A/N: Raelynn Gallows is Hero Is My King's character.
"Luke knows what he's doing… trust me, you'll feel much better away from the media. Clear your mind and feel like yourself again."
The young passenger nodded slightly and Karl Anderson knew that despite his reassurance, Amanda Rose Cena was exactly how Luke Gallows had described her as of late following the aftermath of the Benoit family tragedy.
Even in late July, the weather was oddly chilly in Fairfield… but it was nighttime now and the recent rainstorms had the weather evened out.
"You know… Luke and I have a friend a bit older than you are, kiddo. You and him might get along well."
Amanda's hazel eyes seemed to brighten at that, Karl noticing some of that innocence that Luke told him around seeming to emerge.
Pulling into the driveway of the colonial style house, Karl shut off the engine of the 2007 Chevrolet Impala before he and Amanda unbuckled themselves and got out of the car, her duffel bag on his right shoulder.
"Beautiful place here." Amanda says after they closed the doors and walked up to the porch.
"My wife and kids won't be back for another day or so… cub scouts trip, so it'll be quiet. From what Luke's told me, you don't…" Karl says, noticing Amanda absentmindedly bite on her lower lip as the tiny brunette shifted uncomfortably. "I'm so sorry about that… out of line there." He says, knocking on the door.
"Who's there?"
The voice was accented, a strong Irish one… Amanda smiled slightly as behind the coloured glass, a pair of blue eyes looked at her.
"You know who's here! Come on, I've got a tired kid with me and she's gonna end up crashing sooner or later!"
The door was unlocked and opened… and a man about nine years older than Amanda damn near stopped in his tracks when he saw her, his mouth open slightly as his eyes scanned her tiny body until Karl swatted his left arm.
"Oi, what was that for?" The man asks.
"Eyes back in sockets, you!" Karl says, him and Amanda walking into the house and the dark haired man closing the door.
"Luke took Raelynn out for a bit to clear her mind… Tama was calling her again." The man says.
"Of course the son of a bitch was, he doesn't get that no means no… uh, Finn, I'd like you to meet Mandy Cena... and stop undressing her with your eyes already! Like I said, the poor kid's tired!" Karl says, Finn and Amanda shaking hands.
"Nice to meet you…" Amanda manages to say as Finn carefully brought her right hand up to his mouth and kissed her fingers.
Finn seemed so much unlike Randy was and had that schoolboy charm to him… but that voice in the back of her head, although quiet, was there.
"Take it easy… you just got out of a bad relationship."
"Alrighty, that's enough. I'm gonna order a pizza, guest room's up on the right side of the hall. Make yourself at home." Karl says, Amanda heading upstairs.
Amanda opened the door and set her duffel bag down on the queen sized bed, carefully closing the door as she looked around.
'Okay… good start off so far. Just watch yourself, you're already forming a crush on Karl's friend.' Amanda thought, setting out some pajamas before heading to the restroom to clean up.
To her surprise, there were sundries stocked there like the ones she used. Creature comforts, she guessed as Karl's attempt to make her feel at home.
Amanda shaved her legs, arms and underarms after stripping down, rinsed the razor and shaving cream before stepping into the shower.
'He's gonna freak when he sees the scars.' Amanda scolded herself as the water ran down on her.
After cleaning off, Amanda wrapped one towel around herself and dried off with the other, wringing the excess water out of her hair before she looked in the mirror before heading to the room.
Pulling on some black satin and lace panties, Amanda pulled her grey flannel shorts on and removed the towels before pulling on the black cami. She finished towel drying her hair before putting some deodorant on and putting the towels up to dry.
"So what's the deal with this guy she was seeing?" Finn asks as Karl was telling him what he had found out from Luke.
"Mandy started seeing him last September… but when she found out that she wasn't the only girl he was seeing, she was heartbroken. The day she broke it off with Randy, he went mad and shoved her into a mirror." Karl says, Finn turning angry.
But before he could ask what had happened afterwards, both heard the shuffling of Amanda's small feet, which were in black fluffy slippers.
"Hey… dinner should be here soon and so should Luke and Rae." Karl says, Amanda sitting down on the couch after a small nod.
Karl walked into the kitchen to get some paper plates and Finn sat down next to Amanda, the two looking at each other.
"Been a bit rough lately?" Finn asks, Amanda nodding… and Finn seeing the scar on the back of her right shoulder.
"He tell you already?" Amanda asks.
"Yeah… you don't have to talk about it if you're not ready to. It's okay." Finn says, lightly rubbing Amanda's shoulder.
Karl glanced at the two… and smiled slightly.
'This is exactly what she needed…' Karl thought.
With Amanda out of the media glare, Karl hoped that she would start to heal.