Kate was getting angry. She had known that Humphrey was a quiet kid, but he never ignored her. He was acting like she didn't exist. Only looking at her computer screen to make sure they weren't working on the same thing.

He was clearly hurt. She knew that the way he was acting was her fault. And she knew it was up to her to fix it.

The question now was how.

How could she fix this? To do that she would need him to look at her and listen. How would she go about that though? To do that she would need his attention. How was she gonna get it? How was she gonna do anything? She didn't know, and that is what made her angry. The fact that she for the first time had no idea how to fix her mistake.

But she needed to do this. Why? She didn't know the answer to that. If she was honest she couldn't care less if Humphrey wasn't her friend. She couldn't care less if he hated her. She couldn't care less if they never spoke again.

Then why?

Why did she feel the need to do this? Why did she want to give him a chance? Why did she want his forgiveness? Why was it that he couldn't leave her head? Just why..?

She didn't know. She didn't know any of it. And it made her angry. Angry at herself and her conflicting feelings. Angry at her conflicted mind, over this boy. He didn't mean anything to her. He was just a project partner. Just some guy she was stuck with for a semester to get a good grade. Nothing more.

None of it made sense. None of it.

But again she needed to do this. So she kept thinking of how she could go about doing it. She was focusing on this more than her own work. Her brain kept racking for a solution. Though she only came up with two, and neither was exactly good.

Solution number one was she could do it by force. When the bell rang she could stop him before he left, physically if she had to. She would then ask them to go somewhere. Again if he didn't agree then she would drag him. She could then apologize. If he denied then that would be that.

Solution two she hated even more. She could try to acquire his phone and text one of his friends. She remembered that he didn't lock his phone so the password wouldn't be a problem. She could get the numbers of his friends and ask for their help. The problem with this was that his friends and she weren't on good or even neutral terms after the scene at Dunkin yesterday. So their reliance wouldn't exactly be expected. Or wanted really.

Either way, both plans acquired a lot of work with very little chance of success. Though again she needed to do this. For some reason.

So with a sigh, she again attempted to talk to her very isolated partner. "Hey Humphrey, is it okay if I see your phone?" He was just sitting there typing away on his newly repaired HP laptop. The color of it was red and black. He was leaning forward in his chair, staring intently at the screen. His brow slightly frowning showing his intense focus on his work. He was silently mouthing what he wrote, checking for mistakes and seeing how it sounded to him.

She looked at him hopefully, hoping he'd react. And react he did. He didn't look at her or in her general direction. He just grabbed his phone and gave it to her. She was kind of hoping that maybe he would look at her, for even just a second. Of course, she didn't know why she wanted that. Probably because the feeling of being ignored sucks but why did she care? Mostly coming from him?

Pushing personal thoughts out of her head, focusing on her task at hand she quickly copied the only three contacts he had that weren't family. Typing each of them a text simply put as 'Hey can you help me?' she while typing wondered who named their children those names? They were extremely weird names. Anyway with all that done she gave him his phone back and waited for their replies.

And she would wait for a reply until her third class, it was from the one named Salty. Who insulted her at Dunkin.

S: 'Help with what? Who is this?'

K: 'Humphrey. He's kind of mad at me and I want to say sorry. This is Kate. Also, I'm sorry about the whole thing at Dunkin'

S: 'Oh. How about fuck off'

Talk about a harsh rejection.

She understood why if she was honest, though that didn't stop her from getting angry. What a dickhead. She didn't care for him much though. She just had to let it go or else she would miss notes.

Period four she was texted by the one named Mooch. She had no idea which of the other two he was. All she knew was that if he agreed she could probably apologize to Humphrey.

M: Help? Who are you and how did you get my number?

K: I need help apologizing to Humphrey. I got your number through his phone. I'm Kate.

M: Oh. Why apologize? Also, how did you get his phone?

So he's the questioner of the group

K: I feel bad for what I did at Dunkin and late last night when he was delivering a package across my dorm. And I got his phone by asking him.

M: What happened when he was delivering a package?

K: I was trying to sleep and it was already about 11:30 and the guy across from my dorm as per usual was throwing a party. The music grew louder so I went to tell him to stop the party or turn down his music. Humphrey was apparently there delivering a package to him and after I yelled at my neighbor I got mad at Humphrey for being there. I was extremely tired and I hadn't noticed his uniform so I kinda yelled at him too. He then teared up said he was sorry and ran off. I feel really bad.

