~jc*, Lady Athena, Maxine, silverkonekotsukari, Cherubini and all the other readers: Here's…
Chapter 11 Deserving
~Monday, 3:06 am
A soulful tune echoed through the empty building. A couple of lights illuminated a lone figure below who was letting the music flow through her. Her actions were slow but graceful as if she was following a pattern in the air. Her face showed tranquility as she moved but sometimes a frown would mar her features.
'You know, you two are being really selfish.'
She opened her blue eyes as she abruptly stopped. Helga shook her head as if dismissing the last thoughts and then resumed her actions. She increased the speed of her movements.
'Simple. We love each other.'
'If Arnold comes to you, please take care of him.'
Her eyes opened again but this time they were wet. Helga's body began to shake as she tried to force all thoughts away from her head. Unfortunately, these actions made her momentarily forget what she was currently doing which caused her to…
CRASH!
Helga winced as she tried to stand up. Today was just not her day. She limped towards the small walls as she tried to maneuver herself out. Maybe she should just go back early today. 'I don't think I'll be able to explain any more of my injuries to the others.'
"Ms. Pataki! Ms. Pataki, are you all right?"
Helga stopped and faced the source of the muffled voice. A middle-aged man burst through one of the huge double doors. He was looking at her with concern.
She mustered up a smile. "I'm okay, George. I just slipped, that's all."
He looked at Helga for a second and then nodded. "Okay." He was about to go back outside when he heard her call him. "Yes, Ms. Pataki?"
Helga looked at him with uncertainty. "Umm, what just happened… could you promise me that you won't tell Stinky about it? I know he's your boss and everything, but he doesn't need to know everything right?"
George looked at her in confusion but said "Sure."
She smiled at him. "Thanks. Thanks for everything, George."
He smiled at her and turned around and left.
When the double doors swung around for the last time Helga let out the breath she was holding and closed her eyes. She began shivering and quickly went to an empty seat. Helga took a deep breath and tried to relax. Slowly, her shuddering ceased. Helga recalled what had happened to her and pulled up her dark brown tights and saw a couple of purplish-blue spots on her skin. 'Good thing I always wear something long or I wouldn't be able to hide them.'
Helga then slowly stood up and limped outside.
Helga closed the backdoor. She slung her duffel bag on her right shoulder and then limped down the stairs. She began her trek towards Phoebe's home. 'I have to remember to thank Stinky. I owe him big time.' She then looked at her legs. 'Now if worse comes to worse, I have to think of a good excuse. I don't think the regular I-hit-myself-on-the-table is going to work anymore.'
She sighed as she continued her walk across the parking lot. Recently her mind has been busy. 'I keep remembering yesterday. Why? They were just words. Just words and nothing more.' Helga stopped as she felt herself shivering. 'What is happening to me?'
She took a deep breath. 'Stay cool. Stay calm, Helga, ol' girl. You are not crazy. This is just the third time. You are not a basket case. Just forget about everything.'
Even though she was trying to calm herself down, her earlier words caused a trigger of memories to flow. Tears came again to her face. 'The first time was when he caught me sneaking back and the second was when we decided to have a divorce.'
She wiped her tears with her hands. 'It's in the past. You can't do anything about it anymore.' A sob escaped her lips. Helga immediately bit her lower lip as she hid her face with her hands. 'And if you were able to change the past, you would have told him the truth but no… You chose to hide the truth from him and look where you are right now.'
A warm pair of arms encircled her. "What happened?" a male voice asked.
Her eyes widened at the recognition of the owner of the voice. She gently pushed herself away from him and dried her tears. "I-It's nothing." Helga looked up and saw a tall blonde. "What are you doing here, Logan?"
He folded his arms and shook his head. "That's a great way to greet a friend you haven't seen in months." Logan unfolded his arms and grinned at her. "My 'thoughtful' girlfriend left a message on my answering machine telling me to take a vacation here in Seattle. She practically ordered me. I had a hard time convincing my boss to let me go."
Helga smiled. "It's a good thing he did, but what are you doing here in the streets early in the morning?"
"I couldn't find a cab so I rode the bus but I got lost… It's a good thing too since you were… umm." He didn't know how to put the words carefully so Logan just didn't finish the sentence.
