Chapter 8
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The bedroom was small, only slightly larger than a broom closet. However, unlike the rest of the apartment it was clean and neat. The bed was new, the dresser had been restained recently and the carpet wasn't shag. This had little bearing to the attractive female currently curled up under the heavy covers on the bed, sleeping soundly for once. At least she was until a pair of voices began drifting upon the air.
Groaning, the girl rolled over trying to bury her face into the surprisingly clean pillow. It did no good since the voices were growing in volume, forcing her to wake up. With a low grunt she did just that, cracking her emerald eyes open and listened sleepily to the conversation. "What was I suppose to do?" A hauntingly familiar voice said in an exasperated tone, as the sound of a refrigerator door slammed "Let her go on the subway and get raped?"
Their was a moment of silence and then a second voice spoke up, obviously male and in a calmer tone "You didn't have to take her to get your paycheck..."
"Right...I could have gone to get it later and give another private dance!" The first voice said bitterly "Look what's done is done. When she gets up I'm taking her to the subway."
"I thought you said first thing in the morning last night," the second voice said, followed by an even lower comment "Do you want her to stay?"
"I do not want her here!" the first voice said heatedly slamming something down "I won't wake her up because she'll beat whoever wakes her up black and blue."
This statement was followed by silence and groaning in protest the red headed girl sat up, allowing the blankets to pool around her. Her shirt was pulled taut over her body, but she didn't pay it much attention. Her stomach currently had her full attention and its attention was focused on her hunger and the wonderful scent that permeated the air.
"Well at least he can still cook," she muttered, then pushed the blankets off of her climbing out of bed to retrieve her duffle bag from the top of the dresser. Tossing it off handily onto the bed she quickly pulled the zipper down and rumaged through its contents pausing moemtiarly as her fingers came into contact with the hard edge of something important. She allowed her fingers to hesitate for a moment and then continued her search, eventually proudcing a set of gray lumps
Quietly she pulled off her shirt, replacing it with a loose, gray sweat shirt. Digging into the bag once more she produced a hairband and pulled her sleep tossled hair back into a thick ponytail, normally she'd have combed it out but she didn't feel that would be a good idea just now. That done she poped her neck and unsnapped her pants, working them down easily to reveal her tappered and toned legs. No sooner had she stepped clear of them than she was pulling up a pair of equally loose, gray sweat pants.
Lets see how many guys want to bother with me now, she thought smugly as she picked up her disgarded clothes and placed them into her dufflebag. Nodding decivsly she zipped it and slung it over her shoulder moving out into the small apartment. Unfortunately the place, if anything, looked worse than last night. Could be because of the conflicting information she had recieved from Ron. He claimed to hate her, shouted it to her face, and then this morning when talking to his roommate he had shown concern about her getting raped.
She couldn't hazard a guess what he was really feeling or thinking, he just wasn't the Ron she knew anymore. He was so bitter, but he could handle himself, so angry yet he was in control of it. Kim hadn't forgotten about the almost slap he had wanted to give her last night, but he had caught himself, held it...why? If he really did hate her he should have slapped her. She had deserved it if she was honest with herself.
"Heh, so you're the great Kim Possible?"
Kim half turned toward the voice, which came from the dingy kitchen, laying eyes upon Brian for the second time. He was medium height, with brown hair and wire-framed glasses. His clothes consisted of a dark shirt and a pair of blue jeans, and he had a look about him that bespoke only apath.
"Just Kim,"
The boy snorted eyeing her "So your the one that stabbed Ron in the back uh? Here I was expecting something...iunno, better." That said he returned his attention to his breakfast.
"What exactly does that mean?" Kim asked, her tone betraying just how much she wanted to take issue with that statement. Unfortunately the boy choose to ignore her statement and concentrate on his food. Letting out a snort of disgust Kim walked over to the couch and sat down, her duffle bag dropping to the floor near the coffee table. She glanced around, realizing Ron was no where to be seen, and then turned her attetion back to Brian "Where's Ron?"
