Chapter 4: Occursus

(Latin: meeting, falling in, running into each other)

AN: I not own Cheerios. And this be the chapter you've all been waiting for…sort of…yeah, not really. But Sides plays a major role!

My alarm clock went off, and I smacked it off with my right hand. Jace had set it for me to go off at six in the morning. I sat up a little, and winced as pain shot up my arms. My left arm was slowly regaining mobility, but each inch hurt like hell.

I was seeing a physiotherapist for mobility and flexibility, but right now, she said something about nerves re-growing and causing pain. I pulled the arm across my torso, feeling the pull of fresh skin on my back stretch and twist with the movement. Pain lanced up my flesh like a blowtorch, and I gasped softly, eyes wincing shut.

I'd been home for a week now. Today, I was going to go to school for the first time since the accident (or attack). If I was completely honest, I was terrified. Funny, how little things could be so scary. But it was the idea of not seeing, of not knowing where I was going, and no one helping me.

Before the attack, school was no big deal, a regular thing that every kid did. My parents had said that I didn't need to go, but Liam had been hinting, more and more heavily, that I should go back. And I was starting to want to go back.

School was the perfect place to go back and work on being blind and dealing with everyday life. Teachers would be around, and people might help me out. On the other hand, some of the girls were really nasty, and I could only imagine some of the things the creepier boys would do. I was essentially helpless.

Liam had said that he'd help me out as much as he could. Then again, he was notorious for getting carried away in school, and forgetting social things – I'd had to call him numerous times before to come and meet me someplace.

I had also called the school, and let them know that I was coming. The secretary had told me to come to the office, and that they'd have one of the new TA's help me out for the day. I needed to do this – I needed to face the fears I now had about school.

I yawned, and stretched my arms above my head, then winced. The left definitely didn't go up as high, and it hurt a lot more.

My face felt funny, and pain was racing up my arms. I lifted my right hand, and rubbed my face lightly with my fingertips – the crying I had done the night before had left my eyes slightly swollen this morning. It was almost standard for me to cry every night once everyone else was in bed.

The psychologist had told me that it was normal, and that I was merely letting out my inner emotions about what had happened. Well, having perfectly healthy emotions sucked.

I hated crying every night, but it would be even worse if I managed to let my parents know about it, or Jace. I didn't want to seem like a crybaby. I was strong, I could deal with it on my own. So what if I cried at night? No one needed to know.

I swiped at my bedside table, feeling the little bottle of pain meds. It was the only one on my bedside table for safety's sake. I wasn't able to tell the identical bottles apart, so Mom had placed only the pain medication there. I opened the lid, carefully using my left hand, something that had taken me a little bit to do with the child-safe lids, and took two of the medications without water. Swallowing them down, I patted my eyes, and then swung my legs out of bed.

For now, my room was pretty easy to mobilize in. I had all my clothes stacked in the drawers, but no idea what order they were in.

Mom had been letting me know in the morning if what I had on matched. Thankfully, before the incident, I had been a t-shirt and jeans type of girl, so now it was really easy to get dressed. Pretty much none of my shirts were the type to not match with a good pair of blue or black jeans.

I ambled into the bathroom, and turned on the shower. It took a while to get that particular skill nailed – I had suffered a few smacks to the head, or hands, or legs, but once I got the hang of it, it was okay. The doctors had said that the burns were healed enough that a shower would be alright, but not a bath yet.

Once I was done, after combing my wet hair and tucking it all into a ponytail, I moved down the steps, into the kitchen, and felt through the cupboards until I came across a bowl, a spoon, and a box of cereal. Slipping my fingers into the cereal, I immediately knew that it was Cheerios.

That was alright. I poured some into the bowl, careful to actually hit the bowl. The first time, I had missed by at least six inches, and poured a whole bunch all over the floor.

I moved over to the fridge, and froze. "Good morning, Jace?"

No one answered. I could feel something watching me, and had been able to at intermittent points during the last week. At first, I thought it to be Jace, but now, I wasn't so sure. Whenever I cried, it felt like I was being watched more intently, and sometimes it seemed illogical that it would be one of my family members.

