Ron drove to Rosner's Sporting Goods and was measured for the letterman's jacket, he'd have to wait till he actually received the letter but he was excited none the less. He wasn't exactly excited about the price, it would clean out his bank account again, but it would be worth it.
Once he left the store, Ron put on his cool wrap around sunglasses and called Kim to let her know that he was coming over to pick her up. He wasn't comfortable coming inside any more. He made the trip back to Kim's house, he was starting to wind down and he was becoming worn down.
He rolled up in the driveway at Kim's house, climbed out of the car and honked the horn. Kim came out to meet him, "I thought you were going to come in for a bit?" she told him as she gave him a hug and a kiss.
Ron shook his head, "Ahhhh not today, KP." He said trying to act nonchalant about the whole situation with Mr. Dr. P.
Kim nodded, "So what's the big surprise?" She was curious about what Ron was up to.
Ron shook his head, "Can't tell you, super top secret." Ron replied smiling as he slid behind the wheel.
Kim got in the car beside him, "So what are we doing today?" she asked obviously excited that Ron was acting more like himself today.
Ron shrugged, "I was thinking about a movie?"
Kim nodded, "Zombie Death Squad 4 is out, want to see that?"
Ron shook his head, "No…I really don't like those kinds of films anymore, anything you want to see?"
Kim smiled, "Let's pick a chick flick Ron will hate, I can tease him a little bit that way." Kim thought to herself. Kim tilted her head one way then the other, "How about "Love's True Courses?" she asked waiting for Ron to start his chick flick rant.
Ron nodded, "Sounds good, we'll see if it's at the multiplex?"
Kim blinked, "Ohhhh, ok…Ron…it's a love story." She told him thinking that Ron might not have known what the movie was about.
Ron nodded, "Ok, sounds good."
Kim looked at Ron, and she noticed he was wearing those sunglasses, "Ron have you been getting any sleep." She asked concerned.
He shook his head, "No, I got about three hours last night and two the night before that…Just can't make myself shut down." He told her in a weary voice.
Kim reached over and started to play with his hair, "I wish he could sleep, he's not really himself these days…I wonder if he's seen a doctor yet? I wonder what his big surprise is…What's this? A grey hair…no, it can't be, Ron's too young to have grey hairs…I better not say anything, he's got enough on his mind already." Kim thought idly to herself.
Kim played with Ron's hair a little longer, "Ron…have you thought about seeing a doctor about your sleeping problem?" She asked as she stroked the side of his face.
Ron smiled and rubbed the side of his face against Kim's fingers. He was enjoying the touch of companionship again. He stopped at a red light and kissed her finger tips, "Yea, I thought about it…I'm going go after cross country is over…I've been so focused on that the past few days." He told Kim honestly.
Kim was surprised by how affectionately Ron was responding to her, "Ron must be feeling better…he kissed my finger tips…That's soooooo…wow." Kim thought to herself excitedly.
Ron drove by the front of the multiplex, "What was the name of that movie you wanted to see again?" he asked Kim.
Kim was daydreaming, "Huh…Oh, Love's True Courses…" she answered sheepishly.
Ron bobbed his head around on his shoulders, "Ok, we got a couple of hours to burn, let me run up and get the tickets real quick." He said as he got out of the car and ran up to the ticket window.
Kim watched him go to the window and buy the tickets, "He's actually taking me to see a chick flick…this must be love." She thought as she laid her head against the head rest.
Ron came back from the ticket window smiling, "We got tickets, gonna see the show, with my badical girlfriend." He said smiling as he climbed back into his car.
Kim smiled, "Badical…huh" she said smiling at him.
Ron turned and gave her one of his big stupid grins and drove to the back of the theater, the sun was going down in the late October afternoon and Ron parked in an out of the way spot that was not caught in the parking lot lights.
Ron turned the engine off and shut off the head lights and then he turned and faced Kim, "Time for some Kim and Ron time." He said with a grin. He put his arm around Kim and pulled her in close to him.
Kim let herself be drawn into Ron's side; she closed her eyes and let him kiss her. Ron kissed her three times and then gave her nose a little lick that made her giggle and then Ron rubbed his nose against hers. He placed his hand on the side of her face and kissed her, a seriously passionate kiss, "I wish I'd known he could kiss like that, Lacey was right, he really is a good kisser." Kim thought to herself as she enjoyed the attention that Ron was paying to her.
