Hey guys! I'm taking it kind of slow, but I want my avid readers to know that I plan to finish this story. I'm not going to rush through it, though the chapters will be getting longer (I'm sure you'll be fine with that) especially when I hit slow spots in the story like these. I hope you'll enjoy the things that I have in store for this story!
FORD B: Thank you for continuing to support this story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. Cat, however, is my soul property... even though she would probably protest against being property...
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It was morning. The sun was had barely gotten a chance to crack above the surface and expose its' life-breathing light. Cat was driving her favorite vehicle, Christine. Her friend and pet, Rotten, laid in the front seat with his owner; his head resting on the lap of Cat, as her right arm rested over the dogs' side. In the back seat, Josh was saying a tiny, quiet farewell to the Dam as the sight of it dwindled with every second. Evan looked to his friend and rolled his eyes, shaking his head and looking out of his passenger window.
"I don't see why WE needed to go too.." Josh whined, "I mean... we left a full fridge and everything..."
"Josh," Evan lamented, "Get over it."
"C'mon man!" Josh complained, "We had everything back there!"
"Oh, shut up!" Cat spoke up angrily, "I don't plan on staying away that long, and I'm supposed to take you with me! I don't like having you around anymore than you like it!"
"Why did Optimus order you to take us anyway?" Evan asked, calmly.
Cat eyed him for a brief second in her rearview mirror before returning her vision to the road, "For all reasons of practicality," she said quietly, "I'm your assigned guardian."
"Guardian?" Evan asked, confused.
"I'm supposed to be protecting you two boneheads.." Cat replied.
"Sooo," Josh started, "If a giant robot from outer space attacks us," he paused, "YOU are supposed to defend us."
"That's right," Cat nodded.
"Really?" Josh was, quite obviously, unsure of the plan.
"Don't worry," Cat sighed, "They're not leaving us unprotected.."
"What do you mean?" Evan asked.
Cat beamed a hard stare into the rearview mirror, but it wasn't Evan OR Josh that she was staring at.
"For the purpose of our travels, Optimus had a security detail to escort us. I'm not terribly happy about it, but it worked in my favor anyway," Cat smirked.
Josh and Evan both turned to look behind themselves and saw nothing but dirt and sand flying behind the car.
"Where?" Josh asked.
Cat smirked, "You should wave..."
Evan and Josh waved to the nothing behind them. As soon as they did the metallic form of Mirage appeared, unveiling the Solstice and Topkick to his sides. There, also, appeared to be a heavily muscle-bound, dark skinned, man riding a motorcycle at their rear.
"WHOA!" Josh reeled back.
"I'm never getting used to that," Evan shook his head as he turned back to Cat, "So they trust you enough to protect us-"
"But not enough to protect myself," Cat finished his sentence, "They're awesome like that."
"How long are they going to be around?" Josh asked.
"Just for the ride to the Witwicky's house. Then they'll return to the base until we're ready to come back," Cat replied with a sigh.
"Who's the guy on the motorcycle?" Josh asked.
"That's Jazz's hologram riding MY motorcycle," Cat replied, "I asked him to bring it with us. I might need to make some short trips and I'd want to do it quickly and ALONE."
"Where are we staying?" Evan asked, "Is there a base or a government facility that we'll be at?"
"I, normally, stay with my family. You've met Sam, right?" Cat asked.
"Sam... Oh, the kid that was at the Dam the first weekend we were there?" Evan asked.
"Yep," Cat replied.
"I saw him. Never actually met.." Evan thought carefully.
"Well you'll meet him, for sure this time. We're going to see if we can't make some living arrangements there for all of us," Cat explained.
"They're your family?" Josh asked, "I thought you were some lab experiment?"
Cat gave a sharp and intense glare through her rearview mirror.
Evan nudged Josh and whispered, "What's wrong with you?"
Josh shrugged as though he really didn't understand what he'd said.
Cat looked back to the road for a moment. She left a large pause before she said, "After we rescued the Allspark from the Dam, I was injured nearly beyond repaired. When I was found and fixed up, I needed rehabilitation.. Sam's parents were so thrilled that I'd saved Sam on so many occasions during our few days together that they, immediately, offered to take care of me. Last summer I spent my entire time at their house. They made the guest room into my personal bedroom... I stay there when I'm not at the Dam..."
