I know these aren't the best. So thanks for stickin' around. This is set sometime after Stranded and before King of Mars. There's only going to be one or two more set during the regular series. =) Enjoy. Also, I know that many people theorize that Stranded is when they realize their feelings for one another, but I sort of think that being stranded they had to confront them head on. What do you my AWESOME readers think? Love, Katie

I don't own Jimmy.

Denial

Libby had been wrong. Things hadn't gone back to normal. Ever since Cindy had returned from being stranded on that island with Jimmy, she had been acting really strange. She would call Jimmy by his first name more often. She even would smile at him in class every once in a while. Something was UP between those two, no matter what Cindy said.

Cindy was hiding something from her. She could just feel it in her bones. That's what best friends were for after all.

Finally, Libby couldn't stand wondering anymore and just before lunch pulled her into the girl's bathroom.

"Okay, girl you need to tell me what really happened between you and Jimmy!"

"I all ready told you that nothing happened, Libby!"

"Do you really think I'm blind?"

"I swear I told you everything!"

Libby crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'm waiting."

"What did I tell you exactly?"

"You told me that you had some 'moments' but you never detailed what kind of moments they were. Just tell me honestly did you and Neutron kiss on that island?"

Cindy's jaw dropped.

"What?"

"You heard me. Did you plant one on the boy or not?"

"No! Why would you even ask that?"

"You've been acting so nice to him. I don't think he's caught on yet, but I have. I'm your best friend after all. I know something big happened on that island and since you never sufficiently explained that carving I just sort of wondered."

"No," Cindy retorted. "I would've told you if something that disgusting happened."

"We both know you don't think it's disgusting."

Cindy shifted uncomfortably under Libby's intense gaze.

"What do you mean?"

"You know perfectly what I mean. Now just tell me what happened on that island!

Cindy blinked.

"Fine," she spat. "But, you have to remember that I thought I was going to be stranded forever." She paused, but Libby nodded encouraging her to go on. "I told him that he wasn't such a bad guy, and we sort of agreed that we were glad to be together."

Libby nodded.

"What else?"

"We spent an entire day just hanging out together. It was the most fun I've had in a while. It was after I came back from picking berries that he did something really nice."

"What was that?"

"We sat down together and he gave me a mollusk."

"That's um original."

"There was a pearl inside," Cindy finished. Libby's jaw dropped. "He looked through 137 of them to find it for me."

In that moment, Libby understood. A boy only gave something like a pearl to a girl when he felt something for her.

"We um," she blushed. Cindy was blushing? This was something major. "We held hands."

"Fingers interlocked?"

Cindy nodded.

"That sounds so romantic!"

Cindy stared off into space for a few moments and a huge grin crossed her lips.

"Yeah," she started but then stopped herself. "I mean if that's what you call romantic," she added quickly.

"You can deny it all you want Cindy, but you and I both know why you've been acting so funny."

"Why is that?"

"You two have something goin' on and it's about time!"

"What?"

"You two have been moving towards this for months now, and honestly girl I'm getting sick of watching you two argue with each other all the time."

"I don't know what about you're talking about."

"Yes, you do. You like him. Spill now or forever hold your peace!"

"FINE, I like him. I like Neutron! Are you satisfied now?"

"We both know it's more than 'like'."

"What?"

"Never mind," she responded after deciding that this was the first step in the right direction.

Cindy nodded in firm agreement her face was still pale.

"That's what I thought. Now I'm going to go to lunch."

"Libby?" Cindy stopped. "This is our little secret, right?"

"Right," she agreed.

Cindy blushed and walked out the door. It shut with a certain thud behind her.

Libby couldn't help but smile. Today something had shifted. Cindy Vortex had actually admitted out loud that she had feelings for Jimmy.

Things were changing and it was about time.

Goodbye denial. Hello sweet acceptance.

-x-