Chapter 2: Concerns
-Helga? Helga? -Phoebe's soft voice began to bring the blonde back to the world of the awakened- Good morning, Helga, your father told me that I could wake you up ... today we were going out, remember? - Helga looked with half closed eyes at her friend who was standing in the doorway of her bedroom, she vaguely remembered having promised that during the weekend she would accompany her to buy a dress for her cousins' wedding, God, Helga hated the good memory Phoebe had for that kind of promises that Helga would never keep.
-Five more minutes Phoebs, not even postmen are awake yet- The girl placed a pillow on her head as Phoebe opened the curtains letting in all the sun.
-What are you talking about, Helga? It's already noon, come on ... we have to go to lunch too, you promised, remember? - Evidently Helga barely remembered the promise to go shopping with her, much less was she aware that he had also promised her a lunch.
-Yes, yes, of course I remember Phoebs- The girl sat on her bed and gave a huge yawn while stretching her arms lazily- Who do you take me for? Do you think I would forget any promises? - Phoebe smiled sweetly as she used to, even knowing that Helga was lying, the black-haired girl liked to think that Helga was a much better friend than she showed.
-Okay ... I'll see you downstairs in thirty minutes so you can get ready.
-Thirty? Do you think I'm the princess of England or something? We will only go to the mall, with fifteen minutes I will shower, and I am ready for action- The blonde jumped up from her bed and went to the bathroom, just as she had predicted, fifteen minutes later she was already wearing her pink tank top and a chequered white and fuchsia shirt open over it, her old worn jeans and black converse faded over the years. Helga sometimes wondered how Phoebe never scolded her for her unkempt appearance, while she dressed like she was going to fix trucks, Phoebe always had her make up done, her hair styled to perfection and a beautiful blue dress that accentuated her tiny waist, wherever you looked the two girls were too different, however they had always found a way to make that friendship work perfectly.
Helga and Phoebe went to the first fast food place they found when they entered the mall, the huge establishment was something quite new in the city, not more than two years ago they had finally placed that place that broke a bit with the neighbourhood scheme they used to have, however there was not much to do with it, time advanced and everyone had to advance with it.
As the girls ate, Helga's little cell phone it began to vibrate uncontrollably, Phoebe stared at it and then looked at Helga who ignored her.
-Are you not going to answer? - The blonde looked away from her hamburger and looked at her friend, then returned her focus to what she was eating- It could be urgent.
-No ... is ... not- She said while swallowing the bite that was still in her mouth- I know when to answer and when not, that's what the caller ID is for Phoebs- The girl took her friend's cell phone and read the name on the little screen.
-"Arrogant idiot"? ... Who is arrogant idiot?- Helga swallowed again and then answered.
-He's just a boy I met this week, he's unbearable I tell you, he fulfills all the bad boy clichés and thinks that's why he's great or something ... Do people really still believe that girls like bad boys? - Helga sighed and went back to her food.
-Well, to tell the truth Helga, it is well known that the stereotype of a boy seeking trouble is very popular among teenage girls who ...
-Stop there Phoebe, you know I don't like that you become all encyclopaedic with me, the point is, it takes more than a leather jacket and a motorcycle to get Helga's attention - Phoebe smiled and put the cell phone back on the table - All that bad boy stuff is highly overrated, if you ask me I think a calmer style is better, something naive perhaps ... something like ...
-Like Arnold? -Phoebe could not contain her smile when she saw how Helga's expression changed, the girl at first frowned at her as if scolding her for saying that out loud, but then she nodded kindly.
-Yes Phoebe, like the ball head… - Helga sighed - I guess I'm still a romantic- Phoebe laughed energetically and nodded.
-Yes, you are Helga, despite everything you are still the sensitive girl you have always been.
-Shhhh…. You know I don't like people to know that ... poetry, good grades, they don't go much with my image, don't you think? - Phoebe smiled at him again.
-I guess not ... I still don't understand how after all this time everyone still believes that you copy me in exams.
-That's because they are idiots Phoebs, the kind of idiots who would never understand my artistic genius, so it is better than never, I repeat, never, tell anyone about poetry, or about Arnold, or anything. Understood?
-Come on Helga, as if I didn't know the rules, you know you can trust me ... - Helga sighed again and gave her a grateful smile, after all Phoebe was the only person with whom she could be herself. After a few seconds, Helga's small mobile vibrated again on the table, again the girl did not answer it.
-Hey, don't you know it's rude not to pick up the phone? - The blonde was startled when she heard a voice behind her.
-How long have you been listening there- Helga turned with a frown to scold Dinn with her eyes.
-Just now, I saw you through the window and I wanted to say hello in person since you do not answer calls.
-Are you sure you didn't hear anything?
-Sure why? Were you talking about me? - Dinn gave a half smile and moved a chair to sit at Helga and Phoebe's table.
-You wish you… by the way, Phoebe, this is Dinn, better known as the arrogant idiot- The boy laughed when he heard his pseudonym, then he turned to Phoebe to greet her.
-Nice to meet you- the boy smiled at her, but Phoebe just looked at him suspiciously. -Wow, I seem to have something on my face that your friends don't like, right?- Helga couldn't help but draw a smile due to the comment.
