Chapter Eight: The Game

After kicking out Gerald out of our team I soon saw that we were coming up on Gerald Field. I asked Gerald if they still played baseball games there. "Not so much anymore, the younger kids kinda took over it." As we passed the lot, I saw it filled with young kids. "At least they take well care of it." "That they do," Gerald said as we drove a few more minutes passed the high school and to Tina Park.

Gerald quickly pulled into the parking space and we jumped out of the car, "It seems that everyone is here." Arnold said as he surveyed the parking lot and we made our way to the basketball courts. "See, Eugene drives the yellow moped, Stinky that green mustang, Harold that beige truck, Thad drives the white Prius, Sid drives the black motorcycle, Brainy drives a silver Kia, and Jason just got his Jeep."

I nodded, I had seen the moped, the motorcycle and a jeep, "But whose Jason and Thad?" Gerald laughed, "Jason was Chocolate Boy and Curly now goes by Thad...Thaddeah...ah, Thad." I laughed, "You mean Thaddeus Gammelthorpe, it's not that hard to say."

Gerald gave me a wounded look, "Shut up Miss Anonymous poet." Before I could question how he found out, Arnold interrupted. "So how do you want to be introduced." I shrugged, "Gabs for now. I don't want them to blame the shock of their loss by my reappearance. Afterward we can tell them."

Arnold only snickered as Gerald made a face. "I hate you guys. But really can I be on your team?"

Arnold and I shared a look. "Fine. But only because you begged." I said smiling up at the tall black boy.

"Arnold! Gerald!" A voice yelled from behind as we walked around the last bend to get to the basketball court. We all turned to see a guy walking behind us.

"Hey man." Gerald said as they gave each other a fist pump. "Man, where have you been hiding." The dirty blonde kid laughed, "Just out of town, my cousin was getting married and then we drove up to Canada to see an uncle, just got back today. But I made it to our weekly game. So, hows your summer been?"

Gerald smiled, "Same old." Arnold shrugged, "Just stayed in town. Oh and this is Gabbee, she's ah, new and my neighbor." The kid gave me a once over, "I'm Ed. But mostly everyone calls me Brainy. Hey, don't I know you?"

Crap! I forgot all about Brainy's "tendencies". "Ah no, I don't think so." He looked at me again. "Hmm. I never forget a face, but your too pretty so I'll let it slide." I almost laughed in his face and rolled my eyes instead.

Brainy had indeed changed, his Bart Simpson hair was gone and replaced with beautiful dirty blonde hair, his glasses were now gone and his blue eyes sparkled, he seemed fit and muscular, at least from what I could tell from the tight shirt that showcased his abs. He was good-looking and if I were any other girl I probably be tempted to like-like him.

Half a minute passed before Brainy asked, "But, really have we met?" Arnold tried to keep his laughter in, while Gerald did a horrible job at it. At least someone found my annoyance entertaining. For the rest of the walk I kept being pestered by Brainy, Are you sure I don't know you? Are you sure you never seen me? Have you been on TV? And all the while the answer was a no.

We finally made it to the basketball courts and there were a bunch of guys there, and after saying a 'no' to Brainy's fifteenth question, there was a bunch of "oohs". I looked up and about seven guys where hanging around the benches.

A muscular and wide teen laughed, "Did Brains finally get rejected?" He said as he made his way towards us. I raised an eyebrow. Wait, what? Brainy put an arm around my shoulder, "Of course not, Harold. Contrary to popular belief, I don't ask every girl out." Is Brainy some type of playboy? This is too weird.

"Well, you could have fooled me." Harold said as he bend down to tie his shoes. Huh, so this is Harold, I thought as I shrugged Brainy's arm hadn't changed much, he was still big, not fat, but muscular. He had his hair cut short and was wearing a white t-shirt and blue basketball shorts. He walked passed us to greet Gerald and Arnold.

Everyone was kinda minding their own business, and I took the opportunity to survey my old classmates. A guy with bright orange hair was carefully tying his shoes, that must be Eugene; he was talking with a black haired guy who was munching on a radish, that mush be Jason. Another two were off to the side, a tall boy with a large nose and a guy with a green cap on, those must be Stinky and Sid.

Everyone was waiting around until a guy ran up to us carrying a basketball over his head. "Gather cavemen, for I have freed the zoo animals and created fire!" And that must be Curly, I mean Thad. The guy still had black hair, it was longer and he no longer wore red glasses. And he was kinda cute, actually all of my classmates were good-looking.

"Why don't you just make it simple and just say that you brought the basketball?" Jason said from his post by the bench. "Because that's no fun. Now gather neanderthals, for we will be divided into four versus five."

