"Are you done spamming the poor girl?" Jonah questions, nudging Aurora's elbow as she sends yet another text.

"Yeah," she replies, dropping her phone onto the island to prove her point as she claims the barstool next to Carmen, who's quietly enjoying a plate of pancakes. Grabbing a fork, she steals a bite. "But only because I'm hungry."

The second the pancake reaches her lips, her phone vibrates, signaling the arrival of a notification. Aurora snatches it back up, a triumphant grin lighting up her face as she reads the text message.

I'm awake!

"She replied," she informs the others excitedly, texting again.

It's about time. Go get ready!

"Yay!" Carmen grins, taking another bite of her breakfast. "Zach still thinks she's imaginary."

Why?

Because we're GOING TO THE AQUARIUM!!

So hurry up, we'll meet you there in an hour.

"Jonah doubts me too," Aurora agrees, shooting the boy a glare as she sets her phone back down.

"Because it's highly unlikely that you actually met someone as crazy as you," Jonah says, handing her a cup of coffee as Zach nods. "So, what time are we meeting Addilyn?"

"We actually should be leaving soon," she admits, glancing at the clock. "Where are Blondie, Daniel, Poodle, and Callie?"

Carmen pushes her plate away - though Aurora wastes no time in snatching it up - and props her good arm on the island as she begins to move from the stool.

"Jack and Callie are still asleep," Zach informs her, helping Carmen steadily on her feet. "Daniel is out shopping, and Corbyn is-"

"Right here," the blond intervenes, entering the room right on cue.

"Let's go," Aurora decides, finishing the pancake and abandoning her cup of coffee as she climbs onto Jonah's back. "The others can join us at Dairy Queen later."

"Let me carry you," Zach says, looking down at Carmen.

"Crutches will work for today." Carmen shakes her head, hobbling into the living room. "I need to be independent, or else I won't be able to get around by myself."

"But-"

"COME ON, FUCKERS!" Aurora yells from the doorway, still attached to Jonah's back. Zach gestures towards the couple with a smug expression, taking it as a sign Carmen should let him carry her. "WE HAVE TO GO FIND NEMO!"

××××

Forty-five minutes later, Addilyn arrives at the aquarium, minutes after the five pulled into the parking lot in the same Corvette she met the two girls in. As the new girl's feet hit the asphalt, Aurora springs from the passenger seat, grinning broadly.

"She's real," Zach mutters in astonishment as the older girl pulls Addilyn in for a hug.

"Twenty dollars says Aurora is paying her to go along with her and Carmen's story," Jonah bets under his breath and Zach is quick to shake his hand.

"You're on."

"You need to meet everyone!" Aurora declares excitedly, finally letting her go. Pulling the bewildered girl over to the large group, she points at each person in turn. "The tall giant is Jonah, my boyfriend. You've already met Caramel. That's her overprotective boyfriend, Zach. And the awkward blond is Corbyn."

The three guys wave in response, Carmen sending her a familiar smile.

"Everyone," Aurora continues, gesturing to Addilyn as she keeps her eye specifically on Corbyn. "Meet our new - and currently single - friend, Addilyn."

Addilyn grins brightly, glancing over the four in front of her.

Jumping onto Jonah's back again, Aurora yells, "Onward, my noble steed!"

"I hope you're okay with getting banned," Zach says from beside Carmen. "Because that's what happens when we take her anywhere."

"One more rude comment out of you, Zachary," Aurora threatens, not even glancing back. "And you'll sit in the car for the duration of this trip."

"You can't do that!" He protests, glancing around for some sort of support. "Jonah, tell her she can't do that."

"Technically, she can," Jonah argues, laughing as Zach's jaw drops in disbelief. "She's older than you. That automatically gives her seniority powers."

Zach huffs, grumbling to himself about the unfairness of the situation as Jonah pays the admission fee. Once everyone has their wrist bands, each couple goes their separate ways. Carmen convinces Zach to take her to the clownfish section, while Addilyn and Corbyn head over to the jellyfish. Jonah sits Aurora back on her feet, taking her hand in his instead. The two watch as Corbyn's gloomy mood from the past few weeks seems to disappear as he openly admires Addilyn.

"Your matchmaking skills have done it again," Jonah compliments, indicating where the two are staring in wonder at the fish.

"I know," Aurora hums confidently. "Let's go look at the sharks!"

Jonah chuckles but offers no protest, allowing her to lead him to the large exhibit.

"Why does it not surprise me that you want to see the most dangerous animals in this place first?" He muses, smiling not at the sharks, but at the way Aurora's face lights up as she watches them.

"Have I ever told you about the time Mark and I went cage diving to see sharks up close?" she questions, laughing as Jonah's face pales in horror. "It happened in Virginia, the summer before we moved to LA."

She could recall the memory vividly, it being among one of her many favorites of her time on the east coast. Gray skies loomed over everything and choppy waters rocked the small boat, but after waiting two months for an open spot, not even a storm could stop the duo.

Luckily, the man operating the entire ordeal felt the same way and claimed that it was the perfect weather to spot the dangerous animals. However, that hadn't been the case at all. Mark and Aurora only saw one shark while they were underwater, one they had ironically dubbed Toothless after he attempted to bite the cage.

"And when it was over, and we were at least a mile away from my car," Aurora finishes her story, an annoyed scowl forming. "It started raining!"

Jonah laughs in response, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"It's not funny," she pouts, stubbornly twisting out of his grasp. "That rain could have killed me!"

"And Toothless couldn't have?" He retorts, grinning triumphantly when she huffs in defeat. Taking her hand back in his, he leads her over to an exhibit with a short barrier that could easily be jumped. "Let's look at the turtles."

"Did you know that the turtle off of Finding Nemo really was high?" Aurora asks, distracting the boy from her intentions as she leans against the barrier.

"Really?"

"Yep. There's chemicals in the seaweed that sea turtles eat that has the same effect on them that marijuana has on humans."

"You are just filled with random facts," Carmen observes, her and Zach appearing next to Jonah's side.

As he turns to greet them, Aurora takes advantage of his gaze being diverted and quickly slides her wedges off. Before anyone can catch on, she launches herself into the pool of water. Resurfacing, she pushes her wet hair from her face and swims to the middle of the enclosure.

The girl then turns to the others, not surprised to see Jonah's unfazed expression. Carmen giggles, Zach shaking his head with a grin.

Seconds later, two more loud splashes echo from the walls. Addilyn and Corbyn swim to the surface next to Aurora, Corbyn yelling in an undignified manner at how cold the water is.

"I believe Addilyn brings out your reckless side." Aurora smirks, shrieking as a turtle brushes against her ankle. Not giving Corbyn a chance to respond, she begins to sing a Disney song rather loudly. And Immediately, Addilyn joins in.

"UNDER THE SEA! UNDER THE SEA! DARLING, IT'S BETTER, DOWN WHERE IT'S WETTER, TAKE IT FROM ME!"

A shrill whistle blows, interrupting the girls. Standing on the feeding platform is an elderly man, looking rather unhappy.

"Get out of this aquarium IMMEDIATELY!" He bellows, blowing the whistle again for emphasis.

"Only if we can get carried out," Aurora retorts.

Zach grabs Jonah's arm, placing Carmen's in his. Jonah furrows his eyebrows, but steadies Carmen on her feet. There's another splash as Zach jumps into the water, causing even more attention than before.

"SECURITY!"