rjdskdsakdasd y'all are too sweet!

also i totally forgot the new transformers movie was coming out... i wonder when i can go see it cries. have y'all seen it already~? in any case, hehe, more slice of life things~ however? small spoilers, things will start picking up next chapter!

Chapter Eight

She'll never look at pranks the same way again.

"I want revenge."

"Meimei, if those words come from your mouth, it doesn't seem like a joke."

"It is not."

Those three words instigate a look of terror upon her roommate's face. Placing the magazine down, she stares at Meixing cautiously, as if this is a reality she has trouble accepting.

"... I thought you said you were against violence."

Meixing blinks. "I am."

The blonde's look of caution shifts to wariness. "Then what kind of revenge..."

"A prank," she hurriedly fills in the blanks, after observing that Rachie is genuine with her expressions. She had forgotten that Rachie is the type to jump to conclusion quickly. And those conclusions aren't always the most realistic ones in their outcome. "On Sideswipe."

"You want to put a prank on the Chángquán kick? I don't think that's realistic."

Meixing scowls and picks up her pillow, flinging it at the other woman. "You know that not what I mean." Grumbling to herself, she pulls herself off her bed and makes her way to her desk.

"Sorry, sorry." Rachie places her hands up in defeat, sitting cross-legged on her own bed as she observes the other. "He has such a weird name, I couldn't help but tease."

"Is his nickname." Meixing shrugs in response. "Better not to judge."

"You have evening classes today, don't you?" Rachie points out. "You think you have time? I can help you with revenge, but if you want it to be effective, it's gonna take a few hours most likely."

Meixing nods. "Does not need be complicated. I think simple but meaningful prank is fine." She smiles. "Longer I wait, longer I feel irritated."

"What'd he do? He seemed like a nice guy."

The Chinese woman shakes her head. "Nothing wrong in particular. Think of it as... revenge for carrying me." She turns to the other. "So, what kind of prank can you come up with?"

Rachie hums, furrowing her brows in contemplation. After a moment of deliberation, her expression brightens and she claps her hands together eagerly. "Does he have a car?"

Did he find anything suspicious? After texting him and asking him where he parked, she hoped to build on the assumption that she needed him for something. Thus, in order to get him away from his car, she then asked him to meet her elsewhere after getting the location of the parking lot he put his car in.

It shouldn't have been that suspicious.

Although then again, if Meixing saw someone carrying eight plastic bags of sticky notes, she'd be suspicious right away. Good thing she's the suspicious one instead!

"Rachie, you better distract him for long time..." Meixing mutters, making her trek through the parking lot in search of the expensive silver car. Fortunately she remembers the car he drove, and judging by its appearance, she's counting on the fact that it's not a common car to be driven. Apparently, it's a high class car. That makes it all the more ideal to use the poor car as the victim of her revenge. She admits it's a shame, since from what she remembers of it, it seemed to be well-maintained.

It's okay. It's not like she's denting it. Just giving it a harmless makeover.

He's not a student, but strangely enough, he has a parking permit meant for students. Perhaps the school has acknowledged him as one, due to his connections? Regardless, it takes her a few minutes, but after the car population began to thin out, she spots the silver car that had nearly run her over last week.

"Ah," she whispers in victory. "There you are." Perhaps she should have expected that someone like Sideswipe would park in a spot away from the other students. The sun shines brightly over their heads, reflecting off the headlights and paint nicely.

So clean that even the sun reflects off of it. She almost feels bad for what she's about to do. Almost.

She settles at the driver's side, plopping down all her bags and stretching her arms out. "Hmm~" She grins, crouching down and inspecting the car. "Where should I put it first..." Digging into one bag and pulling out a thick pad of sticky notes, she eyes it in serious contemplation. Even if the most she's hoping for out of Rachie is thirty minutes of a distraction, she should still do a neat job.

Pranks aren't her forte. She's usually an observer of other victims. In fact... she remembers faintly being one that looked down on other people who did pranks during school. It had been a waste of time, she had said before.

This is different though, she tells herself. It's not high school anymore, where everything built up for one's future. Besides, perhaps every once in a while, people do deserve to unwind. So long as the prank is not harmful to other people...

"I will start with driver door," she says in finality. Pulling off one sticky note, she exhales softly. "Lime green is good color." With a short laugh, her intention is to place the sticky note on the car slowly, lest using force causes a small dent.

Except her hand stops millimeters away from the door. Not by her hesitation or change of mind...

Someone is gripping her wrist, gently but firmly.

How did this new shadow cast over her escape her notice? Meixing slowly tilts her head upwards to meet the bright blue gaze of Sideswipe, whose expression is that of amusement.