Like now – Jace wouldn't be awake yet, Mom would be sleeping, and Dad should be gone by now. Really, it was amazing how early Dad left – since the incident, I would wake up whenever he moved around, and then I tried to fall back asleep, only to wait for my alarm to go off.

I liked the early mornings. They were peaceful, quiet, and I had time to myself, to just exist. Life seemed to be much more solitary, like I was the only one who was even alive on the planet.

This morning was a little different. I felt that watching presence again, much stronger.

A car engine rumbled across the street, and I idly listened to it, liking the heavy and rich rumble of the engine. My dad would be upset about the noise – he liked a quiet neighbourhood.

I liked it though – it seemed like a symbol of power, grace, and strength. Which was what I lacked now.

Slipping my fingers into my hoodie, I leaned back against the step, and waited. I wasn't sure how long I sat out there, but after a while, Mom came out, and placed something in my lap.

"This is your lunch for today."

"Thanks – what is it?" I was grateful to her, I'd completely forgotten about food for lunch, and it wasn't like Liam would be leaving the school to get anything. That was a close one.

"A chicken sandwich, with tomato, ranch, lettuce and some cucumbers on the side."

Hmmm, Mom must be on one of her health kicks again – she went through diets like my teachers handed out assignments.

I smiled up at where I guessed her to be. "That sounds yummy, thanks Mom."

The car across the street's engine revved heavily, and it made me think that the person in the car was impatient with whoever they were waiting for. Although, I might be too, if I had been waiting as long as this car had – it had been sitting there since I came out.

She touched the top of my head, patting it with her hand. I could feel her concern and anxiety, as well as her hope that all would go well today.

I reached up with my right hand, and placed my slightly chilled fingers on top of her warm ones, pulling them down the side of my face, cradling my face into her hand.

"I'll be okay, Mom, really."

I heard her swallow. "I know you will sweetheart, but I'm your mom, I'm supposed to worry."

She sat down beside me, pulling me into her. Something clicked in my left shoulder, and pain washed up my arm. The drugs had started working, but sudden movements would still cause pain.

"I'll be fine Mom, I have to do this."

"I understand, but if at any point, you need to come home, just call. I'll be home all day, alright?"

I heard Liam's car pull up, and Mom kissed me on the cheek.

"Love you Mom. I think that Liam's giving me a ride home, but he has Science Club, so I might be home a little later."

The incident had caused me to be so thankful of my family; they were such a great support system.

I stood, fumbling with my fingers to find the zipper, place the lunch inside, and shut it. Moving down the sidewalk, I kept my feet to the concrete, and slipped my pack on to my back. Liam lightly touched my arm, leading me to his car. I smiled in his direction.

He opened the door for me, and took my backpack. My cheeks felt hot, and I was grateful that he had to walk around the car to get in, giving me time to control my face. It was difficult, but I managed, I hoped.

"So, thanks again for giving me a ride, Liam, I really appreciate it."

"If I had not wanted to, I would not have offered."

"True, but I still appreciate it, really."

"After school is over, I have Science Club; will you wait or do you have another ride planned?"

"Um, if you're still okay with it at the end of the day, a ride would be great."

He must have nodded, realized I couldn't see, and then made an agreeing noise. I fiddled my fingers in my lap, and sighed once.

"Do not be nervous, you will have ample assistance."

"You know, Liam, I really appreciate the help here, but you suck at comforting a girl." I changed the subject. "How's Pig been lately?"

A world-weary sigh. "Alexandra, you continue to pester me about her every single time we meet. Thus, I shall inform you that she is not all I thought she would be, and my affections are no longer placed upon her."

I could only gape in his direction, cursing my lack of vision. Was he putting me on? He had to be – he'd liked her for over a year, and now, all of a sudden, he doesn't? What happened in this past week?

"What…are you putting me on in learning how to joke, Liam?" I had a teasing tone to my voice, even though I was really confused.

"No, Alexandra, I spoke the truth. I do not harbour any affection for Rebecca Williams at all." His voice was flat, bored.

"That's really….harsh, Liam, what happened?" I was concerned for my friend, he seemed sort of off to me.

"As I informed you previously, I do not consider her to be worth my time."

My eyes widened in shock. That was not what he said before, that was even worse. Had she dissed physics or something?

