By: Obbiejoe
Bonnie had her arms crossed across her chest and was angrily tapping one foot as she glared at the jumbled mass of metal and wiring beneath the open hood of her car, the car that had so recently let her down.
She knew there was enough gas; she had just filled it up last night, but halfway to the party, the party that she had been told would be graced with almost every eligible bachelor in the tri-city area worth anything, the car had just stopped and no amount of bitching or yelling seemed to get it going again.
She knew she couldn't just leave it here, it was in the middle of the street and she couldn't even get the top to go up. That meant calling a tow truck to get it home rather than a cab to bring her the rest of the way to the party.
As she swore at the non-functioning car yet again she heard a puttering sound from the road and noticed a blue scooter stop on the side of the road next to her car. Her eyes rolled upward and she cursed her luck when she recognized the voice that called out to her. "Hey BonBon, car troubles?"
Of all the people who could have stopped it had to be him, Kimmie's little lap dog. Turning her glare at the blonde headed man sitting on the old scooter she all but spat out her words. "No Stoppable, I always open my hood and stare at my motor in the middle of the street. Of course I have car trouble you stupid dolt."
Bonnie glared back beneath the hood when the irritatingly good natured reply came from the scooter. "Do you need any help? Can I give you a ride somewhere or something?"
Bonnie continued to glare at the motor. "I can't even get the top up you idiot so there's no way I can just leave it here like this and I wouldn't even touch, let alone, take a ride on that piece of crap you call a scooter."
Bonnie just rolled her eyes when Ron spoke again. Instead of getting mad about the way she was talking to him he sounded his normal cheerful self. "Well, I guess we'll just have to get it running again won't we?"
She was about to tell him to just leave her alone when she saw the scooter tilt a bit as Ron put it on its kickstand. Moments later he was leaning on the fender and looking at the unfathomable mass of machinery beneath the hood. Bonnie was speechless, not only was he still here but he was touching her car, something she never allowed anyone to do without permission.
She was about to scream at him when he straightened. "Ahhh, There's what's wrong. We'll have you on your way again in no time BonBon."
Bonnie stared open mouthed as Ron leaned over and actually began adjusting something under the hood like he actually knew what he was doing. Then he withdrew his hands and looked up. "Try it now BonBon, I think that's got it."
Bonnie simply glared. "Oh come on Stoppable, there's no way you could just look at it for second and fix it. I know for a fact that this thing is complicated, my own mechanic has it for days just to change the oil."
She saw Ron's stupid smile as he looked up. "Oh I don't know, it's a lot less complicated than any of the death rays and dooms day devices that I have to break all the time, and in order to break them I have to be able to figure out how they work." Then he paused for a moment with that insipid smile still plastered on his face. "Just try it will you?"
Bonnie glared at the smiling face. "Okay, I will, but just to shut you up."
Walking around Bonnie didn't even open the door but simply leaned in and turned the key expecting nothing to happen. Moments later she not only heard the whirring sound that had been absent the last twenty or so times she turned that key but the car immediately started and the low rumbling of her exhaust clearly told her it was running as though there had never been a problem at all.
She stood there still staring at the key that shouldn't have worked when the hood dropping drew her attention and she saw Ron standing there brushing off his hands as he looked over the windshield at her. "There you go BonBon, all fixed." He turned toward his scooter before stopping suddenly and looking back at her. "Oh, and you should think about getting another mechanic BonBon. It should never take longer than fifteen or twenty minutes to change the oil on this make and model, I think he's probably keeping it longer just to overcharge you."
Bonnie was still staring openmouthed as Ron got back on his scooter and started the motor. As he put his helmet back on he looked back at her and smiled. "Have a nice day BonBon, see you in school."
Bonnie saw him return his attention to the road and he was soon puttering away without saying another word.
She was still standing there looking down the road when she almost jumped out of her skin as a horn sounded directly behind her. Looking back she saw Tara King leaning out the window of her own car. "Why are you standing in the middle of the road Bon, I thought you'd be at the party already?"
Still slightly confused Bonnie looked at her oldest friend. "Ah… My car broke down T."
She saw Tara look at her with a confused look. "What are you talking about Bon, it sounds just fine, as a matter of fact it sounds like its running better than it has in a long time."
Then Bonnie realized Tara was right, for the last three months there had been a sputtering through the exhaust that her mechanic had told her would require a complete engine rebuild. That sputtering was now gone and the deep rumble of the exhaust sounded as smooth as the day she had talked her father into buying her the car.
Bonnie's eyes opened wide and she turned and looked up the road again in the direction Ron had puttered off in a short time before. Her thoughts were jumbled and nothing seemed to make sense to her at the moment. Then Tara called out again. "Well, are we going or what Bon?"
Bonnie turned her attention back to Tara. "Huh? Oh, yea, sorry T. Can you follow me in case my car stops again?"
