Endless || Jonah Marais ✓

♪ TWENTY-SEVEN ♪

"What do you want to do first?" Carmen asks as the group of eight arrive at the pumpkin patch.

Aurora climbs out of Jonah's Corvette, ignoring the goosebumps on her arms as an evening chill blows past. Having made a big deal to Jonah about not wearing a jacket, she wasn't about to give in and ask for his.

"Two words, Caramel," she declares, linking her arm through hers. "Hay maze."

"I love hay mazes!" Callie squeals excitedly, tugging Jack along.

"They're a-maze-ing," Aurora agrees, earning a groan from Jack.

"We need to stick together," Zach says as Aurora and Carmen lead the group in a near sprint to the maze entrance.

"But where's the fun in that," Aurora argues, leaning against a hay bale to catch her breath.

"It's bet-"

"Jonah," Aurora accidentally cuts Daniel's response off in her excitement, getting an idea. "Help me climb this."

Jonah doesn't bother to ask any questions, instead merely shrugging his shoulders as he grabs her waist and places her on top of the hay bale with ease. Grinning, she stands up and brushes the hay off of her butt, careful not to lose her balance as she looks back down at the others.

"This is the best vantage point."

"That's cheating!" Jack protests, pointing an accusing finger at her. "You can't do that!"

"What are you gonna do?" Aurora snorts. "Call the maze police?"

"I want up there too!" Corbyn shouts before Jack can argue further.

Backing up, the boy takes a running start before jumping. He barely makes it onto the bale, Aurora having to help pull him to safety.

"Does anyone else want up here?" Corbyn asks, staring down at the group.

When no one else climbs up, Jack grins triumphantly. Not liking the cocky smile, Aurora quickly comes up with a plan.

"Why don't we make a bet?" She asks, grinning slyly. "If the six of you find your way out before Corbyn and I, we'll pay for the ice cream afterwards. If Corbyn and I find the exit first, you six buy ours."

"Deal," Daniel answers immediately, sticking his hand up for her to shake.

"It's settled then."

Not waiting for a response, Aurora rushes ahead of the others with Corbyn in tow.

××××

"We're lost," Corbyn states for the seventh time.

"No, we're not," Aurora denies confidently, pointing in a random direction as she jumps over the path and onto another hay bale. "The exit is that way. Trust me, Blondie."

He smiles ruefully, jumping over as well. "That's kind of hard to do, considering five minutes ago, you told me the exit was in the opposite direction."

Aurora glares, prepared to retort but something latches itself onto her ankle before she can. Screaming loudly, she jerks her foot away and falls into Corbyn, who loses his balance and causes both of them to go crashing into the ground.

Aurora is quick to bounce back into her feet, the blond having cushioned her fall. Corbyn groans, standing up at a slower rate and rubbing his side.

"You're a lot heavier than you look."

Aurora doesn't respond, too busy looking around for what grabbed her. A loud - albeit familiar - laugh rings out from the other side of the bale, growing closer as two younger teenage boys come into view.