Everyone changes with time. A day, a week, a month, a year... they all count. So how much can a group of rag tag 4th graders from P.S. 118 change with junior high, high school, and a whole bunch of history between those seven years? A whole lot.
Years Later
Money, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll
It was Saturday night at the Pataki household and Helga Pataki was upstairs putting the finishing touches on her outfit. She could hear the light milling of people in the basement, all ready to start gambling, but they could not possibly start without her, the one who ran The Gambling Night. Not the gambling night, but The Gambling Night.
Nope, they can't start without little ol' me.
"Next we were movin' on," Helga smiled at the thought and rolled the tube of dark lipstick over her puckered lips. "He was with me, yeah me, singin' I love rock n' roll, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby." Helga unwrapped the towel that bounded her hair and shook her blonde locks loose, letting them tumble onto her shoulder. "I love rock n' roll, so come an' take your time an' dance with me!" With one final inspection in the mirror, Helga turned to exit her room, only to find Ian leaning against the doorframe with a smirk on his lips.
"How long have you been there?"
"Since, I saw him dancin' there by the record machine, I knew he must a been about seventeen, the beat was goin' strong, playin' my favorite song," Ian walked over to Helga and rested his arm around her waist and began walking her to the door. "An' I could tell it wouldn't be long, till he was with me, yeah me, singin',"
Helga had always thought Ian had a great voice, but knew he never had enough desire to actual career in singing. Ian paused and looked at Helga. "Aren't you going to join in?"
Helga smiled and began to sing the hook in unison with Ian as they walked out the door. "... so and take your time an' dance with me!"
(Y/L)
Sid sat at a large table at Patty's Diner with Wolfgang, Kaylia, Nadine, Arnold, Lila, Gerald, Kamelia, Harold, and Rhonda. Today was the 13th, the day after his birthday, tomorrow was the 14th, Arnold's birthday. That was probably why they were sitting at the diner on the 13th, to celebrate their birthdays in one event... but Sid could feel that this event was missing two important people that he would have like to be here, but he knew where they were instead.
The Gambling Night.
It had been years since Helga had thrown her last one. If Sid recalled correctly, it was the summer before 10th grade when she held her last one. Saying that it had become boring and dull, nothing like it had been when she started it in 7th grade, at the tender age of thirteen. Sid had not begun to be friends with Helga and Phoebe until late in 9th grade, but he still knew of the infamous The Gambling Nights.
From what Phoebe told him, during 7th grade Helga had some money from her mother's will, but she couldn't touch it until she was eighteen, she had money from the part time job she had taken, and she also had money coming from the government, but it wasn't enough to cover any of the bills she had in the house, and this was when Big Bob's Beepers was steadily going downhill. Helga and Ian were thinking of ways to get rich quick, really quick, but they didn't know how... at least until they both caught hold of an idea, or rather, a spin-off idea of a mutual friend of theirs.
The first few nights of The Gambling Nights were very slow with a few of the teens from Wayside on alternating days, just to be safe. Helga brought Hilda to Mrs. Peterson, a widowed and kind lady on F Street, who was willing to watch her younger sister for a substantially small amount of money, thinking Helga was working at her part time job while she babysat. Big Bob was usually out of the house when The Gambling Nights started, but if he was home, Helga just told she was having a few friends over and locked the basement door. Phoebe, being an ace in math and marketing, helped Helga and Ian with money management and the set up of the basement.
Ian had some friends who supplied the alcohol and helped to be bouncers. They were all tall, burly, and downright scary looking…all of whom were why no ever told the police about The Gambling Nights, it was generally understood that if you told, the burly guards would find you and that was all that needed to said about those kinds of situations.
Ian's other forte, other than getting liquor that is, was playing blackjack, so he was in charge of all of the blackjack tables. Phoebe ran the bar and played some pool every once in a while, something she was an undoubtedly expert at, but then again, there was a few things Phoebe wasn't an expert at. Meanwhile, Helga, who could play blackjack, pool, and poker, stuck with the poker tables. Helga got the largest cut and handed four percent to Phoebe, who did not want any money from The Gambling Nights since she thought it was worth the fun. Ian took his cut and paid the hired help, as in his friends that acted as bouncers and the few girls who acted as waitresses.
