Author's Note:
Yee, thank-you for all the wonderful reviews; hearts a plenty to you! Um, just to clarify a couple of things...
1) English Lesson 101!!1one This "..." (the three dots) is called an ellipsis. It has many uses and one of them can be used to have a sentance trail off. It's not something I invented.
and 2) In response to an interesting comment about Chapter 1. No-no, I didn't take any offense! I know there's some info/happenings in chapter 1 that -appears- like filler, but you know... try re-reading it and working things out. And look at the title for the chapter as a hint too -lol. I'm surprised someone didn't catch some of the things... Without giving away too much info, there are things going on that aren't apparent yet but will be key later on so it won't pop out of no-where. You'll be able to read back and go "OH! I COMPLETELY missed that! THAT'S why SE wrote that! Le Gasp and La Shock it was there all along!" :3
Ok, onto the next instalment. You have my Mother to thank for this one, believe it or not! So thank her for this one, haha XD. Hearts aplenty to her!
Again, thank-you so much to my reviewers: Johnny (sorry about the name mix up O:), Sukari, Capital-C, Genni and Sess' Kidsu, Me262, End of Nite Owl, Sarah, JulesFire, Kirsty, Continental-line, Gryfffinrose, Annie, Silent:tears:fall and Jas! You guys keep me writing :3
Enough babble! Read the ruddy story for goodness sakes X3!!!!
-A.KiNG!
Instalment 05 »» Day One: The Attempt
You're so far away, I can't share anything with you
Come on over here, before it's too late…
So move a little closer…
-Sonique, 'Move Closer'
…
Ron shifted and opened his eyes to see… Kim?! Shocked, he blinked twice; she was leaning over him, her free hand resting on top of his chest. He gulped, nervously, his chest tightening…
"Ron, you feel asleep fast last night…" she said.
Ron's voice became dry, "I-I did? It seemed like forever, um…"
"But that's ok."
"Aa-"
"It's Friday. No school."
"Must be, otherwise the alarum clock would have-"
"My parents aren't home."
Ron felt himself gag; something had definitely caught in his throat. Was this going where he thought it was? "How… how is that?"
"They're attending a convention in the Tri-city area."
"Fun for them."
"Fun for us; the tweebs aren't home either."
"How do you know?"
Kim smiled down at him, "They have school to-day, unlike us."
"Oh. Must have missed that."
"That means nobody's home."
"Well, we are-"
"Exactly."
That's not what Ron had meant. Now that things were certainly beginning to heat up, Ron wasn't sure if he felt comfortable, and he wasn't sure why. Kim's making the move, why am I too afraid to accept? This is what I've always wanted, right? To be with her?
Kim moved closer. Her free hand…
But there's still something not right here…
…moved lower…
I just can't… place my mind on it… It's so hot…
… and then…
NO!!
"Kim! You never said you lo-"
—–
Daylight.
It was just a dream. The night had past, and nothing had happened. … Had Ron expected something to happen? No, I just hoped. Wishful thinking, unfortunately. He turned himself awkwardly, his hand still attached to Kim's. No over-night cure for this one, they just had to wait for Wade to report back to them with a break-through.
To his right, Kim was fast asleep on her stomach, her free hand not on him, but her pillow. Her plush Pandaroo resided close to her, indicated that she had been sleeping with it during the night.
Lucky bum, was Ron's initial thoughts towards her beloved plush Cuddle Buddy. But that was one whacked dream, he mused, Could it have been one of those ones where they have hidden meanings? Ron wasn't one for deep thoughts (or dreams!), but this one tweaked him, and tweaked him bad. Why had he resisted Kim so much? Why had he felt so uncomfortable; and what… what was he going to say? He had woken before he was able to finish that sentence.
"And where were you?" he grumbled at Rufus who was curled asleep on one of the pink pillows above Ron's head.
This whole holding hands thing was going to be more difficult than he had first thought. True, his first thought had been 'O! JOYOUS DAY!'. He thought that being joined with Kim might lead to her waking up from that 'Mankey'-charade and see him.
Apparently not.
Nothing came from last night, nothing that he had aimed for anyway. True, Kim had begun to awaken to her old self (with the help of ice cream and chocolate, Ron owed them so much) but no sparks. Well, Ron could certainly feel some sparks, but those were from his mind, his hoping, like when they had fallen on top of each other back in his room. Not any sparks that Kim purposely started.
But maybe he was asking for too much too fast?
I'm not trying to ask for too much too soon, I'm just on a schedule, that's all. Ron brooded. What if Wade has found a cure to-day?! Then this would all have been for nothing. Not that last night was 'nothing', it was… no sparks…nothing that said she'd rather have me over Mankey.
No, if he wanted something to happen between them, he, Ron Stoppable, had to act first. This holding-hands deal was just a push in the right direction, he was sure.
Ron took in a deep breath and turned to face Kim. How serene and lovely she looked, her features gentle and peaceful, he smiled, comforted. At least she was feeling better now, or so her expression suggested.
Look out, Kim. To-day's the day Stoppable will achieve the possible!
"Whoah. Weird unintended pun there…"
Dressing had been like last night, no peeping toms. Walking down the stairs together, in their clothes (Kim in her turquoise shirt and black jeans, Ron in his red hockey shirt/navy turtleneck combo) they headed down to the kitchen for breakfast.
"Hey, Kimmie," Kim's Mother chimed, pouring herself a cup of coffee. So much for that convention in Tri-city, Ron sniffed sorely.
"Hi, Mom," Kim sang back, maybe a bit nervously. She led Ron like a leashed dog to the breakfast table; Kim slid in beside her Father who was reading the newspaper: The Examiner. Their eggs, bacon and orange juice breakfast was already waiting for them.
"Thanks for the breakfast, Mrs Dr P!" Ron thanked genuinely, there was nothing like a home-cooked meal by Mrs Possible! Why couldn't I have been born into this family? Ron suddenly glanced sideways at Kim, NOWAIT! I take that back!!
Kim picked up her fork and began picking at her fried eggs. "So what's your guys schedch for to-day?" she inquired of her parents.
"O, nothing out of the usual for your Father," Mrs Possible recalled, leaning against the fridge. "I'm due for an operation on a thirty-seven year old at the hospital at around four o'clock. But I still need to go to the hospital early."
"Kim," Ron whispered, "I can't eat with my left hand…" They were both right-handed and Ron was holding Kim's left, which meant he was using his right.
"Aa…" Kim looked down at their hands, "Um, ok, I'll… uh," she placed her right on his right then while those attached, she removed her left. Ron caught on and placed his left onto hers and they pulled away on their rights. Ron's left arm was crossing in front of him. Just like last night.
"This is uncomfortable," he whispered to her, "Can't we switch sides?"
"No." Kim shot him a look; Ron shifted moodily, picking up his fork with his right to eat.
"What are you two going to do to-day?" Mrs Possible asked in return. "You two have no school, is that right?"
After swallowing, Kim replied, "Well, first off, we're going to see if Wade found a way to reverse this, if he did, we'll probably have to go on a mission. If not…"
She looked at Ron who was stuffing his face with the bacon, as was Rufus. Kim looked back at her Mother and shrugged, "If not, I guess we'll just hang here."
Ron's eyes popped open and stole a glance at Kim who was still looking at her Mother. Hang here? Ron didn't think so. If Wade had a break-through, he would have beeped them on the Kimmunicator at the first mention of news, and he hadn't. No, Ron had other plans to put his vow into action…
—–
After breakfast, Kim and Ron, with Rufus in his pocket, headed back upstairs and booted up Kim's computer. In no-time, Wade appeared on the screen, clacking away at his keyboard.
"Hey guys, how was your night?"
Was Wade looking at Ron when he said that?
"Better than I thought it would be actually," Kim replied… a crooked smile on her face..? A side glance at Ron..? So she did remember, and enjoyed last night! It wasn't just and embarrassing mistake for her like Ron contemplated when she said nothing about their sleepover.
She was sitting in her swivel chair, Ron holding her left hand and crouching down to see the screen. "Got anything? Please say you do. Don't make me phone Josh to call off this date…"
Right… the date… I practically forgot! He heard Rufus give a little squeak from his pocket. Even though Ron had his theory, he still felt his heartbeat flutter and his adrenaline sky-rocket out of nowhere. C'mon, Wade… be inefficient just this once…
Wade shook his head grievously (Booyah), "Sorry, Kim, I've got nothing. It's the weekend and the lab's closed, but I did leave a message. I'm gonna try to scan some message boards and scientific break through news-sites to see if I can find anything similar, but that's all I can really offer for now," he shrugged.
Ron watched Kim go limp, "Thanks, Wade…" she mumbled, looking aggrieved and disheartened. "If that's the best you can do…"
"Guess you'll have to phone Mankey to cancel the date, right?" Ron asked nonchalantly. With a brief look at the computer screen, Ron caught Wade giving him a look. Kim was too downcast to notice.
