Roar
Summary: A dare for a YouTube video changed Sharky's life forever
Song: Pink and White · Frank Ocean
Author’s note: Please like, reblog and share this! 🫶
Word count: 3.0k
Sharky, whose real name was lost to the annals of time and teenage bravado, felt a cold dread prickle his skin. He stood with Chunks and Kenny, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the bustling boardwalk.
They were filming a dare video for their YouTube channel, a tradition that usually involved eating questionable substances or performing mildly embarrassing public stunts. But this… this felt different.
He pulled the folded slip of paper from the box, the flimsy paper feeling suddenly heavy in his hand.
He cleared his throat, the microphone amplifying the sound, and read aloud, his voice wavering slightly, "Go do your roar to the nearest prettiest girl you see."
Chunks and Kenny exploded with laughter. "Ooh, Sharky's gonna get some!" Chunks yelled, slapping him on the back hard enough to make him stumble.
Sharky, despite his nickname, wasn't exactly known for his confidence, especially not with girls. The 'roar' was a stupid, self-deprecating gimmick he used in their videos – a terrible imitation of a shark’s rawr, usually deployed for comedic effect.
The thought of directing it at an actual girl, a pretty one no less, made his stomach churn.
"Come on, Sharky! You gotta do it so we can win this video!" Chunks urged, his face alight with mischievous glee. "Think of the views!"
He knew they were right. This video had the potential to go viral. He just had to swallow his pride, and a whole lot of awkwardness. "Alright," he muttered, the word barely audible. He scanned the crowd, his eyes darting nervously. He already knew who he was going to choose, though. He'd been subtly, almost unconsciously, eyeing her ever since they’d set up their cameras.
She was standing alone near the pier entrance, a figure of quiet composure amidst the chaos of the boardwalk. She had her back to him, but he could see the way the sun caught the highlights in her hair, the delicate curve of her neck.
She was wearing a simple sundress, and the way it moved in the gentle breeze was mesmerizing. She looked like she was waiting for someone, which meant he had to be quick.
Taking a deep breath, Sharky detached himself from the group and started to walk towards her, each step feeling heavier than the last.
His palms were sweating, and he could feel the blood rushing to his face. He could hear Chunks and Kenny's encouraging shouts behind him, but they were fading into a muffled background buzz.
As he got closer, he could see her face. She was even more beautiful than he’d imagined. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed lost in thought.
He almost froze, the absurdity of his mission hitting him full force. He was about to ruin this girl's peaceful afternoon with his stupid 'roar' for the sake of a YouTube video.
He was close enough now. He could smell the faint scent of sunscreen and something floral, and in that moment, he almost turned back. But then he remembered the pressure, the expectation, the chance for viral fame.
He stopped a few feet behind her, cleared his throat again, and launched into his cringeworthy routine. He puffed out his chest, widened his eyes, and let out the most ridiculous, exaggerated "Rawr!" he could muster, complete with flailing arms and a goofy grin.
The girl jumped, startled, and spun around, her eyes wide with surprise. For a moment, she just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Sharky braced himself for the inevitable ridicule.
"I… I'm so sorry," he stammered, his face burning. "It was a dare. For a video. I know it was stupid."
She blinked, then a slow smile spread across her face. "That was… unexpected," she said, her voice soft and melodic.
Sharky couldn't believe it. She wasn't angry? She wasn't laughing at him?
"Yeah, well, sorry about that," he mumbled, shuffling his feet. "I should probably go." He started to turn away, eager to escape the awkwardness he'd created.
"Wait," she said, her hand lightly touching his arm. He froze, his heart pounding in his chest. "What kind of video?"
He hesitated, then explained, "We're Beta Squad. We do stupid challenges and stuff. It's… it's dumb, I know."
Her smile widened. "No, it sounds kind of fun. I'm [Your Name], by the way."
He couldn't believe this was happening. He'd just ruined this girl's afternoon with his ridiculous 'roar,' and now she was introducing herself.
