Chapter 10: The Unexpected Hero

.:::Normal POV:::.

"Shit!", swore Joey out of breath.

He has been running all around, squeezing through narrow allies and racing through wide ones, searching for her. He had to find her before it was too late, if his Gang went as far as disobeying their leader, no one knows what they will do next!

He was standing in front of the school's gate, panting and desperately trying to catch his breath. He came back to the same spot he had started from an hour ago, but this time he was waiting for Valon to came, and since he didn't call Joey it meant that he didn't find Mai yet. Where the hell did they take her?

That's when he heard a small thump in a small alley close to the school's gate, but Joey didn't pay it much attention, "it's only my mind playing tricks on me….again" thought Joey before returning to his thoughts and worries.

A few more minutes passed peacefully before he heard that sound again but this time it was much louder, making no room in his mind for doubt.

He rushed fast towards the alley and started moving in cautiously and slowly, trying to make as less sound as possible so he wouldn't draw attention to himself. The alley was dark, so dark that Joey even considered walking right out but a flicker of light at the end, near corner caught his eyes, attracting him like flame attracts a moth and pulling him towards her (the flame). As he walked closer and closer, the source of the light grew nearer and nearer, until he stood at the end, corner of the alley, where he could clearly see the source of the dancing light.

Standing at the edge and peaking inside, Joey saw the person he was searching for!

She looked terrible! She was on her knees, clutching her right elbow. Blood was dropping silently from between of her sealed lips, even from a distance Joey could see the blue bruises starting to form on her soft cheeks. She looked tired, very tired and was struggling to stay awake and strong. He hated seeing her this way!

"See, you shouldn't have got yourself involved in this, whoever plays with the fire always gets his fingers burned", said a familiar voice that Joey instantly recognized, it was Raphael only the coldest and cruelest bully in the gang.

Instead of replying, all Mai did was stare back at them with eyes that although they were very weak, they had flames in them that were undeniable but it was soon replaced by pure fear as the shadows of the gang moved towards her. She instantly shut her eyes and lips in fear, using her arms to protect her face, waiting for their next blow.

But Joey wasn't going to give them a chance, he jumped out of his hiding place and rushed past the gang and reached in front of Mai just-in-time to aim a straight punch towards Raphael's face, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground before looking up at Joey with huge, shocked eyes. The gang followed his gaze and instantly the same expression was pained over their faces.

"Joey…" Alister started softly but he was interrupted by Duke.

"Hey Boss, Good thin' that ya are here, we were just havin' a bit of fun, would do ya do the honors of serving the last blow of revenge?", said Duke, smirking.

Joey turned his head slowly towards Mai's direction, meeting her gaze. She stared back at him with determined eyes but he could tell that behind all that determination, fear was hidden deep down. His eyes softened a bit, before he turned again and faced his gang.

"I would love to", said Joey, running towards Duke, knocking him out, "so, who is next?"

.:::Mai's POV:::.

I was sitting there, waiting for the next blow to hit me. I squeezed my eyes shut and froze, but I felt nothing so I slowly opened my eyes just in time to see Joey standing in front me, aiming his fists towards his gang, with Raphael slammed on the clod floor. The gang all had surprised expressions on, but I must admit his action WAS really surprising!

They exchanged a few words with each other but I was too tired to focus on what the conversation was about, but when Joey turned his head and met my eyes, I caught my breath; I had to stay focused now because I knew what was going to come next. So I stared back at him, giving him the strongest face I could get myself to make and trying desperately to keep the fear I felt inside subsided but all Joey did was look at me, searching my face slowly with his eyes before he did something completely and utterly surprising….he softened his eyes towards me…for the first time ever, Joey's eyes gave me something different than hatred and coldness, his gaze was so soft….almost vulnerable….

But soon that moment was over as he turned his head back, throwing a few word in Duke's face before knocking him out.

"This is so weird! It looks as if he is…protecting me?", I thought in my mind, totally confused and shocked about his course of action but at the same time denying any slight possibility.

And for the next few minutes all I could do was sit there and watched, totally mesmerized, as Joey started punching and kicking his gang member one after the other and within a few moments, they were knocked on the floor, growling and moaning in pain. Wow, now I know why he was the boss!

He turned and started walking towards me and I wanted to run away and scream but I was too weak to even stand up especially with that pain burning through my temples, so I just sat there looking at him as he came closer to me…not knowing wither to be relieved that he saved me from them or be even more scared from him.

