Chapter 18: Dates Converge

Kim and Monique, deep in animated conversation, had just left Riverna's.

"I still don't believe it!" Kim's eyes were still wide.

"Goes to show what happens when you aren't paying attention, girl." Monique's voice was smug.

"Ron! My Ron! Dating! Dressing up! And maybe even a steady?" Kim's brain had clearly not digested everything.

"Didn't I promise you some news that would absolutely rock you?"

"Yeah but Ron, dating." Kim would have been ready to hear about the financial breakdown of the entire Club Banana Corporation, but this! This was shocking!

"What's so hard to believe?" Monique asked her. "He's a teenage boy after all. You might not have noticed but he is kind of cute and he's got a halfway decent body. All that time being the mascot and wrestling has really firmed that boy up. Then after receiving the benefit of MY expert fashion advice… Let's just say that it was only the fact that I was his professional fashion consultant kept me from making a play myself. Ethics, you know."

"Mon!!!"

Monique couldn't stop laughing. "Girlfriend, it's getting late and you've just had a jolt to your system. I'll walk you to the bus stop and we can talk tomorrow."

The two girls headed through the park for the bus stop. While Kim was perfectly capable of getting on the bus herself, Monique decided that she needed company due to the shocking news. Halfway through the park, Monique's cell rang. Monique looked at the ID.

"It's my mom," she said, "she must want to make sure I'm on my way home."

"We're almost to the stop anyway," said Kim. "I can go the rest of the way on my own. I'll call you tomorrow."

Monique waved to her while Kim left for the stop. She followed the sidewalk around a corner and nearly bumped into a young couple engaged in a display of affection. "Oh! Excuse m-", Kim said, then the young man's blonde hair looked familiar. Kim suddenly realized that he was "RON?"

Ron and Sue spun to face Kim; their arms still around each other.

"Kim?" Said Ron.

"Ron?" Said both Kim and Sue, looking at each other.

"Kim, Sue, Sue, Kim." Said Ron, shifting his glance between the two.

"Kim." Said Sue.

"Sue." Said Kim.

Then both girls faced Ron. "Ron?" They asked, at the same time.

"Kim," said Ron very pointedly, with a meaningful glance at Sue.

"RON!" Kim snapped back in a tone of indignant surprise.

"Kim!" Snapped Monique, just arriving on the scene.

"Monique?" Said Sue and Ron.

"Sue, Ron." Monique greeted the couple.

"Monique!" Said Kim, with a wide-eyed look at the couple.

"Kiiimmm." Monique replied, with a 'D'uh' expression.

"Monique!" Kim replied, staring flabbergasted at her friend.

"Kim." Monique said firmly, steering her friend back towards the bus stop and getting her moving. "Ron, Sue." She nodded to the couple as she and Kim left.

"Monique." The couple nodded back. Once they were out of sight, Sue turned back towards Ron. "Ron?" She asked.

"Let's not start that again," he answered. "Should I just walk you home now? I think we've lost the momentum."

Sue giggled, blushed, and slid reluctantly out of Ron's coat. The two hesitated before putting their arms around each other and strolling towards Sue's home. "By the way," she asked, "just what was that back there?"

Ron thought for a moment before replying. "That was the fourth weirdest conversation I've ever been in."

"Fourth?"

"Okay, maybe tied for third."

In the meantime, Monique had forcefully delivered Kim to the bus stop. "Now," she said, "can you get off the bus, at the right stop, by yourself or do you need me to take care of that?"

"Monique." Kim replied, with confused, wide eyes.

"Let's not start that again," said Monique. "Didn't I tell you that Ron was a guy? Just because you've never thought of him that way doesn't mean every girl's been blind."

Kim shook her head. "But what were they doing back there?"

Monique just gave Kim a level look.

"Oh!" Blushed Kim. "They were…" Monique nodded. "Then I…" Monique nodded again. "Ron's gonna be mad."

"Looks like I'm not the only one you better call tomorrow." Said Monique. "You gonna be okay now?"

Kim nodded. "I just want to go home."