Guess what tomorrow is! (awaits guesses). I'm thrilled. If I get to watch it. Grr. Enjoy!
And here are shout outs first!
SHOUT OUTS!
Ace Lannigan: I'm glad you enjoyed that! It was something my little brothers' friend was doing when I dropped them off at a sleepover. So I glad it was appreciated. Hey, some people have to think that naked mole rats are freaky. Like in the rap.
BOC42: No, I am currently not reading Crime and Punishment but I have been thinking about it lately for some reason, so I probably was channeling it to some extent. I loved that book in high school. And Kim has no clue about the Monkey Kung-fu, so I saw no reason why she should have to witness it.
Bratty: Hey, it was impossible for me to let this story progress without allowing Ron to do brutal damage to Eric. Glad you approve!
Classic Cowboy: You actually liked the fight? Wow. And I thought I couldn't write a fight sequence if my life depended on it. And no, I'm not trying to dig for compliments. Just pleasantly surprised. )
Fernnu: Thank-you!
Forlong: Thanks! Here you go!
Frosty Pickle Juice: Not only is Kim a brat, she's dang confused. She needs a moment with her thoughts and feelings.
fryfan: And here is your next!
Jamie McFly: Despite the fact that you didn't review, I SAW you reading this chapter, being that I was in the same room, so I will give you appreciation. And a hint of a little something at the end of this. Especially for you. Love ya.
JessieHeart: Hmm. Maybe I did make Rufus too evil. I wanted him to be taking charge of situation and forcing Ron to do what needs to be done, but I guess it could have gone overboard. Thanks for pointing that out. Glad you agree with cruelty to Eric, and that I am somewhat appeasing your inner fan girl. This story is actually devoted to my inner fan girl. )
Kiona Kina: (steals decapitated plushy from Kiona and sets it aflame) Update your sequel!
kpShadowgirl: Keep reading! ) That's all I can say.
LittleKittyKyon: Yes. Stupid Kim. I shall now take this opportunity to cackle evilly.
LJ Fan: Hey, I enjoyed making her be horribly Kim! Bwahahaha! As for the obvious moments… I saw some spoilers and I'm not going to say anything. But I agree with you about Bonnie. Bleh. But yes, stupid Kim. And Ron who is always there for her regardless! So you're going to a dance? I'm actually envious. Anyway, enjoy it! And I'm sure the Disney Channel will repeat the movie endlessly. I hope. I actually might not get to watch it, due to some church dinner thing I feel like I have to attend and the fact that my friend keeps coming over to my apartment to play video games, therefore occupying the tv.
plasticphoenix: Your review made my finals-stressing week momentarily happy! Thank-you! Especially for your comment! I'm a big Disney fan myself, and it's like a knife to my heart when people corrupt it needlessly! Which is sad, because I'll happily corrupt plenty of other things in my fics. But it's hard with Disney! So I so appreciate that, and I'm glad you feel the same way. And I'm also glad you enjoyed the Queer Eye cameo. That was the highlight of the episode for me, after the Friends thing, being that I am a die-hard Friends fan. But that's okay. Thanks again!
Quigley's Sweater: I'm also going to assume you read this!
rain-angel03: I promise Kim will be better in this chapter. ) Anyway, I'm glad you and your friend are enjoying it! Thanks!
RainSprite03: Hey, I couldn't do this story without Eric receiving his just desserts—from Ron! It was my inner fluff-supporting fan-girl. Just like you, I'm addicted to the episodes where Ron saves Kim. Sigh. Where is feminism girl power when we need it?
SesshaWaRurouni: Gah! I don't want you to miss it, so that's good your friend told you! Anyway, thanks!
Spice of Life: Agh! Tape! I didn't even think about a tape! Because I might have to record it as well! Heck, I'll record whether I have the opportunity to watch it tomorrow night or not! Then I shall by the DVD! I still need to preorder it on Amazon! Anyway, hurry and find a tape!
to-all-romance: You've been reading all along? Wow. I feel loved! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Actually, it's not completely been what the real movie will be—but that's because I saw some commercial scenes and even a couple of spoilers, realized I was being freakily psychic, and sort of… rebelled. And I want them to make you mad… I sort of enjoy torturing people. Thanks! )
Widow Shark: Ron is nothing without Rufus! Rufus had to come! Yay for Rufus! And I think Ron has courage. Just because he's a freaking coward doesn't mean he can't be brave! Thanks!
