CHAPTER 50
HOT COCOA

Mr. Simmons bit his pen in anxiety, he had to do something about Helga, the school district just informed him that he can't just go around trading places with other teachers without a reason, it frustrated him, he did have a reason, but he couldn't tell them, they wouldn't care why, they'd just fire him even quicker.

Thing is, he isn't ashamed of violating the rules, but he isn't happy that he almost dragged his wife down with him, he looked up as he felt a hand rub his shoulder "are you okay honey?"

Mr. Simmons looked up meeting his wife's eyes, they were filled with concern.

"Don't think too much about it" she said

"I was able to keep our jobs, but that's the only thing I could accomplish" he said in shame

Mrs. Simmons sat down next to him, "you never know, maybe you helped in a little way, and we both know that every little bit counts"

Mr. Simmons gave his wife a half smile.

"Ring, Ring"

The ring startled the couple, it was Mr. Simmons cell phone, he looked at it in confusion, "I don't know this number" which only made his wife shrug

"Hello?"

"Hello, Robert" said a calm female voice "how are you doing?"

Mr. Simmons raised any eyebrow "good"

The line was quiet for a moment

"It's Kathy, Kathy Bliss, do you remember me?"

"Oh Hi" paused the man "Good to hear from you, how have you been?"

"I've been good, I don't know if you've heard but I'm moving back to Hillwood in January"

"That's Great" he paused "what was it like living in the city of Angels"

Kathy laughed "wonderful, but its nothing like Hillwood"

"Good, Good" replied Mr. Simmons as he looked over at his wife whom was currently being curious as to who it was on the other line.

"I wanted to talk about something" said the woman as her voice cracked "I don't know if you know yet but Helga Pataki is attending Hillwood High"

"Yes, I know" smiled the man "She is one of my wife's students, I actually traded places with her just to" Mr. Simmons paused, he didn't know if Dr.. Bliss knew about how much Helga has changed.

As if reading his mind Kathy cleared her throat "she has changed so much, hasn't she?"

"Yes, she has" was the only thing he could say

"She lived here, in LA, alone, not wanting to take anyone's help"

Mr. Simmons let out an "oh what happened to her? I thought that she was living with her sister Olga, in Burbank?"

"Long story short, when she was 11 her and her Sister Olga had an argument and Helga walked out the door, right in front of my eyes"

Mr. Simmons shook his head in disapproval, "11? I wish I knew"

"yes, I didn't plan to stay here, but it just happened, I stayed here, looking for her, if only I knew she was right under my nose all along"

"What do you mean?" Asked Mr. Simmons by this time, Mrs.. Simmons had scooted close to her husband just to press her cheek against the phone, this amused Mr. Simmons, he could just turn on the speaker but went against it.

"Do you know Alex Liss?"

"The Doctor that moved to Los Angels because he inherited quite a bit of money?"

"Yes, him" replied Kathy, he and I bumped into each other on a convention and have been on a relationship since, what I didn't know was that Alex was running a free clinic and housing program, where he'd reach out to Helga every day"

"Oh wow, now that's a huge coincidence, I don't know if you know but Dr. Liss was the one who found Helga under the bridge when she went missing for two weeks after what her parents did"

"No, I did not know that at all" replied Kathy in shock to learn this about her Husband "I guess he has always wanted to help her, but every time he would talk about Helga, be would call her G, so I didn't know it was Helga"

"yes" replied the man "she seems to hate her name, she's been telling all her teachers to call her G"

"How did you find out it was Helga? If you don't mind me asking"

Kathy cleared her throat "The day Alex finally convinced G to get accept his help" choked the woman "Helga was taken into custody because she was caught slashing a boys face"

Mr. Simmons eyes widened, he took a moment to breathe "what happened?"

Helga claims that it was self defense, that he was part of another gang and tried to kill her, but we know that's not true, the boy was in her gang, Alex knew everyone G was around with, we ignored those facts, Alex told me that he knew G and that she probably had her reasons, he paid for a Lawyer in exchange to her accepting his help"

"That's something" was all he could say

"Yes, he had trouble finding her a family due to her criminal past but he found one, on the day he picked her up from custody, he asked if I would like to come along, as I stepped out of the car to meet her, I recognized her instantly, some of her Blonde hair had grown out and she wasn't able to wear the shades Alex said she always wore, I couldn't believe it, I nearly fainted from Joy, I ran up to her, to hug her, and once I did she pushed me away, then proceeded to ask Alex what the" Dr Bliss cleared her throat in sorrow "what I was doing there"

"How awful" said Mr. Simmons as his wife shook her head saddened, he set the phone down, put it on speaker and then embraced his wife

Kathy could be heard blowing her nose, she sobbed quietly on the other line but regained her voice "I, I don't about care how much she hates me, I'm just happy she's safe now, that day, was the happiest moment of my life, even if the reunion didn't turn out as I'd expected it, I was glad that I finally found her"

He knew that there had be more to the story, but he didn't question it "I can only imagine as to how you feel, all this time, I didn't know all of this happened, I don't think I'd be able to live in peace if I did know"

"I'm sorry for keeping you in the dark" choked Kathy "I thought it was for the best"

Mr. Simmons understood "I can't blame you, I would have probably done the same thing"

"I uh" paused Kathy, "I talked to Alex, I told him that I knew her, told him about the life she had here, and about her parents"

Mr. Simmons nodded even if Kathy couldn't see it, she continued.

