When morning came around the following day, Saphira felt reluctant to get out of bed. She had to go to school…she hated that she had to instead of staying in the garage and spending time with them. She didn't even feel like doing her usual yoga today. Plus, when she checked the time, she realized she wouldn't have time to do it anyway as she overslept. So, when she got up she grabbed some eggs and sausages to cook up for breakfast. She considered sticking her head out to let the autobots know she was up, but she would wait on that one.
However, it seemed her movement had not gone unnoticed as she heard a light knock on the door and Ratchet opened the door, the silver-haired man peered in curiously. "Good morning. Are you not going to go do your yoga?"
"I have no time for that, I overslept." She shrugged a little and grabbed the loaf of bread to grab two slices to put into the toaster. "Morning to you too. I just need to make breakfast and get myself ready. School starts in a couple hours."
"Really? That doesn't seem like much time for you to do anything in the morning," Ratchet comments in surprise, rubbing his chin lightly. "I know Ironhide isn't thrilled doing drop-off duty, but with Barricade hanging around, we just can't be slagging off like nothing."
She chuckled a little at the choice of words, but she understood. Ironhide was more into fighting than being a babysitter. "You can always let me take myself or Bumblebee."
"No, Optimus has insisted Ironhide goes with you as well. He is the second strongest here, so naturally he goes with you. And he can kill Barricade with no issue." Ratchet watched Saphira push the bread into the toaster and turn back to the pan to keep cooking her breakfast.
Saphira was not going to argue. She grabbed a plate as the eggs and sausages were ready, she lifts them out onto the plate and turned off the stove top just as the toast pops up. She grabs the slices to butter them before she sat down to begin eating. She glanced at the door as Bee walked over to peer into the room curiously.
"You can come in and sit if you would like," Saphira said, gesturing to the free chairs in the room. "You can have your energon cubes if you would like."
"Thanks Saphira, but we are fine," Ratchet said gently with a smile. "But can I ask why is there so many different foods that humans can eat?"
"You're asking me that? How would I know?" She chuckled a little as that question really was a hard one to answer. "Honestly, I think the Earth just developed so many kinds of edible foods that we humans enjoy having variety."
"That makes sense, still, it just seems like a lot." The medic watched as Saphira took a bite of the bread she had dipped into the yoke. He just shrugged, not understanding it at all.
"It is a shame you can't spend the day with us Saphira," Bee said in a sad tone, looking at her sadly. "I know you would rather be here with us."
"Yeah…not much I can do though. Important exams are coming up as it will be the end of the school year in a few months. Next year is my last of high school before I go onto college…" Saphira paused as she thought about that. She wouldn't have anyone at her graduation, she already received hints she would be the one to make the speech at graduation, but it hasn't been confirmed yet. "I'll have to ask Lennox if you guys can come to my graduation. Everyone else will have their parents there, I won't. So…it'll be nice having someone there."
"You know I will be there!" Bumblebee exclaimed, placing his arm across his chest to show he would promise to be there. "I won't let you down."
"I know you will be, but everyone else. Even when your new friends arrive, and I get to meet them, they could be there too." Saphira even considered asking Lennox to be there. After all, the way he treated her before was something like a father should actually do. She missed that sorely in her life. "It's a bit over a year away though."
"We can only tell you that we would try to be there, but it is out of our control at this time," Ratchet said to her gently. "I can tell this graduation is important, I assume it is a milestone for humans to go through. And you will be continuing your education in college, that is really good."
"Yeah…" Saphira didn't know what to study in college. She had thought about astronomy, but considering when she turns eighteen, she would technically have a job given to her. But college was still important nonetheless. "Anyway, I guess that will be something to look forward to."
"It is indeed, maybe we can convince Optimus to use his holoform at that time." That is a nice thought. Saphira still didn't know why he hasn't yet. His excuse for keeping watch seemed odd to her at best. She looked at Bee as he continued to speak. "I tried convincing him this morning actually, but he still said it wasn't necessary."
"Has he used his holoform since he arrived here?" Saphira asked curiously while taking a bite of a sausage.
Ratchet and Bee glance at each other, they seemed to be hesitating which pretty much gave away the answer to her. "He has, but it was once because there was no way for him to attend an important meeting with your leaders otherwise. That was the only time he's used it."
She wondered if Optimus simply disliked using his holoform if he's only used it once since being on the planet. "Does he dislike using it?"
Ratchet shrugs for a second and closed the door to speak in a hushed tone. "He stopped using the holoform since Elita, he has felt no real reason to use it since then."
That was a surprise, but it made sense. Maybe Optimus and Elita often spent time together in their holoforms, and now it would feel like he is doing something wrong against Elita by using it without her. Saphira nodded a little in understanding and finished off her breakfast so she could wash up. It made her feel sad for Optimus.
