Author's Note: Wow. . .how I missed getting reviews from loyal readers and reviewers. sigh. . .pause. . .cries I love you guys! You're all so great! You really are, I mean it. I wasn't sure if people would review at all, but I was so thankful to get a good amount even after I took a long time to update. So thank you, Payne N. Uranus (lol! I just love that penname!), acosta pèrez josè ramiro, And FOREVER, snowboarder9, OCEANLANE, Lil Inu Chick, and Jackie, who by the way, did a most impressive job of scaring the crap out of me! Lol! No, just kidding. . .kinda. Lol! Thanks for making me feel welcome even after such a long time and for reviewing!
So. . .yeah, I updated and it was sooner than last time, right? quivers I hope so. Oh, and CERN. . .that came from Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, which I finished reading a while ago. I think it really exists, too.
Anyway,this is the last chapter. Yes, I know it's sad. sigh But it had to come to an end some time. And to make you all feel better about it ending and all. . .I made it a little longer than usual and. . .there will be an epilogue after this. Wheet woo! So. . . enjoy it all!
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Part 18: With No Regrets
Nick roamed the dance floor, hoping to see Cindy again. She was here before, he said to himself. She was standing right here, watching Neutron up on that stage. He peered out onto the stage in the spot where Cindy had stood not too long ago. With a defeated sigh, he turned away.
"Nick!"
He turned again, his heart fluttering with hope, but to his dismay it had not been Cindy.
Betty ran to him. "Have you seen Libby around?" she asked, a little out of breath and sounding just a tad bit panicky. Her eyes searched all sides as she waited for his reply.
"No," he said finally.
"Where has the hostess gone!" She looked frantically about.
He almost laughed. Was there even really a need for a host at a reunion? Was it really necessary and why was she so overcome with panic? It wasn't her reunion. But he shrugged it off. "I could take her place for a little while. Just 'til she comes back."
If she comes back, he thought. Somehow he guessed that Cindy and Libby were together. Possibly with Sheen and Carl, he added, searching the room for them, but seeing neither of them.
Betty's eyes lit up. "Will you do that for me?" she asked.
With a shrug, he gave a nod. "Why not?"
"Great!" she exclaimed, taking his arm and pulling him toward the stage. "Now announce it."
"What?"
"You heard me, pretty boy."
"Pretty boy?" he asked, stopping in his tracks.
Betty turned. "I saw your magazine covers and all that stuff you did. Models are just pretty faces." She shrugged, but a smile slowly formed on her face. Models were just pretty faces? Look who's talking, he thought."Did I offend you?"
Nick smiled as he shook his head. "No," he said. Betty's smile faded. "I just thought you were hitting on me." He continued down the path toward the stage, leaving Betty a little shocked.
"Hitting on you?" She scoffed. "Yeah, right. I like my guys to be a little less dense, thank you very much."
"I'm actually pretty smart," he said, continuing ahead of her. "I catch on to things pretty quick."
She made her way behind him. "I'm sure," she said under her breath, which made Nick laugh.
Somehow, despite the fact that Cindy, his love and possibly his only love, had left him for another, he felt he'd be fine. Maybe he'd find another for himself. Maybe Cindy had not really been his one true love as he had thought so before. Maybe his true love was still waiting out there for him. Maybe she was in the same room. Maybe she was right under his nose. . .or more accurately. . .right behind him.
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Though it was still a little tense between them all, Cindy could feel their compassion and care for her. For the first time since she came back to Retroville, she felt as if she belonged. Finally belonged. She looked to Carl and smiled, silently thanking him for never giving up on her. He turned to her and smiled in return, a slight blush spreading across his pleasantly plump face.
She looked to Libby sitting in the passenger seat beside Sheen and thanked her for being a good friend and helping her come to terms with her feelings. Then she thanked Sheen for giving her the courage and strength she needed when she was weak to move forward, to at least try to make things right. She wanted to cry out of joy and gratitude and she could feel her tears begin to brim.