"Not worth your time? Liam, you barely know her!" I was getting angry at him – this was taking it too far! He was starting to act like a world-class jerk, honestly. Not worth his time? How degrading.

"Are you standing up for her? How unlike you, Alexandra." The degrading tone of his voice cut into me.

Hot tears of anger and humiliation touched my eyes, but I swallowed them back. My hormones were running wild lately, even the slightest of insults, and I'd be off crying a river. But even if I wasn't hormonally influenced, that might have been enough to sting. "You're being a jerk, Liam, stop it."

"Jerk? That's the best you can come up with?" His voice was still completely calm and modulated. My brain shifted into arguing-with-Liam mode. It was important to use complete sentences, and impressive words. If I used slang or simple words, I would only fall prey to what he was saying. I wasn't going to lose to him.

My fists clenched as I shook in anger. "You know what? I can do this without you – I don't need your begrudged assistance."

Condescension rained down on me. "Hmmm. Begrudged. Excellent word choice, Alexandra."

Breathing through my anger, I spoke quietly. "Liam, what has gotten into you? You are acting like a first-rate cad."

"Cad, another interesting word, although perhaps not as…poignant as begrudged."

One more deep breath. "Liam, I have had just about enough of this. What in tarnation is bothering you?"

I could almost taste the condescending tone of his words. "There is nothing bothering me, Alexandra."

"If there is nothing bothering you, then you are behaving like an ass for your own amusement, which I will not sanction, nor will I let you degrade me with your words. Once we get to school, I shall remove myself from you until you apologize. I also shall find my own ride home tonight."

We were quiet the rest of the way to school, other than when Liam turned on some light jazz music, indicating that he didn't want to talk. I was fine with that; I didn't really want to talk either.

Arms crossed against my chest, I stared out the window, or where I thought the window to be.

After a few more minutes, we pulled into school, and I hopped out of the car, feeling around in the back for my pack.

I grabbed it, and then moved towards the back of the car. This was sort of difficult – I thought that Liam had driven in the west side of the school, but he might have come in from the north entrance. I took a breath, held it, and started walking.

Tires squealed from directly in front of me, and I tensed. The loud blare of a horn assaulted my ears, as did the warm blast of air hitting my body. I exhaled, and waved a hand.

"Sorry!" I called out.

"You idiot! Watch where you're going!"

The words stung. I moved forwards again, and walked straight into what felt like a car. Wincing a little, I moved along the car. That was definitely going to bruise.

I teetered off the car, and into space, slightly spinning when a student hip-checked me, almost knocking me over. Instantly panic claimed me as its prize, icy fingers of terror chewing at my heart. I didn't know where I was, I didn't know where the school was, I didn't even know where Liam was.

Moving to the right, someone honked in front of me, tires squealing. I shrieked a little, jumping backwards, only to bump my rear against a car. I stopped, and turned around, both hands on the car, taking deep breaths.

I tried to re-orient myself, but it was hopeless. The cacophony of noise was insane, making my ears ring and my brain scramble. I had no idea where I was, and the panic was mounting, rising in me. Terror climbed through me, racing in icy paths through my veins.

I took deep breaths, and clenched my fists on the car, fighting back the panic, the fear. I could do this – I was a strong, capable girl.

Moving towards the loudest noise of talking, where I imagined the students to be, I ran my hand along the side of the car, just as a marker for where I was. It had to be my imagination, but the car seemed to move, a teeny tiny bit. Or, there was someone still in the car, and was causing it to move. Yeah, probably that one.

They'd be annoyed about me fingering the paintjob.

"Sorry!" I called to whoever was inside the vehicle, feeling much more in control now. Perhaps it was something about the car. "Didn't mean to cause marks on the paint…"

Someone behind me called out. "Hey, Scarface, don't touch that car! You'll infect it!"

With that one comment, my self-confidence was shattered. I swallowed heavily, clenching my tongue to the top of my mouth, and pressing my teeth shut.

A girl squealed behind me. "Oh, gross! Look at her!"

One tear escaped, and I choked. Maybe I wouldn't be able to do this today – maybe I wasn't ready. Wiping it off furiously, I tried to move away, out of the lethal parking lot.

