Chapter 2 [Four hours later
[Middleton HS
Fresh off a difficult morning of classes, Kim, Monique and Rick sat in the cafeteria. Despite allusions to the contrary, their teachers had waylaid them with a bevy of tests and tough assignments due before the Christmas break…..
…and they hadn't talked to Barkin yet.
"Wonder what Barkin's got up his sleeve?" he asked before biting into a piece of pizza.
"I don't want to even go there," Kim retorted, sulking over the sitch. With how the bad guys usually were at that point in the year, she'd hoped for an easy stretch schoolwise.
"Knowing Barkin, there's some serious bad boy waiting for us," Monique chimed in as she dipped into her salad and started into the new Club Banana seasonal catalog. "Ooh! Check THAT out!" She held the catalog open to a picture of a model in a grey top and matching skirt. "Better get ready, Kim!"
"When does the avalanche hit?" the redheaded adventurer asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon. Still, we'll get first pickings." Monique grinned, already targeting the outfit for herself. "Store discount, remember?"
Rick shrugged and just ate, knowing better than to get between the two girls and their fashion sense.
"Yeah that," Kim agreed, feeling more weighted down than ever. "I hate to say it but I miss the Elf."
"Elf?" Rick asked.
Monique rolled her eyes. "Can't believe you'd miss that routine!" She turned to Rick. "Ron used to dress up in an elf costume and go into overdrive." She shook her head.
"Sounds like Ron. I don't know. Sounds like he was trying to have fun," he presumed.
"Yeah," his girlfriend agreed. "But sometimes it did get a little much."
"At least the school's saving on the pizza budget," he noted.
That remark earned him a pair of emerald eyes glaring at him.
"Hey, you know I didn't mean it like that. Sorry," he apologized.
Kim grimaced, knowing she was letting her emotions get the better of her. "Sorry I just harshed." She sighed. "Things are different with him in Japan. I know he goes overboard but we could all use something."
"I know what you mean," Monique agreed. "Fortunately, we've got shopping."
"And with their break, maybe Ron and Yori can come back for Christmas," Rick supposed.
"Ron celebrates Chanukah but yeah, maybe. His parents will be gone again, I think. Maybe I can get Mom to take the electric menorah out of the attic. Don't want to deal with the real one again," Kim explained while remembering the last time with the real candles.
"Uh should I ask?" he queried.
Monique frowned. "Kim's little brothers almost set the house on fire with it the last time."
"Best to keep the Tweebs out of it. And you are invited for Christmas, Rick. No arguments," Kim declared.
"A Christmas with friends. This I can definitely deal with!" he agreed enthusiastically. "Especially with your Mom's cooking."
"Thought you'd go for that," Kim concurred with a smirk. She looked at her watch. "We've only got ten minutes before class." Feeling herself returning to reality, she sighed, "Time to deal with that sitch."
[Media Classroom—five minutes later
With plenty of time to spare, the trio entered the classroom and took their seats. They saw that the TV was already on and that their Japanese counterparts were doing the same thing at Yamanuchi.
Kim watched as Ron came into view. Despite his attempt to walk with his usual gait, she noted the slight limp. Now what? Then she saw Hirotaka grimace for an instant before he took his seat.
I knew those sparring matches were a bad idea! She frowned.
"Hey, K. Looks like the LOSER'S over his head again," Bonnie cracked from behind.
"He twisted his ankle. No big," Kim retorted while eyeing the wrist brace on her rival's wrist. "When's the last time you did anything beside hurt your hand with the TV remote?"
As she said that, Kim noticed Yori chuckling to herself and sharing a warm glance with Ron. She smirked. "Don't look now, Bonnie, we're live."
Bonnie stared at the screen. "So they heard us."
Hirotaka grinned. "I can assure you, Bonnie San that Stoppable San more than holds his weight here. I'm sure Ayoki San would like to know if you do the same with the assignment." He popped a stick of gum into his mouth.
Ron leaned back in his seat, trying to project maximum 'Ronness' to the camera. He shrugged nonchalantly. "Hey, it's only a sprain. But the Ron-Meister has it under control. Always appreciate the thought, Bon Bon." He allowed the grin to widen, knowing full well she hated that nickname.
His classmates on both sides of the video divide nodded in appreciation. Maybe they didn't always like how Ron dealt with things but they could definitely appreciate his use of verbal judo.
Bonnie had steam coming out of her ears. She folded her arms and fumed over the remarks.
"Fun times over, Ladies," Barkin chided while walking into the room and shutting the door. Seeing Sensei in position, he asked, "Everything set there?"
"We are. Thank you, Barkin Sama. Are we ready for the assignment?" Sensei inquired.
"All set here," the ex-marine indicated while letting them all see his shark-smile.
Ron shuddered, knowing that expression well—usually right before he got the extra history homework. Aw man! Not him too!
"Got a problem, Stoppable?" Barkin asked expectantly.
"Not me, Mr. B."
"Good. Glad to hear it because this concerns you in particular," Barkin continued. "You're doing a report on Chanukah. Figured you wouldn't mind being paired up with Matsumaru for this one."
"We will be honored to do this, Barkin Sama," Yori accepted.
"This time next week then." Barkin turned to Bonnie. "Since you like to talk, Rockwaller, you can give your report now."
"Anytime you are ready, Rockwaller San," Ayoki agreed while standing up with his notes set.
I am SO going to get even with Stoppable for this! Bonnie stomped toward the front of the room with the notes she had written out and began stumbling through her talk.
[After school/cheerleading practice—Bueno Nacho
Kim leaned back in her seat, feeling more than satisfied with how things had turned out in Barkin's class.
"Remind me never to get on your bad side," Rick told her while munching on a nacho chip.
"Bonnie's in a league of her own. Glad she got to talk," she insisted.
"And they call Ron a procrastinator? I think Bonnie's got that record now," he supposed.
"Oh I plan to remind her of that sitch," she informed him.
He shrugged while sipping on his milk shake. Knowing how she felt about Bonnie, he could almost see how testy the next cheer practice was going to be. Bonnie brings it on herself. Leave it be, Rick. Just leave it be.