Four Friends Chapter 8
Kim and Ron visibly squirmed in their seats, struggling to remain attentive during the final moments of this, their last class of the day. United States History was never a very exciting subject on a Friday afternoon, but it was especially not so this particular Friday, when they were scheduled to leave on a weekend ski trip.
The two teens never accepted payment for anything that they did but they would accept favors. It just so happened that the first mission Josh and Tara joined them on earned all four a weekend at the swankiest ski lodge in the area.
The forecast was for snow on Mount Upperton, so it looked like the trip would not be a bust. Josh was in Art for his last class of the day and Tara was in English. They were to meet at their lockers, then head to the front of the school, where their ride was to pick them up.
So far, none of their teachers had assigned any homework for Monday. They had their fingers crossed that they could get through this class with no assignments. Then they would be free for the whole weekend and not have to worry about coming back early to get the work done or taking it with them to do while they were gone.
Ron glanced at his watch; five more minutes and class would be over.
Their teacher, Mrs. Easton, their History teacher, noticed Ron's movement and cleared her throat to get the attention of the class. All eyes were now riveted on her.
Mrs. Easton was notorious for stacking on major weekend projects that required a lot of reading and a lot of research. Her hand reached into "the homework drawer" as many students had come to call it. Twenty-five sets of eyes closed in despair. Two heads went down onto their desks. She paused for a moment, and then with a smile closed the drawer.
"No, I think I will hold off this weekend. I believe there are two students in here going on a trip this weekend, and I believe they deserve a break. Soooo… all of you can thank Kim and Ron for no project this weekend."
Kim and Ron's heads jerked up from their desks to stare at their now grinning teacher. The class cheered at the same moment that the bell went off.
"Kim. Ron. That little girl you saved was my niece. My younger sister told me what you two did with help from Josh and Tara. As I said, all four of you deserve a break this weekend. Now, get moving! I know that Josh and Tara are waiting. B-U-T-T…"
Everyone stopped cheering and froze in their places.
Mrs. Easton smiled her teacher smile. "…expect a project next weekend, maybe with a little something extra." There were a number of groans from the students but all were smiling as everyone filed out of the room.
"Kim. Ron. Would you wait a moment?"
The two teens nodded as they gathered their belongings and approached their teacher.
Mrs. Easton crossed her arms and leaned back on her desk.
"I know that you two accept favors for what you do. This is my favor to you for what you did. So get out of here and have a good time!"
Kim and Ron broke out in huge grins. "Yes, Mrs. Easton!"
Walking quickly, they exited the classroom and headed down the hallway to their lockers. Tara and Josh were waiting for them. Kim and Ron opened their lockers and threw their books in them. Kim reached in to grab her purse and her mission backpack. Ron grabbed his mission backpack and the two slammed their locker shut. Tara and Josh already had their backpacks with them. Kim took Josh's hand and Ron put his arm around Tara as they walked toward the front of the school.
Ron and Josh held the doors open for Tara and Kim when they reached the front door. A cold fall wind swirled around them as they exited the building. All four halted and stared at the sight before them. Many of the other students were gathered around the front area of the school, gawking at a long black stretch limo. It was bigger than the ones that always seemed to appear for the dances and proms.
As the four friends approached the limo, the front door opened. A tall blonde-haired man emerged from the car and placed a dark cap firmly on his head. He walked up to them and bowed slightly.
"Miss Possible. Miss King. Master Stoppable. Master Mankey. Mr. and Mrs. Brown send their best wishes for a wonderful weekend. I am James Strother, your driver for the weekend. The car and I are at your disposal. Shall we be on our way?"
James opened the door, took Kim's hand, and assisted her into the car. He did the same for Tara.. He then stepped aside and touched the brim of his hat as Ron and Josh entered the car. He then closed the door and hurried around to get in the driver's seat.
James closed his door and started the engine.
"Well, as soon as seatbelts are fastened, we shall be on our way. There are sodas and snacks in the center console. There is a selection of DVD's in the entertainment center as well as a selection of CD's. We have about a two-hour drive ahead of us, so settle back and enjoy yourselves."
Locking their seat belts as requested, the four looked around. The interior of the limo was beyond anything they had ever seen. The upholstery was plush and comfortable. The main seat was wide enough for all four of them to sit together side by side. The entertainment center was in front of them along with a small refrigerator and a basket of snacks with some fruit. Kim and Tara settled in next to Josh and Ron with small sighs.
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The limo pulled up to the front of the main lodge of the Upperton Chalet and Resort. James parked the car and got out. He quickly came around to the passenger side and opened the door. Taking Tara's hand, he helped her exit the car, and then repeated the action with Kim. Josh and Ron climbed out behind the girls and stood at their sides.
