Archive of Our Own

A/N: AHAHAHA You thought I abandoned this didn't you? Well you're wrong I didn't. Unfortunately I had some stuff go on in my personal life that made me really not wanna write romance so I had to take a break from the two main fics I am writing. I also had to move out of my previous place and move into my current temporary living situation. But I am back baby and here to give you the latest chapter of Feel Good Inc.

Now, for what you've been waiting for

CHAPTER 2!

Arnold prayed for some peace just once during the day.

It was like the entire department was on fire.

Phones were ringing nonstop and paper was scattered everywhere. People were shouting at each other over the cubicle walls about everything and anything.

"Where's the 5E documents?"

"You told me to shred them"

"Well un-shred them we need them now"

"You can't un-shred something!"

All he could do was groan and thank whatever was in the heavens that blessed his sub-department with walls and a door. Although it didn't help much in his current predicament.

Currently his boss, Helga Pataki, was reaming out their department for a technically glitch which has caused the entire office to go into disarray. She snarled at everyone and had been going through the procedures with them to figure out what went wrong. Although, surprisingly, he found Helga yelled at him least of all. In fact, she didn't period. But it wasn't in a way he could call good, it felt like she was pretending he wasn't even there. Blocking him out and faking his lack of existence.

He felt relieved that he wasn't being yelled but still apprehensive too. Was she saving him for last? Would she fire him? He didn't really know but the suspense is gonna kill him.

But as she continued on, growling about how inefficient they all were and that "This department needs to pull the slack it isn't carrying" He couldn't help but notice the fear she was still able to inspire in people. The look of a mountain lion ready to attack them all. He would've chuckled if it wouldn't mean sudden death,

When Helga was done, she stormed out of their office, huffing and howling at anyone who dared to look her in the eye. Some form of guilt weighed upon him after receiving zero lashings from Helga.

Was she giving him special treatment because of old crushes?

He hoped not. He wanted to be equal with everyone else in his department and was worried about people noticing. What if they started treating him differently? He just wanted to keep his head down until he had enough money saved up for another trip back to San Lorenzo.

He looked back at his coworkers who hadn't noticed him being ignored by the tongue lashing of their boss. When no one called him out he simply sat down and tried to help repair the damage that the glitch in the system and caused. He had only taken one coffee break but his cup always seemed full. It wasn't until Gerald pointed it out that Arnold noticed Lila refilling his cup.

He was awkward and thanked her with a tongue tied gibbled sentence and a small wave. The heat flushed to his cheeks as she left him with a giggle and a pat on the head. The rest of the day was a blur until a short break after lunch seemed to mess with reality and him again.

Arnold had walked into the break room, no one else there but none other than Helga. She was talking on the phone and had her back turned to him yet. Arnold took this opportunity to sneak over to the coffee pot and flip the switch on a new pot. Grabbed a mug from the cabinet as quietly as he could and prepped his drink with the grace of silence.

As the pot brewed, he couldn't help but listen in on the conversation Helga was having. He couldn't pin point why but he was fairly curious about what she was talking about. You know…just in case if she was planning on firing his entire department for today's fuck up.

"Alright yeah go play some basketball with your friends but just make sure the dishes are done when I get home. I've had a rough day so I'm not feeling the whole cooking business" Arnold felt his ears burn a bit. He never particularly liked eavesdropping or making assumptions.

But…. Did Helga have a kid?

Since when? How old were they? Is it a boy or a girl? What did they look like? Were they like Helga? Who…?

Who was the  father ?

Arnold was snapped back to reality when he heard her conversation pick up again. The kid on the other end was throwing accusations of child slavery as Helga made a face in the window.

"Hey hey hey! I wasn't gonna say make dinner too. What the heck? These are baseless accusations that I will not stand for" She stomped her foot but Arnold could tell there no ire. "I was actually gonna send you some money for a pizza…. yeah it's a pizza kinda day. I'll pick up some yahoo sodas for us too" Her voice softened and the voice on the other line had calmed down or at least stopped shouting.

A click went off and it alerted Arnold that the coffee was ready. He pulled out the pot and he poured the coffee into the cup and that's when he realized his mistake.

The smell travelled through the air and waft into Helga nose. She only turned slightly and caught a glimpse of him in her eye.

