Chapter 3: The Bench
Helga took the address that she had written down on a small paper before leaving home and looked at it for the third time.
"The Acres Street 2390 ..." She read aloud again as she checked the numbering in the houses. A narrow street and the little lighting it had, gave Helga the feeling of a dark school corridor, she had wondered a thousand times why she had agreed to go see that band that Dinn had recommended, however she was already there, and it was not time to back down– 2388… 2392… Where is 2390?- she asked herself while looking for the number that was nowhere to be found. She finally decided to call Dinn and ask if that was a practical joke.
—Tough girl— The boy greeted the other end of the phone— What are you doing that you're not here yet?
-You gave me a false address, you idiot. There is no 2390!- Dinn's laugh was heard on the other end of the line.
-I forgot that you had never come, I'm going to look for you, stay where you are- Five seconds after she hung up, Dinn appeared almost out of nowhere in front of her.
-Where did you come from?- The boy pointed to a staircase that went down that was next to the house numbered 2388 -I thought that was the basement of the same house.
-No, it's 2390, let's go, the bands have already started playing.- Helga followed Dinn up the very narrow staircase, indeed, next to a ceiling lamp that overlooked a little door with the number 2390 written with spray paint and an inscription that said, "The Bench ". As soon as Helga entered, she felt cigarette smoke hit her face, it was a small place without ventilation, there was a stage, a small bar counter and more or less ten tables with their chairs scattered around the room, on the walls there were posters of bands that Helga had never heard of. The girl was surprised not to feel uncomfortable there, although the tobacco smoke made her feel suffocated, the people who were there did not scare her at all, the place actually looked quite quiet. He led her to a table where there were two boys and one more girl, Helga recognized one of the boys as he was also from school but the other two, she had never seen.
-Hi- the boy who was taller greeted, the blonde just returned the greeting with her hand and sat next to them.
-They are Arthur but we call him Artie- Dinn pointed to the tall young man who had just said hello, he had chocolate-coloured hair and a small upturned nose- Clint- Now the hand went towards a boy who although was shorter than Arthur was quite tall, had short military hair and a smug smile, finally Dinn pointed to the last person at the table, it was a girl of about nineteen, with purplish hair and a piercing in her nose— And this is Stella - Helga looked from side to side at the group that was just introduced to her.
-What's up? I am Helga.G. Pataki, but you can just call me Helga— The boys laughed and made a gesture to Dinn as if to tell him that it was fine that he had brought her.
-Hey, I'm going to go get a drink. Do you want a beer?- Dinn offered, Helga stared at him for a moment and then shook her head.
—Not a chance, I don't drink alcohol.
-Whatever, your loss. Can I get you a soda or something?- The girl nodded and saw how Dinn went to the bar to ask for the orders, while he left the lights of the tables were dimming and the ones on the stage were turning on, finally the only light on was the one that focused on a young man with long hair and his guitar, the boy began to play, Helga was speechless, not because the boy was an exceptional singer, but because the lyrics were really beautiful. The girl had gotten used to the commercial music that played all the time on the radio, but that, that was totally different from anything she had ever heard, they were true poems with rhythm. One after another the bands and independent musicians passed by, and with each one that passed, Helga felt happier that she had made the decision to go to that place that night, she couldn't explain it well, but the music they played made her feel comfortable, as if they could understand what she was feeling, all those songs were very much like the poems she had been writing for years.
The hour went on and on, as soon as one group left a new one came back in, Helga had completely lost her perception of time, the minutes had flown by, and she had no idea how late it was until she received a message from Phoebe.
-Helga, where are you? Your dad called me asking if you were at my house, he's fuming! - As soon as the blonde read the text, she went to look at the time on her mobile, when she noticed that it was already after three in the morning, her heart almost stopped.
-Oh God! Bob is going to kill me!-
-What's the matter? You're not having fun-. Helga shook her head as she continued walking.
-It's not that. It's just that it is very late! Bob ... I mean, my Father, he's going to go crazy.
-Calm down, it's not good for you to go alone down the street at this time, I'll take you.- Helga looked at the boy and then at the keys to his motorcycle.
-No way! You've had like two beers and it's so dark you can't see anything, if you want to kill yourself, do it alone.
-Well, you're strict about the drinking thing.- Dinn shrugged and put the keys in his pocket.- Then I will accompany you by foot, it is still dangerous for you to go alone.
-Okay, but keep my pace when you walk, I have no time to lose ...- The two began to walk through the dark streets towards Helga's house.
-And tell me, did you like coming?- Dinn finally broke the ice, Helga chuckled and nodded.
—Yes, a lot… those groups are… fabulous, their lyrics…
-They're like poems.- The girl stopped and stared at Dinn, it was hard for her to believe that this boy seeking a lawsuit had associated those lyrics with real poems. -What? Do I look like the kind of dumb boy who doesn't recognize good writing? - Helga laughed and kept walking.
—I couldn't have said it better….
-Look, I know you think we're good for nothing, but if you came here tonight it's because deep down you know that you are more like us than you think.
-Alcohol makes you talk nonsense- Dinn laughed and shook his head.
-Of course, not ... you know? Just by seeing you, I know the kind of person you are ... - Helga stopped again and stood in front of him.
-Oh yeah smart boy? What kind of person am I?
