Where Did the Time Go? : Part XLIV
Bonnie sat at one of the tables, quietly seething as the dance got under way. All week, leading up to the dance she had been looking forward to it but once she was there, all the old feelings came rushing back to her. She was uncomfortable and actually wanted to leave. She didn't want to go home and face her family, especially her two sisters who, in their turn, had ruled the roost on Prom night, each bringing home the cherished tiara of Prom Queen. Somehow she already knew she wasn't even in the running for it. No, too many things had happened to her to knock her standing in the 'food chain' and it was likely she knew who was on top.
For a while, after the principal had made her sit down and have it out with Kim, she had felt somewhat better. Then, slowly, she realized that all that had done was take the wind out of her sails, taking away all of her remaining weapons to use against her rival. Her lot in life had not improved one little bit only now she just didn't feel right doing any more than sending a well-deserved barb or two at the redhead and even that didn't seem to phase her. She had finally come to the realization that any attack from her would come off as petty, especially after Kim got her position on the yearbook and paper back for her.
Her 'date' only stuck with her for a few minutes before heading off into the room to mingle and the dance officially hadn't even started yet. The DJ was already playing some music and some of the early arrivals were dancing so in effect the party had already begun. She picked at a small selection of snacks, wishing she could go outside and light up. Even that was denied to her since she had been trying to quit and hadn't had one in more than a month. They weren't even in her purse since she didn't want to be tempted.
She perked up as the music quickly faded away, long before the cut was finished. A slight hush fell over the room and she had a good idea why. All eyes were on the clear glass doors that led out to the lobby. Even from her distant vantage point, she could tell who was approaching.
Three couples entered together, yet only one of them commanded the attention of the room. Bonnie's eyes rolled upwards as she tried to turn her attention away from the spectacle. Still, she found she had to watch. There was Monique Jenkins and that wheelchair boy. He used the articulated robot arms of his power chair to hold the door open so the rest could come in.
Tara Matthews and Josh Mankey were next. Bonnie felt a small pang of regret for her part in breaking that couple up last year, though she thought it was all for Tara's own good. Jason had been a decent match for her but the small blonde never was as happy as when she was going steady with the quiet artist. At least now they were back together and seemed happy, though Tara didn't speak to her as much any more.
There was a small round of applause as the last couple in the group came in. Last year they had arrived very late, hand in hand, a sign everyone still there took to mean they had finally realized what everyone else in the school knew. Bonnie had known it as well but couldn't quite fathom the why of it. "It finally happened, she's dating that loser. Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable are dating?"
A small smile crept across her lips. It had taken a long time but she finally realized Ron wasn't a loser. Kim still was, but he sure wasn't.
This time they weren't hand-in-hand. They each had their arms around the other's waist and it wasn't going to take his freaky little pet to shove the two of them together. This night they were as physically inseparable as their hearts apparently were.
Bonnie wondered for a moment where Ron had taken Kim to dinner before the dance. Probably one of the nicest places in all the Tri-Cities. Her own date had taken her to Muddrakker's, embarrassing her to tears. That place was fine for a run-of-the-mill date, but this was Prom night. Then again, maybe it wasn't so bad since nobody she knew had seen her arrive there in her violet dress, surrounded by families in normal street clothes.
Her mouth watered a bit thinking it possible he had even cooked for Kim. Even though the two of them had given her a terrible cold that kept her out of class for two days that small meal had been fantastic. Ron may have had no prowess in athletics but he was certainly far more talented than anyone ever gave him credit for.
Apparently their arrival was what Barkin had been waiting for. He took the stage where a small local band was setting up for later in the evening.
"Alright, People, listen up. Welcome to the Two Thousand Six Middleton High School Junior/Senior Prom. Before we get started, I would like to thank the Prom Committee for making this event possible."
Bonnie gritted her teeth at that, knowing for certain the Assistant Principal's words where completely intentional. It never occurred to her that it was simply the truth. The fact she had tried, almost successfully, to spike the whole event was furthest from her mind.
"Okay, so let's have some fun and remember to keep the PDA reasonable. After all, this is a school function. Now, dance!" The last was barked like it was an order as the music started once more. The vast majority of the crowd gravitated to the floor as the light dipped low. As usual, the music was upbeat, the energetic crowd getting into it.
