Disclaimer: I do not own Kim Possible. It belongs to Disney and its creators. If it was in the show, I don't own it. I am not doing this for compensation, simply for enjoyment and practice.
Claimer: Krista Ruthie Stoppable is my OC. If you want to use her, please ask.
After All This Time: First Date
Middleton, Colorado, Wednesday Evening
15-year-old Krista Ruthie Stoppable gnawed nervously on her thumb. You can do this, Krista. Anything is possible for a Possible, right? She took a deep breath and entered the kitchen. Her father was stirring something that smelled delicious at the stove. Her mother was sitting at the table, a file open in front of her, writing notes on a pad of paper. When she entered, both her parents turned to her, smiling.
"How was school, kiddo?" her father asked.
Krista shifted nervously from one foot to the other. "It was, uh, good."
Kim's eyebrow quirked up, clearly picking up on Krista's suspicious behavior. "Alright, what happened?"
Krista tried to look nonchalant. "What do you mean?"
"You're hiding something. Spill."
Ugh. She was no match for her mom. She was way too attuned to changes in body language and tone to be able to hide anything from her. Might as well just get it over with.
"Well, uh, you guys know Dylan, right?" Krista began.
"He's in the psychology club with you, right?" Ron asked.
"Yeah. Well today, he uh… he… heaskedmeonadate," Krista rushed the last few words out, holding her breath for her parents' reaction.
"About time!" Ron laughed. "I could tell he liked you when I saw him talking to you at the carnival a few months ago."
Krista let out a breath. "Really?"
"Sure! It was so obvious! You know, your old man has a sense for these kinds of things."
Krista laughed and rolled her eyes. "Sure, just like you totally knew that Miss Tara had a crush on you when you were in high school."
"Hey!" Ron protested. "There was a lot going on! My... my skills were not as sharp back then!"
Krista giggled again. The kitchen fell silent. She nervously turned to her mom, who hadn't said a word yet. "Um, Mom? Is everything ok? What do you think?"
Kim stared blankly at her daughter. Her teenaged daughter. Her teenaged-and-ready-to-date daughter. This was so the drama. "I-" Her voice constricted.
"Uhhh… Your mother is so thrilled, she's speechless!" Ron interjected, coming around to throw an arm around his wife. "Right, Kim?" He squeezed her shoulder hard, finally shaking her out of her trance.
"Uh… um… Yeah! Totally speechless," Kim sputtered.
"So… I can go?" Krista asked tentatively.
"Of course! Totally. Definitely." Kim's voice was unnaturally high.
Krista narrowed her eyes, concerned. "Mom… are you sure you're okay with this? You seem… tweaked."
"So not!" Kim said much too brightly. "Just, uh, happy! Happy for my baby girl! Her first date!"
Krista wasn't convinced, but she decided not to push her luck. As soon as she left the kitchen to wash up for dinner, Ron turned to his wife.
"KP, what was that all about?"
Kim drew a hand down her face. "She is so not ready to date, Ron! There is no way!"
"Kim, she's 15. I think she's old enough. I mean, weren't you only 13 when you locked braces with Walter Nelson?"
Kim grimaced. "Ugh. Don't remind me. That was the most embarrassing car ride of my life."
"And Krista doesn't even have braces, so there's no danger of that!" Ron joked, trying to lighten the mood. Kim gave a half smile and looked away. Ron sat next to her, pulling her close. "Kim, she'll be fine. It's just one date. Besides, we have to let her fly the coop sometime. She's growing up. We can't always be there to supervise her."
XXXXXXXXXX
Middleton, Colorado, Late Friday Afternoon
"Thanks for the ride, Dad!" Krista said as she closed the car door.
Ron leaned out the window. "You two kids have fun. I'll pick you up at 8."
"What are your plans for the night, sir? Do you and Mrs. Stoppable have your own date planned?" Dylan asked, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his khakis.
"Nah, Kim went out with Monique for the night. So tonight it's just me, Bueno Nacho, and a speed run of Zombie Mayhem!" Ron waved at the two teens and pulled away from the curb. Krista turned to Dylan.
"So…" she said nervously.
"So…" he answered. "Um, what do you want to do first? Food? Arcade? Laser tag?"
"Let's eat first. I'm starving!"
Dylan laughed. "Same. What was that stuff in the cafeteria today?"
Krista cringed. "Ugh. I have no idea. But I definitely wasn't going to risk my life finding out." Dylan held the door open for her, and Krista walked into the entertainment center.
JP Bearymore's had come a long way since her parents were kids. The Pizza Party-Torium had had some serious renovations, now boasting a self-serve pizza machine that allowed users to select their toppings from a tablet and watch as the pizza rolled down a conveyor belt to be assembled and baked. JP Bearymore's was also now home to the largest laser tag arena in the state, advertising its 3-story course as the "best you'll ever experience."
Krista and Dylan ordered their food, then chose a table near the viewing area for the laser tag arena. Guests could gorge themselves on pizza and pretzels while watching through a one-way window as players duked it out for the highest score.
