Author's Note: Hey. Well, I want to apologize. The attack scene from the last chapter really should've been different. Cindy does in fact know martial arts and she would've put up a better fight, so please, do forgive me and thank you to all who read and reviewed. I love getting comments. Who doesn't, right? One more thing: It's a bit longer than usual to make up for my lack of updates and whatever. It's just been. . .whatever. But do enjoy and do review. . .please? Thanks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Part 10: Nothing Is Ever Sure

Five years earlier. . .

Jimmy was worried. Cindy had been avoiding him like the plague for the past few weeks or so and they had all just graduated. He had made plans with her and Libby, Carl, and Sheen. But she had never met up with them after the graduation ceremony like they had planned to. They figured she was already on her way home to do some last minute packing. They were all suppose to go on a road trip. Just the five of them.

Libby had called her cell phone, but it was off. They wondered where she went. Her parents had absolutely no clue where she had gone and so Jimmy really began to worry.

He stood in his house. Sheen, Libby, and Carl standing around him.

"Where could she be?" he whispered to no one in particular.

Libby placed a comforting arm around his shoulders, sure he had spoken to her. "We'll find her," Libby confirmed, though Jimmy knew she had said it to convince herself rather than him.

With a nod, Jimmy sighed.

"Hey," Carl said. "You have a message." He pointed to the phone. A blinking, red light winked at them and Cindy came to mind.

Jimmy was the first one to make it to the phone. He pressed the button. "You have. . .one new message," came the mechanical voice. "Received at. . .five thirty-seven p.m." There was a pause and then it continued. "Hello!"

It was Cindy's voice. Jimmy smiled as relief washed over him like a wave, but he didn't know that that relief would be quickly and completely blown away with full blown heart ache.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am such an idiot!

She just had to make that scene at the Candy Bar the other day. Now she couldn't even walk down the street without having people stare at her, saying, "Hey, isn't that Cindy Vortex, the girl who yelled at Jimmy Neutron at the Candy Bar?"

God!

She made it quickly to her house, but stopped abruptly when she saw Marcy standing beside her door. The girl looked up and blushed. She stepped away quickly as her eyes became apologetic. "I didn't mean to be rude or anything, Ms. Vortex," she said. "But it seems that you and Mr. Neutron have had an argument."

Cindy scoffed. She narrowed her eyes at Marcy as she stepped toward her. "Just who do you think you are. Missy, is it?"

"M-m-m—"

"M-m-missy?"

The girl looked ready to break out into tears as she shook her head. "M-Marcy."

"Well, M-Marcy," Cindy mocked. "I suggest you stay out of my business."

She pushed her aside and stepped toward her door. She just wasn't in a good mood for some kids preaching or whatever it was she was doing there.

"Buh-but-" she was cut short when Cindy met her eyes and Marcy's eyes grew wide in fear.

"But what?"

Marcy looked down, scuffed her shoes on the porch, and swallowed hard. "Mr. Neutron hasn't done anything to you. No matter what it is you think he's done. . .he hasn't done it."

Cindy stared at the girl, silently for a moment. She shook her head as her anger coursed through her veins. "You don't know a thing!" she shouted. "You know nothing of what's going on, so don't you dare think that by coming here you can make things all better for him because you can't! You don't know the truth! You don't know what he did to me, so stay. . .OUT!" With that she opened her door and slammed it before Marcy's tears fell.

From behind the door, Cindy could hear Marcy's heavy footsteps as she ran back to the Neutron house.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Maybe it's nothing, dear."

Becca sighed as she let her head fall in the crook of her elbow. "It has to be something," she insisted. "Maybe I said something. Or did something. Maybe I-"

Mrs. Neutron put down her cookie cutter aside as she turned to her daughter. "Benjamin likes you a lot," she said, watching Becca blush. "He's not going to just stop talking to you one day. Maybe something happened at home that made him upset. It's only been about three days since school started, right?" Becca nodded. "Then maybe all the boy needs is some time. Then when he's ready, he'll come back to you and tell you what it was that bothered him, okay."

