It's Complicated

Chapter One

            - The Ron Thing

            April 25th, the final day of Spring Break, did not essentially start until exactly 11:39 and fifty-six seconds in the evening, when Kim Possible received a phone call from Monique Martins.

            "This is waay beyond cheerleader cool!" Monique raved, "Almost as cool as the new Club Banana line; we just got those arm glove sets from Paris, the one's with the pockets?  Kim?"

            "I'm still here, Monique."  Kim artfully balanced the phone between her shoulder and her ear, attempting to paint her toenails.  "So what's so important that you had to call in the middle of the night?"

            "Alright, so I was working at the counter this afternoon and Tara Strong…you know, she's got a nice complexion but I always thought she could do without those fake highlights-"

            "Monique…"

            "So anyway, Tara tells me that she is desperately in need of my fashion expertise."

Kim finished with one foot, swiftly adjusting the phone to the other ear.

            "Monique…please don't tell me that's all that you wanted to say."

            "No, but that was the best part." Her smile beamed through the phone, "Anyway, I asked why something would be so important that she had to come to me, even if she was in good taste, and Tara told me that she had a date!"

            "…"

            "Kim?" A sigh.

            "I'm still here Monique."

            "Well aren't you going to ask with who?"

            "Sure, why not.  Who did Tara have a date with tonight?"
            "Ron."

Nail polish smeared all over the bedspread.

            "What?" Kim sputtered.  Monique giggled wildly on the other end.

            "Tara said that Ron actually asked her out!  Isn't that juicy?"

            "Juicy?!"  She futilely dabbed the Raspberry Rouge, the phone pressed tightly between her ear and neck, "Juicy!?"

            "Well don't sound that surprised, Kim.  Tara and Ron have been crushing on each other since 10th grade."

            "Oh no, no, no!  He told me he was over her.  I can't believe he didn't tell me!  He didn't even mention-"

            "Kimmy?" Her mom's voice filtered through the door, "Lights out, hon."

Kim sighed.

            "Listen, Monique.  I have to go."

            "Alright.  I'm so excited!  I can't wait for tomorrow!  Ciao!"

Kim set the phone on her dresser, dismissing the nail polish.

            "Yeah," she muttered, hitting the light switch, "Can't wait."

            "Hey, KP!"  April 26th.  Kim jerked her locker open, shuffling through a number of text books without saying hello.  Ron Stoppable did not seem to notice.  "How was the final day of Sprrrrrrriiiiiiinggggg Break?"

            "Fine." She snapped sterilely, trading Lit and Comp for U.S. History, "How was your date last night?"

Ron grinned, buffing his nails on his jersey.   

            "Smooth like nacho cheese.  Right, Rufus?"  The naked mole rat poked through his cargo pocket with an ardent thumbs up.  Ron's smile broadened. "Thanks for encouraging me to ask Tara out."

            "Ask Tara out?!" Kim slammed her locker violently shut, "I did not encourage you to ask Tara out."

            "You did too.  Don't be modest."

            "I did not."

            "Did too, KP!"
            "Stop calling me that!" She screeched, stalking off in the opposite direction.  Ron paused, confused.  Tara Strong approached from behind, grasping his hand, leaning on his shoulder.

            "Hey Ron.  What's wrong with Kim?"

            "I dunno.  I think it's one of those girly things."

Rufus said, "Mmhmm."

            Kim had only stormed half way to Physics when, in all the fuss and flurry, she collided with another student, spilling her books.  In the sudden and unexpected contempt, Kim opened her mouth to screech away.

            "Why don't you…" She fell oddly silent, looked up, blinking, "Will Do?"

Will Do glanced down, somewhat perplexed.

            "Hello Miss Possible.  Er, Kimberly."

Her fluster forgotten, she scrambled for her books.  Will bent to help.

            "What…what are you doing here?"

            "Inside job." He whispered, "They're saying something about the lunch meat here."

            "Why am I not surprised…"  They straightened up, either with papers in hand.

            "So you're enrolled here now?"

            "Yes.  Middleton High School is my new base of operation."  On a second thought, he added, "You're welcome to join me on this mission.  You were wonderful assistance last time."

Kim rolled her eyes, biting back any barbed comments.

            "Thanks, but this seems like a one man job."

            "Quite right.  Would you like me to carry your books?" She raised her eyebrows at the offer.

            "I think I can handle it."

