Three weeks had passed and the date for Tara's "Welcome Home Logan/Farewell 2008-2009 School Year" party had finally arrived. The day's weather could not have been more perfect for a late May afternoon. It was nice and balmy 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky with a precipitation chance of zero. Tara lived with her father and brother in an old remodeled farm house situated on sixteen acres of land outside of Middleton. Tara's father always supported her attempts at being social with her peers and was often quite willing to let her use the property to entertain company and expose them to the beauty of not living in suburbia. Because of this, Tara had modestly managed to gain a local reputation as being one of the best party throwers in all of Middleton.
This occasion was no different, Tara and a small group of friends had spent the previous day and all morning preparing for the event which was set to be the biggest and highest attended get together ever held at the home. Attendance numbers were expected to be high as she had not only invited friends from her college, but invited everyone from the Middleton High School Class of 2007 as well.
It was 4:30 in the afternoon and guests were already arriving at the party when Ron pulled up on his moped saddled with a pair of large coolers filled with several dozen raspberry cheese danishes he had prepared for the event bungeed to each side. With coolers in hand, he proceeded onto the yard of the old farmhouse in search of his friend. He looked among the tables, each decorated with a bouquet of wildflowers picked from the fields, as well as all around the house calling her name but with no luck. Instead his eyes caught a familiar face from his past and he watched her paced back and forth talking on a cell phone before finally hanging up and throwing her head back in a sigh of despair.
"Hey, Crystal, long time no see," Ron said as he walked towards his former spirit squad member. "You haven't by chance seen Tara around have you? I need to find know where I need to put these danishes."
"Oh, hello, Ron," Crystal replied, obviously fatigued and distracted. "I was just on the phone with Tara. She's still in Portland at the airport waiting on Logan to arrive. Apparently he had some trouble on his flight out of Johannesburg so he's running a little late, which translates to both of them being late to this shindig."
"Did she say how late?" he inquired.
"She thinks about an hour, plus the 45 minute drive back to Middleton. I have apparently just been charged with overseeing everything until she arrives. Which is super nice seeing as how I just got in from Pullman, Washington around lunchtime," she replied with an eye roll. "This is starting to remind me of Marsala's wedding all over again."
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that," he said trying to be sympathetic to Crystal's plight. "Still, could you tell me where I should put these coolers? They're getting kinda heavy."
"Um, yeah, let me find Tara's college friend who was dealing with the food, STACEY!" she screamed towards the house, " WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Ron's eye's widened and his heart sank when he saw his ex-girlfriend of three weeks appear around the corner of the patio. And by the look of her face when she saw him, it was a good assumption that the feeling was mutual.
"Ron, Stacey; Stacey, Ron." introduced Crystal, unaware of the two already being acquainted.
"Ron…"
"S-Stacey…"
"Stacey, Ron here has brought a bunch of danishes for the party and needs to know where he can put them."
"O, I can definitely tell him where to put them," Stacey said with a subtle slam to her former love interest.
"That would be great!" replied an oblivious Crystal. "Now if you two would excuse me, I need to make sure that the DJ understands that he loses his deposit if he plays any more Village People songs."
Crystal departed and left the two former love birds standing in awkward silence.
"Um, lead on," Ron finally said.
Stacey made a 'follow me' motion with her head and the two made their way to the back side of the patio where main party area was located and where the vast majority of guests had assembled. Ron was stunned to see well over a hundred people below him socializing and dancing in the field. Eventually, he and Stacey made their way to a line of tables set up for food.
"Here 'ya go," she said pointing to a misfit table being held level by a combination of old encyclopedia books and a cinder block.
"Um, not to be picky, but is that table even safe to put stuff on?" Ron inquired, concerned his creations would be in danger.
"Well these tables are owned by the caterers and are being paid for. This is the freebie table for friends of Tara who like to cook and are afraid of commitment."
Ron decided that he needed to address the obvious animosity being felt. "Stacey, I know I made a mist … "
"Hey Robbie! Over here!" she shouted gleefully and looked through Ron as if he wasn't even in front of her.
Within a few seconds, Robbie had made his way over to the table. He was a rough looking fellow with a large, bushy beard and dreadlocks which came down to his waistline. In addition, both of his arms were sleeved in tattoos. If the body hair and tattoos weren't intimidating, his 6'5" height definitely was.
"Robbie, this is Ron," she said with contempt.
"Hi?" Ron unsurely greeted the large man.
"Sup," Robbie replied, unimpressed.
"Do I know him?" a nervous Ron asked Stacey.
"Remember me telling you about the boyfriend I had who needed to find himself? Well, it comes to find oot that he managed to do just that. And if it's one thing I like in a man, it's one who knows where his priorities lie," she explained as she rubbed her hands over Robbie's massive arms.
"Oh … hi," was all Ron could squeak out at the sight of Stacey's former and once again metalhead boyfriend.
"Come on, sweetie, we need to go check on the ice buckets down in the main area," Stacey said as she stretched up for a kiss on Robbie's cheek.
"Brutal," he said in response as the two headed off hand-in-hand.
Ron just watched, unsure of what to think about the situation.
"Of all of the great mysteries that the universe offers, what goes on within the mind of a female is the biggest mystery of all."
Ron turned to see who it was and saw tending to the food, donned in a apron and hairnet, none other than Mr. Barkin.
"Hello Stoppable," Mr. Barkin said as he began to tend a chafer of macaroni and cheese.
"Well, hello Mr. Barkin," Ron replied, happy to finally be in the company of a friendly face. "I didn't know you did catering."
"I have always had a deep appreciation for the culinary arts," Barkin remarked as he puffed out his chest in reverence. "It's always been my first passion."
"Really? Because, I could have sworn that it was housewares?" Ron replied recalling past conversations.
"Well that was before Smarty Mart decided that the best way to combat the economic downturn was a reduction in their workforce and giving me a pink slip for my 20th anniversary."
"Wow … gee, that's kinda a bummer. I remember how much you loved working there."
"It is, what it is. But now, the kitchen is my domain, and unlike colanders and potato peelers, people have to eat. And even in downtrodden times, people distract themselves with parties, weddings, dances, and funerals. I couldn't ask for more job security."
"Hmm, well you know I am majoring in Culinary Arts myself," Ron boasted.
"Is that so?"
"Yayup, yep. In fact, I convinced ol' Tara to let me make some dessert for the occasion," he said as he patted his coolers.
"Well bully for you. I guess that explains why she low-balled me on a dessert option. Your 'convincing' is eating into my bottom line."
"Awkweird," Ron whimpered not knowing what exactly to say in response.
"Ah, don't sweat it, she made up for it with the entrée order," Barkin said as he stirred another chafer of pork chops. "Sample a pork chop?"
"No can do, Mr. Barkin," Ron politely declined.
"What? College turn you vegetarian?"
"Nah, Jewish. Can't eat pork on account of the whole the whole 'cloven hooves' bit in Leviticus."
"Can't eat pork? Didn't you use to top everything with bacon pieces?"
...
"You do know bacon is a pork product right Stoppable?"
"My uh … parents were, um ... converts later in life?"
