Author's Note: Hello. I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter. The second chapter is here and I'd like to clear one thing up. This is not a sequal or a spin-off to "New Technology." While I was writing it, I noticed that it felt like it was a spin-off and I debated with myself whether or not it should be, but then I thought about it. As the story goes on (and you will see) there are a number of reasons why this can't be a spin-off or sequal whatever to "New Technology." There are things from this fic's time line that won't fit with the "New Technology" time line of events. I think that's the best way to put it. Oh, and I took the liberty of giving Mr. Vortex a name. Anyway, enjoy!
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Part 2: Just Go Back Where You Came From
"I hope you don't think she'll be included in any reindeer games, Jimmy," Becca commented as she sat down beside him at the dinner table.
"Stop," Jimmy replied weakly as he sighed heavily, placing a hand over his eyes. He was getting tired of hearing his family and friends commenting about Cindy. This really wasn't the moment for something like this and anyway he could figure out himself what he would do about the situation.
"I don't think you should be talking to her, honey," Mrs. Neutron added as she continued to serve everyone.
"Yeah, Jimmy," Libby agreed. She thanked Mrs. Neutron for the mashed potatoes and then continued, "She never has any good intentions in anything she does. I should know."
"Just stay away from her," Sheen put in as he reached for a biscuit.
"But Cindy isn't all that bad," Carl defended.
"Oh, please, Carl!" Libby exploded. "Just look at her! Look in her eyes!"
"She's evil," Becca added calmly as she looked blankly at her mashed potatoes. She stabbed them with her fork hard enough to hear it clank against the plate.
"Will you all stop it?!" Jimmy shouted as he stood, slamming his hands down on the table and everything fell silent as his glass and plate rattled. They stared at him in shock. "I am a grown man! I can make my own decisions!"
"We're all just worried about you," Mrs. Neutron said. "You have to understand. We don't want to see you get hurt."
"I won't get hurt!" he protested as he began to leave the table.
"Wait!" Becca called. "Aren't you going to eat?"
"I'm not hungry," he said as he walked off never once looking back.
The table grew silent again as they looked down on their plates. They were all feeling a little guilty now. It was a time for a warm family get together with friends and yet there was no fun and games. Everyone seemed to be pinned against each other all because of Cindy's return. But they were all concerned for Jimmy's well-being. If they had one thing in common amongst them all, it was that they all deeply cared for Jimmy.
"Uh. . .I don't want to be nosey, but. . ." Marcy said. "Is Mr. Neutron okay?"
"I'm fine," Mr. Neutron said.
"Not you, Hugh," Mrs. Neutron corrected. "She's talking about Jimmy."
"Oh, Jimbo!" Mr. Neutron exclaimed. There was a pause. "Yeah, he went to his room."
Becca rolled her eyes. "Rebecca, honey," Mrs. Neutron said softly with a sigh. The girl turned to her mother. "Why don't you talk to your brother. He always loved talking to you. He confides in you. He trusts you most."
Becca nodded and then removed herself from the table and walked out the door and up the stairs to Jimmy's old room. She knocked on the door before she opened it. He stood by his window, casting a longing gaze at the house across the street. She balled her hands into fists as she watched him. She hated how Cindy had hurt him. She hated to see him like this and yet sometimes she hated him for being so stupid as to allowing himself to feel anymore sorrow for "the one who got away" as he put it. But she was the one who ran away with intention of hurting him. She had never loved him like he loved her. She was the one missing out, not the other way around as Jimmy thought. She was pure evil.
"I'm sorry," she said through clenched teeth. "I shouldn't have brought it up."
Jimmy turned to her and then looked away. After a short pause he said, "You don't mean that." He made his way to his bookshelf and removed a book. The cover read, General Science: Sixth Edition. It was her school textbook. She had left her own books there when he had moved out. She had enjoyed coming into his room more than her own. He had way more science related books and things than she did in her own room and so she enjoyed reading the material he had.
Jimmy looked through the textbook before he put it back.
