Candy Bar
Libby and Britney were in hysterics as Cindy's ice cream plopped onto her shirt with an unfortunate splat.
"Come on, this could happen to anyone," Cindy muttered, her cheeks flushing red as she glared at the melting mess.
Libby, still catching her breath between bursts of laughter, managed to say, "Yeah, but it's funnier when it happens to you—especially when your mind is obviously somewhere else!"
Cindy's eyes narrowed. She had been distracted, thinking about Jimmy—specifically, why he had been avoiding her and Libby all day. "Oh, what?...what do you think I was thinking about?" Cindy asked, trying to sound casual.
Libby grinned mischievously. "Ji…mmy…" In slow motion. She said, her smile widening.
Cindy groaned, knowing exactly where this was headed. Her hand shot out in a quick motion, slamming Libby's ice cream onto her shirt in retaliation.
"Hey! What was that for?!" Libby shrieked, looking down at the gooey mess now smeared across her shirt, while Britney burst into laughter all over again.
"Oops... my hand slipped. Must've been thinking about Nerdtron again." Cindy said with mock innocence, though her smirk was hard to miss.
Libby rolled her eyes, dabbing at the ice cream stain. "You know I'm just kidding with you... At least I know how to have fun, instead of obsessing over my boyfriend—oh wait, Jimmy's not even your boyfriend."
The last words stung, and Cindy's face hardened as she stood up abruptly, heading to the bathroom to clean her shirt. "Stop talking nonsense, Libby... I'll be right back," she muttered, her annoyance clear.
Libby shook her head, looking at her own ruined shirt with a sigh. "Oh, great… now we're both a mess."
Britney, still laughing, waved them off. "Take your time. This is too good."
.
After Cindy and Libby returned they found Brittany still holding back some laughter but she managed to say, "This reminds me... Jimmy shouted awkwardly, Cindy. that 'I love you' moment."
"Yeah, that was unexpected... then she threw ice cream on his face instead of her hidden feelings." Libby said laughing.
"Huh?" Britney stopped laughing and glanced at Cindy, who looked like she wanted to sink into the floor.
Cindy looked at Libby annoyed. "Brittany... did I tell you that Libby is dating one of Neutron's friends?"
Britney blinked in surprise, turning her attention to Libby. Cindy felt a twisted satisfaction at her best friend's momentary discomfort. After all, she had felt a bit betrayed since the kids news a week ago.
Libby raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with Cindy's attempt to shift the spotlight. "Yeah, it's Sheen—the boy in green shirt," she admitted coldly, crossing her arms.
Britney paused, her eyes wide in surprise before a small laugh escaped her. "Well, that's... great! I mean, Sheen's kind of weird, but he's lucky to have a girlfriend." She shot Libby a proud smile, but Cindy's smirk faded instantly.
"Yeah, he's lucky, we are happy and comfortable together." Libby said, looking at her blonde friend somewhat arrogantly. Cindy felt so weak, and the weight of the unspoken truth pressing on her.
"It's been a long time since then, but something's weird," Brittany said, her curiosity piqued. "Cindy, when you threw ice cream in Jimmy's face... it's like nothing ever happened. He's back to acting normal, like himself, What really happened to you two after that?—Does he really love you?"
Libby chuckled, sharing a knowing look with Cindy. "Oh, girl, it was all because of a love potion or something. Sheen told me about it. Jimmy wasn't even in control—then they had to sniff some *rotten cheese* as the antidote. Pretty gross, right?"
Cindy laughed, though it felt hollow in her chest.
"So it wasn't real?" Brittany asked, her eyes wide with amusement. "It just... ended with rotten cheese?"
The group burst out laughing, except for Cindy, whose stomach knotted tighter with every chuckle. She faked her own laugh, but her face felt like it was about to crack. *It wasn't real.*
The laughter faded as Brittany noticed something off. "Cindy, you good? You look... sick."
"I'm fine," Cindy forced out between coughs, swallowing the lump of emotions threatening to rise. "Really."
The mood shifted as Cindy straightened in her seat. "Can we, uh, stop with all this laughing? Anyway, Brittany... do you have a boyfriend?"
Brittany blinked, taken off guard by the sudden shift. "Well, I think Nick might have feelings for me. He spends a lot of time with me, but we haven't made anything official. He's still with Betty sometimes, and it... scares me a little."
Cindy's eyes darkened. "He'd better take Betty away from Jimmy," she muttered under her breath, barely audible.
Libby, sitting beside her, caught the words. "What was that?"