"Okay," she said sadly, lifting herself up and on her feet.

"Now, here," Mrs. Neutron said, handing her daughter a piece of cookie dough. "Have this, it'll make you feel better."

Becca smiled. "Thank you, mommy," she said as she took the dough. She brought it to her mouth, ready to take a bite, but the door bell rang before the dough could touch her tongue. She turned. "I'll get it."

She rushed to the door, thinking it was Jimmy. Maybe he forgot his key, she thought as she shook her head, a smile crossing her lips. She could just picture him with a look half way between nervousness and embarrassment. But when she made it to the door it was unlocked. She opened it and there stood Marcy, tears in her eyes.

"Excuse me," she said as she made her way inside and up the stairs.

"Marcy?" Becca called. "Marcy! What happened? What's the matter?"

Mrs. Neutron entered the living room. "What's going on?" she asked.

Becca didn't answer as she made her way upstairs, her mother close behind her. When they made it to Marcy's room and entered, they stood as Marcy sat down on her bed, her eyes cast down. "I was only trying to help," she said faintly. "It was all I wanted to do."

Becca never realized how truly sensitive Marcy was. I guess I don't know as much as I thought, Becca said to herself. As she watched Macy she couldn't help but see her like a little girl and she couldn't help but feel like the big sister. She grew angry. "Did Cindy say something to you?" she asked.

"I was only trying to get her and Mr. Neutron on friendly terms," Marcy said. "But I was-" It was all Becca heard before she stormed out of the room and out of the house toward the house across the street.

She slammed her fist against the door. "Cindy!" She called threateningly.

Cindy soon came to the door. "What-"

"What did you say to Marcy?" Becca asked.

"Mar-?"

"Yeah," Becca interrupted. "Marcy."

Cindy smiled. "Did she go crying to you, huh?" she said softly.

"Don't you patronize me!" Becca shouted, thrusting a finger in Cindy's face. "You just answer my question!"

"I told her off, okay?" Cindy replied with ice in her voice. "She has no business in my business and I was making that clear."

Becca narrowed her eyes. "You little-"

"Becca?"

Becca looked passed Cindy's shoulder and her anger faded. "B-Ben."

"Um. . .I. . ." He couldn't finish. Instead he walked away.

"Ben, wait!"

But he was gone.

Cindy scoffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Having a bit of boy trouble, are we?"

Becca's eyes narrowed in a rage as she turned to Cindy again. "Not as much as you," she countered, to which Cindy fell silent. With that Becca walked away.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ben stood by his locker. He had just finished taking out the books he needed and was about ready to head toward his next class. He shut his locker and turned to walk down the hall, but came to an abrupt stop when he saw Becca standing only a foot away from him. She stood with her hands behind her back and an uncertain, sweet smile spread on her lips.

"Hi," she said.

"Hey," he replied.

They remained silent for a moment, neither one of them brave enough to look at the other.

Ben looked about, growing nervous with every growing second. People began to stare. "I gotta go," he said quickly as he turned to walk away.

"Wait," Becca called, taking hold of his arm. He turned to her, surprised.

She quickly took her hand away. "I. . ." She sighed. "I wanted to know just why your avoiding me." She looked up at him, hopeful.

He looked around the hall. There weren't many students around, but the few that lingered stared. "I didn't think. . ." He stopped as he spotted Mary Beth, a friend of his.

"You didn't think what?" Becca asked, as she looked at him.

"Nothing," he said. "Never mind." He took a deep breath and without looking at her he said. "I have to go." With that he rushed down the hall and took Mary Beth's arm and pulled her along.

She began to protest, but he cut her off. "Just walk," he said and with a shrug she walked with him.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Carl," Jimmy began. "Can I ask you something?"

Carl pushed his glasses up his nose as he looked up from his bowl of ice cream. Jimmy sat across from him, his hands in a ball on the table, clenching nervously.

