High Functioning Hopeless Romantic

Chapter 2

After the awkward silence that ensued for 30 seconds, Mary decided to break it and talk about the wedding. I huffed out a sigh of relief and kept my eyes down, ashamed about my lack of sincerity. Her and Mrs. Hudson fussed over the venue and what was to be expected. I kissed Mrs. Hudson on the cheek and claimed to have to get back to unpacking.

"Well why don't you stay Abi - can I call you Abi?" You nodded yes and Mary continued, "I'm new to this wedding business, perhaps you'd like to help?" Secretly I had been hoping she'd ask. Weddings, since I was little, had always been one of my most favorite of things ever. The idea of an event where family and friends came together to celebrate love with dancing and laughing and drinking and talking filled my whole body with happiness.

"Oh Mary, you do not know how happy I am you asked, I did in fact work at a wedding planning business for 5 years," I said smiling and pulling up a chair.

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3 hours later and the venue had been picked and contacted. The 16th of May was the happy day for the happy couple. I yawned and checked my watch, noticed I didn't have it on, then checked my phone. 8:00pm.

"I really must be going," I said standing.

"Abigail, I made dinner, perhaps you could stay, the boys should be back from their case any minute," said Mrs. Hudson. I forgot they had even left, must've gotten lost in the planning. I did love me some home cooking, in fact I craved it because in the past couple months it had been nothing but microwave dinners and sandwiches.

"I guess it won't hurt to stay," I teased, "not like I have anything better to do."

"You're right, you have nothing better to do," said a deep voice behind me. I knew who it was, there was no mistaking the cold pronunciation of the words.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" I asked standing to face Sherlock Holmes. People had told me about him, but I never bothered to pay much attention. And now I was happy I didn't. He was a complete and udder tosspot.

"It means how it sounds - you have nothing better to do." He started circling me, eyeing me up and down like I was a painting on display, something he was trying to analyze. "Obviously you just moved here, you have no friends nearby, and doesn't look as if you had much back home. Something bad happened recently, a year ago? No, the circles under your eyes, though quite prominent, are new. 4-5 months ago. Your eyes are permanently stained from crying so it was a loved one. A woman, you have a locket of her around your neck, how cliche. An aunt? No, you would be sad, but it only takes 3 months till the crying would have stopped. Sister? No, would have mentioned her already." His eyes lit up as if he won the jackpot.

"Your mum, it was your mum."

"Sherlock!" yelled John. My eyes turned to liquid and my face felt like it was melting. I was crying, but it was normal for me nowadays. How he knew about my mom, about me, I had no idea. I just knew that it took all my strength not to lash out and slap the bastard. I bit my lip trying to stop myself from crying, so much for a first impression right? I stared at Sherlock, his face molding into a look of wonder? Apology? I could never tell with him. His eyes turned from ice to water and his lips twitched.

"I-I'm sorry Abigail," he said looking at everything in the room besides me.

"No you're not," I said, my voice cracking. His head snapped up and his eyes turned fierce. I continued, "You're not sorry. And if you want to analyze me, then I'll analyze you." I started circling him and noticed John, Mary, and Mrs. Hudson all had the same look etched into their face - bafflement. I cleared my throat and the words spilled out.

"You're a single man. You do nothing but work, and when you aren't working, your side job is ruining people's lives with your hateful words. You act like you have no feelings, yet underneath that trench coat and scarf is, if you'll believe it, a heart, an actual functioning heart. You, like me, don't have much friends, 4 or 5 if you include John, Mary, and Mrs. Hudson. You used to smoke, it's clear from the yellow tinge on your nails, but you're trying to stop, as I see you have 3 nicotine patches on your arm. Also, judging by the look on your face, no one has ever tried to analyze you, only you have done that to them." I finished as I stepped in front of him. Tears still spilled down my cheeks. He looked down at me with... admiration? I noticed his eyes had flecks of yellow in them. As I felt another wave of tears coming, and before they could fall, I pushed past him and headed back to my flat.

>><<

I turned on my radio to 105.2 for some Classic Rock to ease the pain of the latter situation. What Sherlock had said hit me deep no doubt. It hurt to think about her, my mum. I opened up the locket and looked at the picture. We both had the same golden straw colored hair and dark gray eyes. She smiled up at me and I closed my eyes, kissing the locket and slipping it back inside my shirt. I picked up a box and brought it into the bedroom. It was quaint, my bed took up a corner of the room and my dresser sat in another corner. Earlier today my dad had helped me move all the furniture into here. I liked the flat, it had it's quirks, and so did I. I heard the front door opened and walked out to see Mrs. Hudson setting out a plate of steaming food for me.

"Here's some food for you dear," she said looking up at me. I met her eyes and knowingly she opened up her arms and I collapsed into them. "Your dad called me a couple weeks after it happened, I'm so sorry dear, but she's in a better place now." Her voice soothed me and I sighed, nodding my head and agreeing with her words - she was always sick in this world, but she's healthy in another one now. I released Mrs. Hudson and sat down to eat, the Yorkshire pudding filling my belly.

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(This chapter has officially been edited.)