Gemotions

The smell of freshly brewed coffee usually soothed Leo, but not today. Across the small kitchen table, staring with disapproving eyes, was Noah. He’d just found the guinea pig cage tucked behind the sofa, the one Leo had thought he'd hidden so well.

Leo could feel the heat creeping up his neck. He stammered, “I… I was just going to…”

Noah raised an eyebrow, a silent question hanging in the air. Leo was terrible at lying. He knew that already.

He fiddled with his coffee mug, wishing he could somehow sink into the floral pattern of the design. The silence was broken only by the gentle clinking of their mugs. The air itself seemed to vibrate with a palpable tension. He had thought that they agreed to not own any pet.