Chapter Text
It was starting again. His hand flew to his mouth and he squeezed his eyes shut, anxiety rising as his stomach lurched. Feeling the large book on his lap starting to slip, he clutched it with both hands and then carefully put it on the table. He was not getting another lecture from his dad on the age and rarity of the dusty books in the library his girlfriend oversaw. As nausea took hold, he jumped to his feet and knocked his chair down, catching the startled looks on his dad's and friends' faces.
Keeping his finger on the page he was reading, PJ slowly closed his book and eyed him with sympathy. "Chinese food poisoning again?"
Bobby's nose scrunched up. "Which Chinese takeout is that?"
"Maybe we should see a doctor, Maxie," his dad said, his face a mix of concern and fear.
"I…" Max burped and felt the foul taste of his lunch in his throat. "I have to go." He ran out of the library, pushing the disturbed stares that followed him to the back of his brain. His only priority at the moment was to get to the bathroom before he made a mess in the halls. He made it to the bathrooms safely, though the toilet stalls felt as if they were miles away, so he hurled himself against the sink as his lunch exploded out of his mouth.
He inhaled, wiping his lips with the back of his hand and gazing down at the vomit-covered basin. Turning on the water, he washed his face and then started splashing the gooey chunks of food, willing them to slide into the drain. The sink was still stained with disgusting yellow and green colors. He released a despairing sigh when he discovered that there were no paper towels by the sink, so he walked into the toilet to get some.
Dampening them with a little water, he started to wipe the stains on the sink. His desperate attempts not to look at his reflection in the mirror had been unsuccessful, and now he was face to face with the Grinch. His features were less green now, but his eyes were definitely red and he couldn't wash the exhaustion off his face no matter how many times he splashed it.
The door to the men's room opened, and he saw his dad's reflection in the mirror.
"Maxie, are you okay?"
He pasted on a brave smile and turned to his dad. "It'll blow over. You remember when we had food poisoning after eating Mr. Pete's takeout?"
"Yes, but, Max… it didn't last a whole two weeks. Or three. You've been a-heaving for a good while now, son."
"I, uh… that's because I kept eating from that Chinese place before I realized it was what was making me sick."
His dad just stared at him.
"I'm okay, Dad, really. You go back and finish studying. We want that college diploma, right?" He reached out and patted his dad's arm with a mock-stern look. "I've always dreamed of seeing you in your cap and gown. I need that Dean-handshake photo to show the neighbors. Make me proud, Pop."
"Aren't you coming with me?"
"I need to pee," Max said lamely. "I'll catch up with you later."
With a sigh, his dad gave him a pat on the shoulder and exited the bathroom.
Max's hand hesitantly brushed against his not-so-flat stomach, reassuring him that he was definitely going insane. The sickness was getting stronger and more frequent, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to lie to his dad and friends anymore. Soon, he'd find himself faced with an intervention, and the questions would attack him from all sides.
He was in deep shit. The universe was screwing with him, being its usual scumbag asshole. And speaking of holes, he slipped a shaking hand into his pants, hearing his heartbeat drum in his ears.
And there it was.
The freaking new hole.
~*~*~*~
The last person he wanted to see was Bradley. He was glad when he heard that the senior had taken a leave of absence after the X-Games to recover at home. But now that finals were mere days away, Bradley was back. He looked okay for a guy who'd been shot into a blimp. He only had an arm in a sling; everything else looked great: his hair, his face, a shiny brand-new tooth, and the way he carried himself in those pricey vests.
Max instinctively tugged on his oversized shirt when he caught Bradley staring at his stomach. Fortunately – and he couldn't believe he was thinking this – a new wave of nausea took Bradley and everyone else off his mind in one fell swoop. Things like this made him reconsider appearing in public, maybe even just dropping out. Like father, like son, huh? He could probably come back years later to get his degree when his own son started college.
Bradley and the Gammas were coming over to him. No. No. No. He had to get out of here. He started toward the cafeteria doors, but the stench of meatloaf made him want to barf.
"Wrong way. Gym is the other direction," one of Bradley's minion's scornful voices stabbed his ears.
Shouldn't turn around, he thought. Shouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing his vomit face. Better lose the vomit face altogether before disaster struck. The cafeteria doors swung open and his hands flew to his mouth to block the gagging that would inevitably lead to barfing.
