Page 11 of We May Be Fractured

Crumbs of Lies

[Now playing ? Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing—Set It Off]

O f all the couches Aaron had ever crashed on, Nyle’s was hands-down the most comfy.

He would’ve stayed buried in its cushions all day if it weren’t for his Super Mario ringtone blaring, yanking him out of sleep. He groped under the pillow and pulled out his phone.

“Hello?” His voice, thick with sleep, was a dead giveaway. He quickly cleared his throat, trying to sound more awake.

“Aarie? How’s everything?” Aunt Olivia’s voice was crisp and energetic on the other end.

Knowing the time difference and Australia’s weather by heart, Aaron had become a pro at spinning stories.

It was a skill he’d picked up as a kid to keep his parents off his back, and now it came as easily as breathing.

He wove tales of his ‘adventures’ in Australia, describing places he’d supposedly visited and food he’d ‘tried’, while his aunt hung on every word, occasionally reminding him and Cliff to stay safe.

As he chatted away, Aaron found himself wandering into the kitchen. He never could stay put on a call. He was about to hop onto the kitchen counter for a more comfortable chat when he spotted a figure lurking near the fridge.

“Uh, Auntie, I have to go, dinner’s ready here.” He hastily ended the call, eyes fixed on the shadowy figure now staring back at him.

It took him a second to register Landon standing there in the dimly lit kitchen.

Ria wasn’t wrong about him—silent one moment, noticeable the next.

More than a cat, he seemed like a panther ready to pounce.

Landon wasn’t just sizing Aaron up. He gazed at him intensely, almost like he was trying to peel back layers of secrets Aaron himself might not even know.

Their eyes met and held, stretching into what felt like forever.

Aaron’s gaze then drifted to Landon’s arms, the tattoos an unexpected discovery.

Last night, they’d been hidden by a long-sleeved hoodie.

But now with him in a T-shirt, they stood out, covering every visible inch of skin from hands to biceps.

Perhaps even beyond. The maze of designs told stories Aaron couldn’t make out but was curious about.

“Aren’t you a bit old to lie to mum and dad?” Landon teased, starting to work with what looked like a fancy espresso machine.

“Wasn’t talking to them; they’re not around anymore. I’m on my own,” Aaron corrected quietly.

Landon arched a brow, his piercing glinting as he poured a bag of coffee beans into the grinder. “Oh please, everyone in this house has some sobbing backstory. You’re not special.”

The loud grind distracted Aaron from Landon’s jab. Still, he couldn’t shake off a twinge of irritation as he watched Landon get a bottle of milk and two mugs, one of which had a Grumpy Cat print on it.

A soft meow broke the tension. The same cat from last night hopped onto the counter.

“Hey, buddy,” Aaron said, offering his index finger. The cat sniffed it before butting its head against his hand, asking for some pets.

Landon observed their interaction, his face unreadable, then went back to the coffee-making. “Cappuccino?” His tone was neutral, as if he might have only asked because he’d prepped the machine for two servings.

“No, thanks. I don’t like coffee.”

“So, lack of taste isn’t limited to clothes.”

Aaron tried to formulate a retort, but before he could, Nyle burst into the room with all the subtlety of an elephant.

“Good morning, Sunshine! Sleep well?”

His vibrant aura was even flashier than the unicorn on his jumper that proclaimed, I’m not strange. I’m a limited edition . A dishevelled Luzanne trailed behind him, her long hair in a tangle and her pyjamas crinkled.

“Ugh… How can you be so upbeat in the morning?” She groaned, reaching for the kettle.

“If you rise, you might as well shine.” Nyle quipped.

He leaned over the counter towards Landon and casually ordered, “A Latte, please,” as though he was at his favourite coffee shop. He then plucked a banana from a bowl and gestured with it at Aaron.

“I’ve given it some thought.” Nyle paused, enjoying the suspense. “And I think you should stay here.”

Landon’s scoff sliced through the noise of the steaming milk.

Even Luzanne rolled her eyes. “You’re so predictable.”

“But Luz, shouldn’t you be supportive of another potential housemate romance?”

“Dude, he’s not into you,” Luzanne shot back. “And I can’t believe you’re mentioning that. My ‘housemate romance’ never got a happy ending.” She grabbed some tea bags, throwing Landon a sour look.

“That’s because it was straight,” Nyle countered playfully. “Gay love stories have better endings.”

Landon interjected, “Depends on the story.”

“Killjoy,” Nyle retorted, continuing to brandish the banana at Aaron. “But really, you should stick around.”

“Why are you offering me a place to stay?” Aaron asked, confused.

“Because you need one.”

“I have options.” He had none. As a jobless teen with no credentials or rental history, finding a place was a tough ask and other short-term solutions way out of his budget.

