NOYB:Yeah it's always like that they're cute when they're younger and when they're all grown up they get a little lamer, (I'm using your quote in the story) … don't worry I'll tweak it up a bit in this chapter. Haha I know, I mean Arnold and Helga are cool but I just wanted to take a break from them for a while.
*Ok this chap's rated (T)*
Chapter#8:Why?.
SID:Merry Christmas.
A HALF AWAKE SID MUMBLED AS HE ENTERED THE KITCHEN RUBBING HIS EYES AND SMILING WHILE CINDY AND HIS MOM WERE MAKING PANCAKES.
SID'S MOM:Hey sweetie! Is your dad awake yet?.
SID: (YAWNS)Nope.
SID'S MOM:Well could you wake him for me honey? We gotta open presents now before eating breakfast.
SID:Ok
SID AND CINDY EXCHANGE SWEET SMILES BEFORE HE DISSAPEARS TO HIS FATHER'S ROOM.
LOOKS LIKE HE HADN'T FORGOTTEN LAST NIGHT'S KISS.
HIS BODY LOOKED SO GOOD IN THAT WHITE TEE HE WAS WEARING AND HIS MORNING HAIR WHICH ALMOST COVERED HIS EYES.
HE WAS MUCH TALLER NOW AND MORE MATURED, DESPITE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH 'OCD' AS A KID HE'S MANAGED TO DEAL WITH IT.
RAY:Alright, alright … I'm up.
THEY HEARD RAY MOAN AND SID COME BACK TO THE KITCHEN AND HELP SET THE TABLE.
SID:Oh and by the way, Merry Christmas mom.
HE GAVE HIS MOM A KISS ON THE CHEEK AND A LITTLE GIFT BOX
INSIDE WERE A PAIR OF BEAUTIFUL SILVER EARRINGS SHAPED LIKE SNOWFLAKES.
SID'S MOM:Oh honey they're beautiful!.
SHE PULLS HIS FACE CLOSER AND PLANTS A HARD KISS ON HIS CHEEKS.
SID CHUCKLES AND WALKS OVER TO CINDY.
SID:This one's for you.
HE HANDS A SMALL BOX WHICH WAS WRAPPED IN BEAUTIFUL GOLD WRAPPING, HE NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHY GIFTWRAPS HAD TO BE SO FANCY SINCE THEY'RE GONNA BE TORN AND THROWN AWAY ANYWAY BUT THIS GIFT WRAP WAS A LAST MINUTE 'RE-TOUCH' WHICH HE BORROWED FROM LILA LAST NIGHT.
SHE WAS SURPRISED AT HERSELF THAT SHE DIDN'T EXPECT A GIFT FROM HIM.
SID:Open it.
HE TOLD HER WARMLY AND SHE SMILED INNOCENTLY AT HIM BEFORE OPENING HER GIFT.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SILVER PENDANT WITH A BLACK STRAWBERRY STUDDED WITH SILVER BALLS FOR SEEDS.
SID:I remember how much you like vintage, and I found this at the antique store.
CINDY: (DREAMILY) Oh Sid, it's lovely.
SID:You like it?.
CINDY:I love it.
SHE COULDN'T TELL IF HIS EYES WERE LOOKING WARMLY INTO HERS OR WAS IT 'CUZ HE JUST WOKE UP, BUT SHE LIKED IT ANYWAY.
SHE SNAPS FROM HER DREAMS AND REALIZES THAT SHE'S FORGOTTEN TO GIVE THEM THEIR GIFTS WHICH WERE STILL IN HER TRAVEL BAG, SO SHE RUSHED INTO HER ROOM AND COMES OUT WITH THREE GIFT BOXES.
CINDY: This is for you … (HANDS IT TO SID'S MOM) and this one's for you … (GIVES ONE TO SID)…And this one's for Ray. (SHE PUT'S THE LAST GIFT ON THE TABLE).
SID'S MOM:Oh Cindy, this scarf is beautiful!.
CINDY:I'm glad you liked it.
SID OPENED HIS GIFT AND FOUND A BLACK MEN'S WATCH.
CINDY GIVES HIM A KNOWING SMILE.
CINDY:I saw how you couldn't keep your eyes off it when you came to visit so I thought you'd want it.
SID:You have no idea, thanks Cind's.
CINDY:Anytime 'Sidney'.
SID'S MOM:Oh look at that! You two're standing under a mistletoe!.
'GEEZ! HOW CAN THERE BE SO MANY MISTLETOES AROUND EVERYWHERE I GO?' CINDY THOUGHT AND BEFORE SHE KNEW IT SHE FELT SID'S LIPS PUSH LIGHTLY AGINST HERS.
