Later that day, Middleton Medical Center.
"Seriously KP I'm fine."
"How about we let Mom decide that ok?" Kim countered as she drug Ron along by the hand.
"I thought your mom was a brain doctor though."
Cue eye roll. "Neurosurgeon Ron yes, but she's still a doctor."
Defeated, all Ron could do was be lead along the halls of the medical center. The place smelled of disinfectant and coffee. Why was there always the smell of coffee in hospitals he wondered?
Coming to the office of one Dr Ann Possible, Kim knocked on the door while keeping a firm grip on her nervous friend.
"Honestly Ron I don't see what the big deal is. It's just Mom." placing a hand to her hip as they waited.
Ron rubbed his brow, shaking his head slowly. "Poor sweet KP. You just don't get it."
"Enlighten me." though she was sure this would be anything but enlightening.
"Your Mom, great though she may be as the creator of the brainloaf..."
Kim suppressed a shudder of revulsion.
"...is still a doctor. Doctors have needles! Needles Kim!"
"Needles?" lifting one perfect brow high.
Ron nodded. "Sharp ones."
Pressing a finger to her temple, Kim blew out a sigh. "Oh boy. Ron we face death rays and lasers on almost every mission. Why do needles bother you?"
The door opened to reveal Ann wearing her white lab coat, holding a clipboard to her chest.
"Hey there Kimmy, Ron, what brings you by?" asking as she nodded to a passing colleague.
Still not letting go of Ron's hand lest he make a dash for it, Kim gestured with her free hand towards the freckled fellow.
"Ron took a pretty hard fall at school during cheer practice and I'm worried he might have injured himself."
"Which I didn't." throwing his own two cents worth in.
"Will you tell him that he needs to be checked out Mom?"
Ann stepped aside and waved them into her office. "Let's talk about this in my office and you two can explain everything."
Several minutes later and Ron found himself standing before a seated Ann while Kim finished the story.
"So he landed on his back? Was it more towards his upper or lower back Kimmy?" the doctor in her surging to the surface after hearing about the earlier events.
Kim rolled her head to the side in thought, "Hmm...I'd say he hit pretty close to right on his shoulders."
"Ladies I swear there is nothing to worry about." Ron tried in vain to escape the needles he knew were just out of sight. "Come on if I were hurt you know I'd be making a huge deal out of it."
Pausing the notes she'd been taking, Ann looked over at her daughter. "He does have a point Kimmy. You sure that you aren't overreacting." She was quite aware of Kim's over protectiveness towards Ron.
"So not happening!" said with all the teen snark the young lady could muster. "You weren't there Mom. Ron landed hard trust me. He also had Tara's weight added in too."
Sheepish grin firmly in place, Ron quickly muttered. "She's not that heavy at all, sorta nice actually."
Sporting a little smirk, "I'm sorry Ron did you say something?" Ann asked.
"Nope." hands twisting nervously.
"Alright then." setting aside her notes Ann swiveled her chair to face away from her desk so she could get a better look at Ron. "I'll need you to take your shirt off so I can have a look at your back." her professional demeanor fully active now.
Ron blinked, looking at the two Possible's, who were both looking right back at him. It was just a little bit unnerving how similar the two of them looked. Kim's mom was just an older, wiser version of his best friend, but with shorter hair.
"If I must." he griped, pulling the red sports jersey over his head, "The things I do in the name of friendship."
"Please and thank you." added Kim smugly.
Holding the jersey in one hand, Ron stood waiting for the needles he knew were coming. Oh he just knew it.
Pointing with one manicured finger, "Both shirts Ron if you please." Ann explained.
Looking down at the mock turtleneck he still sported, Ron sighed. "Fiiiiiine."
Ron grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled it up and over his head, instantly goosebumps covered him as the cold air of the room hit his bare torso.
Ann had glanced over at her notes for a moment before turning back to her would be patient. "Now just turn around I'll..." she paused, staring in surprise.
Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, Kim had a similar reaction at what she saw. "...whoa..." she breathed out the word.
To his credit, or lack there of, Ron had no idea what was up. He just stood there holding his shirts and wondering why hospitals were always so cold. You'd think they'd want to keep the sick people warm after all. Didn't make a lick of sense to him, but he wasn't a doctor so who knew. As the silence in the room stretched on he became acutely aware of it and started to get worried. Twisting his head this way and that, he looked himself over.
"Is something wrong? Something's wrong isn't it?" in true Ron fashion he began to get paranoid. "You see something don't you? Is it bad? Tell me it's not fatal!"
