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Bradley had exes, it was as obvious as saying there were stars in the sky. There was a long list of girls, both in highschool and university who could vouch for what an amazing boyfriend he was. Girls he would gladly throw a concert ticket to or hook on his arm while his gaze wandered over to his teammates muscles in the locker room and he dreamed about being whisked away by some ruggedly handsome man in a fireman's helmet. His relationship with Max was the first real one, the first one that really mattered to him, more than any of the other ones.
It was the one he wanted to hold close to his heart and never let go.
“Who wants to meet up for coffee?” Bradley blinked up from his statistics textbook
They were in Max’s room, along with P.J. and Bobby for a study session. Spring break was coming soon and midterms were about to be in full swing. Somewhere along when they’d started dating Max had left his letterman jacket in Bradley’s room, and the senior came to return it. He did not think about the implications until the door to the triple was shut and the boy’s two roommates were freaking out from behind it.
“Uhh Roxanne! The girl that Max was totAaally head over heels for in high school” Bobby courteously explained, leaning over the back of his chair to wiggle his eyebrows at the boy
“Man shut up, that was four years ago!” Max retaliated, pushing the sophomores head back as the redhead just laughed
“Oh Bradley you have never seen more of a stuttering mess” P.J. teased from his bed, wiggling his pencil at Max “All ‘Roxanne this! Roxanne that! What if she thinks my tooth gap is too big? What if Dad’s embarrassing? How do you even kis-!’”
The boy was met to a pillow to his face by Max, who was scowling at his two roommates, Bradley sat on the floor in disbelief to what he was hearing. Max gave his boyfriend a pleading look as his roommates just laughed
“Yeah so I was…pretty down bad for her. We dated for a few months but then well–she wanted to go to college out of state to study social work–and I knew I couldn’t afford anything else than here.” Max said with a shrug
“We didn’t really want to do long distance so we decided to end things, but she’s still really chill and we call sometimes. Her school gets out for spring break earlier than ours so she’s coming here for a visit.”
“I see…” Bradley hummed skeptically, mind whirring with worries and assumptions about this girl.
She was probably smarter than him, kinder surely, in touch with her emotions. Roxanne probably waxed on about Powerline lyrics like Max did, she probably understood them the same way he did anyway.
“Yo-O-o Brad? You gonna keep staring off into space or what?” Bobby asked, wiggling his fingers in front of his face “What you like them tall, athletic and stupid Maximillian?”
Brad huffed and waved the other’s hand away, adjusting his glasses, “I will have you know I am due to graduate top of my class, and you’re going to be lucky to pass if you call the chicken scratch an essay.” He huffed, making Bobby sputter in his seat.
He could think about Roxanne, or not think about her, later. It wasn’t like they were ever going to meet. Max was his boyfriend, and this wasn’t highschool.
“She wants to have coffee with me!?” Bradley exclaimed as Max and him walked back from the library
While their tutoring sessions were over the pair still tended to study at the library, since Max had to help other students with tutoring. The shorter boy sped up on his skateboard, picking up the pace to keep up with the older boy’s stride.
“Yeah, you know we can go to the Bean Scene or that coffee place you like-“
“Do not compare Beanie’s to the Bean Scene those two are not on the same playing field.”
Max rolled his eyes at the overdramatics “Fine we could go get Beanie’s superior coffee. But she wants to see me and she wants to meet you.”
Bradley gave his boyfriend a bewildered look “Why would she want to meet me?”
Max looked up at the trees, stuffing his hands in the pocket of his red hoodie “Well I uh-I maybe-mentioned I was dating someone.” He admitted, blush creeping onto his cheeks
If Bradley was blushing he would blame it on the breeze, he punched the other’s shoulder lightly, making him laugh “What? Can I not brag about the super smart, eloquent, did I mention insanely hot person I’m dating?”
“First of all, thank you, second of all, my question still stands.”
“Because she thinks you’re cool! Because I know you’re cool and I think you guys would get along.”
