A/Note: Thanks to FancyMandie and lholl37 for favoriting this story and the reviews and follows so far. You guys are really trusting to favorite it before the end.

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23. The game is on

When Sherlock walked back to his house, filled with regret he deleted all the texts they had ever exchanged. Locking his door, he called John.

'Hey Sherlock! How did it go?'

'Hmf, tedious. Just "routine", they said.'

'Did Mycroft give you a hard time?'

'No different than always. But listen, I need to ask you something.'

'Okay.'

'From now on, please sign all your texts as "John". Full name, no initials, no abbreviations.'

'Why? I thought we had decided-'

'And always say Sherlock for my name, even if I still sign as "S". But never, ever, under any circumstances, write anything personal. Never ask me to meet later, that sort of thing.'

'Why?'

'You wanted secrecy. What if someone ever gets ahold of my phone? All they have to do is click on the string and call you.'

'But your phone has a password.'

'Yes, but what if one of the bullies takes it from me while I'm using it?'

'All right, good point.'

'Thank you. Anything personal, say it verbally to me. And obviously, not at school, but only when we're alone, either at my house or yours.'

'How am I to ask to meet you, then?'

'We develop coded words. Nothing too complicated, something like "A" for my house, "B" for yours. "A or B?" Simple enough. Or call me after school.'

'Jesus, Sherlock. All right.'

'Also, delete all the texts you've ever exchanged with me.'

'But I don't want to!'

'John, what if they get ahold of your phone? Please, I ask you, do it.'

John sighed, 'All right. I will. Is that all?'

'For now.'

'Good. Erm, I have something to tell you.'

'What? What's wrong?'

'Nothing's wrong. It's just- Well, em, Allan texted me.'

Sherlock felt as if all his blood had shifted down in his body. 'And?'

'Says he's on leave, visiting his family. He wants to see me.'

'And you said no?'

'No, I mean, I do want to talk to him.'

Sherlock's stomach dropped. 'What for?'

'I want to tell him I'm in a relationship, so he'll stop pursuing me.'

He wrinkled his nose. After a pause, he finally accepted it. 'All right. When are you seeing him?'

'He's picking me up in an hour. We're going to grab something to eat.'

'That's a date!'

'No, it's not a date!'

'He's taking you out to dinner! It's a date.'

'Not to me.'

'In his mind it is. He'll try-'

'Sherlock. Please trust me, I don't want him. I want you.'

After much back and forth and John getting progressively soppier, Sherlock let go. He waited for John to call him afterwards but nothing happened. He didn't sleep that night.

...

He spotted Janine on the corridor the following day. He wondered if he should bother at this point, but decided it wouldn't hurt to go ahead with his plan. If anything, at least Sebastian would see he was interested in girls and would leave him alone.

'Janine?'

'Ah! Oh, Sherlock! Sorry, you startled me.'

Dilated pupils, nervousness when she's usually confident. I was right.

'Janine, I was wondering. I was distracted at our last Physics class and didn't take notes. Could I please borrow yours?'

'Wow, um, yes, of course!' She touched his arm briefly.

Signs of flirting: small touches.

He touched her arm with a gentle squeeze and smiled, saying in his most gentle tone 'Thank you.'

'Um, maybe you can meet me at the cafeteria today at break? You can copy it then, if you want.'

He smiled, Smart girl, that's it. 'I would love to. See you at lunch?'

She smiled, twirling her hair around a finger. 'Yes, see you at lunch.'

This will be perfect. John has practice today, so he lunches later. We'll be seating together, just the two of us and Sebastian is bound to see it.

...

Once Sherlock walked into the cafeteria, he searched for Sebastian, who caught his eye. He continued searching, until he spotted her. She waved happily, so he smiled, went to her table and sat down. He could feel Sebastian's eyes on his back.

...

'Hello John.'

'Hey Sherlock, can I see you today?'

'How was your - meeting - with Allan?'

'That's what I want to talk about. Can I come over?'

'Yes.'

Sherlock didn't like this. Why is that he couldn't just say it over the phone? He tried to swallow his jealousy.

...

John walked in, his forehead crinkled. 'Can we talk here?'

'Yes, no one else is home right now.'

John went straight into the sitting room and sat down. Sherlock followed and waited.

'Well, I told him. Not who you were, but that I had met someone and was in a serious relationship and couldn't meet him anymore.'

'And?'

'He asked me if it was a bloke or a girl and I told him the truth. He was upset, but understood. We never had a real relationship, only our friendship as team mates.'

'Then why do I sense that's not all?'

John looked down, elbows over his knees. 'When we got back to the car, he drove around a bit.'

Sherlock inhaled. He still remembered that dark area in the woods.

'He parked. He kissed me.'

Sherlock felt a pool of fire burning inside him. He narrowed his eyes. 'And what else?'

'Nothing else. That's all. I stopped him.'

'Did he touch you?'

'He- no, he didn't.'

'You're lying.'

'Well, he did run his hands over me as he kissed me, but not- not like that.'

Sherlock stood up and paced around. He was furious, How dare he? To just come whenever is convenient for him and try to sweep John away from me?

'Sherlock, please. We said our goodbyes yesterday. He won't call again.'