"That's pretty cool of them to do that," Evan thought aloud.
"Yeah.. yeah it is.." Cat gave a curt nod, "You'll never hear me say it in front of them, but the Autobots are my family too. They've taken pretty good care of me, and put me back together on several occasions when I've brought myself to the brink of death and back."
"What happens when this kids' parents decide they can't take us in?" Josh asked. He was more than hopeful that she would reply that they would need to return to the Dam.
"They already know we're coming, so don't get your hopes up," Josh lowered his head in a childish manner, "But if I think the three of us are too much stress on the family I'll shack us up at a hotel, or I'll see if Mikaela can squeeze me in for a day or two with her mom while you two stay with the Witwickys."
"Wit... Wit... ICKY?" Josh asked.
Cat sighed.
Just a few hours to go...
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"So how are we doing this?" Ron asked.
Sams' parents were trying to figure out how to make arrangements that were comfortable for three extra people, while keeping everyone happy.
"Well, I think we've agreed that Cat will stay in her usual spot, and we can have the two boys stay on the couch upstairs, and the couch downstairs," Judy thought while sipping her morning coffee at the table.
"Nah nah nah," Ron shook his head, "We can't do that."
"Why not?" Judy asked.
"We get up early. Probably too early for them. And our bedroom is right in front of the upstairs living area, and we have to walk through the living room to get to the kitchen and out the back door. We'll disturb them," Ron explained.
"Well the next best thing is to add our old cots to both Sams' and Cats' room and have each boy stay in those rooms," Judy thought aloud.
"Nothing doing," Ron immediately smashed that idea, "I'm not having them stay with our little Cat," Ron put his foot down on the matter.
Judy giggled, "Ron," she looked at him, "It's not like Cat is our kid."
Ron and Judy looked at each other for a brief moment. No words were necessary on the subject. They were both sure on this matter.
"They can stay with Sam on the cots," Ron decided, "His room is more than accommodating."
"Not really," Judy added.
"And why not?" Ron asked simply.
Judy gave a small shrug as she brought her hands up to talk, "Have you seen our sons' room? Gadgets, computers, just things everywhere! We don't have time to have him tidy up and he'll be too uncomfortable having two extra people in his personal space."
Ron sighed, "So how are we doing this?"
Judy thought for a moment, but before she could speak, a sleepy-eyed Sam walked in and sat at the table.
"Well good morning, sunshine," Judy screeched with joy at the appearance of her son.
"Oh mom," Sam shook a hand at her, "Not this early..."
"It's just cereal today, kiddo," Judy sang with delight, "we're in a hurry to get some things done before your father heads off to work."
Sam slumped in his chair and then stood up, with reluctance, and walked to the cabinets for a box of cereal. Before reaching for his morning yums, Sam stopped and turned back to his parents, "What are we planning for?"
"Oh, that's right!" Judy waved her arms slightly, "I'm sorry Sam, I forgot to tell you. Cat's coming in today. She should be here before you get home from school," Judy was kind enough to get up and fetch a gallon of milk from the fridge as she spoke.
Same grabbed his cereal and smiled, "Oh, good! I'm surprised she didn't come down sooner to get away from those new guys."
"Not so fast," Ron stopped Sam in his happy thoughts, "Those 'new guys' you're speaking of are coming too."
Sam was in the middle of pouring his bowl of crispy flakes when he stopped and looked up at his parents, "What? Why?"
"Cat decided she needed to some kind of research," Judy shrugged, "I don't know what for. But she was told to take them with her."
"She's not, exactly, excited or delighted over the idea either," Ron added, "But she struck some kind of deal with Optimum-"
"Optimus," Sam quickly corrected.
"Whatever... She struck a deal with him and part of that deal is that she's supposed to take care of these two kids. So she's bringing them with her. We're trying to decide where to put everyone," Ron finished.
"You're not serious?" Sam was astonished, "They're staying here... HERE..."
"Oh stop it, Sam," Judy urged, "The robots seem to think that they're good kids. I made sure to ask. I'm not bringing delinquents into my house."
Sam relinquished to the remainder of his cereal and shook his head. He took a few more bites before getting up and throwing the bowl into the sink, grabbing his backpack and headed out the back door. He made it clear he was unhappy by slamming the sliding door as he left.
