Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or it's characters.

Chapter 21,

Dear Diary,

You will never fathom what the football head did today. He soaked his backyard and dumped a ton of garbage and socks on his lawn. Well, dad was yelling about the disastrous odor and how he can't eat with it around, and it made Miriam barf her vocal cords soar... Dad was on the phone screaming about suing whoever was was stupid enough to create such a smell... when I tracked down the source of it, I saw Arnold laughing with his pet pig Abner.

I did tell you Arnold had a pet pig, right? Oh, whatever. I asked them why they dumped a garbage truck right here, and Arnold told me that Abner ran away and this was the best way to bring him home and it's not like I didn't believe Arnold when he said Abner ran away, I mean I could see the ripped up doggie door from the fence; but I told him it was a little unbelievable.

In order to prove Abner ran away, Gerald showed me one of the missing posters Arnold printed out earlier. Oh, and get this, if that wasn't enough attention, guess what else I saw. Apparently just beyond the edge of the sunset arms, was a billboard that was a giant missing poster for Abner... I'm glad that Arnold got his little piggy back, but a small part of me is angry about it. As I stood there, and I watched as Arnold and Abner played around in the mud, I guess I couldn't help but get mad.

I don't know, maybe I was jealous or something. Arnold woke up missing Abner, and he rushed to find him, spending all this time, Effort AND money in order to find the pig... yet I sit around, trying to think of ways to simply get him to look at me. I know I just need to grow up and suppress this useless feeling... but I can't help but feel like he loves Abner more then he loves me. Well, that's not quite it. Of course Arnold loves Abner more then me, I haven't even told him that I was in love with him. I guess I'm worried about Arnold never loving me like that... like he'll always love Abner more then me... the pig was gone for, what, 4 hours and he did everything under the sun to lure him back... would he ever do the same for me?

Like, if Bob gets sick of raising me and sends me away; or if Miriam got drunk, forgot who ai was and hurt me, which sends me away; or if Olga finally wakes up and realizes how awful our parents are and takes me so she can be my legal guardian... would Arnold fight to keep me? I guess it sounds a little dark when I put it like that, because it sounds like I either stay with drunk, mean, and oblivious to stay with Arnold- who couldn't let go of me... or I'm taken away to a home that might even be nice, but without Arnold, even the nicest foster family won't have Arnold.

Heck, even if his grandmother and grandfather were willing to adopt me, it would only close the door on our future together. 'Cause if they bring me into their home like that, well... that kinda turns me into Arnold's sister... or, ew, his aunt... no... as much as I hate the junk I have to deal with at my place, it's better then nothing. I mean, as angry as he gets, I'm not worried about him abusing me... well, for the most part, but he's never hurt me, so why start now. And Miriam May forget to do the grocery shopping at times or put inedible stuff in my lunch box, but it's not like she's maliciously, or intentionally not feeding me. Heck, there are a few random times, where Miriam is deeply concerned about me, and wants what's best for me... it just... gets blocked by the smoothies.

Oh, don't mind me... it's way late, and I know that none of this matters... I can't be rescued... at least not yet. Maybe when I'm older Arnold and I can run away from here. No he wouldn't want to run away, he loves this town and his grandparents... oh, how could I ask him to leave the home he loves so much, just to escape the one I loathe?

God I'm selfish... and my head is splitting... I think it would be best for me to stop thinking and go to sleep already. Hopefully some rest will help me to forget... well... everything...

"Arnold man, scoot over." Gerald said and Arnold moved closer to the window so that Gerald and Phoebe could sit beside him.

"Hello Arnold." Phoebe said and he nodded.

"Hello Phoebe, Gerald." Arnold said. When Gerald sat down, he saw that Arnold was on his phone, and instantly recognized that Arnold was reading Helga's diary. And for a brief moment, Gerald was concerned that Phoebe would ask what Arnold was reading.

"Are you still reading your fanfiction?" Phoebe asked and Gerald rose an eyebrow at Arnold and mouthed the word 'fanfiction'.

"Yeah, I'm still reading that." Arnold said and she smiled.

