Here's the next episode of this series, which is 'Operation: Ruthless'! How am I going to do THIS episode with Rhonda involved? You'll find out! Anyway, enjoy!

"I'm going to do it!"

"You're going to fail."

"I'm going to finally do it!"

"You'll never get there."

"Just hold the camera in place."

I nodded towards my friends as Nadine was fumbling with a camera as Phoebe was examining a Swiss cheese model she was holding.

"Rhonda, all two years you tried to ask Arnold to the Cheese Fair, and every year, you get nervous and walk off without a word." Nadine frowned. "I'm telling you, you're not going to get it right."

"I know I've had... some issues for the past couple years... but this year, I have a plan!" I smirked. "This time, I'm not going to be nervous, NOR will I back out nervously! This time, I'm going to go right up to Arnold, and ask him if he'd like to go with me to the Cheese Festival tomorrow!"

"Cheese Fair." Nadine said.

"I know, but I prefer Cheese Festival." I explained. "Besides, I have EVERYTHING planned out!"

"Rhonda, you say this every year, but you never go through with it!" Nadine said as she pushed the play button. "Here's you in first grade trying to ask Arnold to the Cheese Festival."

I watched the screen as a young me, with two pigtails on my head and a cute red and blue shirt with a purple skirt nodded to the camerapeople (younger Nadine and Phoebe) as younger me said, "Here we go, Nadine! I'm going to be asking my best friend Arnold to go with me to the Cheese Festival."

"Good luck!" A younger Nadine's voice sounded as the camera focused on a younger Arnold walking with his friend, Gerald. The younger me smiled as she approached him.

"Hi, Rhonda. What's up?" Younger Arnold asked.

The younger me opened her mouth... then her eyes widened as she gave out a small "...uh..."

"You okay?" Younger Arnold asked.

"...uh... oh, look at the time, gotta go!" Younger me said as she ran back to Younger Nadine and Younger Phoebe.

"What happened back there?" Younger Phoebe asked.

"Oh, I'm so embarrassed, I forgot what I was going to ask!" Younger me groaned. "Shut the camera off..."

As the screen flickered, it went to the next year, only this time, in the second grade, I had one ponytail, and I was getting more used to red in my old time. The younger, second grade me smiled as she said, "Okay, this time, I'm not going to forget my line!"

"You sure you should ask him? What about...?" Young Nadine asked.

"This time, I won't forget my line!" Younger me said. "Just hold the camera, okay?"

I heard a sigh from Young Nadine as younger me was just approaching a young Arnold as he looked at the young me. "Hi, Rhonda."

"Arnold, hey! I was wondering, well, since we've been friends, well..." Young me started... but paused. "Well, uh, that is... u... ...uh..."

"You all right, Rhonda?" Young Arnold asked in confusion.

"...uh... oh, look at the time, gotta go!" Young me panicked as she ran back to Young Nadine and Young Phoebe.

"Forgot your line again, huh?" Young Phoebe asked.

"Shut up, okay!" Younger me frowned. "I was getting close, but I started to feel weak! Nadine, shut that camera off!"

The camera shut off as Nadine of the present said, "I'm just saying, you have an awful track record of trying to ask Arnold to the Cheese Fair."

"This time, it's going to be different!" I smirked. "I won't be nervous, and I won't forget what I want to say! This time, it's going to be my moment!"

"Uh-uh." Phoebe said as she was looking over some Swiss cheese and spinning around a few times.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"According to festival tradition, Swiss cheese is a window to the soul. If you spin around three times, hold your breath and look through a hole, it'll guide you towards your true love." Phoebe explained.

I giggled a bit as I patted her head. "You're cute, Phoebe."

"Please don't do that." Phoebe frowned, looking at me.

Phoebe then proceeded to do what she just explained as she stopped and peered in through the hole.

"So, who did you see, hm?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I saw Gera-" Phoebe then stopped as she glared at me, I must have been giving a huge smile at what she was about to say. "Could you please not do that?"

"Come on, Nadine and I both know you have a cute crush on Gerald! You know it, too, you're just not opening up!" I smiled.

"Shouldn't you be asking Arnold on a date?" Phoebe rolled her eyes.

"Of course!" I smiled as I saw Arnold coming up. "Nadine, roll the film!"

Nadine sighed as she held the camera up as I started walking towards Arnold.

"Hi, Arnold, hey, Gerald." I smiled as I approached the two. "Say, Arnold, I wanted to ask you something, something VERY important. I was wondering if..."