They sat in the Candy Bar together. Jimmy had called him up and told him he wanted to hang out for a while and Carl was up for anything.

"Sure, Jim," Carl replied.

"Well, let's say that someone is keeping a secret from all of his friends with another friend."

"Okay," Carl said. He didn't know where it was going and it was obvious that he didn't know from the chirpiness in his voice.

"And let's say that these friends who share a secret, have done. . .have had sex. . ."

"O-kay," Carl replied, a little confused now but more interested than he had been before.

"And let's say that another person found out about them, but she didn't know exactly what happened and she believed they were together during a time when they weren't. . ."

"Uh-huh."

"Well, what if that other person told everyone about the secret that the other two share?"

Carl wasn't exactly sure how to answer. He wasn't exactly sure he even understood anything that Jimmy had just said, but Jimmy needed his help and he would try his best to give him that. "Well, Jim," he began. What do I say? He thought. "Um, well. . .uh, these people should, uh, tell everyone else before the other person does. Otherwise, it could end up worse if the other person were to say something."

Jimmy seemed to think about that possibility, but he looked a bit unsure. "Well, what if one of the people, who shared the secret, believed that this other person wouldn't say anything to the others?"

Carl shrugged. "Nothing is ever sure. . .right?"

"Right," Jimmy said softly.

After a short silence, Carl spoke again. "Jimmy," he said. "Why do you ask?"

Jimmy shook his head. "No reason. Just curious, is all."

"Okay," Carl said as he went back to eating his ice cream. He looked up for a moment, noting Jimmy's uncertainty and his distraught. Something was really bothering him and Carl could only worry without letting on that he was. It would only cause Jimmy to fret and he was already stressed out enough as it was.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Painting a picture of perfection isn't as easy as it may seem, but glazing one is an easy task. Or so that was what Diana thought when she was. . . .

Becca looked away from her paper, her eyes instantly sought out Ben. He sat by the window, a whole three seats away from her. Why is he avoiding me? She asked.

She watched as his pen moved diligently across his paper. He didn't even look up to see her staring.

"Okay," the teacher called. "Now pair off and critique each others' work."

Mrs. Rochert, the English teacher, sat back in her seat as the class began pairing off. She took out an old, beat up paperback book that looked about ready to fall apart. A smile lit her face as she began to read from where she left off.

Mary Beth, meanwhile, moved her chair toward Ben's desk and switched papers with him. Jealousy rose like an unsteady wave in Becca as she watched her smile flirtatiously at him.

"Hey, Becca."

Becca turned. Diana, one of her friends, stood at her desk. Out of the three people Becca hung out with most, Diana was the bold one. The little rebel who everyone just had to love. Her dark eyes were often covered by her long bangs. She was able to do things that Becca just sometimes could not do on her own and she was a fun person to be around.

Diana handed Becca her paper and slid Becca's off the table as she leaned back into her seat, propping her feet on Becca's desk to make herself comfortable. It didn't take her long to read Becca's work. "Wow," she said. She put the paper down in her lap and looked at Becca. "One: I'm both surprised and disappointed."

Becca scoffed.

"You are one of the best writers in the class and you love creative writing days. You always write at least 3 pages worth of story within the fifteen minutes she gives us to start. Back and front."

Becca looked down at Diana's paper on her desk. She had managed to write a short paragraph.

"And two," Diana continued. "Your making me blush. You were able to squeeze me in your thoughts while you were watching Ben Vortex. I'm so flustered." Diana hide an invisible blush with Becca's paper.

Becca rolled her eyes, but she quickly looked up and Diana smiled. "Yeah, I noticed," she said. "It's obvious." She looked at Becca thoughtfully for a moment. "There's one thing I don't get, though."

"What?"

"Why?"

Becca looked away.

"I mean, I thought you hated him. I didn't even think you noticed him all that much, anyway."