“Even though she’s your ex.”
The weight of the statement didn’t seem to phase Max, who gave the senior a wide smile, full teeth. “Pleaseeeeeee”
If they weren’t in public Bradley would lace his hands in with Max’s and kiss him, wiping that adorably dorky smile off of his face. They’d hold hands while skating all the way to his dorm. Unfortunately, it was too light out and people were too aware of their surroundings to pull a move like that. Bradley settled for shoving the boy off the skateboard, making him laugh as he caught himself.
“You win, we can have coffee with your high school ex-“
“You make it sound like such a bad thing-“
“And then we spend the night at my dorm.” Bradley finished smugly, crossing his arms as the other boy sputtered, dark blush colouring his cheeks.
“Brad you’re such a dog!” Max yelped, jumping back on his skateboard and skating off to the direction of the dorms, leaving the senior laughing, running after his boyfriend.
The pair were resting outside the entrance of the Bean Scene, Bradley’s arm lazily perched against the railway as Max leaned on next to him. He had not overdressed, just khakis and a dark green sweater Max said complimented his appearance once. Max flipped his phone closed and shoved it into his jean’s pocket.
“She should be coming anytime soon”
Bradley nodded, tapping his finger anxiously on the metal bar. Max glanced up at his boyfriend
“You’re going to be fine, she’s really sweet.”
“If she dated you she had excellent taste. I’m just—“
“Nervous?”
“I don’t know.” Bradley stared down at the pavement “None of my other exes mattered to me, Hell I can hardly remember some of their names. Especially not the ones from high school.”
Max nodded, twirling a loose strand of his curly black hair “I never dated much in highschool, I’d always get too nervous to ask out any of my crushes. Roxanne just worked out somehow.”
Bradley hummed noncommittally not entirely in the mood to hear his boyfriend ramble about his old flame.
“Oh my gosh Max!” Exclaimed an unfamiliar voice making both boys look up from their conversation.
Quickly running towards them was a girl with red hair that went down just under her ears, wearing daisy patterned overalls and blue sneakers. Bradley watched as his boyfriend brightened, running up to hug the girl tightly, successfully lifting her off the ground. When they pulled away they stared at each other before bursting into laughter again, he felt something ugly crawling up his chest and settling.
“Okay-okay before we get any further, introductions are in order!” Max announced, dragging Roxanne over to where Bradley was still leaning over the railing.
“Bradley this is Roxanne–” the shorter boy started gesturing over to the redhead, who waved politely, she had two moles on her cheek.
“And Roxanne this is Bradley, the stupidest, dorkiest, X-game champion for two years in a row, hottest senior in class–”
“I get it Max!” The girl interrupted with a laugh, covering her mouth slightly “He’s yours.”
The tips of Max’s ears went red, he chuckled nervously. Bradley was slightly startled at how easily Roxanne said the status of their relationship, but he didn’t show it. He smirked fondly at the shorter boy, before turning his attention to Roxanne, extending his hand for a handshake.
“Bradley Uppercrust the third. It’s a pleasure to meet you Roxanne.”
“Roxanne Rover,” Roxanne started, giving him a hearty shake “I um- went to highschool with Max.”
The trio went into the Bean Scene, Mocha giving them a wave from her place onstage. It was relatively busy, with college students lounging on the walls and chairs, everyone had a drink in hand. Max dashed to the nearest booth that opened up, Roxanne and Bradley in tow.
“Alright I’m going to order some drinks, you two try not to tear the place down.” Max stated, getting up to go to the counter and leaving the pair alone
Bradley side-eyed Roxanne, who was currently engrossed in taking in all the wall stains and dirty floor. Upon closer inspection Bradley noticed the girl’s tote bag slung over her shoulder, it sported safety pins and buttons with smiley faces and “Save the planet!” written on them. Bradley glanced off to the counter where Max was ordering, leaning his head in his hands and sighing.
