The ferry chugged along on the choppy waves of the ocean, and Kathy sat looking out of the window, an open comic book on her lap. She had never been to a boarding school before. In fact, she'd never been on a boat before. But Kathy was a person who felt comfortable in new situations. She didn't mind that no one was talking to her just yet - being in her own company was quite comfortable for her, as was making conversation with complete strangers.
But there was only one boy who stuck out from the crowd in the rabble of noisy teenagers; chatting and joking and teasing away around her. He was sat in the seat behind her, reading. And the new girl, when she could restrain herself no longer and her boredom took over, decided to interrupt his peace.
"Hey," She said, kneeling over the back of the seat to talk to him, "I'm Kathy."
He glared up at her and pulled the collar of his coat high around his face. He didn't want to talk to her. He didn't want to talk to anyone. Surely she knew that? Everyone else did.
"Usually that's when you tell me your name...?" Kathy added inquiringly.
He still refused to answer her.
"Leave it," Another girl - Clarissa - who was sat o the opposite side of the row - said, "He doesn't talk to anyone. He's a freak."
Kathy looked at the other girl and tilted her head to the side, like a dog in deep thought. She stared at Clarissa judgingly. Only when she began to look uncomfortable did Kathy break her stare and look back at the boy who was sat behind her.
"A freak huh?" Kathy said, only to be met with silence once more, "That's what they used to call me at my old school. I think it's cause of the hair, y'know? And maybe the piercings. What d'you think?"
At this point, the boy reluctantly raised his eyes and surveyed Kathy's nose, ear and eyebrow studs, as well as the streaks of bright blue in her hair. Everything about her showed she was a bit of an oddball. The boy glared again and went back to shoving her nose deep into an old hard-back book.
"Whatcha readin'?" Kathy asked.
"Nothing that would interest you."
"Ha! So you do talk! I knew I could make you!"
The boy scowled once again.
"So will you tell me your name now?"
"Why does it interest you so much what my name is?" The boy snapped irritably.
She pondered that for a millisecond, "I don't know," She answered, "I guess it's just cause you're different to the rest of the people on here. I like different."
The boy grumbled something under his breath and went back to reading. Kathy just watched him for a little while, resting her chin on the back of her seat, and trying her best to stay quiet. It was clear she was finding it difficult.
"If you don't tell me your name I'll just give you one of my own," She announced, almost to herself, "I think you look like a Simon...or maybe a Ben...or perhaps Christopher -"
"Can't you just leave me alone? I'm trying to read."
"I can. But since you didn't ask nicely, I'm not going to. Now show me what you're reading..."
Before the boy could protest, Kathy snatched the old book out of his hands and began to survey the front cover.
"Hey! Give that back!"
"Oh chillax, for goodness sake," She laughed, "I won't lose your place."
"That book is nearly a hundred years old!" he proclaimed, "It has been passed down through four generations of my family, and is incredibly fragile! You'll ruin the binding!"
"Blah, blah, blah," Kathy muttered as she turned over page after page, before smelling the novel, "Mmm. I like it. Odd choice though - 'The History of the Royal Family'?"
"My brother read it and claims it was fascinating. I'm determined to beat him at remembering key facts from it."
"Ah, I see you're opening up now." She gave a self-satisfied smirk.
The boy scowled once more, "I am not!" He argued, "I'm simply informing you of information you requested."
"Alright," Kathy sighed, clearly not giving a damn about what his response had been, but she handed back the book teasingly. The boy snatched it from her.
"I like your hair," Kathy said after a long moment when the boy thought she had given up, "But then again, I've always had a thing for curls. Especially dark ones. Is it natural?"
Silence.
"You really don't talk much, do you?"
Silence.
"You know I'm not gonna leave until we have a proper conversation."
Double silence.
"I won't give up. You'd be surprised. People always are. I can find things to talk about with anyone - no matter how different we are. I mean, it's impossible for two people not to have something in common. There's always something. I've learned that -"
"Fine! I'll talk to you!"
Kathy smiled triumphantly. And proceeded to involve the boy in deep conversation. Well, you wouldn't really call it conversation, considering Kathy was the one doing most of the talking. The boy was having difficulty getting a word in. But he didn't really mind. Despite how much he had originally resented the girl, he was for some reason interested in her persistence. He found her fascinating to watch and listen to because of her ability to be unpredictable. And despite what her first impression made her come across as, she was actually rather intelligent. Annoying, but intelligent.
"So what's your favourite hobby?" She asked, changing the subject at lightening pace for about the hundredth time.
"I don't have hobbies."
"Sure you do. Everyone does. What do you do the most in your spare time?"
He thought for a moment. "Learn."
"Learn?" She repeated in shock and what seemed like some form of disgust, "How boring are you? No. What else?"
The boy thought for a moment, "I deduce." He finally said.
"Hmm. That sounds interesting," Kathy said mysteriously, "Tell me more."