WWLAOS: Hey, Rufus and Ron are a team. If Ron is doing what he needs to do, Rufus needs to pop out in his awesome furless pinkness and make Ronniekins save the day! Yeah, maybe I should have made him fight with Shego, and I'm still kind of regretting not doing that, but I really was afraid he'd die or something. Or defeat Shego effortlessly. Neither of which were working for me. But perhaps there is still a way… any ideas? Yes, Drakken is goofy. Which is why I think I love him so much. He's so loveable. I almost want to take him home and take care of him so he doesn't hurt himself with yet another idiotic attempt at true villainy. I've decided that's why Shego hangs out with him—deep down, she's worried.
xPussyWillowKittenx: Hey, I understand computer viruses. They are evil. I'm sorry you had one! No, Eric isn't dead. He's just… being a pansy
The night air was much too cold. Kim hadn't the slightest idea the degrees could plunge so quickly from pleasantly cool to a challenger for polar conditions. She sucked it in, letting it freeze her lungs, and not for the first time wished she had a shirt that covered more. A shirt. A time like this and all she could think about was clothing? Whenever was that the first thing to cross her mind after defeating a villain? Once or twice, admittedly, that's how probability worked. Like the probability of all the random things that could pour into her thoughts when she should be concentrating on something else. Like what had just happened back there. Is that why she had felt like she had needed to escape so fast?
Monique, however, didn't seem to have that particular problem. She brushed out the door past Kim like a charging ghost, twirling out into a defensive blockade in the path. The cold wasn't bothering her, if the cold were real; instead a definitive heat was radiating from her skin.
Kim had never seen Monique so angry. Instinctively she stopped, bracing her arms before her in a form she hoped looked nonchalant instead of defensive. Or something else. Monique didn't fall for it.
"What is your problem?" Monique screeched, throwing her hands into the air.
This wasn't going to die, Kim thought. This wasn't going to die. This disaster of a night was not going to end. She had already lost her date. And if that didn't hurt enough… an image of the sneer on Bonnie's face as Kim trudged back into the gymnasium utterly solo flashed through her mind. Oh great. Now she had to be thinking about that. Was it utterly shallow of her? But it did beat the rest of it, what she was supposed to be thinking about… She pinned on her best smile. "What are you talking about?" She knew very well what Monique was getting at.
Monique gave another scream to ricochet off the nasty shell of the building and freak out anyone else that might be listening. Then her hands were on Kim's shoulders, forcing Kim's eyes to meet. "Nuh-uh! You are not going to do this to me all over again! You know very well what I'm getting at, and girl, I expect you to do something about it! You practically forced me out of there, off on a run, and I would like to know why!"
Monique had no idea. No idea at all. What it had been like back there, watching Eric betray her while she was in his arms. She let the smile fall. "Monique, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. About Eric." Eric. The burning hate that had filled her as she had sat there, utterly paralyzed, Drakken and Shego laughing over her, filled her once more. A knife might as well have been jabbed into her heart. That… jerk. That… a dozen other names flashed through her head as she scowled. "I swear, if I ever see him again…"
"Still about Eric." Monique rolled her eyes, and squeezed Kim's shoulders even harder. "I get an apology. You finally realize you should have listened to my infinite wisdom. Great. Lovely. All those words. Dang it, that isn't what I'm talking about! A guy that's crazy over you follows you in there, risks his life for you, does who-knows-what kinda stuff to that moron, risks his life for you all over again, and you're completely oblivious!" She lifted her one hand in mock consideration of a slap. "I'm just glad he's my date, at least."
Ron. Of course she would be talking about Ron. Something Kim didn't even want to think about it. Not now. Not after what she had felt back there. Not after what she had done to him in spite of everything he had done for her. Not after what she had felt back there.
