Jess and Chris spent the day together, playing with the kittens. A tiny black kitten, with a spot of white on his belly, took to Jess so much that he wailed every time she put him down or paid attention to another kitten.
"You should keep him," Chris said. "He really seems to like you."
Jess gave a noncommital grunt. She liked the silky feel of the kitten's fur. And the way he curled up on her shoulder and fell asleep stole her heart. But she didn't know if Richard would allow her to have a kitten, and she didn't want to impose on Liam.
As the kittens began to curl up around their mother for sleep, Chris suggested going out to see his motorcycle. When Jess accepted, he led the way to the dilapidated shed behind his house where he was working on the motorcycle. It was cluttered with tools and parts for the bike, and there was barely room for Chris to stand straight. Jess sat on a sturdy potting table while Chris explained the finer points of motorcycle reconstruction.
"I think it might have been damaged in that battle or whatever, a month ago. I found it at a used bike dealership. They'd knocked the worst of the dings out of the body, but couldn't get it to run. They were going to haul it off for scrap metal when I begged them for it. With everything I'm learning from Liam, I'll have it running in no time."
Chris's mother came out as the light of the day began to fade and invited Jess to stay for dinner. Jess gladly accepted. She was hesitating to go home to Richard.
Jess decided she'd need to spend more time at Chris's house. Not just because of him, but because his mother was a wonderful cook. Jess nearly wept at the spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce, garlic bread, and the caesar salad. She ate slowly and savored every bite. She offered to help clean up after dinner, but was shooed into the family room with Chris and his two younger siblings for a rousing game of Egyptian Rat Killer. Jess's hand was red and sore, but she hadn't laughed so much in what seemed like years.
Finally, nine o'clock rolled around, and Jess couldn't put off going home any longer.
"Thank you so much," Jess said, hugging Chris's mom.
"You're welcome, dear. Come over any time. I'm glad to share my recipes." She turned to give a stern look at her eldest child. "Chris, make sure you get her home safe, and obey the speed limit."
"Okay mom," Chris said, exasperated.
He hurried Jess out of the house, his mother's admonitions following them the whole way.
"Geez," Chris groaned, once they were in the car. "Sorry about that, Jess. My mom's a worry wort."
"I think she cute," Jess said. "It must be nice to have someone to worry for you."
Chris gave her an awkward look. "Yeah. It is nice."
Silence.
"I'm sorry about your parents, and stuff," Chris muttered. "Don't think me heartless, but in a way I'm glad."
"What?" Jess gave him an incredulous stare.
"Well, you wouldn't have moved here if your parents . . . well, you know . . . and I'd never have gotten to meet you."
"Chris, this is my parents you're talking about."
Chris flushed red. "You're right. Forget everything I said just now. Except for the part that I'm glad I met you. I didn't mean to be a jerk."
Jess nodded, staring at her hands clenched tight in her lap. Chris sighed and started the car. He drove her home in silence, not speaking until they were stopped in front of her dark house.
"Thanks for coming over," he said glumly.
"Yeah," Jess said softly.
The silence between them was uncomfortable.
"Will you–" he blurted.
"Are you–" she said a the same time.
The stopped and looked at each other. Then laughed.
"You first," Chris said.
"Are you going to be at school tomorrow?" Jess asked.
Chris nodded. "No reason not to be."
"Okay. Now you."
"Will you ask your uncle about the kitten?"
"Yes," Jess said. "I'd love it if I could keep him. He's so cute."
"All righty then," Chris said with a smile. "Can I, uh, pick you up? For school that is. Tomorrow morning?"
Jess nodded shyly. "Sure." She opened the door and stepped out into the night. "See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," Chris agreed.
Jess stood on the sidewalk and watched Chris drive away. Then she turned to face the house. All the lights were off, indicating that Richard had left during the daylight hours, and hadn't been back since. Jess shivered and walked up the steps to the front porch. She pulled her key from her pocket and let herself in, quickly flipping on the living room lights to dispel the darkness. She closed and locked the door then checked the house. As she'd assumed, her uncle wasn't home. She did, however, find a note on her bed.
Jessica,
I'm sorry I hit you. I've been sober all day today (Sunday), and I'm worried about you. Please don't go out for long periods of time without calling me. I need to know that you're safe.
Thanks,
Uncle Richard
Jess crumpled the note and tossed it in the wastebasket.
"One day without a drink isn't sober," she muttered.
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Chris came for her early the next morning. She was still eating breakfast.
"Stay right there," she said, leaving him just inside the door. She didn't want Chris to see her uncle, should Richard decide to exit his room before noon. She gulped down her cereal, threw her dishes in the sink, and brushed her teeth. Then she grabbed her backpack and dashed out the door with Chris in tow.
Jess was surprised, and a little chagrined, to find that Chris was in three of her classes. She'd never noticed him before. They sat together through those classes and Jess was happy to find they had lunch together as well.
When the last bell rang, Jess gathered her books and headed out of the classroom. She was surprised to find Chris waiting for her.
"Isn't American History on the other side of the school?" Jess asked suspiciously.
Chris grinned. "Yeah. I kinda snuck out early."
Jess laughed as they walked toward the front of the school.
"Can I offer you a ride home?" Chris asked.
"That's very kind of you. I accept."
