Kim Possible: Reaching You
Chapter 2
"Wade, right?"
Ron's group turned to see Kim walking towards them, each giving an incredulous look to the popular redhead, except Ron of course. They weren't exactly used to her speaking first and she silently hoped they didn't assume she felt herself above them in any way. She always made sure to be as friendly to them as anyone else who crossed her vision.
Ron usually led his group of close knit, self-proclaimed nerds as he seemed to be the most charismatic amongst them. They were the kids known for being avid video gamers, outspoken cartoon aficionados, and were even seen to play some strange board game at the lunch table sometimes; Grottos and Gremlins, if she remembered correctly.
Felix Renton was his second in command, per say, a handi-capable paraplegic with a scientifically enhanced wheelchair. It was apparently personally designed by his mother. Felix was just as cheerful and friendly as Ron and the two were joined at the hip.
Zita Flores was the only girl of their group, a dark haired, quiet girl who was rather famous on an online game they all played known as Everlot. Many students assumed she was dating Ron as her only reason for hanging with the group, but Kim heard her enough times to know she could pull her own weight in nerdy trivia. Besides, both Ron and Zita vehemently denied a relationship.
Wade Load, a short, rotund fourteen year old who'd skipped multiple grades throughout his young life, was the one Kim had initially come to see. Wade was legendary for his computer skills and was considered by most students and faculty to be a prodigy on multiple fronts.
"Everyone," Kim nodded to them all, remembering to be cordial.
"KP, doll face," Ron schmoozed. "Twice in one day. People are going to start talking if this keeps up."
"I'm sure you'd like that," she smirked playfully. "I actually needed to ask Wade a favor, if that's ok?"
She'd directed the permission from Wade himself. Though everyone believed Ron was the leader and shot caller, Kim knew from watching them that he never lorded himself over the rest. He was simply one of the crew, which is why she never really fell for the try hard, playboy routine from the blond.
"What can I do for you?" the younger teen asked, sipping his trademark soda he usually carried round in his backpack.
She noticed, despite his calm demeanor, he was a little shaky. As young as he was, he probably felt like a fish out of water in his own social structure. She needed to avoid frightening him.
"I wanted to see if you'd be willing to dig up any info you have on Sheridan Go," Kim said just low enough for only the group to hear. "Anything from Go High School about why she was expelled and possibly the previous year's behavioral reports."
Ron shuddered, "Man, that chick is scary. I don't think she's hankering for friends, Kim."
"She practically radiates ice," Zita added.
"I can't disagree," Kim nodded. "Still, I'm curious as to why she's that way. Can you help me?"
She gave a big, doe eyed smile that usually melted anyone's heart who witnessed it. She wanted to use her puppy dog pout, but that was for special occasions. Besides, considering the blush crossing Wade's face, she assumed it wasn't necessary.
He cleared his throat, "I'm surprised you'd ask for something so…less than legal."
"I wouldn't if I knew next to anything about hacking. But I'm sure their flame walls can't stop you, right?"
"Firewalls," he corrected, but in a sweet way. "Doesn't sound difficult, so it shouldn't take up too much time. What's the trade?"
This was the difficult part. Trading was how most teenagers bartered favors from one another and Kim honestly didn't have many things to trade for his services. She would ask what he wanted, but she learned her lesson the hard way about leaving it up to them. She still remembered asking a younger boy for his help with taking something…incriminating out of the school paper for her. He'd obliged and she'd offered anything in return. Unfortunately, he'd demanded a date and Kim had had no choice but to comply. You lost a ton of cred around Middleton High if you balked on a trade.
"Is there anyone you like on the cheer squad?" she asked. "I can put in multiple good words for you."
He scoffed, "People who look like me don't date cheerleaders."
"You mean cute people? I'm pretty sure that's a checkmark on most of their lists."
He colored a tad deeper and she knew she was sort of sucking up, though she did kind of mean it. Besides the weight issue, he certainly wasn't an ugly guy. A few less pounds and a few more years of maturation and he could be quite handsome.
He waved his hand dismissively, "Thanks, but no thanks. Maybe I should ask you to go out with Ron?"
