Carly's POV;
"I still can't believe you actually tackled me." I muttered looking out the window.
"Really? I thought you knew me." she laughed.
I thought we were simply heading home, which I would have been really happy about, but instead we turned down the wrong road, driving deeper into the city.
"Uh, Lyra?" I asked, turning towards her, regretting that I let her drive, "Where are we going?"
"You need actual clothes to wear tomorrow. Not your so called shorts. Not your tee-shirts. You actually need shorts. Short shorts, and a tank top. You need real clothes."
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" I asked. Sure it's true. My clothes are a little modest, but hey! At least I don't walk around in an ankle length dress. Which he did joke about at one point… Lyra glanced over, giving me a once over.
"I can't say."
"Why not?"
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all."
"Since when has the stopped you?"
"Hey! I am a very polite person!" I just looked at her, raising my eye brows. "Okay, fine. But still, you are in a sensitive place, and I care about you."
"Wow! So you've hated my outfits for years?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Really, Carly? You dad was very old-fashioned. Do you honestly think he would have listened?"
"No probably not." I admitted.
"He wouldn't."
"So where are we going to buy the clothes?"
"Uh, that wonderful place called the mall."
I can honestly say that as much as I like the aspect of new clothes, and new shoes. I absolutely hate the process of trying them on. I have never felt so claustrophobic. Lyra didn't mind telling over and over again how much I was over reacting. But I maintain, it sucks.
"Didn't you have any fun today?" Lyra asked as we walked past rows upon rows of clothing. We had many bags of new purchase's, and tomorrow Lyra was coming bright and early to help me pick out what to wear.
"Yeah. I guess it helped get my mind off all the crap going on." I admitted.
"Good. That is pretty much the whole point of shopping."
"Well I learned something new today."
"What?"
"Models are nuts."
"You've got a lot to learn kid." Lyra laughed throwing her free arm over my shoulder.
Cliffjumper's POV;
I drove out of the base, bent of getting some fresh air. It was way too crowded at the base. Especially since the others learned about Carly.
"Where you headed, partner?" Arcee asked following me outside.
"Just going for a drive. I need to clear my head."
"Would you like some company?"
"Sure, why not."
For a few minutes we drove in silence. Taking in the barren landscape that was the desert. Nevada was a very picturesque place. With towering mountains sanded down by the wind. Power lines decorated the almost invisible dirt road. This place was perfect for exploring. But it was also perfect for getting lost.
"You seem quiet lately. You're never quiet." Arcee started. "Cliff?"
"Yeah?"
"You serious about this girl aren't you?"
Our two vehicles slowed to a stop and again the silence enveloped us. I hated the silence. Ever since the war started, there has been silence, and there has been fighting. It didn't balance out. Bots would talk, joke, and laugh. But there was no happiness in it.
Bots had seen too much misery, felt so much lose. Carly had experience loss. But she was still willing to be happy. I wanted to convince Optimus to tell her the truth. I wanted to connive him to have her stay with us. But at the same time, would I be willing to take away her freedom?
"I don't know yet." I admitted. She made my spark feel funny, but I couldn't tell what that meant yet.
"How could you not know?" Arcee asked. "I thought you knew everything."
"Ha. Ha. Very funny." I said sarcastically.
"If you aren't sure, let me take away your doubt. You are."
"How can you know that?"
"Because I know you."
"Thanks Arcee."
"No problem. But I only want one thing."
"What?"
"I want to meet her. See if she's good enough for you."
"If Lyrazone heard you say that…"
"I can take Lyrazone."
"Sure you can. Remember what happen the last time you two fought. It was over something trivial too."
"I've never fought with Lyrazone."
"Oh right. That was when you kicked my aft."
"Don't you forget it."
"You know, I lover our touching moments. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside."
"Hey, I proved I cared back when we first met. Remember?"
"How could I forget partner?"
"I you ever did forget I would kick your sorry aft. Again."
