A/N: Hey guys. Don't know if I ever mentioned this or not but this story is set in 2011. Anyway enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think.
Chapter 22: The third reason.
Humphrey's POV:
I smiled and rubbed the back of my head a little as Kate took the test paper, looking at the score written at the top. I looked down at the table as her mouth fell open in a perfect 'O' of surprise, feeling embarrassed as I could feel her staring at me. I had a feeling that I had done well since I'd recognised the content and had managed to answer and double check my work but still, to ace the test was beyond what I would've imagined. 'I really did get lucky.' I thought to myself as I considered that I'd managed to avoid even one silly mistake after not having looked at any chemistry work in six months at least.
"Lucky!?" Kate said incredulously as she handed the paper back to me. I was a little worried that she'd be mad that I beat her but my fears were dispelled as she punched my shoulder with a laugh.
"Humphrey you're a freaking genius. And you call that getting lucky?" Kate said in a jubilant tone. As she spoke the bell rang and we quickly packed up our things, heading out of the classroom and towards our lockers since we both had after school events to attend; Kate the football game with the cheerleaders and me basketball practice.
"I am not a genius." I said as we walked, continuing our conversation from earlier. "Besides, no matter how well you know the subject matter, not making a single mistake can only be considered lucky." I argued, pleading ever so slightly with my tone to try and make her understand as she shook her head with a smile. "And the test happened to be on something I knew about." I added as we reached our lockers, both swapping bags before turning to one another since after this we'd be parting ways for the next hour.
"Whatever you say." Kate said with a smile that told me she was by no means convinced. "Meet me here afterwards?" She asked, turning to leave as I nodded in agreement. I watched her walk away for a moment longer before heading off myself, not wanting to be late for practice as I recalled Charlie's threat from that morning. I ran into Hutch just outside the entrance to the change rooms and entered with him, chatting about the day and our classes as we got ready. He scowled when I mentioned my run in with Garth the previous day, telling me that he had clashed with him in the past as well but since then they'd kept to themselves.
"It can't have anything to do with the fact that you look like you could squash him if he tried anything could it?" I joked as I finished lacing my basketball shoes and stood up, pulling off my t-shirt to change into the Cleveland jersey that I was using as a substitute until I got my uniform. Hutch raised an eyebrow as he looked at me with my shirt off which made me a little self conscious, quickly pulling on my jersey.
"I might be big but Jesus man, you look like you could be in the NBA." Hutch said dryly as we walked out into the gym, causing me to laugh as he just shook his head.
"How you play is what counts." I reply to which Hutch merely rolled his eyes. We dropped of our bags and ran over to join the others in warm up drills which involved taking a shot, gathering the following player's shot and doing a lay-up at the other end of the court before repeating. 'I wonder how the football's going?' I thought to myself as we practised.
Approximately 1 hour later.
I closed my locker after retrieving my school bag, spinning the dial to lock it before turning around and slumping against it with a loud sigh as I closed my eyes tiredly, waiting for Kate to arrive. Charlie had pushed us hard today, possibly to make up for Wednesday's practice which I had been told was relatively easy. I'd also played in the practice match in the second half which I was happy about, enjoying playing a game after a few months without doing so. I reckoned that I had done well but I hadn't been all that effective. 'I'm glad I took the time to memorise everything from that playbook Charlie gave me.' I thought to myself as I waited, since knowing what plays were likely to come had helped me greatly.
Kate's POV:
Despite how worn out she was Kate kept up her pace as she ran through the empty hallways of the school towards her locker. The football game had run a little long and she was late, knowing that Humphrey would have already finished practice and was probably waiting for her. A minute later she rounded the final corner and saw that he was indeed waiting for her, leaning against his locker with his eyes closed and looking as though he was napping. As she got there and opened her locker however he opened his eyes, turning his head to look at her with a grin.
"Hey." He said, sounding a little tired as she pulled her schoolbag from her locker. "How'd the game go?"
She closed her locker and headed towards the entrance, answering his question as he fell into step beside her. "I don't really get football but we won. I'm told we should've won easily but a bunch of silly mistakes kept the other team in it." Kate replied, shrugging her shoulders a little. She didn't really have any interest in football and was only in the cheerleader squad because it was the best choice out of all the phys ed classes and she liked to dance. Kate couldn't help but smile as they left the school and she saw Humphrey's car in the car park, the beautiful Mustang appearing to shine as the sunlight caused the paint to shift between various light and dark shades of green.
"So how was practice?" Kate asked as they put their bags in the trunk and got in. Humphrey turned the key, causing the engine to roar to life as he answered, pulling out of the parking space as he spoke.
"It was good, tough though." Humphrey said as they made their way through the streets of Jasper, making decent time as the peak hour traffic wasn't as severe on Friday evenings. "I don't know whether to say Coach was in a good or bad mood but she was really cracking the whip." He continued. The chatted about classes and homework for a bit before Kate remembered a question that she'd meant to ask last time she had ridden in this gorgeous car.
"So Humphrey I was thinking, this car must be worth a small fortune right?" She asked him curiously. Humphrey frowned, pursing his lips as little as he thought about it for a second before answering.
