Time

Mr. Stoppable looked into the TV room at his son who had been sitting in that same spot for the last 5 hours; not watching television, he had instead been watching… the telephone? He shook his head, wondering just what had gotten into the boy this time. Deciding that it was too late in the night for a conversation he instead stepped in and told Ron to go to bed.

Ron looked up at him from his spot on the end of the sofa, "Just five more minutes dad."

His dad said nothing as he tilted his head down and stared at Ron over the top of his glasses.

"4 more minutes?" Ron asked.

"Ronald…" His father said in a slow even tone.

Ron curled his lower lip down and out, letting his eyes go wide and sad. He was using the dreaded Puppy Dog Pout. "3 more? Pwease?"

George Stoppable raised an eyebrow, 'what is that ridiculous look for?' "No. Go to bed…now. It's a school night, and it's late."

Sighing defeatedly, Ron stood up and headed for his room. Once there he quickly undressed, getting ready for bed. "Why did I think she'd call me back?"

'Is it because you're an idiot?' The little voice asked.
'Shut up.'

He looked over to Rufus, who was also going through his own bedtime ritual. "What do you think buddy?"

Rufus pondered the sitch, scratching his chin for just a second. "Waiting for you to call her," he squeaked out.

An open palm slapped against Ron's forehead. "She was waiting for me to call her… I'm such an idiot."

'Thankyouverymuch.'
'Shut up.'

Ron sat down on the edge of his bed. "I remember the same thing happened when I tried calling KP that one time in Pre-K. I hung up then too. I was so nervous and she was amped, neither of us daring to call the other one back. Of course, looking back now…" He chuckled. "The next day was funny…she thought that I…" Ron went wide eyed, as a sudden realization hit him. "Oh - BEEP BOOP.

His declaration interrupted, Ron picked up his newly delivered Ronnunicator. 'Why KP thought I needed this is beyond me.' Clicking it on he asked. "Wade, what up?"

"Kim wanted me to tell you that she wants you to do her…

'Ooh-la-la.'
'Shut up.'

…a favor after school tomorrow."

"Ok. No problem Wade." Ron paused. "Wade?"

"Yeah Ron?" He asked, taking a sip of soda.

"Why didn't she just call and ask me herself?"

"She couldn't." Wade started to explain. "Jim and Tim short circuited the phone lines in their house trying to use their latest test version of Professor Dementor's Transportulator." Wade smirked, "…except they didn't have an adapter. So they used a fork."

Ron smiled briefly, "She coulda just beeped me y'know, on my… Ronnunicator."

Wade shook his head, "The direct link between them isn't set up yet. I should have it fully functional by tomorrow afternoon."

"Cool." Ron yawned widely, "G'night, Wade."

"Night, Ron." Wade said before switching off the link.

All Hours

Debbie Mathews walked into the living room, dressed and quite ready for bed. Tara, who had been sitting by the phone ever since dinner, looking ready to pounce on it should it dare to ring, was now sleeping peacefully, curled up like a kitten, in the oversized lodge chair. Her mother stood quietly smiling. 'She hasn't fallen asleep by the phone waiting for a boy to call in so long.' She jostled her shoulder gently. "Tara, go to bed. No one is going to be calling at this hour of the night."

Tara stretched, yawning, the chair was large and well padded making it a very comfortable place to sleep. "What time is it?"

"It's almost 11:30."

Tara's eyes blinked exaggeratedly as she yawned once more, before slumping back into the chair. She asked despondently, "Why didn't he call back? Doesn't he like me?"

Mrs. Mathews leaned down over the back of the chair, wrapping her arms around her daughter in a hug. "Shhh. Give him some time sweetie. He's probably just nervous is all. I'm sure he'll talk to you tomorrow at school."

Tara smiled weakly, "You're probably right mom. Ron's always seemed a bit on edge…especially around girls." Her brow wrinkled as her eyes narrowed. 'Except when the girl he's around is Kim.'

Tara stood up, arching her back in another stretch, and started to head for bed. She was about halfway out of the living room when the phone let out its first ring. She was on it in an instant, answering it before it could ring a second time. "Ron!" She asked excitedly. The sparkle left her eyes when she realized it wasn't him. "Oh, hi daddy… Yes she is… Yes dad… No dad… I love you too… Goodnight… Here's mom." She handed the phone to her mother and trudged out of the room, giving her mom only a grunt in response to her 'goodnight.'

Ron was in bed, tossing and turning under the blankets, it was going to be another short night again tonight. 'Almost 11:30 and I have to be up before 7:00. Why can't I get to sleep?' He fitfully pushed back the bedspread and lay, eyes closed, exposed in the cool night air. 'Much better.'

After a few minutes he finally dozed off to sleep. A sleep that would be filled with pleasant, although weird, dreams.