Sherlock couldn't believe his luck. It'd been a week since he first saw bonds-companion, and it seemed he's seen him multiple times a day since then. He seemed to show up everywhere now that Sherlock knew what to look for. He had hoped he would just disappear completely. Sherlock still checked John's blog daily, but he never sent any more asks. He refused to, partially because he believed bonds-companion wanted nothing to do with him, and partially because he felt like he was too attached and needed to distance himself. Sentiment was a chemical defect found on the losing side.

Molly continued to pester him with questions, but he didn't answer. He did get her to promise she wouldn't write any more asks either. Or rather he demanded she not converse with him. She rolled her eyes and sighed plenty of times during that conversation, but he felt certain that she would do as suggested.

Meanwhile, Sherlock had to figure out how to deal with seeing the boy around almost every corner in school. He didn't even react when he saw Sherlock, more than a wary glance the first few times. It seemed that bonds-companion was convinced Sherlock wouldn't try to talk to him and was set at ease.

Monday brought Molly to his house once again, though she now just entered without knocking, which was better for everyone involved. He tried to stay off of tumblr when Molly was present, not wanting her looks or comments. But she sighed and took over his computer going to bonds-companions blog for him. He didn't say anything, but his eyes widened at the first post he saw.

bonds-companion:

Anon? I wish I knew your blog, if anything just to make sure you're alright. It's just been a while since you've sent me anything and seeing as my blog is the only access to communication with you, I thought I'd try this way. Just tell me you're alright. I miss your teasing comments and annoying banter. So send me another ask soon, yeah?

Molly glanced at him. "I thought you said he wanted nothing to do with you now that he knew?" She asked softly. Sherlock didn't answer, his mind was whirring, trying to find an explanation. It didn't make sense. Why would bonds-companion act the way he did at school and then post something online about him missing him? He shook his head and went to close his computer, but Molly's hand on his wrist stopped him. "Wait." She said softly before turning the computer toward herself.

Molly quickly logged him out and logged into her own blog and sure enough she had an ask from bonds-companion.

bonds-companion:

Hey.. you haven't spoken to me in a while.. well since the anon has. Is everything alright? Have I done something to offend either or both of you? I miss talking to you both… Just.. tell me you're both alright, please?

Molly went to respond but this time Sherlock stopped her. "No." He said. "Leave it. He's sent his worries. He won't bother anymore. Let it go." He said quietly. Molly turned toward him, a glare in place, ready to berate him for being an idiot. The expression on his face stopped her. He seemed so defeated, something she's never seen. She bit her lip and shook her head. "Sherlock.. I think.. I think you should talk to him. Maybe go off anon. You need to talk to him. He obviously misses you. And I'm not sure he knows who you are.. are you sure?" She asked, kindly.

Sherlock rolled his eyes at her attempts. "Yes I'm sure. I'm always sure. He knows. He was there, he saw me. He ran." He said stubbornly.

"And now you're running?" She asked softly, a rhetorical question. "Sherlock. Maybe he has some sort of explanation… You could try to talk to him at school maybe." Sherlock huffed a laugh in response. "Yes. Where he pretends I don't exist? Yeah. Definitely going to do that." He mumbled. He logged her out of tumblr and then closed the laptop. "You should go. Your parents will be waiting for you." He stood and moved over to his bed, throwing himself on it pathetically.

Molly sighed softly and stood, grabbing her bag and walking to the door. "Just… don't give up Sherlock. You obviously care a lot for the boy." She closed the door and started down the stairs when she heard a soft response. "That's the problem."

John felt like banging his head on the desk. He still had no response from either his anon or the anon's friend. He didn't know what to think. Did he do something wrong? Were they hurt? Did something happen? He didn't know. He hated that he didn't know. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to get in touch with the anon. He spent hours looking through cutesy-cats-loves blog, hoping it would give him some sort of info, anything to be able to get in touch with either of them. But there was nothing.

He felt like pulling his hair out. He didn't even know why he was so upset. It had only been a week. People had lives right? He wouldn't know. He sighed. And the fact that both had disappeared without a word, that worried him. But then he checked the blog of cutesy-cats-loves and found that she still posted even though she didn't try to talk to him or answer his asks. There had to be something that was wrong. He just didn't know how to fix it.

