Chapter Text
“What is it, freshman?”
“I think it doesn't work. We're not going to work”
“Excuse me?” Bradley asked, speechless and confused, while looking at Max with shock, but there was also a glimpse of fear in his eyes.
“I really can't anymore. It's hard. You're hard”
“OH! Now it's my fault!”,
“You know that's not what I meant, Brad”
“Well, you sounded like you meant it! So, you'll give up? After all your nasty deeds. After you never fucked off, after you never left me alone! After your annoying griping and sweet-talking about ‘how much you care’”, he felt his growing anger, emotional, but tried to hold it back, “You leave me like everyone else, liar, traitor”, Bradley mumbled and whispered to himself, thought, that the Goof wouldn't hear a thing what he said. But Max could barely hear it and sighed heavily.
“I…”
“Screw that! Just… leave me alone and never dare to come near me ever again!”
“Brad-”
“No, do both of us a favour and fuck off already! I don't need you, I don't need anybody!”
And so Max did. He left Bradley on his own, and never showed up to him again if it was not needed. But when they were in the same class, they ignored each other.
Really, what could Max possibly do? He couldn't take it anymore. As much as it hurt. Now, it wasn't really serious, was it? Just a simple college romance, nothing more.
And yet, he felt as though he had been run over by a truck. But what the hell was he supposed to do? He did his best, always striving for the relationship, if it was one. And yet they both seemed too insecure, too afraid, especially Bradley.
After all, he had a reputation to uphold, and expectations to live up to. He was an Uppercrust, after all. No distractions allowed, yet Max seemingly wrapped him around his finger. Making Bradley fall for his stupid personality, his annoyingly sweet smile, his annoying helpfulness. His dumb piercings, which he got some time after the X Games. Everything about him was nerve-racking and pissed Bradley off. Especially that tightening feeling of emptiness, as if his heart had just been ripped out of his chest. Screw you, Max Goof!
Said Goof was no different. He tried his best, but it wasn't enough. Bradley was a hard cookie to crack, and he couldn't. There were a few steps forward, but at least as many steps backward. And Max just didn't have enough energy. After all, he wasn't sure if there would be a future for them. So Max did the only thing that seemed right to him: He broke up, if you can call it a break-up. It was more like puppy love, cause hey didn't really get anywhere.
So it went on. Even when they finished college. Of course, Bradley got his degree earlier than Max and his friends, much to his liking. Now he wasn't forced seeing the idiot goofing around with his friends, anymore, and the best: He didn’t have to feel this drowning feeling like someone took something apart from him. Something that was from high importance, something that filled his heart with joy and lightness. Something, he was sure, he wouldn’t find anywhere else again. Something of great importance, something that filled his heart with joy and lightness. Something he was sure he wouldn't find again anywhere else. Something that was actually someone.
Max was no exception, even though he graduated a few years later, he never really forgot that one decision that would surely haunt him for the rest of his life. He didn't hope it would. After all, they had a nice party, his dad as proud as a kid who got candy for the first time in his life, taking as many pictures as he could. Max shook his head and smiled. On the one hand, his father could really be a bit over the top and overjoyed. But on the other hand, he was grateful to be able to grow up in a loving and warm family that cared for him and was always there for him when he needed it. Yes, he was truly grateful. But there was a hole in his heart that even his family and friends couldn't fill with their love, no matter how much they would try to. Something was lost, something that would never come back to him. Well, not something, but someone to be precise. Someone he never expected to be so important to him.