Rocket to the Moon

Chapter Twenty

Tequila!

. . .

Arnold nodded. "It is only a delusion." He said to himself.

They remained in silence for some time. Each one lost in their own contemplations. Every now and then Arnold could hear Helga's voice rising for a moment but then she went back to mumbles. He raised his questioning eyes to Rhonda.

"That's another one with huge plights." She stated.

Arnold grumbled. He could only imagine. Even when people wouldn't peg her for a gold-digger, it didn't mean Helga had it easy, right? Being the girlfriend of an old man…

"Arnold…" Rhonda added after a pause. She'd been looking to the floor but then raised her sight to look at him in the eye "Look, you know I like you. You're my friend." She exhaled "And as my friend I think I should warn you. Helga…" she looked to the door behind him "she's unavailable. I think it's matter of time that they make it public."

Arnold nodded. He leaned heavily in his seat. After giving him a pat on his knee Rhonda got up and walked to the kitchen leaving him alone. He closed his eyes getting conscious of the heavy weight that fell in his stomach. So there it was. Helga had a relationship. He let the reality sink in.

After a moment where his mind went blank, he exhaled. Why the shock? He'd already overheard Rhonda; and he had already supposed that being Helga an adult she must have a relationship. Maybe the thing was that he didn't want to admit it. The fact that her love interest was an old man made him think it couldn't be real.

So what now?

What was the point in wondering what was Helga doing with a rich old man? About what she saw in him? What she got from him? Why someone like Henry deserved a second opportunity in life? Was it only because he was rich? Did fate give rich people better chances?

He grumbled to himself. He was being such hypocrite. Here he was, experiencing something that could be called a 'heartbreak' when he claimed he loved Claire. When he had Claire in first place! Rhonda was right. It was all a delusion.

He opened his eyes to find Rhonda seated in front of him looking at him with sympathy.

"Why is so hard to… accept?" he asked her in weak voice.

"We like to fantasize. Some people say we make up alternative realities to help us keep going." Rhonda shrugged her shoulders and smirked " Maybe you just lost yours."

He snorted. "I didn't know you were into…" he frowned. What was it? Science fiction, esotericism? He shook his head.

"So…" Rhonda started again "You're doing well, huh? I didn't know you were that good at work!"

He blinked being forced to stop his train of thoughts.

"Well… I'm doing well I guess." he said letting out a long breath.

"That's good." she said slowly. "What's your secret?" she asked again after a while. He really appreciated her efforts. She'd changed subjects without further pry from her part; only for the sake of enjoying the evening. He decided to stop overreacting and put himself together.

"There's no such a secret." he crossed his arms "I like my job I guess." he chortled, remembering all those thoughts of months ago when he dreamed with the perfect job. He leaned back.

"Well, you sound like a winner to me." Arnold threw her a small smile. "Deb must be happy having you around."

"Do you know Deb?" She nodded.

"Yeah, she's a good friend. Every once in a while she comes to our little gatherings. It's good to have a lawyer amongst your acquaintances." Rhonda grinned "Well, now I have two." She added, wriggling the V sign. "And other than the money, how are you doing over there? It's a nice place? Have some friends already? Foes … Nah! You're too nice to have foes."

Arnold smirked. Well, - he exhaled - he had some good friends already. There was another bunch of coworkers and lunch buddies whose company he enjoyed.

"All in all, it's a nice place." he uttered.

"All in all?" she smiled.

"You know how it is," he couldn't help but grumble "There are some people…" he trailed off.

"I know what you mean. Bullies. No place is safe from them." She shook her head "They bother you?"

"Not me precisely, but there is this bunch who is always bothering people just because the kick of it."

Rhonda nodded her head. "Yeah." she exhaled "But you know? I've come to the understanding that our world is far from perfect and we have to learn to deal with the all the unpleasant that's out there."

"Maybe you're right" Arnold started, looking at a vague point in the next room "But I just can't get how is that there are some people who have everything; who have been privileged since the day they were born, and still, the best they can do is going to make others people's life a living hell," Rhonda observed him in silence "They even seem to enjoy they are feared…"

The girl snorted "You're talking about Dick, right?"

"Do you know Dick?" he frowned; turning to see her but he read the answer on her face.