RAY: (COMING INTO THE KITCHEN RUBBING HIS EYES, YAWNING)Morning gu.-
BUT HIS EYES SUDDENLY OPEN UP WIDE TO THE SIGHT OF SID AND CINDY KISSING.
SID'S MOM:Awww! Did you see that Ray?. Oh that was priceless! I wish I had my camera!.
RAY: (SITTING AT THE KITCHEN TABLE AND SIGHS)Ehhh they were much cuter when they were nine.
SID'S MOM:Oh Ray. So? Is there any chance you two are gonna come back to each other?.
SID AND CINDY LOOK AT EACH OTHER INNOCENTLY AND JUST CHUCKLE.
HE SLIDES AN ENVELOPE TO HIS DAD ACROSS THE TABLE.
SID:Merry Christmas dad.
RAY: (SIPPING HIS COFFEE)What's this?.
RAY OPENS UP THE ENVELOPE TO FIND TWO CHRISTMAS DINNER COUPONS AT CHEZ PIERRE.
SID:You two can enjoy a nice Christmas dinner tonight.
SID'S MOM:Oh Sid.
RAY: (SCRATCHING HIS NECK)I don't know … I don't really 'do' fancy dinners at fancy restaurants.
SID:Come on dad, how many times do you get to go to a fancy Christmas dinner getaway?.
SID'S MOM GIVES HIM A PLEADING PUPPY EYE LOOK.
RAY: (SIGHS) Alright, we can go.
SHE GIVES RAY A HUG AND A KISS AND THEN RUSHES TO THEIR ROOM TO PICK WHAT TO WEAR.
SID:Now that we're done here, let's go Cind's.
CINDY:Where to?.
SID:Bigal's, everyone's hanging out there.
AND SURE ENOUGH THEY WERE. THE WERE ACTUALLY HANGING OUT, OUTSIDE OF BIGAL'S.
HAROLD:Hey look! It's the love birds.
SID:Shut it Harold.
HAROLD LAUGHS TILL A SNOWBALL HITS HIS FACE.
HAROLD:Ow! Who did that?.
CINDY: (HOLDING ANOTHER SNOWBALL) Merry Christmas Harold. (SHE GETS HIT WITH ANOTHER SNOWBALL)Ow!.
HELGA:Merry Christmas to you Cinderella.
CINDY JUST WALKS OVER TO THEM.
CINDY:Hey Helga I saw you and Arnold sneak out the party last night, where'd you go?.
THE GIRLS START 'OOOHING' AND LAUGH WHEN HELGA TELLS THEM TO SHUTUP.
GERALD:She's a fine woman Sid, fine woman!.
SID:Yeah.
STINKY:Didja ask her out yet?.
SID: (SIGHS)No … I don't know if she wants to go out with me. Besides, by next week she'll be back in her town.
HAROLD:Just 'cuz she's gonna be a thousand miles away from you in a few days doesn't mean you should give up on her.
ARNOLD:Yeah, we thought that kiss you shared meant something between you two.
SID:I don't know … I guess I'll give it a shot.
STINKY:By the way, you goin' to Rachel's New year party?.
SID:I guess not.
GERALD:Cindy's going.
SID: She doesn't even know Rachel very well.
ARNOLD: Yeah but Helga told me she and the girls are going and then an hour before midnight they go to Rhonda's place for the countdown. They even invited us along.
SID:I got a bad feeling about this.
HAROLD: Why so?.
SID: Rachel might try to do something that'll push Cindy away from me, like what she tried to do last night!.
GERALD: That girl's just playin' with ya bubba.
SID:I know! And now she's acting like she wants me back I just don't get what she's tryin' to do!.
EUGENE: Well then just tell her the truth.
SID: (SIGHS) Even if I do, you know Rachel. What she wants, she gets … I'm worried she'll hurt Cindy in some way or another.
CURLY:I don't get why you're so worried, Cindy's a strong girl. She's kinda more like Helga.
ARNOLD: (PLACES HIS HAND ON SID'S SHOULDER) Don't worry Sid. Whatever happens, we got your back.
RHONDA: So d'you tell him?.
CINDY: Tell him what?.
NADEEN: About the sleepover.
CINDY: Oh yeah! I forgot! I'll go tell him now.
HELGA: (HOLDS HER ARM) Hold the fire blue eyes, he's hanging out with the boys. Wait till he's alone.
RHONDA:Like when you are at home together.
CINDY SHOOTS HER A DEATH GLARE.
LILA:I'm ever so sure he won't mind Cindy.
CINDY:It's not that, it's just .. it slipped off my mind really.