"[Your Name]," he repeated, the name feeling foreign and beautiful on his tongue. "I'm Sharky. Well, not really. It's just a nickname."
"I figured," she said, her eyes twinkling. "So, Sharky, what other ridiculous dares are you going to do today?"
He chuckled, surprised at how easily he was talking to her. "Hopefully none as embarrassing as that one. Unless you want to hear another 'roar'?"
"Maybe later," she said playfully. "So, what were you guys doing here anyway?"
He explained about the dare video, about Beta Squad, about their aspirations for YouTube fame. She listened intently, her eyes never leaving his. He found himself talking more freely than he ever usually did, the initial awkwardness melting away under her genuine interest.
He learned that she was waiting for a friend, who was running late. She was an artist, she told him, and she drew inspiration from the ocean, the people, the vibrant energy of the boardwalk.
As they talked, Sharky forgot all about the cameras, about Chunks and Kenny, about the pressure of the video. He was simply captivated by her presence, by her intelligence, by her kind eyes.
Finally, her friend arrived, a whirlwind of apologies and hurried greetings. [Your Name] turned to Sharky. "It was really nice meeting you, Sharky," she said, her smile genuine. "Good luck with your video."
"You too, [Your Name]," he replied, his heart sinking slightly as she turned to leave. "Maybe… maybe I'll see you around?"
"Maybe," she said, and then she was gone, swallowed by the crowd.
Sharky stood there for a moment, dazed, the boardwalk noises suddenly seeming louder, more intrusive. He walked back to where Chunks and Kenny were waiting, their faces alight with anticipation.
"Dude, what happened?" Chunks asked, clapping him on the shoulder. "You were gone for ages! Did you get her number?"
Sharky shook his head. "No," he said, his voice distracted. "But… I talked to her. For a while."
Kenny grinned. "Well, did you get the shot? Let's see the footage!"
Sharky nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He knew the footage would be gold for their channel, a moment of pure, unadulterated cringe. But all he could think about was [Your Name], her smile, her voice, the way she had made him feel.
The video went viral, as expected. The 'roar' clip was endlessly shared and memed, bringing Beta Squad a surge of new subscribers.
Sharky was initially thrilled, but as the views climbed, a sense of unease began to settle in. He felt like he had exploited [Your Name], reduced her to a punchline in his stupid online persona.
He couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to apologize, to explain himself properly. He started frequenting the boardwalk, hoping to run into her again. He walked past the pier entrance countless times, his eyes scanning the crowd, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Weeks turned into months, and Sharky began to lose hope. He started avoiding the boardwalk, the memories of his encounter with [Your Name] too painful to bear.
He felt like he had missed his chance, ruined a potential connection for the sake of fleeting online fame.
Sharky adjusted the microphone clipped to his Clean Heartz t-shirt, a nervous energy thrumming through him. On camera, he projected his usual goofy charm, but underneath, his heart hammered against his ribs.
He was doing a solo video, a comedic take on a dating show called “Finding Love,” where he’d supposedly choose a partner based on… well, based on increasingly ridiculous criteria.
The flimsy curtain separating him from the five unseen contestants rustled. He cleared his throat. “Alright, ladies! Welcome to ‘Finding Love with Sharky!’ I’m your host, your future husband, your… well, you get the picture. Let the introductions begin!”
He gestured dramatically. “Contestant Number One, tell us about yourself!”
A clear, confident voice responded, “Hi, I’m Emily, and I’m a doctor.”
“Ooh, a doctor! Impressive!” Sharky quipped, playing to the imagined audience. The Beta Squad boys were probably howling with laughter back in the control room. He could practically hear Chunkz’s booming guffaws.
“Number Two?”
“Hi, I’m Sarah, and I’m a teacher,” came the reply, equally bright and cheerful.
“Teachers are amazing! Shaping the minds of tomorrow!” Sharky exclaimed, laying it on thick. He was a natural showman, even when the show was utter nonsense.
“Number Three?”
“Hi, I’m Catherine, and I’m an entrepreneur,” a slightly more sophisticated voice declared.
