Chapter 3

She's cold and she's cruel, but she knows what she's doing

Jimmy couldn't believe that he was listening to this cd in his car. He wasn't sure where he was going. He just had to drive. That's all he knew.

She pushed me in the pool at our last school reunion

She laughs at my dreams, but I dream about her laughter

That was true. She did laugh at his dreams. She laught about everything that he did. Very seldom did she make him feel smart or wanted or important. That shouldn't make him want her more! It was ridiculous and not to mention totally and competely deranged. Also, it was illogical and he of all people shouldn't be in love with something that was illogical.

Or maybe that was why he was in love.

He shut the cd player off and rode in silence. How could he have turned away that nice girl? She wanted him. She had even said so! She had said that he was important and smart and kind and gentle. Cindy always was calling him a jerk and a nerd and a variety of other things. So why did he say she was his girlfriend?

He noticed that he had ended up at the Candy Bar so he decided to pull in and see if his friends, Sheen and Carl, where there. He parked and walked into the restaurant, instantly spotting Carl and Sheen accompanied by Libby and Cindy. Jimmy sighed inwardly at the site of Cindy, but walked in anyway.

"Jim!" Carl exclaimed. Jimmy smiled and walked over to the booth that they had always sat at since Jimmy had first moved there.

"How was camp?" Libby asked.

"ULTRA LORD!" Sheen screamed in anguish at his videogame. Libby smacked him in the head.

"It's just a videogame!" Libby exclaimed. Sheen gave her a look like she was insane.

"Libby babe, this is not a videogame. This is Ultra Lord's life! And I killed him!" Sheen cried. Libby rolled her eyes and pressed the restart button on his game causing Sheen to squeal in happiness.

"That should keep you quiet for another minute or so. Anyway, how was camp?" Libby asked as Jimmy sat down in the only space available, right beside Cindy.

"It was great. Very informative," Jimmy stated.

"Hey Jimmy. How's your mom?" Carl asked. Jimmy resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Since last summer Jimmy had realized that Carl was in love with his mom when he came over and heard him screaming at the top of his lungs the song, Stacey's Mom. However, instead of saying Stacey he had changed it to Jimmy's Mom.

"My mother is fine, Carl," Jimmy said flatly.

"We all know you love his mom, but that doesn't mean you get to bug Jimmy about it!" Cindy erupted. Jimmy looked over at her in surprise. She had said his name. Again. Not Nerdtron or Neutron or whipped head or anything like that. She had said Jimmy and in a defensive tone. The entire group, except Libby, looked surprised.

"You just defended Jimmy," Sheen whispered, "Are you sick or something? Ultra Lord could help."

"For the love of everything! Why are you so darn obsessed with something that isn't real?" Cindy shot back.

"He is too real!" Sheen screamed, trying to stand up in the booth, but failed. Cindy rolled her eyes.

"Uh Sheen, Ultra Lord died again," Libby pointed out. Sheen was about to start in again, but Libby had restarted the game once again.

"I think you need to find a new boyfriend," Cindy said to Libby, but Libby wasn't paying attention.

"Hey Jimmy. Are you okay?" She asked him, looking at Jimmy's confused face.

"Why'd you call me Jimmy?" Jimmy asked, paying attention only to Cindy.

"Because, um, er, that's your name. Duh," Cindy replied, her face flushing brightly.

"I think you are sick. You never call me that. It's always Nerdtron or stupid or. . ."Jimmy trailed off when Cindy's hand found his.

"Well. I've changed since you were gone," she said softly. Jimmy blinked. No, this couldn't be happening. It couldn't be.

"Erm... I have to um, fix Goddard," Jimmy said before running out of the Candy Bar.

"What's wrong with him?" Carl asked. Sheen, who had finally given up on his videogame, pushed Carl out of the booth.

"Let's follow him. Come on Libby my chicky babe," He said, holding his hand out for hers. She took it and allowed him to help her out of the booth. Cindy just sat there.

"Come on girl! You can't just sit there. Let's go!" Libby said, grabbing her arm. Cindy smiled and followed them out of the Candy Bar.