Grown to Love

Chapter Seven

Fox ran home as soon as the bell rang and got home as quickly as he could. He ran down to his room. "Fox?" James Questioned as the door swung open and was quickly shut. He followed Fox downstairs and knocked on his door. "Fox?" "Oh hey dad." Fox replies from the other side of the door. "What's with the rush?" "Remember how I asked if I could spend the night at Wolf's? Yeah, I wanna pack so I can get there sooner. I've been so anxious about making sure he had a good day. I know that this whole blinding of the eye has got him down and given him more anxiety." James nods to himself. "Well when you get going, make sure you tell me." "Got it." Fox then begins to place things in a separate backpack. A little later he heads to the main floor and calls out, "Dad! I'm leaving!" From upstairs James calls back. "Be safe! If Marcus ends up there tell him that if he needs anything he can call me, and tell him I said hi." "Will do!" Fox grabbed the straps of the bag and started heading out the front door.
    He reached the front door and knocked. Wolf answered the door and let Fox in. Immediately Fox gags. "What's that smell?" Wolf's ears fall back. "Shit, sorry. I meant to clear out the smell before you got here but I didn't realize you'd get here so quickly." Wolf walks over to a window and opens it. "Give it a while, it'll clear out later on." Fox drops his bag on a kitchen chair and looks around. He finds a small tray with a couple of used up cigarettes on it, one that'd been put out just recently. "Wolf, are you smoking?" Wolf smiles awkwardly. "Maybe?" "How long have you been doing this?" "About two weeks." Fox frowns. "Does your dad know?" Wolf chuckles a bit. "Nah. I only smoke when he's not home." "Where do you get them?" Wolf sighed. "I know a guy. He sells them to me. It's no big deal. As long as my dad doesn't find out I'll be fine." Wolf then grabs the packet from his pocket and pulls two out. He hands one to Fox. Fox pushes Wolf's hand away. "No thanks. It's not good for you." Wolf shrugs. He sticks one in his mouth and lights it. He then walks to the refrigerator and starts rummaging through. "I never thought I'd see you smoking you know?" "Uh-huh." "I mean, I understand the whole incident getting to you and I could see you starting to pick this up after it but knowing you started before? I don't know, makes me feel—" he looks over and finds Wolf drinking a beer. "Alcohol?!" Wolf swallows and wipes his mouth. "It's not bad really. Getting used to the taste is hard at first but it makes you feel better." "And when did you start drinking?!" Fox was now mad but more shocked out of anything. Wolf thought hard for a moment. "I think I started when I was fifteen." Fox walked up to Wolf and took the cigarette and drink out of his hands. "Wolf what the hell?!" "What?" Fox shook the drink and cigarette around in front of Wolf's face. "This isn't you! This is...this is something that an idiot would do and you're not an idiot!" Wolf frowns. He takes the items back into his own hands. "You don't know me. Ever since I started high school life's become more of a hellhole. My dad expects so much from me. I hardly see him anymore you know. I'll get letters from him and they're usually insults. He's always complaining about my behavior, how he expected so much more. You do realize that the day I was taken to the hospital is the most my dad has ever felt any kind of emotion other than disappointment? I was glad he came, I was kind of worried he wouldn't show up at all. And what's worse? Every time he'd get the chance to spend time here at home, he'd get drunk and start telling me how much of a disappointment I am. He won't remember of course but I will and I know that when he's drunk he tends to tell me what he's never been able to bring himself to say when sober. You should know by now that I wasn't even technically raised by him! I spent so much time with you and your dad. There's a reason I stand up and fight for others because I won't let them get pushed around like I was here, right at home. I can't do anything when I'm with my dad. I've been pushed around and thrown to the floor for so many years. I technically take care of myself here! He may seem like he cares but I bet you my life he really doesn't! That drunk piece of shit is always too busy with work and always too drunk to ever think about giving me a chance. I sometimes wish that James was my dad! My father never cared about me! He only saw me as another mouth to feed. If it weren't for James, I'd have probably been starved years ago. Think about it Fox, until I turned twelve I stayed with you for most of my time. And you know my father never picked me up or dropped me off. I'd always get picked up by James. I'd always be dropped off by James! I was never treated the way James treated me! I'm so fucked up in the head with what my father thinks of me. I can only think of how big of a failure I am and how much I can't do right. I bet you he'll be off to work again and never return. I hope he fucking does, I could care less! I want him out of my life!" Wolf throws the bottle at the wall, having it break and having glass spread across the floor. Wolf breathes heavily and shakily. Fox stood silent and he heard Wolf's voice break. "He doesn't care, no one does..." he fell to his knees and began to cry. Fox knelt down. "Wolf, do you think that...maybe you're drunk?" "What makes you think that?... the drinks? Heh. I don't need to be drunk to see or feel this. I bet you my dad wouldn't even care if I was drinking or smoking. Like I said, he doesn't care, no one does, and no one ever will..." "but I do. So does my dad. Wolf, you're my best friend. How could I not care?" Fox stands and helps Wolf up. "There's a reason I was so upset about the drinks and cigarettes and that's because I care. I don't want you hurting yourself. The same goes for the fight earlier this week. And I've told you before, I don't want you fighting for me, I don't want you hurting yourself because of me." Wolf smiles a bit and quickly grabs Fox. He then hugs him. "I honestly don't think I'd be here if it weren't for you..." Fox hugs back slowly, surprised at the comment. "I don't know what I'd do without you."