Timeless || All Stories

14 || Unsteady

"What are you doing?" Carmen questions warily, sliding into the kitchen where Aurora and Corbyn are.

"Research," both of the twenty-two year olds answer simultaneously as they continue to set up shots along the island.

"While Phillip Carlisle and P.T Barnum sing and dance to The Other Side during The Greatest Showman, they both take seven shots," Corbyn continues. "We're trying to figure out if it's actually possible to be that drunk and still do all those things."

"Oh boy."

Carmen can't help but chuckle, knowing there's no way this can end well. Jonah, Addilyn, Jack, and Callie had left for the store only an hour ago, leaving Carmen, Zach, Daniel, and Adrian in charge of the oldest two.

Backing away slowly from the tipsy duo, Carmen slides into the living where the other three are and sits next to Zach. She wasn't about to stop Aurora and Corbyn; drunk Aurora was, personally, her favorite Aurora.

It isn't long before the opening notes of The Other Side can be heard coming from the kitchen.

"Right here, right now-"

Aurora stops the music, shooting a glare at the blond next to her.

"Why aren't you singing?" She pouts. "This is your part."

"Nuh-uh." He shakes his head adamantly. "I'm Phillip."

"No! I'm Phillip."

"But I don't wanna be Barnum."

"I'm prettier, so I'm Phillip."

"Fiiiine."

With a satisfied grin, Aurora unpauses the music.

"Right here, right now
I put the offer out
I don't want to chase you down, I know you see it."

The song progresses rapidly and quickly catches the other's attention as they all wander into the kitchen.

Taking shot after shot, just like in her favorite movie scene, Aurora feels herself growing more unsteady. That's not about to stop the crazy girl as she jumps up onto the island.

"Don't you know that I'm okay with this uptown part I get to play?
'Cause I got what I need and I don't want to take the ride."

The front door opens, revealing the other four members of their family and successfully startling Aurora.

She twirls around, prepared to dramatically jump down but instead slips on a puddle of spilled liquor.

"I don't need to see the - OH SHIT!"

Arms windmilling, she falls backwards and squeezes her eyes shut, accepting death.

"GOODBYE, CRUEL WORLD! TELL JONAH AND CARAMEL I LOVE THEM!"

"Aurora," Callie calls out to her, waiting for her to notice she didn't hit the ground. "Aurora!"

"TELL POODLE HE'S STILL A LITTLE BITCH! I WANT DANIEL TO HAVE MY DUCT TAPE STASH! AND BLONDIE GETS MY-"

"AUR-"

"Shh," Corbyn clamps a hand over Callie's mouth, his eyes wide and glossed over. "I want to know what she's giving me."

Callie licks his hand, causing him to snatch it away. "AURORA!"

The brunette's eyes snap open and she looks around. "Can't you see I'm monologuing? Let me die dramatically. . . . Wait, how am I floating?"

Jonah sighs, bracing himself for his wife's meltdown once she realizes Zach is the one that caught her.

"Now I'll never know," Corbyn huffs, dropping to the floor and pouting while using Addilyn's leg to keep him upright.

"Am I a wiz- EXCUSE YOU, BEANIE DEANIE HERRON, DID I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO TOUCH ME?"

"Fine then."

Without a second thought, he drops her with a loud thud.

"Oof."

****

"Aurora," Zach whines, crossing his arms childishly. "You have to share Carmen!"

The girl simply growls, not moving from where she's practically cuddling the life out of her best friend on the couch.

Jack and Daniel had a bet on how long it'd take before she passed out, seeing as how Corbyn was already slumped over in the middle of the hallway.

"JONAH!" He storms off dramatically in search of the oldest boy.

"Would you look at that," Aurora slurs in a hushed whisper, not letting go of Carmen in the slightest. "There's two little bitches in this house."

"You can't say things like that," she chides, "when he's within earshot."

"You're really pretty," she continues to ramble, completely ignoring her comment. "I'd leave Jonah for you, and throw Zach away when he complains."

"I'm down," Carmen giggles as Zach returns with a triumphant grin and Jonah following along. "Isn't it your bedtime?"

"Sleep is for the weak," the drunk girl yawns. "And I am very, very weak."

"Come on," Jonah sighs, trying to hide his amusement. "Let's get you to bed."

He moves forward, fully prepared to carry her to their room, bit jumps back in surprise as her hand swats him away.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" She retorts. "I'm married."

"Aurora, sweetie, I know," he laughs. "After all, I was the one that proposed."

"Fucking liar," she scoffs. "Caramel is my husband."

"Hey!" Zach protests indignantly. "I married Carmen!"

Aurora's head snaps up and her eyes widen comically as she looks to the youngest girl accusingly. "You're cheating on me?"

Actual tears well up in her eyes as she pushes herself to her feet and - moving faster than she ought to - stumbles over to Jonah, dropping into his arms.

"If you can cheat, so can I."

Sticking her tongue out childishly, Aurora jumps into Jonah's arms and snuggles her face into his neck tiredly.

Assuming Aurora fell asleep that quickly, Jonah remains as quiet as possible as they venture up the stairs and into their room.

After laying down in bed and making sure the blanket is on her, he goes to grab his phone from downstairs but is stopped by Aurora stubbornly pulling him back by her side.

"Don't leave me."

A goofy grin breaks across Jonah's face at the small request and he gladly obliges, kissing her on the forehead as he lays down as well.

"I could kick your ass, you know?" She mutters sleepily, kissing his cheek in return.