Moods Part Two

Chapter Five: Angry

Ron slid his tray onto the table, and himself into the booth, as Kim took a seat opposite him.  It was strange, he thought, how a change in their relationship could completely alter his perception of everything she did.  The mundane act of putting down her tray and sitting down was suddenly fascinating to him, and he stared like his was seeing it for the first time.  Every little move she made seemed to scream ‘grace and agility’.

Then she knocked over her soda.  The panicky grab she made for it worked, just, and Ron laughed.  Kim looked up, her eyes flashing, but the flash died almost instantly.  It must have been the expression on his face, Ron decided.  

“What?” Kim asked, blushing shyly.  She affected a disapproving frown.  “Haven’t you ever seen someone knock over a glass before?” she challenged, but there was no heat in her voice.

“Not really,” Ron said, smiling his trademark goofy smile.  Kim lowered her eyes and turned away slightly.

“It’s kind of weird, having you look at me like that.”

“What do you mean?” Ron asked, not quite able to keep a touch of anxiety out of his voice.

Kim raised her head.  “Well, you’re staring at me like, well, like...I mean,” she floundered.  “You know,” she final said, blushing furiously.  “I like it,” she added with a reassuring smile, “But it’s so different from what I’m used to that it seems strange.”

Ron sagged with relief.  Then he straightened, a wicked grin on his face.  “Hmmm.  Maybe if I do it a lot you’ll get used to it faster,” he reasoned, mock thoughtfully.  With that, he gave her a gooey eyed look that was so over-the-top that Kim burst out laughing.  

“Stop!” she pleaded, hiding her face behind her hands, occasionally peeking out and cringing at Ron’s expression.  Ron relented with a grin, and Kim relaxed.  She hadn’t been tense before, exactly, but she seemed more at ease now.

Ron’s stomach rumbled suddenly, and his thoughts turned to the half dozen tacos on his tray.  He picked one up and was guiding it toward his mouth when Kim stiffened.  The hair on the back of Ron’s neck went rigid at the same time.  He looked up and had to stifle a groan.

“Hello, Kim,” Josh Mankey said pleasantly.  Mankey’s gaze shifted to Ron.  “Stoppable,” he added coolly.  Beside him, pretty platinum blonde Tara King was smiling an embarrassed, awkward smile.

“Hello, Josh,” Kim said.  She sounded pleasant enough, but Ron could sense the stiffness underneath Kim’s words.  “Hi, Tara,” she added, much more warmly, and Ron saw Tara relax a bit.

“We just came in and saw you, and Josh wanted to come over and say hi,” she explained apologetically, giving Ron the distinct impression that Josh’s motive wasn’t that innocent.  “Hi, Ron.”

“Tara,” Ron smiled.  “I like the outfit,” he added, noting the short but tasteful red dress she was wearing.  Tara smiled gratefully, and better yet, Mankey scowled.

“’S’up, Josh?” Ron said with deliberately forced cheer.

“Oh, you know.  I’m just out on a date.  With my girlfriend.” Josh hurtled the barbs with obvious relish, and Tara cringed.  “I don’t settle for second best,” he added, shooting a look at Kim.  Tara looked like she wanted to die.  Ron felt a surge of sympathy for her.  Tara was a nice girl, and it wasn’t her fault Josh was being a jerk.  But Ron’s sympathy was a small thing compared to the anger that flared up in him.  It was one thing for Josh to insult him: Ron could care less what Mankey thought of him.  But for him to imply that Kim was damaged goods...well, that wasn’t something Ron was going to sit back and take.  He started to rise, and saw an evil grin crease Josh’s face, when an iron hand on his arm stopped him.

Kim shot Ron a look that commanded him to sit down.  As Ron settled back into his seat, Kim gave Tara a brief reassuring glance, then impaled Josh with a fiery glare.

“Neither do I, Josh.”  Kim words smoldered.  “That’s why I’m here with Ron, instead of you.”

Josh’s eyes bulged, and even Tara looked surprised.

“You mean you’re...you’re on a...with him?” Josh demanded incredulously.

“That’s right, I’m on a date with Ron,” Kim mocked.  “Way to pick that up, Captain Obvious.”  Kim turned to Tara.  “I know you’re just taking Josh for a test drive,” she said kindly, “But I can tell you right now that you should take him back to the dealership.”  She turned back to Josh with a poisonous glare.  “He’s a lemon,” she finished sweetly.

