-Fern's POV-
I had barely stepped through the door when someone barreled into me, wrapping their legs around my waist and their arms around my neck. Judging from the smell of paper, ink, and strawberries, it was my best friend in the whole world, Tillie. And her heart was thumping against mine, her breathing fast. "Tillie? Honey, what's wrong?" I asked, smoothing her hair with one hand, the other snug under her bottom so she wouldn't fall.
"The- they won't s-stop fighting.." She hiccupped against my neck. "Micheal? Or Calum? Or who?" I demanded, still smoothing her hair to calm her down. "B-both. They're being s-so stupid!" She cried. I sighed, then felt anger starting to stir in my belly, crawling up my throat til it nearly choked me. I hated to see Tillie upset, and they were going to pay for it. Hitching Tillie up again, for she'd begun to slip, I strode into the living room.
I was greeted with the sight of two boys wrestling, rolling all over the floor. It didn't look friendly, judging from the anger twisting their features and the yelling. "She said she likes Treasure Planet better!" Micheal growled. Calum grunted and rolled his eyes. "She only said that to be fair!" Watching them, I was disgusted with the way they were fighting over a movie. Tillie buried her head against my shoulder and whispered, "Please make them stop. I don't want them arguing over me." I snapped my fingers, loudly, making them pause. "You two. Get out of my house, now. And apologize to Tillie on the way out." I ordered.
If it weren't for the anger roiling in my stomach, it would've been funny, the identical expressions of shock on their faces as they lay on the floor. "Get out." Voice hard as steel, I took a step forward. They sprung apart, scrambling to get up. Shame was plain on their faces as they filed past, muttering apologies to Tillie as they went. I didn't relax until I heard the click of the door behind them, then I sighed and carried Tillie to the bed, where I was surprised to see Luke and Ashton watching me. "Why didn't you two do anything?" I demanded, setting Tillie on the bed next to them.
I told her gently, "I gotta put away the groceries." Smoothing down her hair, I smiled reassuringly, sneaking a glare at the boys. They put their hands up to demonstrate their helplessness, and I rolled my eyes at them. "Why don't you get things set up to watch an episode of RWBY?" I suggested to Tillie, who squealed and grabbed the laptop to set up YouTube. I hummed quietly as I put things in their proper places, and threw some Trail Mix in a bowl for a snack. Still humming, I danced to the bed where Tillie and the two Australians sat and settled between Luke and Tillie. "Ready, Fern?!" She asked excitedly, mouse hovering over the play button. I grinned and grabbed Moe, my stuffed seal. "Hit it, girl." She shushed everyone, unnecessarily I might add, and hit play with a flourish.
-Luke's POV-
I looked up at the sound of the guys fighting, and I was about to go check it out when I heard the door open. Wondering what was going to happen, I stayed where I was, glancing at Ashton to see the same puzzlement reflected on his face. Soon, I heard a loud snap. "You two. Get out of my house, now." I heard Fern order, with a voice like steel. "And apologize to Tillie on the way out." I whistled lowly under my breath, glancing toward Ashton. "Get out." Her icy tone actually made me shiver. Next to me, Ashton mouthed, "Remind me to never get on her bad side." I nodded fervently. Once the door clicked shut, presumably behind Calum and Micheal, Fern came into view.
And suddenly I was wishing that I could hold Fern the same way she was holding Tillie. Tillie's legs were tightly wrapped around Fern's waist, with Fern's arm tucked snugly under her bottom to support her weight. And Tillie's arms were vised around Fern's neck, with her head snuggled against her chest. I wanted Fern to have someone to hold onto, someone to trust. And I wanted to be that person. But Fern being so fiercely independent, she would probably smack me and demand to be let down, insisting that she could walk on her own two feet. I sighed. If only she would let me in.
-Fern's POV-
We weren't even halfway into the show when Luke nodded off, leaning against my shoulder. I smiled, enjoying his warmth as I watched an incredible fight scene between Team RWBY and some monsters. As the show went on, Luke's head slipped from my shoulder to my lap, and I chuckled indulgently at the sleeping boy. I absentmindedly brushed my hand through his hair as Tillie clicked the next episode, and was surprised at how soft it was. Soon though, my own eyes began to drift shut.
-Luke's POV-
I woke up to the feeling of gentle fingers running through my hair, and I smiled sleepily, not wanting to move. As I came aware by degrees, I realized I was curled up on a bed with my head on someone's lap, their hand buried in my hair. Slowly, the memories came back. Tillie, Ashton, Fern and I were watching some show called RWBY when I started to feel sleepy, and the last thing I remembered was having my head on Fern's shoulder. Not wanting to disturb her, I slowly, carefully, lifted my head. The room was dark, with only the faint light from the street lamp spilling into the room from the window. I looked around, and judging from the dark shapes on the pallet across the room, Tillie and Ashton were curled up together on it. Fern's hand fell away as I sat up, and I realized that she was asleep as well, propped against the wall. I chuckled, unable to believe she could fall asleep in such an uncomfortable position, but it soon died away.
She was so beautiful, and sleep had smoothed away the worry lines in her face. I traced her features with a finger, the light from the street lamp casting an orange glow. Realizing that we had the whole bed to ourselves, I pulled off both our shoes and laid down, pulling her with me. She snuggled closer, her face resting on my chest, and I couldn't stop the smile that curved my lips as I pulled a blanket over us. She was mine, at least for the night.
