Chapter 18
The three teams continued creating their cakes, pretty much without a problem at all. After a while, the batter now complete, Andrea looked over at Ron, and smiled at him, just to get a reaction. She wasn't disappointed as Ron promptly blushed and looked away.
"Hey, Steph," Andrea commented to her companion, "What do you say we have a little fun with our favorite teen heroes?"
Shego followed her gaze over to the still pink-faced Ron, and smiled. "Hmm, you've got my interest," she mused. "What do you have in mind?"
Andrea leaned over and whisphered her idea into Shego´s ear, which made her softly snort then giggle once. "You got it! I am all for it," Shego said. Andrea set their plan in motion a moment later.
"Oh, Ron," Andrea nearly sang, mustering all the charm she could manage that moment. "Do you think you could come over here?"
Shego had to work hard to stifle a small laugh.
Ron ambled over to where the ladies sat. "Yes, Andrea? What's up?" he inquired, not realizing he was being set up.
Andrea put on her best innocent face, and batted her long eyelashes coquettishly at Ron. "We just wondered if we've got this right yet," Andrea ventured, coyly curling a strand of her hair around a slender finger.
Shego smiled as Ron gulped, but then composed himself. He picked up a small spoon, dipped it into their batter and tasted it. He worked the chocolate concoction around in his mouth a moment before swallowing. "Hmm, not bad, ladies," he told them, making both the girls smile.
"Oh, Ron…you have some chocolate on you," Shego then observed, winking at Andrea when Ron wasn't looking.
"Really? Where?" Ron asked, trying to see.
"Here, let me get it," Shego responded, reaching up with a pale finger to slowly wipe the dot of chocolate batter from Ron's cheek. "There," she then added in a soft, breathless sort of voice as she leaned her body against his.
Ron blushed scarlet beneath the roots of his pale blond hair. "Um, uh…thanks," he said shakily, overcome by the feeling of the lush-bodied Shego pressed against him. "I---"
It was lucky for Ron that Kim was keeping an eye on things, else Shego and Andrea's shameless flirting would have had Ron sporting a permanent blush. "All right, ladies…that's enough of that," Kim insisted, pulling Ron away from the two and behind her, where he smiled his thanks shakily. "You're here to cook…but not that kind of cooking."
"Aw, Kimmie!" Shego protested, smiling cleverly. "You're no fun." Shego pretended to pout. "I didn't hear Ron here complaining…"
"Maybe not," Kim answered, giving Ron a quick look. "But you know darn well that Ron is already taken. By me." Kim's expression was flinty, and her eyes were cool as two pieces of dark green jade. "So, if you feel the need to flirt with someone, do it with the those guys." Kim jerked her thumb over at Drakken, Duff Killigan, and Monkey Fist.
Andrea blinked, then looked over at Shego. Then, the flirtaceous duo looked over to the male members of their little society. Drakken worked with DNAmy on their cake, both of them looking more than a little bit uncomfortable...well, Drakken more so than his teammate. Duff Killigan and Monkey Fist were absolute klutzes in the kitchen, somehow managing to get not even one of the ingredients into the inside of the bowl. Flour was strewn over the bench top, as well as the two 'cooks'. The girls exchanged another look, then shuddered. "Um, no thanks," they both muttered, paling a bit.
"Didn't think so," Kim responded smugly, then frowned, pointing a finger at the two. "Okay, look…I'll make it easy for the both of you to understand, so we don't have this little chat again, okay? Either of you two try to embarrass Ron again, and it´s solitary confinement…for the both of you! Got it?"
"Yes, Ma'am," the two girls said sulkily, watching as a none too pleased Kim led Ron over to the bench where Duff and Monkey Fist stood glaring at one another.
I'm disappointed in you, Stephanie dear, her conscience piped up inside of Shego's head. That really wasn't nice of you. Not very nice at all. I somehow expected better of you.
Shego tried at first to ignore the voice, but a moment later images began to play inside her mind…as if she was seeing herself through the eyes of her conscience. She caught sight of the black clad evil Shego, who sneered at her, then grinned victoriously. Then, the next moment the images were gone.
So…tell me, Stephanie, do you really want her calling the shots in your life again? her conscience asked, its voice uncustomarily harsh and direct.
Of course not, Shego protested mentally. It wasn't like that at all. Andrea and I were just having a little fun was all.
Fun, eh? So, is that how you justify being mean, then? her little voice countered sternly.
Shego blanched, a hundred protests jumping into her head…all of which sounded suspiciously like that evilness that had presided over her for so long. No, Shego replied a moment later. I guess I…just wasn't thinking.
No, you weren't, the voice agreed. You have to stop ignoring me, the voice added. I'm here to help, you know.
Shego looked over at Andrea. She was surprised to see the urban beauty also looked more than a little ashamed of herself. Shego looked---just out of curiosity---at the pendant that hung around Andrea's neck and saw that it now softly glowed. "Ah, so you've started to hear your conscience too, eh?" she observed.
Andrea looked up, surprised. "That happens to you too?" she asked.
Shego nodded solemnly. "Yep! Kimmie told me that these pendants will keep us away from being evil…whether we like it or not," Shego explained.
"I know. Trust me, I know," Andrea told her. "She made a point of telling me that too. Hey, let's get our cake in the oven, shall we?"
