Thursday, February 8th 7:05 AM
The light insisted on interrupting his sleep. Tossing and turning had no effect. As the sun come over his skylight, it hit the exact angle that shined brightly over where Arnold's head lay. Arnold begrudgingly opened his eyes. Sighing heavily he put his arm over his eyes, trying to sleep just a little longer. He relaxed his muscles and started to drift. He felt his head swim as his eyelids became heavier and heavier.
As he started to lose track of time, a blaring commotion rang out across the room. The ringing resonated through Arnold's head. His eyes opened wide, fully alert. He turned his head over to his childhood alarm clock. The oscillating model he made at eight exclaiming "Hey Arnold" over and over. The ringing of the accompanying bell as loud as ever. He reached over and dropped his hand to the berating clock, silencing it. "Ugh," he said audibly groaned. He rolled over and swung his legs over his bed. He wiped the sleep from his eyes as his phone buzzed from the table next to his alarm.
Arnold picked up his phone yawning and looked down seeing the text message from Helga. Arnold smiled as he read it.
MORNING LOSER! Helga sent with an image of her smiling face, along with an impish middle finger displayed in full view for the camera. The three dots indicating that she was typing appeared, and Arnold decided to wait until she was finished to return the sentiment. I told you last night that I don't need you to chauffeur me around. I'm fine. However, if you so choose to inconvenience yourself, can you not inconvenience me and get a move on bucko?
I am getting a move on, I'll be on time. Arnold held the phone up so that he could send his broken, tired morning smile back to her with his reply. She replied immediately. "Someone's chipper this morning," Arnold thought to himself.
No one's impressed with your chest, Arnoldo. I know you're just now moving your lazy butt out of bed. So get a move on, Helga replied back.
Yes, darling, Arnold sent back. He looked once more down at his phone. "God she's pretty," He said to himself as he looked at her obscene gesture. He gently brushed his thumb against the screen where the photo of her face was displayed and smiled. He put the phone down and stood, making his way down to the bathroom. Arnold able to avoid the morning rush was able to jump into the shower. He washed and ran the shampoo through his thoroughly through his hair. He finished his business and made his way back to his room.
He set his feet in front of his closet and started looking through to find an outfit for the day. Arnold looked through his now bare long sleeve shirt section wondering where they all had gone. "Oh yeah, she really did take all my shirts. No one told me your girlfriend is entitled to all your clothes" Arnold thought to himself, slightly irked. He smiled as he located his Bob Ross painting t-shirt. He smiled again as he realized what he had said to himself. "Girlfriend," he repeated out loud. "I guess it's worth it," Arnold thought to himself. Arnold looked one more time at the fuck you selfie Helga had sent him. He looked at the picture and smiled one more time, wider than the previous ones. "Oh yeah, she's worth it," Arnold though as his stomach filled with butterflies. He sighed heavily and put on his shirt and selected a red checker button up to go over it.
Arnold finished dressing and made his way downstairs. He walked through the kitchen and saw his grandfather and father sitting at the table. Phil reading the newspaper as usual and his father typing on his laptop as he ate his cereal. "Morning," he said to the room.
"Mmmh," Miles said, distracted by the laptop screen he was focusing on intently.
"Morning Short man," Phil said giving his son an annoyed look. "You know back in my day, a man looked you in the eye when saying good morning," Phil said going back to his paper.
"I said good morning," Miles said, not looking up from his task.
"You grunted at your son, while you were looking at something on your computer," Stella said as she entered the room. At the last word, Stella closed the laptop lid Miles was looking at. Miles looked up annoyed about to voice his protest when his face softened seeing his wife's annoyed look. "Good morning sweetheart," Stella said as she wrapped up Arnold in a big hug.
