Chapter 1: Memories
"Man, I still can't believe you are getting married in two weeks" Gerald said as he stood in front of a mirror fixing his tie.
"I know, Gerald, I'm so happy!" Arnold shouted back hoping that Gerald could hear him from the dressing room.
"I still think you're crazy, you know."
"What do you mean?" Arnold asked emerging from the dressing room still buttoning his sleeves.
"Come on, man. You're only 23 years old, fresh out of college. Don't you think you should take a breather, or at least get a bit more financially stable before getting hitched?"
"Why, Gerald? I just got an architect job so it's not like I'm completely screwed. Besides, we're gonna live at the boarding house until we can afford a house of our own."
"Ooh, sounds fun living with grandma and grandpa", Gerald said with a hint of sarcasm.
"It's not going to be like that, Gerald", Arnold said putting out his suit jacket. "The boarding house isn't like most houses people grow up in. It's like an apartment building. We'd have our own room and we'd mind our own business. A lot of couples live at the boarding house before landing on their feet."
"Like who? Suzie and Oscar? I really don't think you want to end up like them, Arnold."
"Ha-ha, real funny, Gerald. But come on, me and Lila have been together since we were 18. I couldn't put marriage off any longer."
"Believe me, if she's been with you for this long I don't think a couple more years would have hurt."
"Gerald, can you please just let me be excited?"
"Okay , okay. Well let me tell you one thing I'm excited for."
"What?" Arnold asked having a hard time putting on his tie the right way.
"The bachelor party! And as your best man, I can assume I'm in charge of planning it, right?" Gerald said seeing Arnold struggling and going up to him to help fix it.
"No, Gerald. Lila doesn't want me to have one of those", Arnold protested.
"Oh brother, you are one whipped puppy", Gerald sighed.
"It's not like that, Gerald. She doesn't like the whole stripper thing, and can you blame her? Would Phoebe like the idea of you ogling other women?"
Gerald finished up around tie and make a whoosh sound while snapping his wrist in a whipping motion.
Arnold sighed, "Gerald, stop. Besides, she's already mad at me that I waited so long to get a tuxedo for the wedding. I don't wanna ignite the fire anymore", Arnold explained.
"Mmm, mmm, mmm", Gerald said as he shook his head in disapproval.
"Ugh, fine", Arnold finally gave in. "We can have the party, but no strippers, okay?"
A small devilish grin grew across Gerald's face. "Don't worry, buddy, I promise", Gerald said putting two crossed fingers behind his back. "So where is the old ball and chain anyway today?" Gerald asked directing away from the original conversation.
"She's picking Olga up from the airport, then their going shopping for all the last second wedding junk. Olga's her maid of honor."
"Olga? As in Olga Pataki?" Gerald asked in slight confusion.
"Yeah, Olga was her 'big sis' when we were younger and they just got really close", Arnold explained.
"Oh. Speaking the Patakis, I wonder what ever happened to Helga."
"Wow, I haven't thought about her in years. I feel like after graduation she just kind of fell off the planet. I tried for a while to keep in contact with her, but it was hopeless. I couldn't find her anywhere. I was actually quite worried about her."
"Yeah, man. I don't even think she's spoken to Phoebe in years either. Oh well, why are we even wasting our time talking about Helga anyway. You should be thinking about your beautiful fiance and your wedding", Gerald said turning Arnold around to face the mirror. "So is this the one you're going with? Because I think it's pretty fly."
Arnold stared at his reflection and imagined himself standing next to Lila on his wedding day. His wedding day. He still couldn't believe it. He was getting married to the girl he'd be enamored with since he was nine years old. It was a dream come true. He examined every inch of his body in the black tuxedo and smiled.
"This is the one, Gerald."
"Great. Now how about me? Does this scream 'best man' to you?" Gerald asked as he unbuttoned the jacket and opened it slightly, slowly rotating giving Arnold the full view of his outfit.
"You're lookin' good, Gerald." Arnold laughed as he and Gerald did their handshake they'd been doing with one another since grade school.
"Alright, bubba, can we can outta here now?" Gerald asked.
"Yea, let's go."
As the two friends exited the story they separated, each going to their designated car. Arnold hopped into his used, and somewhat broke down looking Nissan. He turned on the radio and was surprised to hear the song, "Time After Time", by Cyndi Lauper. This was his and Lila's song. It had been playing the first time they kissed. It was at an 80s dance in the middle of their senior year.
Lila had dressed as an 80s exercise fanatic. She wore her hair up, and had a bright green headband stretched across her forehead. It matched her green leotard and leg warmers. She also had on neon pink leggings. He remembered thinking she looked like a watermelon and quietly laughed to himself. Arnold dressed as a member of the band, A Flock of Seagulls. It took him forever to do his hair it that funky fashion, but he wanted to look perfect. He wanted to impress Lila. She'd finally agreed to go about with him and didn't want to blow it, but once he pulled her in closer during that slow dance and kissed her he knew he hadn't. She was all his, and now with the wedding she'd be his forever.
Despite all the thoughts of Lila, somehow the conversation he and Gerald had about Helga crept into his mind. What could have happened to her? The last time he spoke to her was right after graduation.
After the ceremony, the teens all gathered out front to take pictures, posing with their friends who they'd seldom see again. Helga hadn't wanted anything to do with that. The second after they threw their caps into the air and walked off that stage, Helga had stormed out of the crowd ripping off her blue graduation gown in the process. Arnold noticed and went after her.
"Helga, where are you going off to so soon?" Arnold asked with concern as he followed her into the school parking lot.
"None of your beeswax, football head!" She scowled without even stopping, or turning to look at him.
"Don't you wanna celebrate for a while with your family and friends?"
"What friends? The only friend I have is Phoebe and she's too busy with tall-hair boy. And for your information, my family didn't come."
"Oh, I'm sorry about that Helga. But look, you're more than welcome to hang out with me and Lila and our families."
"Yeah, like I'd really wanna hang out with you, your lame family, and your perfect little girlfriend. Dream on."
Arnold ignored her insults as he always did. "It's better than being alone. I'm just trying to help out a friend."
"First of all, we're not friends, Arnoldo! Just because we talk in class occasionally does not make us friends. Secondly, I don't need you to look out for me. I can take care of myself, just like I always have", Helga finally said getting into her car and speeding away forever.
Arnold pulled up in front of the boarding house and saw Lila's car parked out front. She must be home, Arnold thought as he hopelessly tried to shake the thoughts of Helga from his mind before entering the boarding house.
So there's the first chapter. By the way if you hadn't known the chunk that's entirely in italics is a flashback, just saying. Sorry if the title of the chapter sucks, i couldn't think of anything at all. It gets better I promise, keep reading :)