Chapter 56: Kim's Conversations
Bonnie motioned for Kim to follow her to the school's front doors. Once there, Bonnie looked around to make sure that they were alone. She looked at Kim, then down to the ground, then back up, biting her bottom lip. She was clearly trying to say something but just couldn't seem to start.
"B, why don't you have a seat and think through what you're going to say?" Kim suggested, sitting on one of the steps.
Bonnie's feet were forced into action. She walked down a couple of stairs then sat on the top one. "I-I wanted to talk to you about before…" She stammered into silence.
"Before what, Bonnie?" Kim asked with a scowl.
"Before the prom, the first prom," Bonnie replied. She kept her face down, looking at a point on the ground in front of her. "I-I used to visit this website, it-it was dedicated to p-putting y-you down."
"Why, Bonnie?" Kim asked.
Bonnie sunk lower on the stair. "Because you were always so much better than me and I wanted to take you down a notch. So I was visiting this site, and someone asked me all sorts of things about you. One of the things that I told them was that you didn't have a boyfriend and you seemed to get sad whenever one of us, the cheerleaders, talked about our dates. Then you and Ron started to get closer and you didn't look sad anymore. The person on the site gave me ideas to keep the two of you apart."
"Why did you want to keep us from getting together?" Kim's question had a decided growling tone to it.
"It was the one thing that I had that you didn't!" Bonnie's head came up, tears in her eyes. "The one thing that I could do that you couldn't. I could talk about what Brick and I did on our dates and you couldn't match that. But if you and Stoppable got together?" Bonnie dropped her head again. "Imaging the dressing room talk. I'd say 'Brick and I went to Riverna's, then caught a movie and then went out necking at Lake Middleton.' Hope would say that her and Marty went to that indoor water park, turned heads in their swimsuits and spent a lot of time in the hot tub. Then you would say that you and Ron took a supersonic aircraft to Europe, parachuted into the Austrian Alps, snowboarded to some villain's lair, blew up some doomsday device, caught a bus to Vienna, talked to the world press, then hopped on another aircraft and made out all the way home. It's kind of hard to compete with something like that."
"You thought these missions were some sort of publicity stunt?" Kim refused to question Bonnie's attitude towards dating. That attitude came too close to the one that had put her together with Eric.
Bonnie looked down again. "I guess I knew that what you did was dangerous, but I could never really admit it to myself. Then Felix intercepted that video feed and I saw the two of you. I saw those beam thingies that the green lady was shooting at you and how they blasted chunks out of the walls and roof. I saw the beating that Ron was taking and I saw the robots all over the world. Then I knew that you weren't doing it for the attention."
Bonnie sobbed a couple of times and continued. "When I found out that Eric was working for the other side, I realized that I may have helped set you up for something. I…thought I'd better explain it to you."
"Bonnie," Kim replied. "Could you forward some of those emails to my website? I'm sure that Wade would like to investigate this." Bonnie looked up at her, uncomprehending. "If someone has a website set up to mess with me, they could still be gathering information and selling it to someone," Kim explained.
Bonnie nodded. "I really have to apologize to Ron." She continued. "I didn't realize how badly you guys can be hurt on these missions. When I saw him collapse I remembered back to just before the State Tournament, when he showed up with the injured hip and I had my friends…" Bonnie buried her face in her hands and started sobbing again. .
"Bonnie, did you know how badly Ron was hurt?" Kim asked.
Bonnie shook her head. "Not at the time, but after you guys put down the diablos I asked Brick about it. He's never had a Hip Pointer, but he told me how it messes up the guys who get one." Bonnie paused for a few deep breaths before continuing. "I hear Ron's seeing a counselor about kill-er, destroying those two robot things, is this true?"
"Yes," Kim replied. "He still thinks of what he did as killing, even if it was self defense and they weren't human, or even alive. He has nightmares about it."
"I hope he can get over it, I really do." Bonnie's sincerity caught Kim off guard.
Kim thought about it for a moment. "Maybe it's better that it bothers him a little," she said. "After all, you saw how he took Eric down. Would you want to slow-dance with a guy who could do that and not feel at least a little guilty?" Bonnie flinched.
"So, when are you going to apologize to him?" Kim demanded.
"This week, when I can get him more or less alone." Bonnie declared. "But I have to a-apologize to you, now, about breaking you guys up. W-we're rivals and all, and I knew that you guys were getting together and I knew that when you did you were going to be so happy and I…" Bonnie took a deep breath. "I just couldn't let you be happy. I wanted you to be miserable and look what happened."
Kim's fist was clenched and her arm was tensed, almost ready to unleash on the brunette. Kim looked down at her hand, forced her fingers open and deliberately relaxed the muscles in her arm. She sucked in a cleansing breath before speaking.
