A/N: For those unaware, there is a POLL concerning this book on my author's page, and it would help immensely with later chapters if you would go vote in it. Thank you!
Chapter 24: Finding Comfort
Six months, they had been getting ready to celebrate their six-month anniversary. And then he had called.
"Hey Emma."
"Hey!" She answered brightly.
"Can I talk to you?"
The tone of his voice should have warned her that something bad was coming.
"Sure."
"Emma…I want to break up."
"What?" Emma asked, blindsided. She felt a sick churning in her stomach.
"You have been really distant lately, and I feel like you are seeing someone else."
"What, no! I've been spending more time with friends, I told you that!"
"Friends that I have never met Emma." Henry said gently.
It was true that Emmaline had been spending less time with Henry – and spending more with Sherlock. She had missed her best friend, and it was not fair of her to abandon him because she had a boyfriend.
"And I started seeing Amelia."
"What?" Emma asked, tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm seeing somebody else, and I really like her, and I wanted you to know. We're done."
And then he had hung up. Emma had sat down on her bed, not quite believing what had happened.
School started in just a few days, and he calls to tell her she'll be entering her last year single. And what's worse, he cheated on her with Amelia Grey, the class Saint. They were perfect for each other, and that's what made Emma angrier. Everyone had been surprised to learn that she and Henry were dating, because everyone in their year had bet on Amelia and Henry getting together. And now they had.
Emma needed someone who would not ask questions – someone who would hold her and make her feel better. She needed her best friend; she needed Sherlock. Without a word to her parents, Emma left the flat and hailed a cab, trying to keep herself together. She had liked Henry a lot – had thought she could have loved him.
Sitting in the back of the cab for ten minutes, were the some of the longest ten minutes of Emma's life. She wanted to be in front of Sherlock and able to cry. As soon as the cab stopped, Emma was out and rushing up the stairs to Sherlock's flat.
She pounded on the door, not caring if she was being loud.
"Wait a damn minute!" Sherlock's familiar voice called from behind the door.
Emma laughed shakily at the angry tone of his voice; she had probably woken him up. He opened the door, rubbing his eyes and was surprised to see Emmaline standing in his doorway, crying.
"Wha-?"
Emma cut him off as she threw her arms around him, and buried her face into his chest. Sherlock staggered back from the unexpected force of her embrace. He shut the door and stood there, wondering what to do with the crying girl.
"What's wrong?" He asked finally.
"Henry – cheated on – me, and then broke – up with – me." Emma blubbered into his chest.
"Oh poor Emmaline." Sherlock drew her over to the couch.
He was upset that his friend had been hurt, but was dancing inside that Henry was no longer around. He had never liked the boy, even if they had never met.
"Right before – our six-month – anniversary too!" Emma cried, throwing her arms around Sherlock again.
Sherlock reciprocated the warmth, trying to comfort his friend. He was all too aware of forming emotional connections with people, only to have them break your heart. He hated that it had happened to Emmaline.
"It's OK." He cooed, running his hand over her hair. "He was stupid." Sherlock thought of all the girls he had pined after in University his first year.
After being exposed to a completely new world, and meeting girls for the first time in his adult life, Sherlock was a bumbling idiot. And he had paid dearly for his social faux pas, being used and dumped many times.
"He's such an ass!" Emmaline said, with new anger. "How could he cheat, Sherlock? How could someone do that?"
"I don't know." Sherlock leaned back against the couch cushions, drawing Emma into his arms.
She snuggled up against him, her tears drying.
"Do you know your shirt is inside out?" Emma asked, poking the collar of Sherlock's gray shirt.
"They irritate my skin, so I wear them inside out." Sherlock replied.
"How have I known you for a year, and not known that?"
"Because you never asked." He said, kissing the side of her head. "Do you need ice-cream?" He asked.
"Ice-cream would be great."
Sherlock heaved himself off the couch and into the kitchen. He came back with two spoons and a carton of mint chocolate chip ice-cream. The way he understood it, from the chick flicks Emmaline had dragged him to, women needed comfort food such as chocolate and ice-cream in a time
"Here you go." He handed Emma a spoon and sat back down.
"How come you never call me Emma, just Emmaline?"
"I like Emmaline better – it's your name." Sherlock shrugged, taking a bite.
"Does that mean I can't call you Sherly behind your back?"
"What?" Sherlock asked, turning to stare at her.
Emma broke out laughing at her friend's expression.
"I don't really call you that!" She said through bursts of giggles.
"Well good – that is ridiculous."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, taking turns scooping out ice cream.
"So do you feel better now?"
Emma put her head on Sherlock's shoulder, and dropped the spoon into the empty ice-cream container.
"A little." She answered.
Sherlock set aside the empty container and spoons and put his head on top of Emma's.
"He's not worth crying over; you'll find someone better soon."
"You really think so?" She asked.
"I really do."
Emma threaded her fingers through Sherlock's letting their joined hands rest in his lap.
"I'm glad I have you as a friend." She whispered.
"Me too." He replied with a soft smile. "So what do we do now, throw darts at a picture of him?" He asked after a few moments silence.
Emma burst out laughing again at her friend's attempts to make her feel better. He was doing a great job of it. Nevertheless, it would take her time to get over Henry. She had cared very deeply for him and that was not something you just got over after a few hours of crying into your best friend's shirt.
"Something like that." She answered.
"Well here –" Sherlock reached over and picked a book up off the floor. "A Tale of Two Cities."
"Are you offering to read to me?"
"Will it take your mind off Henry?" Sherlock asked seriously.
"Yes."
"Then I will."
Sherlock paused for Emmaline to get comfortable. She laid down on her back, feet hanging over the end of the couch, and her head in Sherlock's lap.
She loved listening to Sherlock read, and it was something they did often. He had read her a few books over the past year and she enjoyed hearing his smooth, deep baritone weave in and out of the words and sentences.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Yeah." She smiled up at him.
"Alright." He cleared his throat before beginning. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…"
A/N: I know these chapters are short, but we're getting into the good stuff soon! However I have to get to next year, and obv. stuff still happens throughout the end of the year. I promise another 4-5 chapters before we get to the GOOD stuff.
I would also like to thank all of you lovely reviewers, you are my life's blood. You make writing this all the more worth it, so a virtual hug for every single one of you!