A/U: Here is the third chapter and I'll post another around Christmas. So stay tuned.
Chapter 3: Trusted Ones.
The birds started chirping as the sun was rising. Cindy woke up and took a peek at her cell phone to check the time.
As the time stands 6.30 she rose from her bed as like a Dracula rise from his coffin after years of dwelling in his coffin.
She opens her laptop and opens a soothing music as soothing as Marlon's Gym theme. She wasn't a fan of Pokémon, but she was the type that could listen to any kind of music that could make her morning that's better than before.
She reaches over for her towel and quickly undressed as she was dawdling enough for the time. Mrs Vortex calls her "Cindy stop playing around and get along with it. You're late young lady."
"Yeah mom, I know. I'll be there in five." She responded.
Sometimes later, she comes down and eats the pancakes that Mrs Vortex made. After done eating she says "See ya later mom." And kiss her on the cheek. "Bye sweetie."
As she was walking she bumped into Libby. She saw that Libby was also kinda late. "Hey girl, how you doin'?" She asked her.
"Fine." She answered but her expression wasn't as what she said. She looked down and was thinking of Alexis well-being after a whole night stay in the hospital.
Libby saw the expression and tried to change the conversation "So, how are you and Nick going along? Does he know about who you really are? And you can't keep hiding it from him and you know that."
"Libby, me and Nick are fine and I know the consequences, but I don't think it's the time to open up to him yet. I've got a lot on my mind lately, and it kinda messes up my judgement on everything." She responded as an action of stopping Libby from continuously question her.
The conversation went cold as Cindy's words came out. By the time it was over they had arrived at the bus station. They find a seat which was dry from the rain last night.
…...
Jimmy was still drowsy, as the sound of his alarm breaks the silence in the morning. He yawns and expands his arms upwards. As he rubbed his eyes with his hands he could make see a figure standing in front of him.
He tried reaching out and the figure quickly stood back. The figure pokes Jimmy's nose and was startled by the action. He began panicking and thought that the figure was going to kill him, but suddenly it said "Jimmy, Jimmy wake up you're having a nightmare, wake up dude." And the figure starts shaking Jimmy's body.
Jimmy jumped off his bed and entered into a battle stance that he watched a few days back with Alexis on the TV.
"Who are you?" Jimmy asked cause he still couldn't make out the figure. "It's me, its Sheen Estevez. Your best friend. "Sheen replied in fear that Jimmy was kick his ass.
"Seriously Sheen, why the fuck do you need to here? In the middle of a good morning." Jimmy questioned him angrily. "Well I thought that meeting you during breakfast, but I saw that you weren't up yet so, I came in through the front door and asked your mom, whether I could wake you up and she said that she didn't mind it at all." Sheen replied Jimmy's question and continues "Well you don't want to waste any more time it's almost 7 and you're mom made Bacon and eggs."
"WHAT!? REALLY IT'S ALMOST 7, SHEEN! Why didn't tell me that earlier. Oh man I'm really screwed." He panicked and pushes Sheen out of the room. He quickly gets his towel and went into the toilet.
After a few minutes Jimmy came out and saw Sheen was sitting on the floor and staring at his phone. He was about to burst out on Sheen, but it was not worth it, if it wasn't for school Sheen would probably be so dead.
"C'mon dude let's go. You had breakfast yet?" Jimmy asked Sheen. "Huh? Yeah breakfast done." He took a piece of his ear phone out of his ear bud and responded then puts it back on his. He got up and followed Jimmy downstairs. He sat next to Jimmy while listening to some Maroon 5 songs.
Jimmy tried to gobble up his food at once but it was prevented by Judy. He drinks his tea and gets up before kissing her mom on the cheek. "Have a good day James." She said.
Sheen was trying catch up with Jimmy, so he had to put his phone in his pocket and then sprint after him.
Sheen tried to start a conversation and asked Jimmy "Hey Jimmy where's Alexis?" "Can we not I'm trying to not miss the bus." Jimmy answered
"Well if you're not gonna tell me about Alexis so tell me about yesterday. By yesterday, I mean where did you went to last night, because you came home late and I saw you drop off Cindy at her home and I also saw that you were so gloomy yesterday. So now tell me what's going on between you and Cindy?" Sheen asked
Jimmy was surprised and asked him back "So now you're spying on me and Cindy? So what's wrong that I hang out with that evil witch? And you don't know shit about her. So just stop with your hypothesis and try not to ask anymore question ok?"
