Author's Notes: I would like to thank everyone that reviewed last chapter. I do not respond to every review, but I do appreciate them. I would like to send a special thanks out to Ghostwhiter for beta reading for me. Grab yourself something to drink and prepare for a bit of a read. This chapter ran a little long as my ideas took on a life of their own as I was typing. Let me know what you think!
Shego watched carefully as the henchmen carried her new bed through the lair to her bedroom. "Just set it outside the door, I will take it from here," she ordered the pair of thugs. "Carefully!" she snarled as they banged it around trying to situate it. They finished putting the last pieces down and stood up, stretching their backs. "Now beat it," she stated off-handedly, effectively dismissing the henchmen. They left quickly as she stepped into the room and dropped her baggage. She pulled off the bedding and disassembled the old bed before bringing in Ron's bed and began setting it up. She just finished putting the mattress on when she heard a knocking on the door.
"SHEGO!" Drakken yelled from the other side of the door.
"How many times do I have to tell you Dr. D.?" Shego asked. "Don't come to my room, just call me to the lab or something."
"I haven't been able to contact you for a week and you decide to redecorate before you come and see me?" Dr. Drakken growled through the door.
"Yeah?" she snipped, "what of it? It's the weekend and I'm off duty unless there is a world domination scheme scheduled, as per my contract."
"You've been gone all week and you think you're getting the weekend off?" Dr. D. asked, stunned.
"I haven't taken a sick day since Princess got us sick when we stole Ray X, so you can just count this last week as sick time," she stated.
"Nrggg," Drakken growled. "Do you at least have Dementor's mask?" he asked.
Shego went over to her bag and dug through it pulling the mask out of her cat suit's pocket. She walked over to the door and cracked it open just enough to get her arm out and shoved the mask into Drakken's hands. "Here. I have some business to take care of before Monday, so unless you need me for anything I will be taking a hover car for the rest of the weekend," Shego stated.
Drakken giggled happily. "That's fine Shego, it will take a few days to replicate enough of these for the henchmen. What do you think our first target should be? Fort Knox? Henchco?" he asked, suddenly giddy with excitement.
"Whatever," Shego sighed. Drakken didn't even hear her as he practically danced merrily to his lab to begin analyzing and replicating the masks. She took her time setting up the bed and dumping out her things before she was ready to go. "Time to visit my brothers and Hego again," she thought.
Ron sat at 'his' table at Bueno Nacho and breathed in the aroma of his grande-sized naco platter. The bell on the door dinged and Ron looked up to see his best friend and her boyfriend walk in.
"Hi KP, hi Erik," Ron said, waving.
"Hey Ron, let us order and we'll be right over," Kim said. Kim and Erik stepped over to the counter and they ordered. They filled their sodas and headed to the table, Ned was great about bringing the food out to them. "So how is it being able to do things on your own again?" Kim asked brightly.
"A little lonely," Ron thought. "Great," he said. "So how was the dance for you guys?"
"We had a great time your highness," Erik joked with him. "How did you like dancing with Tara?" he asked.
"Oh, stop with the your highnessing. It's bad enough I had to put up with it at the dance!" Ron protested lightly. "There's no crown here anymore," he stated, pointing to his head, he paused for a moment. "Dancing with Tara was fine, though I wasn't that fond of the song choice."
"Oh, sorry Ron," Kim said a little sheepishly. "I didn't know that you don't like that song."
"No big KP. It's not important. I don't even know why I don't like it," Ron stated, waving it off. "Besides, I had a great time at the dance. The decorations were great, Monkey boy made an awesome banner and you didn't even tear it down this time," he said, giving her a little ribbing.
"Ugh, you had to bring that up," Kim said rolling her eyes. "That was two years ago."
"What happened?" Erik asked.
"Long story short," Ron began, KP slipped off of the mad dog pyramid while eyeing up the art club's golden boy and ended up tearing down the banner as she fell."
"That had to be embarrassing," Erik stated.
"You have no idea," Kim said flatly, glaring at Ron for sharing her experience.
"Oh look the food's here," Ron said, quickly changing the subject as Ned approached the table with Erik and Kim's orders.
"Thanks Ned," Kim stated as he set down the trays.
"It is my pleasure Miss Possible," Ned stated. "Two tacodia salads for you," he said placing the tray in front of Kim, "and a naco platter for you." He placed the last tray in front of Erik.
"Nice choice of meal Erik," Ron said to Erik before turning to Kim. "What's with the second salad KP? You usually only order one."
"This one is for Monique. She's picking up some pictures for me from the Photo Stop in the mall," Kim stated as she set the plate in the empty spot on Ron's side of the table.
"Speak of the devil," Erik stated as Monique got off of the bus on the corner. She walked into Bueno Nacho and made her way to the booth. Ron scooted over so she could sit down.
"Hi Monique," Kim said happily.
"Hello Monique," Ron and Erik said at the same time.
"Jinx, you both owe me a soda," Monique said, sitting down and looking at her meal. "Which is a good thing since I don't see one here for me."
"Sorry," Kim stated, "I forgot about the soda."
"I've got enough change for a fellow GWA fan," Ron stated, motioning for her to scoot out. He went to the counter and came back with a drink for her. Kim and Monique were looking through a stack of photos. Kim tucked away part of the stack and began shuffling through the rest of them. "Here you are Monique," Ron stated, handing her the soda.
"Thanks Ron," Monique said as she shuffled through the pictures. Ron sat back down and looked at the photos over Monique's shoulder.
"Here's a nice one of you and Tara dancing," Kim said, handing him a photo. "Keep it, I got double prints."
"Oh, thanks KP," Ron stated, taking the picture. It was a nice picture of Ron and Tara dancing. Ron looked handsome, looking at Tara as she smiled radiantly.
"That one's gonna make the yearbook, YCBOI," Monique stated, looking at the picture in Ron's hands.
"OK, you got me on that one Monique," Erik stated, puzzled. Kim and Ron nodded their heads in agreement.
Monique sighed. "You can bet on it," she stated.
Ron flipped through the other pictures, noticing there were none with Shego in them. "Some nice pictures in here KP, but none of Shelia. She must have been dodging the camera," Ron stated.
"I wasn't the photographer, I wouldn't know," Kim said, blushing a little bit.
"I guess, she probably wouldn't want photographic evidence that she was there anyways," Ron said, shrugging his shoulders and trying to hide the hint of a frown starting to come upon his face.
"So how is everything going? We missed you sparring this morning," Kim said quickly, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, sorry about that. My mom was a little tweaked when she went up to my room and discovered I didn't have a bed anymore. She made me clean the basement this time," Ron said with a little shudder.
"What, did you and Shelia break the bed after the dance?" Erik asked. "Way to gOWW!" he yelled as one of Kim's heels mashed into the top of his foot.
Monique nearly spit soda all over Kim. "You didn't, did you?" Monique sputtered.
"Of course not," Ron said, blushing and handing Monique a napkin. "She slept in the bed while I was on the floor. She told me Friday morning she slept really good in my bed and might have to steal it." Ron quickly picked up his second naco and stuffed his face.
