Sherlock hated school.
Kids were mean to him, they made you shower after gym class. But worst of all was the lack of friends. Fortunately, his cousin Roger would be making his way to join him at school this year. He went to the best private school in the country Alganac Secondary School. It was a Catholic school, and Mummy's idea to send him here. Mycroft had gone here too, instead of Harrow.
"Sherlock!" He turned and found Roger jumping from the car, and running after his cousin. People stared, and many laughed. "Hey, cousin!" Roger clapped Sherlock on the shoulder. It was the first day, and three people had already pushed Sherlock to the side. When he didn't fight back, but kept silently walking, Sherlock was laughed at, and called a freak. He was pretty sure nobody knew his real name, because his name was Freak to them. Sherlock hated them. "How've you been?"
"All right." Sherlock said. They walked, while Roger chatted, towards homeroom. Sherlock and Roger had homeroom together. In fact, they had all of their classes together. Sherlock suspected his father had a part in it, but he didn't say so. They sat down, and the bell rang. The teacher did roll call.
Because his last name started with an H, it wasn't long before he was called.
"Holmes, Sherlock." Like the others, Sherlock raised his hand. "Welcome back Sherlock. Holmes, Roger." A hushed whisper ran around the room. Roger raised his hand. "Welcome. You must be knew." The homeroom teacher was friendly. She was Sherlock (and now Roger's) honors English teacher next hour.
"Yes, ma'm." Roger said. Sherlock was silent.
"Are you boys related?"
"Our dad's are brothers." Sherlock knew that Roger would now be with him in the target for bullying.
"What does your father do, sweetheart?"
"He's a football player." Roger said. He was. Sherlock had been to quite a few of his games. He was rather good.
"Thaddeus Holmes?"
"That's him." A hushed whisper ran around the room.
"Freak, you're related to him?" Malcolm Flynn, the class bully, asked. Sherlock nodded once. "You?" Roger looked at Sherlock in concern. Sherlock turned to Roger, rolled his eyes, and turned silently to his notebook. He was writing his newest discovery on observation. He called it the science of deduction. Sherlock had picked up the skill last school year, when he decided that he wanted to silently figure out who his bullies were.
"All right, settle down." Sherlock continued his work, until the bell rang. Roger and Sherlock stayed behind, because they had English class next. They moved up to the front of the room, where Sherlock always sat to stay out of the line of bullies.
"Did you boys finish your reading lists?" Sherlock nodded, and handed in his reports. Roger pulled his out of his backpack, double checking to make sure none of them were missing.
"All here." Roger said. Mrs. Stacey, the teacher, looked through them. "Well, Sherlock, I must say, you have your brother's talents." Sherlock looked pleased with himself. Two girls came in, looked at Roger and Sherlock, and giggled. They sat behind them, and were talking about their summers, handing in their reports, and sitting down. "Tell me, where is he attending?"
"Oxford, my father's Alma mater." Sherlock said, his voice deeper than most fifteen year old voices were, and polite as all get up.
"Oh, wonderful." Sherlock could feel stares, and noticed the silence. He smirked. Sherlock kept to himself, and his lack of friends made him silent for the school day. If he had to get passed someone, he simply went around them another way. Class began.
By the end of the day, Roger was concerned that Sherlock hadn't spoken to almost anyone. Sherlock and John were in their last class, when the two girls from English...no...every class Roger realized, approached. Roger looked up, and winked.
"Hello, ladies." They giggled.
"We heard you're knew. Roger is it?" Sherlock looked up at her.
"Yes, and can I ask your name?"
"Anna Belle. I go by Anna though." Sherlock glanced at Roger, then smirked. He shook his head, and went back to his notebook.
"Sherlock?" A female voice said softly. Sherlock's eyes went huge, and he looked up into the eyes of...
The absolute most beautiful girl he'd ever seen (sorry Mummy). But Sherlock had never been called by his first name sense he'd hit high school. Sherlock swallowed. She's really pretty. Normally pretty girls don't affect me. Why do I have the sudden urge to kiss this girl right now.
