The other species says that they praise our culture for being able to live so long, but what they don't realize is the consequences that come with a near-immortal life. And though I could be the only one, I praise the smaller beings for the sheer amount of passion they can put into that one, small, all-too-short life they contain.

A/N: Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the story. Movie-verse. I don't own anything except any OCs you may/may not see. No pairings as of yet.

So yes, hopefully this story helps me overcome the writer's block I'm currently wrestling with. The 3rd chap of 'I Can't Pretend To Know How You Feel' is almost done and the 2nd of 'A Different Kind Of Hurting' is slowly, but dutifully, coming along.

Additional Summary: It amazes the Autobots how much one life can drastically change so many others.

Warnings: OC INPUT, unbeta-ed.

Prologue

Routine.

A customary or regular course of procedure.

And by God, did I ever worship it.

Get up, get dressed, eat, go to school, go home, eat, read, then sleep. Afterwards, the whole cycle starts over again when my alarm clock shrieks at me to wake in the morning.

Really, life is better that way is it not? No surprises means life is more enjoyable. There's no risk of getting hurt. No risks! It's never boring. I thrive on the fact that I can enjoy life without ever having to worry. No anxiety, no suspense.

Just peace.

Now when people ask me about myself, of course I tell them just what I'd explained moments before. Afterwards, they stare at me with a look that's too close to pity for my liking. I would brush it off with a shrug and walk away, however. Let them think what they want - it's not like I can make them see the world differently. It's impossible.

And not a part of my routine.

Now don't get me wrong. I usually am never an uptight person or ever quick to anger. It's unnecessary to feel that way most occasions. There is, though, just that one, little, tiny nuisance in my life that puts a dent into my routine, and therefore brings me to the brink of the tight reign I rule over my emotions. And more than once I've had to break my air-tight, foolproof routine just to accommodate it. What is it you ask?

My rule-breaking, trouble-causing, too-mischievous-for-her-own-good, so-called "best-friend" as she puts it. How did I end up with her as a companion? Simple.

She made me be.

And in the most inconspicuous way possible! Not that I'm complaining at all, actually. However, that's not the point! She used her weird mind-manipulating tricks on me in that way I have never, and I mean never, EVER, been able to outmaneuver.

I swear the girl's going to be the death of me.

And right now... I find that perhaps the above statement could be quite literal depending on my next move.

Looking up, I felt myself trembling slightly in a mix of both fear and exhaustion as the ground quaked with the force of the monster-robot's foreboding stomps towards us. My hands searched blindly for my companion's hand and finding it, I squeezed it in some twisted hope that she'd be able to get us out of this mess.

"M-Mikaela...?" Was that really my voice? So small and terrified?

A snarl. "By God, just RUN!"

And so we did.

It was earlier that day, somewhere mid-afternoon, when I took the bus to that small Tranquility high school to accompany Mikaela home after a long day with no success. I attended the same school as her, and the only reason I hadn't been at said school today was because I was looking for a job to help pay my rent where I live - the school was surprisingly understanding.

She and I had the same bus route, and she usually took favor to riding home with me instead of her newly acquired boyfriend, Trent. Really, I tell her that the boy's not good for her. And naturally, like the close friend she is, she ignores me.

I watched the trees and sidewalks roll past me as the bus drove on - light green leaves sparkling and gleaming on thick branches as the sun shone down on all life outside, unforgiving rays reaching towards Earth playfully.

I sighed as children on skateboards passed us, my eyelids half-closed. It seemed like it was taking forever to reach my stop. Perhaps, this could be a good time to tell you somewhat more about myself.

My name is Nicole Santos. Nice to meet you. Nationality? Proud Filipino. A light brown colour graces my eyes and dark-colours weave throughout my elbow-length hair. I have glasses that tend to sit on the edge of my nose instead of in front of my eyes where I want them. Personally, throughout school, I blend in with the 'outcast' crowd. I can't say I'm spontaneous or have any talent in anyway, but I make it by just fine. Nobody tends to notice me really, which I'm quite happy about.