"What did you tell your mom?" Kim asked after regaining her composure.
"That I needed a new one anyways and I knew she was going to take it," Ron said.
"I bet that went over like a lead balloon," Erik stated.
"Yeah, she's making me buy a new one," Ron stated with a shrug. "I'll just go to Smarty Mart later today and pick one up."
"Well, we do know that she's a thief," Kim stated. "It's good that you aren't stuck to her anymore. Besides, I think that Tara is crushing on you again."
"Even I picked up on that this time KP," Ron stated.
"So you going to ask her out Ron?" Monique asked.
"I don't know; I'm not really up for dating right now. There's been so much going on lately. Besides, I'm going to Yaminouchi again this summer and that's just around the corner. Heck, I don't even know if I'll be there for a few weeks or the whole summer."
"You could just ask her for a date or two Ron, you don't have to go steady or anything," Kim stated.
"We'll see KP," Ron stated, turning his attention to his food. Kim took the hint to let it be for now and started chatting with Monique between bites while Ron and Erik ate.
Shego landed the hover car on the roof of GO tower. She had hacked the system on the way in and temporarily disabled the alarm so she wouldn't have to deal with Hego. He should be at work right now, but she didn't want to chance it. She just wanted to get in, grab the rejuvinator, and get out. She noiselessly made her way to her room and opened the door, quietly closing it behind her and flipping on the light. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in what used to be her room. All of her personal things were gone, her bed, her dressers, her stuffed animals and posters, all of it, gone. In their place was a game room. A blue-felted pool table dominated the room, while a dartboard and pinball machine lay claim to the corners. She moved to the closet and opened it, fearing what she would see. The closet was empty; save for a note hanging on a string, with a key taped to the paper. Shego took it down and read what passed for Hego's handwriting.
Susan,
Your recent remarks, not to mention your continuous support of evil, have left me no choice but to remove you from Team Go's roster. I have moved your personal belongings, minus a few items to the storage facility on the corner of 6th and Main. The last straw was finding out you have been using the Go Tower as a storage house for your instruments of evil. I crushed them all and burnt the remnants. You should know better than to bring such things here. I cannot in good conscience allow you to visit the twins anymore. Your influence on them shows in their attitude since you left. Do not try to visit again or I will be forced to turn you into the authorities.
HegoShego took the key off of the paper and crumbled it in one hand before incinerating it. "That jerk!" she screamed to the ceiling. She blasted the pool table repeatedly, shattering the slate top and breaking the framework until it was a pile of rubble. "I can't believe he did this to me! He's supposed to be my brother!" she screamed. She lashed out again, shattering the pool cues in the rack on the wall where one of her posters used to hang. "He's supposed to love me no matter what," she whispered as her eyes watered up. She hardened herself and gave into her anger; it was easier to deal with then the pain. She shut off the light and left the room, heading down to Hego's room. He had the largest bedroom in the tower. He justified it because he was the leader and was bigger than them. She opened the door and flipped on the light. Looking around she marveled at the model airplanes hanging from the ceiling in various formations. It was actually quite impressive, especially considering how brutish Hego was, that he could do such lovely work. Hego and Shego did share that one passion, aircraft. Shego liked them for their speed and the sense of freedom you got when flying. Hego had never learned how to fly one, he was actually quite clumsy when it came to operating machinery, but that didn't stop him from loving them. There were prop planes from WWII through to modern military jets, as well as a few civilian models. She sat down at the desk, cluttered with the current model he was working on, and picked up the craft knife to do some modeling of her own.
Ron left the Bueno Nacho parking lot and headed back to his house. He wanted to clean out the back of the truck so the bed wouldn't get dirty on his way home from Smarty Mart. He pulled into the driveway and went in the front door to find the living room filled with several large cardboard packages.
"Ronald, is that you?" his mother called from the kitchen.
"Yeah Mom," Ron sated, closing the door behind him. "What are these packages for?" he asked curiously.
"I was hoping you could tell me dear," Mrs. Stoppable said, walking into the living room. "A delivery man dropped them off. They're addressed to you."
"Really," Ron said checking the labels. "It's difficult to get someone to deliver on a Sunday."
"Well, open them up and see what they are."
Ron opened the first package, revealing a queen-sized mattress. "I think it's a bed. You and Dad didn't buy me one did you?" he asked.
"No," his mother said with a frown, "I wanted you to pay for one yourself since you 'lost' yours."
He opened the rest of the packages to reveal a nice wooden bed, stained mahogany. There was also a box with a black and green comforter in it. A note fell off the comforter as he picked it up and floated to the floor. He picked it up and read it, cracking a smile.
Hey Tiger,
Figured I didn't need this anymore since I recently acquired a replacement. It's too nice to give to the henchmen and I wasn't going to throw it away so I figured I'd throw you a bone. You owe me one. I'm thinking steak this time.
S
Ron tucked the note in his pocket. "What was that note all about Ronald?" his mother asked.
"Just a note from Shelia, she must of felt bad that I lost my bed and sent me one," Ron said with a grin.
"Teenagers," his mother said, rolling her eyes, a hint of a smile on her face. Ron just shrugged his shoulders and began hauling the bed up the stairs. It was a fitting warm-up to his workout schedule he needed to return to. Yori would be expecting results and he did not want to displease her.
Henry Goh finished up his day at work as a mild mannered fast food restaurant manager and got into his blue sedan to head home. He drove to a small, secluded ranch home just off of Lake Go and pressed the button to operate the automatic garage door opener. When the door shut behind him the floor to the garage lowered down revealing a secret tunnel beneath the lake, leading to Go Tower's underground garage. He tuned into the police band radio to see if anything was happening that would need his attention was happening. "Traffic stops, shoplifters, prostitutes, nothing that requires the attention of a SUPERhero," he thought smugly. He pulled into the parking garage and parked his car. "I see Mego isn't in, and the Wegos shouldn't be home from school for another 45 minutes, minimum. Time to indulge in a triple cheese pizza, all to my self!" he thought with a smile. He entered the tower and made his way to the kitchen. He popped the pizza into the oven and set the timer before reaching for the remote. "One hundred and fifty-two channels and nothing on," he thought as he flipped through the channels. "I'll just turn it on the news." He settled back into the overlarge chair to wait for the pizza to finish cooking when he heard a thump from upstairs. "What in blue blazes was that?" he thought. "Mego and the Wegos can't be home already." He fiddled with the remote, changing the TV setting to access the security cameras in the Tower. A growl escaped his throat when he noticed the cameras were all just white noise. He made his way over to the elevator and went to the second floor. Peering out into the hallway he found nothing out of place when his bedroom door slowly swung open and the light in the room shown into the otherwise dark hallway. "Come out evildoer and I shall go easy on you!" he announced in his best superhero voice.
He waited a moment but received no response.
"Don't you know who I am? I am Hego!" he announced.
Still no response.
Shego rolled her eyes as she flipped off the computer she had used to turn off the security cameras. She glanced up to see how her project looked, stuck to the ceiling. Leaning back in the chair she grabbed a weightlifting trophy Hego had won in college off of a nearby shelf and lobbed it into the hallway. "Like it was hard to win when you have super strength," she thought.
