"One day... I'll make onions cry..." -Anonymous
Breaking Point
Jasper High
3 October Thursday 09:20
History Class
Humphrey's P.O.V.
"Whoever answers this next question correctly will get any voucher of their choice, because I'm in such a great mood today." Mr. Allen tells the class as if we're in elementary school. I spot Jason skimming through his textbook for an answer to the question the history teacher hasn't even asked yet. "What battle during The Great War marked the launch phase of the Allies's Hundred Days Offensive?" Mr. Allen asks.
"Siege Of Leningrad?" Janice answers. "That answer's positively... embarrassing. You're way off World War, Janice." Mr. Allen says to the omega. Janice sinks into her seat and covers her face with her hands as if she tried to hide her very existence. I decide to take a shot at Allen's question next. "Battle of Amiens."
"Correct! At least someone's been paying attention in class." The history teacher says before continuing with the lesson. To be honest, I used my knowledge of Battlefield 1's multiplayer maps and paid some attention to their codex notes on historical events. My attention in class had jack-shit to do with my answer.
I feel something poke me in the side of my neck. It didn't feel like a needle or anything similar to it, it felt too small. I ignore the feeling and pretend it's just my nerves acting up. I start to feel tired after just five seconds of pretending the poking feeling in my neck was all in my head.
I'm trying to tell you now, it's a sabotage!
I turn my head to see Jason smiling devilishly at me with some kind of gun hidden under his arm. That was a dirty and dangerous move, I should've taken that guy seriously. "Mother..." I say before lying down and straight up blacking out on the table.
"Welcome to the Gulag." A voice rings in my head.
SMACK
I jolt up from the burning sensation on my left cheek. My dazed eyes look around the room frantically until I find Janice standing right next to me while shaking her head. "Allen says you forfeited your reward for dozing off... again." She tells me. Deep down I had to thank her for waking me. I'm actually relieved to see that it's still the same class so I probably must've been out for only ten to fifteen minutes. My head felt like a gas station toilet though...
I grab and start feeling around the back of my neck for that thing Jason shot at me. I feel something small, something really thin. I pull the tiny object. "What the hell?" The thing Jason shot at me isn't even a third as big as a tranquilizer dart. This red object is just barely smaller than a pin. 'This thing knocked me out? How?'
I look at Jericho and I see him pretending I don't exist. The sheer fucking brass of this guy. Now I gotta be extra careful because he might pull something like this in other classes or even in on my home. I'll never know if he'd do a drive-by and knock me out with that thing while I'm cycling home. It's only a matter of time before he goes try hard mode to get me in so much trouble that I'd leave the school.
We talked about the usual during the break of that day until I brought up the fact the that I got tranquilized during class. Mr. Allen was starting to see me as a disruptive student and it was going Jason's way. My books were always a mess during Ms. Nashes classes but thankfully Lilly could come up with excuses for me though I doubt they'd work for much longer. We tried telling the truth, saying that it was Jason trying to sabotage at some point but either some didn't believe us or Jason was a world class liar and pulled perfect alibis out of his ass. The rest of the day was going great until it was time to head home...
Narrative P.O.V.
Humphrey stands by his locker, making sure nothing has been tampered with. Kelley, a wolf twice as large as Humphrey is standing by the opposite arrangement of lockers. Jason's been watching the larger wolf since the start of this week. He knows that he gets easily angered by minor iritations and offenses. The student on a mission creeps up behind the large wolf and taps his left shoulder then ducks way. Kelley looks over his shoulder but sees no one. Jason taps his right shoulder, ducks to the left then quickly taps his left shoulder again.
"Sonuva bitch!" Kelley yells as he swings his right arm 180 degrees. Jason narrowly ducks the attack and let's the attack connect to Humphrey's back. The wolf wearing his signature black leather jacket casually walks away as chaos kicks off behind him. "What the hell's your problem, big guy?" Humphrey asks as he stretches his sore back. "You make a dumbass out of me then pretend we're cool?! I'll break you in half, dipshit!" Kelley yells before tackling the omega and pinning him against his own locker. Humphrey looks to his right and sees Jason walking away ever so calmly. 'That son of a motherfucker!' Humphrey curses as he knows that he couldn't fight back even if he wanted to. He had to keep his hands down or the trouble he's already in would be justified for raising a fist against the assailant.
Garth and Kate arrive in Humphrey's favor before things get out of hand for him. "Jason! Get him!" Humphrey tells Garth as Kelley slams him back to back against the walls of the corridor. "Bet." Garth says casually then starts sprinting through the crowd after the student wearing the striped, black leather jacket. Jason looks over his shoulder after hearing the squeaky sound of sneakers on the tile floor stomping rapidly towards him.
