KP - A Most Unusual Halloween
Chapter Two: The Phone Calls(At the Stoppable Residence)
Ron was sitting at his computer with his little naked mole rat buddy, Rufus at the keyboard.
Rufus was moving a mouse around and controlling his Tunnel Lord character in the game with Ron watching and making back-seat suggestions that Rufus knew would have spelled doom for the Tunnel Lord had he followed his orders.
Fortunately Rufus didn't and Ron didn't ever seem to notice, as he would cheer whenever Rufus did some cool thing in the game.
Ron was about to make another suggestion for the Tunnel Lord when the phone rang and he picks up the cordless phone by the computer that he usually used whenever talking to Kim.
Not a moment after he says, "Hello?" to the caller, and hoping that it was Kim does he realize that he should have looked at the Caller ID.
Monique says, "Hey Ron, I just heard. You're not going as the pony this year."
Ron is still watching Rufus play the game and half-listens to Monique, "Yeah, that's true…" he says as Rufus approaches what looks like could be trouble in the game.
Monique says, "So does that mean you're not going to go trick or treating this year? Did you finally give it up?"
Ron says, "No way! I just have bigger and better plans for this year!" He then says, "Look out Tunnel Lord! Ah!" flinching as the Tunnel Lord avoids an attack by a dragon.
Monique notices that Ron seems to be distracted and hopes that she can find out what Ron's real plans are before Ron realizes what she's up to. She says, "Really? And what kind of plans are those?"
Ron says, "Uh-uh, I'm not spilling the beans! I'm a fortress, a fortress ya hear!" And thumps his chest with his fist even though Monique can't see it.
Monique sighs and says, "Ok, so you're a fortress… but this isn't like you Ron. You're keeping a secret from your best friend you know."
Ron says, "Yeah… I know but if I spill the surprise will be ruined!" He watches Rufus and yells, "Yikes! Watch out Rufus! Get that Dragon!" and swings the phone around in one hand as if battling the creature with it before he realizes what he's doing and brings the phone back to his ear.
Monique decides to play a different tack and says, "Come on Ron, you can tell me… we're friends and I can keep a secret…" Her voice becoming more soft and secretive as if to emphasize her point.
Ron half listens to Monique and says, "Sorry buddy" to Rufus who squeaks that it is ok to him before he resumes the action in the game. Ron says to Monique, "Huh? What was that Monique?"
Monique rubs her face with a hand at a performance wasted on him. She says, "Come on Ron, can't you give me a few hints about the costume? Or your big plan? I promise not to say a word."
Ron shakes his head and says, "No way, I know what that means… that's Monique code for saying you'll tell Kim without talking somehow."
Monique looks at the phone in surprise and thinks, "How did the boy get so smart?" She says, "It is not, and if you don't spill something soon boy. I think something of yours is going to be spilled and soon."
Ron shakes his head again, forgetting that she can't see and says, "Uh-uh! I'll never talk! Even if you torture me with monkeys!" This gets a surprised squeak and a questioning glance from Rufus when he hears this.
Even Monique is surprised by this and sighs, "Ok, I know when I'm beat. But I have another question for you hon."
Ron suddenly shouts, "Yeah, you get him Rufus! Show him who is boss!" loud enough into the phone that Monique has to pull her ear away quickly for a few moments.
Monique waits a few moments before she says cautiously, "Ron?" and gets a "Heh, sorry about that Monique. Um, what was the question again?"
Monique says, "Are you and Kim planning on coming by at any point to my costume party? Maybe you guys could show me the big costume surprise then."
Ron looks blankly and says, "What? What party? You're having a costume party?"
Monique raises an eyebrow and says, "You mean Kim didn't tell you yet? I told her bring you over, pony or no pony."
Ron raises a hand to his forehead and tilts his head back as he sounds anguished, "No! Kim didn't tell me about any party! Why didn't she tell me!"
Monique wonders why Ron is acting like that, and wonders if she overstepped some boundary she didn't know about. She says, "Chill boy, I bet you that Kim was going to tell you but you sideswiped her with this costume surprise of yours."
Ron recovers quickly and says in a hopeful tone, "You really think so Monique?" and gets a "Yeah, I'm sure that's all it is. Now, are you going to come? Because the two of you are invited in case I haven't made myself clear." From Monique on the phone.