In other news, It had been extremely hard moving here because it put such a large hole in my routinely schedule. And you're probably wondering why I'd take such a risk and go to a place so far away from the Philippines. Well, gather what you've learned about me so far, and think.

I moved to a place called 'Tranquility.'

Yes, the place has lived up to it's name for the couple years I've lived here. Many times I doubted myself, but I've got to say - meeting Mikaela was one of the best things that's ever happened to me in my still-too-short life.

How old am I you wonder? Well, how old is Mikaela? Okay, now multiply that with one. There you go!

Yes, I know. I'm slightly young to be living on my own so far away from my family, aren't I? Well, let me tell you. I do not live alone. I live with my 5-year old dog Bambi - breed of the loyal german shepherd, mind you. And the landlady that owns my apartment has been my official guardian since the beginning, and she is quite nice as well.

Now enough about me and back to what has happened so far in the years I've lived here.

I met Mikaela the second year I moved here - turns out that she's only a block away from where I had moved. First time I saw her I didn't scowl or envy her looks, but then again I didn't discriminate her and call her a whore either. I think that everybody is only how they are for a reason - and I knew there was something hiding behind Mikaela's fluttering eyelids and smooth smiles. So that one day we bumped into each other at the school washroom, there really was no turning back.

At first I'd froze, as did she. We stared at each other for a total of 10 seconds before I'd tried to duck out of there quickly and into the comforting masses of the school corridors.

"Wait!" She had called and I found myself instantly following her command, turning around and standing at attention, rigid with fear. Why? Well, the prettiest girl of the school was talking to me and despite not believing all those stereotypes about the 'popular' kids, I wasn't going to take any chances. School causes too much stress I tell you.

She stared at me with a raised eyebrow before bending at the waist and picking up a frighteningly familiar blue-and-white object. Damn it, I dropped my cellphone! Giving me an uninterested stare, she said in almost complete deadpan while holding it out, "You dropped this."

I slowly took it, avoiding touching her hand with my own hesitantly, and probably too reluctant for her liking.

"You know, it's not like I'm going to bite." She sighed, gathering the wavy hair scattered over her shoulders and tossing it to flow over her back. Her expression spoke of recognition - I take it she's been in this situation before.

I nodded dumbly, still staring as embarrassment forced itself out onto my face and into my expression. I gave her a sheepish smile before stammering, "Oh, uh- thanks."

Mikaela tilted her head, a hand coming to rest on her hip. "'Welcome."

There was a pregnant pause, I fidgeted awkwardly, pushing my black-rimmed glasses higher onto the bridge of my nose. I could tell that the atmosphere portrayed that there was much more that should be said.

My counterpart cleared her throat, leaning against the counters holding the sinks somewhat - dare I say - awkwardly. Her gaze floated back towards me, and I found myself somewhat intimidated.

"Look," Mikaela started, "I know that out there, there are many, many, many stereotypes about the prettiest or sexiest girl in high school. Sluts they call them, whores they call them. Well you know what?" Her eyes shone brighter than what I could believe was natural, and she hopped onto the counter now, sitting contently. "I, for one, am going to put a stop to that." Smiling, completely exposing her pearly whites, she held out a hand.

I stared at it reluctantly.

A frown marred her features. "I know this is totally out of character for someone of my position in the whole 'status quo' thing, but..." Another deafening pause. "Let's be friends."

Really now? All of a sudden the queen of the school wanted to befriend a commoner in her kingdom just to ease the wild rumours about herself? Uhm, no thank you.

Her hand lowered as I didn't move a single muscle - except for the occasional twitch here or there.

Then she said, "I'm not doing this for my reputation." Right... "I'll have you know that I'm not as bad as people say." Uh-huh...

She sighed, "Well, would you at least give me a week to prove myself?"

I searched her face with my own mixed expression. She seemed genuinely hopeful and those dark pools of sparkling brown eyes of hers expressed it clearly.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I gave in. And for the first time in awhile, I opened myself up to another. I wasn't completely trusting, however. But in due time I felt as if we could be close.

