Chapter Text
Chapter 1-
Bradley wasn’t that interested in dating, that’s something he tells himself often. Sure, the attention from the cute X-Games cheerleaders was always well appreciated, he even felt a sense of loss when it all ended and it was time to go back to the locker room. But dating any of them? No. He didn’t need things like that when he had his brothers back at the fraternity, and the best food and the shiny waxed trophies of gold in that mahogany display case across his bedside where he cleared out the spare bunk bed to make room (all the other boys share a room of one, three bunk beds) and the whole school adoring his athletic talent, praising him. A girlfriend would just get in the way of all that. It was more fun to keep people wanting and waiting and basking with no consequence to the game anyway.
Although ever since last year's tournament, his pride was wounded- just a little bit. Only a little. But money washes down the feeling at least, he was back on top in no time no thanks to Max Goof and his dweebish Dad. Sure, Bradley admitted defeat of course he did, he’ll hold good to his wagers but that doesn’t help the fact that Max is still a threat to his prowl with Max still being an active competitor in the X-games alongside his friends. Other than that Bradley’s been preparing. He’s been washing his uniform, ironing it, getting new wheels for his skateboard, and making sure everything goes perfectly this year. There was this precise plan he melded from scrap in his head, a savory image of victory was picture perfect like a blue sky across a canvas. And it tasted like luxury, like caviar or lobster bisque. Saying that winning would be a privilege was an understatement.
Bradley had his routine. Get up at least 5:00 AM precisely, brush his teeth and bleach (they weren’t discolored, he just had fear lingering, it was like clockwork), making himself the best breakfast of eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce, turkey sausage rinsed down with coffee all bought with allowance before practicing around campus on the skateboard and then heading to classes and doing practice all over again. The coach has kept a close eye on him and his team since the whole cheating incident- a miracle they weren’t disqualified from further games- so the best he could do was actually work for it and push his friends to their limits. Anyway, today’s going to change things for sure and soon his reputation will be back on track just as scheduled.
Max’s routine was a little different. It starts with waking up to some kitschy Garfield alarm clock that Bobby brought from home before he rolls out of bed after a few moments of sleeping in and heads to class after getting ready with a Redbull in his hand. And that was mostly it. Max was sluggish in class, yawning as the teacher spoke occasionally and sometimes taking glances at the back of Bradley’s head. Stupid Bradley, he thinks. Bradley, Bradley, Bradley. That nepo baby gets to go to the country club and eat hors d'oeuvres and go horseback riding while Max and everyone else eats from tiny cups of ramen. That wasn’t really what ticked off Max though, not really. Probably the cheating- no. Max was over that quickly. The way Bradley treated his dad? Sure, that was annoying at the time but not anymore. Something about Bradley though. Just something.
Stupid Bradley’s stupid JCPenny sweater over the button-up combo- although Bradley was probably too good for department stores like that. He probably shopped at those fancy places downtown Spoonerville. Oh, Bradley browsing down the aisles, head high in the air, probably sharing his dumb opinion through Reddit while rolling the cart down the aisle. His exaggerated expressions as he types, looking like a villain plotting out something. He had that funny grin- he’d probably grin like that too at the store, finding something to eat for lunch. Max wonders if he likes pizza too, maybe even pizza rolls are his style.
Then all he can see is P.J.’s hand waving back and forth, “Earth to Max…”
Max flinches out of his daydreaming and looks around, catching Bobby’s attention who looks concerned, “What’s been up with you lately, man? You’re all jittery, you need to relaaaax,” he drags out, “I have some stuff that could help with that man.”
Max shakes his head, “Seriously guys I’m fine, and nah- I’m good Bobby. Thanks though. I’ve just been…I don’t know, tired lately, I guess, yeah.” Max rubs his eyes, taking a few more glances at the back of Bradley’s light brown hair before shaking his head and rolling his eyes to himself and doing his paper, drawing a few stick figure Bradley’s doing different skateboarding tricks while he’s at it, he had to admit lately Bradley’s skateboarding skills have really improved, it’s almost impressive. Passion was always admirable.
