Disclaimer: This story is based upon characters created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle for Disney. If you recognize the characters from TV, they aren't mine. I will never make any money from this.

Kelly owns himself. (If you don't believe me, ask him sometime.)

Special thanks to my mystery Beta Reader.

Around Town

"I still don't know where she got the idea that red would be a good color for the yearbook cover," Bonnie said loudly to Tara as they passed Kim's locker.

"What's wrong with Red?" Kim asked.

"Oh, it looks all right on you, Kim." Bonnie said in an unconvincing tone, "That is why you dye your hair, right?"

Kim was too shocked and embarrassed to respond. She was about to say something, but she had no idea what yet.

"Well, hello Bonnie!" Kelly smiled as he walked up.

Bonnie turned, surprised. "Who would you be?"

"A friend of Kim's."

Bonnie scoffed, "Loser."

"At least my whole purpose in life isn't to annoy someone."

"Excuse me?" Bonnie seemed taken back.

"Face it," Kelly said smugly as he put away his camera phone. "You exist only to cheer, go out with Brick now and then, and annoy Kim."

Bonnie made a fist at either hip and scowled, "I do not!"

"Prove it!" Kelly challenged. "Don't bother Kim - maybe even be nice to Kim - for..." he drew out the word thoughtfully. "A week."

Bonnie's face lit up for a moment. Then she looked at both Kim and Kelly. "No way," her eyebrows lowered and she walked away. Tara followed after her, shrugging.

Kim stared at Kelly another moment.

He sighed, "I tried."

"Did you take a speed psychology course or something?" Kim asked.

"What?"

Kim gestured down the hall that Bonnie had gone down, "You hadn't even met Bonnie before and you seem to know everything about her."

"Oh," Kelly frowned. "Yeah." He seemed to consider several options, and then said, "Um, lucky guess."

"Real lucky," Kim said doubtfully.

The bell rang and they went to their separate classes.

"Hey, Kelly," Ron walked up to the boy after the next class. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Reading the paper," Kelly said as he folded up the main section. "You know, keeping current."

"That's what Agony County is for, Dude." Then Ron looked at the section on the seat next to Kelly. "Are those want ads?"

"You looking for work?"

Ron frowned, "Kim and I are getting out of the hero biz."

"No," said Kelly, seemingly aghast. Then again, Ron may have missed a small note of sarcasm.

"Yeah. These professionals interrupted our movie last night and told us to quit."

"Bummer."

"Yep," Ron agreed. He grabbed the ads, "You mind?"

"Knock yourself out."

Ron went down the hall, reading.

Later, Kelly didn't see Kim in his new Science class.

"On a mission," Monique explained, sounding bored.

"Oh, of course," said Kelly.

That was when Barkin got louder, "Kelly!"

"Yes, sir!" Kelly half jumped out of his seat, despite himself.

"You have a great deal to catch up on, entering the semester late." Barkin set a pile of paperwork on his seat about the thickness of two phone books.

"Uh, thank you, Mr. Barkin."

"Since Possible is absent, you can partner with Monique today."

"I'll do my best," Kelly told Monique.

"I'll bet."

Soon, Kelly and Monique were timing a pendulum as it swung across their desk.

"So, what are your plans with Kim?" Monique asked softly but bluntly.

Kelly almost knocked over the pendulum, "Kim and I haven't made any plans."

"But you have some, don't you?" She said, looking at her watch.

"No," Kelly said quietly. "I just – I'm kind of a fan," he sighed.

"Oh, you got it for the hero girl," Monique smiled.

"It's not really like that," He frowned. "I'm kinda just visiting."

"Hey, you just moved here."

"Not really," he said nervously. "Look, don't tell Kim or Ron. I'll let them know in time. Besides, I've got somebody back home"

"Mystery boy, eh?"

"The less they know, the better." Kelly almost smiled, "Seriously."

"You know," Monique smiled. "The mystique works on you."

"And you know you've got that Raven thing going." Kelly quipped. "Oh, flattery will get you a lot."

"Hey, Bud!" called one red-suited man to another.

"What now, Lou?"

"It's Friday night. We should go out, pick up some action."

