Many thanks to everyone who's reading, and to the reviewers of chapter 12: cpneb, ZK Chromedragozoid, spectre666, CajunBear73, Joe Stoppinghem, pinkymint, K-Dog the Fire Beast, calamite, JPMod, daywalkr82, whitem, Trombe, MrDrP, Jeriddian, DuffKilliganFan, CastaS, Kradeiz, Commander Argus, Dr. J0nes, and dartblade.

Special thanks to my beta reader, MrDrP, for his excellent advice.

Disclaimer: Disney owns Kim Possible and these characters.

Chapter 13

Saturday noon, and Bonnie was still in need of two or three more boys to come to the squad's party. With the beach closed, the best place she could think of to look for prospects was Middleton High—there were sure to be athletes at the sports fields getting ready for the start of school in a few days. She decided to call the other unattached cheerleaders to help her scout. They could find some guys they were interested in, while Bonnie looked for someone willing to make a move on Tara. First she called Liz, who had other plans. Then she tried Hope, who had a surprise for her.

"I just started seeing a new guy, Bonnie. I'll be bringing him to the party," Hope said when Bonnie phoned her.

"Oh? Who –?"

"Uh, Sorry, B, gotta go. Mom's calling me. See you tomorrow." The other girl ended the call.

Bonnie had a bad feeling as she scrolled through her contacts list. "Please, not another loser or nerd," she muttered to herself. "Two is way more than enough."

The third girl, Marcella Reyes, eagerly agreed to meet Bonnie. They decided to go jogging at the school track, always a great way to attract male attention.

After running a few laps and waving at several groups of boys engaged in various sports, the two girls stretched on the grassy infield. "So, you're a free woman again, Bonnie," Marcella noted.

"Yeah, I told Brick we should see other people while he's at State," Bonnie replied. "I can always hook up with him again if he comes back a big star, but I don't want to go dateless all semester."

"Well, I think I'd like to ask Tony over there to the party," Marcella said, nodding toward some boys kicking around a soccer ball nearby. "He's lookin' fine this year."

Bonnie lowered herself into a bent-leg split. "Tony's good. Probably won't be a huge star, but a decent soccer player."

She switched positions to put her other leg in front. "This is such a weird year. It's hard to figure who's going to be popular."

Marcella nodded. "True. We lost so many sports stars to graduation, no way to know who'll step up 'til the games get under way."

"Yeah. There's only three sure bets in our class that I can see, and the squad has two of them locked up already: Crystal's BF, Craig, in lacrosse, and Steve in baseball … and of course, there's Jason in hoops—who should still be with Tara as far as I'm concerned."

"So who are you asking for yourself, Bon?"

"No one in particular. I'm really waiting to see who the new quarterback will be. If it's Kyle Monson, I am so taking him away from Miss Stick Figure Hadley."

"Oooh, yeah," Marcella commented. "Kyle is muy sabrosa."

"He's tasty, all right," Bonnie said, getting to her feet. "Well, why don't you go invite Tony, and I'll go inside and check out the gym. I think I hear some activity in there."

Bonnie went in and spotted several boys shooting baskets—including the one she'd been hoping to find. If there was anybody who had a grudge against Tara's new flame, it was her old one, Jason Morgan.

She leaned against the door frame, one hand on her outthrust hip, and it wasn't long before she was noticed. After some prodding from his teammates, Jason ambled over to her.

"Hey, Bonnie. Lookin' good."

"So are you, Jason," Bonnie said coquettishly. "How's your summer been?"

Jason's face darkened briefly. "Okay," he said.

"Listen, Jason, let me cut to the chase. I think it's such a shame how you and Tara ended things. She's really regretting how she treated you, and I bet she'd like it if you came to the squad's beach bash tomorrow."

"Oh? Tara dump the midget?"

"Not exactly," Bonnie said, "but I'm pretty sure his sell-by date is coming up soon."

