Shocked

Disclaimer: Just… no, you know the drill by this point.

Chapter Ten: Back to Earth

Ron's POV

Ron was as scared as he had ever been, and for a man whose normal day included among other things, fighting genetically enhanced English lords, crazy golfers, and blue skinned mad scientists, that was saying something. Ron was huddled in chemistry class at the moment, sitting between Bonnie and Kim who were glaring over his hunched shoulders at each other.

When the chem. Teacher had called a class project last week and declared that the class could pick their own partners, Ron had felt his arms pulled in opposite directions before the words were even fully out of the teachers mouth.

Ron had been stuck like that for some time, with Kim holding onto one arm and Bonnie holding onto the other both unwilling to give up their claim on Ron as her partner, and Ron unwilling to pick one for fear of the wrath of the other.

Finally though the teacher had discovered that there were in fact an odd number of students and there would need to be a group of three, Kim and Bonnie's hands shot up before anyone else could even think to.

So Ron found himself hunched between Kim and Bonnie, trying to measure out things he couldn't even begin to pronounce while waiting for the storm between the two women to either side of him to break. Ever since Kim had gotten back from what Monique had termed Wonderland a week ago, Ron's life had gotten much more complicated, and with the dance right before spring break rapidly approaching it was only going to get worse.

Ron knew they were waiting for him to ask one of them to break their little deadlock but Ron's problem was that he didn't know which one to ask. Kim going out with Josh had forced him to endure some changes in the nature of his feelings for her, Ron paused briefly to congratulate himself on such a complicated thought.

On the other hand though, he had gotten to know Bonnie very well over the last 6 months and he would be lying to say he wasn't attracted to the brunette. Ron covered up a groan as he was forced back to the real world realizing he had run out of clean test tubes, he'd have to ask Kim to go grab more but he couldn't till he ran out of something he'd have to ask Bonnie go grab more of, asking one but not the other was a risk he wasn't prepared to take.

Ron started working on grinding up the powders he was going to have to pour into his test tubes, hopefully he'd run out of something here and he could ask Bonnie to get that. 10 minutes later it seemed like someone had heard his silent prayers because he ran out of sodium. Kim and Bonnie almost ran off to get their materials, almost like they were competing even over that.

Ron put his arms on the table and slumped his head till it rested on them, he wanted to go to sleep but the idea of detention if caught didn't appeal to him, instead he looked about mildly envious of how un-complicated the other student's lives were.

Then a rare moment of brilliance struck him, he saw Bonnie and Kim neck and neck walk past Tara in their nonsensical race and he had his answer. Tara didn't have a date to the dance, Tara wasn't Bonnie or Kim, Tara was just a friend and would buy him some breathing space to figure out Bonnie and Kim, Tara looked to Ron like the most beautiful thing ever right then.

As Bonnie and Kim nearly leapt into their seats to beat the other to some goal only they could understand, Ron started working again fervently hoping that his moment of brilliance wouldn't desert him.

Bonnie's POV

Bonnie was just plain irked, Kim's return to the real world had turned her own world upside down. She had no idea what Ron had said to Kim at that lab, but whatever it was she knew it had only very slightly dampened Kim's hostility to the idea of her being on the team and that it was by the graces of Ron and Wade more than anything that Kim hadn't kicked her out.

That though was the least of Bonnie's worries as she walked towards lunch glaring at Kim behind Ron's back. Kim's return had forced Bonnie to admit that she did indeed like Ron as more than friends, but Kim seemed to have come to that same conclusion and now Bonnie couldn't get any time alone with Ron who seemed to sense the hostility between the two and was being very careful to not get either of them riled up.

Unwittingly, Ron got in line right behind a person in the lunch line leaving Bonnie and Kim to compete to get right next to Ron, Bonnie managed to get the coveted spot and she shot a snarky grin at Kim. It was pointless, childish, and entirely silly Bonnie knew, but that didn't erase the satisfaction of beating Kim even if she had abandoned her larger plan entirely.

Kim glared back at Bonnie, Bonnie's glee went still higher and with a quick glance to make sure Ron couldn't see she stuck her tongue out at Kim. Bonnie watched in sheer pleasure as Kim bristled but then had the unfortunate experience of having lunch served to her.

Both she and Kim stood right next to Ron as the poor guy tried to find a place to sit in the ridiculously crowded cafeteria. Bonnie and Kim were so busy making sure the other didn't do anything that they didn't notice Felix and Monique walk up to Ron and they stood there as the three walked towards a nearly empty table.

