Chapter 28: Close.
Humphrey's POV:
My grin broadened as Hutch ran over, practically ripping my arm off as he hauled me up and pulled me into a bear hug. The rest of the team piled on and I laughed and celebrated with them as the cheerleaders ran onto the court, beginning their celebratory performance. I could see that my teammates were saying things to me but I could barely hear their voices over the clamor of the music playing over the sound system and the cheering crowd. 'I knew that students here got behind the teams but this is crazy...' I thought to myself as I shook my head in disbelief at all that was happening.
The celebrations continued for another minute or two before people began to calm down a bit as we lined up with the other team, thanking each other and shaking hands. That done we headed towards the change rooms I sped up a little to catch Hutch.
"Is it like this every game?" I said a little incredulously, gesturing around us to the crowds of students who were now beginning to disperse as the cheerleaders finished up their final routine. Hutch chuckled a little as we moved through the doors into the change room, the sounds from the gym muffled as the door closed to be replaced by the jubilant chatter of my teammates.
"Haha, not every game and certainly only when we win. This was a big turnout since it was against the top team and everyone had high energy being such a close one." Hutch replied. I thought about showering as I pulled off my jersey but figured it could wait until I got home, dragging on my other shirt and immediately doubting the decision as it clung tightly to my skin.
"Still man, how'd you make that shot? I thought the pass was gone the moment I threw it." Hutch continued.
I laughed in response as a few others came over, echoing the question. "You know it was a massive fluke. I just remember thinking desperately that there was no time and threw the ball in the vague direction of where I thought the basket might be." I said with a shrug, smiling despite myself. Kevin laughed as he slapped my shoulder, the rest shaking their heads in disbelief.
"Well either way it was amazing man. You won the game for us." He said, causing me to frown as I slung my bag over my shoulder and joined them in heading for the exit.
"It was a lucky shot at the right time but anyone would've had just as much chance of it as me. Besides if you guys hadn't played so well for the rest of the game-"
"Come off it. Don't be so modest." Kevin said loudly, cutting me off as we turned to go our separate ways to find our lockers, mine being in a separate part of the school than theirs. The corridors were packed with students on their way out from the gym, many of them recognising me as I made my way through and clapping my back as they spoke words of congratulations. It made me smile but I was a little uncomfortable with all the attention.
Kate's POV:
Kate quickly said goodbye to Brittany and the others before hurrying out of the change room once she was changed, heading for her locker. She was moving quicker than the flow of students in an attempt to catch Humphrey but was struggling to pass through the packed corridors. 'If only Humphrey was here.' She thought with a smile, giggling a little as the irony of it hit her. If he were here she would be having a much easier time getting through since the he always found a way to either slide through the crowds or have them part around him, but if he were here she wouldn't be in a hurry and thus wouldn't need him to help her get through easier.
She eventually made it to the hallway where her and Humphrey's lockers were located, letting out a small sigh of relief as she saw him at his locker meaning she hadn't missed him.
"Humphrey!" She called out as she walked over with a smile. Her shout caught his attention and he turned to see who it was, grinning when he saw her. As he turned to face her she noticed that his shirt was clinging tightly to his skin, totally putting his ripped upper body on display which she appreciated, walking over to him and giving him a hug which seemed to surprise him but he recovered after a split-second, returning the hug.
"Congrats on your win." She said, releasing him after a moment before turning to her own locker to grab her other bag.
"Hey Kate, thanks. Talk about a lucky shot huh?" He replied as he closed his locker, walking over and grabbing Kate's school bag out of her locker and slinging it over his shoulder to join his two with a smile.
"I saw your performance, you guys killed it." He added.
"Thanks. It's nice to hear that sometimes. You were the star of the show. And you know you don't have to carry my bag." Kate said with a small smile, closing her locker and falling into step with him as they headed towards the front of the school.
"I know, but let me anyway. We're headed in the same direction." He replied. Kate couldn't help but stare a little as he rolled his shoulders to shift the bags into a more comfortable position, the small motion causing the rest of his muscles to ripple in a way she liked.
"Not to mention I owe you for the other day." He added after a moment and she assumed he meant covering for him when he'd reacted at lunch time, causing her to frown slightly.
"Humphrey, wait." She said, catching his arm and stopping him. Or perhaps she should say encouraging him to stop, since she had little doubt he could just continue walking and drag her along without much bother if he wanted.
"Firstly, you don't owe me for that. We're friends and that's what friends do for each other. And secondly, the day we met you literally saved me from... well I won't say it but you know." She lectured, her expression, like her feelings, a mixture of anger and concern that he might not see them as being as close as she felt they were.
He returned her gaze as they stood in the empty hallway, looking into her eyes as though searching for what to say. She noticed once more as they looked at each other how his gaze seemed so piercing, as though there was nothing she could hide that he wouldn't see, the white-blue coloring almost glowing like a shard of ice in the winter sun. After a moment he grinned, a glint of humor in his eyes.
"Well then isn't this just what friends do for each other?" He asked, gesturing to her bag a little as he spoke.
"As for what happened back when we met, if I recall correctly you were the one doing all the work." There was a little smugness in his tone as he knew he was on a winner and Kate couldn't help but smile, letting go of his arm. After a moment she looked back up at him with a fierce expression.