Ann Possible had known Ron for most of his life. She considered him a part of her family, a third son even. She'd watched him grow from a little boy full of imagination and fears into a young man full of...well the same, but never in a million years would she have expected the sight that greeted her when that second shirt came off.
Ron wasn't what you would call buff by any means. He certainly wasn't ripped in the way one might imagine when that word was used either. However the lean corded musculature of his frame was far removed from the scrawny if not pudgy build the good doctor had been expecting. The boy survived off junk food after all!
Chiding herself, Ann put her work face on. "Thank you Ron. Now turn around and lift your arms out. Stop if you feel any pain at all."
Shuffling around, Ron put his back to them and did as he was told. "How long do I have to live doc?" still thinking the worst.
Kim watched her best friend since Pre-K lift his arms, noting every ripple along his back. He didn't have broad shoulders, not really, but when he wasn't slumping she had to admit that Ron was far from the wimpy looking guy that fit so neatly into her image of him. In fact she could make out every muscle of his back as they moved under his skin. He wasn't a hard body, but he certainly was...hold up! Just hold up! Shaking her head, Kim fought to clear such thoughts out with a quickness. So wrong! So so so so wrong!
"Mom I think I'm going to go...and, ugh...Soda!" she so wished a hole would open up and swallow her whole right now. "Going for a soda. Be back soon." with that Kim made her less than graceful exit in a rush.
Ann stifled a chuckle, managing to keep a professional mask on with the greatest of efforts. She hadn't expected her daughter to react like. She and Ron had been close for so long and what with switching bodies that one time, as hard as that was to believe, well she would have thought the sight of a shirtless Ron wouldn't hold anything new for her.
"Ron I must say I'm surprised." Ann said, rolling her chair closer to begin her exam.
"Oh no you're surprised!" he wailed. "I'm doomed aren't I?"
This time she allowed herself a little chuckle. "No Ron you aren't doomed. Just relax." she said in her most soothing voice. Patients liked the soothing voice. "Now I'm going to probe your back and you tell me if you feel any pain alright?"
Huffing, he nodded. "Ok. Do your worst." screwing his eyes shut.
With care she began at his lower back, letting her fingers and thumbs roam across the muscle groups, looking for any swelling or knots along the way. She didn't see any bruising and so far had detected nothing out of the ordinary, which was good.
"So you saved the day?" making small talk, Ann progressed further up with her examination.
"Y-Yes!" Ron squirmed, fighting against the urge to dive out the window, still sure the needles were coming any second.
"Well I'm sure Tara is glad you did. From how Kimmy described it, the poor girl could have been seriously hurt if you hadn't done what you did." pressing her thumbs along the back of Ron's shoulders as she spoke.
For the moment at least, Ron forgot about the deadly needles. Instead he replayed the events of before as he remembered them. "I didn't really think about it. I mean yeah I didn't want Tara getting hurt, but it's not like I had a plan or anything. I just sorta, you know...reacted I guess."
"Well good job Ron." proud of her extra son, Ann smiled. "Ok now I'm going to pull back on your shoulders and I want you to lean back as far as you can, but don't fall. Be sure to tell me the moment you feel any pain."
"Can do Mrs. Dr. P."
Ann gripped his shoulder's firmly and began to pull them back. Ron did just as he was told and bent back into the pull. This continued until Ron was bent back so far that Ann was greeted with Ron's upside down face. To say she was taken off guard was an understatement.
"This far enough?" he asked, completely at ease standing even as he was.
"More than enough thank you Ron." rolling her chair to the side a bit she observed his posture. "You aren't in any pain?"
"Nope. Just doing what you told me."
His sense of balance was great, which belied his clumsy nature she thought. "Ok stand back up please."
Like a snake uncoiling, Ron brought himself up straight, arms still stretched out. Ann couldn't help but notice the way his torso curved in all the right ways as his core flexed so that he could right himself. He may not have a six pack, but there was definitely strong muscles at work. Getting to her feet, she walked around to face him.
"Now move your arms up, as if you are going to touch the ceiling."
Doing as he was told, Ron grinned. "Jumping jacks next?" he was starting to think maybe the needles wouldn't show up if he passed this exam with flying colors.
Grinning at his little joke, she shook her head. "Not today Ron."
"Cool. I hate exercising." he said with frown.
"Really?" she couldn't believe that. Not with a build like his. Honestly his shouldn't be in this good a shape she reasoned. Where food was concerned Ron was a black hole, so she had expected him to be at least pudgy around the middle. "Well you seem to be in great shape considering that. Ok now arms forward, try to reach the wall behind me."
