First let me apologize for taking so long to do this chapter. Being out of state for a week and then four 12-hour night shifts tend to keep me from writing. Anyways, getting back on track here. Thank-you everyone for reading and a special thanks to those who have reviewed.

Disclaimer: Neither CaptainKodak1 nor I own these characters. And if we did, we would be demanding Season 4 be shown on a better schedule!

Chapter 3

"That wasn't so bad now, was it KP?" Ron asked as they walked down the hall towards the lockers.

"It was detention Ron. DETENTION! Cheerleaders don't get detention!"

"Well… apparently they do, as you did."

"You should be just as upset Ron!" Kim was livid. "Football players don't get detention either! At least they're not supposed to."

"It's no big Kim. I've had it before, and so have you. Remember when you were in there with Big Mike and the guys?"

"Yeah, yeah. I know." Kim placed her thumb and forefinger on the bridge of her nose. "It's just… frustrating. I hope the squad waited for me to finish up practice."

The two entered the gymnasium with the doors swinging behind them, and saw… nothing. No one was there. "Dang it! I knew Bonnie would call practice when I didn't show up."

Then they heard voices and looked over at the doors that headed back to the girl's locker room. It was Tara and Bonnie, and Bonnie was yelling at the blond.

"I can't believe you Tara! You were the only one who could have broke the tie vote and you voted for her… again? Sometimes I wonder why we continue to be friends! Goodbye!"

With that, Bonnie turned on her heels to leave and then she saw Kim and Ron standing near the front doors of the gym. She gave them a hooded look and stalked out of a side door that was propped open with a brick.

Tara dropped her head, as Kim and Ron approached her. Tara looked up at the two when they arrived, and her eyes were close to bursting.

"I'm sure she didn't mean it Tara." Kim said. "So I take it Bonnie tried to get me voted off as Captain again?"

Tara nodded as she sniffed. "Uh huh. I… I just couldn't do it Kim. The other girls just don't realize that with out you, we could lose next weeks inter-state competition."

"I almost hate to ask this," Kim said, "But how did the Tweebs vote?"

"They didn't. As soon as Bonnie called for the vote, they just left and said they wanted nothing to do with it. They also told Bonnie if she ended up being Captain, they were going to quit."

"Good for them." Ron said, and turned to Kim. "Well, since you don't have practice, let's just head to your place, OK?"

Kim breathed out. "Sure Ron. That's fine." After a few seconds she spoke again. "Well, since today is Friday, that means the competition is a week from tomorrow, and the last game of the season is the Friday after that. These next two weeks are going to be busy. Tara… let the squad know that I'm done with this… detention, and that I'll be at practice all next week. Since we didn't do anything today, we'll have to work extra hard all week."

An almost evil smile crossed her lips. "And maybe I'll implement Mr. Barkin's style of punishment for Bonnie for trying to oust me again. I wonder how many laps around the gym equals a mile…?"

…x x x x…

The two teens entered Kim's house and immediately went to the kitchen to get something to drink. Just as they popped open the cans, Kim's mom called out. "Kimmie? Is that you?"

"Yeah Mom… it's me and Ron."

"Don't you mean Ron and I?" Her mother said as she entered the kitchen with an envelope in her hand.

"What are you talking about Mrs. P.? I'm not with you." Kim swatted him on the shoulder eliciting a yelp from her boyfriend.

"Sorry Mom." She said, and noticed the envelope. "What's that?"

"It came for you today. Looks official." Anne handed the envelope to her daughter as Kim asked her who it was from. "Well, it's not from a college. Yet. But it might be from…"

"The Intercollegiate Cheerleading Association?" Kim finished when she saw the return stamp, and tore into the envelope. Kim was silent as she read the letter, her eyes getting wider and wider as they scanned the words.

"Well, KP? What's it say?"

"They selected me…" Kim said, sounding like she didn't believe what she was reading. "They selected me!"

"What is it Kim?" Ron asked. "Who selected… mmmfff…" His words were cut off as Kim mashed her lips onto his. After a few seconds, the sound of Anne clearing her throat caused Kim to pull herself from her boyfriend, looking more than a bit embarrassed.

"You didn't tell him Kimmie?" Anne said surprised.

"I… I never once thought that they would select me, so I didn't think I had a chance. I… I didn't want to jinx it." She replied looking a bit contrite.

"Wait…" Ron said. "You thought I would… jinx you?"

"Sorry Ron, wrong word." Kim said. "I just… I just didn't think it was that important to let you know at the time. I had sent in the application literally just a day before that whole sitch with the Diablo's started. It was way early as I wasn't even a senior yet, but I thought, what the heck."

"So can you tell me now what it is that you were selected for?" Ron asked as he crossed his arms.

Kim stepped back a bit, and said proudly, "I have been selected as a special judge for the next Intercollegiate Cheerleading Competition, AND I get to go to a Leadership Camp that only top students get to go to. And last, but certainly not least, I get to train with last years Intercollegiate Cheerleading championship team!"

"Wow…" Ron said. "That… that's huge!"

