Chapter 8 | Damn Good Friends
"I'm ever so happy you were able to have lunch with me today!" Lila exclaimed as she stood up from her table to hug her friend Nadine. "I know you've been very busy this summer."
It was true, it was only a month and a half after graduation and Nadine and Vincent (formerly known as Peapod Kid) had amassed quite a following on their Instagram accounts where they posted photos of their travels. Since graduation they've already been to Bora Bora, Hawaii, Paris and Jamaica. She had barely seen her friend all summer, which was probably for the best considering she still held a close friendship with Rhonda.
"Yeah, Vin and I just got back into town Sunday night. It's been an amazing summer so far. Although, I was a little disappointed, Bora Bora is beautiful but how do you have an island with absolutely no insects!?" Nadine exclaimed, with an appalled look on her face. "Hawaii, on the other hand, had the most magnificent Golden Tortoise Beetle—absolutely beautiful, I have pictures on my Facebook of them!" Nadine excitedly remarked.
"Enough about me though, I saw that you went on a date with Arnold the other night, how did that go?" Nadine prodded. Lila tried to maintain the smile on her face.
"I was ever so certain that our date was going well but I think Arnold has his eyes on someone else." Lila pondered.
"Well, he's missing out. You're quite the catch." Nadine responded in an attempt to cheer up her friend, which her compliment did bring a temporary smile to her face. "So, what else have you been up to lately?"
"Well, you know Patty had her baby. He's ever so adorable." Lila responded, "I'm just trying to be as good of a friend as possible to her—given the circumstances." Lila raised her eyebrow at Nadine, causing Nadine to move uncomfortably in her seat.
"I don't want to get in the middle of whatever is going on between you and Rhonda or what's going on between Rhonda and Patty." Nadine firmly remarked.
"I know, I know." Lila replied, "It's just, you're so nice Nadine. How can you call someone like that your best friend?"
"I know what she did to you was wrong. What she did to Patty was exceptionally heinous. I know that she's got a lot of deep-seated issues. Her life isn't as perfect as she tries to make it come across." Nadine rattled off reasoning for her best friend's behavior. She had been making excuses for her for as long as she could remember, she was tired of it but the words flowed like water through her lips. "Anyway, I've got to go—please give Patty my best regards." Nadine responded before grabbing her purse and heading out of the door.
Lila sat back in her seat and wondered about how she could have handled the situation differently. She looked off into the distance and saw a familiar head of bright red hair.
I didn't know Eugene was going to be here today. Lila thought to herself, she was about to head over and approach him when a tall handsome man walked over to Eugene's table. Lila wondered who the man was assuming that it was a meeting of some sort, until Eugene stood up and kissed him affectionately on the lips.
"Got a lot on your mind son?" Miles asked as he pulled up a seat next to his son at the boarding house kitchen table.
"Is it that obvious?" Arnold asked.
"I think it was the fact that you poured orange juice into your cereal that gave it away." Miles chuckled, "What's on your mind?"
"Girl troubles got you down Shortman?" Phil asked as he entered the kitchen in a bathrobe. Miles and Arnold both nodded their heads yes.
"Let me guess, it's your little friend with the one eyebrow again?" Phil asked shooting a knowing glance to Arnold as he took a seat across from his son and grandson.
"Yes—well, no. Not exactly." Arnold responded, "Let's just say she's gotten rid of the one eyebrow look."
"Yes, but one eyebrow or two, she's still the one causing you problems eh Shortman?" Phil asked.
"Sounds like you and this girl have a lot of history. Is that right son?" Miles remarked before Arnold had an opportunity to respond.
"Dad, Grandpa—I don't really know what to do. I even tried to kiss her last night and I know she's got a boyfriend. What am I doing?" Arnold dropped his face into his arms that were propped up onto the kitchen table. Miles rubbed his back and looked over at his father.
"Arnold, I remember when Pookie and I were about your age. We were pretty good friends but I wanted to be more than that but she had some boyfriend. Fred Thompson. Nice fellow but they were not a good match. So, you know what I did?" Phil asked.
"What did you do grandpa?" Arnold asked, slightly worried about the answer.
"I got so frustrated and tired of waiting around waiting for my chance, so I went to talk to him one day and I just punched him." Phil responded. Arnold and Miles gasped at the response.
"Dad!?" Miles exclaimed.
"I didn't say what I did was the right thing to do. Oh, definitely not the right thing to do. You just need to play it cool. She'll figure out soon enough that this guy isn't right for her." Phil remarked.
"So you're saying just do nothing." Arnold asked.
"Exactly." Phil responded giving the thumbs up to his grandson from across the table.
"That's terrible advice grandpa." Arnold laughed.
"Well, I'm not a matchmaker, I run a boarding house—but it made you laugh and took your mind off things for a few minutes." Phil joked nudging his grandson lightly.
