BRAD - London, 12th October 2038
12.32pm

Ok, see you soon babes x
I send the message, feeling my breath get caught in my throat.

Almost ten years ago now, back when I was at college, I met a girl in my class called Charlotte-May Tennyson. She had, to my utter disgust, ginger hair and bright green eyes that shone like emeralds – hard to miss in any crowd. I met her because she was dating Clive at the time. Which I also found pretty gross because... Well, she's a ginger. Of all people, he just had to date a fucking ginger. Like, ew. But anyhow, during the time they dated, she showed a little too much interest in me than perhaps she should have. But I'll tell you now, I would never, ever do that to my friend. Clive has been there for me since I was eleven. As if I'd go gallivanting off with some girl in his expense.

Well, but then she dyed her hair brown (which meant she wasn't technically ginger anymore) so we fucked. When Clive found out about it he actually cried. Can you imagine? A big boy like him, crying over a girl? A technically-ginger one, no less. After all of that mess, Clive was kicked out of the Cool Kid Club and Charlie was invited in. I could tell for the longest time, she waited for me to ask her out. She even tried to ask me out a couple of times, but I said no. I mean, I have standards!

Nowadays we're just close fuck buddies, and while I can tell she's still waiting for me to ask her out, I'm just glad she's not too pushy about it.

Actually, no, that's a lie; I did date Charlie for a while, but... Let's not get into that.

I quickly brush my teeth, eat a banana and comb my hair before grabbing my keys on the way out of my flat, remembering the conversation Chad and I had about Charlie the other day.

"I just... Don't like her," he'd said.

"Huh? Why?"

"Well, for one, she's ginger-"

"She dyed her hair,"

"Naturally ginger. And we all know she only dyes her hair so you'd show even a pinch of interest in her. Desperate, that's what she is," Chad said, rolling his eyes. I noticed a sparkle of irritance in his eye at my defending her.

"True, but she gives good advice on things. She's kinda smart that way. And besides, above all else, she's a freak in the sheets!" I chuckle.

Chad purses his lip, unimpressed, "Gross. I don't need to know that,"

"Sure you do! How else will you know where to go when you feel like cheating on the missus?" I joke. Chad narrows his eyes onto me.

"I would never cheat on Karolina." Chad snaps at me. I raise an eyebrow, unconvinced for some reason, although I don't really know why. But then I gulp. If I continue, we'll only end up fighting, and that's the last thing I want.

"Listen, I'm sorry, OK? I know you don't like Charlie, but... Well, it just doesn't stop me from seeing her when I feel like it-"

Chad frowns, "Whatever. Why don't you go see your beloved Charlie now, then, eh?"

And then he looked to the ground in shame, realising what he'd just said. We didn't speak another word that night, simply looked at the full moon and the stars that glistened above us. And as we did, I tried to ignore the fact that Chad's gaze wasn't on the sky at all. It was fixed on me the rest of the night.

I park my car now, outside Charlie's home. It's a little cute cottage on the outskirts of the borough. She works as a manager for a big bleach company, sometimes doing part-time jobs like a school lunch lady for extra money since her older sister is a principal. (Although she washes her hands before handling the kids' food, since she always stinks of bleach after work).

Today, though, she'd prepared for my arrival. A slim-fitting, tight dress, sensual perfume and silk robes. OK, that's a bit extra, Charlie, I think to myself. She smiles as I walk in the front door, closing it behind me before landing an avalanche of kisses on my neck. I jump a little, shocked, but then relax. Just chill. This is Brad Time.

***

After we've... Done what we needed to, I find myself absent-mindedly pacing her corridors.

"What's up, Braddie Boo?" she smirks at me. I want to puke.

"Hmm? Yeah, I know. Same,"

Of course, I'd heard her loud and clear, but I really don't need her interrupting my thought process right now. From the moment I stepped into Charlie's home, to us fucking, right up until now... Why haven't I gotten my stupid dream out of my head? Flashes of my strangely promiscuous dream keep resurfacing in my head, throwing me off and making me feel drowsy. What does it mean? Why did it feel so real? In my dream, Chad and I were inches apart.

I could feel his breath on my neck. I could sense the lust, the burning desire for each other in my veins. I felt it more than anything Charlie has ever made me feel. More than any girl has ever made me feel. The thought of that is scary – but also intriguing. Would... Would it be the same in real life? Would I really be able to feel such things, and for none other than my childhood best friend? The man who picked me up when I fell, who laughed when I laughed, who wiped away my tears when I cried (which was very few times, because alpha males like me don't cry on a regular basis. Unlike you, Clive!)

But am I really an alpha male if I grow feelings for Chad? That's not manly. That's not epic. That's not... Not what my dad would've wanted.

So is it what I want?