"B, did you even realize that there was a world out there, with important things happening in it, beyond our high school?"
"Of course, K," Bonnie replied. "But it wasn't real to me because I wasn't in on it! All I cared about was being the captain of the cheerleading squad, dating the best boyfriend, and being the girl that every other girl wanted to be and every boy wanted to be with. But seeing the two of you on that roof..."
"Made you grow up just a little?" Kim offered. Bonnie nodded, miserably.
Kim took a deep breath. "I've done the same thing." Bonnie's head snapped up and she stared at Kim with wide eyes.
"I didn't realize it until now, but what you did might have saved me a lot of grief," Kim began. "When Ron and I were flirting I was thinking the same thing. I mean, I was fond of him and I might have even loved him but I had the same view towards dating that you just described. After we rescued that couple, I didn't want to be with Ron for the sake of being with Ron, I was looking for a boyfriend to show off." Kim smiled. "Yes, I was thinking of the dressing room talk and how the two of us could probably clobber any story in there."
Bonnie and Kim shared a short laugh.
"We were close to getting together," Kim continued. "But I didn't want Ron, I wanted a boyfriend, and Ron was the best around."
"How did I save you the grief?" Bonnie asked, in a quiet voice.
"By keeping me and Ron apart." Kim answered. "Back when you kept us from getting together, I was still shallow about boys. If I had gotten together with Ron, then Eric showed up I might, might have dropped Ron too chase Eric." Kim saw no need to let Bonnie know how Drakken had come up with Eric's personality, and thus how probable her dropping Ron would have been. "If that had happened, even if Eric had been real, what would that have done to Ron and me? He's my best friend and it would have told him that he just wasn't good enough for me."
"So, you're not going to get together with him…that way?" Bonnie wondered.
"I don't know for sure," Kim said, climbing to her feet. "But if I do, I'm going to be pursuing Ron to be with Ron, not to have a boyfriend to show off." Kim smiled to herself. "That'll just be a pleasant bonus." Kim and Bonnie shared another short laugh.
"See you tomorrow, K, and I will apologize to Ron." She climbed to her feet then paused a moment. "By the way, I'm going to be the absolutely hottest girl at the make up prom and I'm going to be the squad captain before we graduate."
"You're welcome to try," Kim replied with a grin. "And I wouldn't have it any other way. See you tomorrow, B." This Sunday after the Prom, Kim promised herself. I will talk to Ron. I will be open and honest about everything. I don't care if he and Monique decide to start dating. I don't care if he and Yori decide to pursue a romantic relationship. I will simply tell him that I'm interested in him and we will see what happens at that point. He may turn me down, but at least I'll let him know how I feel.
With her mind made up, Kim felt much better about herself. She walked home quickly and spoke to her mother, who had 48 hours off after an extended shift. Mrs. Dr. Possible drove Kim to Smarty-Mart, laughing when her daughter put a scarf over her hair and donned a pair of dark sunglasses before going inside. The two women quickly picked up the items on Ron's list, paying for the purchase with the budget money Bonnie had given Kim. Once home, Kim quickly stowed the food items she had just purchased then headed for Ron's house to tell him that he was on to be the caterer.
Kim chose to duck through the woodland and approach the Stoppable House from the back yard. Walking through the quiet, twilight woods, she heard voices from Ron's workout space. Kim left the path and followed the voices to where Ron was sparring with Yori. Since the two of them hadn't seen her yet, she slipped behind a tree and watched them, quieting a pang of guilt by insisting to herself that she wanted to see just what these two meant to each other.
The two were wearing street clothes, training for a fight that might come upon them unannounced. Ron had clearly been pushing his accelerated healing, since he was almost up to the best level Kim had ever seen him. She watched for several minutes as the two maneuvered through the clearing, exchanging quick blows and combinations. Kim's irritation grew; this was their space, where they went to train and improve themselves. What was she doing here with him?
Kim watched Yori, who would be giggling one second, stern and lecturing the next, then almost…flirtatious the next second. Ron just smiled and pushed himself to his limits, sweat pouring out of him. After several more minutes, the woods grew dark and Ron and Yori walked, side by side, towards the Stoppables' home. Kim waited several minutes after the other two left, gathering her thoughts. Then she retraced her route so that she could arrive at Ron's front door.
Mrs. Stoppable answered the door and let Kim go upstairs. Kim found Yori in the Stoppables' spare room; Ron was in the shower. Kim took a deep breath and walked into Yori's room. It was time for her and Yori to have an honest conversation.
"Possible-san, it is good to see you." Yori rose to her feet and favored Kim with a small bow.
Do you really think so? Kim pushed the thought out of her mind. "So Ron's up to working out again?"
Yori's eyes widened in understanding. "So you observed us in the woods?" She sat on a chair and motioned for Kim to have a seat on the bed.
