Unwrapped

It was the softest kiss she had ever felt, his lips fluttered against hers for just a second, then withdrew. The spicy taste of salsa lingered on her lips as she found herself looking once again into his gingerbread-brown eyes. "You're all I'll ever need, Tara." He murmured seductively as he rested his hand gently on her bare knee, moving it slowly up her thigh. She responded with a barely audible "mm-hmm."

"Tara?" Ron said, now speaking with Monique's voice.

"Hunh?" Tara responded as her daydream slowly shattered. She turned away from Ron, who was concentrating on gaining an advantage over the wrapper on a candy bar, to Monique.

Monique lightly snickered, "I see that someone had something," barely nodding her head in the general direction of Ron, "on her mind…again." Monique gave the beautiful blonde a sly wink. "I said, will you pass the salt please Tara."

Tara's face flushed a deep crimson as she passed the saltshaker to Monique. "Sorry."

"Speaking of Ron." Monique said in a loud enough voice to gain the attention of everyone at the table. "You pumped for the GWA Thursday night, or what?" Kim and Andy, upon hearing the topic GWA, quickly went back to playfully flirting with each other.

"You know it Monique." Ron replied, his mouth filled with the creamy nougat of a Three Musketeers bar.

"So, do you still need a ride?" Monique asked, wondering just how far Ron would be willing to go to avoid riding his moped to Upperton. "Or should I just meet you there?"

"Yes, I still need a ride." Pausing to shake his head disapprovingly at Kim and Andy. "And, yes…I'll even wear a-a Pain King T-shirt."

Two to Tutor

Ron was headed back to the cafeteria for Study Hall after making it through another class, Communications, the last of the day for him; except on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when his sixth period Study Hall would be replaced with PE. Ron loved ending his day at school with two consecutive Study Halls, doing absolutely nothing. Or at least it could be said that he used to enjoy it. Now, thanks in small part to Kim, he would have to spend seventh period, ugh…studying. If he could find a tutor that is, he never had much luck with them. Most quit, usually in tears, after only one session. Kim was the only person he knew that could handle his unique study habits.

After Ms. Skipp took roll Ron walked up to her desk and asked for a hall pass. "I'm supposed to go see Mr. Dahle to arrange a Trigonometry tutor."

Ms. Skipp filled out the pink slip of paper and held it out to him. "You go straight there and come straight back." She pointed an arthritic finger at him threateningly. "No skipping out to Bueno Nacho. Got it?"

"Yes, Ms. Skipp." Ron tried to smile as he took the slip. He walked down the hall toward the Guidance Counselor's office, passing by the Principal's office on his way. He glanced into the outer office and saw Tara sitting, waiting. He stopped and poked his head in, "Hey Tara, everything ok?"

She turned to him, her cheeks taking on a more pinkish tone. "Yeah, I just have to get Mr. B's permission for an extracurric I wanna sign up for."

'Ok, she's not in trouble or anything, that's good.' Ron nodded his head. "Cool. See you later."

"Bye, Ron." He had no sooner walked away than Mr. Barkin stepped out and motioned Tara into his office.

"What can I do for you, Ms. Mathews?" Pointing her to the wooden chair on the public side of his desk.

She sat down gingerly and carefully adjusted the hem of her short skirt. "I want to sign up as a tutor."

Barkin raised an eyebrow, 'Tara Mathews…wants to tutor?' He accessed her file on his computer, checking over her grades and attendance; both of which, while not exemplary, were acceptable. "Well I don't see any reason why I shouldn't let you. What period did you want to be assigned to?"

"Well I have Study Hall seventh period everyday, would that be ok?" She asked.

"That would be fine; we're in desperate need of quality tutors." He signed the necessary paperwork and gave her a copy. "Just get your parent's signatures and we'll get you setup ASAP."

"I will. Thanks Mr. B, uhh, I mean, Mr. Barkin." She smiled apologetically as she stood up and headed for the door.

"One more thing," He asked. "What class did you want to tutor?" A pen held at the ready to fill in the necessary blank on the form.

She turned back and gave him her one word answer, "Trig."

x.

Ron finally made it to the Guidance Counselor's office; it had taken him nearly 15 minutes. "About time you got here Ronald." Mr. Dahle said, looking at the sign-out time on Ron's hall pass.

"Sorry about that." Ron sat down in the padded chair situated off the front corner of the small metal desk.

"Now, what did you need to see me about?" He asked lightly.

"I need a tutor."

The mood in the room immediately darkened, Dahle ran his fingers through his thinning hair. "A tutor?" he sighed, exasperated. Then quietly, speaking more to himself than to Ron. "Why didn't I listen to mother? She wanted me to be a ditch digger, like father."

"What?" Ron leaned forward in the chair, in an attempt to better hear Mr. Dahle.

"Nothing." Mr. Dahle turned to his workstation. "A tutor you say? What class?"

"Trigonometry."

"Hmm. Let me check." He accessed the Tutor schedule database; silently running two fingers down the screen, checking columns against each other. "Sorry Ron, we don't seem to have any tutors currently available." He turned back. "But, I'll tell you what. I'm going to put you on our list; if a tutor becomes available…I'll let you know. Ok?"

Ron sank despairingly into the chair, "Great…I may as well just drop out. There's no way I'm ever going to pass Trig on my own."

Mr. Dahle stood up, walked around his desk, and sat down on the front corner of it. "Don't let it get you down Ron. Just try and do your best. I'll let your teacher know the situation. Maybe you two can work something out."

The Invite

Ron spent most of the last period in school doodling in his notebook. Drawing crude sketches of girls (most of which bore a striking resemblance to KP). Making lists of things to do; goals for the remainder of the year. Things like that. Jotting them down with his pencil as he thought of them.

'Pass Trig'
'Get a part-time job'
'Get a car'
'Score…'

'With KP?' The little voice wondered suggestively.
'Don't you ever shut up?' Ron asked, dropping his head onto the desk. Where it would remain for the next 32 minutes.

The final bell of the day sounded at 3:15, Ron jumped up and quite literally ran to his locker. He wanted to catch KP before she headed for cheer practice. He sprinted up the hall to his locker, narrowly avoiding knocking down several other students. "KP!" He leaned onto his locker, out of breath.

Kim turned to him, "What's up with the running Ron?"

"I'm totally goat-holed KP, that's what." Kim frowned at Ron's use of pseudo-profanity. "They don't have any tutors for me. What am I supposed to do?"

"Your homework for starters." Kim suggested, obviously. Before suddenly remembering about Wednesday. "Hey! You know. By the way…My dad said that Wednesday, while he and mom are out, you could come over." She sounded much happier than she normally did when she invited him over. He put it off as her being grounded, maybe even a bit lonely, and not wanting to spend all night alone with the tweebs. "You know, if you wanted to. Maybe you could bring your homework along?"

"I wouldn't recommend it Stoppable." Mr. Barkin said as he passed by the duo.

"Wouldn't think of it Mr. B." Ron said cheerily, dying on the inside, a false smile stretching across his face.

"I thought not." He stopped and turned back to Ron, drawing his lower right eyelid down slightly with a fingertip. "I'll be keeping my eye on the two of you."

"Good to know, Mr. B." Ron said, pointing a friendly finger at him before giving him a thumbs up.