Kim shook her head and looked back up at Wade, "No, I-" Ron felt his heart sink.
But Wade interrupted her, "I'd have to say that'd be best, Kim. We don't know what that machine did exactly. We know nothing of its side-effects, what if he tries to touch you?"
"I wouldn't mind being forced to hold hands with Josh!"
Ouch…
Wade's voice grew impatient, "And do tell me how you're going to explain to Josh why Ron won't let go of your hand?"
"We could, like," Kim grasped for words, her brow knotted in frustration, "Double-date or something; I could get, like, Zita to go with Ron…"
Zita doesn't like me… I'm not into her anymore anyway…
"You didn't answer my question."
"I-"
"No, Kim." Wade shook his head again, "It's too complicated, just do the smart thing and phone him up. You can always reschedule. If he's your dream guy, he'll understand."
Kim dropped her head again, "I guess you're right, Wade," she mumbled.
Ron looked at Wade, it sounded as if… as if Wade knew what Ron had in mind, as if he knew how Ron felt towards Kim and was trying to help him. Or was Ron assuming too much? He gave Wade a puzzled look, and much taken aback, he received a wink.
Right then, Kim lifted her head, with a deep breath, she said: "Ok, Wade, I'll phone him."
"Good for you, Kim." Wade inclined his head and blipped out.
Kim sat in her seat, silent for a few moments. Ron said nothing; he stood up and waited beside Kim to get up to make the phone call. Sure, he was happy that Kim wouldn't be going on a date with monkey-boy, but… but it hurt him to see her so sad. My happiness should not come from your joy... But still..!
"Ok, let's do that phone-call, shall we?" Ron chirped. He'd have clapped his hands together if he could.
"Yea, ok, Ron." Kim made her way to her bed. Sitting on the pink comforter, she picked up the phone and pressed a button.
Sitting beside her, Ron flinched, "Mankey's on your speed dial?"
"Yea…" Kim responded absent-mindedly, she bit her lower lip nervously as the phone rang on the other end.
"Aa, ok." I used to be on your speed dial…
Then, the click, "Hallo?"
"Hi, Josh; it's me, Kim." Kim held the phone tightly to her ear and Ron watched her movements and expression intently. He also strained to hear Mankey's voice, but all he could make out where distant mumblings.
"Hey, Josh, you know that… uh, arrangement we had for to-day..?"
A pause.
Kim giggled, "Yes, I meant 'date'," she giggled again to which Ron clicked his tongue, annoyed. He liked her giggling last night, but not to-day. "Well, aa, well, I can't make it to-night. … … No-no! It has nothing to do with- I mean, I want to- I… I just can't to-day, that's all. … I'd like to reschedule though! … Oh… … To-morrow?" She glanced at Ron. "No… I don't think to-morrow is good for me either… In fact… … … … O!? Next weekend? Yea… yea, I can totally do next weekend. I mean, I think I can… I want to… I suppose we'll just have to wait and see!" Another giggle, "Ok, Josh. Talk to you later… uh, take care... Bye!"
Kim clicked the phone off, flopping back down onto her bed, her hair flowing around her head. "Wow. He is so nice."
"Tchach, just because he'd go next weekend? Anybody would have said that, even Drakken-"
"Ron! That's so not what I mean."
"Huh."
Silence. Kim gave a dreamy sigh. More silence.
"Well, let's go to the mall!"
"What?!" Kim shot back up, leaving the phone on the bed. "I can't go out! What if there are people there? What if people see us?! What if Josh sees us?!?! He'll think…"
Ron shrugged, "Who cares, besides, I have… uh, errands to run… for my Mom. Yes, I was supposed to do them yesterday, but, you know, there was that whole mission…"
"Well," Kim said uneasily, rubbing her left arm with her right hand, "If it's errands you have to do for your Mom… ok. But let's make it short and no dawdling, ok? We're out, and we're back, right?"
"Sure thing, KP. No messing about at all…"
—–
When Kim and Ron headed out the door, Ron could clearly tell the Kim was on her guard. She kept looking about herself as she trailed a little ways behind him, acting very edgy and almost suspicious looking herself.
"Stress not, Kim!" Ron said with extra cool and suave, "Just relax, like me."
"Easy for you to say," Kim grumbled under her breath while looking behind her, "You weren't supposed to be on a date to-day."
I am now, Ron thought deviously. And if all goes right, it might end like one too.
Nothing could relieve Kim of her sentry duty as Ron took his time, walking to the Middleton Mall. He knew he ought to be saying things and talking to Kim, to help along with his plan, but at the moment, he couldn't think of anything to say (for once in his life). Well, that was a lie. He could think of plenty but he wasn't sure the things he had on mind would help Kim see him as more than just a friend.
But he had to do or say something to put Kim at ease.
"So how's cheerleading practice going?"
"Huh? O!"
He had caught Kim off guard. He chuckled to himself. "Calm down, KP, we're not infiltrating Drakken's Island Lair. It's just the mall, like you said: we're in, we're out." He had to tranquil Kim before they reached the mall. Otherwise, she might notice he actually had no list of things to purchase and might hurry themselves home. He needed to have her mind on something else.
"So, the practice? How's it going?"
Kim straightened up and started walking side-by-side Ron. But instead of calmly explaining how practice was going, she exploded into a full-blown rant. "It's terrible. Well, I'm doing superb, but the problem isn't the routine, it's Bonnie."
Success. Ron definitely achieved in swerving Kim's mind off Josh.
"Can you believe what she did on Thursday at practice?"
"No, what?"
Forgetting their arms were attached, Kim raised both of her arms into the air and gave a heavy groan. "She stole my point! The nerve of her! I was doing my routine as planned and then that little tart came along and started doing my dance moves! And sloppily too. I'm a way better dancer than she'll ever be."
"Too right."
And that's how the rest of the conversation continued, all the way to the Middleton Mall. Kim lost herself in talk which consisted of complaints about Bonnie. Normally, Ron would be grieved by the conversation, but it was successfully diverting Kim's mind from sentry duty—and Josh Mankey.
When they did reach the mall, Ron had managed to somehow miraculously change the subject which they talked about all the way to the mall.
Ron pushed open the front doors to the mall and stepped inside. It was cold, the conditioning was definitely on which was more than stupid, or so he thought, since it was September and when people wanted to step in the mall, they didn't want to be colder than when they had been outside.
"So, what's on your list?" Kim asked, looking around at the sights. It had been awhile since they were in the mall. Freak fighting took up so much time.
"Huh?" Ron was caught off guard, "O, right, the list for the stuff... that I'm… supposed to… get…" That's what he should have been doing while Kim jabbered on about Bonnie; he should have been compiling a list of things that was on the make-believe list.
"Well?" Kim asked, a little impatiently. "Don't tell me you forgot."
Rufus gave Ron a quelling look on his shoulder and Ron rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Ye-ah… um…" Quickly, Ron's eyes darted around the stores in his line of sight. "There! Ya, that one… has… the stuff. Some of the stuff."
Kim followed Ron's line of sight. "The lingerie store?"
"No! The one beside it."
"Oh, the drug store."
"Yup, c'mon," he tugged Kim towards the drug store on their right, passing people as they went. Some gave the two a curious look, but they weren't that inconspicuous.
Inside, Ron was scanning the products for something he could say was on his list, or maybe there was something he actually did need.
"Ah, shampoo and conditioner," Ron finally blurted out.
"That it?"
"Um, y-yea… Well, for this store, that is."
Kim followed Ron to the hair product aisle, her free hand on her hip. "But it's the drug store, what other places could you have to go for errands?"
Ron eyed Kim warily from the corners of his eyes, "Just places. I'll let you know when we're done here. Hey," Ron said suddenly, an idea formulating in his mind. "You know, if you want to stop some place, we can. Like maybe the Collector's Den?"
"What would I be doing in the Collector's Den?" Kim scoffed, waving a hand as Ron picked out a conditioner. "There'll all sports cards or Wizardry: The Congregation or other geek stuff like that. Maybe you're confusing me with my Cousin." She leaned forward, staring down Ron with a captious eye.
Ron didn't wince, instead, he couldn't help but smile adoringly, "I was talking about looking at the Cuddle Buddies. Maybe they have some new ones out?" he suggested.
Kim immediately flushed, standing straight again. She looked tense and muttered, avoiding eye-contact with Ron, "O, sure… That'd be cool… I mean…"
Standing up from looking at the shampoo, Ron shook his head at Kim still smiling, but not a smirk— that would deter Kim. "If you don't want to look at the Cuddle Buddies, that's fine by me. It's just I thought I saw some new ones that you might like." Ron tapped his chin, thinking, "There was one I saw a few days ago..? What was it? It was, like, a dolphin and a rabbit…"
Kim brought up both her hands, actually forgetting that their hands were attached, she clapped them eagerly, a smile stretched across her face and her eye's alight. "A Rabphin!!"
