Having been a horrible little simp myself, I guess it's easy to see why I feel sorry for this character. So, I decided, let's give Tootie some redemption, or we can at least try to.

Having grown up with the show, I found it weird when I learned that Timmy was born in 1992, so that means the show originally took place in 2002. Yes, they adjusted the show to the times, but originally yes?

So, I wanted to ramp up the ages and times, so this fic takes place in 2009, making the ages 16 going to 17. It's not rated M or anything, it's just for the purposes of this fic. This has probably been done before, I'm not sure, but I'm not aiming for anything other than a one-shot really.

And as always, I Appreciate you for even so much as looking at what I wrote, appreciate every review/comment, thank you and you da man.

Rewritten as of August 2023

The year was 2009, Dimmsdale was alive with the tunes Keri Hilson's "Knock You Down," and Green Day's "21 Guns." Breaking bad had just aired and the Xbox 360 along with the PlayStation 3 were still going strong.

In the passenger seat of a driver's car, a girl sat lost in thought. The morning light painted soft shades on her face as she was being driven to high school. Another year of lectures, assignments, stress, and sleepless nights lay ahead – a familiar cycle of misery.

She let out a loud sigh as they drew nearer.

"What's wrong?" Her older sister, Vicky asked. "I thought you liked school."

"Nobody likes school, Vicky," she retorted, her gaze still fixed on the passing scenery. "They like hanging out with their friends."

"You're right about that," Vicky chuckled. "Well, what about the twerp? You still got a thing for him?" she asked, teasingly referring to someone from her past.

The girl winced, not at the mention of Timmy, but at the memories associated with her youthful infatuation. It was a time she'd rather forget.

"I haven't seen or talked to him much, really," she replied.

"Really?" Vicky raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Yes, really," she affirmed. "Back then I...well, it was a stupid kid crush. It didn't mean anything."

Vicky continued driving, sensing her sister's discomfort. "Okay," she said, her tone a mix of understanding and awkwardness. "But technically, you're still a kid."

"Whatever, it was meaningless anyway," she shot back, trying to shrug off the topic.

"I mean, I would've thought that was real – you really did like him a lot."

"And Chip Skylark?" the girl quipped, mentioning another passing infatuation.

"Okay, point proven," Vicky conceded, chuckling again at their shared history of obsession.

"Thank you," Tootie replied, looking back out of the window.

As the car pulled up at their destination, Vicky turned into the school area and entered the parking lot.

"We're here," Vicky announced.

Tootie adjusted her bag and prepared to get out.

"Good luck," Vicky encouraged, as her little sister nodding appreciatively and exited the car.

Just as Tootie was about to close the door, Vicky called out again, her protective big-sister instincts showing: "If anyone gives you shit, you let me know... and I'll take care of 'em, y'hear."

"I'll be fine, thanks," Tootie replied with a half-smile.

"Kay." Vicky smiled back, "See you later," with that the door closed, and she made a U-turn and leaving the parking lot.

Tootie now stood in front of the school building, taking one final deep breath before entering.

Inside, students were organizing themselves into classes and receiving timetables. The day had officially begun. Among the familiar faces, a new character named Chloe caught her attention. Other than that, it was business as usual.

Trixie still held onto her queen bee status, Tad and Chad retained their kingly positions, Remy remained the wealthy and spoiled classmate, and Veronica was still Veronica, so nothing had really changed...not truly.

Unto Timmy Turner, who she had caught glimpses of from time to time, he had been immersed in his usual circle of friends – A.J, Chester, and that newcomer Chloe. Who is she? Tootie wondered, It had been a long while since she was in Dimmsdale, most things had now become unfamiliar.

School had just begun, but of course In the realm of the high school's social landscape, cliques had formed and individuals stuck to their respective groups. For Tootie, this arrangement suited her just fine. She had spent most of her time alone anyway, more time to focus on her studies, plus the faster the day concluded, the sooner she could retreat to the comfort of her home.

During this break, Tootie occupied a quiet spot, absorbed in her IPhone 3GS, surfing the web. Unexpectedly, a voice intruded on her solitude. Looking up, she saw that same unfamiliar face that had kept her wondering throughout the day.

