Arnold heads to see his coach, which fortunately was a friend from his past; Coach Wittenburg. He walked into his small but very colorful office to immediately see the last person on the planet sitting in one of the two chairs in front of coach's desk. He turned his head to peer up at Arnold with a poker face; while Arnold was glaring at him in return.
"Shortman! Glad you showed. Take a seat!"
Arnold reluctantly sits down purposely keep his eyes straight ahead to avoid any contact with the guy next to him.
"Shortman, I'm shocked to learn that you of all people started a fight with one of your teammates. What happened to brotherhood?! Isn't that what you always preached to me about? What's that word again? Comradery or something!" He hit his desk aggressively in order to make his point.
He glances at them both. "I want you two to get along. I don't care what it takes! I don't even care to know the reason for the fight! I want it resolved. Now!"
Arnold is unmoved. Coach sighed and turned to Arnold with more pleading eyes. "Shortman, come on I need you to do this."
Arnold sighed and rolled his eyes up but silently reach out his hand and shook on it.
Brendan decided to go further put on an act - he was good at it. "I wanted to apologize to you Arnold for offending you to that point. I'm sorry that I pushed you with my words to do something out of character and get physically violent. I would love for us to get along and be good teammates and maybe even friends.."
Arnold was stoic until he saw Coach was staring at him clearly waiting for him to respond, he softened his tense demeanor just enough to be convincing. "Alright. I'll apologize for allowing your words; which offended me deeply by the way... compel me to put my hands on you because like you said that's totally out of my character. Violence shouldn't be the answer for conflict and it goes against the true definition of teamwork and sportsmanship." With his sharp peripheral vision, he could see Brendan roll his eyes. But if I could do it over I wouldn't change a thing...He better not even mutters a word about her again!
"Thank you, boys. Such maturity nearly brings a tear to my eye." He looked to Brendan. "You're excused Sanders, close the door behind you."
He gets up and smiles at Arnold which contained a hidden smirk.
Once Sanders was gone, he softened in front of the young man. "Arnie. Tell me what could have caused you to do this?"
Arnold sighs and rests on one of his hands. "You remember Helga Pataki?"
He put a finger to his temple and mumbles her name. "She was in my wedding, skinny little mouthy girl with a pink bow, right?"
One corner of his lip curl up. "That's her... anyway Brendan... started to insult her. She doesn't deserve to be talked about as if she's inferior .. when truthfully she's better than a lot of those so-called 'cool' kids. I hear them speaking negatively about her too often - I couldn't take it anymore and I guess I just lost control when I heard him refer to her as trash and he said something else I can't repeat." He lowers his head.
Coach stares at the sulking teen. "I know how you feel. Love... especially young love can make you do some bold things. I respect that you and Mr. Sanders were able to put your differences aside for the sake of the team!" His more stern expression faltered and a sulking one took over. "This makes me think of Tish!" He started to bellow loudly like a baby.
Arnold leans over to comfort the sobbing and ranting man. Wow, are my feelings for her that obvious that even he notices?
When leaving the office he closed his door and stood there for a moment letting relief that his position on the team wasn't at all in jeopardy.
He thought about all the ranting coach did over losing Tish again because he had a hard time expressing his deep feelings. Something pegged at his heart. Knowing that eventually, he would have to express himself truthfully or risk ending up like the dedicated but lonely coach, he just didn't know how to go about it. But he felt like he was heading in the right direction.
XOXOXO
Helga and Arnold did repeat spending time during lunch hours together; talking and joking casually with each other nonstop, not even caring about those who might have thought it was weird that they were being so friendly. Though Arnold learned to keep the subject light because anytime he tried to dive deeper she would clam up or quickly change the topic.
Arnold manages for a few days in a row to sneak into the cafeteria and out with two bowls of tapioca pudding since he remembered that both he and Helga loved it back in elementary school. That, of course, made Helga smile. His spirits were high at the fact that she was no longer acting pugnacious with him.
Seeing the students going inside they realized their break was over so Arnold stands up and reaches down and helped Helga up. She had never given him an answer on his request for her to join him at a party Friday; which is tonight. He decided to be a little forward. "Hey, so I'll be over to pick you up later?"
Helga just nods and a wide smile materialized on his face which he tried to conceal. "Great." He starts to walk away but stopped and turned back. "Oh, I need your new address..."
She drew back for a second with thoughts of where she lives and who she lives with him and how he behaves sometimes. He patiently waits but with concern at her hesitation. "Um... I have work tonight so how about you just pick me up there... it's that store Finder's Keepers."
