Disclaimer—I don't own Jimmy Neutron or any of the Nickelodeon characters just my own OC

It had gone on like this for—a few weeks now. He discovered. He never said much to her, and often when he did, he didn't get much in response. But every time he did, he noticed she seemed more receptive to his approach.

Then came the day he was simply more lost in thought than usual and he hadn't heard the bell.

"I'll never understand how you can correctly name the line and the meter of a Shakespeare sonnet while being open to the Canterbury Tales. "

"Eidetic memory." He had replied, not at all prepared for how entirely thrilled he was that she was speaking to him.

"Of course" she said and rolled her eyes, as if this conversation they'd barely begun was already a waste of her time.

Desperate to continue whatever this was he asked "you like that poem?"

Before he knew it they were walking to class along side one another, something he certainly wasn't opposed too. He found the atmosphere surrounding them in the hallway to contrast with how he felt during AP Lit. There was a confidence about her there, that he now saw she was lacking in the halls, surrounded by their peers.

When had she begun to cower like that? He wondered. Or was it simply his presence that threw her off her game? He'd stood up after the end of class and taking a deep breath, took a deeper risk. He jerked his head at her, a move that 5 or so years ago would have gotten his ass kicked. But much to his surprise and terrifying delight…she followed him.

So he'd pushed his luck. He hadn't been planning on remaining this close to her but he felt pulled in, as if they were some kind magnetic pull. He'd existed outside her real zone of familiarity since they'd started high school. They had moments—sure where he'd once again feel the fire ignite under their old rivalry. But now they were more cordial… polite. As he swung his leg over the bench and remained near her, he found himself reveling in his decision. He wanted to be next to her. Even if they didn't speak.

Carl and Sheen were at it once again, the age old Ultra Lord versus llamas debate. And when he was finally able to pay attention to the sights around him, he found them with an extra body.

He hadn't heard her approach, but when she spoke he felt Cindy stiffen ever so subtlety. An unfamiliar rush of emotion surged through him and he immediately went on the defense. In a show of he wasn't entirely sure, protection, and perhaps loyalty he paid Cindy his attention first.

As he handed the clipboard back to Betty his insides thrashed uncomfortably. She was looking at him, as he'd always imagined she would in his youth. But now he understood, this wasn't for him. This was for Cindy—he was only a puppet in the show. So he tried to put as much meaning and emphasis into that one "maybe" he mustered up at her attempt to get his attention.

It had worked, that is until he had to answer for his albeit drastically different behavior.

With that he snorted "well then you haven't been paying attention much lately have you?"

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Her voice rising, filled with tension, and he once more felt the spark light underneath their friendly façade.

"I haven't ogled Betty Quinlan since the 9th grade when she couldn't tell Ms. Batson what the chemical name of salt was. Salt Cindy."

XXXXX

Why did she need to come over and ask you to sign that stupid thing if you're meeting after school anyway? Libby asked effectively breaking up whatever argument had been brewing between them.

Libby, Carl and even Sheen had become experts over the years. Allowing Jimmy and Cindy just enough time to interact was key—too much and they'd be sure to talk about something more meaningful than the weather.

"How should I know?" she'd finally, sighed. She wasn't sure but she felt like the dynamic between her and Jimmy had shifted. Something was tugging on her, a familiar urge that she'd thought she repressed eons ago. She wanted to push his buttons, but more importantly she wanted his attention.

"You said maybe."

"Hmm?" He asked, this time actually looking a little lost.

"You said maybe you'd join. You didn't say no."

"I want to keep my options open."

"So you'd actually join the dance committee and plan for formal because Betty Quinlan asked you too?"

"Not if Betty Quinlan asked me too." He answered slyly.

"You hate dance committee." She sniped.

"Well I wouldn't actually know if I do, since I've never partaken. But sure, that's a probable hypothesis." He responded logically, now looking bored with this conversation.

"So why would you want to keep your options open then?" She pressed.

He looked over at her, and then at their friends who satisfied that neither Cindy nor Jimmy was going to throttle the other became engaged again in their own conversation. He cleared his throat… looking around once more, and instinctually she leaned in closer.