"Suit yourself, here, sample some of the Salisbury steak instead. 100% USDA black angus beef and my own personal gravy recipe. Your little blonde friend likes the high end stuff."
Ron abided and sampled Barkin's steak. "Hmm, that's really good. Is that a hint of paprika and a dash of oregano I'm tasting?"
"That it is Stoppable, you seemed to have developed quite a nice palette there," Barkin responded genuinely impressed.
"Well, I've had plenty of practice," he bragged. "Here, try one of my danishes. An original recipe I made for my dessert final the other week."
Barkin obliged and took a danish and bit into it.
"Sweet mother of monkey milk, this is fan-tastic!" he said polishing it off swiftly and grabbing a second one as an encore. "You have to tell me how you did that."
"Ah, ah, ah. Trade secret," Ron replied wagging his finger. "Besides, if I give the recipe to you, how do I know that you're not going to just use it in your catering business and make money off of it?"
"Hmm, well played."
"But," Ron started, sensing an opportunity, "if you were to say, pay me or give me some sort of incentive, royalties perhaps, I might, be willing to share that trade secret with you," he continued with a raised eyebrow and crossed arms.
"Hmmm, tempting. With flavor like this, we could win an ACE Award, and with an ACE Award, we could charge three times what we currently charging. What are your other dishes like?"
"Better than the danishes," he bragged. "Like I said, I just came up with the recipe for the final I had a few weeks ago. This still needs tweaking, I think."
"No, no, it's perfect just the way it is. Better than this you say?"
"Sooo, what do you propose Mr. B?"
"How about this, you come and work for me this summer, and then when you can during the school year and I pay you $9 an hour. I'll give you creative liberties with the menu and whenever a client chooses one of your dishes off our menu I'll give you a ten percent royalty commission."
"Fifteen."
"Thirteen, and I'll throw in a monogrammed apron."
"Suh-weet! You have yourself a deal Mr. B!"
"Please, call me Steve, partner."
"Okay Steve, soo when do we start?"
"Well, you can start now if you prefer. It looks like Miss Bellum's got a full house, it would be good to have another hand on the line."
"I guess I could do that," Ron agreed.
"Great, now gear up and prepare for war," Barkin said handing him an apron, hair net and pair of gloves. "We have about forty-five minutes before we start serving hors d'oeuvres and then ninety minutes later we'll start the main course. Apparently the guest of honor is running late so we had to adjust our timing accordingly."
"You lead, I'll follow," Ron said as he tucked his hair into the net. "How do I look?"
"Like a natural. Now let's head to my van and unload the soda machine. It weighs a ton."
Ron agreed and the two headed to Barkin's brand new shiny van emblazoned with "BARKIN'S CATERING & KARAOKE" across the paneling.
"Hey nice ride," Ron said admiringly.
"Ah yes, the Block 500R," I bought it a few years ago with the insurance claim check I got after those Possible boys blew up my other ride. I thought it could be a major chick magnet. I even had plans to get this scene of a Viking fighting a dragon airbrushed on the sides, but then Smarty Mart happened and decided it would be put to better use as a tool of my new trade. As for the karaoke, that's for Phase II. I figured that I might as well get it on the wrap in advance and save me from having to add it later."
"Airbrushed dragon and Viking? I thought that went out in the seventies?"
"Don't pass judgment, Stoppable," he warned as he loaded CO2 canisters onto a dolly. "It wasn't my first rodeo."
"But you've been single as long as I've known you," Ron muttered under his breath.
"And speaking of the Possibles," he said as his tone changed a little more serious. "I heard about you and Kim."
"Oh … yeah … great," Ron's voice drooped as the topic he had hoped to avoid began to show itself.
"It's really a shame you two didn't work out. Of all the couples that passed through the halls of Middleton High, I had expected that the two of you would be the ones to have actually made it."
"Well, obviously fate had other plans," Ron said, not wanting to really engage in the subject matter.
"I also saw the news reports of her, 'antics' in college. Very disappointing."
"Um, yeah. You could say that again, but don't."
"But it was probably for the best, for you at least, it would appear that she has a lot of growing up to do. She probably saved you from a lot of public embarrassment."
"It didn't stop the reporters from trying to interview me about it."
"I recall subbing for Mrs. Winderson's physics class that her brothers were in. They said something about her having a whole falling out with her family and that she hasn't talked to them in months. Not since she ran off to Europe."
"That's the word on the street," Ron said as he tilted back the dolly preparing to move it.
"This subject is making you uncomfortable, isn't it?"
"Just a little bit."
"Oh, sorry," Barkin apologized, "I just hope you know that there are plenty of fish in the sea and you'll find someone better in time."
"Well, I had kinda moved on," Ron said as he began walking back to the food area. "Remember that girl I was talking to earlier?"
"The one who was dating one of the GEICO Cavemen? Tracey was it?"
"It's Stacey. And we had been dating for over a year until, well … a few weeks ago." He shrugged.
"Okay, I'm just going to shut up now," Barkin said acknowledging he had just opened two wounds at once.
"It's alright, you didn't know," Ron said as he set up the tanks. "Lets just focus on more upbeat relationships."
"Right, like our budding partnership."
"Exactly!"
Two and a half hours later, Tara and Logan finally arrived and were greeted with a hero's welcome, literally, as Logan had spent his spring semester in Kenya helping to engineer crop irrigation to combat a severe drought which was occurring across Eastern Africa. With their arrival, the festivities were ready to get underway and Tara got things started by climbing the old rock wall which bordered her home and tried to get everyone's attention.
"Hey everyone! Can I have your attention please!" she shouted as the crowd began to die down and listen.
"Can everybody hear me?"
"Yes," the gathering crowd said in unison.
"Okay, great! So well, first of all I want to thank all of you for coming out tonight as we welcome Logan back from Africa where he and his engineering classmates helped provide water to five? No? Oh, I'm sorry six drought-stricken villages outside of Nairobi."
The crowd erupted again in applause as Logan humbly took a bow.
"I think I speak for everyone here that we are all very proud of what you accomplished, Sweetie. But most importantly, we're happy to have you back, and I'm happy to have you back."
*Awh*
"I guess, that's really all I have to say for now. So, I'll turn it over to the man of the hour," she said as she invited her boyfriend up on the wall with her as the crowd continued their applause.
"Wow! I didn't really expect this kind of reception," Logan started as he tried to find the words he wanted to say.
"Speech! Speech! Speech!" chanted the crowd.
"Oh come on now, I got a B-minus in public speaking," he joked, "but um ... What to say, what to say," he mumbled as he paced across the rock wall with an obvious case of minor stage fright.
"You know, a year ago my lovely Tara had been going on and on about studying abroad in Europe, and talking about how much of a life changing experience it could be. I told her she was crazy."
The crowd once again let out a collective laugh.
