Chapter 4

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The night air was damp from the previous night's rain, the ground sparkling with dewdrops while the air itself seemed thick and stifling. Overhead only one or two stars managed to peek through the black rain clouds to shine down onto the earth.

A sudden splashing sound broke through the silence in the air, but just barely. A feminine voice cursed softly as their foot became wet, but they continued their walk undeterred. The gray hooded sweatshirt they wore was wrinkled, but it, and the pants they wore, reveled that they were indeed female.

The unidentified female's morose gaze drifted downwards to stare at the wet sidewalk underneath her feet, they didn't need to watch where they were going; they'd been along this route often enough to know the way by heart.

She continued for a moment and then turned to her right passing through a stone and iron archway entering a city park. She passed the water fountain, her eyes drifting upwards to stare at the trees as she continued along the slick park pathway.

She passed through pools of light following the now twisting path of the park sidewalk. Deeper and deeper into the park she went, heeding nothing, lost in a private hell of memories and guilt, both of which had dragged her out of her warm house.

She shivered suddenly remembering the nightmare; it was what had truly driven her from her bed. The amber liquid that had washed over a familiar fraternity room, the sudden drowning sensation, the hands. It was just too much; she wished that Ron were around. It was not the first time that she had made that wish nor would it be the last.

She let out a soft sigh and dully realizing that her surroundings were bring back happy, though now bitter, memories. Nevertheless, this park had been her refuge, she had thought that at least here, she wouldn't remember, but now it was tainted with self-loathing and despair.

For a moment she considered leaving and returning to her home, but the fear that the nightmare would return and the fact that she felt she deserved this torture made her decided to continue her walk.

She followed the winding path absently before coming to a stop before a dark bench that had always been empty when she needed it. But now, it was occupied by something that made her heart titter on the verge of crumbling.

A young couple sat on the bench, hands holding the others and lips pressing together in a tender kiss. It was something that she had done with someone else so very long ago.

The girl stood there, watching from the shadows thinking that she should leave, that even she didn't deserve the pain that was stabbing in her chest now. A tender moment, caught in time, played in her mind. Her and her best friend, talking, holding hands, no kiss but it had been special.

She almost felt the memory turn to ash in her mouth when she realized she'd traded that special moment for lies and gold plated perfection. It made what she had been feeling for a while all the stronger.

Suddenly she was ripped from her thoughts and memories by the couple standing and the brunette placing her hands on her hips talking in a hauntingly familiar voice "What the hell do you think your doing? Are you some kind of pervert?"

The hooded girl tilted her head slightly, the aggressive girl was dressed in expensive clothes, which screamed money, and her hair looked as if it had spent hours in the care of a beauty salon.

Ignoring the girls tapping foot she looked at the boyfriend; he towered over them both with broad shoulders and a handsome, friendly face. Obviously was some kind of athlete.

"I asked you a question perv, or are you hard of hearing?"

She looked back at the brunette and eased her sweatshirts hood back off her head as she spoke "Sorry, I was out for some fresh air. Didn't mean to disturb you Bon Bon."

The brunette's hands immediately left her hips and her mouth opened, as if trying to form a word, only no sound came out. Suddenly she darted forward and embraced the now revealed red head "Kim?!"

Kim hugged back out of habit and surprise, "Yes, Bonnie it's me."

The other girl broke the embrace and stepped back smiling in a friendly manner, talking as if they were old friends, instead of old rivals. "I can't believe it's you. I thought you were off at, oh where was it, Oh yea the University of South California!"

Kim nodded slightly blinking as Bonnie continued, "You were in International Relations right?"

"Yea, Bonnie I don't know if you remember this, but we weren't exactly best friends."

Bonnie laughed and hugged Kim again "Oh that! What'd you expect we were both fighting over Josh and trying to be the top of the pyramid. I mean honestly, we were both just bratty kids that didn't know anything."

Kim stood there confused; the Bonnie she remembered was cruel and mean. The Bonnie she remembered would be trying to take a dig at her about how she was dressed. Nevertheless, this Bonnie was nice, friendly and it scared her. She had no way to relate to this new Bonnie. "Listen, not that I'm trying to be rude, but I think you might need to introduce me to your boyfriend."