I stumbled over what appeared to be a curb, and nearly face-planted, if it wasn't for someone's quick move to grab me.

That someone took my hand. Obviously Liam.

Thank goodness he wasn't enough of a jerk to leave me in the middle of the parking lot, about to get run over or laughed at by my peers. I would have run him over with his own car if he had ditched me.

He led me to the office, nearly dragging me behind him. I was trying to hide from people, but it was impossible – I could hear their whispers, their laughter, mocking and horror easily. My fear of the people, and the distaste I was feeling from the people watching translated to anger with Liam.

This was all his fault – he had pressured me into coming to school, even though I was clearly not ready for it, as well as abandoned me in the parking lot to get run over by souped-up trucks driven by morons. I was becoming more and more annoyed and angry with Liam, down to the way he was pulling on my wrist so harshly – I couldn't walk that fast, my legs were short.

Add to that the fear and disgust that I had for the other students, and my day was sure to be hell.

Liam let me know there was a chair right behind me. I was still seething, because of the fact that I was grateful that he helped me. I hadn't needed his help! Correction, I had needed his help, but I sure didn't want it.

I took a deep breath. Mature was the only way to go about this. "Thanks for helping me, but I'm still annoyed with you, Liam."

"You would do the same for me." And with that, I heard his feet against the carpet as he left.

I waited in the office for a while, before the secretary noticed me. She fussed over me and made sympathetic noises over my eyes. It felt weird.

She had me wait as she completed the morning announcements, and then she took me to my English class, where she had me sit at the back with the TA.

I didn't mind – school was weird for me. Perhaps I could stay here for the day. It was so loud, and crazy sounding in the halls. There were noises and echoes and odd sounds everywhere. I could barely hear my thoughts over the noise – I didn't remember it being this loud at all.

I barely knew what to focus on, and I was terrified of the students' hurtful comments.

Someone touched my shoulder. I turned to that side, thinking it to be the TA – he was on that side.

"I'm Mr. Driffen." He sounded nice enough, but maybe slightly annoyed he had to help a blind girl out for the day. Well, tough luck bud, I'm living it. If he made even one comment, I was so out of here. I could still feel the tears lurking at the corners of my eyes, ready to splash out and roll down my cheeks.

"Alex. Nice to meet you," I said softly, hoping that he wouldn't be like the others, and say something mean.

"You too…" he sounded disturbed, and I could guess why. My eyes. Jace had told me they were still freak-show eyes, although he used nicer terms.

He said that the iris had turned red, from the blood vessel damage, and the pupils were white with scar tissue. Yeah, that would look pretty scary.

Apparently, this Mr. Driffen character wasn't much for real-life gore. I didn't really blame him though – as long as he didn't say anything about it, and just helped me out, instead of making it harder for me.

He led me down the hall by letting me grab his sleeve. My pack was still on my back. I wasn't sure if I could do the locker combination, and I didn't remember it off the top of my head – it was something I'd done so many times, it was muscle memory only.

Once English started, I tried to listen, but the teacher was talking about something on her whiteboard. I couldn't see, but Mr. Driffen was telling me what it said, although his voice was getting increasingly strained. It sort of sounded like he wasn't doing too well. I heard his stomach make some very interesting noises. It was hard to pay attention to both Mr. Driffen and the teacher, and not get distracted by the conversations going around or his stomach.

I also knew the pointlessness of coming back to this school, but I was just re-adjusting myself. I was going to have to learn Braille, and probably go to a school for people who couldn't see, but I managed to barter a week from my parents. I wanted to go to my old school for a week.

I needed closure. From the idea of my old life, from vision, from all of it. And this was how I wanted to get it.

At one point, Mr. Driffen excused himself to go to the bathroom, and I tried my hardest to focus on the teacher. Random conversations in the room kept on snatching my attention. Lyle Carter was planning a party this weekend, Sarah Griff was going to Canada for the summer, Mikado Shin was travelling back to Tokyo to see her family again, others were speaking about me, how scary I looked, and still others were speaking about the actual English assignment.

It was nearly all a blur at that point. I couldn't do this – I wasn't going to make it through five days of this. Then the door to the classroom opened, and someone came inside. It should have been Mr. Driffen, he was the only one out, but I could tell immediately that it wasn't.

