Chapter Text
Max rolls to a stop, kicking his board up and catching it with his right hand. Stood only a few feet away, is none other than Bradley Uppercrust III.
Since the finals, Bradley hasn’t even spared Max a glance. It’s been months of radio silence from
him, so Max likes to think the surprised look on his face is understandable.
Bradley raises an eyebrow. “What’s wrong, freshman? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Hard to be sure I haven’t,” Max replies, “Where’ve you been, Brad? I was serious about the Towel Boy Bet being off, y’know. No need to avoid me.”
“Yes, Max, I know.” He sets his own board down and props his foot up on the deck, but it doesn’t look like he plans on skating just yet.
This is odd, Max thinks, how Bradley isn’t even attempting to be hostile towards him. What happened to their banter? Their insults thrown back and forth? Sure, they didn’t have any sort of competition to be worried about anymore, but Max wasn’t expecting Brad’s whole personality to change the moment they weren’t competing.
“Everything okay, man? You’re acting, like, totally different.”
Once again, Bradley simply raises an eyebrow. “What if I told you I’ve grown? I no longer wish to belittle you whenever I can.”
Max can’t help the bark of laughter that escapes him, which is met with a serious side-eye from Bradley. “Oh, I don’t believe that. Not even for a second.”
“Well, you should. The X-Games were pretty humbling this year.”
Max doesn’t say anything. Did the games really have that much effect on him? He knows Tank hasn’t felt the same about Brad since, what with the whole betrayal thing. Anyone who’s best friend almost kills them with a giant inflatable ‘X’ would react the same way.
Then, Max realizes something. He asks, “Have you changed, Bradley, or has Tank threatened you?”
Bradley’s silence is enough of an answer.
Max grins, the expression nothing if not intrigued. He had gotten closer with Tank these past few months. Did the big guy really threaten Brad enough to make him act nice like this?
Brad rolls his eyes so hard his whole head moves with the motion. “Yeah. So. Don’t make a big, annoying deal out of it. I can already tell you want to.”
Max’s mouth shuts. He was, in fact, about to make a big, annoying deal out of this situation. His grin stays in place, though, as he drops his board, propping himself on it like how Bradley did a moment ago.
“Well… Okay. We’re here to skate, yeah? Wanna show me what you’ve got, Uppercrust?”
He sees Brad again at the library the next day after class.
Well, Brad sees him, and decides he wants to bother Max.
He doesn’t even offer a greeting. He plops himself down into the empty chair next to Max, and pulls a textbook from his backpack.
Max glances over, looks back at the book he was studying, then has to make a double take… Because, well, only four months ago, the dude wouldn’t come anywhere near Max unless they were mid-insult. “Brad?”
“Don’t call me that.”
Max stares at him. Hadn’t he been calling him Brad just yesterday at the skatepark? “Oh. My bad,” he says, tone sarcastic, “Bradley Uppercrust III?”
Bradley glances at Max then, with a smirk. “That’s more like it. What do you want?”
“What do you want?” Max repeats. “What’re you doing, dude, why are you sitting here?”
“Sorry, does this chair have your name on it, freshman? Last time I checked, I can sit wherever I want.”
Max has to force himself to resist the urge to facepalm. “Yeah, obviously you can sit wherever you want. I’m just wondering why you chose the spot next to me of all places.”
Bradley looks around the library, which has plenty of open space. Really, the only few people in here are them, and maybe three other people. “There was nowhere else to sit.”
Max catches himself staring once again. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” he answers, no hesitation.
Max blinks a few times, then lets his eyes wander around the empty library, confirming to himself that Brad is just making shit up. By the time his eyes return to Bradley, he’s already studying his textbook again.
Max is tempted to say something, anything to get this boy to move seats, but then he realizes… Well, it’s not like Bradley is distracting him, or anything. They can both study at the same table, no harm done.
And so, they study together in silence, the only sound between them the turning of pages.
Max is starting to think Tank’s threat must be really severe. Never in a million years had he thought he’d be studying at the same table in almost-companionable silence with Gamma Mu Mu leader Bradley Uppercrust. Just as Max is about to ask what the hell Tank could have possibly said to him, Brad stands from his seat, closing his book with a thud.
“Let’s get out of here,” he says, and Max has to take a moment to process those words.
“Huh?”
“I said, let’s go. I’m starving.”
