Could It Be Us? | Maxley |

➳ 20

CHAPTER 20

Bradley

Everything hurt when I woke up. I looked to my right, Max was hidden beneath my sheet. I pulled it down. His lips were parted, he was breathing softly. I crawled over his stomach and laid down over him. He stayed asleep. I kissed his chin, slowly making my way to his jaw. I nibbled at his ear, and he lightly pushed my head away. "You're gross," he mumbled. "What's that noise?"

"The party," I responded. "Shit! I need to make an appearance. I never sleep late, Max." I threw on a green sweater and my usual tan khakis. "Is this okay?"

He leaned against the bed frame. "You're missing something." He rubbed his chin. "Come here, let me help." I went over, my eyes were clearly hungry for an answer. He pulled me down and kissed me. "That's it, you look great."

I blushed. "Thank you, Max. But, I have bad news. I was thinking, since my parents think your back at the dorms, someone should take blame for all these hickeys." He looked proudly at my neck. "I'm going to ask Val to take blame. My parents think her and I hit it off." Max's mouth shot open.

"You cannot be serious. Why?"

"If I don't put blame for these on a woman, they'll suspect you. Val's nice, she probably would help out."

Max threw his arms childishly over his chest. "I see your point but I still don't like it. Everyone's going to suspect that you are with her. What am I supposed to do? Wait here until everyone goes home?"

I gave him another kiss, a quick kiss. It was finished far too quickly, if you were to ask me. I'm sorry, Max."

"It's fine, Bradley. I'll wait here until you come back. But, why not send a little picture to my phone? I may need you while you're away. What is a man to do when he wants his boyfriend?"

I pushed his shoulders harshly, but obviously not to harm him. He just smiled, "I'll think about it."

"Thank you, gorgeous."

"I'm going to leave, Max. I'll let you know if she's okay with taking blame." As I slipped my shoes back on, he wasn't looking down. No, he was looking at my face. "Don't get us in trouble," I'd slipped out before I left him alone.

It was now time to find Val. I went downstairs. There were just as many people as yesterday. Finding her was harder than I thought. I slipped between the crowd of casual dancing bodies. Her auburn hair took her apart from the crowd yet I didn't see her anywhere. Finally, sitting at our kitchen table, she was there. She waved me over, and I walked over. "Brad, what a surprise," she grinned happily. This would be the time to tell her not to call me that since it utterly disgusted me and Max felt jealous.

"Actually, Val, I need a favor. Firstly, I need to explain myself. Yesterday was fun, but it can't happen again. You see, I have a boyfriend. Max Goof." Her gaze stayed as calm as before. "I love him, goddamn I really do," I spoke softly. "As you can see, I have hickeys. Would you take blame for them? It's a stupid favor, but I really need this."

She rimmed her glass with her finger. "Bradley, I think there's a misunderstanding. I knew you liked him. I mean, not at first, of course."

"How?"

"You wouldn't have ran after him if you didn't love him," she said, smiling. "I'm not hurt, Bradley. In fact, I have a little fact for you, too. I like women. You were just so fun to be around and easy to talk to. I guess I'm an accidental flirt," she spoke sweetly.

"Wow, uhm—you're so casual about it. Are you out?"

"Sort of. I'm comfortable telling people that I trust. I guess you and I are intertwined now, one in the same, yeah?"

I nodded in agreement. She and I were quite alike, another reason her and I wouldn't have worked. Opposites attract, you see. "So, back to my original train of thought, can you help us?"

She stopped circling the glass with her finger. "I'm assuming you also want me to take blame for those bite marks? You should really call animal control on your boyfriend. Those are harsh," she giggled.

"I uh—yeah." I rubbed the back of my head nervously. "Can you take blame for them, then? Just until Max and I can form a plan where everyone is in support of our relationship. Maybe you can help with that, too? It's a little silly—

—of course I will, Bradley. You and I are in the same boat."

I smiled, grateful for her understanding. "Thank you." I looked at my watch. It had been ten minutes. "I have to go to the bathroom, Val. Will you stay here until I return?"

"Trust me, I'm not leaving this spot. There's a pretty girl over there," she grinned. I looked over. A pretty blonde girl.

I hurried to the half bath. I swung my sweater off and took a quick, blurry photo of myself.

Bradley

Image sent

Max

God, you're gorgeous, Bradley.

Max

Image sent

Max

In case you missed me, too. I love you, darling.

Bradley

I definitely miss something about you ... I love you too.

You also don't have to worry about

Val, but she said she would take

 the blame for your doing.

Max

Okay. That's great. Do you have a plan?

Bradley

Not yet. I'll text you later (:

Max

Later, darling. <3

I hoped that whatever plans Val and I made let Max and I keep our relationship. As I stood in the bathroom, I had an idea forming slowly. Sure, there were bits that needed fixing, but if it worked, we would be happy together. It seemed silly to think that, Max and I, happy together. He forgave me for my previous horrific incident, the least I could do was convince my parents that he was as wonderful as I knew he was.