Chapter 9: Save The Last Dance
≈O≈
That day the school witnessed something much stranger and unnerving than a stampede of DNAmy's real-life Cuddle Buddies.
A happy Bonnie Rockwaller.
The girl wasn't singing on hilltops – which would have been the equivalent to a zombie apocalypse - but instead of her usual sneer or smirk, she was actually smiling; a feat some considered the cheerleader incapable of. The slight bounce in her step was also note-worthy.
"Kim, you are not going to believe this," Ron said, the look on his face reflecting the disbelief shared by his many peers.
"What?" Kim asked, her attention focused on her locker.
"Look," he said and pointed towards Bonnie.
Kim turned her head and saw the brunette walking towards her. Smiling. As she walked past, Kim suddenly jumped and yelped. Bonnie gave her a wink and continued on.
"What happened?" Ron asked.
"She pinched me!" Kim complained, rubbing her rear. "She actually pinched my butt."
"That seems so," Ron said, trying to come up with a suitable word, "un-Bonnielike."
"No duh. What is up with her?"
Kim couldn't make heads or tails of Bonnie's behavior. She had gotten used to the girl's sudden changes of heart, but this was something very different.
It bugged Kim. For a number of reasons.
For one, she had been trying to get Bonnie to share what was going on in her head, this being yet another thing Kim was not privy to. One thing she had learned, however, that she couldn't attack it head-on like she did with everything else. Bonnie, she had learned, was very shielded about her feelings and any attempt to force an answer would only lead to her shutting Kim out.
She had to wait for the right time.
Kim patiently waited until cheer practice after school. The practice itself went smoothly, due to the fact that Kim didn't have to fight Bonnie on every decision. Afterwards, Kim and Bonnie hung back until everyone else had gone to the locker room.
Like a moray eel on the prey, Bonnie snatched Kim and pulled her into the equipment storeroom.
"Hey, good-looking," Bonnie smiled, her hands firmly planted on Kim's rear.
"You're in a good mood," Kim said, holding Bonnie by the shoulders.
"I am, so why don't you put me in an even better one?" Bonnie said and captured the redhead's lips with her own, initiating yet another storeroom session.
Instead of her usual relentless attack, Bonnie's kissing was soft and slow. It was tender even. Her commonly busy hands settled on feeling Kim's backside.
After some wandering, searching for a more comfortable spot, they ended up on a gurney, the former occupant of which, CPR Annie, now lay on the floor in a very uncomfortable position. The girls however were very comfortable, with Kim on her back and Bonnie partially on top of her.
Bonnie pulled apart slowly, brushing away a lock of red hair off Kim's face. Kim smiled at the unusual, but welcome, view of a smiling Bonnie. Her teal eyes seemed so mesmerizing, adorned with an almost perceptible sparkle.
Although unwilling to interrupt the lovely time they were having, Kim knew she'd be amiss if she didn't point out the obvious.
"The others are probably wondering where we are," she said, her finger slowly drawing figures on Bonnie's exposed rear, her skirt having been lifted up previously.
"Let them wonder," Bonnie replied, leaning in to kiss Kim's neck.
"Does this have anything to do with what happened at the camp?" Kim asked.
"Does what?" Bonnie asked, still planting soft kisses along the redhead's delicate neckline.
"This weird mood you're in."
Bonnie pulled back to look Kim in the eye. "How am I being weird?"
"You seem almost... happy."
With her finger, Bonnie brushed away a stray lock of hair from Kim's forehead. "And that's weird?"
"It is for you. And there was the way you looked at me after Ron captured Gill and freed us. You looked so..."
"So what?"
"Like you were happy nothing happened to me."
"Fine, I'm happy you didn't die. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"That'll do. For now."
"You're a needy little minx, Possible."
"And you're a mean little witch, Rockwaller."
"Let me put my spell on you," Bonnie said and captured Kim's lips in a passionate kiss.
"Dammit," Bonnie said, her lips still attached to Kim's. She pulled apart. "I really hate to cut this short, but I gotta head over to Tara's."
"You two have plans?"