What a question! He rolled his eyes inwardly. Of course she knew him. She knew the entire family.

Rhonda nodded "You might be wrong about Dick, you know?" She added cautiously.

"In what way?"

"In one at least…"

"Which one would that be?" he didn't like this unexpected secrecy.

"Not about him being a jerk, of course," she let out a soft laugh, showering relief over the unexpectedly serious situation. She got comfortable in the couch as she used to do when she was about to tell something juicy. "But Dick is… deep." Surprisingly she stood up and walked towards the door where Helga had disappeared. She put an ear against it, and then turned to him "I guess we still have time. But let's go to the kitchen. I think I need another drink."

Arnold stood and fell behind.

"So?" Arnold asked once she poured the red concoction in a new glass. He waited until she sipped her drink and let out a long exhalation.

"So Dick, huh?" after the pause she seemed insecure about how to start, and Arnold expected she haven't changed her mind. He wondered what she was going to say. Something new for real? Because in his experience it was much what people talked about Dick but little that was actually new. "Let's just say that Dick is…" she trailed off.

"'Special'?" Arnold snorted. When Rhonda gave him an admonishing look and he smiled and shook his head. "Sorry… every time someone starts to talk about Dick they say he's 'special'" he made quotation marks in the air.

Rhonda seemed to hesitate again but she went finally on.

"Dick wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth. In fact, his beginnings couldn't be more different, Arnold." Rhonda cleared her throat as she leaned in the counter and seemed to put in order her thoughts. Arnold blinked with skepticism. So far he knew the Muellers had over a century being wealthy. "I know what you're thinking." she interrupted his thoughts "But he was born from the wrong Mueller. His father knocked up one of the girls from the store and then deserted her when she gave him the news. He didn't only leave her but also made her life miserable. You know how it is. He talked shit about her; called her a whore; claimed it wasn't his child. A real gentleman…

"To the day the rumor reached the family the girl had disappeared from town, something Frederick used to prove them he was innocent and the girl was only trying to set him up. To their father it was one less problem. Truth was that Frederick was no good. He didn't help them at work; never went to college; slept around all the time; drank a lot, and by the way he ended up his life, apparently he was also into drugs.

Rhonda walked to the door and took another look to the living room.

"So, Dick ended being raised in narrow circumstances at a small town in the middle of nowhere by a not too-smart or ambitious mother. It was guessed that Darleen -that's her name, a chirpy woman now, owner of the biggest house miles around of 'Nowhere', North Dakota – kept correspondence with Frederick. Probably she never got over him. An increasingly lost Frederick went to pay visits every now and then. Naïve Darleen probably thought he still loved her," Rhonda snorted "… but we all know the guy went only to screw her and abuse the kid, all at once." She clicked her tongue "I don't get in my mind how woman let their children being hurt only for crumbs. So far I know Frederick was indeed cruel. He… he…" she trailed off and blinked horrified "I don't know how someone could be so evil to his own child." She finally exhaled.

Arnold observed her as she took a long sip of her drink and her eyes remained wide open. What was it that she didn't dare to speak? How terrible could it be? It was hard to imagine she was talking about Dick; the omnipotent guy he saw every single day at the office. Arnold observed Rhonda refilling her glass. How many margaritas had she had this evening? Five or so? She didn't sound tipsy but he didn't sound tipsy either and had had about … he looked at the empty bottles… eight… beers or so. That's why she was being so open? At least the blabber wasn't only him .

"Well, I guess I have to talk about that good-for-nothing Frederick a little longer." She said as they walked back to the living room "Well, long story short the family got tired and didn't care about him anymore. He came from time to time to steal money, or ask money from her mother. You know how mothers are. She gave him the money after getting from him the promise he'd look for help. He never worried to comply, of course.

"After the father died he came back only to try to sell his part to Henry. So far I know Henry bought a part but refused to buy the whole lot; thinking he'll need them for his future. It kept happening for years; he coming back to get money, even after the mother died. Henry continuous negative to buy the rest of his part only took Frederick to sell everything to his partner and rival, Glen Brennan." Rhonda raised his head to see him nodding in understanding. "Finally, there was a last time that Frederick came back looking for help. He was a disaster; his health was really compromised. Being that there was nothing else to sell, -it hadn't been in a while, but Henry helped him nonetheless- Henry accepted to take care of him with a condition: marry Darleen and give his name to the kid."