"Morning mom," Arnold replied as he hugged her back. Arnold crossed the room grabbing a bowl of cereal. He made his way back to the table and sat across from his father. He began eating when he noticed his father looking at him with a displeased look. Arnold looked sideways at his mother looking for signs of the issue. His mother eating her grapefruit, indifferently, seemed not to notice. Whether or not she was intentionally looking away Arnold could not figure out. The table was quiet. Arnold felt the usual congeniality of the morning in boarding house was not present at this sitting.
Arnold looked back at his dad who had not broken his glare. "Everything alright, dad?" Arnold cautiously asked.
"As a matter of fact son, no. You and I…" Miles began to say. When Stella cleared her throat in an obvious attempt to stop the conversation. Miles swallowed his initial response as he exhaled, annoyed. "Stella he and I need to have a conversation," Miles said curtly.
"Then have it after he gets home from school," Stella replied just as bluntly.
Arnold looked back and forth between his parents, unsure of how to respond. "Mom, Dad, what's going on?" Arnold asked, his concern rising.
"Nothing son, just finish your breakfast and get off to school," Miles said going back to his breakfast. The rest of the meal was quiet and tense. Arnold felt the cold air throughout his meal. Arnold got up from the table to put his bowl in the dishwasher. Arnold stood at the counter, looking back at the table. He felt odd seeing his parents giving each other the silent treatment. A slight panic rose in him. "Are they fighting more these days? I mean all couples fight, I think," Arnold thought to himself.
Arnold looked at his phone seeing the time. He was going to be late picking up Helga. Arnold rushed to grab his bag. Arnold popped his head into the kitchen one more time, his father had moved into the living room and his mother was still at the table looking worried. "I'm heading to school," Arnold squeaked.
"Oh, have a good day Arnold," Stella turned to say to her son with a smile. Arnold smiled back, slightly relieved at her reassuring smile. Arnold turned towards the door and walked to his car. He carefully pulled out of the driveway and made his way towards Helga's house.
Helga had come home from the hospital visit to a house devoid of her Father's violence. Big Bob had seemingly disappeared altogether after his assault on his family. To the relief of his victims. Arnold had tried to convince Helga and Miriam to file charges against him. Citing that a record follows you and makes it easier to take steps in the future, should he come back to take out his anger once again. Helga, who usually would balk at the notion of not holding someone accountable for their actions against her, was evasive whenever Arnold brought the subject up. "It's her father I guess," Arnold thought to himself as he made his way towards Helga's house.
Seeing this strong woman he had known his whole life equivocate about her abusive father perplexed Arnold. It scared Arnold seeing her involved in this cycle. "I'll do whatever I can to protect her," Arnold thought to himself countless times as he went through this over the last couple days. Arnold felt his grip on the steering wheel tighten as he imaged Bob coming back to inflict more damage on the woman he loved. Arnold felt himself fill with rage at the thought of someone harming Helga. Arnold had played through the scenario in his head. "What if he really hurts her, I can't let that happen," Arnold thought to himself. The anger rising in Arnold's system came with a rising fear.
Arnold looked at himself in his fold-down mirror. He looked at his reflection, studying his features. "I don't know what I do," Arnold thought again. "What if I did something awful because I got mad Bob put his hands on Helga?" Arnold thought. The thought was interrupted when the car behind Arnold let out a long beeping sound.
"What the hell are you doing, the light is green. GO!" The driver belted out. Arnold looked at the green light and snapped out of his thoughts. He moved the car forward. Arnold came to a stop in front of Helga's house. He looked up at the house. The fear was back. Arnold's thoughts race through his head. He could feel his pulse quicken slightly. "I don't know if I could stay in control if something happened," Arnold thought to himself. Arnold spent his entire life being diplomatic in every situation. Arnold recoiled at the idea of violence outside of a controlled environment. For the first time in his life, he felt that he may lose control in a situation like that. "What am I thinking? I'm not violent like that. What is happening?" Arnold thought to himself.
Arnold was shaken back out of his thought's by a sharp knock on his window. Arnold looked out his passenger side window to see a smiling Helga Pataki throwing her hands in the air. Presumably waiting for Arnold to unlock the door. Arnold unlocked the door and Helga swung it open.
