All right, let's get THIS story updated! By the way, credit for a couple ideas goes to MarioDS01! Thanks again, friend! Anyway, enjoy!
Later that night, Phoebe was landing on the side of her bed, groaning. Ever since she had invited Arnold inside, all she could do was think long and hard about him. Sure, she knew that everyone thought about Arnold and his good deeds... even her friend, Helga... but deep in her mind, she knew that getting to close to Arnold meant betraying her best friend... though Phoebe had to think about that as well.
Was Helga really her best friend? Sure, she had to admit that Helga does mean well... but she often overloaded her with a lot of work, and expects to be treated properly, like a queen. That was a few aspects of Helga's personality she didn't particularly care for. But at the same time, she knew that her parents weren't really good people, or at least, didn't treat her very well. Phoebe was always there for her to lend a hand, trying to be nice. Oh, there were a few times Helga appreciated her, and she did credit her for being pretty smart, which the young shy girl didn't deny.
But then again, Helga had always put out a front of hidden anger... and sometimes, Phoebe wonders if it even IS a front. Maybe it was, but from what Helga told her about her crush on Arnold, she kept blowing it multiple times. She shook her head, all thoughts of Helga gone... and yet, a smiling football headed boy was now in focus.
"Darn it, what is WRONG with me?!" Phoebe groaned. "You would think I would learn!"
Phoebe sighed, thinking back on the past times. She thought back to Gerald. She smirked a bit, being glad that she broke it off with the tall haired boy. Sure, she said to him that they would remain friends, but she was pretty firm in her choice. No matter how many times he would flirt or beg her to come back, she knew that there was no way for her and Gerald to reunite. It was then in her mind she started comparing both Arnold and Gerald.
Sure, Phoebe admitted that Arnold may be a bit dense, but he wasn't dumb. He was always polite and helpful to anybody that needed help. In fact, even when on a misunderstood date, he was always pretty loyal to said person. And sometimes, even though he was persistent, he always has a heart of gold. Whereas Gerald often flirts with someone in the corner most of the time, comes up with some bad ideas that would likely backfire, and though he had good intentions, they just pointed in the wrong direction.
Phoebe giggled as she laid her head down to the side... before hearing the phone ring, looking over. She sighed, guessing that it was Helga calling. Phoebe picked up the phone and answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey, Pheebs, it's me! Listen, could you meet me tomorrow morning? I think I've finally narrowed the list down to a few new potential boyfriends that I am SURE you are going to like!" Helga said.
"Oh, hey, Helga..." Phoebe yawned as she paused. She could tell Helga now that she had a crush on Arnold... but knew it was pretty dangerous to tell her. She would have to wait until the time was right. "Tomorrow morning? All right, I guess I can check it out."
"Great! Honestly, you won't regret it! Good night, Pheebs!" Helga smiled as she hung up the phone.
Phoebe hung up and sighed as she looked at the ceiling and sighed, wondering just what the heck she was getting herself into...
Arnold groaned as he heard the phone ring for at least the twenty-second time that night. He sighed as he picked it up. "Hello, Gerald."
"Hey, man. Just one more question." Gerald said. "Did Phoebe say anything about me at all?"
Arnold shook his head as he said, "Gerald, we talked about this! I thought you told me that you agreed to give Phoebe her personal space!"
"I am, I am!" Gerald said. "It's just, you two are partners in that project and I just need to know if Phoebe-"
Arnold sighed. "Gerald, I'm beginning to think you can't handle a break-up."
"What? Nah, no way, man!" Gerald laughed. "It's just... I'm concerned for her, you know what I mean?"
Arnold looked at the ceiling. "What I'm hearing right now is a sad strange little boy who can't take the fact that he got dumped by someone who thought you loved her."
"I do love her!" Gerald said.
"Do you, Gerald? Do you?" Arnold frowned. "Or are you just trying to pry at grasping straws? I want you to think long and hard about this, and don't call me again for the rest of the night! Good night, Gerald!"
Arnold then hung up the phone and groaned in frustration as he heard a knock on the door. "Knock knock, Shortman!"
The door opened as Arnold's grandfather brought it a piping hot mug of cocoa. "Thought you'd like some hot chocolate before bed..."
"Thanks. I needed something to calm me down." Arnold said as he grabbed the mug and drank from it.
Phil raised an eyebrow as he said, "Let me guess, multiple calls from your friend?"
Arnold nodded. "Sometimes, Gerald can be a little frustrating. I like him, but ever since Phoebe broke up with him, he's been going a little insane."
"Ah... you know, something similar like that happened with me and Jimmy Kafka." Phil smiled as Arnold looked up in interest. "Sure, we were both ladies' men in our time, but I think Jimmy hit it off the most with the girls. Of course, a downside to that was that he couldn't keep a serious girlfriend. Any time he attempted to try, he couldn't handle it and would probably go back to flirting with every girl. The girls he tried to take seriously didn't take it too well and broke it off with them."
"How did Jimmy handle it?" Arnold asked.
"Oh, he felt devastated, but once he got over the depression, he went back on the searching grounds." Phil said. "And I think right now, Gerald is experiencing something similar to what Jimmy's experiencing... the five stages of grief."
"Is there anything I could do to help Gerald, if he's like this?" Arnold asked.
"No, Shortman, I'm afraid this is something Gerald has to experience on his own. Er, confidentially, how did your friend sound when you talked to him?" Phil raised an eyebrow.
"Like he was begging to know what Phoebe was up to while we were thinking up our science project." Arnold said.
"Ah, then he's currently in the third stage... bargaining." Phil nodded. "It won't be too long before the depression kicks in, because the fourth stage is sadness."
Arnold nodded as he paused. "Yeah... but aside from Gerald, I'm also thinking about Phoebe as well."
"Oh, does Shortman already have a new girlfriend?" Phil laughed.
"Grandpa!" Arnold frowned.
"I'm just kidding, Shortman... but hey, she could be your girlfriend!" Phil shrugged.
"She's just my partner for the science fair... and I will admit that I like her, but..." Arnold paused. "As for like like... well... hmmm... I guess that is up in the air..."
"Judging by the science project of lipstick... I think that's an interesting project." Phil smirked as he crossed his arms. "What are you guys going to do, have that girl partner of yours test it on you? That would be a sight to see!"
"Grandpa, come on!" Arnold blushed furiously as Phil got up.
"Well, I better get going. After you finish your cocoa, bring it downstairs!" Phil said as he started to walk downstairs.
Arnold shook his head as he drank some more cocoa. He knew that his grandfather was kidding. He knew that Arnold was not dating Phoebe... he didn't even like like her...
Arnold paused as he started to think. "Do I?"
And the fifth chapter ends here! How did you guys like it? Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!