III. Education

Phoebe opened her front door, smiling at the person standing on her steps.

"Come on in."

He stepped into the house, glancing around.

"My parents are out for the afternoon so we'll be undisturbed."

He followed her into the living room, taking a seat in one of the plush chairs. Phoebe settled herself back on the couch where it was apparent she'd spent most of the afternoon already. She closed her books and notebooks scattered on the coffee table.

"I'll admit I was curious as to why you called me this morning. I only ever see you in class or in passing." She stopped, frowning slightly. "I'm sorry, can I get you something to drink?"

"I'm fine thanks. I need to talk to you and I need to know this'll stay between us."

Phoebe's frown deepened. "Of course Arnold. Although, I don't understand why you aren't talking to Gerald."

He folded his arms. "Helga Pataki."

"Never mind, do continue." She retorted. "Although, please understand that Helga is still a very close friend of mine and I will never betray her confidence."

"I don't expect you to. But I was hoping you could help me figure her out."

Phoebe eyed him, picking up her bottled tea and uncapping it.

"I can try, but why are you suddenly so interested in trying to understand her?"

"Well, she's never asked me to sleep with her before."

Phoebe choked on her tea. Arnold jumped up and patted her on the back as Phoebe coughed, grabbing napkins to clean up the mess. When she could breath again, she looked up at him.

"She what?" She asked increduisly.

"You heard me." He stated going back to the chair.

"No actually, I don't think I did. I could have sworn you said Helga asked you to sleep with her."

"She did."

"Wait. Sleep together. Not just actual sleeping, but…intercourse?"

"Well, I'm sure there might be some sleeping involved but, that's about the just of it, yeah."

Phoebe sat back, stunned.

"Well hell."

"I'm going to take it this is a surprise for you also."

She nodded thoughtfully. After a moment, she turned her attention back to Arnold.

"What part is Tad playing in this?"

"It's a joint deal. He had to ask someone too."

Again she looked shocked. "Did she agree?"

He nodded. "He's been over there since yesterday afternoon according to Helga."

"Damn, I didn't think she'd actually agree."

"Wait, how do you know who it is?"

Phoebe rubbed her forehead.

"Spend more than a half an hour outside class or even school and you'll know who it is also." She peered at Arnold.

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her to give me a week with her. One week of dating to discover who she really is and then…we'll see."

"And she agreed to that?"

"Didn't have a choice. I told her if she was willing to get naked for me, I wanted the whole deal."

"It'd be easier just to get her to strip her clothes. I've been her friend since pre-school and even I don't know everything about her."

"But why me?" She asked. "There are tons of other guys in school she could've asked."

"And of those hundreds of other guys in the school, how many do you ever see Helga around?"

"Other than Tad?"

She nodded.

"Well, there's Jayson…"

"Gay."

"Marcus?"

"Gay."

"Ron?"

Phoebe smirked. "So past gay, he should be a girl."

"Okay, she has to have some male friends that aren't gay."

"She does."

"What about the blond who was giving her a piggy back ride across campus last week."

"He has a girlfriend and a girlfriend on the side. She's friends with him, but she doesn't trust him any further than she could throw him." She stopped to take another drink of her tea. "There are only two guys she trusts completely."

Arnold sighed. "Me and Tad."

She nodded

Sighing heavily, he sunk further into the chair.

"What do you think about all of this?" She asked. He glanced over at her.

"Between you and me?"

"Of course."

"I don't think I really ever thought about it. In my mind she was always hands off. So I was shocked when she asked."
"And now that the No Trespassing sign has been lifted?" She asked.

He gave her a lopsided grin. "Just like every other seventeen year old guy. I know I have an opportunity to have sex and I almost can't think about anything else." He shook his head. "I know I shouldn't, we've known each other since we were three."

"But you aren't put off by it."

He blushed. "No. In fact it's almost a turn on knowing that she specifically wants me. Kind of an ego buster."

"So you will probably see this through."

He gave her a look. "Why am I telling you all of this?"

She smiled at him. "Because even though I hold Helga's secrets, you also know I will hold yours."

"Yes, I'll more than likely see this though." He admitted. "That decision was made the first time I kissed her."

Phoebe smiled. "You've kissed?"

"Nothing major, just a little kiss. But enough of living vicariously through me." He said, trying to change the subject. "Tad said Helga was bemoaning the fact that he and she were the only virgins left in the school while I don't believe that's true, it would mean that the people she knows would be in that category.'

Phoebe grimaced. "Well, since we're divulging hidden secrets, it was a long time ago."

"Gerald never said anything about it."

"It happened once, right before we broke up." She put down the bottle and leaned forward, her attention focused on the boy sitting across from her.

"I'm going to tell you something I've only shared with one other person. And that's because only she knows what I went though."

Arnold frowned. "Shayla?"

Phoebe nodded. "Most boys in your situation would have taken care of it on Friday night and forgotten the entire incident. I know Gerald would have. That's where you're different. That's why Helga chose you."

"Phoebe. What did Gerald do to you?"

She smiled and sat back. "That's in the past. If you want to find out about Gerald, you'll need to ask Shayla. As for Helga…"

"You think I should do it." He said.

She nodded. "I think you should do it."

On Monday, he went in search for the elusive girlfriend. He knew Gerald drove in late because he had to drive Timberly to school, so he knew he had time.

He found Shayla at her locker chatting with a couple of friends.

"Hey Shayla?"

The dark skinned girl turned, smiling when she saw who it was.

"Morning Arnold."

"Hey, um…can I talk to you…in private?"