"I don't hate him," Becca answered. "It was just this thing that happened a while ago with Jimmy and his sister that made me pin some stuff on him instead."

Diana nodded thoughtfully. "I see."

"He's avoiding me now, though."

"Oh," Diana said. "Why is that?"

Becca shrugged, feeling her anger completely evaporate.

"Maybe you should talk to him," Diana suggested already sitting up straight.

"I can't," Becca replied. "I tried once before and he ditched me as soon as he saw Mary Beth."

"Ah."

Becca thought for a moment. "Do you think that maybe he and Mary Beth have something going on and he's afraid to tell me because he thinks he'll hurt my feelings because he thinks I like him?" Becca could feel the wheels in her head turning with the possibility.

Diana was too stunned to answer right away. "Does he have a reason to think you like him?"

Becca paused. She looked down as a blush grew on her face. "Maybe." She looked up and smile unsurely as Diana's mouth flew open. There were faint giggles around them, but they didn't seem to notice.

"Diana. Becca," Mrs. Rochert called. Both girls looked up to see their teacher standing right in front of them, her hands on Becca's desk as she leaned toward them. "This isn't time for socializing."

Now Becca and Diana placed the giggles. Their fellow classmates had been laughing at them. All eyes seemed to be on them and Becca wondered if they had all heard what they had been talking about. Her blush grew deeper.

"Sorry," Diana apologized. She made that face that said simply, "oops." She turned to Becca and shrugged.

"Just don't let it happen again," Mrs. Rochert replied as she pushed herself up. "And you can resume you conversation on Ben Vortex after my class."

The roar of laughter exploded through the room as Becca grew mortified. Her blush now completely covered her face. From the corner of her eye she could see Ben staring at her, a slight blush on his face as Mary Beth nudged him, though, there was a glint of disappointment in his eyes.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Jimmy had to find Cindy. He needed to know if she was planning to tell Sheen about what she believed had happened back in high school. Whether it was true or not, Jimmy knew that the real truth about he and Libby would eventually come out in the midst of chaos.

He thought his conversation with Carl back in the Candy Bar had helped him, surprisingly enough.

He knocked on Cindy's door. He knew that if she was home, she'd be alone and he wanted the privacy for this particular conversation.

When the door opened, his heart began to beat two times as fast as it would normally, but he was disappointed to see Nick's face.

"Neutron?" Nick asked, a scowl on his face.

Jimmy could see a cut running through his left eye brow. At that moment he was thankful that his scratches couldn't be seen because Nick's looked really bad.

"Nick," Jimmy sneered.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"Who is it?" Cindy asked. She came up from behind Nick and peered over his shoulder.

"Neutron," Nick replied.

"I needto talk to you," Jimmy said quickly. . .hopefully.

"Cindy doesn't-"

"I have nothing to say to you," she said, interrupting Nick. "I said all I had to yesterday."

"But this is-"

"None of my concern," she finished before shutting the door in his face.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"I say don't worry about it."

"Too late," Becca replied as she and her friends gathered at a lunch table.

She sat herself down and looked at her lunch tray, wondering just why she turned down the lunch her mother had made for her.

"I say listen to Billy," Marie replied as she brought her sandwich to her mouth. "Just don't worry about it." Marie was the kind hearted, sensitive one with just enough confidence. She was the nurturing one of the group. Almost like a mother-away-from-home type of person. If you were to break down in front of her, no matter who you were, she'd stop to comfort you. She was a true saint with a strong will. Every mother or teacher who's ever met her loved her and her word was practically law among her friends.

"Yeah," Diana agreed. "Especially, because of how close you say you two were during the spring vacation. He'll come around."

"Maybe you should just wait it out," Billy replied, his cheeks looking plumper than usual with the macaroni in his mouth. He was a big kid and many were intimidated by his size, but he was friendly and very sweet. He was the gentle giant and he was as cute and cuddly as a teddy bear. He was also popular by default. It was because he hung out with Becca, Diana, and Marie that he became so popular. And who was to question Marie's judgment of character? No one was brave enough to.

