As much as Betty's kiss felt like heaven, Jimmy couldn't ignore that it wasn't like the one he shared with Cindy. A realization struck him, and he broke the kiss—not just because he needed air. He turned his head, expecting to see Cindy glaring at him with anger or jealousy.
Cindy, however, was trying her best to keep her expression neutral, but it was a losing battle. Her hands clenched into fists, and her teeth ground together, clear enough for Sheen and Carl to notice. From their concerned looks, she knew they saw right through her—they knew she had feelings for Jimmy.
Although she saw with her own eyes that Betty was the one who kissed Jimmy, she couldn't bear it anyway.
"C-Cindy?" Jimmy whispered, confusion etched on his face as he caught a glimpse of her reaction. But before he could process it further, Betty turned his face back toward her.
"Let's get away from here, Jimmy... Take me anywhere in the world, Just the two of us." She said with a smile, not feeling any pity for Cindy, after all Cindy had all the time to be with Jimmy.
"What?" Jimmy asked, hesitating as she tugged at his hand. "What about Carl and Sheen?"
"They'll be fine. It's not like you won't see them again soon," Betty replied, brushing off his concerns as she guided him away.
After a few moments of silence, Sheen gave Carl a small nudge with his elbow, and gestured with his eyes that they too shouldn't stay here staring at the frowning blonde girl.
As they walked away toward Carl's house, Sheen's eyes narrowed for a moment. He couldn't help but take one last glance back, his eyes widening in surprise when he caught sight of Cindy—her tough expression crumbling now that she thought no one was watching her. *Is she... going to cry?!* He quickly turned around before Cindy could catch him staring.
"Man, we'll never understand Cindy," Sheen muttered, sounding genuinely puzzled.
"You're right. We'll never understand why she always gives us dirty looks and makes fun of us for no reason," Carl replied with a huff, sounding irritated.
"What? No, that's not what I meant," Sheen said, shaking his head. "I think Cindy really likes Jimmy but she's too stubborn to admit it. I'm sure I saw tears forming in her eyes as soon as we walked away."
Carl came to an abrupt stop and turned to Sheen, raising an eyebrow in complete confusion.
Cindy's front door suddenly creaked open, revealing her mother, Sasha, standing there with a curious look. "Uh... what are you doing out here, Cynthia?"
"Nothing, Mom." Cindy quickly turned away, swiping at her eyes to hide the tears.
Sasha's expression softened, but there was a hint of suspicion. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I think so. Just... got something in my eye," Cindy mumbled, still rubbing her eyes.
Sasha didn't seem fully convinced, but then her expression shifted into a cheerful smile. "Good... because I have a little homework list for you to finish."
"What?!" Cindy blurted, her surprise giving way to irritation.
"I should have done it myself, but I have a meeting at work, and I might not be back until late tonight. Your father should be home soon, though." Sasha said, her tone light, completely missing the turmoil in Cindy's voice.
As soon as her mother left, Cindy waited a moment, listening for the car to pull out of the driveway. Then she stormed inside, her emotions boiling over. She slammed the door shut behind her, the sound echoing through the empty house. "Damn it! Why does this have to happen now?" she shouted, knowing she was alone.
Carl and Sheen were hanging out on the sidewalk when they spotted Libby heading their way, her expression tense.
"Hey, Libs—" Sheen waved, flashing a goofy grin.
"Hey... Have either of you seen Cindy?" Libby interrupted, looking upset.
Carl said frowning. "I wish I never saw her for the rest of my life—" Then he interrupted Sheen "Most likely, she is at home... crying."
Libby furrowed her brow, looking between the two of them. "what are you... saying?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion, thinking Sheen might just be spouting nonsense again.
"I want to say that I don't care, even... but—" Sheen shrugged, trying to play it cool.
"Are you serious right now, Sheen? Quit messing around." Libby's frustration flared, her hands on her hips.
An awkward silence fell over the group until Carl spoke up, his voice unusually serious, "Betty kissed Jimmy right in front of her eyes."
Libby's eyes widened, and she muttered under her breath, "What?... Oh, this is worse..." Then, to Sheen and Carl's surprise, her expression hardened, and she shook her head. "You know what? Let her die of jealousy for all I care."
"Wait—what?" Sheen blinked, taken aback.
Libby sighed, clearly exasperated. "I've tried, Sheen. I told her a hundred times to just tell Jimmy how she feels, but she's too stubborn. She's mad at me for even trying to help. So fine, if she wants to play this game, let her. I'm done interfering."
