Simply Fiction

by Neko no Dreama

The Decepticons return to face the Autobots twenty years after they lose at Mission City, yet they are not fighting alone. They are joined by a new race of humans that have been infused with their technology. It is no longer just their war...

5. Chapter Four

Okay. Chapter Four. Enjoy. 3

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C h a p t e r – F o u r

Jay growled and gripped onto the steering wheel as she glared out the front window of the cab of the semi-truck she was forced to drive. She let out a heavy sigh and banged her head against the wheel grumbling. "I swear... I'm going to slaughter him..." she murmured and looked up just as the streetlight ahead of her changed from red to green.

"Er...You've been saying that the entire time," spoke Michael. He sat just beside her, eyebrows raised as he watched her and smiled uneasily, "I'm not the one you're gonna kill, right? Cause, if I am, I'd like to get out at the next stoplight."

Jay sighed and looked over to Michael, smiling slightly. "No, it's not you. It's my brother, he's just driving me up the wall," she muttered and shook her head. "If it's bugging you I'll keep all my wishes to kill him in my head, and let him have it later."

Michael ran a hand through his hair, his smile still uneasy as he watched her, "Um, yah...What he do to get you so ticked, anyway?"

"He won't stop flirting with my best friend, and I'm also his twin so that means I'm cursed with Twin telepathy. And it doesn't help that we're a weird set of twins so I hear everything he thinks," Jay said rolling her eyes. "It's a blessing and a curse."

"Well, how about we draw your mind away from his," Michael then suggested, his smile now collected as he leaned back in his seat.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Jay asked glancing at Michael, only daring to look at him for a split second so she could keep from getting distracted.

"Distraction," Michael said, though, he grinned a bit more broadly now as he said only this one word.
Jay looked to Michael, and into his breath-taking eyes. "Distraction... right," she muttered after regaining her breath and forcing herself to look away from Michael and stare at the road in front of her.

Michael laughed gently, but he collected himself and tilted his head to look at Jay, smiling before he spoke a gain, "I mean, 'distraction' as in...How about a date with me this Friday night?"

Jay looked to Michael in disbelief. "What?" she asked as her gaze was once more trapped by his eyes. She could have sworn she felt her heart skip a beat as she heard these words from Michael.

"A date. You know; when two people get together and have dinner. I was personally thinking of that new Italian place just at the edge of the city," Michael grinned, running a hand through his hair, but his expression dropped a bit, "Unless you don't want too."

Jay shook her head and grinned. "I know what a date is, Michael. I was just in shock. I don't get asked out very often," she muttered smiling meekly, as she once more forced her eyes to focus on the road.

Michael merely smiled at her words, his expression soft as he now urged for a more definite answer to his previous question, "So is that a yes or a no?"
"Do you honestly think I would be mean and say no?" Jay asked, a wide grin crossing her lips.
"Then it's settled," Michael grinned so that he seemed like a small child of five, "You and me. Friday, six o'clock. Italian."
Jay looked to Michael and shook her head sighing slightly. "Can I ask you something?" she asked meekly.

At the sudden question, Michael's expression softened partially as he looked to her with his brilliant sea green eyes, "Sure. What is it?" his voice was soft and gentle, caressed by concern along each syllable as he spoke.
"Well, uh, I was just wondering," Jay paused and mentally slapped herself, as she began again, "if you'd like chance to drive instead of just having to watch me. You're never going to learn how to actually drive it if you don't ever get to drive." Jay bit her lower lip to hold back an ashamed groan.

Michael looked at her for a moment, as if he was unsure if this was Jay's real question to be asked. He then brought himself to speak as he leaned back in his chair, "Er, yah. Sure. Tomorrow, I'll take over driving, then."

Jay sighed heavily and leaned forward so she was hovering over the steering wheel as she waited for another streetlight to change. "So, just out of curiosity, how many serious relationships have you had?" she asked in hopes of bringing up some kind of conversation.
"I've had a couple relationships, but nothing that serious," Michael began as he leaned against the window and stared to the outside scenery, "And how about you?"
"To be completely honest, I've never had a guy stick with me for longer than a week," Jay muttered meekly. "They all said I was too anti-social."
At this, Michael had stared at her as though she had sprouted wings and grown a tail, "You're kidding, right? Anti-social...?" he questioned, unsure at this.

"Yeah, believe it or not I used to be a loner big time. I suppose being shunned by your adopted parents does that to you," Jay said and shrugged. "Plus what guy in their right mind would want a girl with an ugly scar covering her face seen with them?" she muttered rolling her eyes in disgust.
For a moment, Michael was uncertain about what to say. He ran a hand through his hair as he stared out through the window, "Does is matter whether or not one person has a scar or not? A relationship shouldn't solely be passed on looks, but, if it helps, the first time I saw you, I never noticed that scar, only your personality and how you stood out. Not because of what's on your face, but because of how you presented yourself in front of me."
Jay was slightly taken aback by these words. "B-But you can't just say it doesn't bother you in some way. You may not have noticed it at first but you still had to notice it, everyone does," she said; her voice low and her eyes focused on the road.

"Sure, I noticed it, but it doesn't really matter to me. Whether you had a scar or not, you're still going to be Jay," Michael said, his eyes still set to the world that passed just outside Optimus's window.

Jay smiled slightly and looked to Michael. "You know, you're so different from all the other guys I've known," she said and grinned slightly. "You probably wouldn't even care if I wasn't even human, huh?" she asked in a light, semi-joking tone.
Michael merely laughed gently as he now turned his head to look at her, "Jay, I could care less if you had horns and a fish tail."

"Well, let's not go that far. I think that would draw more attention that a silly scar," Jay said smiling brightly, her focus gone almost completely from the road she was supposed to be watching.
Michael shrugged, smiling still, as Optimus revved his engine and took over the wheel, straightening his position on the road. Lifting his head slightly, Michael spoke lightly, "So what? Jay is Jay."
Jay shook her head and looked back to the road, allowing Optimus to take over the driving completely, though she kept her hands on the wheel to cover this fact. "So, why exactly would someone so... well nearly perfect want to ask someone with so many issues out on a date?" she asked meekly as she stared at the road.
"I'd think what I said would be enough of a giveaway," Michael replied, teasingly as he glanced to Jay with a small tone of laughter.
"I just don't see why, that's all. Being a loner for who knows how long robs you of all sense of understanding of things like this," Jay muttered looking to Michael, and once more her eyes were trapped with his.

Michael merely smiled at her perplexity, his head tilted down partially as he watched her and his hair falling down the edges of his face, "That's why," he said simply, more to himself then to Jay as he now looked out the window.

Jay shook her head and broke her gaze from Michael's. "What was that?" she asked as she returned her gaze to the road, confusion written in her white eyes.
"Oh, nothing," Michael shrugged, though; he continued to smile as he gazed out the window beside him.
Jay glanced back to Michael and shook her head. "How do you ever expect me to understand if you don't tell me?" she asked a hint of pure innocence in her voice.
"Understanding comes best if you learn it on your own," Michael said simply, though, his voice was obviously playful as he pronounced each term.
Jay sighed and rolled her eyes. "I hate having to learn stuff myself," she muttered as she let out a small sigh.

Michael laughed gently upon her words, "You'll thank me," he said now, grinning to her.

Jay looked to Michael and couldn't help but smile. "That's what they all say," she said, as she locked her eyes with his once more.

After a moment, Michael had spoken up again, glancing to the street, "Er. Don't take this the wrong way, but shouldn't you be looking at the road?" he suggested, smiling uneasily.

Jay blinked and glanced ahead of her. "I suppose I should," she murmured and then added under her breath, hoping to keep the statement to herself, "but I'd rather look at something more interesting..."

