Chapter 12 ~ Demands of a Relationship

Shawty had them Apple Bottom Jeans [Jeans]

Boots with the fur [With the fur]

Got the whole club was lookin at her

She hit the floor [She hit the floor]

Next thing you know

Shawty got low low low low low low low low

The party was jumpin' in the Folfax's backyard, and throughout the house. And to Aja's surprise she was enjoying her time on the dancefloor after Cindy dragged her out, with Carl, Libby, and Sheen. Following their lead and dancing to the infectious beat.Jimmy refused and stood on the sidelines, chatting with other newly reaquanted classmates.

Them baggy sweat pants

And the Reeboks with the straps [With the straps]

She turned around and gave that big booty a smack [Ayy]

She hit the floor [She hit the floor]

Next thing you know

Shawty got low low low low low low low low

Aja had become so engrossed moving her body with the song she hadn't realized there was a boy stepping up behind her 'dancing' along with her.

Whoa

Shawty

Yea she was worth the money

Lil mama took my cash,

And I ain't want it back,

The way she bit that rag,

Got her them paper stacks,

Tattoo Above her crack,

I had to handle that,

I was on it, sexy woman, let me shownin

They be want it two in the mornin

I'm zonin in them rosay bottles foamin

She wouldn't stop, made it drop

Shorty did that pop and lock,

Had to break her off that gwap

Gah it was fly just like my glock

Apple Bottom Jeans [Jeans]

Boots with the fur [With the fur]

Got the whole club was lookin at her

She hit the floor [She hit the floor]

Next thing you know

Shawty got low low low low low low low low

As the chorus continued Cindy looked up from where she was dancing with Carl to see her Ex grinding up against Jimmy's girl. Her eye's got wide and her body froze, not really sure what to do…

Them baggy sweat pants

And the Reeboks with the straps [With the straps]

She turned around and gave that big booty a smack [Ayy]

Aja turned to smack her own booty, and noticed the handsome latino boy incredibly close to her own body.

She hit the floor [She hit the floor]

Aj dropped to the floor, and spun around as she shot back up, smiling facing her attractive new companion.

Next thing you know

Cindy knew the look on Nick's face…

Shawty got low low low low low low low low

The crowd cheered as the song faded out, then Nick placed a hand on the back of Aja's neck and pulled her in for a fierce kiss. Aja seemed to appreciate the bold move, and returned the gesture. Then pulled apart and continued dancing together as the next song started. Carl had finally noticed Cindy stopped dancing, and looked to where she was gawking. Before either of them could settle on what to do, Nick was yanked away by his shoulder and thrown to the ground.

"What the hell Neutron?!" Nick yelled picking himself up off the ground. The dance floor had stopped to face the action unfolding.

"Why are you grinding on my girl Nick?"

"I wasn't dancing with Cindy, I was dancing with…" Nick looked confused for a second then asked Aja, "Sorry babe, what's your name?"

Aja just blushed as Jimmy's face grew red for another reason, "This is Aja my girlfriend!"

"No, cause see Cindy broke up with me to be with you so why would you be dating anyone else?"

"Oh my God! No I didn't Nick." Cindy stepped in, standing between the boys "Stop trying to start shit!"

"I didn't start this, the brain boy threw me to the ground."

"Cause you were grinding on his girlfriend!" the blonde reiterated.

"Well how was I supposed to know that? She was grinding like she was single." Cindy stepped forward to block Jimmy from advancing on the boy again, bracing her hands against his shoulders, and needing to use some of her weight to stop Jimmy's wanting advance. She kept looking cautiously between the two boys.

"I'm sorry for mis-leading you Nicholas." Aja apologized, "I was just dancing like everyone else, and this is my first American party." She said with a smile.

"But then dude why'd you let me kiss you?" Cindy was still posed in front of Jimmy, and glad she was as she had to throw her entire weight against him to keep him from going after Nick.

