Chapter 39: Discussions

Monique let loose with a frustrated sigh. Classes had just ended for the day and she had found out absolutely nothing about Dessie. Not only that, but she had decided to snoop into Eric as well and had found out absolutely zero. What kind of teenager was unwilling to talk about their last school, or their parents, or their last town? It was like the two new students had only appeared the previous week. She checked her watch, 4:00. Ron would be pumping iron with Oscar and a few other hardcore mat-rats. He would quit around 5:30 or so. She would catch him then.

As she made for the doors, she spotted her best friend heading her way, for once without her new beau. Monique decided to make one last attempt at snooping.

"Hey Kim girl," she called. "WBUL."

Kim spun to face Monique, smiled, and asked, "WBUL?"

"What's been up lately? I haven't seen much of you for over a week."

"Oh, well I've been spending a lot of time with Eric, he's so great!"

"Yeah, " Monique was keeping her voice neutral. "What's the scoop on him, anyway?"

"What do you mean?"

"The usual gossip, girl! Where did he come from, what's he into, what do his folks do, all that stuff."

"Oh," Kim thought for a moment and looked a little perplexed. "You know, he's never really come out and said much about that. He did say that his dad was a scientist and was just finishing off some big project, but that was about it."

Monique stopped dead, forcing Kim to do the same. "You mean that you don't know anything more about your new boyfriend?"

"He's not my boyfriend, at least not yet. We haven't even really dated, just hung out together at lunch and before and after school. Our first date is going to be the Prom on Saturday."

"Even so, all you know is that his dad is some sort of scientist?"

"Well, yeah I guess so."

"That doesn't bother you?"

"Should it?"

Monique chose her words carefully. "Kim, I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but you're spending a lot of time with this guy and you don't even know where he lives?"

"I just haven't worried about it, I have such a good time with him! In fact, I'm going to be meeting up with him in a few more minutes."

This time Monique didn't chose her words. "Okay, Kim, I think we're close enough friends that I can be straight with you, what about Ron?"

"What about him?"

Monique glared into Kim's eyes. "You know, your best friend forever, the guy you were flirting with up until last week? Do you even remember the guy that backs you up on your missions?"

Kim looked indignant. "Of course I remember him, he's still my best friend!"

"Is he? You don't walk to school with him anymore, you don't walk back from school with him anymore, and you don't even sit with us at lunch anymore. What has happened to you?"

"Happened to me?"

"Yes, as in you and Ron were really close to getting together and suddenly you don't have time to even say hello to him anymore! What happened?"

Kim's face dropped. "Monique, I never intended to hurt Ron. It's probably best that this all happened now, before it could have been worse. Yes, I was flirting with him and he was flirting back and I was so ready to start dating. But then I realized that it just wouldn't work for us."

Monique was stunned. "Why not?"

Kim took a deep breath. "Ron just isn't…extroverted enough. I mean, you've seen the public life I lead; head cheerleader, president of multiple committees, world saving heroine. Ron's a great guy, but he just doesn't fit in to that kind of life. Take the mountain rescue mission we were on. Those reporters couldn't say enough good things about me, but he just slunk off and vanished."

"You dropped him because he isn't some kind of lens-louse?"

"I didn't drop him, we were never an item. The fact is that Ron's a great friend, probably the best there is but he just isn't boyfriend material for me. I need a guy that I can be proud of, a guy who'll stand up and look good next to me. Remember when we were clothes shopping for him? He wouldn't even wear that shirt that flattered his build. If I were to get together with him he would be uncomfortable with the fame and I would always be explaining why I was with him."

Monique's eyes were very wide. "You mean he's not good enough to date you?"

Kim was now angry herself. "What's wrong with me wanting to be with a guy I can show off?"

Monique gave up. "Kim, you're right. It's your life and if you want to ignore your friends to be with Eric, it's your choice. But I can remember a conversation we had a few months ago. You were feeling terrible because you had pushed the best friend anybody's ever had out of your life for the sake of a boyfriend. At that time you were really ashamed about doing it and you wanted him back in your life. I hope, for your sake, that you haven't hurt him so bad that he turns his back on you."

With that Monique spun on her heel and marched off, leaving a stunned Kim standing in the hall.

Monique was off work that night. Truth be told, she had arranged to work extra hours the last several weeks so that she could take all of Prom week off. Rather than wait for Ron at his place, she wandered to the library and finished her homework, then headed to the Weight Room. Her timing was just about perfect. The half-dozen hard core wrestlers were just leaving as she arrived. While she wasn't much of a fan of the sweaty smell that accompanied the mat-rats, she had to admit that the damp, clingy shirts looked good on some of the guys. Ron and Oscar were talking. She was about to ask Ron for a private conversation when Cindy swept in and claimed her boyfriend, leaving Ron to Monique.

"Hey Monique, what brings Middleton's greatest fashion expert to sweat central?" Ron greeted Monique.

"I'm not here as the fashion expert, I'm here as the information broker."

"Oh?" Ron looked hopeful, "I hope you've had better luck than I have."

"You took the words out of my mouth, Blondie. Dessie has no past that she's admitted to."

Ron's face dropped. "Yeah, the only thing she told me was that her mother is a security consultant of some sort. I've got no choice, I'm going to unleash Wade."

Monique looked around to make sure that they were alone. "Ron, have you thought about doing the same to Eric? I mean, doesn't it seem strange that this happened with Kim as well?"

A sad look came over Ron's face but for a different reason than Monique had expected. "Kim taught me a hard lesson the last time I stood between her and a crush." He explained. "While I might be suspicious, I'll never, ever interfere with one of her relationships again."

"What did she do?"

"I haven't even been able to talk it over with her. Sorry Monique, but until I can bring that up with her, I'm not talking about it with anybody else around here."

Monique nodded; she could respect that. "That's really too bad, since it looked like the two of you were heading…"

"Yeah, I thought so to. But I guess it's better that she brushed me off before that happened. So, are you heading to work?"

"No, I've learned to take Prom Week off. Most of the girls wind up looking spankin' in their dresses but there's always a few that don't, and some of them like to take it out on the nearest salesperson."

"Ah," Ron nodded, "and does yours look spankin'?"

"You better believe it! Like you said, I'm Middleton's greatest fashion expert."

"And who's the lucky guy who'll be escorting you to the event?"

Monique's smile weakened just a bit. "Nobody, it looks like I'm showing up on my own. That means the entire Middleton High male population is at risk."

Ron nodded. "Apparently the entire Middleton High male population has doubts about meeting your standards." Monique giggled. "That being the case, would you care to show up on my arm?" Monique's eyes popped open. "I am a bondiggity dancer!" Ron assured her, and did a graceful step to prove it.

"But…you and Dessie, I thought…" Monique stammered.

"Monique, I barely know her. I've always thought that you should attend formal dances with someone that you know."

Monique looked at him for a little bit. She'd never really thought of him that way before their conversation last night. He'd always been a friend and a friend of a friend. Going on a date with him would be just plain awkward with Kim…Then she remembered what Kim had said about Ron.

"No Ron," she said, "A Prom is a date, and I don't do the 'friendship date' thing like you and Kim." Ron's expression dropped a little bit, but he handled the rejection with good grace. "Now, why don't you try asking me again, and this time like a boy asking a girl for a date?"