Chapter 39: Two shades brighter.
Humphrey's POV:
Tuesday afternoon, lunch time.
The first thing that reached me in my slumber was the noise, a mix of laughter, clattering utensils and scraping chairs all set against the backdrop of a general hubbub of chatter that was present in any public eating area. I let out a huge yawn as I raised my head, stretching my arms as I looked around to see all of our table's usual occupants giving me amused smiles.
"Mornin'" I said tiredly after a moment, resisting the urge to put my head back down and sleep more.
"It's afternoon sleepy." Kate said from her seat next to me, getting a few chuckles around the table as I looked at her in surprise for a second before it occurred to me that it was lunchbreak, which meant it was indeed afternoon.
"You must've been tired 'cause you were seriously out of it, we've been trying to wake you for the last five minutes." Abby chipped in with a grin and I nodded, running a hand through my hair as I gave a wry smile.
"I haven't slept since... 5am yesterday morning?" I replied tiredly as I felt another yawn coming on.
"So where have you been? Abby asked me, speaking for the rest of the table as the others nodded, their expressions asking the same thing. I hesitated for a moment before answering, swallowing nervously as the memory of the last 24 hours struggled to reach the forefront of my mind. 'What can I say?' I thought to myself, desperately casting about for the right words. I know we'd been asked to keep quiet about it but that would've been even more suspicious than the truth and though I was too tired to tell why exactly I knew somehow that my answer was important.
"We got a sudden job at work and I was the only one available to help my boss with it, we had to road trip down to Vancouver and back again." I said, satisfied that my answer was truthful at least, if a little vague as the others made noises of understanding. Most of the group seemed satisfied and resumed chatting but I could feel a few eyes stayed on me. For the remaining few minutes of lunch break however the conversation turned back to school and I caught up on what I'd missed before the bell ushered us from the cafeteria for our various afternoon classes.
Kate and I headed out of the cafeteria and headed towards our Mathematics classroom, mostly in silence. I was still completely worn out so it wasn't until we were almost at the classroom that I noticed how quiet Kate was being and wondered why.
"Wait." I said, grabbing her arm just outside the classroom to stop her and turning her to face me as I continued, "Is everything okay?"
Kate said nothing, just nodding a bit and I raised an eyebrow at her, totally unconvinced. She held my gaze for a moment before sighing, her expression changing to a look of annoyance which surprised me as I let go of her arm.
"It's nothing really but... why didn't you tell me or anyone where you were?" She asked in an accusatory tone as she jabbed a finger at me. "Last I heard you were in the hospital and then you don't show up at school... I was worried." She said, her voice quieter as she added the last bit.
I looked at her in surprise, at a loss for words as I took in what she'd said. It had been a long time since I'd had someone worry about me and where I was and I had to admit that I was touched by her concern, a surge of gratitude swelling inside me.
"I'm sorry Kate, I only found out on Monday morning and I barely had a moment to spare since then. Forgive me?" I replied after a moment, resisting the urge to hug her there and then since we were in the middle of a crowded corridor.
"It's okay. Just promise you'll tell me next time." She said as we walked into the classroom and took our seats, giving me a fierce look.
"It's a promise." I said with a grin, adding after a slight pause, "And Kate...? Thanks. It's been a while since anyone's worried about me like that."
Kate smiled back at me as we got our things out and I could've sworn the entire room got two shades brighter.
Kate's POV:
Towards the end of class Kate noticed that Humphrey was no longer doing any work as he leaned back in his chair. She wanted to take a peek and see where he was up to but his books were closed so she couldn't tell so she dismissed the thought and returned to her own work. She'd just finished the assigned work and decided to do some extra. They spent the remaining time in class chatting as Kate worked through the next chapter and Humphrey occasionally helped her and some of the others with various questions. Soon enough the bell rang, signalling once more the end of the day and Kate packed up her things along with the others, filing out of class before she and Humphrey separated from the others to head to their lockers.
Just as they arrived at their lockers Kate felt her phone vibrate, pulling it out to see with some surprise that it was her father calling her. She felt a sinking sensation in her stomach as she excused herself for a moment and stepped away to answer the phone apprehensively. Her father almost never contacted her by phone so the chances of this being something good were slim to none.
"Hey Dad, what's up?" Kate said, keeping her tone positive in case she was in trouble in the hopes that would take any edge of her father's mood.
"Hey Kat. How was school?"
