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Lita was waiting for Bella to pick her up as Jade did her makeup once again, a process that had involved a considerable amount of begging on Jade's part to convince Lita to let her try.

Lita opened her eyes as Jade finished doing her eyeshadow and handed her a mirror. "Do you like it?" Jade asked with a sweet smile.

Lita nodded quickly. "You've gotta teach me sometime," she said, widening Jade's smile as she brushed a stray piece of curly hair behind her ear.

"Well, you can always stay over again sometime," Jade suggested, looking slightly hopeful. "Now stay still," she added, causing Lita to put down the mirror before Jade grabbed some lipstick.

Lita tried not to hold eye contact with Jade as she applied the lipstick, but their eyes met as Jade suddenly paused. Before Lita could question it, Jade smashed her lips onto her own, eyes closed shut in the act. Lita's eyes widened in shock, unsure of how to react.

Jade suddenly pulled back when Lita didn't reciprocate. "Oh my god– I- I'm so sorry, Lita. I didn't mean to–" Jade buried her face in her hands as Lita sat still.

Lita didn't know what to say but attempted to reach out and comfort her. "No, no, don't worry about it–"

Jade waved the hand away. "God, I'm so sorry. I just- I think you should go. I'm really sorry, Lita. I-I just need to be alone."

Lita nodded in understanding, swallowing thickly, still unsure how to feel. "Yeah, no, I get it. I'll go," she said before quickly standing up, grabbing her bag, and heading downstairs. The atmosphere had shifted, leaving behind an awkward tension that hung in the air like an unwelcome guest.

Lita was relieved to find Bella waiting in her truck. She quickly swung the door open and slid inside, breathless from her hurried dash.

"What happened to you?" Bella inquired, noting Lita's disheveled appearance.

Deciding to keep the recent incident with Jade to herself out of respect for their friendship, Lita merely shook her head. "Nothing."

"Okay then..." Bella responded suspiciously, starting up the car and leaving Jade's home in the rearview mirror. "So, how was your sleepover?"

"It was... good."

"My dad mentioned pulling you and your friends over," Bella said with a slight laugh.

"He didn't tell my mom, right?" Lita asked urgently, and Bella shook her head. "Good," Lita replied, releasing a sigh of relief.

"So, what are you doing today?" Bella suddenly asked.

"I got work later, so that'll definitely be fun," Lita said sarcastically.

Bella laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I bet. I think I'm just gonna stay home today."

"I wish," Lita said with a groan. "My boss is such a bitch, and I'm only holding this job down for my mom."

"What do you mean?" Bella asked, confused.

"She wants me to pay her back for this stupid $200 dress. It looks like it's from the dollar store," Lita said, making Bella laugh.

"Oh yeah, so the wedding's coming up, right?"

"Isn't your dad getting married too? How do you not know this?" Lita asked, the pair laughing together.

"I think it's this Monday. We got rehearsal on Sunday, whatever the hell that entails."

Bella nodded. "Jesus, I can't believe we're gonna be step-siblings soon."

Lita laughed. "Yeah, me too. Oh, I almost forgot, you haven't even met my younger brother."

"You've got a younger brother?"

"My mom seriously hasn't mentioned him?" Lita asked, feeling slightly annoyed.

Bella shrugged. "Only you."

"She's just so lovely, isn't she? Loves to act like she's perfect, but she's just a big mess. Honestly, your dad's gotta be crazy to marry her," Lita said with a scoff.

"I mean, honestly, she hasn't done much until you showed up."

"Well, that makes me feel great..." Lita said, looking at the blur of trees going by.

"Oh, shit, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," Bella said, wincing.

"It's whatever, I mean it's the truth, right?" Lita said, folding her arms.

"No, that was shitty of me. I—I mean, me and my dad fight too."

Lita raised her eyebrow. "Really? I haven't heard you two fight the whole time I've been here."

"Well... we're a bit more discreet about it," Bella joked, making Lita laugh.

Lita tapped her fingers along the counter. Not a single customer had walked in for hours, and the silence in the store was becoming suffocating. Desiring some social interaction, Lita pulled out her phone and decided to make a call. She hadn't spoken to her father in a while, and it felt like the right time to catch up.

As the phone rang, Lita anticipated her father's voice, but to her surprise, Mateo, her curly-headed younger brother, answered with a broad smile. "Hi, Lita!"

Instinctively turning down the volume, Lita greeted him, "Hey, Mateo. Where's Dad at?"

"He's off to get me some McDonald's," he replied with a casual shrug.

"I wish we had some fast-food places in Forks. I haven't had that in forever," Lita sighed.

"Maybe you should come home then," Mateo suggested, sounding hopeful.

Lita felt a twinge in her heart, realizing how much her brother missed her. "I'll be home soon enough."

"Soon enough isn't now," Mateo complained with a groan.

She smiled sympathetically, "I'll try to bring you back some gifts."

Mateo's mopey mood seemed to lift at her words. "Really!?"

"Of course. Between you and me, Mom made me get a job so I can spoil you once I get back."

"Do you promise?" he asked.

"I swear it," she assured him with a smile. "Okay... Well, my doctors said my heart transplant happens the day after you get back!"

Lita smiled, "I can't wait until you're all better, buddy."

"Me too. I'm excited to go back to school," he said with a smile.

Before Lita could respond, her phone was snatched from her hands. Looking up, she saw her angry-looking boss, who quickly hung up. "You're meant to be working," she said sternly.

Lita looked around at the empty store, stating, "I don't see any customers," with a shrug.

The lady turned bright red in anger. "Give me your nametag!" she demanded.

"Are you—you gotta be fucking with me."

"Give it!" she yelled, her voice echoing throughout the store. Lita groaned and rolled her eyes before taking the pin out of her uniform.

"You're fired," the lady declared, walking up to the cash register and taking out some money. "Here's your final pay," she said, handing Lita two hundred dollars.

"Seriously, that's it? You didn't even pay me last week," Lita said angrily.

"Yes, and here's your pay now," she said, shaking the money in her outstretched hands.

"Fuck you," Lita said, swiftly taking the money and walking out. As she looked down at the bills, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over her.

Staring at the money, Lita realized she was stuck between paying her mother back for the dress and buying something special for Mateo. 

She didn't want to be another letdown in his life; she had promised him gifts, and she intended to keep that promise. With determination in her eyes, she discreetly tucked away half the money, keeping the other hundred firmly in her grip.