Sharky raised an eyebrow. “Entrepreneur, eh? Business savvy! I like it!” He winked at the camera, pretending to be intrigued.
Then came the fourth voice, a melodic, hesitant sound that sent a jolt through him. “Hi, I’m Y/N, and I’m an artist.”
His breath caught in his throat. Y/N? Could it be? The Y/N he’d been searching for, the one who'd haunted his thoughts for months since that chance encounter at the art gallery?
He felt a wave of heat creep up his neck. He could practically feel the laughter bubbling in his earpiece. Chunkz, Niko, and Kenny would be having an absolute field day with his reaction. They knew. They had to know.
It couldn't be her, right? The odds were astronomical. But the voice… the way she said “artist,” with a delicate vibrato… it was undeniably familiar.
He forced himself to focus, reminding himself this was a video, a performance. He needed to keep the charade going, at least for now.
“And finally, Number Five?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Hi, I’m Olivia, and I’m a personal trainer,” the last contestant announced.
Sharky went through the motions, pretending to weigh his options. He asked silly questions about their favourite colours, their opinions on pineapple on pizza, and whether they preferred cats or dogs.
He gave each woman a polite, if somewhat vacant, response. He even unveiled snippets of their clothing, revealing a brightly coloured scarf for Emily, a sensible cardigan for Sarah, a power suit jacket for Catherine, and a… paint-splattered overall strap for Number Four.
He was dying inside. The glimpse of the overall strap only deepened the possibility. Y/N was an artist; overalls were practically part of the uniform.
He had to know.
“Okay, ladies, before we move on to the next round, I have a question for one particular contestant,” he said, trying to sound casual. He could feel the weight of the camera lens boring into him.
He looked directly at the curtain, his heart pounding so hard he thought it might burst. “Number Four, Y/N… have we met before?”
The studio went silent. He could practically hear the collective breath-holding in the control room.
A pause, stretched out and agonizing, followed. Then, a soft, uncertain reply. “Umm… no, I don’t think so.”
The air deflated from Sharky's lungs like a punctured balloon. Disappointment washed over him, a cold and bitter wave. He'd allowed hope to bloom, and now it withered before his eyes.
He plastered a fake smile on his face. “Okay! Just thought I recognized your voice. Maybe I’m just psychic!” He forced a laugh that died in his throat.
The video continued, a blur of ridiculous challenges and manufactured drama. He asked them to impersonate animals, to describe their ideal dates.
He went through the motions, asking the questions, making the obligatory jokes, but his mind was elsewhere, replaying the conversation, searching for any hint that he was wrong.
Was he really just imagining it? Had he built up this encounter in his head to something it wasn’t?
Chunks, Kenny, and Niko dutifully played their parts, chiming in with commentary, roasting his fashion choices, and occasionally offering their own questionable dating advice. He zoned out, only vaguely aware of their banter.
Round and round they went, the reveals became a little more revealing, the challenges a little sillier.
Chunks eliminated Number One, who had insisted on communicating exclusively through animal noises.
Kenny sent Number Three packing after her insistence that her ideal date involved taxidermy.
Niko, with a look of pure disgust, eliminated Number Two, who confessed to eating pizza with a fork and knife.
Finally, it was down to Number Four, Y/N, and Number Five, Olivia. He barely registered Olivia's presence, his focus entirely consumed by the hope that maybe, just maybe, he had been right about Y/N.
"Okay, can you two ladies come out and stand with me," Sharky asked, trying to inject some enthusiasm into his voice.
He watched their shoes walk around the curtain, the small scuff marks on Y/N’s worn sneakers sending a jolt of recognition through him. He saw Olivia first, a bubbly blonde with bright blue eyes and a practiced smile. Then…
His heart jumped. It was you. Y/N. He recognized the curve of your jaw, the way your hair framed your face, the subtle freckles dusting your nose. It was definitely you.
He couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face. He went to hug Olivia, offering a quick, polite squeeze.
Then he turned to you, and the hug lingered. Just a little longer than necessary, a silent acknowledgment of something unspoken.
