Author's Notes!

Hey there!

Quick update, i know. Shocking, right? :) Since I have finished half of the gargantuan final chapter, I decided to rest up a bit from that by writing the other chapters. As promised, I will finish that by next week (like I haven't broken any promises of my update schedule, right? *wink*) and so, I decided to expand this series further. Out of all the active stories in my list, I enjoyed writing this them most. That's why you're seeing many updates on this one. Do take note that I am on my vacation mode that's why I am here. I don't know what my next project is, but I will say sorry in advance if I suddenly went out of this site.

Anyways, that's for the future. Now, enjoy this fresh, piping-hot new chapter of...

"A Badger And A Sloth"
by: kmtdiccion

Chapter 4

The Naco.

Truly, this is the pinnacle of human gastronomy in his chocolate eyes. With the perfect harmony of ground beef, cheese, green pepper, onions, and corn chips all inside a large pita bread, this is a piece of heaven on earth. Thousands of years of advancement in the field of cuisine has lead to this moment right in front of him. Happily gobbling up his very invention that catapulted the Tex-Mex food chain into the forerunners in the business world, Ron let out a sigh of satisfaction "This is the life, Rufus! Naco, what would my life be without you?"

Rufus let out a thumbs up, signifying his approval before digging back to his own miniature food, while the girl in front of him chuckled with an amused expression adorning her face. Though not as much as a food fanatic like him, Amelia shares his sentiments when it comes to the little things in life. Eating a forkful of her own salad, she watch the blonde rave on and on about 'man's ambrosia in Tex-Mex form' and 'the final form of food evolution'

"Honestly, Naco Boy," Shaking her head with a smile tugging her lips, Amelia stops him mid-rant and said "Your love for that fatty food never ceases to amaze me."

Ron just grinned and retorted "It's not like you're the one to talk. If I remember, you ate a box full of croquettes in one sitting." Amelia just laughed heartily while swallowing another forkful. The air between them has drastically lightened since earlier. The gloom from the lack of his best friend, and the irritation from her countless stubborn suitors vanished when the two started talking to each other. Amelia and Ron hadn't talked so much ever since he helped her find her new place, but that didn't matter to them.

"So," Drinking from her cup, she heard Ron changing the subject and started "You know Prom's coming up, right? What do you think of it? I bet there's so many who wanted to be your babelicious date. I heard you're going with Matthew. Dude's a total jerk, you know."

Amelia stared at him for a moment before breaking out into a grin. Finally, someone understood what she's thinking about the brute. She nodded and said "I know, right? He's been totally a jerk to me, thinking he owns everything in school, including me. He's still persistent into getting me as his date, saying how he will make it 'magical' and 'a night I will remember for a lifetime'. I mean, gosh, how many times do I have to say that I don't want you?" Amelia let out another grunt when she remembers his smug face, thinking that he will eventually get her.

Ron just lightly laughed and rubbed her hands, much to the brunette's shock and eventual pleasure "There, there. I mean, I may not like the guy so much, but who could blame him? I mean, you are one badical girl in your own right. You're high on the Food Chain, pretty, and also smart to boot. You're one of the key figures for the newspaper club, and most of all, you're kind, despite what others say." Her blush continues to deepen with every good trait Ron has mentioned. She got numerous compliments from boys who tried to be her boyfriend, and she their ulterior motives all the time. But when she listened to him unknowingly giving notice to not only her looks, but also her personality and talents, she could feel no hidden intention underneath.

He is sincere in his words. Ron saw her something more than a trophy girl.

"R-Really? You think I'm badical?" Playing with her hair, the brunette averted her eyes, not sure if she could take seeing his earnest brown eyes which would always shine in gladness. She can't even understand herself anymore. How could one of the 'frosty queens' of Middleton be reduced into a stuttering mess, by Ron, no less? The girl had been used to the deceit and lies that permeate the elite social circle, and yet one sincere compliment managed to stop her brain from working.

