CHAPTER 9 – Fireworks

Middleton Days Parade

Kim stopped and turned to her companion uncertainly, just as the pair reached the assembled floats. They had been walking in companionable silence since they had finished speaking to Wade, but her emotions were in turmoil as she thought of Ron. Somehow, in the dark, the aggressive possessiveness that she had displayed during the afternoon had faded and she looked back at her earlier predatory behavior as if looking at a stranger.

She had felt a shiver go through her when Ron won the prize for her at the shy. In all the years they had known each other, she thought that she understood her childhood friend and his talents. But now she was feeling something totally new. He hadn't seen the blush that appeared on both her cheeks when he threw the final ball. And the look on his face when he first saw her dress that evening was burning in her imagination. Some part of her wanted to take their relationship to a higher level that very evening, while another part was terrified at the strength of her feelings and of her body's reactions. She knew that she had fallen hard for him, and she was scared of what that would mean for their relationship in future. A feeling of confusion and dread filled her as she realized that she hadn't once asked him how he felt about her.

"Ron," she asked hesitantly. The boy turned to her. Her dress left as little to the imagination as her parents would tolerate, and once again he forced himself to look her in the eye. When she remained silent, Ron took her hand.

"What is it, KP?"

In a small voice, Kim whispered, "Do you love me?" The words took the boy by surprise. He was unsure how to respond.

"Kim, I've … I've loved you since we were both at Pre-K, you know that."

"No Ron, I don't mean … that sort of love. I mean … like boy and girlfriend?"

A haunted look crossed Ron's face but in the dark, Kim failed to notice his reaction.

"Kim, I …I," he began. "We've only been dating about ten hours. Isn't it a bit, well, early for this?"

A tear fell from her eye and rolled down her cheek. "But I know I love you, Ron," she pleaded.

Her boyfriend watched her face crumple and a swirl of emotions raced through him. "How do I feel about her?" he asked himself. "She's gorgeous and sexy tonight, and I could live off those kisses forever. But is that love?"

He wanted to reach out to her and reassure her that he would never hurt her, but something – or more precisely, someone – held him back. His own feelings were in turmoil too as he thought of Tara.

I should have told Kim much earlier that this was a mistake.

How did everything get so messed up?

The look of defeat on Kim's face triggered long-standing feelings of protectiveness in him. He reached out and drew her to him, holding her close, rubbing her back, trying to reassure her with meaningless sounds

Out of the corner of her eye, Kim saw Josh and Tara bearing down on them. Tara was looking stunning in her elegant princess outfit, and Kim suddenly felt under-dressed and overshadowed. Thank goodness that Tara was not alone this evening, and she'd never told Ron of Tara's earlier interest in him, but to Kim she still posed a serious threat, especially dressed like that. Kim's eyes narrowed as she looked at her rival, her Kimness banishing her self-doubt. She pulled Ron towards her, taking him by surprise, and tilted her head up for a kiss.

As their lips met, Ron groaned and once again he closed his eyes and tasted the sweetness of her kisses.

If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with. Even if you are feeling like the world's biggest louse.

Tara watched the pair, observing that it had been Kim who had deepened the hug into a clinch.

She did that deliberately! She knew I'd be upset. How dare she!

Tara turned to Josh and smiled. He smiled back, the smile deepening as she murmured, "Kiss me." He was only too ready to oblige and took his date into his arms, lips parting as her arms went around his waist and pulled him tight. Josh felt Tara's arms loosen their tight grip on him as he came up for air. It was then that he recognized the other pair.

"Oh, hi Ron. Hi Kim," he said, pleased to see his friends. "Great evening, isn't it?"

The three others digested the situation. Tara was the first to break the silence.

"Josh has been such a great date tonight," she grinned at Ron, then stared at Kim. "I hope your date has been as attentive," looping her arm in Josh's as she spoke.

Kim grabbed Ron's hand. "Oh, yes," she responded. "I've had plenty of Ronshine tonight." Josh grinned at Ron and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Come on, Josh, win me a cuddly toy." She pointed to the shooting range as she tugged him away from Kim and Ron.

Kim and Ron looked at each other. Kim was the first to speak. "Now where were we?" she asked meaningfully. And Tara seems spoken for, so I have you to myself! "Oh yes, I remember." She smiled at her boyfriend and grabbed him again. He was staring at Tara's back as she walked away, and Kim's eyes narrowed as she saw a look of pain cross his face. "Ron?" she said sharply.

