CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
( GET OUT )

     CARMEN GROANS IN annoyance. Zach pokes her side repetitively, chuckling as she swats at his hands each time. She lifts her head from the sheets, narrowing her eyes at him.

"What?"

"Normally you're the early bird," Zach says. "Are you okay?

"I'm exhausted," She admits, sitting up to move the hair from her face. "I don't know why, but I couldn't go to sleep last night."

"Do you miss the beach house?" Zach raises an eyebrow, settling down in front of her. "Or did you have a nightmare?"

"Neither," Carmen frowns. "I felt . . . nervous. Something is off, I know it."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I don't know," Carmen shrugs it away, huffing as she stands. "But I do know that I need some coffee."

"Your wish is my command."

---

Carmen leans against Zach's knees as he sits on the couch, relaxing as she sips some hot chocolate that Daniel made her. Zach bends forward, and begins playing with Carmen's hair. He grins as she sighs in content, leaning further into him.

"Hey Caramel," Aurora says from her spot on her large teddy bear. "You should come join me with your bear. Teddy needs a friend that's his size, unlike Frederick."

Carmen laughs. "I'd lo-"

Carmen's response is cut off by the loud knocking that echos from the front door. Daniel and Aurora immediately jump to their feet, rushing to answer the door. But, to Daniel's disappointment, Aurora reaches it first.

"You've gotta be quicker than that," Aurora teases, running her hand through her hair, and opening the door with the other.

Daniel sticks his tongue out at her, moving behind the girl to see the visitor.

Outside the threshold stands a complete stranger. Aurora assumes he is a teenager, as he looks around a year younger than her. His expensive jeans are loose, but his black shirt is tight enough to reveal the outline of his abs underneath.

There's a smug look on his face, his eyes covered by sunglasses. Aurora notices that his hair is fixed in a way that reminds her of Zach's. She takes a disliking to him immediately.

"Who are you?" She asks, crossing her arms defensively.

"A friend of Carmen's," The boy replies. "Is she here?"

His deep voice is familiar to her, but she can't quite place where she had heard it from before. A nagging voice in the back of her head tells her not to trust the stranger.

Daniel opens his mouth to answer, but he's cut off as Aurora elbows him in the ribs.

"What's your name?" She asks.

From the living room, Jonah stands, sighing as his grifriend questions the stranger. "Aurora!" He says, glancing at the boy in the doorway. "Who's here?"

"I don't know," Aurora says hesitantly. "He claims he's a friend of Caramel's."

Jonah waves the boy inside, completely ignoring Aurora's warning glances against it. "She's in the kitchen. Follow me."

By now, Carmen and the others had retreated to the kitchen, where Corbyn had made her soup. She and Zach sit across from each other, Carmen eating her soup with slight disgust. She had already grown to hate soup and the diet she would have to continue for the next few days.

Zach sees her disappointed expression as she eats the soup, and frowns. But the air lightens up as Corbyn trips over the fridge, making a laugh leave the lips of Carmen and Zach.

"Who's that?" Zach asks, noticing the entrance of Daniel, Aurora, Jonah, and the boy.

Carmen furrows her eyebrows, turning to see them. But as her eyes graze over the boy she once knew, her eyes widen, and the spoon slips from her hand, clattering to the floor loudly. Zach jumps out of his seat, moving to her side quickly with worry.

"Jackson?" Carmen asks once her initial shock fades.

The air in the room grew tense as they all look at the stranger, waiting for an answer. He proceeds to slip the sunglasses off, smirking at the girl.

"The one and only."

Aurora gasps, and Zach stiffens. Carmen's chest tightens, her breath quickening with every second she continues to look at Jackson. Her eyes fill with tears as she begins to flash back, triggering something in Aurora.

Aurora lunges forward, knocking Jackson to the ground with a forceful punch. He cries out, surprised by her strength. Balancing herself on top of him, Aurora swings her elbow back, and punches him as hard as she can manage.

A sickening crunch sounds throughout the room, blood beginning to pool from the nose of Jackson. Aurora moves to hit him again, but her element of surprise was gone. He blocks her attempt easily, grabbing her arm, and shoving her from him.

He stands, holding his nose with one hand as he moves closer to Carmen. Zach's anger flares as Jackson proceeds to move closer to them. He shoves Carmen behind him as Jonah pulls Aurora into his chest.

"Let me go!" Aurora yells, trying to escape the grasp of Jonah.

Jack rushes into the room, having heard the commotion. "What's going on?" He asks, scanning the room, his eyes landing on Jackson. "Who are you?"

Jackson doesn't answer, as his attention is focused solely on Carmen.

"Why are you here?" Zach demands, glaring at Jackson as he holds Carmen's shaking hand.

He laughs dryly at Zach's bravado. But with blood pouring from his broken nose, he looks psychotic.

"I'm here to get my Carmen back," He states, staring at Carmen with a wicked grin.

"She's not yours," Aurora growls, struggling in the arms of Jonah. "And you're not touching her. NOW GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

"And what if I don't leave?" He taunts "Are you going to call the police?"

"No," She snarls. "We'll have to call an ambulance for you instead."

As she tries to lunge at him again, Corbyn, Jack, and Daniel seem to snap from their reveries. Each of them move towards Jackson, catching him off guard. They get him halfway down the hallway before he begins to resist.

"You can't keep her safe forever!" He threatens when they reach the door. "I don't care how long it takes! I'll get her eventually."

Only when the door slams behind him does Aurora relax. He releases his grip on the girl, hugging her tightly. Carmen sinks to the floor, her unshed tears finally flowing. She breaks into sobs, soaking Zach's shirt as he tries to soothe her.

"I know one thing," Aurora says as she looks at Carmen's state. "That bastard will never get close to our Caramel again."

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