A frigid wind blew down from the mountain, causing all of them to shiver for a moment as they turned toward the Lodge. The doors swung open and Mr. and Mrs. Brown met them as they entered.
"Welcome, Team Possible. We are so pleased that you accepted our offer. Please let us show you to your room. Jason and the others will get your luggage. Oh, Josh and Ron, we have a note for you from Mr. Possible and Mr. King."
Richard Brown gave them the note. The two guys glanced over at the two girls, who just shrugged their shoulders. All four gathered around as Ron opened the note. The message inside was simple and to the point:
"Ron and Josh,
Remember, BLACK HOLE DEEP!
Have a nice weekend.
Sincerely,
Mr. King and Mr. Possible.
Kim and Tara giggled while taking the arms of their boyfriends as all four followed Mr. and Mrs. Brown. They took the elevator up a number of floors and then walked down one hallway. Kim noticed that there were only a few doors on the hall. The Browns arrived at a door, where Mr. Brown dug out four computer key cards from his pocket, opened the door and ushered everyone into the room
Entering the room, all four teens came to a halt and stood in shock.
They were standing in a central living room that faced out over the valley below. The foyer gave way to a sunken living area with a large stone fireplace. Facing the fireplace were two large couches and a couple of easy chairs. A large bearskin rug lay on the floor in front of the fireplace. On their right was a small kitchen, while off to their left were two open doors leading to what appeared to be bedrooms.
Mr. Brown stepped down into the sunken living area.
"Young ladies, your bedroom is the first on the left, gentlemen, your bedroom is the second. The kitchen is fully stocked; your parents gave us some ideas of your favorite snacks, right down to your favorite hotdogs and marshmallows. Your meals are part of your weekend; just show your room key. If you wish to order room service, that will be no problem. Your lift tickets for the weekend are in your rooms. Your equipment is ready and reserved in your names at the rental office. If you wish to use the limo for any reason, just dial the concierge. Any questions?"
The four teens had not moved since entering the room. They stood gazing around in astonishment. Kim looked around for a moment, then turned to face Mr. Brown.
"Mr. Brown, it's true we accept favors instead of any payment. But this?" Kim gestured around the room. "I don't know if we can accept this!"
Mrs. Brown walked over and took Kim and Ron by the hand. "Please, all of you accept this as a 'Thank You', not just from us but from everyone that you have ever done something for."
Kim and Ron nodded an "O.K.".
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The following morning Kim awoke to see Tara just getting up. Kim lay in bed, recalling the events of the previous evening.
After the Browns left the teen's luggage arrived, the porters placed the bags in the appropriate bedrooms and left closing the door. The four teens unpacked their bags and finished exploring the room and admiring the views from the balcony. They also noticed a private hot tub on the balcony. They made plans to explore that piece of equipment later.
After freshening up a bit, they all went down for supper. A table had been reserved for them at a window. They ate while watching the sun slowly disappear over the mountains. Soon the horizon turned purple with colors dancing on the bottoms of the few clouds visible. After supper, the teens returned to their room to sit in front of the fire and talk. They called it a night about ten-thirty, as they hoped to get an early start the next morning.
Kim was suddenly shaken out of her daydreams by a knock on their door. Tara threw on her robe and opened the door to find Ron standing at the door, hair askew and a big grin on his face. In his arms were two large boxes.
"Kim, Wade sent us a surprise."
Kim and Tara hurriedly opened the boxes to find new ski suits in Team Possible colors with the logo on the breast pocket.
"Spankin'!" Kim exclaimed. "Now I don't have to wear that old maroon thing that I have had forever. Let's get dressed and head for breakfast."
Ron face split into a huge grin.
"I am all about that KP! Since you said so, Josh and I will be more than happy to join you ladies and we can all change together."
Kim smirked. "Nice try, Ron. Go get ready." Kim flipped her hair around as she slammed the door in his face.
Minutes later, Josh and Ron stood waiting in the living area when the door to the girl's bedroom door opened. Kim and Tara came out wearing the new ski suits. Their suits fit their bodies perfectly. Both girls had their hair back in a ponytail. Ron pointed to the area next to the door. Where their coats were hung could be seen four helmets and four pairs of ski boots. The helmets matched the ski suits and had the team logo on each side. Each helmet was personalized with the name over the visor. Matching ski boots in the proper sizes awaited their new owners.
Kim opened the zipper pocket on her suit and pulled out the Kimmunicator. She pressed the button to call Wade.