            "Then, may I propose a question to you?"

            "Er, sure."

            "Where can I find Room 657…Misses Lipski?"

            "Advanced Calculus." She murmured thoughtfully, "It's right next door to my Physics class.  I'm on my way there."

            "Then if I may accompany you, Kimberly…"

Kim cast him a strange glance.

            "Call me Kim."

            "Right…Kimberly."  She gave a frustrated sigh.

            Physics, like all days, progressed ever slowly.  And when it finished, lunch went with less of speed.  Kim's frustration only advanced at Tara and Ron's incessant giggling at the Cheerleader table.  Monique had Fashion Club this time of day.  Kim forced herself to ignore this, struggling to concentrate on other topics.

            "A new senior just enrolled today." Bonnie Rockwaller pronounced for the entire squad to hear, "He's so first rate.  I saw him eyeing me this morning.  He told me his name was Will Do."  Her attention snapped towards Kim who, as of current, did her very best to disregard them while she modified her daily schedule.

            "Did you talk to the new senior, Kim?"  She glanced up, a half-bitter smile gracing her façade.

            "As a matter-of-fact-"

            "Kimberly."  The squad swiveled around to see as the man of the hour leaned graciously on their lunch table.

"Oh." Kim replaced her schedule, "Will."

"Kimberly, may I speak with you…" He glanced about the table where the cheerleader squadron stared with eager eyes, "privately?"

Kim shrugged slowly, pushing her clothing into her book bag.

            "Sure…"  Will escorted her away.  Bonnie turned a vibrant shade of red.

He pulled her from the cafeteria to the empty hallway.

            "What's going on?" She inquired.  From his khaki pocket, Will pulled a few petri dish full of Enchilada Potluck.

            "O…kay…"

            "This is a sample of-"

            "Enchilada Potluck with nucleo-thermic potency?"

Will fell silent.

            "Internet?" He inquired.  She grinned.

            "Wade." Kim pulled her communicator into the open, "What do we know about nucleothermic energy in expired lunch meats?"

            "Well…" Wade, three divisions his actual size, clicked furiously on a slate blue laptop.

"There's been a lot of thermo-energy experimentation down in New Mexico lately, headed by some ex-military colonel gone scientist…Dr. Salvador Helicon."

An explosion popped in the background, and the scene was momentarily covered in a flood of bright colors.

            "Wade?  Are you okay?  Where are you?"

The picture cleared, and Wade gave an excited wave.

            "I'm at the Atropos Greek Food Festival!" Kim half-smiled.

            "Save some Baklava for me."

"Will do."  Wade blinked, "Will…Do?"

"Funny." Said Will.  Kim shrugged.

"Will's come back to Middleton on the Lunch Meat case."

"Well, good luck."

She replaced the communicator in her pocket, meeting the inquisitive stare of Will Do.

            "I think I will join you on this mission.  But not as assistance.  This time we're working as equals."

            "Quite." He muttered skeptically, replacing the food sample in his pocket.  "If I may, Kimberly-"

            "Kim."

            "Kimberly."

She sighed.

            "What were you saying?"

            "I would like to use some of Dr. Possible's laboratory equipment once I have collected enough of these samples.  According to the case profile, the possible uses of this are keenly connected with rocket science."

            "I'm sure he won't mind."

            "Now," Will cleared his throat, "If you'll excuse me, I must make fourth period.  Goodbye, Kimberly."

Kim muttered under her breath while Will, oblivious, continued down the hall.

            "Ooh," said Bonnie, coming from the cafeteria. "Looks like Kimmy's got a new boyfriend."

            She rolled her eyes, pushing a sweep of red hair off her shoulders.

            "Don't start, Bonnie."

            "Start what?" Her voice dripped false innocence, "Gee, Kim.  Don't be such a loser, just because your sidekick dropped you like a weight-"

            "Ron did not drop me!"
            "Sure." Feeling triumphant, Bonnie turned. "Bye Kim."

            "ARGH!"

Ron and Tara entered the hall, giggling.

            "Hey Kim.  Tara and I are going to Bueno Nacho after practice.  You want to-"

            "Not interested."

Kim stalked off down the hall.  It was not the first time that day.

Disclaimer: Kim Possible belongs to (like most things where I live) Disney and its many affiliates.

Notes:


This is my first Kim Possible fanfiction.  I…er…hope it was well appreciated.

--Arte-Chan