CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
( WAKE UP )

     CARMEN WASN'T AWARE of her state. The girl seemed to be dreaming- not fully sleeping, but dreaming. She was back at a familiar house; the Why Don't We house. Carmen was standing behind a couch, where a girl that looked exactly like her slept.

Carmen realized this girl was her past self, as there was a cast wrapped around her frail arm. The girl looked weak- her breathing heavy, but her eyes sealed shut as she was sleeping peacefully. A boy sat next to the couch, his hand clasped in hers. That boy was Zach.

Carmen gasps, having not seen the boy in the time she was kidnapped. Of course she had gotten to see him before her eyes closed, but it wasn't nearly as long as she wished it were. She stays glued to her spot, watching as her past self began to move in her sleep.

Her lips opened as cries left her mouth, her head jerking to the side as she shook her head.

"No!" She cried, moving around anxiously while still sleeping. "Stop!"

Zach was immediately by her side, gripping her hand a bit harder. "Carmen, shhhh," He said softly, placing his free hand on one of her cheeks. "It's okay, I'm here. Shhh."

The girl placed her hand on top of his, as if his touch took away her nightmare. She leaned into his hand, her movement ceasing as she calmed down. He softly cooed in her ear, lulling the girl back to sleep.

Carmen moved to stand where Zach once sat, watching as the boy stroked her cheek. A small smile was planted on his lips- it was a smile that Carmen had always enjoyed. She smiled herself, seeing how well he took care of her while she was hurt.

Carmen stepped forward to sit down next to Zach, but instead, she was met with an empty space. Her past self had disappeared from the bed, as well as Zach. She glanced around, confused as a shuffle came from upstairs.

She followed the noise, of which leaded her to Zach's bedroom. The door was open, revealing Zach shuffling through his drawers. He was careful for some reason, repeatedly looking behind him after he made a single noise. Carmen followed his glance to see herself, curled up on the bed, sleeping again.

Zach made another noise, catching her attention once again. He then pulled out a pair of sweatpants, then a t-shirt, before laying them on the nightstand next to her. He then proceeded to grab a pen and paper from his desk, scribbling quickly onto the note. He layed it on top of the shirt that was perfectly folded, before putting the pen back.

He stepped over to her past self, smiling as he looked down at her. Careful to not wake her, he pressed a small, chaste kiss to her forehead, before turning, and walking right through Carmen. The corner of her lips twitched upwards as she saw the name 'Zach' scribbled onto the paper, remembering when she woke up the morning she had first stayed the night.

She wasn't surprised this time when her past self disappeared again, only curious to where she would be. As giggles echoed from downstairs, Carmen rushed to see who they were coming from.

Carmen stopped in her tracks at the kitchen entryway as her eyes landed on a different girl- someone she hadn't met before. The girl had wavy brown hair, and Corbyn's arm was wrapped around her waist. Another laugh came from across the kitchen, where Carmen sat, her fingers laced in Zach's.

Carmen furrows her eyebrows- she didn't remember this.

Callie was clutching onto Jack, another girl standing happily beside Daniel. And Aurora was holding a hand over her mouth, gasping down at Jonah who was kneeled on the floor.

Carmen's eyes widened in realization- she was no longer in the past, she was seeing the future. She backed out of the kitchen, briefly overwhelmed. But as she turned, she faced another scene that she didn't recall.

The living room was decorated with streamers hanging from the ceiling, and balloons covering the floor. The television was turned on, where a countdown was being made, currently at the number ten. Her lips were slightly parted as she realized it was new years- she and her friends were counting down to the new year.

Callie, Carmen, Aurora, and the other two girls were yelling out the numbers as they appeared on the screen, their voices getting louder with every moment. And at the moment the clock hit zero, Zach had already swooned Carmen with a dip, his lips locking with hers in an instant.

Carmen touched her lips, almost feeling the kiss that seemed to brighten the room. She stood still as streamers exploded from something attached to the ceiling, watching as she kissed Zach.

Her heart pounded out of her chest as she ached for his touch, wanting to be with her Zach. She no longer wanted to watch herself be with him, she wanted to go back to reality- to wake up from whatever sort of dream state she was in.

As she walked down the hallway, she closed her eyes for a brief second. Carmen let out a deep breath, opening her eyes again. But this time, she wasn't back in the hallway. She was in a mall- a loud one at that.

People- girls- were screaming all in front of her for some reason. She sighed in annoyance, looking around her.

"If I didn't enjoy the cafè here, I would've left when I saw the group," A familiar voice huffs. "Yet it's been long enough for them to disperse, and they haven't. What's going on up there?"

"Elle?" Carmen asks softly as she turns, coming face-to-face with her best friend. Her alive best friend. "Y-you're here?"

"Where else would I be?" The girl questions, confused by the tears that began to we'll up in Carmen's eyes. "Hey, hey. You okay? I didn't think this crowd would upset you that bad, but if you want us to leave, we-"

"I love you," Carmen blurts, cutting her off, and pulling her into a tight embrace as her bottom lip trembles. "I love you so much!"

"I love you too, kiddo," Elle chuckles, hugging her back. "What's with the sudden love rush?"

"I just," Carmen pulls away to get a good look at her. "I just felt like I should tell you that. Always remember I love you, alright?"

"Same to you," Elle smiles, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Now cheer up, Cam. We have some coffee to get somewhere else, okay?"

"Okay," Carmen nods, allowing Elle to drag her through the huge crowd of screaming girls.

This time, Carmen didn't hear the screaming. She was lost in the thought of having her best friend back. She was paying more attention, it seemed- and she didn't trip on her way to the mall doors.

When reaching the exiting doors, Carmen stopped in her tracks, turning back to see five familiar boys. None of them had payed attention as they rushed through the crowd like they had before. Carmen hadn't tripped, and Zach hadn't caught her.

"Wait, Elle!" Carmen yanks the girl back as she opens the door, revealing the brightest white she had ever saw. It was beautiful, and Carmen was immediately drawn to it.

"Yes?" Elle asks, her hand in Carmen's as she glances back. "Aren't you coming, Cam?"

Carmen took another look at the bright light, and her friend. But as she looked closer, she could see into the light. Her father and Mark stood beyond the mall doors, smiling as they stood side by side.

"Dad?" Carmen asks, her tears making another appearance. "You're here, too?"

"Only if you're ready," He replies steadily, giving his daughter a lasting look. "I've missed you, Carmen."

"I've missed you too, Daddy," She cries, smiling through her tears. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."

"I do know that you love that boy," Her father says, looking over her shoulder at Zach. "But I want you to know that you're free to leave now."

Carmen sniffles, glancing at Zach, who grins for the cameras that flash in front of him. "You mean I don't have to stay?"

"Not at all," He shakes his head. "But think about it, sweetheart."

"I-I-" The girl looks to her best friend again, then to her father and Mark. Slowly, her eyes land back on Elle. She grips her best friend's hand one last time, before letting go. "I think I'm gonna stay."

Elle nods understandingly, nodding towards Zach. "I have to say, that boy is definitely cute. But he seems your type, and I think you'd look good together."

Carmen laughs, wiping away one of her tears as she nods. "Goodbye, Elle."

"Goodbye, Cam," She murmers, before stepping out of the mall. Carmen watches as the three of them wave, the doors slowly closing. And then, as they latch, Carmen turns to watch Zach again.

And as she perches herself against the wall, she smiles to herself.

"I wouldn't leave you if I had the chance."

_____