Sixteen year old John Watson was not looking forward to his new school.
"John, remember to behave." John's father said. "That guy had it coming." John replied. His father let out a sigh, "Look, I am glad you're proud of whom you are, but punching a guy to prove it isn't right." They pulled up in front of the school. "Have a good day, John." His father said as John got out of the car. He walked into the school and looked around. He didn't like moving if it meant changing schools.
The morning went by fast. John barely paid attention to the teachers and he was happy it was lunch time. He sat by himself to eat when he looked up and saw someone enter the lunch room. It was one of the teachers. The two locked eyes before John turned away, getting a strange feeling in his stomach. He finished his food and left the cafeteria, waiting for class to start and feeling nervous. The bell rang and he hurried off to science class. When he walked in he saw the teacher.
"You alright?" The teacher asked. "Yeah, nervous due to it being my first day at a new school." John lied as he took his seat. John pulled his phone out to find a text from his sister Harry.
'I am having a party tonight, you're invited' HW
John hated parties because they usually involved beer. The class started and John tuned out for most of it. He heard the bell ring and started to head out.
"John Watson, I need to talk to you." The teacher called out. "Yes, Mr. Holmes?" John queried. "Were you paying attention at all?" Mr. Holmes asked. John looked at him, "Honestly? No. I just have a lot on my mind at the moment."
"I will let it pass this time, but I do suggest you pay attention more. Understand?" Mr. Holmes asked, John nodded. "Good, now go before you're late for your next class." Mr. Holmes stated while watching him leave.
John got through the rest of the day, when he left the building his dad was already waiting for him.
"So, how did it go?" His father asked. "Good." John answered flatly. Silence followed the rest of the way home.
When they got home, John went straight to his room closing the door with a satisfying click. John looked at a photo of his mother.
*"John, come here." His mom said. "Mom, you ok?" John asked. "No, there's something I want to tell you." she said. "Yes, mom?" John grabbed her hand. "You have a gift, just like I do; one day you will find your soul mate. Never doubt it." She held his hand.*
John heard his phone go off. It was just his sister again. He ignored it and did his homework instead while listening to his music.
Later, John went downstairs for dinner. He didn't see his father which meant one thing. Tonight was going to be bad. He turned on the television and decided to wait it out.
Shortly after, he heard his father moving around.
"John!" His father yelled. John's heart raced and he turned the television off before hurrying upstairs. His father was sitting on the bed. "Yes, father?" John asked shakily. "Get in here, John." His father ordered. John walked in, stepping in front of his father where he got pulled onto his lap. John was shaking. "Oh, come on, you know you want this." His father said, feeling up his sons body.
In the morning, John woke up in his bed and went to take a shower. As he got dressed his father knocked on his door, "Almost ready?"
"Yeah." John answered ."Hurry up!" His father ordered. John went downstairs and saw his father at the dining room table. "I'm ready." John said nervously. "I see… you took longer than yesterday." His father told him. "I couldn't find something." John explained "Let's go." His father got up and went out the door.
He was dropped off at school and was outside for lunch. He still couldn't make friends, he looked up and saw Mr. Holmes. "Why aren't you in the Cafeteria?" Mr. Holmes asked, stopping in front of John. "Already ate, didn't want to stay in there." John told him. Mr. Holmes went on walking, leaving John alone. There was something about the man, almost as if he knew him from somewhere, but that was impossible. The man had to be in his thirties at least and John was only sixteen years old. He went back in, heading towards class. When he got to class he just waited for the bell. When the bell finally rang he went into class and took a seat nervously. Every time he saw Mr. Holmes he got this funny feeling.
At the end of day, John waited for his father outside the school.
"John Watson."
John looked up. "Mr. Holmes? I am just waiting for my dad… He's late."
"I see that. I can give you ride to help out." Mr. Holmes offered. "You sure? no one is going to mind?" John asked. "It's just a ride." Mr. Holmes stated. John nodded, "Thank you"
"No problem. So, do you have anyone else?" Mr. Holmes asked. "No, my sister is a drunk and my mom died six years ago." John answered. "You could just take the bus." The teacher suggested. "My dad won't let me, he doesn't trust anyone on the bus." John explained.
Mr. Holmes looked at John. "You know, if there's anything going on at home there's help here at school." He told John. "I know."
"Where do you want me to drop you off?" Mr. Holmes asked."Just over here, I don't want my dad to see. He will get mad at me." John said as Mr. Holmes pulled over. John stepped out, "Thank you" He smiled then closed the door.
John walked down the street home and when he entered the house his father was drunk. "John, you're home." His father said. John closed the door, "You didn't pick me up"
"Yeah but you got a ride." his father said grabbing him. "I had to get to home." John said shakily. "Did you do anything?" He demanded. "No, father, it was just a ride! I swear!" John cried out.
John took off his backpack. "Get over here…" His father ordered. John walked over. "You think I would approve of you riding home with a strange male?" Mr. Moriarty said. "No." John answered. He was grabbed by his neck and thrown to the floor. "Stay on your knees." Johns father commanded.
John was in his room that night trying to sleep as his body was in pain from the beating his father gave him. The next morning at school, Mr. Holmes was in his classroom and saw John limp by.
"John, are you okay?" Mr. Holmes asked, going into the hallway. John looked at him, "Yeah, just fine. I fell down the stairs at home last night."
"Okay, just be careful." Mr. Holmes said. John went to his locker. He knew someday someone would find out about his father. Towards the end of the day, John was waiting for his father. "John." His father said, stepping up to him. "Dad." John replied. "Hi, you must be John's father." Mr. Holmes said. "Yes. Jim Moriarty." They shook hands. "Sherlock Holmes, can I talk to you for a minute in private?" Sherlock asked. "John, you wait here." Jim said while walking with Sherlock. Jim looked at Sherlock. "Is everything alright with John at home?" Sherlock asked. "Yeah, he's just having a hard time with the move. He got into trouble at his last school so I pulled him out." Jim explained. "If he needs help we have a counselor he can talk to here at the school." Sherlock said. "Thank you, I will talk to him about it, but I need to get him home now." Jim said.
Sherlock watched them leave. He pulled his phone out and made a call. "Lestrade, can you meet me at Angelo's please?" Sherlock asked, "Thank you." He hung up.
Sherlock went there an hour later. "So, what's up?" Lestrade asked. "There's this boy at school," Sherlock started,
"Don't tell me you two are-" Lestrade was cut off,
"No. He came to school today limping. I think his father is possibly abusing him. He's detached and scared." Sherlock said. Lestrade drank his coffee, "Could he be shy or bullied at school?"
"No, he's alone and his father picks him up from school. He isn't allowed to ride the bus." Sherlock explained. "I admit, that does sound odd, do you have a name for the father?" Lestrade asked.
"Jim Moriarty." Sherlock answered. "I will do a background check with Mycroft's help but, please, don't do anything okay?" Lestrade requested. "Thank you, I will tell you this. I gave him a ride home when his father didn't show up yesterday." Sherlock told him. Lestrade looked at him "You like him." Lestrade said. "Yes I do, when we first locked eyes we connected but I won't do anything I promise." Sherlock assured him. "Good I don't want to arrest you." Lestrade stated.