From the gasps of the girls, I could tell it was someone attractive. Perhaps a new student had started here when I was gone?

I could hear what he said to the teacher. "I'm the TA here to replace Mr. Driffen, he wasn't feeling well."

Steps down the aisle, murmurs and hushed conversations all around as the new person approached me.

"Hey, Driffen got sick, and they put me with you. Call me Sides."

I blinked. "Sides? What kind of name is that?"

There was a sigh from the guy beside me. "Dunno. Perhaps my…parents…didn't like me much."

The whispers of the girls caught my ears, "Holy hell, is that guy hot." "I heard him say his name was Sides…kind weird, don't you think?" "Who cares, with that body?" "And that face?!"

Hmmm. I don't think he'd take it too well if I asked to touch his face. It was a passing fancy, really, but it was quite sad that I'd never see someone's face again.

I was quiet in an attempt to listen to the teacher, but this TA was not so kind. "This is boring."

"Yeah, well, high school is boring, didn't you get the memo?"

A snort. "Nope. Op…" He trailed off.

"Op?" I asked, one eyebrow raised. Was that short for something?

"I'm…home-schooled?" He sounded like he was testing the word out. What a weird TA.

"So, what made you think 'teaching's the job for me' after you graduated high school at home?" I was genuinely curious. Was it only due to his desire to have the same sort of school-life as others, or something philosophical like teaching at a different level, or greater understanding?

"What? Frag that – I mean…um…I like teaching…" I almost burst out laughing. So, he didn't like teaching? Then why was he a TA?

It was strange – I felt really at home with him, like I'd known him for years and years instead of only today.

"Frag? You're a really weird TA, Mr. Sides." Weirdest one I'd ever met. Why in the world did he want to be a teacher then?

He muttered lowly, "You've got no idea, human." Louder, he said, "Look, just call me Sides, none of that Mister slag, got it?"

I ignored the human part – perhaps it was just an idiosyncrasy of his, call people 'human,' or something. Whatever it was, it was more than a little weird. "Okay, Sides it is."

Slag? Maybe it was his own language, and he thought using it made him sound cool. And he was supposed to be a TA?

The bell rang, and I turned to him. "So. Are you supposed to be my shadow for the day, and help me to all my classes?"

"Yup," he said, popping the P. I was glad – I felt safe and secure with him.

I turned, and started to walk the way towards the door, out of the class, when I was assailed by some girls. I couldn't tell which ones, just that I probably should know them from their voices. Right now, it was just a blur of noise.

"Why are your eyes like that?" "Oh my gosh, I bet you were so scared!" "Do your eyes hurt?" "I don't think I'd have survived something like that!" "How ugly!"

It was like dealing with three-year-olds - who were able to hurt with their words. Usually three-year-olds were brutally honest, but not catty. At least they weren't being overly mean about it, or hurtful with their comments - not bad enough that I couldn't handle it.

I tried to push through, but it was really hard when I couldn't remember exactly where the door was. Someone grabbed my arm, and pulled me out of the suddenly raging mass of female hormones.

"Um…thanks." I managed, face probably brilliant red.

"No sweat…Primus, what a weird statement."

And again, my TA guide is from outer space. Primus? Perhaps he was a video-game junkie, and was so invested in that he used the odd terminology for everyday things. Yeah. A video-game junkie who wanted…sort of…to become a teacher. Something just didn't fit.

Did he mean that my 'thanks' was a weird statement, or the 'no sweat' part?

"Well, anyways, thanks. I appreciate it – could you help me to my locker? Number 830, down to the right."

"Sure, got nothing better to do." I winced. Tears came to my eyes, and I was immediately disgusted with myself for crying. I was so weak! But it was true – I was only a burden to people, with nothing to offer.

He probably didn't mean it that way, but the comment stung. Added on to the comments from this morning, and it was too much. Pressure swelled behind my eyes, and I swallowed harshly, trying my best to keep it cool, keep it contained.

I barely even registered that he was still holding my hand, still leading me down the noisy halls. I was too caught up in trying not to cry.

The TA was muttering numbers under his breath, presumably looking for my locker. "Ah! Here we are, 830." He muttered under his breath again, "Primus, what a hassle."