"It will be much easier to talk to him if we are on the same level, but I understand. If it was something special between him and Elita, I guess it makes sense that he doesn't want to taint that memory." Saphira stood up and grabbed the pan to take to the sink along with her plate to wash up. "I don't know the feeling, so I can't really sympathise."
Ratchet nodded at her with a smile. "We do appreciate you are considerate though Saphira. We have yet to find that with your leaders and soldiers, although William Lennox tends to be more understanding than the rest. We respect him a lot for that."
"Yeah, he's a great soldier." Saphira smiled as she thought back to how Lennox and Epps stood up for her against Simmons. It was nice, even though she was fully capable of fending for herself in that situation.
"I know he is set to be promoted to Major soon," Ratchet said and she looked at him in surprise. "Yeah, apparently he has been thoroughly recognized for his achievement in Mission City and he will be receiving the new badge in the coming weeks. Sadly, you cannot attend, but I know you would want to hear that."
"I think that's great!" Saphira smiled, looking back at the sink as she scrubbed the plate and placed it on the drainer. "If only civilians could attend, I definitely would be there. But, oh well, I congratulate him when I get to see him again."
"I am sure he will appreciate it too." Ratchet chuckles and Saphira dried her hands as she finished washing up.
"Alright, can you get out of the room please? I need to get dressed." Saphira gestures to the door while waiting patiently.
"Of course Saphira," Ratchet said, grabbing Bee by the arm and pulling him to the door to have him leave. "I am sure it won't take too long to get yourself ready."
Not really.
Saphira waited patiently for them to close the door and she walked to the wardrobe to get out a pair of jeans and a nice, sea-blue blouse to put on. Once she was dressed, she took her time to brush her very long hair and put it into a French braid while leaving some strands out. She grabbed out the clip with the white flower on it and slipped it in her hair, smiling at herself in the mirror as she gazed at it. It looked really pretty on her. She loved it a lot.
She sprayed on deodorant and gathered her things she needed for school before she put on her shoes and walked out of the room. She smiled when she saw Ironhide's holoform leaning against the GMC with his arms folded, he appeared to be impatient at the moment. But there was still time.
"Oh, that looks real nice Saphira," Ratchet compliments, gesturing to her hair as he noticed the white flower clip right away. "It stands out in your hair, hopefully it is fine to wear to school."
"I wouldn't have it in my hair if it wasn't appropriate." Saphira walked out to the driveway where Optimus was still sitting and looked up at him with a smile. "What do you think? I bought it yesterday to memorialize going to that nice field yesterday."
"It looks really nice Saphira," Optimus responded in a calm tone through his speakers. "I am surprised you got something to remember that day. But if it means that much to you, I am very glad you got it. Maybe after school, we can go back there for the afternoon."
"That sounds nice." Saphira placed a hand on the fender and rubbed thoughtfully. "But, we will bring the rest with us I think."
"I knew you would say that." He chuckled lightly through the speakers as he spoke. "I will be following behind Ironhide when he takes you to school, I hope you don't mind." She shakes her head at him. "Good. I want to see where you get your education anyway. It is interesting to me. You have so many different places for education."
"We sure do, it starts from when we are very young that is for sure. And goes on until we are satisfied honestly." She shrugged a little as she leaned on the fender. "But, life is just another adventure most of the time. We just have to work our way through it until we get to where we want to be." She blinked a little and smiled suddenly. "Ooh, I am so using that line if I am to make the speech at graduation next year."
"I would have to agree with you on that one too Saphira. It certainly is an adventure. Anyway, we should probably get going." She frowned and glanced at the time on her phone, realizing it was indeed time to go. "We don't want you to be late."
"Honestly, wouldn't bother me…oh well." She shrugged and walked over to the GMC with a smile. "Sorry about this Ironhide, I know you would rather be doing something else."
"Pfft, you got that right punk," Ironhide huffed before he opened the passenger door for her to climb in. "Alright, just like before, let me know where to go and we will get you to school."
"I don't know what you lot will do today though, I'll be there until three," Saphira said as she climbed into the cab and got comfortable. "I am sure you will think of something though." She looked at herself in the mirror and adjusted the clip, smiling at herself as she moved her head to the side to look at the clip properly.
Ironhide rolls his eyes when he sees her admiring herself in the mirror as his holoform melds into his vehicle form. She hears the engine starting and he backs onto the road. She began to direct him from there with Optimus following behind. She tried striking up a conversation with him, but Ironhide wasn't really interested this morning, she wondered what put him in a bad mood today other than needing to take her to and from school.
