Arnold needed a break from his constant introspection and decided to go out with Rhonda and the group over the weekend. It wasn't their typical date but an opportunity to see if this relationship could be revived from its static state.
He examined himself in the mirror, indifferent to whether Rhonda would approve of his outfit tonight. With a shrug, he decided that tonight was less about impressing her and more about finding clarity. Keys in hand, he practically flew out of the door to his car.
As Arnold arrived, the night was calm. The moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting an ethereal glow over the gathering. The sounds of car doors slamming filled the quiet space as some of Hillwood High's finest stepped out.
"So, what's the plan for the night, guys?" Arnold greeted, taking in the crisp air.
Sid shrugged, wrapping his arms around Nadine's waist as he lifted a blunt in his hand. "Maybe a little weed—the usual, but it might get even more fun if he shows up."
"Who?" Arnold asked, his curiosity piqued.
Sid laughed shakily. "No one, we'll just go with the flow."
Arnold shrugged, unsure what to expect from the night. As he perched on the hood of his car, his eyes naturally drifted to Rhonda, who was engrossed in her phone, trying to get the best lighting to go live on Instagram. If anything were going to change between them, he realized, it would have to come from her.
The night seemed perfect—a clear view of the stars with a cool fall breeze—but Arnold felt something was off. He dropped his shoulders, pulled his knees to his chest, and thought about how romantic this moment could be with the right person. His cheeks flushed as he remembered the soft gaze in Helga's eyes when he returned her poetry. The memory was cut short by a sudden unease, a sense that something was about to go wrong.
Arnold's eyes lingered on Rhonda, who was lost in her digital world when Harold's voice suddenly cut through the night air.
"Why did you have to bring your wimpy girlfriends? They only get in the way!" Harold's shouting jarred Arnold from his thoughts.
Rhonda moved her eyes from her phone, narrowing them at Harold as she began her livestream. "Ugh, don't get upset at us because you're the fifth wheel... it's not our fault Patricia isn't here. If you didn't act like such an ill-tempered buffoon, maybe she would be."
"Don't you mention her name! No one's thinking about Patty!" Harold pounded his fist on his truck, taking a few more swigs of his drink.
Rhonda smirked, half-grinning at the camera. "Can you say alcoholic?" she quipped, angling her phone to catch a glimpse of an intoxicated Harold for her followers.
Harold childishly stuck out his tongue but couldn't deny her claim. He had been drinking a lot more since his breakup with Patricia, and his impulsive behavior had escalated. His position on the wrestling team could be in jeopardy, but he didn't seem to care at the moment.
Arnold watched the exchange, feeling more disconnected from Rhonda than ever. She seemed more engaged with her online audience than in their moment together.
Sid, doting kisses on Nadine's temple, twirled her and lifted his blunt toward Harold. Then he drifted off to himself, leaving Arnold alone with his thoughts.
"What's up with you, dude?" Harold asked, noticing Arnold's sullenness.
"Nothing," Arnold muttered, his gaze dull as he watched Rhonda, now joined by Nadine, talking to her followers. "Nothing at all."
Harold followed his gaze and shook his head. "Women," he said, taking another gulp of alcohol.
"Yeah, women," Arnold echoed, turning down a drink from Harold with a light hand wave.
The atmosphere shifted as Sid rejoined the group, now appearing even more relaxed. He noticed a guy approaching in the distance; despite only seeing his silhouette, Sid knew who it was. He gave Rhonda a knowing nod.
Rhonda paused her livestream, directing her attention to Arnold as Harold left his side.
"Hey," she whispered, placing her hands on Arnold's tensed shoulders.
"Hey," Arnold replied, the tension in his body lingering.
"Arnold," she purred, rolling her tongue seductively. "Don't you want to get some privacy? We can have some fun."
Arnold looked her up and down, surprised by her sudden shift in mood. The confusion lingered, but he pushed it aside, following her suggestion.
"Yeah, alright, sure," he said, taking her hand.
As the popular pair drifted off into a more secluded grassy area surrounded by trees, Sid's attention shifted to Eugene. "So," Sid started, meeting Eugene's gaze, "you ready to prove what you've got?" He gave Eugene a hardy pat on the back.
Eugene looked back and forth between Sid and Harold, twisting his gold earring nervously. He thought about their dynamic over the years and how he never quite fit in despite Arnold's attempts to include him.
The group had remained tight-knit, but things were different. Gerald had distanced himself, spending more time with Phoebe, while Curly and Helga occasionally tagged along with the couple. The once-close friends were growing apart.
Sid and Harold had taken it upon themselves to stage a "rite of passage" for anyone wanting to join their group. The challenge was dangerous: climbing the water tower in the dark and writing their initials at the top.