"Hey there Football Head. I told you were going to be late," Helga said, as she climbed into the car. Arnold looked at her as she entered. She was wearing one of his long sleeve checkered shirts. The shirt, far too large for her, stretched down well past her hips, almost like a dress. She wore tight black jeans with a belt on the outside of the shirt to conform the clothes to her shape. "She looks incredible," Arnold thought to himself as he smiled. His fears long forgotten. "What?" Helga said, noticing his staring.
"Nothing," Arnold said sweetly. He leaned forward and captured her lips on his. He kissed her deeply earning an audible moan from Helga.
"Morning, Arnold," Helga said smiling devilishly as he pulled back.
"How are you, Helga. How are you feeling?" Arnold asked.
"I'm fine, Arnold. Stop asking. I'm fin," Helga said as she buckled her seatbelt.
"I just want to make sure you're alright. Am I so bad?" Arnold asked
Helga rolled her eyes. "You sound like Olga. She's been bugging the crap out of me asking the same questions. 'Are you alright baby sister'," Helga mocked her sister with an airy tone. "But what else is new?" Helga casually said as she sighed. Olga had come from her place in New York the moment she had heard what happened. Wanting to make sure everything was alright and helping her mother get settled as she made some decisions.
"Well, at least she seems like she cares. I'm sure she wasn't too happy to see your mother in the shape she was in," Arnold said.
"No she was not, she was a big dramatic wreck. Per usual, she's a crier that one," Helga said.
"Seems to run in the family," Arnold thought. Keeping that one to himself he smiled at Helga who smiled back. Arnold studied her face. The telltale bruise on her eye from when she went do forcefully into the wall had almost disappeared. Arnold, knowing it was there, subconsciously forced himself to look at it. His smile dropped, his jaw tightened, as did his grip on the wheel seeing the damage someone had done to the love of his life.
"You alright there big guy?" Helga said. She raised her eyebrow slightly at him.
"She's so pretty. Even with that," Arnold said to himself. "God you're beautiful," Arnold said to her. Helga rolled her eyes and surreptitiously smiled as she put on her seatbelt.
"You don't have to drive me, I can do that myself," Helga said.
"The doctor said you shouldn't be driving for a couple days after a concussion. I told you, I would take care of it," Arnold said as he started the car again. Helga rolled her eyes again.
"My hero. Now if you could just not be late picking me up," she said sarcastically.
Arnold heard another knock at his window. He and Helga turned to see Olga carrying a pink leather rectangle. Arnold rolled down the window for her.
"Baby sister, you left your wallet in the kitchen!" Olga said brightly. She smiled sweetly as she handed Helga her waller. Helga took it with a grunt and looked down to put the wallet in her bag. "Hello, Arnold!" Olga said leaning into the car
Arnold looked over at Olga and waved hello. "Good morning, Olga," Arnold said with a genial smile. He noticed she was wearing thigh shorts and a loose white button-up shirt. Arnold wondered how cold she must be, but figured she had run out without thinking. His suspicions were confirmed when Olga leaned further into the car and her shirt, not being her size, opened slightly exposing her breasts in full view. Arnold's eyes widened and his head snapped forward. His posture snapped into position, making sure his body faced forward and he wouldn't be tempted to look.
Helga raised her head and looked over at her boyfriend. "What?" Helga said to Arnold, confused noticing his awkward snap to position.
"Uhmmmmm Uhh," Arnold attempted to articulate when he gave up and pointed to Olga. Helga turned her head and let out an exasperated grunt.
"Olga your tits are out! Go inside for Christ sake!" Helga exclaimed.
"Oopsie, you're right," Olga said still smiling as she covered herself. "So are when does your prom happen? Has Arnold asked you yet Helga?" Olga continuing speaking as if nothing happened. Helga put her hand on her forehead and shook her head.
"Haven't even gotten to that yet, go inside Olga," Helga said.
