Chapter 2: Fighting Spirit

Newcomer's POV:

I caught up and matched pace with the girl as we walked side by side down the street for a little in silence. As we crossed the road on the edge of the block she spoke, "I didn't ask for your help you know." I looked sidelong at her, about to reply in my usual jovial fashion when something about the shortness in her tone caused me to pause. 'I suppose growing up here you'd get used to strangers only acting for their own benefit.' I thought to myself, 'Must think I want something in return.' Out loud however, I said,

"I know, and clearly you didn't need it either." I spoke seriously, referring to the way she handled them. "Besides I didn't really do anything, just took a wrong turn." I said with a small smile. I saw her shoot me a curious look, as though trying to figure out if I was for real. Eventually she faced forwards again smiling a little.

"So long as we're clear." She said.

Kate's POV:

'What a weirdo.' She thought to herself as they walked. After a minute or so of silent walking she couldn't figure out why he helped her, without asking if she wanted help, and now he was pretending he didn't even do anything. For a stranger no less! With an almost silent huff of frustration she gave up trying to figure him out. He was still walking beside her, hands on the back of his head, seemingly affected by neither the silence nor the cold.

"So, what's your name?" She asked, breaking the silence once more. As she spoke he stopped walking, turning to face her as she did likewise.

"Forgive me, the name's Humphrey. Humphrey Miller." He said, grinning as he offered his hand. After a moment she took it, noticing his grip was firm but not overly strong like some of her dad's... acquaintances. She swore sometimes they were trying to crush her hand.

"My name's Kate..." She paused, letting her voice trail off as she deliberated whether or not to tell him her last name. 'To hell with it.', "Kate Spencer." She finished, watching him for some kind of reaction, but he just smiled even more, continuing to defy her expectations.

"Well Kate, the pleasure's all mine." He said, giving a little bow before gesturing that they continue walking. As they moved on he spoke up quickly, making her wonder whether he was just waiting to see if she wanted to talk or not.

"So Kate, do you... live in the area." He asked, waving his hand a little at their surroundings.

"Hmmm? No not at all. Why?" She replied, wondering why he would infer that.

"Well I was just wondering how a nice girl like you came to be in an alleyway like that?" He clarified as they stopped, waiting for the lights to change so that they could cross the road.

"My dad is meeting a... business associate. He owns a boxing gym nearby. I was on my way back from getting a snack at that convenience store when it happened." She said, wondering if he had noticed her hesitation.

"Ah, I see. Makes sense."

Humphrey's POV:

I frowned internally for a moment as Kate hesitated, though I showed nothing outwardly.

"So whereabouts do you live?" She asked me, putting emphasis on the word you. I thought about saying something but decided not to bother.

"Actually I just arrived in Jasper City today. I had just left a meeting when I ran into you." I said, pausing for a moment since I actually had no idea what to do, my original plan being six feet under at this point, both figuratively and literally. "I was planning on visiting family but that's not really an option now. I guess I'll... get a hotel and figure it out tomorrow?" I finished, chuckling a little at the vagueness of my circumstances. Kate fell silent, looking like she was deep in thought, so I took the opportunity to look at the building we were passing.

"By the way Kate, what does that gym look like?" I said, stopping as I pointed towards the sign on the building behind us that read: Fighting Spirit Boxing Gym.

Kate looked up, turning around when she realized I had stopped. "Huh? Oh that's it." She said, giving a small, somewhat embarrassed smile. We stood like that for a moment in silence before I burst out laughing.

"Good to see one of us is paying attention." I managed to get out between laughs. She smiled a little more as she back tracked, moving towards the entrance. As she passed me she punched my shoulder lightly, "Shut up." This only made me laugh more as I followed her in, managing to compose myself as I entered, not wanting to disturb whoever was in there.

Kate's POV:

Although she was annoyed Kate couldn't help smiling as I entered the gym, 'It is pretty funny", she thought to herself as she walked into the marginally warmer gym. She didn't know why but Humphrey's attitude was infectious.

"Wow, it's been a long time since I was in a boxing gym. Brings back memories." Humphrey said from behind her as he entered and looked around. She followed suit and looked around, noticing that a few of the small number of boxers had looked up as they entered but had quickly returned to their training. Suddenly she realized what Humphrey had said and turned back to him,

"So are you a boxer or something? How come you've been to gyms before?" She asked.

"Hmmm? Not exactly. I lived with a family in Russia for a while and their son was a boxer, few years older than me." He replied, walking over to the ring in the middle of the gym and running a hand along the top rope a little.

"While I was there he taught me some of the basics, though I was never anywhere near his level." He finished. 'Wow, wasn't expecting that.' Kate thought to herself, admittedly she just expected to hear he'd tried it as a kid or something trivial like that. She was about to ask him another question when she noticed that one of the other patrons had come over and was standing right behind them.

"Max, what are you doing?" One of the boxer's to the side asked the one who'd approached us as she and Humphrey turned to face him. "Quiet." Max snapped back, to which he just shrugged and returned to what he was doing. Kate took an instant disliking to him, for one thing he was too close and for another she could feel his superior attitude as he stood there.

"Can I help you?" Humphrey asked politely, stepping in front of Kate a little with a warm smile.

"That's my question." Was the reply.