Jamie tries to get ducklings, but it seems the universe is against her.

Drift POV
It's been a rough year for Jamie, and it's only May. We're used to her going through periods of feeling depressed, but it's been harder this year. One thing that makes her happy is her pets, and this year she's happy to be getting birds — specifically chicks and Ducklings. That's what Jamie thought until she realized too late that the ducks could only be ordered for first pick-up and Jamie's dad wanted to wait until second pick-up, hoping to work on the coop. Even though she's getting some of her favorite chicken breeds, she wants ducks. She didn't think her dad would let her get any. The place they're ordering from has leftover days; when people can get any birds, people ordered but didn't pick up — though I think it's more like the place gets more than what people ordered. Unfortunately, they had nothing left this time. Another place has chicks and Ducklings all summer. As far as we know, they don't have Jamie's favorite breed, Mallards, but she's still getting ducks.

Everyone at N.E.S.T. is happy to see Jamie happy though it's hard not to think how long will this last? When her best friends can't keep her happy when Jamie stops doing what she loves to do — even if she got back to writing in April — working hard on a new book — and worked on art with Sunstreaker. We know Jamie, and while this was good, we know she's still struggling emotionally and mentally.

Optimus Prime POV
It's hard to watch Jamie struggle. I have for seventeen years, but it's been bad since her dog, Buddy, died. I doubt that's the entire cause of her decline. It's a mess, and humans acting like it's nothing is part of the problem, especially when it's Jamie's family. I know Crosshairs and Drift are not liking it's getting harder to make their friend happy and stay happy. I find myself wondering if we could have done anything different sooner than waiting for Jamie to turn eighteen. With most of Jamie's changes occurring after Buddy's death, we realize how much animals mean to her. Both because she's an animal lover and because her pets are her only friends in her dimension. Some new pets should help her a little.

Crosshairs POV
It's good to finally see Jamie happy for more than a few seconds after a joke or something funny on T.V. I hate how we know this isn't the end of her depressed periods. Maybe this will help her enough, and these periods will be less frequent than the past five months.

Of course, the universe decides Jamie has to start the day unhappy and, of course, doesn't want to talk about it. I hate when she's like this. Even though she trusts us to get into her phone, we are left snooping around to find answers why she's unhappy, hopefully.
"I think I'd rather she thinks we won't get ducks today than this," Drift sighs.
I hate how he's thinking today will not be a good day.
That's not like you, Drift.

Jamie POV
I'm amazed I was up at nine in the morning, considering I have no idea when I fell asleep. Only that it was after three A.M. and I'm not tired. Other than that, it's a typical morning; Crosshairs and Drift are not liking I'm not eating anything. Ratchet has already scolded me. I stay in the room I share with Crosshairs and Drift and work on my writing until it's time to leave.

We head out at three, first to get dinner at one of my favorites restaurants, Ninety-Nine. We are seated and wait ten minutes.
"This is scrap; let's go," Crosshairs says angrily. I didn't think Drift would agree.
"We waited ten minutes; we're leaving. Next time pay attention to who's available for the table you seat customers at," Drift scolds. He rarely is angery, but that doesn't mean he doesn't get angery.

We stand between the two alt modes.
"Well, we can go to Applebee's," Drift suggests, "I want to try the spinach and artichoke dip you like."
That's where we decide to go.

Drift POV
I don't know what's going on, but dinner continued to be a disaster. At least we got dinner, but by the end, Jamie wanted to give up and go home. Crosshairs and I take her to the store to get ducklings, but they don't have any. They will not get Jamie's favorite breed, Mallards.

"I told you this wouldn't be a good day," I sigh as I sit on the bed by Crosshairs. Sideswipe took Jamie to his room to play video games.
"They said to call tomorrow, and there's a couple of other locations. Last opinion; we can order online."
"Live ducklings, though?' I question.
I'd love to give Jamie the ducklings she wants, but that's risky.

I called the three locations for the next two days. By Thursday, all three locations told me they didn't know when they'd be getting ducks.

"Forget it, clearly when I somehow missed the fucking black box on the paper, that was the universe saying I can't have ducks. Unless I order online...," Jamie tells me after I told her what I was told when I called the three locations.
As far as we know, this store has birds all summer. We can keep trying, but I think we'll keep trying without telling Jamie. Hopefully, we'll get Mallards, but she'll like any breed.
"We'll have twenty chicks to care for in a month," Crosshairs reminds her.

A/N:
This is how my Tuesday went, and now my phone calls to these stores went. Will there be a part 2? I don't know. It does feel like the universe is saying no ducks.