if there was any confusion about the last chapter or where this story was headed, I hope that after reading this chapter, you will see where it is that I am heading and what this story is going to look like. the last 7 chapters have been a lead-up to this so I hope you enjoy it!

Dear Journal,

Is that even how you're supposed to start these things? I've never done anything like this before and my best knowledge of journaling comes from the Diary of Anne Frank which I read for fun a few years back. I guess I could introduce myself so that years later I could know where I started when I began this crazy journey of journaling, all thanks to Miles and Stella and their incessant trying to get me to do this.

So I'm Helga- Helga G. Pataki. I'm 11 years old and in the sixth grade. Not too shabby, I must say. I currently live at the beeper emporium with Bob and Miriam, my parents, and I absolutely hate it more than words can even describe. Which is probably the reason why I hang out at Arnold's place so much.

Arnold... I should talk about Arnold. After all, this thing IS private anyway, isn't it? Helga asked herself before chewing on her pen a bit and continuing to write down her thoughts.

Arnold is a special kid. Not only is he the kindest, most generous person I know, but he's sort of my boyfriend, even though we've never discussed titles or anything like that, as much as I wished we would. For so many years, that kid suffered through bullying after bullying on my part without even batting an eye and that takes a strong person to do that; to shake off someone's supposed hate for another without a good reason.

But I had a good reason, Helga continued to jot down, he knows that NOW but part of me still fears that he thinks I'm still that fireball of a person and that he'll never see the true me hiding behind the mask of lies I put on every morning just to get through school.

Helga sighed, playing with the pen between her fingers before going on. The thing with Arnold is that he sees right through that mask. Somehow, he's always been able to. And maybe that's just blind optimism Eugene-style, but I truly think he can see the warm, sensitive side I hide in my core of cores waiting to be let out of the chains I'd bound them in for fear of getting hurt. Ever since preschool, I've known just how to act to get people to lay off of me, but at what cost? I felt horribly alone and guarded.. until meeting Arnold's parents and finally being with Arnold the way I'd always hoped we'd be. It was like he had become my savior and his parents my own personal saints. They'd saved me form myself, and maybe this journal was just their way of trying to show further- the gift of words that they knew I had to let out somewhere as I had such problems telling others about my home life.

I mean, c'mon! Who wanted to be brought down by my sad life ANYWAY Helga asked herself, thinking about this harder before turning the page and beginning again on the next page of fresh stationary.

I guess I think that this journal is supposed to be my way of coping with life, and talking about all the exciting things that happen in my day to day experiences with not only Arnold and his family, but other stuff too, so one day I can look back at it and laugh or cry, or do any of the other stupid stuff adults do when they go to reminisce about the good ole' days. Back when it was so simple, even if it doesn't feel simple now. In fact, it feels pretty dang HARD right now. Avoiding my parents... using Arnold's parents as my own instead... spending every waking moment wondering what adventures are in store for Arnold and I today rather than what homework I have to get done or assignments that have to be turned in. Everything seems so minuscule compared to the things I'll have to worry about when I get older, the things that Miriam and Bob seem to fight about on a daily basis.

Where will my money come from? Will I have enough to pay my bills? Will I be able to keep a steady job? The questions of her future adult self roamed in her head as she questioned her journal about all the things that could go wrong if she didn't have the right support system, but she knew... she knew that she didn't have to go through it all alone as long as she had Arnold. And he seemed like he was in it for the long-haul.

Oh Arnold, she wrote, How I adore you and your emerald eyes as they stare back at me in the light of the moon and stars. How I admire you for all you've done for me, by accepting me into your home when there are plenty others just dying to meet your parents and spend the quality time you've so kindly given up for me... And while I know you might not be ready to say those three words aloud, I know you feel some sort of connection too between us ad that is the most important thing of all.

Emotions can grow. Feelings can develop. And as long as I'm here, I'll never stop trying to win you over, football-head. I'll never give up on you or us for as long as I live. Now, after everything we've been through, I know your feelings and after the sharing of our sweetest first genuine kiss, I can't wait until our very next one, whenever it shall be.