Meanwhile back the source of the chaos, Kate struggles to get the large wolf off of Humphrey. The grey wolf had to forcefully shove the much larger wolf off of him. Kate siezes the opportunity to jump in between Kelley and Humphrey to halt the conflict. Kelley holds his fist back right before it made contact with Kate's face. The corridor becomes quiet as atmosphere tenses up. "What happened?" Kate asks Humphrey, keeping her eyes locked with the larger wolf and not flinching a single muscle. "Jason did something to piss him off then left me to eat shit for it." Humphrey explains to the student council leader. Kate sighs then helps the omega off the ground.
Garth tackles Jason to the floor before he could reach the front door. "Hahaha! Man does that feel badass." Garth says as he gets up and grabs the white wolf with his arms crossed behind his back. "Was it as badass by getting beat by Humphrey a weak ago?" Jason asks sarcastically, trying to get the alpha to lose his composure and overreact to his insults. "He let me win, I'll admit that much, now keep your asshole or mouth shut 'cause I'm not taking shit from you." Garth tells Jason.
In Clinton's office, Garth and his captive arrive shortly after Kate brought Humphrey and Kelley. "That was quite a one sided brawl, huh?" The principal says to the badly beaten up Humphrey. "It's just a scratch." He responds, trying not to get Kelley in more trouble aswell. The principal looks at the door and notices Jason with Garth. "Why's Jason Jericho here?" Humphrey and Kate notice the strange tone of the principal's question.
"He's the reason these two are in your office, sir." Garth answers the principal. "So this guy didn't-?" Kelley asks. "Don't worry about it." Humphrey says while clutching his side. "So why does Garth say you're in the middle of this?" Nigel Clinton asks Jason. "I was wondering the same, honestly..." Jason lies.
"Then why did you run?" Garth asks in a serious tone whilst glaring at him as if he would snap his neck if he answers his question incorrectly. Jason does not respond and drops his head in defeat. "Alright then, Kelley Hausner you're dismissed with a warning." Clinton says. The largest wolf in the room gets up from his seat and glares at Jason before leaving the room. "Humphrey, you're in a pretty rough shape right now. If you need time to kick your feet up and rest, you can." The principal says.
"No! I have an art piece to turn in." Humphrey responds quickly. Jason's ears prick up after hearing this. Kate and Garth notice and smirk at Humphrey's genius. He's baited Jason into taking interest in his art work and not the good kind. Now it was certain that the saboteur would come for his work next. "Garth or Kate can hand it in for you." Clinton insists. "Alright..." Humphrey gives up. For the first time, Humphrey and Garth fistbump with eachother at their small victory against Jason Jericho. "Kate, Garth and Humphrey you're dismissed. Jason, you're staying."
Humphrey's Residence
Thursday 16:32
40 Minutes Later
Humphrey's P.O.V.
Garth drops me and Lilly at my place. I take my bike frame and wheels from the trunk. I say goodbye to Kate and Garth then walk to the front door with Lilly. "What a day huh...?" Lilly asks me. "Meh, I got tranquilized in school then got my ass handed to me for no reason, It was okay." I answer her sarcastically. "I want to hit you soooo much but you're hurt." Lilly tells me as I open the door. "Aw, so you do care..." I tease the snowy wolf. "Of course, as a close friend, I should care." Lilly says while keeping a relatively calm expression. She couldn't hide the blush though.
I take the bicycle frame and wheels to the garage because I'm way lazy and tired to install the wheels back into the frame then hang it on the rack. I walk back into the house and immediately go to the lounge to see Lilly's and my artwork. It's a shared subconscious art piece of a lone wolf traveling through a scarlet abstract landscape. Jason probably thinks I'm turning in my own, single art work (which I am but only as cannon fodder for Jericho to destroy or sabotage. It would be funny just to see him use over the top gadgets and stuff for nothing).
"You know what bugs me?" Lilly asks beside me. "What?" I ask as I pick up a clean brush. "We still haven't picked a name for our painting." My partner says before picking her own brush. "We'll decide when we're done, and that won't take long either." I state then start painting over the last few unfinished patches on the bottom right corner of the canvas. "Can I ask you a question?" Lilly asks me as she paints.
"Wow, you didn't give me a choice..." I joke as I paint. "Grow up." Lilly clicks her tongue at me. "But you gotta admit that you can't ask 'can I ask a question' as if it's got a yes and no answer when you're already asking one." I tell her under a chuckle. "Boo, that's an elementary schooler's mindset."
"Why are you booing me? I'm right!" I protest against her disagreement. Lilly shakes her head at me then gets back finishing of the painting. We stand there, awkwardly with the strong scent of oil paint and turpentine filling the room. "So... you're question?" I ask after applying my last stroke on the canvas. Mission complete, EZ. Lilly freezes in place right before the brunch touches the canvas. She was so perfectly still for that moment, it was like she just became a statue on the spot. "Hello?" I ask, starting to think she died somehow.
