Chapter Four: Changes
Our Slice of Heaven, Happiness and New Beginnings. For the last two years the welcoming phrase of New Sindo became my mantra. It was hard at the beginning. Well, at first it was hard. It was awkward living with the former Olga, a now renamed Giulia Johnson. Giulia was waiting on the stoop as Gwendolyn parked into a remodeled apartment, it wasn't too big, just two stories tall on a street with similar townhouses. Giulia had not dyed her hair like mom or me, she had gotten extensions and bangs. "Oh my god..." I said as I realized that it was Olga. She smiled and waved as we got out of the car. "Hey." She said as she approached us. Mon quickly gave her a hug. They separated with matching smiles, "Hon, hug your sister." I rolled my eyes and dutifully did as I was told. But as I took a step towards her I realized that Olga had never done anything wrong and if I was going to resent someone it should be my parents for giving her more attention and praise than me. I hugged her. "Nice seeing you sis but, can we go inside. I'm freezing!"
"Yeah, lets get our stuff and lets get inside." Mom said opening the trunk. Mom took one and handed it to Giulia while taking the other. "Its the apartment with the blue door, its open." Giulia said as I walked ahead of them. "Since I was here first, I already unpacked the furniture. The kitchen is well stocked. Everything is clean, unpacked. Oh and I got a kitten! Well, I found him in the alley when I was throwing some stuff out. Anyways, like what I was saying, we need to buy some stuff for Baby Sister's room, like bedding and any decorations, for your room too Mom." Giulia kept on chatting as I stepped into the house, instantly I was engulfed by a pleasant smell. As if reading my thoughts, Mom asked what that smell was.
"I made chicken noodle soup for lunch. I know that you guys might be tired of fast food and laying down so I made the soup. Later, if you guys are up for it then we can go finish shopping for clothes and other essentials." While Giulia had been talking I was busy surveying the rooms. The townhouse was larger than the house in Hillwood, but brighter. The living room walls where bright teal and the kitchen had white cabinets and yellow walls. This house was the complete opposite, where the old house was of blue and grey, this house was of bright colors and white furniture, with splashes of pink and purple. Purple, being Olga's favorite color it didn't surprise me but, the fact that they had my favorite color did.
I was interrupted by my thoughts by a meow. I remember Olg—I mean Giulia—mention something about a kitten. I looked for the cry and saw that mom was holding it. I walked up to her and saw that it was a orange kitten. "Its a tabby cat." Mom said as it yawned. I smiled, "Its cute," and I walked passed mom and into the kitchen to wash my hands. Mom put down the cat, quickly washed her hands, grabbed some cups and a pitcher before she joined me and Giulia on the table. We ate chicken noodle soup, while we talked. We made plans to go shopping, to buy the bedding, shampoo, clothes and new shoes. I was enrolled at New Sindo Junior High School, a newly renovated school and I slowly started to make new friends.
It took two years but, I had finally had accustomed to my new life, I had accepted the situation that I was in and had stopped filling guilty for deceiving my friends. Once in a while, like on Phoebe's birthday, I became depressed for a few days until I was coaxed out by Giulia. My sis had not stopped her philanthropist urge, she ran New Sindo Community Building and helped out at the Golf fundraisers. With New Sindo being such a small town it sure had a lot of rich people, but not the snooty rich, it was the more humble rich who behaved like regular people. And it was always surprising me.
It was mid summer, a little more than two years since leaving Hillwood, I was now Gabbee Johnson. Gewndolyn Johnson, owner of the Pink Bow Bakery, and youngest daughter. I was a straight A student who excelled in English, fluent in French, and great in sports. In junior high I had played on all the sports team, even surfing, then I decided to focus on softball, track, volleyball and cheer-leading. Yes, Helga G. Pataki, former bully and tormentor of PS 118, now liked cheerleading—and with a bright smile on her face. I was pretty popular, even if it was just junior high. Long gone had I stopped pretending to be something that I was not. There was no worry of a certain football-head, and thus no possibility of him ever finding my true feelings for him, or worse a rejection. I quickly shook my head shaking away Arnold Shortman from my mind.