"I do mean it," she protested as she entered his room. "It's just that I didn't want her hanging around. Not with us. She's hurt you so bad in the past and I don't want you reliving any of that pain, but I guess it's too late."
Jimmy looked at his sister suspiciously as she looked away from him. "What makes you say that?"
"Because I saw your face when you looked at her," she answered simply. There was a silence between them not even they could describe in real words. It was just so unfamiliar to them. "I can't forgive her for what she put you through," she continued, breaking through the silence. "Or what she put this family through after she left. It wasn't right and it wasn't fair!" She was still not looking at him. Her eyes focused on nothing in particular as the anger slowly swirled around inside her, ready to burst, but she held as much of it back as she possibly could. If she got too angry, she'd cry and when she cried it meant that she was weak and the situation had managed to upset her just that much. She didn't want Jimmy to know how hurt she was. She needed to be strong and she hadn't yet been completely convinced herself that she was that upset, though deep down she suspected it. She just didn't want to say it aloud.
Jimmy kneeled down in front of her and pulled her into his arms. He placed his head on her's after gently kissed her soft hair.
"You hurt too, don't you?" he asked softly.
She pulled away. "No," she said a little too quickly. "She never hurt me."
"Who do you think you're fooling, Becca?" he asked.
She crossed her arms over her chest.
"She betrayed you just the same. She left not only me, but you too," he said. "You lost someone you cared about that day. I know it."
She didn't say anything as she stood and walked away.
"Becca," he called, still kneeling down. She stopped. "You can talk to me whenever you'd like. I'm here for you, you know."
"Yeah, I know," she said. "But I don't need to talk. I'm not hurt. Not like you." She closed the door behind her and the silence in his room consumed him as he looked down. He shook his head as he sighed.
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Her parents had been just as surprised as everyone else was when they opened their door. Her mother couldn't make up her mind whether she was happy or angry. Her father, though made it clear after his surprise had subsided: he was angry. He took one look at her as she stepped through the door (the shock in his eyes was obvious, but when it was gone), he picked up his things, and walked into his office to continue his work. It hurt, but she didn't show it. Her mother on the other hand took a good look at her and stayed completely still until her eyes began to tear and then she sobbed. She hugged her daughter, thanking god she was back home, but yelling and shouting her hate at the same time. It confused her and she didn't know what to make of it, but she decided to take it as a good thing and went up stairs as her mother continued to cry and vent, but a surprising little guest stood outside her door. She smiled.
"Hello, little brother," she greeted.
"What are you doing around these neck of the woods, little red?" he asked as he turned to look at her. His arms were crossed over his chest. A few strands of hair covered his green eyes only slightly, it didn't seem to bother him, though. What did seem to bother him was the fact that his sister was standing only a few feet away from him. The look in his green eyes revealed a calm storm inside. It was obvious he was angry and yet he seemed so calm. He seemed to be taming his anger well.
"Actually," she said. "I'm a blond. Not to quick are you. No worries. You never were." She gave him a playful smirk, but he narrowed his eyes. It had been the way she said it that sounded wrong. She didn't sound like she was playing around, though she was.
"Why couldn't you just stay in Hollywood with all your snotty friends!" he shouted as he moved away from her door. He looked about ready to fight. The storm he was taming was finally set free, but it didn't take him long to regained his composure. He stood straight again and looked at her with those angry yet calm eyes he now had. His mood had quickly changed and Cindy didn't know what to think. "Just go back where you came from. No one really wants you here." He sounded so calm it was amazing. He then turned away and walked to his room. Slowly he closed his door and she could hear him turning on his music and putting the volume all the way up.
She entered her own room then and sat at her vanity table looking at her reflection in the mirror. Well, she thought. He changed. She use to be able to play fight with him all the time. When he spoke to her, she knew he wasn't playing around. She knew just by looking at him. That kid meant business. She was almost afraid to go to sleep! She never knew! But she smiled anyway as she stood and made her way to the bathroom for a relaxing bath.
