Sherlock felt his hand slowly turning numb as he held the freezing ice against his red swollen cheekbone. He sat quietly outside the headmasters office, awaiting to be called in, again. It was the third time this week he'd sat in the same brown chair, with the old leather over the worn cushion. It wasn't at all comfortable, but Sherlock knew to keep his mouth firmly closed about the matter. Pity he didn't know to do the same in the hallways.
Practically everyday he'd get into some petty argument with a teenager twice the size of him. Physically, not mentally of course. That's where poor Sherlock excelled. What he lacks in physical brutality, he gains in brain power. Today's brawl was different though. Different to yesterday's. Different to last week's. Different to any he'd had before. Today, there was a girl. Not that Sherlock was attracted to any girl, in any way, but she was different. Sherlock deemed her to be peculiar. The funny thing about peculiarity, is that it sparks curiosity. Sherlock didn't like not knowing.
He replayed the scrabble again through his head. He couldn't quite put his finger on that tiny detail that threw his mind into an abbess of confusion. Why? Why? WHY? Sherlock scolded himself. Don't be so stupid. He could hear his brother mocking him.
"You are always so stupid, Sherlock." He'd believed him for many years, that was, until he met other children. It was like conversing with a log. Sherlock slid the ice into his free hand and ice again held it to his face. Though having a superior mind, his arm still tends to hurt.
"You're not invincible, Sherlock. Don't be smart. I'm the smart one." Sherlock rolled his eyes at the thought of Mycroft's insults.
Think. Think WHY CAN'T YOU THINK? Sherlock was baffled. There he was, flying fists at a 12 stone, testosterone filled gorilla, when the strangest girl stood firmly between them both. She stopped him. She stopped the monstrous creature society deemed a teenager. Why? Why would she bother being so kind? Why would she bother taking the next full blow for a skinny kid like him? He'd never even met her. As they say, women are the most perplexing species.
Patience, Sherlock.
He needed answers. So many questions, so little explanation. All he knew was the girl who saved him, sat behind him, through a barrier of bricks and a bad paint-job.
He heard the old handle on the door, screech as it was twisted. There she was. The most mystifying being he'd ever come across.
"Why? Tell me why? You don't know me? You have no logical explanation to do such a thing. Explain. It's killing me. Mentally, not physically." Sherlock leant forward in his chair before her, staring into her shimmering blue eyes.
The girl sat in the chair adjacent to him and grinned wide, showing her blue braces on her teeth.
"Slow down! A hello might be better. I'm Mary. Mary Morstan."
