It Finally Happened: Part XII
"I don't even know why I let you talk me into coming here today." Kim said, her knees pulled up to her chest. Instead of the new bikini she had first picked out she was dressed in white tennis shorts and her usual green tank top. She had ridden to the lake with Monique under protest, wanting to wallow in her sorrow at home. The only reason she agreed to come at all was to avoid uncomfortable questions from her parents, at least for a little while.
"Well, for one thing, you still haven't told me what this fight was all about." Monique said, sitting beside her friend on the picnic table, leading back against the top. She was worried. Kim was capable of some strong emotions but she was not usually one to cry, at least not like this.
"What else is there to say. I finally find Mr. Right and I manage to chase him off after just three weeks."
"Whoa there, back up the truck. I thought the two of you just had a little spat and all. What's this 'chasing him away' thing?"
"I just wanted him to be happy, Monique, you know, the kind of things that make guys happy and all. So, I made up my mind that I was ready to take our relationship to a new level."
"You did WHAT? Girl, what did you do? Spill!"
"It's real simple, Mon. My Mom has had me on the pill for a while now, so I figured there's nothing stopping me from doing it and I love him so I was going to…make love to him tonight." Kim got out through fresh sobs.
"Kim, it's not tonight yet. What happened, what did you do?"
"I really didn't get the chance to do anything, all I did was start changing into my suit, just to put on a little show for him, then Ron went all weird on me and said some really awful things to me."
"Ron Stoppable saying awful things? Are you sure that's what happened or was it just his mouth getting ahead of his mind."
"Mon, he called me a slut and said I was just like Bonnie."
There was a moment of almost pure silence. Kim finally turned her puffy eyes to look at her friend, who was staring at her in open mouthed shock.
"Dayum! Are we talking about the same Ron?"
"Yes, he actually said that to me."
"The same Ron who freaked out completely at the thought of you wanting to kiss him just a few months ago, the same Ron who literally ran away from you while you were chasing him? Damn, I would have never thought that the same guy would freak out again just because you suddenly want to jump his bones?"
"How can you take his side on this?
"Who said I was. Maybe I need to go find him and lay a beat-down on him for you. How dare he say that kind of thing to a nice young lady like you, making it seem like you're nothing but a loose little hussy. You are the paragon of womanly virtue, the sweet little girl next door that every young man in the school wanted. How dare he?"
Kim's glare looked like it could cut through stone.
"See? No wonder he's freaked. The Kim he fell in love with, the one he pined for isn't some sex-kitten. She was a sweet, innocent girl who hardly ever kissed anyone, who only kissed a boy for real when she realized how much she was in love with him. Now here in the space of three weeks you've gone from that to wanting to have sex with him? Girl, he's not the only one freaked out about this. Have you taken a look in the mirror lately?"
"Oh, I imagine I'm quite the fright. I don't even have any makeup on and I've been crying for two hours."
"It's a figure of speech Kim. Now, tell me, in his exact words. Did he call you a slut or did he say you were acting slutty?"
"What's the difference? It's still calling me a slut and he said I was like Bonnie."
"The difference is calling you slut says he believes you are having sex with lots of boys. It's a cruel, nasty insult and if he said that, then he deserves a beat-down as much as you do. Now which way did he say it?"
In a tiny voice that barely registered as a whisper she said, "That is was acting all slutty."
Monique nodded, her point starting to sink into her friend. "Okay, points off on Dude-Boy for picking a nasty way of saying it, but he was being honest with you. You were scaring the crap out of him, not just because he's not used to that kind of attention, but because he didn't recognize you any more. Now, why did you want to have sex with him?"
"Mon, it's making love, I…"
"Kim, don't sugarcoat it. Doesn't matter what you call it, it's still sex. Was it because you love him so much and you want to show him?"
"Yes."
"Was it because he's such a manly stud and you wanted him so bad you couldn't stand it."
She took a few moments to answer, "Well, I guess."
