Chapter 3: The Night Before
It was the night before graduation and everyone who was everyone was at the party one of the cheerleaders was holding. Jocks, pops, beauties, you name it. Everyone was there… Well…almost everyone.
Ron sighed as he and the baboon walked towards the tree house that belonged to him and Kim for years. This was one of the few things in Middleton that he held sacred. It contained more than just history. It contained all the good times and all the bad.
He chuckled to himself, remembering that as a kid, he almost never even climbed up the tree house, remembering how scared he was. He did just came back from Camp Wannaweep, the worst place on earth and the last thing he wanted to do was anything Monkey related. He mused to himself, was he that much of a coward? Maybe tonight if, by some chance, he ran into Kim, he could tell her – again – about his plans after graduation. All Kim had to do was just respect his wishes and let him be without any arguments or disagreements. This was something he had to do for himself, for once, and he didn't plan on failing. Not now. It's not like he was going to be a big loss anyway. She had Eric now. And the last thing he needed, let alone wanted, was to become a third wheel.
Once he had reached the tree, Ron began to climb up the ladder with ease. He was looking to just relax and remember the good ole' days when they were kids! When there wasn't any trouble or problems, just them being the best of friends. However, just when his hand was on the last rung of the ladder, Ron could've sworn he heard voices. But that was absurd. The only one other than himself who could possibly be up here was Kim, but she was at the party. Of course she got an invite. After all she was Squad Captain and one of the most popular people at school. It was true that he also had an invitation, but knowing his status, or lack thereof, it was more or less because of Kim. Once again, he was the charity case in this situation. Besides, he knew he wasn't going to have a good time there. Who the hell wants to go to a place where you're not wanted?
Now he heard giggling. What the hell is this? Either someone else broke into the tree house and turned it into their personal rendezvous, or… Ron shook his head. No way Kim was up here with someone else other than him, right?
"It's such a relief being up here with you, Eric."
Ron heard that voice. It was indeed Kim's, and she was up here with Eric? Weren't they supposed to be at the party? Then why are they here?
"It's nice just being with you, period Kim." Yep, that was definitely Eric. If he wasn't so worried in blowing his cover, Ron would've opened the door right now to see what's going on. But alas, he remained on that hung as he continued to listen.
"Tomorrow is graduation and then it's a long summer together, and finally, we both start our year in Yale!" Eric explained.
"You do have the tickets, right?" Kim asked as Ron raised an eyebrow. What tickets was she talking about? She never said anything about going somewhere with Eric, let alone to Yale, at least not to him. Talk about being left in the dark. But then again, they have been drifting apart as of late, ever since the Diablos incident. Their relationship was dying and Kim obviously didn't seem to care, so why should he? Maybe it was him longing for the good ole' days that made him try as hard as he could to keep their friendship afloat. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking.
"Of course! The plan is to leave tomorrow evening! That should give us time to say goodbye to our family and friends."
"Yeah…" Ron heard Kim sighed.
"Something bothering you?"
"Oh nothing… it's just that… that I feel as if I'm forgetting something… Oh, it's nothing big. I could always think about it later. Right now, all I want to do is to stay right in this tree house with you… It's been so long since I actually had a guy to keep me company!"
'And what am I? Chopped liver?' Ron scoffed angrily. "'It's been so long since I actually had a guy to keep me company!'" He mocked. Did his confession to her meant nothing to her? He did feel a bit guilty about throwing his plans to go to California towards her in the last minute, but if there was any of it left, it was gone now. Especially after this revelation!
"But what about Ron?"
"What about Ron?"
"You know, you guys have been best friends for years!"
"Exactly! Ron's been my best friend for years. That's all he is to me. My best friend! But things change, Eric. We're already moving on with our lives, and Ron's always going to be…well… Ron. It's like I'm babysitting my brothers sometimes. So much it's both depressing and pathetic at the same time."
At hearing Kim's comments Ron was beyond angry. The one hand of his that wasn't on the rung of the ladder was clenched into a fist, shaking vigorously. After all they've been through. After the all the history they had with each other and this is what she thought of him? Now he was definitely going to move to Los Angeles, whether Kim liked it or not. He could already hear her right now. "Ron, going to a place like Los Angeles is too dangerous. You're just not the type of person to live there. Why not go to a school near home, so you'd at least be familiar with the area!" No matter what she could say at this point, Ron was heading to Los Angeles! If she could accept that, then great! If she couldn't, then tough luck!
