Sunday, February 11th 2:42 AM
Helga saw the cruiser moving away as if it were in slow motion. Her breathing was heavy, her vision narrowed and the sounds around her started to blend together. Helga squeezed Phoebe's hand like a vice. She closed her eyes, hoping she would wake up from this. Helga tried to keep her face angry for everyone around her. Her fear slowly starting to break through the facade. She dropped her eyes to her feet so that the people around her would not see the few tears she had running down her cheeks. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up seeing Phoebe's somber face.
"What the hell?" Helga said, barely above a whisper. Helga tightened her face and looking at Phoebe. "This is fucking bullshit!" she yelled enraged to the officer talking to Gerald.
"You guys really screwed up, you bust into a party and arrest the guy getting jumped? This is Hillwood's finest?" Helga continued.
"Helga, relax," Gerald said over his shoulder.
"Screw you, Johanson! Neither are these damn cops!" She yelled once more.
"Young lady, we need to calm down. Your friend will be processed and you can see him when he posts bail," the officer said as he moved from Gerald over to Helga.
"Is that before or after you beat the shit out of him again? Or is that before he bleeds to death in the back of your car from the injuries you people didn't treat?" Helga yelled.
"He's received treatment that he needed and was cleared to be taken into custody. I'm gonna finish talking to your friend, then I've got some for you missy," The officer said dismissively.
Helga's eyes went wide and her face screwed into pure fury. "You motherfu-" Helga began only to be cut off by Phoebe grabbing her arm.
"Helga, you cannot help if you're also arrested," Phoebe said, adamantly stopping her from walking towards Gerald and the officer. Helga looked down and held her tongue. She took back her arm and let out a deep breath.
"Fuck!" Helga said pacing back and forth in front of Phoebe. She put her palm on her forehead, breathing deeply and trying to lower her heart rate. She closed her eyes for a moment. Not noticing the officer approaching her.
"Now I need you to answer the questions you keep refusing to answer. If you won't cooperate we'll have to put you in cuffs as well," the officer finished.
Helga looked up, glaring at the officer a moment. She sighed deeply and crossed her arms, leaning away from the officer. "Fine, since we're all just on vacation here. Ask the damn questions!" Helga said.
"Alright, thank you," the officer said, exasperated. "Now, tell me about your friend. How long have you known him?" He asked.
"I've known him since we were in preschool," Helga looked down and pursed her lips. "It was raining, and I was walking to school. I was alone. He offered me his umbrella and said he liked my bow…" Helga trailed off. She looked past the officer her face neutral as she went through the memory she visited often. "I was alone, he didn't even know who I was. But he seemed to be the only one who treated me like a person," Helga finished, a small smile appearing on her face. The officer's brow lifted in confusion.
"Um… Has been in trouble before?" The officer asked.
Helga snapped out of her reminiscence and her eyes darted to the officer. "What? Arnold? Are you kidding me? There's never been a better, more compassionate, more virtuous person than Arnold," Helga said.
"He is a good man officer," Phoebe chimed in, putting her hand on Helga's shoulder.
"Alright, have you ever seen him get violent before?" the officer asked.
"What? No! Didn't you hear us? He's a good man. He wouldn't hurt anyone!" Helga yelled.
The officer paused and looked at Helga. Helga held his gaze and sent a glare back at him. "He did a number on those guys. You sure you've never seen him that way?" The officer asked smugly after the moment long staring contest.
"If three guys jumped you, how would you respond?" Helga asked the officer.
"Fair enough. Although, from everything your other friends are telling us, he seemed to know what he was doing. I think one of your friends referred to it as 'kicking more ass than a Shaolin Monk.' Sounds like he's had some training," the officer said.
"Fucking Sid," Helga thought to herself. The trio was silent.
Phoebe and Helga exchanged looks before Gerald started talking. "Yeah, that was weird. I've never seen him do all that before."
"Sounds like you don't know your friend all that well," the officer said.
"Hey man, Arnold is my best friend. We've been through everything together. I know everything about him. He wouldn't take up some hobby without me finding out somehow," Gerald said.
