It's Complicated
Chapter Three
--Increasing Complications
"…Monique, you're aware of what time it is, right?"
April 27th. Sort of.
"I'm up early for my beauty regiment." Monique replied smoothly. Vaguely, past the morning fuzz that seemed ominous, Kim could hear water splashing, "Oh, can you believe that this week has gotten even cooler than before?"
Kim stared blankly at a wall.
"Kim?"
"Still here…" She replied automatically. The entirety of yesterday had not yet occurred to her –it was probably too early. She concentrated on Monique's former question. "No. Why has the week gotten even cooler than before?"
"Guess who got Club Banana to co-sponsor our Earth Day Spring Fling Fundraiser and Dance?"
"Monique, you didn't!"
"No need to thank me. But you can if you absolutely have to."
"You're a goddess!"
"Yes, yes I am." Monique paused, paying homage to a silent fanfare, "So, I was thinking, who has a better chance of winning the Spring King and Queen –Ron and Tara or You and Will?"
Yesterday came crashing back and Kim sloshed haphazardly out of bed.
"Monique, please tell me you have not been asking this question to everyone."
"There's no need to be modest, Kim. You and Will do make a great couple. People eat this kind of thing up –two good-looking, teen super-spy agents coming together in the mission of love-"
"MONIQUE!"
But the fiery protest she had adopted the night before had dulled to a helpless mantra.
"This is bad. This is bad…"
"Now Kim, it can't possibly be that bad. At least it's not Brock…"
The doorbell rang. Kim held the earpiece to her neck.
"Who could that be?" She peeked through her window. Will Do stood in front of their door, a black bag slung over his shoulder.
"Will?"
"What?" Monique's voice emitted vaguely. Kim choked on her words, lifting the phone back to her ear,
"Will…call you back, okay? Ciao!"
"Kim-"
Kim threw the phone amidst a pile of residual clothes from the night before and, scrambling for a robe, simultaneously galloped down the stairs.
Dr. Possible yawned, having just reached the living room when Kim zoomed past him in a flurry of hearts and red hair.
"Got it, Dad!"
She jerked open the door.
"Ah, good morning Kimberly. I came by early to-" In one incredible movement, she yanked Will Do inside and slammed the door.
"Kim?" Her father called.
"I've got it, Dad!" Then she focused her gaze on Will. "Can we talk?"
"Well, I did stop by early to analysis these findings-"
Kim took a deep breath.
"I think I should stop working with you on this mission."
Will blinked.
"What?"
"I mean, this really is a one man job. You don't need me."
"Kimberly," said Will seriously, "if you're worried that we'll have as much trouble as we did last time, let me reassure you-"
"It's not that, it's just…" Kim gritted her teeth and forced an apologetic smile, "I'm afraid I will cramp your style. What with your being so…experienced and all…"
Will blinked again.
"Anyway, feel free to use my Dad's facilities whenever you like. I have to get ready for school now so…" She started towards the living room, but in a quick instant Will's fingers swiftly encircled her wrist, jerking her around in a tender, but surprisingly effective, motion.
"I would not think of pursuing this assignment further without you, Kimberly." His eyes were dead-locked in hers; his voice was completely serious.
Kim faltered, if only for a moment.
"Will…"
Just then, Mrs. Possible came rushing down the stairs.
"Oh, Will! How nice to see you!"
Will released her wrist. "Lovely to see you again, Mrs. Possible."
"Why don't you stay for breakfast?"
"I'm truly sorry, Ma'am," Said Will, "but I'm afraid-"
"We have work to do, first, Mom." They looked at each other. Kim's mother smiled.
"That's fine. I'll have breakfast finished by the time you're done."
"Breakfast?" The tweebs slouched in from the living room rubbing their eyes, "You never make breakfast on weekdays…"
"Let's get to work." Said Kim. She started down the hall with Will in tow, leaving the Possible family gabbing behind.
Once they were well down and out of ear shot, Kim asked quietly,
"Why couldn't you just continue this mission without me?"
"You've had quite a number of encounters with this Drakken before. Call it home-team advantage, if you will."
"Oh." They entered the lab. Will pulled the black bag from his shoulder, withdrawing one of Helicon's folders from the previous day.
"I found intriguing substance residue upon closer study of these papers last night."
"Do you ever sleep?" He gave her a peculiar look, taking the folders and placing them on the platform in the center of the room. Kim took the opportunity to slip a on lead vest and lab coat, pulling from the pocket a pair of sunglasses. Will had already donned his attire, stepping back in studious interest.