"Shower." Brian grunted in response, waving vaguely toward a closed door Kim had assumed was a closet. Snorting in annoyance Kim crossed her arms and leaned her head back into the faded, sagging couch, closing her eyes. She returned once more to mulling over everything about Ron trying to figure out what exactly he was really feeling.
"Sorry for the wait sir," a young woman, dressed in a navy blue and white waitress outfit said as she transferred the covered plate to the clothe covered table. Smiling she lifted the lid revealing the high priced breakfast he had ordered, then went about preparing the rest of the table for her customer. The room the table, one of several, was large and well lit filled with a soft music. Once she was done she turned her attention to the patient young man she was waiting on, a slightly suggestive tone in her voice "Would you like me to do anything else?"
The young man shook his head, slightly a playful hovering at the corners of his mouth. He swept her with his eyes and brushed a stay lock of styled blond hair back into place "No thank you, not just now." Nodding the waitress flashed him another smile and turned walking away with the lid to his plate. Turning his attention away from her retreating figure she studied the flowers on his table, the gleaming silverware and crystal.
He listened to the soft early morning conversations filling the expensive restaurant which was only a block away from his hotel. Feeling at him he picked up his roll of silver and slid the ring holding it in place off and set it to the side then with a flick of the wrist unrolled it and caught the silverware easily. Setting them on his plate he folded the cloth napkin and laid to it to the side of his plate.
A look of approval passed over his face as he studied the scene and then picked up his utensils proceeding to dig into his breakfast with a reserved manner. He paused, savoring the taste, it was unbelievable just how lucky he had gotten to find a restaurant and a hotel of such caliber in the city. For one brief moment he had feared having to stay in a Super Eight motel, which of course were always placed in the worst sections of town.
Deciding not to dwell on such things he resumed eating his breakfast, disturbed once more by a stranger. He looked up and studied the older man standing next to his table, the suit spoke of power but the nervous look on his face revealed just how little power he had. Silently the man shifted on his feet, transferring his suitcase from his hand to the other unsurely reaching out to shake hands "Good morning Mr. Mankey,"
The blond raised an eyebrow "Why don't you sit down so we don't draw so much attention?"
Nodding the man pulled the opposite chair out and sat down, his briefcase finding a resting place beside his chair. After a moments silence the man spoke up "Mr. Lewis is sorry that he couldn't be here this morning. An emergency came up and I only found out an hour ago."
"That's fine. I understand, now then...do you have everything I requested?" the young man said, setting his utensils down for the moment, his gaze piercing.
"Of course," The older man said, confidence forming in his features "I was just relaying Mr. Lewis' apology. Now then, I warn you this information was very hard to acquire..."
"I'm aware of that," Josh said "Now, let me see what you've found."
The man quietly picked up his briefcase and unsnapped the latches producing a thick manila envelope and placed it on the table sliding it toward the young blond "We believe this is quite satisfactory. Mr. Lewis found several things he believed would be worth adding and I of course made sure to place the address and key inside."
Josh took the envelope quietly and broke the seal, thumbing through the contents talking distractedly "What did Mr. Lewis include in addition to the pictures and public records?"
"Xeroxed pages from an old diary, transcripts of sessions with a Doctor Bloom and sealed juvenile records."
Josh selected a glossy photo and studied it for a moment then looked up at his companion grinning "My my, you gentlemen really are through."
"Thank you Mr. Mankey, we try our best." The man said, laughing lightly and the blond sealed the envelope once more setting it to the side.
"Would you care for some breakfast? My treat."
"I have to decline," the man said smiling "I've had one to many breakfasts and besides, I need have to call my wife. Thank you for the offer though."
"I understand," Josh said easily picking up his utensils "Pleasure doing business with you."
The man rose, picking up his briefcase "Always happy to help the Mankey Family." Then tipping an imaginary hat the man turned walking out the restaurant. Josh took a bite of his breakfast and smiled to himself, happy to be back in the game and not just another pawn.