Almost automatically Bonnie worked her way out onto the floor. Last year Brick had spent most of the dance just sitting and watching people and had to be dragged out there. Sometimes he could be such a lump.
That didn't matter. She spent the afternoon trying to call him. Unfortunately, after a couple hours of calling, all she managed to do was reach his roommate. The guy sounded distinctly uncomfortable, making her think he actually was there in his dorm and for some unknown reason didn't want to speak to her.
She put that in the back of her mind and sought out her date, dragging him out there. At least she would dance with him that night, though she was not relishing the thought of a slow dance with him. Fortunately, the first slow-dance was being saved for something special.
Perhaps not so fortunately. About a half hour into it, Tonya Welker, the class President took the stage. Bonnie had seen this ceremony twice how, having been brought as a date as a sophomore. It was something she had once figured to be almost a birthright. Now she only held onto a dim hope the Seniors hadn't all been bought in by 'Miss Perfect.'
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the distinct pleasure of announcing our Prom Queen for the class of Two Thousand and Six. This past week ballots have been circulated among the Seniors and I have with me the results." She started fiddling with the envelope. "Maybe it's me." She joked, getting a smattering of polite laughter.
Bonnie mouthed the name herself as it was read. "Kimberly Possible!"
She stalked back to her table as Kim took the stage to accept the tiara. She took solace knowing that was the last honor her rival could take from her. There were no more cheerleading competitions, talent shows, spirit sticks or any other kind of award left. There was always the possibility that Kim would also be valedictorian but at least in that Bonnie knew she was never quite in the running for that.
She sat at the table, not able to take her eyes off the couple as they danced like a pair of old-school movie stars. That was supposed to be her out there in the spotlight. It didn't take long for their formal dance steps to become slower, their bodies getting closer. The moment was coming she somehow dreaded, though she still could not look away. It was a repeat of the final dance last year as the young lover's lips met.
Other couples joined them on the dance floor, all holding each other close in a dance that looked more like a sea of loving embraces. Bonnie looked at the guy who brought her, off chatting with his friends over by the snack table where Barkin loomed, ensuring nobody put anything untoward in the punch bowl and keeping a watchful eye on that nasty little rat-thing of Ron's so he wouldn't consume everything before the rest of them had a chance to have something.
She stayed there for several more tracks and almost didn't realize somebody was speaking to her.
"Bonnie? Would you care to dance?"
For a moment she didn't look up, but when she did she realized Ron was standing there with his hand out toward her.
"Ron? I don't know. Isn't this supposed to be Kim's night?"
"Yeah. Doesn't mean I can't dance with my other friends. Besides, she's out there dancing with Mankey right now. Come on, it's not like it's a slow dance or anything."
"You sure?"
"You bet. Looks like you could use a little Ron-shine. Let's dance." He held out his hand again.
Hesitantly she took it. His hand was warm and strong but surprisingly gentle. For a moment she allowed herself to think he was there for her and in a way, she was right.
Kim sat down to take a little breather, setting the tiara down on the table. Dancing with Josh had been fun but he was back dancing with Tara again. She smiled happily, watching Ron bobbing and weaving out on the floor. It didn't even bother her that he was dancing with Bonnie, who for the first time that evening was actually smiling.
There seemed to be a kind of freedom associated with knowing that, though he was dancing with other girls and having a good time doing it, in the end he would always come back to her. He was happy and gracious when Josh asked for a dance and immediately went to seek out her former rival.
Just as long as the slow-dances were saved for her and her alone.
She still couldn't get over how good he looked and it wasn't all that spankin new tux either. It was like somebody had thrown a switch, changing him in an instant from a boy to a man. She let out a little sigh that was lost in the pounding beat of the music knowing he was her man and would be for life.
The dance track changed but she kept her seat. A small crowd was starting to form around Ron who was probably starting to show off some of his fancier dance moves. She spotted Tara and Hope gyrated nearby, their dates hanging back to watch.
I wonder what it would have been like if it was Ron who took me to the Spirit Week Dance back at the beginning of their Sophomore year? She leaned on her elbow, mentally replacing Josh with Ron. Back then he was shorter than her, clumsy as all get out and she would freely admit he was kind of a dork. It was felt incredibly good she had fallen in love with that dork before he actually grew up. That was the surest sign that what they had was real, not just some crush because he was a hottie. Sure, he still had big ears, tripped over his own feet from time to time and could eat like a cave man coming off a hunger strike, but she loved all of it.
