Shego began showing up in places other than the news, she seemed determined to take advantage of her celebrity status while she could. The first television ads for Skimpole's Gyms featured Shego talking with Harold Skimpole about the need to get back in shape after having a baby, and how she joined to lose weight. The reality, of course, was that she would be paid a nice amount for her ads, and a new one was taped every week to show what was possible as Skimpole's Gyms. The increased membership at Skimpole's would more than pay the money for her endorsement.
By picking her appearances and endorsements carefully she tried to cultivate the image of a fundamentally decent person who had fallen upon hard times and wanted to work her way back to respectability.
Kim's notoriety grew in proportion to Shego's media exposure to a point where her parents asked her to move out.
“You're throwing me out?” she asked in amazement when they brought up the subject.
“We're not throwing you out. We're renting an apartment for you to stay in until the trial and some of the media attention is over. We're tired of tour buses parked outside waiting for you to get home,” her mother explained.
“And you're welcome to come home any time you want for supper,” her father added. “Just, uh, wait until after dark and use the back door, please. We love you Kimmie, but life has gotten too weird here since Catherine was born. I think you'll admit that.”
Life certainly had gotten strange. Her parents bought any magazines they could find with articles on their granddaughter and were working on their second scrapbook.
Jim and Tim objected to Kim moving out for the duration. They made good money selling souvenirs and interviews to the paparazzi who camped out across the street and saw a valuable source of revenue drying up if Kim left.
Kim's bags were loaded into the car while it was parked in the driveway, and she was very publicly driven to the other side of town. Kim's move didn't constitute ‘news’ however and only a few friends and the reporters who no longer watched her house were aware of the change.
A few short months ago her own apartment would have seemed exciting to her. Now it was simply lonely. Monique and most of the girls she knew were forbidden from visiting by their parents. Kim could still see them in public places, like the mall, but she always drew such a crowd her that many of her acquaintances avoided her. Ron's parents had faith in her, and he would have been allowed to visit anytime he wanted, but he had left town soon after she got out of jail, on some family business in Norway.
Shego engaged in a desperate struggle with herself to avoid calling Kim. She wasn't even entirely clear why she wanted to call the redhead. Sometimes she wanted to gloat. Sometimes she wanted to tell Kim about what Catherine had done that day. Most of the time she just wanted to hear the sound of the other's voice.
Finally, on a night when sleep evaded her completely, Shego lost the struggle and called Kim's cell phone. It wasn't picked up immediately and Shego considered hanging up; finally a half awake voice mumbled, “Hello?”
“Kim, is that you?”
“Huh, who is… Shego?” Kim looked over at the clock, two in the morning.
“Yeah, sorry princess… I, ah, couldn't sleep. Too busy thinking about you.”
“And if you couldn't sleep you saw no reason to let me sleep right? Besides, I'm not allowed to talk to you.”
“The court said you couldn't call me. There is no restriction on my calling you. But if it's a bad time that's okay. I said I'm sorry.”
“No, that's okay. I was awake anyway. I had to answer the phone.”
Shego chuckled, “I like you half-asleep - you're silly. Is it okay to talk with you for a minute? Will we wake up your parents?”
“Oh, don't worry about that. I made a bad play in baseball.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, I got thrown out at home.”
“Seriously?”
“Well, I don't know how serious it is. Paparazzi had camped out in front of the house. Mom and Dad wanted some privacy and rented this place for me.”
“But they love you so much… That just doesn't make sense.”
“I blame a woman with pale green skin for my… Well, it's my fault too.”
“I really am sorry. Maybe I should just let you sleep.”
“No, it seems like there are whole days when I don't talk with anybody. I'm glad to have someone who'll talk with me -- even you. You may be the only one willing to talk with me these days -- you and the reporters. And I sure don't want to talk with them. Wait, is this some new trap?”
“No trap, I just wanted to talk… Will you talk with me?”
“I guess so… Damn it, Shego, what do you want?” There was silence on the line, finally Kim repeated her question, “What do you want?”
Shego answered softly, “I want you pumpkin. You're all I've wanted for years. Being with you always makes me feel alive. God, if I could be with you now I'd show you how much I want you…” There was another long pause before she took a deep breath and continued timidly, “Can I tell you what I'd do?""Sure,” Kim murmured.
