Chapter Twenty One ~ American Beauty
Inspired By: American Money ~ Borns & Young Blood ~ Bea Miller
April 11th, Present Day
6:48 PM
Her heartbeat was steady. Her breathing, easy. Skin as pale as snow. Blue-green eyes like the Caribbean Sea. A full head of curly brown hair. Her sleeping chest rose and fell with every soft breath. Thick eyelashes that made her look like she belonged on the cover of a magazine. An American Beauty. There were 20 other newborns in the chamber, but she was the only one he saw. She was the only one that mattered. On the front of her bassinet, there was a name, scrawled haphazardly on a label. Melanie E. Neutron. She looked just like him.
There was glass preventing him from going to her. A barrier that only angered him more. All he wanted was to hold her. But they took her way, quickly. The nurses ushered him out before he could even say a word. Melanie's cries carried throughout the hospital halls, and all Jimmy could do was scream. But now it was quiet. She was sleeping. Peaceful. So unaware of the world around her. Her mother was dying in a room somewhere, while her father sat motionless in front of the glass wall.
"I knew she'd look like you."
Libby's voice called out behind him, but Jimmy remained still. His eyes not leaving her bassinet. A smile unintentionally crept on his lips. "All I see is Cindy."
She got down next to him, folding her legs criss cross style. The fluorescent lights illuminated the bags under her eyes. Old make-up and runny mascara dried upon her mocha skin. "She's got Cindy's nose and cheeks, but everything else is all you."
Jimmy took a breath, his own dried tears highlighted by the hospital lights. The silence haunted him. "How's Sasha?"
Libby shook her head. "She's bothered every staff member in this damn place. I don't blame her, though. I hate waiting. Your mother took her to the cafeteria to try and distract her."
"Does Carl and Sheen know?" Jimmy asked suddenly. "I completely forgot to—"
"Don't worry. I called them. They should be here soon. I'm pretty sure your dad is on his way too. Your mom and he were arguing about something over the phone, but I'm not sure what."
Melanie stirred and Jimmy's heart sored at the way she fought against the constricting swaddle the nurses placed her in. "Did anyone call Liam?"
"I'm pretty sure Sasha did." Libby's fingers started to braid her thick mess of dark hair. Something she only did when she was anxious.
Another breath, Jimmy turned to Libby for the first time since she sat next to him. "This doesn't feel real."
She swallowed hard, a breath escaping from her lips. "I know. This is the kinda stuff you see in movies. This isn't supposed to be real life."
"Promise me you'll look after her." Jimmy turned back to the bassinet. "If anything happens-"
"Don't talk like that." Libby smacked him on the arm, hard. Her face stern, a finger now pointed in his direction. "Don't you dare talk like that. Cindy's gonna be ok. You're gonna be ok."
"You don't know that, Libby."
She grabbed him by the shoulders, tears now falling down her cheeks. "Shut up. Shut the fuck up. I don't wanna hear you talk like that again. You hear me? Everything is gonna be fine." Her voice was stern, but Jimmy could hear the crack when she spoke.
Another stir from Melanie, and it was then that Jimmy broke. His own tears falling, breath escaping his lungs, his heart a black void of nothingness. Libby pulled him into a hug, both of them still sitting on the floor in front of the glass. He could feel the wetness from her own eyes as she buried her face into his shoulder. He was lucky to have Libby, especially in a time like this. He needed someone to keep him grounded. He really couldn't be alone right now.
"She's gonna be ok." Libby whispered. "She has to be."
Jimmy hoped she was right.
He really hoped she was right.
5 Hours Earlier
April 11th, 2:15 PM
"What if they hate me?"
He switched jackets for the 5th time in a row. Running his hands through his hair, brown curls getting stuck between his fingers. The sun was high in the cloudless sky. A perfect afternoon. Cindy folded her arms across her chest, shaking her head, sitting criss cross on their bed. They spent most nights down here now. The transformed lab was more than enough space for them to live. His mother even went as far as already dismantling his room into an office. Jimmy didn't mind, though. He felt like it was a new beginning. A breath of fresh air.
"They are not gonna hate you. They wouldn't have come all this way to set up a meeting for someone they don't like." Cindy reassured.
"This is the board of MIT. I could breathe wrong and I'll be out." Jimmy sat down next to her, his heartbeat loud in his ears.
"You have one of the best GPA's. Your application was accepted practically immediately. You're already in, this is just to go over the financial part."
Jimmy shook his head. "But if at any point they decided they don't like me, it's over. I still have to make an impression."
Cindy reached out and grabbed his hand. "You're gonna do fine. Relax."
Another breath, but the voices in his head wouldn't stop. He knew Cindy was right, but everything inside of him screamed. This meeting was everything. One wrong move and it would be over in a second. Four members of the board of MIT were coming all the way from Massachusetts to meet with him in regards to his registration. He was beyond nervous. Even the comfort of Cindy's hand couldn't bring him ease.
Her eyes searched his face, a concerned look taking over as Jimmy closed his eyes. "I can't relax. All I can do is think about all of the ways that this could go wrong."
"Nothing is gonna go wrong." Cindy scooted closer. "Today is gonna be a good day. I can feel it."
Jimmy shot her a look. "How?"
"I just have this feeling." Cindy shrugged. "Spidey-senses."
Jimmy rolled his eyes, chuckling. "That is the opposite of a good feeling."
"You know what I mean!" She laughed, smacking him playfully on the arm. It was then, that it came suddenly. Her smile faltered, her hand coming to rest upon her stomach. She closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to pass. They were getting worse. Stronger. Cindy was both excited and terrified.
Jimmy watched her, his own hand coming to rest over hers. "You ok?"
She nodded. "Yeah, yeah. It's just these damn contractions."
"And Dr. Escobar said they're normal right?"
"Yes, Jimmy. They're normal. She said I could have them for weeks before I go into active labor."
"How do you know when that happens?" He asked quickly, suddenly even more nervous.
"Trust me," Cindy assured. "I'll know. I'm sure I'll be screaming bloody murder."
Jimmy went silent, his mind running a mile a minute before finally saying, "Maybe I shouldn't go."
Cindy shot him a look. "Jimmy!"
"What if you go into labor while I'm gone!?" He exclaimed.
"Jimmy, this meeting has been planned for weeks. You have to go."