RHONDA:On second thought , how about we have it tonight and still have the new year one?.
THE GIRLS AGREE.
RHONDA:Great, we all meet at 8 sharp.
RACHEL WALKS TO THEM WITH TWO OF HER FRIENDS.
RACHEL:Hello girls.
LILA:Hello Rachel.
RACHEL:I really hope you'll all make it to my new year's party.
HELGA: (SARCASTICALLY) Oh we won't it miss it for the world.
SHE WALKS BY CINDY DURING WHICH WE PAUSES TO EYE HER UP AND DOWN AND BEFORE SHE WALKS AWAY CINDY TRIPS HER AND SHE FALLS FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND.
THE GIRLS ALL LAUGH AT HER.
CINDY: (SHRUGS INNOCENTLY) Woopsie.
RACHEL: (GETTING UP) You did that on purpose!.
HELGA:Oh yeah? Prove it!.
CINDY: (PUSHES HELGA ASIDE LIGHTLY)Lemme handle this.(TURNS TO CINDY) Prove it!.
RACHEL: (NARROWS HER EYES AT HER)You're gonna pay for this.
AND SHE WALKS AWAY WITH HER FRIENDS.
PHOEBE: (PLACES HER HAND ON CINDY'S SHOULDER) Don't worry Cindy, she's all talk.
CINDY NARROWS HER EYES AT RACHEL WHO TURNED AROUND TO GIVE HER ONE MORE SMIRK BEFORE WALKING AWAY.
CINDY: I doubt it.
SID AND CINDY WALK BACK HOME LATER THAT EVENING.
WHEN THEY REACH HOME THEY FIND SID'S PARENTS JUST COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE TO GO TO THEIR DINNER.
SID'S MOM:Ok we're going for our dinner. I made some turkey fillets they're inside the oven.
SID:Ok. Have fun you two.
SID AND CINDY GO IN THE HOUSE.
RAY:I don't know about this, honey, leaving Sid and the girl alone for the rest of the night …
SID'S MOM:Oh don't worry Ray, I'll give them a call every 40 minutes just to check.
IT WAS 7:45PM AND SID AND CINDY WERE JUST FLIPPING THROUGH CHANNELS ON T.V.
CINDY:Oh! oh! Leave it there!.
SID:As told by ginger?.
CINDY:It was my favourite show!. (SIGHS) They don't make good cartoons like these anymore.
SID LAUGHS AND LOOKS at CINDY WHO'S EYES WERE GLUED TO THE TV, SHE LOOKED SO … CUTE.
JUST THEN THE ELECTRICITY GOES OFF.
SID: (GROANS)What now?.
CINDY:Why'd the electricity go off?.
SID:Just stay here, I'll go get some flashlights.
SID TRIED TO GROPE HIS WAY TO THE KITCHEN AND FIND THE TOOLBOX WHERE HIS DAD PUTS SOME FLASHLIGHTS.
THE KITCHEN WAS DIMLY LIT AS LIGHT FROM THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS FROM OTER HOUSES SEEPED IN THROUGH THE KITCHEN WINDOW.
SID:Aha!.
HE WALKS TOWARDS THE TOOLBOX TILL HE ACCIDENTALLY HITS HIS FOOT AGAINST THE KITCHEN COUNTER RESULTING IN TERRIBLE PAIN.
SID:Ow my foot!.
CINDY:Sid? You ok? Where are you?.
SID: (GROANS) In the kitchen, be careful to watch where you're going.
CINDY REACHES THE KITCHEN AND EASILY SPOTS HIM.
CINDY:There you are! What happened?.
SID:I hit my foot on the counter.
CINDY: It's kinda swollen ,I'll get something to reduce it.
SHE FINDS A PACKET OF FROZEN VEGETABLES AND WRAPS IT IN A KTCHEN CLOTH BEFORE PLACING IT ON HIS FOOT.
CINDY:Here.
SID:Thanks. I hope mom and dad aren't having any problems.
THEY SMILE AT EACH OTHER.
HE COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE LOOKED, THE COLOR OF HER EYES SEEMED TO BE LOST IN THE DIM BLUE LIGHT THAT SEEPED IN THROUGH THE KITCHEN.
CINDY SUDDENLY LET OUT A SNEEZE AND GIGGLED, HE LAUGHED, SHE ALWAYS DOES THAT.
CINDY:Excuse me. I keep doing that! I don't understand why, I feel so silly.
SID SHOOK HIS HEAD STILL SMILING AND HIS HAND BRUSHED OFF HER SIDE FRINGE AWAY FROM HER EYE.
SID:Cindy?.