Her hand finally moves to complete the last stroke. I notice a sneaky smirk form on her face. "Yeah, I got your ass." She says then sets the paint brush on the pallet. Now our painting was complete. I was at a loss for words and just threw myself on the couch. "It looks like you care too..." Lilly says before laughing her ass off at me. "Of course, as a close friend, I should care..." I sigh as I quote Lilly's words. "Well since we're on the same page on 'caring'..." Lilly starts, immediately causing the atmosphere to change as she blushes. I don't like where this is going but my hormones do. Oh shit...
"Where are you going with this?" I blurt in self-defense. "Calm down, I was wondering if... well... you know how Reba and Sam, Garth and Kate are a thing?" Lilly says. I should've known, I wasn't far off the mark. "Okay... I see how it is..." I tell her and cross my legs on the couch. "I don't quite know how to ask this because it is exactly how it's gonna sound. Can we... try to be like them?" She finally manages to ask. The way she asked it though confused me a bit. Try, huh? "What do you mean by that?"
"Think of it as a free trial of a relationship." Lilly replies. I think I got Lilly's idea with this. "Okay... when will it end?" I ask then immediately cover my mouth as if I could shove my words back in. "Ouch... I'll pretend you didn't say that but the damage is real." Lilly takes my words surprisingly calm. "Anyway we'll be in like a test relationship. A test to see if one of us admits or shows major signs that they're into the other. We already have a close relationship with eachother that makes things easier." She explains. Why does this concept sound familiar to me..."Or difficult." I mumble. "It depends on how you see see this test. "What if one of us just blurts out 'I love you' right now?" I ask her.
"It has no meaning. You just tried it, so yeah." She responds. She definitely put in some type of research or thought on this for a while. She might destroy me if this comes down to psychological warfare. I look at the board then look back at Lilly. "Now can name our painting?" I try to change topics. "Don't take this trial relationship lightly." She says then nudges my left shoulder. I flinch at the slight pain in that arm due to the amount of the times I've been slammed against a locker this afternoon.
"Sorry." Lilly apologizes. "No problem. It's nowhere near as bad as when the damage was being done to me an hour ago."
Lilly and I sit and stair at our painting in silence for almost two minutes. "Aimless." Lilly says first. "Seriously?" I ask her. She shrugs her shoulders. "We didn't quite have a plan for this wolf. They're just wandering aimlessly in this weird landscape." Lilly wasn't wrong. I sigh and accept the name for our art piece: 'Aimless'.
A/N: And that's another chapter complete. As always, thank you to those taking the time to read this story :)
The Lounge: oH LoVe mE MiStEr, oH MiStEr...
Blazin' Blitz: ELLOOOO!!!
Humphrey: Hey, that's my intro.
Garth: No, it's MattyC's intro for Blackpanthaa's videos you bellends.
Lilly: Topic starter: I fucking love how Blitz OPENLY turned my relationship with Humphrey into Love Is War.
Garth: Can I sing season 1's opening song now (Love Dramatic)? It suits the ending for the chapter.
Kate: Like how you did in the prologue of this story?
Garth: Yep.Hutch: No, don't do it.
Blazin' Blitz: Dewit!
Garth: (inhales)
Oh love me mister, oh mister!
Jirasa reru hodo setsunai
Futari dake no abunai gēmu
Love is war!
Love is war!
Love is war!
Blazin' Blitz: For the meme! (joins in the song)
Odora sete doramatikku wa kore kara
Ijiwaruna koinoyokan shibireru
Fureta yubi no saki ga unmei o machiwabite iru
Anata ni iwa setai
Kokoro no kabe o (Kokoro no kabe o)
Yaburu ai no kokuhaku
Lilly: For the culture! (joins in the song)
Oh love me mister, oh mister!
Yumejanainara kika sete
Nē Mister Mō Mister!
Anata no itoshī koe de
Humphrey: For Chika Fujiwara! (joins in the song)
Omoi wa mō tomaranai
Isso subete ubai satte
Futari dake no abunai gēmu
Kate: For the lol's! (ends the song)
Love is war!
Love is war!
Love is war!
Everyone:
Love is war!
Love is war!
Love is war!
Blazin' Blitz: Hahaha, what the fuck's wrong with us?
Humphrey: The dark side of The Lounge is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be... fucking stupid, lol.
Garth: Facts.
Lilly: We all became Japanese in 89 seconds. Nice.
Humphrey: When will our trial relationship end?
Jazz-Funk music stops
Lilly: You sure know how to ruin moments... dickhead.
To Be Continued...