November 20th

The Big Ben tolled away, signaling mid-day, but inspite of it being lunchtime the University campus seemed empty due to the lack of students milling around. It was a really chilly November day and no one was eager to stay out and catch a cold… well expect for one lanky, curly haired bloke.

Sherlock Holmes was seated in his usual spot, his hands folded under his chin, staring straight ahead. At first glance, one would think that he was unaffected by the cold, but slight trembling of his bare hands gave him away. Not that there was anyone around to notice.

He had been kicked out of class three hours ago for pointing out that his Professor was having an affair with one of his classmates, and he hadn't bothered to go back after that. He didn't see the point in it – they weren't teaching him anything new anyway – it was all mundane, redundant… boring.

Every passing day seemed like an eternity to Sherlock. The monotonous routine of lectures frustrated him to a point where he was ready to get into fights to distract his trapped mind. Just the night before, he had got into a fist fight with the shorty Martin, almost breaking his nose.

He knew that if his brother got the wind of it, he would never hear the end of the condescending talks about personal growth… not to forget his mother's tearful pleas. All that was too troublesome; Sherlock didn't understand why it was any of their business. It was his time, his mind, his actions, his life… he would do as he saw fit. Sherlock let out a sigh, even thinking about it made him feel exhausted.

But on deeper thought, Sherlock decided the past couple of months hadn't been as bad as his freshmen year. Alexis McCalman proved to be far more interesting than he first thought. She was the only one person who kept up with his thinking and even contradicted him, but surprisingly, without annoying him. They had met each other almost every day since September 29th – it began with meeting over lunch, then also with hanging out for a while after the day's classes were over. By now, she was on talking terms with almost every one of his little so-called social circle.

It's not like they spent quality time or anything – just to be clear. Mostly both of them tried to figure where the other had been and what the other had done during the day by simple observation. They had even been keeping score. Sherlock smirked when he remembered he was ahead in the scoreboard at the moment.

"Sherlock!" a voice called out, almost on cue. "Ah, Alexis; how did you find me?" Sherlock said turning around.

"You're always here when you get kicked out of class" she said, sitting down next to him, "What did you do today?"

"How did you know I got kicked out of class?"

A triumphant smile lit up Alexis' pale face as she said, "When you turned around to look at me, there was a slight crick in your neck. Your movement also suggested that your muscles had gotten stiff, meaning you were sitting here for a while. You never voluntarily miss classes, you're too methodical. Meaning, you got kicked out."

Sherlock just pouted. But it was fairly obvious.

"So… our score has become even again has it…" Sherlock began in a dejected tone, but stopped when he saw her eyes focused on his hands, which still joined together as though in prayer. Then without a warning, her hand shot out to take his, her warm fingers sending pleasant tingles through his now stone cold hand.

After observing for a second, her face began to take the same shade as the red scarf she had wrapped around her neck. Sherlock had spent enough time with her to know it was one of her danger signals – the other being an incessant tapping of her foot.

Over the course of their short friendship, Sherlock had taken in the smallest of smallest details about Alexis McCalman, mostly without even knowing it. He never really understood why… but now wasn't the time to ponder over that question. Sherlock was too busy bracing himself for the impact of Hurricane Alexis, as he liked to call it.

"SHERLOCK HOLMES!" she yelled, making the said person wince, "Did you glue your fingers together with super-glue?"

"Well… I was…"

"Save the explanation for later, let's go Sherlock" she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him out of the square towards the cafeteria at break neck speed. A warm gust sent pleasant shivers through Sherlock when Alexis pushed the cafeteria doors open. She dragged him over to the wash basins, opened one of the many taps and slowly began to coax the glue from between his fingers using the steady stream of water.

She then pried his fingers apart one by one as gently as she could; all the while muttering away under her breath in the most un-ladylike language Sherlock had ever heard. He couldn't help but smile – Alexis was usually so well behaved, it was amusing to see her loose her cool. "I wouldn't smile if I was you. You're in a lot of trouble mister." Alexis said sternly, wiping off the water from Sherlock's hands with her scarf.

Sherlock just hummed in response as they sat down at the nearest table. "Seriously Sherlock, what the hell were you thinking? Sitting out in the cold like that… without any gloves too! With your fingers glued together!" Alexis said in one single breath, producing a small bottle of clear liquid, which she began dabbing on his fingers with a cotton ball. Sherlock sniffed – it was acetone.

"Why are you carrying acetone in your bag?"

"It's my nail polish remover Einstein…"

"This is why I don't understand women. Your kind is too vain and pretentious."

"Well it's one of this vain and pretentious kind that is saving your poor fingers. So be a little grateful you twat."

