I do not own nor have rights to any of the characters contained within this story.

Chapter 3 – The truth comes out, kinda

Felix was feeling good, with the rain that afternoon he had decided to stay at the mall and work on his Monster Mayhem moves, Felix was a slim brown haired 17 year old and Ron Stoppable's best male friend, Felix was kind of a quiet non-descript person but, he caught peoples attention wherever he went, he caught their attention because he was in a wheelchair, a very elaborate and special wheelchair but still a wheelchair. He often heard the comments of people walking by, like "Poor Boy, so young to be handicapped" or sometimes just "Awww, Honey, look" but Felix mostly just ignored those comments, he didn't think of himself as handicapped. His outlook on life was such that he thought of himself as motorized, not handicapped, and, for the most part, was completely happy with the way his life was going. As he was trying master a new move he was wondering about the way Ron had been acting the last couple of days. He had been with Ron almost all day yesterday during the Monster Mayhem tournament but could tell that Ron had something on his mind other that the game he as playing and if he didn't know Ron better he would swear that every so often he had noticed Ron's eye's watering up, like the saddest thing in the world was happening and only he knew about it. On reflection Felix decided that Ron was just coming down with something, that would explain his apparent sadness and the fact that he did so poorly on the game, today they had both gotten here early to watch the finals of the tournament but Ron got a call from Kim, Felix had heard Ron say "Hi KP." Before he had moved off a distance from the games, probably so he could hear the conversation, a few minutes later Ron had left and not even said goodbye, Well it was most likely one of their missions or something but, when Ron had left instead of running off looking like he was going to save the world Ron had just slowly shuffled off toward the exit.

Felix was still on this thought when he felt a presence at his elbow, taking his eye's off the screen for a moment he glanced up and noticed Monique, He knew Monique from school and from the times when he and Ron had met up with Kim and Monique after they each had completed some mutual activities, usually Ron and he were playing video games and Kim and Monique were shopping, but they had shared many Bueno-Nacho meals together and Felix considered Monique a friend.

Felix had always thought he would like to get to know Monique better, she was strong, interesting and beautiful, but Felix had always stopped himself from mentioning it to anyone, after all Monique was an active, beautiful, 17 year old woman who always seemed to have a smile on her face, she always dressed in the latest fashions, made friends easily. No one seemed to take note of the fact that she was African American and as far as Felix was concerned that was the way it should be. But there she was and here he was, stuck in this wheelchair, this was the only time Felix ever felt regret for his handicap, but he knew it was the way it was and wishing couldn't change it.

Monique: Hey Felix whatcha doin boy, I sure hope you realize that this is a two man game your playin here and even with those cybertonicy arm thingies you got on that chair of yours you can only concentrate on one player at a time.

Felix: Hey Mo. Yea I know but I'm practicing for the next tournament and Ron was supposed to be here but disappeared, probably on a mission or something ya know.

Monique: Well hey boy, move on over and let the Mo-Mo show you her badical Monster mayhem moves.

Felix: Uh… sure Mo, come on in.

For the next two hours Felix and Monique murdered the AI competition provided by the Monster Mayhem machine. Felix was pleasantly surprised to learn the Monique was really a very good player as she moved and swayed and whooped and hollered and between the two of them broke the high score on the machine,(and this was after a championship tournament and the scores were still on the machine)

When they finally broke away from the game Felix invited Monique to the food court for some Pizza and Soda and was very surprised when Monique placed her hand on his shoulder and kept it there the entire time he guided them through the mall to the food court. Once seated with food and drinks in hand they proceeded to talk for another two hours, without Kim and Ron guiding the conversation they discovered that they had a lot in common, not just Monster Mayhem, but cars and books, (They both thought that Clive Cussler wrote the best adventure novels) and many other things.

As they were talking they noticed Bonnie Rockwaller walking into the food court with her group of "stuck up snobs" as they liked to refer to them, Bonnie looked like she was in second heaven, she was smiling and joking and generally being very un-Bonnielike, as she approached the table where Monique and Felix were talking she stopped and with a broad smile on her face looked at Monique and said;

Bonnie: Monique, I'm surprised you're here and not babysitting with your best friend Kim.

Monique: Now why in the world would you think that Bonnie? Kim's a big girl and can take care of herself.

Bonnie: Well I just thought that since she on Ronnie had that big fight and broke up right in front of a packed crowd in Bueno-Nacho she might have called you so she could cry on your shoulder.

Monique and Felix: (in unison) WHAT?

