Chapter 7 - Work Related Shenanigans

The next few weeks their antics almost became like their childhood with them being at each other's throats. She'd relentlessly tease and he'd fight back. They'd still meet up to hang out though. One afternoon, Jimmy saw himself at the Candy Bar. Since he moved here, he's been working part-time. Sam almost didn't give him the job initially but changed his mind once he realized this is a good way to make up for all the stunts he pulled as a kid. He made Jimmy promise to not do the same thing he did to McSpankies several years ago.

Jimmy had honestly enjoyed himself here. He'd be able to clear his mind here while making it on rent. Despite how customer service can be sometimes, he was able to think of creative ways to solve problems without involving technology. Sam was taken aback by how diligent he'd become over the years. He would even grow to appreciate Jimmy with how much he'd bring customers and how he'd assist him with things his age prevented him from doing. In other words, Jimmy saw this place as a pleasant distraction from everything

"Here you go sir!" Jimmy handed a customer an ice cream sundae. "That'll be $5.57." He was handed a ten dollar bill. "And $4.43 is your change."

"Hey Jimmy!" Sam called to his attention. "Think you can take this jug of shake mix on the top shelf?" He pointed to the walk-in cooler.

"Sure thing!" Jimmy calmly replied as he did what was asked of him.

"You know, you may have been messy as a kid but you turned out alright, yeah!"

"Thank you sir." Jimmy nodded. "I do what I can."

"Please, just call me Sam!" he smiled. "And you've done plenty. I'm proud of you." Sam had gotten a tad softer over the years too. Part of it might've been his age and it's also that Retroville as a whole had grown mundane after Jimmy moved. And once he came back, he almost seemed completely different to when he was younger… at least at first glance. Jimmy was getting ready to close off and clean half of the tables since there wasn't anyone for the time being.

Meanwhile, Cindy was strolling through after meeting up with Libby. She was having a craving for her usual dessert, so she stepped in through the door. She looked around and noticed Jimmy instantly. He turned around to see her instantly showing that signature smirk.
He cringed as he braced for whatever remark she was about to say. Oh boy…

"Never thought I'd see you working a job like this again, eh Neutron?" She teased. "So I was running errands with Libby and I figured I would come by this familiar place! Why didn't you ever tell me you'd be working here?!"

As she rambled on, Jimmy couldn't hide his annoyance. This WAS my place to clear my mind, but now that's out the window. While Jimmy does admittedly enjoy Cindy's company, her antics throughout their time together started to get on Jimmy's nerves.

"Anyway, I'll have a-" Cindy then looked at the menu.

"Go home!" Jimmy said in a monotone voice. "We're about to close,"

"Hey! That's no way to treat a paying customer!" she argued. "Much less a friend."

"Fine, whatever." He sighed as he walked to the register. "What's your order?" Sam started observing the two of them as this was far different from how Jimmy usually acts at work. He was fascinated.

"If this is how you normally talk to customers, I'd reconsider other avenues!" She argued. "Speak properly!"

"Properly?" Jimmy started to argue. "With all that you've pulled over the past few weeks, that's ironic!"

"Hey Sam!" She waved the observer down. "I think your 'employee' has an attitude problem!"

Sam got some popcorn as he watched the two bicker. I'll leave these two to it. It's kinda entertaining now that they're older.

"Hey if all you're gonna do is mess with me, then leave!" Jimmy retorted.

Cindy then sighed as she crossed her arms. "This is your job though. You gotta do it properly, no exceptions. And I came here to order before you cut me off."

If I treated you the same way as everyone else, you'd just laugh and tease nonstop Jimmy thought. "It's just that I'm a little embarrassed to have someone recognize me at work since I'm different here."

"Neutron, you don't treat every customer like this, right?"

He then gave the fakest smile he could. "Come now Vortex, you're the only one I speak to like this, because you're special. So why don't you just go screw off home and have some ice cream there, alright?"

"Seeing you trash talk with that sheepish expression is really pissing me off!" Cindy yelled.

"Come on Jim," Sam told him. "Usually you're great with customers to solve their problems, not escalate them. And besides, we're open a bit longer to make some money, yeah!"

"Yes sir," Jimmy groaned as he got the register ready.

"Sounds good to me!" Cindy proclaimed. "Time for a take two and no funny business!"

Who's pissing off who? Jimmy thought to himself as he cleared his throat. Next thing she knew, Jimmy put on a much more upbeat expression. "Greetings, miss! Welcome to the Candy Bar! What can I get for you?" He then put on a cheerful smile.

He hoped that would at least move things along, but he was wrong. Due to the sudden shift in his demeanor and one she hasn't seen often from him, she broke into a laughing fit. "I can't Neutron! That sudden shift was way too funny! You seemed way too jolly to be working at a job like this one! Maybe you should join a circus instead!"

This was the final straw for Jimmy. While she was too busy laughing, he carried her to the entrance, opened the door and put her down. Next thing she knew, he locked the door to prevent her from coming back in. "I knew it was pointless trying to pull that act with you!" he said on the other side.

"Wait, you got the wrong idea!" Cindy begged as she banged on the door. "I was just caught off guard by your impression! Please let me order!"

"Get lost!" Jimmy walked away.

"J-Jimmy, you're free to go now. I-I can finish the rest." Sam was trying not to laugh at the situation. Something Jimmy himself noticed.

"Are you laughing at this?!" Jimmy was flabbergasted.

After ten or so seconds of clearing his throat. "N-no I'm not. Anyway…" Sam took a breath. "Anyway, you should probably take her home since it's getting dark."

"Alright. See you next week." Jimmy clocked out. He felt a tad bad about kicking her out of the restaurant. Though at the moment he took it as karma after the love potion incident. Still, she did want to order something. After a brief brain blast, he knew what to do. "Alright, let's go." Jimmy waved Cindy as he walked.

"Hey can we pick something up on the way home?" She asked.

"No need." Jimmy handed her a to-go cup as he looked away. Inside was a couple scoops of pecan ripple ice cream.

"You remembered what my favorite ice cream flavor was?" Cindy was taken aback.

"How could I forget?" Jimmy jokes. "You did throw it at my face once.

"Heh, thanks." she smiled. "I appreciate it… but next time let me order something!"

"Okay, go whenever I'm not there."

"I promise I won't laugh… even if that smile of yours was pretty hilarious," she started to laugh again.

"How can I believe a promise like that when you're already breaking it?"

"But yeah," she took a spoonful. "It's a nice place to be. With everything being remodeled nowadays, it's quaint to have that place look the same after all this time."

"Some things never change," he smiled a tad. "I like that aspect.

"Agreed!" Cindy then got an idea. "You know I have some days off at this time of the week."

"Yeah?"

"I should get a job there! We could be work buddies!" she cheered.

Jimmy merely closed his eyes and nodded with a smirk.

"You see what I mean? It'll be fun!"

Jimmy then playfully and calmly said, "I'll skip town again if you do that."

"Aw come on!" she pouted.

As they were walking away, back at the Candy Bar, Sam was thinking to himself. Jimmy's usually a great worker so I was thinking of doing this anyway, but what the two of them bring is so entertaining, I'll have to give him a raise so I can see more of this. Makes me think of my younger days, yeah!