CHAPTER 2

Confused, Atlas had walked up to her and she had glanced up at him, a distressed look on her face.

"Everything okay?" He had asked her against his better judgment. He knew well enough to never speak to the popular crowd except spoken to by then but he couldn't just ignore her.

"No, my car… it won't start." She had pointed at thel herb car.

Her soft but clear voice had done something to him  that day but he had  refused to acknowledge it at that time.

"I have tried reaching my dad but he's not picking up and the stupid thing won't start no matter how much I try." She had whined, almost at the verge of tears.

"Oh, I can take a look at it for you." Ii had shrugged.

She had looked at him with so much appreciation in her eyes that he had been ready to do anything for her in that moment. The truth was that he had always had a little crush on her. Hell, every red blooded male and even female in and outside school had had a crush on her. She was the definition of soft and feminine beauty mixed with brains and she was a sweetheart.

He  had taken a look and realized that her car  engine was overheating and invited her into his house against his  better judgement.

She'd been surprised about his living condition then. Even then, it had been bad. He had been  living with his  mother in a one bedroom studio apartment with his mother who at that time had been doing her best to put food on the table and send me to school while working four jobs.

Her reaction had not been one of disgust like Atlas's other classmates, they were one of sympathy. The look had somehow hurt worse than the look of disgust he was used to.

She had asked me about so many questions that day that at some point began to piss him off but he had answered them because for some reason he wanted to give her everything she asked for. She'd told him a few details about herself too and they had both bonded to their shared love for comic books.

She had left his place after the rain had subsided but not before thanking him for helping her out with her car.

At that time, Atlas thought he'd never see her again after all what would a beautiful girl like her want with him but when she had come to school the next day with a full basket of groceries for him, he had been surprised and from there their friendship had not only grown but it had blossomed into something beautiful.

When the first started hanging out, he got beat up several times by the popular crowd warning him to leave her alone but their anger and prejudice had only made him even more stubborn. He'd been a loner before Jessica and he wasn't about to let her go because of a few beatings. It wasn't like they'd stop anyway.

One day, he was bear up so bad that he'd lost a tooth, that was the day Jessica had gone to the principal to report all of the bullies that had been bullying him. He'd pleaded with her not to but she'd refused saying that 'i refuse to lst them treat you like this any further."

At that time, he had been so scared that she would only make things worse and probably put a target on her back but she hadn't cared a single bit.

Ever since that day, Atlas knew that Jessica was the one.

They'd first kissed on prom night. He had been planning to start home but she'd come to pick him up as her date in a fancy limo. Atlas had  been so shocked. Even his mother had been surprised.

When they had gotten to school, everyone had stared at both of them in shock. They eventually ditched the party and went to the roof top to watch the stars.

They'd talked about everything and just when words failed Atlas, Jessica had grabbed him and kissed him. Ever since then, they'd been together as a couple.

Deciding that she deserved to be spoiled, Atlas ran down to the floral shop. He didn't mind spending his entire life savings on her, which wasn't much to begin with,  just to make her happy. She had been there for him even when he had nothing to offer, hell, he still had nothing to offer and she was still here. She was the only reason he  was working this hard, she and his  mother.

Atlas was smiling ear to ear as he got to the front door of their apartment. Yes, he  had taken a risk by buying her a big bouquet of flowers and some scented candles and food, knowing that they were struggling right now but she was worth every penny. He  would just have to work triple shifts and get two extra jobs so they could meet up with the expenses in the house. He'd sign his  soul to her if he could. That was how much he loved her.

He opened the front door to their apartment, it was eerily quiet, almost like she wasn't home but he  knew there was no way she'd leave the house without telling him, especially since it was their anniversary.

"Jess!" He called out her name, a huge smile plastered on his  face but there was no answer.

"Jess, I got you something."

He yelled out in a singsong voice as he  walked through the house looking for Jess. Finally, he headed to the kitchen to get himself some water to drink. He was parched after all the running he'd done just to get home early.

He gently placed the stuff in his hands on the kitchen island.

As he did, he noticed a Milan document lying on the counter. He walked towards it and opened the document in it.

His eyes widened and his stomach  twisted painfully as he read in bold letters divorce papers.

Jessica had filed for a divorce.