"Does anyone need to ask why he's my man?" Ron said rather loudly.
"I thought I was your man," Felix huffed playfully.
"You're neck and neck."
"I'm sure Ron feels the same way I do," Kim answered. "If he wants to be with someone, it's someone who isn't forced to be with him. He'd rather earn her love."
"You're only slightly right," the blond quipped.
The group chuckled and Kim couldn't help but join in. They were cool people in their own way. She'd have to remember to admonish anyone who chided them in public.
"How about you join us for Bueno Nacho sometime as a group," Wade finally decided. "Your treat."
"Spankin'," she responded and shook his hand. "You need my email address to send me the info?"
"Already have it."
She blinked, "You tracked my email?"
"Don't be silly," he smiled and sipped his soda. "I track everyone's emails."
"It's less creepy than it sounds," Zita assured.
Kim nodded a tad nervously and thanked them all before beating a retreat. She didn't picture the younger boy a perv or anything, but then again boys could be a little…tenacious about girls. Luckily, unlike many of her friends, Kim didn't have anything scandalous in her computer, so all they'd find would be innocent phone photos and…her online diary!
She sighed, already making plans to remove her most personal words from the internet and silently decrying this new digital age.
Gym was next, a class Kim excelled in and enjoyed immensely. Her cheerleading skills had helped her mature into a physical specimen of sorts, not to mention her…other interests helped as well. She usually enjoyed volleyball or kickball, but today was more about watching the new kids at play. She had the class with Tara and Bonnie, who sat next to her on the bleachers and watched as all four new students mingled amongst the kickball game currently going.
Their gym was sizeable and stocked impressively, so there was plenty of room to have a gymnasium sized game ongoing. The teams were adequately sized as well, which meant Kim's turn to kick was an extended process. All the better, because she was too busy learning about her four possible roomies from sight alone.
Junior was up first, who looked completely uninterested in kicking or playing in general. He gave the most minimal of strikes to the rolling ball and, considering how skinny his legs were, Kim was shocked they didn't snap in two. The ball sailed easily into Josh Mankey's hands, the cute, dyed blond looking as laid back and relaxed as ever even while physically exerting himself.
Junior merely shrugged and gave a little flex as he went back to take a seat, multiple girls squealing as his muscles bulged against the shirt he'd clearly bought two sizes too small.
"Talk about least effort possible," Bonnie shook her head.
"Go, Junior!" Tara called happily before blushing at her two friends' inquisitive looks. "What? I'm just being friendly."
Bonnie snickered and Kim sighed softly. Of course Tara was already smitten with the handsome boy. She never had much quality in taste, though her friends were never quick to judge. Bonnie had dated more than either of them and she had several horror stories to tell. Kim, well, she wasn't a dater.
Yori was up to kick soon afterward and she received a few catcalls from the boys on the opposite team. Her cheeks colored slightly, but she was focused intently on the ball. She'd had a multitude of questions about the sport and, after failing to adequately explain the intricacies of kickball they'd basically just told her it was baseball with your feet. She brightened at the simplicity of it. She still looked a tad nervous though.
"Y-O-R-I, come on Yori make it fly!" Kim chanted loudly. "Yori, Yori, Yoooooooori!"
Bonnie and Tara chanted the last three names with her, their cheerleading prowess pretty much kicking in automatically. Yori threw her a thankful smirk before setting eyes on the rolling, rubber sphere. Athletic leg met rubber with a resounding strike and the orb flew past the first section of the opposing team.
Hirotaka, who'd been watching the girl without blinking, saw this impressive kick coming and lunged for it. He caught it mid roll, regained his feet quickly, and pitched it towards first, or rather the edge of the painted portion of the polished wood floor that signified first.
It was expertly played, but thankfully Yori's impressively swift sprint ended at the plate just as the ball smacked the baseman's hands and actually made them stumble back slightly. Yori gave a little celebratory hop, but stood straight when Hiro approached her.
She put a fist into an open palm and bowed lightly, "Perhaps next time, Hiro-san."
He reciprocated her bow, "There are still two bases left, Yori-chan. Next time may be soon."