"You know, Sheen," she began, "Libby and Jimmy were never. . .Libby was faithful to you 'til the very end."
The tension seem to grow from there, but she wanted to help them both in exchange for helping her and this was how she'd try: she'd get them to reconcile.
"Libby didn't-"
"I did," Libby said.
Cindy turned to her and Sheen pressed on the breaks. Cars honked behind them. They all seemed to sail forward as the car jerked to a sudden stop.
Sheen turned to her.
Libby let her head fall. "Cindy is both right and wrong," she said, which confused them all. "She's right that I was faithful to you 'til the end. I never cheated on you, Sheen." Now everyone was thoroughly confused. Libby took a deep breath. "I would never do something like that to you. I wouldn't cheat on you. I love you too much to hurt you like that. But I'm afraid that Cindy isn't exactly right when she says that Jimmy and I never. . ."
"What are you saying?" Cindy asked, ignoring the honking horns as her heart sank, her anger and sorrow rising.
"Jimmy and I were together. Not dating-wise," she added quickly. "It was after you left, Cindy. I was just so. . .hurt by you and then Sheen broke up with me. I was just. . .devastated!" She looked away, ashamed. "I wanted to be with someone so bad. I wanted to have someone close who understood. Jimmy was getting very ill by the whole thing, too. He was a complete mess. He called me up one night and asked me to accompany him on a late night drive. I hesitated at first, but gave in in the end. I was so tired of being alone and Jimmy had always been such a good friend. I knew I could count on him."
"So you just fu-"
"No!" Libby replied, cutting Cindy off. "I went out with him that night and we ended up at the park. We walked around from there, just. . .talking. I told him about you and Sheen." She motioned to Cindy and then to Sheen. "I told him how lonely I felt, how I needed someone to just listen and understand. When I looked into his eyes, I knew without him having to say it, that he understood exactly how I felt. I knew he was in just as much pain as I was in, maybe even more! And I. . ." Her tears fell. "I hugged him. I cried on his shoulder and he held me close and said nothing. He didn't have to and I liked how it all felt. He cried on my shoulder as I cried on his and I felt so. . .relived in some weird way to be able to share something like that with him. We stayed in each other's arms that night and the night after. Whenever we wanted to just forget and be free of the pain, we saw each other and we'd. . .we'd. . ."
She placed her head in her hands. "We were both so ashamed after and we didn't want anyone else to know. Especially, when Sheen and I got back together," she sobbed. "By then Jimmy and I had long since stopped seeing each other at night like that. Neither one of us wanted to compromise anything of what we had left."
Things remained silent as Libby sobbed. "I'm so sorry," she cried. "I'm sorry!"
Without a second thought, Cindy placed a gentle hand on her arm and Libby's sobs began to subside as she looked up. Cindy's own tears escaped her eyes and then it was Sheen who placed an arm around her shoulders as Carl placed another gentle hand on her arm.
"It's okay now," Sheen said. "I love you and I don't want to complicate things any more than they already are. I don't want to have to put our love on hold anymore. I want you and me to be together with no regrets." He pulled her into his arms and she continued to sob. Carl and Cindy rubbed her back and took turns hugging her.
Even though it hurt them all to know, they did not want to make it a big deal and prolong more years of their almost forgotten friendship that they had just managed to piece back together.
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"Now boarding rows 18 to 21 of flight 413. . .Now boarding rows 18 to 21 of flight number 413," came the announcement over the loud speakers.
Rebecca looked almost frantic. Time kept slipping and there was no sign of Cindy as she had hoped to see. Are you even coming? She wondered. Had she decided that she really didn't want to even bother? Had she even come to terms with her feelings for Jimmy! If that's the case, Becca thought, then that girl needs a good slap in the face! Maybe that will knock some sense into her!
"Cindy isn't coming," Jimmy said, watching yet another plane take off.
Becca stared at him. "I didn't-"
"You didn't have to," he said, turning to her. "I know how you think." He gently pressed a finger to her head. "I know you too well."