Cindy quickly masked her feelings with a sympathetic smile, turning her attention back to Brittany. "Oh, uh... I just hope Nick becomes your boyfriend someday." But her mind was racing, her felt as if something in her heart was in pain. *What if Jimmy never really loved me? My God... what if it was all just potion?* She thought.
"All I can say is that Jimmy is stupid, not a genius. And I really mean it," Libby said, leaning back with a smirk. "If he wanted Betty to fall for him so bad, why didn't he just get her to inhale that love potion instead of wasting all his time trying to impress her?... you know... she will—" Libby said.
"Nooooooo!" Before Libby could even finish, Cindy let out a blood-curdling scream.
The entire Candy Bar fell into stunned silence, even Sam stopped what he was doing behind the counter to stare. Libby and Brittany exchanged wide-eyed looks, startled by their friend's sudden outburst. Cindy, in her mind, could already picture the horrific scenario: Betty chasing after Jimmy, completely in love with him. Her stomach twisted at the thought.
Brittany, who could no longer be fooled, looked at Libby. "Cindy... do you like Jimmy or... what was that?"
Libby reached out and placed a hand on Cindy's arm. "C-Cindy?"
"I forgot I had a to-do list to complete, or my mom would kill me!" Cindy jerked away, her eyes filled with panic. After a beat of awkward silence, she stood up abruptly, bolting towards the exit.
"Wait, Cindy!" Libby called after her and quickly followed.
Cindy didn't stop until she was outside, far enough from the bustling Candy Bar where no one could see her unravel. She took deep, shaky breaths, her heart racing.
Libby caught up, stopping just a few feet behind her. "Look, it's a good thing nothing like that happened. You don't need to worry."
Cindy turned to her friend, her anger barely held in check. "Libby! aren't you supposed to be my best friend? How can you joke about something like that? If you knew how I really feel about Jimmy, you wouldn't think this is funny!" Her voice cracked with rare frustration.
Libby sighed, her own patience wearing thin. "Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you—"
"You didn't mean to upset me?... No, you're just joking on purpose to make everyone around us suspicious, It's like you're telling them indirectly!—"
Libby cut her off, her expression shifting to something more serious, even angry. "Cindy!... if you were really strong you would have moved forward even if the whole world laughed in your face... you are preventing yourself from loving just because you're imagining embarrassing things is exaggerated, but even if they were real know that you are often the reason!"
Cindy blinked, taken aback. She opened her mouth to argue, but Libby wasn't finished.
"No... that's it, it was usually you who started those arguments and made fun of him while he rarely responded.. not to mention he expressed enough of how he felt about you... you distracted him... he flirted with you and then kissed you, you didn't respond with anything, and then you wonder why he has started ignoring you now.?" Libby's eyes narrowed, cutting straight to the point. "Maybe it's because Jimmy's starting to reconsider you, Cindy. And here you are, still denying your feelings."
Cindy stood there, speechless, her throat tightening. Libby's words hit like a freight train. Deep down, Cindy knew her friend was right. But it didn't make it any easier to accept. Libby had been protecting her, but now the protection was gone, replaced by a hard truth that Cindy wasn't sure she was ready to face. Was she going to lose Jimmy because she'd waited too long?
Cindy could only stare at her friend in confusion, unsure whether to be angry, hurt, or both.
Libby, now fuming, couldn't hold back any longer. "Why are you staring at me like that? Tell me!" she demanded, her voice rising in frustration. "Is it because you're tired of me interfering? Fine! So be it! I tried to help you... I thought you were smart enough to figure it out—even without me spelling it out for you." Don't ever talk to me about Betty or any other girl again, just forget about Jimmy!"
With that, Libby turned on her heel and stormed back toward the Candy Bar.
"Keep joking! I can also expose your relationship with that idiot Sheen!" Cindy shouted after her but Libby didn't care.
"Ooh, what's that?" Sheen's eyes lit up as he picked up the helmet, turning it around like it was coolest gadget in the world. "Looks like something you'd see in a high-speed racing game!"
Jimmy was reviewing the schematics for the tenth and—hopefully—final time, his eyes scanning every detail with meticulous care. Ever since his recent blunders, caution had become his new mantra. He barely looked up as he heard Sheen fiddling with the helmet. But when he saw Sheen attempting to put it on, Jimmy's heart jumped.
"Sheen!" Jimmy shouted, darting over and snatching it out of his hands just before Sheen could wear it. "Can you be patient for once, this isn't a toy!"