-I guess it's your face they don't like- Helga smiled at him and then held out her container of potato chips towards him. -Potatoes?-
-Thanks, I thought you would never offer them- Dinn took out a pair and began to eat them while Phoebe was still inspecting him with her eyes -I was going to take some anyway even if they didn't offer me.
-Typical- Laughed Helga, the boy was a cliché and was somewhat burdensome, but Helga had to admit that Dinn was entertaining in his own way, he was challenging and had the same attitude towards the world that Helga had, somehow it was relaxing to meet someone who wasn't scolding her every five seconds for her bad temper- Anyway Dinn, you will have to eat and leave because we will go shopping for clothes.
-Shopping for clothes?- Dinn hid a laugh behind his hand. -I didn't know that even girls like you had their Barbie princess side- Helga hit the boy's shoulder with her fist while laughing.
-It wasn't my idea! I promised Phoebs.
-I bet you'd rather go do anything else- Helga gulped, although that was true, she had no intention of confessing it in front of Phoebe, after all, even if she didn't like to go shopping, spending time with her friend was something she really appreciated.
-Of course not, I like to accompany Phoebe.
-As you want tough girl- Dinn got up from the chair -At night a friend's group will play in a bar, if you really want to have a good time just pick up the phone when I call you.
-Maybe I will- Helga smiled at him and waved goodbye, as soon as the boy left he turned to see a frown in her friend's face.
-What was that?
-What was what? I told him I wanted to be with you, right?
-No Helga, I mean all that ... flirting.
-Flirting!- Helga let out a huge laugh that took time to control. -What do you mean? We were just bothering each other, I already told you, he is unbearable- Phoebe sighed and shook her head.
-You are not twelve anymore Helga, that kind of attitude looks different now ...
-You're exaggerating, I'm not even being entirely nice to him, I don't see the problem.
-I don't think you should be friends with him, you said it yourself, he's a troublemaker Helga- The blonde sighed frustrated, everyone acted as if talking to Dinn meant the same as signing her death warrant, he was just a boy, like Sid or Stinky. Why were they making such a fuss?
-Don't start with that, I don't need to be told who to hang or not ... I'm also a bit of a troublemaker, right? What's wrong with me associating with people like that?
-You are not like that Helga, you are somewhat challenging, yes, but you are a good girl.
-You know what Phoebs? We better finish eating in silence and go find your damn dress- Helga frowned and finished eating without saying another word.
Under the clear sky a group of children played in the vacant lot, the laughter of the boys who enjoyed baseball was something that made the air warmer, Arnold who was passing by that place smiled longingly.
-Do you remember when we were like them? - He asked Gerald who was walking next to him, the brunette nodded and smiled at him.
-Ah been a long time, those boys should not even know that we were the ones who cleaned that place, they must believe that it has always been like this- He joked.
-I suppose, anyway I find it fabulous that something we did continues to bring joy to other people- Gerald hid a laugh behind his hand and nodded.
-Those kind of comments only occur to you brother- Arnold sighed and looked at the sky, then he looked back at his friend, the boy who in his childhood was skinny now had a broad back and a natural charisma, similar to his brother Senior, he wore a red sweatshirt and worn jeans in addition to sunglasses that always rested on his head -I guess it was that kind of comment that made Lila finally want to go out with you- he laughed, Arnold smiled back, saying he didn't really understand how Lila finally decided to give him a chance as a boyfriend, after years of telling him she didn't like him enough, but after her sixteenth birthday party, things just happened.
-I guess- he said shrugging- It's great to be with her, but sometimes I still feel like she doesn't really like me.
-Nonsense, if it were like that, she wouldn't be with you- Arnold shrugged his shoulders again and then let the negative ideas leave him -You worry too much, all that not liking you were children's things, everything has changed since then.
-I don't know, Gerald ... I don't think things have changed that much, and I'm not just talking about Lila but everyone.
-I don't follow you, Arnold.
-I mean ... despite time we keep getting together with the same group as always, even after we got different classes and things like that ... it's a bit strange, don't you think?
-Not at all, it's because we've known each other for a long time. Why would we want new friends if we already have the best? - Gerald laughed but Arnold kept looking at the sky- Why? Are you thinking of changing circles?
-No, I'm worried.
-Worried? Worried about who?-
-About Helga ... I think she's starting to hang out with people who are not good for her.
-About Helga? Leave that already, she knows how to take care of herself better than any of us… besides, she is something different from everyone else, she is bossy and loud. Would it be so bad that she started to hang out with other people?
-Don't say that. I know that Helga has her temper, but she has always been our friend.
-I don't know Arnold, I wouldn't call a friend someone you can never count on, don't you think? Tell me when was the last time she did something nice for you.
-Well…
-You see? Why are you wasting your time worrying about her then?
-I don't know, I have a kind of feeling ...
-Stop that now, the problem is that you always want to help everyone, even if they don't want help, if you ask me, I think it's okay for Helga or whoever to meet new people, that's what high school is for in the end… -. The blond just kept thinking, the truth is that Gerald used to be a good bridge with reality, he liked to talk to him because someway or another he always managed to get him out of his worries, however this time it was different, although Arnold knew that Helga had never been an exemplary friend, he could not forget that whenever he needed her she was there, even when she herself did not want anyone to notice, besides, it was not only that, people like Dinn were the kind of people who could spoil someone, and while Helga wasn't perfect Arnold preferred her to stay the way she was than to start acting like Dinn and his friends.