Chapter Twenty-Four: Daisy by Marc Jacobs
I pace endlessly in my room, wondering when Sherlock will be home. I have opened myself up to James, making me vulnerable to judgment. I quickly pack up the documents, the examiner's report and the police report back into the folder, and place it back into the dusty corner I found it. I pray to God that Sherlock doesn't notice, for I would have to answer to him… and Molly.
It was an hour later that Sherlock had arrived home, his hair was ruffled and his shirt all crinkled. He smelt of perfume… Molly's perfume.
"Where have you been?" I huff, crossing my arms and slanting. "Took you long enough to get back."
"None of your business Clara Eloise." Sherlock grumbled. "Mind explaining this though?" He pulled out his phone and flicked up a picture. I snatched the phone out of his hand, scanning the photo as if my life depended it on it. I recognize that blond hair anywhere. It was James and I…kissing.
"None of your business William Sherlock Scott." I say. "Have you been spying on me?" I question.
"Maybe." He said, taking the phone out of my grasp. "You're lucky I haven't told Molly, she would kill that boy."
"You're lucky I haven't kill you yet." I say, giving him a snarky look. "What gives you the right to follow me everywhere I go?"
"You're my daughter." He said, moving past me and into his chair. "What makes you think you can go about kissing James?"
"Because I am a free thinking person and you can't control my every action. I didn't kiss him, he kissed me." I say, setting myself down in John's old chair. Silence grew between us, like a cancer.
"How are you and Molly?" I say. Sherlock gives me the darkest of stares, like he was burning the heart out of me. His eyes widen in surprise and he avoids all eye contact. "I may not be as smart as you Sherlock, but I'm not stupid." I say. He rolls his eyes.
"Fine. Enlighten me." He said, sitting up in his seat like he was eager to hear what I had to say.
"Well first of all, when you got home, I noticed your hair was more ruffled than usual, now it could have just been the wind outside, but there is not even a breeze. You could have done it to yourself, but you haven't done that in the time of me living with you. So it left one thing, you were with someone, a woman. Then there's your shirt, perfectly ironed when I saw you last, you come home and it's all crinkled. The crinkles are positioned on your chest, one on either side, which makes these unique. Someone grabbed you by the shirt and pulled you towards them. How do I know it was towards them? I can smell faint traces of female perfume, Marc Jacobs's Daisy to be exact. Now I know it is a popular brand and all, but I know only one person who wears it that you would be near, and her name is Molly Elizabeth Hooper." I say, giving a smile at the end. "So it leaves me to conclude that you and Molly are in a relationship." Sherlock sat there, motionless.
"You are good." Sherlock said. "Very good." He got up and came closer to me, his eyes moving from side to side, examining every inch of me. His eyebrows furrow in frustration.
"You aren't going to get anything, I know you can't." I say.
"For now Clara, only for now." He sneered. "But yes, you are right, Molly and I have begun what you so poetically call a relationship."
"May I ask how long?" I questioned.
"Just before you came into the picture, I asked her out for some coffee in thanks for solving a major case that we had." He said proudly.
"Well isn't that lovely." I say.
"What about you, how long have you been dating James behind our backs?"
"I haven't, he just kissed me tonight."
"Well judging from the way he kissed you, you one, enjoyed it, and two, have similar feelings." He argued.
"No shit Sherlock, what is a girl to do? He's my only friend, I have no one else."
"You only need one person. For a long time, John was my only friend. And that's all you need."
"Friendship 101 with a sociopath, how inspiring." I mock.
"Now that's just hypocritical." Sherlock smirked. "I'm not the only sociopath in this room."
"Clara wake up." A voice spoke gently. "Clara it's me." I turned in my bed, pulling my covers over my shoulders and tucking my legs in slightly.
"Clara, wake up." The same voice says. I feel someone touching my forehead, gingerly tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Clara, wake up, we've got work to do!" The voice bellowed. I finally get the strength to open my eyelids, the light from the window blinding my eyes. I finally see the person that voice belongs to.
