Now we're with Arnold; next will be Gerald and then Rhonda.

I dread going home these days. Especially on nights like tonight. Brainy will be there, Helga will be asleep on the couch waiting for me to come home. The worst thing about it all is that I gave up caring many years ago. I do love Helga, just not the same way I did back in high school.

It started with a dare. It was after winning a big game and a few of the guys and I were hanging out in my room talking and fooling around. Well one of the guys, Lucas, brought up Helga. How good looking she was, but she was a major bitch. Then they teased me about how much she loves me. I just brushed it off but I knew it was true.

She's always loved me. Finally one of them dared me to ask her out. I'm a man of my word so I did. Helga was thrilled, excited, and I couldn't help but feel a bit happy. That night went better then I'd expected it to. She actually was a lot of fun. I knew Brainy was following us but Helga didn't seem to mind. I guess she was just so used to it.

The first fight we had was because of my smoking pot. She said that it was bad for me and that I wasn't the same person she'd fallen in love with. I left but I found myself missing her so I came back to her a week later. We were okay for a while but I swear we've broken up and made up more times than Rhonda had boyfriends.

Finally after graduation I made up my mind that no matter how much we fought I wouldn't leave. She would be crushed if I left for good. I do care about her in my own way. Then I ran in to Phoebe. I hadn't seen her since the first half of senior year because she graduated early. We got to talking and it was a nice change. She was still with Gerald but getting bored and I'd been bored for years.

We found comfort and excitement with each other and we still do. I love Phoebe and one day we'll be together properly. For now though it's not the right time. Gerald doesn't even know about it yet and the only reason Helga knows is because it came out in our last argument. As I approach the building Brainy is sitting on the doorstep. Sometimes he's inside with Helga but tonight he's waiting.

"Nice of you to finally show up."

"Back off Brainy. Don't you have something better to do?"

He stands up now and he's always been on the tall side like Stinky, so he's easily able to look down at me with a glare. "You're killing her Shortman! She's a broken mess and you're the one to blame! It's your anniversary and you couldn't be bothered to even take her out? Every year you do this to her and every year it's the same!"

"You're not in charge of me! I can do whatever the hell I want, when I want to!"

"Then why don't you let her go and let her be happy? Why don't you just walk out of her life and take Phoebe with you. Oh don't look so surprised. Everyone knows about it. Word travels fast between old classmates." Brainy's eyes were narrowed. He's such an annoyance, but I didn't want to admit that he had a few valid points.

"She won't leave me. She can't live without me and there's nothing you can do to change that."

"Like hell there is. I'll get her away from you one way or another." I didn't have time to respond before he punched me and walked off. I stumbled back a bit, cursed and then went inside.

Helga was asleep on the couch like I'd predicted. She did look pretty tonight. I sighed and kissed her forehead before heading to the bedroom. I was getting changed in to some night clothes when she appeared in the doorway looking worn out and miserable.

"How was your night?" She asked softly, not making eye contact with me.

"It was okay." I don't bother asking about hers, I know it was miserable. "Why don't you go get changed and then come to bed."

"Alright." She gets some clothes and leaves, coming back a little while after I laid down. "I'm going to sleep in the other room tonight I think." She says. We have a two bedroom apartment though the second bedroom is hardly used. I let her go with a nod.

Just as I'm about to close my eyes, my cellphone beeps-signaling a text. I reach over and flip the phone open. A text from Gerald. I don't often get text's from him anymore. I press a button to read it.

You're a scumbag and if I ever see you again I'm going to kill you

Well I guess everyone really does know now. I'll call Phoebe tomorrow and we can figure this whole mess out.