Author's Note: EEK- over a 100 reviews aaaah! Sorry it took so long to get this one out. THANK-YOU esp for all the compliments on my writing o.o! You can NOT imagine how much compliments like that mean to me, seriously. ;; You people ROCK. YOU... and YOU and even YOU. Yea, you too; no, not you. That one, yea you.

1. Sorry. I haven't seen that Mel Gibson movie. Don't think I've seen ANY movie with him XD.

2. Pandaroo? I'm guessing her Mom/Dad bought it for her when she was younger. Who knows what Ron will give her.

3. Eek, maybe I'm getting sloppy here with describing the hands and such or I'm thinking you guys can use your imagination XD. No, Kim was sitting with her back to the bed board, her legs folded up in front of her. Kim reached with one hand for the alarum clock and placed it in her lap in front of her where she then pressed the button with her one free hand for the alarum button. At the time her left had been holding Ron's right. Sorry about that, it was clear in my mind's eyes XB!

4. Read on to see if they're still stuck in the morning. People will think whatever they want to and who knows what people will come to what conclusions. Course, no-one figured out the voice switch in the episode Mind Games except for one dude who was a little suspicious; no-one figured out it was Kim with the red hair, green eyes and cheerleader outfit bouncing around in the gymnasium looking like a monkey in The Full Monkey. Seems like Middletoners aren't the brightest bunch :P

5. Well, here comes the bad news. You won't find out what's in Ron's drawer until the second story. Patience is key!

6. Freud once said that a man and a woman can not be just friends, there's always that sense of attraction (sorry I don't have the exact quote, heard it on some special on the Knowledge Network). So, Josh apparently thought Freud was right upon discovering Kim and Ron at Bueno Nacho; this isn't my personal opinion so no flames on that. As I said- JOSH thinks that way.

7. Happy Belated Valentine's Day to you all too!

8. Heh, the 'pact' they made isn't really something I plan to explore more. As it said and suggested, just a little pact they made when they were little kids not knowing any better on the day they learned of the birds & bees, promising to tell each other when/who. Just a cute thing.

9. As I said before, Kim has noticed things; maybe you haven't picked up on them. But the reason she's not picking up as much as Ron is mainly because she's unintentionally 'blocking' his thoughts/feelings with her own upset dilemmas she's trying to sort out. First Josh and now Ron, she's kinda busy with her own, don't you think? Not to say she won't -ever- realise what's going on, maybe when things mellow out for her?

10. I changed Sarah's name to Maggie since Steve Looter confirmed that to be her name (blonde hair, blue eyes, freckles). It had said her name was Sarah in an old commercial, but then it also said Wade's name was Sam back then XD.

11. One more note, I'm noticing FanFictionDOTnet likes to erase some of my question marks when they're coupled with an exclamation mark. So please, if you see an exclaimation mark when it looks like it should have a question mark, it probablydoes 9.9

Reviews liek omg11one: Ashley, continental-line, JulesFire, Sci fi fan30, John Steppenwolf, Me262, Forlong, kimnron4ever, ShadowGirl, MtnRon, crazyboutbooks, Zeldagurli, KimxRonWHEE, zero, silver-badger, Gryfffinrose, Bajj14, Char and the one and only Loo (er, I mean 'Clem' ;3 You and I are gonna have some fun karaoke times with Ron and Drakken at Ron's Man Party and THEY'LL NEVER SUSPECT WE'RE GIRLS.) Thank-you so much everyone! I hope you'll all stick around for the next story which I'm now writing.

A.KiNG! (SE)

¤ Instalment 09 »» Day Five: The Discovery ¤

I can't seem to handle it alone

I want to see you as soon as possible at those times

-Amuro Namie, 'Respect the Power of Love'

The alarum sounded off at a God-awful time, or so it felt to Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable. The ceaseless berating sound was relentless regardless of Kim's audible protests. She moaned and groaned, twisting around to face Ron instead of the satanic alarum clock. She clung to the sheets with her free hand, throwing them up so they enwrapped her up to her ears and dug her face into her pink pillow. Still the alarum sounded and she moaned again moving closer to Ron who must have been deaf to the alarum (he was truly blessed) as if it would make the sound go away.

Of course this didn't work so Kim, still keeping her eyes closed, turned over and shut the alarum off. Then, instead of waking Ron and readying for school, she turned back to face him, snuggling close so she was actually touching his left shoulder in her attempt to drift back to sleep.

Who cared about the stupid alarum clock? Who cared about stupid school? She knew school would be hellfire to-day anyway, Kim decided she wouldn't go. Besides, it was much more comfortable to lie in bed underneath the many comforters while trying to warm herself by snuggling close to Ron, trying to steal some of his warmth.

She almost succeeded with it too, or so she thought. Kim might have actually fallen back asleep, but she was in such a state that she couldn't tell if she had or not. It was the sound of someone traipsing up her loft stairs that brought her mind out of a sleep. Kim tried to banish the sound by burying herself further under the sheets, giving a little moan, and moving even closer to Ron.

So close that even in his sleep Ron felt something (although his mind truly could not register what) moving closer to him. He tilted himself in his sleep to welcome the something closer to him on his left (he was sleeping face down) so the something could sleep sort of half beside him and yet half under him at the same time.

The sound of the trap door opening, it was possible Kim could still ignore the sound.

"What in heavens are you two still doing in bed!" exclaimed an annoying voice. Kim just groaned and snuggled closer to Ron who allowed her passage.

"Didn't you set your alarum clock? You two are going to be late for school." A rustling sound. "Kimberly-Anne are you even listening to me!'

A disgruntled sound came from beneath the sheets that might be translated as 'go away', but you could never be too sure.

"Kim, you're not going to skip school if that's what you're thinking!"

A sudden whirlwind of movement and the somebody in the room whipped off all the comforters and blankets allowing the brisk September air to snap and sting at the two sleepers.

Immediately, Kim and Ron both gave violent shivers and tucked themselves into a sort of ball moving even closer to each other, their only source of warmth now. Both letting out a strangled cry all while refusing to open their eyes and shutting them even tighter in bold resistance.

"None of that, you're not children," Mrs Possible declared leaving the blankets off at the edge of her bed. "Up with the both of you, now! I have to get to work too, you know."

Kim gave another shiver and tried to turn away from her Mother. "I'm not going to school," she muttered.

"O, yes you are. Come on, up!" Mrs Possible sighed heavily. "Kimberly-Anne," her voice was stern, "Don't make me call your brothers on you."

"They already left for school," Kim mumbled.

"You want to take that risk?"

"Aaauugggh" Kim whined and stretched out her legs. "Alright, I'm getting up."

"Hurry up, I'm not leaving until I see you two out that door and you don't want to make me late for work. Lives are at stake! Literally."

"Alright, I said I'm getting up!" Kim groaned, her voice croaky. She dared to open her eyes a sliver as she twisted herself onto her back. The hideous light swamped through the sliver stinging her eyes as if she hadn't seen the light in years. "Ergh, oh yuck."

But to shake her Mother off her back, Kim stretched and actually went as far as sitting up to prove she was indeed going to clamber out of bed. Her Mother seemed satisfied by this and told them to be down in five when leaving the room.

Kim had a fierce inclination to just hit the pillow and fall back asleep. But that would do her no good. Mrs Possible would just come back up in five minutes time and be even angrier than before.

Instead, Kim turned to Ron who slept peacefully throughout the ordeal except for when he felt the cold September air when Mrs Possible oh-so rudely yanked the blankets off. Kim reached for Ron's shoulder and proceeded to shake him gently.

"Ron," she whispered for no specific reason. "Ron, wake up. We've got to get to school. Mom said five minutes."

"Yes," came Ron's murmured voice. "Five more minutes…"

"No, Ron! Not five more minutes. Five minutes to get dressed and wash-up! I'm stuck to you so wake up!"

Kim bent down to Ron's level and whispered in his ear, "Ron, wake up."

The soft sound and the gentle blows coming from her mouth stirred Ron. He actually lifted an open eye at her, but only half way. "What is it?" he asked grudgingly.

Did her lips twitch upward in amusement? "Time for school, let's go."

Ron groaned and hauled himself up, shivering in the coldness. "Since when were you so gung ho about going to school?" he grumbled as he stumbled over his own bare feet (he wished he had worn socks, they felt like frozen solid ice breaks… and he knew what that felt like!), following her and stopping short on one side of the screen.

He sighed as he felt his hand moving up and down while Kim changed her clothing then gave her his other hand to exchange. "I'm not. I didn't know false optimism was illegal."

"It is as this hour in the morning," he grunted to himself but said aloud: "I'm not feeling well."

His hand jerked upward. "Ron, that's not going to get us out of going to school. Mom's not going to take any excuse, I can tell."

"I'm not," Ron replied truthfully, looking out of the corner of his eye (not that he could see anything). "I'm really not feeling good." He looked down at his stomach.

It was the truth. Since he'd come into waking that morning, he felt a sort of uncomfortable feeling inside. It made him feel mellow and maybe a bit sluggish. It was the same annoying feeling as yesterday only worse. This was coming from him, not Kim, he could tell.

"Nice try," Kim responded making Ron furrow his brow in annoyance. She stepped out from behind the screen wearing her bright pink pants and white top with the pink heart.

"I'm feeling lightly mellow inside too and I don't want to go to school either," her voice changed. It had reverted back to a crestfallen, depressive tone much like yesterday. She was obviously thinking of Josh Mankey. Didn't she remember his 'little' speech to her last night? "But I'm trying to be positive about it because of what you said. I have you beside me and we'll take everything as team, just like you said." She smiled.

Ron almost sighed out loud. The relief that she remembered and soaked in everything he had to say to her last night was enormous. He didn't want to spill out the grossly edited version of his feelings for her all for nothing.

"That's exactly right, KP!" Ron instantly assured, his own grin spreading across his face despite his miserable churning insides. "You and me against the world!"

Kim gave him a satirical eye.

"Well, against High School, but that's the same isn't it?" he smirked and Kim gave in with a loud laugh.

Stepping behind the screen, Ron changed hurriedly into his school clothes as to not have Kim harrying him. After he stepped out wearing his white tee with the black half-sleeves and Rufus in his pants, Ron followed Kim to where they had dumped their school bags the previous night. They both checked their bags to make sure everything was there; their binders full of notes and exercise works, textbooks, pencil cases and gym bag with their gym uniforms for last period's class.

After reassuring themselves that all was right with their bags, Kim lead the way downstairs (with a quickened step, those five minutes were ticking) to the bathroom where they washed-up. Ron checked his cell-phone clock as Kim applied some natural-coloured lip stick, the only make-up she wore.

"We're coming!" Kim sang out to her Mother barely interrupting her as she and Ron thudded down the last flight of carpeted stairs in their socks and dashed quickly into the kitchen where Mrs Possible was sitting down with her briefcase beside her, giving The Examiner one last look over.

Mrs Possible laid down the paper and stood up as Kim reached into one of the cupboards for two granola bars (which was all they had time for. "That's it!" Ron complained as he was propelled out the kitchen door with Kim, Mrs Possible walking behind).

Mrs Possible stood outside the door, the briefcase in her hand as Kim and Ron grabbed their coats before she locked the front door.

"Wonder what took you two so long!" Jim hollered from his seat inside the Possible's family mini van.

"I'll get you two LATER," Kim shouted over her shoulder, Ron right behind her, running down the street leaving Mrs Possible and her brothers behind. To Ron she said: "I'm so glad to-day's Tuesday, no before-school Political Science class!"

"Ditto," Ron agreed, he was slowly running out of breath. That and the upset stomach he had, was he slowly becoming dizzy? "Do we still have to run?" he asked.

Instead of speaking, Kim responded by gradually coming to a brisk walk. Ron thought she might slow down even more for him, but that wasn't so.

"What time is it?" she asked of him.

Not wearing his watch, Ron reached for his cell in his pocket again and checked the time. "Seven fifty-seven," he dictated.

"Oh my goodness!" Kim screeched and made of into another swift jog. "Three minutes to get to class… upstairs!"

"Two, actually."

"Gaaah!"

ø

To Ron's misfortune, they ran the rest of the way to school; well, they did slow down a bit when Ron's body insisted and Kim had the choices of either slowing down or dragging Ron on the pavement. Normally she might choose the latter, but for some reason decided on being sensitive to Ron's needs.

They didn't stop at their lockers to lock away their after Lunch textbooks and binders nor to store away their gym uniforms (or Kim's cheerleading one). With their backs laden with weighed down backpacks (four textbooks, two binders) they ran up the staircase to Latin. It was obvious the moment they entered the school doors that the last bell had already rung. The hallways were deserted and the classroom doors where shut closed. As they flurried down the halls for the nearest staircase, they could hear the mumbled, monotone voices of teachers already beginning their classes.

Once upstairs (Ron was heaving for air by now ready to crumble onto the dirty, tiled floor), they turned the corner and streaked for class. The door to Latin was shut but Mr Barkin's voice could still be heard starting his lecture (louder than the other teacher's voices they had passed too).

Through the class window, Kim could see the clock above the blackboard, Eight o'seven, not good at all. Kim silently debated on whether or not they should skive Latin. How embarrassing would it be to walk in late, all eyes on them? And surely Mr Barkin would lecture them! Might even give them a detention… Kim mulled this over in her mind. She even began to back up as if to leave but then she received a small squeeze in her hand in Ron's. Perplexed, she turned to him; she was startled to see him smiling directly at her, their eyes locked… he mouthed something to her.