With a smile he leaned back.
Why was he so happy? Why did he appear so happy? He was hiding something. He was keeping something locked away, Becca could sense it just how he was able to sense her thoughts of Cindy. She knew him too well, too.
"Are you truly happy this way?" she inquired. "Honestly?"
"Honestly?"
"Honestly."
"Yes."
"Liar!" Becca exploded.
"Becca!" Judy scolded. "Don't yell, please. I don't want this to be how we all part."
"Just keep your voice down, honey bun," Hugh encouraged.
Becca looked away, pouting.
"You're not really happy," she said under her breath, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Not completely, no," Jimmy whispered. Becca looked at him, her arms unfolding. "But I know I'll be fine. I can feel it."
"But don't you love her?"
"Of course."
"Then why not try harder to get her back? Why not try harder to be with her, to tell her that you still-"
Jimmy shook his head. "Things are never that simple, Becca. When you're older you'll under-"
"No!" she shouted. "You love her and she loves you. Why can't you be together! Explain it to me, Jimmy! I don't want to wait until 'I'm older' to understand anything! I want to understand now!"
"Becca, please," her mother pleaded. "Just sit and let it go."
"I can't," she said. "I just can't. Not until I-"
"Now boarding all remaining rows," came a familiar voice over the loud speakers again. "Now boarding all remaining rows."
Time was running out. After this they would announce the final call for flight 413 and Jimmy would leave as he had promised to. I'll stay until the final call for my flight is announced, he had said after they called for first class passengers. This way we could all spend some more time together before I'm off. This he had done to make her happy, she knew. But time was slipping away and her hope that Cindy would appear and confess her love, was slowly deteriorating.
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Too much time had been wasted away already. Cindy knew this, but they had come across a situation on the way over that was unavoidable. It was inevitable: Libby's confession. As Cindy remembered it, a jolt went through her heart. But she'd be feeling something way more painful than a sudden jolt in her heart if she were to miss Jimmy. She hoped she didn't miss her chance, but the ride to the airport had taken much longer than it was suppose to for obvious reasons.
She ran through the crowds and pushed throw the people to get to her destination. She felt as though things were going in slow motion as she ran the rest of the way to Jimmy's gate. Almost there, she thought. Almost there. Please, Jimmy. Please, wait for me. Just a for a few more minutes. Just a few more minutes
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Please, please, please. . .be there. . . please. . . .
Everything seemed to slow down almost completely for Cindy at that moment. Just a few more feet ahead was Jimmy's gate. This was it. This was her moment to-
She stopped, dead in her tracks as she came to Jimmy's gate. Her breath caught in her throat and a sudden anxiety spread through her as she began to frantically get her breath back, searching for Jimmy.
"Cindy?"
She turned to Becca and her parents.
Becca's eyes were sad and then she looked away. "You just missed him," she said, confirming Cindy's initial thought when she had made it to the gate.
She slumped, her knees buckling under her weight. A pair of strong, caring, friendly arms caught her before she could fall.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm just tired from all the running."
"Yeah, I'm sure," came Libby's voice as Sheen helped her to a seat. Libby, Sheen, and Carl struggled to get their hearts to beat steady again.
Libby sat beside her. "It's not over just yet," she assured.
Cindy shook her head. "But I-"
"Go after him," Becca cut in. Everyone turned to her. "Yeah!" She grew excited. "We're all going to see him in Boston. Our flight is later tonight. You could have my ticket and see Jimmy get his award and-"
"What about you?" Cindy asked, stunned.
Becca shrugged. "His happiness is above all else to me," she said, looking away.
"No," Cindy said. "I can get in another way. Don't worry about it."
"But-" Becca paused. "So you'll follow him then?" Her voice sounded hopeful.
Cindy smiled. "I have to try, right?"
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Jimmy put on the finishing touches of his suit: his tie.
Are you truly happy this way?
Of course, I am, he thought. Not completely, though. Not yet, but with time. All wounds need time to heal. Mine are no exception.