Only catching a small portion of the added section, Michael arched an eyebrow and urged to figure the remainder of the sentence, "You'd rather what...?"

"Nothing, I said nothing at all," Jay said a small hint of pink crossing her cheeks.
Michael now grinned at this, his eyes running down her flushing cheeks, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm positive," Jay muttered as she glanced over to Michael.

Michael laughed once more and looked to the road in front of him, "You'll tell me someday," he said quietly.

Jay laughed at this and shook her head. "What makes you so sure about that?"

"I'm sure about a lot of things," Michael responded rather coolly as he continued to watch the passing street.
Jay rolled her eyes and stayed silent for a while. She groaned slightly as the new building of their work came into view. The truck soon came to a stop and the engine went silent. Jay leaned against the steering wheel her chin rested on her crossed arms. "So, guess this marks the end of another thrilling day of delivering food," she said in a distant tone.

For a moment, Michael seemed to be disappointed as he ran a hand through his hair. He then sighed and looked over to Jay. For a moment, he debated his actions, though; he leaned over and gently kissed her cheek. He brought his lips up to her ear and smiled, "Remember. 6'oclock." With that, he exited the truck and headed into the building.
Jay's eyes widened as Michael did this. Her heart quickened and her cheeks burned as she stared after him. After a while a widen grin crossed her lips and she leaned back in her seat and sighed dreamily. "Maybe this job isn't as bad as it seems."

Once Michael had left from sight, Optimus revved his engine, before his voice spoke gently through the radio, "Jay, you wish to have a relationship with that human...?"
Jay tilted her head and poked at the steering wheel. "Is there something wrong with me liking Michael?" she asked confused by the reasoning behind Optimus's question.
Immediately, Optimus spoke again, "No, there isn't, but sometimes humans can be difficult when the subject relates to those who are...different."
"I don't think he'll be too difficult on that matter. You heard what he said," Jay muttered as she smiled slightly.

Optimus again contemplated this, before he spoke; his voice, this time, more certain, "Yes, I suppose you're right," he trailed off, in thought for a moment. He revved his engine once again, "Alright. Who would you rather take you home?"

"Depends, how much leaderly stuff do you have to do? Cause I'd hate to cut into whatever it is you leaders do," Jay muttered as she leaned forward and rested her head on the steering wheel.

The engine sputtered in laughter, as Optimus spoke again, "I can afford to take you home at least one night."
"Good, you've been neglecting me a little," Jay muttered and laughed. "And you wouldn't want to fail in your responsibilities."

"Let's just get you home," Optimus had responded calmly, though, were he not a vehicle at the moment; he would be smiling lightly as he began to drive down the road.

Jay yawned slightly and shook her head to wake herself a little. "If you insist Optimus," she muttered, smiling.

This time, there was no response from the radio, only the sound of Optimus's engine heightening as he gained speed upon the black tar road. This was the only noise that was pronounced through the large semi truck, as it drove upon the road to Jay's (or technically El's) home, only the caress of the chilled wind brushing against the metal.

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The next day followed, the weather chilling and freezing in the time of month, so that small crystal drops of snow tumbled to the ground similar to a scene of ballet. The gentle flakes of white swirled gently to the ground, but dissolved instantaneously once touching the rigid cement. Simply becoming a small drop of water across the vast solid river of black. This continued into the gentle courtyard of Eliot High School. Each individual drop falling onto the empty trees and frosted grass. The large square area was adorned with benches and evergreen trees, as well as students roaming at its edges during the afternoon hour. El was just one of the several people, though, unlike the majority, she was in a hush as she sat upon one of the benches. Her bag and belongings were positioned at her side, as a small notebook was placed in her lap as she wrote. She scribbled words and thoughts along the paper, in a desperate way to block out the stares and comments that were spread across the area. El's hearing had become far more sensitive as of late. Each word seemed to be shouted and pronounced straight to her eardrum, to join her thumping heart clogged in her throat. Students walked dangerously close to her, as they murmured words to one another, whispering and pronouncing each sentence so clearly in the winter air. El ignored it, with a deep struggle as her throat dried and she continued to write with her quill pen.

"You know, it's amazing I didn't think you could be anymore of a freak," said a male voice from behind El. There stood Jaden, seeming out of place without his usual ornament on his arm, leaned against the trunk of one of the trees.

At the words, El's body tensed. Her hand grasped upon the pen within her hand a bit more tightly. For a moment, she had hesitated; however, she turned her head and looked to Jaden. Her hair was partially askew over her eyes as they widened a bit at the sight of Jaden. It was odd. All her high school life, El had always considered Jaden to be a Greek god, though, at this moment, she couldn't feel anymore out of place in his presence. Her expression fell a bit as she reran his words in her head. El looked back to her notebook and began to scribble drawings of Bumblebee along the paper, "...You and everyone else were not supposed to know," she spoke, though her words were strained as she was having difficulty pronouncing them.

"Well, whose fault is it that we know? It's not mine, I know that for sure," Jaden muttered as he pushed himself up from his leaned position and approached El. He leaned over the bench and grabbed the notebook from El and rolled his eyes at it. "Damn, you having a love affair with your car or something? I mean what freak would be complete without their own freak of a car."

At this insult, El then stood from her seat and faced Jaden properly. Her cheeks were flushed, and she found her hands clenched partially, however, her heart raced rapidly as she looked up to Jaden, "Don't insult Bumble..." she muttered, but then hurriedly began again, "And would you rather have been dead? You're only alive because I decided to do something about it..."

Jaden laughed a snide laughed and looked through the notebook in his hand. "Actually, if memory serves, you didn't decide anything. That freak who said she was your 'sister' decided for you," he muttered and stopped flipping through the notebook. He smirked and pulled the page he was looking at from the binding and held up a picture of Bumblebee that looked as though it took hours to complete.

El's eyes trailed to the drawing held up before her. Her heart thumped as she watched the complex 'doodle' sway before her. Each line was presented smoothly along the sheet from the nib of her pencil. That one sketch had taken El's patience and motivation to its edge, and at the sight of it simply held so carelessly allowed El's stomach to twist into knots, "Jaden...Please. Put. That. Back."

"And why should I? What are you gonna do to me if I mess it up?" Jaden asked as he messed with the edge of the drawing tearing it ever so slightly. "I mean, you couldn't even stand up to Abs, you had someone else to it. You may be an all powerful robotic freak, but you're still just a spineless little coward."

Again, El's heart had jumped into her throat. Her lower lip shook as she looked up to him from her height, inches below him. At her side, her arm had formed in a shimmering cannon; however, she did not move it from her side, as she looked up to him in a hush. She watched, nervously, where the paper was to be ripped, though, she could not move from her spot, only speak in a quavering voice and the corners of her eyes welled with wet droplets of tears, "...This...is how you friggin thank me and all the other 'freaks' who got rid of Vortex the other day. You and that bitch you call 'Abs' would be in the middle of the funerals right now, along with the rest of this place. To think that I actually thought you might be a decent guy. You are no better then that slut," the words flooded suddenly from her lips, as though she were simply breathing, however, she was exhaling and inhaling heavily and her cannon was shaking at her side.

Jaden glared at El and began to rip the sheet of paper in his hands once more; though, before he could do any real damage to the drawing it hand been quickly taken from his hands. Jacob stood next to El now, his white eyes set on Jaden in a scowl. Jacob wrapped an arm around El's waist and pulled her toward him, as he nudged her arm that was a cannon, urging her to make it disappear. "El, is this jerk bugging you?" he asked in a protective tone.