"Cindy-"
"I'm not gonna go into labor. You're just trying to come up with an excuse to not go." Cindy faced him fully, grabbing him by the shoulders.
"What if I'm not there when it happens?" He was panicking now. Something that was happening more and more lately. "What if I miss everything? What if something goes wrong and I'm nowhere to be found?"
"Nothing is gonna go wrong-"
"How do you know!? It happens all the time, Cindy."
"Jimmy!" She shook him by the shoulders. "Stop. Take a breath, and calm down. I'm the one who's pregnant, remember? You think I haven't thought about all of this already? Panicking is going to do nothing but work you up. You need to keep a clear head for this meeting. Everything will be fine. I will be fine. Libby's gonna come over, we're gonna do a girls day, and before you know it the meeting will be over and you'll get to come home and everything will be as it should be."
He could hear her voice, but her words seemed to slip away as he got lost in his own worries and thoughts. And it was then that he realized just how important she was to him. Just how important they both were. If anything were to happen to either of them….He wouldn't be able to go on. He wouldn't be able to live in a world where either of them weren't around. He's in far too deep. He needs both of them. He's nothing without them.
"Jimmy?" Her voice was soft now, caressing his mind and racing thoughts.
He nodded, pushing his fears aside. "You're right. You're right. I'm overreacting. Everything is gonna be fine. I'm sorry."
Her hand brushed a curl from his eyes. "Why do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Apologize for something that doesn't need apologizing." She chuckled. "It's ok."
He looked down, suddenly embarrassed, a slight pink in his cheeks. "It's a habit. I guess."
"Hey." She forced him to look up at her. Her green eyes filling his heart with a love he'd never get tired of. "I love you."
And it was those words that sunk him. He was in deep. Too deep.
"I love you, too."
May 23rd, 9 Years Ago
It was a cloudless day in Retroville. One of the nicer days they've had this spring. The rain had finally let up. The trees and flowers lush throughout the earth. The sun felt nice against his skin as he stepped out through the front door. His lungs immediately full of fresh air.
His mother's voice called behind him, "Dinner's at six! Do not be late!"
To which he shook his head, rolling his blue eyes childishly while calling over his shoulder, "I won't!"
The ground was soft beneath his feet as he made his way to the backyard. His robotic dog skipping closely behind. It had been days since he'd gone down to the lab. The rain had flooded most of the yard, which made entering a little difficult. Not only that, but his mother had been particularly clinging the past few days. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling it had to do with that new family that just moved across the street. They seemed nice, when there was no screaming. It seemed like the couple fought every second of every day. Jimmy almost felt bad for their daughter who always seemed to hide in her room.
And it wasn't like he was spying or anything! The window to her bedroom just happened to be a clear shot from his telescope from his own bedroom window. It wasn't his fault she never closed the curtains. Besides, she was pretty boring anyway. He had no interest in her. All she did was play with her dog and read some books. Sometimes, (he noticed when the yelling was really loud) she would play with this old 80s-style electronic keyboard. And every now and again, he could see her lips moving as she played. He secretly wondered what she sounded like.
His thoughts stopped as he approached the small shed in his backyard. Water and soggy leaves dripped off of the roof. The smell of wet wood filling the air around him. He skid to a halt, mud splattering up onto his jeans. His eyes narrowing at the sight now suddenly upon him.
The door was open.
No one had access to the lab. Not even his parents. He made sure that it was secure and that only he could get into it. He spent weeks making sure that the electronic keypad was imbued with the most hi-tech wiring and processing boards. No simple human mind would be able to hack into such a complex computer system. So who? Who got in? And why?
He noticed footprints in the mud as he got closer. Two sets of tracks. One was the bottom of a sneaker and the other looked like paw prints. Like an animal of some kind. They both lead all the way to the doorway of the shed. And it was then, that he noticed it. His supposedly hi-tech security system currently soaking wet from all of the rain. It was busted. That's how they got in.
He made a mental note to fix it later.
Now furious, Jimmy stomped down into the lab, his heavy foot falls sounding down into the dimly lit corridor. He ran through the various hallways, following the mud tracks until he finally came to the main door. It opened as he approached and what he saw, halted him in his tracks once more.
There, standing on the steps to what lead to his giant computer (which he was still in the process of building), was her. That boring, blond haired girl from across the street with a puppy currently squirming in her arms. Mud soaked the bottoms of her sneakers, her tank top smeared with water and dirt from holding the overly excited dog to her chest. But what really halted Jimmy, was her voice. Her soft, yet stern voice currently scolding her puppy. High pitched, but not nearly as high as he pictured. No. She sounded mature for her age (which he was guessing was around his own). Her voice was light, airy. Almost musical.
It….it was unexpected, and Jimmy hated to admit he was drawn to it, almost instantly. He hated to admit the effect it seemed to have on his heart beating faster, the sudden color in his cheeks. This was the first time he had ever experienced...this…this…whatever this was. He didn't know how to react. He didn't know what to do…
So he stood there. He stood there and just watched her. He watched her fight with her dog, who was begging to be put down. He watched as she brushed her bangs out of her green eyes, he watched as she looked around curiously at all of his unbuilt and work-in-progress inventions. He watched as she cocked her head, curious at the unfinished computer in front of her, and slowly raise a finger to press one of the buttons.
It was then, that he called out to her.
"Don't touch that!"
She turned around quickly at the sound of his voice, unexpectedly letting her grip loose as the puppy in her arms finally leaped out and escaped her grasp. She yelled, but it was no use. Humphrey ran towards Jimmy, jumping up and clawing at his leg. Behind him, the robotic dog growled.
"Humphrey!" She yelled again, this time stomping over to where Jimmy stood. "Humphrey get down!"
Jimmy reached down and picked up the attention seeking puppy. If this were any other time, he might have thought he was cute. But Jimmy was annoyed at the hound constantly licking and clawing his feet. He was annoyed at the fact that this girl just waltzed down into the lab without permission. And he was annoyed at the fact that she was about to touch his things with no regards to who they belonged to!
She was nosy. He didn't like that.
"Here." He handed Humphrey over to her, slightly aggressive. "Take your dog."
She shot him an offended look. "He has a name you know."
"I don't care." Jimmy just glared at her. "I want him and you gone."
"Wow. So rude for someone who left their door open."
