It was the last day of the Middleton High school year. It was hardly worth coming to school, except for the tradition of saying farewell for the summer. Kim and Ron were walking through the halls hand in hand to the next class, not in any particular hurry, when they saw the Tara and Bonnie.
"Kimmm!" Tara wailed; "I'll miss you!"
"Taraaaa!" returned Kim.
"Oh--my--God!" groused Bonnie; "It's not the end of the world; you guys will be seeing each other every day at the mall."
Ron took it all in stride. Of course the girls would lament not seeing each other over the summer, especially the close-knit cheerleading squad--except for that sour grape, Bonnie Rockwaller; and the pleasure he took in her bad humor more than made up for Kim's momentary absence from his side.
"Hey, Bonnie, give Brick a kiss for me." It was a silly thing to say; he could have kept quiet, but the glare Bonnie gave him was so satisfying. Kim's affection had given Ron Stoppable a self-confidence he never knew he was capable of; he no longer needed to whine or moan or cower in the presence of the Popular Crowd, or Posse, or whatever the food chain was called now. His head was in the clouds, and his heart was in Kim's safekeeping, and he felt like a giant among men.
The public address announced overhead: "Kim Possible, please report to the Principal's office." It was Barkin's voice; did he substitute for everything? Would they one day see him slinging a mop or ladling food in the cafeteria serving line?
Kim's eyes widened in confusion; she glanced from Tara to Bonnie to Ron, who was at a loss himself how to explain the page.
"Kimmie's in trouble; I gotta see this!" Bonnie was gleeful again.
Ron offered his arm, and off the little group went to the office.
Someone was waiting to meet Kim--someone well-known.
Mr. Barkin was looking stern with crossed arms and furrowed brows. "Miss Watson, I'm sure you appreciate that this is a public school and not a motion picture being shot on location. Fortunately, being as it's the last day of the school year, your presence does not represent a significant disruption of the daily activities."
"Mr. Barkin, your hospitality and generosity in allowing me to interrupt both your and Miss Possible's day will not go unappreciated with the people I represent. I want to thank you for all your courtesy." The woman extended a slender hand and warmly shook his hand; his mouth suddenly gaped open.
Kim, Ron, Tara, and Bonnie stared; they were astounded; the gruff teacher had never been so star-struck. The woman's voice was sweet and gracious, and could have charmed a smile from a stone statue; it was also strangely familiar. From the back, she was about Ron's height, but dressed in what appeared to be a woman's Armani suit; certainly Middleton High had hardly seen the like--and her hair was as long as--and as bright as--Kim's.
She turned--and the four students all micmiced Barkin's astonished facial expression. Not only was the face famous, the smile was as bright and dazzling as the full moon--as bright as Kim's, thought Ron.
"Miss Kimberly Ann Possible--and Mr. Ronald Stoppable--meeting you both is an additional pleasure; my name is Mary Jane Watson."
They had already known that, the very split-second they had seen her face.