That was it. It was barely ten o'clock in the morning, and I couldn't do it anymore. I was going home, where I was going to bawl my eyes out, again. My breath stuttered out, and I bit my lip hard, not wanting to look like a wimp, but unable to help it. I touched the lockers with my hands, and then pressed my face against them, ignoring the TA.

Tears slipped down my cheeks, my mind replaying the comments of the day. The girls, the guy in the parking lot, Liam, Sides.

I clenched my fist, and swallowed, trying desparately to not let the TA see the tears. Steadying my voice, I spoke quietly, able to hear a slight waver in my tone. "You know what? I got this. I'm just going to go home. I can't…" I lost it, and a choked sob escaped my lips.

I crumpled to the floor, having a meltdown on the floor of my school, face buried in my knees, arms wrapped around my legs. The bell rang again, and I heard all the noise from the halls empty out swiftly. The metal in my shoulder suddenly ached, pangs of pain racing down my spine.

The rude TA was silent, until, "Want to go for a drive?" He spoke quietly, voice coming from right beside me. He was probably crouched down, wondering about the weepy girl.

I shook my head, hesitated, and then nodded, forehead knocking into my knees. Tears still streamed down my cheeks, I stood up, rubbed my eyes with my sleeve, and hiked my pack higher up my back. I couldn't do the school thing today, I just couldn't do it. Closure would have to wait until tomorrow.

The thought that the TA could be a psycho serial killer crossed my mind, but I didn't pay it much attention. It wasn't likely, and I wouldn't be much fun in any case.

I just needed…I didn't know what I needed.

It was intensely frustrating. I scrubbed at my eyes with my hand, and tried my hardest to stem the weak tears.

He grabbed my hand and led me out of the school.

The way we walked was the same way that Liam had led me into the school, only in reverse.

"What type of vehicle do you have?" I asked, discretely drying the rest of the tears on my hoodie. They were gone, as fast as they came. Perhaps it was due to the fact that I was leaving the school. Or maybe it was because I felt so at ease with the TA.

"Huh? Oh, a silver Corvette Stingray Concept, 2009."

My head snapped to him, eyes the size of plates. Immediate re-evaluation. This guy's loaded, or his parents are. The first comment out of my mouth was, in hindsight, quite rude.

"Well, I can tell where your priorities are," I said in a snarky tone of voice. Immediately after, I flushed, and pulled my hand away from his arm, mortified. I couldn't believe I had actually said that, out loud.

"Oh-I…um, I'm sorry…that was really…rude of me."

He laughed, cutting my panicked thoughts, and few words, off. "It wasn't rude, it's true," he said, still snickering. "My car is my life – I'd die without it."

Sheesh, managed to make it out of that one. But his answer…how shallow is he? Wait, what if he didn't want me in his car? I mean, that was a really fancy and shiny car – I don't know if I owned one that I'd let other people even touch it. "Um…I can clean my feet off, if you want…"

"What's up with you all of a sudden? We're going for a drive, in me-my car, and you haven't insulted me, or whatever. Primus help me."

Oh, fantastic, he thought I was a spaz. Then again, he was really not so normal himself. Frag? Primus?

Then again, today I seemed to be an emotional wreck, so school was not safe for me, and neither was home. Mom would just hover, and I'd snap at her, and it wouldn't be good.

Sides…weird name…had insulted me, but I got the feeling that he was just sort of awkward around people in general, and didn't really mean it. At least, I hoped so.

The sound of a door opening made me refocus on where I was walking. "Here you go, door's open for ya!"

"Thanks, Sides."

"Sure. Sometimes, I like to just drive, you know? Keeps my mind off things."

I wished I still could drive, but that wasn't going to happen again. The smell inside the car was heavenly, like new car smell, and something I couldn't identify. I carefully crawled into the vehicle, put on my seat belt, and then flailed around to the right side of me where the door should be. Nothing but air. Once, I touched something I thought was the door, but it turned out to be Sides' jacket.

Sides snickered at me from outside. "What are you doing?"

"Where is the damn door to this car?"

I could tell he was supressing a laugh, because the car was subtly vibrating. He must have been pressing on it with his hands. "Why are you looking way out here? Trying to grab me?"

