Am I sure of what I'm doing right now?

Am I really willing to pass up whatever this is happening between us?

Apparently so...because I just told Harry that it was a mistake.

But nevertheless, that is something that I'd wallow over on another day.

Today was payback day.

This boy has tortured and teased for years! Why the hell would I pass up the chance to get him to do whatever I want?!

I grin mischievously at him and ask, "You got a bike, right?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You know, I could get used to this kind of dictator kind of behaviour.

...

I kid, I kid!

But honestly though, Harry wasn't messing around. He immediately obliged to my request to see his motorcycle without question. I swear to you, I stood in shock for at lease five seconds straight before following him.

So here we are...

In his garage, stood side by side, staring wordlessly at his motorcycle.

I decide to break the silence.

"You know, I never pegged you to be a rider, " I admitted. I really didn't. He didn't seem like the type especially when you know him to be this warm and fuzzy person without a single edgy bone in his body.

"I didn't either, " He responds with a a slight chuckle, "Not that I cruise around with it all the time, either. I only use it when I'm here."

"That's a shame," I meant to mumble more to myself.

"A shame?" He questions with a laugh, "Mia, you rode on the back of one bike and now you sound like you've been riding your entire life"

"Entire life? I'd say that's a bit of an exaggeration, don't you think" I respond, walking around the bike to get a better look, immediately recognizing its type.

"Alright, Einstein...whatever you say."

"Have I ever told you that you underestimate me too much?" I ask, still focused on the bike. Being this close to one twice in one day really is bringing up some of my fondest memories. I don't know if you remember this but a few months ago, any thing that brought up my past would have me running for the hills but now...

Now the only thing on my mind is reliving that exhilarating feeling of riding one of these things. I still remember my first time getting on one. Back then, I struggled so much because my legs were too short and even now, I can still hear my father's jolly laugh as he watched me try to get on his bike on my own,

"My perfect girl, " He'd say with the widest, proudest smile and then ruffle my hair, "Always so headstrong"

"A couple of times, yeah"

"And you still haven't learnt a thing, did you?" I say with a smug smile, inspecting the little details on the sleek black exterior.

"Okay, okay. Would you mind telling me what crazy idea is floating around in that pretty little head of yours?"

"What happened to no complaints?" I glimpse up at him only to find him already looking down at me.

"Not that. I'd just prefer not to do anything illegal or worse yet get arrested"

Ignoring his comment, I ask the question that's been gnawing at my brain since I first laid eyes on the bike parked in front of me, "So, what about the 'Naked' got you so hooked?"

"Excuse me?!" He splutters at me and it's only then that it registers what the question sounded like.

It sounded a lot better in my head, okay?

"I meant the bike!" I can't help but laugh, "Why'd you choose this one?"

Surely he must know the name of the type of motorcycle he owns...right?

"Because the guy in the store said to?" He says but it comes out more like a question as if it's the most obvious answer.

"Fair enough" I accepted, proceeding to rest my palms on the handles, getting a feel of them, "How about we take it for a spin? I'll drive!"

The hours I spent with Aaron today has given be an idea for how we should spend the rest of our day and I was literally jumping on the inside, itching to get behind a bike again. This time, as the driver. It's been so long that I didn't realize that I missed it so much until today. It got me wishing that I didn't give this up when I did but at the time, it didn't feel the same anymore. It hurt to do the things I loved the most.

So I felt like I had no choice but to give it up.

That...and also the fact that I have a feisty, smart-ass daughter who will surely give me an ear-full if she ever saw me on one of these.

One of these days, I'll officially ban BBC from our household.

Harry looks at me as though I've grown two heads while I get on the bike and outstretch my hand for the key.

Yeah...I don't think he trusts me to ride a motorcycle.

"Oh come onnnnn Harry. Trust me, it'll be fun" I try to convince him. Harry has never actually seen me ride a motorcycle before. More like read about it in my letters. Well, to be clear, he knows my dad owned one so technically he's read about my dad riding his bike in my letters...not that he taught me how to ride as well.

What can I say...just one of the many things I forgot to mention in my letters to Harry.

"Not a chance, squeakers, not a chance" he said continually shaking his head, shifting his eyes between me and the bike.

