Author's Notes: Characters from the Kim Possible series are owned by Disney. As usual italics signify a character's active thoughts. I big thank you to Ghostwhiter for beta reading for me as well as to all my reviewers. I don't reply to many reviews unless they are thought provoking, I have limited time to write as it is. I sure do like reading them though. Now on with the show!
Shego's face contorted into a grimace as she flexed her arms to pull them up the rope. She lifted her body off the ground but as Ron's weight started pulling at her shoulders she slipped off. She stood up and let go of the rope. "He's just too heavy," she said to Mr. Barkin before looking over at Ron, "Maybe if you'd lay off the Bueno Nacho," she said with a grin poking him in the belly.
"Alright. Two laps Goldstein, and make them snappy!" Mr. Barkin said gruffly, though he still had a smirk on his face.
"I can't believe you made me run around the track twice!" Ron exclaimed, a little exasperated. They had finished their shower and were finishing dressing.
"What?" Shego asked sarcastically as she slipped her shoes on. "Did you expect me to pull you up the rope without breaking a sweat and tell everyone that I eat my vitamins and drink my milk like my Mommy told me too? I'm trying to act like a regular girl here, and plasma blasts and enhanced strength aren't going to help that image any." "It's bad enough my skin is the way it is," she thought.
"I suppose so," Ron said glumly before brightening, "But it would have been sooo cool to see the surprise on Mr. Barkin's face when you raced up and back down. I've seen you haul Drakken up harder climbs than that."
Shego shrugged her shoulders. "After a while the coolness factor of being a pack mule wears off," she stated flatly.
"Then why do you put up with that?" Ron asked.
"This really isn't the time Ron," Shego said as the two-minute bell rang. "We have to hurry or we'll be late for class."
They left the locker room and headed to their next class. "We'll have to take the short cut through D Hall," Ron said quickly.
"If it's the short way why wouldn't we?" Shego asked as they wound through the other students.
"Oh yeah. Force of habit," Ron said hurriedly as they turned to the hallway. They ran into Mitch and Travis, who seemed to be shaking Kim's cousin Larry down. Shego noticed Ron's face lose emotion as he obviously faked a stumble, running into Travis and knocking his books to the floor.
Travis whirled around quickly. "Watch where you're going you idiot," he growled as Ron picked up his books. As Ron looked up the snarl dropped from Travis's face and Mitch took a step back.
"Sorry about that Travis, I was in a hurry. Class is about to start. Let's go Larry or we're going to be late." Ron shoved the books into Travis's hands and stepped away, grabbing Larry's arm and pulling him along down the hallway. He turned to Shego, "There are a lot of bullies in D Hall."
Larry scurried along beside them, "Thanks Ron."
Ron continued on at a quick pace. "You know better than to try to cut through D Hall Larry," Ron stated.
"I know Ron," Larry whined. "But I was tutoring in the Band Room and we didn't hear the first bell. I didn't want to be tardy for my first time."
"It's not all that bad Larry, being tardy," Ron said with a grin as they stopped in front of Larry's classroom.
"You would know Ron, you've been the king of tardy these past few weeks from what I've heard," Larry said, pushing his glasses up with a friendly smile.
"Speaking of tardy, I better get going, see you around Larry," Ron said.
"Later Ron!" Larry said in his nasally voice before entering his own class.
The tardy bell rang just before Ron and Shego entered his next class. "Late again Stoppable?" the teacher asked. "This means detention. Again."
Ron sighed as Shego dragged him up to the teacher's desk and handed her a note. "There were extenuating circumstances," Shego stated. "At least I know why he's been getting detention so much. Always has to be a hero," she thought. The teacher scanned the note and handed it back to Shego.
"You're off the hook this time, but don't make a habit of it," the teacher said.
Ron and Shego found a table to sit through the lecture.
Tara walked into the library for study hall. She grabbed a table and pulled out her homework, less than enthusiastically. A shadow fell across the book as she was jotting into her notebook. Tara moved the book over a few inches to get into the light. The shadow followed. She looked up to see Kim Possible standing over her with her hands on her hips.
"Hey Tara," Kim said with a friendly smile.
"Hey Kim," Tara said back, her face brightening at the welcome interruption. "What's up?"