Within two months The Gambling Nights became very popular. Extremely popular, it started off only one night a week and moved to four nights a week. Teens from Cornwell, Wayside, and few other towns near Crinshaw, but never really any from the actual town of Crinshaw, came in mass to gamble to have a good time, or get a bad reputation in a good way. Helga and Ian did not care why the came, as long as they came and spent off their money. It lasted for a good two years until Helga decided to retire from The Gambling Nights and that was the last Sid had ever heard about them.
Sid woke out of his daze when Kaylia poked him in the shoulder. He looked around and saw everyone at the table staring at him. "Where'd you go?" Rhonda asked with one raven eyebrow quirked upwards.
"I was just thinking–"
"Something that's a dangerous task for you." Wolfgang joked and everyone laughed, even Sid.
"Yea, but I was thinking about how we should go somewhere where all the action is... y'know with music, dancing, and some fun."
Gerald smiled at the idea. "Do you know of any place like that Sid?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because, my man, you obviously must know a place, if you're suggesting it."
"As a matter of a fact, I do," Sid stood up and got up from the table. "C'mon, I know a place where you can have a really good time that not many people know about."
Everyone looked at Sid in confusion. "Where is it?" asked Arnold, a little unsure of what Sid was talking about.
"Right here in dear ol' Hillwood."
Lila looked shocked. "Here, in this town? How is possible... who runs it? They must be good at this or else the police would've busted them."
"It's a secret, now are you coming or not?" Sid did not wait for their reply instead he just walked out of the diner. He was not very surprised to see them following his suit, two minutes later, after an obviously heated debate.
Sid smiled, 'Crinshawnians are so predictable...'
(Y/L)
Ten minutes later, Sid directed the group to O Street and told them to get out of their respective cars. They all grumbled and complained, all of them noticing that there were no other cars around or any sounds of music playing. Sid ignored the complaints and kept walking, knowing exactly where he was leading them.
"Sid, are you leading us a goose hunt?" Gerald finally asked.
Sid smirked. "Nope, I'm leading you here." He stopped in front of 1422 L Street.
"Wait a minute, isn't this Pataki's house?" Rhonda demanded with a scowl developing on her face."
"Yup."
"Look, Sid, I know you and her are friends, but why'd you say we're going to a place with music and all that stuff like you did at the diner."
"Because we are." Sid walked over to the back gate and entered the backyard. The other Golden Ones, their girlfriends, and there friends had no choice but to follow him, out of curiosity.
Especially one Arnold Linshaw.
When they entered the backyard they saw an intimidating tall, beefy guy, a type of guy you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley at night, giving Sid a very dark glare. Everyone could not help but wonder what's going on.
"What's you business?" Growled the man.
"Gee," Sid sighed. "Bruno, you don't remember me?"
The guy named Bruno stared at Sid's face hard for a moment before a smile cracked onto his face. "Ah! Sid, Helga's friend who flirts with anything in a skirt! Now I remember. Blondie said she thought you might be coming, but wasn't quite sure if she'd be right. " Bruno walked over to Sid and clapped him on the back, jolting the smaller male forward. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. How's Mel?"
"Oh, she and I broke up years ago. Haven't seen you down at Sal's for a long time."
"That's because Helga stopped going."
"Oh yea." With one more friendly clap on Sid's back, Bruno moved aside so that Sid could walk down the steps that led to the basement. "Oh," Bruno pointed to everyone at the gate. "They with you?"
Sid smiled. "Yup!"
"Alright then, y'all can go in."
Cautiously, they all walked over to Sid, passing the burly man ever so slowly. Sid smiled and gave Bruno one final wave before he ran down the steps.
"Have a good time!" Bruno said as they walked down the staircase in small clumps.
Sid knocked on the door and a voice called through the door. "Who's there?"
"Tell Vega Blue, Blondie, and Jett that Sid's here."
The door immediately opened and yet another large man was greeting Sid. "Hey! Where ya been, kid?"
"Places Smith, places."
"Go ahead in." Smith said as he moved out of the doorway.
"Good seeing you."
"Good seeing you too."
Sid calmly walked through the doorway and everyone followed him. He walked straight through a room that looked like a laundry room until he got to another door, and instead of knocking like last time, he just opened the door and walked through to another room.
