Chapter 11 - Time to Take Initiative

The next day, Jimmy was no longer sick. He didn't remember much from yesterday. As he got out of bed, he then opened his fridge to make some breakfast only to see that there was leftover soup along with some medications on the counter next to the fridge. I don't remember making this… he thought. Maybe checking my phone can jog my memory loose. When he opened his phone, he saw a couple messages. One from Carl and one from Cindy.

Carl: [Hope you're feeling better. I was gonna drop by, but Cindy told me you were asleep. Did anything happen while she was there? ;)]

Cindy: [Morning Neutron! I left some soup over from last night. See ya at work!]

A little bit later, while he was walking to class, he was pondering what could've happened yesterday. The only thing that popped in his mind was that he was sick and he dreamed of Cindy taking care of him while they were married. He was missing some context but with verbal confirmation that Cindy was over and brought some soup, he's beginning to wonder how much of the dream was reality. Even though he still did well on his assignments, he couldn't stay focused for more than a few minutes at a time. The dream of her taking care of him was extremely vivid. I don't understand. Usually, dreams mostly fade away, but I still remember it clearly! As he thought to himself, he decided to text Cindy for some answers.

Jimmy: [Hey Vortex! My memory of last night is a bit hazy. Can you tell me what happened?]

Cindy: [Seriously? You don't remember?!]

Jimmy: [I just need some context. I remember being sick and I see the soup you left behind, but hardly anything else comes to mind.]

Cindy: [...That's it?]

Jimmy: [Afraid so. What happened?]

Cindy: [When we meet up, I'll explain everything.]

Jimmy: [Why not just tell me now?]

Cindy: [I don't wanna miss the look on your face when I say it!]

Of course that's her answer, Jimmy facepalmed as he could sense her usual smirk. He almost dreaded what the answer was gonna be, but at the same token he was all the more curious for it. After class, he headed to work. Given that Cindy said she would meet him there, he assumed she would either order something or just mess around. What he didn't expect was seeing her in the Candy Bar uniform, serving ice cream to customers. The moment he walked in and saw her, he froze dead in his tracks with a confused and shocked look. "What's the big idea here?" he asked.

She couldn't help, but laugh at his expression, but she did so quietly so no customers would notice. Sam walked up to Jimmy and explained. "I was one person short when you were sick yesterday, so I was looking to see who'd be willing to cover. However, when Cindy came in asking about you, she felt bad so she covered. When I saw what she was capable of, I hired her."

"This is gonna be a lotta fun, don't ya think, Neutron?" Cindy stepped in with a smirk.

"What?!" Jimmy processed. There goes my sanctuary, even though she frequents the place anyway. "Why here of all places?"

"Okay, I did pick this place so I can mess with you a bit more," she joked. "Though in all honesty, I am a bit tight on cash to spend, so between feeling bad and that, I asked him and he gave the okay to go!"

"That's why you picked a job?!" Jimmy flustered.

"Look, we've seen how she is thus far and I think she's a bit fun for everyone, yeah!"

"And that's why you've picked her?!" Jimmy turned to Sam.

"I know you're a bit annoyed with her, especially after the ice cream incident, but at the end of the day, she needs a job and my joints aren't the same they used to be. Isn't it good to support that decision?

"I-uh… I guess… so…" Jimmy sighed.

"Good," Sam waved as he left behind the counter. "How about you show her the ropes around here?"

"Is that necessary?" He asked. "We've both been here since we were kids."

"It could still be a good learning experience for the two of you. She's only bussed and wiped tables so far, so how about you show her how we serve the ice cream?"

He turned back to Cindy. "Alright, let's do this!"

She decided to tease him. "Wow, the boy genius is actually willing to teach me something? Are you sure your big head isn't about to blow?"

"Don't you even start!" Jimmy brushed her off. "Besides I still gotta talk about yesterday!"

A little later, Jimmy proceeded to show her how to serve the ice cream. "When a customer asks for two scoops in a cone, always make sure it's 3 oz. per scoop. If it's too much, the ice cream will melt in their hands too soon and if it's too little, we'd essentially be robbing them." He finished demonstrating her. "And that's basically how you do it. Oh and always make sure to leave the scooper under running warm water, so not only do we avoid cross contamination, but also so that we can scoop the ice cream a bit easier if it's frozen."

