Authors Note

Hey guys, just wanted to say thanks for the continued support on the story. I'm glad there are people that still enjoy this genre. We have also almost crossed 8k reads!. That's super cool and I can't thank you guys enough. I will try my best to hold either a daily or bi-daily upload schedule. Hopefully I can make a story everyone likes. Thanks again everyone and enjoy! 3

(kate's Pov continued)

I made it to my room and shut the door with a solid click, letting me know it had fully closed. I walked over to my bed and jumped down onto it bouncing back slightly as the bed protested the sudden movement. I stretched over and picked up my phone that had still been sitting on the charger. I unplugged it while rolling over on my back, holding it up to my face. Before I even turned the screen on, I noticed the flashing LED that told me I had missed notifications. I smiled knowing that it was just the girls. I unlocked my phone and opened the messages in the group chat. Sure enough they had messaged earlier in the day when I was asleep. I kind of felt bad that i didn't answer them when they had messaged me, i always answered if it was one of them.

I scrolled up through the messages, reading the conversation I missed with them which was mostly just banter between them in classes talking about drama and other students. At one point Beth had mentioned something about her hot teacher, which made me laugh. "I swear that girl can't keep it in her pants' 'I thought as I laughed at the message. I scrolled through the rest of the messages not really seeing anything too interesting. Once I reached the bottom, I started to write my own message.

Kate: Hey girls I'm sorry I didn't answer again. I was asleep for a while.

Beth: Don't sweat it fam, you didn't miss too much tbh.

Jane: Yea, it was mostly just Beth complaining about school and the people in it.

Jane: Oh wait, that's just Beth. Yea, nothing new XD.

Beth: Ouch why you bully me girl. I dont always complain, I just confide in my friends with all the stuff I dislike. That's all lol.

Alex: I feel like I missed something here, no fair.

Beth: oh look who it is. Nice of you to finally join the rest of us. Where have you been at girl?

Alex: Yea sorry my sister has been going through stuff at my mums out of town, so i've been dealing with that.

Jane: man both you and Kate with the family problems. You gotta get your lives on track before you miss your whole highschool life.

I'm not sure why but that made me laugh a little. I guess highschool was an important time for teens in their ever expanding world and growth. There were a lot of experiences to be had there, and you definitely wouldn't have them if you didn't go to school.

Kate: It will be fine, like I said I'll be back on Monday morning.

Beth: Yea that should be interesting to witness.

Jane: Beth don't..

I paused when I read the message from beth. What would be interesting about me coming back to school? Did I miss something while I was gone? It had only been a few days, what could change in that time? I thought about it for a second before returning to the conversation. The fastest way to figure it out was to ask.

Kate: "What do you mean?

Beth: You haven't heard? The most popular girl in school and you're not in the know?

Jane: Seriously just drop it Beth! It can wait till Monday.

Kate: What can? What haven't I heard? Someone clue me in here..

Jane: Nothing that's important right now Kate

Beth: Chill Jane it's not that bad, jeez. They're just rumors, nothing more.

Kate: Rumors? What rumors? About me?

Jane: they are just stupid lies spread by children, that all they are.

Beth: Yea i dunno, there are a lot of people talking about you. Something about Garth saying he was standing up for you in the hall because a kid was harassing you, saying the kid was following you around from class to class and staring at you all the time. Garth said you had already told him to stay away and he wasn't listening, so Garth decided to deal with him. Supposedly the kid got hurt and hasn't been seen since.

I felt my hands tighten around my phone as if trying to crush the object. Garth? That sadistic self absorbed ass of a guy? Just picturing him made me madder, bringing my blood to a boil in rage. "The audacity to claim he was doing it for me" I yelled in my head as I slammed my phone into my bed. "I'd never ask him to do anything for me? I didn't even want to talk to the guy, much less ask him for anything. And to profile Humphrey as some bad guy like he was stalking me? What the hell was he thinking? Sure we had a few classes together and would see each other, but he was nothing remotely close to creepy."

I let out an aggravated sigh as I processed the new information. Did he think that because I was gone, he could just say whatever he wanted about me? I swear the next time I see him I'm going to slap the shit out of him. I reached over and picked up my phone taking a deep breath to try and calm down.

Kate: That's complete bullshit ! If anything Garth is the one harassing me!

Beth: Well I mean we figured it was a lie, but a lot of the students believe Garth's story. He has a lot of followers in the school so most just go with it. There are a few that believe that the story is being twisted though.

Jane: I know a lot of the girls in my classes don't believe it either. They all know how Garth really is, and he definitely was no knight in shining armor.

Kate: literally nothing he said was true. Humphrey never did anything that bothered me.

Jane: Humphrey? You mean that kid from first period in the back of the class?

Beth: Wait, that's the guy he was talking about. There is no way that guy would do anything, he won't even talk to anyone.