Mom, burst into my room, she had once again forgot to knock but, it didn't bother me, as much. She was jumping excitedly and seem to be waiting for me to ask her how her date went. I put down Theo, Olga had refused to name him Dog. The now large tabby that had wormed itself into my heart had been playing with its neko fly, a small fishing rod with a feather at the end, "How was your date with the coach?" She broke into a smile. I rolled my eyes at her, but I couldn't stop the smile that broke on my face. Who would have thought that an argument would have started this love fest. Coach Adams, the high school head coach threw a fit when I declined to play for the boys basketball team. He had personally come to the house to try to convince me. Mom was in the kitchen, letting me decide for myself. I was telling the Coach of my plans, he had been shaking his head the whole time I was talking and was going to say something, then Mom stepped in and told him off, "My daughter does not want to play basketball and not a thing that you do or say will change her decision buck-o. So, lay off or I will suggest to the PTA committee that the lack of trophies is not because of their sons but, because the coach lacks motivation."
And somehow that confrontation led to steady dates between the Coach and Mom, oh and an apology from him. Sighing in defeat I was about to ask her how it went when Giulia burst into my room. "Doesn't anyone bother knocking anymore?" I said smiling. Giulia ignored me and settled on my bed, "So how did the date go?"She asked. "I was about to ask her." Giulia smiled at me. "But did you?" "Shut up." I said giving her a shove. "It was wonderful! He made me dinner at his place and we talked about everything and anything. We were having dessert, brownies from the bakery of course, when I bite down on something hard in the brownie. So, tell me how does an engagement ring get into my batter?" Giulia and I feigned ignorance, Alan Adams had basically asked for our mom's hand in marriage and in the short time that we had known him, he was more of a father to us than our real father and made mom happy. We said yes and had distracted mom at the bakery, slipping the ring in a marked brownie and set it aside for their dinner date/proposal.
"So did you say yes?" I asked barely containing my own excitement. Mom looked at us, somehow dejected, she had a glint in her eye that seemed similar but I couldn't place for the moment. "I would, if he had asked. As soon as I shake the wet crumbs out of it and figure out what it is, well I hug him. And I'm saying yes and then he stops me and says 'Well, this is awkward. But I'm not proposing. Imagine my mortification!" Giulia's mouth dropped open and I only imagined that my face was similar to hers before I found words. "That asshole! He gave us the ring and he even told us how he was proposing!" "He even asked us if it was okay for him to propose!" Giulia quickly added.
"Ah ha! I knew that you guys had something to do with this, Alan had refused to tell me who had helped him, but I tricked you! Ha ha." Mom said standing up and giving her victory dance which was, well, funny consisting of her head bobbing and her dancing like a crab, and reminded me of a crab. "Stop it before the neighbors see your atrocious moves!" Giulia said laughing at mom. "Wait!" I said, Giulia stopped her laughing and mom stopped mid-step. "Did you say yes then?" Mom started dancing faster "Of course, especially after he said that you guys where okay with it." Giulia and I shared a look, jumping off the bed, causing Theo to rush out of the room scared. We hugged her, "Congrats Mom!"
On October first, Alan and Mom tied the knot. At the fair. Where the whole town was in attendance, or most of the population of New Sindo. It had originally been a small, traditional wedding. Originally. Then the guest list grew and before I knew it everyone I knew and a few more that I didn't know where invited. Giulia being an observant person asked how we where going to have such a big party without a venue, then Alan being Alan suggested to have the wedding during the fair. "The fair comes once a year, a few miles out of town, on a really giant field for a few days. There's pig races, harvest weights, pie eating contests, the whole cha-bang. We can even marry on the Ferris wheel!" He had joked about the last part, but Gwendolyn being, well my mom, loved the idea. The wedding was pretty amazing. Giulia and I wore long dresses, white ones with boots. Mom wore a strapless gown with lace and crystals with boots and Alan wore black dress pants, a white button up shirt and a black jacket. The wedding was beautiful and it was the whole cha-bang. The pictures looked amazing, and a large framed picture of a candid shot by the photographer hangs on the wall, just above the plasma television. In the picture, our backs where facing the photographer, the sun setting causing a orange tint to the picture, our hair adornments sparkled and our now blonde hair seemed to glow. Mom and Alan where holding hands, I was giving a side hug to Alan and Giulia was giving mom another one as we stared at the setting sun. We where happy and we still are.
