Disclaimer: I don't own Jimmy Neutron. But I do own the plot and the Neutron BioAdapter 900! Mwahahaha! Uh… yeah…

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Chapter 4

"Play Boyfriend, However That's Done"

"Cindy… I'm," Do it! "I'm sorry!" Jimmy said it as quickly as he could, shutting his eyes tightly. He heard Cindy gasp, maybe he'd made it. Now it came the hard part, play boyfriend. But how do you play boyfriend, anyway? Oh, he was in big trouble.

Cindy took a moment to summon up her thoughts. He'd been rude, really rude. He'd made her cry, but he'd apologize too. She finally concluded that he wasn't going to make it alive without a reasonable explanation, and she was going to get one! "Why?" She asked, maybe he wasn't that bad. Was he?

Think something, think something now! "I was… building…," he started lamely. Then, it came to his mind. Girls just love presents… maybe even more than they love their boyfriends. Maybe that's the whole reason of why they have boyfriends. "A present! That's it! And… It's a surprise! A birthday surprise!"

"Jimmy… my birthday is in three months…," Cindy said, her voice softening. Jimmy didn't have to think much. He was just grateful that his plan had worked. So girls do love presents over their boyfriends. Interesting.

"So? It's a really complex machine and I need to start since now. Anything for you, Vo-- Cindy. Didn't want to upset you, you know it brakes my heart when you cry!" Jimmy heard her giggle. He felt repulsive while saying that corny line, but the results were rather gratifying. What he said reminded him of the Romance Novels his mother read. He had hit the bottom. But anyway, he wasn't exactly the Romance-Novel-Character type of guy. But for Cindy… I guess I'll have to be one.

"Oh, Jimmy. I'm sorry for being like that. I should have known!" Cindy said happily. That was easy.

"You have nothing to apologize about. I should have explained," Jimmy said. It really wasn't her fault, and she was apologizing nevertheless! Who was this girl and what had she done with Cindy? She fell in love. Was this Cindy in love? With him? He would never admit it to himself, leave alone others, but he kind of liked it. Just a little.

"True," Cindy said. Now that's the Cindy I know! "I would have liked it better if you had apologized personally… you know… to apologize the right way…" Cindy giggled again. Ew! No way, I'm not doing that! I'm not kissing Cindy Vortex! Libby better does something about this!

"Uh… sure, Cindy… I considered that but… It's late," Jimmy explained lamely. He was not, under any circumstances, kissing Cindy Vortex. Besides, it's not even herself now. He shook his head. He heard Cindy let out a dreamy sigh. "Listen, Cindy, I have to go. See you later!"

"Bye, Jimmy!" She said sweetly and hung up.

Jimmy went back to the Neutron BioAdapter 900 once again, now more confused than ever. He was actually enjoying this. He shouldn't, he couldn't. But he was. He didn't need this… or did he? He shook his head once again, his neck aching already for doing it repeatedly. He glanced down, Goddard looking at him quizzically. "I'm in trouble, boy. Big trouble," he told his mechanical dog, who barked in agreement. "Oh, jeez Goddard, thank you for the support," he said sarcastically.

After minutes of deep thinking, he finally reached a conclusion: Hormones suck. He buried his face in his hands. When did life become this complicated?

It was late, and if he wanted to finish repairing the Neutron BioAdapter by tomorrow, he'd have to go to bed now. He took a look at the Neutron Energy Cells. They were charging normally, he had nothing to worry about. Taking one last look at his Lab, he walked out and headed for his room slowly, Cindy's face floating around his mind.

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It was a beautiful morning at Retroville. Jimmy had woken up really early to continue his work on the Neutron BioAdapter 900. The Neutron Energy Cells were almost done charging, and he had already found the replacements he needed for the cables and main chip. He still had to connect all the cables, and restore all the electric connections, but that was the 'easy part'. So it was indeed a beautiful morning. At least it was, until he received a little visit much unwanted. Or maybe it wasn't. He wasn't sure anymore. He wasn't sure about anything.

"Oh, Jimmy, is that my present?" Cindy asked with a mix between curiosity and excitement. Jimmy had decided that as it was such a lovely morning, he'd be working outside. So he'd moved his working table, with the help of Goddard, of course, to his front lawn, ignoring the fact that a blonde girl had been watching him closely all the time.

"Hey, it's supposed to be a surprise!" Jimmy protested playfully, trying to keep Cindy for looking at the machine. What if she recognized it from the Candy Bar? But Cindy was by nature a curious person, so she took a peek from up his shoulder.

