John is pleased that he doesn't have to teach Sherlock how to kiss. Age-wise they're a little over two years apart and Sherlock should be too young to have the skill of kissing, but that didn't mean anything with the older girl John went with last year. Her lips were soft and pink and plump and John was sure kissing her would be extremely pleasurable, but her kisses were hard and her tongue was sloppy.

Sherlock, however, is a natural. John asks him over and over if he's ever kissed before, but Sherlock says no every time.

John figures it's the cigarettes that's got him so oral. And he'll gladly let Sherlock hold him still and suck on his tongue if it meant Sherlock wasn't smoking a pack a day.

And kissing is sometimes disturbingly exciting. They're safe at their homes, sometimes they have to sneak around the vineyard, but school…that's a whole different story.

Sherlock doesn't mind seeing John surrounded by cheerleaders in the hall. The girls hang on him like he's a superhero. Their tight tops rub against him in a wholly suggestive way. It doesn't bother Sherlock because of the way John watches him walk by.

Then John catches him exiting the school. He drags Sherlock around the side of the school, where nobody is around, then John quickly pushes him against the wall and shoves his tongue into Sherlock's mouth. Sherlock rewards him with a tough tug and wrapping his arms around John's neck.

The pleasure is spiked because of the danger. Anyone could see them at any moment. But the want, the need to feel each other now is greater than the fear of being discovered.

They finally break apart when John announces that he needs to get to football practice. Sherlock gives him one last, sad kiss and John promises to go to his house after.

"We'll pick up where we left off," John promises, with a sly wink.

John's football team makes it to the regional championship, which isn't a surprise. There's a pep assembly the afternoon before at school. The cheerleaders do a routine that the football players happily watch right in front of them. Sherlock catches John looking through the crowd, though, and when he spots Sherlock they lock eyes and share a grin.

"I love you," John mouths.

Sherlock's chest feels like it's been struck by Cupid's arrow.

Later that night, Sherlock's brother is there visiting. He calls Sherlock into his bedroom and tells him to sit at the desk.

"Tomorrow's the big game at school," Mycroft, Sherlock's brother, says. "Dad tells me you're dating the quarterback."

Sherlock bites his lip.

"Dad also says he's being seriously looked at to play football at USC."

"Yes."

"And you're going to Harvard."

Sherlock frowns. Harvard talk, again.

"I'm going to tell you something very important so you'd better take my advice. Do not have sex with this boy."

Sherlock chokes on his spit. "What?!"

"Sex muddles your brain, Sherlock, and you, of all people, can't afford to get…muddled. Eyes on the prize, as they always say. The prize is Harvard, sex and this boy is your obstacle."

"But—"

"Modern times ruin that for you, I know. Temptations are everywhere you look. But you need to push away your desires, little brother. You need to stay focused."

"But—"

"No, Sherlock. Listen to me. Having sex will ruin your opportunities of going to a good college. Why do you think women don't go to college? They have sex, get pregnant, and can't."

"That's not—"

"It is, Sherlock. Trust me. Don't do it."

Sherlock scowls. "Have you—"

"No. And look where I am."

Sherlock can't deny that proof. His brother is the top of his class at Harvard. Even though Sherlock doesn't particularly want to go to college, he can't disappoint his dad.

"Alright?" Mycroft asks.

Sherlock nods. "Alright."