Ron smiled and retorted without any trace of malice "Well, duh! Anyone would be blind if they didn't fall for someone like you." He took a bite on his Naco and let out a sigh of bliss from the flavor, not really noticing her heated face. Amelia swore the AC went down, because right now she's feeling a bit hot. If anyone from school sees her state, her image would be shattered. She felt her spine tingled when she thought about her friends in the newspaper club. If anyone from there saw how big of a mess she is right now, she knew she will be a laughing stock. She could already see the headlines, printed in big bold letters, about how much of a blusher she is.

"Gosh! Get your head in the game, Amelia! You can't let them see you like this." Amelia mentally slapped herself to get back into her normal form. Going back to reality, the brunette saw the boy, who just finished his food, with a satisfied grin on his face. She then throw the question back at him and asked "And how about you? What is the Ron-man's plans for prom? As far as I remember, you do have a list of girls you would usually ask, right?"

"Yeah, I still have it." Ron's goofy smile widened and answered "The playa' is a generous man, so I still give them a chance to be with the Rondo. Although they still turn me down for reasons I still don't know. Hmm, maybe I'd eventually go with Kim, assuming she didn't get any date lined up for her."

Amelia just laughed and soothed the boy when she saw his perplexed face "Don't be so down. You may never know, this would be your year. It's like what they always say, the third time's the charm!" The blonde eyed the girl, who just grinned at him, and let out a chuckle. Ron remembered a certain event where he said those words, a rather embarrassing memory which includes his clothes and a grappling hook. He quickly shook his head and told her with determination slowly entering his voice.

"That's right. The Mad Dog can't afford to be down. The Mad Dog comes when the Mad Dog wants to play!"

The girl giggled and finished her salad quickly. Putting the utensils on top of the plate, she then said "Hey, Ron. Thanks for the time. I really enjoyed talking to you. It's been a while, you know? I need to go home so I can finish my homework." She didn't want to, but she still have priorities to attend to, and her free time is almost up. Amelia expected his smile to diminish, but Ron just smiled, not bearing any sadness, and just answered "Sure thing, CL. I need to be home anyways, since Rufus here is quite sleepy."

Ron pointed at the naked mole rat, who is peacefully snoring like a baby with a satisfied smile on his face. Amelia giggled and nodded. The two reached for their bags and went towards the door. Ron opened it and said with his goofy tone "Shall we, milady?"

Amelia mock bowed and the two exited the Tex-Mex restaurant merrily, feeling a lot better than when the two arrived.

The cellular phone.

One thing humans have over the rest of the living species on earth is our flexible way of communicating. Ever since the dawn of man, the manner of relaying information between two people has been an integral part of civilization. And the phone her brunette friend is holding is a testament to how far communication has gone. The days of lined telegraphs is over because now, people can message and call each other thru radio waves. And she sometimes wonder what would the future hold when this form of connecting becomes obsolete.

But no matter what she tries, all thoughts of existentialism can't unhinge her from her train of thought regarding one certain freckled teen boy. While Bonnie is busy sending messages to other social elites, Tara continues to walk, her brows furrowing in contemplation. The two were supposed to go home, but since the sun's still up and Bonnie didn't want to be home since her sisters were still there, the two took a scenic route at the park. With Bonnie chatting with someone on her phone, the platinum blonde silently followed her.

"What is Amelia's endgame? Why is she close to Ron?" Tara thought.

The sight of the unlikely pair didn't leave her mind. The way the brunette acted with the boy looked like as if they've knew each other for quite a while, which should be impossible in her point of view simply because she couldn't remember a time where the frosty queen of Middleton interacted kindly to the boy. The cheerleader hid her thoughts, however, when she heard the cheer co-captain spoke.

"Hey, T. I'll be with Marcella at the mall. She wanted something new to wear for a frat party at Brick's tomorrow. You wanna come?"

Shaking her head, Tara responded "No thanks, B. I need to write down my notes for the test on Algebra. And... you know, I still don't feel like talking to guys at the moment." If Bonnie paid any attention to class, she would soon realize that the exam is a good week away, so there's no need for her to rush. Tara was scared that Bonnie might have caught her lie when she stopped for a bit.