"Crying. I told you it was nothing. So are you hungry? I know I am. I think there's a diner here that's open 24 hours a day at the end of this block." Helga looked around and noticed the edge of the street was just a few more feet. "Let's go eat breakfast." She compelled herself to walk straight and hid the pain that she felt as she led Logan to the restaurant.
Logan quietly followed her.
'The separation is affecting her far more than it should,' Logan noted as he covertly gaze at Helga's haggard expression.
In his eyes, he could see Helga walking rather stiffly while tightly gripping a duffel bag. Her face held no expression but he could see slight rings under her eyes. Helga's usual dress code of jeans and shirt seemed a bit wrinkled.
Now that he noticed the wrinkled clothing and the duffel bag, Logan wondered what she was doing. He knew she came from across the parking lot, from where the huge stadium was, but he didn't know the reason why she was there.
Helga wasn't the type to run away so that couldn't be it. Her wrinkled clothing looked like it was hastily removed and put on. That would mean that she changed clothes that were more appropriate to what she was doing. Now the question is what? Did she play some sort of a sport? Or maybe, she met someone on the parking lot but that would mean she was…
Logan shook his head. Helga would never cheat on Arnold. Whatever she was doing really hurt her. It has to be something that made her cry and that something must be a grave thing to cause Helga to cry like that. She sounded like she was heartbroken. The only reason he could think for her to be heartbroken was the divorce.
'This is getting to be far more complicated and those two aren't helping at all. Why can't they just talk it out?' Logan suppressed the urge to sigh. 'They belong together. Can't they see that?'
"Here we are!" Helga announced.
Logan broke out of his thoughts and focused instead on a medium sized diner. It was open all day as proven by the bright lights and the 'Open' sign plastered on the door. Helga approached the door and beckoned him to follow her. Logan changed the grip on his bag and complied.
A jingle of some bells announced their arrival. No heads turned or faced them as they entered the establishment and seated themselves by the counter. Logan placed his bag underneath the counter, near his feet while he waited for either the waitress to show up or for Helga to tell him what was wrong.
It seemed that neither would indulge him. The waitress was nowhere in sight while Helga was looking at anywhere but him.
There were only a couple of people present but he still kept his voice low as he talked to her. "Will it really be bad if you chose to tell me what's wrong?"
She bit her lower lip but refused to look at him.
'Okay, so it was a wrong approach. I have to think of another one.' "If you keep on hiding your problems, it wouldn't be long before it blows up on your face."
This time a flinch was visibly seen on her face. He took that as a sign and continued. "We may not have a close relationship, Helga but you must know that I am your friend." A small smile appeared on his lips. "This time for sure, I am your friend. I have no other intension other than to help you. Believe me."
Helga slowly faced him but still remained quiet.
"What I said earlier is true. You have to trust someone. You have to tell them what's wrong. I'm not telling you this just to make you tell me your problem. You can tell someone else but the important thing is you have to tell somebody."
Her voice was soft and broken. "I don't even know what's wrong with me, Logan."
Logan's eyes widened. "What do you mean? You don't know where all of this started."
Again, she flinched.
"I take it you know where it started. Please tell me."
She shook her head. "I can't." A pause. "I won't," she replied with more determination.
'It's like facing a wall. Sometimes she really can be a pain.' Logan paused. 'No, I have to be like her to get any answer. Stubborn.'
"Well, what can you tell me?"
She faced the counter again. Logan was about to say something when he heard her say, "Yesterday, I went back to my old home to visit my folks. They told me their story—how they met, fell-in-love, got married. They told me everything, even the part how their marriage slowly fell apart.
"Later, I visited Arnold's grandparents and…" Helga seemed to falter.
"And…" Logan prodded.
"Gertie told me that I was being selfish. She said that I was thinking too much of my own problems." She stopped for a second. "What they all said, it kind of hit home."
He furrowed his eyebrows. "In what way?"
Helga glanced downwards. "My parent's story may be what is happening right now only…" She swiveled the chair so he was facing her back.
Logan saw her take a deep breath. "Only… only they had their love to keep them together whereas Arnold and I…" Another deep breath but this time she was trembling.
'She really loves him much more than he deserves.' He tentatively placed a hand on her shoulder. "You can do it," he whispered.