When she did arrive at the school, the vehicles did turn heads of many students as they came to a stop. "Thanks for this Ironhide, I will be finished in about six hours," She said thankfully as she gathered her things and stepped out of the GMC.
"Have a good day, punk," Ironhide said through the speakers before she closed the door.
She waved to Optimus and walked towards the entrance. She grabbed the clip to take out, she knew her regular bullies would do something to it if they saw it, so she hid it discretely in her bag and entered the school to begin the day. Thankfully, her fake old friends did not bother her this morning, so she was able to get to the first class with no problem. She goes through the day without any issue, she handed in her Maths assignment and a few other assignments as well, she had most of her assignments done which was a good feeling so she could focus getting ready for the exams.
When the afternoon came, Saphira was waiting patiently for Optimus and Ironhide, they were not there when school finished so she just had to wait. However, as she was waiting patiently, she did not see the three girls she used to call friends walk out and notice her waiting. They snicker among each other, and the blonde girl approached her with a huff.
"So, you finished your assignments already, huh?" The girl sneered at her, Saphira looked at her with a bored expression. "You know, we could all be done with ours too if you just told us what to do."
"It would be cheating Sophia, you know that," Saphira responded calmly with a roll of her eyes. "You don't learn anything if you don't do it yourself. Besides, if you are not working on the assignments, that is your own fault."
"We got no time for that, we need that time for shopping, hair, nails and going out," The girl responded in a snotty tone. "You will never know what it is like to be rich!" Saphira kept herself from putting on a smug expression because she herself had a lot of money in the bank. "So, if you tell us what the answers are for the assignments, we might just be friends again."
"We were never friends, you just used me!" Saphira snapped back at them before she noticed the GMC and Peterbilt pulling up. She sighed and walked away from her. "You should really stop trying to talk to me, you're never going to get me to help you ever again. Why don't you have your mummy and daddy pay for some tutors? You could use it."
"How dare…" Sophia gasped in disbelief before noticing the two trucks Saphira was walking towards. "Since when did your parents have the money for those trucks huh?" Saphira did not respond as she kept walking and Sophia huffed before walking briskly towards her. "Hey! I am talking to you! Don't ignore me!" She grabbed Saphira's shoulder and turned her to face her. "Are your parents rich now or something?"
Saphira glared at Sophia, smacking her hand away from her shoulder. "I have no parents, I disowned them. I live on my own and make my own money. I also have great friends now, unlike you."
Sophia glared at Saphira and breathed in deeply, flaring her nostrils dramatically. "No matter what you do, you will never be one of us! Even with a lot of money, don't forget that!" She shoved Saphira suddenly, the girl gasped in surprise as she lost her balance and felt onto the concrete path hard. "Flashy trucks and cars…"
"HEY! GET AWAY FROM HER!" Ironhide's voice bellowed as he stomped towards the two girls furiously, he huffed loudly as he approached quickly.
Sophia backed away quickly when she saw the tall, muscular, bald man walking towards them with a furious expression. Saphira groaned as her elbows had scraped on the cement and now they both were bleeding from the injury to them. She did smirk when Sophia practically ran away in fear as Ironhide approached.
"Are you okay?" Ironhide asked, kneeling down to help her to her feet. "What is that girl's problem?"
"She is Sophia, she was one of the girls who used me for their own gain, a fake friend from primary school," Saphira responded with a groan as she got to her feet. "Ow, my elbows…"
She glanced at them with a frown, she didn't have anything to cover them and stop the bleeding. Ironhide huffed, he knew the blood would need to be cleaned from his seats if she sat in the car. "I don't have anything to help with that, sorry. You just will have to go to the garage like this."
"Seems that way…" Saphira turned and walked towards the GMC. She reached into her bag to see if she did have anything, but she didn't and that annoyed her. She glanced at Optimus. "Sorry, we should be going to the field right now."
"I would rather you be taken care of first Saphira," Optimus responded. "That looked painful. However, I don't understand why she shoved you."
"She's just a bully, I ignore her most of the time. She's just salty because I won't do her assignments for her. Just because she has money." She climbed into the passenger seat, doing her best not to press the elbows to the seat and moved her elbows so blood would drip onto her jeans instead of the car seat. "We can go now."
Ironhide did not need being told twice as the engine starts and he turned around with Optimus following to return to the garage. Saphira sat there in silence, mostly because she was in pain as landing on the elbows like that wasn't a great feeling for anyone. When they finally returned to the garage, Ratchet and Bee were waiting, they were surprised to see the two autobots return.
"I thought we were going…" Ratchet gasped when Ironhide opened the door and he saw Saphira with her arms covered in streaks of blood. "What the slag happened?" He rushed over to help her out, inspecting her injuries closely. "Did you run into a decepticon or something?"