"I promised Ren I'd come over for a chat," Bonnie said, sitting up on the gurney. "I figure I'd do some damage control while I'm at it."
Kim had noted Bonnie using nick names with Tara's mom, and vice versa, and the rapport they seemed to share. "You two seem close."
"Yeah, well. She's the only adult I could talk to since my dad left," Bonnie said and stood up. She went to the door leaving Kim reeling from the surprising personal revelation. "Let's hit the showers."
≈O≈
"Have a seat," Renee patted the empty space next to her on the couch in the Williams' living room.
Bonnie walked across the room looking around. "Where's Tara?" she asked as she sat down on the couch.
"She's up in her room. I asked her to give us a little privacy."
"Listen, about what you saw-"
"We'll get to that," Renee interjected. "Tara told me you've been in a pretty good mood today."
Bonnie gave an exasperated sigh. "What am I, some goth chick? I can't be happy?"
"BonBon, you know I love you, but you aren't the most cheerful person. You smirk a lot, but I've rarely seen you with a genuine smile."
Bonnie stayed silent as if in deep thought.
"Hon-"
"I called my dad," Bonnie said suddenly.
The sentence hung in the air a few moments as Renee took it in.
Renee Williams was aware of the circumstances that caused Bonnie's father to leave, or at least she knew the gist. It had been very difficult, being as close as she was with Bonnie, to respect the Rockwallers' right to handle their own issues. As much as it pained her, all Renee could do was tell Bonnie that there must have been a good reason for her dad's leaving and not contacting her.
There was very little she wanted more than to be right.
Now she, and more importantly Bonnie, had the opportunity to find out. "And?" she asked anxiously.
≈O≈
"Hello?" came a sleepy voice.
After three years Bonnie had finally reached her dad. For the first time since he had left she experienced a moment of true joy. She was also scared her to her very core.
She gripped the phone tighter.
"Is there someone there?"
It was now or never.
"Daddy?" she managed to choke out.
There was a brief silence. A pregnant pause that threatened to dissolve the desperate girl's resolve.
"Bonnie?" the voice said cautiously.
The sound of her name in a voice she had feared never to hear again awakened the little girl within.
"It's me, Daddy."
"Bonnie, I- How'd you get this number?"
"I bullied a nerd into finding it for me."
"I see."
"Yeah."
"So... how have you been?"
Bonnie had not known what to expect from the call. Nor had she sorted out what she really wanted out of it. But now that she actually had her father's ear, she wanted some answers. "I haven't heard from you in three years, and you wanna know how I've been?"
"BonBon-"
"Don't BonBon me! Why'd you leave? Why'd you leave me? And why haven't you called?" The angry questions poured out of her.
"Bonnie... You have no idea how much I've missed you guys. I really did want to call but..."
"But what?"
"It's really hard to explain over the phone. I'm actually coming over to Colorado in a couple weeks. Do you think you can meet me in Upperton on the fourteenth?"
"I think so..."
"Do you know where the Triton Arms is?"
"No, but I can find out."
"How about we meet in the downstairs bar at five."
"Okay," Bonnie said, writing down the info.
"And Bonnie – I really did miss you an awful lot. I can't tell you how happy I am that you called."
"I've missed you too, Daddy," Bonnie sniffled.
"Listen, Sweetie, I have to go now, but I'll see you in two weeks, okay?"
"Daddy..."
"BonBon, I promise I'll explain everything."
"You better."
"I will." The voice cracked a little, "I love you, BonBon."
"I love you, too, Daddy."
≈O≈
"I'm so happy for you," Renee said and hugged Bonnie tightly. "Do you need me to come along for moral support? I can also pound Brian to a bloody pulp if he doesn't have a good explanation."
"Thanks, but I think I need to do this by myself."
"Okay. But you should know there's nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it."
"I know, but it's hard."
"I know it is, sweetie."
Renee knew enough of Bonnie's family life to know why the girl never asked for help. It would show weakness; something Bonnie couldn't afford if she were to gain the respect and/or approval of her sisters. Renee just hoped that when Bonnie finally connected with her father she'd stop living for other people, and start living for herself.
"What about your sisters?"