"Good morning, Kim. I hope you like the new equipment. I figured all of you could use some. Each suit is specially designed with a number of features. The suits have an I.D.-tracking chip embedded in them. The suit fabric produces electricity to charge the batteries embedded in the cloth. The batteries power the suit's heating system. The controls are on the forearm."
"You rock, Wade!" the four said in unison.
The teen grabbed their helmets and boots and headed for breakfast. They felt rather self-conscious entering the dining room, as many heads turned to view them in their matching suits with the Team Possible logo. Several guests motioned for the teens to go in front of them. All four declined after Kim gave Ron a swift kick in the shin. Filling their plates, they intentionally chose a table away from the windows so that other guests could experience the breathtaking view. After Ron gorged himself at the buffet, they headed off to the rental office to pick up their skis.
The man at the rental office looked up as the teens approached the window.
"Oh, yes, Team Possible. We have your skis here waiting. The young gentleman who assists you sent your equipment last night. Your skis are all ready and adjusted for you. Have a nice day."
Kim glanced at their skis. Each pair matched their suits and were precisely fitted to their height and weight.
Ron put his skis on his shoulder.
"Hey, Ron!" Josh called.
"Yeah?" Ron answered as he spun around to face his friend.
"THWACK!" went his skis as the ends collided with something solid.
Ron turned around to see Kim standing there, green eyes ablaze behind the visor of her helmet.
"Oops…. . Sorry, KP."
Rubbing her head, Kim strode over to Ron, grabbed him by the ear and began to pull him toward the door.
"Ok, Curly," she said in her best Moe Howard voice, "Let's hit the slopes."
"I'm a victim of soicumstance!" pleaded Ron, imitating Curly, Moe's younger brother and fellow member of "The Three Stooges"
With Tara playing Larry and Josh as Shemp, with a "N'yuk. n'yuk n'yuk!" the four laughed their way to the lifts..
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The sun was shining bright on the snow as Josh, Kim, Ron and Tara gathered at the top of Red Cedar Run, one of the intermediate slopes.
"I still think we should start on Blazing Star Run", Kim pouted.
Josh nudged Ron. "Does she always go for the hardest first?"
"Like you wouldn't believe", answered Ron, rolling his eyes. A snowball beaned him on the side of the head.
"Come on you two, let's ski!" Tara challenged. "The last two down have to wait on the other two at lunch." Tara turned and joined Kim as the two of them pushed off, leaving Ron and Josh behind. The two guys quickly followed the girls and soon all four were speeding down the slope.
Kim cut across the slope, getting ready to cut across for the dogleg turn ahead. Taking a quick glance to the side, she saw Tara keeping pace with her. Kim smiled. Tara was one of the few cheerleaders who was able to keep up with her and seemed to know instinctively what Kim would do in a cheer. Now she was matching Kim move for move. Ron and Josh were not far behind. As gifted as Josh was with a paintbrush, on skis he was no more graceful than Ron, meaning both of them were already spotted with snow from falls. Tara winked at Kim through her goggles, as she cut across in front and took the lead.
Ron dug the edges of his skis into the snow as he made the turn into the dogleg of the slope. Josh took the outside line of the turn and the two joined up once again.
"The girls are showing off!" Josh yelled, nodding down toward Kim and Tara where they could be seen cutting back and forth across the slope.
"Yeah. Well, there's only one way we can win that bet." Turning his skis straight down the slope, he shouted, "BONZAI!"
Josh repeated the yell and followed.
Kim and Tara slowed for a moment to try to catch a glimpse of Josh and Ron.
"Where are they?" Tara asked.
Kim shrugged and turned to look behind them. Her eyes grew wide.
Two streaks of blue shot past the two girls with a paired shout of "BONZAI!"
"RON! JOSH! Are you CRAZY?" Kim yelled as she swerved to get out of their way, nearly taking a spill in the process.
She and Tara turned to follow but it was no use. The two guys had a huge lead. Reaching the bottom of the slope, the girls conceded Ron was still digging the snow out of his visor while Josh was brushing the snow off his chest.
Kim and Tara skied up to them. "Are you two out of your MINDS?" Kim shouted.
Ron and Josh just stood there with arms crossed. "A bet is a bet. You girls get to serve lunch."
Tara gave a little giggle and skied over to Ron to give him a quick kiss.
"A bet is a bet. Let's get back on the slopes."
The four friends spent the rest of the morning running different slopes, finally deciding to break for lunch about one o'clock. They parked their skis and shuffled off in their ski boots to the dining room. The guys took their seats as Kim and Tara went to fill their order. Burgers and fries for all, with Cokes for Ron and Josh and Diet Cokes for the girls. They brought the two trays back to the table.
