CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
( FANS )

     CARMEN STARES AT her phone. There were tons of comments, from what she noticed. Her notifications had blown up overnight, and it seemed that she had gained nearly fifteen thousand followers within the time that Zach had introduced her to the fans.

"Oh my goodness," Carmen murmers, glancing up to Zach. "This is crazy."

"Everyone loves you already," Zach smiles, scrolling through the many comments on the photo. "I told you so."

"They don't hate me," She says under her breath. "Wow. I expected them to hate me- I did take you away from them."

"Just because he's taken doesn't mean they'd hate you for it," Daniel states. "It's common sense, Carmen."

"Are you calling me stupid, Daniel?"

"Pshhh, no," Daniel waves a hand at her. "I'm just saying it's obvious. But your choice on dating Zach does kind of back that up, so . . . "

"Hey!" Zach glares.

"I think we should get going," Carmen says, glancing down at the time on her phone. "We need to get back before seven thirty, so we need to leave a bit early."

"Why do we need to be back by seven thirty?" Zach raises an eyebrow at his girlfriend.

"Because "I Am Frankie" comes on at seven thirty," Carmen scoffs jokingly, grabbing his hand as she stands from her seat with Reese and Ryan in tow. "Duh."

---

The day passed by quickly after that, Carmen fitting in just right with the two children. She was just as persistent as they were when it came to getting ice cream, and finally begged Zach enough so that he would actually take them to the ice creamery in the Square.

And soon enough, the three found themselves packing their bags to head back to Los Angeles. Carmen couldn't believe how quickly the time had rushed by, even though it seemed to be so slow and delightful at the same time. She even found herself wanting to stay longer, as well as the whole family begging for them to stay another day.

"We have a Halloween party in two days," Zach told his family as they were packing their bags. "We have to be there. I just hope Aurora sent out the invitations like she told us she would."

"That's dangerous," Daniel had said under his breath. "There's no telling who she invited."

And before their departure for the airport, Mrs. Herron had caught Carmen as they were leaving, an expectant expression set upon her face.

"I believe I should get a hug, too," She had chuckled, pulling the girl into a tight and caring embrace. "Don't forget darling, you are a part of this family now. Be sure to visit again real soon, okay?"

"Okay," Carmen had smiled, Zach shooting her a wink as she pulled away to place her bags in the Uber.

Before they knew it, they were back in the airport with Aurora yelling at Zach over the phone about bringing Carmen to Texas without telling her.

"You can't ground me!" Zach yells into the phone. "You aren't even here, Aurora. And since when do I have to listen to you?"

"And you called me the mom," Daniel snorts, nudging Carmen's waist lightly.

"You're much more responsible than Aurora," Carmen shakes her head. "She has the personality of a three year old, in case you didn't notice. So yes, Daniel. You are still the mom of the group."

"I said no!" Zach sighs, rolling his eyes to himself. "She was in good hands, Daniel and I were watching her the whole time. I promise, Carmen is perfectly fine."

"Actually, I'm not feeling so great," Carmen says, laying her head on Daniel's shoulder. "I think I might've contracted something when we went shopping."

"Shhhh!" Zach's eyes widen as he covers her mouth. "Don't say that, she'll kill me! I don't want to die just y- NO AURORA, SHE DOES NOT HAVE EBOLA!"

Daniel bursts into laughter as several people begin to shift away from the three. Zach huffs, plopping to the floor and leaning against the wall as Aurora begins to scold him over the phone.

"I love her," Carmen giggles. "She's what I aspire to be."

"You want to be a deranged maniac?" Daniel raises an eyebrow. "C'mon, Carmen. You gotta have bigger dreams than that."

Carmen shoves Daniel, sticking her tongue out at him. "Maybe I do. Aurora isn't a deranged maniac."

"I'd like to disagree," Zach sticks his finger up, his attention swaying away from Aurora's yells in his ear. "She is one hundred percent a deranged maniac."

"Denial," Daniel shakes his head, patting Carmen's shoulder. "It's okay, you'll realize it eventually."

"Is that Brady Tutton?" Carmen asks, catching Zach's attention as she focuses in on someone in the distance.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Zach mutters.

"Yep," Carmen smiles brightly. "I was kidding. Now come on, our flight leaves in three minutes."

---

"I will bite your hand, I promise on my life," Daniel warns Zach as the boy grabs one of his chips. "Or maybe I'll just bite off your arm. I have zero problems with attending and insane asylum currently. But if I go, I'm taking Carmen with me."

"No!"

"Oh, how I missed this," Carmen chimes sarcastically, glancing over at the two. "Zach, leave Daniel's chips alone and get your own bag. Daniel, no biting Zach's arm off. It's considered rude in society."

"But his chips taste better," Zach argues. "I don't know what he did to mine, but they don't taste right."

"He couldn't have done anything to them," Carmen says incredilously. "I literally just opened the bag and handed them to you. How is he supposed to put something in a sealed bag?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure the science side of Tumblr could figure it out," Zach mutters. "Can we just switch bags?"

"I think not," Daniel yanks the bag of chips away, shoving a few in his mouth. "You have yours, I have mine."

"They're poisoned, I swear," Zach complains to Carmen. "I don't know how he did it, but I know he put something in there."

"You two are the biggest drama queens." Carmen states, sinking into her seat. "You know what? The Hunger Games. Battle to the death, I give up."

The two proceed to shove each other, Daniel shrieking as Zach knocks the bag of the chips into the floor. Potato chips scatter the floor, crumbs gathering under the feet and seats of the three.

"This is what I get for traveling," Carmen murmers to herself. "Boys, please pick up the chips."

"I'm not a maid- that's Zach." Daniel says stubbornly, throwing Zach's bag of chips into the floor too, before crushing them underneath his shoes. "There, Zach. Pick them up, why don't you?"

"But-"

"If I'm the mom of the group, then so be it," Daniel shrugs. "So here I am, being the mom. Zachary Dean Herron, pick up those chips this instant or you're grounded."

"Daniel-"

"You're grounded," Daniel says to Zach with a grin. "Now be a dear and clean up after yourself."

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