Endless || Jonah Marais ✓

♪ NINETEEN ♪

"Aurora, what are we doing?"

Carmen can't help but to giggle, her eyes focused on the white chalk Aurora is using to draw a circle around them on the den floor. After doing so, she tosses the chalk aside and proceeds to load the Nerf gun lying next to her.

"We are protecting ourselves from sea bear attacks," Aurora explains as though it should be obvious. Carmen laughs, but immediately stops as Aurora fixes her with a glare. "Sea bear attacks are no joke, Caramel. I once lost my cousin to one."

Not waiting for a retort, Aurora gently pushes Carmen's shoulders until she sits down in the center of the circle. She sits down next to her, sighing contentedly just as Zach walks into the room.

"Aurora," Zach chastises. "Carmen needs to be resting."

Carmen opens her mouth to argue, but stops as Aurora pulls the Nerf gun out from behind her back and points it directly at the boy before he could come any closer.

"Try it, I fucking dare you," she challenges. "I won't hesitate to pull the trigger."

Zach holds his hands up in defense, not daring to make any movements to get closer.

"Jonah!" He yells, turning his head slightly to face the door. "Your girlfriend is holding me at gunpoint!"

Jonah runs into the room seconds later.

"DON'T RUN!" Aurora screeches. "SEA BEARS HATE THAT!"

Taking her advice to heart, Jonah slows down and stops when he reaches Zach.

"Why are you holding him at gunpoint?" He asks, a smile spreading across his lips.

"Because Heroin was going to remove Caramel from the safety of this circle, which prevents sea bear attacks," the older girl states, not dropping the gun.

"I don't see a problem," Jonah says, turning to Zach. "Aurora is keeping Carmen safe from dangerous sea bears."

Zach throws his hands up in exasperation. "Can you at least convince her to put the Nerf gun down?"

Jonah laughs as he begins to walk away. "Bold of you to assume I have any control over her. You're on your own, buddy."

Just as Zach goes to retort, Aurora shoots the gun. A styrofoam bullet hits him in the middle of the forehead, sticking instantly to his skin.

"Oops," Aurora giggles. "My finger slipped."

"If you let me take Caramel back to the living room," Zach begins, struggling to find a compromise Aurora would actually agree to. "You two can binge SpongeBob all day."

She lowers the Nerf gun, looking to Carmen for confirmation. Carmen nods her head in agreement, just as Aurora reluctantly drops the gun.

"Fine," she huffs.

She stands, before helping Carmen onto her feet. Zach is immediately by her side to carry her, despite Carmen's attempts to wave him away.

Entering the living room, Aurora snags the remote off of the recliner and turns on Netflix.

"Hey!" Daniel cries out in protest. "Jonah and I were watching that!"

"Not anymore," she sings. "We're watching SpongeBob. Now, go make some food in the kitchen, Chef Daniel."

"Cinnamon rolls, please!" Carmen requests jokingly.

"We're starting with the sea bear episode," Aurora declares, dropping onto the empty spot on the loveseat next to Jonah. "Any complaints?"