Reichenbach Secondary (Teenlock)

Birthdays and Goodbyes

Sherlock’s POV

Today is John’s birthday and he is going to have the best day of his life so far I guarantee it. He may be leaving tomorrow…but I am not going to let that spoil his last day at Reichenbach Secondary. Our last day together. I skip out of bed, silently, and grab the bundle of clothes sitting on my desk chair before rushing into the bathroom to get dressed into them.

John’s POV

You there are many strange reasons that I have been woken up; my sister wailing after a nightmare, the faulty fire alarm blaring and my grandparent’s dog breaking something but this has to be the weirdest. I currently have my sociopathic roommate staring down at me while poking me every so often. It is weird to think that I am leaving tomorrow. “Wake up…birthday boy?” He almost questions. I do believe that I have improved his social skills while being here, even if it is very slightly.

“Morning Sherlock.” I groan as I sit up. Wait a second…there are balloons scattered around our dorm, many floated up to the ceiling. There is a homemade birthday banner and a couple of cards and a present on the floor.

“So…what do you think?” He asks while looking ashamed like it isn’t enough. I pull him into me and hug him tightly, he may not like it but I don’t care, I am so humbled to have a friend like him. “Right…” He coughs awkwardly as I release him but I can see the smile in his eyes. “I put helium in the balloons because I thought that would look better.”

“Why did you have helium?” I ask and he is about to explain but shuts his mouth. An experiment of course.

Sherlock’s POV

I bought the helium for your balloons. Is what I want to say but for some reason I cannot seem to get the words out. He stares at me blankly so I hop off his bed and scoop up the gift and cards in my arms before dumping them on the bed in front of him but he does not reach for them. He continues to stare at me in…awe? “The cards are from myself, Graham, Mike, Mycroft and your sister. And the gift is from me.” I explain.

“Well thanks for leaving the element of surprise.” He states sarcastically but still with a look of content on his face. He first picks up the card from my brother.

“That’s from Mycroft.”

“Sherlock!” He exclaims so I quieten. “It is nice of my brother to give me a card.” I want to say that no it isn’t because you haven’t seen the message and he is just doing it out of courtesy but I continue to stay quite. He tears open the envelope and pulls out the card. There is a picture of a hedgehog on the front…how odd. He opens the card and I can see his eyes scanning the message. He sighs. “I love the strap line: ‘Remember to continue your studies’. Arsehole.” I chuckle at his vulgar language as he tears open the next two cards and reads their messages. “By the way it is Greg not Graham or George or Geoff or Gavin or Gertrude or Gandalf-”

“Wait when have I ever called him Gertrude?”

John’s POV

I laugh at his response before I open the next card, it is from my sister. I can tell from the handwriting. It reads:

To my big brother John,

Happy sixteenth birthday! I am sorry that I have not been in touch much it’s just that Grandma and Grandpa don’t like it. Also their computer is really old and slow. I am sorry as well for not having a present from you. I don’t have any money and they wouldn’t give me any but I already had a card and I found a stamp.

Love Harry xxx

P.S. Don’t die as a soldier

I laugh sadly at her last line, she is worried about me. I hate my grandparents so much for keeping her all secluded. “Open mine!” Sherlock whines like a baby.

“Okay!” I whine in a similar tone and a grasp his card.

Sherlock’s POV

Unlike the other cars he opens this one with care which I think would touch me if I was human enough. His face lights up when he reads the message and he carefully discards it next to him before lurching for the gift. First he feels the medium sized package to try and guess what it is and next he gently tears the corner. The sound of the wrapping paper ripping is in itself quite a satisfying sound but added to this is John’s excitable squeaks. When he sees what I have bought him he grins from ear to ear. “Oh Sherlock I love it!” He gushes as he pulls up the cream, woollen jumper. Of course I would hate a gift like this but I knew John would like it and I think he will look good in it.

“I made sure I got a good one so it lasts a while and I know some of these army camps can be cold.” I ramble.

“Thank you.”

\~.~.~.~.~/

John’s POV

I am standing in the middle of my dorm to look for anymore belongings. This is it. I am all packed up and ready to go, apparently they are sending a car to collect me so I could be leaving any minute. Yesterday was a blast! Everyone sang happy birthday to me in the dining hall at breakfast, Sherlock took me out for the day and we did really random but fun activities. Including hiring a rowing boat, watching Sherlock row is hilarious. He also took me out for dinner at some posh restaurant which I would never be able to afford. I am sad to be leaving him. “All packed up?” I hear a voice behind me belonging to my best friend. I turn to look at him and he looks sad. So sad. I feel bad.

“Yeah.” I choke. He approaches me almost with caution so that he is only centimetres away from me.

“Listen…” He stifles, “A couple of things I have to say and please do interrupt me at any time.”

“You know me well.” We both erupt into sad laughter when we realise the irony. “Sorry.”

“Anyway. Firstly, to the best of times John Watson and I do hope we see each other again.” He holds out his hand to me and I shake it. Why does it have to be so professional? “You have changed me, John, for the better. When I was told that I was getting a new roommate I cursed and started to think up of ways to get rid of that person but when that person turned out to be you…it stopped me.” I feel the tears well up inside me. “You are my only friend and I am honoured to know you.” I can hear the strain in his voice as he is trying not to blubber and wail; it is a heart breaking sound. “Secondly, good luck! To the future and fighting and hopefully being an army doctor.”

“I am going to be a soldier.”

“Well. We will see.” He seems certain that I will switch paths and become an army doctor. I will miss that determination. “Lastly.” He pauses as if he is thinking something over. Our eyes meet but neither of us look away it is like we can’t. Oh how I am going to miss these incredible eyes. “Lastly I-”

“Mr Watson!” Mycroft calls and I look up to him. “Time to go. Now.” He sternly states.

“Bye Sherlock.” I rush out the door with my father’s rucksack bouncing on my back. I am not good with goodbyes.

Sherlock’s POV

The words I love you die on my lips as he scampers. Goodbye John.

A/n woah the feels. There is one more chapter left! Thank you guys for all the support. The jumper mentioned is indeed the jumper in the television series. Deduct what you want from that.