Ding! Ding! Ding!

I groaned in annoyance at the blaring alarm clock, the bright red numbers reading 8:15. I mumbled my way out of bed, proceeding to the bathroom to take a hot shower.

It's been 3 months since my first day of 'work' and I decided that I come help out Han for as long as he needs. He promised to fix Irene by next month and she will be good as new. As bad as it sounds, I didn't expect him to do so well in the business portion. He continues to surprise me with how much knowledge he is hiding, in front of his 'calm and collected' charade. He is definitely more than a Pretty Boy.

2 Weeks Ago

Han and I were downstairs talking about a car's interior before we were interrupted by a low-key engine pulling up on the street.

A red Scion FR-S was revealed. A man with a tailored suit came out of the drivers side saying, "It feels more like a Corolla than a Supra. I want you to fix the engine for better horsepower."

I didn't even bother hiding my grin at this guy. I exchanged a quick glance with Han, who had his eyebrows raised in amusement.

"I know there's something wrong with it, man. Just fix it and I'll pay anything." The guy said idly on his phone. He glanced up once he realized we weren't saying anything.

"What? You mute or something? Sweetheart, take the car in for me would ya?" the fucker said with a wink before glancing back to his phone. I raised my eyebrows at him and scoffed.

Han crossed his arms and calmly said, "I can't fix your car."

The guy looked up at Han, "Why the hell not?"

I rolled my eyes and walked to the car Han and I were talking about. I opened the hood when I heard Han say, "This car already has a 200 bhp but lacks torque. I bet it sounds like a weed whacker when cruising down long stretches of road. The electric-assist steering feels good, but when slowing down for corners, the brakes lack initial bite."

The guy stood quiet and cleared his throat, "So what's wrong with it?"

Han's face held a smirk, "Nothing's wrong with it, 'sweetheart'. You just bought the wrong car. Now stop wasting our time and come back when you're ready to play with the big boys." He walked to where I was standing, picked up a wrench and leaned forward to inspect the car. I distinctly heard the guy scoff and fimble with his tie a bit, most likely embarrassed, then sped off like there was no tomorrow.

I took my chance to look at Han in awe. "I underestimated you," I admitted with a slight smile on my face.

He turned to me and shrugged, "I don't run a shop for nothing. I'm glad I impress you."

I stuck out my tongue at him and he tapped my nose, smirking, before turning back to the car.

Present

Once done with my shower, I checked the clock on my beside table which read 8:25. I walked to my closet, putting on a bra and panties. Analyzing my wardrobe, I remind myself that Han and I were going to races tonight so I have to choose my outfit carefully.

Choose my outfit carefully- who am I, Shay? I shook my head and went to the living room to check the weather on TV.

I must admit that the months that I've worked with Han only made my attraction for him stronger. I noticed that I keep asking for Shay's advice on what I wear and how I look. I just hoped that SHE wouldn't notice or else she'd go apeshit on my ass.

I quickly scrambled for the remote to mute the volume before it woke up my fellow roommates.

It's 85 degrees today.

I decided to wear a fitting black tee with some light wash, high waisted shorts. I put my wet hair up in a messy bun before throwing on some light makeup and hoops. See what I said about 'dressing up'? I quickly wrote a note to Shay.

Going to the races tonight with Han. Don't wait up!

Meg

I stacked it to the fridge with an unoccupied magnet before checking my watch to see that I had 20 minutes to get to Han's. I cursed quietly and put on my combat boots. I grabbed my tool box off the coffee table when I looked down to see my black pumps that I rarely use.

Aw, what the hell. I picked up the pumps, adjusted my bag on my shoulder with my tool box in my other hand. When I walked outside, I saw Han leaning against his Nissan Silvia with his signature smirk on his face. I stopped on the last step and smiled while shaking my head.

"Open the trunk," I told him.

"I love it when you talk dirty." he retorted, opening it anyway. I mimicked him playfully and put my tool box and pumps inside.

We were already on the road when I asked him, "What's the special occasion?"

"What? I can't pick you up?" he said while glancing between me and the road, careless as usual. I let out a bark of laughter before saying, "The Han Lue I know, is lazy on his ass and likes to smirk at people all day."

"Yes, that's how I get through the day." he replied sarcastically. I laughed at him and we sat in comfortable silence. We enter the garage and immediately hear the high-pitched voices of Japanese singers on the radio.

"Turn that crap down would you, Reiko-chan?!" I yelled in Japanese, looking up towards the balcony where Reiko was sitting on the couch. Earl, who was next to her, nudged her so that she would carry out my request. She groaned and lowered the volume.

Reiko and Earl were 2 of the kid's who bunked in Han's garage. Reiko and I talk often. It seems she doesn't like Americans much so we tend to switch from English to Japanese in conversation. Earl was a real sweetheart though. He helps out in the garage at times but he was a real scholar kind of kid than a grease monkey. It seems that they have something going on but I wasn't going to invade their personal business.

