Disclaimer: Same as first chapter. Don't own.

Chapter Two Possession of the Mind

It wasn't long before I was fixing myself a tuna-fish sandwich when my phone started buzzing and chiming out with the 'One Missed Call' ringtone. I rolled my eyes, popping a chip of Lay's Originals into my mouth before going to rescue my cell phone from the counter top before it could wake my mom. She was feeling better today, still weak and unable to get up just yet but was taking a nap.

"Vivian Summers speaking, How may I help you?" I asked and frowned as Sam began babbling excitedly into my ear. "Whoa buddy…slow down." I murmured, cradling the cell phone between my ear and shoulder skill-fully as I went into the refrigerator to fix myself a glass of apple juice. I took a bite of my sandwhich and deposited Mr. Whiskers from the counter-top to the floor as he tried to go after my food. He meowed pitifully from the floor as if I never fed him in my entire life. He was a very fluffy Siamese cat who'd grown up to be rather fat and big. He was very vocal and I was worried he was going to wake my mom again so I headed outside with my sandwhich and apple juice. The cat followed me, knowing he'd won as I opened a can of cat food and set it down for him to eat. He wolfed it down, purring happily and leaving my sandwhich alone for onece.

"—and I just sent you pictures. Did you get them yet?" Sam demanded, seeming rather out of breath. I switched the phone to my free hand and sure enough, I had picture mail waiting. I opened the files and scrolled through several pictures of a yellow Camaro with black racing stripes. Whoa. "Dude, your dad is awesome~!" I cheered giddily and Sam echoed my adorations to someone in the background. His dad probably.

"Oh hey, you wanna come over and help me wash it down? It's pretty dirty still," Sam said and I caught a weird tone in his voice.

"You're going to try to use this car to impress Ms. Mikaela Banes aren't you?" I accused teasingly. I could hear him stammering and trying to cover it up. "Have you shown Miles yet?"

"I sent him the pictures yeah," Sam said with a little laugh.

"You know…there's supposedly some lake party thing going on…Maybe you can take Miles and your new car over there and try to catch Mikeala's attention?" I questioned and the line grew silent for a while. I ate some more of my sandwich and waited for him to start speaking again. I'd changed into black jeans and a ruffly dark purple shirt that ended just under my chest but made a v out from the front to the back with fabric. So my stomach was visible by not my back.

"You could come with too?" He questioned, almost seeming like he was begging now.

"Aw, as much fun as that would be…I don't think so," I said, pulling my feet up into the chair to hide under the umbrella's shade as the sun came back out in full blast. "You'll have fun though I'm sure… Right?" I questioned, switching the phone to my other ear so I could drink some of my apple juice. I could hear him beginning to protest in the background and shook my head with a silent laugh. "Sam, you're trying to impress this girl who probably doesn't even know you exist…having another girl around, even if it's someone as weird as me, isn't going to help…besides, Miles will probably do something extremely weird and you're going to regret it…trust me…I know these things." I took another bite of my sandwich and glanced down at Mr. Whiskers who was pawing at my ruffle shirt like a bad little kitten would. "No, Go away." I shooed the cat who didn't listen and kept at it. I sighed, reaching over to pet him. He purred loudly and tried to jump in my lap. "no no no, you don't get my sandwich." I scolded him and heard Sam laughing on the phone as he guessed what was happening now.

"The kitty just wants a little loving," Sam teased and I scowled before giving the cat one final shove away.

"No, the cat just wants his master's sandwich and he isn't getting any because it's not good for him," I told the cat, who eventually gave up and wondered away from me. I sighed, in some amount of relief now that I didn't have to guard my sandwich. "Look…go enjoy the rest of the day okay…Finish washing the car and relax…Tomorrow you can try to impress Ms. Banes and maybe get her number…if that Trent guy doesn't smash your head in first." Sam grew kind of silent at that and I suddenly felt a little bad.

"You're right," he finally murmured and I sighed. "I stand no chance with Trent there do I?"

"That's not what I meant, Sam," I said and he cut me off.

"Well, I'm just going to go out there and strut my stuff and see if she notices me," he said with a little laugh. I rolled my eyes.

