Three figures walked through the door of Middleton High. All were there for their last year of school. One was there for her first year in Middleton. It had been almost two months since that night Ron had found out he was adopted, and Kim had yet to reveal what Wade had said. She looked over at her boyfriend and draped her arm over him to pull him closer. Ron in turn placed an arm around her waist. He gazed adoringly into her bright green eyes while she stared into his caring brown. They slowly began to close the distance.

Out of the corners of their eyes they saw Mr. Barkin bearing down on them. "Stoppable, I need to see you in my office now. We have a problem."

Barkin grabbed the young man and separated the couple. It took Ron a moment to calm himself down enough not to flip the massive ex-military teacher. Instead, he followed behind the large man. They swiftly came to a door that Ron had never before laid eyes on. The door had Mr. Barkin's name on it. He opened the door and beckoned the small but powerful young man into the office. Mr. Barkin deposited himself behind his small desk and stared at the young man in front him. He'd watched a child grow and change into the man that now stood before him.

A man he would have been proud to call a friend.

That's what made what he was about to do so difficult. "Ron, you're not graduating this year."

The first thing that registered in Ron's mind was that Barkin had used his first name. The second realization hit him much harder. "What? What do you mean I'm not graduating? It's only the beginning of the school year."

The much larger man looked at him for a moment. "It's my fault. When I turned over the Home Ec class to you, that made it impossible for you to be the student. You didn't get any credit for the class. Even passing every class this year will leave you short on credits. I'm sorry."

"But, Mr. B. There's has to be something I can do. I can't fail now, I've worked too hard to bring my grades up."

"I'm sorry, but the only way is to take another class, and since we can't do that here it would have to be at the college and that would cost quite a bit of money for just that..."

Mr. Barkin stopped talking when he saw the grin plastered on Ron's face. "That won't be a problem. Is that all there is or is there something else I need?"

"Stoppable, I don't think you understand. We're not talking a couple of hundred dollars, We're talking a few thousand."

Ron smiled again. "Keep this under your hat." Ron pressed the button that would contact Wade.

"Oh hey, What's up Ron?"

"Do me a favor and clue Mr. Barkin in as to the current state of my finances."

Ron then took off his watch and handed it over to Mr. Barkin. "Hi Mr. Barkin, Ron's currently valued at eight billion dollars."

Ron gently took the watch back from his teacher. "By the way, how's that little project coming?"

"It's all finished, that kind of money gets the job done quickly."

"Perfect, and remember, this is anonymous. I don't want anybody knowing."

Wade did a mock salute. "Understood boss. By the way, thanks for the loan. A little work on the stock market and my parents will have quite a nest egg."

"No big, it's just what friends do."

"Later Ron." The screen winked out.

Mr. Barkin looked from the watch to Ron. "Was I imagining things or did the whiz kid just say you're worth eight billion dollars?"

"Keep it secret, The last time I was rich it totally went to my head. I'm sure you remember that. I've managed to keep a level head, but I'm sure having people pretending to be my friends would mess me up again."

"Very well, Let me know what kind of class you'd like to take and I'll take care of the paper work."

Ron grinned again. "What else, cooking."

Mr. Barkin shook his head. "Ron, I want you to take this seriously, don't just take a class that will be easy for you."

"Not at all Mr. B. What I did before was good, but I could be better, and it's something I really like. I want to become better at it."

"Okay, so long as you have a good reason. Now, if you don't mind, how did you get that much money?"

Ron smiled again. "Drakken used the money he stole from me to finance the Diablo scheme. Since my money was used to finance the takeover, the courts awarded ownership of Bueno Nacho to me. This is so cool, I'm only in high school and I own a multi-billion dollar company."

"Well, good for you Stoppable. Just make sure you don't let it go to your head."

"And if it does, I want you to knock some sense into me."

Barkin did something that was rare for him. He didn't just smile, he flat out grinned as big a smile as he could. It was quite eerie. "Get on then, I'll take care of the paperwork."

He opened the door and looked back at the teacher. "Thanks Mr. B. Let me know when I can start that class." Ron let the door close gently behind him.