"I'm not a 'dude' sir, and you American's put so much value on kissing and sex. It's just a physical exchange, like a handshake or a hug, or dancing, why should something so nice be done so little." Jimmy ceased his pull against Cindy and looked to his girlfriend confused and a little hurt. "Don't get me wrong, those things are nicer with someone you love, but who's to say that's the only time your permitted to life's small pleasures."

Jimmy shook Cindy off of him and stepped toward to his girlfriend and said quietly "Let's go."

"Non James," She replied "Je m'amuse, je veux rester."

"D'accord, mais nous devons parler, maintenant." He took her by the hand and led her to the house. After Jimmy was gone the dance floor started moving again, and Nick walked up to Cindy.

"So, you were being honest when ya broke up with me, it wasn't cause you were trying to get with Neutron?"

"Told you he had a girlfriend," she scoffed as she watched Jimmy and Aja disappear into the house, then she looked to Nick "And that girl you just grinded on and made out with in public… that was her."

"Hey, she was giving me a green light C." he threw his hands up in defense.

"Yeah, yeah, I saw. Question is how much did Neutron see." She commented, feeling sorry for her friend "What do ya even say to someone who cheats on you, in public, but doesn't even consider it cheating?"

"Don't know, but with how fast things were going, I was pretty sure I was at least getting to third tonight." Nick smiled, hoping that comment wasn't too crude, or too soon to say to his Ex-girlfriend. Cindy just rolled her eyes at the boy, and shook her head with a smile. "Well, since you and Neutron aren't actually together, that mean you're still single?"

"Yeah." Cindy replied casually.

"His loss, you're way hotter than her."

"Thanks." Pleased with the candid comment.

"Wanna go upstairs, have some private time?" he asked cooly into her ear.

"Nick?!"

"What, you're free, I'm free…"

"And since Jimmy's girl got you all worked up and didn't finish the job I've got to?"

"Oh come on, it's not as bad as you're making it sound and you know it."

"I just finished getting over you Nick, I'm not about to hop back on you." She said bluntly as she headed for the house, hoping he wouldn't follow. Seeing that he didn't she went to grab herself a drink, and chatted with some party goers, most of which asked about the obvious exchange that just took place on the dance floor.

"I still can't believe you broke up with Nick." Betty commented to her classmate, Brittany twirled her short curly blonde hair in one of her fingers, mind clearly going past the conversation she was in.

"Yeah, we just wanted different things."

"But he's so hot!" Brittany replied, nearly moaning.

"You want him got for it Brit. He's even all worked up right now from that tease he got."

"You wouldn't mind?"

"No, me and Nick are done, I'm over him. If you like him go for it." She didn't wait for a third push, Brittany was out the door to find Nick somewhere on the dance floor. Cindy just chuckled to herself and went to re-fill her cup. Then saw Aja practically run through the kitchen, not mad, but clearly anxious to get back outside. Seeing Jimmy walk slowly through the kitchen Cindy grabbed a second cup of punch, met up with him and offered the drink. "So how'd that go?"

Jimmy popped his head up out of a daze "Oh, hi Cindy." He accepted the cup and took a sip.

"You okay Neutron? Wanna talk about it?"

"We could I guess."

"Then let find a spot to sit, I've been standing talkin to Brittany for like a half-hour."

"Sounds exhausting, in more ways than one." He chuckled and looked around the house, as did Cindy. They didn't see a spare two chairs anywhere, then Jimmy looked to the deck outside the kitchen to the backyard. "Couple patio chairs free." Cindy nodded and followed his lead. After taking a seat Jimmy started into his cup, not sure how to start.

Seeing he was stuck Cindy started with something broad "So, you two okay?"

"I guess, I mean were still together, if that's what you're asking. But she has such a blasé attitude toward some things that our society finds incredibly intimate."

"I've noticed." Cindy commented.

"If you were still dating Nick would you have counted that as cheating?" Jimmy took a sip, then set the cup down.

"Heck yeah," She replied without missing a beat, then softly added "but there is a difference in culture to be understanding of with all this, from both sides."