The summer before I started senior year, my life changed again. Giulia had moved out a year and a half ago, she is now married and has a six month old baby girl, Lucinda, we call her Lucee. Giulia now goes by Giulia Adams-Parker, she married Griffin Parker, Alan's nephew. They met at the wedding and dated for a year and a half before proposing. They are happy little family and live two blocks away. Griffin had almost ended the relationship when we told him about our past, his reaction was the opposite of Dad's. Alan had quietly accepted the past, reprimanded us for what we did and breaking the "law", than he said he was proud that we had done what we had done to get out of that situation. Griffin just said, 'I'll be back,' before walking out of the house with his car keys. A few days later he came back and gave me a hug, then left again, only to return hours later to talk to Giulia.
I liked my life. I was co-captain of the cheer team, MVP in softball and volleyball, I dropped out of track when I started helping Dad out with the basketball team, in the end I joined the team along with three other girls. I was still a great student, all A's, with a part time job helping at the bakery and helped Giulia at the recreation center. I had made friends, good friends and I liked my life as it was in New Sindo. I was usually out hanging out with Adam, Nathan, Miranda, and Hannah when I wasn't at home, we would go bowling or have a bonfire at the beach. At home we had dinner together, talked and then I would watch a little TV with them before retreating to my room to finish homework. Mom and Dad went out on dates, even though they where married while I helped Giulia with Lucee. When the weather was nice we went down to the beach or I played basketball with Dad. It was fun.
Now here I was, just after our Fourth of July Bar-Be-Que party starring at the packed boxes scattered around the house. Letting out a frustrated groan I fell to the couch. Eight months ago, Dad and Mom had sat me down for a hard talk. It turns out that Bob had died; apparently he had lived the hard life, partying every weekend, spending all his cash and neglecting his business. He lost all his money gambling, lost the business to the cellphone market, and died of liver failure at the hospital. When mom told me, I just said it 'sucks for him' before grabbing my backpack to meet Hannah at the library. I think that mom wanted me to feel sorrow for his death. Not happening. The only good thing that man did was give Giulia and me life. He made my life miserable for twelve years, now that he's dead I don't have to feel his neglect. Alan was a way better father figure, he is my dad and Bob Pataki can suck it in the grave. I made a mental note to tell Alan this after finishing my homework.
I walked into the house, Dad was on the couch watching a game. "Where's mom?" I asked. "At your sisters. Come 'ere." He said opening his arms. I walked to his embrace, "Its okay." He said. "I know. I know that she loved him but, he was mean to me. A father should never treat his kids like he treated me." He just rubbed my shoulder, trying to comfort me. "So, excuse me if I'm not crying for him. I'm not saying that I'm happy that he died or anything but, I wont cry for him. Besides, you are more of a dad than he ever was." He smiled down at me, "I try, Gabbee, I try. And I am happy that you feel that way. Your mom just thought you where retreating back to your old self." I laughed. "Now come on, lets start dinner." He said pulling me off the couch.
Months later, during mid-dinner mom blurted out that we where moving back to Hillwood. I was so shocked and it became so quiet that you could hear the ticktocks of the clock. "What!" I finally sputtered out. "Well, Alan, has a great business deal in the works." "You know how I work part time for PEach technology? The one with the portable MP3, with your Peach notebook." I nodded. "Well, they want me to be full time and in charge of the Hillwood store, marketing, everything. Our lives will completely change and if you agree to it we will start making arrangements to move. So, I know its hard but, can we please move?" I rolled my eyes at his puppy eye look. That man is gone so there is nothing to fear. I know that everyone will be surprise, some of them might hate me but, they will understand and forgive me. Now the kids of New Sindo High are going to be pissed. "Fine! But you guys are making it up for me! And Dad gets to tell the athletic department." Dad visibly paled, the other coaches where going to riot once they learned that we are moving, I was one of their best players after all. I laughed at him, "Hey, you got what you wanted." Mom joined in our laughter.