"But you're my boyfriend. You're my guy! And my heart tells me that I want to spend the rest of my life with you!" Ron heard Kim's voice, before he decided to jump down. The monkey, who was looking up at his new owner, could tell from the sour puss look on his face that he was not happy and he had an idea why. As he gritted his teeth, at the club house, he was snapped out of his anger.
"Let's go…" Ron simply said, wanting to get as far away from the tree house as possible, as the simian followed What was sacred to him was now defiled, and as far as he was concerned, it was just another thing he will definitely not miss when he leaves…
Middleton Pet Cemetery
It had only been around 21 minutes since he had left the area of the tree house as Ron was seated in the Lotus position in front of a tombstone. As he sighed, he was relieved that at least one place, as gloomy and depressing as it was, didn't make him angry… at least to the extent of how angry he's been as of late.
"Well buddy, I guess this would be the last chance I get to see ya." Ron said as the baboon took a seat next to him, taking a look at the tombstone. "Tomorrow's graduation. And after that, it's time to pack up and get ready to move to LA. I've changed my plans. I'm not going to Upperton U like Kim and I…" Ron shook his head. "No, like Kim planned. Honestly, I didn't even know what I wanted to do, until recently. I got an offer for a scholarship in Cooking at the Art Institute in California – Los Angeles. It's not like Kim would care anyway. We've haven't exactly been as close as we once more, and I'm not talking about because of Eric."
Ron shook his head. "I just found out that she and Eric are planning on going to Yale, but not before taking a trip first." He scoffed, "And you're really gonna love this. This is the real punch line, and I mean a big shiner to the eye: Kim didn't even tell me. I happened to go to the tree house and find Kim and Eric alone and overhear them. And I doubt Kim's going to be quick to tell me. More like in a last minute sort of way. And then she'll act hurt and ashamed of herself, then going as far as pouting and giving her damned puppy-dog pout to get out of it like she always does. And she says that I need to grow up? So yeah, our friendship's more or less on life support."
He looked down to his simian friend before turning back towards the tombstone. "Guess what? I finally got over my fear of monkeys! Yeah, it's almost hard to believe, but somehow I managed to do it. And now my biggest nightmare is my new friend. It's like they say: 'When one door closes, another one opens.' Of course Kim doesn't know. Wouldn't it be a shock to her to see me hanging around with a monkey, let alone the reason why I was afraid of them? I'm still trying to find a new name for him, though…"
With a sigh, Ron stood up as he took a look at the tombstone one last time. He tried to hold back his tears, but he was having a bit difficultly in doing so. "Well, it's time for me to go. When I come back home during school vacation, I'll visit ya. See ya, Rufus." And with that, he and the monkey left the grave of Rufus, the naked mole rat who could do just about anything…
Ron checked his watch as it read 10:53PM. He guessed that it would be best for him to go home and get some rest for tomorrow, as tomorrow was a big day for him indeed. However he was stopped when he saw a familiar blonde girl wearing a green tank top, jean skirt, and a brown pair of the ever-popular (read: played out) UGG Boots. And he thought he was the only weirdo who would be at a cemetery this late. He walked up closer to the girl as he saw that not only did he knew her, he was talking to her basically all day! "Tara?"
With a shriek, she quickly looked back. Her eyes slightly glared. "Ron? You know that you shouldn't scare someone like that!"
"Sorry! I was just wondering if that was really you there!" He apologized. "So what are you doing here anyway?"
"The same reason you're here!" Tara responded. "I was just visiting Mr. Snugglekins."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Snugglekins?" He had to admit, the name did sound a bit silly. Even for him.
"Hey, don't make fun of me!" Tara protested with a pout. "I was only six when I named him."
"I'm not!" Ron insisted. "I actually think it's a rather cute name!"
"Ron, remember what I said about you being honest…" Tara reminded which caused Ron to sigh.
"Okay, I think the name's weird!" Ron admitted. "I almost bust a gut keeping myself from laughing! But I did hear worse." He sighed. "Believe me; the people in Redneck Mountain towns can come up with the most unorthodox things."
"Okay Ron, I forgive you. At least you're honest." Tara sighed as Ron noticed small tears from her eyes.
"You must really miss him a lot." He said.
"I do…" Tara sighed. "Please don't tell anyone about-Never mind, what does it matter? It's not like I have that much to lose, anyway…"
Ron blinked at this. "What do you mean not having that much to lose? Did something happen?" When he heard Tara snivel, he started to feel bad. He wanted to know, but it wasn't any of his business either. He should've kept his big mouth shut.
