Maxley Enemy's to Lovers

chapter II

Big warning for alcoholism on this one. My apologies if this one isn't as great as the first chapter, I'm half asleep and kind of winging it at this point. I still hope it's enjoyable!

Bradley plopped down on a bean bag and groaned, holding his head. He still couldn't figure out why he decided to come here. Was it the loneliness? Possibly. He still wasn't a fan of Max but..he knew how to have fun. Though the tension could be cut with a knife. Bradley eagerly dug into the snacks. Max groaned.
"Don't hog them all, Brad" Max said, adding a little teasing tone to the name as he stole the chips from Bradley.
Bradley's cheeks got a little pink
"Do NOT call me Brad." He said firmly and stole the snacks back. Max glared and took them back, grabbing a massive handful and shoving them in his mouth.
"What are you gonna do about it, Braaaaad" Max said as he got the chips stolen out of his hands once again. Bradley jumped up and hugged the chips.
"This!" He turned around and dumped them on the ground. Max threw his hands up.
"Dude what the fuck?" Max said and crossed his arms "why did you do that?" He said very upset and annoyed. Bradley sat back down, silently. Ignoring Max's attempts to get him to talk. Max got the hint and stopped egging him on.
"I'm sorry" Bradley muttered after a few moments of silence. Max looked at him and waiting for an elaboration.
"I know it sounds..so dumb..but I hate that nickname. It reminds me of the asshole I used to be" Max raised a brow. 'Used to be?' isn't he the asshole of the century? Bradley saw Max's gears turning.
"I used- I used to be..uhm. well I am-" he stumbled and then stood up.
"I think I should go" he said and walked out. Max watched, astonished. What the fuck just happened?

Bradley went into his plain, single dorm and slammed the door. He went over to his bed and got on the floor, rummaging around under the bed. He pulled out a bottle of liquor. He opened it with shakey hands and shook his head as he put it to his lips and downed a portion of the bottle. He put the cap on and tossed it too the side, pulling on his hair.
"Not again" he mumbled. He held back the tears that slowly welled in his eyes. He didn't want to do this again, he did it to himself. He opened the bottle up again and just kept going. And he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. After the bottle was empty, he threw it with the rest and went to the bathroom, looking at himself.
"You're a mess! Pull yourself together." He said to himself. He pulled out his phone and stared at Max's contact. His fingers hovered over the call button. He turned off his phone and tossed it across the room, screaming to himself and throwing himself on the bed. Eventually, he fell asleep. Tomorrow would be another day.
When Bradley awoke, he stared at the missed call from Max. 'Why the fuck does he care so much about everyone? Why is he trying to fix me?' The thoughts ran through his head as he pressed the call button and took a deep breath. It was only 5 in the morning..to early to be awake. But to his surprise, max picked up.
"Good, you're okay" Max said groggily. Bradley wasn't okay. He was far from okay.
"Yeah sorry, I just..lost my cool. I'm fine. All I wanted to say yesterday was that it was a nickname my old friends gave me. That's all, hung around the wrong crowd." Bradley said.
"That..makes sense. I guess." Max said with a slight chuckle. That was a pretty large reaction for a childhood nickname. But..we all have our things.
"Yeah. Well. I have to go. I have a very busy day ahead of me." Bradley said before hanging up.
Max sat, confused. Did the nickname really bug him that much? Max wasn't convinced. He knew something was up.
A few days passed without any sight of Bradley. Max made his way to the skatepark and took out his board. Out of the corner of his eye, max caught Bradley. He waved.
"Hey Bradley! How's it been?" Max said and smiled, jumping off his board and walking to Bradley. Bradley stood tall.
"Hello Max. I've been doing well" he said, smiling.
Max smiled as well and laughed "that's awesome! I was actually just about to call you, I'm having a bit of a party and I want you to come" he said. Bradley nodded and straightened his shirt.
"I'll consider it." He said. Max raised a brow
"Okay Bradley. I know something else is going on, I'm sorry if my nickname for you upset you that much but acting like I don't exist? That's a little much, don't you think?"
Bradley put his finger to Max's chest and growled
"I'm fine. Max. There is no bigger story. I don't need help. I'm fine. I'll..see you at the party." He said and then walked off. Yet again, leaving max confused and mad. Maybe the party would turn him back around.

