Author's Note: I'm gonna start with thank you for reviewing. Ok, now I'm gonna say that I'm excited about this chapter. I think I liked this one best. Lol! I dunno why. Well, actually it's this one small part I'm really proud of (a first for me). Oh, and you know why I decided to post this chapter up today? It's a special day today. . .can you guess. . .if you said my birthday. . .then YES! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY! And on my birthday I love to make people happy (because it makes me happy ) by doing something for them, so for you guys I wanted to post up this chapter. Sorry if it was a long wait and if you guys don't enjoy this one, then the next chapter will be better. I give you my word. Anyway, to Dory, I wanna say that. . .yes, that's exactly what teachers are for. Lol! And to BratChild2, yes, Mrs. Brooks does show that teachers do have hearts. They really do people and you all need to see that! Lol! I wish I could say my very own little thing to each one of you who reviewed, but I'm running out of time. I have to study now. I still have tons of homework and if you don't see me around for a while, don't worry about me, I'm fine, I'm just studying. Lol! Oh, man. Studying on my birthday. . .WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO! Lol! Well, enjoy! And thank you all so very much once again.
Two days later, school let out for the weekend. Libby, Sheen, and Carl stood by Cindy's locker as she took out the books she needed and put away the books she didn't need. They looked over toward Nick. He was doing the same. Libby knew now, Cindy's feelings and Libby had convinced her to go talk to Nick about Jimmy and now Cindy was determined to do just that.
"Are you gonna talk to him now?" Sheen asked.
Cindy nodded. "Yeah," she replied. "I'll catch up with you guys later." She closed her locker and hitched her book bag on her back and headed toward Nick as the others walked away. The number of students in the hall continued to decrease as she made her way to him. When she finally arrived, she tapped his shoulder and he turned.
"What a nice surprise," he said sarcastically with a fake smile. He turned away, it was obvious to her that he was still bitter about their break up. She didn't even think he cared so much. She felt a slight pang of guilt, but she attempted to push the feeling away. He took out a notebook. He opened it and pretended to read it, trying to ignore her.
"We need to talk," she said. Nick lifted his head looking straight ahead. Cindy could see the corner of his mouth curl slightly. "About Jimmy," she added and the small smile faded. He looked back down. It seemed that he was mentally scolding himself for thinking it had been about something else. He shut the book and placed it in his locker. He closed it and picked up his book bag as he zippered it up. He then placed it on his shoulders and turned to her.
"Make this quick, I gotta get home," he siad, sounding angry. With himself more than with her.
"When are you planning on letting Jimmy come back?" she asked. She felt a sudden wave of longing fill her heart as she asked the question.
"I'm not," he answered simply.
"But you can't keep him out forever, Nick!"
"Wanna bet?" he challenged. She huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. "What does it matter anyway?! You always wanted him out so you could be the number one student in the school! Just like in elementary school!"
"What does it matter?!" she repeated, "We're not in elementary school anymore and Jimmy needs to come to school!"
"What brought on this big change in you! You never used to care about Jimmy and now you're like in love with him or something!"
"Oh, shut up!"
Nick took a step back, his mouth slightly open and his eyes grew in realization. At that moment Cindy felt a sudden panic run through her.
"You are aren't you!"
"Shut up!" Cindy shouted. "It's not that! You have no idea what's going on in Jimmy's life right now. Otherwise, you'd let him come back!"
"I could care less about what's going on in his life! He damaged mine so why shouldn't I damage his?!" Nick argued.
"He didn't damage your life!"
"No?' Nick asked. "He broke my arm and he almost smashed my head open!"
"He damaged your body not you life! And it's healed now, your arm and your head!" Cindy replied.
"I was in a comma for almost a week because of him and on top of that I get daily migraines now!"
Everything became silent. There were no more students in the hall way. They were the only ones. Cindy had heard about his comma and she had also heard about his migraines and she couldn't help but feel sorry for him, but he still needed to let Jimmy back.