Ron and Judy stared at the door for a moment before Ron asked, "Sooo... They're staying on the couches?"
Judy just looked at Ron and shook her head as she left the room.
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Cat and the crew, finally, arrived to the Witwicky house. Which was good, because Cat was on the verge of putting Joshs' head through a wall. The rest of the ride there she had to pull off the road six times for 'potty breaks' and 'I'm starving' breaks... It was good enough of her that she hadn't murdered the boy yet...
Cat got out of the car, Rotten following happily as he proudly barked upon his arrival to the house. The Rottie made circles around Cat as he was ecstatic to be in a new place with her. Cat looked down to her friend and smiled, "You've never actually stayed here have you? Not a time that you remember, anyway," she scratched his head and pointed to the backyard, where the dog pranced and hopped his way back to.
Jazz's hologram pulled up next to Cat and shut down her Busa as he took of her helmet and threw it to her, "Nice little ride," Jazz complimented, "Lemme know when I can bring'er back for ya."
Cat smirked, "Liked that, huh?" she set her helmet on the back seat as Jazz got off.
"Nice digs," Josh seemed happy with the chosen spot for their stay.
Cat turned and glared at Josh, Evan quickly covering for his friend, "He means he's glad he has a warm place to lay his head at night..."
Cat looked to Evan. He took her blank stare at him as a sign that she wasn't unhappy with him. He still wished she'd give him a little more leeway, though.
Cat turned back towards the house and saw that all vehicles were missing, Bumblebee, Ron's car and Judy's car were absent from the driveway and garage.
"Guess Judy's out getting groceries," Cat decided as she took her chain of keys and rolled through them until she got to the house key.
"Just put your stuff inside the door for now. I have no idea what the set-up is yet, so don't go claiming anything as your spot just yet," Cat unlocked the door and ran in, hitting the keycode on the house alarm and walking back out to give the two boys' clearance into the house.
Evan, immediately grabbed his bags and brought them into the house, setting his things just inside the patio door and not an inch further into the house. Josh brought his things up and threw them towards the inner door, letting them fall where they may.
Cat rolled her eyes and let the two into the house. She stayed outside and watched as Ironhide and Mirage appeared to her with their holograms as well. The three Autobots approaching her.
"So now what?" Cat asked, wondering what their plans were.
"We're gonna head back jes as soon as Bee gets back," Jazz replied as he put an arm around Cat with a 'bro-hug'.
"Now I don't hafta tell ya to behave, do I?" Jazz smiled, trying to be playful with his friend.
"Of course not," Cat sighed.
"Your stress levels have elevated to quite an extreme," Mirage noted.
"I'd just really like to crack that kids' neck is all," Cat waved Mirage off.
"I don't blame you," Ironhide agreed, his figure towering over Mirage, "The one is easy enough, but the OTHER... He's a pain..."
"Which is why he made friends, so quickly, with the twins," Cat nodded.
"Pests," Ironhide growled.
"Sometimes Hide," Cat smirked, "You're my favorite."
Ironhide smirked.
The sound of Judys' jalopy pulled up into the driveway as Cat and the Autobots turned to look. Cat smiled brightly seeing a comforting figure approach. Judy stopped the car and turned the engine off. She stepped out of her old, tired Chrysler and waved at the four.
"Heeelllooooo!" she yelled.
Cat walked to her mother figure and looked inside the car. A mountain of groceries were piled up in the back seat.
"I told you not to go out of your way for us," Cat said softly.
"You obviously haven't met my son," Judy smiled, "I'm just picking up my mid-week installment."
Cat smiled and waved the Autobots over, "Let's help her out."
The three holograms were more than happy to lend a hand. They grabbed two and three bags each. Cat looked in the car and went to reach for the last two bags when they were pulled from the other side. She looked to the person, and saw that it was Evan.
"Let me help. It's the least I can do," he offered.
Cat made no look at him, she just closed the door and walked inside the house.
Jazz walked out just as she walked in. He looked to Evan and saw the little bit of despair on his face.
"Don't cha worry bout her," Jazz smiled, "She's getting warmed up to ya, I promise."
"Sure doesn't feel like it," Evan frowned as he walked inside the house.
The boy set the two bags down on the table and the Judy danced around happily.