"Can do." and he did.
Ann found herself with Ron's arms on both sides of her now, straight out and reaching for said wall. A few things became clear to her then. One was the surprising fact that Ron was taller than her. When had that happened? Second was that his chest was the most defined part of him and the way it was flexing as he pushed his arms forward only made it all the more defined. Third and perhaps the most alarming was that she felt quite small and out of place right now, as if Ron were invading her space, dominating it in a way.
"You ok Mrs, Dr. P?"
Taking a step back, she nodded. "Just fine Ron...nothing to worry about. I was just thinking..."
"About what?" genuinely curious.
"That we are done here!" clapping her hands together. "Indeed we are done. So you can get dressed and I'll just go let Kimmy know everything is fine."
Ron started to pull his mock turtleneck on, his voice muffled. "Thanks! You're the greatest!"
"Alrighty, well...I'll just go. Come out when you're ready Ron."
Ann stepped out of her office, leaning back against the door as she shut it. Get a hold of yourself woman. He's more than half your age and you are very happily married. Then again as a physician she knew that certain physical reactions were normal and completely out of one's control. Yes that was it exactly. Nothing but normal human reactions to a stimuli and nothing more. Was it hot in here? Did somebody turn down the air conditioning?
"Mom?"
Her daughter's worried voice brought her back to her senses. "Yes Kimmy?"
The teen couldn't help but think her mom looked a bit off. Were her cheeks flushed? "How's Ron?"
"Oh he's fine." she said wistfully, "I mean he's healthy!" she quickly corrected. "Very very healthy."
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Later at Bueno Nacho.
Kim was regretting her offer to buy Ron food to make up for dragging him to the hospital. Already three nacos, two large burritos, and an order of nachos had vanished into the void known as Ron's stomach and he didn't look to be slowing down any time soon. She could not wrap her head around it. The sheer amount of calories not to mention processed ingredients he was ingesting should be wreaking havoc on his body, but from what she'd seen in her mom's office it was the exact opposite. He didn't even have bad skin! So unfair she griped silently. If she even looked at desert she felt like she'd gained five pounds. Not that she had anything even remotely close to a weight problem what with all her extra curricular activities, missions, and working out on her own, but still...so unfair!
"You know KP, you should listen to me more." said around a mouthful of cheese and what the menu proclaimed was beef.
Chewing the bite of her taco salad she rolled her eyes. "Just because you were right this one time."
"Hey I'm right a lot of the times." declared before taking a grumpy gulp of his soda. Ron then went back to destroying his fourth naco with no mercy. The horror! The humanity!
Kim looked away from the massacre before she lost the will to finish her own food. Spying a friendly face she waved. "Monique!"
The shapely African American teen sauntered over and slid into the booth next to Kim. "Hey girl!"
"What about me?" Ron asked with a mouth full of naco. "No love for the Ron man?"
Monique grimaced at the sight of mangled food. "Tell you what. Start eating like a human instead of a garbage disposal and I'll consider it." she teased.
Pursing his lips, Ron grumbled a bit, but went back to devouring his food.
"What's up Monique?" Kim asked, making an effort to avoid looking at the fast food destruction.
The dark skinned beauty leaned in close, all grins and wide eyed. "Word is our boy here went all Superman in the gym today. I had to get the scoop from the source. So spill girl!"
She should have expected this sooner or later Kim thought with a wry grin. "More like Cookie Monster if you ask me." pointing at Ron who was stuffing the remaining half of the naco into his mouth all at once.
"You mean Naco Monster." Monique quipped.
Both girls broke into giggles.
Swallowing with great effort, Ron turned his nose up and crossed his arms. "Mock me all you want, but a man can't help but enjoy a good naco."
Leaning forward, hands flat on the table, Monique eyed Ron with a speculative look. "So did you or did you not snatch a certain cheerleader right out of the air? Demanding divas want to know!"
Smoothing out his shirt with a self satisfied smile, Ron beamed. "Sure did. I was totally badical if I must say."
"Oh please, only if you must." Kim added with an eye roll.
"The word is there were some sparks too." Monique winked.
Kim held up both hands. "Hold up. Sparks?"
Monique nodded in excitement. "My sources tell me that after our boy here gallantly risked his own life to save the damsel in distress that a certain blue eyed hottie found herself all flustered in his arms right here on the gym floor!" her words more of a squeal towards the end.
Ron, who had been gulping his soda, almost choked. Kim pushed her salad away, her appetite gone for sure now. "Trust me there were no sparks." she said even as she wondered why her friend's words were bothering her so much.
