A/N: Remember when you were in elementary school and you got to bring a treat to share with your class on your birthday? Well today's my birthday, and here's my treat to share!

Enjoy!

I hugged him. Why did I hug him? Cindy thought as she walked out of the lab after talking with Jimmy. It was kinda nice though. Cindy thought about how warm he felt and the sensation of his arms wrapped around her. He smelled amazing, like clean laundry, and she could have sworn she could feel his heart racing.

She shook the thoughts from her head. How was she falling for him? He was stubborn and arrogant. Although he really was trying to help her. That had to be it. She didn't actually like him, she was just infatuated by him because he had been telling her memories about their past together. Maybe if she thought it enough she would start to believe that.

She walked into her house and saw her dad sitting on the sofa.

"There you are. You know you're supposed to let us know before you leave the house," her father scolded.

"I'm sorry. I was over at Jimmy's. We were just working on some homework," Cindy lied. She couldn't believe she had forgotten to tell her parents where she was. "It won't happen again."

Mr. Vortex nodded. "Okay. Your mother said you're going to some dance or something with Jimmy?"

"It's not a dance. He won some science award. He asked me to go with him to the ceremony."

"Oh. That was nice of him."

Cindy just nodded. It would have been nice of him, but she was only invited because she needed his help. She hadn't realized how excited she actually was to go to the banquet with Jimmy until Libby had brought it up when they were talking in the rocket. But she remembered that she was only going with him as a favor. He just needed a date and she just happened to be available.

"I haven't finished today's crossword yet. Want to come help me?" Her dad asked, breaking her from her thoughts.

Cindy smiled and sat next to her dad. She always liked doing the crossword with him, and tonight it would be a great distraction.

The next day Cindy met up with Libby at her locker. She told her about what she had been feeling.

"You're serious?" Libby asked. "I know I tease you all the time about it, but you're, like, actually serious?"

"Yes, now help me. What do I do? I didn't think I would actually start to like him."

"Maybe you're too close to the picture. I mean, you have been spending a lot of time with him."

Cindy sighed. "I wasn't going to tell you this, but I found my old diary and I've been trying to piece together anything I can."

Libby smiled slyly. "You write about him in your diary? That's so cute!"

Cindy rolled her eyes. "I said my old diary. I haven't written in it since eighth grade."

"Still. What did you find out?"

"Well, I confirmed a few of the things he told me, and I now know that I used to like him, which you told me, but it still doesn't explain why I like him now. I don't even know him. Not really anyway."

"It's probably because you've only been hearing about fun or interesting things that happened to you. Has he told you any negative things?"

"Like what?"

"Like when you got him kicked out of the fifth grade science fair. Or when he ditched out on the eighth grade dance, even though we all knew he wanted to ask you. That was when I'm pretty sure you decided not to like him anymore."

Cindy said nothing. She was trying to process what Libby said. It made sense. Jimmy only shared good memories with her. Why was that?

"It's just weird," Libby said, pulling Cindy from her thoughts.

"What?"

"Just some of the things he's chosen to tell you. I feel like there would be better memories that could actually help you then the ones he has shared."

"Such as?"

"Oh no, I'm not facing the wrath of Jimmy again. Him yelling at me once this week is more than enough."

"It doesn't matter anyway, we're not meeting up for memory lessons anymore because they're not helping," Cindy tried to mask her disappointment, but was unsuccessful.

"Awe, are you sad you don't get to spend time with Neutron?" Libby teased, pouting her lip.

"I don't know why I tell you things," Cindy huffed.

"You love me," Libby said, smiling.

Cindy spent the next two afternoons bored out of her mind. Now that she didn't have memory lessons with Jimmy, she didn't have much else to do. She had caught up on her homework and had read more of her diary entries. As much as she hated to admit it, she missed hanging out with him. She tried to think of a way that she could spend some time with him without actually admitting to anyone that she wanted to spend time with him.

She was scrolling through her Instagram feed when she saw that NASA had posted something about Mars. She read the caption that explained that Mars would be at its brightest visibility tonight. She closed out of the app and looked at her telescope, smiling. She had an idea.

