..a good book

[Cindy Vortex]

{ o o c : Heh, this really is my favorite place to post, isn't it? ^^ Well, just someone reply. *shrug* }

It was a beatiful day in Retroville, Texas. The sun was shining, birds were chirping... well, everything that makes a beautiful day a beautiful day. To top it all off, it was a Saturday, most people's favorite day of the week, not excluding the blond girl sitting on the lake's dock with a paperback book held open between her slender fingers.

Cynthia Vortex was the name of this girl. Clothed in a red bathing suit top and a pair of board shorts, she looked quite ready to go swimming, though it didn't seem as that was her goal as she further absorbed herself in the book she was reading. She uncurled her legs from beneath her, dropping her bare feet in the water and allowing them to move back and forth slightly. She'd left her shoes at the end of the dock a while ago but hadn't really cared enough to check on them. Who in their right mind would steal a pair of shoes?

No doubt she appeared very peaceful as she sat there, reading, but in reality the book she was so heavily immersed in was not peaceful at all. Licking the tips of her thumb and pointer finger in habit, she turned the page, gripping the sides of the suspense novel as if it would be ripped from her grasp at any moment. Emerald eyes flew down the page in haste as she held her breath in anticipation of what would happen next. This was, in Cindy's opinion, quite a frightening work, which was saying something for her. Then again, a good plot and a large dose of suspense normally was what got her.

The clock was rounding about noon. She'd only been sitting here for about an hour or so, very alone, but that didn't bother her much. All she really needed was a good book. She'd considered going swimming, but seeing as she only had about twenty pages left, she figured she'd wait until she was finished...

[Betty Quinlan]

It was a beautiful day in Retroville, Texas. And among the people who were enjoying this beautiful day, Betty Quinlan was no exception. The equally beautiful girl had decided to spend her afternoon taking a stroll in the park, which she found herself doing quite frequently nowadays. Her friends were often busy doing college stuff - preparing applications, sending off last minute "gifts", planning trips - and as Betty was still set firm in her plan to tour Europe, she found herself with an awfully lot of free time.

But as lovely as this free time was, Betty was glad to know that things would soon change. She had a boyfriend. A boyfriend two years younger than her, true, but Betty had a very popular, very good-looking, very PERFECT boyfriend - one who complemented those same qualities in her. She was monstrously happy and took this stroll in the park with the knowledge that someday she would be doing this with him by her side.

She had to admit, she didn't think she'd be this happy once her and Nick were going out. She knew she'd be happy, alright, but not this happy. She didn't think she could be this happy in all her life. But as she found herself practically skipping along her way, humming and singing to herself, taking in everything she saw with absolute pleasure - Betty had to admit that she was blissful.

I'm going out with Nick, She sang to herself, in head, I'm going out with Nick and I'm the happiest girl on earth! I'm going out with Nick - yay! So it wasn't the best written song - but it got out her emotions just the same. I'm going out with Nick and I'm so happy! She was approaching the dock, and thus, approaching a rather familiar figure sitting on the edge, dangling her legs into the water. I wonder if Miss Cindy Vortex can say the same thing about Neutron! She sang, ending the song on the final note.

Cindy looked pretty involved in whatever she was reading - it would be a shame to interrupt her. But Betty was dying to discuss her new boyfriend with someone - and to find out that latest scoop on the Vortex-Neutron front. Finding her needs greater than Cindy's, she raised her hands to her face and called out to her. "Oh Ciiiiindy!" She waved, hoping to catch the girl's attention. "Over here!" Grinning at the girl, she made her way across the dock to her.

[Cindy Vortex]

The candle illuminated the wall with a eerie glow as she slowly made her way up the staircase. The sounds had been coming to from the attic... she had to figure out what this was once and for all. One shaking hand reached for the doorknob, but even before she touched it...

"Oh Ciiiiindy!"