That's right, Kim recalled. Together.

She took in a deep breath and, standing up straight, put a hand on the bronze-coloured doorknob. It was loose and old, so as soon as she began to turn it, the class including Mr Barkin turned their heads to the door. There was no turning back now, together, they would brave the day of school…

"Ahh, Miss Possible and Mister Stoppable," Mr Barkin turned to face the two tardy students, his muscular arms behind his back and gazing at them through scrutinizing eyes.

"More like Mister and Mrs Stoppable," Bonnie cackled out loud for all to hear when she spotted them hand in hand and the class broke into a burst of cruel laughter.

Ron, slightly behind Kim, ventured a lean forward to catch a glimpse of Kim's facial expression. It was rock solid, staring directly at Mr Barkin and unblinking, refusing even under all the mocking laughter, tempting her to loose her temper…

"Don't just stand there," Mr Barkin commanded. "Take your seats."

Kim double blinked. No detention? She wasn't going to be the one to argue. Kim took her good fortune and scanned the class seats for two free desks near the back. Unfortunately for her, everybody wanted to sit near the back whenever Mr Barkin was teaching. The only available double seats were in the second row… in the middle of the class. Great, she thought, her mind bitter with sarcasm.

Even though Kim kept her eyes focused on the seats she was manoeuvring towards, she could still feel all the students eyes on her. Her and Ron. Inside, Kim felt her adrenaline skyrocket with nervosa, her body felt rigid and fearful. It was if her eyes darted elsewhere, something tremendously horrid would happen. But she was determined not to grant the onlookers the satisfaction of knowing they'd gotten to her, knowing that they were causing her ferocious embarrassment…

Ron was following a few steps behind warily, she wondered if he had the guts to look into the eyes of the students, the wave of staring faces…

Kim slid her backpack off her one shoulder, placing it on the floor beside her desk. She felt Ron doing the same as she bent down and unzipped her bag, pulling out her binder. Silently, she cursed Mr Barkin for not carrying on with his lesson.

Once they were both seated, however, Mr Barkin turned his back and returned to the overhead projector continuing with the subject she and Ron had so rudely interrupted.

It was only out of the corner of her eye did Kim realise Ron was trying to discreetly snag her attention. Kim turned to face Ron, giving him a puzzled look. Ron slightly tugged on her arm causing Kim to realise how much of a strain it was to stretch their hands across the aisle (and how awkward it must look too!). What else could they do but move their desks closer together? Of course the scraping noise of the desk legs on the floor snagged the attentions of everyone including Mr Barkin.

Everyone stared at Kim and Ron with wide eyes as they inched their desks closer together. When they stopped, they each huddled over their binders taken out of their bag, prepared to commence the note-taking.

Mr Barkin growled then turned back to the overhead projector. Eventually the other students turned back to their notes as well but both Kim and Ron couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched and judged…

And that was how Latin class went for the rest of the block.

Except for at one point however, a small piece of scrunched up paper landed on Kim's Latin exercise. Frowning, Kim opened the lined paper to see a crudely drawn version of herself in a wedding dress with Ron at her side, both holding hands.

Immediately, Kim whipped around to meet Bonnie's fiendishly mocking eyes. Returning with her own glower, Kim scrunched up the drawing and stuffed it into her backpack.

When the bell rang to release the students for their next class, Kim and Ron walked past Mr Barkin's desk to drop off their homework that they had done over the long weekend.

There was no rush to the next class for Kim and Ron; this was the first of their two study blocks in their weekly school schedule. Obviously Kim was heading towards the library. Ron couldn't help but think if he weren't attached to Kim, he'd be headed elsewhere.

"I suppose we're not gonna jam in the library, huh?" Ron asked, hope diminishing from his voice.

Kim shook her head, "No, we're gonna cram. Study blocks are meant for studying, Ron. We need to fit in every bit of cramming we can get for the end of year exams; don't want to have to repeat the grade, right?"

Ron sighed, "Of course not…"

As they continued to walk down the stairs to the library on the ground floor, Ron couldn't help but think Kim looked slightly frazzled and put off by the Grand Entrance they had presented their Latin class.

"Hey, KP," Ron tugged Kim a little closer so he could lower his voice into a murmur. "Don't forget, we're still gonna be a team, ok? We're here for each other, no matter what."

Truthfully, Ron wasn't expecting much of a response from Kim but she turned to face him with a gratifying look. "I know, Ron- I won't forget."

The heart in Ron's chest thudded hard against his rib cage in pride and endearment towards Kim. Instead of hiding these emotions like he would have done normally, he allowed them to show on his face, and for Kim to see them. He wanted her to understand how he felt, and this was a good increment.

Because they were taking their time to reach the library, the final bell rang just as they stepped past the scan detectors causing them to jump as if the detectors themselves were sounding the thief alarum. There were some students inside the library already, but of course not many, mostly from the older grades, like Kim and Ron themselves.

They made their way near the back of the library for an empty table where they could spread their notebooks and textbooks upon to work without being bothered or stared at.

"What subject?" Ron asked.

"Shh," Kim responded, applying her free finger to her lips, "Lower your voice, Ron." (He winced.) "I guess we can start with Computer Science."

Ron shrugged, indifferent to the subject. Pulling up a seat, Ron seated himself to Kim's left making him the one to cross his left arm across himself to attach to Kim's left unlike Latin class.

Minutes past, Kim and Ron were sharing a textbook between them when, to Ron's mild surprise, Kim pushed herself away from the desk to stand up. Curious, Ron stood up as well only to be lead away from the desk towards some shelves of books near the back of the library. On their way, they switched hands again so Ron's right had Kim's left.

Ron watched as Kim ran her finger along the spines of the books, obviously she was searching for a certain book. They were in the computer section and Ron guessed it was a book written on Java script since that was the last page they had been on.

"Java?" Ron asked and Kim nodded.

Ron 'H'mm'ed as he squinted his eyes, bending low so he could read some of the titles along the book spines for any on the subject while Kim stood beside him scanning the books on a shelf higher. Rufus leapt out of Ron's pocket to help with the search.

"Nothing down here," Ron announced and stood up to scan the books above the shelf Kim was looking at. Since he was taller than Kim, he had a height advantage and could scope out the books a shelf even higher than hers.

He remembered back when he had been shorter than Kim. Most girls didn't like to go out with guys shorter than them so he was grateful for his growth spurt, even if it did come a little late. But he still wasn't the tallest boy in school and the top shelf was hard for Ron to read (there was that slight stigmatism in his eyes he had too).

Struggling to read the top row, he stood on the tips of his sneakers, not that it did much help. "Hey, I think I see something up here," Ron said, pointing at a book on the top shelf.

"Bring it down," Kim replied, still scanning the books in the next row, stretching their arms to as far as she could. "I haven't found anything down here…"

"Maybe cos they're all up here," Ron half retorted, half joked. He leapt on his feet to reach the book he wanted on the top shelf.

"No, there's one down here!" Kim shot back obviously taking Ron's comment as a retort rather than a joke.

It was difficult to reach, not only was he too short (no! the book case was just too tall!) but he was being restrained back on his stretched arm by Kim. Whenever he tugged upwards, she tugged downwards. Growing frustrated, Ron took a furious leap upwards at the same time Kim took a vicious bound sideways, each going in the opposite direction. Naturally, something had to give.

And it was Ron. He had managed to pull out the right book, but along came a bunch of others, five books scattering down onto Ron's head. This, along with the force of being pulled back down without actually being able to balance out his weight correctly sent Ron into a fall…. Too bad it was a fall forwards. He slammed into the book case and it began to teeter. Rufus screeched in alarum and ran back into Ron's pocket in fear.

"No!" Kim gurgled out the instant the shadow on the floor began to waver in unison with the bookcase it belonged to. In an attempt to steady the bookcase, she pushed against the direction it was intent on falling (which was on them both!). But she overestimated the push and sent the bookcase crashing forwards into the next bookcase and then the other, and the other, until a chain event occurred and sent all the bookcases in the line crashing forwards, books flying everywhere.

The noise attracted the attentions of everyone in the library. Students pulled away from their texts and the librarian stared wide-eyed in strangled horror as her beloved books fluttered to the ground, all a mess and in discord.

One student in particular stuck out to Kim; Josh Mankey. He had just been leaving the library with some books under his arm when he wheeled around to see what all the commotion was about.

Their eyes met each others but Josh's wandered over to Ron who had stood up during the crash in shock when he thought the bookcase might crush him. Josh met Ron's eyes and he bristled, returning Mankey with a cold glare. Ron refused to even pretend to act warmly towards Josh after the way he had treated Kim. There was no-way Ron would allow Josh to come near his beloved friend. She deserved better than him.

But all Kim could see was the repulsion in Josh's eyes, they sneered at her once they flickered back to her from looking at their holding hands. Then he turned and left. Ron looked back at Kim, her knees sagged as she stared after him leaving the library. Ron deliberately pulled Kim closer to him and gave her hand a squeeze; he was beginning to worry if Kim was forgetting their pact.

The librarian fixed Kim and Ron with the same glare as Josh, but it had a different meaning and stomped over to them.

"We'll, um, we'll help clean these up," Kim murmured, her voice trailing.

The librarian gave an approving nod then turned on her heels, but not without giving Kim and Ron a final dirty look. It was obvious what it looked like to the on-lookers. Kim and Ron holding hands in the back secluded corner of the library? Knocked down a bookcase; Kim on the floor coupled with the looks they received?

Ron shook his head. Bending down, he started to pick up the fallen books around him along with Kim. Which was how they spent the rest of their Study Block: picking up the books and organizing them by their barcode number into piles which they laid on the empty desks. Of course they weren't expected to pick up the bookcases but it was still a strenuous task, especially with attached hands.

Ron felt like he wanted to say something to Kim, something comforting since she was beginning to look downcast again since seeing Josh. But Ron wanted to believe that Kim would remember what he had told her, she said she would and Ron believed her when she told him as they had walked here. But now… now doubt began to cloud Ron's mind.

She had been genuine. Ron could feel it when she said she would remember his words. But whenever Kim received a fresh bout of Josh-disappointment, Kim turned on Ron.

Why, Kim? Why is it so hard for you to forget him? Don't you get that he's the total jerk?

Unknown to Ron, Kim's thoughts were very much under construction. As she piled the books surrounding her into a pile, her mind was a tornado of thoughts. She was struggling so hard to believe in what Ron had spoken to her. What he said to her about him being there for he truly touched Kim and she didn't take them lightly from him.

And she was still aware of her new surfacing thoughts for Ron.

For Ron? Kim thought. Just awhile ago they were about Ron.

And yet although she was aware of this desire to be close to Ron and think of him in ways she wouldn't have dared to in the past… she still felt wounded about Josh . Seeing Josh for the first time since the Bueno Nacho incident gave her a fresh wave of upset about him.

She tried to listen to Ron, tried to shove Josh out of her mind. Ron's with me, I don't need Josh…But then: Stop kidding yourself, Possible. You're still upset about Josh, I'll get over it; just gotta give myself time to heal. Then what? She had no answer other than looking at Ron. Her watch went unnoticed by him as he stacked up books.

She smiled. Please, Ron… I'm scared for myself. I don't want to loose myself again, be there for me… I don't know what I'd do without you to be by my side…

ø

Math class was the boring. Only thing that could be said for it. When the bell had rung, the librarian had released Kim and Ron from the library even thought they hadn't finished stacking all of the books. They had tried to stack as many as they could despite only having one hand each. Both of them wanted to avoid being called back at lunch or after school to help clean up the rest. But the librarian made no further comment so Kim and Ron took this opportunity to hastily slip out of the library just in case.

They were almost late for math class since it took awhile to pack up their textbooks which had been scattered on the table. It didn't help that math class was on the other side of the school. But all that mattered to them was that they had made it in time.

This time they had better luck on their side and together they found a pair of seats more to the front/middle of the class. Again they had to edge the desks closer together and even though class hadn't begun yet, students still turned to stare (they could hear snide remarks and whispers thanks to Bonnie). Neither Kim nor Ron cared to give an explanation so they again kept to themselves and worked on their math assignment given to them.

Ron found it helpful to be closer to Kim, so he could whisper questions to her instead of skipping or making up the answers like usual. Questions not completed in class were homework, Ron had more to do than Kim but he wasn't too worried. It wasn't much compared to the assignments given to them over the long weekend plus he had Kim with him to help him through it.

Soon they were on their way to the last class before Lunch, and Ron's personal favourite class, Home Economics. Or more specifically: cooking.

Ever since Ron had proven to the school that cooking was fun, more students signed up for the course. But it still wasn't as large as their other classes, they had sixteen students including Kim and Ron.

They were broken up into groups and divided into stations. Like usual, Kim and Ron paired up together and hanged at the table in front of their station. This was heaven-sent since it granted them privacy from curious and glaring stares of their classmates.

Ron had strict orders for Rufus to stay in his pocket during cooking class, he almost failed once because of bringing a rodent into a cooking area, he wasn't about to risk expulsion from this class since it was the only elective he felt he was good at and had a passion for.

