Author's Corner
I feel like an absolute prick for updating HDYD? quickly and avoiding all my other stories, but I'm working on removing this writer's block so let's skip the dilly-dallying and move on. Thanks to MagicMysticMojo for adding this little piece to her favorites list! I'm glad you liked it.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the OCs.
Warning: Again, I repeat, this is not the typical "Sam has a cousin!" fanfic. I am a sucker for family and character development. Transformers is kind of crack. I do not update often. This most likely will be somewhat crack. There will be references to other fandoms because Sam is a teenage boy who does not have that many friends. Read at your own risk.
How Do You Do?
By Freydris
Sam's Stalker List
Lita does not like being called Carlita, or worse yet, Carly.
(Their neighbor's son learns the hard way.)
Part One
Samuel Witwicky does not fool himself even though he often makes a fool out of himself. He knows he is unpopular—a pure loser, if you will—and he won't say otherwise though he will definitely attempt to prove otherwise.
He knows he cannot draw, but he draws anyway.
"Sam!" His mother calls from the kitchen, and the boy jerks in surprise, slipping half-way out of his seat. Awkwardly flailing for balance, Sam straightens himself with some difficulty and rubs his stinging behind. "What is it, Mom?" He shouts back, keeping some choice swear words to himself. There is a long, unattractive line slanting across his work, and he tosses his pen away, cursing his clumsiness.
"Mojo needs a walk!" Judy yells, and there is a loud noise of the pan scraping against the stove with the slick of raw meat and sizzling.
As if sensing that he is the topic of the conversation, the smooth-coat Chihuahua begins to bark from his penthouse, rattling the links of his leash as he attempts to escape.
Typical, Sam thinks as he rolls his eyes and complains under his breath, but he pushes himself to stand. His arms and legs feel like lead, all but taken care of during the summer break, and honestly, he doesn't really feel like walking his pet chihuahua through the neighborhood. The embarrassment and bullying would double shall anyone catch sight of him.
Be stealthy as a ninja then, Sam tells himself. He grunts as he finally rises from his seat. Sweeping his gaze critically at his non-existent leg muscles, he sighs and stretches his fingers, "This is as much strain as you guys can get." He tells them as he lumbers out of his room, stumbling into knobs and furniture (and apologizing to them) along the way.
By the time he reaches downstairs, he is black and blue, and hurting all over. His father, Ronald, barely flicks an eyelash from the newspaper, but greets him with a hoarse voice, "Son." He inclines his head, raising his mug of steaming coffee in salutation.
"Goku." Sam replies with a regal nod of his own, and for a split second, the two share identical grins.
Judy snorts at the two from her spot in the kitchen and flips the browning meat. "Sam, dear, why don't you take Lita with you?" She starts off-handedly, waving her spatula for emphasis. In her mind, Sam realizes, it must sound like a good idea.
Everything is simple in the thoughts of his mother. There is no filter, no pauses; it is her stream of consciousness making itself known. She does not rethink her words or even hesitate to ponder them over.
Sam tenses at the suggestion, predicting the awkwardness that will occur and probably intensify should Judy get her way. From the dining area, Lita shrieks in surprise, and it echoes around the whole house.
"Sorry about that, please, ignore me!" She hollers a moment later, crippling the surprised silence, "I dropped the pitcher. Managed to catch in the last second, fortunately." She explains.
Judy frowns and gives her son a look, "Well, the two of you need to bond." She says casually, "She is your cousin after all." She points out.
"There's no need, actually." Lita inserts herself into conversation fluidly, and Sam has to marvel on her amazing ability to seem so normal. The young woman offers Judy a glass of water as a peace offering. "Sam and I are fine just the way we are." She assures his mother, smiling prettily.
"And...?" Judy prompts, accepting the glass gratefully. She raises an auburn eyebrow, and Sam swears that he gets his stubbornness from his mother. She doesn't know when to stop!
Lita laughs lightly, "Perceptive, I see." Obstinate, more like it. "I'm actually afraid of dogs." She admits shyly, and after a second, she adds with a somewhat sheepish expression, "Scratch that. Of all animals, really."
Sam finds himself laughing, because honestly, who would be scared of Mojo? Mojo is a tiny dog. A tiny Chihuhahua. Which is an impressive feat of tiny. "Mojo isn't all that scary." He says after he finishes laughing, not at all bothered by her offended look. "He's actually really prissy, with his girly jewelry." He guffaws.
His mother gives him a glare, "It's bling, Sam, not jewelry." She corrects with a wrinkle of her nose, ignoring the roll of his eyes and his muttered "whatever". Judy then turns to Lita, who watches the two of them like they are a particularly interesting tennis match, "See, dear? Mojo isn't dangerous at all. My brave Sam will protect you."
For the first time since his cousin arrived a week ago, Sam witnesses Lita do something close to being rude. The woman rolls her eyes good-naturedly and gives him a once-over, smiling skeptically, "Oh?" She asks faintly.
They are cousins, after all, Sam thinks to himself, so he only hesitates for a split second before he flexes his non-existent muscles.
Lita breaks out into a broad grin, and unseen by her, Judy sends him an approving smile. Sam smiles back lazily and sharply gestures for the dark-haired girl to follow him into Mojo's penthouse.
Author's Corner
There we go! The Sam-Lita friendship is starting, yay!
Since this is pre-movie, I will warn you guys, events will change. Lita's an influence on Sam, so he will begin to adopt some different habits. I have a half-a-mind to make this slightly AU, beginning from the first movie. After all, things don't just remain the same when you wrench another person into the story. Ripples will form.
Please leave a review, tell me what you guys think!