A room filled with people, mostly male teenagers, sitting at tables playing blackjack, pool, and poker. Music blasted from a stereo system in the back, but not in the same way it did at one of the Spartan Football Celebrations, the music was loud, but people could still talk in a normal voice and still hear each other. A bar stood to side of the room with males sitting down before a female wearing a white corset top with a black mini skirt and a black bow tie around her neck, as she served drinks.
They all knew that this was nothing like the Spartan Football Celebrations held at the cheerleaders' house. It had the same elements in a way, with the music and liquor, but it was different. Classier? Maybe, but they all knew it was more on the dangerous side, than the wild side.
"Hi Sid, you've brought guests I see." Ian said as he walked over to the group. "How are we doing tonight?"
Ian wore black leather pants, a pair of leather boots, and a white shirt— a simple outfit that kept females simply gawking at him.
"You could say that."
Ian smirked. "Oh and happy belated."
"How'd you know."
Ian shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "I have my sources... but since I'm sure you're not here to see me, I'll take you to my leaders." He turned around and began to walk deeper into the room and everyone had no choice but to follow him out curiosity, except Sid, he knew exactly where he was being led.
The pool table, where Phoebe Heyerdahl reigned.
Phoebe aimed the pool stick at the white ball taking her sweet time. "Now, gents, this game is all about angles and triangles. It's quite simple... if you aced geometry. Now, watch as I kick your asses thoroughly." Phoebe said with confidence and bravado, all packed into one a soft smile.
They watched as the last colored ball fell into the pocket before Phoebe swept up the money on the table and put it into a poach. "Thank you gentlemen for your valiant attempts at beating me— maybe next time you'll actually get somewhere."
The guys walked away grumbling curses underneath their breath. "I assure, I am not an illegitimate child and no, I'm not a female dog– but I wouldn't be to sure about your friend!" Phoebe waved to the disgruntled pair cheerfully as if she had not heard the curses they were saying about her underneath their breath. Once the two guys were out of hearing range Phoebe smirked and began to polish the tip of her cue. "That was too easy."
"Exactly Vega, that's why you shouldn't pray on the innocent."
Phoebe turned around smirking. "Aww, but Jett, where exactly would the fun be in that?"
Ian sighed, 'heavy hearted'. "What am I to do with you and Blondie?"
Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Okay, I'm just going to ignore that sexual innuendo that's floating around in there and pretend like I heard nothing while you bring that to Helga and you two can play that one out some time later."
Ian quirked an eyebrow. "Did I just hear a sexual inn–"
"Yes, Jett, but if I may ask why are you bothering me? You usually don't come around here while I'm busy playing my victi– I mean opponents."
"You are the only freak of nature I know that actually passed Geometry with flying colors."
"And that's why I can kick your ass, and Helga's ass, and Sid's ass in pool quite well...mind you I can even do it with one hand tied behind my back... hmm... one of these days I might even try it with two tied behind my back."
Sid took this opportunity to finally let his presence be known to Phoebe. "I'm pretty sure that wouldn't work out well for you Vega."
Phoebe smiled. "Of course it would Siddy. Don't be jealous just because I'm that goo-" Phoebe paused in mid sentence once she caught a glimpse of Sid's guests gawking at her. "Well that was completely unexpected and definitely not calculated into the plan."
The gawking unnerved Phoebe in a way, but in another way it was fun– sometimes Helga rubbed off on her too much. Inside of school and outside of The Gambling Night, Phoebe was known to wear attire that leaned more to the conservative side.
However, at a Gambling Night, all of that was tossed to the wind. Tonight Phoebe was wearing a blue corset top with a black leather skirt and black leather boots. Her inky black hair was slightly mussed instead of the neat shag haircut it was usually in, but what probably shocked them all the most was the fact that on her left arm there was a tattoo of a large butterfly, taunting them to ask something about it.
Phoebe tried not to pay attention to the gaping group, but it was hard with that many pairs of eyes just directed at you and you alone– especially the gaze of a pair of dark chocolate eyes– a pair of eyes owned by someone you thought you knew fairly well.