She answered with a slight nod. Helga took three deep breaths and wiped her face. Finally, after a few minutes she faced him with a small smile. Her face turned serious again as she continued. "Gertie's words shook me. I didn't realize that by not telling anybody what I feel and what I was thinking was selfish. I didn't know the pain I was causing since I was too wound up on hiding my problems."
"Then, will you tell me where this all began?"
Her eyes became teary. "It's my fault really. I was hiding something from him."
Logan nodded. "I know. You're whereabouts at certain nights."
Helga shook her head. "No. No. It isn't that, I did have a secret from him. A secret I've been keeping since I was very young." She looked at his earnest face. "And I can't tell you, Logan. Everything has been muddled up as it is and I'm afraid things would get worse if I do tell you. Also, you might think me crazy."
'One word for this situation: confusion. What in the world is Helga talking about!?'
"I'm sorry! I guess you're probably more confused. I shouldn't have talked at all!"
Her actions and words were a bit vague but Logan did get something from it. It was a long shot but he'll try it anyway… "Helga, what did Gertie exactly tell you?"
She looked at him in slight confusion but answered. "That w… I was too selfish."
'Aha! A slip of the tongue! I may be unto something.' He looked at her eyes and slowly uttered, "What did she really say?"
Helga quickly blinked and turned around. "Are you having a hearing problem? I told you already what she said," she retorted.
"No."
She looked at him but Logan held his ground by staring back right at her. Finally, after a few seconds of staring Helga sighed and looked down. "You're right. She did say 'we'. Gertie said that Arnold and I were being selfish." She looked at him again. "But she's wrong! Arnold's not selfish. He isn't!" Her last sentence was said with vehemence as if making Logan understand of Arnold's innocence.
He looked at her in pity and sadness. "Helga, Arnold is also a human being," he softly told her.
"Of course he is!"
"You don't. You're treating him as if he's a god. You're putting him up on the pedestal."
She glared at him but he could see that she was slightly trembling. "I do not!"
A bawl was heard. Logan and Helga faced in front and saw a thirty-something redheaded waitress crying. "I'm sorry. Was I ruining your play?" She dab her eyes with her handkerchief. "You two must be actors huh? Let me tell you that you were both fabulous!" She sniffed again as she took a pad of paper and a pencil. "What can I get you two?"
"I'll have pancakes, hash brown, eggs and a cup of coffee. Also some creamer and sugar," Logan immediately ordered as he let Helga recover.
"Umm, I'll have the same thing he's having except for the coffee. I'll just have some orange juice."
When the waitress was gone, Logan face Helga again. Her solemn expression was gone and her usual stoic mask was put in place. Now that he had an inkling of what was happening he could see minute features that he didn't noticed before. Like the way she seemed to be on the verge of crying for one second and then in the blink of an eye it would be gone. Or the way she really looked at nothing at all.
He turned again to look for the waitress. In reality, he was slightly scared of what just happened. Logan had just witnessed one of his friends emotionally break down and he couldn't do anything about it. How he wanted to have Arnold's gift of…
A surge of anger went through him. Instead of her very own husband helping Helga in her hour of need, Arnold just made it worse. Darn it! Can't he see how emotionally unstable she is with him!? He clenched his fists. 'I have half a mind to go charging to him right now and make him talk to her. Only he can heal her…' Logan unclenched his fists and thought in a much more subdued tone, "…and hurt her."
He looked at Helga in the corner of his eyes. 'I only hope I can help you more, Helga.'
Breakfast was eaten in silence and when they were finished it was Helga who broke the silence by announcing she knew where the other are.
"Where are they?"
Helga turned a corner to Vine Street. "They're in Sunset Arms boarding house."
"Sunset Arms. Sunset Arms." Logan scrunched up his eyebrows. "The name sounds familiar."
She nodded and pointed to one of the oldest building on the street. "That's where Arnold was born and where he lived his entire young life."
Silence.
'That's odd. I don't feel his presence beside me anymore,' Helga thought. She turned around and saw him standing a few feet away, clutching his bag. "Uh, Logan?"
"You didn't tell me we were going to his place."
"Don't tell me you're afraid of him?"
He still didn't budge from his place. "I'm not! It's just… well, we haven't exactly made peace after… you know. I mean, what would it look like if I just dropped by out of the blue and stay at his place?"