"I know, I mean, she always talked about sex like it wasn't a big deal, and we had seen firsthand that a fully physical relationship could be distracting enough to get us dropped from the program. But the part that's eating at me about it all is… was she even faithful to the same definition I claim since we've been apart? Or heck when we were together even?" Jimmy threw his head into his hands.

"Feel free to not answer this Neutron, but you mentioned you two have yet to be intimate. Has she?"

Jimmy pulled his hands from his face but kept his head down. "I never asked, we were 12 and 13 when we met, and together essentially all the time, so I never thought I had to ask."

"Might be worth doing to give yourself peace of mind." Cindy suggested. They sat in silence for a minute, then the blonde girl in an off white sundress felt compelled to add, "Look Neutron, I just want to say I'm sorry I didn't say, or do anything, I kinda saw it all unfolding out there, I was just expecting her to notice at some point and stop it, but then she just embraced it and…"

"It's not your fault Cindy, I should be thanking you for stopping me from trying to pick a fight with Nick. I'm not 100% sure that would have ended well for me."

"Hence why I stepped in." Cindy nodded "You may not be outta shape Neutron, but Nick's been riding broncs and chuckin hay all summer. Probably not the best person to go messing with." Jimmy nodded in agreement, but still refused to look up. Cindy set her free hand on the boy's hand that was now resting on his knee, "So what's eating you up more than your girlfriend's casual cheating understanding?"

"Nothing else." Jimmy replied bluntly, then looked to the dance floor to his left. He was able to spot Aja dancing with Carl, and he breathed a sigh of relief, then looked back to Cindy and pulled his hand out from under hers. And grabbed his drink again. "You go on and get back to the party, or dance floor, or whatever. I'll be fine."

"You sure?"

"Yup, you know me, I gotta think about these social things for a while before they make sense."

"Fine Brainiac, I'll let you stew." She agreed for the moment, not entirely convinced that was all that was on his mind. "But if you decide ya got more to talk about come grab me, please. You know I'm always here for ya Neutron, help ya through the emotional crap." she smirked at her confused friend.

"Okay, thanks." Jimmy replied raising his glass to her, then she turned and headed down the steps to the dance floor. As he watched her go he said quietly to himself "How am I supposed to let you go?

It had been a few weeks since the back to school party. Everything was about as normal as it could be, with the exception of Jimmy spending nearly every waking minute with Cindy or the gang. That honor now went to his no longer trans-continental girlfriend, it seemed the only chance Cindy got to see Jimmy without his other half was in Stats and Lit. At first Cindy expected him to go 'off the grid' catching up with his long lost girlfriend, and she thought she was doing what was best by giving them some space, mainly by staying out of the lab. But after the third week, Cindy was missing her friend, and now it had been nearly 6 weeks without any form of invitation to hang out with the genius. Carl had a work schedule after school to contend with and she couldn't keep stealing Libby away from Sheen.

Jimmy walked in to their statistics class, just before the bell as always, spending every minute of the first passing time with his girlfriend. After the teacher explained the day's assignment on creating bell curves, Cindy quietly struck up a conversation.

"So, this all making sense to you?"

"Sure," he replied "It's just the visual representation of typical statistical data."

"Yeah, I suppose." Cindy chuckled "So, you and Aja got plans tonight?"

"Um, no, not really any plans per-say. Why do you ask?"

"Well I was just hoping to come over to the lab and work on my chemistry project, I didn't want to intrude or anything if you were busy."

"I've told you before Cindy, the lab is just about as much yours as mine." Jimmy reminded her "You're welcome to use it. I'm not 100% if we'll be in tonight, Aja had mentioned wanting to go to the Grand Canyon."

"Oh, sounds like fun." Cindy commented coldly.

"What?" Jimmy asked confused. "You've been."

"Yeah."

"What Cindy?" he asked.

"Nothin," she tried brushing him off. "I should really get started on this." She looked back to her work.

