LITD: OMG! Guys, I give you all permission to kill me on sight for I have broken my promise to update ASAP. For that I'm, you guessed it, sorry, but I have a number of reasons for the lateness. First of all, I was hit with a lot of force by a stupid writer's block for quite a while. Also, studying has taken up most of my time and is top priority at the moment since I have exams during the next month. Writing will only happen when I'm done studying for the day. Apologies guys.

Well, seeing as I have finally updated, I would like to thank EclipticNight, 2GrayBoys, MixChick, tammy-is-a-turtle and Saphireblu987, it's you guys that help get me motivated. Love you all! ^_^

Disclaimer: ...I have nothing! *sniff*


Confrontation

I couldn't believe that I had slept throughout the night even though I was a walking mud ball and it was only about four in the afternoon when I collapsed onto the bed.

A groan escaped my mouth as I flopped over onto the left side of the mattress to glance at the clock.

9:56 am.

Oh...I did sleep along time, didn't I?

With a tired sigh I trudged to the bathroom, tearing my trashed clothes off as I went leaving a trail from my room.

Urgh, I'm gonna have to wash the bed covers...AND I have no coffee to boot! Stupid Barricade. I hope someone sticks a tree up his aft...

"God, I've been around Ratchet too much." I chuckled to myself as I stepped into the cascading watery goodness. Almost immediately I felt refreshed, the water trickling down my battered body in a soft, soothing manner. In fact, the shower was so nice I was in it for about forty minutes, which is a long time for me.

Ahhh, squeaky clean.

With a fresh pair of jean shorts and a red tank top, I jogged to the kitchen in hopes to slurp a big, fat mouthful of coffee. That is until I remembered that I didn't have any. Barricade, go rust in a hole...a very deep one. Ass.

Damn, this is so...hold the phone.

I snatched up a yellow note sitting on the kitchen table and read it frantically as the frustration settled in.

Rach,

I managed to get some of the things that you lost from the truck. As you could tell, you truck is glitched to the Pit so we might have to sort that out later. Also, if you look around your kitchen, I picked up some stuff from the store since Barricade squished it all. I'll be round later, but you know, busy life as usual.

Jazz xxx

My eyes shot to the coffee jar and, oh my God, it was full...and there was a refill pack next to it.

"Jazz, I love you babe." I giggled as the kettle snapped once the button was pressed.

Finally, after such an agonisingly long time apart, the hot, tasty goodness entered my mouth and I sank into the sofa before turning on the TV.

"...it happened yesterday around midday when two armed men entered the store and shot anyone in their sight, including a three year old boy, before fleeing the scene with more than a thousand dollars. Police ensure that they are doing everythi-"

I changed the channel, disgusted by what I had just heard. How the hell could they just kill a three year without so much as flinching? Urgh, sometimes I hate this world.

The only thing that remotely caught my attention was the weather channel and that was due to the fact that I wanted to go out for a run. Eating all that crap was coming back with a vengeance i.e need exercise!

I know coffee doesn't help getting fit, but you gotta get your energy from somewhere, right?

I froze as I felt the usual weird tug that indicates that Sideswipe is trying to talk to me. After what Jazz told me yesterday I wasn't really wanting to talk to Sides because, well, what could I say?

With a loud huff I quickly finished the rest of the coffee and threw on some training clothes to go out for a run.

It felt nice to go out running when it is a hot day along with a cool breeze and music pumping into my ears, driving me up the path to the beat of the songs. As I went I saw a lot of people that I only knew by name as they were from Jack's squadron or were one of his friends. Some waved, some didn't, but since I was huffing up the path I didn't mind.

It was just after the forty-five minute mark when I stopped to take a swig from the water bottle a horn from behind startled me and I spun to see Jazz cruising to a stop beside me. His hologram snapped to life at the driver's side and he walked round to me.

"Hey!" I exclaimed, still gasping slightly from the exercise, but I caught the serious facial expression my mood sobered to match his seriousness. "What's up?"

"You haven't talked to Sides yet, have you?" Jazz asked simply.

"No. Well, what do you expect me to say to him? Buckle up son, were too different to have a relationship so go away. I just don't feel that way towards him." I let out a long exhale to emphasise my frustration.

A hand pressed gently down on my shoulder. "For starters, you need to talk to him since he thinks he's done something to piss him off anyway. Gotta remember you can't keep runnin' away from things like this or else it'll just come back to bite you in the aft."

I chuckled at that last comment though it didn't change the fact that he was right. "Okay, right. Erm..." I surveyed the neighbourhood we were currently in with a very confused expression. "Could you give me a ride back 'cause I don't have a frickin' clue where I am."

To say the least I was very nervous when I got back to the apartment. I even had the quickest shower known to mankind because of it. Once I put on the clothes from before the run back on I sat on my bed, let out a soft, controlled sigh and took away the mental barrier that blocked Sideswipe from my mind though I decided that speaking aloud would help me along with the conversation.

