Roommates (Maxley)

Chapter 25

"So...you're going back to the dorm now? Tank asks from the doorway, arms crossed. "Are you sure? It's only been two weeks since-"

"I'm sure," his tone leaves no room for argument. He smiles when he looks up, "Don't worry. We'll be fine."

It's not Max he's worried about.

Brad has...mood swings, moments of mania that last a day or two too long. It doesn't always happen when he's sad or stressed, lately most of the time he was happy and still ended up with frantic eyes and movements as he darted around the Frat house. Cooking, cleaning, decorating, moving furniture around- Brad was always on the move until he'd crash like a toddler on a sugar high. Worst of all, once he crashed he was miserable.

"Alright, well, I hope things work out this time." Tank says it half-heartedly, ruffling his hair with a smirk. "Bobby's coming over so scram."

"I don't know what you see in that stoner, but I hope he can match your freak."

"Oh he does, tonight he's letting me use those vibrating cuffs I brought." Tank laughs as Brad's eyes widen, "You're free to test them out if you want."

"With you? Max would explode." Brad laughs as Tank rolls his eyes, "But thanks for the offer."

"So...are the two of you officially back together?" Tank asks a little quietly, following Brad downstairs while carrying his things. "Where does that leave us?"

"What do you mean?" God he's so oblivious it hurts, looking up at Tank completely unaware of how just his gaze is enough to make him bite his cheek. "You're my friend."

"Right, friends." It's not like Tank didn't know he was a rebound, it was mutual, he didn't expect his feelings to become more. They shouldn't be more, "Best friends?"

"Of course." Brad is so focused on looking through the window he doesn't notice Tank's somber eyes, "He's here!"

Brad practically jumps into his arms, smirking when Max stumbles back and stealing a kiss before casually racing over to his car. They were planning to go back to the restaurant they had their first date at and Max's dad lent him the car since Brad's had been confiscated. Max takes Brad's things from Tank with a small nod, he still wasn't his biggest friend but he could co-exist with him for Brad's sake. He sets Brad's things down in the backseat, a brow rising as Brad flips through radio channels before settling on...Taylor Swift. He's lucky he's loved or Max would've kicked him out of the car.

"He pulled out a ring and said-" He's even pulled out the country accent, "-Marry me, Juliette, you'll never have to be alone~"

"I love you and that's all- Fuck! It's stuck in my head now, Jerk." Max groans, slumping down the passenger seat. "Can't we listen to something else?"

"You're right, we should listen to the entire album!" Brad cheerfully hooks his phone up at the next red light, humming End Game.

"Which album?" Max knew he'd regret asking.

"Reputation!"

As annoyed as he is, he can't help but hold affection in his gaze as Brad happily sings, hand squeezing his thigh as he closes his eyes to listen. This was the peace between them he had been longing for for so long, the two of them mindlessly enjoying each other's company during their outing before heading back to the dorm to relax.

He should've known things wouldn't stay that way.

"Brad, you have to eat." He whispers about three months later, gently rubbing his shoulders as he leans down to kiss his cheek. Brad's mood started to decline before exams before plummeting the week before graduation. "Come on, Dad made your favorite."