Max doesn’t move. He stays seated, staring up at Bradley. “What? You want me to come with you?”
Brad’s expression flattens. “No, Maximilian, I was talking to the librarian. I want her to come with me.”
“Oh–” Max glances around, in search of said librarian. Is Sylvia working today? Does Bradley often casually hang out with her? … That’s weird. Should he tell his dad?
Brad huffs. “Yes, I want you to come with me. Jesus Christ.” He tilts his head towards the library’s large double-doors. “Come on.”
“Bossy much?” Max teases, but compiles, standing from his chair and stuffing his book into his bag.
Bradley chooses to ignore Max. He knows the other heard his comment from the subtle eye-roll and the clench of his jaw. Months ago, Brad would’ve taken that opportunity to shoot back some sort of insult or something. That reminds him, Max needs to figure out what on earth Tank could have said to Bradley. Maybe it was something along the lines of, ‘Continue to be mean to Max and his friends, and I’ll destroy you.’ or ‘One more insult and I eat your skateboard.’ Who knows. Anything is possible.
On their way out of the library, Sylvia makes eye contact with Max. He smiles and offers a wave. She responds with wide eyes, glancing between him and Bradley. She’ll definitely be asking him about this later. Great.
“Sooo…” Max starts, following Brad down the library’s steps. “Where are we going?”
Bradley doesn’t even glance back at Max, let alone slow down so he can catch up. Max has to jog a few steps in order to match his pace.
“To get food. I said I was hungry, didn’t I, Max?”
This is so weird. Since when were he and Bradley Uppercrust III close enough to go out to eat together? Max almost wants to pinch himself. He has to be dreaming.
“‘Kay… But I really should be at the library, man. I dunno about you, but I have finals to pass.”
“Don’t care!” Bradley sing-songs, which earns him an eye-roll from Max. “You can take a break for food. We were in there for a while.”
Max checks his watch. “Is thirty minutes a while?”
“Why yes. It is.” Brad answers matter-of-factly. “No sane person wants to study for longer than ten minutes at a time.”
Max has to admit, he’s got a point. Though, he’s not sure sane is a word he’d use to describe Bradley. “Fine, okay,” he says, before dropping his skateboard to the ground, which was attached to his backpack. “Race you to Bean Scene?”
A slow grin appears on Bradley’s face. Max had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to refuse a competition.
“Oh, you’re on, freshman.”
After ending the race in a tie – Max swears it was a tie, though Brad insists he won – they find themselves outside Bean Scene. The coffee shop is busy, as always, when they step inside. Cree, who seems to be the shop’s only performer, is on stage. She’s speaking in verses that sound like riddles to Max, but he knows her words really mean something to some people. Like P.J., for example.
“Get me whatever you want. I’ll find us a table,” Max says, leaving Brad’s side to find them someplace to sit. As for his order – he’s never tried anything here that he hasn’t liked, and he’s always up to trying new things, so he assumes whatever Bradley orders will be fine.
Good thing he left Brad to find a spot, because a second after he sits down, he notices there are no more open tables left. This place is packed. Everyone seems to be either insanely into whatever Cree is saying, or is completely lost.
She isn’t up there for long, though; She wraps up her performance – which earns a standing ovation, as the snapping of fingers fills the room – and disappears backstage.
The next thing Max knows, Cree has slid into the other side of his booth. Her gaze is piercing, and she almost looks surprised to see him.
“Here all alone, Max?” she asks, her gaze tearing away from him to search the coffee shop. Before he can even think to respond, Cree points a manicured finger at him, saying, “You’re with Bradley.” Her tone is accusing.
“Yeah?” Max answers, sounding unsure. “And?”
“And?” she repeats with a scoff. “Let me remind you who we’re talking about here.” Cree shifts in her seat, leaning forward, punctuating each of her next words with a jab of her finger. “Bradley. Uppercrust. The Third.”
Max can’t help but roll his eyes at her dramatics. “He’s… actually not that bad.”
Cree stares at him like he’s stupid. Maybe he is.
“Look,” Max continues, his hands splayed out in front of him, placating. “Apparently, Tank threatened him. Told him to be nice to me, or something.”
“That in no way explains why you’re fraternizing with him, Max.”
“Okay, that… That part, I have no clue, honestly. Brad just started talking to me again out of nowhere yesterday. And then he found me in the library earlier today… and now we’re here.”