At the touch of Jacob's hand trailed about her hip, El had quivered, bringing herself back to the reality of the situation. She looked to the ground and wiped away a spill of tears that trailed down her cheek, as she formed her other arm back into its original human state. El lifted her head only partially as she looked up to Jaden from under her eyelashes, as she then spoke in her shaking voice, "Jaden...is just being Jaden."

Jacob's eyes never left Jaden's face as he tightened his grip on El. "You know, it's not nice to make a beautiful young lady cry, no matter what she may be," he muttered as he looked from Jaden to El, resting his cheek against the top of El's head.

Jaden scoffed as he looked upon Jacob. He ran a hand through his honey hair, as his eyes were trapped with Jacob's as he returned the forceful glare, "What she is? She's not even human... just a freak of nature. And you, you're just another one of them."

Jacob growled and let go of El, grabbing the collar of Jaden's shirt and lifting him from the ground. "We happen to be the one thing standing between the human race and its demise. We are some of the most advanced creatures on this planet and you will learn to respect us one way or another," he said as his white eyes flickered with rage.
Upon this action, Jaden's eyes had widened a bit as he watched Jacob, however, he shoved and pulled at Jacob's hand that clutched upon him, "Get the fuck off me!" he declared, his eyes now narrowed as he watched Jacob, "I'll never 'respect' anyone like your friggin race, no matter how fucking 'advanced' you are, you ass!"

Jacob's eyes narrowed as he heard these words. "You know, it's jerks like you who give guys a bad name," he muttered and without hesitation he swiftly lifted his hand and punch Jaden in the face; though, he with held a good bit of his strength so he wouldn't 'accidentally' kill Jaden. Jacob dropped Jaden and walked back to El wrapping his arm back around her. "C'mon, you don't need to be around rubbish like that. It's bad for your health."

El shook partially as he watched Jaden stumble upon the ground, and cursing repeatedly along the pale grass. It took a moment, however, El nodded and reached to grab her belongings along the bench. She once more rubbed off the droplets of tears that were held at the edge of her eyelashes. Looking from Jaden and back to Jacob, she muttered softly as she now stared to the ground, "...Thank you."

Jacob grinned and placed his hand under El's chin lifting her face to his. "Hey, you should know, no one upsets my El and gets away with it," he murmured and gently kissed her forehead.

As his lips were upon her skin, El's cheeks had flushed a light pink, though, she had ignored this, as she was more concerned about the rapid thumping of her heart in her eardrums. After a moment, she looked away and muttered softly, "Can I...have my drawing back now?"

Jacob laughed and held the slip of paper up for El to get. "I think we should get out of here before the jack ass over there decides to piss me off again," he said shooting a quick glare at Jaden.

Once El had retrieved the sheet and placed it gently in one of her notebooks, she looked to Jaden, then to the several people who had gathered around to view the event, and back to Jacob, "...Er...yah. That'd be nice; I'd rather not have people staring at me for the rest of the day, again."

"Then c'mon, you can afford to miss a little school, right?" Jacob grinned and grabbed El's hand enlacing his fingers with hers.

For a moment, El had to think, however, she had, inevitably, nodded, "Let's just leave," she stated softly as she clutched the strap of her bag, and attempted to ignore the fact that hers and Jacob's hands were now intertwined.

Jacob smiled and gently pulled El from the courtyard of the school. "So where should we go to help you forget about that?" he asked and stopped just outside the school standing in front of El smiling sincerely at her.
El looked at him, tilting her head, "...I...really have no place to go. That I know of, anyway," she muttered softly, lifting her head a bit as her eyes gazed up to Jacob's, "Unless you have a suggestion."

Jacob leaned down and placed his forehead against El's. "Honestly I'm perfectly fine just standing here with you," he said with a grin.

El's cheeks flushed at his words and she leaned back partially, "You really haven't changed, huh, Jacob?" she muttered softly, though, if one would pay close attention, there was a small smile on her lips.

"The only thing that's changed about me is my appearance, I'm still the same old Jacob," he muttered and wrapped one arm around El's waist pulling her against his body, while he kept his other hand enlaced with hers.

In her response, El's cheeks had brightened partially as her heart beat matched the sudden pulsing of blood through her body, "I...know where I want to go, now," she suddenly stated, looking up to Jacob with her chestnut eyes.
"You do? And where would that be?" Jacob asked gently, his white eyes locked with El's chestnut pair.

"I've never exactly seen the city, before," El responded, her voice soft as she struggled to keep her stature straight as she drawn into the white of Jacob's eyes, "I mean...I've driven through it before, but I've never really seen it."

"Then the city it is," Jacob muttered as he kissed El's forehead and released his grip on El's waist while keeping their fingers locked together. He then led her away from where she normally would have gone to leave the school lot and to a lone sleek black sports car. "We can't very well take Bumblebee, he'd tattle on us."

"Or worse, he'd force me to go back into that school," El said gently, though, her eyes trailed to the vehicle, at awe for a moment as she approached it at Jacob's side, "This is yours?"

"Yeah, parents left me a little money in their will and I got this with it," Jacob said shrugging. He walked to the passenger's side and opened the door and waited for El to get in.

With a smile, El had taken her seat, slinking into the thick black leather seat, "But of course," she began softly, "My parents didn't leave me money, but they did give me Bumble. So, I suppose I can relate."

Jacob laughed and closed El's door and took his place in the driver's seat. "Well, I can assure you, my car isn't an alien robot," he said jokingly and started the car.

A small giggle was emitted from El's lips, "I can't remember the last time I've been in a car that doesn't turn into something over fifteen feet tall...It's a nice change," she responded, smiling as she leaned against the window and watched as the car began to drift away from school property.

"And I bet it's probably nice to be able to talk without someone eavesdropping, huh?" Jacob asked as he quickly glanced to El and then back to the road ahead of him.

"Tell me about it...Last time we were in a car together, it didn't help that Bumblebee was listening to me being sappy and biting off your head," El responded, though, surprisingly, she managed to smile as she looked to Jacob.

"Yeah, that was a little awkward, I couldn't say half of what I wanted to because your car was listening. I mean he's already tried to run over me for what I said and did anyway," Jacob murmured and sighed slightly.

Lifting her head at this newly discovered information, El's expression was rather perplexed, "He tried to run you over?" she questioned, unsure whether she had heard correctly.

"Yeah, the only reason he didn't was because I just happened to have Jay asleep in my arms," Jacob said smiling meekly as he glanced at El.

El sighed heavily and ran a hand through her silky hair, "Er...I'm sorry on behalf of my alien car, seeing as he probably won't apologize himself," she shifted her vision to the side at this fact.

Jacob laughed and reached over running his fingers down El's arm and grabbing her hand. "Don't worry about it. I would have run over me too."

Cheeks burning at the touch, El settled her vision, uneasily, outside the window, "Jacob, you said you didn't get to say all you wanted to the other night. What more was there to say?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out," Jacob teased, grinning at El.
El turned her head to look at Jacob, with a roll of her eyes, "Yup...same old Jacob," she muttered and groaned, slumping in her seat as she crossed her legs.

Jacob laughed and smiled brightly, looking back to the road. "So, what exactly do you want to see in the city?"

"That depends," El responded, now looking over to Jacob, curiosity in her eyes, "What do you recommend?"
"Well, actually the best sites are just outside the city," Jacob said smiling. "Y'know, woods and fields and lakes and all the stuff that you normally don't see anymore."

"Then, I want you take me there," said El, her voice gentle and similar to silk as she spoke. She looked up to him from her position, her eyes large and innocent as chocolate swirled within the pools of the iris. She spoke again, her lips spread into a smile, "Please."

"Your wish is my command," Jacob said his voice matching El's. Within a matter of minutes Jacob had parked his car in the midst of a large field just outside of the city. He looked out from under the hood looking at the sky, which had begun to darken a little. "Looks like rain..." he murmured to himself.