It was impossible, completely impossible. But somehow, in the cold and the darkness and with her cute prom hair all a mess and Monique yelling at her, Kim actually smiled.
It wasn't just what had happened back there.
Monique took a step back, her visage of flame and fury quickly fading. "Kim? Are you all right?"
As if commanded Kim nodded, her breath catching warm in her throat. Exactly what had just happened? And when? Three seconds ago? But it seemed so much more secure than that, this feeling of blissful emptiness and endorphins like when screaming down the first hill of a roller coaster… Then, just as quickly, she shook her head. It was gone, and her throat was tightening, cold and hard. "No!" She fell into Monique's shoulder. "I'm not all right!"
"Oh boy," Monique muttered, gathering her momentarily lost balance and tightening her arms around Kim. "Apparently you aren't. I didn't mean to get at you like that."
Kim sniffed and shook her head. This couldn't be good, getting tears all over Monique's prom dress. She wasn't crying that hard, was she? "No," she said, lifting her head up enough speak. "You were right. About everything. I'm sorry I didn't listen."
"About not jumping into his arms the moment you were able to?"
Kim scowled at her.
"Sorry," Monique replied seriously. "But it's true. So you're finally coming around, eh? Seeing what just about everyone else has been seeing. Especially since the cafeteria."
The moment that could have been the best in her life. The knife was back in Kim's heart, with a different reason. And it hurt so much worse. Every moment she had spent with him, all those years… "I blew it, Monique. I'm the biggest idiot that has ever walked the face of the planet."
"And you're probably right about that." Monique grinned, almost harshly inappropriate, considering the drama of the situation. "But, hey, I've felt like that before." The grin vanished into a look of disgust. "Too many times, to be more accurate."
Kim stepped back, fiercely wiping the tears from her eyes. As if more weren't going to come. "That day, in the cafeteria, when he said that… Monique, I think I love him, too." That had to have been the weirdest thing she had ever said. It felt so strange, coming from her mouth. But… good. Very good. Why was it now that it struck her so hard? That feeling she had, while she and Monique had been forced to wait on the stairs while Drakken tried to turn on a glow stick, hearing the chaos below them… had this been it? Him coming to her rescue? Fairy tale in action. She nodded. Yes, the tears were back. "Yeah, I do love him. I think I always have." It was true, she realized. It was true.
Monique stared back at her, face in cautious rapture, mouth hanging open. "You're not just saying that?" she ventured.
How could she be? Kim shook her head, hiccupping.
The grin returned. "I thought you were still going to argue with me when I as your best friend know what's best for you. Wow, Kim. We still might get a good night out of all this after all. Say it again."
"I love Ron?"
Monique clapped her hands, voice erupting into laughter. "Dang, I wish my life were as interesting as yours, so I shall be forced to leech off of this! Say it again."
This was actually almost… fun, Kim thought. "I love Ron!"
Monique was beside herself. "Now what are you going to do?"
"I…" Kim froze. Once again the night was much too cold. It would be different back at the prom, balloons and lights. But the enthusiasm Monique had dragged in disappeared. "I don't know what to do."
Monique went speechless.
The pain was back. Monique wasn't getting that. She hadn't been there, hadn't seen the look on Ron's face. She didn't understand, despite all those plans and Cupid things… "Monique, how can I ever face him? After how I treated him?"
For a long time Monique said nothing.
There. That's what it had been reduced to. A chain of big mistakes flushing everything down the toilet. She hadn't been able to face him since then, and now, this night, the one moment when everything could have been made perfect, she had somehow managed to mess that up as well. Kim Possible. The girl who could do anything. Hah. "Thanks for being my own personal cheerleader here, Monique, but—"
Monique shook her head, bringing in an interruption. "How can you not face him? Kim, you owe him that much."
She did. That much was evident. "But I don't know if I can…. What am I supposed to say, after what I did? Monique, I feel like scum."
"I don't think he's going to care."
"But—"
"You humiliated him in front of half the school," Monique urged. "No, make that the entire school. It did make front page. And if he still there for you after that, I don't think anything is going to deter him."
Kim stared.