"Cindy…" Jimmy tried to insist as he could tell she was perturbed, Question is, is she mad at me? The trip? Aja? Something we haven't even talked about? Jimmy looked around the class to see their teacher helping some other students, then he reached to steal her paper.

"Neutron!" she said in a hushed yell.

"Just tell me what's buggin you Vortex."

"Give me my paper Jerk-tron."

He glanced over to make sure he hadn't attracted the teacher's attention, then stared her down, "Tell me."

Dam those eyes… "I just haven't seen you much since Aja's been here."

"You see me all day, we have 5 out of 6 classes together."

"Yes, but when's the last time we worked on stuff together in the lab?"

"Oh, well I suppose not since school started."

"And when's the last time you joined us at the Candy Bar?"

"Last week."

"No," Cindy said plainly "you and Aja were there and we bombarded you after Sheen's lead. Normally we wouldn't have, but you've been so monopolized lately we never see you outside of school."

"Sorry, I guess we've been caught up in our relationship. Didn't really think it through that almost all that time was spent with all you before she moved here."

"Not that hard to figure out. Now give me my paper, we gotta get this done before the end of class." She snatched her paper back and tried to refocus on her work. I've been wanting to bring this up for 2 weeks… so why am I still mad about it… cause he never promised to spend time without her and with us, or me… would he even consider it if I asked? Cindy took one more look to see the coast was clear then got Jimmy's attention again, "Neutron." The boy looked up from his work "Would it kill ya to just hang with us tonight? No Aja?"

"I doubt that would be the death of me." He smiled to her, knowing she was right and owed his friends some of his time sans-girlfriend. Well Cindy's not accusing me of avoiding her specifically… "I'll talk to Aja."

"Mais je ne comprends pas James?" Aja asked her boyfriend confused. Jimmy had explained what Cindy mentioned during worktime in their French class. There wasn't a chance to really talk to just her during lunch and it seemed that so long as students were speaking in French the teacher could care less that they were simply chatting during their work-time.

"Rien à voir avec vous Aja, mais j'ai récemment été négligé mes amis." Nothing to do with you Aja, but I have been neglecting my friends recently.

"Vous les voyez toute la journée à l'école." You see them all day at school.

"Oui, mais je dois aussi faire du temps pour eux." Yes, but I also need to make time for them.

"Je suppose." Aja admitted "une nuit par mois serait bien. La blonde sera-t-elle là?" I suppose … one night a month would be fine. Will the blonde be there?

Cindy of course she was trying to eavesdrop since she figured Jimmy was asking her about what she proposed. But they were speaking a bit too fast for her to catch many details. But she clearly heard 'the blonde' which of course meant her. I can't believe Aja still thinks I'm a threat, I haven't done a thing since she's been here… or before that even…

"Oui, c'est elle qui a demandé." Yes, she's the one who asked.

"James! Nous avons parlé de vous et elle!" Aja protested, a bit too loud, catching a few classmates and the teacher's attention. James we talked about you and her.

The teacher walked over to them, Aja was of course her favorite student so she simply asked "Ça va?"

"Oui Madame, désolé j'étais tellement bruyant." The French girl replied sweetly. The teacher saw that the two were nearly finished with their work, so she nodded to the apology and moved on. They had about 5 minutes left of class, so they both silently agreed to finished their work and discuss things later.

"You mean to say you've shook off the ball and chain for a whole night?" Sheen asked surprised, as the boys entered the locker room to change after gym.

"Why is Aja a ball and chain and Libby's not?" Jimmy asked.

"Cause Libby will let me hang with other people more than once a month."

"Yeah, I'm sorry I've let it go so long. She just hasn't made much for friends here and I guess we've just been so wrapped up in each other, times kind of gotten away from me."

Sheen raised an eyebrow "So does that mean our little Jimmy has taken the VIP tour at Pleasureland?"

"Where's Pleasureland? I thought the only theme park around was Retroland?" Carl asked innocently.

"He doesn't mean an actual place Carl. He's asking if Aja and I have engaged in coitus."

