Chapter 23
Shego and Andrea were expecting to be chastised for their bad behavior as went over to see Kim. The two had to wait as Kim herself was busy saying a joyous hello to her friend, Monique.
Monique responded to Kim as she almost always did, giving her friend Kim a big hug. "Kimmie! How´s it hanging, girl?" Monique asked, her face alight with happiness.
Kim grinned too, happy to see her best girlfriend. "Oh, not too shabby," Kim replied, then her expression became clever when she spotted Andrea and Stephanie waiting wistfully for her. She turned around to the two. "Ladies, I guess introductions are in order. Stephanie, Andrea…meet Monique. My best friend," Kim said.
"Kim, don´t let Ron hear you say that," Monuiqe reminded her as she shook hands with both Shego and Andrea.
"Mon, he´s my boy friend," Kim replied. "You are my best friend. That's two very different things."
"Best girlfriend, maybe," Monique corrected with a smile. "But, whatever…on with the intros, Kimmie."
Kim smiled. "Okay, the reason why I asked you two to stay behind was because of Monique here," Kim said, retrieving Andrea's sketch, the one Shego had let her borrow, and showing it to Stephanie. "Hey, thanks for letting me borrow this, by the way," she said and gave it back.
Andrea looked very surprised, as Shego took back the sketch, pointedly avoiding Andrea's goggle-eyed stare.
Kim continued. "You see, Andrea, me and Stephie here had a little talk about your ambitions, about what you wanted to do. And, I'll be the first to admit I am very impressed by that sketch of yours. So, bearing that in mind, I made a copy of that sketch and faxed it over to Monique, who just happens to work at Club Banana." She looked over to Monique, nodding.
Monique took her cue, and then continued the tale. "Once I received that awesome drawing---as well as a note from Kim---I took the whole thing with me and had a meeting with my boss. Believe me, Andrea, she went through the roof---almost literally!---once she saw your work! No joke, she was floored! So, now…since she was so taken with your abilities, girl, she's empowered me to offer you a job. Now, since you're still in rehab here, she´s willing to still make the offer…but with one provision: you keep whipping up those fabulous sketches of yours---you know whatever comes to mind!---and then each week, you just give them to Kim. She´ll fax a copy of them to me, and I´ll give them to my boss. She will then pay you---and she's no tightwad---for each and every one we use. Well, true, you won't get the money right now, mind you…Kim will be keeping it in trust for you, you know, until you actually start working with us at Club Banana full-time. How's that sound? Do we have a deal, Andrea?"
Andrea just stood there, gaping like some fish out of water, looking from Shego, to Kim, to Monique, then back at Shego again. Her mouth worked, but no sound came out.
Stephanie grinned happily for her friend. "See? Didn't I tell you they'd love your work, Andrea?" Shego said, putting a hand on Andrea's shoulder.
Andrea's only response was to squeal happily, and hug Shego tightly. Shego was surprised a moment later when she felt Andrea crying happy tears against her shoulder. After a moment to regain her composure, Andrea let go of Shego and looked into her eyes, grinning. "Thank you so much, Stephanie! You don´t know how much this means to me," Andrea proclaimed, hugging a startled Shego again. She then turned toward Monique. "You've got yourself a deal, Monique! Oh, and the same goes for you too, Monique. You are the best! I've only just met you, and still you open your arms to me, and gave me a chance. The best chance of my life! Thank you!"
Kim grinned. "Hey, Andrea…that's just Monique---in a nutshell," Kim said and smiled, as Monuiqe blushed deeply.
Kim turned toward Shego and Andrea. "It's been real, girls…but, it´s high time you two headed back to your rooms. You've both had a very busy day. I think both of you need some time alone, to rest and relax."
"Amen to that," Andrea sighed, then giggled.
Shego yawned, then grinned in embarrassment. "Um, now that you do mention it…I am a bit tired now," she confessed.
"Thought so," Kim said smugly, then motioned them all to follow her. "C'mon…Monique and I will walk you two back."
Shego and Andrea chatted softly as they made their way back to their rooms, following Kim and Monique's footsteps.
It was then that Shego´s conscience decided to make itself known again, and have a talk.
Well, well, well…I must admit your evil side has never looked quite so pale as she does right now, the voice confided in smug amusement, and, I can´t tell you just how very proud I am of you, Stephanie. Thanks to your efforts, you've made sure your friend Andrea has a job she'll love.
Hey, as Kim would say, 'no big', Shego thought back, feeling quite pleased. Andrea would of done the same for me, you know.
Yes, you two seem to have forged quite a friendship, her conscience replied with mirth in her voice. But, you do realize that you're allowed to be kind to the others here too, you know.
Shego frowned, confused. Just what's that supposed to mean? Shego asked suspiciously.
Five words for you, dear, her conscience said mysteriously. Monkey Fist and Duff Killigan.
Oops. Shego winced at that implied rebuke. All right, all right, so I did something wrong. I promise I´ll behave better from now on.
Oh, you will…remember, it's not like you have any choice in the matter, Stephanie dear, the voice reminded her.
Shego then felt her pendant become ever so sligthly warm, as if as providing her a warning, reminding her of how it could electrocute her into unconsciousness if it so chose to. Shego shuddered, composed herself, then turned toward Andrea. "Hey, Andrea! I've got a proposal for you," she suddenly said.
Andrea turned to regard her. "Go on…I'm listening," she said, smiling a thankful smile at Shego.
"Whatever happens to us both in the future, promise we´ll always keep in touch with each other. If one of us leaves this place before the other, promise we'll keep in touch…by mail or phone, okay?" Stephanie said emphatically, her voice full of emotion. "Oh, and if I do become a singer, and I'm out on a tour, we´ll still keep in touch…no matter what! Promise?"
"You got it, girlfriend!" Andrea replied, smiling and hugging Shego as they stopped in front of Andrea's cell. "No matter what happens, Steph, we two will always stay in touch."
And with that, Kim opened the door to the room, and Andrea headed inside her cell, smiling and waving good-bye to Shego, her friend.
Kim and Monique looked at each other then, and smiled.
"No doubt about it, those two are friends for life," Monique said and Kim nodded her red-haired head in complete agreement.
"Yep," she agreed. "Just like the two of us, huh, Mon?"
"You got it, girlfriend!" Monique said, then the two laughed happily.