Cindy flinched slightly as Betty called out to her, cursing under her breath and closing her book. Betty Quinlan. Perfect. Of all the times that pest of a girl could have bugged her, it had to be now. She looked down at the foreboding cover of her book and sighed. Of course it had to be now. With her luck, when else would it have been?

Then again, Cindy had found that her luck had begun to change. She was thoroughly convinced she was in love, which was saying something in itself and frankly had her quite giddy. As unlikely as it was, she was no longer afraid to profess it loudly and ludicrously, announcing to the world that she'd fallen into the illogical phenomenon that she vowed she'd never enter. She was in love, something that surprised her as much as anyone else... but that didn't stop her from feeling it or believing it as she never had before.

The thing was that she had a suspision that the boy she was in love with liked her a great deal as well. Either that or he was just holding on until the bitter end, until his lust had been satisfied? No way, she thought smugly, crossing her arms and leaning against one of the poles holding the dock up as she turned toward the approaching girl, still smiling. I think he may love me...

It was this that made her sigh dreamily at that moment, the look of adoration remaining as she looked toward the trees to the distance. She hadn't really discussed with him when and where they were supposed to meet today for their "date", but she had her cell phone off hand in case he tried to call. Unfortunately he hadn't picked up the phone about an hour earlier when Cindy'd tried to call him, which had been disappointing, but she figured he wouldn't go back on his want to "spend time with her". It pulled at the heartstrings, honestly.

It was now that her eyes fell upon the approaching Betty, her expression suddenly falling stony. "Betty." she said simply, no readable expression in her voice as she traced the book cover absently with her hand. Her thoughts were certainly not on the popular girl before her, though. They still dwelled on the one person they could have been expected to dwell on. Neutron. Jimmy. James. Whatever you wanted to refer to him as.

She was simply happy to know that he felt more for her than hate.

[Betty Quinlan]

As she came closer to the girl, she noticed a small flicker of annoyance in Cindy. But, quite honestly, she could care less whether her little friend wanted to talk to her at all - she was just going to have to deal with that. Betty was too happy to let the fact that she was bugging somebody stop her- well, really, she never let the fact that she was bugging somebody stop her. She arrived at Cindy's side and smoothly sat next to her, dangling her legs over the edge, dipping a sandaled shoe in the water. The sandal was new - perhaps it wasn't such a brilliant idea to get it wet - especially in the waters of Retroville Lake, but in her elate state of mind, Betty told herself she would just buy a new pair.

"So," she said, noticing the smile on her face grow larger in her reflection upon the water, "Have you heard the news?" She had expected everyone would have heard by now - she told one of her girl friends with the intent she would spread the word quickly. And, by the lack of boys saying hello to her, she assumed they had heard she was going out with Nick and was now off the market.

"About me and Nick," She continued, almost giggling. The control she had attempted to have over her date with Nick the other night was pretty much gone - and besides, she really didn't care if she went squealy around Cindy Vortex. The giggle slipped out, and she elaborated, "We're going out, you know." She laughed again, swinging her legs so the splashed the lake water about her ankles.

It was so fun to say - that she was going out with Nick. She would be ashamed to admit it, but she had been saying it in front of her mirror that entire morning, until her mother shouted from the hallway, "We get it! You're happy! Now give it a rest, Betty!" causing Betty to leave the house in favor of the park.

Blissfully, and blissfully unaware of anything Cindy was feeling at this point, she turned to the blonde and asked, "Aren't you happy for me, Cindy?" She smiled a dreamy smile at her, sighing happily.

[Cindy Vortex]

Cindy raised a questioning eyebrow, but remained silent and composed for a moment. "Sure." she replied blandly. "Have fun with that. Actually, amazingly, I hadn't heard about that. Perhaps I was just too busy with my own affairs to worry about indulging myself in the lives of others."

She was thinking about telling Betty that she never would have dated Nick if he had been the last boy on Earth. Perhaps the only plausible reason would have been to make Jimmy jealous, but even then it was completely questionable. Nothing but a short comment had been necessary in that area anyway. She had a date to attend sometime today... if he ever called her.