To his words, El sighed softly and messed with a strand of her hair, "A little rain isn't so bad. You'll just to deal with me looking like a drowned rat," she responded, smiling uneasily.

Jacob laughed and shook his head. "I'm sure you'll look perfectly fine, even as a drowned rat," he said and sat up looking to El.

El looked to him for a moment, uncertain of her choice of words, as a spare strand of emerald hair fell in between her fingers. She glanced out through the window for a moment, and opened the car door, exiting the car. El leaned against its frame and glanced about the area, "Even if it is going to rain, it still seems amazing."

"Yeah, there aren't many places like this anymore," Jacob muttered looking up to the sky. "So, how long do you want to stay out? I'd hate to get your guardian too mad at you."

"I don't think much can change that," El muttered, running a hand through her hair as she watched the sky and waited for a drop of rain to pour at any instant, "I've already ditched school, with you of all people. He'll already be upset with me as it is."

"Yeah, and be warned Jay's ready to slaughter both of us. So I guess it wouldn't really matter. I know I'm already royally screwed," Jacob said with a half-hearted laugh.

A moan was released from El's lips as she slipped down slightly down the side of the car, "...Great. Absolutely perfect. Now I have my imminent doom to look forward to," she muttered as she looked up to the sky.

Jacob stood and walked in front of El. "How about we get your mind off that doom, then? You worry about it too much, you'll get wrinkles," he said with a laugh and held his hand out for El.

It was a few moments of debating, before El had took his hand with a sigh, "Wow, thanks. That's one way to look at it," she muttered, her vision shifted to the side.

Jacob smiled and pulled El away from the car and to the center of the field. "Do you realize how much I've missed being with you?" he asked as he wrapped an arm around El's waist pressing her against him.

For a second or so, El was quiet. Her cheeks were flushed against the chill of the air against her skin, "...And do you realize how much hell you've put me through...?" she whispered to him, lifting her chin as she watched his white eyes intently.

"I know, and I'm sorry. Really I am," Jacob muttered as he rested his forehead against El's. "I never wanted to hurt you like that, I know I've said that before, but it's true."

"Jacob..." El began, her voice was soft and gentle as the clouds overhead thundered, "...If you ever left again, you have to realize...that I can never forgive you."

Jacob felt a pang in his chest as El said these words. "Even if it was for your safety? There wouldn't be anyway for me to be forgiven?" he asked his voice even softer and gentler than El's had been.

El's eyes narrowed and examined Jacob's expression carefully, in particular, his soft white eyes, "...I don't want you to center your life around my 'safety'. If I must die, then I'll face my death as such. My life should be my own responsibility..."

"But, how can I not center my life around yours, when my life is you?" Jacob asked his voice a mere whisper.

At the end of his sentence, a drop of water fell against El's cheek. She blinked, surprised at the sudden liquid droplet, cold and numb along her skin. Looking up to the sky, she found rain begin to fall from the boundaries of floating gray, "...I'll be far worse off if you decided to leave again, while I was still alive..." she started, and looked back to Jacob as the rain pitter pattered against her body, and continued, "...then if I were dead."

"El, even if I left I wouldn't be far away. Whether you like it or not, I'm stuck right here," he muttered at he placed his finger on El's chest over her beating heart. The rain began to pick up as the two stood there until it was nearly an all out downpour.

Again, El was stunned for a moment, as she glanced away, "Why must you be so difficult...?" Her wet shirt clung to her body, each curve revealed as the cold water was washed along her it. The material had once been a pure white that hung upon her body, however, it now clasped to each curve of her frame, the color nearly sapped from the fabric. The black fabric of her bra, revealed in the wet atmosphere, held her breasts, soft and lush upon her body. The once dry shirt that had secreted her body, had now betrayed her, merely clinging and discovering each delicate swerve and position. El held her head slightly, her eyes wandering about the area; until she had caught sight of her own body (revealed in the storming rain). The moment her eyes caught sight of her frame, El's cheeks had flashed a violent blush and as she still pressed against Jacob's body, she crossed her hands over her chest in a hush.

Jacob laughed at El's actions and closed his eyes, his head rested on El's. "Don't worry, I won't look, promise," he murmured as he tightened his grip on El.

Still, her cheeks were a decent rose color as water rushed against them. El's chocolate eyes look into the void of white in Jacob's, and she could not help but allow her heart race and thump in her throat. She could not find words to express the emotions that dwelled on her tongue. Her body quivering she whispered as her voice cracked every few syllables, "...Don't leave me..."

Jacob smiled and looked deep into El's eyes. "El, I wouldn't dream of leaving you again," he muttered his face merely inches from El's.

El leaned up a bit, her frame leaned against Jacob's for support, "That's what they always say..." she whispered, her pink lips taunting as they remained dangerously close to Jacob's.

Jacob grinned and tightened his grip on El. "Well, I really mean it," he said and gently closed the small gap between the two, his lips pressed against El's.

It had taken a moment before El could respond, her breathing a bit more rapid as she felt the warm caresses of his breath against her face. However, she acted the same as if it was their first kiss again, back when things had been simpler. Softly, she kissed him in return, her eyes shut as she enjoyed the moment, her heart beating within her chest continuously.

Jacob grinned and after a few moments he broke away from El, his arms wrapped protectively around her. He pressed his forehead against El's as he spoke softly, "El, you know I love you right? And that I would do absolutely everything in my power to make you happy."

"...Y'know, somehow, I don't think I ever doubted that, even when you left," El whispered to him, her soaked hair sticking to the sides of her cheek.

"C'mon, we better get out of this rain before you get sick," Jacob said loosening his grip on El, until all he held was her hand. He leaned down and kissed El's forehead before he began to lead her to his car.

"Can we still look around the city?" El suddenly urged as she glanced up to him, and, as she reminisced for a moment about old times, she had tightened her grip upon his hand.

"You just don't want to go back yet," Jacob said laughing as he looked to El.

"Well, I'd rather not walk to my death just yet," El muttered softly, as she looked to the side as she reached the vehicle, smiling awkwardly.

Jacob laughed again, gently kissed El's cheek. "I guess I don't blame you. My sister and Bumblebee will go easy on you, but me... that's a different story."

"Exactly. So you shouldn't be saying anything about not wanting to go back," El responded, smiling and leaned against the car, her body still exposed in the rain, though, she somehow believed Jacob on his word to 'not look'.

Jacob focused on El's face as he reached past her to open her door for her. "Well, then let's just dry off in here first then we can go somewhere else," he said smiling at El.

"Er...right," El muttered, as she once more realized she was wet from head to toe, and the fact that the rain had yet to cease did not help the matter. With an uneasy laugh, she took her seat within the vehicle.

Jacob closed El's door and quickly walked to his side of the car. He turned the key in the ignition and turned the heater on high. "So, after we dry off, is there anywhere particular you want to go in the city?"

El leaned her head against the window, "I'm up for anything..." she murmured, smiling lightly at the sight of the dazzling city even in such dismal weather, "As long as I don't have to hurry home, just yet."

"Then how about we go shopping? I haven't been able to spoil you in such a long time," Jacob said grinning at El.

"Y'know...I can always pay for my own stuff. I'm not exactly dirt poor," El responded, smiling uneasily to Jacob as she turned her head to face him, black and emerald strands colliding gracefully with her cheeks.

"I know, but what fun is that?" Jacob asked as he leaned over to gently and quickly brush his lips against El's. He smiled at her and ran and hand through her hair, "Besides I'm supposed to spoil you."

