John returns to school the next day. Again, hes pretty well left alone. A few people ask him about his hand and a few ask about Sherlock. He has a substitute for English. Mostly, the day is boring and he's loaded down with his absent work as well as Sherlock's.

Sherlock goes back to school 3 weeks after the incident, after the doctors deem him well enough to. Though, he is taken out of his PE class and put in the same study hall as John. He is pretty much left alone as well, aside for various rude comments.

Johns protective nature hits Sherlock full force, and suddenly, John is walking Sherlock to and from each and every class and texting him throughout the day to check in on him. Sherlock doesnt mind, he actually quite likes Johns fussing and John quite likes fussing over him.

-

April rolls around faster than expected. Sherlocks rib heals up nicely, as does Johns hand. All of a sudden, though, after spring break, posters for Prom start popping up around the school. Sherlock, curious and confused, asks John about it. John explains that its a formal dance for upperclassmen at the end of the year. He tells Sherlock all about American customs surrounding the dance, and Sherlock finds himself torn between intruige and repulsion.

John's had the plan for months, since Sherlock came back to school. Nothing extravagent, just enough to get Sherlocks attention. So mid-April, with Warrens help, he sneaks into the school early one morning to stick up bright purple letters, spelling out "PROM?" on Sherlocks locker. Then he picks up Sherlock and drives the boy to school. Sherlock is rather shocked, but he accepts.

-

Sherlock grumbles at John about his tuxedo. The pair stand in front of the mirror in Sherlocks bathroom, getting ready for the night. Theyre wearing similar styles in similar colors. Johns bowtie is a bright cardinal red that matches his waistcoat. Sherlocks elected to go much simpler, with a red tie and black waistcoat and a cardinal red pocket square. The pair spend nearly half an hour working on Sherlocks hair. In the end, they comb it out and smooth it all back and away from his face.

"Why are we doing this again?"

John sighs, adjusting Sherlocks tie.

"Because Im not missing out on my Senior prom and Im not going alone and it would kick up bad rumors if I went with Molly like you tried to suggest. Itll be fun, calm down."

Sherlock makes a low, displeased noise, but allows John to finish his fussing before turning to really look at himself in the mirror. He still looks rough from the incident. His rib healed well and all his bruises faded, but the lascerations to his face left ugly scars. The one under his left eye is the worst, running from his nose to his hairline. It had required nearly 25 stitches and was the deepest of all the cuts. The scar tissue above his right eye left a bald line vertically through his eyebrow. His split lip healed a bit weird, leaving a small ridge down his lip. His hair looks more tamed and sophisticated. The coat makes his broad shoulders look narrower, making his whole frame look lithe. He towers over John, his height accentuated by the dark colors of the tux. Honestly, he looked like a young man straight out of one of Warrens Elizabethan movies. All long limbs and creamy pale skin and high cheekbones.

John smiles up at him.

"You look quite dapper, sir."

Sherlock grins, that genuine, crooked grin that John loves to see. Sherlock pulls John in close, then dips him.

"You dont look bad yourself," he breathes against his boyfriends lips, the crooked grin turning into a seductive smile.

"Sherlock..."

Sherlock hums against John neck, placing open-mouthed kisses to his tan flesh.

"Sherlock, we dont have time!" He pushes the boy away enough to kiss him before leading them down the stairs.

-

In the end, prom night is an enjoyable experience. They sat with a group of their friends during dinner and dancing themselves silly after. At the end of the night, the pair change and head off to a party at Molly's.

They had shown up about 11:30, and a handful of people were there. Molly, of course, and Mike and Greg, and even Clara had come and dragged Harry with. Sally showed up, as well, with Anderson, though god knows why.

It was a fairly mild party by most standards. Molly had turned on the stereo to a local radio station and around midnight, they broke out the beer. It was cheap and by no means good, but they all drank a few cans, just to work up a buzz.

Irene turned up around 12:30, and then the real fun started. Someone rolled a joint and it made its way around their loose circle. Harry and Clara left when the illicit drugs came out, most likely to go back to Claras.

By 1, Anderson was passed out in the corner. Irene had lead Greg away to the bedroom with a crook of her finger. Mike was attempting to chat up Sally. Molly and John were laughing so hard they were crying at Sherlocks stoned ramblings. Sherlock was laying spreadeagle on the carpet.

Around 2:30, Sally and Mike gathered up Anderson and left. John laid down on his back next to Sherlock and Molly curled up on the couch. Soon after, Molly's breathing levels off as she falls asleep.

-

John wakes up on the carpeted floor of Molly's basement, Sherlock huddled up against him. Greg is reclined back at one end of the couch, his hand in Molly's hair. She has her head on a pillow on his lap. Irenes shoes have disappeared from there spot next to the stairs, signalling her departure at some point during the night. John digs his phone from his shorts pocket to check the time. It reads 7:28. He groans and Sherlock opens one eye and looks up at him blearily.

"Can you keep it quiet? My head is pounding."

John chuckles, kissing Sherlocks temple. "Thatll be the hangover, love."

"Stop being cute and British down there, I swear to god!"

"Molly, would you ever so kindly shut the fuck up?"

"How do you do that, love? Take one of your debilitating character flaws and make it endearing?"

Greg flings a pillow that hits John square in the head. "Dont encourage him, John."

Molly pulls herself upright on the couch, pulling her messy hair in a bun while she started talking.

"Im gonna go upstairs and make breakfast. You guys want some, come up with me."

Greg and John are right on her heels up the stairs. Sherlock is slower following them up, his interesting in John pulling him along more than his interest in food.