"Are we still talking about the dance committee Vortex?"

Blushing she reeled back and away from him. She hated how he could do that. Turn an argument into another conversation completely…a conversation that the two had been avoiding for years now.

"Sure—yeah I am."

"Well, you don't have to worry" he hedged. "I have no immediate future plans that involve me signing up for any committee."

"Fine." She replied, and tried to return her attention to Libby and the guys. The lunchroom felt very hot, and seriously crowded today.

She slipped easily back into a conversation with Libby about after school plans.

"So should I pick you up at 4:30? We can go to the mall, I think that black skirt I saw at H&M is probably on sale by now." Libby asked.

Cindy was about to reply when she saw Jimmy open his mouth, and incredibly begin to speak.

"Wait, what about the peer editing assignment?" Turning his body away from her, he looked Libby in the eye as he continued, "Payette paired us up."

Okay she definitely did not.

However instead of disagreeing with him, she found herself insanely going along with it.

"Yeah, that's right." She said nodding. He turned back then and beamed at her. She blushed from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. I have no idea what has gotten into him lately—but I think I might like it. She decided she might try her hand at this new game they were playing.

"You're picking me up right?" She asked him, making direct eye contact hoping to watch him squirm. He didn't look uncomfortable or awkward as she expected, no she mused he looked pleased.

"By the gym?"

"Mhmn."

Neither one noticed how Carl, Sheen and Libby had quietly watched this exchange. Jimmy and Cindy often discussed homework, or tests. They had nearly identical schedules. There wasn't usually too much squabbling done, more commiserating than anything. It was normal. But working together on something—this wasn't nearly as typical.

"So…the two of you are going to edit each other's work?" Carl asked feeling an awful lot like he missed something.

"That's what peer editing is Carl." Cindy replied, of course they weren't going to just let this slide.

"But…it's English Jim." Sheen interrupted. "Cindy is better than you in English."

"We have the same grade actually." He said smoothly, "down to the decimal point."

Cindy huffed, but took the little victory. There was a time when he wouldn't have even agreed that she was in his league.

"That's probably why Payette paired us up."

She had no idea what possessed her to say it. She could just let it lie. They seemed to have accepted this change of events. Surely Jimmy or Cindy would never go against a teacher's wishes. She watched him stiffen. He hadn't been prepared for any follow up on her end. He thought she'd let him off the hook. She saw him slowly smile. It was a look she'd seen before, she realized. When he was staring down a challenge, something they had in common.

They loved a challenge.

"I wouldn't underestimate Payette. The woman may have questionable teaching methods but it allows her more perspective, I suppose. She probably sees something we don't."

"Why do you sound like a fortune cookie dude?" Sheen interrupted, looking in between the two.

"I meant in our papers. We both wrote about Whitman."

How does he know? She wondered. She had many favorite poets but Whitman had really caught her eye as of late.

Mercifully, the bell rang, saving them from any more interrogating for the moment.

"So…the gym 4:30?"

"Yeah, sure." She answered. Getting to her feet. They would see one another in History their second to last period, but she doubted they would talk. She was off to gym now with Libby, where she was sure she'd have much more to answer too.

For now, she watched him walk off. He stopped slightly before the catwalk as if he sensed she was staring after him. He didn't wave or even smile, he just stared back but his deep blue eyes were dancing.

XXXXX

"Are we still talking about the dance committee Vortex?" He hadn't wanted to scare her off; he was merely testing the waters. But he acknowledged it must mean something that I made her blush like that.

He often tried to trip Cindy up like that. Changing the conversation completely on her, while in an argument usually worked to his favor. Cindy had a quick wit, and a quicker tongue. She could go up one side of him and down the other had she really wanted too. But she didn't appear to want to as of late. Most of their short exchanges were pleasant but exceedingly boring.

Truthfully he'd gone a long while before signaling her out. And he couldn't remember the last time he went out of his way to intentionally tease her. Okay he was flirting with her.

So just like he had been doing all day—he pushed his luck. Creating a scenario out of thin air and essentially deciding that all parties involved would simply go along with it was a risky move. Especially when those parties involved were Cindy Vortex.