A knock on the door jerked the red head from the tendrils of the nap she was taking, without thinking she was on her feet and turning to face the apartment door. She watched as Brian glanced at his watch and then grumbling moved toward the door, opening it to allow another girl to enter.
She was tall, with a thicker build that Kim and dressed in a baggy blue shirt and blue jeans. Her face was attractive, rounded though it was, and open with a certain amount of friendliness in her gaze. Spotting Kim the girl raised an eyebrow turning toward Brain "Who's this?"
The bespectacled young man seemed to ignore her question as he moved back into the kitchen to open the fridge and start looking for something. The girl didn't seem satisfied and now ignoring the red head marched into the kitchen "I asked you who the girl on your couch was Brian,"
Sighing in what sounded like exasperation the boy answered her, turning toward the girl "Ron's problem."
Ashley turned looking at Kim critically then laughed "Oh, so does she got a name?"
"Kim Possible," The red head answered and Ashley's gaze suddenly cooled. That was startling to see, what was it about her name that had this effect on people.
"So you're the witch that stabbed Ron in the back uh? What you here for, to twist the knife?"
Kim felt herself stiffen as anger boiled up inside her. She kept it in check as she eyed the two, wanting to lash out at them and correct their obviously cockeyed view of things. Taking several deep breaths and counting to ten, Kim forced herself to relax "So how do you know Ron?"
The girl in question turned toward Brian, acting as if Kim hadn't said anything "So, where is Ron?"
"Showerin-" Brian started then stopped, unopened can of soda in hand and refridgerator door open, turning his attention to the bathroom door openeing. Ron hesitated just outside, cheeks hidden slightly with blond whiskers and his hair plastered to his forehead. However he was at least dressed in clean street clothes, which gave him a less business-like look.
"Hi Ron," Ashely said brightly but Ron chose to ignore her. He scanned the three of them quietly then settled his gaze on Kim.
"Lets go." Kim nodded, wondering why his voice sounded so...dead, flate...it was different from last night. She could see his anger, but now he just didn't seem to have as much fire. What was different, what was going through his mind? Why was he just standing there, staring at her with a dulled fury? Why, Why, Why? That seemed like the question of the day to Kim.
Finally he walked across the small apartment and then past her, heeading for the front door. Kim in surprise followed him oddly anxious to have one last chance to talk to him before she was out of his life completely.
Once they were on the street the two made their way through the early morning, Kim shivering in the chilly wind despite her sweats. Ron on the other hand seemed immune, despite his exposed forearms. The walked a block before Kim finally decided to broach the subject from last night "Did you mean what you said," she hesitated for a minute uncertian "about hating me last night?"
Ron grunted, bringing them to a halt at an intersection before continuing on still not answering her question. Kim, annoyed asked it again and once more received only a slight grunt. Annoyance turned to new found anger anger and she quickly blocked off his path, eyes narrowed "Damn it Ron, you will talk to me! I've had enough of this silent treatment from Brian and Ashley."
Ron stared at her steadily and then spoke the anger in his eyes blossoming anew "Yes," his voice was suddenly laced with a venom "I did." That said he pushed past her starting forward once more his tone considerably cooler "Come on."
Kim stared after him with wide eyes, unable to really process what he had just admitted. He really did hate her, he hadn't just been guided by his anger he had been telling her exactly what he felt! All of this had been a waste of her time the apology, the hope that maybe he might forgive her for not believing him about Josh. Hitting her brother. Everything, it was all just a huge waste of her time and effort because he really did hate her.
She felt like crying, but held herself in check. No, not here on the street while she was walking beside this hateful man that had been her best-friend. She would cry when she was alone, she wouldn't give this bastard the satisfaction of her tears. They reached the entrance to the subway a short time later and descended the nearly deserted stairs to the underground world.
Kim eyed the exposed girders and the postmarked concrete pillars, following Ron's lead. He lead her pass the turnstiles, dropping a set of tokens inside and then out onto the dark gray platform edged with dirty yellow caution paint. It was nearly deserted, which Kim thought was a good thing, then she saw that Ron took a spot near the edge of the platform near three mean looking young men of Spanish decent.
