Riday had arrived and sat in his car outside of school staring at the door, "I wonder what they will throw at me today? I think I'll throw them a curve and go in the side door."

With a big grin on his face he walked around the side of the building and in through the door and then he worked his way through the maze of D hall, "This hallway used to be so threatening, now I'm the big dog ninja…mess with me…end up in pain." Ron thought happily to himself.

There was no definable reason that Ron could put his finger on for his new swagger short of the month long stay Yamanouchi Ninja School, "It's one thing to think your bad and it's another thing to realize you're the badest of the bad."

Ron was sensing a parting of the waves in D hall, boys that once picked on him were now pretending they didn't see Ron or they were trying to be his friend and wave to him. Either way didn't make much difference to Ron as long as he was left alone to go to his locker.

Ron was in stealth mode making no effort to draw attention to him as he walked up to his locker. The dial spun and the door opened and Ron retrieved the books he would need for the first two classes.

Ron strolled down the hallway towards Monique's locker; he spied Monique and quietly walked up behind her "Hey baby, how you doin'?"

Monique jumped about a foot in the air, "Stop sneaking up on me…I'm fine…a little tender after last night but I feel pretty good."

Ron grinned and hugged her from behind, "I'm trying to lay low for the day, not in a mood to visit Kelby's office today."

Then Ron pulled Monique in closer and whispered in her ear, "Sorry if I was a little too…enthusiastic last night."

Monique smiled and with a wink said, "I wouldn't want you any other way….So did you get Kim home alright."

Ron rolled his eyes, "Yea…after she threw up all over me."

Monique started laughing, "Sorry, sorry, I seen it coming…I think she had fun…If she can remember any of it."

Ron started to say something when a teacher walked up and told him he was needed in Principle Kelby's office, Ron looked at Monique and shrugged, "Looks like day three of the mind games." He told her as he waived goodbye.

Ron walked down the hall to the front of the building where the administration offices were, in the past he only had a vague knowledge of what was happening inside of them. Now he was learning their functions all too well.

Ron sat in a chair once he entered Principle Kelby's office, there was a man with a beard that looked familiar to Ron but he couldn't place him.

Principle Kelby entered the office, "Good morning Mr. Stoppable, I think you know Mr. Graham your guidance counselor."

Ron closed his eyes and thought nervously, "Uh oh…I thought I recognized him."

Ron turned his attention to Mr. Graham, the man smiled, "I haven't seen you in my office since you were a freshman…I was curious to learn your plans for after High School?"

Ron looked over at Principle Kelby and then back at Mr. Graham, "I can not trust these two, if they learn what I want to do…They may try and interfere just to be jerks…I'm starting to think that no one here is who they seem to be." Ron thought sadly.

Ron lifted an eyebrow and in an innocent voice he asked, "You mean…there are things to do…after high school?"

Mr. Graham laughed, "Now Ronald, I know you've talked to a few schools and I have to be frank with you, your grades don't really reflect well upon you."

Ron just stared at Mr. Graham and thought to himself, "I don't know where you're headed with this?"

Ron continued to sit in the chair and said nothing, Principle Kelby tried to help Mr. Graham make his point, "Ronald by placing you in MOKKIS next semester we think that we are doing you a favor…"

Ron interrupted her in a mildly tweaked voice and said, "I didn't ask for any favors…There was never anyway I was going to get out of this so do what you want, I'm out of here."

Then Ron gut up out of his chair and walked out of the office, "They're wasting my time, maybe I should get that GED and just be on my way." He thought angrily.

He briefly toyed with the idea of dumping his back pack with his books into the trash can and getting in his car and going home, but it was the last class before Holiday break. So he figured he could tough it out.

He walked into his first class and smiled when he was told he was late, "If I would have thought about college or moving on after high school, I would have tried to get better grades…I was just caught up with running around Kim and those damn missions…Oh well, January to the end of May….I can do this." He thought sadly as he sat down next to Monique.

Monique looked at him and whispered, "What's Kelby's problem anyway?"

Ron shook his head, "Who knows, I walked out on them…They claim they're doing me a favor." Ron whispered back.