"Yeah what she said." Ron added, pounding his chest with a fist to force the soda down.
Monique leaned back, confident in the gossip her network had gleamed. If anything worth noting happened at Middleton High then she knew about it, often so fast that many wondered if she had secret cameras and microphones planted around campus.
"So you say." cutting her eyes over to Kim, "Though you weren't the one Ron saved Kim, so maybe you don't know what I'm talking about."
Waving her hand in small circles dismissively. "Oh please. Ron has saved me plenty of times. No sparks."
"Really?" the dark haired beauty shouldered her friend playfully. "Not even once after a little too much Ronshine? Girl you can tell me."
"Hello? We're talking about Ron here." Kim objected.
"Hey I'm right here KP!" sheesh he thought, knock a guy down why don't ya?
Turning on her sweetest smile, Kim looked at Ron. "We're best friends is all I'm saying. Monique here is just fishing for anything she can, gossip wise. Clearly she's an addict."
"Girl I can quit any time I want. I just choose not to." defending herself with a glint of mischief in her eyes.
Just then somebody approached the table causing all three sets of eyes to look up. It was Ron who reacted first by standing up quickly.
"Zita?" his voice cracked, much to his dismay.
Leaning in close to Kim, Monique whispered. "This is gonna be good." she was already gleefully ready for some juicy gossip concerning these two former love birds and she was not going to miss her chance.
Zita stepped right up and hugged Ron tight, which he returned. Putting some space between them, but keeping her hands on his arms she smiled. "Hey Ron. It's been a while."
Flinching a bit, Ron offered what he hoped was an apologetic half grin. "Yeah it has huh?"
Kim sat silent, just watching the exchange like a hawk. Zita Flores, aka Ron's first girlfriend, oh yes Kim remembered her. Ron had been all over himself about her and had gone to great lengths to get her attention. The real shock had been that it had actually worked.
Ron gestured to Zita. "Guys you remember Zita because she's unforgettable of course."
Lightly slapping him on the arm, Zita sent a little wave to the other girls. "Hi guys."
"Why don't you cop a seat and join us Z." Monique offered with an almost wicked gleam in her eyes.
Springing into action, Ron stepped aside and offered to let Zita sit beside him in the booth. "M'lady your seat awaits."
Tugging at her hair absently, Zita worried she might be interrupting. "You sure that's ok?"
Kim waved her towards the booth. "Why not? Join the celebration that is all about Ron." sounding less than enthused.
Monique elbowed her under the table and Kim perked up. "I mean please have a seat!"
Sliding into the booth and then joined by Ron at her side, Zita settled in.
"Just passing through or were you after some juicy details about our boy here?" Monique asked with a thumb towards Ron.
Shaking her head, Zita explained. "No, I was just on my way out when I spotted this blond mess here." ruffling a hand through Ron's hair with a little laugh.
"Hey not the do!" but he was laughing too.
Kim rolled her eyes, which did not go unnoticed by the gossip queen.
"So what exactly are these juicy details though?" Zita asked, leaning across the table just as Monique did.
"Well Mr Hero there went and saved one of his fellow cheerleaders from a nasty fall during practice. Swooped in and caught her in full Tarzan mode. Can you believe it?"
"Oh I can believe it." Zita affirmed. "Ron's just that kind of guy."
Kim had to admit that the dark haired girl was on the mark there. "Yeah for all his goofball ways, Ron is pretty good that way."
"You know it." Monique agreed. "Even used himself like a airbag. Wrapped himself around her before they hit the floor. They even bounced from what I heard."
Giving Ron an appraising look, Zita asked, "Was anybody hurt?"
Ron rubbed the back of his neck, wondering if he should be soaking up the attention or not. He didn't want to let it go to his head like he had so many times before when he'd been in the spotlight. Well maybe a little bit would be ok he thought.
"Oh Tara is fine. She was just a little shaken up is all."
A knowing grin appeared on Zita's lips. "Oh so it was Tara?"
Monique caught on instantly. "Sure was. The one and only." cutting a look at Kim on the sly.
The red head was not oblivious to what the other girls were getting at. "Yes that Tara."
Ron however was so oblivious it was painful. Looking from one girl to the next he couldn't take it any longer.
"Ok I get the feeling somethings up and I'm not part of it." sounding more than a little put out.
It was Monique who leaned back, resting one arm on the back of the booth while pointing at Ron. "Trust me Ron, you are so part of it."
"So part of it." Zita echoed with a conspiratorial wink at the other girl.
