Kim was done crying. She had been crying in her room for a week straight when her father didn't allow her to leave the house, so it left Kim in her room to wallow in self-pity. She recently made the decision not to let other people have the satisfaction of bringing her down. She was going to be stronger. The week of solitude gave her time to really think about who she was and what she wanted out of life. She didn't want anything she originally thought she wanted. Marriage wasn't a priority any longer. Kim felt she needed to do something with her life other than be a wife and mother; she wanted to be someone and she couldn't wait to show the world who Kimberly Ann Possible really was. Her confidence began to diminish as she was told to head down the stairs by Monique. Monique had been very quiet with her, making Kim uncomfortable because she thought they were friends. If Monique was judging her, then perhaps the day would be left with nothing but ridicule.
As she descended the stairs to greet their guests with her parents, Kim recalled the Rockwaller's being invited, which meant Bonnie would most definitely be at this social event; she never missed anything where she could pick up some gossip. Kim never really cared for Bonnie's incessant gossiping and she tended to ignore it. Unfortunately, Kim realized she'd probably be the target and she wasn't prepared for it.
Kim looked up at Monique who stood at the top of the stairs while Kim was now at the bottom. Olive eyes met brown eyes, and Kim nervously pressed her lips together. She needed some assurance from Monique—that everything would be fine—but it wasn't going to happen. Monique broke eye contact first and adjusted the basket of laundry on her hip before she walked away. Kim knew the day was going to be horrible, and she could only hope it wouldn't be as bad as she anticipated.
Kim smoothed out her blue skirts as she took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself. She met with her parents and stood with them. She was going to ask where her brothers were, but she figured they were already out back and in charge of greeting guests as they made their way to the buffet of food that was provided. The Possible's didn't throw such sophisticated barbeques like the Mankey's, but they always had an afternoon of good food and fun for a couple of hours.
Kim's parents only nodded when she stood beside them. The carriages began to arrive. Kim felt hyper-alert when the first family stepped out of their carriage. It was Tara's family, and the girl smiled warmly at Kim, which meant word hadn't spread to her. Kim's nerves calmed after another family arrived without any sign that they knew what Kim had done at Josh Mankey's estate. Kim looked up at her mother, and Ann smiled at her daughter, silently telling her everything would be fine.
That was until the Rockwaller's carriage arrived next. Bonnie's parents were greeted by Kim's parents while Kim had to welcome Bonnie and her sisters. "Well, hello, Miss Kimberly. This is such a nice day, is it not?"
"It is nice not to have the sun blaring down on us for once," Kim replied, remarking on the fact that it was overcast. It felt like it would rain, but Kim didn't dare correct her father on the weather when he claimed it was the perfect day to have company over. It was much easier to agree with him and just go along with it.
"Yes," Bonnie agreed. "Perhaps we won't have to undress to cool off, will we?" Kim's smile fell immediately. "See you soon, Miss Kimberly," Bonnie chuckled as she caught up with her parents and sisters. How on Earth did Bonnie know? How did word even spread to her? Kim felt a shiver go up her spine; there was no way Bonnie wasn't telling Tara and the others. She was going to be ruined.
A blur of people arrived, Kim faking happiness until the Gordon carriage was pulling up. Kim's mother put a hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "If Miss Gordon is in there, I find it in your best interest not to associate with her today." Kim nodded even though the idea that the only person who wouldn't judge her for her actions had to be ignored. It was for the best, Kim decided, because then maybe nobody would believe Bonnie. Perhaps she wouldn't have had the influence to take her clothes off at the Mankey's estate twice because she had a feeling Bonnie knew about both incidences.
Despite not being able to spend time with Shego all day, she hoped she'd step out of the carriage after her oldest brother. Her heart beat wildly in anticipation when she watched Henry hold his hand out and slim fingers accepted his escort. Shego stepped out of the carriage as any woman of class should. When they approached Kim and her parents, Henry apologized to Kim's parents how the rest of the family was unable to make it. Shego stood in front of Kim as her brother schmoozed with James.
"Where have you been?" Shego whispered as the two faked being perfect, idealized women.
"Long story, but I was not allowed to leave the house," Kim replied.
"Sneak away with me after lunch," Shego ordered, but Kim shook her head rather than get excited about the prospect.
"I cannot."
"You have a lot of explaining to do," Shego said as her brother took her arm to escort her around back. James accompanied them since he thought Henry to be the perfect gentleman. Leave it to Shego's family to be the last to arrive.