"Yikes, girl." Monique rolled her eyes and drew a deep breath. "All this time you've been going on about Ron embarrassing you in front of everyone. Somehow I think that was a whole lot worse for him."
"Way to make me feel better."
"Kim, Kim, Kim." Monique threw her arms around her in a quick hug. "I know I'm enjoying all of this a lot more than I should be, but all I'm saying is that apparently he still loves you after all of that. And if he can survive that, he can survive you running off. Ron's like a cockroach. You can't stop him. He'll be back, whether you like it or not."
"A cockroach." Kim found herself giggling. "An unstoppable cockroach."
"Exactly. So what are you going to do?"
Kim spun around, heart pounding. She hadn't the slightest idea for any sort of plan.
Ron really wished that he had Drakken's glow stick, which was probably lost from human eyes for the rest of eternity. Or until someone actually went down and actually looked for it. Or the flashlight. Of all things, Kim could have left him with the stupid flashlight.
Not that it mattered. He could wish for the lair to get struck by lightning, sending a power surge to light everything up, but it wasn't going to make him feel any better. Something to light his way as he blindly clung to the stairs' railing on the way up wasn't really what he wanted. Even the bound Shego somehow stopping throwing obscenities at him wasn't what he wanted.
He wasn't good enough. No matter what, he was not going to be able to prove anything to her. Useless, useless, useless. Bonnie had been wrong. Mr. and Mrs. Possible had been wrong. Even the stupid crushed bouquet wasn't going to do anything.
Could it hurt any more than this?
He stopped, one foot on the stair above him. So hard to see in the dark; he was doing a lot of random pausing on the way up. Maybe, just maybe, he would take too long to get up there, and Kim and Monique would be long gone. And he wouldn't be able to do any more damage. Their prom night was ruined. Neither of them had dates. And he doubted either of them wanted his help. Monique had, supposedly, had a plan. Good luck getting that to work now. But she had gone with Kim.
And only a few hours ago he had dared think everything was going to be okay. Great. Perfect. The best night of his life. Well, that wasn't happening now.
He felt Rufus crawl from his pocket, using his tiny claws to dig his way up Ron's shirt.
Ron sighed, a sound that did nothing to block out even Shego's distant shouting. "Sorry, Rufus, I guess I blew whatever you wanted me to do."
Rufus squeaked something in reply. He sounded just as defeated as Ron felt.
"I don't know what else I'm supposed to do," he continued. "I already messed too much up. And I can't even say I blame her. Apparently even Monkey Kung-fu, unwitnessed, impresses no one." He forced himself to keep moving. The exit couldn't be too far off now. What he wouldn't give to just stay here with Shego and Drakken and Eric and probably some other hiding villains he didn't know about. Except that would be a bad idea. Though could it be a worse idea than going out where he couldn't even have the old friendship he had shared with Kim? "What do you say we head to Bueno Nacho and grandé-size something?"
Rufus gave a sigh in a reply.
"I'm giving her what she wants," Ron said, more to himself than Rufus. "And if she doesn't want me, then…" His heart was going to break all over again. "Then I'll let her have that." If that's what she really wanted. If all their years of friendship meant nothing. If he meant nothing.
The railing ended. That was somehow so much harder than going through the ventilation system. So he had finally reached the door. Without being attacked by Eric or Drakken. Or Shego escaping. And attacking him.
"Well," he muttered. "Welcome back to the world." He pushed the door open.
They were still there. He had spent what felt like a freaking hour walking up there and they were still there. He froze in the door way, staring at them. Kim and Monique, staring back at him. She looked so pretty. Both of them, actually. But especially Kim. All bathed in moonlight and all that.
For one moment his heart leapt. It couldn't be. Had she somehow…
No. It had to be a dream. Nothing back there had mattered, this wouldn't either.
Monique giggled. Ron for the life of him couldn't figure out why she would do that. Girls. Girls were stupid.
He should go up to Kim. Try once more. Isn't that what Bonnie had said? Wouldn't that work?
Rufus shook his head. Profusely. Ron wasn't sure what he meant. He dropped his eyes to the ground. He could loop around the back, where he had parked. Not go in their direction at all.
