Author's Notes: As usual, italicized text denotes active thought. A big thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. It was my most reviewed chapter yet. I would also like to send a thank you out to Ghostwhiter for beta reading for me.

Shego had been lounging on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean enjoying the sunshine and tropical setting with a handsome young man. She had asked him for a drink and he had gone to the cabana set just behind them. Just as he pushed the button for the blender she was jerked from her fantasy by the alarm clock's harsh buzzing. Ron and Shego woke with a shared yell as the alarm clock blared to life on Monday morning. Shego's gut reaction was to destroy what had interrupted her from a rather nice dream.

"No!" Ron yelled as Shego's plasma engulfed hand slapped the offending device off of the nightstand and sent it flying into the wall. All before the sleep had even left her eyes. "Now I have to buy a new one," he whined.

"Ugh, sorry Sport," Shego grumbled as she yawned and stretched. "But it wasn't me who kept you up late talking to Princess for half the night trying to patch things up."

"You and Bonnie were the reason she was so riled up," Ron stated a bit angrily with a yawn of his own; they are contagious after all.

Shego just shrugged her shoulders. "It's not like she should expect me to make nice with her after all we've been through. And she wasn't a saint in the matter either," Shego stated as they crawled out of bed.

"I suppose," Ron agreed, properly chastised, "The makeup comment was a low blow."

"Doy," Shego growled in agreement. They got ready for their first day of school and headed downstairs where Ron and Rufus once again proved their indomitable appetites. Shego had finished healing and wasn't as hungry as Ron, though she did pack down quite a bit of food herself with her plasma powers constant need for fuel.

"So what are your plans for the day Ronald?" Mrs. Stoppable asked as she put on her coat. It was nearly time for her to head out to work herself. Mr. Stoppable sat in his usual morning spot at the head of the table, his nose buried in the business section of the newspaper.

"The usual Mom," Ron stated after swallowing the last of his milk. "School, cheer practice, Bueno Nacho, and homework."

"Well remember your father and I will be working late again," she stated.

"I know Mom," Ron said with a sigh. "It would be easier to tell me when you're going to be home," he thought. He scooped up their plates and deposited them in the sink for cleaning when he got home.

"Well you two have a good day at school," Mrs. Stoppable started, "and Shelia, don't let Ron get you in any trouble. The boy can't seem to stay out of detention lately."

"Really?" Shego stated a bit surprised. "Ron Stoppable, miscreant and trouble maker? I have to find out what this is about." she thought.

Mrs. Stoppable nodded her head slowly. "Isn't that right Ronald?" she asked.

"Yes mother," Ron said dramatically.

Mrs. Stoppable nodded her head and headed out the door into the garage. Ron and Shego went upstairs and brushed their teeth. Ron grabbed his book bag filled with homework he had neglected to do due to the circumstances of the weekend and they headed out the door. They took the truck to school. Kim was picking up Erik and Ron didn't think it would be a great idea for him to ride with her considering the way Kim and Shego were getting along. Or, more appropriately, not getting along.

Ron pulled into the parking lot at Middleton High School and they got out and headed towards the building. "Time to face the Barkinator," Ron said, his game face on.

"Who?" Shego asked curiously.

"Oh. Mr. Barkin. He's our vice-principal, but our principal has been on vacation for a while so he's filling in until she's back. We'll have to tell him we're stuck together or he'll have me in detention for the rest of the year for breaking the PDA policy."

"Is that why you're getting so much detention lately," she asked curiously with a raised eyebrow.

"Umm, no," said quickly. "Here's his office," Ron stated as they entered the school's office.

The school secretary looked up from the reports she was filling out. "Mr. Stoppable, this is a new record for you. Being sent to the office before the school day even starts."

"I didn't get sent here Mr. Schultz, I need to talk to Mr. Barkin," Ron stated.

"He's right behind you," Mrs. Schultz stated, pointing her pencil over his shoulder.

Ron gulped as he and Shego turned around, "Mr. Barkin."

Mr. Barkin looked down at Ron standing hip to hip with a female student, a definite violation of the school's PDA policy. "Explanation, now Stoppable!" he said gruffly.