Ron broke off the kiss and started playing with her hair, she knew he had something on his mind but was reluctant to talk to her about it. Kim looked into Ron's eyes, "Something wrong?" she asked.
Ron was still playing with her hair, "I don't think I told you how pretty you are tonight?"
Kim looked at him, "No, I don't think you did." She said with a bit of a pout.
Ron smiled, "Funny what not sleeping will make you miss….You really do look good though." He told her honestly.
Kim smiled, "Glad you noticed."
Ron's eyes wondered down to the seat, "Should I ask her now? I wish I knew more about this dating stuff, I…I better ask…I don't want to get hurt again…I just don't think I could take it." Ron's mood had taken another down hill swing and Kim picked up the body language immediately.
Kim lifted put her hand under Ron's chin and lifted his gaze to hers, "Ron…you ok?" she asked concerned.
Ron nodded, "Well here goes nothing, I better find out now." He thought sadly to himself. Ron's eyes were darting around the car and he started to rub the back of his neck, "Kim, I have to know something…Ho…How serious are you about getting back together again? What I mean is…I really like you and I want to see where this goes, but I've had my heart broke twice this year and I don't….don't think I could take it happening again." He told her with a shaky voice.
Kim smiled at her boyfriend, "Ron, I made a mistake back in May. I never should have let you down like I did. I've learned a lot since then, and you're not getting away so easily again, so yes I'm serious about this too." She then grabbed him by his ears and brought him to her for a big kiss.
Ron drew back from the kiss with a big grin on his face, "Right on, right on, good…whewwwwww, that is good to know." He told her, his voice sounding much more confident than earlier.
Kim rested her head on his shoulder, "He's still worried about being hurt…I guess after all he's been through this year." She thought to herself. She turned her head to look at him, "Are you still worried that I'll start crushing on someone tomorrow?" she asked Ron seriously.
Ron nodded his head, "It's always at the back of my mind…The curse of Josh Mankey and all…I feel better now that I've asked…Maybe now I can open up a little more with you…I…I'm starting to get more comfortable being with you again." He said in a serious voice.
Kim narrowed her eyes, "Curse of Josh Mankey?" she asked sounding annoyed.
Ron smiled, "Two dates and out….Once the season is over, I want to spend more time with you again…I'm starting to feel like I'm with my old friend Kim again, and I like that a lot." He told her as he leaned over and kissed her fore head.
Kim was blushing; she was not used to this side of Ron. She closed her eyes and snuggled closer to him, "I kind of miss the old Ron a little, the goofy Ron that wore the hockey jersey." She said teasing him.
Ron winced, "I haven't felt like that person in soooooooooo long…I tried to wear the hockey jersey a month ago and I couldn't do it. It was almost as if there was a stranger in the mirror staring at me…It didn't feel right anymore." Ron said in a sad voice.
Kim looked at him and could see him starting to look sad, "I wish he could sleep." She thought to herself. She leaned over and kissed the tip of his nose, "I still like this Ron a lot too." She said smiling at her new boyfriend.
Ron smiled at Kim, "I'm glad you do….I don't know if that old Ron will ever be back, It's time to head inside for the movie." He told her as he pulled his arm from around her and slid out of the driver's seat.
Kim smiled, she almost wished they could have just stayed in the car and just skipped the movie. She was enjoying herself, "I thought I would miss the missions, Ron was right, we both missed so much… I never dreamed that I would find him so handsome…but I do…He is so…different now." She thought as she climbed out and took his arm to head into the theater.
Ron was feeling pretty good, he got to do some parking, got some reassurance from Kim that she was wanting more than just a couple of dates. They went inside the multiplex, "You hungry?" Ron asked
Kim nodded, she was a little hungry, "I could do with some popcorn."
Ron nodded and got in line at the snack bar and bought a medium popcorn and two sodas, "Here ya go let's go find us a couple of seats." Ron said handing her a soda and motionng towards the theater door.
They took their seats and Kim noticed that Ron wasn't eating any popcorn, "You don't expect me to eat all this do you?" she said motioning towards the big bag of popcorn.
Ron smiled, "Not too hungry today, I'll try and eat a little." He told her trying not to sound embarrassed.
Kim looked at him, "Ron…When did you eat last?" she asked trying to sound casual.
Ron squinted trying to think, "I think Monique made me eat something yesterday for lunch…not sure, it could have been Thursday….I don't remember." He told her as he ate a few kernels of popcorn.
