Helga ran to her safe place in the emporium and spun around in joy while laughing to herself. "Ooh!" She swooned, her hands close to her heart as she spun, then stopped to pick up her journal and pen; ready to write down and capture all that had happened on her date with the one and only Arnold- her very heart itself.

Oh journal! Oh rapture! Oh pure ecstasy! Oh sweet, magnificent Arnold!

Journal, you will not BELIEVE the night I've had or the amazing experience that I've just been through. Let me tell you ALL about it.

So first, Arnold had me show up at his place wearing a warm jacket that my mom had, unbelievably actually picked up from the dry cleaners this time around. Wearing my jacket, I walked to the boarding house and showed up a little cold, but mostly excited for whatever Arnold had in store for me. I knocked on the door and within seconds, Arnold was there in his own jacket ready to take me to wherever it was that we were going.

"You ready for your surprise?" he asked me and I shrugged my shoulders with my hands deep inside the pockets of my jacket.

"Considering you have me dressed as a marshmallow, I think I'm ready to go. Lead the way?"

We walked and walked, talking all the while about school and other silly things to pass the time as the wind practically tried to blow us away. While I tried to get him to let us take the bus, he protested that we should walk and I went along with it knowing he had to have something up his sleeve for us to not take the bus. So we continued walking in the cold of winter, my teeth chattering as Arnold reached out to take my ice-cold hand to walk hand-in-hand with me down the sidewalk as we neared the park, empty at that time of night from the usual hustle and bustle of people.

"Where are you taking me, football-head?" I asked and Arnold merely squeezed my hand.

"You'll see," he said with a smile while pulling me towards the frozen lake where people usually ice skated during the day. "C'mon," he encouraged me as he let go of my hand and began walking on the ice and I looked at him like he was crazy.

"What are you, mad?" I asked with a laugh and he shook his head.

"I have a plan," he called out from the center of the lake where he now stood. "Come on, what are you, scared? Helga G. Pataki is scared of a little ice?"

I rolled my eyes, "The ice could break, ya dingus," I stated but Arnold shook his head.

"It's pretty solid. You want proof?" He asked before jumping on the ice and I reached out as if I could stop him from where I stood.

"Would you stop already?!"I screamed at him and he stopped but not without trying to get me out on the ice once more.

"Not until you come out here," He said with a sly smirk on his face and with a large sigh, I broke and carefully walked onto the ice to follow him towards the center of the lake where he was standing.

"There. Are you happy?" I asked between chattered teeth and Arnold grinned.

"Very. Now, let's lay down." he stated before doing so and patting the spot of ice next to him.

"You want ME to lay down on the ICE." I deadpanned and he nodded his head from where he lay.

"That's what I want, yes."

"And why is that, smart guy?" I wondered and he shrugged his shoulders while propping his arms up on his stomach.

"You'll just have to trust me, now won't you?" he teased and I sighed again, dramatically this time before lowering myself to lay on the ice beside him and stared up at the sky while shivering from where I lay beside him.

"Okay. I'm laying. Now what the heck kind of date are we on?" I demanded and Arnold pointed up at the sky.

"You see the moon?" He asked and I nodded my head.

"Yeah, what about it?" I wondered and he dropped his arm back to his stomach.

"It's surrounded by stars. This is one of the only spots in the city where you can see them all at once." Arnold stated and I nodded my head while taking in his words.

"It's pretty," I mused while staring up at the sky and focusing on the stars as the glimmered above us. "Kind of inspirational."

Arnold smiled from where he lay while reaching out to take my hand in his. "I was hoping you'd say that."

I turned my head from the sky to look over at him. "You were?" I asked and he turned his head to look back at me.

"You've been so stressed lately and with the writer's conference coming up, I wanted to do something that would inspire you to write something, even if it was just staring out at the stars." He tilted his head back to face the sky ahead and spoke again. "I've always found the sky to be fascinating. And I may not be an artist or anything like you, but I can imagine that something so beautiful would be inspirational to someone like you."

I stared up at the stars then, my mind wandering as my eyes gravitated towards the full moon as it glowed down on us from where we remained on the ice. Suddenly, without thinking, words spewed from my mouth. "Oh, most luminous orb in the indigo sky, looketh you upon my ideal guy. Oh all knowing lunar sphere, taunting from above, wilst thou never guide me to my one true love?"

Arnold's eyes grew wide as he stared at me and I caught his glance while raising a brow. "What?" I asked and he shook his head in shock.

"Where... where did you hear that?" he asked and I smirked.

"Nowhere. I made it up." I said and he continued shaking his head in disbelief.