"It's not like I don't know what I'm doing, you know. If we're being honest, between the two of us it's pretty obvious that you'd get us both killed." I say before smiling mischievoulsly, "and besides you still owe me for earlier"

"Don't guilt trip me, it's not nice" he adorably pouts walking closer to the bike with observing eyes.

"Don't kiss me next time" a smirk stretches across my lips but immediately drops at words that leave his mouth next and his sudden presence appearing right in front of him. My body stilled on the bike as my eyes travelled up his torso until they were held captive by his enticing emerald eyes. He slowly bends his knees to meet my level on the bike and he came closer until the tips of our noses touched.

I didn't move. I couldn't move.

I was frozen.

"Then don't kiss me back" My eyes glance down to his upturned lips matching the smirk that I wore a few seconds ago.

Damn. Did I just get schooled?

Seconds turned into minutes and neither of us made any move to back down. Truth is, I didn't want to...and I don't think he did either. All I could think of was the way he kissed me in the entry way...and then later in my room. My lips tingled as a smile forced its way through.

I couldn't lie to myself and say I wasn't craving for another yet I knew deep down that it wasn't something we should be doing.

And the voice of reason in my head took pleasure in blasting that fact through a boombox.

"Oh trust me, I intend not to" I said, responding to his comment and abruptly snapping my face away from him and pulling my helmet over my head to hide the emotions I was desperately trying to push down , "Now get on the damn bike" I pushed the other helmet into his chest and he caught it before it fell to the floor.

As we move further and further away from the 'Hollywood Hills' and on to the other side of the city of Los Angeles, a feeling of familiarity fills me as the roads we come up to no longer seem foreign but resembles a part of me.

A part of me that's been hidden away for a very long time.

I can't believe I'm doing this!

I feel his arms tighten around my waist just as we pass the blue sign with white bordering:

'Welcome to East Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles'

"Have you ever been here before, Harry?" I yelled over my shoulder so he'd hear me over the noise of the engine and the whizzing of the breeze.

"I can't say that I have!"

Figures.

As we move further into the area, the contrast to the neighbour we just came was so surreal. It really makes you realize how ostracized people of different races and incomes are from the rest of the world. I'm not saying that Harry is that type of person but for someone who has lived on an entirely different continent basically his whole to move to LA and instantly be acquainted with a plush lifestyle, how is he to know of such a place when he doesn't even know it exists because it's located far away from the rest of the population?

I guess just as how I felt going into his community for the first time is the same way that he's feeling right now.

Passing under the large arch over the busy road reading 'Whittier Boulevard', we zoom passed the long stretch of buildings of business, fast food outlets, restaurants and shops and rode further towards the place I once called home.

You see, the thing is, living in East LA for the time that I did, you get to understand that it consists of two parts: the hustle and bustle part we just passed...and then the neighbourhoods.

The heart of East Los Angeles, as I like to call it.

Turning off of Whittier Boulevard and on to a familiar street, I immediately pull to the side and switch off the engine.

"This is where you're taking me?" Harry asks as soon as we stop and he takes off his helmet and looks around his surroundings.

"Well..." I drawl out, avoiding eye contact.

I don't think he's going to like this all that much.

"Well what?" he asks suspiciously before getting distracted by the painting on the side of a building a little away from us, "Wow"

The nostalgia that keeps hitting me is making me wonder why I didn't miss this place as much as I do right now. We watched on as the residents interacted with each other as Latin music played in the background. After a while, a few of them caught on to our staring and that's when I knew that it was go time.

"Harry, don't freak out-"

"Don't say 'don't freak out', that'll just freak me out more!" He says looking at me alarmed.

"Do you have anything of value on you right now?"

"Mia..." He drawls my name out, looking directly into my eyes, "I don't like this."

"Just trust me, okay?" I say softly, trying to reassure him, "To get where we're going, we have to pass a uhhhh suspicious kind of area...if you get what I mean"

His eyes widen in fear and starts backing away but I grab his arm to keep him still.

"They won't harm you, Harry. Just that we might pass some pickpocketers on the way in and I'd rather you not run around panicking like a headless chicken if something goes missing," I try to explain as calmly as possible, trying not to alarm him any further, "Just stick next to me and please please, for once in your life, try not to stand out. Just be cool. Can you do that for me?"

He takes a few moments to digest my words before he exhales a large breath.

