The next day John was back at school. But before he got through the school gates he was bombarded with questions about where he had been and who he had been with. Apparently some of the regular truants had seen him with a mysterious guy in a park. Though John didn't answer the demanding questions, instead he was pulled from the crowd of students by Molly, barging everyone out of the way.
Once they were in their form room she pounced on him with a bone crushing hug and a hushed apology in his ear. Relinquishing her anaconda like hold, she took a step back and looked him in the eye.
"I hope you're happy, I made you popular. So, before you tell anyone else, tell me the whole story first." Molly demanded, then added, "I missed you."
Brow furrowing, John angrily replied, "I am not happy you made me popular. Not happy at all. In fact, I'm furious. There is even more of a chance of the teachers finding out I skipped school now. Look, I was with a boy called Sherlock, he should be coming back around my house tonight to collect his clothes-"
"What the hell? Did you have sex with him?" Molly interjected eyes widening.
"No," John said in disbelief, "No. He hurt his back and he needed a change of clothes. I'm not gay. We've been over this before, Mark was just a stalker. Anyway I took him to the park to collect mud samples but he forgot his vile things and then he got picked up by his brother. Nothing strange about that. Look the bell's about to go and I can't be late today."
John hiked his bag up onto his shoulder and rushed out of the room, ignoring the hurt look on Molly's face, she knew when he wasn't telling the whole truth.
Walking into Maths class, he realized that there would be a supply teacher so he quickly bagged a seat at the back of the class room.
Sluggishly, the other students piled their way into the class room, conveniently sitting in front of him so he could use his phone.
John knew that Sherlock had put his number into his phone (he checked yesterday), so he whipped it out and sent Sherlock a quick text.
-I'm really bored, can we text? x J-
He decided to sign his name to stop any confusion.
A response came through quickly. John peered over the desk to see if anyone was watching and read the message.
-Yes, we can text although I don't know why you needed to ask. I'm coming by your house at around four I have some news to tell you x S-
-what news, cant you just tell me now x J-
John quickly picked up his pen and started to type up some notes as the teacher strolled around to his desk. When she had gone he returned his attentions to his phone.
-too much to tell you in a text. Can I see you at lunch? X S-
-Yeah sure, is it private? X J-
-Yes. But it wont affect you much x S-
- Okay, It was fun yesterday, I can repair the coat if you like x J-
John resurfaced from his phone again to check for onlookers, but finding none he returned to his phone.
-I have plenty of coats, I'm sure one won't go amiss. And yes it was fun yesterday x S-
John was about to reply when a ticking sound invaded his ears. Looking up he saw the supply teacher staring at him expectantly.
"Give me the phone and I expect you in detention tomorrow. Or you can keep your phone, but you must read your texts out loud." The teacher offered.
With baited breath the class waited for John's answer.
"I'll just read the texts, everyone wants to hear them."
Dutifully, John read the texts out word for word. He didn't leave anything out.
Sighing in relief, John sat down and put his phone away, actually concentrating on the lesson.
The next lesson went smoothly, no one asked him questions and he was quite content.
At break no one had really heard about the incident so he was fine with just avoiding Molly for the time being- but lunch was a whole other ball game.
He was bombarded with questions so he successfully slipped into the boys toilets and sat in the cubical. Scrambling for his phone, he saw that Sherlock had texted him multiple times.
-Are you there John? x-
-Are you okay?x-
-scratch that, I'm coming at lunch. Meet me at the back of the sports hall. x-
John sighed and went to see if there was anyone outside the toilet. Pressing his face against door it was shoved open and fell onto the grimy floor.
Gazing up John was met with Sherlock's face.
"Thought you'd be here." Sherlock started, locking the door, "When you weren't at the Spor-"
He was cut off by John pushing him backwards in a warm embrace.
Puzzled Sherlock reciprocated but questioned, "Why are you hugging me?"
"Because when I go out there I will be mobbed with questions and I was publicly humiliated in class and I don't feel like facing them and I need a friendly face I can trust since anything I tell Molly seems to spread around the school like wild fire. I just need a hug. You wouldn't understand."
John hugged slightly harder and Sherlock hissed in pain slightly.
Pulling away immediately John phased into doctor mode.
"Are you okay? I didn't mean to hurt you." John apologised.
"It's okay. My back is still healing." Sherlock reassured.
Nodding John offered, "Do you want me to take a look? Just take your shirt off so I can check it. You did lock the door, right?"
Sherlock bowed his head and shrugged his coat off and threw off his shirt. Bending over the sink, Sherlock winced as John prodded and poked at his scrapes and grazes. Pleased with the way the back was healing John took a look at the older bruises on his pale back. They couldn't have been caused by the fall and they looked pretty deep. The bruises also looked like they were administered by someone who knew what they were doing. But he didn't question it. There was no need.
Stepping back, John mentioned for Sherlock to dress himself.
While dressing himself, Sherlock explained why he turned up, "I have heard recently that a body has been found near here and it has a few interesting markings on it. I figured out that it would be beneficial for me to go an take a look since it has been a while since I have solved a good murder but I need someone to help me into the morgue- no one, no matter how hard I try to persuade them will give me access to the body- apparently because I am too young. Now I need your help to break in to the morgue. Usually I would try to do this on my own, but I have had to enlist the help of my brother so I doubted that I could do it alone. Of course you need to wear something black and tight, but I have that covered, for we shall have to go shopping.
Suddenly the door was pushed open and the same supply teacher from first period burst through the door pushing Sherlock onto John making them trip onto the floor with a thud.
Landing in a tangled heap on the floor John lifted his head to see the teacher staring at them with extreme distaste.
Her heel clicked on the floor as the boys struggled to get up.
Throwing his coat on Sherlock stepped forward to push past the teacher but was prohibited by John catching his arm.
"What on Earth do you think you are doing, boys? I thought you might have been a bot of trouble when I caught you texting in class but I didn't think that you would stoop to this level of... of... I expect you by the Principle's Office in exactly five minutes." The teacher stormed out of the dingy toilet.
Sherlock looked at John, "Well that was tedious. Come along John. I don't see the point of going to see the Principle, she'll only tell us things we already know. I have more important things to show you."
John looked to Sherlock, head tilted at an angle and lips pursed, "Hang on a second. You mean we're going to skip school again?"
"Yes, now stop stating the obvious. It's annoying."
The small boy let himself be dragged along by Sherlock out of the school gates and up the long road leading away from the school.
John bit his lip to stop him from crying out in surprise as Sherlock harshly pulled him into a dark alley.
"Shh someone's coming." He whispered, pressing John flat to the wall.
"No one's coming. You're being-"
Sherlock's hand wrapped around his mouth.
A boy a bit younger than the two teenagers stood at the mouth of the alley staring at them. He had dark hair and a suspicious smile. Snapping a picture of the two people he ran off, leaving the two boys to contemplate what the hell had happened.
Immediately Sherlock dived into a state of serenity, freezing in time. Still pressing John to the wall.
Coughing uncomfortably, John tried to manoeuvre himself out of Sherlock's personal space. He succeeded and managed to pull Sherlock along to the road in which he hailed a taxi into town.
A/N Second chapter down wooohooo some plot starting to work its way into here and im getting excited. These chapters arent very long but don't worry I shall update soon (she says realising suddenly that she probably won't) but please enjoy and maybe leave a review hint hint. ..