I do not own transformers only my character.
Temptation~
Zackery rode in the driver's seat and I rode on the passenger side of the sleek black Mitsubishi Lancer that was Vox. There was a song playing in the CD player that sounded like an intricate dance between a man and a woman. I had seen many such close seductive dances in that television show where people danced, but never have I heard music that brought that to mind. "Who did this song?" I finally asked.
"Vox." Zackery said with a smile. "He likes to play around with different music and now he has makes his own music. Zackery was beaming with pride.
"Wow." Stunned I looked at the dash and said, "I am impressed."
We pulled into the college parking lot. Vox dropped both of us off at the front door of the main building that held the admissions office, bookstore and library.
"I will be close, let me know when you are ready."
We both said, "Ok." as we walked towards the front door.
I was too excited to be enrolling in college to pay much attention to the interior of the building. As we approached the library Zackery slowed down. I am going to be here in the Library," she called out as she opened the door.
"Ok," I mumbled in reply as I kept walking towards the main office.
I walked into the brightly lit office, looked around for a split second before spotting the desk that had an older woman sitting behind it. I waited for her to look up and acknowledge me before speaking.
"Can I help you?" she finally inquired.
"I am Kari Asher. I have almost finished enrolling but I have this last bit of paper work I need to get done so I can start winter classes."
She pulled a pair of glasses off her head and started typing on a computer. "Here you are dear." She said after a moment searching. "Do you have your statements that you needed as well as your final transcripts?"
"Yes right here." I pulled my paperwork out of the folder I carried and handed them to her.
She copied some papers then turned and started typing information on the computer.
"You can keep those papers, they are copies." I informed her.
"Thank you dear, this looks like it is all I needed from you. You should get a package in the mail that will have your classes and book list in a few weeks." She said as she typed.
I tossed the now empty folder in the trash as I left the office.
I walked out of the office and hear a now familiar voice excitedly call out. "I knew I would run into you again."
What brought such joy just a few short weeks ago now caused dread. Ashley was here again. I had no idea what to do. I was told to have no further contact. I could not walk over there and pretend everything was just fine. It was not. The stakes were too high for complications. Still being sore from my encounter with Michael was proof of that. I could not turn around and talk to her but I was having a hard time thinking of just ignoring her.
"I am here for a few weeks. I thought it was going to be a lot harder to track you down so we could have a talk. I was hoping you would come back with me. I did not even have to put my amazing computer skills to use." Her face was bright and excited as she continued walking towards me as she talked.
I smiled for a second remembering how Ashley was always great with a computer. She even knew how to break into secure web sites. Prowl's warning came flooding back to the forefront of my memory and I started backing away from her trying to think of a way to get out of this without hurting her feelings.
She stopped for a second with a confused frown on her face.
"Kari?" She called again louder. "What is the matter with you?"
I darted around the corner and stood there a split second feeling like I was on the verge of a panic attack. At the last second I decided to make a run for it. I ran down the hall and headed for the library. I heard her call my name again. I was certain she would follow me. Ashley did not give up easily. I could feel the tears as I whispered I am so sorry Ashley. This is for your own good.
I hit the library door I was out of breath when I made it inside library. My heart was in my throat and I was shaking. I knew I must have been white as a sheet. The library seemed deserted as I looked around.
I finally spotted Zackery reading a book. "Zackery" I called out my voice bordering on hysteria. "She is here. Oh my god she is here and she saw me. I am not to have any contact with her." I panted, staring at Zackery waiting for what I had just said to sink in.
"Oh my god Ashley is here and I think she is coming this way. I repeated I started to try and meld with the book shelves hoping she would not see me.
Zackery calmly looked up from her book before quirking an eyebrow. "Who did wha-?"
I was shaking and I repeated a third time, "Ashley is here and she is coming this way. I am ordered to have no contact with her."
"Calm down I am contacting Vox now." she said as she whipped out her phone.
The door opened as Ashley walked in. I tried standing behind Zackery hoping I would not be seen and I could avoid the confrontation I knew was coming. Not much fazed Ashley but she did not like being ignored and she was fiercely protective of her friends. Once riled my forever happy best friend could become a powder keg. She searched the library before spotting me.
"Kari, I have been trying to talk to you. Why are you ignoring me?" She was not mad but I could tell she was not happy either.
I had no idea what to say. I once again tried melding with the bookshelf as I helplessly stared at Zackery. I was hoping she knew what to do since I did not have a clue.
Zackery looked from me to Ashley. She sized up Ashley's petite frame. She had blonde hair with an ever so slight light brown tint to it; her eyes were a light brown. She had just enough freckles to look cute. Ashley was shorter then most people although she was still taller then me. She did not have the scrawny look that I had either. Most times she had a gentle friendly look to her face but right now it was annoyed.