Helga sighed and went to him. "Honestly, Logan. Why don't you just apologize to him?" She pulled his free arm and proceeded to drag him.
"It is not that easy!" Even though he was protesting, Logan let himself be dragged by her.
"You and your male pride." Helga stopped when they were at the bottom of the stoop.
Both looked at the building with apprehension but each had different reason for the cause. Finally, Helga faced Logan and gave a small smile. "Thanks, Logan, for what you did. I'm sorry…"
"You have got to stop saying that. It's not all your fault," he cut her off.
"I'll try. Its just…" she stopped. "I'll try if you promise to make amends to him."
He sighed but gave a small chuckle. "You never let down do you? Well, okay."
"Great!"
Silence.
Neither one moved from their spot. Suddenly, Helga went to Logan and hugged him. He hugged her back. "You just have to stay a little bit more stronger and fight this. For Katey, Arnold and especially yourself."
She released herself from the hold and nodded.
He grinned at her. "You really have changed. I never knew you to be the type of person to give hugs."
"I guess," she replied in a soft voice. "I learn things from him."
A creak was heard and both looked up and saw a very angry Arnold.
'Oh no…' were the two words that crossed Logan's mind.
"Logan. Helga. May I ask what you were doing in my stoop?" his clipped voice inquired.
Before the two could reply a female shriek was heard. Thumping was heard and something pushed Arnold aside. A blur launched itself to Logan and promptly kissed him on the lips.
"That is just gross," A new female voice stated.
Helga and Arnold faced the source and saw Tish in a bathrobe.
"No kidding! PDA!" Alicia remarked beside Tish. She was wearing pajamas.
"I wasn't talking about that. I mean, Chelsea hasn't gargled yet."
"That's disgusting, Tish! Now, I don't have any appetite at all!" a male voice shouted from inside.
"How come it's my fault? I'm not the one kissing somebody with morning breath!" Tish retaliated.
Helga chuckled and began trekking back to Phoebe's place, leaving an arguing people, a kissing couple and a certain blonde watching her every move.
Alicia closed the door on the busy couple. "Gosh! The nerve of some people."
Arnold rose and eyebrow at her. "I should be the one to talk. Remember one time during a certain graduation?"
She colored. "W-well, I was ecstatic because I finally graduated. I-I mean, it wasn't as if we were the only couple."
A grin graced his face and Alicia turned a deeper red. "You mean we were! I can't believe no one has ever told me! Who knew?"
"Let's see, all the graduates, their parents, us then there's Patrick…"
"He KNEW!"
Arnold nodded. "In fact, he was giving thumbs up sign behind your back while you two were… busy."
"HE DID!?"
A smile slowly appeared on his face and then suddenly Arnold was laughing. "I'm sorry, it was a joke. Patrick didn't know either. It was only after Chelsea told him that he knew."
"I hate you," was all Alicia said before stomping to the dinning room.
Arnold softly laughed. He was about to follow her when a voice said, "You were jealous."
He faced his grandma by the stairway. "What?"
"When you saw Logan and Helga. You were jealous, Kimba."
"So what if I was jealous, grandma."
Gertie slowly went down the last few steps. Arnold quickly went by her side and helped her down. "You have to stop doing that, you know. I can see now that she doesn't deserve you."
Arnold stopped walking. "I don't get you, grandma."
Gertie continued walking without his help. "You're too good for her. She cheated on you, right? What she deserves is someone imperfect like her."
"Grandma, I am not perfect! I make mistakes just like any body else."
She smiled and slowly went to him. Gertie then slowly raised her hand and softly stroked his cheek. "Sure, Arnold." She then resumed her walk to the dining room.
~1:10 pm
Morticia sighed in annoyance. 'That Lila girl is someone I would not like to be in any kitchen. Imagine pots and pans organized in this way. If you call this way as organization.' She removed another pot from the shelf and placed it behind her, along with various other cooking utensils. 'Good thing, I came here otherwise Arnold's grandparents would have food with no nutritional value and taste.'
In the kitchen of Sunset Arms, you would find all the cupboards, shelves and drawers open and empty. All their contents plus all the cooking utensils scattered in every available spot on the kitchen; and most especially a very disgruntled cook kneeling beside one of the open cabinets.