"But I've heard it before... in a dream or something..." He said more to himself than to me.

"I don't know how you could have, I just made it up now. I'm...sorry...?" I apologized and Arnold squeezed my hand.

"No need to apologize. It was beautiful. I just don't understand why you need to ask the moon for help finding your ideal guy." His voice quivered for a moment before he finally spoke again. "I thought maybe... that might...might be me."

Oh, be still my heart! Arnold finally sees us the way I've always seen us- true soulmates. I shook slightly from not only the cold, but at his statement and my smile grew from ear to ear as I looked at him and scooted closer to him so our bodies were touching. "You ARE my ideal guy, Arnold. And better yet, YOU found ME. I'd already found you, I just had to wait a while for you to find me too."

"Well I did," he said after a moment while scooting closer to me too and wrapping an arm around my shoulders, "You proved yourself in the jungle and you prove yourself with every word you say to me. You've really opened yourself up these passed few months and I'm really proud of you, Helga."

I shrugged my shoulders, "It's nothing, really," I stated but Arnold disagreed.

"It isn't nothing, Helga. It takes a lot to open yourself up to someone, especially someone you like a lot the way you like me. Someone you l-love."

I knew the word still made him uncomfortable as he hadn't adjusted to all my feelings quite yet, but I still have hope that one day he'll understand the just of all my feelings and we can live in love the way I've always dreamed. But laying on that ice, staring up at the stars in the quiet of night, it was nice and calm and everything that felt like how love should feel. So I'd say he's getting close to feeling it. At least I hope so.

"Well," I said after his comment about love, "I do you know. Even if you don't feel the same way just yet. Which I understand, there's no rush." I quickly added so he knew that I wasn't pressuring him to feel the same feelings I felt.

"I know," he replied, "But that doesn't mean I don't have feelings for you."

This made me smile and I stared up at the stars, their luminescence glittering above us in the open sky. "Thanks for taking me out here tonight," I told him after a moment of silence, "I uh... I needed to get away from everything for a while. Even if it is freezing cold out here and we're lying on ice."

Arnold chuckled, "You're welcome. Did it inspire you?" He asked and I nodded my head.

"Sure did. You know what else it inspired me to do?"

Arnold glanced over at me and raised a brow. "What's that?"

Carefully, I leaned over, my cold lips finding his to press against them for the briefest of moments though he held his against mine for just a moment longer. We stayed like that for a minute or so under the light of the sky, the still of the night, and then pulled apart; Arnold's eyes hot on me as he smiled wide. "Wow," he said and I shared in his smile.

"Wow is right," I replied and he chuckled.

"I uh... we should get going," he said awkwardly before pushing himself up and then offering his hand to help me up as well. "It's getting pretty late and you're right when you say it's freezing cold."

I laughed and nodded my head. "Freezing cold is definitely right. My buns could fall off."

And under the moonlight, we walked back to his house to be greeted with hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and fresh baked cookies thanks to Gertie who had insisted they were in honor of Valentine's Day.

But after the kiss we shared, I couldn't agree more. It certainly felt like Valentine's Day to me and Arnold and I couldn't stop staring at each other with a smile planted on our faces with our secret tucked away inside our minds. This kiss was unlike the other, nobody had been watching us and it was so romantic that I felt like my heart would burst.

It was a night I never want to forget and that's why I'm writing it all down to you, dear journal. So that I can re-read it again and again and never forget this, the sweetest of kisses I've yet to share with Arnold. This whole night was awe-inspiring and filled my heart with joy. Thus, inspiring this very poem which I've written for this very occasion.

Oh sweet, glorious stars

That sing their sweet songs from above

Shine down upon me

With nothing but love

Show me the long-lost path

As you've done so many times before

Guide me with your warm light

And give me something more

Let the moon shimmer its glimmer

Let the stars deliver their radiant glow

But know that I'm here

Waiting down below

Luminescent Orb

That I look up at and hear my wish

I dare for more, long for more

Long for another long-lasting kiss.

Inspired and Loved,

Helga G. Pataki

Howdy, again.

So Arnold and I had... an interesting conversation today during lunch period. Not a bad interesting or anything, just interesting is all.

We were sitting at the lunch table with Gerald and Phoebe, talking about the writer's conference coming up in the next couple of days. Phoebe was proud of me for getting into the conference, but I could tell that she was a tad jealous that she hadn't been picked even though she wasn't that great at writing when it came to the creative sense. Look, she's my best friend and all, but she just doesn't have the creative mind when it comes to writing- she's a research girl and there's nothing wrong with that. Just not the kind of person they send to a young writer's conference I guess.