"Fine, we can catch up later Arnold," Olga said, as Arnold nodded and turning slightly pink. Careful to keep his body facing forward. Olga skipped away from the car waving goodbye. Helga still shaking her head.
"She's so dense," Helga said shaking her head. She crossed her arms looked to Arnold with an agitated eye. "Well, Football Head looks like you're having a good morning since you got a big ole eye full," Helga said as she shook her head and began laughing.
Arnold cracked up into laughter. "What's with her and the clothes? She always wears these loose shirts," Arnold asked.
"She steals all her husband's clothes, that don't fit her. She's a moron," Arnold looked over at Helga wearing his shirt, as she casually took her phone out and started looking through her social media. "What?" she asked when Arnold stared. Arnold raised his eyebrow and smirked at her. "My tits aren't out when I wear your shirts. As you can see I modified it a little to make sure it fit. I'm not just walking around in a boyfriend shirt like I spent the night getting railed," Helga said motioning towards the shirt she had added some accessories to get it to contour to her body.
Arnold looked at her still chuckling. He softened his eyes as he kept his smile on his face. "You do look beautiful," Arnold said. His embarrassment gone. Helga looked at him suspiciously. "You do Helga. You always look incredible, but today. Maybe it's your eyes," Arnold leaned in closer to her. He noticed Helga turn a light shade of pink. He examined her eyes studiously. "They're just a little brighter than usual," Arnold said smiling deeply at her.
Helga bowed her head so Arnold would not see her smile. "Shut up, just go," she said just above a whisper.
Arnold sat back into his seat. "Oh no," He said. Helga looked up one more time. "They're always that bright sapphire color," Arnold said as he put the car in drive.
The ride was quiet. Arnold yawned to try and shake the sleep off. He reached over to his radio realizing there was no music playing he turned it on and his phone synced up automatically. The first song in his playlist came up, was one of his non-jazz inspired favorites.
"Ooh, I like this song," Helga suddenly said as she reached for the volume dial to turn it up.
"I didn't know you were a Bob Dylan fan. Most people don't like him because of his voice," Arnold said surprised.
"Well, most people are idiots. Who can't look past something that innocuous?" Helga said. "You miss an entire school of thought when you pass over Dylan. Plus I love this song. I wish I was that good a poet," Helga said.
Arnold's eyes lit up. "You nailed it. He created some of the greatest music in the last fifty years. It drives me crazy when someone says, 'Oh I don't like his voice'," Arnold mimicked getting a chuckle from Helga. Arnold smiled. "I love Huck's Tune, there are so many interpretations of it," Arnold began saying.
"Like the line about life being a stage of death?" Helga said.
"That's one of my favorites. To me, that adds urgency to the love story in the song. You gotta go and grab what you love while you can. Since you only get the one life," Arnold said.
"I thought that too!" Helga piped up. She was sitting up now as she gesticulated her point. "As the wanderer is going through the city looking for the love of his life, he has to hurry," Helga said.
"And when he does kiss her lips, they're sweet like honey," Arnold said, beaming at Helga.
Helga beamed back. "That's exactly what I thought," Helga said. Both teens smiled at the other. "And when he gets to the verse about the gambling table. I couldn't help but think that every person has to make that gamble to fall in love," Helga said.
"Then when wins his love, he's completely floored by her. Because she can still surprise him, even if he's known her his whole life," Arnold said. His eyes moved down as he realized what he was saying. He smiled back up at her, trying to keep his eyes on the road. "She's distracting," Arnold thought to himself.
Helga sunk back into her seat. A smile going from ear to ear. The school was soon upon them as Arnold pulled into the parking lot. Arnold found a spot towards the back of the parking lot. "Why are you parking all the way back here?" Helga asked.
