Chapter Text
They got each other's number from a group chat.
Admin: Attention all X-Games competitors. Important information regarding the games and the events leading up to them will be out on this thread. Any questions may be asked here.
Admin: Please save names and numbers in case of an emergency.
Team 1-
Charlie- xxx-xxx-xxxx
Macho- xxx-xxx-xxxx
Laya- xxx-xxx-xxxx
…
That was the only reason they’d ever need to text each other. And after that interaction at the cafe, paired with the pettiness in both their blood, they didn't even want to save each other's numbers. That’s all they were to each other. Competitors. Numbers on a screen.
Until the party.
---
xxx-xxx-xxxx- *image*
xxx-xxx-xxxx- wsg buttface uddercrust th somthin or other
xxx-xxx-xxxx- ready to get your ass beat?
--
Bradley was in the library when he read the text, and it almost made him fall out of his seat.
The only reason he knew it was Max was the photo. A blurry selfie of the kid in a dark room with lights of blues and pinks and purples in the background. He held a drink in one hand, like he was toasting Bradley through the screen.
---
Me- Why are you texting me?
…
xxx-xxx-xxxx- imb drunk? Fuck if I know
Me- Don’t text me again.
---
And that was that. The games came and went. Bradley’s popularity plummeted as Max’s skyrocketed. Bradley was left for dirt, alone, and friendless. The Gammas only let him stay because they had to.
Max won and didn't give Bradley Uppercrust the third another thought.
Well, he wouldn't have. If Bradley could have read his contacts right.
---
buttface- Missyyyyyyyydjeuyyy. Coub you pick me up?
buttface- I am soooooo drunk
buttface- I neeb
buttface- hlep
buttface- Missy?
buttface- M at the phi party please come
---
Max almost ignored him, if it wasn't for the next text Bradley sent.
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buttface- they’s giving me free drinks. It’s really nice. But they’r a bit handsy oer here..
---
Yeah, no. He was a dick, but not so much that Max was gonna let anything happen to him. Not if he could help it.
He grabbed his jacket and was out the door quicker than Bobby could say a word, taking the keys to the van and driving over.
He parked outside and ran in, finding Bradley laying on the couch, surrounded by a bunch of guys feeding him shots. He muscled his way through, greeted by a lot of frat boys who knew him from the X-Games. No one protested much when he lifted Bradley from the couch, slinging his arm around his shoulder, and walking him out.
He drove him to the Gammas house, helped him out, and knocked on the door. Tank was the one who opened it. When he saw Bradley, he was confused, but didn't ask. He just stepped out of the way and left Max to his room, where he dumped him on his bed with a little less care than he could have given. Max left without another word.
The next morning he got another text.
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buttface- I hit the wrong contact. Won't happen again.
---
Max would have been happy to leave it at that, but a couple minutes later he got another text.
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buttface- …what happened?
…
me- u got shitfsced drunk and texted me and I picked u up. duh
buttface- I figured as such.
me- why were u so drunk anyways?
buttface- None of your business, freshman.
me- tell me anyway
---
A minute went by. Max was pretty sure he’d blocked him or something. Until…
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buttface- Free alcohol. And a need to forget.
---
Max laughed.
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me- I got something u’ll never forget
me- *image*
buttface- Oh, fuck you.
---
It was his parting gift that night. Right before he left Bradley’s room, he’d snapped a picture. One that he would have made bank on by selling to interested parties.
Bradley Uppercrust the third passed out on his bed, clutching his pillow, a thick strand of drool pooling out of his mouth. His hair was ruffled, his sleeve had an unidentified purple substance on it, and it was the perfect photo for Bradley’s new profile picture.
They didn't talk again until a month later.
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buttface- This yours?
buttface- *image*
---
It was his skateboard. The same one he’d lost earlier that week. He’d been distraught for days. He’d bought that board himself after summers of lawn mowing and babysitting for his aunts and uncles. He would have died if he lost it forever.
And Bradley had found it.
---
me- hey thanks!
buttface- I’m leaving it here. Come get it if you don't want to lose it again.
buttface- You left it outside the cafe in the quad.
---
Max raced to the cafe. And when he got there, there it was. His skateboard in all its glory. He lifted it up, spun it around and kissed the underside in a fit of excitement.
He quickly regretted it as he got a face full of dust and spat it out, letting his tongue hang in disgust.
Bradley snorted from his seat inside. That nerd.
He’d been on his way inside anyway. It wasn't like it was an inconvenience to just watch and make sure the freshman’s board wasn't stolen. He knew he’d hate it if his was.
He watched the kid skate off with a stupid little smile on his face. Bradley scoffed. Like he’d ‘made his day’.
Whatever.
Bradley got a video the next day.
He put his earbuds in and hit play.
Max’s voice filled his ears, drowned out by wind and distance. He was a few feet away from the camera, obviously at the skatepark.
“Here’s my new trick! I call it the ‘I’m Better Than You’!”
He stamped his foot down, taking off and rolling through the background, exhibiting an almost impressive display. Bradley just rolled his eyes and put his phone down, paying attention to the lecture. He was tempted to respond immediately, but no. He was a busy man. And he didn't want to seem too eager.
\\\
Max wasn't sure why he kept messaging him. He was a jerk, but since his loss at the X-Games, he’d seemed to mellow out. Max hadn't heard much from him. Probably because once he lost the games, he’d lost his friends. Max almost felt bad. And it kinda sucked. Because once his cheating had been exposed, it was like the veil was pulled, and everyone else started to wise up to how sucky he was. Only, it happened at the same time Max finally saw some of the appeal.
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buttface- Nice. If you were in middle school. I’ve been able to do that trick since I was twelve. Keep trying.
---
Max laughed. He was funny. Not by himself, no, but his reactions. And how he tried to act like he wasn't a good person. He wasn’t, don't get him wrong. But again, he’d mellowed out. There was proof there in the fact that he'd not only recognised Max’s board, but made sure he found it. And his chatting wasn't harming anyone. The way he figured it, Bradley could use a friend.
Max had nothing to be scared of anymore. He was the top dog now. Bradley was worse than a nobody. He was a failed somebody. A failed somebody who could probably use some entertainment in his now-boring life. And if there was one thing Max was, it was entertaining.
And maybe, just maybe, Bradley was too.