Chapter Seven: Friends and Comfort

And with another hug from my best friend I felt that the world lifted off my shoulder and I could breath again. Phoebe gave me another bone shattering hug before we got off from the sidewalk. Finally standing I saw that she had also grown up.

Before stood a beautiful girl, long gone where the oval glasses and the oversized sweater. She had straight bangs and had grown her hair out and had her ears pierced. She was wearing jean shorts and a nautical shirt. And we were the same height. "You got taller." I said looking her over. She smiled, "Nope, your just short." I broke out in laughter and turned to see at the tall-haired boy. "I think I broke your boyfriend." I said motioning to Gerald. He had grown to a tall and lean, and athletic man. His hair was a lot shorter than what I was used to but it suited him.

Phoebe turned around and rushed over to him, "Gerald, hon, it's going to be okay." She said trying to get him to react. He seemed to ignore her. "You—you wore in North Carolina! I saw—I saw the pictures and I thought you looked like Helga, but it said a different name." I narrowed my eyes.

"When were you in North Carolina?" I asked. "Three summers ago. Remember when I went to visit my grandma in New Haven. There was an article written about this surfer, cheerleader girl and on it was a picture of her." I nodded now understanding, New Haven was just forty minutes away and probably had the same county newspaper distribution. "New Haven was not far from where I lived." I stated.

He glared at me. "I know. I'm glad that your alive and that you lived a normal life away from that monster but that does not change the fact that you left a town brokenhearted." I swallowed the lump of guilt that was stuck in my throat, "I know. And I'm sorry—." He stopped me before I could say another word. "I don't want that from you, and I am not angry, I just want you to understand that when you went off and had a happy life you broke the neighborhood. And it hasn't been the same, now that your back you have a lot of making up to do." I nodded. "I wish I could have done something to tell you that I was still alive."

Gerald smiled before walking up to me and whispering, "I'm glad that your back, maybe you can bring my best-friend back." I looked up at him, not understanding. I looked up at him, what has happened while I was away? "Now lets go and get some food!" Gerald said. Making Phoebe and Arnold laugh and breaking me away from my thoughts.

I led them to the silver Scion, where Gerald and Phoebe took the back seat and Arnold road shotgun. "Is Bigals Cafe still open?" I asked as I pulled onto the street. Phoebe and Gerald snickered, but only Arnold answered. "Yeah, its called Big Al's Cafe now though." I thought about it for a second. "Isn't it the same thing?" I questioned as I drove them to the cafe."

"No!" Came an outburst from the back. "It's not?" I said as I made a right. "No it is not." Phoebe said in a tone that I did not want to argue with. Arnold was snickering in the front seat. I pulled into a parking space. "Its not too crowded is it?" I asked as we got out of the car. "Is Helga G. Pa—." Gerald started but I cut him off. "I go by Gabbee now. At least for awhile. And no I am not afraid. I just don't want to deal with another confrontation after the crazy emotional roller coaster that I had today. I just want to have a pleasant and somewhat awkward meal after a long day of moving, then want to go back to my bed and try to sleep in a my new old hometown."

Phoebe shot me a bright smile. "I like the sound of that."

We sat in a corner booth and ordered. It wasn't crowded, the restaurant had expanded to the building next door, that half was a bit more formal with larger tables. While this side maintained the booths, smaller tables and soft alternative music. "So Arnold told me that the whole neighborhood is in varsity teams. Football for the guys and cheer-leading for the girls." I asked. There were a murmur of yeses and a blushing Phoebe. "Phoebes are you embarrassed?" I asked softly. She laughed. "No, I'm just—okay, I am. But not because I am a cheerleader but, because you are one too! I never thought that you could stand to wear the uniform with a constant smile on your face!"

I laughed. "I would have never expected that of myself Pheebs. However my home environment was different in New Sindo, and I sort of grew up from the bully that used to torment the neighborhood." It was quiet. I guess everyone was reminiscing the past. We were interrupted by a kid-waiter, "Hey guys, Phoebe, new chick. What can I get ya?"