Though they were annoyingly formal, they clearly regarded each other as close friends. Kim knew enough about Japanese culture to know you usually only referred to someone on a first name basis in a public setting if you were particularly close. Hiro had also used chan, an honorific that implied closeness.
More importantly, Kim was noticing the deftness with which both performed. They were clearly used to physical sports, but it was more than that. She could pinpoint the telltale movements of those who had martial arts training of some kind. The redhead would know better than anyone in the gym.
Hiro suddenly looked up to her, catching her watching him and he gave a little wink before turning to retake his position. Kim couldn't help the little blush.
"I saw that," Bonnie elbowed her.
"What?" Kim somehow didn't sputter.
"Um, his wink and your blush. If I had a knife, it'd go dull trying to cut that sexual tension."
"Whatever. I was just impressed with their repartee."
"Is repartee French for Hiro's sweet ass? Or…maybe Yori's sweet ass?"
"Bon," Kim warned and the brunette showed her all her teeth with the size of that grin.
The redhead brushed it off and found something else to hold her attention. She wasn't having this conversation again, especially not with Bonnie. She instead found that familiar shape across the gym on the opposite bleachers. Sheridan was curled into herself comfortably, leaning against the handrail with her beanie pulled over her eyes. She appeared to be sleeping, having sat out the day's activities as she claimed she'd forgotten her gym clothes. On closer inspection, she wore a hard grimace; no one could sleep while grimacing that intently.
Kim wondered if the whole loner routine was merely for attention. She'd known plenty of kids who'd claimed to want to be left alone, but they did so in such an outgoing manner simply to be more noticed. Still, the vitriol Sheridan had shown at lunch would be difficult to fake. Wade's info could not come any sooner in her opinion.
As class ended, Yori actually approached the three of them absolutely glowing from joy, "I cannot thank you enough for your encouragement. Your cheer was quite lovely. I wondered: what would it take to join your squad?"
Bonnie answered, "Tryouts are this Friday. Just show up and show us your best."
"I shall!" she excitedly bowed deeply before rushing away towards the main school building with a wave.
"I think she's going to be a great fit," Tara said and the others nodded.
They separated as Kim's final classes weren't with her friends. She walked alone towards the school until she felt someone approaching from behind. She slowed just enough to allow whoever it was to pass, chastising herself for being so paranoid at school. This wasn't an alley or the city at night; no one was going to jump her here.
Sheridan slowly moved past her, seemingly uninterested in anything except the music that softly blared in her headphones. Kim resumed her speed, exhaling slightly despite knowing she was safe on campus. Still, her keen eyes still watched the other girl as though she were about to spin and assault her. It was a nonexistent worry for any normal teen. Kim wasn't what you would call normal, though.
It was then she saw Sheridan's head spin only slightly, the girl pivoting just enough as she neared the building ahead to catch the redhead from the corner of her eye. Kim stopped dead as she made no bones about meeting the raven haired girl's eye. Sheridan simply watched her as she neared the entrance to the main building, her usually hateful, resentful eyes now more inquisitive in nature. She still scowled, a look Kim imagined she always wore, but the malice was mostly gone from earlier.
It was only seconds before she broke eye contact and disappeared inside, leaving Kim to wonder exactly what the other girl was thinking. As optimistic as Kim was, she took the absence of resentment as a slowly growing sign of good things.
"So, who's the lucky roomie?" Bonnie asked, maneuvering her sports car through Kim's neighborhood.
"No clue," Kim sighed. "My parents are booked solid all night, so of course they aren't taking non-emergency calls. I guess I'll just see when I get home."
"Like a prize in a box," Tara said from the backseat.
The three usually rode home together, since they all woke up at different intervals and thus couldn't ride to school together. Bonnie and Tara switched up driving off and on as Kim only had her learner's permit, since she didn't usually have enough time to take her driver's test. She'd been sixteen since May and that was four months ago, making her one of the very few of her age that didn't already have a vehicle.
Her mother, like that morning, usually drove her to school, but luckily for the guy in the alley, she'd taken a shortcut. She hoped her mom wasn't too worried. Not many parents desired seeing their daughter leap from a moving vehicle, but her 'rents seemed to have made peace with their girl's abnormal abilities.
