Humphrey's POV
It's been quite a while since I went to a car meet, and even longer since I was able to bring Nikki. We don't have to worry about an early night either cause neither of us have school shit to be doing. She's been chatting away about her dream cars ever since we started the drive to the mall, and I personally, am living for it. I promised to teach her everything I knew about mechanics with Hutch whenever she got her own car, and with her driving lessons booked to happen in the next week or two, it's a promise I will uphold.
With Hutch leading the way, we followed close behind. We'd already seen quite a few good-looking rides heading this way. A few BMW's, Merc's and Audi's, as always, but we got passed by a bright yellow Porsche Carrera GT, so hopefully we'll have some real lookers in. Maybe I could take some photos for Kate. Then again, I don't know if she's much of a car person... When I was on Tinder, - I know, yuck, - I saw so many profiles saying how they hated car guys... Weirdos.
As Hutch and I neared the Mall, and slowed ourselves as a marshal in a high-vis jacket waved us down, the sound of bassy music already filled the air. Probably Reeva, an old friend of mine and the guys back in High School. It sucks that I don't see Salty and the others as much, but at least Reeva isn't far.
"Good evening boys. Never miss a beat, do ya?" The marshal spoke up as Hutch and I poked our heads out of the windows.
"Tyrel, I didn't recognise you without the hair," Hutch responded first with a chuckle.
"Yeah, figured it was time to change shit up. The hazel-furred wolf said with a shrug.
"Looks good bro. See you in there?" I asked as the marshal at the edge of the parking lot waved us to move up.
"Fingers crossed ladies." He smirked, tapping the roof of my car as I pulled away, and followed Hutch into the already rather busy-looking lot.
Good luck to us finding a space in the main crowd now. This definitely isn't the busiest I've ever seen it, but it's up there, for sure. Hundreds of wolves from different backgrounds and cars from different countries were all lined up half a space apart from each other.
I continued following Hutch, firing occasional glances at some of the surrounding machines as we went. There were a few wagons this time around, and some of your common customised vehicles, but there were even some completely riced-out tuner cars. Old civics with no bonnets, insane stances and more decals than a kids sticker book, and things of that nature.
I'm starting to wish I'd found a new wing for my baby sooner. I want something a little bigger than normal. I want it to look custom, but not too custom. I don't want to overdo it and end up regretting it. I might have a fair amount of money, but it's not to throw away on shit I don't want.
Hutch's left indicator took me from my thoughts, and I noticed the two spots he was obviously aiming for, swiftly reversing the car back into the spot, before shutting off the engine and pulling the keys from the ignition.
"Ready?" I asked, firing a glance at Nikki as I made sure I had my wallet and phone.
"Mmhm, let's go!" She grinned, opening her door and hopping out of the car, walking around to Hutch. I followed, getting up out of the car, and locking it. Oh yeah, this is my shit.
"Oh, look!" Nikki exclaimed suddenly, grabbing at my arm and pointing across the lot. There was a really, really nice Ford Maverick Grabber parked up between two much more modern muscle cars, its engine being revved by the driver hidden inside.
"Yo, what the fuck? I've never seen a Grabber in person." Hutch chuckled, walking past us and towards the car. There was a small crowd around it, but attendants were more interested in the sportier cars than an old 1970s V8, but we're all a little soft for old muscle.
As we approached, the revving of the engine stopped, and the door opened as the driver got out, high-fiving, who I would assume to be a friend of his.
"There's no shot..." He spoke up, stepping around the car, blocking out the headlights that were obscuring his face.
"The Jacksons..."
My stomach dropped as the red-brown furred wolf smiled between Nikki and me, also firing a glance at Hutch.
"Garth..." Nikki breathed quietly, tightening her grip on my hand.
"I'll be damned... What the hell brings you to my corner of the lot?" He asked with a smirk.
This fucking guy... I haven't seen him since High School, and I prayed to god it'd stay that way. No one made mine and Nikki's lives harder than he did.