Kate stood in shocked silence for a moment, wondering if this was some kind of trap. Her parents almost always called her Katelyn or even Katelyn Spencer when she was in trouble and this had thrown her completely off balance.
"Good thanks dad. Had an essay but I think I did okay." She said slowly, not really understanding what was going on but figuring it was better not to ask and just go with the flow.
"That's great to hear Kat. Why don't you invite Humphrey over for dinner and we'll celebrate?"
If Kate had been confused before then at this point she was at a complete loss for words. 'What the hell is going on?' She thought to herself, almost at the point of asking where her father was and what this imposter had done with him. Her father, not only allowing but suggesting that she invite a boy over for dinner? The only reasonable conclusions at this point were that she'd died, was asleep or had been spirited away to another dimension.
"I, uhhh... sure. Let me ask him." She said hesitantly, placing the phone against her shoulder as she walked back over to Humphrey who was waiting for her by the lockers.
Humphrey's POV:
I tilted my head as Kate walked over, seeing that she was still on the phone and wondering what she wanted.
"Hey Humphrey, do you want to come over for dinner?" She asked me, looking a little confused despite her smile. I didn't answer for a moment, falling into thought. Normally I'd jump at the opportunity to spend more time with Kate but I hadn't been home for a while plus I'd been planning on cooking something for Charlie to repay her. 'Still, this isn't a chance I want to pass up.' I thought to myself as I smiled at Kate and nodded in affirmation.
"Of course, I'd love to." I said, whilst making a mental note to cook Charlie something nice tomorrow morning, although what she'd probably appreciate more is me practicing harder, which I silently swore to do as well. Kate grinned and nodded as well before stepping away to finish up her phone call, which I overheard was with her father, making me wonder if it was his idea to invite me.
25 minutes later.
I brought the car to a stop, the now familiar sight of the front gate to Kate's house, waiting as the gate slowly slid open to receive us. Once it had opened sufficiently I moved out once more, the engine purring as the car crunched over the gravel down the driveway towards the house. I once more marvelled at the view before us as the house appeared from behind the shroud of the trees that lined the driveway. I'd seen some very beautiful buildings in my travels but never a house and surrounds that were done as tastefully as this and I doubted I'd even really get used to seeing Kate's house.
Kate's POV:
Kate felt like her emotions were going to war with each other as Humphrey parked his car out the front of her house, the beautiful car gleaming in the sunlight that was just beginning to dip below the western mountains. On one hand she was ecstatic, since Humphrey was there and with dinner not for a few hours there was a good chance they'd get to spend some time alone. The other side of her warring emotions took the form of anxiety, since she still couldn't really figure out why her father of all people had invited Humphrey over for dinner. 'I hope they aren't planning to give him the third degree...' Kate thought to herself as Silas opened the door for them and they headed inside.
After an exchange of greetings Silas informed them that her parents had been called out briefly but would be home in time for dinner at around 6:30. Kate sensed an opportunity here and turned to Humphrey as Silas left them alone to go and continue preparing dinner.
"So, just you and me for a while huh?" Humphrey said to her with a grin that made Kate's thoughts run in a direction that she was both completely unready for and totally on board with at the same time.
"Looks that way." She replied, giving him a small grin as they stood for a moment and she wondered what exactly he was thinking. She swore it was totally unfair, she felt as though he could read her thoughts like a book whilst with him it was next to impossible, his mind sealed off from her behind those icy blue eyes.
"Come on, I want to show you something." She said suddenly, taking a hold of his hand as an idea struck her and she led him through the house and out the backdoor to the grounds, taking a small but neatly paved path through the vegetable patches until they arrived at a wooden fence where Kate let out a piercing whistle. Humphrey gave her a quizzical look but she just smiled at him, her expression saying 'You'll see.' as they waited for a minute or so before the sound of hooves reached their ears. It was followed moments later by the sight of a golden-brown mare rounding the nearby corpse of trees and cantering over.
"This is Topaz." Kate explained to Humphrey as she climbed onto the lowest rung of the fence to lean over and give her mare a quick hug, stroking her mane as the horse snickered and nuzzled her, making Kate laugh a little. She looked back to see that Humphrey hadn't moved from his position a meter or two away from her, looking at her with a slightly sad smile that made hers fade a little.
"D-do you... not like horses?" She asked him hesitantly, a little worried how he'd respond since she'd raised Topaz almost from birth and loved her completely, scarcely able to imagine someone not being able to like such beautiful creatures.