Secrets
Chapter Four
Mr. Stoppable was shopping. His good for nothing son had the refrigerator full of nothing but corn dogs and pizza. In the cupboards were cans of Vienna Sausages. What did Ron do with all the money he sent him? Eat out everyday? Ron's clothes, he had also noticed, were pretty cheap, not a single designer label to be found. And Mr. Stoppable shuddered, trying not to imagine whatever store he must shop at to get such horrible things. No, Mr. Stoppable was in the grocery store downtown, after all anything you buy is only worth what you pay for. His watch read 4:00pm.
"Have you heard?" A woman whispered, pointing in his direction. The other woman nodded, her eyes fearful. They both looked at him again before turning to leave. His eyes narrowed behind thick glasses.
4:00pm. Kim sighed trying not to think of how many places he could be by now. She had already checked Bueno Nacho, the park, Smarty Mart, and about three other places but to avail. One thing was for sure-everyone knew. They were all talking, talking as if they knew him, talking as if they had seen the pain in his eyes. They didn't understand…and neither did she. Kim sat on the curb out side of J.P. Bearymore's Pizza Party-Torium.
"Come for the games…stay for the burnt pizza smell." She whispered, smiling grimly at the memory of his words…the way he smiled like that when all along he was so alone. How could he smile? How could he live? Why hadn't she noticed? Kim grabbed at her chest. She had believed she knew everything about him when really she knew nothing at all. And yet, it was so obvious.
The way he knew how to do everyday things. Things like cooking, cleaning, and smart shopping. When they had to go on missions he was there in a flash, while Kim had to compromise with her parents. His folks never came to family things and during just about any holiday, heck everyday Ron was at her house. And he never talked about them. Never. Not unless she asked and even then he'd be a little hesitant. He really was apart of her family and she never asked him why.
Even in his personality. A clown, he always had something funny to say because it kept him so far from his problems. Kim had always been so socially adept because her parents taught her to be proud of herself, where as Ron…Ron only had himself, Rufus and her. And his TV of course which feed him things like the rules of dating. Superstitions and silly rules like that took the place of kind parenting. It was also why his heroes were people on TV and he couldn't recognize things like the GWA and Andrena Lynn were fake. And the bullying? He took it in stride, used to getting it at school, then getting it at home. It was there, in everything he was and she never noticed. Kim hung her head in shame. How could she call herself his friend?
What if it was her? Kim couldn't imagine what she'd do if put in his shoes. To go through everyday either beaten or alone. Her chest tightened in pain thinking of that and of the fight in the cafeteria. Everything Ron said to her was true. If she had just lain off, had just let him come to her when he was ready everything would be fine. But no! Like her blue fox self she couldn't resist a challenge and to her in that argument deep concern had suddenly changed to a game of keep-away. He had a secret, which he wasn't sharing and she was going to get that secret no matter what and she kept pushing him and shoving him till he broke. And she broke. Her head in her hands Kim wept.
6:00pm. Mrs. Stoppable wasn't looking for her son-she was looking for a house. Heavens knows now that the whole town thought they beat her child she wouldn't be able to stay. It was amazing the police hadn't bothered to poke their nosey little noses into her clean home. Ron hadn't done the dishes after cooking dinner last night and it took her almost two hours cleaning the mess. What a lazy slob he had become. It was going to be up to her to show him how to take care of his stuff. As soon as he got home, she'd give him a real lesson. The dinner was pretty good, but not as good as her own, she thought. Three courses and dessert is not too much to ask for and then to neglect the dishes to go up stairs and sleep. It was pathetic, even for as late as it was. And if he fell asleep in his classes that day he'd be whipped for sure. She shuffled the papers again.
It was so hard raising a teenager any more. They were so unruly and asked for so much. Her and her husband sent him $300 a month for spending money and paid for the bills when they were not there. Was it too much to ask for him to take care of the house and cook them some dinner? She huffed pushing her glasses back up her nose. She certainly didn't raise such a disrespectful boy. Someone had to have taught him to be like that. It was certainly a good thing his father separated him from that Kim Possible and her unconventional life style. Ron wasn't a super hero, after all. He was a teenager, a boy. When he came home he better do his homework, cook dinner, clean the living room, start the laundry and clean the dishes this time. She glanced at her clock, which now read 6:35. Well he'd do that as soon as he was taught a lesson about coming home late.
7:00pm. it was getting dark, though it was warm. The cold metal in his hand was a nice contrast Ron thought as he stroked the barrel in his pocket. After he left the school he stopped by the house and stole his father's gun and normally…normally he'd be scared of it. But that was before, back when he had something to lose. The stars were out, Ron was sure, even though he couldn't see them here in downtown Middleton. It was hidden under such deep blackness, and their light dim under from under the bright lights of the city. But somehow, when he was at Kim's he could see the stars.
The gun-he wasn't sure why he picked it up. It wasn't clear whom he intended it for but he grabbed it anyway. If he were to run into his father he'd definitely need it. If he ran into his mother he'd use it on himself rather than take her words. She could always make him feel disgusting and useless and his father just beat him and Ron could never figure out which was worse. No, neither compared to what happened at school.
Ron stopped and leaned against a building. Kim was his pillar of strength, the thing to look forward to, and the place to belong. Now he had no support. After he had stopped in the park he had let Rufus go. The little guy didn't want to leave, but he told him to go get Kim and when he left Ron left as well. If something were to happen, if he did decide to use the gun, he certainly didn't want Rufus around. Kim would take care of the little guy, he was sure. After all Rufus hadn't hurt her, hadn't said such mean things. Hadn't screamed at her like that.
Maybe he should just go home…maybe he should just let his father kill him. No one would miss him. He was a burden to the Possibles, and a burden to Kim and everyone else hated him. His father would probably get off scott-free somehow because the death of Ron Stoppable isn't a crime; it's a favor.
No. He wouldn't give his father that satisfaction. It was obvious the man had dreamed of killing him. Ron saw it in his father's eyes that the next time would certainly be his last. If anyone killed Ron Stoppable it would be himself, he thought bitterly. That was it, there was just one question: What was he waiting for?
Jao: XD Again with the short chapter, but you can't be too mad, I updated quickly. My biggest focus here is making this whole abuse thing sound plausible. I tried to pull evidence from episodes, cuz it's these things that bother me when I watch KP. Little things in the episodes that make a picture… Ah well. And cliffhangers. You gotta love em. I'll have the next chapter up real soon, promise. =3 One last chapter left!