"Didn't know you had a ride like this, Tanner." Hutch cut in, thankfully saving me from having to reply. That's one thing I appreciate the most about Hutch, is his ability to read me like a book.
"Yeah, this's my baby, right here." Garth nodded, looking over his shoulder with a smile. "Good to see things ain't changed." He commented, turning back to us with a raised eyebrow, eyeing up mine and Nikki's hands.
I could feel nothing but this burning hate in my stomach. I can't ever forgive him for how he treated us, never. He looked between us with a face of disgust, before clapping his hands together and sighing.
"You two brought any fun with ya?" He asked, turning back to Hutch. At least he's able to play it cool with Garth. I know how easy it'd be to just move on and try and act as normal with him, but he put Nikki through too much, and anyone who's had a bully through their entire Highschool Life knows how hard it is to forgive jackasses like that.
"Yes sir, come to give some people some eye candy while we dine on theirs, y'know," Hutch replied coolly.
"Ha! I see... Well, you better get out of here, go check out some other rides." He smiled at Hutch when he said that, but his eyes were fixed on me, the same look of disdain in them as there was before.
"Let's go," I muttered to Hutch, who nodded as we turned and started the other direction.
"W-What is he doing here?" Nikki whispered urgently.
"I guess he never left..." I responded with a shrug. Of course, my best friends would leave and go elsewhere, but that tatty-sagging rag stayed.
"Don't let him ruin it. You ran into him in a car meet, big deal. I doubt you'll see him again." Hutch fired us both a reassuring smile, patting Nikki's shoulder.
"Come on, I saw a pretty sweet Supra over there, and you're out of your mind if you think I'm skipping out on that." He nodded for us to follow him as he started in the opposite direction of Garth, toward a much larger crowd.
He's right, it's one time that we ran into him, and yeah, he may have been firing us dirty looks, but that could have gone much worse. I shouldn't worry myself so much.
Kate's POV
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I share two days of my school week with Humphrey, which I guess isn't as bad as I expected. Thankfully Nikki didn't ask too many questions or press the conversation too much, but she was cooking with him so, fate let me get off lucky today.
I dreamt about him last night too, which has shaken me a bit more. What the hell is wrong with me? I can't get his idiot face out of my head. It wasn't even that weird of a dream, pretty much just a replay of what happened yesterday but... Whatever, I just need to get some clothes on, and go get food; take my mind of him.
Lazily I shuffled my legs around, pushing my duvet off my body before sliding myself up and out of bed. I pulled off my panties, and after grabbing my phone off charge, headed over to my chest of draws to grab a fresh pair and an oversize T-shirt, putting the other pair in my wash basket as I went.
At least it's Friday, so I can go vent all my frustrations at the gym with Nikki and Lily. I fired a glance back at my alarm clock, and after squinting a little, could finally make out the digits '10:00 AM'. We usually head to the gym around twelve, so at least I've still got time to get myself awake and prepared properly.
With a yawn, I started down the stairs, massaging my face whilst trying to not look like I'd been left in a tumble dryer for three hours. It smelled faintly of eggs and bacon, which meant Dad had probably made his signature breakfast for us again. He always makes it super early, because he doesn't know the meaning of a lie-in, so on the weekends I rarely get to have it fresh.
"That doesn't look like gym gear." He commented as I strolled through the hanging beads and into the kitchen.
Quickly I brought my hand up to my face, blocking the sunlight from my eyes. It's really sunny this morning, but it snowed again last night, so outside is blindingly bright, and because the kitchen has really big windows, I can't see a hand in front of me in here either. Through a gap in my fingers, I looked over at dad, smirking at me from the dining table.
"I've got two hours yet, leave me aloooone..." I complained, unable to hold back a grin as he let out a hearty chuckle. With my eyes a little more accustomed to the brightness, I lowered my hand and collected the only plate of food left on the countertop.
"You've only just woke up?" Lily's voice came from the door. I looked over my shoulder at her, dressed in her grey-blue gym leggings and a sports bra.
"Don't even," I responded quickly, holding my hand up over my shoulder as I closed the microwave door and set it to a minute.
