Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bradley has avoided most people since X Games, Max the most. He had no desire to see the younger man after this event. He even spent more time in his room than outside of it.

He couldn't even get around to reading the letters from his family. Besides, they wrote the same thing every time. It was enough for him to feel dissatisfied with himself. His figure was no longer the same as before because he hardly got out of bed. When he saw himself in the mirror, he only felt worse.

Everyone hated him, but he hated himself most of all, and seeing the disappointment and disgust in his eyes, which had previously been obscured by an artificial attempt to appease his ego to mean something.

He only poked his nose out from behind the door as his chiseled frame began to fade. He may have considered himself a failure, but the only thing that was important to him was for others to see him the way he always tried. He wanted to look strong and wanted others to admire him.

After morning exercises, he took a quick shower and went to class, he was never behind - he studied the material in his free time, which is why he was half way ahead of the rest of his year at university. Due to the fact that his level of learning was the highest, he sometimes agreed to help someone with the material, and thus he tried to get back on track.

After all, he can't be that bad if he tries to help others learn by giving private lessons, which weren't the most expensive ones. 

While saying goodbye to the younger student, he only noticed that the boy was not sure of his presence here.

"If next time you don't have your head elsewhere, you can write to me to put you in the schedule." Bradley said, his voice, even though it had its strange boorish tone, was calm.

Seeing the student leave the library, he just took his glasses off his nose, hiding them along with his notes and books in his bag. He took a breather when he went to the locker and saw no one he knew.

On the one hand, he was overwhelmed by the fact that no one noticed him, and on the other hand, he mentally begged for no one to see him in the state he was in. Closing the cabinet, he encountered large brown-dark irises that belonged...

Of course to his 'favorite' freshman.

The younger one noticed that there were dark circles under Bradley's eyes and that his complexion seemed paler than ever. He could compare him to walking death.

Bradley heard the soft Woah that escaped Goof's lips at the sight of such a wasted senior. He shook off the thought of possibly commenting on the man's appearance and decided not to mention it.

“Do you remember when I broke up our deal, Brad?” he asked, and this question ranks out like the most stupid thing in a man's mind. How could he forget when his life was ruined because of him.

He didn't have the strength to argue, so he just rolled his eyes at the shortening of his name, which he hated. "You don't forget things like that." His voice was clearly irritated by the smile directed at him from the shorter one.

"I want you to do something for me as a loser. It's nothing hard."

Loser. I almost forgot how much I hate you Max Goof.

"NO."

"You didn't even hear what I had to say."

He looked at the brunette with a look that said 'I don't want to, I don't care'.

"I need you to help me win Roxanne." he said confidently, and Uppercrust III only raised one of his thick eyebrows, not knowing what the younger had in mind. "All you have to do is help me make her jealous."

Bright-eyed pretended not to hear it. He couldn't believe his ears that Goof could be so stupid to ask something like that, especially since the question had been asked to him.

He fixed his hair with his hand, combing it lightly with his fingers. He was sure Roxanne wasn't the kind of girl who would like such an act of desperation on Goof's part-

Max dazzled him. A smirk appeared on his face and his eyes glared at the shorter man with a vengeance.

"You just have to hang around her and stuff like that.. What?"

"Nothing. I'm not sure if Roxanne will be jealous of me, but if it has to be ME, it will be me." he said through his teeth, leaning slightly. "If it doesn't work out, I could watch her break your heart." he whispered into the ear behind which he tucked the darker man's black hair. "I would be honored to feel you try so hard and still fail."

Chapter Text

Bradley didn't know how to break the news about his deal with Max Goof. How would they react? They already look at him askance. He didn't want it to get worse.  

Thinking about it made him go on a loop of fear. Tank didn't visit him often, he wasn't surprised after this whole situation.  

But it was Tank who knew how to calm him down, and from the first time he heard his friend's advice, he followed it. 

He took a deep breath, burying his face in his hands, which were shaking slightly from the stress that was going through his entire body. His breathing was ragged and his eyes seemed to wander, trying to find a way out of his own head. He pressed his fingers into his hair, counting his own heartbeat, trying to calm himself down. 

What if..

He pulled his head away from the wall slowly, getting up from the bed and walking over to the desk where there was a letter from his enemy that he had just pulled out of the mailbox. He didn't know what could be in it.  

All he knew was that it was too late to withdraw his consent. 

He went down for breakfast, he hadn't done it for a long time. He was afraid of how his own group would look at him. However, the eyes were not on him, but on the letter he left on the table while eating breakfast.  

It was Tank who cooked because the rest wouldn't poison them, but it would burn the kitchen and there would be no breakfast. They were ordinary pancakes. Brad usually didn't eat breakfast with them, and he used his catering to keep himself in shape. 

The redhead looked at Bradley strangely. He couldn't remember the last time he ate, much less with them. He was the only one with that worried look on him. This was no accident. He knew well that Uppercrust stuck only to catered meals because his family's appearance was important. 

For them, he was like a Christmas tree that is only put on display to be pretty and admired until it is no longer needed and is hidden. They didn't look at him as someone, but rather as something.  

"What is this letter from Goof?" he finally spoke, interrupting his thoughts, and Uppercrust choked.

Clearing his throat, he turned his blue eyes upwards to the man who was opening a paper in one of his hands, where in the other he held a large mug with a sweet print that held the most bitter of tea. These were not guesses. Bradley tasted it once and never allowed himself to drink this shit again.  

"Oh fuck." he gushed about his tea, and the senior just raised an eyebrow, wanting to hear what was in the letter. 

After a moment of silence, he read it aloud. 

"I would like to invite my boyfriend Bradley Uppercrust III to the upcoming prom." 

Me? BOYFRIEND? 

"Are you kidding me, Tank?"  