Mr Barking strolled in and began to explain the not-so-simple muffin recipe they'd be working on. The recipe was already written on the board from the previous classes, all this class had to do was copy it out then get at it.

Kim normally double checked her copied recipe with Ron's and this time was no exception. Ron knew she was so uneasy in cooking class, perhaps even a little jumpy like the spatula might leap out and start smacking her.

To put her and ease, Ron pushed up his sleeve with his free hand and gave Kim a jovial grin. "Ok, KP, let's get cracking!"

ø

ding!

"Hey, KP, the muffins should be ready now," Ron said when the oven chime sounded off. Somewhere behind them, another oven chime sounded as another group's muffins were complete.

Kim put on the old, burnt oven mitt on her available right hand and heaved down the oven door with a strenuous effort. Ron helped by using his free hand to push down on the handle as well.

"Careful," Ron cautioned unnecessarily and for it received an annoyed glare from Kim.

Reaching in, Kim pulled out the small tray with their four muffins. Kim didn't place them on the counter right away—she was just staring at them. Ron, being curious as to what was so interesting about the muffins, craned his neck to see what was the deal.

…

They weren't burnt. Ron had made sure they had the oven on at the right temperature and that they were in for the right amount of time. It was just… Kim's half… was… well… Well, Ron felt embarrassed.

"I can't do anything right!" Kim wailed, slamming the metallic muffin tray onto the counter with a clang. The two muffins she… attempted to bake were, basically, a lopsided, mound of… something that didn't look remotely edible.

"Maybe you missed an egg or something…" Ron said trying to be helpful.

He double-blinked, put off guard by Kim's outburst. Looking around, Ron noticed a couple of students turning their way to see what was the cause of the commotion, but most were busy with their own muffins and those that looked at he and Kim didn't seem interested for long. Ron looked back at Kim and watched her oven mitt tremble over her hand. Her eyes were shut tight and she looked ready to cry yet again.

"I baked them just like on the board, I followed every stupid instruction. I put them in the same oven as you and mine still turned out like dog food! No, they're not even fit for a dog!" Kim tore off her oven mitt and plopped herself into the chair by the table. She then laid her head down on the table, covering her face.

Some more students were now looking their way and Ron felt himself flush for Kim's sake. Nonetheless, he tried to ignore the interested onlookers and proceed in consoling Kim.

"Hey, you're just having an off day, is all." Ron assured. "I know you can cook, remember last year-"

"It's not just about the cooking, ok!" Kim snapped back. She must have realised how much her voice had been rising for she blushed and lowered her voice when she next said: "Ron, everything is going wrong to-day."

"I know, I'm stuck with you, remember?"

Kim just groaned and flopped her head back onto the table.

"Well, well, Miss Possible," Mr Barkin drawled as he walked up to Kim and Ron's station. "I assume those are your half of the batch?"

Kim grunted and probably rolled her eyes too before lifting her head to face their substitute teacher. "Yes, Mister Barkin, my half is the ones on the right."

"I thought Stoppable might have taught you some pointers by now since you're failing this class," Mr Barkin picked up his clip board and wrote something down that looked remarkably like an 'F'.

"I'm what!" Kim screeched.

"Progress report grades are posted on the bulletin board by the door. Take a look for yourself, Possible."

Kim's eyebrows slanted upwards in distress. "I can not be failing a class. I don't fail any class. I- I'm Kim Possible!"

Mr Barkin eyed her as if he was evaluating a piece of livestock over his clipboard then raised his voice back in that barking way. "Possible, the grades don't care if you're the Queen of England! If your results look like an F you're very well getting an F!" Kim slumped down in her seat closing her eyes. She didn't need Ron's tense shifting in his seat to tell her that most of the students were probably looking at her. Maybe even jeering again.

Why not? Go ahead, mock me. My whole life is one big mock-fest. At least Bonnie isn't in this class…

"Now you can either submit yourself to Stoppable's teachings OR you can go see your councillor too switch your course OR be stubborn and deal with what grade you deserve, that's your choice, Possible."

"Yes, Mr Barkin."

To Ron, Mr Barkin said: "Splendid work as usual, Stoppable." Mr Barkin took in a dreamy whiff of Ron's muffins. "A!" Then the teacher left to continue evaluating the students.

Kim sighed and stood up after she could hear the distant voice of Mister Barkin barking at another student's poor excuse for something edible. At least she wasn't the only one. Standing out of her seat and Ron following, Kim went back to the counter and dubiously poked one of her 'muffins'.

Ron watched as she did this, many thoughts of his own flowing inside his brain.

"KP, hey-" By now the muffins had cooled off and he was able to pick one up one of his own without burning himself. "You can have one of mine, if you like," and he handed it to her.

She looked down at the perfect muffin Ron had baked then looked up at him. "A-are you sure? You only have two…"

"I'm positive," Ron nodded and gave a shrug of nonchalance. "That's why there's two, right? One for you, one for me."

"One for me…" she trailed off, her voice and eyes distant.

"You ok, Kimbo?" Ron asked giving her a little poke on her shoulder.

Snapping out of her stupor, Kim gave a few rapid blinks. "Yea, I'm fine. Thanks, Ron."

"No big."

Kim glanced at the clock, realising there wasn't much time left before class was finished. She hurried Ron to wrap each of their muffins in saran wrap (and throwing away Kim's pathetic ones). After they placed their muffins on the table with their notebooks, Kim started the sink, ready to wash the bowls, utensils and such that they had used. Others around them began to do the same. But before she pulled the plug, she pulled out a clean knife and icing from the nearby refrigerator and began to lather her muffin in chocolate icing. Then she added sprinkles and recovering it in the saran wrap.

"Good idea!" Ron grinned and did the same with his own muffin.

Right when Ron was putting away the last of the bowls after having dried them did another bell sound out, this one was for the signal for the end of class, also the beginning of Lunch.

"Good timing," Ron commented.

"I'll say, c'mon, let's go. I'm getting hungry."

Too right, Ron thought, we totally forgot to eat our granola bars this morning. Dude, am I famished…He couldn't wait to take a bite out of his scrumptious muffin.

But as Ron walked out of the classroom door, he was suddenly pulled back by Kim. She was bent forwards over the bulletin board residing on the wall beside the door. Obviously she was searching for her name on her block's list. Curious, Ron stood slightly behind Kim and peered over her shoulder.

Ouch, Mister Barkin wasn't joking about Kim's grade. C, dangerously close to a big fat F. Ron scoped out his own name, not too surprised to see a rising A+ right next to it. One of the rare times he saw an A, mind you.

Kim grunted a sigh and left the classroom without even consulting Ron on whether or not he was done reading the class grades. Ron caught up with Kim falling behind despite their attached hands, his muffin in his left hand.

"Hey, um," Kim spoke as she looked about herself cautiously (Ron mimicked her without knowing why), "Let's, uh, go this way."

Ron followed obediently, Rufus now riding on his shoulder, not really concentrating on where Kim was leading him. He was rather delighted with the muffins he had baked in class and couldn't wait to try out how it would taste. Then he started to wonder about how things could have gone wrong with Kim's batch. He mulled over the recipe as he stared hard at his perfect muffin and how hers had turned out, wondering where she went wrong like a serious mathematician might try out different 'exciting' mathematic formulas.

As he contemplated this, he kept his head down thoughts swarming his mind as he allowed Kim to guide him in and out of the sea of students heading to the cafeteria. Only when a passing student shoved Ron roughly with his bag as he passed did Ron look up to take in his surroundings. It was then he realised they had passed the cafeteria and were obviously heading somewhere else. Maybe to their lockers to store away their morning texts?

Kim turned a corner which shot instant recognition in Ron's mind. Well, he didn't need the hallway to remind him, the person was standing there. Josh Mankey, who else?

He felt Kim falter and jerk backwards in her step when she realised Josh wasn't alone. Kim backed up so suddenly and frantically that she clashed into Ron behind her but didn't seem to care for she continued to push the both of them backwards until they rewound themselves behind the hall's corner.

She peered around the corner. Ron could practically scent the self-consciousness like an animal could smell fear on Kim as she eyed Bonnie with her friends, Hope and Tara, as they chatted with Josh (Bonnie doing most of the talking).

Ron and Rufus looked back at Kim who looked dearly ready to retreat with her tail between her legs. Ron felt like he'd rather them walk their own way and ignore Josh. But that stupid 'do the best friend thing' was kicking in. What to do? Urge Kim to go elsewhere or coax her into an approach?

Fortunately or unfortunately, Ron was saved of this decision as Kim made up her own mind and strutted forwards bravely. To take advantage of the situation, Ron gave Kim a quick squeeze with his joined hand to help reassure her before she approached Josh, Bonnie and her friends.

"Oh look who's here," Bonnie smirked, standing with bad posture and resting a hand on her dynamically held hip. "It's the odd couple," she flicked her hair over her shoulder and snorted, "I didn't think you'd have the nerve to speak or approach Josh after how you played him."

"I did not play him," Kim input, standing taller and trying to stare down Bonnie. But the snobby cheerleader in her pink mini skirt wouldn't be brought down for she knew she was at the advantage.

Ron felt himself shrink and wished himself to disappear and Rufus took a step forwards on his shoulder towards Bonnie as if he wanted to hurl his rodent-self at her. Ron glanced swiftly at Josh who was eyeing Kim dangerously. But the high turtleneck on his sweater didn't hide the corner of his mouth, which was turned down into a scowl.

"Josh phoned me yesterday, y'know, isn't that right, Joshy?" Bonnie continued disdainfuly, glaring at Kim through slit eyes. She looked more evil than Shego ever had. "He told me about how you kept phoning him all day long." She let out a shrill laugh, "What nerve! Stop playing every boy you meet, Kim, and just face the fact that you're stuck with this one," a rude jerk in Ron's direction made him shrink himself further, "Ever since you had the misfortune of meeting him. The whole school knows he's your toy; you fooled Josh once, he's not going to fall for it again and I'll make sure of that," and to emphasize her point, she linked arms with Josh.

Kim looked beaten, but she still had the determination to turn her gaze from Bonnie to Josh. At least he was making eye contact with her, but the look he was giving her… Ron was sure she'd rather him avoid her eyes. They told her he agreed with everything Bonnie had said. She wasn't just taking liberty of Josh's upset, but rather voicing his own thoughts.

Kim's eyes darted down at the muffin she held in her hands. A surge in Ron's chest and instantly he understood and hated himself for allowing it to slip past him unwarranted. He felt incredulous at what Kim was about to do, it felt like a slap and he couldn't help but let his jaw drop slightly, his eyes open and his eyebrows slanting downwards, feeling betrayed.

"I… I just came to give this to you, Josh," Kim said weakly, presenting the muffin to Josh. "I even put on sprinkles! Thought you, uh, might like to have it." She didn't give him an option of taking it from her, she held out her hand in front of Josh so he was forced to take it.

"I hope you like it," Kim said genuinely and gave a nod to him before she left.

That was Ron's muffin for Kim. He had baked the pastry; he had presented it to Kim. It felt like a stab in the back to have Kim gift it to Josh like she herself had baked it. But what could he do?

Following, Ron (unlike Kim) looked back warily. Josh was looking down at the muffin HE had baked, Bonnie and Hope looked down at it too. Ron was a bit rattled when he met Tara's eyes, she looked upset, but he gave no silent message to her.

"At least he took it, right, Ron?" Kim asked, a thin veil covered the waver in her voice. "That should account for something, maybe it'll put doubt in his mind about what Bonnie said and-"

Kim and Ron turned right to round the corner when out of the corner of their eyes, they turned to watch as Josh handed Bonnie the muffin to which she kissed him happily on the cheek taking the pastry from him. Kim's mouth dropped minimally. Bonnie squealed as she plucked a sprinkle off the muffin and popped it into her mouth, giggling.

That did it. Tears began to well in Kim's eyes again. Ron wanted to whisper to her not to break down here. Not now, you said we'd stay strong, remember? But the pain of what she had just witnessed was too great. A trembling hand flew to cover her mouth and then she fled with Ron, fled to as far away from this hallway as she could get.

ø

Ron and Kim next found themselves hiding out on the back bleachers in Middleton High's own indoor swimming pool. While the Boy's Tenth Grade swimming team practiced in the pool below them, relaying back and forth, Kim and Ron were left unaccompanied in repose. Much time had passed already as they sat there in their corner, quietly eating their granola bars they neglected to eat that morning. They had no other Lunch since the two usually purchased their lunches from the school cafeteria and it was clear there wasn't any way Ron would be able to persuade Kim to come to the caf where deriding students were in abundance.

The high windows were open, allowing the cold breeze inside, the two were sitting high enough to be near one of these open windows and it made Ron's nose cold. He sniffled and looked down at his half-eaten granola bar, staring at the compacted pieces of granola.

His eyes shifted over to Kim's granola bar, which was resting in her hold while she sat, leaning forwards slightly, chewing gradually.

Much was on her mind, and although Ron wasn't receiving any of her thoughts, he was certainly receiving some strange feelings from her. Ron couldn't really describe it, but it made him feel befuddled. Maybe that's what it was, he was feeling her confusion. Confusion over what though?

What to do next?

She was hurting though, he knew that was part of what he was receiving from her. The feeling tingled inside of him, especially with the awkward silence. If her emotion was a colour, he might call it yellow, but wasn't sure why.