He stopped just a few cm away from me and sat on his knees so his eyes were at the same level as mine.

"Are you alright?", he asked, sounding somewhat concerned.

"Why would you care? Aren't you the one who sent them after me?", I asked him instead, looking at him straight in the eye and not trying at all to hide my disgust.

"I didn't send them", he said simply.

"What?", I asked, extremely astonished.

"Like you heard, I didn't send them. If I wanted to do something, I would do it…..I won't ask a bunch of losers do to my job", moving his eyes away from my own, he continued, "don't take it personally, the only reason I saved was because I had to teach those losers a lesson, I don't like it when people disobey me", Joey finished, still not meeting my eyes, he turned to look up at the shimmering stars in the night sky.
I was touched, really touched and astonished but I was very tired at the same time. All I managed to mumble back was a "Thank You" before my body fell numb and everything around me shrank into a complete darkness.

.:::Normal POV:::.

"Thank you". At her soft words Joey's head turned instantly, soon enough to see Mai's body fall. He reacted automatically and caught her head just as it was about to hit the cold ground.

He moved her head slowly and placed it on his lap, making sure the rest of her body was laid comfortably next to him then placed her head in such a way that her face was looking up at him; this gave him a better chance to identify her injuries.

They weren't major injuries really; just a couple of days…..maybe a week and it would be healed.

"Wow, she looks so peaceful…..almost…almost like a beaten up angel", Joey thought, as he stared down at the girl laying on his lap, that girl that caused him so much trouble in such a short time…that girl that was able to cripple him down and throwing out of his path with such power that he wasn't able to stand back up and keep walking (and thinking) straight…that girl, that he has hated and despised from the very first time he saw her, right now, when he looked down at her he felt all his hatred and confusion drift away.

He couldn't really help it, no one would really be able to hate and stay angry at this girl…..it would feel like despising an innocent Kitten….a beautiful, blond angel….Joey slowly, but unconsciously, reached out his hands and touched her face in the briefest, gentlest touch that's until…

"What the hell am I doing?", Joey said, clearly astonished with his own actions before tearing his hand away from her face in such a fast gesture, that it looked as if he had been bitten by a snake.

"ooh, I forgot…I must call Valon…he must be really worried…", he mumbled as he dug for his phone and trying not to disturb Mai. Finally he got it and instantly called Valon and just he has expected, Valon answered within seconds, his voice showing clear panic, "Did u find her? Where is she?"

Joey told him the address. Not wasting time, Valon hanged up and headed straight to his destination, hoping that she would was alright.

While Joey sat on the other side, having a battle against himself and wishing that Valon would make it there faster before he does something stupid, like beat the hell out of those bastards, who have just regained their consciousness and were starting to walk out of the narrow alley, and OFCOURSE they were all shooting him death glares, but moved away silently and as fast as possible to get away from him and the beaten up target.

Valon arrived as fast as he could, just in time to see Mai sitting there on Joey's lap and Joey looking up into the sky with a distant look in his eyes , oblivious of his surroundings.

As if he has heard Valon's footstep, Joey turned and looked up at him.

"She is really tired, we need to mover her to the hospital", Said Valon, as he kneeled down next to Mai examining her wounds from a closer distance.

"No, I don't think this is the best idea, it would be too dangerous and we would get asked so many questions. It would be best if we can take her back to your house so she can be treated, mine is not the best choice", Joey's voice trailed off, but Valon got the hint.

"Okay, you are right and plus, my house is close from here….so come on let's go", said Valon as he stood up, "Here, hand her over, I'll carry her".

"It's okay", said Joey, as he stood up, carrying Mai in his arms gently in order not to hurt her and followed Valon out of the alley and into the main road.

Occasionally, Valon would steal glances at Mai during the journey home and Joey couldn't blame him, he, himself does it sometimes…..looking down at that girl that got hurt because of his stupid Gang. That's when joey suddenly got angry, and decided that he will never join that Gang ever again. Frustrated by his change in mind and heart, Joey walked faster to keep up with Valon.

But little did he know, that the real changes in him were soon to come, thanks to this soft angel cuddled in his arms…..

Sorry for the long wait, since this year started I've been really REALLY busy!

But I will try to update the next chapters as soooooooooooon as possible .

Plz R&R

Love, Naya 3 (nickname given to me by an awesome friend :P)