Brain, heart, and gut

 

Brain: I'll see the highway sign after the next turn.

Heart: ...I shoudn't offend him since he is helping me.

Gut: ...

You followed your gut, in time.

The juveniles, you didn't give them excuses to behave worse.  They enjoyed intimidating you.  You didn't show any fear.  They lost interest.

 

(If you try to predict rationally what a criminal would or would not do, you are not being rational.  And there is such a thing called "crime of opportunity.")