Jason stroked his chin. "I don't know. I mean, sure, Tara's cute and all, but she's kinda full of herself. Doesn't really know how to treat her man." His hand moved to the wall above Bonnie's shoulder, and he leaned in close to the teal-eyed brunette. "I was thinking now that the Brickster's out of the picture maybe you and I should get together, Bon."

Bonnie forced herself to keep smiling. Jason really wasn't her type; she much preferred the beefier football player build to the taller, leaner hoopsters. Besides, deep down she felt there was something just … eww … about Jason. But that didn't mean he couldn't be useful. "Gee, Jason, I don't know. I mean, Brick just left for college the other day. It's most def something to think about. I mean, what girl wouldn't want to date a big, handsome superstar like you?"

Jason beamed.

"But we really have to do something about Tara first. I don't like what that nerd is doing to her, hiding her away from all her old friends. There's just something wrong there. It's like a bad teen movie. I think if you came to our party, Tara might begin to realize her mistake."

"Well, I guess I could come and try to talk to her … and I've been looking forward to giving Shrimpy a piece of my mind for a long time … but if I go near him, his buddy Farley will be all over me …"

Sheesh! Is this really the best I have to work with? Bonnie thought. "Oh, I have a feeling Steve won't be a problem. He'll be distracted," she said, grinning slyly. "Jess, bikini … do the math …"

"Well, no guy with any sense turns down an invite from you, Bon. Count me in."

Bonnie told him the time and place, and then went back out to rejoin Marcella. Jason ambled back to his basketball buddies.

"So?" one of the boys asked.

"She invited me to the cheer squad party," Jason reported.

"Oh man, first Monroe, now Rockwaller? Morgan, you lucky dog!" another said, high-fiving the tall forward.

A third boy slapped Jason on the back. "The Big J, gettin' it on with both of the Pneumatic Duo! The hottest of the hot!"

"Dunno about that, dude, you seen Possible lately?" … "Or Sundstrum, in that black bikini?" … "Give me Hope!" … "All those girls are total babes!" others added.

The conversation continued in that vein for a while; when it faded out, one boy held up a basketball and spun it on his fingertip. "So, we done enough here today?"

"Yeah, it's too hot in here," Jason said. "Let's go to my house. I could go for a cold brewski."

"Price check on Doctor Fusion action figures …"

Bonnie winced as yet another announcement came over the Smarty Mart PA system. Aughh! Can't I have one minute without that infernal voice assaulting my ears! She'd grumbled and groused her way to the gigantic store, all the way up the snack foods aisle and down beverages as she loaded up her cart with supplies for the party, and now as she waited to check out.

Bonnie hated everything about the big discount store—but teen boys, especially athletes, have bottomless pits for stomachs, and snacks and sodas cost twice as much elsewhere, so she'd had to make the sacrifice. At least the food aisles were located far away from the clothing department, so she didn't have to look at what passed for teen fashions in this retail purgatory. She shuddered at what those might be like. Bad enough she'd caught a glimpse of some red-vested drone in Housewares who looked just like Mr. Barkin ...

She'd tried to push this chore off on one of the other girls, but had been rebuffed, and she was still peeved. "Another thing Kim Possible is going to have to answer for when I become sole captain," she muttered to herself, as she skimmed the Weekly Wonder's story about Starlet and Camille Leon's latest antics. "She's got those girls totally spoiled. This business of the captain doing more work than anyone else is just wrong. 'Bonnie, you collected the money, you have your own car, why don't you just go buy the stuff and run it over there yourself?' Like I have time for this!"

In truth, though, she had plenty of time. After her run yesterday, she'd hit the day spa for a salt glow and kelp wrap, so her tanned skin was all ready for the big bikini display. All she had to do was swap the lilac tank top and white shorts she was wearing for her new swimsuit and cover-up and she'd be all set for the party that afternoon.

The line moved a bit more; now she was almost at the register. Maybe she'd make it out of here without anyone she knew seeing her –

"Bonnie! Glad to see you've joined the ranks of the smart shoppers!"