Upon his actions, El's cheeks had blushed once more, partially due to the rising heat within the car. She sighed and leaned against him now, listening to his heart beat to grow accustom to its sound once again, "Fine...Just don't go overboard."

"I'm not goinng to make any promises," Jacob murmured and grabbed El, pulling her toward him and kissing her forehead.

El's heart had skipped a beat for a moment; however, she clung to Jacob's body and set her head against his chest. Closing her eyes and curling her body against his frame. Only this simple pleasure of being held in his arms, so close to his beating heart, was able to lull her into a state of pleasure. This much she had missed passionately since they had been apart. His warm breath and the feel of his skin, despite the fact it was noticeably colder then she had remembered, but it was still the same Jacob he had fallen in love with for what seemed to be such a long time ago.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It had literally been hours until they return to her home. El's heart thumped in her throat as she now leaned against Jacob's car placed just at the edge of the road beside her home. Her eyes trailed from the window of Jay's room, the drapery adorned upon the window flapping delicately in the wind, to the golden Camaro that sat alone upon the driveway, "...I'm seriously debating whether I should take another step further..." El muttered quietly to Jacob, as she made sure to stay close enough to the vehicle beside her, so that she could not yet set foot on the property of her home.

"Well, if you don't hurry and go in and face Jay, she's going to come out here herself," Jacob said as he stood next to El, his hand locked with hers. "And she's already stressed enough trying to get ready for a big date tonight."

El made a small moan upon this, and ran a hand through her hair, "So...how pissed is she on a scale of one to ten...?" she muttered as she looked up the driveway to her home.

"I'd say about an eleven," Jacob said smiling uneasily. "But don't worry, she more pissed at me than you."

"Then I suppose I better face the music," El muttered with a sigh and looked down to their interlaced hands, "But you may want to back off just a little I'd rather not have Bumble run you over again, and succeed."

Jacob whimpered and hesitantly let go of El's hand. "Alright, that's the last thing I need. To get run over by an alien car," he murmured and looked up to Jay's window.

El produced yet another sigh from her lips, and without another word to be pronounced, she wandered up the driveway. Quietly and surely she walked with her bag slumped over her shoulder, in attempt to not be heard and perhaps, if luck was on her side, avoid not being interrogated.

Jay stood in the doorway of El's home, her white eyes focused on El and Jacob as they approached. "Y'know, you shouldn't be out without some sort of guardian. Something could have happened and you would have been stuck without help," she murmured acid leaking into her voice.

El was speechless for a moment, only smiling uneasily as she ran a hand through her hair. However, she lifted her head a bit at the sound of whirring mechanics from her Camaro as he went into his seventeen-foot robotic form, and now stood behind both her and Jacob. As panic spread through El's head, Jacob was the first to speak, immediately changing subjects to something that did not involve himself and El, "Er...Hey, Jasmine," he grinned, "Where's the date going to be again? The new Italian place, right? I heard it has great food. Good choice."

Jay glared at her brother and pointed a finger at him threateningly. "You are in enough trouble right now so don't you dare try to change the subject. And my name is JAY for the last time," she muttered threateningly. "Now back to the subject at hand." (Jay paused and cleared her throat.) "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU TWO THINKING!?"
At the sudden shout, El had winced a bit. She was in a state of hush as she looked off to the side, her stomach sinking, as she clung to her belongings a bit more tightly. In comparison, Jacob was taken aback partially, however, nonetheless he spoke again, "I was thinking of getting El away from that damned school and all the asses in it."

"But you shouldn't have let without Bumblebee or something. Do you not realize how dangerous it was to leave like that?" Jay asked standing up straight and glaring at Jacob. "And not to mention, you shouldn't even have been alone with her in the first place," she muttered stepping in front of her brother glaring up at him, her eyes loathsome.

"Jay," El's voice suddenly broke through. From the light and her stature, the innocence of her youth seemed more then bright then before as her expression was fallen and her large eyes had looked up to her from under her lashes, "Jacob had practically saved me from Jaden, back at the school. Since the Vortex incident, he's really become an ass. I have Jacob to thank for doing something about it. The least I could do was give him some sort of time of day without someone listening in to our every word," her eyes had shifted to Bumblebee for a moment, looking up to his hard expression, and back to Jay, uneasily, "And if we're safe right now, the rest shouldn't really matter..."

"But El, still, you should have at least let us know that you were leaving. Do you not realize how worried you had poor Bumblebee? I mean I hear Jacob's thoughts and I would have known if you were safe or not, so I wasn't all that worried, but your poor car was about to have a conniption fit," Jay said letting out a heavy sigh.

El's guilt suddenly rose in the pit of her abdomen, as she awkwardly brushed away a few strands of hair from her expression. She crossed her arms loosely over her chest as she continued to mess with a spare string of emerald hair. She shifted her body partially to look up to Bumblebee. From her height, he seemed particularly intimidating, but, despite this, he was still Bumblebee. She took a breath, her throat dry, and began to speak, "Bumblebee," she began timidly, having to shift her gaze away as to not look him directly in the eye "You should've known I'd be alright. I was safe, I promise, but...that still doesn't make it right that I had worried you so much. I'm sorry," at this point, her voice was partially cracking as she found the correct words to slip from her lips.

Bumblebee looked to El and smiled slightly. "Just do not do it again. I could have gotten reprimanded for letting you leave like that. Luckily Jay was nice enough to tell Optimus what had happened."

El returned his smile faintly and nodded lightly, "So, you're not too angry with me, are you?" she inquired, her voice gentle.

"Not this time, but next time something like this happens I will not be so lenient," Bumblebee murmured.
"Now, for you Jacob, I'm not through with you. You, mister, are trying my patience," Jay said glaring at Jacob.

Jacob smiled laughed uneasily upon her tone of voice, running a hand through his hair, "Can't we just save this till after your date? I wouldn't want you to be late," he suggested, smiling just as uneasily.

"I have plenty of time, and I'd hate to have pent up rage inside me for fear that I would take it out on him," Jay said smiling maliciously. "Now, stand still and I promise to make this as painless as possible," she muttered and cracked her knuckles.

"Er...Should we really resort to physical violence?" Jacob grinned awkwardly, backing up partially at the sound of her knuckles cracking under the pressure of her fingers, "Whatever happened to a simple debate?"

"That stuff doesn't work with family. Besides I can get away with killing you, no one will ever suspect a thing," Jay said laughing slightly she smirked at her brother. She took a step toward Jacob her white eyes no longer full of rage but now teasing and playful.
"Um...Don't you have a date to get ready for?" Jacob noted, laughing slightly as he took another step back, uneasy with Jay's expression.

"I already said I have plenty of time. I don't have to be there until six," Jay said grinning at her brother.

But wouldn't you rather be early? I mean, that whole 'fashionably late' thing is getting a bit old," Jacob explained, carefully watching his sister.

"But my dear brother, I can still murder you and get there early," Jay said her white eyes still playful as she stepped toward her brother again.

"I'd rather keep my life, thank you," Jacob retorted, straightening his posture a bit as again ran a hand through his black and red-pink hair.

"Aw, but what fun is that?" Jay asked as she smirked at Jacob.

Jacob had opened his mouth to speak again, however, it was El's voice that had spoken up, "Er...Jacob, Jay..." she muttered, her face shifted toward the distance, where flares of energy swirled within the sky, followed by trails of smoke that billowed gracefully into the evening

Jay followed El's gaze and she whimpered slightly. "Why tonight of all nights? Can't they be nice and let me have a break?" she asked with a pout.

Jacob, however, had a much different reaction, "Saved by the stupid Omega, of all things" he grinned, his body forming into his mechanized state, "Well, might as well take care of this."