Hego watched as his trophy sailed into the hallway, sticking into the drywall. "You're in trouble now!" he announced as he stomped down the hallway and stepped into the room, an exaggerated frown plastered on his face. "Shego!" he yelled, surprised.
"Duh. I thought I was just Susan Goh now though?" she snarked back.
Hego rolled up his sleeves. "I told you if I saw you again I would be putting you away," he said coldly.
"You don't want to do that Hego," Shego said, lifting her hands above her head in mock surrender. "Something might get broken." She smashed her hands down on the model he had been working on, shattering it.
Hego fumed. "You're holding my belongings hostage! This is low, even for you!" he spat.
"Low would be destroying them and not having the guts to do it to your face," she spat back. "Do you even know what you destroyed?"
"Nefarious devices of destruction no doubt," he replied smugly, folding his arms.
"So not moron. You should be labeled the criminal for what you took away from humanity," Shego said, pausing before continuing, "How about this? I will list off the items you destroyed and you tell me whether or not they were 'nefarious'. For each one you admit isn't 'nefarious' I will destroy one of your precious models. If I judge you to lie about it, or refuse to except it's valid good uses I will destroy three."
"That's preposterous! Why would I agree to that?"
"Look up Henry," Shego sneered flipping a little black box in her hand. "We could just go for them all at once."
Hego looked up at the ceiling. Stuck to the middle was a small bundle of wires spider webbing out. Each connected to a piece of putty, C-4 Hego assumed, on all of tiny cables holding up his models. "You wouldn't dare," Hego growled, a scowl on his face.
"Oh I would," Shego replied calmly. "How many do you think you could catch?"
"I won't ever forget this," Hego stated, straightening.
"Good, it's part of the lesson. I know you've heard it from Mom and Dad before, 'Don't do onto others what you wouldn't want done unto you.'," Shego snipped. "Now lets begin. The first item I will list would have saved people money, or at the very least been a boon to the emergency services industry. I start with plans for Dr. Drakken's fuel efficient hovercraft," Shego stated.
Hego thought for a moment, before grudgingly slouching. "Good," he said softly.
"Let's pick out something fitting shall we?" Shego asked looking around at the models. "Ah, a medivac helicopter." She aimed a finger at it and let loose with a small ball of plasma. It hit the helicopter and blew it into splinters of balsa wood. The engine bounced off of the bed's mattress and rolled to Hego's feet. "That wasn't bad Henry," at least you admitted to the good uses the technology has." She pondered for a moment, "Dr. Drakken's plans for synthodrones," she stated slowly.
"Evil to the core, no one should have access to a personal army," Hego stated, straightening his shoulders to a hard stance.
"No changing your mind then?" Shego asked mock sweetly.
"No," Hego stated firmly.
Shego lifted her hand and blasted a pair of F-14s that were being chased by a pair of Migs off the ceiling. "It lukes like de Russians are un vire today," she stated in a cheesy Russian accent. She blasted a Mig off of the ceiling for good measure.
"How does that fit into your rules?" Hego raged, clenching his fists at his side and taking a step forward.
Shego raised the remote and pointed it at the receiver on the ceiling. "Ut uh, you pretty much stated you'd refuse to listen to reason on that topic," she said calmly. "The synthodrones are perhaps the best of the inventions you destroyed the plans for. They are human in shape and dexterity, much stronger, and can be programmed to take on complicated tasks. They are good as henchmen, but they really shine in roles too dangerous for humans. Say.. Explosive ordnance disposal? Mining? Toxic chemical cleanup?" She waved a hand through the air. "Need I go on?"
Hego sighed and shook his head. "No."
"Very well then. Only four planes down so far. I think you may get out of this with half of you collection if you're smart," Shego stated, matter-of-factly.
"One was a helicopter," Hego muttered.
"Excuse me?" Shego asked, lighting up a hand and pointing at 'the red baron'.
Hego waved his hands in front of him. "Nothing, it was nothing," he said quickly.
This continued through several energy storage devices, a high yield laser, and the truth ray gun. Hego had wised up before then and decided to listen to reason with an open mind, for the sake of his collection, he only lost another five aircraft to Shego's blasts.
"We're down to the last one Henry," Shego stated sweetly. Her eyes narrowed menacingly. "And this is the one that really pisses me off. You destroyed the rejuvinator," her voice rose a little and shook in anger.
"What's a rejuvinator?" Hego enquired nervously, glancing up to take stock of the ceiling.
"It reverses the aging process in humans, and it's required to change someone who used it back to their proper age," she hissed.
"I thought you looked younger," Hego stated. "Pissed because you can't be 22 again? I can't feel sorry for this one, I'm not playing into your vanity," Hego said, glowering at her.
Shego blasted a C-130 off of the ceiling. "Oh, I'm really pissed because it affects me," she stated. "But it's good uses outweigh it's evil either way, even if you want to get all high horse on whether or not it's moral to live an unnaturally long life. Think of a person who has lost half their life to a coma, don't they deserve their youth? And what of the children inflicted with progeria, the disease that makes them age too quickly. Repeated doses of the rejuvinator could allow them to live a normal life." Shego blasted the red baron and his wing mate off of the ceiling. "No more allied planes going down today," she stated with a smirk.
"Now what?" Hego asked with a frown, shifting his weight from side to side in the doorway.
"Well, if your smart you'll keep the rest of your collection. It looks like roughly half," Shego stated with a shrug. "If you're your normal block-headed self then I will blow them all off the ceiling when you try to tackle me on my way out." She stood up. "I'm going to leave with my hovercraft from the roof. You will let me or I will destroy the rest of your models and kick your butt."
"How can I trust a villain? You'll just blow them up as you leave," Hego snarked.
"I'm shocked!" Shego stated in mock outrage. "I'm your sister, you don't trust me?" She paused a moment while he stood glaring at her. "If I just wanted to punish you for your mess I would have destroyed them all and left before you got home," Shego growled. "I wanted to rub your nose in it. I'm leaving either way, through you or past you. It's up to you just how many of your toys you have left when I go."
"You can't beat me, I'm nearly indestructible," Hego bragged.
"Maybe," Shego stated with a shrug, "but I don't need to beat you, I just need to get away." She sniffed the air, "Do I smell smoke?"
"Crap! My pizza!" Hego yelled slapping his forehead. "Oww!" he squealed as he rubbed the spot, his super strength was hard to control when he was upset.
"Well, your choice just got easier," Shego stated smugly. "Unless the superhero is going to let the Go Tower burn down."
Hego grunted. "You will pay for this someday," he stated gravely.
"Not today though," Shego said sweetly with a wave. Hego headed toward the back-up staircase while Shego stepped into the hallway. "Henry!" she called.
He turned around, "What?!"
"Catch!" she shouted and threw the remote to him.
He panicked and grabbed at it in his distressed state. The remote crumbled under the super strength in his hand. The bits of balsa wood Shego had built the fake remote from crumbled to the floor. "Son of a," he began.
