***A/N:

Thanks for everyone who has stuck with me this far. I'm back on a daily update schedule unless something comes up. Please keep reviewing, sometimes it's the only thing that keeps me writing. (As I said, I'm a terrible self-motivator.) Tell me what you want to happen next, what you like, what you hate, what you think needs a touch up. I take all reviews seriously and appreciate any and all feedback.

On one other note, sorry for the cliff-hanger tonight. Hope you enjoy the new chapter!

***New tags: none

Contemplating life wasn't something John had a lot of time to do on an average day, but it's what he found himself doing as he got on the bus with Harry, (semi-permanently attached at the lips to Una), on his way home from school. He didn't know what he was doing anymore with the new kid- no, he couldn't say that anymore. It sounded too impersonal, too stiff and formal for what they had. A friendship, a connection, whatever you wanted to call it, it was there. And it wasn't supposed to be. He hadn't meant to befriend Sherlock Holmes, not really. Just another new kid, he'd thought, just someone else to help fit in with the crowd, to save from the idiotic Anderson and his cronies. He'd been proved wrong. Completely.

Sherlock Holmes was a wonder, an impossibility, and a brilliance, comparable to that of the brightest of stars. He was quick-witted, intelligent company. He was funny, in his own quirky way, and he always had an opinion on everything. Best of all, things were never, ever boring with Sherlock around. John found himself genuinely liking him, and enjoying the time they spent together. Things were spinning out of control rather quickly and he wasn't sure he'd be able to survive another complication in his life right then. With his father out of jail, his sister dating his host mother's daughter (and if that wasn't a relationship doomed to an overly dramatic and heart-wrenching end, he did know what one was), and the bullies of the school just barely held in check, he couldn't really deal with Sherlock questioning the status quo at school on a daily basis.

But he didn't want to give up on Sherlock either. He didn't want to lose Sherlock's friendship. It was the one real, healthy relationship he was in at the moment, and he wanted it to last. He sighed and shifted in his seat, ever conscious of the passionate snogging occurring only inches away from him. This was going to blow up in his face; he just knew he couldn't handle so many different things at once. But they were all too precious to give up. So he'd cling to them and hope for the best.

*DING*

Thankful for the distraction from his dreary thoughts, he pulled out his phone to check the text message.

Fr: S.H.

To: J.W.

4:32p.m.

Come to my house after school tomorrow if convenient.

What? John thought, Where'd that come from? They never hung out after school, mostly because John wasn't planning on becoming actual friends with Sherlock and was kind of in denial about the whole thing (until now.) Oh well, he didn't have any such qualms now. Plus, he was curious-

Fr: J.W.

To: S.H.

4:34p.m.

Alright, but I'll need a ride. I have to make sure Harry gets home safely; can you pick me up from my apartment?

The bus pulled up to their stop and he nudged Harry in the ribs and stood, weaving his way through the standing crowd to the front of the bus.

*DING*

Fr: S.H.

To: J.W.

4:35p.m.

Yes. What time?

He grinned. Sherlock's texting style was just so him; all no-nonsense and to the point. He glanced up in time to narrowly avoid tripping down the bus stairs and quickly shoved his phone back into his pocket, mindful of Harry and Una's staggering progress behind him.

*DING*

Fr: S.H.

To: J.W.

4:37p.m.

John?

He dug his phone back out and read the text. The impatience of the man was another thing that amazed John, although not in an entirely good way. Harry and Una were just getting off the bus, (finally), and John guided them firmly across the street and unlocked the front door for them.

"You guys go on up, I'll be there in few minutes. I'm going to go for a walk."

Harry rolled her eyes and started dragging Una inside. "We're not in primary school John, we can handle ourselves. You don't need to walk us home."

"Yeah, whatever you say Harry. Be good. I don't want to come back to you two doing anything that you wouldn't want Mrs. Hudson seeing. See you later Una."

Una blushed and nodded. She was always shy around guys, no matter how often she tried to interact with them. (She was most definitely not shy around girls, going by the amount of times he'd caught her snogging one.) With one last wave, she and Harry made their way into the flat. He watched until he saw the door shut behind them before he locked it and turned around…

…Only to drop his phone in shock.

"Hello Johnny m'boy. Miss me?"

*DING*

Fr: S.H.

To: J.W.

4:40p.m.

JOHN?

*DING*

Fr: S.H.

To: J.W.

4:45p.m.

JOHN?

*DING*

Fr: S.H.

To: J.W.

4:55p.m.

JOHN?