Author's Note: It's been a while, but it's back! I apologize for the long wait, but I was caught up in school. You know how that goes, I'm sure. Anyway, if you like Becca, you'll enjoy this chapter. She's a main part of this chapter, I think. Oh, and this chapter gives a little bit more insight into the past. Not much, but it's enough to keep you guessing and wanting more. . .MWA HA HA! LOL! I'm crazy! But I'm sure you'll enjoy it. . .I hope.
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Part 3: You're A False Prophet
She awoke with the sun shining in her eyes. She turned, groaning.
"Wake up, sweetie," came her mother's soft voice as she continued to pull back the curtains.
Becca groaned again. I don't wanna! She whined. She wanted to stay in bed the whole day. She wasn't going to spend time with Jimmy if Cindy wasn't going to be with them. There was no way in hell she'd spend time with her again!
"Come on, Becca," her mother continued. "Get up." She patted her daughter's leg as she spoke. "Jimmy should be back any minute and then the both of you can stay home til noon and then go out for ice cream like you two planned."
Back? She thought. He wasn't home? Where could he be? She was curious, but when she remembered that she was angry with him, she chose to forget about it. "I'm not going," she mumbled as she buried her head in her pillow.
Her mother stopped as she reached the door. She turned, her face expressing was a mix of confusion and concern. Then she sighed before making her way to her daughter's bed. "Becca," she began. "I know you and your brother had an argument yesterday, but-"
"Don't tell me you're on his side?!" Becca shouted as she sat up straight in her bed. She looked at her mother with angry eyes.
"I'm not here to take sides, sweetheart. I'm just-"
"You're taking his side!" Becca accused as she threw her covers at her mother and stood. "Well, you listen to me," she began. "There is no way in hell that I am going to spend time with that good-for-nothing, back-stabber of a-"
Becca stopped when her mother stood, slowly removing the sheet from her face. Now Becca was becoming nervous. She hadn't realized she was disrespecting her mother in such a way and now the woman was angry.
"Now, you listen to me," her mother said slowly with a calmness that scared her, "I am not taking sides. And how dare you disrespect me! I came here to comfort you and this is what I get? Well, you know what? I won't bother. You figure this out yourself and don't you dare show your face around me until you know how to speak to me correctly, young lady!" With that her mother turned and walked out.
"Hold on!" Becca shouted, her voice trembling. "I-I didn't-" But her mother wouldn't look at her and then the guilt filled her. She sighed and scolded herself as she walked back into her room. Flopping back on the bed, she thought, Why me!
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Cindy looked through her closet. She pondered her choices for a moment as she remembered Jimmy. I thought it'd be nice to get together as friends, came his soft voice. "Ice cream sounds nice," she should've said. Or maybe something like, "Yes, I'd love to join you." But no. She had to say "Why not?" with little enthusiasm and a shrug! Why couldn't she just be happy? She was back in the place she grew up in with the people she cared about and Jimmy was as sweet as he had always been when they were together. But she shook her head. Why did she even care?! They betrayed her and she left because it was necessary. Sure she betrayed them, but that was only to return the favor and so she did. No big deal. But despite this she subconsciously continued to go through her closet.
"You really going out with him?" came her brother's voice from the door. She turned a little startled at his sudden intrusion.
"You scared me," she said. She looked back at him as he leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed. He didn't look directly at her, but she could see that calm storm swirling inside of him within his eyes. It still amazed her whenever she looked in his eyes. They were so intense and emotional. It was obvious he was angry but he was so calm and cool, so collected that it made her begin to think that maybe, just maybe he wasn't really angry. But she knew his anger was real. She could feel it.
"Good," he replied as he turned away from her. He was ready to leave but he stopped. "Don't you think you should leave him alone. You've done enough. Let him be." With that he walked away. She stood staring for a while. Then her anger took over. She narrowed her eyes. Why does everyone think I'm the bad guy?!
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Where was he? She had looked for him everywhere. In his room, his lab, the kitchen, everywhere. She had even called Carl and Sheen and Libby too. All of them had told her the same thing. They hadn't seen Jimmy all day. All of them except Libby. She hadn't answered her phone when Becca called. It didn't matter if she was angry with him anymore, she was just worried about him now. It was an hour passed noon and Jimmy still wasn't home. If he was still going with Cindy to the Candy Bar then wouldn't he have come home a long time ago? Unless. . .
With new realization, she stormed toward the door.
Hugh appeared from the top of the stairs. "Where are you going?" he asked as he watched her head for the door.