Or not.

She lifted her gaze to look at the goofily grinning blond boy in gray cargo shorts and Zombie Mayhem t-shirt who was inspecting her cart. "Well, if it isn't Kim Possible's bargain-bin boyfriend. What are you doing here, helping K pick out her fall wardrobe?"

"Nah, KP had Monique help her with that." Ron gestured toward Bonnie's loaded cart. "Badical assortment of snackage you've got here, Bon-Bon. I approve."

Rufus popped out of Ron's pocket. "Snackage! Yum!" he chirped, and he leapt up into Bonnie's cart.

Bonnie grabbed the mole rat by the tail and flung him at Ron. Rufus managed to arrest his flight by hooking a claw on Ron's shirt and pulled himself onto the boy's shoulder, from which perch he blew a raspberry at the brunette.

"I can't tell you how much your approval means to me, Stoppable. Oh wait, I can: Less than nothing. Now, keep your freaky pet away from this stuff. It's for the cheer squad party."

"Oh right, the big bash. The Ronster and his bon-diggity GF are ferociously amped for it. We'll be there with bells on. Well, we won't actually be wearing bells … I mean, I could, if I wanted to … I do have a Snowman Hank sweater with real bells sewn onto it … it's not the kind of thing I'd wear to a pool party, though … someone might sic the fashion police on me!"

Rufus clutched his sides and laughed hysterically at his human's joke.

Bonnie let out an exasperated sigh. "Stoppable, you are so—"

"Attention Smarty Mart shoppers! Brainstorm in Aisle Twenty-two! Compact fluorescent light bulbs …"

"Ooh, sorry Bonnie, love to stay and chat some more, but Rufus and I gotta get in on that action. We're all about saving the world's energy. See you at the party!" Ron raced off, weaving through the crowd of shoppers like a football running back dodging tacklers.

"What does it say about this place, that that loser actually seems to fit in here?" Bonnie mused as she returned her attention to the Wonder. Then it was finally her turn at the register.

The drive to the party site brightened her mood somewhat. She loved the admiring glances she drew in her new car on this beautiful, sunny day, with the top down and her brunette tresses flowing in the wind. "I guess it can't hurt to see what we have to work with at Nerd Boy's," she admitted. She turned onto Aspen View Road and headed up the hill; soon she was pulling into the driveway of the farmhouse. Once out of her roadster, she climbed the porch stairs and rang the front door bell.

No one answered, so she rang it again. Come on, she thought impatiently.

After waiting another minute without result, she went back down the porch steps and walked along the driveway. Reaching the end, she could see over the fence to the pool area behind the house. She noticed someone cleaning the pool, a tanned, brown-haired boy clad only in khaki shorts.

A smile formed on Bonnie's lips as she watched as the boy vacuum the bottom of the pool. Ooh, now I'm glad I made this trip. Pool Boy's kinda cute. He was slim, but with nicely toned arm and back muscles.

The boy turned slightly and noticed her, and she saw his face. Whoa! That's Nerd Boy! What's going on here? He didn't have those lats at the lake last month.

"Oh! Hi, Bonnie," Kevin said. "You got the snacks for the party? Tara called and said you'd be bringing them by."

"Uh, yeah," Bonnie said. "Come get them out of my car."

"Sure thing," Kevin said, setting the long-handled pool vac aside. "Just let me find my shirt –"

"Oh, don't go to any trouble on my account, Kevin," Bonnie said. "I've seen guys with their shirts off before. Just get over here and unload my car."

Kevin shrugged and headed toward her. Once he opened the gate, he saw the white convertible with the large pile of Smarty Mart purchases in the back seat. "Sweet ride, Bonnie. Yours?"

The tanned brunette nodded. "Yeah, a divorced parent guilt bonus. I just picked it up a few days ago."

Kevin hefted two large bags stuffed with snacks and carried them back to the picnic table by the pool. As he passed in front of her, Bonnie could see that he'd grown slightly taller since the day at the lake, too. He now stood a hair higher than her own five foot six. She picked up a bag of nacho cheese flavored popcorn and followed, checking out Kevin's new muscles all the way.

