"Max!"

I turn my head in the direction of whoever yelled my name, dropping from the pull-up bar. Bobby and PJ run up to me, their faces red from exertion and dripping with sweat.

"We're in the school paper!" PJ gasps out, handing me a crumpled paper- or rather shoving it at me because he collapses into me. 

I give him a slight look of disgust, pushing him off of me. "Stop, man. I don't want your sweat all over me."

He shrugs and lazily leans on Bobby, who gestures to the paper in my hands. "Whatever. Just read the article, dude."

Opening the paper, I immediately catch the title in big, bold lettering.

MAX GOOF AND TEAM WINS THE COLLEGE X GAMES, BEATING THE GAMMAS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS!

I smirk, a wave of pride washing over me as I scan over the flattering article. At the bottom right of the page, a picture of the team and I was printed.

"Look!" PJ says excitedly, pointing to a part of the photograph. There in the corner of the stage was Bradley, the smirk wiped clean off of his face. I laugh a little at the expression on his dirt-smudged expression and his crossed arms. 

I crumple the paper back up, tossing it in a nearby trash can in the gym. "It's been a few days since the College X Games, and I don't think I've seen him anywhere."

"He's probably hiding somewhere with his tail between his legs after Tank messed him up," PJ suggests with a small sort of giggly snort at the thought.

I sigh and rub my forehead. "I don't feel like thinking about him right now. Can we talk about that truce party at the Gamma house?"

Bobby hooks his arm round my neck, laughing. "It's going to be wild, man!"

"Ever since Bobby and you moved into another dorm room, I don't think we've hung out much. I'm just ready for some fun after cleaning up that mess from the X Games," I say with a small smile, brushing Bobby off so that I can finish my workout.

PJ nods then grabs Bobby's forearm, leading him away. "Us too. And hey, we'll let you get back to your workout. I think Stacy wants us to come watch her interpretive dance down at the Bean Scene."

After they're gone, I start doing pull-ups again, the burning sensation spreading throughout my torso like a wildfire. Not that I mind it much, though. My knee is fucked up from the events of a couple days ago, and I need something to take my tired mind off the unpleasant pain.

Of course, I've been immobilized frequently, and my leg gives out under the weight of my body, but I'm not sure I need to get it checked out. All the doctor is going to tell me to do is rest, and Max Goof doesn't have time to rest. I drop from the pull-up bar and sit on the floor, reading from my exercise regimen to see what's next. 

As if the universe wants to play a cruel joke on me, Bradley walks into the gym, his jaw set in a serious manner. He's ignoring me; he swings his leg over one of the stationary bikes and begins to pedal without a glance in my direction. 

I scoff at his nonchalance and go back to perusing my regimen. How can he show his face after his humiliating defeat that gained him the hatred of the university? I wish I could feel bad for him, but... there's really nothing good he's done for me, so why give him grace?

A couple girls I recognize from class enter the gym but stop in their tracks at the sight of Bradley's sweating figure on the bike and begin exchanging looks. He seems to notice this and sighs dramatically, hopping off the exercising machine and quickly pushing through the exit door. The girls wait until he's completely gone before loudly whispering to each other.

"He's such a dick," the one who might be Lindsay says, scowling at the door.

The brunette named Abby nods, holding the arm of the other tighter. "Yeah. You know, ever since he got kicked out of the Gamma house, he's had to live in his car in the parking lot."

I perk up a little at her words, straining to hear more. Has Bradley really been living in his fancy sports car or is it just a rumor? Either way, I hope he's regretting everything he did. A guy like him needed to be taken down a peg.

Lindsay and Abby sit on the weightlifting bench, holding each other's hands like middle school girls ready to spill their tea.

"I've heard about that," Lindsay whisper-yells with a laugh. "No one sits by him anymore in class, either. What a loser."

At this point, I decide to listen to music on my MP3 player through my earbuds in the case that they look over in my direction and think I'm eavesdropping. I obviously have better things to do than listen to a bunch of rumors made up by bored students.

Especially if I have to hear Bradley's name one more time today.

~*~*~*~

(TW: Blood and use of alcohol)

I adjust the collar of my Limp Bizkit shirt then ruffle my black mullet, wanting to look nothing less than perfect.

Well, better than I actually feel right now.

As I start admiring my appearance in the full-body mirror and making little adjustments, I hear rapid knocking on my dorm door. 