Across the street, Jimmy entered his room with Goddard in toe. He had been in the lab looking over some of his old inventions and showing Marcy around after he and his family and friends had reconciled shortly after the small outburst (though they stayed firmly with their on beliefs). Marcy seemed to enjoy it. Her face lit up with awe with every new invention she saw and she had been constantly writing in her notebook while Rebecca took pictures for her. It was yet another hobby of Rebecca's: Photography. Jimmy smiled as he thought of it. She was very ambitious for her age. So many dreams, so much talent, so little time. It was what she liked to say when she was talking about her dreams and her future. There was no denying it. The girl was cocky. Maybe not all the time, but sometimes. It almost made him laugh, but he loved her anyway. It was hard not to.
Jimmy removed his tie as Goddard jumped on the bed. He tossed it on the desk chair and sighed as he thought of Cindy. It was nice to see her again. After 5 long years, he was still in love with her. Maybe now more than ever before. Especially, after seeing her again and although she had treated him so carelessly and so faithlessly when they had dated, he couldn't find it in himself to be angry with her. He had gone through that already and he had come to terms with it. Actually, he buried it deep inside. When he thought it'd escape, it always came out in the form of misery and woe. Though, he didn't understand why. Maybe it had been because he just didn't want to be angry anymore. Not with Cindy. It had taken a lot to put their differences aside and become friends before dating. A very long time and maybe he was just afraid of starting from the beginning because he wanted to pick up right where they had last left off.
He lay in bed for a while before he got up to look out the window. Cindy entered her room wearing nothing but a towel. Her hair lay loose across her shoulders. Water dripped slowly from the ends of her hair. She closed the door behind her and he quickly fumbled for the curtains. Goddard barked as he watched Jimmy struggle.
"Shh!" Jimmy scolded as he desperately tried to close the curtains and at that moment as if she had heard Goddard bark (and maybe she had), she looked out her window toward his and he quickly duck for cover, hoping she hadn't seen him. Goddard bounced off the bed and ran to him, barking happily as he wagged his tail. "Goddard, please!" Jimmy begged.
Cindy had already caught him. When she had walked into her room, her eyes had caught a glimpse of him. She knew he was there and although it seemed a bit childish, it was cute. She felt like she was in high school all over again. She remembered how in eleventh grade something similar had happened. She entered her room, dressed in a towel. Jimmy had been closing his curtains, ready to turn in for the day when he caught her. Cindy had been clueless of this and removed her towel. She dressed and didn't notice Jimmy watching her until after she had dressed and was closing her own curtains. She screamed then and he quickly closed his curtains and turned off the lights. She remembered how mortified she had been. Her mother knocked furiously on the door, shouting her concern. Her father had been the one who had broken the lock and got inside.
"What's going on? What happened?" he asked.
"Some pervert was watching me from across the street!" she shouted, her anger now consuming her.
After that her father had insisted on going outside to find the man he thought had run away, but Cindy had never told her parents that it had been Jimmy watching from his window.
"Howard Vortex!" Her mother had shouted as she followed her husband outside that day. "You come back here now! Do you want to be taken to jail for murder?!"
"Cool!" Benjamin shouted. "I'm gonna watch dad beat someone!"
"Benjamin!" her mother scolded as the boy ran after his father, a smile on his face. "BENJAMIN! Don't you watch him do it!"
Cindy held back a laugh thinking about it now. She sighed for a moment as she reminisced. Her family had cared so much for her then and now. . .her brother no longer smiled, her father wasn't that kind person he had always been, and her mother was no longer. . .well, stable. But she pushed the memory aside as she looked out toward Jimmy's window. A devilish grin made it's way on her lips. Why don't I tease him a little? she thought.
She knew Jimmy would check to see if she was looking away to pull the curtains together, so she waited for the right time. She grabbed her brush and combed her hair and sure enough Jimmy took a peak to make sure the coast was clear. She made pretend she hadn't noticed as she held back a smile. She turned, her back facing him and let her towel drop in a hoop around her ankles. Jimmy's jaw dropped wide open and soon Goddard lifted his robotic head to take a peak of his own and without any orders or comments from Jimmy, began recording as he howled.