"Hey Will, I didn't know you worked here." Arnold said. "Yeah, started a few weeks ago. I have to save up for my own car, mom can't pick me up after practice." "Do what you gotta do, we need you in the team, man." Gerald added. "And it will look wonderful on your college application," Phoebe added. "Will, this is Gabbee, an old friend, she just moved back. Gabbee, this is Will, he is in the football team." I smiled up at him, "Cool, what position?" "Center guard." I nodded, "I would have pegged you for a halfback or fullback." "Well, that's the position I feel more comfortable in. Coach thought I would do better as center guard." "Then that coach is an idiot." "Hey!" Arnold, Gerald and Will said at the same time. My eyes narrowed, "Let me guess, Arnold is not the quaterback and Gerald is not a wide receiver." "Yeah, how did you know?" Will asked somewhat amazed. "Arnold, is good at plays and had great leadership skills, add to that a level-head and doesn't crack under pressure. Gerald has always been a great catcher and runner and probably knows Arnold the best, and can tell what Arnold may be thinking. And those were the positions that they used to play when we were little."

Soon our food was served and a bit later Will's shift ended where he decided to join us. Although we couldn't talk about the past, it was nice just to talk about sports. Phoebe seemed a little bored after awhile, a football conversation would bore any girl to death.

A honk sounded from outside, "That's my mom. Well this was fun, hit me up any Sunday, we can hang or something." Will said to Gerald and Arnold as they said goodbye. "And you Miss Gabbee, I expect a call from you." He said as he gave me a napkin with his phone number and walked out the door.

"Well, that was unexpected." Phoebe said as she snatched the napkin away. "What was?" I asked slightly confused as we left the restaurant. "That Will gave you his number." Phoebe added. I shrugged. "Its not like he asked me out on a date." I said as unlocked the car. "Will seemed cool, I could see us being friends." I said as we drove off. The rest of the ride went by too silently and I dropped Phoebe and Gerald off.

Not until I was parked in front of the house did I get the courage to ask Arnold what was wrong. "Nothing, Helga. Sorry, I mean Gabbee." I knew that something was bothering him and it bothered me that he didn't say anything. "Ok." I said as I got out of the car and started walking to my house. "Wait!" I turned around. "I don't want you to be mad at me. Honestly, there is nothing wrong. I think that the day just got to me." I nodded, "Well, news like mine would probably have caused anyone to pass out from shock." He nodded. "Goodnight, Arnold." I said as I started to open the door. "Goodnight, Helga," he said my name softly. He said it so softly, so tenderly. He said it as it wore something precious, that should only be talked about in hushed voices. He said my name as if he loved me, the same way that I imagine. And I walked inside, firmly closing the door behind me, trying to ignore my pounding heart.

#

I was seething insideand of course me being the nice guy that I am, I refused to let it show that it bothered me. I could not believe how Will just wormed his way into our dinner, how he kept talking to Helga, especially when he gave her his number. Will is a teammate, a friend, but we just hang at school. And then there was Helga, how she kept talking about football, actually talking about plays and teams. I missed her, I realized at that moment.

She knows me too well too, calling me out on my odd behavior, luckily I could blame it on the long day. Saying goodnight to Helga, I walked back to my house and made it up to my room. I kicked off my shoes, not bothering to change, I fell on my pillow and fell fast asleep.

The next morning I woke up well rested, brushed my teeth and changed before I joined my parents downstairs. "Morning." I said as I grabbed a bowl for my cereal. "Good morning Arnold." My dad said as my mom handed me a cup of orange juice. "Well, don't you look well rested." I nodded. "Yup, got a full eight hours of sleep." I said. Dad nodded. "Any big plans for today?" Mom asked as she sat down with her coffee. "None. Just going to play a game with the guys later. I don't have work until Wednesday." "Ok. Well, we're going to clean out the basement, can you help?" I nodded. "Yeah." I said putting my bowl in the sink and followed dad to the basement.

"Whoa, Dad you've been busy." My dad said as we walked in. The back wall had been cleared out and two large boxes of trash laid against the staircase. "Yes, son, your mother wants to make the basement her art studio/dojo." I laughed at my dads expression. "Your kidding?" He asked. Grandpa and I laughed, "Dad, what Grandma wants..." "Pookie gets." Grandpa Phil finished for me. Grabbing one of the boxes I made my way upstairs. In the last few years, Grandma Gertie was less eccentric, yet full of life, never making a day at the house dull. She still confused the holidays, but thanksgiving wouldn't be thanksgiving without firecrackers.

My mom, who was washing the dishes, saw that I had the large box and rushed to open the front door. "Thanks, mom." I said over my shoulder. I dropped the heavy box and dusted my pants before I made my way back to the house. That is until I heard a "Kimba!" I turned to see my grandma running full speed towards me, quickly moving off the sidewalk, I lost my balance and I fell on top of the box. "Sorry, Kimba!" She said as she made her way inside the house.