Helga held her tongue. "This cop might need to know, but fuck him. I told Arnold I wouldn't tell anyone, including Gerald," Helga thought.
"Well sometimes our friends surprise us," the officer said. "Did you or your friend, to your knowledge, know the three victims?" The officer asked.
"No, not that I-" Gerald began before Helga cut him off.
"Those guys, victims? They stabbed him and sliced his fucking arm open. Arnold is the victim!" Helga yelled, incensed.
The officer set his jaw and crossed his arms. Phoebe stepped in front of Helga just before the officer could deliver another threat of arrest. "It's quite alright officer, as you can understand we're all incredibly upset about the events tonight. I think we should call it a night. We can reach out if we think of anything else," she said resolutely. Helga drew in a breath. Phoebe put her hand over Helga's mouth before she could yell more obscenities at the officers. She gave the officer a polite smile, hoping that was enough.
"Alright, then. Try to get some sleep," The officer said as he put away his notebook and started walking towards a couple other officers.
Helga wrestled herself from Phoebe. "What a dolt. I can't believe they gave that guy a gun," Helga said.
"Helga, he's doing his job. You don't need to be so forceful," Phoebe said.
"Screw that guy!" Helga yelled. "What's more important is that we need to get Arnold out of there. I'm not letting him sit in a cell all night," Helga said.
"Helga, all we can do is wait for Arnold to go through the system," Gerald said. "It's not like we know anyone at the police station," he finished.
"No, screw that. I'm not letting this stand," Helga said. Phoebe smiled at her friend. "What?" she said to Phoebe.
"Nothing," Phoebe said.
"Whatever, check your phones," Helga addressed to Phoebe and Gerald. "Check your Snaps, Instas, hell even check Facebook. Someone in that crowd of dimwitted, mindless sheep got a clear look at what happened. Arnold did not start that fight on his own. I know it," Helga said. She swiveled her head around the property. She stood on her toes to try and get a look at the people returning to cars. "Keep looking. I'll be right back." Helga said.
"Looking!" Phoebe said brightly.
"Where are you going?" Gerald demanded.
"To find your other idiot friend," Helga yelled over her shoulder as she made her way towards the street. She stopped at the edge of the lawn looking down the line of cars. "He better still be here," Helga thought to herself. She looked down the line of cars looking for the beat up jalopy Sid drove. She spotted his old car. Complete with rusted sides, mismatched doors and side mirrors, and a missing headlight. Helga's eyes rested on Sid making his way to the driver's side, stretching his arms, tired after the events of the night.
Sid struggled with the locking mechanism. He grunted angrily and turned his head towards the house just long enough to see Helga's freight train like stride towards him. "Uh… hey there Helga," Sid said, suddenly nervous.
"Hey!" Helga said as her face was only inches from Sid's. She towered over him, almost as if she were several inches taller than she actually was. "Were you the one who told the cops Arnold was 'kicking ass like a monk'?" Helga asked making air quote gestures.
"Uh yeah, that was me. Why?" Sid asked, slightly afraid.
"So you saw what happened?" Helga asked.
"Uh yeah, most of it. Didn't you?" Sid asked.
"No, you seemed to have gotten there before everyone else. I only saw it was him over the crowd and started pushing forward. I got there just in time to see some asshole stab him in the arm," Helga said.
"W-Well yeah, I got up from our little group hang when I heard the yelling. I was kinda hoping a couple of girls were fighting," Sid said.
Helga rolled her eyes. "So what happened?" Helga asked.
"I got to the front of the crowd and saw these guys holding Arnold down and punching him in the face. Then Arnold like… snapped or something. He just went apeshit and started fighting back. He dropped one guy with a hit and kneed another guy in the chest," Sid's eyes widened as he recounted the excitement. "It was awesome…" Sid finished with an odd smile.
The smile disappeared when he looked back at Helga sporting a fierce scowl. "But uh yeah… so if that's it then I really gotta-" Sid said before getting cut off.
"So he didn't start the fight? He was just defending himself?" Helga asked.
"Well no, he didn't start anything," Sid said.