Ron broke off a piece of his granola bar and handed it to Rufus who chewed noisily on his shoulder eager for another piece.

"Great time, you can do even better. GO!" One of the boys not in the water called to his friend as he swam up to the edge of the pool after a relay.

After all that had happened that day, it was a relief to find someplace where they could just be left alone. No-one would stare at them or whisper behind their backs.

Why were people whispering anyway? What did they care? Was it because they were holding hands? Or had they caught wind of what Kim supposedly did to Josh?

Honestly, Ron couldn't care less what everybody else thought. Just a few more months and he probably wouldn't ever see most of these people again. They could concern themselves with their lives, and he could concern himself with his without scrutiny of what he wore or said or did like that of being in High School.

Thoughts of their conversation came to Ron when in Bueno Nacho the day before yesterday. Hadn't she suggested there was something wrong with him? But Ron wouldn't allow himself to think so, not after what she had said to him last night and this morning. Maybe everybody else thought there was something wrong with him, but not Kim. She was different, which was one of the reasons he adored her.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Ron turned to face Kim who was chewing more on her granola bar. Ron took in another bite, chewed and swallowed before speaking.

"To-day's turning out pretty crummy, huh, KP?" he asked.

He wasn't really expecting an answer from her. Or if he was, perhaps she might ignore his sentence and break down about her encounter with Josh. So it came to a shock when she replied his answer calmly (although faked).

"Yea, but I was kinda expecting it. It was my own fault for going up to him anyway," she shrugged. "I could have saved myself some embarrassment if I just avoided him like in my original plan."

Ron decided to make a daring comment and hope it would help further Kim's mind off of Josh. "What a jerk, though. What kinda guy does a thing like that anyway? He doesn't deserve you."

At the time, Kim had taken another bite when she distinctly straightened her back and looked at Ron.

After she swallowed, she said: "You really think so?"

Ron was put a little off guard what with her looking directly into her eyes like that (and still was).

"Well yea," he responded truthfully. "You were phoning him all day. Obviously you had something important to say. Then you give him the muffin? And he's all giving it to Bonnie like that?" Ron shook his head. "Those aren't the actions of a 'caring', 'kind' or 'sensible' guy, if you ask me. If he really liked you, he would listen to what you have to say. That's what relationships 'n stuff are about right? Listening to what the other has to say?"

Another surprise was to see Kim smiling back at him. "You're right, Ron, you're really right about that. It's so hard though. Cos, Ron, I told you this before, I liked Josh so much. Even with what you just said, it doesn't make everything just go away."

"No, 'course not," Ron agreed, "But it's a bit of a wake-up call to help make everything right in that usually so… 'perspicacious' and 'perceptive' head of yours that Mankey has apparently jumbled up."

Kim giggled, covering her mouth with her free hand, hiding those perfect, white teeth of hers. "I didn't know you had such an expansive vocabulary, Ron."

"Read it in the first three pages of that book Mister Barkin made us read last year," Ron replied with a grin. "Guess some things just stick."

"Which is a rarity!"

"Hey!"

They both laughed, Ron relieved that he was able to lighten not just the mood between them, but Kim's own thoughts. He was sure what he said took some affect inside her for that previous 'confusion cloud' he had received from her was lifted. Was it just him or did Kim shuffle closer to him?

"Ugh, I wish school was over, like, now," Kim groaned and crumpled her granola bar wrapper.

Ron nodded, "But remember what I said last night, Kim? We can get through it together."

Suddenly Ron noticed Kim's attitude take another swerve. This time it softened and a gentle feeling came from her, it half made Ron want to drift into a stupor. When Kim turned to face Ron, she was flushing.

"I seemed to have forgotten that," she said.

Ron turned away and looked down at the muffin still covered in the saran wrap beside him. Giving in, he heaved a sigh to himself.

"Here, you can have this," and he handed her his last precious muffin.

"What? No, Ron, I can't have it, I gave mine to…"

Ron shook his head, "I'm not… It wouldn't be good for me anyway. I'm not hungry." (What a lie!) "Besides, what else can put a smile on your face but a muffin covered in blue icing and rainbow sprinkles?"

He basked in the smile Kim gave him, "Ron, you're too sweet; you really are."

Before Ron could respond, a high pitched whistled sounded out and resonated in the pool room.

"Alright, boys, time to pack it in," the team's captain shouted out to the boys still swimming their laps. "Head to the showers!"

The sudden realisation of time gave reason to take a look at the clock. The first bell was truly bound to ring soon signalling for the students to head to their classrooms.

"Maybe we should go," Kim suggested even thought the bell hadn't rung yet. "I don't know about you, but I think I prefer to be in class before everybody gets there."

"I get you," Ron agreed, turning in his seat to sling his backpack over his shoulder and allowed Rufus to scamper down into his pocket.

Kim stood up and did the same, her granola wrapper still in her free hand. "Let's go."

They trudged down the bleachers carefully, leaving the mellow and calm swimming pool behind and out into the bright lights and hectic world of Middleton High's hallways. There weren't too many students around, but there were some here and there walking by or hanging by their lockers with friends.

Together they headed for the nearest staircase, heading to their Chemistry classroom.

"Hey, maybe we should be late every day for school," Kim chuckled quietly, Ron struggling to stride up the stairs after her.

"How's that?" he grunted.

"You actually remembered your after-Lunch textbooks for once," Kim mused aloud in amusement. "You always seem to forget them in your locker."

"Oh," Ron said and halted abruptly.

Kim turned around, a few stairs ahead of Ron to look back at her friend, wondering why he stopped. Without saying anything, Kim studied his fallen face, his mind lost in thought. To wake him out of his stupor, Kim shook Ron's hand in hers gently.

"Hey-hey," she said. "What's wrong?"

Ron looked back up at her, troubled. "Nuthin' I'm fine. Just forgot something, that's all."

Kim smirked, "I knew it was too good to be true."

Ron scowled at Kim, "Tchach, not that kind of forget. Like, just something on my mind, I didn't leave anything in my locker."

"Good," Kim nodded and continued around the corner and up the second flight of stairs. "Then let's get going, the bell's going to ring soon and I'd like to be in my seat when that happens."

"I'm coming" Ron heaved a sigh, still troubled.

The classroom door was open so they allowed themselves inside. Their teacher wasn't there, probably still out to Lunch but there were a couple of students inside, Jhustine Flannor among them. The small group of four gave a curious look in Kim and Ron's direction to see who was entering the classroom, but thankfully, their interest waned and no whispering or rude looks were given. They continued to talk to each other about science drivel.

Kim and Ron seated themselves down near the back of the class. The stool closest to Ron was wobbly so he exchanged it for another as Kim pulled her Chemistry textbook out of her bag along with her binder.

They huddled together, hoping to be ignored by everyone, probably pretending they were invisible. Together Kim and Ron whispered to each other about their assignment; Kim doing last minute checks and rereading her vocabulary while Ron ran his answers with Kim's to make sure his matched hers.

Rufus slid out of Ron's pant pocket and scampered onto Ron's shoulder, curling himself up close to Ron's neck and watched with little interest as the two friends sat shoulder to shoulder looking at their homework.

Eventually, the first bell rang and a commotion of noise leapt out of no-where outside the classroom doors and students began to form and group together in mass quantities, each heading to their class at their own pace.

A few students filed in and took their seats. Jhustine and her crew who were hanging out at the back corner of the classroom strutted forwards and took their seats together near the front of the class.

Ron decided to not concern himself with who was entering the classroom. He really didn't want to risk making eye contact with anyone. That and he was no longer interested in the looks other students gave him and Kim. He'd had enough of them for a lifetime; it made him sick every time a student evaluated them with low results.

He was sure Kim was feeling the same. She was doing the exact same as him anyway. Usually Kim was sitting in her stool with a straight back and highly attentive, perhaps studiously writing in some last minute notes or alterations. But here she sat now, clustered close to Ron, her shoulder pressing against his and her nose in her textbook. Not the Kim Ron was used to seeing.

Among the last to file in was Bonnie Rockwaller. Of course she would take extra care to find a path to her seat that crossed by Kim and Ron. Ron didn't even notice her until Kim looked up at the shadow Bonnie cast as she stopped in front of them both. Ron felt Rufus bristle with hostility close to his neck. Kim doing the same by his shoulder, he could feel the tensed energy cross over from her via his hand. It felt like a series of agitated wavelengths moving up and down sharply.

Bonnie giggled maliciously. Ron lowered his head, raising his shoulder blades, glaring at her.

"Isn't this just too cute?" she sneered, "I see you two have you Chemistry homework done! I wonder how long you spent on that over the weekend!" Bonnie rested a fist on the counter and glared into Kim's eyes threateningly.

"Oh, that is so witty, Bonnie," Kim rolled her eyes and responded dryly. "And let me guess, that took you the whole weekend to think up that line?"

Bonnie snorted, tossed her hair and stomped off to her seat beside Liz and Crystal.

Kim sighed, rolling her eyes again and consumed herself back into the textbook.

The final bell rang and Mister Barkin strode into the class, domineering as usual.

"I don't get it," Ron whispered to Kim as Barkin demanded all the homework to be handed in. "How can he sub all of the classes we're in? What about the other blocks?"

Kim sniggered as she pulled apart the three ring binder to glide out her homework. "Maybe it's you."

Ron recoiled instantly, "Don't even say things like that."

Kim took Ron's paper when he handed it to her and lightly poked Linda sitting in front of her. "Mind handing these in for us?"

Linda smiled back and took the papers with hers without another word. Kim watched thankfully as Linda walked up to Mr Barkin's desk and handed in their work on top of the pile.

When Bonnie walked back, she made extra care to saunter past Kim, giving them both another one of her famous glares. Unfortunately for Bonnie, Kim wasn't even looking up anymore. When Bonnie met Ron's eyes, she recoiled, a look of repulsion on her face. Ron was used to such faces and simply returned to his own work.

It still nagged at him why people were giving them such awkward looks and hoped it was just because they caught wind of Kim's 'lie' to Josh. Not the fact that he and Kim might be a couple.

In any case, Mr Barkin barked at the students to turn their attentions to the overhead projector and copy out the notes he began to elaborate on. ("These WILL be on the test in two weeks time." Naturally the class groaned.)

Kim finished taking down the notes faster than Ron. He wasn't the best at multi-tasking so pretty much everything Mr Barkin said went in one ear and out the other, all of Ron's focus was on keeping up and copying out the notes.

"Turn to page sixty-eight and read the chapter," Barkin dictated to the class, writing out the homework under Block E's homework assignments on the blackboard. "Then do the exercises and vocabulary on the next page for next class. Start on it NOW."

Jhustine raised her hand, "Mister Barkin, when's the exact date of the test and what will it be based upon?"

Barkin growled, "I'm getting there, Miss Flannor."

ø

Ron shut his textbook closed finally and let out a sigh of relief. "I don't think I'm going to pass this test at all." He then proceeded to pack away his text and binder.

"It's not that hard, Ron," Kim solaced, packing away her own things after the bell rang. "We can study together? At my place, alright? I'll make sure you get that A."

Ron smiled, swallowing a gulp, "Thanks, KP, I really need that."

"A study date, is it?" Bonnie cackled as she strutted past.

Kim ignored this and tugged Ron before he was even out of his seat. "Come on, Ron, PE's next, we gotta change."

"Um… how?" Ron asked, perplexed.

"What?" Kim asked.

"Don't you think that's gonna look really weird? I mean, like, the girl's changing room… the guy's changing room…"

Kim slapped a devastated hand to her cheek. "Oh great, I completely forgot!" she groaned. "How are we gonna change? If we don't change into our PE uniforms, we'll have to sit out class."

"And is that so bad?" Ron asked aloud, more to himself than to Kim.

"Ron, I'm not going to skip class because we're stuck."

"You wanted to skip school yesterday."

"… That was different. Look, um…" As Kim thought frenetically, they continued their walk to the downstairs gymnasium.

She didn't even give Ron an answer, without a warning of any kind, Ron was jerked sideways by his shirt and into an unknown room. He was continually pulled backwards, tripping over his own sneakers until he came to a landing on a tiled floor.

Blinking away the stars, he realised he was in the girl's bathroom in the wheelchair stall…

"KP..?" Ron started to say but he was quickly hushed by her: "Just look the other way, Ron."

Ron closed his eyes, sitting on the floor and heard the familiar sound of Kim rustling in her pack and then the familiar tugs and the exchange of hands as she changed her clothes.

"We're alone, right?" Ron asked nervously.

"No duh," came Kim's hurried reply. Then: "Ok, change—fast!"

"Ok, ok!" Ron grumbled and reached into his own bag, pulling out his gym uniform and began to change into it as Kim turned away, giving him privacy. Rufus scampered out of Ron's pocket and sat on the toilet-paper dispenser since Ron's gym shorts had no pockets.

Now they were both in their PE uniforms. Kim donning the girl's uniform of a white shirt, the sleeves and collar ringed with red and matching red shorts. Ron's, the boy's uniform, was exactly the same, except they wore the colour purple instead of red, two of the school's official colours.

When Ron had finished, Kim bent down to slip on her pack and head with Ron to the gymnasium when…

"Get up!" Kim hissed and leapt to stand on the toilet rim, Ron scrambling to stand up with lightning speed he didn't have. "Shh…."

