Disclaimer: I do not own Disney or anything, I borrowed from other media.

CHP 2: Tara steps up

*On the bus*

"I must be the luckiest guy in the world right now to have a beautiful girl like Tara on me like this." Ron thought right before seeing the sight of an angry brunette glaring at him.

"What do you think you are doing sitting next to Tara you loser!?" Bonnie yells out, getting the attention of everyone on the bus.

"Or not." Ron gulps before answering her knowing this won't go well for him. "She, um asked me too?"

Bonnie looks at him with disbelief due to the many conversations with Tara that involve telling her how Ron is a loser and is the bottom of the food chain. "Please, like Tara would risk her reputation to be seen next to you. Just because you saved us doesn't mean you jump to the top because if it wasn't for you Gil or however you say his name wouldn't have targeted us twice."

Her harsh comment usually wouldn't get to Ron for his just let it bounce off of him and keep going with his carefree life. This time wasn't the case because he quickly assumes that Tara would pick her best friend over him and claim she didn't want to sit by him for the sake of her friendship. He couldn't blame her though since she and Bonnie have been friends almost as long as he and Kim have been, therefore, he wouldn't want to be the cause of ending their relationship despite how happy he was at the moment with Tara.

"So for the last time, move it!" Bonnie orders, pointing towards a seat by Kim, who is ready to give her a piece of her mind.

Now for those who know or know of Tara mostly see the side that is bubbly, shy, and at times a typical blonde. So it would make sense for everyone on the bus expression to change when Ron began to get out of the seat with his head hanging low that Tara grabs his arm and make him sit back down and turns to Kim saying, "Kim let me handle this." in a solemn tone and stands up to face Bonnie.

"T... Tara?" Bonnie stutters not believing that her best friend is siding to that loser.

"Look, Bonnie, we were best friends for a long time now, and I have put up with the way you have treated people, especially Ron this far. Even when I told you about my crush on him a while back and the way you reacted to it, I still dealt with it because I didn't dare to say how I felt as well as not wanting to lose you as a friend. However, you finally have gone way too far to where I am not going to stay silence and will no longer stand back and let you run my life or talk down the guy who made I remind you at the end of the day saved not just yours but all of the squad's lives when he could have quickly left us to suffer."

Everyone on the bus including Mr. Barkin's eyes was wide open for they never would think that Tara out of all people would speak to Bonnie the way she was doing while at the same time defending Ron.

To Tara, this is something she has wanted to do for a while now. She never was a fan of how Bonnie treated people when she knows the real reason why she does it, which doesn't give her the right to be mean to others. The final straw hit when Tara talk down Ron after she had told him that she wouldn't let Bonnie or the food chain keep her from getting close to him.

"You can't be serious Tara?" Bonnie, in her way, begs to Tara but Tara doesn't have it.

"No buts. From here on out if you going to be still my best friend you need to respect that I want to be closer to Ron just like all those times I supported you and Brick despite the numerous times you and he break up and get back together. If you can't even do that for me..." Tara could feel the tears trying to leak but fights it off, knowing she is about to get an answer that will change things between her and Bonnie.

"I can't believe this, after what I did for you and your reputation this how you repay me?! Fine, you can have him, but once you understand the mistake you are making don't come crying to me! You are nothing without me!" Bonnie screams surprising everyone from the amount of cruelty that came out of her last words signaling the end of the friendship.

Bonnie storms off the bus with Mr. Barkin calling her, asking, "Where are you going Rockwaller?"

Bonnie walks over to the police vehicle saying, "Getting my self ride home!" Once she enters, a wave of deep anger boils up inside of her as she whispers, "This isn't over Stoppable." as she goes through her phone to make a call.

With that said, Mr. Barkin starts up the bus and drives home. Pulling off, Tara sits back down as the realization of her and Bonnie no longer being friends sank into her mind. Ron notices that her body seem to tremble and turns to Kim only for her to signal him to comfort her.

"Tara you shouldn't have done that. I could have easily sat somewhere else so you and Bonnie's friendship could still be intact." Ron said out of guilt. It was the first time that someone other than Kim stood up to Bonnie for him and because of that, it had caused Tara to lose Bonnie, which is something he never wanted.