Shego nodded, and while Andrea held the pan steady, she poured the batter into the greased and floured pan. After Shego scraped the bowl clean, they moved over to their oven---which Ron had thankfully pre-heated---where they deposited their creation to bake.
"Hey, while we're waiting…what do you say we play a little game." Andrea suggested.
"Oh no," Shego replied, holding up a warning hand. "I got burned by that last game of yours. I'm not that stupid."
Andrea sulked, becoming very quiet for several minutes. Eventually, Shego got tired of the pouty girl, and sighed explosively. "Okay! All right. Just what kind of game are we talking about here?" Shego growled.
Andrea brightened almost immediately. "Nothing naughty. Just a little game, you know, so we can get to know each other better," Andrea proposed.
Shego thought a moment, then nodded. "Okay, but you start," Shego said.
Andrea grinned, thinking. "Your favorite food?" Andrea asked.
Shego chuckled. "That's easy! Spaghetti," Shego answered at once. "And you?" she countered.
"Hot dogs and hamburgers," Andrea answered just as quickly.
"Let me guess," Shego mused aloud. "You're from New York, aren't you?"
"Uh-huh. What gave that away?" Andrea asked, pleased yet surprised.
The two girls continued their little question game while the cake slowly baked away. Over the course of the game, it was easy to tell that the girls were bonding, fast becoming friends.
"Okay, how about…what's your childhood dream?" Shego asked. "What do you always wish you would become?"
Andrea thought a moment, then grinned. "Well, I like to design clothing," Andrea replied, excited. "You know, dresses, jeans, jackets…outfits, really. Back in my room, I've got a sketch book filled with ideas!"
Shego was intrigued, interested. "Really?"
"Oh my, yes! Say, you know…I could bring it to lunch, you know, so you could look them over. Um, if you like, that is…"
Shego grinned, liking the idea. "Hey, that woud be great! Bring it," Shego said.
"Okay, I answered. Your turn, dear. What's your dream?" Andrea asked.
"You have to ask?" Shego challenged. "Don't you remember the other day?" She started to hum a few lines of that Kim Possible parody that Andrea had penned.
"Oh, yeah. I remember, you want to be an entertainer," Andrea concluded, causing Shego to nod approvingly.
"Favorite movie then?" Andrea asked quickly, wanting to avoid the subject any longer.
"Another easy one. 'Lord of the Rings'," Shego answered in a flash. "That Orlando Bloom is HOT! And, you?"
"Mine's easy too. Pirates of the Caribbean," Andrea stated. "Orlando is dreamy, but that Johnny Depp is too awesome!"
It was just then that the timer rang, indicating their cake was done baking. Shego retrieved some oven mitts, pulled their cake out of the oven. It smelled heavenly. Both girls grinned at each other in satisfaction. "Say, what do you say we try for some extra credit," Shego suggested. "Let's see if we can whip up some chocolate frosting." Andrea nodded enthusiastically and they quickly got to work on the icing for the cake. Fifteen minutes later, their frosting was done, and they quickly iced the cake. As they gazed down upon their lovely creation, the two laughed, giving one another a high five. They then looked over to find Ron, and found him taking out his own cake out of the oven.
"Yo, Ronald!" Shego yelled, adding a shrill whistle.
Ron looked up, smiled, nodded, and put his cake down to cool.
"We´re finnished, Teach," Andrea teased, motioning toward the cake. The other teams, Blue and Red, looked over at them in surprise.
Ron calmly walked over and looked down at their nicely decorated cake.
"Very nice," Ron complimented them. "Um, may I borrow a knife?" he asked, eyeing their creation with not a little respect.
"One knife, coming up," Shego replied, fetching a knife, a fork, and a plate. She quickly handed them all over to Ron. He cut a small piece, served it on to the plate, and gingerly cut off one bite of the cake. He placed in his mouth and slowly chewed. He smiled a moment later and a blissful look formed on his face.
"Excellent work, ladies!" he said. "Perfectimundo! Now, that is good stuff! Now, I'm not saying it's as good as nacos, but hey…it´ll definitely do as one swell chocolate cake."
"Nacos? What's a 'naco'?" Shego questioned, lifting an eyebrow.
"Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie," Ron groaned. "A naco is a taco and nachos combined," Ron explained patiently, that same blissful looking coming to his face again. "Trust me, you haven't lived until you've tasted one."
"Ugh, not me! I don´t like Mexican food," Andrea assured him, turning to Shego, who shrugged.
Drakken and DNAmy's cake turned out pretty well, but was unfrosted, and its edges were a bit crispy.
Duff and Monkey Fist's cake would have been an absolute flop…had it not been for Ron's help. As it was, it didn't turn out, well, too badly at least.
After the teams cleaned up after themselves---accompanied by their grumbling---Kim escorted the ladies back to their cells.
"…like I was saying, Steph," Andrea said, "Mexican food has way too many calories."
Kim and the girls stopped in front of Shego´s room, and as Kim worked her magic to get the door to open, Shego suddenly had herself an idea. "Hey, Kim! Do you think it would be all right for Andrea to stay with me for a while? You know, a sort of visit?"
Kim smiled, thought about the idea, then looked down at her watch. The door cycled opened and she nodded. "All right, she can visit. But only for one hour. After all, Andrea does need to tend to Polly, and you have little Kim to attend to, you know."
"I know, and thanks, Kim," Andrea gushed, excited. And with that both ladies walked inside of Shego´s room, chatting like friends will…