Between Black and White
Chapter 4

I stepped out of the farmhouse with the last cardboard box. I took the steps one at a time as I glanced toward Clearwater. Smoke dark smoke circled the sky. Strange silver jets circled over it as bright lights fired toward the town, causing explosions and more smoke.

The battle had happened for two weeks ever since I left the Autobot commander at the bar. I returned home quickly and called Jake up, asking for a huge favor. Just over two days ago, I stood at the end of the sand road leading into my farm, watching in the distance of sand and dirt the last trailer taking my horses over to Jake's land, where he promised to care for all my animals. Even my dog went with Jake. He was over quickly when I asked him a favor. I couldn't explain to him what was happening, but when the silver jets flew over, he knew exactly without me saying why I was leaving.

I shoved the brown box into the back of my Jeep before reaching for the door and pulling it down. A breeze blew across the ground and through the farm. The barn door was open, swinging against the breeze. The gates leading to the fields were even open. The farm looked like it was vacated and quickly.

I brought a hand up to wipe the sweat away from my face before quickly climbing the stairs and heading back inside. Most of the items that I could not take with me were covered in white sheets. The other important values were either boxed and stored inside the Jeep or sent with Jake when he took the animals.

I stopped at the door and took one more look around the farmhouse before grabbing the hand and shutting it. I turned the key and jiggled the door hand to make sure it was locked before walking over to my Jeep and jumping in. I took one more look around the farm before I pulled out and took the direction Jake left the last time, away from the highway.

I don't know how long I have been driving. Since leaving the farm, I stopped once to fill up on gas and take care of some necessities. I picked up a bag full of water bottles and chips to eat. I thought about driving east towards my parents' property up in the mountains. Even with my parents gone, Ryan and I made sure that property existed unless one of us wanted to return and take over.

The property was large and located on quite a few acres. The house was a log cabin with thick dark logs harvested from the forest that surrounded the property. I had fond memories of visiting and watching as my parents' dogs, two Great Pyrenees, ran across the trimmed lawns, barking at everything and anything.

Now, I wonder what has happened to the property. The dogs went to Ryan's place, which, from the letters I used to receive from him, were doing great. The neighbor has a similar dog that they love to play with.

The sun was setting behind me, with the dark purples starting to rise in the east. I was on the highway, probably over six, maybe seven hours away from Clearwater. Lights reflected at me in the distance as I drove over the hill. I pulled into a small town. The highway ran straight through, almost reminding me of Clearwater. The gas station was situated across from the motel. There was a small bar with lights flashing from the open door. I pulled up to the front of the motel and parked the Jeep. I walked inside and paid for a room before returning to my Jeep and driving towards an area to park in front. My room was the fourth of the end. Already, I could see that I was not alone.

Sitting near the building but almost in the shadows was a dirty, rusted Freightliner Cabover. It looked like it had seen better days. The owner probably had stories regarding the journeys he or she put that semi-truck through. It reminded me of a specific Autobot that had also transformed into a semi-truck. He was hopefully miles and miles behind me back at Clearwater, dealing with whatever that huge battle was about.

The driver's side of the Freightliner opened. I watched as a dirty, weathered hand grasped the side before it disappeared, the sound of heavy shoes hitting the dirt. The door was slammed close. I tipped my head to the side as I closed my door after reaching for my duffle bag.

The man who walked in the front of the truck looked almost ten years older than me. His dark hair was peppered with gray, while thick bangs and dark sunglasses hid his eyes. His clothing appeared mostly black from either working in the fields, with his truck, or something, but you could barely see the pattern on the long sleeves of the shirt that covered the black shirt underneath. Overall, he was a handsome young man, even if he looked as if he was covered in grease and dirt.

I walked to my motel door and pushed it open. The room had two queen-sized beds with a sink at the back and another door leading to a toilet and bath/shower combo. It wasn't fancy, but I didn't need fancy. Once I had everything inside, I walked back out of my room, shutting the door behind me. The young man from before wasn't anywhere to be seen. Then again, there was a bar just across the street.

I walked across the street and into the bar. It was crowded around the old jukebox and some of the tables in the center. I walked over to the long bar and took a seat on one of the stools. The bartender stopped before me. I ordered a quick drink: Crown Royal on ice. My mind was heavy with thoughts as I sipped on it.

I don't know how many drinks I had when the man who drove the Freightliner sat beside me. He had a blue drink in his hand as he glanced over at me with raised eyebrows. Something about him rubbed me wrong, but at the moment, I didn't care.

"Do you have a problem?" I asked quickly as I narrowed my eyes while taking a sip of my drink.

The man shook his head, "Just curious what you are doing here?"

Both eyebrows raised as I stared at him, "Doing here? Well, just like everyone else," I rose my drink and took a long sick, the alcohol burning down my throat, "drinking."

I watched as his blue eyes darted towards my drink that now sat half empty and followed my hand when I called for the bartender for a refill. "Should you be drinking that much?" He asked after the bartender left.

"What? Are you the 'drinking police'?" I asked as I took another sip of my drink.

The young man sighed as he dropped his head to look at his own drink, "No, but I have been watching you for a while and I know you have drank quite a bit. Your thought process is probably not the sharpest."

"That is nothing for you to be concerned about," I snapped back as I picked up my drink and swallowed the contents. The bartender stopped before me, and I nodded for another. "However, if you are so concerned, maybe you can be my personal watchdog tonight."

I laughed as I watched his eyes narrow as he took a drink of his blue liquid. "I am not someone's watchdog," he growled at me.

I waved dismissively at him, "It was a joke. Chill and just relax."

I stood and walked away from the bar, my drink in my hand. The old jukebox played some interesting music. I took a sip of my drink and began rotating my hips to the music. Two similar songs went by along with two more drinks before I walked back over to the bar.

"Come. Dance with me," I said to the young man as I grabbed his hand. I watched as his eyes widened before he quickly finished his drink and allowed me to pull him to the floor.

The next song had the same beats. I brought his hands to my waist and rotated against him. At first, he felt stiff but slowly started to loosen up and move with the music. His hands would grip harder against my waist as I moved back against him. He freed one hand to push my hair to the side before I felt his breath against the skin of my neck.

Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was everything that was happening. Maybe it was his touch. I don't know. Before the song ended, I pulled on his hand leading him out of the bar and across the street to the motel. I fumbled with my key card as I turned and slammed my lips against his. His short gasp of shock almost made me stop, but he responded with the same fierceness.

The door was kicked shut by his boot. His arms wrapped around my waist picking me up as he walked. I felt the bed against my back as he dropped me up on it and leaned down, not removing his lips from mine. The alcohol must have made my mind fuzzy as we began pulling at each other's clothing. His mouth was on my neck, nibbling against the living pulse forcing my eyes to go heavy with desire. I dragged my foot up his leg and over his back causing a deep groan and a press of his hips.

His bright blue eyes narrowed into mine as he positioned himself in between my legs. I nodded and gasped as we became one. In each of his deep thrusts I felt, I saw a glimpse of dark marks on his arm. Tattoos. The pressure of pleasure built too strongly as my nails dragged down his back, as his mouth sucked against my skin while his own hands teased my breasts.

We both cried out in another heated kiss when both climaxes hit. I wrapped my legs tighter around him as I trembled through the aftershocks. After inhaling deep breaths of cool air, I felt him withdraw and roll onto his side, his eyes closed as if he quickly fell asleep.

It was there that I saw the tattoos once more, my eyes going wide from what I saw, what I had just done, and finally with who.

"Optimus?!"

Enjoy! RR!