Chapter Text
Beginnings aren’t easy, and this year wasn’t to be an exception to that, or at least that’s what Bradley thought. Going back to State University after what happened in the X-games the year before was going to be bittersweet: he would have to endure the glares and the whispers around him, sure, but at least he was far from home. The summer was tense enough and whatever awaited him from his classmates would be nothing in comparison.
A knock at the door brought him out of his thoughts. He opened the door and found himself in front of the largest Gamma.
“Are you ready, sweetheart?” Tank asked.
Bradley looked away as he stepped aside to let Tank in. Honestly, he could barely look his best friend in the eye since the X-games and still didn’t understand why Tank would have forgave him.
Tank’s eyes roamed the room, messier that he would have expected from Bradley. “I’d take this as a ‘no’” he said chuckling.
“I haven’t arrived that much ago” Bradley explained, heading towards the open suitcase in his bed. If I keep myself busy with unpacking, I won’t have to look at him.
“Don’t sweat it, I just arrived. In fact, I hadn’t start unpacking yet” replied the big guy cheerfuly. “I came here straight, I was wondering if I'd see you at the party tonight.”
Bradley winced: he really didn’t had the energy to hang out with anyone that day. “I’m sorry, Tank,... baby” started saying, trying to sound natural, “but I have so much to do today. I don’t think I can.”
Tank frowned, but didn’t try to ask why: he already knew that Bradley would avoid a direct answer. “Okay, text me if you can come” replied, and headed to the door, but stopped before exiting. “I know I’ve already told you, but... I care for you, even if you don’t understand it.”
Bradley simply stood there, hearing the door close after his friend. Are we really still friends? He dropped down onto the bed and rubbed his face with both hands. They had talked things over during the summer, but somehow it felt strange, considering what he did at the X-games. He’s right: I don’t understand, why would he care for me? He almost died because of me. It was only fair what happened to him after the X-games: he was kicked out of the Gammas and had to pay for the damages; and after all summer suffering his father belittling him, he was ready to focus solely on his final year of college. He felt a little bit exposed living in the dorms now, surrounded by inquisitive glances, but it was only fair.
Suddenly, Bradley started hearing loud music coming from the dorm next door. He groaned. Exactly what I need: noisy neighbors. But then he recognised the song that was playing: Numb Little Bug, by Em Beihold. Even though his father disapproved that kind of music or anything that wasn’t classical or symphonic music really, Bradley secretly enjoy it. And right now he was feeling so related with that song. So he simply stayed lying in bed, listening to whatever songs came over next at the other room: he knew some of them, like Forever by Lewis Capaldi, but others were new to his ears. He closed his eyes, focusing on the music and forgetting about finishing unpacking.
“Dude, you shouldn’t be leaving your stuff there all over the floor” PJ said annoyed. “Anyone could trip over”.
Max rolled his eyes: it wasn’t ‘all over the place’ like his friend was saying. He kept throwing his clothes onto his drawer while singing Victorious by Sam Tinnesz and burnboy. Well, singing was an understatement: he was doing a full performance, jumping and dancing around as he unpacked carelessly his stuff. When he turned around after closing the drawer, he stepped on his skateboard and fell to the ground with a loud crash. PJ looked at him with that ‘I told you so’ look while Bobby simply burst out laughing.
“That was sick! Do it again!” Bobby cheered.
Max stood up quickly and gave Bobby a glare. “Shut up” the boy mumbled, with his face turning red. He was going to protest, but then Diamond eyes by Shinedown started playing and his face changed. “Oh, yeah, this is a good one!”
PJ and Bobby looked at each other, trying not to laugh at Max’s antics. He was so easily distracted that one song was enough for him to change his mood and start dancing around again. Without saying another word, PJ grab Max’s skateboard and leaned it against the wall. Meanwhile, Bobby had joined Max’s little concert, drumming with a pencil against the table.
“Okay, guys, are you done? Nika just texted me: she’s already waiting for us at the Bean Scene” PJ said.
“Yeah, let’s go!” Bobby howled.
They immediately dropped everything wherever and headed to the café, laughing and horsing around. That was going to be a blast of a year, Max could feel it.