"I did not!"
"Did too! How do you think I got down here? My Humphrey ran right through your open door! I had no choice but to chase him." She folded her arms over her chest, a condescending look cast in his direction.
Jimmy narrowed his eyes. "Why wasn't he on a leash? Didn't your mother teach you to keep your pets leashed? It's the law, did you know that?"
Now she was mad, her cheeks turning pink. "Obviously, I know that. I'm not stupid! He was leashed and he broke it because he was chasing a squirrel. Which, by the way, is still down here somewhere."
Jimmy shook his head, his own condescending look now gracing his features. "You should really learn how to train your dog."
"You should really keep your door closed if you don't want people wandering down here. Or at the very least, come up with a better security system than that soaked abomination up there."
It wasn't just the way she spoke. It was her whole presence that set him off. He expected her to be like all the other girls his age. Dumb, naive, and boring. But she challenged him. She challenged every word he threw in her direction, and it infuriated him even more. She was bossy, arrogant, and loud. Jimmy had never met, or even interacted with, a girl of this caliber before. She was different. She was so different. She was smart, really smart. He could tell by the way she held herself. If she were just a dumb girl, she would have walked off the moment he handed her dog to her.
In a way, it scared him. They were far too alike for his own comfort.
"Listen, you don't belong down here. I'm not gonna say it again. Take your dog, and leave."
She got close. Really close. So close that Jimmy could see the details of green and gold in her eyes. He could see the slight curl to her bangs that swept to the side. The very faint freckles across her nose. Her long dark lashes that made her look like she belonged on the cover of a magazine. She was so close, Jimmy couldn't hide the pink in his cheeks as she leaned in, her eyes narrowed.
"I don't know who you are, but let me tell you, Cindy Vortex does not take orders. Especially from a boy like you."
"Is that supposed to scare me? Because Jimmy Neutron does not take threats. Especially from a girl like you."
He didn't know where it came from. The words flew from his mouth before he had a chance to stop them. She brought something out of him. Something he was unfamiliar with. She made him want to keep arguing. To keep one upping her. Like it was some kind of game. He didn't want her to leave, suddenly. He wanted to see what else she would come up with. What else she would throw at him. What other challenges she had ready.
And, although he would never admit it, she was really pretty to look at.
She sighed. A big long sigh, before saying, "I don't like you."
"I don't like you." Jimmy shot back.
She stood there for a few moments longer, clearly contemplating something in that head of hers. Her green eyes suddenly softened, looking away, almost bashfully. It was a moment, such a quick and soft moment, that Jimmy couldn't help the lump suddenly in his throat. The pink in his cheeks getting brighter. But it only lasted a moment. One singular moment that he would remember as the moment he realized Cindy Vortex would be the death of him.
"Get out of my way, Nerdtron."
And she pushed past and she left.
April 11th, 2:37 PM
"Girl, did you see that the Jonas Brothers are coming to Dallas?" Libby handed Cindy a foam cup filled with hot coffee. Fresh acrylic nails the color of lavender. Her mocha skin was practically glowing, her make-up near perfect.
They sat in the new and improved apartment/lab that was gifted only about a month ago. Cindy and Jimmy had begun moving most of their stuff between both his house and her own down here. The walls were no longer bare, now filled with pictures, posters, some other various decorations. The oak dresser now full of both of their clothes, and next to it there was now a new (but smaller) dresser. Right next to the pink bassinet in the corner.
Cindy sat criss crossed on the double bed, folding and organizing what looked to be various baby clothes and items. Libby joined her with a smile. "No fucking way! I don't believe you."
Libby nodded eagerly, taking another sip of her own coffee. "Tickets go on sale in a few days."
"Oh my god! I need to go! That's so unfair for them to drop when I have a million things going on!"
"I know right?! Don't worry, when everything is settled, I'll make sure we get to see them. I will not rest easy until we see them live. Their reunion gives me life."
"I can't even right now." Cindy shook her head in disbelief, her hands now holding the hot coffee while a pink onesie sat in her lap. "Now all I need is MCR to get back together and my life will be complete."
"One can only dream." Libby said solemnly, taking a drink. She motioned towards the onesie. "In other news, how's it feel to be folding baby clothes? You ready?"
Cindy shook her head, placing the coffee on the side table next to her. "Nope. Not at fucking all."
"We're getting down to the wire. Your due date is in like what? 3 days?!"
"Yup." Cindy couldn't believe it. Too fast, it had come. She was ready to not be pregnant anymore, but she was terrified of everything that came after.
Being a mother was going to be hard. Being a teen mother, living across the country from the love of her life, was going to be even harder. She knew it was for the best, but still, every now and again she had the thought of calling up her father and telling him to forget it. She sometimes fantasized about telling Jimmy she changed her mind and that she was going to stay in Retroville. She would beg him to stay with her, to which Jimmy would eventually give in, and they would carry out with their original plan…
But Cindy knew that was selfish. She knew how much Jimmy wanted to go to MIT. She knew how much it meant to him. She would be a horrible person to take that away from him. But still, it didn't mean she didn't think about it. She wanted to skip all of the hardships and just get to the part where they both lived in a big house with a yard, maybe a few dogs, a pool, a white picket fence—and who knows, maybe even a sibling for Melanie? A few siblings?
Now she was getting ahead of herself.
"How are the contractions?"
Cindy grimaced. "Horrible. They get worse every day. Sometimes the pain is so bad, I can't move for like 20 minutes."
"And…you're sure that's normal?" Libby asked worriedly.
"Now you sound like Jimmy." Cindy chuckled.
"Well I'm just nervous!"
"I know, I know. Yes, it's normal. It just sucks." She started to fold the clothes in front of her again.
"Are you scared?" Libby asked quietly.
"Of which part?" Her hands started shaking. "Of being a mom? Yeah. I'm fucking terrified. Or are you referring to actually giving birth? Because I'm also fucking terrified of that too."
Libby placed her coffee on the table next to Cindy's, scooting herself closer so that she should place her hands over hers. "First of all, you're gonna be a kick ass mom. You and Jimmy both are gonna be the best fucking parents to that little girl. And you are so strong, Cindy. I know the birth is scary, but I know you'll get through it. Just like you got through this pregnancy, and being a senior, and having to rekindle a relationship with your absent father. Anything life throws at you, you can handle. This—is no different. You're gonna be ok. You have to be."
