Challenge 17: Whispers In The Dark

"Hey Arnold, I give up." Tall Hair Boy pointed to the yearbook picture of me. "The next name on this list is HELGA PATAKI." He lifted his hand to his face, smiling. Arnold stared at him for a second, and then they both flailed on the bed, laughing and holding their sides.

"How dare they laugh at me. Why I aughta…" I thought angrily. I would have flattened them both if I wasn't trying to hide in that stupid closet. I growled as Geraldo said, "Helga" in between fits of laughter.

I must have growled too loudly though, because Gerald sat up and stopped laughing.

"Did you hear something?" questioned Gerald to Arnold. Arnold sat up and listened. I put my hand over my mouth and waited, hoping he hadn't heard me.

"Ohhh why can't I just keep my mouth shut?" scolded my thoughts as I waited.

I stared in silent relief as my beloved said, "Huh, must be coyotes."

"Let's face it Arnold. We're stumped." Geraldo jumped off the bed and circled to face Arnold. I slid closer inside the closet in case my beloved accidentally saw me behind Gerald. How would I explain myself then?

"We ain't any closer to figuring this out, and we've been working all night." Gerald yawned and stretched. "Let's take a break."

I beamed. "Yes, yes. Take a break." I clapped quietly, hoping my football-headed darling would stop his search.

"Let's go down to Slausen's and get an ice cream cone" suggested Gerald.

"Hmm. Yeah, I could go for some ice cream" agreed Arnold. He closed the yearbook and set it down on his bed.

"Yes. Ice cream. Good plan" I whispered excitedly as I smiled. Finally he was leaving so I could sneak the book away.

"But then again…" I frowned at my love's hesitation.

Geraldo groaned "Aww, come on Arnold."

"Well…" Arnold picked up and looked at my book.

"Go. Go." I waved my hands up and down. "Just go, please." I pleadingly thought.

"What was that?" Tall Hair Boy turned his head toward the closet door.

I put my hands on my face. "Must stop talking to myself."

"Are you sure you don't hear something?" Gerald asked Arnold. My eyes widened and I covered my mouth.

"Shut up, shut up! I have to get through this or else it's all for nothing" I mentally scolded myself.

"Look, we're both tired." Gerald looked at Arnold again as he got off the bed. Arnold shrugged, "I'm just going to go straight to bed." Arnold and Geraldo wiggled thumbs.

"Okay. See you tomorrow Arnold." Gerald walked out. I sighed silently in relief.

Arnold waved, "See ya."

I pulled out and turned on my phone. I knew I wasn't going anywhere without that book, so it looked like I was staying in Arnold's closet for the night. But I needed a cover so my folks wouldn't get suspicious. I dialed Phoebe's number, hoping her parents wouldn't answer it.

Phoebe answered, "Hello?"

"Grubworm, this is Mighty Falcon."

"Who?" questioned Phoebs.

"Mighty Falcon."

"I'm sorry, you must have the wrong number."

I sighed. Sometimes, I just felt surrounded. I turned away from the closet door to be more quiet.

"Phoebe, it's me, Helga." I turned to watch my beloved make his bed. "Listen, call my mom and tell her I'm sleeping over with you."

"But Helga…" Phoebs started to object.

"Just DO IT!" I whispered fiercely to her. Criminy, is that too much to ask, to call my folks and pretend I'm staying at your house?

I closed the phone as my beloved turned off the lights. He looked so snug in his bed, so cute. I heard crickets churp from outside, the night also pulling me to sleep.

"Good night, sweet prince" I whispered in the dark to my beloved. I quietly shut the closet door, hoping the creaks wouldn't alert him to my existence.

As it shut, I sat and put my head between my legs, stroking his sock I had grabbed earlier in the afternoon. It was going to be a long night for me.

I watched this scene what must have been a hundred times, so it better be pretty damn close to it. Please review, and hopefully I can shell out another challenge later.