Chapter 3: Run in at the Candy Bar
As Jimmy was walking, a light bulb turned on in his head. By past experience, he knew that when it rained like this, that his friends were usually at the Candy Bar. So, Jimmy walked to the Candy Bar. He tried to look through the windows, but was unable to, due to the rain. Jimmy went inside and looked around. The restaurant Jimmy once knew had changed drastically. The floor tiles were blue and arranged in the shape of a triangle. There was still the jukebox in the corner, but it looked bigger and contained more songs. In the front of the restaurant hung a giant, 50-inch, plasma, high definition TV. It was tuned into the news. Jimmy looked around for his friends. While he didn't see them, he did see some old classmates; Nick Dean, Butch, Terry Finster, Brittney, Nicca, and Betty Quinlin. Jimmy smiled and shook his head, in slight amusement. Nick, Butch and Terry were trying to put the moves on Brittney, Nicca, and Betty, but they were failing miserably. Jimmy looked away and approached the counter. Sam, the owner of the Candy Bar, and his only son, Sam jr., approached the counter from the employees' side.
"Hi there, what can we get you?" asked Sam Jr.
"A small chocolate shake." replied Jimmy.
"Comin' right up, yah!" said Sam.
Sam and Sam Jr were in the back working on Jimmy's shake when someone tapped Jimmy's shoulder from behind. Jimmy turned around. He saw two men look at him quizzically.
"May I help you gentleman?" asked Jimmy.
"Ya, you can help us by giving us all of your money."
"What?!"
"You heard us, give us all of your money, now!"
Jimmy was going to give them all of his money when suddenly he recognized the two guys. One guy was big, had orange-red hair, and wore glasses. The other guy had spiky black hair and had a purple shirt that said 'U.L. rules'. When Jimmy saw this, he smiled.
"Okay, enough with the pranks, Carl and Sheen."
The two men looked at him quizzically, and then smiled.
"Jimmy!"
Carl and Sheen ran up and gave Jimmy a hug, an action that surprised Jimmy. Carl and Sheen pulled away from Jimmy and were now on their knees.
"Jimmy, were so sorry." said Sheen.
"Ya, Jimmy, we are sorry. Can you ever forgive us?" asked Carl.
Both Sheen and Carl had tears in their eyes. Jimmy looked at them and frowned. Carl and Sheen saw the frown and panicked. As this point, Jimmy spoke.
"I'll forgive you guys as long as you don't embarrass yourselves in front of the Candy Bar again."
Carl and Sheen looked at each other, and then back at Jimmy.
"Deal!" they both exclaimed.
"Here is your shake sir," said Sam Jr, "that will be $1.75."
Jimmy was about to pull out his money, but Sheen stopped him.
"I got this"
Sheen paid for Jimmy's shake, and then they, along with Carl, sat down at a booth. Sheen and Carl sat next to each other, both across from Jimmy. Jimmy decided to start up a conversation.
"I haven't seen you guys in 5 years. We sure have a lot to talk about. So have any girlfriends yet?"
"Actually Jimmy, we have something to tell you. Carl and I are actually gay, and in love with each other." said Sheen.
Jimmy looked absolutely horrified.
"Just kidding." said Sheen.
Jimmy relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Actually, I just got married." said Sheen.
"Congrads Sheen."
"Thanks. I was going to call you up and invite you to be best man, but then I remember that we weren't friends anymore. I would have asked for forgiveness, but I haven't seen you in 5 years. So, I had Carl be best man." said Sheen.
"Yep, it's true, I was best man." said Carl.
Jimmy nodded his head, and then asked Sheen, "So who's the lucky girl anyways?"
Probably Libby.
At the thought of Libby, Jimmy cringed. He almost forgot about her and Cindy.
I'll have to ask Carl and Sheen about them later.
Jimmy listened to Sheen as he answered Jimmy's question.
"The lucky girl just happens to be your old girlfriend Tiffany." said Sheen.
Jimmy gulped. He had completely forgotten about Tiffany. Tiffany was Jimmy's girlfriend, who he dated for 4 years, until one day she got fed up with him and left him. She broke up with him with a really nasty letter. After that, jimmy was in a deep depression for months, until he finally got over her.
Jimmy blinked when someone's hand waved in front of his face.
"Jimmy, you there?" asked Carl, with concern in his voice.
"Ya, I'm here." said Jimmy.
"You zoned out there for a minute." said Sheen.
Jimmy nodded in understanding.
"Jimmy, don't worry, she won't try any of that BS she pulled when you were dating, otherwise I'll divorce her." said Sheen.
"Sheen, you don't have to do…"
"Yes I do. Don't you see Jimmy? If a wife can't respect her husband's friends, then one of three things have to happen; one, the man kills of his friendship, which isn't going to happen; two, the wife accepts the friend, or; three, the husband and wife get a divorce." said Sheen.
At that moment, Sheen's cell phone rings. It was his wife.
"Hello." said Sheen.
"Sheen, where are you?"
"I'm at the Candy Bar, talking to a friend who I haven't seen in 5 years."
"Who?"
"Your old boyfriend, and my friend, Jimmy."
At that point, Tiffany started to scream at Sheen. Sheen hung up the cell phone. He got up.
"I have to go."
Sheen said goodbye to Carl and Jimmy. He handed Jimmy his phone number. Sheen's cell phone started to ring again. Sheen gave Jimmy the sign to call him, to which he received a thumbs up sign. Sheen checked the caller id. It was his wife. Sheen decided not to pick up and left the Candy Bar.
When Sheen left, Jimmy asked Carl, "so, what about you, any girlfriends of wife I should know about?"
Carl shook his head no.
"So how are Cindy and Libby? Libby hasn't talked to me in 5 years, and Cindy seemed to disappear of the face of the earth. So, how are they?"
Before Carl could answer, Nick, Terry, Butch, Brittney, Nicca, and Betty came over to join them.
"Neutron, I don't know why, but when you left, Cindy's life went to hell, and some bad shit went down in Retroville." said Nick.
Jimmy was surprised. Nick Dean, one of the popular classmates, was actually talking to him.
I guess he isn't so popular anymore. He can't even pick up a girl anymore.
"What happened to Cindy?" asked Jimmy.
"Where should we start?" asked Betty.
"Let's see, it all started right after you left Retroville." said Nick.
flashback
Cindy and Libby, now 16, were walking down the street to Libby's house when a bug, no bigger than a dime, bit Libby on the wrist. Libby and Cindy thought nothing of it until they got to Libby's house. Her parents went out. When they got up to Libby's room, Libby started to feel ill. She was sweating like crazy, so she lied down in bed. Cindy went to go get water for Libby, and when she came back, Libby was lying completely still, and he skin felt cold and clammy. Cindy immediately called for an ambulance, but by the time they came, Libby was gone. 2 weeks later, the autopsy came back with the results. It said Libby died from radioactive poisoning, given to her by the bug.
end of flashback
"…Rumor has it that Cindy got so scared that she changed her name and ran." completed Nick.
"And nobody knows where she is now?" asked Jimmy.
"Nope."
Jimmy took in this new information. He couldn't believe it. Libby's dead, and Cindy was missing, well, not missing, but not here.
Another one died, and it was because of me.
Jimmy, for the third time that day, broke down and cried and this time, everyone saw.