Cindy took a breath, and she was crying. Always crying. Tears ran down her cheeks as she nodded along to Libby's words. She pulled her close and the silence granted them a moment in which Cindy would always remember. As she pulled away, Libby wiped the tears from her eyes. A smile on her lips.
And then…..it happened suddenly.
The pain was something she had never felt before in her entire life. It shattered her vision, the breath pulled from her lungs, an insistent ringing in her ears. Libby grabbed her by the shoulders, but her words were lost. All Cindy knew was pain. Darkness pouring from all sides. She fell forward, Libby now having to hold most of her weight up. She blinked, and for a moment her vision cleared. She was screaming. Cindy never knew her voice could scream this loud. She was sure all of Retroville would be able to hear her.
The ringing faded, but the pain was still there. It wasn't going away. She panted, sweat now starting to form on her brow. Libby was frantic, trying her best to hold her up while calling her name with the utmost fear lathered behind her voice.
"Cindy?! Cindy! What's wrong?"
She opened her mouth, but she couldn't speak. Only scream. She felt as if someone had taken a knife and drove it straight into her stomach. Twisting and turning with every second that passed. Darkness began to grab her once more. She screamed. And screamed. And screamed. And as she struggled against the darkness, she grasped her stomach as the pain coursed through. Her fingers grazed a wetness between her thighs. A metallic and sickening smell filling her senses. All she saw was red as she looked down at the pool of blood beginning to soak the sheets where she sat.
And then the darkness took her.
April 11th, 3:01 PM
The rental conference room was far too neat. The white marbled floor, spotless. The dark oak table, polished so finely that he could see his reflection. Sun poured through the large glass windows. A gold chandelier hung from the ceiling in the center of the room. Jimmy had never felt more out of place.
There was a pit in his stomach. His anxiety climbing higher and higher with every second he waited. He couldn't sit still. His leg bouncing up and down. His hands running through his hair. His nails short from all of the biting. A bad habit. He promised Cindy he'd stop.
It was then, that the door opened. Slow foot falls echoing throughout the spacious chamber. Four men in suits walked in. Two looked to be in their late 60's. Thinning white hair, lines and spots among their weathered skin. Another looked maybe middle aged. Short black hair, slicked back, neatly trimmed beard. But the one who stood out to Jimmy, was the one who appeared to be the youngest. No older than late 20s. Brown hair, curly but tamed into a low ponytail falling just past his shoulder blades. Fair skin, blue eyes, mostly clean shaven except for a little bit of stubble peeking through. He held himself different from the rest. His expression more friendly, rather than condescending.
He spoke first. "Jimmy, correct?"
Jimmy stood up, a little too quickly as the chair he was sitting in squeaked against the floor. "Yes. Yes, sir."
He held out his hand to which the young man with the ponytail grasped. "Miles is fine. It's so nice to finally meet you, Jimmy."
"Nice to meet you too, Miles." He was awkward, but he did his best to remain calm.
The other's sat down silently. Their faces all stern and serious. Miles sat in the chair closest to the left of Jimmy. Pulling out various papers and files from his briefcase. "So, before we begin, let me just introduce everyone. My name is Miles Stormwick. I am the newest member of the Board of MIT as well as a direct alumni from the graduate program last year. Over here, we have Geoffrey Miller, one of the oldest and esteemed members, Joseph Manning who is our head of Financial services, and of course, Maxwell Sanders our head of admissions."
Jimmy swallowed hard. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. I am, beyond grateful, that you came all this way."
"You're quite the topic of choice over there." Geoffrey spoke up. "You've definitely impressed the right people."
Miles then motioned to Maxwell, the middle-aged man sitting to the far right of Jimmy. "Max, if you want to begin?"
"Right, of course." He pulled out his own briefcase, containing more papers and one manila file. "Firstly, I want to talk about your grades. This GPA is phenomenal. Absolutely astounding. We've only had one other applicant with a GPA of this caliber. Aside from the obvious, your college applicant essay was….."
"Too perfect." The older man next to Geoffrey interrupted, Joseph.
"Yes." Max continued. "So detailed and carefully worded, we at first were sure you had plagiarized. But upon inspection, the essay was indeed original. The level of academics that this essay consists of is beyond impressive. You, clearly, are far advanced from your High School class. It is no wonder why you held Valedictorian for so many years."
"Thank you." Jimmy nodded, acknowledging respectfully while his mind raced against the words being said.
"You, obviously, were made for this school. There is no doubt in any of our minds that you will do great things with the tools we provide. But the main reason we wanted to have this face to face meeting was to get more information on exactly why you chose us. Why MIT?" Miles asked curiously. "Your skills would be welcomed at any school, without a doubt. I'm assuming you have, if not all, of your family here in Retroville. Massachusetts is quite the distance away. What led you to the decision to move so far?"
Oh. He was not expecting these types of questions. Jimmy took a deep breath. "I—well, there are lots of reasons. I've been in love with this school for as long as I can remember. My whole life I've wanted to explore the boundaries and limitations of science and knowledge. I come from a small family, and an even smaller town. You never hear about the kids of Retroville. We just fade out of existence, living simple lives that will never really hold any significance. But I wanted to be the one that made it. The one that went on to do great things, the one they would talk about in stories. I don't want to fade into nothingness. I want to be known. I want my daughter to grow up knowing her father did phenomenal things, far beyond the knowledge of man-"
"You have a daughter?" Miles asked, suddenly.
Jimmy stopped. Did he just say that out loud?
"I—" he stumbled over his words. Don't lie. Don't lie. Lying only makes it worse. "Yes."
"You're young for a father." Geoffrey commented.
"That doesn't mean anything." Miles interrupted. "I think it's quite interesting. How old is she?"
"She—well, technically she hasn't been born yet."
Miles nodded in acknowledgement. "I see. How far long is the mother?"
"She's….actually due in a few days."
Miles smiled. "That's wonderful to hear."
"It does raise a concern, for me at least." Joseph spoke up. "Are you sure you're willing to be so far away from your newborn for an extended amount of time? That's hard for a new father, especially for one as young as you."
He started to play with the sleeves of his jacket. "I understand your concerns, and I hear them. I've already considered and understand all of the hardships I will be facing. But, regardless of how difficult it will be, I know it is for the best for me to pursue this path. This way I can ensure I am able to provide for my family, later in life."
