"Who's taking who to the movies?"
"Yeah, yeah. Get it out of your system, Pataki. Anyway I'm paying for the tickets," Arnold opened the door of Helga's car. It was a small blue thing. He sat in the seat and closed the door. Helga had punk music playing low.
"The food and drink too?"
"Sure."
"Good boy." She put the punk music up.
"What's this song?"
"California Uber Alles."
"It's exciting I guess."
"CALIFORNIA UBER ALLES!" Helga pounded the ceiling of the car as she drove.
"Calm it down."
"Alright, alright. Mellow out or you will pay."
It ten minutes they were almost there. They were stuck in traffic, passing by a flower store. "What's this song?"
"Government Flu."
"Is this an album? The songs all sound different."
"No it's a mix CD."
"Oh I make those. I was listening to one earlier when I was mopping."
"I caught you staring again earlier, didn't I?"
"Oh come on. I was barely looking at you."
"Sure, Shortman." She drummed her fingers on the wheel. "Ya know I always get excited to watch a movie. It feels like a special event. Even if the floor's sticky and its full of talkative teens."
"Yeah, other than that stuff it's pretty cool. What do you think of Green Day?"
"Eh, they're ok. I like Dookie."
"Hmm... I think they have a new album coming out."
"Interesting."
They arrived minutes later. They were close to the show time. Arnold liked to arrive early but Helga ran on her own time apparently. They quickly got their food. Arnold and Helga got slushies, Arnold got cherry and Helga got blueberry and a single large popcorn to share. They got into the theater and the commercials were already playing. There was an ad for a movie called Batman Begins. Arnold smiled. It looked cool. "Damn."
Helga questioned. "You a bathead?"
"Huh?"
"A batman head."
"Well, sure. I've read some of the comics."
"I watched the old movies. I love the one with Jack Nicholson."
"Yeah, that one's good."
The commercials ended. The screen transitioned. Sinister music. A city lit up. Miramax is spelled out as if it were lights of buildings. Then it became proper text with the word films below it. 2 hours and some minutes later. They were exiting the theater. Throwing away their cups and tub of popcorn. They got outside the theater. Helga took out a cigarette and a lighter. She lit it and took a drag. "Hey, Arnold?"
"Yeah."
"I didn't mind listening, but why'd you tell me all that stuff with Riley?"
"Well..." Arnold kicked a rock into the street. He thought about it. "I hadn't told anyone until I told you. I guess I was just searching for a person. A person who'd listen, and respect me. I mean sure you call me football head, but you seem cool. Cooler than you were when we were kids."
"We've only been working together for three days."
"Yeah maybe I rushed it a bit too soon, but... I don't regret it." Helga inhaled. The end of the cigarette glowed a brilliant red. She exhaled. "How long have you smoked? I haven't seen you take a break."
"I smoke occasionally. I'm trying to not make it a habit."
"I tried a cigarette once. It was harsh."
"They are." Helga inhaled. She let the drag out. Arnold listened to the sound of the city. Cars beeping in the distance. The road seem fairly abandoned except for the sidewalks. People were walking to their car after the movie but not too many. It hadn't been a packed theater. Arnold put his hands in pockets. He closed his eyes while she smoked. She didn't say another word till she was done. "I'm good." Arnold opened his eyes and started walking towards the car. They reached it in a moment and Helga got out her keys. They got in the car. The car turned on. Punk music was blaring. Helga turned the nob down as fast as she could. A woman walking by glared. Arnold gave an apologetic look. Helga didn't pay any mind. Helga asked "Now what?"
"We could chill."
"Where?"
"We could go up to my room and look at the sky."
"What are you trying to do?" Helga looked at Arnold.
"Nothing." Arnold answered honestly.
Helga didn't seem very trusting, but she drove them. "What'd you think of the movie?"
Arnold answered. "It was great. Really felt like we got the backstory behind the bride. I don't know if I like it as much as Volume one but it was great."
"You know I was impressed by the first part, but this second part. I loved it. It was way more chill than volume one. Felt kinda like a western with a lot of twists. I especially liked the training section with Pai Mei. That was really cool. He's a fearsome character."
"Reminds me of someone."
"Who?"
"Not telling."
"Oh don't be so cheesy, Arnold." She smiled. She parked out front and they got out of the car. Arnold got out his key from his pocket and unlocked the front door. They went inside. Stella was in the living room. She was reading a book with a light on beside her. She looked up at Arnold. "Mom."