"Why're you already in your gym stuff? Are you a sadist or something? "I asked, frowning at her from across the kitchen.
"I'm dressed aren't I?" She commented with a cheeky smirk. The actual cheek on this girl!
"If you carry on like that, you'll be wearing my breakfast as well." I fired back, pointing a finger at her. A small snicker escaped Dad as he watched our exchange, and he quickly hid back in his newspaper.
"I want to be ready when Humphrey calls," Lily said, turning her gaze back to her phone as she left. I nodded slowly, turning back to the microwave before what she'd said, finally set in.
"What, what about Humphrey?" I called after her quickly.
"He's taking us to the gym today. He said he might as well since he's got some car part to pick up or something." Lily called back.
I did my best not to show it, but inside I could feel my stomach falling a little. Of course, he'd be taking us today, why wouldn't he? What, after that whole exchange with him yesterday?
"You've met Humphrey before, haven't you?" Dad asked, looking up at me curiously from over his newspaper. I hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." He commented before the ding of the microwave startled me from my thoughts.
"Hm..." I hummed neutrally, just wanting the conversation to end. The situation with Humphrey is something I want to handle without any outside interference, excluding Lily and Nikki, maybe...
Pulling my breakfast out of the microwave, I retrieved a knife and fork from the drawer just below and took a seat opposite dad.
"Wait, Humphrey can drive?" I called back at Lily as what she'd said finally set in.
"Yeah, haven't you seen his car?" She responded before fox whistling. I rolled my eyes and sighed, she's such a dolt.
"Did mum already leave for work? I thought she had the rest of the week off?" I spoke up, trying to change the topic of conversation so Humphrey wasn't brought up again.
"So did we. She got called to fill in for a sick colleague." Dad responded, taking a sip of his tea without looking up from his paper.
I would hate that, not that it's any fault of whoever it was to get sick. It would annoy me more that I would have to give up time off when I should be relaxing from work, to do more work. Then again, when I used to work at the pub in the centre of town, I only worked when their other servers couldn't so...
I wonder if Humphrey has a job...
"Kate, your food's going to get cold," Dad spoke up, tapping the desk with his hand and nodding at my plate, which had been sat dormant whilst I daydreamed.
"S-Sorry..." I shook myself, picking up my knife and fork, and starting on my food. I need to get a grip, what's going on with me?
After a few minutes, my plate was clear. I got up from the table and took it over to the sink, dropping it into the already-filled and bubbly tub of water to clean it up.
"Don't worry about that, I'll do it." Dad shook his head with a smile.
"Oh, okay... Thanks, Dad." I smiled, quickly drying my hands in the dishcloth hanging on the cupboard door, and leaving the kitchen, jogging up the stairs to go get ready. The gym will definitely help me destress, it always does. I just need a way to vent out my frustrations about Humphrey on anything but him, because it'll just make things awkward.
As soon as I got into my room I pulled off my shirt, dumped it on my bed, and pulled open my bottom drawer, grabbing out my black set of gym wear from inside. Once I was changed, I folded up my shirt and tucked it under my pillow, before grabbing my phone again and starting back downstairs.
"He's on his way now!" Lily called as I reached the bottom of the stairs. I didn't bother replying because what's the point, it's impossible not to hear her when she's yelling. I grabbed our gym lanyards from the key hook next to the front door as I strolled into the living room. Lily was laying across the sofa beside the window, soaking up the morning rays whilst staring at her phone screen.
"Legs," I stated, before sitting on the only free space left on the sofa, squishing Lily's feet.
"Jeez, give me a sec!" She complained, pulling them out from under me with a frown. She's even got the frown of a baby with that little face of hers, I can never take her seriously.
Then, a honking from outside startled us both, and Lily quickly got up from the sofa, rushing to the front door. I followed slowly behind her, peering out of the front door to see a beautiful white car parked at the entrance to our driveway, purring calmly in the chilly morning breeze. Of course he'd have a great car...