"You like that one?" Ron asked, now holding the two bottles and walking down the aisle (he couldn't help but think these would be cheaper at Smarty-Mart).
"Do I?!" Kim bounced along to catch up with Ron, her face now animated with delight. "I saw it on the website and I want it to sit beside my Pandaroo and Crocodog! A dolphin and a rabbit, isn't that funny, Ron? They've done a rabbit before, actually they've done quite a few rabbits. You know, the first one was the…"
As Kim continued to babble on about the history of Cuddle Buddy rabbits, Ron let his mind drift.
Cuddle Buddies was Kim's guilty pleasure ever since she was little, it was the one thing she couldn't let go from her childhood. Beside her parents, Ron was the only one who knew that Kim still slept with her plush Pandaroo.
Out of a strange moment of curiosity, Ron ventured to wonder what it would be like if Kim ever did hook up with Josh. Could she ever bare to reveal her coveted secret of her love for Cuddle Buddies? What would Josh think? If they… if they were ever married… what would happen to Kim's little Pandaroo..? She certainly couldn't sleep with the little guy anymore. If she decided to keep it, she'd have to hide it from Josh, lest he found out and deemed her 'uncool'. (The horror!)
A feeling surged through Ron and he felt proud to be this close to Kim, to know all her secrets. I just want to be even closer to you…
"So we can go to the Collector's Den later, right?" Kim asked hopefully, still quite beside herself in glee.
Ron laughed, "I don't see why you're asking me!"
"If it's just come out," Kim went on while Ron took his time while walking to the cashier, "Then it should be ten dollars, right?"
"You're the Cuddle Buddy expert."
"Well, hurry up and pay for the shampoo and stuff!"
"There'll be plenty left, KP! No need to hurry!"
"I know, I know!" Kim stretched and stood on the tips of her toes. "But still!"
Ron paid for the unnecessary bottles of shampoo and conditioner and together they left the drug store. Now, Ron was certain Kim had lost all worry for being spotted at the mall with him, holding hands. Not that she wouldn't care if someone saw them, it was that she wasn't even thinking of such a scenario anymore, now that her mind was on Cuddle Buddies.
"Hey," Kim spoke out while they walked hand in hand down the mall aisle towards the Collector's Den. "I wanna go in the music store first, do you mind?" Kim asked. "We can go to the Collector's Den afterward, ok?"
Ron perked up, smiling, but tried not to smile too hard, "No, of course not. I don't mind." The fact that Kim was actually speaking up and wanting to do things of her own accord in the mall delighted Ron.
They walked into the music store and Kim directed Ron to the pop section where she began to browse through the alphabetical list. Ron peered over Kim's shoulder to look at the CDs as she flipped through them.
"You're going too fast!" he complained.
"You're just too slow!" Kim retorted, but in a playful way.
Ron gave Kim a sour look and placed the sample headset onto his head, punching the numbers for track number nine. Instead of an upbeat song with lots of guitar rifts, he received Wade Load.
"Hey, Ron," Wade's voice echoed from the headset.
"Wa-"
"Shh! I know Kim is right beside you (of course), so don't speak, just listen."
Ron had the inclination to reply to that but stealing a glance at Kim, who was flipping through a row of CD's, he decided to remain silent. He couldn't even nod, Wade wouldn't see him. Or would he? Ron tried to scan the store roof for security cameras.
"Yea, I hacked their cameras," Wade chuckled to himself, "Surprisingly easy too. Anyway, I know you haven't got much time to speak to me, so I'm going to say as this as fast as I can. Yes. Yes, I know what I huge break-through this can be for you. Yes, I know you've got the hots for Kim and why you dislike Josh Mankey. I'm thinking about this predicament in the same way you are, and I'm giving you that time. But I can only do this for the long weekend-"
Kim interrupted, while reading the back of a CD, "Ron, I wanna go over there, done with the song?"
"Uhh, just a sec-"
"Tchach," was her reply. "You can listen to it later, or download the mp-" She stopped in mid-sentence and eyed her surroundings suspiciously, looking around for eavesdropping store clerks. "You know what I mean."
"Just a second, KP-"
She rolled her eyes.
Wade carried on, "So do try to make progress. You may not have a better opportunity. If I have something by Monday, I can not lie to Kim. Anyways, what are friends for? Good luck, Ron! Go get her, tiger!"
Ron gagged at those words.
"Come on, Ron, I can't wait around for you all day!" Ron was caught off guard when Kim giggled, she didn't sound frustrated with him for taking so long, but more like she was enjoying herself. She took the headset off Ron's head with her free hand then led him over to another section to browse through.
When they were done in the music store (they didn't buy anything), they wandered leisurely in the direction of the Collector's Den. Perhaps Kim forgot already about Ron's 'errands' and was already enjoying just bumming around the mall with her very best friend.
It wasn't long before they ran into someone they knew. Ron guessed it was somewhat inevitable, it was Friday of the long weekend. Even though he was eternally thankful that it wasn't Josh Mankey, Ron still wasn't all too pleased with who it was.
"Hey, Gil," Ron felt forced to say when Gil approached them. (Ron was still sore over the school's winter camp incident last year. It had lead to many embarrassments that Ron shuddered to remember—and being lost in that canoe with Gil and Wally of all people only to become stranded at Alternate Shibboleth Resources for the Elderly Camp hadn't been very much fun either).
"Well-well, Ronnie!" Gil crowed, all smiles in a long sleeves sweater, jeans and a dark green scarf wrapped around his neck. "I haven't seen you around, lately. How's it going?" He nodded at Kim to acknowledge her presence; she nodded back.
"Ok, KP and I are just hanging. Where's Wally?" Ron asked, remarking on how Gil and Wally were always hanging out together.
Gil grinned, "Gee, Ronnie. I thought he might still be with you, you know, after that party with the spiked punch at Brick's…"
Kim glanced at Ron through the corners of her eyes, he looked about ready to tear Gil to shreds. His look instantly reminded her of the glare Ron gave the retreating gang members yesterday. A chill ran down her spine. The irrational side of her brain made her wonder if Ron would spaz out at Gil and start spewing his blood. But no.
When Ron didn't respond in words, Gil flashed a toothy smile and tossed his spiked hair. "Actually, Ronnie, he's around. But I'm here with a date to-day." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
Kim and Ron peered around Gil to see Bonnie browsing through a pile of clothing folded on a display near the front of a trendy store.
Now it was Kim's turn to return the grin. "I didn't know 'stalking' constituted as a 'date'." Still grinning with arched eyebrows, she looked at Ron who looked mighty pleased with her retort.
Gil wasn't so gratified with the remark, but he showed no sign of aggression. "She'll turn around eventually. Besides, I've got to wait for the right move, hadn't I?" Was he looking at Ron when he said that?
"Whatever, Gil," Kim clicked her tongue. "Look, if you can elope with Bonnie to some place far, far away, then I'll be happy."
"That's the general idea," Gil replied.
"We've, uh, got to get a move on," Ron hastened. "See you at school on Tuesday."
Gil, for the first time, looked down at Kim and Ron's hands, the ones they were holding together. "Yea… yea, I guess I will." Seeming to shake out of a stupor, he gave them another grin and gave his farewells: "See ya later, Ronnie; Bye, Possible," before turning around in the opposite direction, towards the store Bonnie was shopping in.
Kim tugged Ron along, continuing on their way. "I don't want to hang around here in case Bonnie sees us… That was close enough as it was."
Together they walked down the mall aisle, fast away from Bonnie and Gil. Soon, they began to near the food court in the now hurried walk to the Collector's Den.
Ron sniffed the air, "Mmm, smell that? Let's grab something to eat."
Kim shrugged, "I'm not that hungry…"
"Well, how about you decide what we eat? Hint: pizza."
Kim laughed and playfully pushed Ron away, "No way. I have better idea…" She was already eyeing a place.
"What..?"
Kim pointed with her finger and began to lead Ron like a dog on a leash.
"Smoothies?!" Ron exclaimed then glared at her defiantly, "Rufus and I don't do smoothies."
"Well, to-day you do!"
—–
Kim and Ron with Rufus on his shoulder as usual sat down on a nearby bench with their smoothies.
"I'm still not into this whole 'smoothie' business," Ron said sceptically while poking his smoothie with his spoon.
Kim sighed, "Ron, it's not going to kill you and it's not betraying Bueno Nacho if you eat one. Trust me, they're not going to care." She muttered, "Or even notice."
Ron, however, didn't look convinced in the least. He continued to twirl the smoothie around his spoon; he even went as far as too scoop some up and sniff it with a critical eye.