I thought about what he said for half a second, first Harold ignores me and now this kid. Am I invisible or something? Lucky Arnold spoke up, "Actually, Gabbee here will be joining us." All of a sudden everyone looked at us.

"Really?" Eugene asked skeptically.

"Yeah. I want to play." I said, "Is that going to be a problem?"

"Are you sure you don't want to jog or bike, or do something less physical?" Sid said.

"No, I want to play basketball." What is it with them not wanting me to play?

Thad took a step closer to me and spoke to the crowd. "Guys, if the chick wants to run with wolves, I say we let her. You never know, she might be good."

I grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. "Listen bud, I can play basketball and I don't know what kind of "chicks" you hang out with, but this girl is going to beat your ass up and down the court."

He merely raised an eyebrow. "We'll see. But things tend to get kind off rough."

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever. Spit the teams already."

A few minutes later Arnold, Gerald, Brainy, and Eugene were in my team, while Sid, Stinky, Curly, Harold and Jason where on the opposing teams. And while Arnold was talking to Sid and Stinky, Brainy put his arm around my shoulder. We decided that first to thirty wins.

"Hon, are you sure you want to play with us?"

I shrugged his arm away, "Yeah."

"Just making sure." He quickly pointed the guys out to me, all of my assumptions were proven correct. "I think that Harold is going to be on your back. Think you can handle him?"

I shrugged, "I'll never know until I try." We quickly got in positions, I was point guard, Gerald as center, Arnold as a shooting guard, Brainy as a power forward and Eugene as a small forward.

Indeed, Harold was on my back. I barely had any space to dribble and after I passed the ball to Eugene, the big lug tripped me. Dusting myself off, I got back in. And even though the guy was playing completely unfair, I refuse to call him on it. Besides, we only needed six points to win.

I guess he started to let the pressure of the score get to him, because he started messing too much with me. He pushed me away, he kept tripping me, and he elbowed me twice in the stomach. After the third time he elbowed me, all my breath left me and I fell to the ground.

"Hey asshole!" I yelled at him as I grabbed the ball and stood up.

He turned back to me, "Did the little girl, hurt herself?"

"No, you tub of lard!" I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him towards me, "Your fat elbow hit me in the gut and if you don't start playing fair Ol' Betsy and the Five Avengers are going to make a reappearance and send you crying back to mommy." I let him go too fast and he lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Harold was on the ground staring up at me with wide eyes, "What did you just say?" He asked quietly.

I was about to repeat myself when I heard heavy breathing behind my neck, "Brainy! You sneaking up behind me was creepy when we were little and its creepy now!"

"Willikers!" Stinky cried.

And not until that moment did I realize that my cover was blown. "Criminy!" I said as I fell to the ground across from Harold.

It was quiet on the court, except for the wheezes coming from Brainy. He decided to lay on the ground and arm covering his face. Eugene was about to say something but, he started coughing when a fly flew into his mouth. Sid was wringing out his cap. Jason kept munching on his radishes, while Curly had a pensive look on his face.

"Is it really you Helga?" Brainy said, his arm still covering his face.

"Yeah," I said quietly. "My mom faked our death and we just moved back."

Gerald, Arnold and I kept an eye on the guys, waiting for their reaction.

Jason spoke up first, "Cool. I'm glad that your alive and back. We all missed you. Can we get back in the game now?"

Eugene nodded. "So, does Phoebe know?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

"Was she mad?"

I shrugged, "Not really. I think she is relieved."

"Well, I would think so. She just got one of her best friends back." Stinky added.

I nodded, agreeing. "Where were you? Under the witness protection program?" Sid asked.

I shook my head. "No, just changed identities, and well faked our deaths." The last part I mumbled. "I think that we might get in trouble for that."

"Well, this put a damper into the game. When we're you going to tell us?" Thad asked.

"After the game. You guys changed a lot."

Harold laughed, "Speak for yourself. You are one beautiful girl." I laughed and bent a knee to stand up. Three hands were hanging in front of me to help me up, Brainy's, Arnold's and Stinky's. I ignored them and shook myself.

"For finding out something like this, you guys are taking it rather well."

They all laughed, Harold put an arm around my shoulder, "Well, that someone has a lot of making up to do. Starting with pizza. And lots of it too." He said wiggling his eyebrows.

"Shut up fat-boy. But I guess your right. Pizza on me."

Everyone hollered their agreement as we made our way back to the parking lot.

Author's Note: I don't know how I feel about this chapter. I think things for Helga and Arnold may be going to easy. Well, let me know how you feel about this chapter. Don't forget to review. xxoo Nat