I froze as I realized I just outed Humphrey as being the other side of this problem. If it got out in the school his life would be hell. He was already going through so much, there is no way he could handle that on top of it all. This just got a lot more complicated for us.

Kate: Look guys, keep it between us. I don't need anyone at school knowing who Garth is talking about at the moment.

Jane: You know we aren't the type to gossip, much less about anything that's said between us. We will keep it confidential.

Beth: Wait so it was Humphrey? Then what the hell happened to make Garth go after him? It doesn't make sense.

Kate: Humphrey didn't do anything wrong, he was just walking. Garth pushed him into a locker and he cut his head, so I took him to see my mom.

Jane: Dude wasn't he just hurt like the day before that, poor kid can't catch a break.

If she only knew that wasn't the extent of the damage that Humphrey had been dealt. How much worse it had been for him in the time following his accident at school. I thought back to the day we rushed him to the hospital feeling tears build in my eyes as I pictured the bloody mess of a wolf laying on the floor. I shook the image out of my head and wiped my eyes looking back at my phone.

Kate: I'm just glad he wasn't hurt too badly from the whole ordeal.

Jane: So why haven't we seen him at school then? Was he excused for the week or something like that?

Kate: Uh.. you could say that i guess..

Beth: You know, now that I think about it, I haven't seen either of you since that day..

My eyes widened as I realized the spot I'd just fallen into. I'd given too much information and she was going to piece stuff together. I panicked as I tried to come up with a work around for the impending problem heading my way.

Kate: oh..yea….i told you i was out for family problems. I've been helping my mom at the house..

Beth: With?..we both know your mom doesn't need help with anything, like ever..

Kate: Oh well you know..things come up. She said she needed some help so I decided to stay and help out.

Beth: Your acting kind of weird, are you sure you're not forgetting to tell us something?

I was growing tired of this questioning and wanted to put an end to it. I knew if she pressisted id end up giving it to her demands. I mean I always told them everything, we all knew each other's deepest secrets. This was the first time I hid anything from them, but for Humphreys sake i had to.

Kate: Hey sorry guys, I have to jump in the shower. I'll talk with you again tomorrow.

Beth: oh you'll be hearing from us tomorrow, i promise girl.

Jane: Bye Kate, sorry she sprung this all onto you.

Alex: yea don't dwell on any of it. It will straighten itself out with time.

Kate: Thanks guys, ttyl.

I placed my phone back down on my bed and laid back onto my pillows. I stared at the ceiling wondering what I was supposed to do now. It seemed like every time things would get better, something new had to come up.i sighed and rolled over off my bed. I told them I was going to take a shower, so I figured I might as well do just that.

(Skip 40 min)

I felt all clean and fresh now as I walked back to my room and placed my dirty clothes in the hamper. I looked at the clock on my phone reading 8:49. It was still a little erly to go to bed, so I made my way back down the stairs to the kitchen. I could hear mom whispering, but she stopped when I turned the corner and walked in. She was sitting across from dad at the table with a bunch of papers in front of her. She set the one in her hand down and smiled at me.

"What's up? " I asked, walking into the kitchen and making my way to the cupboards to grab a glass for some milk. After pouring it and placing the milk back in the fridge, I resumed my attention to my parents while taking a sip of the cold beverage.

"Nothing much dear, just going over some stuff with your dad." she said, gesturing to the documents on the table. I couldn't see what they were but I figured it did really matter, so it was better not to ask about them.

"You guys are all set for tomorrow?" I walked over and leaned on the frame of the entrance as I took another sip of my milk. I could feel the milk mustache that had formed on my top lip, which was dealt with easily with a good lick.

"Yep, everything is set and ready to go first thing tomorrow. We will probably be leaving around 11 a.m. ill make sure to let you know before we leave" she said, shuffling the papers into a pile and putting them to the side and standing up. She walked over and kissed me on the forehead before walking past me. "Make sure you go to sleep at a regular time hun".

I smiled at the remark as I just shook my head and turned to go back up the stairs. I paused to look over at the door to the living room that was partially cracked showing a little light from inside. I tiptoed over to it, careful not to make any noise and peaked in. I scanned the room before I landed on Humphrey on the floor across from the couch by the tv, staring at the ceiling. He wasn't moving or showing any signs of life, other than the occasional blink. He looked lost in thought, and his expression looked so…so sad.

I placed my hand against the door to push it open, but stopped as dad placed a hand on my shoulder, making me jump a little as I turned to look at him. He just shook his head and let go. I guess he was right, it would probably be good to let him have some alone time. I glanced at the door one more time, before making my way up the stairs to my room. "Maybe we can get to know each other some tomorrow" I thought as I walked in, closing the door. I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy for a chance to talk to him. With that I prepared myself for bed knowing I would need to get up tomorrow at a decent time. I was definitely not a morning person. I would spend all day in bed if I could, but mom would never allow that. I turned off the light and closed my eyes as I giggled at the thought.