Saturday, 1:55 PM
Helga's POV
Why the hell did I agree to this? Oh, right, because Cody insisted that we come over since he wants to be 'friends' with all of us... I'll have to be careful though, this moron is smarter than I give him credit for, Cecelia or not...
"I don't get it, why do we have to spend our Saturday with this guy?" Arnold grumbled, stepping up to ring the doorbell. "Doesn't he have any other celebrity fans or friends?"
No, and he could dig up info to humiliate us if we don't show up. "Who cares, football head? It's better than dealing with Bob's loud football game or Miriam's lack of self-control."
"And a lot better than showing up to Timberly's dance recitals. I can't believe she's still in those."
Phoebe shrugged, "Maybe she enjoys the art of dance, expressing herself on stage."
"Or she's just plain crazy. What nine year old still likes all that stuff?"
The door opened to a smiling Cody before anyone could answer.
"Hey guys!"
Everyone muttered half-hearted responses before stepping inside his 'house'. Well, not really a house, more like a temporary rented mansion near the outskirts of town.
"So, I ordered a few pizzas that are on it's way here and I have some soda just waiting to be opened," Cody continued, his smile as fake as Splenda still plastered on, "So sit down, help yourselves, and I'll be right back." He guided them over to the coffee table, where, true to his word, bottles of Sprite and 0 calorie coke with a stack of cups lay.
The gang sat on the uncomfortable oak colored couch, tapping their fingers as they sipped their soda as Cody entered another concealed room.
**TSLOHP**
"Excellent," The manager said excitedly as Cody entered, being sure to lock the soundproof door behind him, "You finally did something right."
"You're welcome?" Cody answered sarcastically as he sat on the one of the unoccupied seats, looking over a HD color monitor at the four guests sampling their drinks.
"I thought you said there would be games here," Gerald causally asked, taking another gulp of his soda.
Helga growled lowly, setting her cup down on a coaster. "That's what he told me, Tall Hair boy. Criminy, where the heck is he, anyway? You don't invite someone to your house and keep them waiting."
Phoebe looked around the empty space behind them, noticing a small blinking red light hidden (such a cliché, I know) in one of the potted plants. She took off her glasses, rubbing her eyes to make sure she didn't she anything imaginary and sure enough, it was gone.
The manager slammed her hand down on the off button before Phoebe could look, but she was a millisecond too slow to respond. "Aw, damn it, she saw. The Asian chick saw the light! Cody, get out there now!"
In the blink an eye, Cody ran out of of the many doors leading to the room and popped back into the living room.
"Hey everyone-"
"Where were you?" Arnold interrupted, standing up to face him. "You just vanished."
Cody cleared his throat, a bit tense, answered, "I went to the bathroom. Drank a lot of water this morning," he added when he noticed Arnold about to ask another question.
"Cody, I also happened to notice a-" The doorbell rang, cutting short Phoebe's sentence.
"Oh, the pizza's here!" Cody declared enthusiastically, running to the entrance. In the time he navigated the 30 second journey, he took it as time to examine.
And Cynthia says I screw up too often, He thought, every step taking him closer to the door. I can't believe she's pissed at me just 'cause she was too slow to turn off the stupid camera. He shook his head in disgust. No matter, I'll pull the information out of them soon enough. Just got to keep playing the -ugh- victim card and try to gain their trust- enough though I HATE playing that role...
Cody payed the pizza man a bit more money than intended to but he shrugged. He would be even richer soon enough...
**TSLOHP**
"I hope you guys are hungry," He grinned, setting the pizzas down on the table, "'Cause I bought Romino's!"
Ah, Romino's. The pizza the wasn't five-star but wasn't cheap either, and every family enjoyed the hell-smelling garlic-brushed crust, perfect amount of oregano in the homemade sauce, crust cooked enough to avoid food poisoning yet enough to be savored, hot or cold. And yet, the cheese could last long periods of time before coagulating, yet heat up back to it's tender state within thirty seconds in the microwave. The mouth watering toppings were to die for! This was a pizza every family enjoyed on special occasions. You hadn't lived till you've tasted it.
"Of course we're hungry." Helga spoke, "We haven't eaten since 7, and soda is empty calories."
"What toppings did you get?" Gerald asked, rubbing his hands together. "I love-"
"Beef and bacon on one pizza, pepperoni on the second, grilled chicken on the third, plain on the fourth and pastrami on the last."
How the hell did he know what topping I like? "Wow, you really went all out, Cody." Helga voiced with a hint of impressed.
Cody shrugged, "I just guessed, that's all. I'm going to get some napkins and plates. I'll be right back."
With that, he disappeared behind the walls to the hidden door.
"How did I do?" He asked flatly.
Cynthia hit the 'record' button and let the live video do the talking.
"Maybe this bucko isn't half bad..." Helga trailed, opening a box to examine the pastrami toppings.
Arnold shook his head. "I don't know about this guys, what if this is just a bribe?"