"Then there it is."
"There's what?"
"You wanted to knock boots just to seal the deal. You wanted to prove your love to him."
"But I do want him."
"Sure you do, but that's not why you were acting that way. You're just as confused as he is. Kim, there may be a hundred girls who have more experience than you with boys at school. That doesn't mean you are like them or have to be. Sixteen years old for you, and I say this because I truly love you, but you should spend the next few years proving you love him by holding his hand, rubbing his back, kissing him, letting him kiss you. Damn, girl, we're the ones who are supposed to want the foreplay.
"Now about this Bonnie cut? Forget it. It's a cheap shot but it's nothing but air. Bonnie's all bitch and no bite, at least to hear Brick talk about it. You know I went out with him a couple times after the Prom, he's nothing but a big shy sweetie who can throw a football really well. Despite all the rumors she's not a slut after all."
"Bonnie's a prude?"
"The term he used was 'Ice Queen.'"
Ron was so mired in his dark thoughts he didn't realize the car had sunken on its suspension slightly more than it had under his own weight. His mind just wasn't that aware of his surroundings at the moment. He didn't think to look up until a hand came to rest on his shoulder. He looked up at a gentle looking middle aged man with the long beard wearing a white tank top and jeans cut off at the knee. The attire was so out of character it took him a moment to process exactly who it was.
"Rabbi Katz? What are you doing here?"
"Well, officially I'm here because my daughter just finished her freshman year at Middleton and this is her first Lake Middleton party. Unofficially, it looks like this is where I need to be."
"It's that obvious?"
"What, that a young man who by all accounts likes to have a good time any way he can is instead sitting on his mother's car while everyone else is whooping it up? That the same young man isn't with a certain pretty girl who came to Temple with him last Saturday?"
"Rabbi, somehow I don't think that's going to happen again."
Rabbi Katz nodded. "Fight, huh?"
"Yeah. I really, really screwed up."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not so much…it's kinda private." Ron said, not looking up from his slump.
"Okay. So you think Kimberly won't be coming back to Temple with your family?"
"I don't see that happening now."
"So you broke up?"
"I guess so."
The Rabbi nodded again. "That's too bad. I thought I really saw something there. You know, that wasn't the first time she came with you."
"Yeah, she came sometimes, like my Bar Mitzvah and such. She doesn't know any Hebrew, so the services make her a little uncomfortable."
"That's normal. Shame you've broken up. She's always loved you."
"Yeah, I kind of figured that out, but now I think I was wrong about what kind of love it was."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I thought I was 'In Love' with her, at least over the last month or so. Maybe I was just wrong, maybe it's just being a teenager, but now I think it was more like she was my sister and all."
Rabbi Katz thought about that for a moment. "Ronald, a year or two ago I would have agreed with you on that. I know the Possibles, they're good people. They love their kids and I can tell you, they love you. But much as you may have grown up thinking of Kimberly that way, in the end she's not your sister. If you were to fall romantically and sexually…" he stopped as he noticed a change in Ron's expression.
"That's what this is about, isn't it?"
Ron simply nodded in response.
"Ronald, if she's not ready then…"
"No, Rabbi, that's not it at all. I'm the one who's not ready and I think it's disappointing her." He hung his head even lower. "Then today I said some really awful things to her."
"Awful? As in hurtful?"
Ron nodded his ascent again.
"Where the things you said meant to hurt her?"
"I…no…I just needed…"
"Ronald. Were the things you said the truth?"
"Well, yes, but I shouldn't have…"
"Ronald, if it was the truth, then it needed to be said. Honestly is the first foundation of a relationship."
"But what I said?"
"I admit, it sounds like you chose your words very poorly. Don't forget, you still haven't told me what you said, though I think I may have the gist of it."
On the verge of tears, Ron recounted the entire fight, surprisingly still able to repeat anything Kim said verbatim.