She jumped back and staggered a few feet. Disregarding her phone call and ended it immediately. For a moment she stared at him with a heated and conflicted face. Her cheeks blazing and a vicious glare were all but useless as she seemed to have no words for him. He smiled meekly at her before turned around to fix his coffee further. It didn't help that he could practically feel her burning holes through him.

Arnold gathered his strength and turned around with a smile too wide before side stepping. "Coffee is fresh…better…. get it while it's hot?" He wanted to drown himself at this very moment.

"Mr. Shortman, Do you think it's wise to be sneaking up on me like that?" She narrowed her eyes to slits. He rubbed the back of his head and laughed nervously.

"I…Uh…didn't wanna interrupt your phone call. It sounded very important" He could feel his own cheeks blazing. He instinctively grabbed another mug from the cupboard and offered it to her. She looked at it skeptically before approaching him. Her heels clicking on the ground rung in his ears and she took the mug from him.

"Thank you" Helga bowed her head slightly and poured the coffee straight in and plopped a few sugar cubes in. As she was fixing her coffee Arnold was trying to think of what to say to cut through the silence.

"So…I didn't know you had a kid" He blurted out. Helga made a startled yip when she spilled her coffee as she jumped. Her cheeks turning red as she whipped around to face him.

"Yeah, I do, what about it?" She growled.

"N-Nothing its just-" Arnold choked for a moment. A silent call from the back of his mind from their past. He trained his eyes on the view of the city and cleared his mind. "Just wanted to say…congrats? I guess that's late…. I just never knew you were pregnant. Who was the lucky guy?"

When Arnold turned to look at Helga, he couldn't read her. A blank face with curious eyes. "I ... uh … I never told our old classmates…well most…and the guy isn't in the picture anymore…. he never was to begin with" She said quietly.

Arnold blinked in surprise before the guilt set in "I'm sorry Helga…I didn't know"

Helga sucked in a deep breath and smiled before a small laugh was let out "Wouldn't I like to hear that thousand times over"

"What?"

"It's nothing" She sighed "Just…. Ah …Just keep it to yourself, the less people know, the less I have to worry about queen Rhonda making a scene well after I'm supposed to be done dealing with her"

Arnold nodded in agreement. Rhonda was…. Rhonda. He already got his ear chewed off for getting the invitations printed. Then he did them by hand but his writing was really bad (which is why he got them printed) Then he got them printed again but this time she didn't like the paper and so on and so forth.

"I can understand not wanting Rhonda to make a scene…. but why do you think she would care so much? I mean it's been ten years I'm sure lots of us have kids. Harold and Gerald do. Heck Rhonda was her own as well" He tried to ease her worries.

"Yeah well you know Rhonda, when she finds drama, she needs to be in it" Helga chuckled. Arnold hummed in agreement and sipped his coffee. Helga watched him for a moment before she shook her head held her coffee close to keep her hands warm.

"Well I better get back to work" She muttered and bid him goodbye swiftly before anymore small talk could begin.

….

Arnold was almost convinced he would get away with flying under the radar for the rest of the day.

The problem was he didn't realize there was more than one radar.

Arnold had been busy inputting patch codes in that his supervisor directed him to do. So, he hadn't realized when someone had opened the door to their small I.T department and walked straight up behind him. When he felt thin arms with long finger slither down his shoulder to his chest he almost leaped out of his skin.

His face was red when he spun around, he almost called out Helga's name. But he was rather shocked to see it was Rhonda instead. "Hey Arnold, I stopped by for the invites. I hope you weren't expecting someone else." She smiled at him with ruby lips.

It had been a while since Arnold had seen Rhonda up close in person. Today she looked very professional. A black pencil skirt and red blouse with a frill on the collar. She only had on a simple pearled broach in the shape of a small fish. Her hair was a stylish modern bob that was kept short and make up was minimal.

"O-Oh right! The invites" Arnold fumbled.

"You didn't forget, did you?" She said playfully as she fiddled with the end of her hair.

"No! No, I did not I just didn't expect to run into you….so soon" Arnold added the last bit on as he dug through his bag. Pulling out the paper bag of invites from printer Rhonda specifically asked for. He heard the gasp and small squeal of excitement as he slid it onto the desk and zipped his bag back up. Rhonda swiftly grabbed the bag and carefully opened the seal to check the contents.