Shego grinned wickedly. "Got you Doofus," she yelled as she turned and took off down the hallway to the stairs. Hego thought of giving chase, but he knew he wasn't nearly fast enough to catch her. He raced down the staircase to put out the fire in the oven before it spread.
Ron couldn't believe the week had gone by so quickly. It was already lunch on Friday. He grabbed a plate of something that seemed like it was trying to impersonate spaghetti, or chili, or something..
"Ron!" Kim shouted from a nearby table, waving him over.
He grabbed a carton of milk and headed over to the table, trying not to roll his eyes. "Hey guys," he stated with a smile to Kim, Erik, Erik's friend Ted, Monique, and Tara. He sat down in the only open spot, next to Tara.
"Hi Ron," Tara said with a smile. "How are you doing?"
"Good thanks," Ron stated before shoveling a forkful of his lunch into his mouth. He gulped it down heavily as he noticed Kim glaring at him. "And you Tara?" he asked quickly.
"Oh, I'm a little bummed," she said, putting on a pout and moving her food around a bit. "I've got tickets for a movie Bonnie and I were going to see but she had to cancel. I don't want to go all alone."
"That tanks," Ron said, eating some more. "What movie is it?" he asked.
"Winter hilltops," she said with a smile. "It's supposed to be very good. I just wish I knew someone who'd want to go with me."
"I doubt you'll have a problem finding someone to go with you. You should ask at cheer practice," Ron suggested. "Ow!" Ron squeaked as a foot hit his shin. He looked up to see KP motioning towards Tara with her eyes.
"Did you hurt yourself Ronnie?" Tara asked.
"Just bit my lip, chewing too fast," Ron explained tersely.
Monique, who had been sitting quietly, rolled her eyes and sighed. "Ted, weren't you just telling me you didn't have anything going on tonight?" "Don't even try to lie Baby boy, you were macking on me just a minute ago," she thought narrowing her eyes at him.
Ted smiled, glad to be passed such a dish. "Yeah, I'm not busy. If you need someone to go with you Tara I'd be happy to escort you," he stated.
Kim shot Monique a dirty look before she pushed her plate forward and stood up. "Ron," she stated, a little tweaked. "I need to talk to you alone for a minute."
"Sure thing KP, just let me finish this up," Ron stated. He ate quickly, finishing his food off in half a minute before letting out a satisfied belch.
"Ron, that is nasty," Monique stated. Ron just grinned as he stood up and followed Kim out into the hallway.
"What's up KP?" he asked innocently.
"You know what's up Ronald," she stated. "I know that you aren't that clueless, you know Tara is trying to get you to ask her out."
"I know Kim, I just don't want to go out with her right now," Ron stated.
"What's wrong with Tara, she gorgeous and one of the nicest people in the school," Kim said throwing her hands up. "You were all about Tara until last week."
"Nothings wrong with Tara, I just don't feel like seeing anyone right now," Ron stated.
"I knew it, you are crushing on Shelia," she stated, using air quotes around her rival's alias.
"She was alright to be around, but I wouldn't say I'm crushing on her just because I don't want to see anyone right now," Ron said flatly.
"You are so crushing on her. Just go out on one date and let yourself have fun Ron, you will get over her," Kim smiled a little bit. "She's 500 miles of bad road, trust me on this one Ron. I know my foe."
"Using the Ron Man's phrases against him huh?" Ron joked lightly. "She's not as bad as you think."
Kim folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, "She isn't huh? Even if that were true, she's not right for you. Tara and you would be great together though."
"And you know that how?" Ron asked, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Who here has dated more? Trust me on this one," Kim stated.
"And what's your track record?"
Kim looked like he struck her for a moment. "I can't believe you said that Ron," she said before storming off.
Ron rushed to catch her; he walked briskly alongside her. "I'm sorry KP, that didn't come out right. Let me explain," Ron begged.
Kim stopped suddenly, looking her friend in the eye, still a little hurt. "This had better be good Ron."
"I know, I know. I didn't mean that you are a bad girlfriend and that's why your relationships haven't lasted or anything. Any guy would be lucky to have you. I just meant that you have made some mistakes along the way in choosing dates. Do I have to mention Walter Nelson?" Ron asked.
Kim grunted at this, still not convinced. "No," she stated flatly.
"I just want the chance to make my own mistakes, to choose who I'm going to date. To have my own successes and failures, to date who I find interesting. You don't always know what's best for me Kim," he said gently, looking into her eyes.
"Pinky Joe.." Kim stated softly.
"Huh?" Ron asked.
"Nothing," Kim replied, "You just reminded me of a talk my dad and I had. She stood there thinking about what Ron had said for a moment. "So what kind of girl do you find interesting then?"
"I don't know," Ron said, blushing a little bit. "She'd have to been smart and independent, but she'd have to have a kind heart. Selfless would be a good word for it."
"Go on," Kim said, encouraging him.
"I'd want to be able to just be myself around her, not always be the perfect boyfriend, but to be able to just be me." He paused. "And it wouldn't hurt if she was pretty and athletic too," he stated, growing a little redder. "And long hair is a plus in my book."
"Tara fits a lot of those traits," Kim sighed, knowing it now was a losing battle.
"What's it going to take to reassure you?" Ron asked. "I hate seeing her so worried, even over something so stupid," he thought.
"Just one date, but you have to put yourself out there, no bombing it on purpose," Kim said thoughtfully. "And it doesn't have to be Tara, you can pick."
"OK, deal," Ron sighed. "I'll go out with the next girl that asks."
Kim tapped her finger to her chin. "Shego fits some of those, but not all of them. I just have to find a girl that fits them better," she thought. "OK, sorry to push you Ron, I just want you to be happy," Kim stated.
"It's all good KP," Ron replied. "Are we still on for Bueno Nacho?" Ron asked.
"Yep," Kim stated.
"Alright, I'm going to shoot some hoops with Felix until lunch is over. See ya!" Ron said, waving goodbye before heading towards the gym.
"Later Ron!" Kim replied as she went back into the lunchroom.
"Don't even be mad at me girlfriend, you were out of line dealing with him like that. Ron's my friend too I had to bail him out," Monique stated as she set her nachos on the table and sat down across from Kim.
"I don't understand why he won't go out with Tara," Kim sighed. She reached out and picked up her lemonade, taking a drink before setting it down on the table and looking back up at Monique.
"Maybe she's just not right for him," Monique stated.
"She's close, he gave me his 'list'," Kim stated.
"Oh do tell," Monique said with a grin.
"Well he wanted the girl to be smart and independent, but put up with his goofiness," Kim started.
"Well Tara would put up with his goofiness," Monique started lightly.
"Yeah, well she fits everything else to a T," Kim stated.
"What's that? To like small, hairless rodents? Or cheese?" Monique asked, holding up a chip with a gob of cheese dripping from it.
"No!" Kim laughed. "He wants her to be smart, kind, pretty, athletic, and he'd prefer long hair."
Monique started laughing. "Oh no he didn't!" she exclaimed, holding her stomach.
"What?" Kim asked, puzzled.
"Who does that describe?" Monique asked. Kim looked puzzled for a moment. "Think about it girl," Monique stated, raising her eyebrows.