Sheen, looking a little sheepish, shrugged. "It's just a helmet, dude. You're overreacting." He leaned back against the couch, snatching a chip from Carl's dwindling supply.
"It's not just a helmet!" Jimmy snapped. "And for the last time, I'll let you try it after I triple-check everything. Safety first."
Carl, munching away at his last chip, chimed in, "Uh, Jim… you've never tested it yourself, right? How do you know it's gonna work properly?" He wiped his hands on his pants and eyed the helmet nervously.
Jimmy's face tightened. "Because I don't want to get into trouble! I want this to work perfectly the first time." His voice carried a sharp edge, a sign of his mounting frustration. He had every reason to be upset—he couldn't afford another mistake.
Carl smiled supportively. "I get it, man. You've been super careful lately. And, honestly, that's... kind of impressive." His smile faded as he glanced into his empty chip bag. "Except, uh, when it means no more snacks."
Sheen lay down on the couch and let out a long sigh. "Man!... are we going to wait forever?"
"Maybe," Jimmy ignored him, continuing to adjust the settings on the helmet's touch screen. His focus was unwavering, though doubt gnawed at the back of his mind. Was it really ready? He had checked everything, yet the hesitation wouldn't go away.
"I can't wait forever, y'know," Carl muttered. "Gonna miss dinner."
"Alright, fine!" Sheen's patience finally snapped. "At least tell us what this thing does! You've been staring at it for hours, Jimmy! Spill!"
Jimmy didn't answer and kept staring at his invention in his hands. his mind was somewhere else. *I spent half the night on this, should I back out?*
"Jimmy?" Sheen waved a hand in front of his face. "Dude?"
Jimmy blinked, pulling himself out of his thoughts. He glanced at Sheen, then Carl, both of whom were watching him expectantly. *No... I didn't waste my energy, and my friends didn't wait for me for nothing.*
"It's… an emotional regulation device," Jimmy began, his tone lacking its usual bravado. "This helmet is designed to remove specific memories or feelings that keep distracting you—obsessions, anxiety, anger, fear… even love. Whatever's holding you back." His last words hung in the air like a weight, more for himself than for them.
Carl blinked, suddenly looking concerned. "Remove feelings? Like, get rid of them?... Forever?"
Jimmy didn't respond right away, his mind drifting to darker thoughts. He imagined the world without the constant ache of his unspoken feelings for Betty... all of it erased. He wouldn't be tethered anymore, wouldn't be distracted. He could focus on the future. Focus on what mattered: science, his career, his goals. And also finding new and perfect love of his life.*Well, it's okay about Betty... but will I also lose my feelings for Cindy... she's smart and that's one of the things I love about her... but she still often makes me boil over, and I have a feeling that my relationship with her will never be healthy.*He thought frustrated, believing that it would be the best decision for a new life.
Carl shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, Jimmy… are you really gonna use that thing? I mean, getting rid of feelings sounds kinda… extreme, don't you think?"
Jimmy stiffened. "I have to," he said sharply. "I can't keep letting these emotions get in the way. They're... they're a distraction. I need to think clearly, make decisions without being weighed down by all of this." His eyes flashed with frustration, but deep down, even he wasn't sure if he was trying to convince them—or himself.
"My god, I must have known. This is about Betty, isn't it?" Sheen jumped up from the couch in confusion. "Or… wait. No, no, no, don't tell me you made this thing to get rid of your feelings for Cindy too, didn't you?!"
Jimmy looked down in defeat, his lips trembling as if he was about to cry.
"Oh, that's unfortunate..." Carl said with great sadness and thought *Oh my God... poor Cindy...how would she feel about that?* He, Sheen, and Libby had recently learned that there were hidden feelings between Jimmy and Cindy, especially after that kiss.
Sheen came forward and grabbed Jimmy by his shirt. "So this is it... You're just a mad scientist now, huh? No love, no relationship? You're not even gonna try?" He said with frustration and seriousness.
"Of course, I don't want to remain just a world without relationships... When I said that I will get rid of feelings, it doesn't mean that I will never fall in love." Jimmy replied, already getting ready.
Sheen let go, stepping back, disbelief in his eyes. *What does it mean then... he just wants to get rid of his feelings of admiration for Betty or Cindy only?... Well, Jimmy's love life is a mystery to me, and I don't think I will ever understand him.*
As Jimmy hesitated, clutching the helmet in his hands, he glanced over at Carl and then back at Sheen. He took a deep breath and forced a calm smile. "Why don't we test this outside in the front yard? Just to be safe."