"I deduce things," The boy shrugged, "I analyze facts and use them to make an educated deduction about something or someone. I find it relatively easy, but I haven't found a single person other than my brother capable of doing it to such high standard -"
"Teach me."
"It can't really be taught-"
"Teach. Me."
"It's difficult to -"
"Fine. Show me then."
She waited expectantly and returned the boys gaze as he sat there and glared at her impatience. She was annoying. But interesting. And the fact that he just couldn't focus on nothing but her drove him insane. Reluctantly, he huffed. Then turned to face Clarissa, the girl across the aisle, who had previously called him a freak (and not for the first time, either."
"Take her for example," He said, "red hair. Pale skin. And slight hint of an Edinburgh accent. Only slight because she's shipped off to boarding school every year. Hence why she's on the boat. She gets travel sick. Anyone can tell that by the wristbands and the slight green tinge in her cheeks - and the fact that she's keeping those vomit bags within arm's reach at all times. She wears a skirt. A short one, too. And it's risen higher and higher up her leg since she's gotten on board. I presume the dark haired boy sat a few rows in front is behind it, as her eyes keep glancing up towards him. Her shoes are new - rigid and relatively clean. But they're scuffed at the back and on the sides and covered with fine traces of sand. She went on the beach before getting on the boat. Why? Saying goodbye to her boyfriend who goes to school back home. But she doesn't like the long distance. It was fun rolling around on the sand with him - it's in her hair and she hasn't bothered to get rid of it - but despite his lovely gift of the gold chain around her neck, he doesn't like long distance. Hence why she's so determined to catch the eye f the dark haired boy in front."
The boy turned to look at Kathy again. Her expression showed she was impressed. Very impressed. The boy controlled his urge to smile in pride. He was determined to keep up his icy reputation.
"There. Happy?"
"Well. Fuck me. That was incredible!" She laughed, "Absolutely incredible!"
"Thank you." He said, without emotion.
"But," She added, catching the boy's attention again (it irritated him how she had such power over him), "In all fairness, I presume you've known this girl for some time considering she already has a pretty strong opinion of you. Care to use such powers on someone you don't know?"
She held her head high, as if posing to have her portrait painted. The boy gave her a blank expression as he analysed her.
"You're not from a wealthy background, judging by your well-worn clothes and rucksack that has been stitched up on more than one occasion. The only reason you managed to afford boarding school was because your father died and he left you enough money behind. Your mother sent you away because she wants you to have a fighting chance in the world, unlike she did. Your younger brothers aren't happy about your departure. And how do I know all this? I saw your family at the port. One mother: dressed in black, recently been crying. Three young boys refusing to let go of you. Also crying. No sign of the father. I suppose he could just have been at work. But you're a close family. H wouldn't have missed sending his daughter off for the world. Logical explanation: inheritance do to the passing of your father."
The boy surveyed Kathy's shocked face and for once he saw that her smile had faded. Part of him felt this was an accomplishment that deserved to be celebrated. The rest of him felt bad for ruining girl's fun.
"How...how did you know my mum wanted me to have a better life than she did?"
"You're of a poor family. She obviously didn't get a good education, else she would have gotten a good job and your financial state would have been better. Naturally, every parent wants a better life for their child than they had when they were young."
Kathy stared at him for a moment longer, processing everything the boy had just said to her. He hoped she didn't cry. He wouldn't know what to do if she cried...
But she didn't.
She burst out laughing.
"Oh...my... gosh!" She gasped between fits of giggles, "That was amazing! And you sounded so serious! You really do take this deducing stuff seriously, don't you? You're very passionate about it. I like that. Told you everyone has a hobby!"
The boy looked at her, amazed. No one ever reacted like that when he revealed such personal details just by looked at them. it usually made people feel vulnerable and exposed - make them wonder if it was just as clear to everyone else, as if everyone could read them just as easily as he did.
But, of course, no one else ever could.
And the thing was, rather than feeling exposed, Kathy felt like she had connected to this strange teenage boy that sat behind her on the ferry. She liked him. She liked his curly hair. She liked that he was a little out of place, like she was. A bit of an outsider. She liked that he was totally unexpected, and that she had the ability to surprise him, but that he also refused to reveal anything in return.
But Kathy liked a challenge.
A voice then came over the ship's speakers: "If all pupils could please take their seats, we will soon be making port. Ensure you have all personal belongings ready for departure."
Without hesitating, Kathy grabbed her backpack, jumped out of her seat and into the one next to the curly haired boy - leaping over him in the process. He was rather shocked, and appeared not quite sure what to do. But Kathy smiled warmly - totally at ease with the situation - and despite how much he tried to resist, the boy began to feel at ease too.
"So what do I call you?" Kathy asked.
"Sherlock." The boy answered, "Sherlock Holmes."
"Nice to finally be able to call you something," Kathy giggled, "I'm Kathy McKenzie."
And that was that. A friendship was made.
But this was only the beginning.