"Well I wasn't spying on you, I was spying on Libby but she wasn't home so I take the liberty of watching over the area and there I saw you were dropping off Cindy." Sheen replied and continues "I'm' sorry for spying on you and I do want to make up to you but I don't know how so if there's anything I can help you with, anything just say it ok?"
"Hey guys sorry I'm late." A familiar voice came. They turn around and saw Carl was behind them he continues "I had to take a lot of medicines." "Yeah Carl, another butt ton of medicines this time." Jimmy teased him.
As they approach the bus station they saw the bus was just arriving at the bus station. They sprinted and by mistake left Carl behind to catch the bus.
Jimmy saw Libby and Cindy who was wearing a vibrant white t-shirt with words saying "Keep Calm and Cheer On." He tried waving at her but she didn't saw it. Jimmy quickly puts his hand down. Carl asked "Who are you waving your hands for Jimmy?" "Nothing just a bug messing with me. C'mon let's hop on.
…
After a long talk and gossiping the bus arrived. As she was about to aboard it, she saw Jimmy. She tried waving at him but it was disrupted by Libby's pulling her on board the bus.
She saw brief glimpse that Jimmy was waving at her. She felt that Jimmy had become her friend to open up to. She smiled and said to Libby "Quit pulling me up!"
"I'm sorry but I just don't want anybody to take our usually spot." She apologizes and replied to Cindy's statement. "Ok but just chill out nobody's gonna take our spot, they know who we are Libbs." Cindy replied.
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Class after class switch by and so came recess. Jimmy was searching for a table for him to enjoy his food. He knows he had to sit this one alone because Sheen and Carl were late due to a hold up on their assignment.
After a few surveys he finally found a table right beside the preps table, it was at the edge of the cafeteria. He sits down and starts munching his foods, occasionally he pulls out his phone to look at the time.
At the same time Cindy had just arrive from her class and she saw her friends on the other table and Jimmy on the other side. She had think this through for quite a while and managed to come up with a solution.
She sat down with Libby and her friends. She pulls Libby away and said "Can you follow me for a while please?" "Sure why not." Libby replied.
Sheen and Carl arrived and quickly rush over to Jimmy. They sat down across to him and apologize for being late, he replied "Well what I can expect from you guys though it's in your nature and you can't change it." It sounded as an insult to Sheen's ear so he said "Well if you say it like that, it kinda means that we're too lazy like a sloth you might say?"
"Well I don't mean for it to sound like that but no, you guys are not like sloth you guys are better and you guys are my best friend and you guys know that." Jimmy replied.
"Well if that was the meaning of that I can accept that but if it was an insult and I find out it from another kid your toast Jimmy if we're friends." Sheen threatens Jimmy.
Cindy and Libby went to Jimmy's table and sat there. At first it was awkward and Carl breaks the ice by asking "Why are you guys sitting here, with us?" "Nothing at all, I just wanted see Jimmy whether he is still holding up." Cindy answers back.
Jimmy pinches Cindy's thigh, Cindy was shocked and let out a little scream. She manages to close her mouth in time, and then she glares at Jimmy as sign of accusation of pinching her. Jimmy was shaking his head as signal. Cindy got the signal, she pick up her bag and tried to leave until… Libby holds Cindy's hand as a protest to her leaving.
"Holding up? What do you mean by holding up Cindy?" Sheen asked. "I was having a problem yesterday and Cindy helped me overcome that problem. Right Cindy?" Jimmy quickly responded and clashes his shoulders to Cindy's.
"Huh? Yeah, yeah of course me and Jimmy was solving problems for our health class, you know? Ours was about lung cancer, so how about you guys, what did you guys get?" Cindy backed Jimmy up with the statement.
"Really? Is that hard Jimmy? I thought you were a genius and all that stuff. It thought you don't need anybody help with that." Libby questioned him.
