..CHAPTER 3:

"Thank you." Juvia said in a low voice while a blush crept up her cheeks. Her eyes were looking down while she talked on phone.

"For what?" An innocent voice replied. Juvia knew very well that the other person was aware of what she was talking about but he had to make it harder for her.

"For.. saving me the other day." But damn this embarrassment never ends.

"Oh that! I almost forgot. Well your welcome."

"T... Then bye." Juvia said in a hurry and hung up the phone. She was blushing pretty hard at that time and she felt alot nervous too, it might have bee because of the embarrassment she thought. Juvia sat on her bed with a sigh remembering all the events that happened the night before...

While Juvia was walking towards the subway station she didn't pay attention to her surroundings. As she walked pass a store unknowingly deep in her thoughts was when she caught eye of some thugs. She didn't realize that they were following her until she was two streets away from the subway. Juvia might be tough and strong but these type of situations were the only ones when she would loose her composure. In her high school ones she tried to help her friend get out of these type of situation but it turned out to be the worst experience of Juvia's life. Since then she has been afraid to death of these type of situations. And right now she noticed that she was being followed by three thugs.

Juvia did learn self defence for these type of situations but she was always afraid when it was time to use it. Juvia thought of using her mind after all using mind is better than using force. But she realized that she was too afraid to use her mind. At that time her hands were sweating, her leg were shaking a bit and her mind was a total mess. But she had to do something. She kept walking and the only things that came to her mind were that till now they haven't approached her because they think she hasn't realized them following her yet and if she tried walking fast they would get it that she knows about it now and they would certainly approach her then. The thugs wondering at night are mostly perverts and dangerous. If she even used her cellphone and called someone even the police they would take sometime to come and by then it might have been too late.

After all they were following Juvia from a distance but it was enough for them to hear what she was talking on phone if they wanted to. If she reached the subway and train wouldn't have arrived or if she would have missed then it could be even worse. If she...

"Shimatta!" was all she could think at that time. In her thoughts she didn't even realize but now she was standing at the subway platform. Hurrily she looked toward the time and realize that she missed the last train by a minute. All she could hear now was the footsteps of the thugs getting closer by every second. Finally the noise stopped but the nightmare started. They were now standing right next to her.

"Hey there miss!"

"You're cute!"

"Wanna play with us"

"N.. no i m fine thank u." She tried to sound strong but her voice didnt come out.

"You should consider it again beautiful!"

"After all u have missed the last bus."

"You know it wouldn't hurt to play with us for a while."

"We swear it will be the night to remember." With that he licked his lips

They had surrounded Juvia and were circling her. Unlucky for her there was no one else at the station too. Juvia was at the verge of tears. One of them even started teasing her by trying to touch her. Every time he would try to touch her hair she would flinch and made a scared face which seemed to gather even more of his interest. Her body was giving in too. Strength seemed to have left her legs and hands even her purse dropped. Just when she thought it was all over now ...

"SHIT! It can't be happening! I missed the last train by few minutes. Somebody please curse me for not taking the offer to ride back home! Now what do I doo...oo...oo?"

... was when someboy came rushing in and started cursing himself and paused when he took notice of his surrounding. Juvia and the thugs first stared at him for a moment she forgot what type of situation she was in. The way the man reacted and pulled his hair and stomped his feet she could swear she would have laughed out loud specially at the pause at the end.

"Well i guess this calls for extreme measures." And with that the strange person took out his phone and dialed a number

"Hello police!? I have to report that i think some thugs are harassing a girl at the station..." he gave the thugs a warning look and with that they cursed and left. She sighed in relief just as they left and fell on the ground on her knees.

"Are u ok mam?"

"Yes thank u so much for your help i thought it was over for me."

"Can u get up?" He offered her his hand and she greatfully accepted it and stood up.

"Thank you very much" she bowed.

"No its ok its not a big thingy." His hand was on his back neck and was blushing just like an elementry or highschool kid. Juvia thought it was probably due to embarrassment.

"Is there any thing i can do for you? Anything i can help you with then please tell me." He seemed to be deep in thought for a while..

"Well then can i borrow your phone for a bit? Mine broke just this afternoon. I still have to give it for repairing."

"Sure but what do you need it for?" She said while taking it out of her bag.

"Oh i am just going to call a cousin of mine who lives near by to come and pick me up since i missed the last train."

"Oh i see... Wait but you just called the police with yours didn't you!?"

"Sorry about that it was just an act. But it worked. For a moment i was afraid to think otherwise. But i am glad it turned out well."

"... Well any ways i am greatful too it worked."

"What about you? How will you go home?" He asked while copying the number from his cellphone and dialing it.

"Well... i will take a taxi most probably.." she said while thinking.

"Well if you don't mind how about staying over at my cousins with me?" That just caught Juvia off guard. Wow! He is being too much over familiar. I bet he has something going on in his mind. He might not be as good as i thought he was . After all no men is reliable. Oooor he is too much of an airhead and dumb. The way he is smiling like a kid and blushing i bet he is dumb and stupid. Either way i cant accept his offer. But i also don'thave enough to efford a taxi or rent a hotel room. Curse me for not bringing much money with me.

She was thinking hard enough just when an idea crossed her mind though it wasn't much pleasant

"Thank you for your offer but I just remembered i also have an uncle of mine living in the area near by maybe i will spend the night there for today."

"Well good for you then. Ah the call connected please excuse me for awhile." He turned his face a little towards the other side but Juvia could easily hear his conversation.

"Hello? Its Leon."

"No time to explain just come and pick me up from the subway."

"Its emergency..."

"Yeah just hurry up i will explain later." With that he hung up.

"Hey wouldn't you be worrying your cousin like that?"

"No worries, if i didn't say it like that he probably would have never come to pick me up." Juvia gave him a questning look

"Well its complicated. How about you make your call too." The Leon guy said wile giving her her phone back.

"Yeah." Juvia made a call not trying to know about his and his cousins relationship . Not that she cares. She barely even knows him. She made her call.

"Well?" Leon asked after she made her call.

"My uncle says he will send someone to pick me up in a few minutes."

"Well thats good my cousin will be here any minute now. By the way whats your name?"

"Its Juvia. Juvia Lockser."

"Leon. Leon Vastia."

"Nice to meet you Leon-san."

"Same here Juvia-chan." They both smiled at eachother and shook hands . Just then they heard sound of a car screeching in the middle of the silent night.

"Well i think that's my cousin." Footsteps could be heard of somebody running in their direction. And just when the footsteps stoped right infront of them there was sund of panting and then a complete silence for a few seconds.

"Yo!"

"You? What are you doing here?"

"Me? What are you doing here?"

"What?!"

"I dont remember asking Silver-sama for you to come and pick me up."

"Woah! Who said i am here to pick you up!?"

"Wait! You two..."

"Wait so HE is your cousin!?"

"So is THIS your emergency?"

"Wait some body explain to me whats happening?"

Ring~ Ring~ Ring~

(Silence)