"Hey," Chloe greeted cheerfully. "My name's Chloe...you."

"Tootie." She managed to smile in response.

"I heard that you were friends with Timmy," Chloe continued, a statement which gave Tootie pause. "I figured, since you're alone, why not join us?"

Tootie attempted to decline politely. "I'm fine, really...Thank-"

But Chloe persisted, "Are you sure you don't want to reconsider? We'd love to have you."

Tootie's soft response remained unchanged. "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks, Chloe."

Chloe accepted the situation with a smile. "Well, the offer stands if you ever change your mind."

As Chloe prepared to leave, Timmy, A.J, and Chester arrived on the scene. Timmy's gaze locked with Tootie's, their silent connection holding until she turned her attention back to her phone.

"You okay, man?" Chester inquired, sensing Timmy's distraction.

Timmy shook himself from his daze. "Yeah, sorry... I kind of blacked out for a moment there."

Chloe, picking up on the tension, suggested to her friends, "Chester, A.J, let's go."

Confused, they asked, "Go where?"

"Just come with me," she insisted, tugging them away.

Alone now, Timmy and Tootie found themselves grappling with an awkward silence, the past hanging heavily in the air.

"Hey, Tootie, how have you been?" Timmy ventured.

"Fine," she replied without looking up.

"That's good, nice," Timmy stumbled over his words. The silence crept back in, prompting Tootie to break it with a small sigh.

"Timmy," she began, pausing to gather her thoughts. Finally, she looked up, her eyes meeting his earnestly. "Back when we were kids, I... I did a lot of embarrassing things. I just want to say... I'm sorry for all that."

Timmy's reassurance came swiftly, "No, Tootie, it's okay. Really, it's not a big deal. We've all done things we're not proud of."

"Tell me about it," she responded with a shy smile.

"Yeah, like you said, we were... kids."

"Technically, we still are," she admitted.

"We're wiser now, or at least I hope we are."

Her laughter was soft and genuine. "Thank you, Timmy."

"No problem," he replied, extending his hand. "Friends?"

Tootie smiled warmly, shaking his hand. "Yeah, friends."

"I better go find those guys now, wherever they are," Timmy chuckled.

"Sure."

As he left, Tootie returned to her break. Throughout the day, their paths would cross, their eyes meeting fleetingly, silent acknowledgments of their newfound understanding. While she had apologized and he had forgiven, a lingering sense of unease remained. Tootie attributed it to residual guilt, hopeful that time would eventually wash it away.

As the day wound down, the majority of people opted for their vehicles or the bus to head home. Tootie stood waiting for Vicky, a lingering thought about getting her driver's license occupying her mind. Could her sister take any longer? She mused, growing impatient.

It was at that very moment that Timmy cruised by in his car, Chloe seated in the back. "Hey, Tootie," he called out, pulling her attention. "I noticed you've been waiting here for a while. I mean, I could give you a ride home if you want."

Tootie contemplated the offer, appreciating the gesture, but replied, "Thanks, Timmy, but I'll wait."

He persisted with a good-natured smile. "Oh, really. It's no trouble for me. Even if you guys moved, I could—"

"No, really, it's fine," she interjected, wanting to cut the conversation short.

In the distance, a car approached. "See, that's my ride," she stated, preparing to leave. "I'll see you later, Timmy Turner."

"Sure thing. Be seeing ya," he responded as she walked away.

Sliding into Vicky's car, Tootie fastened her seatbelt. The inquisitive tone Vicky employed couldn't be missed. "Was that the twerp?"

"Yeah, that was him."

"Is he still as goofy as he was back in the day?" Vicky probed further.

Tootie replied with a shrug, "I don't know. We didn't talk much."

"Whatever you say," Vicky muttered before starting the engine.

Upon arriving home, Tootie prepared herself a meal and diligently tackled her schoolwork. With everything completed, she took a moment to unwind, getting ready for bed. Just as she was about to doze off, a message popped up on her phone from an unknown number.

END.