"I am?" Now he was really confused. "I don't get it."
Leaning her shoulder against his, Zita tapped him lightly on his nose with a finger. "Some times I wonder about you." her smile infectious. "Ron you rescued Tara."
"Well yeah. What else was I gonna do? Let her fall?"
"Clueless." Kim sighed, but smiled right afterwards.
"So clueless." Monique added.
Racking his brain got him nowhere fast. Ron couldn't figure out what they were talking about. His dumbfounded look was more than Zita could take.
"Yes Tara! You know the girl who was crushing on you once upon a time Ron." she explained.
As if a light bulb went off in his head Ron sat up straight. "Hey! Did everybody know about that but me? Even you Zita?" looking at his former girlfriend, his lower lip pooched out.
Zita covered her eyes and quickly turned away. Kim and Monique exchanged curious looks.
"You stop that this instant Ron!" doing her best not to laugh. "I'm serious." but she didn't sound serious by any means.
Scooching closer to her, Ron poured it on. "You can tell meeeeeee." his voice imploring in a lovey dovey way.
Monique leaned in real close to Kim, whispering, "Did he just pull a move complete with your patented PDP?
Despite everything she knew about the universe as it existed, Kim had to admit that yes, yes he had. "Who knew he had it in him?" was all she could come up with as she watched Zita figuratively crumble.
"I surrender!" Zita proclaimed. "Yes I knew she liked you ok. Everybody knew." relaxing only when Ron pulled away.
Plopping his head to the table, Ron moaned. "Everybody but me."
With a little frown, Zita reached out and gave him a pat on the head. "Poor Ron."
Sensing the possibility of more gossip, Monique moved in. "Something you want to confess hero boy? Like maybe it's you who's crushing on Tara now? Confess! You got the hots am I right or am I right?"
Head snapping up, Ron gulped. "Hots? Me? Nope. No hots here. You know me Mo! Me and hots so don't mix."
For some reason Kim found her thoughts drifting back to her mom's office just then.
"Ron how many times have I told you to stop putting yourself down?" Zita admonished. "You are a great guy and any girl would be lucky to have you."
That brought Kim back into the conversation. She couldn't help but rest and elbow on the table and point at the two teens sitting across from her. "Wait, then why didn't you and Ron work out?"
Monique looked at her best girlfriend aghast. "Rude much?"
"What?" realizing what she'd said, Kim floundered a bit. "Wait just a minute Monique, if I hadn't asked then you would have." countering with an accusing finger now directed towards the girl next to her.
Opening her mouth to argue the point, but then just nodding with a shrug. "You got me there." Monique turned to face Ron and Zita. "You heard her. Spill you two."
Both teens looked at each other, obviously a little embarrassed to be put on the spot like that. Zita gave Ron a look that asked if she should go first or him? Fully understanding, Ron gestured for her to go right ahead.
"Well Kim, I'm surprised you don't already know. I thought for sure Ron would have talked to you about us. Since you are his best friend and all that."
Shooting Ron a pointed glance. "One would think that wouldn't they, but nope."
Ron pulled at the collar of his shirt, whistling as if he didn't catch on.
Continuing on, Zita explained. "Well it's not like Ron and I weren't good together. He's funny, we had similar interests, I never felt like he would pressure me to do anything I didn't want to do."
That last line had Kim feeling just a bit icky.
"We just drifted apart I guess." looking at Ron to see if he felt the same way.
He nodded. "Yeah it's really nothing major now. I mean I was so into this lady here, but after a while we just knew we weren't meant to be dating."
"So what...you just broke up?" Monique pressed.
"We decided that we never actually dated, but more like hung out all the time. You know like KP and me."
"But with kissing." Zita added just to watch Ron squirm.
"Zitaaaaaaaa!" turning several shades of red.
"Aww I so miss watching you blush." she teased.
Kim had the sudden and overwhelming urge to fight Shego. Yes she needed to punch something right this very instant...hard.
Monique watched the exchange with a smirk. "Maybe there are even more sparks than previously thought."
Now it was Zita's turn to blush. "Wow you really do go for the throat when it comes to gossip." tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear nervously.
With a knowing grin, Monique nodded. "No shame in my game. I call it how I see it."
Ron once again was slow on the uptake. "Huh? Call what?"
"Don't worry about it Ron." rubbing the bridge of her nose, Kim sighed. "Just finish your food."
Now that he understood all too well!
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Later, the Stoppable house.
Opening the front door, key in hand, Ron called out. "Mom! Dad! I'm home!"
