I have so many ideas for this fanfic that I keep the other 2 on hold.
In this chapter you see a bit more of Miriam, Bob and Olga. Even Bob is still a jerk.
I hope you guys enjoy this new chapter!
After school, Helga, Phoebe and Gerald were at Slausen.
Gerald was student at a music school where he was studying, Gerald planned to become a musician.
''….so when going to Public College 118, we are almost getting our old class together.'' explained Phoebe. '' I heard they are supported by the University so we can take subjects for our future to be jobs.''
'' Sweet! I can't wait to be together again with the guys!'' said Gerald when he took a spoon of his Banana twisted mango ice cream.
'' Gerald, technically speaking, we always meet up once a week. '' said Phoebe. '' But I do understand what you try to say.''
Helga was poking around with her straw in her raspberry milkshake. Every week they were meeting up.
It was getting ice cream at Slausen or having some baseball games together like the old days.
'' Ooh man! I feel a jam coming up, need to write it down. '' said Gerald and grabbed his phone to note it down.
Phoebe chuckled as she take a bit of her matcha-vanilla ice cream and was looking at Helga who's mind was far away. She kept stirring in her milkshake.
Phoebe tapped Gerald his arm to get his attention. As Gerald looked up to his girlfriend, she nodded her head towards her best friend and Gerald looked at a dazed Helga.
'' What's wrong with her?'' he asked softly.
'' She has been like that the whole day now. She had some memories going on of her and Arnold.
I wish Arnold would come back soon.'' said Phoebe with a sigh and Gerald put an arm around her to comfort her. Then he looked back to Helga.
When he was younger, he wasn't really in fond of Helga but when she became Arnold's girlfriend after the adventure in San Lorenzo, he started to learn Helga better.
Not to mention when Helga returned 2 years ago when she was running away. Arnold had called Gerald:
'' Gerald, it's me. Helga took the plane back to Hillwood. Will you and Phoebe pick her up?'' asked Arnold.
'' Yea sure but what happened that she suddenly ran away?'' asked Gerald.
'' Family stuff. No idea how it will turn out so that's why I am asking you guys.'' said Arnold.
'' Alright. But in return, be honest man, did you and Helga?'' asked Gerald when he was putting his jacket on, ready to leave.
'' Did what? '' asked Arnold unsure.
'' Come on man, don't leave me in dark!'' said Gerald with a whiny voice.
'' Gerald, what are you talking about?'' asked Arnold, totally not prepared for the question what was coming.
'' Did you and Helga had sex?'' asked Gerald bluntly.
A lot noise and crashing was heard on the background. '' GERALD! NO!'' shouted an embarrassed Arnold.
'' Bro… You didn't saw each other for 2 years… don't lie to me.'' laughed Gerald while he was walking to Phoebe.
'' I did not sleep with Helga. Gerald! I don't have time for this. I am packing for an expedition. I won't be able anymore to contact you guys. '' said Arnold with an upset hint in his voice.
'' What?'' Gerald stopped walking. '' What do you mean, you can't contact us anymore?''
'' My parents and the Green Eyes, a new sickness is on its way and we need to find a remedy for it. There are no phones or internet. Gerald, please, look after Helga for me. I will be back when college will start. You're my best friend I ever had and a brother to me. Tell Helga to wait for me and…'' told Arnold to Gerald before he went silent.
'' Arnold?'' asked Gerald while he was walking again and standing in front of the house of Phoebe.
''…. that I love her.'' said Arnold and Gerald hear the broken voice of Arnold.
'' I will. Take care, Arnold.'' – '' Take care, Gerald. Bye.''
Gerald sighs. That phone call of 2 years ago wasn't easy to tell Helga. She had locked herself up for a week.
Now he was staring to a Helga who had escaped reality once again. Gerald sighs and took his change.
'' Helga?''
'' Hmmmm?''
'' Wanna hear something?'' asked Gerald with a playful tone in his voice. Phoebe raised her eyebrow and look at Gerald with what are you planning face.
Gerald put a finger on Phoebe her lips and look at Helga again. Phoebe was looking at her boyfriend, what was he planning?
'' We, with that I mean, aka the old gang, we signed up for the summer camp of District 118, right?'' asked Gerald.
'' Yes.''
'' And that the summer camp will be held 2 weeks before Rhonda's graduation party?''
'' Yes Geraldo. I keep counting the days for that party since I got the feeling Arnold will be there as well.'' said Helga with some annoyance in her voice, still looking to space.
'' What if I tell you… that Arnold called me yesterday late in the evening.'' said Gerald smiling and Helga stopped poking her milkshake and looked at Gerald with big eyes. Phoebe place a hand over her mouth.