She does not want him to say more about how guilty he felt, Tara her finger on top of Ron's lips to stop him. "Ron, don't apologize. I told you my choice, and I plan on sticking to it. If anything Bonnie finally showed her true colors when it came to our friendship. I was just a lap dog where it's either her way or the highway and honestly I just sick of how she treats you mostly Ron so if it means losing her as my friend for me to be by your side so be it because you are worth it." Tara confides in him with a small smile despite what happen.

Ron's heart skipped a beat and wasn't sure how to respond. This was different compared to how Kim treats him where it's mostly a brother-sister type feeling, yet with Tara, it was hard to explain. "I don't know what to say." He said honestly.

"You don't have to say anything; I know it's a lot to take in right now. However, if you can, let me lay my head on your shoulder?" Tara asks, reaching towards her breaking point.

"Um, oh course Tara." Ron playfully pats his shoulder, allowing Tara to rest her head on it, leading to Tara to break down and cry softly. Ron then rubs her arms to help calm her down but allowing Tara to grieve the pain of lost out of her for the rest of the ride. Meanwhile, Kim is in the background watching on with a smile over the new bond that is forming right in front of her.

*Middleton High*

Once they finally arrive at the school, Ron looks over to see Tara resting peacefully on him. During the ride back, she had cried herself to sleep, and Ron couldn't help but admire how calm she looked. Hating that he would have to disrupt her rest, Ron gently wakes her up. "We are back at the school Tara."

Tara slowly wakes up to see that they are back and notice that a particular spot on Ron shirt was wet most likely from the crying she did earlier. "Did I fall asleep on you? I'm sorry Ron." Tara apologizes not meaning to leak that much tears on him.

"No need to apologize, I didn't mind it one bit, and I can't blame you for crying yourself to sleep since it helps to get all the pain out," Ron responds with a sincere smile that quickly cheers Tara up.

"I do appreciate it." She tells him quietly. The two get off the bus, with Tara arm hook to Ron with Kim walking up to them to check on Tara.

"Hey Tara, how are you feeling?" Kim asks the blonde cheerleader with concern noticing Tara's eyes are a bit red.

"Rested, happy but hurt at the same time. I can somewhat understand why you and Bonnie aren't friends." She said to Kim, thinking about the rivalry between the two.

"The issue between Bonnie and me goes way back actually. In your case, that's a whole new low even for her. I am proud of you for stepping up to her. She needs a reality check that everything is not about her and as her one only true friend, she's the one that's going to miss you the most when it sinks in what she has done." Kim expresses her newfound respect for Tara.

"By the way, I agree that sticking with Ron is worth it," Kim said winking at Ron.

"Aw shucks, Kp." Ron blushes as both girls giggle at this.

"Most definitely." Tara agrees as she turns to Ron. "Since tomorrow is Saturday would you like to hang out with me? I rather not be alone for a few days." Tara bites her lips innocently.

Ron rubs the back of his head, nervously. "I would like too, but KP and I were supposed to hang out tomorrow." If there is one thing both girls can say about Ron is that he has a huge heart, and always he tries to put others before his self.

"No big, I will just hit up Monique and have girls time. You two enjoy yourselves, and maybe we all might meet up tomorrow." Kim suggests hoping that maybe developing a friendship with Tara will help her transition from Bonnie goes smoother since there's no telling how the other cheerleaders are feeling about the new sitch.

"That sounds like bon diggity plan there KP!" Ron cheers out of excitement with Rufus cheering from his pocket.

Tara smiles brightly at the idea for it would be nice to have friend girls in her life still actually. "I agree. Well, in that case, I better head home. Ron, I will see you tomorrow." She said in her flirty tone before kissing him on the cheek and whisper to where Kim couldn't hear her, "There's more of that to come for being there for me, Mad Dog."

Ron mouth drop with Tara directly blowing a kiss at him as she does the signature walk that she knows gets Ron's attention.

Kim looks over at Tara somewhat shock by the sudden forwardness when it comes to Ron. "There is more to Tara than meets the eye, and I think Ron will be the first to discover that fact."

She then catches sight of Ron's current expression and snaps him out it. "Hello, earth to Ron no need to burn a hole in Tara's back from the long deep staring you are doing." She and Rufus laughed when Ron comes back to reality and claims he wasn't starting. The two best friends hug each other goodbye and head to their separate homes with Ron looking forward to what will come with Tara now in the picture.

TBC