Author's Note: OMG! How long has it been since I've updated this? Like a month! I apologize profusely. I've been busy with review classes for a re-take regents exam. I failed my Chem regents, but it didn't surprise me. It just pissed me off cause I wasn't expecting that low of a grade! Anyway, enjoy!

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Part 16: They Belong Together

Five years earlier. . .

It was just another school day. An ordinary school day, though this particular day seemed to be a more exciting one. At least it was for Jimmy. He finally figured out what he'd give Cindy for her graduation present. He had told her he'd give her something really special. Something from the heart and she'd love it. She was expecting the best. Little did she know at the time that he didn't even know what he'd be giving her. Now all he had to do was tell someone. . .else. He had already told Sheen and Carl about it, though now he hoped they wouldn't tell Cindy. Especially, Sheen. Carl could keep a secret, but it was hard for Sheen.

"Jimmy," Libby called. "Hey, what's up?"

"Libby!" Jimmy exclaimed. "I know what I'm going to do now. For Cindy, I mean."

"Spill."

Jimmy smiled. "I've decided to take her out into space." He was excited. Even for the third time of revealing the "big surprise", he was still so very excited.

Libby stared, which caused Jimmy to panic a little.

"Well, she seemed to like it up there the last time we went. You know, to save our parents from the-"

"Yeah, yeah," Libby interrupted.

"Well, I thought it'd be nice," he said with a shrug, feeling down and uncertain now. "There's suppose to be a small meteor shower and I thought it would be a nice to see together."

Libby's smile came in slowly. "She'll enjoy it."

"I hope," he said, still feeling unsure. Libby didn't seem to look very positive about it when he first mentioned it.

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

"I won't," Jimmy replied. He wanted to keep it a secret til then. A surprise. He really hoped she'd like the idea. They could spend some real quiet time alone. The thought of it made him blush. He rubbed the back of his neck. He looked down, avoiding Libby's inquiring eyes.

She brushed away the silent question and continued. "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 stuttered. He had been dating Cindy for some time and yet he was still so shy about actually going out with her. Libby once said to him that it was cute how shy he was about it even after such a long time together.

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!"

Jimmy sighed. "I really do hope so."

Later that day. . .

Jimmy stepped into his home with Libby right behind him. They had been laughing about something. "Jimmy!" Becca exclaimed the moment she saw him. She ran to him and Jimmy opened up his arms with a smile on his face. She jumped into his waiting arms and he held her for a moment before putting her back on her feet. "Hey, Libby," Becca greeted.

"What's up?"

"Nothin' much," Becca replied. "Just got my tuba home." Becca smiled. "Would you like a private concert." Becca nodded.

Jimmy became unsure and he knew that Libby was too. Becca wasn't exactly. . . "talented" in playing the tuba.

"Um. . .maybe later," Libby put in.

"Awesome!" Becca replied, practically jumping for joy. "You and Jimmy have to hear me. I got so much better."

"Sounds about the same to me," Jimmy whispered, looking away.

"Huh?" Becca asked.

Libby elbowed Jimmy in the ribs. "Nothing, never mind," she said.

Becca shrugged.

"Becca, listen," Jimmy began, rubbing at his rib cage. "Libby and I will be upstairs, okay. Tell mom when you see her."

Becca nodded. "Okay."

Jimmy smiled at her one more time before he walked up the stairs with Libby. They got to his room shortly after. Libby closed the door behind her as Jimmy threw himself on his bed, but she left it open ajar.

"I'm tired," Jimmy confessed, turning on his back.

"Of lying to Becca," Libby replied, knowing right away what he was talking about.

Jimmy lay on his bed and nodded. Slowly Libby took a seat at the foot of his bed and stretched out an arm to touch the other side of the bed. Her arm sat close beside his legs as she leaned her weight on the one arm.

"You have to tell her," she said.

Jimmy sighed as he covered his eyes. "I know, I know!" he repeated.

"You can't not tell her," Libby added.

"I know already!" Jimmy argued. "It's just not that simple." He sat up on his elbows. "I just don't want to hurt her."

"The longer you wait to tell her the truth, the more it's gonna hurt when you do tell her," Libby informed.

"Yeah, I know," Jimmy said again as he fell back. "But you have to tell her too, you know!"

"What!"

"Yeah," Jimmy argued as he sat up. "You know too."

"Obviously," Libby replied as she sat up straight.

"Then you can tell her," Jimmy said.

"I don't think so," Libby disagreed. "You have to do it."

