The Waters - A Beta Squad Story (bxb)

17. Onlooker

Chunkz woke up in his bed, still in his suit, gone noon. Lifting his head off the pillow, he couldn't hear any movement in the house.

The group had all left the event at around the same time, at five in the morning. They were all so exhausted that when they arrived back at the house, they all immediately crashed in their rooms.

Chunkz had been having the most restless sleep, tossing and turning throughout the night. He knew that something was bothering Aj, and he wished he could have done something to help him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had caused it—something that Aj was trying to hide from them.

Chunkz went and had a shower before deciding to head downstairs. Just as he left his room, heading for the stairs, he caught a glance at Kenny's room. He peered into the open doorway, seeing an empty bed with the duvet hanging off the side onto the floor.

Chunkz had a feeling Kenny hadn't left the house and was, in fact, in someone else's room. He crept across the hallway towards Sharky's room. Placing his hand on the door handle, he slowly opened the door.

The curtains in the room had been left slightly open the night before, so there was a line of sunlight shining through, spotlighting the bed.

Chunkz felt a strange mixture of emotions as he gazed at the sight before him. On one hand, he was a little shocked and confused. On the other hand, there was a sense of understanding and acceptance. He knew that Sharky and Kenny had been close friends, and perhaps this was just a natural extension of their relationship.

Although their more recent behaviour had made Chunkz speculate that maybe they had taken it a step further than friendship, Chunkz would be happy for them if they had.

As he looked at the bed, his whole body felt like it was melting at the sight. It was a beautiful, serene scene. Sharky's arm was wrapped around Kenny's waist, holding him close, while Kenny's head rested on Sharky's bare chest. The younger's arm and leg could be seen beneath the cover, which was on top of the elder's body.

They looked so peaceful and content in each other's embrace. Chunkz couldn't help but smile at the tenderness of the moment. He knew that Kenny had been going through a tough time recently, with all the arguing and tension in the house, and it was clear that Sharky had been there for him.

He didn't want to disturb them, but he also wanted to make sure they were okay. So, quietly, he tiptoed out of the room and gently closed the door behind him, leaving them alone in their little bubble of serenity.

As he made his way back down the hallway, he couldn't help but smile to himself. Maybe this was what they both needed. A little bit of comfort and companionship. It was obvious that they cared deeply for each other, and seeing them together like this only solidified that fact.

Chunkz paused outside of Aj's room, hesitating for a moment before knocking lightly on the door. He wanted to check up on the younger male after the stress Aj had gone through the night before. There was silence for a few minutes, and Chunkz decided to knock again. After a couple of seconds, there was a muffled groan from within the room, and Aj called out groggily, "Come in."

Chunkz opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind him. The room was dim, the curtains drawn, and only a small ray of sunlight managed to find its way past the gap between them. Aj was lying on his side, his arms wrapped around his bent legs, his eyes closed. He looked exhausted.

"Hey, Aj," Chunkz said softly, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "You feeling okay?"

Aj opened one eye, squinting at Chunkz before rolling over and sitting up slowly. "I've been better," he muttered, rubbing his face with his hands. "What time is it?"