He was saved from a response by the sound of the Kimmunicator. Looking cross, Kim pulled out the device from Ron's jacket pocket. "What is it, Wade?" she demanded.

"Kim, I've detected an electrical anomaly somewhere on the two of you. That's what's been causing the interference."

"What does it do?" Ron asked the techie. The genius responded. "Can't tell till I've analyzed it, but I can neutralize it if I can detect the source. According to my readings it's somewhere at neck level. Can you both check each other for anything unusual."

Kim and Ron stared at each other, then Kim grabbed Ron's jacket and pulled it off. Using the Kimmunicator as a torch, they looked carefully at the collar but there was nothing untoward. Kim examined Ron's shirt collar but found nothing either. She ran her fingers across the nape of his neck but nothing obvious emerged, except for the involuntary shiver that ran through her.

"My turn," Ron proposed. "Whatever it is, Wade, I'll bet it's nothing to do with Kim's dress – we were getting interference this morning before she wore it."

"That sounds right, Ron," Wade agreed. "Check Kim's neckline." Ron walked around Kim and looked carefully at her neck. As he reached her back he noticed a dim but intermittent flash in her hair.

"Wade, I've found something. Kim, don't move." With one hand, Ron lifted Kim's hair away from her neck. He could now see that the flash was coming from below the hair. He powered up the Kimmunicator torch function and pointed it at her neck. There it was – a tiny pink disk, almost unnoticeable against her skin. He frowned.

"What have you found, Ron," asked his companion.

"I don't know KP, but I'm sure it's not supposed to be there. It looks like some sort of tiny bug."

Wade appeared on the screen. "Ron, hold the Kimmunicator next to it. I'll zap it and capture its data so I can figure out what it's for and where it came from."

Kim was looking uncomfortable. "How long have I had a bug on me?" she wondered. "And what has it been doing to me?"

Ron watched as a tight beam emerged from the Kimmunicator and played over the bug. After a few seconds the beam ceased and Ron could see that the device was no longer glowing pink. "Looks good, Wade," he informed the techie.

"Now get this thing off me," Kim demanded. "No can do right now, Kim," said Wade apologetically. "Not till I'm sure that it's safe to do so. Give me a couple of minutes to analyze this and I'll get back to you." He broke the connection.

"Are you feeling any different, KP?" Ron asked hesitantly, watching his friend's uncomfortable expression.

Kim looked at Ron. She saw the concern on her friend's face, and smiled to reassure him despite her fears. They reached out and hugged each other. He turned her head to face him. "I know what will make you feel better while Wade is doing his stuff." His lips opened as he leaned in to kiss her.

No!

Ron pulled back at the look of shock on Kim's face. "What's the matter, KP?" he asked in alarm.

"Why are you trying to kiss me?" she demanded.

She looked around as if seeing the Middleton Days Parade for the first time.

"And what are we doing out here?"

Ron stared at her.

"You've never tried to kiss me before!" she exclaimed.

Ron felt like he was on a rolling deck in the center of a perfect storm.

"But we kissed just before. And this morning. And when we started our date."

"Date?" Kim cried out. "Why would I go on a date with you, Ron?" The two friends gaped at each other.

The Kimmunicator buzzed and two pairs of eyes looked at it.

"What's going on, Wade?" both Kim and Ron responded.

Wade had heard the previous exchange. He looked embarrassed.

"Guys, it looks as though this device was transmitting a theta wave that is tuned to the limbic system. Deactivating it has led to temporary amnesia."

"Okay Wade, pretend I don't know what you're talking about," the boy pleaded. The girl looked equally confused.

Wade took a deep breath. "Kim, your emotions have been controlled by this bug for I don't know how long. Until we get it off you, you won't remember anything that you have done under its influence. Was there any occasion recently where you could have had this bug implanted without your knowledge?"

Kim Possible looked aghast. "Wade, I don't remember anything about today at all! Or yesterday." Her face was pale. "Who did this to me?" She pushed down the feeling of panic that was threatening to overwhelm her.

"Hang in there, Kim," the techie pleaded. "We'll get the bug off you and your memory back. Ron, I need you to do something for me."

Ron shook himself out of a stupor. "What do you need?"

"Ron, can you find a pocket knife – I need you to lever this bug off Kim's neck without harming her."