Krista took a bite of her pizza. "I'm really glad you asked me out. You know, I've kind of had a crush on you for a while."
Dylan ducked his head. "Uh, same. I just never had the guts to ask you before. You know, you're kind of intimidating."
Krista barked out a laugh. "No way. Me? Intimidating? That's hilarious."
"No, seriously," Dylan said. "You're smart, funny, nice to literally everyone you meet. You're athletic. And it's no secret what you've been through. Yet, you still go through life with positivity. That's pretty awesome."
Krista blushed. "Oh. Well, uh, I've had some great support."
Dylan smiled. "Your dad seems nice."
Krista beamed. "He's the best. I'm just sorry you didn't get to meet my mom."
"I'm sure I'll meet her eventually."
XXXXXXXXXX
Middleton, Colorado, Early Friday Evening
"Kim, when you said we should have a 'girls' night out,' this isn't exactly what I had in mind." Monique had her arms crossed, glaring at her auburn-haired friend while she looked through a pair of binoculars at a table across the restaurant. "Also, you're not exactly being subtle."
Kim put the binoculars down. "You're right, Monique. This is crazy."
Monique sighed, glad her friend had finally admitted it.
"I should just have Wade hack into the security cameras instead." Kim went to press a button on her Kimmunicator, but Monique grabbed her hand.
"Uh-uh! No way, girl. You are not pulling my man in on your twisted scheme to spy on your daughter on her first date!"
"But Monique! We don't know this boy! I just want to make sure she's safe… and that he keeps his hands to himself."
Monique rolled her eyes. "Girl, you have definitely gone off the deep end. This is taking 'helicopter parenting' to a whole new level. Don't you trust her?"
"Of course I trust her. I just don't trust him."
"Kim, you've got to loosen the leash, here! She's not a kid anymore. She knows how to take care of herself. You taught her that."
"I know, I know, but – Wait! They're on the move!" Kim watched as Dylan and Krista headed towards the entrance to the laser tag arena. "Come on, Monique, it's time for some laser tag!"
Monique groaned, but let her friend lead her towards the attraction.
XXXXXXXXXX
"You're really good at this!" Dylan shouted over the pounding music in the laser tag arena.
Krista took out another of the enemy team. "I've had great teachers!"
"I mean, I guess being the daughter of world-famous crimefighters might give you an edge!"
Krista laughed. "Come on, I think the bonus target is on the second floor!"
Dylan and Krista maneuvered around the obstacles, ducking behind concrete half-walls splatted with blacklight-reactive neon paint. Instead of risking the stairs, they both slid down the fire pole on the right side of the arena, landing safely on the second floor from the third.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Kim, you're going too fast!" Monique huffed as she struggled to climb the stairs after her friend.
"Hurry up, Monique! I think I saw them go this way!" She rounded a corner, only to collide with another player. The kid, maybe 12 years old, raised his laser gun to fire, but then did a double take.
"Hey, aren't you Kim Possible?!"
"Yep," Kim said. She fired her own weapon. "But no time to talk. Sorry!" She ran past the boy, who had only just realized he had been taken out of the game.
"Aw, man!"
Monique paused to catch her breath, giving the boy a sympathetic look. "Sorry, kid. When she's on a mission, nothing stops her."
XXXXXXXXXX
Krista squealed as she and Dylan both fired at the bonus target, earning each of them an extra 5,000 points. The target moved hourly and was notoriously difficult to find.
"We did it!" Krista cheered, pulling Dylan into a celebratory hug.
Dylan laughed and hugged her back. "We make a great team!"
Before she could lose her nerve, Krista quickly pulled away from the hug and planted a kiss right on Dylan's lips.
"KRISTA RUTHIE STOPPABLE, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?"
Krista yelped as she leapt back from her date, who stood dazed and confused, definitely not expecting the kiss. The music died down, and the lights in the arena blazed to life, obscuring Krista's vision for a moment. When her eyes finally adjusted, she stepped back in horror.
"Mom? What are you doing here?"
Kim's eyes flashed. "Apparently I'm breaking up a make-out sesh!"
"Mom, no, that's not what we were –"
"Mrs. Stoppable, it isn't what it looks like –"
Kim held up her hand, and both teens fell silent. "I don't want to hear another word. Krista, let's go. Dylan, Monique will take you home."
"Kim, don't you think –" Kim silenced her friend with a deadly glare. "Oookay. Dylan, if you know what's good for you, we should probably go." Dylan looked dejectedly at Krista, then followed Monique out of the arena.
Krista looked sadly after him for a moment, before understanding dawned and she glared at her mother. "So this was your girls' night with Auntie Monique? You were spying on me?"
"Don't take that tone with me, young lady! You have a lot of explaining to do. And after what I just witnessed, you won't be going on another date until you're 30!"
"It was just a little kiss! That's it!"
"In a dark laser tag arena?"
"It was spur of the moment! I- I- I don't have to explain myself to you!"
"Oh, yes you do. I'm your mother!"
By this time, the two had made their way out of the arena and were approaching the entrance to the entertainment center. Krista whirled on her mother.
