A/N: I DON'T OWN JIMMY NEUTRON OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS OF THE SHOW. I AM MEARLY A FAN. (and a poor one at that mr/mrs lawyers, esq.)
Also – Sorry about the delay in posting – Vacation and work have kept me unusually busy, as well as a case of writers block the size of Kansas.
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"And so, by providing customers the ability to save money by mixing their chemicals in exact measurements, chemicals that previously had to be handled separately are now able to be combined in one compartmental unit. This unit is accurate enough with the multitude of sensors built-in to allow for a much higher tolerance on end result; thereby cutting down on expensive error checking procedures like test runs and test batches because the advanced chemical scanning allows for instantaneous error checking on each end result. Also, this unit is completely interchangeable to fit the application of choice. Ladies and gentlemen, I only have one question." Pausing, Jimmy's face fell as he continued, "Why the hell did Betty dump me."
Water rolled down his face as Jimmy sat at the desk in his room. Unfocused eyes blinked a rain of tears once again fell upon the handwritten draft of his speech. His right hand clutched at his heart. The tightening in his chest pulled on his soul. Rubbing his eyes clear, Jimmy said aloud to himself, "No, I have to get this right. The meeting is less than two weeks away…" Looking down at the water stained sheets; he started again, "Ladies and Gentleman…"
Twenty minutes later a soft voice at the door interrupted the teen's oratory efforts. "Wow, never thought I'd see the day Jimmy Neutron used regular pen and paper."
Whipping his head around, Jimmy dropped the papers in his hand in shock. "Wha…?" he stammered.
Pointing at her watch, the blond girl explained, "Remember, we agreed to work on our presentation at noon today?"
"Oh, yea," came the weak response.
"So, let's hear what you've got," Cindy asked of her lab partner.
"Well…. I don't really have anything," Jimmy replied, nervously scratching the back of his head. "I've been… distracted."
"Distracted? Come on," Cindy scolded, eliciting a look of shock from Jimmy. Walking over to where he sat in at his desk, she continued. "You're upset. You just had a bad break up with a long term girlfriend." Looking at his tear stained cheeks and puffy eyes, her heart broke to see him in such pain. Squatting in front of him, she looked him straight in the eyes. "Talk to me. What's running through that oversized cranium of yours? You need to let this out or it will eat you alive."
Sighing, Jimmy stood, took Cindy's hands, and led her over to the bed. Pulling her down so they sat face to face. Staring at their hands for a minute, he finally looked at the patient and caring expression on Cindy's face. "I don't know. I know I said I understood, but I don't. I mean…" Sighing, he took a breath before continuing. "I love her. I mean, I liked her for years in elementary, then again in high school… It's natural, for me to want to be with her, right? And it used to be so good… but lately things bother her, and it's frustrating when she doesn't understand what I'm talking about… But I miss her. I don't want to lose her."
The pain in his eyes pulled at Cindy's heart. His voice dripped with sorrow and regret. Looking at the person in front of her bearing so much emotion, Cindy made a snap decision. "Jimmy, I'll help you get her back."
"What?" he exclaimed, as if he never considered that a possibility. "B-b-but she dumped me… it's over."
"No, it's not. If you truly care for her, fight for her. Show her how truly wonderful a person you are and get Betty back," Cindy finished with gusto. As Jim turned towards the window in thought, Cindy felt a wave of nausea float through her body. Finally realizing the emotion of jealousy floating beneath her other emotions, Cindy's sat in shock over the realization that she might be harboring deeper feelings for Jimmy then she had previously thought.
"Cindy, I'll do it," he said, hitting his fist with his palm in a show of resolve. Turning back towards her, his eyes were already looking ahead at the steps he would take to get Betty Quinlin back in his life, not noticing the look on the face inches from his own.
"Great," she replied, affixing a mask of happiness over her emotions as she wrestled with thoughts in her head. Looking at Jimmy, she quietly asked, "Hey, Jimmy, how about you don't mention that I told you to do this… It'll umm… look bad to her if it seems that this wasn't your first thought, you know?"
"Okay," he said, contemplating the request. "I thought she'd be happy I had such a thoughtful friend to count on, but you're right, that seems much more logical." Leaning over and kissing her forehead, he added, "Thanks for being such a good friend."
A blushed complexion at his kiss was replaced by a weak smile from his words. Disengaging herself from his touch she stood and collected the papers he had dropped on the desk when she first entered. "How about I take these papers home and work on this while you call Betty and get things started for yourself, okay?"
"You sure you don't mind?" he asked. "I hate to burden you."
"Don't worry," she said, turning back to him from the doorway. "You do what you need, I'll handle this boring stuff."
"You're a lifesaver," he said, standing and quickly rushing over to give her a hug.
Hugging him back had never felt so awkward, Cindy decided as she held Jimmy in her arms. Drawing back, she mouthed a "Bye" to him and ran down the stairs and out the door. As she departed, Jimmy picked up the phone and started dialing Betty.
"This will work!" he told himself. "It has to!"
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Okay, thank you all for being so patient. This chapter was rough to do, and I restarted it too many times to count. All you impatient J/C lovers may get mad, but this story is still a bit from finished. I had it all planned out a while back. It's just a matter of actually getting plot thoughts into story words. A rather messy process as of late, I assure you. Please, feel free to critique. I need it. I know of many areas where I'm not pleased with dialogue/etc, so any words of insight are more than welcome.
-Tim