to personality, but she seems to have a good head on her shoulders. She doles out advice like the football-head himself so maybe it's a good thing HE has his OWN Arnold to be there for him in all this.
Anyway. I guess that's all I have.
And I hope Gertie is going to be okay.
~Helga
Wowsers, that was a lot to pack in here and I have a few semi-important things I wanna mention before we all sit back and unpack this whole chapter.
1) There's some songs I wanna shoutout that were inspirations for the melodies (even though you'll never hear them cause I can't play instruments) of the songs featured in this chapter. 'Dare' was heavily inspired by the songs 'Brianstorm' by Arctic Monkeys and 'No Care' by Daughter. As for 'Backtrack,' that song was mostly inspired by the song 'Perfect Situation' by Weezer.
2) This chapter was directly written in a way to evoke a sense of chaos and SO MUCH DRAMA. Why you may ask? Growing up, there was this club me and my friends used to go to and listen to bands all the time at called 'Club One.' It was your basic Midwest Christian Emo Hardcore Band venue. Anyway, that club ALWAYS toted the MOST DRAMA and crazy situations you can imagine, and while the details of this particular situation never occured irl, the nonsensical arguments and teenage drama that unfolded there needed to be represented in some capacity... so it has been channeled for this chapter and any other time we may find ourselves at the Fly Trap.
As always, thank you so much for reading my story and for your continued support. If it wasn't for your reviews and comments and stuff, I really don't think I would have been able to push through the events of this year or anything really. I am so honored to be a part of this community and to keep bringing you Hey Arnold content that you enjoy enough to follow.
See you at the next chapter! I am unsure when I will update again as I am still currently working on it, but I didn't want to wait any longer to give y'all this update. Keep following #HelgaUnbound on twitter for updates.
Please review!
-Polka