Miraculously she had. He couldn't help the 'pleased as punch' grin that had spread across his face. She of course knew that the assignment was a bogus excuse to—what exactly? Hang out with each other? He hadn't thought that far along. He just knew he'd seen an opening, and went for it. And it had been going along so smoothly. But he knew she would only cooperate so far.

"I wouldn't underestimate Payette. The woman has questionable teaching methods but it allows her more perspective, I suppose. She probably sees something we don't." he'd thought quickly on his feet. He'd tried to make his answer just vague and disinterested enough to throw Carl and Sheen off the track. But give her enough of an answer that'd she'd hopefully read between the lines. Even better yet—the look of surprise and pleasure that he'd not only known she'd wrote about Whitman, but he wrote about him too. She's pleased. He mused.

So now under the guise of this assignment he'd be viewing and interacting with his subject outside of school grounds. He couldn't remember when the last time they'd hung out alone was. There had been a weird but fond time between the end of middle school and freshmen year when he thought maybe we're meant to be something.

He'd gone to her 14th birthday party. And when he was leaving, she'd kissed him. Absently he touched his fingertips to his lips. At the time he remembered being confused, not displeased but not sure where to go from there. He'd liked her for—forever really. As time passed and he'd failed to make a move, she moved on.

So he'd forced whatever residual 'overly friendly' feelings he might have for her into a box. Then he locked the box and threw away the key. Supposedly.

But here were these feelings back again. Why couldn't he just leave her alone? He wondered as he sat in Intro to Graphic Design, an elective he needed for some credit. He was dragging something back up to the surface, and he had been since he'd decided to sit next to her weeks ago in AP Lit. What was it that he ultimately wanted? He thought, and suddenly he was right back in her backyard reliving his first real kiss.

Well that's just—shit he thought as he stared out the window. He was in for an interesting evening.

XXXX

"So you really don't think it's going to be even slightly weird to work with him?"

Libby asked for the third time.

Cindy was attempting to fake nonchalance. Maybe if her best friend didn't think she was freaking out, she wouldn't be freaking out.

"Honestly Libby, it's not ideal but I could have gotten a worse partner."

She was freaking out.

"I guess that's true." Libby agreed while shoving her gym clothes back into her locker after an exhaustive game of badminton.

Kasey appeared around the corner. "I heard you're working with Neutron on our peer editing assignment."

Please don't mention we weren't assigned partners she thought.

"Yeah, well we both wrote about Whitman, it makes sense."

"Sure" Kasey replied and smiled, "You should be able to have plenty of time to talk to him for Betty."

Shit. She'd forgotten momentarily in all the chaos and surprise editing partners the note she'd gotten from Julianne a few weeks ago about Cindy paying her dues. Cindy was one of the popular girls in Retroville High now, or at least she was making her way up to be. Betty, a lifetime member of the circle, wanted something, and it was time for Cindy to produce. It was only slightly—horrifically humiliating that what Betty wanted was Cindy's heart. And the not so subtle hints that were beginning to become slightly aggressive. She hadn't necessarily agreed to do it. But over the past week and half Betty and her crew had been wearing her down, convincing her that she should put her own feelings aside. If Jimmy had wanted her, he would have done something about it two years ago—or any day since. He hadn't.

In fact the most he'd done was to sit next to her in one of the five classes they shared. Except for today. Today suddenly he seemed to be all about her and while she was beginning to really allow herself to enjoy it, it was a little flabbergasting.

"Yeah, I'll try." She managed, all the while feeling Libby's eyes boring into the back of her skull.

They left the locker room quickly and quietly. Neither said a word to the other until they were at her locker. As she bent in to get her History book, Libby's voice cut across her like a knife.

"What does Bimbo Betty have to say that's so important she can't do it herself?"

"I think they're hoping the act itself will be so mortifying for me, I'll be easier to boss around during committee meetings." She answered truthfully.

"Cindy—"Libby said slowly. Looking at her best friend with growing concern. She'd noticed a distance between the two of them lately. Cindy had begun to hang around girls like Kasey, Julianne, and even Betty. Libby wasn't sure how or when the change had begun taking place but it was like watching a flower wilt into itself.

