Chapter 4: The Other Side of Cindy

"Hey, Goddard? Uh, is it too late for me to reconsider?"

Goddard turned his head to face the young blonde. Fear and nervousness floated within the emerald depths of her eyes, and he brushed his tail reassuringly against her leg.

I know you're uneasy, Cindy. But you're the one who wanted to do this.

"Don't remind me…"

Listen, I'll go in ahead of you. That way Jimmy won't be on the defensive immediately. He knows me, he trusts me. Just stay behind me, I'll take the worst of it, the robot dog assured her.

"It… it's not that."

Goddard barked softly. What is it, then?

Libby turned to her friend. "Cindy, don't back out on me now girl."

"Easy for you to say! You've got Sheen, Mr. Steady like a Solid Rock!"

"So? Jimmy can be just as steady!"

"Yeah, right!"

Libby grinded her teeth.

"Listen, Cindy! You and Jimmy have been having this love-hate thing going on since that time on the island, maybe before that! You broke the poor guy's heart with Timmy Bucktooth, and now it's time you made things right!" She shouted. "And don't compare your thing to my thing with Sheen! I never jerked him around like a dog on a short leash!"

"But you didn't say you were his girlfriend until recently!"

"At least I came around!"

TIME OUT!

Both girls fell silent and turned to face Goddard.

Libby, first off, no tearing into Cindy. I wasn't there when this whole thing was going down, but cut her some slack. Have you ever had two boys like you at the same time? No? Okay then. So don't knock it 'til you've tried it.

He turned to Cindy.

And you, no yelling at Libby about her relationship with Sheen. Just because Jimmy has problems expressing his feelings and you have commitment issues doesn't mean you take it out on her. You got yourself into this, Vortex, and it's about time you got yourself out.

"I don't have commitment issues!"

Then why did it take you so long to admit you've got a thing for Jimmy?

"I was afraid, alright!"

Cindy's shout made both Goddard and Libby fall silent, staring at her in shock.

You, Vortex, afraid?

Cindy looked at the ground. "Yeah… yeah. I was afraid. I am afraid, okay?" she whispered, her voice shaking slightly. "I'm afraid."

"But, Cindy, why didn't you…?"

"Tell anyone? Libby, you know why. I'm Cindy freakin' Vortex. I scare people. I don't get scared."

Goddard whined softly, licking her hand. It's okay to be afraid, Cindy.

"Not when you're me."

Yes it is. Goddard snorted softly. Jimmy is a genius. Do you know how many times I've seen him afraid? And I don't just mean when one of his inventions malfunctions.

Cindy looked hesitantly at Goddard.

Jimmy is afraid of a lot of things, Cindy. He's afraid that if something goes wrong, Carl, Sheen, Libby, you, me, his parents… one of us will pay the price. He was afraid on that talk show, of letting you guys down. He's afraid of you.

"Me?"

Not you specifically. The way you make him feel… it scares him.

"Tell him to join the club. I'm scared of the way he makes me feel."

"I was scared to, Cindy," Libby murmured. "When I realized I liked Sheen more then a friend? Girl, I freaked out."

"But you got over it."

"Only because I faced it and admitted that it was there. When I accepted that, when Sheen accepted that, it wasn't scary anymore." Libby smiled. "Actually, it's pretty nice."

"The voice of experience."

"You know it."

Cindy looked back at the ground. "I'm still afraid."

Libby gave her friend's shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"Cindy, no one's asking you to be brave about this. Just go in there and do what you came to do."

"What if it doesn't turn out well?"

"Then you pick up the pieces and move on with your life. There are other boys in the world, Cindy… but knowing you I highly doubt you'll notice any of them…"

"Hey!"

Goddard whined, wagging his tail.

C'mon, Cindy. You're a Vortex. Vortexes and Neutrons go together surprisingly well.

"They do?"

Yes. When you and Jimmy are actually nice to each other, I've seen the sparks.

Cindy hesitated, then nodded, her eyes clearing.

"I'm ready."

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Come on, you know Cindy's bound to be nervous... once she confronts Jimmy about their relationship, there's no turning back.