Another little one to tide you over whilst I write the next chapter! :D


Chapter Seven

To: Watson, J

From: Harvey, J

Date: April 24th 2013 – 5:20pm

Subject: Attendance

Hi John,

Just a little note to say it was nice to see you in my lecture and seminar today – how are you doing? Are you getting on all right with William?

Jo


Straightening his back slightly to work the ache he'd been fighting for the last two hours (the workload from his seminar on top of William's daily materials were doing nothing good for his posture), John quickly began to hammer out a reply.


Hi Joanne,

It was an interesting one today, and luckily because of William I'd already covered much of what you set out for us. We're getting on all right, he's a little intense with the workload but in general it seems to be going fine, thanks.

Hope you're well.

John


Glancing at his watch and squeezing his eyes tightly shut, he wondered to himself how much longer he could put off talking to Mike about the party that evening; he couldn't avoid it forever, especially as Mike had been so enthusiastic in his texts about him going. Though he'd managed his first set of classes for the first time in a while that very day, he was so exhausted from the sheer effort of leaving his room that he had a sneaking suspicion that even if he were to attend he would manage to stay for a maximum of ten minutes before begging off and leaving early.

Literally as this thought went through his mind his phone began to buzz. Knowing instantly that it was now or never, he picked it up and opened the call.

"Mike. Hi."

"Hey, John! Was calling to see what time to expect you at Greg's tonight!"

God, he sounded so eager. John leaned his forehead against the heel of his hand, dreading what was to come next. "Yeah, about that... I've got such a lot on at the moment, I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make it."

Mike's silence was all to easy to read. "Oh. Well..."

"I'm sorry."

"What if you just showed up for an hour?" The man was clearly begging. "Come on, John, it's been fucking ages since you socialised with everyone – with me." Oh, the hurt in his voice would have been painful to listen to if John wasn't so tired. "Please, mate. One hour. That's all I'm asking for."

Sighing inwardly, John felt his fingers shift to rake his hair, hating every second of this conversation with a dull passion. "Mike... I'm just so tired..."

"We're all tired," his friend said, suddenly sounding a little less desperate and a little more impatient, "but we all have to make the effort for our friends, especially after such a bloody long time. It wouldn't kill you to spend an hour out of your room -"

"I get out of my room," John protested defensively, head rising from his hand. "I had classes today, do you think I stayed in my room for those?"

"Social occasions don't include mandatory seminars, John," Mike sighed. "I can't believe you can't squeeze in one hour to see your friends. To see me for crying out loud, I'm supposed to be your best friend."

John gritted his teeth, too tired to be irritated but knowing he would probably find the energy to snap at his friend should he keep pushing. "You are my best friend, Mike, it's just been a difficult couple of months. It's not like I've been enjoying not being able to see you -"

"So see me. Come tonight."

"No," he said bluntly. "I'm sorry, but I can't come. I'll come next time or something, all right?"

Silence, before: "Fine. See you some other time, when you can be bothered." And further silence as Mike hung up the phone.

John threw the phone onto his bed, letting out a groan that was closer to a yell, the little effort it took to increase his volume sapping his energy even further. Now instead of simply being exhausted he was in a bad mood, and a bad mood led to an evening of utter nothing. The frustration at his friend wouldn't last long, and soon he'd be flat on his bed, falling into a very deep, very dreamless sleep -

~Bing~

"Oh, fuck it," he moaned, forgetting that it was Friday, forgetting his bloody appointment with William (whom he hadn't spoken to in a few days other than receiving course materials and emails with John's edited notes, illustrating the genius's previous comment of his disappearances for days at a time) – he opened the conversation window and raked his eyes over the words with building irritation.

Holmes, W: Good afternoon, John.

Watson, J: Is it?

Holmes, W: Perhaps not. Bad day?

Watson, J: Not until two minutes ago, but hey, at the moment I'm lucky to have any days that aren't total and utter crap. Can't complain.

Holmes, W: I have evidence on my computer that you do. Conversation history, you know.