"Well… I was a genius but you know everybody is not good at everything." Jimmy responded and continues "Now that's out of the way, so… Cindy why did you come here again?"
"I just wanted to as about the problem we had yesterday, I just wanted to know whether you had it solved or not." She answered.
"Well I'm done with the problem thanks to your help and I hope we could meet up after school, at my home? To discuss about 'OUR' project." Jimmy said.
"Yeah, OK I'll see you later then." Cindy replied. She got up, pick up her bags and pull Libby's hand before leaving. Cindy was angry because Jimmy was dissing her she felt that she needed to tell him something, something that she never really told anyone about it.
"Well it's about time to go, shall we?" Jimmy asked Carl Sheen. They both nodded and left the table as it used to be.
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As the final bell of the day rings, it marks the end of another week for their school. Cindy packs her stuff up. As she makes her way to the exit she saw Jimmy. He was waiting for her at the exit. Jimmy was angry as all hell could break loose.
She makes her slowly. She was walking as she was about to be judge by god for her actions that she had done on earth. As she arrived, Jimmy hold out his hand and said "C'mon we're late, my mom is gonna pick us up and go to the clinic to get Alexis back home."
She was surprised that Jimmy wasn't furious as his expression was showing. She thought to herself "Maybe I shouldn't try to read Jimmy its kinda hard even if I'm the best psychiatrist in the world."
Jimmy gets Cindy's hands and pulled her. He saw that Cindy's mind was in some kind of trance. Cindy felt a strong force pulling her hands and she was back. She saw it was Jimmy's hand that pulled her she felt a warm feeling in her hands. She knows that Jimmy was holding her hands tight not to lose her.
She briefly saw Libby calling her. She shouted "Sorry Libby!" She promised her that she walked back together. A few scenes pass by her because Jimmy was pulling her as fast as the lightning. Around the corner of the last hallway was Nick, he wanted to surprise Cindy on her way home. But he saw Jimmy was holding Cindy's hand, and Cindy was enjoying the action.
He thought to himself "Are Cindy and Jimmy going out? It can't be, did she somehow know that I'm cheating on her?" Ending his thoughts he decided to go after Cindy and Jimmy.
He went outside and hopped aboard his bike. He waited Jimmy and Cindy to go into Jimmy's car. Cindy thought that he saw Nick running outside, but when she arrived outside any sighting of Nick nowhere to be found.
Cindy stopped for a while, "What's the hold-up Cindy? We need to go now." Jimmy said. "Nothing, I just thought I saw someone familiar by the road. Yeah let's go, we can't be late.
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After few minutes of following both Jimmy and Cindy, he saw that they've arrived at a clinic. He thought to himself "What are they doing here? Wait, does it mean that Cindy's pregnant? Is this why Cindy had been ignoring my calls, text and even emails? If I find out that bastard is responsible for Cindy's condition…" He balls his hand into a fist and continues "He's dead."
Many thoughts were being processed in Nick's brain whether Jimmy is Cindy's real boyfriend and he couldn't believe that Cindy would cheat on him.
Jimmy and Cindy hopped off the car and quickly rush into the clinic. They saw through pane glass that Alexis was seating on a seat in the waiting area.
Alexis notice a couple of guys were rushing into the clinic and she quickly recognized it was Jimmy and Cindy, she also saw her mother Judy walking slowly at the back. She got up and tried running but her attempt was diminished by Dr Michael. "Oh c'mon doc, why now I just want to hug them. I miss them too." She said. "Ok just this once, but after this please take a rest, you're just beginning to heal up and we don't want any more problems." He replied.
As soon as Alexis heard the word "OK" she sprinted out of her uncle's grip. Upon entering the clinic, Jimmy slowed down a little bit and as Alexis was inbound of his hands, he kneel down and hugged her. Alexis hugs her brother as she never wanted to lose her brother again. Cindy arrives, after the hug Alexis let's her brother go and went into Cindy's arms and gives her a hug.