M: Oh okay. Well I'm sorry to disappoint you princess but if you want to apologize to my buddy you need to do it yourself. Not that I don't want to help but you owe it to him to work for that apology

So he wasn't gonna help. With a frustrated sigh, she pocketed her phone not caring to text him anymore. Then she heard another buzz.

Sh: Help with what?

K: Humphrey. We're on bad terms and I want to apologize to him.

Sh: I can't help you with that. That's you and Humphrey, not me. Princess.

Wait how did he know it was her

K: How did you know who I was?

Sh: Your the only I know who has some kind of beef with Humphrey.

Of course she was... He was so isolated in every classroom that it was impossible for other people to have beef with him.

This whole situation was frustrating. She knew that them being uncooperative was a high possibility but this was insane. They all seemed ready to help until they knew it was her, which made sense. But it was pretty shitty. And it was extremely difficult to accept that truth.

Sadly she couldn't think about that much more. Not that she wanted to. Right now her main issue was apologizing to her project partner. And now she was down to one option. She was gonna force him to look at her.

She wasn't gonna give him any other option.

Humphrey was excited, he was almost home free. He could just go home and read or sleep. Or anything! All he needed to do was wait for the bell to ring.

The teacher was done with today's lesson so he had nothing better to do than wait for the bell, which meant that he was gonna be eyeing his phone.

Then he heard the chair next to him push out... He looked at the mysterious figure that just felt like they should sit next to him before the bell.

He shouldn't have been surprised.

It was none other than his project partner. The princess of the school. Hater to all men. And someone he rarely ever saw not angry. In fact, today was the first day that she wasn't angry. Today was the first time she really tried to talk to him.

Not that it mattered, and not like she cared.

"Hey Humphrey, how's your side of the project going?" she asked, staring at him. He couldn't get over the uncomfortable feeling that the most sexist girl he ever met was staring at him. A boy. It was unsettling, it was uncomforting. It was giving him anxiety.

Business as per usual.

She never stopped staring at him though. Her gaze screaming determination. "Are you okay?"

No.

He continued to ignore her. He wasn't one to talk, mostly to people who hated him. That was a given. Now he was showing that he wasn't interested in interacting with anyone. It wasn't like anyone cared. So her asking that question caught him off guard. "Listen are you free when the bell rings?"

Yes technically. But no.

Keeping his ground, he continued to ignore the blonde girl that was his project partner. The blonde girl who hated men. The blonde girl who until now he only ever saw angry. The blonde girl who he would only now admit, who he was afraid of.

That's right he was afraid.

Afraid of the anger she held. Afraid of her impatience. Afraid of her lash outs. Afraid of her aggressive nature. Afraid of her harsh tone. Afraid of her sexism. Afraid of her voice when she yelled. Afraid of her.

And afraid of who she constantly reminded him of.

All he could do was wait her out. Ignore her, frequently check his phone, and listen for the bell so he could rush out. That was all he needed to do.

The issue was if he could. And if she would give in. If there was one thing that anyone and everyone admired about Kate, it was that giving up wasn't something she did. If she set her mind on something she could fail as many times as it takes to accomplish her goal. She was persistent and determined. She was a fighter. And she was a fighter who could lose to someone a million times and keep fighting, just so she could win.

She always came out victorious.

And that was gonna be his biggest obstacle, her undefeated streak, she would strive to win no matter what.

And right now her goal had something to do with him. How did he know? Because of her eyes. They were set on something. They were determined. And he was apart of that goal someway somehow.

The bell-ringing pushed him out of his thoughts. Relief washed over him as he stood up ready to walk to the door and out of the main building. Relief that he wouldn't have to see Kate. Relief that he wouldn't have to hear her. Relief that he wouldn't have to be near her presence.

And all that relief went away when a hand grabbed his arm. Tracing the appendage covered in a pink long sleeve shirt he saw probably the only wolf he should've expected to do this. Somehow though he was caught off guard... again. Staring into her amber eyes a sudden fear reappeared.

Then he was suddenly back in high school, sophomore year. Being dragged out of the school by the arm into a familiar car that he hadn't seen in over three years. He couldn't see who was grabbing him but he knew who it was. He knew what day he was dragged back to.

Suddenly he was snapped out of the sudden flashback, being shaken out of it by the same girl who put him in it just a few moments prior. She now had her hands on his shoulders, a worried expression on her face. "Oh my God, are you okay? Shit, I didn't mean to do it again. Snap out of it Humphrey, you'll be okay!" She was in a slight panic.

Why?

