Ron made his way up the drive of the Possible household with excitement clearly evident on his face. After Wade had recovered the two had a long talk. Starting, of course, with where Ron got such an obscene amount of money. He seemed to be impressed that Ron was actually thinking things through carefully rather than acting on impulse like he would usually do. Wade didn't voice it, probably believing it could hurt his friend's feelings, but Ron still picked up on it. He wasn't offended though. After all, he was close to doing just that.
Topics soon changed to what Ron had called about, advice. Obviously Ron did not know what to do with so much money and, as it turned out, neither did Wade. What Wade did know how to do was how to get the advice of those who would, promising Ron to contact some investment planners and such to help him reach the most informed decisions. Whatever that means.
They had talked about things deep into the morning but as Ron approached the door he felt as wide awake and energetic as he ever had. He was too excited to be tired. Ron just couldn't wait to tell Kim.
He had his hand up ready to knock when the door suddenly opened. Mrs. Dr. Possible stopped short, startled by his sudden appears as she was leaving the house for work, briefcase in hand.
"Ron! You gave me a bit of a scare there. What are you doing here?"
"Sorry about that Mrs. P." He apologized. "Just picking KP up for school like usual."
"Didn't she tell you?" She asked confused.
"Tell me what?"
"A boy from school picked her up twenty minutes ago. They walked together."
The excitement died almost instantly from Ron's face. "Oh."
"I'm sorry Ron."
"Hey, no big." He told her with an obviously forced smile. "Probably just slipped her mind that's all."
"Do you want a ride to school? I'm leaving now anyways." She asked him concerned. Mrs. Possible hadn't bought his act for a second and it hadn't escaped her notice how excited he was only moments before.
"Nah. The exercise'll do me good." With that he turned and walked back down the driveway, Rufus peering worriedly up at him from his pocket. As he made it to the sidewalk he started the trek to school and repeated his words softly. "Probably just slipped her mind."
Mrs. Possible watched him go, worried about the sudden change he displayed but not having time to dwell on it right now. She was due in surgery in forty minutes. As she got in her car she did allow herself one more stray thought though. What had him so excited?
Ron actually managed to make it to the school with time to spare. Not that it was much of a surprise. Walking with Kim everyday does that. After being late a few times she ingrained it in him that if he was going to pick her up in the morning it was going to be at such a time that they would make it to school before class started.
So despite the fact that he dragged his feet the whole way Ron still made it with plenty of time to get his books from his locker and get to class. Not as much as usual mind you, but enough nonetheless.
The halls were crowded with students arriving, at their lockers, or just lurking about talking. Not to mention the numerous people rushing through to get to their lockers and/or class, not wanting to end up on the receiving end of another of Mr. Barkin's tardiness lectures. Ron had been bumped into five times already and nearly knocked over twice and he wasn't even halfway to his locker yet. It seemed, to him anyways, that the runners managed to miss everybody else.
Just as he made it through the largest of the crowd Ron felt a distinctly feminine form push past him.
"Loser." Bonnie said while never breaking stride or even looking in his direction.
Ron tried not to let the comment bother him, he really did. More times than not he really didn't care what people thought of him and was happy to just be himself. But sometimes, just sometimes, they do get through. And for the briefest of moments Ron wonders if she's right.
Money does not buy real friends.
I do not care what these people think of me.
Money does not buy real friends.
I do not care what these people think of me.
He continued the silent mantra well into his first class.
It was lunchtime and Ron still had not talked to Kim. Sure he had seen her in class but she didn't sit with him that day. Rather she was either sitting next to Monique and talking elatedly about something when she could or was flirting… er talking with Josh.
Scanning the cafeteria he caught sight of her at their usual table. Monique was there too and they were still excited about something. Grabbing a tray of food he made his way there. As he sat down Kim greeted him with a dazzling smile, one Ron returned in kind. His first real smile since that morning.
"I got something amazing to tell you KP!" He said, excited to finally be able to tell her. "You're never gonna believe it!"
"I have amazingly great news too!" She told him nearly bouncing out of her seat.
"Well I bet my news is bigger! I just got-"
"Josh just asked me out!" She cut in, too excited to actually register what was he was saying.
"That's… that's nice KP but-"
"Can you believe it!"
"Yeah actually. Now-"
"For this Friday!"
"Cool, but-"
"We're even going to a semi-fancy restaurant!"
Ron gave up at that point. When Kim was truly excited about something or worse, in Josh-mode, no force on Earth could stop her. So he just sat there and listen to Kim go on about her date and the overall coolness of Josh Mankey. She was speaking more to herself at this point, and Monique somewhat. He just nodded at appropriate intervals and feigned interest. No force on Earth, not even a best friend.
"…and with those new shoes you just bought, it'll be perfect. Trust me!"
"The blue dress?" Kim asked into the phone as she flopped down onto her bed. "Really?"
"Yes!" Monique exclaimed before continuing wryly. "You'll have to physically pry his jaw from the floor if you wear that."
Kim giggled. "Well, I don't want to miss my date because I overloaded him."
The two couldn't help but laugh at the mental image. After a minute their laughter subsided and Monique spoke. "Speaking of overloaded, have you talked to Ron yet?"
"Ron?"
"Yeah, he seemed to really want to tell you something today."
"Oh God!" Kim exclaimed as she sat bolt upright on her bed, no humour left in her voice. "I totally ignored him at lunch didn't I?"
"Oh yah."
"I guess I did go a little overboard on the Josh thing." She admitted.
"A little?" Monique asked, her voice again taking on a wry tone. "Most guys I know, even best friend ones, can only take a girl going on about another guy for so long before they're ready to scream. Frankly I'm impress he managed the forty five minutes at lunch."
"Oh man." Kim said as she put her head in her free hand. "Now that I think about it he was trying to get my attention in class too."
"I wouldn't worry about it too much. This is Ron we're talking about. He'll understand. You're just excited that's all." Monique assured her.
"I should call him anyways."
"Good idea. Later Kim."
"Bye Monique."
Kim hit the end button on her cordless phone and began to dial a long ago memorized number as soon as the connection died. She never bothered putting Ron's number on speed dial. No need really. Only numbers she had trouble remembering yet still needed went there and Ron's number wasn't something she could ever forget at this point.
The phone rang three times with no answer. It was nearing eleven but Kim wasn't worried. Ron was usually still up or at least made it to the phone by the fourth ring. A ring that came and went with still no answer. After four more rings Kim was about to hang up when someone picked up on the other end.
"Hello?" A groggy voice asked, obviously just woken from their peaceful slumber by the persistent phone.
"Hi Mrs. Stoppable." Kim greeted the woman a little nervously. "Sorry about waking you. Can I speak to Ron please?"
"Ron?" She asked in confusion. "I thought he was with you?"
