Chapter Text
It's the middle of the night, or maybe it's barely midnight? Whatever time it is, Chase can't sleep. It might be because of the insufferable snores from his bunkmate, Ripper. Or maybe it's the fact that his bed is more uncomfortable than concrete. Or maybe it's Chase's thoughts about his bunkmate, Ripper. Chase groans and shoves his head into his pillow. It's his first day here, and he's already getting distracted.
'Why couldn't I have started crushing on some hot girl like Priya?'
Chase has a crush on Ripper. He feels his cheeks redden from the fact. How embarrassing. Ripper, the same dude who mooned everyone with television access.
Chase lifts his head from his pillow and sighs. Ripper is still snoring, and Damien's teeth are grinding together loudly. Chase sits up and scans the room. His tank top is sticking to him grossly. He sweats like a pig in his sleep, and this weather isn't helping.
Moonlight bleeds through the dust-covered window, perfectly illuminating the room. Without thinking, Chase ducks his head under his bunk and sees Ripper snoring away. Oddly enough, Ripper sleeps in his everyday clothes. He says that he wants to look good in case a hot chick decides to wake him.
When did this whole thing start? Chase thinks it might've started when he first arrived.
His eyes scanned his competition but seemed to particularly study the shirtless one who oozed confidence. Normally, he despised dudes who thought they were the shit, but Ripper attempting to insult the hockey jocks was kind of... cute? He stuttered as if he'd just been caught in a lie, and the tips of his ears glowed an adorable red. He made faint eye contact with Chase during that moment, and Chase could've sworn his heart jumped to his throat.
Ripper shuffles in his sleep, clutching the plush wolf in his arms. The wolf was the only thing Ripper had brought. According to him, wolves are the most alpha male animals ever. Despite how proud he seemed when showing the plush to Chase, he still forced Chase to promise to not speak a word of it to the others.
Chase may or may not wish he was that stupid wolf plushie. Being held in Ripper's arms like that, mocking him with those dumb plastic eyes-
"Hey-"
"OH MY GOD-" Chase yells as his head shoots up. His head thunks against the wooden ceiling, forgetting he's on the top bunk. He holds his throbbing skull between his hands.
Chase's eyes quickly shoot to Damien, the source of Chase's surprise injury.
"Hey... Hey, stop that!.. That's... my soda..." Damien mumbles, his arm waving about. "Okay, you asked for it..." he slurs as his arm shoots upwards before falling to his side.
'Is he... sleep talking?'
Chase lets go of the breath he had been holding. His eyes travel back down to the person sleeping beneath him. Ripper looks the same as he did before Chase had been scared shitless. Thank God for heavy sleepers.
Chase sighs and lets himself fall back onto his tough mattress. The moon still shines through the window. Ripper still snores. Damien's teeth still grind.
Chase still wishes he was that stuffed wolf in Ripper's arms.