The two ladies finally noticed something was amiss as Tara sat down next to Monique leaving only one seat next to Ron at the 6 person table, they glared at each other and then took off across the cafeteria dodging students and shoving when necessary.

Bonnie once again was triumphant as she slid into the seat next to Ron just ahead of Kim who scowled and sat down next to Tara. Bonnie knew this was getting ridiculous her and Kim's competition, but winning was just too much fun and besides, stopping now would all but give Ron to Kim and Bonnie wouldn't let that happen over her cold dead body.

"Hey ladies," Ron said noticing them at last, then turning back to Felix, "Ok I've got another one. Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer, too bad he's never cried."

As he and Felix dissolved into laughter, Monique leaned over to Kim and Bonnie and quietly said, "Chuck Norris jokes, how much stupider can men get?"

"There's always Dr. Drakken," Bonnie said to which Monique nodded agreement.

"Speaking of Dr. Drakken," Kim said. Bonnie noticed this caused Ron and Felix to stop telling Chuck Norris jokes and pay attention, "Bonnie I think the next time a mission comes up with Dr. Drakken you should sit it out, for your safety of course."

Bonnie couldn't help but sigh that Kim wasn't giving this up, Ron and Wade had already talked to her and made it clear that they expected Bonnie to keep going on missions for as long as she wanted to but it looked like Kim was taking their silly little competition to a not so silly level.

Bonnie noticed Ron pull the Kimmunicator out of his pocket and call Wade, "Hey Ron," the super genius said before he saw Kim and Bonnie glaring at each other, after that he sat back quietly and waited for what came next.

Remembering something Ron had told her during the talk after their fight, Bonnie decided to be nice to Kim and see if it did indeed drive her crazy.

"Kim," Bonnie made sure her voice was impeccably polite, "I appreciate that you're so concerned about me, but I can handle myself and I'd never forgive myself if you or Ron were hurt because I wasn't there to help."

Watching Kim stew after her remark, Bonnie could barely contain her joy, Kim though was not to be deterred so easily it seemed.

"I know you think you've seen a lot of stuff filling in on missions," to Bonnie's delight Kim's voice was laced with irritation, "but it's nothing compared to everything Ron and I have seen, and I just worry you'd go into shock at something and you'd get hurt, and I just couldn't let that happen."

Surprisingly enough it was Monique who jumped to Bonnie's defense first, "Look Kim I've seen some pretty weird stuff myself since I've come here and I've never gone into shock over it, Bonnie's got way more experience with this stuff than I do so I think she's up there with you and Ron for what she can take."

Bonnie held in check a giggle at Kim's look of betrayal by telling herself that taking joy in her misery wouldn't endear her to Ron and she didn't dare interrupt Kim while she was sticking her foot in her mouth.

"Yeah," Wade sounded from the Kimmunicator, "I've sent Ron and Bonnie on missions that were just as bad as anything I sent the two of you on and Bonnie handled herself just fine. The only thing that got to her was clowns which I can totally understand."

Kim looked plain frustrated as she ground out, "I'm just trying to look out for Bonnie here, I mean I'm just worried she might be shocked still by something and get hurt."

Bonnie hated to think of herself like this but it was true that she almost swooned when Ron spoke up in her defense,

"KP, Bonnie's been through everything that Monkey Fist, Killigan, Dementor, and Drakken can throw at her. I don't think there's anything that can really shock her anymore."

And then Kim did something truly unexpected, she quirked an eyebrow at Ron as if to say, 'oh really?' and then she turned, grabbed Tara by either side of the face, and before the blonde knew what was going on Kim was kissing her full on the lips.

Bonnie would admit she was shocked and Monique looked much the same, but it was nothing compared to the guys, Ron and Wade fell back out of their chairs in what Bonnie took to be a repeat of something they had called the 'moodulator incident,' Felix fell back much the same but was prevented from crashing to the floor by his wheelchair.

Then it was over, Kim pulled back from Tara, who was left sitting completely still from shock. She looked over at Bonnie with a grin and said, "Shocked enough Bonnie?" Before grabbing her backpack and marching out of the cafeteria.

Kim's POV

Kim marched out of the cafeteria feeling quite satisfied, that was definitely one up on Bonnie and it should show everyone who was defending Bonnie that she wasn't cut out for missions if she could in fact be shocked like that.

