Author's Note: Want to know why I haven't updated my other stories in a while? This. This is why. I had a sudden burst of inspiration about a month ago. Unfortunately it wasn't for anything that I already had written. Anyway, enjoy!
"I just really miss her. I regret breaking up with her. I want to win her back, but I don't know how. Will you help me?" Jimmy practically begged.
"Sure. What are friends for?" Cindy smiled back.
"Thanks, Cindy. You're the best!" Jimmy leaned in and gave Cindy a hug. "Where do we start?"
"Well, actually, I'm kind of busy tonight," Cindy lied. "Can we meet tomorrow?"
"Oh. Yeah, that's fine. I was just kind of hoping to get Betty back before the dance. I'm probably going to need as much time as I can. But we can start tomorrow. Does noon work for you?"
"Noon works great," Cindy forced a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Awesome! Thanks again, Cindy. You're the best friend a guy could ask for."
Jimmy quickly walked across the street back to his house. Cindy closed her front door and started pounding her head lightly against it.
"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Cindy's dad asked as he walked into the front room.
"Everything is just great, Dad." Cindy started climbing the stairs to her room. "I'm going to get a head start on my homework."
"It's Friday night. Don't you have plans with your friends?" Mr. Vortex inquired.
Cindy sighed. "No, Sheen and Libby are out on a date, and it's after nine, so Carl is probably already asleep."
"Well, what about Jimmy?"
"Very funny, Dad."
"I don't see what's so funny. Aren't you friends with him?"
"I just don't feel like being around people right now, okay?" Cindy practically yelled.
"All right, sorry I asked," Cindy's dad gave her a sympathetic smile. "Enjoy your homework."
Cindy rolled her eyes and smiled. "Thanks, Dad. Goodnight."
When Cindy got to her room, she pulled out her phone and texted Libby. She knew that Libby would still be on her date, but she needed her best friend.
Cindy: SOS come over after your date please!
Not five minutes later, Cindy's phone started to ring. It was Libby calling.
"Libby, what are you doing? Aren't you out with Sheen?"
"I told him I had to use the restroom, so I don't have long. What's wrong?"
"Jimmy came over and asked me to help him get Betty back," Cindy explained.
"You told him no, right?" When Cindy didn't reply, Libby sighed, "Girl, what are you doing? You're just going to get hurt!"
"What was I supposed to say, Libby? He's one of my best friends. I want him to be happy, and if being with Betty will make him happy, then so be it."
"Your happiness matters too though. Look, I hate to leave you like this, but I've got to get back. I'll text you as soon as I get home, okay?"
"Yeah, okay. Have fun." Cindy hung up her phone and lay down on her bed. "God, what have I done?"
The next day, precisely at noon, there was a knock on Cindy's front door. Her parents were out running errands and Cindy had just finished her weekend chores. She opened the door to an eager Jimmy.
"Hey, Cindy." Jimmy barged his way into her house. "So, I was thinking—"
"That's always cause for trouble," Cindy teased.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny," Jimmy playfully punched her shoulder. "Anyway, I was thinking that since the dance is in three weeks, and she'll probably need a week to get a dress and stuff, I've got two weeks to win her back. Do you think that's enough time?"
"You've got this. All you need is some pointers. Come on." Cindy started up the stairs to her room, and Jimmy followed.
Cindy sat on her bed, and Jimmy sat at her desk taking notes on the advice Cindy was giving him.
"Just tell her that you've been thinking about it for a long time, and you realized that you were afraid to tell her what you wanted out of the relationship."
"Uh-huh. And what is that?" Jimmy responded as he wrote down what Cindy said.
"Seriously, Neutron? If you don't know what you want out of the relationship, then this is pointless. Why do you want to get back together with her?"
"Because I miss her company. She's so nice. She makes me feel happy, and I miss spending time with her. Besides that, she's a great kisser."
"I didn't need to know that, but okay. So, you need to tell her that. Tell her that you haven't been the same since you broke up, and that you're ready to be fully committed to the relationship."
"How did you know that was the reason we broke up?" Jimmy asked.