"This tanks!," Ron said dramatically. The meeting with Mr. Barkin had been very short. Ron had said they were stuck together with a Bondo ball and 'Shelia' had to fill out a few forms and they were on their way. But not before Mr. Barkin said he looked forward to seeing them in his fifth period gym class. "I can't believe he's making us take P.E. like this, even if it is a coed class."

"He seems to be a bit of a hard ass," Shego said in agreement.

"He actually seemed nervous today though. I guess he's having a hard time with the girl/boy bonding thing," Ron stated.

Shego nodded her head before speaking, "At least he said we could use the coach's locker room so we'll have some privacy."

They were getting odd looks as they walked down the hall and people were whispering about 'Ron's new girlfriend'. Ron could tell that it was beginning to annoy Shego. "She's probably embarrassed that she's stuck to the school's black sheep," he thought. "It's OK Shelia, don't let them get to you. I'll ask Monique to make sure the gossip circles know that you aren't my girlfriend, just another unfortunate victim of my carelessness."

Shego was visibly upset now as people began to stare openly. "Take a picture meathead," she quipped at a jock that was staring at her with his mouth half open. People along each side of the hall averted their stares and the whispering quieted as Shego glared daggers at them. She turned back to Ron with a frown, "It's not that Ron, I just don't like people gawking at me," she stated unhappily. "It's like my high school when I first turned green all over again," she thought.

"Try to ignore them, that's what I do when they're being mean," Ron said with a shrug.

"Easier said than done," she mumbled as she crossed her arms.

"Hey KP!" Ron yelled to his best friend as he spotted her at Erik's locker.

Shego sighed as Ron pulled her over to Kim. She blew a stray hair out of her face and looked up towards the ceiling, ignoring Kim's presence.

"Hey Ron, did everything go OK with Mr. Barkin," Kim asked.

"You know it Kimilla," Ron said, trying to sound cool. "Mr. B. isn't going to pass up a chance to torture me with school work."

"You got her there Ron," Erik said with a grin as he shut his locker.

Ron grinned as Kim cleared her throat. "Something wrong KP?" he asked.

"No, I'm just going to walk Erik to class. I'll catch up with you in History," Kim stated sheepishly.

"Oh. OK KP, I'll catch you later then," Ron said, trying not to sound hurt. "We'd better get going, I'd don't need to be late again and get another detention."

"Alright, see you later Ron!" Kim said.

"Later Ron!" Erik echoed.

Shego looked over to Ron as he walked to class dejectedly. "He looks like a puppy that just got kicked," she thought. "You alright Sport?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he answered unconvincingly.

"You want to talk about it?" she pressed.

"I'm fine," he stated again.

"Maybe later?" she asked.

"Maybe," he answered.

"Oh yes, we will be talking about it later," she thought as they entered the classroom. They walked up to the teacher's desk and handed her the note that Mr. Barkin had given them explaining the situation.

Mrs. Farthing took a moment to read the paper before handing it back to them. "Welcome to Middleton High Miss Goldstein," she stated, looking at Shego over the top of her horn-rimmed glasses. "I hope you find your time here to be educational and enjoyable." She turned her attention to Ron. "You can sit in the back at the small table since it isn't feasible for you two to sit at a desk. This will not be an excuse for you to pay anything less than the utmost attention in my class Mr. Stoppable." She pushed her glasses further up her nose and continued reading the lesson plan in front of her.

Ron and Shego shuffled off to the back of the class while everyone else was beginning to take their seats. The Bondo ball situation wasn't new to most of the students as they had to deal with Ron and Mr. Barkin as well as Kim and Bonnie being stuck together the year before. The real item of interest was the pale young woman that Ron was stuck to.

Kim entered the class just before the bell rang and gave Ron a weak wave before she took her usual seat, Ron's empty beside her. She took out her books as Mrs. Farthing started the class.

"Please pass your assignments up to the front of the class," Mrs. Farthing began.

Ron groaned. "I knew that I forgot something," he thought.

"Mr. Stoppable, do you have your homework?" Mrs. Farthing asked, as he was the only one not passing up his assignment.