"You helped me last year with that chemistry exam." Oh, right. She was studying, and he silently handed her a copy of his notes. He wrote down everything in his own way of working it out. She passed the test. "And I never got to thank you." He realized with a jolt that he was talking to Kirsty Jonas. The Kirsty Jonas, captain of the girls football and cheer leading teams. She was the most popular girl in school, and she was talking to him. The Freak. The Snob. The Nerd.
"It's no trouble at all." Sherlock said. "I find my way the best way of figuring Chemistry out."
"Well, it saved my grade." She said. He smiled when she did. She's got the most gorgeous smile on this planet. "How are you?"
"I've been...good." Sherlock said, glancing at Roger, who was chatting up Anna. "And you?"
"Terrific." She said, smiling. "Listen, I have honors physics with you too...you wouldn't mind helping me on that when we get into the harder stuff, would you?"
"Not at all. My brother's physics methods are a lot easier to understand." Sherlock said. The bell rang, and the four left the classroom.
"My mum owns a cafe, it's not far from here." Anna said. "How about you guys meet us there tomorrow after school?"
"That's a good idea." Roger said. "You game, Sherlock?"
"Um...I'd have to talk to Mrs. Hudson." Mrs. Hudson was his nanny in his younger days. Now, she was there more or less to greet Sherlock when he came home, make dinner for the family, and keep an eye on the house when they were gone all day.
"Who's that?"
"My house keeper. She takes care of...everything." Sherlock said. "She used to be my nanny."
"Aww, that's sweet. Well, why don't we walk there from here?" They boys agreed, and went home for the day. Sherlock noticed that, when he was with Roger, he was left alone. He liked it better that way.
"Mum's here, I've got to go. I'll call you tonight." Roger said, before dashing off to clamber into his mum's car. Sherlock's driver pulled in next, and Sherlock climbed into the back seat.
"Good afternoon, Sherlock." Joel said. "How was your first day back?"
"All right." Sherlock didn't continue. They rode in silence for the forty-five minute drive. Sherlock climbed out of the car, and went inside, to find Mrs. Hudson waiting in the kitchen with a snack. Today, Sherlock noticed, it was Oreo's, peanut butter (Sherlock's favorite way to eat them) and milk. Sherlock slid onto a stool at the island, and dipped an Oreo into his peanut butter. Mrs. Hudson smiled at him.
"How are you dear?" Sherlock swallowed, and shrugged. "You don't look as sad as you normally do after school, Sherlock. Did you finally make a friend? Or was it Roger?"
"Roger keeps the bullies away." He said simply. "They leave me alone, because I'm not all by myself." Sherlock was quiet for a moment. "Do you think you could send Joel later tomorrow? And at a different location?"
"Of course. Can I ask why?" He could say no. She would never press the matter if he did.
"We met two girls today, and they were really nice to us. Anna Bell Thompson's mother owns a cafe, and she invited us there. Roger is going to call me, and I can get the address from him."
"That's wonderful dear, you've got friends." Sherlock didn't look as hopeful. "Cheer up, love. It's a good thing."
"Mrs. Hudson, I'm the least popular guy in school." Sherlock said, pushing away his empty plate. "Why would the two most popular girls be interested in me and my cousin the new kid?" Mrs. Hudson didn't have an answer for that. Sherlock went upstairs, and waited for his parents to come home. He was there for half an hour before Roger called his personal line.
"Roger."
"Sherlock, I've got the address to the cafe so that we can get picked up."
"That's brilliant." Sherlock said. He wrote it down, and, the name. "Speedy's Cafe you said?"
"Yeah, it's great, apparently. Her uncle and mum co-own it." Sherlock sat down at his desk, and switched the phone from his left ear to his right. They talked a bit longer, before hanging up.
The next day after school, ignoring the mountain of homework in their backpacks, the four made their way to the cafe. It was next to a row of flats. Sherlock looked at the one with 221B written on the door.
"Look's abandoned." Sherlock said.
"It's been vacant for a while. Owner died, nobody ever bought it." Sherlock nodded, and walked into the cafe. They sat down at a table, where they were greated by a smiling woman and menus.