"Well, Xiao xing, didn't think you had this in you. I must admit... you surprised even me."

She is certain that her skin is losing its color. Opening her mouth, she means to ask what happened to Rachie, but what comes out of her mouth is a suppressed squeaky imitation of her roommate's name.

"Oh, uh... she's still on campus. I figured something was up when you didn't show up." The smirk that tilts on his lips makes her want to slam the sticky note onto his face instead. "You really thought that you could get one up on the king of pranks~?"

Now that she's aware of his presence, she notices that she's pretty much caged in. He's standing over her, but his legs are bent and his feet are apart enough to prevent her from leaving from her south side. One of his hands is gripping her right wrist, preventing her from placing the sticky note in her planned position. The only part that's free is her left side, in a way; although the bruise still hurts which is why he hasn't touched that aside, Sideswipe's left hand rests on his bent left knee, blocking off that way of escape.

The question currently is, did he plan on exacting his revenge on her revenge? If that is the case, then it was not fair! He totally had it coming!

Her lips twist into a pout and her cheeks flush in irritated embarrassment. He had caught her, somehow; she had thought that her plan was perfect. Rachie had been eager to help too, so Meixing dearly did not want to suspect that her roommate had croaked so easily.

It's her defeat... for the moment. There's no way she's going to concede so easily.

"You are king of pranks?" She asks, blinking innocently up at him. He hums in acknowledgment.

"I don't mean to brag, well I do, but—"

"If you king, then I am underdog!"

Meixing hastily grabs the sticky note in her right hand with her left hand, then slapping the note onto the door in front of her. An elbow goes out to land a soft hit in his abdomen, which is enough of a sneak attack to cause him to release his grip for a moment.

Then she rolls out to the left, snatching one plastic bag and scrambling to her feet, making a break back to her dorm without daring to look back. Of course, she doesn't expect to outrun Sideswipe, who's just as athletic as he looks.

As shown by the fact he's already hoisting her over his shoulder. Curses.

"I... I have class!" She protests, kicking her feet out.

"No worries, I'm not kidnapping you away from campus." She can't see his expression, so it's difficult to tell if he's angry by this turn of events. Although since her face is facing the parking lot, she can see his car. Unfortunately, they're far enough so that she can't see if he has removed the sticky note. "Geez, you act like I'm going to squish you or something."

"Are you... not mad?"

"Well, for one, your prank failed."

Meixing huffs and turns her head to the side.

"For two, you didn't dent me. My car." He coughs to correct himself. "So I'll let that little attack slide... for now."

"Wonderful."

"Still, I stand by my point that I didn't think you would try and pull a prank on me." Sideswipe's laughter fills the air as the familiar sidewalk comes into view. "Least of all, targeting my car. I underestimated you."

His tone of voice changes, and even Meixing can imagine the shit-eating grin that's growing on his face.

"However, don't think you'll get away with this."

She groans. "Was revenge for the bruise. You should let it go."

"The bruise wasn't a prank. Since you attacked me with a prank, I'll fight back with a prank."

"That makes you sound more horrible."

"... my bad."

Silence fills the space between them. Perhaps he hadn't meant to utter that short apology, however, it's... something. And worth appreciating, since they've come this far getting along.

"It fine. So I just have to watch my back, yes?" She waves her hand around. "You can put me down now. Oh, and do not prank while I in class. Or else will seriously murder you."

"We'll see." He whistles. "I don't usually give preemptive warnings for my pranks. Consider yourself lucky."

"Yes. I am so very happy." Her voice is laced with sarcasm as she pats his back. "Now put me down."

"Hmm... I wonder what I should do."

She doesn't stop patting his back. In fact, it increases in harshness, and after thirty seconds he relents and places her on the ground begrudgingly. His expression is cross as he reaches over and rubs at his back, giving her a pointed look. However, he supposes that he had it coming.

Again. Maybe he should stop ticking her off so much.

"I'll be leaving now," she says. "Unlike a certain someone with infinite free time, I have class."

Sideswipe arches an eyebrow, leaning towards her. "A certain someone? I wonder who could that be."

She tilts her head up. "You might as well attend class if you lounging around so much."

"My job here is for a different purpose."

"Yes, replacing a bee, correct?" She frowns. "Is that military term for something else?"

Ah. He remembers their conversation from a few days ago and snickers. The fact she isn't questioning the mention of Optimus, rather, Bumblebee, is amusing in itself.

"You could say that," he hums. "Now I thought you had class?"

She scowls and turns around without a word. Although she will not see it, he waves goodbye. Truly, it is quite the entertainment to tease her.

