Chapter One: Shadow Play

The Middleton school bell rings as first period ends. Through the Geometry 103 door Ron bursts with an enthusiasm that seems over the top, even for Ron. He tries to quickly weave through the passing period crowds with a jumble of "excuse me," and, "coming thru," and "hey that looks cute on you." Ron zeroes in on an open locker with a certain red haired cheerleader standing in front of it, focusing on the computer screen inside. She's obviously oblivious to his arrival.

"Uh-huh, so she's arriving at 7:00? Great, that gives her plenty of time to—"

"KP!"

"Hey Ron…Ron!" Kim exclaims as she slams her locker while simultaneously swirling to barricade the door with her body. She's smiles broadly, almost superficially.

Despite Ron's exuberant energy, he does notice Kim's unusual behavior.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"Nothing! Nothing's wrong, what's the sitch?" she stammers nervously, changing the subject. The mere mention of his mission brings Ron back into full on "Ron excited."

"Kim, I just nailed the hardest geometry test known to humankind!"

Her nervousness fades, "Get out! You got an A?" she questions excitedly.

"Well no, but I passed! Look!" as he hands her the test in question.

"Ron, you almost got a B! You so rock!" Kim's apparent nervousness is gone now as she genuinely smiles. "This so calls for a celebration."

"Chocolate tacos at Bueno Nacho?"

"Doy."

"Boo-yah! Sweet, sweet reward after school. I'd say my birthday came early this year." One furless (that's naked to you) mole rat pokes his cute little head out of a cavernous cargo pocket to voice his agreement.

"Easy Ron, you still got three more days."

"Hey KP let's get second period over with, ready to go?"

Kim suddenly seems very nervous again, "Um, yes."

Ron frowns in a puzzling look. "Uh, Kim?"

"Yes?"

"Not to sound concerned but don't you need your books and backpack?"

"Yes, right my backpack and books." She states, not budging from the locker door.

"Kim, they're in your locker."

"Um, yes, yes they are but I need to…drop off a note for Mr. Barken first."

"What note?"

"It's in my pocket."

"But you're wearing your cheer uniform."

"I mean it's in my pants pocket… in the girl's locker room. I had better go get it before class; I'll see you later!" She quickly maneuvers her way past Ron and down the hall, leaving a perplexed Ron standing there. Ron and Rufus give each other a worried look. "Rufus, didn't she wear her uniform to school today?" Rufus squeals and nods in agreement. Ron looks even more perplexed. "That was weird."

Third period goes by with only one embarrassing mishap, and Ron leaves the chemistry lab virtually unscathed. As he approaches the lockers he spots Kim, with Bonnie. And she isn't irked. This is very unusual. He actually sees Bonnie smile…well not brooding.

"--Fine Possible, tracks three, five and seven will be acceptable. And we will be listening to Smash Mouth at this…ugh… gathering."

"Deal, now about the banners—"

"They are not going to have some sappy message saying—GO MADDOGS! AND YOU'RE STUPID MASCOT IS NOT INVITED!" Bonnie screams as she sees Ron approach in earshot.

"Huh?" Kim looks up surprised. Bonnie glares past Kim's shoulder to Ron and Kim quickly turns. "Ron! Hi."

"Hey KP," Ron replies cheerfully. "Bonnie," He addresses cordially.

"Humph," She um, humphs. "Look I've have better things to do. Later losers." She snidely states as she scathingly slides southward. (Whew!)

"What was that all about? Are you two organizing another dance?" asks Ron innocently.

"Oh, uh, no… no we're just thinking of doing a…end of the year cheerleader party." Kim answers once again with an artificial smile.

"Oh. Okay." Something is up, but Ron just can't put his finger on it. "So, you ready for fourth period?"

"Yeah all set. Oh wait, I need to drop something… off at the yearbook. You go on ahead and I'll catch up with you at study hall. Later!" She says as she hurries down the hall.

"Rufus, not to sound alarmed or anything but isn't the yearbook down in that direction?" he points the opposite way Kim had left. Rufus nods in agreement. "And isn't yearbook only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday?" Rufus once again nods. "Isn't today Thursday?" Rufus now worryingly nods his head. "This is really weird."

Something just wasn't adding up in Ron's mind. First it was that business with Kim's locker. Then Kim and Bonnie were actually getting along. Now when Ron asked Tara if there needs to be anything done for the cheerleader party she looked at him funny and said, "what party?" Something strange was going on here, but it didn't seem to be devious or life threatening. So in the usual Ron fashion, he simply put it out of his mind. The Study hall bell rings and Ron nonchalantly pushes through the library doors. As he maneuvers through the library, he comes to the usual table where he and Kim usually work. Well, where Kim usually works and Ron…does whatever. But this time Ron is shocked to find (or rather not to find) Kim sitting there with her head in a text book. This is highly irregular.

Ron starts searching the library, peeking over study cubicles (with a variation of reactions from fellow students) and around stacks. Finally he reaches the 'hard sciences' section. He shudders as passes, physically showing this is one section of the library he'd never go. As he passes the applied chemistry section he hears muffled voices.

"—don't think I can keep this up Monique. I almost blew it today; I mean he was right behind me. I don't think he saw the message but still it was way too close."

"Relax Kim, you're doin' fine. Just another two days and it'll be over."

Ron looks at the shouldered Rufus puzzlingly for the second time today. "Be over? Message? Are they talking about me?" Rufus gives him a rather sarcastic "Doy." Ron becomes very interested in the conversation, leaning through an opening of the book shelves.

"I know it's just that…I've never kept a secret from him this long. I feel like I'm going to just break down and—"

"Beep-Bop-Beep-Beep" Chimes the familiar Kim-municator ring tone.

"Hey Wade, what's the sitch?"

A friendly face appears on the screen, "Hey Kim, got an e-mail from a Dr. Essence in upstate New York. Seems there was a break-in and something was stolen last night. The message didn't have much on the way of details. Check it out after school."

"Got it Wade, I'll give Ron the 41—oh no! Ron!" Kim exclaims. "We were supposed to meet ten minutes ago!" She starts to stand.

"Relax, girl! Just keep it cool when you see him and just remember to keep him occupi--,"

"Thud!"

"Yikes!" Ron hisses as a very heavy book hits the floor. The two girls turn to catch a small glimpse of a retreating head through the bookshelf. Kim rushes to the other side to see…no one. She takes a quick look at Monique and hurries to the other side of the library to find Ron, sitting in his usual spot with a textbook spread in front of him. Very unusual. "Ron?"

Ron looks up with a slightly over-the-top sense of surprise. "KP! There you are! Where were you?"

Kim is taken aback for a moment, "I uh, had to see Monique. Are you actually studying?"

"Um, Yes. Yes I am. Thought I'd hit the books while waiting for you," Ron replies, rather painfully obvious that he was acting.

Kim, suspicious, "Ron, you have the textbook upside-down."

Ron does a double-take, "I… thought I'd try reading it this way, since I can't understand it when it is right-side-up." Ron gives a very sheepish grin.

Kim smirks as she slides into a chair. "So that boost of brainy-ness was just a morning thing?"

"Hah-Hah. You know that science really isn't my thing."

"Well, let's have a look huh?" She says as she pulls the book to her. "Well, here you go Ron; you just need to set the equation up right…"

Kim doesn't realize that Ron is looking at her with concern. They're both hiding something from one another, Ron with the lying and pseudo-spying and Kim with who-knows-what. He didn't feel right about this at all.