"Kimberly," Ann said and took her daughter's arm as she slowed their pace to make sure they were out of James' earshot. "If you know what is best for you and this family, you will not be seen with Miss Sheila Gordon today."
"I understand."
"If you are not seen with her, then perhaps these rumors will go away," Ann explained.
"You know these aren't rumors," Kim replied and kept her gaze towards the blades of green grass.
"They don't need to know that," Ann replied curtly. Kim simply nodded and agreed with her mother so her home life wouldn't continue to be miserable. The week she was under lockdown was painful, and the little freedom she had was stripped away. "Kimberly, listen to me," Ann stopped and turned Kim towards her by taking her shoulders. "Look at me." Kim obliged. "You are forbidden to speak to her again today, do you hear me? Her reputation will destroy you."
"Then why does everyone invite her to their parties?" Kim countered.
"Because her brothers are well respected. She did not attend these functions until recently. Please stay away from her." Her mother was actually holding back tears, her blue eyes blinking rapidly to hold them back.
"Yes, mother," Kim sighed. She didn't need to see her mother cry.
When Kim reached the back of her oversized house, she noticed the group of teenaged girls she usually would sit with and, ironically, gossip. She also saw Shego not amongst them, but at her brother's side. Kim knew the raven haired beauty would find a way to sneak off after lunch, and Kim desperately wished she could go with her. She longed to go over to Shego, take her hand, and run off towards the abandoned peach trees her parents never cared for. Her wants were not what she could have, and Kim's legs carried her to the familiar benches where her "friends" sat.
As Kim approached them, she heard Tara shush everyone to be silent. Bonnie smirked at her, and Kim knew the deed had been done. What did her parents think would happen? Why didn't they just cancel the neighborhood get together until the whole ordeal blew over? Why couldn't she have just stayed in her room to avoid this very scenario? Heart racing, Kim sat down anyway and nervously rung her hands in her skirts.
The silence was more troubling than the whispers. Kim was faced towards the ground, but she could feel all eyes on her, imagining the smirks from the other girls. If she looked up, she'd see that she was correct in her assumptions. "Miss Kimberly, how are you today?" Bonnie asked in a sickly sweet voice that didn't usually belong to her. "Your friend, Miss Sheila, is over there. Care for her to join us? Well?"
"No," Kim shook her head. "She isn't my friend."
"Oh my," Bonnie faked shock. "I could have sworn I saw you two being intimate at the last barbeque."
"Intimate?" Kim finally looked up at Bonnie in confusion.
"Why, yes. That is why you undressed together, is it not?" Bonnie continued. The other girls were giggling except for Tara, who was too timid to stick up for Kim and would rather be an onlooker. She didn't blame her since Bonnie could be very cruel. She didn't want Tara to be ridiculed on her behalf.
"I am confused," Kim tried.
"Stop playing games," Bonnie snapped. "I saw you with my own two eyes! Why are you pretending like it never happened?" Apparently, Bonnie couldn't keep the act up for long, but the other girls didn't seem to care as they looked at Kim in shock, as if they weren't really believing Bonnie until her outburst. "You took your clothes off with her, and I bet it wasn't the first time, was it not? You climbed a tree! And then you had to take your skirts off and straddle a horse in front of that poor stable boy and get him fired."
One of the girls, Hope, grabbed Kim's wrists roughly and turned her hands over. "Look at her hands!" she said quietly. "It's true! It's true!"
This was when it went silent again, the girls looking at one another in confusion. Kimberly Ann Possible, model daughter, was actually disgraceful! The girls didn't want to cause a scene since they had their own reputations to uphold, but it didn't stop them from gasping in shock occasionally when they felt Kim's hands. Despite everything going on around her, she couldn't stop thinking that she got Ron Stoppable fired from his job, something he was good at. He seemed to be knowledgeable about horses and working for someone like the Mankey's was probably a dream come true. He was sending money back to his family. What was his family going to do now?
Kim ruined Ron and she hated herself for it.
It didn't matter what she did anymore. Kim knew she didn't belong in this small town of people who couldn't see past their noses. She knew she had to get out before she ruined someone else she cared for. Leaving was the only way she felt she could redeem herself; Kim had to do something with her life, and she wasn't going to do anything by staying here.
Kim stood up, disregarding Bonnie and the others around her. She didn't want to be around them anymore. Deciding to be done with Bonnie and the rest felt liberating. She eyed Shego, but knew it wasn't the time to be seen with her. She'd see her after lunch when she could sneak out when she was supposed to be napping. Bonnie may follow her again, but that didn't matter to her. What did matter was being able to see Shego and beg to run away with her.