I flushed again, "No, I'm trying to make sure I have you lined up perfectly so the car door'll hit you. Jerk."

"Ooh, feisty. Well, these doors are pretty fancy in that they are power-operated."

I sat back in the seat, and crossed my arms across my chest. "Power-operated doors? You pulling my leg?"

His first words were quiet, but I caught them. "Why in the worlds…oh…No, I'm not…pulling your leg." I frowned at his bizarre words.

"You have to be one of the strangest people I've ever met. Really."

There was a hum coming from the car, and I frowned.

"Door shutting, keep all body parts in the vehicle." His voice was monotone, but I could hear the playful hint to it.

I looked away from Sides, smiling a little bit to the center of the car. His voice came from the other side. "I saw that!"

He got in the other side, and then we started moving, backing up, and I sighed. The sound of the engine was pretty much heavenly.

"If I wasn't blind, I think I'd ask to drive your car…I'm pretty sure I'm in love with it."

He laughed, and boasted, "Yup, hard not to love this thing of beauty."

Something about the engine sounded really familiar. I thought about it, but when Sides really hit the accelerator, I forgot that I was supposed to be thinking at all.

I smiled, turning my face to the side to gaze blankly out the window, thinking about nothing in particular, other than the sound of the engine, the roar of the acceleration, the speed and power.

After a while, I started to get hungry, stomach rumbling a little, and bladder feeling slightly full. I thought about Liam, his words from this morning, about how he thought me a coward, and an idiot to boot. Hot tears leaked down my face again. I wiped them off as subtly as possible, not wanting another person to think me a crybaby.

We drove, and drove, the inside of the car quiet, neither of us willing to break the peace that had settled.

At one point, I asked to stop so I could go to the bathroom. I got out of the car, and then turned around.

"Um…which way to the bathroom?"

"Give me one moment, and I'll help you out, okay?" I heard his side of the car open, feet hit the concrete, and come towards me. He grabbed my hand with his, and towed me forwards. I could hear the car doors going down, and feel the warmth of his hand.

I nearly tripped over a rock or the curb, but Sides managed to keep me upright. "Okay, just down here."

I went to the bathroom, after fumbling around in the room for a while, not bothering to turn on the lights. They wouldn't have made a difference. I washed my hands, and then ate my sandwich, in the dark, in the bathroom, as fast as I could.

I didn't want to eat in his car – what if I slipped and dropped a chunk of chicken on the dash? I wouldn't even be able to see it, and he'd be disgusted. That would be so embarrassing. I was too hungry to care where I ate, and I had just washed my hands…I was done now.

I came out, and immediately floundered, not knowing where he was. This sucked.

Again, I questioned my wisdom in leaving with a strange guy – but I did have my cell-phone on me, they'd be able to track its signal if anything happened to me. But they wouldn't know until late tonight, because Mom thought Liam was bringing me home.

Oh, dear. What if he really was a serial killer? What if he had ditched me here at this little gas station, well outside the city? I was a goner.

No, wait. I could use this as my chance to show myself, and my family that I was alright. I could do this by myself, I didn't need anyone's help.

As I took a step forwards, convinced that he had left me to play a prank on a blind girl, someone grabbed my arm. I almost punched them in the guts with my right hand, but froze when I smelled their scent. It was Sides. I relaxed.

"Sorry – almost got you there."

"Yeah…we need to leave…people are touching me-my car… and I don't like it at all…" His voice was a mix of whine and actual annoyance.

It made me smile, he was such a child. Then again, if his car was his first priority, it made sense that he would be extra territorial of it. "Sure."

We went back out, bell ringing above our heads. As we approached the car, I could hear the people around it by the appreciative noises they were making, the coos and hums of men who loved a good car, the women who were looking for the man who owned it to see if they could get some money out of him. Vultures.

Then again, I had commented pretty much the same. So, I was a vulture and a hypocrite.

Sides interrupted my internal self-bashing as he helped me into the car. "Hmm. We should probably head back about now – its noon. Unless you want to go longer?"

I shrugged. "Whatever you want – I'm really enjoying this. Thanks for this, by the way, this has been just what I needed. Away time, you know?"

I could almost feel him giving me an odd look.