"Well yeah I suppose it is." He spoke slowly but continued after a short pause, seeming to sense her unspoken question. "You already know it's a 1970 Ford Mustang. My grandfather insisted on including every possible upgrade when he built it, including a few that weren't offered to the general public, such as the advanced air conditioning and upgraded sound system." As he explained Humphrey gestured around to the various components of the car. "It also has the Mach 1 upgrades, which he tweaked a little to improve on, covering the engine, brakes, suspension and some aero. As far as I know the parts are still all original."
Kate was a little surprised as Humphrey finished explaining. She knew it was a beautiful car but from what he said she realized that it was almost certainly one of a kind, only increasing her estimation of its value which led to her actual question. "So if it's worth so much, how come you're just driving it around like this?" She asked.
Humphrey's POV:
Kate's question caused me to laugh a bit as I recalled when I'd asked my father a very similar question so many years before.
"You know, I asked my dad almost the exact same question once." I said with a smile. "I'll tell you what he told me..."
Flashback, driveway of the Miller residence, eight years prior.
"Dad, how come you drive this car so much? Aren't you worried something will happen to it?" I asked my father as I crawled back under the car, handing him the spanner that I had gone to fetch. He laughed at my question, taking the spanner and tightening the lug before rolling over to face me with a serious expression.
"Humph, do you know why cars exist?" He asked me and I nodded, saying, "To get from A to B."
"That's right Humph, but this," He paused, adding extra emphasis to the word as he gestured to the car above them. "This is a cool car. And do you know why cool cars exist?" I had no idea what he was getting at and shook my head, following him out from under the car as he finished tightening the other lug and together we stood up.
"Well cool cars exist for three reasons." His father held up three fingers as he explained to accentuate his point, lowering them one at a time as he talked.
"The first reason is to be seen in. A car can look good sure, but if no one ever sees you in it then what's the point?" I nodded his understanding, what my father said made sense to me. As much as I enjoyed looking at nice cars, usually with my father, being in the car with him was definitely better.
"The second reason is to be loved. Now that's not as simple as you might think. You can't just buy a car or build a car or wash and admire a car to love it, you need to experience it. And there is only one way to do that..." He trailed off for a moment, looking a question at me.
"Drive it." I replied, smiling and nodding. 'You and granddad are always telling me that cars are only worth having to drive.' I thought to myself as my father nodded with a laugh, patting the top of my head.
"Good boy. You're right as usual of course. The only way to experience a car is spirited driving." He said, looking down at the car with a fond smile as he reminisced on his own experiences with it.
End flashback.
Kate's POV:
Kate was admittedly only half listening to Humphrey's story as they drove. She was too distracted by him, watching the way the spoke, full of energy and with a happy smile on his face the whole time. So far every time he mentioned anything that had happened before last Sunday it felt as though he was holding back some pretty painful emotions but she was glad to see that it wasn't all bad. It was with such thoughts that she'd spent the entire story staring at his face with a smile of her own and it took her a second or two to realise he'd stopped talking.
"So what was the third reason?" Kate asked him since he'd only mentioned the first two. That had answered her original question but she was admittedly curious as to what it could've been as Humphrey chuckled a little.
"You know he never actually told me? I asked him several times but he'd always make some joke or avoid the question by changing the topic. The last answer I got from him was this though." Humphrey said, turning to me with a deadly serious expression after stopping the car in garage of what Kate assumed must've been his house. 'I don't think he'd just park up in some random person's house.' Kate thought to herself with an internal giggle as she focused on Humphrey.
"Son, the third reason that cool cars exist is..." Humphrey began, putting on a deep fatherly tone similar to Kate's own father's manner as he continued staring into her eyes with a serious expression.
"... to pick up chicks." Humphrey finished in the same deadpan manner. Kate stared at him in silence for a moment before bursting into laughter so hard that it made her sides hurt as Humphrey just smiled, turning off the car and getting out. A few seconds later Kate followed suit, having managed to get herself under control as she wiped tears from her eyes, following Humphrey inside the house.
Humphrey's POV:
"Make yourself at home Kate, I shouldn't be long. There's drinks and stuff in the fridge if you want." I said, gesturing towards the kitchen as I made my way across the room and headed upstairs. I knew I wasn't being a great host but I had to be quick since it was already getting on into the evening and Kate would no doubt want time to get ready before dinner as well. 'I'm sure she'll understand.' I thought as I entered my room, closing the door behind me as I dropped my bags on my bed, deciding I could deal with it all later with the weekend upon us. I all but ripped my clothes off and jumped in the shower, not bothering to get the water warm first since I knew Kate was waiting.
As I turned the water off and stepped out I heard some voices downstairs and figured Charlie must've arrived home as I dried off and continued getting ready. Thankfully when it came to what I had to do to get ready it was a relatively short list, my hair wasn't very long so I didn't need to do much except neaten it a little and I had yet to grow any facial hair so I didn't need to shave. After brushing my teeth I was all but finished in the bathroom, applying a small amount of cologne before heading back into my room, pulling on some briefs as I considered what to wear.
"It'll need to be something smart, but not over the top." I muttered to myself as I considered my options which was vastly more than it would've been a week ago. I wasn't overly concerned of going overboard as I thought about Kate's house so I reckoned I'd be fine as long as I stopped short of a full suit. Eventually if came to me and I pulled out the appropriate clothes and put them on, quickly collecting my effects; namely keys, phone and wallet before heading back downstairs.