"Sides, you there?"

Rachel? I thought I really had done something for you to block me like that.

"Well, it was kinda about something Jazz told me that you said the day before you left."

...Go on.

My heart felt like it was about burst because it was beating so hard against my chest. "...Do you really love me?"

"...Sides?"

Oh no.

"What?"

I feel like an absolute glitchhead now. I had a little bit too much high grade that night so I would've been acting like a tube for most of the night. Apparently I tried to kiss Jazz and Ironhide...Not a proud moment.

After hearing that I cried with laughter when I tried to picture that event. "Damn...I wish...I was there!" I said between gasps, wiping the tears from my eyes as I said it. Though once I eventually calmed down I got back to business.

"So, the conclusion of this complete misunderstanding is that Jazz overreacted which made me overreact to something that wasn't even true...did I miss anything?"

Well, I consider you as a sibling if that helps.

"Aww, same here." It was great that we were back to being good friends despite the fact that he has a really pissed off brother at the moment. "Now that's in the past, did ya kick ass?"

I'll tell the whole story when I get back. There's a meeting that's about to start and unfortunately I have to attend it.

"Okay dokie. Have fun!" I chirped just to rub it in his face.

Then it was silent again, too silent to the point where I felt uncomfortable and had to go back in to the living and switch to TV on.

Not the news though, how about Cartoon Network?


The laughter was almost unbearable for Barricade as he limped past Ramjet and Skywarp, growling curses which fell on offlined audio receptors. While Frenzy ran around chattering to the pair about the whole event that caused their injuries, the Saleen just strolled by leaving them in his wake.

The report he was about to give to Soundwave, he thought, was very interesting. Even as he looked through it Barricade knew that this could lead to a turning point in the war...if his assumption was correct.

The door slid open with a hiss and he walked into Soundwave's quarters. It wasn't big despite the size of the mech, but since Soundwave was...well, Soundwave, he didn't complain about it. Barricade found the Communications Officer was at his terminal talking to someone, but because of the size difference Barricade couldn't see who it was.

Suddenly, the terminal flick offline and Soundwave turned to face his fellow Decepticon. Emotionless as ever, he spoke. "Report. Repairs required to your frame." If Soundwave could show emotions then Barricade could swear that he would smirk at his battered frame.

However, this didn't let the Scout forget why he was there as he reached to the back of his helm and retrieved a small chip. "I believe that this will interest you." Barricade said simply as he handed the tiny object to his superior.

Without another word Soundwave went back to the terminal and scanned through the data that the chip held and, despite the Communications Officer's trademark emotionless attitude, Barricade could tell that the data that he collected caught Soundwave's interest because it was something that neither of them had seen in quite a while.

"Believe it or not, that was from a human child. The only problem is that she has become associated with those damn Autobots." The Saleen spat, the memory of his beat down still fresh on his CPU.

Oblivious to the fact, Soundwave seemed unfazed (duh!). "No matter. Child must be brought here. Doctor needs to examine it. Allspark possible too great to ignore."

"Did somevon say my name?" A small, spider looking bot crawled swiftly from the door, it's eight legs tapped against the ground as it raced up to the mechs. It scattered in front of the terminal and stared into the screen. "Hmmm, I vill need this specimen to confirm these findings." The minibot continued to rattle on in excitement about the possibility of a new experiment while the to two large mechs just turned to each other.

Barricade was the one who spoke first. "So when do we move?"

It was simple question that had so many connotations, but this time it was the worst one possible. "Soon, once information has been gathered. Then we strike."


"Rachel."

"..." Sleeeeepyyyyy...

"Rach?"

"...mua?"

"RACHEL!"

"Jesus! AHH!" Yep, you guessed it. I got such a fright that I fell out of my bed. Rubbing the sore spot where I landed, I gazed up to see Jazz staring smugly down at me.

"Hello down there." He chirped and offered me a hand.

"Screw your face." I growled though I accepted his offer and he lifted me back to my feet. I glanced at my clock beside my bed and grimaced. "8:34. Are you kidding me, Jazz? I'm a teenager. I'm suppose to be nocturnal!"

"Hence why I'm here. I know you could sleep for a month no problem if you had the chance."

"Oh, how you hurt me so." I said in an overdramatic fashion, almost like how you would hear it in a play. "So why did you wake me up at an ungodly time?"

Jazz smiled. "We have to get everything ready."

"For what."

"Beach barbecue for the guys when they get home."

I had two words for that plan. Freakin' awesome!


LITD: I have to say sorry because you guys waited for a long time and to be honest I was quite disappointed with this chapter because it was quite rushed and it is short compared to the others despite the amount of time I've had to do this, but like I said at the top, I'm busy as hell with studying for the exams so writing won't be my top priority though I'll try my best to squeeze some in. I hope you'll all understand since you guys have been awesome so far. *Hugs everyone in sight*

Well guys, I hope you review, thanks and wish me luck 'cause I'll need it. Till next time.