Why was the one girl who probably hated him more than anyone else in the school helping him? Why did she suddenly care that she was hurting him? Didn't she hate him? Didn't she hate men? Why was she suddenly panicking? It made no sense.

He then noticed he again had tears in his eyes. Every time he's brought back he gets them.

She was still shaking him, surprisingly not harshly. She was trying to get his attention, so he gave it. He looked into those amber eyes. They seemed to glisten. They were undeniably beautiful. Just like her. It wasn't a wonder that the most popular and handsome guys in the school asked her out. Though the only response was a harsh rejection, fueled by her extreme talent to just lash out at men.

When she finally realized he was back to reality and now looking at her she sighed in relief. Her sigh of relief turned into a chuckle and for only an instant Humphrey could've sworn he seen her smile. But he couldn't tell. "You okay?"

Humphrey again at the same question was caught off guard. He had no idea why she was asking but even he knew that now he wouldn't be able to play off the 'You don't exist' act. Not that he needed to. Or even wanted to now, for some reason. His simple answer was a nod.

Another sigh. She finally let go of his shoulders, scared to grab him in case he went away to wherever he was moments prior. "Don't run away okay?"

Humphrey tried his best not to chuckle, he really did. But the sudden request from the princess of the school was hilarious. Mostly when putting in the context of her obvious hatred towards the opposing gender. He quickly shut himself up though, in case she grew angry.

Though she did the opposite. Among hearing his chuckle she giggled, hiding her mouth behind her hand. She was one of the more sophisticated wolves of this generation it seemed. "Pretty weird huh? Me asking a guy not to run away really is out of character for me!" she said continuing to giggle at her own request. Her comment made Humphrey laugh as well as he nodded.

Finally, the ice was broken and their walls were down. They weren't in an awkward or bad moment. They were laughing as if they'd been friends for weeks. As if they knew more about each other than just names. It was a different setting than either was accustomed to while around each other. Not that they minded. No one would mind being in a friendly setting.

Kate decided that now was probably the best time to do what she set out to do. At least while he was in a good mood and the walls were down. "Listen, Humphrey, I need to talk real quick," she started, waiting for his response. He had gone from laughing to looking hesitant. After being frozen for a few seconds, even though it felt like an eternity, he nodded her to continue. Scared of what she would say. "Listen I um. I've noticed how the way I acted has affected you and I want to say sorry. And I mean it when I say it. So I... I'm thinking I can make it up to you?" Now she didn't know what she was saying. All she wanted to do was apologize. What was she saying? She didn't even have control over her own voice anymore.

Humphrey was puzzled. She was apologizing? To him? For the way she acted? What? And now she wanted to make it up to him? He wasn't sure if he was actually awake. It took everything he had not to pinch himself. Instead, he decided to be more discreet and dig his nail into his palm to see if he felt the pain.

He wasn't dreaming.

Kate had noticed the gesture and she tried her best to hide the chuckle that was trying to escape. Usually, an action like that would make her mad but she was fine for some reason. "Yes I know crazy but I'm serious. Let's hang out tomorrow, we won't have school and we could get to know each other. And if it goes well we could become friends!"

Now Humphrey had to be dreaming. Maybe he got into a freak accident and was in a coma? Either way, he wasn't in the real world right now. There was no way. Kate would never. Never in a million years even consider making a man especially him a friend! But he wasn't dreaming. This was the reality. Kate Wilson. The Kate Wilson was asking him to hang out and said that maybe, just maybe they could be friends. He nodded nervously.

She was happy he accepted. This was a good opportunity to maybe better herself as well. And if he was who he was seeming to be then he could be her first male friend she had since high school. "Great! Meet me at the fountain at one! Oh but I do have a condition," She said excitedly. If she was honest she didn't even know what her condition was. Again her mouth was acting on its own. Humphrey grew nervous but nodded his head anyway. "When we hang out, I want you to talk to me. Don't just nod your head. Deal?"

She grew worried at her proposal but thought that it was the best course of action anyway. She wouldn't be able to hang out with him if they wouldn't be able to properly communicate. "...Okay"

Apparently, he felt the same way.

Well, there it is! Chapter four! I think that this turned out better than expected. I had a different route I was gonna go with but when I started typing I realized the route wasn't exactly fitting. I had planned out both routes of how Kate would apologize and thought the friends' route though would've been good wouldn't make sense because of the whole scene from chapter 2 so I went with this. Originally I wasn't gonna have the flashback at all and do something different but the flashback seemed better and I like how it turned out.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I'll see all you beautiful people in the next one!