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Chapter Seven

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"Were you born here?" Ryan broke their silence as he took a moment to look up from his book. Jennifer glanced over at him from where she stood at the counter. She herself had been reading a book while she waited for customers to come up once they knew what they wanted to buy, but today was a slow day.

"No actually, I'm from Oregon." She place a book mark to hold her place and shut her book, walking over to him with it in her hand and sitting down next to him in a chair at the same table. He was the only one in the store besides herself at the moment.

"You've lived here long though, right?" He continued to inquire.

"Yes. My mom moved out here after she and dad divorced. I lived here and visited dad in the summers. Same with Brad."

"Brad?"

"My brother."

"I didn't know you had one." Ryan blinked.

"I don't see him often. He moved to Oregon permanently a couple years back."

"Do you mind if I ask why he went back and you stayed here?" He asked.

She shifted so that her right leg was crossing her left. "Mom passed first, cancer." She said vaguely. He could tell she didn't really want to go into the details and felt bad for asking. "I was already out of the house through, but Brad was sixteen so he went to go live with dad. And that's it really. I stayed here, and he stayed there."

"How long have you had your shop?" He changed the subject.

"Oh, I bought the building just about five years ago. I was twenty nine at the time and didn't know what to with my life. I still don't." She laughed a little.

"You give the appearance of knowing what you are doing." He said humorously. Jennifer huffed good heartedly.

"So do you."

They became silent for a moment, staring at each other fondly before the bell of door give a small ring as someone walked in. Jennifer stood up to go back to the counter. She smiled at the customer, who happened to be a regular of the book store.

"Good afternoon, June." She greeted the older woman. Optimus froze in his seat. He dared a glance behind him just to see if it was really who he thought it was, and found that indeed it was.

"Afternoon Jennifer." The woman smiled back. "I came by to donate some old books of Jacks. He finally started cleaning out his room." She rolled her eyes as she set the box down on the counter. Optimus had Ryan stand up, he was going to try to leave quietly so that June wouldn't see him. She hadn't seen his holo form before but he didn't want to take any chances, and perhaps she hadn't noticed his real self parked outside, but if she were to when she walked back out then questions would start to arise. He was just by the door when Jennifer called out to him.

"Hey now, you're not going to leave without saying goodbye are you now?" She said teasingly. He stopped, turning around. She and June were taking the books out the box. June gave him a glance, and then a stare. He opened his mouth a little but then closed it. She might not recognize him, but she would most certainly recognize his voice. Instead he walked over to Jennifer and placed his arm delicately around her waist in a sort of side hug. Jennifer blushed profusely at this, as they had rarely been so close.

"Oh um," She coughed a little, trying to control her color. "June, this is Ryan." She introduced the two. June held out her hand and Ryan let go of Jennifer. He stretched out his right hand and shook hers.

"Nice to meet you Ryan." She smiled. He only have a curt nod in turn. He turned to look at Jennifer who gave him a raised brow.

"Okay fine, get out of here, go do whatever it is you need to do." Give him a soft shove to the door. He took this opportunity immediately.

"So . . . ?" June turned to Jennifer once he was gone. "New boyfriend?"

"Oh well, I wouldn't call him that." Jennifer blushed even more. "We've just been dating for a little while now." June gave her a knowing look.

"Well he seems nice. Quiet though." She commented.

"He's the nicest person I've ever met. A bit odd, but really just good hearted."

"There was something familiar about him though." June hummed.

"I don't really know where else in town you'd find him." Jennifer shrugged.

"Maybe I met him before in his work place, what does he do?" She suggested.

"He drives a truck, don't think there is much chance in you seeing him there." Jennifer laughed.

"Interesting."

"Yeah, big red and blue thing. Though you what's even funnier about it?" Jennifer leaned on the counter and squinted slightly. "I've never even seen it with a load hooked up to it."

"That is odd." June said.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, he's a great guy, really." The younger woman straightened back up and looked down at the books before her. "But he gets really vague about his work."

"Do you feel any red flags coming up?" June asked concerned.

"No not really. I just find it odd is all. He works on commission, so guess there really is no definition to his work."

"Commission?" June gave her a sideways glance.

"Yeah, he doesn't work for a company, it's his truck." She said as she began to stack the books on the shelf behind her to be priced and shelved later. "And the funniest part is I've never even seen a model like it. I think it's a custom."

June looked at Jennifer and began to get a strange feeling. "That is strange." She said slowly.

"Yeah, I don't recognize the make at all." June began to feel even worse about where this conversation was going. She stopped sorting the books entirely. "The emblem is like a face? Square and edgy. You ever seen anything like that?" She asked innocently, turning to look at June. She frowned the moment she saw her expression. "Is something wrong?"

"Uh, no, no." She shook her head. "I just realized I have to be somewhere."

"Oh well, thanks for the books." Jennifer smiled.

"Of course." She nodded before turning and walking out.

June marched to car and started the engine forcefully. As she drove to the Autobot base she was for a lack of better words, pissed.

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I thought I'd add a little stress to the story.

Review please! Let me know if you like it or not so far!