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

Chapter 6: It All Comes Crumbling Down

It was late at night, nearly midnight, when Wolf heard someone knocking at his front door. His mom was at work and she never mentioned any visitors that'd be coming by this late at night, so the second year middle schooler was suspicious. He opened the door and immediately recognized his friend. "Atlas?"

Atlas stood there with a downcast gaze. It was raining so his clothes were thoroughly soaked and clung to his cold skin.

"Oi, come inside and change into dry clothes before you freeze," Wolf pulled his friend into the house and shut the door. "You can use some of my clothes," He dragged him to the bathroom and tossed a towel and a set of dry clothes to him. "Take a hot shower to warm yourself up,"

Atlas silently nodded as Wolf left to head back downstairs. He turned the shower onto the highest pressure and let the hot water hit him. Tears began to fall but his sobs were muffled by the loud shower.

XXX

"Do you want to talk about it?" Wolf awkwardly asked. He did care about his family and friends, but he was never good with emotional situations. 

Atlas curled up beside Wolf and leaned his head against his shoulder. "My..." His voice was soft and quivering. "My dad's in the hospital..."

Wolf patted Atlas' back. "It's going to be okay," He didn't know how serious Mr. Hart's condition was, but that's what everyone always told each other on TV.

"It was my biological mother who hurt him," Atlas' voice faltered even more and he had to take a brief moment to pause and compose himself.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Wolf said. 

"It's fine...It'd probably be better for me if I at least tell someone," Atlas claimed. "You're my best friend. Grape's my friend too but I've known you longer," He once again paused to try to calm himself down. "My...I don't have a lot of memories of my...my mother...But from what I do remember and what my dad told me...she's a bitch. My dad got full custody of me and a restraining order on her,"

Atlas had to stop once more and his whole body was trembling now. "A few hours ago...she came to our house...We don't even know how she found out where we lived...but she had a knife and..."

Since Mr. Hart was in the hospital, it was clear what had happened.

Wolf had never seen his best friend so vulnerable before and awkwardly hugged Atlas. "You can stay at my place,"

"I'm scared...I never thought things would end up like this..." He clutched Wolf's shirt tightly like a lifeline. "If...if he doesn't make it...I'll be alone...I don't want to be alone..."

"You won't be alone," Wolf told him. "You'll still have me and Grape and we'll never abandon you,"

For the rest of the night, Wolf silently held Atlas.

XXX

"Sorry about last night," Atlas seemed back to his normal, energetic self the next morning. "Didn't mean to get too emotional. Just forget about what happened, okay?"

"Atlas, are you sure you're alright?" Wolf asked.

"I'm completely fine," He claimed. "Why wouldn't I be? Anyway, we should probably get ready for class. Mind if I use your showers?"

"Go ahead," Wolf nodded and while Atlas was upstairs, he sent a quick text to Grape.

Wolf:
We need to keep an eye on
Atlas for the next few days

Grape:
Why?

Wolf:
Can't tell you the details
atm