Running away from her problems probably wasn't the answer; however, Kim felt she needed to run away if she wanted to become someone. Kim stood beside her mother and decided to spend the party with her because if she did run away, she wouldn't see her again for a long time.
Ann was obviously pleased with her daughter and how she acted with the other adults. Perfect little Kimberly Ann Possible was someone everyone loved, adored, and wanted. Even Bonnie's mother had a tendency to whisper to Ann that she wished her Bonnie would be more like Kimberly in the fact that she was complacent and did what she was told. "Bonnie is desperately trying to be a leader with those girls," Mrs. Rockwaller complained to Kim and Ann. "She should not be trying to lead them around when they are all equals. I have spoken with her time and time again. She will ruin herself when she becomes too bossy. No man wants a bossy wife to push him around."
"Perhaps being a leader is what makes Miss Bonnie unique," Kim replied sweetly. She had no idea why she was defending Bonnie when she should be silently celebrating in her head that she was better than her. Was Kim really better when she herself was different, too? Maybe Kim should be celebrating Bonnie's unique bossiness instead of thinking of her as something less.
"Miss Kimberly, you truly have a gift to see the goodness in everyone. I knew the moment I heard of those rumors that they weren't true in the slightest. Someone must be very jealous of you," Mrs. Rockwaller explained. "Ann, I truly am sorry that these preposterous rumors of your daughter started up. I have been telling people they are naïve to believe such ridiculous lies."
"Why, thank you," Ann smiled genuinely. "When we first heard of them, Kimberly was just so upset. We are thankful to have friends such as yourself to set the record straight."
"It is no trouble at all," Mrs. Rockwaller replied and smiled at Kim. The redhead smiled back weakly because she felt somewhat guilty that the rumors were very much true, and she was receiving unnecessary sympathy from the adults. Mrs. Rockwaller had a great reputation among their communities, so Kim had a feeling she'd persuade everyone not to believe the rumors. This was somewhat of a relief in case Kim decided she wanted to stay and live in her small town.
"Thank you," Kim answered.
When it came time to eat, Kim wished she could eat as much as she wanted without a care in the world. She'd have a little bit of everything. The abundance of food was always so tempting, especially the Italian bread one of the neighbors brought to every gathering. She longed to slather butter all over the bread, devouring it until she couldn't eat another bite. Instead, she added just a small piece to her plate with a dab of butter to get the taste, but never having enough to satisfy her craving.
Kim's breath hitched when she noticed Shego was standing right in front of her on the other side of the table. The older girl smirked as she took three of the largest slices of the Italian bread and put it on her plate after she buttered them generously. Kim glared at her and noted Shego's corset must not have been as tight as it normally was. She must have loosened it slightly for the occasion to eat more than a normal lady should. She watched Henry try to grab a slice of bread off of her plate, wanting to keep up appearances, but Shego didn't allow him to and smacked his arm. She didn't need to look to know everyone was staring at the girl with too much chicken, too much sweet potatoes, and too much salad on her plate. Jealous, Kim sneaked another small slice of bread on her plate before she made her way to the table where her mother sat.
Lunch was dull. There was no other way to describe it. Kim had to pretend to be interested when everyone around her was so boring. If she had more food, she could have at least kept herself busy with enjoying it. She looked over at Shego who was working on her last slice of bread; the people at her table were giving her strange looks, and Kim admired how Shego simply didn't care.
"Disgraceful," Bonnie whispered in Kim's ear. "But that is what you are attracted to, is it not?"
"Stop, Bonnie," Kim whispered as she averted her gaze. She looked Bonnie in the eyes and said, "I am not associating myself with Miss Sheila, so please listen to your own mother and realize the rumors for what they are."
"My mother may not see right through you, but I do, Miss Kimberly," Bonnie promised.
Kim was going to respond, but the men declared lunch was over, and they were going to go into her father's study for drinks and cigars as they always did. The women, meanwhile, were expected to go lay down for a nap. Bonnie still expected to get a response, but received none when Kim stood up from her chair and went to her own bedroom. When she got there, she noticed many cots set up to accommodate for the other young women around Kim's age. The other girls weren't far behind her, chattering amongst themselves and excited to finally be away from the adults. Here, the girls had the opportunity to talk without much care, and did not need to be mindful of their elders. Here, the girls could freely tell which boys they liked before climbing into bed.
