A few minutes later, Jenny came downstairs and joined Kim, Ron, and Rufus on the couch.
"Well, what now?" asked Jenny, with a bit of apprehension in her voice. "Did you find where I'm supposed to be?"
Kim looked at her. "No. It doesn't exist. Wade says the only explanation is that you're from another universe."
Jenny got an angry look. "That little twerp really blew it!" she said.
"He's going to work on a way to get you home," Kim added.
Jenny looked at her sharply. "Home? I don't want to go home. I want to stay here."
Ron and Kim stared at her.
"If I go home, I'm looking at another eight years in prison, minimum. I have no family,
fewer friends than fingers on one hand, and dozens of enemies on both sides of the law who would love nothing more than to see me dead.
If I stay here, I have no record, no rep, and can make a fresh start on the RIGHT side of the law," she said.
Kim and Ron looked at each other, and Rufus looked up at all three.
"PLEASE don't send me back. I can be an asset, really. I'll do anything. Please give me a chance to prove myself," she begged.
Kim looked at Ron. "I say yes, give her a chance," Ron said without hesitation.
From the coffee table, Rufus said, "Uh huh, uh huh, like Jenny. Want her to stay."
Kim looked back at Jenny. "Okay, we'll give you a chance. But at the first sign of evil on your part..."
Jenny held up her hands. "There won't be. I really, really, want to be good." She suddenly looked embarrassed. "And I want to stay with you three. I instinctively liked and trusted you when we first met, and I trust my instincts."
Ron grinned. "I like you too, Jenny, and I know Rufus does."
Kim smiled. "For some reason, I do too. So it's settled; you can stay."
Jenny gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you, thank you."
Just then, Kim's mom came in. "Hi, kids," she said, taking off her lab coat. Then she caught sight of Jenny, and her smile vanished. She put the coat back on, and walked briskly to the girl.
"Young lady, do you feel okay?" she asked, putting a hand on her forehead.
"Yes, ma'am," said Jenny.
"Your skin shouldn't be that color. Come with me, I want to examine you," she said, grabbing Jenny's arm and pulling her up.
"Mom, it's okay, that's Jenny's normal skin color," said Kim.
"I'll be the judge of that. Come on," said Mrs. Possible in a no-nonsense tone.
Jenny looked at Kim helplessly. "Mom's a doctor. Better go satisfy her that you're really okay," Kim said.
Bemused, Jenny followed the older woman out of the room.
"What do you think, Ron?" asked Kim.
"I think things are going to be very interesting for a while," he answered. Rufus made a noise of agreement.
KPKPKP
Twenty minutes later, Jenny came back in with Kim's mom, the latter now satisfied that Jenny's health was okay.
"I've seen some odd things in my day, but never before a human with gray skin, pink slitted eyes, and pink hair," she was saying.
"Mom, sit down. We'd better explain everything," said Kim.
They told her everything, including that Jenny was from another universe, had been in prison there, and had turned down Shego's evil offer.
"Well, good for you, Jenny. With an attitude like that, I think you'll do well here," said Mrs. Possible. "Since you just got here, I gather you have nothing?"
"No, ma'am. No money, no job, no place to stay, no identity, no family, and no friends,"
she said. "No enemies, either. But I'm determined to be good and make a place for myself."
"You can stay with us for as long as you need to," said Mrs. Possible, "And you're wrong if you think you don't have friends." She smiled and gestured at Ron and Kim.
She looked quickly at them, and they nodded to her.
Jenny's face turned pinkish. "Thanks. I'm not used to people being so nice to me."
There was a brief silence, then Ron said, "Anybody hungry?"
"YES!" said Jenny. "Getting something besides prison slop will be great!"
"I could do with something," said Kim.
"Bueno Nacho it is!" said Ron, standing up.
"Oh boy, oh, boy! Cheese!" added Rufus.
