Author's Note: Everyone's reviews were wonderful. Thank you. I have some news. I'm afraid this story is slowly coming to an end. Yes, an end. Not right now, but soon. I'm guessing I have about 2 to 3 chapters left. 4 tops. But I'm glad that it's as popular as it has become. I was never expecting it, but thank you. All of you. I'll be back soon with another update. Enjoy.

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When he awoke, Jimmy found Cindy sitting on his computer chair beside his bed. She smiled down at him as he sat up. He looked at her, silently asking how she had come in.

"Becca opened the front door and let me in when she heard me knocking," she answered. "She brought me to your room and we found you asleep. Neither one of us wanted to wake you so we waited. Your sister left a while ago, though. She got tired of waiting. I think she fell asleep herself."

"Okay," Jimmy replied. "What are you doing here?" He waited impatiently for her answer. She noticed his sudden anger and frustration, but only smiled sweetly in response. She leaned forward and Jimmy could feel his heart skip a beat. Her face slowly became serious.

"I wanted to talk to you," she answered. "Before your parents came home what I was trying to tell you was that. . .well, I've been having these feelings for you. Feelings that I've never felt for anyone before, until you came back into my life. You make me feel so. . .different."

Jimmy took a deep breath as he looked down, hiding his blush. "What are you saying?" he asked.

"I love you, Jimmy," she said.

His breath caught as she spoke the words. His eyes opened wide. He looked up and when he did Cindy's lips met his and she looked into his eyes. She seemed to be smiling at him and then her eyes closed as she kissed him. The action had taken him by complete surprise, but when his mind grasped what had just happened, he returned her kiss. She pulled away with sudden sock. She bit her bottom lip.

"You kissed me back this time," she said, touching her lips.

He blushed. "Yeah, well," he replied. "You're not the only one who knows they're in love."

She looked at him. "You're in love?"

He nodded and with a small smile he said, "With you."

Cindy's smile grew and she embraced him. Jimmy slowly wrapped his arms around her.

"Everything will be okay now," she whispered. "I'll take care of you. I'll help you with your dad. With everything. I'll be here for you."

She pulled away enough to look at him. She smiled as she tilted her head. She inched closer. Their lips were only inches apart when. . .

BEEP. . .BEEP. . .BEEP. . .

Jimmy sat up with a start. He turned to his left.

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Becca scolded in a whisper as she violently shook the alarm clock. He smiled as his sister looked over at him. She glanced at the alarm clock and hid it behind her back. "Morning sunshine," she greeted. She offered him a wide, toothy grin. "What did you dream about?"

Jimmy ignored the question. He extended his hand and she handed him the noisy alarm clock. He turned it off and looked at the time. Two hours had passed. He yawned as he put the clock down. He brought his legs over the side of the bed and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with his fingers, but to Rebecca he looked stressed.

"What's the matter?" Becca questioned as she sat beside him. "It's about Cindy, isn't it?"

Jimmy turned to her. "What makes you think that?"

"I may be 4, Jimmy, but I don't think like one," she began, "I know more than what you give me credit for."

He smiled as he placed an arm around her. "We haven't done something together in a long time."

"We hung out together for entire month," she argued. "And please, don't change the subject. What is your status with Cindy?"

"I'm just saying we should do something. It's felt like a long time since we last did," Jimmy offered, "And I'm not changing the subject and there's really nothing going on with me and Cindy. Still sworn enemies." He hoped she'd believe it, but he knew she wouldn't be so easily convinced.

"You are too changing the subject and you guys are in no way still enemies. You seemed a bit close two hours ago before she left. You let her hug you and you let her hold your hand. That says a lot," she protested. Jimmy had indeed allowed Cindy to not only hug him, but to hold his hand as well and it was true. It did say a lot. Too much from Jimmy's liking.

"How about we talk about this on Friday while we eat ice cream," Jimmy offered.

"No," Becca replied. "I want my questions answered now."

"I promise I'll explain things on Friday. I just really don't want to talk about it right now, okay?"

"Fine," she answered, but her voice was angry. She wasn't happy with his proposal for ice cream and it had not distracted her as Jimmy hoped it would. The small girl stood. She walked to the door and slammed it shut. Jimmy sighed as he leaned forward. He placed his face in his hands. "I just want all of this to go away," he said he grabbed a handful of hair on either side of his head and squeezed his hands.