"Let's just say that you're not the only one who's having a different outlook on something, or someone for that matter…" Tara sighed as she walked over to a nearby bench.
"Did something happen, Tara?" Ron asked, following her. "You did go to the party, right?"
As Tara sat down on the granite bench, she nodded. "Let's just say that it wasn't anything I thought it was going to be." She started, "Bonnie told me that she met a guy who was interested in me and we got along, don't get me wrong. Maybe I gave off the wrong impression, but he then wanted me to go upstairs with him. He said he had something to show me. That 'something' turned out to be…" She shook her head. "He said he wanted me to just play with it, 'It's not like it's going to hurt anybody,' He said. But I knew what he meant. I got nervous! I know that it wouldn't be my first time, as Josh took my virginity. But it was like, 'What happened to the nice, sensitive guy I was just talking to?' So I told him no, and that's when he got angry."
Tara shook her head, tears beginning to come from her eyes as Ron listened on. He has had those feelings when something bad would or have already happened. Unfortunately from the way Tara was feeling right now, this would be another one of those times… "He grabbed me by the strap of my top as he placed his hand on the hem of my skirt! He then grabbed my panties as he tried to pull them down. I asked him, I begged him, I cried for him to stop, but he just wouldn't! He called me a tease! He said that I was putting on a 'goody-two-shoes' act and that I should just show what kind of a slut that I really am and put out. It took a stiff kick in the balls to get him to stop. But that wasn't what hurt me the most.
"When I told Bonnie about what happened, she was furious! Actually, she got pissed. But not at that pervert who basically tried to rape me, but at me for screwing up all of her hard work she had to do to get me a 'decent guy!' She told me how I embarrassed her and how I should just leave before I caused the both of us even more embarrassment."
"Typical…" Ron muttered to himself. Of course leave it to Bonnie to worry about how things will affect her and her reputation other than more important things such as her so-called "best friend" almost getting raped. It was apparent that he wasn't the only one who had a best friend who was being seen in a different light. From what Tara was saying, it was as if Bonnie would rather want Tara to get raped instead of worry about her well-being if it meant more popularity and fame. Add that to his current frustration with Kim and you could clearly say that he could not wait to leave Middleton. Now that he thought about it, Kim and Bonnie were both alike. They're both the most athletic girls in school! They're highly popular and total retail snobs. Did he mention that they were hypocrites as well? They're against doing one thing one minute and they're doing the other the next. But enough about the two women who he'll soon leave behind! And honestly wouldn't care if he ever saw them again. There was a more important issue at hand…
"Tara, are you going to be okay?" Ron asked as the platinum-blonde buried her face into his chest as she cried. Cried for the possible loss of a best friend who she thought cared about her! Cried for the fact that she was violated! The only thing he could do was pat her on the back, comforting her. "It'll be okay…" He softly said to her. "It'll be okay…"
"No it won't…" She mewed back as she proceeded to cry her blue eyes out. "When word spreads, I'll be the biggest laughing stock in school. Hell, I'll be lucky if I'm still more popular than you, Ron. No offense."
"Whatever…" He simply said. He was done with the so-called food chain. If he wasn't popular here then so what! It's not like he was going to come back anytime soon. Perhaps in LA he'll actually get some respect. So far, Tara was the only one out of the cheerleaders he'll actually miss. As for Kim? He was basically washing her hands off of her at this point. If they were still friends, fine. But if they weren't, he wouldn't be too broken hearted over it. He's been feeling that the end was near since Prom Night, started to confirm it after the argument over Rufus' death, and now expecting the final nail in the coffin, tomorrow. Oh well…at least now he could savor the moment of holding a cheerleader close to his heart right now, despite the current circumstance of course. As much as possibly two friendships were going south, this could possibly be the start of a new one.
Later that night
As the two were walking home, Ron and Tara appeared to be in a more positive move. They were talking about a lot of things, their deceased pets, post-graduation plans, a name for the baboon (Tara still suggested Marcel, if not Bubbles.) just to name a few. They've managed to get along so well. At the vet, at the cemetery, even now! They each wondered why they didn't bother to get together and become friends sooner, but kept that question to themselves as they already knew the answer. It was all about the food chain, the food chain which controlled who people talked to, and how people were treated. Thankfully, this would no longer apply, as when graduation comes, that ridiculous cycle would be abolished.
"So that's your big secret?" Ron asked, eyes wide at hearing this revelation.
Tara nodded shyly. "I like spraying whipped cream on top of my popcorn! Can't knock it until ya try it!"
