Authors notes: This was supposed to be in the first chapter, but I truncated and didn't look at the previewsmy bad.

Lunchtime:

"Pride goeth before a Fall and a Haughty spirit before destruction" Prov 16:18.

Bueno Nacho

At Bueno Nacho, Monique was back to her old self, except for an odd look at one booth. The place was full of kids from the school, enjoying the afternoon. Monique and Shelly, after getting their order, headed to a large corner booth where one other student sat, a kid in a hi-tech wheelchair.

"Hey Felix—how's life?" Monique said, Felix grinned back.

"Cool—not only have I survived the day at school, but I'm gonna be the greatest zombie slayer of them all tonight!"

"Heh." Monique laughed, "Felix, this is Shelly, Shelly, this is Felix, so if you ever need zombies slain, you know where to go." Shelly laughed.

"What if zombies need people slain?"

"Oh, I do that too." Felix assured her.

"Well… what pays better?" Shelly asked.

"Oh, Zombies, most definitely zombies." Felix said, "Being life impaired, they always pay well…before they try to eat your brains." He looked at Shelly.

"So, what brings you to Middleton—and why didn't you fight to stay away?" Felix said grinning. Shelly blinked.

"Well…my mom died last year, and I've kinda been bounced back and forth between families." She said. "My aunt decided she didn't want me around…so she sent me here and got an apartment."

"You live alone?" Felix said, and then, apparently trying to change the subject from her family, grinned. "Hey Monique—you were asking where you could have that party."

"Get out, Felix." Monique said, "You'd all just come in and leave her apartment hip deep in take out."

"We would?"

"Well, I might…leave a little." Monique said. She paused, "What's it like? I mean, living alone." Shelly shrugged.

"About the same as living with family—mom and I…were never close." She paused, "Sometimes I don't even remember what her face looked like." She continued, trying to lift the mood, "But hey, what do you do at Middleton?"

"The mall—I work at Club Banana, movies," Felix broke in,

"Video games."

"Laughing at the teachers." All three students burst out in laughter at that most ancient of pastimes, shared with students of Sumar and Ur.

"Well, when they aren't handing out homework." Felix said. "At least it's better as Juniors." Shelly smiled at that.

"Does the school have a cheerleading team? I was going to try out at my old school, but…"

The door opened and a group of cheerleaders came in laughing and chatting, evidently new from practice.

"Speak the devil's name and he shall appear." Felix said.

One, a brown haired girl who was evidently the focus of the group, paused by the table.

"Who is this?" She asked, looking down her nose at Shelly.

"I'm Shelly Lu… How are-"

"So not interested." She cut Shelly off. "I just wanted to know, could you be any more out of date in those clothes?"

"Huh?" Shelly said, surprised. "These are good clothes!"

"For Neanderthal man, maybe." The girl frowned, "Try not to make the school look even worse than it is."

"Shelly, Bonnie. Bonnie, Shelly." Felix said, "Bonnie's our official greeter, spreading sunshine and joy with her happy attitude. When she isn't working as our head cheerleader."

"Hmph." Bonnie said and swept off.

"What's her problem?" Shelly asked.

"Maybe she isn't walking right." Monique said viciously. "I mean, servicing the entire football team probably makes you sore."

"Monique." Felix said in a lower tone, "That's not true."

"What? It doesn't make her sore?"

"She's never done that. It wasn't her fault, Monique."

"Well she certainly wasn't slow to take advantage…"

"Kim asked her." Now Shelly was feeling completely out of her depth, as Felix and Monique glared at each other.

"Um…" Shelly said. "What am I missing?"

"Nothing." They both said, and Shelly sighed, brushing back some of her obsidian hair.

"Look, um guys." She said, "Don't get pissed, but when Kim and Ron were at school today, you acted weird Monique, they look like nothing I've ever heard, and people glared at me because I noticed." She paused, "and now, you hate the head cheerleader and Felix says 'Kim asked her.'" Shelly looked at them for a moment, and then continued, "I'm sorry, but could you at least give me enough back story so I don't piss people off by accident?" The two of them looked at each other and nodded.

"OK…" Monique said, "A little—but I can't tell you everything, anything like it. That's the first rule. What happened to Kim and Ron is off limits—guys who get pushy get a visit from Brick and the football team…girls, well, get ostracized." Shelly nodded.

"OK."

"You know that Team Possible used to do missions, right?" Shelly nodded.

"One of them went wrong…really, really wrong, and they both got hurt real bad." She paused, "They've only just started back to school…but…" She shook her head, "Like I said, that's off limits."

"And you're Kim's friend." Shelly said.

"Both actually." She smiled, and Shelly noticed again, there was a little moisture pooling in Monique's eyes. "They're just students now, Shelly—no more Team Possible…or anything like it." She shook her head, "And that's all I can say about it." Felix looked like he was about to say something, but the door to the restaurant opened, and Ron and Kim entered, Ron pushing the girl in her wheelchair, crutches racked behind it.

