A/N: Hey guys. First of all I'm sorry this chapter is a day late. I stayed up late last night trying to get it out on time but it didn't want to happen. That said its a big one and I'm hopeful you'll think it was worth the wait. That brings me to some news but I'll get to that at the end.
Chapter 20: Clueless.
Kate's POV:
Kate glanced over at Humphrey in concern but he really did seem fine. She'd seen the state of the locker after the incident between he and Garth at lunchtime and was worried that he'd actually been hurt and was simply putting ignoring it, not wanting to seem weak at school. She knew that he was in phenomenal shape but couldn't help but worry, leading to her having observed him subtly throughout lunchtime and now through most of English as well. Speaking of which she'd been right about the essay, which was about the book they were currently reading and was due on Tuesday. Angel, who sat next to Kate in English had noticed her continued glances and had asked her about it, stating her understanding and promising to keep it a secret which Kate was grateful for. She was also relieved that neither Brittany nor Sam had noticed her watching Humphrey because she knew they'd misunderstand the situation. That said even Angel, who was normally very reserved had glanced in Humphrey's direction and raised an eyebrow after Kate had been forced to mention what he'd looked like with his shirt off.
"Are you serious?" Angel asked, turning back around to face the front again as Kate nodded, pretending to read as they talked quietly.
"Yeah I had a pretty good look when I first met him. And no Angel, it's not what you think. We were in a boxing gym." Kate explained, clarifying when she'd realised that what she said first could be misunderstood all too easily. Angel giggled quietly at her hurried explanation, sneaking another glance at Humphrey when the teacher wasn't paying attention.
"Wow. I knew he must've been in decent shape to join the basketball team but it's like that huh?" Angel said and Kate could tell she was trying to imagine him shirtless. After a moment Kate leaned over a little and nudged her gently in the ribs with her elbow to bring her back to earth.
"Huh? Oh sorry Kate, got a little distracted." Angel said, grinning shamelessly, much to Kate's surprise.
"Angel!" She whispered in mock anger, making both of them giggle. Kate was close friends with all four girls in her group but Angel was undoubtedly her best friend, unsurprising given that they had similar tastes in most areas and trusted each other with just about everything.
"What? I already thought that he was good looking. What you've told me is just icing on the cake." Angel whispered back, mimicking Kate's mock anger with an insulted attitude.
"You should be careful though Kate. Sooner or later people are going to find out more about him and some girls don't have as much restraint as me." Kate tilted her head a bit, confused as to what Angel meant.
"What do you mean?" She asked but Angel didn't respond, merely smiling and returning her attention to the novel in her hands. Kate thought about her words for the rest of the lesson but was no closer to understanding by the time the bell rang and they were all dismissed. As they walked through the school towards the entrance she suddenly remembered something she'd had to do and looked around frantically, standing on her toes to see over the crowd a bit more. She let out a sigh when she spotted Humphrey at his locker, relieved he hadn't left yet as she made her way over, tapping his shoulder gently to get his attention as he closed his locker.
"Huh? Oh hey Kate." He said, smiling when he saw who it was. She smiled back and gestured with her head for him to follow as she moved over to her own locker, opening it to grab her books out. He nodded, quickly saying goodbye to Barry, who'd been talking to him before walking over to Kate's locker.
"So what's up?" He asked. Kate finished packing her stuff and closed the locker, locking it once more before turning to Humphrey.
"Well I needed to tell you that my parents wanted to invite you over for dinner tomorrow night." She said. Admittedly the request had surprised her when she'd heard it that morning since her parents had never invited any of her friends over before, let alone a boy and were usually resistant to accept whenever Kate or Lily had asked if their friends could visit.
"I think it's kind of a thank you for what happened on the weekend." She explained, trying to gauge Humphrey's reaction when he didn't answer for a moment. He appeared to be a little surprised at the invitation himself as he thought for a moment before smiling and nodding to Kate's relief as she'd worried that he would might've been scared off by her dad as well.
"Well if I've been invited by your parents I can hardly refuse can I?" He said in a joking tone before becoming serious for a moment.
"Seriously though I'd love to come if you want me there."
Humphrey's POV:
I admit that I'd been surprised by Kate's sudden invitation. I was about to accept immediately but she'd said that it was coming from her parents so I wondered how she felt about it all. I'd have to check with Charlie as well but I was sure she wouldn't mind and in addition tomorrow was Friday which meant I'd have basketball training but I doubted it'd go that late.