"Oh, these are sooo much better, ah! And they remembered the perfume. So nice of them" She thumbed through the envelopes and nodded approvingly before resealing the bag and tucking it under her arm. "Perfect. Thanks Arnold I couldn't have done it without you" She leaned in close to him.

"I-I think you could've managed…. you're a very capable person" Arnold leaned back. Feeling a bit more than just a tad uncomfortable by the invasion of his personal space.

"You are selling yourself too short Arnold. I should think of some reward to give you" His cheeks were burning as he felt sweat form on the back of his neck. He really didn't wanna get involved with Rhonda if it meant risking a friendship with Sid.

"How about cash since you are loaded Rhondallyod" A familiar voice in the form of a god send broke Rhonda' attention from him. Helga was leaning in the door way with a mug of coffee in hand. Her dark grey blazer was gone and most likely discarded in her office after her second coffee.

"Helga ….. what a surprise" Rhonda stepped away from Arnold and turned away from him. Cocking her hip out as she put on her fake pleasantries. "I didn't know you would be here"

"Funny, you are in the investors wing…..in the marketing floor…..which is my department…..that I'm the head of…this, you know….general area…..to which I am…the boss of" Helga motioned sarcastically with her hands. Rolling her eyes at Rhonda's scowl of annoyance. "Did your husband, 4 floors above us, need my I.T guy for something or what's going on here"

"Jealous as ever I see?" Rhonda smirked but Helga only rolled her eyes. Not getting the rouse that she expected

Gerald was staring at Arnold in amazement while he wanted to do was shrink away. His best friend mouthed something to him and it took a few tries to under him.

'What's going on?'

Arnold shook his head in response. Gerald nodded, accepting the answer before the both glanced back at the woman behind them.

"No, he doesn't need Arnold for anything. I was just here to pick up invitations he was helping me with," Rhonda slid the paper bag from the under her arm and opened it once again, thumbing through them before pulling a single pink envelope out. She smiled with satisfaction before closing and tucking the bag under her arm again. Rhonda walked towards the door the Helga was leaning against. "Here…this one is yours"

Rhonda handed her he envelope and Helga took it warily as the raven-haired woman slipped by. "What's this for?"

"What's it for? Silly. It's for our high school reunion party. 10 years remember? You were the one who texted me asking for your invitation"

"I never texted-"

Rhonda cut her off with a spin on her heel and a sing song voice. Rhonda waved her off as she click clacked down the hall. "They fly by so fast"

Helga rolled her eyes before leering at the envelope. "I swore she chose this shade to fuck with me" She muttered under her breath. The same shade of pink that a certain bow had been. Arnold was fidgeting nervously before she finally looked up to glare at him.

"And you!" Helga stomped over to him.

"Me?" Arnold tried not to squeak.

"Come with me" She motioned and led him back to the break room. A couple of interns were chatting before she barked at them to get back to work and they scurried away. Leaving them alone in the break room.

"I'm okay with drop by visitors if they are family members or significant others only. So, unless you are involved with Rhonda, don't have her dropping by" She stabbed her finger into his chest repeatedly while glaring at him. Arnold threw his hands up in defense as he backed out of poking range.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! I am not involved with Rhonda in any way shape or form. I was just helping her out for the reunion. I mean I don't even see Rhonda in that kinda way and she is married-" Arnold paused for a moment. "Wait…Sid doesn't work 4 floors above us"

"Oh, you've caught on to that now have you Shortman?" Helga took a sip of her now lukewarm coffee. She made a funny face before taking another sip "Yes Rhonda is having an affair with Sid. But she is married to another man who also works here. Why? I have no fucking clue" She noted the sour look on Arnold face. He really didn't seem to like the idea of affairs. Or at least from the way his body language showed her.

"Who... Who is she married to? She still has the same last name since fourth grade" Arnold asked as she started following Helga for some reason or another. "I mean? Do they know?"

"Of course they don't know football head!" Helga snipped at him before sighing "Look, I don't know why they got married, I'm suspecting it was money related. But you do know the person Rhonda is married to…it's uh….Curly, or erm, I guess I should call him Thaddeus or Mr. Gammethorpe"

Helga noticed he stopped following for a moment. Standing a few feet back and processing what she just said. "What! Him? Seriously?!" He seemed to slingshot back into the present again. Helga chuckled slightly as they started walking towards the break room.