“Do you like the coffee here?” The red haired asked, making the taller boy blink in confusion
“No.” He was always ready to bash the Bean Scene “It’s hot, burnt sludge, which is a shame because they get really good coffee beans, the baristas can’t work coffee machines for shit.”
Roxanne laughed at the bluntness “I see! Why are we here then?”
“I perform here sometimes, when they have open mic. It’s close to the residential campus and lots of people hang out here, you can sit and not actually buy anything.”
Not to mention the lights were dimmed and the attention was never on him, no one stared or whispered if Max and him laced their hands under the table, or if they sat too close to each other hunched over the same book. It was a nice enough atmosphere.
“I wish we had places like this at my university.” the girl said wistfully “I write songs sometimes, it’d be nice to share them.”
Bradley did not care where this girl went to school. He did not care to be polite and ask her what she studied or what her songs were about, he drummed his fingers on the coffee table
“I write prose.” He found himself admitting, making her lift her eyebrows quizzically, but the senior just shrugged, the readings were a one night occasion only. Where he could share his long winded explanations on why he liked math and why people should be worried about the environment. Nights where he could meet Max’s eyes in the crowd as he waxed on about a certain “you” with black hair that made him feel weightless.
“Neat, I gather you don’t do much creative writing in business?”
“No.” He said curtly, before frowning at her “How’d you know what I study?”
“Max has mentioned it a couple of times.” She said simply
Bradley rolled his eyes, of course she would remember. “Do you do a lot of creative writing in…whatever it is you do?”
“I study social work, so sometimes but mostly for my electives.”
“Do you like your school?”
“It’s nice to be out of Spoonerville.” Roxanne said with a chuckle “The people there are great but it’s a little suffocating to have known everyone on your block since you were ten.”
“I suppose it’d be nice to finally get out of Ohio.”
“You said it.”
He nodded, his eyes trailing off around to see if he could miraculously be saved from the silence by a convenient falling spotlight. Or piano.
Max was leaning against the counter, examining a poster for an upcoming battle of the bands, his tongue stuck out in between his tooth gap, muttering something to himself. Bradley’s gaze softened, that goof.
“You make him happy.” Roxanne said, making him bristle in his seat, turning to glance at her
“Max,” she clarified, “He used to complain about you all the time, then those complaints started turning into…endearments. I’m happy he found you.”
She said it with such sincerity it made Bradley want to gag.
“You two used to date.” He said instead, it wasn’t a question, it was a blunt statement.
The girl snorted, tucking her hair behind her ear “Yeah in highschool. Max is the sweetest guy I know, even back then. He’d listen to me talk about nineteenth century poetry, he didn’t think any of my toys were weird. Gosh he made me feel incredible.”
If Bradley didn’t want to fry the girl in front of him before, he did so now. “Max is amazing. He’s a little reckless, sure, but he can make you feel like you can take on anything.” From biology courses to homophobic households.
“He used to be so...scared to be himself.”
“Maximillian?” The same boy who’d bared his heart and given him a second chance and stood through all the bullshit, who was always willing to listen and love him despite his flaws. “We’re talking about the Max Goof?”
“Oh gosh, he made up a whole elaborate scheme to make me think his Dad was friends with Powerline.” Roxanne huffed out a laugh
“Really?” The older boy said with a smirk, glancing off at his boyfriend who was trying to juggle three orders of coffee and a bag of pastries “Well, he didn’t need to do much to impress me. Max’s skateboarding skills are incredible, if he’d accepted my gracious invitation to the Gamma Mu Mu fraternity we could have been saved a lot of trouble.”
“As if I’d join your up-tight good for nothing frat-” Max said with an eyeroll, before placing the precariously balanced drinks on the table.
“You’re just jealous cause our parties are invite only” Bradley said in a haughty voice, grabbing his drink.
He hummed in mock thought, grinning “Well..I would’ve invited you anyway.”
“Wanted to weaken the competition? See me in a vulnerable state then go in for the kill and have me spill eggs everywhere?”