Kim started forward. "Ron," she began.
He couldn't bring himself to reply, as much as he wanted to. He began walking, willing himself not to look at her.
"Ron, wait!" She was louder this time.
He stopped, his will ending. He had to look at her. If he could have more images to make this memory all the worse for the future…
She had actually come toward him. She looked… Ron didn't know what to call it. He had never seen her like this. Scared. Kim was never afraid. "Ron," she repeated. She didn't seem to have anything else to say.
Suddenly he wanted nothing more than to just leave. "Well, I guess you can go back to the prom now." That sounded brilliant. "Even though I guess you don't have a date anymore. But I'm sure you'll find someone to dance with you. Tell Monique I'm sorry." He resumed walking, despite the fact that Rufus was now clawing at him in desperation.
"But—" Kim began.
He shook his head. "I've already ruined your life enough."
He was leaving. Walking off while she just stood there. The tears, the ones she had hoped had run dry, were threatening to return. Why had she just stood there? All she had done was say his name! What was that supposed to do? That in no way equaled what she had wanted to say!
And now she was watching him leave. Which is what she had done. Several times. Too many times. This is what she deserved.
No.
That wasn't possible.
Even if that was what she really deserved.
She glanced back to Monique, begging for help. And all she received was a glare.
And the tears were back. "Monique!"
Monique shook her head. "Hey, my plan was to ditch Ron just as we were bumping into you and Eric, then making the DJ play a really romantic song while Eric was getting punch! After smacking you around a bit. But apparently that isn't going to happen tonight. So what are you thinking? Are you going to let him go?"
"What about the cockroach thing?"
Monique smiled and crossed her arms. "I think he's put more than his share into this. So are you really going to let him do this?"
Kim's gaze reverted back to the fading image of Ron. Was she? Her best friend? The one who had been with her the longest? Was she really going to let go of all that? She broke into a run, once again calling his name.
He wasn't looking back. Was refusing to.
"Ron!" she screamed again, picking up her speed. Heck, he had really managed to get far. But she was closing in on him. "Ron!"
Finally, as if forced, he looked back.
And once again, she had no idea what to do next.
But it couldn't be that hard. She had faced pretty much everything. Who cared how different this was? The world about to be destroyed, villains escaping. What had she always done to those villains?
There was only one thing to do.
She threw herself onto Ron.
They fell forward into a muddle of a mud and soggy plants, soaked in whatever was seeping out from this area. A good deal splattered into Kim's face. At least she hadn't landed face first. Ron hadn't been so lucky.
He struggled to his knees, which Kim surmised was difficult, as she had an arm latched tightly around his neck. She rolled off of his back, sinking up to her elbows in the sludge. Rufus, or perhaps some other mud-covered rodent, popped out of the puddle about a foot away.
She hadn't realized the ground was like this.
Ron pushed himself up, spitting out a mouthful of plants and mud before gasping madly for air. Then, wildly, his eyes fell on her. That old familiar panic returned.
Somehow she didn't care. At least she hadn't been wearing her prom dress. At least she was here. And he didn't seem to be in the condition to run off again.
"Kim," he finally managed breathlessly. "What the heck—" He wiped some of the mud from his face. "You just—"
"Completely ruined your suit by knocking you into a pile of who knows that?" She found herself smiling. "I know."
"Yeah, but—"
Say it now. It was as if Monique was somehow sending over all necessary instructions telepathically. Kim struggled to sit up, only managing to make herself filthier. It still didn't matter. She had to say it. "I love you, too."
Ron was half-way through a second attempt at cleaning off his face. What he had just plopped onto his chest. "What?"
Say it again. "I love you, Ron." It felt so good to say. Why had it taken so long? Why hadn't she thought of it first, if she really had loved him so long? But oh well. "I love you."
All he did was stare at her, though it was hard to be sure of his expression beneath all of the mud. But his eyes were visible, all gorgeous and bright. "But I thought—"
"Ron, if you're allowed to be an idiot at times, so am I. I'm just…" She took a deep breath. Her own panic was setting in. But the good kind. "I'm just sorry it took all of this. And I'm sorry about what I said to you in the cafeteria. And I'm sorry I don't deserve you, and that I kept calling and hanging up." That only been three times. "And… I'm sorry." Her heart was pounding was hard she thought she would die. Or at least pass out. Hopefully onto him.