"Ahh. No Mrs. Farthing," Ron stated sheepishly.

"That's kinda my fault ma'am," Shego stated. "Ron had all his homework in his carry on luggage during the trip from Go City, but he had to check it so I could keep my purse and my bag with my medications as carry ons. Then the luggage didn't get put on the plane. I even had to buy all new clothes for school."

Mrs. Farthing looked skeptical. Ron Stoppable was the master of poor excuses after all. If it wasn't a giant poodle eating it, it was a group of monkeys tearing it apart, or he put it in his parachute instead of his backpack and it all blew away in the wind. Giant poodles indeed.

Bonnie spoke up, "Yeah, we went shopping with her." Tara shook her head in agreement, cinching it for the teacher. There had to be some truth to the story if Tara was vouching for it, she didn't have it in her to lie.

"I suppose you can have a two day extension. Hopefully your luggage will have made it back by then," Mrs. Farthing said curtly.

"Whoa, dodged that bullet," Ron thought. "More like was pushed out of the way." "Thanks, I owe you one Shelia," Ron whispered as Mrs. Farthing headed back up to the front of the class."

"I know," Shego whispered back with a smirk. "And I like it when you owe me," she thought, her mind drifting to the wonderful meal he had cooked her for Valentine's Day.

The other classes went much the same way until lunchtime rolled around.

"The Ron man has worked up a fierce appetite!" Ron said excitedly as they entered the cafeteria.

"Hnk! Yeah!" Rufus exclaimed in agreement, stretching from his late morning nap.

Shego couldn't really tell what they were so excited about. Even if the food was twice as good as it was in her high school it wasn't anything to write home about. "Yeah, whoopee. Now lets get some food," she said flatly.

Ron and Shego got their food from the lunch lady. Shego got a salad and Ron had a plate of goop, with noodles. They found a table and sat down.

Ron grimaced when he took a bite of his food. "Ugh, that's definitely not Bueno Nacho," he stated.

"Why didn't you just get a salad like I did?" Shego asked as she grimaced just from watching him. "I think a chunk of your meat just wiggled," she joked, pointing a fork at his plate.

Ron moved his food around, checking it. "Salads are the only thing worse on the menu than the mystery meat," he said, making a 'yuck' face. "Hey, I wonder where KP is at?"

Shego just rolled her eyes, "Who cares? There's Bonnie and Tara," Shego said. She waved at them and they stopped and spoke to each other for a moment before heading over and sitting across from them.

"Hi Shelia, hi Ron!" Tara bubbled.

Ron closed his mouth, regaining his composure after the surprise of Bonnie and Tara joining them. They all exchanged pleasantries while the people sitting at what was normally considered 'the head table' looked on with surprise. After a moment a few of them went over and sat at the table by Bonnie. Then more followed until the table was full.

One of the linebackers, Mark Stanson, headed over looking for a spot. He frowned when he saw Ron and walked over behind him and leaned against the table. "Hey loser, you're in my spot," he growled.

"Get lost meathead," Shego spouted as Ron swallowed his food.

"Oh, you're the chick stuck to the dork huh? You're pretty hot, too bad you're stuck to him instead of a real man," Mark said, leering at her.

Shego pointed the carrot stick she was eating at him. "A real man? Because you have muscles? Are you sure you aren't just overcompensating?" She held up the carrot and loosened her fingers, gathering a laugh around the table as it rotated forward and pointed downward.

"Bitch. You need to learn the pecking order here," he snarled. He went to knock over Ron's drink only to have Ron block his hand and shove him back away from the table.

"She told you to get lost, meathead," Ron said as Shego stood up with him.

Mark's face turned beet red in anger and his mouth twisted into scowl. He went to move forward when a hand descended on his shoulder. "Is there a problem here Stanson?" Mr. Barkin asked fiercely.

"No coach, we were just joking around," Mark stammered.

"Since you have so much energy we should do some extra laps during practice after school," Mr. Barkin said. He looked at Ron and Shelia, standing there with scowls on their faces before he steered Mark to another table. "You don't know how much pain and humiliation I just saved you from kid," he thought as he continued his 'rounds' of the lunchroom.