Jimmy had spent the last few afternoons working on the stardust globe. He knew he should be working on his speech for the banquet coming up, or trying to fix the memory device, but he really wanted to get the stardust globe completed. He finished wiring the electromagnets and he turned it on. It lit up with rich greens and blues, and bright pinks and purples. A mini aurora. He smiled. He couldn't wait to give it to Cindy. He looked at the time. It was just after eight in the evening. He contemplated if it was too late to give it to her tonight. He looked out his window and he saw Cindy setting up her telescope on her front lawn. Well if she was going to be out stargazing, he didn't see why he couldn't go over there. He stood up, grabbed the hoodie draped on his desk chair and pulled it on, stuck the stardust globe into the pocket and walked downstairs.

"Where are you off to?" Jimmy's mom asked as she saw him walking toward the front door.

"Just across the street. Cindy's setting up her telescope."

Mrs. Neutron smiled. "It's so nice to see you two spending time together outside of schoolwork. Don't stay out too late, it's a school night."

Jimmy felt his face heat up with embarrassment. He nodded quickly before heading out the door. He walked across the street and as he stepped onto the sidewalk he said, "Hey, Vortex, what are you up to?"

Cindy looked up. "Oh, hi. I was gonna look at Mars tonight. It's supposed to be really bright."

"Mind if I join you?"

Cindy smiled. "Sure. It's still a little too light out, so we'll have to wait a bit more." She motioned for Jimmy to come join her on the blanket she had spread out on the grass.

Jimmy walked over and sat next to her. He was trying to decide the best time to give her the globe.

"Are you excited for your banquet? It's coming up soon," Cindy asked, breaking the silence.

Jimmy nodded. "Yeah, ten days. I can't believe it's almost here. I still have a lot I need to do."

"Like what?"

"I need to finish my speech. That's my top priority, but I have to get my suit tailored and update the hovercar."

Cindy grimaced. "We're going in the hovercar?"

Jimmy laughed. "I'm not sixteen yet, Vortex. I can't legally drive a real car, even though my hovercar is much more advanced. How else did you expect us to get there?"

Cindy shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't think about it."

"Well, sorry to disappoint, but the hovercar is our only option. But don't worry. I'm making updates so it's safer. You won't need to death grip my arm this time," Jimmy teased.

Cindy playfully shoved Jimmy. "You must think you're funny."

"Or you're just easy to tease." Jimmy poked her arm.

"Be careful there, Neutron. Only my memories of you are gone. I still know how to kick your butt."

Feeling confident, Jimmy said, "I think I could take you."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, It's really a matter of physics. That and knowing your opponent's weakness, which gives me the upper hand," Jimmy explained.

The next thing Jimmy knew, he was on his back, his arms pinned to the ground, with Cindy hovering over him. His heart started racing.

"No, it's more about letting your opponent just babble on about how he thinks he's smarter than you and waiting for the right moment," Cindy said, smiling.

He looked up at her. Her bright green eyes sparkled in the fading daylight. She had a hint of pink blushing across her cheekbones. A few stray strands of hair had fallen in her face. He wanted to reach up and brush them away, but she still had his arms pinned down. Her lips looked soft. He wanted to kiss her. That thought pulled him back to reality. It didn't matter how much he liked her. Without all her memories in place, it wasn't right for him to have those thoughts. He was lying to her, and this situation was only making it worse. He suddenly realized that he had been stupid to think giving her the stardust globe tonight was a good idea.

Jimmy tried to wiggle out of her grip. "You made your point. Now let me go." He sat up as she released her grip, and, unbeknownst to him, the stardust globe fell out of his pocket.

"Sorry, but that was too easy." Cindy laughed as she settled back on the blanket. "What's this?" She picked up the globe that sat between them.

Jimmy saw what she was holding and panicked. "Nothing." He tried to grab it, but Cindy's reflexes were faster.

"No seriously, what is it?"

"Cindy, give it back, please."

"Just tell me what it is."

"I made it. It's what we went to get the stardust for the other day."

"What does it do?" Cindy asked, turning it over in her hands.

Jimmy sighed in defeat and held out his hand. "Here, I'll show you." Cindy placed the sphere in his hands so he could turn it on. "Stardust holds the same elements of an aurora so I created a system inside the globe to mimic one." He gave it back to her after turning it on.

Cindy held it delicately in her palms and stared at the colors inside the glass sphere. "This is incredible. I've never seen anything so beautiful."

Jimmy smiled to himself. He knew she would like it. "I made it for you," he stated quietly.

Cindy looked at Jimmy in surprise. "For me? Why?"