"Kim…" Now he was definitely smiling.
She thought about what her mom had said. "We're best friends. These things are bound to happen sooner or later."
Now this definitely was a dream. There was no conceivable way that this could be real. It didn't work this way. Never worked this way.
But it had happened. Kim had just performed one of her deadly attack jumps, and the next thing Ron had known was that he was drowning in something incredibly sick and nasty.
And then Kim was saying what he had never dare hoped she would say.
It couldn't be real. Yet he had never been so happy in his life. "Kim, you're not just saying this because you feel, I don't know, guilty or something?"
She shook her head. Even drenched in mud, she was gorgeous. "But I do feel guilty. But that's not why I'm doing this. Ron, I'm really sorry. And I'm sorry that this is so late. I'm not in rebound over Eric, either. He wasn't real. You are. And I really do love you. A lot."
Ron looked around, half-expecting the Candid Camera people to jump out. All he saw was Monique in the distance, looking much too pleased with herself. This better not have been her plan. "So you're serious?"
Kim nodded happily, anticipating something. Then, before he could blink, she had him down in the mud again, hugging him.
That should have been his job. Though he could…
He couldn't stop himself. He kissed her.
Kim's eyes fluttered open momentarily before she dove back in, kissing back. It was wonderful. Much more wonderful than any kiss she had received from Josh or Eric. Probably because this one mattered. Mattered so, so much. The kiss she had given him, back when she had the moodulator stuck to her neck, even that didn't measure. But what had that been? Maybe during that time she had finally been at her senses. Only to lose them all over again. Until now.
They finally broke it off as Ron once again tried to sit up. He finally managed it, grinning dopily. But it was cute just the same.
"So," she said. "Out of curiosity, what happened down there? With Eric?"
He was hiding something, she could tell that much, from all those years of knowing him. His face turned red, sheepish. "It's… it's kind of a long story."
He didn't seem to be willing to give it. But that didn't matter either. "I guess… I guess prom isn't over yet. Not until eleven or something like that. We still have time."
"You… you want me to ask you?"
She shrugged. "I assumed it would be without asking at this point."
"What about Monique?"
Monique had finally managed to make her way over. Cheering. Literally cheering. Maybe she should join the squad, Kim thought. She grinned at her. "What about it, Monique? Can I still your date?"
Monique paused her cheering. "Did he ever bring me a corsage?"
"It's at my scooter," Ron said, nodding in that direction.
Monique beamed. "Okay. I'll take the flowers, and you can have Ron. Besides, the whole idea was for me to wind up dateless anyway."
Rufus, still covered in mud, gave a tiny bow before Monique.
She gave him a moment of consideration. "After the naked mole rat has a bath, sure."
"Eh, you'll find someone," Ron said, climbing to his feet. "I'll drag Felix over, if you want me to. Though Rufus could work for you. He could."
Then he reached down and grabbed Kim's hand, helping her up. Her hands didn't let go even when she was.
For the first time, she realized she was blushing. "I can't… go like this."
"You look fine to me."
"Thanks. So do you."
His smile widened and he let go over her hands, just for a moment, to give her a bow. "So, after how many times of bringing this up, will you go to the prom with me?"
THE END!
And, for the heck of it, cue "Could it Be?"
I'm kinda sad this is over, but I really didn't know where else I was going to take it. I mean, you can only stretch something out so far. I did have trouble in the end, over who got what perspective. Well, I did have fun writing this—I don't think I have ever written anything quite this fluffy that wasn't a one-shot. I enjoyed being horrifically fluffy and cheesy this last chapter. Anyway, thanks to everyone who has responded with comments and suggestions—and if there are any last-minute ones, I am most open!
So now I just get to wait till tomorrow night for the real thing. I actually saw more spoilers than I should have, but I kind of fell into rebelling and doing my own thing regardless.
(tosses candy to everyone)