Author's Note: I know this took me a while and I'm so sorry. But here's this new chapter! Yay! . . . . . . . . No. Okay.

Oh, and Dory, I'm so sorry I never e-mailed you about the fanart, but your e-mail address didn't show up in your review. Not all of it anyway. But I'd love to get fanart from you, form anyone! Lol! That would be sooo awesome! I remember I wrote a little something about the way Becca looked in chapter one. It wasn't much but it was something and I wrote about Ben's appearance in chapter two. There was actually very little there. I think I only mentioned his eye color and in chapter 3 there was also something about his looks. If it isn't enough just let me now.

And to Mr. Cuete, I could always use another friend :)

And to Angela Jewell, I know you've been waiting a while to find out just why Cindy left and you're in for a treat. All of you are!

Part 5: Seeing Each Other In Secrecy

"I don't like it."

"What's to like?" Libby commented. She shook her head. "I just can't believe him."

"Just leave him alone," Carl said. "He wants to be able to talk to her again. Is that so bad?"

"Yes!" Libby and Becca shouted.

Ben held back a laugh, but Becca caught it.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing," he replied.

Becca narrowed her eyes at him. "Doesn't this frustrate you?" She asked pointing at her brother his sister sitting together.

Ben turned to look at them and turned away. "I don't want to talk about them," he said.

Becca sighed. She sat down beside him. The water went up just above her hips when she was secure in the water beside Ben. She watched him as he made light ripples on the water's surface with the tips of his fingers. Libby, Sheen, Carl, and Marcy all watched him, no doubt concerned.

Becca took a deep breath. "Hey," she said gently. "Let's go sit down for a while."

Ben continued to make ripple affects on the water. "I'm not going to talk about my feelings if that's what you want," he said.

"No," she said. "I know. But it'd be nice to just sit."

"We are sitting."

"I mean, not here. Over there." She pointed to the blanket she helped spread out with him and the rest while Cindy spread out her own. "It'll be fun." She stood and extended her hand. He looked up at her and smile half-heartedly. "Come on."

Ben took her hand and she helped him up and together they walked to the blanket to sit.

"They are just too cute," Libby whispered.

"I hope it all goes well for them," came Marcy's voice.

"Me too," Libby agreed. "Those little kids are so-"

"Uh, n-no," Marcy interrupted. Everyone turned to her and she blushed from the sudden shift in attention. "I-I was talking about Mr. Neutron and Ms. Vortex."

"Don't you think you should be spending time with your sister?"

Jimmy turned to Cindy and stared at her. "She looks like she's okay with everyone over there-" He stopped. She wasn't there anymore. He looked from side to side until he found her sitting with Ben not to far away from him.

"Part of the reason why you came was to be with her, right?"

"Well, yeah, but-"

"Then spend time with her," Cindy interrupted. "It's what she wants. It's what she's been waiting for."

"I wouldn't want to interrupt her while she's with-"

Cindy sighed. That was his sign. She obviously didn't want to put up with him anymore. He looked down with sad eyes, but he turned to her again. "Alright," he said as he stood. "You will be fine alone, right?" But she didn't reply. She just looked ahead, watching the light waves, a blank expression on her face. He was reluctant, but he left her. She didn't seem to really take notice that he was leaving. He soon approached his sister.

"Hey, Becca," he called.

"Huh?" the girl replied as she turned to him. "How about that ice cream."

She smiled at him, but her smile faded as she looked at Cindy. "I thought you were hanging with her."

"And you were hanging with Ben, so what," he said, a smile on his face.

Becca shrugged, but she nodded in agreement.

"How about that ice cream?" he repeated.

Becca turned to Ben.

"Go on," he urged. "I'll be fine. I'll wait here."

"But-"

"I don't mind Ben coming along with us," Jimmy cut in. "If you want him to come with us, it's fine with me."

Becca beamed with the suggestion and quickly stood and took Ben's hand. "Let's go then!" She pulled Ben to his feet and quickly grabbed Jimmy's hand and dragged them both along with her.

Why Was It That You Came Back? Carl had asked.

Why was it that I came back? Cindy asked herself. She hadn't returned for Jimmy or the others. She told herself she wanted to go to the reunion for reasons not even she herself knew. She just wanted to go, it was just that simple. It had been just that simple, but Carl made it seem like so much more. Was he right? Could he have been right?

No, she thought. He didn't know what he was talking about. Carl never really knows what he's talking about unless it has something to do with squirrels or llamas. She rested her chin on her knees again and wrapped her arms around her legs. Plus, she continued, he never had much of a brain.

She sighed.

