Oh, man! I haven't updated for almost a month? Ay-yi, that's not good. But anyway, here is the next chapter!


Chapter 7: Trouble Comes Knocking, Cruising, and Country In Her Blood

Meanwhile, back in Ohio, Hannah's parents were thinking about their troubles. Quite recently, they had been getting letters from auditors about discrepancies in taxes and such. Even the firm where her father worked was starting to smell something burning.

And it wasn't fire.

No one knew that Hannah's father was actually 'cooking the books' as the term went, meaning he was embezzling money from his company and stealing other money from his bosses. Why?

Because he and Hannah's mother were very badly in debt.

They were so far in debt it would take quite a few years to pay it off and the creditors were wanting their money, naturally. But the books could only be altered so much before someone takes a close look at them and sees what's really going on.

Hannah's father was in his office, looking over another letter from a person he owed money for his very expensive cars he had. He must have had about ten of them and they were hardly driven at all. He just liked to show off.

"Sweetheart, it's the credit company on the phone," said his wife, who had checked the caller I.D. on the phone.

"Don't answer," he said to her.

Both knew exactly why the credit company was calling and didn't want to answer, but the company left a message all the same. Then a knock sounded and it was the other people that were owed money. Several of them.

Both husband and wife quickly hid behind a large chair that had a huge blanket draped over it. It just covered them both to keep prying eyes from seeing they were actually home.

They didn't move for the longest time as they held on to each other, not thinking about anyone but themselves.

How were they going to get out of debt?

"Dear, what are we going to do?" asked his wife.

The father had an idea. "If we can frame someone for stealing our cars and do it enough times carefully, that should help," he said.

Both smiled evilly. Yes, they would get out by making others pay.

But how long would that last? They didn't care at the moment.


The next day was pleasantly warm with a nice breeze as Hannah headed out with Drift, who had promised he'd take her on a drive. Getting into his vehicle mode, commenting on how she liked how roomy it was, she buckled up while sitting in the passenger seat and saw the steering wheel turn as Drift drove down the dirt roads. Hannah then looked worried.

"Won't your exterior get filthy driving down the dirt roads?" she asked.

She heard him chuckle. "A little dirt doesn't hurt," he said. "I'll just wash off when we get back."

As Drift cruised down the roads and even drifted a few times, Hannah was enjoying the ride, laughing every time Drift decided to drift and even whooping when he pulled a trick in car form. They soon arrived at what looked to be a racetrack in the dirt.

"Drift, can we race? Please?" she asked him.

"Well, we'd need another racer," he said.

"Do I count?" asked Crosshairs, who had been following them, Jason behind the wheel. "Let's see who's faster!" he said.

"Drift can beat Crosshairs!" said Hannah playfully. "Crosshairs doesn't have the full tank of gas!"

Knowing Hannah was only being playful to egg on the Autobot paratrooper, both bots revved their engines and raced together, cruising by the rocks. Hannah was having a blast, which Jason noticed and smiled.

"She's much happier now," he said to Crosshairs. "I haven't seen her this happy since my last visit to her home."

"She's a good kid," said Crosshairs. "Hang on."

The race kept going for a long time and both bots and Jason heard Hannah's laughter and giggles fly with the wind as her worries disappeared into the settling dust behind the two cars.


"Yes! This song rocks!" said Hannah as she moved around her room, dancing to another Rascal Flatts song that Blaster was currently playing for her. The boom box Autobot smiled as he watched Hannah dance around, even dancing a bit with Rewind and Eject with Steeljaw, Ramhorn, and Sunder joining in the dance in their own way.

After a bit, they all settled down. "Man, Country songs totally are the best," said Hannah. "Especially the songs I can relate to and really enjoy the most."

"I agree," said Blaster as he noticed how tired they all were and he grabbed a blanket at the end of Hannah's huge bed and they all settled down on it, having enough room to move.

Hannah cuddled up to Blaster, who wrapped his arms around her in a hug and felt the cassettes all settle down around them happily, each one falling asleep as then Hannah and Blaster did the same, wondering what the next day would bring.

If only they knew the trouble that was brewing.


Sounds like big trouble coming again. What is it, besides Hannah's father stealing money? That will be revealed in the next couple of chapters.

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418