Cindy felt the same warmth that she felt when Jimmy was holding her hands at school. Her feelings started to unleashed and the tears that she had held yesterday had bursted out. Alexis felt something wet on her shoulder and when she looked up, she saw Cindy was crying, she asked "Cindy, why are you crying? Are you happy that I'm fine or you're sad that I have a horrible disease?" "Alexis…" she looks into Alexis's eyes and continues "No, I'm crying because you're here for us and we're here for you, we will always be there for you no matter what." She hugs her tighter. It felt like it was an eternity, she remembers these feelings, when Sam was around she would always take the chance to hug him. She now knows that she had a second chance and she wasn't going to let it to waste.
Jimmy came behind Cindy and crouched, he whispered into her ear "I know what you're feeling right now but you need to stop, control yourself or else you're gonna bring someone you love to the point of choosing between you or save themselves."
Cindy was stunned by Jimmy's threat, she then slowly backs away from Alexis, releasing her grips from her and wiping her tears of her face before turning away. Alexis was surprised by Cindy's action, she thought that Cindy had care for her but alas she was the same as anyone except Jimmy.
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The journey back home was quite, no one had turn on the radio or talk. It was as if, everybody had their mouth clipped together. The journey felt longer for everyone especially Cindy, her feelings all over the place, she was angry, sad and happy at the same time, but she couldn't show it all at once and all she could over show was sadness. Her expression was as the same when Sam her little brother died 4 years ago.
She just wishes that this day had never happened to her neither the event before nor the vent that had happen. She always thinks what could had happened, if she wasn't Jimmy's partner in the health class, this wouldn't have happened.
As they approach Cindy's house, Cindy turned around facing Jimmy and said "Neutron, I don't understand you! But I keep my hopes high and you just demolish them without even thinking the consequences that lies ahead." Her tears began dropping out one by one and she didn't even notice them.
Judy was unable to do anything but to just silence because she was driving she didn't want anything happen to them.
Jimmy tried to speak but it was override by Cindy, she continues "I don't understand what do you want from me? I tried to help you, give you support and this…this is what you give me another scarred heart? Did you even think when you talk?" Her tone began changing from sad to angry. "Well do you?" Jimmy tried to answer but it was again put to hold. "You think that I'm a danger to your sister? Me a friend, that just wants to help another friend, a danger in your family? Well you thought wrong Neutron, this assignment is the last one and if another show up that pairs us up I'll do it on my own and you can just go to hell and rot in there maybe for an eternity will do."
As the car stopped in front of her house she opens the door and just left the car. Jimmy was baffled with Cindy's rage, he was speechless and felt powerless. Alexis pulls his shirt and said "Cindy is trying to help you, she is and you know it. But you have made it a lot worse than before. Go, go and persuade her, you'll never know that you might need her someday."
As Alexis finishes up, Jimmy got out of the car and quickly ran after Cindy. Cindy heard some noise from behind but she decided to ignore them and keep walking.
Jimmy holds Cindy's shoulder and she reacted, she turned around to find that Jimmy was there. She was surprised but mostly sad, she wipes her tear and said "What are you doing here now? Trying to ruin my family now?"
Jimmy crept closer and kissed her. It was good one. She remembers Nick kissing her but it's not as near as Jimmy's. The kiss come to an end as Cindy took a step back. She questioned "What was that Jimmy?"
"I don't know I thought you could give me an answer." Jimmy responded and continues "I'm sorry, I just wanted to protect my family. It has been my job since I was 13 and I thought that I could do it on my own but I'm just barely holding on. I needed help but I dare not to show it to anyone not even my family, but Alexis knows that I'm in trouble and she's the purpose that I've been holding on for so long."
Jimmy was cut off by Cindy and she said "I'm here. I can help you if you need to, but there is just one problem, you won't open up and you'd never do. All this years I have seen you going on and on with the trouble that you have but you just won't admit it."
"I'll give you one last chance and I hope you can help me." Jimmy responded and hugged her. Cindy didn't retaliate or flinched.
He ends the hug and went back to the car. Alexis was now sitting in front. She said "Now that is done, it will be a lot better now. I promise."
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Upon arrival at their house, they saw a couple of familiar guys. Jimmy at first sight identified Sheen was among them. Jimmy had remembered that Sheen wanted to come for a sleepover with some other friends.