Bonnie stepped back and laughed, "Oh don't be silly, you know him." She took the boys hand smiling "Bobby, this is Kim. Kim Possible. Remember?"

Bobby nodded smiling "Oh yea, Kim. Long time no see."

Kim stood there; nodding in response but inside she couldn't believe that Bonnie had stayed with Bobby all this time. She'd always seemed like a date 'em and leave them type. Apparently, Kim never really knew the girl, but more so this meeting was driving home the fact that while her world was shattered everyone else's seemed to be picture perfect.

"So are you and Josh still together? God I thought it was the end of the world when you two started dating." Bonnie looked at the other girl curiously and Kim stood there staring back blankly.

What could she say? She couldn't tell Bonnie the truth; she hadn't even told her parents that truth. However, Bonnie wasn't Bonnie anymore, at least, not the Bonnie that she knew.

Kim sighed and shifted her weight "Actually no, we broke up a couple of weeks ago." She looked up at Bonnie, ready for the teasing comments or insults to come at her.

Instead, what she got was something very unusual a comforting hand on her shoulder and then a hug. This hug wasn't impulsive; it was more of a friendly hug, like one a best friend would give another. It was one that she didn't return, not because she thought it was wrong, but because she was just too confused.

"Bon, I don't mean to," Bobby started then paused and sighed, "I feel like a heel for saying this. But we need to get a move on dear. You're parents will skin me if I keep you out to late."

Bonnie let Kim go and stepped back, holding the other girl by the arms. Her gazed held genuine concern for Kim "He's right, we do have to go...but listen, Kim, if you need me for anything just call alright? I mean I've kept the same cell number since high school."

The red head nodded numbly and then offered her a weak smile before Bonnie turned and lacing her fingers with Bobby started away slowly. Kim watched the couple disappear into the darkness then let out a soft sigh.

Kim watched them disappear and then, without conscious thought, approached the now empty bench and sat down slowly. It was hard, wet, and cold exactly as it should be. She didn't care though, for the first time in a long time she like she was at home.

She lowered her head and then alone in the darkness of the night, she eased onto her side to lay on the bench as if it was a bed. Her hands curled against her chest.

How many times had she and Ron come to this bench? Various moments appeared in her mind, each one involving this very bench and everyone was like a fresh wound to her heart. All the betrayals she had been party too, they all seemed to have some tie to this bench.

She laid there on the bench for several hours, until the sky in the east began to lighten with the rising sun. Yet she was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice, at this moment she would have given anything to see her best friend just once more.

"Kp,"

Kim looked up and saw him, the same sixteen-year-old messy blond haired boy that had no fashion sense. He twisted a raggedy sneaker on the ground and then sighing plopped down in front of her on the grass. He looked at her with wide innocent brown eyes speaking with his soft comforting voice "You ok?"

Kim nodded from her laying position and the Ron before her smiled tentatively "Thought so, I knew nothing could stop you. I mean you Kim Possible you can do anything. You'll get another date with Josh yet."

Kim winced at Josh's name, Ron noticed and frowned slightly "Aww come on KP, cheer up you shouldn't look so down, Hey!" He suddenly stood up and fishing in his pockets produced a plastic red flower offering it to her "Here, I got this for you."

Kim sat up slowly and took it, holding the plastic flower as if it was the most precious thing in the world. She stared at it for a long moment and then looked up at him "Ron,"

The blond looked embarrassed and scuffed the ground "Aww...come on," he smiled at her "We need to get home. You've moped enough over Joshie..." He offered her his hand and she slowly took it and stood.

"Were going to be best friends forever right?" Kim found herself asking, even though she already knew the answer.

Ron nodded "Of course. Nothings going to change that, were team Possible, were always going to be the best of friends."

Then with that pronouncement, Ron disappeared, leaving Kim alone in the park, her hand empty. She looked around in a panic and then shouted his name but the only response she got was an echo. He had been right here, he had given her that flower, he had helped her up. He had to have been real. He had to have been.