Jay groaned and followed Jacob's lead, resuming her Mecha form. "Let's just hurry and get this over with. I have an hour before I have to be ready," she murmured with a growl.

El now did the same; Bumblebee assuming his Camaro form and revving his engine as he faced the direction of the flares. With a sigh, El and managed a small nod to Jay, "C'mon then," she stated simply now, her hair swaying in the gentle breeze, as she now took a bit more of a crouching position and raced into the night, Bumblebee following swiftly behind in the direction of the burning blaze.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Just at the edge of highway and street, a young seventeen year old shoved sparks of brilliant gold into the crimson street. Firework like blazes torching the once perfectly paved road of black. She had a flirty grin upon her ruby lips as she strolled casually at the side of the streets, shoving a number of golden trails of energy to the massacre of vehicles that began to pile up along the highway. Her aquamarine streaked black hair swayed in curls just to her shoulders, her equally brilliant marine eyes darting along the chaos she had created, pleased with her work. The armor that adorned her body was a sparkling pink, fashioned after a Razor brand cell phone, though; it revealed a decent amount of her olive skin, including her smooth stomach and edges around her inner thighs. She giggled slightly and looked up to her twenty-foot comrade, a large and sleek, black robot formed from her corvette. The girl then spoke, her voice high and as if it belonged to a young middle school girl, "So, Hyperdrive, you think they'll show up, now?" she questioned, shooting another flare upon the road.

"I think so. You've caused enough chaos to bring an entire planet of curious little Alphas to find to you, Anabella," Hyperdrive said with a small laugh to match his partner's personality.

Anabella, as she was now called, merely grinned up to Hyperdrive, however, she now shifted her head at the sudden sound of a distant revving engine and grinned, "And I think they brought you a decent opponent, too," she declared, with rising excitement in her voice, as she now caught sight of approaching figures, amidst the sparkling flames against the black of night.
"Good, I've been getting a little rusty. I need a little target practice," Hyperdrive said his tone rising in excitement with Anabella's.
"Why do the bad guys always have to show up when something important is happening?" asked Jay's voice from amidst the flames. She slowly walked from the shimmering flames and into Anabella and Hyperdrive's vision, her white eyes reflecting the multiple colors of the flames about her.
"And why can't they give us more of a challenge than just one or two opponents? This isn't any fun," Jacob's voice muttered as he emerged in a way similar to his sister. His white eyes, too, reflected the brilliant flames about him.
El had followed, at Jacob's left, the fire sparkling and crackling about her frame in an unaffecting manner to El's stature. Her eyes had trailed from Anabella to Hyperdrive, and finally to the chaotic mass of destruction along the highway, "But of course, another Mecha obsessed with destroying for pleasure. What else is new..." she sighed, as her Camaro now skidded to a halt, forming into his robotic form, one of his arms already formed into an energy cannon.

Jay looked to Anabella and smiled politely. "Shall we have introductions before our battle? Or should we just cut to the chase?" she asked forming her arm into a cannon with a grin.

Anabella giggled partially upon her statement, "Oh, I know who you are, but, as for us, you can call me Bella," she stated simply with a small flip of her hair and no motioned to the giant robot beside her, "And Hyperdrive." She now smirked at the sight before her, her arm forming into a cannon, "Now let's play."

"I'd be glad to," Jay murmured and smirked as she aimed her cannon at Anabella.
Jacob shook his head and pointed his own cannon at Anabella. "Now, Jay you can't have all the fun, you have to share."

"Yes, don't be silly," Anabella began, grinning as her other arm now formed into a cannon as well, aiming each weapon at Jacob and Jay, "There's plenty of me to go around," she now shot each of her weapons, recoiling and flipping backwards to only land perfectly on a spare piece of rubble. Hyperdrive, had taken this as his cue to jerk forward, with a smirk upon his features, and to Bumblebee, his arm formed into an immense cannon to be shot at the robot Camaro.

Jay blinked and fired her cannon at the blast that spiraled toward her. She smirked as the blasts collided and formed a small smoky explosion. Jay then darted through the smoke toward Anabella, firing a shimmering magenta blast from her cannon and at Anabella.
Jacob lunged from his place on the ground and into the air and toward Anabella. He, too, shot a glimmering blast at his foe, only his brilliant black.

Following the actions of her comrades, El had jutted forward along with both Jay and Jacob, her cannons warming up. As she ran forward, she had leaned down partially to gain a bit more speed toward Anabella. Skidding to a halt, she shot a round of emerald blasts from her cannon.
Anabella merely smirked, taking another flip backwards, her movements surprisingly agile as she did so. However, a few shots had skimmed the edge of armor imbedded along her arm. She stumbled for a moment, before debating her actions and grinning once again. Her eyes were intent along Jay and El, shifting her vision back from each figure to the other, as she now jutted forward with intense speed so that she was barely visible as she shot a number of shots at her opponents as she darted past.

Jay watched this, her eyes struggling to follow Anabella's movements. This action only resulted in Jay's defense lowering slightly. She let out a small gasp as she saw a few number of shimmering orbs flying toward her. Jay barely had time to react as the orbs closed in on her and she raised her arms in front of her to deflect a few of the blasts. As Jay did this she winced as the blasts severed some of the armor and skin on her arms and abdomen. She panted slightly and glared after Anabella holding up her arm forming it into an exact duplicate of her foe's cannon. Jay waited and after a few short moments she fired a few rounds from the cannon and at Anabella.

Just as Anabella had caught sight of her own cannon, fired and aimed at her. This sudden duplication and mirror like image of her own weapon puzzled her for a moment, slowing her pace down, and nearly stumbling over. However, this allowed the blasts to take advantage of her sudden carelessness, colliding and gashing into her side. She winced, and skidded to a halt, bringing a hand to her injury. A glower was emitted from Anabella's vision, as she now lifted her cannon and aimed toward Jay once more.
El stood in a fighting stance, farthest from Anabella, as she shot from far off, however, this instant; she aimed sound waves at Anabella's stumbled figure. She narrowed her eyes at the Omega, as her cannon produced blasts of frequencies. Wincing, she recoiled back, and muttered something inaudible under her breath, quickly darting forward to join once more in battle.
Jay smirked at Anabella and laughed slightly. "Things are different when you're betrayed by your own weapon, huh?" she asked and held the duplicate weapon to its original owner. She glanced to El and arched an eyebrow. "What did that odd little sound trick tell you?" she asked keeping her focus mainly on Anabella.

El, along with Jacob, had approached Anabella, stopping carefully just beside Jay, holding up her own cannon to the omega, "She's analyzing our capabilities and sending back everything she learns to her leader."

"Well, that makes me feel wonderful, I'm being tested," Jay muttered and glared at Anabella. "So what do you say we just get rid of her so she can't send her findings to her leader and keep us a mystery?"

"It's already too late for that," El muttered, looking to Jay, "We've already given her everything she needs and she, here, has a nifty little power as well. Communicating over any sort of distance to anyone she pleases. Sort of like long distance telepathy. She's already sent everything to Claire."

Jay pouted slightly as El said this. "Well that's not fun. Oh well, we can still have a little fun with her right?" she grinned and looked to Anabella, smirking. "You still wanna play? Or are you just gonna run off now that you've done your work?"

Anabella laughed gently and stood now, clutching her gaping wound, "I'd rather I take care of this before I bleed to death. It's been fun, though," she stated, winking and looking up to Hyperdrive, who still continued to fight against Bumblebee and also had his share of battle scars, "C'mon, Hyperdrive! The cats out of the bag..."

Hyperdrive let out a pout as he glanced to Anabella. "But, Bella, I'm just starting to have fun!" he muttered as he dodged a blow from Bumblebee.
"You know Starscream's gonna be pissed if we don't get back. He's such a stiff sometimes," Anabella responded rather casually, despite the cannons pointed in her direction still.