Not too bad at all. If he was about eight inches taller, and worked out for five or six more months, he'd be well on his way to hotness. But he's still a nerd.

Kevin put his bags down on the table and Bonnie set her burden down too, then she sauntered over to the edge of the pool. Slipping off one of her flip-flops, she dipped her toes in the water. "You can get the rest," she said over her shoulder to Kevin. "Big, strong boys carry things, not delicate girls."

"I'll remember that if any delicate girls show up," Kevin said under his breath as he went back to the car to get the rest of the snacks.

Bonnie looked out over the water and the scenic view of the surrounding hills. Quite the setup here. I can see why Tara was so hard to find all summer. And Nerd Boy … buffer, tanner, longer hair … I think he's starting to believe his hype. Bet I can shake his confidence, though.

When Kevin finished unloading the car, Bonnie returned to the table. "It's so sweet of you to let us use your pool, Kevin. We would've had to cancel the party otherwise."

"No prob. I know Tara was looking forward to it."

"Yeah, T does love to flirt with the hotties." Bonnie gestured toward the sliding doors. "So, there's a room the squad can use, right? Some of the girls may want to bring their suits and change when they get here."

"Sure, there's a spare bedroom you guys can use."

"Great. And your 'rents won't be bothering us too much?"

"Don't worry, Bon. My mom's out of town," he glanced up to where the space station orbited high above, "and Dad'll probably watch baseball. Or golf. Or both."

"Glad to hear it. Some parents don't seem to realize we're practically adults now." Bonnie let her gaze drop down to Kevin's bare chest and stomach and smiled wolfishly. "Well, guess I don't need to ask what you've been up to these past few weeks. You've got the beginnings of a nice little bod going on there."

Kevin blushed. "Yeah, I've been lifting with Steve three times a week."

"I bet Tara likes the results."

"She's been very supportive, taking me for trail runs in the hills and stuff."

"Oh, so this was all her idea. That fits, T's always liked her beefcake. It figures she'd put you on a workout program …"

"That's not the reason. It was my idea … mostly."

Bonnie arched an eyebrow. "Mostly?"

"Well, when I realized how into exercise Tara was …"

The shapely brunette began to laugh. "Riiight. Let me guess, she batted those big blue eyes at you and told you she liked you just the way you were, but somehow an extreme makeover still seemed like the Best Idea Ever. Oh yeah, she's good."

"Tara did not manipulate me, Bonnie," Kevin said indignantly.

"Oh no, of course she didn't … not consciously. Tara's just so darn sweet and sincere, it just sorta happens. Now me, I can manipulate a BF and he'll never know I'm doing it. But only T can do it without even realizing it herself."

"Look Bonnie, I know you don't like the idea of Tara and me …"

Bonnie's teal eyes opened wide. "Oh, that's not true at all, Kevin. Okay, sure, I was surprised at first when I found out, but that's 'cause I thought she and Jason were so good together. But I see now you're a cool guy. I can see you being really popular next year after you and T call it quits."

"Not gonna happen, Bon-Bon."

Bonnie bristled at his use of her nickname, but kept her composure. "Oh come on, Kevin, be sensible. You've had Tara pretty much to yourself all summer, but what do you think is going to happen when school starts in a few days? Just like every year, she's going to be hit on by every hottie in school. I think she dated sixteen different guys last year, you really think you're going to be The One now and forever?"

Kevin looked uncomfortable. "Well …"

Sensing weakness, Bonnie continued. "Besides, it's not like you won't have your own options. Being a Tara ex, and with the new look, you'll rank way higher on the Food Chain than you used to. You might even land a cheerleader, I can name two or three girls from our JV squad who'd give you a test drive. Provided Tara gives you a good report … which I'm sure she'd do, she hardly ever talks down her exes. As long as you don't, like, go all stalker-ish and boil her bunny or something, you should be fine."