Josh went white.  His mouth moved, but no words came out.  Finally he bent forward.  “You’re wasting your time, Stoppable,” Mankey hissed, his eyes fixed hatefully on Kim.  “She’s so uptight, you’ll never get past first base!”  With that, he whirled and stormed out of the restaurant.

“I am so sorry,” Tara began, a mortified look on her face.

“Don’t worry about it,” Kim said with a dismissive wave.  “I know it wasn’t your fault.”  Tara smiled gratefully, and went off in search of Josh.

Kim turned back to Ron, who was staring at her open mouthed.

“Well, that was interesting,” she commented, reaching for a burrito.

“I can’t believe Mankey did that,” Ron finally exclaimed in disbelief.

“Josh doesn’t like to hear the word ‘no’, I guess.”

“What do you mean?” Ron asked, puzzled.

Kim smiled grimly.  “Remember how I said Josh and I grew apart?”  Ron nodded.  “Well, it was more like he tried to get more familiar than I was comfortable with.  I mean, I liked him, but not that much,” she explained, gesturing at her breasts.

“He tried...”

“For second base,” Kim confirmed.  “I wouldn’t let him.”

Ron stared, dumbfounded.  He looked uncomfortable, so Kim decided to lighten the tone.  Or at least change the focus.

“You, on the other hand,” she teased, her eyes smoldering with a different sort of heat, “might not get to second on the first date, but there are always more dates.”  Ron suddenly looked like he was having trouble breathing.

“More bases, too,” Kim added with an impish smile.

Chapter Six: Contented

Ron ran his hand around the bottom of his popcorn bucket.  'Definitely empty,' he told himself.  'Jumbo popcorns just don't last as long as they used to.'  He eyed Kim's popcorn.  She had opted for a small, and was picking at it slowly.  Ron weighed taking some of it, and decided not to, hunger pangs or no.  Instead, he sipped his soda and turned his attention to the movie screen.  He scowled.  

'This movie sucks!' he thought.  'Whoever told Brad Pitt that he could act should be shot.'  Well, maybe that wasn't fair.  

'Pitt might have all the acting talent of a block of wood, but he's still better than  I would be.'  Ron sighed and leaned back in his seat.  He glanced at Kim.  Her eyes were focused on the screen, but seemed a little glassy.  

'Ah, Kim,' he mused.  He had to find a way to pay her back for that remark at Bueno Nacho.  

'More bases!'  Ron had thought his hormone glands were going to burst into flames from overwork when she'd said that, even if it had been half in fun.  Ron felt his blood heat as he remembered that it had been half serious, too.  He swallowed nervously.  

'I wonder if she'd mind if I put my arm around her?' he asked himself, then gave himself a mental jerk.  'Of course she wouldn't mind, dumb ass.  You did it at BN, even had your hand on her butt!'  He hadn't meant to, and removed it when he realized his offense, but Kim hadn't protested, frowned, done anything.  Except smile.  Ron's eyes widened, and he briefly allowed himself to wonder what else he might be able to touch.  He shook himself.  'Remember, this is your best friend.  She's not a sex toy.  Be respectful.'

Kim happened to turn her head just then, and Ron found himself staring into her eyes.  

"What?" she asked.

Ron blinked, fought down panic, gulped, and said,  "Ah, nothing!  I was just, ah," he was groping for something to say when inspiration struck.  "I was just feeling like I had to yawn," he said offhandedly.

Kim smiled and raised an eyebrow.  "Yawn, huh?"  Ron nodded eagerly.  "Well, if you do, I've heard that stretching helps," she offered.  Ron didn't move a muscle, but inside he was turning cartwheels.  Then he yawned theatrically, keeping his arms rigidly at his sides.  Afterward he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  "Hmmm.  That wasn't very satisfying," he declared solemnly.  He yawned again, stretching his arms wide.  He settled one over Kim's shoulders, and smiled.  "Ah, that's much better," he proclaimed.  Kim smiled and leaned against him, laying her head on his shoulder.  "I like it too," she murmured.

Kim sighed happily.  The movie might suck, but she hadn’t really been paying attention.  Brad Pitt was pretty enough to look at, she decided, but he had the personality of a dead fish.  She couldn’t understand what Jennifer Aniston saw in him.