I held out my own hand for her to shake, and she did so heartily and happily.

"I'm Mikaela Banes, which I'm sure you somewhat already know." She grinned cheekily, something I hardly saw her ever do so sincerely out in public.

I tightened my grasp on her hand. "Pleasure to meet you. My name's Nicole Santos."

And everything just fell into place from there.

Yes, nothing like reminiscing on a bus as you wait for your next stop. I just really hope the guy sleeping next to me doesn't start to drool.

All of a sudden, the bus came to an abrupt stop that had me reeling, scrambling for purchase on the seat I sat on. I yelped as my backpack was ripped from my grasp, sliding against the smooth bus floor before it bumped into the bus driver's foot.

I sighed exasperatedly, wobbly standing from my seat to the front of the bus. On my way, I cursed myself for never noticing the child's evil smirk as he extended his leg. I also cursed myself for falling for it.

Face, meet dirty bus floor.

I picked myself up, shooting a particular nasty look and hand gesture towards the child who tripped me before crawling to the front. My slightly-too-long jeans scuffed against the ground, but I didn't care. Grabbing the bag, I stood and dusted off invisible dirt from my t-shirt. I then readjusted my glasses.

Sighing, I turned to go back to my seat...

...only to realized I had missed my stop.

I threw my hands in the air and growled in aggravation - startling a woman next to me. I turned swiftly towards the driver just as he drove over a pothole, jarring myself slightly.

"This is my stop!"

The man merely grunted, tipped his hat, and parked near a sidewalk. I gave him a curt 'thank-you' before walking off the bus.

...But not before someone kicked me from behind, causing me to fall face-first into the sidewalk with a shriek.

This was not my day.

I scowled. Apparently the brat from before had friends.

It was sometime later when Mikaela and I finally were on a, fortunately, different bus towards our neighbourhood.

She had seen my disheveled look as I approached her as school came to an end, my glasses slanted (yet amazingly not broken or scratched) and hair mussed up, and she had ran towards me, asking profusively if I was alright. I brushed her off with a noncommittal shrug and tired smile before going to sit on a bench just somewhere afar from her.

I looked at her and caught the apologetic smile she sent my way for half a second. I nodded.

She was with her 'crowd' again. Trent and his peeps were insisting she go home with him in his new blue truck thing. I never really was interested in vehicles so I could care less, though. I felt bad for the poor girl, however. Externally, Mikaela was smiling and brushing Trent off with a kiss and wink, but I could see the sure signs of her irritation...that's never good.

I sighed, letting my head loll back onto the head of the bench. I ripped my gaze from the 'populars' in favor of watching the empty street, seemingly scorching and fluctuating randomly under the sun.

An explosion of yellow flashed as an old car with black stripes raced passed the school, the vehicle gunning it's engine as it took off past a corner into the abyss. My eyes widened comically as I swore I heard metal squealing against metal. Imagining the sparks flying and paint scratched made me wince. A car accident?

I was surprised by my racing heart, surely it's unnatural for such a reaction to be caused merely from an accident. I was about to get up and go see what happened when Mikaela grabbed my arm.

"Nikki?"

I looked up at her with the same quivering eyes from before. Thankfully, years of practice helped me regain my composure.

I sighed, standing. "Come on 'Kaela, let's go before Bambi starts to get fussy again. She's been wanting to see you for awhile."

She merely grinned at me before we headed off.

Never did I realize actually how much that 'car crash,' yellow vehicle, and suspicious police car innocently parked in front of the school would ever be...

My precious routine was broken.

...

If it's the last night in these streets

You'd be a fool to take a seat

You got one life, one life

Don't stop; live it up

Oh woah, One Life

-Hedley; One Life-

Want to see a continuation? Tell me in a review! Hope you enjoyed reading this!~

Yeah, there was little dialogue, but I felt as if just for the prologue it would be fine because of the POV.

Constructive criticism welcomed heartily. Flames will be dealt with by Wheeljack's new invention, granted that it doesn't blow up first.