Watson, J: Ha bloody ha.

Holmes, W: Dare I ask what set off this rather delightful mood of yours?

Watson, J: Friends.

Holmes, W: Ah. Does this include me?

Watson, J: I'm actually shocked to say that no, it doesn't. Though you might want to take care with how snarky you are today, because I just might go off the deep end with you.

Holmes, W: Hmm. Perhaps you'd like to rearrange our appointment.

Watson, J: To be honest, William, I'm not really sure what I have to say. I did the work, you sent it back to me, it was all a learning experience, as ever.

Watson, J: Sorry, I know I'm being a cock

Watson, J: I'm just not in the right place to be enthusiastic.

Holmes, W: All right.

Holmes, W: May I ask what, in relation to friends, put you in this mood?

Holmes, W: You don't have to, of course, if you'd rather keep it to yourself.

Watson, J: No, it's all right. I was invited to a party tonight and I essentially just ruined one of my remaining friendships by saying that I can't go.

Watson, J: Usually I'd feel bad, but I have enough guilt to be getting on with from a purely self-involved perspective

Holmes, W: A party? That could be good for you, John.

Watson, J: You do know what parties are, right? Big groups of people in an over-crowded student pit of a house, a general overflow of alcohol and loud music that makes socialising far more difficult than it already is? Virtual hell?

Holmes, W: I'm familiar with the concept, yes. Who's throwing this satanic pit of flames, then?

Watson, J: You won't know him, Greg Lestrade. Mike knows him from hockey, we've met a few times. Nice enough bloke, though I've never been to one of his house parties, or his house come to think of it.

Holmes, W: Men who hit a hard object with sticks, just my sort of crowd... or perhaps not.

Watson, J: Yeah, well. I'm not going.

Holmes, W: Hmm.

Holmes, W: That's a pity.

Watson, J: Eh? Why?

Holmes, W: You might get something out of it if you go. You could do with going out, seeing some new faces, painting the town a dull sort of grey.

A tiny grin turned up the corners of John's mouth.

Watson, J: I think it's more a sort of magnolia these days. Like the paint on my walls.

Holmes, W: Ah yes, university campus accommodation – because our souls aren't damaged enough already.

Watson, J: Yeah, exactly.

Watson, J: But you don't live on campus, do you?

Holmes, W: No, I rent a small house in town with an acquaintance.

Watson, J: You live with someone? How does THAT work?

Holmes, W: We get on well enough. He keeps out of my way, I keep out of his; generally we get on all right when he is around, though, even if he's not the brightest spark.

Watson, J: Of course he isn't, not compared to you, oh mighty pylon!

Holmes, W: Flatterer.

John's grin widened slightly, feeling the stress ebb somewhat; he had no idea how William did it, it was... odd.

Holmes, W: You really should consider the party, though.

Watson, J: You are kidding me.

Holmes, W: I'm being completely genuine, John. You need to try and keep your bridges intact, no matter how difficult it is. Depression can truly destroy your friendships; though your friends may seem to be more irritating than interesting at this point in your life one day you're going to feel better, and who will you have then, once you've burned your bridges?

Watson, J: How do you know so much about depression? You're always spouting things about it.

Holmes, W: Please John, I'm a certified genius. I know about all sorts of things that your head couldn't even contemplate.

Watson, J: Ah, I missed you.

Holmes, W: Pardon?

Watson, J: The smug, arrogant arsehole. I missed him.

Holmes, W: Insult me all you like, it's the truth.

Watson, J: Ah yes, and you always tell the truth.

Holmes, W: Precisely.

Watson, J: ...do you really think I should go to this party, then?

Holmes, W: Oh, absolutely.

Holmes, W: If only to satisfy all of your friends.

Watson, J: Hmm. I don't like the fact that I'm considering actually taking your advice. It's disturbing.

Holmes, W: I already dictate your academic life, you may as well give in and let me dictate your personal life too.

Holmes, W: :P

Watson, J: Um, William? What the hell are you doing?

Holmes, W: I don't know, I thought people did that.

