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10:15 PM
Sitting on the front porch of her family's home, Cindy stared at the tail lights of Nick's sports car as it drove around the corner and out of sight. Sighing, she looked across the street. Either Jimmy wasn't home yet or he was already asleep, she deduced by the darkened windows of his bedroom. Ignoring her own front door behind her, Cindy stood up and started walking across the street. Her parents hadn't set a curfew for her tonight, so why not take advantage of the opportunity and do some extra work in the lab. With the presentation to potential manufacturers of the chemical injector she and Jimmy had developed looming, there was always something to do. "Besides," she thought to herself, "after tonight, I just don't feel like sleeping quite yet."
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8:11PM
"Hey Nick," the blond greeted her boyfriend as she opened the door. "Come on in," she said, waving him in.
"H-Hey," he replied, uncharacteristically nervous as he stepped in the front door of the Vortex household. Upon entering the foyer of the home, Nick proceeded to stare intently at a spot on the floor just in front of his feet. Frowning momentarily at his unusual behavior, Cindy excused herself to get her shoes upstairs as Mrs. Vortex walked into the room.
"Hello, Nicholas," Mrs. Vortex greeted her daughter's in her nasally formal voice. "School is going well, I suppose?" she questioned of him.
Raising his head to look at her, he responded with a nervous "Yes," then looked back at the spot on the floor. Nick fervently hoped he had wiped the deer-in-headlights look off his face before looking up, but wasn't convinced he pulled it off.
Slightly put off by his out of character actions, Mrs. Vortex opened her mouth so query him again, then paused. "It is their 4 year anniversary, so maybe he's just nervous about making it special for Cynthia," she thought. "Don't worry about a curfew tonight, Nicholas, enjoy yourselves this once," she said aloud, incorrectly assuming what was causing his behavior. Pleased with herself at finding what she felt was a solution to his problems, Mrs. Vortex turned to walk back into the kitchen as her daughter descended the stairs.
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10:17 PM
Walking up to the entrance of the lab, Cindy looked into the retinal scanner and awaited entry to the underground facility. As the confirmation light turned green and VOX opened the door for her, she paused and looked at the back of Jimmy's house. "I wonder how his date went… I hope Betty appreciated how he looked tonight," she mused aloud, suddenly blushing as she remembered her own reaction to seeing him – and his rear – walking down the stairs. Walking into the living area of the lab, she immediately headed into the changing area to replace the dark green dress with jeans, t-shirt and more importantly lab coat. Wiggling her way out of the tight dress she wore for the night, Cindy recalled more of the proceedings of the night.
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8:45 PM
"Wow, you are simply stunning tonight," Nick complimented, staring at the beautiful blond in the dark green dress across from him.
Smiling weakly, she quietly thanked him. Not that she didn't mind the compliment, but it was the seventh time since they reached the restaurant he complimented her looks, the tenth since she came downstairs at her house with her shoes on. Pursing her lips as she studied the boy who once again was uncharacteristically looking downwards, she sighed. "Nick, what's up. This should be a great celebration. I mean, FOUR YEARS! This is pretty big. It's like twice as long as almost anybody at school – including some of the teachers! Even Jimmy and Betty are only celebrating their third anniversary. What's with the sudden weird… weirdness with you?" she asked, struggling with her words. Her boyfriend for her entire high school career was sitting almost scared at the table in front of her. Butterflies suddenly filled her stomach; was she about to loose him? Watching him squirm before her, he finally looked up at her.
"No.." he said softly. "It's actually pretty cool that we've made it four years." Glancing at her pleading eyes, he felt emboldened. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Well, I planned on waiting till after dinner, but I guess there's no time like the present. See, this thing we have, it's like so great. I mean really cool. And well, I thought of only one thing to get you for our anniversary." As he fished through his pocket, he laughed nervously, "Well, besides an expensive dinner." Pulling out a small black felt box, Nick handed it to Cindy. She gasped as she opened it. "Think of it as a promise ring… as long as we're together at the end of the school year, I'd like to ask for… well, you know" he finished awkwardly.
Cindy stared at the simple band with a small solitaire set in it and gaped. It wasn't an overly expensive ring, but that wasn't what had her tongue. "N… N… Ni…. " she started, not knowing what to say. Her mind was completely blank.
Sensing her hesitancy, he nervously amended himself. "Tell you what, just think of it as a simple anniversary gift, just a ring. I mean, that's what it is, a gift. Just a way of saying I love you… Because I do… So much… But not to push you or anything into anything…" He stumbled through the words, the nervous pain of making a possibly bad decision written across his face.
Working her mouth slowly, Cindy looked up at her panicking boyfriend and caught herself. "Nick, I love you too… You just took me by surprise… I mean all week you've been… and tonight, I mean… Well, it is a lot to take in…" she spoke, finding her voice again. Still reeling from the shock of his question, she thought to herself, "I mean, I'm just a senior in high school… I was planning on college and a job before I even thought about this… God! Do I want this? I love Nick, but… mar.. marr… I mean a promise ring…" her mind refused her to even think that word.
Seeing his girlfriend's internal turmoil manifest itself with a furled brow and odd look in her eyes, he stated, "Just a ring, okay? No promise, no en… no… just a ring, okay?" he asked, taking her hands in his; all wrapped around the box in question. Nodding numbly, they both looked up to find a struggling waiter trying not to spill their food as he waited for their discussion to conclude.
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10:23 PM
Stepping out of the changing room, Cindy sighed. The rest of the date was pretty much a blur. Talking with Nick on the ride home, much of the conversation was just light talk dancing around any major topics. It wasn't until he dropped her off that they finally broached the topic again, and she voiced her feelings. After more than a little reassurance that she did still love him and that she just hadn't considered making any decision until after college, they parted with a chaste kiss. Pushing open the door to the work area of the lab, Cindy found herself staring at a very forlorn, red eyed James Isaac Neutron. "Jim… have you been crying?" she heard herself say.
A/N: So super sorry! I have been exceedingly busy at work (oddly enough where I usually start my writing – sorry boss :P) and am very late on posting. It took quite a bit of restarting to get this chapter even close to where I wanted it. Also, much thanks to flamelyte for helping me brainstorm and pick out exactly how I want this story to develop. Anyways, thanks for the encouraging reviews everybody, please read and continue!
-Tim
PS-had this done a couple days back, but couldn't upload cuz i got errors :(