The house was quiet, with only the one lamp in the living room offering light. Stepping inside, Ron locked the door and tossed his housekey onto the low coffee table.
"Hello?" raising his voice again.
Passing into the kitchen he flicked the light on and his eyes were drawn to the note on the refrigerator door. Already guessing what it was about, he took it down and read it anyway.
Ronald,
Your father and I had to leave at the last minute. The company's Nevada branch is in a real pinch over some audit nonsense and they need your father to sort things out. Something to do with all those numbers he works with, not that I understand it in the slightest. So we'll be gone for a few days, maybe a week. Don't sleep in, do your homework, and be sure to get enough to eat. You're a growing boy after all. Your father left you some money. You know where to look. Do not waste it at that taco place!
Love, your mother.
Standing in the house he now knew for sure was empty Ron let the note flutter to rest on the kitchen table. He'd only been back from Japan a week...no not even a week. Would it kill his parents to at least let him know before they left or maybe, oh...take him with them? They were always doing this. Just up and taking off all the time. So not cool. He was pretty sure it wasn't good for his mental development either. This could not be a normal family life. It certainly wasn't like Kim's family that was for sure. Her parents would never think to just up and vanish on some business trip and not tell her or the tweebs first. Not for the first time Ron admitted to himself that he was jealous of the great family Kim had.
Leaving the kitchen and switching the light off, he made his way upstairs to his room. Opening his door, Ron found Rufus playing Everlot.
"Hey buddy!" greeting the little pink gamer's attention. "How goes the life of Tunnel Lord?"
Rufus gave a little thumbs up. "hnk! level up!"
"Nice going!" leaning over to look at the screen. "Oh you got the Blade of Bashing!"
Nodding his head rapidly, Rufus dusted his shoulder with a paw, very pleased with himself. Then he cocked an eye at Ron. "late." he accused.
Ron grimaced. "Yeah sorry about that. I had some stuff to do after school and then KP treated me to some Beuno Nacho after that."
"cheese!" Rufus all but screamed, quite alarmed that Ron would go to Beuno Nacho without him.
"Calm down buddy. I didn't forget you." holding up a to go bag. "Two nacos and an extra large order of nachos. With extra cheesey goodness of course."
Forgetting his game, Rufus sprang into action and dove into the air. He took the bag and scampered up onto Ron's desk and threw himself into the bag. The sounds from inside were almost as bad as the ones Ron made when he ate.
Kicking off his shoes, the young man plopped down on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. "Today was interesting and confusing Rufus."
There might have been a questioning squeek from inside the bag, or it could have just been a little burp. Ron chose to assume it was a question and went ahead.
"It's a long story buddy. Remind me to tell you all about it when I'm not so tired." as if on cue he yawned. "Oh I saw Zita. She says hi."
That got the naked mole rat's attention. He popped his cheese covered face out of the bag. "zita!" he chirped happily. "ron...zita!"
"No." Ron rolled onto his side to face his feasting little friend. "Don't even go there. No Ron and Zita." wanting to put a stop to that line of thinking right away.
"hnnk...awww." disappearing back inside to bag.
"It's not like that buddy." scratching the back of his head. "I mean sure she's a great girl. Mad gaming skills. Enjoys a good naco. Sweet...so cute, hot actually...smells great...she's just awesome." Ron's eyes began to take on a far away look.
Rufus waddled out of the bag, his belly swollen, and let out a satisfied groan. He'd heard everything Ron had said and wasn't surprised at all at the dreamy look on the boy's face. Humans sure could complicate the simplest things he thought. "uh huh." came his rather knowing squeak.
"What? No I do not like Zita again." Ron huffed in denial, crossing his arm. "We're just good friends."
"uh huh." same squeak.
"I told you it's so not like that Rufus. I mean yeah I still meet up with Zita online to chat, but its so not what you're thinking." adamant now. "We just bumped into each other at Bueno Nacho and nothing else. Kim and Monique were there too so it wasn't like we were alone."
Rufus shrugged. If Ron couldn't see what to Rufus was so obvious then what could one little naked mole rat do about it? He just didn't understand humans sometimes. Take his friend for instance. Ron was considered a loser, but Rufus just didn't see it that way. He'd witnessed the other boys at school and how they treated his friend. Always putting him down for being at the bottom of the food chain thing. It made no sense as far as Rufus was concerned. Ron was always surrounded by the most attractive girls. He went on missions to save the world. He invented the naco and had gotten rich doing it. How many people could say there were a millionaire before they even got their driver's license? Sure he'd lost it all, but still he had done it. Ron's best friend was one of the most popular and prettiest girls all around and on top of that she was a world famous hero herself. Not only that, but Ron practically took care of himself with his parents being gone so much. Then there was the most recent development in that Ron, yes his friend Ron, was apparently the Chosen One and had been invited to train at a super secret ninja school. Rufus highly doubted anybody else had so much going on, but still they all just over looked Ron's potential.