Dusting myself off again, I started, yet again, to make my way to the house. "Arnold!" Not again. I thought as I turned around. This time it was Helga running up to me, much slower than my grandma. She stopped in front of me, "Did..did..did your grandma..come this way?" She said between breaths. "Ah, yea. She's inside." She smiled on me before she dropped to the floor. "Oh, good." She sat and stretched her legs. "Geez, can that women run!" She stretched her left leg a bit, wincing. "Cramp?" I asked as I helped her up. "Mhhmm. I was going to jog around the neighborhood, your grandma joined and I told her that we could run at her pace. Then she broke into this crazy smile and she shot down the street like a rocket-ship. I didn't want to lose her so I chased after her."

I laughed at her. "Never again Arnold. Never again." She said as she sat on the stoop. Grandma Gertie came out with a large cup of water. "Here ya go Eleanor." Looking extremely grateful for the beverage she took it. "For an old lady, you sure are in shape." Helga told my grandmother. She laughed, "Age is only a number. Now, dear Eleanor, let me now if you want to do this again." Helga's eyes got wide. "Not anytime soon." Grandma only laughed and went back in.

"So, any plans today?" I asked her. "Not really. I have to finish unpacking and today my parents were supposed to come back, but they called that they had some paperwork to finish up. And you?" "Just cleaning out the basement." "Look at us, spending our summer vacation cleaning. Well, since your out, I'll call Phoebe. Maybe I can hang out with her." I laughed at her. "Ah, I see. You just wanted to hang with me to get out of packing." She stuck her tongue out at me. "Well, cleaning is no fun. And I would help you, but I'm all sweaty." She said moving closer to her house. "Whatever you say. I see what kind of friend you are!" She smiled. "Yeah, but Phoebe is my best friend." I smiled out at her. "Fine! But come over for lunch around two!" "Yeah, yeah," She said as she walked into her house.

I walked back inside and saw that my mom was busy cleaning. "Mom, I invited Helga over for lunch." "That's wonderful dear. Are her parents coming over to?" I shook my head no, "They had something to take care of. And Grandma?" "She's downstairs, now rush down before your father thinks that you ditched him." I laughed at that.

A few hours later, the basement was spotless and just in time for lunch. I was throwing the last of trash-bag when Gerald pulled up in his red car. "Hey, man!" He said as we made our signature handshake. "Whats up Gerald?" "Nothing much, Phoebe is out, so I stayed at home." "How come you always show up after the heavy work is over?" He shrugged, "Good looks? Well, I'll see you later man, I have to take Lee to her ballet class." "Isn't her recital soon?" "Yeah. She's going to drive me even more crazy, but at least she's not pulling pranks. I just stopped by to ask you if you needed a ride to the field later." "Yeah, pick me up at 5?" "I might be a little late, Lee usually makes me drive her to Jumba Juice." "The things that a brother does for his sister. Say hi to Timberly for me." Saying bye, I walked back in. "Hey Shortman, can you tell the little lady that lunch is about ready."

I was about to knock when the door flew up. Griffin was there with another man, they shook hands and the man excused himself. "Her Arnold." "Hey Griffin. Is Gabbee here?" Calling her Gabbee sounded so off. "I think she's in her room. I was talking to the contractor, so she might have left. But you can go see if she's here." He said as he disappeared down the hallway.

I walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. "Come in." A sweet voice said. Stepping in I saw the room completely different. Her walls were still purple, but there were now filled with posters, paintings, photo frames. She had a red bean bag chair in one corner, her vanity and wardrobe were white and she had a white desk. There were still several boxes around the room, spilling out with clothes. And in the middle of the bed there was a Helga laying on her stomach with her head hanging out. "So you got a lot done." She looked up. "Hey Arnold. Yeah." Then she dropped her head back down.

"Whats wrong?" I said as I fell on the bed next to her. "Nothing." She said to the floor. "So what are you so bummed about." Her body moved and I assumed that she was shrugging. "Hel-ga. Are you going to tell me." She shook her head and her hair flew around, then she sat up. I moved myself and we we're face to face. "You know that—since I moved—ugh—did I—never mind." "Your not making any sense." She laughed, "I know! Since I moved back, I thought things were going to be the same, you know minus the bully that I was; that Phoebe and I were going to pick up our friendship where we left off and that everything was going to stay the same. And guess what Arnold, things did change. We grew up and we grew without each other, so of course she has another best-friend."