Kim absently stood on the other side of Ron, so that he was between her and the three men. She was getting a bad vibe from this situation and besides she didn't care to much what happened Ron right now.
She shot a glance at Ron then looked ahead, tuning out the men's intense conversation in spanish. It wasn't until a lull fit the air that she noticed and looked around at them to see Ron facing the largest of the three. The big man had his eyes narrowed and was glowering threateningly at Ron, and Kim wished she knew what had been said.
Then the big man spoke up, his english thickly accented "Yea, we were talking about you. Zita told us what ya did..." the guy gave Kim a brief, contempous glance and then looked back at Ron "She was nothing but good to you, you skinny punk."
Kim edged to the side of Ron, just enough to see Ron's facial expressions and to react easily should a fight start. Ron however, didn't change his relaxed body posture or the blank look on his face "She told you that I dumped her cause she was cheating on me?" The three glowered at Ron who merely raised an eyebrow "You gonna say something Carlos or are you and your brothers just gonna stare at me?"
Carlos seemed to draw himself up taller knuckles popping "I want you out of here gringo, this is my subway. Get your skinny ass outta here..." he paused, his smile turning cruel "But ya can leave that red head lil slut you brought."
Kim snapped her head around, eyes narrowed. Her own knuckles popping as she prepared to kick the their asses, nobody called her THAT. Ron however spoke up, his voice ten times colder than anytime he had ever spoken to her "You don't call her that. Ever."
"I'll call her that if I want." Carlos said as Kim eyed Ron in surprise.
The blond however responded in spanish, his tone angry and holding a hard edge "Tú no tienes el derecho a llamarla ella absolutamente nada. Usted debe ser casero con su propia mujer de todos modos, usted conoce Nieve. La muchacha que está atornillando Lenny en su apartamento ahora, como ella hacer diario eso usted salga."
There was a moment of silence and then Carlos made to lunge forward Kim was there, a hand smashing into his solar plexus driving the air out of him at the same time that his brothers grabbed him. He hung there in their grip, his breath raspy, and looking like a mad bull as he stared impotently at both Ron and Kim.
The blond turned away, staring a the empty tunnel. Kim on the other hand was alternating between looking at Ron and Carlos, wondering why she had just reacted like that. Ron hated her and a few minutes earlier she hadn't even cared if Ron had gotten hurt and yet she had just dropped the guy that was about to seriously hurt him.
Carlos finally recovered and ripped himself free of his brothers hands, towering over them but only Kim was looking at him. His gaze was slightly insane, but he held himself in check then stormed off, his brothers hot on his heels talking to him rapidly in gutter spanish.
Kim let out a sigh of relief and turned back to Ron, unsure of what to say or do. Ron it seemed was unwilling to look at her or say a word, intent on just waiting for the subway. He just seemed, she couldn't describe it, or wrap her mind around his actions. Finally she placed her hand his upper arm, speaking softly noting how he tensed at her touch "Thanks Ron...I don't think you should have lied about his girl cheating on him though."
"Don't thank me," Ron said stiffly, voice thick with anger or hatred Kim wasn't sure "He didn't have the right to call you that and I didn't lie about his girlfriend cheating on him. Both his brothers have had her too..."
Kim blinked pulling her hand away in shock "Wha? Both his..."
"Surprise," Ron said without a trace of sarcasm "It's how the real world works."
How the real world works? What was the matter with him? Kim wondered, then began fumming, begining to think he blamed her and that was why he blieved the real world was like this hell he was living in. A minute later, with a loud rattling the subway cars came hurtling out of the tunnel, easing to a stop and halting Kim's train of thoughts.
The doors opened and Ron stepped inside heading for one of the less damaged seats followed by Kim. What was he going to do, ride all the way uptown just to make sure she didn't hang around? Frowning she moved over to stand in front of him, arms crossed "Are you babysitting me?"
