Hi! This is my first Jimmy Neutron fic, so it might be a little out there...but, anyway, this is about when Jimmy and the gang are about 23-24. He and most of the gang still live in Retroville, but Cindy had moved away in the 11th grade. With her gone, Jimmy knows a peice of him is missing. But since he never revealed his feelings, he's wishing he could go back.

But, then again, everone knows Cindy is one to take matters into her own hands. ; )

Revieeeeews! PLEASE! Flames ok, too! (I might even add another chappie if asked nicely!)

Disclaimer: Yes, I own Jimmy! What? Jimmy Neutron? Duh, of course I don't own him! Cha! Duh! ;P

"Speech"

"Thoughts"

-Flashbacks-

This is all ordinary emphasis

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The Return

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He breathed deeply, taking in the fresh air. It was good to get out of the lab once in a while, and he was glad Sheen had dragged him out today.

"I wonder what she's doing right now?" He shook himself inside. "Stop. You don't care, remember? You don't care what she's doing…or where she is…or…" He rubbed his face wearily. Maybe he was spending way to much time indoors. The stress of his latest project was getting to him. "Next thing I know, I'll be hearing her voice!"

As if summoned, it came.

"I thought you might be here."

The voice from his past gave him a start. Turing around, what he saw caused him to drop his jaw.

"C-Cindy?"

She placed her hands on her hips. She had changed.

Wow, how she had changed. It had been 8 years since he had seen her last.

"8 years…" He actually managed to think to himself. He could almost feel his neural receptors misfiring.

Her long, blonde hair swished as she walked closer, a determined look in her deep, green eyes. "Jimmy." Her voice had grown up, along with her body.

His mind flashed back to the last time he had heard that voice...

-

"Well, fine, Nerdtron. I guess you're happy now, you'll probably never see me again. It's not like you'll even have to miss me, huh? I'm sure Betty Q will be happy to keep you and your pointy hair busy."

"Darn right. Gee, Vortex, I would have thought you'd be happy to be away from me."

"T-That's right. Hmph. I am glad."

She picked up her bag. "Have a nice life, jerk." She walked away, not even looking back.

He watched her go, devastated.

Why did things always come out wrong? Now she would look back on him…and hate him.

Maybe it was better that way.

Better if he left it…as a 'never was' instead of a 'used to be'.

He snapped back to the present as he heard the voice of his friend, Sheen, behind him.

"Whoa!"

Cindy looked at him briefly. "Hey, Sheen."

"Cindy? Whoa! Haven't seen you in a long time."

"Yeah. Thought I'd visit my old stomping grounds." She waved to indicate the direction of the school yard across from the park they now occupied.

"Geez, Cindy, you're changed!"

"I grew up. It happens, I've been told." She chuckled absent-mindedly, then she turned her focus to Jimmy again.

Her green eyes pierced him.

"Uh- um…" Jimmy stuttered, trying desperately to think of something witty to say.

He had actually had dreams about this happening.

Cindy back in town. Cindy talking to him. She had moved way back in 11th grade, and, especially since graduating high school, he had definatly thought Cindy was long gone. "Why would she come back?...Say something," He commanded himself.

She beat him to the punch. Pointing an accusatory finger at him, she started in.

"Just like old times..." he thought, not sure whether to be relived or disappointed.

"Have I got a mouthful for you, Neutron."

"Uh, oh." Whispered Sheen.

"For eight years, I've been thinking about this. About you. I knew I had to come back here and finish what I started the day I left."

Jimmy frowned, stetting up his defenses. He should have known that she would come all the way back to Retroville just to slam him. But, it was almost worth it just to see her again. "Man," he thought, "who would've thought it? Vortex, blonde bombshell." He allowed himself a glance at her pants. "Yep," he smiled inwardly, "she still wears her pants too short. But…she…dang, she looks hot."

"You and I never got along."

"Yeah," He finally gathered his breath, ready to defend himself. For old times' sake, at least. "Well, I-"

"Let me finish." She held up a hand. "...and we both said a lot of things that day that I've been doing a lot of thinking about."

"Her eyes are like green stone." He took a breath, and was surprised to be comforted at her scent.

"I'm sure you and Betty ended up getting real chummy-"

Maybe this was his chance. "Didn't she ever figure out that she was the one I liked, not Betty?" His heart skipped a beat. He had tried to bury those feelings ages ago. In fact, he had never really admitted it to himself before.

Much less to Vortex.

But, Betty Q. had been a convenient distraction while she lasted. Which hadn't been long. "Without Cindy around to be jealous, what was the point?"

"Actually-"

"Cork it, Neutron, I'm not done. See, you said a lot of things to me that day. A lot of things about me. How I'd never be like Betty, like any girl, to you."

He winced. "If only I could take it all back!"

She took a deep breath.

"Uh, oh." He thought now, "She's going for the kill. And she's had 8 years to come up with a good slam. Why do I have to care about her, of all people? All this abuse, and I still…"

"I had to come back. To try to prove a point."

"What's that?" Sheen asked, not sure if he wanted to know.

Cindy locked eyes with Jimmy, stepping closer, until he couldfeel her breath on his face.

"This."