Wow, thanks for the great feedback, I actually feel like a real writer! Thanks for all of the reviews. I know that I haven't updated in a while, but here it is. Please read and review!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter Three

Cindy's head rested on the palm of her hand as she forced herself to stay awake. Her eyelids began to grow heavy, and soon she felt herself slipping into unconciousness. Cindy jerked back awake, desperate to stay that way. Jimmy wasn't helping much, either. There he stood, at the front of the class, droning on about another one of his inventions. That made it even more difficult for Cindy to keep her eyes open.

Cindy knew that she could have taken the day off school, if she'd liked. School policy allowed any cancer patient a day off for chemotherapy. But, no, Cindy didn't want to get any more behind on her work than she already was. So, instead of taking a day off to recuperate, she sat in class, waiting for it to be over.

Although she was battling fatigue, Cindy was trying to listen to Jimmy's explanation. She had to admit, his latest invention sounded cool- extraordinary actually. It could basically read people's thoughts and emotions and register their greatest want. She knew what hers would be.

Of course, she would never admit any of that to Jimmy.

Cindy glanced at the clock. It was only eleven? She began to wonder if the clock was broken, the hand was moving so slowly. She sighed and put her head back upon the desk. At least it would be lunch time soon, so she could talk to Libby.

Cindy was glad that she had told Libby. Her best friend was very supportive, especially on the days when Cindy wasn't feeling to good.

After about thirty more minutes of listening Jimmy speak, it was finally time for lunch.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So, Cin, how are you feeling?" asked Libby, as she sat down beside Cindy at their normal table.

"Fine." she replied, in a tired tone.

"Cindy, you know that you could have taken the day off, don't you?"asked Libby. "You don't need to keep doing this to yourself. You're going to tire yourself out."

"Listen, Libs, I have to keep coming to school. If not, then everyone will figure out that something is wrong, and I can't have that happening." replied Cindy, picking through the food on her tray.

"Why not? Why can't you tell everyone. I know that they would all understand and be very supportive."

"I know that Libby. That's exactly why I can't tell them." said Cindy.

After registering the confused look on Libby's face, Cindy continued. "I can't let them know that I'm sick. I'm never sick or weak. That's just the way it is."

Libby nodded. She didn't quite agree with her best friend's logic, but she did respect Cindy enough to let the issue rest.

"Besides," continued Cindy, "I can't let Neutron know that he's a step ahead of me, now can I?"

Now, Libby knew that she had to talk.

"Maybe, you should at least tell Jimmy." she said, looking down.

"Why? Why would I want Neutron to think that I'm some sort of little girl who's sick and can't be on top of her game one hundred percent of the time. I can just imagine that!" snapped Cindy.

"I just think that he deserves to know. I mean, you two have gotten so close. . . "

"What are you talking about!" shouted Cindy. "Neutron's just a stupid show-offy butt brain, and that's all he'll ever be."

At that exact moment, Jimmy passed their table. Cindy could tell by the look on his fact that he had heard, and for some reason, it bothered him.

"And the moment for the worst timing ever goes to. . . Cindy Vortex!" said Libby, rolling her eyes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cindy felt terrible, and she knew it had nothing to do with her cancer. She had really hurt Jimmy's feelings, for the first time. Maybe it was the fact that she had said it so loudly, but she had yelled at him before. . . or maybe Libby was right.

Cindy flicked off the television and sat in silence. She needed to think.

Libby had said that she and Jimmy had gotten close. . . maybe she was right. They had gotten close. . . so many times. . . but never close enough. At that thought, Cindy made a fist. It wasn't her fault, it never was. She had tried so many times to be his friend, or even more, but he'd always messed it up.

"I don't owe him an apology." said Cindy, aloud, to no one in particular. That's what the rational side of her said. But the other, more gentle side, the one that had allowed herself to get close to Jimmy said otherwise. Cindy stood up and slipped out the front door. She hated it when that side of her won.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jimmy once again sat in his lab. It was his favorite place to sit and think. He had no idea why what Cindy had said had bothered him so much. She'd said much worse to him before. But lately, they'd been nicer to each other, with the exeption of Cindy's now and then pranks. Of course, he knew that she only did those things to get on his nerves.

So why did it bother him so much? In the back of his mind, Jimmy knew exactly why it bothered him. Just as he was about to consider the though, a knock sounded on his clubhouse door. He knew it wasn't Sheen or Carl because they would have just walked in. It had to be someone without access to the lab. . .

"Vox, access frontal clubhouse video feed." he said, turning towards his screen. There, Cindy stood, looking at the clubhouse door. She knocked once more.

"Cindy?" he asked himself out loud. "What's she doing here?"

Jimmy debated on just whether to let Cindy in or just leave her standing there until she left. Jimmy knew that Cindy would stand there all night, though, if she had good enough reason. So, instead he let her in. In a few seconds, she walked through the door.

"Cindy? What do you want?" he asked, as if he hadn't known it was her standing there.

"Well, I was just passing, and I thought I'd say hi." she lied.

"You were just passing. . . through my back yard?" he asked.

"Yeah, so now that I've said hi, I guess I'll leave." she said.

"Okay. . ." he said uncertainly. He knew perfectly well that she hadn't been just passing.

Cindy started towards the door, but then turned back to face him.

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what I said at lunch." she said.

"What are you talking about?" he asked. "What did you say at lunch?"

"Neutron, you know exactly what I said. And, I'm sorry."

Jimmy figured he couldn't go on just pretending that he had no idea what she was talking about so instead he said, " I accept your apology."

Cindy turned to leave once more.

"Wait Cindy, before you go, I just wanted to ask you something." he said.

Cindy gave Jimmy a questioning look, but halted.

"Not that I care, but is something wrong with you? You've been slacking off in class, and I figured that something was wrong." he said.

"Nothing's wrong with me." she said, firmly, as she turned to look at him.

For the first time, Jimmy noticed that Cindy had changed. Her hair, it wasn't as full as it always had been, and her clothes hung loosely around her body. Something was definetly wrong.

"Don't lie, Vortex." he said.

"I'm not lying, and I suggest you stop accusing me, or I'll. . . " Cindy was going to finish her sentence with, 'kick your butt', but instead she felt a wave of fatigue. That had been happening lately. One minute she would be fine, but then everything would hit her all at once.

"Look, Cindy, until you tell me what's wrong, you're not leaving this lab." he demanded.

Now Cindy was mad. How dare he order her around! Despite her tiredness, she snapped back. "Oh, really, Neutron? You do know that I could kick your butt any day."

"Not today, though." he said. "You're worn out. Now, tell me what's wrong." he said, more fiercly this time.

"You want to know what's wrong with me!" she asked, knowing that eventually it would get out anyway, so what was the point? "I'm sick."

"What do you mean sick, you have a cold or something?" he asked.

"No. I mean really sick. I have cancer." Cindy pushed her way past Jimmy and made her way towards the exit.

"Wha-Cindy. . .what are you. . ." he asked, as she walked out the door. It felt as if he'd been slapped across the face.

Jimmy had expected her to yell until he let her out, but instead she'd executed a blow more powerful than any of her harsh words or threats. He should have never asked.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

well, there it was. Please review!