Now, to get about that revenge prank... he shall show her what a real prank is like.

Meixing rolls her right shoulder, groaning in irritation as she waits for the rest of the class to leave. Another lecture dragged past the designated time, however, she cannot fault the professor this time. Students who ask questions that the professor will cover in the next slide... they should know better, since the slides are given in a handout beforehand.

That fact that it is a night class does not make matters better. However, she supposes this is how class will go for the rest of the semester. Hoisting her backpack over her shoulder, she bids the professor a good night before making her way back to her dorm. A disadvantage to having class this late is that dinner will also come late. However, it's tiring to go out and find something to eat, especially since everything on campus closes at this time.

"I probably have cup noodle..." She mutters to herself, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "If Rachie did not eat it already." Her roommate did tend to have a liking for the food Meixing had. It's burdensome on her food stock but boosts her pride all the same.

The walk to her room seems long. When she arrives, however, it is not quiet like usual. There is an entourage of whispers and soft laughter, with Meixing realizing that it comes from the crowd of people just nearby her room.

"What is..." Pardoning herself through the river of people, she eventually makes it to where her dorm door is... or at least, to where it should be. For some reason, instead of the wooden brown that should be her door, it is multiple rows that make up a rainbow.

"Our first freshman prank of the year," someone says. "They really outdid themselves this time, pfft."

"Poor girl. It'll take forever to clean. Wonder what the inside looks like?"

It does not take long for the muttering to begin centering around Meixing. Someone even approaches her right side and grins at her. "Hey, open up your dorm? We're guessing there's more damage inside."

She's gaping too much to even spare a moment to glare at them. However, she also wants to see the extent of this prank. Shoving her key into the doorknob none-too-gently, she hears the crowd takes steps after her. It's quite comedic to the ear, as she holds her breath and slowly pushes the door open.

Leprechauns would be putting pots of gold in her room by now.

In unison, gasps of horror and awe move down the crowd. Meixing continues to gape at the damage, eyes unbelieving yet mouth dropped open in a small circle. A few camera clicks are heard, and Meixing can even hear the soft whir of a camera adjusting, indicating that a video is being taken.

"Damn it..." She curses under her breath, dropping her backpack onto the floor in anger. Sticky notes everywhere, placed quite neatly despite their numbers, and all in an array of different colors... he had taken her original idea and taken it to the extreme. She knows a losing battle when she sees one. Where is the culprit? He should be basking in his glory, at this rate...

Ah, wait. She sees one note with writing on it. It's placed at the very corner of her sticky-note covered bed, however, so she'll have to trek carefully. Actually, does she want to be careful? If she walks carelessly, the sticky notes will get crumpled, but at least they'll be removed from the floor. She can't deny, though, that there's a part of her that seriously appreciates the meticulousness of this prank. It'd be a shame to destroy it for now.

Even she can't help but slowly take her own phone out to take pictures. Curses. If Sideswipe sees this, he'd definitely be gloating.

"So, Miss Wang!" The RA makes her way over, grinning sheepishly as she holds a makeshift microphone to the Asian woman. "How do you feel about being this floor's first victim of a freshman prank?"

Meixing blinks, unnerved by the sudden attention. She has only met her once, on the first day, but otherwise she didn't think they were in the position to be so... talkative with each other.

"Um. It is very irritating. But also admirable." She gathers her thoughts quickly, not wanting to present her choppy English when she's the center of attention again. Her face flushes, though, as she has never been the biggest fan of publicity.

"Do you know the person who pranked you?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Oh? Are they here tonight then?" She continues inquiring, waving her hand out to the crowd of people. Meixing spares them a glance, acknowledging that they are all eager to know who pulled this off.

"I do not see him. However... a message if you can hear this." Meixing narrows her eyes. "Watch your butt tomorrow. It might get kicked."

A series of 'oohs' resonate throughout the crowd. The RA laughs and decides to leave the conversation at that, proceeding to usher everyone into their rooms. It's almost curfew, but the prank had drawn everyone out like mice to cheese. It's interesting to see how prank culture works here after all.

"Now... where Rachie go. I know he did not come inside himself." Leaving the outside of her door and the surrounding outside walls alone for now, Meixing steps in carefully and closes the door behind her. It takes all but one second, however, when she notices Sideswipe on her bed, smirking devilishly as he waves at the young woman.

"Son of a bitch!" She yells out, stepping backwards and slipping on a sticky note in surprise. And she has no idea how, but somehow he makes it from her bed to the front of her door in less than a second, an arm swooping out to securely slip around her waist.