‘He must be a lot warmer in person than he is on screen,’ she mused before banishing all thoughts of actors from her mind and focusing on more important matters, like luxuriating in her present circumstance.  Ron’s arm clasped her with a gentle possessiveness that both surprised and delighted her.  

‘Though,’ she chortled silently, ‘I shouldn’t be surprised that he ‘wants’ me.  After what I said at Bueno Nacho, he must be in hormone hell.’  Kim smiled to herself and snuggled a bit closer to Ron.  ‘I never thought any good would come of that time Ron and I switched bodies, but now I’m glad we did.’  

Thanks to Dr. Drakken, Kim knew from first hand experience what it was like to be a teenaged boy.  It had been enlightening and unnerving to feel how Ron’s body reacted to the mere sight of a pretty girl.  Any pretty girl.  Bonnie, Tara, Monique, even her own body.  That had been the ultimate weird, getting worked up thinking about herself.  She gazed up at Ron.  

‘I wonder if he felt the same way?’  He almost had to, she decided.  By unspoken agreement, they had never discussed their experience, which was good, since it meant Kim didn’t have to explain that she’d been unable to resist the temptation to take certain ‘ahem’ liberties.  She blushed.  She wasn’t positive, but was pretty sure Ron had as well.  

‘On the bright side, at least we know how it feels for a member of the opposite sex.’  She giggled, and Ron glanced down at her, his eyes questioning.  Kim smiled.

“Nothing,” she assured him.  “Just thinking happy thoughts.”  Ron relaxed, and Kim returned to her snuggling.  Then, Ron’s hand moved.  Just a bit.  Kim forced herself to stay relaxed.  Was he going to...?  She felt Ron’s thumb touch the edge of her breast and drift gently across it.  He was!  She smiled happily.  Somewhat to her disappointment the thumb didn’t hurry back, but there would, she was sure, be other times.

Chapter Seven: Agonized and Exstatic

They had bailed on the movie, which bothered Ron not bit, despite his being out the better part of forty dollars.  Kim had suggested the move, and Ron had reluctantly agreed, if only because leaving the theater necessitated an end to their snuggling.  Oh well.  Theater seats weren’t optimized for cuddling anyway, and Kim had won him over completely by proposing a trip to the old mill along the Middleton River, where they could have some privacy.  As he guided his scooter onto the grounds of the long abandoned mill he wrestled with emotions that were almost out of control, and so intense they were painful.  Wild exhilaration would give way to utter dread, which in turn yielded to prurient thoughts, followed by shame, followed by...well, too many emotions to think about, really.

“Who’d have thought you could be painfully curious?” he grumbled quietly.

“What’s that?” Kim’s voice sounded in his ear and he glanced back at her.

“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head.  “Just thinking out loud.”  She smiled and gave him a reassuring squeeze.  Wild exhilaration stepped to the front of the line again.

Ron let Kim guide them as they walked around the site.  She seemed to be looking for something in particular, but whether it was a place, or a thing, or something else all together, Ron had no idea what it might be.  So he contented himself with holding her hand (she had actually taken his hand when they got off the scooter, which had thrilled him to no end) and reacquainting himself with the area.  The old mill itself was just a shell, its roof partly fallen in, most of the windows broken out.  The once open areas around the building were choked with weeds and even small trees that had grown up in the years since the mill shut down for good.  The ruin was a well known, if dangerous, playground for kids, festooned with ‘Keep Out’ signs that were routinely ignored.  Held in even greater esteem was the mill pond.  A dam across the river had once provided power to the mill, and was the one thing on the grounds that was still looked after, the lake it created being a popular swimming hole.

It was deserted now, the slight chill of the approaching dusk apparently too much for any swimmer’s liking.  That was fine with Ron.  He found that he was looking forward to some quiet time alone with his friend.

“Ah, there it is!” Kim exclaimed.  Ron followed her gaze and nodded in approval.  She was taking him to The Chair.  Ron didn’t know what it actually was, or what it had been used for.  What he did know was that everyone referred to the boxy concrete structure as ‘the chair’ because of its vague resemblance to an easy chair.  It was a popular spot among teenagers because it was closed off on three sides, offering shelter from wind and prying eyes, but open to the west, allowing the afternoon sun to warm anyone sitting in it and giving a nice view of the pond as well.

When they were seated Ron turned to Kim and eyed her speculatively.

