Chapter 2

Kim was in mission mode. She grabbed the arm of her partner and charged to her left. Dodging enemies, she finally turned the corner to find what she wanted. She dove through the door and dragged her assistant with her.

Turning to her ally, she sighed and held up something tye-dye. "What do you think of this one?"

Monique shuddered. "Kim! You're losing it, girl! Come on, let the fashion expert give you some MNH!"

"MNH?"

"Much needed help, girlfriend!"

Monique led Kim to an out-of-the-way shop in the old end of the Middleton Mall. "Ok, Kimberly. Take a peek at what this joint's got to offer, but don't let your desires run away with your credit card!"

"Monique! Where are we? I don't think I've ever seen this store in my life! Are you losing your marbles? This is… eurrghh!"

The self-proclaimed fashionista laughed at the expression on her best friend's face. "Doubting my judgment, Little Miss Cheerleader? Watch and learn, O Inexperienced Shopper."

Kim sighed overdramatically and rolled her eyes, but followed Monique inside the little shop.

"Mon! It's perfect! I love you! You're… wow! I hereby solemnly swear, I will never again doubt your fashion sense!" Kim twirled in front of the mirror in a casual-but-classy, knee-length, purple sundress. Aww, it's perfect for a casual date. You don't have shoes to match, by any chance?"

"Kim. Must you ask? Look over here!"

Kim squealed in delight when she saw the vast, still untouched shoe section. "Monique! Look! Oh wait, look over here! No, look at these!"

Monique laughed at Kim's enthusiasm. Suddenly, Kim grabbed Monique's arm in a death grip and stared, zombie-like. She marched Monique forward and held up one last pair of shoes. "Tell me these don't match my dress exactly."

"Kim… you are officially free to do your own shopping! Those complement your dress so perfectly! Who would have thought you could find something to go with that unusual shade of purple? Ron's gonna die when he sees you! I might even die!"

Kim giggled. "Thanks! I sure will have him begging for me!" Then her mood sobered suddenly and her face became anxious. "Monique… do you think Ron is right for me?"

"What are you talking about, girlie? You two are a match from heaven! I've never seen a cuter couple. I can't imagine either of you with anybody else! Are you having doubts about your dreamboat?"

"Ugh, I don't know. I mean, I ran into Josh today…"

"Kimberly Anne. You don't mean to tell me you're falling – again – for the kid who broke your heart? More than that, the boy you know you could never, ever live with? Are you thinking about giving up your forever soulmate to chase a high school breeze? Enter reality, BFF. Could you really go after something with that tiny still-immature part of you that's telling you to blow off your life and follow a goal you know with all your senses is not for you?"

"Oh, Monique, I know you're right. I know with my heart and my head that Ron is the one for me. I guess I should just ignore that tiny part of me that's telling me I'm wrong."

"Fo sho, GF. Come on, hair salon is up next!"

"So, KP," Ron called over the mild noise of his fixed-up motorbike, "Are you ready?"

"Ready for what?" Kim called back.

"For this!" Ron gunned the motor and relished the surprised squeal of his girlfriend as she grabbed at his waist in reflex. "Man, how I love you, KP," he sighed to himself.

"Ron! My dress is flying up! Slow down! RON!"

The adorable blonde just giggled and enjoyed himself for the rest of the ride.

Ron extended his hand to help Kim hop off his bike and looked away, trying to hide a grin, as she mock glared. Standing firmly on the ground, she flipped her red mane and ran her fingers through it. She smoothed her dress and twirled, pretending to check herself but actually giving Ron a chance to admire her fit, gorgeous body. He just stared and had to close his mouth to keep from drooling.

Kim drooled in her turn when she took a look at their setting. They were on top of a little hill, a favorite of couples in Middleton. Ron had packed a picnic dinner, with a cute little blanket. It was the ultimately perfect date setting, complete with the big tree and amazing view of town. The dreamlike evening reminded Kim of a Disney movie, like Lady and the Tramp. "Ron… I love you."

Ron just grinned and spread out the blanket under the tree for them to sit on.

They ended up leaning against the giant tree with the blanket over them, and Ron's strong arm around Kim's little cheerleader shoulders, holding her close to him as if he'd never let go. He never wanted to. They sat together, admiring the way Colorado Springs lit up at night and reflected off the clouds over the mountains, and enjoying being together.

Ron finally dropped Kim off at her front door, late into the night, after beautiful hours of sitting together in the night and a leisurely ride home. He got off his scooter and held her in his arms for another minute before giving her a soft kiss on the lips and reassuring her of his undying love. He watched her struggle with the lock for a minute before slipping quietly through her front door. He sat on his bike in the darkness, thinking about how much he loved her. "Kim… I never in my entire life want to be without you,"he sighed internally.

"Alright, girlie." Monique grabbed her friends by the shoulders and dragged her behind the register counter. "Time for an MSS!"

"Monique-speak may be hard to decipher for some people, but is it something I want to admit that I know you meant 'major spill session'?"

"Cut the chatter! What happened last night?"

"Ohh, it was absolutely amazing!"

"Good! Then…" Monique poked her head over the counter to make sure nobody was around and lowered to a whisper. "…are you over your doubts concerning Josh?"

"Oh, for sure! I mean, I don't even know how I could have thought anything about Josh. After last night… Monique, this is the guy I want to spend the rest of my life with."

"There's my – and Ron's – KP back! I knew that was the way you felt… you just had to re-discover it!"

"For sure. Now we better get back to our pre-opening chores!"

After Kim's shift was over at Club Banana, she wandered the mall by herself, thinking. "I'm kind of glad Monique's assistant manager position leaves her working longer than I do. I sort of needed some down time; a little space to just think. What better place than the Middleton Mall?" As Kim wandered around, musing, she noticed how many couples were in the mall. "I wish Ron weren't working right now! He could be here with me.

"If only I weren't so confused. Why can't I figure out what's wrong? The whole 3 hours with Monique today were a lie. I did have an absolutely beautiful time last night and I do love Ron more than ever, but my confusion and doubts are not gone. Why don't I want Ron with as much burning desire as I used to? Why is it that, when I look at other guys, instead of seeing what I have that's so much better as I used to, I just see what I don't have? Other guys are better looking, or not as weird. They have better grades. They're not as messy. They don't shovel food down their throats like wild animals. They take their girlfriends other places than just Bueno Nacho!" Kim realized she was getting angrier, and tried to cool down. Breathing deeply to collect her feelings, she paced over to Dairy King and bought a Snowstorm. "Maybe this will help. Cookie dough and ice cream… always the two things guaranteed to help a girl feel better. Maybe it's just PMSing. Maybe I'm just overthinking. Maybe…"

Kim shook her head and shuffled to the Sloth, deciding to go home. She slumped in her car and started to sniffle. "I know that I don't have it in me to hurt the one guy who will ever love me this much! And I know with all my heart that I never want to lose his love. But… why am I so confused then? Why do I want to go after Josh if I know for certain that it will never work? Is there some part of me that thinks it might? Do I believe somewhere deep inside that I could ever love somebody else as much as I love Ron, just because some other guy is better looking or more talented with a paintbrush?" Kim began to all-out sob now, the gasping breaths in between the unstoppable cries shaking her entire body. "I don't know what to do! Somebody, please help me! Isn't there anybody, anywhere that can help me?" But nobody answered Kim's frantic pleading.

Eventually, Kim gathered herself enough to drive back to her house. Luckily, nobody was home. She threw herself on her bed and fell asleep almost immediately, worn out from her violent emotions.

A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who has read/reviewed. It means the world to me. Please, please keep comments coming!