"First thing I have to ask, Y/N, didn't we meet before?" he asked, unable to contain the excitement bubbling inside him.
You hesitated, your eyes darting towards the crew. “Yeah, we have, but…” you stopped, pointing at your earpiece, "your friends made me lie so it wasn't obvious."
"No way! I genuinely thought I was losing my mind," Sharky said, laughing, the sound genuine and relieved. "So, what, they set this up?"
"Pretty much," you said, a small, apologetic smile playing on your lips. "Sorry!"
"Sorry?" Sharky exclaimed, feigning offense. "This is the best thing that's happened all day! I thought I was going crazy!" He looked over at the crew, shaking his head in disbelief. "They actually pulled it off."
He still had to play the game, to maintain the illusion of choice. He asked you and Olivia two more questions, innocuous things about your hobbies and aspirations, trying to gauge how well you would fit into his life.
You answered perfectly, your responses witty, insightful, and surprisingly genuine.
Olivia answered well too, but his mind was already made up.
"Well now I have to pick the winner of the 'Finding Love with Sharky'," he said, drawing out the words for dramatic effect. He looked from Olivia to you, pretending to weigh his options. "This is a tough one. Both of you are amazing. You're funny, intelligent…" he paused, glancing at you again, a silent promise in his eyes.
"But… I have to be honest. There's something… a connection, maybe, that I feel with one of you. And that person is…" he paused again, milking the moment for all it was worth. "Y/N!"
A collective gasp rippled through the crew. Olivia managed a gracious smile, but he could see the disappointment in her eyes.
He felt a pang of guilt, but it was quickly overshadowed by the warmth spreading through him as you looked at him, a hint of surprise and something akin to intrigue flickering in your eyes.
He hugged Olivia quickly, offering a few words of thanks and encouragement before she left the set, leaving you and him standing awkwardly in the artificial glow of the studio lights.
He stepped forward and hugged you again, a proper hug this time, a hug that conveyed relief, excitement, and a burgeoning sense of… something more. He pulled back slightly, searching your face.
"Well this is the end of ‘Finding Love with Sharky’," he said, the words feeling strangely inadequate. "Y/N? Is there anything you want to say?"
You pointed towards the camera, a mischievous glint in your eyes. "Play the trailer!"
The screen went black. The lights came back up. Sharky was staring at you, a mixture of amusement and utter bewilderment etched on his face.
"So," he said, turning to face you, "tell me everything. How long have they been planning this? Did they bribe you with free pizza?"
You laughed, the sound lighter and more musical than he remembered. "It's been in the works for a few weeks. They tracked me down through the coffee shop where we met. And yes, there was pizza involved."
"Clever bastards," Sharky said, shaking his head, still amazed by the elaborate scheme. "But… why? Why go through all this trouble?"
You hesitated, looking down at your hands. "They said… they said you've been a bit down lately. And they thought… well, they thought maybe this would cheer you up. And maybe… maybe they saw something between us at the coffee shop that we didn't."
Sharky stared at you, the realization dawning. His friends, despite their constant teasing and ridiculous antics, genuinely cared about him. And maybe, just maybe, they were right.
"What did you think?" he asked, his voice suddenly low, almost vulnerable.
You looked up, meeting his gaze. "About the free pizza? Amazing. About the show? Utter chaos. About you?" You paused, a slow smile spreading across your face. "Intriguing."
He chuckled, a genuine, heartfelt sound. "Intriguing, huh? That's… better than I expected. So, intriguing enough to… I don't know… grab another pizza? Without the cameras?"
"Intriguing enough," you confirmed, your eyes sparkling.
A collective cheer erupted from the crew, breaking the intimate bubble that had formed between you and Sharky. His best friend, Liam, came bounding over, slapping him on the back.
"See, Sharky? We told you! We're matchmakers extraordinaire!"
"You're manipulative puppeteers who probably broke several labor laws," Sharky retorted, but the affection in his voice was unmistakable. He turned back to you. "So, pizza? Tonight?"
"I'd love that."