“Well,” he said, “I’m guessing that you didn’t bring me to one of Middleton’s most popular make-out spots to talk about the weather.”  Kim blushed brightly.  She was awfully cute when she blushed, Ron noted with a smile.  It was a smile Kim shyly returned.

“You’re right about that,” she confirmed, sending a rapturous thrill through him.  Then her expression became apologetic.  “But before we do, I want to say I’m sorry.”  Her eyes began to glisten.

“For what?” Ron asked gently.

“For not seeing your good qualities for what they are.  For treating you like a pest.  For all the times I was mean to you when I should have been nice,” her voice was quavering, and tears started to spill down her cheeks.  “But mostly,” she choked, “I’m sorry I’m so afraid to...to...face how...how I feel about you!” she blurted, beginning to sob.

Afraid.  Ron’s mind whirled, and time seemed to slow to a crawl.  He stared at Kim, who was looking at him with pleading eyes.  He had never seen her afraid, ever, and here she was, utterly terrified.  And he knew.  She had let down ALL of her defenses.  He, Ron Stoppable, was now emotionally closer to the essential Kim Possible than any other person had ever been allowed to get.  The implications of that act of perfect trust staggered him.  And he understood.

“I know exactly how you feel,” he said, so softly he wasn’t sure she’d hear him.  But she did.  She blinked her tears away.

“You do?” she whispered, the barest hint of hope in her voice.  Ron nodded once, slowly.

“If you accept how you feel it’ll change everything.  Every aspect of the rest of your entire life, for good or ill.  It’s like you’re standing on a precipice.  At the bottom is something either wonderful, or terrible, and the only way to find out which is to jump.”  Gratitude replaced the pleading, and Ron stared at her in wonder.  Kim was a tough, strong, fearless woman.  Only rarely did even hints of the scared little girl aspect of her personality show through that exterior, and now he had been allowed to see all of it, all of the frightened child who was asking for help to take the final plunge.

Ron took Kim’s hand and squeezed it.  His expression must have warned her that he was about to do something crazy, because she drew back and tensed up a bit.  She might even have guessed what it was, as fresh rivers of tears began pouring from her eyes.

‘Time for the Fool to do what he does best,’ Ron exalted.  ‘Rush in where the Angel fears to tread!’  He took a deep breath, and jumped.

“I love you, Kim.”

She jerked violently, and a tearing sob escaped her throat.

“I love you, Kim,” he repeated, trying to pour all of his own suddenly clear emotions into the words.

Kim bawled like a baby, red faced from lack of breath, tears cascading endlessly from tightly shut eyes.  She looked like she was in agony, and Ron was wracked with sympathy pains.  He tried again, comfortingly, reassuringly, affirmingly.

“I love you, Kim.”

The sobs eased a bit, and Kim opened her eyes.  They were red and puffy, and her nose was running, and before Ron could notice any more details her arms were around him in a crushing embrace and fresh storms of weeping were tearing through her.  He held her, gently, letting the tears run their course.  

They stopped, and there was silence.  Ron heard and felt Kim sniff, wipe her face and swallow.  Then she said it.

“I love you, Ron.”  The words were heavy with fear and shame and dread.  Ron said nothing, did no more than move his head next to hers.  It must have been enough.  Her death grip eased.  Kim inhaled deeply, breathed out slowly.  And said it again.

“I love you, Ron.”  He heard the relief in her voice, felt the tension melt out of her.  She drew back and looked him in the eye.  The pain, the fear, all of that was gone.  Effervescent excitement had taken it’s place.  She smiled, delightedly.

“I love you, Ron!” she proclaimed, as if it was the most amazing thing in the whole world.  Ron couldn’t help but grin.   

Kim looked at Ron, her face going playfully serious.  “I love you, Ron,” was delivered from beneath demurely lowered eyelashes.  It was a request Ron understood perfectly, and was perfectly happy to fulfill.

He kissed her.

Kim sighed happily.  Overhead, the night sky was speckled with stars, while around them a slight breeze stirred the leaves of the trees.  A cricket chirped in the distance, while under everything ran the quiet voice of the river.  It was, she decided, a perfect evening, and a perfect end to a perfect day.  Even the chill of the night air was perfect.  After all, Ron’s arms were keeping her warm enough. Kim shifted slightly.  She was leaning back against Ron’s chest, her head resting on his shoulder while his arms gently circled her midsection.  The arms tightened ever so slightly as she moved, relaxing when she stopped.  Kim grinned happily.  Ron hadn’t let go of her once since It had happened.  It.  That wonderfully cathartic moment when she’d confronted her ultimate fear and, with Ron’s help, leapt into the abyss.

