UK Oneshots

The Day Of The Half-Moon (Red/Fletcher)

I look at the card in my hands. I had written it, put my whole heart into it. This was my chance, step 1, writing out my feelings, check.

Step 2, send it. I could do this, and after that, I can chicken out. I didn't put my name on it, so I don't have to say it was me. It will be easy, just place it in the box at school, anonymous, and the teacher will hand it out.

I stare at it a moment longer before sighing and throwing it in the bin in my kitchen. Herod walks past looking at the bin before smirking. "Shut up!" I say before grabbing my bag and heading out the door, without my siblings.

~

I walk into class, sitting next to Fletcher, watching as people place their valentines cards in the ~mailbox~ on the teacher's desk. I see Herod place a handful of cards into the box. 'What a pathetic play. But I guess he has a better chance than me.' I think.

"Alright class once you've sent your card, please sit down, so we can start the class." The teacher says as the last few students arrive.

~

After lunch, we come in to see cards on our desks on top of corrected tests.

"Yes, your cards are on your desks but please do not read them until after class. Place them in your bags and we're going to go through your tests." The teacher says writing something on the board.

"Looks like you got a card Red, we both did." Fletcher says, pointing at the desk as we sit down. "Hmm?" I reply.

I look at the card Fletcher received before he puts it in his bag. I flush in realisation and turn to look at Herod. He smirks and shrugs. I glare at him before putting my card away and focusing my attention on the teacher.

~

"Come on. We can go to my house to try and figure out who sent these." Fletcher says. "Oh, uh. Well, they're meant to be anonymous, so maybe we shouldn't.." I say before being cut off.

"Half moon!" April yells. She jogs up to us. "I want to hire you to find out who sent me this God-awful card." She says with her hand on her hip.

"Sorry, April. We don't work on Valentine-related cases. It best to stay out of holiday-influenced love problems, plus then we'd be overrun with cases. You can always ask around yourself." Fletcher says making an apologetic face.

April huffs. "How do you expect me to do that?" She asks.

"Well, you're good at gossip. Ask to see people's cards. Maybe see if anyone else got a similar card and compare the handwriting to different-looking cards with names on them to eliminate who didn't send it." I say, trying to get her to leave.

"Hmm, that's a good idea. Plus I get to see other people's cards. Ok, well enjoy your day off and not getting paid." She says as she struts off.

"See, you did learn a thing or two from me." Fletcher says smugly.

"Yeah, yeah. Shut up. And what's this about not working on 'hoilday-influenced love' cases?" I say.

"I needed an excuse and you had just said that. I'm still gonna find out who sent mine. Are you coming with me?" He asks. I sigh and nod, walking towards his house.

~

We spent a few hours dusting for prints and comparing handwriting. Fletcher seemed not to be taking it too seriously, often stopping to help me with mine.

Speaking of my card, it was full of nonsense. Basically praising me for being a good friend and how they couldn't help but fall in love with me despite their promise to themselves.

I don't even have any friends, I mean Fletcher and Mia yeah but no one else. And then them not wanting to be in love with me could be literally anyone.

I compared the writing and fingerprints to Fletcher's records of our classmates, which I still find a bit creepy that he has, but no match.

"Hey, Red. Maybe we should call it a night." Fletcher says standing up.

"You want to stop? But I thought you wanted to know who sent it." I say.

"Oh, I think I already figured it out or at least hoping for it to be them." I blush a little. "I did send them a card and maybe they'll figure out it's me. I did try to leave clues but maybe it might be too hard." He says.

"Wait you sent a card?" I say confused. "Yeah, didn't you?" He says expectantly.

"Well not exactly. I wrote one but chucked it out. Herod did take it out of the bin and sent it without my knowledge. Until I saw the person it was for, receive it." I explain.

'OK, I don't think he actually knows I sent it.' I think and sigh. "Ok, well I guess it is almost time for dinner. I should go. Maybe I'll think clearer at home after some time and food." I say getting up. I say goodbye and go home.

~

I'm lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, holding the card to my heart. 'Fletcher said he put clues in his card, maybe this person did too.'

'They love me despite a promise they made to themselves. Maybe the promise isn't about me exactly and more in general. Like Fletcher, he said that he doesn't want to fall in love because it would distract him from cases.'

'Who is sworn off love? One of the pinks? They hate boys. God, I hope not... I can't think of anyone else.'

'Ok, what about the first part? That I'm a good friend? Is it someone who thinks they're my friend or someone who sees I'm a good friend to Fletcher?'

'Hazel? Ew, that would be weird. Nope, definitely not. Mia? Hmm, probably not. We did have that weird thing but we decided it's definitely better to be friends.'

"Hmm, that's all that's on here. Except for the name. Demilune. Demilune? What does that mean?'

I pick up my phone and google it. 'A crescent or half-circle, or a thing of this shape. Their name means half-circle? That doesn't help!'

I click more definitions. 'Early 18th century: from French demi-lune, literally 'half-moon'.' My heart freezes and a blush spreads to my whole body.

"Fletcher?" I whisper to myself. I smile and bury my face in my pillow. I place my phone down and try to go to sleep. But of course, I spend the rest of the night trying to figure out how to tell him I know.

~

"Hey, Fletcher." I say seeing him on the walk to school, wrapping my arm around his shoulder, blushing slightly.

"H-hey." He smiles. "Did you figure out who wrote your card?"

"Hmm, I believe I have. I literally had to google the pseudonym and click more definitions before I figured it out. But the literal translation probably isn't wrong." I say smiling at him. "So did the person who sent you yours, figure it out?"

"They believe they have." He smiles back. I pull him into a hug, placing a soft kiss on the top of his head.

We walk the rest of the way to school, hand in hand.

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Another one of my "originally a dream" stories. I 'dreamt' this one on Valentine's Day but only just got around to writing it in March.

I'm not very good at making mysteries despite it being one of my favourite TV genres. But I'm sure you figured out this mystery straight away.

Anyway

Love you

Drew X