I then noticed that Arnold was not listening to me, but staring off in another direction. I frowned. "Arnold?"

I snapped my fingers in front of his face a couple of times, but he didn't respond. Gerald came over as he sighed, "Hey, Rhonda, I don't think Arnold's going to respond right now. He has that look of love."

My eyes widened, before wandering my eyes over to see what Arnold was staring a- Oh God, it's Ruth! The sixth grader with a pretty face, yet not too fashionable clothing... at least, in my eyes.

I sighed as I leaned over, "Arnold, buddy, I don't want to let your guard down, but Ruth..."

"Ruth..." Arnold sighed. "What a perfect name for such a divine creature."

I sighed as I saw Arnold trying to walk up to Ruth. I stared wide-eyed at the sight. Inside, I was growling in rage. Fortunately, a lot of people setting up the Cheese Festival passed in between Arnold and Ruth before they could meet, and by the time they were out of the way, Ruth had already left.

Arnold gave a lovesick smile as he went back towards us, then snapped out of it as he looked at me, "I'm sorry Rhonda, you wanted to say something?"

"Uh... never mind." I shook my head. "It actually wasn't as important as I made it out to be. I'll see you later."

I walked over to Nadine and Phoebe as I sighed in sadness. Nadine shut the camera off as Phoebe sat next to me. "Didn't go too well, huh?"

"I just can't believe it. I finally strike the nerve to ask him out, and Arnold gets interested in Ruth McDougal!" I sighed. "What does she have that I don't?"

"Let me check my list..." Phoebe said as she pulled out a checklist. "Long slender le-"

"I was asking rhetorically, Phoebe." Rhonda sighed. "I guess he's going to be gunning for Ruth..."

Nadine and Phoebe looked at each other as I look down in sadness.

"Rhonda?"

I looked up, sniffling a bit. "Yes?"

Nadine and Phoebe sat next to me as they were determined. Nadine said, "You've been trying to ask Arnold to the Cheese Festival for the past two years, and you always lost the nerve on this day! You know what? Tonight, you and Arnold will be having that date!"

"How?" I asked.

"Me and Phoebe will... take care of a few things concerning Ruth." Nadine smirked. "For now, though, select your best outfit for tomorrow and meet us at the Cheese Festival. We'll meet you there to discuss our plans."

I raised an eyebrow as I asked, "What do you mean?"

"You'll find out." Phoebe smiled as she and Nadine left.

I didn't know whether to find my friends really helpful or really creepy. But if they're going to help me in getting Arnold to notice ME over RUTH...

I smiled in determination as I stood up. Tomorrow night, I was going to have some fun at the Cheese Festival, and if they can help me to get Arnold to notice how cute and better-looking I am... I'm ready!

The next night, at the Cheese Festival, I was dressed up in my best outfit... well, my fair-going outfit, my usual red shirt, with a hint of black stripes around the center, with black shorts. I also did up my hair a little bit so it would be a little bit long. I met up with Nadine and Phoebe as I asked, "Okay, I got here as best as I could. What do you have planned?"

Phoebe put up her hands and stuck her tongue out a bit as she examined me. "Picture perfect! You'll be able to get noticed by Arnold in no time! Girls, we're about to initiate Operation: GTB!"

"GTB?" I asked curiously.

"Get the boy... in this case, net you Arnold." Nadine smiled. "Okay, no doubt Ruth just came in... in fact, there she is now..."

I looked over to see Ruth munching on some cotton candy as she passed us by.

"And there's Arnold, with Gerald in tow." Phoebe said as Gerald and Arnold were seen following Ruth. Arnold looked a little nervous and he seemed to be chanting something under his breath while holding a cheese-kebob.

"What's he doing?" I asked.

"Looks like Arnold's trying to do the classic 'give a girl the cheese-kebob' romantic entrance." Nadine said.

I sighed. "Sheesh, poor Arnold really has it bad, doesn't he?"

"Just follow my plan." Nadine said. "Rhonda, Phoebe, when he tries to approach Ruth, run past him, Rhonda, knock him down on 'accident'."

I smiled. "Oh, I get it. It'll knock the cheese-kebob off, getting it a little dirty so it won't be good for Ruth." I smiled. "Plus, I apologize for the small incident, he notices I dress nicely, and he forgets about Ruth!"

"Whoa, whoa, one thing at a time." Nadine said. "Okay, here he goes. Phoebe, Rhonda, on the ready?"