Moments later, the trio sat on the doorstep of Jimmy's house. Jimmy stood before them, still hesitant as he looked at the helmet, his fingers twitching over the settings.
"Hey Carl… how about you go first?" Jimmy said, giving his friend a playful nudge. "That five-eyed black llama that haunts you… still scares you, doesn't it?"
Carl immediately froze, his face turning pale. "Oh not this one... Even though I only dreamed about it once, I can't stop thinking about it. It was horrifying…"
Jimmy adjusted the settings with a grin. "Well, my friend, if this works, you can finally say goodbye to that nightmare forever." He keyed in the command: *Erase the dream of the five-eyed black llama.*
Suddenly, the rumble of an engine interrupted them. A car pulled into the driveway—it was Jimmy's mother. Jimmy glanced at Carl and then quickly added something extra to the settings before his mom could notice.
"Alright, Carl, it's ready. Since we're keeping things simple, the process should only take about a minute." He handed Carl the helmet, watching him closely.
Carl's hands trembled slightly as he took the device. He lifted it to his head, but Sheen interrupted him before he could put it on. "Dude, are you sure about this? What if this goes wrong and, like… fries your brain or something? You know, brutal consequences and all that."
Carl shot Sheen a look, nervous but determined. "Wait a minute, you were ready to wear this thing earlier! Don't back out on me now." Then, he turned to Jimmy, his eyes full of uncertainty. Jimmy simply nodded, his face unreadable. "Well guys... wish me luck."
With a deep breath, Carl put the helmet on. For a few seconds, nothing happened—then suddenly, his eyes went wide, glowing a pale white, and he stood frozen in place.
"Uh, Jimmy…" Sheen said nervously, stepping back. "if he's unconscious or in a coma and even dead, you should know that you're the only one to blame if they want to throw me in jail." Sheen waved a hand in front of Carl's frozen face, looking more confused than ever.
Jimmy bit his thumb anxiously, his eyes darting between Carl and the house, where his mother was now approaching with a stern expression.
"James Isaac Neutron," Judy called out, her voice carrying that familiar note of frustration. "You never seem to worry about the consequences, do you? Whatever happens to your innocent friend, you're grounded for a week." She glared at Carl, clearly suspecting that he had been roped into testing one of Jimmy's inventions again.
"Mom, just wait! It's not what it looks like!" Jimmy said hurriedly, trying to buy time. "Just give it a few more seconds before you decide!"
As the seconds ticked by, Jimmy's nerves were fraying. He had calculated every outcome, double-checked the settings, but there was always that nagging fear that something could go wrong. *What if Carl wakes up completely blank? Or worse... what if he doesn't wake up at all?* He stole a glance at his mother, who stood nearby with her arms crossed, a look of pure skepticism on her face. She looked ready to ground him for a month, not just a week.
Suddenly, Carl blinked. His body wobbled slightly, as if disoriented, but he stayed on his feet. His eyes, previously glazed, began to focus, darting around as if confused by his surroundings.
"Carl!" Jimmy practically leaped toward him, his voice tight with worry. "Are you... okay?"
Carl rubbed his eyes and frowned, as though trying to shake off a lingering fog. "Uh... I think so? Why am I outside?" He paused, then glanced up, realizing he was still wearing the helmet. "Oh... your invention."
Slowly, Carl removed the helmet, handing it back to Jimmy. An awkward silence followed.
"Five-eyed black llama?" Sheen suddenly said, raising an eyebrow at Carl.
"What?... Llamas don't have five eyes." Carl's expression was confused, genuinely oblivious.
Jimmy and Sheen exchanged glances, sharing a small, victorious smile.
Judy stepped closer, hands resting on her hips. "Well, lucky for you, your friend seems to be doing just fine," she said, trying to keep her voice stern, though there was a note of impressed approval in her tone.
Sheen eyed Carl suspiciously, but Carl just stood there, looking more polite than usual. "Of course I'm fine, Mrs. Neutron. Just helping Jimmy out with another invention, no big deal," Carl said, his tone respectful, maybe even a little too respectful.
"What is th—" Sheen was about to ask something, his mouth opening in surprise, but Jimmy quickly clamped a hand over his friend's mouth. "See, Mom? Everything's perfectly fine. So I'm not going to be grounded, right?" Jimmy grinned, shooting a cautious glance at Carl to see if anything seemed off. But Carl's attention was elsewhere, his gaze not lingering on Judy like it usually did.
Judy sighed, lowering her arms. "Alright, James. But just because nothing went wrong this time doesn't mean I'm not keeping an eye on you. Be careful. I don't want to see anyone getting hurt." With that, she gave him one last warning look before heading back inside the house.