"What is it?" She asked confused. "Is it some sort of TV remote?"

"No, Cindy, it's not a TV remote of any kind," Jimmy answered, hiding it under a little duster he had on the edge of his working table. "And I won't tell you what is."

"What if I kiss you? Would you tell me then?" Cindy asked him, a devilish grin spreading on her face as Jimmy's face turned to an unusual shade of crimson. She got closer to him, and was ready to kiss him when she was interrupted by a scream.

"No! Cindy, don't!" Libby shouted running from the other side of the street. She was sweating, most probably from running at such speed under the burning sun. Jimmy let out a sigh of relief. Or was it from disappointment? STOP THINKING THAT WAY!, he reproached himself while his crimson color turned into a light blush.

"Libby, are you ok? What's wrong?" Cindy asked her best friend in utter confusion. Libby stared at her for a moment, and then turned at Jimmy with a quizzical look. Jimmy didn't know what to do either, but in spite of that he ventured to the unknown. Or, in simpler words, he said another lie.

"Libby just wants to talk to you because… uh…," Jimmy looked around, what could he say? But just then, he devised a well-known figure walking towards them. An idea came to his mind at last. "Sheen's been ignoring her! Yeah... we were talking about that... um... the other day." Libby instantly glared at Jimmy with fire in her eyes; he shrugged.

Cindy seemed to at least accept the idea. "Is that true, Libby?" She asked, not yet convinced. Libby nodded and lowered her head to add a dramatic effect. "Don't worry, girl, once I'm done with you, that Ultra-Freak won't hesitate before coming right to you!" Cindy gave Libby an encouraging smile and then literally dragged her to her house while Libby muttered "You owe me big time, Neutron!" under her breath.

Jimmy smiled at himself, but a question haunted his mind. Didn't Cindy hate Sheen? Didn't she think he was a looser, just like Carl and himself? Didn't she think Sheen wasn't enough for her best friend? But now she loves you. Well, she does. That means she accepts his friends now? Now he was really starting to like Cindy-in-love. She was nice, kind, less arrogant, more accepting, mine, caring... WAIT! WHAT! Not his! Never his! She can be Nick's or something. Well, not Nick's. Anyone else's… but Bolbi's or Carl's, that's just sick. Neither Sheen's, he already got Libby. Anyone but them. Ok, and neither Daniel's, Steve's, Oliver's, Rupert's, Cameron's… Stop it! She can be anyone's she wants! She can… but did he want that? Of course! Not.

"Yo, Jimmy! Hello, Earth to Jimmy! Mayday, mayday!" Sheen yelled out, shaking his hand in front of Jimmy's thoughtful face. Jimmy jumped back startled going against his working table. He was about to reproach Sheen for startling him like that, but then, realizing what Sheen had said, he just rolled his eyes.

"Sheen, mayday is an emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal," Jimmy corrected him, picking up some cables that he had dropped when Sheen startled him. "Not a word you use to obtain attention."

"Isn't it French for 'morning'?" Sheen asked confused, trying to recall the last time he'd heard it.

"Yes, Sheen, that too," Jimmy said sarcastically, putting his hand on his forehead. He saw amused how his friend raised his fist in victory, not getting the hint of sarcasm. Maybe he shouldn't have said that. But he would correct him some other time.

"So, Jimmy, watcha doing?" Sheen asked, holding the machine close to his face to observe it better. Jimmy immediately took it from him and placed it on the table. Sheen gave him a questioning look.

"Listen, Sheen. Our last, let's say, experiment with the Neutron BioAdapter 900 didn't go too well--"

"You mean, Cindy falling for you and all?" Sheen interrupted him smirking.

"Ehem... yes, so you, or anyone else, can't use it anymore. Get it?" Jimmy said seriously. Sheen just nodded and started talking about the new Ultra Lord movie that was coming and how excited he was to see it. Jimmy sighed, hoping Sheen had listened.

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"Jimmy! Lunch's ready!" Mrs. Neutron called out from the house's porch. Sheen had been there for a while but had eventually gone because his uncle was arriving that day. Carl couldn't come because his father had taken him to the park to play baseball, but at the sight of a squirrel, well, let's just say he was going to be in the hospital a couple days more, but he would be ok for the first day of school, which would be Monday. The Neutron Energy Cells were fully charged, and he just needed to make some last adjustments. Jimmy took his machine and put it safely inside his lab on a special glass container. He just couldn't afford an accident more. He then headed to the table, where he found his dad forming a duck with his salad on his plate and his mom telling him not to play with his food... as always.