Well, that goes to show you that you don't always know people all that well, Phoebe said to her inner self. But, I guess that's a good thing, 'cause if I did know that well, I would begin to think Helga was right about using too much of my brain... that would not be too good, sorta like that movie where that guy's head exploded ... definitely not good.
"I'm going to get Blondie." Phoebe rushed off as fast as she could to a closed room door labeled 'High Roller Poker' and within a few moments she re-emerged with Helga.
Helga came out in a pair of tight black leather pants that had more zippers and holes than one could ever think could fit on a pair of pants without the owner not being completely bare of clothes. Her top was a champagne halter that plunged downwards dangerously and she too teased people with her own tattoo on her left arm– a picture of a heart with a sword throw it with wings sprouting from the sides of the heart. An asymmetrical silver belt incrusted in zirconias hung off of her hips spelling out the word 'Blondie'. Her blonde hair fell to her shoulders alternating between spirals of curls or the smooth bumps of waves.
"Hola all," Helga said once she approached the group of people she could not despise. "I was expecting Sid to come, only alone. If I had known that he was having guests I would have prepared. Anyhow, as a gracious hostess," Rhonda and Lila snorted but Helga continued on, ignoring them. "I am always prepared. Now I welcome you to The Gambling Nights– just as completely secretive as it is illegal. Which means you should shut your mouths about it– If you do tell the police A) you might get arrested just like the rest of us B)We'd all deny what you said C) A very disgruntled mob of people would hunt you down D) I'd hire someone to hunt you down or E) All of the above." Helga's dark crimson lips turned upward in a sickening saccharine smile.
"Do enjoy." With all that said, Helga and Phoebe left to talk, or rather, 'convince' people it was perfectly okay to gamble away their new pay check by gambling.
Ian took them to a table set up in a remote corner and flirted with Kaylia before he left to and work at a poker table. And then the table was quiet... very quiet...
Too quiet...
Too very quiet...
At least it was until Rhonda decided to open her mouth and voice what had been on everyone else's mind. "How long has this been going on?"
"It started during 7th grade, ended in 9th and began again tonight– welcome to the grand re-opening." Sid smirked; glad Phoebe's sarcastic voice was finally rubbing off on him.
Then there was quiet once more– after all, who knew that Helga G. Pataki and Phoebe actually could run a complete secret organization and not a single one of them had heard about it.
The sound of laughter floated over to their ears and people looked on as Helga talked to guests and lead them to the bar. Meanwhile, Phoebe served people at the bar, faking a laugh as some obviously drunk guy told her a corny joke.
The females started to talk about the pair while the guys continued to let their eyes sneak a peak at the pair... and Sid noticed, that it was mostly Arnold and Gerald who did the peaking.
Shocker, shocker, Sid thought dryly, Why does everything like a good idea in your head and blows up completely when you actually execute it?
Gambling night continued on for about a half an hour before Helga and Phoebe walked over to Sid's table. Helga took a seat in Sid's lap without any thought while Phoebe pulled up a chair next to him.
"So, how's our favorite birthday boy?" Helga said, batting her eyelashes innocently– or as innocently as Helga G. Pataki could bat her eyelashes.
"Upset."
Phoebe rolled her eyes. "And why is that, Siddy?"
"Because of that god awful nickname–"
Helga turned to Phoebe. "Why is it that he gets to give us god awful names and when we give him one he complains?"
"It's the Y chromosome." Phoebe said very gravely without a hint of a smile in her face– but one floating in her dark blue eyes.
Helga nodded her head vigorously. "Definitely the Y."
Sid coughed lightly and received both of Helga's and Phoebe's attention. "I was not done listing your grievances!"
Helga and Phoebe shared a look before they both grinned mischievously. "No worries Sid, sugah, the Vega Girl and I have presents." Helga cast a gaze at Sid's party. "We were not accounting on extra guest, but you'll get them anyway."
Sid smiled. "I get two presents, should I feel honored ladies?"
Phoebe shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe. Maybe not. Probably not," Phoebe paused for a moment after hearing something in the background. "That's our cue Blondie. Let's go."
Helga jumped up from Sid's lap while Phoebe got up from her chair and the two walked away from the group and disappeared into the crowd.