"Of course we grew up, but we're mostly the same, add a little more responsibility and that we already went through puberty, but overall the same. Now what is this about Phoebe?"

#

I proceeded to tell Arnold about the conversation that I had with Arnold. How I had called Phoebe this morning and she said that she had plans with Lila. Apparently, she and Miss Perfect had become the ever so of best friends, gag! I had stopped disliking Lila long ago, but I couldn't ignore the feeling of melancholy that I felt. I was forced to listen on and on about how they had plans to go to the salon and we're having a spa day. And apparently there was a sleep over going at Rhonda's tonight. But I didn't tell this to Arnold, instead I said "She's hanging out with Lila and then she has to go to a sleepover at Rhonda's. I never realized how much I missed everyone until I got back. In New Sindo, I was always doing something and I guess that kept my mind busy."

"C'mon, get up." I looked at him. "Why?" I said skeptically. "Get up," he said holding up his hand. I took it and he helped me up. "So what's going on?" "This is what you need." And before I could ask what he meant, he had his arms around me and was hugging me. I felt my legs go a bit weak before I put my arms around him. He was so broad now. And tall, I realized as I saw that I only reached up to his neck. "What are you doing?" I whispered. His hold became a little tighter. "I'm comforting you." I smiled up to his neck. Sweet sweet Arnold, how little you have changed. We remained like this for a few more minutes. "Everything is going to be okay, we just need a little time to get used to you being back." He said rubbing my shoulders. We remained like that for a few moments and then his stomach grumbled.

We pulled apart, "Let's go feed that stomach of yours before it decides to eat itself." He laughed and the strange atmosphere that we had created disappeared as we made our way downstairs. My sister saw us and walked up to us. "Mom called, were driving up to Jersey. There's some paperwork that I need to sign. Well be gone the night. I talked to Gertie, so you can stay next door for the night. Its probably better since there is no food here. I can not wait until this moving business is over. So, pack a overnight bag and I'll call you later." She hugged me, "Don't forget to lock up. Bye!" and threw the keys to me, her diaper bag bouncing as she flew out the door.

"Well, that wasn't weird." Arnold said as we walked next door. "Ha! That's a normal occurrence, at our old place we we're never at home. And with the new remodeling here I am going to spend as much time away as I can possibly can."

We walked to the kitchen as Stella was setting the last plate. "Take a minute longer and we would have started without you." Miles said as we washed our hands and sat down. We ate a large meal of potato salad, mac and cheese, chicken wings, sausage, and mixed green salad. "Olga said that you were staying over." I nodded at Gertie. "Yeah, something about going to Jersey to sign some paperwork. I hope that my family and I aren't imposing too much." Everyone laughed at that. "Of course your not. It's almost like having a family visiting." Grandpa Phil said.

Lunch went by fast, Stella is almost done with her fiction book which will be published in January and Miles is getting ready for his college course in August. Gertie is going to have some kind of studio in the basement and Grandpa is remodeling another green packard. After eating I helped Stella with the dishes as Miles and Arnold fought for who gets to shower first. (Even though there were now more than one bathroom now.)

Freshly showered, Arnold appeared and sat on the couch with me. "So." I looked up at him, somehow all the adults had left. "Want to play a game with the guys later." I pursed my lips thinking about it. "Yeah, I think its time to let the guys in. I think that they would probably be more understanding than the girls. Especially after I kick their asses." He smiled brightly at me, "In that case I want you in my team." For the next few hours we watched reruns of the Jersey Shore, laughing at their stupid ways. Seeing that it was almost five, I pulled myself away from Arnold's hold and went next door to change into something more comfortable.

Changing into black fitted capris and a slightly oversized white v-neck shirt, I grabbed my black and pink Adidas. I walked outside and saw that Arnold was wearing a blue tshirt and black basketball shorts with black Adidas. Gerald pulled up, "This game is going to be epic." He said as I slid in the back seat. I smiled, "I am so glad that I can entertain you Gerald. Hey, Arnold, Gerald can be with the opposite team." Arnold snickered, "Yeah, its going to epic." "Ah, man," Gerald said, "Me and my big mouth!"

Authors Note: Hey Readers! Soo sorry for the lateness of this chapter, life got in the way. Hope that you enjoyed it. Don't forget to review. Its that little button at the bottom of the page. :D