ISABELLA'S POV

I ran as fast as I could along the foot path. I had no idea where I was going but I had to get out of here as soon as possible. This place just brought back bad memories and it made me miserable. I thought I would probably fly back to Rome and live on my own; I had enough money from my singing career. I knew the money wouldn't last, but I could get a job by then.

I had no other relatives I could live with. My Mom's older sister and brother apparently ended up being drug addicts and alcoholics and left home at 16. Since then my parents have had no contact with them. My dad didn't have any sibling's and both his parents had already died which was sad. My mum's dad had died too but her mum was still alive which meant I still had one grandma I could go to. But she moved to Australia a few years ago in hope to a better lifestyle.

So I was just left there, with no one. No family, no nothing. I just felt so empty and alone and there was nothing to look forward to in my life ahead. So what was the point of living? I wish I died with my parents so everything would be okay. But I didn't so there's nothing I can do about it. I just wanted to get out of here, fly to another country, anything. I know I had Lizzie and her family and I knew that they cared about me, but it just wouldn't be the same. I wanted to go back to Rome and start my singing career again. I wish I never ended it in the first place. I thought about it and realised that if we hadn't moved here, my parents would still be alive. If I was still singing we wouldn't have come here and everything would be okay.

I started to cry again as I stopped in the middle of no where. It was dark and the streetlights had come on. This was all my fault and I began to feel guilty. Suddenly, I had a great idea. I decided to fly back to Rome and try to get my old life back again. But this time, on my own. Maybe this time I could be an actress, anything to take my mind of this situation. I had a lot of money and a passport and I was pretty sure I was old enough to go on my own. I knew it would break Lizzie's heart if I left but I had to do it, for my own good.

I had made up my mind and was sure about it. I was going back to Rome.

LIZZIE'S POV

"MOM! MOM!" I screamed as I bolted down the stairs. After I had read the letter, I felt like I was going to faint or thought that it was fake, so it took me a while to believe it was true.

"What is it?" She answered urgently as she ran towards me looking incredibly worried.

"It's Isabella! She's gone, she run away!" I screamed with tears pouring down my face. I thrust the letter into my mom's hands violently and she gave me an odd look.

"What on earth are you talking about?" She asked.

"Read it!" I told her. It took her a while to read it and I just stood there, trying to hold my tears back as I watched my Mom's expression on her face. Her mouth just dropped open slightly. Then she looked back up at me and it looked like she was going to cry too.

"I don't believe it." She said calmly.

"How can you be so calm about this Mom? She's out there, all by herself, and we don't even no where she is! She could be anywhere by now, what are we suppose to do?" I cried. My voice sounded all weird and croaky as I was trying not to cry.

"I-I don't know honey. Maybe we should just leave her-,"

"LEAVE HER? Are you taking this seriously Mom? Do know what can happen to her? She can't live on her own, she's too young!" I insisted. "You don't care about her do you?" I accused.

"No! That's not it! Of course I care about her! But what can we do about it now?"

My Dad and Matt had heard the racket and had come downstairs to see what the huge fuss was about. I told them, but I practically yelled it. I don't why I was so angry, they hadn't done anything wrong. The fact that Isabella had run off without telling anyone about it made me mad. I knew she felt upset about her parents, but running away wasn't going to solve anything.

"Why don't you call her on her cell phone?" Dad suggested. Without answering, I rushed to the phone and dialed her number. It rang a couple of time which kept my hopes up, but for some reason it went straight to this phone company thing. I slammed the phone down and ran my fingers through my messy hair.

"I'm going to look for her." I told everyone.

"What? You can't go by your self, its dark out there!" My mom said.

"I'm a big girl okay? I can handle it. Unless you guys wanna come with me?"

My parents agreed and I was glad about that. Three pairs of eyes are better than one.

"You're coming too Matt."

"What? No way! She's your friend Lizzie, not mine!" He said angrily. I rolled my eyes and went out the door with my Mom and Dad.

ISABELLA"S POV

I felt really guilty after I had ignored Lizzie's phone call and then smashed my cell phone to bits when slammed it on the ground. But I knew she was just going to beg me to come back, but I had already made up my mind.

As I walked along the dark street, I spotted a pay phone. I ran up to it and decided to call someone. A person who had really understood how I felt and comforted me all the time. A person who always made me feel better and who I really cared about. Ben.