She was beginning to think that their tentative plans would be snuffed out, actually. Not that this phased her in anything but disappointment, seeing as things such as that had been the norm for the past years they'd known each other. Things came up, though not things one in a relationship might have expected. They were... different.

Cindy was quite indifferent to Betty's presence, even, and was considering picking up her book when her cell phone vibrated and rang in her pocket, causing her to flinch in surprise. Trying to hide her excitement, she pulled it out casually and looked at the screen.

Incoming Call: Jimmy Neutron

She grinned widely and flipped it open, pressing it to her ear. "Hey." she said, indicating she knew it was him.

{ o o c : Sorry, rushed post. Read Nick's string, replied to Jimmy's phone message. Gotta run! I'll try to check before I get back home, but no promises. Luv you all dearly! ^^ }

[Jimmy Neutron]

Jimmy, who had been scanning the Retroville Park grounds hopefully for any sign of Cindy's familiar blond ponytail, jumped when Cindy herself answered her cell phone with a cheerful "Hey."

"Hey!" Jimmy gasped back, completely out of breath. He slowed his pace to a walk and tried to control his panting. He vaguely considered leaving the confines of his lab more often as he sauntered over to an open bench and plopped down onto it.

"Sorry I didn't call you earlier," he said into his watch, resolutely thinking he should join the world more often anyways, for the sake of much-needed exercise or not. (As much as he loved science, her knew Cindy would not allow it to be put before her. Knowing this, he strove to find and suitable and believable excuse for his belated contact.)

"My dad sorta had me... keeping busy." Ooh, smooth one, Nerd-tron. He fruitlessly scanned the park once more, knowing he wouldn't see Cindy unless she had recently popped right out of the ground, but wishing hopefully none-the-less.

{BLEH! I've had such a terrible time of writing lately, here OR fanfiction!! Grr, what to blame, what to blame... cruddy math teachers! Yeah...I'll do that...}

[Cindy Vortex]

Cindy cradled the cell phone between her ear and shoulder, rolling her eyes. Keeping busy. Big surprise. As she listened to him pointlessly make excuses that she wouldn't have cared for to begin with, she flipped through the pages of her (unfortunately) unfinished book, waiting for him to be through.

"Whatever." she replied, trying her hardest not to take a look at the last page of the novel (it was so tempting!). "Where are you, anyway? I'm at the park, more specifically at the dock. I was just reading, but was, unfortunately, abruptly interrupted."

She nearly hoped that the fact that he hadn't interrupted her would magicaly pop into his head, but she wasn't going to get into a brawl with Betty when she had a date to look forward to. It was absolutely pointless. She dangled her feet into the water once more, her eyes moving ceaselessly about the surrounding area in an attempt to find him as well, though to no avail as well. Damn.

{ o o c : Urgh, me too. I have the most TERRIBLE writer's block. I've been trying to write and I just... can't! Save me, Nomia! Hehe, anyway, hopefully we'll be up and running again, eh? Blissfully awaiting the next chappy of "Shakespearean Play"! As for math teachers, yes, BLAME THEM!! I have a horrible math teacher this year. Definitely not looking forward to his class. Blech. }

[Jimmy Neutron]

Jimmy gave a dry, weak smile at Cindy's disbelieving "Whatever". He had known his futile defense attempt would be squashed flat as soon as it had escaped his lips. He considered himself lucky to have escaped with the single, listless word.

He shifted his weight on the uncomfortable wooden seat, painfully wondering why the purveyors of the park, meaning to attract the elderly and very young, would choose to place the most uncomfortable -- and unsuitable, when the situations of the majority were considered -- form of seating in sporadic and unhelpful places. What over-worked granny or play-ridden child would want to journey to the very edge of the park to sit?

His discomfort was cut short as Cindy's voice filtered through his watch and revealed her location. Jimmy lept to his feet, already running, and set off in the direction of the dock. He had gone several dozen yards before he realized Cindy had left an open comment that was ment to be replied to.