"It's alright, T." Bonnie hugged her and whispered "I'll tell you all the deets of the party later. Take care, girl." With a friendly peck on her cheek, Bonnie proceeded to exit the park and went towards her new commitment, leaving the girl alone with her thoughts in mind. Tara didn't mind being with herself, and so she continued walking. She still has a lot on her plate right now, and some nice quiet 'me time' can do good things for her. Aside from her slight concern for Ron, her break-up is still fresh in her mind. There were no shouting match that happened. No flashes of anger or cries for vengeance or hatred. But, that day, Tara wished that happened because the silence the permeated their final talk cuts her more.

The suddenness was kind of a shock to her, but deep down she had half-expected it. Tara knew what his parents think of her and she fully understood if Josh has been forced to do that. But the pain, the one she tried to brave, is simply too much for her. And to see his desolate face when he reached into his bitter decision totally didn't helped her either. As it is right now, they didn't know what to do, but the one thing they badly wanted is far out of their hands.

Tara cursed herself as she could feel the tears threatening to pour from her eyes. "Get it together, Tara! You just need to get home quickly. Just hold it in there." She started to run, trying so hard to hold it in despite her mind bombarded by flashbacks from her time with him. She thought that her actions right now were not normal, and many people may look at her weirdly, but she didn't care. She didn't want to break down in the middle of a public place.

"Just wait a bit longer and I'll-"

"Tara, is that you?" A familiar voice called behind her, stopping her from running. She knew who the owner of the voice calling her was, but she really didn't want him to see her in this state. Furiously rubbing her eyes with her arms while not giving any response. She needed some time before she could face anyone, but fate must not have heard her, for she felt a rather large hand gently holding her shoulder. With her hands still covering her face, the boy continued "Hey, T, what happened? Why are you crying?"

"Ron, it's nothing, really. Don't mind me." Tara tried to make her voice as cheerful as possible, but she knew he didn't bought it. Feeling his arms slinking around her, she felt the boy do something she didn't expect him to do in the slightest. She could feel his warm body enveloping her, and it made her relax a bit. Tara is being hugged by Ron, and it is something she didn't get quite often. In fact, this is the first time they interacted in a physical manner.

With a rub on her back, Ron then said "Do you feel better now? I hope you can calm down now. It hurts to see you cry, you know?"

Tara removed her hands and saw the concerned face of the one she once had a crush to. This is the first time since the Middleton Fair they interacted, and if it had been her past self in this moment, she would've squeal in joy and kiss him on the spot. It is quite funny that when her mind settled down, she understood how precious Ron is, even at a friendly level. Although he is full of quirks that is distinguishable as simply 'Ronnish', his intentions is always honest. Not once he had done anything to truly hurt someone intentionally. And the hug he's given, she knew there was nothing more to it as something he would do to a friend.

"T-Thank you, Ron. I just don't feel good right now." Tara said while Ron broke the hug and listened to her.

"Really? Well, me and CL right here were just going home right now. If you want, you could join us. Right, CL?" Ron smiled and pointed at the girl behind him, and Tara saw her neutral expression on her face. the blonde girl couldn't read her emotions since she guarded it very well, but she could swear she's slightly observing her. Deciding to not say anything, she waved her hand to the brunette, which made the girl to wave back and gave a small smile.

Walking with the two, Tara learned something new. When they tried to prod on her reason for crying, she answered it was something too painful for her to talk about. They didn't asked anything else, which she is grateful for. Ron would ask for more, but a stern glare from the brunette made him stop. From that point, she began to wonder the intricacies of their friendship. For the first time, she has a front row seat on how the two really talked to one another when they are alone.

"And I told you, The Skunkeye from 'The Dark Ferret Glides' is actually the man the Fearless Ferret saved from the Gothic City Ball in the series. The writer even hinted on the tail in the fourteenth episode." Amelia said. The two had been in the middle of a discussion on who is the best written villain in the 'Fearless Ferret' universe. To be frank, Tara may have dabbled on them, but the level they are talking about is more than she knew about. "The narrative of Skunkeye's descent to madness all because of a small error on the Ferret's side is a masterpiece, and that's why I think he's the best."