A few minutes later she could hear someone approaching. She didn't bother to turn around. She already knew who it was. Out of the corner of her eye she could see something. She turned to look at an out stretched hand with an ice cream cone. She traveled the length of the arm and came to Jimmy's smiling face. "This is for you," he said.

Without thinking she took the cone and frowned. It was vanilla.

"I've known you long enough to know that vanilla is your favorite."

Anger boiled in her. "We haven't spoken in 5 years," she said. "You don't know me. Let alone what I like."

He was surprised for a moment and then he nodded. "I apologize," he said. "Let's make a trade then. Chocolate for vanilla."

She didn't want to trade. She liked vanilla. It really was her favorite, but she forced herself to make the switch. It had just angered her. The way he still knew so much about her. She didn't quite understand just why it made her angry, it just. . .did.

She stared at her new ice cream cone and watched Jimmy leave from the corner of her eye. She then looked at Ben and Becca. They distributed the remaining ice cream cones to the rest of the happy group as they came out of the water to join them. She watched them for a while before she unfolded her beach chair and sat in it. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out her sun glasses and placed them on her nose as she placed her legs on the beach chair. She took a few bits of her ice cream before she got to throw it away and sat back down.

She watched them again. They looked like one big happy family, laughing and talking to one another as they ate their ice cream.

She never felt so alone and out of place in her life until that very moment.

"You're Cindy Vortex, aren't you?"

Cindy didn't look up, instead she kept her eyes closed behind her shades as she lay on her beach chair, soaking up the sun. "Yeah, I am," she said.

"I knew it was you! My friend told me you weren't her, but I was like, 'No, man, that's her'."

"Wonderful."

"You're way better looking in person," the stranger said. "Not that you don't look good in the magazines and on t.v. but-"

"I get it."

There was silence.

"So can we have an autograph," another voice cut through the silence.

Cindy removed her sunglasses and sat up. She looked up at the two men standing beside her chair. If it'll get you out of my hair, she thought with a fake, forced smile.

"Awesome!" The second guy exclaimed as he pulled out a pen and paper. She took it. "Can you make it out to 'Ted, the best looking guy on the beach'?'

She looked up at him a bit surprised, but without question she scribbled on the paper and handed it back. The guy thanked her and ran off to show his other pals. But the first guy didn't move. He stared at her checking her out, looking her up and down with a stupid grin on his face.

"May I help you?" Cindy proceeded. "Do you want something?"

The guy's grin widened. Cindy rolled her eyes. I should've said something more specific than that.

"Yeah," he said. "I'd like a date."

Cindy stared at him. Mmm hmm. "Can't," she said simply as she put her sunglasses back on and lay on her chair.

"I didn't even tell you my plans or anything. You're not giving me a fair chance," he protested.

"I don't need to know your plans to make a wise decision," she replied. "It's my prerogative as a woman, anyway. Besides," she began again, "do you see that guy over there?" She lifted her hand and pointed to the fun-loving happy family. By this time everyone had finished their ice cream cones and were all back in the water

"Which one? There are three."

"The one with the little girl sitting on his shoulders," she answered, placing her hand at her side.

"Yeah. What about him."

"He's my boyfriend." The words rolled off her tongue so easily that it felt so natural. She closed her eyes and smiled sensing the guy's confidence fly out the window.

"Well. . .he. . ."

Bingo.

"He. . .he looks like a geek," was what he managed to say. "What are you doing with him, anyway?"

"He's smart," Cindy replied. "The man is a genius. He's won the Junior Nobel Prize more times than I can remember and after much consideration he's up for the Nobel prize." She smiled to herself. "Plus," she went on. She paused and she could sensed the man's apprehension. "He's got a great personality to boot. Sweet and thoughtful and very loving."

"Yeah. . .well I. . .I have to be on my way."

"So soon?" Cindy replied, mock disappointment in her voice.

The guy walked away and Cindy relaxed again.

"I knew it," came a familiar voice. She froze in place and her heart began to pound. She sat up and pulled the sunglasses off her face. "C-Carl."

He smiled at her. "I knew you still loved Jimmy. I just knew it."

With quick thinking, Cindy replied with, "How can you still love someone when you never loved them to begin with?"

"You can't hide it from me now because I heard what you told that guy."

"I just said all that stuff to get him out of my hair. I could've told him Sheen was my boyfriend or even you for that matter."

"But you didn't."

The beach had definitely been interesting. For her anyway.

