Bathroom (Max x Bradley) - Maxley

CHAPTER 5

The whole week was similar: PJ and Bobby went to spend their time with their girlfriends, not sleeping in our dorm. So, the entire night I was sleeping alone, or better said I didn't sleep at all. The first week of school started and passed. I don't even know what we did. In class, I mostly sleep making up for the sleepless nights. I didn't even meet my friends for the entire week, since we don't share any classes together.

Friday rolled around, and our first practice for the X-Games in the nearby skateboard park came by as well. By the time Friday came, my eye bags were reaching to the floor, and I could barely walk in a straight line.

We meet up at the park and I see my friends for the first time in a week. They were already there, waiting for me, without their girlfriends.

"Hey, man- bro, you don't look good. Are you OK? What happened?" PJ asked, worry lining his face. "Ah, don't worry man, the sleep is just not coming to me," I answered, not wanting to bother them too much. "Oh, shit man, don't worry. We'll make sure someone stays in the room with you every night from now on. Or should we ask your dad to bring your teddy-" "No, no. That's all right. I don't want him to worry. You don't need to stay with me, I am not a little baby." I dismissed them, feeling embarrassed about my stupid fear of sleeping alone. "If you say so. Just let us know. You know we are here for you. But enough chit-chat, let's get this show on the road!" Bobby ended the conversation, putting on his skates and skating over to the ramp.

We took our skateboards and joined Bobby. We trained for hours, practicing a lot of different tricks and going up and down the ramp. We got a small audience, watching us skate, fangirling I am not in my best shape, but I do not fall at all, so that is a win.

Towards the end, a guy joined the group, watching us, which I wouldn't have noticed, wouldn't he be that outstanding. He was at least a head taller than the rest of the people present. I stopped to look at him, and that's when I realized it was the big guy from a week ago. I can't seem to remember his name.

But I ignored him and continued to skate. After some time, I completely forgot that he was standing there. Suddenly, a light shined straight into my eyes, blinding me, and making me fall. The people standing around gasped and started to whisper. I got up and glared in the direction the light came from. Three was the big guy holding up a mirror, positioning it so, that the sunlight reflected into my eyes, while he was laughing and filming it.

That bastard. Why would he even film it? What is the purpose of this? As he saw me looking at him, he quickly left, still laughing to himself. What a weirdo. But we spent enough time practicing, and I really needed some sleep, so we packed our stuff and left the skatepark, stopping to get nachos on the way home.

We stopped at this disco-looking place, getting us a seat, and ordering some nachos. Just shortly after we arrived, the boys found their girlfriends in the crowd and went dancing with them, leaving all by myself, again. But I don't blame them, I was the same with Roxanne.

Oh, Roxanne. You are killing, slowly, and you are enjoying it.

I finished the nachos, got up, and went to the bathroom to wash my hands. When I walked in, the bathroom was empty and for the first time, I enjoyed the peace. I went to the sink and turned on the water.

Just right on queue, the devil spawned: Bradley. I didn't hear from him the whole week, but it seemed he finally found me. Yippie...

"Well, hello there, Freshman. You know, I couldn't care less about you, but the past few days you just don't seem yourself. Sleeping in the lectures, always staying up late... Or it could be that you are just one of the kids who don't like to learn. So, what is it, Max?" went Bradley on a rant. He annoyed me, but the way he said my name made me feel all kinds of stuff.

"Hello to you too, Bradley. Oh, me? I am feeling splendid today, thanks for asking. What about you?" I mocked him, turning off the water, and drying off my hands.

"Oh, cut the crap. What is the matter with you?"

"Why do you even care? And anyway, how do you know I am staying up late? Are you stalking me? The first time I said it, I was joking, but now I am getting a little suspicious." I got defensive, more pissed by the second, not wanting to speak with him about my restless nights.

"Your eyebags are kissing your chin. I think it is pretty oblivious. How low do you think of me, when you are accusing me of stalking? Me? Stalking? Hahaha... One of the best jokes I heard in my life. You know, you should really consider being a comedian, just in case you don't finish school. With all those classes you sleep at, I wouldn't be surprised if you actually did fail. And as I saw, you are not that good in skateboarding either." Is this guy for real? Making fun of me on a Friday night? Doesn't he have better things to do?

"Bradley, be honest. Do you have nothing better to do on a Friday night than hanging out in the bathroom with me? Do you have no friends or something?" I teased, not wanting to deal with him anymore.

His face darkened, his smile disappearing. "I can sense when I am no longer welcomed somewhere, so I will leave you alone," he said, and without a word left the bathroom. Yeah right, as if he can understand when to piss off. If he did, we wouldn't have to share so many words with each other. But happy about the peace, I left and made my way home.

At the dorm, PJ and Bobby were already making themselves ready for bed. "Here you are. When we didn't see you at the disco, we thought you went home, so we came as well, but you weren't here," PJ remarked, already in his pajamas.

"Ah, long story. I will tell you about it tomorrow," I answered, taking off my shirt and also getting ready for bed.

But when I turned off the lights and climbed into my bed, something about the way Bradley left the dinner bothered me. He had this look on his face like he was holding back tears. I thought about it for a while, until I drifted into sleep.

But bad dreams didn't leave me, they just chose a different victim tonight- Bradley. Him crying in my arms, and me, not being able to help him in any way.