there is an easter egg in here. see if yall can find it about a certain other show from nickelodeon *giggle*

Libby looked over the texts and then at the number, showing it to Carl and Sheen.

"This look like Jimmy's old number?" she asked.

They both looked at their phones and Carl shook his head.

"No, his number started with a seven not a three."

I growled and threw my hands over my face.

"Guys, I'm telling you that Jimmy's in my house and can't be seen for some weird reason. Libby saw the video."

"What video?" Carl asked.

"You still have it, Cindy?" she asked me.

"Of course I do."

I go to the camera and look for the video but I find it's not there. I search everywhere for it but it's not there at all. I feel my face turning red with anger. That bastard erased my video!

"It's gone…"

"Really? You erased it?" Libby asked, looking at me in confusion.

"I didn't do it. Jimmy probably did, that jerk! He's making this really hard! I'm not trying to, like, exploit him, I'm trying to help him. If he's dead and a ghost, I want to help him pass on but if he's not and he's trapped in my house for a different reason, I want to help him. I mean… it's got to be lonely and really annoying to never be able to leave the house in what? Three years?"

Libby turned to Carl and Sheen. "Well, she's not lying about the video. She showed it to me and Jimmy was pretty clear as day in it. Even at the end, he looked like he knew she was recording him. He was fat though."

"Really?" Sheen asked.

"We have surmised that being trapped in a house with nothing to do would do that."

"Then wouldn't him gaining weight show that he's not a ghost?" Carl said, opening a pudding container. "I mean," He snickered. "Ghosts don't get fat."

Libby and I looked at each other quickly and I grabbed Carl in a hug.

"Oh my god, thank you!"

"Uh, what?"

"You've helped me out by like, a million!"

"So… Jimmy's not dead?" Sheen asked.

"Carl's logic would make it seem that he isn't, but I'm going to find out for myself. I'll see if Jimmy is willing to let me help him. Would you guys like to as well if he consents?"

"Sure, I'm game." Libby said.

"Well, he was our best friend and if he isn't dead, I would like to get him back." Carl said.

"Ask him if he still has my pen that he took from me."

"Sheen." Libby growled.

"Because I want him to give it back in person, duh."

I smiled, ready to get some answers.

I got home and ran up the stairs to my room, turning on the computer. I was hoping to see the IM box already popped up but I didn't and sighed.

"Hey, Jimmy, you around?" I said to the air.

I waited but nothing happened. I sighed.

"Of course, when I want to talk to you you're not around. James Neutron, you jerk!" I yelled.

My phone buzzed and I looked down.

Hey, now, no need for name calling. A guy's gotta pee, ya know.

"Can you hear me or do I need to text?"

I can hear you just fine but I can't talk to you on a normal basis. Your mother just came home.

I made a face and listened as the front door opened and closed.

What about IM? It will be easier to talk about what I need to on there.

I'm waiting.

I looked over and saw the IM screen was up on the computer and went over to it. His username had 'hi' next to it and I began to type.

nuclearblackbelt48: i have a proposition for you

theghostboy360: and what would that be?

nuclearblackbelt48: first of all, why did you delete that video that I took of you?

theghostboy360: it was a bad video. I looked like a fat ass stuffing my face. ಥ_ಥ

nuclearblackbelt48: well it was the only proof I had besides your te

theghostboy360 is typing…

theghostboy360: YOU SHOWED MY TEXTS?!

nuclearblackbelt48: why are you angry? I thought you wanted my help?

theghostboy360: stop getting other people involved in this! ヾ(｀ε´)ノ

I frowned and leaned back in the chair. Why was he so angry? Was it supposed to be a secret that he was haunting my house or whatever he was doing?

nuclearblackbelt48: why are you so mad? I thought you'd be happy that your friends are trying to help.

theghostboy360: do you really think they are trying to help me? You're a smart girl, Cynthia. If someone told you that a dead student was haunting their house, what would you do?

nuclearblackbelt48: the point is that I showed your video to libby and she believed me. She said that there was no way I could have photoshopped it since I really didn't know you that well and even carl pointed out that ghosts can't get fat if they are ghosts.

theghostboy360 is typing…

...

theghostboy360 is typing…

...

theghostboy360 has signed off

"WHAT?!" I growled, holding onto the computer screen. "What the hell?! Jimmy?! JIMMY! James Neutron, answer me!"

"Cindy, what are you yelling about?" my mom said, opening the door to my room.

I looked over as she stared at me and I smiled.

"Nothing… um… I'm practicing a scene from drama class… What's up?"

"I bought you that book you wanted."

"Book?"

"Yes. It was quite expensive but you taking an interest in science is great so your father said we could get it for you."

She handed me the bag with the book in it and I made a face.

"Thanks."

"No problem, just be sure to get some good use out of it my little science girl."

She closed the door and I pulled the book out of the bag. I lifted an eyebrow at it. The Ultimate Camouflage: Light Bending

"What is this, some sort of nerd book about a world of elemental powers?"

I opened it up and began to read a little bit of it when one of the sentences stood out to me.