"See for yourself, Baby." he shrugged at the man's disbelief and handed him a piece of paper decorated with patterns and balloons in the corners. 

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

"Who were you writing to today? It's the first time I've seen you writing a letter. It's a bit out of character." he leaned against the back of the sofa.  

Max just looked at Booby with a sour face as he cleared the papers from the table because he had had to try so hard to make the invitation perfect. He had no intention of listening to the elder laugh about his vocabulary later. 

"I know I'm dyslexic, you don't have to remind me."

"I don't think that's what he means. We're just worried." P.J interjected, visibly worried, resting one of his hands on the shorter man's shoulder. "You can tell us if you just confessed your feelings for Roxanne. You have no idea how proud Mocha and I are." a warm smile greeted his face, which quickly faded with his friend's next words. 

"It's not for Roxanne." 

"But it was an invitation to the prom-"  

"I know, Bobby." 

Bobby just almost slid off the back of the couch he was lying on, wanting to ask more, opening his mouth to say something. 

So who else than Roxanne? 

His phone vibrated in his pocket. This was the number he had been waiting for. Max and Bradley had recently exchanged one of their own, so he was sure the elder had already opened the letter. He got up from the couch where he was sitting with the two of them and just waved the phone to show that someone was calling and went to his room and answered it. 

He felt saved from the situation he had put himself in. At least he could take a break from the questions that he would be bombarded with by his friends sooner or later. 

"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!" 

He laughed quietly to himself when he heard the elder's voice even without putting the phone to his ear. He closed the door behind him and leaned against the railing of the triple bunk bed, listening to what was happening on the other side. 

"Our agreement, you haven't forgotten? You don't like that wording? How else could I make her jealous?" he could imagine the boy's thick eyebrows quivering with anger.

In a sense, he got what he wanted because the first reason why he came up with this deal is that he really doesn't know how to talk to a girl, and he can't even get her attention, and the second reason... 

was Bradley himself. 

He knew he could play on the elder's nerves from the very beginning, and he enjoyed it immensely. 

"The entire Gamma Mu Mu Fraternity is interrogating me because you called me your boyfriend!" 

"It seems to bother them, but does it bother you?" he asked teasingly, playing with one of the snake bites hoops. 

"I've missed so much in my life by not being considered your boyfriend, baby Goof." the dark-haired man could sense the sarcasm, but still felt the need to tease him some more.

"I know." he replied with a smile and only heard the dropped connection in his ear.    

Max

i'll see u on friday at the prom, don't fOrgEt

bress nice 

Bradley

Fuck you. 

He chuckled to himself as he read the message in Bradley's voice in his head. He expected such an answer, but he wondered if the boy would set him up.

He felt somewhat at peace knowing that he hadn't refused. He left the room, leaving his phone on his bed, which was the middle one in a three-story bed, and then closed the door, returning to Booby and P.J, who just followed him with surprised eyes. 

He looked at them with a strange smile that they couldn't read, which made them look even more worried even though they had always supported him, just like Max's father himself. 

It's not that time yet ,

but soon we won't have any secrets from each other again.

If I tell you now, you won't let me go to that prom,

not with HIM.  

Chapter Text

It wasn't dark, but the sky was purple because of the setting sun. It wasn't close to the main street, there were more trees than paths in front of the building, but you could hear the city and the cars rushing through it. Most trees were missing leaves throughout the fall. 

What a pity. They looked so wonderful in orange and yellow - max thought. 

" You're late." brunette said with slightly disheveled hair, looking at his watch, which looked more like a toy than an elegant one. He didn't even look at the elder properly. He noticed his silhouette walking up the stairs out of the corner of his eye. 

He waited outside the entrance, illuminated by the lanterns, his eyes appearing full black. The vest he was wearing was not buttoned properly and his shirt was wrinkled. His outfit was navy blue and light blue. His tie was tied carelessly and loosely. He wore wider black pants that matched his piercings.

A beautiful nightmare. These were the words that came to Bradley's slightly parted lips. 

" It's been a few minutes since we were supposed to meet. Don't be dramatic." he rolled his eyes. There was audible irritation in his voice, but he himself seemed calm. " Be glad the ball hasn't started yet." he muttered, referring to what the boy looked like. 

He walked up to him to straighten his wrinkled shirt, fasten the buttons on his vest correctly, and then take care of his tie and collar. He left his hair for last.  

He didn't pay attention to how close they were standing to each other or the eyes of the boy or others staring at him. The space between them was getting smaller and his hands were gently running through Max's locks, trying to tidy them up, sometimes brushing the skin of his face with his fingertips. 

Max just watched him silently. Bradley's face wasn't wrinkled with emotion like it always was, it was relaxed and somehow he could feel the concern on it. He couldn't describe it. It was strange but pleasant. He was brought back to reality by the cold breeze on his cheeks and the lack of a gentle touch in his hair.  

He felt more lonely somehow.

" And now your shirt doesn't look like it's been pulled out of your throat." he spoke proudly with a smile that seemed foreign on his face to the other. 

During the time they stood close to each other in silence, Max managed to notice every detail of his outfit, the perfectly ironed dark brown jacket and light shirt. Hair that seemed to always stay in one place and be styled in a completely different way than on a daily basis. Coffee suit pants that were neither too tight nor too wide. 

He could also smell perfume, its scent was rich. This word described it the best. The aroma was not offensive to the nose. It was not a strong men's perfume, but a more subdued one. They gave a sense of solace and security, which made Max feel incredibly good in the boy's company.

Brad, because the younger one seemed to be wandering in his thoughts, looked at him with a raised thick eyebrow as if he was trying to decipher what was going on in his head.  

However, he didn't have enough time for this.  

Maybe next time he'll make it before he's confused and dragged into the middle of the ballroom by an energetic man, following the music playing. 