"Listen," Cindy began, her voice taking on a softer tone. "I'm sorry for what Jimmy did to you, but you can not keep him out of the school forever. By law Jimmy is required to go to school and you're keeping him away." She paused and then sighed. "If you knew how bad things were then you'd let him back. Jimmy needs to come back. He's better off here than at home. He locks himself up in his lab to stay away from his parents and - "
"Parents?" Nick asked, emphasizing the 's'. Cindy nodded. "But I thought it was just his mom. Didn't his dad leave?"
"He came back," Cindy said, she was slightly surprised. Even Nick knew about it? When I didn't?! "About a month ago. And Jimmy's life and his sister's spiraled out of control when it happened. Jimmy broke down and Rebecca became emotionally numb for some time. It was. . .horrible."
"You were there?"
Again she nodded. "Just, please, let him come back, Nick," she pleaded. "I've heard that his sister isn't doing well in school because she hasn't gone for the last month. She won't go because Jimmy isn't going. She's failing and her teacher says that she might have to repeat kindergarten. Kindergarten?! Who repeats kindergarten?" Nick's expression fell. Cindy could see the guilt he felt. It was written all over his face. "And Jimmy might have to repeat the tenth grade if he doesn't come back soon. This is year is almost over if you think about it. Three months isn't that long."
Nick looked away. "I gotta get home," he said.
"Nick, are you going to let him come back?" she urged.
"I gotta go," he replied.
"Nick?" Cindy grabbed his arm.
"I gotta go!" he repeated as he pulled away. He groaned and rubbed his right temple, pausing for a few moments before he walked off and out of the school, away from sight. A migraine. She sighed. She knew she was a pain to some guys before, but she had never given a guy a migraine before. There's a first time for everything. She would've laughed about it, but under the circumstances she did not. She walked out of the school and found Libby, Sheen, and Carl waiting outside.
"So I'm guessing it didn't go so well," Libby said. Cindy shrugged.
"Let's just go."
When Monday rolled around, Cindy wasn't expecting anything big, after all second period had just ended. But everyone seemed to be acting different. Almost as if they were scared. She wondered if she had missed something. She decided it was best to just stop trying to figure it out. She and Libby walked to the cafeteria with Samantha and Jake, two of their friends. They belonged to the "popular" crowd at school. They laughed about something, Cindy wasn't exactly sure, she wasn't really paying much attention. Her mind was just somewhere else.
"Is that who I think it is?" one girl whispered to another. Cindy turned. Two girls were looking dead ahead. She tried to follow their gaze, but a swarm of students seemed to be suddenly heading in her direction as if they were trying to get away from something.
"Yeah, it's him," the other girl replied. Her eyes suddenly grew with fear. Cindy's heart raced. Who? She asked. Who, dammit, who?!
She turned again and looked straight. Carl and Sheen ran toward. . .
"Jimmy!" they shouted gleefully. Sheen jumped on him. "You're back!"
He's back? Jimmy is back? My Jimmy is back?! "So much to tell you," she whispered. She smiled as a tear of joy escaped her.
"Cindy?" Samantha asked.
Cindy ignored her. Libby stopped Cindy. "We'll be back," she said as she pulled Cindy away toward Jimmy. "Hey, Jimmy!" Libby shouted as she waved. Jimmy turned. His smile slowly faded as his eyes fell on Cindy. She wiped away the tear. "How are you?"
Jimmy nodded as he looked at Cindy. She smiled and couldn't hold the tears or her urge to embrace him much longer. He was back and she just wanted to hold him and be held by him. She wanted to be in his arms so bad that it hurt. She couldn't contain herself. She threw her arms around his neck and held him, placing her head in the curve of his neck, taking in his scent and his warmth. She breathed a sigh of relief and whispered in his ear, "I've missed you." Her mouth brushed against his neck as she placed her head in the crook of his neck again and his muscles seemed to tense. "Hold me, please," she whispered. "That's all I ask from you." He hesitated for a moment and Cindy felt it. "Please," she urged and slowly his arms reached around her hips. Please don't let this be another dream, she pleaded with herself. Another tear rolled down her cheek. "Thank you." Her whole body shivered with delight at his touch and she melted in his arms, unaware that she had done so.