"Well, looks like you brought friends."
"Mum you know Kirsty. This is Sherlock, and Roger Holmes."
"You boy's brothers?"
"Cousins." Roger said. "We get that a lot, though."
"It doesn't help that our father's are twins." Sherlock said. Malcolm walked in with his friends. Sherlock internally groaned.
"I'll be back in a moment." Mrs. Thompson bustled out.
"Hey Jonas, hey Thompson." He greeted the girls.
"Malcolm, what do you want?"
"Just came to get a drink." His eyes rested on Sherlock, who was gripping the laminated menu, and boring his eyes into it to avoid looking at Malcolm. "Well, looks like the Freak really does have friends. Why him, Jonas?"
"He's a freak." Kirsty said. Sherlock felt a wave of gratitude towards her. "Now leave."
"He's not a freak. That's a good joke." Sherlock was willing to ignore it, always had. Roger stood up.
"You calling my cousin a freak, Flynn?" Roger asked. Malcolm looked up at Roger in surprise. Roger was already 6'2" and was bulky from many years of playing football and rugby.
"And if I am?"
"I'll call the cops if you don't leave." Anna stood up too. "Now go."
"Make me."
"Fine then." Kirsty said. Malcolm pushed her down, causing her to fall. She cried out in pain, and they all heard the sickening snap. Sherlock looked at him in fury.
"The Freak does have emotions!" Malcolm said. He shoved Sherlock, but his years and years of self defense lessons prevented him from falling. He stumbled a bit, knocking over the chair, but other wise balanced. He shoved Malcolm, a daring move. They were surrounded by his cronies, but Sherlock didn't care.
"Call the cops." Sherlock said to Anna. She ran.
"The Freak talks!" Malcolm said in shock. His deep, baritone voice surprised the boys.
"Yeah, and I suggest you back off." Sherlock said. "My mother's a lawyer."
"Aww, how cute." One boy said. "He's going to hide behind his Mummy." Everyone laughed. Nobody moved. "You sure she isn't from another planet?" Sherlock froze. Roger gulped. Nobody talked smack about Sherlock's mother. Nobody.
"You take that back you little bastard." Sherlock said menacingly.
"Make me." Sherlock pushed Malcolm back again, and looked at him as if to say "come at me, bro." Malcolm, no longer laughing, pushed Sherlock twice as hard. He stumbled backwords. He was pushed again, out the door, into the street. Sherlock stumbled backwords, and into the middle of the road. Roger and Malcolm's cronies ran after them. Malcolm shoved Sherlock into one, who shoved him into the middle. Malcolm threw the first punch, and collided with Sherlock's nose. Sherlock hit the ground, and groaned. Everyone laughed. He got up, and was kicked in the back. Another jeering laugh. Sherlock rolled over, and using his karate training, pushed up from the ground with his hands and back, and landed on his feet.
"Whoa." Someone said. Sherlock glared, and looked downright scary, with an angry look on his face, and blood gushing from his nose. Sherlock wiped his face off on the back of his sleeve, and glared at Malcolm. When Malcolm came at Sherlock, he ducked so that the punch hit the boy behind him. He tripped Malcolm, and punched another that came after him. Sherlock was proud of his defense technique, until Sherlock felt his arms being held onto, and strong ones that wouldn't let go, no matter how hard he tried. Malcolm sank his fist into Sherlock's eye, jaw, and stomach. They laughed and cheered Malcolm on, while Sherlock recovered. A rib was broken, and restricting his breathing, not to mention the pain his body was experiencing. Suddenly, an officer had a hold of Malcolm, and was slapping cuffs on him. The two guys holding Sherlock were suddenly out cold, thanks to Roger.
"Sherlock, you okay?"
"Are you all right kid?" A man with dark eyes, brown hair, and a slight tan looked at him in concern.
"Not really. I think some of my ribs are broken." He said, clutching his chest. His arms hurt where the two boys had held him. A tall, young man with brown hair and similar features to Sherlock's got out of a car, and went towards Sherlock. "Mycroft?"