Kim looked shocked, "Ron…Do me a favor and eat a lot of popcorn….Have you ever tried to figure out why you haven't been eating too well lately?"
Ron shook his head, "Never really thought about it…I guess it…I don't know, just haven't been hungry." He told her.
The theater went dark and then came the commercials and previews, Kim kept her eye on Ron, and he had quit eating the popcorn. She'd swat him on the arm and motion for him to eat and he'd eat a little more.
The movie started and Kim cuddled up to Ron and forgot about popcorn and eating. The movie was a bit racier than Kim was expecting and it was making her uncomfortable, the last thing she wanted was Ron getting the wrong ideas. She turned to look at Ron during one of the nude scenes and discovered he was looking at the floor lost in his own little world. She was relieved and at the same time worried, "He's acting a little more normal but he still wasn't eating and he didn't seem to be interested in anything except finishing the cross country season." She thought sadly to herself.
Kim was half watching the movie and half watching Ron, "It's almost like he's forgot I'm here." Kim had a devilish smile on her face, "Forget I'm here will ya." She thought wickedly to herself. Then she leaned over and nibbled on Ron's ear,
He jumped and let out a, "Yip" then he turned a smiled and shook his head. Then he leaned in and kissed her ear, "Sorry" he whispered laughing softly.
Once the movie was over they were headed back out to Ron's car, Ron had his arm around Kim and she was in a talking mood, "Can you believe that, I thought it was a love story, aughhhhhhhhh I didn't think she'd be in love with half the football team." Kim said in a disgusted voice.
Ron chuckled, "I kind of lost track early in…I guess it wasn't that great of a movie…Other than that, you have a good time?" he asked her smiling.
Kim bobbed her head and smiled, "Yea, I guess…I think we should have seen something else though." She said still angry at the movie.
Ron shook his head laughing, "It's still early, want to head out to Quarry Lake? There won't be any football teams out there but I think we can find something to do to keep us occupied." He said with a leer.
Kim nodded, "Yea, I'd like to go, but if you try anything like in that movie, I'm not afraid to break arms." She said with a wink.
Ron smiled, "I should have paid more attention to that movie." He said with a chuckle.
They reached the car and Ron let Kim into the passenger side and then he slid behind the wheel and fired the engine. Kim was shaking her head, "No you didn't need to pay more attention to THAT movie…yuck." She told him with a disapproving frown.
Ron was laughing, "So the whole movie was based around a healthy young girl's devotion to team sports?" Ron let out a big sigh, "Those kinds of things never happen to cross country runners." Ron said shaking his head sadly.
Kim made a point of showing him her fist, "County yourself lucky mister." She said in a threatening tone.
Ron started laughing, "Ok…ok, no more talk about the movie…hmmmm….have to get the unrated version when it comes out on DVD." He said matter of fact manner.
Kim shook her head, "I give up." She told him crossing her arms and giving a small pout..
Ron pulled the car into the Quarry Lake parking lot; he found a quiet spot down close to the lake. He killed the engine and showed Kim how to drop the seat back Once Kim's seat was in the same reclining position as his, she nodded her head, "This car is very couple friendly." She told him appreciatively.
Ron smiled, "Couple friendly was a must have, when I started car shopping." Then Ron drew Kim closer to him and started to kiss her.
It was a cool late October evening and the two factors of cool temperature outside the car and young love inside the car had steamed the windows up to where they could no longer see out side the vehicle. They would look up at the windows from time to time and they would both giggle at how steamed over the windows had became.
Ron started nibbling her ear again and worked his way down to the nape of her neck. Kim had her eyes closed and was running her fingers thru Ron's hair, "Oh…oh…that girl at the club was right about Ron all tongue and hands….and teeth….Ohhhh…dad is so gonna freak if I have any hickeys." She thought excitedly to herself.
Ron started to work from her left side across the front of her neck before working his way on round to the right side of her neck. He kissed down the cloth covered shoulder before stopping at the end and he gave her a small bite which made Kim jump. Ron chuckled, "Didn't see that one coming did you?" he said with a giggle.
Kim was lost in the new sensations that Ron was awakening inside of her, "N…no…I…ohhhh I like that." She said as she lost her train of focus. She could feel his right arm drawing her close to him and his left was trailing down her back. Then she could feel his hand going below the waistline of her pants. Her eyes shot open, "I'm not ready for this, have to stop him." She started to pull away and then she felt Ron's go limp, she was worried for a second that she had hurt his feelings but then she heard snoring.
