A/N: Chapter 7 is here! I use a few different plot devices here. They are denoted using italics. Hopefully it's not too confusing

Enjoy!

Cindy got off the bus and walked into her house. Both her parents were still at work. She let Humphrey out in the backyard, grabbed a Purple Flurp from the fridge, and walked up to her room. Even though she was mad at Jimmy, she still wanted to investigate her diary more. She had learned a lot from it over the weekend and wanted to get more information. She was starting to get curious about their relationship before the accident, and even though the entries ended in eighth grade, she was hoping she would be able to get a better understanding of why she fell for him in the first place.

Cindy pulled out the old journal and opened to the first page. She had started writing in her diary when she was in fourth grade after she gotten it for her tenth birthday.

I got this stupid journal from Aunt Susie for my birthday. Why would I want a journal? Aunt Susie said that she and Mom had written in journals when they were my age, and that it would be a great way to share the events that happened in my life. I don't see what the big deal is. Nothing ever happens to me.

Cindy chuckled at her former self. According to Jimmy and Libby, a lot had happened to her over the years, and she now found herself extremely grateful for the journal. She flipped to the next page and continued reading.

So, today was my birthday party, and I was kind of dreading it because my mom said I had to invite Jimmy. He's so annoying. When I asked her why, she said it would be impolite if I didn't since he invited me to his birthday party a few months ago. It's just going to be a vicious cycle of us constantly inviting each other to parties because the other one has. Whatever. At least his gift wasn't totally lame. He got me a telescope. He told me that there were several planets that would be visible all month long and that a meteor shower was supposed to happen in a few days. I guess that was nice of him to tell me. Maybe he's not so bad.

Cindy smiled. Even in her diary she was in denial. She looked over at the corner of her room and saw her telescope. She had obviously forgotten that Jimmy had given it to her, but she did remember watching the meteor shower a few days after her tenth birthday party. She watched it every year. While she enjoyed spending time with her friends and family for her birthday, the meteor shower was her own private birthday celebration. It was something that was personal to her. She liked having a private moment with the stars. She shared her secrets and wishes with them.

Cindy skipped ahead a few pages in her diary.

We got back from outer space today. We had to rescue our parents after that moron, Neutron, sent some signal into space and an alien race called the Yolkians kidnapped all the grown ups in Retroville. It was really scary there for a while. I didn't think we could do it. Even Jimmy gave up at one point. But thankfully I was there to set him straight. We wouldn't have been able to do it without him. He really is pretty amazing, even for a big nerd.

Cindy was annoyed with the short entries, but remembering that she had only been ten years old, it made sense that she wouldn't write much. But she now had definitive proof that they had traveled to space to rescue their parents from aliens. But she wondered why Jimmy had left out the part where she had helped him when he told her about it.

She looked at the clock. It was almost four thirty and she needed to start on her homework before her parents got home or they would be upset. She decided to read one more entry. She skipped ahead a little bit more.

Neutron had a party tonight. And of course it would be lame. He wouldn't know a good time if it smacked him in that incredibly large head of his. Libby and I only went to make fun of him.

The party only got interesting when Ultra-geek showed everyone Jimmy's inventions. It was actually starting to turn into a really cool party, until little Miss Perfect had to go and show up. After that, Neutron was completely gaga over her. He ignored everyone else at the party and was only dancing with Betty. I wouldn't admit it to anyone, but I wanted to dance with Neutron. There was no way that I could tell him, or anyone, that though. I can't stand Betty. I know why Neutron likes her. She's pretty, and nice, and she knows how to talk to Jimmy without insulting him. I wish I could do that. I know I act like I don't like him, but I really do. Sometimes I wish I could be more like Betty. Maybe then he would notice me.

Cindy thought that this was what Jimmy must have been referring to when he said that Cindy had been jealous of Betty. Cindy wondered what had changed and how she and Betty had finally become friends.

Cindy closed her diary and put it in her nightstand drawer. She needed to get started on her homework. She would have to read more entries later.

She had been working on her homework for about an hour when she got a text from Libby saying to meet her at Jimmy's in ten minutes. Cindy was hesitant. She was still mad at Jimmy, but she was curious about what Libby had seemed so excited about. Cindy's mom had called earlier and said that she and Mr. Vortex were both going to be late, so Cindy figured it was the perfect excuse. She wouldn't have to be interrogated by her mother for spending yet another afternoon with Jimmy.