"Perfect," Helga said. Then Helga's eyebrows furrowed.
"Hold on, you just stood there while Arnold was getting beat up by three guys?" Helga asked, suddenly angry.
"Well, they were like.. HUGE! W-What was I gonna do?" Sid stammered.
"I don't know, help your friend?" Helga yelled.
"Well, he didn't seem to need much help! There was like five of them!" Sid said, panicking.
"There was three of them," Helga said.
"I counted at least six," Sid said
"You are such a coward," Helga said.
"He's my friend and I'd help him in any way that doesn't get my face punched in," Sid pleaded.
"You're a sniveling wuss," Helga said.
"It's true! I'm a coward! OK? God! I'm only human!" Sid admitted.
"You're such an idiot! You're coming with me!" Helga declared. She grabbed Sid by the collar of his leather jacket.
"Coming where?" Sid asked.
"We're going to down to the police station and getting Arnold out of there. He doesn't deserve to be there. He didn't do anything wrong," Helga said.
"What are we gonna do? They already took him and I already talked to the cops. He's in a cell by now," Sid said.
"Maybe, but he's not staying there. I'm not letting him do that. You're gonna be a witness. Maybe the cops will let him go if there's enough proof he didn't do anything wrong. They took him before they could actually talk to anyone," Helga said. "Let's go," Helga finished pointing Sid towards Gerald and Phoebe.
"Helga, I'm really tired and-" Sid began.
"Shut it!" Helga yelled. Sid flinched at the demand and stopped speaking. "You're coming and you're gonna tell them what you told me. Arnold would do the same thing for you. In fact, he'd have jumped in if it were you taking a beating," Helga yelled.
"Fine! I'll go," Sid surrendered. Helga let go and Sid adjusted himself. Helga turned and started her walk back towards Gerald and Phoebe, making sure Sid was following. "Hey so are you guys like dating? I never got a clear answer. I know you were all flirty at the party and stuff. I mean it's a little weird right?" Sid said earning an audible growl from Helga, who continued walking. "I mean he can have anybody. I mean… Not that you're gross or anything. You're pretty hot and all, but you don't seem the type to put out. You know?" Sid opined.
Helga swiftly turned on her heal and delivered a hard punch to Sid's chest. "Ahhh! Ow!" Sid yelled in response. All the air in his lungs was expelled. He fell to one knee from the hit, breathing heavily to try and catch his breath. "Ow! That… was… not… necessary," Sid said breathing between words
"Shut up you big baby! Let's go!" Helga grabbed Sid by his collar again and started to drag him back.
"I think you collapsed my chest," Sid whined, rubbing his chest and trying to recover from having the wind knocked out of him.
"Yeah yeah. Keep it movin, moron," Helga said over Sid's complaints.
Helga dragged Sid from the line of cars back to where Gerald and Phoebe were standing. Phoebe stood eyes glued to her phone, with Gerald doing the same. Gerald looked up seeing Sid in pain, being dragged by Helga. "Is that our backup?" Gerald asked.
"No, he's our second source. Dummy here saw the whole thing," Helga let go of Sid, still rubbing his chest.
"I think she broke my sternum," Sid whined to Gerald.
"Never mind that, ya loser. Phoebes! Did you find anything?" Helga asked.
"Well, there are certainly videos of what happened. Many of which are obscured by shoulders and lots of pushing. This was certainly quite a commotion. I am afraid that these videos would not convince anyone of the sequence of events," Phoebe said.
"I'm still looking too, there's got to be something," Gerald said.
"Dammit…" Helga said. She whipped her head around, surveying the property. Those who had not run when the police showed up had deserted the now crime scene after the police had talked to them. Helga noticed towards the front door there were two police officers speaking to a much soberer Rhonda. Helga started to amble over to them slowly. Getting within earshot Helga was able to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"…I don't know of anyone being targeted for any reason. I just threw a small get together with some friends. Many of whom are older and live on different campuses. I also invited people from my school. I can't be held responsible for some little scuffle," Rhonda haughtily said to what looked like the ranking officer. Due to the bars on his uniform.