"Is this for real?" he asked in awe. Rhonda nodded.

"To the last word." She sighed "Darleen had finally her dreams come true, even if they were to take care of a dying man." She grimaced. "They played the little house for a while, though I seriously doubt Dick was around."

"How old was he?"

Rhonda shrugged her shoulders "A teenager?"

Arnold nodded. He leaned back on the sofa. When Rhonda started to talk he never thought the story she was about to tell would end up being like this. He'd never guessed something like this about Dick. It was almost a tragedy. Had it a happy ending'?

"You know? I want to feel sorry for the little kid but then I remember it's Dick and…"

"You can't feel empathy for him." She ended for him.

"It just that it didn't seem to fit." He let out a small chortle. "Have you seen the guy lately?"

Rhonda shrugged again. "I guess people who don't really know him tend to think that way."

"But I do know him."

"Oh, but you don't know the real him." She said dismissively.

"And you do?" he scoffed "Because I work close to him and…"

"I went out with him." She bragged; her intention to have the last word.

"You what?" he asked a couple of seconds later, when the initial surprise had gone.

"I went out with him… long ago. It's not something I say a lot, but…" she shrugged.

"You went out with him?!"

"A couple of times" she nodded casually "It didn't work."

"Bu… but - When - Why?" he tittered. He just couldn't get over it. "Sorry," He finally shook his head and asked "Why you said it's something you don't say a lot?"

"Oh," it seemed she didn't expect that question because she hesitated. Throwing him a cautious look she added "Maybe I should make a point to let clear that is not because I think going out with him it's... it's something shameful." She faltered "That's not what I meant because in fact it's quite the opposite. He's a great match. He's handsome, rich, complicated." she raised her brows "He's all what they promise you; the bad guy that can be fixed through love."

"Actually that's precisely the reason why I tried to take it easy with him. Not everyday you got a date with someone like Dick Mueller; he's an heir, after all." Rhonda opened big her eyes. Here she was; Rhonda Lloyd, the girl from Vogue.

Arnold couldn't help but chortle and she frowned.

"Sorry. It's just that I don't buy him being the Prince Charming." He smiled to her "I can't even see you two together; you're way too different."

"Different?" she seemed surprised, but went on nonetheless. "Anyway - and only for the record- we were never actually 'together'". She made quotation marks in the air. "As I told you, I wanted to take things slowly because, as I also said, he's someone you'd envision for a long term relationship. Truth was all my planning was unnecessary. He's kinda old fashioned; he doesn't hurry things; now I know." She rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair "Well, things didn't work, turned out that he's… complicated; too complicated for my taste. But…" she paused "but I got to know him, and my opinion is that the actual Dick fits perfectly his complex old self. I can feel empathy for him, and I actually like him. We remain friends."

Arnold nodded as he observed her getting lost in thoughts. A sudden thought reached his mind. Claire. God! It wouldn't be easy to keep all of this from her. She was crazy about anything that had to do with the Muellers. After a moment or two he shrugged it off. He'd think about it later. Rhonda was getting comfortable, carrying her legs up onto the couch.

"And he told you this all just after a couple of dates?" he asked. Somehow he found hard to believe Dick pulling the 'Poor Me' card only to get laid, something that he wasn't supposedly looking for, after all.

"Arnold!" Rhonda straightened up in her seat and looked suddenly alarmed. "Don't make me regret trusting you!" She warned "It's top-secret! You won't talk about this, ever."

"Right." He waved his hand.

"You don't get it?!" she left her couch hurriedly and stood over him "If Dick ever finds out what I know I'm sure as hell someone is going to pay." She paused "If he ever finds out you know someone is going to die. You don't know him." The sound of a door being unlocked reached them. "Arnold?" she rushed in low voice. The boy nodded.

"Guys- I'm sorry again." Helga came in and passed them by in her way to the kitchen. "I know I've been a shitty host." She grumbled "I'll make up some way, I promise."

"Don't worry, Helgs." Rhonda said aloud. "Arnold and I have had time to catch up all those missing years. He's a doll. It'd been really nice."

"Great." She called back from the kitchen.

