AN: YAY! I finally finished this chapter! Sorry for the wait. This chap uses "What Are You Waiting For" By No Secrets- I think it is a PERFECT J/C song...don't you think?

...(Bzzzt) "Uh, Huston, we have reviews...please advise!"

stefinable: Look out for those Amish- they're taking over Canada! (No, I'm not going to let you live that down!)

greg9570: (A) Very good point- thank you for the reminder. (B) Um, dude, I hate to tell you this, but it is a SONGFIC. I am not "interposing poetrynonsense." Please try to know what you are talking about before you are rude to me. - I don't mind your curt way of reviewing, but I do mind people who are so insecure they have to find excuses to flame. (Cindy-style look) ooooh, that was a big, fat burn, wasn't it?Sorry. : )

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Anonymous: Thank you!

scooter5710: And I hope it will only get better!

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kingdom219: Heh, heh! It's all fitting into my amaaaaaazing plan! YOU HAVE NEED OF MY AMAZING WRITING SKILLS! HAHA, bow to Zim! HAHAHAHAHA- (cough, cough) ...I mean...thanks for the review! Yeah! (Shifty eyes)

Chapter 6

BzzzzT!

The alarm clock announced what she had sleepily suspected- the sun had risen on another day. Groggily, she turned off the niggling noisemaker and shook herself out of bed. Smiling, she checked her calendar. "First class in an hour- then lunch."

As she took a shower, she counted the blessings of College. Later classes, better labs, no spit wads... (Most of the time.), and Jimmy- finally being friends- studying, talking, laughing. Maturity had taken it's toll on their studies- and their animosity.

She wolfed down a quick breakfast- she didn't need anything filling, and headed to campus. She was blessed, she knew, to have found a nice place to rent close to Sci-U. Of course, it helped to have a influential mother- politics were a hefty leverage tool. So, Cindy got her own room- quiet and comfy.

"Thank goodness" she thought to herself, "that I didn't land myself next door to a fraternity!" It was surprising to her, even now, what kind of turbulence partying geeks could make. She hadn't come to school to party- although she was popular and had lots of fun doing things with her friends. She just didn't see the point of the ridiculous clamor and such. It bothered her how even in a prestigious place like Sci-U, kids came from wealthy families to have a good time, not to learn. They were missing an opportunity!

She wasn't about to miss hers.

She spotted him on the front steps, reading. He had a late class, too, she knew. It was a bit of tradition for them now- meeting before class.

"Hey!" She said, breathless from her long jog.

"Hey, yourself!" He said, bookmaking his page. He set Einstein and Beyond on his stack of book before stuffing them in his bag. "You're running late again."

"Yeah, well-" She let her eyes sparkle at him, even if she felt a bit undone by his own… Over the years, hiding her feelings had become easier and easier, especially with the family she had. "Traffic was real bad."

"Yeah?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as they ascended up the stairs.

"Mmm-hmm. Pink elephants, flying pigs, and Stephanie Asitelli counting to three were parading down Main."

"Hmm." Jimmy said. After a quiet moment of refection, he stopped and looked at her. "Sorry, can't believe it."

She pretended to be surprised. "How did you see through my clever disguise?"

"One vital flaw- Stephanie Asitelli can not count to three." He said, in imitation of Sherlock Holmes.

"Ah," She said, disappointed, "You are too clever for me, mon ame!"

They laughed together as they reached class.

At lunch, they ate together again under the sycamore. As Jimmy checked his e-mail, Cindy looked at him over her sandwich discreetly. How long would this go on? Friendly joking, friendly chatting…it was driving her crazy being so darn friendly. Would she ever suck it up and be brave enough to change things? She swallowed a bite, but it went down dry. She tried to imagine something to say to him. Something that would get his attention. Something perfect.

Of course, nothing came to mind. So, she improvised. And as she recalled to mind a favorite song of hers, her heart began to beat steadily faster.

There is this girl

She looks a lot like me

And all she does is

Think about you constantly

"So," She said, looking casual as her stomach jumped to her feet. "You going to ask someone to the Science Swing?" She avoided his eyes for a moment, not knowing where she had suddenly put her brain. "I'm being too obvious," She thought to herself in horror. "...Because I hear a few girls have a little crush on you." She said, hoping to distract him.

But she's too shy

To ever let it show

And I think you know

So just for fun

Let's pretend that it's me

And I'm everything

You'll ever need

Yeah

He looked at her, with an infuriatingly unreadable look. "Uh-" he managed.

She resorted to her old standby. "Despite your Whippy-dip style hair." she finished, with what she hoped didn't sound like a forced laugh.

What are you waiting for?

Are you crazy?

Open up your eyes and see

What's going on, baby

There's someone at your door

Her heart is racing

Come on and make your move

What are you waiting for, Baby?

He gave a bit of a smile. "Well, that's news to me. I don't know. I guess I assumed-" He stopped, and she held her breath unconsciously. He cleared his throat. "That we'd go together."

"Uh-" It was her turn to say, intelligently. Her head was spinning too fast to get a read on any sharp reply.

Now here's a clue-

Her favorite color's blue

That's how she'll feel if

She can't be with you

"As friends." He finished, quickly. She felt her heart drop as she calculated his tone. "Of course. More buddy-buddy times with good- ol Cindy", she thought, miserably.