"Well..." Kim began, "I was wondering if I could talk to you in private." Kim motioned her head towards the bathroom.
"Umm, sure Kim," Tara replied a bit apprehensively as she closed her books.
They got up and went to the restroom. As they entered the bathroom, Kim checked under the stalls to make sure they were alone. "So what's this about Kim?" Tara asked.
Kim leaned against the counter and bit her lip. "Well... I noticed you're crushing on someone..." Kim trailed off, trying to lead the conversation.
Tara gulped, suddenly a little afraid, "You're not going to hurt me are you?" She stammered. "I mean you're going out with Erik now so it's OK?"
"Oh of course it is!" Kim gushed. "Anything is better than Bonnie or," she shuddered, "Shego," Kim thought. "I actually want to help, I think you two would be perfect together."
"Really?" Tara asked, clasping her hands excitedly. "How are we going to do it?" she asked.
"Well, here's my plan..." Kim began as she explained her plan to Tara.
"Alright Mad Dogs, let's go through the routine one more time! Look sharp Tara!" Kim exclaimed as the girls lined up for the routine. Ron and Shego stood behind the line where the girls would form the pyramid to spot. It was the fourth time through the routine and Tara had fallen twice into Ron's arms. She seemed to be enjoying it a little too much for Kim's taste. It was innocent enough, though Kim didn't like her practice being interrupted because the flighty blond wanted to be held by Ron. "I said get him to go out with you, not throw yourself at him, literally. Though after the way things have been going between Ron and Shego it's going to be welcome. What is up with Shego anyway? I don't know what that witch is trying to do. First a Valentines Day date and now she's going with him to a school dance? This is sooo not right," she thought. Kim grimaced as she thought about it. Tara wasn't a bad match for Ron, better than Bonnie no matter how much she had warmed up to him. But God forbid that he hook up with Shego. Kim shuddered a little at the thought. "If Shego thinks that she's going to break up the team she's got another thing coming. I'll have to talk to him after they're not stuck together and set things straight with Ron." The music started and the squad began the routine, working through the cheering part and setting up the pyramid. "Perfect," Kim thought as she flipped to the top of the pyramid throwing her arms out.
The squad all yelled, "Go Mad Dogs!" together out to the imaginary crowd. They flipped down and formed a line like they would when the performance was over. Kim broke ranks and began congratulating them.
"You were a little off on the beginning Tara, but you pulled through in the last two sets. Great improvement." Kim stated before stepping back to address the entire squad. "Crystal, Hope, Marcella, great job anchoring, it was perfect. Nice job spotting Ron. That'll be all for today, but we'll be working on this all week for the pep rally on Friday." The girls began to walk toward the locker room with the exception of Kim and Bonnie.
"Hey Shelia," Bonnie called out, walking toward Ron and her. "You want to go shopping with Tara and me tomorrow for new an outfit for the dance?"
"Sure Bonnie, but I'll have to bring Ron again," she said with a grin.
Bonnie rolled her eyes sarcastically, "Fine. If you must. Right after cheer practice tomorrow." Bonnie walked to the locker room, clearly ignoring Kim, as Kim walked over to talk to Ron.
"Hi Ron," Kim said lightly. "Hello Shelia," she said, trying not to spit out the name as if it were something distasteful.
"A whittle snarky there Pumpkin," Shego said sweetly in baby talk, "someting wong?"
Kim shot her a glare before turning to Ron as he spoke to her. "Hey KP, I missed you at lunch. What's up?" he asked.
Kim bit her lip, looking a little guilty. "Yeah, Erik and I ate outside. I just wanted to see how you're doing Ron," Kim said looking him over. "She hasn't been hurting you or anything has she?"
Shego rolled her eyes and looked at the ceiling. "I'm right here you know," she stated.
"No KP, not at all. It actually hasn't been bad at all. Not counting the beating from Aviarius, this has been much better than being stuck to Barkin," Ron stated. "The rugby, the swimming, Mr. Fuzzy, ugh," Ron thought.
"OK Ron, but if she tries anything. Tries to get you to do something you don't want to do, you tell me. OK?" Kim said, looking directly into his eyes.