"But you're her friend," Jimmy protested. "Her best friend!"

"No, I'm not!" Libby argued. "And besides, it has to be you," Libby said.

Jimmy sighed and for a while neither of them said a word. "I guess your right."

"I know I'm right," Libby said, folding her arms over her chest.

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"So that's what happened?" Nick asked. He looked at Carl almost as if waiting to hear that it wasn't the truth. That they were just kidding. But neither Carl nor the kid showed any signs of kidding around. "So Cindy was using me to get back at Jimmy, then."

"At least, that's what we think," Becca said. "Cindy probably didn't even realize it herself. She doesn't even seem to see that she does in fact have something for Jimmy now."

Nick sighed. He had seen it before. He remembered the way she'd look at his pictures in the newspapers and magazines when there was a story about him. She's always get this far-away look in her eyes. Regret and sadness was eminent and strong in the reflection of her eyes. But when he'd ask about it she'd always change the subject and the regret and sadness would quickly change into anger.

"I'm sorry," Becca said, looking away. She didn't seem very sincere like the first time, but it was audible in her voice. It was slight, but the sincerity was there. "Cindy shouldn't have played with you like that. It wasn't right and it wasn't fair."

"Yeah."

There was silence for a moment before Becca spoke again. "But it doesn't mean that-"

"I know," Nick interrupted. "You told me already." Nick sighed and stood up. "Right, so fix everything then."

"What?"

"Call Cindy," Nick said. "Call her up and explain." He shrugged. "Don't you want to fix things between them?"

Becca shrugged. "It's gonna be kinda hard to forgive her," Becca said. "I've hated her for so long, I don't think I can like her that easy. Even if it was all a misunderstanding."

"Well, I'm still going to do what I can for them," Carl said. "They belong together."

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"Tomorrow," he answered. "Tomorrow is the day."

"You don't sound very excited," Libby replied, poking at her ice cream. She and Jimmy had run into each other while heading toward the Candy Bar. She thought ice cream would make her feel better and help ease her worries about Sheen. She had yet to see him and she wasn't so sure she'd find him. She just really hoped he hadn't gone back. Maybe tomorrow she'd see him at the reunion.

Jimmy didn't reply. He simply looked at her.

"What?" she asked, when she realized he was staring. "I'm a little surprised that you'd want to be seen here with me. Anyone could be around, getting the wrong impression." He paused. "Even Sheen."

Libby looked down. "You said you'd be there for me, didn't you?" she asked after a short pause. "I need some company right now and you're a person I can count on and we bumped into each other. It was just convenient."

Jimmy nodded. They remained silent for a while longer. Neither knew what to talk about and truthfully, they were feeling a little uncomfortable with each other.

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Cindy's phone began to ring, but she let it ring. She wasn't in any mood to answer phone calls.

She leaned back to watch the sky. A plane flew by, a message flopping in the breeze saying: "Mary, will you marry me." She scoffed and looked away only to see a brunette crying "happy" tears. She turned to her boyfriend and hugged him tightly.

"Happy anniversary," he said, hugging her back.

"Oh, Drake!" she sobbed. "Yes. Yes, I will marry you!"

"I love you, baby," "Drake" replied.

The woman exploded with fresh tears. She kissed him as if she hadn't seen him in years and Cindy hated it. She hated having to watch the joy instead of being a part of it. When was the last time that she was able to say that she loved someone and truly mean it? She caught herself. Never, she told herself. Because you were never in love. But a picture of Jimmy flashed in her mind. She shook her head.

She stood from the bench and began her lonely walk home. She didn't want to be alone anymore, but she had no other choice, did she? There was no special person for her. There was no one.

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Please, be home. Please, be home. Please, be home. Please, be-

The door opened, cutting Becca's thoughts off. Ben had answered. He was surprised to see her, but his face soon fell. "Um. . .I-"

He couldn't complete his sentence. Becca's arms were around him before he even knew it.

"B-Becca-"

"I did it," she said softly. "I figured out why they split up and it's stupid, Ben. So stupid."

Ben put his hands on her shoulders and gently pulled her away. He looked at her as she blushed, a little embarrassed with herself. "What are you talking about?"

"Jimmy and Cindy," she replied. "They had a huge misunderstanding. . .over nothing!"

Ben stared, unable to grasp her words, but Becca continued anyway. "Cindy thought Jimmy and Libby were talking about her and seeing each other behind her back, meanwhile, it was never like that! The last time Cindy ever came over, she over heard a conversation Jimmy and Libby were having. She had come in the middle and had not heard that they were talking about me!"