"That's a very big sacrifice." Miles added. "You'll be missing a lot."
"I know. But, I understand that it's for the best."
"Well," Max sat forward in his chair. "Regardless, I think it's safe to say that all of us are in agreement that you more than qualify for the Total Acceptance Program. As long as you, Jimmy, are in agreement with the terms, we can get the paperwork started and then you can be on your way."
"And, remind me what the terms are?" Jimmy asked.
"By accepting the Total Acceptance Program Offer, you will be living on campus and will be given all classes for the first year at no cost. All tuition and fees will be waived, including the meal plan, and you will be granted a certain amount of money, which is still to be determined, for your books and other supplies you may need. You will be required to keep your GPA no lower than a 4.17 and are not allowed any absences or tardies unless they are deemed necessary by a medical professional or otherwise. You will be contracted into this offer, therefore if you try and withdraw from the school at any point during the year, you will be fined. As long as you follow these terms, you may re-apply for the program next year to see if you can remain, provided you are making no more than 30,000 dollars yearly. If at any point you violate these terms, you will not only be fined, but you will be terminated from the program immediately, and possibly even the school if necessary. So, James Neutron, do you agree to these terms?"
A long, deep breath, before nodding. "Yes."
"Perfect." He said with a little too much enthusiasm. He slid Jimmy a piece of paper and a pen. "Sign here, here and here please."
Jimmy nodded, taking the pen with a shaky hand, and signed.
Miles was the one who shook his hand afterwards, as they all gathered their things. "I am very excited to see where MIT takes you. Congratulations, both on admission and for the soon birth of your daughter."
Jimmy smiled politely. "Thank you."
"I hope this isn't asking too much, but I'm curious, have you named her yet?" Miles asked.
"We have. She'll be named after my grandmother, Melanie."
Miles just laughed. The other men already leaving the room, their interest clearly lost. "That's interesting. That's really interesting."
"Why?" Jimmy asked suddenly.
"My daughter's name is Melanie." Miles laughed while patting Jimmy on the back. "We may have more in common than I thought."
April 11th, 3:29 PM
Jimmy had made it to his car before he allowed himself to smile. He did it. He really fucking did it. He shook his head, so ecstatic that this was really happening. It was official now. He was going to MIT. He was going to be a student at one of the most esteemed colleges in the world. He was going to be a student at the college he dreamed about, for years. He made it. He really, fucking, made it.
Today was a good day. Today was a really good day.
He reached for his phone, anxious to call Cindy and tell her the news, but it was already ringing. It was Libby.
"Hey!" Jimmy picked up.
"Jimmy, thank god. I've been calling you for almost an hour now."
"Sorry, I was in a meeting with the Board of MIT. I—I was actually just about to call Cindy—"
"Jimmy."
Her voice is what caused his smile to fade. "What? What is it, Libby?"
A few moments of silence before her voice came through the receiver. "Cindy's in the hospital."
He almost dropped the phone. "What? Wait, is she having the baby?!"
"No. Well, kinda? It's too much to explain over the phone. Just get here quick, I don't know how long until they take her in."
"Take her in?" He was shaking now, the lump in his throat dropping down to the pit of his stomach.
"She has to have an emergency C-section. Again, it's too much to explain over the phone. Just please get here, ok? She's been asking for you."
"What hospital?" He started his car, already peeling out of the parking lot.
"We originally took her to the clinic here, but she needed a higher level of care. They transferred her to a place in Austin, it was the closest one. It's called Ascension Seton Medical Center."
"We?" Jimmy asked.
"Me and your mom are with her, and I'm pretty sure Sasha is on her way."
"I'm coming now, ok?"
"Please be careful, Jimmy. Don't get yourself into an accident."
"I'll see you soon."
He hung up as he pressed the gas pedal.
April 11th, 4:36 PM
It was a 45 minute drive according to his GPS. He made it there in 30. He didn't know where to go, so he just parked in the emergency room section. That's where she would be, right? Rushing through the automatic doors, he felt delirious as he looked around. It was just like any other ordinary emergency room. A desk to check in patients off to the side, a big open waiting area, which contained various patients wearing masks. Behind the desk, there were a pair of wooden double doors, leading back into what he assumed were the rooms.
"Can I help you, sir?" The woman behind the desk was young. Big brown eyes, tan skin and short brown hair, pixie-cut style. She was notably Latina, from her accent.
"Um," Jimmy stumbled over to the desk. "Yes. I'm looking for a patient who's been admitted here? She's nine months pregnant, blond, kinda loud—"
"Date of Birth?"
He froze for half a second. If Cindy were here she'd slap him.
"And her name?"
"Cynthia Vortex."
She typed away on her computer for what felt like hours. Finally, she reached over and picked up the station phone on the wall behind her, dialing 4 numbers. "Hey Monica, its Connie. I have someone here at the desk asking about Cynthia? Is she in Op yet?"
Jimmy had a hard time standing still as the receptionist spoke.
She started twirling in her swivel chair. "Mhmm. Yeah, I don't know what's going on with that. I heard they're gonna tear the place down. Yeah, Brian's pissed. Yup. Uhuh. I know, shit's crazy right? Ok—" she stopped quickly and grabbed a pen from the basket on her desk, scribbling something down onto a sticky note. "Thank you, honey! Bye." She handed the sticky note to Jimmy as she hung up the phone. "Through the doors, take a left and then take the elevator to the third floor. She's in room 356."
"Ok. Thank you." And he was already running before the automatic doors even opened.
Finding the elevator was easy, but not so much the thousand rooms he was presented with when the doors opened. He walked through a few different hallways, passed by a few rooms and various nurses stations before it occurred to him where he was.
Cindy was in the ICU.
It was when he heard Libby's voice that stopped him in his tracks.
"Jimmy!" She ran towards him, down the fluorescent hallway. She grabbed his hand the second she was close enough, dragging him down the hall. "They're taking her now, come on!"
"Taking her? Taking her where?!"
"I told you, she's having an emergency C-Section!"
"Why? Libby what's going on?!"
