Club Banana

"Can you believe it Monique? Some guy bought up all the Strawberry Sensation lotion before we got here." Kim said as she joined her friend at the display rack.

"Some guy?" Monique asked, disbelieving of what she had just heard.

"Yeah, and he bought FIVE bottles, that's like two hundred bucks, he must be crazy."

"Well we're getting a reship of it in on Tuesday." Monique told her, not knowing that Kim already knew. "I'm sure Stacy would hold back a bottle of it for you."

"She already is." Kim said as she absently ran her hand along the sleeve of a nice fuzzy pink shirt. Now she would have to resort to using her mom's Lilac Lace lotion. It was nice but it wouldn't be the same. She didn't feel like 'Kim' without the light scent of strawberry about her. "You wanna hit the food court? Maybe get a smoothie?"

"Sure. Why don't you head down and order, I've got to check my schedule for next week." Monique said.

"Ok, orange banana right?" Kim asked, not wanting to order the wrong combination like she had last time.

"Yep." Monique said as she walked behind the counter into the backroom. Kim headed for the food court.

Buddy

"Hey buddy." The mall cop said to Ron as he tapped him on the shoulder. "Buddy!"

Ron looked up at the rent-a-cop, wondering what his problem was. "What?"

"You're scaring the other customers." It was one of those Barney Fife, little man with a badge, types. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He jerked his thumb toward the door.

"Whatever." Ron said, sighing a long sigh, before he stood up and began to walk away.

"Don't forget your bag." The Barney said as he handed Ron his Club Banana bag.

Why on earth had he bought FIVE bottles of lotion? He couldn't give any of it to Kim, not unless it was her birthday or maybe Christmas. Except her birthday had long since passed and Christmas wouldn't be here for another six months.

Electric

Ron arrived home and told his mom that he was going up to his room to study. Before he headed up he put Rufus into his maze habitat to let him play and sleep. Ron walked up to his room and closed the door behind him, locking it. He carefully placed all but one of the bottles into his dresser. He took the remaining bottle and carried it over with him to his bed. He sat down and opened it, taking the opportunity to enjoy the first whiff. 'Kim' was the one thought that entered his mind. He squirted a small dollop of the creamy lotion onto his palm. After he set the bottle on his nightstand he dabbed his finger into the lotion in his palm. He rolled the small dab around on his finger with his thumb.

'That does feel like Kim's hand, so smooth, so soft.'

Kim's hand reached down, replacing his. "Is this the right way Ron?"

"Turn it a little and run your thumb along the side, like this." He took her hand and positioned it properly, "and go a little faster."

Her hand began to move faster, and faster. Too fast.

"Slow down KP, don't rush it." He wanted this to last, it felt so good. "Let it come naturally."

"Sorry. It's my first time." When she said that Ron couldn't help but smile.

"Mine too." He admitted while quietly encouraging her to continue, "faster."

A strange electric feeling began building in him. It started off low, both in intensity and location. As it strengthened it traveled up his spine until it made contact with the base of his brain, it reversed course and quickly traveled back down to its point of origin. When it bottomed out, he exploded. He was breathing heavily and glistening under a thin layer of sweat. "God…that was the best KP."

There was no response. He looked around. "KP?"

He was alone. It was all just in his head, and his hand.

Smoothie

Kim was sitting waiting patiently for Monique, she was taking a long time to check her schedule. Maybe something had come up? Kim was about to head back to Club Banana when she saw Monique walking toward her. "Sorry it took so long Kim, I had to make a phone call. I needed to switch a day with Konnie so I can head up to Upperton next Thursday. The GWA is having a meet and greet at the Oshmann Super Sport store."

"Going to meet Steel Cage?" Kim asked, with a strange emphasis on steel cage.

"Steel Toe, Kim. Steel Toe is a wrestler, steel cage is well, a cage." Monique explained.

"I was just playing with you, Monique. Ron explained the difference to me last time the GWA was in Middleton." Monique smiled an understanding smile. Ron and Kim were tight. No matter how different they seemed to be on the outside, inside they were inseparable friends.

"Speaking of Ron, where is he, why isn't he here?" Monique asked.

"Well you know Ron. He would have been here but he said he had some big thing to do today after school. What it was? I have no idea."

"He didn't tell you? That seems kind of odd." Ron had never been one to keep secrets from Kim.

"Ron…he hasn't been acting quite like himself lately. I don't know what the sitch is with him."

Monique sat quietly, not wanting to betray the trust that Ron had in her. She wanted to tell Kim, 'He's crushing hard on you! He's in love with you!' but she didn't, she couldn't, not yet. "Maybe you should have a sit down with him. See what's on his mind, see what's been bothering him."

"Maybe." Kim said as she took a sip of her smoothie.