"Are you serious?"

Becca nodded. "She thought they were talking about her, but they were talking about me! About my poor ability to play the tuba. Jimmy was so afraid to tell me."

"That is not true!"

Becca turned to see Cindy standing in the door way. "I heard them talking about me that day. I heard it. And I over heard them in school too. It was me not you."

Becca shook her head. "Cindy, I don't know what it was that Jimmy was saying at school, but the day you came over. The last time you were at the house, Jimmy had told me when he came down that my tuba skills sucked. He was afraid to tell me. He explained it to me. It wasn't you he was talking about. At school he was probably just-"

Cindy shook her head and walked away. "That's just dumb," she retorted, heading upstairs.

Ben cut her off before she made it to the stairs. "She's explaining it to you," he said firmly. "Let her finish and listen. For once in your life just listen!"

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"So you want me to believe all that?" Cindy asked. "Are you expecting me to believe all that? Because I don't." She folded her arms over her chest and looked away. Her mind was reeling with unanswered questions. Was it really okay to believe a kid about what happened back during a time when she was even younger than she already is? It seemed believable, but Cindy wasn't so sure.

"Don't be an idiot, Cindy," Ben replied. "You can finally be with him again. Doesn't that make you happy at all?"

"It's complicated," Cindy said. "And I don't like Jimmy at all! You've been misinformed."

"You've been misinformed!" Ben shouted, looking at her. "Why don't you just do us all a favor and finally admit your feelings for Jimmy!" He stood. "I've had enough of your denial! It's been five years. Five years, Cindy! And you can't come to see that the reason you left when you thought Jimmy cheated on you was because you were indeed in love with him and deeply hurt by his 'actions'!"

Cindy simply stared. She was at a loss for words.

"Ben," Becca began, defending Cindy. "Maybe-"

"No!" Ben argued. "Don't take her side, Becca. Don't you take her side! She doesn't deserve it." Ben looked at Cindy with disgust as he spoke the words.

Cindy frowned, relieved that her anger was rising. "Look here, you little-"

"No," Ben said firmly, making Cindy swallow her words back. "You listen." He paused, shaking his head. "Jimmy loves you," he said, his voice soft. "He always has and you love him too." Cindy looked as if she would protest, but Ben cut her off. "And you won't be happy until you realize that. You can still have him, Cindy. It's not too late."

"It's never too late," Becca agreed. "I know I haven't been very nice, but it's because you were such a. . .you treated Jimmy horribly. How else was I suppose to act toward you after that? I hated how deep you cut him. Not literally, but you know." Becca sighed. "I felt everything he felt. I knew how horrible it was. I fell sick with him because of what you did and it wasn't pretty. But he loves you, Cindy. I know he does. I'm willing to forgive you." She looked at Cindy, as if pleading her to go back to Jimmy.

"I-"

"But only if you're willing to get together with him!" Becca replied quickly.

Cindy looked away. "I just. . .don't love him. I never did."

Becca looked down. She shook her head, holding back her tears. "Fine," she said, standing up. "Live your life a lonely fool! Go on and grow up to be one of those old ladies who lives with cats! Go on! But don't expect me to pity you! I told you the truth and you were the one who chose to ignore it and through your only chance away!" She ran out the door and didn't stop.

Ben stood still, watching Cindy for a moment. He shook his head. "You are horrible," he said and ran after Becca.

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Jimmy sighed when he entered his house. He only had one more day left in Retroville. Not even! He wouldn't even make it to the end of the reunion. He had to be out of there by seven. His flight was leaving at 9:15 p.m. He had to get to the Nobel Prize ceremony.

He made it to his room, only to stop. He heard faint sobs in the room beside his and then something crashing to the floor. Something big and heavy had toppled over in Becca's room. Panic swept through him and he was in her room in a heart beat. She sat up quickly in her bed and wiped away her tears. He looked about, his eyes catching her night stand on the floor. Paper and pencils scattered about. "I thought you fell," he said.

She looked away and toward her night stand. "I pushed it," she said simply, wiping away her remaining tears as she sniffed.

Jimmy hesitantly went to her. "You okay?"

Becca shrugged. "Yeah, whatever."

He sat down beside her, ready to speak, but she spoke before he could.

"You love her, right?" She turned to him and looked at him carefully, curiosity in her eyes.

He was taken aback by her question, but he cleared her throat. "W-who?"

"You know," she replied, looking away.