"Onto it, Wade," the boy responded, running across to the nearest fair stall. After a few minutes conversation he returned waving a knife. Kim sat rigid as he painstakingly worked the tip of the blade under the bug.

"Hold it there," Wade ordered, causing Ron to freeze. "I need to check that there isn't a wire into Kim's brain. Switch the Kimmunicator to x-ray mode and point it at the bug for ten seconds. Leave the tip of the knife in place. But be careful – one false move with the knife and you could paralyze Kim."

"Thanks for telling me, Wade," Ron muttered. Kim looked Ron in the eyes. "Ron, I have faith in you." She smiled at him.

Not sure I have faith in myself though.

Carefully holding the knife in one hand, he maneuvered the Kimmunicator with his other hand and held it to the side of the bug. He counted to ten as he tried to prevent either hand from shaking. Just when he thought that he would have to drop something, Wade's voice intervened to tell him it was over and there was no wire. With a sigh of relief Ron put down the Kimmunicator. With a free hand, he was able quickly to work the blade under the rest of the bug until it fell off into his hand. Ron put down the knife and switched off the x-ray mode. He tipped the bug into his jacket pocket.

"Great work, Ron. I'll examine the bug tomorrow – I should be able to tell where it came from. Kim, your memories should be returning any minute now," the techie reassured her.

Kim looked across at Ron. She was still trying to process the idea that she had been on a date with Ron, and that they had actually kissed. Which villain would want to make this happen?

Suddenly, an image popped into her head of Ron's face as she walked down the stairs at her house. She looked down at the dress she was wearing. Omigod did I try to seduce Ron tonight?

With a rush, more memories flooded into her brain. The coconut shy, their encounter with Tara and Josh, and her reaction to seeing Tara. Her parents' reaction when she told them she was dating Ron. Walking through the town shopping for fancy dress. Writing hearts on a sheet of paper, with Ron's initials. Telling Mon that she loved Ron. Telling Ron that she loved Ron. Chasing him up and down the corridors. And the moment she kissed him for the first time in front of half the school.

She stared at Ron, his kind face full of concern for her. How had he felt when she … threw herself at him? She thought of their kisses, and a feeling of nausea filled her. I kissed Ron! Have I ruined our friendship? Does he hate me?

Or worse … Did I awaken feelings in him for me? Did he like kissing me? Can we ever be the same again?

She remembered Ron's hot breath against her mouth and the hardness against her thigh. She moaned in recognition that she had stirred sensations in him that she would never have intended to do.

And then she remembered the conversations with Monique about Tara, and the look on Monique's face when she saw Kim and Ron kissing. She must have told Ron about Tara's feelings for him.

With a rush of insight she recalled unspoken words, furtive glances and longing gazes that she had dismissed as Ron being Ron.

Ron has been crushing on Tara for ages! How come I didn't realize this until now? They were crushing on each other! And then I went and stole Ron away from under Tara's nose.

God, Tara must hate me!

Monique must despise me for being so shallow!

And when Ron realizes that I ruined his chance with Tara …

As she contemplated the train wreck that was the previous twenty-four hours, the dam burst and, arms around her knees, she began sobbing.

Ron watched helplessly as his strong, ever-optimistic best friend collapsed into tears in front of him. "KP," he said uncertainly.

"Go away," she wept. "Please, leave me alone. How can you bear to look at me after what I did to you today?"

Ron looked confused. He didn't think that she'd done anything to him.

He waited until her sobbing subsided, then handed her a clean handkerchief. She blew her nose and stared bleakly at him.

"So," he ventured. "The hugs, the kisses, the lovey-dovey …" She looked at him sharply. "None of it was real?"

She thought of the clinches they had exchanged. She searched for a feeling inside her that was more than just best friends. She remembered that he was a fantastic kisser. Could she forget the taste of his lips? That hadn't changed, had it? She could put her scruples to one side and tempt him into a relationship. But she knew that it was Tara who owned his heart, and she would never know if any of her feelings for Ron were true. She could not mess with his life any more than she had already done. It wasn't fair to either of them. For her, he had to still be Ron, not a boy.

"No, Ron," she spoke quietly. "None of it was real."

They looked up as fireworks exploded across the sky.

"Let's go home," she begged him. And they walked side by side away from the town center, each lost in their own thoughts.

Have I lost my best friend?

Kim or Tara? Neither. And did you seriously expect the outcome to be any different, Stoppable?

Author's Note: Concluding my take on Emotion Sickness. Villainy returns in the next Chapter.