—Someone sensitive who does not want to show it, different, an artist surely, you do not fit in with your friends, you have problems with your parents ... we are all like that, that's why we defy the laws, because we know we don't need them.
-You think you're a know-it-all- The girl rolled her eyes and sighed bitterly. -Is that why you've been calling me and wanting to meet me? Because you think I'm a loser like you?
—Yes, I think so Tough girl, you are like us but you are surrounded by a lot of good children who will not understand you as we would.
-That's the worst recruitment speech ever, I don't want to listen to it anymore.- Helga started walking again, but Dinn's words kept echoing in her head, indeed she was like he said, a little lonely, a little different, a little misfit. They kept walking until they arrived in front of the Pataki house. -Okay, we're here, you can go.- Dinn looked at her and sat on the porch ladder with a smile.-What? Aren't you leaving?
—Your parents must be very angry, and if I'm not wrong, and I doubt it, start a fight, now, surely you always had to swallow whatever it was you felt when you argued with your parents. But I have a deal for you, if you feel like you want to talk to someone, I'll stay here outside your house, if you need me, call me.
-Don't you have anything better to do?- Dinn shrugged.
-Not really.
—Freak— And without saying more Helga entered her house, as soon as she crossed the threshold, she saw how Bob approached her with a frown.
-What time of arrival is this?- Helga was going to answer her but her father did not give her time. -Do you know what people would say if they knew that you are arriving at this time? Do you think this the right behaviour for someone your age?
-I'm sorry Bob I just ...
-No apologies now. Apologies are useless, before doing things you should use your head young lady. Olga never did this to us! - Helga felt something in her hurt, every time she was compared to her perfect sister, she could feel a mixture of anger and sadness lodge in her chest.
—But I'm not Olga. Dad, you can't expect the same from her as from me.
-I wish you were like Olga; she never gave us these problems.
—Maybe because you were good parents with her.
-What is that supposed to mean?!- Helga crossed her arms and stared at her father.
—Use your brain Bob and find out— After saying that Helga started up the stairs to go to her room.
-This conversation is not over! Get down now! ... Good! Go to your room and don't go out! - Bob's voice disappeared when Helga closed her bedroom door behind her. Why did her parents always have to compare her? It felt as if she had been a mistake, something that neither Bob nor Miriam ever wanted, it was so unfair, okay she made a mistake, but it was not necessary to end up talking about Olga, as always, no matter what she did, well or bad, they would always end up talking about Olga.
Helga looked at her cell phone for a few seconds, Dinn was an idiot, the kind of person who thinks getting in trouble made him cool, but he also seemed to understand her better than Phoebe who never had a serious fight with her parents.
-Hi Dinn ... if you go up the fire escape you can get to my room, don't make noise- Eight minutes after Helga cut the phone Dinn was entering through his window, the boy looked at her serious face and just sat next to her bed on the floor, Helga sat next to him— You were right.
-About you fighting with your parents?-
-Besides ... about how I don't fit in so much with my friends, they don't understand about this ...- Helga turned to see Dinn.- You at least seem like the kind of person that knows what is like to hate your parents some days.
-Yes, I am.- Helga looked at Dinn again, there was something familiar about the young man, something that didn't make her feel uncomfortable. -Do you want to tell me what happened?-
-I'm not crazy- The girl smiled and just stared at the ceiling. -I don't know why I called you.-
-Maybe you felt lonely.- The blonde sighed slowly, maybe if she felt lonely, but not tonight, not because of that fight, maybe she just had been lonely for a long time. Dinn sat next to her in silence for almost an hour until she asked him to leave because she wanted to sleep, then without asking any questions the boy went out the window and left.
On Monday morning Arnold, like every day, had woken up a little earlier to go pick up his girlfriend Lila at her house and take the bus together.
—Good morning, Arnold— Lila kissed the boy's lips when he opened the door and went out next to him.
-Good morning- A slight yawn escaped the boy's lips, Lila looked at him for a few seconds and then asked him a question.
-Have you slept little?- He shook his head. -Arnold, you know that you don't need to come pick me up, and I'm sure I'd be happier knowing you're sleeping better.-
-Thanks Lila but I'm fine, really, it was just a yawn, I also like to come and pick you up ...- While they were still chatting, the bus stopped, they got on and looked for a seat for both of them. In the third row on the right side next to Nadin and Rhonda the couple settled down to go to school, during the walk they had a normal chat until Arnold began to notice something Rhonda was saying to Nadin in front of them.
-I'm serious about it, Nadin, Maria, my employee who was walking from her house to mine saw a boy leave at five in the morning through the window of the Pataki house,- Rhonda said with her usual haughty tone.
-God, did he break into?- Nadin asked, Rhonda shook her head.
—Don't be delusional, the boy left Helga's room, also according to the Patakis they have not made any announcement to the police about a robbery ... it is clear that Helga has new "friends" as well ...
-Arnold? Arnold?- Lila's soft voice took him off the hook from Rhonda and Nadin's conversation, and before he could hear if they were still talking about it, the bus stopped in front of the school. The boy put all the thoughts out of his head and returned to giving all the attention in the world to his beautiful girlfriend Lila, however by the end of the day it was difficult not to think about what he had heard Rhonda say, mainly because the girl told the whole school. Suddenly and without anyone knowing how, everyone also knew that the boy who had left Helga's room was Dinn, and one by one rumours were forming around the girl.