Jimmy rubbed the back of his neck, growing uncomfortable. "Well. . .i. . .it's complicated. I-"

"You either do or you don't," she said, turning to him again, a thin line of anger flashing in her eyes.

Jimmy stared at her for a moment, unable to speak. But with a sigh he regained his composer. "It doesn't matter. She-"

"Loves you too," Becca said. She watched her foot as she kicked the leg of the toppled night stand. "She just. . .won't admit it to herself. That was why she went away with Nick after thinking that you and Libby were seeing each other behind her back."

"But we didn't-"

"I know," Becca said. "I should've believed you when you told me," she said, a tear running down her cheek. She forcefully kicked the night stand on the floor. "I hate that I didn't believe you! I'm so stupid!"

"No," he said. "You were confused. You said it yourself. You didn't know who to believe. Anyone would've done the same in your situation."

She shook her head. "I remembered the last time Cindy came over and then it all became so clear. My friends helped figure it out. Cindy had walked in on you and Libby in your room and over heard your conversation about me. She took it the wrong way because at school earlier that day she had over heard a conversation between you and Libby that made it sound as if you two were going out. So when she heard yet another conversation from the middle, she quickly assumed it was about her or something along those lines."

Jimmy was impressed. "H-how did you. . .?"

Becca shrugged. "I don't know. I just put piece by piece together." She looked out her window to Cindy's house. "But now I know how the detectives do it." She looked up at Jimmy, offering a weak smile. He smiled back at her and hugged her tight.

Her arms automatically wrapped around him. "I'm sorry, Jimmy," she said. "I won't ever doubt you again."

"You're a smart one."

Becca and Jimmy turned their attention to the door. "Libby," Becca said, relieved.

Libby smiled. "You're mom let me in." She entered the room and looked at them both. "So that's how it went, huh?"

Becca nodded, tears in her eyes and a smile on her face.

"Tell me again," Libby said, making her way to Becca. "But from the beginning."

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Cindy tossed and turned. She couldn't sleep.

She looked at her clock. 2:30 a.m. With a sigh she sat up and closed her eyes, wishing herself to sleep. A light tap on her window, made her turn her head. She ignored it for a while and when she thought it had finally stopped, it started again. She removed the covers and made her way to the window. Libby was standing outside. She looked up and gestured her to come out. Is this a joke? Cindy asked herself. But against her better judgment, she turned away and made her way outside.

When she got outside, Libby sat waiting by her door. She stood when she saw Cindy. Both of them looked at one another, not knowing what to say.

"Well?" Cindy said finally. "Did you come to insult me or-?"

"No," Libby said. "Becca told me what happened."

"So not even you knew?" Cindy asked, looking away. "Because I was sure you were the one there, dating Jim-"

"What she told you was true," Libby said, ignoring her comments.

Cindy stared.

"That day you caught us talking in his room," Libby began. "We were talking about Becca. Jimmy was afraid to tell Becca that she had no talent for the tuba. He didn't want to hurt her feelings. He wanted me to tell her too, but I thought it best if it came from him." She shrugged. "He's her brother after all."

Cindy didn't know what to think, but she wasn't going to be taken as an idiot. "Look-"

"You don't have to believe me," Libby replied, not looking at her. "It doesn't matter either way." She paused. "You know," she began again. "He wanted to take you into space."

Cindy looked stunned.

Libby laughed. "Not as a way to get back at you," she said. "It was as a present for graduation. There was suppose to be a meteor shower and he thought it'd be romantic, I guess. We talked about that at school that same day you caught us in his room. He had been so excited. I thought you'd get pissed if you were to catch us talking to each other, sneaking around together. I knew it and I was right."

Cindy's breath caught. Then it was true? All of what Becca said was true? She and Jimmy had simply parted on a stupid misunderstanding? She had given up on everything between them for such a. . .a. . .stupid thing! How could I have been so dumb! How could I have just. . .? Why did I just. . .? I was so stupid. So stupid! I threw a good thing away for nothing! I threw it away. I threw him away. I threw it all away!

"Did I make it easy?" Libby asked. "To finally admit to yourself your feelings for Jimmy?" She gave her a small, genuine smile.

Cindy looked at her, too overcome with thoughts and sudden, surprising emotions to speak.

"I ask because you've got tears in your eyes."

Cindy's hand moved to her face and her finger tips touched the wetness of her face. Her surprise grew. She looked at her fingers, wet with tears and now she knew what the ache in her heart had always been and now she knew the lie she had been living all along.