Endless || Jonah Marais ✓

♪ TWENTY-TWO ♪

Aurora wakes up cuddled into Jonah's side and surrounded by unfamiliar tan walls. She squints confusedly as her eyes adjust, not immediately remembering where they are.

Careful not to wake Jonah, she clutches Frederick to her chest and crawls out of bed, stumbling blearily towards the kitchen where the quiet chatter of the others can be heard. Unsurprisingly, the usual early birds - Daniel and Carmen - are already awake, along with a sleepy Zach.

Daniel stands over the stove, making scrambled eggs. Carmen and Zach sit at the table, sipping on coffee. Aurora opens the fridge door, expecting to find bacon on the second shelf. But, instead, she comes across a not written in Jack's familiar handwriting.

Jonah and I had a small three a.m. snack. Thought we should tell you before you freak out.

Sorry, not sorry!

"That bitch," Aurora grumbles, causing Daniel to drop a frying pan.

He clutches a hand to his chest and whirls around to face her with wide eyes. "When did you get in here?"

"Don't worry yourself about it."

Aurora smirks while walking over to the table, snatching Zach's coffee away and taking a long drink.

"Why?" Zach cries out indignantly, taking his cup back.

"It was easier than making my own." She shrugs her shoulders, not apologetic in the slightest.

Just then, Jonah, Corbyn, and Alex stumble into the room looking rather sleepy.

"Blondie!" Aurora yells, rushing to Corbyn. "You missed something major when you passed out last night. Feel my pockets."

Corbyn looks bewildered, but Alex nods encouragingly.

"She asked everyone to last night. Just do it."

Realizing he was outnumbered on the topic, Corbyn felt one of her sweatpant pockets, his face scrunching up in wonder as he did so. "How are they so soft?"

"Hey, Aurora," Alex interrupts, picking Frederick up from the table. "Does your panda talk?"

Aurora smirks as everyone else shares glances.

Carmen clears her throat lightly, covering her ears. "Yep. Just press his paw."

Seconds later, a pterodactyl screech fills the room, causing Alex to scream and drop the panda immediately. Laughing, Aurora scoops the bear from the floor and cradles it to her chest.

"Aww, it's okay. Mummy's here," she coos to Frederick. "Did the loud lady scare you?"

Alex opens her mouth to retort, but is cut off by the sound of the front door opening.

"It's a murderer!" Aurora whispers excitedly, rushing to the hallway, Her enthusiasm disappears as soon as she catches sight of who's actually at the door. "False alarm. It's just Poodle and Callie."

"Was she actually hoping for a murderer?"

××××

The group of nine now stands, spread out along the beach as the sun reaches it's highest point. Jack, Corbyn, Alex, Callie, and Jonah rest upon the beach while Aurora, Carmen, Zach, and Daniel rest in the water.

"I swear you're part mermaid or something," Daniel says as Aurora beats him at yet another race.

"I wish," Aurora and Carmen mutter simultaneously.

"Why would you want to be a mermaid?" Zach asks, giving the two of them an odd look.

"Three reasons, Heroin," Aurora states. By her side, Carmen holds up three fingers to demonstrate. "One; no periods. Two; free clam bra. Three; the odds of us marrying princes would be a hellofa lot higher."