"What about them?"
"Have you told them?"
"No, and I'm not going to."
"Bonnie," Renee said in a motherly tone, "I know you don't get along-"
"I hate them."
"Nevertheless, they still have a right to know. He's their dad, too."
"Fine. I'll tell them. After I meet him alone."
"It's the right thing to do. Now that we're done with that, let's talk about your girlfriend."
Bonnie groaned. "Do you really need to call her that?"
"You two are seeing each other? Or at least making out on a regular basis? Then she's your girlfriend."
"You're the devil."
"And I'm hot as hell."
"Kim sure seems to think so."
"Don't tell me you're jealous?"
"Annoyed is what I am."
"You're jealous."
"Of a cradle-robbing cougar? Hardly."
Renee growled and made a claw gesture towards Bonnie. "So, are you two getting serious?" she asked.
"We're just fooling around," Bonnie replied non-chalantly.
"Fooling around?"
"Yeah, so?"
Renee sighed. "Why are the pretty ones always so dumb?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Hand me that magazine, will you?" Renee asked Bonnie, pointing to a car magazine lying on the table.
Bonnie glanced at the magazine, the front cover showing some augmented babe in a bikini leaning on a shiny red penis on wheels. She gave the older woman a confused frown but grabbed the magazine and gave it to her. "I didn't know you were into-"
SMACK!
"Ow! What the hell!" Bonnie complained rubbing her sore cheek.
Renee was holding the rolled up magazine, giving Bonnie a scolding look. "Have you been struck deaf, dumb, and blind?" she asked loudly.
"What?" Bonnie groused.
"Can't you see the poor girl's hopelessly in love with you?"
Bonnie 'pfft'ed. "Yeah right."
"She kinda is."
Both Bonnie and Renee looked towards the voice to see Tara standing in the doorway.
"You, too?" Bonnie said.
Tara stood in the doorway holding a sandwich and a glass of water. She walked into the room and sat on the armrest of a recliner. "I know you can see it. She's trying to fight it, but Kim's totally into you."
"See?" Renee said to Bonnie. "Even Tarball knows."
"Hey!"
"The question is: how do you feel about it?"
Bonnie fell silent. How did she feel? She had been trying so hard to ignore all that and keep it light and fun. She could not deny the physical attraction that drew her to the red-haired goody-goody time and time again. Kim did it to her, simple as that. After that first kiss, every time they were in the same room Bonnie could not help but feel the draw.
But affection? Love?
If it wasn't for what happened last week at the camp, she would have dismissed the idea off-hand. Now?
Now...
"Bonnie?"
"I just don't know. I guess I care about her."
"That's a start," Renee said. "And don't feel bad about the whole liking girls thing. I had myself a little experiment with the fairer sex back in College."
"Mom, you didn't?" Tara said in shock.
"Go, Ren," Bonnie grinned.
"Wait, I thought you didn't go to College," Tara said.
"I didn't but she did. I just crashed a party she was in."
"You crashed a college party?" Bonnie asked with renewed respect.
"Well, 'party' is putting it strongly. Those pre-med people are boring," Renee said. A warm smile grew on her face. "All but my Annie."
"So what happened?" Bonnie asked impatiently.
"From the first moment I saw her I knew I had to talk to her. I just had to."
"And?"
"Well, we hit it off and ended up going to her room. That was some night..."
"Eww, mom! I don't wanna hear that," Tara said, scrunching up her face.
"Hear what? About the night of passionate lovemaking?" Renee taunted with a mischievous grin.
Tara covered her ears and started going "La-la-la, I'm not listening."
"I think you better move on before Tar has a nervous breakdown," Bonnie smiled.
"Okay, okay. Anyway, we saw each other a few times after that. We kept it simple, I never even knew her last name. But I loved her. I loved everything about her."
"So why did you stop seeing her?" Tara asked. She had started listening again and was actually leaning forward like had taken an interest on the story.
"I met your father."
Tara seemed placated by the answer, but Bonnie needed more.
"What did she look like?" the girl asked.