"It's nothing compared to putting marshmallows on top of hotdogs, but that sounds tasty, too!" Ron smiled until he stopped dead in his tracks. Tara noticed her company's lack of movement, in body and mouth, as she then realized the source of, Ron's sudden sadness! She then asked, "Ron, what's wrong? It's just a simple tree house right?"
Ron had just realized. Out of all the paths they took to come home, they just had to take the one where the tree house, that same damned tree house that served as a revelation to him. A revelation that Kim already had a life without him planned, while Ron was struggling to break the news to her about his plans. To say that he felt betrayed was an understatement. "It's not just a tree house…" He finally said. "It was our tree house. Kim and I used to spend a lot of time up there growing up. But then when I and this little guy here…" He petted the monkey on his head. "Went to the tree house to think, I saw Kim and Eric there, talking about their plans at Yale. The fact that it was after I had told her about my feelings for her was a slap in the face. It wouldn't have hurt so much if it was before I realized that I even had feelings for her!" He sighed. Before he was deciding how he was going to break the news to her, now he wondered if she'd even notice if he was gone. Just what the hell happened between the two? Or did the unlikely friendship last so long that the fact that they were very different was starting to catch up with them?
"Do you think Kim and Eric are gone now?" Tara asked, breaking Ron from his thoughts.
He nodded, "Of course! It is getting kinda late." After he said that, he saw Tara making a run for the tree house. Nobody was supposed to be there, right? But what if Kim and Eric were still there? How would that look: Him and Tara seeing Kim and Eric at the tree house! Of course assumptions and accusations will be made.
"Ron, aren't you coming?" The bubbly-blonde called out in her usual perkiness. At least she was in a much better mood now. Ron liked her a lot better when she was happy. Put Tara with anyone and she could cheer them up in no time. Nevertheless, he went over to the tree house, with the monkey following behind as he quickly climbed up. By the short time Ron made it inside, he saw that Tara had already made herself comfortable.
"Now I can see why you guys were up here when you were kids!" She smiled as she lay back on the hard wood floor. "It's nice! I could spend the night here, if I really wanted too!"
"Yeah, we had some good times up here." Ron sat across from her in the lotus position. The nameless baboon took a seat near the window as he watched the two blondes talk for what may be for the last time. Tomorrow, everyone would go their separate ways and began their own paths. Some will be left behind, but will not be forgotten.
Ron took a deep breath. He was savoring this moment being inside of the tree house because this would be his last. Honestly, he didn't even want to be in this tree house, but Tara had to come up there, and he wasn't going to leave the poor girl alone, wasn't he? Maybe he could have one more good memory from this place…
"What are you thinking, right now?"
Ron was taken from his thoughts as he saw Tara smiling at him. "Come again?"
"What are you thinking, right now?" She repeated. "After all, save for our nameless friend, your alone, with a girl, in a tree house. Just what are you thinking about?"
"Well… I'm just thinking that it's just two friends hanging out." Ron admitted.
"Is that what you really think, Ron?" Tara began to crawl towards him, a bit seductively. "Are you sure that you're not thinking about… something else?"
"Uhh…no m'am, I'm not thinking about anything else." Ron nervously said, as he and Tara were directly face to face.
Tara sighed, "Okay…" She leaned her back to a wall. "You're not like the other guys."
"Tell me about it! Girls won't even look at me!"
"I mean, usually guys would be busy making their first move already."
Ron blinked. "…They actually do that?"
Tara nodded, "Remember that the next time you attempt to be bad. Not like that last fiasco!"
"Oh right…" Ron rubbed the back of his head. He remembered the time when he tried to become a bad boy to appeal to the ladies. After all, girls love the bad boys, right? Too bad it went south and out of control. Mostly due to the attitudinator, but still it was no good.
"Soo…" Tara asked as she placed a hand on Ron's thigh.
"So…" Ron saw said hand as he began to sweat a little. No girl has ever even tried to do that with him. Well, this day's been basically a day of firsts, hasn't it? The first time Ron really took a look at his life. The first time he actually took what, up until now, he had feared the most to the hospital. He also began to look at Kim in a different light. He noticed the hand move up closer. These "firsts" weren't stopping now, weren't they? Just what's with Tara? Wasn't she just distraught over almost being raped?
Ron sighed, he didn't understand women. He never did and he'll probably never will. If he did, maybe he would've kept quiet. However… "Umm…Tara?"
"Hmm?" She answered innocently.
