Chapter Text
Losing was already embarrassing enough without Tank very obviously and clearly showing the crowd that he wanted absolutely nothing with Bradley. And it was not like Tank was innocent! Neither were any of his other friends, or, well, helpers? They all cheated and it was not just Bradley who proposed the ideas. Sure, it was pretty shitty of Bradley, leaving Tank to fend for himself, but the big, strong guy was the one who usually preferred to deal with situations like this on his own, and as he was quite muscular, Bradley just assumed he could get out of any trouble he got in - and when on track Bradley was full of adrenaline, focusing only on the finish line. He was extremely competitive, and he could not really help it. He supposed he was just raised that way, and he thought Tank understood that. He was the closest thing he had to an actual friend, and now? Gone!
Bradley refused to admit to himself that it was completely his own fault. How would he feel if he was left under a giant burning cloth, unable to escape?
Even the fact that Max was suddenly acting like a saint and calling off the bet annoyed him. Was the guy pitying him? Him , Bradley Uppercrust III? After seeing what Bradley was capable of achieving, he was pitied by a freshman. He would be lying if he said it did not sting. Even more than the black eye Max’ father gave him. Bradley decided that it was probably an accident, but who on Earth carries a horseshoe with them?
He was, of course, still a part of the Gamma Mu Mu fraternity, as his parents basically sponsored them, but the leadership was transferred to Tank. Fair enough. He could live with that. But he did not dare show his face to Tank for a week, and, to be honest, he was still avoiding him like a plague. The guy was strong and Bradley did not want to find out what Tank had in store for him if they crossed paths while he was angry.
He knew he could not hide in his room forever. He had to go out, on a walk, in a cafe, anywhere - and so he decided he needed to go to Bean Scene Cafe. He really did not think his plan through, though, and did not count the possibility of meeting anyone who he did not really wish to meet.
When he finally set foot in the cafe he was met by a sight of Max and his friends, along with that girl with a beret who was hanging around one of Max’ friends constantly. He did not remember his name, neither did he want to. He went to the counter and ordered, then went in a corner along with his bought coffee. He thought it would be relaxing, but Max’ group kept on catching his attention. They were constantly in movement, talking, joking, laughing, dancing around - they amazed him. Entertained him, even. And it was hard to admit, but after a week with almost no direct contact with anyone, he was quite jealous of their friendship.
He spent some time watching them, sipping on his coffee and fantasizing about what he would be doing right now if he had not lost the X-Games, when he saw Max stand up and, to Bradley’s horror, make his way towards his little table in the corner. Bradley quickly stood up, which was a mistake as his vision blurred slightly as he felt his heartbeat in his neck, and when he got himself together, he was leaning on the table with Max right next to him.
“You good?” questioned Max, and Bradley’s blood boiled.
“I am quite well, freshman. Yet I cannot help myself but feel like I would feel even better if you stayed away from me,” sneered Bradley.
Max shrugged. “Don’t know, man. You looked pretty pathetic, sitting alone in a corner. Where are all of your subordinates?”
Bradley has had just about enough of this boy. He shot him an angry glance before looking away. “Where do you think they are, Maximilian? Do you have amnesia or have you simply forgotten about what happened last week?”
“I do recall Tank being fed up with your shit, yes,” smiled Max. Did he think this was funny? Because if he did, he was simply stupid, decided Bradley. Not like he did not know that already.
“What, is he not your friend anymore? Wait, now that I think about it, yes, he could have died there if it had not been for me and my dad- It was a pretty shitty thing to do to your friend, dude.” Max said it in a way that made it sound like he just solved a big philosophical mystery, and Bradley sat back down as he saw that Max was not going away.
Who was this kid to tell him something like this? Of course it was quite obvious that what he did was dangerous, but it was all good in the end. He was slowly losing his patience and he felt tired, and despite finally dragging his ass out of his room, all Bradley wanted was to go back. “Look, freshman, I am not looking for a fight. Or a discussion. Or any interaction in general. I just want to drink my coffee,” he spat out furiously.
Max raised an eyebrow at him and leaned on the wall against which the table was pushed. “You look better.”
“Excuse me?”
“The black eye. It is healing nicely. Does not help with this face of yours, tho.”
Bradley just sighed, annoyed. “If you want to make fun of me you can do it anywhere else, but I ask you to not do it here and now. I am really tired of it, Goof.”
