The Tension

I wish he would've spoken to me first.

The thought gnawed at Beau as he walked aimlessly through the night, the cold air biting at his skin.

He wrapped his arms around himself, realizing too late that he should've grabbed a jacket. His feet carried him wherever they pleased, his mind swirling with frustration and doubt.

Can't really expect him to choose a few days' relationship with a thief over years of friendship.

The thought stung, but it was hard to deny. After about an hour of wandering, His body's protests against the cold finally won out. He turned back toward home, his breath puffing visibly in the frosty air.

As Beau approached the house, a dark thought crossed his mind, and he froze. What if Ariel actually killed them? He wouldn't put it past her. The absurdity of the idea unsettled him, making him quicken his pace.

That was a little too twisted, Beau.  He thought to himself when he heard their voices in the house.

He pushed open the door and stepped inside, greeted by the sight of Teddy, Lanet, Zane, and Ariel sitting around the kitchen table. All four of them stared at him as if he'd burst in with a pack of wolves chasing him.

"Bro, someone chasing you?" Teddy asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, just got so cold I started running to keep warm," Beau lied, brushing off the question with a forced smile.

"Okay," Teddy said, gesturing for him to join. "Come sit. I need your help with this."

Beau hesitated, glancing at the tablet in front of Teddy. "What is it?" he asked, though he already knew.

"The security plan Mr. White showed you earlier," Ariel cut in, her lips pursed and her tone sharp.

Beau sighed, knowing damn well she'll have an attitude until God knows when.

"Ariel, why are you so mad?" Teddy asked, puzzled.

"Ask Beau," she snapped, crossing her arms.

Teddy turned to Beau, his brows furrowing. "Beau?"

"I... I kind of just left the house earlier, and she was worried about me," Beau said with a shrug, hoping to downplay the situation.

Teddy stared at him for a moment, one eyebrow raised in confusion, before shaking his head and turning his attention back to the tablet.

"So, what do you need help with?" Beau asked, stepping closer.

Teddy turned the tablet toward Beau, tilting it slightly for a better view. "Take a good look at this," he said.

Beau leaned closer, and his eyes widened. "Oh, my god," he muttered. Why didn't I see this before?

"Oh my god is right," Teddy said, smirking. "Since I don't know much about architecture, and Ariel refuses to lend her beautiful brains, I need you."

Beau glanced at Zane, curiosity mixing with admiration. "Your sister designed this?" he asked. He couldn't help but be amazed. Whoever created this system was a genius.

"Yes," Zane replied, though his voice was subdued. He kept his gaze lowered, his head hanging slightly.

"Well, do you know how it works?" Teddy pressed, bringing Beau's focus back to the screen.

"Do I know how it works?" Beau smirked, unable to resist a bit of pride.

Teddy rolled his eyes, and from across the room, Lanet let out a low chuckle.

"I mean, I know how it works," Beau said, shrugging. "But your sister designed it, Mr. White. Why don't you ask her?"

Zane's head shot up, his face tight with frustration. "I can't because she asked me not to start anything with Hue, and I promised her I wouldn't."

"And yet, here you are, breaking your promise," Beau pointed out.

Zane's voice rose as he let out a frustrated huff. "Look, I'm sick of him bullying people, okay?!"

Ariel, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward. "Beau, you sure you want to help his ass?" she asked through gritted teeth. Turning her fiery glare to Zane, she continued, "Be angry at my brother all you want, but you don't dare raise your voice in this house—especially with my son around."

Teddy's brow furrowed as he looked between the three of them. "Why is he angry with you, Beau?" 

Beau shrugged, throwing himself into a chair and crossing his arms.

"Beau," Teddy called out, his tone more stern.

"Lanet told Mr. White here that he stole the security plan from the prick who works for Hue," Ariel answered for him. She shot Zane a withering glare, one that made him wish he could have kept his mouth shut. "And on top of judging him, he has the nerve to still be here, asking for our help."

"Just to be clear..." Lanet tried to speak but when Ariel turned to him his voice softened to a whisper. "...I didn't tell him anything."

Beau shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, maybe we just help him so they'll leave," he suggested cautiously.

"And what if he calls the cops on you?" Ariel's eyes narrowed. "Not to mention his friend over there, the one who brought him into this mess." Her finger jabbed toward Lanet like a loaded weapon.

"That's enough, sis," Beau muttered, his tone firm but weary.

Ariel rolled her eyes.

Turning to the others, Beau took a deep breath. "Mr. White, this is what I've figured out so far. The design we're looking at is known as the Bermuda Triangle. Well, sort of—it's actually a square pyramid."

He adjusted the tablet in his hands, angling it so the intricate pattern of lines and shapes came into view. "See this? If you look closely, there's a hidden pyramid shape embedded within. It's not entirely clear who first proposed the theory, but it's said that the apex points downward, while the base faces up."

"But how does that even work?" Zane asked.

Beau shot him a pointed look, the kind that practically spelled out be patient. "I'm getting to that."

With a faint smirk, Beau continued, "Some sort of forcefields form an imaginary pillar that connects the ground to the base. It holds the entire structure in place. Pretty advanced, huh?"

He glanced around, his grin growing. "Now here's the fun part. The inside of the pyramid? It's a constantly rotating maze. Makes it nearly impossible for anyone—especially thieves like me—to get in." He delivered the last line with a playful smile, watching as Zane shifted uncomfortably, his confidence faltering.

Satisfied, Beau stood from the couch and stretched. Without another word, he headed to his room, the faint creak of the door punctuating his departure.

The moment he shut the door, his composure cracked. Alone at last, he let out a shaky breath, the sting of unshed tears pricking his eyes. Lanet's silence hung over him like a storm cloud.

And then there were Zane's words, echoing relentlessly in his mind. "Then you're no different from him. Just another lowlife thief."

Beau clenched his fists. I am not a lowlife thief, he thought fiercely. I'm a classy thief, thank you very much. But the bitterness lingered.

Guess Zane's just perfect, huh? The thought twisted like a knife in his chest, but he pushed it down, letting the silence of the room swallow him whole.