“Eggs, how did you-no-no I’d…” Bradley cut himself off by taking a long sip of coffee, it burned his throat and tastebuds. He was not going to give Max the satisfaction of hearing he wanted to talk to the freshman, before any of the X-Games fiasco.
Max shrugged next to him, taking a croissant out of the paper bag.
From across the table Roxanne giggled, opening a pack of sugar to put into her drink “I think it’s good you two found each other.”
It was the pair’s turn to stare at the girl, Max smiling dumbly, lacing hands with his boyfriend under the table.
"I never thought I'd convince you to do this" Roxanne said, picking up a floral patterned skirt.
Max frowned at her, picking up a pair of black cargo pants. The pair had decided a window shopping spree was in order, Bradley had assignments to work on and would pick up the pair when they were done.
"I mean in highschool you'd never be caught dead here-" she gestured vaguely around the thrift store. "Thought you'd be too embarrassed or something"
"I would've been." Max admitted. Most of the boy's clothes were secondhand, his Dad always looking for a deal or a way to help him fit in despite not having the money for the latest trends. His Powerline merchandise was taken from old shop displays or made himself. Even though PJ never made a comment on it he was still able to get the newest clothes.
"But if people have a problem with what I wear or who I am well they're not worth my time."
Roxanne snickered at that "I think 2 years ago you wouldn't have thought that."
"Yeah well in that time I almost died. Several times actually." Max said with a snicker "Facing death makes you open your eyes to the things that really matter, and sometimes that includes opening yourself up to change, realizing you can be cool while still being Goofy, and meeting a really cool guy."
The two of them fell into an easy silence, cracking jokes about the outfits they pulled together or the selection of clothing available.
"You really like him, huh?" Roxanne asked quietly, looking at him through the hole of a ripped sweater
"Well…yeah. I know it's complicated with all of our history and we both have things to work out about that. Plus between finishing school and familial bullshit it's not all sunshine but…"
Max quieted for a moment, toying with the frayed ends of a sweater. "He's awesome."
“SOoOo what did you think of Roxanne?” Max asked later that evening, sprawled on Bradley’s bed as the senior played with his curly hair
“She’s nice.” Bradley said, glancing up at the ceiling
Max frowned, looking up at his boyfriend’s worry-painted features. “You don’t sound thrilled.” He deadpanned
The brunette sighed, combing his hands through his boyfriends black curls “I don’t know Max I…she’s sweet. She’s patient and willing to put up with me for an hour-“
“You say that like it’s a bad thing-“
“Well she’s everything I’m not.” The older boy finally admitted softly.
“Roxanne is immediately pleasant. She’s willing to talk to strangers and picks up on social cues like it’s nothing. She has in-depth things to say about Powerline and is studying something to help the world.” Bradley sighed heavily, hand trembling
“What do I have? I’m some jerk who literally almost killed you and your Dad-you forgave me but I still did it-I’ll have a job at my family’s business and I need to rehearse every possible turn a conversation can take.”
The boy threw his head back, flush on his cheeks “My family will never know you as my boyfriend, we couldn’t even get married here, Hell we can scarcely hold hands in public. I’m just so much…trouble.”
Max was staring up at Bradley with large brown eyes, his face dark with a blush colouring his cheeks. “Brad…” he started softly, before sighing and burying his face in his boyfriend’s chest.
They stayed still for a long while, enjoying each others’ warmth and not saying a word.
“Look at me Bradley?” Max croaked, making the senior huff and look down, bright blue eyes looking glassy and unfocused. The shorter boy sighed, musing his hands through his boyfriends hair.
"I didn't go into this thinking it was going to be easy."
"That's reassuring."
"Shut up. I knew we were going to have ups and downs and I knew people were going to stare and I knew people were going to have things to say, even if we were magazine levels of "happy couple", someone was bound to dislike us."
Max took a deep breath, "I'm dating you because I like you, Bradley. I like how passionate you get during debates, I like how you somehow always think ten steps ahead of me, I like you for all your worrying and the way your brow furrows and the way you can go on and on and on and onnn about X-Game strategy and how you'll rewind VCR tapes to the millisecond to help me figure out where I went wrong."
