Bathroom (Max x Bradley) - Maxley

CHAPTER 26

"We became friends because of my selfish actions, but in no time we built an actual connection. We did everything together. We were best buddies." I could see Bradley slowly walking backward, in the direction of the exit, trying to escape. Wait... is Tank talking about Bradley? But he didn't get far. Some guys I didn't recognize stopped him, not allowing him to exit the restaurant. I wanted to help him, but the people mass was so big I couldn't get through. Tank continued.

"I was there for him in his worst moments and the best times. We became best buddies! I helped him. We fought side by side, winning every match. And how did he repay me? He stabbed me in the back. Because that's the type of person he is. A narcissistic, selfish asshole who only cares about himself and no one else." I could see Bradley visually struggling but with no success. But Tank wasn't done.

"I am also quite sure that he is here today. And a lot of you adore him because of his success. But I hope you rethink your adoration for him. His name is Bradley. Bradley Uppercrust the third!" The light shone right on the spot where Bradley was standing, looking mortified. One of the guys who held him in place whispered something into his ear, making him stop struggling. I still tried to reach him, the stress of the situation sobering me up.

Suddenly, the projector turned on, grabbing everyone's attention again. I froze in my tracks. On the wall behind Tank, was a picture of Bradley and me, kissing. In the rain. The same picture Bradley was so scared of. In the picture, one could not quite see me, but one could clearly see Bradley. Everybody in the room started to whisper to each other, pointing at Bradley.

"Oh my God! What is that? I think there's something wrong with the projector," said Tank with a smile on his face, with obvious fake concern. But once again, he wasn't done talking. "If my eyes are not deceiving me, I think I can see Max Goof kissing our Bradley. Weren't they arrivals in the X-Games?" The attention was now on me, allowing Bradley to run away. I could see him running into the bathroom.

I got through the crowd, following him.

In the bathroom were some people, but as they saw us enter, they all left, leaving us alone there. "Max, do not talk to me. I need to get over this alone, figure out what to do-" "Bradley! This doesn't only concern you. As your boyfriend, I am going to help you get through that. Also, the pictures attacked me as well. So I have a right to-" Bradley interrupted me by poking his fingers into my chest, the high difference making him look scary.

"I was attacked on the stage. Thank attacked ME because I cheated on the gammas. This is between me and him. And you do not have a say in this." Is he serious? I cared about him and wanted to help him, but at the same time, we were both just out in front of half of the campus. And he says it doesn't concern me? Is he nuts?!

"Of course, I have a say in this! It concerns me as well! What he said wasn't right and the accusations were false. And people know that. I know that. And that is what matters. The Christmas break is around the corner - people will forget until the new year." "But what if they don't?" "This is the twenty-first century, nobody cares if you are gay or not."

"But what if my father finds out? He will kill me." "How would he find out? He doesn't care about some college gossip-" "He knows Tank," the realization of the sentence sank deep into Bradley, leaving him standing there in the middle of the bathroom, with a panicked face. He turned to me, explaining. "He knows Tank. My father knows Tank! Tank wants to take revenge on me for cheating against him, and what is a better revenge than to absolutely ruin me?"

This explanation didn't make sense to me. "Don't you think that your father would have already called you or visited you if he knew? If Tank didn't tell him about us until now, why do you think he will tell him now?" Bradley only looked at me as if I was demented. "He wants to ruin me in one night. All my karma is coming back to me in one day." He wasn't making any sense anymore. He mumbled to himself and walked around the bathroom frantically. It seemed he was in his own world which was falling apart right in front of his eyes.