Bonnie: Jinx, you both owe me a soda.

With that comment Bonnie walked away from the table laughing again with her group of friends leaving Monique and Felix sitting there with astonished looks on their faces. Felix and Monique looked at each other for a moment and then they both reached for their cell phones, Felix dialed Ron's number as Monique dialed Kim's.

Monique's call was answered by Mr. Possible and after asking for Kim was told that Kim and her mother were upstairs in Kim's room and Mr. Possible didn't think now would be good time to interrupt them, he said he would let Kim know she had called and then added in a broken voice that Monique should not expect a call back tonight. He did not mention that after hearing Kim crying he had peeked into room and noticed Kim crying her eyes out in her mothers lap.

Felix did not even have that much luck, after ringing several times Ron's line just went dead, no voice mail, no nothing, almost as if someone had connected and then instantly disconnected, this happened three times before Felix gave up and put the phone away. He looked at Monique for an update and Monique relayed what Kim's father had said then waited expectantly for and update from Felix.

Felix told Monique about the strange disconnections and then begging her forgiveness for leaving so quickly told her he had to go and find Ron. Monique reached across and giving Felix a small kiss on the cheek told him to call her as soon as he had talked to Ron. Even though Felix now wanted to stay with Monique more that ever he knew he had a friend in trouble and had to find him, with a very regretful smile on his face Felix promised to get in touch and then motored away toward the exit for the mall.

Once outside Felix pulled his phone out again and dialed Wade's number, Wade was also a Monster Mayhem fanatic and played with Felix on-line quite often. Wade answered on the second ring.

Wade: Felix, how are you doing, up for a little one-on-one tonight.

Felix: Wade, not right now, I absolutely must find Ron, he's not answering his cell phone and after what happened I'm afraid of what he may do, I know you can find him, you have to help.

Wade: Whoa Felix, what do you mean, "After what happened", there was no mission tonight or nothing, what's going on.

Felix filled Wade in on what Bonnie has said and again pleaded for Wade to help him find Ron.

Wade: Whoa there Felix, are you trying to tell me that Kim and Ron aren't together anymore?

Felix: I don't really know at this point Wade, that's why I've gotta find Ron, I have to find out what happened and not just fly off the handle because of something that Bonnie said.

Wade: Okay Felix, just hold on a minute, I'm trying to track Ron right now.

As Wade's fingers flashed quickly across the keyboard Felix waited anxiously, he noticed that the rain had finally stopped and the evening sky, while still overcast, was showing signs of clearing, "At least I won't get soaked" he thought, just then Wade interrupted his train of thought.

Wade: Okay Felix, I've got a fix, Ron's just on the outskirts west of town on Skeeler road, near the old quarry, ya got transportation or should I set something up for you?

Felix: No worries Wade, I'm in my travelin chair today. I'll let you know when I've talked to Ron, see ya later.

Felix disconnected his phone and putting it away he activated the little known capability of his special chair and soared off into the deepening darkness of the evening heading west toward the old quarry on the outskirts of town, as he guided his chair through the darkness his mind was contemplated the implications of Ron heading toward the quarry, he thought about the steep hole in the ground undoubtedly filled with water after the hours of rain this afternoon and pushed his chair to it's limits and beyond hoping that he would reach Ron before he did anything stupid.

As Felix soon arrived at the quarry and started looking for any sign of his friend, it was growing darker by the minute but there was just enough light for him to notice a figure sitting on a rock outcropping overlooking the quarry, as he neared he was able to recognize Ron blond unruly hair and breathed a sigh of relief. It didn't look like Ron was doing anything but sitting there, staring out over the bleak landscape. There was no reaction from Ron when Felix brought his chair down to the ground a few feet behind him, Ron just kept staring off into the distance as if he heard nothing. Felix wheeled up beside Ron, and, placing this outstretched hand on his friends shoulder, decided that silence and a reassuring touch was the thing to do rather than the voicing the relief he felt upon finding his friend.

Felix noticed that Ron was soaked to the skin, and even though the rain had stopped quite some time ago there was still water falling from Ron's face, it took him a moment to realize that Ron was crying, he then noticed a small pink figure on Ron's shoulder, Rufus had his short arms wrapped as far around Ron's neck as possible making soft sounds that Felix could swear sounded like "it'll be okay buddy, I'm here for you" over and over.

It too a few more seconds before Ron looked over at Felix and quickly trying to compose himself said "Felix, what are you doing here, how did you find me?"