Ron switches ears and says, "Yeah, we might drop by Monique, after all your house is on my list for getting the best candy on that block." His goofy smile seems to be transmitted through the line as even Monique smiles at the way he said that.
Monique says, "Well then I'll make sure that we save some extra candy for you two when you stop by." She is surprised when Ron says, "You better save some extra for Rufus because on Halloween he's going with us!"
Monique doesn't quite know what to make of that and says, "Rufus is going trick or treating this year? Since when does he like candy?"
Ron laughs and says, "It's all going to be part of the big plan! Without him the big costume plan just wouldn't work!"
Monique is beginning to see why Kim got all worked up about the big mysterious costume plan. She was starting to want to know what he was planning big time herself! Just listening to Ron was making her wish she was there so she could pin him to the ground with a wrestling move and not budge until he gave more but alas, she was on the phone with him.
Monique says, "So Rufus is part of one of your costumes? What's he going as?"
Ron says, "Look out Rufus! The Bronze Knight is coming after you!" before he says to her, "That's going to be part of the surprise! You'll see for yourself when we drop by! Oh! Gotta go Monique! Bye!"
Ron quickly turns off the phone even as Monique shouts into the phone, "Now don't you hang up on me boy! I…click" He looks a bit nervous for a second and says, "Wow, I almost came close to telling her and that would have spoiled everything Rufus."
Monique on the other end was looking at the phone in her hand, stunned that Ron had hung up on her. It takes a few moments to sink in before she starts to get angry enough to growl, "Oooh! That boy is in so much trouble the next time I see him!"
Ron shivers for a second and thinks, "Wow! For a second I felt a cold chill…" He looks around to see what could have been the source of it before he shrugs his shoulders and shouts, "Yeah, go get him Rufus!"
Monique dials Kim's number and when Kim picks up the phone quickly she hears Kim's common line of "What's the sitch, Monique? Did you find out anything?"
Monique sighs, "Sorry Kim, he wouldn't budge an inch." Which makes Kim sigh and say, "Thanks for trying Monique, I was hoping you could get through to him where I failed."
Monique says, "I'll try again later when I see him in person Kim."
Kim says, "No, forget it Monique I think I'll just wait for his surprise no matter how tempting it may be to drag it out of him."
Monique says, "That's up to you girl, but with the way he was so secretive, I can understand why it bugs you so."
Kim says, "Thanks Monique." Then Monique says, "Hey Kim, why didn't you tell Ron about my party?"
Kim's eyes widen for a few seconds before she says, "Um, I forgot to tell him. I was going to tell him at Bueno Nacho but then he sprung that big surprise about the costume change."
Monique smiles on her end and the smile is picked up in her voice as she says, "I figured as much. You know, for a girl who says that she can do anything. You sure can let your best friend through you for a loop."
Kim walks over to her desk where there is a picture of Kim and Ron together at the prom and she says, as she traces a finger along the edge of the frame, "Yeah, I know… and even though I've known him practically my whole life, he still can find a way to surprise me."
Monique picks up on something in Kim's voice and says with a light taunt in her voice, "Oh? But I thought you two shared everything, how can he still find a way to surprise you?"
Kim smiles as she remembers the prom and slides a finger over the tux that Ron was wearing and even though she had thought he looked silly in it, she had to admit that he had never looked all the more handsome in it that night. She says, "That's just the way he is Monique… just full of wonderful surprises."
Monique raises an eyebrow as she hears Kim's voice change, becoming softer and more distance somehow. She guesses that Kim is thinking or remembering something in particular before she says, "Yeah, and sometimes not so good surprises, or have you forgotten?"
Even though Monique had meant the costume surprise mystery, Kim's mind wanders to a Christmas where Ron had taken on Drakken and Shego all by himself so that he could give Kim the perfect Christmas with her family. She also remembered how she felt when she thought she had lost him because he had tried to take on something without her there. A single tear falls from Kim's cheek and lands on the phone, creating a bit of water-static.
Monique hears the sound and the silence on the other end before she says, "Kim? Kim are you there?" It isn't until the 5th time that she calls for Kim's attention that she finally hears Kim say, "Yeah… I'm here… Look, Monique… I think I'll go now. I'll call you if I find out any more details."
