Bathroom (Max x Bradley) - Maxley

CHAPTER 16

I walked over to Bradley, worried. He was just standing there with a pale face, too lost in his own thoughts to notice me. "Hey, Bradley? What was that about?" "Nothing," he barked and turned around. I thought I heard something watery in his voice, but I wasn't sure. Then, his shoulder started to shake, giving me a clear sign that he was, indeed, crying. "Are you crying? -" "No!" he screamed like a little kid, totally crying.

I walked closer to him and gently placed my hands on his back and shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it? I wouldn't laugh at you. Just, please... Tell me what happened." We went to the couch and sat on it. This gave me a clear view of Bradley's space, which was red and puffy, with tears streaming down his cheeks. I just sat there in silence, waiting for him to calm down and explain.

"Well... as you know, we cheated in the games to win. The thing is, I had to be first to finish. You could not even begin to phantom how important this was for my- me. For me... So... I kind of cheated against my own team as well. I made sure that their devices could not go on to the finish line. And I guess they found out? And they got mad at me for cheating against them, they even called me a bad friend," laughed Bradley bittery, without the smile reaching his eyes. "But let me tell you a secret I recently learned," he suddenly said, turning towards me with a crazy smile and dead eyes. "I found out, that my father paid them to be my friends, so I would do more sport in my free time. Life is funny like that, you know?" he said and broke down, sobbing in his hands.

I held him and laid his head in my lap, him not protesting. I was stroking his hair and thinking about all the things I had learned, while Bradley was trying to calm down, slowly stopping sobbing. I knew that what he did was not right, but at the same time, I could sympathize with him. He just had to win, even if it meant throwing his so-called friends under the bus. He would not do that for himself. He lied about that part. There must be something more behind it. But I will not pressure him. He will tell me himself when the time comes.

So, I held him some more, waiting for him to fully calm down. When he did, he just looked at me and said: "Thank you." "You're welcome. That's what I'm here for- to make your life easier," I said with a wink. He shook his head but smiled, and went to the bathroom to prepare for the guests. As he got back, the first guests came, and all the crying was forgotten. But not quite.

The room got quickly filled with people wanting to party and drink some free booze. The music was good, the food as well, and everyone was having a good time. My friends came as well with their girlfriends, and were drinking dancing, having a good time. I didn't want to drink, because I was afraid of telling Bradley something I shouldn't. So, I just stuck to sipping some wine like a middle-aged woman.

Suddenly, I spotted a very familiar blonde hair, dancing just a few meters away from me. I was standing in a corner, which was not a good spot to be in if I wanted to escape her, so I got up and slowly, hoping she wouldn't spot me, tried to change locations. "Oh my God, Max?!" Too late.

The blonde-haired girl from yesterday came back. The same bitch that kissed me without my permission. The same bitch that Mocha was supposed to take care of. That bitch.

"What do you want?" "Rude much. But this is like faith! You know, yesterday after class I met this crazy chick who said I should stay away from you. Like, possessive much? Anyway, she just wanted to have you to yourself. But now that I cured you, I think I have the right to have you. So how about-" I stopped listening, my blood boiling. She just called Mocha crazy. How dare she. And where was Mocha when I needed her?

"... So, what do you think?" I heard the girl say, not understanding a word she said until then. "Sorry, I just blacked out for a moment. But no. I do not want to have anything to do with you. So... Bye, I'll be on my way now-" "Not so fast. Are you still not sure? How come you don't want to dance with me? Well, is all like you have a choice anyway," she smiled in a creepy, sinister way that gave me the chills. I slowly started backing up. Obviously, this girl was crazy enough to do something to me that could hurt me not only mentally but physically as well. But I didn't come far. The corner.