Hey! Sorry it's been a while. I'm at the last few weeks of school and have a lot due. I will try to get more up soon but it may take a while since I have quite a bit of homework. Also I wanted to let you know I will be revising and editing all the chapters so some stuff may change because I very rarely edit without changing something. The next chapter will be Alice's date and i want to know if you all want it through Alice's experience or maybe two teenagers following along to spy...let me know what you think ;) Enjoy this short chapter and i hope i can post soon!
So Arnold and Helga put their plan into action. It wasn't hard and it seemed to be working. So through the next few weeks they were careful not to let Alice know what they were doing. And other than the killer bruise Helga "mysteriously" got, everything went smoothly. She got to spend time with Arnold other than on Saturday nights, Saturday was getting more comfortable and they both looked forward to it.
It was the second week in October when the plan finally worked.
It was a Friday and Arnold was on his way to the bookshop. He had finished student council and didn't have to work the football game that night. As they were dismissed he bolted out the door before everyone else. He walked quickly, almost jogging, down the street peeking behind himself every so often. He was trying to get to the shop without being seen. He throw open the door as he entered the shop with a smile and a quickened breath. Alice was standing with Helga at the counter looking at the computer screen until he entered distracting their attention.
"Hey Helga, Hey Aunt Alice." He rushed and speed walked to the counter.
"Hey Arnold. what's up kiddo?" He didn't answer and directed his attention to Helga.
"Hey Helga. I need your help finding a book." Helga looked at him suspiciously and Alice cocked her head in confusion. "like now."
"Arnold." Alice leaned on the counter. "She's busy right now. I'm teaching her how to do inventory and orders. Maybe I can help you?" Arnold gave Helga a serious look, something urging and urgent.
"No. I really need Helga to help me." He kept peeking back at the door. "It's for class and I really need her opinion." He rushed around the counter and grabbed Helga's arm, making her blush. "I'll bring her right back."
Arnold pulled Helga behind a bookself where they could see the counter and the front door. He pulled the blonde teenage girl down so she could see.
"What the Hell, Arnoldo?" she whispered angrily. Arnold responded with a smile and a finger to her lips. He then pointed to the door. As Helga turned she saw a tall red-headed man walk into the shop.
Mr. Flanagan walked into the shop nonchalantly, but a little tense. Having heard the chime on the door, Alice from behind the counter, turned round and seeing who it was instantly felt her cheeks turn a slight shade of pink.
"Mr. Flanagan! What a pleasant surprise." smiled and made his way to the counter.
"Hello Alice. How have you been?" He seemed to smile nervously.
"Good. Good. How about you?"
"Good." There was a small silence and Alice smiled trying to get him to look her in the eye.
"How can I help you today?" Mr. Flanagan seemed to get even more nervous even though he never lost his smile.
"Well actually I'm looking for something."
"Well, I have a wide selection of books. What genre are you looking for?"
"Actually I'm not looking for a book…"
"Well, umm…I do have a few magazines and Cd's available, nothing to write home about." The red-head scratched the back of this head nervously.
"Actually, I was looking for a date…With you…"
Silence fell in the shop. Alice looked at the man wide eyed and speechless. Arnold and Helga held their breath. They had been working the last few weeks dropping hints to Mr. Flanagan and Alice. Writing about her in assignments, dropping a name during a discussion in class, talking about their choice of books and stuff that makes you interested in someone. So When Arnold was stopped by Mr. Flanagan that day, before he went to student council, and was asked where the bookshop was, it was obvious the plan had worked. It took every responsible bone in Arnold's body not to skip the meeting and head straight to the shop but he had noticed the papers on Mr. Flanagan's desk and only god knows how Arnold finished before Mr. Flanagan. But as they all waited for Alice to respond the teenagers wondered if it had really worked. Finally Mr. Flanagan let out a sigh and his face turned bright red.
"I'm sorry. I think I may have jumped the gun here. I mean I am a few years younger than you and your nephew's teacher and I'm going to stop talking and leave before I completely make an ass out of myself…" Suddenly he stopped. Something had grabbed his hand. He turned to find that Alice was clashing his hand between hers. She blushed deeper and smiled sheepishly.
"I would love to go on a date with you."
"Really?" He turned and grabbed her hand with a slight squeeze.
"yeah." She was blushing and he was blushing and Alice felt like a teenager who had just been asked out on her first date. She knew it was weird but she kind of liked this feeling, she hadn't felt this way in over 5 years.
"umm…how about tomorrow night?" Alice watch as his face glowed.
"Actually I have plans tomorrow night," His face fell a little but Alice interrupted before he could get too upset. "but how about next Saturday? 6:30ish?"
"Sounds great. What would you like to do?" He smiled at her again. Alice put a finger to her chin and though a moment. From behind the bookcase the teens saw a flash of cunning across her face but if you hadn't know Alice they way they did you would not have caught it.
"How about Bowling?" Mr. Flanagan was taken back a little but after a short moment of pondering he nodded.
"I haven't been bowling since high school. Yeah that sounds wonderful."
"Great. So…I'll see you…Next Saturday? At the bowling Alley Mr. Flanagan?"
"yeah. Next Saturday. Can't wait."