"Of course." Kate said with a renewed smile. She seemed genuinely happy that I was coming which relieved me because I wouldn't have been too happy if this had been all her parents' doing and she was opposed to it.
"There is one other thing." She said after a moment as we walked towards the entrance of the school, continuing after I gestured with my hand for her to continue. "Well I have to stay behind to perform at the Football game. It should finish around the same time as your basketball practice and I was hoping you could give me a lift. Some of my sister's friends are staying over tomorrow night as well and my mum doesn't want to make two trips to the school." I nodded as Kate explained the situation, it made sense to me and I went to accept but hesitated as I thought of a small problem.
"I'd be happy to, the only problem is that I'll need to stop in at home to get ready for dinner. If you're okay with waiting around there for a while then I can't see a problem." I said, which Kate said was fine, finalizing our plans. With that done we parted ways and I drove home, deciding to quickly polish off the homework due tomorrow straight away. That done I went and did some shooting practice at the hoop out the back of Charlie's house before heading inside and starting dinner so that it'd be ready when Charlie got home. I asked her about the invitation to dinner at the Spencer's tomorrow later that night, which she said was fine but seemed a little concerned. She wouldn't say why exactly but made me promise that I'd be careful and watch myself which I thought was strange but complied with.
Kate's POV:
Kate lay on her bed after dinner texting her friends since she'd finished the day's homework and had already told her parents that Humphrey had accepted their invitation. She thought about making a start on the English essay as she knew she'd have no time for it tomorrow but couldn't be bothered, figuring she'd do it on the weekend and Monday night if necessary. As she lay there her mind drifted to the events of the day, one in particular sticking at the forefront and causing her to frown as she searched her contacts and pulled up Angel's name in messenger.
K: Hey Angel, I've been thinking but I still can't figure out what u meant earlier.
A: Hey Kate. What r u talking about?
K: What you said about Humphrey in English.
A: O. What about it?
K: Well what did u mean when u said I needed to be careful? And about some girls not being about to control themselves?
A: K you're killing me :(
K: What's that supposed to mean? :(
A: Humphrey seems like a good guy but it's not good to be so clueless K.
K: I don't understand. H and I are friends.
A: Whatever. I gotta go, Sam is calling. C u tomorrow :)
K: C u :)
Kate put her phone down and turned off the light, more confused than ever as she fell asleep.
No one's POV:
Later that evening, penthouse apartment of Bellario Tower, East Jasper.
A man sat at a large, orate desk in the dimly lit room, cigar smoke slowly collecting in a cloud near the ceiling. The desk itself was a grand piece, carved solid from a single piece of the trunk of one of the largest mahogany trees ever found in Cuba and had been imported to Jasper City at great cost, including bribes, by its occupant. The suite in which it sat was grand in a manner that befitted its stature, located as it was at the top of the tallest hotel in East Jasper. Sitting 35 storeys above the ground the suite commanded an impressive view of the city, or would've did the blinds not remain drawn most of the time.
As the man reached the end of the report he was contemplating he scrunched it shut slowly, the sound of the paper painfully loud in the silent room. After a long moment he spoke, his gravelly voice easily audible despite the quiet tone he used.
"Has my son arrived yet?"
The offsider that stood to one side of the room flinched slightly at the sudden question, clearing his throat nervously before answering in a voice that shook slightly.
"Yes sir, just a few minutes ago." He said, praying to whatever god was listening that he be spared the wrath that was evident in the aura surrounding the man at the desk. After delivering the report he'd expected to receive further instructions or dismissal but after permitting him to enter not a word had been spoken.
"Send him in here."
The gravelly voice sounded once more as the man picked up the large cigar, the end glowing a ominous golden-orange as he took a long draught. Once he had inhaled his fill he turned the cigar on the report, catching it alight and watching the offending piece burn as the offsider sounded in the affirmative and all but sprinted from the room.
Ten minutes later.
There was a gentle knock on the door to the apartment which slowly opened a moment later, admitting a tall and muscular young man. He was every bit the stereotypical highschooler, wearing sneakers, ripped blue jeans and a varsity jacket with the JHS logo on it. After gently closing the door he walked into the room, bereft of his usual cocky smile as he walked to the desk and took a seat opposite his father. When he finally spoke his voice had an air of respectfullness to it, though it was not entirely without the somewhat arrogant attitude it's owner was well known for.
"You wanted to see me?" The young man asked, readjusting his jacket and getting into a more comfortable position as he spoke. The man at the desk before him did not answer immediately, instead taking another long puff from the cigar in his hand and then blowing the smoke into his son's face, sending him into a minor coughing fit.