"Mr. Neutron, sir," came a familiar, voice. It was his 'secretary', so to speak, from the lab in New York. "The director of CERN is waiting to speak with you in the lobby."
No doubt offering me a job at his lab, he thought. The man had been trying to get Jimmy to join his team of physicists. But Jimmy had declined, claiming to have liked the laboratory he worked for in New York, NKLN. It was big with just enough resources for him. It was perfect. He didn't care what other's offered him, he liked his lab in New York too much to let it go. It was his home away from home. No other lab could give him that.
With a sigh he turned to the woman at the door. She held a note pad close to her chest and her glasses portrayed her perfectly; sophisticated. "Is it really important?"
The woman slowly stepped into the room and walked to him. Holding the note pad in her hand she reached up to fix his tie as he fixed the cuffs of his suit. "I hear it's another job offer," she said quietly. She stepped back to check the tie and when she was satisfied she looked up at him. "You might just want to say a few words," she suggested. "You still want his support even if you won't be joining him."
Jimmy nodded. "Okay. Whatever you say."
She smiled a little. "I'll just. . .take you to him."
Jimmy nodded and then followed her out. Soon after this he'd be out there in the Noble Peace Prize Ceremony.
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"You made it!"
Cindy smiled as she looked at Becca, Libby, Carl, Sheen, and Mr. and Mrs. Neutron. She was happy to see them all, but most surprising was her brother.
"Ben?"
He smirked. "I knew you'd be happy to see me," he said.
Becca nudged him.
"How'd you manage to get here?" she asked.
"Jimmy," Ben answered softly, all games aside. "He put me on the guest list. He told me it would mean a lot to him."
Cindy stared. "W-when was this?"
"It was a little after he found out that Becca and I were talking again after a couple of years of ignoring one another."
Cindy nodded slowly as if she understood, but honestly, she couldn't for some reason.
"Well, how'd you get in?" Sheen asked.
"I was just about to ask the same," Libby said.
"You see that guy over there by the door?" They all looked over Cindy's shoulder to the man who held the guest list. He looked at Cindy out of the corner of his eye.
The group nodded. "Well, he recognized me right away and let me in as soon as I approached him."
They turned to her quickly and stared. "Just like that?" Becca asked.
Cindy shrugged and smiled nervously. "Just like that."
"I don't believe it," Sheen announced.
"Neither do I," Libby agreed, eyeing her.
Cindy sighed. "I had to accept his offer to take me out for dinner tonight."
Ben was the first to burst out into laughter. Sheen soon joined him.
"What!" Libby shouted.
"But won't you be with Jimmy tonight?" Carl asked.
"What do you plan on doing?" Becca asked.
Cindy shrugged again. "I won't go. What can he do?"
Becca looked at her unsurely as Did Libby as Ben and Sheen continued to laugh. Carl remained confused.
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". . . And the winner of the Physics Nobel Prize is. . .James Isaac Neutron!"
The crowd cheered and clapped as Jimmy stood. He made his way to the stage, his heart pounding in his chest. This was the moment he had longed for since elementary school. This was his time to really shine in the eyes of the world of science.
He accepted his award with a smile and as he turned to the crowd he thought he saw Cindy sitting in the back, tears in her eyes and a proud smile on her face as if to say, "That's my Jimmy."
He looked away, his heart racing now. Not from the rush of receiving his award, but from the very sight of Cindy Vortex. When he looked out into the crowd again, she wasn't among the cheering, clapping crowd. There was only a sea of people he did not know.
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The crowd swarmed in as soon as the convention was over. People hovered over the Nobel Prize winners. Especially, Jimmy. He was the youngest of them all who had won and the most handsome. Women swooned as men tried to get just a piece of his glory by shaking his hand. The press buzzed with excitement as they asked him questions, took pictures, and caught him on camera. It was insane! And Cindy was in the middle of it all!