Becca made her way to her room, humming a happy song with a skip in her step. Ben was no doubt a great person and it didn't hurt that he was cute either. And she just loved the way his chest-nut brown bangs fell into his eyes and the way he'd brush them aside like nothing. And his eyes were always intense with some emotion, whether it be anger or peace. She loved how easy it was to know just how he felt by looking into his deep green eyes. She liked it best when he smiled. People always look their best when they're smiling.

"You sound happy," Jimmy commented.

Becca nodded as she pulled back her covers before crawling into bed.

Jimmy stepped into her room just as she pulled the covers up about her. He sighed as he sat down. "Becca," he began.

"Yeah, Jimmy."

"I think. . .I think we should have 'the talk'."

Becca's smile slowly faded. " 'Th-the talk'?"

Jimmy nodded. "I've noticed you and Ben together and I think it'd be a good idea if-"

"Geez, Jimmy!" she shouted. "What kind of girl do you think I am!"

"I never said-"

"Look," Becca began. "Let me save you the trouble. I learned about this stuff in school already, anyway, and-"

"What!" Jimmy exclaimed. "You're eleven!"

"Yeah, and you were just about to have 'the talk' with me," she replied. "Besides, I'm not an idiot. I know what that stuff can do to a girl and all the risks and things involved and it's not like I'm gonna go around with Ben at my side asking, 'hey, wanna go have sex!'" She looked at him. "I'm eleven, Jimmy! That's sick!"

He smiled and breathed a sigh or relief. "Just wanted to make sure," he said with a shrug.

"Yeah, yeah," Becca began. "Now get out of here. I need my beauty sleep."

Jimmy stood. "You're beautiful enough as it is," he commented. "You don't need beauty sleep."

Becca smiled. "Thanks. Now scoot."

Jimmy laughed and moved close to give his sister a light kiss on the crown of her head and turned to leave.

"Jimmy," came Becca's soft voice.

He turned looked at her before shutting off the lights. "Yeah."

"Thanks for the ice cream."

"Your welcome." With that he shut the lights off and closed the door behind him.

He smiled to himself, thankful to be home again. He slowly made his way toward the stair case as the front door opened and then closed.

"Oh, honey," he could hear his mother say. "What happened to you?"

Jimmy could see his father standing before the door in his torn chicken costume. He looked exhausted and out of breath and filthy like he had been trudging through the mud all day.

"The dogs all over town love chicken, sugar booger! They thought I was a real one!" He laughed. "Me too, me too," he said as if recalling a wonderful memory way back when.

"Oh, Hugh."

His mother helped him up the stairs. "Jimbo!" his father exclaimed.

"Hey, dad," Jimmy greeted. "Long day?"

Hugh nodded. "But fun." He smiled. "And what about you kids?"

"Great."

Hugh nodded again. "You know something, JimJim?"

"No, dad, what?"

"We should all go out right now. The whole family! I have a craving for some chicken and then we could go see the ducks at the pond!"

"It's almost 11 o'clock, Hugh," Mrs. Neutron added. "It's too late for that. Now let's go to bed." She continued up the stairs with Hugh beside her.

"Aw, that's no fun," Hugh whined. "Hey, what about tomorrow then! It'll be good!"

"Yes, dear. Oh, and Jimmy, don't forget to turn off the lights in the living room before you go to bed, okay?"

"Okay, mom," he replied as he went down stairs. She somehow always managed to make him feel like a little kid even when he wasn't. He sighed. He could still hear his father mumbling about plans for tomorrow as his mother agreed with every word just to try and shut him up and keep him from any real long-winded conversation. Probably so he wouldn't hurt himself.

Jimmy shook his head and just as he was about to sit down and get comfortable, the phone rang. "Hello, Neutron residence. This is Jimmy sp-" He stopped as the voice on the other line spoke. "Ok, I'll meet you there." He hung up the phone and made his way out the door as quickly as he could.

"Libby!"

"Jimmy!"

"What's wrong? What happened?" He came to a stop when he was close enough to her. He was breathing heavily and he looked terribly worried, but his concerned expression faded, making way for confusion as he looked at Libby's smiling face. On the phone she sounded like she was in dire need of help, but she looked the opposite.

"I just needed to see you," she said with a shrug.

"Libby!" he scolded.

"What?" she asked innocently, trying to keep from laughing.

"I thought something happened to you. I was out of my mind!" He moved closer to her and embraced her. "Please, don't ever do that again." He lay his head on her shoulder as he held her tight, closing his eyes, relieving his pounding heart.

"I. . .I'm sorry." She smiled softly to herself and wrapped her arms around him, cradling him in her arms. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to see you."

"We can't keep doing this, you know that right?" Jimmy reminded as he buried his face in her shoulder.

"I know," Libby replied. "I know. It's just not so easy, you know."