'' He c-called?'' asked Helga slowly.
'' Yes he did. The expedition was successful and he also graduated from that school. And he is, like us, going to the Public college of 118…'' told Gerald and Helga her face was lighten up and was totally focused what Gerald was telling her. '' …. meaning it will be like old times. And that he couldn't wait to see his grandparents, the boarders, his best friend, the other friends… and his girlfriend.'' chuckled Gerald seeing Helga's face so excited.
'' Yes! Yes! He is coming back! Yes!'' shouted Helga.
'' Who is coming back?'' asked a voice and Helga looked over her shoulder, seeing Stinky and Harold.
'' Arnold! He is coming back.'' stated Gerald.
'' Wait? Really?'' said Stinky as he and Harold sat down. Helga sat down quickly and started to drink her milkshake.
'' And that made you happy, Helga?'' asked Harold in a teasing voice, he still was the guy who could tease.
'' Of course, Pink boy. In case you forgot…. Arnold was the best batter of our gang.'' said Helga sarcastic in a way, correcting her behavior from earlier.
If the gang didn't know one thing what was going on, it would be the relationship between Arnold and Helga. First Arnold wanted to tell everyone but seeing Helga and knowing about her pride of being '' badass''', he kept it silent. And at one point he realized it was fine like this. No noisy classmates or friends meddling between them.
'' Oh boy, oh boy. When is he coming back?'' asked Stinky. '' Everyone would be happy to meet Arnold again.''
Gerald glanced quickly to Helga before he smiled and said: '' He will return a day before the graduation party of Rhonda.''
Helga's heart skipped some beats. Meaning in 3 weeks she would be able to see him.
'' Aaaww, so he will miss camping tho with us.'' said Harold with a sad face.
Helga, Stinky and Phoebe looked down while Gerald took another scoop from his ice which Phoebe noticed.
'' Weird… he is hiding something.'' thought Phoebe, seeing her boyfriend busy with his notebook, scribbling some notes down.
'' Criminy! It is almost dinner time. I need to go.'' said Helga.
'' Yea, we need to go as well Stinky, Sid and Brainy are waiting.'' said Harold.
'' Where are you guys going?'' asked Gerald. '' Having a BBQ at Stoopkid's place. Wanna join?'' asked Stinky.
'' No. Thank you. I am staying here with Phoebe a bit longer.'' said Gerald.
Harold and Stinky waved the 3 off and Helga packed her bag and placed it over her shoulder.
'' Call you tonight, Pheebs.'' – '' Alright. Talk to you later, Helga.''
'' Bye Geraldo.'' – '' Bye Helga.''
As Helga left the store, Gerald scraped the last part of his bowl out and looked at Phoebe, who had her arms crossed and looked at Gerald with a face that was scary.
If Gerald knew one thing, that was when Phoebe looked that way, he couldn't escape.
Petite or not but that Japanese heritage of her was scaring the crap out of Gerald.
'' Spill it.'' she said in a demanding voice. '' What? What do I need to tell?'' said Gerald dumb, trying to save himself.
'' About Arnold. You keep something secret about Arnold. Gerald, you are my boyfriend but Helga is my best friend and I don't want to choose between you two. So spill it.'' said Phoebe a bit angry.
'' Alright, alright. Sheesh!'' said Gerald uneasy. His hand went to the back of his neck and start to rub it, being nervous.
'' I promised Arnold to keep it a secret but I guess, telling you should be fine. I told just now that Arnold would arrive before the party right?''
Phoebe nodded. '' Yes.''
'' Actually, he is not.'' said Gerald quietly. '' What do you mean he is not?!'' shouted Phoebe a bit.
'' Hey easy, easy! I was not done yet! Arnold will arrive much earlier. To precisely, we share a room with Helga and Arnold.'' said Gerald and Phoebe her expression went totally blank for a second.
'' Pheebs?'' – '' How could you? Do you have any idea what will happen to Helga when she finds out?'' said Phoebe worried.
'' That's what I told him but Arnold said he had an idea. No idea what he was talking about. I swear! He didn't say anything.'' defended Gerald himself when he saw 2 angry eyes at him.
'' Okay. I believe you. But no more hiding!'' said Phoebe as she pecked his cheek.
Helga came home, dropped her bag on the stairs and went into the kitchen.
'' Hi Mom.'' said Helga as she sat down. '' What's for dinner?''
'' Hi Helga. Vegetables and meatballs. How was school?'' asked Miriam.
Miriam had changed a lot since she stopped drinking 2 years ago. Hearing the words from a sobbing Helga: '' How can you be a mother if you are constantly drunk?!'' made her realize it was time to stop. She had now a job at a TV-station and the relationships between her daughters Olga and Helga evolved. Even with Bob, who could be a complete idiot, she had good times with her husband.