We nodded as we aimed for Arnold. Phoebe then started running as she yelled in a fake voice, "Oh, Rhonda, try and catch me!"

I played along as I called, "Hey Phoebe, wait up!"

And as predicted, I 'knocked' right into Arnold as the cheese-kebob flew. I got up and said, "Oh, sorry, Arnold. My bad, I honestly didn't see you there."

"No problem. My fault." Arnold said as he got up and walked back to Gerald.

My eyes widened. He didn't notice me. HE DIDN'T NOTICE ME! I frowned as I went over to Phoebe and Nadine as I said, "I thought you said this was going to get Arnold to notice me?"

"Oh, that's just step one of the plan." Nadine smiled as Phoebe looked over her list. "It's step TWO of the plan that's going to be the netter."

"There's a step two?" I asked.

We were nearby the hall of mirrors as we watched Ruth walking in, then a couple minutes later, we saw Arnold following behind, chanting a line monotonously. Sheesh, that poor boy needs serious help. I turned to Nadine and Phoebe. "So, all I have to do is follow Arnold into the hall of mirrors, I bump into him, and he'll probably notice me?"

"That's the idea!" Nadine smiled. "Go for it!"

I nodded to my friends as I proceeded into the Hall of Mirrors. I walked around as I looked at each of my reflections. Some were ugly, some were cute, some I just had a little fun with them... but my main primary goal was looking for Arnold. Pretty soon, I saw Arnold walking around as he saw a couple reflections of Ruth walking by.

"Oh, hi Ruth! My name's Arn-" Arnold was about to say before she left and my reflection were covering the mirrors. Arnold jumped as we bumped into each other.

"Whoa, again, sorry about that." I said. "I swear, we have got to stop bumping into each other like this, Arnold."

"No problem, Rhonda. My fault." Arnold said as he walked off.

I smiled a bit... but then groaned. Again, he didn't notice me! It took me a bit of time, but I eventually found the exit to the Hall of Mirrors where I met up with Nadine. Nadine sighed, "Don't worry, there's still phase three of the plan."

I then noticed Phoebe wasn't with her. "Where's Phoebe?"

Nadine pointed to another direction. I looked over and gasped as I saw Phoebe and Gerald talking to each other. Phoebe only giggled as Gerald gave a little talk.

I smiled. "Awww, that's so cute. You know what, Nadine? Let's just leave her with him for a while. She's in good hands."

"Agreed." Nadine smiled as me and Nadine decided to go off.

We were near the bumper cars as me and Nadine were behind Gerald, Phoebe, Arnold, and Ruth was near the front of the line. Ruth has not noticed Arnold yet, but hopefully Nadine's plan can get into fruition here.

As soon as the bumper car rides were done, we were about to go in as the previous riders exited out. Sid, one of the previous riders, told the next people in line, "Hey man, don't get in car number 4. The accelerator sticks."

Nadine nodded. "You hear that? Accelerator sticks in car number four."

"Yes, but we can't do that to Ruth. Jealous as I may be of her, that would be cruel!" I whispered.

Nadine paused as we went in and looked around for cars. "Yeah, you're probably right. Besides, I have another idea anyway."

"What's that?" I asked as we went into a random bumper car.

"Well, here's what I'm thinking... the Tunnel of Love." Nadine smiled.

"The Tunnel of Love?" I asked curiously as the ride started, Nadine at the wheel. "But that's for couples in line with each other, boys on the right, girls on the left. It's sort of a rule here. Besides... Arnold's probably going to get next to Ruth!"

"Not so." Nadine smirked. "It's actually Mystery Match night on the Tunnel of Love."

"That just INCREASES the chances!" I frowned. "Besides, what if I end up with... I don't know... someone like Harold?"

"Oh, you know you like Harold." Nadine smirked.

"Not like that!" I glared.

"I don't know, I could totally see you grabbing for Harold, dragging him to the boat and hugging him tightly as he starts screaming for help..." Nadine chuckled.

I stared blankly as I asked, bumping into random cars along the way, "Nadine. What sick fantasy do you live in?"

"But seriously, though, I think I can find a way to pair you with Arnold." Nadine smiled. "Just find out what number he has, and try trading until you get the right number."

I paused. "You know, that might work. Say, Sid said that the accelerator sticks at car number four. Who has it?"

We looked down and saw a '5' on our car. Nadine said, "Well, it's not us."

We then heard two screams as we see car number four bumping into the side, about ready to go loose. "Was that Phoebe and Gerald?"