Jimmy quickly shoved the dog's head down as he set himself beneath the window sill. "Goddard!" he scolded. He placed a hand on his forehead as his cheeks burned red with embarrassment. This is wrong, he said to himself. Don't look! Just close the curtains and turn in. But it wasn't that easy. Well, it's not like she has anything I haven't seen, he encouraged. But it's still so wrong!
He sat up straight and turned to try and pull his curtains together, but he caught himself looking into Cindy's window again. He watched her dress and then she turned her lights off and went to bed. His heart beat rapidly in his chest. He sat on his knees now, still looking into the other window. A knock on the door and a small voice made him jump.
Becca walked in and as quickly as he could he closed the curtains. He turned to her and waited for her to say something as he held his breath. She looked at him with a funny face, wondering what he was doing, but she shook her head and said, "I'm not even going to ask." She turned away and closed the door. Not wanting to know anything.
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The following day was an improvement from the previous one. Or so everyone thought it'd be.
"Jimmy!" Becca whined. "Hurry up already! The movie is gonna start without us!"
"The movie waits for no one!" Libby added as she honked the horn. She sat in the passenger's seat of her new convertible as Sheen sat in the driver's seat looking at the car's bottons and things as if he had never seen a custom made car before.
Marcy came out hurriedly with Goddard running after her. Mrs. Neutron quickly scooped him up before he got into the car. "I'm sorry, Goddard," she said. "No pets allowed." The mechanical dog whimpered as he watched Marcy get in the car. They greeted the girl as she sat down. Jimmy came out then with his dad. His arm sat around his son's shoulders and he was giving Jimmy "the talk."
"Now you see, Jimbo," he began "When a man and woman-"
"Hugh, honey," Mrs. Neutron interrupted. "I think Jimmy already knows about all this. He is 23 after all. I'm sure he's experimented before."
Jimmy blushed. He didn't even know how his father had started talking about it. He just did. How embarrassing. "When did this become about my sex life?" he asked with horror.
"Well, sweetheart," his mother said. "I'm just stating the obvious. It's hard to believe that a young, handsome man like yourself hasn't found someone he can-"
"I'm on my way now!" he said as he approached the car. He took a deep breath as he opened the door. Just as he was about to sit, everyone bursted with laughter. His blush deepened as he attempted not to care. He rolled his eyes and caught a glimpse of Cindy walking out of her house as he did so. He didn't think it was possible, but his blush deepened even more. She caught his gaze and she seemed to smile secretly to herself. She walked down the path of her front yard and made her way down the street.
"H-hey, Cindy!" he called and the laughter stopped. Everyone turned. She looked at him, noticing the sudden stares she was receiving. "Why don't you come along?"
An explosion of voices came from inside the car.
"What?!"
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"Jimmy, I don't think it's a good idea."
"Great idea!"
He ignored them as he became more comfortable. "It'll be good to be together as a group again."
"What makes you think I'd want to come along?" she asked.
He paused. "I don't know," he said as he shrugged. "I just thought that-"
"I'll go," she interruped. "But I'm telling you, this better not be a way to get me back."
At that Libby spoke, her anger taking over her better judgment. "And I'm tellin' you," she began. "Jimmy was only askin' to be nice and I doubt he would ever want to get back with you, you hear me?! So don't be goin' around talking about sh-"
"And if you think that this can serve as a way to hurt him more, you are dead wrong!" Becca added.
Cindy stared unable to speak, but she nodded not knowing what else to do. Jimmy walked around to the other side and opened the car door for her. She was hesitant, but she soon climbed inside and he sat down beside her as Becca sat on Marcy's lap to make more room. He waved to his parents as they watched him. They couldn't believe how easily he had accepted Cindy, but they were too shocked to complain.