Kevin shook his head. "I don't think you know Tara as well as you think you do, Bonnie."

Bonnie grinned her predator's grin. "We shall see, won't we? Well, I have to go home and make myself even more beautiful for the hotties. Later, G-man."

"Bye Mom, Daddy, I'm off to the beach bash. See you tonight," Tara called, on her way out the front door.

"Bye, sweetie. Have fun at the party!" Jill Monroe said, coming to the foyer from the kitchen.

"Call me if you need a ride back," Mark Monroe added as the door shut behind his daughter.

Tara walked quickly along the now familiar route to her BF's house. She'd planned on arriving early to help him with any last minute setup, and maybe get in some private fun (read: kissing) before the rest of the squad and the others arrived.

Switching her tote bag from right hand to left, she looked down at it. The bag contained her towel, coverup, sunscreen, and two bikinis. Why two? Because her desire to upstage Bonnie in the bikini contest came and went from moment to moment. She was determined that Kevin would get to see her in the new black one before the summer weather fled the area, but she was reluctant to show off so much skin to a crowd of boys. The only decision she'd made so far was to put the decision off to the last possible moment.

She reached the farmhouse and let herself in to the pool area through the back gate. She saw Kevin setting some bowls on the picnic table. "Hey there, hotness," she said, giving him a quick kiss. "I came early to help set up."

"Hi, Tara," Kevin said. "I think everything's ready. The sodas are in the ice, chilling, and I've got these bowls for the chips and stuff, we just have to open the bags when people get here."

"So Bonnie was here already?"

Kevin sat down on one of the poolside lounges. "Oh yeah, Bonnie was here, all right."

"Uh oh, what's with the tone? Did she say something?"

"She was going on about how you're sure to dump me once school starts and the hottie jocks start coming on to you."

Tara opened and closed her mouth twice before finding her voice. "Oooh, that girl is so in for it now!" She sat next to him and put her arms around him. "Please don't believe her, Kevin. I'm done living by Bonnie's rules, I'm your girl now. I am off the market. I'm so far off the market, I'm out of the market's area code …"

"Tara, shush, it's okay" he said, resting one hand on her hip and rubbing her back with the other. "I know she was just trying to mess with me. It didn't work. I accept that you like me. I may not totally understand it, but I accept it."

"Oh," she said. "That's good. So I don't need to reassure you?"

"Nah. I'm good."

She looked down at her lap for a moment, then turned her azure eyes back on him. "Well … can I reassure you anyway?"

"Hmm, guess it couldn't hurt," he said, pursing his lips to accept her kiss.

They were still kissing when they heard doors open and close in the driveway. Getting to their feet, they saw Jess and Steve getting out of a blue SUV bearing "Farley's Frozen Rope" logos on its doors. Their friends came through the gate hand in hand, with Jess toting a bag similar to Tara's.

"Hey guys," Tara said, before spotting the sullen expression on Jess's face. "Something wrong, Jess?"

"Yeah," Jess said. "Steve's just dropping me off, not staying. He just found out he has to miss the party."

"Oh no! What's the prob?"

"One of our employees flaked on us," Steve replied. "We've got a T-ball team party starting soon, and I've got to be there for it."

"That tanks," Kevin said.

"Well, I really just have to miss the beginning. I'll be done by four. But I want you guys to make sure Jess has a good time until I get back."

"Pfff. As if," Jess muttered.

Steve put his hands on her hips and pulled her close. "C'mon, Jess, don't be like that. You've got the sun, the pool, your friends, and I'll be back as soon as I can." He tipped her chin up and softly kissed her pouting lips. "Look, I have to get back to work. Just remember: the other guys can look at that slammin' bod of yours, but only the BF gets to touch, 'kay?"

Jess managed a smile and toyed with his thick, dark locks. "You betcha, slugger," she said huskily, and she kissed him back, meaning it.

