Disclaimer: I do not own Jimmy Neutron or any related characters.

"Hoo, ha. Hoo, ha," Jimmy inhaled and exhaled deeply each time he lifted the weights. 28...29...30. Done. Jimmy put his weights back on the rack. He took off his shirt and examined himself in the mirror. He smiled as he saw his muscles.

"You know Goddard, those two years of working out have really paid off," he said as he struck several poses. Goddard just whined and walked away. Jimmy was a lot different than he was two years ago. He had grown about four inches. He had a lot of muscles. He was one of the strongest kids in his middle school.

Jimmy threw his shirt back on and took a walk around his gym. He had put a work-out room in his lab several days after he had that final vision. He wanted to start his training immediately. He glanced at the walls as he walked around the large room. Dozens of papers were stapled to them. They were notes about his visions. Status reports about his muscle gain. Plans about saving the world.

BUZZ. Jimmy heard a faint sound coming from the main room in his lab. He walked out of the gym and locked the door behind him. He checked the monitor and saw that Cindy was outside his lab. "What do you want, Cindy?" he asked into a microphone.

"I need to ask you something. Can I come in? Please?" she asked while fluttering her eyelashes into the camera. Jimmy sighed and let her in.

Jimmy sat down in his chair and spun it around to face Cindy. "Well, what did you want to ask me?" he questioned in the nicest tone he could manage.

"I was, uh, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to see a movie this weekend. You know, just the two of us. Like a date," she said, struggling to get each word out.

Jimmy did a double take. Cindy? Asking me out? "This isn't a joke, is it?" he asked skeptically.

"Come on, Jimmy. We're not little kids anymore. So, do you want to go out?" she asked again.

YES! YES! GOD YES! It's only what I've been dreaming about every day for the past three years! he shouted in his head. "Let me check my schedule," he said as he pulled out a book. Any other kid would have been joking, but Jimmy was serious.

Jimmy's face fell as he realized that he had a meditation session planned that night. Well, skipping one session can't hurt, he tried to convince himself. Are you insane? The entire world is counting on you! One session could mean the difference between life and death! You can't jeopardize the safety of the world just for a date with Cindy! He realized that the second voice in his head was right.

Jimmy sadly put his schedule back in his desk drawer. "I'm really sorry Cindy, but I can't. I, uh, have something planned.

Cindy stared at him with disbelief. No way did Jimmy Neutron just reject me. "What do you have planned?" she asked, trying to remain calm.

Jimmy thought for a moment. "I have to do some work here in the lab," he said quietly.

"Jimmy, do you like me?" Cindy questioned.

"Of course I do. You're probably my best friend," Jimmy told her.

"Are you gay?" she asked seriously. A surprised look came across Jimmy's face. "Because if you are, just tell me. It's ok," she told him.

"No, I'm not gay!" Jimmy said defensively.

"Then why won't you go out with me?" she demanded.

"I told you, I have to do something in the lab," he explained again.

"That's bull and you know it. What the hell has happened to you?" she asked, very concerned.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Ever since you saved my life two years ago you've changed. You never have fun anymore. You never go on adventures. You never gloat on getting better grades than me. You never hang out with your friends. You don't date, you don't go outside, you don't do anything! All you ever do is sit here in the darkness of your lab and study, work-out, and meditate!" she yelled.

"That's not true! I have plenty of fun!" Jimmy shot back, but even he heard the crack in his voice.

"Name one time you've done something fun in the last month!" Cindy dared him.

Jimmy thought about it for a second, but he couldn't think of anything. "I don't have to explain myself to you. What do you care, anyway?"

"I care about you, Jimmy! You're my friend, and I'm worried about you! You have no life! Stop studying and get outside! Have some fun! God, it's like you're forty!" she yelled.

"I can't stop studying! I can't stop meditating! I have to do those things!" he shouted back. Oh, that was smooth.

Why in the world do you have to do those things? You're already the smartest, strongest, and most focused kid in the entire school! Stop doing this and enjoy life! What's the point of living if you don't enjoy it?" she shot back.

"I can't stop! Just drop it!" he yelled as he spun his chair back towards his monitor.

Cindy sighed deeply and walked over to Jimmy. She put her hand on his shoulder. "Jimmy, talk to me. Tell me what's wrong. It's killing me to see you like this. Please let me help you," she pleaded.

Jimmy sat there, enjoying the fact that she was touching him. My future self did say that I could trust her. But she'll never believe me. Not yet. This isn't the right time. "I have to go meditate," Jimmy said as he stood up and walked away.

"Don't you dare walk away from me, James Isaac Neutron! Don't you dare walk away from me!" she shouted after him. She was shocked to see a tear fall down her cheek. She never cried. She wiped it away. "Don't leave me, Jimmy," she whispered.

One day she'll understand. Jimmy kept on walking, not even looking back.