Max set up his dorm, pushing furniture around to make more room..granted, there wasn't a lot of room, but it would work. Only about 6 people should come anyways..he sighed and sat down. Bobby giggled and passed him his joint.
"Anxious about your boyfriend stopping by?" He said. Max grabbed the joint and took a drag.
"Haha very funny Bobby." He said and checked his phone. "But you're not wrong. I'm worried about him. He is acting so weird. After he blew up on me he hasn't talked to me much. And when he does it's like the day I met him. I thought we where over this 'bad blood' but I guess not" Max said. Resting his chin on his hand.
"Oh I'm sure he is just having an off week. We all have them. You know how to break em down max, I belive in you." Bobby said. Max stared at the door. He knew he couldn't fix Bradley but it was in his nature to try. Bradley was the last to arrive, he didn't seem..right. his hair wasn't combed or nice, his shirt wasn't tucked in neetly. He was already wasted. He sat down next to Max and smiled
"hey Maxie. How's it going?" He asked and put his head on Max's shoulder. Earning a hearty shove from Max.
"Woah woah. Bradley are you alright?" Max said, worried again.
"Max I'm FINE I'm always fine. I'm Bradley. I'm the hottest guy in the school. I'm fine. Of course I'm fine. I'm f..fine." He said and put his head in his hands. Max helped him up and took him to the bathroom and sat him on the toilet. Bradley just cried and cried. Max rubbed his shoulder.
"Bradley, what the fuck is up with you?" He asked. Bradley grabbed Max's wrists and pulled him close.
"I'm an alcoholic. Max. There it is, the big news! Bradley uppercrust the third is a big fat alcoholic!" He shouted, squeezing Max's wrists. "I was getting better I was..doing good and then...you walked over to me and ruined it all. You made me feel these horrible feelings these..disgusting feelings." He snapped. Max stood, his mouth open.
"Bradley what the hell are you saying I don't understand" he stuttered.
"You know very well. Your friendship, your fairness. You know what you're doing" Bradley hissed and let go of Max's wrists. "I can't let myself trust you I- you're so nice it's sickening." He said and shuttered "why don't you hate me?" Bradley sobbed out. Max blinked and sat down, kneeling in front of Bradley, grabbing his hands.
"Bradley, I know we really only..hung out once but..it was nice. It was so fun to be around you because you're cool when you are..yourself. when you arnt pulling off this pompous asshole persona. I'm not afraid of you, I couldn't be. Just that one afternoon proved to me that you can be a great friend." Max said, smiling. Bradley laughed and wiped his face.
"You really are a nerd" he said. This made Max snicker, and Bradley laugh.
"Let's lay off the alchohol for tonight." Max said and sat himself on the side of the tub. And there they stayed, laughing and talking like that first time they hung out.
After what felt like hours of this, they finally got up and went out, at this point, everyone was either passed out, or high off their rockers. Max and Bradley flopped on Max's bunk and talked. Max could feel is own breath. In and out, in and out. He looked to Bradley who was staring up at the stars that Max glued to his bed. He looked at Max and laughed.
"Got a staring problem, nerd?" He asked. Max punched his shoulder and propped himself up on his arm. Bradley and max where now looking eye to eye. Bradley coughed and sat up.
"I..suppose I should go." He said, but his gaze lingered, he couldn't take his eyes off of Max's. Max broke the eye contact and nodded.
"Probably. uhm. no drinking. Alright?" Bradley sat up and shrugged
"No promises" he mumbled and put on his shoes. He went to the door and put his hand on the handle.
"Uh max..want to meet for coffee on sunday? Noon?" He said
Max nodded "that sounds really nice actually." Bradley nodded as well and opened the door, waving goodbye. That went..much better than expected.