I yawned and looked at my watch. It was 7:35am. 'Why the hell am I up so early? It's what? Saturday' I hid back under my blanket to shield myself from the sun shining through my window. I knew at any moment, my cousin, Honor, would come bursting into my room to say good morning.

The door flung open. 'I spoke too soon' "Good morning sweetie!" Ughhh…

My cousin Honor was probably one of my greatest friends since I moved to Seattle into my Aunt Liv's house. I looked at her and smiled. She was a bright girl who always looked at the Brightside of things. She is what got me through the day, and not to mention out of Hillwood. Hillwood was just 2 and a half hours south. Phoebe, still my best friend, comes up every so often with Gerald. They have been dating since I left, which was about 7 years ago. I honestly didn't think the relationship was serious, but from what Phoebe has told me, I'm guessing he's going to give her a promise ring soon enough.

"Uhh Helga?" I snapped back into reality. "Uh sorry I spaced out." I got out of bed, and walk towards Honor, who, as always, was looking happy. I flashed her my pearly whites because usually when she looked happy, it meant today was going to be a good day in Seattle, Washington.

I went straight into the kitchen. It was now my favorite place in the house. Ever since Honor taught me how to cook, I have been non-stop cooking for my friends and family. I whipped up a couple eggs and made 2 omelets for my other two cousins, Sam and Chris. Honor already had breakfast... of course. Aunt Liv had already gone to work. She was a lawyer, and a hell of a good one. She defends people who have been victims of any form of abuse. It was why I ended up moving in with her. Well, it wasn't my decision. It was Honors. She came to visit me unexpectedly a day after I admitted my love for a certain someone….

*Flashback*

After the neighborhood was saved, Arno-.. he stopped by my house…

"hey…" he said as he approached my door step. I just so happened to be sitting outside staring at my locket. "hey football head, we sure made one heck of a team" I hid my locket quickly and punched his arm playfully. But all he did was look at me with sorrow in his eyes.

"Helga, I'm really sorry… I uh…. I don't know how to say this…" I already knew… "I uh, don't…" he sighed.. and I stood there looking like a complete idiot watching him as he ripped my heart in half. "Helga, we're only nine! I don't know how else to say this but I don't like you like you. I just… like you. I wanted to clear that up." He moved awkwardly. I could tell he was sorry. I guess he had no intentions of hurting me, however, I was shattered. Hearing him say it was probably more hurtful than him not kissing me back when I jerked my lips on his yesterday.

"I just feel-.."

"I get it hair-boy. We already settled this. It was 'the heat of the moment.'" I rolled my eyes. I did my best to keep my best to keep my composure and not cry. Although I guess he could tell because the next thing I knew, he was holding me.

And that's all it took before I began crying. "Helga… ?"

I pushed myself off of him. "will I ever be good enough for you?" I said as tears streamed down my face. I couldn't control them anymore. "Arnold I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. I can't keep hiding my feelings anymore. I love you!" I stopped. I couldn't believe what I just said even though I already told him that yesterday. My face was hotter and redder than ever. It was more embarrassing now than it was yesterday because this time I was crying and he already denied me.

"Helga… I didn't-.." I cut him short. "SAVE IT!" I yelled. " I don't want to hurt anymore Arnold." I said in a more hush tone "soon enough it's just going to kill me." And with that final statement, I walked off my door step and around my house. I wiped the tears away with my arm. I could taste the saltyness on my face. I climbed the fire escape, which led to my room.

"Helga wait!" Arnold yelled after me. All I could do was cry more and climb up the stairs. I knew he wouldn't follow because it was getting dark, and Arnold never missed his 'be home by sunset' curfew.

I cried all night.

The next morning, Honor was sitting in my room, waiting for me to get up.

"Honor?" was all I could say, after all, I had just experienced the worst denial of my life.

"Surprise" she said with a smile. I tried to fake one but I knew she wasn't buying it. "How are you feeling?"

"What do you mean?" I asked. "Well you must have had a rough night if you have bags like those under your eyes" she giggled.

"I uhh, feel a little better." I lid and rubbed my throbbing head.

"Sweetie, lets get you cleaned up, I have some good news to tell you" Honor smiled some more. She had always been an influential not to mention caring to me. She was about 7 years older than me, and I know she was someone I wanted to be like in life. Tough, caring, and beautiful.

Honor washed me up, blow dried my hair and apparently bought me a new dress before she got here. She also practically killed me plucking the unibrow I had.

"You look amazing!" was what she said when she finished. I ignored her compliment completely because it was probably to get me to feel better. "what were you going to tell me Honor?"

When I asked, she straightened up and pointed to a seat behind me. "Do you want to change your life? Live happily?" of course I did. "Yes." I responded. "Then you're coming with me to Seattle. My mom, or your Aunt has built a case strong enough against your dad so if you want, I can take you to live with me." This was probably the best news I have ever gotten in my life…

"Are you serious?" I asked. I could only hope she wasn't kidding because if she was… well it wouldn't be a pretty picture.

"Of course Helga!" she said. This was my ticket. My chance to a better life and a chance to forget those who have hurt me. Especially Big Bob. He would beat me every time he got drunk, and that was every weekend. He said weekends were the time to drink, but just til recently, he became like my mom. An alcoholic. When I told him what a failure he was, that's when he began beating me. That first night it happened I called Honor and told her. She listened and cried with me. I owed her so much for being there when everyone else in my life wasn't. I immediately agreed. I hugged her as if there was no tomorrow, until the phone rang. I was crying tears of joy when the answering machine went off, then I heard his voice.

"Hey Helga, it's Arnold. Look I don't know if you wanna talk or not, but I just want to make sure we're still friends. Anyways give me a call…" BEEP. I wanted to leap for joy but my heart wouldn't let me. Honor apparently knew that look too well. She forced me to tell her what happened and I did. Now I was for sure leaving Hillwood. She said I needed a fresh start, a new life and that I had to leave anyways. Whether it was her or a social worker. The several phone calls I had with Honor, I asked several times for her mom to take me in. I sent pictures of my bruised body and after that, she got the file together and settled it with Bob. He obviously gave in on giving me up. He never wanted me in the first place.

So I packed my things. There was, however, one last thing I wanted to do before I left. I had a pink box. The box had every single poem I wrote about Arnold and his stupid little football head. It had pictures of him and shrines made in his image. On the top, I put a little sticky note and wrote:

All I can say is that I love you, and take care.

-Helga Pataki

I took the box to Arnold's house. I knocked 3 times and quickly ran back into the car befre anyone saw me. A mere 10 seconds later, Arnold opened the door and took the box in.

"Alright, I'm ready." And we drove off.

I did my best to forget what I was just thinking about. I honestly hated when I randomly thought of the past. We're in the future and I didn't want to ruin my day.

I sat down to enjoy my breakfast. I never really cook for myself but I decided I needed a little bit of nutrients in my body. I was feeling a bit weak. I finished up and washed my plate. I never noticed my cousins leave because I was too busy daydreaming about crap. However, I did notice Honor staring at me in complete amusement.

"I'm going upstairs, I'm going to get ready for the day" I told her. She smiled and nodded. I quiclky left before she asked me anything.

When I plopped onto my bed, I grabbed my phone and noticed I had one new message. It was from phoebe.

'Look, I can't take this anymore. I need my best friend here with me. I'm already on my way and I'm taking you back to Hillwood whether you like it or not. See ya in a bit…'

Phoebe has been begging me to go to Hillwood to visit. I just wasn't sure if I was emotionally ready. It was too late anyway. I was going to visit whether I liked it or not, according to miss Phoebe, so I began to pack.