Shaking his head, Ron retorted "Come on, everyone knew the Comedian is the best villain there is. You don't need a sob story to make a character stand out. After all, it was him that the Fearless Ferret was almost put into the brink of death in the finale episode of season two. And of course, he's always on top of the polls on forums, you know?"

"Being the most popular doesn't mean the best. We know the most memorable point in the series is the sudden reveal of Skunkeye's identity. It is what made the series being known as 'critically acclaimed'. There's no competition." Amelia shot back.

"Well, there's only one way to settle this." Ron grinned and pointed at the blonde girl who was listening to them. Tara's eyes went wide when she saw the two expectant eyes gazing at her. With a hand on her shoulder, Ron asked her "Tara, you know the Fearless Ferret, right?" With a nod from her, Ron continued "Tell us, who do you think is the better villain? Is it The Comedian or is it the Skunkeye?"

Amelia gleamed and added her two cents "Yeah, pray tell us."

Tara stared at the two people who were expecting her answer. She would've given her answer, if it not for the competitive aura the two are now radiating. It is almost as if the two were waging a battle about their preferred character, and the blonde cheerleader is right in the middle of the crossfire. If she went with one answer, the other would be wounded, and vice versa. She didn't know who to pick when an idea struck her. Although the two characters they mentioned were good, she was a bit impartial to the more recent villain, although she knew many people disliked. With that in mind, she gave her safest answer. "Actually, I'm a bit impartial to the Twins, Kin and Gin from the latest reboot."

The two teens stared at her as if she's grown a second head, before exclaiming "Seriously?!"

Tara laughed lightly at their flabbergasted faces and explained "Yeah, they were kinda like the Berry and Mandy King duo, but they're more independent, and less crazy. They were pretty straight-forward, but they didn't necessarily be in the white or black category. They were simply mercenary for hire. They don't do just because they're good or evil, but because it's just their job. It was also with them that the Ferret realized his problem with painting the world with only black and white when they saved him from Comedian's plot."

"Hmm... She does have a point, Naco Boy." Amelia smirked after pondering her reason. Although she didn't like how the two replaced the original duo, she rather enjoyed the complexity they give to the main character's motives and how he sees the world. Seeing the grumpy look from Ron since he didn't won the argument, she continued "Oh, don't be a sour loser. At least we now know that we have another closet Ferret fan here in the form of a beautiful blonde cheerleader. Tara, I never knew you watch it."

Said girl blushed when the light in Ron's mind blinked and realized the implications of what Amelia said "Yeah, T. I never knew you watch the Fearless Ferret. You were even following our discussion! That's so badical. I never knew a cheerleader would watch it."

"I-I don't watch it like you do. I just dabbled on it." Tara tried to explain herself, but words wouldn't form on her mouth. With her uncontrollable blush, the two teens laughed and started teasing the poor girl. Although she's a tad bit embarrassed, a brief glimpse of their talk made her realize something. What Ron and Amelia have is not fake. There were no ulterior moves or manipulation on Amelia's part, and she's very glad that was the case. She even learned something new about her with her hidden love for hero TV shows and movies. The air of casualness made it easy for them to talk, which surprised the girl.

Walking with the two teens who are now talking about the a crossover of Ferret and Bricks of Fury, Tara just smiled and quietly observed the two. She knew that Ron is still in great hands, and was quite happy that he found someone else other than Kim Possible to talk to. But that's not the only thing she saw. With a particular gleam in her eyes, Tara saw the way her eyes twinkle in delight whenever they are throwing back with teases, or how her cheeks are eternally in a light blush.

"It looks like... Ron has smitten another one. Let's see how this one goes."

A/N's: Yeah, this is really fun. I really like writing this story, so I hope you two can feel the joy I am currently feeling. Please. leave a review if you want to say something, and don't forget to put this in you favorite or following lists. As always, thank you for reading this one.

'Til next time!
-kmtdiccion :)