Kim thought for a moment looking at Monique, "long hair, pretty, smart, independent, nice body, kind…" Kim gasped, "How did I not see it before?" she exclaimed.
"I know, everyone's been betting on you two for ages," Monique said with a sad smile.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Kim asked.
"You didn't think I was talking about you?" Monique asked slowly.
"Ah, no," Kim stated.
"Think about the list, and you've been tight like, forever girl," Monique said. "Who were you thinking about?"
"You," Kim stammered as Monique's jaw dropped.
"You think I would fit Ron's list?" Monique laughed. "You might be right Kim, but he doesn't fit mine."
"What is yours?" Kim asked.
"You'll know when I find him," Monique replied with a smirk, picking up another chip.
"You should give him a chance, at least go out on a date with him," Kim whined, putting on the Puppy Dog Pout.
Monique covered her eyes and held a hand out motioning for Kim to stop. "Not this time girl. And stop that, that just ain't right," she scolded.
The door dinged as Erik walked into the restaurant and sat down at the booth next to Kim. "What are we talking about today?" Erik asked good-naturedly.
"Saved by the bell!" Monique exclaimed, sitting up and uncovering her eyes.
"Ron's dating sitch," Kim sighed. "I might have to find someone else for Ron since he's dead set against Tara for some reason. Not that I'm getting any help from my friends." Kim pouted at Monique.
"I thought we covered that well enough girlfriend," Monique stated, staring down the pout. "And he might not be so dead set against her if you weren't pushing so hard."
"Hey, Ted is pretty darn happy about that. Brand new to the school and already has a date with the third prettiest girl in school," Erik stated.
"Whose the?" Kim started to ask before Erik silenced her with a peck on the lips.
"The two prettiest are already at the table with me," he said slyly.
Monique rolled her eyes as Kim giggled. The door to the restaurant rang again as Ron walked in. "Hey Ron," Monique said with a wave as he made his way over to the table.
"Hey guys. Did everyone get their food yet?" he asked.
"Naw, I have to order, I'll go up with you," Erik stated. "You ladies need anything?" he asked.
"No thanks," Kim stated as Monique shook her head. Kim sat quietly for a moment thinking about what Monique said while Ron and Erik got their orders and sat down.
Kim continued to eat slowly while watching Ron and Monique discussing the GWA matches taking place tonight. "You know, they wouldn't make a bad couple," Kim thought. "But how to get them together?" A smile slowly spread across her face as an idea formed in her head. "I have to use the bathroom," Kim mumbled as she got up from the booth and headed towards the back of the restaurant. She pulled out the Kimmunicator and hit the call button.
Wade's face blinked onto the screen. "Hey Kim, what's up?" he asked.
"I need you to get me four tickets to the GWA match in LA tonight as well as a ride for four," Kim whispered in the hall outside the bathroom.
"The ride will be easy, the French aeronautical firm I've been doing some work for is going international. They have to get a lot of airtime in before the FFA will allow them to go public. I don't know about the tickets though Kim, they're all sold out," Wade stated, tapping the keyboard. "Let me get a hold of some people and see what they can do."
"Thanks Wade, you rock!" Kim stated before she closed the connection and put away the device. She headed back over to the table and sat down. A few minutes later the Kimmunicator went off.
"Aww man!" Ron whined. "Always on a Friday night!"
"It's not like you got a hot date or anything," Monique mocked, elbowing him in the ribs.
"Not yet," Kim thought. "Go Wade," Kim said as she pulled out the Kimmunicator.
"I was able to get those tickets you asked for Kim," Wade stated. "Pain King was more than happy to help since you brought the Jackal back down to size. I will have a ride waiting at your house in one hour."
"You got tickets to GWA!" Monique squealed. "I guess you boys are going to have to find something to do tonight cause my girl and I are going to watch some wrestling!"
"Actually Monique, I'm taking Erik with my two tickets," Kim began, cracking a smile as Monique began to pout. "I don't know who Ron will be taking with his."
Monique narrowed her eyes at Kim. "You are unbelievable," she stated.
"I better call Felix if he's going to have time to get ready," Ron stated, trying to suppress a grin as he reached for his cell phone.
"Nooo!" Monique whined grabbing his arm. "Take me with you!" She looked up at him with big eyes, her head tucked down slightly, and her bottom lip stuck out and quivering just a little bit. The dreaded Puppy Dog Pout.
"Awww man. Kim why did you have to teach her that? It's my biggest weakness," Ron whined.
"Dude, that's everybody's weakness," Erik stated, covering his eyes.
A bead of sweat formed on Ron's forehead. "Gotta be strong, gotta be strong," he muttered, glancing over to Kim only to be hit with another full power pout. "Gah!"
"Remember that talk we had Ronnie?" Kim said baby-like while pouting.
Ron looked slightly down at Monique, still clutching his arm. "OK, I was going to invite you anyways! I was only playing around. Just, just stop doing that," Ron said, his voice trembling slightly.
"Yes!" Monique yelled, bouncing up and down. "Gonna watch Pain King lay some smack down!"
"It's a date then," Kim stated smugly.
"No it's just two mutual friends that happen to be of opposite genders going out and enjoying a sporting event together," Monique stated, matter-of-factly.
"Ah, actually I kinda need this to be a date," Ron said nervously.
"What?" Monique exclaimed. "Why?"
"Cause KP said that she'd stop trying to set me up if I went out on just one date," Ron stated.
"Oh really," Monique said, putting her hands on her hips. "Ron Stoppable," she started.
"Yes?" he asked slowly.
"You've got yourself a date," Monique stated as she reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the exit. "Take me home so I can get ready, we've got less than an hour!" she exclaimed.
Kim smiled as Monique led Ron out the doorway. "They just needed a gentle nudge," she thought. "Maybe I can nudge a little more tonight.."
Shego was tapping her fingernails on the tabletop in the main lab, watching Drakken putter around. She glanced at the clock, only a few minutes left until quitting time for the weekend. "Dr. D., I'm just going to take off now. See you on Monday," she stated, pushing the chair out and standing.
"It's Friday? Dr. Drakken asked. "Alright, karaoke night!" he exclaimed.
"Woo hoo," Shego stated sarcastically, twirling a finger in the air. "See you later."
"You can't leave Shego," Dr. D. stated.
"What? What part of 'I have weekends off' don't you understand?" Shego asked gruffly, placing her hands on her hips.
"Oh, I forgot to mention. We're launching the satellite this weekend," Dr. Drakken stated, wringing his hands a bit nervously. "So you're on the clock all weekend."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner!" she asked angrily.
"I wasn't sure I'd finish up today," Drakken whined. "But now that everything is ready we can't waste any time launching, right after karaoke night."
"Ugh, fine, but I'm getting overtime for this," Shego growled. "I have some stuff to do before we head out," she stated as she left the room. "I better send off Ron's bed and my new clothes to storage in case the lair blows up," she thought. "One of the downsides to a life on the run, you lose things that are important to you."