Jimmy watched her leave, then turned back to Carl. His smile grew slowly as he realized something. *Carl doesn't seem obsessed with my mom anymore.* That had been the extra modification Jimmy added at the last second—removing Carl's weird crush on Judy. *It actually worked!* He could barely contain his excitement. *This really worked on the first try!*
Jimmy's fingers tightened around the helmet as a sense of pride surged through him. The possibilities this device opened up… the power it had to reshape someone's emotions, their memories... the thought was both thrilling and unsettling.
But Carl's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "So, uh... what now? Can I get some chips or something? I feel like I've been out here forever."
Jimmy glanced down at the helmet in his hands, then caught sight of Cindy walking home across the street. She looked upset, her shoulders slumped as she trudged along, lost in her thoughts.
Carl waved energetically. "Hey, Cindy! Wanna try Jimmy's new invention? You won't believe it—it actually worked this time, and nothing blew up or turned into a mutant llama!"
Cindy stopped, turning to look over at the boys, her expression unreadable. Jimmy tried to gauge her mood, but all he could see was the irritation in her eyes. *Maybe if I wait just a little longer, she'll open up to me. What if she's closer than ever to telling me how she really feels?* he wondered, a flicker of hope kindling inside him.
But then Cindy's scowl deepened. She shot Carl a dismissive glare, her voice cold. "Not interested, and I'm not in the mood for your science projects, Nerdtron."
Jimmy's heart sank, the momentary hope dissolving into frustration. *No, this has gone on long enough. I won't keep chasing after someone who acts like this.* He frowned, feeling the weight of his decision settle in his chest. *I refuse to be involved with girl who's toxic, no matter how much I like her.*
Cindy sat down on her front steps, anger written across her face. Sheen, trying to diffuse the tension, leaned closer and called out, "Oy Cindy! Do you know where Libby went? Wasn't she with you earlier?"
She glanced over her shoulder at them, her jaw clenched. "I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped, still seething from her earlier argument with Libby. *She had no right to interfere, no right to lecture me about my own feelings.*
Jimmy watched Cindy, his frustration deepening. *Even if she does like me... how could I ever trust it would work out between us?* He shook his head, steeling himself against the twinge of doubt.*No wonder she still calls me Nerdtron even after we're... married in the future—Ugh, who am I kidding? I thought I'd be happy, but... I deserve better if I'm ever going to focus on my future, to become a great scientist.*
Just as he resolved to move forward, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. "Hey, Jimmy!"
Betty was jogging over, a smile on her face. "I didn't have any plans today, so I thought maybe we could hang out. We only ever talk at school—oh, what's this thing?"
Jimmy shifted awkwardly, still feeling the weight of his recent decision. "It's, uh... a device that helps you remove unwanted memories or feelings... like fear, anxiety, stuff like that." He struggled to keep his voice even, frustrated and uncertain about what he really wanted now.
Cindy, still sitting on the steps, let out an annoyed huff but kept silent. *Let him do whatever he wants, it's not like he cares about impressing Betty anymore... Maybe.* But she couldn't stop herself from feeling a pang of anger at the scene unfolding.
Sheen leaned closer to Betty, whispering loud enough for Jimmy to hear, "He's trying to get rid of his feelings for Cindy, because he thinks she doesn't feel the same way."
Betty's expression shifted, a look of determination settling on her face. *I don't understand you, Cindy... If you're not going to admit it now, then don't bother at all. I've given you enough chances to tell him how you feel, I even told you before that he's all yours.*
Betty turned back to Jimmy, a hint of a challenge in her eyes. "You kissed her... twice?... and yet she's still acting silly, and she doesn't reciprocate the same feelings?... not even once?" she asked, knowing Cindy could hear every word from across the street.
"No... why?" Jimmy nodded, and before he could fully process what was happening, Betty stepped forward, her expression determined, and pressed her lips to his. The world seemed to blur around Jimmy, and for a moment, he felt like he was the center of the universe. His mind buzzed with a mix of confusion and disbelief—*Is this really happening?*
But for Betty, the moment was anything but spontaneous. *Then don't expect me to keep stepping aside, Cindy... That's it, don't be jealous* she thought, her lips still on Jimmy's. She remembered the conversation they had shared before, how she'd tried to pull Cindy aside and make her see what was right in front of her. Betty had given Cindy space, she now wanted to deal with it the hard way. *If you don't confess, he's mine... because I like Jimmy, and I won't wait for you forever.*