"Me neither." Reluctantly they let go of each other's hands and Mr. Flanagan made his way out the door. As he opened the door, making the chime ring, he turned back to Alice.
"Oh and call me Callan." The door shut behind him and Alice let out a soft sigh, one Helga wasn't unfamiliar with. Then almost like some flipped a switch, Alice's eyes found the two blondes eyes in the bookshelf and her face said 'you're in for it now'.
"Arnold…Helga…" her voice was soft but there was an undertone of attitude. "come here…"
It was one of those fight or flight moments…you either obeyed or tried to get away but she would get to them eventually so they chose to go to her. Looking like two lost puppies the blondes came from behind the bookshelf. Alice didn't look mad but she wasn't exactly looking all to happy either. She had this half-smirk but she had those mom eyes on. The ones where you know you're in trouble.
"I have a funny felling you two had something to do with this…Playing Match maker in your spare time, are we?" Arnold gave her a grin while Helga held back a laugh.
"you two are something else." She then folded them into a hug and squeezed them tightly. "But I love you." She let go and smiled.
"So why bowling?" Helga turned to the brunette woman inquisitively. Arnold smiled.
"You don't know?" Helga gave him a sarcastic look.
"Well football head, would I ask if I knew?" Alice chuckled.
"I was Captain of a Bowling team in College. A few of the students in my creative writing class my freshman year started one up and we played together until we graduated and passed it on. I was the Mighty Pin," Alice saw the almost sickly disgusted looks on the teenagers faces. "Hey, hey, hey! We didn't get to pick our names. Our team did and then the upperclassman did for the lower classmen. That was my Roommates choice."
"So you're taking him bowling why?" Helga still didn't quite understand the reasoning.
"Well….It's a fun game that you can suck at and still have fun. Also if I beat him by chance it a good way to see how well he takes losing to a girl and vice versa. Plus, I love bowling." She winked at Helga.
"Is that why you joined the bowling team that year Arnoldo? Because your Aunt was on one?" The two females watched the weird headed teen's face flush.
"So what if I did?" He crossed his arms and puffed out his chest. The girls laughed and Arnold just stood there until he himself could hold back the laughter anymore.
"Ok, ok? Helga needs to get back to training Arnold. So no more scheming." Helga went back to the computer behind the desk and Arnold said he's good-byes before heading home. It didn't take long for Helga to understand how everything worked and soon she was off doing the Inventory by herself. As she turned one of the corners Helga looked up for her work.
"So where are you going tomorrow?" Alice looked up from a paper she had on the counter.
"Oh I'm having dinner with Mrs. Neely. We were very good friends in high school and we're going to catch up a little" Helga smiled.
"I forget you went to school aground here." Alice gave a sad little smile and a nod.
"Yeah." Helga caught the expression but said nothing. That's when the chime on the door rang and a very special face walked through the door.
"Robert!" Alice ran around the counter and caught the balding man in a hug.
"It's great to see you too Alice. Hello Helga." Helga gave the man a half-smile.
"Hey Mr. Simmons." She made her way over to the man and let him hug her.
"So what brings you here? Do you need something new to read by chance?"
"I do, a few different books but Actually…" Mr. Simmons blushed a little. "I have a very special announcement. I wanted to tell you that I am getting married."
"OH MY GOSH! Robert! I'm so happy for you!" Alice squealed.
"Wow. Mr. Simmons that's awesome." Helga had discovered her favorite special teacher was gay in eighth grade when she had come over to get Arnold for baseball and Mr. Simmons and his now fiancé had come over for lunch with the Shortman. It didn't change anything about how Helga felt about Mr. Simmons but it had come as a small shock at 13.
"Did You ask Gene or did Gene ask you?"
"Gene asked me last weekend." The smile on Mr. Simmons' face was contagious. This was the happiest Helga had ever seen him. He almost glowed but both females caught a small amount of hesitation and anxiety. Even being as naive as he was Robert realized they had caught him. "Well…And I wanted to know if you, Arnold and Helga would join us for our wedding? It's not until June, we wanted to wait until school was out of course, but I would love if you guys would be part of our wedding party too. I mean I only have a few family members and Gene has such a large family and Alice your family has helped me through a lot this last few years with my mother pearl being put in a home and my uncle Chuck passing. I want you all to be there for my special day. We are sending out invitations soon but I ask you personally."
"Robert…" Alice felt tears come to her eyes. "I would be honored to be part of your wedding party. And I know the Shortman family would love to be a part of your special day." The adults looked to Helga who seemed to be slightly surprised.
"Wow. …That sounds pretty cool. As long as my dress isn't hideous." They all laughed.
"And I'm sure Arnold would love to be there too."
"I'm inviting all of my students, my original P.S. 118 students. You know the gang, the original tribe…but I am only asking a few of you to be a part of it."
"Your favorites?" Helga gave him a knowing smile.
"I'd prefer to call you my friends now that I'm not your teacher." The man winked.
"Call me whatever you want Mr. Simmons."
"Well I must be going. We starting the major planning today. Alice can you talk to Arnold for me? I dont know when ill see him next."
"Sure thing Robert." Alice gave him one last hug. "Don't be a stranger."
"I won't. I'll be back tomorrow for my books. This is going to be so special!" He said his good-byes and left the shop with a smile bigger than ever before.