"This calls for a celebration." Anne said. "Let's all go out to eat tonight, your choice, Kim. Just don't go overboard though, OK?"

"Who… me?" Kim said with an almost angelic look on her face.

…x x x x…

Bonnie stood in her kitchen seething. The opened envelope sat on the table, and the paper she clenched in her hands was wrinkling as her fingers started to curl into fists. If it were at all possible, smoke would have been shooting from her nostrils.

"What's the matter Bonnie…" Connie said as both of her sisters entered into the kitchen. Lonnie finished the question. "Receive a 'Dear Bonnie' letter from that loser so-called college boyfriend of yours? What's his name again? Buck? Or was it Dirk?"

Bonnie glared at her sisters, wadded up the piece of paper, and threw it at Lonnie, hitting her right in the forehead. She then turned and huffed out of the room.

Connie picked the crumpled piece of paper off the floor, straightened it out, and started to read.

"Dear Miss Rockwaller… We regret to inform you that even though you have excellent credentials, all selections have been made for the Leadership class, judging, and training. Please feel free to apply for this next year. Thank-you for your understanding. Signed, The ICA Board."

…x x x x…

The Inter-State Cheerleading Competition. This was it. Kim couldn't believe that they were there, and she just stood on the main stage that all routines were going to be performed on. She stood by herself looking out at the chairs and bleachers that were all turned towards the stage. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine each seat with a person in it, cheering.

"Feeling nervous K?" A voice said off to one side of the stage. Kim opened her eyes and turned to who had arrived. It was Bonnie.

"Not at all B. Why should I? We've got the best team here, and I'm POSITIVE we can take this thing."

"Oh, I have no doubt about that." Bonnie said as she circled around Kim. "It's the individual competition I'm worried about."

"What do you mean Bonnie? I've seen your routine. If you land that last triple flip, you'll easily get a 9.8 or better!"

"Oh, I'm not worried about MY routine…" Bonnie said, and turned and walked off the stage with a bit of a swing in her step.

Now what was that all about? Kim thought, and went to her room at the hotel where the team was staying and started to get ready for the team competition, along with everyone else. She didn't see Bonnie again until they all headed for the competition that evening.

…x x x x…

Kim landed her split perfectly on the modified pyramid that her teammates had formed, and she breathed hard with a huge grin on her face after their routine was over. The crowd went nuts!

She hopped down to the spotters, and watched with nervous apprehension as the judges conversed about the routine. Finally they all started to lift their score-cards. The Mad Dogs were last, so they knew they had to have a total of 9.9 or better to win.

The five judges started to flip their cards one by one. 9.9 … 9.9… 9.8… 9.9… and… 10.0!

"The Middleton Mad Dogs win the 2007 Inter-State Cheerleading Championship!" The MC announced over the PA system, and the entire crowd cheered so loud, Kim and her teammates had to cover their ears.

After the standing ovation had lasted a good 5 minutes, the MC announced that the individual routines would start in 15 minutes. Bonnie walked past Kim and lightly brushed her side. Good luck, K." She said

…x x x x…

Kim had the worst luck in the individual competition. She was drawn to go first. Oh well… Kim thought, at least it will be over quicker and I can relax with Ron and watch everyone else.

Kim stepped out onto the stage and she suddenly felt an itch near the waistband of her skirt on her left. She absently scratched, and motioned for her music selection to start, and she began the routine with a double backward handspring. She then danced her way to the left, and then started a tumbling routine across the stage from left to right.

That was when she started to sweat, and that was also when she started to feel a burning sensation right where she had that earlier itch. Kim tried to ignore it and continued to do her routine. She quickly found out that the burning wasn't going away, and that it was actually getting worse!

The last part of her routine Kim was to run across the entire width of the stage and launch her self into a double flip, land, and immediately flip in the other direction, and land with a flourish to end her routine. Just as she launched into the double flip, she felt her entire left thigh start to burn like fire!

She landed and tried to do the last flip, but the burning was too much and she fell on her rear clutching her left thigh trying very hard not to scream out. Looking down, Kim saw that the skin was red and mottled. She had seen and felt this skin reaction once before, when she found out that she was allergic to a certain type of heating balm used to keep muscles warm.

The entire team came to her assistance, but Kim noticed that one member was missing. Bonnie just stood off to the side with her arms crossed, shaking her head side to side. An antidote for Kim's reaction to the balm was applied to her thigh as the rest of the individual competition went on.

…x x x x…

Bonnie received a near perfect score for her routine, and ended up winning the individual competition. At the end of the day, the Middleton Mad Dogs won the overall trophy, but by only one tenth of a point. If Kim had gotten better than a 7.5 on her individual, it would have made the margin much larger.

…x x x x…

The day before the last football game of the season, Ron was carbing up to get ready by having a large plate of spaghetti. As he ate, he was thumbing through a stack of mail his Mom had dropped on the table earlier before she and Eugene had gone for an evening walk. Hana was across the table from him in her high chair, smearing pudding all over her face.