Felix and Monique shut up, and Shelly noticed a brief pause in the conversations of the store—even the workers paused and looked over, before starting work again. Ron didn't notice, but Kim got a blush on her cheeks, as he wheeled her over to the table.

"Mind if we join?" Ron asked.

"I thought…" Monique said.

"I couldn't resist the call of the Naco!" Ron said. Kim snorted and Shelly abruptly realized that Ron was here because he wanted Kim to be here. Monique scooted over to make room, and Kim grabbed the edge of the table, daring anyone to make a comment, and levered herself into the booth. Shelly wasn't saying anything, when one of Kim's arms caught her gaze. The long sleeve had pulled back, revealing the ugly new scars at the wrist, like someone had dragged broken glass across the wrist. Kim didn't seem to notice that Shelly had seen, but she pulled the sleeve down in an often practiced reflex. Ron plunked himself down beside Kim, his lopsided grin matched, both sides of his face smiling.

Death might beat him…nothing else will and he'd laugh even at death. Shelly suddenly shook her head at the thought. But it wasn't silly. There was an unconquerable humor in that eye, one that refused to take the world—or himself, seriously. Monique abruptly got up and grinned.

"Well, Why don't you two get to know Shelly while I get some more food."

"Want some money?" Ron asked,

"Nah, remember I still owe you from last lunch." Monique said and headed off.

"So, you're…" Ron started.

"Shelly Lu." Shelly said, Ron grinned back.

"Oh, I bet you got teased over that name."

"Yeah."

"Well, join the club—Ron Stoppable at your service." He said and his pet leaped out. "And of course, the amazing Rufus!" Shelly laughed at the rodent made a bow. Ron looked down and waited, but Kim was staring at the table.

"And Kim Possible."

"Hi." Kim's voice was soft, and her eyes were dark. She shook her head. "Sorry, I'm a little random today…ah, there are like, um…cheerleading tryouts tomorrow." Felix broke the brief silence that followed.

"Shelly was going to try out for the team at her old school, Kim…think you can get her into tomorrows try outs."

"Oh, I mean I was thinking about it, but-" Kim looked up, directly at Shelly, and she suddenly felt an electricity in the air as their eyes locked briefly.

"Yeah…yeah." Kim said with a little more energy, "We don't have a lot of good prospects…so yeah, why don't you come tomorrow, after school…I'll let them know you're a new arrival." Shelly almost said no, but the others had taking on an almost imperceptible attitude, like they desperately wanted her to say yes.

"OK…" Shelly said, "I'll give it a try." Then Monique was back with a platter of food. Ron held out his hand for everyone to stop.

"We must first, see if these are true The rodent jumped into one dish, and moments later there was an empty dish with a stuffed Rufus by it.

"Well?"

"Oh yeah!" The rodent replied.

"Very well… we may dine." And with that he dove in and Shelly realized that they'd better dine—or Ron would get it all. They all ate, and Shelly noticed that for all of his loud joking, Ron didn't take his eyes off Kim and made her eat a full plate.

"Gah." Monique said as Ron put another dollop of hot sauce on his food. "You using that for food or rocket fuel?"

"Hey, it works for both—and it cleans my dentures!" Ron laughed back, "beats taking them out to get cleaned every night." Both Monique and Felix winced. Ron laughed, "Don't be so horrified guys—Remember, they're just temporary." Kim closed her eyes. For a brief second Ron winced himself and put a hand on her shoulder, giving it a quick squeeze.

"Um…yeah." Monique said. Ron looked at his watch.

"Oh man…" He said, "we're going to be late for Phys-Therapy. You ready KP?" Kim looked rebellious, but Shelly saw that Ron wasn't going to back down and Kim evidently knew it.

"Yeah." She said. Ron pulled the wheelchair up and got Kim into it, heading out. As they passed by Bonnie's group, Bonnie turned.

"Kim, remember the Cheerleading tryouts, and try not to be late."

"OK…" Kim said.

"Oh that does it." Monique hissed, getting up, "Let's see how Bon-Bon looks without teeth."

"Monique!" Felix grabbed her as she tried to pass him. "Look at Kim—she's not angry because Bonnie's treating her like nothing happened."

"Oh, and you're going to say it's because of her great humanity?"

"I don't care why—but she's about the only one who can pull it off, so don't screw it up by making a scene in the middle of the restaurant." Shelly wasn't watching them, as she saw Ron and Kim in the parking lot, getting into a van. Ron opened the door for Kim and helped her in and then folded the wheelchair, putting it in the back before getting into the drivers seat. They didn't leave, and Shelly, ignored by Felix and Monique who were having a low conversation, watched as Kim said something, angrily, her finger pointing towards the school. Ron shook his head, and then Kim was evidently shouting at him. Ron shook his head again, and Kim suddenly had her face in her hands. Ron pulled her into his embrace and held her for a few moments, before starting the van and driving out of the parking lot.

To be continued.