Disclaimer: Kim Possible is owned by the great rat godling. I seek to set her free on wings of my imagination.
-
Are we ready for another chapter? I hope so. To comment on something that has been asked by more than one person: Ronald –speak is not hard, nor does it give me a headache to write. In fact, in my head that is how I talk from time to time, though most of the time when I try to have it come out is sounds instead of, 'My dear, you are as a lovely flower wafting upon the gentle uplifting breeze of spring,' it sounds more like, 'Gawrsh, you shure are purty.' It is not that I can't speak forsoothly, or speak trippingly from the tongue, both of which I can do on stage, or any other performance, even improve, but to add someone that I am directly trying to talk to, that I want to like me, for what ever reason, the nerves and anxiety short circuit the tongue and jaw muscles.
Anyway, with the rant out of the way, it is time for Ronald and Justine to arrive at school…
-
Ronald looked again at the pocket watch before replacing it to its place in his front left slacks pocket. His right foot tapped the concrete surface impatiently. A scowl formed upon his brow. Other students moved away from him by instinct alone, and there was a collective sigh when they saw a blond figure start down the sidewalk.
"You are late," came the sullen words from his mouth
Looking Ronald up and down with a slight smirk Justine said to him, "Five minutes is not enough time to agonize over; it is well within the allotted deviation for the trip, but thank you for caring for me."
"I find it too difficult not to care for you, my sweet Justine." Ron paused and looked closer at his friend. The sloped shoulders and the inexpressive eyes showed her true countenance. "Would you like to talk about your session last night?"
"It was about forgiveness," she said without the bitterness that she thought she would have used. "Apparently I have made some progress on that front, but now comes the truly hard part," she looked up at Ronald. "Not only do I need to forgive him, but those that I hold dear need to forgive him also. You know what that means don't you, Ronald?"
Ronald's hands clenched and unclenched rapidly, "You know how I feel of this. I did not find the judiciaries' liberal leanings to be of sufficient a punishment for what he did," he said in a whispered hiss.
"Be that as it may, Ronald, we can only directly control the present, and influence the future, there is nothing that we can do to change the past. Could you not try to do this for me? Did you not say that…?"
Ronald crossed his arms and turned to sulk, "Do not remind me of my words, I know full well what I have said, and I meant them. Plus, as you know I do not go back on them."
"Then we will work on the forgiveness?"
Ron sighed and relaxed his posture, "You did say one thing incorrect, my belle. There is something that we can do to change the past."
Justine's eyes grew large, "NO! I will not allow you to even proceed with that thought Ronald S Stoppable."
"I build my kinetic capacitor last night, and it does work. With slight changes it could store other type of energy."
Justine nodded, "I noticed the possibility of that in your calculations."
"Say if one would store magnetic flux, then…"
"No, Ronald, that is even far to out there, even for you," pleaded the blond.
"But, Justine," implored Ronald, "one jaunt through the temporal pathways, and the problems of today are over."
Justine placed her hand on Ronald's cheek, "No, Ronald, there is too much that could change that you didn't mean to change. Besides, the more that I forgive myself, the closer I get to my old self, and the closer that I feel I can be with others. If you do not feel that you can forgive him for yourself then forgive him for me," she paused and looked deep into his brown eyes. "Forgive him for us," she said, placing her thumb onto his lips.
Ron was shocked by what Justine had just told him, and he did the one thing that he could think of doing; he kissed her thumb. She slowly moved her hand away from his face. "Ronald, I don't want to give you false hope, nor do I wish to limit your proclivities, but I still look forward to the day when I can say to you what I want to say."
Justine looked at the time on her watch and nodded to Ronald, "I need to head on in. I promised Missus Fiser that I would look over her lesson plans for the accelerated class. Plus, I believe it is time for you to continue your 'experiment'."
"Yes, I suppose you are right," sighed Ron.
"If the experiment excites you so little…"
"It is not that, but what you have brought to the fore, that vexes me currently. Though it vexes, it holds great promise. For that reason, I find it hard to leave your side."