"Sure thing Kimilla," Ron said nervously. "That's going to hit a nerve," he thought.
"Like what Princess?" Shego said, the smirk gone, anger plain upon her face. "You think I'm going to try to weasel information out of him, or maybe you think I'm going to jump his bones the first chance I get? Maybe turn him evil?"
"It's what villains do," Kim replied staring down Shego.
"Girls, this is going a little far," Ron said warily, trying to maneuver himself between the two women.
"Not now Ron!" both of them said fiercely.
"I'd never make him do something he didn't want to do Princess," Shego spat.
"But you're going to make sure he wants to do what you want him to, aren't you?" Kim snarled back.
"What is this really about Kim?" Shego asked, regaining a little of her composure. "Are you more pissed because he's finally stepping out of your shadow or because he asked me to go to the dance with him?"
Ron's face turned red as Kim sputtered before regaining her tongue. "You actually asked her out Ron?"
Shego nodded, "Yep, he finally showed he has a bit of taste after all." She looked up at Ron and winked.
"Pity," Kim said flatly as she regained her composure.
"What?" Shego said, a bit confused at the odd remark.
"Ron has a big heart. He's stuck with you, literally," Kim said as she crossed her arms. "He pities you."
"No, KP. That's not it, I really do want to go with Shelia," Ron said as Shego stood there stunned.
"Ron. There are other girls out there for you. Better girls. Tara still likes you and she isn't dating anyone right now. She was literally throwing herself at you in practice just now," Kim pleaded with Ron.
"Bitch," Shego snarked at Kim. She tried to leave, their bond tugging on Ron. "I'd like to storm off now Ron," she growled.
"I'll talk to you later KP," Ron said sadly as they turned to leave. Kim stood there watching him go, not noticing Bonnie standing at the locker room door watching the whole scene.
"Nice job Possible, crush a poor girls spirit," Bonnie snarked at her.
"So not in the mood Bonnie," Kim said nastily.
"Too bad K, because I'm going to keep talking," Bonnie said sharply. "She's right. Ron is stepping out of your shadow and it pisses you off. It looks like you can't have your beefcake and sidekick too." Kim pushed past Bonnie into the locker room. "Don't worry though, someone will take care of Ronnie for you," Bonnie purred with a smile as Kim fumed.
Ron was pulled along by one pissed off Susan Go. They left the school parking lot and she told him to turn right at the park instead of going left towards his house.
"Susan," Ron stated. "We should go left to go to my house."
"We aren't going to your house," she said shortly.
"Where are we going then?" Ron asked evenly as he turned right around the corner.
"You said you wanted to go to Bueno Nacho this morning when we were talking to your mother," she stated.
"If you don't want to we don't have to," Ron said softly.
"I would hate for it to be said that I manipulated you from having your daily dose of Tex-mex," Shego snarked at Ron.
"Come on Susan," Ron said with a bit of a whine. "You and Kim just have too much history between you two to trust each other. If you aren't throwing fists you're throwing barbs at each other. Don't worry about what she said."
"Easier said than done Stoppable," Shego said as they drove through the intersection to Bueno Nacho. He parked the truck and they entered the restaurant. It was already pretty full from all of the students that had gotten out of school earlier than them. They got in line behind a few other people waiting to order.
"What got you so upset?" Ron asked. "The manipulating part, or the pity part?" he asked himself.
"I'm not going to talk about it with a bunch of goons watching us," Shego stated. "Eyes up front," she snipped at one of the guys in front of them that was eying her up.
"Let's get this to go then," Ron said. They ordered, Rufus popping out just in time to get Ron to 'Grande Size' his nacho combo platter. Ron pulled out his wallet to pay, only to have Shego stop him as she pulled out some money from her purse, only to have Ned stop her.
"It's on the house for the guy that helped save the entire Bueno Nacho Corporation," Ned stated dramatically. "Not to mention the common man's hero of Middleton High," he added to himself. The two workers in the back clapped quietly as Ned swiped his assistant manager's card to override the transaction.
"Ahh, no big Ned," Ron said sheepishly. "But I'm going to take you up on the free food buddy."