Tara smiled widely. "Sure Bon, lets go, I don't want to be any more than fashionably late or all the really good guys will be taken."
Ten minutes later Bonnie was looking in her rearview mirror to make sure Tara was still following when it stuck her. She hadn't even said thank you to Ron, she hadn't said a word the entire time between when her car started and Ron was driving away.
That normally wouldn't have bothered her, not in the slightest, but this time there was the nagging thought in the back of her mind that told her she should have at least said thank you.
A short time later Bonnie had parked her car amongst a jumble of other high priced vehicles and was waiting for Tara to reach her from where she had parked several yards away. Before she got out she shut off her car and after a few seconds turned the key again. The car once again started effortlessly and the low purr of the exhaust rumbled evenly and without the sputter she had almost gotten used to.
After putting up the top and getting out she saw Tara standing there waiting. "What was wrong with your car Bon? You said it broke down or something."
Bonnie was about to explain what had happened when she noticed the last thing she expected to see. Sitting near the entrance to the sprawling home, where the party was apparently in full swing, was a blue scooter. As she neared she noticed the basket strapped to the front and the 'Fearless Ferret' stickers that adorned both the front and rear fenders.
Her mind was having a hard time grasping the concept that Ron Stoppable was here. Of all the places he could have been heading when he puttered away this was the last place on earth she expected. The only people normally invited to a party thrown by Jack Ravina were the up and coming or the already arrived, neither of those terms, as far as she knew, had anything at all to do with the owner of the blue scooter.
She herself now owed favors to a lot of people just to wangle the invitation for herself and Tara, favors she naturally had no intention of retuning. But there was the idiots' scooter parked directly in the front row like it belonged there, which it most defiantly did not.
She never had a chance to answer Tara's question, the doorway was standing open and the crowd of well dressed and over quaffed somebody's was spilled out onto the front porch. Making their way past the throng by the door Bonnie felt Tara latching onto her arm tightly. "My goodness Bon, have you ever seen this many good looking people in one place in your life?"
Bonnie's eyes were scanning the crowd, not for a man that had the potential of receiving her attention, but for an ill dressed man with a mop of blonde hair. She felt the sudden need to at least thank him for his help and since he couldn't possibly be here long she knew she had to do this fast and make the whole experience as painless as possible.
Then Tara began almost jumping up and down as she pointed across the room. "Bon! There's Jack Ravina, he looks just like his pictures and he's standing right there." Then Bonnie felt herself being dragged across the room. "We've simply got to say hi and tell him how much we appreciate the invitations, we've got to."
Bonnie looked askance at Tara. Her blonde friend had no idea how she had gotten the invitations and worried for a moment that Mr. Ravina would realize they weren't really on the guest list. But the number of people present coupled with the fact that they hadn't been stopped and asked for the invitations convinced her that they would be able to bluff their way through the sure to be short meeting.
As they drew nearer she saw Mr. Ravina was smiling and in animated discussion with someone standing behind a pillar just out of sight. The way he was smiling told her that whoever he was taking to was in all probability one of the other major players in the tri-city area, Mr. Ravina wouldn't be that friendly with just anyone.
When they were within a few feet Bonnie could make out the discussion. "I can't tell you how relieved I am that you could help, without it I'm sure the entire charity event would have gone belly up and we wouldn't have been able to help nearly as many people."
Bonnie smiled, this was indeed one of the shakers and movers in the area, and she was about to meet him. There was no telling how this chance acquaintance would help her in the future but knowing two powerful men, even in passing, couldn't hurt, it couldn't hurt at all.
Still two feet away Bonnie stopped short and Tara, who was still latched onto her arm, almost stumbled when she was forced to stop along with her. She had heard the response Mr. Ravina had gotten and she recognized the voice instantly. "No problem Jack, none at all. As a matter of fact that's the reason I kind of crashed your party. If I had known you were throwing a shindig I would have just stopped by at another time but... well, since I'm already here I just wanted you to know that I'm going to match the proceeds of your event. KP and I looked into it and liked what we saw. It's a really worthy charity Jack."
Bonnie's eyes were wide open. She knew Mr. Ravina had replied but hadn't heard a word, the only thing on her mind at the moment was that the man that Mr. Ravina was talking to was someone she knew, someone that had, not to long ago, fixed her car.
Tara recovered from the sudden stop quickly and called out. "Bon? What's wrong with you?"
Her voice apparently carried enough to be heard because moments later Bonnie's suspicions were confirmed when Ron leaned out from behind the pillar and looked at them. "Tara? BonBon? I didn't expect to see you guys here?"
Tara spun and stared at Ron with a smile on her face. "Ronnie? Is that really you?"
Bonnie heard the distinctive voice of Jack Ravina. "You know these two young ladies Ron?"