"Oh, uh," he panted, skidding across the path of an enderly couple and entirely destorying the peace of their afternoon walk. He called back, "Sorry!" and returned to his "conversation" with Cindy.

"I'm actually headed your way." He vaulted himself over a fallen tree limb, seething and cursing internally when a stray branch snagged at his pant leg. "I was on the far side of the playground. Who's the idiot who designed this park, anyways?"

{Save YOU? I can't even save MYSELF! I haven't been able to write anything as of late. Even scarier, I haven't even had a DESIRE to! GASP, I know.}

[Cindy Vortex]

Cindy laughed softly into the phone as she listened to the boy's struggles on the other side. "Obviously someone wanting a good laugh off the physical struggles of people like you." she replied nonchalantly, studying her fingernails dully as she set her book briefly to the side. It didn't take more than a few moments for her to pick it back up again and reflect on how disappointed she was that she was going to have to wait to finish it. She couldn't have had more than twenty-five pages left! But then, c'est la vie, right?

Once again, she flipped through it, sighing briefly as she reached the foreboding front cover. "I actually find this place quite relaxing and a bit less than aggravating. I don't ever seem to have trouble with it. Hmm." she told him mockingly, grinning victoriously as she moved her feet back and forth in the water. "Hey, listen, I'll see you when you get here, okay? And by the way, that'd better be soon." She paused, repressing a chuckle. "See ya."

Cindy flipped her phone closed and placed it on top of her book, smiling widely. She had the power of a goddess over him at the moment, didn't she? The feeling of this new power was extravagantly elegant-feeling. It gave her more victory than anything else. For once in her life, she could get that boy to do what she said. How sweet life was at the moment.

{ o o c : Ah, how SAD! I've had the DESIRE, yes, but I just can't write! No desire?! I am so sorry for you!! I just got my hair cut and threw some "I am so over you" looks at my recent bastard of a crush today, so I am VERY happy. First day of school rocks (sometimes). I feel like a rejuvinated and natural woman. GO ME! Right now, I actually have some ideas for the "White Gold" sequel that will come out if I can EVER get some ideas for "White Gold" itself. Anyway, guess what? I'm going to marry Ian Malcolm! Or an Ian Malcolm figure... Anyway, yippee and all that hoo-haw. Twenty or so pages left of the book. Wheee! I'll stop rambling, lol, I'm just hyper. Very hyper. }

[Jimmy Neutron]

Had the soft laugh and teasing that followed shortly after come from anyone else -- or even from Cindy herself before the few good make-out sessions -- Jimmy would have had great pleasure in venting his frustration through an argument, but he was shocked to find her sweet laugh refreshing. (It wasn't as though she gave him a chance to argue, as she gave him a brief command to be there soon before clicking off.)

No problem, he thought as the dock came into view, grinning as he identified Cindy sitting at the far end. He belatedly noticed another being next to her, Betty Quinlan by the looks of it. He gave a small chuckle, imagining how pleased Cindy must have been at this arrangement.

Jimmy sped up as the distance between him and Cindy became smaller and smaller, stupidly keeping his eyes fixated on her and not on the path that had already given him so much trouble. His speed was abruptly shifted as one foot landed on something higher than the ground. He slipped off, perhaps only two inches to the ground, but his velocity did not allow a graceful recovery and he was sent sprawling head-first onto the dock, giving him an upside-down glimpse of the offending item: a shoe.

{I don't even want to talk about writing. I have no clue as to why I've suddenly come to despise it. I apologize to all for my HORRID posts.
><
*
I need to go listen to some Clay Aiken. Maybe that will help...Hope to see some stuff from you soon, though Halfa!}

[Cindy Vortex]

Cindy had re-immersed herself in her book, honestly not expecting him to be around for a good number of minutes. Even if she'd known he'd be around in no more than twenty seconds, she most likely still would have taken the chance to get a paragraph or two out of the way.

