Hope for the Hopeless

Chapter 6

Humphrey hadn't seen Hope in at least an hour. He knows she's tiny and could probably hide in various places, but that would be weird if she was hiding in a shelf or something. He had relocated to the kitchen where he found Jake leaning against the counter, looking at his phone. Jake looked up at Humphrey, his brow furrowed. "Have you seen Hope?"

"I was just about to ask you the same thing." Humphrey grabbed a can of Coke out of the fridge. "Do you think she went home?"

"It would be weird for her to go home without telling me. She'd never leave without telling me. I wish she'd answer my texts."

Jake: Hope, where r u?

Jake: Hope, Humphrey said you went to the bathroom and never came back. Are you ded?

Jake: Hope. I'm starting to feel like one of those clingy girls and you know I hate being the clingy girl in this relationship!

Jake checked his phone again to see if Hope had responded even though he knew that she hadn't. Humphrey saddled up beside him, looking at his phone. "Why would she be dead and can you not spell?"

"What?! Oh, that's just a joke that we have."

"About being dead?"

"Sure... Hey! Did you go check on her by any chance?"

"No? Should I have?"

"You're the worst fucking doctor, Humphrey, I swear!"

"Hey now! I'm off duty. I'm just a commoner like the rest of you right now." Cracking the can of Coke open, he wiggled his eyebrows at Jake. "Besides, it's not like my patients complain about my bedside manner."

"If I stopped breathing and my airway was obstructed," Jake reached over and grabbed a pen off the counter, "would you be able to save my life using this?"

"Yes." Humphrey rolled his eyes like the answer was obvious.

"Well then, you're not a 'commoner' like the rest of us. And just for the sake of argument, I don't even know how to do the Heimlich." Jake slammed the pen down. "Also, calling people commoners is kind of rude."

"That's probably for the best since most people don't even call it the Heimlich anymore and it can also be very dangerous in the wrong hands." Humphrey eyed Jake up and down. "Also, I call people as I see them."

Jake glared at him, unblinking. Humphrey crossed his arms and smiled.

"Can we go look for Hope now please?!" Jake pleaded. Humphrey nodded his head, Jake followed him down the hall. Humphrey was about to turn the handle when the door to his room flew open. Hale and Hope came strolling out like Hope hadn't even been missing for over an hour. They both froze right before running straight into Jake and Humphrey.

Jake glared at Hale. "Where have you two been?"

Hope's face flushed. "Up on the roof."

Humphrey glowered at Hale, then turned his attention to Hope. "I thought you had to use the bathroom?"

"I did... But then I saw the fire escape and I needed a breather." She looked down at the floor.

He turned back to Hale. "And you knew exactly where to find her?"

Hale laughed nervously. "I needed some fresh air too and I just found her up there."

They all stood there looking at each other, nobody willing to make the first move. Jake sighed. Humphrey shook his head, pushing between Hale and Hope. "I'm tired. It was nice meeting you, Hope." He shut his bedroom door behind him. They heard the lock click.