I stammered trying to explain to her why I could not stop and talk.
Sighing Zackery closed her book, "sorry can't chat now we are running late. Come on Kari we're late in getting back."
Ashley's attention turned to Zackery. She smiled her warm smile she always had. "No problem, I just need to have a moment with her." Turning away from Zackery she looked at me. "I knew I could track you down. I took the liberty of getting you an airline ticket. Why don't you come back with me until classes start?"
I opened my mouth but I could barely get entire words to come out. "Ash. I,-I am so sorry. That is not poss…"
"Oh please don't tell me no. You know you want to come back with me." Her smile was genuine and she held her hand out in invitation.
Zackery cut in, grabbing my arm and pulling me back with the book still in hand. "We're really late sorry we have to go, now!"
"Excuse me; I am in a private conversation with my friend. You do not cut people off, and stop her from talking to me. You need to bud out and get your hands off of her." Her happy smile was fading and she was getting that edge to her voice that I recognized. Ashley was getting angry and stubborn. Ashley could be tenacious when it came to what she wanted more so then I ever was. She was also very protective of her friends.
Zackery's face hardened into a fierce glare. "So what if I am? Under legal law I have every right, and you standing in my way is messing with that right. Now move or else I'm not going to be happy. Are you such an idiot to not realize you're making it harder on Kari? Just back off, nitwit."
Now all friendliness was gone. Ashley now that that fierce look on her face I knew so well. Someone was messing with her friend and she was not going to stand for it. "What did you call me? She seethed glaring at Zackery. You know nothing about Kari and what is hard on her. I have been her best friend since preschool. I do not know what you have done to her but I do know that she up and disappears a year ago and when I find her she is full of scars and having some sort of anxiety issue. If you think I will simply stand aside and let you drag her off your are mistaken."
Ashley glanced at me as I stood there shaking before turning her fury on Zackery. "Now YOU need to back off and get the hell out of my way."
Ashley looked once again at me her face softened. "Jason is outside. He still thinks the world of you. Why don't you ditch Marry Pippins here and come with me." Ashley turned to look Zackery in the eyes with a steel glare on her face as she said the last sentence.
Zackery still had a hold of my arm and I wondered if she felt me stiffen when Ashley talked about her brother, Jason.
Zackery's glare stayed in place as she lowered her voice to a more menacing tone and spat out, "Kari, tell her we're leaving or else. Vox is waiting for us and if he finds out I got my hands around someone's neck he'll panic and call Prime. I could really care less about your history together."
I tried to cool the tempers that I knew were just about to explode between these two, "Ashley, really everything is fine. This is Zackery she is my friend, nothing more and we really have to go."
"Kari, wait a minute. Why don't you ever call? My number has not changed. I know you well enough to know you have never avoided me before. I can't help but think someone is forcing you. Come on Jason will take us to a hotel and we can leave tomorrow morning. You can come back to Oklahoma for a few weeks. There are so many people there who love you and miss you. Jason still talks about you with that look in his eyes we always laughed about. You remember all the plans we made of going to college together? You would get a little farm. I know my brother was hoping to be apart of your plans."
I could not help myself; I took a step towards Ashley. I thought of all the wonderful times we had. How much I loved her family.
Zackery grabbed my arm and roughly jerked me back towards her.
"Kari what the hell is going on?" She picked up her phone and sent a quick text. "I have told Jason to come help. Come on Kari lets go." She went to grab my arm.
Zackery jerked me back again away from her. "Things are a mess right now for Kari. I am the one that is legally responsible for her at the moment. You're not only interfering with the progress she is making, you're making things worse. Now move before I move you myself. Trust me; you do not want to go there." Zackery's voice was low and menacing. I know I would have jumped out of the way if Zackery were speaking to me like that.
Ashley grew up with her brothers who were very rough and wild boys. Threats never fazed her. She did not even flinch at the threat or the tone of Zackery's voice. She only raised an eyebrow before replying in her own menacing voice. "Oh you want to start throwing threats around? How about I call campus security and we all sort this out at the security office.
The thought of security officers and reports being filed had my heart racing in panic. "Ashley please you don't understand…"
"Oh I understand just fine, Jason is on his way and when he gets here we can all have a nice chat, or I can call security and we can talk with them." Ashley tone was dangerous now. I knew she had dug in her heels now and there was no way she was going to let this go.
Zackery gave Ashley a harsh shove out of the way then grabbed my arm firmly. "Call them then. Move it Kari." Zackery sharply commanded as I was she pulled me along.