In all honesty, she had no idea of Jimmy Neutron's presence as he dashed toward the dock; she was far too busy humming to herself as she read and swayed her feet in the water. She didn't have any clue how close he was behind her... that is, until he toppled loudly into the dock, causing her to flinch slightly before turning around to look at the fallen boy.

Rolling her eyes, Cindy stood up, replacing her book under her phone. She walked over to him and stopped beside him, placing her hands on her hips and raising an eyebrow as she looked from him to the shoe and back to him. She remained like this for a long few seconds before saying anything.

"Clod." she commented finally, nudging his abdomen gently with her toe. "I swear, Neutron, one of these days..."

A faint smile made its way to her face and she sat down beside him, shaking her head hopelessly.

{ o o c : This soon enough? ^_^ The cat I brought home yesterday (on a very random whim) woke me up this morning. At least he was purring in my ear instead of biting my feet like my other cat would. Anyway, so I had like an hour extra time this morning. y68u (<--From Kisho). BTW, your posts are lovely! Very classic right there; had to laugh at Jimmy's clumsiness! This post from me is kind of iffy... I didn't like it much. But that's mostly because I had to concentrate on keeping my cat in line before he destroys the house. Crud, he's clawing the sofa... gotta go! }

[Jimmy Neutron]

Jimmy could feel the slight vibration through the dock as an item was set down. He tried not to look up as this was followed by a pair of footsteps walking over to hover above him, as visions of how stupid he must have really looked played through his mind. But when his observer -- Cindy, as it turned out -- nudged his stomach with her foot and blatantly accused him of clumsiness...! That was too much to go uncommented on.

Jimmy righted himself indignantly, crying, "I'll what? It's not my fault!" He winced as he scratched at his suitably scraped hand, extracting a small splinter that had lodged itself into the flesh beneath his thumb. "Who the heck put their shoes in the middle of a walkway, anyways?"

Public embarrassment seemed to becoming a constantly reoccurring habit of his, whether diving head-long into situations that left them fumbling for quick and awkward explanations or literally flinging himself to the ground. If this was what love was supposed to be like, the side-effects sure sucked.

Jimmy flushed, remembering there was another audience member present to his highly mortifying entrance. Out of politeness, he turned around and mumbled, "Hey, Betty."

{Yes, that's right: the writer's block is STILL renting out the Parietal lobe of my brain. Bleh. Very happy to hear about your new baby, Halfa! He'll be the best Kisho ever, I'm sure; in the history books right next to Alexander the Great! }

[Cindy Vortex]

{ o o c : I shouldn't be doing this instead of homework. I should be out having a life. But instead I'm acting on a "stroke of genius" which is probably a stroke of stupidity. I hate thinking of randomly "good" dialogue. But I love it at the same time, you know? Anyway, same here from writer's block. *shudder* And yes, I do expect my full-blood wildcat Kisho to appear in History books someday. Because licking himself is a tremendous feat. :-D }

Cindy wrinkled her nose at him, promptly pushing him in the shoulder after he spoke, though she no longer had the heart to do it hard enough to push him over. "They weren't in the middle of the walkway!" she insisted fiercely. And it was true! They'd been a little to the left. "I don't see why you can't watch where you're going! In retrospect, it, in fact, was your fault."

She took a moment to cross her arms and purse her lips superiorly at him before glancing down at his scratched and splintered hand. "Give me that." she ordered as she grabbed the limb anyhow, without his permission, and examined it with a careful eye, fingering the injury gently and plucking a couple more splinters from the small cuts and scrapes across the palm.

She couldn't help but jerk down on his hand a bit as she heard Betty's name flow from his lips, however, though recovered, with tight lips, curling her legs under her as she looked down again at his hand, though not really studying it at all. The cure for any kind of jealousy (especially Cindy's when it came to anything having to do with Jimmy and Betty) was a bit elusive, in her eyes.