The next school day.

The school was buzzing about the days activities. They had a meeting during the first hour and quickly went. Afterwards Knockout and Breakdown went to their lockers. The younger brother huffed angrily as he looked at his reflection in his mirror. He had a few bruises on his face but nothing major.

"Man am I glad they beat on you more than me." He muttered as he smirked at himself. Breakdown rolled his eyes and looked in his brothers mirror. He frowned as he looked at his almost broken nose and black eye.

"You're such an idiot." He muttered and went back to looking at his locker. "You're lucky I take most of the hits for you." He mumbled as he looked down.

Knockout rolled his eyes and scoffed as he looked down the hall. He saw Arcee walking towards them. He checked his reflection and messed with his hair. He casually leaned against the lockers.

"Hey babe." He purred as he nodded slightly. She paused and stared at him for a moment. She looked around and seemed shocked.

"Are you talking to me?" She asked sweetly as she batted her eyelashes.

He smirked and nodded once. Breakdown watched curious from behind his locker door. She smiled sweetly and walked up to him, stopping a few feet away.

"You want to hang out later after school?" He purred as he smiled cockily. She made a pouty face then batted her eyelashes.

Her fist suddenly flew up and punched the locker door a mere inches from his head. He paled as she glared at him and then gave him a look that could kill.

"Leave. My brothers. Alone." Arcee seethed through gritted teeth. She turned on her heel and walked down the hall.

"Dang." Breakdown muttered as he looked at the small dent in the locker. "You okay?" He asked his brother.

"Uh huh." Knockout said as he watched her walk away. "Wow... she's so..."

"Violent?"

"Amazing." He sighed and leaned against the lockers as he set a hand over his heart. Breakdown rolled his eyes and smacked his brothers head.

"I thought you liked Arachnid." He muttered. "Then again... all the boys do." He said as he rolled his eyes.

"I think I'm in love brother." Knockout said dreamily. Breakdown sighed in exasperation and slammed his locker shut as he glared.

"Good luck with that." He muttered and walked away to class. Knockout didn't notice and sighed as he smiled.

~~

Arcee was getting ready to leave school for the day. She saw Arachnid walk by surrounded by a bunch of boys. Her hive as most of the kids called them. Arcee watched them go and sighed quietly.

They had been friends for a while, but ever since she got back, things were different. High school was weird in general. She'd started it when they were away from the city. It wasn't bad out there, but now it was just irritating. Her friends weren't her friends anymore. Tailgate would occasionally be her friend, when it was convenient. But he mostly hung around Arachnid.

Arcee walked into the bathroom and looked at her reflection. She didn't have makeup or any fancy, well anything. Her lip was cut from an earlier flight with a boy, and her hair wasn't exactly neat. She rubbed her arm self-consciously and looked at the floor. She noticed her shoes were older and dirty. Her jeans and jacket had grass stains.

Arcees shoulders came up as she looked at herself. She hung her head and let her hair fall in her face. She was definitely not as pretty as her friend. She wasn't like Arachnid.

~

Optimus sighed quietly and smiled a little as he walked into their new home. He had quickly fallen in love with the country side and the house. They had a big area and a barb wire fence that ran along the property. There was an old barn on the other side of the fence in the neighbors property. They weren't sure if anyone lived there. The boys said they saw an old man but he didn't seem friendly.

The father saw the boys running out in the field to the woods. He smiled a little more and walked out to the back porch. He stood there and admired the view as he watched the boys. He heard a sniff and looked over to see Arcee sitting on the porch swing.

She was hugging her knees and had her face buried in her arms. He quietly walked over and sat by her. She jumped as he set a hand on her shoulder. The young girl quickly wiped her tears away and looked at the ground.

"I wasn't crying." She muttered quietly as she looked away from him. The father didn't move and put an arm around her protectively.

"I didn't say you were." He said quietly and she looked at him. He furrowed his brow and gently touched her lip.

"Did you get in another fight?" He asked seriously as she pulled away and glared.

"Ya, so what?" She muttered angrily. He sighed forcefully and pulled her closer.

She resisted at first but then leaned into him. He held her tightly and set his chin on her head. He didn't say anything. After a few minutes she pulled away and stared at her lap as she fiddled with her hands.

"Dad...." she whispered quietly without looking up. "Am... I... pretty?" He furrowed his brow in confusion as he looked at her.

"Of course you are." He said gently. She looked up at him and furrowed her brow.

"Be serious about this." She muttered and glared at him. "I need to know if I'm pretty." She mumbled and looked at the floor. He furrowed his brow.

"Arcee..." He whispered as he gently turned her to look at him. He gently wiped dirt off her face and brushed some hair away. She stopped glaring at him.

"You're prettier without the scowl." He muttered seriously. She smiled a little and looked down. "I see a lot of your mother in you, all her qualities. I see a beautiful young girl, that I'm proud to call my daughter. Don't let those kids tell you otherwise." He smiled slightly. Arcee hugged her father tightly and found herself grinning.

"Thanks Dad." She whispered and he smiled a little more as he hugged her. She felt her confidence slowly return.