Ron 'shh'ed, gulping down his breath as a student walked in to use the facilities. Kim grimaced, clasping both of Ron's hands resting between their shoulders. The rubber bottom of Ron's sneakers kept slipping on the toilet rim; to catch his grip he was constantly bumping forwards into Kim who tottered dangerously.

"I can't hang on…" Ron hissed in Kim's ear, his chin on her shoulder.

"Shush!" Kim spat back, making Ron cower and shrink his head down.

"Is anyone there?" the girl called, two stalls down.

Kim and Ron held their breath.

"Freaky…" the girl commented.

They continued to bite their tongues or lower lips, trying to keep as still and as quiet as they could. They almost got away with it too.

Ron whined in a whisper, "I can't stand like this, I need to step down!"

"QUIET," Kim snapped back in a hushed hiss.

Ron whimpered as silenced as he could, his foot kept slipping on the toilet seat rim when finally… He lost balance, crashing forwards into Kim who managed to slam her back into the wall so she was still standing. But they let out noises as they did and Kim roughly shoved Ron back. Not expecting this, his foot skidded underneath him and slipped with a splash! into the toilet as he fell backwards and landed on the floor with a hard crash on his rump bringing Kim down with him, on top of him by their attached hands.

Ron groaned in pain, the crash land on the tiled floors was not the softest and his leg was now in an awkward position, wedged deep inside the toilet.

On top of him, her face not even centimetres away from Ron's face was Kim's, absolutely blushing so radically, it almost covered her entire face. She grunted as she tried to remove herself from Ron, but their arms seemed to be tangled, however that was managed and still she blushed.

She never blushed before when she's fallen on me… why should she? Thoughts of them on the sofa a few mornings ago came to him and he recalled her blushing there too.

"Hello!" came the girl's voice again and Ron shut his eyes, rolling them under his eyelids. He was hoping she'd mind her own business. "Who's there? Was that a boy..?"

Ron actually blushed as he felt Kim's pressed chest rise in panic against his own; she clenched her teeth, blushing hard, her hair a mess, as they could see the feet of the girl approaching their stall.

Then… No, Ron wished hard. The girl was bending down.

Kim noticed this too and began to frantically try to pull herself off Ron again without any results. Instead, it just made it seem like…

"Are you oka-" the girl began but instantly gasped when she could see Kim and Ron in their uncomfortable positions. A hand flew to Hope's mouth in her horror and stood up instantly.

"No wait, I can explain!" Kim wailed after the fellow cheerleader, and Bonnie's friend. Another effort to retract herself from Ron ended up in success, but it was too late to run after Hope, she had already fled the girl's room and was probably ready to blab to Bonnie. Hope was a friendly, sweet girl, unlike Bonnie, but she was still friends with Bonnie and thus was bound to say something to her.

Kim rolled backwards onto her back on the sticky tiled floor. Sitting up with a distraught expression, Kim cleared her hair out of her eyes and back into place, shaking her head solemnly.

"Can this day get anymore worse?"

"My foot's stuck."

"Huh?"

Kim sighed to herself about her troubles then looked at Ron and his wedged foot.

"Great," Kim muttered sarcastically. She pulled Ron into a standing stance with her attached hand. For support he leaned on her, bouncing occasionally on his one foot to regain his balance. "First we're stuck to each other and now we're stuck to a TOILET! What's next? No," Kim shut her eyes and held up the palm of her free right hand. "I don't even want to know."

Starting to loose his normally always intact patience, Ron spoke irritably: "Can you just help me? We've got to get to gym class, remember?"

"You don't need to tell me that twice," she grunted back as she inspected Ron's foot that was dug deep into the toilet hole.

"Don't flush it!" Ron yelped as Kim reached out for the handle. "What if it sucks my foot down with it?"

Kim rolled her eyes in response, but removed her hand from the handle anyway. "Then maybe I should pen your foot off," she retorted.

At that moment, the school bell sounded out around them, it was particularly louder than normal when inside the washroom where the walls could resonate the sound at a higher pitch than classroom walls.

They both flinched at the loud ringing and covered an ear with their free hand, not that it did any good with their other ear still open to the constant noise.

"We're late!" Kim squealed once the ringing had stopped. She glared at Ron's foot stuck in the toilet as if it was the fault for all her bad luck. "Get out of there!" Kim screeched and, grabbing Ron's foot, attempted to yank it out with all the strength and anger she could muster with one hand.

But still it wouldn't budge and as she tugged, Kim grappled desperately for some solution. She decided on reaching out and pressing the flush handle.

"No, do-" Ron cried out.

But instead of Ron's foot being sucked down the hole, a burst of water showered out, sprinkling the both of them.

Kim let out a appalling screech, trying to shield herself with both her arms, but the one attached to Ron's was being pulled this way and that as he too struggled to shield himself with his own arm, crying out as well.

Although dripping wet, it had worked, mostly because in the shock and panic at being showered in water from the toilet, Ron had lunged himself backwards and away from the toilet in a mighty leap that released his foot.

In disgust at the water, Ron slammed himself against the washroom stall door, cringing in his attempt to put as much distant from himself and the water as if it would melt him.

While Ron cringed and whined without any effect to better his situation, Kim scooped up their bags and unlocked the stall door, flying out of the stall with Ron in tow (Rufus had leapt into his gym bag for safety when the water works hit) and out the bathroom door. The toilet continued to flood the bathroom.

Kim flew out of the bathroom but was ill prepared when her slippery, squeaky shoes were unable to traction the shiny school floor beneath them. They both slipped and slid on the floor, careening into lockers on the opposing side of the bathroom with a crash. Ron wailed and slid onto the ground in pain but Kim just grunted ferociously and leapt back onto her feet pulling Ron along mercilessly towards the gymnasium.

The class was already doing their stretches when Kim bounded into the gym with Ron struggling to keep up with Kim, letting out little whines here and there. She tossed both their bags onto the bleachers and tried to slide to a halt among the other students.

Unfortunately, their shoes were still wet with the toilet water and the gymnasium floor was just as slippery as the hallway floor, if not even more so. The two keeled over together, barrelling through the group of students who shrieked and yelled to dash out of their way in time.

Kim and Ron finally came to a halt in a heap thanks to the gym wall.

"Well, look who decided to show up," came the familiar voice of Mr Barkin.

Kim moaned in pain as her eyesight came to. Holding her head with her free hand, she looked up at the large, ominous form of their substitute teacher. On either side of him were the students, most were staring down at Kim and Ron with wild, wide eyes. A few were giggling and some were glaring with an evil eye.

"Tardy again, one more strike this month and you two love-birds will be in for detention," he growled as if he wished this were their third strike. "Maybe next time you're late, you could join the class discreetly."

Kim growled at Mr Barkin's retreating back. The class eventually broke away from the scene and returned to their stretches. With Ron not in sight, Kim wondered where he was when she realised he was behind her, on his side, crushed between her and the wall, Kim's elbow digging into the back of his neck.

"Sorry!" Kim murmured to Ron and pulled him to his feet.

"No big," he grunted back.

They joined the rest of the class, but their whispers and quick eye darts at Kim and Ron did not go by unnoticed.

"What an entrance," they heard someone remark beside them, "Though if it were me, I think I would have crashed through the ceiling from a helicopter."

"Heh, even that would have been less obvious," Ron grinned back, looking down at his only guy friend, Felix, who had just approached them.

Kim rolled her eyes. "This stretching is killing me," she said as she pulled her arm behind her back. "I feel like I've been doing stretches all day; my body's worn through and through."

"I'd say," Felix agreed, eyeing them precariously in their rag-tag state. "I've been hearing so many rumours flying around the school about you two. What's the truth?"

Again, Kim rolled her eyes. "You dun wanna know," she grunted. "'Sides, you should speak for yourself, you don't have to run around, splintering your calf bones in that thing."

Felix grinned, looking down at his wheelchair. "True…"

"Why do you even do physical education anyway?" Kim carried on as if he hadn't of spoken. "You're sitting around, it's not fair. You don't feel the pain of running around, you just play the games. You don't feel the flaming burn in the calves when-"

Ron smirked, sidling closer to Felix. "Beware, she's going into one of her 'rants' again…"

"I heard that!" Kim shot back and the two boys laughed.

"ALRIGHT!" Mr Barkin barked out so suddenly, the whole class jumped, even Felix in his wheelchair. "Enough girly stretches, time to get this phys ed class started."

"And stupid me was hoping we'd be doing stretches the whole class," Ron muttered.

Mr Barkin disappeared into the equipment room and came back out rolling out a rack of round, red, rubber balls…

"No!" Ron yelped, "No, please, NO!"

"That's right, Stoppable," a disturbing grin broke out across Mr Barkin's face. "The name of to-day's game is dodgeball."

"NOOOO!" Ron sobbed, falling onto the floor on his knees.

Felix chuckled and Kim felt embarrassed yet inched closer to Ron for some unknown reason.

"Now line-up! We're dividing you into two teams!"

Luckily, Kim and Ron were sorted onto the same team (unfortunately Felix was not), Kim wasn't sure how'd she convince Mr Barkin to let her and Ron be on the same team. All the balls were lined up in front of them in the middle of the gym and the two teams were against the opposing walls.

"Kim, can we please avoid the balls as much as possible?" Ron whispered urgently in Kim's ear.

Kim didn't even look at him. Her eyes were locked on the balls ahead of her. "Just because I'm stuck to you doesn't mean I have to limit my self."

Ron double blinked at her, blown away by her harsh words. He stared hard at her in bewilderment, yet she still wouldn't look at him, her eyes were determinedly set forwards.

Then the blow of the whistle broke out and in an immediate flurry did the students dash forwards eager to be the first to snatch up the red rubber balls. Ron would have much preferred to stay behind and linger in the back, but Kim had been one of the first students to fly away from the wall, poor Ron was forced to run along with her.

Nearing the battlefield, Ron cringed waiting for the balls to come his way; he tried to sidle himself behind Kim for protection.

She scooped up one ball, which was all she could hold with only one hand free, and thrust it as hard and fast as she could at a student on the other side of the divide. Ron pitied the poor student who was dealt the blow and was forced down. He knew what that felt like.

"Stoppable!" a shout called out over the cries and shrieks of the other students playing the game. Kim and Ron both turned to heed the call, the voice unrecognisable to Kim, and yet faintly familiar at the same time.

She recognised them, once she laid eyes on the voice and the voice's pal. It was the two guys that used to bully Ron in DHall back in tenth grade, and before that. One was tall, bulky with dumb muscles and hairy arms, the other so tiny, he could be mistaken for a fifth grader.

But it wasn't so much as what they looked like, more what they held. Which were four shiny, cherry balls. The smirks on their faces could be called ominous too.

"Think fast!" the little one squealed with sick delight and hauled the ball forwards.

If Ron was thinking on dodging the unprovoked attack, he was much too slow. Kim let out a gasp of abhorrence, hair rippling behind her as the ball slammed hard into Ron's chest, right where he had collided with the door just the day before. The ball actually made a noise as it slammed Ron.

Ron lurched forwards as the ball pressed against him. He gasped a groan, obviously still tender from the door-incident. The ball dropped onto the ground where it bounced and rolled away to be picked up by some other student.

Kim was about to rush to Ron's side in concern when she heard the laughter from the bullies. She squeezed his hand, Ron was still doubled forwards, gripping his heaving chest.

Then came the rest of the balls

Without mercy, they showered Ron with the balls. Their only intent was to deal out as much damage as they could to Ron; it was no longer a game but a gruesome form of bullying. Instead of fists, the weapons were the dodgeballs. Her friend wailed beside her in obvious fright and pain.

"Stop!" he cried and still they did not listen. "Please…"

Kim stood stunned still in her utter shock as Ron was ruthlessly pelted with speeding rubber balls. The two jerks laughed as Ron cried out, cringing from the rubber products; the bullies picked up more balls that bounced their way, eager to chuck them Ron's way again.

Kim brought up her hand to deflect a few of the balls that accidentally bounced her way but continued to watch Ron cave onto the floor in fear, the balls unceasingly berating him everywhere.

Had it been like this for Ron every gym class? Was this why he hated Phys Ed so much? And how… how could Kim never have taken any notice before?

"What's the matter, Stoppable?" Kim perked up as one of the ball-throwers taunted Ron from the other side of the gymnasium. "Afraid of a little red ball?" then Kim watched, reflected in her bright, round emerald eyes as the kid wound back his arm and let fly the cherry ball, slamming Ron right in the head as he cowered on the floor of the gymnasium when he was already so obviously out of the game, his free hand sheltering his neck. He let out a cry of pain that broke through into Kim's mind.

She narrowed her eyes.

Kim whipped her head around to stare back at the two boys laughing. Every laugh made an increment in Kim's anger level grow and boil a hot red. How dare they do this to Ron? How could they be so cruel!

Letting out an anguished battle cry of sorts, Kim scooped up one of the cherry balls that had struck Ron and pelt it with lightning speed that only Kim Possible could muster right into the diaphragm of the short kid. The blow knocked the kid right off his feet and his back thudded as it impacted with the wall behind him.

Suddenly, the remaining crony ceased his laughter.