So, sprawled on the couch did my parents find me. "I can see that you did a lot." Mom said sarcastically. I had only packed two boxes of dvds, books and picture frames. "I know. And besides it was you guys that where supposed to pack the living room. I packed the whole kitchen, all the plates, and wrapped them in newspaper and cleaned the cabinets." I said moving over so they could sit. Mom patted my leg, "Thanks for doing this." "Yeah, yeah. So is Giulia packed?" I asked. Dad nodded. "Yup. They are ready to leave. They also wanted to know if you wanted to go with them, to get the house settled and helped take care of the baby?" I thought about it. "Sure. I already finish my packing. When is she leaving?" "Tomorrow morning, early." "Ok." We went out for Thai food that night, considering that we had no pots and I was nervous of people's reaction.
Arnold slammed his alarm clock off. It was his first day of high school and it was also another night where memories of Helga invaded his sleep. He didn't tell anyone of the dreams that he had, where Helga was still alive and happy. It was bad enough that Helga was dead and that Phoebe still grieved for her best friend, she had never completely recovered from Helga's death. Her grades suffered in junior high, but it was understandable. She went from the quiet, reserved girl, that hanged with everyone in the neighborhood to just hanging out with Gerald, her now boyfriend and me. She always spoke her mind now, just like Helga, and went we snuck into the Pataki house to retrieve Helga's journals I was amazed by her stealth. When I asked her she said that she got her moves from her bedt friend who was a pro at sneaking around. Phoebe had also become confrontational and free from fear, on more than one occasion the small girl had cussed out Bob Pataki when she bumped with him on the street, where both Gerald and I had to carry her away. And it had happened a lot. Arnold hoped that this year Phoebe would return back to normal or at least stop confronting the Pataki who seemed more unstable as time passed.
He quickly jumped into the shower, dressed, and got ready for school. Grabbing his backpack he rushed downstairs for breakfast. Leaving his backpack in the leaving room, he walked to the kitchen and said good morning to his parents, they had escaped from San Lorenzo earlier that year, two years to the day that Helga had died. And life at the boardinghouse became better. All the old boarders had moved out and the house became renovated. It was converted to a five bedroom house, a large living room, a bigger kitchen and dining room, a study, and a library. Having his parents around had been just like he had imagined, happy. Mom helped grandma around the house. Dad, grandpa Phil and I played basketball at the park, making up for lost time. He ate his breakfast quickly kissing his mom and grandma on the cheek before leaving the kitchen. Yup, life was better—Ring Ring Ring.
I grunted. And walked to the table in the hall. "Hello." He said. "No answer, figures." He said to the phone before yelling, "Grandma, its for you!" He saw his grandma rush out of the kitchen and to the phone. "Who is it Arnold?" I shrugged, "They never say anything!" He said walking out of the house. He walked down the stoop when he realized that he forgot his backpack. He walked back in and as he grabbed his backpack he heard his grandma's voice. "Yes, I know. The death changed him. But what can one do...She changed too. For the better, of course she would have hon. She had to get out of that environment...So your getting married?...Well, Congratulations!" Arnold walked back again. For a second he had thought that grandma had been talking about him than took that silly thought out of his mind and rushed to school.
Freshman year had gone by fast. Arnold and Gerald had joined the football team, as well as most of the boys from the neighborhood. Phoebe's grades picked up and was doing better. She started hanging out with Lila, Nadine, Rhonda and Sheena. The girls eventually joined the cheer-leading team, well the junior team since freshman weren't allowed in the varsity team. Mr. Simmons must have had some connections because the had him for homeroom freshman year, sophomore year, and junior year. The old gang from PS 118 had stayed closed nit. The only difference was that Phoebe and Gerald, as well as Eugene and Sheena, Lila and Sinky, Rhonda and Curly, and Patty and Harold now where couples. We were all working, with the exception of Rhonda, I had gotten a job at Mrs. Vitello's flower shop.