They got off the car and Jimmy went straight for Sheen and asked "Who are these guys?" "You don't remember Nathan, Peter and Tommy? They were with us at summer camp last year. I asked them whether could join or not and the said they were free." Sheen replied
"OK c'mon into the house it's getting late and I'm not gonna spend anymore time outside." Jimmy said. "Sure why not it's freezing out here." Nathan said.
Judy went inside the house first, followed by Jimmy, Sheen Nathan, Tommy and Peter. Both Nathan and Peter were amazed at Jimmy's house. They thought that it was quite big compared to their house.
They followed Jimmy carrying Alexis upstairs as Judy was preparing some late night snack for the boys. "Welcome into my domain." He shows his room to them and continues. "Just stay here I'm gonna put my little sis to sleep and then I'll get us something to eat." Ashe ends his words he turns and went into Alexis's room.
He puts Alexis on the bed, he puts a blanket on her and kisses her on the forehead. He flicks the switch and the lights were of. He began walking out of the room and back to his, during walking he was thinking about Cindy's words and his reaction. He thought to himself "Should I have done that that to her? Should I be worried of people getting to know about me and Cindy? Should I even be doing this? I mean, I have a family that needs helping and now I've got Cindy. I just don't know what to make of? Maybe Cindy's words are just false hope for me, maybe she's trying to get Alexis away from me? I don't know what to do now. I can't let it consume me, I have to let someone know about my problem.
When Jimmy arrived at his room Sheen pulls him to sit down and whispers to him "What's wrong with you dude? You look a little gloom lately."
"Nothing just a lot been on my mind lately." He responds.
While both Jimmy and Sheen were whispering to each other, the other notices and Peter asked "What are you guys discussing about?"
Shocked from the question Sheen quickly said "Schoolwork. Just schoolwork." "So, nothing special about someone or something. Right?"
"Yeah nothing special about someone or something. Why'd you ask?" Jimmy answered and asked him.
"I'm just asking. Nothing's wrong with asking question in this house right?" Peter asked him back.
"No. There's no asking-question rule" Jimmy replied.
"So… that concludes my debate with you." Peter said and he laughed a little at the end.
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As the asking game keeps going, they were entering the a third of the night. Everybody began yawning one by one. Slowly they're eyes began wither Jimmy was like that too.
He can't remember the last time he had this much fun. He stands and began turning to each one of his friends, each one sleeps beside another in a circle.
Jimmy noticed that Sheen wasn't really asleep yet. He lies down beside him and asked "Sheen, wouldn't it be weird if the girl that you hate the most is the one that you also love the most. "
"No. No it's not weird at all it happens all the time in the fairy tale word." Sheen said as if he was drunk. As Sheen grab hold of his neck, he continues "You know that girl Cindy, the one you dissed at the cafeteria, she likes you. Did you know that?"
"Why'd you pushed her aside like that Jimmy?" Sheen asked him angrily "Why Jimmy? Why?! She was there for you when we weren't there. She even asked her friend, Libby come too. If you hadn't notice Libby would do anything for her best friend to be happy as she used to be."
Jimmy was surprised by what Sheen had just said. He asked him again "Sheen, should I allow her to be my side, to be my guide and accompany me through this life? Should I or should I not?"
Jimmy waits patiently from Sheen's sleeping form. Suddenly a word came out, it was to slow even for Jimmy to catch it he quickly rush to his desk he open one of the drawers and pulls out his accelerator. He remembered he's used this to clean the house.
He gets back to Sheen and alters it to reverse time. After finishing altering he uses at Sheen and crept a little closer to hear the word. "Yes." He had heard it and it was clear to him what he must do to keep his life together.
"Thanks Sheen." He said before putting a blanket over Sheen. He went back to his place beside Nathan and Tommy and lied down. He tried shutting his eyes but it was worthless. He remembered that he was like an owl. He would stay up and finish his homework or maybe watch some TV and sometimes he surfs the web in search of his father. He'd always hope that Hugh would return someday.
...
Cindy was sleeping as a baby, not disturbed by anything. It was at the second of the third night, she had begun to dream about her little brother. She dreamed of what had happened to her little brother 4 years ago. A horrible tragedy had happened...
Author's Note: The next one is on my Christmas date and there will be a resolution after this four chapters. If you have any question please do submit them in the review section. Thank you.