A/Note: I was so focused on where I was going with this story that, as TheCauldron pointed out (not in so many words), I let John down. There's no way that John would've been this oblivious to Sherlock's "relationship" with Janine. After all, all three of them take Chemistry, where she would have definitely tried to talk to him, steal glances, etc. Not to mention the gossip that would certainly arise. Sherlock would have explained it was all for show and all would have been fine. Until... well, you'll see.
But now it's too late to change things, so my apologies to John. He wouldn't have missed all this. This is something that my former beta would've picked up, keeping me on my toes, making my stories better. Sorry for the oversight.
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25. The Ball
'Sherlock, I need to talk to you,' John said as he answered the phone.
'Why do I sense that this doesn't sound good?'
'No, it's nothing bad. Well, you know. It's the end of the year Ball.'
'I thought your last game was the end of the season.'
'No, I mean The Ball. The school dance at the end of the month.'
'Ah.'
'Erm, if it's okay with you, I'm thinking of asking Mary to go with me. We're good friends. I'd love to just go with you, but, you know.'
'I know.'
'Are you going?'
'Don't see a reason why.'
'Ah. Okay. You're okay with this, right?'
'Yes, fine.' He still didn't like it, but he thought it would be good if Sebastian saw John with Mary.
...
'Sherlock, are you going to the Ball? J'
He still had to catch himself anytime he got a text from her.
_'Wasn't planning to. S'
'Um, I need to ask you a favour. J'
_'J, you're texting, why "um"? S'
'You prat. :) Can I talk to you quickly after class today? J'
_'All right. S'
...
'You berk!' she hit his arm playfully.
'You said a favour.'
'Um, I was going to go to the Ball with Scott, but he, uh, we had a spat.'
He was dreading it ever since she had mentioned the Ball on her text.
'Would you go with me?'
He smelled a familiar and sickeningly strong men's cologne in the air. He grinned, 'I'd be delighted to, Janine.'
...
He tried to sound casual, 'Apparently I am going to the Ball.'
'Yes? Why, did someone ask you?'
'Janine did. As a favour.'
'What do you mean? And why Janine? I didn't know you were friends with her!'
'I've been helping her with Chemistry and she had a spat with her date, so she asked me to fill in.'
'You've been helping her with Chemistry? Since when?'
'Since... Allan's visit.'
John looked at him sideways.
...
Sherlock bought a suit for the occasion with John in mind. He searched everywhere for something that made him look good (quite a task, since he still had no muscles) and hopefully remind John that he was in much better shape than his brother - just in case. He couldn't wait to see his reaction.
Janine did look resplendent in her long gown. The maroon colour suited her, and she was grinning like mad. Her mum insisted in taking pictures of them, winking at her daughter when he picked her up.
...
At the Ball, his jaw clenched when he saw John in a slow dance with Mary. He knew it was "just for show", but couldn't help feeling a bit well, all right, yes, jealous as John smiled at her. He had never seen John in a suit before. He looked different, yet, quite dashing. Janine pulled him by the hand, and he was alarmed when he understood what that meant.
'Janine, I really don't-'
'Oh sush, just put your hands on my waist and swing from one foot to the other.'
He felt like a waddling penguin, but did as he was told. It surprised him that she had stepped so close, pressing her body against his. Halfway through the song he saw John staring curiously at them, then turning back to Mary. Then Sherlock saw Sebastian staring at them. Avoid looking at John at all costs tonight, he chided himself. Once the interminable song was finally over, he kept at her side. They chatted sporadically through shouting on each other's ears and pretended to dance once in a while. She always picked the slow dances, for some reason. Which were easier than the thumping fast ones, at least.
'Sherlock!' she screamed in his ear, 'do you want to go outside?'
'I'd love to,' he yelled back at her. Why do people always think that loud and boring is better than quiet and boring?
She grabbed his hand and pulled him through the crowds.
Once outside, he was momentarily deaf. The contrast with the surrounding non-sound made it feel like there were rubber balls in his ears.
'Ah, so much better, don't you think?'
'Couldn't agree more,' he said, opening his jaw to make his ears pop.
She turned and, holding both of his hands, leaned back against the wall, in the shadows. Alarm bells rang in his head.
'I'm so glad you could come with me, Sherlock.'
He looked around and there were several couples snogging. Sebastian, the creep, was watching them.
'Can we go somewhere else? Too many eyes around here,' he wrinkled his nose, looking around for an escape route.
She looked down, giggling and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, then looking back up. 'Why? What do you have in mind, Sherlock?'
He looked back at her, uncomprehending her words at first. Then his eyes widened and he said, slightly alarmed, 'Oh! Janine, I didn't mean to be disrespectful-'
'What if I want you to be?' she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Bloody Hell! He searched his mind for any sort of reply that could halt this. 'What about Scott?'
'He's just a friend, that's all. We're not a couple.'
Well, how bad can it be? Just close your eyes and do it. Sebastian is watching, it has to be convincing.
He closed his eyes, and imagining how he kissed John, he leaned down, wrapping his arms around her waist. She was much softer than John, for one thing. And there was some extra soft cushioning pressed against his chest. Her perfume was too floral, so her scent was wrong. She was eagerly pressing her body against his. This was new. Not unpleasant. Kissing her was a bit different, but he tried to block the glaring differences and kept thinking of John to emulate his reactions. The silky texture of her dress felt luxurious under his hands. Against his mind's consent, his body responded to all the physical stimuli. She broke the kiss, panting. 'Wow, Sherlock!' And before he could feel embarrassed for it, she came back for more, now even more eagerly rubbing against him. The physical sensation was overwhelming. He had never considered it with anybody else other than John but, right at that moment, his body wanted more friction.
Alarmed, he broke the kiss, panting, creating a little space between them. 'Janine, we should stop.'
'Yes, I think you're right.' She smiled at him, also panting. 'Not here.'
Not anywhere. Not Ever. 'Maybe we should go back in? Dance some more?' He stepped back, clasping his hands behind his back.
'Yes. Sure,' she tucked a strand behind her ear, smiling.
He felt Sebastian's eyes on his back so he kept staring straight ahead as they walked back in. What he didn't see was John, hyperventilating against a tree.