"Fine. Yes, I kissed him. We were excited because we had found the bonus target. I decided to take my chance and just do it. He wasn't expecting it. Neither was I. It wasn't planned. But thanks to you, my first kiss was ruined!" Krista stomped to her mother's car and climbed in the backseat.
"What are you doing back there?" Kim asked exasperatedly.
"Well, if you're going to treat me like a baby, then this is clearly where I need to sit from now on." Krista folded her arms over her chest and glared out the window.
XXXXXXXXXX
Ron jumped when the front door opened and slammed shut. He heard stomping upstairs, and then Kim appeared in the entrance to the living room, looking exhausted.
"I thought I was going to pick Krista up?" Ron asked, confused. "What's going on? She seems ticked."
"I caught her and Dylan kissing in the laser tag arena," Kim said.
"What?" Ron asked. "Wait – you were at JP Bearymore's? I thought you were out with Monique."
"Well, I… I… I just wanted to make sure she was safe! And clearly, I was right to follow her."
"Kim." Kim looked at her husband, who was leveling her with an accusatory look. "Krista knows how to take care of herself. This isn't about not trusting her, or worrying about her safety. Something else is going on. Why are you so tweaked about Krista dating?"
Kim sighed. Ron knew her way too well. "I honestly don't really know, Ron. I knew this would happen eventually, and I thought I'd be ready, but… it feels like we just got her back, and now she's growing up. Soon she'll be off to college and living on her own. It feels unfair that this is all happening so fast, but we didn't get to experience any of her other firsts as a child. And just knowing we won't be able to protect her forever… it just… scares me a little."
Ron put his arm around his wife. "KP, I know how unfair this all seems. We missed her first word, her first steps, her first everything. It seems like we fast-forwarded to first date and have none of the backstory. But we can't rewind. She's just going to keep growing up, and we can't change that. And we can't be with her every minute of every day to protect her. At some point, we've got to trust that she'll be able to protect herself, or to call us if she needs us."
Kim put her head in her hands. "I really screwed up tonight, didn't I?"
"Your natural Kimness may have caused a little trouble, yeah," Ron joked. "But it's nothing that can't be fixed."
Kim sighed and rose from the couch. She climbed the stairs and knocked tentatively on her daughter's door.
"Go away."
"Krista, I know you're mad at me. But… I came to apologize." Kim opened the door. Krista was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her pandaroo in her arms. Kim went and sat at the edge of the bed.
"I'm sorry I embarrassed you tonight."
Krista sat up and crossed her legs. "Mom, I swear it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. I'd never… do anything like that."
"I know, and I'm sorry."
"So why didn't you just trust me?"
Kim sighed. "It's not that I didn't trust you. I just… Sweetie, you're growing up so fast. And it's just reminding me of all the milestones that we didn't get to experience together."
"Mom, I'm sad about those, too. I wish things had been different. But it's not like we can turn back time."
"I know, honey."
"And I know I'm growing up, but I'm not going anywhere. It's not like one day I'm just gonna decide that I don't need you guys and never talk to you again. I'm always going to need you."
Kim gave her daughter a half smile. "When did you get so mature?"
Krista laughed. "I have good role models. Well… most of the time."
"I really am sorry, Krista."
"I know you are, Mom."
"And I promise, no more secretly chaperoned dates."
Krista rolled her eyes. "If I ever get another date."
"Oh, don't worry. You'll have plenty of dates. Just… take your time, okay? There's no need to rush anything." They hugged.
After an embarrassing phone call to apologize to Dylan, he and Krista made plans to go out again. And to make her mother feel better, this time it would be at her father's restaurant. As Kim and Ron sat at their own table (far away from the teens, as Krista requested), Kim marveled at how amazing her daughter was.
"We really did good, didn't we?" Ron remarked to his wife.
"Yeah. We definitely did."
A/N: I swear someday I'll write a story that isn't attached to my AATT universe, but I just keep getting ideas and really enjoy writing stories with my OC. Sorry for another long hiatus. In short, a lot of life changes occurred that required me to take care of my physical and mental health. I started grad school this past fall and made the life-changing and extremely heartbreaking decision to leave teaching earlier this year. I just couldn't take the verbal and emotional abuse from parents anymore while leadership just stood by and let it happen. It was too much. So between the emotional goodbye to my students, working through an identity crisis (I had always wanted to be a teacher – I never had a Plan B), and then settling in at my new career, I had a lot going on. But after months of healing and taking care of my physical and mental health, I can say that I am happier and healthier than I have been in a long time. I still miss my kiddos, but I'm glad I made the decision I did. If you're in the US, pay attention to what your teachers are going through. Speak up for them. Many are finally saying enough is enough and leaving the classroom behind. I don't think this country realizes what a crisis it's in for if things don't change and teachers don't start getting treated like the professionals they are.
Anyway, off my soapbox. I'm hoping to write more regularly (or, at least more regularly than only updating once a year). I have a few things planned for the future, so look for those to come. Thanks for reading.
