Hey, I've got an idea! Why don't we...FREE THE ANIMALS FROM THE ZOO? Nah, let's just get this chapter going.

Curly: Did you say free the animals?!

Me: *sweatdrops* Uh...no?

Curly: *laughing manically* Let's go!

Nicole: *sighs* Curly, come back! We need you for this chapter! Oh yeah, thanks for reviewing, The J.A.M a.k.a Numbuh I and Beth.

Monday came, and Arnie was finally gone. Although, of course, it didn't help that the minute I stepped off the bus, Curly caught my eye and beckoned me over.
"What's the deal?" I asked. "Are you planning to finally reveal yourself to Rhonda? Like, today?"

"But of course!" Curly exclaimed. "Why else would I request your presence?"

I smiled. "OK. Tell her somewhere quiet. Be sensitive about it. Rhonda will never say yes if anyone else is watching you. Be careful with how you talk, too. Don't try to kiss her or use your usual pick-up lines on her. Try just telling her that you like her and want a chance. Talk from the heart."

"You said that exact same thing last month." Curly grinned manically. "Remember, when we were discussing how I'd tell her when this day came? Anyway, I've already put a note in her locker, asking her to join me at the gap between the shrubs next to the fence and the wall around the corner from the courts at recess."

I nodded. "Right. So just try to be who you are in those love letters. The best advice I can give is to not jump all over her."

I hadn't told anyone about these little plans, and I didn't intend to start now, so not even Lila was going to be prepared. Of course, once Rhonda got to school and opened her locker, she instantly found the note, and was telling most of the girls.

"I can't wait to find out who it is!" she said excitedly. "I still can't work it out!"

"Um, Rhonda?" I said. "If it turns out to be someone you...you wouldn't like, you'd be tactful about it, right? And if whoever turns up seems to be a joke, you should take it seriously. I heard someone in the same situation thought it was all an elaborate joke, and she ended up breaking the heart of her admirer."

"Oh, Nicole, I'm not that stupid." Rhonda said with a sigh. "Maybe I'm sometimes a little more blunt than some, but I'm prepared for every possible boy who might turn up."

I honestly couldn't wait for recess.

"You know who's been writing love letters to Rhonda, don't you?" Lila whispered as we opened our math books. "Who is it?"

I raised an eyebrow, and Lila laughed. "OK, I get that it's a secret. Does that mean it couldn't possibly be anyone she might like?"

"Not really." I whispered back. "Ssh, I don't think he'd want anyone to know unless he and Rhonda become a real couple."

Five minutes before recess finished, Rhonda reappeared from the corner of the school with a completely blank expression. I decided to address her. "So...did it not go well?" She didn't seem to even notice I was there. "Rhonda?" Again, no reaction.

"Your hair's messed up." I tried, just wanting her to react. It worked. Immediately, Rhonda snapped out of it, pulled her hand mirror out of her pocket and stared in horror. Now I noticed it, her hair did seem a bit ruffled.

"Oh...um, thanks for telling me." she said. "I can't come to class like this!" She ran off, probably to get her comb from her locker.

"You can tell me all about the boy later!" I yelled after her.

Helga looked over as Rhonda ran off. She and Phoebe came over. "So what's with her?"

I shrugged. "She found out who her secret admirer was. I expected it to be a shock, but that reaction was...pretty anticlimactic. I was hoping she'd tell everyone else who it was. Instead, she's on autopilot. I had to tell her that her hair was messed up before she'd react."

I tried asking Rhonda again at lunch that day. Nadine and Lila were also there, and they both looked at her expectantly.

The dark-haired girl sighed. "Whatever. I knew it wasn't a joke the minute I saw him, but I couldn't deal with it. I can't tell you who it is, because I need to decide what to say before anyone can know – I don't know if he's worth it yet. I liked the boy in the letters, but I don't know if I could do this in real life." She was close to tears. I'd never seen the rich girl so vunerable, ever. I didn't know what to say, so all I could do was be there for her.

I decided to find Curly after school to find out what happened. Luckily, it was sunny for January and most of the class was so restless that they streamed out within minutes. The only reason Curly wasn't the first out was because I caught hold of his collar and pulled him down one of the hallways.

"Right. So what actually happened at recess?" I demanded. "What did you say to Rhonda?"

Curly had the most serious expression I'd ever seen him wear. "I explained everything to her in the calmest way possible – you know, why I did it, how much I love her...when she didn't say anything, I asked her to give me one more chance. I don't know what she thought, but she said she needs time to think. I respected that, so I've agreed to leave her alone until she decides what to answer. It was really hard for me to be so truthful without coating on my usual...erm, 'charm', but I had to do it."

"Wow." I murmured. The smile that spread over my face was involuntary. "I can't believe you handled it so well!If Rhonda knew how hard you try for her, I'm sure she'd say yes. I think she's just a little confused and shocked at the moment, but I'm pretty sure she'll come around in time."

After I got home, it was time I did my homework. But since Arnold and I usually did our work together, I raced up to his room with my books, and knocked. There was a pause.

I knocked again. No answer.

"Hey, anyone in there? It's just me!" I called. I knew for a fact Arnold was at home, because he would've told me if he was going to go somewhere straight after school. The only thing he didn't tell me about was when we were playing something in Gerald Field, and that's because I was always there too.

Finally, I could hear something. Arnold's voice, and then another one that was suspiciously familiar. I'd know that voice anywhere. It seemed that Helga was finally following up on that promise she made to me about talking to Arnold.

I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I got the idea. "Hey, if I ruined a moment or something, I'll come back later. But you two lovebirds have fun!"

I did my homework on my own that night, although I ended up having to leave my creative writing assignment for the next day. I had way too many creative schemes floating around.

A very big event in a very short space, I know. I'm sorry. Could you review if you forgive me?