Author's Note: The second part of this chapter is the scene that started it all, the very first section I typed. I wrote the rough version of it and wondered to myself, "But how did they get here?" And so this fic was born. Er . . . be gentle. ALSO! FYI although I'm already working on the next chapter, as well as several snippets, I wont be posting again until after the Holidays. Hopefully I'll have more than one chapter lined up for you guys. Happy Holidays, and as always, Happy Reading! ~ Shadow
Disclaimer: I own the main character and the rest of her screwed up family, all others belong to Hasbro and whoever else had a hand in the movie.
Disregarded
Chapter 14
Jodi hated living in Palo Alto.
More importantly, she hated her new school.
The kids her age were spoiled and stuck up. Social status seemed to be everything, and the girls flaunted it with glittering accessories, expensive hairstyles, and makeup. Jodi came to know name-brands on sight, and became disgusted with herself for knowing the difference.
Her parents never brought up the possibility of private school, and looking back, she thought she was better off for it. Everyone here was nosey, and you could never take anyone at face value. Rumors had a tendency to move faster than sound.
On her very first day everyone already seemed to have an opinion of her before the final bell even rang. It didn't help that these days, Jodi was easily irritated, and several students soon learned that the tiny new freshman wasn't worth approaching.
Jodi didn't fall in with the petty games, and had little patience for those who did.
She missed her old school.
She missed being home.
Sharp pain shot through her chest.
Home was long gone, laying six feet under along with her parents.
Things had changed too much, too quickly. New town, new school, new rules. All she wanted was one thing, just one thing, that was familiar.
Jodi begged Uncle David to let her go back to a public school. But he was adamant in his decision, going on about how it would look for her to suddenly switch to a "lesser school".
The reasoning ignited her temper. She didn't care how it would look!
She had originally tip-toed around her uncle when she had been sent to live with him. She wasn't sure how to act around him, and he made her nervous. Especially after her father's funeral, back when her mother first started acting weird. So she had been careful how she acted around him.
Until now.
She was high on her anger and any caution she had left was thrown to the wind.
They were in her uncle's office on the second floor. Uncle David strode out from behind his desk, his normal collected expression at odds with the tension he moved with.
He told her that their discussion was over.
Jodi held her ground, green eyes glaring at him, and argued that they were not.
She didn't see the box cutter in his hand.
Pain seared along the right side of her face. She doubled over as she yelled, hands clamping over her eye.
He dragged her into the bathroom by her hair, knocking her to the cold tile floor. He pinned her and clamped a hand over her mouth to muffle her noise. She thrashed uselessly against him.
She screamed into his palm as he poured hydrogen peroxide over the wound.
Jodi could never remember how long he held her there, but when she finally wound down to silent tears, she recalled him leaning down to breathe into her ear.
"You did this to yourself. Next time you look at me like that, you'll find yourself in the same position as your father."
His words rang in her ears.
She never forgot them.
oOoOo
She woke late that morning to the sound of approaching sirens.
When she had finally drifted off Jodi had been wrapped tightly in Barricade's arms. His Holo was surprisingly warm, and with his sharp eyes watching over her she felt safe enough to give into her exhaustion.
It took several long moments for her to realize that she was alone in the back seat, and that the wailing siren wasn't coming from Barricade. Groggily, she sat up and peered out the rear window.
Her breath caught in her throat.
What the hell did I miss?
At some point, Barricade had taken them back on the Interstate, and was darting in and out of traffic. What little there was, anyway.
And now they had more than half a dozen cop cars hot on their tail.
Real cop cars.
"Umm, Barricade?" She asked, her stomach suddenly in knots. She bit her lip and turned when she was given no answer.
Her tension grew when she spotted the Holoform sitting in the driver's seat. He had obviously modified it while she had been sleeping. From the reflection in the rear view mirror, his face was the same, but the Police uniform was long gone, replaced by scuffed up jeans, and a loose dark hoodie. His eyes glowed like embers beneath the hood.
Her pulse quickened.
"What's going on?" Jodi asked, trying, and failing, to keep her growing panic from her voice. "'Cade, what's happening?" she pressed.
She was chilled by his silence. He didn't even look at her.
"Talk to me dammit!"
They lurched forward. Jodi caught herself and whipped around.
One of the cruisers had rammed them from behind, clearly attempting a PIT maneuver.
'Cade is faster than this! She told herself, remembering his driving when the Autobot was after them.
She stilled with sudden suspicion.
No, her heart argued. No, he wouldn't, he-
They lurched again, and this time they swerved off the road. To anyone watching, it would simply look like the driver had lost control, and spun helplessly into the ditch that ran along the side of the road.
But Jodi knew better, and her blood ran cold.
As soon as they "crashed", Jodi gaped openly as Barricade's Holo stumbled out of the cab like a drunk and bolted from the scene, the door swinging shut behind him. The cops closed in around them, a few officers swiftly exited their cruisers and chased after him on foot. The rest cautiously made their way towards Barricade, one had a hand on his gun.
Jodi scrabbled into the front and tried the door, gasping when it wouldn't budge.
"What are you doing? Get us outta here!" Jodi breathed, feeling the moisture gather behind her eyes. She pounded the dash, and then smashed her fist against the window. "Answer me! What did you do! BARRICADE!"
One of the officers spotted her in the cab, shouted something to the others and rushed over. He said something to her in a reassuring voice, re-holstered his sidearm and grabbed the door handle.
Betrayal washed through her as the door opened.
He outstretched a hand to her, coaxing. She scrabbled away from him, backing herself into the passenger side door. She nearly tumbled backwards as the door behind her was opened as well.
"No!" Jodi fought hard against the hands grabbing her, trying to gently pull her from the car. "Don't take me away! Please don't let them!"
But nothing stopped them.
Traitor! Her mind screamed. Tears streamed unhindered down her face. "You don't understand! 'Cade, please!"
She stopped fighting when she realized he wasn't going to help her, not this time. She felt hollow with disbelief.
This was a nightmare. She was dreaming and would wake any second. Wake up, wake up, wake up!
Someone had wrapped a blanket around her and had guided her to sit on the back of one of the police cruisers to wait for the paramedics to arrive. When they called her by name, she broke completely.
She stared at the battered black and white mustang, knowing without a doubt it would mysteriously vanish and the hijacker would never be found.
Words from only two days ago drifted across her memory, and suddenly her heart felt like it was caught in a vice.
No harm will come to you if I can prevent it.
"Liar," she whispered, choking on the word. She didn't hear the officer's asking her questions. Didn't notice the paramedic arrive, checking her over. All of them were telling her that she would be alright.
Betrayal welled in her chest, heavy and constricting, and escaped with a gut-wrenching scream. "LIAR!"
oOoOo
Author's Note: Don't hurt me.