Bittersweet Ch 7:
Check Mate
A/N: Hey guys, here I am with another chapter, like I said, I write A LOT on the weekends, I hope you guys enjoy it! I'm really enjoying writing this story, so I don't really see a clear end in sight, but I have a feeling it'll continue throughout their whole school year until graduation and maybe a little farther. Who knows? What do you guys think?
Disclaimer: I don't own Jimmy Neutron.
Friday night. I had been dreading, yet also looking forward to, this night all week. This was the first official night of mine and Jimmy's punishment for what happened on Sunday. Tonight Neutron and I would be closing the restaurant and doing dishes, along with tomorrow night and the following weekends for the next month. Yay. My shift didn't start til 5:30 and it was almost 4. We got out of cheer practice early since there's the back to school dance tonight, I wanted to go but I knew there would be no way Drew would let me have the night off. Oh well, maybe tonight won't be so bad after all.
'Ready to go?' Jimmy's text read. Jimmy and I had decided to carpool to work together in order to save gas. After all, we were neighbors and we would be working the same shift tonight. Ugh, I didn't get him. This week had been really fun, yet also very confusing. Neutron and I kept going at our 'game' of flirting and occasionally kissing but that was it. I was having fun not knowing how he really felt and I liked the flirting, it was fun and exciting. In the last five years that he was gone, I didn't have very much of that. No one really piqued my interest, it was always only him. Now that he was back, I felt like life made sense again, even though it sounds really cheesy, it was true. My world made sense with him in it.
As I walked outside to hop in the hover car, I couldn't believe what I saw. There, in the middle of our street, stood Jimmy in a tux holding a bouquet of flowers. I was speechless.
"Wha-What are these for? What's all this for?" I knew I was blushing, but right now I didn't care. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
"Well, tonight's the back to school dance, I know you can't be there and I'm sorry. I wanted to make it up to you."
"Oh Jimmy.. This-This is incredible. Thank you." He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him while also turning on some music. Frank Sinatra's 'Just the Way You Look Tonight' was selected. One of my all time favorites. There, in the middle of the street, we danced. Those few minutes until the song ended were some of the best of my life. It was the sweetest and most romantic thing I'd ever seen on TV or read about in books. But that's what I didn't understand, I didn't really know how he felt about me, we didn't really discuss it, yet here we were: dancing in our street to one of the most romantic songs of all time.
"Thank you" I said as I reached up and kissed his cheek when the song ended.
"Of course Cin, I'm really sorry you couldn't go to the dance."
"It's okay, this was better, much, much better." He blushed at that, it was cute seeing him blush, it brought a blush to my cheeks just seeing it.
"I'm really glad," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck, "so um, you ready to go have a fun night at work?" He asked as he opened my door for me.
"Ready as I'll ever be," feigning boredom. Deep down I was excited to spend all night with Jimmy. Even though we were working and we wouldn't get to talk much since it was a busy Friday night, I couldn't help but be excited.
Our shift started as any normal shift would, we grabbed our aprons, server books, pens, etc. But it did not continue as any normal shift would. Halfway through the night, around 8pm Betty and her family came in and requested to sit in "whatever section Jimmy Neutron is serving". Ugh, gag me.
"Hey guys, my name is Cindy, this is Jimmy, we'll be serving you tonight." I put on my best fake smile and did my best to be nice to Quinlan and her family. After what she tried to pull on Tuesday though, she'll be lucky if I don't throw up in her food.
"Hi Cindy!" Betty said sweetly, gross, she then looked at Jimmy and said, "Hey Jimmy! Just like I promised, we came to see you!" My eyes immediately narrowed and my head snapped toward Jimmy so fast he could barely react. However, I saw the look on his face, he looked confused. He looked at me panicked and I knew he didn't know what was going on. So, Betty is the one playing the games, well two can play that game.
"Yeah Jimmy here," I said as I wrapped my arm around his, "told me you guys were supposed to come in! I thought that was so sweet of you guys, means so much to us!" I said as I gave him a quick squeeze to emphasize the word us. Betty's eyes narrowed and I knew she knew what I was doing.