"Remind me again why we're going to space?" Carl asked as he helped Jimmy load up the rocket.

"Yeah, we haven't been to space in years!" Sheen chimed in.

"For the hundredth time, I need to get some stardust from the Helix Nebula," Jimmy explained, annoyed.

"Yeah, but why? You keep leaving that part out," Sheen said.

"Just because. It's for an experiment, okay?" Jimmy deflected.

"Okay, but we're not gonna be out late right? We have school tomorrow," Carl reminded Jimmy.

"I promise we'll be quick. We just need to fly up there, get some samples, and we'll be home in an hour."

"What? We're not gonna fight aliens or anything?" Sheen complained.

"No, it's just a routine space mission. Now get in."

"Jimmy, I don't know. You know I'm allergic to stardust," Carl whined.

"I need to text Libby before we leave. Don't all spacemen tell their women goodbye before a mission?" Sheen said, pulling out his phone.

Jimmy face-palmed. "For the love of—it's a simple mission guys! We used to do this all the time."

"Yeah, but Cindy and Libby used to come with us. Why didn't you invite them?" Carl asked.

"Yeah, wouldn't this be a good way to help with Cindy's memory?" Sheen chimed in. "Or are you still picking and choosing which events you want to share with her?"

"If you two are going to be this unhelpful, then I'll just go by myself." Jimmy was kicking himself for inviting his friends along.

"No! I wanna go! Don't leave me!" Sheen begged overdramatically.

"Fine! Just chill out, and quit questioning my decisions." Jimmy brushed Sheen's hands off his shoulders. There was a knock on the clubhouse door. "Who could that be?" Jimmy turned the camera on and saw Libby and Cindy standing in front of the clubhouse. He turned and looked at Sheen. "You told Libby?"

"Of course I did! I tell her everything."

Jimmy sighed and unlocked the door. The girls came downstairs.

"You thought you were just gonna go on a space mission and not invite us?" Libby asked accusingly as they walked into the lab.

"It was just supposed to be a quick mission. And I'm now regretting even telling Sheen." Jimmy glared at his friend.

"Well maybe it will help Cindy's memories. You never know," Libby shared. Cindy had yet to say anything. She was staring in awe at the spaceship in front of her.

"Fine, just hurry up. We can't be gone long. It's a school night."

The five friends made their way into the spaceship and Jimmy took the controls. He opened the false ceiling of the lab and turned the rocket on. Within seconds they were blasting off into space.

"We haven't done this in so long!" Libby cheered. "I forgot how fun it was!"

Once they were out of the atmosphere, Jimmy turned on the autopilot. They would be at the Helix Nebula soon. Jimmy smiled as he looked at his friends. Carl took a puff from his inhaler. Sheen and Libby were whispering and giggling to each other. The scene reminded him of the last time they had done this exact mission.

He looked over at Cindy, who hadn't said a word since entering the lab, and he felt his heart race. She was looking out the window at the stars. She had a small smile on her face. She absentmindedly tucked some hair behind her ear. She was so beautiful. He wanted to know what she was thinking.

He walked over to her. "Anything?"

She turned and looked at him, still smiling. "No, I don't remember anything. But it sure is pretty to see it all up close. So why did you need to come out here?"

"I just need some stardust for an experiment," Jimmy answered vaguely.

Cindy nodded. "Sorry I was mad at you today. In the grand scheme of the universe, I guess it's all pretty insignificant."

Jimmy smiled. She was right. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he just explained what happened. He took a deep breath. He was going to do it. He was going to tell her the truth. All of it. "Cindy, I have to tell you something—"

"Now approaching, Helix Nebula." The autopilot stated.

Jimmy rushed over to the controls and turned off the autopilot. He sent Sheen and Carl out with Goddard to collect some samples while he monitored the controls. Cindy and Libby were at the back of the spaceship chatting quietly. While he knew he shouldn't, Jimmy eavesdropped on their conversation. He stayed facing the front window and acted busy.

"So you're really gonna go?" Libby asked.

"I mean, yeah. I made a promise. He held up his end of the deal. I have to hold up mine," Cindy replied.

"So is it like a date?"

"Not really. I mean, I guess it kind of is. I don't know. It was the only way I could get him to help me."