He scrolled through tumblr a bit before he decided it had lost most of its appeal for the moment. He closed his laptop and set it on the floor next to his bed. He sighed when he heard the sounds from downstairs. They started as muffled voices before growing louder and louder. He grabbed his pillow and covered his face with it, telling himself he wasn't going to be involved this time.

He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to ignore everything. He lasted all of five minutes before he was running down the stairs at the sound of something crashing.

Later he returned to his room, slowly. He was glad that it wouldn't be visible, as long as he hid the pain. Just a bruised rib, he told himself. It wasn't bad. Maybe it wouldn't even hurt in the morning.

He barely sat on his bed, wincing more at the pain. So maybe it was a bit more than bruised. But it couldn't be too bad, right? He was still able to move, so he was fine. He finally decided that he couldn't stay there and texted Greg to meet him at the school. He'd never put Greg in the position of coming over when his father was home.

On second thought, it probably wasn't a good idea to test his limits when walking to the school. He was relieved he was able to slip out of the house without his father knowing. But then he had to walk the distance to the school, and while it wasn't too long, his rib was giving him more pain than it was worth. He almost gave up and headed back. But he needed to talk to someone, or at the very least just be out of that house for a bit.

Greg was already there when he got there. Greg's eyes widened a bit when he saw the way John was walking. He sighed softly and shook his head. "John.." John raised a hand to stop him from speaking. He didn't need another rant about how he should stop getting involved. "Just leave it." He muttered.

Greg nodded, begrudgingly. "Alright. So what did I do to you this time?" He asked, wanting to get the story straight.

John shook his head. "Nothing. I'll have the pain under control by tomorrow. No one will know." He said, not quite looking at Greg, so he didn't get to see his skeptical expression. John ran a hand over his face. "Look. I know you want to tell me once again that it's my fault for getting involved. But I know you Greg. You wouldn't stay out of it either, if it was your family."

Greg huffed. "My family? I just have my mum. And she's a bit mad. Not like your dad. More of the absent kind. She lost her husband and apparently that was her whole life. Me? I'm nothing to her." He said, barely able to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

John bit his lip. "Yeah.. I know. I'm.. I'm sorry. But you know… You'd still do anything for your mum. Wouldn't you?" He asked, finally looking at him. Greg stared at him before nodding. "Yes. God help me, I would." He muttered. "Alright. So why did you want to meet then? I figured you'd want to talk to your anon. Or has she still not gotten in touch?" He asked.

John sighed and shook his head. "No. I don't know what I did wrong. We spent the entire weekend talking to each other and then she just disappeared. It's been a week. I thought maybe something was wrong or that she was just busy. But then her friend hasn't spoken to me either. And she still posts on her blog."

Greg frowned. "Well.. what about that.. thing. What's it called. A queue?" He asked. "Still knew to the thing. Not exactly sure. But can't that post while you're gone? Maybe they're just on a trip together or something…" He said. John shrugged. "I suppose it could be." He replied. "I just feel like an idiot, you know? Like… this is what I get for getting attached to someone I've never met or seen. And on top of that. It's not like I'm allowed to have anything good."

Greg rolled his eyes. "Don't do the self-pity crap. It doesn't suit you John. Besides, I resent the fact that you don't see me as something good in your life. Having me as a best friend is the best thing you could possibly ask for." He grinned at him, causing John to chuckle softly and shove him lightly, only to wince in pain. They both sobered a bit. Greg sighed. "Look John. Just.. Don't give up. Alright? Maybe they just need time or something. Maybe they're worried like you are. About how attached they are, or something. They're anon for a reason. Maybe they're scared about something. Just give them time. And keep trying to talk to the friend. Since it's at least private."

He paused a moment before continuing on the other subject. "And as to your father. Maybe you should just stay away from home more often. You know you're welcome at my home. If only because my mum doesn't care what I do."

John nodded. "Yeah.. I'll think about it." He said quietly. "Can we just chat about nothing for a bit before I head home again. Not quite ready for that at the moment. And I think we've had enough of the serious chat." He muttered.

Greg chuckled softly and nodded. "Sure thing." He said, before starting an argument about which football team was the best. It was always the best way to ensure John's distraction.