High school went by fast and nothing really did change, other than guess who broke up with Curly and guess who got back with Stinky, and such. The only stable relationship was Gerald and Phoebes. During one of their outings where he actually didn't feel like a third wheel, Phoebe broke down in tears. Gerald had left them at a bench to chase down a dog stand and out of nowhere Phoebe started crying. "You know life was never supposed to have been like this." I tried telling her that it was okay now and she shook her head. "You don't understand Arnold. You were so dense and you still are. Helga was in love with you. She loved you so much, her love was so deep. I was in love with Gerald and she was in love with you. Its unfair that I get to be so happy and she is dead! You don't think that I see that you where also in love with her. Your miserable Arnold! Everyone can tell. You don't get enough sleep, you barely eat, and your not like you where. You never realized it and she agreed that it was a spur of the moment slip up because you suggested but, it wasn't. Arnold, two best friend's where going to date two best friends and now, now you won't marry my best friend cause she's dead!"
Arnold just wrapped his arms around the young Japanese girl. "I thought that I had been hiding it well." Arnold said. "I guess I wasn't. And yeah, I was in love with her. I just never realized it until it was too late. And I don't think that I will ever get over her. Ever." And that was the only consolation that Phoebe Heyerdahl needed as she clung to Arnold for dear life. She had mourned the death of her best friend five years ago, and now that she was almost seventeen she cried for all the things that her best friend never got to do. By the time that Gerald returned, Phoebe was calmed down. Without any words, and sharing a look with his best friend that only could be understood between them, he silently told them he was going home.
On the way home that day I found out that Bob Pataki was dead. Glaring at his picture in the newspaper, Everything would have been better if you had driven off that cliff. If only you had been a better father, if you had cared a little bit for her. Crumpling it up and dropping it in a nearby trashcan I continued my walk home. I walked in to see that Grandma was on the phone. "Hey." He quietly said as he walked up the stairs. "No, he's dead...Am I sure? Of course, you know that I would never lie to you, especially after all that you went through." As I turned the corner, Grandma's voice faded and I fell into bed, knowing that Helga will be the center of my dreams.
Just after the Fourth of July celebration, which consisted of singing Christmas carols, did I come to find out that a family was moving and renovating the green house on the left. I didn't think much about it. Until a few days later, when I was taking the trash out. A red Jeep Cherokee pulled in with a U-Pull trailer behind it. The woman had long blonde hair, walked out of the passenger seat and opened the back seat to pull out baby car seat. A man quickly walked around the car to help her with the baby. Something about the woman seem familiar.
I didn't even stop myself as I said, "Olga?" The woman turned to me. "Hey Arnold, nice to see you again." Before walking up the steps to the house. They walked inside the house, leaving the front door open. "Of course!" A voice said from the car. I saw the top of someone's head walking around the car, their hair was also blonde. "All that baby did was cry all the way here and as soon as we get there she stops." The girl had long, blonde wavy hair in a pony tail. She was wearing a pink polo shirt and cut off shorts. She was tan and tone. She had beautiful blue eyes, familiar eyes..no, it can't be. "Would you quit gawking at me football-head!" She said walking past him. She had taken only three steps when Arnold found his voice. "Helga?" She turned around. "I thought you where d-dead." Her stance changed and seemed nervous, "If I was dead would I be talking to you! Jeez how stupi—sorry, old habit. Yeah, I know. Sorry about that. I'll talk to you later, ok football-head?" She quickly turned around and walked to her house. "And I changed my name to Gabbee Adams." She said before closing her front door.
I turned to walk to my house, open the door and when I was in the safety of the boarding house did my legs give causing me to fall against the door frame. Dad found me like that, "Arnold are you okay?" I stood up. "Yeah. I think so." I took a step forward before everything turned black.
Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks so much for reading. Hope you liked this chapter! A special thanks to DarkAngel886. Loved your message and I took in consideration what you said. Hope that you enjoyed this chapter.
Comment, review or suggestions always welcomed!
Lots of love, natalieiam