Ever since I met him, I've had feelings for him. I knew he was Lizzie's boyfriend, but I felt like I wanted him. I loved him too.

I dialed in his phone number and he picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hi, it's Isabella. Look, you have to promise me that you're not going to tell anyone this, okay?" I said.

"Uh, okay. What's going on?" He asked, sounding confused.

"Well, I'm running away and I've decided to go back to Rome. It's for the best and there's nothing you can do to change my mind. I just rang to say goodbye, and that I'll miss you."

"Wait a minute, does Lizzie and her family know about this? Cos if they don't, you know they won't like it right?" He asked me.

"Yes, but I'm old enough to make my own decisions you know."

Ben just begged me to stay and told me he would miss me.

"No Ben, I have to go and that's final." I said. I felt sorry for him and I really didn't want to leave him, but I had to.

He sighed. "Alright but I'm just going to say something. I know you think it's your fault your parents died, but it's not! You didn't make your Dad fall asleep at the wheel. If you go back to Rome, it's not going to do you any good. You have people who love and care about you here, and over there, you have no one. I really care about you and so do Lizzie and her family. They want to adopt you Isabella. Doesn't that mean anything to you?" He asked me.

"I guess. I dunno." I didn't want Ben talking me out of this. "Look, you mean a lot to me. That's why I'm telling you everything. But you have to promise me you won't tell anyone! Not even Lizzie! I'm trusting you, okay?"

"Okay."

He told me where the nearest airport was and I could just catch a cab from here.

"Thanks. I'll miss you heaps and I'll try to write. Maybe we'll meet again someday. I have to go now. I love you." I told him quietly.

"I love you too." He said back. I didn't know if he meant it romantically or just as a friend. But I just hung up and went to look for a taxi.

It was now nearly 9 o'clock and I was so tired. I was sitting in the departure area waiting for my flight which was due in half an hour. I knew I was doing the right thing; I didn't need Lizzie, or her family telling me what to do. If I went back to Rome and started singing again, then it would probably take my mind off what has happened. But I doubted I would be as famous as I was before.

As I was slumped in my chair, I felt my eyelids close. But I was awoken when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I sat bolt upright turned around quickly, wondering who it could be. It was Lizzie.

"Lizzie?" I squeaked. I was so freaked out to see her here. How on earth did she find me? I felt so disappointed because I knew she would beg me come back home.

"What on earth are you doing here?" I demanded.

"I should be asking you the same question!" She said. Lizzie pulled out her cell phone and put it to her ear and waited.

"She's here. Departure lounge." She said and put her phone back in her pocket. What had she done, called a rescue party? Brought an army? I didn't know but it was pissing me off.

"Isabella, what are you doing? Going to Rome isn't-"

"Who told you?" I said as I felt astounded. I knew immediately it was Ben because he was the only person I told and I was furious at him already.

"Ben did. And I'm also wondering what you were doing calling up my boyfriend! Something's going on here and I know it!" She said angrily. Lizzie didn't seem at all happy to see me, nor didn't she ask me come back.

"I wasn't doing anything! I was just-,"

"ISABELLA! Oh my goodness!" Jo squealed as she ran up towards me. She squeezed me so tight that I felt I couldn't breathe and she was crying of happiness. Matt and Sam came running up behind her as well.

"What did you think you were doing, running away like that? You scared the living day lights out of me!!! And Lizzie too! Something could have happened to you, you know better than to run off like that! I'm just so glad you're okay!" Jo said as she continued to hug me. I hugged her back.

Jo and Sam gave me some sort of a lecture, but then told me I was old enough to make my own decisions. They said if I really wanted to go back, then I could. It was my choice. But they both looked really upset and told me that they loved me more than anything and that I meant the world to them. I felt really flattered when they said this. It was the first time I felt had felt loved in a while.

All of a sudden, I felt like I didn't want to go anymore. I wanted to stay with this family for ever. They loved me, and they really meant it. Ben was right, going to Rome and trying to forget what happened in the past, wasn't going to do me any good. I thought about it for a while and began to cry. Lizzie gave me a startled look and waited for my answer.

"Okay. I'll stay." I said. Lizzie started screaming and hugging me and so did Jo and Sam. Matt just sat down and rolled his eyes.

"Welcome to the family." Sam said.