AN: Sorry for the late update!!!! Acosta: Yeah, I thought would be Carl a nervous about meeting Cindy's other friends… I always envisioned him as the shy type, somehow ;) Hope you're all enjoying this so far…

Meanwhile, Jimmy's hanging out in the lobby of Cindy, Libby and Carl's apartment building, staring dreamily into space. His goofy smile widens when he sees a leggy blonde in a pair of denim cutoffs, a green tank top and a familiar ponytail..

"So, you come whenever I call, huh, Vortex?"

'Yes, Neutron, and leave when you say, too…' Cindy rolls her eyes at the arrogance of her… boyfriend? She doesn't really know what they are to each other at this stage…

"Oh, but stay til then…" Jimmy decides to be theatrical, grabbing her hand and pressing it to his chest dramatically…

'You just said "then"… I'll be going now…' Cindy gets up and pretends to leave. Turning around, however, she sees the genuine disappointment in Jimmy's eyes, and decides to cut him some slack. She goes back to sit beside him. Automatically, he puts his arm around her, and she rests her head on his shoulder. They sit quietly for some time, simply enjoying each others presence, until Cindy speaks up with a small voice.

'Jimmy?'

"Hmmm…?" Jimmy is too comfortable to speak much.

'You didn't REALLY kill Sheen, did you?'

Looking at the genuine worry in her green eyes, Jimmy feels a tug of tenderness, mingled with regret. How had he let himself waste all these years, denying his feelings for this girl? "No… we just had some words, that's all… and with that, I'm going to kiss you…"

'Oh no you don't, Neutron…' laughing, she presses her finger on his descending lips. At the look of comic despair on his face, she can't help but laugh more, and snuggles against his chest further. She's just getting comfortable when she hears a loud cough and a giggle. Blushing, she jumps up from her seat.

Jimmy looks up in annoyance. He FINALLY has the girl of his dreams in his arms, and he has to be interrupted by a tall, smirking, sarcastic looking blonde (pretty, but nowhere near as beautiful as Cindy, in his opinion), a giggling short haired brunette and petite Asian, Libby, and… Libby? Two Libbys? Jimmy blinked, causing the girls (Cindy included) to laugh again at his confusion. Jimmy is momentarily distracted from his "double vision" by the sight of Cindy laughing… he'd always thought she looked especially beautiful when she laughed…

'You're not seeing double, Neutron… this is Susie… she and Libby DO look alike…'

"Wait… you're the one that Sheen saw in the park…" Jimmy is starting to piece the story together…

'Sure am… Sheen knows it now too… and he knows that Eustace and Betty are the ones that caused this whole mess in the first place…' Susie looks pleased. She's a romantic at heart, and had always wanted to see Libby reunited with her childhood sweetheart… who she'd been talking about non-stop since they'd started Juilliard.

"Eustace… and Betty… but… why Sheen?"

'We'll go upstairs and explain everything… that is… if you guys are done…' Angelica smirks at a blushing Jimmy and Cindy…

'W-well… I've got to hear this… coming, Neutron?'

"I will live in your heart, die at your feet and be buried in your eyes… Moreover, I will come up with you…" Jimmy is still in the mood to be theatrical, and earns an eye roll from a blushing Cindy. As he gets up to follow the group of girls, he swiftly takes Cindy's hand. She doesn't object as he interlaces his fingers with hers, making their way through the lobby towards the elevator.

An hour later, Jimmy has been kicked out of the apartment, after receiving a full explanation of the events that had taken place from Angelica and Susie. Libby is in a much better mood, as she realizes Sheen does care about her, after all. Jimmy's description of his despondency convinces even Cindy that he deserves a second chance. However, both Cindy and Angelica feel that he needs to squirm a little more before being allowed to see Libby. Hence: Jimmy's banishment. Cindy and Angelica wanted no boys around as they came up with their "Totally Awesome Plan of Revenge". As he makes his way down the street towards the Plaza, Jimmy can't help but feel sorry for his friend. Knowing Cindy, her plan would involve humiliation, pain or both. And he didn't like the looks of this Angelica person. She seemed even meaner than Cindy, during her bullying years, if that was even possible.

Meanwhile, Cindy and Angelica are bouncing ideas off each other. Libby was trying to protest: she really didn't WANT Sheen to be pelted with eggs, rotten tomatoes, beaten up by Cindy or made to wear a dress and walk through times square. She just wanted her date, and maybe an extra nice "make it up to me" surprise. Susie, knowing the futility of trying to stop her best friend when she was "plotting" would just roll her eyes. Lil and Kimi, on the other hand, were fascinated by the way the two blondes could think. If Tommy or Chuckie ever stepped out of line, they agreed that they would know who to call. The girls were interrupted, however, by a pounding door.

"LIBBY… LET ME IN!!!"

'Er… girls… we need to talk to you… and my key doesn't seem to work'

"LIBBY… I'M SO SORRY, BABY… JUST LET ME IN… I NEED TO TALK TO YOU…"

'Girls….? Sheen's kind of scaring me here… could you please let us in…'

Five of the six girls in the room burst into giggles at the sound of the two voices at the door. Libby moved to open it, but Angelica was too quick for her.

'Oh no you don't, Folfax…Lil, Kimi, Susie… bring her to her room… Vortex and I will handle this…'

The girls obediently dragged a reluctant Libby aside, while the two blondes, with matching gleams in their eyes and mischievous grins opened the door. A tall Latino tripped and landed on the floor, he'd been leaning against the door, pounding mercilessly.

"You going to pay for any damage, Estevez?" Cindy was cool… Sheen was her friend but he had committed the cardinal sin: He'd made Libby cry, and he HAD to pay.

"Cindy… where is she… I HAVE to see her… I HAVE to tell her how sorry I am… How I should have known that buck toothed bastard was pulling something… although why would he want to target me… it was always Jimmy he didn't like… although Quinlan might not have been happy about the fact that I didn't want to kiss her… but that was so long ago… and she's with Eustace now, she should have gotten over that… and where is she…?" Sheen was tearful as he rambled, making even Cindy and Angelica feel sorry for him. Carl, on the other hand, was quiet, as he observed Cindy. He'd missed her, and he knew she would be upset with him for not taking Libby's side immediately.

'You know he deceived us, Cin…we wouldn't believe him at first… but when we saw it with our own eyes, what were we supposed to think… Sheen even threatened to punch his teeth in…' Carl quietly explained what Cindy already knew. She was quiet, which both boys took as a good sign. 'Just let him speak to her… he needs to apologize.. and look at him…' Carl tried to remonstrate with Cindy, who looked to be softening. Angelica, on the other hand, was having none of it.

'Oh no… he can apologize to her at my party tomorrow… in front of everyone…'

"P-party?" Sheen is worried… he'd wanted his apology to be much more personal.

'A costume party… 7pm… Cindy here will text you the address…'

"And… you have to sing a song…" Cindy has a wicked grin, as Carl pales. He's remembering the Twonkies incident in elementary school, where Sheen's "singing" had broken practically every pane of glass in town.

'Fine…'

"Fine?"

'Anything for Libby' Sheen responded simply. As the boys turned to leave, Carl's heart thumped wildly, as he caught sight of a faint smile of approval on Cindy's lips.