"Umm, excuse me?" a female voice inquired.
Tish rolled her eyes. "I told you to get out of the kitchen!"
"Uh, but Phoebe said that you wanted my help," the same voice but this time with a tinge of fear replied.
Tish slowly stood up and turned around to see a blonde with a curly hair. "You must be Nadine. My name's Morticia but please call me Tish." Tish stood up and smiled. "I would offer you my hand but it's dirty."
Nadine nodded. "You've been cleaning the kitchen, I see. Uh, I hope you weren't that harsh to Lila. It really isn't her job to clean the house."
Tish looked thoughtful for a minute. "Hmm, I guess you're right. I'll just apologize to her when I see her."
"So, what do you want me to do?"
"Hmm. Well, I need someone to do some grocery and an assistant but I would prefer you to help me in a recipe I'm making." Tish paused. "Do you know someone who could do some shopping? It has to be somebody who can carry some heavy ingredients." She looked at Nadine.
"Well, we could ask… No, he's working. I could probably get Sid to help out."
"Great! Could you ask him now? I'll just prepare the list while you do."
Nadine nodded and left.
The brunette looked at the doorway where Nadine passed a while ago. She then took out her cell phone from her pocket and dialed a number.
"Hello!" a voice greeted.
"Alicia, get ready."
"Don't worry! Everything is already set."
"Great!" Tish then hung up and hid the phone once again. Just in time too since Nadine appeared again.
"Sid complained but I was able to convince him. He'll be arriving in about 5-10 minutes."
"Okay, this is what I was planning for us to cook…" Tish began as she went back to cleaning the kitchen.
"…So that's how I became so enamored with cooking." Tish finished her story telling. She was chopping onions into small cubes. "Do it this way, Nadine," she quickly added.
Nadine, on the other hand, was chopping tomatoes. Tish showed her the proper way to chop the tomatoes. "It has to be smaller. Got it?"
The blonde nodded. "Thanks."
"I told you about something about myself. How about you?" Tish inquired.
"Well, I wasn't always an avid fan of bugs. When I was small I was just like any other girl scared of spiders and other creepy crawlers." She laughed at her own past innocence while she getting a new tomato to chop.
"Anyway, it was thanks to my dad that I came to love bugs. I was about to squash a ladybug when my daddy… err, my dad stopped me. He then gingerly took the ladybug off my shoulder and took a magnifying glass. Dad held the magnifying glass so that I could see what a ladybug really looked like. That was when I fell-in-love with bugs. I learned that bugs may be small but if you really look closely you can see their real beauty."
Nadine stopped chopping and sighed.
Tish also stopped. 'O-okay.' She hid a smile. 'I wonder how Alicia is doing right now?'
Sid was slowly pushing a cart full of cans and different kinds of food. 'I wonder what Nadine is planning to cook? Heh! It's a good thing that she's only helping and Arnold's friend will be the one who'll supervise.'
Something hit his cart which caused to slightly back up. He looked and saw a blonde with a wavy hair smiling at him. "I'm really sorry. I was so caught up in looking for macaroni and cheese that I didn't see you."
Sid really looked at her this time. Her shoulder length hair created a shiny gleam under the grocery lights. She gave him a sweet smile with her perfect white teeth. Her yellow tank top and short shorts enhanced her sexy figure and showed her milky white skin.
"My name is Lees. What's yours?"
"Sid. Well, I have to go. I have plenty of shopping to do." With that he turned his cart and went off.
Lees frowned but immediately followed him. "Uh, wait Sid! I was about to ask you if you could show me around."
He stopped and faced her. "Sorry, but I can't. I have to finish shopping for Nadine."
A hurt look passed Lees' face. "Nadine? Oh, she must be your girlfriend."
"No! She's just a friend."
She smiled. "Oh. Well, how about later after you shop."
Sid furrowed his eyebrows. "Hmm, okay. Why don't you finish your shopping and meet me in front of the store. They have a couple of benches there."
Lees smiled again. "Meet you there!" Sid pushed his cart once again.
Lees, or most popularly known as Alicia looked at the small bag of groceries that she had and took out a bag of bagel. 'Sid is kind of cute so I could understand Nadine's taste.' She remembered their encounter. 'And no matter how hard I try flirting with him he doesn't seem to be attracted. He has eyes only for her. That is so sweet!' She frowned. 'But also ego shattering… Am I not pretty enough? Hmph!'