"You are starting to sound like Sid" She laughed at him as she dumped the cold coffee down the sink. "Oh, and trust me, I know their story. I almost got rid of Sid because of her. So close."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, Sid had a nasty habit of flirting and uh, well getting involved with girls hired to be his secretary and tended to bully any guy that I assigned. Giving them impossible tasks and picking fights yada yada" Helga started rinsing out the cup.

"So one day, Curly asks me if I have any secretary jobs available for his wife who I guess wanted to start working. Didn't know it was Rhonda at the time but when I did, I honestly thought she would drive Sid up the freaking wall like she does to me. But I guess I was wrong because she seemed to have the opposite effect because I walked in on them rolling around on his desk. I fired him on the spot and threatened Rhonda to find a new place to work…." Helga paused and took a deep sigh. Rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Honestly I wish I had just left and told Curly right away. Would've saved me a lot of headaches. Because Rhonda told Curly, I unfairly fired Sid and I was written up. I had to do some digging but I got proof of their affair so it's kind of a cold war standoff at this point. She can't say or do anything that would get me fired or else I email it to the entire company and then his personal email"

"And what about Rhonda?"

"Hm?"

"You said it was a cold war standoff…. what does Rhonda have on you?" Arnold asked softly. Helga froze for a moment before looking back at Arnold. He had the same sincerity since they were kids. The understanding and warm look in his green eyes were enough to make her heart thump a bit too hard.

"I…If it's okay with you…. I'd rather not talk about it" Helga dropped her eyes. Arnold stepped closed and without really thinking about it he took Helga's hand into his own. She jumped at the sudden contact and snatched her hand away, but not before he saw the pink blaze on her cheeks.

"Ah... Sorry, but Helga…I've always known you as someone who takes no one's shit. Nothing Rhonda could have on you could ruin your life forever. If you are the one who puts it out there…. well then it takes her power away now doesn't it?" Helga thought about it for a moment, Arnold took the silence to add one last piece of advice "Grandpa Phil used to say that if I won't worry about it in 4 months, then it's not something to worry about tomorrow" He smiled and waved her goodbye. Heading back to his small I.T department.

Helga stood there for a moment before leaning on the counter and letting out a long sigh. Pulling out the reunion invitation that Rhonda had given her. She stared at it for a good few moments before formulating a really bad idea for a plan. Taking Arnold's advice for the first time after all these years made her feel a little nostalgic, but also twisted her guts inside.

She hated him.

She has to hate him.

She can't fall back in love after all this time. Not just like that.

This plan could definitely jeopardize her own feelings not to mention bring in a lot of trouble for her…. but it would also ultimately make her life a lot easier after all the dust settled.

Helga continued to roll around a half-baked plan in her head until it reach four o'clock. Weighing out the pro's and con's, trying to figure how exactly to plan her responses and what she would say. She had to be careful and especially when it would come down to Arnold.

In the end she couldn't go through with it. The plan was too risky and she wasn't in high school anymore. She had something to lose if this all fell through in the end.

….

Arnold slumped over his keyboard in exhaustion.

He was seeing numbers behind his eyelids and he was pretty sure the stinging in his eyes was from not blinking in the last two hours and staying in a dark room with just a monitor in front of him.

He finally was able to pack up for the night and cursed when he saw it was midnight. His cat was going to very cross with him when he got home for being late for her feeding. He tried to shrug off the crushing feeling of only have an angry cat to go home to.

Even the rest of the guys had already headed home for the night and he could recall the feeling of jealousy that he had as he watched Harold calling Patty to ask her if she needed him to pick up anything from the store. It was ridiculous to feel this jealous over someone getting a phone call.

Or about how Gerald could go on and on about how excited he was to get home and taste Phoebe's cooking and see his kids. It was bad enough that he had to see the wonderful leftovers that he brought as lunch. He could only think of the hungry man flash frozen TV dinners he was going to have tonight and sigh.

He could cook but he didn't have the energy to after such a long day.

As Arnold gathered his things, he turned off his computer and pulled the keys out of his jacket pocket. Fumbling with them for a moment before locking up the I.T lab and walking down the long dark hallway that led to the elevators.

He was lost in thought until a familiar cheery voice brought him out of his funk for a moment.

