Why, hello. I don't know what this is. Okay, I love you all. Bye.

The wall is cold against her back. There's a skeleton not far from her. "So, Neutron. We are imprisoned by a league of evil geniuses, led by your insane clone. Got any bright ideas for escape?"

"There's no point."

Cindy thinks she might have misheard. "What?"

"He outmaneuvered me. He's won."

"Seriously?" Cindy scoffs. "You claim to be a big frickin' genius. If anyone can figure this out, it's you."

"But he's my clone. Anything I am capable of, he is too. Any plan I concoct, he will have thought of it. He also does not have the annoying self-loathing that comes with guilt."

"Guilt?"

"Yes, guilt. Because I know this is my fault. We will die. The earth will be destroyed, and it will be my fault," his voice cracks.

"I'm not going to argue, Neutron. It is kind of your fault," she replies.

"Gee, thanks."

"However, I also could have planned better. I didn't expect my CommLink with Libby to fail, and that is on me. I should have been more prepared, but I couldn't waste any time. I had to save you."

There is a long silence. "I thought you would be happy for me to meet my demise."

"Why the hell would you think that?" she hisses.

"I have hundreds of reasons, Cindy. I mean, sure, we don't fight as much as we used to. At times we almost get along. But I know that you think I'm egotistical and that I'm careless and thoughtless-"

"You are those things. But you are brave and loyal and smart. I'm sorry that I don't say that enough, but it's the truth. You are a good person, Jimmy. You're my friend. I would never want anything to happen to you."

"Really?"

"Why would I lie? We are on death's doorstep here," when Jimmy laughs at her words, an echoing smile sneaks across her lips. "Look, I want you to understand something. I enjoy arguing with you. It's fun. We are two swordsmen in battle, edges of our weapons matched in a dance that is sharp and beautiful at the same time."

"I feel the same. Of course, I didn't always. I truly disliked you for a long time. Then I realized that something in me recognized something in you. I found myself almost looking forward to our little battle because you are smart and passionate. Plus, when you are displeased, your mouth gets all puckered. That is quite entertaining," Jimmy stops.

"You've been looking at my mouth? I'm scandalized," she teases.

"It's a little hard not to," his reply is low and soft. It sends a shiver up her spine.

"Are you flirting with me right now?" she asks.

"Well, you're the one who said we are death's doorstep. I figured might as well give it a go," he answers. "Sorry, I never wanted to tell you I have feelings for you in a place that smelled like vomit and shit. But I always have the worst timing."

Cindy wants to cry, to scream, to laugh. "You do."

"Cindy, I just told you that I like you, and you-"

"I love you."

She hears Jimmy gasp. "What?"

"I love you. I have since we were eleven. Now, stop feeling sorry for yourself, and use that big brain of yours to help me think of a way to get us out of here."

"Cindy, please be serious. Do you mean it?"

She feels her eyes pricking. "Do you think I would've come for you if I didn't?"

"I guess not."

"Now, I promise that we can have this conversation later. Preferably someplace dark with lots of privacy-"

"Cindy!"

"But first, we need to get the hell out of here. We can do it, Jimmy. I know we can."

"You're right," he answers. "Wait! I have an idea, but it could get us killed."

"Since we're already most likely going to die anyway, I say screw it."

Jimmy laughs, and she does too.