"Whether it's friendship or relationship, all bonds are built on trust. Without it, you have nothing."

Reese's POV.

Grabbing Irene's hand, I take her to my car before she changes her mind about not going back to Alex. That bastard. After listening to the story, I feel like killing him and Irene's dad.

"I'm not going back, I promise." Irene tries telling me in a convincing tone with worry on her face, trying to read my mind. "After your whole 'I can't put you into trouble' talk, I don't think you can be trusted to not go back to that fucking bastard."

I don't know why I'm so protective of her but for now, the fact that she's my friend is good enough of a reason. Though this girl does make my heart flip, I don't think I've got time to figure out what I feel.

Getting into the driver's seat, I put on my seat belt and my eyes meet Irene's worried ones. "We barely even know each other,"

"Well, that will be taken care of since we have a long trip ahead," I answer reversing the car back onto the road before I start driving towards Los Angeles once again. I drive in silence and notice Irene staring out of the window just lost in thoughts.

I had bad experiences with women before or rather a woman, Millie but Irene just seemed so different. Though I had my doubts in the beginning, she's just a genuinely good person who's been taken advantage of. I managed to convince her to stay with my family until she finds her own place and feels safe in LA but she seems so indecisive. She might as well run back to Alex at any sign of threat she sees me facing because well she's too good of a person to put anyone into trouble.

With her legs against the dashboard, she slowly falls asleep. I need to stop stealing a glance at her now and then. I turn my attention back to the road and continue driving.

It's going to start raining again and this road trip is going to take way longer than expected cause well can't drive in this heavy rain. My phone rings getting my attention, Ray.

"Hey there," I try sounding as if I'm in a fine mood.

"How's the trip coming along?"

"Well, you know rain, rain, and more rain so having to take more breaks than I initially planned to," I respond sighing. I didn't even tell him about Irene yet but I don't think I can handle Ray freaking out on me either.

"Drive safe buddy, just call me when you halt somewhere," he tells me with a distracted tone, clearly busy with some work.

"Will do. Take care of yourself too," I hang up with that and stop the car aside to open a can of coke. I look over at Irene who's fast asleep against the window, with her hair curtaining her face. I extend my hand and tuck her hair behind her ear before getting back to opening my can of coke.

She looks so peaceful in her sleep, how could Alex even feel like hurting her? A faded bruise at the back of her neck gets my eye and I feel the anger coming back up. I let out a deep breath and look away from her taking a sip of my coke.

I have no idea how I'm going to protect her from Alex, but I sure am not letting her go back to him. She deserves a better life.

And I might be falling for this girl without even noticing it. just one day but there's been so many surprising things about her, can't even begin to imagine how much more there is to her.

As long as I don't creep her out with my personality, we should be just fine I guess.

~•~•~•

I pick up some chips, cookies and a few more random snacks from the vending machine plus the club sandwich takeaway for Irene and me. She's still asleep and it's been five hours since she fell asleep. I guess all the talking it out got her exhausted.

There seems to be no motel around and no restaurants either except this small dinner which is about to close. Good that they let me stay parked overnight so I don't have to drive in search of a place all night long. Plus the washrooms are outside so that's a bonus.

I run back to the car through the still pouring rain and breathe a sigh of relief as I get in without getting drenched. A sob gets my attention as I place the food in the rear seat.

Irene's face is wet with tears but she's still in her sleep. "Irene...wake up," I try gently nudging her to wake up but she's too deep into her nightmare. I pull her close and wrap my arms around her, "Shh, it's going to be okay,"

It hurts to see her so miserable in her sleep too. She calms down and slowly falls asleep on my shoulder. I retreat into my seat slowly but with her still leaning on my shoulder. Wiping her tears, I notice her flinch and then she slowly opens her still watery eyes. I stay frozen under her gaze as she stares at me with a little surprise and a small blush staining her cheeks as she realizes she's leaning on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, you didn't have to go through that..." she trails off looking down and getting off my shoulder. "No no don't apologize, I'm here when you need me,"

I give her a water bottle with a small smile as she wipes off her watery eyes. She gulps down some water and ties her hair up into a bun. Well now isn't she a sight to see.

Look away, idiot. Don't creep her out.

I take off my hoodie and place it in the rear seat before grabbing the club sandwiches for us to eat. "I grabbed some food before the dinner closed and got us permission to stay parked here overnight since there is no motel around,"

"Reese... thank you so much for everything," she gives me a small smile and I smile back, handing her the sandwich.

A moan escapes Irene's lips as she bites into the sandwich. Grinning I take a bite of my sandwich too and understand why. "Hey want to watch a movie?"

I ask her as I realize, I charged my laptop so that I can watch movies. Well got to be prepared you know? She nods with her mouthful of food as I hand her my sandwich to grab my laptop. Adjusting both our seats, I grab a can of coke for Irene before turning my attention to the laptop.

I turn it on and open the movies I downloaded and show it to Irene, "So which one?"

"Well do you mind if I chose an animated movie?" she asks guiltily. Well, what's better than animation?

"Of course not." I give her a grin.

"Wreck-it-Ralph?"

"Wreck-it-Ralph it is then." I start the movie and turn off the light before getting back to my sandwich and the movie. Boy did I miss watching animation.

~•~•~•

Irene gets out to use the washroom while I dump the empty coke cans and food wrappers into a trash bag before heading out to dump it in the dustbin which is pretty close to the car.

Getting back in, I select the second movie we're going to watch and keep it ready for Irene. She seemed to relax a bit which is good given all the tension in the past few hours. I see her walking back towards the car, looking around to probably ensure there's no trace of Alex or people following us. Well, that I've already been keeping an eye on.

I grab the knitted blanket in the rear seat so that I can give it Irene on1ce she gets in. It's kind of cold even with the heater on. "It's so chilly outside!" she says getting in the car quickly rubbing her hands together.

Handing her the blanket, I turn the heater up. "Better now?" I ask her once she wraps herself with the blanket.

"Much better." She confirms with a smile. I start the movie and well yet again animations make our moods better.

"We can share the blanket you know?" Irene offers as she notices me feeling cold a bit.

"You sure?"

"Positive." She says with a heartwarming smile and hands me the other end of the blanket over the cup holder that creates a barrier in between.

"So Reese, do you have a girlfriend?" Irene asks taking me by surprise.

"Nah, one bad experience and my whole idea of relationships flipped," I tell her staring at the screen.

"Why did you ask anyway?" I ask her still curious.

"Just curious. You're a nice guy and girl would be lucky to have you so thought you were taken," I raise my eyebrows at her straightforwardness. Wow, now I wish she could be the lucky girl that she's talking about but of course, she deserves better.

"Thank you but not sure I'll find a girl who likes me for who I am," I say before we both get back to watching the movie. I keep stealing glances at her while she's adorably engrossed in the movie.

Oh boy, I don't think I can help falling for this incredible girl which is a risk I might be willing to take.

~•~•~•