But until then, football-head, I bid you adieu as Bob is hollering for me to order chinese take-out again. Third time this week. Wish I could stop by at your place again for dinner, but I'm sort of in trouble for skipping out on Christmas.

But don't worry- it was all worth it.

Sincerely,

Helga G. Pataki.

.

Heyyo,

So guess who's still 'grounded?' That's right, this girl. My parents really have it in for me this time around. They don't want me going to Arnold's place anymore, at least for the time being, but that isn't stopping me, oh no. I've snuck out on the few occasion just to make it to the boarding house at LEAST for family dinner night- that's one thing I'm NOT willing to miss.

Speaking of things I'm not willing to miss, there's Arnold. It's hard not seeing him almost every day after school, but, and I never thought I'd say this, thank GOD for school. If it wasn't for that horrible place, I'd never get to see the kid and that's one place that my stupid parents CAN'T ground me from, thankfully. I mean, I guess they COULD, but they wouldn't dare. It's the only time they can get rid of me for a little while and I think they're getting sick of me being around 24/7. So needless to say, I doubt this grounding thing will last all that much longer.

Olga called today, and by called, I mean called on Dad's NEW smart phone. That's right- dad broke down and bought himself a SMART PHONE, believe it or not. I think he's starting to realize that there isn't getting around it much longer. Maybe he'll finally change his mind about the stupid beeper business after all. Not thanks to me, of course, Oh no. It was all thanks to Olga and her precious idea like she was the first one to have it and all. "Oh daddy," she said, "why not try and get into the cellphone business? I'm sure the emporium would sell out within the day!"

Criminy, it's like the girl is out to get me without even knowing it.

In other news, Miles and Stella are finally adjusting to their new life. I think they've pretty much gotten the hang of their lives and the future technology of everything that they've missed, even if it doesn't make much sense to them. I feel kinda bad for them, being so out of the loop and all. I can't imagine being asleep for ten years only to wake up and find that the entire world had changed around me, including my own son who had grown up without me there. They have so much catching up to do.

But Arnold seems up to the task. He doesn't seem to care that they've missed so much, and I'm just happy for him that he finally has his parents back. They do everything together now as if they could re-disappear at any minute again. I guess that's how you should live your life though; like anything can happen at any time. There's a lot to learn from a situation like that. I just wished that my parents would disappear so I could find some reason to appreciate them or something.

Maybe that's bad to say. Maybe I should appreciate them while they're still here, but I just can't. They could care less about me and while I know that SOMEWHERE inside them, they care about me as they've shown it on a few occasions, they certainly don't know how to show it unless they're talking about Olga. I miss the feeling of having parents who care, especially my mom like when she'd taken over the beeper empire. For at least those few weeks, she was the perfect mom- a mom that I could talk to and spend time with like I'd always wanted to. But these days she was just the same old Miriam- addicted to her 'smoothies' and sleeping on the couch while Bob obsessed over his beepers as if somebody would come in and buy the rest of his supply any day now.

They were exhausting parents, and I can hardly handle it anymore.

At least when I'm around Miles and Stella, I know that they're always listening and care about what it is that I have to say. They're the complete opposite of my parents and the more I spend time with them, the more I realize that. I hate for the day that they actually meet... how embarrassing THAT will be. And it's only a matter of time. Parent teacher conferences are coming up soon and I'm sure they'll bump into each other there with my luck and then Miles and Stella will see just where it is that I come from and maybe they'll not want me around their son anymore. Maybe it'll change their minds about the kind of person I am and maybe I'll be exiled from their home which would effectively break my heart.

No, Helga. They wouldn't do that to you. They LIKE you. If they didn't like you, they wouldn't invite you over all the time and spend time with you the way they do, even Arnold said so himself. What are you so worried about?

Oh, that's right, you're worried about losing the closest thing to a family you've ever had. Doi.

Utterly Worried,

Helga G. Pataki

At long last!

I'm not grounded anymore! Well, not officially at least. See, with my parents, they don't ever TELL me "you're no longer grounded," they sort of just stop trying to outlaw me from leaving the house. It's like they forget that they grounded me in the first place and just let me be to do my thing, which is fine by me. So first thing I did when I got home was changed my clothes and headed over to the boarding house under the guise that I had a project to work on with Arnold and left without a fight.

