Cursed or Unlucky

Disclaimer: I don't own Jimmy Neutron. Shocker.

Please Note: I had another story in mind to recommend. But then I saw this story by rabbitluver98061 and decided that I had to recommend it. I decided to do so before I even read it. The summary alone was so powerful (and I never read a Drake & Josh fanfic before). I'm very glad I recommended this story and like others I recommend I hope readers (and reviewers) give them a chance when they have some free time. I recommend stories sometimes at random. I don't review all of them but I post them here because they are stories of interest.

Story to Read: Memories Are Forever (Drake & Josh) by rabbitluver98061

Penance 5: Betrayal and Tragedy

Meanwhile in Retroville James was taking a break when he noticed a certain area of his workplace was very hushed. As he got closer some of his co-workers turned around. James noticed that they had very uncomfortable looks on their faces.

James looked and noticed that the television was on the news.

"…Cindy Simmons is a tragedy. Information received tells us that she's a mother of three. Teenage twins and a little girl. We'll get more info to you viewers as we receive more information from authorities. We have a photo of the victim from a kind passer by who thinks her name deserves a face since we can't view the body carried away about half-hour ago by an ambulance. Authorities have sealed off the area and there's no need for an investigation as to the identity of the killer since the killer Mr. Kit Weederman shot himself in the head after shooting thirty-year old Cindy Simmons once in the head with a handgun. We know that he's an accountant at Yes Man Industries and Cindy was a paralegal at a law firm. Mr. Weederman was the father of one of Cindy Simmons children and while we're not certain if that has anything to do with this tragedy, sources tell us that the daughter Libian…

Libian? - James

… was picked up earlier today by Kit Weederman. She hasn't been seen since and authorities as well as residents are scouring everywhere looking for her. Now back to the photo of Miss Cindy Simmons. It's a picture of her a few days after she started working at West & Chester Law," the female reporter said.

The reporter disappears and a blown up photo of an adult female blonde covers the screen. She is smiling brightly behind a desk and has pen in hand over a notepad. She's wearing an immaculate black suit and seems delighted in the picture taken of her.

"Cindy," James whispered unable to believe it.

Jim walked with his friends. They were headed towards the Burger Shop to eat and hang out. Jim's cell suddenly rang.

"Hello," Jim answered.

"Are you Jim?" a voice asked anxiously.

"Who is this?" Jim asked angrily.

"Come on kid I need a scoop here," the person said.

"Well I can't help you mister," Jim said frankly and hung up.

The cell phone rang again. Jim turned it off.

He and seven friends entered the fast food place.

Everyone in there turned to see who entered. Jim who was in front with his friend Douglas noticed that people were given him strange and even horrified looks.

"Oh God," Douglas said and Jim noticed that he was looking up.

Jim followed his eyes and saw the television. Jim's eyes widened.

"No," Jim said softly as tears started to fill his eyes, "the news reporter must be wrong, the news must be…" he said and stopped.

Jim started shaking uncontrollably. His tears becoming harder and harder to hold back.

Not my mother. Not my mo… - Jim

Carolyn showed Sheen a gazebo and Sheen chuckled. Carolyn was having the time of her life showing Sheen around. He actually listened to her. He actually liked her.

"Carolyn!" Jim cried suddenly.

Carolyn turned around in time for her brother to grab her and hug her tightly.

For several minutes he only held her and cried.

Sheen was confused by this behaviour but he kept quiet.

"Mom," Jim said his voice hoarse and tearful.

Carolyn let that word sink in. Then she went from worried to scared.

"What happened?" Sheen asked seriously.

Both teens looked at him.

"Who are you?" Jim asked.

"A friend of Carolyn and I knew your mother years ago," Sheen told him.

Jim looked at him suspiciously.

"Did she tell you about a friend named Libby?" Sheen asked.

"No," Jim said and it was obvious by his tone that he wanted Sheen to go away and he even started to hold his sister Carolyn protectively.

What a joke. Like he could stop me anytime I chose to kill her. – Sheen

"But my little sister's named Libian," Carolyn told him.

Sheen nodded looking deep in thought.

"What was my mom like?" Jim asked his voice almost desperate.

Sheen looked into Jim's eyes. It took him seconds to realize what must've happened.

"She was lively, independent, brilliant, athletic," Sheen listed, "she knew how to make her presence known and never backed down from a challenge," he told Jim.

"She sounds great," Jim said in a faraway voice.

"What happened to mom?" Carolyn pressed.

"Kit killed her," Jim told Carolyn.

There was a moment of stiff silence.

"Damn," Sheen said breaking it.

"Who are you?" Jim asked again looking at him as if he was not only some drugged out weirdo but also an intruder breaking in on a family's moment of tragedy.

"Why did he kill her?" Carolyn asked tearfully, "Jim tell me!" she screamed and shook him.

"I don't know," Jim said softly, "he shot her dead in the park," he told Carolyn, "it makes no sense."

"Where's your sister?" Sheen asked him.

Jim looked up at Sheen.

"Kit's her dad," Jim said, "he took her out of school before he killed mom."

"Shit!" Sheen cried angrily, "now two people might be dead," he said angrily.

"My mother was your friend?" Carolyn asked in a small voice her cheeks covered with tears.

Sheen looked at her. She and her brother had broken their hug. He opened his arms to her.

Carolyn ran right into them and started sobbing.

"One of the few," Sheen told her and hugged her tightly and even lifted her feet off the ground.

Jim meanwhile sniffled and looked at Sheen untrustingly. This guy appears, his sister practically runs away with him and his mother's killed by the father of her youngest child. None of these things added up. And that's what worried him.

It was nightfall when James exited the hospital to get home. Being a doctor often required of him long hours at the hospital. But when he reached his car he saw someone he didn't expect.

"Mrs. Vortex?" James asked.

"Hello," Mrs. Vortex said coldly.

James just stared at her. Mrs. Vortex never liked him; he always knew that. Why was shrouded in mystery until it was revealed that Cindy was his half-sister. A half-sister who was conceived when Mrs. Vortex and his father Hugh Neutron had sex as a result of both being drunk. At least his Dad Hugh confirmed that he was drunk and never even knew. Mrs. Vortex always claimed that she suspected but James always suspected that she was lying.

"So you've heard about Cindy," Mrs. Vortex said.

James nodded.

"Tragic," Mrs. Vortex said simply, not in the way a mother who had just lost her child usually acted.

"Is there something you want, need?" James asked hoping to get rid of her.

"You don't like me, do you?" Mrs. Vortex asked even though it sounded more like a statement than a question.

"I'm sorry for your loss Mrs. Vortex," James said formally, "but I have to get going," he told her.

"To your lying wife?" Mrs. Vortex asked.

"Excuse me!" James exploded.

"She knew where Cindy was," Mrs. Vortex revealed, "knew for nine years," she added.

James felt himself froze.

My wife knew where Cindy was? But…NO! Mrs. Vortex must be lying. – James

"Jimmy, Jimmy," Mrs. Vortex said as she shook her head.

"It's James," James snapped.

"Fine don't believe me," Mrs. Vortex said, "jus asked her what she thought when she saw the blue eyes of Cindy's children," she told him.

"Blue e…" James started but stopped.

"Ask her Jimmy," Mrs. Vortex said in a singsong voice and happily walked away.

James stood frozen in the parking lot. His mind in a million places at once.

Done

Surprises and hankies all around. I read ch1 of 'Memories are Forever' and it's great. I'm also officially saying goodbye to fanfic author soulfulsin who announced in her profile that she's no longer writing anymore fanfiction. It's sad when such talented authors leave. But her stories live on and so will her talent. Thank you for reading and please review.