Author's Note: Quickslinger tries out for the school's baseball team, and she finds her greatest support from Smokescreen. Could she finally be making the friend she always wanted?


Chapter 4: Batter Up

"What's with the bat?" Miko asked Quickslinger, noticing the metal bat strapped to her back.

The blonde offered the Japanese girl a smirk. "Don't you know? Baseball tryouts are today. I know I'm gonna make the team; I even brought my own bat!"

"Are you a baseball fanatic?" Miko teased as the two girls walked to math class. "Bulk says that whenever school comes up in a conversation, all you ever spout about is baseball."

"Fanatic's too strong." Quickslinger argued. "I call it being 'highly dedicated'."

"Right… So, did you finish the math assignment? Actually…did you even GET it?"

The blonde laughed and patted her backpack. "What, math not your thing? Yeah…I actually finished my homework for once. Math's the only subject I actually comprehend…and I guess writing."

Miko laughed in return before checking a few things on her cell phone, a few things being the new pictures she took involving Bulkhead's new workout regiment; some of the guys were getting a little worried about the heavyset man's weight. She suddenly thought of something and turned back to Quickslinger. "I got a question…why do you act all weird around Smokescreen?"

Quickslinger stopped in her tracks; why did Miko have to ask a question like that? Why couldn't it be another question involving homework? She pretended to check something on her own phone and mutter, "I'll tell you after the tryouts…"


"So I heard you guys have another newbie living with you."

"Yeah, Quickslinger came just over a week ago…and I'm not a newbie anymore, Shane."

Shane Jetlagg, the tattoo artist who seemed to be in a relationship with Optimus, despite him almost being twenty years her senior, laughed at the redhead. Since she was on good terms with Optimus' 'family' she decided to stop by the sporting goods store and see how Smokescreen was during his shift. Heck, she made plenty of drop-bys at Ratchet's clinic and the police station Arcee worked at.

"You may have been there longer than she has, but you're still a newbie to me." The biker laughed. She stared at a few sets of snowboarding gear before asking, "So…anything from that military academy you applied for yet?"

Smokescreen shook his head. "No, nothing yet. I really want to get in; it's always been my dream to be a soldier, and I want to do whatever it takes to make that dream come true!"

"Does Quickslinger have any hobbies?"

"Uh…she really likes baseball…and she's going to try out for the school team. Once my shift's over, I'm going to the school and watch."

Shane laughed once again. "Make her a promise or something?"

"Well…I told her that if she made the team, I'd come to her games."

"Sounds like you two get along great. How are the others taking her? I know some of them've been on the edge since their pal Cliffjumper passed away."

The redhead looked up from his usual task of inventory. "…Yeah, Arcee's old partner. She's not really warmed up to Quickslinger like everyone else seems to…well, Ratchet's not really warmed up to her either."

"Well…hopefully they'll make her feel a little more welcome."


"Next up…Quickslinger!"

Before coming out to the field, Quickslinger changed into a t-shirt, shorts, tennis shoes, and a purple cap, to make a bit of a good impression. When the coach called her name, she stepped up, her metallic bat in hand, and stepped up to the plate. She got up and basically looked the pitcher, an ash-blonde, straight in the eye, ready for anything. Back at home, she convinced her dad to let her play baseball ever since elementary school. She watched all the games on television every chance she got, not just for entertainment, but to also study the plays. Baseball seemed to be the only thing she studied for in her life.

Right as she went out to the field just a few moments ago, she could hear the sound of a loud car engine…and she knew the sound anywhere: Smokescreen. He promised her that after he got off work, he would come by and watch her try out for the team. And just outside the fence, he greeted the coach and took a seat on the bleachers. All of a sudden, she felt more nervous than before…but she knew she couldn't mess this up.

Breathing out a deep sigh, she raised the bat over her head and kept her eye on the pitcher. The pitcher brought her hand back and forcefully threw the ball. Don't swing until the right time…that was one of the key factors in this sport. Her violet eyes locked onto the ball rushing towards her…and when it seemed like it was about to hit her in the face…she took a swing, and it made a deafening crack.