"So, then, I was in my father's office. For those of you who don't know me other than for dating Tara, my father is a Methodist minister in Gresham and he gets all of these international missionary magazines sent to him regularly. From time to time I'll 'glance' at them while waiting to give him a ride home from choir practice. Well, over last year's fall break, I found one talking about the massive drought which has devastated Eastern Africa and how leaders were desperate for anything to keep their citizens alive. And, well I don't exactly know why or what I was thinking, but for some reason I felt like I needed to do something. And to make a long story short, with blessings from my parents and my girlfriend, I decided to try to do something to help. This resulted in me studying abroad in Kenya with an engineering program that was focusing on finding irrigation solutions to combat the drought. And as Tara already mentioned, we successfully applied our technology to hydrate six rural villages and probably saving several thousand plants, animals and people in the process.
The crowd answered with another round of applause.
"Thank you, thanks, you're all too kind. Like I said earlier, Tara had told me that studying abroad would have life-changing effects on a person. And she was right. Now I know that when one takes a semester abroad it's usually to expand your horizons while having fun in a new and different place."
"Or if you're trying to hide from the media!" someone anonymously shouted referring to a certain red head who was well-known to a good portion of the guests.
This was followed by a low "Oooooo" from the crowd.
"Anyways, I think my experience was one that makes you realize how lucky we have it here and how we take so much for granted. I know that's become a cliché, but when you have experienced it first hand like I have, you really take it to heart. And you begin to prioritize what's important in your life. Especially when you have a long trip back home that involves globetrotting from Nairobi, to Johannesburg, to Atlanta, to Detroit and finally back to Portland. And to me, those things are my family, you my friends, my dog Pete, and this wonderful, lovely woman standing next to me. Although, she apparently doesn't understand what my definition of what a 'low key cookout' entails."
The crowd again let out another collective "awh" at the touching speech.
"And speaking of which," he continued, interrupting the crowd's response and putting his arm around his girlfriend. "Before we got here I had Tara make a small detour to one of our favorite places we like to go to in Upperton and there I asked this wonderful amazing woman to be my wife."
A large gasp could be heard making its way across the group.
"And she said yes!" he announced to a roaring crowd while Tara, sporting a huge smirk, pulled her hand out of her pocket to reveal a dazzling diamond ring that sparkled in the setting sunlight. The two of them embraced in a hug and gave each other a kiss much to the delightment of those in attendance.
"Okay, so with that, it's time to eat!" Tara instructed as she pointed up the hillside to where Ron and Barken were waiting.
"Holy cow! Logan proposed to Tara!" Ron exclaimed as he saw the mass of people migrating their way.
"Good for them, seems like a nice couple of kids. Maybe if we do a good pull tonight, we can secure the wedding reception. But until then," Barken said as he adjusted his hair net and pulled up his gloves, "it's SERVICE TIME!"
Barkin Catering & Karaoke was stacked and ready with an impressive buffet line to feed the oncoming masses. A dozen silver chafers were arranged perfectly in a row, each one emitting a light blue glow compliments of the cans of Sterno burning beneath them. Barkin had originally planned to make it a self-serve buffet on the account of being the only worker for the night. However, with the addition of Ron to the mix he had called an audible and turned up the service quality by having Ron serve the guests from the main course options of pork, steak and chicken breasts while he managed the sides. Ron had the brunt of the responsibility and he relished in the opportunity to show both Barkin and his peers of his "mad food serving skills".
Ron had been a little disappointed that he didn't get to go and mingle with the other party guests and to see people he hadn't seen since high school, but this new business partnership he had forged had the potential to become something big and lucrative. In fact, the catering job would allow him to meet everyone at the party in a neat, orderly line as he served them food, and he'd get paid for it to boot.
Soon the crowd of guests began to crest over the hill and entered into the house's patio area.
"Showtime, Stoppable," Barken cued his new partner to prepare for culinary battle.
Ron responded by opening the lids on the three chafers in front of him and psyched himself up by grabbing two sets of tongs and spun them around his pointer fingers before stopping them into the grabbing position.
"Bring it on!" he replied enthusiastically.
"That's the spirit!"
And soon the service was underway. At the helm of the group was Ron Raither, a fellow classmate of Ron's who was the DJ of the night.
"Good evening, Mr. Raither. What can we get for you tonight?"
"Uh, chicken, I guess?"
"You guess or you know? You don't sound too confident in your choice."
"I, uh, don't really care. I need to get back to my station to make sure the tunes keep playing."
"Stoppable, what are you doing?" Barken asked from down the line.
"I'm just trying to add that extra bit of concierge service to add to the experience."
"That's nice but Raither's the DJ, and you're holding up the line. You're a server, not a maitre de. Leave the selection process to the guests and save the 'Garçon' act for the paying customers."
"Okay, okay, just tryin' to get into the whole mindset, sheesh … chicken?"
"Yeah, man."
"And here you go, thank you. Who's next?"
Next was Hope, another former high school classmate and cheerleader.
"And for you, Miss Hope?"
"Beef please," she replied in her typical perky voice.
"Here 'ya go," Ron said as he quickly served from the steak chafer and sent Hope down towards Barkin.
"That's more like it Stoppable," Barkin said in approval.
And with that and a couple more servings, Ron had found his rhythm and committed himself to the craft of serving, adding his own bit of service and compliments by addressing each of the guests that came that he knew."
"Good evening Marsala ..."
"Greetings, Miss Jessica, love the new hair ..."
"Josh Mankey, looking good with the beard ..."
"Brick, my man. What do you mean you're now a vegetarian?"
"Monique, hey girl! What? Nah, sorry no can talk for a minute alone, gotta serve the masses first."
"Prince Wally? You came? Hmm, I guess that explains the snipers on the tree line."
"Hello, Mr. Sniper, what do you mean I was making 'strange moves' towards the prince?"
"Jack, there's my football brotha! Lookin' good!"
"Hello, Zita, now I know you can never pass up a good pork chop ..."
The greetings and serving continued with several familiar and unfamiliar faces crossing in front of Ron and his stations. And one by one he gave each guest a personal touch to enhance the experience. He was on a roll until the sight of a light blue cardigan sweater stumped him.
"Hey … you. I uh ..."
"You can't remember my name can you?" the blue sweater girl asked with an eye roll.
"No, no, I remember. It's just been a while. It's uh .. um … er … did it start with a J?"
"Just, give me some chicken," she replied unimpressed, "and no."
"Does it start with a-"
"STOPPABLE! There's a gap in the line! Move your ass!" Barkin shouted up to him to keep the line moving.
"Fine, fine," he shouted back as the girl got her piece of chicken and moved along muttering "whatever" under her breath.
Ron took a quick moment to stir the containers in an attempt to spread and separate the remaining pieces of food before coming back up to service the next person in line.
"And hello Miss … KP?"
The girl standing in front of Ron was surely the reason why Monique had tried in vain to say something to Ron earlier as she made her way through the line.
It had been over a year since Ron had seen her in person and she had changed so much that he almost didn't recognize her. Instead of her signature bright red hair, she now donned a slightly darker auburn hue tied back in a low ponytail. Her emerald eyes were covered by a pair of aviator sunglasses and a chromed upper ear stud now protruded out of the top of her right ear. Ron also noticed for the first time the small clusters of stars tattooed across her wrist.
For clothes she had fully adopted the college girl look. Donning a dark green tank top adorned with a giant yellow "O" in the center of the chest, for pants she wore a pair of khaki capris and for shoes she was wearing her favorite pair of sandals which had become a staple of her college wardrobe.