She stiffens in surprise, looking up at the other who doesn't break his smug look of amusement. However, worry does flicker for a second on his features. Seeing that she's in no position to get hurt now, however, he defers back to smugness.

"A turtle egg, huh? Your insults could use some work," he says. Her look of astonishment turns cross in a second as she folds her arms across her chest.

"Obviously, you not know context. Learning language literally does you no good." Huffing in frustration, she lifts a hand and lightly taps at his shoulder. "Lift me up now. This angle is uncomfortable."

He arches an eyebrow. "Don't girls like it? Being caught by a prince charming like this?"

"Believe me, you are anything but."

"Hmm... how about like this~?"

Meixing lets out a yelp at he swoops her lower, hands reaching out to grip at his shirt as a form of security. His smirk is back on his face (as if it ever left in the first place) as he whistles casually.

"Geez, so aggressive, Xiao xing."

"Shut up!" Her face flushes red. "Pull me up! You'll make me puke at this rate!"

"Can't you pull yourself up?" He uses his free hand to motion to the vice-like grip she has on his shirt. Then, the arm around her waist pulls her closer to his body, making no room for escape. She knows this very well, thus the glare directed at him.

"... are you always so irritating?" She huffs, waiting for an opportunity to present itself.

He hums innocently, pulling the other upright yet not releasing his arm. "Define 'irritating'."

"You a lost cause," she says in exasperation. Meixing wiggles herself out of his hold, taking care as she steps on the sticky notes on the path to her desk. "How you get in anyway?"

"Rachie."

"... Of course," she scowls. "Did not see you when opening door earlier though."

"... Uh." He looks away, coughing lightly. "I was hiding in your closet?"

"Why you asking like a question?"

"... so, how'd you like the prank?"

Meixing arches an eyebrow. "Your effort to change topic is not subtle."

"Didn't think you'd like my answer," he says tersely.

Ever the strange man. Yet she supposes she cannot fault him for it. She has no room to judge, if this is simply the way culture works here in America. "Well... you not kidding, for sure."

"I'm a very serious mech who makes very serious decisions." He even makes the effort to make his face serious, though it quickly fades to a lighthearted grin. "But yeah, no, I take my pranks and give them my full attention. Your expression was very funny."

She figures 'mech' must be slang for 'man'. "Even I will admit... this dedication can be admirable."

"You even took a picture."

Meixing turns her head away, ignoring his pointed observation. "Well, since you here... help me clean it."

He laughs. "No can do. I have places to be." As in, he's purposefully avoiding staying for the purpose of helping her clean.

"Sideswipe..."

He's already at the door, waving goodbye. "Sorry, Xiao xing. I don't clean up after my victims. Have fun though~ I'll see you soon." Then, with a wink, he hastily opens the door and sprints down the hallway.

Meixing pinches the bridge of her nose. "He acts like I will disembowel him." Shaking her head, her lips form a pout as she glances over the room. Lest there be another falling accident, she supposes that she has no choice but to clean it all up.

One more picture for the road though.

When Rachie returns, Meixing does make sure to give the other a good scolding about the day's events. The other is certainly at fault for letting Sideswipe into the room, although Rachie justified it as both of them knowing the other, so she figured it was alright to let him sticky-note the room.

"It is your room too," Meixing says dryly.

"Yeah yeah, but you were the main victim." Rachie fingerguns at the other, who simply picks up a sticky note and flings it half-heartedly at the other.

"Get back to cleaning."

"Yes, ma'am."

"This is your fault anyway," Meixing sighs. "If you had distracted him longer... I could have gotten sufficient revenge."

"About that—" the other perks up, pulling off another sticky note. "I only met him for a few minutes, right? We started off talking, but then he got this really weird look on his face and said he had to leave right away. Then he zoomed off like his life was on the line or something." Rachie scratches her cheek. "I didn't spill the beans... but the timing of that was really weird."

"Huh." The Chinese woman blinks at that. "You think... he have someone to warn him when he saw me near car?"

"Maybe?" She shrugs. "Why don't you ask him?"

She shakes her head. "It might be part of his job. Sideswipe keeps things like that secretive or vague."

"Yeesh, you really picked someone who'll make you chase your own tail, huh?" Rachie wipes an imaginary tear from her cheek. "My poor meimei..."

"... Make me do what now?"

"I... nevermind."

"Don't call me meimei anyway. Go back to cleaning."

"... Yes, ma'am."

"By the way, where are my cup noodles?"

"..."

"..." Meixing walks over and presses more sticky notes onto Rachie's face. The other simply gives an apologetic grin and accepts her punishment.