Chance

The Encounter

"Get out of here kid, house rules got to pay to play" said what looked to me like a large bouncer for clubs grabbed me by my collar throwing me into the alley way along with my fighting bot that sadly got the crap beaten out of it.

"oof, Hey!" I got up quick and brushed off dirt from my navy blue sweater and brushing my long dark hair out of my face while glaring at the bouncer. "You cant do that!"

"Come back when you got the cash Girly"

"What?! teach you to call me girly stupid!" I said as I picked up my bot and threw it toward the bouncer hitting his right shoulder, I turned around before I felt a slight chill at the back of my neck. I looked up to see the bouncer hovering over me glaring.

"What did you say punk?" he said as he backed me into the wall. I gulped and could feel my body go cold.

"heh, uh did i say stupid ha, ha, I didnt mean that... um.... what I ment was big guy, oh thats worse.... This isn't helping, I guess I better be going now..... Heh, Bye" I smiled nervously before I ran down the alleyway and into the nearest place I could find, I didn't even know where I was till the smell hit me, it was smelled of coffee beens and sweat cakes and bread, it smelled so nice it made my mouth water. I never really get to eat much do to the fact I never really have enough money to pay for food.

"Excuse me can I help you?" A woman with light brown wavy hair said looking at me with a puzzled expression, she had green eyes and wore a green v-neck tee, blue caprice, a white apron and orange ballet flats, I opened and closed my mouth making me look like a fish and it was only then I realized I was hiding behind a counter for employees only.

"oh, um... I um" I stuttered and then pretended to look for something then stood up quickly laughing nervously. "Oh there it is damn thing always ends up in the wierdest places"

"where the hell did that brat go" I heard the bouncer that was chasing me earlier and quickly ducked down behind the counter again. The woman looked at me then the bouncer then back at me concern obvious on her face.

"please...." I whispered up at her begging her not to say anything. The door bell jingled and the bouncer walked in and held my breath as he walked up to the counter.

"Have you seen a young girl come in here about 5.1, 5.2 wearing a blue sweatshirt?"

"Hi there, I can't say I have, so what can i get for you boys?" the lady said leaning on the counter with her left arm and her right hand on her hip. "Todays special is lemon pie, or perhaps some cakes to go? "

"We dont want your cakes, I'm just looking for a girl"

"If your not going to buy anything, I suggest you leave." she said and after what seemed like eternity of silence he left with a grunt and I let out a sigh of relief and started to breath normally again.

"thanks, your a life saver" I said standing up and hopped over the counter backing out towards the exit. "Sorry to cause you trouble, ma'am."

"Ma'am? oh dear call me Aunt Cass" she said with a big smile as she took me by the shoulders making me sit at one of the tables and pinched my cheek "what should I call you? you little cutie you, you seem a bit young to be out at this time of night how old are you?"

"Ow" I said under my breath rubbing my cheek "My name's Maria and im 16"

"Oh such a nice name and so young too" she said handing me a glazed donut in a white napkin before she grabbed me by the ear and pulled me upstares out of prying eyes of the customers. "so why were you hiding from that man?"

"okay first of all, ow! what's your problem lady your not my mom, and second why should I tell you I barely even know you" I said pushing past her and gave her the donut back. "beside what would you care of bot fights anyway"

Just then a guy that looked to be in his early twenties came into the room he was wearing a white tee v-neck that had black around the hem, a grey black jacket, brown skinnies that were paired blue sneakers and a black baseball hat with a yellow N on it.

"Aunt Cass have you seen hiro?" he said before he noticed me. "Whos this?"

"oh Tadashi this-" she said before I interrupted.

"Maria and I was just leaving" I said as I started for the steps, glancing back at tadashi as I exited the door "Jeeze where the heck am I?"

I began walking and made it to the corner before someone grabbed my wrist, I turned quickly ready to kick and scream for my life when i noticed it was Tadashi.

"Oh its you" I said swatting away his hand. "What do you want?"

Just then he put a black helmet that barely fit properly onto my head and took my hand gently pulling me behind him. "thought you could use a lift"

I couldnt say anything. all I could do was stare at him in wonder, I meen I do need a lift but where do I tell him I live, I dont really have anywhere to go.

"so where too?" Tadashi asked as he started his bike and I hesitated raising a brow.

"It will be fine, I don't bite. " he said giving me smile that made my stomach flutter, I shook my head and hopped on holding onto the sides of the bike.

"Okaii fine just head towards 21st street" I said giving him my best I don't care attitude.

"21st street? Your going bot fighting aren't you?" He said glancing back at me giving me a look of concern. I looked back meeting his gaze, my heart jumped and I quickly looked away. "yeah whatever, whats it to you anyway?"

"Alright, you might want to hold onto me" he said giving a smile as he glanced back at me causing me to blush.

"What? No way, I barelly know you, there is no way I'm gonna hang onto yo-" Tadashi drove off at full speed causing me to grab his waist, he looked back at me and chuckled as a squized slightly. I never rode on a ped before and was scared but as we turned over towards the bridge I looked up at the sky I was amazed to see the lights in San Fran Sokyo they looked so beautiful at night, they reminded me of the stars when me and my father would go camping during the summer before he passed away a three years ago. I loosened my grip around his waist and lifted my head closing my eyes and put my arms out feeling the wind grace across my skin it felt as though I was flying, and for an instant everything was perfect. I smiled and just then we hit a bump making me snap back to reality and caused me to grab Tadashi's waist again making him look back and smile softly, relizing I was sqeezing him I loosened my grip enough that I thought he would at least be able to breath.

"here is good" I said and he pulled over to the curb.

"Here? 21st is still a bit away" he said as he looked at the old buildings. "I can't leave you here, it's late and not safe for you alone, let me at least drive you the rest of the way."

"No, its okay, my dad doesn't live to far from here." I lied taking the helmet off and passed it back to him, as I handed it back Tadashi's fingers lightly brushed mine and held for what I thought was a second before I pulled away and cleared my throat. "Besides there's a bot fight just down the road from it"

"You know going to those your gonna end up getting yourself arrested one of these days" He said looking away from me but I could tell that he was annoyed but concerned.

"I'll be fine, besides I wont be fighting I'll be watching" I said smiling trying to lighten the mood a bit and I thought I could see a glint of something in his eyes. "And I dont even have a bot to fight with"

I smiled and walked a few steps away and looked back. Tadashi didnt say anything as I walked, he just started his engine and placed the helmet he let me use on the bikes left side handle.

"Hey Tadashi!....." I said, he looked up from his bike and I smiled at him waving and continued "Thank you"

"your welcome" he smiled and I thought I could see a tinge of pink on his cheeks before he drove off leaving me behind.

I stood there for a couple minutes waiting for him to turn the corner, I suddenly realized I was standing there smiling like an idiot and shook myself patting my cheeks,.
"What the he'll Maria snap out of it you just met the guy, you know nothing about him"

I then walked back to the corner before I decided to run towards the nearest bot fight.