Chapter 6 - Let's Hang Out!

On a sunny day, Jimmy was walking from class to his hover car. Test a date out then… Jimmy pondered. How would I approach that idea?

"Neutron!" He heard the distinct voice in the distance and he immediately knew who it was. This was the first time they'd see each other since he visited her house.

Crap, I'm not ready for this discussion yet! He thought to himself. I better lay low until I can think of something. Cindy wasn't far behind, so if he ran, he'd be caught immediately which left him the idea to hide. As he was scoping the university grounds around him, the best thing he saw was a bench behind a bush. After noticing that, Jimmy quietly made his way over there. He blended in with the passing students pretty easily. He heard her call his name a couple more times. After a short while, he didn't hear her anymore, he was in the clear… or so he thought.

Jimmy stood up and continued to head to class. As he passed the bush, Cindy jumped out and playfully hugged him from behind.

"Ah!" Jimmy flinched. "What the-?"

"AHA! I gotchu!" she yelled with a wide mischievous look.

"How'd you know I was there?!" he asked, still startled.

"Not even a bush could hide that tall hair of yours!" She explained as she let go. "So what were you hiding around for anyway?"

"N-no special reason." Jimmy then started to walk away. "Anyways, I'm off. Gonna take it easy for today."

"You're just gonna go alone again?" Cindy instigated as she walked behind him.

"Yup," he said quickly.

"Why don't I tag along so you're not a lone wolf, like usual?"

"Uh, not today." He thought to himself, this is tougher than I thought.

Cindy then teased. "Wait, could it be that after the other day, you're nervous to be around me?"

Jimmy blushed for a second and turned around flustered. "What?! Shut up! What kind of question is that?"

"I mean you're saying one thing," she shrugged, "but your face says another."

"Whatever," he continued walking. She's more annoying than usual.

Perplexed by the lack of a comeback, and a bit of a colder demeanor than usual she then asked. "What's gotten your hands tied up today?"

"I'm not in the mood." Jimmy said without thinking.

"...Excuse me?!" Cindy yelled. "What do you mean by that?!"

Jimmy turned around. Did I say something wrong? He couldn't think of anything to say as she continued.

"One day, we're together at my dorm having the time of our lives and now, you're just casting me aside like I'm some kind of one night stand!" This got all eyes on the two of them, especially at Jimmy, less than favorably.

Jimmy yelled back, "Could you not use that analogy so lightly?!" He then stuttered as he saw everyone looking at him. Various onlookers made remarks on Jimmy being an indecent human being, with one person even calling him trash. He then looked down in regret as he realized what was said aloud. Unbeknownst to him, Cindy did a light smirk.

"Okay, that was wrong for me to say. I'm sorry." He said as he still looked down. "Let's go do something fun."

She then immediately grinned. "Sounds good!" Her immediate change of mood then confused everyone who was looking and then they went about their day.

"So what do you have in mind?" She happily asked as they walked.

"Hmm…" he thought to himself. Is this basically a date? I'm thrown a bit of a curveball since I wasn't able to think this through. He then saw the theater near the campus. Maybe I can think things through there. That should buy me some time. "Want to go see a movie?"

"Yeah, I'm down," she smiled. "What do you wanna see?"

"I'll let you decide. I don't necessarily have anything on my watchlist at the moment."

As they arrived at the theaters, she pointed out a poster for the latest Jet Fusion flick. "How about this one - F8 of the Fusions?"

Jimmy nodded. "Okay. I've already seen it on my own, but I'm down for a rewatch."

"Sounds like you," Cindy chuckled.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"To go to the movies alone," she teased.

"Oh shut up," he rolled his eyes as he pushed past her to the kiosk.

"Hey!" she protested.

Jimmy went on to explain. "Making plans to go can take a lot of effort. Especially when schedules don't line up. Going spontaneously is worse since you'll often set yourself up for disappointment. Makes it easier to go on my own."

"Touche," she agreed as he rubbed her elbow from being pushed.

"Plus it's easier to pay attention to the movie when you're not speaking to anyone in the middle of it. Gets distracting."

"Isn't that part of the fun though?" She debated.

"Depends…" Jimmy noticed Cindy rubbing her arm. "Sorry I pushed you earlier. How about this? I've accumulated enough points to get free tickets. We can use those for the movie?"

"Oh… Thanks!" She gave a thumbs up. "Just don't push me again, okay?"

"Sure thing."

They walked into the theater. As they got settled, Cindy felt kinda bad for making a scene at the college earlier, so she got up and left. "I'll be right back."