Especially Ron himself.
No Rufus just couldn't understand humans sometimes. Then again he was just a naked mole rat, what did he know. Curling into a ball he settled down for the night. A full belly had him nodding off within moments.
For his part, Ron was almost in dream land himself when the phone rang. It startled him at first and he fumbled to reach it.
"Hello?" holding the receiver to his ear.
There was a few moments of silence and then a sweet voice spoke. "Stoppable-san?"
"Yori!" he couldn't believe it. He hadn't expected to ever hear from her again after leaving Yamanouchi. His smile was evident in his voice. "Wow it's great to hear from you."
On the other side of the world, Yori could sense the happiness in his words and that made her happy. "It is very good to hear you as well Stoppable-san. I hope it is alright that I have called. I did not wish to wait too long and disturb your night. This is a good time yes?"
Laying back on his bed, Ron folded one arm under his head. "It's a great time."
"I am glad to hear that Stoppable-san." she said softly.
"Ok you gotta stop with the whole Stoppable-san thing. I'm not at Yamanouchi anymore and besides we're friends. Just call me Ron."
He couldn't see it, but she chewed her lower lip anxiously. "Are you sure? It would be my honor to do so."
"Honor shmonor. I use your name all the time. It's only fair right?" he reasoned. "Come on...let me hear you say it."
Her blush was bright enough to light her room. "...Ron..."
"That wasn't so hard was it?" he asked with a grin.
"Thank you...Ron." oh she loved the way it felt to say his name.
"So what's up Yori?" even he knew that calling all the way from Japan couldn't be cheap, not to mention he knew there was a huge time difference. For about a second he tried to figure out what time it was over there, but that started to hurt his brain so he gave up.
Yori took a deep breath. Was this the right thing to do? Yes, it had to be. She simply could not keep this from him any longer. She had to tell him, she just had to.
"Ron I have to say something and I hope you will accept my words no matter how shocking they may be to you." she paused, worry fighting with duty, "Can you do that for me?" It was the first selfish request she had ever made of him.
Ron felt something big was coming and he gave the call his full attention. "You got it." his voice carrying a serious tone.
Closing her eyes, Yori began to speak. As her words traveled around the globe to reach Ron's ears, his eyes began to widen. The more she spoke the more he couldn't believe what he was hearing. This just could not be true he thought...could it?
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Downtown Middleton, hours before dawn.
They were easy enough to follow. The man was loud. Full of himself. The woman was nothing but giggles and flirty. I disliked them both instantly. Just watching them together was upsetting for some reason. They stumbled along, obviously drunk. She was pretty in a slutty sort of way. I did not feel bad for thinking that. He was tall and very sure of himself if the way he kept putting his hands on her was any indication. I had been following them ever since they left the bar. I think it was a bar, not that I have ever been inside one.
"...hic...I tell you Sharon...yer...yer awesome...ya know that?" he gushed, leaning in to nuzzle her neck.
She pushed him off, laughing, but winked. "Oh I know...keep playing your cards right an you'll know how awesome soon enough." she burped, then laughed again.
I was disgusted with her. She was nothing like the other girls, at least not the ones I associated with. She was a tramp. A woman of no worth.
"Oh yeah...why don't you show me?" the meaning in his words very clear.
She turned to walk backwards, impressive considering how drunk she was. "Oh no." wagging a finger in the air. "Not tonight big boy. I said in time, just not this time."
I could see he was not happy with her answer.
"Hey I spent a lot of money on you...lots of drinks...gimme a lil something. Come on...how bout it?" leering at her.
I was now disgusted with him all the more. This was not how a man should behave. He was not worthy of a woman's attention.
She danced out of reach as he made a grab for her, laughing still. Could she not understand that she was making it worse? The way she teased him, leading him on. It made me mad. Very mad.
He managed to catch hold of her hand and pulled her in close, covering her mouth with his. Briefly she enjoyed it, but then she started to push against him. He ignored her and pressed himself onto her all the more. He easily dominated her with his size.
Watching this only made me upset in a new way. One I did not fully understand. They obviously did not matter to each other. There was nothing between them but desire. It sickened me, but at the same time I envied them. I struggled to be accepted. It wasn't easy for me, despite what people might think. It was hard to be myself sometimes, especially now with the changes. It wasn't fair that these two could just stand here in the middle of the street and have this. That they could enjoy this.