The officer, exasperated, rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Miss Lloyd, this is a pretty serious situation. Someone got hurt here. I think we have enough for now, but we will be in touch," The officers put away their notebooks and started making their way to the cars. Helga walked up to Rhonda, who had immediately taken out her phone.
"Rhonda! You told them what happened right?" Helga asked.
"What? Of course, I told them everything I saw. I saw Arnold maul those guys. I've never seen him act that way. It's Arnold, our sweet lovable Arnold," Rhonda said.
"Exactly, he doesn't just attack people at parties," Helga said. "I'm not gonna let him sit in a cell, Sid already told us he didn't start the fight. We've been looking for videos online to prove he was defending himself," she finished. Rhonda had not responded to Helga. Ronda was staring intently at her phone and thumbing through something.
"Mhh?" Ronda was still looking down at her phone as if she hadn't realized Helga was standing there. "Oh yes, there must be some explanation," Rhonda said without looking at Helga.
"Uh, Princess? Something really interesting on your phone?" Helga asked.
"Oh yes, I just have so many people messaging me about tonight. Despite the trouble, most people seemed to have a good time. I keep seeing how I might have thrown one of the best parties of the year had the police not come," Rhonda said. In her solipsism, she seemed to forget Helga was trying to get her attention.
"Rhonda…" Helga said, between the self-aggrandizing self-compliments.
"I think our DJ might have been the key," Rhonda kept going, ignoring Helga.
"Rhonda…" Helga said, her voice starting to rise again.
"You know, I'm not a drinker usually and tonight was definitely a good example of why I should not drink," Rhonda absentmindedly said to Helga.
"Dammit!" Helga yelled and snatched the phone from Rhonda's hand. "Will you pay attention, you fuckin airhead?!" Helga yelled.
"Give me back my phone!" Rhonda yelled. Helga getting her full attention as she turned towards Helga.
"Did you see anything that could help Arnold?" Helga demanded.
"What? What are you talking about? They already arrested him. There's nothing we can do now," Rhonda said.
"See, that's where you're wrong. They just assumed the worst and collected him like some dangerous criminal without asking questions. I'm not letting him sit in a cage," Helga yelled back. "We're trying to find some proof that he didn't do anything wrong. A video someone took, something to back up Sid's story," Helga said.
"Well if you give me back my phone, I might be able to help. My father is one of the people messaging me," Rhonda said.
"How does that help?" Helga asked.
"Well if you stop focusing on bludgeoning your way through everything I can see if my father sent me the video from the surveillance tapes," Rhonda said.
"What surveillance tapes?" Helga asked.
"Well, my father set up surveillance cameras in the main areas of the house. Including the foyer. Apparently, he doesn't completely trust his daughter to be home alone," Rhonda finished rolling her eyes at the mention of her father.
"So you have a tape of what happened?" Helga said.
"Give me my phone and I can tell you," Rhonda said.
"Fine," Helga said. She handed the phone back and Rhonda began looking through her messages. She scrolled and scrolled, finding the thread she needed. She tapped the screen and flipped the orientation.
"Here it is," Rhonda said to Helga. Rhonda held the phone so that she and Helga could watch the video her father sent over. From the small screen, the women saw a clear view of the three college guys trying to muscle Arnold into a fight. Then the three of them attacking, and then Arnold's response.
"My god, it's so awful seeing this in full view," Rhonda said. Helga was unable to speak seeing Arnold's arm cut open. Helga looked away when the knife came out. Fully aware of what happened next.
"Th-This is perfect," Helga said, finding her voice again. "This will help get him off," Helga said. "You need to come with us. We're going to downtown to get Arnold out of there."
"Right now? It's very late Helga, and I've had a terrible night. I think we should just let the system work for Arnold," said Rhonda.
"Oh no, you're coming with me. Arnold would do the same for you," Helga said.
"Well, funny enough, I don't find myself getting arrested at parties," Rhonda pompously replied.
"You know what I mean!" Helga began ranting "This is the guy who helped as all at one point or another. Don't act like he hasn't been there for you when you needed it!" Helga finished.