"Dude," another minion said. "What's up with the beer belly?"
"X-Games champion's been partying hard, ain't he?" another one mocked.
Strangely, none of those insults belonged to the Gamma king. It was usually Bradley who would take shots at him to get under his skin. Had he decided Max wasn't even worth the trouble? Maybe he should spray the vomit on his shiny shoes.
He spun around and gagged, but nothing came out. Shit! Dry heaving at the worst possible moment.
The Gammas laughed at him. "Nice try, Goof. Worse luck next time."
Max's gaze locked with Bradley's. He wasn't laughing at him. Not one cutting insult spoken. He just stared at him with an unreadable look.
~*~*~*~
Talk of summer plans was the rage, interrupting the study session on the last day of exams. PJ and his family were staying at Uncle Bob's house, much to Pete's dismay. PJ had invited Max to join them, mentioning that Uncle Bob liked him well enough, but Max had to decline.
Bobby and his family were headed to the Bahamas and had also invited Max to tag along. Again, Max declined.
Meanwhile, his dad and Sylvia were planning a getaway as a couple. Max could tell his dad was on the verge of canceling their plans once he realized Max intended to stay on campus alone for the summer. However, Max reassured him that he was going to take a few summer courses to lighten his workload for the following year and that he would be perfectly fine on his own.
"Are you sure, Maxie?"
"Dad, I'm a big boy. I can handle staying on campus by myself."
He caught a nosey stare from a study table close by. Bradley's blue eyes were on him.
"What are you looking at?" Max snapped.
Other kids in the tables around them shushed him.
Bradley returned his stare to the book he was studying. Max wished he could vomit right onto the jerk's nosey nose. Alas, this was the only time he didn't feel nauseated.
~*~*~*~
The semester was over, and college students were heading home for the summer. He'd said goodbye to his dad after his graduation ceremony, and a couple of days later, he'd waved at Bobby's van as PJ and Bobby drove back to Spoonerville.
Now, Max found himself walking the campus streets alone, watching other students pack their belongings into vans and head off to be with their families. He tried not to touch his stomach through his oversized t-shirt, hoping not to draw any attention to himself.
He stopped just a few yards from the Gamma fraternity house and watched as the members loaded up their cars and vans. Since most of them were seniors, they wouldn't be returning next year. Bradley graduated this year, right? He'd definitely seen him in a cap and gown. It would be nice not seeing his pasty face again on campus. Unless he was one of those super-seniors who needed more than four years to graduate. Or worse, maybe he'd stay for his master's or come back as a TA.
What if he became Max's TA? A surge of nausea hit him at the thought, or more likely, from the smell of a burrito that caught his nose. He leaned against a tree and began to gag and heave; because he hadn't eaten anything all day, there was nothing to come up.
"Are you okay, dear?" a concerned woman's voice asked.
He looked to his left and saw an elegant woman with diamond earrings and a silk scarf dubbing her Richie Rich kneeling next to him.
"I'm fine," he said in the most unconvincing hoarse tone, followed directly by another gag. The nausea was too strong; he tumbled forward onto his knees, retching. The woman was at his side in an instant, her hands reaching out to steady him. Then, one of her hands pressed against his stomach.
Max recoiled, falling back onto his rear and scrambling away, his eyes wide with fear.
"Your stomach is too distended," she said in a worried tone. "This could be an obstruction or maybe internal bleeding. You should go to the hospital."
"I'm fine. Really." His heart felt as though it were on the verge of bursting from awkwardness and mortification.
"Honey, I used to be a nurse. You don't look fine at all," she said, straightening up and helping him to his feet. "Is there someone coming to take you home?"
He shook his head, pulling hard on the hem of his shirt to hide his slightly rounded stomach from her. "No, I'm staying on campus this summer."
"In this condition?" Her eyes widened. "You should be with your family. I'll take you home myself. Give me your address."
"There's no need for that, ma'am, thanks. I'm already on my way to schedule my summer courses for next year."
"I'm putting my foot down. You're going home." Damn, this woman was stubborn.
"I can't go home because no one's there," he told her, as politely as his gruff tone could muster. "My dad left on a trip with his girlfriend. The neighbors are away staying with relatives for the summer. There's no one there."
"And your mom? I could drive you…"
"I don't have a mom," he interrupted, feeling too fed up spilling his guts to a complete stranger. "Listen, ma'am, I gotta go."