"There's the spirit, Sam. Go out there and knock yourself out," I told him before hanging up and staring at the dirt road ahead of me. Sam had gotten a car and was going after this girl he really liked. It made me wonder if they even had a chance together. Only the world would know after all. I settled back into my chair, wishing that life would just go ahead and show me what it wanted from me. Little did I know that it would, and it would all start with Sam and that weird car of his. Not that any of us in this town would even know that. Not until later. Slowly it seemed like Sam did less and less with Miles and me as he began his relationship with Mikalea. It was weird. It was like they knew a secret that the rest of the world didn't. I know on the news there was some kind of terrorist attack that had shown up and I'm still not sure what was going on with the world. Weird things were happening to us, not that I could really help but start to notice it. I know that Sam eventually got accepted into a very prestige college. I still have no idea how he pulled the money together for that or even a scholarship. It was really weird.

I didn't get any scholarships and was barely able to pay my way into a small community college that was local. I wasn't sure how that was going to do. My mom passed away in my senior year but luckily I was considered an adult for the short amount of time that went from there to getting into community college. I had at least two part time jobs, neither which seemed to be doing me any good as I scraped together to make ends meet. I hadn't seen Sam or his girlfriend since High School and who knew what was going on with them. Miles was going to school to become a veterinary after his dog passed away. Mr. Whiskers was still just as fat and happy and very much alive. My hair had grown out to just past my shoulders, still raven black and my skin was as pale as it could be…didn't help that people naturally assumed I was a very sick person because of it. I wasn't sick, I was fairly healthy actually. I sighed, looking at myself in a mirror with distaste.

I guess I did look a little sick. My hair hung lank around my face and I pulled it back into a little ponytail. I wasn't wearing any make-up either, because I had work to go to and they didn't like the whole gothic thing there either. I had on a pair of black jeans with my black combat boots and of course a purple tank-top with a black button up shirt that was short sleeve and unbutton hanging open. I worked at a book store in the town here that didn't do much other than sell books to the high school students who needed it for school. Yeah. Business was booming and I felt like I was already worn out. The only thing the owner wanted was for a good little worker who was always on time, did what she was told and never talked back about anything. That would be me. Vivian Summers, at your service. I wasn't expecting anything different from this day then prior.

"Excuse me?" an overly cheerful sounding female asked me and I glanced up to see a rather beautiful looking blonde woman with gorgeous blue eyes staring me down. "Hello, I'm a student at—" she started and I cut her off, knowing what she was from. They'd been in and out from the high school doing research projects.

"High School report. Got it, whose it on?" I questioned and noticed she didn't seem to ever really blink. Weird.

"I'm doing a follow-up report on a Sam Witwicky," she said and I frowned slightly with a little blink. Sam hadn't done anything famous. "I'm sorry." She lightly smacked her forehead with a little giggle that sounded too fake. Something wasn't right about her, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it either. "Doh, that's his like great grand kid or something right? Archibald James Witwicky or something. He was like this explorer who did research." She smiled at me, and I wasn't sure why that put me more on edge than previously. "I know Sam Witwicky did a report on him not that long ago and I loved his paper, so I thought I should do one on him as well. Do you have any pointers? Oh I know, How about just Sam then? Maybe I can ask him some questions and like get his opinion on some things? Could you do that for me?" Her look told me that if my answer was anything or than yes, or wherever Sam was …that she'd probably kill me. I don't know how I knew this but I really did.

"Uh," I said and told her what college he was going to but I didn't have his number on me and if she came back later I might. She thanked me and left, but the ominious feeling didn't leave me yet. Why was this girl looking for Sam? Was he in trouble? No, he'd just left to start college. I ran a hand through my hair nervously, remaking my ponytail. She'd of just messed him and his parents actually. He was off to college, and they'd gone with him because they wanted to go on a honeymoon thing in France. She rolled her eyes, wondering why she even still knew this…oh right, because she kept up with people. She sighed, going through the reports again just as Mikela came in with a big grin. Oh gawd. Did this never end? The brunette looked nervous though. "Can I help you?" I asked and she gave me a tight lipped smile.

"Um…I don't know…This is kinda personal…and I guess I wanna make sure I'm doing it right…I've got this internet chat date coming up…and I wanna make sure I set it up correctly is all," She said nervously and I laughed. She looked even more embaressed now.

"Mik, how about I swing by your dad's shop later and check over your system okay?" I questioned and she thanked me before leaving. I couldn't help but notice a weird remote controlled car drive by. Weird. I didn't think they used those models anymore. Maybe they were coming back into fashion. Who the hell knew anymore? I sighed, glancing out the window as business was suddenly…not very busy. The owner of this shop had a little bird she kept in a bird-cage near the counter. It just stared at me stupidly before making a weird noise. I smiled, leaning down to be closer to it.

I smiled at it a little more, poking a finger between the bars at it not getting a reaction. I took a deep breath, feeling the need to sing again.