CINDY DIDN'T REPLY, SHE JUST LOOKED AT HIM WAITING FOR HIM TO CONTINUE, SID CHUCKLED TO HIMSELF. SHE WAS ALWAYS STUBBORN LIKE THAT.
SID:I wish we never broke up.
CINDY'S EYES ALMOST GOT TEARY AS HIS FINGERS WERE TOUCHING HER CHEEK. SHE WISHED THE SAME.
SID:I … love you. I always have, I guess I was too dense to realize that.
SHE FELT SHE COULDN'T HOLD HER TEARS ANY LONGER BUT THANKFULLY HE LEANED IN AND KISSED HER BEFORE THE TEARS STARTED FALLING DOWN.
HE COULD FEEL HER BREATH GETTING HOTTER, HE FELT LIKE CRYING TOO. SHE'S DONE SOMUCH FOR HIM AND YET HE COULDN'T EVEN BE WITH HER.
SHE PLACED HER HAND ON HIS SHOULDER AND FELT HIS BODY TREMBLE, OH HOW BEAUTIFUL THAT FELT.
HIS HAND STARTED TO SLIDE AROUND HER WAIST AND ON HER BACK.
CINDY WAS STARTING TO GET CAUTIOUS.
HE PLACED HIS OTHER ARM AROUND HER SHOULDERS AND SHE COULD FEELHIM STARTING TO WEIGH HER DOWN.
'OH NO!', CINDY OPENED HER EYES, PULLED HER LIPS AWAY AND PUSHED HIM.
CINDY:Sid …
THEY BOTH LOOKED AT EACH OTHER, THEIR HEARTS WERE RACING.
HE ALMOST COULDN'T BELIEVE HIMSELF, HOW COULD HE DO THAT TO HER?.
THE CLOCK STRUCK EIGHT AND THE REMINDER ALARM WENT OFF ON HER PHONE.
SHE REMEMBERED RHONDA'S SLUMBER PARTY.
CINDY: (GETTING UP) I have to go. Rhonda's expecting me at her place. (RUSHES TO HER ROOM).
SID JUST STAYS THERE, SIGHING TO HIMSELF.
SID:(GROANING) Way to let yourself go Sid.
HIS PHONE RINGS, IT WAS HIS MOM.
SID'S MOM:Hey honey, I just called up to check if everything's ok.
SID:Everything's … fine mom. How are things going with you?.
SID'S MOM:Oh we're having a great time, the dinner's amazing. Listen honey we're not going to be back till midnight so don't stay up ok?.
SID:Sure.
SID'S MOM:Ok sweetheart, bye.
SID:Bye.
HE DIDN'T WANT O TELL HER ABOUT THE OUTAGE, HE DIDN'T WANT TO MESS THEIR DINNER DATE.
CINDY STEPPED OUT OF THE ROOM CARRYING A BAG AND A SLEEPING SACK.
CINDY:I'll go now.
SID:Wait it's dangerous to go out on your own at this hour. I'll go with you.
CINDY: (NOT LOOKING AT HIM) … sure.
AND SOON ENOUGH THEY WERE BOTH WAITING AT THE BUS STOP.
SID LOOKS AROUND THE BLOCK AND NOTICES THAT JUST THE HOUSES ON THEIR STREET WERE THE ONES WHERE THE ELCTRICITY WAS CUT OFF.
SID:Looks like it was just our street that was hit with the electrical outage. I'm glad it didn't reach mom and dad. (GIVES A WEAK LAUGH).
CINDY: (MONOTONOUSLY)Uh-huh.
SID NOTICES THAT CINDY'S MIND IS STILL ON WHAT HAPPENED A WHILE AGO BETWEEN THEM AND THERE WAS NO WAY IT WAS GONNA DIE DOWN SOON.
SID: … Listen, Cindy … I'm sorry about … that. I don't know what g-
CINDY:Did you do it before?.
SID WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY HER QUESTION.
CINDY:Did you?.
FLASHBACKS OF THAT NIGHT CAME TO MIND. HE REMEMBERS HOW HE LOST HIS VRIGINITY TO RACHEL ON THAT NIGHT OF CRAZY PARTYING, HE WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS THE WEED AND LIQUOR OR IT WAS HIM … HE WAS MADLY IN LOVE WITH RACHEL AT THAT TIME.
SID: (SIGHS)Yes.
CINDY FELT AS IF SHE WAS STRUCK BY A BOLT OF LIGHTNING, IT'S NOT LIKE SHE HADN'T EXPECTED IT, WHAT WITH ALL HIS WEED AND ALCOHOL USE WHICH HE RECENTLY QUIT. IT'S JUST … SHE WASN'T EXACTLY EXPECTING TO HEAR IT STRAIGHT FROM HIS MOUTH. ALL THE NEWS ABOUT HIM WAS TOLD TO HER BY HELGA, WHETHER SHE ASKED FOR IT OR NOT.
