Chapter Four-
"What is it?" Cindy persisted.
"Just you have something on your cheek."
"I do?" Cindy said doubtfully. Jimmy nodded his head and Cindy tried to wipe whatever was there off. In the process of coarse covering her face with purple paint. Jimmy stifled a laugh. "James, did I get it or not?"
"Yea, you got it." Jimmy said, suddenly feeling a slap of guilt hit him, had he taken it a little too far? "And, um nobody's allowed to call me James, unless… well I'm not saying the condition cause you would never qualify."
"Well, if you know, without a doubt I won't ever qualify, than what's the harm in telling me?" Cindy said, emphasizing the words know and ever.
"It's just, no one's allowed to call me James unless… unless they were like my girlfriend or something."
Does it count if they want to be? "Great… so I'm gonna go make sure I got all of that stuff off.
"But… we have to check into the office."
"We already did, see I got the announcements, so I'll be right back, ok?"
""But, I don't wanna be here alone."
"That's a flat out lie, Jimmy, I bet you just wanna be alone with me."
That too, Jimmy thought. "No, but I'm really kind of scared."
"Jimmy, as far as you knew, this morning when you woke up, you were going to be doing the announcements alone. Meaning you'd be right here, right now, by yourself. Therefore, unless you can come up with a better excuse, admit you want to be with me, or follow me into the girls bathroom, I'm leaving you out here for a second." Pretty clever, but perhaps you shouldn't have said the bathroom thing.
"OK, but before you go I think I should get to comment on the above statements. First of all, Sheen and Carl are supposed to come with me to keep me company, they called to cancel. Second of which, I told you I'm scared. Thirdly, I promise, whenever I realize I can't stand to be without you, if that time shall ever come, I'll tell you. And finally, if you didn't want me to be with you, why would you even bring up my following you into the girls' restroom?"
Man, he's smart! But wait, that's what I like about him. "Ok, my turn. Sheen is still sleeping, and Carl went to the petting zoo, so I'd like to know how either of them called to cancel. Also, if you really were scared, as I suspect your not, you would be scared even though I am here. Third, why haven't you told me, if you just promised me that? My last thought is, maybe… just maybe in a hypothetical way…. I wanted to be with you too."
She wants to be with me? As in she likes to hang around me? No I know I must be dreaming! "They… ok you win there. However, while I might not have such feelings of hatred as I have had toward you, I am not to the point as to where I can't stand not being around you." At least I don't think I am there yet. "And you know as well as I do I could get suspended for going in there!"
"Well, we have exactly 30 seconds till the bell let's everyone else into the school, so I'll be backing about 5 seconds, k?"
"I guess."
"Neutron, that sounded a lot like a 'wish you didn't have to go.' Type of voice."
"No, it a 'I am really scared' type of voice." Scared of losing the moment.
"I'll be back in a flash, not that I care that you're scared."
"Okay, waiting right here."
Cindy left for across the hall and looked into the mirror, after she saw her hand, she almost screamed, till she heard a voice, coming from the door to the bathroom.
"I'm sorry and it's been 7 seconds."
"Counting how long I've left you? And yet you say you can stand being without me?"
"I told you, I'm afraid. So, you aren't mad about the paint?"
"No, not really." Cindy said, just got to wash it off, be out when I'm done." She said, washing off the paint, and putting some leftover, still wet, paint on her lips. She then walked out.
"Cindy, I think you missed a spot."
"No I didn't. Come here, I think There's a bug on you." Come on, it's just a lil fun, sides the paint's almost dry.
"Ok…" Jimmy said walking closer to her, just when he was a few inches away, she leaned over and kissed his cheek, while slapping his back for the 'insect.'
"Got it! Now what was that about missing a spot?"
"On your lips."
"Oh, better go clean it off." And he's none the wiser, but that was pretty mean. And I wonder if he knows I saw that smile afterwards?
I hope she didn't see that dumb smile! But did she just kiss me on purpose? "Vortex, what was that about?" Jimmy asked once Cindy had come back from the girls' restroom.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, I just killed a bug on you, I had to lean over because it flew to the other side of your back. So apparently I wasn't that discrete but, oh well, it's over now. "Okay, so we are going to do the every other announcement thing?"
"Sure. Come on; let's get over to the intercom. Are we both leading the pledge?"
"I guess, I mean, we should seeing as the pledge is done by the whole school anyway. Hey, Jimmy, I have a crazy idea, let's emphasize the under God, they can't do nothing. Also, we're giving the announcements, after the pledge, lets give everyone a moment of silence."