"I realized I may have been rather dismissive about it, the last time you mentioned it. I apologize. Why don't you tell me a little about it?" Phoebe said and Arnold shrugged, concerning Gerald.

"It's set up a little like Dracula; being a bunch of letters and diary entries strung together. She's in love with this guy, who loves a pig, and is deeply saddened by the sudden concern that he'll never love her as much as he loves this pig. Problem is, he doesn't even realize how much she adores him, and, uh... he later finds out that she's in love with him and he felt so terrible that he didn't realize he loved her too; well that he didn't realize it sooner... if he had known sooner, then he could have saved her." Arnold said and Phoebe blinked slowly.

"Save her from what?" Phoebe asked.

"She ended up hurting herself." Arnold said and her eyes widened.

"Wow, so angsty. What made you read something like that?" Phoebe asked Arnold, and he looked down at his phone.

"I don't know. It seems to be so familiar, and..." he bit his lip and looked out the window.

"I guess I just wanted to see someone go through similar or worse pain then me, and see how they overcame it." Arnold said and Gerald sighed sadly.

"Listen man, Helga will be fine. You said yourself that she's getting a little better everyday. A little smiling, a little moving, some talking. She's gonna pull through, Arnold." Gerald said and Arnold smiled softly.

"Thanks Gerald." Arnold said and they did their little friendship handshake.

"Why howdy folks, how y'all doing?" Stinky asked and he stole Gerald and Phoebe's attention; without realizing it.

It's not that Stinky or the other kids intended to alienate him, they just don't know how to really behave around him. They knew that he was sad and they didn't want to make him feel worse, or somehow force him to suppress his sadness and pretend to be happy and ok when he really wasn't. Apparently it was easier to semi-acknowledge him, and speak to his friends to 'speak time with him'. Actually, this must have been how Helga felt on most days. The other kids sort of hesitated to be around Helga, because they didn't want to be socked, and so they would so often talk to Phoebe instead of her.

Well, in any case it gives Arnold a few more minutes to read.

Dear Diary,

They were doing a bunch of constructive in town, even using some explosives, which I found exciting. I got to the edge of the barrier, and I was sandwiched between Harold and Sid. You should have seen the mushroom cloud of dust that formed with each deafening book they caused. Around noon, the construction people all left to have lunch.

I swear the second they left, Harold pushed the boarder to the side and we all got to see deep within the hole. Of course, by that point Arnold and Gerald had seen the explosions and decided to join us too. I told someone to throw something hole. Harold wanted to toss Sid in, the moron. I swear his mother dropped him on his head.

First he thinks that the hole is so deep it hits China, then he tries to throw Sid down the hole, not realizing that Sid could get seriously hurt, or even die from it. Man, I do can not imagine Harold as an adult. I bet his only saving Grace would be to date someone who is smart and patient with him.

And yeah, I know it's kinda ridiculous to not think he'll change based on what his parents or friends do... but in the same token, I have known the guy 6 years, and he is just as rude, stupid, and reckless as he was back then. I think it's safe to say people like Harold... or, actually, most people aren't willing to better themselves until they finally fall in love, or something drastic happens to them... as much as I want to be at up Harold for all his mean jokes, he's still enough of a friend for me to hope he changes because he falls in love instead of something bad happening to him.

Oh, and speaking of falling, Arnold bent over to see the hole better and a golden watch fell out of his pocket and down the hole. I swear it took a 20 seconds before it hit water. Gerald said it was actually Phil's watch, and, uh... I couldn't help but laugh.

I laughed for 2 reasons. One, it just seems so bizarre to me that Arnold could get in trouble, it was like some twilight episode. I mean Arnold didn't even get in trouble when we dumped that garbage back on Gerald's Field... the second reason I laughed is because I started to think of how Arnold's grandfather would act when he was angry and I just imagine flaying about like a monkey with sentences he's too angry to complete.

So I laughed, and it wasn't even a cute one. It was a 'oh, my, god, I'm so happy you're in trouble' laugh; so I went ahead and went home after that. Man, why do I have to be such a jerk to him? Why? (Sigh) You know I think I'll go over to Arnold's tomorrow. If he's never been in trouble before, maybe he'd like to talk... maybe that's stupid, I mean he has Gerald... but.. oh what the heck, I'll risk it.