Ned grinned as he slid over the cups for their drinks, "Your food will be ready in just a minute." "Oh, and there's my old buddy, capt'n swirly. I've got something special for his naco," Ned thought wickedly as the jock that was going to give him a swirly walked in the door. "Your order's up Ron," Ned stated, passing over the bag of food before taking the jock's order.
Ron drove back to his house, parking in the driveway behind his Dad's car. "Figures," he thought as they exited the truck. "The one day that he's home early." He looked up to the tree house perched precariously over the sidewalk. "Let's eat in there," he said, pointing to it.
"Whatever," Shego said with a shrug; she had seen stranger lairs. They climbed up the boards and squeezed through the trap door. Shego took a look around as Ron guided them over to the couch. She took in the surroundings, from the raccoon skin hat, to the 'no girls allowed' sign painted in red letters. "Nice little place you have here Stoppable. You take all your lady friends here?" she asked sarcastically.
"No, Monique hasn't been up here yet," Ron said seriously as he set out Rufus's food. The little mole rat was on it like lightning.
"What's with the 'no girls allowed' sign?" Shego asked. "I thought you and Kim have been tight since pre-K. I can hardly think the sign is that old, especially with the can of paint stuck beside the couch here."
"Ahh, yeah." Ron stammered. "I guess I was a little tweaked at Kim for constantly ditching me for Erik."
"Is that why you look like a kicked puppy every time you talk to her?" Shego asked.
"I do not look like a kicked puppy," Ron stated indignantly. "I just always thought that we'd be best friends forever," he added unhappily.
"Isn't working out the way you planned, huh?" Shego asked.
"I guess not," Ron stated with a huff. "She gets around Erik and she's all googly eyed and doesn't have time for the loser, Ron Stoppable."
"You're not a loser Stoppable," Shego snarled at him. She softened her voice a little, "Sorry, but you aren't a loser so don't talk about yourself like that. Kim is romantically involved with this Erik, and hormones trump friendships every day, even friendships lasting since pre-K."
"Yeah," Ron replied quietly. They dug into their food, eating quietly for a minute before Ron looked over to her again. "So what did Kim say that got you so flustered?" he asked. "I've never seen you at a loss for words before."
"I had plenty to say to the...Princess," Shego spat. "But I would have rather talked with my fists. So I thought it was best that we left, for your sake."
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "Thanks. I'm sorry for what she said; it isn't true. I didn't ask you out because I'm stuck to you."
"So you did it because you pity me?" she asked apprehensively.
"No, that's not why," he said quietly.
"Good," Shego started before the full breath of what he said hit her. "What? So you do pity me? I don't need your pity, or anyone else's!" she growled, turning away from him.
"It's not that I really pity you," Ron stated. Shego gritted her teeth and spun to look into his eyes. "I'm just sorry that you can't see yourself like I see you. You're smart, strong, determined, not to mention hot as hell, but you don't like yourself," he said softly. "You care too much about what people think."
Shego blushed a little as he listed her good qualities. "I don't care what people think," she groused.
"Then why do you get so mad when people say the wrong thing or look at you the wrong way?" Ron asked.
"I have a low tolerance for stupidity," she stated smartly.
"But you hang around with Dr. Drakken," Ron replied.
"I work for him. And besides, we play Drakken goes ouch a lot," she stated, poking Ron in the ribs, a little too hard to be considered playful.
"Look Susan, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel I've gotten to know you a little better over the past few days and I think that you're a great person," he said seriously. "I just wish that you could see what I see when I look at you," he said quietly. Shego looked away from him, seeing a partial reflection of them in the window glass. "I didn't ask you to the dance because I pity you," Ron continued. "I asked you out because I have seen that there is more to you than you usually show and I want to get know you better." He lightened his voice and grinned a little, "You know, when you're not trying to kick the crap out of me and Kim."
Shego looked at the reflection in the window for a moment and turned to Ron, looking at his face for moment for a sign of deception. She found none. "You talk too much Tiger," she stated. "Especially for a man that has as much homework to do as you do," she said as she grinned a little bit again.
Ron finished the last of his homework just in time to meditate, take a shower and go to bed. He didn't even get to do his regular drills and exercises that Yori had assigned him. The meditation didn't go as well as planned either. Shego kept interrupting him by muttering, "Boring, boring," in time to his breathing. They hit the sack before having to head into yet another 'boring' day of school.