"What are you doing?" He had to ask. He just had to ask…
Tara quickly moved her hand away. "Oh nothing…nothing…" She tried her best to reply innocently, but it wasn't working. She sighed. "Ron…"
"Yeah Tara?"
"Let's do it!" She simply said. "Let's do it right now!"
Ron blinked. Let's do what? Let's do something like, play a game, or was it when she said "Let's do it" She meant doing IT?
"I'm serious! This is the last night of us being seniors. Tomorrow, we graduate." Tara said. "And I decided on something!"
"…On what?"
"Bonnie…" Tara shook her head. "She didn't even care at all! I was about to get raped, and all she cared about was how she would look in front of her friends! If she cares about herself and her appearance more than our friendship, fine with me."
"And what does this have to do with me?"
"She says you're a loser! And what better way to get back at her than to sleeping with, what she calls, the biggest losing froob of all time! No offense."
"None taken. I said it before, and I said it again: Bonnie Cock…er…Rockwaller needs to get her head out of her ass." Ron looked at Tara. "No offense."
"None taken. And besides,have you ever wanted to knowhow it feltlike to sleep with a cheerleader?"
"I dunno…"
Tara sighed. "Don't worry, there isn't any strings attached."
"I'd probably still take responsibility if it happened. That would be cold to just leave you alone with a child."
"You're sweet…" Tara smiled at him as she went to lean up against him. "But are you sure, you don't want any? This is another chance…"
"While you are very attractive, Tara." Ron said to her. "I had my chance with you, and I, as much as I don't want to admit this, blew it. Besides, even if we did go along with it, it would interfere with our plans after graduation. We're already going on different paths and the last thing we need to do is something that'll throw a monkey wrench into them."
"But…" Tara sighed. "Could we…at least make out, if we can't go further?" She asked. Ron had to admit, this was more PG level. But it wasn't having sex that bothered him. It was the fact that he was basically taking advantage of a girl who just had the worst night of her life. That wasn't very cool at all. As much as just about every part of his body screamed to pull off her boots, pull down her skirt, pull up her shirt, and have his way with her, he would've felt very guilty afterwards if he did.
On the other hand, making out wasn't as serious as sex. And Tara did need someone to be with her for the night, as opposed to staying at home alone without anyone to talk to. "Well, I guess it-" His mouth was stopped by Tara's as Ron felt her tongue go into his mouth. Obviously, he didn't know much about kissing, but decided that it was best that he went along with it. How's this for a graduation present: His first kiss. As the two slowly lay themselves on the floor, their lips still intact, the blondes continued to kiss throughout that night…
The Next Morning
As the birds chirped, the rays from the sun shined onto Ron's face as he slowly began to wake up. As he adjusted to the not-so dark tree house, he saw Tara was still fast asleep, head leaning on his chest. As Ron moved a bit, Tara too began to stir…
"Mmm…" She moaned as she turned to see Ron. "Morning already?"
He nodded as Ron noticed that he wasn't wearing a shirt. That was when he started to sweat… "Uh oh…"
"You just took it off, Silly!" Tara assured with a smile. "It was getting a bit warm up here." She took a closer inspection of his shirtless torso. He was toned, but he was no Brick Flagg. Still, he did look somewhat of a potential hottie. Maybe the missions he went on actually did some good for him after all.
"Man…I'm starving…" Ron admitted as he took a look at his watch. His eyes went wide when he saw the time. "CRAP!"
"What is it Ron?" Tara asked with a concerned look on her face.
"It's 11:30! Graduation starts in 90 minutes!" Ron informed.
"Oh no…" It was now Tara's turn to panic. She had a lot to do in so little time. Her clothes, her hair, just to name a few things.
Ron glanced at the monkey, who had a confused look on his face. "Why couldn't you had waked us up?" All he did was just give an innocent smile as Tara quickly slipped on her boots.
"I'll see you at graduation!" She said to him before making her exit as Ron quickly put on his shirt.
"You'll have to stay here for a while, buddy!" Ron said, then stopped for a moment. That was it! "Buddy!" "How does 'Buddy' sound for a name?"
The baboon gave a chatter of approval as Ron sighed in relief. It may have been in a quick spur of the moment, but at least he got one thing done.
"I'll be back in a bit, Buddy!" He assured as Ron exited the tree house, now making the not-so long dash home. Leaving the newly-named monkey now known as "Buddy" all alone…
Now before any of y'all send me angry emails, no, this is not going to be Ron/Tara. Maybe in another story, but not this one! Next chapter it's graduation! What kind of drama will happen? Find out next time.