.
The days drifted by with a cold tension hanging over Retroville. Another week has passed, and in that time, the friends who had once been inseparable found themselves drifting further apart.
Cindy threw herself into her routine with a determination that bordered on desperation. At school, she focused relentlessly on her grades, outscoring even Jimmy in several quizzes. After school, she buried herself in piano lessons, her fingers dancing over the keys with a newfound intensity. At the dojo, she put in extra hours, striking the practice dummy with a fierce determination, her frustration channeling into each kick and punch. But no matter how hard she worked, she couldn't quite silence the ache in her chest, nor could she banish the image of Betty kissing Jimmy.
Libby tried to reach out several times, stopping by Cindy's locker or calling her after school, but each time, Cindy brushed her off. "I'm busy, Libby. I don't have time for this right now," she would mutter, her voice tight and distant. At first, Libby tried to keep her patience, but eventually, she grew tired of Cindy's cold shoulder.
Fine, if that's how she wants to play it, Libby thought one afternoon, a little huff of frustration escaping her. She sought comfort in Sheen's quirky company instead, and to her surprise, she found herself even chatting with Betty from time to time. Despite her initial reservations, Libby discovered that Betty was easy to talk to—her bubbly enthusiasm was surprisingly genuine. They bonded over shared interests and even talked about fashion, school, and their dreams beyond Retroville. In some ways, it was a relief for Libby to have a friend who wasn't tangled up in all the drama.
Meanwhile, Betty had started spending more time with Jimmy, and her demeanor toward him shifted subtly. At first, she'd just invite him out for ice cream or suggest study sessions at the library, but soon her gestures grew warmer—little touches on his arm, smiles that lingered a bit too long, and invitations that seemed more like dates. Jimmy couldn't deny that he enjoyed the attention; it was nice to be around someone who treated him like a person and not just a walking encyclopedia.
Yet, despite the moments of flattery, there was a part of him that felt... off. Every time he saw Betty laugh at one of his jokes or beam at him with a smile, a small part of his mind wandered back to Cindy, wondering how she was doing. He hadn't missed the way she'd thrown herself into her activities, practically sprinting from one to the next. It was clear she was avoiding him, avoiding all of them, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Was she trying to get over him?
Jimmy had thought about talking to her—maybe trying to patch things up, or at least get some clarity—but every time he considered it, something held him back. He wasn't even sure what he'd say. How could he confront her when he wasn't sure what he felt himself? Besides, every time he thought about confronting her, he remembered her harsh words, the scornful look she had given him so many times before. *Would she even listen, or would she just push him away again?* And so, he held back, letting the days drift by in silence.
.
That morning, Cindy woke up feeling completely shattered. The thought of facing another day at school—seeing Jimmy and Betty getting closer—was unbearable.
*"Either way, hurry up, or are you going to sit here and wait until Betty decides to make it official between them?"* Libby's words echoed sharply in her mind, adding to her desperation.
"What... what happened?" she whispered to herself, feeling the sting of tears welling up in her eyes. It was a bitter truth she struggled to swallow. It had been over two weeks since Jimmy had seemed even a little interested—teasing her, sharing that fleeting kiss. But just as quickly as it had happened, things had returned to normal. Now, it seemed like he was starting to reciprocate the attention Betty showered on him. *Was he moving on and I guess I don't feel the same way about him?* she thought, her chest tightening at the possibility.
*"Maybe it's because Jimmy's starting to reconsider you, Cindy. And here you are, still denying your feelings."* Libby's words rang out again, more cutting than ever.
"But... " Cindy stammered, her thoughts a tangled mess. Fear and confusion clawed at her, sharper now that Betty was getting closer to Jimmy. She realized, too late, that everything might have been simpler if she'd just confessed how she felt earlier. "Is it... too late for that?"
She forced herself to get ready for school, but her mask of indifference had cracked. She felt too drained to pretend she was fine.
In the familiar hum of the classroom, Mrs. Fowl snored lightly at her desk, her head slumped over a pile of ungraded papers. The students took full advantage of the rare break from lessons, gathering around Sheen's desk. Today was a special day—even though Sheen could be eccentric, everyone seemed genuinely interested in his party plans.
