Man, I'm like a teddy bear: Just stuffed with fluff. To overflowing. I wrote this on vacation, and I had it typed up and everything last night, but they wouldn't let me put it up. .:pouts:. Anyways, you have been patient and this is long overdue for a chapter. Enjoy.
PS- The song here is Head on Collision by Hawk Nelson (who is hot times three), and not mine.
I'd Rather be Anywhere but Here
By me, Cassi Mo.
What's a Few Bets Among Old Friends?
"So whatever happened to Betty Quinlan?"
Jimmy and Cindy were sitting facing each other on Jimmy's bed later that night, after the four friends had gotten together after dinner to discuss "Operation Carlito," as Sheen fondly dubbed it. After knowing Carl for a number of years, no one wanted to risk his trust by asking him outright, yet in the end no one had any better ideas. Jimmy had suggested they sleep on it, and 'compare notes' in the morning.
"I'm not sure," Jimmy replied with a shrug. "I dated her a couple of times in middle school, mostly out of boredom, but halfway through eighth grade she stopped coming. The teachers said she moved away, but word in the halls was that she dropped out. I really wonder about her, whether I'll ever see her again or not. Even though most people didn't like her by the time she left, her and I were good friends."
Cindy reached out and put a hand on top of his, squeezing it gently. "I'm sure she's fine. What's the worst that could happen? She ends up on a remote planet finding herself supreme ruler of a small community?"
Jimmy smiled a little. "I guess you're right. I'm thinking about this way too much."
"I knew I could get you to see things my way." Cindy felt indescribably smug, and inwardly puzzled over it. I don't understand. I wasn't jealous of her, was I? Smiling brightly, she tried to cover up her conflicting emotions. Pointing to the guitar resting in the corner of the cabin, she asked him, "Are you any good?"
Anything to change the subject.
"I guess. I've been playing for…" he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "about a year and a half, but I don't really play for other people, except Goddard." Jimmy walked over to that corner and picked up his vintage Les Paul. As he turned it around, inspecting it, Cindy got a glimpse of his trademark symbol on the back. Leave it to Neutron to soup up even his instruments.
While he stood there looking at it, Cindy rocked back and forth impatiently. "Well, I want to hear something."
"You sure?"
"No, I just said that to make you anxious. Of course I'm sure."
Jimmy smiled and sat back down on the bed, adjusting his posture to allow the guitar to rest comfortably on his lap. After a short tuning (without a tuner, mind you!), he started to pick out the simple melody, letting it get a little more complex before he added vocals. He sung a tune that Cindy did not recognize, clearly and rather well. Intrigued, she unconsciously leaned forward to make out every word, even though his voice was adequately audible.
He was a simple boy, he just liked to have fun
He never wanted to be just like his dad was
He was a dreamer but he had never had none
Who made the most of his life but never had one
He was a single boy he could never slow down
He always wanted to leave but didn't know how
He was a dreamer who seemed to never break ground
Who spent most of his life in a small town
Shake up my life
Lets go...
Back to the days when we were young and not restless
We still believed and hadn't built our defenses
I'll tell you one thing's for sure
Till we make the decision
We'll never take this world
Unless we make a head on collision
And daddy told her she could never have
Late night help with her math
So she sits crying by the window
Every time she gets another A
She makes it another day
And it's just that simple
Shake up my life
Lets go...
Back to the days when we were young and not restless
We still believed and hadn't built our defenses
I'll tell you one things for sure
Till we make the decision
We'll never take this world
Unless we make a head on collision
A head on collision
Here they come now
Will you come down?
Make 'em run now
On to the next town
Here they come now
Let's make 'em run now
No time to fake now
Everything breaks down
(He was a simple boy he just liked to have fun
He never wanted to be just like his dad was
He was a dreamer but he had never had none
Who made the most of his life but never had one)
Let's go...
Back to the days when we were young and not restless
We still believed and hadn't built our defenses
I'll tell you one thing's for sure
Till we make the decision
We'll never take this world
Unless we make a head on collision
Don't you know
There's more to this than we thought
'cause we were never listening
We heard it all before but we missed it
When all we needed was a head on collision
When he finished, Cindy was glued to her seat, mouth open, staring eyes unseeing. "That was…." She struggled to find an adjective sufficient to describe his performance adequately. "…amazing," she finished lamely.
Jimmy blushed slightly, not used to this kind of attention about music. "Well, thanks. You really think so?"
"Do I? Stuff like that makes me wonder why you didn't pick the darn thing up before! I've never heard that song on the radio before, though." Cindy's proud look was soon replaced by one of confusion.
Jimmy blushed again, darker this time. "That's probably because I wrote it."
Cindy paled, suddenly realizing where his inspiration had come from. "But… how did …?"
"Not all families are perfect, you know. Neither are all walls soundproof."
"Tell me about it," Cindy groaned, reliving the horrific years in her life spent at home with her father.
"Okay," Jimmy replied simply. "So-called genius forgets to destroy DeDorkinator, father gets ahold of it, father thinks he's too cool for the family and takes off, leaving said genius with pregnant mother to fend for themselves. We haven't seen nor heard from him since then. I was twelve."
Cindy's breath caught in her throat, knowing exactly how he felt, even though her story was slightly different. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, and Jimmy smiled weakly.
"Don't be. It wasn't your fault."
After several minutes had passed with neither of them saying anything, Cindy sat up a little straighter, a sure sign she had an idea brewing.
"I think it's time to lighten the atmosphere here."
Jimmy looked up from where he was in deep contemplation. "What?" he asked, puzzled.
"Let's go to the lake. I bet my spot on the bed that I can swim from one end of the lake to the other faster than you can."
"The bed?" Jimmy was incredulous. "It's my bed, and if you knew any better, you wouldn't be betting it. But I'll bite. What if I win?"
Cindy tapped her nose in concentration, and pondered this for a minute. "Name your condition," she ordered in a monotone voice.
Jimmy smiled devilishly. "If I win," he said slowly, "you have to do whatever I say for the next month."
"A swim match isn't worth a month," Cindy retorted. "One day."
"You said to name my condition. One week."
"Fine."
They shook hands, and stepped out of the cabin, with Jimmy instantly lighting up to bathe her in a green glow that lit the way very effectively. They were nearing the lake when Jimmy slapped a hand to his forehead.
"What is it?" Cindy asked dubiously, raising one eyebrow.
"Bathing suits?"
"Oh well," she responded. "I'm not walking all the way back. Go in with your clothes on." What a genius you are if you fall for that.
"Whatever," Jimmy grumbled. Cindy smiled surreptitiously. Sucker. However, before she could utter a witty retort, she took a step and missed the ground, falling into a pit of something, and the more she thrashed, the faster she started to sink. Looking sideways, she noticed Jimmy was in the same predicament. The realization hit her like a train and filled her being with dread.
Quicksand.