Transformers Prime - Hazy

MYT

Jasmine: "How odd."

I relented, turning over a random possibility in my mind.

Jasmine:  "Perhaps . . ."

I quickly shook my head, a few auburn waves bouncing, waving away the very idea.

Jasmine: "No, it's a silly notion."

Meggy: "Well, heh, I'm serious it's practically identical! In fact those are her initials in that one charm."

She pointed to the spider charm.

Meggy: "EJ. Emery Johnes."

Before anyone could say anything else, Yistina gasped.

Yistina: "Hey can the paparazzi see us from here?! Because that camera man across the street looks awfully suspicious!"

She pointed over to a certain spot. It didn’t surprise me. I often had run-ins with those silly photographers now and then.

Meggy squinted over where Yistina was pointing. Sure enough, on a rooftop across the street from them, a guy was holding up a  black camera. Meggy could only assume how long he'd been there.

Meggy: "Scrap."

She grumbled. Scrap? Now why did that sound familiar?

I sighed, assuming who it must have been at this time of day.

Jasmine: "Things happen, Dear, but don't mind Peter. He's pretty small time. Just trying to make some sort of salary,  really. He's a talented photographer, but I wish he'd go back to what he's good at: scenery."

The trio blinked and looked at each other. Meggy just continued to eat when her watch beeped. She looked at it.

Meggy: "Huh?"

It kept beeping, obviously irritating her.

Meggy: "Agh!"

She hit a few buttons.

Meggy: "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, knock it off!"

She smiled sheepishly.

Meggy: "I think I need a new watch."

She said, then kept hitting it, grumbling a little.

I stole a small glance, flicking my eyes over towards the adjacent rooftop. No. That was not Peter.

I hummed nonsense for a moment before taking out her phone. It rung once . . . twice . . .

Jasmine: "Akane, Darling!"

A voice came back over the phone, distressed. Oh, it was definitely a wonder how Akane put up with me some days. I usually wasn’t this bad this close together.

Jasmine: "Dearest I'm just at the cafe again. Anywho, I do miss your company so very much. Come down here, would you?"

I smiled, waiting another moment before hanging up the phone.

Jasmine: "Dears, I want you to be very calm, all right? But that isn't Peter like I thought it was. Similar, but not identical, now finish your gelato and we'll walk out of here, heads high and nonchalant, understand?"

As I talked to them, I gazed out over the city, as if I were simply talking about the history of gelato or something else boring and mindless.

Meggy: "Uh huh . . ."

She said, hardly paying attention, squinting down at her unusual watch. Yistina eyed the photographer.

Yistina: "Wow, he sure has red hair!"

Meggy: “Uh huh . . . ."

She kept mumbling, still obsessing over her watch.

I stood, nodding slightly at the girls, and Tanisha followed my lead.

Meggy and Yistina followed. But that's when the tiny electronic voice began to say. 'Decepticon Energy Signature Detected'. Over, and over, and over.

Meggy: "Ack!"

She grimaced, trying to stop it. Finally getting frustrated, she stuffed it into her purse.

I repressed the knot in my stomach and nodded, slowly making her way back to the door, opening it for them.

They all walked back inside the cafe, down the stairs. As we made our way back, I called out.

Jasmine: "Jimmy dearest, Akane will be here momentarily."

He looked a tad concerned,  but quickly motioned us to the back room. As a well known spot of mine, Jimmy knew all about the previous attempts on my life, and we’d long ago developed a strategy for situations like this.

All three girls, of course, followed.

Yisitina: "Wow I've never hidden from the paparazzi before!!! This is soooo cool!!!"

Yistina squeaked. Meggy still looked distracted, and I guessed it was from the odd watch she had.

Jimmy: "Not paparazzi."

Jimmy told her cryptically. He then nodded at me, and before he closed the door, spoke to me again.

Jimmy: "I'll keep the shop looking normal until Akane gets here, Jazz."

Jasmine: "Thank you, Dearest." I nodded at him. I was so grateful he was understanding about this.

Tanisha: "So . . . what is it then?"

Meggy shrugged.

Meggy: "I got nothing."

Yistina: "Maybe some conspiracy website?"

Yistina suggested. And was quick to defend herself when she got weird stares from her friends.

Yistina: "What?! I think so!!! Don't judge!!!"

I laughed lightly. This was definitely a colorful group.

Jasmine: "I wish it were that simple, Darling. I really do."

I shook my head again.

Jasmine: "It's nothing too horrible though, I've learned to live with it and that's that."

Yistina: "Whooooaaaa . . ."

Her eyes sparkled.

Yistina: "Cool it's like out of Witness Protection Program or something!"

Again, her friends met her with the weird stares.

Yistina: "What?!"

Jasmine: "Not quite, Dear. Not quite. Just a complicated lifestyle for a complicated career."

Through the whole conversation, I never stopped smiling.

The door opened again. I beamed as three men entered.

Jasmine: "Akane, Darling! Jackson! George! How good to see you!"