For the first time, Kim didn't participate in the chatter. She was silent, which seemed to further convince Bonnie these weren't lies. When Bonnie mentioned this, the other girls began to ask why Kim was so quiet. She simply shrugged after Monique finished helping her into her underclothes. Tara whispered to the others that Kim may just be upset about the lies being spread about her, and as her friends, they could have been more supportive rather than just believing them. Kim smiled to herself; leave it to Tara to try and see the good in people.
As Kim crawled into bed, she wondered why Shego wasn't sharing the room with the teens. She was going to ask Monique where she was, but the darker skinned girl had already left. Kim recalled she said she'd meet up with Shego after lunch, so she waited until everyone went to sleep. Although she knew she should stay in bed and sleep, Kim had this indescribable itch to get out of bed and go find Shego.
Kim slipped out of bed and put on a robe against her better judgment. The risk of getting caught was thrilling! She crept out of the room, through the halls, and passed her father's study. Kim made it outside without being seen. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, Kim ran when her feet touched the dirt and the sharp blades of grass. She easily spotted Shego sitting under a tree in the distance, carelessly pulling each blade of grass one by one. She looked up when she saw Kim and stood. Shego didn't care to put a robe on.
"What am I doing?" Kim laughed, but out of the ridiculousness of the situation. There wasn't anything funny about this. "I shouldn't be out here! I should be in there!"
"Sneaking out was fun, though, wasn't it?" Shego asked.
"I want to be here," Kim said as she paced back and forth. "I wanted to see you and talk to you. But my mother suspects me, and thinks the rumors about me are true."
"Stop pacing," Shego demanded. Kim obeyed. "What rumors?"
"They don't exist because it's really all true. People know what happened to me."
"At the Mankey's?"
"How do you know that?" Kim asked quickly.
"Please," Shego scoffed. "Everyone knows. The difference is they care, and I don't."
"I got the stable boy fired!" Kim cried.
"And nobody cares about that," Shego replied curtly. "These people only care about themselves. That boy was obviously not in a high social class. Look, people know whatever happened is true, but they don't want to believe it because they don't want to see Miss Kimberly Ann Possible go off of the deep end because she's perfect."
"I am not!" Kim stomped her foot as if she was a child. She crossed her arms and glared at Shego who only rolled her eyes. "I am far from perfect! Just look at me!" Kim gestured to herself in her robe and her bare feet that were covered in dirt. She held her hands out for Shego to see how rough they had become and how unladylike they were.
"Listen, Pumpkin," Shego snarled and slapped Kim's hands away from in front of her face. "What do you want? Hmm? You want to be like the rest of them and only good for poppin' out as many boys as you can? You want to have nothing? You want to be nothing?"
"No," Kim sniffed. Her voice seemed quieter to her compared to Shego's raising volume with every question she asked. "I want more than this, but I can't have more unless I run away and hope my parents don't follow me!" Kim let her voice get louder to match Shego's.
"You don't have the guts to leave," Shego hissed. "You'll be stuck here forever, which is a shame because you are capable of so much more than this!"
"I may hate this life. I may hate myself for never leaving it. I am just not as brave as you, Shego. I won't survive on my own. I don't even know where to go, and I don't have money, and…" she trailed. Through her unshed tears, Kim looked up at the older girl for a moment and studied how strong she was in order to put up with the ridicule from everyone else. Kim felt she was weaker and more vulnerable to the world around her. She threw her arms around Shego and just stood there. She waited for Shego to push her away, but in this rare instance, she did not. Instead, she hesitantly put one arm around the petite fourteen year old and let out an annoyed sigh.
"I knew it!" Bonnie Rockwaller exclaimed as she approached Kim and Shego with Jessica and Hope. The three girls were in their robes and probably put something else over their underclothes to remain more modest. Kim's eyes went wide as she pushed away from Shego.
"Fantastic," Shego stated sarcastically. Kim took many steps away from the sixteen year old who stood with her arms crossed.
"You tried to have us fooled, Miss Kimberly," Bonnie glared. "Except me. I knew I saw you with Miss Sheila, and now I have caught you again with witnesses. You're ruined, Kimberly Ann Possible! Ruined!" Bonnie yelled.
"Maybe we should go get her father," Hope suggested.
"Yes," Bonnie smirked. "Maybe we should." The girls ran off pathetically slow, which made it easier for Shego to catch up with them. Kim ran after her, but wasn't fast enough to stop her from pushing Jessica, Hope, and finally Bonnie down to the ground. Kim yelled after Shego to stop when she saw her pinning Bonnie to the ground. Shego had a tight grip, and Kim had a feeling she was going to leave bruises.
