Chapter 9 | I Don't Want to Let You Go
Despite moving to Hillwood when he was three years old, he just couldn't shake his country mannerisms. He always held the door open for others, he constantly said please and thank you. He was the only non-military member he'd come across in his city to regularly call people 'sir' or 'ma'am'. He knew that he had a very trusting nature. He also knew he didn't always pick up the vibes that were going around the room.
However, despite all those things working against him, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with his girlfriend. What's worse, is he couldn't help but to notice these worries didn't come into play until Arnold Shortman came back into Hillwood.
"I think there is something I should tell you." Helga remarked nervously. Her heart rate began to increase and she could feel her breath getting short.
"Is everything alright, my pet?" Stinky asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. His brain racking through all the possibilities of what she needed to say. Helga took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves.
"So, the other day I was having coffee with- " Helga began her story, her voice faltering slightly. She trailed off thinking carefully about her next words. "—with a friend."
Stinky could feel his heart begin to race and he had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He cleared his throat.
"Um—who was the friend?" Stinky asked, fearing that he already knew the answer. Helga sighed.
"Arnold." She responded. The pair sat in silence for a moment. The only sound that could be heard was a few bees buzzing around a flower several feet away from them.
"Do—you have feelings for Arnold?" Stinky questioned, the words came out of his mouth forming more of a statement than a question. Helga was silent. A sad look crossed over her blue eyes. "Helga?"
"I don't know." Helga blurted out. "I mean—yes I do, but I love you Stinky, I really do."
"I reckon, I love you too." Stinky responded, Helga's eyes began to well up with tears—Stinky pulled her closer to him and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. Stinky looked into her eyes and wiped a tear from her cheek before releasing a long, heavy sigh he didn't realize he was holding.
"You know, I would do anything to make you happy. I think you should take some time to figure out how you feel about me—and him. I love you and I'll always wonder in the back of my mind if I was just a second choice." Stinky uttered. Helga wrinkled her brows slightly in confusion.
"Are you breaking up with me?" Helga questioned.
"I wouldn't say that—I mean, if you love something let it go, right?" Stinky declared, "I mean, I really love you Helga—maybe we'll find each other again when the timing is right."
The words sent her back to a few days ago, she couldn't keep her mind off of what Arnold said to her back in the coffee shop. The phrase kept playing itself over and over in her mind. 'See, we have great chemistry, but the timing sucks'
"Yeah." Helga responded to no one in particular. She wrapped her arms around Stinky and gave him a sweet kiss, they headed back to the car hand in hand but rode back to the city in silence.
"Okay, which outfit do you like better?" Eugene asked as he walked into the living room holding two outfits on separate hangers: a blue sport coat with a white t-shirt and khaki shorts in one hand and a grey polo shirt and salmon shorts in the other hand.
"Going on a date?" Lila asked, as she pointed towards the polo shirt and short outfit.
"I guess you could say that." Eugene responded.
"Anyone that I know?" Lila questioned.
"I doubt it." Eugene sharply remarked.
"How long have you been dating?" Lila quizzed.
"A few weeks now." Eugene responded looking irritated.
"Well—what's their name?" Lila asked.
"What is with the interrogation?" Eugene demanded to know, dramatically throwing his hands into the air, barely holding onto the hangers he was still holding on to.
"I'm just ever so surprised that you're dating someone and you can't even tell your best friend and roommate about it. I just was ever so certain that if you were dating someone that you'd let me know—but I guess not." Lila laid on her sweetest, most innocent tone of voice.
"Fine—Carol." Eugene responded harshly.
"Really, because I saw you on a date at the coffee shop with a really attractive date. He didn't look like a Carol though." Lila stood up and looked Eugene in his light brown eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Eugene responded with an uneasy tone of voice. He could feel a lump forming in his throat and his stomach begin to flutter a bit.
"Eugene—I know that you've been seeing someone. Someone tall, handsome, and blonde. Does he have a single brother?" Lila asked.
"It was supposed to be a secret." Eugene stated with an upset tone, "You can't tell anyone about this." Eugene tossed his outfits on the recliner and then dropped down onto the coach, covering his face with his hands.
"Eugene, this is nothing to be ashamed of. Does anyone know that you're gay?" Lila asked, taking a seat next to her best friend.
"No! Do you know what people would do if they found out!?" Eugene questioned with a marked look of fear in his eyes. Lila moved in closer to him on the couch.
"Listen to me, your family and friends are going to love you regardless of your sexuality." Lila spoke in her most comforting tone, rubbing Eugene's back gently.
"I don't know—I don't think it's that easy. Remember when Mr. Simmons confirmed that he was gay. There were parents that were attempting to pull their children out of his classroom, just because of who he is. I don't want anyone judging me." Eugene admitted.
"Pardon my language, but those people are idiots." Lila said bluntly. "Eugene, who you're attracted to isn't something that needs to be hidden. Although, I realize coming out of the closet is a huge step. So if you're not ready to come out, then I'm ever so certain I understand."
"So—you'll keep my secret" Eugene asked, leaning in to give his best friend a hug. Lila placed her hands on his shoulders before he could wrap his arms around her.
"Wait, wait—I can keep your secret on one condition." Lila responded.
