The second Kimberly set foot in the Youth Center, as usual all eyes were on her. In particular Skull was very excited to see her.
"Hey Kimberly," he said with a huge smile spread across his face, "where ya' been girlie?"
Kimberly looked down to the floor and rolled her eyes to herself; she was so not in the mood for any of this.
"Oh, sorry about yesterday, I was feeling a little under the weather. I guess it was something I ate," she replied and then forced a smile.
"Yeah," said Bulk in a serious voice "well a phone call would have been nice. We had five whinny little girls stuck her for two hours waiting for you. And then when their parents finally came to pick them up we had to listen to them whine for fifteen more minutes about how unprofessional it was that you weren't here with no explanation."
Wow, Bulk was mad. Kimberly couldn't remember him taking that sort of tone with her since high school. 'I guess I'm not the only one experiencing mood swings,' she thought to herself. Though she figured what he was really mad about was having to listen to his best friend worry about her all day.
"I'm sorry," she retorted, "I just didn't wake up until well after the class would have been over and by then I didn't even feel like getting out of bed, much less getting on the phone."
Kimberly was surprised at how easy and naturally the lie came out of her mouth. Maybe this morning wouldn't be so hard after all. Wrong. She noticed Skull staring at her with those ridiculous puppy dog eyes behind the juice bar. He began to speak,
"You should have called me Kim, I would have brought you over something to relieve the pain. You'd be amazed at what the right combination of fruits, vegetables, and vitamins can do." He was so pathetic.
"That's so sweet Skull, but this may be news to you but as it turns out I am a grown woman and I feel quite fine now incase you hadn't noticed."
That really came out wrong and Kimberly knew it. She hoped Skull didn't take it too personally but who was she kidding? He shrunk back like a scared little boy and turned to make her smoothie. Bulk however was not as easy to forgive the girl's heartless remark.
"Hey, miss inconsiderate, don't think you can just waltz in here and treat Skull like you did back in high school 'cause in case you didn't notice he's a grown man. And, he never has to do any of this for you but he does it because he's a nice guy and he thought you were a nice girl. But I guess he was wrong about that, wasn't he."
Bulk turned and walked away towards some tables that needed to be bussed on the other side of the room. Kimberly however was not impressed with his clever little comment. She made a face at his back and then decided that she needed to make things right with Skull or else it wouldn't be long before he realized something was up.
"Skull?" she said unsure if she would receive a response.
"What?" he responded dryly without turning around to look at her.
"I'm sorry," Kimberly actually sounded sincere.
Skull really wasn't interested in her apology. Bulk had been right all along. She had never actually been his friend she was just being cordial to him because she had to see him everyday. What had he been thinking all this time, as if he would have ever in a million years had a chance with her.
"Just forget it Kimberly," he said, "it doesn't matter. Here's your smoothie."
He handed her the pink glass and turned to walk to back kitchen. Kimberly really couldn't have cared less about hurting his stupid little feelings but if she didn't fix things soon she'd be hearing from Lord Zedd and it wouldn't be pretty.
"But Skull," she pleaded "it does matter." She paused to think of what line of bull she could feed him next. "You're one of my best friends in the whole world and if anybody deserves my respect it's you. You've been so good to me these past few months and I repay you by being so hateful." She buried her head in her arms and began sniffling as if she were crying. And of course he bought it.
"Kimberly, don't cry," Skull came around the counter and sat down next to her. As he rubbed her back in consolation he said, "It's okay. Please don't be upset."
'He's such a sucker,' she thought to herself 'I'm almost in the clearing.' She stood up and lunged at him wrapping her arms around his neck and capturing him in a hug.
"So you forgive me?" she muffled into his T-shirt.
"Well," said Skull "what you said really wasn't nice but I think that eventually I could forgive you." He was going to milk this apology for all it was worth.
"Eventually?" she asked surprised, "Why not now?"
"Well I hear the words coming out of your mouth but I'm not sure I believe them."
She couldn't believe this guy. If he loved her so much why was he making this so difficult for her?
"Because," answered Skull light heartedly, "I need you to prove to me that you really value my friendship and you aren't just using me to get free smoothies."
Kimberly pulled away from him and playfully slapped him on the shoulder. "I should have known better. Okay, what do I have to do to prove my loyalty to you my dear?" She wanted to throw up.
"Go out with me tonight," he said confidently as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
'No,' she thought to herself, 'he did not just ask me to do that! There's no way I can do that.' She didn't even notice where his hands were. Then, just as she was about to give him an answer she heard Bulk's voice in the distance utter a familiar name.
"Well hello Tommy," said Bulk.
Kimberly turned around speechless to see the handsome Dr. Oliver standing behind her looking as scrumptious as ever in his sexy worn jeans and black button up shirt, which he wore with the sleeves rolled up and the first three buttons undone. She could see his white undershirt poking out and wished she could see just a little bit more. He wasn't wearing his glasses today, and she was grateful because she was now able to see his beautiful dark brown eyes more clearly. 'Perfect timing,' she thought.
"Hello Bulk," he said cordially walking over to him to shake his hand. "Long time no see. How you been man?"
"Good," said Bulk, "I own the place now, well Skull and I do," he gestured towards his best friend.
It was at this time that Tommy looked in the direction of Bulk's hand and for the first time in a very long time he once again laid eyes on the most beautiful woman he had ever had the pleasure of seeing, Kimberly Hart. At first he didn't even notice who she was with he just took in the gorgeous sight. She was dressed in her work out clothes but as always she looked amazing in them. She wore a fitted black tank top and short little pink running shorts. Her hair was a silky auburn knot on the top of her head and she still glowed like a firefly in the night sky.
Once he took her in and caught his breath he immediately noticed Eugene Skullovich's arms wrapped around her waste. The image hit him like a roundhouse kick to the stomach. He knew that his leg's would have given out from under him if he hadn't have been holding on to the railing next to him.
Skull glared at his former classmate as Tommy caught Kimberly's attention. That was it, the only shot he'd ever have with Kimberly, ruined once again by Tommy Oliver. He never much cared for the guy before, but right now he wished he would just disappear forever.
Bulk and Tommy began walking towards the couple. Tommy couldn't believe what was going on and he had no control over it. He just had to roll with the punches.
"Hey Skull," he said as cheerfully as possible as he extended his hand to the man.
"Tommy," replied Skull nonchalantly pretending his hand was not there.
Skull's unfriendliness really didn't bother Tommy, though. He only cared about one person in that room right now and it certainly wasn't Skull. His gaze shifted towards the girl. He looked at her for what seemed like forever. He studied her, never wanting to forget the way she looked at this moment because he knew that it would soon be over.
"Hello Kimberly," he managed to say without shaking or stuttering.
"Hi Tommy," she answered back looking into his eyes. Then she bit her lower lip hearing Lord Zedd's voice in her head reminding her that she had to act like the Kimberly Hart she once was. So she escaped from Skull's grasp and shifted towards her ex-boyfriend. She took one step forward, got up on her tip toes and rested a small, sweet, moist little kiss on the doctor's cheek. She could have sworn that his skin immediately got warmer beneath her lips.