"'Invisibility is often considered to be the supreme form of camouflage, as it does not reveal to the viewer any kind of vital signs, visual effects, or any frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum detectable to the human eye, instead making use of radio, infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths.' So… he is invisible? But if he was then he'd be able to leave the house and go 'haunt' other people… There's something else going on, I just know it…"

"Cynthia, please go and check the mail, I forgot to and I'm about to take a shower."

"Okay!"

I put the book down and went out to get the mail. As I started walking back in, I looked up and thought I saw someone looking at me through the window… in our attic. I turned my head and stared but I blinked and they were gone.

When I got back to my room, the book was missing but a note was there.

Apologize.

I made a face. "Apologize for what?"

I ignored it and just decided to do my homework. Jimmy could pout all he wanted to about whatever climbed up his craw.

The next day when I went back to school Sheen and Libby met me at my locker.

"So did you talk to Jimmy?" Sheen asked.

"I tried to but he got kind of bitchy all of a sudden."

"What do you mean?" Libby asked.

"I asked why he deleted the video and then I told him that I had showed you all the texts and stuff and he got all defensive and angry about it. Then when I tried to explain what we had said, it looked like he was going to type something but just logged off of the IM. Then later, when I went to go get the mail, he left me a note that just said 'apologize' on it. I don't know what I did that made him mad."

"Maybe it was a trigger you don't even know about." Sheen said.

"A trigger?"

"Yeah. Sometimes people say things and it's obvious that the person never meant to cause an issue at all, but whatever they said triggers another person's emotions." Libby explained. "I think you should just apologize and get it over with. You want to help him, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then just apologize to him sincerely. It sounds like something you said just really hurt his feelings."

"Well, how should I know what's going on? It's not like I'm a mind reader… Besides, he's a guy, so why is he being all defensive?"

"Well, if I were a ghost stuck in a house for a few years, I'd get defensive too." Sheen said. "My dad once told me that being by yourself makes you only care about yourself. He might just be overreacting." He said with a shrug.

"Sheen might be right though. Like I said, just apologize."

I grumbled. "Nothing like apologizing to a ghost or whatever… Speaking of which, he made my mom go and buy some book for him and now my mom thinks I'm a complete science geek. He should apologize to me for using my mom under false pretenses."

"Well maybe that's been an issue too. He hasn't been able to get the things he needs because no one takes him seriously…"

I sighed. Apparently now I'm the one in the wrong.

"You're Samantha, right?" I heard someone say behind me.

I turned and found that Betty girl looking at me with two other girls behind her.

"Cindy."

"Right, I forget. Listen, I hear you've been talking about Jimmy and how he supposedly haunts your house and stuff and yeah, I want you to stop."

"Uh, I'd love to, but I can't and I won't. What does it matter to you anyway?"

"It's causing an issue with people, especially regarding the talent show. They think that Jimmy is your 'muse' or something and that you'll end up winning due to his direction from the grave or whatever."

"Regarding the talent show, if even if I did use Jimmy, what's it to you? Everyone uses dead people as inspiration at some point. Does it bother you that he haunts me and not you?"

"Please, I'm perfectly happy with who I'm with now anyway. Jimmy died, end of story, but I won't let you feed off of his expertise."

"You seem mighty jealous there, Betty. Do I smell a little fear there too?" Libby said with a smirk.

Betty made a face at Libby. "You think you're so clever, don't you?"

"I don't think I am, I know I am. And in all honesty, you should be worried more about Jimmy helping Cindy on a science project more than the talent show. I mean, geez, girl, it's not the end of the world if you don't win that."

Betty flipped her hair behind her shoulder. "This is why you are such an amateur."

She snapped her fingers and her posse followed her off and I made a face after her.

"Is there a reason why I'm being targeted by Jimmy's bitchy ex?"

"I'm telling you she's just jealous because Jimmy's haunting you and not her."

"She can have him for all I care." I grumbled.

Libby smiled. "Well, anyway, the point of the matter is that you need to apologize about whatever it is that got him angry and let him know that we really do want to help him."

"Yeah, he got defensive of that too, saying that you guys were just playing along."

"Well I know I'm not. I saw the video." Libby said.

"I just know Jimmy wouldn't have killed himself like everyone says, so I'm just hoping you guys are right." Sheen said. "If I had seen the video then I would believe you too."

"Hey! What if I record you guys saying that? That you're willing to try and help? Maybe it will show that his friends still care about him but never knew he was trapped or something?"

"That's a great idea! I'll go get Carl!" Libby said.

I smiled and mentally high fived myself. Jimmy seemed really concerned over the fact that I showed his friends. It was either he was over-concerned about how people viewed me or he was under the impression that they would never help him. I'll show him how wrong he is and that he still has people who care about him.

I got home and opened the door to my room, hoping that Jimmy didn't get all weird and poltergeisty with my room like he sometimes did. Luckily, he didn't and I smiled, putting my phone out and writing on a sticky. I had to take a shower since I had just come back from karate class and went to the bathroom. I took my shower, hoping he gets the messages.

what's up with jimmy being on the defensive? and will cindy ever figure out what's going on? betty has issues haha