"Jimmy, you sly dog," Sheen said.
Students in the hall began to stare. Jimmy buried his face in her hair. Probably an attempt to hide his face from everyone, she thought, but for what ever the reason, she didn't care because Jimmy was back. And for that one brief instant they were together and complete in one another's arms. It was them, just them, no one else. The world around them faded to nothing, but each other. Cindy's heart soared. Jimmy was back and she was in his arms and he in her's. Nothing had ever felt so right in her life, but this; him and her, felt so right.
He let her go just then and she reluctantly let him go. She looked up at him, her eyes held his and then traveled down to his lips. If she could only kiss him. . .
She didn't know that she was leaning forward, her head slightly tilted. Jimmy pulled away then and she felt everything crashing down. Things were as they once had been, yet different at the same time. That was just a rare moment, but it was better than nothing at all. He turned to close his locker. Sheen handed him his book bag.
"Come on, Jim. Mrs. Brooks is waiting," Carl said.
"Yeah, don't want make her mad. She's a meany," Sheen said.
"She's not so bad," Cindy replied as she remembered Mrs. Brooks soothing her.
"What? Are you serious?" Sheen asked.
Cindy nodded.
"That's probably because you're such a teacher's pet," Jimmy said.
Cindy turned to him and smiled. "No," she said simply. "I've seen a side of her that no one has. She's a really sweet woman and she's easy to talk to. She's not like other adults. She looks all serious, but she's got a soft side. And she's gentle like someone I know." She smiled, suggestively in Jimmy's direction. He turned away and she smiled to herself. He had grown a bit soft over the month of his absence, so it seemed. Otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed her to hug him. He had spent an enormous amount of that time with Becca, maybe he had gotten so use to being so kind that he had 'forgotten' how to so mean, enough to strike a nerve anyway.
They entered the classroom. Everyone's head turned and spotted Jimmy. A bit of tension surrounded them, but it was broken when Mrs. Brooks greeted them all.
"I'm especially happy to see you back, Jimmy," she said with a smile. "Maybe now my best student will work harder." She looked at Cindy giving her a knowing smile and a wink. Cindy blushed in response. She didn't know if Jimmy had caught that or not, but she continued into the room to her seat, trying to cover up her sudden blush. Throughout the period Cindy was indeed acting more herself, she answered questions and participated a lot more. There seemed to be a sudden glow about her and everyone seemed to notice. Everyone. And the smile on her face would not fall, not even when Jimmy attempted to insult her, though she knew that it felt weird to him. It had been so long since he had last shunned her or insulted her and during that time he was all smiles and he was a completely different person because Rebecca was with him. It seemed that Jimmy didn't quite remember how to insult her anymore because the things he said were nothing more than words. Either that or Cindy just didn't really listen to the insults, just the sound of his voice. She had even agreed with him on few occasions, which had made him stay quiet. The bell rang soon and students swarmed out of the room. Cindy took her time and it seemed that Jimmy was doing the same.
"Jimmy, may I please speak with you for a moment?" Mrs. Brook asked sweetly. With a sigh Jimmy walked to the front of the room.
"Well, meet up with you later, Jimmy," Sheen announced as he went out the door.
"Bye, Jim," Carl called as he followed Sheen out, waving at his friend. Jimmy nodded.
"And what about you?" Libby asked as she approached Cindy. Cindy smiled.
"I'm gonna wait for Jimmy outside in the hall. I'll catch up with you next period," Cindy responded. Libby nodded and wished her luck in a suggestive tone of voice, casting her a devilish grin.
Cindy slowly walked out of the room and waited for Jimmy out in the hall. She leaned against the lockers. The door shut not too long after. She tried to listen to the conversation, but all she heard were faint mummers. She knew she heard Mrs. Brooks speaking softly, but then Jimmy's voice roared with booming anger. She had touched a nerve and Cindy feared that Jimmy would treat her as he had before. A loud bang came from the inside and Cindy jumped. What was that? She asked herself. It was soon followed by another one as the bell rang again, signaling the beginning of a new class. The remaining students fled to their classes. Cindy reached out to touch the door knob to open Mrs. Brooks' door, but it was slammed open and Jimmy bumped into her. She almost lost her balance, but Jimmy pulled her up before she fell, and held her for just a moment in his arms. For that brief moment, Cindy looked into his eyes and there was something behind his anger that was beginning to surface. He pushed her away as he shook his head.
