This story is set in June of 1967. Male homosexual activity was illegal in England until the passing of the Sexual Offenses Act on July 27 1967. Meaning, that homosexual behavior was now legal only for men whom both had to be over the age of 21. Harry is 19 and Louis is 20. They still have 2 years until they could be a couple in public, but even then it's still dangerous and they could be physically hurt since people were still very discriminating and homophobic.

This story is set in New Jersey U.S.A. in June of 1967. Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized in Canada as a result of legislation (AKA the ominous bill) introduced in 1967 and passed in 1969 by Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada, Pierre Trudeau (who later became the 15th Prime Minister of Canada).

tryna: try-na, tryin-a, tryin to, trying to.
you's: you are (most of the time)
I is: I was, I am (either/or) (used depending on the person and the way they talk)

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Harry walks with his hands tucked into his pockets. His hair tickles his neck, making him even more nervous for some reason. He's scared, really scared. "Socials" aren't welcome to this side of town. The east side. It's practically like a social violation. He could be mugged and beaten by greasers any second and die. So yeah, it's frightening.

The only reason he's on this side of town instead of his own home base is because his cousin Marley lives over there. Her family has always lived over there, and Harry would be too if his mother hadn't married his dad and moved to the west side. She wasn't necessarily a "greaser girl". She had always been her own person, unique and not caring what others thought of her. Then again back when she was his age there were no such things as socs and greasers. But even then she didn't do what everyone else did. Harry's seen all the pictures. That's why he's not afraid of greasers. Well, to rephrase, he's not afraid to talk to them and become friends with one. He's only scared of being on their turf. Alone.

Marley and him usually catch up a lot. Except most of the time she goes over to the corner store that her friend's parents own and changes in the bathroom. The store is almost right where the two sides split, so to speak, so they meet up there and then go back to Harry's house. Where it's safe. The guys over there wouldn't hurt her, but over on her turf, her guys would definitely hurt him.

Which is why he freezes up when three guys stalk over to him from across the road. He takes a few steps backwards, and looks behind him. Before he can run the tallest one has his wrist. "Who you tryna play? Ya ain't slick." He yanks him forward. Harry stumbles, and is caught in a headlock.

"N-No one!" He gasps, hands coming up to the arms around his neck.

"Yeah right. You tryna dress like one of us and steal somethin? Is that what you's tryin to do? Trick us into somethin?" He growls, bringing his knee up to Harry's stomach.

"No! My cousin lives here!" Harry squawks out.

"Ain't got enough grease in your hair to be one of us." Another one snorts. "Not as good lookin."

"Aye aye! Get off him ya assholes!" Another one jogs over. Harry can only see him from sideways, still being in a headlock, but even then they all look the same. All sporting busted leather and jean jackets. Baggy cuffed jeans and ratty converse. It's like they're trying to make it hard to tell them all apart. 

"Did ya see him doin anything?" He asks his boys. "No, so get off him. Jesus, can't give one guy a break. A toddler could go walkin down da street and you'd think they's gonna shoot ya," he says it harshly and pushes them off. Harry falls to the ground when he's released, and goes to stand, except his feet get caught in one another and he falls onto his butt.

"I-I swear, I'm not tryin to hurt nobody." Harry pants. The boy grabs his hand and pulls him up rough.

"If I see you messin around with someone over here you's shit, alright?" He pushes his finger into Harry's chest. He's not going to let those punks beat him up, but there's no way he's going to let someone random guy possibly mess with someone else like his boys accused him of doing.

Harry's face goes pale. "No, no, no, my cousin Marley really lives here. I wasn't lyin. We always meet up but she usually goes over to my house since no soc's would hurt her but m-my family is having a stupid party so I'm visiting her instead. P-Please don't hurt me, I think my stomach is bruised already." He begs.

The boy's face falls, and he removes his hand from Harry's chest. His face is blank, making Harry think that he's going to call him a liar and punch him, while he instead stares at Harry thinking that Harry's going to run off or even cry. "Okay," he says. "Mate, you're really a soft one aren't ya." He smirks. He would laugh at how scared Harry still looks, but decides to be nice. "I'm Louis."

Harry shakes his head. Just a second ago, this boy saved him, then threatened to hurt him, and it now letting him go and introducing him as if they're going to be friends. "Uhm, I'm Harry," he says.

Louis nods. "I know. I've heard bout you." He tells him. "Nothing big or nothin. Boozer was talking bout you's guys n'said you's the one who don't do anythin bad. You're the soft one who doesn't fight no one." He pockets his hands, and pops his hip out to the side. He's dying in the heat, especially with the heavy jean jacket, but keeps it on. It's a trademark.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I don't do all that." Harry mumbles. "Don't like fighting and all the certain sides, ya know?" He hopes that Louis will say yes.

"Sure, I get ya Curly. That's cause ya got a cousin over here. Ya hang out with her so you know that most of us 'greasers' are good people. Don't randomly jump people like Boozer and Dean." Harry doesn't know how to answer that. How is he supposed to? He's just trying to stay on Louis' good side.

Louis speaks for him. "Which Marley is it? Harrison? Marley Harrison?" He asks.

Harry nods. "Yeah. Uh can I go? See her, I mean." He scratches the back of his head awkwardly.

Louis shrugs. "Course you can. I'm still comin with you though unless you wanna get jumped again." He leans on his hip, and pulls his hands out of his pockets to cross his arms. He sees that Harry's not confident about doing so, but Louis doesn't want him possibly getting beat again, so he has no choice.

Harry just mumbles an okay, and lets Louis lead him. It's not far, never has been a far walk when he visits Marley. He just has to hitch a ride over and then walk from the corner store. Except now that Louis is with him he isn't constantly scared of seeing any guys from his "gang" or another one. Louis' guys were intimidating, but there was another group that could be a bit worse.

By the time Louis and Harry get into the neighborhood nothing has happened. The whole walk, it was as if no one even recognized them. Not that they even saw anyone Louis knew.

Louis walks up the porch first, just in case Harry has managed to bullshit him about his cousin. He knocks on the door, and when it opens to the blonde girl she grins and swings the screen open. "Hey, baby!" He exclaims dramatically, stepping in and wrapping his arms around the girl. She's short, unlike Harry.

"Hiya Lou!" She laughs and kisses his cheek.

Harry steps into the house behind Louis, who turns to face him with his arm around the girl's shoulder. "How do you know him?" He's confused as ever.

"Have since he moved here when he was fourteen. Like a brother to me." she says.

"Yeah." Louis smirks. "Guess you's just never brought it into a conversation." Harry can't help but look at Louis, as if he's ignoring his cousin completely. No one needs to know that though.

He cocks his head. "Yeah, guess not." He mumbles.

Louis nods, and then pockets his hands into his jacket. That damn jacket, Harry thinks. "Alright, well I just wanted to make sure my dear new friend Harold got here without someone tryin to jump him." He winks at Harry, and since Marley's looking at her shoes, he gets away with it too. They both nod as he takes a step to the door. "See ya fox," he looks right at Harry while he says it. Harry's chest tightens.

Marley says a goodbye, since of course she thinks he said it to her. But Louis was looking at Harry when saying it. Did he call Harry a fox? He stands there clueless while running his mind over that one little thing. He doesn't say anything about it though. How can he. If he were to wonder about it out loud then someone could hear and assume Louis as being gay. Which would make it hell for the boys life. Or man. Harry doesn't even know how old Louis is and he's already hoping he's gay. Even if it is considered illegal.