I felt Han come up behind me and his arm linger around my waist. "Come on, pick a car and get to work." My breath caught when I felt his thumb, subtly, rub against my stomach before letting go and walking towards a car. His touch gives me shocks every time.

I'm not stupid though. Han isn't a one woman kind of guy, he has girls on his arms every time we go to races.

No drama, Meg.

I shook my head quickly to get rid of my thoughts. I set my bag down on the ratty couch and walked towards Han's station. I took a wrench from the tool box to start analyzing the engine of the car beside me.

"I think that the exhaust tank needs to be changed." he said calmly.

I agreed and we kept talking until he brought up another subject. "Tell me, how did you not know of Twinkie when you first met Shay?"

I looked at him with a questioning gaze. "Just curious." he shrugged.

I looked back to the engine and tried to fix a few things around it. "Shay and I only communicated in school. Despite the fact that we were best friends, I never knew about her situation at home because she was so embarrassed about it. Only when we went into college, did she start talking about it. The time I was in college, though, was in Spain."

Han acknowledged my answer with a nod. "How long have you been in Japan?" he continued.

"A year. Just didn't meet up and move in with Shay until 6 months ago, and that's when I met Twink at Arnold's party." I replied.

Also when we first saw each other.

He sighed and reached into the toolbox. "Spain, eh?" Han said in Spanish.

I laugh at his attempt. "Look at you, pretty boy."

He smiled, "What, you think that's all I know?"

All I can do is blink. "When did you learn?" I asked him, taken aback.

"I spent some time in Central America before coming to Tokyo. I couldn't use a travel book for guidance, now could I?" he said going back to English.

I stare at him in disbelief then laughed at him in shock.

Before we knew it, it was already dark. Han and I were all done so he went upstairs to freshen up. As I was cleaning my hands on a rag, the thumping of loud rap engulfed the garage. I looked outside to see Twinkie's monster of a car pull up.

The car turned off and in came his voice, "YO, what's good guys? Ready to go?" Twinkie came in my line of sight smiling.

I shook my head while rolling my eyes and he came to put his arm around my shoulder. I had to kneel down a bit because of the height difference. "Jesus Twinkie, I don't think Texas heard you," I murmur.

"What can I say? I need a big voice to go with my beautiful and manly structure." he replies with a smug grin.

I ducked out his arm and flicked his barely there bicep. "Sure, you ARE packed. What are you? 4 feet tall?" I teased him while holding my hand above his head. He smacked my hand away as I laughed.

"I am 5 feet for your information. What about you, Green Giant? You're pretty luggish to be what-7 feet?", he retorted.

I scoffed while hitting him in the back of the head. "I'm only 5'4. And I have more muscle than you." I snickered as he mocked me and went upstairs to bother Reiko and Earl. I grabbed the keys to the Nissan Silvia and went over to pop the trunk. I took off my combat boots and replaced them with my black pumps.

After I closed the trunk, I walked to a nearby mirror and took out my hair tie. I shake my hair a little bit and looked at my reflection. I smiled and saw my cheeks are still pink, hair is slightly curly and my eyes were bright. I turned around when I heard multiple footsteps coming down the metal stairs.

"Let's go." Han said and grabbed my waist once he got close enough. I grabbed my bag quickly, feeling Han's hand guide me impatiently as we drove off.

We got to the abandoned parking lot, the music was so loud, I felt the vibration beneath my feet. I got out of the car and was immediately bombarded by girls. I thought I was in Skankville with Han as mayor. I got out, rolling my eyes, went to the trunk to get my tool box. I left the spot to go to a couple of guys who are usual customers.

When we arrive at races, I tend to go straight to the cars that need fixing and get my pay. It's easy money and effortless.

I felt someone tap me on the shoulder after 10 minutes of working on a silly, pink Convertible. I turned my head to find Morimoto with a skank draped all over him.

I gritted my teeth in anger before turning back to the car. "What do you want?" I ask in Japanese.

"DK is calling for you." he sneered at me. I sighed and stopped working on the car. I looked up and around to see DK crooking his finger at me to come to him. I raised my eyebrows, put down my tools and shut the hood.

"I am not your little dog that you can order around. You have Morimoto for that." I told him once I was in front of him. DK smiled, "Go to the red Subaru and get the job done."

I scoffed, "No."

"What did you just say?" he spat.

"No. Like I said, I am NOT your little bitch." I said ferociously.

"You will do as I ask, when I say," he said, glaring. I laughed at him. "Or what? You going to tell your uncle again? If you don't remember, he said I could do as I pleased when I say so."

He pressed his lips together tightly, snapping his fingers at Morimoto while shouting orders in Japanese. I glared at Takashi and walked back to the Convertible. I suddenly wasn't in the mood to fix cars anymore. I picked up my tool box from the side and gave it to Twink who was sitting on his car with Reiko.