He stared at his buddy moaning on the floor, the cherry ball resting triumphantly on his stomach. Then he turned his head back at Kim on the other side of the divide. He was much larger than Kim with a lot more muscle, but he had the right to believe he was in trouble with this small red-haired girl.

With slit eyes penetrating his, in one swift action, Kim whipped up another ball resting beside Ron and pitched it dead-centre to its target into the jerk's liver, bowling his person over and into a motionless heap beside his buddy.

Kim grinned with satisfaction. "Game over; you are outtage!" She turned back to Ron who was still on the ground. She knelt down beside him, placing a tender, comforting hand on his shoulder. His back trembled even under her light touch.

"Hey, you're out of the game anyway so let's take you to a bleacher," she murmured gently, her mouth close to his ear.

Ron didn't say anything but followed Kim as she took his other hand even if it was on his other side and lead him to the bench. He sat, hunched over and miserable, not making any eye-contact.

"Does this happen every time?" Kim demanded to know.

Again, Ron wouldn't look her in the eyes, but that was an answer enough for Kim.

"Look on the bright side," Kim attempted to cheer Ron up as he might have done for her. As he had done for her, yesterday. To-day at Lunch. He'd been there all along for her, she knew it now. But when had she ever been there for him? "At least you're not bleed-" she uttered a small gasp when her statement backfired on her.

The injury from yesterday must have reopened due to the impact of the cherry ball. On Ron's white gym uniform shirt began to blossom a small blood stain. His shirt wasn't clinging to his chest, so there wasn't much blood on the shirt, but Kim was sure there would be more underneath.

"Let's get you to a washroom or something," Kim bit her lower up wondering how they could manage to disappear. They still had twenty-four minutes left of PE class and it was clear Ron, even after a good clean-up, wouldn't be fit to re-enter the dodgeball battlefield.

"May I remind you, Possible," (Mr Barkin had approached the two almost out of thin air,) "That you two are in class at the moment, the school bell won't ring for another twenty-three minutes so put your intimate courtship on hold and get back out there on the double!"

"Ron's injured!" Kim snapped back, standing straight to meet Mr Barkin's domineering eye and stamping her foot for extra emphasis. "He's in no condition to continue playing this brute of a game!"

Mr Barkin was about to retort and probably win the shouting match which earned some students attentions when his eyes wandered over to a deflated and pathetic looking Ron with a red flower blooming on his white shirt.

Even the permanent substitute teacher couldn't find fault in Kim's 'reasoning', especially if one of his charges was critically injured.

"Fine, get Stoppable to a cleaning facility." Mr Barkin sighed as Kim led Ron to the girl's change room. "But I want you two out ASAP, no dawdling."

"Gaah, MR BARKIIIIiiiiIIIIiiiN!" a student hollered after the sound of rubber slapping the human flesh sounded out.

"I'm running out of student health forms to fill out… JIMMY, QUIT MOANING, DO YOU WANT MORE TEETH TO FALL OUT?"

ø

"Ow," Ron flinched, sucking in his breath.

Kim experienced déjà vu all over again after Ron pulled off his uniform shirt, allowing Kim to clean up Ron's injury with a damp paper towel inside the girl's change room. The room never felt as enclosed and silent before. It was almost claustrophobic.

Even from inside, shouts and rubber balls bouncing, hitting and whizzing through the air was heard by both Kim and Ron. But even though the sounds were distant with the door closed, it felt even more distant to Kim as that hot feeling washed over her while she dabbed Ron's chest with the paper towel.

Just like yesterday, she thought grimly. These thoughts and feelings are the same as yesterday, it wasn't a one time thing…How could I have been so blind to Ron's pain all these years? We've been in the same gym classes and yet I never noticed. Sure when we joined up after changing out of our uniforms, Ron would hobble and groan about sores, but I guess I never took notice. Maybe I thought he was overreacting. Maybe… maybe I wasn't empathic enough. No. Not wasn't- am not. I never would have noticed if Ron weren't stuck to me.

He was there for me yesterday and to-day and all the days before in my life when I'm hurt or down. But… oh my goodness. I'm… I'm so blind to his needs. I can't believe…but it's true.

It was a revelation for Kim.

She looked up at Ron; he was looking down at her. She sighed, standing up and tossed the bloody paper towel into the waste bin.

"Maybe we can linger in here," Kim suggested, sitting down on the pink sofa. "I'd rather stay in here… where it's quiet."

Ron nodded.

"You never answered my question: does this happen often?"

Ron snorted, "Yea, every time."

Kim flinched. "I… I guess I never noticed."

"I know."

"…" She deserved that, and she knew it too. Kim looked at her feet, downcast. Looking back up, she saw her reflection in the mirror across from her then she looked at Ron. He was looking down too, his head hung. What pain he was experiencing, Kim didn't know. Could be the physical pain, could be the emotional but she felt as if she could now empathize…

In any case, Kim picked up Ron's hand that she was holding and placed it on her lap. She patted his hand: "Can't be all the time," she muttered, shrugging, "I would have noticed. Like, how could I not? Must be I'm just on the other side of the gym or something. I noticed to-day, right?"

Ron still said nothing, but he did lift up his head a tad.

Kim looked away again, leaving his hand in hers on her lap. She looked down at his hand.

How strange this hand holding thing was. It was as if… as if ever since they started holding hands, things began to change between them. These new things she noticed about her best friend, would they ever have occurred if she hadn't been stuck to him? Maybe they would have, maybe it wasn't the hand holding, it was the Josh thing. But the Josh thing wouldn't have occurred if it weren't for being stuck.

So was this a blessing or a curse?

They sat in silence together, idling away the time. It wasn't long before Mr Barkin's voice yelled out from behind the door. "Stoppable! Get out here ASAP, the ladies need to change."

"Wow, already?" Kim said aloud as she stood up. "Guess we should have used this time to change… Ah well… we can do it after."

She led an unusually quiet Ron out of the change room, filing past a glaring Mr Barkin. Ron clung to his shirt which he hadn't put back on, pressing it close to his bleeding chest. It'd need a good cleaning when they arrived at home.

"Possible, you can go back in and change," Mr Barkin rumbled.

"I'll, um, I'll help put away the dodgeballs," Kim flashed an evasive toothy smile as she slipped out from under Mr Barkin's critical eye and rushed with Ron trotting forcibly behind her.

Ron mimicked Kim as she required his assistance to pull out the dodgeball rack from the equipment room. They began to rally up the balls, placing them back on the rack. Kim kicked the balls lightly from their places all around the gym.

They lingered, moving slow so Kim could keep an eye on the girl's change room, waiting for all the girls to finish changing. Then they could slip back inside unnoticed to change.

Once the last of the girl's had left the change room, Kim slipped inside with Ron trailing her silently, their backpacks already snug on their backs. No-one took any notice of them, all the students were chatting animatedly with themselves, waiting for the final bell of the day to ring.

As assumed, the change room was empty. Ron laid his blood-stained gym shirt on the sofa just as the bell rang, again, louder than usual inside the change room walls.

"Close your eyes, I'm going to change," Kim announced already digging into her bag for her cheerleading skirt.

Ron had forgotten all about her cheerleading practice, he really hoped she wasn't planning on bouncing around with him stuck to her, especially when he was so injured… and so unwell in his stomach. With his closed eyes he placed his free hand over his stomach.

He heard the ruffling again, then Kim said: "Stand still, I need to balance…"

Ron steadied himself as Kim put pressure on his hand she was holding for balance.

Then some noise came from outside… and all too quickly for either of them to comprehend, a voice and the sound of the change room door swinging open.

In a moment's loss, Ron opened his eyes to see who the intruder was, shock catching him by surprise that someone was barging in on them. But before Ron's eyes could meet the door and the person standing there (in shock too, most certainly), they swept across Kim and… and…

And her cheerleading skirt was only at her knees… her free hand frozen as she must have been pulling it up.

Ron flushed so hard, adrenaline and who knew what else rushing inside Ron all went straight to his head and made him want to faint twice over.

Kim stood leaning forward slightly in her pink underwear, the purple skirt at her knees which she was still holding. The blush coloured her face so that it almost completely hid her features.

"Oh… my… goodness," Bonnie finally spluttered out, working her fallen jaw. Her eyes were so wide, Ron didn't know Bonnie could widen her eyes that far.

All three of them were frozen, eyes on each other, all of them trying to make some sense, to comprehend this blatantly confounding situation. What a sight Kim and Ron must look. He in the girl's change room, him with his shirt off, her with her skirt down… holding hands again.

Please… please tell me this isn't happening! Kim's thoughts screeched into Ron's mind. The wavelengths her thoughts were at caused Ron to physically cringe. If her thoughts were sound, the pitch would have been unbearable. Not the loudness or the pitch of her thoughts, like in speech… just… just the invisible wavelengths Ron felt he was receiving. Ron wasn't sure how to describe it. The pitch on the invisible thought-graph in Ron's mind soared high in sharp, critical jerks, also a yellow.

Alarum. That's what she was experiencing. This was her alarum. Yellow, in dire, drastic jerks.

Interesting.

But now wasn't the time to think about that.

All three of them were still frozen, eyes on each other. Kim and Ron blushing definitely, Bonnie… Bonnie was just stone solid.

Finally, some movement came from Bonnie when she lifted her hand slowly to cover the gaping hole in her face, her mouth. She backed up slowly.

"It's not what it looks like!" Kim blurted out, taking a step towards her nemesis.

"Oh my gosh. Hope was so right, what she told me in class…"

Ron recoiled, blinking hard. Hope saw them in the washroom on top of each other. Of course she would have told Bonnie… He shook his head slightly despite himself.

But Kim continued to splutter, insistent on proving herself innocent. "You've got it all wrong-"

"Kim Possible!" Bonnie announced, glaring hard with vindictive eyes, piercing right into Kim's own. When Ron saw the hatred in Bonnie's eyes, he took an instinctive step towards Kim, holding her hand closer. Not out of the usual fear for himself, but to protect Kim. She maybe not need physical protection, but she needed it emotionally. "You are SUCH a WHORE. And by to-morrow morning at school, EVERYONE is going to know it."

And in a flurry, Bonnie was gone. Not even waiting for a response from Kim, not wanting to receive a satisfactory smile at Kim's horrendous dismay.

Kim was rooted to the spot, Ron too. Then she tried to step forwards to chase after Bonnie, to tell her wrong. But Ron pulled her back ever so gently in restraint. After all, she couldn't go marching out there in her pink undies.

Outside the change room, Ron could hear girl's voices. He recognised their voices… they were all girl's on Kim's cheer squad. They were all talking at once, animatedly…

The sick feeling inside Ron's stomach from yesterday and to-day increased, O how he wanted to curl up and lay down…

Before Ron could turn to Kim suggesting they take their leave and fast, Kim had already slipped up her skirt and dashed for her bag. Ron was barely given the time to scoop up his own, plus his shirt.

Kim ran outside, coming to a steady halt just outside the change room doors. Then they froze again. The entire cheer squad staring wide eyed at Kim, each with their own expressions.

Hope stood with demanding arched eyebrows, Maggie appeared worried, Liz bit her bottom lip, Marcella had a hand to her cheek looking disappointed, Crystal gave them glaring looks, Tara looked like she was on the verge of tears (for what reasons, Ron had no clue) and Bonnie… Bonnie in the middle of the semi-circle was a down-right hissing, spitting, mad cat.

"Kim Possible, you slut," she spoke, now with the entire squad to hear. "Josh Mankey is the hottest guy in school and you play his feelings by skanking around with this," Bonnie thrust a sharp finger at Ron, "This loser. Do you get how upset Josh is in you? Why he liked you I have no clue. But you have no right to go around winding up other innocent boys while you're screwing this one- in public!"

Why Kim wasn't spitting back at Bonnie was beyond Ron. She looked defeated… disheartened… he wished he could put his arms around her.

"That's not-"

"We don't want to hear it, K.," Bonnie continued giving her a 'talk to the hand' hand, "We don't like girls like you and that'll become clear to-morrow. Not only that but you skive off cheer practice on the weekend for this thing too?" Bonnie took a step forward, hands on her hips. "I don't think that's very good leadership skills. Especially when Regionals are coming up."

"You can't-" Kim stuttered.

"Kim, if you're going to continue on with this freak, then you're going to be considered a freak too. Friendship was minimally bearable by us, but doing what you're doing?" Bonnie shivered. "That's too much. From here on in Kim, you're a loser. Just like your loser whore," she shot a glare at Ron.

Kim stood still, silence in the gymnasium. She shook her head slightly in her stun, she tilted her head… and then she ran. Ron ran after Kim as she broke through the doors of the gymnasium and tore down the hallways, not even noticing the black-haired girl in her usual red dress barely catching sight at the whizzing whirlwind that was Kim and Ron.

She heard Kim's gulping sobs, even saw a tear or two fluttering by, caught in their updraft, as her friend ran by without noticing her. Ron following… still stuck.

Monique turned her head back to the gymnasium where they obviously fled from. She could their vicious female laughter. Shaking her head, Monique took it upon herself to do something for her friend, even if it was against her better judgement. Against Ron's desires. But Kim was her friend first, and she'd do what had to be done to help her.