Monique listens to the phone carefully and thinks she can hear something but she isn't sure what to make of it before she says, "Ok Kim… and Kim? Ron can't keep the secret if we both pressure him. Do you want to try…?"
Monique gets interrupted by Kim saying, "No, that's ok Monique. I trust Ron." She presses her ear more to the phone as she can almost swear she hears Kim whisper, "with all my heart and body."
Monique isn't quite sure what to make of what she thinks she hears before she says, "Ok Kim, I'll back off then and leave it up to you."
Kim smiles a little as she says, "Thank you Monique and I'll see you later, ok?"
Monique nods as she says, "Yeah Kim, see you later." Before she hears the click of Kim's phone hanging up on her. She thinks, "I wonder what that was all about?" as she replays the conversation in her head.
Kim picks up the picture of the two of them with such happy smiles on their faces and just stands there, looking at the happy couple looking back at her. She thinks, "Oh Ron… we've been through so much together. I couldn't imagine fighting to save the world without you."
Kim places the picture back where it belongs and wipes at her eyes for a few moments before she dives onto the bed and tucks the pillow into her arms before she lays her head down. She softly whispers into the air, "Oh Ron… whatever you're planning, please be careful…" remembering the Christmas time when she thought she'd lost Ron and realizes that even then, she had feelings for Ron but had denied them because of the thought about dating her best friend whom she had known since pre-k and who also on many, many occasions still seemed a bit like a kid when she wanted or needed more.
Kim wondered how she could have been so blind to how Ron had always been there and she wondered just how many times she had taken his being there and being so accepting of her for granted just because of something that caught her eye at the time. The mere thought of it made her sick as her mind started to answer her and she forced them away because she knew it should have been far too many times but a part of her heart also said, "Even through all of that, he was always there for you. He always forgave you, always accepted you, even when sometimes you'd go overboard. Even when you were under control of others." That's when she remembered the Moodulators and smiled as she thought of how Ron had tried to reach her when she was absolutely furious at him, and how he had finally succeeded.
She had lied to Ron back then, it had been so the drama because she'd come so close to truly hurting Ron back then and she knew that if that had happened, she would have been devastated beyond words. She didn't want to admit it back then, not even to herself, but she did care very deeply about him. Thinking back, she remembered what she said to him after Ron asked about the crush and smiled, as she knew she had meant more than just the fireworks that had gone off in the sky that night. She had remembered their kiss at the locker and the fireworks that she'd felt even then.
Kim closes her eyes slowly, still thinking about that day and their first passionate kiss that they had shared, even if it had been under the Moodulator's control. She falls asleep with a soft smile on her face and when Kim's mother walks on by with some sheets done from the laundry, she sees the smile of contented love on Kim's face. Kim's mother places a sheet on Kim before walking away with a small smile of her own.
AN: Well everyone, it looks like you won't get to find out what costumes that Ron has chosen. The ONLY other person besides Ron and myself to know is Wade. heh-heh! Good luck finding Wade and getting it out of him! I thought it would be a nice touch to show that Rufus went back playing the game after the long absence and that he had the full support of Ron, the knave. It certainly made for a more entertaining talk between him and Monique.
coolgreencat: Thanks for the cool review, I'm glad that you thought the characters were perfect.
qtpie235: Lol! Nice guess! Hmmmmm... I think I might put someone in the story in such a costume... maybe Kim, maybe someone else... you'll have to wait and see!
cl: Lol! A roach costume! Well, you'll just have to see if I use it or not! Stay tuned as Halloween approaches for our chars!
The Incredible Werekitty: As for your two guesses... I'm not going to say, simply to tease all my other readers! lol!
Ari-Griffin: Thanks for the nice review!I appreciate hearing that!
Gundum M: Good! That means you'll come back for the rest of the chapters!
userx: Thanks for the nice review! I'll try to keep up the good work!
Jimmy Carter: Kim in a Dominatrix outfit? Asks Kim: Hey would you wear such a costume for Halloween? Blushing Kim: No! (small voice) maybe for the bedroom... LOL! Anyway, I doubt Ron could get Kim to wear such a thing for the public and now just imagine what Ron and Rufus would have to wear to fit in with it! Kim: NO! Don't imagine it!