Chapter 15: Spell it out.

Humphrey's POV:

I walked through the deserted hallway towards the entrance of the school, thinking about what Charlie had said about the differences between real basketball and what I'd experienced before. I had to admit, it had surprised me how noticeable the difference was as I watched the practice game. When I'd played previously there'd been a little passing but mostly it was just about beating your one defender to score. Though I had seen a little of that it had mostly been two on two or more. Screens, help defence, finding space; These were all things I would have to master if I wanted to become a real member of the team.

With my mind full of these thoughts I reached the main entrance, stepping out into the bright sunlight and heading down the steps. It was only 4:30 or so but thanks to the mountains that surrounded Jasper City it would start to get dark soon. That said I was in no real rush to get home since I hadn't received any homework that day, which I was assured by others was a rarity, and Charlie wouldn't be home for a while either. I headed towards the car park and looked up to see someone standing in front of me, talking on the phone in what appeared to be a rather agitated way. As I got closer I realised that it was actually Kate. I'd noticed her with the other cheerleaders at practice but was surprised to see that she was still here since they'd finished the same time as us and I'd stay behind to organise my uniform and a few other things with Charlie. As I thought this I continued walking towards her as she hung up the phone and let out a sigh.

"Hey Kate, everything okay?" I asked as I reached her. She swung around quickly in surprise but seemed to relax when she saw who it was, letting out another sigh. "Oh, hey Humphrey. I heard you passed your tryout, congrats." She said, brightening up a little as she smiled at me which I gladly returned.

"Well the coach seems to think I have some small potential. She must be crazier than I am." I said, half jokingly as I grinned at her. "How was your practice? I didn't really have time to watch but you guys seemed pretty good." Kate shrugged and looked away.

"It was okay. It's my first year on the squad so it's hard to learn the routines." She said nonchalantly. She tried to make out like it was no big deal but I could see that she was smiling a little and was happy to have cheered her up some.

"So seriously, what's wrong?" I asked, deciding to cut to the chase.

Kate's POV:

Kate clicked her tongue at the question, looking up at Humphrey's concerned face for a moment before looking away. "It's nothing really, just annoying." She paused for a moment but continued when she turned back and saw that Humphrey had raised an eyebrow and was making a 'go on' gesture with his hand. "My mum was supposed to come and pick me up but she can't make it, meaning I have to wait almost an hour for the next bus." She explained, shoulders drooping in resignation of the long wait as she saw Humphrey grinning.

"Well that's not so bad. I mean you'll have to wait, and it'll be cold, and the bus trip will probably take hours." He said, grin widening. Kate couldn't help but smile a little at his over exaggeration.

"It'll be fine though, until the driver passes out, and the bus crashes off a cliff. That'll be okay too, since you'll probably survive, no doubt badly injured though. And you won't be able to complete your homework-" He stopped talking as she punched his shoulder with a laugh.

"Well thanks for spelling that out. You can go now." Kate said, doing her best to say it in an angry tone. She couldn't manage to wipe the grin off her face so she turned around and folded her arms in an attempt to hide it, hearing Humphrey chuckle from behind her.

"I know you're trying to seem angry but the way you're smiling like that gives it away a little." He said in an amused tone. Kate held her posture for another moment before dropping it, letting her shoulders drop as she turned back around.

"So are you waiting for the bus or are you just here to laugh at me?" She asked him, pouting a little as she jabbed a finger accusingly at him. He stepped back a little, holding up his hands in a surrendering gesture, grinning as he shook his head.

"I wouldn't dream of laughing at someone in a pinch." He said with a chuckle which she joined in on. They stood in silence for a moment before he spoke up once more.

"So you could wait and catch the bus, whereupon all that I said previously would no doubt occur. Or..." She gave him a curious look as he paused, wondering what he was about to suggest. A second later he pulled out a set of keys and held them up. "... I could give you a lift." He finished. Kate looked between Humphrey and the keys a few times before she realised what he was insinuating, staring at him in surprise.

"Humphrey... you have a car!?"

"No this is for my bike lock." He replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he made a deadpan expression. Kate laughed a bit as Humphrey turned and began walking towards the car park, pausing and looking back over his shoulder after a few steps.

"You coming?" He asked, to which she nodded and ran over, falling into step next to him.

Humphrey's POV:

I shook my head with a small smile and continued into the car park as Kate fell into step next to me. We walked in silence for a while, making it all the way to the outer school entrance before she spoke up, "So how do you have a license?"

"Well don't you have yours?" I replied with perhaps a little more sass than I intended but fortunately she didn't seem to notice it as she shrugged and nodded a little.

"I have my learners permit I guess. But that's not the same as a full license." Her tone suggesting she was aware that I was deliberately not answering. I quickly extracted my wallet from my pocket, removing my license and showing it to her, again figuring it would be easier to explain if I just showed her.

"It's a Special Exception License. I had to pass a test of course and there are a few extra rules." I began to explain as I took it back from her and put it away. "My brother's attorney set it up for me because I was on my own and had a car to inherit." I finish, feeling my chest tighten slightly as I spoke about my brother, the memories and realisation that he was gone coming back to the surface. I was by no means ashamed of my emotions regarding my family but it was going to be a little problematic if I welled up every time someone mentioned a family member for the rest of my life. Kate let out a small 'ah' of understanding as I finished explaining. I wasn't sure if she'd noticed the minor tremor in my voice but if she did she said nothing, merely turning away to look at the now few cars remaining in the car park. We were just a few meters from my car now and I could see Kate looking at it with an expression that almost appeared to be longing.