Either way, we were talking about it coming up when Arnold reached for my hand and held it above the table, Gerald's eyes glancing over to us as he did so.

"You two have certainly become more... open about things," he noted before taking a bite of his food and chewing while eyeing Arnold and me suspiciously.

"What's wrong with being open about a relationship, Gerald?" Arnold asked.

"Yeah, look at Rhonda," I added, "she flaunts her relationships around all willy nilly every week."

"I simply believe in discretion," Phoebe added, "As does Gerald. Correct?" She asked while turning to look at him as he sighed and nodded his head.

"You hold hands the whole way to school though," I said and Gerald rolled his eyes.

"Some flaunting," he sarcastically stated and I smirked.

"It's still showing your relationship so what's your issue with us showing ours? It isn't like nobody knows we're together." I stated and both Gerald and Phoebe shrugged their shoulders while reluctantly nodding their heads.

"I suppose you have a valid point," Phoebe said after a moment and I grinned.

"Thank you," I conveyed before finishing the brownie on my tray.

It was a weird conversation to have with my friends, but I think they finally understand that there's no harm in Arnold and I showing that we're a couple. I mean, like I said, it isn't like nobody knows we're together now. We're done hiding it and as long as everyone leaves us the heck alone about it, I'm cool with holding his hand in front of other people.

What have I got to lose anyway?

Feeling ballsy,

Helga G. Pataki

Hello.

There's a period at the end of that because I've had one heck of a day. I guess I figured out what it was that I had to lose and that happens to begin with the names of Harold, Stinky and Sid. They just won't leave Arnold and I alone! It's ridiculous! The goons bug us every single day about our relationship and if it weren't for Arnold literally holding me back, I'd pound them right in their smug faces.

Maybe Gerald and Phoebe were right... maybe discretion is to be advised.

In other news, Bob and Miriam have been fighting about telling Olga the dirty truth about our little secret. Ever since Mom's been laying off the smoothies, her willpower has kicked in and she's been wanting to 'do the right thing' a whole lot more. I keep holding bets inside my mind wondering who will win. I'll keep you posted.

Besides that, I'm just frustrated with my classmates. Could they be any dumber? Any lamer? Any less mature?

Ready to beat someone's face in,

Helga G. Pataki

So...

I think my new idea of discretion has hurt Arnold's feelings. He doesn't seem to get why I don't want to hold his hand anymore in front of people and while I tried to explain it all to him, he just doesn't seem to get why it bothers me so much and why I can't shut out Stinky, Sid and Harold's voices like he can.

But I'm not Arnold. I'm not some perfect, mindfulness-mastered weirdo who can tune out the evils of our classmates. I just end up clenching my fists and want to smack them right in their dumb faces. Sure, they might just be immature 11 year olds and sure they might just be taking out their own frustrations on us, but it still hurts and makes me feel bad and our relationship invalid.

And the thing is, I KNOW our relationship isn't invalid. I KNOW that what I have with Arnold is real and this time I'm not just making it all up. So why am I so phased by their stupid words? Why am I so bothered by their mocking and their lame teasing? I shouldn't be. In fact, I should be amused by it all because of how wrong they are and how right we are to flaunt what we obviously have.

Anyway, the young writer's conference is in three days now and I've gathered up most of my best poems in preparation to show them off in hopes to win all conference. They pick the best writer out of the entire conference and give them this prestigious award to take home and publish one of their works in his big-deal magazine, so I'm really hoping my writing is good enough to take home that trophy and shove it in Bob's face.

Now THAT would be a sight to see.

Hoping for the best,

Helga G. Pataki.

I made a bold move today.

I showed Arnold my poems.

I know what you're thinking. You're crazy, right? Showing Arnold all the poems that are mostly (okay all) about him. But I needed some feedback and encouragement going into this young writer's conference and Arnold was the only one I trusted enough to share that part of myself. And if I couldn't share my poems to Arnold, how in the heck was I supposed to share my poems with a community of people judging them for all conference?

So I took out the scattered papers I'd thrown into a binder and sat him down on his couch while I sat on the floor of his bedroom and read each and every one to him, throwing my feelings out completely bare as if I were naked in front of him; my feelings completely raw and out there for the first time in my entire life.

After I finished, Arnold looked at me with a half-lidded gaze and smiled a warm smile my way. "Those are wonderful, Helga. Absolutely stunning."

I raised my brow, closing the binder slowly and looking up at him completely. "R-really?"