"Lees?"
Alicia looked up and smiled when she saw Sid with a cart full of shopping bags. "Fabulous! Where do we drop of your groceries so we can begin my tour of the city?"
"Do you have a car?"
Alicia shook her head. "The friend I was staying with used his so I took the bus. Would you mind if I ride in yours?"
Sid gave her a rueful smile. "Well, I don't have a high paying job so you have to forgive my car."
She giggled. "Don't worry. Come on! Let's go!" Alicia placed the bagel back in her bag. She then used one arm to carry it while the other she used to hook up Sid's right arm.
"I can't believe cooking can be so fun!" Nadine exclaimed as she was washing her hands.
They just finished preparing the main course and were now letting it roast in the stove. The two decided to take a ten-minute break before preparing the appetizer and the dessert. Tish was sitting in one of the chairs and Nadine went to join her. Both were now sporting spots on their clothing and apron.
"Do you always cook meals this grand, Tish?"
The brunette shook her head. "No, I only cook my best when we there are plenty of people. When I'm by myself I just cook regular foods like teriyaki chicken or beef with broccoli."
A female giggle was then heard. "You are so funny, Sid!"
Tish saw Nadine frown. Seconds later Sid and Alicia appeared laughing about something. The couple was both holding some plastic bags.
Alicia smiled at Tish. "It is such a small world, Tish. Can you imagine the guy I picked up was a friend of Arnold too?"
Tish pretended to be shocked. "Oh really. Wow!" She faced Sid and greeted him. "My name's Tish. Arnold, Alicia and I both went to the same university."
Sid grinned. "I'm Sid."
Alicia faced the only silent person in the room and saw her getting annoyed. "Hi! You must be Nadine. I've heard so much about you. I'm Alicia." She extended her hand.
The blonde shook it rather stiffly. "All good I hope."
Alicia giggled and hooked one of Sid's arms. "You are sooo funny! Well, it's been a pleasure meeting you."
A look of mock-surprise came to Nadine. "Oh really. You're going somewhere? That's a shame. Well, we'll probably see each other again."
Another giggle. "Actually, Sid promised me that he would show me around. I only have less than three weeks to get to know all of Seattle."
Nadine focused her attention on Sid who was now realizing the mess he had gotten into. "I kinda promised her. Is it okay?"
She huffed. "Why do you need to ask me? I'm not your mommy. Why don't you and Alberta have fun."
Sid looked at her for a minute and shrugged. "Okay, let me just finish loading all the groceries." He walked out of the room with Alicia clinging to his side.
"Oh no! Just leave them in that rotten vehicle of yours to rot!" Nadine sarcastically said under her breath.
"Did you say something, Nadine?" Tish asked.
Nadine's eyes widened for a second. "Uh, no. I didn't say anything. Now, how about we start on the appetizer. I think our ten minutes are up." She stood up and went to the sink.
The brunette hid a small smile as she watched her friend work.
The two cooks had been working silently for some time, although Tish would sometimes secretly glance at her companion. Nadine was currently involved in removing the shell of a shrimp. From her haphazard work, Tish would surmise that her mind wasn't exactly on the dish they were making.
"Jealous, Nadine?" Tish queried.
The blonde was so startled that she pricked her finger on the head of the shrimp. Nadine cursed, put the offended finger on her mouth and sucked on it. She faced Tish. "What?"
Tish looked at her with a serious expression. "From the way you reacted earlier, I'd say you're jealous."
"I could see why you became Arnold's friend. He was always such a busybody."
Tish laughed. "Hey, I'm only stating the obvious." She began marinating the fish she had.
Silence.
"It's just… I always thought I would always have him to turn to. He'd been always reliable even though he would complain and whine at first. Somehow I would always convince him." Nadine softly stated. She paused for a few seconds. "I guess I never thought somebody else would take interest in him. It's not that he's ugly but no one had ever take interest before and I always thought…" Nadine gave a soft laugh.
"He would always be there for you," Tish added.
"Yeah."
"Well, do you like him?"
Nadine paused before answering, "Yes."
"Do you love him?"
An even longer pause. "I do," she answered in a soft voice.