Moments later Ron's reply was heard over the bustle of activity around them. "Oh, sorry Jack, I'd like you to meet two of my… ah, friends…" Bonnie watched spellbound as Ron gestured for them to come closer and didn't resist as Tara dragged her closer. When they stopped Ron gestured toward Tara. "…this beautiful young lady is Tara King…" then he gestured toward Bonnie. "… and this ravishing creature is BonBon… ah, I mean Bonnie Rockwaller."
Reaching out for Tara's hand Jack leaned down and brushed her knuckles with his lips then he turned toward Bonnie and repeated the gesture with the words. "I'm pleased to meet you, my name is Jack, Jack Ravina."
Bonnie was still shocked at what just happened but heard Tara twittering beside her. "We're glad to meet you Mr. Ravina."
As he stood Jack smiled at the two of them. "Please, call me Jack. I'm always happy to meet any friends of Ron's…" then he looked at Ron and smiled wider. "… he knows some very… well, interesting, and apparently beautiful, people."
Then he turned his attention back to Tara and Bonnie. "Did you come with Ron…" then he actually winked as he added with a wry smile. "… both of you?" then he smiled widely. "And more to the point does Kim know?"
Bonnie still hadn't said a word as Tara once again twittered. "Oh no, we didn't even know he was going to be here…" then she turned toward Bonnie, "… did we Bon?"
Jack smiled widely. "Then this is a happy coincidence, please, join us, can I get you something to drink?"
Tara's infectious giggle retuned. "Oh, we don't drink… ah, Jack. But a couple of diet sodas would be nice."
Jack smiled widely and bowed slightly. "Two diet sodas it is. If you ladies will excuse me for a second I'll be right back."
As Jack shouldered his way toward the bar at the far end of the room Ron turned toward Bonnie with a smile on his face. "I didn't know you were coming here BonBon."
Bonnie shook her head trying to make sense of everything that had happened but absently replied. "Well, it didn't really come up for discussion when we talked St… ah, Ron."
Then she recovered a bit and added quickly. "By the way, I never said thank you for stopping and helping like you did. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along, so… well, Thanks."
Continuing to smile Ron bowed much as Jack had earlier. "No problemo BonBon, glad I was able to help."
Tara finally got the drift of what was happening. "You mean Ronnie stopped and helped you get your car running Bon, that was so nice of him."
Bonnie turned toward Tara in a haze. "Ah… yea, it was T."
Then Ron spoke again. "I still think you should switch mechanics BonBon, that wire looked like it had been purposely loosened. I've got the name of a really good guy if you want it."
Before Bonnie could reply Tara burst in. "You mean you think her mechanic purposely did something to mess up her car?" then she turned to Bonnie. "I always told you that guy looked like a crook Bon, now maybe you'll listen to me."
Bonnie wasn't even listening, instead her gaze was fixed on the smiling face of Ron as he gazed around the room and, to her shock, returned greetings from more than a few of the people standing around them, greetings that weren't generic at all since each and every person greeted Ron by name and he retuned the greeting just as personally.
Bonnie began to get more and more confused as she heard Tara speaking to Ron. "Boy Ron, you sure know a lot of people, how do you ever find time to meet this many people between your missions with Kim and school and stuff?"
Bonnie listened closely to Ron's smiling reply and hoped it might answer at last one of the many questions her mind was flooded with. "Oh, most of them come into the restaurant and some are just business acquaintances Tara, I only know a few people here I consider friends. How about you guys, do you normally come to Jack's soirées or is this a special occasion?"
Bonnie found it difficult to understand just how Tara could be so at ease considering the surroundings but as she answered Ron she sounded like the same ditzy blonde Bonnie had always known. "Don't be silly Ron, why would we get invited to parties like this, we're still in high school. Bon was able to get us in this time, I'm just glad she thought to bring me with."
Their conversation was interrupted when Jack walked back up with three drinks. Handing off the soda's to Bonnie and Tara he took a sip from his own drink before he looked at Bonnie. "Ron said your name was Rockwaller Bonnie, you aren't by any chance related to John Rockwaller of Rockwaller Industries are you?"
Bonnie was a bit nervous about having an actual conversation with one of the most influential people in the tri-city area but kept her voice as calm as she could as she answered. "Actually Mr. Ravina, I'm his daughter."
Bonnie saw a wide smile light up Jack's face. "Well well well, this is a fortuitous meeting then. We simply have to get to know one another better. I've been trying to get in to see John for almost a month now but he always seems to be busy. I hate to ask a favor of someone I just met but maybe I could persuade you the talk to him for me, I'd really like to get in to see him about a joint venture that would be right up his alley."
Bonnie couldn't help but stammer a bit as she answered. She knew her father would be thrilled to meet with Mr. Ravina, he was one of her fathers personal hero's having built his fortune from the ground up using only hard work and inventive thinking. "I-I'd be happy to m-mention it to him Mr. Ravina, I'm sure he'd be happy to meet you."