He stood looking into his girlfriend's eyes.

"So what's the sitch Ron?"

"No big, Mr. Barkin was just telling me I can't graduate this year."

The look on Kim's face was as expected. "WHAT? You've got every credit you need so far. What do you mean you can't graduate."

Ron let out a good natured smile. "Relax KP, It's no big. Me and Barkin managed to set it up. I'm going to take a cooking course at Middleton University to make it up. It's all taken care of."

Kim gave him a look of concern. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it. Me and Mr. B. have it taken care of."

Ron gave her one of his reassuring smiles. "Sorry about the scare. Come on, we need to help Yori get ready for class."

"No need, We ran into Monique. She's taking care of it."

"Cool, so what's the point of us being early then?"

"None." Kim smiled at her Ron's reaction.

"Man, I could have stayed in bed for another half an hour."

She chuckled slightly. "Yeah, you could have. But just think of all the extra sleep you can get tonight." Kim's face changed to a look of thoughtfulness. "Ron?"

"Yeah."

"I'm quitting the squad."

Ron visibly jolted. "WHAT?"

"Just like I said, I'm quitting the squad." The look on Kim's face was one of complete seriousness.

"But you love being a cheerleader. Why are you quitting?"

"I'm tired of it Ron. I do too much, I just need more time."

"And you say this after three years. Why the sudden change of heart?"

The word that came out of her mouth were shocking for him. "Fiske."

"What does he have to do with this?" Ron barely disguised the venom in his voice at the sound of the name.

"When he caught me, all I could think of was that I'd never see you, my parents, or even the tweebs ever again. I'm still going to go on missions, but other than that, I'm giving up the squad, yearbook, dance commitee. All of it."

"I don't blame you. Guess they'll need to find a new mascot too."

Kim turned to him and frowned. "Ron, don't quit just because I am. That's just wrong."

Ron leaned over and kissed her lightly. "I'd have quit already, but I liked having the extra time around you. If you're not going to be there, then what's the point?"

Kim stared at her boyfriend with a look that said everything. She didn't know how she could have been so blind. How she never noticed the wonderful man who'd been by her side all these years she didn't know. "Are you sure Ron?"

"Of course I am. It also means more time for Bueno Nacho."

Kim groaned at Ron's joke.

"Was it something I said?"

Ron's head rested lightly on his locker. It was always like this on the first day. He simply wasn't prepared for school to start back up. Still he had to perk up. He knew that despite her decision, what Kim was about to do would be hard for her. He saw her walking toward the gym. He quickly fell into step beside her. "So, you ready for this?"

"Not even remotely, but I made up my mind and I'm doing it."

The rest of the squad was already there in their uniforms. Theysat casually on the bleachers and were quite surprised to see that Kim wasn't ready for practice.

Ron didn't feel the pressure she did. Kim had felt the need to inform the cheerleaders in person. Ron however had just told Mr. Barkin that he quit and left the costume he'd made two years previously with him.

Kim stood steadily in front of the group. She breathed deeply. "I've had a lot of fun as a cheerleader. But I'm done. Mostof you probably don't understand but I can't continue as your captain, or even as a member of this squad. I urge you to pick the next member of the team and the next captain wisely. That's all I wanted to say."

Kim turned to walk out of the gym and was followed by Ron. None of the girls in the gym followed. All were far too shocked by what had just transpired. As soon as Kim was out of the school's gymnasium she smiled. It had been easier than she thought. No tears, nobody asking her to come back, and Bonnie hadn't even gloated.

She perked up when she heard the Kimmunicator go off in her pocket. Across from her the same sound could be heard issuing from Ron's wrist.

Both moved at the same time and answered the call.

"What's up Wade?"

"What's the sitch?"

The boy with the soda stared at the split screen and smiled. "What? No sodas? We have a break in at a new building complex on the outskirts of Middleton. The owner wants you to check it out."

The two teens turned to smile at each other. It had been a while since they'd been on a mission.

"Send us the info. We'll take Ron's scooter."