A/N: Welcome to Attack of the Killer Bebes. It won't be this chapter, but Andrew meets his dad for the first time in a long while. Only, as I'm sure you know, Drakken is far from his future self. It's going to be an interesting adjustment period for more than one person, especially once the truth comes out. I'm hoping I can get another chapter up before the announcement of the KP Fannie Awards. It's been an honor being nominated, and even if I don't win, it's still something that will bring a smile to my face down the road.
Before we begin, I'd like to thank all the people who followed or favorited so far. You have been an inspiration to me. Thank you, Jesus Christ, as well, for giving me this gift and helping inspire those who read my work. Okay then.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kim Possible. I only own the Plot and the OCs, one of which made her only appearance in the prologue.
Ron Stoppable knew how important this meeting was. This meeting would determine the direction Ron took for the rest of his high school life. When the guidance counselor called his name to talk about extra-curricular activities, Ron knew that the moment of change had to be now. Now he had to slowly distance himself from Kim. Now he had to slowly branch out of his old shell and become who he was when he was a Monkey Master. Now was the time to embrace Zorpox and start the catalog of changes that would change the town of Middleton forever. Now was the time for action.
"You need to start thinking about college. You need to start getting involved in an extra-curricular activity," Ron's guidance counselor began.
"I know," Ron admitted. "I just don't know what path I want to choose. Is sports the right path for me or is something like cooking or chess club? I just don't know."
"Well, I strongly recommend that you start trying to figure that out," Ron's guidance counselor said. "Figuring out what you want to do know will help in the future. Think it over for a few days and then dive in. I sincerely recommend starting now. College creeps up faster than you can anticipate it and with your subpar grades, you need the extra-curricular activities to help out with college."
Ron nodded, thanked the guidance counselor for the information, then exited the room. As soon as the door closed, Ron's shoulders slumped down against the wall and he exaggeratedly moaned, "My life is so over."
Ron and Kim arrived at Bueno Nacho with Ron pretending to be in a depressed mood. He ignored the smell of seasoned meat, grease, and cheese as he ordered two burritos and a couple of soft drinks for him and Kim. Ron sat down in his usual booth, yet refrained from eating just yet.
It must have been obvious to Kim that Ron was bummed out as she asked Ron how his guidance counselor session went. Ron relayed what happened in the session but made no move to eat. "Ron, turn down the drama and eat," Kim ordered as she opened her napkin. She was wearing her cheer uniform and obviously didn't want to get it dirty.
"Not hungry," Ron mumbled. He noticed Rufus going for his burrito and stopped him. "Hey, hey, I'm going to eat this later. What am I going to do, Ki—KP?" Ron managed to avoid shivering in discomfort over Kim's nickname. He seriously needed to stop freaking out over Kim's nickname.
"Well, let's see," Kim began, using a fork to cut into her burrito. "The guidance counselor said you needed an extra-curricular activity."
Ron sighed. Seriously, who used a fork nowadays? Burritos were finger foods. Messy and awesome. "Yeah, cause of college applications. Who cares about college applications? It's just a way to brag over which student slept the least," Ron voiced.
"There are plenty of teams and clubs out there. You could join the Mathletes."
"I'm so not there yet. I'm hardly getting a D average in math," Ron pointed out.
"What about the debate team?" Kim suggested.
Ron shrugged. He honestly didn't know if he wanted to join the debate team. All it consisted of was arguing one point of view over another.
"After school activities are great," Kim boasted as she grabbed her pom pom from off the table. "Like cheer squad for me."
Ron's eyes widened and he straightened himself up as he realized that this was the first step to stopping Kim the Yono's rise. And it also didn't hurt that there were many attractive female athletes. "Cheer squad!"
Kim recognized the look and tossed her pom pom aside. Inside, she was totally freaking out. However, Kim knew there wasn't anything that could stop Ron from trying out. "For me, not you."
"Trust me, Kim. I can do that! I'm upbeat," Ron said.
"Do what?" Kim hesitated, hoping Ron wasn't going to do what Kim thought he was about to do.
