At lunch John grabbed his trey of food and made his way to the far side of the cafeteria where he spotted an empty table. He pulled out the map of the school and looked to find where he would be going afterwards. He placed the paper map side down for a moment to take a bite of his sandwich when he noticed some writing on the back of the paper.

You intrigue me… text me sometime. Followed by a phone number.

John stared at the paper in disbelief. He was so focused on it that he did not notice Jim approaching his table.

"Hey!" Jim shouted. John jumped in his seat and looked up at him. He attempted to keep the fear out of his eyes, but he knew he was failing desperately.

"This is our table, what are you doing here?" John picked up his food and the paper and quickly stood up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know…" John stuttered as he backed away from the seat.

"Well, next time, pay more atten-"

Just then Jim fell forwards and landed in his large trey of food. The cafeteria erupted in laughter. That's when John noticed Sherlock smiling at him from behind where Jim had fallen. John gave a shy smile back at him. Sherlock motioned for him to sit down. John had lost his appetite, though. He threw his trey away and went to sit outside for the remainder of lunch.

At the end of the day when John made it home he took out his phone and put in Sherlock's number. He wanted to text him right then, but he also didn't want to seem desperate.

Wait, wait, wait… Why do I even want to text him so badly? I barely know him. Why do I even like him? He's just another student, what's so different about him? I mean he is very tall… and his dark curls cradle his face perfectly… and he seems pretty friendly. Oh, what the hell, I'll just text him. What's the worst that could happen?

Hey, it's the guy you met today on the ground. 3:13PM

Ah yes, hello John. I see you got my little note. 3:16PM

Well, it wasn't exactly discreet. Why did you give me your number anyway? We've barely met. 3:17PM

Like I said, you intrigue me. 3:19PM

I intrigue you? Hah, so far you've seen me shoved to the ground, and you saw me chased away by a group of bullies. Intriguing isn't exactly the word I'd use. 3:20PM

It's the one I'd use. 3:21PM

If you say so. 3:21PM

I do. 3:22PM

I'm sorry, I just don't understand. 3:24PM

What do you mean? 3:24PM

What exactly do you find intriguing about me? 3:25PM

Well, you're posture says that you've got yourself held together, but your eyes say that your whole life is falling apart and you really wish it could be fixed. The way you carry yourself gives off a mixed signal to anyone else, but to me it says 'I am trying to be strong, but I don't think it is working.' From what I saw of you today, I can further deduce that your family is in a tough financial situation and your parents have tension between each other. From what I deduce about you, you have a history of depression and self-harm issues, which technically are not history because you still suffer with it. You are not used to people helping you because the only friends you had ever known left you when your life started getting tough, which is when you began to push everyone away. You have a very distant relationship with both of your parents because they feel like there is nothing wrong with you, even though you beg to differ. This is where your depression originates from because all your life you have felt so alone. Well now I'm here to fix that. Nice to meet you, I am Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective. 3:30PM

Wow… that was incredible. And consulting detective? How are you even a detective, you're still in school. 3:32PM

When the police cannot solve a crime, which they usually cannot, they come to me for help. I can read crime scenes like a street sign. Solve three cases and be back home in time for tea. 3:33PM

Wow. And you're intrigued by someone like me? 3:34PM

We all have our preferences. 3:34PM

And you prefer a loner who has been depressed for the majority of his life? 3:36PM

If you are referring to yourself, then yes. 3:37PM

Okay then. 3:38PM

Meet me at Speedy's. 3:41PM

When? 3:42PM

Now, if it is convenient. Or if it isn't. 3:42PM

I don't even know where Speedy's is. 3:45PM

Just get a cab and tell them to take you to Speedy's on Baker Street. 3:46PM

I don't have the money for a cab. 3:48PM

I do. 3:48PM

Okay, fine, I'll be there in a moment. 3:49PM

Sherlock smiled at his phone and walked outside of Speedy's so he could meet John.

John walked outside of his flat and hailed a cab.

"Could you take me to the Speedy's on Baker Street please?"