Tish gave an exasperated sigh. "Then what in heaven's name are you waiting for? Tell him!"
Nadine faced her. "It's not that easy! What if he says he doesn't feel the same way? What if he laughs at me? What if he becomes angry and tells me that we won't be friends anymore?"
Tish rolled her eyes. "They are just 'What ifs'. Nothing bad will happen to you if they come true, although I would highly doubts that the last two would happen. It seems to me that you're the one who… how do I say it? ...pulls the chain in the relationship."
"I do not!"
Tish didn't answer this time and only kept to her own share of work.
~ 7:48 pm
The current guests at Sunset Arms where now at the roof of the building getting some fresh air after a hearty dinner. Chelsea and Logan were leaning at the edge of the building looking at their friends. Alicia and Tish were sitting on lawn chairs, gazing at the night sky.
Patrick sat on the roof just a few feet away from the couple while Arnold was lying down on his skylight.
"Ah! Dinner tasted so good, Tish. You and Nadine are a good team," Arnold complimented.
"Of course," Tish said.
"What about our plan? Did it work?" Alicia turned to face her seatmate.
Arnold looked at Tish for clarification. "What plan?"
The brunette smiled at him. Tish doesn't normally smile but when she does…
Arnold groaned. "Oh, no. You guys just got here and here you are having one of your meddling plans."
"Hey! Where no different from you," Alicia retaliated.
"I give advice. I don't really do anything to help them solve their problems. They do it on their own."
"Well, it's about time someone did. Besides, I would say that the plan was a success," Tish reported.
"It was? Yes!" Alicia cheered.
"That's great! I would think that with Alicia seducing Sid it wouldn't work at all," Patrick added.
"Hey! I have you know that I'm sexy and gorgeous."
"Oh sure!" Patrick uttered.
Alicia took a pebble that was near her and threw it at him. "Why must you always throw stuff at me?"
"Because," she simply replied.
"What about on Sid's side? How are you going to handle that?" Logan suddenly asked.
This time it was Alicia who grinned. "All taken care of," she smugly replied.
"What did you do, Alicia?" Tish inquired.
"You'll just see it."
"That doesn't sound good." Chelsea remarked.
"Oh, ye of little faith. Don't worry everything will work out in the end."
The others rolled their eyes.
Silence settled on the group.
Chelsea sighed. "Arnold, I envy you. You have a wonderful house. I wish I could have a place like this."
"Yeah, it's so spacious," Alicia added.
"This was a boarding house, you know?" Arnold said.
"We know, but I've never realized how fun it would be to live here with your friends. This would be an ideal place to raise a family. You each have your own rooms…" Chelsea said.
Logan tried to stop her. "Uh, Chels…"
But she didn't pay any attention. "Katey can have her very own room and a toy room where she could play with other kids. Then you and Helga can have your very own library and you still have some rooms left…"
"Chels, darling, I don't think that's a good idea," Logan cut in.
Chelsea faced him. "What?"
He pointed at Arnold, who was now looking at the stars.
"Oh, I am so sorry! I-I didn't mean…"
Arnold looked at her as if he didn't know what they were talking about. "Sorry about what?"
Chelsea and Logan briefly looked at each other. "Uh, nothing. Never mind," Chelsea answered.
Silence reigned again. It seemed as if the comfortable mood was gone. "It's getting cold. Why don't we go inside," Alicia suggested.
"Good idea," Tish agreed.
One by one the group went done the ladder in Arnold's room. As Chelsea was about to go down, she looked at Arnold who was now standing up looking at the sky. She sighed and continued going down the stairs. "I hate myself for not being able to do anything," she whispered.
"Chels, guys, stay here," Logan called to them.
The group looked up and saw Logan still standing by the skylight.
"You're not…" Chels fervently whispered but Logan paid her no heed. He walked away from their line of sight.
"Tell me, Chels, did Arnold and Logan made peace already?" Patrick softly asked her.
The auburn woman looked at her friends and slowly shook her head.
There was no moon out tonight and only a handful of stars could be seen. The night was cool but two men chose to stay out on the roof. Logan looked at the man he once considered a close friend and began to feel a little nervous.