I looked behind me. "I am so sorry Ash. Really it is better this way. There are so many things going on that you do not understand." I told her as I tried to fight off crying.
Zackery was walking to the doors holding my arm in a vice grip and she pulled me along.
"I am in so much trouble." I was even closer to crying with the thoughts of what Prowl would do to me now.
Just do what I do and walk away as fast as possible. Don't slow down. Vox is waiting out front."
We hit the front door and I spotted Vox. We were just feet away when Ashley's older brother, Jason approached. Jason was just a few years older then me. I was not sure if he was 20 or if he had turned 21 yet. He was just the same as I remembered. He had a medium build but I was not sure if he was still muscular under his sweater and leather coat. He had sandy blond hair that bordered on brown. His eyes were a warm rich chocolate brown that he could use to pull me in if he chose to.
"Kari," He breathed out my name like it was something precious and delicate. Like it was the whole world to him. "Ashley texted saying someone was forcing you to leave. He looked at Zackery like he was sizing up how hard it would be to grab me away from her. He took a few steps toward us.
I stood there almost in a trance staring at him. He had held his hand out to me. I stared at it wondering what would happen if I took it. Instead Zackery once again jerked me against her snapping me back to reality.
Jason's face became serious as he took another step towards us. "Kari.." He once again said my name with that look in his eyes. The look that confirmed what Ashley told me in the library. Jason still loved me and would drop everything right now, for me.
Zackery stepped in front of me blocking his attempt to touch me. She did not release her grip, in fact if anything it was tighter as if she were worried I would try to pull away.
Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. Jason stood there looking at me like he was getting ready to shove Zackery aside. I thought to myself no Jason, don't but I could not get my mouth to work.
A roar of an engine broke the trance. Vox revved his engine several times in an angry warning. It worked. Jason halted as Zackery continued backing up.
"Can this get any worse," I whimpered as Zackery with even more force shoved me towards Vox as she blocked Jason to prevent any chance he had of touching me.
Zackery kept her eyes locked with Jason her glare a clear warning to keep back while she proceeded to shove me into Vox's open passenger side door. "Look, I don't want any trouble, okay? So do yourself a favor and forget this ever happened."
The second I was in the car the seatbelt came around me tight locking me down into the seat. The door closed and locked. I wrapped my arms around myself and tried not to cry as Zackery got in the drivers side.
"I am in so much trouble now." I whispered as I glanced over at Jason. He was staring after me with the same look on his face. I had known for over a year that he loved me and I may have loved him but I did not stay in Oklahoma City long enough to find out if it was really love or if it was to be nothing more then a close friendship. The door closed behind Zackery and Vox sped out of the lot. We made it to the highway. Vox was weaving in and out of traffic to put as much distance in between us and the school as possible.
Zackery looked angrier then I had ever seen her before in my life. "Zackery are you ok? I whispered.
She put her hands over her face, "uuuuhg...self restraint is so HARD!"
"That was restrained?" I asked, astonished.
Vox's speakers shook with a chuckle. "If you had not been there I'm sure she would have seriously harmed someone. You should feel honored, Kari."
A sudden thought had me in full panic again. "What if she calls the police?"
"Don't worry about that. I've been intercepting calls; everything is fine.
I looked at the dash as I said, "I doubt everything is fine." I picked up my phone and sent a text to Sideswipe.
"I'm sure as long as you remain on base he shouldn't have a problem. Now would you like hamburgers or Chinese? They're both close and you both need to eat something before heading back..." Vox's voice said over the speakers.
"Burgers are fine," Zackery said then looked at me as I finished up my text. "Who you textin? It had better not be Ashley. "Cause if it is I have the ability to eject you from a moving vehicle at 90 MPH." "She said in a threatening voice.
I looked at Zackery like she was nuts, "No I am letting Sideswipe know what happened."
"Well that's just GREEEEAT. Vox, go ahead and comm. Prowl and tell him what happened. Give him a heads up!"
My stomach twisted just thinking about Prowl knowing about all of this happening.
We pulled into the restaurants parking lot.
"I have money why don't I get some food and bring it out.
"Ok," Zackery agreed.
I hopped out, ordered our food and waited. I glanced out the window to see Zackery upset. I could tell she was angry by the way her arms moved. When she looked towards the restaurant I could see not anger but worry on her face. Our order was ready so I took it out to the car.
Zackery had a scary look on her face.
"What's wrong I asked as I handed her the chicken nuggets she wanted."
"I just imagined Ashley's face, that's all. Can we go now? I feel a bit cramped.
"Yeah sure, where are we going now?" I asked as I watched her face. I had the impression that something happened while I was ordering our food, and it was not good.
"We are going back to the base, Now." both of them said a little too forcefully for my comfort.