"Well, I like to park away from people. Makes it harder for people to run into my car. You know how teenagers can drive," Arnold said. "It's not the nicest car but I like to make sure it's taken care of," Arnold said. He had parked his car away from most of the other cars so that it was just his. Arnold smiled at Helga as he grabbed his bag. "Oh, do you want me to drop you off at the front, and I'll park?" Arnold asked.
"You don't have to do that," Helga said. Helga removed her seat belt and hesitated. Arnold reached for the door latch when Helga grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. She wrapped her lips around his. She kissed him fervidly. Arnold kissed her back. He put his hand on the back of her head he could kiss her deeply.
Arnold felt her tongue enter his mouth. His own tongue waiting to wrestle with her. Arnold opened his mouth as Helga's tongue invaded. "Mmmmmmh" he moaned as she didn't stop. Helga moved from the passenger seat to straddling Arnold in the driver's seat. Helga wrapped her arms around his neck, as he wrapped his arms around her body bringing her closer to him.
The kissing went on for some time. Helga broke free, to breath or so Arnold thought. Helga and Arnold locked eyes. "Let's be a few minutes late," Helga demanded in her most sultry voice. Arnold looked into her eyes. Shining bright blue in the morning light. Arnold, on the verge of losing control, hesitated.
"Um, the school parking lot isn't exactly sexy. We can just wait until later. Like when we get back to my place or yours," Arnold said nervously trying to come up with any excuse. "We are in public, after all, Hel…" Arnold said when Helga reached down and started rubbing his half-grown erection. Arnold lost all discipline feeling her hand rubbing the outline of his cock. "Ah" he let out. Arnold looked at her determined. He felt himself lose his sense of decorum. His hands immediately traveled to her pants, undoing her buttons. Helga followed doing the same to him. Arnold pulled her pants down just enough to expose her womanhood while keeping her legs spread as she continued straddling him.
Helga reached into Arnold jeans and pulled out his fully erect cock. She started stroking his length up and down earning a labored grunt from Arnold. Arnold suddenly reached over to the middle console area and started looking through it. He pulled out what he was looking for, producing a black box with gold lettering. Arnold pulled out a condom in a fervor and pulled the latex from the plastic. Helga snatched it out of his hands before he could put it on. She smiled as she reached between them and started to put it on for Arnold. Arnold moaned as she stroked him unfurling the condom down the length of his penis. Helga smiled seductively at him. She grabbed his hand and brought it to her breast like she missed the touch.
Helga pushed on Arnold's chest laying him down in the driver's seat. Helga positioned herself to line up with his crotch. She slowly began working his penis to align with her opening. Arnold bent his head back feeling her lips caress him. Her touch was intoxicating. Arnold completely lost control of his body. He felt more aroused as he had ever been. Arnold felt a lightning bolt of sensation run through his body as Helga began lowering herself onto him. She felt as if she was clamping down on him.
"Helga," he managed to get out. She smiled at him entrancingly. She began rocking her body up and down. She started to moan as she gained speed.
"Arnold!" She moaned as Arnold sat up kissing her and wrapping his arms around her. "Ah!" she started to let out as Arnold assisted in the movement by thrusting upward. "Arnold! It's it's so big!" she said with a whimper. She placed both hands on his chest pushing him down to a horizontal positing. She started to ride harder and harder. Arnold felt his cock being swallowed by her.
Arnold couldn't believe how good she felt. Even better than the first time they made love. Arnold held onto her hips as she started moving her body faster and faster. Arnold unable to control his hands, went under her shirt feeling her bare breasts. Arnold loved the sensation of her silk like skin. Arnold started thrusting harder into her, which enticed Helga to ride harder. "Helga!" Arnold managed to say, unable to put together the most basic thought.
Arnold wrapped his arms around her. He felt all rational thought leave his head. "Uh" Arnold began grunting, almost animal-like. The sounds were followed by Helga moaning even louder as they both sped up. Arnold felt how close he was to his climax. Helga let out one last moan as he body stiffened, and her voice got higher. Arnold felt his body tense as he released his orgasm. Both teens froze as their orgasms washed over them.
