It took Phoebe a few days to get back to Gerald. She remained focus on her studies but on her off time, Phoebe made lists or thought of the past. It is truly hard to determine if the same thing will happen again or not. Should she trust him? Should she not? Phoebe just knew that he never betrayed her before. She also knew that if the drinks were more than likely spiked with something, then he wasn't the only victim of it.
Her answer came one night on the news. It showed that the University he went through hosted a Halloween night. The drinks were dosed with various drugs like X for example. 22 kids were arrested that night for vandalism. Some girls were reporting that they were taken advantage of. There were some others arrested for robbery. All Gerald did was kiss a strange girl.
Still. Will this happen again? She loved him deeply, but could she take another pain? Could she just accept and forgive him? The ball was in her court. How will she aim with this decision?
Calling him up, Phoebe saw a sloppy looking Gerald answering. "Hello Gerald."
Gerald was severely stressed. He had been so anxious waiting to hear from her, he hardly ate. "Hello Phoebe. How are you?"
"Well considering all what I've been going through thinking. I could be better. How are you?"
Leave it to Phoebe to still be concerned over him. "Not good. I'm just feeling horrible about what happened."
Brushing her hair behind her ear, Phoebe then adjusted her glasses. "I heard about it on the news. Your drink was tainted with something."
"Yeah. It has been very crazy around here. I even got questioned about it and told them my story."
"And the girl that you kissed?"
He felt like he got slapped at her questioning him about her. "I saw her being questioned too. I haven't spoke to her at all since then. I don't even want to talk to her."
"I hope not." Phoebe noticed she snapped at that. "Gerald I am on the fence here. I understand about the effects of certain drugs, but I'm nervous that you'll end up at another party, and you kiss another girl. Heck maybe even sleep with them. I know you never betrayed me before, but I'm not around you right now."
"Phoebe, I'm not going to another party. I swear it."
"Well I know that is impossible to do for a guy like you. You just have to practice better restraint." Sighing, Phoebe remained firm with him. "I'm giving you another chance, but if you screw this up it will the last chance I'm willing to give. I love you, but that hurt me so badly." Her tough exterior faltered to give away to tears. "Please don't do that to me again."
Reaching out to grasp the side of the monitor like he was actually holding her. "I won't. I swear. Phoebe I love you my kirei. You are the only one I want to be with."
Nodding her head, Phoebe needed to remove her glasses to wipe her eyes. Trust is obviously such a fragile thing at times.
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Wearing nothing but a silk negligee, Rhonda went from her study with her sketches to her bedroom sit down on the bed. Her teacher was much too hard on all of her students so she wanted the designs to capture you. She wanted women to feel evoked in what they were wearing. Hearing a knock at her door, Rhonda crossed from her bedroom all the way to her door not particularly caring what she looked like. Carefully she placed her sketches down to open up her door to find a surprise visitor.
"I guess your job really pays well for you to afford this trip." Opening up her door a little wider, Rhonda gracefully threw her hand out. "Oh please do come in."
"I'm good at saving my money." Checking out her nightwear, Torvold felt himself stirring. "Remember you did tell me to pay you a visit some time."
Rhonda had to access her memory for that. "Oh forgive me, I've been so busy studying that it slipped my mind. Please come with me to the spare bedroom."
Following behind her swishing behind, Torvold felt himself in his own fantasy world. "I'm surprised you answered the door like that."
"I'm not ashamed of my body, darling." Opening up the door, Rhonda turned on the light. "Here is your room."
Walking inside the room it was a decent size that was obviously being paid for by her family. Turning around to say something he found her missing before the sound of her feet came dashing back in. She wasn't kidding about not being ashamed of her own body. The strap fell down off of one shoulder revealing almost most of her breast. Having sketches thrusted at him, he was told to tell her what he thought.
Yes she was aware she almost was showing her chest off fully. No, she didn't care if he saw anything. "What do you think?"
"I don't have much of an opinion, but your boob is about to be shown." Torvold informed her cooly.
"So? You've seen breasts before." Disappointed she couldn't get a clear reason, Rhonda just pouted at her sketches. "I don't have school tomorrow so we can do something tomorrow."