"As an apology. It's kinda my fault that you lost your memories," Jimmy explained. While that was true, it wasn't even half of it.

"Wow. I don't know what to say. Thank you, Jimmy. This is so nice of you." She looked at him with sweet eyes and a small smile.

"You're welcome." Jimmy smiled back. He thought his heart was going to beat out of his chest. He looked away before he got enticed to kiss her again. "It's getting late, I should probably go."

Cindy's smile faded. "Oh. Okay. But we haven't even looked at Mars yet."

"Sorry, I shouldn't have invited myself over. That was rude of me."

"It's okay. You can stay if you want."

"No, I should go. Sorry for bothering you." Jimmy stood up and walked home.

Cindy looked longingly after Jimmy as he walked back across the street. Her plan had sort of worked. He did come over, but he left much faster than she would have liked. She mentally cursed herself for pinning him to the ground. Why can't I flirt like a normal girl? She thought.

She looked down at the gift he had given her. He left in such a hurry after showing her how it worked. And he had seemed apprehensive about giving it to her in the first place. So then why had he brought it over? She turned the stardust globe off and started packing up her telescope. She didn't feel like stargazing anymore.

It was finally Friday and Jimmy had done everything in his power to avoid Cindy at all costs since giving her the stardust globe. He had excused himself from lunch, claiming that he needed to study, and he ignored her in the classes they shared. He wouldn't have that opportunity today though. Their science project was due, and they would have to present it in class. Well, Jimmy would have to. He had never actually told Cindy that he had finished it, or what it was about.

Cindy walked into class, panic in her eyes. She pulled out her chair and sat down next to Jimmy. "I was so caught up in our memory stuff I completely forgot about the science project. Please tell me you have something."

"I took care of it. Don't worry," Jimmy responded without looking at her.

Cindy sighed in relief. "Okay. Now I can be mad at you."

"Mad at me? For what?"

"Oh, do you want me to make you a list? Okay, one, you did the science project without me, even though you promised you wouldn't. Two, you've been avoiding me all week—"

"I haven't been avoiding you. I've just been busy," Jimmy interrupted.

"Three," Cindy continued, ignoring his obvious lie. "You gave me the most beautiful gift I've ever received and then you just… left." Her rant had started angry, but ended with sadness in her voice.

Before Jimmy could respond, the bell rang and Mr. Glover started class.

"I hope you're all ready to share your projects. I can't wait to see what you came up with." Mr. Glover sat at his desk and looked at a paper sitting on the tabletop. "Jimmy and Cindy, why don't you start us off?"

Jimmy heard Cindy inhale sharply. "Can someone else go first? Cindy and I need a minute to prepare."

"Nonsense! I'm sure we're all curious what you came up with and surprised that the world didn't explode with you two working together."

The rest of the students chuckled.

Jimmy shot Carl and Sheen a pleading look. Carl and Sheen both just shrugged their shoulders.

"Let's not waste class time," Mr. Glover chided.

Jimmy gulped as he stood up. He looked at Cindy, her eyes shooting daggers at him. She followed suit and they made their way to the front of the class. Jimmy gave his flash drive with the project on it to Mr. Glover. The teacher plugged it into the computer and opened up the project. Jimmy took a deep breath and started. "So, Cindy and I were testing—"

"Jimmy, why don't you let Cindy explain? You're both intelligent, but she's better at explaining it so everyone can understand," Mr. Glover interrupted.

"What now, Neutron?" Cindy muttered. Jimmy just shrugged. Cindy took a deep breath and looked at the screen where their project was. She had no idea where to begin. "Umm, so we were testing…" She sighed. "Mr. Glover, I have no idea. Jimmy did this whole thing by himself."

Jimmy scoffed. "Cindy!"

"I see. Well, why don't you two sit down. We'll have another pair go." Mr. Glover unplugged Jimmy's flash drive and gave it back to him.

Jimmy and Cindy walked back to their seats. "Way to go, Vortex," he whispered.

"You're really gonna try and blame me? This is all your fault," Cindy hissed back.

The rest of the class stumbled through their projects and when the last pair finished, Mr. Glover stood up and started passing out a paper to everyone. "This is a survey I want you to take about your project. It won't affect your grade or your partner's grade on the project, so please be as honest as possible." When he got to Cindy and Jimmy's table he gave them a devious smile.