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

" So... Will you dance with me?" he asked, almost in a whisper, as if he wasn't sure of his words.

He was more of an introvert, so he didn't fit in this situation. He didn't know what he should say to keep the conversation going when it came to new acquaintances. He just didn't belong here in his mind. He didn't know how to behave to get someone interested in him. He always wanted to be the best he could be. He also had difficulty reading what others expected of him, which only made everything more worse for him.

That's why he didn't take the first move to talk to Roxanne honestly.

But Bradley didn't judge him. Even he spends more time with himself, but he has no problem going out for a drink, although he prefers his room anyway. Max, unlike him, is sociable, spending most of his time with his friends than with himself. 

" You want it?" the blue-eyed man answered his question with a question. 

Max was about to say he asked the question first, but Bradley continued. 

"I know there's dancing at the ball, but we don't have to do that. Besides, you're stiff." the last words were not intended to insult the younger one. 

Brad simply saw that the boy did not fit in this atmosphere and that he was tense and stressed. This didn't surprise him. Max spent most of his time only with Booby and PJ, he didn't go out much without them or to parties, and Uppercrust, compared to him, had been exposed to crowds and various events since he was a child. 

" Drink and maybe I'll think about it." he handed him a glass of wine with a smile on his face as he drank his own drink.  

It was the same problem with dancing. As a child, Bradley was taught almost everything just to impress others with his performance in various activities. He wouldn't have enough fingers to count how many skills he has mastered.  

It wasn't long before Max was sure he had to dance. The reason for that was because his favorite song was playing and there was a red-haired girl he noticed in the crowd. This was his chance to get her attention.

Brad was dragged by the shorter one to the dance floor. There were fears in the back of his mind that he might have problems later because of this stupid dance, but it all faded away when he saw the brown eyes sparkle with joy. 

Of course, that didn't mean he was a good dancer because he was a terrible one. Uppercrust, being a perfectionist, couldn't stand it. 

Sighing quietly, after a long while he placed one of his hands on the younger man's shoulder, which broke his rhythm. 

" If I have to do this with you in front of everyone, at least do it the right way." he whispered, frowning slightly, not for long, but visibly for the other. He grabbed Goof's hand, which he placed on his waist, moving his own to his, and with his other hand he wrapped his fingers around the man's, pulling the shorter one away from time to time to spin him around and then bring him closer to himself again.

Only after a while did they realize that the song was no longer playing and was replaced by a typical for a slow dance.

" Not your type of music, huh?" he knew he was right, but Max, to irritate him, pulled him closer to himself and then rested his chin on his shoulder. 

" Oh, no shit." the elder could feel his jaw move on his shoulder, his breath on his ear and the smell of alcohol. Currently, it didn't bother him as much as it usually did.  

He was not a fan of alcohol, although he often ended up feeling sleepy, leaving a pile of beer cans in his room. Alcohol was simply his fan - that's how he explained it to himself. 

Goof stuck his nose into his jacket, wanting to smell the same scent as before. He reveled in it. That made everything around him disappear. The longer he felt it, the more he wanted it, as if just enjoying it wasn't enough. He was absorbed more and more by the scent, his nose moving gently along Uppercrust's neck.

Finally Max had an epiphany. 

" The song's over, baby goof." he whispered, laughing, pushing him away from him gently, even though there was chaos in his head. Brunette could hear the nerves in his laugh. " Another time you'll cling to me if that's what you wanted under the pretext of dancing." 

If he hadn't teased the boy, he wouldn't have been Bradley Uppercrust the Third. By the way, even if he felt like panicking, Roxanne's face made him feel extremely satisfied. She was disappointed, and it filled his heart with a wonderful feeling. That's why he tried so hard to stay sane even when Max Goof somehow gave him strange sensations.  

A FUCKING MAX GOOF.

His hands were shaking and his throat felt dry, maybe the first was visible, but the second quickly passed as he poured another drink down his throat, returning to his previous place. He tried to ignore the whole situation, which he explained to himself as sick and not true. He couldn't even admit it in his mind. It just wasn't the way it should be, he didn't want it to be like this, but he still followed the familiar figure as it breakdanced on the floor.

He looked with hope that he couldn't be seen beneath the self he had created. 

Goof was still on the dance floor, fooling around with people he didn't know to pop music, and Bradley was looking at him, and Roxanne was looking at him, and from time to time she also looked at Max.  

She knew.

The last time he felt something similar was in high school. He remembers it well, even though his father was quite problematic compared to what he was and still is. He had never been in awe of his son, so he somehow managed to live with it. But sometimes he didn't know what he thought about it. And does he even have his own thoughts that don't involve someone else's opinions?  

He remembers how he met this boy and introduced him to his parents shortly after as a friend. He kissed him goodbye on purpose just to see how angry he would be. He had never seen him more furious.  

But then he felt alive. He felt the same satisfaction then as he does now. 

He was proud of himself then. 

But..

It will be better if no one finds out that he is not such a perfect creation of his father. 

At least for now.

" You like him?" 

He shook himself when he heard a woman's voice. 

 Roxanne. 

She waited for his answer, leaning against one of the walls nearby. As if she wanted to share the same pain.  

" He didn't tell you?" he asked, leaning towards her and tucking a lock of hair behind her ear with a smirk, his tone contemptuous.

The girl honestly wondered why he was like that to her, to everyone. She looked at him, trying to find some clue, but his face seemed cold. As he got closer, she only pressed her body further into the wall, her hair protecting her back from the cold due to the fact that her dress had a cutout on it.  She wanted to ask. For some reason she wanted to know more. Maybe it was because she noticed for a moment something different in the boy than the hatred he spat in every direction. 

" What didn't I say?" 