The cab took off and within minutes the cab pulled up in front of Speedy's where Sherlock was waiting. Sherlock paid the cab driver and then they walked into Speedy's together.

As they sat down, John was the one to speak first. "So, why did you call me out here?"

"Because, I told you we were going to be great friends. A good way to start a friendship is to do what they call "hang out" and "get to know each other."

"Have you not made friends before?"

"Not really, no."

"How?"

"I don't know. I am rather fascinating, but most people just tell me to fuck off."

"I don't see why."

"Me either."

They both laughed at Sherlock's comment. John looked down at his hands and Sherlock continued to look at him.

"You intrigue me, John Watson."

John looked up at him. "Yeah, I know. You've told me a few times now," he said with a soft chuckle.

Sherlock stood up. "What do you say we head up to the rooftop of St. Bart's?"

John seemed rather startled. "Why there?"

"Its outdoors, it's private."

"Uh, sure, I guess."

"Why do you look so surprised?"

"No reason, let's just go."

It took them a few minutes to make their way to the hospital. For some reason that John was not really interested in, he knew people there, and they got inside without a problem. Once at the top, they found a place to sit, and they sat facing each other. John looked down at his hand and twiddled his thumbs as Sherlock continued to look at him.

John shifted uncomfortably. "Okay, the staring is really starting to freak me out here, Sherlock," he said.

"Sorry, I'm just, trying to figure you out."

"Haven't you already done that?"

"Barely. Those first parts were easy to read, but what's really inside you, John Watson? You are quite the mystery."

"I could say the same about you. You're some kind of freaky detective genius and you're only in high school."

"I don't know how it came to be this way. Believe me, my parents are extremely unintelligent."

"Compared to you, I'm sure everyone is extremely unintelligent."

"Good point…what do you want to do John?"

"What do you mean?" John was surprised at the sudden change of subject.

"When you're grown, what do you want to be?"

"I was thinking about joining the army."

Sherlock stared at him for a moment. "You've been more than thinking about it, John Watson. That's your dream isn't it? To be in the army; to save lives."

"Want to just answer all of the questions for me, then?"

Sherlock let out a satisfied chuckle.

"You knew that before I answered the question, didn't you?

"Deduction is an art, John; an art that I have mastered completely."

"It must be very entertaining to you."

"What?"

"To be the biggest smartarse to walk the streets of London."

Sherlock laughed. "Unfortunately, I'm the second smartest. Though, I must say, my brother is losing his edge."

"You have a brother?"

"His name is Mycroft. He's barely graduated and he's already wormed his way into the government."

"Wow."

"What?"

"Just… wow."

"What about you, John. What is your sister like?"

John didn't even point out that he had never told Sherlock that he had a sister. He just went along with it. "I haven't seen my sister in a long time… she ran off with friends a while back. She started getting into drugs and alcohol. My parents barely hear from her. They always worry about her. Never me, just her."

"I worry about you, John."

"Why, we've just met."

"Yes, but I know enough about you to know that you need to have someone who worries."

"I don't need anyone."

"Yes you do."

"Well everyone else seems to think I'm just fine."

"Then everyone else is an idiot."

John gave Sherlock a slight smile. His phone began to vibrate in his pocket. He took it out and the screen read 'Mum.'

John flipped the phone open and put it up to his ear.

"Hello? I'm just out with a new friend. Okay, I'll be home in a moment."

John hung up the phone and stood up. Sherlock stood up as well.

"I could see you home, if you like. I'd need to pay for your cab home anyway."

John smiled at him. "Yeah, I don't exactly know how to walk home from here."

When they finally hailed a cab they rode to John's home in silence. When they arrived, John got out of the cab. He turned before he shut the door. "Thank you for the lovely day; it's been a while since I've enjoyed something like this."

Sherlock smiled. "It was certainly my pleasure. I hope to do this again soon, John Watson."

With that John closed the door and turned to enter his flat. He already heard his parents shouting at each other about bills and other things, which usually led to him getting involved in the arguments. Somehow, the idea of Sherlock kept him at peace through all of this.