"Hey Arnold, it's ever such a surprise to see you here this late" He jumped a bit and turned to see a longtime friend was at his side. Red hair braided into a small bun. Arnold had to admit it was a blast from the past. Lila was older but still somehow managed to look the same but different. Just like Helga had.

Arnold briefly wondered what happened to Lila while he was gone. It seems a lot of things had.

"Y-Yeah, it's kinda a shock to see you here. Doesn't Sid bounce at 3?" Arnold rubbed the back of his neck. He noticed the almost immediate change in her stance. She seemed more tired and less chipper. Almost reminding him of a certain blonde in high school.

"Yes, Sid likes to take… 'a break' from 3-6pm and then comes back for an hour or so to finish things up with clients. I am usually left all the paper work to handle since he…uh…trusts me so much" Lila briefly glanced down at the bundle of folders she currently had in her arms. As did Arnold.

"Oh well uh... Sid must be good with his clients then?" All he got in response was a silent but exaggerated nod. "Ah good…good…So um, how have things been with you? Sorry I haven't taken the time to catch up I-uh…I didn't know you worked here-I mean I heard a 'Lila' worked her but I never saw you so-" She stopped him with a laugh and well-meaning smile,

"I've been good Arnold. More than good. I do have a nice cushy job and can afford to care for my dad now without worry now"

"Your Dad?"

"Lung cancer. It was a bit of a shock at first. I mean, he did smoke but not too much. We are just working through it now" She pressed the button for the elevator. They waited a moment and Lila took note of the sad puppy dog face Arnold had. As they stepped through, she gave him her sweetest smile. "Hey, don't give me that look Mr. Shortman, so my dad has Cancer, I' still rooting for him-PLUS the doctors say he has a good chance of recovery….plus my health insurance with this place covers it." She gave him a cheeky grin.

"I gotta admire your upbeat outlook. When I had heard the diagnosis for Grandpa or Grandma I wouldn't've…. Well I didn't take it well when I first heard it"

"Oh Arnold I'm sorry-"

"Nah don't be they are still alive…in a nursing home but fine…well actually they hate it there and keep escaping but I guess that's their 'fine' so..."

They shared a laugh as the elevator for F.G. Inc went down and soon the main lobby opened up in front of them. The main secretary had gone home for the night and all who was left were the cleaners. Their footsteps echoed through the main lobby. The marble floors were still being polished by a cleaner with headphones on. Seemingly not to care about the two late night workers.

The two parted ways as Arnold headed for the bus stop and Lila headed towards the street parking, bidding their goodbyes and such. They streets and houses seem to blend together until Arnold transferred onto the subway and then to another bus. The commute was about an hour or so long and he found it a bit more than just tiring. He pulled the cord on the bus a few stops early to stop by a familiar Chinese restaurant that was open late. He slunk in and pulled a paper pamphlet of menu, nearly collapsing into a chair and browsing the menu with blurry eyes. Scanning down the menu items and didn't even hear the bell for the door ring again.

He rubbed his eyes after settling on what he wanted to eat, he pulled himself up and got behind a blonde woman with a braided bun. He didn't even recognize the woman in front of him until she was half way through her order. When it sounded so very familiar that he swore he was shot back in time

He was laughing with Gerald about some comic book that just come out. Phoebe and Helga were in front of them, chatting about something of their own as they waited for the group in front of them finished their order. They were still in high school at the time and it was after school on a friday.

He could remember Gerald describing the spring rolls he was so desperately craving. His own stomach was demanding some chow mien when Helga's voice pulled him out of his food induced daydreams.

"Hey Football head, hair boy. You wanna get to ordering?" She was turned to them, her long silky blonde hair catching every light Arnold could see. His heart fluttered but he silenced it. She rolled her eyes before waving a hand in front of his face "Hel-Looo? Arnoldo? Earth to Arnoldo. What are staring at dweeb?"

Arnold snapped himself out of his second self-induced daydream and shook his head. He shrugged and stepped forward to take his order after Phoebe placed hers. He noticed after he paid for his and when Gerald stepped forward Helga stepped aside. Clearly not meaning to order anything despite her earlier complaints of hunger. They were ready to take their seats when Arnold gently grabbed Helga's arm and nodded his head to the counter.

