"Don't you have a low fat cookie crumble mocha latte to be making or something?" Bradley crosses his arms, closing himself off. "Woah There. Down boy, I just couldn't help but notice the mess of vibrations you're leaving all over our sidewalks." She puts her hand on her hips using the other to gesture to the empty sidewalk behind Bradley for dramatic effect. 'Vibrations? Oh you've got to be kidding me." He pinches the bridge of his nose furrowing his brow. "Easy, Gamma Boy. Whoever said we had to be enemies?" He opened his eyes peeking down at her, taking a moment to dig deep. "Okay, alright, Yeah. It's a lot to explain and I can't really talk about it openly right now. But I guess I'm just frustrated about how in my head and crazy I get about things. I'm so upset that I don't understand what's wrong with me and I'm upset at myself for being upset." He let out a long sigh.
It felt good to finally speak his mind. He was angry. Up until seven months ago he had his shit together. "Remember to be patient with yourself." She offered a well meaning sympathetic smile, for just a moment Bradley started to feel at ease. "B?" her face grew serious, ready to listen. "What is it?" She prompted him. "I-" His words fell quiet as PJ wrapped his arm around B from behind. "I'll talk to you later." Bradley slouched quickly walking past the couple leaving them raising brows at each other.
After getting a little ways away he stopped near a bus stop on campus leaning against an awning pole he flipped open his device surprised to find it had any charge left. No missed calls or messages. That was good. Why was drunk Bradley such a weak idiot? All of this could have been avoided. It was all a mess now. He didn't know how he was going to face Max after last night. He couldn't very well just go back to the cold shoulder after his clingy display. Somewhere deep down inside of himself he knew he had affection for Goof.
But it's forbidden and wrong. Wasn't it? He grunted quietly to himself. Boys can't like boys. They don't kiss or cuddle or do whatever they are doing. But if it was wrong why did it feel so warm and familiar? Bradley never felt like that kissing girls. He thought back over the years of all of his dates and unfortunately summoned the memory of his first kiss with his first girlfriend Jenna Cristonathy. They were thirteen in his dad's finished basement and when their lips touched he was disappointed to find it wasn't like the movies. He didn't feel anything, let alone fireworks. But kissing Max was different. What was it about him? Suddenly as if on cue the cities Metro bus came to a stop to unload it's passengers at the stop and second to last Max trudged off the bus helping the old woman behind him down the final stair before waving her a goodbye and turning to make eye contact with Bradley.
The two stood there for a few moments like deer in headlights before Bradley quickly turned away from Max's gaze and headed in the opposite direction towards the Gamma house. Fortunately Max didn't try to follow him. That was just a whole can of worms Bradley didn't know how to open yet. Approaching the house Bradley was met with the sight of his fraternity Brother Slouch, Tank's current replacement for Bradley and his right hand man, cleaning up the litter in the yard with a white trash bag. "So glad you could join us, your majesty." Slouch spat as Bradley approached.
"Y'know, Tank is still giving you special treatment. Anyone else here tried what you did and they'd be long gone. I'm sick of you Uppercrust, Dime a dozen rich boys like you make me sick. Doesn't matter who you leave broken and bloody as long as you get your way right? For just a second I thought there was a line for your bullshit. I thought the Gammas were that line. And boy you showed me." Slouch slapped the white garbage bag into Bradley's abdomen. "Pick it up, Princess." Bradley would have been outraged a few months ago. But now he was at a loss for words.
Nobody had ever spoken to him that way. Fist balled around the garbage bag harboring stray cans and litter, Bradley looked around the lawn and let out a sigh. There wasn't anything to do about it, he knew he had to be punished somehow and everything slouch had said was harsh but there were valid feelings behind the anger. Bradley really messed up. He didn't think Tank had wanted the extent of the other fraternity brothers' feelings to get to him. Tank was a good friend in the way that even when Bradley was wrong and had hurt him he still protected him in little ways, ways that often went unnoticed and underappreciated.
Bradley knew they weren't really friends anymore but there would always be a sense of family there. Tank couldn't protect him forever and he shouldn't have to. Bradley made his bed and he should have to lie in it. He began picking up pieces of trash, making sure to walk around the house and sweeping the porch. Walking indoors he half expected it to be a buzz with the other boys cleaning up but it appeared they had already finished and were crammed in the living room playing video games. It was Saturday, today was his day to do dishes.
He slipped by the arch exposing the living room to anyone that entered the home and beelined straight down the hallway opening to their kitchen. Not willing to get drenched he slipped on the dumb kiss the cook apron they kept hung up by the oven and elbow length dish gloves. He hated doing dishes. He never had to do them back home. His father had a housekeeper, Alberta. He may have hated dishes but he couldn't help but think of her whenever it was his turn. She used to help him with his homework at the island and hum while she scrubbed plates. Sometimes he had let himself imagine what having a mother was like and he imagined it would have been something like that.
Finishing up the chore he stripped and left the wet rubber gloves in the sink and wiped down the counter. At least it hadn't taken him long. He removed the apron and hung it up before strolling over to the fridge. Opening it he scowled, it was empty. Of course he lived in a house full of men. He'd just have to go to the quick mart on campus. Fantastic he loved having to leave his house several times a day.
Approaching the quick mart on Campus He strolled towards a stop sign at the intersection. He scanned the building for any familiar faces coming in and out and was satisfied to find he recognized noone. Looking both ways before crossing the street he jogged toward the doors covered in club flyers and advertisements for products. He pulled open the door and flung himself inside. This would be a quick in and out trip. He looked a mess, he felt horrible, and he desperately needed a shower. Vodka was not his friend and made him sweaty. He hadn't even thought of what to eat, Bradley wasn't a convenience eater. He is very sensitive to preservatives and sugars. If he ate what was convenient constantly he'd blow up like a balloon. Tank had always watched out for him in that respect as well. He'd always take up for Bradley and label his foods as hands off to the rest of the house. Eating was already weird for Bradley, He really was a good friend.
So basically junk food was off the table unless he really, really wanted it. And with the state he was in it wasn't a super good idea to get the cup of noodles and candy bar but he already was having a rough weekend. He's going to get the noodles and chocolate. He made his way towards the refrigerated beverages to find a sports drink to go with his brunch. Turning down the aisle items in hand of course Max Goof was standing there with a refrigerator door hanging open eyeing the beverages.
Dear Mr. Mouse, when was his torment going to end? Max saw him and slowly shut the door like Bradley would disappear if he made a movement too fast. "Hey.." - "..hey." The pair of boys stood in the empty aisle staring. Bradley slouched and let out a sigh. "Look, I know I keep disappearing on you and I'm sending mixed signals and really kind of being a pain in the ass. i-It's not you." Bradley struggled, how should he put this? "It's me?" Max chimed in.
"Bradley Uppercrust, are you breaking up with me right now?" He tried to lighten the mood. "We can't do whatever we're doing. It can't happen. I'm not… I'm not into boys." Max looked at the ground. What can you say? "I understand. Friendship was always enough for me. I want you to know that." Goof met his gaze again with a sad half smile. Why did he have to look so pretty when he was sad? What was he thinking? "Just, please don't run away or disappear anymore. I want to see you even if I'm not seeing you." It made his chest hot. He stood there quietly and almost forgot they were in a store. The two boys had moved closer during the interaction without noticing. "But uh. You know. I'm an ally. I think being friends would be okay." Bradley cursed himself he sounded like an imbecile. "Y-yeah. I'll see you around?" Max turned to end the conversation. A man's pride could only take so much and he was friendzoned in a quick mart. The two went to stand in line quietly. They paid for their items and left without another word.