Bizarre bus experience

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Today I was travelling to Dunbar. I took the bus. No sooner than I'd got on, a lady (Laura) got on and sat beside me. In the seats in front of us was a man (Andrew) who, under the influence of alcohol, was right from the start chatting up Laura in a way that made her feel intruded on and uncomfortable.

Very soon in, I was called upon by Laura to mediate, to join in the conversation and try to stop her being harassed. Which I was only too happy to do, not that it was easy. She was repeatedly being asked out for a date, asked for her phone number and asked if she loved Andrew. This continued incessantly as far as Haddington, Laura's destination. Especially with my passion that people have a right to make their own decisions, a right to choice and a right to say no, I was constantly telling Andrew to stop this, and backing up Laura's refusals.

The bizarre thing about the journey was this. I was having to play an acting game here, as if we met and bonded and a relationship was developing, because this is what Laura had started to do. She was flirting with me and snuggling into me for a great deal of the journey, and we spent much of the journey holding hands and cuddling. This is not because she was interested in me, but simply in an attempt to protect herself. I'm not a good actor, but was happy to play this acting game if it might help protect her.

What do people think of this situation? It wasn't easy for someone like me who isn't socially intuitive. Have you ever been called upon to protect someone from being pestered or sexually harassed, and if so what did you do? Have you ever been in any situation where you had to "stage" a relationship/flirting/making out like I was called to do?

I have been in quite a few situations where people tell me "tell them to shut up" or "ge this person off me" etc, I never know what to do usually and just stand there looking at them. And also being told to sort out disputes between small kids, I've never been good at that and failed each time and the kids kept arguing.

I don't want to make a mountain out of a mole hill, but did you know this lady before the bus incident? Although she may have wanted the drunk to stop bothering her, she didn't have to hold your hand and "cuddle" for most of the trip. Unless this was a really serious situation, and this girl feared for her safety, she must have felt pretty comfortable being very close to you. How do you know that she wasn't using this opportunity to shut the other guy up and get to meet you.

If you think she is attractive, you should try to talk to her the next time you see her. I would ride that same bus at the same time. You know her stop. I am not suggesting you stalk her, but it seems to me that you might have a chance here.

Even if she had to force herself to sit close to you and hold your hand, and then used instant hand sanitizer to get any of your germs off of her, you were still galant enough to help her out, and she might like you a bit for that. Despite equality, women still like men that will protect them when need be.

Gut feeling says there is more to this than just what is on the surface.

Yes i have been in that situation before. Yes very hard. You are a knight! Good to know decent people still exist!