"Drakken would kill us," Bud said plainly.

"Nah, he's not here," Lou scoffed. "But Shego would," he admitted.

"Yeah, she goes out and leaves us here to guard an empty lair."

"Hey!"

"What?"

"Somebody's at the door."

"You're joking!"

"Look!" Lou pointed at the monitor where a young man was pressing the buzzer.

Bud shrugged, "Better go answer it."

"Can we help you?"

"Is the Doctor in?" the young fellow smiled.

"No, he isn't," Bud said sternly.

"That's all right," said Kelly. "I'll just check around." He brought out a digital camera.

"Just who are you?" Lou said gruffly.

"I'm here to estimate the cost of new pipes," Kelly said smoothly.

"Really?" Lou said slowly.

"This lair was recently damaged, right?"

"Yeah," Bud said cautiously.

"Drakken needs new pipes, right?"

"Yeah," said Lou.

"I'll just take a few pictures and mail him my estimate."

Bud sighed, "Okay".

At the guard shack at the main gate of the Middleton space center, Frank hummed to himself as he observed his surroundings.

He then stood and addressed an approaching young man, " Can I help you, son?"

"I was hoping for a tour," said Kelly.

"Sorry, we're closed to public currently," the guard said politely.

"Don't the rocket boosters meet on Saturdays?"

"The kid's program is not starting again until summer."

"Okay," Kelly was disappointed. "Mind if I take photos from outside?"

"No law against that."

"Thanks."

"So what did Brick do this time?" Monique asked as she folded some capris, making certain the ClubBanana logo was visible.

Bonnie sighed, "I caught him looking at Hope."

"He is a man," Monique leaned on the low shelving between them a moment.

"It made me mad," Bonnie shrugged.

"Men often do that," Kelly walked into the store.

"Hi, Kelly! Have you met Bonnie?" Monique sang.

"He has," Bonnie scowled.

"Sorry if I hurt you yesterday," said Kelly. "I just couldn't stand to see Kim hurt."

"Like it does anything to Miss Perfect."

"Kim can be very vulnerable at times," Kelly said wisely.

"Just how long have you known her?" Bonnie asked curiously.

Kelly glanced at Monique, "Um, just a couple days, but you'd be surprised what you can learn on the Internet."

Monique winked, "Kim's got a groupie."

"Like she hasn't got everything yet." Bonnie sighed, "Now that Brick and I are over, I'm one-third of the way to non-existence."

"Say what?" gasped Monique.

"I crossed a line when I said that," Kelly said firmly. "I'm sorry."

Bonnie looked over at him, "Whatever."

"Can I make it up to you?" he asked hopefully. "Maybe buy you lunch?"

Monique seemed surprised, but remained quiet.

Bonnie looked Kelly up and down carefully. "I guess you wouldn't poison me."

"You're so sweet," Kelly smiled.

"I'll see you, Monique," Bonnie said quietly.

"Catch you two later," Monique called sweetly.

Kelly and Bonnie walked to the food court.

"Name your poison," Kelly quipped.

Bonnie just frowned at the lame joke. "How about hamburgers?" She pointed at the Nasty Burger counter.

"Works for me."

They sat with some meals and ate quietly for a while.

"I bet you come from a big family," Kelly said sympathetically.

"What's it to you?" she said curtly.

"Lots of competition in the house, then."
"So?"
"I know what it's like to live in the shadow of an older sibling," he said tenderly. "It's really all in how you handle it."

"I do all right."

"Just try and take it easy," he smiled. "The 'food chain' can be pretty fickle."

As Kelly walked her home, his camera phone beeped, four familiar tones.

"Possible gave you her phone?" Bonnie was surprised.

"No," he keyed the smart phone before putting it away. "Just a reminder to take my medication." He then took a pill and pocketed the bottle again.

"Thanks for lunch," Bonnie said politely as they reached her house.

"My pleasure." He smiled, "If you want to make Brick jealous, I'll back you up."

"What kind of girl do you think I am?" She said, surprised.

"Delightfully devious," he smiled. "It's entirely up to you."

"That's kind of sweet," she said thoughtfully. Then she gave him a hug. "See you later."

"Bye, Bonnie."

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