"Okay," He nods to himself, "I can be cool"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah yeah," He dismisses, pulling out the shades that had been stored in his shirt pocket and dramatically putting on, "As cool as a cucumber-"

"Um...that's not exactly blendi-"

"On a hot summer day," He looks wistfully into the distance with his hands on his hips and I have to resist the urge to facepalm myself.

Such a clown!

"C'mon Danny Zuko," I sigh, pulling the motorcycle into an upright position, "We're on foot for now"

"You see? This is what I mean when I say you make me nuts! There's a perfectly functioning mode of transport yet we're walking...are you immune to the sun? Do you not feel it blazing against your skin?"

"Do you know how much a motorcycle costs these days? I told you we have to blend in," I pretend to scold and then while pushing the motorcycle, I start to walk away leaving him behind, "Gosh, where do I even start with you?"

"Hey!" I hear him call out from behind me, "Stop. Please don't leave me!"

I don't respond or slow my pace yet a playful smile played on my lips. Figuring I was being serious, I hear a quickening in his footsteps indicating him running up to meet him.

"Have patience with me, " He pleads from behind, "I'm a fast learner!"

I hold in my laugh as best as I can while still walking ahead with the handle of the bike in my hands.

"I know you can hear me." He points out.

I continue to ignore him.

"Hey!"

The rest of our journey pretty much carried on like this, with him trying to get me to talk to him.

That was until we reached the part of the neighbourhood that I was trying to warn him about. We were coming up to a T- road but straight ahead before turning left or right was an old house made of board and looked like it could collapse at any time. However, it was the residents that got us both startled.

"Well isn't this something...my best friend led me to my death," Harry ponders out loud next to me and I elbow his side, "Shut up"

"May I remind that I'm-"

I turn to face him and look directly into his eyes with a serious expression making his mouth clamp shut, "I mean it."

There was loud rap music coming from the house with men loitering on its unkempt lawn and leaning against the outside wall facing us. One thing was distinct about all of them though.

They all wore tight fitted white vests with either black or blue 3/4 pants that hung low on their waists and really long socks that almost reached their knees. Their bodies were covered from head to toe in tattoos and most of their heads were shaven and those who didn't either wore their hair in plaits or wore caps.

I pull him by his shirt until the front of his shoulder touched the back of mine and he remarks, "If you wanted to feel me up, all you had to do was ask, love"

I choose to ignore the comment, dismissing his playfulness in such a serious situation.

"I need you to just stay close to me and don't stay a word...can you do that for me?"

All playfulness gone, his eyes flit to the house a little away from us and to my eyes and nods.

I continue looking at him, trying to believe that he'd actually listen to me. I let out a sigh, choosing to think the best and start moving again.

"But what if-" I stop abrupty and swiftly turn around to face him again.

He sees the look on my face and says as if realization just dawned on him, "Ohhh right right. No talking. Got it!"

"Zip it"

He mimics the closing of a zipper on his lips but then fails to portray it when his teeth break out in a grin and for the second time today, I have to facepalm myself.

Should've walked with duct tape.

Taking one hand off the bike, I loop my arm around his tightly and push the bike with my remaining hand.

Here goes nothing...

We walk ahead in silence until we reach the T in the road. I feel Harry tense up beside me and my arm that was around him squeezes him gently in reassurance.

I'm starting to think that this was a bad idea.

We were now face to face with the house, no one noticed us except for the three men stood with their backs against the wall, each with cigarettes between their index and middle finger.

Just like everyone else at that house from what we've seen from the outside, they sported the same attire. Only thing is that I thanked the heavens that they weren't all big and muscular like the other men.

Doesn't make them any less intimidating though.

The shortest one in the middle with his hair in four braids notices us first and drops his cigarette to the ground, squashing it under his shoe as he holds my eyes captive.

He heads towards our direction, the other two men with shaven heads following right behind him, now having noticed us as well.

"Ay yo mami, wassup?" He says as he stops right in front of me, letting his eyes trail me up and down as he bites his lower lip. His accent was thick and growing up here, I could tell that he was Mexican.

I don't say anything as he starts to circle around us, only letting my eyes move from side to side so that my peripheral can watch him closely as best as I can.

While he does this, one of the other men, a little taller than the previous blows out a puff of smoke from his mouth before asking, "What's your name, pretty lady?"

He didn't have an accent but it was obvious that he had Latin roots.