"Ron, just eat it! Your anti-smoothie campaign doesn't have anything to do with the whole Monique thing years ago, does it?" she accused, already eating her third spoonful.
"No." Ron huffed, puffing himself up and sitting straight, but he didn't convince Kim.
"Sure, it doesn't," Kim smirked and smacked on another mouthful. "Ron, look—I'm eating it, and I'm still alive. I'll wager you'll feel fine too."
"Alright," Ron caved in and Kim smiled smugly to herself while taking a lick off her spoon. Ron picked up a small amount of smoothie with his spoon and took the tiniest of licks, just tapping it with his tongue.
"Ron!" Kim proclaimed with exasperation. "Take a larger bite than that!"
"Kim, I can eat for myself!"
The two began to bicker back and forth, Kim insisting that if Ron didn't take in a larger spoonful, she'd be forced to jam the spoon in his throat for him, to whom Ron would emit a whine in the back of his throat, complaining that he thought the smoothie was growling at him.
—–
Soon enough, Rufus began to feel bored with Kim and Ron's smoothie fight. Besides, Rufus would think in his mind in his own rodent language, smoothies were good, yes, but they were in a cup… with a cap, and how could someone such as himself sneak some of the smoothie if Ron was wavering it about and threatening to dump it in the trash can? Rufus much preferred it if Ron was waving about a box of nachos, Rufus could easily scurry down Ron's arm and snag some of those.
Looking around himself for anything that could occupy his attention, Rufus turned his head to look at the people sitting beside them on the bench.
What was this?!
Beside Ron (a respectable distance apart) were two girls (Rufus figured they were around Kim's height and therefore probably around her age) and they had… gasp and le shock! They had exactly what Rufus had been thinking of—nachos! Probably from the Bueno Nacho outlet in the mall's food court. They each had a taco in hand and the nachos were placed beside the girl closest to Rufus… unattended to.
Rufus crept down Ron's arm without his owner taking any notice—he was gagging on a spoonful of smoothie that Kim ruthlessly shoved in his mouth unexpectedly (to Ron).
With no-one watching the nachos, Rufus took a small pawful and scampered back up Ron's arm to his other shoulder so the girls couldn't see him if they turned around. Neither Kim nor Ron noticed Rufus had brought something new with him. Kim was too busy laughing at Ron and Ron was too busy throwing up smoothie into a napkin.
It wasn't long before the nachos Rufus had swiped were consumed and the little rodent wanted more. Rufus went back for more, again, and again. Next time he went back (Rufus had lost count, if he could count) half of the nachos in the box remained.
—–
"Hey!"
Ron turned around, after pushing Kim away from him who was trying to get another spoonful into Ron's mouth. Turning around, he wiped some smoothie from his mouth (and licked some off his finger, but he wouldn't let Kim see that). "Ya-huh?" he replied, turning to face a teenage girl sitting beside him.
Kim peered over Ron to see what was going on.
"Rude much?!" The girl cried, "Keep your hands to yourself!"
"…"
"Is she talking about us?" Kim asked in a whisper once the girl had returned her attention back to her friend.
"I think she was…" Ron mused it over in his mind.
"She's the rude one," Kim snorted, still in a low whisper. "She doesn't know anything about us." Kim was referring to when Ron lightly shoved her away from him.
"Did I shove you too hard?" Ron asked, his assumption on the same wave-length as Kim's.
"No, I knew it was just a playful shove. Gesh, she can just mind her own business." They blinked, suddenly not knowing where to pick up from. Kim lifted her head to Ron, "You going to eat that?" she asked, pointing to his smoothie.
"What do you think?"
"I think—yes!" she playfully attacked him again with her own spoon covered in smoothie.
—–
Rufus had watched the scene on Ron's other shoulder, hidden from the two girls. It was a good thing they hadn't seen him. Pets weren't exactly allowed in the mall. Judging that it was safe once again, Rufus slid down Ron's moving arm and stole some more of the nachos until there was less than half left.
Rufus was going to take some more, but suddenly the girl turned around to take some—only to realise more was gone than before.
—–
"Excuse me!?" The girl accused again, leaning towards Ron to grab his attention.
Ron turned around, his arm still up, barring Kim away from him. "Yea?" he asked, more disgruntled and rude now. "What?"
"Just leave my stuff alone, ok?! Or I'll call the security guards on you."
The friend was giving Ron an evil eye which only rivalled Kim's own.
"Sod off!" Kim retorted, "We're not even touching you. Wait, what do you mean 'stuff'?"
"I'm talking about my nachos!"
Kim and Ron looked down at the less-than-half remaining nachos sitting beside him. They looked at each other. They looked back at the nachos.
"I haven't taken any of your nachos!" Ron snapped back and Kim nodded.
"Well, I didn't eat them," the girl replied back, haughtily.
"Whatever." Ron shrugged and returned his attention back to Kim. She scooted backwards so Ron could scoot closer to her and away from the nachos.
—–
Rufus peered around Ron's neck to watch the girls glare angrily at Ron behind his back, whispering to each other, then turn their attention away once again.
The little rodent couldn't help himself, there were only a few nachos left and the girls certainly weren't eating any. Why not finish them off? He was hungry and wasn't sure when or if Ron planned to hit Bueno Nacho that day. Besides, it looked like Ron really was interested in that smoothie, or was pretending to be for Kim's sake. Rufus sniggered to himself.
Scooting down Ron's arm again (Ron stole Kim's spoon and refused to give it back because she 'so instantly' wanted him to have it). Rufus sat beside the box of nachos, crunching on the ones that remained.
—–
"What in the world is THAT?!?" came the horrendously loud screech from behind Ron, snapping his ear drums.
Both Kim and Ron froze (her free hand splayed across his mouth to shove in the spoon, only a bit of the spoon handle was visible; his free hand was raised, trying to push her away).
"It's disgusting!!"
"It's naked!!"
"It's Rufus!" Kim yelped.
Rufus sat frozen, too, the last nacho halfway in his mouth. He sucked it in and nibbled it to nothingness.
"Is that yours?!" the girl hollered so loud, all the people in the immediate area turned to stare at the hoopla. She and her friend flung themselves off the bench and screamed: "Security! These people let in a… a… a naked rat into the mall! Security!"
At this point, Ron spat the spoon out of his mouth and onto the floor, covered in saliva. "Holy Nacos! Kim, let's high-tail it outta here!"
Kim threw her smoothie into the neighbouring trash can and skirted down the mall hall with Ron right behind, Rufus scooped up into his hand.
As they half-ran (they wanted to escape fast, but not seem too indiscreet) they could hear the girls screaming for the security. Ron turned his head around to see the girls speaking animatedly with two very imposing-looking security guards.
"Why can't you ever have the dumpy doughnut-belly security guard when he's after you!?" Ron exclaimed aloud to Murphey.
Perking up Kim's interest, she turned her head to look at the scene behind them as well. "O great, Rufus really did it this time!" She tugged Ron's hand along for more speed, "Ron, pets aren't allowed in the mall. If you bring Rufus, at least keep him leashed. In your pocket."
Ron was looked back again, "Hey… I think they're describing us… yea, that has to be your poofy hair she's describing, the way she stretches her arms that wide apart-"
"Hey!"
"Hey," Ron seemingly agreed. Or not: "My head isn't shaped like an egg!"
"Well it had to have been at one point, since it's certainly scrambled like one now!"
They turned the corner and stopped only to peer around it. The security guards were jogging in their direction. Ron whimpered and moved closer to Kim, hugging Rufus close. One of them looked like he was talking into his shoulder…
"He's using a walky-talky!"
Ron looked at her curiously.
Kim looked back at Ron and hissed urgently, explaining, "He's going to tell the guard who screens the security cameras to look for us! Then they can trap us… this is not good. We have to get out of the mall-"
No! Ron thought passionately. He went through all that hassle to lure Kim out to the mall to have some fun and bygone it, he and Kim were going to have some fun! Rufus, you selfish rodent! Ron felt negatively towards his pet.
"We'll have to make a dash to the nearest entrance… There's not any nearby, but we'll have to manage somehow and-"
"No," Ron interrupted, backing up away from the corner that the security guards were fast approaching. "I… have a plan…"
"You do?" Kim asked desperately and yet disbelieving at the same time.
Ron looked around himself trying, despairingly, to grasp or come to some kind of solution and then… and then he spotted it.
"In there! Come on!"
Without giving Kim a moment to reply, he yanked her hard on their holding hands, stuffed Rufus in his pocket with the other and made a mad dash to a store on the other side of the rotunda.
Kim ran to keep up with Ron, she was in danger of falling head first—he was moving so fast. "Where are we going? Wha-"
They were in some kind of emporium. Kim looked around in fascination: the entire store was dark and the only lights glowing in the dark were different coloured fluorescence on display for sale. Looking lower, Kim looked at the items on the shelves. Odd things… wigs and stuffed animals, as in animals that were once alive but were now preserved, frozen with unblinking eyes…
"Ron…" Kim questioned in awe. "Where are we?"
