|Weak Hero| The Bridge Between Us [Wolf and Grape's Backstory]

Chapter 3: Friends

June 2009
Wolf Keum: 8 Years Old
Atlas Hart: 8 Years Old

Wolf noticed that Atlas was more grouchy that usual. He hesitated to speak to him since he had never interacted with the new student during class, even if there was partner work involved. He wasn't even close to the other boy.

Finally, Wolf asked, "What's with you?"

"Nothing," Atlas growled. "Nothing is wrong. I am completely fine. I'm doing great,"

"You're a bad liar," Wolf commented.

"Did I ask for your opinion?" Atlas scoffed. "Leave me alone,"

The conversation ended.

XXX

"What are you doing after school?" Wolf asked when class finally ended.

"None of your business!" Atlas snapped. 'I liked it better when he was less talkative!'

"Are you going to the skatepark again?" Wolf inquired.

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," Atlas mumbled. "You don't own the skatepark and I can do whatever I want," He shoved past Wolf and headed home to drop off his backpack and grab his skateboard. 

When Atlas arrived at the skatepark, he became even more irritated when he saw Wolf there with his own skateboard. "What are you doing here!?"

"You don't own the skatepark and I can do whatever I want," Wolf parroted with a smirk.

Atlas began to angrily skate on his own. 'Stupid fake friends! How could they ditch me like that!? It's not my fault that I had to move! It's my dad's fault!' He did a few basic tricks. 'I don't need them! I'm fine on my own! Who needs fake friends? I'm better off without them!'

He ended up losing his balance and fell to the ground. He heard a sickening crack and felt an intense searing pain in his arm. Atlas let out a scream as he cradled his broken arm. "OWWW!!!!!" Tears streamed down like rapid waterfalls. 'It hurts so much!'

XXX

Atlas woke up in his bedroom with his arm having been treated and wrapped in a cast. He hadn't even realized he had passed out. "How'd I get home?"

"Your friend brought you to the hospital," Mr. Hart informed him. "He carried you all the way from the skatepark. Since it was only a broken arm, I was allowed to bring you home,"

"I don't have any friends," Atlas reminded his father.

"The purple haired kid was the one who helped you," Mr. Hart said. "Son, please be more careful. You're lucky it was only a broken arm. At least wear your helmet. What if you had cracked your skull open?"

"Fine, I'll wear a stupid helmet," Atlas agreed.

"And please try to make friends here," Mr. Hart requested. "I know you're still adjusting and I know you miss your friends, but at least give the people here a chance. That kid that brought you to the hospital seems like he'd be a good friend,"

"Sure, whatever," Atlas mumbled.

Mr. Hart left his son's room and returned to the kitchen where Wolf was, drinking some tea. "Atlas is awake," Mr. Hart told him. "His arm will be in a cast for a while though,"

"I helped Atlas because he helped me," Wolf said as he finished his tea. 

"He did?" Mr. Hart was surprised that it had been his son who had reached out first. 'But Atlas said this boy isn't his friend and he's not really keen on befriending anyone or even having unnecessary interactions with people,'

"He helped me fight off a bunch of jerks!" 

Mr. Hart frowned. "He got into a fight again?" He groaned. "I thought that he wouldn't be so violent after moving here,"

"Does he fight a lot?" Wolf inquired. "Is that why he's so strong?"

"He got into a lot of fights back in Hawaii," Mr. Hart sighed. "Thank you again for helping him, Wolf. It's getting late so you should head home so your parents don't worry,"

"Okay," Wolf nodded. "Bye Mr. Hart!"

XXX

June 29, 2009

Dear Diary,

Sorry my handwriting's messier than usual. I broke my arm when I fell off my skateboard. Yeah, it was a stupid way to get hurt.

Dad still wants me to make new friends. I said I would try to be friends with Wolf. I don't want to be friends with Wolf. I don't want any friends. He'll just end up like all my old friends. He'll leave me and abandon me. He won't actually care about me. It'll all be lies.

My ex-friends and I had promised to be best friends forever. There was no forever. They lied.

Sincerely,
Atlas

XXX

At school, Atlas encountered the boys he had beaten up. Having heard about Atlas' injury, they decided to gang up on him during lunch. They cornered him in a secluded part of the school and began to shove him around.

Atlas tried fighting back but his broken arm put him at a great disadvantage than he already was with being outnumbered. 'Stupid injury! If it wasn't for it, I'd be able to beat them all up!' He was pinned to the ground as they kicked and punched him. He curled up and did his best to protect his face and stomach.

Suddenly, Wolf appeared out of nowhere and began attacking the nearest bully. When they started to attack him, Wolf didn't bother dodging. Their hits didn't really faze him since he was used to getting beaten up and had built up his durability.

Seeing that they were distracted by Wolf, Atlas got up and continued to fight back. In the end, the two boys won against the group of bullies who ran away in fear.

"I didn't need your help," Atlas told Wolf.

"It looked like you did," Wolf disagreed.

"I helped you and you already helped me when you brought me to the hospital," Atlas reminded. "You didn't have to get involved,"

"To get stronger, I have to continue fighting," Wolf said. "And...you were the first person to help me,"

'He didn't have to help me, but he did,' Atlas thought. "Hey, Wolf Keum...do you want to be friends?"

"Sure,"

XXX

June 30, 2009

Dear Diary,

Wolf and I are now friends. If he abandons me like my ex-friends did, I'll beat him up. I hate being forgotten.

Sincerely,
Atlas

Atlas and Wolf are now friends.