"Well, it's a very, very delicious one, my friends." Gerald cracked his knuckles.
Phoebe piped up, "He's putting in some effort to impress us. Maybe we should give him a chance."
Helga gestured the three to surround her, and whispered something into their ears. A few seconds later, they departed.
"Commence Operation: PIG OUT!" Gerald exclaimed, and everyone started eating.
Cynthia shut off the record button and watched them eat for a few seconds before turning to Cody.
"It worked," Cody said maliciously, an evil grin overtaking his face, "They finally like me."
Cynthia nodded thoughtfully, "Good, good."
Cody's smile fell, "I thought you would be more excited about this?"
"We'll talk later." She sighed, running her hands thought her coarse, long auburn hair, handing him the napkins and plates, "But you need to get out of here now before they suspect something suspicious-again."
**TSLOHP**
"You know, I've never tasted pastrami on pizza before," Arnold said.
Helga shook her head in mock pity, "Then you don't know what you're missing, football head. It's the king of all pizza toppings."
"I see..." He quickly swiped one off her pizza and immediately consumed it, "This is actually pretty good."
"What the heck was that for, football head? You could have just taken another slice."
Arnold smirked, "This was easier."
Helga sighed, taking a piece of his topping. "Not bad, hair boy."
"Now who's the one that could have taken another slice?"
"This was easier."
Arnold nodded, "Touché."
"I know." she took a bite of her pizza slice.
Phoebe and Gerald watch the rather flirtatious scene with slight happiness and slight anger for their friends not realizing the extent for their emotions.
"Ten bucks says that he won't realize till the end of the year." Gerald whispered into Pheobe's ear.
She giggled, "We shouldn't be doing this..."
"But it's so obvious! I'm getting sick of hearing him complement all the time. He needs to make a move!"
Pheobe nodded, "Taken...you're on!"
Cody stepped in at that moment, plopping the napkins on the table. "Seems like you like you guys started without me. It's cool."
He tuned the nearby radio up to 103.5 and let the music play out, sitting near the sides as he took a plain lukewarm pizza slice.
"Now for the international sensation that took over a BILLION views on MeTube in less than six months, Oppan Gangnam Style!"
"Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Najeneun ttasaroun inganjeogin yeoja
Keopi hanjanui yeoyureul aneun pumgyeok inneun yeoja
Bami omyeon simjangi tteugeowojineun yeoja
Geureon banjeon inneun yeoja..."
"Does anyone know how to dance to this?" Cody asked curiously.
Everyone nodded.
"But it's way too goofy to be done in public." Helga commented, picking up another pizza slice.
"...Areumdawo sarangseureowo
Geurae neo hey geurae baro neo hey
Jigeumbuteo gal dekkaji gabolkka
Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Eh-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh..."
"Are you sure?" Cody continued, "That's the fun part of the song."
Helga scoffed, "Not when you look up the English translations."
"Did you? What did they say?" Arnold asked.
She cleared her thought, her face turning a bright red. "They're a little... suggestive."
"Oh..." Arnold coughed, his face flushing.
"Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Eh-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh..."
"Are you sure-"
"Fine, we'll do the stupid dance!" Helga said, pulling Arnold along. Before long, everyone was up and waiting for the next bridge."
"...Jigeumbuteo gal dekkaji gabolkka
Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Eh-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh
Ttwineun nom geu wie naneun nom
Baby, baby
Naneun mwol jom aneun nom
Ttwineun nom geu wie naneun nom
Baby, baby
Naneun mwol jom aneun nom
You know what I'm saying
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Oppa Gangnam Style
Eh, sexy lady
Op, op, op, op
Eh-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh
Oppa Gangnam Style..."
Helga plopped down along with everyone else, exasperated from dancing.
"That was the worst popular dance moves to with this song. Criminy, I haven't see anything worse since the Macarena craze."
"Ehhh, the Macarena..."
"Aye!" Helga facepalmed at Arnold's terrible joke as everyone else laughed. She had to admit, though, it was pretty funny.
4:23 PM
"I have to admit, that was pretty fun," Arnold said as they left Cody's house.
"That dude knows how to threw a party!" Gerald said, pumping a fist in the air.
"Eh, it was OK. Could have been better if we didn't dance." Helga commented, kicking a pebble.
Phoebe nodded in agreement as they headed home...
**TSLOHP**
"We didn't get much info today, Cody," Cynthia said as they packed up the screens, "But you did get into their inner circle, so there might be a chance we could get more info later."
Cody nodded half-heartily, the image of Arnold and Helga's little tete-a-tete still imprinted in his skull. He needed to pull her away from him if he ever wanted a chance to know more about the blonde haired beauty...her other friends would just be collateral damage...
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S...EVE! Whoo! Last update of 2012. And (almost) everyone thought the world would end 10 days ago. Kudos to PSY, whose song was featured in this chapter. Also it's his birthday today.
Hope everyone enjoys this and as always, please review! :)