CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
( BACK )

     CARMEN STARES AT Callie. Callie sits down nervously, fidgeting with her fingers as she takes the seat next to Jack. Zach places his arm around Carmen's waist as she shifts, her eyebrows still furrowed in pure confusion.

"What's wrong?" Carmen asks as Daniel takes the other seat beside her.

Mr. Quackington honks from between Addilyn and Corbyn, seemingly asking the same question.

"Why did you name him Mr. Quackington, Addi?" Callie questions, trying to avoid the topic at hand. "Can I call you Addi? I'm going to call you Addi-"

"Callie," Alex huffs. "I know you're nervous, but they need to know."

"I agree," Carmen nods with worry. "I would like to know."

Callie sighs loudly as Jack and Alex each take one of her hands in theirs.

"It started a few days ago," Callie begins. "Back when Carmen was kidnapped. You all know about my rough past with my father-"

"I don't." Addilyn states, raising her hand hesitantly. Carmen nods in agreement, Zach lacing his fingers in hers as he whispers into her ear.

"Before Callie's father was arrested, he constantly beat her and her brother," He says quietly, keeping his words quick and simple.

"H-he-?" Carmen opens her mouth, her eyes snapping to Callie in realization.

Callie opens her mouth to explain, but Corbyn sends her a look before leaning over, and explaining the situation to Addilyn. The girl looks to Callie with a gasp, a hand placed over her mouth.

Mr. Quackington quacks softly, rubbing his head against her leg in an attempt to comfort her.

"Anyways, as I was saying, I had just gotten a call about Carmen, so I got in my car to leave. My phone started ringing and I didn't recognize the caller ID, so I ignored it. After a few more calls, I accepted the call, getting curious as to who it was," Callie says, taking a shuddering breath before continuing.

"It was my dad. He told me that he had gotten out of prison and was going to fight for custody over me. I'm still sixteen," She chokes, holding back the tears pooling in her eyes. "I didn't think much of it, even though I was a little freaked out. I thought nothing of it until yesterday."

"What happened yesterday?" Zach asks, rubbing soothing circles on the back of Carmen's hand.

"I was moving in with you all when I went to go get another box. Alex accidentally dropped a picture, so I bent down to pick it up. When I got back up, I noticed a familiar car driving down the street. It was my father's car," She tells them quietly, finally looking up. "He knows where we are."

Her lower lip quivers as her tears begin to fall, triggering those that Carmen was holding back. She felt for the girl- she knew the fear just as Callie did. And it hurt to see her facing the same thing she had.

"I didn't want to tell you guys because Carmen was more important at the moment. I thought it was just a silly thing- that nothing was wrong. But there is! My dad is back, and he might get custody of me again. I can't go back! I don't know if I can go through those punches again, through that pain. It's hard enough to cover up what I feel on the inside, but bruises are way harder."

She puts her face in her hands as her tears continue to fall.

"I don't want to go back."

---

"Zach, put it back on SpongeBob," Carmen puckers out her bottom lip, sitting her container of ice cream on the coffee table. "I don't like this show."

"Why?" Zach whines, holding the remote to his chest. "You've been watching SpongeBob all night!"

"And?" Carmen questions, sitting up as Daniel enters the room. "Daniel, Zach won't change the channel!"

"You suck, Zach." Daniel states, plopping onto the couch next to Carmen. "You know, this is how guys lose their girlfriends. You don't mess with a girl and her cartoons."

"What are you gonna do?" Zach questions jokingly. "Are you gonna call Aurora on me?"

"Yes, actually," Daniel chuckles. "Because she's the one who's got the connections with Daniel Skye. I'm sure he'd change the channel for Carmen."

Zach's face falls, his eyes narrowing at Daniel instantly. Carmen rolls her eyes, tugging the blanket closer to her chest. "What does Daniel Skye have to do with any of this? I don't even know him!"

"SpongeBob it is," Zach murmers, flipping the channel back. "What do you know about relationships, Daniel? You've never had a girlfriend."

