CHAPTER FIFTY
( PREPARE )

     CARMEN SMILES TO herself. Zach walks close by her side, still wary of her health as she heads for the house they left just days ago. After a long flight, the three arrived home before the sunset, all of them exhausted from the long plane ride.

"Oh look," Daniel points out. "The house is still standing."

"Shocking," Zach chuckles, pushing open the door for Carmen. "Is Aurora not here?"

"Welcome home!" Corbyn yells from the living room, not even bothering to check to see if the three were possible robbers. "We missed you all dearly."

"I'm sure you did," Carmen chimes, dumping her bag onto the couch. "Where are Aurora and Jonah?"

"Aurora is sick, so Jonah is taking care of her," He replies, sending her a smile. "Oh, and by the way, don't bother looking for any sort of blanket. Aurora has them all."

"Did she build a fort or something?" Daniel chuckles.

"No, she's just really cold."

"Well then," Zach snorts, snatching the remote from Corbyn's hand. "I'll be taking this. I want to watch-"

"HELLO TO ALL!" Callie greets the four, stepping into the living room from the kitchen. "Welcome back to earth, you little shits."

"Glad to know I'm loved," Daniel mutters, flopping onto the couch.

Jack sprints out of the kitchen, screeching as Dobby chases after him, barking wildly. "HELP, HE WON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"Dobby!" Carmen gasps. "I've missed you!"

The puppy stops in his tracks, tilting his head to the side as he looks back to Carmen. Instead of chasing Jack, he trots over to the girl, and plops down on her feet with a satisfied bark.

"That dog scares me," Zach says, looking to the puppy. "I swear he eats people."

"He's not like that," Carmen rolls her eyes, picking up the small pug and cradling him in her arms. "He prefers cinnamon rolls over humans."

"Carmen?" Jonah shows his face, moving down the stairs. "Thank God, Aurora wants to see you. If you don't hurry, I'm pretty sure she's gonna bite me."

"She won't bite you," Carmen laughs, turning to follow him to his room. "She's not that vicious, you guys. You overreact like Zach- he's such a drama queen."

"She bit me three times this morning," Jonah gapes, pulling up his sleeve to reveal teeth marks indented in his arm. "And she tried to shove me down the stairs yesterday because I didn't want to watch Barbie with her."

"I'll do it!" Carmen rushes out, bursting through his bedroom door. "I'm home!"

"Finally," Aurora groans, looking to Carmen over a pile of blankets stacked on top of her. "I've been waiting for years, Carmen. I almost died. Jonah wouldn't take care of me properly."

"Yes I did!" The boy argues. "You're only saying that because I wouldn't watch Barbie with you."

"That's offensive to me," Aurora hisses, snatching up a tissue, before holding it to her red and splotchy nose. "That was my entire childhood, and you denied it. I could've ended you."

"Well, I'm here now, and I fully intend on binge watching them with you- after we finish decorating for the Halloween party," Carmen informs the girl, leaning on the edge of the bed. "So, are you in?"

"Of course I'm in," Aurora says, throwing the pile of blankets off of her dramatically. "That shouldn't even be a question."

"Are you sure you're well enough to be doing this?" Jonah questions, trailing along behind the two girls. "I think you should stay in bed, you're in no condition to be de-"

"Stop right there." Aurora shakes her head. "I simply refuse to allow you to speak to me the way Zach speaks to Carmen. Hush, hush, peasant. You are not Zach Herron, therefore you are not allowed to be uptight."

"I say we get started with the hanging decorations first," Carmen chimes in, motioning to the endless bags lying on the floor. "What do you think?"

"I think I should be allowed to put the candy into bowls," Aurora suggests. "That way, we can kill two birds with one stone. You and Heroine can hang the decorations, and Jonah and I can deal with the candy. Callie and Jack can work on table decoration placement."

"What about Corbyn and I?" Daniel pipes, pouting slightly. "Do we not get to do anything?"

"Actually, Addilyn will be over in a few minutes, so we can work on the lights, cobwebs, and music outside," Corbyn says, patting Daniel on the shoulder. "Sorry, bud. You're on your own."

Daniel's jaw drops as he throws his arms in the air. "Thanks, guys. I'm really feeling the love today. Rejection feels great."

"Awww, honey," Aurora puckers out her bottom lip. "Envy is not a good color on you. Why don't you work with Caramel and Heroine until you get a girlfriend?"

Instead of replying, Daniel sticks his tongue out at her, trudging over to stand beside Carmen. "You love me, don't you Carmen?"

"Sorry," Zach grins, placing a chaste on the girl's lips. "She's taken."

---

"CARMEN, HELP!" Daniel screeches hopping towards the girl. Carmen glances down from the step ladder, her attention no longer on the crooked Halloween banner.

"What is it?" Carmen asks, her eyes finding Zach's.

"Aurora taped his feet and hands together with duct tape again," Zach sighs, helping her down.

"It's okay because it's festive!" Aurora defends, gesturing to his taped ankles as she sniffles. "See? Just look at those cute little pumpkins!"

"How did she manage to hold you down?" Jack questions, handing a skull to Callie. "I mean, this is the third time in the last hour. I don't see how she could get that on you against your will."

"I sat on him," Aurora says simply, shrugging as she opens another package of candy. "And taped his mouth so no one could hear him. Have you guys ever thought about getting soundproof walls so I can get away with murder?"

"How has she not gotten arrested?" Daniel asks incredulously. "She's a lunatic."

"Honestly, I'm not even sure," Jonah chuckles. "The police would bring her back though, I'm sure of that."

"Hmm?" Aurora raises an eyebrow, stuffing a full Kit Kat into her mouth. "Are you all talking about me?"

"Can someone help?" Daniel groans.

Carmen sits by Daniel's feet, prying at the tape with a pair of scissors. "How many layers did you wrap around his ankles? Geez, I don't think I can cut through this."

"Twenty-seven," Aurora smiles. "It would've been twenty-eight, but I ran out of tape. Oh! Look, there's Dobby!"

The small pug looks up at Aurora in question, perking his ears up at the sound of his name.

"Hey, sweetie. Do me a favor and chase Daniel, okay? Go bite him and I'll get Jonah to bake you some cinnamon rolls!" Aurora encourages.

The puppy immediately surges forward, barreling towards a scared Daniel. Dobby barks loudly, growling once he is a foot away.

"NO!" Daniel yells, breaking into a run. But the boy had forgotten the bounds on his ankles and wrists, and fell flat onto the floor.

A loud "thump" sounds through the house as Daniel crashes onto his face. Carmen backs up, wincing as the boy groans.

"Your dog is vicious," Daniel informs her. "And it utterly terrifies me."

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