"Come on, partner, lets head back to the base."
Carly's POV;
I was having a pleasant dream. I didn't have my alarm set. I wasn't worrying about anything today. I would have to go back to school tomorrow. But I was giving myself one more day to get my baring's.
So why was I so surprised when Lyra woke me up and 7:30 am? Shouldn't I know better by now? Apparently not.
"CARLY! WAKE UP!" Lyra yelled, making me jump right out of bed, landing on the hardwood floor.
"Have I told you how much I dislike you lately?" I asked, rubbing my sore behind.
"No. Wait, yeah! You did yesterday when I made you try that tenth pair of skinny jeans."
"I almost forgot about the skinny jeans." I said shuttering.
"What is your problem with skinny jeans anyways?"
"I felt trapped! I felt like I would never be free of them!"
"Your being over dramatic."
"You told me that at the store too."
"Well, it was the truth."
"I was trapped. In skinny jeans!"
"If it was hard to get them past your feet, don't force them any farther."
"That's not what you said yesterday. Yesterday you were all like 'Come on Carly! Show those jeans who's boss!'"
"And you believe me!" she said laughing. "You should know that you never force skinny jeans."
"Now you tell me!"
"I love you Carly." she smirked leaning down to hug me.
"Don't touch me." I grumbled pushing her away and standing up. "Why are you here so early anyways?"
"To help you get ready for your date of course." she said, forcing a smile on the word date.
"What is your problem with Cliff anyways?" I asked.
"Nothing, Cliff is a great guy, it's just…"
"Just what?"
"You two are very different people."
"So? Isn't that what makes life interesting?"
"I guess."
"And you know. It's not really a date today. It's just two people hanging out. No biggie."
"Sure." Lyra laughed. "Now, it's time to walk about the important stuff."
"Like?"
"Makeup and clothes of course! Why do you think I made you go shopping yesterday?"
"Because you hate me, you were mad at me? I can come up with a few different reasons."
"Of course not! You needed some actually date clothes." She paused pulling out all the new clothes we just bought.
She looked each over several time. Holding one up to see in the light, and some up to me. She kept going 'Hmmm…' and muttering unintelligibly to herself. Finally at 8:30 am, a whole hour later, she was satisfied.
"Okay, go put this, this and this on." she smiled shoving me into the bathroom.
"Hey, hey! Don't push." I snapped when she closed the door behind me. "Are you serious?" I yelped as I looked over the clothes she picked out. She picked out a bikini, tank top, and some shorts, that were a little too short for my taste.
"Yep! Now stop complaining." I could hear the grin dripping in her voice.
"I strongly dislike you right now."
"Maybe tomorrow I'll finally teach you how to swear."
"I'm dressing! I'm dressing!"
I looked in the mirror looking at how the clothes looked on me. They actually looked nice. But I would never admit that to Lyra.
My bangs framed my face as my hair reached lazily past my ears. My freckles were shining through from spending so much time in the sun. I had a bit of a tan, but it wasn't that great. I guess it was better than a lot of girls at school, but I still looked pale beside Lyra. Even though we both spend the same amount of time in the sun.
Unfair.
"I'm coming in!" Lyra called opening the door. "Damn! Who has the best taste in clothes ever?" she said with a satisfied smile on her face.
"Fine, I'll admit, I look a little better than usual."
"A little?!" Lyra snapped.
"Yeah. A little."
"By the end of today you'll see how great you looked. Trust me."
"I do. But doesn't it seem like I'm showing a bit too much skin?"
"Only in your dad's eyes would it seem like you were showing too much skin. To the rest of the world, you're showing just enough."
"Okay. So were all done now right?"
"Uh, no! Does it look like you are done yet?" she demanded.
"If I say yes, will you hit me?"
She hit me anyways."
"Dose that answer your question?"
"Yes."
"Okay, sit over here, and let me see if there is anything I can do help you."
