What a Beautiful Day

Chapter 4

On day 67 she said "I love you" to me

            During our junior year of high school, I started dating a lot more. I don't what happened but it seemed as if over the summer, something changed that made girls not quite so repulsed by me. Sure, I still wasn't as popular as Josh Mankey by far but still, I had my share of girlfriends.

            At first I was happy. I mean, after all, I hadn't had a real girlfriend all through high school. After about my second girlfriend, though, I started to feel as though things just didn't seem right. Believe me, I was happy that girls were finally taking an interest in me but with every girlfriend I had things just seemed a little off. I began to find things wrong with every girl I dated and most my relationships didn't last longer than a week or two. Most people thought I was just like everyone else in high school; just "playing the field." Truth was, all the girls I dated were great girls but I just couldn't make it work.

            I finally started to understand what was going on when I was dating my fifth girlfriend, Jen. I realized that the reason I couldn't make it work with any other girl was because, without knowing it, I had be comparing every one of them to Kim. I didn't think much of it at first because after all, Kim was my best friend and the only girl who had ever paid attention to me up to that year. The more I thought about it though, the more it all became clear. Kim was my dream girl and I was so deep in love with her I couldn't possibly be happy with any other girl. It wasn't until one afternoon, thought that it all became finalized in my head and I decided to act upon my feelings.

            I was sitting in the cafeteria watching Rufus down his usual large amount of lunch when I spotted Kim across the room. I watched her as she talked animatedly with Monique, thinking she was absolutely stunning when the light hit her just so. I snapped back to reality, however, when I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard someone say, "Ron!"

            I turned around to see Jen behind me. "Oh, hey, Jen," I said, casting one final glance across the room as she sat down. "Whats--" I started but then caught the knowing smirk on her face.

            "What?!"

            "Don't think I don't know what's going on, Ron Stoppable."

            I stared at her blankly.

            "You're in love with her."

            "With who?"

            "Kim Possible. Admit it, you're in love with you best friend."

            I knew I was blushing a deep crimson as I stammered, "I…uh…er…well…"

            Jen just grinned. "Don't worry, Ron, I won't hold it against you." She ran a hand through her hair. "Actually, I sort of suspected it all along."

            "You did?"

            "Sure. She's obviously crazy about you! And you, well, I see the way you look at her."

            "Well…I…um…."

            "Tell her, Ron. I know you can do it and trust me, you'll be happy you did."

            I thought about it for a moment then said, "You know, you're right. I'm going to tell her."

            Jen smiled and patted me on the shoulder. "That a boy, Ron! Just promise me one thing."

            "Anything."

            "You and me, we'll still be friends, ok?"

            "Of course!" I stood up, shoving Rufus in my pocket, much to his dislike. I kissed Jen on the cheek and said, "Hey, thanks, Jen."

            "No problem. Glad to help. Now go get your girl!"

            "Right. See you!"

            I now knew exactly what I had to do. I stopped at my locker and scribbled a note to Kim telling her to meet me on the football field that night after the game. I stuck the note in her locker and spent the rest of the day trying to figure out the perfect thing to say.

            That night, after the game had ended and the stands had cleared, I sat alone on a bench on the sidelines. By the time Kim walked up, still in her cheerleading uniform, my heart was pounding a mile a minute and my mind was racing.

            She sat down next to me, saying, "Hey, Ron, what's up?'

            "Hi, Kim. I just wanted to, you know, talk."

            "Of course, what's on your mind?"

            I took a deep breath and plunged right in. "You see there's this girl, the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. She's funny, talented and smart and has a smile that lights up the darkest of nights. I've known her for awhile now but just recently I realized how I really feel about her. I'm crazy about her, Kim, absolutely head-over-heels in love with her. What should I do?"

            I read Kim's face just then and it told me she was heartbroken but trying hard to be supportive. "Wow, Ron," she said. "If you feel that way about her, I think you should tell her."

            I took another deep breath and said, "Ok…well, what if she's my best friend?"

            The look on Kim's face was priceless. First she look positively shocked, as if I'd just told her Shego was elected mayor of Middleton. After a few seconds of processing everything I'd said, she took my hand, smiled, and said, "In that case, I'm sure she feels exactly the same way."

            My face broke out into a huge smile and I said, "You mean it, Kim?"

            She nodded. "Of course I do! I love you, Ron."

            I jumped up, pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in a big bear hug. "I love you so much, Kim." I whispered as I gently stroked her hair. "I love you more than anything in the world…"

            We stood there for what seemed like forever just holding each other, content in our warm embrace. Finally, Kim pulled back a bit, saying, "Ron, I'd better get home, it's getting late."

            "Right," I said, "I'll walk you."

            We started to walk and Kim slipped her hand into mine. I couldn't help but smile; her hand fit so perfectly into mine it made me think we were meant to be together. 

            When we got to Kim's doorstep, I looked into her eyes, knowing there was one more thing I had to know. "I know it's probably pointless for me to ask this now but I've dreamed of saying this to you for a long time. Kim Possible, would you be my girlfriend?"

            She smiled, took both my hands in hers and answered, "I'd love nothing more, Ron."

            I lost myself in those brilliant green eyes of hers for a moment as I reached down a tucked a stray strand of auburn hair behind her ear. She smiled at me in a way that made me feel like all was right with the universe. I pulled her close as she wrapped her arms around my neck and we both leaned in, meeting a long, gentle kiss.

            The kiss finally broke and I managed to stammer, "Well…I...er…guess I'd better get home…"

            "Yeah…" Kim reached for the doorknob.

            "I love you, KP."

            She flashed me her amazing smile again. "I love you, too, Ron."

            To this day, I still don't know how I managed to make it home in my love-induced daze but somehow I did. When I stumbled through my front door, my mom caught sight of me.

            "Wow," she said. "Was the football game that good?"

            "No…I'm in love with the most beautiful, amazing girl in the world…"

            "Glad to hear things are working out between you and Jen."

            I was shaken out of my stupor. "Not Jen, Mom. Kim."

            "Kim? As in Kim Possible, your best friend?"

            "Yeah."

            Mom chuckled softly. "I was wondering when you'd figure what that girl really means to you."

            My jaw dropped. "Am I the only one who didn't know there was something going on between Kim and me?"

            "Apparently." She smiled and gave me a hug. "Kim's a special girl, Ron. Hang on to her."

            "Oh don't worry, Mom, I intend to."

            That night, I fell asleep feeling the best I'd ever felt in my life with nothing but Kim on my mind.

A/n: Aha, now's its getting good, eh? Much more to come, folks, keep reading and reviewing. See y'all real soon! ~Mulder