Chapter Text

" What didn't I say?" 

" Oh, you are." he said casually as he moved away from Roxanne and sat down on the scarlet leather sofa. " I think you'd like to share something with Roxanne." he made a place next to him for the boy to sit.

When he said this, he meant Goof feelings for the girl.

" I would have forgotten..." he muttered as he approached the girl, setting his drink down on the transparent glass table. He sat down next to Bradley, leaning immediately against the cold leather backrest." You've probably noticed by now, but I'm with Brad." 

THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT.

Bradley looked at him like he was an idiot. And to think he believed in him. Hope is the mother of fools. 

" I think I overdid it with alcohol." He dropped his head on the counter, devastated by the boy who stammered even when lying to her, so he wouldn't be surprised if she believed him.  

Looking slightly from behind his hair, he saw the devastated look on the redhead's face, and then he slammed his face against the thick glass covering the furniture. 

He thought he could get past these strange feelings he felt around the man, but he literally, even though he could have confessed his love to her, he instead lied to her face. Now even if you tell her, you will still be a liar in her eyes. 

" Max.. I knew you were bisexual, but..." she looked at the boy who was banging his forehead against the furniture. " ..I didn't think he was your type." she pointed at Bradley, who lifted his face. 

" I beg your pardon?" he huffed, pouting. 

Max just laughed and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. 

Bradley sat there with them for an hour and his jaw dropped to the floor for the entire fucking hour and he never closed his mouth after the ordeal.

He had no idea whether it was strange, whether he liked it, whether he wanted to go home and never see the boy again or leave him without a word all evening. He was unable to react in any way, as if his brain had experienced a short circuit.

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

" Did you see what I saw, or am I hallucinating, baby?" PJ said, drinking another drink, looking towards Max.  

Getting no answer, he looked at the seat next to him at the bar. Mocha was sleeping soundly lying on the wooden counter with her hand around her mug. 

She looked so peaceful as she slept, but he needed her because he felt like he was going crazy. He even took her mug from her hand, which she didn't move from it in her sleep. It didn't wake her up.  

" MOCHA, BABY, WAKE UP." there was drama in his voice. " They possessed Max..." 

" What's the matter..." she looked at him crookedly, peeling her face off the wood. " Are you freaking out because he's not with us, just like Bobby, because he didn't want to come alone when Max also found a companion?" she muttered, stretching sleepily, not even wanting to know what was going on. Her back was begging for pillows and her brain was begging for sleep or more beer.

" Dearest, I know it's hard to believe, but he was sitting next to Roxanne and kissed Bradley, something is definitely wrong. We're losing him." he took her hands in his and kissed them softly. 

" What the fuck? It doesn't make sense." She looked at him, her eyes narrowing. She loved him, but currently she claimed that he was just a drunkard who can say everything but not true definetly.

She sighed, looking at him with gentle eyes. 

" Just.. Let's go home, you can rest, honey." She whispered, kissing him on the cheek and grabbing his hands and leading him away from the building. 

Outside, they felt even more alcohol-fueled as it was already getting cold. All they wanted now was a nice bath and bed. Pillows, hugs, candles, an open balcony and a bathtub full of foam. It wasn't a want, it was a need.

On the way home, they discussed various topics and continued to banter about the previous one.  

" I love you, but I still saw it." 

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

" I didn't think you had such a weak head." he said to himself because he wasn't even sure if the boy still understood what he was saying.  

He supported Bradley, who just rested his tired head on his shoulder as he walked.

Just recently they were talking to Roxanne, but seeing how he was falling asleep on his shoulder, he told the girl that it would be better if he took him home and that she shouldn't stay there too long.  

Fortunately, the streetlights worked properly, so at least he didn't have to look in his pockets for the phone because it was quite dark here due to how many trees there were in the area, and they still had to walk through the forest to reach the agreed street where the taxi driver was supposed to pick them up.

Bradley only spoke sometimes to mention what wasn't hurting him terribly, and that the bushes were pricking him as they passed by.

" Next time, don't fly away like that, do you know how hard it is to maintain a conversation between two people? By the way with Roxanne? You put me in front of her and then a black hole swallowed you." he grumbled, laughing. It was the most stressful situation in his life because he was not prepared at all for this conversation and he felt that he would do something wrong at any moment. 

" Okay, but I wasn't the one sniffing you like a dog." he muttered under his breath, and even though his head was pointed down, Max bet he just rolled his eyes. 

Of course, Bradley didn't get away with it, even if he walked crookedly, Goof, amused, pressed his nose between Bradley's shoulder and neck, moving it aggressively to cause a tickle and then moving away.  

Of course he also smelled his nose like a dog.

" This cinnamon, black tea and leather is a wonderful combination. They are the most memorable ones for me, but I need to know all the fragrance notes contained in this perfume. The best thing is that I can smell quite specific scents there, but it is not a strong perfume, it is delicate, but how to say maybe dark? Mysterious?" there was joy and fascination in his voice, which only made Uppercrust laugh to himself at how curious the younger one was. 

" It's called Il suo Luna piena, meaning "his full moon" in Italian, the bottle looks a bit like a thick flower that opens only slightly at the very top and has sharp petals, has an indentation in the middle and is round at the very bottom." he said, hiccupping all the time or at a loss for words. He was glad that at least the man could understand what he was saying no matter what. 

One of the worst things about it being dark was that they couldn't tell whether they had passed by a given tree or not, and that was enough excitement for today. There was mud and stones everywhere, and there were even steps and benches from time to time. Maybe it was a park and not a forest after all? They didn't remember, but they kept going. 

" When there's a full moon, I'll turn into a smellsucker, watch out!" he joked, referring to bloodsuckers (vampires), changing the tone of his voice on purpose, as if he was telling a scary story.  

