CHAPTER FORTY
( TROUBLE )

     CARMEN MOVES TO sit up. Zach currently resides on the couch opposite of her, sleeping soundly as he holds a pillow close to his chest. Carmen smiles at his figure, before standing, and hobbling towards the kitchen.

"So you'll meet my parents?" Jonah questions Aurora, seemingly excited over their current conversation.

"Yeah, how does tommorow sound?" Aurora replies, not noticing Carmen's appearance.

"Perfect," Jonah grins, pecking her lips as he grabs her waist, turning her around to face Carmen. "Someone just woke up."

"CARAMEL!" Aurora yells, jumping in her spot. "YOU'RE AWAKE!"

"I am now," Carmen chuckles, glancing at Jonah before she takes a seat at the island. "So you're meeting the parents?"

"Yep," Aurora confirms, staring up at Jonah.

"So are you guys getting married?" Carmen questions casually, looking between the two.

"W-what?" The girl stutters, coughing as she looks to Carmen with wide eyes. "Caramel, no."

"And why not?" She raises an eyebrow. "I think you two should totally get married. It may not have been that long since you met, but it's true love, isn't it? Just saying . . . "

"Well," Aurora composes herself, blushing furiously. "So, how would you guys like to go out today?"

"Without Zach?" Jonah asks hesitantly.

"No, Heroine can come," Aurora informs him. "I know he wouldn't let Carmen leave if he didn't get to tag along."

"Where would we be going?"

"I was thinking we should drop by a celebrity's house . . . " Aurora trails off, stirring her coffee with a smirk. "I don't know, maybe one that I called and talked to last night. And he most certainly agreed to meeting you."

"Who?" Carmen asks, trying to hide her smile.

"Sean James Teale-"

"OH MY GOSH YOU TALKED TO CONDÈ?" Carmen screeches, moving to her feet quickly. "ZACH GET UP, I'M GOING TO MEET A PRINCE!"

As the girl moves into the living room with a fast pace, Jonah glances down at his girlfriend.

"Is he really a prince?"

"He sure as hell looks like one."

---

Carmen walks by Zach's side with her crutches, glancing around the city streets with excitement. It had been nearly an hour since Aurora had told Carmen of her talk with James Teale. And since then, Zach had been in a grouchy mood, and scolded Aurora for anything and everything.

"Watch where you're going!" Zach says as Aurora darts forward into the clear road. "You could get hit by a car, and I don't think I'd want to deal with the aftermath."

"There's no one on the road you dumbass," Aurora glares. "Scold me one more time and I'll get Caramel a date with Daniel Skye."

"Please stop fighting," Carmen begs the two, walking ahead of all of them. "I've been hearing this for the past hour, and I'm tired of it. Zach, she won't get hit by a car. And Aurora, I will not be going on any dates with Daniel-"

Carmen gasps as she crashes into someone, her crutches dropping to the ground. The arms of the stranger wrap around her waist, holding her above the ground. The girl stares into the stranger's eyes, slightly alarmed by his tight grip.

The boy above her looked to be a bit older than Aurora, his eyes shining a bright blue. His brown hair was tousled, as if he had been walking as long as they had. Carmen clears her throat, the boy immediately helping her onto her feet, and steadying her.

"I'm sorry," He apologizes, his voice thick with an English accent. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

"It's fine," Carmen dismisses, glancing down to his hands that still rest on her waist. "I wasn't watching, either. It was my fault."

Aurora shoves forward, shoving the boy forcefully, his hands falling off of Carmen.

"Don't you ever touch her again you fucking British asshole!" Aurora growls, shoving him back again. "I've had enough bullshit with you dissing our boys on Twitter and Instagram! Just fuck off, and get back to your country!"

"I'm sorry," The boy says, looking slightly confused as he looks between Aurora and Carmen. "I don't understand-"

"You sure as hell do understand unless you can't read my damn lips," She grits her teeth. "Go the fuck back to Britain. Or England, or wherever the fuck you're from. You and your fucking rejects aren't welcome here. Pack your shit, and hit the road, Jack."

"My name is actually Rye-"

"I KNOW WHAT YOUR FUCKING NAME IS, JUST GET AWAY!" Aurora seethes as Jonah grabs her arm. "You are from RatTrap or whatever the fuck your band name is called, and you tried to trip Logan with your bullshit band!"

"Hey, hey, hey," A boy with dark brown hair steps up behind him, along with another brunette and two blondes. "What's going on here?"

"IT'S THE ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE A RAT, CARAMEL!" Aurora points out, catching the attention of many people on the street.

"We apologized for what we did," A blond cuts off her next sentence.

"And was that because you don't have enough fans to stick up for you?" Aurora questions, still tugging against Jonah's grip as Carmen takes a step back. "Yeah, actually, that's exactly why you apologized."

"They don't have talent," Another brunette chimes in, taking a glance at the girls. "I'm surprised you haven't left them by now."

"Excuse me," Carmen's jaw drops as Zach holds her waist securely. "I think you should all leave before we do something we regret."

"I'll see you around?" Rye smiles weakly at Carmen.

"She's taken," Zach says with a glare, grabbing her crutches. "Get your own."

"He can't, Zach," Aurora tsks. "No one would date someone with that ugly ass face. I'm telling you, if I had a face like that, I'd sue my parents for every fucking thing they owned."

"Come on, Aurora," Jonah rushes, pulling her along the street. "That's enough, we have a prince to meet."

"This isn't over!" Rye yells, his arms crossed over his chest as he watches the four walk away. "We will see you again!"

"Yeah!" Aurora snorts, giving them the finger. "See you in hell, bitches!"

---

"Woah," Aurora gapes as the four step into the large house. "This living room is bigger than my whole house."

"You must be Aurora," Sean smiles, stepping forward to shake her hand. "It's a pleasure to have you all here."

"This is Caramel," Aurora says, introducing the two. "She's your biggest fan ever. All she ever talks about is 'Prince Louis Condè'."

"Do not," Carmen glares, handing Zach her crutches as she shakes Stan's hand. "It's nice to finally meet you. And yeah . . . I do kinda, sorta talk about you."

"It's nice to hear," He chuckles, glancing to Jonah and Zach. "And you are their boyfriends?'

"Yes," The reply in sync. Sean nods, glancing back to Aurora.

Except the girl wasn't in her original spot. Instead, she was marveling over a large sculpture at the far corner of the living room. She reaches her hand, prepared to poke the large nose.

"Aurora, no!" Jonah rushes, running over to swat her hand. "You can't touch his expensive things. That sculpture probably costed more than your college tuition."

"Excuse me, sir," Aurora interjects, crossing her arms over her chest. "I haven't been to college. It's too much work."

"Is she always sassy?" Sean questions lowly, only so Zach and Carmen could hear.

"Normally it's worse," Zach states, hesitant as he pulls Carmen away from Sean. "Just wait for it."

"You can't touch that, either!" Jonah sighs as she prepares to lay her hand on a painting. "That costs way too much for you to be messing with it."

"How about this plate?"

"Aurora, you wouldn't dare," Jonah warns. "Put the plate down."

Sean chuckles as the girl smirks, the plate falling from her hold. Carmen winces at the loud noise, Aurora faking an alarmed expression.

"Sorry, Jonah!" She gasps dramatically. "It was an accident!"

_____