"Kim, we need to talk."
Kim Possible paled as she heard the words that promised heartbreak.
Josh wished he were anywhere but in Kim's parents' front room sitting on the sofa next to his girlfriend. He twisted the cuff of his sleeve while he avoided looking into Kim's eyes, which were filled with a nameless fear. He took a deep breath and raised his eyes to hers.
"Kim, I can't … I can't do this any more". The words rushed out like air escaping from a punctured balloon. "I .. I want to. I really want to, but I just can't." He felt sick with guilt.
"What do you mean?" Her voice was strained. "What's wrong? Are you …?" She could not bring herself to say the words. "I thought we were good! You said we were good."
Tears were welling up in her eyes, making him feel even worse, while a part of him thought that she had never looked so beautiful as when she was vulnerable.
And that was the problem.
You're the girl who can do anything. I need a girl who needs me.
He brushed a strand of hair back off his face as he twisted uncomfortably on the seat.
"Kim, your missions. They kinda get in the way of you and me."
I really needed to be more important to you than your missions.
He watched her face brim with hope. "Josh, I can cut down on the missions, really I can. I know I've bailed on our dates a few times recently, but I can tell Wade that I'm not available for the rest of the week. We can spend some real time together. Just you and me. I promise, no missions."
He winced at the pleading in her voice.
But it's the missions that make you who you are.
He sighed and looked at her. "Kim, it's not just the time. The missions are really important to you. I'm just getting in your way."
You're beautiful and smart, but you're scary.
He took a deep breath. "Look, it's not you, it's me." He groaned inwardly as he spoke the cliché.
She flinched at his words but held herself together. Only a tremble in her hands revealed her inner turmoil.
"Is there someone else?"Her voice hardened. He shook his head violently.
This is so not how I wanted it to go!
"Did none of this mean anything to you?" she asked softly.
Oh, Kim, how I wish …I'm gonna miss you.
"No, no it was great." Liar. "I just think we work better as friends."
She stood up slowly and pulled herself tall.
"I think you'd better leave now."
"Look Kim, I'm really sorry about .."
"Just go," she cut in.
As he slunk out of the room carrying his jacket and coat she sank down into the cold sofa where only the previous week they had made out until the buzzing of her Kimmunicator ended the evening prematurely.
Am I such a freak?
The sound of the front door closing burst the dam holding back her emotions and her shoulders heaved as she sobbed her heart out until the turning of the lock indicated the return of her parents.