Disclaimer: I don't own Jimmy Neutron or any related characters.

It's funny how your greatest fears can become your deepest desires. Take me, for instance. As long as I can remember I've hated and feared this girl. She thinks she's so smart. Anybody can see that I'm the genius, not her. But she refuses to admit it. She's always on my case, insulting me, playing practical jokes, getting me in trouble. But something changed.

Everyone experiences it. Puberty, adolescence, whatever you want to call it. That rush of hormones that completely changes who you are. One day you're watching cartoons and playing tag, the next you're locked up in your room listening to music and dreaming about girls. And no matter how hard you try, you can't stop it. You can't resist it. Eventually it happens to everyone. It's just a rule of science. For everyone has to grow up.

Not that it's a completely bad thing. You get to drive, get a job, have independence, stay out later, all that stuff. It's just that it's such a rapid change. In a few days you go from a little kid to a young adult. It's just really frightening.It's like you change into a whole different person. You watch sitcoms instead of cartoons. You suddenly care a lot more about what people think of you. And you start to like girls.

I guess I never really hated all girls. I tolerated them, at least. But it's like there's this new desire that's deep inside me. I'm having trouble putting it into words. I find that I'm seeing Cindy in a different light.

I guess after all that we've been through, you have to kind of like each other. You can't save the earth and each other's lives on a regular basis without trusting each other. But when did she become so attractive? It's like I'm seeing her for the first time. Was her ponytail always that gold? Did she always make that cute little smile when she laughed? I'm even starting to like those stupid ankle-showing pants that she wears.

And she's changed too. We don't argue and fight as much as we used to. You might even be able to say that we're friends. I know, weird. She actually listens to me when I talk. I'm not sure, but I think I saw her checking me out a couple of times. What's up with that?

And god, that fiery side of her. When we do argue I can barely fight back. The way her eyes light up and she gets all forceful. I even purposefully say something wrong sometimes so that we can fight about it. The old Jimmy Neutron would never have done that.

I see her brushing her hair each morning before I go to school. I watch her eat lunch. I even wait at the mall sometimes, hoping to get a glimpse of her. What is happening to me?

The worst part is thatI like doing this. I'm not being forced to do it. I'll be lying on my bed, bored. Then I'll think about Cindy. I get an urge to see her, talk to her. I just have to be near her, just like I have to eat and drink.

I suppose it could be worse. I mean, if I have to fall in love, oh god. I mean, if I have to have a crush on a girl, I guess Cindy is about as good as you can get. She's smart, brave, funny, cute, fiery, nice, sweet, kind, gentle, warm, uh, you get the picture.

I wonder if I should tell her how I feel. No, that would be dumb. She may like me as a friend, but there's no way that she could feel the same way towards me as I do towards her. Besides, we're finally getting along. I don't want to ruin that. If I tell her it could ruin everything.

But what if she says yes? What if she does feel the same way about me? God, I could stop hiding my feelings. I could hold her hand whenever I wanted. I could hold her in my arms, hug her, kiss her even.

Not now, though. I'm only eleven, after all. I have plenty of time to do that stuff when I'm older, like thirteen. For now I'll just stare at her through my window. And maybe, just maybe, she'll stare back.