Everyone at the table looked away as Ron sat down, quietly eating their food. "That was really brave Ron! Wasn't it Bonnie?" Tara said, beaming at him. All heads swiveled towards Bonnie, drones waiting for the Queen B's judgment.

Bonnie chewed slowly and swallowed her bite of food before nodding her agreement. "Yeah, it was brave. Mark was being a jerk," she said lightly rolling her eyes.

The rest of the table started talking again, a few complimenting Ron for standing up to Mark. Shelia smiled at Ron as the students at the table returned to their own conversations.

"So Shelia, did Ron tell you about the Spirit Week Dance we're having Friday?" Tara asked cheerfully.

"No, he forgot to mention it," Shelia stated apprehensively.

Ron coughed, choking on his soda a little bit. "Oh yeah. Sorry about that. I should have told you about that. I promised KP a couple of weeks ago I would help her decorate the gym Friday afternoon," he said sheepishly.

"So did you ask anyone to the dance yet Ron?" Bonnie asked innocently.

"Umm, no not yet," Ron stammered.

"Time to break out 'the list' Mad Dog?" asked Jason Morgan with a friendly grin, razzing him a little.

"List? What list?" Shego asked, a little puzzled.

"Ron always asks the same girls out for each dance in the same order," Jason said. "And then he usually ends up going stag with Kim."

Bonnie rolled her eyes at Jason. "I don't think he'll have a problem getting a date," she stated. Tara nodded her head in agreement. "In fact I can guarantee it," Bonnie thought to herself.

"Yeah, I guess," Ron gulped. "Well, no use prolonging my agony," he thought. "Umm, Shelia will you go to the Spirit Week Dance with me? I mean, unless you have to go back home before then," Ron asked sheepishly.

Bonnie was a bit stunned and looked on as Shelia flushed and a smile crept onto her face. "He always asks the prettiest girl first.." Bonnie thought with a frown. "He always asks me first."

"Sure Ron, if you really want me too," Shego said.

"Booyah!" Ron said thrusting his free hand in the air as Jason laughed and high fived it. The bell rang and people began leaving the table to return to class. Ron led them from the cafeteria to the gym for P.E..

Shego stopped him as they headed towards the gym. "You didn't have to ask me to the dance just because we're stuck together."

"I didn't," he responded. "I stuck to the list."

"I'm on the list?" she scoffed.

"Since you're going to Middleton High right now and might be around, then yeah." He paused for a moment, "I always ask the prettiest girls first."

Shego blushed as they began walking again. "Thanks Ron," she said as she grinned. "He thinks I'm the prettiest girl in the school? Take that Possible!" she thought as her grin widened into a genuine smile.

Mr. Barkin had arrived just before them and ushered them into the coaches' changing room. "I had one of your uniforms brought from your locker Stoppable. Miss Goldstein, there is a new set in there for you as well," he stated in his usual gruff tone.

They changed into their shorts and t-shirts and headed out into the gym a little late, ignoring the whispered gossip from the students already in the gym. Ron and Shego took a place in the back row. Mr. Barkin led the class through stretches, jumping jacks, pushups, and various other exercises, taking time out to bellow at a student that was slacking. People got their exercise in Mr. Barkin's gym class.

"Alright people," Mr. Barkin barked. "Today we start track. First thing we will start with is the two-mile run. Let's get to it people!"

Ron and Shelia lined up on the indoor track with the rest of the students. Mr. Barkin blew his whistle starting them out on their run. Shego and he were both breathing heavily as they ate up the laps, concentrating to stay in step with each other. "Booyah," Ron panted on the 15th lap. "One more to go!"

Shego smiled, breathing heavily. She was enjoying this little run. "Two miles is a little short, but at least Ron was keeping a decent pace," she thought. A smile crept to her face as they neared the finish line. She caught Mr. Barkin's eye and held up one finger. Ron started slowing up as they reached the finish line.

"You've got one more lap Stoppable!" Mr. Barkin yelled.

"But Mr. Barkin," Ron began.

"Do you want to make it two?" Mr. Barkin interrupted.

