Chapter Text
“For this next project I want you to pair up with someone. Twos please, no more” the voice of Mr Seago, Sherlock’s music teacher, floated though the murmuring classroom. “This is a memory exercise, you will be trying to remember and write down as much as you can about the life and musical techniques of Chopin and his set work we are studying ‘The Raindrop Prelude’. Off you go!”
Mr Seago certainly doesn’t enjoy the sound of his own voice thought Sherlock as he craned his neck peering round moving students in the hopes of seeing a familiar head of dark female hair, but then again I shouldn’t really be surprised by the lack of help, I’ve had him as a teacher for the past two years now.
Each student at St. Bart’s High School had to choose four subjects, alongside the cores of Maths, English and Science, to sit exams in at GCSE level. Sherlock had chosen purely academic subjects originally: History, Geography, French and German but his Learning Mentor, an insipid woman called Rebecca had strongly advised that he take an ‘arts subject’ and seeing as Sherlock played the violin he deemed music worthy of his time. That was his first mistake. Music was abysmal. He had to study 12 set works all in different areas and genres of music that were all useless. Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude being the only exception.
Sherlock looked around the room once more, praying mentally for Irene to come strutting through the door, relieving him of the humiliation of being the only person now without a partner.
“Can I work with you?” Sherlock looked up to see John Watson (John Watson!!!) hovering over his desk “Greg is working with Mike on this one and I don’t have a partner so…” he trailed off looking worriedly down at Sherlock as if dreading rejection.
Sherlock shook his head imperceptibly and shrugged “yes, yes, of course. Please…” he inclined his hand at the chair opposite him. John let out a breath and plonked himself down next to Sherlock dropping his exercise book and pencil case onto the desk and it was that precise moment that Irene decided to saunter through the open music room door. Sherlock tilted his head and gave her a stony look. She smirked at him but faltered when she saw John sitting beside Sherlock. She quirked an eyebrow at Sherlock and gave him a meaningful smile before joining Mary and her partner.
Mr Seago was going to blow a fuse.
He wasn’t the most easy-going of teachers and had an overriding cantankerous side but he was a good music teacher and knew what he was talking about, having played for the London Symphony Orchestra for many years before entering teaching.
“So” John said snapping Sherlock out of his reverie “Chopin and his blummin’ plinkety plonk Raindrop piece.” Sherlock was about to correct John (it was a prelude thank you very much, an introductory piece of music most commonly heard in Operas that served as an introduction to the main body of the music which rendered it a very important movement of music) but the joking glint in John’s eye left Sherlock with no doubt that he was actually aware to what a prelude was used for.
John was a few months older than Sherlock and played the drums, he also shared in Sherlock’s unbiased feelings towards their teacher -Mr Seago was, as far as students were concerned, teacher Marmite. You either loved him or you despised him. No middle ground. No Switzerland. Unless you counted Sherlock and John that is.
“Ok” Sherlock sighed “I’ll scribe. What can you remember about this not-so-abysmal piece?” John laughed before reciting a list of Romantic techniques. Musical techniques that is. Sherlock scribbled the techniques down adding a few more of his own that John had forgotten and by the end of the lesson they had quite a sizeable list of things they had managed to collectively remember. Sherlock would have perhaps been able to remember a tinsy bit more if John’s arm hadn’t been touching his own and the owner of said arm hadn’t kept leaning over Sherlock to make sure the brunette was writing down the correct terminology.
Mr Seago prowled to the front of the classroom before opening his black homework book and peering down at the class from above his glasses “since Christmas is coming-” “THE GOOSE IS GETTING FAT!” shouted someone from the back row, probably Mike who enjoyed nothing better than winding up Mr Seago. The teacher glared at the back row but continued “-I want you to complete an assignment for me. Please, turn to the person you have been working with today and say hello to your new partner for this next project. You will be working with them to create a Powerpoint of all the facts and techniques you have remembered today, plus anything you have forgotten from your revision guide!”
Sherlock tensed as he turned to face John who, to his relief, was smiling at him genuinely. “Looks like you’re stuck with me old chap” John teased. “How am I ever going to survive” quipped Sherlock turning his head as a small smile played around his mouth. “Mean!” came John’s reply, scowling in fake hurt. Sherlock’s smile grew until he caught Irene’s smug look from across the room, a look that implied far more than was strictly necessary Sherlock felt.
The bell rang, loud and monotonous, and as every student’s chair scraped across the classroom floor Sherlock felt a small tug on his jumper sleeve. “We, er, we are going to need to meet up sometime, er, to do this project together, um, so if I was to give you my number…?” John flushed looking sheepishly at the brunette.