ø

Letting out an elongated groan, Kim threw herself onto her bed facedown. She bounced lightly and remained immobile, fatigue sweeping across her entire body. The emotional pain consuming her…

Ron watched silently, his own body aching for rest. The run home had not done wonders for Ron's already pained body. Every step they took on their run home was pain for him, that and she wouldn't slow down or take a breather which agitated Ron's chest. Of course, there was the miserable feeling in his stomach to think about too. All in all, Ron was glad they were home now, his head felt like it was ready to reel, no- it was; lightly, but still dizzy from the run.

But they were both in pain; Ron wouldn't allow his pity thoughts to be solely centered on himself. They'd both beaten up unfairly that day. Only Kim was on an emotional level and Ron's physical.

Kim shifted herself to pull the blankets out from underneath her and wrapped them overtop of herself. The top of her red head was barely visible, the blanket was thrown so high and her head snuggled into her pink pillow.

Watching her lay down was enticing to Ron's sore body, his longed for the same comfort. He envied the consuming blanket wrapping around Kim. So he slipped underneath the covers with her and curled himself up, facing his friend. He gave a small sigh, how wonderful it felt for his body to finally be put at ease. Now that he was lying down, he felt the real soreness inside and how glad he was to by lying down when it hit him.

And who better to share that with than Kim.

No, Ron now contemplated, he was wrong, Kim wasn't the only one who had been hurt on an emotional level. The insults Bonnie had whipped out at them both stung Ron inside too. So many confusing thoughts rushed his mind. Including how Kim was taking everything Bonnie had said. Especially about her 'being a loser like him'. Ron already knew he was a loser. He was called that everyday at school. Sure it hurt, but the blade that is used most often becomes dull, or so the saying goes.

Ron began to fret that Kim would reject him. Maybe she'd want her popularity over him. But what of the progress he'd made with her? Surely something would stick with her.

What a mess this hand-holding sitch was turning out to be. Ron wanted progress with Kim, but not at these costs. Never like this. The only way Ron could deal with all this hellfire is if, in the end, Kim turned to him. He just prayed it wouldn't drive her away from him.

A pain in his chest woke him out of these thoughts and his stomach felt particularly upset. Ron looked at Kim in front of him. Her eyes were closed, but he was pretty sure she wasn't sleeping.

Ron felt himself beginning to doze off. Not yet! He hissed at himself. I'm still sticking to my plan… It was tempting… but he'd do it. She needed it. He needed it.

In another bold move, Ron reached out with his free left hand and wrapped it around Kim and slid even closer to her, his eyes closed. As soon as he did so, he felt Kim bristle and stiffen underneath his gentle wrap. He waited for her to calm down, to become accustomed to the feel, to recognise that it was him- Ron.

But she didn't. In fact, she didn't relax underneath his arm until she had fallen into a sleep. Worry fluttered into Ron's mind and swept him into a sleep.

ø

They slept a lot longer than Ron thought they had. It only felt like an hour, maybe two, but by the time his eyes opened and adjusted, Kim's room was fairly dark with no lights on and the sky outside the window to his left was a rich, dark blue.

When he woke, he first found himself staring at Kim's mauve ceiling. Rufus had crept out of his gym bag while he had been asleep and was snoozing on the pillow beside his head. Ron's body certainly rejuvenated some from the hardcore sleep. He felt a lot less sore and more like he could walk around without his bones screaming at him. But, strangely, he still felt some sort of weight on his chest though.

Looking down casually, his eyes widened when he saw Kim resting her head on his chest, just below his injury. His still bare chest. Their attached hands, his left and her right were down but her free left hand was resting lightly on his shoulder. Ron laid his head back. This… this was heaven.

He lifted his free hand and placed it on Kim's hair, giving a light sigh as he did. Ron really hoped Kim had done this by herself, but reality told him it was most likely that she did this in her sleep, without her knowledge. After all, Ron had no idea how Kim was feeling towards him anymore.

Underneath the covers Ron could feel one of Kim's bare legs resting just on top of one of his, barely, but still sent a wonderful sensation through Ron. He squeezed one of her attached hands and lifted their hands up. Feeling something wet as he did so.

He froze.

Something was not right. Although Ron would have liked to have lain with Kim like so for as long as he was able, the curiosity of the mysterious dampness enticed Ron to prop himself up. Kim slid down a little but Ron gripped her back close to him with his free hand. Awkwardly, Ron threw off the sheets with both their attached hand to see…

No… no.

"Kim," Ron's voice croaked and wavered. "KP, wake up!"

Kim stirred on top of Ron then woke out of her slumber, pushing herself up with her free arm.

She said nothing, so Ron 'elaborated', "Uh… Kim…" Ron pointed to the blood-stained sheets.

Kim flew off of Ron, sitting on her legs. She looked down at the blood-stained sheets beside them, scandalized.

"No! Not now!" Kim wailed, beginning to blush again. Rufus woke in a shot at her shrieks.

"Kim, it's ok-" Ron began but Kim wouldn't listen to him (as usual).

"This is so unfair!" Ron expected her to blurt out apologies, not that he needed or wanted any, but she didn't. "To-day sucks!" she screeched and leapt off of the bed, jerking Ron's arm so he almost fell off the bed head first.

The bed was a mess, Kim's legs too, even Ron's pants. He was embarrassed for her, but was determined not to show that. He was determined to stick to his plan and show her his compassion

Kim let out an "Augh!" and flew down the stairs out of her room (but first she ran to her closet and pulled out a fresh pair of underwear), almost on her tip toes and into the bathroom just underneath. She stopped just inside and closed the door, but not all the way so Ron would be able to stand outside and not squish his arm reaching into the bathroom.

From the outside, Ron could hear her continuous sobs and chokes as she fought back the tears. He shook his head, to-day was… he couldn't even think of a suitable word to describe the day they were having. But he was positive it was the worst they'd ever had in their entire lives.

He shook his head, Rufus trying to console him on his shoulder, while Ron listened to the sounds coming from the other side of the door; the rustling, feeling his hand being moved up and down, and of course Kim's unremitting sobs.

Waiting outside the washroom, it was inevitable—the thoughts came back to him.

Instead of the expected flashback, he remembered the gang fight that had occurred only four days ago. It only made sense though that the two situations would be forever linked together in his mind. For some reason, the gang fight had completely slipped his mind, he wondered how often Kim recalled the fight, if at all.

At first, he hadn't known what was going on, after being pulled awake, Ron had truly thought they were coming to pick them up for their ride home. How quickly that notion vanished. Through the fighting, Ron still wasn't completely aware of the sitch.

Not until it flashed before his eyes… when the gang member reached and… and grabbed her. All understanding had come to Ron at that point. Firstly, Ron had felt paralyzed with fear.

It was happening all over again, except, this time, for real. He reminisced the event flashbacking in his minds eye, remembered the terror he had felt, the agonizing stress and worry for her… And it was all happening again. But this time, it would really happen. Ron wasn't about to let that happen.

Coming to after the flashback, he had still been in his momentary stupor when they had been trapped against the wall. At that point, he watched with glazed eyes as they twisted her arm back, her sinking down to the ground in pain and then… He knew Kim had not seen this, her eyes had been scrunched up in pain at the time. But Ron had seen it and it was the bolt that jolted him. The gang member was reaching for his belt clasp… That, with the flashback fresh in his memory, was when Ron completely lost himself, launching himself forwards to do some serious damage to all three of them!

It had all been a blur. Ron honestly had very little recollection of what had happened while he was duking out the threats to the three. Did he remember anything, come to think of it? He'd been in such a frenzy it was hard to recollect anything. But he did remember the flash back again while watching their retreating backs. How could he not? Not when last time he had allowed the culprit to escape, well, not that it mattered too much in the long run. But, the thought kept hitting his realisation button, this time was for real and if he hadn't been stuck to Kim… why, he might have chased after them. Maybe. He'd been too scared last time, what would he have done this time?

An involuntary shiver crept down his spine at a speedy rate.

They had been on a mission. How old had they been? Fifteen probably, maybe he'd still been fourteen. Ron was terrible at remembering dates (which was one reason why History was never one of his best subjects).

Some top-secret lab had called in (weren't they all?) about being locked out of their lab. Kim and Ron arrived on the scene expected to just do some easy infiltration and rescue their keys from within but, being a high-tech lab, it was much more complicated than that.

Apparently, an experienced thief, or cat burglar, had broken into the lab and shut down the electricity from inside which locked the scientists and security out. (All their doors and locks were operated by electricity, after all, it was a top-secret lab) It was Kim, Ron and Rufus' job to somehow find a way into the lab, catch the cat burglar and restore the electricity. As Kim had said during the time: 'No big!'. How wrong that statement had been.

As usual, the easiest entries were through a ventilation shaft. Using their jetpacks, they leapt over the barb-wired fence and snuck around the side to the main building. Scaling it, they entered the shaft on the roof and crawled through the shaft most clumsily but had entered the building nonetheless.

While stalking through the darkened halls, Kim with her flashlight, Ron had ecstatically exclaimed to Kim as they walked down the halls how this was just like this video game he'd played called Zombie Mayhem. Trapped inside an old lab with electricity problems… all while the scientists and whoever trapped inside were mutated into the living dead because of an unknown virus! At the point Ron had scared himself into anxiety and Kim told him to shut it, it was creepy enough in there already.

Eventually without incident, they came to giant metallic fire doors in the middle of the hallway that was locked from the other side. Turning on the Kimmunicator, Kim was positive that the thief (using infrared enhancement) was somewhere on the other side of the doors.

Kim quickly devised a plan. Send Rufus through the ventilation shaft on their right, coming out on the other side, he could unlock the doors. It really was an intelligent plan, if only it had worked. Rufus had come through the shaft chattering to Ron that he didn't weigh enough to push the metal handle down on the door.

What next? Well, that was easy, Kim had remarked. Since, at the time, Ron had been shorter than Kim (hadn't gone through his growth spurt yet), he would crawl through the shafts and unlock the door from the other side. Of course Ron whimpered, whined, complained and caterwauled not to go through the dark shafts without Kim (heck, there could be bugs in there!) but she would hear none of it, naturally.

With Rufus in front of him, Ron's slender frame slipped through the grate easily. As he trudged along, he remembered passing various other passageways, it was easy to loose oneself, that was certain.

Ron didn't even make it to the other side when he had heard Kim cry out from somewhere behind him in the hallway. More shouts and Ron knew Kim wasn't alone. In a panic, Ron aborted his mission and tried to head back. He couldn't turn around in the shaft, so he backed up into one of the passageways to turn himself around. In doing so, he accidentally took the wrong passageway and quickly became lost.

He had almost broke down and sobbed when he couldn't find a way out and the noises of Kim and the thief began to die away. It would have been easier if he carried on and unlocked the bloody door! Turning around, Ron and Rufus thought they were heading back but was only becoming even more lost.

Since he hadn't had a watch, Ron had no account of how much time had passed inside the shafts. Desperate, Ron swore he'd come out of the next grate even if it wasn't the right one. One came eventually, but it wasn't the right one. Ron and Rufus had no idea where they were. They didn't even the Kimmunicator to ask Wade or call up a map. They didn't even have the flashlight.

With their eyes already adjusted to the dark, Ron, with Rufus on his shoulder, sped to his right to try and locate Kim. He didn't even know which direction she was in!

Could it have been hours that passed? Probably. He had no watch and the clocks inside the labs they passed weren't working. The halls were labyrinthine, they could have been going in circles for all he knew.

Hope came when they reached a pair of elevators. Between them was a directory map and Ron quickly made sense of where they were. They were on the other side of the door, two floors up. With the map engraved in his memory, Ron tore down the stairs, ignoring the stitch in his side.

Ahead of them were the doors and Ron called out that he was coming, called sorry, he had been lost, expected Kim to holler at him for taking so long but there hadn't been a response from the other side of the door. Hastily, Ron fiddled with the lock and flew open the doors to see… to see on the ground… sprawled unconscious… Then the blood… in only one place.

Ron remembered freezing in dread. His brain overloaded with thoughts, it was on the brink of steaming, the gears working so hard to work out what he'd seen. Since Ron had no idea what a girl's 'curse' was, his mind came to only one conclusion. And that conclusion almost sent him into a seizure.

Ron blamed himself for not coming to her rescue, he felt sick inside, terrified for Kim's well-being. He tried poking her shoulder in a failed attempt to wake Kim. He'd called her name, softly at first, then his voice rose in solicitude, more anxious to have her wake and tell him that she was alright.

Rufus squealed at Ron to lower his voice, he might alert the burglar. With that terrible thought in his mind, he suddenly felt vulnerable in the open hallway with Kim. So with Rufus dashing into his pocket, he scooped Kim up and scampered into the nearest lab.

She was still limp when Ron placed her on the swivel chair behind a lab desk. Ron remembered pacing back and forth, wringing his mind for a solution, something he could do to help her. He looked back at her, he couldn't believe what he thought had happened to her. It was surreal and that was when, in his life, he understood that he wasn't the only person in the world who knew she was a girl.

His mind was in such a flurry on what to do and what he thought happened. Turning to look back at Kim, he felt agonized inside. Ron had approached her and tried to awaken her again. Still unconscious, the blood still looked fresh.

Ron had no clue on what to do. He knew he had to get Kim out of here, but how? He didn't know where he was in the building and there was a—his eyes had flicked back onto Kim—a that-type-of-person who would do such a thing to her out there. Because Ron was not only frightened to the brink but began to feel anger to what happened, he completely forgot about the Kimmunicator in Kim's pocket to contact Wade. At the time, he had just been thinking that none of the phones were working.