Ron was looking around in the exact same manor, maybe he just ran into some random store. "I saw the window display…" he replied, but his mind seemed elsewhere as he looked around. "I think the store sells-"
"Costumes!" Kim exclaimed in glee, "O, Ron, you're a genius!"
Ron beamed.
Kim hastened to hide behind some shelves and push Ron behind them too. She peered around to look outside the store door just in time to see the pair of security guards run by. She gave a sigh.
"Can I help you?"
Ron and Kim jumped, whipping around, they saw a store clerk; his hair was blue (hey, you gotta have blue hair).
"N-no," Kim replied, recovering faster than Ron. "We're just browsing."
"No problem, let me know if you require any assistance."
"Sure thing," Kim replied. Her smile, to Ron, was extremely fake but it appeared to satisfy the store clerk.
"Have anything in mind?" Ron asked, picking up a Groucho Marx fake glasses with attached nose and moustache.
"Not really," Kim replied, browsing through a row of multi-coloured wigs. "Just anything that will disguise our identity until we can make it out of the mall safely."
"Yea, something that'll disguise that poofy hair of yours!" Ron chuckled, nudging Kim with his elbow teasingly.
Kim picked up a pink short-haired wig, "Yes," she smiled malevolently, "And something to hide that egg-shaped head of yours."
"Hey!"
Laughing, Kim placed the wig back on the manikin. "O, look at these, Ron!" Kim giggled and pointed to a small container of… "Do you think Drakken shops here?" She reached into the box and picked up a fake scar. "Stand still! Let me stick this on your face…"
"Wha- no!" Ron fidgeted but Kim fought to place it on his face just like Drakken.
"Arr matey, now all ye be need'n is an eye patch," Kim grinned, speaking like a pirate.
"Ugh, KP!" Ron tried to scratch off the fake scar, but it was sticking to his face without release. "Well, remind me that it's on, or I'll forget. What about you? What will compliment Kim's beauty..?"
Kim laughed, thinking Ron to joke, not knowing how true he thought that sentence to be.
Passing all the costumes, Kim had to wonder, "Maybe Super Villains come here to buy their costumes..?"
"H'm, what would you look like as a blonde?" Ron wondered aloud. Picking up a blonde wig with medium length hair, he placed it on her head. They looked in the mirror.
"It's not me." Kim sighed and took it off, looking through the wigs some more.
"And the scar's me?" Ron scoffed.
"It makes you look… dignified." Kim concluded.
"Too bad it doesn't do the same for Drakken!"
Next, Kim picked up a black wig with short hair. Ron eagerly helped to scoop up Kim's long auburn hair and place the black wig on her head. While Kim patted it and judged herself in the mirror, Ron picked up the stray red hairs on the base of her neck, gingerly and tucked them underneath the wig. She shuddered involuntarily from the touch.
"How do I look?" Kim asked, swinging the black hair from side to side.
"Certainly doesn't look poofy anymore," Ron smirked.
Kim scowled and punched him lightly in the arm. "What else can we find to disguise ourselves..?"
"How about this trench coat?"
Kim turned around and looked at him cynically, "You've got to be kidding me."
"Not! Look, it looks like one of those kinds detectives wore in old B and W movies."
He was right. Behind him on the rack was a trench coat that looked like the one Kim owned at home. The one she wore to hide herself on her date with… Josh Mankey…
That's right, Josh Mankey. Wasn't that the name of the guy she was supposed to have been on… on a date with to-day..? Even though she had talked to him just that morning, it seemed like days since she'd thought of him…
Ron turned back to Kim whose expression had fallen and looked lost in thought. "Kim!" he called to her. "KP! Kimila! Kimbo, Planet Earth to Kimbo the clown, do you copy?"
"Sorry, what? Gah! That… trench coat is very becoming on you, Ron." It was extremely baggy and the sleeves were so long that they were an extra half of Ron's arm. She didn't even feel Ron transferring their hands to put on the coat… was it that natural already?
"At least it disguises me some," Ron replied, looking at a shelf.
Kim smiled, "What else is there? I need something on me…"
Unexpectedly, Ron plopped something onto Kim's head. When she looked in the mirror, she found she was wearing bunny ears.
"O gee, Ron," Kim said sarcastically, "That's really inconspicuous."
She picked up a pair of fifties cat's eye sunglasses and put them on. She approved. Well, for obscuring her identity, that is. Kim was obscuring her identity so much, not only for the sake of the security guards, but in case they ran across Bonnie again. It was a risk though, if Bonnie recognised Kim through the get-up, she'd have the whole school knowing she was wearing cat's eye glasses.
"Try this on," Ron gave her a black leather jacket.
"O, that's disgusting!" Kim declared, holding up the worn and frayed jacket. "Are you kidding me, Ron?"
"You need something to disguise your clothes, or part of them. Besides, it'll match your black jeans."
Kim slipped it on while biting her lower lip. Tugging the collar forwards, Kim criticized herself in the mirror again. "At least I don't look like myself anymore."
"There you go," Ron smiled back.
"Think we're done yet?"
"No, wait, I wanna look around some more…"
"How much is all this going to cost?!" Kim suddenly exclaimed, remembering they had to pay for all the wear (including the fake scar stuck to Ron's cheek). Or maybe they could rent some of the stuff..?
—–
Inside Ron's pocket, Rufus decided it was safe to take a peak and peer out of the flap. Not 'safe' as in people might see him, but 'safe' as in Ron was no longer upset with him and his attentions were elsewhere.
Rufus looked around at knee level trying to catch his bearings he wasn't in Ron's pocket anymore. While Rufus was taking a snooze cruise, Ron must have transferred him to this… jacket or other. Looking outside the jacket pocket, it certainly didn't look like the mall Rufus was used to seeing. They must be in some sort of store. Whatever kind of store, it didn't look so interesting on Rufus' eye level. Certainly wasn't any cheese or nachos.
Ron, who was standing still at the time when Rufus poked his nose out, began to walk. Rufus felt the familiar swing of his leg as he walked. Maybe there was more to look at, so Rufus decided to continue looking out of the pocket flap.
But the scenery didn't change much from where Rufus sat. If Ron was in the store (for this long), there had to be something worth looking at, so Rufus boldly climbed his way up the coat (not jacket, Rufus discovered) and up the arm to sit on Ron's shoulder and take a gander at things from up high.
The little rodent twitched his nose, Ron brought up a hand to brush Rufus' whiskers away from his skin. The annoying hand caused Rufus to jump of his shoulder and onto a store shelf.
Looking in little containers and taking sniffs, all this stuff bored Rufus: none of it was edible.
He scurried along the shelf, coming to the end where there was…
—–
A high pitched squeal sounded out from beside Ron. He and Kim dropped what they were holding in terror, the noise was so frightening! They only barely caught Rufus motoring faster than a mole-rat normally could in the other direction.
"Rufus!" Ron cried out and dashed after him, hanging onto a top hat on his head.
Kim wailed as she was tugged backwards by Ron who had launched himself into pursuit (he must have forgotten they were still attached). Before turning herself around in her run, she was able to see a freakishly large stuffed rattle-snake frozen in a poised striking position with bared fangs.
It would have scared Kim too.
"Hey!" someone shouted out behind Kim, but didn't catch anything else the voice said.
The bunny ears were in danger of falling off her head, but she raised a hand to hold them as she ran after Ron crying: "Ron—slow down!"
But Ron was too intent on rescuing his precious little pet, he didn't hear Kim, or he was ignoring her.
"Rufus! Come back! It wasn't real!"
The trench coat Ron was wearing was ever so long and Ron was constantly tripping on the train dragging on the floor. He'd stumble forwards, just barely catching his footing and haul himself up. He grappled through the long sleeves to pick up some of the coat on the floor so he could run easier. It reminded Kim of someone running in a dress. The top had on Ron's head was constantly slipping over his forehead and blocking Ron's view.
"There they are!"
Kim swirled her head around, the rabbit ears almost toppling off her head and black hairs from the wig caught in her mouth.
It was the two security guards!
"Ron! The guards!" Kim cried.
Ron turned his head around and almost fell flat on his face but somehow managed to regain his balance. "They're after my Rufus! How'd they recognise us?!"
"Gee, a boy and a girl overly dressed and chasing the wanted naked mole-rat. I have no idea how they could have recognised us!"
A security guard behind them yelled: "STOP THIEF!"
"Thief?" Ron asked incredulously, swinging back his head, but still keeping an eye on a streaking Rufus. "Maybe they're not after us."
Suddenly, it hit Kim. "Yes they are! We're still wearing the clothes and stUUuff" she was jerked forwards unexpectedly and almost clashed into Ron.
