A/N: So I kinda fell off the face of the planet sorry :/. I know this chapter is short but I have had it a while. I may update and add to it but I wanted to at least get it out there. I promise I will finish the story. It's getting close to the planned ending anyway. Thanks all for reading. :)

The school year was over half way over the next time she willingly talk to him about something with more substance than schoolwork. It was the week after Valentine's Day. He had been too chicken to give her anything for the holiday now that students weren't obliged to hand out cards to everyone in class.

It was warm enough to be raining but barely. He saw her standing behind the tree in front of his house, lost deep in thought as she watched the house across the street. It was her house, of course, but she looked like someone peeping at something they shouldn't. It was much too cold to have no coat on but there she stood.

When she saw him she reflectively used his nickname, "Nerdton."

"Vortex," He said, maintaining carefully calculated aloofness as he approached her, "what are you doing?"

"Ugh. Don't call me that."

"Oh come on, at least I said your real last name instead of some childish bastardization."

"It's not my name."

"Um… yes it is."

"Not anymore."

"What are you talking about?"

"They're getting divorced," she explained, finally taking her eyes off of her house and looking at the boy in front of her.

"Oh," he said dumbly. This should have been obvious to him.

"She's making me change my name because she knows it hurts him…."

"That's shitty."

"It is."

"Aren't you cold?" By now the rain had weighed down her ponytail so that it hung low on her shoulders. Her inadequate clothes clung to her body having already absorbed their fill of water.

"No," she lied, as her breath steamed in front of her face. The goose bumps on her clenched arms said different. Stubborn as always, she was. Jimmy let out a sigh as he looked her over.

"Where's your coat?"

"Inside."

"Want to come inside then…?"

"Don't want to be inside."

"I meant my lab."

"I know what you meant. I just . . . don't want to come inside."

"Why?"

She just stared at him, blinking a bit before turning her attention back to the house. A truck pulled into Cindy's driveway. It was definitely a moving truck.

"Are you moving?" Jimmy asked. He really hoped she'd say no.

"No."

"Well, that's good."

"Wonderful," she said bitterly.

"I mean. I'd kind of miss seeing you. A little . . . "

"Careful now," she scoffed, "I might think you consider me a friend or something."

"We are friends."

"I know." Jimmy didn't have a response to that. But, he also wasn't ready to leave her. Cindy felt a weight fall on her shoulders. It was a jacket, still warm from his body.

"I – I said I wasn't cold," she offered, now facing him again. It was the first time she had to look up at him to make eye contact. He must have grown again without her noticing.

"You were lying." Cindy considered protesting but she really didn't want to give up the warmth. She put her arms through the slightly too long sleeves.

"… thanks, Jimmy."

The two sat in silence as a man Jimmy recognized as exit Cindy's house. Her Dad got out of the driver's seat to greet him. The greeting was clearly strained. Over what felt like hours, the two men loaded several boxes into the truck. Cindy's mom made no appearance. Her dad got back in the truck and started the engine before driving off. The other man went back inside. Jimmy thought better than to ask for details about what they were watching. It was clear by Cindy's focused expression that she completely understood the exchange that was happening in front of them.

The last glimmers of sunlight faded behind the horizon before either of them spoke again.

"It's dark," Jimmy said.

"I have eyes." He sighed. She was going to make this difficult.

"It's cold."

"You know, I'm starting understand why they call you a genius."

"Cindy, how late are you going to stay out here?" He asked, cutting to the chase.

She looked at him, brows furrowed as she decided how much information to give him, " I haven't decided yet."

"You have to go home sometime." It came out harsher than he'd intended.

"As it turns out, I don't." Her eyes were fixed on her house again.

"They'll noticed if you don't come home." You're trying to help her not start a fight He said to himself.

"I told my mom I was staying with Libby and my Dad's preoccupied."

"I thought Libby's family was going on a trip all weekend." Just use logic. Outwit her, it's not hard.

"They are."

"Cindy, you are not staying out here all night."