Cree is staring at him once again, an eyebrow raised, until something in her face changes. Max can practically see the lightbulb dangling over her head. She nods, understanding something he obviously doesn’t.
“What?” Max asks. He wants to know what she could possibly be thinking.
She doesn’t offer an answer. She simply stands, exiting the booth. Max follows her gaze to see Brad approaching. Cree smiles knowingly, glancing at Max, then Bradley, then Max again. “What?” he says again. Max is very rightfully confused because she’s clearly figured something out and won’t tell him.
“I’ll see you later,” she tells him with a wink, before disappearing into the crowd. What the hell was that about?
It’s then that Bradley slides into the spot Cree was just occupying. He sets down a tray with two coffees and a few pastries on it. “You like blueberries, right?” He moves a blueberry muffin and one of the coffees from the tray and places it in front of Max.
“Thanks,” Max says, sending Brad a smile, who doesn’t return it. “I’ll pay you back for my stuff.” He fishes his wallet from his pants pocket.
Bradley is quick to respond, “No need,” his right hand fluttering through the air, waving him off. “It’s fine.”
“Nah, dude, seriously. Here.” He holds out a ten dollar bill.
Brad raises an eyebrow. “I don’t need it.”
Max scoffs. “Yeah, I know that, Brad.” He waves the bill around. “This is me being nice. Just shut up and take the money.”
With a huff, Bradley snatches the paper from Max’s hand. “You’re so annoying. I actually hate you. Remind me, why are we hanging out again?”
Max simply responds with a smile, and takes a triumphant sip from his coffee. He doesn’t respond because he doesn’t have an answer to give. Only Bradley and maybe God know why the heck they’re suddenly spending their free time together. But hey, Max can’t say he minds – not really. As it turns out, he guesses, Bradley isn’t so bad after all.
Later, Max is sitting at his desk in the dorm he, Bobby, and P.J. share. He’s attempting to study. Hopefully he can get more work done than before, when Bradley had interrupted with a request to grab a snack.
All hope he had was lost, as soon as Bobby bursts through the door with P.J. in tow.
“Dudeski,” Bobby starts, eyes wide as saucers behind his glasses, “a little birdie tells me you’ve been farten- frat– hanging out with Brad?”
Max fights every urge to groan. He spins around in his chair just in time for P.J. to say, “Cree says she saw you two at Bean Scene. On a–”
Bobby cuts him off. “That dude is, like, totally insane, bro. He tried to kill you.”
Max shakes his head, crosses his arms. “I know just as much as you guys do. Brad literally went from not even looking my way to buying me coffee just because he feels like it.” He gives a shrug, arms still crossed, like he’s hugging himself.
“Sure, but going on a date with him, Max?” P.J.’s eyebrows are furrowed, like he’s trying to solve an impossible puzzle. “I didn’t even know you liked boys.”
Max has to sit there and allow his brain to process this sentence that was just spoken to him. “Wait, what?”
“Cree told us you were on a date with him at Bean Scene.”
He didn’t even notice his jaw hanging open until now. “Uh, I definitely was not on a date.”
Bobby grins, bends over rather awkwardly, and drapes an arm around Max’s shoulders. “No judgment, man, seriously. We don’t care if you’re gay.”
“Or bisexual,” P.J. adds.
“Or even pan,” Bobby finishes, nodding wisely. “We’re just judging your taste in men. Because, uh, Bradley Uppercrust? Of all people? Seriously?”
Max sits in stunned silence, because that’s all he can think to do. He’s never thought of himself as anything other than straight. Why would he? It’s not like he’s felt romantic attraction to a guy before. He hardly even likes Bradley as a person.
“You fellas have got it all wrong,” Max eventually says. “We were studying in the library, when Brad said he was hungry. He just told me to come with him. It wasn’t a date. At all.” He glances back and forth between his friends before adding, “And I don’t like boys.”
P.J. looks skeptical, and Bobby is giving him a look that says, ‘I told you, dude.’
“Then why did Cree say–”
“Cree doesn’t know what she’s talking about, man.” Max shakes his head, letting out a quiet sigh. “She saw that we were hanging out and made an assumption.”
“Hm,” P.J.’s expression is almost that of a pout. Max can’t tell if it’s because of his lack of a boyfriend, or because Cree told them her speculation as if it were a fact.
“Trust me,” Max says with a slight grin, “If I ever get an actual date, you guys’ll be the first to know.”