Conversation ceased as the car turned the corner and their mouths collectively unhinged at the sight of a limo parked outside Kim's house.
"Well, that might have narrowed it down," Bonnie mumbled.
Indeed. Yori and Hiro certainly didn't come off as high money, so that only left two options for her new house guest's identity.
"Time to see if I won or lost," Kim said and leaned over to hug Bonnie goodbye with Tara joining in as always.
"Good luck, K. Give us the saucy details later."
Kim nodded and exited the car, inhaling nervously as she neared her house. The two-story was definitely roomy in comparison to the amount of people who resided there. Kim had been given the loft as a makeshift room by her own request, as it was the most private place in the house. Her parents and twin brothers' rooms were both downstairs, which meant the guest room on the second floor would be the only place to put their new guest. Great; she was going to have to share a bathroom for the first time in years.
A man dressed in chauffeur attire stepped outside her house, chatting with her dad, Dr. James Timothy Possible. The man was lightly built and wore the friendliest grin Kim had ever seen. He had vibrant green eyes and tufts of dark brown hair peaked from underneath his driving cap.
"Kimmie-cub," her dad called as she neared. "Just in time to help us unpack."
"Joy," Kim replied sardonically.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Dr. Possible," the driver said with a deep voice. "You and your daughter just sit back and let us do the work."
The man extended a hand to her slowly and she took it, "Kim."
"Driver."
"That's a…convenient name."
"My parents had grand plans for me," he joked and moved to the trunk to continue unloading. "I'm the young master's personal escort most times."
Young master? That seemed unusually stuffy, but then again she also wondered what kind of person moved their stuff in a limousine and not a moving truck. She immediately answered her own question: rich people. While Kim's parents had money to spare, she never figured them for anything above upper middle class. Whoever was moving in was certainly well to do when it came to money.
"Go say hello to our guest, sweetie," her dad encouraged. "I think you're going to like this school year immensely."
That was a strange guarantee. Still, hospitality was key, so she hurried in and upped the stairs to the guest room. Halfway up, she saw the muscular Latino exit the room, already sweating from moving boxes. Her new guest for the next year was the egotistical cock. Fantastic.
"Ah, Kim Possible," Junior crowed like the intolerable rooster that he was. "You are just in time. I trust you can handle the smaller boxes?"
She huffed, "Yeah, yeah. So, that's your limo outside?"
"Mine?" he laughed mockingly. "No, no, my limos are much grander and of much more vibrant color."
"Then who…," she was cut off by a voice coming from the guest room.
"Less talky, more walky, Junior," Sheridan stepped out and shot a glare at the handsome boy…and immediately switched her glare to Kim.
Kim flinched, as some of the hate from earlier had returned.
But then, Sheridan said, "And Kim isn't helping. The deal was you do the lifting. I'm only letting Driver help 'cause he's a damned busybody."
"Right," the teen boy called as he sashayed past Kim and back outside.
Now alone with possibly the only worse option for a guest besides Junior, Kim was uncertain what to say to break the stuffy air that surrounded the two. While things didn't seem as hostile as the lunchroom earlier, the redhead still could tell by the other girl's visage alone that she wasn't intent on speaking. Still, she had to do something to break the ice or even offer her a show of good faith. If she didn't then this was going to be a very long year.
"Is there anything I can get you?" Kim asked, surprising herself that she sounded so unenthused by the prospect. "Did Mom and Dad show you everything?"
"Oh, yeah," she moaned derisively. "Jim and Ann were as chipper as always."
Kim frowned, "You're on a first name basis with my parents?"
"Might as well. I've known them long enough."
"How…?" she began, but Sheridan threw up a hand to silence her.
Kim took that with a smidge of indignant ire, but any negative cross remark she had stirring was interrupted by Driver and Junior walking in with the last of the boxes. They set them down inside as Kim took the opportunity to peek inside.
While the guest room had been lightly decorated, it still had a small charm to it that was now stifled by the random assortment of moving boxes dominating it. It wasn't very big, but it seemed accommodating nonetheless.