Max did not seem to get the hint to leave. “I actually wanted to ask you to come and sit with us. Because, you know, I felt kind of bad for you.” Well, that was new. “Not that I like you or anything, but you are keeping a table which could be vacant for like, a couple or something, occupied. Not that I care, of course. It was P. J.’s idea.” Ah. That made more sense. “He has been getting softer the longer he is with that girl, so I assume he feels sorry for your ass,” scoffed Max.
“You think I would join you and sit at the table with you and those three bastards? Oh, you are gravely mistaken, freshman. I am way above you all, Gamma Mu Mu leader or not!” growled Bradley.
Max seemed quite unimpressed as he shrugged and pushed himself off of the wall. “Well, I offered. Your choice.” He turned his back to Bradley and made his way back to his table, singing an X with his arms and the rest of his group rolling their eyes.
If Bradley was completely honest with himself, he could feel tears threatening to blur his vision. He wanted to believe it was merely because of pure hatred and anger he felt for the freshman, but he would be lying to himself. He was glad he was offered a seat with other people. He was used to being the center of attention and not having the members of his fraternity around him constantly was not at all enjoyable. The sheer disappointment that hit him when Max turned away was enough to bring tears to his eyes. Bradley wanted him to keep going - to keep on asking him, pestering him, annoying him, begging him to join them. He needed someone to pay attention to him after the rough week he had.
So he got his act together, angrily blinking back tears and looking around. He spotted a young couple walking into the cafe, and he quickly stood up, coffee in hand, and basically dragged them to the table he previously sat at. Then Bradley swallowed his pride down and made his way towards Max and his friends.
The group dragged additional chairs and placed them next to the two tables they pushed together, so there was enough space for all 4 of them. Not that they could not fit around one table, they just preferred additional space. P. J. sat next to the girl with a beret, Bobby sat opposite of P. J. and Max was sitting opposite of P. J.’s girlfriend, manspreading and wildly waving with one hand while the other was draped over the back of the chair. Bradley suddenly felt like he was invading their personal space - but who was he to care? They did offer him to join them, after all. So he grabbed a nearby chair and plopped his ass on it right between Max and the girl, practically throwing his coffee cup on the table in front of him.
“They wanted the spot,” Bradley pointed to the couple. He then crossed his arms on his chest, leaning back and persistently looking at the table in front of him. Not the best start.
“Well, look who decided to join us. Us! The ones you think of so lowly,” dramatically gasped Max, then grinned. Now it was Bradley rolling his eyes.
“I am feeling generous enough to bless all of you with my presence. You should be thankful for that.”
The girl groaned. “I know it was my boyfriend’s idea, and I respect him, but for the love of God can we make him go away? I cannot stand all of this negative energy.”
Max laughed. “You do not need to worry - he is just going to sit here, politely, will you not Bradley?” If looks could kill Max would be fucking dead .
But Bradley stopped himself from insulting the whole Goof family as he actually thought for a second. If he screws up and does not play along Bradley will have to go into his room once again, he will have to be alone again, and he certainly did not want that.
So he crossed his arms and put on the grumpiest expression that he could, hoping he looked unbothered by all of this.
The conversation was visibly less intense compared to before he sat down with them, but Max was as chatty as ever.
“Sooo, how do you all think Gamma Mu Mu is doing now? Tank seems to be a great leader too, is he not, huh, Brad?”
“I thought you wanted me to be quiet, freshman,” hissed Bradley.
“Changed my mind,” shrugged Max.
“In a second?”
“Happens. I thought you would have fought harder to stay at the top, if I am being honest.”
Bobby nodded. “Yea, man. It is weird that you just let Tank rule.”
“Oh, you think I did not try? No, suddenly all of them are acting like innocent little pricks - as if they did nothing!” Bradley banged his fist on the table. “And Tank - he knew I was like this, we talked about it, he should have not agreed to any of that if he was not okay with potential faults in the plan!”
“Dude, chill, it was pretty shitty of you to leave Tank there just like that. Thought you two were friends,” Bobby shook his head. “I could never imagine leaving Max or P. J. like that.”
This was just swell. Every single sentence made Bradley further regret his decision of blessing these freshmen with his presence. He rolled his eyes.
“Tank is strong enough to get himself out of trouble. All I did was not doubt him.”