‘I really shouldn’t think of commitment as an abyss,’ she chided herself.  Commitment.  She had been mortally afraid of it, at least on a subconscious level, and now she knew why, could admit why.  Commitment meant growing up.  Meant admitting that she wouldn’t be a teenage superhero forever.  It meant accepting that she would be a mother, someday.  And ultimately, it meant admitting that she was going to die.  That part wasn’t a pleasant thing to think about, so she didn’t linger on it, but not lingering wasn’t the same as denying.

Kim shook herself slightly, decided to change the subject, and looked up at Ron.  Ron.  Plain, awkward, goofy, fashion-challenged Ron.  How he managed to be all of that, and still be the most beautiful man Kim had ever seen was a mystery she was in no hurry to solve.  He looked down at her.  

“Everything all right?” he asked.

“Fine,” she assured him.  He grinned slightly.  

“I thought you might be getting cold,” he said.

Kim affected a thoughtful expression, then gave a playful shrug.  “Maybe a little,” she said, “But I’m sure a kiss would warm me up.”  Ron’s grin widened, and he complied with the suggestion.

Bliss.

They had lingered in The Chair for hours, kissing, talking, and kissing some more.  Ron was a wonderful kisser.  Good with his hands, too.  Kim grinned briefly at the thought before returning to her smooching.  Ron hadn’t actually done that much feeling, but what there was had been gentle and respectful, unlike Josh’s ham fisted gropes.

Kim broke the kiss and lay back, still gazing up at Ron.  He looked a little sad, and pouted at her, just a bit.  Kim just smiled.  “I love you,” she mouthed silently.  Ron smiled back, then returned to gazing out at the night.

Kim closed her eyes and thought about sex.  Sex with Ron.  The idea of the two of them naked in the same bed was so strange that it was funny.  Thankfully it wasn’t laugh-out-loud funny, like it had been the first time she’d considered it.  She hadn’t really thought about it before It had happened, and even in the few hours since, it had gotten easier to imagine, but it was still going to take time for her to get her head around it.  Ron had been a bit disappointed, of course, but he had graciously offered to wait until Kim was ready, even expressing a few qualms of his own.  “We need to get comfortable with our new circumstance,” he’d observed sagely.

It would happen though.  Maybe sooner, maybe later, but it would happen.  They would just have to find a place where they could enjoy each other without worrying about being interrupted, and Kim knew it would be wonderful.  Maybe not perfect, not the first time out of the gate.  They’d have to practice, she was sure.  A lot.  And learning would definitely be ALL the fun.  She giggled.

She opened her eyes and found Ron gazing down at her, a questioning look on his face.

“Just working on getting my head around it,” she said archly, giggling again as Ron went scarlet.

“Very funny,” he reproved, but he was smiling when he said it.

Chapter Eight: Playful

Kim was at her locker early Monday morning, as usual.  she was putting her book bag in order for her morning classes when Monique sauntered up, a self-satisfied grin on her face.

"Morning, Kim," she smirked.  "I hear you and Ron went on a date Friday night," she added archly.

"Yes, we did," Kim answered matter-of-factly, not raising her head.

"That's it?" Monique demanded.  Kim looked up.

"That's what?" she asked.  Monique frowned disappointedly.

"Nothing happened?  No sparks flew?" she inquired.

"Were some supposed to?" Kim asked levelly.  Monique shrugged in embarrassment.

“Well, I thought maybe, with the crush and all, you know.”

“Monique, let it lie.  Ron and I talked things out, and I’m over my crush on him.”

Monique’s face went downcast.  “Oh,” she mumbled.

At that moment Felix rolled up, a smug grin on his face.  He opened his mouth to speak, then caught sight of Monique’s expression.  His face fell.  He looked from Kim to Monique and back.

“You did go on the date, didn’t you?” Felix asked.  “I mean, Josh said he saw the two of you at Bueno Nacho making goo-goo eyes at each other.”

“Josh said that?” Kim asked, her voice cool.

“Yes,” Felix confirmed.  “And, by the way, he said he’s going to apologize for his behavior, to both of you, as soon as he sees each of you.”

