A/N: Hey guys! Here I am with another story! I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Jimmy Neutron.

Bittersweet

It was the Friday before a new school year and I was currently waiting for Libby to finish up trying on the 1000th blouse of the day while also getting lectured for waiting til the last minute to do back-to-school shopping.

"Girl, senior year starts in 3 days, I can't believe you procrastinated this much with going shopping, ugh we're going to be here til closing time at this rate.. And they close in 8 hours!"

"Libs, we'll be fine. I really don't need that much new stuff anyway, just a new pair of vans and maybe a new skirt who knows," I couldn't blame Libby for being frustrated with me, shopping used to be our escape. Even if we were low on funds, we'd still go to the mall and at least try stuff on, so the fact that I didn't do hardly any shopping over summer break was a little weird. But could she really blame me? With college applications around the corner and my part-time job, I've been really stressed. I guess in a way she's right though, shopping is my sweet escape. A day with my best friend doing what we love, this is just what I needed.

"Just a new skirt and shoes? Girl no. This is senior year, we're going all out, it's a damn good thing you've been working so much. Hey by the way how's that going? You said you guys were short-staffed which is why you've been working almost 40 hours, what is Drew gonna do when school starts and you can't work that much?"

"Honestly, I have no idea. I heard he hired someone over a webcam interview on Wednesday, I guess he's moving here on Sunday and attending Retroville High, I can't remember if Drew said he was our age or a year younger and I didn't catch his name. But that will be a big help once he catches on to how things run."

"Yeah I hope so, when I quit back in May for my internship Drew made it seem like he had already found a replacement, but hey at least you and everyone else was able to save up some money? Meanwhile my unpaid internship makes my wallet want to cry."

"Hey you're the one who wants to be a music producer, you weren't happy waiting tables like the rest of us."

As she and I finished our shopping day and headed home, I was actually feeling really good about the upcoming school year. I had found quite a few nice things at the mall and I was excited to showcase them next week. This would be the 5th year without him, no Vortex you do this every year, stop.

"Hey Cin, something bothering you?"

"Huh? Oh no, I'm fine Libs, I just um kind of have a headache, I think I'm gonna go in and go to bed early."

"Girl, you know I know you better than anyone, it's okay. I know you're thinking about him, and I know it's the 5th anniversary since he moved, but honey-"

"I know okay, I know. I don't want to hear for the 5th year in a row that I need to let him go and just move on. Okay, I get it. I do need to move on but I can't. I don't know why I can't but I can't."

"Okay Cin, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

"No I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lashed out like that"

"No I get it, listen if you ever want to talk about it I'm here"

"Thanks Libs, I appreciate it"

"Love you Cin"

After my day with Libby, a nice hot bath and my favorite dinner of homemade lasagna was exactly what I needed. As frustrating and overbearing as my mom is, she's a damn good cook.

I went to bed that night reminiscing about adventures to foreign places and planets and a certain whippy-dip headed genius.