Twenty minutes later, they were seated in Ron and Kim's favorite booth; the teen heroes on one side; the ex-villian on the other. Ron brought the food to the table, and Kim watched amazed as Jenny ate with as much gusto as Ron and Rufus.
"So, besides causing bad luck, what can you do?" asked Kim, when the food carnage had slowed down.
"My eyes let me see in the dark, and I can fight. Hand to hand was emphisized at HIVE Academy. I can use weapons too, but with my powers I don't really need them," she answered.
"How does your bad luck work?" asked Kim.
"Oh, I can throw hex bolts that have various bad-luck effects on people and things," Jenny explained taking a sip of soda.
"Can we see?" asked Ron, eagerly.
"Um... better not," answered Jenny, looking around, "There's not really a suitable target."
"Hi, Kim, hi, Ron," said a soft female voice. A blonde girl with bright blue eyes had come up to the table.
"Hi, Tara," answered Kim, smiling. "Tara Matthews, this is Jenny Wheeler."
"Hi, nice to meet you," said Tara, smiling broadly. She held out her hand, and Jenny shook it politely, grinning.
"You too," said Jenny.
"Um... I like the hair and eyes," said Tara, a bit uncertainly.
"Thanks," said Jenny, but offered no explanation.
"Hi, 'K'," said another female voice from behind Tara. "Still with the loser?"
"Bonnie," said Kim, through clenched teeth.
Bonnie Rockwaller stepped up to the table, and got a look at Jenny. "Whoa. Major weirdness.
I am SO out of here. C'mon, Tara."
Bonnie walked away, but Tara stood, looking embarrassed. "Sorry," she said.
"Tara, come ON! Leave the losers and freaks alone!" called Bonnie from the counter.
Tara looked even more embarrassed, but headed for Bonnie.
Jenny looked at Kim. "What's the story there?"
"They're both on the cheer squad with me at school. Tara's as sweet as Bonnie is nasty,
but they've been best friends for years," Kim answered.
"Never have figured that one out," said Ron.
"Bonnie, blah," said Rufus, and sent a raspberry in her direction.
They watched as Tara got her food, and took Bonnie's cup with her. She filled them both,
then sat down, putting Bonnie's cup across the table from her. Bonnie was getting straws and napkins for them both. She put them on her tray, then headed for the booth.
Jenny suddenly grinned. "You wanted to see my power? There's a target!" She held up her hand.
Kim grabbed it. "Don't hurt Bonnie," she said, sharply.
"Only her pride, Kim. Don't worry," Jenny answered, but didn't pull away. Kim let go, but with reluctance.
Jenny gestured, and a pink, boomerang-shaped bundle of energy crossed the room, hitting Bonnie's cup of soda. The bottom of the cup crinkled, and soda started trickling out. It ran down the table and onto the floor in front of the booth. Tara didn't notice, as she was watching some people outside.
When Bonnie got to the booth, she slipped in the soda, and her tray hit the table with a loud WHACK, followed by Bonnie landing chest-first into the food. Somehow her drink was launched into the air, where it turned over several times, the top came off, and the entire contents landed on Bonnie's head and back. Not a drop struck Tara.
There was a stunned silence in the room, until Bonnie stood up, Mexican food dripping off of her front, and ice and soda off her back. Seeing she wasn't hurt, the entire place cracked up, and catcalls started. Kim, Ron, Jenny, and Rufus were laughing as well.
Ned ran over from behind the counter, trying to wipe her off, and babbling apologies.
Tara, in mid-bite, was staring at her friend wide-eyed. "You okay?" she asked.
"OOOOOHHHHHH!" was all Bonnie could manage, as she stalked out of the restaurant, fuming mad.
Tara got up and followed her out, and Ned started cleaning the mess.
"When Bonnie told Tara the food was on her, I bet Tara didn't think she meant it literally"
said Ron, and the other three laughed harder.
"Thanks, Jenny," said Kim wiping her eyes, "That was too perfect!"
Jenny just grinned.