Renee sunk in the couch and grew a dreamy smile. "She was so beautiful. She had striking red hair that was ever so flippy, and lovely blue eyes. Actually she kinda looked like-"
Suddenly something clicked in Renee's head.
No, it couldn't be...
It's not possible...
The realization hit her like a hammer.
Bonnie's girlfriend was the spitting image of Annie!
Annie.
"Mom?"
Renee snapped out of her thoughts. She tried to recompose herself as best as she could.
"Sorry. Uh, so anyway, Bonnie, do you think there's any chance of your 'fooling around' with Kim to become something more... serious?"
Bonnie sighed heavily. "I don't know. Maybe."
"Then go for it. One of the worst things in life is regret. You don't want to go through the rest of your life thinking 'what if?'. Even if things don't work out, you'd have tried. You're still young. I don't want to play devil's advocate here, but odds are that even if you guys start dating, you're not gonna live happily ever after. There is no one true love, and the only way you'll find any is by putting yourself out there. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have met Annie. Or Harvey."
Tara looked at her mom, cautiously hopeful. "Do you love dad more than Annie?"
Renee stood up. She walked to the recliner and kneeled, cupping Tara's cheeks.
"Honey. I can't quantify love. I loved Annie. I loved her a lot. And I love your father a lot. He also gave me you. And I love you more than life itself."
As the mother and daughter locked in a loving embrace, Bonnie's natural instinct was to gag at the saccharine display. Yet, she could not help but envy them. She barely remembered the last time she had felt that loved. The only thing that came even close was-
"Bloody hell..."
"Sorry?"
And there she was again. Seemed like no matter how she approached the situation, it always came back to the redhead. Despite her ability to deceive everyone around her, including herself, Bonnie could no longer deny that her involvement with Kim was more than a fling. Whatever that was, Bonnie lacked the capacity to define or understand.
"Bonnie," Renee tried to get the preoccupied brunette's attention.
Bonnie stood up. "I have to go," she said, barely acknowledging the other two women as she walked off. She left the Williams' feeling slightly more confused than when she came in.
≈O≈
Following her realization, Renee could not get Annie off her mind. The only thing she could think of was to get confirmation. And that meant getting some one-on-one time with Mrs. Possible.
When Mr. Williams came home, Renee suggested they invite the Possibles over for dinner.
"Sure, why not", Mr. Williams said, actually eager to meet the parents of the famous teen heroine. "What gave you the idea?"
"I just thought since they're one of the only parents we haven't met yet, no time like the present."
"Okay. When were you-"
"Next Friday. When the kids are at the dance."
"Friday? But that was supposed to be our... 'special' time."
"I'll make it up to you, Honey."
"It's gonna take an awful lot to-"
"I'll wear that costume you've been going on about. What's her name, Teela?"
"Tifa," Harvey corrected. "With the tight leather skirt and suspenders?"
Renee put her arms on Harvey's shoulders, clasping her hands together behind his neck. "I'll even put on the hair wrap."
"Okay, let's have dinner."
≈O≈
On their way from class Ron kept smiling at the posters advertising the upcoming school dance. It was the first time he had an actual date to the dance. And since it was Sadie Hawkins, Tara had asked him! He could barely contain his exuberance.
"So, have you decided who to ask to the dance?" Ron asked as they arrived at their lockers.
Kim gave him a frustrated sideways glance.
"You know perfectly well the one person I wanna ask is not an option."
"Couldn't hurt to try."
"I think I'm just gonna skip the dance."
"KP, you gotta come!"
"Why? It's not like you need someone to go with, you have Tara."
"I've never been to a dance with a girl, I need moral support."
"You've been with me plenty of times. Are you saying I'm not a girl?"
"Yes! I mean no! I mean-," Ron took a calming breath. "You're KP, you know?"
While Kim enjoyed having Ron squirm, she did know what he meant.
"Relax, Ron. I got you."
Ron let out a sigh of relief. "Come on, KP, you gotta help me."
Kim really didn't want to spend a night standing in a corner like a fool, but she couldn't back out from helping her best friend.
"Fine, I'll go."
The things I do for him... No wonder people thought we were dating, Kim thought.
to be continued...
