Homebound

Chapter 22

        Asher wakes up in the morning a week later claiming to be sick.

       "I'm feeling quite nauseous. I think it was Delilah's brownies." He moans as he clutches his stomach. Laura instantly sends him to bed to rest with Delilah insulting his retreating figure. Asher snuggles in bed reading a book. A knock on his door announces the presence of Robert. 

       "I heard you aren't well. You want me to take you to the doctor?" 

       "No worries. I'm sure sleep will cure me. Go to work." Asher reassures. He almost feels sorry for lying to them, but as Machiavelli states, "the means justify the ends."

     At exactly 10 am, he hears his phone alert him of a text.

Teddy bear

Please, open the door.

                                                                                                                              Me

                                                                                                                     I don't know. My bed will be lonely.

Billy Boy

We have pizza.

                                                                                                                                Me

                                                                                                                           I'm coming.

        Asher runs down the staircase, eager to eat something cheesy. He flings open the door and frowns as the boys walk in a line with no pizza.

       "Where is the pizza? You lied to me. Billy Boy of all people! What's our friendship mean to you? You're a traitor!" He cries angrily, ready to attack Billy. Joshua blocks Billy and holds Asher back. 

       "We'll order pizza. There's no need to resort to violence," and unnecessary drama, but Asher is a dramatic person; theatrics are inevitable. 

        "I want pizza now." Asher grumbles childishly. 

        Joshua smiles and speaks gently and slowly. "I can order if you promise to behave."

       "Fine, but stop speaking to me like I'm a child. I'm not your little sisters." 

      "You definitely act like them." Joshua states with hands on his hips.

      "And you're fickle." Asher retaliates, slapping Joshua's cheek. 

      "Can you stop with the foolishness? We could have found the certificate by now." Isaac speaks with authority, ending the banter.

      Isaac separated the house into two sections, upstairs and down. Isaac and Billy will go search second floor while the others search the first. It's a pretty simple plan, yet genius. (In Isaac's opinion.)

     Despite the clarity, Asher inquires with a huff, "Why do I have to be with Joshua?" 

      "He's the only one that can control you and keep you on track." Isaac explains the obvious. "Any more necessary questions before we start?" When all of them shrug and shake their heads no, Joshua sticks his fist out for the honorary bro shake. Billy returns his gesture as Asher and Isaac accomplish the shake together. They each give each other the bro shake before separating ways, each feeling motivated. "Let's do this."