"Um, hey Ron. Wasn't expecting to see you here … catering Tara's party," she said in an awkward tone.
"Oh, um, you mean this?" He replied acknowledging his apron, "Nah, this wasn't really in the game plan, the opportunity just kind of fell into my lap."
"Oh-kay."
"Well, I uh … mean it's a new job I started tonight and … uh."
"Oh really? Who are you working with?"
"It's just a two-man operation currently. Me and Mr. B down there."
"Oh … Barken. Why am I not surprised?"
"Yayup, yep big things are on the horizon."
"Is a chicken breast on that horizon by chance?" Kim interrupted holding out her plate to be served.
"Oh … right, here you go," he said, deflated.
"Thanks, Ron. Take ca-"
"HEY, HEY, KIMMIE P!" Yelled a group of four college-age guys who broke the line and buddy-hugged Kim in unison. Ron could tell by the Greek lettering scrawled across their chests that they were fraternity brothers.
"Hi boys, so nice for you all to finally get here!" she remarked as she returned the affection.
"We would have been here sooner but this moron couldn't read a map."
"Screw you, Kevin. I can't help it that this place is out in BFE."
"Come on guys, be nice."
"Well the important thing is that we're here now, as is the keg."
"Awesome sauce!"
"Yeah, Derek and Jeff are setting it up down the hill by the rock wall." Kevin said. "It should be up and running in a few."
"I'm sorry," Ron interrupted the group's conversation, "did I hear someone talking about a keg?"
The group stopped what they were doing and turned with a collective scowl towards Ron.
"Because, I'm sure you are aware that this is an alcohol-free party. Especially since it was on the invitation and all." he replied.
"Well, not like it is any of your business to begin with, server boy, but the keg is on the other side of the rock wall. Meaning that it's technically not at this party, but at our own little side party."
"Yeah, uh huh, and are you all 21? Because, I know at least one of you is under the legal drinking age," he said looking straight at Kim with scorn.
"We bought a keg now didn't we?"
"Did you?" he said with the clear implication that they may have acquired it through alternative means.
"Okay, Ron, quit playing Mr. Mom and go back to doing your job," Kim injected as she was visibly becoming uncomfortable with the conversation.
"Fine, KP, whatever. You and your posse need to move along anyways. You're holding up the line, which is made up of invited guests." He motioned toward the end of the line.
Kim gave an eyeroll for a response and started to walk away with her group. However, two of the members decided that they weren't done goofing off yet and headed back to Ron.
"What? Too busy high fiving each other to remember that you were in line for food? Oh yeah, that's right. You weren't!"
"Easy bro," one said as he butted a girl out of the way, "we're just going to grab some grub right quick."
"Whatever gets you gone faster," Ron said as the two began loading up their plates with several types of meat. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! One piece per serving! This isn't a buffet!"
"Did he just say this isn't a buffet?"
"I think he did."
"You heard right. One. Per. Person," Ron said, standing his ground.
"You heard the man, Kev, you need to put some back."
"All right then," Kevin said as he dumped several chicken breasts, beef strips and pork chops into one of the coffers, resulting in a splash of hot liquid that splattered all over Ron.
"Aiiich! Sonuva!" he shrieked as he tried to frantically wipe off the burning, splattered drops from his skin.
Kevin and the other frat brother walked away; high fiving and laughing back to the rest of the group.
After the stinging had subsided and he stopped glaring, Ron collected himself and began serving the guests again. Within a few minutes, the line began to die down and the hostess of the night finally made her way through the line.
"Hey stranger!" Tara chirped. "I was wondering where you ended up. I didn't see you when we pulled in."
"Yeah, I know. I kind of struck a little partnership with Mr. Barki- ... errr ... Steve and now I've gotten myself a little job at his catering business."
"Really?" she said motioning for a piece of pork.
"Yeah, he liked my danishes so he offered me a part of his catering business."
"Wow, that's terrific! Congratulations!"
"Well, since we are on the subject, congratulations to you and Logan too," he said referring to their engagement. "I'm so happy for you two!"
"Awh, thanks, Ron. It means a lot."
"You're welcome!
"Stoppable, you're holding up the line again!" Barkin shouted.
"Hold on, Steve, I'm doing what you said and saving the concierge service for the PAYING customer."
"Oh," Barken said as he glanced at a waving Tara, "hi there Miss Tara, I didn't know it was you. Please forgive me and take as much food and time as you'd like."
"Well, I never took Mr. Barkin to be so accommodating."
"Yeah, well it's panderin. He's hoping to land you for your wedding reception."
"Really? But we've only been engaged for a couple of hours."
"I know, but you know how this business can be cut-throat."
"No. Not really, I just went with Barkin's business because it was the first name in the phone book," she said with a shrug. "But, if you're involved with his little catering business now, I'll be sure to give Barkin Catering and … Karaoke?"
"Phase II."
"Right. Anyways, like I said, if you're involved with this business now, I'll be sure to give you two first right of refusal when we start the planning process."
"Great," Ron replied with forced enthusiasm.
Tara squinted at her friend and noticed how flushed his cheeks were with red and that he looked as if he had been holding back tears.
"You alright, Ron? You look upset." she said as she stepped out of the service line and next to her friend. "And what are those red splotches all over your face?"
"Compliments of some of your fraternity guests," he grumbled as he shifted his head in disdain towards their direction down the hill.
"Frat guys? I didn't invite any frat guys to this party."
"Apparently, they are KP's plus-ones. Well, I guess more like plus-four or plus-two-and-three-fifths if you want to base it on intelligence."
"Oh really? Kim actually showed up?! Where is she?" Tara asked as she started scanning the lawn for her old classmate before finding her sitting along the rock wall with the frat boys sipping a drink from a cup. "Wow, she looks … different. I would have never of recognized her."
"Yeah, she acts different too. Why on earth would she be hanging out with a bunch of frat guy creeps in the first place?"
"Well, they do say that the most accepting type of people out there are stoners and losers," Tara snarked. "Maybe at this point she's grasping for straws in terms of a social circle since she's ticked so many people off."
"Did I mention that they apparently have a keg?"
"A keg. They brought a keg to my party?!"
"Yeah, although technically they have it on the other side of the rock wall. So, I guess technically they are having their own party."
"Yeah, well their party is on our land since the property line expands past that wall and to the road."
"So, do you want me to go down there and take care of it Tara?"
Tara cast an evil stare towards the would-be keg party down the hill from her and thought about her friend's offer. With a sigh she said, "No, Ron, just leave them be. If they've already started their festivities I'd rather have them making asses of themselves down there until they sober up rather than driving impaired on the roadway. With any luck they'll stay down there and leave us alone."
"You sure?"
"It's 'so not the drama', Ron," she said, sarcastically. "I probably deserve it for having the dumb notion of reaching out to Kim and offering her some hospitality in the first place. Apparently her being chronically moronic has continued into the spring semester."
"Wow, Tara that's pretty rough coming from you."
"I have little sympathy for people who refuse to remedy their situations."
"What do you mean?"