Looking around the room, she tried to spot some of her other friends. Monique was off alone with Felix, patiently waiting for the next slow dance. It was very likely the two would leave the Prom early and head for his home since they had given her the key to the room they had rented that night. The two were as lost in each other as she was with Ron and that made her quite happy. Those two certainly deserved each other.
Kim tried picking out the rest of the cheer squad, realizing that besides Hope, Tara and Bonnie the others were too young and might not be there. Phoebe she knew wouldn't, considering her boyfriend was a sophomore and it didn't seem likely tiny little Marie would be either. Finally she spotted Danika, dancing with that Chad guy she had been dating for as long as she could remember. She was dressed in some kind of Asian style dress. It was shining red with either Chinese or Japanese characters etched in gold, with three quarter length black sleeves and black leggings beneath. It was good she was wearing the leggings, since the split must have gone all the way up to her waist.
Okay, that was quite enough. It was time for Ron to dance with her some more. Pretty soon they would play a slow song again.
"Kim Possible?"
She looked up at the source of the voice, her mouth dropping open.
The man who had spoken was tall, over six feet. He was dressed, not in a tuxedo but a finely crafted Italian suit that probably cost as much as her father's beloved Jaguar. His neatly coifed hair framed dark, chiseled features and startlingly nice blue eyes.
"Junior?" She almost couldn't get her mouth to work. "What on Earth are you doing here?"
"I wanted to speak with you, to tell you something." He sat down beside her, not taking his eyes off her still shocked face.
"Listen, Junior, whatever you and your father are planning, can't it wait until after tonight?"
He shook his head, looking slightly distraught. "No. Father is not here. In fact he does not know I am here."
"Then what are you doing here?" She repeated.
"I wanted to tell you, I am no longer part of Father's plans to take over the world for his evil purposes. That was never my intention. I only wanted to be an international pop star."
"I'm glad to hear it Junior, but couldn't that have waited until after this?"
"No it could not." He glanced around, as if his nerves were getting the better of him. "Did you get the present I sent you?"
"Present? What are…oh, you mean the music? That was you?" She realized she had completely forgotten about the CD she found in her room.
"Yes. Did you not know my first name is Esteban?"
She frowned. "Actually no. I've only ever known you as Junior." She thought furiously. "Did it occur to you that I don't speak Spanish? I had no idea what any of that meant, though it didn't sound bad."
"My producers said I sound better signing in my own language. Something about cleaning up the tracks or something. I do not understand such things. You say you liked it? Perhaps I can sign them to you in English if you like."
"Uh, that's okay, Junior. Listen, they're starting a slow song, I want to go dance with Ron."
He motioned for her to sit. "Please, just for a few minutes, please listen to what I have to say."
She noticed Ron heading for the table. "Alright, Junior, just make it quick."
"Kim Possible, I am in love with you." He said with all earnestness.
"You what?" Her mouth hung open again.
He looked away from her. "I have known this for some time. Ever since I learned you were my soul mate."
"Whoa there, Esteban." She said, using his given name for the first time. "Just because that silly game said I was a blue fox and you were…whatever it was you were supposed to be."
"A yellow trout." He supplied.
Kim looked past him, realizing Ron was right there listening intently to the conversation.
"It doesn't matter. The proof that thing was dead wrong is right here." She took Ron's hand. "I didn't need some greechy little commercial test to find him. Junior, there's no way you can love me. You don't even know me that well."
"But I do…" He started to get up until Ron put a hand on his shoulder.
"Dude. Kim. Girlfriend. Mine." He said quietly with a dangerous edge to his voice.
Junior sat back down. "I know this and an respect it. I know what I feel cannot be returned, but my heart has guided me here tonight so I could tell you this. Kim Possible, I do know you. I have studied everything about you. Not a day goes by that I do not think about you. It rips my heart in two that…"
"Okay, that's just about enough out of you, bub." Ron said, his eyes flaring just a little bit.
Kim put a restraining hand on Ron's arm.
Junior nodded. "Ron Stoppable, I said I respect what the two of you have. What I feel for Kim Possible is what the two of you feel for each other. I have said what I needed to say and I will leave the two of you. You need not fear me any longer as I no longer follow my Father's path."