" You're fucking stupid."

They reached the taxi they had ordered. The shorter one had initially planned to end their evening together here, but due to the elder's condition he couldn't.  

He wanted to make sure he returned to his dorm safely. 

When getting into the taxi, he let the boy rest on his shoulder, browsing something on his phone and sometimes talking to the driver. 

" Hi. We're already there." he woke up the boy with a smile on his face. He tried to do it as gently as possible so as not to piss off the person who had just got up because he himself was in different moods when getting up from a great nap.  

Bradley just grumbled something under his breath and then gave the taxi driver his card to pay.

Except Max has already paid. 

The younger man's laughter echoed in the taxi as he dragged the taller man out of it. He didn't even say goodbye to the guy because it's possible that this is what he'll come back with.  

" I paid so why are you still here.." he grumbled sulkily. 

He shook his head from side to side and knocked on the door. It was strange, but the door opened pretty quickly. 

 Maybe they were worried or just waiting - Goof thought.

 Tank just looked at them without saying anything. 

" Will you take him to his room?" he asked, the atmosphere was quite... awkward. The entire Gamma Mu Mu Fraternity was staring at him in the doorway with their leader like a whore at a lamppost. 

He nodded, taking a still sulking Bradley by the arm. 

" Max.." he grumbled, only slightly lifting his face towards the brunette with his entire outfit crumpled because of the way Uppercrust was lying on him and holding him. This was probably the first time he heard his name from a man's lips. 

" Do you want another kiss or something, Brad?" he said with a smirk. 

And their farewell was the slam of the door, which came after the elder closed it in the face of the shorter one.  

He could immediately hear the word " Dickhead!" behind the door, of course the voice belonged to the man with blue eyes and it was about Max. 

He left the porch laughing while getting into the same taxi because fortunately he had no other orders. Besides, it didn't change much because the men lived quite close to each other. 

He only looked at the image outside the window, or rather the sky, which was filled with pomegranate and numerous stars that formed constellations.  

Sometimes he focused on his reflection more than on the sky while analyzing what happened today. 

But every thought brought him back to one thing, Roxanne.  

Chapter Text

"Max, you're planning on telling her, right?"

The black-haired one combed his hair looking at the older one on his big bed. He didn't know what to answer to that.

He sighed laying down next to him which made the blue-eyed one jump back a little, he wasn't used to people who weren't part of his team even if their relationship seemed closer than with his group. 

"One day she'll know, but I don't know when. I don't know how to put it into words." 

Bradley didn't interrupt. Max never thought it would be the boy who would listen to him.

"For some reason, it's easier for me to run away, lying to her face that I'm with you, than to admit to her that she makes me breathless. Every time I'm around her, I make a fool of myself. I wish I could impress her. I know that's a bad idea, but if she doesn't tell me she's interested, then I won't. I could use you, but would you ask her out for me?" 

"Everything is better than you." 

"Ouch. That was not nice!" he elbowed him in the ribs, looking like a nailed dog. 

For some reason he felt that the boy was also joking, that he didn't think about him like that.

Max didn't want to go back to his friends that day. He didn't want to answer any more questions. He'd had too many questions recently, right after he'd gotten back from the ball.

"If you want to stay, I have a room available." 

Max hadn't expected those words. The older man had read his mind, but wasn't that an invitation?

"Do you want me to stay, Brad?" 

His brows furrowed at the abbreviation of his name. He didn't intend to correct the younger one though, he was tired himself. His father had been calling more often lately, and Bradley could guess why. He couldn't stand his speeches. Besides, the boy's tone also grated on his nerves. He sounded as if he had won, as if he had found some kind of hook for him. It amused him. He decided that it would be better if he didn't react to Goof teasing. 

"I don't mind." 

Bradley, despite his obsession with hygiene, let Max freshen up first. (It wasn't because he simply couldn't stand the younger man's smell) 

While the other one was taking a bath, he put down sheets and pillows to make two beds. Max's bed was smaller. Bradley made sure it was as comfortable and soft as his, having noticed that the younger one had already fallen in love with his mattresses more than with Roxanne. 

 ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

This was the first time Bradley didn't feel satisfied with his bed. It felt like the mattress was somehow misaligned as he laid down on it. He didn't know why, but the blanket didn't seem as cozy as it usually did. Or maybe his room just seemed colder. 

He got up and noticed that Max hadn't closed the door. He hadn't thought about closing it. Maybe it was a habit that could help him fall asleep. 

When he lay down, he positioned himself so that he could see the younger one sleeping in the other room. His still wet hair stained the sheet and stuck to his cheek. The cool wind passed over his skin, fluttering his pajamas, which were a short button-up shirt and short, loose, patterned shorts. 

He knew. 

He knew he felt better when the boy's weight pressed into the bed, when his not-so-fresh scent lingered in the pillows as did the black strands of hair, the crumpled sheet. Then he felt that this room wasn't so cold and characterless. 

Thinking about how close they were and how far apart he wanted to go crazy, rip out every well-groomed hair on his head and cry as loudly as possible. 

But his room was clean, closed not like Max's. Max's was open, full of everything, chaos. 

Bradley found himself in the chaos of the boy brought with him. 

Brad must have closed the door or he will have to. 

It wasn't about rooms or doors. 

The rest of the night was beautiful. There were many stars and a moon outside the window. Although the air was mixed with the smell of cigarettes, and the cold embraced the exposed skin. 

It's been a long time since Tank last smelled cigarettes in the Gammas dorm.

This feeling was so good, but sad at the same time. 

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ 

"Look who's finally up. Did you sleep well?" 

There were traces of a sleepless night visible under Uppercrust's eyes, but it wasn't so bad when Max rose with the sun. With the messiest hairdo the blue-eyed man had ever seen. Black hair fell over his face and eyes. 