"I'll be back," she said as she walked out, slamming the door behind her. She marched across the street toward Cindy's house. If he was there with her, then she was going to. . .
She wanted to scream! I can't believe him! She thought. He actually did go without me! If things were the way they use to be, he would've canceled on her and gone to make things right with me
She made her way to the door an knocked as hard as she could. She waited impatiently for someone to answer. When the door began to open, Becca pushed her way inside, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Jimmy!"
"What the-"
She turned. Cindy looked startled and confused. "Where is he?" Becca asked. "Where is Jimmy?!"
"I don't know," Cindy answered quickly. A little too quick. Becca narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"I don't believe you," she said. She turned away from the blond and continued to call to Jimmy. She looked all about the house. "Jimmy, you better come out, you jerk!"
"He's not here," came a familiar, almost long forgotten voice. She stopped dead when she heard him. It had been so long since she had last heard his voice. She slowly turned. Ben stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking at her with stern, yet oddly calm and interested eyes. There was an undying intensity about him too, which she found oddly intriguing. She stared at him for a moment, awed by the way he looked and awed by the angry yet calm aura he had about him. His soft, brown bangs rested on his eye lids. He swept them away without much concern or notice as he walked toward her. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" he asked as the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
She blushed momentarily as she looked at him, captivated by him. But she snapped herself out of it and turned away. "I guess so," she answered.
"Well, Jimmy hasn't come by at all today," he said. A smile formed on his face, one with a devilish charm. Becca noticed and for a moment she was angered by it, but her anger faded when she realized the smile wasn't directed to her. She turned to Cindy and then to Ben. "Everyone was expecting him after hearing Cindy talk about it. And now it seems that he stood her up." His smile widened.
Becca turned away.
Jimmy hadn't come then? Then where is he? She wondered.
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"Libby, I have to go now," Jimmy said hurriedly as he walked toward the door. "I've had enough of this and I'm an hour late. It's already one o'clock!"
"Actually, it's ten passed one," Libby corrected.
He rolled his eyes. "And you call this an intervention?" he asked as he turned to her, his arms spread out to emphasize his words. "Where is everyone?"
"An intervention could involve one person!" she defended.
"Not an effective one," he said.
She scoffed as she folded her arms across her chest.
"We've been arguing about me seeing Cindy since I got here this morning and we still haven't come to any means of an agreement, so I'm going home and I am not going to stop trying to get her back."
"Why not?!" she asked as she stood in front of him, blocking his path to the door. He sighed.
"I told you already, Libby," he said looking her straight in the eyes. "I love her. More than I ever have before and I mean that with every fiber of my being."
He was sincere, which Libby dreaded. She knew it, but she didn't want to believe it.
"Come on," he said softly, as he looked into her eyes. "You of all people should know just how I feel. I know you and Sheen were never in the same situation, but it was something similar wasn't it. Both of you worked hard to get were you are today. You did anything and everything in your power to stay together and now I want to try anything in my power to get back with Cindy. You get me, don't you? You understand, right?"
She understood. She understood it very well, but she knew he'd get hurt if he kept trying. She could feel it in her very soul and it hurt her. It tore her apart inside. Part of her wanted to let him go and let him chase her because love was a beautiful thing and he deserved a chance at it. But another part of her wanted to keep him away from Cindy, wanted to keep him safe because she knew that Cindy Vortex would suck the life out of him, leave him for dead. She would break him and it'd be the end of him and Libby would be damned if she were to allow it!
She stepped toward him as she reached out to touch him. She smoothed her finger tips down his cheek and then slowly touched his lips. She smiled sadly as she remembered the past. It had been so long since she had last tasted his kiss and she longed for it now. Tears began to form in her eyes. "I don't want her to hurt you," she whispered.
With a sigh Jimmy tilted his head slightly and gently held Libby's hand against his cheek and kissed her palm. Her tears fell and with his thumb he swept them away. "Don't cry," he whispered. "I hate to see you cry. I'm like Sheen that way." He smiled and then it faded as he leaned forward. His lips hovered above her's for a moment before he made his move. He moved slightly and kissed her cheek instead. This made Libby chuckle. Jimmy smiled against her temple as he hugged her. "That's forbidden now," he said. She gave a small laugh again as she nodded.
"Don't forget about your sister, okay," Libby said. "She cares about you so much."
Jimmy pulled away from her as he looked at her. "Does this mean that you. . . ?"