No one blinked as the ball flew over the fence and Quickslinger, deciding to show off a little, made a home run. All of the other potential players stared in awe…but Smokescreen loudly cheered and clapped his hands. The blonde skidded back to the first base and made a slide for it…just like in the tensest moments of the pro-games.

"T-That's impossible…" One of the senior players muttered. "No one's ever gotten a home run on the first try…"

"She could probably help us beat the Sparks Jaguars if she's this good…" Another player whispered back.

The coach looked back and forth between his clipboard and Quickslinger before sputtering out, "W-Wow…you're a natural! How did you…how did you do that?"

Quickslinger shrugged. "What can I say? I'm just that passionate about baseball."

"I gotta say, you've got potential to make the team, maybe even become our new MVP! I still have to look at everyone else, but I think you'll make the team."

The blonde blinked rapidly. "R-Really!? That's great!"

Smokescreen overheard what the coach told the blonde and smiled; he himself was in awe of how good she was. However…he also took notice that some of the senior players were starting to become green with envy. Quickslinger went over to the redhead and started bouncing up and down.

"Smokescreen, this is great! I just know I'm gonna make the team, I just know it!"

"I think so too!" He paused and stared her deep in the eyes. "But…if you make the team, just be careful…especially if some of the other players get jealous. Even high school baseball can get a little cut-throat."

"You worry too much. Now let's go home and tell everyone else!"


"I never saw Quickslinger so excited." Arcee mused. "What's she so happy about?"

"The baseball coach said she was good enough to probably make the team; she's supposed to get a call tonight from him." Smokescreen explained. "And if you haven't seen her play, you probably wouldn't believe it."

Bumblebee sipped from his soda can before using sign language to ask Smokescreen, 'She's that good, huh? Maybe I'll come to her games, too.'

The older female rolled her eyes. "Probably just beginner's luck."

Without warning, Quickslinger rushed downstairs from her room and peered into the kitchen. "Has the phone ringed yet!?"

Ratchet sighed. "If it was ringing, you'd be able to hear it from upstairs! Be patient, Quickslinger; it's not the end of the world if you don't make the team."

"Don't jinx it, Ratchet!" The blonde shouted. "I'm definitely gonna make the team!"

Bulkhead couldn't help but laugh. "Miko was right, you are a baseball fanatic."

Optimus offered up a quiet chuckle before stopping to hear the phone ring. Before Quickslinger could rush towards it, he offered up his hand to stop her as he got up and picked it up and cleared his throat before speaking into the receiver.

"Hello? …Yes, she's here. …Yes, she's available to speak with." He paused and handed the blonde the phone. "It's the baseball coach."

Quickslinger nervously took the phone from the patriarch and spoke into it. "H-Hello? Y-Yeah, I'm all right. …What!? Really!? That's great! …O-Oh, I wasn't worried at all! …O-Okay, thanks!" She hung up the phone and immediately beamed. "I made the team!"

To her surprise, Smokescreen was the first to cheer…and he actually came up and hugged her. Of course, she was too busy to start acting nervous and just hugged him back without thinking. Everyone else laughed, feeling happy for the teenager that she immediately found a calling in this small town. The blonde broke away from her embrace with the redhead and rushed back upstairs as she cried out, "I gotta call Dad and tell him!"

Once Quickslinger was out of the kitchen, everyone turned their eyes to the redhead. Arcee smirked and stated, "Never thought you two would be so close."

Smokescreen shrugged. "I-I'm just happy for her, that's all. Isn't that what friends are for?"

What he didn't realize was that Quickslinger heard him from the stairs. She blinked her violet eyes and placed her hand on her chest, directly over her heart; she could feel it fluttering underneath. Did he just…call her his friend? A sigh escaped her rosy lips as they slowly formed into a smile.

"Wow…I made my first friend…"