It took Sherlock a moment to catch on “Of course! Yes, yes here’s my phone” he said offering John a pristine Blackberry Bold “just type in your number”.
“Thanks” said John as he quickly typed in his number before handing the phone back “text me sometime so we can arrange a date.” Sherlock quirked an eyebrow at the slightly flustered boy who was now wringing his grey beanie hat in his two hands. “Not...no, not like that!” John blustered a flush rising up his neck “I..I…”
Sherlock spared him the embarrassment by chuckling and assuring him he knew what he meant. John gave the brunette an almost grateful look before heading off to his next lesson, raising a hand in farewell as he walked out the door.
Buzzzzzz
I’m surrounded by idiots… -SH
Blink
Why? What’s happening?
Buzzzzzz
We’re playing PASS THE PARCEL in Biology. Apparently it’s the last lesson before the Christmas holidays so we’re ‘just going to have fun’... –SH
Buzzzzzz
It’s not like we’ve got exams to revise for or anything. –SH
Blink
You’re such a buzz kill. Relax, kick back, and embrace your inner child desperate to play party games…
Buzzzzzz
I assume you’re making fun of me. –SH
Blink
You assume correct. At least you’re not stuck in English watching Stand By Me with tearing up teenage girls clinging onto you every time something remotely sad happens! Count your blessings!
Buzzzzzz
Consider them counted. -SH
Buzzzzzz
Which girls? -SH
Blink
Why do you want to know?
Buzzzzzz
No reason… -SH
Blink
Jealous Sherlock? Mary from music, Molly Hooper from maths, Irene (although admittedly she’s not crying) and Greg Lestrade.
Buzzzzzz
Jealous? Me? So much female attention!
Blink
I know, Greg is practically in floods of tears. ;)
Sherlock sniggered receiving a glare from the girl sitting opposite him on their table.
Buzzzzzz
Oh great! Now Ms is putting a ‘biology-related’ film on. -SH
(pause)
Buzzzzzz
I fail to see how Footloose is ‘biology related’… -SH
John buried his head in his arm trying to smother a laugh. “Something amusing Mr Watson?” his English teacher’s acidic voice lashed out from behind her desk. John looked up in time to realise that one of the main characters had just died tragically. Oops.
Blink
I’ve gotta go. My teacher is glaring daggers at me. Txt you later
Buzzzzzz
I look forward to it. –SH
“So who were you texting?” Irene Adler asked sidling up to John at the end of the lesson “Sherlock?” John gave her a sidelong glance “How did you-” Irene waved a hand in the air “Oh please, no-one looks down at their crotch and smiles. Not that you haven’t got much to smile about” she finished with a pointed glance at John’s jeans. He laughed “I’m flattered Irene. Nice deductions by the way” he said trying, in vain, to stride past her.
“Why thank you!” she said keeping up with him “Seriously though, Sherlock?” John sighed. “I knew it!” she exclaimed grinning at the blonde “and for the record, he plays the violin…good with his hands” she winked at him as she sauntered off with a smirk. John shook his head and grinned, she’s incorrigible he thought as he made his way to the entrance of the school, all intentions of heading home and continuing his conversation with Sherlock.
Blink
So when do you want to meet up?
Buzzzzzz
Monday is convenient for me, if you’re free? -SH
Blink
Monday it is. Where should we meet? We need somewhere with internet connection…
Buzzzzzz
Speedy’s? It has free WiFi. -SH
Blink
The coffee shop on Baker Street?
Buzzzzzz
Obviously. -SH
Blink
Are you asking me out for coffee Sherlock?
Buzzzzzz
Meet you outside Speedy’s for half ten? -SH
John chuckled under his breath when he realised Sherlock had purposefully dodged answering his question.
Blink
Sounds good to me. See you then?
Buzzzzzz
It’s a date. -SH
Blink
Ok Sherlock, it’s a date. ;)
Buzzzzzz
No! I didn’t mean like that! -SH
Blink
Hey, it’s fine. It’s all fine. I’m just too sexy and you can’t keep your hands off. I understand, I do, unfortunately there’s nothing I can do, it’s just how I am.
Buzzzzzzz
I hate you. -SH
Blink
I know you do Sherlock, I know you do.
See you 10:30 Mon outside Speedy’s.