Shego sighed as they finished up classes on Tuesday. She didn't remember school being quite this boring. It would be bearable if she didn't have to keep a constant lid on her temper. Not to mention that the teachers would frown upon her bringing a magazine or nail file to class. Hell, she' probably get expelled for bringing a weapon to school. "You can do as much damage with a pencil as you can with a nail file," she thought, rolling her eyes. "Schools these days are getting a little ridiculous. Let bullies and liberal teachers thrive and instead focus on aspirins and pocketknives." Shego could hear Bonnie's voice and tittering laughter coming from the gym ahead. Ron and she were early, not having to change into uniforms.
"Then why are you going with him to the dance Tara?" Bonnie asked raising an eyebrow.
Tara laughed a little, "Jason's a sweet guy, he's just different. Besides, I don't have to worry about him trying to take things too far with me," she said as Ron and Shego walked up behind her. Tara sighed, looking at Bonnie, "Besides, the guy I want to go with is…"
"Ron, Shelia... Hi!" Bonnie exclaimed as she noticed them walking up behind Tara.
"Huh?" Tara said confused before she turned around and let out a little 'yipe'. "Hi guys," she said cheerily as a blush crept up her cheeks.
"Hiya Tara, hiya Bonnie," Ron said happily. "Everyone else still changing?" he asked.
"Yep," Bonnie answered. "We have eighth hour gym so we are always first out here." She grinned wickedly, "You'd know that if you weren't always the last one here, slacker," she said playfully.
"So what were you guys talking about?" Shego asked, looking right at Tara.
Tara blushed even more, "Na…nothing," she almost whispered.
"Just a little girl talk," Bonnie said flatly, clearly indicating that they weren't going to talk about it.
"Oh, come on, you can tell us," Shego started, drawing an apprehensive look from Tara as Bonnie just narrowed her eyes. "Like I already don't know," Shego thought, leaning in on Ron a little.
"So," Ron interrupted, swinging his free arm nervously. "Where are you girls dragging me along to after cheer practice?"
Shego and Tara looked to Bonnie, "I figured we'd hit the clothing stores in the mall. After that, if you guys are up for it, I figured we'd get something to eat," Bonnie stated.
"Sounds good to me," Shego said. "As long as it isn't Bueno Nacho."
Ron got a laugh out of all of them when the smile on his face turned glum as he muttered, "this tanks!" after Shego's statement.
Kim and the rest of the cheerleaders began to trickle into the gym. Bonnie and Tara went to join them.
"Try to stretch out better this time Tara, maybe you'll be a little less clumsy on the pyramid," Shego said with false pep.
"Yeah," Tara said sheepishly, blushing as she bounded over to her teammates. They started their stretching and warm-ups before they began practicing the routine.
"That wasn't very nice Shelia," Ron stated.
"I never said I was a nice person," she said, looking slightly up at him. He frowned a little bit and she rolled her eyes. "I'm just trying to encourage her," she stated. "Encourage her to quit flirting with you," Shego thought.
The practice went well, Tara didn't even fall into Ron's arms once. Ron and Shego went ahead to the mall. Tara and Bonnie would catch up with them when they got there, they had to shower and change first.
"Do you mind if we stop at the arcade?" Ron asked Shego.
"Sure," Shego said with a shrug of her shoulders. "You're going to be in the store with us three for a couple of hours, the least I can do is sit through a video game or two while we wait for Bonnie and Tara."
"Thanks Shelia," Ron said with a genuine smile. He led them towards through the bustling mall towards the beeping sounds and flashing lights that heralded the video arcade.
"I didn't think these would be around anymore with all the home game systems out there now," Shego stated.
"We're lucky to have one in Middleton. If the town was much smaller it wouldn't be able to support one," Ron stated seriously. They walked into the arcade and Ron waved to a few people he knew from school.
"Hey Ron!" called a voice from near the back, by the flight simulators. Shego looked back there and saw a skinny kid about Ron's age in a wheelchair.
Shego's face brightened in embarrassment. "It's the kid Drakken stole the wheelchair from. I hope he doesn't recognize me," she thought.