"Not coytrus, whatever that is…" Sheen commented then said quietly to just the two boys changing near him "I'm talkin sex, the beast with two backs, doing the nasty, a roll in the hay."

"Coitus is another word for sex Sheen." Jimmy pointed out.

"Oh."

Then Carl chimed in "So have you?"

"No, not yet."

"But my boy's planning on it." Sheen smirked.

"Look I'll tell you if it happens otherwise just chill. So back to my earlier question, you guys free tonight?"

"I've got work at 5, but I'd be free till like 4:30." Carl mentioned.

"Okay, so a little bit of Carl time. Sheen?"

"Libby's got a family thing at like 6:30 that I gotta go to too, some Grandparent's birthday party."

"So, Candy Bar right after school?"

"Sounds good to me." Carl smiled. Jimmy grabbed his shoes and looked to the clock, 2 minutes to dismissal.

"Can you guys talk to the girls, I'll have to find Aja and drop her off. I'll meet you all there by 3."

"Sounds good, Libby can drive us all there in this thing called a car."

"Ha, ha, Sheen."

When Jimmy found Aja in the halls she was chatting with Nick. Not Jimmy's favorite person for her to be talking to considering how they met. But they lived in the same house so Jimmy knew he couldn't demand them to stop talking. Aja saw Jimmy approaching and greeted him with a kiss.

"So the gangs gonna hang at the Candy Bar after school here, you want me to drop you off?"

Before she could answer Nick stepped in "No need for the trip, I can bring her home, I mean it's not like it's out of the way." Aja giggled a little at the joke.

"Okay," Jimmy agreed, with just a twinge of resentment, then looked to Aja "See you tomorrow?"

She nodded then gave him one more kiss before making her way down the hall with Nick.

"Wow that was fast." Cindy commented as the gang walked up to the booth where he was waiting "No long goodbye?" she asked as she scooted her way in the corner booth next to Jimmy.

"I didn't end up dropping her off, Nick took her home."

"And you just let him?!" Sheen elated from across the table.

"She's living with them Sheen, they were literally going to the same place. It just made sense." Jimmy clarified.

"But don't that whole scene at the party still get to you?" Libby inquired.

"A little, but I gotta trust she isn't doing anything stupid."

"But isn't that why you've been with her 24/7?" Carl asked.

"It's not all the time. If she doesn't sleep at her host parents she'd get in trouble." Cindy pointed out, "So maybe 16/7." she smirked.

"Point is, you're spending way too much time with that girl," Libby pointed out "Married folks don't even see each other as much as you two do. So is it that you don't trust her or ya forgot about us?"

"I'd never forget about you guys, she just distracts me, and makes me lose track of time. And in the program we practically did see each other 24/7, so it's just back to normal for us."

Cindy twinged a little upon hearing him say that, remembering the last time he'd said it … 'you're pretty smart, and smell nice, and you kinda distract me, sometimes.' … Maybe he is in love with her if he's sayin that… Before she could muddle on it anymore she was shoved by Jimmy. "What was that for Neutron?"

"I just asked what everyone wanted and you were staring at the table." Jimmy informed her.

"Sorry guess I zoned, um, I don't know, sugar…"

"You say that and I'm gonna comeback here with a sugar shaker." Jimmy joked "Just give me fruity or chocolaty and I can go from there." He asked standing up.

"Fruity please, you buying?"

"If you were listening before you would have heard that offer too." He smiled to her before heading over to Sam at the counter.

Libby leaned over to Cindy "What part got you girl?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Libby." She tried pushing her off.

"It was that now Aja distracts him instead of her, it stung." Carl insisted.

"Oh shut up!" Cindy defended "I just zoned."

"Nu Uh girl, Carl's right, it was that whole 'distracts me' thing." She pushed, complete with air quotes.

"Is that the things he said about Cindy when we was on Mars?" Sheen asked.

"Yup, that's when he finally admitted he liked Cindy." Libby filled in.