So self-satisfied was Kim that she didn't notice Monique stalk up behind her, grab her by the shoulder, and spin her around to fix Kim with a glare that even she found to be scary.

"What was that girl?" Kim was honestly puzzled at what had Monique so irate, Monique obviously saw this in Kim's blank stare because she went on, "Tell me you are not back to normal Kim because I don't believe it."

"But…" Kim stuttered, "I am back to normal, no weeping over Josh, I'm having a healthy rivalry with Bonnie."

"And making out with Tara is normal," Monique deadpanned, "because if it is then all I can say is why didn't you tell me earlier because I don't care who you go out with I'll still stick up for you, but I don't think it is and Kim you need to get yourself back to Earth because you have not climbed out of your rabbit hole yet if you think that was normal."

Kim gawked at Monique, "That wasn't anything special, just proving that Bonnie can't handle missions, not that she can be trusted anyway."

Monique slapped her forehead before saying very slowly, "Girl listen and listen well, Bonnie is not the bad guy and she's going on missions whether you like it or not. And even if Bonnie were still the bad guy she would never have planted one on Ron like you did Tara just to get at you. Oh and since Ron collapsed from his chair in shock I guess that means he can't handle missions either."

Kim just sputtered, "But… but… that's not how it's supposed to work."

Monique went on much more calmly, "Look Kim, when you get home talk to your mom or whoever it is you talk to when you need to fix yourself. Then when you're really back from Wonderland you'll realize Ron's still your best friend and nothing Bonnie does can change that."

Kim groaned in frustration, "I don't have time to get grounded again, I can not let Bonnie trick Ron into asking her to the spring dance."

Monique laughed at that much to Kim's annoyance, "Kim you have all the time in the world then, Ron's not going to ask you or Bonnie to the spring dance, he's going to ask Tara. Felix figured it all out, Ron can't ask you or Bonnie because the other would kill him. Tara is both your friends and it keeps either of you from cornering him and making him take you to the dance. It's prom you care about, so go girl, get back to Earth and then try one upping Bonnie."

Kim started to feel like her old self again as she said, "So I really didn't need to kiss Tara like that did I?"

"I don't know," Monique laughed some more, "it was pretty funny to see Ron go crashing like that, and the look on Tara's face was priceless."

"Monique!" Kim gasped as they started walking down the halls. Kim would go have a nice talk with her mom tonight and be in top form well before time to make sure it was her Ron asked to prom and not Bonnie.

Ron's POV

Ron knew all too well now just how Wade had felt when Kim was stuck with the Moodulator on her, a dim corner of his mind supposed that later on it might be funny but for now he was working on not being shocked still by the memory of seeing Kim plant one on Tara like that.

Speaking of Tara, Ron needed to find her in a hurry because he didn't know where Kim and Bonnie were and if one of them cornered him now it would mean serious trouble.

He finally found her sitting on the bleachers outside by the football field staring off into space.

"Hey Tara," he said sitting down next to her.

"Hey Ron," she absently replied.

"So I was wondering," he started stuttering.

Tara though seemed to know where he was going and cut him off, "Yes I'll go to the spring dance with you."

"But…" Ron sputtered, "I haven't even asked, I mean, how?"

Tara started laughing softly, "Oh come on Ron it was obvious, you can't ask Bonnie or Kim, you're terrified one of them is going to make you ask them, so you need to ask someone they can both let you go with. And I'm both their friend, I'm just your friend, I'm actually surprised it took Kim's little," she blushed lightly, "display in the cafeteria to get you out here."

Ron nervously joined the laughter as he said, "Yeah, about that, I actually just thought of it today. But you've got to admire my turnaround time, and that I used the word turnaround!"

Tara laughed softly, "Just promise me one thing,"

"Yeah?" Ron questioned,

"Kim and Bonnie each get a dance," Tara said as she looked him right in the eye.

Ron gulped and nodded thinking that his idea to ask Tara might not have been such a brilliant one after all.

AN: Hooray! I'm back under 3,000 words in this chapter. And it turns out it was a good thing I had this done early because a friend of mine turned 21 Tuesday, not much writing was done. And I would like to warn everyone, I am moving up to CSU this weekend and while it will be my first priority I cannot guarantee internet on Monday. So if nothing shows up on Monday Ch 11 will instead be up next Friday. Till next time hope you enjoyed this chapter.