Chapter Text
There was an absolute rager of a party going on, on campus. Max decided to check it out with Bobby while P.J. stayed at the dorm. They had tried to get him to come to no avail. It was outdoors, and loud as hell. There were colorful flashing lights everywhere. He found a punch bowl on a table and poured himself a cup. He took a sip and could immediately tell there was vodka in it. He leaned against the table and just watched, He could spot Bobby dancing with some chicks near the DJ booth. He finished off the rest of his cup in one go before going to dance.
After a while, he decided he needed another cup. When he arrived at the table, he saw Brad leaning against the table. He looked quite out of it, just staring into his cup with a flushed face. He didn't notice as Max watched him wearily while poured himself another drink. Eventually Max decided to break the silence, "Hey Brad, Are alright?" He didn't really care but he just wanted to check.
When Brad looked up and saw him, his face lit up, making Max's heart skip a beat. "Max!" He shouted with a cheery tone. Max was shocked, did he mistake this guy for Bradley? This couldn't be him. He has seen Brad drunk before at Gamma parties and he was aggressive. Max snapped out of his thoughts when he felt someone lean against him and press their lips into his, for a second he relished in the kiss before pushing Brad off.
Bradley whined at the loss of contact and Max just sheepishly backed away, "Uh sorry, Brad, I have to go." He quickly scurried away before regretting it, Should he have really left Brad like that, in that state? He trudged back towards the punch table and brushed against someone, "Sorr- oh, hey Bobby." He could tell his friend was absolutely faded, "Heyyy man, I'm going back to the dorm." Max nodded, "I'll be there in a second, I just have something to do." And with that he began his begrudging walk back to the table. He arrived just in time to see Bradley fall onto the grass.
"Shit-" Max rushed over to Brad and shook him lightly, besides a light groan, he didn't wake up. What do I do? Max thought desperately, the party was starting to end and the Gamma house was probably a 30 minute walk unlike the 7 minute walk to the dorms. He groaned knowing what he was about to do, cursing himself for being so nice.
He picked Brad up and he was surprisingly light which made Max a little concerned, he expected at least some struggle. He carried Brad all the way back to his dorm and set him down carefully before knocking, The door swung open, "Max, man, what took so- What the fuck." Max looked to the side guiltily, "He passed out..."
"No way." PJ was now in the doorway and looking at the blacked out Bradley on the hallway floor. They argued in the hallway for five minutes until someone told them to shut up and they brought Bradley in.
Max set Bradley in his bed and ignored the glares his roommates were sending him, he took off his shirt and changed into some pajama pants before finally breaking the silence, "Will you guys stop staring?" They rolled their eyes and got into their respective beds. Max shut off the lights and grabbed a pillow and blanket. He tried sleeping on the floor for about 10 minutes before getting back into his bed. The floor was cold, okay? Surely, Bradley wouldn't mind sharing a bed with his savior.
***
Bradley woke up slowly to a strong pair of arms wrapped around him. He panicked slightly as he rolled over and came face to face with Max Goof. He was startled and pushed himself back which resulted in him falling off the bed.
He landed with a thud, he was a bit spacey, he hadn’t eaten the past day and a half, and had barely eaten the days before that. His father would be visiting soon and his figure needed to be perfect and lean. The only calories he allowed himself was alcohol.
Max was now sitting up and staring at him, “You okay, Brad?”
“For the last time, It’s Bradley, and what am I doing here?” He rummaged around for his phone and winced when he saw all the worried texts and calls from the Gammas and especially Tank.
“You passed out last night and I brought you here.” He tried standing up and immediately regretted it as black dots started to swarm his vision, he stumbled over a little and Max caught him by the arms, "Dude, are you okay?" Bradley tried to wriggle free but Max had a strong grip on him, "It is none of your concern, now If you could let me go, I need to get back to the Gamma house."
"Bro, Just let him." Bobby groaned sleepily from across the small dorm. PJ made a small hum of agreement.
"He can't even stand up right! How am I supposed to let him go across campus on his own?" Max argued as if Bradley wasn't even there.
"Fine man, do whatever, but just keep it quiet." Bobby rolled over and pulled the covers over his head.
"Sorry about him, but c'mon you're tired, just rest some more, it won't hurt," Max whispered as he pulled Bradley back into his bed by the arms, and Bradley stumbled right into Max's lap. Bradley flushed as Max looked a little surprised, "You're really light." Bradley lit up a little at that, maybe his diet was working.
"That wasn't really a compliment, man..." Max commented as he noticed Bradley preen at his previous words. Bradley looked a little offended, "Well if you're going to critique me, I'm leaving." He shifted to get off Max's lap but Max kept him there, "What's going on, Brad?" He had such genuine concern in his voice that tugged at Bradley's heart strings.
"It's nothing, just a little hungover with a headache. And don't call me Brad"
"Well was when was last time you ate something?" Max looked at Bradley with these big doe eyes that he couldn't lie to.
"two days ago..." Bradley couldn't look Max in the eyes.
"WHAT!?" Max yelled which earned him a loud shush from both his roommates, he turned to glare at them before turning his attention back to Bradley, "Why?"
"My father is visiting in a week and I need to be in tip top shape to greet him." Bradley explained not seeing that fault in his logic.
"That's fucked up man." Max said before fishing out a bag of potato chips from under his bed, "Here, have some."
"...I wouldn't eat that even if I wasn't on a diet." Bradley picked at the choice of food.
"Oh c'mon you need it." Max whined.
"Not a chance."
Max reached into his pillow case and pulled out a protein bar, "Here."
Bradley hesitantly took the bar, and flipped around to read the nutrition label but before he could, Max grabbed it and started peeling off the wrapper, "No way, just eat it."
Bradley groaned before biting into the cheap chocolate protein bar. It was kinda gross but he could tell it made Max happy he was eating it.
After he was done, Max wrapped him in a hug and laid down, Bradley wondered if he was sober but didn't have the energy to fight him off, not that he really wanted to.
A few minutes later there was a heavy knock on the dorm door, Max groaned as he got up to answer it. He glanced up to see a worried Tank, "Is Bradley in there? He didn't make it back to the frat house and he isn't answering his phone."
Max hesitated but nodded, "Yeah, I saw him pass out last night and let him spend the night."
"He what." Tank looked at Max in shock, "Can you get him for me, I'll take him back to the house."
Max went back inside and shook Bradley awake, "Psst, Tank is here for you." Bradley nodded solemnly before standing up, he was shaking and Max helped him get to the door.
"Here, to return the one you gave me last night," Max kissed Bradley on the cheek before handing him off to a shocked Tank.
As Max closed the door, Bradley touched his cheek and gasped, "I did what?!"