Disclaimer: I don't own Jimmy Neutron.

Cindy just stared at me with a look of embarrassment on her face.

"I'm so sorry…I don't even know what came over me."

I was so completely confused after what happened. Did I really want to be with Cindy Vortex? We're either always competing with each other, arguing over the littlest of issues, or making fun of each other. Would we be able to actually work things out and give things a try?

I quickly turned away from Cindy and pretended to go back to my work. I said the first thing that came to my mind, little knowing that what I said would have a huge impact on her.

"Cindy, I have a lot to think about right now. I think we should talk about this later."

"Later? Why later? Jimmy, this is serious. I really need to know where we stand!"

"Cindy, we're enemies! Haven't we always been? We never agree on anything!"

I felt a lot of regret after I made that statement. Again, I had started another one of our famous arguments.

"Your enemy…that's all I am to you?! Didn't what happened to us on that island mean anything to you, or were you just making it all up until Libby, Sheen and Carl found us?"

"What's that supposed to mean?!" I practically stormed out of my chair.

"You know exactly what it means, Neutron! Ugh! You are so full of yourself!"

"And you're not, miss 'I'm so perfect and great'?!"

"Look who's talking, King Cranium!"

"If you have nothing better to do than to criticize me, Vortex, then why don't you just leave?"

"I wouldn't have to criticize you if would just calm down and listen to me. We're not going to get anywhere if we keep fighting."

Cindy paused before continuing to speak, pulling out an unknown object as she did so.

"You remember when you gave me this necklace? You spent almost all day making this for me."

"And your point is?"

"My point is that I know deep down inside that you truly care about me and you're too afraid to show it."

I had finally been put into a bind that I couldn't get out of. I do care about Cindy, but I never thought she would ever feel the same about me. However, we also had to realize that we are both young and that boyfriends and girlfriends, even relationships—they all come and go. How was I supposed to believe that Cindy wasn't going to say that she cared about someone else the next week, month, or even a whole year after she said she cared about me first?

This was a very difficult decision for me to make, and I knew by the look in Cindy's eyes that this might be my only chance to show her how I felt. I just wasn't sure that I could.

"How do you feel about me?" she asked.

I looked at Cindy, who was nearing tears. I couldn't believe that we were only eleven years old and already starting to have real feelings for each other.

I wanted to tell her exactly how I felt, but what actually came out of my mouth was not what I had really wanted to say.

"Cindy, we're only eleven years old. There isn't any way that we could become a couple without being taunted each and every day at school in front of everyone. We'll have enough time to worry about love and relationships when we're older."

Tears started to flow down her cheeks as soon as I had made that statement.

"So that's it. We're eleven so that means we're too young to even try? Neutron, this is the twenty-first century. Most of my friends are already dating!"

I sighed. She wasn't going to give up as easily as I thought. There was no logical way I could ever envision myself being tied up with Cindy. People would find out about us eventually, and that would definitely make us both feel uncomfortable.

"Cindy, we can't be together. I'm sorry."

I could tell Cindy felt like the whole world was coming to an end. It's hard to even describe the exact facial expression she had on her face before she left the room. She handed me the necklace and turned to walk away.

"I really wish you weren't so stubborn, Neutron."

Cindy's POV

Why does Jimmy always have to be so stubborn? Every time we talk about our relationship, he gets so pessimistic—like there's no chance we'll ever be together even if we tried.

For once in my life, I actually felt like we had connected when we were stranded together. We were actually honest and open about our feelings for once, instead of being at each other's throats. That was one of the best feelings I ever had in my life. I should have known it was too good to be true.

I stormed into my room and flung myself on my bed sobbing, remembering those last words he said to me before I left his lab.

We can't be together, Cindy…

I love him so much and it's tearing me apart! He doesn't even remotely understand what I've been going through these last few days. Ever since we came home, I've been thinking about him. I knew deep down inside that he loved me too—it was just a matter of showing it. He's never been afraid to run away from any type of challenge, but when it comes to taking a chance on a relationship he chickens out.

I never thought I'd ever be able to figure him out. The next few days after the "lab incident" were not what I had bargained for either.

Why do I always fall in love with the difficult guys?