Kim shook her head, "That's my Ron, get me all hot and bothered and then fall asleep." She whispered as she extricated his hand from the waist band of her pants. She put her head down on the seat; she knew that he hadn't been sleeping well lately so she decided to let him get as much sleep as he possibly could.
She watched him sleep for about a half an hour before she dozed off herself. She awoke to Ron's talking, she looked up thinking he was up but he was still asleep.
Ron lay with a half grin, "Death to the man." He mumbled while chuckling. He slept a while longer and started to mumble again, "Rufus…I'm better for Kim than Eric…I can't tell her…ruin everything…Kim will…laugh…Kim will laugh at me." He mumbled with a tortured look on his face.
Kim reached over and started stroking his arm, "Shhhhhhh…its ok Ron…I'm right here, shhhhhhh….It's ok." She whispered to him. Kim bit her lower lip, "He still thinks about last May." She thought to herself sadly.
Ron was still asleep, it was a fitful sleep but he was sleeping and Kim was willing to stay with him however long it took. Ron started to mumble again, "The toys are evil…I know Kim will believe me…she's my friend…she's not believing me…no…no…no…believe me…nowhere to hide….oh no…she believes Eric not me…oh man." She saw the eyes fluttering and he was starting to shake.
Kim was still stroking his arm trying to reassure him, "Are these the nightmares he talks about? His night monsters…Have I become a night monster to him?" She worried to herself.
Ron body jerked hard and he was awake, his eyes were batting open and closed and then he looked up and saw Kim and scrambled away as far as he could from her. "Kim…Drakken? The diablos are evil." He told her in a panicked voice.
Kim reached out for him, "Ron it's ok, we beat them, Drakken's in jail…Remember?" she told him trying not to become upset herself.
Ron looked around and collapsed in the driver's seat, "Its 3am isn't it? That's all I can sleep midnight to 3am and then up for the rest of the day…I'm so tired Kim." He told her in a weary voice.
Kim scooted across the seat and took Ron into her arms, "Its ok Ron, its ok." She told him in a comforting voice. Ron was starting to relax in her arms and then she felt him tense up.
Ron sat upright, "Its 3am, that means…ohhhhhhhh man, I'm going to be in so much trouble with your mom and dad…we've got to get you home." He told her as he was struggling to find the seat release to put his driver's seat up so he could drive.
Kim was chuckling, "Calm down Ron, I'm the one who's going to catch it when we get home." She told him not seeming to mind the lectures coming her way in the morning.
Ron started to laugh, "Yea….looks like we won't be going anywhere until the windows defog…Now let's see where were we then?" Ron asked as he dropped his seat back.
Kim chuckled, "Well the engine does have to warm up." She said as her seat went back into the reclining position.
Once the windows had cleared up, Ron turned on the headlights and backed the car out of the parking spot. He noticed two other cars still in the lot, "Didn't hear them come in last night…Surprised the police didn't come out and run us off."
Kim nodded, "Well we were kind of busy…I'm glad the police didn't come out, shame to have to wake you up." She said teasing him.
Ron closed his eyes, "Yea…that wouldn't of been good…I wish I could sleep again." He told her sadly.
Kim shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe you ought to try sleeping somewhere else, like on the couch in the living room." She suggested.
Ron nodded, "I haven't tried that yet, and I'll try it once I get home." He told her happily.
He dropped her off at home; they kissed and hugged a while longer before she went inside the house. Ron shook his head, "I hope Kim doesn't get in too much trouble, after all it is after 4am." He thought to himself.
Ron backed out of the driveway, "Her dad will probably try to get her to stop seeing me…I guess that's better than having her break up with me again...I'm tied with Josh Mankey for most dates with Kim and…I know I got further with Kim than that pansy ever did." Ron thought to himself with a wicked smile.
Ron shook his head, "Now be nice, Kim's right, she's the one that's going to catch hell…Let's try to sleep on the couch like Kim said…Maybe I'll sleep for a while…Maybe I'll sleep." Ron thought as he kicked off his shoes and lay down on the couch.
He lay there staring at the ceiling; wait for sleep to come over him. It was a wait for sleep that would never come, whether he liked it or not, he was up for the day.