Ron gritted his teeth and leaned forward a little picking up the pace. Shego wanted to smile, but she was breathing too hard with the quickened pace. "This is more like it," she thought to herself as her lungs burned. They sped around the track and collapsed on the sideline, gasping for breath, after they passed the finish line. Most of the other students were still running, even though Ron and Shego had run an extra lap.

"Get up, walk it off," Mr. Barkin yelled with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Ron rolled his eyes, gasping for breath like a fish out of water, but Shego nodded in agreement. "We.. have.. to.." she gasped, "Otherwise.. we'll.. cramp up..". They stood up and walked slowly around the outside of the track, catching their breath. The other students finished and Mr. Barkin called them all over to the center of the gym.

"Alright, good run people. Now ring the bell and then hit the showers," Mr. Barkin stated as he lowered the ropes. The students lined up behind the ropes and began to struggle up to the top.

Josh Mankey made it about half way up and began sliding back down. He struggled to keep going up, but couldn't make it. He held the rope and stood there, his face red from embarrassment. "Mr. Barkin.." he started.

"Two laps Mankey," Mr. Barkin said coldly. "If you can't climb you're sure going to be able to run." "I thought he'd do better, Mankey being just one vowel from monkey," he thought.

Ron shuffled his feet. "Umm, Mr. B. Should we just start running now?" he asked.

"You're going to at least try Stoppable, you and Goldstein both," Mr. Barkin said flatly. "Now get over here." Mr. Barkin held out the rope. "You first Stoppable." Ron grabbed the rope as Shego faced him, putting her arms around his neck. Ron's face turned red at the snickers of the student in line.

"Fifty says he won't make it halfway," Mark Stanson whispered to one of his friends, a little too loudly.

"I'll take that bet," Mr. Barkin bellowed. "You owe me fifty pushups if he makes it halfway." Mark closed his mouth as his face reddened. "Now up the rope Stoppable, and don't let me down," Mr. Barkin said flatly.

Ron grunted, pulling them off of the ground and a few feet into the air. His arms shook as he pulled them further up the rope and he stopped about a third of the way up and they slid back a little before he locked the rope with his feet.

"Come on Stoppable, you can do it," Shego said, trying to motivate him. "Pretend there's a nacho up there!"

"It's called a naco Shelia," Ron hissed through gritted teeth. He grunted pulling them up another foot or two. His face twisted into a frown as they slipped a little more.

"Quit feeling sorry for yourself and just do it!" Mr. Barkin bellowed.

Ron's face hardened in anger, not at Mr. Barkin, but himself for starting to give up. He gritted his teeth in determination and pulled them up hand over hand until he broke the halfway mark. The students below began cheering him on as he struggled up the rope. He tuned them out and concentrated on the rope. His arms were burning with the effort and he slowed down and stopped again. Shego saw his face falter a little and she hissed into his ear. "Pretend you're on a mission. I'm Princess and I'm hurt. You have to get me up this rope to get me some help. NOW!"

Ron let out a bellow and pulled fiercely at the rope gaining an inch and then more as he dragged them upward. His breathing was ragged and his whole body was shaking as he reached his arm up and slapped at the bell, ringing it loudly. Shego smiled at him as he lowered them down, letting his feet slide as they went hand over hand down. His arms finally had enough as he was halfway down and they slid down the rest of the way, landing on the mat a little roughly. "Alright Ron!" Shego said excitedly. She gave him a quick hug before realizing Mr. Barkin was there. They broke apart sheepishly.

Mr. Barkin smiled. "Good job Stoppable," he said loudly. "You owe me fifty pushups Stanson!" he yelled over his shoulder before turning back to face Ron and Shego. "You're up Goldstein," he stated. "I'll even let the hug go," he thought as Ron's jaw dropped.

Footnotes: I thought I would recommend some of the stories I have been following lately (and they update more often than I do). Bubbahotek's "Ronnie Diamond: The Case of the Monkey's Uncle", his sequel to "Ronnie Diamond Private Eye" is hilarious. I highly recommend both stories if you want a fun read. King in Yellow has yet another great story going now in "Double Minded". Quis Custodiet has hit us with an unexpected RonBon in "Cupid has Crappy Aim". Check them out and happy reading!