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Jimmy sat impatiently waiting for the bell to ring. He wanted to get out of English. He just wanted the day to end and how was it suppose to when he was still stuck in first period? He watched the clock and his foot tapped impatiently as he watched it.

"Jimmy?"

He turned.

"Will you do us the honor of reading your poem? You didn't get a chance yesterday and I want to hear it," Mrs. Philips replied.

"No," Jimmy answered. He turned away again to watch the clock.

"Jimmy, the clock isn't going anywhere," she said. "Read us your poem."

He was never really good at writing poems, anyway and so he had not written one. He didn't want to write one. He shook his head as he looked at Mrs. Philips. She didn't look pleased, but she press him anymore. She moved on to her next victim and Jimmy took a deep breath and let it out steadily. He heard giggling coming from behind him. It sounded like Cindy. He turned and found her laughing softly with Nick. They looked chummy and Nick constantly touched her. Her arm, her waist, her sides and even her face, teasing her and tickling her. Jimmy felt the sudden cold, blade of jealousy stab him. He sneered as he looked at them. Nick caught him and he quickly turned away from Cindy and smiled weakly. Cindy looked confused but when she turned, she saw Jimmy. She looked as if she had been caught at the scene of a crime. Regret and nervousness swarmed her eyes. Jimmy looked away in disgust. Again he looked up at the clock and attempted to clear his mind.

"Excuse the interruption," came Mr. Howard's voice. Everyone stopped to look up, waiting for him to continue. "I have some exciting news to share with you all this fine day." Jimmy slapped a hand on his head. Here it comes, he thought. "Yesterday, after school, Mrs. Owens and I discovered that a student here in our school had an extraordinary talent in art. We urge you all to go see this young man's art work in the school's yearly Art Gallery show next Wednesday night. Everyone is welcome. But this is something you will not want to miss. Our very own James Neutron painted a beautiful seascape of his emotions and if you look closely and examine it, you can see even feel this boys emotion just radiating from the painting." There were various gasps throughout the room and Jimmy could feel everyone's eyes on him. He suddenly became the center of attention, but he didn't want to be. He sunk in his seat as he brought his textbook to his face. He opened it and suddenly pretended to read.

"Your, uh, textbook is upside down," Sheen pointed out from beside him. Jimmy turned it right side up and continued hiding his face and the fierce blush that had suddenly appeared.

"Be sure to come by next Wednesday night to behold it's wonders. You may continue with your classes. I apologize once again for my interruption. Good day," Mr. Howard finished.

There was an uncomfortable silence for Jimmy. No one said a word. Mrs. Philips stood motionless in the corner of the room with her eyes wide and her mouth open. Please, someone just say something, Jimmy pleaded. Just get it over with!

"Congratulations, Jimmy!" Sheen exclaimed. He patted his back and smiled.

"Yeah, congratulations," Carl joined in.

Pretty soon the whole class was congratulating him. The bell soon rang and he was the first one out. He quickly made it to his locker which had been thankfully close. He stuffed his books inside. He was taking out another notebook when he got a tap on his shoulder. Two of his fellow classmates from English were paying him a visit. Natalie and Samantha. They smiled flirtatiously at him. Usually they'd run in the opposite direction, but not this time. They were flirting with him!

Samantha stepped closer. "Congratulations, Jimmy," she said. She flipped her hair and fluttered her eye lids. "I was wondering if you'd like to go out Friday and tell me about your painting and then I thought maybe you could go with me and Nat next Wednesday to see it."

He attempted to smile, but failed miserably. He looked up and caught Cindy staring as he closed his locker. She looked a bit shocked and a bit angry. Was she jealous? Jimmy smiled devilishly. He looked at Samantha and leaned against his locker. He could make Cindy jealous, why not? It wasn't a crime and hey, he'd be flirting with a cute girl all the while.

Samantha's luscious golden brown hair fell in her eyes. Jimmy moved it aside and a blush formed on her cheeks. "So what do you say? Friday?"

Jimmy looked at Cindy. Her anger was clear as day now. She huffed, but she did not move. He looked back at Samantha. It then hit him. Friday was no good. He would be taking Becca to the Candy Bar for some ice cream. "Oh, I can't Friday. I'm taking my little sister to the Candy Bar and I-"

"I wouldn't mind tagging along," Samantha interrupted. "That is if you don't mind, of course."

Jimmy smiled. He admired her persistence. He didn't know what she really wanted with him but something told him it was nothing more than an actual date. He suddenly felt guilty, though, for using her to make Cindy jealous. He looked up, but she wasn't there anymore and almost as if she knew he was having doubts, Samantha spoke again, "I'd really like to spend time with you and it'd be nice to meet your sister." Again Jimmy smiled.