Bradley would have said he looked unkempt, but on Max it had its charm. 

A thought honestly crossed his mind. If Roxanne doesn't like him, who does she like? 

If only I could have him if she didn't want him.

WAIT. 

He shook his head from side to side. "I can't"

Max, fixing his hair in just his pajama pants, looked at him, laughing.

"What, you can't?"

"Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts. I'm going to brush my teeth. You brush them too and come down for breakfast." 

He left the room, Goof had no choice but to shrug as he prepared the things he had brought with him. He didn't want to cause trouble for the elder on next visit if he forgot something. 

He could hear Bradley growling or grumbling from the bathroom, he couldn't tell. 

He only found out the reason when he went there himself. Putting his bag on the floor, he looked at the boy in the white, shiny room. He was fixing his hair. He was so busy with himself that he didn't notice the black-haired boy next to him, who was brushing his teeth with Brad's brush. 

Max never told anyone this, but he had always admired the boy until he turned out to be an asshole, even though he honestly judged him by his cover.

Now he didn't think as badly of him as he used to.

He looked at him with that strange expression he had on his face, the one he also gave to Roxanne.

It was a look of admiration.

Somehow he liked watching the imperfect side of Bradley in the mirror more, the one who seemed so pissed off he could start shaving his head. 

He liked the way his face would scrunch up and his eyes would fill with tears of surrender, but he kept pushing forward as if he wanted to prove to someone that he was strong enough, that he was good enough. 

He wanted to be strong like Bradley, to pretend that the chaos inside him didn't exist and to show what others wanted to see. He couldn't do that. He couldn't show what he wanted. His emotions make him who he is. They've always guided him. 

He took his things and went downstairs. Of course, he tried to leave the bathroom as quietly as possible so as not to interrupt the boy. 

Bradley looked towards the door sighing as his hands shook too much to do his damn hair.

He could feel the younger's gaze. 

He looked down at his toothbrush. He should be angry but he couldn't. He was confused. 

For some reason, he remembered that brief touch of lips against his. It had been a gentle brush. He could still feel it on his lips. 

He sat down at the table a little later than Max, who just smiled warmly at him. 

Tank pushed his plate toward him. "Be careful, you'll get burned, it's fresh." he whispered. 

Uppercrust III realized that it wasn't just breakfast his friend was talking about. In response, he narrowed his eyes and just started complaining about how bad the food was. 

Tank knew very well that he was biting back at him for his truth. It also reminded him of the tendency to grumble at people when he liked them. As his ex, he could read him like an open book. However, there were also threads in it that Bradley didn't like to discuss.

There were things that Tank found out about boy. They had known each other since childhood, so Tank could tell a lot about him. That's why he forgave him. Because one of the things he wouldn't agree with is that Brad is bad. 

Seeing Bradley come to life again made him happy, but he was afraid it might hurt him more than it would ever please him. 

"What was that about kissing last time anyway?" Tank spoke up. 

Even if he should have regretted it later, it was worth the look on Bradley's face. 

"Why are you jealous?" Max asked, stuffing his mouth with food as if it was nothing. 

Uppercrust tried not to laugh at the fact that Max literally said that to his ex. 

His fucking ex.

"Not really, I got a kiss for breakfast." 

"From Bradley?" he asked, surprised, and the older man stood up from the table, walking over to the side where the two were sitting next to each other. 

"I know two of you would like to kiss me so much, but some of you want to eat in peace." He smiled, trying to hide the irritation on his face. "And you. Shut up for a moment and eat." He turned to Tank and then pecked Max on the cheek. "Happy?" 

"Where's mine?" 

"I SAID SHUT UP." shoved food into Tank's mouth.

Just because he knows Max doesn't mean he has to know who he was with. 

Max somehow felt that this place held many memories. He even thought for a moment that he wouldn't mind being a member of the Gammas. But he already had his place next to Bobby and P.J., he would never trade them for Bradley. 

Never.

Bradley's place was here and he's somewhere else. He would never fit into the person Bradley is portraying himself to be. He's not like them. He's real and he wants to show what he feels even if it's embarrassing like with Roxanne. 

It doesn't change the fact that he admire the way Bradley continues to play. 

It's really difficult, right Brad? he thought. 

Chapter Text

Since they made an agreement, they spent more time together. However, at some point, Bradley refused to go out with Max, and the boy even asked if he could come instead, but Uppercrust also refused. The brunette knew that something had to be up.

But Tank knew exactly what after he found a letter in his roommate's room from his father. He read from it that he would come to visit. The redhead's face immediately filled with worry. He knew how strict he was.

However, he did not meet the young Uppercrust himself, apart from the letter. He looked around the room, through which a tornado seemed to have blown. The sheets were torn off the bed and items were scattered on the desk. In addition, the wardrobe was wide open, from which piles of clothes were spilling out.

This was Bradley. The realest he could see. His hatred for no one burned as much as for his own father. It was as if a storm had set in when his father entered his bedroom.

Because of that, his best friend knew that he was here too late. The meeting had taken place.

He knew exactly where Bradley would be, but he wanted to give him time. If he needed it, the blue-eyed man would always find Tank.

The one he was thinking about was currently in the bar, drinking who knows how many drinks. He didn't hear anything new, but he was tired of listening to a broken record on loop.

"You must have forgotten about my reputation. Next time, think before you leave the prom drunk, and even more so before you show up with a guy you lost to and it was broadcast live. We should probably repeat the lessons of parenting, son."

He fell head down on the bar, replaying his father's words. Every time the same, except that in relation to a different situation. He was pissed off by how untouchable his father was, but his reputation was also easily changed when it came to his son's behavior. However, if dirt came out on his father, no one would judge him for it.

Old fart. He thought.