She tired desperately to get to him, but couldn't. The hordes of people were just too thick. Every time she thought she'd reach him, she'd fall back, pushed by the people who wanted just a glimpse of the handsome, young Nobel Prize winner.
So she sat in the crowd and awaited her chance to finally speak with him. She could've sworn that he had seen her as he was on stage, about to speak into the mike, but she guessed it was just wishful thinking. She wondered now if she'd get her chance to confess.
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"Please, pick up," Becca pleaded into Libby's cell phone. "Please, just. . .please, pick up."
The phone rang over and over and over again. Becca began to panic. She was literally pulling the hairs from her head.
"Just calm down!" Libby urged, pulling Becca's hand down to her side.
"She didn't get to talk to Jimmy last night," Becca argued. "She sat waiting for hours and by the time she realized that he wasn't even there anymore. . .she was torn apart! What if-!"
"No!" Libby interrupted. "Cindy wouldn't. No matter how upset she was, she wouldn't."
"How do you know!" Becca asked, panic still in her voice and wild in her eyes.
Libby shook her head. Her eyes slowly met Becca's. "Because." And with that single word, Becca understood what Libby wanted to say. It was all Libby had needed to say. Cindy wasn't that kind of person. She was strong no matter the situation. She wouldn't break down like that. She'd stay strong for as long as it took.
"Hello?" came a voice from the other line. Becca had completely forgotten that she still held the cell phone to her ear and the ringing had not ceased--until that moment, anyway.
"Hello?" Becca asked into the phone, the surprise audible in her voice. "Ben?"
"Yeah," he answered.
"It's Becca. Where are you?"
"Still in the suite," he replied. "Cindy is up. She's changing."
"Why didn't you pick up. I've been calling-"
"We know," he said. "Sorry. We slept in. Our wake-up call was, unfortunately, detained. But we'll be on our way soon."
"Okay," Becca said, her voice still slightly strained from her panic.
She could hear the soft smile creep on Ben's gentle face. "And, Becca," he said sweetly, "it'll all turn out right. Promise."
Tears brimmed at her eyes and she nodded as she closed her eyes. "Okay," she whispered. "Okay. . ."
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Ben peered in the direction of his sister as he ran beside her. They were running late, really late, but he had the confidence that they'd arrive on time. This was their last chance. If not now, then when?
He wondered how hurt she was. She had waited hours to speak to Jimmy. Long, aggravating, frustrating hours, only to find that he had long since left and she had been waiting for a ghost. It had hurt him to see her broken down and vulnerable after realizing Jimmy was no longer there. It was unlike anything he could ever remember. He had made a vow then to help her as much as he possibly could and. . .to keep Becca from feeling that way.
They sped down the large hall, passing gate after gate after gate and somehow Ben knew that this must have been like deja vu for Cindy. Had she not done this before? Just a day ago?
We'll make it he said and as they rounded the corner and the faces of the people they knew came into clear view, Ben knew that everything would soon be over.
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This is definitely deja vu, Cindy thought as she sat in an empty chair. She had just missed Jimmy. . .again. The plane was only seconds away from leaving. Well, if this isn't the story of my life, she said to herself sarcastically, before she sighed and buried her face in her hands.
The other's stood around her, hovering over her as if she'd break in seconds. Well, I won't break! She wanted to shout. I've come this far. . .I'm going to continue to fight. She stood, wiping her tears away with her hands.
"Cindy?" Libby asked, Carl stepping up beside her as Sheen stood with Ben and Becca in the back.
Cindy did not reply. She continued to walk, watching carefully as a man began to close the gate door. Her pace quickened and then she managed to slip in through the door, pushing her way through. She was a woman on a mission. She did not stop, not even when the flight attendant shouted for her to stop. The plane had not left yet. Which was the only thing that Cindy was thankful for at the moment. It may not have been a smart idea, but hell she had to try. She had to let Jimmy know just how much he meant to her. She had to.
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Jimmy sat, a little uncomfortably, in his first class seat. He looked about at his colleagues. They all looked comfortable in their own seats, reading a book or overlooking some of the research they'd be continuing once they were all back and settled in New York.