Ron finished the day of school and took Monique to work, he told her to wait a second so he could get her Christmas gift out of the trunk. Ron jumped out of the car and lifted the hatch to get the gift, "I'm not sure about this stuff but it's expensive and smells pretty…I hope you like it." He told Monique happily.

Monique smiled and hugged Ron, "I didn't get you anything…I didn't know if it was ok…you being Jewish and all."

Ron chuckled and nodded, "It's ok, I had fun shopping for you…you like it."

Monique smiled and opened the box and sprayed a little on her wrist and held it out to Ron, "If it came from you I like it."

Ron took a whiff and lifted his eyebrows, "Smells sexy."

She folded her body into Ron's chest, "We doing anything tonight?"

"Well I am supposed to be grounded, but I've never let a little thing like that interfere with my life before." He told her.

Then Ron looked at her, "I'll be up after you get off and we'll try and figure out something to do."

Monique gave him a hug and kissed him goodbye, "I'll see you when I get off then."

Ron nodded and smiled and watched her walk inside the mall, "She does look good wearing that jacket."

He stayed in the parking lot remember the last time he had dropped her off, it had been a month ago and then Ron was on the verge of suicide before he was whisked away to Mt. Yamanouchi.

Ron shivered at the memory, "I hope I never get that bad again, I'll have to meditate tonight and see how Yori is doing…I feel bad about just having to pick up and leave…It is good to be back…Now I have to think of fun date things to do for tonight." He thought happily as he clapped his hands together and slid into the driver's seat.

Ron started up the car and fought his way out of the heavy holiday traffic, "Lot's of cars here today…Think I'll pop by and see how Kim's doing?"

Ron pulled up in the driveway and then he retrieved the bottle of perfume from the trunk. He walked up the stairs and rang the door bell, "Should be safe…I'm not dating Kim now…I should still be a good guy." He thought sadly.

Mrs. Dr. P. opened the door, Ron smiled, "I thought I'd drop by and give Kim her Christmas present and see how she's doing."

Mrs. Dr. P. looked slightly annoyed with Ron, "She's still got the belly flips from all the drinking last night…What happened to Josh Mankey and why did you have to bring her home?"

Ron shrugged and lied a little, "Not sure about Josh…I came out to the car and found Kim leaning against it…She didn't make much sense so I just took Monique home and then dropped her off here."

Mrs. Dr. P. shook her head, "I'm glad you were there, no telling what might have happened to her otherwise…I had her clean your cloths for you, go on upstairs but knock gently…She's still pretty hung over."

He nodded ok and walked up the stairs and tapped on Kim's door, "Go away Ron."

Ron swallowed hard and tapped on the door again, "Kim…I have a Christmas present for you."

There was a real long silence and Ron started to turn to leave then he heard Kim's voice from the other side of the door, "Come on in…I guess."

Ron smiled and opened the door, Kim was still wearing her pajamas, and she was in bed sitting up with the covers up to her waist. Ron stepped hesitantly into the room.

Kim smiled sadly and waived him in, Ron turned and closed the door behind him and pulled out the chair from Kim's makeup table and sat down, "Merry Christmas" he told her as he handed her the perfume.

Kim chuckled and took the box, "I…I didn't have any time to get you anything for Chanukah." She said sadly as she opened the box.

Ron nodded and smiled, "I see you weren't at school today…You going to make it."

Kim laughed, "Yea…I'm just in all kinds of trouble…What's new, right."

She shook her head, "I've never been drunk, Ron…I remember Monique doing the belly shot thing and then the rest of the night is a blur…except for you yelling at dad to help get my drunken ass out of your car."

Ron laughed, "Yea well…You were kind of throwing up all over me."

Kim winced, "Sorry"

Ron smiled, "its ok…You couldn't help it….So you going out Saturday night?"

Kim looked at him and shook her head, "What?"

Ron laughed, "After Josh took off, you were asked out by Angry Bob…It sounded like you were really looking forward to it."

Kim looked at Ron in horror, "I can't go out with him…I'm grounded and he's…a whacko."

Ron nodded and moved his chair closer to her and reached out for her hand, Kim looked at him shyly and took his hand, "Kim, he's a college guy…He's a little off the wall but I think he's mostly harmless."

Kim squeezed Ron's hand, "No…I don't really know him and…I'm grounded."