Upon flipping the switch, a transparent chamber descended over the folders and the room filled with a warm, bright-green glow. Inside, the papers splotched purple.
"What is that…?"
"The purple splotches are the rare, visible effect of saccharomyces cerevisiae ionizing in concentrated, low-beam radiation."
"…yeast?"
"That's what I said." The room returned to normal as Will reversed the switch. Kim removed her sunglasses.
"So Drakken's hideout must be somewhere near a surplus of yeast…" Kim reached for her communicator realizing, much to her dismay, that she was still wearing her heart pajamas.
"Let me go get my communicator-"
"Wade." Said Will (Kim gapped.) The bite-sized genius appeared on Will's communicator screen also in his pajamas, "Any listings of yeast producers or consumers coming up in the national news?"
"Gustav's Lager and Gut Bread just went out of business in Nebraska."
"Right." Said Kim, recovering from a momentary silence, "We ought to get a move on then-"
"Kimmy!" Mrs. Possible's voice rang from down the hall, "Would you come set the table please?"
"Looks like Nebraska will require postponement. Breakfast is ready."
"I'm sure Mom won't mind-"
"School will commence shortly, as well. Perhaps it is best if we wait."
Kim sighed both incredulously and yieldingly. Will said,
"I'll set the table. You should get dressed, Kimberly." She felt, oddly, a pang of embarrassment, and moved down the hall, up the stairs and back into her room. Just as she had changed her shirt, the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Kim. It's Tara."
"Oh." She sighed, "Hey Tara."
"Listen Kim, I just wanted to thank you for inspiring Ron to ask me out. I know it must be hard for you, sharing your best friend with me."
"It's nothing. Tara, I have to go…"
"-and I know it must be even harder since, being the charmer that he is, you've probably liked him once or twice-"
"I," said Kim forcefully, "do not like Ron."
"Oh, I know that, since you and Will are so serious together and you're so sincere Kim, I know you wouldn't lead people on..."
"I'm not dating Will." Kim struggled to maintain her voice level.
"You don't have to lie, it's fine. I'm sure Ron doesn't mind that you're dating Will since you're so cool about us. Ron's so understanding…"
"I'm not-"
"Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for being such a great friend. Let's go out on a double date sometime, okay? See you at practice! Bye!"
Click. Kim sighed. It was a very disgruntled sigh.
Pulling on a pair of jeans she stomped down the stairs and to the breakfast table, where the family sat animatedly enjoying a stack of waffles. Kim took a seat between Will and Mrs. Possible, helping herself to butter and syrup.
"Anyway, Will," There was an odd look in Dr. Possible's eyes, "I hope Kimmy's made it clear that you have free reign to the lab while you're on the case. But just the lab, mind you."
"Dad…"
"Thank you, Dr. Possible. Kim," Will wiped his mouth, "we should converge after school and head for Nebraska from there."
"Okay." She took a big bit of her waffles.
"Well isn't this lovely. You'll have to come over for breakfast more often, Will. Anyway kids, I've got to get going. Would you to like a ride to school?"
"Nonsense, Mrs. Possible. I will escort Kimberly to school."
"You're such a gentleman." She pecked her husband, kissed her children on the forehead and, with more gracious goodbyes to Will, bustled out to the garage. Will and Kim finished their breakfast at the same time.
"Later Dad, tweebs."
"Goodbye Dr. Possible. Jim and…Tim."
"Impressive." Said the tweebs together upon correct identification.
"Good luck with the factory, Kimmy. And don't stay out too late. It's a school night."
"I'll have her back by a decent hour, Sir." Replied Will smoothly.
She rolled her eyes and dragged Will out of the kitchen.
Kim soon realized that Will did, in fact, have a car; a fact that should not have surprised her but did all the same. The ride was short, commencing to classical music and small talk of school or ASB matters. Then Will said,
"Will Don be joining us on this mission?"
"Ron?" Kim sighed, "Maybe."
"Oh." Said Will. He parked the car.
'Oh?' Kim inquired mentally. She shook her head and stepped out.
"Thanks for the ride."
"It was my pleasure." He shut the door, throwing his book bag over one shoulder. "I'll meet you when school ends. Three o' clock."
"That is when school ends."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Okay." He hesitated, "Goodbye, Kimberly."
"Bye."
His eyes lingered as Kim marched off, shaking of her head. Will Do had always been (what was the correct word?) a bit…off. But this sudden change in attitude was too much.