They made it to the room, to which Sasha was currently yelling at one of the nurses who was trying to transfer various IV bags to a portable rack. Her loud, obnoxious French accent echoed down the halls and for a moment, it brought Jimmy a sense of normalcy as he and Libby ran into the room. His mother was there too, clearly trying to talk some sense into the abrasive women that was Sasha. And then there was Cindy. Hooked up to so many machines it pained Jimmy to see her like that. Her blond hair was a mess, all knotted and tangled into what looked like was originally a messy bun. Her long bangs tucked behind her ear. She looked exhausted. Her eyes fighting to stay open, her breathing slowly, but steady.
She looked up as he came into the room. A sigh of relief pushing past her lips.
Jimmy went to her side. A hand coming to rest upon her forehead. "Hey."
She reached up and grasped his hand. "I'm so glad you're here." Her voice was so soft. She sounded so weak.
His mother noticed his presence. "Jimmy, oh thank god you made it!"
His mother was talking, but all Jimmy could focus on was Cindy. Her shallow breaths, her tired eyes. All of the sound in the room seemed to fade away. It was just her. "What's going on, Cin? Libby said you need an emergency C-Section?"
She nodded, weakly. "They didn't give me details. Or if they did, I forgot. But something's wrong. They said I need a C-Section immediately. We just now got a doctor."
"My daughter is not going into a C-Section without her mother!" Sasha yelled.
"I'm sorry but this isn't a normal C-Section. She's going into surgery immediately afterwards. Only one member can be present during the C-Section and even then, after the procedure is over they will be asked to leave. It's hospital policy." The nurse argued.
"Surgery?" Jimmy asked. "What does she need surgery for?"
The nurse shook her head, clearly frustrated and annoyed. "Look, it's not my job to deal with this. You can talk to Dr. Martin for any other questions, but the longer you argue with me the more your daughter and her baby are at a severe risk."
"Sasha, everything will be fine." Judy reassured.
"Cindy—" Sasha turned to her.
"Jimmy's coming in." Her answer was immediate. "I'm sorry mom, but he's coming. There's no questioning this."
Another nurse entered the room, covered in full surgical gear. "We're ready. We need to move, now, time is of the essence."
Sasha came to Cindy's bedside, opposite of Jimmy. Her hands caressing her cheek, a falling tear coated her fingertips. "It's gonna be ok, mom. I'm gonna be ok."
"I know, baby. I know. You're strong. Grand-mère is here. She's with you. I know she'll get you through this." Sasha leaned down and placed a kiss on Cindy's forehead. "Je t'aime."
More nurses entered the room, practically pushing Libby and Judy out of the way and into the hallway.
Cindy nodded her head. "Je t'aime."
It was then that Sasha moved from the way, allowing the hospital staff access to Cindy. Jimmy backed up as well, trying to give as much room as possible as the various nurses began to move Cindy, rolling her bed out and down the hallway with haste.
A voice came behind Jimmy as he followed behind. It was Libby. "Congratulations, daddy! We'll see you on the other side!"
Jimmy smiled, but before he had a chance to respond he was pushed through another set up double doors, leaving Libby, Sasha and his mother behind. A cool burst of air hit his face upon entering. This section of the hospital was much colder, he noticed. The pit in his stomach began to turn to butterflies as they led Cindy and him further down the hall. Every step seemed to echo loudly through the air. Hundreds of other hospital staff passed by with a blur.
Soon, too soon, they made it to another set of doors. Above it, was a sign that read: Operating Room B
A nurse came up next to him, then. Handing him what looked like a hospital gown and mask, close to what she was wearing. "You'll have to wear this while in the room. Sorry, hospital policy."
Jimmy nodded. Words evading him in this moment as they pushed Cindy into the room.
This was it.
This was really, fucking, it.
In a few minutes, he was going to be a father. In a few minutes, he would be holding his daughter. His daughter. In a few minutes, he'll be crying with Cindy in a room filled with hospital staff as he gets to experience that moment that all father's talk about. In a few minutes, in these next few minutes— he will be gifted with a memory that would last a lifetime.
He donned the hospital gown and mask quickly, his heart racing as these thoughts and realizations flooded his brain, before finally pushing open the operating room doors.
It was dimly lit, except for the bright florescent lights set up over the table. A total of six nurses were surrounding Cindy, who was now laying down on the table. Her blond hair tied back and out of her face, a thin hospital gown covering her body. From the other side of the room, a new figure entered. A tall man, late 30s, bushy orange hair pulled back and under a hospital cap and pale skin that seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights.
He held out his hand as he approached Jimmy. "I'm guessing you're the father?"
Jimmy took his hand, slowly. "Yeah—um, that's me. Jimmy."
"I'm Dr. Martin. I'll be the one doing the procedure. Just try and relax and keep her calm. The more under control she is, the better this will go." He led Jimmy over to where Cindy was. His gloved hand resting on his shoulder.
"Ok, but—" Jimmy turned to ask more questions, but he was already gone. His nurses and PA's handing him supplies and gear as they set up for the procedure.
Cindy grabbed Jimmy's hand. "Don't be scared. It's gonna be ok." Her voice was even softer then it was in the room.
"I know." He grabbed her hand with both of his and squeezed. "I know."
"Alright Cindy, you're gonna feel a little bit of a pinch. If you feel anything more than that, let us know ok?" Dr. Martin said from behind the operating screen.
Cindy nodded her head, her eyes closing as she squeezed Jimmy's hand tighter. It didn't hurt. Compared to the horrible pain she had felt earlier, this was nothing. Her entire body from her ribs down was completely numb. They gave her something earlier for the pain. All she felt was some pressure, a little bit of a pinch just like Dr. Martin said, but that was all. She kept waiting for more pain to come, for something else to happen, but everything seemed to go into a standstill. The operating room was silent except for their breaths and the small machine that monitored Cindy and Melanie's heartbeat. The seconds grew longer. Cindy's eyes felt heavier and heavier with every moment that passed. The darkness was clawing at her again—
And then….a cry entered the silence. A baby's cry.
Jimmy exhaled a breath he didn't realize he was holding. A feeling of complete and utter love washed over him as he watched Dr. Martin take a crying newborn baby into his arms. Jimmy, still holding onto Cindy's hand pressed up onto his tippy toes, looking over the operating screen to see three of the nurses rush over with towels and other supplies to aid the doctor. They swaddled the baby, placing her into what looked like a hospital bassinet. They rolled over various machine's, hooking up the now screaming newborn. Melanie. Melanie Eloise Neutron. His daughter, his little girl—
And they took her away.