“Look, we’ve had a room free since our last housemate left, and we’re willing to offer you a mates’ rate.”

“I have an aunt in London. Was just on the phone with her moments ago, and she said I can crash at hers,” Aaron replied, perhaps a tad too hastily.

Landon chuckled, working on the frothy milk for his latte art. “Sure.”

“Listen.” Nyle nudged the banana tip against Aaron’s chest. “I’m all for helping someone in trouble.

From the second I saw you, it was clear you’re going through a rough patch.

There’s no shame in that. We’ve all been there.

And I sure wish I’d had someone to offer help when I needed it.

Don’t be too proud to accept a hand when it’s offered. ”

“I’m not a charity case.”

“Just listen to Nyle,” Luzanne intervened, pouring steaming water into two cat-shaped mugs. “He’s got a real soft spot for lost causes .” Her eyes flicked to Landon again before she headed back upstairs.

Landon didn’t say anything. He just slid the freshly made latte towards Nyle with a smirk playing on his lips.

Aaron felt the dig, meant for both him and Landon, but before he could dwell on it too much, the cat brushed its cheek against his palm, drawing his attention. He smiled at it, momentarily soothed by the soft fur under his fingers.

“Weird,” Nyle observed. “Kat doesn’t like strangers. It took me almost a year to get her to stop biting and scratching me. Look—” He raised his elbow, showing a faded mark. “This was a bad one, bled a lot. But she seems to like you.”

“Cat?” Aaron questioned.

“Yeah, but spelled with a K . You know, a bit of wordplay. Clever, huh?”

No, not really. Why was he so fixated on spelling? Aaron watched as Nyle reached out to pet Kat, but she hissed and skittered away.

“See? She’s got zero love for me. The little traitor.” Nyle looked both offended and genuinely puzzled.

“You can’t just go in for a pet because you want to. It’s all about the approach. You need to wait for her to come to you.” Aaron slowly extended his hand, and Kat headbutted it, then hopped onto his lap and curled into a ball of fur. “Boundaries, you know?”

Nyle caught his eye as if they both knew Aaron was talking about more than just the cat. As Kat started purring loudly, Nyle laughed.

“Look at her,” Nyle exclaimed in surprise. “She’s purring. Oh my god, that’s a sign you should stay.”

“And since when does Kat have a say in potential housemates?” Landon remarked with a dry tone.

“If it were up to you, we’d never have any housemates. So, I’ve started relying on Kat’s judgement. Besides, I’ve noticed anyone she likes, you don’t. Just confirms that Aaron’s a good fit.”

“What kind of nonsense theory is this?” Landon scoffed and took a sip of his coffee. The Grumpy Cat image on the mug mirrored his expression almost perfectly.

“Kat doesn’t like Ria, for example. But you do.”

“Ria’s allergic to cats.”

“Whatevs. Point is, Aaron’s welcome here.”

Aaron opened his mouth to speak, but Nyle’s enthusiasm swept over his objections like an avalanche of alphabet-shaped potato bites. He knew he didn’t have much of a choice.

“Okay, I’ll stay,” Aaron conceded, reluctant gratitude threading his tone. “But just so we’re clear, it’s only until I’ve served my community service hours. Then, I’m off to Australia.”

“Stunning.” Nyle’s smile didn’t wane; if anything, it grew warmer. “Stay for as long or as little as you need.”

“Just don’t end up like our last housemate,” Landon remarked with a hint of menace, walking away to rinse the milk jug and coffee handle.

“What happened to him?” Aaron asked, curiosity piqued.

“I killed him and buried the body in the garden.” Landon pointed to a spot beyond the window.

“Aha.” Aaron didn’t even glance at the spot he’d indicated. Instead, his attention was captured by the extravagant print on Landon’s socks. “Right. And I suppose the broccoli on your socks is part of your killer wardrobe?”

Landon glanced down, then shot Aaron a sharp look.

“How about a house tour?” Nyle suggested, slicing through the tension.

Aaron agreed with a nod. To further emphasise his nonchalance, he grabbed a banana and began to peel it. As he was about to take a bite, Nyle tried to warn him, but it was too late. The bitter taste of the unripe banana filled his mouth.

“Haven’t they taught you that green bananas aren’t ripe?” Landon couldn’t resist the opportunity to comment.

“I like them this way.” Reality was he couldn’t tell the colour difference. Green and yellow always mixed him up.

“Bollocks.” Landon circled the island and strode out of the kitchen.

“Come on, let’s go.” Nyle tugged at Aaron’s arm.

Aaron turned back to pick up his bag and loop it over his shoulder, then followed Nyle down the corridor to a room next to the entrance.