This is basically an introduction to my little set of Rules that I have made, 'Rules For Not Getting Squished'. It explains how Willa, the person narrating the Rules in 'Rules For not Getting Squished' and the OC, met the Autobots and how she came to live there. And later on, give others massive headaches and cause endless amounts of trouble. Thus casing the creation of 'Rules For Not Getting Squished'. This is my first actual story with dialogue in it and such. So if you see any grammar/punctuation/spelling mistakes, feel free to constructively criticize me! :)

Thoughts

"Speaking"

Disclaimer:

Me:*ponders* Should I do the annoying disclaimers...Or should I just spit it out and get on with it? Sideswipe? What do you think?

Sideswipe: Why are you asking me? You never take my opinion into account anyway! Or even listen!

Me: *continues to ponder, completely ignoring him* Well...I could, but they could get long and clinchy and stuff soooo...

Sideswipe: *throws hands up in air* Why do I bother? *storms out* StoleTheSpider does not own the Transformers.

Late. Late! Very, very late!

Willa scrambled to get out of bed, smacking her now screeching alarm clock for good measure. "Some alarm clock you are. Can't even wake me up at the right time. I set you for a certain time and you wake me up a half hour later!" Willa growled to it. The alarm clock just continued to screech.

Willa bent down and yanked the alarm clock's plug out of the outlet, finally silencing the dang thing. Straightening while rolling her eyes, Willa jumped into the bathroom for a quick shower and to freshen up, feeling a bit silly for talking to her alarm clock.

After her shower, Willa set about brushing her teeth. As she was brushing, she checked her Ipod clock, only to let out a squawk. She only had five minutes left!

Willa scurried to her closet and haphazardly threw on the T-Shirt and jeans that she already had hanging out for her to wear. Thank goodness I had the foresight to pick out my clothes in advance. One less thing I have to think about and waste time over.

Willa then quickly checked herself in the mirror she had hanging by the door before she stepped outside. She grimaced at her sloppy appearance and deftly tied her wet, brown hair up into a ponytail. Willa had had no time to dry it. She just hoped that it would not get too cold out.

Finally, Willa grabbed her purse, uniform, and keys before rushing out the door. As Willa rushed to her car, she prayed that her boss would be in a forgiving mood. Who am I kidding? Sunshine is more likely to shine out of his nose!

ooooooooo

"Hello! Welcome to Coffee Dreg! How may I help you?"

"Yeah. Hey. I'd like my usual espresso. Make it quick. I'm late enough as it is."

And so started another grueling day at the Coffee Dreg. Who chose such a weird name for a coffee house was beyond Willa. Aren't the coffee dregs what people usually threw out? But it didn't matter. The pay was decent enough and it was better to be a barista than a singing barmaid in some pub. Because that's what Willa's job options came down to. Barista or singing barmaid. Willa knew she couldn't sing worth crap and that she'd look terrible in the skimpy little barmaid outfit that was the uniform. So barista is was. Besides all of the rude customers who barely left tips, the Coffee Dreg actually had good coffee. Maybe that's why people came back. It sure as heck wasn't the joint itself of the friendly baristas.

The Coffee Dreg was like a small water closet compared to the surrounding big businesses. The location of the Coffee Dreg was on the corporate side of Chicago, Illinois. Lots of government type buildings were right down the street. Take Health and Humans services for example. Wonder what they make there. Bedpans?

But even if the Coffee Dreg was small, it was in a very sweet spot. All of these business people here to get their batteries charged for another monotonous day. How else could they do that but with coffee? These types of people forked over bundles of cash a week just to sedate their now raving coffee addictions. They never stuck around to hang out though. It was always go go go with these people. Not that there was a reason to stay at the Coffee Dreg any longer than necessary. The Coffee Dreg must be the only coffee place in the world without WiFi. Sad.

There were a few casual grazers though. Mostly teenagers like Willa. Just getting their coffee fix before heading out to either school, college, a job, or some fun little trip with friends. Lucky dogs.

Willa sighed as she held her customers espresso under the espresso machine. Her boss, stiff as he may be, allowed some holidays and occasionally closed up shop early. The reason for these rare occurrences of niceness was that A. Maybe their boss really did have a soul and believed in being nice to his workers or B. He just wanted to get home to feed his twenty cats. Maybe grab some popcorn and plop down in front of the T.V and watch some soaps. Either reason was fine with Willa.

He does seem like a cat person. Willa mused as she handed the finished coffee beverage to her impatiently waiting customer with a robotic, "Thank you. Come again."

The business stiff harrumphed, grabbed his espresso, and threw a nickel he dug out of his pocket into the tip jar. A nickel! Willa could start spouting that 'A penny saved is a penny earned' crap, but pennies weren't going to pay the rent.

Sighing to herself, Willa turned to her next customer.

And stopped in her tracks.

Eyes widening a fraction, Willa said with disbelief, "Sam?"

Don't worry Mary Sue haters. This isn't going to be some OC hooking up with a main character. She's just going to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. And she isn't going to save anyone with her amazing undiscovered superpowers. Hopefully Willa won't start leaning toward the Mary Sue side. If she does, feel free to let me know. Anyhoo! You likey? Hatey? See a mistakey? OK. That's enough of that. But seriously. Let me know what you think by dropping me a review! :)