"No, just a high school, snobby, bitch who thinks she can tell me what to do," Saphira responded calmly. "I have a first aid kit in the garage. It is on the wall, you will see a while box with a green cross on it, there's bandages in there. But I need to clean this first."
Bee ran over to the box and opened it, he was surprised by how much stuff was in there, but he grabbed out the bandages and ointment. Ratchet helped Saphira walked over to a stool to sit on, he was insisting he would take care of her and ran into the bathroom to wet a close to clean the wounds and blood. Ironhide walked in, he had Saphira's bag as she left it in the GMC when Ratchet helped her out.
Ratchet returned and began to clean her skin, Bee held out the bandages and he glanced at them. "Use the pressure pads first Bee and press onto the wounds to stop the bleeding. Don't press too hard, you just need enough pressure to stop it."
Saphira smiled slightly as Ratchet seemed to have learned about human first aid to deal with this. She said nothing, she felt the pressure pads on her elbows, she grimaced as she felt the pressure being pushed onto them, but she didn't try to squirm away. Ratchet cleaned her arms and seemed satisfied.
"Oh, your jeans have blood on them," Ratchet gasped, glancing down at her legs and looked at her with a sad face. "I hope it can be washed out."
"If not, I'll just get new jeans, no big deal." Saphira sighed deeply as she waited for Bee to finish with the pressure pads and apply ointment to encourage quick healing. "I'll be fine though. Sophia and her gang are just girls from wealthy families. She thinks I'll never be rich and understand what they need."
"Are humans really that petty like that?" Ironhide asked curiously and Saphira nodded, it was an unfortunate flaw that humans have. "It's stupid."
"Yep, sure is. More money doesn't make anybody better than anyone else. I agree with you Ironhide." She doubted she would even change her habits that much when she received her inheritance. She probably will increase the wealth as she had been studying the stock market for a while, and the real estate too, so she unlikely will go without money, but she won't be bitchy about it. "There's a saying out there that money buys happiness, but I don't believe that at all. It is the experiences and choices you make that make you happy."
"It is a weird quote…but we never had money like humans, so we don't need to worry about that," Ratchet said as he looked at her elbows and gestured to Bee. "Lift your hands Bee, I think the bleeding has stopped or slowed considerably." Bee moved the pads away, he grimaced at the red liquid on them and Ratchet inspects the injuries. "Hmm, the way your skin has peeled is strange."
"I did land on cement, it would mostly certainly cause that," Saphira responded with a shrug. "It hurts a lot, let me tell you."
"I can tell." Ratchet grabbed the ointment and opened to to squeeze some out to apply it. Saphira hissed when she felt the ointment on the wounds, but she relaxed as it was soothing afterwards. "That should help clear it up quickly." He finished applying the ointment and grabbed the bandages to wrap some around her elbows to protect the wounds and let them heal. "Alright, that should feel a lot better."
"It does, thank you," Saphira said, standing up from the stool and wincing as she moved her elbows a bit. "We still have time to go to the field."
"Do you still want to?" Ratchet asked in surprise, he thought she would want to stay home.
"Of course, or I am going to be doing homework. I'd rather go to the field. I'll get changed." Saphira smiled and walked towards the room. "Oh, put whatever you didn't use back in the first aid box, thanks."
She entered the room to change out of the stained jeans and blouse to put on another pair of jeans and a long, sleeve, purple shirt with black floral print on them. She also pulled out her hair and brushed it to one side and smiled at herself. She did realize she didn't have her bag because Ironhide still has it, so she went out to grab it from him and take out the clip to put back into her hair with a smile.
"Alright, I'm pretty much ready." She walked back into her small room to grab a packet of biscuits to eat while at the field and walked towards Optimus with a smile. "I'll go with you."
The door opened to allow her in. "Of course, I knew you would want that. If you are in too much discomfort, we will return early."
"Nah, I'll be fine. A period is worse than this." Saphira chuckled lightly as she stepped into the cab. "And don't ask me what that is, I am not going to explain that one to you." But she will probably have to at some stage.
"Hmm, okay." Optimus's engine started and he waited for the other autobots to be ready before backing onto the road to head to the field.
Saphira didn't know what they would do, but she was looking forward to it. Plus, she felt this was the only way to spend time with them. And to her surprise, going to race meets was no longer in her mind at the moment. She would likely start going back to them next week though, after all she needed to keep bringing money in for rent. But her priorities were changing. Plus, she did have this inner feeling of wanting to spend alone time with Optimus, she didn't really know why though. Maybe she will have more one-on-one time with him on the last couple days before he leaves to begin his missions.
