Endless || Jonah Marais ✓

♪ SIXTY ♪

"You've been spending an awful lot of time with Jonah lately," Mark chastises, falling onto the couch and resting his head in Aurora's lap. "I'm feeling very neglected."

"Aww, I'm sorry," she coos, running a hand through her best friend's hair. "I'm home for the rest of the day, you have my undivided attention."

"Promise?" He pleads.

"Promise."

"Good," Mark snatches the TV remote from her hand. "Because we need to finish our Chopped marathon."

Aurora laughs, resting her head against the cushions as her thoughts drift to the boy she had met three days ago.

She replays the events of their date in her head, along with the memory of taking a nap in his arms after helping Zach come up with a plan to woo the 'Caramel' girl that's way out of his league earlier today.

"You didn't hear a word I just said," Mark huffs, snapping his fingers in front of her face. "Did you?"

"You were boring me," Aurora shrugs my shoulders nonchalantly. "So I tuned you out."

"Asshole," he mutters. "You were thinking about Jonah, weren't you?"

A blush rises to her cheeks, bringing Mark to grin triumphantly up at her.

"I knew it!" He shouts, sitting up and poking her side. "You're in love with him!"

Mark's voice raises an octave, making him sound like a squealing girl.

"I've only known him for three days," she swats his hand away. "There's no way I'm 'in love' with him."

"It only takes three days to fall in love."

"Who sad that?" Aurora raises an eyebrow dubiously, not wanting to admit to herself that she thinks she does, in fact, already love Jonah.

"Me," he smirks proudly. "I just now decided on it."

"Oh, really?" She laughs, shoving him playfully.

"Don't shove me away. I have separation anxiety," Mark gasps, pretending to be offended as he tackles her back, cuddling himself into the side that he had just poked. "And yes, really, because you and Jonah are going to be together forever. And I expect to be man of honor at your wedding."

A smile tugs at Aurora's lips at the prospect of hers and Jonah's relationship actually working out.

"What makes you so confident about this?" She question, continuing to run a hand through his hair to soothe the sudden bundle of butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

"I'm your best friend, I know these things, Aurora," Mark states in a matter of fact tone. "He's your soulmate, I can tell."

"So, does that mean Jonah has your approval?"

"Of course he does," he nods. "I can tell he's a good guy that won't intentionally hurt you, and he makes you happy."

Aurora hums in agreement, her gaze focusing on the TV show still playing.

"But if he ever tries to take my place as your best friend, then I'll have to fight him."

××××

Aurora opens her eyes groggily, her vision slowly sharpening as a worried face comes into focus above her.

"You're awake!" He sounds shocked as he slowly pulls her into a sitting position on the floor. "I was growing worried."

"Jonah?" She mutters, not completely aware of her surroundings other than the fact that she was sitting in the upstairs hallway she had passed out in.

"No, I'm Aaron," he flashes her a perfect smile. "Aaron Carpenter."

"Where did your ferry boat cap go?" Aurora asks, not hearing his introduction.

"I'm not Jonah," Aaron argues, pushing himself to his feet. "Now, you have a really nasty bruise on the back of your head and look ill," he continues. "Let me take you to the hospital."

"Excuse you, Not Jonah," she huffs, crossing her arms. "I'm not going anywhere with you unless you give me a piggyback ride."

"Fine," he chuckles, turning around to oblige. "Climb on."

She jump to her feet, latching herself onto his back and ignoring the throbbing in the back of her skull. A wave of exhaustion rolls over her, bringing her to rest her head on his shoulder as her eyes flutter shut.

"I don't need to go to the hospital," Aurora argues weakly, slowly losing the fight against sleep. "I'm perfectly okay."

××××

"Let me get this straight," Aurora declares, barging into Mark's room and flopping dramatically onto his neatly made bed. "You are going on a date with Elle to the movies, and Caramel is going with you guys. But I, your best friend, don't get invited?!"

"You told me you're going to Walmart with Corbyn to buy cakes and spending time at the Why Don't We house today!" Mark argues, pulling a plain gray t-shirt on before sitting in the swivel chair at his desk.

"That doesn't matter," she huffs. "You're still supposed to offer an invitation no matter what, dumbass. . . Unless Elle has taken my place as your best friend."

Aurora likes the girl, she really does, and she loves that she makes Mark happy. But, if she's taken her place, they're going to have an issue.

"So that's what the problem is," Mark chuckles, grabbing Aurora's arm and tugging her off of the bed, interrupting her train of thought. He pulls her into his lap, squeezing her in a hug. "You're jealous."

"Am not," She denies, hugging him tightly in return.

"Elle is my girlfriend," he assures her, resting his chin on her shoulder. "But you are my best friend. No one can ever take your place and nothing will ever change that. Not even when death do us part."

"Not even when death do us part," she repeats. "You know I love you, right?"

××××

The next time Aurora wakes up, she finds herself sitting in the passenger seat of an unfamiliar car as Aaron opens it, helping her to stand on the asphalt of the hospital parking lot.

Unsteady on her feet, she leans against the teenager for support as she waits for her eyes to adjust to the dark night.

"There is no need for me to be here," she mutters as he leads her to the doors, gesturing to her costume. "I'm a doctor, I can diagnose myself."

"Okay then, doctor," Aaron smirks at her. "What's your diagnosis for why you kept mumbling 'Mark' in your sleep?"

Aurora taps her chin, running through all the possible options Grey's Anatomy has thought her.

"Brain tumor."