"Garth, my son. I've heard something that has me... troubled."
Garth's POV:
Once Garth had recovered from the coughing fit brought on by the acrid smoke of the cigar his father spoke. He didn't speak a word despite the long pause that followed his father's words, knowing from past experience that interruptions would be... painful.
"I've heard from my other source at your school that you not only failed to recruit a prime target but also got in a fight with him, ruining any chance we had of fixing your mistake." The gravelly voice continued to flow from the man slowly, his seemingly controlled attitude even more terrifying than if he'd chosen to yell. For his part Garth shifted nervously in his seat, looking somewhat pale as he carefully considered his next words. He'd seen what happened to those who upset his father and never wanted to be on the receiving end of a treatment where the lucky ones would die before it got too bad.
"Dad I'm sorry. I did try but he disrespected me." Garth tried, pausing to gauge his father's reaction. The man gave nothing away however, remaining silent as he puffed away at his cigar.
"Plus Kate has her hooks in him deep. There's no chance he would've sided against her." He continued after a moment of silence. At that his father froze for a second, directing a terrifying stare at his son. When he finally moved once more it was to douse his cigar, his hand trembling slightly in anger as he twisted the expensive cigar into the silver ashtray on the desk. All of a sudden he moved in a sudden burst, jumping up and slamming his hands on the table as Garth jumped backwards slightly in fright.
"You let the half-wit Spencer girl beat you to him!?" He yelled, his voice reverberating around the suite while Garth shrunk down in his chair as much as he was able.
"There were rumours that something happened between them before he even started at school. What was I supposed to do?" Garth whined, finding a little stomach in the fact that he was justified on this and managing to return his distraught father's stare.
"Hmmpf."
After what seemed like an age his father grunted, returning to his seat and pulling out another cigar, lighting it up and breathing deep before letting out the smoke with a sigh. As Garth straightened up he spoke again, his voice back to its usual gravelly tone as though nothing had happened.
"About time you showed some backbone. Luckily for us something fell into my lap today." He said. Garth let out a relieved sigh as he was let off the hook, his heart still beating heavily as adrenaline ran through his system.
"What was it?" Garth asked tentatively once he saw that his father was in a relatively good mood. At the question his father's head snapped up, those intense eyes seeming to evaluate him as he waited for some kind of answer.
"An opportunity. One we need to be ready for. Continue on at that disgusting highschool for now, manpower is still as important as ever if our plan is going to work." He said finally, Garth nodding his understanding as he stood up. Just as he was about to leave however his father spoke up once more, calling his attention back as Garth froze mid-turn.
"One last thing. Despite this latest... mistake, you've done well my son. Keep it up and soon you'll get what you wanted."
Garth grinned broadly at his father's words, pleased beyond words as he just nodded again before leaving the room. Once the door was closed behind him Garth let out an enormous sigh, releasing all the pent up tension he'd held throughout that meeting. That done he closed his eyes and smiled, fist pumping a little to the amusement of the two men that guarded the entrance of the penthouse.
"That's a rare sight." The first said with a grin, keeping his voice low to avoid disturbing the suite's occupant.
"I'm not complaining, at least there's no blood to clean this time." The second replied wryly. The two of them shared a look before shivering, both no doubt recalling previous, less amicable meetings that had taken place in that suite.
"Keep it down or it'll be your own blood you're cleaning up." The first said with a hushing gesture as Garth collected himself and moved towards the elevator, one of the guards pressing the button to call it up for him. It arrived momentarily, courtesy of the penthouse's priority status and Garth entered, pressing the button for the ground floor. As the doors slid closed Garth caught sight of his reflection on the metallic surface, surprised at the broad grin that he was unable to wipe from his face. He honestly couldn't remember the last time his father had paid him a compliment, let alone two in one day.
A/N Continued: So what'd you think? I'm planning to make this more or less the new standard for chapter length for this story. Please let me know how you feel about the chapter and the new length.
Unfortunately I do have some bad news however. As of this chapter, New Moons is going to be on hiatus for at least a week, maybe two. Between work and my birthday coming up this week I have almost no spare time. In addition I'm going to be reassessing my plan for the story's future to make it better than ever. It could mean only one, longer chapter per week but we'll see. I'm sorry to have to do this and I hope you can understand. Once more, a big thanks to everyone for their reviews and all of your continued support, it means a lot to me.