Ron growled as he ran, "Rufus you are in SO much trouble—GET BACK HERE!!"
"Sorry!" she shouted out to the trailing security guards. "It was an accident I swear, we don't actually want to keep this trash—he's not that fashion impaired-"
Before Kim could successfully pull off the bunny ears and toss them onto the floor behind her, Ron and Kim flew past three gaping figures with shopping bags. It was Bonnie, Gil and Prince Wally. Bonnie's eyes were wide-open like never before and her mouth agape. (Gil could be heard saying: "Damn! I didn't bring my camera-cell with me!")
Kim prayed that Bonnie didn't recognise her.
After Kim threw off the bunny ears, she was pulled again abruptly around a corner. "Stop doing tha-" Suddenly, she was pulled forwards so much, that she actually fell down onto the mall floor, slapping it hard.
Kim rubbed her sore head; it was dark. Kim pulled off the sunglasses.
"Where… are we..?" she questioned.
They were in some sort of tent. Inside the tent were racks of clothing and boxes of shoes and other such accessories. She sat on the floor and looked up at Ron whose trench coat was slipping off his shoulders. He was looking around, his eyes on the floor looking for Rufus.
"I thought I saw Rufus go in here, but I can't find him!" Ron choked on a wail, truly upset.
Standing up, Kim pulled off the black wig and left it on the floor causing her hair to ala poof-afy into and 'fro. Discontented, she combed it back down with her fingers then carefully peeked out the tent flap where they came in from. She couldn't see any of the security guards. Hopefully they had given them the slip.
"We're going to be in so much trouble, Ron," Kim agonized. "We could actually get charged, you know."
But Ron's mind was not to be distracted. "Help me find Rufus, please."
"Calm down, Ron," Kim placed a comforting hand on Ron's shoulder. She pushed the trench coat off and let in fall onto the floor in a mountain of folds. "We'll find Rufus, I bet he's gone out through there-" Kim pointed to another flap in front of them. "But we can't go searching for him like this. The security guards will catch us and kick us out."
"I know that," Ron sniffed (back some tears). He moved towards the racks of clothing. "And just our luck, we can borrow some of these clothes for a new disguise."
"Ron!' Kim exclaimed, "I don't think that's a very good idea. These clothes belong to somebody…"
"Do you want to be caught by the security guards, given a month ban from the mall—including Club Banana – and endure the pain of being attached to a very upset and disgruntled Rufus-less Ron who blames you for his beloved pet's absence?"
"… Hand me that water bra."
—–
"How do I look?" Kim asked, striking a pose in her new get-up.
"Don't even ask me that!" Ron snorted a laugh.
In addition to the water bra, Kim donned a tiny, tight skirt, a punk t-shirt with many decorative safety-pins and a pair of ridiculously high platforms to confuse her actual height.
How did Kim manage to dress into these clothes whilst attached to Ron? It was difficult, but Kim had faith in Ron that he didn't peak. Well… how could he when she tied the black shirt around his eyes?
"Now," Kim contemplated, pushing through the clothing again while teetering on the platforms. "Let's find something for you to wear…"
Turning around to look at Ron, Kim let out a laugh almost losing her balance on the platforms.
"What?" Ron asked, grudgingly.
Kim sniffed away some laughter, "Your hair is a mess!"
When Ron had pulled off the bandana, it brushed through his hair with a static charge. He grunted and patted his hair back down.
"Just help me find a disguise to put on so we can look for Rufus, ok?"
"Sure," Kim couldn't hide the smile on her face. "I can't even move in this skirt and shoes!"
They continued to browse through the racks and even the boxes which were mostly shoes. It was a bit difficult since they only had one hand each and the racks were pretty jam-packed full of clothing. After much searching, it suddenly dawned on them. All the clothes were girls clothes.
"This tent must be only for the girls!" Ron stammered, fret creeping into his voice again. "Quick, we gotta kind the guys tent and fast! Rufus could be anywhere by now!"
Together they dashed to the tent flap and peered outside for where the nearest tent could be that might be harbouring the boys clothes. There were some more tents a little further away from them on their left.
"Ok," Ron whispered, "One the count of three, we mad dash. One, two…"
"No dice!" Kim hissed and pulled Ron back into the tent abruptly by his hair.
"Gah!" Ron sobbed, a hand rubbing the top of his head. "What was that for?"
"The security guards are out there, they'll see us." Kim looked around herself for some kind of solution. "We'll just have to wait until they pass…"
"We can't wait that long!" Ron wailed, sitting on the floor. "We have to find Rufus, like, now. O! My precious little mole rat! What if he's lost, KP? What if he's frightened, what if-"
"Ron!" Kim snapped, her temper shortening. "Don't just sit there and complain! It's not going to solve anything. We have to look at our options and choose one, even if they are limited." Kim looked outside the flap again; the guards were still standing around and eating. "Now Ron, you love Rufus, yes?"
Ron looked at Kim quizzically, "Yea…"
"And you'd do anything for him, right?"
Ron lowered his head and evaluated Kim. "Yea…" he responded slowly, not sure where this conversation was headed.
"Then," Kim smirked and stood up, a hand still holding one of the flaps. "I see only one solution."
—–
"Kim, you are the worst friend in the whole entire world!"
"Yes, I love you too, Ron. Now don't just sulk, look at yourself in the mirror; does everything seem in place?"
"I can see how I look already." Ron snorted back.
Kim giggled, "Stop being so grumpy, you want to find Rufus before the guards do, right?" She fiddled with the black wig on Ron's head, making sure it was straight. "They're looking for a boy and a girl. Not two girls."
"Yea, but I didn't want to become a drag queen!"
"O hush, it's not the first time you've worn girls a skirt." Kim stepped back to look at her work. Yes, Ron did look quite lovely in that skirt and it matched the baby-t perfectly. Those knee-high socks where a nice touch too. They were really the only clothes left that would fit Ron, he was so thin, most of the clothing wouldn't fit on him.
"It was Hallowe'en. I was four, KP."
"Huh? O, I forgot about that time, no I was talking about-"
"Alright, I need the next two. Are we ready now, girls?"
Kim and Ron whipped around. A tall woman in a business skirt and suit walked in with a clipboard; she tapped the board with a pen. She halted when she saw the two. The two friends froze. They stared at each other.
"… Were those the clothes scheduled to go on next?" The stage manager asked herself while skimming her clipboard. (Kim and Ron heaved a relieved sigh, she didn't suspect anything.) "Are you sure that skirt goes with that top? I thought I had it with that one… This one makes her look frumpy."
Kim looked at the intended top. Hey! That skirt totally match the top I gave Ron. This lady has no fashion sense!
"Hey!!" Ron yelled out indignantly at the 'frumpy' remark, puffing himself up dangerously.
Kim nudged Ron to silence him.
"Uh," Ron changed his voice to sound more girly. "I mean, 'hey!', this… works too…"
The stage manager looked up from her list and gave Ron a curious look. Please don't suspect anything! Kim begged silently.
"I don't remember you," the stage manager replied. "What's your name again..?"
"Uh, Ron… da… lin… din… son."
"Rondalindinson?"
"She's, uh," Kim inhaled nervously and tapped her fingers on her cheek, "Not from around here… She's from…"
"Norway," Ron supplied in that high-pitched girly voice.
"Or possibly France."
"Or Quebec."
Ron received a sharp jab in his rubs via Kim's elbow.
"Ow…" Ron whispered sorely while rubbing his ribs with his free hand and scowling at Kim.
"What happened to her?"
"Huh?"
The stage manager pointed to Ron… dalindinson's cheek.
Ron lifted a hand to rub his cheek and Kim breathed in sharply and held her breath. It was the fake scar still stuck on his cheek! Ron rubbed it and tried to grin nonchalantly. "A… cat fight…" Ron mumbled and Kim shot him a bitter look.
"Enough!" The stage manager barked and whipped around. "Follow me girls, enough chit-chat."
Exchanging anxious looks, Kim followed the stage manager, tugging Ron along who was very reluctant to go anywhere in the get-up he was wearing.
They came to a stop behind a curtain. The stage manager was peeking out from behind it. Kim and Ron could hear music playing from outside, enticing their curiousness.
Two girls walked in from the other side the curtain.
"Alright," the stage manager said, "You two are next."
Kim cried out: "HUH?! What—no! We're not-"
"Don't worry, that's just the butterflies. You'll forget all about them once you're on stage—Now go!"
Without a moment to think, the stage manager gave Kim and Ron a quick shove in their backs and they stumbled out onto the stage (Kim more than Ron, who was still wearing those incredulously high platforms and her legs tapped tightly together thanks to the skirt).
