A/N Thanks to Eddy13 for beta checking this story, and to everyone who takes the time to read and review.


Kim Possible: A Monkey's Tail

Chapter 7: Better Than A Boyfriend


Saturday. Ron woke up with a groan, wondering what mischievous things his best friend had planned for him today. His first instinct was to roll back over and go back to sleep. His second instinct was to get up and just start running, hoping that he could get away from his best friend. Finally his conscious mind won over-just barely-and he groggily got up from his bed, noting that he was alone in the room.

The next thing he noticed was that he had a sore bump on his forehead.

Wondering what had happened the night before, Ron slowly exited the guest room, making his way towards the kitchen. He had a few vague memories about the events that had transpired the previous night, and as his muddled mind slowly cleared, he suddenly became frantic.

Kim! He'd left her alone, awake last night! Who knew what had happened to her since then. The blond rushed into the kitchen, sliding to a halt on the floor as he looked around. Kim's father was sitting at the breakfast nook, a paper in hand as most mornings; her mother was working on breakfast, and by the smell Ron guessed it was pancakes. What was surprising, though, was the well behaved monkey sitting on a chair, banana in hand, eating away. The teen blinked and scratched his head, finally realizing that there was no impending doom on him, or the monkey.

"Good morning, Ronald." Mr Dr Possible spoke from behind his paper, barely budging; Ron wondered how the rocked scientist knew he was up. Shrugging slowly, the teen mumbled out his own good morning to both Possible parents, before taking his seat next to Kim. He looked over at her, and she smiled back, joyously, leaning over to give him a hug before she went back to her banana.

Anne stepped forward, placing a plate in front of the hungry teen. "So, Ron, what do you have planned for today?"

The blond blinked, looking down at the plate, then back at his friend's mother, before finally starting to eat. "Well, um, I guess we might go to the mall, we can see a movie or something, just walk around. I mean, how much trouble can we get into at the mall?"

X X X X

"Kim! Kim, KP, let go of the banana. It's not real, it's not really a banana. I'll get you a real one just as soon as we go." Ron looked up his best friend, feeling a certain amount of dread.

Yet another store at the mall that was about to ban him.

Finally making some more motions, he got his best friend's attention, and she clambered down off the large, plastic banana that made up the store's display. The blond breathed a sigh of relief as he carefully picked her up, then turned, making his way out of the store, away from the cashier who was giving him a decidedly dark stare.

Outside, Ron looked around, breathing deeply. "Okay, that could have gone better." He looked down at Kim. "Are you going to get me kicked out of every store in the mall? First the toy store, with the bouncy balls, then the bookstore and all those shelves full of books...and why exactly did you go into the music store?" He continued talking, not even noticing that Kim was no longer listening.

Instead, the monkeyed teen was focused on something entirely different. In the center of the courtyard, she spotted two people talking. Under normal circumstances, she would have paid them no more mind than anyone else at the mall; but a closer inspection revealed that one of them was her rival, Bonnie...and the other was Josh Mankey. He stare turned into a glare as she watched the evil cheerleader move in closer to her crush.

I can't believe it! What's she saying to him? I'm sure she's up to no good, she never paid Josh any mind before I said that I liked him-she's even said herself she prefers bigger guys, sports stars, someone high on the food chain. Josh is mid range at best, not that the food chain matters to me. I can't just stand here and watch! The monkey started growling, low, as she gave her rival the dark glare.

Ron, surprised to hear Kim growl, looked down at her, then followed her gaze. His eyes widened as he realized what his best friend was looking at. "Bonnie's making a pass as Mankey, isn't she? Well, we'll stop that, won't we Kim?" He grabbed her hand, quickly pulling her off towards the two teens; Kim just followed automatically, still surprised that her rival was trying to steal her...well, not boyfriend, but her crush.

The blond quickly sidled up between the two talking teens, butting Bonnie backwards as she gave a small exclamation of surprise. Ron presented Kim to Josh, putting a hand on her back as he spoke to the other teen. "I know that last time I said it was Kim, but it wasn't, but this time it is." He nodded downwards. "Wouldn't you rather spend some time with this lovely lady instead of that barracuda you were talking with?"

