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

Chapter 5: Sam Lee

Many people continued to challenge Atlas and Wolf. The two were known as a terrifying fighting duo throughout the area. Thinking they'd be weak and would easily lose if they were apart, several people tried ambushing them when they were alone. But Atlas and Wolf weren't weak individually and easily defeated their opponents.

By their final year of elementary school, they were the Number Ones in the school and neighborhood. Anyone who opposed them were crushed. The two had several shuttles who served them, running errands for the duo such as grabbing snacks from the school shop for them.

One day, a transfer student arrived in their class. His name was Sam Lee.

Atlas and Wolf didn't think much of him. He didn't seem like a threat and kept to himself. The two already had a lot of shuttles and as long as the new kid didn't cause any problems, then they wouldn't need to act.

XXX

A group of kids from another elementary school nearby were at the gates of Atlas' school. They had heard about Atlas and Wolf's reputation and wanted to prove that they were the strongest in the neighborhood.

As they waited for the two to arrive, Sam reached the school gates. Since the bullies were bored, they decided to target Sam. They expected him to crumple, cry, and beg for them to stop like all of their other victims, but Sam fought back. He wouldn't let anyone push him around.

By the time Atlas and Wolf arrived at school, Sam had just finished defeating his opponents. Although he sustained several injuries himself, his enemies were in a worse state.

"Damn," Atlas whistled in surprise. "You're actually tough. I thought you were just some wimpy kid,"

"Are you trying to pick a fight with me too?" Sam asked, although it was very obvious that he was too exhausted to continue fighting.

"Nah, the complete opposite actually," Atlas held his hand out. "How'd you like to join our friend group?"

"You want me to be your friend?" Sam stared at the Atlas' hand. When he first transferred here, he wasn't able to make any friends. In the beginning, he told himself that he'd be fine alone, but the loneliness began to get to him and he desired friendship. 

"We're only friends with strong people," Wolf told him. "You better hold your own in a fight,"

"Dude, it's obvious he can," Atlas motioned to the unconscious kids around them. "So what do ya say, Sam Lee? Wanna join us?"

Sam shook Atlas' hand. "Yeah,"

That was the day that the friendship duo became a friendship trio.

XXX

The three loved bullying the other kids and making their lives miserable. They loved the power and authority their strength and fighting skills got them. In this cruel world people were either the rulers or the ruled, and the three friends did not want to be ruled.

Mr. Hart sighed and shook his head whenever he saw his son and his friends covered in fresh wounds. He hated how his son was constantly fighting again. The whole reason they had moved was so that Atlas could have a fresh start.

'I guess it's as the saying goes,' Mr. Hart thought sadly. 'Old habits die hard,'

At first, he tried talking to his son, but Atlas angrily snapped at him that he finally was happy since they moved and that his father wanted to take away his happiness. Any additional attempts to get him to stop fighting fell onto deaf ears.

XXX

The three friends attended the same middle school. Within the first week, they challenged the top dogs of the school and won, taking over as the Rank One, Rank Two, and Rank Three of their school. Atlas was considered by both Wolf and Sam to be the strongest of their group so he was Rank One. Wolf was stronger than Sam so he was Rank Two. Sam was Rank Three.

The trio often hung out on the school's rooftop. If they wanted something, they had one of their many shuttles bring it to them.

"You know what I noticed about you, Sam?" Atlas brought up one day.

"Huh?" Sam looked up from his phone.

"You really like grapes," Atlas told him. "You've always brought grapes with you to school everyday,"

"They taste good," Sam shrugged as he popped another grape into his mouth.

"Even your hair vaguely resembles a bunch of grapes," Wolf joked, ruffling his friend's hair. "You sure it's not a grape obsession?"

"It's my favorite fruit but I don't need it to survive," Sam rolled his eyes. "I can control myself,"

"Maybe we should call you Grape from now on," Atlas suggested.

"You're nicknaming me after a fruit?" The newly nicknamed boy deadpanned.

"It's not as bad as Wolf's actual name," Atlas chuckled. "His parents actually named him after an animal,"

"Hey!" Wolf lightly punched his friend's shoulder. "At least wolves are cool animals! And wouldn't the nickname 'Raccoon' suit Sam more?"

"I'm nothing like a raccoon!" Sam denied.

Wolf brought up a meme on his phone and showed it to them.

"Haha, that does kinda suit him," Atlas snickered. "But I think I'll call him Grape instead. So Sam Lee, from henceforth you shall be known as Grape!"

"You sound like an old man when you talk like that,"

"Shut up!"

XXX

Whenever they weren't in class, the three friends spent most of their time either beating up other kids in the neighborhood or hanging out. The places they mainly hung out at were the skatepark (although Grape was awful at skateboarding and mainly watched them), the arcade, or Atlas' house. 

To anyone who saw the trio, they would assume that the three boys had an unbreakable bond and a friendship that would last many years to come.

So I included my own version of how Grape got his nickname. The reason Wolf calls him Sam and not Grape is because he considers that nickname a sign of friendship and Wolf no longer considers Grape to be his friend.