Instantly, Kim and Ron froze, viewing the ocean audience. The numerous people sat in folding chairs, staring back up at Kim and Ron, waiting for them to start modelling their clothes. Kim had no idea there was supposed to be a fashion show at the mall to-day! Of all the rotten luck…
But the people were waiting and the sooner they fashioned these clothes, the sooner they could search for Rufus and leave.
So Kim was the first to regain her senses. She strutted forwards, imitating models she'd seen on the television, although her walk was less professional. As soon as she started walking however, Ron was forcibly pulled along with her and started walking down the catwalk behind her, looking very high-strung.
The people began to clap and (Oh dear goodness, no!) photos were being taken. Everything was going 'smoothly'. All they need to do was walk up and down a couple of times…
Ron sped up and almost clashed into Kim who was having the dickens of a time trying to keep her balance and those blasted shoes of hers. "Kim," he hissed, "Look!"
Kim gave a fake toothy smile to the audience and looked around for what Ron –Rondalindinson was looking at when…
"The security guards!" Kim whispered frantically.
They weren't sitting in the audience like the rest of the people. They were standing around near the back, keeping their eyes out probably for a naked mole-rat or two estranged teenagers.
This day is turning out to be more than whacked! Kim sobbed in her mind.
"But look on their hats!" Ron whispered back.
They reached the end of the catwalk where Kim took a good look at the security guards hats. It was a good thing Kim had reached the end of the catwalk and turned around to walk back because the look on her face would have frightened the audience.
It was Rufus—he was on one of the security guard's hat!! And from what Kim saw, he was smacking his mouth and eyeing the noodles the security guard was holding…
"At least we found him," Kim grunted to Ron.
"How are we gonna get him away from the guards?!" Ron whimpered, "What if they see him? What if the capture him? What if-"
"Enough with the 'what ifs', Ron!" Kim cut off rudely. "Just wait until we get down from here."
Kim made as if to get off the catwalk and go behind the curtains, but the stage manager watching them held up her hands and shooed them away, telling them they were to do another walk.
These people aren't blind, all they need is one good look and they already got it!
They turned around and began another walk. This time, they both kept a careful eye on Rufus.
Ron must have had a heart attack. The security guard with the noodles passed the disposable bowl to the other… and in doing so, Rufus hopped from one guard, to the other, landing on his hat. Kim heard Ron emit a whimper, even Kim bit her bottom lip.
Catching Kim off guard, Ron sped up the walk, in a definite hurry to rescue his Rufus.
They were forced to watch, Ron probably on the brink of stressed worry, when Rufus leapt again from one guard to the other when they passed a bowl of noodles between each other again. It was miracle, Kim thought, that they didn't feel Rufus on top of their heads.
Kim was surprised that Ron didn't faint right there and then when Rufus began to crawl down the security guard's back and then on the side of his arm in a stupidly brave attempt to snatch some of the noodles.
"Did you even feed Rufus to-day?!"
Right when Rufus was about to reach into the bowl, clinging to the security guard's shirt sleeve, the guard was finished and tossed it into the garbage can. Rufus jumped off of the security guard and sat on the rim of the garbage bin, staring into it longingly.
Reaching the end of the catwalk again, they looked on despairingly as Rufus sniffed the air then dashed off again and out of Kim and Ron's sight.
Wobbling on the platforms, they headed back down the catwalk towards the curtains.
"C'mon!" Ron whispered, pulling Kim hard.
"Careful!" Kim wailed, stumbling.
When Kim and Ron tried to hop off the catwalk, the stage manager shook her head 'no' and insisted that they do yet another walk. Because Kim and Ron were so enrapt on watching Rufus and his antics, they were deaf to the cheers of the audience.
Ever so moodily, Ron whipped around and stalked down the catwalk, his skirt swishing angrily on his hips as the crowd cheered on ("I'm getting that girl with the black hair's phone number!!"). Behind him, Kim stumbled and wobbled dangerously.
"Not so fast!" whispered Kim nervously. "These things are terrible for walking in and I feel like someone stitched my legs together!"
"We have to rescue Rufus!" was Ron's only response.
He strutted forwards in a march, ignoring the shouts, cheers and whistles from the (male portion of the) audience. It was quite the fight for Kim to stay on her own two feet, she kept wavering from side to side and leaning forwards about to fall flat on her face in fact… she did.
Ron was moving too fast and put too much distance between himself and Kim, perhaps he was forgetting that they were stuck. Kim tried to run forwards, but the platforms were so high and her legs limited, she fell forwards landing with a hard thump face forwards… and an unexpected pop!
The water bra Kim had been wearing burst inside her shirt and the water spilled all over the catwalk. The audience was laughing and gasping, surely the stage manager was throwing a hissy-fit behind them! The water splashed outwards and spread right underneath Ron's feet who skid and flew into the air (pulling Kim along with him!), landing in the audience… or more specifically, the lap of an audience member. Or to be even more precise, Prince Wally.
"I'm not sure why," Prince Wally drawled to Gil who sat beside him (and Bonnie beside him). "But I find this girl irresistibly cute."
Gil leaned over and looked at Rondalindinson, "She does have something about her that seems recognisable. But she's way too flat for me." Gil nudged Bonnie in the elbow sitting beside him and snorted, flipping out her cell.
It was a good thing Ron only had one hand. Otherwise he would have leapt up and strangled Wally right then.
While the stage manager ran onto the catwalk almost in tears, Kim and Ron took this opportunity to escape off the catwalk and back into the tent where their clothes lay folded, hidden in a corner. (But they could still hear the trailing voice of Prince Wally shouting: "Wait! I want your phone number!")
"That's it!" Ron cried, when they burst through the tent flap; was there a sob in his voice? "I'm not wearing this anymore!" Ron was already tearing off the baby-t with his one hand.
"But we need a disguise!" Kim argued, shaking the water off her wet arms and silently thankful that her shirt wasn't white.
"I don't care! I'm not walking around like a girl anymore! We can't wear these anymore anyways, not with Miss Huff and Puff angry at us."
"You're right…" Kim said, now helping Ron take off his shirt.
When they finished changing into the clothes they came in, they tried to dry themselves off, but there wasn't much to dry themselves with, except for the other clothes. With Kim's bangs drying and dangling in her eyes, she ventured a look outside the tent flap; not the one that lead to the catwalk, but the other one that they had originally came in.
"It looks safe…" Kim looked both ways again, "Let's go."
They didn't go too far when the pair of security guards came strolling around the tents, talking to each other, but still on the look-out for them nonetheless.
"Aa!" Ron pulled Kim back and they hid behind a decorative mall plant, beside a garbage can and an ash tray.
"What!?" Kim groaned peeking through the large leaves to try and see what Ron saw. "The security guards are still hanging around! Ok, this is getting ridiculous."
"We need to get past them somehow…" Ron thought.
Kim turned around and looked around herself, trying to figure out a plan. Her hair and body was still dripping with water from the burst water bra. "Maybe if we create some kind of diversion, we can slip by them?"
"How?"
"Not sure. Maybe we could shout something…"
Suddenly, there was the sound of skidding shoes on a wet floor, a crash! and then Ron stood up and shouted at the top of his lungs: "FIRE!!!"
Kim looked at Ron wildly, "That's a bit too much, don't you thiii- AAH!" Right behind Kim a fire was torching the plant! Ron had lost his balance on the wet floor and backed up into the ash tray which spilled onto the plant, causing the flames!
Augh, Ron, not again!!
This immediately caught the guard's attentions.
"Run!!" Kim yelled and heaved Ron along as they scurried in the other direction, eager to hide from the approaching guards.
The fire worked perfectly to distract the guards, who were now frantically calling the fire department over their walky-talkies. At least this would keep them busy for awhile so Kim and Ron could search for Rufus and hopefully find him and leave the mall in the meantime.
"Where do you think he could have run off too?" Ron asked critically.
"I have no idea, just keep an eye out. Where do you think he could have gone?"
Ron thought hard, "Maybe to the food court..? He must have been really hungry to have risked grabbing those noodles."
"Sounds like a start- hey."
Immediately, Kim stopped running; Ron almost pulled her down as he tried to stop himself, ahead of her.
"What? What?" Ron asked.
"That looks like… Rufus."
"Huh?" Ron turned to look in Kim's direction. "That is Rufus!!"
Standing in the picture window of the Smarty-Mart mall entrance was none other than Rufus! He was amidst a Hallowe'en display (yes, already!) and was trying to put his little mole-rat paws on some of the candy in the Hallowe'en buckets the manikins were holding, all dressed up in different costumes.
"Rufus!" Ron yelped, and fled towards the picture window but before he and Kim could reach his wandering pet, Rufus, upon realising the candy was fake, bounded off the manikin's arm and further into Smarty-Mart.
"Where did he go?!" Ron asked frantically, swishing his head this way and that. "We lost him again, Kim!"
"So not the drama, Ron, we'll find him." Kim tried to sound hopeful for Ron's sake, "Let's start searching, he has to be around here somewhere."