All of a sudden, the car slowed down as we saw Phoebe and Gerald relaxing, Gerald seemed to help Phoebe with the wheel.

"Guess they fixed it." Nadine said as we saw Phoebe and Gerald laughing. "Awww, they're so sweet when they're talking to each other."

"I'm so happy for them." I smiled. "If I don't get Arnold tonight, at least I'm happy that one of our friends are happy."

It was a little later tonight at the Tunnel of Love as me and Nadine had arrived, we each got our numbers... mine was six, and hers was three. Nadine nodded. "Okay, I just overheard Arnold got eight... Ruth has eight as well! All you need to do is ask Ruth for a trade, no harm done."

"Right." I nodded as I was about to go towards the line... then I paused.

"Rhonda? You okay?" Nadine asked.

"...I can't do it. What if Arnold notices Ruth traded numbers? Chances are, he'll ask for another trade... and chaos would flow. Sorry, Nadine, but I prefer to wait it out. Besides, the fun of a mystery is that it's a mystery!" I smiled.

"What about your crush on Arnold?" Nadine asked.

"Yeah, I do have a crush on him... but from what we saw of Ruth, she's a bit of an airhead!" I said. "Besides, I can always confess to him some other time."

"I... guess that'll be fine." Nadine said as we were now in line.

"Besides, who could be next to me, anyway." I smirked. Then, as if curiosity killed the cat, I decided to peek over the fence and yelped. Harold was next to me, holding a six. I turned to Nadine. "Uh, Nadine, is it all right if WE trade numbers?"

"Sure. Why?" Nadine asked as we exchanged numbers.

"No reason." I said as I was now in front of the line. Curiously, I peeked over to see my partner and... oh no, it's even worse! Curly had number three! I poked down and whispered to a random kid, "Hey, trade you your number for mine!"

"Sure." The kid said as we exchanged numbers.

...I don't know what happened afterwards. I guess one of the boys peeked and noticed I exchanged numbers, because the boys' side was starting to exchange numbers like crazy, and shifting in line. The girls noticed and we all started exchanging numbers. About every kid was involved in this craziness as numbers were shifted... in fact, the only people that didn't get their number exchanged were Gerald, Phoebe and... Ruth. Wow, what were the odds Arnold would end up trading his number?

Well, despite all the random number changing, I didn't end up with Arnold, but ended up with... oh God, I had Curly.

"Look, freak, I don't like you and you for some weird reason do, but can we at least take a ride without you being weird?" I asked with a frown as we got on the Tunnel of Love's boat.

"Relax, sweetheart. I only came here for a fun time." Curly gave that stupid smirk as he put his arms around me. "Besides, you know you like me!"

"I do not like you. And stop hugging me, people will be getting ideas!" I whispered in his ear.

"Whatever you say, my sweet princess." Curly smiled.

I groaned. Tonight was not a good night...

"So, how did we do?" I said as Nadine came out, with Harold crying.

"Eh, could be worse." Nadine said as the next boat came out, Ruth was seen talking with Sid. "At least Arnold didn't get Ruth."

"Yeah... who did he get, anyway?" I asked.

As if to answer my question, Arnold's boat came out... with Arnold's grandmother dressed in a sailor suit at the mount?

"Oh, Arnold's grandmother." I chuckled. "She can be so random at times!"

It was later towards the end of the Cheese Festival when me and Nadine walked over and saw Gerald and Arnold watching Ruth leave.

"Man Arnold, I'm sorry. After all that, Ruth STILL doesn't know you even exist." Gerald said.

"Yeah, but you know something, Gerald? The challenge just makes me like her even more." Arnold sighed happily.

Watching Arnold leave, I sighed. "So much for Operation: Get the Boy..."

"Sorry, Rhonda. We tried." Nadine said, patting me on the back. "But I guess we can just chalk this up as a failure."

I sighed, nodding... but then I looked up and gasped, seeing Phoebe and Gerald holding hands as they were walking off. I smiled a bit. "Maybe we won't need to. In a way, Operation: Get a Boy WAS successful... not for me... but for someone else."

Nadine looked over and smiled. "You're right! Gerald and Phoebe are so cute together!"

"We have got to talk to her about the details of their small date!" I said in excitement.

"Yeah!" Nadine smiled. "Maybe she can give you some tips on how to win the boy!"

"Oh, ha ha." I said sarcastically as we left together.

Well, I didn't get Arnold that night, but I was just happy, knowing Phoebe had got the man of her dreams.

And there is the sixteenth episode! How do you like it? Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!