"Let's do it! Let's leave!" She whispered, not thinking of the consequences or about what she was giving up.

"Where are you right now?" He asked

She took a shaky breath. "Walking to the nearest bus stop"

"I'll be there..."

Chloe reached the bus station and sat as she waited for Axel. She chewed on her nails. She was already second-guessing her decision but she had nothing to go back to. She'll never go to college her father made sure of that. The only thing in her life that seemed right was Axel. He left his money, his family, his whole life for her. She can't get anyone better than that. She has a chance at getting true love and she won't be stupid and waste it.

A car stopped before her and Axel stepped out. She smiled meekly and stood up. He walked to her and pulled her in a hug. He pulled away and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Everything will be fine"

"Give me your bag" he took her bag from her.

Chris stepped out of the car. "You guys can stay at my guesthouse until you figure things out but don't just leave. It's idiotic!" He tried to knock some sense into Axel.

Axel shook his head. "I won't. I have spent my whole life getting manipulated by my father into doing things he wanted me to do but not anymore... Not with Chloe. If I stay, I know what he'll do. I know my father. I need to be away from him." He turned towards Chloe and looked into her eyes. "We need to be away from him"

Giving up, Chris dropped them at the airport. Axel spent half of the money he had on plane tickets. He decided to take Chloe to California. He has been there a lot of times with his father and that was the first place that came to his mind.

Chloe felt a lump in her throat but she ignored it. Her legs seemed like jelly as her knees were knocking together. Her stomach seemed to rose to her throat. Suddenly, she felt so uncertain and scared. She didn't know what was going to happen. Chloe always liked to plan out her every move. Her life was organized and she liked it that way. But she didn't know what to think about what will happen next. It was all so sudden and unpredictable.

Axel came and sat beside her. Without saying anything, he held her hand and squeezed it. Chloe felt a little better with him by her side, she felt safe. He was the only one in this world that made her feel like she didn't always have to be in charge of everything. She didn't have to be the responsible one always.

"You are sure about this?" She asked in a tiny voice.

"More than anything in my life, Chloe" he answered

The announcement caught their attention and they both stood up to board the plane.

-ˋˏ ༻𐀔༺ ˎˊ-

After nine hours, they finally landed in California. Chloe held her breath the entire time. Getting off the plane, passing the security, getting their luggage, they finally made it out.

"Now what?" Chloe asked

"Would you just relax?" He said and dialed a number.

He hailed a taxi and put their luggage in. They got into the car.

"Where are we going?" Chloe asked

"I booked a hotel room for us," he told her and she nodded.

"What are we going to do next?"

"Chloe, I'm exhausted, and right all we should do is go to our hotel room and sleep for like ten hours straight, okay. You need to relax, I got this" he told her

"Okay," she murmured and rested her head on his shoulder.

The car stopped outside a luxury hotel. They got off and walked in. He picked up his suite keys and they rode the elevator all the way up to their floor. He swiped the key and they walked in.

They both showered one by one. Axel slumped on the bed. Chloe sat down beside him and played with the hem of her shirt. Axel laid on his chest and had his arms wrapped around the pillow.

"What's wrong?" He mumbled into his pillow.

Chloe looked at him and shook her head. "Nothing..."

"Something's wrong... You're trying really hard not to clench your hands" he mumbled sleepily.

"Nothing..." She mumbled and slid under the covers with him.

He lazily smiled at her. "Do you know it's the first time we're sleeping together"

She smiled. "Yes..."

He got closer to her and so did she. She nuzzled her face into his chest and tried to fall asleep.

"Stop thinking so much... We'll be fine. I promise" he mumbled

"Okay..." It was the last thing she said before she drifted into a deep sleep.

In the early hours of the morning, Axel stirred in his sleep. He found the space beside him empty. He completely opened his eyes and heard the clicking of the keyboard. He sat up and saw Chloe sitting on the couch using her laptop.

"Hey... Come back to sleep..." His voice was heavy.

"I will in a second... Go back to sleep" she whispered.

He frowned and sat up. "What are you even doing?"

"Nothing..."

"Sweetie, Chloe baby, come on!" Axel groaned.

Chloe sighed. "I'm looking for job openings in California"

"What? Why?" He asked

"We need money to survive..." She said as a matter of factly.

"I have enough money"

"Your dad cut you off, remember?"

"But I still have some saved up. We'll be fine for a month"

"And after we run out of it? Then what?" Chloe asked

"We won't!"

"Axel, you bought first-class seats, you rented out this suite... I don't think your money will last that long?" She reasoned.

Axel sighed deeply. "I'll stop overspending, but please Chloe... Just for tonight. Stop thinking about everything..."

Chloe sighed deeply. She shut off the laptop's screen and made her way back into the bed. She slid under the covers and Axel pulled her into him.

"Axel?" She whispered

"Yes, love?"

"We should find a new place to live... Something like... More permanent and--- affordable" she said hesitantly.

She knew about his lifestyle, his choices. Axel decided to leave everything behind but she couldn't help but feel guilty because he did all this for her. He wouldn't be in this position. She didn't know how'd he adjust to this new life he chose.

It wouldn't affect their relationship, would it?

"Hmm" Axel answered, sleepily. "We'll figure it out, Chloe. It's gonna take some time but we'll be alright." His voice was laced with deep sleep.

-ˋˏ ༻𐀔༺ ˎˊ-

A few days later, the door opened and Axel came into their hotel suite wearing the widest grin. Chloe turned and eyed him suspiciously.

"What?" She asked

"I have got a surprise for you..." He said in a singsong voice.

"Really? What?" She asked, smiling sweetly at him.

He frowned. "Not here"

He pulled her closer to him and kissed her deeply first. She threw her arms over his shoulders and pulled him towards her. She pulled away and placed tiny pecks on his lips.

He smiled. "Come with me"

He dragged her out of their suite. He practically ran out, dragging her along with him. He hailed a taxi and they both sat in.

"You look so excited" she laughed

"I'm excited" he kissed her one more time.

The car came to a halt in a small but clean neighborhood. Axel paid the fare and held her hand in his. He entered the building before them. They were no elevators, they took the stairs. Laughing, holding hands. Their voices echoed in the empty stairwell.

They reached the top and Axel covered Chloe's eyes with one hand as he unlocked the door from the other. He gently pushed her in and took off his hand.

Chloe flutter opens her eyes and she saw a small, cozy one-bedroom apartment before her. It had a small kitchen space with a tiny attached living room.

"I know it's not much... But it's all I can afford right now after I spent half of my money on plane tickets and the hotel suite" he told her sheepishly.

"It's... It's perfect, Axel" she turned and hugged him tightly.

Axel smiled. "I know I should have listened to you... I need to find a job now... To pay the next month's rent because I spent the other half on furniture and appliances and I also have to pay the hotel" he rambled on but Chloe shut him up by pressing her lips on his.

They parted and Chloe rested her forehead against his. "We'll work together... I'll find a job too, you don't have to worry about everything alone"

He raised his hand and cupped her face. His thumb softly caressed her cheek as she nestled into his warm touch. "I want to give you the world... You have no idea about the things I'd do for you"

She smiled and kissed him one more time. "You are my world, Axel" she whispered on his lips.