After class, Max and his friends walk around campus with Max getting a soda from one of the machines before Bradley pulls up on his skateboard and gets it. Max narrows his eyes before they soften slightly when Bradley hands it to him. He still rolls his eyes though when he sees that proud grin on Bradley’s face like he’s Mother Teresa or something just for not drinking his soda, “What do you want, Bradley?”
“Wow, not even a ‘hello, how are you’?” He smirks, “I don’t want anything- well- I was going to invite you losers to my party actually, that’s it.” He hands them three envelopes, “I thought we should bond as separate teams, really get a good feel for each other, you know what I mean?”
Max scoffs, “Since when have you ever cared about team bonding Bradley?”
“Look, look, maybe I did sabotage the competition just a little but I’m a new man, can’t we move past that?”
“You almost killed Max in a fire.” P.J. points out, receiving a glare from Bradley.
“Fine, let’s see what this party has to offer I guess, partying never hurt anybody, right guys?”
Bobby and P.J. exchange looks but hesitantly nod in agreement.
That night at the party there’s red solo cups littered across the counters, and people chatting and shouting amongst themselves. Loud rap-esque music played in the background for those dancing to show off and amidst it all, Bradley and the other frat boys chatted with Tank giving the silent treatment after the way he was treated, Bradley knew he’d come back around very soon though like always.
“Oh, c’mon Tank, baby, don’t be like that. Everything is back in our graces, I invited that Max and his little friends so everyone knows we’re on good terms. Gotta keep that track record, right?” He playfully jeers his elbow towards Tank who shoves him causing Bradley to huff, “Big baby.”
Meanwhile, along the other side of the room, Max is casually drinking beside his friends, subconsciously poking his head around to see if he can spot Bradley. Max wasn’t too sure why, he didn’t have anything to say to him right now but he kept moving his head around viewing the crowd of young adults like him partying until Bobby spoke up, “Hey, man, watcha doing? See a girl you like? I could totally be your wingman.”
“Heh, not exactly…it’s nothing really. I don’t even know what I’m doing.” He grins gently, giving it up after one last chance, and sips on his drink (still the thought of Bradley lingers loosely in his mind), “You guys can go dance if you want, you know. I don’t think I’m up for much tonight.”
“C’mon, we’re at a party, Max!” P.J. points out, “We should be having fun, not just standing in the corner drinking all night.”
Max shrugs, “Eh, I guess I have a dance or two in me.”
They cheer him on and drag him out to the crowd and they dance for a long while although Max mostly feels like a cramped sardine trying to dance with two inches of room between him on all sides with all kinds of stimuli invading his drunken senses. It was overwhelming, to say the least, having a bunch of flashing lights and the scent of sweat and Axe body spray and beer, the blaring music, and…Oh, God, he was nauseous.
Bradley was getting a bit sweaty from all the banter and fog machinery so he looked around before finding himself slipping away down the deserted hallway, all gray and dirty laundry in the hallways that nobody ever got around to doing, he’d have to get onto Tank about that. Some lame Swedish pop group song plays, echoing and fading when it reaches the hall. Bradley wriggles with the doorknob to see it's locked causing his brow to furrow in frustration. This person is going to be in there forever, he just knows it, and and he can hear them vomiting. He shudders in disgust but still waits.
But then- then something very interesting happens. He hears the voice of Max, mumbling something. This should be good, maybe even gossip material so he casually leans against the door a little bit to make something out. He was talking to his dweeb friends, that Bradley could understand and then he hears it. That drunken voice, “Guys- Ugh…Guys- I think I like Bradley…maybe…”
Bradley thinks he gasps around the same time as Max’s friends very quietly. He looks around as though he’s looking for a camera filming. This has got to be a joke, right? That nerd that beat him actually liked him? There was no way…but it seemed true. Then another realization follows: this could be amazing blackmail. Yes, Max could join the Gamma’s, he always thought of Max as a potentially valuable asset to the team and this was his chance! On top of that maybe he could help out with chores around here, Lord knows Bradley wasn’t going to clean up all of those red solo cups around here tomorrow morning, he had training to do, places to be, and hands to keep clean. This was all too perfect, it was almost too good. He could taste genius when he grins. This whole ordeal was like a gift on a wishlist, just another thing to have.
“Hm, maybe love can have its benefits.” Bradley mumbles to himself and forgets about the bathroom, he sneaks up to his room to think on things.