"No," she answered. "I still don't approve and I'm still going to continue to try to keep you two apart. Just don't hate me for it. I wouldn't be able to stand it if you hated me." She looked down. "Is that too much to ask?"
Jimmy looked at her, but he assured her. He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "Libby," he said softly. "I could never hate you." He smiled lightly and more of her tears fell. This time it was Libby who made the move and her lips brushed against his for a light, soft kiss that would last her a lifetime.
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"Then where is he if he isn't here?" Becca asked.
"Who knows," Cindy replied. "And frankly, who cares?"
Becca's eyes narrowed as her hands balled into fists. "Why you. . .little. . .bi-" But before she could finish, she felt an arm around her waist, dragging her toward the door. She was too surprised to fight back and soon she had somehow turned away from Cindy and was now walking out the door and down the street.
"I'm going out!" came Ben's voice beside her. She turned. Ben was focused on the path in front of him as he continued to hold her about the waist.
"What are you doing?!" she demanded. Ben stepped away from her as he looked at her.
"I'm-"
"Letting her get off easy!" Becca finished. "Your sister deserves a slap in the face!"
Ben crossed his arms over his chest and he shrugged with a smile on his face. "I know."
Becca looked at him. "Then why did you stop me? I was just about ready to."
"Hm," he said thoughtfully. Then he shrugged as he said, "I don't know. But I'll tell you what."
"What?"
"Treat me to some ice cream and I'll let you slap her with no interruptions next time. And it can be whenever you want."
Becca was skeptical, but she was unable to keep a straight face and smiled. "Promise," she asked sweetly.
"Promise," Ben replied with a wide grin. "Now how about some ice cream?"
Becca laughed. "Sure. I was suppose to go with Jimmy. He promised me and then. . ."
"He invited Cindy to come along, right?" he asked. His mood had suddenly changed from happy to gloomy.
Becca nodded. "When I heard about Carl inviting her, I didn't actually think she'd come. She had never come before when he had called her up, so I was-"
"Expecting the same results as the previous times," he finished.
"Yes," she said. "And now that she's back I'm feeling so-"
"Left out."
"And-"
"Alone."
"And-"
"Betrayed."
She turned to him as he looked down at his shoes as they walked. "Yeah," she responded. "I kinda feel-"
"Neglected too."
She stopped. He turned.
"Was that wrong?"
"How do you know what I'm going to say?" she questioned as she placed her hands on her hips.
Ben placed his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "Good guess. . .ess?" He continued walking again and Becca walked beside him. She wondered how he could be so friendly with her after what she had done to him. She remembered how she had stopped talking to him completely when Cindy left. She wanted nothing to do with her any more and so she cut all connections with her family. She convinced herself that her entire family should be condemned. She had misplaced her anger for Cindy and so because Cindy wasn't there in person, she had directed all of her anger toward Cindy's family. Or at least a good portion of it and Ben had gotten most of it. She stopped playing with Ben and she stopped talking to them all. She didn't even look at him when he entered the room, any room. Their friendship had ended just like that and now that she thought about it, he had never once asked for an explanation. He did approach her once after Cindy left. It had been only the day after. His eyes were red and puffy. He had been crying and Becca had answered the door. She took one look at him and just as he said her name, she closed the door in his face.
She looked at him, the guilt overcoming her now. She wanted to apologize. She suddenly needed him to accept her apology, but she wouldn't apologize. I don't deserve his kindness, she thought. She suddenly felt like crying. She never thought she could treat a person like that, but then Cindy came to mind. She deserved whatever attitude Becca gave her, but Ben was innocent and he had been heartbroken and she turned her back on him, her friend. I'm like Cindy, she said to herself as she clenched her fists. Stabbing my friends in the back! I'm just like her! That stupid-
"Are you done?" came Ben's voice. He had stopped again and was now holding her arm. She looked at him.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Are you done feeling sorry for yourself now?" he asked.
"I'm not-"
"If it makes things any better," he began, "I forgive you."
He began to walk again as he placed his hands back in his pockets. Becca watched him go. "I don't deserve it," she wanted to say, but she couldn't. She ran to catch up and pulled on his arm and he stopped. "Just like that?" she inquired.
He nodded with a light, half smile.
"But why?"
He sighed. "I can't blame you," he said. "Cindy wasn't there in person and so you directed your anger at me instead. I was just a substitute. A scapegoat." He shrugged. "You were hurting too. I understand that and I also understand that I can't hate you for that."
She began to tear. "But I hurt you," she said. "I back stabbed you. I shut you out when you needed me. What kind of a person does that make me?"