"Name it." Eugene stated.
"Details!" Lila giggled as they wrapped their arms around each other in a caring embrace. "Let's start with that brother I mentioned earlier."
"Well, it's official—you're now the owner of Green Meats!" Mr. Green said as he reached out to shake Harold's hand before handing him a stack of paperwork sealing the deal.
"Wow, who would have thought I'd own my own store!?" Harold exclaimed. He left the store on a high, excited to get home and tell the news to Patty and Chase. Although Chase was only two weeks old and couldn't understand what he was talking about, he still enjoyed coming home and telling the infant about his day.
"Patty! Guess what happened today?" Harold asked as he opened the door to the apartment they shared.
"What happened Harold?" Patty asked as she was sitting on the couch breastfeeding baby Chase.
"You're looking at the official owner of Green Meats!" Harold declared. Patty let out an excited gasp.
"Congratulations, that's really exciting!" Patty congratulated her husband on his accomplishment, "You should be very proud of yourself, there aren't many 20 year olds that own their own business."
"Yes, all of that scrimping, saving, and hard work throughout high school really paid off. I put my blood, sweat and tears into that place—and now it's all mine!" Harold remarked excitedly, "Patty—you're not going to have to worry about a thing! Our family is going to be set from here on out."
"What do you mean?" Patty asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You're still my wife. I understand the significance of what I did—but all I want is for you and Chase to be happy. I know things will take time but I believe in the love we have." Harold confessed.
"Harold—I don't want to give you any false hope. I don't want to get back together. You have been extremely helpful since Chase and I came home from the hospital and I appreciate you have done for us." Patty started to state, "But as soon as I'm cleared for work, I'm finding a job and Chase and I will be moving into our own place."
"How are you going to work, go to school and take care of Chase?" Harold placed his hand on his hip and asked matter-of-factly.
"I will have to figure it out. I won't be the first single mother who has had to juggle multiple things to succeed and I won't be the last." Patty responded as she attempted to coax a burp out of the baby.
"I really don't want you to have to do all of that." Harold remarked.
"Harold, it's decided. It's got to get done, so I'm going to do it." Patty sharply stated.
Harold thought about all the things Patty has sacrificed to be with him. She gave up her athletic scholarship at Washington State to marry Harold. She was forced to lower her course load and take classes online when she became pregnant with Chase. She encouraged them to put their savings into purchasing Green Meats. Harold shook his head at himself.
"Patty—I can't let you make any more sacrifices for my benefit." Harold began to state. "Green Meats was purchased with our money, therefore half of the profits belong to you. I don't want you to have to work to afford a tiny apartment for you and Chase when this is your home."
Patty opened her mouth to interrupt but Harold continued to talk.
"I'm going to start looking for an apartment, I want you and Chase to live here. So, Monday morning—I'll call up my lawyer and see what I need to do to have your name on the business as a partner."
"You really don't have to do that." Patty responded.
"I know. I want to—it's the least I can do for you after all you've done for me the past few years." Harold remarked, looking Patty in her green eyes that were beginning to well up. "I just am sorry I didn't realize what I had earlier."
It had been a few days since her breakup with Stinky. It was amicable, but left her with a strange feeling. She expected to be sad but all she kept thinking about was the look on Arnold's face when they argued over coffee, how handsome he looked when he leaned in for a kiss, and the frustration on his face when she stopped him.
She hopped out of her bed and tossed on a pink top and a pair of black leggings and raced for the door. Before she knew it she was in front of his house. She started to knock on the door but she didn't know how he would react. She paced outside of his front steps for five minutes before pulling her phone out of the small cross body bag she brought with her and fired off a quick text.
Arnold was sitting in his bedroom so immersed in his video game when he was surprised by the sound of his phone vibrating and ringing. He was shocked to see that it was a text message from Helga.
Helga Pataki: I'm at your house, come outside. [12:38 am]
Helga waited patiently for a response to her text, but instead the door of the boarding house swung open, revealing Arnold wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of plaid pajama pants.
"Helga, what are you doing here? It's nearly one o'clock in the morning!" Arnold whispered harshly as he opened the door and allowed Helga into the foyer of the house.
"Oh, I'm sorry—did I wake you or something?" Helga questioned. "Bad timing, perhaps?" She remarked in a mocking tone.
Arnold rolled his eyes, confused at where this conversation was going or the reasoning behind Helga showing up on his doorstep. Arnold's heart was racing, Helga's was too.
"So, football head, do you really think we have chemistry." Helga asked with a sultry tone.
"Yeah- I mean-" Arnold stammered as he began to responded, when Helga grabbed the collar of his white t-shirt and pulled Arnold in for a deep kiss. Arnold broke the kiss after a moment. Struggling to regain his composure.
"I—uh—boyfriend?" Arnold knew what he was trying to ask but was having trouble finding the words. Helga shook her head side to side and indicated no.
"Single." Helga smirked and the moment the word left her lips Arnold gave a sexy grin and grabbed the sides of her face and pulled Helga in for an eagerly, impassioned kiss. Arnold's lips left hers for a moment to nibble her ear and Helga heard him whisper something slightly to her. She looked at him with a sly smile and nodded her head yes—before they headed to Arnold's bedroom.