Ron smiled and shook her hand, "Since when has grounding ever stopped us from doing what we wanted?"

Kim laughed, "Never"

Ron laughed, "That's right, Kim go out with Bob…Have some fun, chant "DEATH TO THE MAN" a little, you deserve to have a good date…You've had a hard few months, do you some good to have a little fun."

Kim nodded, "Ok…So when is he supposed to pick me up?"

Ron shrugged and laughed, "I don't know, you told me about it after we loaded your drunken ass in the car last night."

Kim cringed, "Noooooo don't remind me."

He looked at her and smiled, "I'm sure he's got your cell phone number."

Kim rolled her eyes, "Oh no…I don't know if I'm ready for this or not."

"You'll do fine…You wouldn't by any chance have seen a pair of pants and a pair of socks lying around any where?" he asked her with a smile.

Kim crinkled her nose, "Ewwww…Yes, Mom made me wash them for you, they're over by the door….How'd school go today?"

"About as expected, I'm going to be MOKKIS when we go back in January." Ron told her sadly.

Kim sighed and shook her head, "I guess I don't blame you for wanting to leave…Schools not going to well for you these days."

Ron chuckled, "Nothing I can't deal with…I have to get running…You take it easy and go out and have fun tomorrow…Ok"

Ron gave Kim a hug, "Merry Christmas"

Kim smiled and waived, "Thanks….I'll see you later…I'll…think about going out with Bob."

Ron walked to the door and picked up his cloths, "I'll be waiting to hear all about it…it should be interesting."

Kim watched Ron leave the room, "It'll be interesting….but it won't be you." She thought sadly.

Ron walked downstairs and waived goodbye to Mrs. Dr. P. then he drove home to drop off his cloths and pick up Rufus. His mom and dad were home so Ron knew he'd have to stay in the house for a while.

He put his cloths on his dresser and then found Rufus, "There's my best buddy in the whole wide world."

He hugged Rufus hard and he let out a yelp and Ron laughed and sat him on top of his dresser. He looked around he room and sat on the bed, "I'm still adjusting to being home, I really missed my bed…Now what to do tonight for a date with Monique."

Ron began to think of things that he liked doing but he knew Monique wouldn't be interested, "Let's see too late for a movie, malls closed, Christmas is on a Tuesday…I know what…there's that station that plays nothing but Christmas music till after New Years….Swope Park has all the Christmas lights out…$5.00 a car…that sounds like the plan."

Ron snuck out of the house and drove to the mall and picked up Monique from work, it was a clear cold night and Ron was grateful that the car had a good heater. He seen Monique come out of the mall and waive, she hopped in the passenger side seat and leaned over and hugged him.

"Where we going, where we going." She asked excitedly.

Ron smiled and teased her, "You'll see"

He drove over to Swope Park and joined into the line to see the lights, Monique was clapping, "I haven't seen the lights in years." She said obviously excited.

Ron paid the man the $5.00 to go into the park, he turned his lights on and turned on the radio to the station that played the Christmas music and Monique scooted closer to him. He put his arm around her pulled her tightly to him, as he drove through the park at five miles per hour.

Monique was really enjoying herself and then Oh Holy Night came on the radio and she started bawling. Ron pulled back and looked at her, "You ok?" he asked concerned by her reaction.

Monique nodded and she hugged him hard and continued crying, "This is sooooooooo romantic." She told him.

Ron smiled and nodded, "I guess it is."

Ron drove through the park and Monique took in all the lights and squeezed Ron's hand and hugged him. Ron enjoyed the attention and returned the hug. Then Ron reached the exit and turned his lights back on and drove out of the park.

After the lights Ron drove Monique home, Monique looked at him sadly and told him her family's holiday plans, "We're headed out of town to my Grand Ma's tomorrow, we won't be back till after Christmas."

Ron frowned and nodded, "I'll be thinking about you while your gone…I have to get up early and go to the temple and then I start working again….I'm ready to rejoin the grind." He told her.

Monique leaned over and hugged him and gave him a big kiss and then stepped out of the car. Ron gave a sad smile as he waived and drove off slowly down the street. Monique watched him till his car turned out of the subdivision, "I…I think…I love Ron." She thought happily to herself as she turned and walked towards her house.