"Hey!" Bonnie snarled.

Josh looked down at the monkey, then back up to Ron. "Dude, are you trying to set me up with a monkey. Again?"

Bonnie, still angered at the earlier comment, slipped around Ron and wrapped her arms around Josh's arm, pulling him in close. Kim growled low under her breath as she saw her rival digging her claws in. Her body tensed as she glared at the brunette witch. Better watch it, Bonnie, or this is one monkey that's going to go ape on you.

The snarky teen grin widely at Josh, winking at him like she was telling a big secret. "You know, Josh, maybe you should date the monkey." The artist looked at her like she had lost her mind. "It'll probably be a step up from dating Kim, wouldn't it?" She purred and rubbed her hands up and down his arms. "And then you can trade that ball of fur in for a real woman." She batted her eyes. "...Like me."

The teenage painter blinked twice. Bonnie, queen of the food chain, top of high school pyramid, was asking if he wanted to date her. He didn't even have to think about it, as he quickly reached over and grabbed her hand, smiling back at her. "You really want to go on a date?"

"Oh, I thought you'd never ask." She beamed up at him, then looked over at Ron, who was still glaring at her. "Just tell me what you think of Kim."

Josh swallowed, looked at Ron and the monkey, then back at Bonnie. "She's a snobby, stuck up, goody two shoes glory hog, and her best friend is a loser-freak." As he spoke, there was no hesitation, and just as soon as Bonnie got the answer she wanted, she smirked, flipped her hair at the blond teen, then headed into the theater, Josh in tow.

Ron had to clench his hands to keep from charging after the two retreating teens; he may be used to people belittling and mocking him, but anytime someone said something about Kim, he couldn't stand it. He looked down at the monkey in front of him, and realized that after the outburst, she seemed smaller and more fragile than ever before. He quickly went down to one knee.

"KP...Kim, I'm sorry, I know how much you liked Josh, but he isn't worth your time, especially not if he's willing to do whatever Bonnie says." He rubbed his hands through her fur, whispering lightly, as she finally looked up at him. She leaned her body upwards and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in close, hugging her best friend tightly.

X X X X

Kim was completely devastated. Josh, she'd started to think of him as her Josh, had abandoned her for that manipulative witch. She hadn't realized until now just how much she had liked Josh, just how much she had been crushing on the teen, wanting him to ask her out, or even ask him out herself, anything to go out with the golden boy. Now she knew he was nothing more than fools gold, a cheap, useless bauble.

She realized that she had never felt lower in her entire life. Being rejected like this, not just because of what happened, but because her rival had stolen him away, was a serious blow to her pride. It didn't help that she felt guilty as well, as she realized the lengths Ron had gone through, not only in supporting her, but in actively trying to help her, even though he had said more than once that he didn't like Josh. She thought about the 'hottie' and felt her heart ache.

Why? Why is it never easy for me, getting dates, seeing people, going out with boys. Is it my freak fighting? She shook her head as she thought back to the other boys she had dated or liked. Maybe I just can't find the guy for me, maybe he's not even out there. He thoughts darkened as she thought about what she had heard about some of the other boys in the school, like Bobby Johnson. Or maybe all guys are just scum.

Kim's eyes darkened further as she shrunk in on herself. Nobody likes me, likes me for who I am. How could I ever hope to find a guy that's willing to put up with the things that I do, all my activities, my saving the world, none of them would even put up with me, even stand to be around me. I just feel so alone, I don't know anyone worth dating. She curled her arms inwards, almost missing Ron bending down to talk to her, whispering to her, comforting her. Kim turned her shining eyes up to look into Ron's brown eyes, as she slowly reached for him.

Then again, maybe there is one guy that I know I can trust, one man that I know won't hurt me, that will love me for what I am. I don't need a boyfriend, or even a date.

I just need Ron, my best friend.


A/N I apologize, this chapter is a little shorter than my last couple, but it's probably the most important so far. I generally write until I hit a stopping point, and this felt like a good point to end.

Well, Kim's a step closer to figuring things out, but not quite there yet. Still a few more chapters to go, though, and she's a quick learner.