"Because you told me, dork. You said that Betty was mad at you for spending so much time in the lab, and you were mad that she didn't understand that your scientific work was an important part of your life. I figured out the rest on my own," Cindy explained.
"I can't believe you remember that. It was so long ago."
"Yeah, well, I guess I just have a good memory."
"Thanks again for helping me out. I really owe you one."
"What are best friends for?" Cindy forced a smile.
Jimmy nodded and returned her smile. "So should I, like, bring her flowers or something?"
"That's not a bad idea, Neutron. See? You don't need my help."
"Well that's not true. I wouldn't know what to say without your help. I'd be a bumbling idiot holding a bouquet of pink roses."
"Why pink roses?"
"Those are her favorite flowers," Jimmy said.
"Oh," Cindy replied.
"So, what should I say?"
"Tell her that you want her back, and that you're sorry for breaking her heart. Tell her that you'll wait as long as it takes for her to forgive you, and that you promise to put her first."
"Wow. Cindy, you're good! How do you come up with this stuff?"
Cindy shrugged. "I guess I just know what girls like."
Jimmy looked at his watch. "Oh, wow, I've got to get going if I want to get to the florist before they close. Thanks for your help, Cindy. You're the best."
"Good luck," Cindy said half-heartedly.
Jimmy smiled as he shoved his notebook and pencil into his backpack before slinging it over his shoulder and walking out of Cindy's bedroom, down the stairs and out the front door.
"Sunflowers, thanks for asking," Cindy muttered to herself as she lay on her bed annoyed at herself for agreeing to help Jimmy.
After an uneventful Saturday, Cindy was woken up by her phone buzzing. She looked at who was calling her and groaned.
"You do realize you woke me up on the one day that my mom lets me sleep in right?" Cindy stated.
"Well good morning to you too," Jimmy laughed. "Want to meet for coffee? I've got some stuff to tell you."
Cindy quickly thought over her options. She knew that eventually she would have to hear about what had happened between Jimmy and Betty, and this way she would at least get some coffee out of it. "Okay, but you're buying," Cindy finally replied.
"Of course! I don't know what I would do without your help. Buying you a coffee is the least I could do. Meet me outside in twenty minutes."
Cindy sighed as she got out of bed. She walked into her bathroom to wash her face and brush her hair. She debated putting her contacts in and wearing make-up, but since this whole meeting was about how Jimmy was getting back together with Betty, she didn't see the point.
Cindy put on some yoga leggings and a hoodie before walking downstairs. She was just about to leave, when her mother walked in the room.
"You're up early for a Sunday," Mrs. Vortex stated.
"I'm getting coffee with Jimmy," Cindy replied as she finished tying her shoe.
"You're going out looking like that?" Mrs. Vortex was always concerned about appearances.
"Mom, I'm going down the street to the coffee shop with my friend. Who am I trying to impress?" Cindy argued. "Besides, I might go for a run after." That was a lie, and Cindy knew her mother wouldn't fall for it, but it was worth a shot.
"Sweetheart, I don't expect you to wear a ball gown every time you leave the house, but if you present yourself well, you feel more confident. I don't care about you impressing people. You should want to dress well for yourself."
"Well, this is how I feel like dressing today, so can you just drop it?" Cindy didn't wait for a reply. She walked out the front door, slamming it behind her. She took a deep breath before heading down her front steps. She saw Jimmy waiting for her in front of his house. He smiled when Cindy crossed the street.
"Nice glasses dork," Jimmy teased.
"Shut up. You woke me up not twenty minutes ago, remember?" Cindy playfully pushed him.
"Sorry, I was just so excited to tell you about what happened last night."
"Whatever. At least I'm getting free coffee out of this."
Jimmy and Cindy started walking in the direction of the coffee shop. It was early April, and the buds were starting to blossom on the trees. It was a brisk morning, and Cindy actually contemplated going for a run. She liked the crisp air.
"So, are you going to the dance with anyone?" Jimmy asked casually.
"Well, if you're asking if anybody has asked me, the answer is no, but if you're asking me if Libby will be dragging me to the dance, the answer is yes. And I'll end up being a third wheel to her and Sheen for, like, the hundredth time."
"You could go with Carl," Jimmy suggested.