"I think I've made out the perfect set-up for you boys!" Judy exclaimed, "Why don't you follow me up the stairs, here, and I'll show you to your spot!"
"Maybe they'd like to know who you are first," Cat nudged Judy's arm.
"Oh, right! I'm sorry, I'm just so excited!" her ice blue eyes lit up cheerfully as she gave a small wave to Evan and Josh, "I'm Judy, Sams' mom. Sam should be home, with Mikaela, shortly."
"Evan grabbed his bags and smiled," It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
"Oh, no! I will not stand to be called 'ma'am' especially in my own home!" Judy offered, "Call me Judy."
Josh grabbed his load of things and asked, "So, uh.. Where are we crashing?"
Judy hopped towards the stairs and waved them along with her, "Follow me!"
Evan and Josh followed the older woman up the stairs, Cat not too far behind. She was, after all, interested to see the set-up.
As Cat got up the stairs, she looked down the hall to see a bed sheet hanging from the upstairs living area's entrance. Judy pulled the sheet back and said, "Ta da!"
Judy had been busy, moving the big couch around so that she could squeeze in a cot adjacent across the room from the couch.
"I know it's a little strange," Judy acknowledged, "But I put the sheet up so that you're not as bothered by Ron and I when we get up in the morning. Our room is right there," she pointed to the door facing the living area, "You still might hear a little bit when Ron lumbers out in the mornings, but that can't be helped."
Cat was impressed at how Judy had managed to put this together so quickly.
"It'll be like camping!" Judy cheered.
"Dude... This blo-" Josh started.
"BEATS sleeping in a park any day of the week! Right?" Evan could have strangled his friend.
"Oh, right," Josh looked to the red-head, "This is... awesome... Thanks.."
"Good! I'm glad this worked out! You boys just make yourselves at home!" Judy rushed back down the stairs to put the groceries away.
"You better knock that crap off!" Evan said behind gritted teeth to Josh, "They're doing the best they can for us, just be grateful for that!"
Evan threw his stuff down next to the cot, "I assume you want the better deal for bedding, too!" Evan turned to walk away, running into Cat and nearly knocking her down.
"Hey!" Cat almost fell back, reaching for a hold on the stairwell railing before she felt herself being caught.
Cat barely held herself up as she looked up to see Evan had both of his arms around her back, holding her securely. He was quite fast... for a human... She didn't even really notice how close they were to each other as Evan held her to himself. The air was quiet for a moment as Cat and Evan stared into each other.
"Cat?" Sam's voice called up the stairs. Cat and Evan both looking down to see the boy and Mikaela greeting them with the same, confused glances.
Cat brought her hands up to Evans' chest as she regained her footing and pushed away from the boy as he released her from his grip.
"Uh.. Hey guys.." Cat dashed down the stairs in an instant, "We just got here a moment ago. Just checking out what your mom put together for these two."
"Everything uh... Everything okay?" Cat noticed the side glance he was giving Evan. He was a tiger, ready to pounce.
"Like I can't handle it," Cat raised an eyebrow and looked to Mikaela.
Mikaela shrugged and rolled her eyes, giving Cat the understanding that Sam wasn't happy with something, and hadn't been happy about it for a while.
"Sam," Cat got the boy to look at her straight in her eyes, "We should talk... like now.." she led him out of the way of the stairs and into the living room, leaving Mikaela to entertain the other two.
Mikaela looked to the silent and confused older boys and smiled and awkward smile, "Hi... Um... I'm Mikaela.."
"Okay," Cat pushed Sam into the living room and sat him down on the couch, "What's wrong with you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sam asked.
Cat crossed her arms, "Mikaela told me that you've been bummed out for a few weeks now. You've been extremely distant.."
Sam looked away and said nothing.
"The last time this happened, you'd had a reaction from the power of the Allspark... Because of me.." Cat stared holes into the boy.
"I'm just not excited about this new situation.." Sam replied.
"Situation? I didn't tell your mom and dad about this 'situation' until last night. What situation has you so bothered?" Cat asked.
"Ever since those two started playing a role in your life, I've just had a bad feeling about all of it..." Sam replied.
Cat's eyes widened. She thought, for a moment and sat down next to Sam.
"Sam.." she started, "We've talked about this.."
"Not about them!" Sam replied.