Arnold nodded his head, moving to sit down on the floor with me while crossing his legs. "Really. You've got a gift, Helga. And there's no doubt in my mind that you'll win all conference with your poetry. I've never heard anything like what you've read me. It's even better than the poetry we study in school."

I reached up to run my fingers through my hair, blush rising up through my body and to my cheeks. "Criminy, Arnold, you're making me blush," I admitted and he chuckled.

"I'm not trying to, just being honest is all," he said while reaching out to take the binder from me. "May I?" He asked and I nodded my head, giving him the binder willingly as he opened it up and began flipping through the poems looking at each one carefully before pointing to one in particular.

"This one," he said, "I recognize this one..." he said before reciting it. "Arnold my love, my sultry pre-teen," he paused for a moment before looking up at me. "That parrot... in fourth grade...it used to say this poem all the time. Was it yours?"

My blush reddened as I nodded my head reluctantly and laughed to myself. "Yeah... that was all me. It overheard me writing the poem and the rest... is history."

Arnold laughed and shook his head. "Wow... well, it's a great poem regardless. That parrot knew good poetry when it heard it."

"Rest in peace," I muttered only making Arnold laugh more.

"You remember Mr. Simmons' face when he saw it get eaten by your lizard?"

"Oh man!" I said chortling, "That was a riot! What did he say again?" I asked and Arnold answered as we both said in unison,

"Remember, what we saw was uh... cycle of life in action...!" we both then erupted in laughter at the comment and shook our heads as we remembered that crazy day of show and tell all those years ago like it had been lifetimes ago.

"Man, Helga, you've been writing poetry for forever," Arnold finally said after his laughter had subsided and I nodded my head with a shrug.

"Yeah, but it only got good as of recently. Any of them stick out to you for the conference?" I asked and Arnold let out a 'hmm' as he continued flipping through the pages and carefully eyeing each page.

After a few minutes of inspecting my work, Arnold pointed his finger to a page in particular and smiled. "This one. Definitely this one." He said before clearing his throat and beginning to read the words off the page that I'd written.

"Under the hot lights of day

Staring into the mirror; prepared to see

I don the old mask I've worn all my life

for those who expect to see the best of me.

But I shan't let them see

I shan't let myself break

this mask that I wear has taken

so many years just to make

Doth thou see right through?

Cans't thou see behind my bloodshot eyes?

Dost thine glisten with mine own tears

to hide the air of my surprise?

Let me hide all my weakness

Let me hide all mine own shame

For behind this hardened mask

Bares the one of my true name

The lost soul of mine own true self."

I shuddered at the words of my own poetry and took a moment to digest it before speaking at last. "Lemme see that," I said while snatching the binder back and looking down at the poem I'd entitled 'Ode to Myself.'

I glanced over at Arnold and frowned. "Really? This one?"

Arnold nodded his head confidently and pointed back to the binder. "It's raw and real. It shows your true colors and is the only poem you showed me that was about you. I think that shows your true writing skills."

I looked down at the binder and stared at the words written on the page and sighed, knowing he was right. This WAS the only poem in ALL my volumes that I'd actually written about myself and the funniest part was that it was only on the back of a page that had ended up in the binder so it wasn't even supposed to end up here in the first place.

But either way, Arnold was right. Maybe this poem WAS my best chance at winning. It was deep, it was emotional and it was most importantly raw and real- words written by the real me.

So that's it. 'Ode to Myself' it is.

Let's see if this one can win me that big ole trophy.

Future Winner,

Helga G. Pataki

Well, today is the day.

I'm currently packing up and getting ready to head for the young writer's conference down in the city with all my poems, 'Ode to Myself' at the very top of the pile prepared to be shown to the judges and prepared to win that big stinkin' trophy (if there even is one? I'm not actually sure). But aside from all my false confidence, there is a side of me that's a little worried about the outcome of what's to come.

Sure, I'm nervous, but most of all I'm excited to go down and meet other writers and just be in my element. Plus, it'll be wicked cool to be away from all of the saps back home who would just rain on my parade. They all don't realize my potential, everyone that is except for Arnold who fully realizes just what I'm capable of- and that's winning this young writer's conference.

Anyway, I'm gonna be late for the bus to take me down to the city so I'd better get going.

See you when I win!

Helga G. Pataki

All these poems were fun to write so i hope you enjoyed them- what did you think? Also, what did you think of this chapter? are you as excited for the young writer's conference as I am? I remember when i was in sixth grade and went to the young writer's conference in my state. I still have the shirt from it actually. anyway, please let me know what you think by leaving me a REVIEW

-Polka