"I like it, but we could get into some serious trouble. Unless… wait, grab a computer, get on history.com."
"Why?"
"There's a link called Today In History, it should have some tragic thing that happened, we can have a surprise memorial for that."
"Ok." Cindy said logging into a computer. She looked through the site… "Hmmm…."
"What?"
"The only thing I can find says its National Christian Appreciation Day. We could use that, know any good prayer type songs?"
"I like it! And um… Heart of Worship, or Breathe?"
"Those are like my two favorites! Um… how about Heart of Worship? Can you download it, I don't know how to."
"Sure, let me on. Cin, did we ever have a See You At the Pole?"
"I don't think so, but Jim, we can't possibly call a day off of school for a See You At The Pole day, I mean get real!"
"Why not?" Jimmy asked finishing the download.
"How about Principal Sandlake, that a good reason?"
"God will provide, if it be His will." Just then the office phone rang.
"Should I get it?"
"Why not?"
"Hello, Lindbergh Jr. High, Cindy speaking, how may I help you?" Ok, so that could have been better.
"Cindy Vortex, what are you doing answering the phone? Never mind, tell the office that I have called in sick, I just got a phone call saying my daughter is terribly sick, I have to go to the hospital to see what's up. That means Vice-Principal Blockwest is in charge for the day, and can I ask a big favor?" Principal Sandlake said, with a very worried tone.
"Sure, anything Mr. Sandlake."
"Can you and Jimmy stay in the office, help Blockwest out a little. You know like an assistant?"
"Sure, sounds fun?"
"Great, you don't have to make up any work, k?"
"Sure, God Bless Mr. Sandlake, and I'll pray for your daughter."
"Cindy, now don't be getting all religious on me, you're a good student."
"Its not being religious Principal Sandlake, it's …"
"I don't need a sermon, I'm well aware of your being a Christian, and… I appreciate the prayers. Good bye, and thank you"
Cindy hung up the phone. "If that isn't a sign I don't know what is, let's do it!" At that moment Blockwest walked into the room.
"Good morning, Cindy, Jimmy, what brings you both to school so early?"
"We have announcements today. And by the way, Principal Sandlake called in sick because his daughter is terribly ill, he asked us to hold a prayer service for him." Cindy informed the Vise Principal.
"Really? Cause that doesn't sound like him, not that I wouldn't enjoy a day where school was allowed in this school, it's just he's so anti-prayer and stuff, must be serious. Go ahead and tell the kids to meet in the gymnasium after announcements, if it's what Sandlake wanted." Blockwest said, excitedly. Blockwest was one of the most known people at the church Jimmy and Cindy attended. He was the Pastor's kid, one of the many youth leaders, and a frequent member of the church's prayer group.
"Whatever you say. How much longer?"
"About five minutes, go ahead and look over your announcement sheets."
Cindy and Jimmy exchanged smiles of complete happiness, this was actually going to work, and they had nothing to do with it, God did. They ran through the list of announcements, then Cindy and Jimmy, with permission from Blockwest, hopped back into Jimmy's roller car, and zoomed to their houses to grab a few CD's. By the time they got back, it was just about show time.
"You kids ready?" Blockwest asked, directing them towards the intercom.
"Yup!" Jimmy said.
"Let's do it!" Cindy pressed the button that connected them to the speakers in every classroom in the school."
"Good morning Lindbergh Jr. High, This is Jimmy…"
"And Cindy with your morning announcements." Cindy finished.
"Congratulations, to Audrey Kamptback for getting first place in this years national spelling bee." Jimmy said, a little flatly, he was too excited about what they were about to do.
"World Culture meets this Friday after school from 4-5 in the cafeteria."
"That's all for today, now time for the Pledge of Allegiance, please stand and recite it with us." Jimmy instructed.
Cindy joined Jimmy in the intercom. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God indivisible with liberty, and justice for all." Cindy and Jimmy recited perfectly, with extra emphasis on the word God.
"Lastly, principal Sandlake had to call in sick because his daughter is awfully ill, he has asked that we hold a special prayer service for her. So, after announcements, put all your items in your locker and head to the gymnasium, there will be no classes today. If you do not believe in praying we ask that you just sit and quietly think about your principal or make him a card. Also today is Christian Appreciation Day, so don't make fun of those who are praying, and don't be afraid to do so either. You are now dismissed." Jimmy instructed carefully.
"Ok, so let's go lead this prayer service we started, right?"
"After you? I have to put the CD's in"