"After realizing that the environment in LA wouldn't let her change, Alex was finally convinced in brining her to Hillwood and maybe having her face her past, that maybe it could help"

Mr. Simmons couldn't help but ask "Whose idea was it to have Helga reside in the Shortmans Boarding House?"

"It was mine" stated Kathy, "not only does the Boarding House welcome most of their guests like family, all of them are good people and there's just someone there that I believe can get Helga to accept her past"

Currently laying on the floor and throwing a beanbag against a wall G couldn't help but think about all the events that went on in the Hillwood Giving, from the anger she felt when she stepped out of the car to when the little boy hugged her.

It hurt.

The little boy, for now he is trying to make the best of things, to enjoy his childhood, but one day, one day he will grow up and find out how alone he truly is, one day he will have no one at all, and will need to learn how to fend for himself.

Knock Knock

The sound of the knock had G pause all movements and thoughts, she sat up and let a faint "come in" escape her lips

The door opened, revealing a smiling Stella, she was currently wearing a pink robe and carrying a small carrier box, "Hi Honey, how are you doing?"

G raised an eyebrow "I'm alright" she answered.

There was a short pause before Stella answered "That's Good"

"I was wondering if you had fun tonight?" Asked the woman as she closed the door

G only shrugged "it was alright"

Stella smiled "alright" she sat on the floor beside her, opening the box she brought in, she then reviled a large thermo with two ceramic cups, she poured it's contents in each cup, offering one to G.

G eyed her cautiously before taking the cup from her, she nodded in appreciation.

Stella smiled once again taking a sip making G wonder if her face hurt with all that smiling.

"mmmmm" said Stella in bliss, she then looked at G whom was observing her "drink up"

"Errr, no thanks" said the Girl as she attempted to hand Stella the cup back.

"Just try it" pleaded the woman

"What is it?"

"Can you just try it please?"

G brought the cup back towards her, she was hesitant "you're lucky I kinda trust you, otherwise this cup would end up being a mini shower for you"

Stella laughed "and you're lucky I'm sharing it with you"

G took a sip.

Her unseen eyes grew wide.

She couldn't believe it, her tastebuds were actually dancing.

"So, do you like it?" Asked Stella

"Shit! This is so good, what is this?" Asked G

"language" frowned Stella "just a hidden stash of the infamous San Lorenzo Hot Cocoa, I was going to share it with Miles but he somehow manages to end up drinking my share as well, either way, I'm sharing it with someone special"

G laughed "I... Can't blame him" as she laughed she couldn't help but thinking about the last part of that sentence.

Stella smiled, she was happy to see G happy, she has never heard her laugh so genuinely, she was glad that she shared this cup of joy with her, that laugh was music to her ears, she hoped that they could just become more than just people living under the same roof, she hoped to be her friend, just like she was friends with all of the other boarders.

G paused her laughter, "you okay?, you look kinda lost" she asked as she took another sip

Stella smiled "yes, I was just thinking"

"about what?"

"Miles" lied the woman

"Oh" was all G could say

Knock Knock

"Who is it?" Asked Stella

"Mom?" Questioned Arnold

Stella giggled, "just watch me make him all nervous" she laughed as she nudged G

"Yes honey, come in"

Arnold took a cautious step into the room "hi"

"Hi" replied Stella "what are you doing here knocking on a beautiful young ladies door at" she looked at her watch and replied "11:pm?"

Arnold instantly tuned beet red "I uh, er um, I was, I came, to ask"

"Uh huh" nodded Stella with crossed arms

"To ask G if she had fun tonight!"

G wanted to laugh so hard that all she could to was give him a thumbs up

"Uh, good, good" replied Arnold as he fiddled with his hands "I uh, good night"

He was about to dash out the door when Stella yelled "wait!"

Arnold took a deep breath and faced her "uh, yes?"

"No kiss goodnight?"

Arnold nodded "oh sorry okay" he then walked over towards them and bent down to give G a kiss on the cheek"

G blinked several times hoping that she wasn't blushing you're supposed to kiss your mom not me! thought the girl

Arnold was now close to the door about to leave when Stella cleared her throat loudly "My Kiss?"

Arnold slapped his forehead realizing what he just did, he ran towards his mother planting her a kiss in the cheek then mumbling goodnight as he left the room rapidly

Stella cleared her throat and raised an eyebrow as he son left "I think... I think he likes you"

G disregarded that comment hoping to never remember this, ever!

She cleared her throat "Well uh, thanks for the Special Cocoa" she said as she finished her drink "It is pretty good"

Not as good as that kiss thought G in her head as her cheeks heated at the thought, shut up no! no! no! shut up! she scolded herself.

Usually this is when someone just up and leaves, but Stella wanted to spend some more time with G.

"So uh do you like shopping?" Asked the woman

And that's how it started, the talking, Stella and G talked for hours about lots of things, not really about the past nor the future, but mostly about opinions on lots of things.

And it was something, it was a start of some type of friendship.