Second chapter, here we go! Also, thank you for reading! :)
Helga plodded her way over to her beckoning friend group. She tried to put her and Arnold's interaction out of her mind for now. She would feel feelings in confidence later. Right now, it was time to bottle them up and betray nothing, as she was so well practiced in doing.
Her friend group consisted of four other girls. Phoebe had always been there for her, of course. She was inexplicably loyal to the end, the brains of the group, and her most trusted companion. Alongside her, there stood two upperclassmen girls, Cordelia and Tyler, and one freshmen who had been thrust ahead a grade, Sam.
Cordelia was lanky and gorgeous with thick, ginger hair. On the outside, she appeared the stereotypical preppy girlfriend of the quarterback. After talking, however, Helga found her to be manipulative, conniving, and a get-rich-quick genius. She was highly aware of how people perceived her, and used this to her advantage. Helga admired Cordelia's way of thinking, and Cordelia turned out to admire Helga, as well. They once went in on a deal with the vending-machine loader together to upcharge the drinks and split the profits. They made $150 in a day.
Tyler was a small but boisterous, dark-skinned tomboy who only ever wore shorts or leggings as pants. An aggressive social butterfly, she had all of the important connections in the freshmen, sophomore, and junior class. She was at every party and was a member of half of the school's clubs. If they ever needed information, favors, or access to a social event, Tyler was usually the one to get it done.
Sam was more akin to a rescue puppy that an asset. She was labelled a "gifted" child in elementary school and was pushed ahead a few grades. Now that they had reached high school, her peers had caught up to her intellectual level, and Sam had levelled out into average. She took it hard. Helga and Phoebe had reached out to her back in middle school, and the shy kid had been at their heels ever since. Sam rarely spoke and would only communicate via text, which led to awkward group messages in the middle of discussions on subjects that had ended fifteen seconds before. They learned to find it endearing, for the most part.
Helga was the politically-minded one of the group. The strategist. Perhaps even the leader. She was the most intimidating and agenda-driven of all of them. It could be supposed that she was the quietly angry glue that kept this eclectic group of girls together.
She made a note to herself to find a brawny addition to the gang. They could rent out the services of Big Patty on occasion, but it would be nice not to have to outsource the messier parts of their operations.
The group was standing beside an oak tree amid collections of conversing students. They had a few stacks of boxes full of the foods they were trying to sell. A few kids were just leaving with their purchases when Helga approached.
"You guys know I spend break period by myself. Just text me if you need something."
Cordelia sat down cross-legged on the grass and gave a half-lidded smile. "We just missed you is all."
Phoebe chimed in. "We're very sorry, Helga. But we didn't think this problem could wait until the next time we were all together."
"Damn, girl, was that you with that Arnold kid?" Tyler nudged Helga's arm. " I haven't been out here in a while, so I ain't seen you two together. That's pretty cute."
"Don't get the wrong idea, Ty." Helga warned, scowling. "You know how he is. Likes to be nice to people. Tries to get them to open up. Solve their problems and whatnot."
Phoebe tugged Tyler's sleeve, "You must also never mention this to other people. And if someone approaches you about it, say that you don't know what they're talking about and act surprised. That's one of the rules."
Tyler sighed. "Alright, alright. Ya'll are no fun. Forgetting."
"Anyway," Cordelia snuck out her cigarettes and lit one, taking a long drag. "We were wondering what you thought of this: Our usual sales have gone down despite the price drops. Tyler is pretty sure it's because the potheads' secret safe place got found out yesterday and they had to start blazing off-campus. They do this mostly during break. So, like, right now,"
"Soon, they'll return and beg everyone they know for food." Phoebe said. "The problem is, the school prohibits sales of anything by students after the last lunch period, which is also going on right now. Fundraiser or otherwise."
Helga felt her phone buzz in her jacket pocket. She flipped it open to find a text from Sam.
did u get to show arnlod the cd yet? i really need it back soon. its my bros and hell kill me if he finds out
She glanced around to find Sam, who was examining her from the shadows and operating the cash box. She quickly tapped out a reply.
I let him borrow it for a while. Hope that's okay. I'll get it back tomorrow, promise. ;p
"Okay, let me think." Helga sighed. "Does Principle Snubs really enforce this rule?"
"Hell yeah, he does." Tyler interjected. "He stopped Cordelia's high-powered lighter sale she used to offer in 7th period."
Cordelia blew a jet of smoke that obscured her face. "I'm not sure the time of day had much to do with the lighters being confiscated."
"Not the best example," said Phoebe. "But yes, it is a known rule."
Another buzz.
oh…..… wellll thats fine i think. you always have a good reasn for doing things Helga :))))))
Tapping.
You're the best, Sam. And don't tell anyone!
Then Helga had a thought.
