Author's Note: Hey, fellow Hey Arnold fans! This is my first fanfic EVER-so every review will be a big help:) This is going to a LONG one, a series-not quite like the Patakis-though:) It begins the summer after 8th grade and who knows where or when it will end-ha ha!

Disclaimer: Don't own Hey Arnold-crap:)

Chapter One: Flashbacks and Memories &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

It was early, just before sunrise, yet the late August air was already getting hot and muggy. Most of Hillwood was still sleeping, kids and teens not wanting to face another day closer to the first day of school and early arisings and parents and adults alike not wanting to go to work in their cramped, hot cubicles in office buildings with no air conditionining and colonies of flies everywhere.

Yet, someone was up. Someone who was too restless to sleep.

She, completely relaxed in old jeans and an extra large T-shirt, was wide awake, writing in a small pink notebook that over the years, though greatly battered and beaten, from being dropped and things spilled on it, held many memories and feelings of this certain girl.

She was writing furiously fast, but still her thoughts were coming at more and more rapid pace...

I can't believe that this time next week, I will be starting my first day of high school! Junior High was scary enough, but high school? Helga,calm down girl! The only thing that'll change is different teachers, more kids, and a bigger school for you to get lost in!

Helga chuckled and continued, smiling...

Helga, not only does high school come with new experiences and new memories and changes, it comes with a pass to change yourself. Admit it, old girl, you've played the touch girl act for far too long.There is no reason for an insensitive, verbally abusing, and threatening alter ego anymore! Is there really anything wrong with letting people know how you really feel, letting them know the real you? Letting him know...how you feel? You're no longer a pig tailed brat in Mr. Simmons class...

Helga smiles again, leans back, and closes her eyes and begins to reminsce...

" 23 hours, 26 minutes, and 44 seconds before you die!" Helga shouted through a bull horn in the direction of Arnold's house. Helga smirked an the outside, planning on keeping it up all night or until she fell asleep. She had to admit, torturing and annoying Arnold is what she did best. Everyday she would find different ways to annoy him...out of complete loony love for the guy!

" Well, I guess we did pretty good, huh, Helga?"

" Yeah, Arnold I guess we did."

They took another bow to the standing ovation of the audience at the end of the successful tragic play " Romeo and Juliet"

" There's only one thing Helga-why'd you kiss me for so long?" Arnold asked inquistively.

" I was acting proffesional! Do you think I actually wanted to do that, football head?"

" Whatever you say Helga."

Helga smiled.

" Merry Christmas Arnold." Helga silently said to herself, as she gazed lovingly at Arnold through his window. She had been up all night, working in a cold and dreary office, and had traded up her beloved Christmas present. But it was all worth it.

the fight with Big Patty and how Arnold talked her out of it, sabatoging Arnold and Lila's every night out together, saving a tree and a neighborhood, a haunted train, a misunderstood prank, a walk in the graveyard, the parade, going swimming on April Fools Day, getting amensia and being blind, bio-square, the egg project, and Rhonda's marriage predicator, and all those times she kissed Arnold...

Helga opened her eyes slowly and smiled and continued writing...

At least I have stopped making shrines to you, Arnold, in my closet!

She gazed lovingly at a photograph of Arnold, at the center of all the photos that were on a huge bullentin board in the back of her closet, and chuckled again. With a determined look on her face, she wrote...

Arnold, I promise-you'll get to see the real side of me-finally!

Helga, feeling especially poetic, concluded with this little poem...

Through all these years

I've covered up my fears

You've never seen my tears

Just have heard my jeers

I may have seemed tough and mean

But that's only what has been seen

Deep down I'm just as scared as anyone

Full of love and want for fun

Take a chance-what harm can it do?

Get to know me and how I love you.

Helga gazed wishfully out her window, where a huge orange sun was just coming up over the cityscape. Sighing, she thought Helga, you can do it-you can let down the old brick wall of insecurites crumble and let your real side show. You can do it

Helga closed her eyes once more, this time falling into a dreaming sleep.

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Sorry about the cheesy poem-it just fit! If you read this thanx! I promise next chapter will be WAY more interesting! Please review-be greatly appreciated:)