Bradley sat frozen, mouth slightly agape. Max gave him a crooked smile, cupping his cheek with his hand. "Maybe we can't last forever. Maybe the world will never be able to see us fully for who we are. But we're together now and isn't that enough?"
"When did you become such a poet Goofball?" The brunette asked softly, before leaning over and kissing his boyfriend.
In a mess of kisses and laughs they found themselves in Bradley's bed, legs tangled in sheets and hearts entwined. Max lay on top of the older boys' solid chest, hearing his heartbeat as he pressed his ear through the thin fabric of the others' tank top.
"Thank you." Bradley whispered, even though it was just the two of them in the soft lighting of his room.
"For making me braver than before. For always believing in me. For-for everything. Max I-"
The words were caught up in his throat. He could feel them swelling up in his chest, his cheeks burning. It was three little words, eight letters, how come he was having such a hard time with them now?
"I love how you always see the good in people. I love how you're kind. I love how sometimes it takes your heart thirty seconds to reach up to your head but you've already spoken the words-God; Max I love you."
The confession hung in the air, Max's breath hitched as he curled up, his face flushing, squeezing his boyfriend tighter.
"You-you don't have to say it back." Bradley whispered, running his hands through Max's curls "You just…Max I don't know what the future holds for us. I don't know what's going to happen with my family or after graduation or even what the world might bring. Your prescnce, your optimisn, your love makes me strong enough to face anything, together."
And Max could do nothing but kiss the taller boy square on the mouth. Bradley almost shrieked in surprise, before laughing and kissing back.
"I love you too" The ravenhaired said softly, breaking for air "You are a stick in the mud and a hard-ass but Bradley Uppercrust III you are one of the most wonderful things to have happened to me."
They stayed entangled for hours. It felt like minutes, their heartbeats in tune with the others. Finally, finally at ease.
"I can't believe you forgot a suit jacket." Bradley commented, pulling into the driveway of the Goof residence
"Not everyone just has a three piece suit in their closet Mr.Fancy Pants." Max retorted, unbuckling his seat belt
"Yes well I told you about the recital two weeks ago that was ample time to come to your house and-"
Max rolled his eyes and pecked his boyfriend's cheek "I'll be out in a minute."
"Fine but you're not hearing the end of this Goof" The senior said with a laugh, getting out of his red convertible.
"Heya boys!" George Goof greeted from the front lawn, cream and yellow paint stains on his forearms and hands.
"Hello Mr.Goof." Bradley greeted with a small wave as Max hurried into his house with a 'Hi Dad!'
Goofy blinked at his son before raising an eyebrow to Bradley, who shrugged.
"There is a charity concert at my younger sister's high school. She will be performing piano."
"Lovely! Wish her the best from me, I take it Max forgot his suit and tie?"
Bradley barked out a laugh as the sound of crashing furniture and pots and pans came from the house. The Goof's family near cartoonish clumsiness truly boggled the mind. He leaned against his car, small smile dancing on his features.
"Were you set painting Mr.Goof?" Bradley asked cordially
"Somethin' like that, Mickey needed some renovations at the House of Mouse after a rhino ran through the back wall-and well, I'm no professional but at least there isn't a hole there anymore!" Goofy explained, whistling as he wrapped up the chord to the lawn mower.
Bradley hummed and glanced exasperatedly at his wrist watch, it was still a bit of drive to get to the high school, what was without factoring parking and finding seating where they would be just obscured enough by the crowd.
"You know it, might just be the circumstances but you boys remind me of Frances and I." The older man said with a small chuckle
Bradley cocked his head curiously, thinking for a moment before realization dawned on him. "I-" he paused, trying to find his words, he'd never heard Max's Mom's name. "That so?"
