"Cynthia Aurora Vortex!" Her mother yelled at her, coming into her room.
Her room, once fit for a princess, now sported a much older and very modern look. Her room had white walls, inspirational quotes hung in picture frames all around her room, she had a singular bed with a soft pink quilt and matching soft pink pillow. She had a desk she built herself scattered with pens and pencils and paper from late-night study sessions, with a matching white closet where she would keep her clothing and various other miscellaneous items.
Apart from that though, her room was any other typical 16-year-old. Vanity, Chillout area, and a few other things.
Cindy was just relaxing on her bed, reading a magazine when her angry yelling mother walked in. She jumped, quickly turning around and putting down the magazine. "Yes, Mo-I-I mean Mother?" She asked quickly, correcting herself before her mother was to notice.
"Why aren't the chores done?!" Her mother snapped at her, yanking her up from her hoodie hard.
The blonde girl winced in pain, a fearful forced smile playing across her lips. "I did them, Mother." She said fearfully, sweat droplets forming on her face.
Her mother smiled, but Cindy knew it wasn't her usual smile, this smile made her feel sick, it was almost as big if not bigger than the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. " I don't think so, Cynthia... when I walked into the kitchen just now, the dishes didn't look very clean. "Her mother sneered. "Do I like my daughter to 'Slag off'?" Her mother asked, putting her daughter down abruptly on the bed and slapping her across the face, causing a big red mark to appear.
"N-N-No, M-M-Mother." Cindy stuttered fearfully.
Cindy started to cry. She was nothing but a maid and trophy daughter for her mother to gloat about. When she was younger, she really enjoyed the attention her mother would give her for getting lots and lots of trophies. But ever since she either gave up those activities or was no longer allowed to attend them because of her age, Cindy had been receiving worse treatment from her mother. Her father was never in the picture to begin with, she never saw him, like at all, she maybe received a birthday card from him when he remembered to send them, but that was it.
As her mother continued to abuse her, Cindy just kept crying. She just wanted the pain to stop, she was already hurt with the lack of a father figure in her life, she didn't need more hurting from her mother. But unfortunately, that's all she seemed to receive. She was nothing special to her mother, if she didn't have anything her mother wanted she would just shun her aside like she didn't even matter.
Finally, after an hour of beating Her senseless, Cindy's mother finally stopped. "I wish you were NEVER born!" Her mother yelled, before slamming the door behind her and making all the inspirational quotes that were hung in her room nearly fall off the wall, while a picture frame of a very happy looking Cindy and very happy looking version of her mother smiled at the camera while a very happy and prideful 6-year-old Cindy held up her spelling bee trophy fell off her nightstand and smashed.
Cindy picked up the smashed picture, looking at what was left of it with a sorrowful smile. Oh, how she wished she could go back to a time where she was happy, where her mother actually cared about her, where her mother actually was proud of her. Back to a time where Cindy didn't understand the true meaning of abuse, hatred and vulgar language. She missed her childhood, however short it was, she missed it so much. She would give anything to go back to that time of her life again.
She took the picture out of the picture frame, holding it close to her heart and letting out a choked sob.
After about 15 minutes, the blonde 16-year-old stopped her crying and began to pack. She needed somewhere to stay for a few nights, Her mother was surely going to start drinking again soon, and that combined with the abuse she received today would not go down well.
She packed herself some clothes, some personal care items and a couple of comfort items into a small duffel bag, as she grabbed her Ariel plush from her bed and quietly began to leave, closing the door behind her. Wishing it was her last.
Cindy finally left her abusive home, running for the only place she knew that would keep her safe and sheltered.
Jimmy had been her boyfriend since they were 11, once always teasing him and bullying him, now they were closer than ever, Jimmy being the only thing Cindy could seek comfort in these days. Which Cindy truthfully didn't seem to mind. Jimmy loved her, and was more than happy to provide for her as and when she needed it.
Sure, the two of them bickered like crazy, but when it came down to it, they truly loved each other and were always there for one another, helping each other through difficult times. Cindy was really grateful for him. Although her pride wouldn't allow her to admit it out loud.
She finally made it to her boyfriend's lab, waiting for the identification scanner to recognise her and allow her access into her comfort space. After scanning her up and down multiple times, Cindy was allowed access into Jimmy's lab. She hurriedly rushed in, almost tripping over something, her boyfriend immediately catching her.
"Cind-" Jimmy was about to ask, but then he saw her face, it was absolutely covered in bruises and marks and cuts all over her beautiful precious face. "Cindy, honey, what happened?" Jimmy asked intimately, stroking her knuckles with his thumb. Cindy broke down in instant tears again, weeping heartbreakingly on her boyfriend's shoulder.
Jimmy guided her away from the lab area to a much more comforting part, more so that was built for them more than anything.
They both sat down on the couch, Jimmy wrapping an arm around her and rubbing her back while soothing her.
"Shhhh, it's okay Cindy, I've got you... you're safe, I'm right here." Jimmy Soothed, as his robotic best friend, Goddard, brought over the first-aid kit, one of the few non-technology related things in the lab. "Thanks, Goddard, in gauge comfort mode." Jimmy instructed gently. The dog happily engaged comfort mode, allowing Cindy to pet him while Jimmy patched her up, with kisses in between of course.
