CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
( PLANS )

     CARMEN STEPS OUT of the bathroom. Daniel claps enthusiastically, a smile spreading across Zach's lips. Carmen rolls her eyes, glancing down at her costume. She was in a black long sleeve shirt, black leggings, a red skirt, Minnie Mouse ears, and a black nose.

"It's so cute!" Daniel gushes.

"Hey!" Zach glares, elbowing the boy in the ribs. "Knock it off. And yes, you look very cute. It's perfect."

"You sure?" Carmen raises an eyebrow, leaning against the wall behind her.

"Positive," Zach grins. "I like your nose. It really brings out your eyes."

Carmen glares playfully, snatching a bag from the couch behind them. She proceeds to hand the bag to Zach with a smirk. "Your turn."

"You know, I'll be very upset if I don't look amazing," Zach teases, turning to the girl as she stands next to Daniel. "I might just not even wear it."

"After all my hard work?" Carmen gasps. "Fine then! I'll just find a new Mickey Mouse."

"I volunteer as tribute," Daniel raises his hand.

"Go try it on," Carmen rolls her eyes, shoving Zach forward. "I promise you'll like it. And if not, well . . . I don't know."

"Okay," Zach smiles, stepping into the bathroom, before closing the door behind him.

"How good are you at running?" Carmen questions Daniel lowly, taking a sharp glance at the bathroom door.

"Pretty good," Daniel shrugs. "Why?"

"Because there may be something other than a Halloween costume in that bag," Carmen chuckles.

"What did you do?" Daniel whispers.

"Oh, very funny, Carmen," Zach says from the bathroom, cutting the girl off. "That's real matu- OH MY GOD IS THAT A SNAKE?"

"RUN!" Carmen yells, jumping into Daniel's arms as Zach's screeches fill the house. "RUN LIKE YOU JUST ROBBED A BANK AND THE COPS ARE COMING, DANIEL!"

Just as the bathroom door swings open to reveal a flustered Zach, Daniel secures his hold on the girl, before sprinting down the hallway. Zach follows close behind, exiting the house along with the two.

Daniel makes a decision to stop near the right side of the pool, Zach stopping opposite of them.

"We'll jump," Daniel threatens dramatically, stepping closer to the pool. "Don't come any closer!"

"Please," Zach snorts. "You wouldn't ruin Carmen's outfit."

"I can always buy a new one," Carmen shrugs.

"But she can't swim in her condition!"

"I'm a good swimmer," Daniel replies. "I can help her."

"You won't jump," Zach disagrees. "You wouldn't."

"Try me," Daniel grins, Carmen clinging to him. "I most definitely would."

Trying his luck, Zach smirks, taking another step forward. Carmen gasps, holding her nose as Daniel falls over, the two of them crashing into the water. Once falling to the bottom of the pool, Daniel grabs Carmen's hand, pulling her to his side as he resurfaces.

"What the heck, Daniel?" Zach rushes out. "Carmen, you okay?"

"That was fun," Carmen chimes, brushing the hair from her eyes as she chuckles to Daniel. "Nice getaway."

"He tried me," Daniel shrugs. "I guess now he knows not to make that mistake again."

---

"WHAT THE FUCK IS IN YOUR DAMN HANDS, POODLE?" Aurora yells, jumping from the island to tackle the boy to the floor.

Jack and the girl continue to brawl, becoming more aggressive as Aurora attempts to get the box out of his outstretched hand. In the midst of it, Addilyn arrives without either of them noticing.

Carmen stands in the doorway, chuckling at the two. Zach is behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist protectively. Jack accidentally drops the box of Cheez-it's, Aurora immediately lunging for them with determination.

"JONAH, SHE BIT ME!" Jack screeches, holding his arm in pain.

"That's my cue," Jonah says, leaving his seat to walk over to the fighting figures.

"DON'T TOUCH MY FUCKING CHEEZ-IT'S AGAIN, AVERY!" She shouts as Jonah pulls her from the curly haired boy. "FUCKING DUMBASS!"

Her attention is immediately diverted as she hears a soft quacking noise. Carmen looks over to Addilyn, who sends her a swift wink, before nodding to the small duck on her lap.

"Did anyone else hear that?" Aurora asks, standing quickly.

"Hear what?" Zach asks innocently.

"That's weird," She comments to herself, leaning into Jonah's side. "I always thought I'd hear voices when I officially went crazy, not animal noises."

"You're not crazy yet," Addilyn assures her, laughing quietly from her seat on the counter. "Mr. Quackington was just saying hello."

Aurora furrows her eyebrows, looking over to the girl. "When did you- IS THAT DUCK WEARING A TUXEDO?"

"Yep," Addilyn confirms. "I bought a spectacle too, but he doesn't like it."

Corbyn reaches over to pet the small bird, but Mr. Quackington refuses, snapping his beak at him in annoyance.

"I'm no bird expert or anything," Jonah states. "But I don't think he likes you very much."

"Can you blame him?" Addilyn defends her duckling. "Corbs took him from his home."

Daniel grins, muttering into Carmen's ear. "I think Corbyn finally found someone that can put up with his crap. And it's not the duck."

Carmen chuckles, before Zach flicks Daniel in the nose with a glare. Corbyn throws his arms up in exasperation, clearly frustrated.

"But you're the one that wanted him!" He counters.

"Irrelevant."

All of a sudden, Logan bursts into the kitchen, immediately followed by Brendon. Aurora chuckles as Addilyn flinches, being the only one surprised by his unexpected visit.

"IT'S MUH BOIS!" Logan yells loudly, Brendon holding his vlog camera as he does so.

Making hand guns, he pretends to shoot everyone in the room. Carmen complies, falling back into Zach's arms. As Daniel falls back, he hits the floor with a loud thump, glaring up at Zach.

"You should've caught me too!"

"No thanks," Zach says, helping Carmen stand steadily again.

Logan pauses when he reaches Addilyn, dropping his handguns to his side. "Who are you?" He questions, pointing an accusing finger at the girl.

Standing from the floor, Aurora introduces the two before Addilyn could retort. "Addilyn, meet our friend, Logan. Logan, this is Addilyn, Corbyn's girlfriend."

Both Addilyn and Corbyn blush as the attention turns to them. Logan, who was fully prepared to tease the couple, hesitates as he becomes distracted by the bandage that is wrapped around Corbyn's leg.

"Corbyn," Logan gestures to his injured leg. "Are you good, bro? What happened to you?"

"I got attacked by a bunch of ducks," The blond replies nonchalantly. "Because I stole a duckling."

Still snuggling safely into Addilyn's lap, Mr. Quackington quacks in agreement. Noticing the animal for the first time since his arrival, Logan appears to make the connection as to why Corbyn was stealing birds.

"I guess love can make you do crazy things sometimes."

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