After noticing the mess she had made, Ron wiped his little sisters face off, and put some crackers on the tray in front of her. He then sat back down and continued to look through the mail. One envelope caught his immediate attention, and thought it might be from one of the schools he had applied to. After checking the return, it was from The Colorado Board of Education. He opened it, and saw that it was a simple letter.

To Mr. Ronald Stoppable,

You're name was submitted to us through a representative of your school as one of its most improved students. After reviewing your records at the school, you have been selected as one of the top 5 applicants in the entire tri-city area. It is our great pleasure to invite you to a ceremony in which the winner of the "Most Improved Student" award and the runner-up will be announced. A copy of this letter has been mailed to the teacher who submitted your name. We will be contacting you and Mr. Steve Barkin in a few days with the date of the ceremony, as that has not yet been finalized. We would appreciate an RSVP saying whether the two of you would be able to attend or not.

Thank-You, and Congratulations.

Mr. Adrian Jackson, VP of the State of Colorado Board of Education

As soon as he finished the letter, the phone rang. Ron walked past his sister gently stroking her head as he went to the phone, and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Stoppable…"

"Mr. … Barkin?" Ron was surprised.

"Have you opened your mail yet?" Good ol' Mr. Barkin, getting right to the point.

"Yeah. I actually just finished reading it. I had no idea you did this Mr. Barkin."

The gruff teacher's voice softened for a bit. "You deserve it, Son. I haven't seen such dedication and improvement in any of my students in a long time."

Ron blushed at the compliment, and had never felt more humble at the praise. "Thanks Mr. B. That means a lot to me."

Mr. Barkin cleared his throat, and his voice returned to its usual harshness. "They usually hold these shin-digs sometime in the last few weeks of the school year before graduation." He paused. "You have a good chance at winning this thing Stoppable. The last time a student from Middleton High won this thing was about 15 years ago.

"This… is… wow." Was all Ron could say for a while. "I'm honored Mr. Barkin. I won't let you down."

"OK then." Mr. Barkin said, and an uncomfortable silence ensued for a short time between the two. "You ready for the game tomorrow?"

"Yes sir, I am." Ron said, straightening himself up a bit.

"Good. See you tomorrow at school."

"Bye Sir."

The two hung up, and Ron sat down hard on a nearby chair. "I'll wait and tell Kim about this after the game tomorrow. This game with the Lemurs should be a walk in the park.

…x x x x…

The Mad Dogs were ahead by surprisingly only two points. This was supposed to be an easy game, but it hadn't been. The team they thought that were going to be creampuffs, had been anything but. The Lemurs were on their own 45, and there was only 10 seconds on the clock. They didn't have a very good field goal kicker, as his longest was only 40 yards, and the Mad Dogs were sure that they had the game in the bag. After all, their defense was ranked number 2.

Ron sat on the bench watching the cheerleaders as the time ticked off on the clock. The cheer squad was on the opposite side line performing for the visiting team, and he wasn't too interested in watching the game. Right now his attention was on his redheaded girlfriend.

The squad was showing off, and decided to do a 3-2-1 standing pyramid. Tara, Marcella, and Bonnie were the base, Jessica and Hope were in the middle, and Kim was on top, of course. Crystal and Liz were the spotters.

Suddenly the base moved on Bonnie's end. Later Bonnie would say she stepped on a patch of mud, but none was ever found. The result of the slip and shift was that the entire pyramid started to sway with Kim about 10 feet off the ground!

The entire pyramid started to tumble, and took Kim by surprise. Before she could try to leap off and hope that Crystal and Liz could break her fall, she went off headfirst towards the ground. A collective gasp came from the crowd.

Ron had been watching this entire scene, and when it looked like Kim was taking a ten foot header into the ground, he leaped off the bench and started across the field to help his girlfriend and make sure she was OK. He was awarded a shrill whistle in his ear, and he saw a yellow flag thrown at his feet.

"Oh Crap!" He said to himself. "The game…"

Ron turned back to his sideline with his head hung low, and heard the call being announced by the referee. "15 Yard Penalty, too many men on the field! First down!"

Ron sat down, shocked by his stupidity. Looking over at the other sideline, he saw Kim being helped up by Crystal and Liz looking no worse for wear. She was unhurt, but he just caused a major penalty for his team. Ron put his head in his hands and didn't even listen to Coach Barkin as he continued to yell into his ear.

Ron didn't even watch the rest of the game… he could hear it well enough. The Lemurs had the ball on the Mad Dogs 40 after the penalty yards were walked off, and they had one chance to move the ball closer to give their kicker a shorter distance to kick the ball. The ten seconds on the clock was more than enough, and it only took one 19 yard pass and a timeout to get them within striking distance.

Ron hung his head even lower when the Lemur's kicker launched a 38 yard field goal attempt, and made it with only inches to spare, winning the game. Ron's attempt to help his girlfriend lost the game for them, and he forgot all about telling Kim about the "Most Improved Student" award.

To be continued…

I now hand the reigns back to the good Captain. Laters!