“I lean over to you, and say ‘thanks for letting me talk with you’. Our lips brush ever so lightly; you aren't sure if it was a kiss or an accident. Was that okay?”
“I, uh, guess so.”
“Well, you didn't push me away. I give you a soft kiss.”
“I'm…”
Shego took hesitation for invitation and plunged recklessly ahead, “I'm holding you now, kissing you hard. Do you like it?”
“Ummm,” Kim responded.
“I open my lips, my tongue is licking your lips. Will you let it in your mouth?”
“I guess…”
“God, I love the taste of your mouth--”
“I'm putting my tongue in your mouth.”
“That's the spirit. While our tongues are exploring my fingers are finding the buttons on your pajamas. You don't even notice what I'm doing, because it feels like I'm trying to suck your tongue out by the roots.
“I'm putting an arm around you,” Kim told the pale woman. “My hand is sliding down your back to your ass. I was watching your commercial with the elliptical trainer. God, your ass looked hot. You're getting back in shape fast.”
“Ohh, compliments will get you anywhere,” Shego told her, “you're making me wet. Am I making you wet? I want to check. You wearing pajama bottoms?”
“Yes.”
“What kind? Drawstring? Elastic? What?”
“Drawstring.”
“I'm pulling the knot undone. I'm reaching down inside your pajama bottoms. Be my fingers, Kim, reach down.”
“Ohh, yeah,” Kim moaned.
“Not so fast, Princess,” Shego warned her. “I'm going to tease you for a little while. Spread your legs just a little for me… A little more… That's right, now gently run your fingers around your inner thighs. While I'm doing that my lips have moved down from your lips to your throat. I slowly lick my way up your throat, from collarbone to chin. You're still just circling with that hand in your pajama bottoms, right?”
“Ummm, right.”
“Good girl. I wish I was really in bed with you. My mouth is on the middle of your throat, sucking, I put my palm down on your crotch… Not too hard, I'm sort of rubbing in a small circle and moving my hand up and down… Are you doing that for me?”
“You're driving me crazy.”
“Good… Oh, my middle finger just slipped into your slit. I think I'll see how wet you are while I'm there… Hmmm, how far back can I slide it?”
“OOOH!”
“That far, huh? Feel good, Princess?”
“Feels wonderful…” Kim was breathing more heavily.
“Keep your finger there in my place for just a minute,” Shego told her. “Work it in and out, not too hard and not too fast. We're going to be in bed for a little while. And while my finger is working in and out I'm starting to kiss my way down your body. Oh, looks like I left a bruise on your neck… I'll try and be more careful next time. I'm kissing and licking my way down between your breasts. I love your, tight, hard stomach. My tongue is circling your navel, oops can't help myself -- I gently nip you on your tummy.”
“I moan and grab your head,” Kim gasped. “Please, please what's next?”
“I'm working my way down your stomach now. I pull my finger out as my tongue traces its way around your pussy.” She could hear Kim panting over the phone. “I'm putting my thumbs on either side of your lips and I'm spreading you open. I'm looking for your… Oh, there it is. I'm putting my lips together and blowing a little stream of air on you. Rub it very, very gently if you want.”
Kim gasped as she touched herself.
“God, Kim, you're wonderful. I don't know what to do next. Maybe I'll just flick my tongue across your button a time or two to hear you moan.” The small moan from Kim sounded completely genuine. “Or maybe I'll just massage it for awhile with my warm, wet tongue… Drinking in the taste of you while your fingers are tangled in my hair, pulling me down into you.”
Kim was whimpering now.
“Oh, you showed me how you wanted it in China… I'll… I'll… You dumped me Kim!”
The phone in her hand went dead and the dial tone started buzzing as Kim stared at the phone in amazement. “She sure knows how to kill the mood.”
In her own apartment Shego stared at the phone in her hand, she hated herself. Kim had tried to play nice with her. For the very first time Kim had tried to play nice with her, and the memory of how Kim had hurt her killed it. She felt like her own worst enemy; she'd let her own anger and frustration hurt her as much as Kim's rejection. Shego put down the phone and picked up the remote. Her tears were not going to let her get to sleep.