Becca shrugged. "I guess so."

"But," Marie began, "if you can't wait anymore, you can always take action." She said this sweetly with a smile on her face. There seemed to be no suggestiveness in her tone, but there was a sparkle in her eyes that made Becca smile at the hidden suggestion. She almost laughed, but her brain thought it was best to blush.

Marie nodded toward the lunch table in the far corner of the room where Ben, Mary Beth, and two others sat. They seemed to be enjoying their lunch as they talked and laughed with one another.

"I like that idea," Diana said deviously. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and approval. "Oh, I like that idea very much." She rubbed her hands together, ready for something.

"No," Becca said.

"Why not?" Diana almost shouted.

"Will you keep your voice down?' Billy asked. "I'm trying to eat in peace."

"Let Becca choose on her own," Marie replied gently as she placed a soft hand on Diana's shoulder.

With a sigh Diana backed down.

Becca bit her bottom lip, unsure of herself. In seconds, before she could really make up her mind, her feet were up and her legs were taking her to the other side of the cafeteria with her tray in hand. Diana and Billy smiled deviously at one another as Marie smiled with approval and joy.

As soon as Becca and her friends made it to Ben's table, the conversation ended abruptly.

"Can I. . .can we sit with you guys?"

Mary Beth and the other two boys quickly turned to Ben for an answer, but he couldn't speak. He couldn't remember how to speak.

Becca began to turn away. "It was worth a try," she whispered.

"Wait."

Becca turned, surprised to hear Mary Beth. "Come sit," she invited as she moved down. She pulled Ben to her to make room for Becca. The other two boys also made room and soon they were all sitting together.

"Well," Mary Beth began. "Let me introduce you all. I'm-"

"Mary Beth Warren," Marie finished. "I know who you are."

Mary Beth smiled. "Really?"

"Really," Marie replied with a sweet smile. "I'm Marie Wilson."

"Nice to meet you." Mary Beth and Marie shook hands.

"Marie here," Billy began, "has an odd hobby. She likes to memorize everyone's names."

"Everyone?" one of the boys replied.

"Yes, Scott," Marie said with a smile. "Or would Scotty be better. Scotty Greene, right?"

The boy smiled. "Right. And I'd prefer Scotty."

"Scotty it is."

Becca was surprised to see that they were all getting along. She looked at Ben, but only for a moment. He sat still, quietly drinking his small carton of juice. She wanted to talk to him privately, but this was better than absolutely nothing. Right?

"And you must be Jesse Marques," Marie continued as she looked at the boy beside Scotty.

"I'm impressed," Jesse replied with a flirtatious smile and for the first time ever Becca saw Marie blush. A smile spread over her lips as she watched her friend. Diana noticed it too. She laughed and almost chocked on her juice. Billy volunteered to help her, but Diana turned him down.

"Anyway," Marie said. "This is-"

"Becca Neutron," Jesse finished.

With a nod and a smile Marie continued. "And this here is-"

"Diana Romero."

"And this guy here is. . ."

"Billy Duncan."

"I'm good with names too," Jesse replied.

Becca took a bite of her macaroni. She made a face and quickly swallowed it down. "They really need to put more effort into the food they make," she said, though, she didn't know she had said it aloud.

"I agree," Mary Beth retorted. "Maybe we should hold a rally or something."

"Ooooh a rally. A protest. Hooray!" Diana exclaimed.

During lunch Ben hardly spoke. Mary Beth, Jesse, and Scotty were talking a lot and they tried many times to get Ben to join the conversation, but they weren't successful. When the bell rang Ben was the first one to stand. He was overjoyed that it was over, which saddened Becca. All she wanted to know was why he was trying his best to avoid her. Had she really done something wrong?

"See you all later," Ben said as he moved away from the table and quickly into the crowd.

"I'll catch up with you guys later," Becca replied as she moved toward Ben.

