Jasper, 3rd POV
Jack sighed with relief as he sat on the park bench, head tilted back and eyes closed as he enjoyed the cool breeze.
It had been four days since he and Fowler had talked and he'd agreed to be part of Project Cyber-Jump. He now was at the park to meet the agent and give him the paperwork, as well as plan out his departure.
"Jack! Sorry to keep you waiting."
The ebony haired teen looked over and smiled at Fowler.
"No problem, I wasn't waiting long at all."
The agent smiled slightly, nodding.
"Well, why don't we go talk somewhere else? We can get something to eat too, my treat."
Jack stood, nodding.
"Sure, sounds good. I missed breakfast."
Fowler chuckled before they began going towards the diner across the street.
"So, you finished the paperwork?"
Jack nodded.
"Yeah, I have it right here." He replied, patting the strap of the backpack slung over his shoulder.
"Good." Fowler said, smiling slightly as he opened the door, letting the teen enter before following.
"Table for two, please."
The waitress nodded before leading the two males to a table in the corner.
"Will this be alright?"
Both males nodded, giving their own forms of thanks as the sat and took the menus.
After ordering, Fowler folded his hands on the table, looking at Jack expectantly.
The raven teen reached into the backpack, handing over the small pile of papers, which the agent took and looked over quickly.
"Hm, looks like everything's in order. You don't fool around when it comes to paperwork, hunh?"
Jack laughed slightly, head ducking for a moment in embarassment.
"Well, I figure the sooner I do this, the better. I already said I'd do it, no point in beating around the bush, right?"
Fowler nodded, chuckling as he placed the paperwork in the breif case he'd brought with him, taking care not to rumple the pages.
After closing it and flipping the clasps that held the black case shut, he looked back up as their waitress came with their drinks.
"Thank you, ma'am." Jack said quietly, nodding his head to the woman and accepting the glass. The two males ordered their food, and waited until the waitress had left before continuing their conversation.
"Look, I know you probably have a lot of questions. I'll try and answer them best as I can, if you want to ask 'em."
Jack shrugged.
"Not really, I'll learn more as I go, right? I'm more concerned right now about getting there. Will I need to meet you somewhere?"
"Right to the point, huh? Yeah, well, I can email you the details, just pack some stuff and make it look authentic, yeah?" Fowler replied, tone slightly hushed.
"Just stuff some clothes, wallet, whatever and bring it with you. You'll be supplied with more clothes so if you don't want to keep what you pack, just give it to me and I'll get rid of it. It'll be a long drive to the C.J mansion, so wear something comfy or you're back'll be one whole itch the last two hours."
Jack nodded, lifting his glass to his lips and taking a small sip.
"So, you wanna tell me when we go now? Or..."
"It'll be in the email along with the location to meet me at. Don't worry, I'll make sure everything you'll need to know is in the email, just make sure you check it tonight, memorize it and please, for Uncle Sam's sake, delete it afterwords. The 'bots and police will definately search it."
"No problem. If I can't memorize it, I'll just write it on my arm or something."
"Uh, I think someone would be able to see that, it's best if you just commit it to memory."
Jack smirked.
"I always wear long sleeves, remember? But don't worry, I'll do my best to remember the info."
Both Jack and Fowler looked up when their waitress came and set their meals down in front of them. While Fowler had a large chicken fried steak, loaded with gravy and complemented with the two sides which were fries, Jack instead got something lighter. A simple sandwich (with questionable ingredients between the bread) and only one side, which was about four onion rings.
"Dang kid, no wonder you're skinny as a twig, eatin' like that. You gotta eat more."
Jack simply laughed, shaking his head.
Next day, Autobot base, 3rd POV
Jack felt as though his heart was in his throat as he sat in base, looking around.
He only had three more days to tie up any loose ends, then he would have to stage the run away and leave for two years.
The ebony haired teen's eyes stung with tears that he was holding back as he continued to scan the main room of the silo, burning the scene into his memory. The sight of everyone being content.
Happy.
"Jack? You okay?"
Blue-grey eyes flashed.
Jack managed a smile as he stared up at Arcee.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."
The femme grinned.
"Well, don't over-work yourself then."
"Got it."
Jack looked back down when Arcee turned away.
This was going to be the hardest thing he'd ever had to do, he realized.
Three day's later, Jasper, 3rd POV
Jack swallowed the lump in his throat as he stuffed a few pieces of clothing in his backpack.
He'd silently given farewell to everyone, and he was ready. Or at least, he hoped he was.
Grabbing his wallet, he stuffed it, too, into the bag. Following it was his journal, which had been stashed between the matress and springs of his bed and its frame.
Ripping out a piece of paper from a notebook on his desk, he wrote a note. Something to make it seem that much more realistic that he'd run away from home.
'Dear mom,
I'm so, so sorry. I really am. But I just can't stand this life, one where I feel I don't fit in.
So I've gone to find a place where I do fit in.
Tell Miko, Raf and the others that I'm thankfull for their friendship.
And tell Arcee that I'm sorry, but this is for the best.
Just trust me when I say this is for the best, mom.
Please don't look for me.
Love, Jack.'
Jack set the pen aside and stared down at the words on the paper. Some were blurred from tears that the teen hadn't realized fell.
Wiping his eyes with an impatient hand, he set the note on his desk were it could be found easily and slung his backpack over his shoulder.
He went down stairs and to the front door. Exiting, he took the spare key from under the front door mat and locked the door before shoving the key back under the mat.
Jack went to the end of the driveway, but paused and looked back at the house.
His mom was at work, Arcee at base. No one would know until he was long gone.
One, single tear left him, rolling down his cheek and dripping off his jaw.