Cus you're the one

Who takes her breath away

When you look that way

So just for fun

Let's pretend that it's me

And I'm everything

You'll ever need

Yeah

"Well-" she started, wearily, "I-" She was cut off by a beep.

He smiled at her maladroitly. "E-mail."

She nodded, seeing her opportunity. "Well, you better check it- might be NASA or something."

He laughed. "No, they have my cell phone number, they wouldn't e-mail."

What are you waiting for?

Are you crazy?

Open up your eyes and see

What's going on, baby

She joined him halfheartedly with a chuckle.

"James?"

Jimmy turned toward the voice.

"Yes, Dean Yarly?"

"A word? It will only take a moment."

"Uh- sure."

He looked over at Cindy. It was as if they could talk without words…she loved it when they did that.

There's someone at your door

Her heart is racing

Come on and make your move

What are you waiting for, Baby?

"Wonder what's up?" His look said.

"Beats me…hope it's okay." She motioned, with a shrug.

"Hope so." Said his eyebrows, shooting up. He started to walk away.

"Hey," Cindy called after him, "Mind if I check my e-mail while you're gone?"

"No problem!"

Then he was gone, deep in discussion with the Dean. She turned the laptop around and reached for the mini-mouse. Then her eyes fell on the e-mail program before her. "It must open automatically after a minute or two", she thought, reaching to close the box. Before the mouse could make it's trip, though, she couldn't stop her eyes from glancing over the subject box…

She gasped.

From Secret Admirer, it read.

"Secret admirer?" She whispered, getting a horrible feeling about what the message was going to say. "Should I open it?" She asked herself. "Of course not!" She replied to herself.

"…Do it." She decided.

Slowly she scrolled down, and read the message. It took minutes that seemed like hours to read.

"Dear Friend-

Did you miss me? Even if you don't know who I am? Sorry I haven't written in a while.

Every day in Bio I watch you, waiting for you to notice me. I can't help but notice you- the way you talk and the awesome way you find square root derivatives."

Cindy huffed to herself. "What kind of secret admirer dweebette is this?" She continued to read the letter, chills down her spine growing more pronounced.

"I wish I could find the strength in me to finally talk to you- to tell you how I feel in person- but I'm not brave like you. Yes, I think you're brave, too! (And handsome)

You can't imagining the way I'm blushing right now, imagining you reading these words…please don't laugh- I hope you won't.

Listen, I know it's a bit odd, but I was hoping that perhaps I could meet you…at the Science Swing? I know you're invited. I think I'm finally ready to tell you who I am…or, maybe I will be by then.

If you agree, please leave a sticky note under the bench where you sit at lunch with your friend- I know it very well. J

If not, I hope maybe someday I'll have the courage to tell you how I feel anyway…but, I hope you say yes.

…Please say yes.

Sincerely-

Secret Admirer"

Cindy looked at the e-mail in amazement. Breathing heavily, she glanced at the "delete" button. "No," she reprimanded herself, "I can't do that- it's bad enough I read his mail! But, what do I do? She's invited him to the dance!...He'd probably like her better, anyway. A secret adirmer is better than...just some friend." With tears forming in her eyes, she exited the program. "I'll just have to pretend like I never read it."

Disturbing her thoughts, Jimmy returned to her. Snapping her mind back to defensive mode, she gave an empty smile.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything is fine- he just wanted to make sure I was going to the Science Swing. You know, putting in appearances and everything."

"Hey, you are the Sci-U poster boy."

He laughed, turning around his laptop. "All done?"

"Huh?" She asked, not sure what he was talking about.

"E-mail? You done?"

"Oh. Uh, yeah."

"Okay." He said, opening his e-mail account again.

She watched his face, looking for a sign of recognition…disgust…pleasure. But he was expressionless as he scrolled through his inbox.

"He doesn't want me know. I was right." She realized, gloomily. "But what did I expect? Him to tell me?…I guess Ihoped he would." She tried to imagine him, laughing with her. "Hey, Cindy," he would say, "you'll never guess the crazy letters I've been getting. Aren't they weird?"

But he just continued to read, not noticing her eyes brimming dangerously again.

"Maybe," She thought to herself, "He really does like it. Or her. What if he really does want to meet her?" She thought, miserably, as she tried to fight off the jealous feeling rising in her.

"If he wants her," She decided finally, "He can have her."

I hear there's something good that

Waits for you

Check it out

It just might be true,

Yeah,

There's so much more to her than

Meets the eye

You'll never know it

If you don't try

"Hey, I gotta go. I'll see you around, okay?"

"Okay. Bye." He said, distractedly.

She turned to go, despondent.

Hey!

What are you waiting for?

Are you crazy?

Open up your eyes and see

What's going on, baby

There's someone at your door

Her heart is racing

Come on and make your move

What are you waiting for,

Baby?

The lyrics screamed at him, in her head. But this time, he wasn't reading her mind.

She walked away.

AN: Blech, after reading "My Life Is A Shakesperian Play", my fic seems so...blah. Sigh. Oh, well. I hope you like it anyway! Please reveiw!