Endless || Jonah Marais ✓

♪ TWENTY-SIX ♪

"I'm not arguing with you any more," Aurora decides, pushing Jack into the pool. "The Cheez-its are mine, and that's that."

Jack resurfaces, sputtering as he attempts to get the pool water out of his mouth and glaring at her. Aurora laughs, spinning on her heel to join the others on the lawn chairs, only for her foot to slip on the edge of the pool and cause her to fall in too.

"Karma's a bitch, isn't it?" Jack teases, splashing her with water as she pushes her hair out of her eyes. "OW!"

Jack's screams snag Jonah's attention, alerting him to his wild girlfriend's antics. Moments later, he appears at the poolside with a towel in his hand and amused smile on his face.

"Alright, that's enough terrorizing Jack for one day," he says. "Let's get out of the pool."

"But it's fun," Aurora whines, stubbornly swimming further away. "Right, Poodle?"

She glances around for the boy, but he's no longer next to her. Instead, he's on the back porch patio with Callie, whose bandaging his bite mark.

"See?" Jonah grins triumphantly. "Jack is already out. Why don't you dry off so you can join me with Carmen and Zach.

"Fine."

Climbing out of the pool, Aurora begrudgingly accepts the towel from Jonah. Wrapping it around her soaked body, she leaves him behind as she skips over to the other couple, able to catch the end of their conversation.

"Aaron Carpenter," Carmen sighs, a dreamy expression crossing her face. "Or Hayes Grier. Either way, I'd be a happy camper."

"You have got to be kidding me," Zach groans.

"Who the hell is Aaron Carpenter?" Aurora asks, dropping onto the lawn chair next to them.

Jonah follows suit, taking a seat next to her.

"Hold on, let me find a picture," Carmen says, holding up a finger and pulling her phone out from her pocket.

"You have pictures?" Zach asks incredulously, throwing his hands in the air. "And I thought your obsession with Krum was bad!"

"Oh, he's attractive," Aurora comments, looking at Carmen's phone. "How old is he?"

"Are you serious?" Jonah's jaw drops as he stares at his girlfriend.

"What?" She asks defensively. "I was kidding! I'm sure he's too young for me anyway."

"Actually, he's eighteen," Carmen says, looking to Jonah. "Sorry, buddy. You have competition."

"Oh! Have you heard of Daniel Skye?" Aurora asks, taking Carmen's phone. "Hold on, let me find a picture. I think he's your age, Caramel."

"Oh God, not him," Zach pleads. "Aurora, please don't-"

"HOLY COW!"

"I said no," Zach snaps in annoyance, snatching the phone. "No more boys for today."

"The same thing goes for you," Jonah agrees, looking specifically at Aurora.

"So at twelve tonight, we can look at them again?" Carmen asks cheekily.

"Never again will you get your phone back," Zach tells her.

"It's okay, Caramel," Aurora chimes in, reaching for her back pocket. "We can use mine."

When she doesn't find it, she jumps up, glancing around worriedly. Next to her, Jonah holds it in the air with a triumphant smile.

"I don't think so."

××××

"No."

"Why not?" Aurora pouts, jumping onto Jonah's back as they move into the living room. "Meeting Thomas Sangster would literally be one of the best days of my life."

"Because I said so," Jonah replies, dropping her onto the loveseat. "Are there any other actors you would like to meet?"

"Sebastian Stan, Patrick Dempsey, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Noah Centineo, Dylan O'Brien-"

Jonah groans dramatically, burrowing his face into a throw pillow. Aurora laughs, tuning into Carmen's conversation as she hears her name.

"Aurora beat him up. He doesn't stand a chance anyway."

"I heard my name," the brunette pipes up.

"I was just pointing out that there's no need for Zach to be worried about Jackson," Carmen explains. "If you could beat him up, I'm sure there isn't a reason for him to be worried."

"Actually, Aurora is stronger than most of us," Daniel says, joining the conversation. "Especially Jack. His arms are as floppy as noodle hair."

"With all of you with me, I don't think he'd try anything," Carmen says truthfully, pleading with Zach. "Can you please take me to get ice cream or something? I can't stand being in the house constantly."

"Can I go?" Aurora asks Jonah, her excitement flaring. "Pretty please?"

"How about a pumpkin patch?" Carmen suggests with a smile. "I love pumpkins and it's almost autumn, even with the warm weather."

"Sounds like a great idea," Jonah chimes in. "Zach? You in?"

"If that's what you want," the youngest boy concedes, smiling at Carmen. "But you have to stay near me at all times."

"That's acceptable." Carmen nods.

"Objection!" Aurora yells, standing. "I get Caramel too, Heroin. And you don't get to talk back because we all know I have more muscle than you."

"Daniel, Corbyn, Jack, do you guys want to go too?" Jonah questions.

"I'll call Callie," Jack says, pulling out his phone and walking out of the room.

"Jack, why are you going into the kitchen?" Aurora asks suspiciously.

"To call Callie."

"No, you're not," she argues, narrowing her eyes. "Callie is upstairs, taking a nap."

"Well, I-" Jack starts before sprinting into the kitchen.

"YOU'RE NOT SLICK, BITCH! THOSE ARE MINE! I WON'T HESITATE TO BITE YOU AGAIN!"