Rhonda looked at Helga and considered a moment. She squinted slightly. "You seem very determined to help Arnold," Rhonda observed.
"You're damn right I am," Helga said. The two women were eye to eye.
"You must really love him," Rhonda said.
Helga recoiled from Rhonda's incisiveness. Turning slightly red she stumbled over her words. "I-I'm just trying to help him," Helga said
Rhonda considered further. "Well, there's no need for further delay. Lead the way," Rhonda said, extending her arm. Helga took the invitation and started back towards Phoebe, Gerald, and Sid. She looked over her shoulder seeing Rhonda following with a sly smile. She swallowed her embarrassment.
"Alright kids, we got a tape of what happened and a witness. Let's hit it," Helga said, making a twirling jester with her arm and heading towards Gerald's car. "We'll have to keep looking for other videos online on the way," Helga said over her shoulder.
"Uh Helga, I don't think we'll all fit in my car," Gerald said tepidly starting to follow.
"That's fine, Sid is the size of your average ten-year-old. He can sit on Rhonda's lap," Helga said still making a beeline towards Gerald's car. Unconcerned of the size of the slightly older compact sedan.
Sid adopted a wide grin and turned his optimism towards a horrified Rhonda. "As if…" Rhonda said turning her face up in disgust. The group had not moved much further than Gerald who had stopped.
"Helga, I don't know if-" Gerald began saying
"Move it!" Helga's loud demand cut through the uncertainty, jarring the members of the quest to lurch towards Gerald's car. All the teenagers piled into Gerald's car. They pulled slowly onto the street and Gerald pointed the car towards downtown Hillwood.
The ride was quiet. The long night apparent on all of them. Rhonda bundling herself in her less than fashionable hooded sweater she stole from Gerald's back seat. Phoebe still looking through her social media and Sid falling asleep against the window. With Gerald driving and Helga grabbing the front seat.
Helga had ignored her phone for most of the night. Never being one to look at her phone while people were speaking to her she made it a habit to leave it in her pocket. She took out her phone to start looking for more proof. Her screen lit up and a long list of notifications populated the screen. All from a contact named Stella Shortman. "Ah criminy," she said out loud, stirring the long silence.
"What is it, Helga?" Phoebe asked from the back seat.
"Arnold's mom. She's called me like fifty times. She probably called you too," Helga said looking towards Gerald.
"Oh most definitely. I have no idea what to say to her though," Gerald added. "Sorry, your son's been arrested. Seems like something Arnold should tell her," Gerald said.
"You talk to his mom? That's so cute," Sid said from the back seat. Helga, seemingly aware of the small space they currently occupied, ignored the derisive tone.
"Apparently the two of them are much closer than we all thought," Rhonda contributing her first thought since getting in the car.
"I thought they were just hanging out. Arnold dates fifty chicks a year. Didn't think Helga would be one of them," Sid said. Helga started to grind her teeth.
"No he doesn't," Gerald said.
"I just didn't realize they were like serious or anything," Sid said.
"How often do you see Helga moving heaven and earth to help someone?" Rhonda said looking intently at Helga from the back seat. Helga held her phone closer, turning slightly red again.
"I'm just helping a good guy. Mind your own damn business, princess," Helga said sharply.
The car went quiet again. Sid stretched his arms out and looked down at the video Phoebe was looking through. "Man what happened is so crazy," Sid said out loud. After a silent response, Sid looked once more at a video Phoebe landed on, which had a clear shot of everything that happened.
"I think I found it, Helga. Sending the link now," Phoebe said, sending Helga's phone the message.
"Awesome, thanks Phoebes," Helga said.
"Man, where did Arnold learn to fight like that? That was so cool," Sid said. "He dodged those shots like a pro and countered like a beast! I didn't know he could do that!" Sid said, getting more and more excited.
"I don't see how you find that at all cool. Being viscously stabbed like that didn't phase him a bit. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. Such intense savagery," Rhonda said somewhat indignant. "The saintly Arnold I know would never have done that," Rhonda said after a beat.
"Well it was still kinda cool," Sid said once more.