"Shego!" Kim panted when she got to the scene in front of her. Bonnie looked up at the emerald eyed girl fearfully because she probably never realized how strong this girl actually was. It was easy enough to point fingers and accusations, but when it came down to it, Shego's brute force outdid Bonnie's little comments that never affected her anyway. "Let her go!"
"Why would I let my catch of the day escape?" Shego gave Bonnie an unfriendly smile. Kim had no idea what that was in reference to, but she assumed someone made up something morbid about Shego, and she had no doubt about it that Bonnie would pass that information along. Kim felt out of the loop for a while, and this was probably why. Bonnie would gossip uncontrollably when Kim wasn't present, so anything could have been said when she wasn't there.
"Let her go!" Jessica's voice shook, making her demand seem weak. She didn't dare leave her spot from the ground. Hope looked like she was near tears.
"I will get a cauldron of boiling water going while I chop you up into little bits. First your legs so you can't run, then your arms so you can't scratch," Shego whispered just loud enough for Kim to hear. "And then goes your head."
"P-p-please," Bonnie stuttered. Kim didn't even think Bonnie was capable of looking so frightened. She had acted scared in the past, but it was obvious she wasn't faking it this time.
"Now you are starting to believe your own lies about me, aren't you?" Shego cackled, throwing her head back in glee. Kim didn't even notice Hope slipped away to get help, one of the men being Shego's oldest brother and the other was Kim's own father. Henry yelled at his sister and got behind her. He grabbed her around the waist and tried to pull her up. She squirmed, digging her nails into Bonnie's flesh. The brunette cried out in pain and fear.
"Get off of me you demon!" Bonnie yelled, resulting in Shego spitting in her face and finally releasing her grip. Shego elbowed her brother in the stomach hard enough so his grip loosened, and she was able to slip out.
"Screw all of you!" Shego yelled. "She had it coming!" Shego grabbed Kim's wrist. Kim didn't hesitate to start sprinting away with her. James yelled at his daughter to come back to him this instant, demanding her to face the consequences. Kim laughed with Shego as they ran away; they were too fast for the rest of them.
Throughout the whole incident, Kim couldn't help but feel excited about how Shego stood up to Bonnie just like that. It wasn't like Shego beat her up or anything, but she did give her a taste of her own medicine when she messed with the wrong person. Watching Shego's fluid movements as she escaped her brother who had to be twice the size of her. She must have been strong if elbowing her brother in the stomach was enough for her to get away. "You must teach me how you managed to do that," Kim panted when Shego finally stopped running. Shego's breathing was deeper than usual, but Kim wouldn't classify it as panting; she wanted to have the stamina Shego possessed.
"Funny, I thought I would have offended you," Shego said evenly.
"We absolutely must run away from here," Kim smiled cheekily. "Right now," Kim said and grabbed Shego's hands in her own. "Right this second." The smooth tops of Shego's hands would have fooled anyone. They were so smooth and her nails were somehow well manicured. Kim knew the bottom of her hands were rougher than her own, and she admired that. Sheila Gordon was a strong, independent individual. Kim longed to continue to learn from her. She needed to learn how to stick up for herself. Considering how easily she escaped from Henry, Kim knew Shego knew how to fight. The rush she got from simply watching Shego take down Bonnie was thrilling; she couldn't imagine the rush she'd get by taking someone on herself.
"You seriously want to run away with me?" Shego arched a brow.
"Yes! I'm sick of it here. My father already has it in for me, anyway, so why not leave?" Kim queried.
"You don't care about leaving your home, your parents, your whole life?"
"No," Kim shook her head. "Besides, if I stay, I do not think I will carry the same reputation I once held. I'm finished here." It didn't matter to her anymore. Monique didn't really care for her all that much lately, and she never got along with her brothers. The tension she had with her parents was going to be strong after today. Nobody would want to marry someone who was associated with a renegade, and simply allowed said renegade to hurt another girl who had a strong, positive reputation.
"If you're serious, meet me by the peach trees in a week with a bag packed. I'll think of a plan to get us out of here for good."
"You mean it?"
"Tell you what, if I don't mean it then I won't be by the trees in a week."
"Fair enough," Kim shrugged, but she knew Shego would be there to escape their small society together.
There had been a time when Kim desperately wanted to kiss Josh Mankey. Now, Kim desperately wanted to kiss Shego, and she had no idea what that meant.
Hope you don't mind a really long chapter! Again, thank you to everyone who continues to read, review, follow, favorite, send PMs, etc. I love the feedback I'm getting. Keep it up!