"Hey Felix, what's up!" Ron said happily as he led Shego and himself back there.
"How you been Ron? You haven't called in a while," Felix said with a smile.
"We had a mission Friday and I've been kinda busy since then. By the way this is Shelia. Shelia, this is my friend Felix," Ron said, motioning between the two of them.
Felix stuck out his hand and Shego took it and gave it a gentle shake. "Good to meet you," Shego muttered as she glanced over to the machine he was waiting for. It was a head-to-head flight combat simulator that two people were currently using.
"Nice to meet you too Shelia," Felix said and turned to Ron, "Larry told me that you were stuck to a girl, but he left out the fact that she's so beautiful." "Hmm, she looks familiar," he thought.
Shego smiled, she was starting to warm up to this kid. Ron smiled at his friend and spoke, "Just don't let Justine hear you talking like that."
"Nah, she's pretty secure," Felix stated with a wave.
"Did you ask her to the dance?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, we'll be there," Felix replied. "How about you, you asked anyone?"
"Yeah, I asked Shelia. She said yes so she's stuck with me," Ron said with a grin.
"Funny," Shego said, punching his shoulder playfully. The loser of the dogfight in the game Felix was waiting for got up. "Your game's ready," Shego said, motioning to it as Felix gave Ron a thumbs up.
Felix wheeled his chair over to the machine and set the lock, working his arms to position his body into the machine. 'Wish me luck!" he said with a smile to the two of them before settling back into the seat. He fastened the restraint and started the game.
Shego and Ron watched with interest through out the game. "This is almost like flying the Go Jet," Shego thought as she watched the interactive machine move as the two pilots maneuvered through the skies.
Felix made relatively short work of his opponent. "So you want a crack at me Ron? I'm looking forward to a challenge," Felix said.
"I don't know Felix, it's a single seat machine..." Ron drawled.
"Yes!" Shego said, with a little more excitement than she wanted to. Ron looked over at her surprised. "What? I like jets. Besides the seat's made to fit 'large' people, it'll fit us two just fine."
Ron and Shego slipped into the seat. It was a little tight, but not too bad. They hooked up the belt and Ron slipped a dollar into the machine and entered his pilot name, 'Mad Dog' and his passcode. The machine fired up flashing 'welcome back Mad Dog' across the screen. His jet came up, a green camo paintjob with a tiger's head symbol painted on the side and wings.
Ron blushed a little as Shego spoke, "Nice color choice there Tiger."
"Gentleman's rules Felix?" Ron asked as he took off from the starting point with the rest of his wing. The goal of the game was to destroy the other player as well as his team of pilots.
"Sure thing Mad Dog," Felix stated as he saw Ron's flight appear on his radar.
"What are gentleman's rules?" Shego asked. They were pushed back into the seat as Ron began climbing; Felix mimicked the maneuver.
Ron's fired his machine gun as he dove towards the enemy planes, Felix did the same, gaining speed as they destroyed a plane each. "We destroy the computer's fighters before we target each other. It gives us a little more playing time," Ron stated as he blew through the enemy formation. He banked sharply, pressing them tightly together as the machine tilted into the turn. "Sorry," he said sheepishly, glancing over toward her.
"Eyes on the skies Ron!" she exclaimed, pointing at the screen as the speakers started to beep. He had an incoming missile. He dove towards the ground, pulling up sharply as he dropped chafe. The missile sailed past and exploded not far behind his jet, damaging it a little.
"Oops," Ron stated sheepishly. He flew back around and engaged again taking down the enemy.
"I'm clear Ron, here I come!" warned Felix sportingly as Ron was chasing down his last fighter.
"Crap!" Ron exclaimed as Felix spun flew past him from the front, banking to turn around. Ron broke off pursuit of the last enemy to try to shake Felix, hopefully he would get a pot shot at it as he avoided Felix's fire. Try as he might Felix got behind him as the last computer plane turned around, headed straight for him. Ron headed straight for it as Felix locked onto him and fired a missile. The computer jet tried to climb away but Ron followed him up, barrel rolling and cutting his engines. The missile locked onto the hotter target and peeled away, destroying the enemy jet and knocking more 'health' off of Ron's jet. One engine was down and his flaps were damaged.