"Why not? Nobody's stopping me."

"I'm stopping you!" He said, pulling his arms back and clenching both fists. His jaw clenched as his head hovered over hers, her back arching away from him. She instinctively jumped at his raised voice and a sensation of guilt flooded him.

He got ready for an argument to break out but instead she just gave a weak "okay."

He made an effort to catch her as she fell down the tube into the lab. The two shared a meaningful look as he gently placed her feet on the ground. His hand lingered on the small of her back longer than necessary.

"You're smaller than me," he noted.

"Have you considered detective work?" She quipped.

He gave her an irritated look but truthfully he was glad to have defensive Cindy over timid Cindy. He press on, "Clever. But my point is, you're all wet."

Taking it immediately to the wrong place, she turned red, balled up her fists and shouted "No I'm not!"

"We just spent an hour and a half in the rain, Cindy. Just… just let me take care of you, okay?" He rubbed a palm over his exasperated expression.

She said nothing, the blush on her facing growing subtly as he walked out of sight.

When he returned he was carrying a pair of sweatpants and tee-shirt. "Let's get you out of those clothes."

"Um, what?!" She asked, again missing his intent. Fortunately for her, he was as oblivious to her obliviousness as she had been oblivious in the first place.

"Just put these on. I know they aren't designer but it's just us and you're beautiful no matter what you wear." The last part came out unexpectedly but he was so tired of their song and dance at this point that he didn't bother to try and correct it. It was just them and she was beautiful.

Cindy simply took the clothes from him with a giddy smile. He let her change behind one of the many screens he had set up in the lab for various purposes.

"How do I look?" She asked him striking a fashion pose in what, on her, was an oversize t-shirt and loose sweats. They both laughed but Jimmy found it difficult to take his eyes off her. Something about her in one of his t-shirts made him feel strangely possessive. "Think I could pass for you?"

"You're a poor excuse for a teenage boy," he noted.

"I'm going to take that as a compliment."

"Come on, let's watch a festive movie," he stated, patting the seat next to him on the couch.

"You want to watch a romantic movie?" She asked tentatively. Valentine's Day had just passed, after all.

"Horror," he corrected, trying to keep his face straight. It must have been the right thing to say as they both bust in fits of nice, childish laughter. She curled up next to him as the movie started.

To her surprise, it really was a horror film. There were a lot inaccuracies and plot holes but Jimmy purposely held his tongue at them. It was still entertaining enough and besides, he was far more focused on the girl in his arms.

She had slid into his embrace without his noticing, fitting perfectly against him. But as soon as he had realized their position, he couldn't stop noticing. He sat there, frozen in place, afraid that any sort of movement would break the spell between the pair.

She was still cold to the touch and her hair was still damp at the ends, though the rest of it had dried into soft golden tufts of hair that fell on her shoulders and spilled over to his. Her knees were brought to her chest and had slid into his lap so that she was practically on top of him. His arm draped across her, securing her to him, his finger tips barely grazing her arm. He kept carefully glancing at her and back to the screen. She didn't seem to notice. Occasionally she burrowed into his arms, looking for more warmth.

Before he knew it, the credits were rolling and it was late. His eyes had barely left her but when he looked back, he was surprised to see her looking back at him this time.

"Umm.." he said, but his mouth was dry and barely any sound came out. He cleared his throat and swallowed, "it's late." She moved away from him and he found the spot where she'd been now feeling quite empty.

"Wait. You – you can stay," he said and she cocked her head to the side, confused."It's cold out. If you aren't going home, I'd rather you sleep here."

She nodded as he made his way to the door. He was almost out when she spoke again.

"Don't go." Her voice was small and full of uncertainty. He gulped.

"What?"

"Don't go. I … I don't want to be alone. Stay with me?" The only light came from the T.V. displaying the movie menu. But that was enough to illuminate her pink cheeks and nervous smile as she twisted the ends of her hair.

He found himself speaking without thinking, "of course. I'll just tell my mom I'm pulling another all-nighter. I stay down here a lot."