"Cindy, what exactly is it that Betty wants you to do?"

Cindy seemed to look everywhere but at her best friend standing supportively with her hand on her shoulder.

"She wants me to set them up. Says I can convince him to go out with her, since we are sort of friends."

"Girl that's crazy. You can't be thinking of doing it. What about—you know?"

"I'm over it." Cindy chirped back automatically.

"You don't look over anything too me. In fact you both look pretty into whatever has been going on around here." She spit back, while gesturing vaguely in front of her.

Cindy blushed but looked at Libby curiously.

"Come on? You can't see it?"

"See what?" She asked slowly not sure if she wanted to know the answer.

"Look there's always been something brewing between you two. Don't play completely stupid. But every day for like the past two months that boy has been eyeing you."

"No, he hasn't."

"Yes," she paused "he has. I thought before it was a little creepy. It was like whenever we were all hanging out together, but it was like discreet, except for all this week he's been looking at you with doe eyes and an even stupider look on his face than you have right now."

Cindy laughed a little but turned redder.

"I doubt he even realizes it. And then he made up that lame excuse to work with you…"

"You knew about that!" Cindy half yelled and then looked around quickly.

"Of course I did." Libby laughed. "I doubt the guys caught on or really care either way. "

"Why didn't you say anything?"

Libby shrugged. "I figured it was your business, you'd let me in on it eventually. I was just hoping you guys would have figured whatever you've started again out.

"We haven't ever started anything…" Cindy hedged.

"Yes, you have. Two years ago, you finally made a move but he was too chicken shit to reciprocate."

Cindy cringed—she hated that memory for that very reason. Nothing had ever come of it. They'd hung in this weird limbo until it had gotten too awkward to do anything about.

"Maybe he's finally making his move."

"I doubt that very much."

"What's that?" He asked appearing suddenly off to her left and launching himself into the middle of their conversation.

She threw him a look that read 'get lost' because she knew (up until recently apparently) that strategy usually worked. He hadn't wanted to know bad enough, or he didn't think she'd include him anyhow.

At first it looked like it might work today too, but he spun on his heel and backtracked towards them.

"Aren't you coming?" He asked her, they had History now.

Libby scoffed and threw her an 'I told you so' look.

"What makes you think I need an escort around school now?" She jested back genuinely baffled that he hadn't given up yet.

He hesitated for a moment.

"I'm asking for your immediate permission then."

"What?" She asked, now—entirely dumbfounded.

"You said earlier that I never asked to walk you to class right?" At this she nodded numbly. "So now I'm asking you."

Libby had the decency to back up slowly and turn as though nothing was amiss. Act as if everything is normal and maybe she didn't just witness the earth going the opposite way on its axis.

"To walk to class with you?"

"Yeah. Come on, we're going to be late—" he continued when he saw she hadn't moved from her spot.

"Or," He hedged "I can just…"

"No, no it's fine." She said finally, and slamming her locker door. This time when she fell in step beside him she was reminded of their youth.

She used to secretly love to walk beside him. To stand next to him, when they were on common ground, working toward the same goal, fighting the same enemy. He made her feel powerful, he made her feel brave. She wasn't afraid when she stood beside him.

She wasn't afraid to stand beside him now. She just didn't do it often. He'd really grown. He towered over her now, but it wasn't until she allowed herself to get close to him that she noticed it. He wasn't like other guys. He didn't try and intimidate her by his size.

He respected her physical space she realized. While he may be in the habit of making decisions for her often because he thought he knew best, he never tried to overpower or control her. Even now, he'd kept a respectable distance between them. He was close enough that if she wanted to reach out and hold his hand, she certainly could. The thought made her blush.

When they walked into class they kept up the same routine as before. He'd sat down in his seat and she'd gone to hers. Now though, she had afternoon plans.

She was certainly in for an unusual evening she thought, smiling hopefully to herself.

4:28, 4:29….

She stared hard at her watch; both exhilarated and terrified at what was to come next.