Why would he be nervous? Well, because what he's about to do merits the feeling of anxiety. He didn't know what would Arnold think of him… No, let him think whatever he may want to think. The important thing is to focus on is Helga.
A small part of him wanted to laugh. It wasn't a long time ago that he was the reason that drove Helga and Arnold apart and now he's going to do the opposite.
Logan approached Arnold, his mind working quickly, trying to find the right words to say. If he chose the wrong words it might worsen the separation. Right words…
"Arnold, can I talk to you?"
Arnold turned around to find one person he most likely didn't want to see right now. Like old times, he could a surge of anger but he kept that anger in range because it didn't matter anymore.
"What do you want, Logan?" He was surprised that his voice sounded so tired.
Logan didn't answer right away, only kept silent.
Arnold sighed and turned his back on him. He much preferred looking at his hometown at night anyway.
"How deep do you know, Helga?"
He turned around again but this time he didn't feel weary anymore. Arnold was angry. "What in the world are you talking about?"
He saw Logan's solemn face. "I mean do you really know her?"
Arnold could hear a small voice in his mind answer the question but he suppressed that voice and chose to be even more enraged. "Why should I answer your question? Do you know something about her that I don't?"
He didn't give Logan any chance to answer. "And if you do, don't tell me. I don't want to know."
Arnold couldn't believe the conversation they were having. Why in heaven's name would Logan be talking to him of all people? Sure, he let him stay here in the boarding house but it's all because of He—Chelsea. If she weren't his boyfriend he would have kicked Logan out.
'Maybe you still consider him your friend,' a small voice queried. Shut up!
He could see that something had snapped in Logan and now he was also angry. "If you just come off your high horse, Arnold, and really look around you would see that Helga…"
"Don't you dare mention her name!"
Logan was taken aback. "You're jealous. I can't believe you're jealous," he said as he just realized something.
"So what? I'm looking out only for Chelsea." An eye for an eye…
Logan narrowed his eyes. "I would never cheat on Chelsea."
"Oh, sure."
It happened too quickly. Logan suddenly charged at Arnold, grabbing the sweater that Arnold wore. The two of them were headed at the edge of the roof. Arnold winced as he felt the impact.
"Never ever doubt my feelings for Chelsea. You may mock me but never my love for her," Logan hissed at him.
Arnold looked at him in surprise. This wasn't the flirtatious friend that he knew. Logan had changed but that still didn't explain what he saw earlier.
As sudden as his anger appeared it was the same as it disappeared. Logan let go of Arnold's sweater and took a step back. "Your wife… and yes I still treat her as your wife is really hurt right now. She needed someone to help her, to ease her pain… to be her friend."
Logan looked at him seriously in the eye. "She is really hurt, Arnold. More than she should be."
Arnold looked at him, disbelieving his words. "If she is pain, as you call her to be, then why won't she tell me the truth?"
Logan groaned in anguish. "Darn it all! Arnold, can't you see that she loves you? Don't pass judgment on her just because of that reason. You're actions are hurting her even more. Open your eyes, Arnold."
He hated him. He hated his words. He hated him for making him feel emotions that he so long ago wanted to hide. Arnold looked straight in his eyes. "Go."
Logan opened his mouth to say something but closed it. He nodded and slowly walked over to the skylight. But before he was about to step on the first step Logan had something else to say. "You know what, Arnold. You don't deserve her."
Arnold bit back a retort he wanted to say. He just let his eyes followed his every movement. When Logan was gone he faced the nights sky again. He hated the man who once tried to force himself on Helga. He hated him when he once again saw how close they were. But most of all, Arnold hated him for making him think that maybe he was wrong after all.
More Jedy's notes:
You may flame me for what I am about to say. A big part of my delay in posting is the way I've portrayed Helga. When I started this fanfic I had in mind her being a softie but she still retains her 'nastiness'. Now, as I began to write her unraveling, doubts began to form. She retains this tendency to 'worship' Arnold to the point of not acknowledging that he is the source of her pain. I'm not a psychologist (or a psychiatrist) so I am beginning to wonder if that can be possible. I even began thinking on permanently stopping the story but I couldn't do it without telling you guys first. What do you think? You can either tell me on the reviews or on my e-mail: jedy147@excite.com. Thanks!
Additional notes:
Constructive criticisms and reviews are also welcome! Thanks for reading!