All he got was but a glance, before he realized that Cindy's grip had loosed.
"Cindy?" He turned around, but her eyes were already closed. The heart monitor now sounding off wildly.
"She's going into hemorrhagic shock!" Dr. Martin called out, a worry and haste in his voice.
The room became chaos, the nurses all rushing off to aid the frantic doctor. There was no sign of Melanie, but he could still hear her cries from down the hall. Jimmy held Cindy's hand, motionless. It was like time seemed to stop as he stood there, helplessly. The world around them, nothing but a blur. The sound of his blood rushing through his veins surrounded him. Cindy's unconscious body tearing his heart in the worst way possible.
"Sir? Sir, we need you to leave." One of the nurses grabbed his hand, her words an echo in this state of nothingness Jimmy found himself in.
It wasn't until he felt her detaching his hand from Cindy's for his consciousness to slam back into the harsh reality.
"No," He muttered, his sight focusing again. "No, I'm not leaving."
"Sir, you need to leave. You can't be in here."
"No! No, I'm not leaving her!" He fought against the nurses, his voice loud now.
"Get him out of here! Now!" It was Dr. Martin that yelled above the chaos of the room.
"Sir, please don't make this difficult. I don't want to have to call security. Please."
It was then, as the various nurses pushed him out of the room, that Jimmy screamed. He didn't fight back. He let them escort him out of the room as his world shattered around him. Down the hall, he could still hear Melanie and her cries, but Jimmy felt nothing. He was empty.
This can't be the end. How can this be the end? No. Not after everything. He wouldn't let this be the end. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't speak. He fell to his knees. And the words, I love you, lingered in the air as he remained on the hospital floor.
April 11th, Present Day
7:58 PM
They fell asleep in front of the glass. His head on Libby's shoulder. Dried tears stained both of their cheeks. Judy had found them, not long after the others arrived. It was Sheen who woke Libby. She fell into his arms. Carl helped Jimmy off of the floor, Hugh on the other side of, the two of them guiding him back to the room.
Sasha didn't speak. Her arms wrapped around her knees, her own dried tears on her skin. Sat upon a bench in the corner of the NICU Family room. Other families were scattered about. Sobbing to their own sorrows, their own tragedies. It was the room they sent all the families who were waiting for the news. It was the worst room in the hospital. It smelled like death. It made Jimmy sick to his stomach.
Liam bought a ticket to Austin the moment he heard the news. He would be here by the morning. It felt as if the entire world had stopped moving. All of them, just waiting in limbo. They weren't allowed to see Melanie. Not yet, the nurses had said. She still had more tests to be completed. The thought of her being poked by a thousand needles made Jimmy feel even worse. And still, they wouldn't tell them what was going on.
"Dr. Martin will explain when the surgery is over," they had said.
But the surgery seemed to last a lifetime.
Jimmy got tired of the waiting room and found himself often wandering the halls. Hospital staff paid no mind as they continued to work. They must have been used to this. He didn't know how much time had passed, but eventually he found himself standing in front of a large window. It looked over most of the hospital, seeing as how they were on the top floor. The sunset was pretty, he mused. Beautiful pink rays covered the sky. Long wispy clouds blending with the color. Cars still littered the streets of Austin. People still out and about. And it was this moment that made Jimmy realize the world hadn't stopped moving. Only for him and everyone else in that room.
Funny, how that works.
"Pretty isn't it?" A voice called from behind.
Jimmy turned around suddenly, the voice startling him. It took 5 seconds for him to realize it was Dr. Martin.
Dressed still in scrubs, but clearly clean ones. The ones he had seen him in before were a dull blue. But these were all white. All of the surgical gear discarded. His arms folded over his chest, a pleasant smile across his lips.
"How is she?" Jimmy asked immediately, his heart in his throat.
"She's alive." Dr. Martin nodded. "Barley, but alive."
"What do you mean?"
"When Cindy came to me, she was in the middle of a Placental Abruption. A very dangerous situation to be in. It's when the placenta separates early from the uterus. Because of this, she needed to deliver the child immediately to ensure that the child wouldn't lose oxygen."
"And—is she ok? Is Melanie ok?"
Dr. Martin smiled wider. "You've got a strong one. She must get it from her mother. All of the tests came back clear. She's going to be alright. Only time will tell if any serious damage has been done. But so far, things are looking good."
A breath of relief washed through him. "And Cindy?"
A more serious expression overcame his features. "She's alive, but she should not be. She lost copious amounts of blood. It was one of the reasons why we couldn't do a vaginal birth. There was no way she would have survived that. After the C-Section was completed, she started to go into hemorrhagic shock. We tried everything, but we couldn't stop the bleeding. There was only one option to ensure her life. We had to perform a Total Hysterectomy."
Jimmy took a step towards Dr. Martin. "But—that means—"
"She'll never mother another child again. But she's alive."
Jimmy fell quiet before asking, "Does she know?"
Dr. Martin shook his head. "Not yet. She is still unconscious right now. I will give her the news once she awakes. But I think it might be best if you're there with her."
Jimmy nodded. "I agree."
"Well," Dr. Martin's expression went back to a smile. "I know you've been through hell, but now that everything is over, would you like to meet your daughter?"
It was then, that it hit Jimmy. His heartbeat loud in his ears as he responded, "Yes."
The nursery was quiet. Most of the newborns fast asleep, but Melanie was wide awake. Her blue-green eyes searching around the room curiously as Dr. Martin reached down and picked her up with ease. He motioned for Jimmy to come close, carefully showing him how to hold her, and before Jimmy even had a moment to comprehend what was happening, she was in his arms.
Nothing would ever compare to this moment. Nothing. Not any achievement, not any reward, not any goal, or news or anything. Nothing will ever compare to the moment he finally got to hold his newborn daughter in his arms. She was perfect in every way. Her little hands reaching up to grab his fingers. Her curly brown hair, thin-but there. Her crystal colored eyes, almost like his, but with the faintest hint of green. Libby was right. The more he looked upon her features he realized, she really did look like him.
Everything was worth it. Everything they had gone through over the past nine months was worth it and beyond. He loved this little girl more than he ever thought was possible. Every doubt he ever had in his mind faded away as he held her close. She was his daughter. His blood. He made this perfect little thing. He and Cindy both. He chuckled softly to himself. She was his greatest invention.