Max stared at him with a puzzled look. “Brad, a giant object on fire fell on him. How in hell is he supposed to get out himself?”
Max and his ego! Thinking he knows everything!
“He made it very clear to me that I shall not underestimate him, and I respected his wishes, that is all.”
The girl with a beret, who spent the past couple of minutes clinging to P. J.’s hand as P. J. gazed at her lovingly, glared at Bradley once again.
“At least you got what you deserved. My humble opinion - Tank should have kicked you harder for what you did to him. Not to mention everyone else you hurt because your ego grows by the second.”
Bradley has just about had it with them. If he knew all they wanted was to mock him because he lost, he would have walked back home and been spared this nonsense.
“I did not get enough ? Oh, please. Is it not horrible enough that I lost, got kicked and dumped in a span of minutes? All thanks to you, freshman . Screw you and this little friend circle of yours. Gossip about me without me being there to hear it!” Coffee forgotten, he shoved away the chair and basically stomped out of the cafe.
“Bradley! Come on, man, get back here! I promise we were just teasing you!” Max called after him, but it was no use.
“Max, let the guy leave. Oh, I have a wayyy better thing to discuss right now than whatever you want to talk about with him,” grinned the girl. “Who dumped him?”
“He said that?”
“He said he lost, got kicked and dumped. In a span of minutes ! Karma really is a bitch, but she is fair.”
“Oh, I bet it was one of those girls who I see posing around the skatepark all the time. They love rich crybabies like Brad,” suggested P. J., finally breaking the eye contact he held with his girlfriend.
“What if we do not have to discuss? Tank certainly is not his friend anymore he could spill the tea to one of us!” Max seemed pretty proud of his idea. “As a matter of fact, I volunteer - I will go and ask him which girl dumped him, and we can use that to tease him even more!”
His statement was met by finger clicking of approval.
***
“Hey, Tank!”
The big guy grunted and turned around, not particularly happy with being disturbed while trying to study. Now that Bradley was not there as a distraction, all the Gamma Mu Mu members spent more time on studying in the library.
He was met by a boy in baggy jeans and a, by this point well recognized, big red T-shirt.
“What do you want, Goof?” snapped Tank, annoyed.
“Easy, big guy, thought we were on good terms after all that we went through.” Max immediately stopped, ready to run away in case the man in front of him decides he wants to quickly get rid of him.
“I do not wish to be disturbed.”
“Yea, well, I will be short, then. A quick question!”
Tank sighed, dropping the pen on his notebook and turning so he was fully facing Max. “What?”
“I- We wanna know which girl dumped Bradley.”
“What do you mean - which girl dumped Bradley ? How would I know? He has had many in the past and all of them dumped him. I do not recall their names. Not important.”
“No, no, I do not think you understand. I want to know which one dumped him right after he lost the X-Games!” exclaimed Max, crossing his arms on his chest, expecting a quick answer.
Tank stared at him for a moment before chuckling and turning back to his work.
“No girl dumped him after the X-Games.”
“What do you mean, no girl-”
“It was me. I dumped him.”
Max thought he was prepared for any answer that could have been given, but this? He just stood there, shocked. Bradley with Tank ? He thought Tank called everyone ‘baby’ and ‘sweetheart’ so it made sense he thought nothing of it when Tank called Bradley by a cute nickname.
“You… dumped Bradley. Bradley. A guy. ”
“Yea, I did. What?” Tank’s gaze darkened. “You one of them homophobes? Did not think of you this low, Max.”
Max quickly jumped forward, eyes wide.
“No, never! Is it not obvious I am not completely straight myself? I just… I did not think you were…”
“Hm? Gay?”
“... gay! Or whatever you are! Not that I care of course! And for Brad… I also did not think… I do not know… Is he out yet? Are you ? Can I tell this to others or is it like, a secret?”
“Look, baby, I do not really care what you say to others about me. But Bradley? Maybe it would be good for you to tell others - he did always complain how much easier it would have been if we could hold arms in public. No idea why he never acted on it.”
“So… I can tell Bobby and P. J.? Sorry, we just wanted to know-”
Tank rolled his eyes and started nervously tapping the table.
“I do not care. I have things to study - you talk all you want, it is not my decision. Not like I could keep on deflecting the rumors for much longer.”
Max nodded and turned around to leave before thinking of another question.
