[A/N: Wow, it's been a long time! I don't have much of an excuse - all I can say is that I never truly give up on my stories and eventually, my goal is to have EVERYTHING completed... I just lose motivation and run out of time... sigh...

Anyway, I was feeling some motivation and actually got some ideas jotted down as to the direction I want this story to go in! So, hopefully you guys enjoy this next chapter. Please let me know what you think! Reviews fuel the motivation tank!

D/C: I don't own Hey Arnold]

Monday, September 10thth
1:15 pm

Dear Diary,

I don't know if I will ever keep regular entries, unfortunately. My schedule has gotten even more hectic and sometimes I can't believe I find time to sleep or eat. But I didn't know who to turn to and it's been a rough day so here I am, I suppose.

I'm in the 10th grade now and high school has been so hard. No one at school likes me – sure, I don't have much free time but my classmates don't really even want to talk to me. I sit alone at lunch unless I'm having lunch with my English teacher in her classroom but even she doesn't always seem to want me around. I just don't understand why. My dad says they don't matter and that they're just jealous of my talents but I really want to have friends. I spend most of my time studying French and piano outside of school, I'm taking advanced placement courses so I have a lot of homework, and on top of everything, I'm tutoring elementary students in math. I don't usually get home until 8 or 9 at night and most of the time I either walk or take the bus because Daddy works late and Mommy stays home with Helga.

They still fight, in case you were wondering… Actually, most of the time they don't really talk to each other but half the time when they do, it's usually because they're fighting about something. Mommy accidentally left the stove on last week and started a small fire. Thankfully, it was the weekend and Daddy was home and able to put it out before it got too bad but he was so angry. We got a new stove yesterday but the counter and wall still need to be fixed. I didn't see the fire because I was at a piano lesson with Ms. Vandergift but when I got home, the sight of the blackened and burned stove was quite frightening. I wonder what would have happened if Daddy hadn't been home… but that is also too scary to think about.

Anyway, the start of this day has just been simply awful. I've been sick with a nasty cold that turned into bronchitis for the past couple of weeks but my doctor's note says I should be fine to return tomorrow. Most of my congestion is gone but I still cough when I talk for too long. The worst part has been the exhaustion – I have felt so helpless and worthless having to just lie in bed all this time. Who's been tutoring my students? What does Ms. Vandergift think of my absence? I'm sure my parents are disappointed – I will need to take extra time studying to catch up on my schoolwork. I really don't know how I will manage this since my classes are already so intensive but I have to make it work.

My bedroom is right above the kitchen and this morning I woke up to the sound of yelling from downstairs. This wasn't the first time that my parents' arguing has woken me up but I've developed a routine of sorts when they start fighting that typically involves me demonstrating some sort of accomplishment so that they stop focusing on why they are angry and instead have something in which they are a team – my success, in this case.

I put on the dress I was planning to wear for my first day back to school and pulled my bed-wrangled hair into a smooth ponytail before taking a deep breath and heading downstairs.

I don't know what they were fighting about exactly but from the sound of it, Daddy is still angry about the stove and Mommy fell asleep at the kitchen counter again. For a moment, I'm slightly relieved that on Mondays, Daddy goes into work later in the day, otherwise I'm sure he would also be upset about being late. I understand why he is so upset – I'm afraid Mommy does truly have a problem with her drinking. I don't want to be upset with her, though. She's still my mother. I just want both of them to be happy. For my entire life, I've only seen them happy a handful of times, it seems, and most of those times have involved them attending one of my recitals or a contest or receiving my grades from the school. I feel like if I can just keep achieving, they will eventually find a way to stay happy even when I'm not around.

As I stood outside of the entryway to the kitchen, I took a deep breath, grounding myself so that I could put on the show I knew they needed. They needed me.

"Good morning!" I said cheerily as I bounced around the corner into the kitchen. Mommy looked tired and she had a cup of coffee sitting on the counter beside her. Daddy was on the other side of the kitchen, his face in a deep scowl and his hands on his hips. I paid their body language no mind. "I'm feeling so much better and was wondering if the two of you would be interested in hearing the Brandenburg concertos I have been working on with Ms. Vandergift," I gave them my best smile, hoping. "I'm sure that Ms. Vandergift would not be pleased if she learned that I haven't been practicing,"

My parents exchanged glances and I relaxed when I saw their faces soften. They nodded and followed me into the living room. My head was still a little woozy and my body was still slightly fatigued but as I sat at the piano bench, my parents coming up behind me to watch and listen, I did my best to find any energy I had and let it out.

The more I played, the happier they became. It was always so exciting to see how something so seemingly simple could completely change the course of the day. I felt important and special but it's also a responsibility that I don't take lightly. Like I said, they need me. I wonder sometimes if I am the glue holding our little family together. It's exhausting but it's worth it if it means we stay a family.