The woman finally broke the kiss, shoving at him all the more. "I said not tonight Greg!" her voice rising.
"Don't give me that...we both know you want it...you want me baby...relax. I got this." his words slurred.
"Let me go right now!" there was a tremor of anger in her voice now and she seemed to be sobering up.
He smirked, reaching down to grab her ass. "Not till you show me how awesome you are."
I was more than done watching. This Greg thought he could take what he wanted. Not that the woman hadn't been basically saying as much, but still, now she was saying no and he needed to get that through his thick skull. It was easy enough for me to sneak up on them. They would not have seen me even if I'd just walked right up to them. The smell of alcohol was strong as I grew close. It stank. They stank. I could smell his arousal. My nose crinkled at it. I did not like it.
Sharon had been having a good night all things considered, until now. She didn't normally get this drunk on a first date, but Greg was pretty hot and he had been buying. Now though he was being too pushy. If he'd played his cards right he might have gotten a little something for his troubles once they were back at her place, but now he was out of luck. There wasn't going to be a repeat date.
"I said stop it." the words ground out heatedly.
"Oh I'm not stopping till you're screaming my name ba-"
One second Greg was pawing at her and the next he was gone. Just...gone. Sharon looked around in shock, but didn't see him anywhere. The street was empty, the sidewalk too, in fact now that she was looking around at the buildings and lack of any other people, the neighborhood looked like something out of a bad horror movie.
"G-Greg?" she asked to the air.
A voice from out of sight sent chills up her spine.
"Go away. Now!" it barked.
Without giving her date a second thought, Sharon bolted and never looked back.
Meanwhile Greg found himself sprawled on the ground in an alley not too far away. Pushing himself up he shook his head to clear it.
"What the hell?" taking in the dirty alley littered with trash and a dented old dumpster, he was confused. "How did I get here?"
A figure appeared at the far end of the alley, lit from behind by a streetlight. Raising a hand to shield his eyes, Greg started walked towards it.
"Hey...Hey you seen a woman...kinda hot, nice ass?" his drunken words spilling out.
"She's gone." was all I said to him.
"Gone?" he stopped, swaying a bit.
"I sent her away."
Greg squinted, wait what the hell he thought. It's just some kid. "Look ain't it a little late for you to be out?"
I was not amused. "So."
Drawing himself up to his full height he tried to glare at me, but honestly it came out more like a twitching facial tick.
"Wait a sec...you sent her away?"
Took him long enough. "Yes. I did."
Anger flashed across his face. "Look kid this is grown up stuff ok...so just...get lost."
I narrowed my eyes, feeling the desire to hurt him growing by the moment. This guy thought he could tell me what to do. Sizing him up I could see he was one of those pretty boy types. Got by on his looks all the time. That made me angrier than anything right now. Some hottie who thought he owned the world. I gave him one warning. "Don't tell me what to do."
He pointed at me, snickering. That was a mistake.
"Don't tell you what to do huh?...what?" he staggered a few steps closer. "Ya gonna cry kid?"
I lashed out, my first taking him off his feet. It felt good to hit him. It felt right. I was on him then, pinning him down with one hand to his chest. Every time I hit him I felt better. I felt right. Nobody should tell me what to do. I was tired of it. Tired of doing what I was told, of letting other people decide how I should be. Everybody thought they knew me. They all thought they understood me, but they didn't. There was more to me than what they saw. None of them understood me. None of them really cared.
I hit him over and over. I broke Greg's face. I didn't care. It felt good. This felt good. If only I could be this way all the time. Nobody would ever try to tell me what to do again, nobody. Not even my best friend. I knew she wasn't trying to be like everybody else, but she could be the worst of them. She always thought she knew what was best. Always deciding things for me. She should be the one person who understood me. The one I could rely on and not worry about trying to appease, but it didn't feel that way. It should have, but sometimes I wanted to just tell her that I didn't need her to tell me how to live my life. It was my life. Mine!
Greg suffered because of all of them. When I was done he was wheezing through a broken nose. His face was a swollen bloody mess. I didn't think he would die. I didn't want him to die. I wasn't like that. I wasn't a killer. I was a good person, I was just...I had needs right now. I wanted things. To do things.
I would do things.
I left Greg in the alley.
I felt so much better.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE
I'm so thankful to everyone for their input and interest. I honestly never expected this little challenge of mine to turn out like this. I'm humbled. Thank you.