"Okay, big deal. So we can't sell anything after lunch. That doesn't mean we can't get hungry potheads their snacks. Here's what we'll do:
"During the morning sales, you guys will discreetly inform our trusted usuals that they can acquire food after the lunch period by purchasing it from us in advance. And I say discreetly so you guys are careful not to tell anyone who likes to snitch. If kids don't want to have to hang on to the food all day, we can take the order, make the usual record of it, and get it out when they come to collect later. They won't be able to impulse-buy if they have the munchies, so it's a little less effective, but at least it keeps the market open all day."
"Why can't we just sell it in secret in the afternoon?" Tyler huffed.
"Because this is still technically a school fundraiser." Phoebe informed. "They bought the food outright and we're selling it for a slightly higher price. The profits go back to the school, so it should really be on their terms."
Helga agreed. "Exactly. If this was our operation, I would say go for it. But we're only doing this to show faculty and tailored yuppies that we're capable of getting shit done. We want people to remember that these bitches right here funded the entire Spring Dance."
Tyler gave an agreeable head bob and bounced a little on her feet. "Hell yeah. Okay, sounds good to me, H."
Cordelia stood and dropped her cigarette on the ground, putting it out with her heel. "You know, it might help our situation too if the snack machine outside the gym 'malfunctioned.'"
"Go for it." she approved. Helga delighted in Cordelia's underhandedness. Phoebe, however, took note of this endorsement and shot Helga a troubled look.
"Don't worry, Pheebs. Cord never leaves a trail."
"It's not that, Helga, it's-"
The school bell sounded, causing Sam to jump from her sitting position. She scurried over to the boxes of snacks and began piling them up to carry.
The noise level picked up as kids began to file back into the school. Ty thumped Helga's shoulder. "Hey. Did that kid Eugene ever finish my World Civ. paper?"
Helga flashed Tyler a look of warning and glanced in Phoebe's direction. She wasn't supposed to mention it in front of Phoebe. Nevertheless, she answered, "He should be handing it to you in ten minutes. If he doesn't, text me. I'll have it fixed."
"Nice." The two shared a high-five. Tyler made a point to high-five everyone in the group just before they parted ways. Phoebe received hers before Tyler and Cordelia headed to their class together, with Sam trailing behind, hauling the cash box and a load of snacks.
The others gone, Helga felt that now was a good time to start feeling feelings again.
"Phoebe, if I could speak with you privately. At your locker." Helga spoke an urgent and hushed tone and began walking her forward urgently, with a hand on her back.
Phoebe was alarmed. "Helga, what is the problem?"
"We can talk there. Pick up the pace, Pheebs."
Phoebe's locker was at very end of the most remote passageway in the school building. She often lamented this state of affairs and just stash her books in Helga's more central locker. Using her own locker in between every period usually meant that she would be late to her distant classes unless she ran there.
However, for situations like these, when Helga was desperate for a confidential discussion, Phoebe's locker was the only place in the hallways that wasn't absolutely bustling with other people. Normally, she would keep developments like these to herself. But she was in dire need of some advice from her most trusted friend.
Helga shoved through the chattering throng of teens with Phoebe in tow until they arrived at the empty space by her locker.
Phoebe snatched her hand away. "Okay, now we're here. Please tell me what's going on."
"Open your locker door so it looks like we have a reason to be here."
Phoebe complied and opened her locker. "Oh wow... I forgot this was in here."
She retrieved a comically oversized pink eraser that read in large type on the face, "FOR BIG MISTAKES."
Helga slumped against the wall of locker doors. "Oh, Pheebs. I don't even understand. It's as if the universe has conspired against me, waiting for the perfect moment to finally deliver what I've always wanted just when I've stopped caring so much about having it."
"Helga, you can just tell me outright. I am your friend."
"But why deprive me of my dramatic monologue? You know my need to perform."
Phoebe smiled and rolled her eyes. "Okay... but don't take forever. We both have classes to run to."
"No, I am gonna be serious now. Phoebe, it's about ice cream."
Phoebe's eyes widened. "Oh? But don't you two hardly even speak, even when sitting together?"
"Not today, we didn't. He started asking me about my life, what's been happening since middle school, and even asked why I teased him so much. And he brought it all up by himself! I even tried to change topics. "
"It just sounds like Arnold was being curious and good-natured, Helga."
"That's not it! After we caught up and everything, he suggested that we 'hang out' sometime and that he 'liked talking to me'. Like he was expressing some sort of social interest in me."
"That's good!"
Helga grabbed Phoebe by the shoulders. "Is it? Phoebe, I stopped thinking about this boy a long time ago. I gave it up, wrote it off as a lost cause. Mostly because I had actually established myself in the social caste system of public school and couldn't run off to engage in theatrics and swoon over a picture in a locket all the time. I had more important things to do! But after I stopped, after I had finally distanced myself from the object of my obsession and make a point to divert all my attention from him, after so long, HE approaches ME and wants to 'hang out'? Does this mean that all I ever had to do to get him to notice me was to ignore him for years?!"
Phoebe's concerned gaze filled Helga with appreciation for her small friend. She was breathless from ranting, and felt as though maybe she was raising her voice a little too loud. That didn't worry her too much, though.
"Well... how do you feel about him now?" Phoebe inquired.
