CHAPTER NINETEEN
( WATER )

     CARMEN STARES OUT the window. She lays her head on Daniel's shoulder, trying to take a nap as Aurora mopes over her lack of beauty sheep.

"I fucking hate this," Aurora mutters from the passenger seat.

"Going to the beach?" Daniel questions.

"No," She says, rubbing her eyes. "Waking up this damn early."

"Aurora, it's not that early," Carmen teases.

"Are we almost there?" Zach asks from the other side of Carmen, looking quite jealous of Daniel.

"I don't know," Jonah replies. "I'm just following Callie and Jack."

Almost as soon as Jonah finishes, they pull into the beach house- making Aurora's mood brighten. They park next to Callie's jeep, Aurora jumping out immediately.

"Finally!" She groans. "Do you have any idea how terrible it is being in a car with Daniel?"

"Hey!" Daniel clutches his chest, looking offended. He and Zach proceed to help Carmen from the car- of which she yelled at them for.

"Well, there is one slight problem that I probably should have mentioned," Callie's friend, Alex, says as she climbs the stairs to the front door.

"Oh my gosh, is there a dead body stashed away in there somewhere?" Aurora asks as Zach wraps his arm around Carmen's waist.

Everyone casts her a weird glance as Jonah rolls his eyes.

"Um, no," Alex furrows her eyebrows. "I was going to say we are going to have to double up. There are only five bedrooms."

"I call Caramel," Aurora states, no hesitation in her voice. She then proceeds to stick her tongue out at Zach, pulling Carmen from his arm.

"But that means I get Jonah," Zach wrinkles his nose. "I want Carmen."

"Fight me, Heroine." Aurora narrows her eyes.

"You and Jonah should room together," Daniel says to Aurora. "Don't you think Zach and Carmen should have their own room?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Carmen raises an eyebrow.

"It means that Zach is more cautious of your injuries," Daniel says obviously, crossing his arms over his chest. "He's slept next to you before, hasn't he? Have you woken up in any kind of pain?"

"Well, no," Carmen murmers, biting her lip. "Okay, I'll room with Zach."

The boy's eyes light up, of which Daniel winks.

"Okay, so I go with Jack," Callie clarifies as Jack wraps his arm around her waist with a smug grin. "Aurora goes with Jonah, Carmen goes with Zach, and Alex goes with Corbyn."

"Wait," Alex stutters, her face turning a bright red. "Shouldn't Corbyn go with Daniel?"

"Ew, no," Corbyn complains. "Daniel is a total blanket hog."

Daniel scowls, crossing his arms as he is the only one left out. Carmen sends him an assuring smile, turning as Callie claps her hands.

"Okay," Callie says. "You can all choose what rooms you want-"

"I want the master!" Aurora claims, sprinting to the now open door of the beach house.

"What? No! That's mine and Callie's!" Jack shouts, racing after her. "First my cheese-it's, and now this?"

---

"Aurora, I don't want to put it on," Carmen argues, shoving the bikini away. "I can't go swimming anyway. I have a cast, remember? Broken arm?"

"I've broken my arm before, and went swimming," Aurora shrugs, handing her the bathing suit again. "You'll be fine, I promise. It's not like you're not allowed to get it wet."

"I don't feel comfortable with wearing a bikini," Carmen states, sighing as she sits down on the bed.

By this time, Zach, Callie, Alex, and the guys had all reached the water, already enjoying their time at the beach house. But currently, Carmen wasn't budging on her opinion. But as time passed, Zach grew wary of the time it was taking her to get ready, and decided to check on her and Aurora.

"And why not?" Aurora asks, sitting down next to her. "What's so uncomfortable about it?"

Zach taps on the door lightly, before cracking it slightly. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah," Carmen mutters, pulling at the hem of her tank top.

"What's wrong?" He questions, kneeling down in front of her.

Carmen had to admit- he looked amazing without a shirt. But she wasn't focused on that. Instead, she was focused on the bathing suit that laid on the bed next to her.

"I don't want to go swimming," Carmen dismisses it. "You guys go on. I'll just watch from the sand, okay?"

"Why?" Aurora pushes hesitantly. "Why won't you wear a bikini? What's going on, Caramel?"

"I have scars from the car crash," Carmen says, meeting her eyes. "Scars that I can't hide with a bikini, Aurora."

"Carmen," Zach says softly, placing his hands on either side of her face to gain her attention. "You're beautiful. Scars and all. It doesn't matter, these people are your friends, and they care about you no matter what."

"Awww," Aurora says, wiping away a fake tear. "You two are so adorable! You almost make me think I have a soul."

Carmen chuckles, pecking Zach's lips as she stands up. "Okay, I'll wear the bikini. I'll meet you outside, Zach."

"Okay," He smiles down at her, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Aurora, help her get changed, will you?"

She smiles, watching as he leaves the room. Aurora stands up, pulling the bikini from the bed.

"Come on, Caramel. Your Romeo is waiting for you."

---

"No adult supervision!" Aurora yells, cradling Frederick close to her as she meets Zach outside. "Caramel, come on!"

Carmen lags behind, holding a towel close to her stomach. She grins at Zach, lowering the towel, and handing it to Aurora. He gasps at the scar, moving forward to hold her waist.

Her ribs were still bruised from the crash, but not enough to be majorly noticeable. Instead, it was her scar that stood out the most- one that ran from two inches above her belly button to her hip bone.

"You're so beautiful," He murmers, placing his forehead on hers. "Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."

Their moment is ruined as Daniel lets out a loud battle cry, shoving past Aurora and Callie to dive right into the ocean water.

"AAAH!" He yells, his head bobbing from the water. "TOO COLD! DIDN'T THINK THIS THROUGH!"

"Hah!" Aurora laughs. "Serves you right."

---

The group had been out on the beach for a couple of hours now, and all of the boys were currently asleep on towels in the sand.

Carmen sat next to Callie and Aurora, where they attempted to make a decent-looking sandcastle.

"Hey," Alex mutters, leaning down to speak to the girls. "I know this is going to sound bad, but I just had a great idea."

"Dump the boys in cold water?" Aurora questions, leaning forward.

Alex stares at her with wide eyes. "You are a mind reader," She comments, cracking a grin.

The girls get to work, cleaning out the buckets of sand and heading towards the water to fill them up. Carmen struggles with her one good arm, but still manages as the girls stand around the sleeping boys.

Callie begins to mouth down the numbers from three. At one, the quartet launch the buckets of water, nailing all of the boys with it.

They all sputter, jerking awake instantly. Carmen giggles as Zach's eyes snap to her, water dripping from his hair. Slowly, the boys stand.

"MISSION ABORT!" Aurora yells, taking off and leaving the girls to fend for themselves.

Carmen chases close behind her, only for Zach to catch her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"That wasn't nice," Zach chuckles.

Then, from inside the beach house, was a sudden high-pitched screech. A yell came soon after from Jonah, and Aurora running from the house in laughter.

Carmen can't help but laugh as she spots Frederick tight it Aurora's grip.

_____