Arnold started to pant deeply as he started to come down from the natural high being with his love gave him. Helga started breathing out her moans as they both tried to catch their breaths. Helga rested her forehead against his.
"Oh my god," Helga said between heavy breaths.
"I know how you feel," Arnold said in between breaths.
"Holy crap, that felt good," Helga said. Arnold opened his eyes to see hers staring back at him. Arnold tilted his head forward and kissed his girlfriend tenderly. "You gotta stop being so sexy, Arnoldo. We're never going to get anything done," Helga said smiling as they kissed once more.
"I'll stop when you stop, bright-eyes," Arnold said smiling. Helga smiled at him and kissed him passionately. Arnold kissed her back and embraced her. Helga stroked his hair, smiling in the afterglow.
"What the hell was that?" Helga asked as she shivered suddenly. Arnold felt the same shock she did on his leg. Arnold pulled out his vibrating phone seeing text messages from Gerald.
"It's Gerald wondering where I am," Arnold said looking at his phone.
"Shocker," Helga said. She shifted herself back over to the passenger side. Moaning slightly at Arnold's half hard erection sliding out of her. Arnold rummaged through his mid console and pulled out some napkins. He wrapped up the used condom in the napkins and started looking for his hand sanitizer he kept in there. He pulled his pants back up and adjusted himself. He looked over at Helga who had redressed her lower half and was adjust her shirt and hair.
"Hand sanitizer?" Arnold asked, offering some to Helga as he applied his own dose.
"My my, you just have everything you need for a quickie in the car don't you?" Helga said accepting the sanitizer and smiling her acerbic smile. Arnold moved to put away everything when Helga grabbed his collar bringing him in for a forceful kiss. Arnold moaned into her mouth, as he kissed her back. Helga pushed him to break the kiss, playfully slapping Arnold in the face. "Morning, Football Head," she said seductively as she winked and got out of the car.
Arnold sat frozen, staring at Helga as she beckoned him to come and walk with her. "Wow," Arnold said to himself as he smiled and watched her. "She really is distracting," Arnold said to himself. Arnold shook his head, snapping out of his stupor. He got out of the car and locked it. He almost skipped over to Helga to take her hand. They made their way towards the school entrance, hand in hand. Each smiling at the other.
Arnold and Helga made it to the door. Looking at his phone, Arnold realized they got there at the very last minute. Arnold looked over and saw Gerald standing with Phoebe waving at him over by the front locker area. He and Helga walked over and greeted their friends. "Hey Gerald," Arnold said as they performed their handshake, as they had done their whole lives.
"Hey man, where the hell you been?" Gerald asked.
"I was getting Helga, and ran a little late," Arnold said as he turned red and rubbed the back of his head.
"Your boyfriend can't keep time Gerald. You should look into an upgrade," Helga said pushing on Arnold's shoulder.
Gerald rolled his eyes. "You know Pataki," Gerald started to say.
"Hello Helga, Arnold," Phoebe piped up, cutting off Gerald.
"Hey Phoebes. I think your boyfriend's all mad because his hetero life mate wasn't here to greet him on time," Helga said with a smile geared at Gerald.
"You know what," Gerald's started, raising his voice.
"It's alright Helga. The doctor said one more day and then you can drive yourself," Arnold interrupted.
"Oh, I can't wait. I feel like the Braveheart guy!" Helga said with an excited smile.
"You seem awful lively this morning," Gerald mumbled.
"Well pal, I am. I'm happy. I'm havin a good morning. What can I say?" Helga said. "Come on Phoebs, let's leave these two lovers alone to go to their dumb guy class," Helga said as she grabbed her bag. She turned and stood on her tiptoes, capturing Arnold in a tender kiss. She slapped Arnold's backside loudly and started to swagger away. "See you later stud," she said as she began walking. Phoebe jumped to kiss Gerald and was off alongside Helga waiving as she left.