"Well sure! No one thought we were going to last, especially not after I burned the edge of her shirt during a chem lab." Goofy laughed, hoisting up the machine into the shed
"Sure we weren't perfect, and between gettin' married and having Max it was certainly a rollercoaster, but hearing her laugh was worth it."
Goofy looked up whistfully to the sky as he exited the shed, leaning on the edge of the wooden structure. Bradley nodded slowly, mouth slightly agape. From inside the house Max was bounding down the stairs, exiting with a tie in hand and a slightly wrinkly jacket
"Hey I got the stuff now let's just get in the car and-" The sophomore huffed out before looking at his boyfriend's expression. "What's wrong? You look like you just got told we have a final due tomorrow."
The senior huffed, not quite snapping out of his demeanor "Your Dad was just telling me about his college days."
Max's jaw went slack, whirling around to his blissfully oblivious father who'd started to whistle a jovial tune.
"Dad please tell me you did not tell Brad about the sardines."
Bradley was about to ask for specifics when Max raised his hand, he did not want to know apparently.
Goofy chuckled "Nice tie kiddo! Nah, I was telling him how you two remind me of your Mom and I."
The younger boy's face blanched, brown eyes going wide as he stared at his Dad.
"You can't tie ties for shit." Bradley commented, reaching over the dashboard to tie his boyfriend's askew tie
"It's a little hard when you're in a car and someone's in a rush."
"Do not push this on me mister, I can have you going out there looking like you got dressed in the dark." The senior finished, pulling the tie flush against his boyfriend's shirt collar, his hands lingering on the fabric.
"We should really head inside-" Max commented before Bradley sighed
"It's nice your Dad has confidence in us. It's really…touching."
Max went quiet, his brown eyes meeting Bradley's blue ones. He let out a small breath, hands coming up to grab the other's. They were still in the admittedly empty parking lot, leaning on the side of Bradley's convertible.
"He gets sappy sometimes, you know especially when it's about relationships but if it made you feel uncomfortable I could-"
"It's hopeful." The older boy said softly, making Max stop mid-ramble "Makes me believe the world can change, people can open their hearts, or something. That we'll be okay."
Bradley chuckled, shaking his head, "We should go inside we're already late as it is." He studied Max's face, his adorable tooth gap, the moles dotting his cheeks, his beautiful lips and dark skin. He gave him a pat on the shoulder, one day he'd be able to kiss his boyfriend in public.
Max nodded, a soft smile painting his features, lacing his hand with Bradley's as they walked towards the high school entrance.
"She would've liked you." Max commented as they walked towards the building "My Mom. You two could talk poetry, and she'd definitely appreciate someone who isn't at constant risk of accidentally exploding kitchen appliances."
Bradley chuckled slightly "She sounds wonderful."
"She-she was. She really was. The invitation to meet her's always on the table."
"I-thank you, Max."
"Hey I met your family-" Bradley gave him a shove on the shoulder which made the other cackle.
They dashed in to the auditorium, hurriedly flashing their tickets and being let into the packed audience. Promptly, Bradley crashed into an oddly placed drum kit.
Patrons and parents alike turned to see the two odd boys scrambling into the only open seats, but paid it no mind as the next piece began. Bradley was laughing at the absurdity of their arrival, Max desperately trying to shush him while giggling himself.
"You're starting to rub off on me Goofball" Bradley whispered as the lights dimmed and the opening violin notes began to play.
"Yeah-you're lucky it was just a drum kit and not a staircase." Max retorted, shifting in his seat.
The ravenhaired froze as he felt a comforting weight fall on his shoulder, a hand lace into his own. In the darkness of the auditorium no one could see the senior resting his head on his boyfriend's shoulder, a soft smile on his face. No one could see the other boy grabbing his hand and kissing it softly, no one could even fathom the love sat three rows from the back. When the concert was over and the lights went up they'd go back to being Max and Bradley, two friends who laughed and bickered together, who used to hate each other but now got along. But for now, surrounded by darkness and music, they were two boys in love with the whole world ahead of them, they didn't know what the future held, but maybe they'd be okay.