"You okay, Meg?" Twink asked while glaring at DK. I grabbed Twinkie's chin to get his eyes on me and said, "I'm fine, kiddo. Don't worry." He pursed his lips and nodded silently.

Twinkie and I might not be blood related but we are siblings, nonetheless. I felt a presence behind me, so I turned to find Han's serious gaze. "You alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I smiled reassuringly. He grinned before tugging my wrist gently.

"C'mon." I heard him say over the loud music.

Han walked, with me in tow, to the elevator and pressed the button to the top floor. When the elevator stopped and we got out, he let go of my arm to take a hold of my waist with a smirk. I smiled looking down. The space had a balcony and a small window station that oversees the lot. We leaned against the balcony railing and stood in comfortable silence.

"What's your connection with DK exactly?" he suddenly asked.

I turn to him in surprise, "What brought this on?"

"In the 3 months I've known you, we never talked about your situation with DK."

"It's just that you've never asked." I retort, smiling at him. Silence, however, was what I was given back. The smile was wiped off my face at his solemn gaze.

"I am assuming you know who and what they are," he said. I nodded reluctantly.

"Well I know who you are to him," I sigh inconspicuously, trying to take the heat off me.

Han raised his eyebrows, "And what's that?"

"Your Takashi's business partner, am I right?" I challenged. He smirked and took a sip of his beer, "You know about that, huh?"

"I'm not stupid, Han." I grumble.

He sighed, glanced at me before giving a wry smile. "Yeah, you're not."

I grinned at him, then he said, "So what are you to him?"

My face fell and I sighed, looking towards the crowd of people below. "My dad was in enlisted in the army ever since I was 10. We traveled around alot but eventually, we resided in Japan."

"I thought you said you were here for only a year?" Han asked puzzled.

"Yes, but you never asked me if I lived here before either." I said with a smirk. I saw Han furrow his eyebrows in surprise before smiling, "I stand corrected."

"Anyway, my dad's term was done after he was diagnosed with PTSD. Money was running low and food couldn't be put on the table. Dad got into some serious mishaps with Kamata by doing some jobs for him. It worked along fine for a few months until I found out what Dad was doing. I told him to stop, but he was in too deep. My dad has been Kamata's right hand man, ever since I was 15. I've been propositioned many times by Kamata, and of course Takashi, but I swore to my Dad that I would never get involved in this. That's why you see me avoiding them all the time. Well, attempt to."

I continued, hearing the rage and guilt building up inside of me, ejecting into my voice, "You know I tell myself, 'You don't do drama,Meg'. It's kind of my...motto," I laugh blindly. "However, it's deemed impossible for me to follow this. No matter how many times I say it.

"My best friend is dating Morimoto, who is in close relations with DK's crew. I got into illegal racing in Tokyo, broke my promise to my dad about never getting involved, and just started races for Takashi. Obviously, I am doing a good job following my 'morals.'"

Han simply stared at me after my long speech. "Why did you start that race for DK? That night we first talked." he suddenly asked.

I take a deep breath, "As much as I hate Kamata and his son-of-a-bitch nephew down there, doing things for them at times keeps them off my back for a while. Kamata respects me and Takashi hates that. He doesn't like gaijins working for the Yakuza. Or so he says."

"And are you? A gaijin?" Han looked at me expectantly.

I sighed and looked at him, "Beats the shit outta me." Han just chuckled lightly and I softly smiled.

"Sometimes," Han drifted off. "Promises can't be kept. It's just human nature. We all can't be expected to follow through on things."

I shook my head, "Lemme guess...Racing. It's full of danger and not fit for a girl like me?" Han looked at me in silence before continuing. "Well, you're right. It's full of danger." I nodded my head in expectancy to all of his words. "It's about suspense, and the adrenaline kicks into your body... but isn't it good to have 'danger' every once in a while?" He smirked and looked back to the crowd.

I turn to him in surprise. He's encouraging me to race? I smiled softly at him even though he wasn't looking at me. He continued to say, "Fuck Kamata and DK. You're not in this scene because of your dad, Meg. You're attracted to racing because it's just you. Fuck, 'no drama'. Just live in the moment, and don't look back."

I ponder over this before laughing down my nose, "Fuck you, Drama." I tilted my beer to his in cheers. He smirked and the clink from the glass touching was obscenely loud in the now quiet balcony.

"Thank you." I smiled softly to him. He looked at me with his dark eyes and said, "Just so you know, my advice comes with a price."

I laughed before running my hands through my hair. "And what's that?"

"Work full time in my shop, Meg."

I mocked a scared face, "Oh, the horror!"

He scoffed before nudging my shoulder with his own. I laughed again and we both looked to the crowd in comfortable silence.

I guess I have a new motto to live up to. Don't I?