I was running out of time. I had to be at the Autobot base for 5:30, because Miko wanted to help me get ready for prom, and it was almost 5:20. I shuddered at the thought of the dance. I've determined I hate prom now, considering my date ditched me. I used to be all excited for it, but now it means nothing. I don't even know why I'm going anymore.

My phone buzzes. I walk over to my desk and check it to see who it's from, although I already know. It's Miko, wondering if I'm ready, and saying that Bulkhead, her robot guardian, and her are on their way. I sigh, then send a quick reply. I grab my cosmetic bag, full of makeup and stuff to do my hair, and walk over to my dress. Even in a garment bag, it still looks gorgeous. It's a deep blue, strapless, and just is the right poofy-ness; not as big as a cloud, but not as thin as a branch. I trailed a hand over the silver sequin and bead design, thinking about how it reminds me of a clear night sky.

I'm pulled out of my daydream by a loud honking outside. I rush to my curtains, and open them to see Miko and Bulkhead outside. I grab my dress and my shoes, and race out the door to meet them.

******************************

I've been sitting in Bulkhead's room for at least the past hour, letting Miko go all out on my makeup and hair. I can feel my neck and back starting to get sore from sitting still for so long.
"Are you almost done Miko?" I whine.
"Stop your complaining, perfection takes time." She says as she sticks what feels like the hundredth bobby pin into my hair.

I only have to wait a few more minutes until Miko gives me the ok to get up.
She helps me climb into my dress, and zips it up. I slid my feet into my shoes, and wait for Miko to bring a mirror over. When she sets it down in front of me, I'm stunned.

The girl in the mirror can't possibly be me. My hair is down and laying in perfect ringlets, with a beautiful crystal hair clip to add to it. My makeup is perfect, accenting my eyes and my lips just right. I twirl around gently, as Miko grins like crazy.

"You look absolutely gorgeous Maddison!!" She squeals.
"I actually do." I mumble, causing Miko to laugh.
"Come on! We gotta show the 'bots and the boys!"
She grabs my arm and pulls me out into the main room of the base. We're both laughing as we walk in, so all heads turn to look at us. I stop laughing as I notice all the eyes looking at me. My own eyes fall to the floor and I start to blush immensely.

There's an awkward silence after we walk into the room. I wish I could leave right then and there, it's so embarrassing for me. I risk a quick glance up, and see Jack giving me a little smile as he walks towards me.
"Woah. You look beautiful Maddie." He says.
I mumble a thanks as I blush some more.

"Why are you all dressed up Mads?" I hear Bulkhead ask. Clearly Miko didn't mention anything to him about prom.
"I'm dressed up because my school is having this dance -called prom- and I'm going to it. You're supposed to dress your best." I explain, as I look up at him.
"Do you have a date?" Raf pipes up.
"Not anymore." I say with a sigh. "Would one of you mind driving me to the school? My friend Jenna is going to be waiting for me there."

"What happened to your date?" A deep voice inquires. Optimus.
I take a deep breath, then say,
"He ditched me for another girl. He told me today, in front of basically the entire school, that he wasn't going with me anymore." The bitterness in my voice is very clear.

"I don't think you should go without a date. You deserve one on a night like tonight." Raf says to me.
"Well where am I supposed to get one when prom is in 45 minutes?" I snap at him. "Can't order one online, cause it takes too long to ship them here."
That causes Miko to start to get the giggles, but one glare from me shuts her up.
"You also shouldn't be without a guardian." Optimus says, always the one to worry about our safety.
He slowly looks around the room at the Autobots, evaluating them.

I also look at the giant robots in front of me. Arcee isn't the right choice, for obvious reasons, and Ratchet is already ignoring everyone, there is no way he'd be going to a prom. Bulkhead apologizes as he explains that Miko, Wheeljack, and him have plans, while Bumblebee beeps something similar; he's hanging with Raf and Jack. I know Optimus is busy, so that leaves one 'bot left. I notice Optimus' optics land on Ultra Magnus at the same time I realize what that means.

"Ultra Magnus, you will have to accompany Maddison to her.... prom." Optimus commands.
He nods once, accepting his orders.
"Wait." I say. "Jack, do you have a nice pair of shoes, pants, a dress shirt, and a tie?"
"Yeah, I think so." he replies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the time it takes for him to bridge home, grab those items, and bridge back, I explain to Ultra Magnus -and the others- that he has to dress up his human holoform too.

"So my human form," he starts off, "has to look nice to fit in?"
"Yes. Most boys there will be wearing either a tuxedo or a nice shirt and tie." I reply.

