Disclaimer: I do not own Kim Possible or any of the show's characters (unfortunately). This fic is written solely to entertain; I do not earn anything (except reviews).
AN: This story ignores the events of StD, but includes all the episodes of the series.
Alright, a very quick update this time! Once again, many thanks for your wonderful reviews! I can hardly believe I really cracked the 100 reviews! You guys are the best! I just hope I can keep you hooked... Rising expectations is one thing, fulfilling them quite another... But enough with my worries! Enjoy the new chapter!
And now, on with the show...
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The first few lessons passed, but Kim had a hard time paying attention to what the teachers said; too many thoughts and musings kept distracting her. Out of the corner of her eye, she kept an eye on Bonnie, Tara and Ron whenever she could. Her best friend obviously tried to act like he didn't know what was going on, but she could see that he knew something. Ron had never been good at keeping secrets or hiding anything from her, and she would find out what he was trying to keep from her. Kim had quickly concluded that it had to have something to do with Tara and Bonnie. The platinum blonde kept stealing glances at Ron, glances that Kim didn't like at all. She knew Tara used to have a crush on Ron after he saved all the cheerleaders from being mutated by Gill at Camp Wannaweep, but she thought this crush had passed, especially since Tara had started dating Josh Mankey. And then there was the fact that Bonnie had talked to Ron. It had only been a greeting, nothing more than the word "hi", but it wasn't like Bonnie to greet someone she considered a loser and a social outcast. What could have happened? Kim couldn't believe Ron's suggestion of a lost bet… There had to be more to it than that, and she would find out! She gritted her teeth. Only a few more minutes, then the lesson would end, and the lunch-break would begin. That would be her chance! In the cafeteria, she'd be able to talk to Ron and Tara respectively. Bonnie, however, was a different matter… Kim didn't like the idea of having to talk to her brunette rival, especially since Bonnie had been in a very grumpy mood all morning. No one had dared to approach Middleton's Ice Queen this morning; even the teachers had wisely refrained from calling upon her in class. So Kim decided to talk to her blonde friends first.
The bell rang, thus signalling the end of the lesson and the beginning of the lunch-break.
Kim would probably never find out how he managed to do it, but Ron achieved what most internationally feared villains couldn't: He escaped Kim Possible. Tara, on the other hand, wasn't as fortunate.
"Hey, Tara! Can I talk to you for a second?" Kim had put on her sweetest smile, which only served to increase Tara's discomfort.
"Err, sure, Kim, what's up?"
"Oh, nothing much… I just have a short question for you…" Kim replied. "What in the world is going on here?"
Tara gulped. "What do you mean?"
"Oh please! Don't play dumb, okay? Something's happened… something between Bonnie, Ron and you… What is it?"
Tara swallowed again, but raised her head defiantly. "Nothing's happened..." She continued under Kim's withering gaze. "I just… I just noticed something about Ron…"
Kim's eyes narrowed dangerously. "And what is that?"
Tara felt as if her knees would soon stop supporting her weight, but she didn't falter, despite the discomfort she felt, and answered almost defiantly. "I noticed what a sweet, caring and cute guy Ron is."
Kim's jaw dropped to the ground.
Tara took a deep breath. "And… And I asked Bonnie to stop it with the put-downs. He deserves better than that."
Kim laughed humourlessly. "And Bonnie agreed to that?"
"She's my best friend; why wouldn't she do me a little favour?" Tara asked with rising self-confidence.
The red-head shook her head. "Sorry, Tara, but I find it hard to believe that Bonnie would lay off of one of her favourite past-times just like that. But never mind that. Are you crushing on Ron again?"
Tara's new-found self-confidence left her as quickly as it had come. "Well… I… He's… I mean…"
Kim leaned forward; her nose was almost touching Tara's. "Yes?"
Tara gulped again, but held Kim's icy gaze. "So… So what if I am?"
Kim smiled a false, sweet smile that sent chills down Tara's spine and answered in a very calm, almost friendly voice. "Nothing, Tara. But let me warn you: If you do something that hurts Ron… anything at all… you'll have to answer to me. Ron is my best friend, and I will not allow anyone to hurt him over some silly crush. Are we clear?"
Tara's forehead was sweaty, and her legs were positively shaking now, but she nodded. "Crystal," she answered in a tiny voice.
Kim nodded, that horrible smile never leaving her face. "Spankin'! See you later, Tara."
With that, she left the bubbly blonde and turned towards the cafeteria.