Brown-haired man was torn from his thoughts by the touch of a small hand on his shoulder. He lifted his head slightly and saw long red locks falling onto the bar counter, almost flying into his face so he immediately straightened up on his stool.

Of course the redhead was Roxanne as if he currently wanted to be between Max's case and hers.

"You don't look like you go to places like this." The older spoke with his slightly irritating voice. After all, the redhead spent most of her time with her nose in books, was rather quiet and didn't go to places like bars.

And he wasn't too pleased with her company right now, that's why she felt from him a weird coldness.

"Oh.. I was just passing by. I thought something happened."

She spoke finally in a slightly nervous voice as if the older man's tone, who was clearly not in the mood, embarrassed her.

"Max called me." Roxanne said, remembering why she approached him.

Bradley widened his eyes in which a spark of hope appeared at the message, he was in some way proud that the younger one had gathered himself for this.

"He asked about you." She added after a moment, and Bradley's face took on a cloudy expression again.

He couldn't believe that Max had called and instead of having the courage to do so... He didn't talk to her, but asked about him. In his own mind he had already high-fived his forehead.

"Did he say anything else?"

The blue-eyed couldn't hide his disappointment and strange amusement at the situation, turning more towards the girl.

"No, he only asked about you... But that means he's worried. I'm glad you have him." Roxanne replied in a gentle voice, placing her hand on his stiff shoulder with a slight smile. "Let him know that nothing's wrong with you."

There is something wrong with him, not with me.

He didn't know if he wanted to cry or laugh. The woman Max had a crush on was just wishing him happiness with him.

However, there was something in his facial expression... A certain devastation at Roxanne's words about the freshman possibly worrying about him. 

But.. The feeling as if he was tied to the place he was in quickly shook him out of his thoughts about the younger one. Something didn't let him do it, those thoughts considered incorrect, forbidden were imprisoned by the others. Like those in various fairy tales libraries with forbidden books under lock, key and a lot of chains. Bradley didn't have a say in this, as if he wasn't able to go in this direction, as if he was forced to escape from it.

Girl after a moment seeing Uppercrust's thoughtful face raised an eyebrow. She noticed this sadness in those confident eyes, usually full of assessing glances. However, those eyes quickly followed the sound of the phone vibrating on the counter on which Max's name appeared.

"Answer, I'll go now."

She get up from the bar fixing her red hair with a sad smile. Bradley wanted to ask, but didn't have time, besides, the only thing currently resonating in his head was the vibrating sound that made every thought disappear. He didn't know what to do next. Everything was getting complicated.

Uppercrust took a loud breath and answered, holding the phone in his shaking hand.

"Oh you did. Is everything okay?"

Taller one leaned against the counter, wrapping his arms around himself, still holding the phone, squirming slightly on the stool. Goof could only hear the older man's movements on the other side.

"Hello? Bradley?"

The younger man's voice rang in his ear, sending shivers down his spine, making him curl up on the stool. Something in his stomach turned over at the worried tone, and the words got stuck in his throat as if he had forgotten how to speak. He could hear a pounding in his ears, the exact beating of his own heart. He didn't know why, but at that moment he was weak, shaking, and the world around him didn't catch his attention as much.

"Are you there?"

He heard brunette again, while burying his head between his arms placed on the bar counter with the phone to his ear.

"Mhmm.. I'm here. I'm fine."

Chapter Text

Uppercrust couldn't forget the feeling of the voice from the receiver in his ear and how it affected him.

The owner of the voice was before his eyes. His gaze averted to the pierced lips from which a pleasant chuckle came out.

Maybe it was the cold days. He thought, even though he didn't believe himself.

However, it was the best way to confuse his own thoughts. The way the wind seemed to kiss his skin when he stared at another man riding a skateboard.

He didn't know why he agreed to an evening out with the boy.

Sometimes he preferred to say that certain things were not up to him so as not to explain them. 

He tried to be more focused on things in front of him with thought that would be really awkward to talk about what he had on his mind right now.

This moment was too short, fleeting. He felt like he was on vacation. However, it was the other one who brought it because the weather was not like the summer weather. It was horrible. Gloomy.

And the boy.. He was a ray of sunshine in these gray colors.

He turned his face away when Max stopped and headed towards him, out of breath and smiling like never before.

Dumbass.

Bradley himself wasn't smiling. Because of which, not allowing himself to feel the boy's warmth, he felt the weather more when he sat in front of Goof on the bench.

Max to that moment didn't know why Brad made distance between them. He just known that other day when they talked on phone something happened.. But he didn't asked. He wanted to know, needed answers. 

"This will cheer you up."

The black-haired one spoke with soft smile, holding out his skateboard towards the older one, who smiled slightly at the proposal, but when he stood up, he shook his head from side to side in refusal.

"I don't intend to get sick."

His voice was gentle, but cold. Max couldn't figure out this coldness. And he didn't know if it could only be his imagination.

Without saying anything for a while, he took off his zipped sweatshirt and put it on Uppercrust's shoulders, whose eyelashes trembled slightly at the gesture, and his face filled with blushes.

It was cold, so the redness didn't seem to appear because of the younger one.

The blue-eyed one couldn't explain to himself what he felt when the freshman's fingers brushed his neck, which made his hair stand on end slightly.

"Don't breathe in my face!"

He spoke in a teasing tone with amusement, pushing the shorter one away from him. He tried to complain his way out of the situation.

"If I have to do it so you say something, and don't sit with your own thoughts, I guess I'll use that tactic." Amused, he pulled at his sweatshirt put on Bradley to pull him closer, then blew into his ear with quiet whisper.

"Brad.."

The older man turn his face away.

..Why he is like that?

"Okay, I'll go for a ride.. But once."