"Arnold." She looked at him lovingly. "Have a good time at the movies?"
"Yeah. Me and Helga are going to hang out in my room for a little bit."
"Okay, honey. Have a good time."
"We will." Arnold walked upstairs with Helga following.
"She's nice."
"Yeah. It's great having them home."
"You went searching for them yourself?"
"Well... I got some help from local guides and stuff, but yeah I did. I saved all my money up to go to San Lorenzo. I was just blindly searching for half a year until I picked up their trail."
"What about school?"
"Well they advanced me anyways. I was playing catch up for two years before I was really at high school level. It was annoying."
"I wish I got to go on an epic quest in a jungle to save loving parents."
"Sweet isn't it? That reminds me, I meant to ask earlier, are you still living with Bob and Miriam?"
"No. I've been in my own apartment since I was seventeen. I got myself emancipated."
"Oh. That must cost some money."
"It does that's why I'm working." They arrived in the room. It was dark but the moon lit the room enough to see by. Arnold went over to the bed and sat on it. Helga sat on the couch.
"Now we lay down and look at the sky."
"Sure. I can do that." Helga laid down with her arms crossed.
Arnold laid down. The sky looked a dark blue. Still there were no stars. Arnold put a hand in his hair and just simply breathed. Helga locked her hands together. Shifting the weight of her fingers from one hand to the other. Fidgety. She sighed. She always had trouble relaxing. For a while they just laid in silence. No words. Though they could hear people talking somewhere else in the building. It was low chatter. Constant but quiet. It distracted Helga. "What am I supposed to get out of this, Arnoldo?"
"Some peace."
"Well, I'm not getting it."
"Maybe you can try something."
"What?"
"Breathing. Like breathe in a certain way."
"Ok, guru. Give me some instructions."
"Breathe in. Hold..." He was quiet for a few seconds. "Exhale." Arnold repeated that.
Helga did it for a few minutes, eventually she felt some of the tension melt away. It was nice. "Alright, alright. I'm relaxed." Arnold went quiet. Helga breathed deeply though. The blue color of the sky was calming as well. They were like that for a while. Arnold closed his eyes. He was feeling sleepy. Though something surfaced to the front of his mind.
"You got any baggage you're willing to tell me about?"
"Huh. Well... I got one thing."
"What's that?"
"Bob Pataki is dead."
"What?"
"He died last year. In the fall." Arnold sat with that info for a moment. "He was a jail cell and got into a fight. The man punched him hard in the nose and he fell and cracked his skull on concrete floor."
"Why was he in jail?"
"He was arrested on fraud. We could've made bail and got him out, but I guess he couldn't hold out that long."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Helga didn't want to say more but maybe she had to. She was still relaxed. She sighed and turned her head to the side. She looked at Arnold. "He was not a man I loved. I don't feel that much different about him now that he's gone."
Arnold wasn't sure what to say. He knew Bob was not the best father, but he wouldn't expect this. "How's Miriam?"
"She's better off without him. She's been picking herself up. I'm honestly proud of her, but I won't live in the same household. She gets to be the cellphone queen."
"So you aren't mourning?"
"No."
"How do you feel?"
"Right now?"
"Sure."
"Good. I feel good, Arnold."
Arnold scratched his forehead. They were both quiet for a while. "Want to listen to some music?"
"What kind of music?"
"Jazz."
"Sure."
Arnold found his headphones and gave them to her. They were connected to his portable CD player. He put in a mix CD and pressed play. She listened. It was some gentle piano. She didn't recognize the song. It went on for a while. She closed her eyes. She was almost asleep.
Arnold sat on the edge of the couch. She looked at him. He looked at her. She took off a headphone. "What's up Arnoldo?"
"Nothing." He turned his eyes up to where the stars were supposed to be. She put the headphone back on and let herself relax with the music. She almost fell asleep again but she stopped herself. She took off the headphones when it was too hard to stay awake. "Alright, Arnold. I think I'm going to get going. It's getting pretty late I'm sure I'll fall asleep if I keep laying here."
"See you, Helga."
"Bye, Arnold." And she left the room.
He went back to his bed and laid down. He put on the headphones and finished the CD she started. Eventually he found sleep calling. And he wasn't going to hesitate to go into darkness.
I realized that with the timeline they wouldn't be eighteen yet but whatever. I liked setting it during this period so I'm sticking with it.
