A/N: HEEELLLOOO! And thus the next chapter begins! Buuuuut, before that, I just wanted to thank you guys, so much :D Nearly 3,000 views and 41 follows! Seriously, it means so much that you guys like my story.
Also, WOHO! we made it to double digit chapters! :D
And so it begins...
John groaned. He was an idiot. He'd really done it this time.
"John, I don't understand why you're so upset," Sherlock said, sitting next to him on John's bed.
"I overreacted, and know they'll know," he looked down at his hands, "So much for keeping it a secret."
"John, even if they do figure it out, which is unlikely considering their limited brainpower, what exactly are you afraid of?"
"Well, for one, school would become hell, then, rumors will spread, and god knows it will reach my parents… and…"
"Oh… I see." Sherlock had forgotten about John's father. Well, he hadn't forgotten, Sherlock hardly forgets, he had deleted it. He kept the information on the importance of keeping it quiet but he didn't want to have to think about John's father too much. He thought that they could easily handle bulling at school, but home was different, and both, and then with a homophobic, drunk father…
Sherlock had been bullied all his life, he could handle his idiot classmates, but for John, John who had always been social and popular and liked before Sherlock came along, it would be new kind of pain. Normally Sherlock would never care about that, he didn't ever care when he was victim and rarely cared for others, but thinking about anyone harming his John. That was not acceptable. Not fair.
John was so good, and so kind. He was loyal, but not soft. No, he was strong, a fighter. He could get through it, but Sherlock didn't want him to have to.
They sat in silence, but then, Sherlock took hold of John's hand. John was a bit surprised. He and Sherlock had been together for weeks now, but Sherlock still found it difficult to express his feelings most of the time. Of course, holding hands was something they were not unfamiliar to, but John could feel the emotion behind it.
He looked up from their hands, and Sherlock gave him an uncharacteristically shy smile, and John responded by giving their interlaced hands a squeeze. He sighed and rested his head on Sherlock's shoulder.
Sherlock had the intellect of more than a dozen grown men combined; he would find a way to get through it, even possibly avoid it all together, though he doubted the latter.
All they needed was each other, and he really hoped that would be enough.
But then, a thought hit Sherlock. Why did it have to be enough? Why did they have to hide? Why did they have to worry over keeping it secret? How was that fair? It wasn't, not at all and it made Sherlock have a bitter taste in his mouth. Sherlock and John shouldn't have to conceal their relationship from anyone. Love was love, and it didn't matter who they were. Oh, love. Why did he keep thinking that? He should really stop doing that.
The next day of school was surprising normal. Well, at least as normal as it got for John and Sherlock. No one interacted with them really, besides a few sneers and a little name-calling, which they easily ignored. It was nothing they weren't already accustomed to when it came to school. Anderson was strangely quiet and did not make fun of them at all. It was a bit unnerving. John knew none of Anderson's 'friends' would have realized John's extreme reaction to boyfriend, they were all as smart as a lump of dirt (combined), but Anderson was not as easily fooled, John was sure of that even if Sherlock was not, but for some reason, Anderson said nothing, did nothing. Surely Sherlock would know why, he would ask later.
Later never came.
Anderson cornered John. Well, when I say cornered it's more like confronted, when Sherlock happened to be away. They were alone. Sherlock had gone to Math, but John had a free period, so he found himself, like on these occasions, by himself. Usually went to the library to study, but Anderson got to him first.
"John," he called after him. No, no, no, no. Shit.
John might have tried to walk away, but he was in no mood to look weak. He turned sharply, "What do you want Anderson?" he spat.
"I just need to speak with you. No harm intended," he said raising his arms in surrender.
Yeah, okay, sure. Like John was going to believe that.
"Yeah? What about?" the iciness did not leaving John's voice.
"Well, uh, it has do with yesterday," Anderson shuffled awkwardly. What? Why was he doing that? Why wasn't he taunting him yet?
"What about yesterday?" John said, still menacingly, but also a bit unsure, confused by Anderson's behavior.
"I was just going to say, that, uh," he paused uncomfortably, "that it's okay if your queer, I mean."