He pulled a small box about three inches square out and put it on the table. "Allow me to give you this one gift. It is a token of my affection. Please take it and I will willingly depart."
"Junior, I don't know." Kim began, eyeing the package. It was wrapped just as before in shiny sky blue paper, this time with a white ribbon.
"Listen, Dude, this is so not cool." Ron was clearly getting more and more upset.
"It's okay, Ron. Let's just see what this is and let him go, okay?"
He merely nodded, putting a possessive hand on Kim's shoulder. Kim put her hand over his for a moment and reached for the box. She looked a Junior for a moment, noticing that Danika was standing nearby, staring at the large Spaniard.
Carefully she took the ribbon off the box and started picking apart the wrapping. She pursed her lips as she opened the box, removing the white tissue paper inside. Looking inside, her own eyes got hard. Then she looked back up at Junior.
"Is this some kind of sick joke?" She threw the box onto the table where it bounced a couple times before coming to rest.
"No, I assure you, it is not a joke. Why are you upset?"
"Why am I upset?" She grabbed the box once more and reached inside, pulling out the small red and black object, throwing it on the table as she had done the box. "You said you know all about me. If that's true then you know what those things almost did." She growled, pointing at the small plastic toy sitting there.
"That is not what was supposed to be in there. It was supposed to be a small gold fox." He pleaded.
Kim picked it up holding it about an inch from her nose. "Take a good look, Junior, that's not a fox. That's one of those blasted Little Diablos Drakken used when he tried taking over the world last year." She threw it down on the table, not caring that it bounced off onto the floor.
Pointing toward the entrance, she almost shouted. "I think you should leave!"
He got up and started backing away. Kim bared her teeth as she pointed at the door once more.
"Uh, Kim." Ron said, tapping her on the shoulder.
"Not now, Ron, I'm about to start kicking some Spanish biscuit." She took a step toward the large man. She knew he wasn't much of a fighter but that wasn't going to matter. She was in a mood to do some damage.
"Kim." Ron said softly, grabbing her shoulder and pointing toward the floor.
"What?" She shouted until she noticed what he was pointing at.
Blue sparks surrounded the little plastic toy. Her eyes got wide as she realized what was going on. It wasn't just a replica, it was a real Little Diablo robot…
…and it was active.
As if it were alive it suddenly righted itself, stepping out into the open in its strange little robot walk. Before she could utter another sound it started growing as the Haephaestus technology used the very air around it to add to its structure. In fits and starts it changed from a cute little cartoon devil into a hulking robot armed with deadly weapons.
She wasn't aware of the screaming around her or that Junior was running away as fast as his feet could carry him. The dance and everything was forgotten as she faced off the red and black devil robot.
The chest section changed, forming a screen. It came to life with Señor Senior Senior staring down at her.
"Greetings and salutations Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable. Allow me to apologize for my son. It seems he has lost his way and it is up to me to put him on the proper path of villainy once more. I trust you shall enjoy his little gift."
With that, the robot extended its arm. Before Kim could leap away, dragging Ron with her they were both enveloped in green energy. Instead of being blasted to atoms, they found themselves trapped in some kind of force field. Turning, the robot extended its other arm, blasting a large hole in the ceiling of the ballroom, causing the disco ball to come crashing down.
They could only watch helplessly as the rockets in its legs fired, carrying them upwards toward the new exit.
Ron grabbed Kim's shoulder and pointed toward the robot as they cleared the opening, heading into the night sky.
She realized immediately what he was pointing at. Right at the waist junction of the thing hung another Prom guest. Instantly Kim knew exactly who it was.
"Danika, let go. Don't try being a hero, you'll get yourself killed!" Kim screamed, though she had no idea if her voice would carry through the force field.
The blonde cheerleader looked up at them. They were already too high for her to release her grip. They watched helplessly as the girl tried to hang on. She looked up at them, her teeth gritted in grim determination.
Then her dress started changing. It was a fast change, just like Kim's formal black dress she had once worn to Falsetto Jones' dog show. The red over-dress was absorbed into the body of the black suit as it extended over the girl's feet and hands. A hood came up, protecting her face and head.
Despite the desperation of their current sitch, both of them realized in an instant that Danika Foster was the Vigilante Ninja.
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