Dear Diary (Maxley)

3

Wednesday

Sometimes I think I'm going to die alone. All the alphas here suck and the one I want really hate is the only decent one. He'd never like me, not when I treat him like shit. I don't mean to, I mean I do but not as often as I do. I don't know what's wrong with me, I just can't think straight when he's around. It's really annoying, he's annoying.

I hate him, the way he smiles, that stupid laugh, and most of all those cute floppy ears.

But if he asked me out I'd say yes. I don't like him or anything though.

He's got everything, snacks, blankets, a few pillows and some of the sour candies he saw Brad eating while skating. All he has to do now is knock on the door to his dorm but he can't bring himself to do it, hand lingering, hovering but never making contact. Come on Max, how can he be an alpha when he can't even get himself to go inside of Brad's room. Alright, deep breath, he can do this. His fist taps the door once, twice, three times before he turns to hide behind a wall. Coward, God this is ridiculous. How was he going to give Brad his diary back if he couldn't even face him now? He jumps when he feels a tug on his tail, spinning around to see Brad with crossed arms and a frown.

"If you don't want to be here you can leave." His eyes are always narrowed, brows always down. Max has grown fond of his pout, he's seen it enough in passing to admire it. "It's rude to stare."

"Sorry, you're just-"

"Isn't it too early to hit on me?" Brad takes the pillows and blankets from his hands, walking back into his dorm. "What are you waiting for? Come inside."

Brad's dorm is clean, neat, reminding him of those decor magazines. If Brad wasn't in the room he'd assume no one lived there. He sets the snacks down on Brad's coffee table, awkwardly sitting beside him as he reaches for the remote. Originally he wanted to take Brad skating but when he brought it up Brad mentioned his heat cycle was too close to just be surrounded by random scents. Just knowing it was approaching made Max cautious, mindful of his pheromones and keeping a decent distance between him and Brad. He glances over as Brad picks a movie, he's pretty tall for an omega. He's still got soft features, shoulders just broad but his waist small. Shit, he's staring again. He opens up the snacks to keep himself busy, separating them into bowls Brad had brought out. He hands popcorn to Brad, setting it back down when he's glared at.

"Are you going to stay on the other side of the couch the entire time?" Brad scoffs, scooting closer. "Worried I'll get a whiff of you and go into heat? Don't make me laugh."

"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable." Max hesitantly wraps his arm around Brad's waist, maybe he should put it around his shoulder instead? Brad doesn't seem to mind, his head on Max's chest. "Are you uh, feeling alright?"

"Of course I am-"

"Really? You're all red." He's testing the waters now, just a little bit of teasing. He laughs when Brad grumbles something, "What was that?"

"I said you're a pain in the ass." He grabs his tail to stop it from giving him away but his hand isn't enough to stop the wagging. Just focus on the movie, Brad.

"You don't seem to mind much." Max glances at Brad's tail as if his own isn't tracing circles in the air. Brad's is so tiny, a dirty-blonde little wisp on his backside. The urge to touch it is strong, but not strong enough to make him risk his life. He had witnessed Brad get into a fist fight with an Alpha before and he wasn't going to be the next one to see his knuckles flying forward.

He didn't mean to choose horror, the trailer made it look like some kind of comedy. A brow raises up his forehead when Max jumps and clings to him, all caused by some clown who has low-budget makeup done. He tries not to laugh but he can't help it, who would've thought Max was skittish over a little blood. He finds himself playing with Max's ears as he mumbles an apology, the smile on his face foreign. He's never been this close with an Alpha, why would he be? They were typically annoying but Max was...tolerable. That's the only reason he agreed to this date of course, why else? He doesn't like him, no, not one bit. He was just warm, soft, and his wagging tail was kind of cute.

"You smell good." Max grumbles, his face buried in Brad's neck. So much for not being weird. Quick, think of a cover. "Are you uh, using a new soap or something?"

"You're weird." Brad doesn't bother trying to hide his laugh now, smile flashing those bright pearly whites Max adores. "And no, I told you it's my shitty heat cycle."

"Right, sorry, do you want some more candy?" Usually that's what omegas crave, or maybe Brad prefers savory things. Dammit, he should've ordered a pizza. It's not too late to but what topics does Brad like? He usually sees him only eating salads, but what if he picks a vegetable he hates. He'll just get cheese, it's impossible to go wrong if he does that. He sets his phone back down after ordering, face returning to the crook of Brad's neck. "Pizza's on the way."

"You didn't have to get more, you've already brought so much food." His heart's racing from the contact, head starting to spin from the warmth of Max's body against his. Close, they're too close but Brad doesn't want to move away.

"I know, but I figured you'd want some real food."

"Mm, yes, real food is grease and processed cheese." His laugh lulls Max's ears, which perk up when Brad plays with his hair. "I'll pay you back-"

"No way, I'm treating you." Max looks up at him, eyes a shade of brown he's never seen before. Chestnut? Wood? No, Amber, a bright one too. Now he's the one staring.

"Try not to get high off of me, I don't want to be the reason you go into a rut." Brad manages to grumble, cheeks burning from the warmth of Max's breath against his skin.

"I took suppressants before I came, no worries." Max shrugs when Brad's eyes widen, "Figured it was the least I could do."

"You shouldn't have." Suppressants? For him? Everyone knows the side effects for Alphas are daunting. His face flushes when Max just grins, "I'm serious! You didn't have to do that!"

"I wanted to." Max takes his hand, watching Brad's eyes as their fingers intertwine. If he wanted to pull away he would've.

"Why? You-"

"Because I like you, Brad."