"Ahhh…service with a smile. What do you say, Ice-man?" Josh asked.
"Oh so not funny", Kim growled as she set down her tray. "Just for that crack, you don't get any dessert."
"Dessert? We didn't order any…?" Ron asked. Then he noticed the pursed lips of Kim and Tara. "Oh. O.K."
Ron got up quickly and held Tara's chair for her. Josh jumped up, took Kim's hand, and guided her to her chair.
"Apology accepted", said Kim with a smile.
The four started to eat, the two couples sitting shoulder to shoulder. Tara picked up a French fry, placed one end in her mouth, turned and offered the other to Ron. He leaned over and nibbled down from his end until their lips met for a quick kiss. Kim pulled a napkin from the container on the table and wiped Josh's face after he had taken a huge bite of his burger.
"I swear you are starting to eat more like Ron every day."
Kim picked up her drink and took a swig. "Urrpp!" She quickly covered her mouth and started to blush. "Excuse me", she whispered. Josh tried unsuccessfully to hold back his laughter as Kim glared at him. Kim looked over at Ron, who appeared to be studying the design in the ceiling.
Finishing their meal, they sat back to rest for a few more minutes. The two girls settled into the arms of their guys. Kim glanced up at Josh.
"How about we explore some of the trails this afternoon, and then come in a little early, get cleaned up and have a nice dinner. I hear a deejay is supposed to be playing in the ballroom. I think a little dancing would be fun."
"Sounds like a plan. What do you say, Ron?" Josh asked.
"I'm all about dancing with our bon-diggity babes", Ron answered.
Kim stood as they gathered up the trash on their table.
"That's the plan then. Old Wagon Trail here we come."
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Ron and Tara skied down the Old Wagon Trail, with Josh and Kim right behind. They had already taken one trail and had just started this one. The long, gently sloping trail circled the mountain and ended back at the Lodge. Giant evergreens towered over them. The four had the trail almost to themselves. After a morning of hard skiing, they were enjoying a nice slow afternoon.
Kim skied along side Josh and took a glance over at him. Her thoughts drifted to the coming evening, the four of them sitting at a secluded table, gentle candlelight dancing on their faces. A smile came to her face as she thought of Josh holding her as a nice slow dance tune played.
"Ahh, Kim unless you want to smack lips with that tree you had better pay attention."
Kim broke out of her dream and turned sharply to miss the tree on the edge of the trail. She slid to a stop and turned to look at Josh. His eyes were dancing with laughter as he came to a stop beside her.
"Be careful there, babe. I'm looking forward to some of those kisses tonight." He put his arms around her. She gave him a little smile as they turned and joined Ron and Tara. Ron came to a stop and started to look around. Tara and Josh skied on ahead. Kim swished to a stop beside him.
"Come on, Ron. Let's head to the Lodge. You know how long it takes Tara and I to get ready."
Ron lifted his goggles and glanced around. Kim noticed the look in his eyes and started to survey the trees herself.
"KP, my weirdar is going off."
Kim started to get the same feeling.
"I wish I had the Kimmunicator with me, but we agreed that we were to leave them behind."
Ron thought he saw something moving in the trees but decided it was just the trees swaying in the slight breeze.
"Come on, KP. Josh and Tara will wonder where we are. I guess I'm just hungry."
Kim turned with Ron as the pair started to catch up with their partners.
"Yeah, that's it. Hungry. Let's get back and get ready for supper."
Two pair of eyes observed the two heroes ski away.
"She thinks she's so smart. Well, we'll see about that! Come along, precious."
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The four sat at their reserved table. After returning from the slopes, they all cleaned up and rested awhile. For tonight, all had dressed up a little nicer for dinner. Their steaks were perfectly done, the baked potatoes soft and hot. There had been plenty of butter and sour cream. The salads were crisp and fresh. Now they sat and chatted while enjoying some apple pie alamode.
Earlier, while Tara and Josh were getting cleaned up, Kim and Ron had contacted Wade. He did a scan of the area where they had been but found nothing. Whatever they saw or felt was no longer there.
Josh stood and held out his hand to Kim.
"Ready for a little dancing?"
Kim smiled as she took his hand and rose from her chair.
"You read a girl's mind."
Ron turned and extended his arm to Tara. "Shall we?"
Tara grinned as she stood. "Oh, we shall."
The two couples left the dining room arm-in-arm. Tara laid her head on Ron's shoulder as they walked. There were a number of bemused grins from the other patrons of the dining room. The sight of world famous heroes spending time with friends would be a something for them to remember, and brag about later.