"There was nothing cool about it. He savagely beat the guy. He could have killed him. Arnold has never been like that. He never fought back with Harold when he made fun of him. He never once raised a hand to Helga who did nothing but torment him throughout grade school," Rhonda continued Helga gave a side look at the mention of her many past transgressions towards Arnold. "He was like a monster. The Arnold I know was a pacifist and would never have done those things," Rhonda said. The car was quiet for a moment. Helga could feel her heart rate starting to speed up again. "To think I was into him. It goes to show you, people do change," Rhonda finished.
"That's it," Helga said as she turned her body towards the back seat. Helga's eyes landed on Rhonda. "Let me tell you something," Helga began thrusting her finger in Rhonda's face. Much to Rhonda's dismay, Helga began raising her voice before she could object to the gesture. "Arnold is every bit the amazing person you remember. But no human on Earth can be held to the standard you've built for him. So he's not the Buddha, big fucking deal. He got upset and lost control. That can happen to anyone! Everyone has a breaking point! He didn't do anything wrong! And fuck you for thinking he did," Helga continued, her voice becoming more strained by a sudden rush of emotions. "He's your friend and he's done more for all of us than we can remember. He'd be the first one to defend you if the situation were reversed. He's not a saint! He's more, he's Arnold. The sum of a whole person" Helga finished her rant and swung back around slumping in her seat letting out a loud sigh.
The car was quiet. A long pause traveled through the car. "He's passionate," Helga continued almost to herself. "He sees the world for all of its beauty and its potential and he acts to realize that potential," the car remained quiet as Helga continued. "And sometimes he fools himself into thinking he needs to live up to that potential. That he's not the amazing person that he already is. He thinks that needs to be what everyone expects him to be. That he needs to be more. That's not a standard anyone can meet," Helga finished.
The silence in the car was heavy. Gerald continued his drive, his eyes traveling back and forth from the road to Helga. The car ride came to a close as the police precinct began looming over them. The building, much like the rest of the city, was a large and old brick building. Ornate moldings and stone columns gave it an intimidating look, especially at night. They found a space in the parking lot towards the front of the building. All of them filed out of the car and made their way towards the main entrance.
"Helga…" Phoebe said trailing behind Helga.
"Yeah?" Helga answered.
"I have always enjoyed your brand of extreme tunnel vision when it comes to accomplishing your goals," Phoebe said with a wide smile.
The gang ascended the steps to the station. "What the hell are you talking about?" Helga said.
"Well, I've seen you date before. I don't believe I've ever seen this level of effort expended for anyone else," said Phoebe as Helga held the door.
"It's different this time," Helga said.
"What's different?" Phoebe asked.
"I don't know, I've known the guy my whole life," Helga said.
"You've known most of us for just as long," Phoebe stopped at the door as the rest of their friends entered the building. Leaving Helga and Phoebe standing at the open door. "I can't imagine you storming a police station for any of the people here," said Phoebe.
"I would for you," Helga responded.
"And I appreciate that," Phoebe said with a smile.
"What are you getting at here Phoebes?" Helga asked.
"Well for some time I'm the only person who you would do that for. And more recently, maybe your sister," Phoebe said
"So?" Helga responded. She folded her arms and sneered slightly at her best friend.
"Well, you keep a small council," Phoebe said.
Helga gesticulated her hands, befuddled.
Phoebe smiled as she thought about her next words. "Helga, you don't trust anyone. You fight like hell to most people out, and you only allow a few people to see who you really are. Those with whom you are closest, you fight for with the ferocity of a lion." Phoebe said
"Yeah? So? What's your freakin point?" Helga asked.
"Has Arnold become one of those you'd protect? Does he get to see you as you really are?" Phoebe finished.
Helga was quiet for a moment. "I… I just…" Helga kept catching herself. Phoebe raised her eyebrow and cocked her head to the side. "I think so, I…" Helga stammered and sighed aloud. "I don't think so. I don't know. Let's just get this done," Helga said and entered in a huff.
"Whatever you say, Helga," Phoebe said, a small smirk on her face as she entered behind Helga.