With a sigh he looked over at his companion. The man sat by the window, his glasses sat on the edge of his nose as he looked down into the screen of his laptop. The man was not one of Jimmy's colleagues. He was from another lab.
Jimmy leaned forward and tried to read the words on the screen. The man turned to him, slowly, sophisticatedly fixing his glasses on his nose. "Mr. Neutron," he said, making Jimmy pull back. "What do you think?"
Jimmy looked at him, confusion on his face. Was he kidding? Jimmy looked intently at the man. He was much older than he by twenty or thirty years. His dark hair began to turn gray at the scalp over his right year.
"Pardon?" he asked.
"My research," the man replied. "What do you think?"
Jimmy opened his mouth to speak, but found no words.
The man laughed. "I thought it'd be a good idea to ask a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize."
"But you've won all on your own, sir," Jimmy blurted. The man looked stunned.
"Impressive," he commented. "So you know who I am."
Of course, I do, Jimmy thought. He knew many of the past Nobel Prize winners. This man had won just a couple years ago for the Chemistry Nobel Prize. "Yes, I do," Jimmy replied. "You're Dr. Dominick Peabody. You won three years ago for your-"
"Jimmy!"
Jimmy froze. Was that. . .
"Jimmy!"
"Miss!" a flight attendant shouted. "You can't be in here!" The man sounded furious.
. . .Cindy. . .?
"Ma'am!"
In seconds Cindy burst through the curtains, a flight attendant at her heals.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Jimmy slid into his seat. Maybe she wouldn't see him, maybe she'd-
"Jimmy," her voice was soft beside him, her eyes even softer when he looked up to see her standing over him.
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She knew very well that he was only hiding himself from her. It didn't take a Nobel Prize winner to figure it out. She paused as she remembered who she was surrounded by and blushed.
"A friend of your's, Mr. Neutron?" the man beside Jimmy asked, a wide grin on his face.
"Do introduce, us Jimmy," another man said, a knowing smile on his own face.
"Why didn't you tell us you were seeing Cindy Vortex, Neutron," a younger man, one just as old as herself and Jimmy, replied. A sly smile curled his lips as he stood up. The man gave Cindy the once over. She took a step to the side, closer to Jimmy as if to say she was taken. She was Jimmy's girl. He smiled, his eyes slowly moving over the shape of her body again. "It's no wonder you turned Valencourt down."
"Shut up, Hamming," a woman spat. She was young and pretty and angry. Her honey brown hair was pulled up into a neat, tight bun on her head. Her glasses were black rimmed and small, in the shape of softly rounded squares. She was intelligent. It was obvious at first glance. She turned away and resumed her reading.
Hamming extended his arm. "Nice to meet you, Miss Vortex. I'm Ronald Hamming and that lovely woman over there is Veronica Valencourt."
Veronica gave Hamming a look of death, but when she turned to Cindy she smiled sweetly. "Nice to meet you." After shaking Cindy's hand she turned to Hamming again to mouth the word "asshole." She was obviously not to keen on him. . .or possibly her.
Cindy hesitated. "Nice meeting you," she muttered in reply.
Hamming shook her hand with a grin that told her that if they were the only two people on the plane, he'd have his way with her. Cindy was disgusted. She didn't like the feel of his hand in her's. It didn't feel right, but before she could pull her hand away, Jimmy stood and did it for her. He took her wrist and pulled her toward the curtain.
"Come and visit us in New York, Miss Vortex," he called out. "We'd love to see you again." Cindy didn't even turn around or comment, she was too busy feeling the warmth emanating from Jimmy's hand to even pay attention to the cocky guy the woman had called Hamming.
When they were finally out of the plane, Jimmy tore away from her. "What is your problem!" he exclaimed.
"Mr. Neutron?" a flight attendant said, her voice, shaking slightly. "Should I-"
"Just give me five minutes," he said as politely as he could manage. "I won't take long. I'm sorry."