"Did you ever hear of her and Monique's falling out last semester?"
"Vaguely. KP is a topic that ol' Mo is kind of mute on these days."
"Well, you didn't hear this from me, but she and Monique had a 'Come to Jesus Moment' when they were both in Prague. She was on a rotation and their paths just happened to cross. Apparently, Monique saw Kim at her worst following a party and confronted her about it."
"Her worst? You mean 'Kimgate '08' wasn't KP at her worst?"
"Well, I'm not sure about the whole situation, other than she found Kim unconscious and in possession of drugs."
"Drugs?!" Ron replied in shock.
"Yeah, party drugs. Probably pot or ecstasy, I dunno. Monique was kind of vague when she mentioned it."
"That's … really disappointing."
"I know. I'm sorry. In life people will do that to you," she said gazing downhill at the topic of their discussion dancing along the top of the wall.
Ron shrugged. "Well, I guess she at least didn't do something crazy like sleep with the soccer team."
"Pfft! I doubt it, that sounds more like something Bonnie would do," she joked with a forced smile.
"Speaking of which, is the queen going to be gracing us with her presence tonight?"
"Who? Rockwaller? Pfft!" She dismissed the notion with a wave of her hand. " She's won't be. Although, I did call her about coming but she said that she couldn't make it because she was doing 'mission work.' Whatever that means."
"Mission work? Did she get religious while at Oregon State or something?"
"Not sure, I'd be shocked seeing how she has always been a proud and open agnostic since high school. But there was something … different about her the last time I talked to her."
"Different? How?"
"I don't know how to explain it. It was as if she actually cared about things besides herself for once. Hey, Logan!" she said to her fiancé who was making his way through the line.
"Hey, Babe. Ron," Logan replied. His face was still beaming over the events of earlier in the day.
"I do believe some congratulations are in order for the Man of the Hour," Ron said as he changed his attention back to his service.
"Thanks, I appreciate it. All of this," he said as he pointed to the coffers of beef.
"Logie, you'll never believe who decided to show up tonight."
"Phineas and Ferb?"
"No. Kim."
"Oh, really? Is she the red head down by the wall with Animal House?" he asked as he came over next to Tara and planted a small kiss on her cheek. "And I take it by that lovely scowl you're sporting that the guys aren't friends of yours are they?"
"I didn't invite any Greeks other than Otto Petropolis," she continued, feeling slightly violated. "You know how I hate Greeks."
"Uh oh, do you want me to get them to leave?"
"I'm hoping they just stay down there and keep to themselves, I don't feel like playing bouncer tonight."
Logan put down his plate and stood behind his fiancé and gently caressed her tense shoulders and gave her a gentle kiss on her neck as she continued to simmer. "You'll have to excuse her, she had a bad experience with a frat boy before we started going out. A real jerk," Logan said.
"Astronomical jerk," Tara added with a growl.
"Astronomical jerk," Logan parroted as he continued to calm his love down, "Now come on, Sweetie, they're not doing anything destructive or reckless and there are only five or six of them not an entire chapter. And if they get too rowdy we'll make a phone call to Middleton's finest. So how about we go mingle and cool down?"
"Fine," she said with resignation before taking her fiance's hand. "I'll catch you later, Ron."
With that the Couple of the Night headed out to socialize with the other invited party guests while Ron continued to serve the final guests in the buffet line. After the last guest was served Ron closed up the coffers and headed down to Barkin.
"Good service tonight, Stoppable," Barkin said as he adjusted his hair net and closed his chafers. "You're a natural caterer, even in the midst of ex-girlfriends and their entourages."
"Yeah, I'd like to think so," Ron replied giving himself a pat on the back. "So now what?"
"Now we eat," Barkin said grabbing a paper plate. "We need to be well rested before its time to serve dessert."
"We have to serve dessert too?"
"Our dear friend, Miss Tara, paid for everything up front. So she gets her desserts served."
"Right, and it would have nothing to do with trying to win her over for her wedding reception," Ron teased.
"You catch on pretty quickly."
The pair loaded up their plates and then retreated to the porch where they sat in a couple of vacant rocking chairs and ate. The view was great, from there one could see the entire field next to Tara's house and everyone in attendance.
"Look at them all out there, Stoppable,"
"I'm looking."
"When I do these events, I like to sit back and watch the people in attendance and wonder what they are doing with their lives."
"Okay," Ron continued listening in hopes of hearing a point to this lecture.
"Like, in ten years, where will everyone here tonight be? Out there in that field could be the person who discovers a cure for the common cold, a future president, maybe someone even saves the world."
"Nah," Ron laughed "the person who did that is sitting, right, here, or have you forgotten about that whole alien invasion that took place the night of my graduation?"
"How could I forget. I had to sleep in the boiler room of the high school for five months thanks to those tall green space apes."
"That sounds … fun?"
"It was what it was. Anyways, as I look out over these people I wonder who will be successful, who will be failures, which ones will be the millionaires and which ones will be Middleton High's new janitor."
"Well, that whole part of being the millionaire would have been me once upon a time," Ron said with a sigh.
"Oh?"
"Well, you remember when the whole Naco craze at Bueno Nacho a few years ago?"
"Vaguely."
"Well, that was kinda my idea. And my junior year Bueno Nacho's corporate offices sent me a royalty check for my invention.
"Seriously? For how much?"
"Like, a lot. Enough that I would be able to finance an entire fleet of Barkin Catering and Karaoke vans across the entire country. And probably Canada too."
"Go on," Barkin said, growing more intrigued by the minute.
"Well, I may have squandered a couple … million or so dollars, here and there."
"Millions?!"
"Yeah, but it's all gone. I was young and irresponsible. And what I had left Drakken and Shego stole from me in a heist and I never saw a cent of it again."
"Interesting."
"It's actually kinda depressing," Ron corrected. "I had it all and then it was gone, just like that. It's okay though, I'm a better person living with my parents, helping raise my kid sister and surviving paycheck to paycheck. A little humility is good for the soul."
"No, I mean it's interesting because you said it was a royalty check."
"Yeah, so?"
"Royalty checks aren't a single lump-sum payment, Stoppable. They're supposed to be recurring payments."
"WHAAA?!" Ron said as he let what Barkin said sink in. "You mean?"
"Is it still on the menu?"
"Yeah, I bought one last week."
"Has it been there since you invented it?"
"I assume so."
"Hmm, then it sounds like someone owes you some back royalties then."
"But, but ... AWH MAN COME ON!"
Ron went off on a tangent for several minutes before he noticed Barkin stand up and take note of something happening out in the field.
"What are you looking at Mr. B, errr, Steve?"
"Don't look now, but it looks like your old girlfriend and her band of merry men are up to something."
"Oh, great. Just what I need, more of KP 'adding to her legacy' tonight," he groaned as he stuffed some food in his mouth and joined Barkin. "What is she doing?"
"By the looks of all of the brush they're dragging out of the ditch, I'd say they're trying to build a campfire. A pretty tall one at that."
They had removed several stones from the rock wall and laid them in a circle to form a campfire ring and then proceeded to pile up firewood which ranged in size from tiny twigs to entire tree limbs. Once the firewood was laid one of the frat boys took out his lighter and ignited the pile into a bright blaze that was visible from the top of the hill.
