Almost done… Most likely just one more chapter. Let me preface this chapter saying that I DO NOT hold any bad feelings for Richard Sirois, or hate any of his artwork. I am very appreciative of him letting me do this story based on one of his artworks. Art is such a relative thing, and everyone has his or her own opinion of things. If your reading this Rich, thank-you so much for this opportunity! You Rock!

Chapter 7

The next day being Saturday, Kim was able to talk Ron in to going with her to the mall, again. In fact, it only took about 20 seconds of a puppy dog pout, and she didn't even have it turned up to full power.

The two were walking up to Club Banana, and immediately Kim saw Monique working with a mannequin in the store window. Kim knocked on the glass, and waved. Monique motioned her to come inside the store, and that she wanted to talk. Of course Kim couldn't turn her down.

"Ron, do you mind waiting out here for a while so I can catch Monique up on everything that's happened?"

"Sure, KP. No problem. I'll go get us something to drink at the food court while I wait. OK?"

"Sounds like a plan. See you in about 20 minutes, 30 tops. I love you Ron…" Kim placed a nice lingering kiss on Ron's lips, making his face go goofy. She loved doing that to him.

After Ron got his wits about himself again, he thrust his hands into his pockets, and walked off towards the food court. At least I don't need to by food for Rufus this time. He thought to himself. The poor little guy has been sick for the last few days from getting into a bad batch of Gorgonzola. I'm glad we can pick him up at the vet tonight and he can go home. Boy have I got a lot to tell him!

As Ron continued his trek towards the mall's Bueno Nacho to get a couple drinks and a mini-burrito to go, he saw someone out of the corner of his eye. (Actually it was a Monkey sense, but he doesn't know about that yet. Besides, different story) It was Rich!

What the heck is he doing here? It's almost as if he's… spying on us? Nah. I can't believe he would do that.

Rich's next move told Ron that he wasn't spying, because he began walking right over to the table where he was sitting down!

Walking slowly up to Ron as he sat down, Rich was walking very tentatively. He really did not want to do this, but he just had to talk to Ron. He didn't like to burn bridges, and he still wanted to be Ron's friend, if he could. Rich spoke first as he stepped up to the table.

"Hey, Ron. Do you mind?" He indicated one of the other chairs at the table.

Looking at Rich out of the corner of his eye, Ron responded. "N… no. Go right ahead." He pulled the mini-burrito and drinks closer to himself. What is he up to?

"Ron, can I be frank?" Rich began to pull out the chair.

"Why would I call you Frank?" Ron was truly confused by the question.

"Can I be blunt?" Rich said, breathing out, slightly exasperated.

"Sure, Rich. You can say what ever is on your mind."

"Thanks. First let me apologize to you Ron. I am so sorry all of this happened. I really am." Rich almost had a look of sorrow on his face as he sat down.

"Well, Rich, I would say 'No Big', but that wouldn't be the truth. It really was." Ron was beginning to not like this conversation.

"Why did you do it?" Ron had his serious face on, and was looking Rich right in the eye. Rich was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable, and he began to stumble over his words.

"I… uhh… I…"

Ron had always been a pretty laid back kind of guy, but here was a another guy sitting at the same table as him that had kissed his girlfriend. His girlfriend Kim Possible. The woman he loved more than life itself. This guys lips had pressed against hers, his tongue most likely… The normally reserved Ron Stoppable suddenly snapped.

"Rich…" Ron said as he stood up, pushing the chair out from under himself. He couldn't take his eyes off of him. This was the guy that had held Kim against his body. This was the guy that tried to take away HIS Kim. This was the guy that smashed lips with HIS girlfriend. And he used to be OUR friend!

Ron's lip curled into a small snarl, and he walked around the table, advancing on Rich. Seeing Ron walking towards him in this manner, all Rich could do was stand up, and slowly back away from Ron. He SO did not want a confrontation like this. All he had wanted to do was apologize, and hopefully go on with his life. This was NOT what he had planned on!

"Ron? P… please… let's b… be reasonable here. Let's b… be civilized." His voice started to shake a little as Ron continued to slowly walk towards him with his hands clenched into fists.

Suddenly Rich saw something in Ron's eyes that he had never seen before. It was anger. Pure unbridled anger. Ron Stoppable was angry with him.

Oh crap. Rich groaned inwardly.