The woman nodded and went back into the cockpit to wait for him.
He turned to Cindy again, waiting. Her heart raced. There he was, right in front of her. Tell him! She shouted at herself. Tell him, you idiot! "I. . .you. . ." She paused, trying to get herself back together, but her heart would not calm and her hands would not stop shaking.
" 'I. . .you' what?" he asked.
She looked at him, his face furious and flushed with embarrassment. She looked away. "I just wanted to apologize for. . .you know."
He sighed, exasperated.
She looked up to see a hand covering his face, his eyes shut as he shook his head. "Was that it?" he said without looking at her.
She opened her mouth, but her shock stole her words away.
"Honestly, Cindy," he said, looking up at her now. "I don't care anymore."
Liar! She wanted to shout.
He turned away and that's when Cindy felt her heart stop dead in her chest. She froze, unable to move or speak. He was walking away. He was walking out of her life. . .possibly for. . .ever. Her eyes remained on his back and he walked toward the plane, it's engine reeving up as if sensing he was coming back. But she wanted to stop him. She wanted to turn him around and tell him, pour her entire heart out and confess. She wanted to lunge at him and land on top of him and hold him down. She wanted to kiss him, to feel his mouth on her trembling lips, to have him hold her close like he use to just because. She wanted to say the world and have him believe every word. She wanted a happy ending, but she wasn't sure she'd have it, but dammit! She had to try!
Say it now, Cindy! She told herself. Tell him before he completely walks away from you! Say it!
"I'm crazy!" she shouted.
Jimmy stopped.
'I'm crazy'? She asked herself. What a thing to say.
Jimmy turned around, confusion plastered on his face. After a few seconds it appeared that he wasn't even looking at her anymore.
And then Cindy did it. She confessed.
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Jimmy stared over Cindy's shoulder. Yeah, she's crazy, he thought, but what was even crazier was the fact that Ben and Becca stood side by side, watching from the sidelines as Cindy stood in front of him. He didn't even see Ben at the ceremony. He had no idea he was there. He barely caught a glimpse of his own family afterward. The press was horrendous and then he was escorted out as if he were some big celebrity or a known felon.
The sight he held now was as unbelievable as the fact that Cindy Vortex had come barging in just to apologize. . .and to apparently confess that she was crazy.
Jimmy continued to stare over Cindy's shoulder. Was this all some weird dream that he'd soon wake up from? Ben and Becca aren't even taking to each other, Jimmy reminded himself. They couldn't possibly be here together. But they were and as Ben realized that Jimmy was staring his way, he took Becca's hand in his and pulled her close. Becca rested her head on his shoulder and squeezed his hand as she watched helplessly. Jimmy's mind swam.
If Becca and Ben were together than was it possible that he and. . .
"Jimmy," Cindy said, her voice soft and shaky from the wake of tears. "I'm crazy because. . ." Jimmy looked at her, confused about everything. ". . .because of you." She looked down, tears slipping down the length of her cheeks.
Me? He wanted to say. Why?
She looked up again and this time she managed a smile. A genuine. . .beautiful smile that took his breath away. "It's because I love you. . .Jimmy."
Jimmy stared, not believing the words that had come from her mouth.
"I just needed you to know that before you left," she added, her gaze leaving his face.
This. . .th-this isn't real, he thought. Sh-she didn't just say that. She was. . .He looked over her shoulder again in time to see Becca clinging to Ben as if he were a life preserver. She was hanging on every word of their conversation. They all were, he realized.
Ben's arms moved around Becca and held her close as he kept his eyes on Jimmy as if to tell him that this was real. Jimmy took a step back. This made Cindy worry. He appeared as if he wanted to run, but he could not move. He looked from Becca to Ben to Cindy. Was it really okay? Was it really better? He looked at his sister and Ben. Ben's eye did not once move from Jimmy. "It's all real," Ben mouthed and smiled as sweetly as he could manage.