Moments later, Helga was standing on top of the bar with a microphone in one hand and vodka in the other. The music was turned down and the crowd came to a hush as they stared at the blonde. "Good evening gents and ladies," Helga said using a voice that could only be described a absolutely hypnotically intoxicating– it was the kind of voice a person would use to seduce someone, and Helga was using it to seduce her audience. "I sure hope you are having a good time tonight."
There were loud shouts of agreement from the crowd.
"Good. Now, tonight, I am up because I am going be giving my dearest friend, Sid," At this point she winked at Sid. "A very special birthday present, something Blue and I know he has always wanted and needs." She raised the bottle of vodka in the air as if she were giving a toast. "Drink up because the next round is on Sid," She turned around to wink at Phoebe, who stood behind the bar smiling brightly. "Vega Girl, I dare say it's time to start the music."
"And I dare say you're right Blondie." Phoebe signaled a guy by the stereos and once again, the basement was filled with loud music, but this time it was EMF and their song Unbelievable.
Helga started to dramatically sway her hips on the stage, walking up and down the bar, which was now serving as a stage, before she started to whine her body downwards all the while keeping this very seductive grin on her face.
The shoots and cat calls got louder, and only seemed to escalate when Helga grabbed one the poles that ran from the bar to the ceiling. With a smile, Helga maneuvered herself onto the bar and with a show skill she let her body twist around and wrapped her legs around the pole. Then, to the shock of many, she bended backwards like a rubber band only using her legs to hold her herself on the pole.
Helga back flipped off the pole and stood up with a wink to the audience. Twisting her hips to the beat, she walked across the bar, and then kicked her long leg up, sliding across the across the bar, right in front of one unsuspecting guy.
One very unsuspecting, very pleased, guy.
She lifted her index finger and used it traced the guy's lips swiftly before tracing it down his throat, then stopping at right at his chest. She slowly leaned forward and softly whispered something in his ear, her lips curving in a smile as she pulled away and lightly pushed the guy's shoulders.
Helga jumped off the stage and with a bottle of vodka in her hand, swaying her hips to the beat. The crowd parting for her as sauntered over to where Sid sat, before filling the hole up behind her. When she finally reached her destination, she smirked at her target, and the target smirked back. Without a warning she sat in his lap, with her legs resting on his waist. She slowly leaned forward letting her teeth graze his ear. "Enjoying you present yet?"
Sid's smirk widened. "Do you even need to ask, Blondie?"
"Good, cause it ain't ever gonna happen again."
"Not even when I turn 21?"
"I'll have to think about that."
Helga stood up, but did not move to walk away from Sid, instead, she started slowly twist her hips and dance to the music. She whined her body down until she was in Sid's lap once again. She opened the bottle of vodka and displayed to the crowd with a smile worthy of game show hostess.
She turned and looked at Sid as she placed the bottle's opening on her mouth, seeing the very confused look on Sid's face. Sid knew Helga did not drink, in fact he knew how much she hated people drinking around her. She took a small sip and placed her hands on Sid's face before tilting it towards hers and in a moment there lips touched, and Sid was being kissed by Helga.
To outsiders the kiss looked very real, very passionate, and heading in the correct way of doing the vertical lambada, but to those who knew Sid and Helga well, could see it was nothing but cardboard, just two people pressing their lips against one another's. With one final smirk Helga ended the kiss and stood up.
Once the music stopped playing, Helga walked away with a wink directed at Sid, and disappeared in the crowd before she resurfaced on top of the bar. "Okay, now, I know you all enjoyed the show, but now it's time for everyone to get back to real party, and gamble away all your money."
The crowd laughed thinking it was a joke, too bad Helga was serious.
The music started once more and people went back to gambling tables and began talking to one another, almost as if Helga had not put on a performance moments before. Helga jumped off the stage and Phoebe followed her example, bringing a box wrapped up in present paper with her.
Sid looked around at the speechless people sitting at his table. He was tempted to close their jaws for them, but he thought it would better to let them do that themselves, plus it was fun to look at their reactions.
A few people stopped Helga and Phoebe walked through the crowd complementing Helga on her wonderful performance and asking Phoebe for a rematch in pool. The two responded properly to whatever questions they were asked, but did not really pay attention to what they said.