"I... I... I can't answer that. Because I don't know."
Phoebe took Helga's hands off her shoulders and clasped them. "Helga, you could easily cut ice cream off like you have so many times before and prevent any bond from forming. But you've never really wanted that, right?"
Helga nodded solemnly.
"So what I advise you to do is to try and see where this goes. Just let him talk to you. And talk back if you feel like it. You'll realize whether you like or don't like him. But you have to give it a shot."
"So, just... take him up on his offer?"
"Yes!"
"I don't know..."
"Please, Helga? I feel like this will be good for you. And if things don't work out, it'll at least be closure. An ending or beginning on your own terms."
Phoebe was wise beyond her years, Helga thought. They had actually become very close throughout high school. The relationship had developed beyond the one-sided abuse as they matured, and now it was beneficial for both of them. At least, Helga hoped so. Phoebe excelled so far in rationality and knowledge and had such a promising future that Helga felt overshadowed at times. Not that she was jealous. But it did make her wonder what the girl thought she was gaining from such a friendship. She hoped that Phoebe couldn't yet discern this insecurity.
"I… could try that, I guess."
"Good!"
"But I'm not going to initiate anything. He's gonna have to come to me."
"I'm certain that won't be a problem. But.. uh..."
"What is it?"
"Well, there's one other thing you could do that I'm sure would ease the uh... situation, I guess you would call it. I just don't know how you're going to take it."
"Just tell me."
Phoebe released Helga's hands to fidget with her own. "Well, wouldn't you say it's obvious that Arnold is rather upstanding with good morals and acts appropriately on those morals?"
"... Sure, yeah."
"And wouldn't you agree that he values people who are likewise principled and upstanding?"
"Your point?"
"I'm just suggesting, Helga, that, well... You can be a little rough or negligent to kids who don't have the power you do. I see the way you and the other girls use Sam as a servant more than you see her as a member of the group. And the way you guys always get what you want out of little guys like Eugene. I just don't see Arnold being okay with some of these things."
Helga crossed her arms and remained silent for a moment.
"Please don't be upset with me."
"I'm not. Why would I be?"
"I just didn't want to sound like I was asking you to change."
Helga stifled a laugh. "I wouldn't have changed anyway, Pheebs. But I, uh... see what you mean."
"Oh, I'm glad." Phoebe looked relieved.
"And I suppose you didn't just ask this because you thought it would help Arn... ice cream like me more."
Phoebe looked away for a moment before nodding.
Helga ruffled the girl's cute bob. "Don't worry, kid. I'm not turning evil or anything."
"I'm your age, 'kid'"
"Shorter, though. And I'll lighten up, per your request."
"You promise?"
"You got it." Helga gave a corny thumbs up.
Phoebe looked the most pleased Helga thought she'd ever seen.
"Oh! We'll probably be late to Chem if we don't go now."
"Across the building? I was hoping you'd skip with me after this."
"Not on your life!" Phoebe chimed in a sing-song voice before hurrying off ahead of Helga, who followed at a less enthusiastic pace.
"I don't know why I expected any different."
Chemistry was probably Phoebe's favorite class, and Helga's least favorite. And while she was managing a B+ (due mostly to Phoebe), the subject matter wasn't the only thing bugging her. Phoebe and Helga shared a table, and Gerald sat at the end of the next table over, adjacent to his obvious object of interest. Regrettably, they were not far away enough from Helga so that she couldn't overhear their exchanges. It was enough to make her nauseous at times.
This time, they were getting a little friendlier that usual. Gerald had even pulled his chair up to their table, and that, frankly, was where Helga drew the line.
"Hey. You with the hair. When do you reckon my lab partner's schedule has an empty slot? Sometime this period?" She chided.
Gerald turned his attention to Helga. "Damn, Pataki, we were just talking."
"Sorry about that." She gestured to the table. "All of these worksheets in front of me gave me the impression that we had work to do."
Gerald glowered and opened his mouth to retort, but not before the teacher started speaking.
"Class!" Mr. Fletcher announced. "You're going to need to turn to page 277 for the problems you'll being doing. Please refer to you handouts for more information on the activity. Gerald, would you return to your table and start the assignment?"
He complied, lugging his cast off the table (which was layered over with messages and drawings from other students,) but not before sharing words with Phoebe that Helga tried to but couldn't eavesdrop on. Phoebe at last returned her attention to her books and papers.
She flipped open her book and found the page they needed. "Okay, looks like we're calculating moles. This is actually really easy."
"Hey, Pheebs. Sorry if I seemed possessive just then."
"No, no, not at all. You were right, we really needed to start working. Gerald gets a little too distracted sometimes."
"Are you two… going out yet or…?"
"Moles, Helga! Focus. Do you remember how to convert moles to grams?"
"Alright, alright, yeah, I do. Here, if you do all of the odds, I'll do the evens. Sound fair?"
"Whatever works for you! I would be fine doing all of them."
Phoebe wasn't nearly as easy to read as she once was, Helga thought. Maybe she was gaining something by sticking around after all.