"You were hurting," he repeated. "And sure I hated you for a while, but I realized that you were just trying to cope like me. Now what kind of person would I be if I hated someone who was hurting just as much as I was?"
"But I-"
He shook his head. "Don't worry about, really. It's not your fault and I don't blame you, so don't blame yourself." He wiped away a stray tear and looked at her for a long time as he took her hand in his. "Come on." He guided her down the street, being as gentle and sweet as Becca never thought possible. She smiled at him, wiping away her remaining tears. It felt good to have someone forgive you. To have someone accept you so quickly. It felt really good.
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"I'm home!" Jimmy called as he stepped into the kitchen. His mother turned to him with a tray of freshly baked cookies.
"Welcome home, sweety," she greeted happily. She gave him a kiss on the cheek when he approached her.
"Where's Becca?" he asked as he took a cookie from the tray.
"She went out a while ago," Hugh answered from the door. "She looked pretty angry."
"Bark, bark!"
Jimmy looked down and patted Goddard on the head as he smiled. "Hey, boy."
The mechanical dog sat on his hind legs as his screen appeared. SHE WENT OFF TO LOOK FOR YOU AT CINDY'S, it read. Jimmy's jaw dropped and he dropped his cookie. He ran to the front door, opened it, and ran in the direction of Cindy's house. He hoped that nothing had happened.
His parents watched him run off. They looked at each other and smiled.
"We have the house to ourselves," Judy announced as she placed the cookies on a nearby table.
"Yes, we do, sugar-booger," Hugh replied.
"You know what this means right, Hugh?"
"Of course I do." His wife leaned close to him. "You can see my new additions to the family!"
"Huh?"
"I was up late last night remember? I was working on a project." He nodded. "I made a whole family. One is me, another is you. Becca and Jimmy are there too! I even made a family one of the Wheezers!"
Judy sighed as she allowed her husband to lead her. "Okay, dear."
She took one quick glance over her shoulder and watched as Jimmy reached the Vortex home and shook her head. She didn't like this one bit.
Jimmy knocked on the door just as his mother closed the door to their own home. Cindy answered the door. She looked surprised to see him at first, but then her anger set in. "Look, Neutron," she said. "You're late and I don't feel like going out anymore, so-"
"Becca," he said.
"What?" she asked.
"Where is Becca?"
"Oh," she replied a little embarrassed. "She was here a while ago, but she left."
"Do you know where she went?" he asked, his concern setting in full now.
"No," she answered. Jimmy sighed heavily as he turned to look down the street. Where could she be?
"Well, thanks anyway," he said. He walked away, but stopped when he heard Cindy speak.
"That's it?"
He turned. "Huh?"
"You asked me out and now you're late and you're not going to even going to apologize for it?"
"I didn't ask you out," he said. "I just-" He stopped. "Listen, I'm sorry, but we have to do this some other time. I'm worried about Becca now and I'm trying to find her, so I really don't have time for this."
"You don't have time for me?" she asked narrowing her eyes.
"No, that's not what I said!" he tried to explain, but Cindy wouldn't allow it.
"Please," she said. "I know what you meant."
"No, it's not like that! I-"
But she slammed the door before he could finish. He rubbed his head. I think I need a drink, he said to himself as he walked away from the Vortex home.
"Mr. Neutron?"
He looked up and saw Marcy looking at him. She was holding some grocery bags in her hands. "Are you alright, sir?"
"Please," he said. "Call me Jimmy. There is now need for 'Mr.' or 'Sir'. It's just me."
"I know, Mr. Neutron, but-" She caught herself before she could finish. "Ji-Jimmy, but you're possibly the most influential person in society today and it doesn't seem right for me t o be calling you by your first name. I hardly know you."
He smiled. "No, don't worry about it."
"But-"
"Jimmy will do," he said. He smiled and she blushed, returning him a shy smile. "Here let me help you with those." He reached for the bags, but she stepped back.
"No, it's fine. I could-"
"Let me help you," he said softly and with a blush she smiled and handed him the bags she held. He took them gladly and walked her to the house.
Cindy watched this from the window. Something inside of her seemed to go off. She squeezed the curtains and suddenly felt the need to tear them apart. Was this jealousy? She forced herself away from the window and walked to her room. She hoped it wasn't.
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"Can I tell you something?" Ben asked as he looked down into the sand. His ice cream melted as he spoke. He had barely touched it.
"Sure," Becca said as she turned to him in her swing.
