Chapter nine – Saturday

It's cold when Clarissa arrives at the park on Saturday. The air was cold enough to warrant her wearing a coat, it was a simple black winter coat that covered up a simple grey top and black skinny jeans. Sherlock was sat on the bench as she approached. He was wrapped up in his dark grey coat that made him look mysterious with a blue scarf wrapped around his neck. She had no doubt that he was wearing a shirt, black trousers and the matching blazer underneath. It seemed to be his look, the only other thing she had actually seen him in was a jumper. All his clothes were well tailored that was to say, they were tight and obviously expensive.

Clarissa sat herself down next to him, far enough that she wasn't crowding him while being close enough to feel the heat emulating from him. Sherlock's eyes remained focused on the pond in front of them as he handed her a travel coffee from a local coffee shop. The pond was slightly frosted over from the cold night air with visual heat rising from the slightly hotter air. A layer of frost was covering the whole of the park, only sections of the grass were frost free from the small amounts of sun light that were fighting its way through clouds.

Sherlock's grey eyes remained focused on the pond like he was deliberately trying to ignore her. Clarissa didn't take it to heart, instead she took a sip of her coffee. It was perfect, sweet from the sugar but still bitter from being without milk. It was an acceptable drink but she wouldn't drink it completely out of her own leisure, it was more for waking herself up than anything.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Sherlock asked after a few moment, the rich baritone breaking the silence between them. It was the only sound in the park at this moment other that the small sounds of nature. It was still early so no one would be around.

"I've never been surer in my life" she admitted, taking a long sip of coffee.

"Good…that's good" Sherlock commented before taking a sip of his own coffee. He placed the cup on the ground and turned his body so he was facing her. Grey eyes speckled with blue as he looked at her for the first time this morning.

"I guess you need some reassurance" she ventured, eyes fixed on his. "that this isn't just some kind of schoolgirl crush. I mean you'd be risking a lot just thinking about dating me but actually doing it is your whole career and reputation on the line. I think you should know that I would rather this not happen then have you risk everything. I'm not at risk, nothing will happen to me if this goes sour." Clarissa took a large breath. "The media would no doubt paint the picture of a damaged girl whose teacher took advantage of her. Even if it is far from the truth. Sherlock" she said his name hesitantly having only ever called him Mr Holmes before, it was exhilarating to say his name. "I know how I feel about you, it's the only thing I really know. I feel it in my stomach every time I see you, it makes me feel sick and my heart ache. Is that real enough to risk everything?"

Sherlock continued to stare at her. His face remaining neutral and not giving away any of his thoughts, instead he studied her face. "This wouldn't be like any other relationship you have had. You wouldn't be able to tell anyone and we'd have to be careful."

"I have no one to tell and I'm great at keeping secrets." She muttered playfully in response.

"Another thing" Sherlock's eyes narrowed and brows knitted at her. "I don't want you to hide from me ever, I want you to be able to trust me with anything."

"I do" she reassured, rubbing her hands against the heated coffee cup for warmth.

"I know that your father is abusing you but I will not press the matter as long as you are safe." Sherlock managed, unable to keep the anger from his voice.

Clarissa was unable to provide a response, instead she brought her lips to his in a chaste kiss in a hope that it would be answer enough. She also really wanted to kiss him, it had been the first and last thought in her mind since kissing him yesterday. When she pulled away Sherlock's lips followed, his eyes were wide open and staring into hers.

The feeling of a hand at the back of her head gave her the push she needed to seal their lips together again. Sherlock's eyes shut seconds after hers and Clarissa parted her lips to allow him access to her mouth. There was the taste of coffee from both their mouths with the underlining taste of cherry from her lips balm. Sherlock pulled away first, planting a chaste kiss on her lips and resting his forehead on hers for a moment. "I don't share" he whispered possessively.

"Then I won't make you" she responded in a whisper. "If you want me to be, I'll be yours."

Sherlock's mouth turned into a smile. "You already are" he said slowly, each word spoken with every letter pronounced. He lent forward to kiss her again, a chaste kiss before deepening it. Moist lips rubbed against each other as her tongue entered his mouth first, taking initiative like she had been dying to.