How Long Will This Last? (Maxley)

Meet Me On the Other Side

About a week had passed since Max and Bradley's big break up. Max had expected the gossip to die down after a few days, but it was still going around the school and it seemed to be all anyone could talk about. Max could feel everyone's eyes on him whenever he walked into class. It was never in admiration. But it wasn't hateful either. People seemed to watch him with a certain curiosity he couldn't quite place. He wished he could disappear.

When Max wasn't in class he spent the whole day in his room, watching terribly tragic romance films and stuffing his face with junk food.
Even though he forgave Bobby for his complete idiocy, there was still a chunk of Max that was furious with him. More than a chunk. It was Bobby's fault this happened in the first place, and Max wasn't going to forget that. But there was no use blaming him anymore, what's done is done. Max needed to accept that.
But did he really have to accept it if the whole problem was built on a lie and a setup? If only there was something Max could say to make Bradley believe him.

Max sat on his bed, swaddled in his blanket. It was the weekend so it wasn't like he had anything to do. He had already caught up on all the work he couldn't do during his suspension. Bobby, P.J, and Mocha were all down at The Bean Scene, as usual.
Max missed being able to carelessly hang out with his friends. He didn't have any worries in the world. But now it seems all he does is worry. This year had been hell so far. He wished he could start it all over; go back to the first day. If only he hadn't become friends with Bradley.

Speaking of Bradley, Max hadn't seen him at all outside of class. Not like he went out much these days. But it was like Bradley fell off the face of the earth after class ended. Max also couldn't help but notice an extreme lack of noise coming from Bradley's dorm. No music, no tv, or anything really. He was admittedly worried. But everyday Bradley was there at school, doing all that he could to avoid Max. What neither of them knew was that while one's head was turned, the other would stare.

Bradley sat on his bed. He didn't want to go downstairs to join the others. He wanted nothing to do with any of them. And yet, he couldn't help but crawl back when he was at his worst. He had lost Max, so he needed something. Anything. And it was only a small price he had to pay to get his reputation back.
Bradley looked across the room to where another bed sat; Tank's bed. He was back in the Gamma House. Despite everything, Bradley was pleased to get his old room back, which happened to be much larger than the one back in the dormitory.

If he was completely and totally honest with himself, Bradley missed Max. A lot. Of course, he was never honest with himself. He never allowed himself to embrace his feelings. But even Bradley's stubborn self couldn't hide the fact that he kept one of Max's sweatshirts. He didn't intend to give it back. He wore it to bed every night. Max's smell was slowly starting to leave the fabric, and Bradley couldn't pretend he wasn't upset.
None of the other Gammas knew the sweatshirt was Max's, but they didn't have to know. It wasn't anybody's business but Bradley's. And he was going to keep it that way.

Tank suddenly appeared in the doorway. He leaned against the frame and crossed his arms. "We're all goin' downtown to get some drinks. You comin', baby?"

Bradley pocketed his phone and lifted himself from his bed. "Yeah, of course," he said it with less enthusiasm than he should've, because in truth he didn't really want to go. It was the last thing he wanted to do. But he couldn't easily say no to Tank, especially in the situation he was in.
As of right now, Tank was responsible for Bradley's reputation, and he could destroy it whenever he felt like it. Not that it hadn't been completely tarnished before. But Bradley needed something to get him through the year. And if that something wasn't Max, it would have to be his social standing.

After Bradley dumped Max, he went straight back to Tank. He may have resisted before, but this time he had lost all his self respect and pride.
Reluctantly, Tank agreed to let him back into the Gammas, on the condition that they reform their relationship. To put it frankly, Tank was attracted to Bradley, though not emotionally. But Tank was too dense to really care about anyone's feelings anyway, even his own. So despite their nasty break up the year before, he was willing to take Bradley back. And Bradley was desperate enough to beg for the scraps Tank gave him.