Sid draped his arm around Eugene's shoulder, pointing up at the platforms with loose rungs. "If you make it up to the top and down, you can have anything you want—Rhonda's rich, and Harold has his ways of getting things. So, are you in or out? We'll have your back in school, too. No one will mess with you, with me and 'the pounder' around," Sid said, referring to Harold's wrestling name. "Add Arnold and Gerald as reinforcement," he added, trying to sell the idea.
Eugene hesitated, his fingers tapping his chin in thought. The rumors about him had been relentless since the first day of high school. With his flamboyant style, he was an easy target, enduring years of torture and humiliation. This could be his chance to turn things around and finally belong.
With a deep breath, Eugene nodded. "I'm in," he said, jogging over to the water tower. He examined it, hands on his hips, trying to figure out how to climb to the top without his usual clumsiness getting in the way.
He shook off his doubts and decided to move on impulse.
"Oh No!" A scream pierced the night. Arnold's heart sank as he saw a limp body dangling from the stairwell. Instincts kicked in, and he rushed forward, brushing past Rhonda as he sped to the edge of the dock just in time to see the body drop into the water.
The metal part of the stairwell followed, splashing into the water below. "OMG!" Nadine cried, quickly sprinting over next to Arnold.
"Hey, are you okay?!" Arnold begged for an answer from the barely visible body in the water.
"What's happening to him?" Rhonda called out, cutting off her stream as she pranced toward the water.
"I don't know," Arnold answered shakily. He jogged to get his flashlight from his car and slid on the ground, finally spotting the floating body. "It's Eugene, guys!" His voice shivered with panic and concern.
As Arnold struggled to pull Eugene from the water, Sid's laughter rang out—a sharp, callous sound that grated against Arnold's nerves. "He'll be fine," Sid scoffed, lighting another blunt. "The klutz probably needed a swim anyway." Harold joined in, his booming laugh devoid of any concern. At that moment, Arnold realized just how different they had all become.
"Yeah, he's dumber than me!" Harold remarked, and they belly-laughed some more.
"ATTENTION!" A giant beam of light shone down on all of them.
"What the heck…" Sid covered his face as Harold tossed his bottle, causing the glass to shatter everywhere.
"You kids better get out of there before I drive over, or you're ALL in big trouble!" The officer announced into his megaphone while running back to his car.
Arnold ignored the cop's demands, lowering to give Eugene CPR.
"Whoops, we gotta split, guys!" Sid grabbed Nadine by the arm, who tried her hardest to protest. "Nadine, we gotta go. I can't get in trouble again."
Rhonda looked between Arnold and the truck, torn. She cared about Eugene, her long-term classmate, but getting into trouble could compromise the reputation she'd spent years building. The decision weighed heavily on her.
"Hey guys, wait up!" Rhonda called, staggering toward Harold's truck.
"Hurry up!" Harold ordered from the passenger side since he was too drunk to drive.
She squeezed into the truck with the three, and Sid sped off.
"Hey, you little runts! Why are you out here? Don't you know this is private property?" The officer barked, tired of always finding teenagers drinking and engaging in mischief in this area.
Arnold didn't peel his eyes off the unconscious Eugene. "Sorry, sir. But my friend here is hurt; he must get to the hospital." The officer looked over the boy lying on the ground, and before he could intervene, Arnold began giving Eugene mouth-to-mouth resuscitation again. The officer ran back to his car to call for an ambulance.
"Hey, hey, Eugene," Arnold patted the boy's face as he coughed up water and a little blood. "You're going to be okay…" His gentle voice soothed.
"What's happening?" Eugene questioned breathily. Seeing him breathing and speaking, Arnold finally exhaled and calmly reassured him.
Eugene's eyes focused, recognizing Arnold. A hazy smile formed on his face. "Oh, thanks, Arnold. You're a real pal…"
As the ambulance sirens faded into the distance, Arnold was left alone in the parking lot's eerie silence. The adrenaline began to wear off, replaced by a cold, empty feeling. He looked around, hoping to see someone—anyone—still there, but the reality hit him hard. They were all gone—Sid, Harold, Nadine, and... Rhonda. His girlfriend, who should have stayed, had left him alone to deal with the consequences. A cold realization washed over him—this was the moment he knew things could never return to how they were.
Arnold lingered near the emergency room, the weight of the night settling in. As he walked back to meet Eugene's parents, his phone buzz broke through his thoughts, lighting up with a message he didn't want to read.
Rhonda - Hey, are you picking me up tomorrow - 12 am
Arnold slowly let out a breath, feeling a throbbing pain along his temple. He put his phone in his pocket without replying, knowing what needed to be done next. It didn't mean it would be an easy task.