"See you later Helga," Arnold said nonchalantly. Arnold turned his head to see Gerald's displeased face. "What?" Arnold asked shrugging his shoulders.
"Nothin man," Gerald said sighing and shaking his head. " Why is your belt undone? And what's with the hair? You look homeless," Gerald barked.
"So do the guys at Coachella," Arnold said as he pulled up his pants buckled his belt.
"So you were late picking her up?" Gerald said.
"Yeah, I got sidetracked by the traffic and…" Arnold trailed off seeing Gerald cross his arms and screw his face into an incredulous look. "I did, you know how that is," Arnold said sounding more desperate as he tried to convince his friend.
"Uh huh, you were out in the parking lot gettin nasty weren't you?" Gerald said without missing a beat.
Arnold was taken aback by his frankness. "No, we-we weren't doing anything. I-I just drove," Arnold said, turning pink.
"Yeah and I bet she rode too," Gerald said shaking his head.
Arnold eyes brows furrowed and he narrowed his eyes at Gerald. "That's, not…" Arnold started. Hating to lie to Gerald he finally asked, "What do you care anyway? It's not a big deal."
"Oh, now it's not a big deal?" Gerald said as he started to walk towards the class they shared. Arnold started to follow him.
"What? You and Phoebe don't fool around?" Arnold asked
"That's not it," Gerald said. "I just didn't think you'd be the type to do something like that, that's all," Gerald said. They continued their journey down the hall to their first class.
"I wouldn't? I would do that," Arnold said.
"No, you wouldn't. Come on, you don't need to lie. You're a little boring. A little safe. It's not a character flaw," Gerald said.
Arnold bowed his head. "I can't help it when I'm with her though. She makes me feel alive. Like I can do anything. Sometimes I guess I'll do stuff I wouldn't normally do," Arnold said.
"Is it worth getting caught by a school resource officer? Then having to explain to somebody that you needed some trim before class?" Gerald asked looking at Arnold.
"Come on Gerald, you see her. You talk to her, you know her. I'd risk anything for her," Arnold said as a gentle smile appeared on his face. He looked back at Gerald, who rolled his eyes and walked into the classroom.
Arnold kept the smile on his face as he followed, placing his bag on the back of his chair. Arnold sat down and got his notebook out and prepared for the lecture to start. Arnold felt a paper airplane poke the side of his head. The feeling of deja vu crept up on him as he looked around, wondering who threw it. Sid was one seat down plainly giggling. Arnold decided to ignore the obvious provocation as the teacher walked in and started to write on the board.
Well into the lecture Arnold felt his attention going elsewhere. The lecture went on and Arnold without realizing started sketching in his notebook. The sketching had been a habit of his since he was nine. Sketching during a lecture was nothing new. Arnold looked down realizing he was drawing a mermaid. Blond blue eyed, sweetly and freely going through the water. Her eyes burned out of the page. "Her eyes are the most important part," Arnold kept telling himself. He smiled as he adjusted the shading in the face to better illuminate the pencil drawn eyes.
Arnold suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. Arnold looked up nervously seeing the Mr. Gibbons, his history teacher, leaning over looking intently at his sketch. Arnold smiled innocently, a twinge of dread rising in him.
"That's a fascinating drawing, Mr. Shortman. Unfortunately, it's happening during my lecture. You mind putting away the art and taking notes?" Mr. Gibbons asked. Arnold smiled innocently while he scrambled.
"Sorry," Arnold said as he turned to a new page and grabbed his pencil waiting to start taking notes.
"What'd you draw Arnold?" Sid shouted in a derisive tone from his chair, drawing more attention from the rest of the class.
"Nothing!" Arnold said putting his head into his notebook awaiting the next part of the lecture.
"Settle down, everyone. Arnold's mermaid can wait while I finish," Mr. Gibbons said the class. The class started to snicker as Arnold sank into his seat. "Now then, where was I?" Mr. Gibbons said as he started his walk back to the front of the class.