Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has been patiently waiting for me to finally finish this chapter! Thanks to I am Blueberry and DamonBamon for reviewing the last chapter! Enjoy and I own nothing but Tallie and Allie
Chapter Three: Awkward apology
Tallie showered and dressed quickly the next morning and made her way downstairs. She wasn't expecting Mikaela Banes to be at the base at six thirty in the morning but somehow the other girl already was there. "Sam said to tell you sorry," Mikaela said, placing a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "He says it was his fault Optimus is dead and everything is falling apart for you."
"How can it be his fault? It's not like he killed Optimus," Tallie said, swiping away tears.
"He thinks it is. He thinks if he wouldn't have gone to college none of this would happen," Mikaela replied. Tallie was torn between the urge to laugh and the urge to cry. "You need something to do to distract you?" the older girl asked, concern in her eyes. Tallie nodded. "I need something to do today. We'll go over to my house and hang out. If we get really bored we can clean something," Mikaela said with a slight laugh. Tallie manage a watery laugh in return as her phone transformed back into the phone and slipped in her pocket. Then she followed the older girl out to her scooter.
The two ended up cleaning Mikaela's house until a text from Jazz told Tallie she was to report back to base. "Thanks for helping distract me," she told Mikaela before slipping outside to wait for her guardian to arrive. Sure enough Jazz pulled up a couple minutes later and Tallie slipped inside the silver car without a word of complaint. Back at the base the air was dismal and downcast. Tallie felt tired and ready to give up as she slumped in her room, too upset even to draw. She fell asleep only to wake up hours later hearing a commotion outside.
Still fully dressed Tallie darted out of her room and down the steps. "We have to get to Giza quick before anyone can stop us," Epps called. He had stayed behind with a few others while Lennox had gone on the mission.
"What's going on?" Tallie asked. Epps turned back to look at her and she saw hope waring with sadness in his eyes.
"The kid thinks he may be able to revive Optimus," Epps said. "We have to get the body to Egypt."
"I want to come," Tallie said without thinking. She hadn't realized the Jazz's holoform was right behind her.
"Absolutely not," Jazz snapped and Tallie jumped, whirling around to glare at her guardian.
"Why not?" she snapped.
"Because it's too dangerous," Jazz said.
"But-" Tallie began to protest.
"You'd just get in the way Talisa," Jazz said coldly. "You're staying here."
"I hate you," Tallie said and then darted by him before he could see the tears pouring down her face. She didn't get far before a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She turned to see Sideswipe's holoform standing there with his messy reddish brown hair and sympathetic blue eyes.
"Do you really want to come," he asked and Tallie nodded. "Follow me," he said and Tallie did without hesitation even though something in her brain was screaming that this was a very bad idea. Who cared anymore anyway?