Ron pulled the truck up in front of Kim's house and parked at the curb. He pulled at the collar on the shirt he was wearing. They had stopped at his house where Monique picked out something for him to wear. She insisted he change if he was going to go out with her. In this case 'something' consisted of a pullover shirt with buttons at the top, a pair of slacks, and his one pair of dress shoes he had around for temple. He walked around the truck and opened the door for Monique. She stepped out, straightening her clothes.
"You don't have to get doors or chairs for me or anything," Monique stated. "I can handle them on my own."
"Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it," Ron stated. "I'm trying to treat this like a real date."
"Uh huh, just don't turn Roman on me," she stated.
"Roman?" Ron questioned.
"Yeah, Roman hands, Roman arms," she said, raising her eyebrows.
Ron chuckled. "Gotcha," he stated with a smile. They walked up to the house as they heard the unmistakable sound of a helicopter approaching. Kim and Erik met them on the stoop as not one, but two mini helicopters landed in the driveway.
Kim smiled, "Our rides are here," she stated.
"Aww man! Not the remote unmanned helicopter again! This tanks! Couldn't we get a GJ VTOL or a ride on a jet or something?" Ron whined.
"Unmanned?" Erik and Monique both stated nervously.
"Don't be such babies," Kim stated. "They're perfectly safe, Ron and I rode in one in France last year."
At that Erik straightened and gulped down his fear. "Alright, let's load up then," he stated. He grabbed the packs Kim and he had carried out with them and put them in the lead chopper.
Ron scowled briefly as he saw Erik with his own pack. He walked back to the truck and grabbed his mission pack from behind the seat and took it to the second helicopter. "Keep your Kimmunicator out Kim, we can talk if we need to," Ron stated. He held his hand out to help Monique into the helicopter.
"We'll be there in about an hour and a half," Kim yelled over the wind of the rotors. "You two don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Kim grinned as Ron blushed and Monique shot her a look that could have frozen water. They loaded up and were off.
The helicopters took off and headed to the west, shuttling their passengers to their destination. About ten minutes into the flight Kim pulled a laptop computer out of her backpack and began typing. A few minutes later her Kimmunicator beeped. "What's the sitch Wade?" Kim asked nervously.
"What do you think you're doing Kim?" Wade asked sternly.
"Umm, just trying to see what Ron and Monique are up to," Kim said blushing.
A knowing grin grew over Wade's face. "I can understand that. I'm going to lock you out of all essential computer functions so you don't crash the system. Literally," Wade stated, serious again.
"Thanks Wade," Kim stated blushing slightly as Erik tried, and failed, to suppress his laughter. "What's so funny Erik?" Kim demanded as she killed the comm. link.
"Nothing, nothing," he said with a smile.
"What?" she asked seriously as she pulled out the laptop and finished hacking into the onboard camera on the helicopter Ron and Monique were on.
"You're getting reamed by a 12 year old," Erik chuckled.
"Shush or I'll sic him on you," Kim teased. "He could clear out your school lunch account in a heartbeat."
Erik held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, I gotcha," he stated with a grin. "So why are you spying on them anyways?"
"Just making sure that they make the most out of their date. If this doesn't go well I don't think that Monique will give Ron another chance. She hasn't for any other guy she's dated," Kim stated as she brought up the video feed. Monique and Ron were sitting on the bench seat about a foot apart, looking out their respective windows. "Time to bring the two of them closer together," she stated as she typed for a few minutes. She growled as she grew frustrated before figuring out how to hack into the climate control. It was set at 70 degrees. "Let's see how they like 64," she said with a smile. She set the laptop down and leaned into Erik, watching the temperature slowly drop in the other helicopter.
"It's getting a little cold in her isn't it?" Monique asked.
"A little bit," Ron replied. He reached around the seat and pulled a wool blanket out of his backpack. He shook it out and draped it over the two of them. "That better?" he asked.
"A little bit, thanks," she replied. It wasn't long before the two of them began to scoot closer, the warmth coming off of each other drawing them together.
In the other helicopter Kim grinned, looking up at Erik from his shoulder. "See? Who rules?" she asked.
Erik smiled back down at her. "You do," he answered, giving her a peck on the nose. The comfort of their shared warmth caused her to doze off until Erik woke her up as they began the descent into L.A.. "Check them out," Erik stated, pointing to the screen.
Kim looked down at the laptop setting on the floor. The screen showed Ron and Monique sitting close together as they watched T.V. on Ron's Kimmunicator. It was obvious they were watching wrestling they were both hooting and hollering at the screen. "I just wish I could hear them," Kim stated. "I'll have to talk to Wade about that on the way back, maybe he can open a one way comm. through the Kimmunicator."
After the chopper landed on the roof of the stadium they all got out and stretched.
"Wade said someone is going to meet up at the stairs with our tickets," Kim stated.
"VIP parking. Booyah!" Ron exclaimed.
"Let's go VIP boy," Monique said, rolling her eyes. Ron, Erik, and Kim followed her as she practically skipped to the stairwell in the center of the roof. As promised a roadie was waiting for them.
"Miss Possible and Mr. Toppable, the King sends his regards," he stated in an East coast accent. "Luckily he was able to get 4 seats at ringside together."
"We've got ringside seats," Monique squealed, taking the tickets. "Cool, right next to the aisle!" She handed the other two over to Kim.
Kim smiled at her friend's excitement. There was no way Ron could bomb this date; Monique would remember it forever. "Thanks, Bob," Kim said, reading the man's ID tag.
"My pleasure. Follow me, I'll escort you to your seats," Bob stated. "We'll be going in through the back. It's close to show time so we don't have time to stop for autographs."
"Booyah!" Ron exclaimed. "Backstage access!" Monique giggled in agreement as Erik chuckled at their antics and Kim rolled her eyes.
They stopped at a table with snacks and drinks on it and grabbed a couple of sodas for the show before being led down to their seats. The place was packed and filled with energy and noise. Ron and Monique took the seats by the bottom of the ramp while Kim and Erik got chairs a few seats further in. "Isn't this awesome!" Monique squealed. "I've never been to such a large event before!"
"Yeah," Ron said loudly so she could hear him over the crowd. "This is a even bigger than 'Mayhem in Middleton'!"
They joined the crowd in cheering as the announcer opened the event and introduced the first wrestlers. All of the matches were great and the crowd was surging with energy. The main event was a no-holds- barred match-up being held to determine the number one contender for the title. Mac Truck squared off against The Titan in the ring for what quickly turned into a brutal brawl, both in the ring and around ringside. As the men were in the ring clinched up a boom rang out from the speakers and the sounds of a growling punk rock song began. Boos sounded throughout the crowd as a large man appeared at the top of the ramp and began striding down to the ring.
"Crowbar," Ron and Monique said together, too excited to even 'jinx' each other. He was a newer wrestler that was quickly rising through the ranks, beating all who came up against him. He ran towards the ring as the other wrestlers warily backed away from each other. The ref was watching the ring with his back to the bottom of the ramp when crowbar grabbed his ankles and yanked, pulling him out of the ring, his head bouncing off of the mat as he was dragged out, unconscious. The crowd booed. Crowbar jumped up into the ring and looked over the two other wrestlers. He nodded to Mac Truck and motioned towards The Titan, smacking his fist into his hand. The two of them ganged up on the The Titan, making short work of him and throwing him out of the ring. Crowbar gave Mac a high-five before he raised up Mac's hand to signal his victory. Monique and Ron were booing with the crowd when Crowbar suddenly pivoted and brutally closelined Mac, slamming him to the mat, unconscious. Crowbar pulled the ref up into the ring and began trying to wake him, Suddenly the speaker blared to life once more.
