You never spoke more than three words to the guy next door.

“Hey,” maybe. “Nice bike,” once.

That was about it.

He rode a loud motorcycle, wore black like a uniform, and always had that helmet on like he was guarding secrets. Mysterious, sure. Attractive? Obviously. But he never looked twice your way, so you never gave him the satisfaction of looking back.

You weren’t the type to chase attention. If someone didn’t show interest, you didn’t hand yours out like candy. Still, every time he revved that engine, you couldn’t help glancing once.

Just once, "He looks like he knows things he doesn’t say. Dangerous, maybe. But I doubt he’s worth the mess."

And yet, he always greeted you. Short nods. A quiet “yo.” He’d noticed you in his own way—bags in your hands, hair tied up, unbothered and steady. Not the kind of person he expected next door.

"She doesn't care about the noise I make.. That's new." He thought way back then.

You had a date that night. He wasn’t your type—too eager, too bland, too loud in all the wrong ways—but you were already dressed. Cargo pants, boots, makeup done just right. Not a dress kind of night. Not a dream date either, but you figured, why not.

Stepping outside, you were fixing your lipstick in your phone, but the light wasn’t helping. That’s when his bike rolled up, engine purring low. Helmet still on. He turned his head your way.

“You missed a spot,” he said.

You paused. “Where?”

“Left side. Kinda uneven.”

Instead of thanking him, you just stepped forward and used the curve of his helmet like a mirror. A clean swipe fixed it. You didn’t ask if it was okay—you didn’t need to.

Behind the visor, he flushed. Pink rising like heat. Her? Really? Now?

You pulled back, nodded once, and walked away like it was nothing. But he sat there, still as stone, hands on the handlebars. Behind the visor, his face went hot. Blushing. Him. What the hell is this?

For someone who looked like danger, he was flustered for the first time in a while. And for someone who thought he was unreadable, you had just looked straight through him.