Half an hour later and Cindy was all patched up. She silently smiled at Jimmy, grateful for his help. Jimmy smiled at her too, pulling her in closely, Cindy happily allowed herself to be held by him as she began shaking again. Jimmy kissed her forehead, his smile dropping slightly."Cindy, did your Mom—?" Jimmy didn't want to finish the sentence, knowing that his girlfriend got easily triggered after an abusive beating.
Cindy nodded. "S-S-S-She-she—" Cindy couldn't finish because she was crying.
Jimmy took her shaking hands, holding them gently in his own. " it's okay Cindy, you don't have to finish right now... What matters, is that you're safe, okay? You're safe and away from her, you're safe with me okay?" Jimmy told her, looking at her directly in the eyes.
Goddard licked her hand, his tongue feeling and smelling just like a real dog. The 16-year-old giggled, allowing her boyfriend's robotic dog to lick her hand. "See Cindy? Even Goddard loves you..." Jimmy said gently.
Cindy smiled at the robotic dog, shaking her hand to get rid of the drool before she pet him.
An hour passes before either one of them speaks up again. "Can I stay here a few nights please? "Cindy asked.
Jimmy nodded, Taking her hand in his own again. "Of course Cindy... You don't have to ask honey, my door's always open for you.." Jimmy said gently kissing her forehead.
Cindy giggled a wet giggle. "To think, you used to hate me." Cindy giggled.
Jimmy kissed her dampening cheeks, making her giggle more. " I could never hate you now Cindy, you're everything to me.." Jimmy said softly, pressing a kiss to her lips.
Cindy smiled, kissing back lovingly.
They pulled away, looking at the clock on the wall. "VOX, What time is it?" Jimmy asked.
"It is 8:04 pm, Jimmy." VOX replied in her robotic voice.
"Thank you, VOX." Jimmy said.
"You're welcome, Jimmy." VOX replied before going silent.
"Have you eaten dinner yet?" Jimmy asked gently. the blonde girl next to him shook her head, her stomach growling just as she shook her head. "Can I have something to eat?" Jimmy nodded. "Of course Cindy, I'll Cook us some pizza." He said softly.
20 minutes later and a freshly cooked pepperoni pizza was sitting on the table, Cindy scarfing her slices down. "Whoa Cindy, slow down honey you're gonna make yourself sick." Jimmy urged softly.
Cindy stopped herself, putting the half eaten pizza slice down.
Jimmy frowned. "You don't have to stop eating it honey just take slower and smaller bites." Jimmy said. Then, the realisation hit him.
Cindy probably doesn't get to eat much.
Jimmy pushed the plate with the pizza on it towards her, the blonde girl looked up confused. "Huh?" She asked, taking her previous half eaten slice and began to eat it again, this time enjoying the food. "Eat Cindy, you need this more then I do right now." Jimmy said softly, but the blonde girl gave him another slice anyway.
"Does your Mom always treat you like this?" Jimmy asked, knowing that Cindy had talked about her rough upbringing sometimes, but never this intimately with him.
Cindy nodded, wiping her eyes as more tears fell.
Jimmy frowned, handing her a tissue from his automatic tissue dispenser. Cindy took it gratefully, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. "My Mom absolutely hates me..." she said in a quiet voice, her voice breaking painfully.
Jimmy hugged her, kissing her cheek. "I'm so sorry..." He said quietly.
Cindy smiled. "Thanks, Nerdtron. Since when do you care about my home life?"
Jimmy squeezed her hand. "Cindy, I've always cared about your home life... You know I have, do you know the reason why my Mom always goes out of her way for you for Christmas, and has done since we met back in preschool? She knows how difficult it is for you, that's why I always came in giving you the gift basket. Because me and my family care about you, my parents are really concerned for you. They worry about you, Cindy, and so do I..." Jimmy said softly.
Cindy paused for a moment, looking at her boyfriend of five years, seeing the sincerity in his blue eyes. Jimmy really did care for her, he really did care for her a lot. Despite the two's 'rivalry' over the years, deep down Jimmy really did care about her. Even going so far out of his way to make sure she had a decent Christmas. Going further than that by having his parents be so concerned about her and love her just as much as their own son. This made tears come to her eyes, Jimmy holding her hands again.
"I'll always be here for you Cindy, I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck to me for the rest of our lives together.
Cindy hiccuped. "Bu-But how do you know that? How do you know that we'll be together forever?" Cindy asked quickly.
Jimmy gently shushed her. "Shh, do you know how I know? Because I want to be with you, I want to marry you someday, have kids that are geniuses just like us, grow old together and live out our lives until the very end. I know it sounds absolutely cheesy as hell, but I don't care. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, and no matter how many arguments, dumb or serious we get into, I will always always always always love you. Nothing will ever ever ever ever change that." Jimmy told her, getting teary eyed himself.
The two of them shared another kiss, this being long and passionate, full of love hope and joy that someday their lives would be better. "I love you, Nerdtron." Cindy said softly.
"I love you too, cinderella. "He said softly back, making her scowl at him. "Don't ever call me that again." She said with a playful smile, kissing Jimmy again.
Jimmy giggled before kissing back.
Finally, finally Cindy was at peace with herself. At least for now. She knew that there was going to be a long long long road ahead for her. It was gonna be tough, tough, painful, and even sometimes unbearable, but Cindy knew with Jimmy Neutron by her side, Cindy Vortex could be anything she truly wanted to be
Nothing would stop her.