"What a waste," Barkin continued looking at Kim. "How could a girl go from being such a paragon of virtue to B-list celebrity train wreck in such a short span of time?"
"I try not to think about it."
"Hmmm, must be hard seeing her like this."
"It's definitely disappointing," Ron admitted.
"I would never have taken her for a girl who would have self-esteem issues and subject herself to such degrading behavior."
"Yeah, well, the KP I knew was always a little unsure of herself. Granted she was always confident in her athletic and combat skills, but when it came to a social life, well … she was always somewhat shy and unsure of herself."
"Really?"
"She'd would never admit that she was attractive even if you told her. She only has … had a small group of real friends. Heck, she even tried becoming a tomboy because she was jealous of me and Felix Renton hanging out all the time."
"I remember that. Baggy pants, backwards hat, and poor attempts at eating 'guy' food."
"Yeah, I mean, she does have a tomboy streak in her. She would do the girly thing every once in a while, but she was never comfortable in heels and a dress. But she tries too hard sometimes."
"Hmmm, I never thought I would see the day that you, Stoppable, would be the voice of reason."
"Well, if there is one thing I've learned since high school is that we all have a little growing up to do," he said as he bit into a lukewarm chicken breast, "and apparently, some of us have more to grow than others."
"Miss Tara has taught you well it would seem."
"Is it that obvious that she gave me some pointers?"
"She was a peer tutor all through high school. Her fingerprints are all over you."
"Yeah, she's a good one. Logan's a lucky guy to have her."
"That he is. He seems like a good kid too. They'll make a good couple."
"They already do."
"They'll make an even better couple if we land their reception," Barkin said with a wink.
"Already taken care of Steve."
"You secured it?"
"Yayup, yep. Call it a benefit of being friends with the future bride and groom."
"Excellent work, Stoppable. I knew this party would be a way to branch out our business."
"Well, no offense but Tara said they went with you bec-"
"Speaking of branches," Barkin interrupted as he stood up again and pointed down towards the bonfire, "Kim and her pals are raiding that tree for some more fuel. They must really not be that smart if they think live, wet branches are going to be worth anything for their fire."
"Tree?!" Ron said wide-eyed and somewhat panicked. "What tree?"
"That old twisted elm tree that's next to the rock wall. They've climbed up in it and are ripping branches out of it for kindling. Look like a bunch of damn monkeys if you ask me."
"Oh shoot! That elm tree!" Ron exclaimed jumping to his feet and headed down the hill.
"What? It's just a tree."
"Yeah. No, it's not," he shouted looking back. "Whatever you do Mr. B do not let Tara see what they are doing!"
"So … maybe I should signal that it's time for dessert?"
"Whatever, just keep her from seeing this!"
Barkin shrugged before he donned his hair net and headed back to the serving area. "It's just a tree."
Meanwhile, Ron was sprinting across the field in hopes that he could get to the tree before Kim and her friends could do any more damage to it. When he arrived at it, he found an obviously inebriated Kim wedged in the crotch of the tree cheering on her cohorts as they broke off limbs and branches to feed the fire.
"Hey, Kimbo, check me out I'm Tarzan!" one yelled swinging on a thick branch until it finally snapped under his weight.
"Go Danny! That'll keeper goin!" she slurred. "Thrgow 'er on tha pile, whoooo!"
Danny obliged and threw the long, curvy branch on the fire, leaves and all.
*Ahem* Ron sounded underneath Kim's position.
"Oh hi Won! Check out owr 'fy-ur!" As she responded she nearly kicked him in the head with her swinging foot. "It's so, awh-sum!"
"Kim, get out of the tree," he said firmly
"Whuh?"
"I said, get out of the tree! You know this tree has special meaning to Tara and if she was to see what you're doing to it she'd have your head. So get out of the tree, now!"
"Won, it's just duh big stoopid twee. Swo not thuh dwama."
"Kim, you're drunk. Again! You're not thinking straight. Again! Time you listen to the adults around here," he said sternly grabbing her ankle. "Now get out of the damn tree!"
Again, she refused, trying to yank her foot away from his grasp and seek refuge in the high tree limb. After several attempts, she managed to get her foot away. However, in her impaired state she lost her balance and fell backwards and out of the tree and into Ron's arms.
"Git awray from me!" she yelled as she wiggled her way out of his grasp and shoved him back. "Somebuddy help!"
Kim's cries for help were quickly answered as her fraternity friends hopped down from the tree and quickly surrounded Ron.
"Is there a problem here blondie?" Kevin asked, rubbing his chest up against Ron.
"Actually, yeah there is. And it involves one intoxicated underaged misguided red head and a bunch of frat guys who decided to attend a party, UNINVITED! And then they decided to start damaging personal property."
"It's just a tree, Bro. And we're just having fun on our side of the wall, far away from the party."
"I ain't your Bro, and the property line goes to the center of the road here, genius. You're trespassing."
"Oh really?" Kevin asked inching closer to Ron's face. "And what are you going to do about it?"
"I'm going to ask you all to leave," he replied looking him square in the eyes. "Once you extinguish your bonfire of course. Oh, and she stays until she sobers up."
"Az ifffff," Kim sloshed from behind one of her friends. "You don tell me whuh to do!"
Ron pushed Kevin out of his way with ease and advanced on Kim. "Yeah, and how has that worked out for you Kimberly? Let me run down the list; legacy in tatters, laughing stock of the entire state of Oregon … actually check that laughing stock of the entire damn world, no friends, alienated from your family, and probably a lot more that I don't know about. Enlighten me, Kimberly, on how you being all free and independent of all consequences has worked out for you!"
Too pumped full of false bravado to register how easily Ron had pushed past him, Kevin stepped between Kim and Ron again and gave the smaller blonde a push. "Hey twerp, if you haven't noticed Kim's got plenty of friends. So why don't you turn around, march your skinny ass back up the hill and start serving ice cream and cake like you're supposed to be doing."
"Yeagh!" Kim shouted in agreement.
"Plenty of friends you say?" Ron defiantly turned and faced the ring of fraternity brothers. "When is her birthday? What is her favorite color? Her favorite food? What's her religion? What is she most afraid of? What say you, friends?"
The barrage of questions took the group by surprise, and many of them began scratching their heads unable to come up with the answers or were too impaired to think properly.
"That's what I thought. Since you're all her friends, the answers are -
"THE ANSWER IS WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" boomed a female voice from behind Ron. It was Tara, obviously now aware of the goings on at the edge of her property was making a b-line across the field with a rather large group of onlookers in tow.
"Tara, everything's under control," Ron said moving towards here.
"Stay out of this, Ron," she said gently shoving him out of her way and continuing to confront the group. "You. You. You. You. You. And you," She said pointing to each of the fraternity brothers, "You have FIVE MINUTES to put that fire out, pack your shit and get the HELL off my property or else I'm going to have the Washington County Sheriff's Department PERSONALLY escort you off! And you," she continued now putting her attention towards Kim, "you sad, pathetic shell of your former self. You're going to get your lit ass up to my barn and you're going to STAY THERE until you are sober enough to go home. Got it?"