“Uh, dude? I assume you dumped him because of X-Games?”
The big guy had a short temper and Max was really testing him with those questions when Tank was supposed to study, for God’s sake. He might have saved him, but they were not close enough for Tank to regret kicking him out of the library himself.
“Yes, sweetheart, I would assume you would also leave someone who left you out there to die.”
“I just thought… that a person like Bradley would have other… how to put it nicely… negative traits which could impact the decision.”
Tank shrugged. “I knew what I was getting into and I do not regret it. Now,” he raised his voice slightly, “it is time for you to leave. This exam is important.”
He put on his headphones to clearly signal that he would not be answering any more questions, and Max hurried out of the building.
***
How Bradley despised Maximilian Goof. The damn guy has been giving him weird looks the whole day after their encounter at the cafe. He was now sitting at the other side of the classroom, in the back, away from Tank and other Gamma Mu Mu members, and Goof was turning around every couple of minutes to look at him.
It was annoying, it was upsetting and it left him guessing. Why would someone like Max be looking at Bradley?
Bradley quickly stopped his train of thoughts. Someone like Max? As if Max was anything special! It was just the attention. Yes, Bradley loved the attention and now that Tank was not there to provide it, he was getting off of the looks Max was giving him - that must be it. Nothing more than that.
He would not deny that he started to count the minutes it took for Max to look at him again, and he did so in anticipation of catching a glimpse of Max’ eyes. Fuck, was he that desperate? Desperate enough to get a crush on his basically sworn enemy in one school hour?
Bradley Uppercrust III truly was pathetic sometimes. It angered him, but it was true.
And the ultimate proof of the pathetic state he was in was the fact that he had to basically run to the bathroom during the next break to get rid of the fucking boner that just appeared. Because of Max looking at him . He fell so low and he was sure he could not fall lower.
Max caught his attention the moment they met, and he hated to admit it, but even then he acknowledged that the guy was hot. Even late at night, Tank besides him, he could not stop thinking about how Max looked with his baggy pants and a baggy shirt, underwear peeking over the waist of the pants when he was legs up in the middle of the air on his skateboard so his shirt slid down.
So he tried to avoid his gaze as much as he could to prevent any further awkward situations. It was not easy - Bradley was absolutely starving for attention. But he could not come to terms with the fact that he developed such a strong crush after a day, and he certainly was not willing to be kind enough to Max for it to progress anywhere. Besides, it was too soon, was it not? Too soon to move on from Tank.
***
It was getting bad. Oh, it was getting so bad. Bradley could not be in the same room as Max without feeling the butterflies in his chest as if he was a young boy with a dumb crush. Who he probably was, just not so young. And of course he could not always avoid this damn guy - he always seemed to sit in the same classroom at just the right space so that Bradley could not look at the board without seeing his dark hair. And, inconveniently, he could also see Tank’s broad back as he sat right behind Max. He could see them talking sometimes, and he could not deny that he was jealous. Very jealous. He was jealous of Max as he got to talk to the man Bradley still liked, and of Tank as he was talking to the man Bradley wanted.
Truth be told, Bradley was so used to getting what he wanted he forgot how it felt like to have something you craved with your whole body just out of reach.
He still went skating, sometimes he saw Max being the center of attention at the skatepark, and he stopped and stared, hoping he would not be noticed. It felt like he became irrelevant after X-Games, and silently he was hoping Max would turn around, see him peeking over the fence and at least wave or something. Make Bradley feel noticed.
***
Tank spent the last few nights studying, and was hoping to relax by watching a series or something, so plopped down onto the couch in the common area and looked around for the remote. Locating it on the table, he sighed and reached for it, just for the remote to be snatched right before he could grab it.
“Who-” he turned around to look at the thief, just for his eyes to darken the moment he noticed who it was. “Bradley.”
“Warm greetings to you too, Tank.”
“Give me the remote.”
“Not before I say what I have to say!”
“Your actions at the X-Games said it all for you! Seriously, dude? I knew you were competitive, but letting someone you apparently loved to fend for himself in a situation both of us know I could not have escaped even if I tried ten times harder than I did?”
Bradley refused to look Tank in the eyes. “Look, it got the best of me, okay? I could not look back when I was this close- and can you really blame me for thinking you would be okay? You are massive, for God’s sake! You could move a house if you wanted to! You usually get through everything with force, how was I supposed to think you could not now?”