"I want Cindy to see her." Jimmy turned to Dr. Martin.
"Soon. I think she should see you first. She needs to know what's going on. And then we can bring her down here."
"Melanie can't stay in the room with her?"
"Not yet. We want to monitor a few more things, at least for tonight. Then we'll move her."
Jimmy looked back down to Melanie. She was falling asleep in his arms. And it was then that he realized he would do anything for this little girl. For his little girl. He nodded his head, acknowledging Dr. Martin's words. "Ok."
He didn't want to put Melanie down, but he needed to see Cindy. He needed to see that she was actually ok. He needed to hold her, to feel her beneath his fingers. He had made it over one hurdle today, now he just needed to make it over the other.
The walk to her room wasn't far from the nursery. The hospital lights washing out walls, the faces all blurred together. All of the noise seemed to fade away as they got closer and closer to. And when they finally did arrive, when Dr. Martin drew back the hospital curtain, they were both surprised to see she was already awake, slowly rubbing the induced sleep from her eyes.
She saw Jimmy first. "Hey," she breathed.
He didn't realize he had ran to her until his arms wrapped around her form.
He was crying. Already, his tears soaked her neck. His hands grasped the back of her shoulders. He was knelt on the bed, probably leaning awkwardly over the safety railings but he didn't care. She pulled him closer, her own arms weakly wrapping around his form. He could feel her own tears soaking his tee shirt.
When he pulled back, he cupped his hands on both sides of her face. "Don't ever do that again. Do you hear me? Never fucking again."
She laughed, weakly. "Usually I'm the one scolding you."
He shook his head, tears dripping down his cheek. "I thought I lost you."
Cindy smiled. "You'll never lose me."
Jimmy just kissed her.
When he pulled back, Cindy's eyes turned worried. "Where is she? Is she ok?"
"She's perfect." Jimmy whispered. "You'll get to see her soon."
"You're quite the fighter," Dr. Martin called out to her. Jimmy awkwardly moved off of the bed but never let go of her hand. "So is your little girl. You should not have survived. You beat the odds."
Cindy started to sit up, grimacing at the soreness of the wound across her stomach. "What happened?"
"You don't remember?" Jimmy asked.
"Everything is fuzzy. I remember being with Libby, and then—I remember the pain. God, I remember the pain. I remember my mom yelling at a bunch of nurses and then—yeah. That's pretty much it."
"You almost died, Cindy." Jimmy held her hand tight as Dr. Martin stepped forward. "You should have died. The bleeding you were experiencing was due to a very rare condition known as Placental Abruption. It's when the placenta detaches from the uterus too early, before birth. It can be deadly to both the mother and the child if not treated. Luckily, we were able to perform a C-Section in time before any real damage could have been done to the child. But you….we could not get you to stop bleeding. Your uterus was not contracting properly. If you had delivered vaginally, you most certainly would not have survived. We had only one option, and that was to surgically remove the problem. So, we performed an emergency Total Hysterectomy."
Cindy was silent for a moment, taking in the doctor's words. Jimmy's hand comforted her as her mind worked through the process of understanding what was just said. "A….Total Hysterectomy?" she repeated.
"I'm sorry, my dear. I know this may be very hard for you to hear, but it was the only way to save your life."
She didn't know how to react. She was thankful to be alive, but at what cost?
"So, you're saying…I can never have children again?"
Dr. Martin nodded. "Not biologically, no."
She held back her tears. She held back everything. She wouldn't think about this right now. This was not a concern right now. She was alive. Alive. Not only had she lived, but she had a daughter waiting for her, somewhere in this hospital. She needed to be strong for her. She needed to be ok for her. She couldn't allow herself to sit here and mourn right now. There would be another time for that. A time where Jimmy and her were alone. Right now, all that she needed—all that she wanted—was to see her daughter.
"Cin?" Jimmy's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She hadn't realized a tear escaped down her cheek. She wiped it away, nodding her head. "I'm ok. I'll be ok. I want to see her. I want to see my daughter."
Dr. Martin nodded. "We can. We absolutely can."
Unlike when Jimmy saw Melanie, Dr. Martin waited outside this time. He wanted to give them this moment alone. Their first real moment with their child. It was a special one. He didn't want to intrude. Cindy was still weak from the surgery, so one of the nurses brought her a wheelchair to make it easier. Jimmy helped her up once they made it to the nursery.
Cindy started crying long before she even saw her. Maybe it was the news she just received, or maybe the fact that she just survived the brink of death. Nevertheless, Cindy was beyond emotional. Jimmy held her hand as he brought her over to her bassinet. He only let go to reach down and pick Melanie up. Cindy cried even harder.
Her tears splattered against the hospital blanket. Her fingers brushing her soft little head. She cried so hard that she couldn't breathe. Placing her forehead against her newborn daughter.
"Do you want to hold her?" Jimmy asked.
Cindy nodded wordlessly as she held out her arms. Surprisingly, Melanie never cried. She just looked up with wondrous eyes. Her hands reached up to touch Cindy's nose.
"I love you." Cindy whispered. "I've loved you for all of my life."
Jimmy brushed a tear away from Cindy's cheek. "I told you she was perfect."
"She looks just like you." She laughed. "Of course, she would look just like you."
"I can see parts of you in her, too." Jimmy pointed at her nose, his fingers tracing down her jawline and cheeks.
Cindy shook her head in disbelief. "Can you believe we made this? Us?"
"She's gonna be a handful." Jimmy continued to caress the top of Melanie's head. "With my brilliance and your attitude, we'll never be able to discipline her."
"My attitude?" She shot him a playful look.
Jimmy just laughed. A few moments of silence past before saying, "We should introduce her to the others."
"In a bit." Cindy took a breath, Melanie was asleep now in her arms. She couldn't stop looking at her. "I want this moment for a little while longer."
Jimmy leaned his forehead against hers, his arms snaking around her form. His voice, a whisper. "I love you, Cynthia Vortex."
Cindy tilted her head, her lips so close to his. With arms still full, she pushed up on her toes and kissed him. Melanie stirred as she pulled back, her own voice matching his whisper. This moment she would remember forever.
"I love you, James Neutron."