"Cheerleader!" Ron chuckled as a thought crossed his mind. He didn't want to scar Barkin and the others for life, so he decided to choose a different path. "Well, scratch that. I don't want to scare the entire school. But I will show up." Ron grabbed his burrito and sighed when he noticed Rufus's head sticking out of the burrito. "Just as well." Ron set the burrito down, excused himself and headed back to the register to order more food.
Kim sunk her head into her hands. Ron joining the cheer squad? This could not be happening. Her eyes caught a hint of blue and Kim looked up and saw Andrew Shen for the first time in two weeks. Kim only knew what Mr. Barkin told them: that he was originally born in Japan but transferred to the states at an early age. Other than seeing him a few times at school, that was it. She also needed to find out his connection to her best friend, Ron. Kim had seen Ron shake his head at Andrew, and from the few limited interactions between the two, the two somehow knew each other.
"Andrew, hi, I'm Kim Possible," Kim greeted as she extended a hand toward Andrew. "So how's school?"
Andrew smiled as he shook hands with Kim before his smile turned into a frown and he apologized.
"What are you sorry about?" Kim inquired as she took her hand back. "I might be able to help."
"I just...forgot something," Andrew confessed sheepishly as he raked a hand through his hair. "I had a piece of paper with your name on it, but I didn't bring it. Hey, Ron."
"Hey, man. You've come to see the glorious Bueno Nacho, have you?" Ron greeted, opening his arms in a grand gesture and turned to reveal the entirety of the restaurant. "What do you think?"
"It's okay. Not somewhere I see myself hanging out every day though," Andrew admitted.
"You wound me. Kim, don't you have cheer practice?"
Kim shrugged and nonchalantly suggested that she could cancel her practice on the pretense of school work. Ron stared at her incredulously, but before he could comment, Andrew piped up, "No, go to cheer practice. I'll see you some other time."
Kim told Andrew he was more than welcome to watch and a smile broke across her face when he agreed. The smile still lingered on Kim's face as she offered to buy Andrew something from Bueno Nacho. The smile dropped when Andrew refused. However, Andrew made a valid point when he mentioned that they only knew about each other from school.
"That being said, maybe in a couple of weeks I could take you to dinner," Andrew offered.
"Oh, clearly you haven't heard about my dad's strict policy of sending people to outer space," Kim pointed out. "So if you can survive a couple of dinners with him, then we'll see. I might just be too busy," Kim teased.
Andrew gave her a mouthwatering smile as he informed Kim that she'd make time for him.
"Really?" Kim asked, her eyes raised in amusement.
"Oh, yes."
"Okay then, Mr. Confident. We shall see," Kim stated, her eyes gleaming at the hint of a challenge.
Ron grabbed some Bueno Nacho for home and said goodbye to his best friend, pleased that Kim and Andrew were going to be friends in good time. This would help down the road and allow Ron to hang out with people other than Kim. Ron knew he wouldn't mind spending time with Monique and Tara and the other cheerleaders. This time around, Ron wasn't going to let Kim's jealousy take control of his life. If Kim didn't like Ron doing something, like cooking, then that was on her. The Ron-Man was in charge of his own life.
Dr. Anne Possible was home when Kim arrived home from cheerleading practice early. As soon as she stripped out of her outfit and changed, Kim headed downstairs and greeted her mother. The teenage heroine had some major news to share.
Mrs. Dr. Possible briefly looked up from reading out of a medical school book to glance at Kim. As Kim was silent, Kim's mom knew she needed to start the conversation. "How was school?"
"Fine," Kim hedged. "Ron made a new friend back when he was in his haircut period and I know I don't know him or anything but I was wondering if he could come over for dinner in a few days."
Mrs. Dr. Possible closed the book she was reading and turned her attention to Kim. "I'm sorry, did you say a he? What's his name?"
"Andrew Shen. He was born in Japan but moved here when he was young."
Mrs. Dr. Possible hid the smile from her face as she said she would talk to Dad and let her daughter know. "Well, what else is new?"
"Guidance counselor stuff, which is so not the drama, and then, ugh!" Kim groaned as she remembered Ron's declaration at Bueno Nacho. "Ron, he might be the death of me. When I mentioned after school activities and how I do cheerleading, he…" Kim paced the kitchen floor back and forth, the floor feeling grateful it was made of wood and had no carpet. "Ron is going to try out for cheerleading. Cheerleading! My life is so over!"