"Why don't you order something….my treat" He smiled encouragingly. She opened her mouth to protest but her stomach growls answered for her. She closed it as her cheeks began to pink up.

"Fine…. I'll have some chicken fried rice with extra egg and…"

"…. And four dumplings with sweet and sour sauce with an order of almond chicken please"

Arnold felt his body jolt when she turned slightly to fish her wallet out of her purse when she caught sight of him behind her. She let out a small gasp as her eyes widened only a fraction. Helga was frozen for a second in time. Her cheeks didn't get rosy and when she regained her composure, her signature scowl rested on her face.

"Well isn't this a surprise. Are you following me now?"

"Pretty sure that was your thing in high school" Arnold accidentally slipped. He seemed to realize what he said and was about to take it back before he saw her chuckle and try to cover it up as a scoff. "Ah ha…sorry. Bad joke"

"Terrible really," She paid for her order and stepped to the side to let him through. She seemed in thought while he ordered and flicked her eyes to him once and awhile. When he finished ordering and paid and stood next to her and tried to smile and lighten the mood.

She regarded the smile but did not return it. That was okay. He expected that from Helga. "Sooooo…." He left hanging in the air. She pulled out her phone in response and started browsing through her social media.

"Crazy how we ran into each other huh?" He tried to start some conversation. Anything more than the suffocating silence.

"Not as crazy as you working for me after I went through great lengths to make sure that wouldn't happen" Helga replied bluntly. It hit him like a punch in the gut and he couldn't help but feel a bit offended.

"Excuse me?" He looked at her incredulously. "That's a hell of a thing to say to an old friend" This made Helga finally look up from her phone and glare at him.

"Arnold I spent the last three years scanning new hire applications just to make sure your name didn't pop up. Not that it was supposed to, YOU were supposed to be in San Lorenzo for the rest of your life and were not supposed to come back"

"And who said that?"

"You did"

Oh that was right…. that fight they had.

"Well…. some things happened alright? So what? Are you really that mad I left? Or is it because-" He was interrupted by the front of house worker calling for Helga's order. She stepped forward and checked the contents of the bag before being satisfied. She gave him a cold goodbye and strode past him towards the door. She pushed it open but stopped just before leaving and turned to him.

"Do me a favor Football head. Stop bringing up the worst decision in my life and let me move on"

"And what decision was that?" He huffed.

"For being stupid enough to waste my youth being in love with a selfish man like you" She stormed out of the shop and Arnold was left with jingle the brass bells atop the door made.

The server that had given Helga her order looked between him and the door before raising his eyebrows "What you doing? Go after her!" He motioned to him but Arnold shook his head. The server made a sound of disappointment before returning to the kitchen to fetch the other blondes order.

He sat back down with a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair. It needed to be cut.

He closed his eyes and let her words ring in his head over and over again. Her scathing eyes and the cold look she had whenever she regarded him. It stung. It stung more than it should have. Maybe it was because they had close during youth and their last fight had never been patched up.

Honestly, he had forgotten the entire thing until she decided to sucker punch him right in the soft mushy feelings. Then he remembered how casual she acted with Gerald. Even at work.

Gerald! Of all people.

She didn't look at Gerald so coldly or speak to him like her words were knives. She was soft with him; she laughed at his bad jokes and would make another in response. She even let him go home early some days just because and gave some fake excuse about him being over clocked. They were paid a salary!

Arnold let his feelings fester until he was called up for his order. Despite his stomach lurching at the thought of eating now he took the bag and left with a small thank you. He felt many things but two stood out in his mind the most.

Jealous and Stupid.

Jealous because Gerald was so close with Helga. That he could joke around with her and also had a beautiful wife and kids to match. Jealous that Helga could move on so easily and not have an ounce of what she had felt for him left.

Stupid because he honestly thought it would be Helga that would be pinning after all these years…..when it was him.

…

When Helga got home she was greeted with her seeing her two god children. The twins Emma and Eric sitting on the couch with who she recognized as Rhonda's own flesh and blood child, Amber. Her son was sitting on the floor while all four of them were watching TV. She paused for a moment and cursed herself for not buying more food.