I elaborated. "All these people, thinking they get me, they get what I'm going through, but they don't. They have no idea, no clue, of what I'm thinking, of what I've lost, no idea at all."

"Longer it is."

This time, I knew that he didn't see my grin. I pulled off my hoodie, revealing the tank top that I had put on this morning. Who knew what color it was.

The car jerked, shuddered, and almost seemed to spasm. I grabbed the door handle. "Sides? Your car…"

His voice was strained, harsh, like he was eating glass and had to sound like it was no big deal. "Oh…that. It does that sometimes."

"Huh. You should probably get that looked at."

"Yeah, I probably should…"

The car squealed out of the lot, revving up to a fast pace almost instantly. I was sucked against the back of my seat, thankful I put my seatbelt on. My shoulder pulsed heavily, causing a small wave of pain down my spine.

Sides spoke. "You have a scar on your back…Where did you get it from?" His voice was carefully toned, but I could hear the curiosity in his voice. It almost sounded like his voice was coming from the sound system, which didn't make a lot of sense.

"Um, I have lots of scars…all from an accident a few weeks ago…why? I won't bleed on your car, if that's what you're worried about. Or, well, I'll try my best not to…"

He exhaled slowly, heavily. "No…no…"

With a fast move, the car was sliding, turning. My head was thrown to the side, and I felt some of the fresh skin on my neck stretch from the turn. I shrieked a little, I admit.

"What was that for? Did we hit something?"

"No…I just…"

Sides was really quiet. I reached over, to touch him, but couldn't reach. Maybe my left arm wasn't flexible enough to reach him yet. I touched the gear shift, and the car twitched again, over a bump in the road.

The drive back was quiet. Eventually, he stopped, and spoke. "This is your house."

I turned to him, and smiled, even though I couldn't see him. "Thanks. You've been the best TA I ever had. Honest."

As I fumbled for the doorknob (did it even have one, or was that powered too?) he spoke. "I…lost my brother, a long time ago. My twin. Something…reminded me of him. I want you to know…that I…I'm here, if you need to talk."

Something was pressed into my hand as the door powered open. I felt it, deciding it was a piece of paper. It made me feel warm inside. Someone that wasn't a friend before, nor family, understood. He had to – losing a twin would be even worse than losing vision. I suddenly felt like a cad, like I had accused Liam of being.

"I'm sorry…all these dramatics on my part, and you've dealt with something like this…sorry. I'm such a teenager…"

"I didn't mind. We all have our own methods of coping."

"And mine happens to be crying all over the floor. Terrific," I muttered, lowly.

A short snicker came from Sides – the comment seemed to have livened him up a bit. "Well, at least you don't lubricate yourself."

I scrunched my face up, until the meaning came to me. "Nice, Sides. Really, you have the maturity of a thirteen year old boy. And a terribly messy coping method."

"Hey, I don't lubricate on myself, I'm not huma-" he quickly cut himself off. "Inhumanely disgusting." Before saying quietly, "I'll pick you up for school tomorrow, Alex, and after…I'll let you drive."

I was pretty sure he winked, even though I couldn't see. Something about him made me think that he would be the type to do that.I blinked, nonplussed, before smiling and hoisting my backpack higher on my back. "Sure."

Inhumanely disgusting? What had he been about to say? That he wasn't human? Weirdo.

"Prime. I think this human is sort of…weak. If any 'Cons come around, she's off-lined. Or even any humans with less-than-honourable intentions."

"I am aware of that, however, there is no reason for the Decepticons to target her."

"Other than the Cybertronian writing on her back, or the fact she picks up on sensors as an energon source?" Sideswipe sounded miffed.

"It is very faint, and distinctly organic. I do not think the Decepticons will bother with her. However, I will have you check on her every month to ensure her continued survival."

"Understood. I'd slag anyone who off-lined the femme. The little femme sort of grew on me, you know? In a weird, organic squishy sort of way."

"I understand, Sideswipe. Humans have a tendency to do that."

"Yeah, well, this is the only one, got it? I don't have time to be racing all over the country human-watching, when I could be scrapping Decepticons."

"I will keep that in mind. After tomorrow come back to base – the Decepticons are up to something."

"Alright, Sideswipe, out."