A/N Writing this chapter reminded me how much I love to write!

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Lita watched with disdain as her mother and Charlie walked towards a waiting car, hand in hand. Cheers erupted loudly from their guests, and her mother smiled brightly as Charlie opened the car door for her.

Feeling the chill of the breeze, Lita folded her arms, goosebumps prickling her skin. As the car drove away, she realized her mother hadn't said a word about her leaving. Of course, she didn't. What did Lita expect?

As the crowd dispersed, the loud chatter ringing in her ears, Lita pushed past unfamiliar faces in search of Bella. She found her sitting at a table with Edward, a smile on her face.

"Bella–" Lita began, but she stopped short as she noticed the other unfamiliar faces at the table.

"Lita, oh, you remember Edward, right?" Bella said, gesturing towards him. Lita smiled awkwardly, nodding. "This is, well, his family."

Lita couldn't help but feel inferior in their presence. These people seemed flawless, like a group of supermodels.

A girl with brown hair gave her a warm smile before speaking up. "I'm Alice, and this is Jasper!" she said, wrapping an arm around Jasper, who had a pained look on his face.

"I'm Emmett," a large guy said, his golden eyes catching Lita's attention. She looked expectantly to the blonde girl beside him, who gave her a sharp look before receiving a soft nudge from Emmett. With a sigh, she spoke. "Rosalie..." she said, avoiding Lita's gaze.

"Well, it's nice to meet you all... Bella, could we talk?" Lita asked, feeling the weight of their stares. "Alone?" she added.

Bella gave Edward a reassuring smile before following Lita to a more secluded spot. "Did you know they were leaving?" Lita asked in a hushed voice.

"My dad actually only told me a few hours ago. Sorry, it completely slipped my mind," Bella said with an apologetic look.

"Don't worry about it... My mom, as usual, didn't mention anything to me. I'm supposed to be going back home soon, but at this rate, it doesn't feel like I'm going anywhere... I just wanna go home, see my dad, my brother. I'm sick and tired of her shit, Bella..." Tears stung Lita's eyes as Bella pulled her in tightly for a hug.

"I know you'll get to see Mateo again soon, and your dad as well. I'll give my dad a call and figure something out, okay?" Bella said, her voice filled with empathy.

"Thank you," Lita whispered gratefully As Bella's comforting embrace loosened, Lita felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her. Gratitude for Bella's support warred with the frustration and exhaustion that seemed to permeate every aspect of her life lately. She nodded in response to Bella's reassurance, the weight of her worries still heavy on her shoulders.

"I'll be staying with Edwards family while my Dad's gone... if you don't want to be alone I'm sure there's plenty of room" Bella spoke softly

"I appreciate it, Bella," Lita murmured, her voice tinged with weariness. "But I think I'll be okay at home alone. Thanks for offering, though."

Bella's expression softened with understanding. "Okay, just let me know if you change your mind. Also I'm glad we're sisters now I uh- stepsister I mean..."

Lita smiled, "I'm glad to be your sister as well." Bella bashfully smiled at this nodding her head before they parted ways, each lost in their own thoughts.

As Lita wandered aimlessly through the crowd, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at her insides. She wasn't used to relying on others for help but that seemed to be a bonus of living at Forks, and the thought of being alone at home felt suffocating. But she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on finding a solution to her predicament: how the hell would she get home?

Lost in her thoughts, Lita didn't notice Paul approaching until he was standing right in front of her, a concerned look on his face.

"Lita, hey," Paul said, his voice breaking through her reverie. "You okay?"

Lita nodded, a lump forming in her throat. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just trying to figure out how to get home."

Paul's expression softened, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "Oh well...I'm headed back to La Push, and I can drop you off on the way. Jade's coming with me, so you won't be alone."

Lita's initial instinct was to decline, but she found herself hesitating. Paul had always been kind to her. And she couldn't deny that the idea of spending a few hours in his company appealing.

"Um, thanks, Paul," Lita said, her voice uncertain. "I'd appreciate it..."

Paul nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Sure thing. Just let me know when you're ready to go."

As Paul walked away, Lita couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. Later, as the sun began to set and the guests started to trickle out of the venue, Lita found herself lost in thought once again. She remembered the last time Paul had come to her rescue, when her mother had left her alone in the rain and she had felt scared and vulnerable. But now, standing here yet again, she felt a flicker of excitement.

Memories flooded her mind, back to her childhood in Mexico when her mother, Maria, was truly present. Maria used to read Lita a lot of books, and one that Lita had always favored was "Adelita." Adelita was like Lita's own version of Cinderella, and she held her story close to her heart, always dreaming of finding a prince like Adelita had found hers. But life had taught her that real men were not like Adelita's prince charming; nobody was going to save her.

Yet here stood Paul, offering her a ride home. The irony wasn't lost on her. This wasn't a fairy tale with an evil stepmother or wicked stepsisters; it was just Lita, with her broken home and her increasingly sick brother. And maybe, just maybe, Paul could be a small glimmer of hope in her story.