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Lita returned that night with a bright smile on her face, which instantly dropped as she slid open the door to Mateo's room to see her father peering out the window, seemingly in search of her car.

"Uhm, nosey much?" she teased.

"Oh! Mija, you startled me! And I'm not being nosey, just making sure my baby gets back safe," he replied.

She nodded. "Sorry if I worried you... I just needed a break," she said, her eyes drifting to Mateo's sleeping figure.

"It's alright... But you best get some rest. I'll be off to work now." Lita's father was a hard-working man; he always left early in the morning for work and came back late, taking any chance he could to squeeze in a nap. Without another word, Lita slid into bed with Mateo, noticing that he was actually awake.

"Where'd you go?" he said, his voice a light whisper.

"To McDonald's," she replied. His eyes widened, and he sat up, much to his discomfort.

"What!? Without me... how could you... Lita, I'm a poor sick child. Where's my McDonald's?" he said, his eyes brimming with fake tears.

"Don't do that!" Lita said softly, pushing his sad-looking face away from her.

"Ow!"

"I barely touched you!"

"Help, nurses! Abuser!" Mateo yelled with a big grin, while Lita tried to cover his mouth with her hand, causing him to lick her hand.

"Gross!"

"Ha! Now you have cooties."

"Cooties aren't real, you dork," she said, wiping her hand on his shirt. The two eventually settled, and Mateo went back to his heavy snoring, which eventually managed to lull Lita to sleep.

Lita awoke the next morning to see her brother sitting up happily munching away at his breakfast. Sometimes, Mateo seemed as if he was fine, but really, his condition was worsening every day, not that he'd tell her. Lita's head was laid on his arm, and she jolted at the hot wet feeling she got from lying against him.

"Jeez, you're so sweaty."

"I can't help it, okay!" he defended himself, but his attention wasn't focused on Lita, rather on her phone.

"What are you playing?" she asked, peering over his side to see what game was on her phone.

"Stardew Valley," he answered blankly, making her nod as she watched him collect his crops, the sound of the TV blaring in the background. "Hey, Lita..."

"Yeah?" she replied, preparing herself for whatever question he had today. "Who's Paul?"

"I—what?"

"Paul, someone named Paul messaged you, and since I damn well know you don't have any friends—" Mateo was interrupted as the phone was snatched from his hands as Lita quickly checked her messages to see what had been sent.

Lita's eyes quickly scanned over the message: 'Would you want to come to Rockaway beach today?' it asked.

"Hey, Mateo..." Lita began to ask, unexpectedly receiving a quick answer.

"Yes, let's go to the beach!" he said, sounding excited, throwing the covers away and running to the bathroom, the loud sound of the shower turning on playing throughout the room.

Lita quickly messaged Paul back. 'Is it okay if my brother comes?' She sent the message, awaiting his reply, only to receive a thumbs up.

Lita smiled, flopping back on the pillow as she waited for Mateo to finish in the bathroom.

Mateo wheezed heavily as he gingerly settled into the car seat. Lita teased him with a smile, "Getting a bit unfit?"

"Laying in bed all day is doing me no good," he replied with a sigh, his eyes betraying his discomfort. "And my feet are all swollen," he added, his tone carrying a hint of frustration.

"You'll be okay... How about a drink from McDonald's to make you feel better?" she suggested, her hopeful smile attempting to lift his spirits.

He nodded quickly, a small glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "Definitely."

After what felt like an eternity in the drive-through, during which Mateo couldn't decide which drink he wanted, they finally made it to the beach in Queens.

Lita had put a sundress on over her bikini and mateo had his swim shorts on. Before Mateo could leave the car Lita made sure to cover the boy in sunscreen.

"I can do it myself y'know?" he said as Lita covered the boys face

"I know." she said with a smile making the boy groan. "And all done!"

"Finally!" he said swinging the car door open the loud slam making Lita wince.

The hot sun bored down on Litas tan skin as she attempted to catch up with her younger brother who had sprinted from the footpath and onto the sand.

"Wait, you little rat!" Lita called out, her voice laced with both concern and exasperation, as Mateo suddenly stopped his loud wheezing, worry etched on her face. She gently placed her hand on his shoulder, offering comfort and protection in the same touch.

"Mateo, are you alright?" she asked again, her voice soft with genuine worry.

"Yeah," he managed to breathe out, his voice weak but determined.

"Don't wear yourself out, okay?" Lita urged, her eyes filled with concern. "Dad will kill me if he finds out we left the hospital."

Before Mateo could respond, the air was filled with the sound of laughter echoing from the footpath behind them. Lita's head whipped around at the familiar voice, her face lighting up with recognition and relief.

"Paul?" she called out, her voice carrying over the noise of the beach. She waved enthusiastically, a genuine smile now gracing her face as she spotted him and his friends approaching.