'Oh'. 'Home by a decent hour'. 'Meet you after school'. It was as if…
She dropped her book bag quite suddenly.
It was as if they were going on a date."Kim, you never called back this morning." Monique approached from behind, clutching a stylish handbag at the hip. "Spy thing?"
"Uh, yeah." She yanked out her French workbook with less than ease, causing an avalanche of textbooks to cascade from her locker. Monique gave her the look.
"Kim."
"Monique."
"Kimberly…"
"Not you too. The last thing I need is two people calling me that." Kim pursed her mouth shut, shoved her books haphazardly into her locker and, upon shutting the door, rushed towards her first class. Monique rushed coyly behind her.
"Looks like someone's got a certain someone on the brain…"
"So not."
"Come on, Kim. I'm your girl. I know these things."
"I'm not thinking about Will." Kim sighed in defeat, "Ohh."
"Hey, KP!" Monique stopped her pursuit.
"I'll see you later, Kim." She managed to squeeze in a look of triumph, leaving as Ron arrived at her side.
"Look Kim, I know you're having one of those…girly things right now, and I just wanted you to know that, as your best friend and closest compadre, I understand and am not angry with you in the least."
"Well, thank you Ron." Kim suppressed the reaction to roll her eyes, but found the brunt of her anger had disappeared. Mostly.
"Okay so, Me and Tara –do you want the gory details or what?"
"Gory details are a not, Ron. I need to get to French."
"Alright, so how about I meet you at the Bueno Nacho after school?"
"Can't. I've got…" Kim choked for the second time that day, "…somewhere to go."
"Oh. With Monique?"
"…No." She started towards her French class. Ron followed.
"With the fam?"
"No."
"So," said Ron, "then with Will?"
"No!" Kim spun around, and sighed, "And…yes."
"Ahah! So you are dating him!"
"I am not dating…him…" Kim bit her tongue. How could she tell Ron she'd already started the mission without him, and with Will Do of all people?
Ron nodded,
"It's fine, KP." His voice sounded odd, "I mean, since you're obviously cool with me and Tara's blossoming romance…"
"Ron…"
"…and I mean, Will Do he's…he's pretty cool so, you've got a lot in common and well…I'm cool with you dating him. In fact, we ought to go out on a double date sometime or something, huh?"
"Ron…" Kim whined again.
"Anyway, I'll see you later, KP. Have fun tonight." He turned quickly and left. Kim sighed, meandering into French with less than high spirits.
French passed. Yearbook passed. Lunch passed. Kim was exchanging her French book for Physics when the intercom buzzed on.
"Alright Mad Dogs, the results of your Spring Fling King and Queen nominations are in!"
Kim stuffed her head in her locker,
"What am I going to do about Ron?"
"…Bonnie Rockwaller and Josh Mankey, Tara Strong and…Ron Stoppable? Kim Possible and Will Do! Votes will be taken on Thursday, right after the Plant-a-Plant Pep Rally!"
A strange moan emitted from locker number seventeen.
"Why me?"
"Congratulations Kim." Said Wade encouragingly.
"Before," said Kim, "you ask, I am not going out with Will Do."
"I believe you."
"You do?" Wade nodded.
"Sure. I mean, just because you're meeting him after school…"
"How did you know that?"
"Hacked the Computer Room gossip exchange."
"Great…"
"Kimberly." Kim dejectedly shut her locker. "Oh, hi Will."
"What is this…Spring Fling…King…thing?"
"It's nothing. Just an event the school is putting on…"
"I guess in your case it will be nothing, Kim." Bonnie walked by, trademark sass playing over her face. "Considering you're going to lose!"
"Get over yourself, Bonnie!"
Will blinked.
"Okay."
"Ignore her. She's like that."
"May I carry your books?"
"Thanks, I've got it."
"Quite. Miss Martin requested I give this to you."
"Monique?" Kim took the green card emblazoned with a banana. "Oh, a dance ticket."
"I see. Considering the circumstance, I suppose I will see you at the dance as well?"
If Will's interest in the dance seemed strange, Kim neither noticed nor cared.
"Sure." Then she trailed off to class without another word, leaving Will at her locker. She had better things to worry about.
End of Chapter Three.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kim Possible. Or Will Do. Or Ron. But apparently, I own Monique's last
name.
Hm, the writing is increasing in crappiness. Chapter Four should be…eventful, if I get there. Hearts to you, Artemis