"James! What are you doing here?!" I ask, pulling the sheets over me.
"Clara, I've seen you with only a bra and knickers on, you don't need to cover up." He whispered.
"That does answer the question, what are you doing here?"
"We are doing our assignment? For biology."
"Who let you in?"
"I did." Sherlock said, entering my room. "Finally wanted to meet this young man." I glare at Sherlock, I know he is trying to make it look like he doesn't know.
"Yeah, he said we could go out for a bit and then come back and do some more of it." James said, sitting down of the end of the bed.
"Um, okay, well if you two don't mind, I would like to have a shower and get dressed."
"Right, of course, I'll just be outside." James stuttered, standing up and exiting the room, leaving Sherlock and I.
"You are bloody unbelievable Sherlock." I say.
"Well here's a hint for you, take note of what James was wearing." He said, before swiftly exiting before I could argue. I jump out of bed and grab my nicest pair of jeans, top and jumper, along with clean hosiery. I run to the bathroom and have the quickest shower I could muster. I get changed and run back to my room to find James, making my bed.
"You didn't have to do that." I say, opening my cupboard and grabbing my Converses.
"Well if it means I get to spend more time with you than I will." He said, adding the last pillow onto the bed. I sit down on the floor and stuff my feet in my shoes, trying to do them up as quickly as I can. "Clara you don't have to rush, seriously." James said, motioning for me to slow down. I lace up the last shoe slower, taking more time to actually do it correctly. James places his hand in front of me, offering his assistance. I grasp his hand and he pulls me up with one mighty heave. He places his free hand on the small of my back, sending tingles all over my body. I feel the blood gushing over my face and look down to hide my tomato face.
"Stop it… please." I whisper. James instantly lets go of my back and hand. I notice that he is now blushing bright crimson. I walk out of my room, hoping to break the awkward silence.
"Ah Clara, I need a word with you in private please." Sherlock said as soon as he saw me. He stands up and wanders to the kitchen. I follow him, scurrying into the kitchen like a startled rat.
"What do you want now?" I whisper sternly.
"Be careful, Moriarty is out there and he has threaten both you and me."
"I will be fine, just fine okay." I say, walking out of the kitchen, only to see James holding my coat, beanie and gloves in his hands.
"Ready?" He said with a smile.
"As ready as I will every be." I say, taking my belongings from him.
"Thank you Mr. Holmes for letting me take your daughter out."
"Just bring her back by 10." He said sternly. "Goodbye you two." He said.
"Bye Dad." I wave him off and shut the door behind me.
James and I sat at the café, sipping on our hot chocolates and nibbling at cake. All I can think about now is the message left at the scene. Dangling in the centre of the room, the man with the rope around his neck. The words… MY ODIUM SIDES. Unknownly, I have scribbled them on the napkin with the pen left by the last customer.
"My odium sides... what does that mean Clara?" James said. I didn't answer. "Okay… I am just going to the bathroom, I will be right back." He said, placing a light kiss on my cheek. I snap out of it and tune into seeing James head to the back of the café. I stare at the napkin, blankly and perplexed. I sip at my hot chocolate and eat a small portion of the slice of cake. Before I knew it, James slide beside me and touched my hand. I gasp in shock.
"Woah, did you miss me or something?" He giggled. It clicked. It finally clicked.
"Oh my God." I gasp. I grab the pen and scribble down the phrase that has jumped into my head. I pick up the napkin and examine the words. They stare back at me, I knew this had to be it. On the napkin in black ink were the words DID YOU MISS ME?
"James we need to go to Scotland Yard. Now." I blurt out.
"What? Why?" James said. I stood up and tried to get past him.
"James I need to go to Scotland Yard, please could you move."
"You aren't going by yourself, I'm coming with you."
"Fine." I say, pushing myself past him.
"Why do you need to go to the Yard?"
"I have something they need, something to solve a murder." I say, before storming out of the café and running towards the Yard with James following me close behind.