"No... Not about them... about what you might feel from me through our link with the Allspark..." Cat sighed.
"I... I know..." Sam replied.
"Then I need to apologize to you... You've been feeding off of my emotions through our link, and it's poisoning you.. Your views are skewed because of me, not because you feel anything towards them.." she explained.
Sams' look softened on his face as he looked to his friend, "I can't help it. I feel like if I try and ignore it, I'll.."
Cat looked to the teen with a worried glance, "You'll what?"
Sam's eyes darted around for a moment before they fell back to hers, "I'll lose my link to you completely.."
Cat gave a small laugh, "That might be for the best, with the way I handle my own emotions."
"No.. you don't understand.." Sam shook his head, "When Barricade attacked you and the other two, I suddenly felt your presence... disappear..."
Cat looked to Sam, "Disappear?"
"Yeah... I felt your emotions when you were stressed, so I meditated a little and then... I felt you drop off completely.." he explained.
Cat suddenly realized what Sam was saying.
"You thought I was dead.. Not only that, you thought that by letting my emotions go, you were afraid that it had something to do with it.." Cat concluded.
Sam nodded.
Cat couldn't help but smile. Sam was afraid that if he let go of Cats' rapid changes in her emotions, he would lose her forever. For that, she couldn't be mad at him. At the same time, he was harming himself with surges from the Allspark, taking on more energy than he could take.
"Sam.." Cat looked at her friend with a very stern look, "Let it go.."
"What?" Sam asked.
"Let it go. Let go of your fears of me dying. I'm not going to die, and I'm not going to let you hurt yourself over me.." Cat stood and continued her firm look, "And if I have to call Ratchet out to treat you for these little surges of power you're experiencing, I will.. And you know how happy that's going to make the old Hatchet.. And Optimus.."
Sam looked away and nodded.
"You need to spend some time alone, tonight. You need to allow yourself to refocus your energy. If you can't get back to normal, I WILL call them out here.." Cat commanded.
"Well listen to you, miss angry-pants is starting to sound like the Autobots," Sam smiled.
Cat frowned, "When it comes to me, it doesn't matter. When it comes to you and Mikaela, I'll do whatever it takes... It IS kind of scary though.."
Sam nodded, "Yeah, it kind of is... Hey just one thing."
"What's that?" Cat asked.
"What was the whole deal with 'Mr. touch-n-stuff' doing up there?" Sam asked.
Cat sighed, "I'm not playing this game with you, Sam.." she left the room.
"What?! I'm just asking!" Sam yelled behind her as he followed her back towards the stairs.
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It was later on in the evening. After Jazz, Ironhide and Mirage had left, Cat had made her first trip, with Bumblebee, to the library on the other side of town. She'd collected a few books on Alchemy with some relatable topic books. Hunkering down in her private room with Rotten laying across the bed, Cat studied her books at the desk. She had a warm mug of tea on the desk.
A light knock came to the door.
Cat looked over. She'd asked not to be bothered and wondered who it could be, "Come in."
A mop of blonde hair appeared in the doorway. Unnatural azure eyes stared back at Cat. She smiled.
"What's up, Bee?" She invited him in.
"I thought I'd be a little more considerate, since the last time I scared you," Bumblebee stepped into the room quietly as he whispered.
"What can I do for you?" Cat marked the book she was reading and closed it.
"I was just seeing if you've found anything yet," Bee asked as he sat on the bed next to Rotten.
Cat shook her head, "Hmm, nope. I've only gone through a book and a half so far, though."
"Optimus says you're hoping to find a way to break the hold Five has on you," he started.
"Yeah. Five has the ability to work between the Allspark and me, and I need to get her to let go of her grasp on the both of us. If I do, I might be able to harness the power of the Allspark and stop all of this nonsense of random surges. I'd like to put this all under control."
"You don't believe that you could just speak to her, somehow?" Bee asked.
"We've been through this, Bee. The only way I can do that is if I die, or come close to death. And as much as I enjoy the idea.." Cat smirked.
Bumblebee frowned, "Not funny."
"I don't know if she can hear me when I speak. I don't know if I actually got through to her when I attacked Barricade with a surge, or if it was me. But I DO know that the Allspark mentioned that she's using Alchemy from beyond the grave to control me. If that's the case, then I need to break away from her," Cat sighed, "And I haven't been able to speak to the Allspark since the last time either. Hell, Bee, I might find a way to talk to the both of them without getting myself close to death."
