A/N: The story continues as our boy Sherlock comes to a realization.
The next morning, Molly was at her locker between classes. She took the opportunity to text Sherlock.
9:50a Everyone's talking about the fight. Half the school thinks you're a hero. Molly
9:52a I'm no hero. SH
9:53a You are to me. Molly
There was no reply before Molly had to go to her next class. As soon as she got out of that, she checked her phone again.
10:23a I like being your hero. SH
10:50a School is so boring without you. Molly
10:51a I can't wait to see you either. SH
Once she was seated at their table in the cafeteria that afternoon, she texted Sherlock back.
12:15p What are you doing? Molly
12:16p Found my father's cigar stash. He has several kinds, I'm burning one of each to see how the ash differs. SH
12:17p Is this for that consulting detective idea? Molly
12:18p Yes, you never know what information could be useful. SH
12:19p Did you already do your homework? Molly
12:20p Yes, dull. How much longer until we graduate? SH
12:21p Three months. Just think, after tomorrow, we have one more week until Easter Break. Molly
12:22p Thank God. SH
He received another text from Molly after her next class.
1:53p Oh my gosh, Mike Stamford just asked me out. Molly
Mike was a friend of Sherlock's, but at that moment, all Sherlock wanted to do was punch the other boy's lights out. He didn't know why he felt that way, and refused to examine his feelings.
1:54p What did you tell him? SH
1:55p I told him Dad won't let me date until I'm sixteen. Molly
Something about that really annoyed Sherlock, but he refused to examine that feeling as well.
1:56p Is that true? SH
1:57p Yes, but I could probably get him to change his mind if I brought home a boy I think he'd really like. Molly
1:58p And you don't think Mike would impress him? SH
1:59p I think Mike's nice but a little too dull to impress my dad. He always talks about how life with Mom was never boring. Molly
After school was done for the day, Molly checked her mobile again.
2:05p I bet I could impress your dad. SH
A devil on her shoulder reminded her of what Sherlock had said in the vice-principal's office.
3:10p You probably could, but like you said, I'm not your girlfriend. Molly
That single sentence jolted Sherlock enough that he was finally willing to examine his feelings. She's right, she's not my girlfriend. So why does it hurt when she says it? Why does the idea of Mike asking her out piss me off? Why do I want to protest, loudly, when she says her dad won't let her date until she's sixteen? That's two months from now, what difference does it make?
The difference, you silly arse, is that you've been lying to yourself for ages. The new voice in his head sounded an awful lot like John at his most exasperated. You are in love with Molly Hooper and you want her to be your girlfriend. Today. Now. Right this minute.
The truth startled Sherlock so much that he dropped his mobile. Fortunately, he was in the library and standing on his parents' faux bear skin rug (my parents are so weird), so the phone was unharmed. The same couldn't be said for Sherlock's thought process.
What do I do now? I should talk to John. Or Mary. They'll know what to do. No, they'll just make fun of me for taking this long to realize it. I could talk to Mycroft. No. Hell no. What does Mycroft know about relationships? He doesn't have any, except for the one he has with cake. My parents? Oh God, no. I'll get another "the birds and the bees" lecture (which, by the way, has nothing to do with bees). He shuddered. An image of Molly as he last saw her came to mind. Face it, Holmes, the only person you could really talk to about this is the one person you can't talk to about this. Or can I? If I told her I fancied someone else, I could still get her advice. Molly's the smartest person I know, she'll know what to do.
Sherlock glanced at the clock. They're walking home right now. I hope John remembered to walk with Molly the whole way instead of making her walk part of the way by herself. He retrieved his phone from where it landed on the rug then sent Molly a text.
3:35p Are you on your way home? SH
3:37p Yes. Molly
3:38p John's with you, right? SH
3:40p No, he's having dinner with Mary and her parents. Molly
3:41p What?! He was supposed to walk with you. You should have told me. SH
3:43p Sherlock, I'm almost 16. I'm perfectly capable of walking a few blocks by myself. Molly
3:44p I worry about you. That's what friends do. SH
3:46p You're a good friend, Sherlock. Molly
3:47p So are you, Molly. Call me when you get home. SH
By the time his phone rang, Sherlock was in his room, desperate for privacy. The last thing he needed was his parents listening in on this call. He answered it after the first ring. "Hi, Molly."
"Hi, Sherlock," she said. "What's so important that you couldn't text me?"
Forgive me, Molly. "I, um, there's this girl, I really like her. I want to ask her out but I, um, don't know how."
Molly was amazed at exactly how fast her heart plummeted at his words. "A … a girl? What's her name?"
"Janine."
I don't know of any Janines in our year. "Do I know her?"
"She doesn't go to our school."
That explains it. "How did you meet her?" Why am I even doing this? Why don't I tell him to find someone else to help him? Oh, right, because it's Sherlock.
"That doesn't matter. How do I ask her out?"
He's like a little lost puppy. "Haven't you been on a date before, Sherlock?"
"No, it wasn't really my area until now." It really wasn't. No one was interested in me in middle school and I certainly wasn't interested in any of them. Then came high school and wham, bam, thank you, puberty, I'm suddenly "hot" and girls started asking me out, but I always shot them down. I guess even then I subconsciously knew there was only one girl who could interest me.
"And you think it's mine? I've never been on a date either." And at this rate, it'll be a long time before I ever will. Maybe I should've just said yes to Mike.
"But you still know what a girl would like," Sherlock protested gently. "If I were to ask you out, what's the best way to go about it?"
Just keep twisting that knife, Sherlock. "Just, um, just be yourself. If she likes you, then that's all you need."
"Where should I take her? Where would you want to go on a date?"
"Someplace that interests me, I guess." I really don't want to have this conversation with you right now.
Sherlock smiled a bit. "Could you be a little more specific, Molly?"
"Well, you mentioned Phantom. There's also that Body Worlds exhibit at the science museum, that looks fascinating. But Janine might have different interests. You'd just have to ask her."
"I will. Thanks, Molly. You're the best."
I wish I could believe you mean that. "You're welcome, Sherlock."