"Are you kidding? Carl is a huge germ-a-phobe. A high school prom is hardly the place for him."
"That's true. Now that I think about it, he hasn't gone to any dances since we started high school. Hmm… I can't think of anyone who hasn't asked yet."
"Jimmy, it's not your job to find me a date. Don't worry about it. You need to focus your energy on winning Betty back." Cindy opened the door to the coffee shop and walked inside.
"I know it's not my job," Jimmy replied as he followed her to the order line. "But I hate that you have to be a third wheel."
"Welcome to The Grind. What can I get started for you?" the barista asked.
"Can I get a medium dark roast with room, and she'll have a medium soy vanilla latte," Jimmy ordered.
"You know my drink order?" Cindy asked.
"Of course," Jimmy smiled as he paid for their drinks.
Cindy smiled to herself, adding yet another item to the list of things she adored about Jimmy.
Cindy sat down at her favorite table as Jimmy picked up their drinks. "Do you want a dash of cinnamon like you usually do?" Jimmy asked.
Cindy smiled and nodded.
"Your boyfriend is so sweet!" one of the barista commented as she was cleaning a table nearby.
Cindy's face fell as she remembered why they were here in the first place. "Thanks," she mumbled.
"Okay," Jimmy started as he walked over. "So last night was amazing. But it definitely didn't start out that way. On my way back from the florist—roses are expensive by the way—I was driving home when I saw that I needed to fill up my car. The only problem was that I had spent the last of my gas money on the flowers for Betty.
"So I drove home to get the hover car instead. As I was heading over to Betty's it started to rain, and you know how well the hover car does in the rain. I had to pull over and walk the rest of the way, only, I didn't have an umbrella, so I was soaking wet.
"Right when I reached Betty's house, I realized that I left the flowers in the hover car. It was already late, and I was soaked to the bone, so I thought what the hell, I'll just give her the flowers later."
Cindy sat and listened, nodding when appropriate and sipping on her latte to avoid saying anything she would regret.
Jimmy continued, "I knocked on the door, and I started shaking. I think part of it was because of the rain, but I was nervous too. Anyway, so she opened the door and when she saw me she said, 'are you insane?'
"So I told her what you told me to tell her: that I had given it some thought, and I was sorry for breaking her heart, and that I wanted to get back together."
"And what did she say?" Cindy finally responded.
"She said that she had been feeling the same things, but she needed some time to think about it. She said she would call me today."
"Wow, sounds like you'll have a date for the prom after all." Cindy gave Jimmy a fake smile.
"Well, I hope. But I don't think any dance will be as fun as the Winter Formal," Jimmy laughed.
Cindy laughed back, "Oh yeah! That was pretty fun. I'm really glad you came with me."
"Do you still have that picture of us?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
"Will you send it to me? I don't know what happened to the copy you already gave me."
Just then, Jimmy's phone started to buzz.
"It's her!" He stood up so he could talk in private. "Excuse me," Jimmy said as he walked out of the dining area.
Cindy pulled out her phone and opened up her photo gallery. She found the picture that Jimmy was referring to: it was a selfie Cindy had taken right as they were leaving for the dance.
She had asked Jimmy if he would go with her to the dance, since Libby and Sheen were going together, and Cindy really didn't want to be a third wheel again. Jimmy, being one of her best friends, had agreed.
After being tortured during formal pictures at Jimmy's house, Cindy mentioned that she wanted a casual photo of both of them together. They stopped on Jimmy's lawn to take the photo. Right before Cindy tapped the button to take the picture, Jimmy kissed her on the cheek.
The picture ended up great. Cindy had a huge surprised smile on her face, and Jimmy had timed it perfectly so that he was not only kissing Cindy's cheek, but smiling and winking all at the same time.
Cindy was so sure that she would tell Jimmy how she felt after that night, but of course things didn't turn out the way she had planned.
A/N: Originally this was going to be a one-shot, but as I continued to write, I thought it would be better in chapters, so I broke it up into smaller sections. Each chapter title will be a line from the song How You Get the Girl by Taylor Swift, and will somehow (in my head) relate to the content of that chapter. This one is called "That's How it Works."
Thanks for reading!