"C''mon, chica. Do you really think you have a chance against us?" Everyoneughed evilly. Everyone, that was, except Michelle, who was getting more and more nervous.


    "I dunno. What if I know something you don''t? I wouldn''t be too quick to judge. If I were you, I''d run now!" Michelle kicked the pebbles on the ground with her toes, regretting her carelessness. A dead end alley was no ce to get caught. She should have seen thating. Theyughed again. "What, you think you''re tough enough? Boys, we have a winner. Let''s have some fun," said one of the men who looked the same age as Michelle. And he seemed just as carefree.


    "I mean it. Back off, now!" She was as brave as she could be, given the odds. She''d been in some of the seediest ces in the city, ande out unscathed. She was used to walking into such ces, risking her life.


    "Bitch, you have no idea. C''mon boys, the moon is high. It''s a night for love!" The man smiled evilly and stared at Michelle''s breasts, visibly moving up and down as she got more and more nervous.


    Michelle frowned deeply, though she just wanted to cry. She had no choice now. As the saying goes, "do or die." Was she really so stupid to continue to insult these guys? But then again, she was Michelle.


    "Hey you! Help me!." Michelle pretended to be surprised and looked over the gangsters'' heads, like there was someone there. Everyone turned their heads -- the police might be there. Michelle''s trick worked, and she ran right past them and out of the alley. They didn''t expect this, and were absolutely pissed at her. Naturally, they gave chase.


    Michelle realized how much a mistake she''d made, trying to find back alleys. There was no one around, and no ce to hide.


    "You''ll regret this bitch! Stop running and let us have some fun!" The gangsters shouted loudly behind her. Michelle ran like all the hounds of hell were after her -- because they were.


    She just ignored their cries and ran even faster. Only an idiot would waste his breath on them. The most important thing to do was run. Let them yell at her all they wanted. Maybe they''d run out of breath first.


    She was headed for the gate of a courtyard when a hand reached out, grabbed her arm, and quickly pulled her into that same courtyard. This guy was big. She tried kicking him and punching him, trying to get him to let her go. But it was like hitting stone. She struggled, trying to ensure her safety.


    "Stop it, you crazy chick!" Still holding on to her wrist, he grabbed her other hand. He was regretting this already. If he didn''t just happen to be here, he wouldn''t have even tried to save her. She probably got herself into this anyway. Why was it his business?


    "Luke? Is it really you? You frightened me half to death. I thought you were a ghost!" As soon as Michelle heard the familiar voice, she shouted in surprise and squinted at Luke through the dim light.


    "Did I scare you more than those guys?" Luke looked down at her with a derisive look, wondering if he shouldn''t help her.


    "No, no, that''s not what I mean. It''s -- I''m -- you''re fine," Michelle exined excitedly. It had been a couple weeks since shest saw him. So she was really excited and happy to see him tonight. Especially given the circumstances.


    "You can shut up now." Luke''s face turned livid with rage. She wasn''t helping her case any. He had an impulse to throw her back out into the alleyway. He was almost beyond caring.


    "Why are you so mean to me? Don''t you know how to treat ady?" Michelle pouted. She felt hurt. But no matter what, she was safe with this guy.


    "I do. Let me know when we meet one." Luke snorted contemptuously at her. He did not like this woman before, and liked her even less now.


    "Ha ha," she said acidly, "You''re one to talk. So how do I not seem like ady? Is it because I don''t strut like a whore? Or ask you for sex? I think you have confused me with someone else!" Michelle was angry at Luke. What he said was outrageous! She wasn''t soft and delicate, but that didn''t mean that she wasn''t ady.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Luke looked her up and down for a moment, and then the corners of his mouth curved into a contemptuous smile. His thin lips opened, "You''re about as much like ady as an elephant is like a mouse."


    "Why you -- you -- fuck off!" Michelle never imagined that Luke thought so little of her. She was so angry that she almost lost her mind. She shouted and screamed at him.


    "I should be saying that to you. You know, this is my ce, right? Not only are you not ady, you''re a bitch, too." Luke ignored her face darkening. He didn''t care how angry she got. He just continued to insult her.


    "Luke, you, you..." Michelle stretched out her hand to point at him. Luke was usually pretty dull, but his tongue was razor sharp. She was so enraged that she couldn''t even talk. She could only re at him.


    "I think they''re gone. Go home," Luke said, acting as cold as usual.


    "No, I want to stay with you. What if theye back?" Michelle pouted and did not want to leave. In spite of how they fought, she liked Luke, and felt safe around him. Unless she missed her guess, these guys would double back when they didn''t find her. She couldn''t run that fast if they spotted her. So they would start looking more carefully, uncovering hiding spots. Luke frowned and then threw the phone in his hand to her. "Call your friends and ask them to meet you here."


    "What? Why are you being this way? It''s a long drive back to my ce! I''d be in pieces by the time they get to me," Michelle tutted lightly. But she also didn''t return his phone. She dialed her own number instead. She forgot his phone number and figured if it were in her call history she could save itter. "That''s none of my business," Luke said coldly. But his cold manner didn''t freeze Michelle''s mouth.


    "If you save my life, you''ll be doing your good deed for the day. What''s more, we''re still friends," Michelleined to him. Maybe he could get him to drive her home. She really didn''t feel safe anymore.


    "I already saved you once. What? You want me to follow you around and save you all the time?" Once Luke thought of that, he got goosebumps. He could just think about it, but he couldn''t really do it. He was Edward''s bodyguard, not hers. "Wow, that sounds good. So how about it?" Michelle seemed to haven''t heard the mocking tone in his voice. She really hoped that was a serious suggestion. Then, she caught herself. ''Oh my god! What am I thinking? I must be nuts!'' "Are you a retard? Or do you try hard to be that stupid?" Luke didn''t even realize what he was doing. He was a man of few words, yet he was carrying on a conversation with her. Or didn''t he notice that something strange was happening? "Luke, this is so cute. It''s like a lover''s quarrel." Michelle looked up at him as this man was really tall. So she could always just see his nostrils, but not his head. She couldn''t even tell if he was going bald.


    "Take that back. It''s not funny." Luke''s face sank. Instantly, he became even more dangerous. His whole life revolved around protecting Edward. So he never thought about loving anyone, let alone getting serious with a woman. "I''m just kidding. Don''t bust a nut." Michelle felt a little embarrassed. She didn''t know what came over her, but she found herself liking this guy a lot. She wasn''t kidding, but she wasn''t going to let him know that.0000000