"I'll let Becca know we'll be having a guest then," he said. Samantha seemed genuinely pleased.

"See you around," she said joyously as she waved flirtatiously. She giggled with her friend.

"He's really nice," he could hear Natalie admit. "He's really not like what other people say."

"And he just happens to be really cute!" Samantha rejoiced.

"Ah!" they exclaimed. Jimmy allowed himself a soft laugh as he walked down the hall.

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Jimmy sighed heavily as the last bell rang. He still had to stay after school again and he didn't know what he was going to do. Sarah was the model for the project he had begun yesterday. He didn't want to start over and yet he didn't want Sarah to come with him again. He wasn't in any mood to speak with her. As he walked to his locker he spotted Sheen, Carl and Libby talking with one another as they waited for him. He smiled. They could help me, he thought. What are friends for, right? He dashed toward them and greeted them.

"I need some help," he said. They looked at him. "I need you to model for me. One of you."

Sheen stepped back. "No way," Sheen replied. "I'm a man!" He pumped his chest with his fist. "And men don't model! That's for girls!"

"I could model for you, Jimmy," Carl replied. "I always wanted to be a model."

Jimmy cringed. Having Carl as a model was just plain creepy.

"Libby?" Jimmy asked.

"No way," she replied. "You pissed Cindy off again. She'd kill me if she found out I helped you and I don't want her to get even more upset."

"Mad at me for what?" Jimmy questioned.

Libby ignored him. She turned to Sheen. "And you," she began. There was a threat in her voice as she pointed a finger at Sheen. "Men do model. There are male models everywhere."

"Yeah?" Sheen asked. "Name one." He crossed his hands over his chest.

"I could model," Carl answered. He struck a pose and Jimmy gasped in disgust.

"Markey Mark," Libby replied, ignoring Carl. "He models for men's underwear." She paused. "Well, he doesn't model anymore. He became a rapper and now he's an actor. A good one."

"He doesn't count," Sheen said. "He's no longer modeling."

"But he did model!" Libby argued.

"Guys!" Jimmy shouted. They turned to him.

"We're right here, Jimmy," Libby scolded. "You don't have to yell."

"You have to model for me," Jimmy pleaded, taking Libby's hand. "Please!"

"I could do it, Jim," Carl volunteered.

"Don't let Carl do it!" Jimmy urged.

Libby pulled away from him. She looked up. I know someone else who would be happy to strike a pose for you," she said.

"Who?" Jimmy questioned.

"Hi, guys," Cindy joined.

Jimmy's back tensed as he heard her voice. He attempted to put his barrier up, but to no avail. He felt like a sitting duck and maybe he was. He was vulnerable and danger was lurking.

"Cindy," Libby greeted in a sing-song voice. "Hey, I was just telling Jimmy here that you wouldn't mind posing for him."

Jimmy turned. He rubbed his neck as he gave her a weak smile. Cindy's head seemed to tilt slightly as her eyebrows lifted.

"I could do it for you, Jim," Carl still urged.

"What do you say?" Libby asked.

"No," Cindy said simply. "Why doesn't he just get his girlfriend to do it."

"Me and Sarah are over!" Jimmy argued. "And I wouldn't even think of asking her!" He scoffed as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked away.

"I was talking about Samantha," Cindy responded. She placed her hands on her hips. "You two seemed pretty close after English this morning."

Jimmy leaned toward her, with a threat clear in his eyes. "So what?" he asked. "You and Nick seemed pretty close yourselves in English this morning."

Cindy gasped. "Nick and I are just friends!" she exclaimed. She paused. "What?" She smiled devilishly. "Were you jealous?"

He laughed. Cindy sneered. "You wish!"

Cindy huffed. Sheen leaned close to Libby. "I think your plan failed."

"Shut up," she scolded.

"I could model, Jimmy," Carl replied.

"No!" Everyone shouted.

"Just trying to help," Carl responded.

Jimmy turned around. "Just forget I even asked." And with that he walked off. He'd get by. He'd do the project from memory if he had to. He turned the corner and headed down the hall to the art room. When he arrived, Mrs. Owens was waiting with his sketch pad in her hands. She handed it to him and he took it with a "thank you" and opened it. He ripped out the sketch of Sarah and began his next one as he sat down. He would have to sketch three of the same exact sketches. One would be kept plain, the second would be colored and the third would be altered in an artistic and creative fashion. He sketched the first face that came to mind.

