O.O! Whoa! RR, did you actually cry? I didn't want to make you cry! I just wanted to melt your heart! Which I probably did, but I'm glad you liked it so much! Kudos!
Thank you all for your lovely reviews. I'm glad you enjoyed that sappy proposal. Correction, though: When I said "Part One," I meant the whole fic is Part one of a 3-part story, 'kay? Now that we've got that established, we'll have another cutesy love song and the reaction of Jimmy and Cindy's friends and family! And they get at least ONE thing taken care of on their wedding plan. Enjoy!
Chapter Two: Word Gets Around
The next day, Cindy was lying on Libby's bed with her head off the side.
Such a feeling's comin' over me.
There is wonder in most everything I see.
"Okay, girl," Libby eyed her with her famous eye of suspicion, "What's with the goofy grin?" Libby was sitting next to Cindy, who was still hanging her head backwards off the bed in la-la land.
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes, And I–
won't be surprised it if it's a dream.
"I went out with him last night," she replied, "We ate, we played at Retroland...(sigh)...Then we went to the park. He showed me the most gorgeous sunset/moon rise, and it sparkled in the fountain water."
Everything I want the world to be
is now coming true, especially for me.
"And?" Libby pressed, excited, "What'd he give you?" Cindy held up her left hand, and Libby screamed!
"NO WAY!" she squealed, holding Cindy's hand, "HE DIDN'T"--
"Yep," Cindy nodded.
"AND YOU"--
"That's right."
"So you two are"--
"You betcha."
Libby pulled Cindy up and embraced her.
And the reason is clear
It's because you are here
"Cindy, this is so wonderful!" she yelled, then jumped up and sang, "Halleluia, brother! Halleluia, brother!"
You're the nearest thing to heaven that I see.
"At least you're taking it less weirdly than my mom," Cindy said, "Last night, she praised every ancient deity from Zeus to Osiris to Sheba." Libby grabbed her hand.
"Come on!" she bubbled, "We've gotta call the guys and go see Jimmy!"
I'm on the top of the world,
looking down on creation,
and the only explanation I can find
is the love that I've found
ever since you've been around.
Your love's put me at the top of the world.
Meanwhile, Jimmy sat down at breakfast with his parents. Hugh and Judy had been out by the time Jimmy had gotten home, so they didn't know yet.
Something in the wind has learned my name
And it's telling me that things are not the same.
"Oh, Jimmy!" Judy said, "How was your date with Cindy yesterday?" Jimmy grinned.
"It was unbelievable," he said, "We had dinner, played some games at Retroland, and went to the park."
"Oh, that's lovely, dear!" Judy sighed.
In the leaves of the trees, and the touch of the breeze,
there's a pleasing sense of happiness for me.
"And it was at the park that," Jimmy said the next sentence quickly, "I-asked-Cindy-to-marry-me-She-said-yes-Bye!" Judy grabbed her son's arm before he could get away.
There is only one wish on my mind:
When this day is through, I hope that I will find
"And she said yes?" she asked. Jimmy nodded. Judy threw her arms around his neck and proceeded to kiss every square inch of his head. Hugh was shocked in a good way.
"Holy Toledo!" he said, "I need oxygen!"
That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me
All I need will be mine if you are here.
"What a coincidence!" Jimmy groaned under his mother's grip, "So do I!"
I'm on the top of the world,
looking down on creation,
and the only explanation I can find
is the love that I've found
ever since you've been around.
Your love's put me at the top of the world.
"Sorry!" she released him. They heard a knock on the kitchen door. Judy opened it and saw Libby with Cindy in tow and flanked by Carl, Sheen, and Alex.
(Repeat chorus)
"Is Jimmy home?" Libby sparkled. Judy smiled as Jimmy appeared in the doorway.
"Hi, Lib"– he started to say before having his rib cage nearly crushed by her deadly hug, "–by!" he strained, "I trust you took the news well?"
"Sweetie," Judy asked Libby, "Could you let Jimmy go? You're kind of puncturing his lungs."
"Sorry!" she dropped him and Carl picked him back up.
"We came over as soon as Libby called!" Carl said, "Congratulations, Jimmy!"
"We're so happy for you!" Alex hugged him more gently.
"Yeah, Jimmy, you old codger!" Sheen slapped his back, "Mozeltov!"
"Thanks, you guys," Jimmy smiled, "but she's the one who said yes!"
"Oh, Cindy!" Judy tearfully went and hugged her, "I just can't believe you'll be joining our family!"
It didn't take long for the good news to spread through town. Everyone had a different reaction.
"Neutron's hitching up with Vortex?" Sam panicked, "HIT THE DECK, yeah!"
"Sweet muffins, it's about TIME!" Ms. Fowl squawked, "I thought he'd NEVER propose! (squawk!)"
"Oh, this is so exciting!" Principal Willoughby was acting like a cheerleader, "The two brightest stars in the academic universe are uniting for eternity!"
"That's 50 bucks, Butch," Nick said, "I told you Neutron would crack first!"
And so on.
So it wasn't long before everyone in town knew (everyone that mattered, anyway).
At Cindy's house, Jimmy and Cindy made lists of family invitations at the table. Sasha had made sure Cindy didn't forget anyone, as Judy had done to Jimmy.
"Okay," Cindy said as she sealed the last envelope, "That's all of mine: Aunt Susie, Grandma Yetta, cousin Barney, some relative I've never met named Joyce..."
"Mine are done, too," Jimmy stacked his in a neat pile, "Granny Neutron, Great-Aunt Amanda, Cousins Gomer and Annabelle, Aunt Kari, Uncle Mary..." Cindy looked at him with a freaked out "huh?" expression.
"Don't ask," he said, "I don't even know."
"Here," she said, "I'll mail these out while you work on the friends' list." She gave him a quick kiss, and Goddard trotted out after her.
"Er," she said, "Do you mind if Goddard comes? He looks like he wants to."
"I don't mind," he said, "He needs some exercise."
Cindy and Goddard went to the street mailbox downtown.
"So what's the deal, Goddard?" she asked as she dropped in the invitations, "Trying to get used to me?" Goddard whined and licked her cheek.
"Aw, I'm kinda fond of you too, Goddard," she knelt and petted him, "Humphrey's my mom's dog, anyway."
"Bark!" he wagged his tail.
"Let's go, boy," she said, "Whoa. I'll get to call you 'boy' now! Cool!"
After they took care of the friends list, Jimmy and Cindy met up with the others in the park to talk, blissfully unaware that they were being watched. From the shadows of the trees, a figure rolled pinball-sized tear gas bombs under their bench. The young adults coughed and choked and teared up. Before losing consciousness, Alex saw the perpetrator's face through the mist and fainted. Jimmy and Cindy had been holding hands, so Jimmy felt Cindy being yanked from him.
"CINDY!" he panicked, "Where..."
(Clunk)
Author's Review:
DON'T PANIC! I know I just tortured y'all with a cliffhanger, but hey: It's a long enough chapter, don't you think? Review, please!