She was able to catch up in a matter of seconds, which impressed and stunned Ben, considering the large crowd that was coming out of the cafeteria.

She pulled him aside. "Please, tell me what I did," she pleaded. "I can't stand to be like this with you. I want to be able to talk to you. Why can't we?"

"You mean, you want to talk to me?" Ben asked as he looked at her. He tilted his head.

"Of course I do!"

"At school?"

"Why not? You're my friend. Why should talking at home be any different from talking at school?"

Ben blushed. "Well," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I feel like an idiot."

Becca was the confused one now.

"You see," he began. "I thought you wouldn't want to talk to me."

"Why?"

"Well, your friends don't exactly like my friends."

"Marie, Diana, and Billy love your friends," she protested. "Didn't you seem them getting along."

"No," Ben said. "I meant. . .your other friends." Becca stared at him. "The popular crowd."

Becca nodded, understanding him, but she waved a hand to dismiss it. "If they don't like your friends then that's their problem. And if they don't like me hanging with your friends then that's their problem too. I don't care what they think and you should know that."

Ben laughed nervously. "Yeah," he said. "I guess I did know that. . .somewhere in my head."

Becca smiled. "I like you, Ben," she said. "I like you a lot and if my friends can't see that, then they really aren't my friends."

Ben smiled at her. He nodded. "I should've known from the very beginning that you were going to say something like that."

"And I'm disappointed that you didn't know," she replied. She crossed her arms over her chest, pretending to be angry.

"Sorry," he apologized. "Forgive me."

Becca turned away from him and began walking down the hall. There were fewer people in the hall now.

"Hey!" Ben exclaimed after her. She laughed as she turned around and walked toward him again. She stepped close to him, keeping only a few inches of space between them. She looked into his eyes with a smile on her lips all the while and before Ben knew, Becca's lips were on his.

The kiss was a sweet, small peck, that to Ben, lasted a lot longer than it really had.

Becca pulled away. "You're forgiven," she said with a small blush on her cheeks. She waved before turning away and heading toward her next class.

Ben was left too stunned to move.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Jimmy had been pacing in the livingroom when the front door flew open. Becca tossed her book bag aside and skipped into the kitchen where she knew her mother was.

"Why are you so happy?" he asked suspiciously as he followed her into the kitchen.

"Mommy!" Becca exclaimed as she ran to her mother. "Guess what!"

"What, sweety?" Mrs. Neutron said as Becca pulled her away from the refrigerator, where she was taking out the pitcher of juice, and into a seat.

"You have to guess," Becca said. Her eyes were sparkling with so much joy it made Mrs. Neutron laugh joyously.

"Okay." Mrs. Neutron took a moment to think and then, turning to Becca with wide eyes she spoke. "You. . .and. . ."

Becca nodded and soon Becca was in her arms. "Oh, honey!"

"I know!"

"I'm so happy for you. Now," she said. "How did it happen?"

"How did what happened?" Jimmy asked as he moved closer to them.

"Geez, Jimmy," Becca replied, turning to him. "For a guy who solves 'life's riddles' and stuff, you'd think you'd be able to figure this out."

Jimmy looked at her suspiciously.

"I kissed Ben, you silly!"

"You what!"

Becca smiled joyously. "And it was so great," she said, turning to her mother.

"Oh, I'm sure it was," Mrs. Neutron replied.

"Now Becca when you say you kissed him?" Jimmy began.

Becca laughed as she walked away.

"Becca?" Jimmy called. "Becca!"

For the time being Jimmy would forget about his troubles. It always brought him more joy to see his sister smile, but he hoped that he'd be able to feel that same joy for when Cindy decided to show him her smile again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

More of the good stuff will be in the next chapter. I wanted this to be a fun chapter, so as you can see I kinda treaded away a little from the whole Jimmy/Cindy scene, but it'll be back for the next chapter, so don't worry.

Jess (RedGem270)