Jacklyn had her hands stuffed into her jacket pockets. Her book bag was heavy and sagged down to the earth's sidewalk. She waited patiently for her best friend to leave her favorite store of cameras and checked her watch. School had recently let out and Carmen, Jacklyn best friend always went to her favorite store on Friday. Since the Decepticons demolished the government in the USA the humans no longer used money or needed it. So everything was traded within the country. Jacklyn's eyes drifted to the street as a squad car began driving past them. It slowed to a stop and the car transformed. Her brown eyes met the red hatred filled ones. The Decepticon vechicon grunted and he turned to look down the alleyway. Jacklyn watched quietly as he ground out a low rumble.

"What is going on here?" He demanded into the alleyway. He reached in and snatched what was then shown as two humans. One held a gun and was looking very sick. The other looked scared out of his mind. The Decepticon dropped them in front of him and the man with the gun snarled.

"He stole my drugs so I'm getting back at him for it," he shrugged. The other man grew furious.

"You're dying! You got to stop taking these pills! Mom's worried about you!" He argued back. The Decepticon rolled his optics.

"Well if he stole your slag and you want to get your little revenge then just shoot him already." The cop car snorted. Jacklyn gulped and tried to avert her eyes. She couldn't. The man with the gun raised it and the brother grew scared and began pleading. The man pulled the trigger and a bang echoed through the town. The man fell to the sidewalk as he was killed. Jacklyn looked away with tears stinging at her eyes. Her hand went to her mouth but she quickly removed it. Her eyes stared into the store hoping her friend was coming soon. She heard the brief sound of the con transforming and driving away. Jacklyn whimpered and cried silently as the man walked past her. She tensed and the doors to the store opened. Carmen was shuffling her hands about inside her bag.

"New laptop and new recorder for just a bunch of bread. I love new gadgets." She grinned and looked up. The blonde haired girl tilted her head at seeing her friend cry. "Oh my god, Jackie what happened?" She rushed over to her and grabbed her shoulders. Jacklyn swallowed the lump in her throat and slowly turned her head to stare at the man now dead on the ground. Carmen grimaced. She grabbed her friend's hand and turned them around, heading them toward home. Carmen rubbed her hand on her friend's arm in an attempt to comfort her traumatized friend. Jacklyn whined quietly.

"I...I heard about it...but never saw this happen before." She whispered in shock.

"I know, I know. It's really unexpected ya know? You just have to learn to deal with it.  As long as we ain't attacking them then they don't care.  The cop cars here don't care if we want to shoot up the place. Heck, they'd probably join us." Carmen snorted, attempting humor to help her. Jacklyn only shook her head and sighed.

"I'm sorry. Your right. I need to get it together." She nodded. Carmen hummed.

"Did you hear about the Autobot exhibit? Just opened yesterday. We should go." Carmen suggested. Hopefully, Jacklyn would take the bait of a new topic. She did.

"I don't know. I mean I looked up to those guys once. Now I'm not sure." Jacklyn tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Besides, I have to study and eat and soon it will be dark and you know how they feel about curfew." She mumbled. Carmen sighed.

"I guess your right. But I'm taking you. Eventually. That excuse won't work on me forever." She pointed a finger at her. Jacklyn snorted.

"What excuse?"

"That's the attitude I miss," Carmen grinned brightly. Jacklyn instinctively smiled back. They began to approach their houses and Carmen laughed. "Aren't you glad we're neighbors? Bet you wouldn't have a better friend than me." She winked. Jacklyn rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah your great and all. Go play with your new toys. And actually, study this time, maybe you could pass a test for once." Jacklyn smirked as she walked up her driveway. Carmen forced a laugh.

"Ha! Did I just hear a joke from you!? It better be a joke." Carmen grinned as she went to her porch steps. Jacklyn shrugged.

"Seems you'll have to figure that out on your own." She opened her door. Carmen rolled her eyes.

"See ya tomorrow, bookworm." She waved and they entered their houses. The door closed behind Jacklyn as she walked inside. Jacklyn threw her shoes off and began walking down the hall and into the main living room. There sat her younger brother, Nicholas, her father and her grandmother (Nana) and great-grandmother (GG). Nicholas was speaking quietly to her father as her Nana and GG argued with the newspaper in their hands.

"This is absolutely ridiculous I tell you!" Jacklyn chuckled at her GG's ranting as she set down her bookbag on the counter of the kitchen. "Our so-called new President, Lord Megatron, has just flown in for his continuous vacations once again. He shut down all airports, all people denied free access to the other countries! Disgraceful robot! Mexicans under their rule are now trying to escape to South America and being shot down! Unbelievable! Never did I think I would see such horrific events in our land we used to call 'free'." GG sneered with a disgusted expression. "Maybe the world will get along for once and help our country." Her Nana snorted as if she heard her rant before many times and shook her head.

"Don't get all excited about it."

"Are you trying to deny me my freedom of speech?" GG raised her eyebrows. "I am your mother." GG pointed a warning finger at Nana. Nana chuckled and turned to see Jacklyn. GG mumbled under her breath and went back to focusing on her newspaper. 

"How was school, Jackie?" Nana asked as she began getting up from her chair. Jacklyn shrugged.

"Same as it always is. Boring." She snorted. She figured talking about the killing outside the store shouldn't be said. Nana smiled. 

"Hungry?" She asked as she gave her a hug. Jacklyn returned it before releasing with a shake of her head.

"Not really. I'm going to go study for a bit then take me a shower." She said. Nana nodded. 

"Alright, well I'll go ahead and start dinner." She smiled and began heading to the refrigerator. "Any requests?" 

"Steamed carrots." Jacklyn shrugged and ran up the stairs. Her bookbag bounced against her back and she went into her room.  She threw her bag onto the bed and unzipped her bag.  Her hands grabbed her textbook and flipped it to the correct page in her arms. Jacklyn sat down on her bed and leaned against her pillows as she began reading.