The Wrong Misfit

Fiery Remains, Broken Glass - Part I

The next few days after we dumped Sally were pretty normal for once. The weather was getting warmer. Niamh, who was getting very pregnant, was set to return for the last two weeks of community service because she was feeling much better. Nathan was still an asshole but not towards me. Curtis and Alisha were doing fine. Kelly was just taking it day by day. And Simon was getting there. We all sat on the roof, relaxing on settees and worn-out chairs, enjoying the nicer weather. But of course we can't always be civilized so Nathan took it upon himself to free himself of his orange jumpsuit, revealing his white briefs. He then took his bottle sunscreen, squeezed a large amount of it onto his hands, and rubbed it across his pale torso and butt cheeks.

"Nathan," I sighed, "No one wants to see your ass cheeks."

"Seriously. Put some clothes on" Alisha added.

"Oh c'mon. Who says I can't have an all-over tan" Nathan commented.

Right as he was rubbing it all in, we hear someone from below call up to him. "Looking for Nathan...I'm his brother."
"I haven't got a brother. The only thing I've got is a sister who thinks I'm the screw-up."

"Not anymore."
"How's that possible?"

"We've got the same dad."
"Sure" Nathan scoffed.

"He didn't tell you guys about me?"
"I guess it slipped his mind."
"Yeah...okay. I've always wanted a brother. Someone to do bro stuff with and not being stuck in a house with two women PMS-ing at the same time. " He backed up from the edge of the roof and put his jumpsuit back on, squinting at the setting sun.

"Well that's some big news, huh?" I stated.

"Yeah. I guess so."

"Does Niamh know?"

"I don't know. Looks like I gotta go sort this out, see you guys later."

The next day, we all came in and got started on our assignment for that day which included pulling old carts from out of the murky lake, lined on the edges with algae, muck, and litter. I doubted there any fish in that water. And of course, Nathan was nowhere to be found but we all knew he was with his brother since it's not like he had anything better to do. As we stood thigh-deep in the edge of the lake wearing boots and gloves that reached our elbows, looking in disgust at what we were being forced to do, Shaun walked over, eyebrows scrunched together, asking "Where's Nathan?"

"He's in the locker room" Simon simply answered.

"Funny 'cause I was just in there and I didn't see him" Shaun replied.

"He had a family emergency" I added.

"What kind of emergency?" Shaun followed up.

Curtis responded "His brother came to see him."
"And how is that an emergency?"
"He's got cancer" Alisha lied.

"Oh really?"
Kelly chimed in. "Yeah. His brother was cryin' and shit. It was really sad. I think he needed a drink."
"So Nathan's taken him to the pub, has he?" Shaun looked at each of us with an arched eyebrow. "His brother ain't got cancer has he?"

"He might have" Alisha groaned.
"He should feel for lumps in his testicles" Simon informed.

"Right" Shaun concluded.

Later that day, Nathan finally showed up with a smirk on his face, stopping to talk to Simon and I as we hung out near the main doors.
"Is your brother staying with you?" Simon asked him.

"Yeah, I've always wanted a brother, someone to idolize me, advisor to him, teach him." He then asked himself, "Does he know to dance?"

"Do you?" I chimed in.