Write me a Song

Chapter 1

The people next door to Veronica Matthews had always intrigued her. She would observe the youngest, who was around her age, running about the yard with his mop of black hair covered and old worn out red scarf and carrying a wooden sword. He would be chasing their red-haired dog about the yard, climbing trees, falling, and stumbling about with a big grin on his face. Every day he would play from morning, till dusk when a kind faced woman would call him in for supper, or till his elder brother would get him. Most of the time Veronica would sit on the steps playing with her doll, or just watching him.

As the time passed the bright sparkle that was found in that boy's eyes started to dull... he no longer would come out to play, and the red-haired dog would lay in the yard with no one to chase. Days passed, then weeks, and soon months passed and the boy was never seen running and bounding about the yard. But, Veronica never gave up, she would and sit and wait for him to come out from morning till dusk. Finally, all her waiting paid off.

On a sunny afternoon she heard the most beautiful sound coming from outside the house. Letting curiosity get the best of her, she wandered over, being careful not to make any noise she crouched in the bushes. The boy had the same dark mop, but had grown tall. She watched in awe as he stroked his violin with such care, his fingers moved swiftly and with precision. Slowly, while he was engulfed in his playing, Veronica made her way out of the bushes and was standing less than 10 feet from the boy she'd spent the last 6 years watching.

Once the boy stopped he put the violin to his side and Veronica clapped. He turned around and looked surprised

"Oh hello." He mumbled. His voice was soft.

"Hello. I'm... um... I'm Veronica Matthews. I live across from you."

The boy nodded "I know you used to watch me from your house... I'm Sherlock Holmes."

"It's nice to meet you Sherlock. What are you playing?" Veronica asked she looked at the boy he still had that mop of curly dark hair atop his head.

"It's a violin." He started to sound annoyed with her interrupting his practices. "I'm trying to practice do you mind?" He huffed and placed the violin under his chin and started to look hard at the music he was reading

"I'm sorry. Do you want me to leave?" Veronica asked curiously.

"No... You can stay and watch just please stop talking." He sighed defeated, something told him that even if he wanted Veronica to leave she wouldn't, and he was right she wasn't going to leave she wanted to hear him play more.

She didn't know how much time had passed but the sun had started to sink and the daylight began to dim "I should head back; my mother doesn't know that I left." She said sheepishly and turned on her heel to go home.

Veronica sat outside on her porch once again alone waiting to see her new friend. It had been a few days since she had last seen him and she was beginning to miss him. The most beautiful sound began to resonate from the backyard of the Holmes household. Veronica found herself drawn to the beautiful sound of the what she assumed was Sherlock playing his violin, she wandered over and saw it was her friend practicing his brows were furrowed, and his eyes were focused so intensely on the sheets of music.

Thankfully their backyard was lined with bushes that blocked her from his line of sight. She watched his fluid movements and watched his body sway with the music. He seemed so passionate about it. She scooted closer and closer until she was behind him.

"I know you're behind me." Sherlock said and stopped playing.

Veronica blushed "I'm sorry. I didn't know that you noticed me."

Sherlock frowned and looked back to his music and continued playing for a few more minutes. Veronica wandered over and sat on a bench in the yard and continued to watch him for the next hour.

"How do you play so long without your fingers bleeding?" Veronica asked looking up in awe.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked down at the ground. "Calluses" He quickly mumbled.

Veronica opened her mouth to make a comment but it was interrupted by her mother calling her name. It was already lunch time. She ran home and tried to eat her lunch as fast as possible as to not miss out on anymore of the music, but by the time she was outside she couldn't hear it anymore. Huffing in defeat the went back inside for the day.

The next day Veronica went over to watch again, his fingers flawlessly danced across the violin with ease for the next 3 hours, then his practice would be over. Accept this time Veronica grabbed his wrist and looked at his fingers. "You lied." She said frowning. "They do bleed, I can patch them if you'd like? I have plasters at home."

Sherlock frowned and pulled his hand away. "No. I don't need any help." And with that he turned and went inside.

Veronica was confused, all she did was ask a simple question "I just wanted to help." She called after him.