{[ Italics = inner thoughts/daydreams/flashbacks ]}

Chapter 5

"Kiss Me Fool"

After a wonderful dinner, Vicki and Ron decided to drive around for a while before heading back.  They did have thirty minutes to kill.

"That sure was some great food!" Vicki smiled, letting out a contented sigh.

"Sorry I almost got us kicked out. I kind of have trouble controlling myself around such choice eats," he apologized.

"Nah, it's cool. I talked them into letting us stay, didn't I?" she glanced over at him, turning the wheel to get onto the next street. "I've got an idea!" she said, pulling up next to a deserted children's playground.

"What're we stopping here for?" he asked, a puzzled look on his face.

"Get in touch with our inner child!" she laughed, hopping out of the car and running out onto the playground.  He followed, not entirely sure as to what sparked her childlike impulse.

She ran over to the jungle gym, climbing up on top of it and then bending back so she was hanging down by her legs.

            "Having fun, I see," he smiled, taking a backwards seat on one of the wobbly plastic horses.

            "You too," she said, flipping over and handing gracefully on her feet.

            "Whoa! That was amazing! You should try-out for the cheer squad!" he suggested.

She ignored him, walking over towards the small merry-go-round and down.  She held onto the bars on either side of her, looking back at Ron.

            "Was it something I said?" he walked over to her, sitting down beside her.  She still didn't answer.  "You O.K., Vick?" he continued to inquire.

            "I don't get along with cheerleaders," she said, almost under her breath.

            "Huh?"

            "I don't like cheerleaders!" she said again, still quiet but with an angrier tone.

            "But why?" he couldn't understand.

She kicked at the sand, sending the merry-go-round at a slow spin.

            "Well, my real mom was a cheerleader. For the Dallas Cowboys, and–" she was interrupted briefly by an impressed whistle from Ron, but he quieted immediately and let her continue. "– She basically hated me."

            "Come on. How could anybody hate someone like you?" he said, dumbfounded by the very thought.  She looked at him, a weak smile upon her face.  Both were blushing slightly.

"She just always nasty to me. Always criticizing everything I did, good or bad, and just making me feel the worst about myself," she explained, Ron listening intently. "My dad divorced her and remarried to Janice, who is more of mother than Tammy ever way. I haven't seen her since I was ten. But since then, every cheerleader I meet seems to treat me like dirt.  Like when I came to Middleton High for the first time… the whole cheer lot regard me as some kind of animal, a wretched one that they couldn't help but torment. That Kim girl even giggled at their jokes.  She looked like she didn't enjoy it, but she still took a fraction of pleasure at my expense."

"Kim's not like that! Really, she's a nice person. You've just got to give her a chance and get to know her! She definitely not like the rest of those girls," he came to Kim's defense.

"Whatever you say," she heaved a saddened sigh, making to stand up.  He reached out a hand, taking hers and pulling her back to her seat. "Yeah, I'm sorry.  Sorry I was dissing your friend, and for dumping all problems on a sweet guy like you. You don't need my burden," she said, looking right into his eyes.  She knew he must feeling a little creeped, her ruby eyes boring into him like this.  But he didn't look weirded out.

"And you definitely don't deserve to be treated like dirt or an animal. You're an awesome girl," he smiled warmly, sending a friendly tickle down her spine.

"Let's go, Ron," she smiled in return, leading him back to the car.

            Vicki walked Ron up to his front door, both pausing as they stood under the light of the porch's hanging lamp.

            "Thanks for the grub, V.B.  Totally booyah!" he congratulated her.  She giggled, putting a hand up to her mouth.

            "Glad you had fun," she said.

The two stared at one another for a moment, neither of them saying a word.  She then leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

            "Later, skater," she waved, hopping down the steps and bounding back to the car.  She got inside, waving again as she drove off.

Ron waved after her, his other hand on his cheek where she'd kissed him.

            Well… that was a first, he thought, his fingers fumbling as he reached back to open the door.

            Once she got home, Vicki went straight up to her room.  As soon as she opened her bedroom door, the wristwatch on her dresser began beeping and blinking.  She picked it up and pressed a button on the side, a small screen flipping open and displaying an image.

            "Ah, Victoria, such a pleasure to see you again."

            "Cut to the chase, Monkey Fist. What is it you want?" she asked, not in the mood for his pleasantries.

            "If you wish, Ms. Baxter.  I require the ruby you stole last night," he said.

            "I can be there soon.  I just need to make another delivery for another client before you."

            "The treasure is worth waiting for.  Just make it quick, won't you."

            "Aye, aye," she nodded.

The communicator shut off, then she strapped it on her wrist.  She then walked into her closet and changed clothes once again.  This time, into an all black outfit which resembled a ninja-like suit.

            "It's going to be another long night," she mumbled under the mask, going to the window then jumping out it for meet her other 'client'.