"Will that be all, young master?" Driver smiled and called her that without a single ounce of sarcasm or wit.
"Yeah, yeah," Sheridan waved a hand dismissively. "You're free to go and I don't think I'll need much, so take a vacation. And don't say I never gave you anything."
"I wouldn't dream of it," he tipped his hat to her, wished Kim a farewell, and disappeared out the door.
Junior cleared his throat and propped his elbow against the wall, towering over Sheridan by at least half a foot, "I do believe we had a deal, my green peppermint. I move your boxes; you supply your phone number."
"Yeah, no, I'm not giving you my number," she crossed her arms.
"What?! But…!"
"Consider yourself used, playboy. Now beat it before you start to lose face."
He stamped one of his little feet, "How dare you! That is simply evil! I love it! You will one day be mine, my minty fresh minx!"
He pivoted and stamped away, leaving Kim with a befuddled expression. This is why she didn't date. People her age were so damned crazy. How could he possibly want the girl after she did that to him? Because she was attractive? Was that all it took to excuse a bad attitude? It didn't help Sheridan's case that she looked a little too pleased with herself at the moment.
However, her self-satisfied smugness was soon replaced with the same old grimace as she almost literally pushed Kim out of her new room. Kim tried to protest and question her over her comment from earlier, but the green girl was having none of it.
"Look," she began with only slightly less venom, "I bet you have a lot of oh so interesting questions, but I'm not in the mood to indulge them. If you'll excuse me, I need to process my first day after being kicked out of my own home. I'm sure you understand. Actually, I'm sure you don't. Bye."
With that, she almost slammed the door in Kim's face. Kim Possible was capable of many things. Her escapades around Middleton were almost legendary. She was the girl who walked grannies across busy streets, rescued cats from trees, not to mention all the accolades from her school. She considered herself a very patient, level headed person.
That's why it irked her so much to have already started giving up on Sheridan. It was a first and God knew she wasn't proud of it, but there was something about the teenage brat that just rubbed the redhead as many wrong ways as could possibly exist. Not since her first meeting with Bonnie had she felt so antagonized, but even Bonnie let up after a few weeks. This seemed like Sheridan's natural attitude and it angered Kim.
She exhaled and simply made for her own room. She had homework to do. The day was so wacked out anyways. Even through all the uncertainty, she still knew one thing for sure: she would probably never be friends with Sheridan Go.
It was the dead of night when a sudden thump jostled Kim from whatever comfortable sleep she'd found. She blinked away the grogginess and glanced at her alarm. It was one in the morning and that was strange, because no one was usually up in her household at that time. This meant that the culprit could only be their new guest.
I swear if she thinks she can rock out at the wee hours of the night, I will seriously fight her.
Oh well, she had to use the restroom anyways, so might as well take advantage. She stumbled slightly as she slid off her bed and navigated the dark room by the thin light of the moon peeking through her blinds. She opened her door and had just enough time to walk out before making eye contact with Sheridan, who froze under her sudden appearance.
Facts fed into Kim's mind slowly, first noticing that Sheridan wasn't exiting her room, but was about to enter it. Then, she noticed the green girl was fully dressed as though she'd just taken a trip outside. These things didn't much stand out to the redhead.
No, what stood out was the little details that the meager, hallway light offered her: The sight of Sheridan's clothes dirtied and ruffled in some places. The sight of one of her cheeks slightly colored from what looked like a bruise. The sight of a steady, small stream of blood running from one of her nostrils. Finally, the sight of her knuckles scuffed and bleeding. The factoid that brought Kim into a panic was the sudden realization that some of the blood on her knuckles wasn't her own.
Despite her dislike of the girl, Kim's first natural reaction to the sight was to move for her, hands out in a motion that conveyed worry and care. In the midst of her wide eyed questioning of what had happened, Sheridan clamped a hand over Kim's mouth and bared her teeth in a supremely threatening manner.
"Zip it, princess," she growled low. "Forget you saw this."
She stared into Kim's eyes just long enough to let her see she was serious. Those scant few moments were enough time for Kim to lose most of the surprise and instead settle on some form of anger she'd never experienced before. This intolerable girl was throwing her weight around like she already owned this house. Kim wasn't prone to violent outbursts, but this was the closest she'd ever come to almost allowing a burst of anger to dictate her actions.
