The Science of Starting Again//Book Five

Chapter 17~ Sibling Shopping

Teddy's P.O.V

"Tell me again why we're here, Sherly?"

We were walking through a mall, weaving our way through the streams of people who were there. For a weekday afternoon it was incredibly packed. Stay at home mothers pushed strollers filled with sleeping babies, taking this moment of peace to have a little me time. Office workers sat in the food court, eating sushi or wraps and drinking coffees, their faces a mix of hope for the end of the day as well as glumness; soon their lunch break would be over and they'd have to go back to the daily grind. High school students giggled together nervously, obviously playing tardy and deciding that their school day would finish before the bell said so. I couldn't help but smile at that. It reminded me of when I was young and how Irene and I would leave school early to go muck about in town. I might've taken more time to reminisce had the stream of people and Sherlock's pace allowed me. Sherly had it easy when it came to navigating the crowd, his height allowing him to move effortlessly through them. However, I took after our mother when it came to height, too short to look over most people's heads.

"I told you: we're shopping. I just need your input. Hurry up," Sherlock replied, taking a sharp left.

"Alright, okay, Jesus," I muttered, scampering after him. "Sorry for not having legs the size of skyscrapers." 

I had to jog to catch up with my older brother, slowing down once I was beside him again. We walked past shop after shop, my brother's eyes scanning for something that I didn't know. 

"Listen, how long is this going to take? I have a resume to write so I can get back into the working world, as well as a coffee date with Molly, and Greg wants to do something tonight. We're going ice-skating," I told my brother, pushing a strand of hair out of my face and behind my ear.

"Cancel that, you're helping me today," Sherlock said swiftly, not even sparing me a glance.

"Do I have any say in the matter?" I huffed, eyebrows raised.

"No."

I came to a standstill, giving my brother a dirty look. He didn't seem to notice that I wasn't beside him anymore until he was halfway down the mall's strip. When he turned around and found me standing in place many meters away he frowned in annoyance. I moved off to the side to allow the stream of people to continue uninterrupted, waiting for Sherlock to walk back towards me (which he did).

"Now is not the time to throw a hissy fit, Teddy," Sherlock groaned once he reached me. I glared at him, feeling my earlier temper from this morning spiking once more.

"You know, you can be such an asshole sometimes, Sherly," I snapped.

"What are you talking- Oh. Is this about this morning? Because Teddy, it was for a case! This isn't like what it used to be like-"

"Damn it Sherlock, it's not just about this morning! Although that does have a part to play," I told him, throwing up my arms and nearly smacking a passerby in the face. Sherlock looked down at me, eyebrows drawn together in incomprehension. I frowned sternly, folding my arms.

"'Don't go on a movie date with John, you're coming to help me'. 'You're not doing that, Teddy, you've got to help me with this'. 'Don't stay here and comfort your grieving boyfriend who thinks I'm dead. Come with me and take out a criminal organization and lie about the fact that I'm still alive. In return you'll get a broken relationship, a scared body, an alcohol addiction, and a broken mind!'" I said sarcastically, glaring at him. Sherlock winced slightly and although I felt a bit guilty for being the cause of it, I was too annoyed to do anything about it. "You're always telling me what to do! You're acting like father and you know how much I hate that!"