Looking back at Kim some more, he had gulped, closed his eyes and decided to be brave. He'd try to find another directory map by some elevators and escape with her in tow, there was no way he was going to leave her behind. And should he run into the… the thief? Well, he'd think about that when the time came.

It came sooner than he would have wished.

Ron had just scooped up Kim, Rufus on his shoulder when footsteps were fast approaching. Adrenaline rising, his mind leapt for the first decision that leapt into his mind and that… was to hide. And hide Ron Stoppable did.

It was the closet he flew into. He didn't even have time to close the doors all the way otherwise the thief would hear the banging shut of the doors. It had been dark in the closet, but he could still see through the open sliver. He had hugged Kim close, so close he clung to her for his sake and hers. He only wanted to protect her, fearing the thief would come back for more… sure it would kill her with the damage already dealt to her. Rufus had shrunk and whimpered, curling around Ron's neck.

The thief, as Ron and Rufus watched, was nicking things from the room, which was the least of Ron's worries. His apprehension was on how near the thief was to the closet. The fright and dash into the closet had caused Ron to breathe heavily and he struggled to keep himself inaudible.

It was at that moment he remembered the Kimmunicator in Kim's pocket, if it was still there. Gasping and breathing heavily, Ron pulled Kim even closer, his fingers holding her beginning to feel sore, and reached into her pocket for the Kimmunicator, but he was so full of fear and consternation it cost him a moment's clumsiness. He dropped the Kimmunicator on the metal closet floor. Needless to say, it clanged. Rather loudly at that.

Instantly Ron looked up and through the sliver in the doors at the thief. The thief had heard and turned his attention to where the sound had come from. Ron and Rufus both whimpered in unison and Ron tried to hide himself as much as he could in the corner of the closet bringing Kim to an all time close. His legs scrambled as he buried himself into the corner…

The doors opened, not fast and not cautiously either. Much foreboding in the ninja-like mask, only the thief's eyes and part of his eyebrows were visible. He had looked surprised, taken-aback to see a skinny blonde boy cowering on the corner, his eyes wide in panic, with a hairless rat and the girl he had run into earlier. The thief didn't really know what to do, the only one who could intervene with his plan was the boy and he didn't really appeal as much of a threat.

They both stared at each other for a couple of minutes, neither one of them knowing what on Earth to do with the other. The thief's eyes flickered onto Kim, Ron had seen that, then the anger rose inside him again. What the thief had done to her. What he thought he had done, rather.

And like in the now past future, Ron had immediately launched himself onto the fiend like a wild animal and began to scratch and bite in a furious temper.

The thief cried out in utter shock, trying to push and pull Ron off of him. Luckily for this thief, Ron hadn't drawn any blood. In a fight to pull the, as the thief believed, unprovoked attack of the wild boy off of him, Ron had been easily tossed off, being much smaller at the time.

Ron hit the metal closet doors and the thief dropped his booty and turned to run out of the lab. Ron had given chase but not for long, the usual fear for his own well-being overcame him and he slunk back to tend to Kim.

The loud noises must have aroused Kim for she was slowly beginning to come to when Ron trotted back into the lab. Ron was at her side in a flash and crouched on the floor beside Kim, watching her slowly awaken.

"R-Ron.." she had mumbled.

"Kim, d-do you feel ok?" his eyes darted to the source of the blood again.

"Just a bit weird up in the head," she grumbled, clutching her head. "Maybe get Wade on the Kimmunicator."

Ron remembered and picked it up from where it had fallen and told Wade to call an ambulance, still fearing the worst for Kim.

Once that was done, Ron turned back to Kim who was now sitting up, still looking disorientated and rubbing her head. "That was some clash," she muttered, her speech slightly slurred.

Ron felt himself scrunch up as he sat on the floor beside Kim, fairly close at that. "Are you gonna tell your parents?"

"What?" Kim asked, giving her head a final rub and then leaned back against the closet doors. "No duh, not. Like I need to tell them about one lost battle?" she rolled her eyes.

Suddenly, Ron began to feel apprehensive, Kim was acting as if… as if she was alright, well, except for her head. Didn't it hurt? Wasn't she in pain? If not physical pain, what about emotional or mental or whatever? This wasn't making sense to Ron—there was still blood for crying out loud!

"Kim, are you sure!" Ron's voice cracked as it rose. "You don't look ok to me! I- you…"

Kim gave him a sceptical look and then followed his eyes to see…

"Ohhhhhhhh!" Kim moaned out loud which startled all hell out of Ron and Rufus and then some. "Not now. Errgh, this is just great. C'mon, let's go find a washroom."

Kim pushed herself off the floor, grabbed Ron's mission shirt and pulled him out of the lab in pursuit of the closest women's washroom.

"Ew, feels weird. Yuck." Kim grunted as she tugged an extremely baffled Ron.

Once they reached the women's washroom, Ron leaned against the wall beside the door awaiting Kim to return. Whatever she was doing in there, he hoped she would be ok. She certainly appeared ok. Ron was absolutely dumbstruck how Kim could walk around spewing out curses, grunts and hisses like she normally did when ticked off and not be screaming her head off in pain or sobbing in trauma

When Kim returned, she rubbed her head as if sore and began to play with her hair. "Guess I owe you an explanation, huh?"

Ron just blinked.

Then, there on the hallway floor beside the women's washroom Kim dove into the explanation of 'Aunt Flow', the women's curse, assuring Ron that she wasn't going to bleed to death, although he was highly sceptical at the time.

"If I could bleed to death," Kim replied in short-temper, "Then don't you think I would have by now? I started this when I was thirteen."

"That sucks," Ron had replied blatantly once Kim had finished with her explanation. "Glad I don't have to go through that."

"Yea, lucky you," Kim rolled her eyes.

"I'm glad you're ok though, you know, not, like… like… you know. I'm glad you weren't hurt," Ron blustered, embarrassed about what he thought had happened to her, what he thought the cat burglar had done to her. But he shouldn't have been embarrassed, he should have been relieved, and he was.

"Thanks," Kim shrugged Ron's concern off as if she didn't understand exactly how fretfully concerned Ron had been for her. "Now before we go catch a thief, let's find a lab coat that I can borrow first to cover this embarrassing mess."

"But why were you on the floor?" Ron pressed, "Why were you knocked out?"

"The thief attacked me when you were in the ducts. We battled and he pushed me hard, my head must have hit the metal doors and knocked me out. I think I remember that, actually. Then my period must have come while I was unconscious," she had shrugged.

The present-day Ron shook his head, clearing the flashbacks from his mind. How to reflect on it? He wasn't sure and wasn't given the time. Kim came back out of the washroom wearing her cheerleader top and a towel wrapped around her, (her skirt probably thrown into the dirty laundry basket).

She led Ron back upstairs where she changed into some clothing, her pink tank-top with the green Capri pants. Then she allowed him to change out of his pants and into a new pair. He also put on a different shirt, the aqua bowler shirt with the black collar and the white undershirt underneath. (Rufus finally had a pocket to reside in.) Not clothes they would wear in the cold September air, but suitable for inside the house.

Kim then scooped up their clothes, including Ron's gym shirt and tossed it into the dirty laundry in the bathroom.

She hadn't said a single word to him since, well… since at school actually. When Ron had awoken her, she probably had been stressing about the mess more to herself than to Ron. Still she said nothing about it or their day at school, not what Bonnie had said either. This couldn't be good, but was she angry at him? Or just moody?

Usually when Kim was angry, she exploded at Ron. And she wasn't. Nervously, Ron wondered if he'd prefer Kim to rage at him than give him this silent treatment.

In this mutual silence, Kim stalked down the stairs and into the living room where Mrs Possible was lounging out of her lab coat with the television remote watching some Emergency Room drama show.

("We're loosing him! We can't-"

"Never say 'can't' in my ER. Do you hear me, man? NEVER. SAY. 'CAN'T'."

Alright, I get it already, Ron shot back in his thoughts.)

"M-Mom," Kim stuttered, approaching slowly. (Ron figured he'd linger a little behind Kim and maybe, just maybe he'd become invisible).

"Yes, Kimmie?" her Mother asked, turning her head from the drama, turning down the volume a few notches.

Kim placed her free her free hand by her chin, looking painfully stressed and anxious. "I… I need your help."

Curiosity shone in Mrs Possible's eyes. Did they flicker to Ron? "Yes, what is it?"

"Um," Kim stuttered again now looking embarrassed, "It's my bed… I need you to help clean it."

"…" Mrs Possible's face was blank. No, there's was some stun in there, Ron noted. Stealthily, her eyes swept to Ron and back to Kim again. So stealthily, Ron didn't notice, besides, he was occupied at staring at Kim's wholly amazing floor of wonders.

"What's wrong with it, Kimmie?"

"You'll see," Kim flushed again and turned on her heels back up her room. Trailing her, Ron looked over his shoulder to see if Mrs Possible was following them; she was.

"Oh my," was the first thing that came out of Mrs Possible's mouth when she reached Kim's loft bedroom, pacing a delicate hand to her cheek. "I'm sorry, Kimmie," she put an arm around Kim and give her a hug. "Of course, I'll clean this up, why don't you two go on down stairs and watch some television. I'll bring you some snacks later. You'll have fresh bed sheets to-night, I promise."

"Thanks, Mom!" Kim brightened, the blush disappearing from her face.

"Thanks," Ron murmured as well, not sure if he should put in any input or not.

Just before Kim and Ron could trot down the stairs into the living room, a small noise came from Kim's bag.

beepbeepbeep-beep

"The Kimmunicator!" Kim alarumed and rushed over to her backpack by the base of her toy chest. Kim picked up her backpack and Ron his then together they sped down the stairs, Kim struggling to pull out the Kimmunicator with her one hand from the bag.

She wasn't able to and it stopped beeping by the time they reaching the living room but Kim still whipped it out and made contact with Wade.

"Wade, what's the sitch?"

"What's been up with you two?" Wade frowned back, "I was waiting for you guys to meet me at your locker but you never showed up! Figure I'd contact you at Lunch then still you didn't come; same with after school. I beeped you a couple of times on the Kimmunicator after school but still no response. Am I being left out of something?"

"No, Wade," Kim responded. "Just… late for school and it all went downhill from there. Sorry, bad day at school. I could really use some information about our hand-holding sitch." She picked up their hands to show Wade that they were still stuck.

"Actually, yes." Wade grinned back, "I do have some good news."

"Does that mean there's bad news?" Ron questioned and exchanged a look with Rufus who had waddled out of Ron's pocket and onto his shoulder.

Wade winced, but grinned, "True that. Listen up: I managed to contact the scientists about their missing drafts-"

"And?" Kim pressed urgently. She was sitting on the floor beside the sofa on her folded legs with Ron beside her peering over her shoulder at Wade.

Wade chuckled, "Let me finish! I know what the machine does now-"

"What?"

"Get this, it was a wishing machine."

"Wishing Machine?" Ron echoed.

"What on Earth is a 'wishing machine'," Kim asked doubtfully.

Wade gave them a sardonic look, "Maybe exactly what it says it does? It makes your wishes come true, in a nut shell."

"Hot damn, it's a good thing we destroyed that before Drakken had the chance to use it!" Ron said, leaning back and resting himself against the side table with the telephone. "Can you imagine?"

"Yea, I can," Kim responded automatically, it didn't feel like she was actually talking to him yet; Ron frowned. "But how does that explain this?" Kim urged shaking her and Ron's connected hands again.

"Not sure on that, but I do have some theories." Wade elaborated, "One could be some gases during the explosions were infected with the Wish Machine chemicals, maybe while you two were holding hands, it made contact and fused them together?"

"But I didn't want my hand to be stuck to Ron's; who'd wish something stupid like that!" Kim growled.

Wade shook his head, "When gases are released like that in an explosion, they're rogue gases. They don't have a machine to channel them into ray energy and focus them to a direct purpose. The rogue gases could have done anything, like turned Rufus grey if he were touching Ron's mission pants," (Rufus on Ron's shoulder squawked with indignity,) "Or something. It probably reacted to your holding hands and attached them."

"Well that was random," Kim rolled her eyes and sighed. "So what's the bad news?"

Ron braced himself, what if Wade told them they'd be stuck forever?

"Bad news: I still don't have a cure, but I'm working on it so don't work yourself into a hissy-fit, Kim."

Kim shifted her position so she sat on her feet and rear on the floor and her legs bent in front of her. "Thanks, Wade… It's not much help. But I guess info is better than nothing."

"Always the optimist," Ron muttered. He received some nails digging into his skin via their connected hands for that remark.

"Beep me the moment you get info, ok, Wade?"

"Certainly," Wade inclined his head and beeped out.

Kim sighed again. She was certainly doing that a lot to-day. They sat there for a few moments before Kim shuffled around and began to dig inside her bag.

"Homework time," she said. Again, Ron felt as if she was speaking to herself, not to him. It began to irritate him, but he wouldn't press her into speaking to him. She was obviously avoiding directing her speech at him for a reason. For whatever reason, he'd wait for it to pass.

After all, she couldn't stop speaking to him forever. That would be eternally painful if they were stuck together forever.