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NEW CHARACTERS:

JADE TAPARA

KIM KAY

BAILEY JANE

The rain dripped down Lita's face, blurring her vision; her clothing had become so soaked that it stuck to her skin. Trying to suppress a shiver, Lita aimlessly walked down the road, tracing the path she saw her mother and Charlie drive down.

She watched as the sun slowly descended before becoming completely engulfed by clouds. Lita wanted to cry; she had no clue where she was going or if she'd even be able to make it home.

Suddenly, Lita stopped as the bright glare of car lights approached from behind, the intensity making it impossible to see the driver.

This is it, she thought, resigning herself to a fate akin to those lame horror movies where a man with a chainsaw jumps out, and you end up on a missing poster. At least then her mother might finally feel sympathy for once in her life.

The car window rolled down, and, to her surprise, it wasn't a chainsaw man; it was Paul. Maybe a killer wouldn't have been so bad.

"Lita, Jesus, what are you doing out here?" he asked, noticing her shivering state.

"I just thought I'd take a walk," Lita replied sarcastically.

"Really, in this weather?"

"No! My psycho mom kicked me out of the car!"

"Well, I'll give you a ride," he said, reaching over and opening the door for her. Lita thought for a moment, wondering if this was a good idea. However, as the rain began to get heavier, she made up her mind, hopping inside his car.

Shivering slightly, Lita managed to speak. "Thanks... this is really nice of you," she said, causing him to smile to himself before continuing to drive.

"So, what are you doing out now?" Lita asked.

"Oh, I got the night shift. Pretty crappy, but it pays well," he said with a shrug.

The rain continued to pour as Paul drove through the darkened streets of the small town. Lita sat in the passenger seat, her wet clothes clinging uncomfortably to her. The rhythmic sound of raindrops on the car roof filled the silence between them.

"So, what was all that back there? Your Mom kicking you out I mean." Paul finally broke the silence, glancing at Lita.

Lita sighed, rubbing her arms for warmth. "She's just... she's difficult. She was angry because I refused to be her stupid bridesmaid."

Paul looked confused. "Why don't you want to be her bridesmaid?"

"Because she's a bitch," Lita blankly said, not wanting to delve deeper into her family problems.

As they drove, a subtle tension lingered in the air. Lita couldn't help but feel Paul's gaze on her, his dark eyes reflecting the occasional passing streetlight. The rain seemed to amplify the silence, creating an atmosphere filled with unspoken words.

"I appreciate the ride," Lita said, breaking the silence. "I didn't want to wander around in the rain all night."

Paul offered a small smile. "No problem. I wouldn't want anyone getting lost out here."

The car pulled up to Lita's house, its exterior dimly lit by a flickering porch light. Lita hesitated before opening the car door. "Thanks again, Paul. I guess I'll see you around."

"Sure thing. Take care, Lita," he replied, watching her as she stepped out into the rain. She closed the car door, and as she made her way to the front door, she stole a glance back at Paul.

"Hey, Lita," he called out, and she turned to face him. "You don't have to go through this alone, you know. If you ever need someone to talk to..." he trailed off, leaving the offer hanging in the air.

Lita smiled appreciatively, nodding. "Thanks, Paul. I'll keep that in mind."

With that, she turned away and went inside. The warmth of her home contrasted sharply with the cold, wet exterior. As she tiptoed past the living room, she saw Charlie sleeping on the couch, a half-empty beer beside him. The sight brought a mix of emotions—concern, frustration, and an overwhelming feeling of loneliness.

Deciding she needed a moment to herself, Lita headed to the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the small space as she started the bath. Once immersed in the warm water, she couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They mingled with the rain still clinging to her face.

Alone in the quiet of the bathroom, Lita let the weight of the evening crash over her. The sobs echoed in the confined space, a release for the pent-up emotions that had built throughout the night.

The next morning, Lita's mother dragged her out of bed, demanding assistance with the final wedding preparations since the ceremony was just a week away. Lita stood in silence, her anger bubbling beneath the surface, while her mother meticulously cataloged wedding gifts, compiling a list for potential buyers.

"Are you just gonna stand there, or are you gonna help?" her mother asked, the bitterness in her tone cutting through the room.

Crossing her arms, Lita refrained from responding; her mother didn't deserve the satisfaction of hearing her thoughts. A loud huff from her mother followed. "Why don't you go take a walk? There's a bakery down the street. I'm sure you'll be occupied while I do this. I'm sure there'll even be some cake there," she said, giving Lita an appraising look before smirking and strolling away.

"Fucking bitch..." Lita muttered to herself as she walked down the street. "If I want some cake, I'll damn well have some cake," she angrily rambled to herself before entering the bakery.

"Lita!" A girl yelled out, causing her brows to furrow in confusion. Scanning the area, she spotted Jade and two other girls sitting at a table.

"Oh hey, Jade," Lita said, offering the girl a sweet smile.

"This is Kim and Bailey," Jade said, gesturing towards the two girls. Kim had darker hair and gave her a soft smile, while the blonde girl, Bailey, greeted her with a sarcastic salute using two fingers.

"Nice to meet you," she said, putting in effort to seem friendly, hoping to make a positive impression.

"Wanna sit?" Kim asked, gesturing to the empty seat beside Bailey.

"Uh, sure," she said with a shrug, earning a skeptical look from Bailey as she sat down.

"How come you're here alone?" Jade asked.

Lita shrugged. "My mom sent me away while she does some wedding crap."

"Really? You went somewhere with her after yesterday's blow-up. God, I just felt awful for you. If that were me, I don't know if I'd ever forgive her."

Lita felt uncomfortable that the conversation had shifted to this topic but answered anyway. "Well, it's not like I had much of a choice; I am living under her roof."

"Oh, are you gonna come to school with us after summer ends?" Kim asked, looking excited.

Lita shook her head. "Nah, I'm heading back to New York after this stupid wedding's over with."

"New York?" Bailey said, suddenly perking up and joining the conversation.

Lita nodded. "My dad and brother live there."

"Wow, really? What's it like?" Bailey asked, sounding genuinely interested, her sour look now gone.

"Noisy, and most of the people there are jerks," Lita said, recalling her group of "friends" who were still there. "But I don't mind as long as my brother and Dad are there; I can deal with it."

"Gosh, you're so lucky. The furthest place I've ever been is Seattle," Kim gushed.

"Yeah, we all remember that because you never shut up about it," Bailey said, earning a glare from Kim.

"You should hang out with us tonight; we're having a sleepover," Jade said.

"Oh yes! It'd be nice to have an extra person!," Kim said excitedly.

"Are you sure? I'm not like intruding on your friend group, right?" Lita asked.

"No, definitely not. It'd be good to have another person besides these nitwits," Bailey said, getting a piece of salad thrown at her from Jade, prompting her to defiantly raise her middle finger at the girl.

"Okay," Lita agreed with a smile, happy to have any chance of gaining some new friends.