The car ride to the movie theater was quiet. No one made an attempt to even start a conversation. Libby and Becca were both fuming and Sheen constantly sighed. Marcy didn't have a clue what was going on while Cindy sat with her legs crossed, showing just enough skin to make Jimmy's head spin and Carl was happy as can be. The air around them was thick with tension, though some were oblivious to it.
When they arrived, they climbed out one by one. Sheen walked ahead of everyone as he approached the line to buy tickets. Libby stepped beside him as she crossed her arms over her chest, too angry to speak.
"I'll buy the drinks," Carl said gleefully.
"I'll buy the popcorn," Libby mumbled.
"I'll buy the candy," Becca said.
"Don't use your money, Becca," Jimmy said. "Take my wallet."
"If you say so," she said with a shrug. She walked away closely behind Libby.
Marcy had stayed quiet the entire time, they had almost forgotten about her. Jimmy caught her from the corner of his eye, looking down at her shoes.
"Becca!" Jimmy called. The small girl turned around. "Take Marcy with you."
She nodded and with a forced smile she waved Marcy over. The girl looked at Jimmy and then back at Becca and walked to her. The line moved up quickly. Soon it was Sheen's turn. "Seven for Darkness, please," he requested. "6 adults, 1 child."
The woman handed him the tickets as he paid her. She looked at him as if she recognized him from somewhere. She looked over at Jimmy and cocked her head. Sheen walked away then and the woman called him back. "Uh, sir," she said. "Your change."
"Keep it," he said simply.
When they stepped inside they found Carl on one line and Libby and Rebecca with Marcy on another. Jimmy, Sheen, and Cindy spilt up. Cindy and Jimmy went to Carl while Sheen went to Libby. One day in Retroville and already they were separated. Even though they had kept in contact with each other over the years, with the exception of Cindy, they seemed miles and miles apart now.
Becca glanced over at her brother. He had been away for a year and although she had received his letters, it wasn't the same. He was finally back home and yet he didn't want to spend any time with her. She still hadn't shown him the blue prints she had been working on. It's only been a day after all, she kept saying, but she knew there was more to it than that. She knew, just knew that Jimmy wouldn't be interested. Cindy was back now and he'd give anything to be back in her arms and he'd die before he gave up on her. On them. She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. She payed the lady for the candy and left after receiving her change. She walked side by side with Libby. Marcy fell a little behind and soon Sheen had too.
When they joined with the rest of the group, there was silence.
"I'll go save some seats," Marcy offered as she ran off after handing the popcorn in her arms to whoever was closest.
"I'll go with you," Becca replied as she ran after her, stuffing the candy she'd later distribute in her pockets. She didn't want to stay around them, though she knew that they'd see each other again when they were all sitting down.
Sheen and Libby distributed the rest of the popcorn while Carl handed everyone their drinks. Jimmy took Becca's and Carl held Marcy's. "Maybe we should go now," someone said. They all agreed and made their way to their theater. They found Marcy and Becca sitting somewhere in the middle. They each took their seats and no one spoke. It remained that way even on the car ride back home. When they reached Jimmy's house, everyone climbed out of the car. Cindy began her walk across the street when Jimmy called to her. She turned and he approached her. Everyone watched in silent disbelief.
"Uh," he began. "Becca and I made plans to eat ice cream tomorrow. Some time around noon."
"Isn't there school?" Cindy asked. "For Becca?" She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him suspiciously.
"No," Jimmy answered. "She's on her vacation. Spring Recess."
"Mmm."
"So. . .?"
"Why are you asking me to come along?"
Jimmy opened his mouth to speak, but he had trouble finding the words. He couldn't tell her he wanted to get back together. She would never go with him then and he couldn't explain how he missed her and just wanted to spend some time with her. He just couldn't tell her everything. His heart felt heavy all of a sudden and he looked down. "I thought it'd be nice to get together as friends," he said finally. It wasn't exactly a lie, but it wasn't exactly the truth either.