Arnold bites down on his lower lip to conceal his excitement but he was still curious as to why she seemed tense when he requested her address. He wonders if it was because of him in particular or would she be like that with any guy. It dawns on him as he was now walking inside his next classroom early that she could have been ashamed of where she lives. The idea of that made Arnold feel sympathy with disappointment because he thought that Helga knew him better than to think he would judge her by material possessions. He's never been that type of person and he still isn't. Arnold could never go with that kind of thinking of some of his peers, especially since he grew up with an unorthodox family; even if his family is more conventional nowadays, he still is far from being loaded.
XOXOXO
Helga now in the hall was confronted by one of her friends name Jennie.
"Hey Pataki, what were you doing out there with that prep?"
Helga shrugs. "Just hanging out, it beats being in that funky cafeteria."
"So you just ditch us to hang out with one of those popular rich kids."
Helga frowns. "Arnold isn't rich; he and I actually grew up together so it's different."
"Oh, he's Arnold. Well, he seems just like that guy you went out with last year. What was his name—"
"Adam. And Arnold's nothing like him … besides, he and I were just chatting... nothing deep."
"Yeah okay, just don't let your guard down. Because I remember how you balled your eyes out when Adam turned out to be a troll from hell."
She rolls her eyes. "Anyway, Arnold invited me to this house party and I'm thinking about going... It's tonight. I was wondering if maybe you wanted to crash." Since Phoebe is gonna be out doing god knows what with tall hair boy. Yuck!... Just kidding .. kinda... I'm happy for the gal.
She shakes her head. "Nope, not my scene."
Helga looks down at her shoes. "It isn't my scene either, but..." She shrugged. "I thought that maybe we could do something different... you know since this is our last year... thought it would be kind of cool."
"I'll pass. Besides they're having reggae at the EvilOlive it'll be too big of a jam in there to miss." She looked Helga up and down. "You should ditch that party and come down."
Helga looks up for a moment in thought. "Maybe I'll see if Arnold wants to come by since he'll be giving me a ride anyway."
Jennie huffs. "Yeah right like Mr. clean cut would dare be seen at a place like that."
She seems sort of offended. "Hey, Arnold's not a snob. When we were kids he would—"
"Exactly when you were kids." She crossed her arms. "Let's see what he's like now!"
Helga stomps her foot. "Then we'll see then!"
She eyes Helga artfully. "You wanna put a little money on it?"
"Huh?"
"I bet you..." Jennie looked into her wallet and scratched her head. "Ten bucks that the golden boy won't be at the club later."
A bet? .. Meh sounds harmless... I know for a fact that I could convince him to come. He's more open minded than she thinks and hey I can't pass up on earning a quick buck! Helga slaps her hands. "Deal!"
Jennie takes out a pack of cigarettes. "School's stressing me out already kid - need a smoke break. You wanna come?"
Helga grins and shakes her head. "Jennie you know I don't smoke and I can't stand the shit."
"Oh right, you're a borderline goody goody yourself just like what's his face.." She teases.
Helga holds up her fist playfully. "You wanna repeat that sister?"
"No thanks. I know you're a kick-ass bitch. I remember what you did to that skirt on the softball team. I don't want a taste of that."
Helga isn't exactly overjoyed by her past transgressions but shrugs if off. They did a handshake and went their separate ways.
XOXOXO
Since it was Friday, the store was having a slow day and Helga along with her coworkers was just lounging around instead of doing much work.
Connie came out seeing there wasn't any genuine work to assign - she turned on her music; which happened to be her favorite songs called A little prayer. Helga and the others now knew the song by heart since she makes a habit of playing it. They are also aware of her turning on that song means she's met a man and is on the verge of falling in love. After a second of everyone enthusiastically lipping to the song, out of nowhere Curly came moon walking into the store.
All the employees who were all female - some groaned and rolled their eyes ever since she started working there Curly had a habit of popping up being overtly goofy. But Connie herself liked him and thought his antics were entertaining which is why she never turned him away.
He listens to the song and smiles as he was already familiar with it but also knew of her habit of playing it.
With a flirtatious smirk, he dramatically threw himself over on each of their counters and sang along. Then once he had all of their attentions he did a quick spin. "None of you dames will have to pray to get me."
"Ugh… dames? Con next time can we play Respect by Aretha Franklin instead?"
Helga laughs because she knew his sense of humor and that he was harmless and very respectful underneath his obnoxiousness.
She stabs him with a finger to his forehead. "To what do we owe this performance and presence?"
He gives her a duh face. "We're gonna meet Jennie at the EvilOlive to bump and grind." He pulls her towards him by the waist to comically demonstrate and Helga shoves him off and held up her fist. He chuckles and eyes her clothes. "Hey, rockin outfit! But man this is gonna be a fun night... I can't wait to get down. I know you're there!"
Helga glances down. "Well um...I'll be meeting you guys there later... I don't know when exactly."
"Why, what's up? Is boss lady making you stay later again?" He playfully glares her Connie who simply shrugs at him. He props himself up on the counter.