"Hey guys" She smiled at them as she headed for the kitchen to set down the Chinese food she had just bought. "Teddy I didn't realize you had friends over, I would've picked up a dinner for 6 combo instead of our usual"

"That's okay Ms. Pataki, me and the twins already ate before coming over" Amber piped up. How a polite young lady came from Rhonda and Curly she would never know. She smiled in response and set her purse on the counter as she rounded the kitchen to the living room.

"So, what are you guys up to?"

"New Dragon Ball movie dad gave me" Emma said before shoveling more popcorn in her mouth. "Ish really good" The others nodded in agreement. Helga noted the array of snacks that was spread out and picked up the unopened package of powdered donuts with a smile.

"This better have been for me kiddo because I'm stealing them," She nudged her son with her foot and he hummed while his eyes were trained on the screen. Watching the two characters fight with absurd strength and power.

"They are, there is also a yahoo in the fridge for you"

Helga smiled and leaned down and kissed the top of his head "A man after my own heart," She smoothed his hair and he began to fuss.

"Urh mom! Quit it" He ruffled his hair back into a mess and she laughed before heading back to the kitchen. She pulled out a plate and tore open the paper bag that contained her dinner for the evening. The grease stains making the bag tear more easily.

Once she loaded up her plate, she briefly remembered the invitation that Rhonda had given her today and set the plate down on the counter for a moment. She rummaged through her purse to find it still in there. Reminding her of the hell she would be subjected to if she did go or not.

If she didn't Rhonda would cause a fuss at work which wasn't good for her.

If she did Rhonda would cause a fuss at the reunion and that wasn't good for her either.

And what the hell was she going on about her texting Rhonda? Helga personally refused to have her number saved on her phone. The only reason the blonde could come up with was that Rhonda hadn't broken her habit of sprinkling white lies in her sentences like it was a seasoning.

She opened the envelope and was gifted with the scent of flowery perfume that made Helga gag and overly fancy script that was a little hard to make out.

"Dear Ms. Helga Pataki,

You are cordially invited to the fabulous and glamourous PS 118 10 year High school reunion at the appropriate daring address of PS 118 564 34th ave in Hillwood on June 20th. As a symbol of friendship and comradery our graduating class shall reunite in civilized get together. In the motto of our high school " Simul Morabantur " We shall reconnect and stay together as we did in our youth.

Hosted by Mrs. Rhonda "Gammplethorp" Lloyd and will be fully catered with an open bar and the following events will proceed in the order they are listed:

-Greet and mingle

- Dinner with live band performance

- Opening greetings and speech from class valedictorian "Dr. Phoebe Johnesson Heyerdahl" and Rhonda Gammplethorpe Lloyd

- Slideshow and graduation video year review

- Most likely awards year book comparisons

- Music, mingle and Dance

-Closing toast

The evenings attire is Semi formal/casual and the invitation is needed to gain access into the reunions. Please RVSP as  XXX-XXXX "

She rolled her eyes and groaned inwardly. She knew she wouldn't hear the end of it if she didn't attend. Plus, there was the possibility of Rhonda spilling Helga's secrets if she had too much bubbly champagne. She set the invitation down and closed her eyes. Imagining the pleasant view of her hands around Rhonda's neck as she wrung it out.

She couldn't actually blame Rhonda for giving her an invitation to this event. If anyone was to blame it would be that stupid Football headed moron in her IT department who knew NOTHING about IT work. That was an entirely different issue she didn't even wanna think about tonight. She picked up her plate and headed towards the living room to join the kids in their movie.

"Which one is this?" She asked as she settled down next to her son.

"New Broly movie for Dragon ball" Teddy replied as he stole a dumpling off his mother's plate.

"Wait they made a third?" Helga scooped some fried rice into her mouth.

"No, this one is like a revision of the first except this time the original author got involved" Teddy whispered quietly. Helga nodded and ate her dinner quietly while watching the rest of the movie with the kids. After it ended Teddy bid his friends goodbye and helped his mother clean up the living room. Helga washed her dishes as Teddy vacuumed the living room floor and eventually tucked him into bed and wished him good night before going about her own nightly routine.

While she lay in bed she stared at the invitation. Wondering exactly what to do.

A/N 2: Well Thank you for reading the second chapter. I don't really know when the third chapter will be out but reviews and messages to my tumblr would really give me a lot of inspiration and would help me work faster. Plus you'd get to see art I have made for the fic. Find me at keybywrath

Thank you very much for staying tuned and I hope to see you again!