How Long Will This Last? (Maxley)

Girl Talk

Usually Max didn't mind the first day of school. There was no real work, and it was exciting to be in a new environment. But his teachers were just as boring as last year, and there was already talk of a test in one of his harder courses. But Max decided not to stress about it too much, it was only his first day after all. He had time to get himself together. And because he had no interest in participating in the X Games this year, he could focus more on his schoolwork, which he wasn't necessarily looking forward to, but it would be good for him. Academically speaking.

"Hey, do you have a pencil I could borrow? I left my case in my dorm by accident," the pretty girl sitting next to him asked. Her hair was dark and she had big, brown eyes that seemed to pull Max in. He stared for possibly a second too long.

"Sure," Max said nervously, gingerly offering her a pencil.

"Hey, you were that kid in the X Games last year, right? Gosh you were so cool. Think you'll compete again?"

Max shrugged nonchalantly, pretending he knew he was cool. "Maybe, who knows? But I think I want to give some other kids the chance to win, you know? After all, I did win last year," he explained. Something smacked into the back of his head, landing into the folds of his hood. Fishing it out, he found that it was a bulky, rectangular eraser. He turned around to find Bradley glaring at him and Max glared back. The girl next to him giggled and Max regained his focus. He wasn't going to pay attention to Bradley when there was a cute girl willing to talk to him. Max didn't get any last year, another tragedy as a result of the X Games. And at this rate he'd stay a virgin forever. It was already embarrassing enough being in college and having to admit that he's only had one girlfriend.

"You should come to my room later, the girls would love it," she gushed.

Max could feel his cheeks burning. And he almost stared like an idiot and didn't say anything, but he managed to keep his composure. "Would they?" He asked.

"Totally!" The girl beamed.

Max looked back at Bradley once more as if to brag, but Bradley didn't pay him any attention. In fact he made a point to NOT look at Max, but he knew he was staring.

Bradley pretended not to care that Max would be going to some girl's dorm with a whole gaggle of girls. And they'd talk their girly nonsense and laugh about being a girl. And they'd be all over Max. But Bradley didn't care at all. In fact he couldn't think of anything more he cared less about. He didn't even know why he was still thinking about it. He actually wasn't thinking about it, his mind was only trying to trick him to think he was thinking about it. Either way he didn't care.

He stared down at Max from his higher seat in the lecture hall, and a ball of fury swelled inside his stomach. He didn't know why he felt angry every time he just so happened to look at Max. It wasn't like they necessarily left off in a bad place. Bradley lost fair and square, even if he hadn't been "fair and square" the whole game, and he could admit that. He had even agreed to become Max's towel boy. So why was he still thinking about it?

Bobby and P.J met up with Max after class.

"What'd you guys say to a little race down to The Bean Scene?" Bobby asked, circling the other two with his roller blades already on his feet.

"You're on!" Max agreed, launching forward on his skateboard.

"Hey guys wait for me!" P.J called to them.

Because Mocha had a usual gig there, The Bean Scene was their go-to hang out. Max wasn't really one for slam poetry, but he was beginning to see the appeal. And it was a place free of Bradley.

Until today.

They trudged down the stairs and into the little coffee shop and Max was immediately able to spot a sad, sulking figure sitting alone in one of the corner booths. It was Bradley of course. He had a coffee sitting in front of him but he hadn't touched it. He was on his phone so he hadn't noticed when Max walked in.