After Lunch, he was heading to his Lab to finish his work when he heard someone calling for him. He turned around to see Libby running towards him, shouting something he couldn't quite understand. She took a time to catch her breath and then started again.

"Jimmy, Cindy's gone!" She said in desperation. Gone? She's been kidnapped! Someone got her! Who could it be? Why her? Why Cindy?, millions of thoughts started popping out in his mind, thoughts he never thought he'd think.

"Who's got her? Were you with her? Did you see the kidnapper?" He asked hurriedly. He looked around, a silly hope of finding her around. He turned to Libby to find her looking at him oddly, as if he was crazy or something.

"Neutron… have ya gone mental?" She asked him frowning. Jimmy didn't understand this, her best friend had been kidnapped, and she didn't even care?

"She's been kidnapped! And you don't even care!" He shouted in frustration. Libby seemed to be taken aback. She gave him a quizzical look and then… she started laughing hysterically. What's wrong with her? Am I the only one who cares for Cindy's welfare? Wait! I don't! Do I?

"She hasn't been kidnapped," Libby said, trying to suppress a laugh. Jimmy let out a sigh of relief. She was fine. "But thanks for caring!" She finished with a knowing smile.

"I don't care about Vortex!" He protested, making a face when pronouncing her last name. Libby giggled. Why do girls giggle all the time? Don't they know it's absolutely annoying?

"Sure you don't," Libby said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes at Jimmy's childish behavior. What this really the guy her best friend had decided to fall for? And most importantly, was her best friend, oh, I don't know, out of her reasonable mind? "But now movin' on with important business. Cindy's parents surprised her with a weekend at some exclusive spa, so we won't be able to cure her until first day of school!"

Jimmy couldn't believe this. Oh, God, why? He couldn't use the Neutron BioAdapter in front of everybody! Not again! Now he'd have to play boyfriend in front of all the school! And his Forgetto-Blaster didn't have that much power. Maybe Libby could help him with this. She had to. They had a deal. "Libby, you have to keep her from me! Or the whole school will think we… you know!" He pleaded. Libby smiled.

"Sure do, Jimmy! Can't afford my friend's reputation to go down like that!" She said and then broke into a laughing fit. "But there's somethin' I'd love to ask."

"What's that?" Jimmy asked, frowning.

"What did you create that Bio-thingy anyway?" She asked curiously.

Jimmy took a moment to think. "Well, I guess because I wanted to explore the insides of the psychological science through the reason-emotion theory. And also" he added with a sheepish smile, "I thought that when mom was cranky I could use this to calm her down." Libby found this amusing. And then a smirk crossed her face.

"Ya know, Jimmy? I'm startin' to think I'm the victim here. I mean, first, I almost get a makeover. One I don't need, mind you! And then Cindy starts talkin' 'bout French kissin' you… I think I won't eat for a week! Or a month!" Libby made a face and started walking towards her house, leaving a crimson Jimmy behind. French… kissing? What's that? There are different ways to kiss? This confused Jimmy deeply, and he felt frustrated. What if Cindy tries to French kiss him and he doesn't know how? What will he do? Wait… was he really thinking about kissing Cindy? CINDY? The Cindy? Now way, he thought letting out a nervous laugh. Or way? Jimmy placed his hands on his face and shook it fiercely repeating "No way!" over and over. However, this didn't convince him, not a single bit.

The thing is, sometimes Libby's jokes are a little too cruel. Especially if you're only 12 years old. But his expression was worth it. And his reaction, man, it was priceless. During her way home, Libby wondered if Jimmy even knew what a French kiss actually was, and giggled as she imagined his expression when he actually found out. Hopefully, from a purely informative source. Though Cindy was quite informative herself. She shuddered at the thought and glanced back one more time, watching how Jimmy still was shaking his head desperately.

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Author's note: Before greeting you, there's something important I got to say. On Thursday 14 I'm going in a 3-weeks-long trip, so I probably won't update after the 14. However, I expect to be done with two chapters more before that day comes. That, if I get encouraging reviews. Now on to normal Author's note: Hello everyone! Oh, Libby's evil! Evil indeed! Hehe, I like to play with my character's minds. Though I may have been a little cruel with poor Jimmy, but he deserves it. He's so clueless. But anyway, I've never done so much research for a story, or any of it anyway, as I did with this one. And now I'm proud to say I've fallen in love with Wikipedia. I truly have. So...a big hug for all my readers, I love you all tons! And now don't forget to review!