I hadn't realized that so much time had passed. Before long, I had played every concerto I knew well, avoiding the ones that I knew still needed practice and perfection. My parents needed to be impressed; they needed to be proud.

As I finished another piece, my mother beamed, "That was wonderful, honey!"

"You're a stinkin' genius!" Daddy glowed with pride and I could feel my own heart swell with glee. It worked. It always worked.

Helga came over to us at one point but I was so focused on what I was doing, I didn't hear what she said to Daddy. She's gotten so big – it's amazing that she walks and talks like a tiny little human. I just love her so much. I need to keep this family together for her. She's so young, she couldn't handle our parents separating; I'm sure it would simply devastate her.

I continued to play for a little while longer until my head throbbed with a dull ache and my fingers grew tired. By then, my parents were thrilled and I'm tempted to say they'd forgotten they were fighting in the first place.

I was still reveling in relief when I noticed it was noon and Helga was going to be late for her first day of preschool.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "Mummy, we need to get Helga and take her to school!"

"Wha?" My mother said, apparently snapping out of some sort of daydream. "Oh my, you're right!"

Daddy went upstairs to get ready for work as Mommy and I searched the house for Helga. However, she was nowhere to be found! I ran upstairs and looked in every room, under the beds, inside closets, calling her name. It was positively terrifying! I ran back downstairs, on the verge of tears, and found my mom still in the living room calling Helga's name with less desperation than I previously had been.

"She's not here, Mummy," I cried and immediately fell into a coughing spell.

"B!" Mommy called upstairs. "Is Helga up there?"

"I was just up there and couldn't find her," I said sadly, my coughing gradually settling down.

"Hmm," My mother tapped her chin and furrowed her brow in thought. "Where could she be?"

I was beginning to feel impatient and helpless when the phone rang, jolting me out of my thoughts. I walked over, picking up the receiver to answer.

"Hi, this is Urban Toys Preschool," a woman's voice said. "Helga just showed up for school and she's completely soaked and covered in mud. We don't have a change of clothes for her; could someone bring her some new clothes?"

"Oh!" I cried in relief. "Oh, yes, of course!" I nodded frantically, my face beaming. "We will be there soon! Thank you!"

"Helga's at school!" I exclaimed happily as I put the phone receiver down.

"Oh good," My mother nodded and began to walk into the kitchen. Daddy was coming down the stairs, dressed and ready for work.

"Daddy," I said sweetly. "Helga is at school but she needs a new change of clothes. I can gather her things but would you give me a ride so I could take them to her?"

"Criminy, Olga," My dad groaned and I knew he was concerned about being late for work. "How am I supposed to start a Beeper empire if I'm not there, huh?"

"It will only take a few minutes," I reassured him. "And I can catch the bus home, if that helps,"

He sighed, "Oh alright, but make it quick,"

"Can do!" I smiled and darted upstairs to pick out a new set of clothes for Helga.

When we got to the school, it seemed that Daddy had changed his mind about me taking the bus back home but I reassured him that he should go to work and that I didn't need a ride from him. He seemed reluctant to leave but eventually agreed and I waved him off as he pulled away from the curb.

A woman who introduced herself as one of the assistant directors greeted me and took Helga's clothes. I waited for Helga to be called out of her classroom and into the lobby so that I could say good-bye to her. When she came out, escorted by an aide, I couldn't help smiling. I had been so worried about her!

She certainly seemed grumpy, though. Her face was scrunched up into a scowl and she had her arms crossed as she pouted. She walked over, standing in front of me and even though I knew she was upset, she was still completely adorable.

"Helga, baby sister!" I said as I crouched down to her eye level and pulled her into a big hug. "I was so worried about you!"

To my surprise, she pushed me back and then returned her arms to their crossed position. "Yeah right," She huffed in her little voice that, despite how small and unintimidating she was, broke my heart. "Leave me alone!" She yelled in my face and ran back in the direction she'd come out. The aide holding her change of clothes gave me a pitiful look and I immediately felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. My eyes began to water but I quickly nodded to the aide and darted out of the building before I started crying.

I didn't take the bus home and instead, chose to walk in the rain. This is what I deserved. The idea of Helga being so angry with me was absolutely heart-wrenching and I tried to understand what had happened this morning. I hadn't noticed her leaving – I don't even know when she left. Why couldn't she have just waited? She didn't need to walk out in the rain. She's just a child - a baby!

Maybe I could have paid better attention to the time. But I was trying to fix something! I was trying to get our parents to stop fighting. I was trying to make them happy! She'll understand one day. I certainly hope someone does…