"Leave, oh unselfish selfish knight, so that you may approach me again."
Ronald flashed his roguish smile at her, "That, my goddess of beauty and intelligence, I can guarantee that."
-
As Ronald approached a now familiar table, there was an unmistakable difference. Instead of three females at the table, there was only one, and it was not one of them that he expected. "Miss Rockwaller, I trust today finds you well."
Bonnie gave him a predatory smile, "Yes it does."
"May I inquire as to where your companions are today? I hope that they are not ill so early in the school year."
"No, I asked them to go on to class."
"Ah, and you knew that would give you a chance to speak with me alone," Ronald nodded to an empty chair, "May I?"
Bonnie nodded, "Please."
Settling into the chair, Ronald turned his full attention to the girl in front of him. "May I ask to what purpose is this audience?"
"Why, it is simple, Stoppable. For us to get to know each other better and to know where we stand," she said with a smile. It was a smile that Ronald knew all too well, it was the feminine mirror of his own vulpine smile.
Ronald returned the smile, at what seemed to be turning out to be a worthy opponent. "My dear, Miss Rockwaller, where we stand, depends on where we sit."
Bonnie released a forced chuckle at the un-attempt at humor. "Stoppable, we," she motioned a circle around the table indicating where Kim and Tara would normally be located, "are at the apex of the social food chain, while you and your friend languish in the middle." She paused and looked into his eyes, "Possibly the upper middle, to lower upper, depending on whom it is you are dealing with. You have a certain amount of respect and fear from East; that works for you. My question is this, what do you want?"
"My dear Miss Rockwaller, I want no more than this, to be given my own leave to do as I wish, as long as it doesn't upset the apple cart too much. There in may be a problematic situation from time to time, but shouldn't provide too much of an issue. I do not care about social standing, as long it does not prevent me from my studies, both private and scholastic, and it does not lend itself to having to deal with repercussions to those that would prey upon me and mine. I am sure that we can come to a mutually agreed upon compromise. I am sure that with a few words to the right people we can help each other."
"So, you just want to be left alone, then why this guise of liking Tara?"
Ronald leaned in close, "Why my dear Bonnie, who said it was a guise? Miss Starling, as well as Miss Possible and yourself are indeed quite aesthetically pleasing, and intellectually stimulating in different aspects. Though I must say that the reason that I noticed your little cadre was that you simply moved in and assumed control of our grade. Now, all actions have an equal and opposite reaction, even in social situations, so I merely provided the balancing force.
"If I am allowed to hypothesize, I would say that the three of you have had words with each other like you haven't had before. Let this serve as a warning. I also was curious as to what Miss Starling brought to your triumvirate, now that I have my hypothesis, I find myself having enjoyed the conversations with both Miss Starling and Miss Possible, and now yourself."
Bonnie just looked at the boy, "So, you are saying that you want to hang out with us?"
"Hang out, only in the sense that I wish to converse you the three of you in your respective areas. I can be highly helpful at times, and I can and do bake wonderful things."
"Are you trying to bribe me with cookies?"
Ronald chuckled, "Cookies, pies, French Silk Chocolate Cloud Cake... all these and more could be yours. Plus, when was the last time that you had someone that you could have verbal repartee that was on the same level as yourself?"
Bonnie smirked as she stood up. "Would you be so kind as to walk me to my class?"
"Miss Rockwaller, it would be a singular honor."
-
Ronald stopped outside of Bonnie's class, "Here you are milady, safely arrived at your destination."
"Why thank you, Ronald. I wish that there was something that I could do to thank you," she said looking at him with a judging look.
"Actually, Bonnie, there is something that you could do..."
-
After classes were over, Ronald and Justine found Big Mike and Vinnie. After seeing Vinnie to the Fine Art's room for the Speech Club meeting, Ron led Big Mike to the Gym. Upon arriving, he waved towards Bonnie. The cheerleader nodded to him, and then finished her stretch and then stood up. Ron watched her, while Big Mike was able to let out a whoa.