"Just a sec!" I yell from the other side of the room, adjusting my snake bites quickly. I stumble to the door, dragging my left leg behind me to ease some of the pain. When I reach over to open the door, PJ and Bobby apparently decide to open it at the same time.

I groan in surprise and agony as the door connects with my nose. "Holy shit, ow!"

PJ's eyes widen, and he gently closes the door, leaving me in the room by myself again. 

That coward.

I grab a piece of toilet paper and hold it against my bleeding nose. Great, not only is my knee acting up again, but I have a bloody nose, too.

Opening the dorm door, I see PJ pacing behind Bobby, who just has the same brazen, glazed look on his face.

"I'm so sorry," PJ says, the panic in his voice evident. He'd never been one to accidentally hurt someone and not beat himself up over it.

I grab his shoulder, squeezing it slightly. "It's fine, PJ. Calm down before you faint."

After a couple words of consolation, we're finally on our way to the Gamma house for the event that could shape the rest of our college social lives. We arrive at our destination, wearily eyeing our surroundings because there's no such thing as being too careful if your running ability is impaired, and you're already weakened more from a blow to the nose.

Bobby shuffles up to the big front door and knocks a short pattern on it, to which Tank arrives at the scene. He throws open the door with a big grin on his face, gesturing for us to come inside.

"Welcome to the party, baby."

I give him a small nod of greeting at his words and follow PJ and Bobby into the house that terrorized us only days ago. At the sight of our arrival, the brothers of the fraternity swarm us excitedly.

"To the truce that will change the future of the College X Games and abolish the use of cheating," Slouch says in his raspy voice, handing me a red solo cup full of some sort of drink.

The diverting night carries on with dancing, drinking, and chatting. I've drunk so much at this point that all I feel in my leg and my nose is a numbness that I can't categorize into being either good or bad. All I can think about are the tiny fairies in the corner of the room trying to attack me with their magical magic.

"They're coming for me," I say, shaking Bobby's shoulder. Bobby just allows me a distracted glance before starting to dance again. I sigh sadly and go to hide from the terrifying fairies behind one of the couches.

I wonder if they'd attack someone else if I told them to. Maybe Bradley? Haha... Bradley is such a weird name.

I laugh, shaking my head and speaking to the back of the couch. "That's so right... it is a weird name."

Without warning, Tank picks up by the back of my shirt and brings me out from my hiding spot. 

I gasp in disbelief, putting my weight on his large arm. "Thanks a lot, Tank. Now the fairies know where I am."

Tank lets out a hearty laugh. "Max, baby, there aren't any fairies. Just sit down and relax."

"I'm so glad they're gone," I say, relaying a weak smile then sitting in a nearby chair.

As I sit in the chair, I swing my legs back and forth while humming an unfamiliar melody, feeling a comfortable lightness in my mind.

Well, until there's commotion at the front door. 

I stand up and begin walking to the source of the noise curiously. On the porch is none other than Bradley Uppercrust the Third himself. He stands in front of Tank with a desperate look on his face, clutching the front of the big man's shirt.

"Tank, baby! I can't live without Gamma Mu Mu. I need you guys! I'm so sorry."

Tank scowls at him, pushing him back by his forehead. "No, what's done is done. And don't 'baby' me."

Before he can respond, Bradley gets a glimpse of me, and that desperate expression melts into one of anger.

"Oh, I see. You were just waiting to win the X Games so you could steal my spot as the leader of the Gamma house!" He hyperventilates for a moment then lunges at me, tackling me to the ground. 

My head hits the ground roughly, prompting another nosebleed from my injured nose. Bradley straddles my hips, pulling my upper body up by my bloodied collar.

Suddenly, something seems to flash across his features as he takes in my state, gently letting go of me and standing up.

"You're lucky you look so pitiful and weak, Goof. Otherwise, I'd beat your ass." He sneers at me as Tank drags him out.

I hold my aching head, staring after the enraged spectacle. Pj and Bobby rush over to me, each grabbing an arm and slinging it around their shoulders.

"Let's get you back to your room," PJ says as him and Bobby begin to lead me out the door without a goodbye to the Gammas.

Leaving the house, I look between my two friends tiredly before saying, "I think it might just be the alcohol, but... I feel a little bad for that Brad guy."

Maybe it's the alcohol, and maybe it isn't.