"Crud," Felix muttered. It was his turn to curse as he banked sharply away from the flaming debris in front of him. Ron banked a little wider getting behind Felix and rattled off machine gun rounds as he waited for a good missile lock. Felix dove and Ron followed but was unable to pull up as fast because of the damage to his plane and exploded as it hit the ground in a fireball.
"Aw, man!" Ron exclaimed. "He got me again!"
"You should have fired a missile and pulled up sooner," Shego stated. "You would have damaged his plane from the close blast and leveled the playing field."
"Have you played this before?" Felix asked.
"No," Shego answered, "not this game."
"You want to give it a try?" Ron asked smugly, waving a dollar in front of her face.
"Yes," Shego said with a grin as she took the dollar from him and put it in the machine. She was practically bouncing from the excitement of the game.
"I'll even play by gentleman's rules and you can target me right away," Felix offered.
"No, I'll kill the computer jets first, same as you. Just don't go crying when you get beat by a girl," Shego stated with a smirk.
"You beat him and I'll treat for ice cream," Ron stated as he crossed his arms.
"Get ready to pay up then," Shego snarked as the game started.
Bonnie and Tara walked into the mall, looking for Shego and Ron. They spotted them finishing up ice cream cones with a boy in a wheel chair.
"Well it looks like your friends are here Shelia," Felix stated as he threw away his napkin. "Have fun you two!"
"Thanks for the challenge," Shego stated smugly. "Keep practicing and you just might beat me someday."
"See ya later man!" Ron said as his friend left, shaking his head in laughter.
"Hey ladies, you ready for some shopping?" Ron asked as Tara and Bonnie stopped in front of them.
"Oh yeah!" Tara squealed, excited. Bonnie smiled at her friend's antics as she led them further into the mall to shop for clothes.
Kim sat at the coffee table and sighed. Kim and her family were at her cousin Larry's house for family game night. Erik had begged off, it wasn't that Erik disliked Larry; he just wasn't comfortable with Kim's extended family yet. Ron would usually attend, even when Kim couldn't make it, but he was still 'bonding' with Shego. "I wish Ron were here," she thought, "He always loves family game night."
Larry rolled the dice and rolled a seven; just what he needed to reach home on the board game they were playing. "Hea, hea, I win," he said in his nasally voice. "Play again?" he asked everyone around the table.
"After dinner Larry, it will be ready shortly," Larry's mother said.
"All right Mom," Larry said.
"Larry, why don't you show me your new action figures until then," Kim said as he and Kim got up from the table. They went up to his room and Kim shut the door behind them.
"So what's really on your mind cousin?" Larry asked, adjusting his glasses. "You have never been interested in my action figures before."
"You know me too well Larry," Kim said with a smile. "I was just wondering who you're going to vote for Spirit Prince and Princess."
"I always vote for you for those sort of things," Larry stated. "But I don't know guys I'd vote for. You have to be on a sports team to qualify."
He rolled his eyes, "I suppose you want me to vote for Erik huh?"
"No, not at all. I thought you might vote for Ron…" Kim said.
"He's eligible?" Larry asked.
"Yeah, he is the school mascot. That does count as being on the cheer squad," she answered. "You could let your friends know that too."
"We usually don't concern ourselves with unimportant things like that, but since it's Ron..." Larry said.
"And I don't want to be Spirit Princess. I am voting for Tara. She's as peppy as they come and she is always so nice to everyone," Kim said sweetly.
"Sure," Larry said with a grin, "it's not very often I get to be in on plans to upset the food chain." Larry's mom called them down from the upstairs for dinner.
Kim smiled; things were coming together nicely.
Shego drummed her fingers on the desk as the teacher droned on and on about some subject that she cared nothing about. Ron seemed to care about it even less than Shego did as he began to nod off. Shego smiled a little and gave him a sharp poke in the ribs, causing him to jolt upright.
"Eyes up front Stoppable," Shego whispered, "I don't want to be up half the night while you try to get your homework done when she is teaching half of what's on the worksheet right now."