"Here comes the champ!" Monique squealed as Pain King's music sounded over the speakers
"Only 'cause Steel Toe retired," Ron muttered.
"Yeah, well he's the best there is now," she mock-growled with a wink and a smirk. Crowbar jumped out of the ring to meet Pain King at the bottom of the ramp. The crowd was cheering Pain King and booing Crowbar all at once. Someone lobbed a drink at Crowbar from the balcony but their aim was a little off.
"Lookout!" Ron stated as he saw it heading straight for Monique. He wrapped her in his arms, and spun around in the closely packed quarters and leaning forward, effectively 'dipping' her. An annoyed look came over Monique's face as she briefly thought Ron was putting some sort of lame moves on her. The drink splattered loudly on his back, soaking him but sparing Monique from all but a few droplets. "Aww man," he whined as he stood up and stepped back the little bit he could. "I liked this shirt."
"Are you alright Ron?" Monique gushed, grabbing his shoulders and looking at his face.
"Yeah, it's just a little cold," he said, grimacing in disgust. Pain King crashed into Crowbar at the bottom of the ramp. "Get him PK!" Ron yelled, turning to the fight.
Monique checked Ron's back to make sure he wasn't cut or anything before joining him in cheering for her favorite wrestler. Pain King was getting the better of it and decked Crowbar one more time before rolling him into the ring. He took off his crown and championship belt and put them down on the ring apron before peeling off his shirt to catcalls from the ladies. He jumped up on the apron and climbed into the ring after Crowbar. Pain King and Crowbar were giving the crowd quite the show when Pain King knocked him down at the edge of the mat by Monique and Ron. Crowbar grabbed the championship belt from ringside and rolled over, clobbering Pain King as he dove on top of him. Pain King grasped his head, rolling out of the ring and stumbling around as Crowbar crawled over to Mac Truck, who was just starting to stir, and covered him, shaking the ref that was still unconscious next to him. The ref came to and saw a man being covered. He slapped down a hand for the one count. Pain King had recovered and was climbing back into the ring as the ref slapped his hand down the second time. Mac Truck tried unsuccessfully to kick out as Pain King dove for Crowbar. The ref's hand struck the mat a third time just before they collided. Pain King and Crowbar stood up at the same time. Crowbar swung his giant fist at Pain King and Pain King blocked it and kicked him in the gut before scooping him up into a modified pile driver, the King's Crown. Crowbar was laid out in the middle of the ring as Pain King climbed out of the ring. He picked his crown off the edge of the mat and put it on and scooped up his shirt and belt. On the way out he stopped in front of Ron and Monique.
"You're the kid that helped Kim with Jackie. Don Toppable, right?" Pain King asked.
"Ron Stoppable, that's me," Ron stated.
"Nice move there with the soda," he stated. "Here, you can towel off with this." He dropped his T-shirt in Ron's hands as Monique squealed and nearly fainted. He turned and walked up the ramp, pumping his arms and generally celebrating.
"OMGOMGOMG! Ron, you've got Pain King's Shirt!" Monique squealed.
"Yeah, coolio!" Ron exclaimed. He peeled off the shirt he was wearing and wrung it out before slipping Pain King's shirt on. The post match announcements wrapped up and people started leaving the arena. Bob walked out from one of the back entrances to collect them once the crowd had thinned a little bit.
Agent Spade rubbed her forehead, trying in vain to get rid of her stress induced headache before she reported in. She composed herself for her conversation with Dr. Director. She hated this game she had to play. "I'm such a tool," she thought. "I'd just like to hit the reset button and start all over." The laptop computer fired up and Dr. Director's face appeared.
"You have a report Agent Spade?" Dr. Director asked.
"Yes. The plan launches tomorrow, coordinates unknown. Tracking frequency is four 76.62," Agent Spade stated.
"Do you anticipate any difficulties?" Dr. Director asked.
"It shouldn't be anymore than they are used to handling. Their new recruit may get himself into trouble, but they are good enough to cover him," Agent Spade replied. "Dr. Drakken has been getting smarter though, it's best to be prepared."
"Good. I don't want a repeat of the Diablo disaster. Drakken nearly succeeded that time. If we get another close call like that we will have to resort to more drastic measures. Are we clear?" Dr. Director asked.
"Crystal," Agent Spade replied.
"Good," Dr. Director stated with a rare smile. "You look good, I trust you're week off went well."
"Everything went well, Ma'am," Agent Spade stated, unconsciously curling the corners of her mouth up.
"Excellent. Report in immediately if there are any more developments," Dr. Director stated before signing off. Agent Spade signed off and erased the log before tucking the computer away. It was one of the few times a conversation with Dr. Director improved her mood rather than soured it.
"I can't believe we got to go backstage!" Monique said excitedly as the four of them made their way to the helicopters. "My brother is going to be so jealous!"
"This trip ruled," Ron stated, pumping his hand in the air. "And Pain King even signed the T-shirt he gave me," Ron said, looking down at it.
"I am so getting that shirt off of you when we get back to Middleton," Monique squealed.
Kim grinned at the comment. "So I take it you liked your date since you're already planning on stripping him when we get home." Kim said with a smirk.
Monique and Ron blushed stepping apart a little bit. "No!" she laughed. "That is so not what I meant."
"Ah, yeah," Ron stammered while Erik and Kim just laughed along with Monique.
"We'll see you when we land," Monique stated with a grin, pulling Ron into the helicopter. Kim just shook her head happily as Erik and her climbed into their helicopter. Kim scrambled into her seat and scooped up the laptop, typing in her password and restarting the video feed hack while Erik contacted Wade. Wade set the autopilot and the helicopters took off and headed toward Middleton.
Monique and Ron got cozy in their seats as their helicopter followed behind Kim's. They made small talk for the first half an hour before running out of safe things to talk about. After a few awkward moments Monique piped up, her need to know what was going on with her friends over coming the reluctance to broach certain issues. "So why didn't you want to go out with Tara tonight?" she asked.
"I have a lot going on right now," Ron stated offhandedly.
"Come on Ron," Monique chided. "I know you better than that, and just so you know, so does Kim. You are the king of free time."
"You may have been right before Monique, but I don't have as much of it now," Ron replied. "I've been training for missions pretty hard and have actually been doing my homework."
"I know Ron, Kim told me," Monique stated. "But you've been spending a lot less time with her. And there is no way a red-blooded American teenage boy is not interested in someone like Tara. Unless you're batting for the other team."
Ron blushed. "No. I'm not gay Monique."
"I wouldn't judge you if you were Ron."
"That's good to know Monique, but I'm not," Ron said with a smile.
"Then you're crushing on someone. Kim thinks it's Shego," Monique said lightly.