"That would be highly ideal," Bumblebee commented.
"I know.. I get why she's doing it, at the same time.." Cat looked to the floor, "She's used me... unnecessarily..." she looked up to Bumblebee, "She could have killed you, and all of the others without flinching..."
"You're still afraid you'll offline us, aren't you?" Bee asked.
"Aren't you?!" Cat asked.
Bee shook his head, "You haven't done it yet. Not only that, but you, purposefully, attacked Barricade; and somehow he is still alive."
"Sure, but who knows when it will?" Cat asked, "I could destroy you and everyone within a miles radius.. I can't let her do that.."
"How do you think Five managed to gain control of you while she's dead?" Bee asked.
Cat looked to the ceiling and thought for a moment, "I'm not sure.. One of my theories is that when we fused, the reason why I can't perform Alchemy, anymore, is because she took those abilities. Not on purpose, of course, but that she took all of our Alchemy powers, while I survived and took her physical features. My eye," she pointed to her left, bionic eye, "my metal bones, my legs.. She somehow took the rest of those things with the body she was given in death... While I lived.."
"Just one question.." Bee asked, "How do you plan to use Alchemy to fix the situation, if you can't perform any of it?"
Cat leaned back in the wooden chair she sat in and took a deep breath, "I don't know... But if I research it enough, I might find an answer to that very question.. There's a lot to this. I doubt I'll find the answers I need in just one book."
"Which is why you're so interested in doing all of this research," Bumblebee assumed.
Cat nodded, "Hell, after all of this, I might become the foreman source on Alchemy," she joked.
Bumblebee felt the bed shake, and before he could do anything, the head of Rotten appeared on his lap. Rotten stared up at his with his large, brown eyes, begging for pets.
Cat smiled, "He's such a ham."
"Just promise me that you won't jump into anything before attempting to do it alone," Bee asked, scratching the Rot's ears.
"There's not a lot I can do, at this point. I doubt I'll be able to jump into anything without help," Cat assured.
"And when has that stopped you, before?" Bee gave the look that Cat hated most.
Cat rolled her eyes, "Well if you're going to be that way about it, no promises."
There were sudden, heavy footsteps that walked, slowly, by the bedroom doors. Bee watched as Cat focused herself on the noise. He could tell she was scanning the bio-signature as the noise passed the door and headed down the stairs.
"You know," Bumblebee started, "For once, I agree with you over something."
Cat stopped staring and looked to her friend, "What's that?"
"I think it's incredibly dangerous to have those two boys around," he said, simply.
Cat was taken aback. This was the first she'd heard of any Autobots disagreeing with Optimus over Josh and Evan.
"Really?" Cat asked, "Okay, I'll bite.. Why?"
"It's obvious that the Decepticons want Evan for something. And it's obvious that when you two are together, and alone, the Decepticons try to take advantage of that," he explained.
"Okay.." Cat encouraged him to continue. She was interested to see where this was going.
"I think, above all, it's too dangerous for him to be around you. He'll attract the wrong kind of attention and put you in danger," his look of sincere concern made Cat sigh.
"You know we have no proof that Evan, being around me, has anything to do with the Decepticons.. Barricade wasn't expecting me the first time. I just happened to be there," she explained.
"And the second time?" Bee asked.
"Who knows? We haven't figured half of this information out yet..." Cat shrugged, "But I appreciate you trying to find a reason to get these guys off my back."
"That wasn't my intention. I merely thought that it would be a way to... keep you safe," his concern sent a chill down Cat's spine.
"Thanks, Bee," Cat smiled.
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Evan sat down at the kitchen table in the dark, coddling a large mug of hot chocolate. Judy had been kind enough to show him around the kitchen, and told him to help himself to anything he wanted. He hung his head over the mug as the steam from the heated drink kissed his face. He sighed as he took another sip or two.
"Drowning your sorrows in chocolate?" The voice of Ron made Evan jump and turn to see where the older man was at.
Ron laughed quietly as he walked across the room, "Sorry to scare you."
"You.. didn't scare me," Evan tried to play it off.
