By the end of the week, Mrs. Hudson had posted the cast list. Molly's face lit up with a smile. Not only was she cast as Belle, but Sherlock had stolen the lead role from Jim Moriarty as the Beast. She was excited for him, though she knew Jim would have a fit over it. Oh God, I'll be kissing him, she mused.

"You're thinking too loudly," Sherlock remarked from behind, startling Molly from her thoughts. "Anything interesting?"

"Oh, um, you got the part," she informed him. "The lead."

"As did you," he pointed out. "Though, I'm not surprised."

"Out of the way, Holmes," Moriarty announced, shoving his way through. He read through the list and gasped dramatically. "Gaston!?" Molly stifled her laughter. How fitting, she thought.

"Well, I've got to get to class," Molly told them. "Good job, Sherlock." He felt his heart lurch when she lightly traced her fingers across the back of his hand before leaving.

"You may have gotten the lead, but you will never get the girl," Jim smirked. "Not that you've ever been interested in such relations." Sherlock only rolled his eyes and left for chemistry class where Molly would be waiting.


As they observed the various chemical reactions, Molly wrote them down on paper. Everyone knew better than to compete with them on science projects; she and Sherlock were practically experts in the field. After cleaning up, they had a few minutes to talk before the end of class.

"Our first rehearsal is after school today," she told him.

"Brilliant," he sighed in exasperation. "I suppose we'll be running lines and participating in the frivolity of musical numbers for the next three months. Honestly, a waste of my time."

"Well, if you didn't want the part, you shouldn't have chosen to give a good audition," Molly snapped quietly. "Do not be like this, Sherlock. I have been looking forward to it all semester." The bell rang, signifying that class was over. She gathered her things quickly. "If you don't want it, then give it to Jim. At least he'll take it seriously." Sherlock watched as Molly walked out and away from him. He didn't need John to tell him that his attitude had been 'a bit not good.'


"You're late, Sherlock," Mrs. Hudson told him.

"I know. There was something I had to do beforehand," he explained. Molly was surprised but ended up rolling her eyes, having not expected him to show up. Sherlock seated himself beside her, his bag in hand.

"Molly?" he asked softly. "I am sorry for the way I acted today." She continued to look at him, unable to form words at the sound of his sincerity. "I know it won't make up for it, but I thought you might like to have it." In his hand was a beautiful leather bound edition of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities; her favourite.

"Sherlock, you didn't have to do this," she told him. "Your apology is all that I wanted. It's beautiful. Thank you."

"I hope I am forgiven," he continued, his face softening just for her to see.

"Of course you're forgiven, you silly man," Molly replied, giving him a small smile. "Really, thank you. You're really sweet when you want to be." Nothing prepared him for the soft, chaste kiss she pressed against his cheek. Once she turned her head away to listen to Anderson and Greg recite their lines as Lumiere and Cogsworth, Sherlock's hand instinctively raised to his cheek, brushing his fingertips where her lips had been.


Sherlock wasn't all too thrilled about working with Irene, Jim's latest friend with benefits, but it was only for one scene. She played the Enchantress that cast the curse on the Beast and all he had to do was be rude to her. Simple. Perhaps this musical wouldn't be so bad after all.

'Right from the moment when I met her, saw her'… Sherlock rolled his eyes as Jim sang his lines in the opening song. He had to admit, Gaston was a much more fitting role for him with the way he kept attempting advances on Molly. Moriarty made his teeth clench a little too tightly.

'There must be more than this provincial life!' Molly had such enthusiasm in her performance; she was a delight to watch on stage. The only book on hand for her to practice with was the one Sherlock had given her. A couple of missteps were made, but it took talent to not trip over your feet, moving across the stage whilst singing with your nose in a book.


Once practice was over for the day, Molly approached him with a smile.

"You were brilliant, Molly," he beamed, embracing her before his mind caught up to his actions. Just as quickly as it happened, he stepped away awkwardly, clearing his throat. "Yes, well, um, good, erm, good job."

"Thanks," she blushed. "You too." The lingering silence was louder than anything in that moment.

"Molly, ready to go?" Meena asked. She nodded in response and waved goodbye to Sherlock. He stood there, dumbfounded, at the events of the day.

"Nice performance, mate," John clapped him on the back suddenly. He was in attendance during the rehearsal because Mary had snagged the role of Mrs. Potts.

"I wasn't thinking about Molly," he blurted suddenly.

"Never said you were," John chuckled, furrowing his eyebrows. It was painfully obvious to everyone at school that Sherlock and Molly loved each other. The only ones who didn't know were the lovebirds in question.


Author's Note: Anyone like the BATB storyline I'm giving them outside of the play as well? Though, Sherlolly's progresses a bit quicker as they are established friends. I have done theatre back in middle school and high school, behind the scenes and on the stage. I am only drawing from my personal experiences when it comes to a school play.