Chapter 1

"STOPPABLE!" yelled Mr. Barkin

Barkin caught the younger employee off guard. Ron was busy at Smarty Mart, cleaning out the ostrich cages. It was one of his favorite chores. He savored each moment of their smelly, birdie goo. Typical Ron.

"This gentleman wants a cage-n-chow combo for his pet iguana," Barkin barked.

"I'll be right back," Ron answered cheerfully.

Ron drifted off mentally to the surprise date he had planned tonight for Kim. "It will be perfect!" he thought. "I know Kim to a T, and I know she'll love this surprise. I can't wait! Hours of just me and Kim."

BANG! Ron saw stars, blinked, and found himself looking into the eyes of someone who wasn't Kim. He glanced at him and did a double take. It was Kim's old boyfriend, Josh Mankey, who had left town a couple years earlier.

"Hey, Ron! Wow, I haven't seen you in forever! What's up, dude?" Josh asked eagerly. "How are you and Kim?"

"Um..." Ron started. "We're both doing pretty well…"

"Cool." Josh answered. "When I moved and broke up with her, she was really hurt. I was worried for a while."

"Yeah, I know. I have been around for a while. I helped her work through it," Ron said, a little angrily.

"Oh yeah. Well, I guess that would make sense, since you guys have been best friends for forever. I really didn't mean to hurt her, but I was forced to move. Too bad; we could have had a great relationship. Hey, does she have a boyfriend now? Maybe I can ask her out again! We could make things work this time."

Ron didn't hesitate a second. "Oh yes she does have a boyfriend!" he said enthusiastically, anger forgotten. "In fact, you're looking at him!"

Josh gave him a bewildered look. "You and Kim are dating?" Josh asked with slight disgust.

Ron detected Josh's air of superiority and dislike. "Yes we are. And you have never seen a more badical couple. Well, see you round, Monk-- Mankey!" he said, trying to end the unwanted conversation.

"Yeah, right," Josh pursued, laughing. "Like she would date you. Kim's got better sense than to take such a loser. You never liked me. You're just trying to discourage me from asking her out."

Ron gritted his teeth and grunted, "Well, we are dating. So far, I am the only guy that hasn't treated her like crap or broken her heart."

Josh just snickered. "Right… Well, I think that I had better go. And besides, Bonnie told me where she works now. I think that I'm going to ask her out. We both know she could do much better. See you later." And Josh walked out. Ron almost ran after him to give him what he deserved but settled for a glare at his hateful back.

Ron sighed loudly and shuffled off to get the cage-n-chow combo.

After selling the iguana set, he looked at his watch. "Wow, 12:00 already," he commented.

"Hey, Mr. B," Ron addressed the older man, "I'm going to go on my lunch break now." Ron walked across the street into the mall to meet Kim for lunch.

Ron paused right before he entered Club Banana,

"Hey Kim," Josh said.

Kim, working cashier duty, stopped and looked at Josh.

"Oh hey, Josh! Haven't seen you in a while," she answered coldly. Josh moved closer and tried again, turning on the charm. "Wow, you're looking better than ever! Still cheerleading, I assume. Aren't you glad to see me, hot stuff?"

Kim looked up at him. "After you broke my heart by leaving?" Kim asked. "No, not really." Josh looked surprised.

"Look Kim, my parents made me move to another state and my dad got another job and…"

'Josh!" Kim stopped him. "Don't. We could have made it work; there were ways of communicating, and don't lie; you know you could have come to visit me had you really tried. I have no more feelings for you anyway. Not to mention that I'm taken now. And don't try the flattery. It won't work on me. I'm immune."

Ron could hold back no longer and stormed up to the counter angrily.

"See? I told you we were dating!" Ron exploded.

Josh gave Kim a confused look. "So it's true, Kim? You're dating the internationally known loser?"

Kim pulled the famous Possible face: the "I can do anything and am therefore superior to everyone below me" face. "Yes. Ron is my boyfriend! Don't ever call him a loser again. You're the only loser in this store. Get lost!" Kim's eyes threw green fire.

"Oh really?" Josh asked angrily. "Just watch, Kim. You'll realize your mistake sooner or later and come back, crying! Do you really think you're going to last with somebody like him?"

"What are you talking about? Ron has his little flaws, but he's perfect for me."

"Kim, can't you see what I can? You won't be able to live with all his mistakes! He's sloppy, not driven, and anything but a perfectionist! Your over-the-top personality can't handle incompetence. Believe me, you'll break up, soon."

Kim was shaken, but quickly collected herself. "As if, loser! Get lost; you're creating a scene. I won't see you later," she called as Josh strutted out of the store, feeling that he got the last blow.

"Hey, Ronnie," Kim said, attempting to flirt and trying disregard Mankey. "Ready for lunch?"

"Is that a question you even need to ask?" Ron answered, grinning.

They grabbed some fast food from Queen Burger and sat in a secluded corner with a fake palm tree overshadowing their corner table.

"So, I guess… um… well… I mean…" Ron stuttered a little as he tried to figure out his thoughts.

"Ron… are you having a problem with your words?" Kim asked with a smirk.

Ron grinned goofily, but then bit his lip as his mood returned to serious. "Kim…" Ron sighed. "I don't know how to say this, so I guess I'll just ask. Do you still like Josh Mankey?"

"Ron! How could you even think such a thing? That is totally wrongsick! So not! I couldn't even imagine liking him again! Don't worry at all!"

"Ok, ok, Kim! I believe you! I just thought… I mean, he is back in town and I just… I don't know! I mean…"

"Ron! I. Love. You. Nobody else! Silly boy…" Kim shook her head and took a forkful of her salad.

Ron nodded and smiled but he was secretly still a little concerned. He remembered his feelings freshman year when Kim was oblivious of his love, infatuated with Josh Mankey. Ron would have traveled to the ends of the earth for Kim; in fact, he actually did go to the Amazon rainforest by himself! And what did Josh do? He merely looked hot and asked Kim out. Ron felt the jealousy come rushing back in a sudden flood of feeling, but he pushed it aside as unimportant and irrational and turned his attention back to his girlfriend.

"Are you excited for our date tonight, KP?"

"Are you kidding?! You know I can't stand surprises, Ron! Won't you tell me?"

"Nope! You're just going to have to wait until six tonight."

"Will you at least tell me how I should dress?"

"Nothing super-fancy… but I'm sure you'll end up looking amazing anyway! But don't bother overdressing."

"Uhh, Ron…"

"Cool it, Kimbo! Ahh, not looking, not looking!" Kim pulled out the puppy dog pout… Ron closed his eyes to the unforgivable, unforgettable, and irresistible face. "Ummm, lunch break's over, KP! Uhh… gotta get back to work! See you tonight at six!" Ron left the table with his head turned dramatically away from her and his hand clapped across his eyes. He knocked a chair over and bumped into a table before looking back over his shoulder and throwing her a playful grin.

Kim sat in the chair by herself for a minute, thinking about how lucky she was to have him. "He's so darn cute! Ugh those adorable brown eyes and his sweet, lovable grin and his ridiculously attractive freckles!"She grinned and then walked back to Club Banana, giggling.

A/N: Well… this is my first fanfic. Tell me what you think, please! It's all fluff right now, but I'm for sure planning on adding missions and stuff. If you think it absolutely sucks, just tell me so. But I'd also like helpful criticism. I'll stop if you think it's worthless, but I'll keep going if you think it's okay. Ron's thoughts are in bold, and Kim's are in italics. Thanks!