Jimmy furrowed his brow, confused. He was surprised that Mr. Glover wasn't more upset. Jimmy looked down at the survey. There were only three questions: 1. How much of the project did you complete? 2. How much of the project did your partner complete? 3. How well did you work with your partner? Jimmy couldn't make heads or tails of what Mr. Glover was trying to do, so he just answered the questions honestly.

Once everyone was finished, Mr. Glover collected the surveys. "Okay, I guess I should come clean. Your projects were actually a little experiment of my own. I wanted to see how personality traits affect human behavior. Our next unit is on psychobiology. We're going to be studying how behavior is affected by different biological processes."

There were several murmurs throughout the classroom.

Mr. Glover chuckled. "Don't worry, you won't be my test subjects anymore. We'll mostly be looking at actual studies that have been conducted. But for our final project we will be conducting our own experiments with lab mice."

A kid at the back of the room raised his hand.

"Yes?" Mr. Glover said.

"So what did you learn from your experiment on us?"

Mr. Glover smiled. "I'll have to look at your surveys, but based on what I've seen today, I'd say it proved exactly what I thought." He looked at Jimmy and Cindy as he spoke.

The bell rang, signaling the end of school. Mr. Glover asked Jimmy and Cindy to stay after for a moment. "I'm sorry that I picked on you in class today. I hope you understand what I was trying to get across. You two did exactly as I thought you would."

"You knew that I would do the whole project by myself?" Jimmy asked.

"No. I didn't know you would, but I hypothesized that you would. Just like I hypothesized that Cindy wouldn't try to lie her way through the presentation. When you both came to me last week asking to do the project alone, I knew that my experiment was working just as I had planned." Mr. Glover smiled.

"Unbelievable." Jimmy chuckled, satisfied with his teacher's theory.

Cindy had yet to say anything.

"Cindy, I do apologize. I didn't mean to embarrass you," Mr. Glover said.

"It's fine. Can I go? I have a bus to catch." She turned and left without waiting for a response.

Cindy texted Libby telling her to come over as soon as she could. When the bus dropped Cindy off, Libby was sitting on her front porch waiting for her.

"You could have just asked Sheen for a ride if it was such an emergency," Libby explained.

"I didn't think about it," Cindy said, absently.

"What's wrong?"

"The science project."

Libby laughed. "Yeah, that was insane. I can't believe you called out Jimmy like that in front of everyone."

"That's not what I'm talking about," Cindy said crossly.

"Don't get snippy with me. You wanted me to come over, remember? What's bugging you?"

"Mr. Glover's stupid experiment. He said he was seeing how personality traits affect behavior. So am I just biologically inclined to argue with Jimmy?"

"I think you're overreacting. Mr. Glover was just trying to prove a point by saying that behavior can be affected by lots of different things. I mean, look at Carl and Sheen. They're best friends and Carl still ended up doing most of their project. He knew that you and Jimmy wouldn't work well together. That's why he paired you up."

"So I'm not crazy for liking him?"

Libby rolled her eyes. "Girl, you've been crazy about Jimmy since at least the fifth grade."

"But that's exactly my point."

"You're not making any sense."

"I have no memories of Jimmy from before a couple weeks ago, and yet, here I am behaving exactly how I would have if I did have all my memories of him. So again, am I just biologically inclined to argue with him?"

"I think you're biologically inclined to be in love with him," Libby muttered to herself.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. You're overthinking it too much. From what little I understand about Jimmy's invention, I think he said that your memories are still in your brain, you just don't have access to them. Your instincts and personality traits are still intact, so I guess, yeah, Mr. Glover was right: personality traits do affect behavior. You behaved the way you naturally would when someone, like Jimmy, is forced to work with you."

"Very intuitive," Cindy remarked.

"Hey, I'm smart too. I just don't show off like you and Neutron."

"Thanks for talking me down. I just wonder if any of this is even worth it."

"Any of what?"

"All the trouble Jimmy's going through to help me. I mean, whether I remember him or not, the result is the same: I'm still going to be the short-fused, competitive, bossy girl he grew up with. What does he get out of it?"

Libby smiled. "He wouldn't be helping you if he didn't think you were worth it."

A/N: After spending the last two chapters within a 24-hour period, I really hit the gas with this one. Sorry if it felt rushed. There wasn't much to share, since Jimmy and Cindy aren't meeting up every day for memory lessons. They're just being moody teenagers.

You wanted fluff? You get fluff! At least a little bit any way.

Thanks for reading!