Jimmy nodded. "But we'll hurt Sheen if we continue this."

This time it was Libby's turn to nod as they gently pulled away. "We don't want that," she sighed.

"No, we don't," Jimmy agreed.

They stood there for a while, looking at one another, a sad longing in their eyes. They both knew very well that it was wrong for them to continue this, especially now that Libby was to be married to one of their best friends no less. It pained them both, but it couldn't have been any other way. Yes, they did love each other. Very much so, but it would have never worked out between them because Jimmy would always, always have Cindy on his mind and Libby would always be second best. They both knew this. They knew it very well. From past experiences.

Five years earlier. . .

She was so close, she could just feel it. He was in her reach. There was only one thing standing in between them now and all she had to do was eliminate the threat if you could even really call it that. Part of her didn't really want to go through with it, but she would have what she had wanted from the beginning. That was a good enough reason in itself.

She closed her locker and adjusted the strap of her book bag on her shoulder and continued down the hall when she heard voices and they sounded familiar. Naturally, she was curious as any other ordinary high school student would be. She knew she was already late to class, but it didn't matter. She'd be graduating soon anyway.

"I don't think you should let Cindy know about this."

Cindy was surprised to hear her name and knew right away that it was Libby.

"I won't."

That was Jimmy. She carefully peeked from behind the wall. They stood before one another. Jimmy was blushing as he rubbed the back of his neck. He wouldn't look Libby in the eyes.

"She'd freak out if she knew we were seeing each other in secrecy like this," Libby replied to which Jimmy nodded in agreement. "So then it sounds like a date, huh? Graduation day?"

Jimmy nodded again. "Y-yeah," he managed to say.

Libby laughed. "Don't be nervous!" she encouraged as she gave him a light slap on the arm. "It'll be fine. You'll do great!"

Cindy took a step back. What the hell were they talking about? Had they been seeing each other behind her back the whole time? Come to think of it, they had seemed closer some how. But Cindy never thought much about it. When the two where together they never seemed to joke or anything that gave away any implication of any feelings for one another. She shook her head. Was this jealousy? Disappointment? Heart ache? She shook her head as she continued to step back, not believing her eyes. But seeing was suppose to be believing, right?

It just didn't seem right some how. How in the world was she feeling pain because of this? Unless. . .unless she was. . .No, she thought. No. I don't feel a thing because I don't like him that way. It's impossible. But it was there. The pain, the hurt, the disappointment, and jealousy. It was all there whether she admitted it or not, it was there and deep down she knew it. She knew it was.

She suddenly broke out into a sprint and then into a run. This wasn't happening. My friend, my best friend was not seeing my boyfriend behind my back and I am not, not in love with or falling in love with Jimmy! It just can't be! There has to be another explanation. There just has to be!

In seconds she slammed into someone and lost her balance falling back, she reached out and grabbed the person's shirt to stay steady, but it didn't help. She fell against the cold floor, hitting her head. She lifted a hand to her head and slowly sat up. When she opened her eyes she saw the person she had thought she had wanted to see.

"Cindy?" He stood as he rubbed his head. "What were you doing?"

"Running," she answered quickly, nervously.

"Yeah, I know that," Nick replied. "But why?"

Cindy stood. "Practicing."

"For what?"

"The marathon?"

"There's gonna be a marathon?" He asked. "But school will be over in about a week."

Cindy shrugged. "Go figure, right?" She laughed out of nervousness.

"Right," he repeated. "Want me to walk you to class?"

She nodded slowly and together they walked down the hall, but this didn't help her forget what she had seen. She'd freak out if she knew we were where seeing each other in secrecy like this. . .seeing each other. . .seeing each other in secrecy

It was later that day that she would make the decision that would bring completely apart from the rest of the group.

It was just like high school, except now they were seeing each other behind Sheen's back.

Cindy looked down. This was suppose to be a nice, lonely night out for a walk in the park to clear her mind and though it was lonely (especially now), it wasn't nice.

Now she knew for sure that her suspicions in high school were correct: Jimmy and Libby had been seeing each other behind her back.

She felt that familiar, stab to the heart she felt back in high school. She had spent so many years trying to convince herself that she wasn't in love with Jimmy, that she had in fact not fallen in love with him and she had told herself so many times that she began to believe it. She really believed it and thought herself as an idiot for even thinking that she had any feelings for Jimmy what-so-ever. But now something inside her was making her doubt what she had told herself over and over and over again.

She held a hand close to her heart. "Why?' she whispered. "Why do I feel this way?"

I can't be in. . .in love. I. . .I can't be. . .oh, please, god. I can't be.