Chapter 3
It was four in the afternoon when John finally decided to give Jen a call.
It rung two, three, four times and just when he was about to give up, she answered the phone.
"Hello?" The cheery voice greeted.
"Jen?" John answered.
"John! You decided to call." Jen remarked.
They talked for a little over five minutes about nothing in particular. It was just a typical phone call to a friend.
"Would you like to come over for dinner?" Jen asked, and a brief moment of silence passed between both lines.
"Sure." John responded.
You could practically hear the smile in Jen's voice. "Great, here's my address."
John wrote her address down on his forearm and they bid their farewells and hung up. Once John pressed the 'End' button, he realized that he had missed a text message earlier on that day. He opened it and began to read.
John...?
SH
John sighed, his heart feeling heavy immediately. What would Sherlock think if John told him he was having dinner with his ex-girlfriend? But Jen's just a friend, and Sherlock could certainly wait just a little while longer. He shouldn't worry; John's a grown man and he does have friends.
Sherlock lid down on the couch, his arms at his sides and his eyes staring up at the ceiling. He missed John's presence immediately after he stormed out. Sherlock knew he didn't do anything wrong, but he couldn't help but feel guilty for making John feel so insecure about their relationship. Maybe it was a bad idea to pursue one in the first place.
Why couldn't others mind their own business? Why couldn't they focus on their own relationships? Why do they have to pick on others and act rude? Nothing is wrong with gay couples, or any couples at all! Couldn't they just leave them alone? Let them love each other?
Sherlock didn't understand. It was the only think he didn't understand - except for the Solar System of course. There was no need for such nonsense. Humans live on Earth, and until they have proof that there are other living specimens on another planet, then he doesn't need to know what's out in the universe.
Sherlock reached over the table and grabbed his phone. Still not text from John. There was one from Mycroft, instead.
Sherlock opened the attached file that his older brother sent him, and frowned ever so slightly at the photo.
It was of John sitting in the coffee shop, across from a brunette. He was smiling. From the angle that the picture was taken, it didn't give any hint of the brunette's identity.
With that attachment, came a message.
I've never seen her before
I bet you never did either
She's John's old friend
I just thought you should
know, considering that little
hasty exit John made not too
long ago.
Don't call - I've got business
MH
Sherlock frowned even more. Damn Mycroft and his spying. But that was the least of Sherlock's concerns. John was out with a brunette? An old friend? Surely, Sherlock shouldn't be so worried. John's faithful, and they were only friends, as Mycroft put it. But it still bothered him.
Sherlock glanced at the time. Six thirty in the evening and John hasn't come back yet. He didn't so much as text. But John's a grown man, he can take care of himself.
He did say he needed time to think.
Sherlock rolled over on the couch, facing the backrest. He sighed and was drawn into unconsciousness.