"What?" John said genuinely shocked. This was definitely not the conversation he'd thought he'd be having with Anderson of all people.
"Yeah, I, well, my uncle, uncles are gay, so I don't, well, you know… I won't tell anyone."
"I- uh, yeah, okay. Thanks, I guess," John struggled for words. This was one of the strangest encounters he'd had in a long time.
"But don't expect me to be nice to the freak or anything," he said suddenly fierce, "He's still a stalker and a weirdo, so nothing's changed. It's just… I won't do anything, because of that…"
"Uh, yeah," he chuckled a little, but it was a bit awkward and shaky, "I thought as much."
"Okay, so, uh, bye." Anderson suddenly strode away, down the hall, leaving a stunned John to stand, alone. Did that really just happened?
The bell rang then, making John jump, and the halls began to fill with students. Sherlock found him easily, and upon seeing the look on his face, he inquired, "John, what's happened?"
"Uh, I'll tell you about it after."
"Anderson confronted you?" he said in disbelief.
"Yes." They sat in John's bedroom, as usual, sitting on his bed, leaning on the wall, inches apart.
Then Sherlock realized something, his reaction to it was almost physical, like it blew him back a little, and hit his head with his hand. "Oh of course! Stupid! He has homosexual relatives! I saw it the first time I saw it, deemed it as unimportant and deleted it, I assume. Of course, that makes complete sense now."
"Uh, yeah, right. Anyways I suppose everything is solved then? I mean Anderson is the only one who knows, well besides Harry, which I settled, and he's not going to tell anyone, so…"
"Ah, yes. I suspect he was being genuine. I don't think he will tell anyone, but John, I don't think this is quite over yet," he paused.
"What do you mean Sherlock?"
"What I mean is, that Anderson and Harry have agreed not to tell anyone, which is agreeable for now, but John, I don't want to have to stay like this forever."
"Sorry?" John asked with his brows furrowed.
"John, I care about you, very much, as we've already established, and I don't want to have to hide. I realize why we must, and it hasn't been horrible to keep it a secret so far, but I don't want to continue this way for much longer."
"Sherlock…"
"John, I know. It's more difficult for you than me also, considering how I am used to ostracism and ridiculing from an early age, but it seems so unjust that we must hide when any other regular couple don't have to. I also realize that I'm being incredibly selfish in saying this, but John, you're the only person I've ever cared about, and in a way, I'm, well, proud that I could get someone a good as you to care for someone as, well, me. I want to be able to 'show you off' per se, and be able to say that you are mine." Sherlock's gaze was deep and honest, but also uneasy, and Sherlock's display of emotions, yet again surprised John. His heart swelled and he knew that this was one of those rare occasions, where Sherlock did express himself, as much as Sherlock could anyways. And Sherlock admitted to being selfish. Wow.
He gazed back into Sherlock's multicolored, thoughtful eyes, and gave him a small smile before leaning forward and planting a soft kiss on the other boy's lips. He pulled away a bit and rested their foreheads together, closing his eyes.
"You're right, Sherlock. Of course you are, but I'm not ready, not yet. I'm sorry," John said quietly.
Sherlock hesitated, and then said softly, "I will wait."
And they stayed that way, foreheads pressed together, eyes closed, fingers intertwined, and warm breaths mingling, for a long time.
I love you. Neither had to say it.
A/N: And there you go! The 10th chapter! Hope you liked it. Please tell me what you think, feel free to review or send me a PM. :D
I know Anderson might seem a little OOC, or strange, but really, he just hates Sherlock, I mean he teases John too, but besides being friends with Sherlock, doesn't really have a reason of hate him. Plus Anderson sucks, but he's not and entirely horrible person, so I can definitely imagine this happening.
Also, side note, I will not be posting for at least a week (SORRY), but it is very much against my will, I swear. I am being ripped from the civilised world to go on a school camping trip :P ughh. Anyways, as soon as I get back I promise to upload. I feel so bad :( alas, what can I do? It is mandatory that I go. I will miss you guys and my computer very much :(