But Jess stopped short as they exited the school. There, waiting for her, was Richard. A sick coldness crept down her spine. She turned away hurriedly and tried to get Chris to move faster.
"Jess! Jessica!"
Jess stopped and closed her eyes, fighting back several unpleasant emotions. She turned to face her uncle.
"Jess. I was waiting there. Didn't you see me? I thought I'd treat you to dinner tonight."
Jess blinked. This couldn't be her uncle. "I . . . uh . . ."
"My name's Chris, sir," Chris said, stepping in front of Jess and holding his hand out to her uncle. "I'm a friend of Jess's. I work at Liam's garage."
A shadow passed over Richard's face, quickly gone. He took Chris's hand and shook it heartily.
"Nice to meet you Chris. Been taking care of my Jessie?"
Jess was glad that Chris's broad back was shielding her from her uncle's view. She made a rude face as he called her Jessie.
"Well, sort of. I kept her company yesterday, and my mom invited her over for dinner. And we played with some kittens. There was one that was particularly attached to her by the end of the night, but she didn't want to take the little tyke home without asking you."
Jess peeked around Chris and saw the smile on her uncle's face.
"A kitten? I don't see why not. I'm not much company I'm afraid. . ."
Jess snorted inelegantly.
". . . so a kitten might do her some good. Tell you what, Jessie. How about we run to the pet store and get some thins for your kitten. Then we'll go do dinner, Chris can come if you like, and we'll swing by his house on the way home to get your new friend."
Chris looked over his shoulder at Jess.
"I don't think I'll join you for dinner, though I appreciate the offer. You're more than welcome to stop by later and pick up the kitten if you want."
Jess put a hand on Chris's back. He smiled at her. "Can I pick you up for school again tomorrow?"
Jess nodded.
"I think that's a grand idea," Richard said. "It's time Jessie had some friends outside . . . er, well, I guess you work at that garage too don't you. Oh well, at least you're more Jessie's age."
Jess rolled her eyes and banged her head, gently, against Chris's back. Taking a breath, she stepped out from behind her human shield.
"Thanks for picking me up this morning, Chris. See you tomorrow."
She smiled at him, then walked past her uncle without a glance, heading for his car.
"See you tomorrow," Chris called at her retreating back.
Jess nodded, but didn't stop until she was in the front seat of Richard's car. If her uncle was going to be civil, she'd try as well. Especially since he'd said she could have the kitten. That put him back on her good side. Somewhat.
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"It's no good 'Bee," Sam said. "We've been at this for hours."
Bumblebee's sandy haired, blue eyed, hologram turned to Sam and sighed. "I suppose you're right. The second spark is very well hidden. Can you miss school again tomorrow, or shall we head back to your house?"
Sam stifled a yawn. "I think my parents would freak. And I want to see Mikaela. We can plan to come back Friday and stay through the weekend if we need to."
"Sam," Bumblebee's hologram said, "you know I don't run on gasoline. It's not a problem to come up here every day if necessary."
"It's a damper on my social life, 'Bee. Not that I have much of one. That aside, there's my homework to consider. I want to find the new sparks as much as you guys, but I have other obligations as well."
Bumblebee's hologram frowned. "But Optimus. . ."
"I swear to you, Bumblebee, I won't give up. We'll keep looking until we find the sparks. But I have a lot to juggle. I'll devote my whole weekend to this search, but I've gotta keep my parents happy too."
"You're right," Bumblebee said. "Let's come back tomorrow, after school, and stop in at the garage again."
Sam nodded. "I wonder why it was closed today."
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"Autobots!" Frenzy screeched in Cybertronian. "Autobotsautobotsautobots!"
"Keep it down," Skywarp growled. He turned to Scorponok and Thundercracker. "I think hacking the flesh bags' computers has crosswired his circuits."
Scorponok chuckled.
The tiny Decepticon clambered up Skywarp's larger body and shoved his heavily modified laptop into the other Decepticon's optics.
"Autobots!" Frenzy shrieked.
Skywarp leapt to his feet, trying to bat the smaller Decepticon lose. Frenzy scuttled across the larger 'con's chest and arms, chattering almost too fast to understand.
"Autobotshere.Now.Tracking,tracing,likeStarscreamsaid."
Barricade plucked his small partner off Skywarp just as the other Decepticon's hand clanged against his own chest in an attempt to squash Frenzy.
"You hurt him and I'll slag you," the black Decepticon threatened.
"Then keep that freakbot away from me!" Skywarp yelled.
Frenzy made a rude noise from the safety of Barricade's shoulder.
"You do such an amusing dance," Scorponok said, snapping his pincers at Skywarp's legs. "Perhaps you'll dance for me as well."
Skywarp leveled his canon at the scorpion-like Decepticon.
A red bolt of energy blasted past Skywarp's head, blowing a hole in the wall behind him. Another bolt glanced off one of Scorponok's claws.
"Enough!" Starscream snarled. "I leave you alone and what do you do? Start tearing each other apart. You're all imbeciles."
"Autobots," Frenzy shrieked, showing his laptop to Starscream.
The self-appointed Decepticon leader smiled. "Good work, Frenzy. While they've been playing nice with the humans, we've been preparing for war. This time we'll crush Optimus Prime, and those self-righteous Autobots!"
