Author's Note: Hey all. It's been a very busy summer for me. I just barely got this written. And I won't be around to update again for about a month and a half. Sorry. You know how summer can be. But anyway! It's a kinda long chapter! So be happy! Also, if you are into this genre of story (meaning teenage girls at 221B) go check out the amazing story of Ebony! It's titled Kindred Spirits and is written by pruplup4. It's great I'm sure it would even make Moffat emotional. GO READ IT!
Three weeks later I had much on my mind as school had started and was taking up a lot of my time. Time that could be better used to help Sherlock.
The school I attended wasn't far from Baker street; close enough that I could walk there with Luke. Charlie's school was further away but he was dropped off by Henry on his way to work.
Classes were interesting enough and I got good grades.
For the hundredth time I glanced at the two paper tickets in my hand. Should I invite them? What if they said no? Would it matter if they did? Why do I need someone to come see me perform anyway? I had two parent tickets to see a talent which I would be performing in. It was a huge show; schools from all over the London area participated. The problem was that Amy and Henry couldn't go. It was disappointing yet strangely I hadn't expected anything else. I was contemplating asking Sherlock and John to come, but I wasn't sure. I didn't want to be let down again. I took a deep breath and decided that I was use to being let down and that it wouldn't matter if they came or not. I slipped my feet into a pair of flip flops and trudged upstairs.
No one answered when I knocked so I just went in. I guess that kinda defeated the purpose of knocking in the first place but I didn't care. After a searching glance around the flat, I smartly deduced that no one was home. I sat in Johns chair to wait, then glanced around sneakily and switched to Sherlock's chair. I had never sat there before and I could see why he never let anyone else sit in it. The grey leather was soft and supple and just molded to my form. I grinned and crossed a leg over the other and steepled my hands under my protruding chin. A classic Sherlock pose.
"I deduce that you love John very much!" I accused the chair across from me. The window was cracked open slightly and an autumn breeze blew lazily into the room. I jumped as it caught a crumpled sheet of paper that hadn't quite made it into the trash and brought it closer to me. Ever curious, I snatched it up and smoothed it out as best I could. It was sheet music for violin. An original composition by Sherlock.
"Wow," I whispered at the intricate notes and dynamics. It looked beautiful but apparently hadn't met Sherlock's standards.
The title read "The Woman".
Had there been a woman in Sherlock's life? I must say I was skeptical and if he did then I pitied her. What was thrown away wouldn't be missed so I tucked the paper into my pocket. I wanted to try it out on my own violin later.
I heard footsteps coming up the stairs and the familiar voices of Sherlock and John arguing. I dove onto John's chair and ended up sitting backwards, facing the door.
"Ah, Evelyn!" Sherlock greeted in an unusually good mood, "Excellent! Just who I needed to see!"
My eyebrows shot up. "Really? What for?"
"I don't know...John said I should practice my manners and politeness. It seemed appropriate."
I smiled to hide my disappointment and said, "Well done. It was nicely timed."
This time I cracked a genuine smile at his look of pride.
"Whatcha up to?"
"John forced me to endure some extreme form of modern torture and to be honest I would have preferred the whips and fingernail twisters. Apparently one should know how buy food."
"Sounds intriguing."
"Minimally."
I fingered the tickets in my pocket.
"Sherlock?"
"Yes?" He sat in his chair and steepled his hands under his chin. I wasn't sure if he was actually listening or if it was just an automated response. Before I could ask, John walked through the front door with bags of groceries in both hands.
"Well you could have atleast helped me carry the bags!" He said with annoyance as he displayed the bags.
-From John's point of view-
John wasn't surprised to see the beanpole of a girl with braided brown hair and long nose gliding down her face sitting in his chair clutching a Union Jack pillow to her chest. Her visits were frequent and welcome. Her mind was similar to that of Sherlock's and she distracted him wonderfully when he was bored.
She went to a good school, got good grades (he knew because she proudly showed them to him after he helped her with homework), her foster brothers were fine lads and that just left her foster parents...unfortunately they were less than supportive of her. He guessed from watching her that they started out wonderful parents, then their interest in her dwindled and now she felt like a burden and a nuisance.
Sherlock wasn't the only one who could deduce people.
John put the groceries in the kitchen with a familiar routine. Evelyn got up and helped him; she knew where everything went and to avoid Sherlock's array of oddities in the refrigerator. Sherlock hadn't gotten up to help and from his place on his throne he noticed Evelyn twitch and tap her foot. That usually meant she wanted to ask something.
"What?" He asked. She glanced at him with confusion as she sat down on the couch and put her feet up on the coffee table. They immediately came down again as John shouted from the kitchen, "feet off the table!"