"But what about Nick? I thought you were gonna try and go out again."

"He talked to me today after lunch and said we shouldn't try to force something that isn't there."

Jimmy felt a pang of guilt. He figured that Cindy was feeling bad about their interaction at the Candy Bar thinking that had caused her mood to shift on her date.

"So is this a formal event? What are you going to wear?" Libby asked, referring to the banquet.

"My mom wouldn't let me get a new dress, so I'm just wearing my homecoming one."

"Oh, I like that one on you. It makes your eyes pop!" Libby exclaimed.

Jimmy tried to remember Cindy's homecoming dress. He didn't actually attend the dance, but he thought he remembered seeing her when Libby came by to pick her up. He couldn't picture the dress, but if it made her eyes pop, it must have been a green dress. He always liked when she wore green.

"Speaking of homecoming, I had a question," Cindy stated. "It's kind of awkward and I don't really know how to ask him about it, so I thought I would ask you."

"What about it? He didn't even go to homecoming," Libby responded.

"He didn't? Then why do I not remember the last half of the night?"

"I don't know. You took off after everyone in our group started to slow dance. I didn't see you again until it was time to go."

"Oh." Cindy sounded disappointed.

Jimmy shifted uncomfortably. He knew exactly why Cindy didn't remember homecoming. She had called him, upset about going to the dance alone.

FLASHBACK

Jimmy was sitting in the lab pretending like he wasn't feeling left out. He had decided not to go to the homecoming dance because it had seemed like a waste of time, but now that the day had arrived and all his friends had gone, he was left all alone with nothing but his thoughts. He didn't even have an invention or an experiment to work on. His mom had told him that he would regret not going, and she was right, so that's why he was hiding out in the lab, avoiding an I-told-you-so lecture.

He was messing around with the shrink ray, making his original rocket smaller and larger, when his phone buzzed. He set the shrink ray down and looked at his phone. Cindy was calling him. He picked up the phone and answered.

"Missing me already, Vortex?" He joked.

She sniffled. "Yeah, actually I am."

Jimmy's demeanor changed. "Are you okay?"

"I knew coming to the dance alone was a bad idea."

"Alone? I thought you went with everyone."

"Yeah, and now they're all paired off. I feel stupid. I'm always the odd one out."

Jimmy laughed lightly.

"Is that funny to you?" Cindy snapped.

"No! But you're not the odd one out. I think I win that award."

"No, you're the smart one. You didn't even come to this stupid thing. You were right: the dance is a waste of time."

"So what are you doing then, if everyone is paired off?"

Cindy sighed. "I'm outside. I'm trying to find a dark, quiet place."

"Cindy, that doesn't seem very safe," Jimmy scolded.

"Relax, nerd-boy. I just wanted to watch the stars."

"At least tell me where you are."

"Why? Gonna sic Libby after me?"

"Maybe I should. You shouldn't be out at night alone."

"Since when do you care what happens to me?"

"We're friends. Of course I care."

Cindy paused. "I'm out on the soccer field."

"Okay. Thank you."

Neither of them said anything for several seconds.

"Watch the stars with me?" Cindy asked.

"What? How?"

"I thought you were supposed to be a genius. I know that ego of yours is massive, but there is an expanse of sky above your head. All you have to do is go outside and look up."

Jimmy chuckled. "Always the charmer, Vortex." He stood up and walked out of the lab, upstairs, and out to his backyard.

"Are you outside yet?" Cindy asked.

"Yeah."

"Okay. Face north and lie down. That way we're looking at the same stars."

"Yes, ma'am," Jimmy obeyed.

"Shut up."

Jimmy laughed as he put his phone on speaker and placed it on his chest. "Okay, what am I supposed to be looking for here? There isn't supposed to be any celestial phenomena tonight."

"Neutron, not everything has to have a scientific purpose. It's okay to just look at something and enjoy it for its beauty."

Jimmy felt his face get hot. He was grateful Cindy couldn't see him.

Cindy continued when Jimmy didn't respond. "Okay, find Polaris, and look approximately twenty degrees east. Do you see it?"

"What, Saturn? So?"

"You're really not making this fun."

"Then why did you ask me to watch the stars with you?"

There was an incredibly long pause.

"I wish you were here," Cindy finally whispered.

"Can I tell you a secret? I wish I did go to the dance," Jimmy admitted.