"You underestimate me." Daniel, states. "And I'm trying to help you here. Like I said earlier; you're losing your touch."

"I'm so confused," Carmen mutters, shaking her head at the two.

"Am not!" Zach argues.

"Are too!"

"Guys, please stop," Carmen groans, turning up the volume on the television. "I'm trying to watch SpongeBob here. Can't you go argue somewhere else?"

"You wouldn't know anything about relationships," Zach challenges Daniel, ignoring Carmen's words.

"I know more than you do."

"And I know you two did not just ignore me," Carmen huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can't hear SpongeBob!"

"Hey guys, I have a quick question," Logan announces, entering the living room with Dobby in his arms. "What is this?"

"That's my puppy," Carmen replies with a smile. "His name is Dobby."

"This? This is not a dog. Kong is a dog."

"You've never dated anyone! How could you possibly know more about relationships than me?" Zach asks incredulously, keeping on with his argument with Daniel.

"He is a dog," The girl insists, standing slowly to take the dog from his arms. "He's a pug, and he's absolutely adorable."

"I don't have to be in a relationship to know more about them than you do," Daniel rolls his eyes.

"YES YOU DO!"

"STOP YELLING!" Logan points a finger at Zach.

"I CAN'T HEAR SPONGEBOB!"

Carmen quickly places her puppy down as her phone vibrates in her back pocket, signaling a call. She answers it immediately, placing her hand over Daniel's face as he opens his mouth to talk again.

"How's Aurora?" The girl questions after answering the phone. "Is she okay? Why hasn't she called me? Are you okay? Where's Aurora? Jonah?"

"Aurora just went to sleep," Jonah takes a deep breath, seemingly preparing himself for the conversation ahead. "How much do you know about her parents? And I know she calls Mark's parents hers, but I'm talking about her biological parents."

"All I know is Aurora hasn't spoken to them since she was sixteen," Carmen says, her worry growing bigger by the passing seconds. "What's going on, Jonah?"

"They showed up today," Jonah says, deciding not to go into detail. "So, of course, there was a huge argument, and Aurora isn't handling it too well. I don't know how to help her and it's killing me."

Jonah's voice cracks near the end of his sentence, making Carmen's heart slowly break. Zach takes in her crestfallen expression, snapping up from his position on the couch to move in front of her with questioning eyes.

"I want to fly her home immediately, but she's on the 'no flight list'," Jonah continues to ramble, not giving Carmen any time to reply. "And it's not like we can steal a car. But I can't ke-"

"Jonah!" Carmen cuts off the frantic boy, equally frazzled. "Don't leave, you haven't even been there a full day."

"Then what do you suggest I do?" Jonah snaps unintentionally, exasperated by her responce.

Carmen winces at his tone, before composing herself.

"We'll fly to Minnesota," The girl states simply.

"Carmen," Zach begins. "We can't ju-"

Carmen ends the call before Jonah can interject, looking over at Zach expectantly. "Why not, Zach? She's my best friend, I can't just let her stay there by herself."

"She's got Jonah," Zach reasons with the girl, grabbing her hand in his. "They can handle anything, I promise. They'll be home in no time, everything will be fine. You're still hurt, and you most definitely won't be flying to Minnesota in your condition."

"I've gotten better." She states. "I can walk on my foot a little now-"

"And that's great," He finishes for her. "But you need to stay here."

"But it's not just that, Zach," Carmen sighs. "I just want to get out of Los Angeles for a bit."

"Then fly to Texas," Daniel chimes from the couch. "You can meet Zach's parents and siblings and get out of Los Angeles. Zach did say he was going to introduce you to the fans. And what better way to do it than posting a group picture of you and his family?"

"He's got a point." Logan says, pointing to the boy.

Zach pauses for a moment, thinking over his words. Carmen glances up at him, not knowing what to say.

"Okay," Zach says, breaking the silence. "I guess we're going to Texas."

_____