Hyperdrive pouted slightly. "He takes the fun out of things sometimes," he murmured and smirked to Bumblebee. "We'll have to finish our spar some other time!" With that being said he took a step back from Bumblebee and transformed into a Corvette. He sped closer to Anabella his door flung open for her.

Anabella looked back to each Alpha now; smirking and offering a small salute, "Ta!" she stated playfully and quickly escaped into the corvette, small traces of blood splattering along the rubble as she did so.

Hyperdrive's engine roared and his tires screeched as he sped off into the flames and out of the site of the Alphas.
Jay watched after the two until she couldn't see them anymore. She then winced and clutched onto her abdomen with her injured arms. "Alright, this isn't fair. How come I'm the only one who got hurt?"

"Probably because you're a rookie who's always up in their opponent's face," Jacob shrugged, smirking as he watched his sister, "Or it could be that you're just lucky."

"If you haven't noticed Jacob, I'm always up in someone's face. That's just me," Jay murmured and took a deep breath. "But what a time for Feli to not be here, and I don't have any time to wait for her I have to hurry and get ready," she said with a wince.

This time, it was El to speak up as she now observed Jay's wound, "Can you really manage to go out tonight with that?" she responded, her voice caressed with concerned as she couldn't help but stare at the trailing blood down Jay's body.

"Yeah, it'll be fine. It honestly doesn't hurt that much," Jay said grinning slightly.

Jacob laughed gently upon this, running a hand through his hair, "And you're saying you won't pass out like you have most of time?" he questioned now, grinning slightly.

Jay glared at Jacob and growled slightly. "It's not my fault I'm using more energy than I'm used to," she muttered wincing slightly.

"I'd say so," El began, rubbing one of her temples as she was trying to block out Anabella's life that clogged her mind at the moment, "Every time I've found you in your room, you've been fast asleep."

"Yeah, the most work I've ever had to do was a little lifting and walking, oh, and the ever tiring job of sitting on my ass driving," Jay muttered and began to walk away, though her pace was slow.

El watched this, her expression uncertain as she watched Jay's stature, "Are you sure you'll be fine?"

"Yeah, I'm sure, I just need a shower, badly," Jay murmured and picked up her pace. "So I better be going, and I won't stay out too long, Jacob do stop fretting."

Jacob arched an eyebrow and smiled uneasily, "Fretting? Who the hell said I was fretting?"

Jay rolled her eyes and laughed slightly. "You did. Or at least that's what you were thinking," she murmured and took off without another word.

Jacob laughed lightly, though; it was uncertain whether or not he was laughing toward Jay or foolishly at himself. A moment later, he too left in a hush. El would have done so as well, taking a step forward, though, she stopped herself to look behind her. Bumblebee was already positioned just a few feet away from her, slumping slightly as he loosely clutched his shoulder, which had been torn to shreds. He straightened himself however, as El had looked to him curiously, "And what about you...? You don't exactly seem at you best," she muttered, taking another step back.

"Ratchet will meet me somewhere and fix me up, so don't worry about me," Bumblebee said and straightened himself a little more, smiling at El.

El sighed lightly and looked up to him with a nod, now darting into the night after Jacob and Jay without a single word produced from her lips.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The weekend passed quickly with Jay simply sleeping most of it away. When her long hours of sleep ended the realization of what had happened Friday night after the fight sunk in. Jay now sat in the lobby of the catering business awaiting Michael to enter the building. She let out a heavy sigh and glanced at the clock anxiety rising in her. Along her arms and abdomen were a few cream colored bandages that covered the wounds she had sustained and never had the chance to get healed. Jay groaned and leaned back in her chair, wincing in the process, as she continued to wait impatiently for Michael.

It had only been moments, though; perhaps an eternity had passed when Michael had inevitably entered into the front lobby of the building. For a few minutes, as he checked in his name for the day, Michael had not caught sight of Jay, merely continued with his work, however, his expression blank and his eyes were partially obscured by his blonde hair. As he turned his body to head to the elevator, his vision had captured Jay's. He rolled his eyes and scoffed lightly, continuing to the elevator silently.

Jay stood and walked over to Michael, her eyes soft and meek. "Michael, I'm sorry about Friday," she muttered her voice merely a whisper. She looked to the ground one arm wrapped around her body.
"So, you're going to talk to me now? Why not have called me on Friday to tell me you were ditching me, hm?" Michael responded, avoiding her gaze, and instead focusing punching the elevator button and waiting, impatiently, for the machine to arrive.
"I didn't mean to ditch you," Jay murmured, looking to Michael innocently. "Something came up that couldn't be avoided and when I finished with that I was getting ready, but I ended up falling asleep."
"And you didn't decide to call or tell me anything, until now? Do you realize how much of an idiot I looked like waiting there for someone who wouldn't show?" Michael then urged, still in an effort to avoid her gaze.
"I'm sorry I really am. But to tell you the truth I slept most of the weekend. Last week was just a stressful week and I didn't get much sleep," Jay whispered her eyes still focused on the ground.
Michael made a sigh and set his head against the wall, annoyance building as the elevator had ceased to come just yet, "Did you even make some sort of effort to get to the phone...?"
"Michael I couldn't move, what I had to deal with left me so sore that it took all my energy just to pull a blanket over me," Jay muttered as she glanced up to Michael, her expression resembling that of a kicked puppy.

Another exhale escaped Michael's lips, and, realizing the elevator would take some time, he turned to face her. He paused for a moment, his expression softening partially as he discovered the innocence and remorse featured along her face. He made yet another sigh as he saw this, his eyes now reaching the bandages spread along her body, "You aren't lying, huh?" he muttered, cursing under his breath at himself, "Just realize you have a lot of repaying to do after this..."

Jay smiled meekly and took a step closer to Michael. "No I'm not lying. And I know, I figured as much," she murmured as she looked up to him.
Michael now looked to the arrived elevator, the doors sliding open. He grabbed Jay's hand, being careful not to handle the bandages to severely, and pulled her into the empty machine. Once the doors had closed, he leaned against the side of the mirrored walls, his refection multiplied against its surface, "So, start repaying. I've got the time," he suggested, watching her intently as he now crossed his arms.

"How should I do that?" Jay asked as she glanced around at the many Michael's that stared at her.

Michael looked to the ceiling, "Be creative...." he muttered and now pressed the highest number along the dials of the elevator, "You have till we get to the top level."

Jay looked to the floor and sighed slightly. "You know I'm clueless about this kind of thing. So this really isn't fair," she murmured as she looked back to Michael.

"It's perfectly fair. You missed our date, so you should be able to come up with something to be forgiven," Michael explained with a small shrug as he brushed away a few strands of hair to reveal his brilliant eyes.

Jay stood in her place and gently bit her bottom lip as she thought of what to do. She finally sighed and looked to Michael, her expression still resembling a puppy's, and stepped closer to him. She stood on the tips of her toes so she was a little closer to his height. "I really am sorry I missed our date," she muttered, her hands placed delicately on his chest as she leaned up closer to Michael. A hint of pink crossed Jay's cheeks as she smiled and then gently pressed her lips to Michael's, a shiver of pleasure shooting through her body at the touch.

It had taken a moment to sink in. The touch of her lips pressed softly along his; a small gesture of apology as Michael found the strands of pink against his cheek. They were oddly satisfying; however, he did not take notice. At the moment, he was more mystified by the caress of her lips. His eyes had widened at the sudden collision, not expecting such an impact, however, his eyelids lowered partially as he regained his composure. For a moment, he was hesitant, but, he reached his hand into the long locks of her hair and leaned down to return her gift of apology; kissing her back, as he was suddenly engulfed by her cold touch.
Jay's eyes widened as Michael did this, her pink cheeks darkened and her heart rate quickened. Soon she calmed and melted into the kiss; though, the distant sound of a bell soon entered her head as the floor beneath her ceased to move.