Mateo, now curious, looked in the direction of her gaze. "That's Paul?" he asked, his voice sounding slightly surprised.

Lita nodded, her smile widening. "Yeah, that's him," she confirmed, a mix of emotions bubbling inside her.

"Hey, Lita!" Paul called out, his friends in pursuit as he headed over to her, the sun casting a warm glow on her skin. "And is this the great Mateo?" he asked, his eyes flicking toward her younger brother, who raised an eyebrow in response.

"Great, huh? Yeah, that's me," Mateo said, sizing Paul up with a curious gaze. "And who might you be?" he added, his tone playful yet guarded.

"I'm Paul, nice to meet you, kid," Paul said, extending his hand, to which Mateo gave a slightly perplexed look.

"I'm gonna go play in the water," Mateo said, sounding grumpy before swiftly turning around and heading toward the shore.

"Well, he seems... interesting," Paul said, a hint of uncertainty in his tone.

"I think he likes you," Lita teased, making Paul roll his eyes, his laughter mingling with hers.

"Paul, man, ditching us as soon as you see a pretty girl?" Jake said, heaving over a few bags, his tone playful.

"I'm hungry!" Jared exclaimed, rubbing his bare stomach, drawing a few chuckles from the group.

"Oh my god, is that your only personality trait!?" Embry exclaimed with a mock glare.

"No! I have other qualities too!" Jared protested.

"Do they relate to food?" Embry asked, setting down his bags near Jake, causing Jared to go silent at his words.

"Well, I'm hot, so it's okay," Jared retorted, rolling his eyes before laying down his towel and flopping down on it.

"Don't feel like swimming?" Paul suddenly asked, his eyes lingering on Lita's sundress.

Lita looked down, realizing she was still wearing it. "Oh, right!" she exclaimed before swiftly taking it off without a second thought, revealing her bikini.

"So close..." Quil said with a sigh, his tone filled with playful disappointment.

"Please stop," Jake said, giving Quil a weird look, shaking his head in amusement.

"Wow...I really like...the color," Paul said with a smile, his eyes seemingly anywhere other than her bikini.

"Really, what color is it?" Jared asked, teasing, making Paul swiftly kick some sand at him, causing him to cough.

"Bro...that does not taste good," Jared said, with an almost sad look, earning a round of laughter from the group.

"So, is that your kid?" Quil asked, pointing out to where Mateo was building sandcastles.

"Uhm, no, that's my brother," Lita said with a laugh, her tone light.

"Oh," Quil said, his face turning a bright red, a mixture of embarrassment and relief washing over him.

"Let's leave them in peace, eh?" Jake suggested, forcing the group to stand and head in the direction of Mateo, who had been engrossed in his sandcastle-building endeavor.

Lita and Paul took a seat on the towel Jared had laid out. Lita let out a sigh, breathing in the salty sea air, feeling the weight of the day slowly lifting off her shoulders.

"So, Lita, what do you do when you're not hanging out at McDonald's late at night?" Paul asked, his tone slightly teasing, genuine interest twinkling in his eyes.

"I don't know..." Lita searched for an answer, her gaze momentarily drifting towards the hospital in the distance. "I guess I'm at the hospital a lot..." she said with a shrug.

"The hospital? Do you volunteer there or something?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"No, it's Mateo. He's got CHD," she explained, her voice carrying a mix of sadness and determination. "We spend a lot of time there, but not all the time..." Her eyes flickered towards her brother, who was now playfully engaging with Paul's group, a fleeting smile gracing her lips.

"What's CHD?" Paul inquired gently.

"It's congenital heart disease," Lita said, her tone softening. "His heart's too big for his body, and he needs another one."

"I'm really sorry," Paul said, his empathy genuine.

"Don't be," Lita replied, her voice carrying a note of resilience. "But enough about me, what about you?"

"Well, I mostly stay at the reservation in La Push, near Forks if you somehow know where that is..."

"Wait, wait... Forks? Like in Washington?" she asked, genuine surprise lighting up her eyes.

Paul nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "No way! My mom lives there!" she exclaimed, a spark of recognition in her eyes.

"What? Who's your mom?"

"Maria Ros—I mean Swan," Lita corrected herself, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

"Oh, she's a vet, right?" Paul asked, his memory clicking into place.

"Yeah, that's her," Lita confirmed, a subtle connection weaving between them.

"So if your mom lives in Forks, how come you live here?" Paul asked, his curiosity evident in his eyes.

"Well..." Lita hesitated, her voice softening with the weight of the past. "My parents divorced years ago, and I guess my mom wanted to get as far away as possible," she explained, her words tinged with a touch of sadness as she recalled the complexities of her family's history.