"So, what can we get started to drink for you guys tonight?" One by one, Betty's family ordered their drinks, when it got to Betty's turn, she completely ignored me and only addressed Jimmy.
"Jimmy, I'd love a Shirley Temple."
"Um okay, no problem," I could tell he was uncomfortable, which made it so hard not to burst out laughing right then and there. The rest of the night continued on just like that, I would ask what everyone would like to eat, they'd all address me except for Betty. She even stopped him one time we were walking by their table by grabbing his hand and pulling him toward her, "Jimmy, what would you recommend?" He looked to me for help and I just winked and walked away to go check on another table. For some reason, I didn't feel threatened by Betty anymore. If anything, I thought it was hilarious and pathetic how hard she was trying. Even though Jimmy and I haven't really addressed our feelings, I just knew he wasn't into her and that she was making a fool of herself.
After Betty's family finished their meal and left, the rest of the night was pretty standard, aside from the fact that while Jimmy and I were washing the dishes, he grabbed the spray nozzle and got me wet which resulted in a full on war of water. We called a truce the best way we know how: by making out. All in all, it was a great night.
The next night, he and I were scheduled to close again, which of course, I was excited for. However, as fun as it is flirting with Jimmy, I still didn't quite understand what was happening. So, in order to clear my head, I decided to go for a run to the park and do some sprints on the field. It was early in the morning so it wasn't blistering hot outside yet, in fact, there were some shady areas where it was really nice when I got to the park. Running is my favorite way to escape. Aside from cheerleading, I was a track and field/cross country star my freshman and sophomore year. However, Coach Mellona advised that I stop because I was losing some muscle from all the excessive exercise. It did make sense though, I was exercising so much that my hormones had completely plummeted. Those first few years without Jimmy were the hardest, I was constantly trying to keep myself as busy as possible to get my mind off him. Today, that's exactly what I need.
As I was finishing up another round of sprints, I saw a familiar robotic dog flying in the air in my direction. Sure enough, Goddard landed at my feet and had a message for me, which read:
Hey Cin, it's me. Want to have a picnic in the park this afternoon?
Man he was sweet. What angle was he working though? What's he trying to accomplish? I told Goddard to tell Jimmy that I'd love to and that I'd be ready to go at noon, he barked and flew back home.
I finished up with a few more rounds of sprints and then ran home to get showered and changed. As I finished getting ready, I got a text from the genius himself saying he was ready whenever I was but that there was no rush. I replied saying I was ready and left my house. There he was, outside with the hover car ready to go. The hover car? Aren't we just going to the park? I thought as I approached him.
"You're probably wondering why I have the hover car all packed, I figured instead of the park, we could go somewhere different." He said with a proud smile on his face.
"How different? Jimmy we have work tonight we can't leave the planet." He laughed at that, I loved hearing his laugh. He had a nice, hearty laugh too, it wasn't like my obnoxious witch cackle.
"We're not leaving the planet, I promise, now get your cute butt inside the hover car so we can go." He said as he held my hand and kissed the top. He was such a charmer, after all these years he still has such a spell on me.
"Sir yes sir!" I said as I stood there and saluted him, he really got a kick out of that too, I like that I can make him laugh.
This was the best surprise ever. I can't believe he actually remembered after all these years. Growing up, I've always wanted to visit New York, especially Central Park. Retroville isn't a very big city and I've always felt like I needed more, and New York always had more. So, when we were younger and going on adventures, I always suggested New York but we could never go. Sheen didn't want to be around all the people, Carl was allergic to everything there and being that we were eleven, I couldn't ask Jimmy to take me alone, I was scared. So now that I was flying over Central Park as Jimmy found a place to park, I was elated.
"Jimmy-" I whispered as I looked out at all the people, I didn't know what to say. How do you thank someone for doing all this? It was incredible.
"Do you like it?"
"Like it? Oh Jimmy! I love it! This is so amazing! Thank you!" I reached over, flung my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. Once again he started blushing,I don't know what I did to deserve this, but I'm not going to question it.
"How does this spot look? We can have our picnic here if you want." He asked as we approached an empty area of the park.