"Sorry," Ron said quietly. He had been up very early. He woke up when Shego once again rolled over and cuddled with him and he didn't want to wake her up, but neither could he fall back asleep.
The bell rang dismissing the class. "No problem Ron, but all this structure is killing me. I'm taking tomorrow off," Shego stated as she stood and stretched. "Off to cheer practice?"
"What do you mean, 'taking the day off'?" Ron asked as he piled up his books and they headed to his locker.
"I can't stand all this anymore. Do you know how long it's been since I've destroyed something?" she quipped. "I'm bored out of my mind."
"OK, no problem, I guess. Kim will pick up my homework from class and I'll catch up on it over the weekend," Ron stated. "But we have to be back for the pep rally on Friday. I have to vote for Kim to be the Spirit Princess."
"Whatever," Shego said, rolling her eyes.
They went to the gym and spotted the cheer leaders as the practiced their various routines. "I think we're ready for the pep rally! Great job girls!" Kim exclaimed as they hit their routines perfectly. "You too Ron!" Ron didn't need to catch anyone, but he was right there to do so if needed and kept from tangling up any of the girls.
"Woo hoo!" Liz hooted.
"Alright Mad Dogs!" Ron yelled as Tara and a couple of the other girls began jumping and waving their pom-poms around happily.
"I think we're done here, great job again everyone!" Kim said as she headed over toward Ron. "Can I talk to you two outside please?" Kim asked, motioning to the gym doors.
"Sure KP," Ron said with a grin as they headed over there. Shego just frowned, crossing her arms while she was gently pulled along. They went outside and Kim looked around to make sure they were in private.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for how I acted yesterday," Kim said to Ron. She looked at Shego, "I still don't trust you. I never will after what you did to me and Erik, but I could have handled that a little better."
"You know I can't stay mad at you KP," Ron said with a smile, "but I'm glad you apologized to Shelia. It really bother UMP!" Ron gasped a little as Shego jabbed him in the ribs.
"I'm still not happy with you Princess, and you'll pay for it next time we fight," Shego growled.
"Fair enough," Kim said flatly as she crossed her arms. She glanced over to the gym, Tara had the girls in a huddle. "Good, I think I've given her enough time," Kim thought.
"Let's go to your house and change Ron," Shego said, pulling away from Kim. "I feel the sudden need to beat your punching bag to bits."
"Oh, alright," Ron replied. "See you later KP!" "That went better than I thought it would," he thought.
"Bye Ron," Kim replied.
"So what's this all about Tara?" Bonnie asked as the girls gathered around her.
"Well... You all know that the spirit week dance is just a couple of days away..." Tara began apprehensively.
"Yes Tara, we all know that," Liz said, rolling her eyes.
Tara wrung her hands. "I was just wondering who you are all voting for," Tara said quietly.
"I was going to vote for my boyfriend, Steve Foley," Jessica said.
"Why Tara? Do you have someone you want us to all vote for?" Bonnie asked with a sigh, admiring her own fingernails at arms length.
"Well, yeah. I'm going to vote for Ron," Tara said with a content smile.
"What!?" Jessica asked. "You're going to the dance with Jason Morgan. Why are you voting for Ron?"
"Well, being spirit king is about having the most school spirit, right?" Tara asked. "Well Ron definitely has the most school spirit."
"Most of the football team has been kinda jerkish since the whole 'Brick' incident," Bonnie remarked. "And Ron did save us all during the Camp Wannaweep fiasco."
"Yeah!" Tara said brightly. "We kinda owe him one."
"Fine," Liz said, rolling her eyes. "I'll go along." The other girls murmured in agreement, except Jessica.
"I'll think about it," Jessica huffed.
"Great, thanks everybody!" Tara said happily. The group broke up as Kim approached.
"Everything go OK Tara?" Kim asked quietly on the way to the locker room.
"Great on my end," Tara stated happily. "And for you?"
"Good. This will work, trust me," Kim said confidently.
Author's notes: Special thanks to the following authors for their great stories. Check out "The Human Element" by Noobfish, it's coming along very well. Also worth noting is "From sick to wRongO" by Scareglow. And I almost forgot "The Blade and the Bloom" by NMR68. Thanks guys for the great stories! Until next time, "Rockets are go!"