Still, she only had one reaction after Sheridan released her and attempted to enter her room. Without much thought, the redhead grabbed one of the raven haired girl's wrists and pulled her towards the bathroom.
"What the fuck!?" she growled a tad louder. "Let me go!"
"Keep struggling and you're gonna' wake everyone," it was Kim's turn to stare her down darkly.
It might have been the warning, as Sheridan clearly wanted to hide whatever this was from the parents, or it might have been the utter violence oozing from Kim's words that shut the girl's protests down cold. All Kim knew was that it suddenly became much easier to lead her quietly to the bathroom and close the door. She ordered her to sit on the toilet as she began to rummage for the first aid kit tucked underneath the sink.
Having a surgeon for a mother pretty much guaranteed that there was a monthly check to ascertain that all three first aid kits around the house were always consistently stocked. Lucky for Sheridan, peroxide and swabs were standard.
She poured the peroxide on a cotton ball and gently began to dab at the other girl's injured knuckles, all the while trying to ignore the incredulous, squinted stare being given to her. Sheridan barely flinched from the disinfectant, though she did pull her hand away.
"I don't need to be babied," she said.
"Oh, just shut the hell up and let me help you," Kim was losing her temper again. "I won't ask where you've been or how you got these injuries. I won't even mention it to anyone. Just stop acting so tough and shut up until I'm finished."
Kim wasn't sure, she couldn't read people, but she thought she saw something soften across that hard face Sheridan had been keeping up since that morning. There was still anger there, but it had suddenly diluted under an emotion Kim didn't care to guess at. She still didn't like Sheridan, even less so every time they spoke, but this was her nature.
Kim could be just as confrontational as the next emotional teen, but seeing Sheridan's injuries brought forth that much more powerful desire she'd always had to help people. Whether injured or simply downtrodden, she was always compelled to assist those who needed it. Maybe it was her mother in her; she didn't care why she felt this way.
Sheridan had settled on simply watching the redhead clean her knuckles and eventually find scrapes on her elbow where she'd clearly fallen on asphalt. Kim ignored the unblinking gaze and let the feeling of doing something worthwhile calm her. It actually worked, as the sight of the injuries being treated sent that calmness through the teen that she adored. She found such simple joy in the small task.
Now finished, Kim handed her a ply of toilet paper, "Stick that in your nose until the blood clots. Try not to fall asleep until blood stops pouring. Pinching the bridge for a few minutes might help. Not sure what to do about that bruise."
"It'll be gone by morning," Sheridan whispered.
Kim felt she needed to question that, but honestly she was just too tired to care at the moment. The fact that she'd been allowed to help this much was a miracle, so she wasn't testing her luck.
"They might question your dirty clothes, so you can toss them in my hamper. I'll mix them in with my clothes."
She opened her mouth to say something more, but it didn't really seem necessary. Kim pretty much knew she was on borrowed time as far as her guest was concerned. Finally, she simply turned around and yawned as she made for her room, leaving Sheridan behind to do whatever she pleased. She grabbed the collapsible, pink, Hello Kitty hamper from her bedroom and walked it to Sheridan's door.
Kim ignored the girl standing in her own doorway, still giving that strange, unblinking expression. She didn't bother acknowledging she even existed until she'd made it back to her own bedroom door, stopped with her hand on the frame, and took one last glance back.
The scowling, unfriendly girl was still watching her, still staring into her as if she were capable of discerning Kim's very thoughts with sight alone. Kim saw that same anger and wondered what could possess a person to want to willingly carry that malice with them. She didn't judge Sheridan; she never assumed she knew anyone until she'd been allowed to know them. Still, she didn't like her and that actually made her sad.
Kim barely had time to wonder if she was just imagining that softening expression before the green girl disappeared into her room. They would probably never be friends. Kim hated thinking anything was impossible, but Sheridan had certainly come out of the gate intent on shutting people out. Was anything truly possible for a Possible? She supposed she would find out soon enough. But, for now, it was time for sleep.