Jimmy was left to his thoughts. I'm only surprised she doesn't have anyone to be with at the moment. Instead she's choosing me. He couldn't help but ponder. Out of everyone, why does she go out of her way to see me? I get annoyed easily at her antics, so wouldn't it make more sense to go for someone more easygoing? I get that we've known each other awhile but… maybe-

"I have returned!" she proclaimed. "As thanks for the tickets, I got us popcorn and drinks!"

"Wow! You didn't have to do that!" Jimmy was in awe.

"Hey, it's the least I can do," she smiled.

"Thank you."

"Anytime, Neutron!"

As the movie started, they ate the popcorn, but it was one shared bucket. So he came up with the strategy of alternating grabbing some shortly after she does. Eventually she caught on and decided to play with him. She refrained from grabbing any popcorn to see if he'll take a shot at grabbing some. At first, he didn't. After about a minute or so, he reached in to grab some. Cindy noticed this immediately and reached in to grab some popcorn. In the process, their hands brushed against each other.

"Whoopsies," she playfully said. "My mistake."

"You did that on purpose!" Jimmy said as he blushed.

"Shhh!" another person near them silenced them since it was one of the quieter scenes of the movie.

Both of them had their attention to the screen as Jimmy made sure not to make eye contact with her for now. Cindy on the other hand wasn't done. She smirked in his direction and whispered. "You know, this is almost like a date, isn't it?"

Jimmy's blushed turned a strong crimson as he whispered back. "Wh-whatever gave you that idea?"

"The movie setting, only it being the two of us. Need I say more?"

"I-I suppose…" he wasn't sure where this was going.

"It's just missing one thing," Cindy said as she leaned closer to him.

"And what is that?" Jimmy had the courage to ask as she got closer.

"Just a little something to seal the deal," her face was merely inches away from his. He felt her breath against his face.

"W-w-wait," he closed his eyes and puckered up his lips to brace for what's to come. Unbeknownst to the both of them, the movie just started an action scene with a loud explosion. This knocked the two back in their respective chairs. He opened his eyes to the scene that played out. He then turned to see Cindy blushing instead.

She then attempted to play it cool. "Damn, you were quick to get to first base! I was referring to holding hands." She then broke into laughter. "And besides, since this wasn't planned this technically isn't a date anyway. Tough luck Neutron!"

One thing Jimmy picked up on growing up, observing others on his own is how people attempt to cover up emotions. She's laughing but she's blushing and she's the reason I'm here now. Maybe Vortex does like me? He then shook his head aggressively in dismissal. Nah, who am I kidding. She said it herself, this isn't a date. This is just two rivals hanging out. It's just more of her teasing. He spent the rest of the movie watching it. Every now and then both of them made remarks on the film, mainly on the crazy stunts that were made.

After the movie had finished, they made their way outside. "So, that was fun! Don't you think so?" Cindy asked.

"Hmm…" Jimmy pondered. "Yeah, it was actually a good time." A bit much at times but fun overall.

"And I got to use your lonesome movie points to score a free ticket!" she cheered.

"Don't say that," he shook his head.

"So what do you wanna do tomorrow?"

"I have work tomorrow, so it'll have to be another time." he shrugged.

"Ah well!" she sighed, but noticed something he said. "Another time huh? Do you mean that?"

"Well, you can get on my nerves from time to time, but yeah. I'm down to hanging out again."

To this Cindy grinned from ear to ear. "In that case, to make planning easier, let's get each other's numbers!"

"Honestly surprised we haven't already," Jimmy scratched the back of his head. They got their contacts exchanged.

"Well would you look at that! You got a girl's number!" she teased. "Maybe 1st base is in the cards for you after all!"

"W-what?!" he was taken aback. "Why would you say that?"

"Come on, we're adults here," she laughed. "You should be honored when that time comes."

"Hey, Vortex?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah, what is it?" she turned to him.

"I gotta ask, when did you become so carefree and energetic?" he wondered.

"Heheh," Cindy explained. "Truth be told, after you moved, it became incredibly easy to be at the top of the class. Well for the most part. Things got boring without that drive to win. So in time, I decided to let loose and have a bit more fun. I was still vigilant on my grades and whatever else I was in at the time, but there was less pressure to be this perfect image. Rather, I could be me and I became far happier this way."

"I see," Jimmy processed.

"Why do you ask?"

"No special reason," he said as he walked off. "Anyway, I'll see you around!"

"See ya!"

As Jimmy was walking he got a text from Cindy.

[You might be a bit different from before too, but I still see you as the same crazy loveable weirdo from when we were younger.]

Jimmy mostly looked unamused though the word loveable caught his attention. He turned to look at Cindy with a sheepish expression. She smirked back at him in the distance holding a peace sign.