Green finch and linnet bird,

Nightingale, blackbird,

How is it you sing?

I glanced to the side, resting my head against my arm as I stared out the store doors that seemed to mock me.

How can you jubilate,

Sitting in cages,

Never taking wing?

I let out a little sigh with a now sad smile tainting my features. This was such a boring job. Sure, plenty of people came in the store but they didn't really come for conversation. Unless you counted that weird girl and Mikalea. Yeah. They didn't count.

Outside the sky waits,

Beckoning, beckoning,

Just beyond the bars.

How can you remain,

Staring at the rain,

Maddened by the stars?

I turned my gaze back to the rest of the store that seemed some damp and dark despite the sunlight that streamed inside. I suppose this was the rest of my life now, to be trapped in a dark dusty damp store…never to know what wonders await me outside in life.

How is it you sing

Anyting?

How is it you sing?

I stood up, leaving from behind the desk to go rearrange some of the books that had been left out by other customers as I made my way around to tuck them back into where they belonged. These books were like me…pages that taunted you with far away hopes and dreams, but in reality they were stuck here as well. No real purpose in life. Would I ever find mine?

Green finch and linnet bird,

Nightingale, blackbird,

How is it you sing?

My cage has many rooms,

Damask and dark.

Nothing there sins,

Not even my lark.

Larks never will, you know,

When they're captive.

Teach me to be more adaptive.

Green finch and linnet bird,

Nightingale, blackbird,

Teach me how to sing.

I turned around once more to stare back outside the door that promised me an escape. Where would I go? I had nothing here. I desperately craved something else. A sense of adventure. Anything at all. Something to take me from this. I was going to die here.

If I cannot fly,

Let me sing.

I trailed off with a little sigh of sorrow as I gently brushed strands of my wild hair back into place. Yeah, that song spoke so much more than just a physical cage. There was a cage on my mind, placed there by me. I jumped startled as a hand gently touched my shoulder.

"You are not happy here. You must go chase your heart," the old woman who ran the bookstore said.

"But who will help you?" I questioned and she shook her head before shuffling around to pick up her checkbook.

"I will just hire another helper. They always come, looking for jobs to get what they want…Listen, I have a car…it could use a little tune-up sure…but it might get you far. Take it. Go chase your dreams, little dove," She told me, finishing writing the check and handed it to me. I gasped as I spotted what was on it.

"I can't accept this," I said and she merely nodded at me before handing me one little key.

"Yes, you will. I will not see this town suck the life out of another beautiful woman…you can be so much more, Vivian…Go, chase your dreams," the old woman told me gently, and scowled," Before I change my mind." I hugged her and raced out to the back where an older corvette model sat waiting. It was a beautiful golden yellow thing with strange swirls of patterns of colors on it. Overall it was a beautiful thing. The colors all merged and blended together perfectly and it had 'Sunstreaker' written across it in the corner where one might have seen the logo for another car spelled out. I didn't question it as I climbed in. The engine purred to life as if glad to finally be able to go out and about. I couldn't believe it. Good luck just fell onto my lap. How did that even happen?

"Look out world, here comes Vivian Summers," I cried out, and carefully drove to my apartment where I would get my stuff. I didn't know where I was going, only that I was going somewhere else for sure. I had to stop by Mikaela's first and make sure her stuff was set up correctly though before I left. Maybe I should call Miles and… or Sam. My mind turned to those strange questions from that girl. He should be warned…but about what? My hand clutched the steering wheel a little too tightly and the car jiggled slightly, startling me but causing me to relax. Damn. No reason to crash this brand new beauty. I couldn't believe it. This didn't just happen to people did it? I kept expecting police cars to come chase after me because this just didn't happen. No way did this just happen to someone…especially not me. I mean, yeah…I heard strange stories of people doing randomly kind things to people. But not me. Surely not me. I took a deep breath, and hollered with glee, giggling giddily as I finally made it to my apartment in one piece. I was in and out pretty quickly considering I didn't own all that much and it went into one large black duffle-bag that went into the passenger-seat. Then I donned sunglasses and off to Mik's I drove. I couldn't help but feel smug at the looks of envy I was getting from this beautiful piece of work of a car. Wow… Oh wait, I needed to go to the bank. That could wait until after Mikela's visit.

End Note: I know you see what I did there….This isn't going like my usual stories that's for sure….Not sure WHAT I'm expecting out of this one… *chuckles* I don't know…. I've not written in A LONG LONG time that's for sure…and now it's all like BUBBLE OUT… *shrugs*