As soon as I got there, I was welcomed with open arms and praise that I had finally been let free of my sentencing. "You're a free woman now, huh Helga?" Miles asked me and I nodded my head.

"Free as a bird," I responded, a smile on my face as Arnold came down the stairs to greet me.

"Helga! I didn't think you'd be over tonight!" He exclaimed and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Guess I'm not a ward of the empire anymore so here I am. Hope that's not a problem." I stated and Arnold shook his head.

"Of course not. I'm glad to see you over here again besides on family night. I've missed you."

This, of course, made me blush brighter than a hot-pink valentine and I offered him a smile. "I missed you too, football-head."

"Aww, look at our babies," Stella cooed and it was Arnold's turn to blush.

"Mom..." he scolded and she held her hands up in surrender.

"Sorry, honey. I'm just so happy to see you two together again in the house. It's been so quiet without Helga around." She said and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Glad to be of service," I said and Miles let out a laugh.

"I guess you'll have to call Gerald now and let him know Helga's over, won't you, son?" Miles said and my eyes widened.

Gerald? I thought. I didn't realize that he had other plans. Of course, I HAD surprised him, but I hadn't thought that he had made other plans. Of COURSE he had made other plans. Arnold wasn't a hermit like I had become. I wasn't the only person in his life.

"Gerald can still come over. It'll be fun, won't it, Helga?" Arnold asked me and I found myself caught in a position I wasn't particularly comfortable with. Gerald? My arch-nemesis? Okay, maybe that was being a bit dramatic, he wasn't like my evil counterpart or anything, but Gerald and I had never been known to get along, and Arnold knew this. So why was he suddenly trying to get us to hang out with each other? Was this some kind of ulterior motive of his? Trying to get us to be FRIENDS or something?

Anyway, we waited in Arnold's room for a while, joking and talking like we usually did until Gerald finally showed up and the tension in the room was immediate the moment he walked in.

"Hey Gerald," Arnold greeted as Gerald stood dumbfounded in the doorway.

"Hey...Arnold...Helga..." he said slowly before pointing at me and then saying. "What's SHE doing here?"

I crossed my arms and frowned. "What do you mean what am I doing here? I'm allowed over here you know." I said and Gerald nodded his head.

"Right, but tonight was supposed to just be me and Arnold. Not you." He said fiercely and Arnold held his hands up to stop him.

"Helga showed up to surprise me today and I thought the three of us could just hangout tonight. Is that okay?"

Gerald paused for a moment, thinking this through but ultimately deciding not to fight with Arnold. "Uh... sure. Why not." He finally said before moving to take a seat on the couch while Arnold and I sat on his bed. "So what are we supposed to do?"

"We could go see a movie," Arnold suggested and Gerald rolled his eyes.

"Right, because I wanna be the third wheel in THIS situation," he said sarcastically and Arnold frowned.

"Gerald..." He said and Gerald frowned back at him.

"What, man? That's what it would be like. That's what this whole DEAL is gonna be like."

"So here's an idea," I chimed in, "what about you invite Phoebe? I know for a fact that tonight is the night she finishes her homework early."

"And how do you know THAT?" Gerald asked.

"Uh... because I'm her BEST FRIEND, remember?" I reminded him and he nodded his head before gesturing to the phone.

"Fine, then give her a call."

"Oh no," I said with a sly smile, "YOU call her. I'm sure she'll say yes to you. And besides, what kind of double date would this be if I asked her out, huh?"

Gerald sighed, knowing I was right and picked up the phone beside him to dial her number into the phone and waited as it rang. "Hello?" He asked, a pause on her end of the line as she responded. "Well I was wondering if you wanted to go to a movie tonight." Pause. "Yeah with uh... with Arnold and Helga." Pause. "Like a double date or whatever." Pause. "You will?" Pause. "Great! We uh.. how about you meet us there in like fifteen?" Pause. "Cool, we'll see you there."