He mumbled, pushing Max's face away with his hand, then sulking, he took boy's skateboard, on which he deftly quickly jumped, riding away from him. He did a circle on the ramp and for some reason stopped for a moment.

His face was lowered, and his gaze was directed at the puddle of earlier rain. It wasn't about the puddle itself, but the reflection he saw there. About Brad himself.

His face turning pink wasn't his biggest problem.

What froze him on the spot was his allergy to cold, which showed itself in a rash.

I fucking forgot..

His attention was distracted by a familiar voice. The voice of the redhead, which made him completely forget about Max's presence, even though his concern was about him. Every time Roxanne was near to them, Bradley wasn't sure what he should expect from smaller boy.

"Enough of this driving, huh?"

He heard under his ear, and soon after that he felt a shorter figure behind him, who embraced him around the waist.

However, it was not this that made the tall man's heart stop in his throat, but rather Goof's face, which rested on the crook of his neck from behind. And that wandering nose on his sensitive neck, which itched terribly.

"I missed this."

Such a huge lie, but such a quiet, gentle tone, that Bradley's shell was damaged on the spot. He felt exposed, which is why he hid his rash face in his hood. By the way, he did not want black-haired man to have something to mock him with PJ or Bobby, and even less so Mocha.

"Not in the mood for a kiss today?" He mumbled into his skin which he lightly kissed with his lips while lightly grazing with his cool snake bites then he pulled away for a moment feeling the strange texture of Bradley's complexion.

Before he could find out what had happened the taller one ran away from Max's nose on his skateboard.

"Shy?" Roxanne asked amused.

"He just stole my skateboard..?"

Chapter Text

He was sitting in his room with Max's skateboard and sweatshirt. He placed the item by his bed where he lay down.

The man's scent spread throughout the room at that moment.

That damn sweatshirt..

Bradley hid his nose in the hood, inhaling the scent. It wasn't beautiful, but rather natural. It smelled like a boy in daily basic. Because of that he could imagine the younger one next to him.

And the warmth that Goof always surrounded his room with when he was in it.

He would lie next to taller one, looking at him with those big dog eyes that looked like chocolate cookies. Maybe he would run his hand over his like he did when they danced. Making him shiver again. Maybe he would bury his face in his neck, inhaling the expensive perfume so delicately yet so passionately, like he couldn't tear himself away from him. Making his skin tingle.

None of that happened, even though Brad could have sworn he felt the touch he had imagined..

I miss him.

He knew he was doing wrong, that these thoughts would make the situation worse. He knew that if Roxanne reciprocated Max's feelings.. He wouldn't be looked after. As if his help never counted.

Lying and thinking, cuddled in the material of the zipped sweatshirt, Uppercrust occasionally scratched his face, which was rash from an allergy to the cold.

Good thing I'm not allergic to fucking warm shit..

He thought closing his eyes wrapped in Goof's scent.

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Freshman was still at the skatepark with Roxanne. Conversation wasn't that difficult when they were doing what they loved. She sometimes lent him a skateboard from her friends, still amused by the fact that Uppercrust III ran away with his.

"What ran away anyway?"

Goof stopped when he heard that, looking at the girl on roller skates. He wasn't sure himself. He couldn't say why Brad did that.. Nor did he know what to feel about it.

"I have no idea, but I should probably check on him later." He admitted, combing his sweaty black hair and then approaching the girl.

At that moment he became stiffer, stressed. He didn't know how to behave.

"Shall we take a picture for a keepsake?" She asked, taking out her phone and glancing at the man. She could see his uncertainty and withdrawal perfectly well. Or maybe it was just discomfort?

She tried to make Max feel better with this gesture. Although it was also visible in the picture how tense he was. Even Bradley himself, going to the notification of her post, noticed that his smile was awkward.

The picture seemed blurry to him, but it was possible that it was because of the way his tears were forming in his eyes. 

He twisted his face at the irritating feeling of tears running down his rash-covered cheeks.

She's pretty..

He thought, looking at Roxanne in the picture he saw his own face superimposed in the reflection. He wasn't like her. Maybe his silence was just as audible, but colder.

He clenched his hands around the phone, lowering his face, feeling his tears making him feel suffocated. He shouldn't have. But he got attached and with every gesture the black-haired man made, he was pulled like a puppet.

It was a trap, Bradley knew it, but he couldn't help but go down that path, even though the only thing waiting for him there was uncertainty about how long he would last, how long he would be needed. He didn't want to back out for some reason, even though he knew full well it would destroy him.

He tried to shake it off. As always, pretend he was strong or more.. Pretend that's nothing then with loud, tired sigh turned on the camera on his phone to look at himself in it like in a mirror.

"I'm running away from her because if she falls in love, I don't know if it's with me or not with thought of me. I don't want to disappoint her with myself. I'm not perfect. I've hoped many times that I could be you." He whispered, pulling the drunk Bradley's head closer to him. He put his lips to it, hiding them in the brown hair on the other side, playing with them in his fingers.

"Admired.. Not because of how much of an asshole you could be. But how.. With that face untainted by emotions, you've done everything. You were able to lock it up. That's what makes people often think that everything is going well for you."

Goof stopped for a moment, looking at the taxi driver and in the mirror he also saw the face of the older one, to whom his attention returned. "You wouldn't make a fool of yourself in front of a girl, but I don't know why.. Why do you seem unable to hide in front of me?"

Why do you seem unable to hide in front of me?

He is still haunted by the words of Max, who helped him get back from the prom. He was not sleeping at the moment and these words made it difficult for him to sleep at times.

He wiped the tears from his face. He took a picture in a square frame to avoid seeing his own face. And he wanted to focus on the sweatshirt from the guy. It was probably the only time he had something from someone.

For long he hadn't have someone like him, he wanted to cherish it, no matter how long.