"Thanks grandpa." Arnold genuinely responded, "I guess this is something I'll just have to wait and see what happens."
Patty didn't want to move back into her old apartment that she shared with her husband but once baby Chase was born—it was the best option she had. However, she moved back in under the conditions that she was moving in temporarily until she could secure her own place for herself and the baby.
Harold on the other hand saw this as an opportunity to potentially win his wife back. Since she had returned from the hospital, he cooked breakfast every morning and brought home flowers and takeout every evening. He also volunteered to take care of the baby so she could have some time to herself throughout the day. He was attempting to be the perfect husband.
"Good morning sweetheart." Harold sang as he walked into the bedroom that him and his wife used to share. He missed sleeping on a King sized mattress but if sleeping on the living room couch could save his marriage, he was willing to do it for as long as it took.
"Please don't call me that." Patty sneered, sitting up sleepily on the bed. She rubbed her eyes and saw Harold in the door frame of the bedroom, holding a tray of breakfast items.
"I, uh, I brought breakfast." Harold remarked.
"I'm not hungry." Patty responded.
"Honey, I'm really trying." Harold pleaded, "We could talk to someone—I think we could work things out."
"If we're going to have the same conversation every day, I can just go back to my parents." Patty quipped. Harold's face fell. "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings or anything but I'm not here to work things out. I'm here because we already had Chase's nursery set up here and until I find a place of my own, this is the best place for us."
The room was silent until small cries started coming from Chase. Patty started to get up but Harold waved her off.
"I've got him. You just relax and eat your breakfast." Harold stated as he turned around and headed to the nursery. He picked up Chase and rocked him back and forth. He looked down at his first born son, who looked back at him with brown eyes and a cute button nose. Harold's eyes began to well up a little at the thought of not living with his wife and his son, if only he could take back all of the mistakes he made. A tear fell from Harold's eye and he wiped it slightly. He kissed his son who had calmed down—he had to stay focused. Patty was the love of his life, she had to take him back… she just had to.
Stinky leaned in and gave his girlfriend a firm kiss on the lips.
"I got you these flowers, they sure are pretty aren't they?" Stinky asked, handing the flowers to his girlfriend before helping her into his pickup truck. Helga took a long sniff of the beautiful dozen pink roses she was holding before climbing into the truck.
"They're absolutely beautiful Stinky." Helga smiled as she watched her boyfriend climb into the passenger seat.
"Not as beautiful as you though, I reckon." Stinky returned the smile before heading off down the road in his green pickup truck.
"So, Mr. Peterson, where did you say we were heading on our date today?" Helga questioned. They had been driving for nearly 20 minutes but the smile on her face hadn't left since Stinky picked her up from her house.
"I told you darling it's supposed to be a surprise." Stinky chuckled. Helga loved surprises in theory. In actuality she hated the suspense, she was definitely the type of woman who wanted to be in charge of a situation at all times.
"Come onnnn!" Helga whined through a small giggle. She shot Stinky her best wide-eyed puppy dog face.
"Oh no, you're not getting me this time Miss Pataki, you're going to have to hold your horses and wait and see." Stinky insisted.
Helga gasped in amazement when they arrived at their destination. It was a large, lush green hill that overlooked a crystal clear lake. There were several large, succulent trees that lent themselves to several spots of shade. Underneath of one of the larger trees, Stinky had begun to set up a large blanket.
"I'm no Gordon Ramsey—but I think I put together a pretty nice spread for us." Stinky quipped as he began to pull items out of the picnic basket he'd brought along.
"How on earth did you ever find this place?" Helga asked. Hillwood was a large city but it was not known for it's beautiful natural scenery. Somehow, her boyfriend seemed to know all of the natural, nature spots in Hillwood that haven't been bulldozed over to make way for a housing development or strip mall.
"I have my ways Miss Pataki, don't you worry about that." Stinky responded with a bright smile as he reached across the blanket and ran his fingers through Helga's blonde hair before leaning in for a kiss. Helga leaned back slightly as she felt Stinky's lips gently brush against hers. She grabbed the back of his head and opened her lips inviting his tongue into his mouth. The kiss lasted a few moments until she thought back to several days ago when Arnold attempted to kiss her. She pushed Stinky away slightly, breaking the kiss they shared.
"Is everything alright?" Stinky asked.
"Um—yeah. Well-" Helga started to say chuckling nervously. She could feel her hands begin to clam up. "I think there is something I should tell you."
AN: Just wanted to tell you guys thank you for reading this story so far! I have been appreciating all of the wonderful feedback that you have left and I always personally respond to them! This chapter was not one of my favorites because it's coming off of the heated conversation with Helga and Arnold last chapter. Just because you didn't see them in this chapter doesn't mean their issues are resolved. Trust me, it only gets better. :) - BuzzLightyearr