"Bye Dad, see you later!" Lily called into the kitchen, before hurrying over to the car and climbing into the back seat.
"love you, Dad," I added.
"I love you girls too, stay safe!" He replied, poking his head through the hanging beads with a smile. I fired him a grin back, before starting out towards Humphrey's car, closing the front door behind me.
I could make out Humphrey and Nikki sitting in the front, so at least I won't be stuck next to him on the way there. Heading around to the rear driver-side door, I pulled it open and climbed inside. It smelled fresh inside- of some kind of fruity spray, and the floor, seats and everything else was completely spotless.
"Strap in ladies, we're rockin' and rollin'." He smiled over the driver's seat, first at Lily, then at me.
"You coming with us?" I asked, leaning over and looking him over. He was dressed in black shorts and a black T-shirt with a small white Nike logo on the breast pocket.
"Nah, I just got in from a jog, I've got work I have to do when I get home." He responded with a smile. "Why, you want me to come?" He added with a smirk.
"Shut up." I snapped, before looking out of the window.
"Kate!" Lily exclaimed, slapping my arm with a mortified expression. Okay... Maybe that wasn't the best thing for me today...
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to sound so... Aggressive..." I responded, half genuinely, half carelessly, I hate how cornered I feel whenever there are other people around with Humphrey and me. No one seems to see my point of view.
"It doesn't matter, let's rotate," Humphrey stated, waving his hand at us all, turning back around, pulling out onto the road and starting towards the Leisure Centre. I just want to get there and for him to leave, Having him around is too stressful. I'll give him a chance next time it's just him and me, but with other people around it's too much.
The rest of the drive was silent, with almost no words exchanged between the four of us, not that I had anything to say to any of them. Humphrey had been drumming the most annoying tune out on the steering wheel to whatever song was playing in his head, and I just want to get the fuck out of this car.
"Here you go." Humphrey smiled slowing the car to a stop on the road just outside the car park of the leisure centre.
"You're not gonna drive us in?" I asked with a frown, looking over at him from the window.
"You can't walk that after I drove you across town to get here?" He frowned over his shoulder with a dumbfounded expression.
"Thanks, bro." Nikki smiled, leaning over and pecking his cheek before opening her door and jumping out of the car, quickly followed by Lily. I sat for a moment, a small flare of frustration burning away in my stomach, but I quickly shook it from my mind and followed the younger girls out of the car without another word, shutting the door behind me before Humphrey slowly pulled away and drove back towards his house.
"You could've said thank you," Lily muttered to me with a look of annoyance.
"Yeah yeah, I could have," I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes at her and speeding up to walk behind Nikki.
I've been thinking about it a little bit recently, and I think spending time with Humphrey without anyone else would be nice, but I'm just too nervous. Any time I've been around him there's been other people, and the one time it was just us I was too defensive, but I've been through enough shit, and I am not about to put myself through it again.
Maybe we will have another chance to hang out one on one, but until then I'm not letting anyone else get involved with him and me, not that there is anything to get involved with. I just want to get to know him myself, I don't understand why that's such a difficult thing for people to understand. Maybe I'll try messaging him later and ask if he wants to hang out sometime.
No, I couldn't do that, what if he thinks I'm crazy because I go from acting as though I hate him, to asking him if he wants to hang out? What's wrong with me? I've spent o long keeping everyone distant, but now I've come across someone who I could actually trust, and I just can't bring myself to let down my defences.
I know I can't treat everyone the same, but almost everyone I was friends with fucked me over somehow, how am I supposed to trust anyone after that? Maybe I'd be able to talk to him about that eventually? I don't know... I want to be friends with him, I think, but I don't want things to go too fast. I'll admit, I'm just scared and that's why I'm acting like this, but that should be obvious. It's not that I'm scared of him, but I'm just more scared of what could happen if we end up as friends, and something goes wrong, so I end up a sad crying mess like I did before.
It's just too risky right now... I can't take the anxiety. I just want people to understand, but even that feels like I'm asking for too much. I just want something to work for once, that's all I've ever wanted.