A/N So... if you are wondering if overcompensating part 2 should be next... then you would be correct but I'm not the brightest out there and well I thought something like this should happen first. I can only hope you understand my twisted logic (of which I have none) if you look at the bigger picture.

At the sound of the main entrance locking, Helga dropped to her bed feeling exhausted. After almost falling asleep she arranged plans for Phoebe to come over. She figured she needed a distraction before acting on the turmoil of feelings that were beginning to spill. What had just happened was an indication of it. There was no need to march down to Sunset Arms and punch Arnold in the face. Or try to seduce Stinky (for a second time) in an attempt to get rid of the guilt for not being completely over Arnold.

So while waiting for Phoebe's arrival she wrote. A poem, the tip of the iceberg about her feelings. She noticed, just before the conclusion of it, that these thoughts and sentiments were leading to a dangerous path. Too scared of confronting them, she let the indecisiveness pester on the page. Hurriedly she placed the sheet of paper with her most recent writing in the topmost drawer. Removing it from her sight hopefully, mind too.

Maybe soon she'll be able to review it. When she's less of a basket case she figured, at least then she could share them with herself safely.

Helga even before she had Phoebe to talk to, kept most sentimental aspects of her life to herself. Sure she had no problem ranting to anyone within hearing range about the mishaps in her life, but she'll be six feet under before doing the same about how any of that made her feel. Unless it was indignation or rage or some variation of it, no one would ever find out. She would rather become worm food than expose herself like that. Anger, however, made her look violent, tough, too tough to mess with, she loved that. Whether she knew it or not, it was similar to a bed of nails. A small and hidden request to handle gently.

Something that Helga absolutely loved about her friendship with Phoebe was how well she understood boundaries. Phoebe as well as Helga knew when there was something wrong with each other, but there would never be incessant questioning as it often meant they wanted to feel things out rather than objective criticism.

Today was no different. Phoebe sensed the disturbance radiating off the blonde and said nothing about it and provided company and spent the day together talking about the mundane lively. Discussing summer plans to have a day trip just after getting their license. By 'convincing' Miriam to borrow her car. All while doing each other's hair. Mostly brushing and braiding, or styling as a relaxing activity to bond. Rather than burning their hair, as they learned the hard way years ago when seeing for themselves that hair straighteners weren't for them.

Now as time for bed approached on what had turned into a sleepover, Helga debated over updating Phoebe about the situation. They rarely talked about their love lives. Their relationships and circumstances had always been vastly different and often simply shared with the other on the milestones reached, or novelties.

Gerald and Phoebe's relationship had strangely been slow and fast-moving at the same time. There was no undying love confession, or glued at the hips stages, but they were always close and affectionate going back to early elementary. Always a constant, sometimes it sparked some jealousy, longing for what it would be like to have an easy relationship. Or 'partnership', they were exclusive yet did not have a title or at least denied it, but anyone who saw them knew better than to try and get with either of them. Everyone saw them together socially, witnessing their overly friendly hugs and hand-holding. Even teachers joked about them being together or if they didn't know better how they had a crush on each other. The consensus was that Phoebe wasn't allowed to date and got around it by having a boy 'best' friend. An easygoing give-and-take relationship.

Figuring Phoebe would eventually see Arnold sometime now that he was back she opted to lead with that. Helga hugged her knees in an attempt to comfort herself and simply said it.

"So… Arnold came by earlier"

Phoebe had been setting up her sleeping bag when the words reached her. Stopping immediately, and concentrated on replaying the words she just heard to not have Helga repeat herself especially given what they truly meant. "He's back then" A statement, not a question she didn't know whether it was for herself to assimilate to the fact or as to not scare Helga into feeling interrogated but either way Phoebe was beginning to understand. The energy surrounding Helga throughout the day had been because of whatever thoughts had been occupying her mind as a result of that.

"Mhm" muttered distractedly as a response and turning to look at her continued "Pheebs, let's say I… well I love a… rollercoaster and always loved it, but you notice that it can make you as miserable as it makes you happy. You know puking and whatever". Saying it with a wave of her hand and now on her feet pacing around the room. "And then there's this carousel that's nice and maybe isn't as exciting but there's no vomiting, dizziness, and maybe a little under-appreciated but it's still great, maybe… maybe better than great"

Phoebe could see that her friend was approaching an endless tangent and decided to interrupt her before it got worse. "Well Helga I suppose you should keep in mind that perhaps there was something else that had made you more susceptible to… these ailments and the heightened feelings accompanying the roller coaster only made them prominent. Furthermore, need I remind you of that time you regurgitated over Harold two years ago and still rode it twice more" Phoebe knew the reason for the question and how it wasn't literal but hoped to lighten the mood by reminding her of that event.

"Ha! Pink boy shouldn't have bought more food than he could eat during the line for the ride otherwise I wouldn't have had to help his sorry behind. And look what good it did, my good deed of the week. Ha!"

"Helga! We were all out celebrating his birthday and he was the one that ended up covered in your stomach contents, ohh and the smell ugh" Phoebe turned away scrunching her nose in disgust at the memory.

But now Helga was laughing heartily at that same memory. "Ohh don't remind me Pheebs, I laughed so hard that Arnold kept giving me his lectures, ugh and his judging looks!"

At the mention of one of the parties' names in the situation, Phoebe resumed the topic of her best friend's dilemma. But this time with a silent rebuke, for still after all this time, not being direct with her. "And anyway Helga remember that you can still ride both and see which it is that you like more, it's not like you can't take turns". The smile on Phoebe's face was witty and knowing, accompanied by an even more teasing head tilt.

"Uhh, yeah" Helga answered now completely still, and absorbing the comment, she hoped the blood flow to her face would be attributed to the laughing rather than Phoebes' comment. "Right, no need to pick. I can enjoy both if I'm not feeling one of them... There's… you know… the other one… available…" Gulping, she tried not to think too much about what she just said. Now really fighting the creeping blush. "So uhh yeah, thanks Pheebs. Night Pheebs!"

"Goodnight Helga" as they both resumed their presleep routine.

Even as dark as the room was, Helga could still see the outline of the Raggedy Ann doll sitting on the corner of the other side of the room. Something she did to gain some comfort as she no longer felt as if she could sleep with the thing. She could only put it farther away from her bed and kept increasing the distance as the years went by. Yet she could not part with it or even put it in the closet as it had once brought her comfort for years even before learning how to write her name. Opting instead for pulling a green hoodie from under her pillow, she relished the smell and feel of it. Soft, plush and warm, it had always been warm in every sense of the word.

A/N well now that everything I had is posted updates will take some time. I have some other stuff to do so y'all won't hear from me in like two weeks. if you do please sent me packing as I'm probably procrastinating.

anyways this fic is based on the ideas developed on the comment section of a tiktok.(the first one) and the concept grew enough that another artist made drawings of said concept (the second one) you should go see them they are so cute

nebelihood/video/7307096071656819973

milkykittenz/photo/7309354545904225582

as for this chapter what did you think on my take of the Phoebe Helga relationship?
or the Phoebe-Gerald (that I based on an actual couple in my High school. they were very cute and are still strong 3 idk I think cute enough to base another adorable couple on.)
thanks for reading 3
XOXO
-kat❤️