"Better be careful then, or you'll be next." She said with a threatening tone. Humphrey held up his hands in a surrendering gesture, crouching a little in a scared act.
"Please, anything but that?" He replied, causing Kate to raise an eyebrow at him with a sly smile.
"Anything?" She asked, both of them breaking into laughter a moment later.
Garth's POV:
Garth smiled as he leafed through the wad of notes in his hand, ignoring their previous owner who lay on the floor before him, clutching his stomach and retching in pain. 'This was way too easy.' Garth thought to himself as he finished counting and pocketed the cash, pulling out his phone to dial up his father.
"We... had a... deal." The captain of the Red Wolves hissed from the floor, his voice tense as he struggled to get the words out through the pain. Garth paused for a moment at his words, his finger hovering over the call button of his phone as he frowned thoughtfully.
"True. I paid you and you agreed to win the game by any means necessary." Garth replied eventually, his voice calm as though he were discussing tomorrow's weather. The captain looked up at him spitefully as Garth replied, his eyes narrow as he breathed heavily.
"What the hell? I did what I could. Who the hell could've made that shot." He snapped at Garth before screaming in pain as he received a boot to the face, his head snapping back and blood spurting from his now broken nose.
"True..." Garth said slowly, clicking his tongue in annoyance at the blood on his boot. After taking a moment to carefully wipe it off using his victim's shirt Garth continued, "But you didn't do enough, did you? Almost isn't good enough!"
Garth was growing angrier as he spoke, his voice rising to a yell as he stalked back over to the scrap on the floor who shrunk back.
"You. Would've. Won. If. Not. For. God. Damn. Humphrey." Garth yelled, emphasising each word by slamming his boot into the captain's stomach. Just the thought of that smug bastard filled him with rage, not mention Kate. Garth felt like screaming every time he even thought about her. He hated her with a passion that was only made worse by the fact he thought she was beautiful.
"God damn it!"
'Well if my father keeps his word then it'll be fine.' He thought to himself as he calmed down a little. He looked down to see that his kicking bag had coughed up a fair bit of blood.
"You're pathetic. Clean yourself up and if I hear you told anyone about this you'll suffer far worse." Garth said, pulling a towel from the nearby shelving and tossing it onto the floor next to him before turning to leave. Making sure to close the door behind him, Garth stepped out of the change room of the sauna and made his way towards the front door, ignoring the old man who worked the counter and did likewise. He never seemed to notice anything, although maybe that was intentional. Garth had never seen even a single customer enter this place in the numerous times that he'd visited but it didn't really matter since it was just a front and a convenient place to hold talks without unwanted listeners.
As he stepped outside Garth shivered slightly, a cold breeze was blowing and with the sun already below the mountains the temperature was dropping fast.
"Typical JC summer." He muttered, pulling his varsity jacket a little tighter as he walked across the street to the waiting car and got into the back seat. He was furious that his father hadn't pulled some strings to get him his license early, even if he had provided him a personal driver. 'I've got two cars for crying out loud.' Garth thought bitterly as the driver put the black sedan in gear and headed off. Remembering the call he never made, Garth pulled out his phone, bringing up his contacts and hitting call.
A moment later the phone was answered, but rather than hearing a response Garth was met with a stretching silence that his father always began calls with. His father believed he was important enough that he didn't need to say anything, let alone answer at all sometimes.
"Hey Dad, it's me." Garth began after a moment, hearing a soft grunt from the other end of the line that he took as a sign to continue.
Ten minutes later.
Garth let out a sigh as he hung up the phone, let his head rest against the seat as he thought about it. He couldn't say for certain whether his father was pleased or not but he hadn't been angry so that counted as a win.
"Congratulations." The driver said, breaking the silence finally. He had a somewhat sassy smile on his face and Garth thought he could detect a note of dry amusement in his voice but the man would never admit it so he said nothing, just nodding before returning his attention to the passing city. His thoughts were on plans for the future and before he realised it they were getting close to the high rise where he lived, the 35 storey apartment complex dominating its surrounds.
As they got closer Garth was suddenly filled with an overwhelming desire not to go there, the thought of spending the evening in the luxurious yet drab apartments full of gangsters hardly enticing.
"No. I don't want to go home. Take me..." Garth began to say, his voice trailing off as he realised he had no idea where he wanted to go, just not home. After thinking for a moment it came to him.
"Take me to Brittany's." He concluded finally, the statement causing the driver to raise his eyebrows at Garth in the rear-view mirror.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? If your father..." He began in a cautious tone but was cut short as Garth interrupted him.
"He won't."
The flat refusal was something they both understood. Despite how risky it was to keep it a secret, they were both invested and would face severe punishment if caught out. Garth had spent quite a bit of time with her, something they'd both kept completely secret in public for fear of repercussions from those they knew.
"Fine." The driver snapped after a long moment of matched stares, clearly not happy with the idea as he made a turn and began heading towards west JC.
A/N: Hey guys, I know I said I'd have more chapters for you and I'm sorry, if it's not one thing it's another at the moment and writer's block doesn't help. Last chapter was too much basketball for a lot of you I know so I hope you like this one. It was important to the plot so bear with it and that'll be it for basketball anyway.
Also I haven't forgotten about Allegiance and hopefully I'll have a chapter for that as well soon. Thanks again for the continued support and please let me know how I can make this story better for you all.