Unable to take this anymore, Torvold took her strap and moved it up into place. "As much as I enjoy the show I know this isn't what this friendship is about."
"My, aren't you gallant." Rhonda guessed he truly wasn't interested in her. Not wanting to force the issue, she decided to help him unpack.
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At the coffee shop waiting for Helga to arrive, Arnold decided to order for her the second she sent a text telling him she was on her way. Ordering two coffee's and getting a sandwich for them both, Arnold even ordered her a brownie as a treat. While waiting for his order, a girl came up to him to strike up a conversation. Arnold just spoke in a noncommittal type of way knowing this girl has been winking at him each time he passed by.
"Well now that I introduced myself, I'm wondering if you would like to go out with me."
Arnold didn't catch her name, he only tuned in at that part. Lifting his left hand up he showed her his wedding band. "Sorry, but I'm not interested."
The girl blinked not knowing why he showed her his ring. "That's a nice ring, but I don't care if you wear jewelry. I think you are really cute and I want to go out with you."
Grabbing his drinks and food, Arnold couldn't believe she couldn't understand. "Flattered, but I'm married." Trying to move past her, he wasn't surprised with her non-pulsed reaction.
"I doubt that you are. You are way too young to be married."
"Oh but he is." Helga said from behind Arnold as she raised her own left hand up. "Honey, would you like to eat elsewhere from this one?"
"Yes, my Swan." Enjoying the fact that Helga at least took the bag, Arnold and her left to eat elsewhere. "That girl thought I wore jewelry just to wear it. Guys don't normally wear rings except if they are married."
"Or if you are Mr T." Quipped Helga as they located a bench.
"Do guys listen to you when you tell them you're married?"
"Nope!" Helga sharply said before deepening her voice some. "They always tell me this: Oh come on baby whatever your husband doesn't know won't hurt them." Throws out some mock kissing sounds.
"I always get the girls who want to party." Leaning over to kiss her, Arnold wanted his wife all over again. "So... Do you want to come over to my place to have some fun? I promise that your husband may figure it out with the amount of noise I'll make you produce."
Guffawing at that, Helga got up to immediately sit on his lap. "Hmmm. I'll be the one with no clothes on."
Nibbling her neck, Arnold was struck with a thought. "I'm surprised you didn't call me by my nickname in front of that girl."
"If I did that little ho would call you that herself. I have to prevent it from ever happening. You are my Football Head, just like I'm your Swan."
"I never forget such a beautiful detail." Handing Helga her coffee, Arnold kept her on his lap so they can enjoy their tiny lunch break.
"Oh yeah, Phoebe is sticking with Gerald. Also Lila suffered from Braxton Hicks. She thought she was going into early labor but it was a huge false alarm. She said that it felt like a freight train using her stomach as a train track. She mentioned more in a lot more colorful sense, but man I need a translator for that." Pulling out her cell, Helga showed him the text.
Reading it, Arnold shook his head trying to wrap his mind around it. "If Arnie was around he might be able to translate it, not me. She certainly is expanding who she is."
"Yep, and Brainy loves every single second of it."
"Guess he loves a very strong woman." Namely his wife, Arnold thought to himself. "We have four days off for this coming Thanksgiving but it isn't a lot of time to leave to head to Hillwood and back. I'd rather spend time with everyone than just a little."
"I've been thinking about that and I have a thought. We cook our small dinner on that day, and on friday there is this place called Pt Reyes. There are these artists scattered around that area who display their various types of art. They display it from their own houses. So not only do you get to see a variety, you also get to see a fantastic area. I guarantee that you'll love it." Helga suggested. "I've done it before with Olga. This time around I would love to do with someone I get to kiss."
"I guess that means we rent a car for a day or two to do that journey. I don't want to do too much wear and tear on the truck." Arnold figured. "Actually I would love that idea." Kissing her cheek.
"Yeah I mean I figured since you are an old man at 19 now, we have to do it or else senility sets in."
Closing one of his eyes at that joke, Arnold tickled her. "I'm old huh?"
"Football Head! I'm gonna spill my drink. AHHH!"
Bringing her in for a deep kiss, Arnold couldn't wait till the end of the day to get her home.