An Official Study of Tailcoats and Blue Scarves

Entry three

"Well, you're not busy are you?" John asked with a slight frown. He was still wearing the off white knitted sweater he seemed to have an affinity for.

"I might be." Evelyn responded defiantly. Spending a whole dinner with Sherlock and John sounded like an awkward night waiting to happen. Well, John was fine, but the detective caused her hesitation.

"But she's not. And we'll totally be there!" Hope promised with a glossy smile.

"Fantastic!"

This whole encounter began as Hope and Evelyn caught John on his way out to the store. He enthusiastically invited them over for dinner that night and Evelyn couldn't think of an excuse fast enough.

The doctor pulled out his shopping list. "Any allergies?"

Only awkward situations, Evelyn thought with a grown. "Nope, all good here."

"Brilliant. See you at six."

After they made it safely back to their apartment, Evelyn looked at Hope suspiciously. "Aren't you the friendly neighbor."

Hope rolled her eyes playfully. "We're going to be here for awhile. We should make friends instead pouring ourselves into our work."

That was a rather pointed comment. Evelyn took off her coat and clicked her tongue. It'd been chilly outside and Evelyn had wanted to curl up with a blanket and hot chocolate as she read over files, but now she was being forced by the monster in front of her to socialize. Honestly, the nerve.

"Come on! You're the one who decided to google them and found the blog! You were interested then." Hope reminded cheerfully as she dropped her purse on the table in the front and disappeared into the kitchen.

Evelyn did not like how that was enunciated.

"I am interested. But, like, from afar. I'd rather read about someone who can figure out your great grandmother's middle name by the way you hold a fork than experience it."

"Holy shit, you think he can actually do that?" Hope asked poking back around, agape with wonder.

Evelyn shrugged. "Probably, which means we can't fake an emergency to get out of there if need be."

Her best friend passed back by with a bag of chips. "I'm going to write for awhile. Let me know when you've decided on an outfit."

"What's wrong with these?" Evelyn asked, looking down at her casual shirt and jeans.

"Nothing... if that's what you're going to wear."

"It is." Evelyn snipped.

"Okay, then it looks good."

"I know!"

"Okay."

Evelyn pursed her lips and dragged herself to her bedroom. "I'm not wearing this."

"I know." The writer had the gall to be simpering about it. Smug, one would even say. "Try the red crop with the black velvet skirt."

Evelyn didn't even bother trying on another combination. Hope had spoken and the girl had an annoying knack for being right.
   ~O~
"Hi!" Hope smiled beautifully as John opened the door. Her dark hair was done up in a top knot and fell in curls at her bare shoulders. She held a decorative dinner plate the twin to Evelyn's.

"Hello," John opened the door wider so they could come in. "Make yourself at home. Oh, what do you have there?"

"Beef Wellington." Hope answered, raising her dish. "And Evie has dessert."