The Waters - A Beta Squad Story (bxb)

3. On The Other Side

The next day, Kenny woke up early, going downstairs to see only one other Beta Squad member awake.

"Morning, Sharky," he greeted, walking across the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee.

"Hey, Ken. How'd you sleep?" Sharky asked, yawning as he sat up at the table. He has been scrolling through his phone for the past hour alone. Feeling slightly stressed for the day ahead.

"Like a baby," Kenny replied with a smile. "I guess everyone's still catching up on some sleep after last night."

Sharky nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I guess it hit everyone a bit hard. You know, it's funny how something so small can grow to throw everything off-kilter."

After having his chat with Niko yesterday, he didn't think it was very small, and the amount of anxiety and stress that the feelings can cause an individual should not be taken so lightly. But obviously, Sharky hadn't worked out the true reasoning behind Niko's lashing out.

He took a sip of his coffee, walking around the breakfast bar to sit beside Sharky before responding. "Yeah, I guess. But that's what friends are for, right? We're here to help each other through tough times." He glanced out the window, watching the sun begin to peek over the horizon. "I'm just glad we were able to work everything out last night. It could've been a lot worse."

Sharky glanced at Kenny. "Worse than what Niko did to Aj yesterday?"

Kenny sighed. Realistically, he knew this wasn't going to be as easily forgotten as he hoped, even if Aj had forgiven Niko himself. Before he could comment, Sharky spoke up.

"I think Aj's been going through a lot lately, and it's been weighing on him even if he would never tell us. I'm just glad we could be there for him." He paused for a moment, his expression turning thoughtful. "Maybe he will feel more comfortable being vulnerable now."

Kenny smiled at Sharky's words. "Yeah, maybe." He glanced over at one of Aj's jumpers left hanging on the back of the sofa in the living room, wondering how his friend was feeling this morning.

Kenny and Sharky's conversation continued as they chatted about other things, but the underlying current of affection and understanding between them was palpable. As they spoke, Sharky found himself being more open with Kenny than he had been with anyone else in a while. He told him about his struggles with balancing work and personal life and how he sometimes felt like he was letting everyone down.

Kenny listened intently, nodding along and offering words of encouragement. "Sharky, you're one of the most talented people I know," he said sincerely.

The compliment made Sharky blush slightly, and he couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, man. I appreciate that."

Their conversation continued to flow effortlessly, with both of them finding common ground in their shared interests and experiences. As they talked, their arms brushed against each other occasionally, sending tiny sparks of electricity through the air. It was almost as if they were drawn to each other, and neither of them wanted to break the connection.

Sharky glanced up at Kenny, noticing the way his cheeks flushed when he spoke passionately about something and how his eyes screwed tight when he smiled wide. He couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth in his chest, and his heart started to race. He found himself leaning in closer to him, their eyes glued to each other. "Kenny..." he murmured, feeling butterflies in his stomach.

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Chapter 3 down, this one focuses more on the other members and their storyline. Hope you enjoyed :)
-B🎧