Jack sat up on his bed as his mother came into his room, he'd been waiting for her to give him his punishment when she got back, but he didn't expect her to hug him. "Mom, what's the matter?"

His mother pulled back, a stern look crossing her face. "Why didn't you just tell me that you didn't do any of this?"

Understanding showed in Jack's eyes as he realized what she meant. "Smokescreen told you what happened?"

"He said he hurt you-" June said and Jack cut her off.

"It was an accident, I swear! He wouldn't have hurt me on purpose." He replied.

"From what he said, he seems to have done it already." June replied and Jack sighed. "I was so worried that there was something wrong, why didn't you ever say anything?"

"I didn't want Smokescreen to get in trouble, he's my friend; I wanted him to say something on his own because I thought he'd do the right thing. I didn't want him to hate me for ratting him out." Jack explained.

"Jack, Smokescreen didn't just tell me, everyone at the base heard him; and…Optimus and I came to the agreement that Smokescreen should stay away from you for the time being. You are still grounded for the rest of the week for keeping this from me, but you can go back to the base after that." June replied.

Jack frowned. "But he did that prank for me, sure it was misguided, but he didn't mean any harm; no one got hurt."

"Regardless, he still hurt you." June replied. "And until I can be sure it won't happen again, my decision is final." She hugged Jack once more as he crossed his arms defiantly. "This is for the best, and it'll give Smokescreen time to think over what you mean to him."

"What are you talking about? He's my friend." Jack said insistently.

"Jack, the actions speak louder, and Smokescreen doesn't seem like a very good friend." June replied honestly.

Jack frowned again and looked away in contemplation. He'd threatened to end their friendship if Smokescreen did anything to Vince, what kind of friend did that make him? 'Looks like we both need time to see what we mean to each other then.'

"Mind if I sit here?" Jack asked as he walked up to Sierra.

The redhead looked up at him, the bruise under his eye concealed with cover-up, but she narrowed her eyes at the hickey on his neck. "Wouldn't you rather sit with your new squeeze?"

Jack blinked before he blushed. "It's not what you think! You see, my friend kinda got…upset and, er, he sorta hit me by accident…"

Sierra's brief flash of envy turned into concern. "Is this the same friend who keeps getting you in trouble?" she asked and Jack remained silent. "Did he do something again?"

"No, he spoke up and told his…dad and my mom that he was the one who did the prank. They said we weren't allowed to see each other for a while, but my mom said I was free from grounded when the week is over." Jack replied.

"Well, this is for the best, right?" Sierra asked and tried to brighten the mood. "But that means we can go on another date, right?"

Jack glanced at her, and tried to smile, but it fell flat. "I guess we can."

"We could go to the movies on Sunday night, to celebrate your freedom." Sierra said.

Jack nodded absently. "Yeah, that sounds cool, but you might be uncomfortable with riding on a motorcycle…"

"It'll be fine, it doesn't matter what kind of ride you have." Sierra cut in swiftly.

Jack furrowed his brow, but nodded. "Well okay then."

"Are you sure you're alright though? You seem kind of…out of it." Sierra said in concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Jack assured her and his voice lowered, "I really am."

Jack looked around the school parking lot, wondering where Arcee was. She was usually back when he got out of school. "Jack! Hey Jack! Over here!"

Jack looked over at the sidewalk as Miko waved at him from Bumblebee's alt-mode. He walked over, and raised his brow. "What's going on? Did Arcee have a mission?"

"No and yes, she found out what Smokescreen did and went to tear him a new one!" Miko retorted. "But then they had to go on a mission with him."

"Miko!" Raf said sharply as Jack's eye twitched.

"She did? But she didn't need to…when did she leave?" Jack asked.

"Earlier, so Arcee asked 'Bee to drive you to work." Raf explained.

"Ah, thanks 'Bee." Jack said and got inside the backseat to sit beside Miko. There was a beeping and Jack assumed that was 'Bee's reply.

"So, it was really Smokescreen who gave you that hickey?" Miko asked bluntly and Jack flushed.

"Miko!" Raf said exasperatedly.

"Don't tell me," Jack said rubbing his forehead, "you and Raf were there when Smokescreen told Optimus and my mom about what happened?"

"Yeah, he really seems to like you, kept calling you his friend." Miko replied excitedly.

Jack raised a brow. "When he is my friend, so I'd assume he likes me."

Miko's smile turned sly. "You two like each other a lot, don't you?"

Jack furrowed his brow. "What are you getting at?"

Miko stared at him incredulously. "You really can't see it? Man, you two are sooo dense!" she snapped frustrated.

"Why would you care anyway?" Jack asked annoyed. What was she talking about?

Miko's tone became patronizing. "Think about it, Jack; what is Smokescreen to you?"

"My friend." Jack said automatically and grew confused when Miko let out a growl. "What is with you lately? Why all the questions?"

"Because you're both total idiots, that's why!" Miko shouted.

Jack looked at Raf, who was looking back at Miko, also seeming confused. "You know what she's talking about?" he asked and Raf shook his head.

"Jack," Miko said grabbing Jack by the shoulders, "you and Smokescreen totally have the hots for each other!"

Jack raised a brow once more before he shook his head. "Are you sure you're not just seeing what you what to see? Because I don't think how we interact with each other is romantic in nature, we just like spending time with each other."

"You went on a date!" Miko accused.

"Smokescreen offered to be the ride, and the person I went out with was Sierra." Jack retorted and Miko waved it off.

"Details, but he still offered and you still accepted." She replied. "And even now you're seriously acting like you just got dumped. You weren't even this upset when you couldn't see Sierra."

"We barely got to know each other, and now we can't see one another, while I've known Sierra for years, of course I'd be more upset." Jack retorted and when Bumblebee beeped, he looked outside and saw that he and Miko had been arguing the whole way to KO Burger. "Face it Miko, Smokescreen and I are just friends." He said getting out of the backseat.

"You still think about it, and you'll see I'm right!" Miko called after him.

Jack looked back at her and shook his head. "This coming from someone who doesn't think, why would I believe you?" he asked before he kept on walking toward the establishment, trying hard to ignore the thought that maybe Miko had a point after all.

Because as it were, Jack couldn't deny that his actions in the beginning were how he'd tried to ask Sierra out when they were younger.