Author's Note: Hello. I'm back with another chapter for you all. I'm happy to know that you're all enjoying this and I love getting reviews. I remember one review, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it was BendyStraw who spoke of the whole "Hugh" thing in the review. More on that will come up as the story goes on, so that means it'll be in another chapter and a lot of you if not all of you spoke of Rebecca and her little problem. That will also come up constantly, but no actual information on what she has will come up until a later chapter. Sorry. Oh, and thank you, to all of you who took the time to review. I appreciate it. Don't be mad, please. Anyway, enjoy and do review. . . please?




At school the next day, Cindy tried her best to be especially nice to Jimmy, but it was hard to be whenever he accused her of trying to hit a nerve or something. She was completely insulted and angry. Here she was, being all nice and friendly with him and how does he repay her? He shoves it in her face. She also avoided everyone's questions about why she was trying (in vain) to treat Jimmy like an actual human being. She wasn't sure exactly how to answer that. She couldn't really answer it for herself. She knew she felt sorry for him and part of her told her that she was being kindly toward him because she felt sorry for him and she needed to make herself feel better about it. But another part of her told her that it was because she cared for him enough to stop the fighting and help him through it.

When school was finally over, Cindy and some of her friends had been hanging around the front lawn of the school. Students laughed and howled. They ran, walked, jogged to their busses, to their cars, bikes, whatever it was that was going to take them home. They all seemed to thrilled to finally be out. Nick had left to his house without a good-bye. It was just like him to leave her completely left out of the things he did. And sometimes she had to wonder what those things were. Libby soon joined the group and about three minutes later all hell broke loose.

"Vortex!"

Cindy turned around. The sun hit her eyes and she was momentarily blinded. She blocked the sun's light and soon the picture of Jimmy, Sheen, and Carl came into focus. She noticed that Jimmy wasn't in the best of moods. He looked angry. Furious. She wondered what she had done wrong. He couldn't have possibly become this angry because she tried to be nice. Could he?

"You told people?" he demanded.

"Told people what?" she asked.

"Don't play stupid with me, Vortex!" he shouted. "You told people about Becca you twit!"

"Hey!"

"Why?! Why the hell did you tell the whole school about Becca?!"

Everything fell silent as everyone stood completely still, afraid that if they made one move Jimmy would viciously attack. No one was ready for that. They didn't know what he was capable of. But they had an idea.

"I didn't tell anyone! Just my friends," she protested.

"Well, your friends can't be trusted. They talk too much! I just can't understand what made you think that you could just freely talk about my business!"

"Gee, sooorry. What the hell did you want me to say?! Everyone asked me why I was being so damn nice and I couldn't lie to my friends!"

"Yes, you can! Just tell them the opposite of the truth. Let me demonstrate," he said. He turned. "Carl!"

"Yeah, Jim," he replied as he stepped forward.

"Llamas are extinct in all parts of the world! They don't live anymore! They're all dead!"

"No!" Carl shouted, completely believing Jimmy's story. "You're lying!"

"Exactly!" he shouted. He turned to Cindy again. "See, very simple."

"That's horrible!"

"You're horrible!" He shouted. "No, you're a bitch who thinks that she belongs on the top of the world where everyone can kiss her ass!"

Cindy scoffed. She scowled at him. "Yeah, well, you're not the world's greatest person either, Mr-I'm-better-than-everyone-else!"

"I do not think I am better than anyone!"

"Yeah, right! That's why you look down on others and say they aren't good enough to hang out with!"

"I'm sorry, Vortex, but I think you just confused yourself. Because if I recall it, it's you who thinks that you're better than everyone else!"

The crowd that seemed to have suddenly grown larger, stirred. They began to whisper amongst themselves. Cindy could've sworn she heard one girl agreeing with Jimmy's statement. She looked him in the face and sighed. She didn't want this to continue. Not like this. Weren't they getting too old for this? No, that's only what the teachers had said. Maybe they weren't too old for this.

"Listen, Neutron," she began, her voice actually at a normal level.

"No, I won't listen. You listen to me, Vortex." His voice was low and harsh. "Stop trying to act like you truly care about what's going on in my life. Stop trying to pretend that you want to understand what's happening in my life. You don't have the slightest idea what's going on. I know that you're only treating me like a close buddy because it makes you sad to know that something like this could happen to a person and you want to make yourself feel better about it, by treating me like a human being. It makes you look good to your so called 'public'." He paused.

"Jimmy - " Libby began.

"Stay out of it, Libby," Sheen cut her off.

Cindy heard someone shift slightly. She waited for Jimmy to speak again. There was more. She knew there was. The crowd circling them sat still as they too waited for Jimmy to continue his lecture. And when he finally spoke it was like the nuclear bomb on Japan all over again. With the exception that the nuclear bomb was Jimmy himself and Japan was now the lawn of their High School.

"You aggravate me so much! I can't stand how you think you're always right! And how these . . . people worship the ground you walk on! I just can't understand it! Some people act as if you were Queen and constantly kiss your ass like there's no tomorrow and others like me know you for what you are. A self centered, sluty, little cheerleader who probably boosts up her average by visiting the teacher after class and pleasuring him in the only way you know possible, little-miss-hands-on. People here agree with me, Vortex. Don't you?" he asked suddenly turning to the crowd. They seemed to all take a step back as he did so, fearing him. "Come on, I know I'm not the only one who believes that Vortex is a cold-hearted, conniving witch."

Cindy stood silently, not quite understanding what was going on. She took a step back and exhaled sharply, not realizing that she had held her breath. She stared straight at Jimmy as he continued to encourage the crowd. She clutched the books in her arms to her chest, protectively covering her heart. She gripped them so tightly that he nails had turned white. Was that what he truly thought of her? Did she give off that vibe? Or did she act that way? Please, tell me it's all just a nightmare, she prayed. Let it be a nightmare, please!

Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she could see a brave soul raise their hand. Soon the students around them began to raise their hands. One by one. It seemed to go in slow motion for Cindy as she watched them. More than half of the students crowded around them raised their hands. Some up high and proud, others low and shameful. Cindy couldn't believe what she was witnessing. Only a small fraction of students had their hands down beside them. That's when Jimmy's words began to sink in. After all, actions do speak louder than words. Her heart broke. Tears began to roll down her cheeks. And then without thinking, she ran. Ran as fast as she could. Ran far from the crowd. Ran all the way home. She couldn't even hear Libby running after her, shouting her name.