She seemed to think it over and then with a shrug she said, "Why not?" Jimmy smiled joyfully, but Cindy didn't look very enthusiastic about it. She walked away from him then and closed the door as Jimmy said goodbye. He turned to the rest of the group. Libby looked at him in horror and Sheen looked as if he was about to ask if he was feeling okay. Carl was the only really happy one. Marcy didn't know whether to praise him or scold him, though she knew she could never scold a soul. Becca's face turned from surprised to disgusted to angry in a short while. She threw down Jimmy's wallet and ran inside, pushing Marcy aside. He was shocked at her reaction.
"Becca?" he asked. "Becca!" He ran after her and Libby picked up his wallet. She shook her head and followed him inside. Sheen looked to Carl and narrowed his eyes.
"This is all your fault, you know," he said. "None of this would've happened if you hadn't called her for this reunion."
He walked inside as Carl attempted to talk back. "Yeah, well. . .your. . ." His happy mood suddenly changed and now Marcy was the only one left standing outside with him, though she didn't know what to do.
The sun was going down and she sighed. Maybe it was a mistake to come, she thought.
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"Becca?" came Jimmy's voice from outside her door.
Becca didn't want to see his face, so she attempted to lock her door, but it was too late. Jimmy opened it and stepped inside. Libby stood there with her arms folded across her chest. She held Jimmy's wallet in one hand. She continued to stand there, not wanting to actually come between the two, but Becca knew she'd get into it one way or another.
"You don't want Cindy coming along with us?" Jimmy asked.
"No," Becca answered. "I don't like her. I thought you knew that by the way I acted yesterday when I saw her. Oh, and by the way I was around her at the movie theater."
"What do you want me to do?" he asked. "Uninvite her?"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Why not?!"
"Don't be so selfish, Becca!" Jimmy scolded. This had taken her aback. She didn't know quite how to react. "I want to spend some time with her. Is that so much to ask? I haven't seen her in years!"
"I haven't seen her in years too!" she added. "But you don't see me going around acting all nice and wanting to spend time with her. I don't even want to see her face!"
He sighed. "Can't you just do this one thing for me?" he asked, pleading with her. "I've never asked anything of you before. This is the first time."
Becca stayed silent as Jimmy's mood became somber. It was true what he said. He had never once asked anything of her. Not once. Memories played back in her mind's eye. She had always been the one asking him for favors and things and he had always done them. Every one of them. Everything she had ever asked of him, he did without question. Wasn't it about time she repaid him?
"I've always did things for you. Whenever you asked for a favor, I'd gladly do it, you know that."
But instead of breathing a sigh of defeat and allowing him this favor, she blew up in his face, her anger swirling into a thick fog in her mind and in her heart. She wanted to be with him. She hadn't seen him for a long time too. Was it wrong that she wanted to spend some quality time with her brother? Was it selfish if her to want to spend time with her brother?
"Don't you dare try making me feel bad!" she shouted. "It's not fair when you do that!"
"It's true!" Jimmy protested.
Libby walked in then. "Stop it! You'll tear each other apart!"
"I've done everything you asked me to and I never once asked you for a favor!" Jimmy continued, ignoring Libby. "You're being selfish!"
"No!" Becca protested. "You are! Now get out of my room!"
Jimmy stopped. He looked down at the angry girl and she looked back at him, daring him to say another word. He nodded his head. "Fine," he said. "I see how it is." And with that, he walked out. Libby shoved the wallet in his hand as he walked out. For a long time there was a daunting silence that neither Libby nor Becca could break, but finally, Libby sighed deeply.
"I'm a little pissed too," she said. "He's being dumb. Cindy will just end up hurting him again. But don't you worry. I won't let her get her dirty claws into him again. I can promise you that much"
"Thanks," Becca replied. "But don't promise me. Just do it. Keep them apart. I'll do my best to keep her from him too. I have to. . .he's my brother. She'll hurt him." She looked down at her shoes. Jimmy needed to be rescued from this sick obsession. It wasn't healthy and he needed to get over her and Becca would save him because if she didn't. . .then who would?