Ron held open the door to the ballroom to allow Tara, Josh and Kim to enter. The music was loud and upbeat. The floor was full of people dancing in rhythm to the music. Ron led them over to an open table where they found four seats. He held Tara's chair for her as she sat. Josh helped Kim with her seat and the group waited for the next song to begin. The four tapped their feet in time with the music as the song ended.
As a nice slow tune began to play, many of the couples on the floor decided to take a break. Ron and Josh stood and helped Tara and Kim to their feet. Then hand in hand, the two couples headed for the dance floor. Kim placed her arms around Josh's neck and settled her head on his shoulder. Her forehead found its special place nestled against his neck. His arms came down around her slim waist. She sighed happily as they gently swayed to the music.
Ron took Tara into his arms. He stroked her long blonde hair cascading down her back. She put her arms around his chest and settled her head in the space on his shoulder. Ron's hands gathered her close, one at her waist and one on her back. She pulled him tighter against herself. She purred softly as he soothingly rubbed her back.
Josh nestled his head to one side, burying it in Kim's marvelous soft mane of hair. It was hard for him to imagine that this wonder girl, who at times could be so feminine, could do so much to save the world. She had fought for her life and the lives of others. She and Ron together had made a place for themselves in this world. As he grew closer to Kim, he knew that he would be drawn closer into that same world. He could not imagine his world without her. He gently kissed her forehead. No matter the danger, he loved this girl. He hoped somehow that he would prove himself worthy to stand at her side.
Tara tightened her grip on Ron. Her face burrowed into his shirt. She smiled. Kim had helped her pick out the shirt for Ron and now he wore it only on very special occasions. Ron was so special to her. Many people could not understand what she saw in him. Most of them saw a fool, a slacker. They had not seen him in action as she had. He may act the fool, but, when the chips were down, he was a hero. She was frightened for him. She had only been close to him for just these few months, yet in that time he had faced many hardships and somehow still managed to maintain his humor. She herself had already been in danger just by being with him. Now she was a participant in that area of his life. Tara made a promise to herself. No matter the danger, she loved this man. She hoped somehow that she would prove herself worthy to stand at the side of Ron Stoppable.
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Tara slowly turned over as the early morning sun started to glow in their window. Kim was still asleep. Her lion's mane of red hair was the only part of her in sight. Tara reached up and pulled out her earplugs. They were a little gift from her grandfather. They were soft foam, used by hunters and shooters to protect their hearing but also perfect for one having to sleep in the same room as Kim Possible. Kim may be a beautiful accomplished young woman who saved the world, but her snoring could wake the dead. Kim was quiet now as Tara got up and stretched. The hockey jersey she had swiped from Ron worked great as a nightshirt. She got up and headed for the bathroom.
Kim woke up to the sound of the shower. She pushed away the covers and got up to stretch. The long button-down shirt that she had snuck out of Josh's studio draped over her figure. He had used it while painting. She had grabbed it before he had gotten covered in paint. It made a great nightshirt. She and Tara had had quite a laugh when they were getting ready for bed the night before. After an evening of slow dancing, both girls had pulled out as nightshirts, clothing they had swiped from their respective boyfriends. She got her clothes for the day and headed for the bathroom to start getting ready.
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The sun was shining bright as all four of them stood in line for the lift up the mountain. Tara had to drag Ron away from the breakfast bar before he cleaned it out.
They had agreed to head up back up the mountain to ski the trails. After a full day of skiing and a full night of dancing, they were all a little tired. A half day of exploring the trails seemed to be just the thing to do. After that, they planned to head back to the Lodge and just spend time together in the main room. Their Team Possible ski suits once again garnered attention from some of the other skiers. Kim and Ron had to stop from time to time and pose pictures and autographs but soon politely cut it off when they got on the lifts.
The trail was smooth and clear as the four of them headed down the same slope as they had skied the first day. Tara and Josh skied ahead while Kim and Ron hung back just a bit. They approached the same spot where they had been the day before. Ron stopped and started to look around. Kim skidded to a stop at his side.
"KP?"
"No need to ask, Ron. I feel it, too."
A large figure suddenly rose from the trees; its shadow covered the two heroes. They looked up.
"Oh, snap!" Kim exclaimed.
Ron began to shiver. "That would be so cool, if it wasn't going to hurt us."
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Okay, I think I will stop it right there, seems to be a good place. It feels good to be back with this story again. So, what is happening? Who is responsible? Well, all that will be in the next chapter. Write a review, take a guess. Thanks for reading.