'' It was okay I guess. Everyone is excited for camp and Rhonda's party. Hi Olga, stop staring, you creep me out'' said Helga when Olga came in and sat down while looking at Helga.
'' Ooh baby sis! Aren't you excited? All the people you will see again. Everyone will be dressed up…'' rattled Olga while Miriam put the food on the table and Helga started to eat. '' Bob! Dinner!'' shouted Miriam to the living room. '' Yeah coming! It is almost finished!'' he shouted back.
Miriam shook her head and started as well. '' … Ooh baby sis, I can't wait to see what kind of dress you have bought! You will show it tonight right?'' asked Olga and Helga looked at her sister and mother, who seems both were looking at Helga.
Helga chewed and swallowed a piece of meatball and looked confused. '' What are you two looking at? What dress? I didn't order anything.''
'' But Helga, the mailman delivered today a big box with a dress in it. '' said Miriam.
'' How do you know there is a dress in it? Did you opened the package?'' asked Helga with a raised eye brow.
'' Vestido encantado is a shop in San Lorenzo and quite an unique one too. It means enchanted dress in Spanish. I looked it up on the net.'' explained Olga but saw the face of Helga, who's eyes went wide by hearing the name of San Lorenzo.
'' Where is that box?'' asked Helga as she stood up.'' In your roo-.. Helga!'' called Olga and ran after Helga with Miriam behind her.
Helga stumbled over some steps but she made it into her room and saw on her bed a soft pink box with a lilac lid on it. It was sealed with a white ribbon. Helga walked to the box and saw the logo and address of the shop.
With a bouncing heart she took the ribbon between her fingers and pulled it softly.
Olga and Miriam came into her room and saw Helga dropping the ribbon on the ground.
'' Hey hey hey, where is the fire?'' Bob walks into the room as well and saw his girls staring at the pink box. '' Oh, you are going to open it?''
Helga placed her hands on the lid and lifted it up. She saw some satin sheets, protecting the dress and on top of that, an envelope.
Helga picked up the envelope and opened it and pulled out a letter.
'' When I saw this dress, I thought of you. It will suit you perfectly. Wait for me a little longer, Helga.
Love, Arnold.'
Helga sighs deeply and she placed the letter on the bed and moved away the satin sheets.
'' It's still on between you two?'' asked Bob untactful.
'' Yes daddy! How can you miss that?'' said Olga mad. '' Arnold is such a wonderful guy.''
'' Ooh Helga, the dress is lovely!'' said Miriam and walked to Helga.
Helga held a white-off dress in her hands. It had thin straps, a sweet heart neckline and the top was softly draped. The waistline was holding a draped soft pink belt. From there under the belt, the white color was slowly going into a gradient of all kinds of pastel colors like it was dip and dyed. And where the colors where hitting, soft sparkles where glistering.
Helga held the dress in front of herself and look into the stand on mirror. Helga appearance had changed a bit, her uni brow was gone and her hair was longer. Her bangs were still straight like her hair itself on the back like in her younger years. She had curves that would make girls jealous but she didn't saw herself like that.
'' Football head… what are you thinking? I am plain as hell.'' she mumbled. '' You're not. You are pretty girl.'' said Miriam. '' Mom, you're not helping.'' sighs Helga.
'' I will help you, baby sis. We just need to cut your hair.'' stated Olga simply and Helga looked at her. '' My hair?''
'' Yes. With a new look, Arnold will be so proud of having you as girlfriend.'' said Olga with a giggle. '' I bet he will hold you all time, making sure guys won't hit on you.''
'' Hey hey hey Olga. Don't say weird things. Helga is still young.'' stated Bob.
'' I am 18, Bob. And Arnold and I hugged and kissed before.'' said Helga. '' Besides, it's about to happen anyway.'' she stated.
'' What do you mean by that?'' asked Bob with a lower voice.
'' Duhuuh! What do you think, Bob? What would Arnold and I do?'' asked Helga with a sneer.
'' Not in my house!'' shouted Bob angry. '' I don't want to hear any of it!''
'' Like hell I would do it here! Hell no! Now get out and scramble!'' said Helga angry.
Bob stepped forward but Miriam was quicker and took Bob by his arm. '' Dear, let's eat our dinner. Olga, when you are done with Helga, please come down you two and finish your supper.'' said Miriam and lead Bob away.
'' Yes mommy. '' said Olga and closed the door and looked at Helga. '' Let the transformation begin.''
Alright, I hope you guys had fun reading this chapter. Now I am wondering if Bob was just a jackass or was he really feeling uneasy that his youngest girl is flowering into a woman? What do you think?