Kim wasn't sure why, but her mom found it 'cute' that Ron wanted to be a cheerleader. Kim did not want that to happen. That would ruin High School for her.
"Mother," Kim exclaimed in exasperation, "boy bands are cute. Brown bear backpacks are cute. Ron in a cheerleading outfit, not cute!"
"He'll wear a different outfit, won't he?" Mrs. Dr. Possible inquired as she dialed her husband's work number.
"Knowing Ron…" Kim trailed off. If he dressed as a ballerina on Halloween as a five-year old, he likely would wear what Kim and the other cheerleaders wore.
"Hi, hon. Pizza for dinner. What do you want on yours?"
At his workplace, Mr. Dr. Possible took his attention off of the rocket and leaned back against the rocket launch button. "Hmm...toppings. Well, you know I love bacon on pretty much anything." Somehow during the phone conversation, he did not hear the emergency alarms signaling the rocket would launch soon. "Okay. See you in 30 minutes or less. Oh." Mr. Dr. Possible turned and saw that the rocket was gone, the only evidence it was ever there being the billowing smoke on the road. "Got to go." Mr. Dr. Possible hung up and was typing in the coordinates to the rocket he launched when his phone rang again. "Hello?"
"Hey, Possible. Bob Chen," the voice on the other end greeted. "Listen, did you launch something over there?"
"On the Q.T., Bob. The prototype G-6 rocket. Went up like a dream. Too bad it wasn't supposed to launch until next week though."
"Lean on a button again?" Bob asked, amusement reaching over the phone.
"Roger on that Bob." Bob inquired about the reunion, which Dr. Possible admitted he wouldn't miss it. Dr. Possible winced as he glanced at the screen. "Ouch. Looks like the military is scrambling around my rocket. Better hop off." Mr. Dr. Possible ended the call and went to fix his present situation.
"You cannot allow this, Kim," Bonnie Rockwaller stressed inside the girl's locker room. All the girls, with the exception of Tara who was out sick, were dressed in their uniform and unwelcoming to the idea of Ron trying out for the squad.
Kim reached down and grabbed her shoelace. As she was tying them, Kim looked to Bonnie. "Bonnie, I'm as freaked out about this as you are, believe me," Kim stressed. "But there is no rule that says Ron can't try out."
"Check the calendar. This is is not Befriend-A-Loser week!" Bonnie snapped on behalf of her and all the other cheerleaders in the room. "You get a pass from bringing that Japanese guy to practice because he's not that bad looking and chances are he's going to play a sport. But Ron, absolutely no stinkin' way."
"First of all, it's Andrew Shen and not Japanese guy. Second, Ron is just...different." Kim wasn't sure how to explain it. Speaking of Ron, he showed up just then, hands over his eyes, and asking the squad if they were ready to boogie. Their only response was to shove a door in his face.
"Kim, get that loser out of here," Bonnie ordered, making no effort to leave the locker room at present.
Kim sighed in exasperation at Bonnie's antics, but exited the locker room. She spotted her best friend and soon to be cheerleader – hopefully not – on the ground next to all the pom poms. He wore a Middleton Mad Dog sweater and cargo pants, seemingly warm clothes for whatever audition he was about to try.
"Where's the squad? I'm pumped!" Ron boasted as he pumped a fist up in the air.
"They, uh, take a long time to get dressed," Kim lied, not wanting to throw her entire team under the bus. She paused before launching into her doubt. "Ron, are you totally sure you want to be a cheerleader?"
"I'm not going to be a cheerleader, don't worry, Kim," Ron admitted. "I'm going to be…" Ron paused as he reached behind him and donned a Mad Dog head mask over his face. "the Middleton Mad Dog Mascot. Fight! Ruff ruff!"
"Where did you get that mask?" Kim wondered as Bonnie exited the locker room behind Kim.
"I made it with my Movie Makeup Magic kit," Ron revealed, stepping aside to show Kim a kit with movie makeup and other various props. Kim grabbed two of the masks and examined them. One of them was a mask of some bestial monster and the other was of Bonnie Rockwaller.
"I'm impressed...and disturbed," Kim pointed out.