"Sherlock, what happened?"
"Some bully beat the shit out him, you idiot, what do you mean 'what happened'?" Roger asked, looked angry.
"How?" Mycroft asked. Roger had an arm around Sherlock, supporting his aching body.
"Dunno. He pushed a girl down, and I pushed him back. She was defenseless. The fall broke her arm." Sherlock said. Years later, he would find that to be very ironic. Kirsty was sitting in the back of a car, her parents looking at her in concern. They drove her away. Hopefully, to the ER. Mycroft went to Sherlock's other side to help support him. He wrapped him arm around Mycroft's shoulders. Wrong move.
"We need to have him...Sherlock?" Roger said. Sherlock was suddenly in severe pain, and was loosing sight of his vision fast. He collapsed to the ground, and coughed up blood, before he fainted.
"Get him in the ambulance now."
"Mycroft, call your parents." Roger shouted. "I'll go with him." Two men lifted Sherlock's light frame onto a stretcher, and zipped him to the ambulance. The Scotland Yard officer and Roger hopped on the ambulance, and Mycroft got into his car, dialing his father's office on his mobile phone. Sherlock was still out. They got to the hospital, and were told to wait in the waiting room, while Sherlock was fixed up. They waited, until two people burst through the 's parents were coming in.. Worry for the only cousin his own age, and relief at the sight of his parents, Roger burst into tears, and clung onto his mother in desperation. She held him tight, and calmed him down. Mycroft was white in the face.
"We'll take him home."
"We can treat him for shock, Miss." A nurse said.
"No, thank you, sir." He nodded and walked away. "We need to get him home, and calmed down. Mycroft, call us please."
"Of coarse, Aunt Myra." He said. They went home. Sherlock would understand. That, and Uncle Nico was terrified of hospitals. He had a downright phobia of them, and Sherlock knew that. They waited for an hour, but, to Mycroft, it seemed like a lifetime. His parents burst in then, ghost white and terrified.
"How's Roger?"
"Aunt Myra and Uncle Nico took him home. They wanted to calm him down, get the story."
"And, Sherlock?" Mrs. Hudson came into the room next.
"We haven't any news."
"Officer Lestrade?" The Yarder stood up and went to speak to the officer. Because Sherlock was attacked, they wanted it reported. The officer named Lestrade would get that taken care of for him.
"He says Sherlock inhaled blood from his broken nose when he was trying to breathe with broken ribs. That's why he coughed up blood. He passes out from lack of oxygen, and his ribs, again, prevented that. He'll be just fine." After another half an hour, Sherlock was being wheeled from the room, and looking weak.
"Mum." Sherlock whispered, as she kissed his cheek. Kirsty came into view then.
"Sherlock? Are you okay?" The father looked at Sherlock in compassion. The brother was furious. He was one of Sherlock's bullies.
"I'm all right, Kirsty."
"Thank you, for standing up for me." Kirsty said. "That creep shattered my left hand."
"Sounds like the majority of my ribs." Sherlock said. She looked at him. "I would do it again, you know." Kirsty smiled. "Malcolm shouldn't have pushed you. Your a girl. It's disrespectful to push down a girl. Especially when he would be able to bench press about...five of you." Sherlock said. She blushed and giggled. "Thanks for standing up for me." Sherlock, with assistance of the Officer that Sherlock didn't know (yes, it's still Lestrade) and his mother, Sherlock got out of the wheelchair. Kirsty hugged Sherlock.
"Don't touch that freak."
"Mark." Kirsty said. "Leave him alone."
"No, he's a weirdo. He doesn't even have friends." Sherlock felt Mycroft wrap an arm around his shoulders.
"Talk about my brother like that again, and you will not have an enjoyable last year of high school." Sherlock was grateful for his brother.
"Slander him, and we'll have a court case against you." Kirsty hugged Sherlock.
"I hope you get better."
"Same to you, Kirsty." She kissed his cheek, and went off with her family. Sherlock smiled.
Maybe the night hadn't ended so badly after all...