Chapter Three
Hell Month
Tutor Time and Spider-Scare
Author's Note:
For the record I AM one of these shrieky panicky arachnophobic types.
Prowl had let him know that she had been followed and had sent an image of the stranger. It might not be a Decepticon but that didn't mean the human was any less dangerous. He would have to sift through some criminal archives and see if he could find a visual match.
Ratchet was scowling and tapping his foot on the floor impatiently. She cringed a little as he pointed to his room.
"Callista you DO have a curfew and it's a school night!"
There were times to argue with the grouchy medic and times you didn't. Callista decided that this was a fine time to practice her cringe and nod routine.
"I know Ratch." She said meekly.
"Not only were you way over your curfew, but no one knew where in the Pit you two were! You didn't call or text or anything and then I find out from Prowl that you got some human stalking you! I'm sure I don't need to tell you what coulda happened?" Worry sharpened his tone and made his spark tighten, he didn't want to think about those possibilities.
She nodded, then cringed as he whipped out her report card.
"And what is this?"
D plus in math. Better then she thought. Kinda.
"We-hey! I mean-it's a lot better then…an F…right?"
Apparently this was the wrong thing to say.
"No and because of your irresponsibility and your bad grade your grounded, no videogames, no TV until you get that D plus up to a C! Not a C minus Cali a C!"
"Maaan! C'mon Ratch, look I'm trying I really am but I suck when it comes to math! It's like-like some kinda freaky mental block! I look at this crap and it's like everything I learned just goes flying right outta my head."
"Well you and Prowl will have plenty of time to get that crap back in your head." He said sweetly.
She hung her backpack on the doorknob and started heading towards the bathroom when she looked back and called.
"Ratch?"
"Mm."
"I'm sorry I worried you."
He smiled.
"Night."
"Night kiddo."
Ratchet took a few minutes to sink down on his berth. It had always bothered him that he didn't have enough time with her as he'd like, they both knew he was a busy mech, but he sometimes wondered if she ever felt like he was neglecting her a little. She had that little under-the-table job at the local horse stable and he'd never really gotten to see what she did there. Maybe this weekend, he could leave the med bay under First Aid's capable servos and go spend some time with his girl.
Cali flopped onto the bed and glanced at the photo of her and her favorite horse Marimba. She could use a nice looong trail ride right about now.
While Callista had been at school, Prowl verified the graffiti story and gotten information about the man from the shop owners.
At present he was trying to explain algebra and being met with the ever familiar stare of mute frustration, optics slightly glazed and leg doing a million-mile jig. He would look at the problem she'd finished and make her do it over, trying to make her explain her thought process. Her pencil began that rapid-fire tapping on her notebook.
He didn't mind helping her, but he really didn't understand why she had such a difficult time understanding something so simple and her jigging leg made him want to ask Ratchet about seeing if she had a glitch with her central nervous system.
Taptaptaptaptap
"Callista please…that is distracting."
She ran her hand through her hair. Problem eleven. Frag! She needed a break. But Prowl taking a break without Jazz making him do it was as likely as Megatron turning into a peace-loving hippy overnight.
She snickered at the mental image of the Decepticon leader in a tie dye t-shirt, holding a sign that said Make Love Not War. She wondered if she could bribe Sunstreaker into bringing that particular image to life.
"Callista focus. You are making this unnecessarily harder then it should be."
By the time they were nearly done it was almost supper time.
"Screw it!" She muttered under her breath. "We need a break."
As if on cue, Jazz stuck his head through the door.
"You two look like you could use a little refuel."
Perfect timing Jazz.
"Just gimme a sec!"
She gave the SIC a smug grin before dashing off to the small kitchen, popped in a hot pocket and dashed out when it was done.
"I could use some fresh air."
"Are you having problems breathing?" Prowl asked peering closely at her.
"What? No. It means…lets go outside."
Prowl had always had a harder time understanding Earth slang and expressions then the others.
"Didn't Ratchet say those were unhealthy?" He asked.
She said something he didn't understand because her mouth was full mouth.
"What was that?"
She swallowed.
"I said, it's a lean pocket. Broccoli, chicken, whole grain. It's healthy-ish."
Jazz laughed at that.
She sniffed as a twilight breeze blew against her, taking delight in the October chill.
"Feels good huh?" You should get our more often, you miss all the little things that make life worth living."
"Like what?"
"Like a sunset or sunrise, just sitting down and listening to the birds."
"You sound like Hound." Jazz grinned.
She leaned against a tree and looked up. She blinked…was that…
Sitting there, partially camouflaged with the bark was a huge, horrible leggy spider inches from her face.
She let out a blood curdling screech
"Oh my Gods! Oh my Gods! Oh my Gods! Get it away!"
In her panicky flailing she knocked it off the tree making it half fall/half scuttle down the back of her hoodie as she let out another explosive shriek.
Clothes came flying off and screaming gave way to unintelligible cursing, the hoodie was the first to go, followed by her shirt.
The Autobots were more or less used to her deep seated fear of arachnids.
"That sounds like Callista. The Decepticons must be attacking!" Red Alert said fretfully.
Ratchet listened for a moment.
"No…that's just-Slaggit sit back down Red! That's her spider scream, she'll be alright."
"But-"
"Red." He growled.
Red and yellow rushed past.
"Where are you two going?" Ratchet called, rubbing at his face plates.
"Those two slag-heads are gonna make it worse."
"Oh my Gods! Is it on me? Is it on me? Get it the fuck off! GET IT OFF NOW!"
"Ok, hold still." Jazz tried to see.
"Stop! I can't get it if you keep mov-it's gone! No! That's your hair!"
"Is that our dear Callista making all that racket?" Sides asked, snickering.
"I believe it is Brother. I'd know that spider shriek a mile away." Sunstreaker leaned forward a smirk on his lips.
"Hey Cali! What's that on your leg?" Sides asked pointing. His face plates set in an expression of revulsion.
She slapped hard at her leg and saw the spider climbing out from her discarded t-shirt.
"Kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!" She shot off like an automatic weapon.
So saying she ran and jumped for the nearest bot's servos. She didn't care whose. Sideswipe fumbled and nearly dropped her, laughing hysterically.
"Hey if we do a little editing we could send it to Ridiculousness. Or at least put it up on youtube." He put her down.
"Don't you dare!" She snarled, cheeks turning bright red with embarrassment when she realized she was in her bra.
The twins took off as she ran after them, spitting out curses in both English and Cybertronian.
Jazz let out the grin he'd been holding back and picked up her clothes. "I don't think you'll be getting your student back tonight Prowler."
Prowl was nothing if not determined. He went back in, made her get dressed and sat her back down to her lessons.