Ron stared up at her blankly, his response rather bland "You should hold onto a pole or something if your going to stand up."
"I'll be-" Kim started to respond before the car jerked forward and she stumbled to her side from the sudden forward momentum. She caught one of the poles and steadied herself looking at Ron with irritation. There was nothing to say though, she couldn't blame him since he had warned her in advance. Grumbling she moved back toward him, adjusting to the motion of the subway "So why are you coming with me?"
Ron looked at her unbothered, his tone bland yet again "I have things to do uptown," he narrowed his eyes finishing coldly "Or are losers not allowed to do that?" Kim opened her mouth to respond and then realizing she had nothing she wanted to say to him she closed it and took a page out of his book, looking away and staying silent.
She could feel her anger building however, wanting to explode and tell him exactly what she thought now. The rocking of the subway car lulled her slightly, but her anger refused to die completely. She glanced at him, spite flaring in her gaze each time she did. He was studiously not looking at her.
Kim snorted looking away out a window to watch the walls flash by but found herself staring hatefully at his reflection. It didn't take the subway long to reach its destination and silently Kim forced her way out onto the platform aware that Ron was hot on her heels. Pushing their way through the gathered crowd, the pair made their way up the stairs and stopped, eyeing downtown.
It was so different than where Ron lived, it was hard to believe they were in the same city. Satisfied Kim looked around at Ron, eyes narrowing, ready to unleash her anger. The blond stared back at her passively as he spoke in a surprising calm voice "Can you find your way from here?"
"So not the drama," Kim responded, her tone icy, pleased to see the look of mild curiosity he gave her. "Last night you said you hated me, this morning you said you meant it. I've tired to understand what you were thinking and now I know. You're an asshole and I'm sorry I ever came out here to try and talk to you."
The blonde's face went blank for a moment then tightened into a mask of anger "Then what are you still doing here?" He motioned his hands as if trying to scatter birds "Go on, leave."
Kim glared at him "Shut up! You don't get to order me around you jackass jerk!" Ron sputtered in anger and Kim narrowed her eyes, voice rising "Who the hell do you think you are? Uh? My boyfriend, or my friend?" She jabbed his chest hard stepping in toward him angrily "You're neither! You never have been and never will be...just an emotional repressed coward that can't take responsibility for his actions!"
Ron stared at her for a moment then reached out shoving her backwards by her shoulders, jabbing his finger in her face shouting back "Don't you touch me, you egotistical bitch! I didn't ask for you to come out here and disrupt my life! You did that on your own and then you think that when I refused to accept your ready made apology its because I'm an asshole?" He spread his hands out wide "Do you even know why I hate you! Do you even get it!"
Kim shoved him back, unwilling to back down and actually eager to start throwing punches "What is it uh? What! That I listened to Monique and Josh over you? Does that shock you, that I would listen to them? I'll admit I shouldn't have believed anything Josh said, but Monique has yet to lie to me! Never betrayed or kept a secret from me!"
"What the hell!" Ron shouted, his body language reading that he too was ready to start throwing punches "Come on Kim, say it! Tell the truth, you listened to Monique and Josh because they we're popular! Don't give me this bull about her being loyal or him being charming...they we're popular and I wasn't! That's why you listened to them over me."
"That is utter bull!" Kim shouted back, jaw muscles clenching "I listened to them because they weren't jealous! You could never understand that we were never going to be more than best-friends!"
Ron raised an eyebrow suddenly calm "I'm not the one that asked my best-friend to take my virginity," his voice lacked emotions and that worried Kim "and I wasn't the one that claimed to love her best-friend after they did."
"That has nothing to do with what I'm saying!" Kim shouted drawing several stares, but it didn't seem to bother Ron at all.
"Maybe not to you" Ron said quietly, his tone going icy "but it does to me. How did you expect me to act afterwards? Or when I saw you kissing Josh? Or when you told me it was a huge mistake..."
