In The Last Days

Pillows.

"Where are they?"

To say he was worried was an understatement.

How could they have forgotten their phones? They went into the woods for crying out loud. What if they got mugged or worse?

Okay, they probably won't get mugged in the woods but still.

Michael's mind was racing with possibilities. He was pacing up and down and it was making the rest of them anxious.

"Don't worry Mike, they'll be safe. They probably just lost track of time is all." Chloe reasoned.

"I guess you're right. But they should have known better than to wander off in the woods on their own. We all know what lurks in those woods at night." At that their worry meter went up a notch.

The door opened casually and a grinning Asher was looking down a chuckling Rose. There was a pause.

"Wait, are they drunk?" Everyone froze at the absurdity of Asher grinning.

"Yup, they are," Nathan answered himself. No one spoke a word, everyone just looked on in awe.

"That can't be our Asher, can it?" Chloe asked, perplexed at how relaxed and carefree he was being.

When they heard him giggle, they knew something was up.

"Rose, did Asher fall and hit his head?" Nathan went over and examined his head for a bruise, by then they'd noticed the bewildered stares they were getting.

Rose blushed under their scrutiny but Asher's mask of impassivity was back on and he looked about ready to knock the lights off of Nathan.

"El, tell your brother to get off of me." Asher sighed and everyone released the breathe that they were holding.

Their boy was back.

"Come on bro." Elnathan took his brother by the arm and dragged him to the side.

"We were all scared for a second there Ash," Michael said.

"What? Why?"

"Never mind. Anyway, how was your walk?"

"It was alright."

"Wonderful." Asher and Rose both said simultaneously.

Michael smiled at that. It's been a long time since he'd seen Asher so light and carefree. He looked at Rose who was now talking with Elnathan. She had that effect on people.

"We were waiting for you guys to get here before we started the movie marathon," Chloe said.

"What movies are we watching?" Rose asked very much interested.

"You're about to find out."

Only then did Rose notice the elaborate sheet set up going on in the living room.

"Nathan, come help me with the popcorn. You guys make yourself comfortable." Nathan grumbled after her. Chloe chuckled.

"Don't be like that, I'll give you an extra." His eyes lit up at that.

"The last one in's a rotten egg!" Rose called out not caring if they heard or not. Those front pillows were hers!

No one wanted the back pillow seat. And so the race began. Elnathan was leading since he had longer legs, but he got tripped by a stray pillow on the floor. So it was her versus Michael and Asher.

"That spot is mine!" She declared, narrowly missing another pillow.

"In your dreams Rosie."

"Not if I get there first!" Two more steps forward she dived into the fort and marked her territory taking the seat with the best view of the tv.