"I didn't say anything," she continued.
"But you want to ask something."
"Stop deducing me," she replied with annoyance and crossed her arms.
"It wasn't deducing," he said, talking to her in the same tone you would a small child, "I merely noticed that you tap your foot and twitch when you want to ask a question."
"I don't twitch!" She protested.
"Yes, like this." Sherlock demonstrated the twitching. It was quite ridiculous looking so she threw a pillow at him. He caught it and told her for the sake of his nerves to please grow up.
"I wanted to ask if you guys would like to come to my school's talent show." She waved the tickets in the air nonchalantly, but one look and John could tell it meant a lot to her.
Sherlock sighed and closed his eyes, "How many times have I told you, Evelyn? Such inconsequential things do not interest me."
John, however, had other ideas.
"We'd love to come," he said, ignoring Sherlock.
"We would?" Asked Sherlock
"You would?" Asked Evelyn.
"Of course." He took the tickets from her only to have them snatched from his hands by Sherlock who immediately started examining them.
"What are you doing?" Evelyn asked with a look of bewilderment on her face as she watched him sniff them.
"Someone in your school has been doing drugs. Presumably the person who gave these to you."
"Caleb Newman?" Evelyn said, her eyes wide, "No way!"
"Is he a student?" asked John.
"Not just a student, only the most popular boy in the school! Everyone loves him. Kind of a teachers pet and suck up if you ask me," she added.
Sherlock smirked.
"So you are coming?" She asked again, leaving the subject of Caleb Newman and his drugs behind.
"Of cou-" John started to say.
"If there aren't any more interesting matters to attend at the time of the performance, then yes, we will be there," Sherlock interrupted rudely.
Evelyn scowled, "whatever, I hope you can come." And with that she skulked out if the flat.
I really hoped they came. I couldn't stand being the only kid there without a parent or even a guest. This talent show was apparently a pretty big deal. There were quite a few contestants, I heard. Apparently it was very competitive and could get brutal sometimes. The winner would get one hundred pounds. I had convinced myself that that money was mine.
I still hadn't figured out what I wanted to play. The talent show was in two weeks so I better decide quickly or I wouldn't have anything ready.
I sat cross legged on my bed with my violin next to me and pulled out the music from my pocket. Smoothing it out once again, I positioned the instrument under my chin and tried out the first few notes. The melody was instant and beautiful. None of this intro thing, it got right down to the main part. I liked that. It wasn't a very long piece; only a page, but it was perfect. I decided this is what I was going to play. Sherlock wouldn't care.
At least I hoped not.
The night of the talent show came very quickly. It was just before six o'clock and the show started right on the hour.
The past two weeks I had intently perfected the song until I could play it from memory so I wasn't feeling too nervous.
I peeked out from behind the curtained stage to gauge how many people were there.
I take back what I said before. Almost every seat was filled and I was very nervous. My eyes hurriedly scanned the crowd for the doctor and the detective. The familiar sensation of disappointment plagued my mind and stomach when I didn't see them.
I quickly jumped back from the curtain, making it sway slightly, as someone yelled my name.
"Ms. West! Get away from there!"
It was Mr. Zitzner, the dean of my school. A very strict and uptight man, I hated him. Most students did, which resulted in him being the butt of many jokes. 'Would you like some cream, Mr. Zitzner?' 'I know a doctor who specialises in...facial treatment, Mr. Zitzner, would you like his number?'
Stuff like that.
"Yes, Mr Zitzner," I said hastily as I tried to scamper away. I didn't need any trouble from him right now. I had to focus on my music.
Before I could escape, Mr Zitzner stepped into my path. I cowered, praying he hadn't somehow found out it was me who had initiated the chair and cream cheese prank trend. There would be hell to pay for that.
He stiffly held out a sheet of paper for me to take. "Here's the line-up. Try not to mess up. I don't need my school to look bad."
Relief lowered my shoulders and I could breathe again. That was a close call.
"Yes, Mr. Zitzner," I said warily, in case he really did know something about the cream cheese. As soon as he disappeared out the side stage door, I hurriedly scanned the long list of names on the paper.
Evelyn West
There was my name!...and it was third from last. Crap, this was going to be a long evening.
Woohoo! And there you have it! I actually do have a bit more written and will try to pop out another chapter before my long absence. OKAY
remember to check out PRUPLUP4'S KINDRED SPIRITS! I love it!
Also please REVIEW. I REALLY appreciated stuff like that. I mean you have no idea. Really. Thanks, ladies and gentlemen. :D