"Yes," Kim's voice had a decided edge, "Why didn't you tell me?" She took the offered seat.
"We did not know when you would be finished with your meeting." Yori said, confused by Kim's attitude. "When we finished with Ron-san's counselor we took the opportun-"
"That's not what I'm talking about!" Kim snapped. "Why didn't you tell me that he was strong enough to train?
"I did not realize that you were his parent, Possible-san." The sarcasm in Yori's voice was as unmistakable as it was unexpected. "Should we have asked your permission?"
"I am not Ron's parent," Kim grated at Yori, "I am his best friend of twelve years, his partner in Team Possible and every bit as concerned about him as you are! Just because I'm not using some cover story to keep myself within five feet of him at all times…" Kim snapped her mouth shut with an expression of almost horror.
"So that is the reason for this confrontation," Yori's voice was indignant. "You think that I am using my duty, my 'cover story,' to win over Ron-san's heart?"
Kim intended to simply glare at the other girl, but seeing that Yori's remark was an honest question as well as an accusation, Kim nodded her head.
"I told you before, Possible-san, that I make no secret of the fact that I am indeed interested in Ron-san, in that manner." Yori told Kim. "But two things prevent me from, as you would say, taking advantage of the situation."
The Japanese girl's eyes never left Kim's as she continued, "The first is the fact that it is my duty to defend Ron-san. I cannot perform my duty if I am attempting to win his heart. A choice between fulfilling my duty or seeking personal gratification is no true choice, at least where honor is concerned." And do you accuse me of being dishonorable? The Japanese girl didn't need words to ask.
This time Yori's eyes dropped to her hands, folded in her lap, before she spoke. "The second reason that I do not…press my advantage…is that it would be futile. Ron-san has already given his heart to another."
Kim took a couple of tries before she could speak. "Th-this date with Monique on Saturday doesn't mean that they're an item."
"It isn't Monique-san who holds his heart," Yori replied, with her face still down.
"Then who-" Kim began to ask, only to be silenced when Yori's face swung back up and the Japanese girl just looked at her until…
"B-but he said that he w-wouldn't," Kim began to protest only to be silenced by Yori's scowl.
"You are both Ron-san's most cherished dream and his worst nightmare," Yori explained to Kim. "You are his, how do you say it, dream girl. He admires you and desires you in every way that a boy may desire a girl." Kim blushed at that, but she also sat up a little straighter.
"But his nightmare," Yori continued, "is proving so unworthy of you that you cast him aside. He is terrified that you will find a better best friend or a better mission partner. He feels, however, if you find someone who is better at one of these things, he can continue to be the other for you." Yori literally speared Kim with her dark eyes, "However, he fears that if he is ever replaced as a boyfriend that will be the end of your friendship and partnership, as well. But, he already said this to you, hasn't he?" Kim nodded.
"Yesterday, Possible-san, you asked me if I were interested in him in that way," Yori's eyes were very intent. "You asked me as his best friend, who was concerned about him. Now I, as his friend and confidant, ask you the same thing. Possible-san, are you interested in Ron-san in that way?"
Kim didn't hesitate, "Yes, I am." Rather than embarrassing her, the statement filled her with pride.
Yori nodded before speaking again. "Then, as his friend, I must ask you this: Knowing that if another…gorgeous hunk…catches your interest, you may discard twelve years of friendship, will you still accept the risk?"
"Yes," Kim answered. "Because I've learned my lesson. I've learned that appearances and popularity are meaningless compared to loyalty and support." Kim favored Yori with a rueful smile. "While my eyes might get turned by a hottie, my heart never will again."
Yori nodded and stood up. There were tears in her eyes as she spoke again, "Possible-san, I wish you to know that I will continue to protect Ron-san. I will continue to be his friend and to help him train. But I will make no effort to win his affection. He has already given it to you. Please do not discard it, as it is the most precious gift one has to give."
"I won't Yori, and thank you." Kim's eyes were misting up, as well.
Yori managed a small grin. "Know this, Possible-san, if you ever cast him aside I will consider myself free to pursue his affection."
Kim matched her smile, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"So," Yori's voice was firm again, "will you join Ron-san and myself for training after school?"
"I'd love to."
When Ron got out of the shower, he was surprised to see Kim in Yori's room. Kim informed him of Bonnie's decision, and how he was now a caterer. Yori informed him that the three of them would be training together, when other commitments allowed it. Ron couldn't be sure, but a certain tension that he always thought existed between Kim and Yori seemed to have vanished.
A/N: Again, thanks to everyone who has read this story, and taken time to read and review. It's been fun, and there are still several chapters left to write, but the end is in sight. I think that I'll be finished within the next two weeks.
Thanks again to Joe Stoppinghem for beta reading.
daccu65