Buzzzzzz
See you then. -SH
(pause)
Buzzzzzz
I still hate you. -SH
John laughed as he sent Sherlock a single winky face before placing his mobile on the bedside table. Monday, he thought, couldn’t come fast enough.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The weekend crawled by like it was dragging a blue whale behind it but Monday inevitably came. The usually-despised day holding nothing but excitement and a rather large helping of nervousness for John, who was completely oblivious to that fact that his music partner was feeling exactly the same. The pair met outside of the café, both muffled by copious jumpers and adorned with scarves, hats and gloves. The weather had been gradually decreasing in temperature, but of late a cold snap had hit, with the general public waking up every morning to find a layer of tough frost clinging to their rooves and car windshields.
Sherlock and John opened the door to the coffee shop and were immediately engulfed in warmth and the smell of roasting coffee beans. John inhaled and sighed “just what we need” he stated walking over to the counter to order. Sherlock found them two armchairs in the corner of the room next to the dancing fire and placed his laptop on the coffee table. John returned with a caramel latte for himself and a black coffee with two sugars for Sherlock. “How did you…?” Sherlock’s question trailed off into the general babble of the café. John looked up “not the only one able to make deductions are you…” John smiled at a rather taken aback Sherlock “anyway, let’s get down to business.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The two of them spent the next 3 hours snuggled up in Speedy’s working on their set task and when John finally complained that he couldn’t bare even another second looking at his music textbook and suggested another date, Sherlock was all too happy to oblige. After paying their bill the two boys headed for the door. As they left the café they realised that a light flurry of snow had started to fall, covering everything in a thin layer of twinkling light.
“I’m glad we did this Sherlock” John admitted digging his hands into his coat pockets. “Me too” replied Sherlock, stunning himself as he realised that he actually meant it, the words were not just formalities.
The pair looked at each other, the gaze lasting just long enough to make it awkward before John looked away laughing “we need to do this again sometime.”
“Well obviously, we haven’t finished the project” teased Sherlock.
“No, I mean, after the project” John replied seriously, eyes flitting to the floor in uncertainty before chancing a glance back at Sherlock who wore a confused expression. When he met John’s eyes Sherlock flushed and smiled down at his feet “I’d like that.” He took a tentative step closer to John who unconsciously shifted forward, leaning towards Sherlock, the action similar to that of the pull of two opposing magnets.
John held Sherlock’s gaze and for a moment and the air hung still, suspended, as if everything else had frozen in time. Just the two of them. Together. Alone. And it was only when Sherlock took yet another step forward that John could see the pupils of his eyes blowing wide.
It was all the encouragement John needed.
He stepped forward, closing the gap between him and Sherlock in one long stride and brought the brunettes lips down to meet his. Sherlock gasped in surprise but the gasp quickly turned into a low shiver-inducing groan. He gripped John by his coat collar and pulled him in closer, deepening the kiss until he felt light-headed. John moved a hand to Sherlock’s hair, gripping the curls with enough force to elicit another moan but not enough to hurt as he kissed Sherlock with increasing intensity. The feel of the brunette’s cold lips against his was exhilarating, Sherlock tasted like coffee with a sweet undertone which could be from the sugar or could be something entirely Sherlock. John didn’t know and quite frankly, John didn’t care. He guided Sherlock backwards until his body was against the wall next to the café, the solidity of the brickwork giving him enough leverage to wrap himself further against Sherlock’s body. What little of John’s conscious thought remained was confused; I thought everyone said he was a novice, never done this before? Rumours told of Sherlock being a ‘snogging virgin’ but that clearly wasn’t the case as the last part of John’s mind shattered completely when Sherlock bit lightly on his lower lip.
“Why don’t you two get a room!” shouted a female voice from across the street effectively breaking the two apart. John turned in order to see Irene and Mary laughing at them good-naturedly from across the street “we were just about to go and get a late lunch, you guys wanna come?” inquired Mary “or you can go back to chewing each other’s faces off, you know, whatever you want?” teased Irene.
John felt Sherlock laugh as he turned back to him “what do you think?” he asked the brunette, eyes roving over Sherlock’s mussed hair, red lips and rumpled clothes. “I think my boyfriend and I should probably grab a bite to eat before he comes back to my house to continue what we were doing UNINTERRUPTED” Sherlock crescendo-ed loud enough for Irene and Mary to hear.
The two girls just shrugged and beckoned for Sherlock and John to follow them, John beaming at Sherlock before grabbing his hand. “Boyfriend huh?” he teased. “Well you DID just throw me up against a wall and make out with me” Sherlock teased back. John replied, a huge grin across his face, “Yeah, I guess I did…”