Wiping away the wet trail left on his face, he grabbed the hood of his jacket and pulled it on, hiding his face.
He then uttered one word.
"...Goodbye..."
Later, ?, 3rd POV
Everything in the car was nearly silent, the only sound being the rumble of the engine and the occasional bump on the road.
Fowler glanced over at the teen that sat in the passenger seat. The raven youth was leaning against the armrest on the door. His eyes, though hiden in the shadows cast across his face by his hoodie, were easily recognized to be looking out the window at the passing landscape. He clutched a backpack to his chest with his free arm, fingers fiddling with one of the zippers.
Fowler didn't know how to deal with kids, especially not teens who were in such a situation as Jack.
After a moment, the agent finally gained the courage to speak.
"The project director's lookin' forward to meeting you, y'know. I've told him about all the things you've done for the 'bots. He thinks you've got a good heart."
Jack simply nodded, and Fowler sighed.
"Look, kid. I don't know how to deal with this sort of thing. Is there something I can do to help you out here?"
A minute or so of silence, then the teen slowly looked at Fowler's reflection in the glass of the window, a slight gleam of his eyes coming from the shadows of his hood.
"Not at the moment no...But if you could come, now and then, and maybe...Tell me how everyone is?"
Fowler smiled gently.
"'Course, I was gonna do that anyhow."
A flicker of a smile tugged at Jack's lips before he returned his focus to the landscape.
After a second of thought, he reached into his backpack and pulled out his Ipod touch, the most expensive thing he'd ever had (he never considered Arcee as an item, and his ten speed bike had been a piece of junk).
Placing the earbuds in his ears, he skimmed through the music for a moment before choosing a song.
He strangely related to the song, which was 'It's Not My Time' by Three Doors Down (A/N: I'm listening to the song while writing this chapter, it really does fit in a way, with the emotion in it and all).
The raven male lay his head on the window, eyes closing as he allowed the music to lull him into a light sleep.
Now and then he'd be knocked out of his rest by a sudden bump, or the sound of another car passing.
They'd been driving for about four hours when Fowler finally had to stop for a restroom. The agent also helped Jack relocate to the backseat, where the man had stashed a blanket and pillow earlier.
While the agent went to the bathroom in the gas station (making sure to lock the car doors), Jack curled up, using the middle seatbelt to hold him and resting his head on the pillow, blanket covering him.
When Fowler returned, Jack was already asleep, huddled into the blanket, face still hideen within the shadows cast by his hood.
Smiling slightly at the sight, he then climbed into the front seat, starting the car and pulling out of the parking lot.
Later
Jack made a small muffled sound as he awoke. The car had slowed to a stop, it seemed, and the slight jerk had woken the teen.
Slowly sitting up, he rubbed his eyes and looked out the window. They were at the drive-thru of a . Fowler, noticing the youth sitting up right, smiled slightly.
"I'm getting us some food, you want somethin'?"
Jack made another muffled noise, then nodded. He was thankful that Fowler had kept his voice slightly low, a louder tone would've given him an immediate headache.
"Yeah...Just a burger."
"That it? No soda or fries or anything?"
The teen was silent for a moment, in thought. Then he shrugged.
"I guess maybe a soda. I don't care what kind."
With a nod, Fowler gave their order, then rolled up the window, waiting for the car in front to move.
"Sleep well, kid?"
"Hm? Oh, y-yeah. I slept alright. How long have we been driving?"
"Well, altogether, since we left? I'd say about six an' a half hours. We left at what, seven? It's one A.M now."
"We can stop for a bit if you're tired, Agent Fowler."
The man chuckled, pulling a few dollars from his wallet.
"Nah, I made sure I got pleanty of sleep before we left. I'll be good for another few hours, no need to worry. All you need to do is make sure you keep hiding your face, can't let any street light camera's catch you, or the police and 'bots will be on us by the time we reach the halfway point."
Jack smiled slightly, nodding as he unbuckled the middle seat belt and adjusted into the side seat before rebuckling himself. He tucked away the blanket and pillow under the front seat for later.
Fowler exchanged the money for the two bags of food and soda's, thanking the man at the window before pulling out, rolling his window up.
He handed Jack the small bag and soda, which Jack took with a quiet thanks.
The two ate in silence as they continued driving, the only sound would the the crumple of the paper bags and wrapers now and then.
Finally, Jack spoke.
"So, how much longer until we get there?"
The agent was quiet for a moment, mulling it over in his head.
"We ain't even halfway. Altogether it's about a twenty-four hour drive."
Jack gave a long whistle, surprised at how long the drive would be.
Fowler laughed.
"Well, we couldn't take a plane, and I probably wouldn't have gotten the okay to use one of the military aircrafts. This is the biggest breakthrough for Project Cyber-Jump in awhile, most people have given up on it."
Jack gave a sound of understanding around the mouthfull of hamburger he was chewing on.
Fowler smiled slightly before digging in to his second hamburger.
Hey y'all! I just wanted to say a few things real quick!
First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who reviewed, favorited and/or followed this story!
Next, I want to just tell you all now, this story WILL have a few Oc's later on, please don't hate me, I know how some people hate when oc's are put in stories, but they are needed for this story! Don't worry, they'll have some depth to them they won't be, like, completely blegh (yes, 'blegh' is now an official term! At least in my dictionary).
And lastly, the first dozen or so chapters will not have much of the 'bots in them. The first parts of the story will mainly focus on Jack and his training and such. So just go along with it, and please don't complain about the 'bots not being in there! I PROMISE you guys, the 'bots will be there in later chapters, and there might be some snipits of them in some of the chapters while Jack is still training as a part of Project Cyber-Jump.