And that was the set up to my first official double date with my best friend and her tall haired weirdo. We went to see Evil Twin 4: Curse of the Triplet, something that Phoebe wasn't TOO keen on seeing, but went along with anyway and the movie was alright, but I was mostly just happy to hold Arnold's hand the whole time and share popcorn with him. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be what with Gerald being there the entire time. And I was thankful for Phoebe being there because it made the whole thing less awkward. Gerald and I hadn't been around Arnold alone since our trip to the jungle and while Gerald had cut me some slack since then, it wasn't like we were friends or anything. And I was still a little mad at him for telling Phoebe about Arnold and mine's kiss before I could.

But I am trying to let bygones be bygones and all. Maybe Gerald had his reasons and I just don't know what they are. Either way, it was a fun night and the whole thing ended with a wonderful kiss between Arnold and I, something I didn't think would ever happen again as much as I wished it would. His lips were just as sweet as the last time we'd kissed and even though it had to happen on the steps of the beeper emporium, the world seemed to melt away the moment our lips touched and the world was at peace.

Criminy, I sure love that weird-headed kid.

Completely Lovestruck,

Helga G. Pataki

Helga sat down in her lair in the basement of the emporium and pulled out the journal that Miles and Stella had given her, tears streaming down her face. Shakily, she picked up the pen Arnold had given her and touched the pen to the fresh sheet of paper and began writing as fast as she could, not even bothering to address the paper this time around.

Arnold, oh sweet, dear Arnold. How could I have blown up at you? How could I have let my family get to you and your kind nature when it is I who should have to deal with the burden of them and their hostility? You certainly don't deserve having to deal with the aftermath of their harsh words, and yet, I've allowed my feelings to get the better of me and taken it all out on you. Can you ever forgive me? Can you ever understand that it isn't me who spoke those horrible words to you and it was instead the hurt side of me who unleashed my anger upon you in a most unforgiving way?

Helga shook her head while sighing and wiping away some of the tears that strayed from her eyes to slide down her cheeks.

Let me explain.

Today I went to Arnold's house again, but this time it was because I'd gotten into another fight with Bob. He'd blamed me for denting one of Olga's trophies while moving a box that I'd dropped because the dang thing was heavier than an ox. Anyway, he yelled and hollered at me and read me the riot act calling me a 'disgrace to the Pataki name' for ruining a prized possession. So he kicked me out of the house and told me to run off to that orphan boy's house, even though I have told him on MANY occasions not to call Arnold that anymore, but he doesn't listen to me.

Anyway, I walked to Arnold's place, angry as sin, and climbed the fire escape to knock on Arnold's window. He opened it for me of course, and listened to me complain about my family like he does on almost all occasions and offered me advice, but I wasn't in the mood for advice, so I snapped at him, even though I didn't really want to.

"I don't need your ADVICE, Arnold, I just need to blow off some steam," I said and Arnold nodded his head.

"Alright, well then blow off some steam. I'm here to listen."

"But ARE you? Aren't you sick and tired of hearing me complain about my stupid family when you've got a perfect one downstairs?" I asked and Arnold shrugged his shoulders.

"Everyone's family is different. And I don't mind hearing you talk about yours. Really." He said with a small smile, but I was ANGRY and I didn't care how understanding he was being. I needed to let loose in the only way that I knew how and APPARENTLY that is by making Arnold miserable.

"Look, Hair Boy, you don't GET it. Your family is PERFECT. You don't have HALF the problems that I have. Your mom is understanding and caring. Your dad is hilarious and awesome. Your grandparents care about you more than themselves. And I'M stuck with a blowhard dad, a juiced-out mother and a sister who walks on clouds. We're DIFFERENT. Maybe TOO different." Arnold raised a brow at me and crossed his arms.

"Helga, what are you saying?" He asked and I frowned.

"I'm saying there's no way you could POSSIBLY understand what I'm going through, no matter WHAT I tell you. Unless you live with them for a DAY, there's no WAY you could understand them."

"Then LET me understand them, Helga. Why don't you invite them over here once? Just this once." He said and I laughed while shaking my head.