As Michael slid his arm about Jay's waist, the elevator doors slid open; the mirror surface vanishing to reveal a group of employees who had been waiting for it to arrive. For an instant or so, Michael did not notice, however, as he lifted his head partially to now move his lips to her cheek, he caught sight of the group. They stared for a moment, though, their expressions varied. Two younger men grinned in approval, while an older woman held a look of detest. Nonetheless, Michael broke away, smiling uneasily as he nudged Jay to look at their audience.

Jay slowly glanced over her shoulder, her cheeks an even brighter shade of pink. She smiled meekly at her coworkers and then looked to the ground, embarrassment filling her. "Note so self... Elevators are no place to repay anyone..." she whispered with a small groan.

A small awkward laugh escaped Michael's lips as he now intertwined Jay's hand with his, pulling her from the small area, and shoved his way past the group, "...That was...awkward," he muttered, running a hand through his hair as he now came to a stop and looked back to the employees who now entered the elevator (in particular, the two men had been laughing gently and whispering things to one another).

"You think?" Jay asked her eyes still focused on the ground and her cheeks still pink. "It must have been worse for me. Ex-loners aren't used to that kind of attention..."

"But it worked," Michael began; now releasing Jay's hand. He smiled lightly upon her, as he watched her intently, "I accept your apology."

Jay looked up to Michael and smiled meekly. "Good, I was way out of my comfort zone just then," she murmured and looked back to the ground, messing with the hem of her skirt.

Michael smile broadened partially as he now leaned down, so he was only inches from her face, "What do you say we try that date, again, sometime?"

Jay looked up her face flushing again, not expecting his face to be so close. "A-Alright, but I can't guarantee I'll be able to make it if it's at night again. Those unavoidable things I have to deal with like to show up in the evening," she muttered and clutched onto her arm as she winced slightly.

"Then how about something in the afternoon? Right after work. Nothing extravagant, mind you, but something to just get you away from that stress of yours," Michael stated simply, his hair nearly touching the edges of Jay's face as it fell.

Jay smiled and nodded slightly. "I think I can deal with that," she said a small smile crossing her lips.

"Good," he retorted, now grinning like a small child as he now messed with a spare strand of pink hair dangling over Jay's white eyes, "And we'll take my car, alright? If that's fine with you, I mean."

"Yeah, that's fine. Seeing as I really don't have a car of my own. I would have to steal El's..." Jay muttered shuttering at the thought of Bumblebee listening in on their date.

"That semi, though, is practically yours anyway, considering how often you use it," Michael then noted, recalling each day they've used the large blue and crimson vehicle.

"Yeah, but he would attract too much attention if I drove him around all the time," Jay said her eyes locked with Michael'.

Michael tilted his head partially as he noted how Jay described her truck, "'him'?" he raised an eyebrow, curiously.

"Oh, sorry. Just a habit to label inanimate objects with genders," Jay said smiling uneasily.

Michael chuckled slightly; however, he cringed partially at the sound of their boss's voice from the room on the other side of the wall beside him. A series of cursing was pronounced at one of the business's high ranking employees, making Michael uneasy for a moment, "Er...what do you say we hurry and get to work, before he decides to yell at us too for the elevator incident..."

"Yeah, that's the last thing we need huh?" Jay asked releasing a small sigh.

"I just have to finish some papers, then we can hurry off," Michael responded, and as he straightened himself, he took hold of Jay's hand, and began to walk with her at his side.

"Y'know... you're really warm," Jay muttered randomly as she stared at their hands and then looked to Michael's face.

Michael smiled partially, "Well, you feel like Antarctica..." he retorted simply, with a shrug, though, his smile was still set on his lips.

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Jay murmured and looked back to their hands. "Is my skin really that cold? Cause I never noticed."

Michael stopped in his tracks, turning to face Jay properly. He sighed and brought her hand to his cheek, in a hush for a moment, "You tell me. Does this really feel that warm?" he inquired, but leaned down partially to watch her intently again, still keeping her hand in place.

"Yeah, your skin is really warm. I guess that's why doctors always think I should be dead and the fact when I have a slight fever my temperature is 94.5 degrees," Jay murmured and smiled uneasily.

At this information, Michael arched an eyebrow, "Is that even possible...?" he laughed gently, "Well, then again, nothing is really impossible, anymore."

Jay laughed slightly but then cringed as she heard her boss yell again. "You may want to hurry with that paperwork," she murmured and sighed.

Michael mimicked her action, rubbing the side of his head as it suddenly ached from the shout, "...shit," he muttered, and hurried in the direction of where his work was stored. He still clasped Jay's hand, too distracted at the moment, to realize the gentle chills that ran up and down his spine from the pleasure of her touch.

Jay followed behind Michael in silence, her eyes glued to him the entire time. She let out a small sigh as her eyes trailed to their linked hands. "So, just out of curiosity, does it bother you that my skin is so cold?" she asked randomly as she waited for Michael to finish what he needed to finish.

Michael laughed partially as he now jotted down the company's name along the papers he had quickly retrieved, "It bothers me just as much as that scar. Need I say more?" he responded, smiling lightly, as his eyes were set along his work.

"That makes me feel a little better," Jay murmured as she sat on the edge of the desk that Michael worked at. She lifted her hand and looked at it with a small sigh.

"Only a little?" Michael suddenly urged, lifting his head to see her and running a hand through his hair.

"Yeah a little, I just wished I could tell you the reasoning behind the chill of my skin," Jay said in almost a whisper. "But I suppose you'll learn on your own, right?"

"I'm always up for a challenge," Michael grinned, now resting his head in his supposedly warm palm.

Jay laughed slightly and smiled at Michael. "Then you have one," she muttered and leaned closer to Michael. "Now hurry and get that stuff done so we can leave."

Michael smiled, and now stood, leaning over his desk toward Jay. His hands were set along the desk, his paperwork just under his fingers, "Aren't you patient..." he muttered, and laughed gently before he skimmed his lips along her cheek, wishing for just another touch of the chilled flesh.

Jay's cheeks flushed as Michael did this, "Yes, I'm very patient, couldn't you tell?" she asked in a semi-sarcastic tone.

"Well, you'll be pleased to know I just finished," Michael declared, grinning as he now straightened himself and gathered his work and placing them in a small folder.

"Good, the boss keeps glancing over at us like we're doing something wrong," Jay muttered and hopped off the desk, smiling at Michael.

"He's just in a pissy mood today..." Michael muttered, though, his voice was low and careful so not to attract the attention of their boss. He then smiled and walked to Jay's side, his work placed under his arm.

Jay laughed and smirked slightly. "Maybe he's PSMing," she muttered grinning up to Michael.

"You better not let him hear that," Michael remarked, though, he still smirked nonetheless as he put an arm around Jay's shoulder leaning down a little closer to her height, "Now, let's go, before he really gets ticked..."

"Right, I don't think I could afford to lose my job," Jay said smiling at Michael. She laughed and shrugged Michael's arm from her shoulder and took his hand in hers, her smile bright as she felt the warmth of his skin against hers.

One would think that sudden numb cold against his skin, would pronounced some sort of shudder or recoil from Michael's part, however, he merely matched Jay's smile at the touch. He pulled her toward the way they came, his grip, if anything, had tightened along her hand as the chill somehow was pleasurable along his body. Despite this, that day, they had continued their work as always, though, somehow more intertwined in one another's conversations and lives.