With difficulty, Steve managed to get away and back into the truck, and with a wave backed out of the driveway and drove away.

Jess bonelessly poured herself into the lounge Tara and Kevin had vacated, put on her sunglasses and let out the kind of sigh that only a teenage girl can.

Tara looked at her squadmate, then at her boyfriend, then at her wristwatch. Noting the time, she cleared her throat and declared, "It's almost party time. We should probably change into our suits and get ready, Jess." It was easy to see that Jess wore nothing beneath her backless, plunging halter top, and there was little chance her bikini bottom was under her short-shorts.

With another long-suffering sigh, Jess stood up, grabbed her own bag, and followed her friend into the house.

Kevin followed the girls into the room he'd set aside for them. "Hey, Tara, wait a sec," he said. "You told me you guys usually get your coverups from your jock boyfriends, right?"

"Uh huh," Tara said.

Kevin picked up a blue t-shirt he'd left on the room's chest of drawers earlier. "My grandma Guberman back east gets a little confused sometimes. She sent me this shirt last year thinking a size XXL would fit me." He unfolded it and showed it to her. Large letters spelled out 'Chess Players Make Better Mates' across the front. "You can wear this if you want."

Tara beamed. "It's perfect! Thanks!" she gushed, and threw an arm around him and kissed him.

"You're welcome," he said, grinning.

"Okay, changing now," she said, motioning for him to leave. "Shoo, shoo."

"Oh! Right. Gotcha," said a furiously blushing Kevin, and he backed out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Jess started to take her gear out of her tote, then sat on the bed. "I don't see why I should bother with this," she said. "What's the point of staying here without my BF? Maybe I should go back and help Steve with the party."

Tara couldn't quite stifle a giggle. "You? With a bunch of little kids?"

"What? I'm good with kids!"

"Um, Jess? Remember freshman year? Health class?"

Jess glared at her friend. "So I dropped my flour sack a couple times! That means nothing!"

"Uh huh. Meant a lot to poor little 'Wheatney'. Anyway, you should stay. The whole gang will be here … and the boys will want to see your bikini."

"Ha," Jess scoffed. "Steve would, no one else cares. They want to see you and Bonnie, I'm just 'the other blonde.'"

"Jess! That's so not true!"

"Sure it is. Sometimes I'm 'the one with the freckles.' At least they stopped calling me 'the flat-chested one.' I was really tired of hearing that."

"Oh come on, Jess, that was freshman year. Weren't you just telling Yvette how the boys at Mad Dog Picnic were drooling over your bikini? Even with Bonnie right there? You're hot, Jess, and Steve's far from the only guy who thinks so. Besides, I need you here today. Someone has to keep me from kicking Bonnie's biscuit."

"Oh, there's a real incentive," Jess said snarkily, but she began to undress as Tara unpacked her tote bag. "So, what'd Queen B do this time?"

"She was playing mind games on Kevin this morning when she dropped off the snacks, trying to make him think I'll dump him for a jock soon."

"Wow, that girl just never gives up, does she?" Jess commented as Tara laid her new black bikini out on the bed. "Well, if you ask me, showing her up with your new bikini will hurt her worse than kicking …" She tailed off as Tara then spread out her orchid print bikini next to the black. "Uh, T, why'd you bring that suit?"

Tara sighed. "I'm thinking of wearing it, and saving the new one for when it's just Kevin and me. I just wouldn't feel comfortable in the new one in front of so many people. I mean, if it was just the BFs, that'd be okay. Steve, Craig and Ron would be cool. But the extra boys … does anyone even know who Bonnie invited?"

Jess had her swimsuit top on and was just beginning to remove her shorts when she looked up, blue eyes open wide. "Oh! That reminds me, I meant to tell you earlier …"

"What?"

"I heard a rumor at the Rope just before we left … someone said Bonnie invited Jason Morgan."

Tara looked stricken. "She didn't!"

Jess nodded. Then the two girls heard the sounds of car doors and voices outside. People were arriving for the party.

to be continued …