THEY BOTH STAYED SILENT TILL THE BUS CAME.
RHONDA:Where is she? It's almost 8.30 and I specifically said to come at 8 sharp.
NADEEN:Maybe she forgot?.
RHONDA:How can she possibly forget? We just talked about it today!.
HELGA:Oh cut your yap princess, I'll give her a call.
CINDY:Hello?.
HELGA:Hey blue eyes where are ya?.
CINDY:I'm on my way now.
HELGA:Well hurry up, princess here is having a tantrum.
CINDY:Yeah I'll be there in a bit.
HELGA: Ok. (FEELING SOMETHING WAS UP WIH CINDY) Cind's you ok?.
CINDY:Yea sure. I'll see you girls in a few minutes. Bye.
RHONDA:Well?.
HELGA:She's on her way. But …
PHOEBE:But what Helga?.
HELGA: (LOOKING AT HER PHONE)I gotta feeling something's not right with her.
CINDY LOOKS OUT THE BUS WINDOW AND SEES THE ROAD AHEAD OF THEM THAT LED TO HER OLD NEIGHOURHOOD . A NEIGHBOURHOOD SHE WAS GLAD TO BE OUT OF.
'CINDY' SHE HEARD SOMEONE WHISPER.
CINDY:What?.
SID: (GIVES HER A WONDERING LOOK)What?.
CINDY:Why'd you call my name?.
SID:I didn't call your name.
CINDY SIGHS IT OFF AS JUST HER IMAGINATION.
THE BUS FINALLY REACHES THEIR DESTINATION.
CINDY GETS UP.
SID:Need any help?.
CINDY:No I'm good. Thanks.
SID WATCHES HER AS SHE WALKS TO RHONDA'S HOUSE WHILE THE BUS STARTS MOVING.
SIX YEARS AGO
THE BEACH.
SID:Come on Cind's, let's build a sandcastle.
CINDY:Ok. Woops! Hold on a minute. (TAKES OFF HER RING AND PLACES IT IN HER SMALL SHOULDER BAG).Can't afford to ruin this.
SID:What is it?.
CINDY:It's a promise ring. Eddie gave it to me on my 13th birthday.
SID:Promise ring? What's it for?.
CINDY:I make a promise that I promise I'll keep, and this ring helps me remember it.
SID:What promise did you make?.
CINDY:I promised Eddie, Clara and Mama Wanda that I'll keep my virginity till I get married someday. Clara says not many girls wait till they find the man they'll be with forever to give away their virginities, and many of them end up regretting it. I sure hope I won't be one of them.
SID:You think I should get one?.
CINDY:That'll be a great idea Sid!. That way we can both stay pure till the day we get married.
SID SIGHS AND LEANS BACK IN HIS SEAT.
SID: If only I got one too.
HIS PHONE BEGAN TO RING, HE SEES AN UNFAMILIAR NUMBER ON HIS CALLER ID.
SID:Hello?.
RACHEL: (SEDUCTIVELY)Hey.
SID:Who is this?.
RACHEL: Looks like you deleted my number, moved on already 'apple cider'?.
SID: (SIGHS)Hey Rachel.
RACHEL:You don't sound very pleased to hear my voice again.
SID:No it's … I'm goin' through a few things now and ...
RACHEL:How about you come over so I turn that frown upside down?.
SID CRINGED AT HER INVITATION. IT WAS THE LAST THING HE NEEDED RIGHT NOW.
SID:No thanks. I wanna spend some time alone.
RACHEL:Ok. But remember, I'm just a phone call away.
SID:Goodnight Rachel.
RACHEL: (COYLY) Good night.
JEFF: (ON THE PHONE)Blue eyes, short black hair named Cindy, got it. Don't worry Rachel, my lips are sealed. Bye.
SMITTHY SAT BESIDE HIM ON THE COUCH AND GAVE HIM A DRINK.
SMITTHY:Rachel?.
JEFF:Yeah she just called me.
SMITTHY:What for?.
JEFF: (TAKES A SIP OF HIS DRINK) She wanted me to … run an errand on her New year's party. You goin' by the way?.
SMITTHY: (SHRUGS)I guess.
(MUSIC:CAMILA-BESAME)
Author's Note: Yup that was smithy for ya ladies and gentlemen. Wonder what errand Rachel's asked him to do. Tune in to find out (that kinda sounded like what they said those '80's cartoons when the show's over … hmmm) ;p. Hope you liked this chapter.