Then reality settled over her and she lowered her head, he had been there a little over two years ago. She stood there for several more minutes and then slowly turned starting back the way she came. The lamp that had illuminated the bench suddenly shorted out bathing it in darkness.

Kim stopped at the entrance to the park and turned back, hand resting on the stone arch, staring back along the path almost as if she was trying to will the vision of Ron to reappear.

When he didn't she turned her head closing her eyes and muttered, "He was only a dream." High overhead rain drops began to fall once more in a light drizzle, but this time Kim didn't bother putting her hood up as she walked down the street.

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The cafe was small and rather hidden, tucked between two large businesses in Upperton. Inside the only word to describe it was the word intimate, the staff was friendly and the customers were regulars.

In a far corner was a small table, hidden by a bookcase, at which was a very attractive African American woman. Her lips were highlighted with a dark lipstick and her hair was pulled into a fancy ponytail.

From behind her book, she watched everyone that entered the cafe, studying the other patrons as she sipped her mocha latte. It was her hobby, almost boarding on a passion, she could tell things about people that others would never guess.

She was pulled from her pastime by the pale girl that entered the cafe. She was very attractive with blonde hair and light blue eyes, wearing a black flared skirt and a blue tank top.

She stood there just inside the doorway for several moments and then started towards the girl in the far corner. She pulled the seat out and eased into it smiling "I'm sorry I can't stay long Monique."

Monique smiled and set her book down "Don't worry about it, just glad to see you. So how are things Tara?"

The blonde smiled "Same ol' same ol'." The blond paused and then glanced at the cover of Monique's book "Brick says hi. We really missed you at our wedding."

Monique nodded and sighed looking wistful "I'm sorry I missed it to."

There was a moment of silence and Tara sat forward, giving the other girl an intent look "So what did you want to talk about?"

Monique took a sip of her latte' and ten sighed setting the cup back down "Just, well I know you were friends with Kim so I thought I'd let you know that Kim and Josh finally broke up."

Tara looked stunned "What happened? I mean if she didn't dump him for sleeping with me at prom so what caused her to dump him now?"

Monique shrugged "I haven't a clue, but she's very upset." the girl paused and then lowered her voice "Makes me wonder if he didn't dump her, instead of her dumping him."

Tara nodded and shook her head "Either way, I should call her to let her know I'm there for her."

Monique shook her head looking serious "No that would be the worst thing to do." she sighed and shook her head "In her state, she's not thinking clearly. No telling what she'd do."

Tara sighed and leaned back in her chair "I guess he really did love him. Funny I always thought she, ya know, really loved him."

Monique shook her head, a look of disgust appearing on her face briefly "Never, he was just a brother." She lowered her voice as if imparting a big secret "It was pathetic really, Kim told me once that she was just putting up with him cause they'd grown up together. She didn't even like him as a friend anymore."

Tara nodded, hiding the doubt she felt at that statement "But still..." she sighed sitting back "It's all just too complicated."

Monique nodded and the two proceeded to chitchat for several more minutes before Tara glanced at her watch and sighed standing "I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer, but I gotta get. Suppose to be picking Brick up for lunch."

"Summer job?" Monique asked curiously, as she picked up her book.

Tara nodded "Yea, working with his dad's construction company." she smoothed her skirt sighing, "Keep in touch and let me know how things go with Kim."

Monique nodded and waved as her friend departed. Once the other girl was gone, she opened her book turning to the middle page and then picked up her cup of latte and sipped it with a wicked smile forming on her lips.

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It was a cold and wet morning, the drizzle having stopped after half an hour, but the sun remained hidden behind thick clouds. Drops of water dripped from their homes to crash to the earth.

The air was filled with only the distant sound of cars and the sound of splashing water as a lone female strode the sidewalk in the still early morning.

Her clothes were dark from the amount of water they had absorbed. Her wet hair swayed as she walked, some of it plastered to her forehead. Her emerald eyes were fixed on the ground just ahead of her.

She had no real idea of where she was at, she was just allowing her feet to carry her where the wanted. It was the first time in a long time that her mind was not reminding her of the past.

