Sorry that it's taken me so long to update, but my internet's been acting up lately, and I have 9 weeks tests this week. So, anyway, read and review!
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The funeral was scheduled to be that following weekend. It would be held graveside, even though the weathermen, and sky threatened rain. Cindy's parents had chosen everything that they thought Cindy would like- a slick black coffin, long stem red roses, and an arrangement of music they were sure she would have loved. Everything had been set just so, and the funeral was going to happen. Jimmy wasn't going to be there.
How could he bring himself to face the world? He hadn't been out of the house since Cindy's death. Jimmy had spent most of his time in his lab, pretending to be busy on a new invention, while secretly, he was thinking. He had sat for hours just wondering why Cindy had to be taken. There were so many other people in the world that could've gotten leukemia, and then pneumonia. But, then he had to face facts. It was his fault that she had it. He had taken her along with him on so many adventures, exposing her to the toxic powers of radiation. When those thoughts began to surface, when his mind got so jumbled that he couldn't even remember a simple equation, those were the times that he chose to sleep.
Jimmy lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He hoped that his parents had forgotten all about the funeral. To his dismay, they came in a few moments later to get him up and ready.
"I'm not going." he said, simply.
"Jimbo, I know this is really hard on you, but. . . " started Hugh, but could think of no more to say.
"I'd rather stay at home today. I have a new rocket engine that I'm trying out, and it takes six hours for it to fully charge, so I have to stay. . . " replied Jimmy. He knew it was a lame escuse, and wasn't going to get him anywhere.
"James Isaac Neutron! You get yourself out of this bed, and dressed!" demanded his mother. She hated to raise her voice to her son, but hated even more the fact that he had spent the last few days moping about.
Jimmy nodded. There was no way that he would dissobey her when she yelled.
Within a few moments, Jimmy had changed into his only suit, and was ready for a funeral that he had hoped he would never have to attend.
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". . . and with that, we bury Cynthia Aurora Vortex, today." finished up the preacher. The sky was now a dark grey, threatening rain. The large crowd of teary-eyed people began to back away from the six foot pit in which Cindy's coffin was being lowered into. Finally, it lay down on the soft dirt.
Everyone gathered around once more, each with a rose. Then, lining up, they dropped them in one by one. Jimmy made sure that he was the last in line. He didn't want anyone watching when he tossed his in. Before he did, he removed half of the petals. He had no idea why, but he felt as if he needed to carry half of the rose home with him, as if it would bring her back.
Eventually, the crowd thinned out, and only family, and a few close friends stayed behind.
Jimmy stared down at the ground, as the shiny black of the coffin dissapeared beneath a mound of dirt.
A few moments later, Jimmy felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, Jimmy. We're going to head over to the Candy Bar."said Libby. "I know it sounds kind of morbid, to go there right after her funeral, but we were going to order a few milkshakes and toast her."
Jimmy could tell that Libby was trying as hard as possible not to cry. After all, Cindy had been her best friend. Now that he thought about it, it seemed as if Cindy was one of Libby's only friends.
"No thanks, I'm going to stay here." replied Jimmy. He didn't think it was such a good idea to be with a crowd at the moment.
"Come on Jimmy, " said Libby. "We all know what you're going through, because we're going through it, too. It's not going to help by just staying by yourself, okay? Just come with us."
Jimmy sighed. "Alright." he agreed.
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Jimmy immediately regretted going to the Candy Bar. They spent the whole time discussing Cindy. He knew that they had a right to, and that they should. It just seemed so weird to talk about her as if she were a distant memory.
So, he was glad when it was time to go home.
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Over the next month, Jimmy stayed at home. The only time he went out was when his parents forced him to. He even disliked school without Cindy. There was no reason to want to try hard, since she wasn't there to beat.
On one weekend after her death, Libby stopped by with Sheen and Carl. Jimmy found it odd that she would be visiting at all, since they no longer had Cindy. He had never considered Libby a good friend.
"Jimmy, we're worried about you." said Carl.
"Why?" he asked.
"I don't know, maybe because you've been in this house for the past month." said Sheen, recieving a gentle hit across the shoulder from Libby.
"I've been really busy. I mean, I've had a lot of stuff to work on lately. . . " he replied.
"Um, guys. . ." started Libby, "Do you mind if I talk to Jimmy in private?"
Sheen glanced up. "Hmm. . . why would my girlfriend want to talk to my best friend alone. . ."he wondered.
"Sheen! Out! Now!" said Libby. Sheen and Carl immediately left the room.
Jimmy expected Libby to tell him that he needed to go out and face the world. That everything would eventually go away, and that everyone else was going through the same thing as he. He was wrong.
"She was my best friend." she said simply. "I was the person that was closest to Cindy in the whole world. How do you think I feel?"
Jimmy opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted.
"I'm tired of it!" she said. "You need to stop moping around like your life is over. Newsflash, Jimmy, it's not. She wasn't even your girlfriend. You 'hated' each other, remember? Don't you remember how you treated her? She told me what happened. When she asked you why you wanted to save her. . . you couldn't even tell her the truth. I'm sorry that you're feeling bad, Jimmy, but you could have saved her!"
Jimmy was so taken aback by Libby's outbirst that it took him a minute to regain his composure.
He then realized that she was crying.
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked. "It's too late now."
"You're a genius. . . figure it out." she said, and then left.
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Jimmy knew Libby was right. He could have saved her. If he'd just told her the truth then she would have lived. But, he didn't tell her, and he couldn't change that. Or could he? It was then, that Jimmy knew what he had to do.
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I know that wasn't very detailed, and it went fast, but I want to get too the end. I also know that they sounded kind of out of character, but I have no idea how they would have reacted in a situation like that. So, anyway, please review!