She shakes her head. "No nothing like that. Actually, I'm meeting someone to go to a party."
Curly's eyes stretch. "You got word of a party and you didn't tell me. What if I wanted to go?" He fakes like he was so distraught. After a minute he got more serious and also curious. "Are you going on a date? Who's the fellow?" His eyes lit up with excitement.
Helga hesitates to answer. "No. No, it's not a date. Arnold's coming to pick me up to take me to this party."
"Huh... Arnold as in the guy you've yelled 'move out my way football head' at?"
Helga sighs followed by an uneasy laugh. "Yeah. We don't know anyone else name, Arnold. Do we?"
Curly shakes his head. "But, it's not a date?"
Helga turns away from him. "No."
He hops off the counter she could feel him stepping closer to her. "Either way, I hope you know what you're getting yourself into. Again."
She whirls around frowning. "What are you talking about?"
He leans his head over. "I think you know. You remember your little debacle with a certain member of his circle?" Curly like Helga and her friends was considered an outcast too because of his purposely mix match clothing choices and flamboyant behavior.
Helga couldn't believe what she was hearing. She didn't mind it from Jennie because the girl didn't know Arnold but this was Thaddeus 'Curly' Gammelthorpe; who grew up with Arnold just like she did. How could he think something like that and put Arnold in the same category as a superficial, perverted manipulator?
She's annoyed also with his raised volume and the fact that he accidentally spits on her a little. "Thaddeus." He knew she was upset because that was the only time she used his real name. "You of all people should know that Arnold isn't like that."
Curly didn't back down from his position. "Should I? And just how should I? I haven't talked to the guy in years except for lame head nods and hellos while passing by in the hallway. How do I know he hasn't turned into a complete braggart?" He snaps his fingers. "Look what happened to Rhonda."
Helga knocks on his forehead. "Ding dong is anyone in there? Did you forget that Rhonda Loyd has been a snob since Urban Tots?! And that he has been one of the most accepting people in our old group?" Can't believe I'm openly defending Arnold like this.
He admires his nails in a way of imitating the 'pretty boy' types. "Like I said that was years ago. I don't like to judge people by their past... good or bad... but how they act now. And from what I've seen he keeps people like us at a safe distance. That says a lot."
She softens a little because she did sort of appreciate his way of thinking. But she's still annoyed. "It's not like we've been exactly approachable to him. Fuck maybe he's been scared to talk to us. Our friends can appear rather um... hostile... so can I sometimes... lots of times." She could sense that what she was arguing wasn't get through to him. "Anyway, I have an idea of how he is now so you're just going to have to trust my judgement.."
He, a bit annoyed crosses his arms. "I just hope you won't be moping around your house because you suddenly have yet another urge to mingle with the 'beautiful ones.'"
She could hear the bitterness in his voice that she never heard before. Helga feels her irritation move into anger. "I know what this is about! You're still in love with her and you're upset that she's made herself inaccessible to you but that's no reason to judge my action... especially since I'm only trying to have fun with an old friend!"
He turns away . "An old friend." He murmurs. "Yeah right. And anyway you leave Rhonda out of this! This has nothing to do with her." Helga folds her arms and turns her back to him. "And everything to do with the fact that I can't believe my friend is being naive. Not only did one of those guys treat you like shit, but they've done the same thing to many of your girlfriends! Where was Arnold when people he associates with treat you and your friends like dirt? I don't see him sticking up for you." Just like Helga, he was still unaware that Arnold has stuck for her simply verbally in the past and even got into a physical altercation as a result. "I'm only trying to protect you!"
"You are the one that brought her up! And I don't need protection alright!"
He shakes his head. "Fine! That's right you're Helga G. Pataki the tough chick. You still think no one can hurt you... huh? Well, when it happens yet again... just don't expect me to comfort you if and when someone else sucks you in and then spits you out because I might not be here!" He turns his back to her now.
She is hurt by his comments and spins around to jab him roughly in the back; causing him to jump. I can't believe he's actually saying this...he can't mean it... "You little prick! How dare you speak to me like that - all because I want to expand my horizons and have a little fun with someone outside of our group!" She stares him down hoping that he would apologize but he didn't. "Whatever... I don't know why I even bother to entertain this childish conversation."
Seeing headlights and she hoped it was her ride. "I'll see you later at the club..." She eyes him judgmentally. "Or not! I don't really care whether you show or not." She was shocked at this whole disagreement. The two had been good friends since the 8th grade and not once did they talk to each other like this.
He puffs and storms out of the store and in the process bumped into Arnold; who naturally tries to apologize and speak to him but only got the back of Curly's head jogging off to get on his bicycle. A confused Arnold watches him. What the hell was that about?
I decided to cut it off there, so not to make it unreasonably long.