e i g h t
CHAPTER EIGHT
( KISS CARAMEL )
CARMEN STARES UP at the ride. She frowns deeply, nudging Zach with her elbow as she looks at him. He furrows his brows, confused at her worried expression.
"I don't like rollercoasters," She says lowly, hoping Aurora won't hear her.
"Good thing I don't either," He chuckles, turning to Jonah. "We're gonna head off and play some games. We'll meet back up with you guys later, okay?"
"Text me," Jonah says, waving the two off. "I'll keep Aurora occupied until you decide to join us again."
Zach nods, placing his hand on the small of Carmen's back. Daniel pokes Jack for his attention, and gaining Callie's attention in the process. They all look over, finally noticing the departure of Carmen and Zach.
"Finally," Daniel mutters to them. "Lets just hope he doesn't blow his chance."
---
"I want to go on that water ride!" Carmen says, shuffling over to a rail that leads to a line. "Don't you want to?"
"Sure," Zach chuckles as she grabs his hand, pulling him towards the short line.
The ride has three round tubes, each holding four seats inside of them. The flooring of the black tube is soaked, due to the water that splashes in from separate waterfalls and rapids. Two of the tubes are filled up, leaving the front one open with two seats.
Carmen hesitates though, seeing as the first was filled with one boy and one girl; the two empty seats across from each other.
"Are you riding?" The attendant asks expectantly. "If you are, get on!"
Carmen's eyes widen at her rudeness, before she steps onto the tube. She takes one of the seats, before watching as Zach takes his. Almost immediately, one of the girls next to him begin to scream in a high pitch.
Carmen covers her ears, of which Zach winces.
"YOU'RE ZACH HERRON!" She yells, her hands beginning to shake. "Oh my gosh, can I have a picture with you?"
"Uh," Zach hesitates, but doesn't get to answer as the girl already had her phone in her hands.
The boy next to Carmen turns to her, a charming smile on his lips. "I'm Jared, and that's my sister, Jasie."
The boy's eyes are ocean blue, reminding Carmen of Corbyn. His hair is swiftly combed, framing his face at an angle. His jaw line is sharp, and his cheekbones are the most perfect Carmen's ever seen.
"Nice to meet you," Carmen chuckles, shaking his hand. "I'm Carmen."
"You must be his girlfriend," Jared assumes, nodding in the direction of Zach.
Zach seems too busy in calming the hyperventilating girl that he doesn't notice their conversation. Carmen shakes her head, smiling at Jared.
"We're just friends, actually." She says. "I've only known him for a few days."
"Yeah, well, my sister has known him for a few months," Jared sighs, his dimples showing as he begins to laugh. "She obsesses over him, as you can see. Her walls are literally covered in his posters."
"I have that kind of an obsession towards donuts," Carmen jokes, a laugh leaving her lips. "My bedroom drawers are labeled with the different types inside."
"Oh really?" Jared raises an eyebrow. "I have the same obsession for rats. I randomly find them on the streets of New York, and bring them home to my bedroom. My mom repetitively asks me where they come from, but I can never make up a good excuse."
By this time, the ride had already begun. But as they were deep in conversation, neither Jared or Carmen had noticed. But Zach had, his eyes grazing the scene in front of him.
He stares down at the water-filled bottom of the tube, no longer interested in the ride he had agreed to get on.
"You live in New York?" Carmen asks. "And you're all the way in LA?"
"A birthday present," Jared shrugs, a smile tugging at his lips. "One of my friends bought them for me yesterday."
"My birthday was yesterday, too!" She beams. "And my friend Corbyn bought the tickets for me and seven friends."
"I'm guessing you're sixteen," Jared assumes, staring deeply into the eyes of Carmen.
"And you're a mind reader," Carmen comments.
"Not a mind reader, just guessing. I-"
Jared is cut off as Jasie screams again, followed by the tube dragging underneath large waterfall. In an instant, the four are covered in water, and Carmen bursts into laughter.
"I'M SOAKED!" Jasie screams, of which Zach groans.
"I like your laugh," Jared nudges Carmen. "It's cute."
"Thanks," She flushes, her eyes catching Zach's.
He shakes his head, before averting his attention away from the two. She frowns, not understanding his sudden change in attitude.
Instead of wondering why Zach was upset, Carmen continued to focus on Jared the rest of the ride.
---
After getting off of the ride, Carmen didn't know which ride she wanted to get on. With the exception of rollercoasters, everything seemed to appeal to her.
Carmen turns immediately, seeing as someone tapped her shoulder. She looks up to find Jared, who grins.
"Hey, can I get your number?" He asks, completely ignoring Zach's intense glare.
"Uh, sure," Carmen shrugs.
"No!" Zach interrupts, pulling Carmen behind him. "I think not! Let's go, Carmen. We need to meet up with the rest of the group."
"But I want to ride more-"
Zach pulls her away from Jared instantly, not allowing her to finish. Once getting out of sight, Zach runs his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you mad at me?" Carmen questions, leaning on the railing to a new ride.
"I'm mad about that guy back there," Zach states. "Not at you. I don't like him. He looks at you the same way . . . "
Zach trails off, bringing Carmen major confusion. "He looks at me the same way what?"
"He looks at you the way I do." Zach grumbles. "And I like you, okay? It's not okay for him to be talking to you, and looking at you like that."
Carmen sucks in a deep breath, her mouth opening but closing again.
"I-I don't think of him that way," She mutters. "He was sweet, but I like you."
Zach's jaw drops at her words, his heart skipping a beat. "What?"
"I like you too," She says louder, sighing. "I have, but I've been too afraid to admit it."
Zach doesn't wait another moment, doing something he's been wanting to do since the day he met Carmen.
He places his hands on her cheeks, his lips crashing onto hers.
---
"WHERE IS MY CARAMEL?" Aurora yells, shoving Jonah backwards. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HER?"
"Aurora, calm down, okay?" Jack backs away from her, his hands held up in defense. "She's safe, she's with Zach."
"I AM CALM, SHUT THE FUCK UP, NOODLE!" Aurora wastes no time in slapping Jack full-force.
Callie examines him immediately, Aurora turning back to Jonah. "I need Caramel, Jonah. Find Caramel."
"Did someone say Caramel?" Carmen asks, making an appearance with Zach at her side.
"CARAMEL!" Aurora hugs her tightly. "WHERE DID YOU GO, WHAT HAPPENED?"
Daniel glances down at his phone, a buzz simotaniously sounding on his phone, along with Jonah's, Corbyn's, Callie's, Jack's, and Aurora's.
"And what is this?" Aurora asks, opening the text. Carmen furrows her eyebrows, glancing over Jack's shoulder.
"ZACH KISSED CARAMEL! OH MY GOD."
Carmen narrows her eyes at Zach jokingly, who shrugs in response. And deep down, his stomach flutters at the memory.
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