"There're some fresh margaritas over there!" Rhonda said, then she turned to Arnold and changed her expression taunting him with the cutthroat gesture. Arnold smiled at the sign, but nodded nevertheless. It was funny to watch a fine looking girl like her threatening him.

"Margaritas? Man, I need a real drink!" Helga was back and grumbled as she took a seat on the carpet in front of them. Arnold blinked. She'd brought from the kitchen a tray with the brand new bottle of tequila, shot glasses, salt and lemon.

"Helga…" he spoke with warning in his voice "You're doing the driving tonight, remember?"

"I know graandmaaa!" she threw him an annoyed look "I'm not getting drunk. Just need some fun."

Rhonda had already taken a seat at her side and started to help Helga with the drinks. "What was that?" she asked the blonde in a mumble "Jealousy?"

"Don't ask." she mumbled back as she poured the amber liquid into the glasses. Rhonda didn't speak anymore but threw him a knowing glance. Henry? He was almost sure it was the name that crossed her mind. Who've told of the old wise man? Arnold snorted to himself.

Anyway, two rounds of shots later nobody remember a thing about jealousy, abused kids or anything else by the way. Small talks filled the time. They started with Mr. Simmons and ended talking about Rhonda's coworkers. If she wasn't embellishing the tale, her office could easily become a TV sitcom. It must be an interesting workplace; Brenda and Claire would kill to work in there. Arnold laughed. Every now and then he turned to see Helga. She had changed, and even when she followed the conversation and tried to mask her mood, her sight was absent for moments. Months ago she'd said relationships were difficult, he recalled. Only god knew what was happening with hers.

Arnold exhaled and his attention went back to Rhonda when she started to talk about him and his not too perfect relation. Arnold rolled his eyes inwardly but didn't argue. What was the point? It wasn't as if they were going to go to Claire and betray him. Helga jumped immediately and complained.

"No way! Don't say that, Arnold!" she straightened and got on her knees, placing her hands on his own knees "You're by far the nicest kid I know," she said earnestly "If you can't have a nice relationship then what can expect the rest of us!" she turned to Rhonda "We're doomed!"

Arnold shook off his dizziness looking into the blue eyes that looked at him with worry. He couldn't help but extend his hand and touch the soft skin of her cheek.

"That's not true!" he said softly "I'm sure you're doing fine."

He turned to Rhonda who fortunately didn't seem to notice his slip and also looked worried.

"She has a point, you know." She hiccupped "Kinda,"

Arnold didn't have an answer to that. He leaned back in the couch and exhaled. Helga had –of course- left him and was walking to the table. She brought a plate with sandwiches and placed it on his lap. She took a seat at his right. Rhonda also left the carpet and got seated at his left.

"Eat," Helga said. We need to sober up, or well… in any case, I need to sober up," she took a piece of bread and leaned carelessly on his shoulder.

Arnold chortled, turning to see her, or well, the hair that was all what could be seen from his point. He could feel the movement if her jaws against his shoulder as she chewed. He threw his arm around her.

"I think you said you weren't going to get drunk."

"I'm not drunk." She elbowed him forcefully. He complained. "But I need to get perky before getting behind the wheel." She paused "You know you two could crash in here if you want, but I don't know if Honey Booboo Claire would be happy with that." She shifted to look at him at the last part.

He couldn't help but chortle. "No. Honey Booboo Claire wouldn't like that."

"Yeah, I imagined."

Helga went back to her position. Rhonda had taken a sandwich to herself and mumbled something about someone else not being happy either if she crashed in here.

There wasn't much talk after that. Arnold kept throwing glances to the blonde head that rested against his shoulder. She was warm, smelled nice…. He wondered why Henry would be jealous because she wasn't tonight at his side. It was only a night, after all. He wondered what he'd said if he knew her pretty head was resting on his shoulder, probably soaking herself with his scent. He exhaled deeply. At least one thing he got for sure from tonight. Helga wasn't interested in him. And that's that.

.

I don't own Hey Arnold!

I don't own any TM mentioned here. I own just the plot and the OC.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are welcome. A thousand thanks to all those who follow/favorite this and especially to those who review. You keep me going guys!

Next chapter will take a couple of weeks. For now I want to wish you a happy July. See you soon.

July 5, 2015.