After they had visited the Candy Bar, they had gone to the park. Now they sat on a set of swings, watching the small children play in the sand box as they ate their ice cream.
Ben didn't look at her. "When Cindy left, did. . .she. . .say anything about why she left?"
"It was something about Jimmy and Libby betraying her. But I asked them both about it, they didn't know what she was talking about. On the message she left she rambled on and on about a dream she had that Jimmy and Libby successful crushed." She looked at him again. "Why?"
"Oh," he said. "I just. . .wanted to make sure."
"Did she call you?"
"Yes." He nodded. "She said she wasn't coming back, but she'd be sure to call." He said these last few words with mock enthusiasm. Becca reached out and gently touched his arm.
"It still hurts, doesn't it?"
"I thought I was getting over it," he said as he stood, startling Becca. "And then she comes back out of no where! I mean, who the hell does she think she is?!"
The small children playing in the sand box turned to look at him. Fear seemed to overwhelm them suddenly as they watched Ben. He threw down his ice cream cone and shouted at the top of his lungs, "I hate that stupid tramp! She leaves and then comes back five frickin' years later! Five! And expects everyone to be happy-go-fu-"
"Ben!" Becca shouted.
"Mommy!" the small kids screamed as they ran away like puppies with their tails between their legs.
He sat down on the swing again. "I use to think that maybe she really wanted to get away from me. We had gotten into an argument only two days before and we had stopped talking completely. I gave her the cold shoulder and I almost didn't go to her stupid graduation. Dad convinced me to go to at least show support for Jimmy, Libby, Sheen, and Carl. Plus," he said. He paused. "I wanted to see you." He shrugged and Becca blushed slightly as she smiled. He sighed as he continued to look down at his shoes. He held on to the chains. "I thought she had used Jimmy and Libby as a cover up. For two years I thought it was really my fault. That's why I went to you the very next day after Cindy left. Because I wanted to apologize. I knew Jimmy was hurt when I heard the message Cindy had left us. She was blaming him and I knew she had left something for him. I wanted to apologize for everything she had said because it was really me she was angry with, but you-" He wiped away his tears. "It's nothing now."
"No," Becca said. "It's something. I still feel horrible for doing that to you. You looked so hurt but I turned on you for no reason at all!"
"I still don't blame you," he said as he looked at her. "You're actions are justifiable."
She shook her head. "I don't see how you would think that."
"I told you already," he said softly. "You were hurt and it would've been wrong of me to hate you just because you were hurting."
She smiled. "You're the closest thing to a saint," she said. "You and Marcy."
"Marcy?"
"That reporter, high school girl staying with us. Jimmy brought her home."
Ben smile. "He brought her home?"
Becca punched his arm. "Get your mind out of the gutter." They laughed. "Anyway, she's like the Virgin Mary and you're like. . .her son."
He stopped. "I'm Jesus?"
Becca looked at him. Somehow that didn't seem right.
"I'm Jesus," he said again as he stood. "Obey me! Bow before your Lord and Savior."
Becca stood as she licked her ice cream cone. "Forget what I said. You're no Jesus. You're a false prophet."
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"Oh, thank you so much, Marcy," Mrs. Neutron said as Marcy helped put everything away for her with Jimmy's help too. "Thank you both so much."
"Marcy deserves all the credit," Jimmy said. "I just helped carry the bags inside."
"But you helped me so much, Mr. Neutron," she said quickly.
"I did?" Hugh asked.
"Not you, honey," Mrs. Neutron replied.
"Oh, right," he said.
"Please, please, call me Jimmy," Jimmy begged.
Marcy blushed a little. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Jimmy assured. "Just remember." He placed the remaining things in the fridge and prepared to go out again. "I'm going out to look for Becca again."
"She wasn't at Cindy's?"
Jimmy shook his head.
"I'll go with you," Marcy interjected. Everyone turned to her and she suddenly felt a little embarrassed. She blushed with the attention adverted to her. "That is if you don't mind."
Jimmy smiled. "No, please," he said. "I'd like the help."
She nodded and together they walked out the front door in search of Rebecca.
Mrs. Neutron followed them out to the porch and watched them go. She suddenly became worried. Not about Becca. She somehow knew she was alright, but about Jimmy and Marcy.
"What's the matter?" Hugh asked, taking notice in his wife's sudden change.
"I suddenly have a bad feeling about that girl."
"Marcy?" Hugh asked. "But she's such a nice girl."
"That's what will cause trouble," she said. "Her kindness."