"Okay, just got a quick question!" Cindy chimed.

"What is it?"

"Where are the jokes?"

"What jokes?! It's just training!" Jimmy started to get annoyed.

"Just saying, with the act going on as long as it is, toss in a joke or two, or else your audience will get bored." She chuckled.

"What audience?! This is a training lesson, not some cheap skit!" he huffed.

Cindy then broke out laughing. "Wow, why are you always so serious?"

"Yeah?! You should try it sometime! You're getting paid for this so your job depends on it!"

Sam then broke out laughing. "Jimmy, relax. No need to get worked up."

"Who's side are you on?!" he turned to him bewildered.

"I might've fibbed when I said she only took care of the tables," Sam kept laughing.

"Yeah, he already trained me in everything yesterday," Cindy smiled. "This was just to get you worked up!"

"Great! Congrats to you both! I hope you're happy!" he remained flustered for a bit longer.

A few hours passed, and they closed the doors. As they finished cleaning everything up, Cindy approached him. "So how'd you think I did? Better be honest or else!" she said playfully.

"Honestly…" Jimmy started to say but then added with a smirk. "Not too terrible, for a beginner."

"Hey!" She playfully punched him in the shoulder. "At least act pleased."

"You told me to be honest," Jimmy teased as they walked out of the restaurant. "Anyway. What-uh…?"

"Go on?" She egged him on.

"What happened last night?" Jimmy asked.

"Oh… that." Cindy teased. "Well did anything come back to you?"

"...No." Jimmy answered. "Not a bit."

"I'm sensing hesitation." Cindy teased.

"Well uh…" Jimmy stuttered. "I uh… had a v-very vivid dream last night and I'm not sure if it's linked to yesterday or not."

"A dream huh? If you think it's important, then what's it about?"

"Why not just tell me what actually happened like you said you would?" he attempted to move that subject. "All I know is you brought some soup over and Carl said you visited."

"Yeah, that much is true," she said ambiguously and then shook her head. "Alright, I'll explain. After the ice cream mishap, I not only picked up your shift that day, but Sam gave me some things to send you and I made some soup for you while you were there. You're basically out of it the whole time while I fed you."

"That… makes a lot more sense now." Jimmy blushed.

"What does?"

"Uh, let's just say the dream was very similar to what you described." No way I'm telling her we were married in the dream!

"I see…" she pondered.

"I'm not sure if my dozed self said it or not but… thank you," he said earnestly.

"You… might've said something along those lines," she admitted with a blush. "But anytime!"

Jimmy then scratched the back of his head as he suggested. "I was wondering… as thanks for taking care of me yesterday…"

"Whatcha got?" Cindy turned to him almost with a longing expression.

"Would you want to… g-go to R-Retroland… sometime?" he was barely able to get out.

"Sure thing," she smiled and then played dumb. "I go every once in a while so I can take myself there. I don't see why that was something to be nervous about."

"I-I… mean…" Jimmy looked down with his face a crimson red. "Together, the… two of us…"

"Neutron, what does that have to do with anything?" She said as she tried not to laugh.

"I… Never mind," he looked away. "Forget it-"

"No wait!" Cindy back-petaled. "I was just joking!"

"Hmm?" Jimmy turned back to her.

"I'll give you an answer if you ask it properly. I promise I won't make another jab," she looked at him and smiled.

"Whatever… Here goes nothing…" he said quietly, before he looked into her eyes and spoke louder. "Cindy, would you want to go to Retroland with me?" Well I said it. Time to brace for impact! Jimmy thought. He braced for further teasing, or even a simple "no". What he got was all that he hoped for, but not at all what he expected.

"I'd love that… Jimmy," she was beaming at him as though a ray of light went into Jimmy's life. Jimmy was now on the receiving end of her calling him by his first name. "So when do you wanna go?"

He was in awe that he almost missed the question. "Uh… how does Tuesday sound? I only have one class in the morning but then I'm free around noon."

"Well, I might have to move my schedule around a bit, but what the hell? I accept!" she said while grinning from ear to ear.

"Sounds good, I'll see you then!" Jimmy put on his jetpack and flew away.

"And don't be a minute late!" Cindy called out to him.

Even though they were separate, they both had the same thought in their minds as they shouted to themselves, "Yes!"