Felix: Look Ron, we're friends, this is where I should be, by your side, helping you, I was worried, Rockwaller told Monique and me some stupid story about you and Kim breaking up and I had to find you to warn you about the rumors that may be starting up so you wouldn't be shocked or surprised ya know.

At this comment tears started flowing down Ron's face again.

Ron: It's not a story Felix, it's the truth, Kim and I had a fight, well Kim did, I just sat there like the looser I am, and.. and .. well, Kim doesn't want to ever see me again.

Felix: Come on Ron, we can fix this, tell me what happened and together we'll think of something to get thing back to the way they should be.

Ron: That's just it Felix, This IS the way things should be, Kim's better off without me always messing up her life, I..I..I almost got her killed the other day Felix, KILLED, no more Kim in the world, what would that be like, it's better a Kim without a Ron than a world without a Kim.

Felix: Ron, what are you saying, it sounds like you wanted this to happen, like you planned it or something, come on buddy, just tell me what happened.

With this Ron started to tell Felix about his plan, he didn't want to, it just all came out, the missed mission, the "Forgotten" anniversary, the short conversations, even Zita.

Felix: Ron, you've done some really stupid things in your life but I think you just topped them all, that is about the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life, come on lets go get this straightened out, it may take a while but I know Kim will come around, she's used to you going off half cocked and doing stupid things.

Ron: NO FELIX, this is not something I did without thinking it out completely. This is just the way it has to be, I had to do something to keep Kim safe, keep her out of harms way, keep her from worrying about me when she should be thinking about herself. For once a plan I thought out worked perfectly. Felix, I need you to promise me something, I need you word of honor, pinkie swear to me that, no matter what, you'll never tell Kim about any of this, I need you to be there for her till she gets over this, I won't be there and I need someone I trust to be sure she gets over this quickly and without pain, swear to me Felix, swear to me.

Felix saw the emotion in Ron's words, and no matter how stupid and asinine this plan was he saw that he would be unable to talk Ron out of it, so, as his eye's started watering up he looked at his friend, raised a cocked pinky finger in his direction and said "Okay Ron, I swear"

As Ron hooked his own pinky around Felix's he said "Thanks buddy, ya know it always helps when you talk about things, it kinda help get things sorted out in your head ya know"

Felix thought about this a moment and said to himself, "Yea Ron, if you had talked about these things with Kim this wouldn't be happening right now" but decided to say nothing, a decision he would regret for a long time to come.

Felix: So now what Ron, I know you, there is no way you can keep up this charade; you could no more act mean to Kim than you could stop eating Nachos.

Ron: Well, I've got some money saved up, and I turn 18 in a few days. My dad's been investing my Nacho royalties for me, I'm not supposed to know that but found a letter on his desk a few moths ago so I know there's some money there, according to the letter I found I get that when I turn 18, so just gotta lay low for a few days and then I'm leaving town, I couldn't stand seeing Kim every day, knowing what I've lost. I gotta get away from here, get away from Kim, get away from everyting.

Felix: Well where ya going, friends need to keep in touch ya know.

Ron: I can't tell ya Felix, I know Kim, and she's very persuasive, if you knew where I was it'll only be a matter of time before Kim finds out. I promise I'll keep in touch; I'll call you every week and get the lowdown on stuff. I won't forget you, and, well, someday maybe, I'll be back, or at least let you know where I am so we can see each other again. But right now, I gotta kinda break off from this life so I can start out fresh somewhere else ya know.

Felix: Okay, if that's the way it's gotta be I don't have much choice, but if you forget to keep in touch I'll track you down and make you sorry you ever born, Now hop on the back of the chair and I'll give you a lift home.

Ron stood slowly and placed this hand on Felix's shoulder for a moment saying "Don't worry buddy, I won't forget" then turned and stood on the back of Felix's chair, when Felix knew he was settled he slowly drifted off the ground and started back to Middleton at a very sedate pace.

Three days later, early in the morning of Ron's birthday, Felix got a call from Ron, the first since their talk at the quarry. Instead of inviting Felix to a party or something for his birthday, Ron had called to say goodbye, he was leaving in an hour and nothing Felix could say could convince Ron to stay or tell him here he was going.

As Felix hung up he got the feeling that this was the end of an era, that things were going from bad to worse. As long as Ron had stayed in Middleton there was a chance of fixing things, convincing Ron to come clean with Kim and getting back to the way things were meant to be. But now, with Ron leaving that hope seemed remote, dwindling into nothing the further Ron got from Middleton, from Kim, from all of the people who cared about him.