Her determined look softened into sympathy, and she rubbed his shoulder with a delicate hand adorned with expensive rings. "Let me at least drive you to a hospital," she insisted.
"I'm fine, really! It was just a bad breakfast. I... I ate some expired food."
"You can't fool me," she said. "I told you, I used to be a nurse. A stomach wouldn't feel this hard if it were mere food poisoning." She narrowed her eyes, scanning his mismatched outfit and the wrinkled state of his clothes. "Are you hesitant because you can't afford the hospital expenses?"
Anger rose within him, even stronger than the rising nausea. "I can afford to go to a hospital, thank you very much! The thing is… uh, I hate doctors, okay?" Typical him. Lying his way out of a situation.
"Bad experience?" she asked.
"Yes, exactly. That's why," he said, hoping this would finally put an end to the conversation.
"Mom! We're ready to go."
His heart sank as he saw Bradley approaching. No. A thousand gallons of no. This woman was Bradley's mother?
"Max?" Bradley asked, looking genuinely confused to find him standing there with his mother.
"You know this young man, honey?" she asked, her face brightening. "Are you two friends?"
Hardly, Max almost shouted.
Bradley lowered his gaze, appearing – kinda, sorta, somewhat, no way! – ashamed? "Not exactly," he muttered.
"Since you two know each other, dear, maybe this boy can stay with us for the summer."
"Mom!" Bradley exclaimed.
"No!" Max bellowed. A summer with Bradley Uppercrust the Jerk was the last thing he wanted, especially considering his current unexplained condition.
Bradley guided his mom a short distance away, and the two began a heated whisper-fight that was still loud enough for Max to overhear.
"You can't just take some kid off the street and play nurse!" Bradley hissed.
"Watch it, young man. I don't play nurse. I am a nurse."
"Used to be," Bradley reminded her. "Mom, I know you miss your ER days. It's why you insisted I stay home to recover from my injuries after the games. But this is different!"
"I did a good job with you, and I know I can do a good job with that boy."
"Excuse me," Max interrupted in a loud, offended tone. "This 'boy' does not like being talked about as if he's not in the room, uh, street. I said I was staying on campus all summer, and I'm the one in charge of me! You Uppercrusts can't jerk me around like some puppet."
"You can't stay alone when you could be having internal bleeding!" Bradley's mom argued.
"So you're going through with staying on campus this summer?" Bradley asked, looking strangely uncomfortable. That jerk had been eavesdropping on their conversation in the library that day after all.
"Plenty of people do that. Why is it such a big deal if I do?" Max shot back. Man! His dad had finally eased up on the smothering, and now Bradley's mom was taking over? Bradley's mom! The irony of it all was ridiculous!
"I am not going to let a young man with a possible abdominal crisis languish in a dorm room eating some stale gas station food."
"I'd take my chances with gas station snacks instead of a road trip with your son over there. And trust me, I'm pretty sure he feels the same way." He looked at Bradley, praying for a flat-out refusal to let him into the car. But Bradley just stood there, his eyes flickering toward Max's stomach and then back at the pavement.
"See? Bradley doesn't mind at all," his mother chirped, hooking her arm firmly through Max's. "I'm Audrey, by the way. And you are Max, right?"
"Wait… no! Mrs. Uppercrust… please!" he stammered, his face heating up as she steered him toward a black luxury SUV.
"Confirm your name, young man," she said in a tone that didn't brook any argument. A fancy-looking driver opened the backseat door for them.
"Yes, it's Max," he replied, defeated. He let himself be pushed into the backseat, and Audrey followed him in, letting the driver close the door. He was being kidnapped by the Uppercrusts!
"Point us toward your dorm, Max. We'll have you packed and settled in the guest suite before dinner."
The door to his left opened, and he saw Bradley settling in next to him. They stared at each other for a second then immediately looked away, the air between them as awkward as an elevator ride with a one-night stand. Something he'd experienced a few days after his victory sex with the podium model whose name he didn't even know.
As the car lurched forward, the need to barf reached an all-time high, right along with the realization that his summer plans had gone up in smoke. Now, he was struggling to suppress the bitter sting of an empty-stomach gag, all while being sandwiched in the backseat between a guy he despised and the guy's mother who was being way too persistent for her own good.