"Whoa," Ron muttered in shock.
"Whatebber, bitch," replied Kim with a middle finger raised in Tara's general direction while she walked towards the road. "I'm ditchin this sitch and I'm heading hoOO-"
In her act of defiance, Kim had missed a large exposed tree root and tripped over it. She landing face-first in the dirt where she remained for several seconds. Eventually, she managed to roll onto her back and through her hazy vision saw both Tara and Ron standing over her, arms crossed and frowns etched across their faces. The glow from the fire against their faces amplified their anger.
"That's just like you Tara..." she murmured. "Zuh little comptrol freak and her f-friend the buff … the buff-f-f-f ... the BUFFOON!"
After that her head fell backwards and darkness overtook her as she passed out.
*GLAAAARGGG!* a startled Kim yelled as a rush of cold water shot across her body. "Wha?! What the … ?!"
"Welcome back, Kim!"
"Humna, wha?
"Awh, look at that, she's alive after all."
"Where … what? Owwwww ..." she grumbled as she attempted to sit up and listen to the voices which swirled around in her head.
"I think she's coming out of it."
Kim tried focusing her blurred vision towards the dark silhouettes of Ron and Tara. Both looked to be holding cleaning buckets.
"You might be right Ron, but we better make sure. I get the feeling she has a lot of practice not knowing where she is when she wakes up," Tara said as she tossed another gallon of ice water onto Kim.
"AAAAAAHHHHH, JEEEZ THAT'S COLD! Ugh!"
"Yep, she's definitely coming around."
"I don't think that was necessary, Tara."
"Oh, I beg to differ."
"Tara."
"What?" she said while batting an innocent look towards her friend.
"I think I've got it from here."
"Are you sure? I'm more than happy to get a couple more gallons to get the point across."
"Tara," Ron said in exasperation.
"Fine. I should probably get back to the party anyways," she said as she gave Ron a quick hug and Kim a quick scowl. "Feel free to keep her in there until she learns her lesson."
"Alright, Tara, I think we're good. Thanks for the lift."
The blonde made her exit and Ron turned his attention back to the soaked and hung over Kim, who was confined to a cold, dark room.
"Where … where am I?" she asked rubbing her eyes and massaging her temples.
"Back at my house," he answered, flipping the bucket upside down so he could sit on it. "Remember my old panic room? Tonight we turned it into a drunk tank."
*Groan*
"Oh, don't worry about the water, when we designed it we made sure it was waterproof. It's also self-draining."
"Grreat! Why are there bruises all over my body?"
"Well after you passed out, Tara and I borrowed her fiancé's pickup to bring you home. And seeing it's his pride and joy, she insisted we put you in the bed of it instead of the cab in the event you decided to ruin the interior with vomit or something."
Kim just groaned.
"Tara was driving. Which in retrospect probably wasn't a good decision. I'm pretty sure she may have intentionally hit every pothole she came across."
"Ugh ..."
"And come to think of it she may have jumped over those couple of speed bump on purpose as well."
Rubbing her temples some more, Kim said, "When did she get a glass of Carnation Instant Bitch?"
Ron scowled at the soaked girl sitting before him. "About the same time you and your so-called friends crashed her party and proceeded to defile her mom's tree."
"Oh."
"Yeah, 'oh'! Now, Kim, you know that tree is special to Tara."
"Yeah."
"Like how it was her mother's favorite spot in the entire world. How it's where her father proposed to her. How it's where she would always go to read books."
"I know ..."
Ron just rushed past whatever Kim was going to say. "How when her mom died when we were in middle school, we held a memorial service for her there and spread her ashes at the base of the tree and it became somewhat of a shrine to her memory?"
Kim was getting angry. "Alright! I get it! I know I messed up! Sheesh..."
"Do you?"
"Do I what?" Kim asked as she finally managed to stand up.
Ron stood to match her, in height and volume. "Do you know that you messed up? Because according to my count, this isn't the first time you've woken up after a party binge soaked in water with an old friend standing over you."
Kim stepped back.
"What? You don't think people talk? You don't think I know about Prague?"
"Great, another lecture from the Middleton Morality Department," she said as she tried to get past Ron to the door. "Where are my sandals, I'm leaving."
"Oops, must be back at Tara's." Ron said without an ounce of sympathy.
"Of course they are," she remarked as she braced herself up along the side wall. "Ugh, whatever, it's only three houses down anyways."
"And you think you can make it in your current state?" Ron asked. "Soaked, barefoot and hung over at 2am in the morning? Seriously have you not had your share of walk of shames yet?"
"What's one more?" Kim asked with a tremble in her voice.
"One too many in my opinion," Ron answered back in a calmer tone. "How about you stay here and let's get you sorted out."
"I don't need sorting out, I just need my bed. I don't need help from some old boyfriend from high school."
"Is that all I am to you? An old boyfriend from high school? Josh Mankey is an 'old boyfriend from high school.' You and I, we've done a lot more to just have such a meager title attached to me."
"Fine, I don't need help from some old boyfriend slash former sidekick from high school."
Ron closed his eyes in frustration, trying to think of something quick to come back at her with but couldn't.
"Fine, I tried. Maybe to you I'm just some shadow from your past. Some buffoon, as you so lovingly put it earlier tonight," he said pulling his shirt off. "But the fact remains that even if you don't see it, whether you're too proud to admit it or too oblivious to realize it that you have a problem and need help. And if you're not going to let someone who has known you since preschool help you, then I hope you can find someone who is equally as concerned for your well being. Here, put this on," he said as he tossed her his shirt. "It isn't Club Banana, but it'll help you from catching a cold."
Kim reluctantly took the shirt and began to peel off her shirt right in front of him. Ron politely turned away to give her some privacy.
"Wow, haven't had that kind of attention from a guy in a while," she said pulling the shirt over her head. "In fact, I figured that every guy on the planet has already seen my tits."
"Call me old fashioned. I just thought it would be proper."
"Yeah, well, proper hasn't been in my vocabulary for a while," Kim said, again with that slight tremble below the anger. "Goodbye, Ron, I'll see myself out."
Ron let her pass uninterrupted and she proceeded up the stairs towards the front door. As she made her way down the hall Ron broke off and headed up the stairs to his room. She heard the door to his room close as she continued her way journey through the hallway and through the living room to the front door. She reached for the doorknob but instead of turning it, she froze. She closed her eyes, tilted her head back and let out a deep sigh before turning back towards the staircase.
Ron had already gotten into bed when the door creaked open and Kim entered his bedroom. Upon hearing footsteps he sat up and turned on his lamp, revealing her slumped in his office chair and looking to be on the verge of crying.
"I'm sorry I called you a buffoon earlier. I know how much you dislike being called that."
Ron nodded in agreement. "Is that all?"
She shrugged. "No. You're right, I need help. I've screwed everything up. I've tried to fix it, but I can't. I just keep making things worse."
"How so?" he asked in the hopes that an admission would be therapeutic.
"How so? How have I not?" she started. "Ever since we broke up and I retired from our old life nothing's gone right."