"Kim, I don't think you realise that Smarty-Mart is a huge place and Rufus is so small!"
Kim pulled Ron along to begin searching for the lost little mole-rat. "On the bright side, the mall is larger than Smarty-Mart, so at least we narrowed it down some."
They started searching in the holiday section where all the Hallowe'en costumes were but Rufus was nowhere to be found.
Was it just Kim's imagination or was Ron walking unusually close to her? If he was, she didn't blame him. A lot of the masks that hung on racks they passed were unusually freaky and disturbing to even Kim; Ron was probably frightened of them, she held his hand tighter.
There were masks of mutated beasts and masks of human faces horribly distorted by unknown gruesome acts of violence. One of the human masks had a plastic snake coming out of its mouth; Kim winced. There were masks of horror movie characters, including one of The Penner. She hoped she didn't run into anyone wearing that mask on Hallowe'en.
Although Kim thought most of these decorations to be corny, she had to admit that Hallowe'en was a fun holiday for her. Especially when she and Ron wore matching costumes, but she did wish they didn't have to go trick-or-treating in them. And she wished that she could pick out the matching costumes for a change.
"Um, I don't think he's in this aisle…" Ron murmured in Kim's ear, he was so close to her now.
"Don't be so frightened, Ron," Kim assured, "They're just masks, they're not going to jump out and- GAAAH!!"
"MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" etcetera, etcetera. A plastic ghost swirled down from a thin, white wire and began to blink its little ghost eyes and continue to cackle in a comically 'sinister' way. It wobbled back and forth in the remaining momentum and wouldn't stop its mechanical laughter.
"!!!!!" Both Kim and Ron felt their hearts skip right out of their ribcages. They watched the little ghost wind back up like a spider on the invisible wire and wait until its motion detector scanned another unsuspecting shopper.
Kim stood straight, half aggravated with herself for being scared so easily by a stupid little toy and the other half of her annoyed with the employee who put the blasted thing there. She turned around to check on Ron's condition—he stood stock still. Absolutely petrified.
"That was nasty trick," Kim grunted and pulled Ron into motion, stalking forwards in a furious temper. "I swear, if I run into any of those on Hallowe'en, that person is gonna wish he'd-"
"Kim!" Ron interrupted abruptly, "Do you hear that?"
Reluctantly, Kim stopped fuming and silenced herself, straining to hear what Ron was listening too. It sounded like…
"It sounds like… chewing…" Kim said slowly.
Kim and Ron quickly exchanged looks and then dashed into the next aisle which was where the Hallowe'en candy was kept.
"Rufus!!"
There was Rufus in the middle of the aisle, opening bags of Hallowe'en candy creating quite the mess and happily eating all he could. When he heard his owner's call, Rufus poked his head out of a bag of mini chocolates and squeaked. Ron didn't look too happy with him… So he decided to make a break for it and dash out of the aisle.
"Rufus! Come back here! I am not paying for all of those!" Ron declared angrily.
"Come on," Kim sighed, marching forwards, beginning to also loose her temper with Ron's pet. This was becoming so repetitive.
Kim was about to turn the corner when she bumped into someone. Standing back, he saw a Smarty-Mart employee in the usual red and white uniform. He didn't looked amused at all.
"You going to pay for that?" he asked, pointing accusingly at the mess on the floor, looking at the both of them.
Kim was at a moment's loss, then began to stammer: "But, I, he- Rufus-"
"We're not paying for that!" Ron spoke out brazenly, shocking both Kim and the employee.
"O, you're not, are you?" the employee named Steve sneered.
"No!" Ron retorted, he tried to side-step the employee, to his and Kim's surprise, he let them.
"Really? Then that leaves us with only one possibility—SECURITY!!!"
"Not again!" Kim groaned. She broke out in a run, Ron quickly hastening after her. "You really did it this time!"
"It's not my fault, I didn't cause this mess!"
"But your pet did. Ron, you have to take responsibility for Rufus!"
"I am! why do you think I'm trying to find him?" Ron snorted back.
Kim could only groan.
"I think I see Rufus up ahead!" Kim shouted to Ron. Looking back, she could see the employee now speaking with two new security guards. Why did they always have to come in pairs?
"Where?" Ron asked, "I don't see him!"
"Down this aisle… I'm sure of it."
They streaked down a new aisle and came to a precipitated halt. The aisle was…
Glassware. O, Rufus, no!!
Ron too stood stunned. "Are you sure you saw him dash this way?" he asked meekly.
"I'm hoping not…"
Just as apprehensive as when they walked down the Hallowe'en aisle, Kim and Ron scrupulously walked down this one, meticulous to stay close to the centre.
But soon they could hear the voices of the approaching guards ("Which way did they go?" "I think down here…" "Tell someone to keep an eye out near the entrances…")
"Rufus," Ron called out softly as to not attract the guards. "Come on boy, where are you?"
A glass teetered on its shelf. Kim and Ron exchanged looks.
"Rufus," Kim joined in, "Come down and we'll hit Bueno Nacho, ok? Just for you"
A row of glass began a chain reaction of wobbles. They both gritted their teeth and then…
"Catch it!" Kim wailed and Ron dived on his stomach… bringing Kim along with him. To both their relief, Ron caught the precarious glass and placed it back on the shelf.
Right then, a voice hollered out: "Stop! We want to talk to you kids…"
"Kids?!" Kim yelped before Ron could cry: "Let's get outta here!"
Rufus must have heard them too, as soon as the security guards shouted out and made their way down the aisle, Rufus squeaked and ran as fast as he could down the shelf. In the process, his naked mole-rat tail swished from side to side, upsetting some of the glassware…
Instinctively, Kim jumped forwards to catch as many of the raining cups as she could, but Ron was in a run and wasn't stopping to catch the falling glass, instead, he went right after Rufus.
The security guards shouted out and ran forwards, grasping as many of the falling glass as they could.
"Good distraction," Kim mused as the distant sounds of crashing glass sounded from behind her.
They chased Rufus, close on his tail, their shoes slapping the tiled floor as hard and as fast as they could both muster. Rufus was streaking as fast as he could, he swerved and into a new aisle…
The pet aisle!
Rufus was standing on one of the cages, looking around himself with nervousness. He probably wanted to blend in with the other naked mole-rats… only there wasn't any.
Together, Kim and Ron began to approach Rufus with extreme caution.
"Hey, buddy," Ron began, trying his best to smile and to sound friendly despite all the anger hidden underneath. "We just wanna go home… ok? We can eat at home… Mrs Possible's cooking; yum, right?"
Rufus looked like he was seriously considering this idea.
"I won't get mad at ya," Ron insisted, steadily walking closer to Rufus with open arms. "It's time to go home, maybe we'll stop by Bueno Nacho… pick up a naco, share it between us. Sound good?"
Rufus took a step towards Ron, but then suddenly let out a squeal and leap off the cage. Ron swore under his breath.
Whipping around to see what could have frightened Rufus, Kim turned to see… "The guards!!"
"Quick—do something!" Ron sobbed urgently.
Rufus was thinking on his own, as soon as he saw the guards, he dashed to the animal cages and undid all of the clasps, setting all of the animals of Aisle Sixteen loose.
The bull snorted and charged through the glassware, all that work Kim and Ron did to ensure they wouldn't break was for nothing. The gorilla beat its chest and began to stalk through the ladies wear. All the rest of the smaller animals scampered around on the floor, causing ladies (and a few guys) to scream and little children to cry—the entire floor was in pandemonium!
"Whoo, party!" Rufus cheered and began to run with his hamster cousins when…
"Aha! Caught you—finally!" Kim grinned as she lifted a butterfly net up high to view her catch as butterflies flew by over her head. "You're one naughty mole-rat, Rufus." She sighed.
"KP, we gotta haul butt!"
A voice from the intercom: "Round-up in Aisle Sixteen. Aisle Seventeen… Aisle Eighteen, Nineteen, Fifteen and Eleven…" And, well, you can imagine how it went from there.
The guards were now lost among the sea of animals, grappling for their walky-talkies. They tried to push their way free past the petulant bear and twitchy lion only to loose themselves in the crowd again when the crocodile on the floor set out a personal vendetta against them for steeping on her tail.
"I think this is a better time than any to hit the road, Ron!" Kim spoke over the birds screeching, the lion roaring and all other chaotic animal noises.
"I agree, there's the exit, let's go!"
Kim scooped a stunned Rufus out of the butterfly net and kept him in her firm grip as they ran together for the parking-lot exit. No-one would notice them, other people were fleeing from the store too and the clerks and other security guards were too harried about attending to the loose animals ("Where'd the anaconda go?!?") than to concern themselves with a pair of laughing friends making their escape.
In fact, they could be heard laughing in unison the whole time they ran down the streets of Middleton.