"I was right. It was a poor choice of words on your part but still, what you said was your truth, what you were really feeling. I'll tell you what, Ronald. There's something neither one of you said."
"What's that, Rabbi?"
"Neither one of you said 'I'm breaking up with you' or 'it's over.' That was a fight, yes, but I think it's one the two of you had to have. It also proves that both of you are confused, scared and treading unknown waters for the first time in your lives. I know both of you are good, moral kids. I'm not judging what she or you have done, but If the two of you can patch things up, I want you to come talk to me together. There's a good foundation to build on here, but because of the path you've taken, the two of you don't have the tools necessary to build on that."
"Do you really think Kim and I have the kind of chance for, like, forever and all that?"
"Maybe. God only knows about that. You may look back on this in a few years as nothing but being high-school sweethearts. I don't think that will be the case, most kids don't have the history you two do. You've shared a life that's nothing short of intense and remained friends all the way through it. Stuff like that changes a man.
"Just remember, no matter how strong you are, no matter how strong she is, there is nothing wrong with asking for help. There's nothing wrong with needing help. God didn't put us on this Earth to go it alone. He's given you friends like me, friends like Miss Jenkins and Mr. Renton, family. They're all part of the whole that is you, don't forget that and don't discount what they can do for you.
"Now, if I'm not mistaken, I can see a certain pair of young ladies right now. You feel up to talking with her?"
"I guess I need to. Would you come with me?"
"I'd be glad to."
"Mon, I don't even know if he's ever going to want to talk to me again." Kim slouched out of the fierce hug her friend had just given her.
"Don't speak too soon, girlfriend, cause here he comes with some guy wearing a ZZ-top beard." Monique nodded toward the approaching men.
It took her a moment to realize who Ron was with since she was so used to seeing the Rabbi in dress clothes and a traditional yarmulke.
Ron sat down beside Kim, one leg underneath him so he could face her. There wasn't a trace of his usual goofy smile, his look so forlorn it tore her heart in two.
"I'm sorry." They both said simultaneously.
"Ronald, I think I need to take the yarmulke off and put the chaperone hat back and go see what Phoebe is up to. Remember what I said…come see me after Temple tomorrow."
"I will, Rabbi K. I promise."
Rabbi Katz smiled at him as he set off to look for his young teenage daughter.
"I think I'm going to go find Felix and help him with the grilling." Monique said. As she got up to leave she whispered in Ron's ear. "Boy, if you ever say anything like that to my girl again, you're gonna think Monkey Fist is just a school yard bully, ya dig."
"Uh, sure thing Monique." He squeaked as she left them alone.
"Ron."
"Kim."
They sat there for a long moment, just looking at each other, a look of worry mixed with tenderness on their faces.
Slowly, tentatively they explained themselves to each other, repeating in their own words the advice they had been given that afternoon.
"So when do you think the time will be right, Ron?" She asked, holding his hand gently as they walked alone down a forest path.
"I don't know. I really don't KP. Maybe that's the whole thing. If we knew when it was right then maybe that's the time."
"I think you're right, Ronnie. I just…I wanted to prove to you that I love you."
"KP, you don't have to prove anything. I love you, I know you love me. I don't need any more proof than that."
She stopped him. They were in a clearing several miles away from the party. The lake could still be seen through the trees. She pulled him down on the grass, leaning back on the ground. The deep bass of the party's music drifted over the water. The golden rays of the late afternoon were filtering down through the canopy, giving everything a soft, lustrous glow.
"This is where I was planning for it to happen." Kim said, still holding his hand as he sat beside her.
"It's beautiful. Almost perfect." He said, squeezing her hand gently.
"Almost?"
"Well, like I said, if it was perfect, then it would be the right time."
"Maybe it is the perfect time." She said coyly, running a finger down his bare arm.
"KP!"
"A perfect time to kiss me, you goof."
The later followed the sound of the music back to the party, secure in their knowledge that they were perfectly satisfied to show their love that way. After all, the best was yet to come.