"Yes, my friend, quite a fine work of the feminine form, is she not? But, of no concern right now. Head in the game time, as the saying goes," conceded Ronald.
"Ronald," said Bonnie as she reached him and held out her hand.
Ronald took the hand and briefly kissed it, "Bonnie, have you been able to arrange what I asked."
"I have," nodded Bonnie. "Coach Nelson was quite interested in meeting your friend."
"What's she talking about, Ronald?" asked the large preteen.
"I asked Miss Rockwaller if she would make introductions for us to the coach of the wrestling team. It seems that he is quite interested in meeting you."
Bonnie nodded and led the two over to where the wrestling team was warming up. The perceived Coach Nelson, the only adult manning the practice, noticed the three a they crossed the gymnasium floor. Coach Nelson blew his whistle and brought the practice to a halt. He looked at Ron and snorted, then he looked at Big Mike and his jaw dropped, slightly quicker than he himself did to his knees.
Ron stood in front of the coach, "Excuse me, Sir, but are you well?"
"Well? If he is wanting to wrestle, then I am doing fan-fu... er, fantastic." He stood up and went to Big Mike, "Son, are you wanting to wrestle?"
"Uh, yes sir. Ronald thinks that I might be good in it. I would need help in knowing what to do."
"That we can train you on, son. How are your grades?" asked the coach.
"Well..." started Big Mike.
"I assure you, Coach Nelson, Sir, that with my personal attention to Mister Mikowski's education, that his non-passing won't be your concern."
"Is that so? You bring me a ringer, and guarantee him passing? What are you going to do? Ask for my soul?" chuckled the coach.
"Nothing so messy, I merely am looking out for my fellow man. Mister Mikowski needs a focus in his life, I am merely trying to help him find his place."
"He can have a place here as long as he wants."
-
Leaving Big Mike in the coach's capable hands, Ron bid goodbye to Bonnie, Kim and Tara, and then sought out Justine. He went to Missus Fiser's room and found Justine sitting at the teacher's desk. It looked as she was going over calculations on an overhead transparency. Ron then saw the young teacher standing just over her shoulder. "Justine, that is more than enough. I thank you for your help, but I don't want to burn you out so early in the school year," said the tall woman.
Ronald could see Justine look up and smile, she actually smiled, at the teacher. Ron stopped in time, and let memories roll back over him. Memories of a happy Justine and the two of them together giggling over the simplest discovery. Ron sighed, which brought the attention of the two towards him.
"Ronald, is Big Mike all situated with the wrestling team?" asked the blond regaining her normal somber demeanor.
Ronald's hopes started to fail, "Yes, he seemed to be enjoying himself when I left. And it seems that you were enjoying yourself also, please don't stop on my account." Ron stowed himself in a desk in front of Justine.
He saw Justine smile again, this time not as much, but it was still there, plus she turned away with a blush on her cheeks.
"Don't get to comfortable, Mister Stoppable, Miss Flanners was just finishing up." Justine turned to protest, "Tut, tut, Miss Flanners, I was serious about the not burning you out this early in the year. I enjoy your company, and appreciate your help, but you are still a student and need your time away from school as well as time here. Do you think you can help me tomorrow?"
Justine's countenance fell once again, "I am sorry, Miss Fiser, but I have appointments every Tuesday and Thursday."
"Well, then, we will just have to make it Mondays and Wednesdays, then won't we?"
Justine smiled up at her again and nodded, "Yes, we will."
"Now why don't you two go and try not to get in too much trouble."
"You don't have to worry about me getting into trouble, Ronald on the other hand..."
"I take offense at that!" said Ronald standing up.
"And you will let it drop at but a word," observed Justine.
Ron smiled at her, "Only at a word from you."
Justine nodded, gathered her books and walked to Ron, looked at her books, and then to him again. Sighing, Ronald took her books and she walked out of the door and into the hall, being followed by Ronald.