"Are you insane, football-head? If I invite them over here, your parents will FINALLY know just where I come from and they won't want me around you. They'll see how messed up my life is and want better for you." I explained, but Arnold took this offensively and frowned.

"My parents aren't like that, Helga. You aren't your parents and frankly, I'm a little offended that you'd think they'd do that." He said and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm just scared they won't let you see me anymore," I said quietly and Arnold shook his head.

"They wouldn't do that, especially when they know how much you mean to me. You know how much you mean to me, don't you?" He asked and I smacked my lips while shaking my head.

"Not uh.. not exactly."

"Then you have a lot to learn, Helga."

Do I? Do I have a lot to learn when it comes to our newfound relationship, Arnold? Is there something I'm not understanding when it comes to how you feel about me? Am I really just scared of losing the one thing I've waited for my entire life? You, Arnold, are all I care about. You're the one thing that gets me through the day, through my miserable life, and without you, I don't know what I'd do. How could I be so foolish? How could I be so insecure about us that I would question your own parents' integrity?

Cripes, there's so much wrong with me and I don't even know where to begin to fix it.

What am I supposed to do?

Lost and Confused,

Helga G. Pataki.

Good Morrow, fine Journal,

Tomorrow is the parent teacher conference and needless to say I'm a little afraid at what it will bring. I know that tomorrow is the day that my parents and Arnold's will officially MEET meet (outside of when they kind of met in the jungle) and I just really hope Miles and Stella won't see me any different at whatever impression my parents will make on them.

I guess only time will tell, but I'm just really praying that Miriam will hold off on the smoothies beforehand so she won't be TOO embarrassing. As for Bob, well, there's no TELLING what will come out of HIS mouth. Keep in mind, he keeps referring to Arnold as the freakin' orphan boy. Then again, maybe by meeting his parents, he'll finally stop calling him that and all will be right with the world.

Yeah. Right.

I don't know. The whole thing has had me on edge all day today. Even the announcement of the conference made me jump in my seat and poor Phoebe looked over at me with sympathetic eyes knowing just what I was thinking. Ever since I can remember I've had horrible experiences with parent teacher conferences. Usually my parents don't even show up, but on the rare occasion that they do, they embarrass the living snot out of me. But this time around, I KNOW they're showing up because apparently they have something to discuss with my teacher. Something about my grades, even though I bring home straight A's. I wonder if they're just curious how I'm doing so well. Gee mom and dad, maybe it's because I'm JUST AS SMART if not SMARTER than your perfect Olga? There's a thought.

Either way, the whole thing has me a little nervous.

"Don't be nervous, Helga. I'm sure it'll be just fine," Arnold told me today when I went to his house after school and I shrugged my shoulders.

"I just don't know what it is that they could want to talk to the teacher about. They NEVER want to talk to my teacher." I said and he sighed.

"Maybe they're proud of you?" But I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, and maybe I'm an alien from another planet with antennas and an uncanny ability to read minds. Arnold, are you crazy?" I asked and Arnold frowned.

"I'm sure it isn't as bad as you think it's going to be."

But I'm POSITIVE there's some kind of ulterior motive going on that I'm just not seeing. My parents are kinda dumb, but they aren't THAT dumb. Maybe Bob is gonna try and push his beepers on my poor pathetic sap of a teacher. Maybe that's it. Or maybe Miriam is going to try and be a good parent after all. I guess I don't really know WHAT'S in store for tomorrow, but all I DO know is I hope they make a good impression on Miles and Stella. I just want them to see that I'm worthy of being with their son, even if my parents are big screw-ups themselves. I'm not a big screw-up like them. I'm responsible. I'm caring. I'm everything that they aren't and I hope they see that. I THINK they see that.

Maybe I'm overthinking everything. I tend to do that.

Oh well. Here's to tomorrow!

Worried,

Helga G. Pataki.

Well folks, we've finally gotten to the crux of my story and the main plot of what i've wanted to do with the story- the journal but from Helga's POV! I really hope you like where this story is coming from and i hope you continue reading. Please PLEASE let me know what you think of this fic by leaving me a REVIEW and telling me so!

-Polka