"Really? But why?"

"Because I've just been sitting in the lab, alone, while all of you are out having fun."

"Well clearly not all of us are having fun, seeing as I called you crying."

"Fair point, but if I did go to the dance, then you wouldn't be out on the soccer field alone."

"Yeah, we'd probably be arguing about how many beats per minute it takes to break a sweat," Cindy joked.

"Don't be ridiculous. We'd obviously be arguing about whether or not the decibel of music is going to cause damage to our eardrums."

Cindy laughed. "Or maybe we would have snuck off to watch the stars anyway."

Jimmy didn't know how to respond. He would have loved that. He contemplated telling her how he felt about her.

"You still there?" Cindy asked, concern in her voice.

"Yeah, I'm here. Sorry. If we did sneak off, you know Libby and Sheen would have a field day with that one."

Cindy giggled. "Why can't it always be like this?"

"What do you mean?" Jimmy asked.

"You and me. I know we argue a lot, and most of the time it's in good fun, but sometimes it just gets so heated. Why do we do that?"

"I don't know. We always have."

"That's a lame excuse."

There was a long pause before Jimmy said, "Yeah, I know."

"Thanks for talking to me. I'm feeling a little better," Cindy said quietly.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm just being a big baby. I guess I should go make sure Libby knows I'm not dead."

Jimmy chuckled. "Whatever, Vortex. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, Neutron."

Jimmy was pulled back to reality when he heard tapping on the window. Sheen showed him the stardust samples that he collected. Jimmy gave him a thumbs up and opened the hatch to let him, Carl, and Goddard back into the spaceship.

The girls' conversation ended as Sheen and Carl made their way into the control center. "Good job, baby!" Libby stood up and gave Sheen a kiss.

"Thanks guys. This went a lot faster with your help," Jimmy said to his friends as they sat down.

"Are you going to tell us what this stuff is for now?" Carl asked as he fastened his seatbelt.

Jimmy looked over at Cindy as she looked out the window again. "Just a project I'm working on."

After they got back to Earth, Sheen walked Libby home, and Carl said he had to finish a math assignment, leaving Jimmy and Cindy alone in the lab.

"Thanks for letting me tag along. That was fun," Cindy said.

"Sure. I'm sorry that it didn't help your memories," Jimmy replied.

Cindy shrugged. "I'm beginning to think the only solution is for you to fix that memory device."

"Yeah, me too."

"What were you going to tell me?" Cindy asked.

Jimmy furrowed his brow. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

"On the spaceship. You said you had to tell me something, and then the autopilot said we made it. You never told me what you wanted to say," Cindy explained.

Jimmy wasn't sure what to do. Out in space, it all seemed insignificant. But here, in the lab, just the two of them, it was incredibly significant. Their lives would never be the same. "I was just going to apologize for my behavior today. I was rude and inconsiderate."

"This whole situation seems to be causing a lot of problems. I hate that for everyone involved. Maybe it would be best if we stopped with the memory lessons. That way you'll have more time to work on the device," Cindy suggested.

Jimmy felt a rush of sadness. He liked spending his afternoons with Cindy. "Are you okay with that? It was your idea to do this in the first place."

Cindy nodded. "Yeah, I mean, it's not helping anyway. Nothing you've told me has actually come back as a memory. I only remember things the way you describe them. I don't have my own memories of any of it. Besides, I've had to stay up late several nights to get caught up on my homework since I'm always over here. I need to get some sleep!" Cindy laughed.

Jimmy smiled. "I guess that makes sense. Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me."

"Thanks for all your help, Jimmy." Cindy stepped toward him and gave him a hug. "I mean it."

Jimmy was thrown off guard, but returned the hug, breathing in the jasmine scent of her hair. She was warm and her skin was unbelievably soft. He could feel her heart beating against his chest, and wondered if she could feel his. He could have lived in that moment forever.

Cindy pulled away and smiled. "See you tomorrow at school?"

Jimmy nodded. "I'm totally gonna cream you on that World History test," he teased.

Cindy smirked. "Don't count on it, Neutron."

A/N: The last two chapter were all spent in a twenty-four hour period. I promise I'm getting the story moving. Jimmy's awards banquet is still a couple weeks away (in the story), and there's still quite a bit to happen before then. Next chapter we'll get to see the outcome of the science project.

Thanks for reading!