Dear Diary,

I went to the boarding house and I saw Arnold sitting on the steps playing ball with Abner. I asked him how much trouble he was in, and Arnold told me he wasn't in trouble at all. When I asked him how that was possible, he told me about his little adventure with the Sewer King.

See, they traveled down the hole to get the Snitzenbauer Time-master 909 with the Swiss polar-aligned Triple-Synchronous Escapement Watch- a watch his grandfather doesn't trust anyone with, not even his wife... I mean, I love that crazy lady, but I get it...

His grandfather said that Arnold was now responsible enough to care for it's safekeeping, so Arnold was gonna do everything in his power not to break that trust. It was his sacred quest. Gerald went with him and when they got deep enough, they saw a rat holding the watch in it's mouth, and they followed it.

You know, a small part of me wants to criticize all that; but if an animal stole my locket, I would do everything in my power to get it back. I guess this is how Arnold felt about his grandfather's watch... not that I would ever tell him about my locket, but still.

They ended up swimming in the sewer, but they were caught in it's current and were sent over the edge of this waterfall. Arnold wasn't sure if he hit his head or passed out from fear, but he woke up next to the waterfall beside Gerald, wet, but safe.

They were rescued by Sam, the Sewer King. Arnold said he was rather welcoming of them and kind even though he was clearly a flake. Ok, explain to me my Pigeon Man and Stoop Kid were fine, but the Sewer King is a flake? They all have their problems, this one is like Pigeon Man, being around animals all the time, living in a secluded spot away from 'the human world'. And he's a little possessive, like Stoop Kid with his stoop... but Arnold decided to play along with this guy since he had his grandfather's golden watch.

Arnold saw a chess table and decided to challenge the king for the watch, and recklessly, themselves too. Arnold wasn't worried about it, since his grandfather taught him how to play, but he knew Gerald was flipping out. It look him less then ten seconds to win the first round. They played again and again, and Arnold won every time. Eventually Arnold jumped him, grabbed the watch and ran for their lives.

Is it wrong that ai find that very attractive? Arnold snapping and attacking like that?

Well, when Arnold finally got home, he gave the watch to his grandfather, who accidentally dropped it down the drain. Arnold thought his grandfather would go ballistic, but instead he went over to a drawer that literally had 20 watches in it. Arnold thought about the fact that he actually risked becoming a royal rat groomer for some cheap watch. He said that he hoped that the watch made it back to the Sewer King, because of how much he loved it, and I'm sure it did. Arnold told me that he decided to take a long hard look at his life. I asked him if he found anything, and he said he didn't.

And then, I um... I sat with him... I asked him if he remembered the time he gave Eugene his 'best day ever', and he said he did. I asked him if he remembered cleaning Gerald's Field, and he did. I asked him if he remembered being Torvald's study buddy, and helping Stoop Kid, and the heat wave, and our camping trip, and he finally asked me what any of that has to do with what's happening now. I told him that he has always done his very best to do what he thought was best to do what he thought was best for the people he cared about. He did it for Eugene, and Pigeon Man, Torvald, his friends, even me.

He helped us when we were lost in the woods and have a safe play to play, and... and how he was one of the few people who always treated me like a... a normal girl. He didn't treat me like one of the guys, like the boys do; and he never expected me to be more feminine, like the girls. He never treats me like freak, like my parents do.

Well, what I told him is that he always remembered that I was a girl. A normal, sometimes frustrating girl, who may not deserve empathy; but he gave it to me anyways. And yeah, maybe this time it sorta backfired on him, but so what? If you ask me, one bad experience doesn't outweigh all the good his creepy 'I won't lose' behavior he's always had. It seems to work for him, so might as well keep it.

And you know... that seemed to make Arnold feel better. I know I wasn't really there for Arnold with the Frankie G thing, or 'the list' Saturday, or his karate phase... but I was kinda there for him today, and... I may have lost some of my 'I hate you, football head' points, but it was worth it. I'm sure as time goes by this moment will be lost and forgotten, like a piece of obscure fiction. But at least Arnold is happy again. I like it when Arnold is happy.