It took them a total of ten minutes to walk from the bar over to Sid's table, and by the time they got there, they both were highly annoyed.
"Note to self, get bodyguards for Blondie and I." Phoebe said as she plopped down into a empty chair and thrust the present into Sid's arms.
Helga rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Eff that we need a whole squad, dammit. Do those people realize that they asked us the same effing question, in every possible variant?" She pulled over a chair and conveniently placed it in between Sid' and Phoebe's chair, before she ungracefully plopped herself into her chair.
"Probably not. But, we are not here to question the intelligent, or the unintelligence, of our esteemed guest, we are here to watch Sid open his present," Phoebe turned and glared at Sid. "Now open it, there is someone waiting for me to kick their ass in pool."
"Well, well, well, aren't we just a bowl of sunshine and peaches?"
"I agree with Vega, open the present, I have to start kicking people out. I'm getting very bored and very tired."
"Which mind you is not the best attitude for Blondie, she gets really lethal Sid. Really lethal."
"Shuddup!"
Sid arched one dark eyebrow at the two glowering females. "You know what… I'm not even going to ask. I am just going to open my present."
And open his present, he did.
Sid was interestingly shocked to the point of confusion, to find a pair of black leather pants and a brown leather jacket underneath the red paper tissue. "I can understand the brown leather jacket, but a pair of black leather pants?"
"Yup, you already have the jacket, so I figured you needed the pants to finish the ensemble." Helga said with a smirk. "And finish it, it will, look at Ian. Leather pants, leather jacket, and loads of females ready to jump his bones."
Sid smiled and was about to hug Helga when he realized something. "Wait a minute, Helga, since you got me the pants and jacket, does that mean that Phoebe was the one..." Sid trailed off.
Phoebe smirked at her own genius. "To plan that whole show performed by Helga?"
Sid nodded mutely.
Phoebe's smirk grew at an outrageous proportion. "Yup. I mean what else would one horny Sid Gifaldi want for his birthday than one of the females who he proclaims he wants to vertically lambada with to give him a lap dance?"
"Then how come you didn't give me the present yourself?"
"I'm wearing a skirt."
Sid smiled. "But aren't you supposed to be the prude and isn't Helga supposed to be the wild child?"
"Why do I have to be the wild child? Has it ever occurred to anyone, that I am not the one who convinces her to do every little 'bad' thing she does? Hello! She was the one who introduce me to the world of cigarettes, not the other way around! And let's not forget who convinced who to get a tattoo on their in–"
Phoebe covered Helga's mouth. "You heard nothing that Pataki just said. She is delusional."
Helga bit Phoebe's hand and the Asian girl swiftly took her hand off of Helga's mouth, but not before sending her a very potent glare, of course. "Oh, please! Don't even get me started! I am so not the wild child, I'm just the less than obedient wild child and she is not the prude! Why can't anyone get this through their head?"
Phoebe smiled. "Because it sounds better this way."
"I loathe you."
"I love you too."
(Y/L)
The Cipher still does not own Hey Arnold! And I have a feeling I never will. Oh well. Trust me when I say, I know what you all must be thinking, where has Cipher been for the last 2 months? I won't make any excuses, so I'll tell you the truth, I was, taking tests, virtually failing my two worst subjects because I have teachers that can't teach, being lazy, and being tired (because I have to wake up at 5:30 each morning to take my bus at 6:40). Hey, at least I'm back with that long chapter I promised. I know it doesn't have the same umph as usually, but I think that's what happens when Cipher disappears for a while. No worries the next chapter will be better!
Thank you all for the reviews! I know I usually thank every one by listing your names, but I'll hope you'll pardon this moment of laziness.
PS:
BellaMay76, thank you for being my 100th reviewer! Not only were you my 100th viewer , but my 1st viewer, and there is not one single chapter without a review from you. Thanks!
Click the button, it has been having withdrawal clicking problems for the last few months. Just put it out of its misery and clock the darn review button
S.L. Cipher (Who will gladly accept all criticisms, advice, reviews, praises, and flames with a large Cheshire Cat like smile just because Cheshire Cat like smiles can piss people off and Cipher loves pissing people off because it is exceptional fun... Especially when they try and attack you. That's why it is so important to always have a mace on hand.)