"Why did you make a face of me, freak?" Bonnie accused as she stormed over and snatched her face mask out of Kim's hands.
"Part of it was to tick you off," Ron revealed. "Plus, as much as I hate to admit it given your behavior towards me, anyone with eyes can see that you're one of the prettiest girls in the school."
Kim and Bonnie stared in slack-jawed amazement at Ron's bluntness. "I'm sorry, you said Bonnie was one of the prettiest girls in the school?" Kim clarified.
"Without a doubt. Now, check this out." Ron placed the mascot face mask on and shook his head like a dog. "Mad Dog foams at the mouth." Foam shot out of the mascot's mouth and landed on both girls, Bonnie getting most of it.
"Kim!" Bonnie snapped.
"Ron!" Kim yelled.
"The crowd will eat it up, trust me. It's banana cream," Ron supplied.
"Yum," Kim deadpanned.
"Banana!" Rufus cried as he ran over and scurried up Bonnie's body and onto her scalp in an effort to eat as much of the banana cream as he could.
Bonnie managed to grab a hold of Rufus' tail and threw him back to Ron, stating that the foaming at the mouth idea was idiotic and that everyone at school would laugh at him. She kept pointing that fact out, despite Ron's effort to say otherwise.
"Whatever, Bon-Bon," Ron stumbled.
"Hey, freakish loser, you do not get to call me that!" Bonnie snapped.
"Ron, I...I kind of agree with Bonnie," Kim admitted, ashamed she felt that way. However, it just didn't seem practical. Surely, there was no way they would like Ron's silly halftime antics, right? Plus, foaming at the mouth? Scary.
"Oh. Oh, I see. Sorry, Bonnie. You should take up swimming," Ron suggested with a grin in his eyes.
Bonnie recognized the lust in his eyes and shouted, "Why you freakish pervert! Come back here!" She then proceeded to chase Ron out of the gym.
Kim sighed. This is not how she saw Ron's tryout going.
At home, Kim Possible sat on the ground reading a magazine while her dad read today's newspaper. She glanced back and forth at her dad and wondered if he had any advice on how to apologize for not standing up for Ron. Her dad generally answered questions involving Ron and nobody else. Knowing she should not show up empty handed, Kim looked up from her magazine and said, "Dad, I have a problem."
Mr. Dr. Possible didn't look up as he turned the page and said, "Your Mom and I say it's okay to invite this Andrew guy for dinner."
"That's great, thanks, but this is about Ron."
"Oh." Mr. Dr. Possible set down the newspaper and turned his attention to Kim. "Gotcha."
"Everyone got down on Ron for wanting to try out for the cheer squad, me included. He decided to be the mascot, only when he looked at me, I didn't stick up for him. I agreed with my archnemesis," Kim revealed, wishing this didn't bother her as much as it did.
"And why did you not stick up for him?"
"He was foaming at the mouth! I'm only human!" Kim argued.
"Well," Mr. Dr. Possible couldn't exactly fault his daughter for that, "back in college, I had a group of friends, my posse if you will. It was the night of the big science department mixer…" He then recounted a story about his friend, Drew, making robotic dates for their dance. He, Ramesh, and Chen laughed in their friend's face.
"Drew dropped out and we never saw him again. I don't think he ever forgave us, and in some small way, maybe we never forgave ourselves," Mr. Dr. Possible finished.
"For just a giggle fit?"
"Oh, no. We laughed for days. Long and loud, with youthful abandon," Mr. Dr. Possible said, not looking at all guilty for that.
"Oh, that was bad," Kim decided, flicking a strand of hair off her face.
"So you'll reconsider Ronald's dream?"
Kim paused briefly before she admitted that she didn't think she would, as the routine was way stupid. Mr. Dr. Possible looked skeptical but didn't comment further. Instead, he switched topics to what the family would be serving for dinner the night Andrew arrived. As he and Kim listed possible options, Mrs. Dr. Possible listened in and reminisced about the first guy she ever dated in high school.
A/N: Well, that's all he wrote for now. I will try to get part 2 up next week, but if I can't, that's just how it goes. I'm off to binge read Unstoppable Flash and read part of Mahler's Beyond the Stars. Hopefully, I'll see you back next week.