“Are you stupid? A giant cloth - in flames, might I add - fell on me, metal parts and all, and you thought I would be okay ? Just because I am usually stronger than you are? Bradley, I am still a human, I could not have possibly moved anything off of me.” Tank was holding back, trying to mask his anger, but who would have thought his ex was an absolute idiot? Sure, he could not grasp concepts such as not having enough money to get by and such, but that was mostly on his parents, and Tank could work with that. But basic fucking understanding?
Bradely was at a loss of words as his wrongdoings were now clearly on display. “Tank, I am so sorry, please - I know I did not get to apologize to you after the X-Games, and we never even officially broke up, and I deserved everything that happened to me, but please , I have to make a proper apology-”
“So that you can stop feeling sorry for yourself? No way. I am not letting you have this, Bradley, not after all of this. I really thought you loved me, okay? We are over. I am trying to get over you, and it will take time, but the only apology I will ever accept will be a genuine one, not something you are about to make up on the spot so you can sleep better at night!”
Tank’s voice raised and Bradley winced at the words. But it was all true, was it not? The only reason Bradley wanted to apologize was to feel free. So that he could confirm that Tank wanted nothing romantical with him again - then he could look at Max without guilt eating him alive. He was such a shitty person, and he mentally smacked himself for realizing how fucked up his thinking was this late.
But he was who he was, and he was blind by emotion, by adrenaline, and all he wanted was something . He needed to apologize, needed to look at Max freely, needed attention. He has not been alone for so long and now that karma bit his ass he was prepared to do anything to mean anything to anyone.
He got down on his fucking knees and basically crawled towards Tank, who looked at him with eyes wide open. He clasped his hands and finally looked at his ex. He needed this, he needed to apologize, he needed to look at Max when he wanted and for his gaze to not linger on Tank when it should not.
”Please, please, let me have this, Tank, please, I will do anything - do you want me to buy something for you? I will buy you anything! Need someone new? I- I can find them for you! I have connections. I have money! Do you want me to suck you off? No hard feelings, right? Let me-”
“Bradley, stop , for fuck’s sake! You drunk or something?” The look of disgust on Tank’s face was something new. Bradley did not like it. “You have to be. No way you sound this crazy while sober. No way you think my forgiveness can be bought like this.”
He backed up a few steps, almost panicked, but fully angry. “Fuck this shit, I am going to my room. Follow me and I will use force if needed. This is a promise. Do not think of contacting me until you get your damn shit together!”
He quickly made his way to the stairs, fuming, and made his way up, leaving Bradley on the floor with that damn crazy grin he often had on his face. The only thing out of place was the tear tracks down his cheeks. The tears he did not even feel lazily dripped down his face.
Adrenaline slowly left his body, and the smile left his face. He could finally think clearly, and he has never felt as disgusted with himself as he felt right now. Who was he to get on his knees and beg ? He has never done it before, and he could not believe he did it now.
He came into the building with the intention to make up with Tank, so they could maybe be friends again, so he could have someone to talk to, because the occasional interactions he had to endure with Max’ social circle were less than bearable. But it only took a minute before his mind was full of Max, and he realized he never got properly rejected, just kicked, so he decided he needed the confirmation - and, after all, forgiveness. Bradley Uppercrust III was, after all, a talker. And someone who talks a lot yet has no one to talk to will start talking to themselves. And Bradley could not stop talking about what he did at the X-Games, and if he was not forgiven he could never let it go to talk about Max Goof.
He picked himself up, knees weak, and went up the same staircase Tank did. Their rooms were right next to each other, a sour reminder of what they were before. And as he spent many days before, he was once again in his room, alone. Truly his own fault.
He had two pictures of Max on his phone. One from the X-Games, some reporter took it, and he looked so badass. And the other he took during one of his sneaky visits to the skatepark - the one where Max was head down, legs up, arms holding onto the edge of the half pipe, stomach visible. He stared at it until he felt uncomfortable as he thought about the fact that Max will never know his rival is looking at a hot picture of him in the privacy of his room.