"It was," Kim said hotly, face clouding with anger "I had just gotten into a huge fight with my parents and I was angry. I had no one else to turn to! I asked you to do something, anything to make me feel better and you did! Then you freaked when me and Josh decided to take a second chance at dating!"
"That," Ron said, stepping in to jab his finger in her face "Is the damn point! I did that for you, I sacrificed my own damn virginity to make you feel better and then you treat what I did like trash! You were a stupid and selfish little bitch back then and you're still a stupid and selfish little bitch KP!"
"What!" Kim shrieked but his anger quickly eclipsed her own.
"I knew what he was and I told you over and over! You ignored me, said I was jealous and that I would get over it! Then you-" he took a breath, seeming to catch himself, face contorted with his anger, eyes clenched shut as his shoulders trembled with the effort he was using to restrain himself. "Goodbye," he finally ground out, his voice trembling with barely contained rage "I hope you have a good life and if I ever see you again it will be too damn soon."
Kim stared at him, her own anger evident. She wasn't going ot let him get onto his high, holier than thou, horse "No Ron! We're not done yet, you don't get to be the victim! Not any more, I lost my best-friend...my world has been shattered. You've treated me lower than dirt since I got here and I'm tired of it!" She jabbed her own finger in his face "You've blamed me for two years Ron, wake up! Everything that's happened to you is your own damn fault! What happened two years ago was, were your living now is, your relationships are! Everything in your life is your damn fault, not mine. Just like everything in mine is my fault. You don't get to be angry with me, you don't get to blame me either."
Ron trembled, obviously wanting to lash out. Instead he narrowed his eyes, voice choking with loathing "How conceded are you? I don't blame you for anything, all I feel for you is hate. This is my life, I've screwed it up and I will continue to screw it up...get it through your hard head, I!Hate!You!"
Kim's own eyes narrowed as she leaned in, almost nose to nose so that he couldn't miss her own anger "I get it Ron, I really do. Can you get this? I Hate you to!" She felt her body trembling wanting to tear into him even more, to beat him senseless to see him suffer. It was a sick feeling but she embraced it, because she could see that he had embraced the same feeling for her a long time ago. Breathing heavily they stared at each other, both unwilling to back down.
Then Kim felt an urge, it was a strange urge, one she wasn't used to having. Then when she realized what it was she blanched mentally, unable to believe she would have that urge now toward him! She hated him and he hated her! No way could she give into such an urge. Ron suddenly pushed her back, retreating like he was splashed with acid his face showing confusion and horror. Why? Had she tried to give in, or...had he felt the same urge? That would be it, that had to be it.
Her mind raced panicked beyond belief as she turned and moved to the curb, flagging down a taxi. she climbed inside and slammed the door angrily as she settled into the backseat. It was surprisingly clean, but she didn't pay any attention, instead handing over the card Justine had given her yesterday. That done she leaned back into the seat, resting her head and closing her eyes. What had prompted the urge? Why had it chosen that moment to rear its ugly head, it just didn't make any sense. She felt the taxi pull out into traffic and she tried to calm herself down, it didn't matter anymore.
Neither one had given in, and Kim was on her way to Justine's. She'd finish her break there and then go back to USC and forget all about Ron, the urge and everything else that had happened out here. It was a silent decision also, that she wouldn't cry about anything. She was Kim Possible she could do anything and she refused to shed a tear.
AN: I wish to apologize to the fans of this story. I believe last chapter I made a statement about 'only getting started wtih the emotional torment' I forgot what chapter I was currently in. It suggested that there was to be a long story, which Betrayal isn't meant to be.
It has actually probably ran longer than it should have...Anyway I apologize for my spanish...thanks goes to Yamal for his help. I hope this is a better translation that in the past.
Also If you have a suggestion for a possible sequel, or if you don't think I should do one, please leave it in a review, email me or IM me. (I only ask because some have asked for one) All of that said I am going to be quiet and concentrate on the next few chapters and see if I can't knock them out since I seem to be on a roll concerning this story.
Geor-sama