"She told you Shelia is Shego?" Ron exclaimed.
"Baby boy, she tells me everything," Monique stated with a smirk. "Even about the time you two switched bodies."
Ron blushed even harder. "This could be entering the state of TMI," Ron stated.
"So you are crushing on Shego?" Monique asked. "At least you aren't crushing on Kim anymore." Ron looked up at her with a sad half-smile. "Are you?" she asked again.
"I don't know Monique. I don't know what I'm feeling anymore," Ron stated. "And I don't want to add anymore girls to the mix, I can't keep my feelings straight about the two I like now."
"I feel ya," Monique stated.
"Why did I have to become popular with the ladies now instead of a couple of months ago?" Ron asked, exasperated.
"Better now then never," Monique chuckled.
"I suppose you're right," Ron said dryly. "Would it matter if I'm crushing on either of them? I mean Kim's taken, and like you said before, she's happy. I don't want to be the one to ruin it, not to mention our friendship. And Shego is on the run, that's not conducive to a good relationship, not to mention that my best friend hates her."
"If finding love were easy everyone would do it," Monique stated wistfully.
"Come on Mon, you can't tell me you can't get a boyfriend," Ron stated.
"Don't even act the fool Ron, of course I could," Monique stated. She got a sultry look on her face as she looked at Ron and her voice turned a little husky as she spoke. "I bet I could even get you to forget about your other girl problems," she said leaning close. She pulled back and sighed. "But that's just not the way I am."
"What does that mean?" Ron asked thinking for a moment. "You like girls?"
"No!" Monique laughed. "I don't play second fiddle. If I'm not number one then I'm not on the list. Besides, if you could forget about your feelings because I was leading you on what's going to happen when someone prettier comes along?" she asked.
"I always knew you were a smart girl. I didn't know you were smart about relationships too," Ron stated.
"Flattery will get you nowhere," Monique said with a smirk.
"I know, I'm not trying to get anywhere," Ron said.
"Good. Now that we got that straight, what are you going to do?" Monique asked.
Ron shook his head slowly. "I don't know," he stated. "I'll be going to the Yamanouchi school in Japan for a summer exchange program for a little while. I'll be leaving right after school lets out. I might just let things coast until then, maybe I can clear my head there."
"Isn't that where Yori is from?" Monique asked.
Ron chuckled. "Yep. No worries there though. Remember Hirotaka?" he asked.
"Yeah, he was one of the few guys I have ever had a crush on," she replied. "Though I may be in for another," she thought.
"Yori and him are going steady. It's pretty serious too. She mentioned something about them being destined for one another. That's pretty significant where they are from," Ron said with a smile, happy that his friend could find such happiness.
"Just don't let your life pass you by because you're too afraid to act," Monique stated.
"I can deal with the fear Monique, I do that all the time. I just don't know what I should do."
"Do what makes you happy," Monique said, placing a hand on his and giving it a squeeze.
"I suppose you're right. So what about you? Who are you crushing on?" Ron asked, trying to flip the tables.
"Oh no Baby Boy, we ain't even going there," Monique said, holding a up a hand in defense.
"Aww, come on Monique!" Ron exclaimed. "You need to take some of your own advice."
"So, can you believe that Crowbar is getting the title shot against Pain King?" Monique asked, clearly ending that line of conversation.
"Well, it was a no-holds-barred match. And the ref did count the pin," Ron stated with a smile. The conversation turned to wrestling and other things until the choppers landed in Kim's driveway.
Kim flipped the laptop closed. "I really need to learn how to read lips," she thought. "Too bad Wade wouldn't let me hack into Ron's Kimmunicator. He picked a great time to grow a backbone about being a party to spying on friends. 'I should earn my hacks' indeed." "Call me tomorrow Monique, I want to hear all about your date!" Kim exclaimed, giving Monique a hug before moving to Ron and hugging him.
"Alright girlfriend. We can talk about it over ice cream at the mall before my shift starts. I'll call you tomorrow morning," Monique replied.
"See ya later KP!" Ron called. "Later Erik."
"Bye Ron," Erik said with a grin. You two be careful on the way home." Kim slapped his chest and shook her head, walking towards the house.
Ron threw his bag in the back of the truck and opened the door for Monique, closing it after she stepped into the cab and sat down. They parked in front of her house and Ron opened her door for her. "Hold on a second Monique," he stated, rummaging through his bag.
"What? You think you're getting a kiss goodnight or something?" she joked. "Cause if that's the case you got another thing coming.
Ron pulled out a mission shirt and changed into it. He turned back around and held out the shirt for her. "I'm more of a Steel Toe fan anyways," he said with a sheepish grin.
"I told you I'd be getting this shirt off of you," Monique stated. She smiled and took the shirt, stepping in to give Ron a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You have been working out haven't you?" she said as she felt the hard muscles that she had seen as he changed just a moment ago.
"Oh stop it Monique," Ron said with a grin, hugging her back. "It's just a shirt, and if giving it to you makes you that happy I'd give you a hundred of them if I had them."
"You really are a sweet guy," she stated. He walked her to the door, she looked up into his eyes thinking for a moment. "Come up to my room. I have something I want to give you," she stated.
"Monique, you don't have to give me anything," Ron stated. "And I'm not going to do anything that makes you uncomfortable."
She shoved him a little. "Not that you moron!" she chuckled. "Come on. It's not a request."
"Aren't your parents going to throw a fit?" Ron asked.
"It's just my mom and my brother. She lets me do what I want for the most part, but I don't know how she'll react to this."
"Oh," Ron said as she opened the door.
As Monique said her mother looked up from the couch, the blinds she had been peeking through swishing back into place. "I hope your date went well?" her mother asked.
"It was the best I've had," Monique stated with a smile.
Her mother smiled right back, clearly happy. "I've heard a lot of good things about you Ron, so I'll trust you'll behave yourselves. You two don't stay up too late," she stated. "And leave the bedroom door open. I'll be checking on you."
Monique laughed a little. "Alright mom. Ron's going to be leaving in a little while," she stated. Monique led Ron up to her room and motioned for him to sit on the edge of the bed. She got down on her knees and pulled a box out from under the bed and got back up. She set it between the two of them as she sat next to him and popped off the lid. "These are pictures I have from the dances at Middleton High," she stated.
Ron looked into the box. "Wow, there are a lot of pictures with Shego in them," Ron stated, picking up a small stack.
"Yeah, they were going to get thrown away so I took them. I kinda thought you might want them someday," Monique stated. "If you dig further down you'll see some from the dances you and Kim have gone to as well. And a few from the past two Middleton Days Festivals." Monique paused for a moment. "You can take what you want," Monique said. I know that Kim didn't give you any pictures of Shego, she doesn't want to encourage you. But maybe these will help you sort out your feelings."
"Wow Monique. Thanks. I thought I was going to have to ask around to try and find just one," Ron stated, giving her a hug.
She smiled widely. "No big." They spent the next half an hour looking through the pictures. Ron ended up leaving with one of Kim and him dancing that he had never seen before as well as a few of him and Shego at the Spirit Dance.