Silence (TFP)

chapter 1

Chapter 1

I sat, once more, through a boring school day. None of the information was anything new to me. Being the top of my class, my classes didn't challenge me in the least. Some may call the geek of our grade, the nerd, the quiet one, maybe even stuck up since they don't know me. But I like to think I'm setting myself up for success.

The final bell for the day rang, signaling that we could all go home. I closed the lid of the laptop and slung my bag onto my shoulder. I left the building and walked outside. I sat under my favorite tree and pulled out a book. I opened it to the page I had left off on and started reading.

My attention slowly faded away and I looked up at all the kids leaving. That's when the trio of friends I had been watching every day walked by. Miko, Rafael, and Jack. They were always together. However, the fact that always left in different vehicles yet went in the same direction every day seemed a bit odd to say the least. Not to mention that they were all expensive vehicles. Sure, it wasn't any of my business, but one couldn't help but wonder what exactly they were doing every day after school.

You probably wouldn't know it based on how I'm speaking about him, but Rafael is one of my best friends. He's the only person in the school that is even close to being equal to my intelligence level. We study together a lot. Or, at least, we used to. Our whole friendship changed when he started hanging out with Miko and Jack and they got those vehicles. It's like he replaced me. I'm hurt. I haven't spoken to him about it. Partly because I haven't worked up the courage to and partly because I haven't had the chance to speak to him alone. Then again, he does have a cell phone. Perhaps I should give him a call.

I looked up from my book when I realized that it had gotten dark. Three hours passed while I was waiting for my mom to come pick me up. I sighed. Six pm. I decided that now might be a good time to make that phone call. I dialed the number and held the phone up to my ear. It rang several times before he answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Rafael."

"Something wrong, Jessica?"

"There are many things wrong, Raf."

"Oh, Jessica, I'm sorry. I know a lot of it is my fault. I haven't been spending time with you like I need to. I've gotten caught up in something."

"Caught up in something? Rafael, this has been going on for months."

"I know, and I feel terrible about it. What do you say I make it up to you tomorrow? We'll spend all day together, just the two of us."

"You do realize that one, I don't have a vehicle, and two, you can't drive, right?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna get my friend to drop me off at your house."

"That's all good and well, but how am I suppose to get home?"

"What do you mean?"

"Raf, I'm still at the school waiting to get picked up."

"Still? It's past six! Why hasn't your mom come to get you?"

"I don't know. I haven't heard from her since this morning."

"Do you think she's...?"

"I don't know. I'm worried."

"Alright, umm...hold on a minute." I heard talking in the background. It went on for a few moments before Raf spoke to me again. "Okay, so here's what we're gonna do. I'm gonna come by and get you. You can stay with me tonight."

"Alright. Thank you. I'll see you when you get here, then." I hung up the phone and leaned my head back against the tree. I looked up at the stars and wondered, not for the first time, what was beyond our galaxy.

The yellow and black muscle car that Raf always left school in drove up to the curb and parked. He got out of the passenger seat and I looked over to him sleepily. He ran towards me and helped me up. He then slid my book back into my bag and carried it to the car. He came back once it was in the back seat and led me to the same seat. I got in and buckled up. Raf jumped into the passenger seat and buckled up. We then began the ride to his house.

I looked out the window after a while and realized that we weren't in town anymore.

"Rafael, where are we going?" I asked with confusion.

"We're going to the place where I'm staying tonight. They might even be able to help us figure out what's up with your mom."

"Oh. Alright."

Half a minute later, we drove into some kind of tunnel thing that was in a huge rock. It led into what looked to be the central area. Raf helped me out of the vehicle and led me up some stairs to a platform.

"We're sleeping up here tonight."

"Okay." I looked around. "So where are these people you said are going to help me figure out what's going on with my mom?"

"Oh...about that...They aren't actually people."

"Meaning?"

"I'll...just let you see for yourself. It's hard to explain. Just promise me you won't freak out."

"I promise."

He nodded in satisfaction. "Bee?" he called out. "Look at the car," he said as he pointed to the car we arrived in earlier.

I looked at it and it changed into this huge humanoid robot. I felt my eyes widen and my breath stop. The lack of air took its toll, and made me pass out.

"She's fine. She just had a lack of oxygen for a few seconds too long. She'll wake up any moment."

That voice shocked me. I sat upright quickly. What I saw directly in front of me was the most surprising. It was another of those robots.

"Who are you?" I asked.

He looked over his shoulder. "I told you so." He looked back to me. "I am Ratchet, a field medic."

"Where am I?"

"I'll let Optimus explain that one to you." He pointed over to the largest robot, who told me everything I needed to know.