"Okay sure, but the key word in there is liked, as in past tense. The whole reason were here is cause he's gaga about another girl and is forgetting to make time for his friends."

"We know that," Libby agreed, "I was just poking some fun girl."

"Alright, 1 Atomic Choco Blast, and a mango guava smoothie for Cindy." Jimmy announced as he approached the table with 1 extremely large and chocolaty ice cream dish and a small coconut like cup with an umbrella in it.

"I didn't think Sam still did his tropical stuff anymore." Cindy commented, astonished at the drink she was being handed. Again bringing back more memories of when she was falling for Jimmy.

"I asked, he still had the cups and stuff so he said sure." Jimmy said plainly, not making a big deal of it.

The rest of the afternoon went more or less as planned, good treats and a good time with friends, just about like it used to be. Until Carl announced he had to get to work, then an hour later Sheen and Libby left to get to their family engagement. Leaving Jimmy and Cindy alone in the Candy Bar. "So, you need more sugar or ya wanna head to the lab?" Cindy asked after Sheen and Libby left.

"Lab sounds good," Jimmy replied instinctively then he back pedaled "But we probably shouldn't."

"Why not?" Cindy asked almost offended. "It's just, Aja doesn't want me alone at with... any girls."

"What? But were just friends, how may time do we have to say that for it to sink in? And where's all this coming from?"

"The um, incident at the back to school party." Cindy looked confused at the boy but permitted him to continue "Well the thing is, when we talked after the thing with Nick, I explained why I considered what she did as wrong, then she threw it back at me."

"How? I'd been with you all summer, you didn't have time to cheat on her?"

"That's just it, you've been with me. Just about every day, hanging out or working in the lab together. She hates all the time I've spent with you Cindy. She didn't come right out and say it, but I think she let all that happen to get my attention and get back at me."

"What are you sayin Neutron?" she asked cautiously.

"She made me a deal." Jimmy stared into his empty bowl and continued "She'll stop behaving like that if I stop, hanging out with you… alone anyway."

"What?!"

"She knows she can't help us from being together at group stuff or school, but she doesn't want you coming down to the lab when I'm there anymore, not without her there anyway."

"What the hell?!" Cindy was floored, loud enough to attract the attention of the other Candy Bar patrons. "Did you even try to defend me? Or did you just roll over like a dead skunk? God! Nothing's happened all summer, you told her that right? What makes her think something would start now that she's here? And why is she cutting a deal where her half is just to behave as a civil partner?"

"Cindy." He protested, but too quietly.

"And you're actually considering it! I can tell Neutron, don't lie to me. I mean hell, you're not considering it, you've done it. That's why we haven't seen you outside of school, she's got you under her thumb. God! What is it about her Neutron, how come she gets to make all these demands?" She prayed her outside wasn't reflecting how hurt and betrayed she felt, as she continued, not caring at this point who would hear. "And how can you be so ready to cut me out of your life, just to get in good with a French know-it all, manipulative, bit…"

"Vortex!" The boy caught the frantic girl's attention. Her chest was practically huffing, and her eyes were moist about to burst, but she managed to pause her outburst a moment to listen to what he had to say. "Look I would have talked to you about this sooner but you've disappeared too."

"It's called giving you space!" Cindy blurted and scooted her way out of the booth. "Watch I'll do it right now."

"Cindy don't go." Jimmy pleaded.

"Nope, wouldn't want you to get in trouble with your parfaite fille française!" Cindy hollered in anger as she stormed out of the establishment. I knew she didn't trust me, and I've tried to be so freakin nice to her for Jimmy's sake… But this, he can't hang out with me! He was my friend first!

"Why did I think that would go well?" Jimmy asked himself "Hey Cindy my girlfriend doesn't like having you around; of course she'd storm off, she's Cindy." Jimmy sat there for another minute deciding what to do next. Let Cindy stay pissed to keep Aja happy, or piss off Aja and make up with Cindy… He paid the tab and headed to his hover-car.