Ever since the park she had been running on autopilot, the dream Ron had made her realize that despite everything she had been telling herself, she had indeed betrayed the one person she needed more than ever.

Her mind was pulled from its autopilot by a familiar noise, one that was rather haunting. She lifted her head and looked around, trying to place the noise.

It wasn't until she saw an old car backing out of a driveway and a large amount of black smoke billowing out its exhaust that she realized it was Mr. Herboa's.

She turned on her heel taking a sharp breath, finding herself facing the one that she had had hoped never to see. Ron's house, it looked exactly the same except two years older, and it brought the blond haired boy back to her.

Kim stood there staring, images of happier times flashing through her mind. It was almost as if she was watching her life with Ron on fast forward and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't turn away, she had to look at his house.

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The black dodge neon cruised over the road silently, moving slowly through the wet streets as if the driver were hunting for something. It passed rows upon rows of houses before finally turning onto a side street.

The driver couldn't help but feel a little put off, she'd only made the call to Kim's house to see if the girl was alright. She really didn't have time to hunt her friend down, but here she was doing just that.

She scanned the sidewalk thinking that her parents didn't really have any reason to worry, after all Kim could handle herself. Monique sighed and shook her head, slowing to a stop.

She put the car in park and climbed out staring at her friend who was just standing on the sidewalk. "Kim," but the girl remained stationary.

Monique sighed and closed the door walking around the car towards her best-friend. She reached out touching the red heads shoulder lightly "Kim, are you alright?"

Kim looked at her and then looked back at the house "I'm fine."

Monique shook her head and crossed her eyes looking at the house that had seemed to capture her friends attention. "So what are you doing?"

"Walking."

Monique raised an eyebrow repeating Kim's answer "Walking." Kim nodded slightly and Monique shook her head "So, whose house is this?"

"Its Ron's. He's not home," Kim turned to look at her friend "He's never home anymore, he's always at Bueno Nacho." the former hero shrugged then without another word started towards Monique's car.

Monique stood there, staring at the house a slight disgust in her eyes, she turned to watch Kim climb into her car. She shook her head and started back to her car, hiding her disgust.

Kim was probably just feeling guilty, at least that's what Monique told herself. It would pass, just like two years ago, she'd just have to help her forget all about Ron Stoppable. Monique climbed into the drivers side and pulled out onto the road, swinging around to head for Kim's house. A smile plastered on her face, trying to engage Kim in conversation.

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The front door to the house eased open, allowing a slim shadow to fall across the entrance. The figure paused and turned waving at a black neon driving off.

Once the car was gone they entered the house and closed the door. She looked around the seemingly empty house and sighed. The red head walked slowly up the stairs, hearing the vague thumps of noise from the tweebs room.

She entered room and began pulling off her wet clothes, dropping them on the ground. She approached her closet pulling out a pair of sweat pants and tank top.

Sighing she turned to stare at her bed room, three hours with Monique and she still couldn't think of anything but Ron. But it did prove one thing, she could be an actress.

Kim approached the bed and climbed into bed quietly, she grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly staring at the blood stained picture of Ron and her.

She picked it up and transferred it to her bed laying it out on her bed spread. She squeezed her pillow tighter as she stared at it, there was a part of her that was yelling at her.

Kim leaned back thumping her head against the wall, she wanted to talk to Ron. To see him. The desire had started right after she'd demolished her dorm room and it had now reached such proportions that she couldn't control it. She was going to give in.

Kim lifted her head and leaned over retrieving her cordless blue phone, she glanced at the picture and then back to her phone pushing the speed-dial.

She took a steadying breath listening to the phone ring, she squeezed the pillow and then began playing with her bedspread, butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.

A sudden urge to hang up washed over her, but she resisted. She had to do this, she had to talk with him. Suddenly the phone clicked and a familiar female voice from her past answered.

Kim took one last steadying breath and letting it out slowly, spoke into the receiver "Hello, Mrs. Stoppable, this is...Kim...can I talk to Ron?"

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AN:

A long chapter in the making, I hope you enjoy it.

Geor-sama