As the bell rung out throughout the high school alerting everyone that it was the end of the school week, the children began to leave through the front gates. 

Some of the students were talking about their plans for the weekend, some were talking about how happy they were to finally be done with the week, and some were complaining about the homework they were given.

However there was one teenager who wasn't talking to anyone. A rather young looking bat who was 15 was walking all alone but he didn't exactly look sad, he looked more relieved that he was finally getting out of the school.

When he reached the front gate he looked around and a smile lit up his face when he saw a much older looking bat wearing belted black jeans and a black t-shirt leaning against a black roofless Chrysler 300 sedan.

The younger bat ran over to the other bat clearly excited to see him and he couldn't help but enthusiastically calling, “Barrett! Over here.”

Barrett glanced to where the he heard the call and when he saw who was running towards him he stood up away from the car.

When the younger bat finally got to the older bat he was visibly sweating even though he didn't run much.

“Damn little bro you need to get more exercise if a tiny run like that tires you out.” Barrett teased as he rubbed his little brother's head, chuckling heartily as he did.

Barrett's little brother hit the hand away and said with a huff, “Hey! You promised you would stop calling me that, I'm not little any more.”

Despite him saying that Barrett was easily much taller than the younger brother. The older brother looked down at sibling before letting out a chuckle and saying, “Fine then, Baxter lets go. I have to open in 2 hours”

“Oh! Right, sorry.” Baxter apologised after realizing he was holding them up, he was just so excited to hang out with his brother again.

Both brothers proceeded to enter the vehicle, laughing and throwing jokes as they did before speeding off down the road.

“How have you been?” The older bat said with an occasional glance towards his passenger but keeping his focus mainly on the road.

“Good! School's been pretty boring though.” Baxter said while rocking in his chair, he was such an innocent soul especially with that adorable smile on his face.

“Speaking of school, is everything going alright there?” Barrett said with an edge of concern to his voice, his smile dampening just ever so slightly. 
Barrett didn't even look at his brother while he was waiting for an answer but he was surprised when an answer came so fast.

“I hate Gym class! Like what's the point of it! It's not like I'm gonna use it out of school.” The younger brother spouted rather adamantly clearly not going to budge on his standing regardless of what Barrett said.

“And when are you gonna be using Algebra outside of school hmm? I'll let you know that your brother's favourite class was gym!” Barrett heartily yelled out with obvious comedic dramatics even if it was true which both brothers knew.

“Everyone knows you just liked gym because you could stare at all the boys getting changed...” Baxter whispered underneath his breath with a goofy smile on his face.

Barrett couldn't help but laugh at his brother's implication and surprisingly accuracy behind it, “You bet your ass that's why”

Both brothers were laughing loudly in their Chrysler having a blast, anyone looking in from the outside would only see bouts of happiness made from a brotherly bond.

As the older bat's chuckling began to die down he stared at the road before asking his next question.

“Is everything alright at home?” As Barrett asked this he couldn't help but tighten his grip on the wheel and grind his teeth slightly.

Small signs like this went unnoticed by the other bat as he kept bouncing around on his seat before replying, “Yeah it's all fine!”

Despite the confirmation that everything is fine Barrett didn't believe it and he felt a twinge of anger within him.

“Dad treating you alright?” The older brother asked as he dug into the steering wheels rubber.

The oblivious younger brother still didn't notice and continued smiling and giggling away, “Yeah, yeah it's all fine!”

It felt so false to Barrett. The words just fuelling his rage, his jaw hurting from how hard he was clenching and grinding his teeth.

“Hehe you keep asking this every time you pick me, Dad's always amazing to me~.” Baxter let out a chuckle as he said that, a happy and innocent chuckle.

That small chuckle felt like a lie to Barrett more than anything else. He was trying to keep it composed but the rage was seeping through and his mind was filled with angry thoughts.

'That's a lie. We both know that's a lie. Dad's been drinking again hasn't he? He said he stopped but I knew he hadn't! He's yelling at you isn't he? Did he hit you? I bet you have bruises all over you but you'll just say it's from gym class. I overheard one of the parents of your classmates and they were talking about how you were walking into school some days crying. He did that didn't he!? I heard from one of your teachers when he came in for a drink that sometimes you don't have food. He isn't giving you any is he!? He's such a low life, a scum bag, a failure as a Father. But don't just sit there with a smile, don't act like it doesn't hurt. Why won't you tell me what's wrong? I know something is but you won't tell me. Why?'

“-hing okay?” A voice next to Barrett said but he couldn't make out everything but it managed to snap him out of the state of mind.

When the older bat looked over to his passenger he could see his little brother with a very concerned face. Baxter stared at him for a few more seconds before repeating himself, “Hey is everything okay?”

Barrett just realized that he was sitting in the middle of the road where thankfully no cars were coming down.

He shook his head and began driving again before turning to his brother and shone a big smile before saying, “Of course! Just got a bit lost in thought haha.”