She frowned slightly, and then nodded.

"Sure Arnold."

He waited until she said goodbye to her friends and then grabbed her book and shut her locker.

"You have fifteen minutes sweetie," she said, consulting her watch.

"They walked down the hall in silence for a few moments, before he spoke.

"Can I talk to you about Gerald?"

The girl sighed. "Is he doggin' again?"

"What? No!" He exclaimed, stunned. "Well, at least I don't think so. I wanted to ask you about him personally."

She eyed him. "What's this about?"

He sighed frustrated. "Look. I spoke with Phoebe the other day and our conversation turned to Gerald. When I asked her about him, she suggested I ask you."

Shayla stopped, grabbing Arnold's arm.

"Hold on. I think we might need some privacy for this."

She pulled him into the library and to a table towards the back. Dropping her books on the table, she sat down, gesturing to the seat next to her.

"Okay," she said quietly, once he was seated. "What's going on?"

"Look, I know Gerald is my closest friend." He started. "I don't agree with some of the things he does, so he doesn't tell me. The problem is, I've been friends with Phoebe just as long, so when she hinted about the past." He sighed frustrated. "I don't know."

"Let me tell you something about Gerald." Shayla said. "The boy likes to think he's a player, but in order to play, you have to bring something to the table. He likes to think he's the bomb, when in reality, he's kind of a washout."

Arnold blinked. To hear Gerald talk, he was the new Casanova.

"Gerald isn't the first player I've dated, and he probably won't be the last. He was planning to break it off with Phoebe when he slept with her. When I started dating him, I wanted to know what he was like, so I went to the source. Phoebe was up front and honest and I appreciate that. I know what he does, but officially we aren't together." She said, quoting with her hands. "Now there are a ton of things I could tell you about your friend if you ever wanted to know, but I don't think that's why I'm here."

She leaned forward in her seat. "So, what's going on?"

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Well, being Gerald's friend, I don't want people to think…"
"Oh sweetie, don't worry about that." Shayla interrupted. "Everyone knows you're the complete opposite. Everything you are, he isn't."

"Lately, I had a proposition." He admitted. A slow smile grew across Shayla's mouth.

"She must trust you a lot to ask you that." She suggested.

He shrugged. "She says she does and I've known her my whole life."

She looked thoughtful. "Is it her first time?"

He nodded.

"Do it." She answered. "If she trusts you enough to be her first, you can't say no."

"It's a huge responsibility." He retorted.

Shayla grinned. "It ain't your first time. You know how to use protection." She glanced down at her watch.

"Oops, times up. Gerald should be in the school and I don't want him doggin' you. I can lie, you can't."

She stood up, pausing to pat his shoulder.

"Good luck Arnold." She grinned cheekily. "And give her a night to remember."

Arnold blushed as she walked off.

As he slowly walked through the hallways, he thought about what both girls had said. More and more it was being perceived as almost an honor to be asked. To be specifically asked instead of clumsily falling together in a night of apologies and let downs as his had been.

Turning the corner, he heard the familiar laughter of Helga and Phoebe. They were walking down the hall with Tad. As they approached, he could hear what they were talking about.

"So according to her, she taught me so well that she's keeping me on reserve. I was that good." Tad was saying. Helga shook her head as Phoebe gave him a look of disbelief.

"She's using you, you know." She said, matter of fact.

Tad grinned.

"She can use me anytime she wants."

The conversation died as Arnold reached them.

"Morning guys," he said, feeling slightly uncomfortable. "Um, do you mind if I take Helga?"

He could see the blonde girl open her mouth to speak, but then Tad and Phoebe gave her a small shove. She stumbled towards him.

"No!"

"Really go ahead."

"We'll see her later."

The two walked off trying and failing miserably to hide smiles.

Helga glowered at their backs.

"Traitors" she groused. Turning back to him, she glared at his failed attempt to hide his own amusement.

"Come on," he said, trying to sooth her over. "I'll walk you to class."

"What will your friends say?" She mocked as they walked down the hall.

"The same thing they say every time we're seen walking to class together. Now, ask me if I care?"

She eyed him. "Do you care?"

"Do you?" He challenged. She shrugged nonchalantly.

"I don't if you don't."

"Then it's settled. Neither of us cares." He grinned. "Now, let's talk about us."

"There's an us?"

"Oh, there most definitely is an us. You kind of confirmed that on Friday. Now, what are you doing tonight?"

"Um…" Her eyes darted nervously, seeking a quick escape. So intent on her escape plan, she didn't notice the plan Arnold had formed.

She yelped as she felt his hand suddenly grab her arm and pulled her sideways into an empty classroom.

"There. Now you can't escape." He teased, blocking the only exit. "So, what are you doing tonight?"

"I…nothing."

"Great. Let's go to the spring carnival on the shore tonight."

"Carnival?"

"Carnival." He confirmed. "I'll be fun. We'll get to talk a bit more. "He grinned rakishly. "Why? What did you think I was going to ask you?"

"I…um…" she shrugged helplessly.

"Pick you up at seven at your house?"

"Okay."

"Great." He glanced down at his watch. "Two minutes left. We'd better get moving."

He moved out of the way of the door but grabbed her hand before she could move. He pulled her to him and planted a kiss on the side of her mouth. He pulled back, smiling at her dazed expression.

"Come on, don't want to be late." He teased, pulling her with him into the hallway. She followed, not even realizing he still held her hand until he let go when they reached the throng of students in the hallway.

"See you later," he told her, dropping her off in front of her class.

He walked to his own, his mind already planning question and situation for that night.