When Jack gets back, he hands the clothes off to Ultra Magnus, who activates his holoform, and walks off to change. Only when it's soon time to leave do I start to get nervous.

******************************

About a half hour later, I'm sitting in Ultra Magnus' cab, getting ready to head into the school. It was a long, quiet ride here. Before I get out, I turn to the human holoform beside me that just appeared, and say,
"Thanks for accompanying me. I know this probably isn't your type of thing, and you're probably pissed right now, but it still means a lot to me"
"I am just following the commander's orders." He says as serious as ever.
I sigh as I get out of him.
"Okay let's go."

******************************

When we walk in, it feels like all eyes are on me again -the second time in one night, wow. I look over at Magnus in his suit, and nod approvingly. Now if only he'd smile...
As we walk further into the gym, I lean in close to him and feel him stiffen, until I whisper in his ear.
"So, while we're at my school, we're going to shorten your name to Magnus, ok?" I tell him. "Ultra Magnus isn't exactly common around here."
He gives me a slight nod, and I end up heading to the center of the dance floor, as he walks to the side of the gym.

******************************

For most of the night, I was with my friend Jenna, and Magnus was against the wall, just watching everyone, and making sure I was alright. A few faster songs had been playing in a row, so everyone was eagerly waiting for the next slower paced one. Luckily, the next one was a slow one -Far Away, by Nickelback. I was heading over to the punch bowl to get a drink, when I noticed my old date walking my way... with his new date.

I adverted my eyes as they walked past, but when I looked up again, I saw them a few feet away, dancing very close, and very passionately making out. That's what broke me. Tears threatened to pour out of my eyes as I pushed through people, trying to get away from there.

I almost made it out of the crowd, and out of the door, when someone grabbed my arm, and pulled me around to face them. I looked up, right into the eyes of Magnus.
"What is wrong?" He questioned, with maybe a tiny bit of genuine concern, unless I was imagining things.
"It doesn't matter." I said, when in reality it mattered so much.
"It does not seem like that. Again, what is wrong?"
"You wanna know what's wrong?!" I start to yell. "My shitty ex-date is on the dance floor dancing, and making out, with his new, probably better, date! And it fucking h-hurts."
My voice breaks at the very end because the dam holding back my tears has broke.

I sob there for a few minutes, until I feel a hand cautiously, but gently, place itself on my shoulder. I turn around, and look up at Ultra Magnus.
"I am sorry that your date turned out this way." He says to me.
I pull away from his touch.
"It's not your fault."

There was an awkward silence for a minute, until it was broken by Magnus asking,
"What are they doing?"
I looked over to the dance floor to see they were all still dancing.
"It's called dancing." I explain. "You move to the beat of the music with someone you like or are friends with. It's fun, unless you're one of the few watching."
I hear the sadness clearly coating my voice.

I look around at all the couples as the song ends. The next song that plays is Hear You Me/Angels Lead You In by Jimmy Eat World, and I know I have to dance to that song, it's my favourite. A wild idea pops into my head, and I know the chance of it working is a long shot, but I have to try.

"Magnus?" I say, cautiously.
"Yes Maddison?" He replied as he turned around to look at me.
"Would you dance with me?" I blurt out.
"Pardon?" A confused look starts to creep onto his face.
"Dance, would you dance with me? Dates usually dance together, and I really like this song. I don't want to leave my prom without at least one dance."

There was no reply from Ultra Magnus right away. I started to give up and walk away, when he put his arm on my shoulder, stopping me.
"Wait."
I turned around, and looked at him.
"I will dance with you. Just.. this once."
A smile started to light up my face.
"Really? That's amazing, thank you so much!" I said as I went to hug him.
I felt him stiffen in my arms so I let go.
"Sorry. Now, come on!"

I grab him by the hand and pull him towards the crowd. I take the hand that I was holding, and put it on my waist. I grab his other hand, and put it on my other side. Then I put my arms around his neck and pull him a little closer.
"Now, we move side to side, and kind of go around in a circle." I lean and say into his ear.

He got the hang of it quite quickly, and soon we were dancing all around. I felt like I was flying.
"This is not as bad as I thought it would be." Magnus says aloud
I look up at him, and he's just gazing out into the crowd, with a tiny smile on his face. Wait, a smile?!
"Are you smiling, Magnus?" I ask, grinning and giving him an, I-caught-you look.

Almost instantly the smile disappears, and he says,
"No. I did not smile."
"You're never going to live that one down." I say as I laugh. "The strict and by-the-book Ultra Magnus just cracked a smile!"
In response to that, he gives me a glare, which just makes me laugh even more. I move closer to him, and continue to dance, going through song after song.

Maybe this night wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to end up being.