"Yeah this seems perfect, thank you so much again Jimmy."
"You're very welcome Cin, I remembered how you used to always want to go here when we were younger, and I wanted you to have a nice day before we go to work for another six and a half hours." He explained as he started removing contents from the picnic basket.
"I can't believe you remembered, this is so sweet, I can't thank you enough."
"Cindy you don't have to thank me, I have a hover car, you can come here whenever you want. I'm sorry we never got to go before I moved away."
"Oh that's okay, trust me it was worth the wait." I said as I kissed his cheek again. He blushed and touched his cheek then started to dig in to the sandwiches he brought. He packed a ham and provolone with mustard and pickles, my favorite, and a turkey with Swiss and mayo, Jimmy's favorite. We sat, ate and talked like there wasn't a care in the world. Being with Jimmy when it's just the two of us has always been my favorite. Without the pressures of friends and classmates, we can just be our dorky selves. Even though I didn't know what he and I were in terms of a relationship, that was okay. For once, I didn't feel the need to be in control of the situation.
"Hey guys, why don't you clock on a few minutes early, I've got a table here that says they know you and they won't have anyone else serve them." Drew said as we walked in and got our aprons.
"Oh dear, okay thanks." I said as I looked at Jimmy with a look that read 'who the heck is he talking about?' He just shrugged so we grabbed our books and head out to main dining area to see our friends. I should've known, I thought as I rolled my eyes.
"Cindy! Jimmy! Over here!" Sheen stood up and started waving and yelling us over.
"Trust me, Ultra doofus, we saw you."
"Hey just gotta make sure," he said as he put his hands up defensively.
After our friends ate and left, the rest of the night was pretty boring actually. It slowed down a lot after 8:30 so we had time to do all our closing server duties and start the dishes before the restaurant even closed at 10:30. Last night, we weren't out of there til 11:15, but tonight I knew we'd be done around 10:45.
As Jimmy drove me home, I sat there content in the passenger seat watching him drive the hover car. He looked so in-command. He kept looking back to me but I'd just turn away and pretend that I wasn't looking, then when he turned back I would start looking at him again. I couldn't help but compare his appearance now to how it used to be. His hair was no longer in its whippy-dip style, I made note to ask him about that later, his jawline was much more defined, but his eyes were the same blue they had always been. The eyes that I dreamt about for five years while he was living in Pennsylvania, the eyes that got me in trouble last Sunday at the restaurant, and the eyes that I'm falling in love with.
"Goodnight Jimmy, thank you for everything, I had a really great day," I said as I smiled, he returned it with a megawatt smile of his own.
"You're very welcome, I'm really glad you enjoyed it, I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Considering we're both working 9-6, yes you will," I said as I opened my door and walked inside, giving one last wave to him I closed the door and went upstairs to my room. I was tired but my brain was wide awake. I laid in bed for a while just thinking about him. The good, the bad and scary of him being home. I loved having him back here because my world finally made sense again, I didn't love having him back here all because of my mom. When he left, my relationship with her skyrocketed. I was the best in town again and she was the proudest she's ever been of me. But now that he was back, I wasn't the best anymore, I wouldn't be Valedictorian, which is something she's been looking forward to since my the first day of high school. She blamed the fact that I wasn't smarter than a certified genius on me and my inability to be the best. So far, now that he's back, she hasn't cracked down on me too much, but I have a feeling as the school year continues, things are going to change. The scary part of him being back was that, even though he may not know it, he holds my heart in his hands. I'm in love with him, and I'm playing a dangerous game right now. I'm risking getting the worst broken heart I could imagine, but I guess the risk would be worth the reward. Frankly, I have no idea what I'm doing. I mean, it's senior year, we'll be going off to college next year anyway, why am I starting something with him anyway. But then again, I know I shouldn't overthink it so much, I'm a teenager, I'm having fun. Besides, I'm sure I'll meet plenty of people in college, yeah but they won't be him. I went to bed that night with thoughts wrestling in my mind about whether or not I was making a mistake. The war was no longer with Neutron, the war was now against my brain and my heart.