Ron walked to the cabinets and grabbed a drinking glass. He turned to the fridge and grabbed a gallon of milk, pouring himself a tall glass and replacing the milk in the fridge. He took a large gulp before sitting at the table with the younger boy.
"What's got you up so late?" Ron asked.
"Guess it's just hard to get used to a new place to sleep," Evan lied.
"It's Cat, isn't it?" Ron asked, without missing a beat.
Evan was taking a sip of his drink when he nearly choked.
Ron laughed, "Yeah, that girl is all over the place."
"What makes you think I was thinking about HER of all people?" Evan asked.
"Hmm?" Ron asked.
"She's been nothing but a bully to Josh and I. She disappears, won't come near us unless she absolutely has to, ignores us, locks herself in her room to keep us out... What exactly makes you think I'm thinking about her?" Evan asked.
"Just a hunch," Ron shrugged, "She's quite catch."
Evan let out a curt, sarcastic laugh, "I wouldn't even... Not even in my dreams!"
"Okay," Ron tried to calm the high tensioned boy.
"...Besides..." Evan started, "I can't even get her to talk to me.."
"I've seen the way she ignores and avoids you. If you really want to get her attention, "Ron suggested, "Why not give her the same treatment she's been giving you?"
"What?" Evan asked.
"When she wants something from you, anything that is, just act like you didn't hear her. Avoid her at all costs. See how she likes it," Ron suggested.
Evan thought about this for a moment.
"That... doesn't seem like a half bad idea.." Evan agreed.
Ron finished his snack and stood up, washing out the glass in the sink before patting the boy on his shoulder, "That ought to get her attention."
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For the next chapter!
The halls were dark, dusty and smelled as rustic as the old books on its' shelves. This library was the perfect spot to spend some time alone, doing a little research. There was no one around, and these shelves would serve as fountains of information. Cat couldn't believe it; a WHOLE section dedicated to Alchemy and related topics. She could come back and spend DAYS here. It would, at least, get her away from the drama playing out between her and... Well she was going to forget about it for now. No more distractions!
A sudden 'clunk' in the distance turned Cats' head towards the end of the shelves. She saw nothing.
"Must have been.. a book falling or something.." she calmed herself as she settled back into her spot.
Two minutes into reading the current book, suddenly the noise was right in front of her.
'CLUNK' a book appeared on the floor at her feet as she jumped two feet from where she sat. Her heart raced, her mind threw itself into high gear, and she prepared herself for an instant battle. Before she could ready herself for a possible strike, she realized that her left eye had identified a bio-signature within four feet of her. She looked up and saw a strangely dressed, older man. He was looking down at her with a small smile. He wore a black cloak-like dress-wear. He had boots that went past his ankles and wore black, leather gloves. His face was wrinkled and worn. His eyes were a deep green, while they barely stood out next to his long, skinny nose. His hair was slightly grayed and rather thick for a man of his age.
"Who... Wha-" Cat tried to make sense of her situation in a hurry before she was stopped.
"I see you are studying Alchemy," his voice was a low tone and quiet; straining almost.
Cat looked to the book she had dropped during the commotion. She looked back up to the older man and gave a small nod.
His green eyes squinted as his smile widened. Cat stood up all the way slowly, getting herself to a normal state again.
"I happen to have some information on that very subject," his whisper was creepy enough to send a slight chill down Cats' spine. She felt as though something were very wrong with this situation.
The old man reached into his cloak, causing Cat to jump back against the shelf. She knew that she needed to change some of her old behaviors, but in this situation she wanted to prepare for anything. He felt around for only a second until he pulled out an old, tattered book. It was a black, leather-bound book with its' edges torn. The title was barely readable in the worn out gold print, but Cat could tell that it was foreign.
"You can have this old book, if you'd like," he held it out to her, "You might find more than you bargained for, though."
Cat stared at the old man for a moment. He held the book out to her without any sign of pulling it back. He was being firm about his wanting for her to have it. She reached out with her human hand, running her fingers down the spine of the book as she grabbed it. The weight of the book was passed off into Cats' hands. She stared at it for a moment before looking up.
"But how did you know-" but he was gone. Disappeared right in front of her very own eyes. She looked around, her bionic eye not catching a single signal in the library.
Cat looked back down at the book and stared at it's title for a moment.
"This book... it's..."
Bwahaha! Evil Author still has it!