Tara thought her heart would jump right out of her chest. She had never felt so threatened in her entire life! But then, indignation welled up inside her. Some silly crush? Hurt Ron? She'd never do that! She took a few deep breaths to collect herself. She'd always known that Kim and Ron were very close; that was one of the reasons why she hadn't pursued her crush on him after Camp Wannaweep: She hadn't been sure how Kim would react and didn't want to get on her bad side. Bonnie and her other friends had been another reason back then, always ridiculing Ron and everything he did. Tara squared her shoulders defiantly. 'Not this time!' With that thought, she turned to get some lunch (and perhaps a seat close to Ron).
Ron had managed to enter the cafeteria and get some food (if you could call the grey blob on his plate food) without running into Kim. 'Perhaps that ninja training paid off after all,' Ron thought, taking a seat. He shared his meal with Rufus, who had woken up when the lunch-bell rang. He knew Kim would corner him sooner or later, but he definitely preferred later. Looking around, he saw that Bonnie seemed to be arguing with her posse at her table. 'She probably has to justify herself for greeting me this morning,' he thought sadly. He had never cared much about the food chain, but he wasn't ignorant of its existence, and when he saw what a hard time Bonnie was having because of it, he wished he were more popular if only for her sake. He sighed. There was nothing he could do about it.
He finished his lunch and put Rufus back in his pocket. When he had just returned his plate, he saw Kim enter the cafeteria. He gulped; she would certainly try to interrogate him; that much was clear from her look and her body language. He turned to leave the cafeteria through the other door, but he had to pass Bonnie's table to get to that door.
"Hey, loser!" Bonnie's voice rang out aggressively when he passed the table she and her posse occupied.
He stopped. "Err… yes, Bonnie?" he asked nervously. He could see Kim approaching and wanted to make a quick escape.
Bonnie, however, seemed to have other plans. She rose from her seat and strutted over to him. "I've had a pretty lousy day, Stoppable. Do you know why?"
He shrugged helplessly. "No, why?" His eyes still darted to the approaching form of Kim, while the entire room seemed to hush.
"I've been asked whether you had me under mind control, whether I've lost a bet or whether I've gone completely mad and am crushing on you! Can you imagine that?"
"Well…" he started, but Bonnie continued, not giving him a chance to say something.
"And why has all that happened? Right! Because you're such a loser! No, scratch that! Even I wouldn't insult the losers that much, 'cause, you know, losers are low on the food chain! You're not even on it!" With that, she grabbed her plate. "See that? I didn't eat any lunch! You know why?" Again, she continued before Ron could reply. "Because you make me sick! But since you and your disgusting pink rat seem to be hungry all day anyway, why don't you take it?" And with that, she emptied her plate over Ron's head.
The blonde was so surprised that he could only stand there while Bonnie's lunch ran down his head and upper body, soaking his hair and Jersey.
Everyone else watched in silence as Bonnie turned on her heel and stormed out of the cafeteria.
Ron just stood there, blinking and unable to form any kind of response to what had just happened.
Kim had stopped her approach when Bonnie dumped her lunch on Ron and just stared, completely dumbfounded.
It was Felix who directed his wheelchair to Ron's side and thus broke the silence. "Come on, Ron, let's get you cleaned up." He calmly took his friend by the arm and stirred him towards the exit.
Since the commotion seemed to be over, everyone resumed their lunch and their chats, although Ron still received quite a few looks on his way out.
Felix and Ron had just reached the door, when Tara entered the cafeteria. Her eyes widened on seeing the two friends. "Ron! What… what happened?"
Ron just shook his head, still unable to speak, and Felix answered for him. "Bonnie happened. She screamed at Ron and dumped her lunch on him."
Tara's hand automatically went to her mouth. "Oh my… I'm so sorry, Ron."
Ron finally found his voice. "Don't worry, Tara, I'm alright," he said shakily. "If you'll excuse me…" He pointed towards the door.
She nodded. "Of course…" She watched as Felix and Ron left. When they were out, her eyes narrowed. Tara usually had a very sunny disposition and seldom got angry, but those who saw her now couldn't describe her mood as anything but angry; in fact, the term furious seemed more appropriate for the state she was in. She stomped out in search for Bonnie without another word.
Kim, who had witnessed the short exchange between the three, decided to follow Tara. There was nothing she could do for Ron at the moment, as she couldn't well enter the boys' lavatory, and judging from her expression, the blonde would go after Bonnie now. That was just fine, as Kim had quite a few things to tell the brunette herself.
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Okay, you may let me have it now. However, I can promise that I'll explain Bonnie's behaviour in the following chapter and thus hopefully redeem myself.