"Mia, " I say looking straight at him, "What's yours?" He looks at me upon hearing my question and then starts laughing, "My, my. What a brave one we have here"

"What brings you to this neck of the woods" he then asks right before the man who had yet to speak comments with a sly smile,

"This ain't the place for a pretty girl like yourself, miss"

I try to keep my voice steady and not give away the fact that I was nervous. I wanted nothing more than for this conversation to be over so that we could move on and get the hell out of here. "On my way to Pedro's, actually...so if you would excuse-"

"On what business?" The man who had been circling around me now stands before me again, this time taking notice of the object before me "A fancy ride you got there, mami?" I fight to hold in the cringe at the name he keeps calling me.

"Found it near the dumpster" I say casually. I don't plan on getting robbed today. Especially not right now when I have Harry with me. Another reason why I couldn't let my nerves get the better of me. He is practically shaking against me and I keep pulling him closer and squeezing his arm to calm him down. The last thing we need right now is for him to freak out. "You know those gringos. Always wasting but hey, one man's trash is another man's treasure right?"

They all laugh at what I guess turned out to be a joke to them but I wasn't laughing, especially when using such a derogatory term. But I had to say it. I need them to leave us alone.

"Speaking of gringos...who's your friend?" The three of them are now eyeing Harry and I feel him freeze beside me. The one with the braids who had been circling around me walks up to Harry and sniffs him. Literally sniffs him. He doesn't move and I fear he stopped breathing.

Now more than ever I know that it's time to wrap this up.

"No need to worry," I move my hand from the handles and wave it dismissively, "He's just helping me carry it."

"Oh yeah?" The other man with the shaven head finally speaks, "You got a name, gringo?"

I felt my face screw up at that but I choose not to comment. Instead, before Harry has the chance to say anything, I pipe up with a laugh, "You know, he doesn't really talk much. I mean, I don't even know his name!"

I know it didn't really make sense but I had to think fast. He was looking at Harry with a look that said he found him familiar. Harry has never been here before so the only place he could have seen him would be...well, basically everywhere. And that isn't good for either of us because if he were to recognize him as Harry Styles for sure, for sure we were getting robbed today.

I don't know. Maybe.

Never hurts to be cautious.

I watch as the three of them stand beside each other, eyeing Harry with serious faces. I start to have an internal panic when,

"I really like his shirt, " The one with the braids comments while pointing at Harry's shirt to the others. And then they nod their heads in agreement and also in sync with each other, completely fascinated by the shirt. He's wearing a faded green and red shirt with streaks of white lines.

"Ya, ay" The tall shaven head one comments, studying the shirt, "It's giving candy cane vibes, right?"

"I say we get some," I'm sorry...what is happening right now? It can't be that these three men who I'm pretty sure are in a gang, are having a casual conversation about Harry's shirt, "Feliz Navidad, you know"

"Yeah man. You right, you right"

I know that Harry feels the same shock as me because our heads move together as we shift our heads to each one of them as they speak. The entire situation is so comical yet nonsensical at the same time.

We both jump when we hear, "Yo gringo!"

Harry's hand raises up and points at himself with a questioning look and the other guy with the shaven head rolls his eyes, "No, behind you"

Do they have names? It'd be a lot easier to follow what the hell is happening.

I got it. Let's name them: Four Braids, Vin Diesel...and the other bald guy.

Vin Diesel steps forward and asks, "Nice shirt, man. Where did you get it?"

"Um..." Harry looks at me with a panicked look but I don't know what to tell him, "It was a gift from my mum, actually."

"You're English?" Vin Diesel asks, now adorning an excited look like it's Christmas morning and Harry laughs nervously, "Fellas! He's English!"

"That's so cool man!" Four Braids grins, "I've never met one before!"

The other bald guy pipes up, "No wonder his shirt looks so good"

Well this has been fun...

"If you guys don't mind..." I motion towards the opposite direction, bringing the conversation back to where it began in the first place.

"Right, right" Vin Diesel clears his throat, trying to regain his once serious expression and slapping the other two guys' chests to get them to do the same, "Well, good luck with your bike"

I shoot them a smile and pull on Harry's arm a bit to get him to start moving before things get even weirder. As I pushing the motorcycle again, we hear from behind, "Adios, Miss Mia!" and then right after, "Bye, bye English guy!"

We look back at them and wave, then to each other and start laughing.

So I guess that just happened.