The anger in Ron's eyes made Rich back up even further, and suddenly his back was against a brick wall. Looking around, he noticed that Ron had backed him into the small hallway that led back towards the bathrooms. He never noticed that the immediate area had suddenly cleared of people.

Rich wasn't sure at the time, but as Ron continued to stride towards him, he would swear that Ron's eyes were glowing with an intense blue fire! With his back against the wall, all of a sudden in what seemed like a micro-second, Ron's nose was inches from his own.

"What did you think you were doing?" Ron said through clenched teeth.

"Wh… what d… do you mean?" Rich tried very hard to look innocent.

"The Kiss!" Rich would also swear that he had heard an almost inhuman growl rise from Ron's throat.

"It… it was an accident! Really!" Rich was beginning to feel real fear.

"Don't PLAY me Rich! I'm NOT in the mood!" Ron's hand slammed the wall right by his head. It moved so fast, that Rich barely even saw it.

"Now I'm going to ask you again." Ron backed off a little, but the hand that had hit the wall never moved. "Why did you kiss my girlfriend?"

"Honestly Ron," Rich said, as the fear he felt was becoming palpable to his own tongue. "I don't know why. Please believe me when I say that I never wanted ANY of this to happen!"

Rich was looking into Ron's eyes, searching for any kind of forgiveness. There was none. "I never wanted to ruin any relationships, or hurt any friendships. Especially yours or Kim's."

His eyes fell at the last statement, and for a second, Ron thought that Rich was going to start crying.

"You never answered my question Rich. I'm not asking again. I want to know why." Ron had calmed down a little, but he was most definitely still angry.

"You want the truth Ron?" Brown eyes bore into his soul. "Of course you do." Rich broke the eye contact. "The truth is Ron… I love her. There, I said it. I love Kim Possible! Are you happy now?"

Ron was actually a little surprised at this statement, though it didn't show on his face. In fact, his facial expression was opposite. His eyebrows narrowed, and Ron asked Rich a very important question.

"You're not going to act on these feelings again, are you?"

Rich was silent.

Ron moved his face a little closer to Rich. "ARE you?"

"No Ron, I won't." Even though he was frightened beyond belief, Rich knew that his word was as good as gold. He just hoped that Ron thought the same.

With a sudden turn of about 180 degrees, Ron's face went from deadly serious to one of his goofy trademark grins. "How about a Naco to go? I'm buying."

Huh…? Well, I guess that's Ron.

Suddenly Ron removed his hand from the wall, turned, and walked away from Rich. Immediately he noticed that Ron was brushing something from his right hand as he walked away. Is that… concrete dust?

Rich slowly turned his head to the left, and his jaw dropped at what he saw on the wall. A small area about the size of a fist and about 2 inches deep was completely pulverized! Small pieces of concrete were still slowly falling out of the hole.

"You know what Ron?" Rich called out. "I… I'll take a raincheck on that Naco. OK?"

"That's cool." Ron said as he turned around and began walking backwards towards the table he was sitting at earlier. "Your loss. I'll talk to later."

Rich quickly left the mall, completely forgetting to get the art supplies that he had originally went there for.

Just as Rich left the mall, Kim came out of Club Banana and went over to Ron's table in the food court. He was just finishing the mini-burrito, and handed Kim her diet drink.

"Ready to go Ron? I'm shopped out." Kim dropped a couple of Club Banana bags on the table, and Ron promptly picked them up.

"Sure, let's go." He quickly slurped the rest of his drink, and stepped up beside Kim. He wrapped his arm around her small waist, and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

"Oh, Kim?"

"Yeah Ron?"

"While I was waiting for you, Rich stopped by."

"Really?" Kim was suddenly a little nervous.

"Really. We had a good… talk."

"Well, I'm glad you and Rich… talked." She didn't quite believe that it was just talk. Kim after all knew how her boyfriend could over-react sometimes.

Ron had Kim's bags over his right shoulder, and he suddenly noticed something on his right hand. "Excuse me Kim."

Ron removed his left arm from around her waist, turned slightly away from her, and brushed the small bit of dust and powder from his right hand. He then quickly wrapped his arm around her again, pulled her close, and the two walked out of the mall.

To be continued…

Only one more chapter to go. I haven't decided yet if it will be a full chapter, or an epilogue. Don't forget that Ron is still going to want Kim to apologize to him…

As always, please R and R…