Holmes, W: I assume it's supposed to be a tongue poking out, I'm not altogether sure.

Watson, J: Please don't do it again, it makes you seem frighteningly normal.

Holmes, W: Noted.

Holmes, W: So. Are you going to the party?

Watson, J: I really don't know. What are you going to do all evening if I'm not here to entertain you?

Holmes, W: For your information, I already have a social engagement planned. Utterly ridiculous and I have no interest in going whatsoever, but apparently it's necessary.

John frowned. William had a social life? Since when?

Watson, J: What is it, a date?!

Holmes, W: Oh, do grow up.

Watson, J: So what is it, you have to suffer so you're forcing me to suffer too?

Holmes, W: Isn't that the basis of friendship?

Watson, J: If you'd played Ring of Fire with Mike before, you'd know yourself to be completely right.

Holmes, W: What on earth is Ring of Fire?

Watson, J: A drinking game. Deck of cards around a pint glass, everyone takes one card at a time and each card means something.

Holmes, W: A consequence-based drinking game, essentially?

Watson, J: Yeah, exactly. Like, one card means all the men have to drink; another might mean you have to add some of your drink to the pint glass. At the end, whoever draws the last Ace has to drink the pint in the middle.

Holmes, W: That sounds positively vulgar.

Watson, J: It is. Mike's favourite is the 'link' card, where you can link two friends together so that whenever one of them has to drink, the other does too. He always links himself with me so that I have to suffer alongside him, it ends up veeeery messy.

Holmes, W: Remind me never to play that game with you.

Watson, J: William, I can't even imagine you drinking, let alone playing drinking games.

Holmes, W: I drink. Wine. Maybe the occasional glass of brandy.

Watson, J: Wow. Remind me never to play drinking games with YOU. I'd hate to see how you'd end up trying to play Ring of Fire with brandy!

Holmes, W: So we're agreed in this – no drinking games within the company of the other.

Watson, J: Deal.

Watson, J: Oh god, I'm going to the party, aren't I?

Holmes, W: I dictate it, therefore it shall be.

Watson, J: I'm not your bitch, Will.

Holmes, W: Ugh, please don't call me that. Nobody calls me that. So common.

Watson, J: Bill?

Holmes, W: Why would you make it worse?

Watson, J: Well, one of these days I might want to call you a nickname, and what does that leave me with?

Holmes, W: Oh, I don't know... I'll come up with something.

Watson, J: I really don't want to go to this party. Can't I just stay in my room and complain about how I'm feeling to you all night instead?

Holmes, W: I'm flattered you want to spend that much time with me, John.

Holmes, W: And as exciting as that really and truly sounds, I do have plans which I genuinely cannot avoid.

Watson, J: First of all, shut it...!

Watson, J: Second of all, well, if I have to suffer I'm going to make you listen to me anyway.

Watson, J: Do you have a mobile?

Holmes, W: Not since I was a child.

Holmes, W: :P

Watson, J: Oh god, please stop that...

Holmes, W: Sorry, wanted to try it one more time.

Holmes, W: Yes, I have a mobile phone. Is that your way of asking for my phone number?

Watson, J: In a completely unweird way, yes it is.

Holmes, W: Interesting. If I give it to you, do you promise not to send me any chain texts or ridiculous pictures of cats wearing hats?

Watson, J: Christ, yes. You have my solemn word.

Holmes, W: All right. It's 07756982598.

Watson, J: Hang on

Watson, J: Did you get that?

Holmes, W: Why did you call me and just hang up?

Watson, J: It was the easiest way to give you my number, calm down!

Holmes, W: Ah.

Watson, J: Ok, well I'm going to bugger off and start attempting to hide the fact that I've lost two stone and make myself look relatively human.

Holmes, W: That's the spirit.

Watson, J: Don't get too cocky. I meant it about texting you, I'm not going to let you enjoy a single moment of your night!

Holmes, W: We'll see.

Holmes, W: Speak to you later then, John.

Holmes, W is offline.