Sheen beamed with excitement, basking in the attention. "It's gonna be the most Ultra-mazing party ever! We're talking Ultra Lord decorations, Ultra snacks, and even Ultra cupcakes! You all better be there, okay?" He pointed at each of his classmates dramatically, as if this was a matter of life or death.
Libby, standing beside him with a fond yet amused smile, rolled her eyes. "It's just a party, not the end of the world," she teased, but her tone was light. After all, she was his unofficial party planner, and she had already helped him pick out half the decorations. "But yeah, you better show up, I like that you use 'Ultra' so many times, Ultra Sheen."
The other kids laughed, sharing in the lighthearted mood that filled the classroom. Nick, leaning casually against his desk and chewing gum, smirked. "I just hope it's an interesting party and not all about your favorite show... But, since I've got nothing better to do tonight, I'll swing by." His tone carried a mix of sarcasm and genuine curiosity.
Meanwhile, Jimmy sat at his desk near the back, his chin resting in his hand as he doodled absentmindedly in his notebook. "Guess Libby's his girlfriend now, so he didn't bother asking Carl and me to help plan this time," he muttered under his breath, a hint of annoyance creeping in.
Cindy sat across the room, a few rows away, her gaze fixed on her desk. She tried to keep her mind off the scene unfolding around Sheen and the thought of Jimmy and Betty together, but the laughter and chatter of her classmates only made her feel more isolated. Normally, she would've thrown in a sarcastic remark about Sheen's over-the-top plans or offered Libby some tips on managing Sheen's enthusiasm. But today, she stayed silent. *So be it... I guess we all have our obsessions. I just wonder if Sheen's love for Ultra Lord will still be burning bright even a thousand years*
Jimmy glanced in Cindy's direction for a brief second, wondering why she looked so distant. He felt a strange urge to go over to her, but he quickly squashed the thought. *No, she's the one who shut everyone out, not me.* He tried to refocus on the scribbles in his notebook, but a knot of uncertainty lingered in his chest.
Libby walked over to Cindy, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening before speaking quietly. "Cindy... can't you just act like a normal person for once? Look, I'm not saying I don't appreciate your... personality, but if you keep this up, people are going to start avoiding you."
Cindy raised an eyebrow at her, unimpressed. "Really? Well, if some of the kids around here don't like me, that's their problem, not mine."
Libby hesitated, then let out a frustrated sigh. "a..But it doesn't have to be like that. I've noticed how some of them look at you—like they think you're too difficult to deal with."
Cindy crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "I'm not going to be some naive girl who lets people walk all over her. I've been tough since I was five. It's who I am."
"Yeah... but you don't have to push everyone away, either," Libby shot back, then softened her tone. "I mean, come on, even Sheen's Ultra Lord obsession doesn't put people off as much as this."
Cindy gave a noncommittal shrug, clearly not too interested in what Libby had to say. But deep down, a part of her wondered if there might be some truth in her friend's words. Could she really end up alone just for being herself?
Libby glanced at Cindy, her patience wearing thin. "Anyway... you know today is Sheen's birthday, right?"
"Yeah, so what?" Cindy interrupted, her tone indifferent.
Libby hesitated, knowing her next words could provoke her. "He's not sure if he'll invite you or not."
"I don't care, It might be the biggest waste of time of my life," Cindy replied dismissively.
Libby shook her head, her frustration showing "Listen, when you act like this, like you refuse to come to my parties, I mean it's my boyfriend's birthday and you don't even pretend to care." Libby shook her head and then sighed in annoyance.
"Fine. Happy birthday to your boyfriend," Cindy said with a sarcastic edge, turning her gaze elsewhere as if to emphasize her disinterest.
Libby sighed, biting back a retort. Silence hung between them for a moment before Cindy's expression twisted with frustration. She turned back to Libby, her voice quieter, almost vulnerable. "Did... I really have a chance with Neutron?"
Libby's irritation flared. It always came back to Jimmy with Cindy, no matter what. But she forced herself to answer. "Actually, you had a lot of chances, and you ignored them."
Cindy's shoulders tensed, and she swallowed hard. "So... do you think I still have a chance, even with Betty being so close to him?"
"I don't know!" Libby snapped, unable to hide her exasperation any longer. "Stop being so complicated, Cindy!" She took a breath, trying to regain her composure. "Look, you don't want me to interfere so don't share your frustration with me because it doesn't make any sense at all."
Cindy was left speechless, realizing she might be closer to losing Jimmy—and perhaps Libby—than she wanted to admit.