A Broken Crew

Chapter 5

Atlas woke up the next morning, feeling shivery. He sneezed. He hadn't bothered to change out of his wet clothes last night. "Oh great." he thought. "I caught a cold." He got out of bed and changed clothes, packed a bag with some food, and decided he was leaving again. "Who knows." he thought outloud. "I might run into that guy again." He grabbed his bag but was stopped by August. "You're leaving again?" he said. "You're making my Mom worry." Atlas rolled his eyes. "Out of my way, I'm leaving. Move or I'll sneeze on you." August looked at him with almost pity, which made Atlas more angry. "But you're sick, and it's still raining, you should rest-" Atlas pushed August down. "I said get out of my way!' Dakota rushed in, looking angry. August just looked startled. "I have a cold, so get your sick freak friend away from me." Atlas stormed out the door, feeling more angry. He opened his wings and flew. He flew to the rooftop and saw Grey still sitting there, holding the umbrella. He landed on the rooftop again. "So you're really still here?"

"Well I'm not exactly the type to steal." Grey holds out the umbrella. "Plus I never got to thank you last night. He heard his phone ring, checked it, and answered with a sigh. "I am not coming to your fancy house to eat breakfast Cassidy." He growls under his breath at the phone. ".....No, I didn't go home.... Does it really matter?.... Yeah no thanks, 'Sis'..... Hmm? Kacey? What is it....... No I'm sorry, I'm not coming.... Kace, you know why.... Yeah, see you later..... Bye." Grey puts up his phone with a frustrated sigh. "Sorry 'bout that."

"It's just a dumb umbrella." That was Atlas's first words. "Problems? Me too. I'm grounded." He gave a sad laugh. "I wanted to see if you were still here. I didn't feel like being cooped up in the house today."

"My 'sister' is trying AGAIN to get me to live with her." Grey sighs."And then she uses the one person I can't say no too to try to guilt trip me. Why are siblings so hardddddd??"

"Tell me about it." He plopped down next to Grey. He stood up again and punched the cement. "He makes me so angry!" Then he sneezed a few times. "Rats." He wiped his nose on his sleeve. "Just my luck. Now I have a cold, and Mom's going to attack me with, how could you not think of your brother and how I'm a terrible son and brother and person in general." He sighed. "She says it all the time. How everything I do is inconsiderate and I'm a disappointment and a trouble maker." He put an arm over his eyes and muttered something inarticulate. His face was wet.

Grey is quiet for a few minutes, but he does extend his right wing over Atlas. He gives the other a moment, also taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "You know, as much as your mom might gripe at you.. You have a mom, a home, you have decent food and a sibling I bet cares for you. " He goes quiet again for a few minutes. "You really care about them, don't you.." Grey whispers softly, not expecting Atlas to hear. "I personally think that you are really great, Atlas. Maybe they don't see it- but have you given them the chance to?" His voice is quiet as always, but thoughtful and gentle.

Atlas wiped his eyes. "I did not just cry." he said. "You never saw me crying." Then he sighed. "I don't think he likes me. My brother, I mean. Or my parents. All *they* see is just how I compare to my big brother. 'August never did that!' 'August did this!' 'Why can't you be more like August!' And he never helps. He just tries to tell me that I'm stressing them out. And they baby him. They always take his side. They never give me a chance. He's their favorite, and they never pay any attention to me. To be honest..." Atlas paused. "I get into a lot of trouble so they will pay attention to me. Getting scolded, at least she's talking to me. It's better than feeling forgotten." Atlas folded his wings, absently pulling at loose feathers. "Half the time it's the only way to get her attention off of August."

Grey glances over, he didn't even realize that Atlas *was* crying. He just knew he was upset. "As you said... It's better than being forgotten." Grey tries to think of some way he could possibly help. "How come they baby August so?"

Atlas sighed again. "He's immunocompromised. He gets sick really easy. When he was a kid he caught the flu and he nearly died because of it. Ever since then they've babied him." Atlas pulled his knees up to his chest. "He's 19 now, and nothing has changed. He never leaves the house, he has weekly check-ins to make sure he's not getting anything, every food and drink and event is catered to him. He's basically allowed to do whatever he wants, all because Mom is afraid of losing her precious baby. But me, they don't care about me. Or what I do. If it hurts me, they don't care. As long as I'm not causing trouble, they forget about me."

"That's..." Grey starts but stops."That's rough." He is so completely shocked that parents would pick favorites like that. He shouldn't have been, though, not with the way his father treats him." Have.. You ever tried sitting down and talking to your mom? Not that I have any experience with parents other than.... Yeah I don't have much experience. But from what I've heard, moms typically love all their kids." Grey is hesitant to give advice here.

Atlas sighed again. "It's been a while since I have." He admitted. "But last time I tried, she didn't see what she was doing. She said that August just needs more attention." He paused for a moment, burying his face in his hands. "It's because I made a mistake." He whispered. "I... Made a mistake I regret. I..." He swallowed. " Promise you won't judge me if I tell you?"

"I promise, Atlas." Grey responds quietly, firmly. Of course he wouldn't tell. He knows what it's like to keep secrets. He knows what it's like to break and feel so hopeless that you'll never get back up. "No matter what it is, I won't judge."