"Tell me about it," he said patting the space on the bed next to his side, inviting her to join him on the bed like old times. To which she did, damp garments and all. "Start from the beginning."
Which she did. She started with the night that she broke up with him and going to the party. She talked about her roommate and how she convinced her to get the 'proper college experience'. She talked about the party where she had her first drink. She confessed everything to Ron.
"KP, that is some story. What do you make of all of it?"
"That I'm a lightweight when it comes to drinking."
Ron just raised an eyebrow.
"I know, I know. I shouldn't be drinking yet, but I thought I could handle it. You know, if you're old enough to die for your country, you're old enough to handle alcohol. Right? I guess spending all of those months in isolation studying got me cooped up and I went a little overboard."
"A little?"
"Fine, a lot. I admit, I liked the feeling. It was nice to just let loose and not be 'America's Sweetheart' and just have some fun. At first the parties were fun, exciting, I felt that I had nothing holding me back, that I could do anything I wanted to but in hindsight, I had no direction at all. It was just an illusion I was too stupid to accept. Then I realized I had gotten in too deep and tried to fix the sitch and it ended up costing me everything, and everyone. Wade disavowed me, Monique won't speak to me anymore, Tara...gosh, I don't even want to think what Tara thinks of me."
"She threw your unconscious body into the back of an unpadded pickup and drove you here on the most bumpy roads she could find. Knowing Tara, I'm sure that probably went a long way in the healing process."
"And I'm sure I probably deserved every bit of it too. I am not real clear on everything about tonight, but I remember your list of what my actions have led to. And you were right. I've embarrassed my family, I've taken advantage of my friends, my reputation is in ruins …" Kim paused for a second and looked at Ron as he sat on his bed next to her, just like old times and listened to her. Not judging anymore. Just listening. "I've hurt you. I've just ruined everything!" she whimpered before falling into Ron's lap and bursting into tears.
He let her cry for several minutes, he assumed that all of this stemmed from months of pent-up frustration and sadness and figured that the best course of action was for her to get it out of her system. Minutes went by and the disappointment and grievance which he had felt for her earlier had begun to be replaced by sympathy and compassion. It was then when Kim began to feel the gentle brush of his fingers running through her damp hair. Nobody had touched her as gently as that in a very long while and the gesture helped to calm her down.
She sniffed as she began to collect herself. "I wish I could take it all back."
"I know you do. Unfortunately what's happened has happened. The only thing you can do is learn from it and move on. What you're doing here tonight is a big step in the healing process."
"Do you think so?"
"Absolutely. And don't think for a minute any of those strained relationships out there aren't beyond saving."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. You and I both know that Wade and Monique can't stay mad at you forever. If anything they're waiting for you to come to your senses and to strike up a dialog with them."
"Maybe."
"Yes, you will." he said pulling her off his lap and looking her in the eyes, pulling a few strands of wet hair matted to her cheeks away from her face. "What is that catchphrase you're always telling people? 'Anything's possible for a Possible?'"
"Yeah, and nothing stops a Stoppable either right?"
"Exactly. Which is why I'll help you win them back."
"Thanks, but it's something I should probably do on my own."
"Ah-ah," Ron said with a shake of his head. "Kim, that has been a large part of your problem. You've been going at it alone for too long. Well, that and your taste in friends has been less than stellar. If you really want things to change you need to admit that you can't do it alone and ask for some help this time. Not just with getting back on those guys' good sides, but to rebuild the whole Kim Possible brand."
"And you'd be willing to help?"
"Yayup."
Kim smiled a tentative smile. "How do you suggest we do that?"
"Well you know, let's come open with everything that has happened."
Kim gave him a skeptical look.
"Okay, let's come open with 99% of what has happened. Mend fences with your friends and family. Your real friends. Then we get your reputation back. Maybe do a little volunteer work here and there. Make sure people know you're doing it out of kindness and not mandated community service. The timing is perfect with school being out for the summer. We can start on it and have that tarnish gone by the time the fall semester rolls around."
"That sounds like an apology tour."
"Well, no, it's not an apology tour. It's more like a um ... a reboot or a new product launch ..."
Again the skeptical look came out.
"Okay, it's an apology tour. BUT! I think you'd be better for it, and like I said, I'm fairly certain that none of your strained relationships aren't beyond saving. Nothing a few heart-to-heart conversations can't fix."
Kim suddenly looked very nervous. "I dunno Ron."
"What do you have to lose by doing it? Listen to the son of the actuary here when I say that this is low risk with high reward. And we'll do it together … as a team," he said, extending his hand to her.
For the first time tonight, Kim's face brandished a full smile and she shook Ron's hand. "Deal."
"Good. Now uh … how about we get you home?"
Kim agreed and after Ron found some shoes, the duo began the short walk back to Kim's house.
By the time they had snuck out of Ron's house it was going on 3am. The street was dead to the world while the brightness of the full moon illuminated the sidewalk.
"KP can I ask you a personal question? It's been eating at me all evening."
"I guess."
"What happened in Prague with the drugs?"
"In, regards to what?"
"Well, you told me all about how you got them and Monique finding you with them, but after that …"
"I never took any."
"Did you want to?"
"Not really. The thought crossed my mind but I never acted on it." She stopped in the street and looked Ron straight in the eyes. "I sat there for a while on my bed flipping the bag around in my hands and determined that I didn't want to go in that direction. I think deep down the prospects of what could have happened scared me. So much in fact that for the rest of the tenure there I didn't do any partying. Then I came back to Eugene for my spring semester and started back with the bad habits."
"More like started up with the same bad crowd again. My guess is that you knew you had some issues going on."
"Yeah, I tried to sort of cool it down when I got back. Then I got invited to Tara's party and well, you know how that went."
The started walking again.
As the approached the front door of Kim's parent's house Ron said, "Well it's over with KP. And we'll take care of that sitch too. Hey, got another question for you."
"We're at my parent's house."
"Yeah, yeah but this one won't take but a second. And I swear it's not hardball."
"Okay."
"What's with the tat?" he asked pointing to the little star cluster on her wrist.
"Oh this? It's a little souvenir from last year's Spring Break. It's a little cheesy, but the stars represent Mom, Dad, Jim, Tim and me. Kind of a little family tribute with a little girly flare, or maybe the cosmic flare with Dad being a rocket scientist and all."
"You weren't sober when you got it were you."
"No, not at all," she admitted.
"Well, at least you have a good story to back it up. And it's cute."
"Yeah, it's definitely not a regrettable tattoo by any means"
"I know, its not like you had your name written on your arm like Motor Ed has."
"Seriously."
"Seri- Hey, I see what you did there KP!" He laughed and gave her a wink.
"Goodnight, Ron," she said as she gave him a gentle hug and opened the front door. "Thanks for listening. Oh, and I'll be sure to get this shirt washed and back to you."
"Eh, keep it. I've got others back at the house. And when I say we'll get everything fixed. I mean we'll get everything fixed. Even you and me."
For the second time that night Kim smile a genuine smile of relief as she passed through the door and into the house. Knowing that she had won back one of her closest friends she had renewed hope that she could repair the other damaged relationships and make herself whole again.
-END-