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When Jimmy set foot on his porch, he was happy to be home for once. He opened the door and stepped inside. A familiar voice spoke. When he entered the livingroom he was surprised to see Chase Bergon, his Aunt Meryl's fiancé. The man turned when he heard Jimmy step inside. His Aunt Meryl stood. Her face was grave. Becca ran to him, embracing his leg. His father held his mother as she cried. Everyone looked at him. Jimmy's heart raced. He could feel the dread seeping in.

"Jimmy," Meryl said softly as tears brimmed her eyes. Chase stood he placed a comforting hand on her shoulders. The tall man comforted his future wife."Chase had a theory on Becca's condition. No one knew what it was and Chase began thinking."

Jimmy's breath caught. He tried to calm his nerves, but his hands shook as he looked down at Becca. She sobbed as she tried to climb his leg. He knelt down and took her in his arms. Her small fragile arms wrapped around his neck as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.

Meryl tried to continue, but she could not. The tears escaped and she sobbed. She turned away.

"Jimmy," Chase began. The gloom in his voice told Jimmy that his world would cave in once he heard the news. "I've seen your sister's condition before. I asked your mother this morning if she could bring in Becca for some testing after I explained and she came in." He took a deep breath as he wiped away a stray tear. He looked down and his dark hair hid his once vibrant eyes. His aunt had once told him that his eyes where what had attracted her to him. They were so full of life and joy and so open. His every emotion could been seen right in his eyes, but now he would not show them and they were anything but full of joy and life as Aunt Meryl had once described. "I ran a sweat test and Becca came back positive."

"Positive?" Jimmy asked. "Positive for what?"

"Jimmy," Chase said, looking up again. "Becca has cystic fibrosis."

A world of emotions and memories hit him all at once and Jimmy almost lost his balance. He closed his eyes as he let out a slow, unsteady breath. A big knot formed in his throat. He swallowed hard, but it did not go away. It seemed to grow. Hot tears stung his eyes as they brimmed. He opened his eyes, but his vision blurred.

"Symptoms are different for every patient, but the cough, the chest pains, those are similar symptoms most all patients share," Chase explained. "I had seen a patient with similar symptoms as Becca and when Becca came in I asked her about how she felt. I asked her for anything unusual. At first she said nothing more than what I already knew, but then she revealed more. She explained to me that she often had stomach aches. Judy then explained that Becca hardly ate and she's been losing weight." Jimmy suddenly realized that she had become lighter than the last time and she did look more delicate than she would normally. "Becca also mentioned" Chase continued, "that sometimes her finger tips swell another cystic fibrosis symptom. She told me she was afraid to mention these small things to anyone. She didn't want to go back to the hospital. I then came to the conclusion that she had cystic fibrosis."

Jimmy's mind could not grasp the meaning of it all just yet. "She hasn't been treated for years, so her life span-" Meryl replied. "Her life span-" She could not continue.

"Is shorter than most," Chase finished. "I'm sorry, Jimmy."

Goddard whimpered at Jimmy's feet as Becca's sobs became louder. Jimmy looked down. He closed his eyes as he placed a hand over them. He inhaled a sharp breath, but it didn't seem to register in his lungs.

People with cystic fibrosis often died at an early age and now Becca would be dying at an even earlier age. Jimmy's bottom lip quivered as he thought about it. He would not survive life without her. Who was going to stay by his side when things got bad? Who would attempt to cook breakfast for him when he was down? Who'd make their orange juice with the seeds in it? Who'd keep his confidence up? Who'd keep him company in the lab? Who'd help him with the chores? And who would he teach? Who would he pass on his knowledge to if Becca was gone?

A tear hit the floor and then another and another. His heart shattered and for the first time in years he felt the dull ache of his broken heart. The pain grew with every passing second. He wrapped his arms around his sister's small, shaking body. He kissed her cheek as his tears streamed down his face and then he brought her close. He tried to collect himself, but it was to late. The pain and sorrow had taken him over.

"Oh, god," he sobbed as he broke down. He fell to his knees as he held her tight, cradling her in his arms. His Aunt Meryl turned away, unable to watch. Chase pulled her into an embrace.

"My baby," Mrs. Neutron said. "My baby girl."

Hugh held her close as the tears streamed down his face.

Jimmy had been right. His world had caved in when he heard the news, just as he'd thought.