“Can you screw this up even more, Bradley ?” he hissed to himself, throwing his phone on the bed and sitting right next to it, prepared to get under the covers, not caring about brushing his teeth or showering, because truth be told, it was Saturday tomorrow, and he did not plan on getting out of bed for nothing, so it did not matter. So he got comfortable, and the moment he thought he could peacefully drift off the emotions he kept at bay for a few minutes made their way through. He whispered to himself, rethinking what happened, scolding himself, promising himself he will try again, and just like often before he found himself with his eyes pressed against the pillow so it absorbed the tears while he muttered everything he wished he could say to Tank, everything he wishes he could say to Max.
And then his phone buzzes.
***
Max had the whole circle around him, P.J. sitting on his own bed with his girl, Bobby on the floor and Max on the bed facing all of them. It was probably less than 10 minutes from when he told them what he had learned, and knowing his friends he could have known something like this would happen.
“No way. Absolutely no way.”
“Pleaseee, Maxy, it will be sooo funny!” pleaded Bobby, P.J. agreeing. “It would be just to get back at him for what he did to you.”
“And what, hurt his feelings?”
“Be honest with yourself now, does he truly not deserve this?” questioned P.J.’ girlfriend, beret sitting next to her. “He quite literally does nothing but ruins everything. Believe me, I would have known, I have seen it.”
“But, you know, should queers not stick together or something? It must be hard to be gay and have a rich daddy. Probably a traditional one too.”
“Yes, you can be supportive all you want, but first comes karma. For him that coming is long overdue,” added P.J., shrugging.
Max sighed. “This is the definition of peer pressure, guys.” He then pulled out his phone and searched for a number which was forcefully given to him while Bradley still hoped he would join their fraternity, and started typing.
“Is this what you all want?”
He turned the screen around so that everyone could see.
hey brad i know it is probably a weird time to ask, but i think ur cute and i was thinking we could meet sometime. no pressure tho
“Sounds like a child wrote it for a dare. I love it!” Bobby clapped his hands at the masterpiece.
“Send it! No second thoughts. This will be amazing.”
“If anyone asks, this was not my idea. Which is true.” Max clicked send without looking at the message again.
They sat in silence for a while after Max signaled that Bradley saw his message, and was typing. It was weird how quickly he replied, but not like they cared - they just wanted to see what Bradley had to say.
Finally there was a ping and Max quickly checked before typing something again. It only took a few seconds to hear the second ping, and Max turned the screen around.
Max
hey brad i know it is probably a weird time to ask,
but i think ur cute and i was thinking we could meet sometime.
no pressure tho
Bradley
Max, are you drunk? This is out of nowhere.
I swear, if this is for a dare…
You are a weird one.
Why would I agree to such a peculiar offer?
Max
not drunk not a dare. i mean it
i was looking at u for a while
meet me at the cafe tmrw?
Bradley
I will be there at 17.00.
“Duuuude, no way he agreed just like that? Like it was not his rival asking him out?”
“I knew he had a crush on you! No fucking way he would agree otherwise.”
“Or maybe he just wants a quick fling to get over Tank?” questioned Max as replied to Bradley with a thumbs up emoji.
“Oh, who cares, Max - I want to see his face tomorrow when he realizes it was a dare. Some fun would not hurt him, right?”
Max truly did not know what to think of this. His friends proposed this crazy idea - that he should ask Bradley out as a joke so they can see how the stuck up guy would act, all lovey-dovey with someone he not long ago deemed a loser. On one hand, he thought it was a bit cruel, pranking someone who just got broken up with and is not even publicly out yet, and he started to feel guilt creeping up his neck, but on the other hand he thought it would be fun to ruin an afternoon for someone who he despised. He tried to be friendly, but if Bradley did not care for that, then Max did not care either.
“I cannot imagine how Tank managed to survive with him. Matter of fact, I do not know how anyone could be with Brad,” chimed P.J’s girl, and Max laughed.
“I cannot understand either.”
***
Bradley could not believe it. One moment he was bawling his eyes out in his bed and the next he was lying on his back, shocked and excited. There was just no way Max Goof asked Bradley Uppercrust III out on a date. Yet every time he looked at his phone he saw the thumbs up emoji and his heart skipped a beat. He knew he probably agreed without much hesitation, but he could not blame himself as he was not in the right headspace for rational decisions, was he?
He just had to believe that everything would be okay. Miracles clearly do happen and he can apologize to Tank some other day. He can ask Max out on a second date, they can sit together next year, he will be okay . The tears dried, head still hurting slightly and Bradley finally fell asleep.