“He is?” Kim asked, a bit surprised.

“Yeah.  I think Tara may be partly behind it, but Josh isn’t like that usually, and he seemed to really regret it.  He didn’t say much to me though, so you’ll just have to see, I guess.”

“Well, if Josh can be man enough to apologize, I guess I can be woman enough to accept it,” Kim allowed.  Then she gave her friends an accusing look.

“You two were in cahoots, trying to set Ron and I up, weren’t you?”  Felix looked away.  Monique blushed.  

Ron walked up and eyed the trio.  “Morning guys,” he said, nodding at Felix and Monique.  “Hey, K.P.”  He took a closer look at Monique and Felix.  “What’s up with you two?  You guys look the world ended or something,” he observed.

“They were trying to set us up,” Kim supplied, crossing her arms to glower at the gloomy looking duo.

“Playing matchmaker, eh?” Ron jibed.

Felix put on a brave face.  “Yeah,” he confessed.  “I guess our little scheme didn’t work, though.”

That was too much.  Kim couldn’t resist any longer, and she doubted Ron could either.  She got proof when his face split in a dazzling grin.  “Oh, it worked all right,” he assured Felix triumphantly, and then, to demonstrate how well, he turned, swept Kim into his arms, and kissed her.

Kim felt like she was melting.  It had taken all of her willpower to keep a straight face and restrain herself from jumping into Ron’s arms the moment she’d laid eyes on him.  To make up for that she pressed herself against Ron with enthusiastic abandon, not caring if the whole world saw what she was doing.  His passion made it easy to forget, and even though Kim preferred his gentle kisses, she found herself enjoying this one immensely.  Not the least, she giggled, because of the effect it was sure to be having on their target audience.  Kim broke the kiss and looked up into Ron’s eyes.  He twitched his eyebrows in a silent, amused question.  Kim shot him a slight, dimpled smile, then turned to Felix and Monique and said, “Gotcha!”

Ron waved his hands over Monique and Felix.  ‘Dance, my little marionettes, dance,” he mocked playfully.  Kim giggled beside him as the four friends relaxed in the park behind Middleton High after school.  It was their first chance to really talk.

“So you two are dating now?” Monique asked, after fixing Ron with an amused glare.

“Monique,” Kim said, shaking her head, “Ron and I have been dating for years without even knowing it.  We are so past that stage of our relationship.”

“You’re going steady then?”

Kim glanced at Ron, who cleared his throat and said, “Well, let’s put it this way.  I’m saving my money for a ring.”

Monique’s squeal of joy was offset by Felix’s dubious look.  “Aren’t you moving a little fast?” he asked.

“We’re not officially engaged, Felix,” Kim explained.  She smiled at Ron.  “That can wait a bit.  And we’re in no hurry to get married, either.”  Ron nodded.

“We’ve discussed it,” he confessed, “and right now we’re leaning toward waiting until we’re in college, or maybe after.”

Monique giggled wickedly.  “Ok,” she taunted, “but what about?”  She made a gesture with her hands, and Kim and Ron went scarlet.

“Monique!” Kim protested.  “We’re waiting for that, too.”  Monique looked a little disappointed.   

“Hey, it doesn’t all fall into place at once,” Ron said.  “It’s such a big change from our normal way of thinking about each other that, well, we need time to get used to it.”

“I still can’t believe you played us like that,” Felix grumbled to change the subject.  Kim snorted.

“What we did to you is nothing compared to what we did to my brothers.”

“Oh, this sounds good,” Monique exclaimed.  “Spill!”

Ron grinned.  “Well, I got Kim home ahead of curfew, so we lingered on the porch, you know ‘saying goodnight’” he made quote gestures with his fingers.

“Playing tonsil hockey, you mean,” Monique shot back.  

“Hey,” Kim said, “We had to try Frenching sooner or later.  Anyway, after a bit the tweebs opened the front door.  I don’t know what they expected, but I’ll never forget their reaction.”

Ron mimicked what had happened:  “Augh!  Eeew! Gross!  Auigh!”

“I think they ran upstairs and hid under their beds,” Kim finished.  “Although,” she added gently, “since then they’ve been really sweet about it all.  I think what they were doing before was trying, in their own annoying twelve-year-old way, to get me to give Ron a chance.”  Kim turned her eyes to Ron, who leaned in and kissed her.  The two never noticed Felix take Monique’s hand.