Jimmy's hands fell limp at his sides as he turned to Cindy. She swallowed hard as the tears continued to fall. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as if she had been running the hundred meter dash. He noted her nervousness and her anxiety. . .her sorrow and regret and he found himself taking baby steps toward her and very slowly, very cautiously his steps grew. Every time he paused and became unsure, he'd turn to Becca and Ben, until finally he was standing only centimeters away from her and he. . .smiled.
Cindy breathed a sigh of relief and with fresh new tears threw her arms around him. Clapping thundered around them as Jimmy found his arms wrapping themselves around Cindy's frame, but they didn't seem to see the people clapping around them. They were too absorbed in each other.
Jimmy buried his face in Cindy's neck and inhaled the scent of her. "I've been waiting so long for you to say that," he whispered into her ear, still not completely believing what was happening.
"I'm sorry it took me so long," she replied, pulling him tighter into her embrace. She closed her eyes when she felt his lips caress her neck. She hadn't felt this good in ages. Her tears continued to roll down her cheeks as she tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "I just-"
"Shh," Jimmy hushed. "You don't need to explain."
"But I do!" she argued, her tears wouldn't cease. She pulled away and looked at him. His gentle features warmed her heart and made her want to cry harder. She had been hurting him for so long, so long that he had given up on ever reconciling with her. Whatever it was that had suddenly changed his mind was a miracle and whatever it was, she thanked god for it. "This whole time I just didn't want to believe that I cared so much about you."
Jimmy nodded as he wiped away her tears.
"I was afraid of my own feelings. You had hurt me before, but I had really hurt myself. I didn't know that you and Libby never-!"
Jimmy placed his finger tips on her lips. "It doesn't matter anymore," he said. "I just want to. . .start over. Could we. . .?"
Cindy nodded. "Of course," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "It was best that they didn't talk about it now. But she would explain herself. She'd tell him everything and she knew he'd listen and then maybe he could explain to her what it was that had him change his mind. She rested her head on his chest. "I love you," she said again, surprised at how easy it had rolled off her tongue.
"I love you," Jimmy replied. "Since the beginning."
Cindy looked up at him and smiled. Only one more thing could make this moment even more flawless than it already was. Her eyes mapped out the shape of his lips and she found herself mesmerized. Jimmy leaned forward, making Cindy meet his gaze. A person's eyes could tell you everything that you need to know about them. Or just enough.
Jimmy's lips hovered over her's. He looked into her eyes before he finally closed the gap between them. He was gentle and careful. His heart was still bruised and he knew that her's was too. He kept the kiss slow and long. It had been so long and he wanted to enjoy it. He didn't want to rush. His hands took her's into his. He felt himself rejuvenate in some way. His hurt and pain seemed to slowly lift away leaving behind warmth and security.
They pulled away, breathless and rested their foreheads on each other. Cindy sighed, content and Jimmy kissed the crown of her head as his response.
"Mr. Neutron, sir," came the voice of the flight attendant. Jimmy and Cindy turned. The woman nodded toward the plane, where the people had come out to watch.
"Ho, ho!" Hamming replied, a devilish grin on his face. "I will never let you live this one down, Neutron. Just wait 'til we get back to New York"
"Just wait 'til I freakin' beat the sh-"
"Now, now," Mrs. Neutron replied. "Play nice." And she smiled.
"We have to be on our way, Mr. Neutron," the captain said.
"Of course," Jimmy replied.
"That's it?" Becca asked, stepping away from Ben.
"For now," Cindy said as she looked at Jimmy. "Don't you forget about me, Neutron."
"Jimmy playfully rolled his eyes. "How could I possibly forget you, Vortex."
Cindy smiled and kissed him once more. "I'll be waiting you."
Jimmy nodded and with one last smile and good-bye, he was off. But this time everyone was more than positive that he'd return.
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Just wait for the epilogue kitties. It's my last treat for you all. Until I write another Jimmy Neutron fic that is. Jess a.k.a. RedGem270