"Thank you," she said. He nodded, but he would not look at her. He looked down and Cindy followed his gaze. Her eyes fell upon his knuckles. "What happened in there?" Her voice filled with concern as it grew louder. She reached out to touch them.
"Nothing," he replied as he pulled his hands away from her. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not," Cindy pressed. "You're bleeding!"
"It's not a big deal," he said, his voice low and unconcerned about his hands.
"No big deal?" Cindy mimicked. "You are bleeding. I'm taking you to the nurse." She grabbed his arm and dragged him along. He barely struggled or put up a fight. It was almost as if he didn't have much left in him. He relaxed after some time and allowed Cindy to take him to the nurse.
When they arrived the nurse behind the desk looked up. Her small glasses slid down the bridge of her nose and she lifted them up with her index. She smiled sweetly. "May I help you?" she asked.
"May I please borrow your first aid kit. My. . ." She paused. She didn't know what to call him. "Uh, friend. . . is hurt."
"Of course," the nurse replied. "Do you wish to take care of your friend or would you like me to do it?"
"I can handle it just fine, thank you," Cindy replied. She still held Jimmy's arm and led him to a seat on the other side of the room as the elderly woman walked into a small storage place. Jimmy sat down and Cindy sat beside him. She took a hand in her's and gingerly touched his knuckle. His hand flinched. She looked up. "Does it hurt?" He nodded. The nurse returned with the first aid kit and handed it to Cindy. She took it thankfully and placed it in her lap. She sprayed a sting relief spray on the small wounds before dressing them in adhesive bandages. When she finished Jimmy thanked her. She nodded, more than happy to help him. She collected her things and stood. She gave the nurse back the first aid kit.
"Thank you very much," she said.
"Oh, no, problem, deary," the elderly woman said as she smiled. "Take care now."
Cindy smiled and walked out he room, Jimmy followed. Things fell silent between them. They rounded the corner and Cindy could see her class room just up ahead. She stopped. Now was her chance. She wanted to tell Jimmy everything. Maybe he'd see her differently because of it. Maybe he'd even let her in. If he knew how she felt about him, maybe he'd let her in! Maybe. . .and there was only one way to find out. She turned abruptly and Jimmy jumped, slightly startled.
"I need to tell you something," she said. This is it! She took a deep breath as she tried to ease her wild heart. Her pulse raced and her heart seemed to be thrashing about. "Jimmy, I think I'm- "
"James Neutron," came Mr. Howard's voice. Dammit! So close. She turned and smiled, trying to cover up her disappointment.
"Mr. Howard!" she exclaimed. "Hi, haven't seen you in a while."
"It's nice to see you again, Cindy," he replied. He looked at his watch. "You're late to class. Do you need me to sign you a late pass?"
"No," she said. "But thanks anyway. I'll take responsibility for my actions." She smiled at him, but on the inside she was frowning.
Mr. Howard nodded. He then turned to Jimmy who stood waiting. "May I have word with you? In my office? Now?"
Jimmy rolled his eyes. Mr. Howard walked away as he said a goodbye to Cindy. Jimmy followed behind him and Cindy watched him. I was so close, dammit! She suddenly wanted to scream. She turned and walked down the hall to her classroom. She would have to try again later. Rebecca's words suddenly invaded her mind,He cares for you, whether he knows it or not. That's why he's the way he is with you. Cindy sighed. If only he knew the way that I feel for him now, then maybe he wouldn't be so afraid to show me how he feels. Maybe I'd gain his trust by telling him that I. . .think I might be falling for him. She sighed as she thought about it. And then. . .I won't give up on him. I promise. Her words ran through her mind as she remembered. She smiled. This promise she took to heart. Of course. I won't let you down, Becca. She knew that this was a promise to keep.