"Yeah, same with my parents, but my mom just stayed around there, more like friends than people who used to be married," Paul said, his voice carrying a sense of acceptance

"Let's go swim." Lita said trying to ease out of the heavy conversation

"Okay..race you!" Paul suddenly yelled getting up from his spot and heading straight for the water

Amidst the playful chaos of the beach, Lita found herself sitting on Paul's shoulders, her hands on his head for balance. On the opposite side, Quil rode on Embry's shoulders, both of them engaged in a mock battle of strength and wits. The sun glistened on the water, casting a warm golden glow over the scene, and the laughter of friends blended with the rhythmic sounds of waves crashing nearby.

"Ready, Lita?" Paul called up to her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Ready!" she exclaimed, determination etched on her face. With a burst of energy, she pushed against Paul's head, attempting to topple Quil and Embry into the water. There was a momentary struggle, legs flailing and laughter filling the air, before Quil and Embry dramatically fell into the sea, creating a splash that drenched them all.

Later, as the sun dipped lower, casting a cascade of warm hues across the horizon, Paul found himself sitting on the beach, his eyes fixed on Lita. She emerged from the water like a scene from a movie, droplets of water clinging to her skin like diamonds in the fading sunlight. Her hair, darkened by the water, framed her face in an ethereal way, and her eyes sparkled with joy and the fading sunlight.

Paul couldn't help but be captivated by the sight of her. It was as if time had slowed down, and he was watching a beautiful moment unfold before him. The way she pushed her hair back, the sunlight catching the droplets and turning them into a halo of light, left him momentarily breathless.

With a joyful giggle, Lita walked toward him, her steps light and carefree. As she reached him, she leaned into his shoulder, her laughter a melody that seemed to harmonize with the gentle lapping of the waves. In that moment, with the sun setting behind her and the sea breeze ruffling her hair, Paul felt an inexplicable connection, as if the universe had conspired to create this perfect moment just for them.

As Lita's head rested on Paul's shoulder, Mateo quickly scrambled over, putting space between them and sending a protective glare at Paul as he huddled into Lita's towel.

"Hey, Mateo, right?" Paul asked, attempting to start a conversation.

"Yeah, and you're... Paul," Mateo replied, narrowing his eyes at the older boy.

"Lita was just telling me about your soccer skills," Paul said, earning a suspicious look from Lita. She had never mentioned anything about soccer.

"Really? I used to play soccer, but now I'm not allowed," Mateo said with a casual shrug.

"Well, maybe you can play just this once," Paul suggested.

Mateo looked toward Lita, his eyes lighting up. "Can I?" he asked, a hopeful smile playing on his lips.

"I guess... Just be careful," she said, her concern evident in her voice.

Paul and Mateo headed off together, leaving the rest of the group to pass the ball between one another. The atmosphere became slightly somber, and Jared broke the silence.

"He's really gonna miss you, Lita," Jared said, his tone serious.

"Who's gonna miss me?" Lita inquired, confused.

"Paul," Jared answered.

"What? Why?"

"Jared, you dumbass, Lita doesn't know yet," Jake chided him, shaking his head.

Embry sighed. "We're leaving tomorrow."

"Oh..." Lita's eyes widened in realization.

"I mean, he's got your number, right? You guys can always stay in touch," Quil suggested, trying to lift the mood.

Lita nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess..." The reality of the situation settled in, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

Mateo and Paul had now come back, both with smiles on their faces, but Paul's dropped as soon as he saw the look on Lita's face.

"Hey, Lita, what's wrong?" Paul asked, concern furrowing his brow.

"Uh, guys, what's that over there?" Jake suddenly said, pointing down the beach before grabbing Mateo by the arm, whispering urgently, "C'mon."

Paul gave his friends a confused look before taking a seat beside Lita. "Something wrong?" he asked, his voice soft.

"You're leaving?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of hurt.

"Oh, I was gonna tell you, our school decided to end the trip early," Paul explained, his expression reflecting his own disappointment. "I didn't want to go without saying goodbye."

Lita nodded slowly, trying to process the information. "Okay... just promise you'll call me?" she said, her tone filled with hope.

Paul smiled, his eyes warm. "Yeah, of course. Like I'd ever forget you." He reached out, gently taking her hand in his, offering her a reassuring squeeze.

"You're honestly the best guy I've ever met, and I really mean that," Lita said with a smile, her eyes reflecting her sincerity.

"You should visit sometime," Paul suggested, his voice soft with hope.

"I don't know if that's a possibility," Lita said with a shrug, her expression tinged with regret. "But I'll try."

Paul nodded, understanding her situation. Their eyes met, a shared understanding passing between them. Time seemed to stand still as their gaze lingered, both feeling the unspoken connection between them. Slowly, they leaned in, drawn together by an invisible force, their lips meeting in a soft, heartfelt kiss that spoke volumes of the emotions they couldn't put into words.