Sherlock let out an exasperated sigh as Alexis continued to dab his fingers with acetone to get rid of the small traces of glue left on his fingers. He then focused his attention on her – he was genuinely taken aback by the concern etched on her face. Why would she care? What could be the reason?

Over the past couple of months, Alexis became his self-appointed nanny. Every time Sherlock did something completely mental to take his mind off of his boredom, she always miraculously appeared and stopped him from permanently damaging himself. It was annoying in the beginning, and then it became bearable. Now, it was downright funny – Sherlock's only goal in mind recently was to find novel ways to irritate Alexis.

"What the hell were you doing Sherlock?" Alexis asked, her ocean blue eyes boring into his aquamarine ones.

"Well…" Sherlock began tentatively, "By gluing my fingers together, I was trying to ascertain the importance of free digits for everyday life. I was hoping it would enlighten me about the possible reasons for mutational evolution through the history of life on earth."

Alexis slapped her palm on her forehead in sheer irritation. "If you wanted to understand evolution…" she said in a dangerously quite voice, "You should have taken Evolutionary Developmental Biology"

"What is taught in class is redundant and irrelevant. I prefer to gain knowledge on my own terms."

"So you do that by sitting outside on a cold November day…"

"Precisely"

Alexis closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Sherlock prepared himself for what; he was sure, was going to be a long lecture on how he shouldn't be so irresponsible all the time. His mind wandered off to the fuzzy memories of his childhood, when his mother used to chide him for getting caterpillars into the house. He unconsciously pouted – he had just wanted to see the metamorphosis with his own two eyes.

"Sherlock… putting yourself in harm's way is not the solution to your boredom…" a calm voice pulled Sherlock back into the present.

Sherlock didn't even bother hiding his surprise – he was completely taken aback. The corners of her lips were pulled down, slight frown adorned her forehead… he knew very well that they were the tell-tale signs of worry. But it was the piercing, yet drowning stare of her blue eyes that hit Sherlock.

"I… I don't understand…" he stammered, unable to judge the situation.

"Your mind is like a machine Sherlock," Alexis said, "A machine with an infinite power source. And when you don't have anything substantial to occupy yourself with, you end up doing stupid things…"

Sherlock only blinked at the brunette in front of him… he didn't have a reply.

"You keep doing eccentric experiments as a distraction… but that will only rest your mind temporarily… you need find something more substantial Sherlock…"

"They are not eccentric…"

"Not to forget dangerous…"

"They have never been dangerous!"

"Are you seriously telling me that trying to measure the speed at which fire travels over different types of alcohol in the chemical storage room is not risky?"

"It became a risk when you found me and dragged the lab assistant along with you…"

"Sherlock!" Alexis cried out, slapping her hand on the table in frustration, "I saved you from getting suspended that day. And do not try to change the topic mister!"

Sherlock huffed in response. Alexis ignored and continued, "You could switch branches… you know… find something that is to your liking…"

"I like my subjects enough," Sherlock said.

"Hardly," Alexis smirked, "You're a sort of obsessive compulsive Sherlock. When you like something, you pour your entire time and energy into it. If you really liked your classes, you wouldn't try to get kicked out of them every day…"

Sherlock was positively annoyed. Yes… it was true that he didn't like his classes anymore. He had had expectations from the course – he had expected to unravel the mystery behind human emotions through his degree, but all he got was outdated textbooks and serious lack of curiosity and innovation. He didn't know how much more he could stand before his mind tore itself to pieces because of the lack an invigorating and challenging task.

But he wouldn't admit it to anyone. Never. Admitting it would mean admitting he had made a miscalculation, admitting that he was wrong. He would slowly turn into a vegetable rather than admitting that he was wrong. Such was his arrogance.

Which is exactly why Sherlock was annoyed. Annoyed that this person saw right through the barricades he had so carefully built around him as if they didn't exist. Alexis always read him like an open book, and the more she read, the more firmly she began to occupy a spot in his mind – a prominent spot. For a long time, Sherlock Holmes had blocked himself to everything, and he didn't like that his cozy world was beginning to change.

It was changing for the better… but he didn't see it… not yet anyway.

"Why do you bother so much anyway?" Sherlock said in a desperate attempt to steer clear of the topic, "It's not like you care!"

"Why do you think I don't care?" Alexis asked. Sherlock thought she was mocking him, but one quick sweep over her facial features told him she was genuinely curious.

"Why… would you care?"

At this, Alexis chuckled. Then she smiled… a smile that made her face glow and her eyes twinkle. "Sherlock…" she said, gently placing her hand on his, "I care because you have become important to me… you are my friend…"

Sherlock's mind went on a complete rampage – too many thoughts swirled in his head, too many for him to handle. He had never comprehended the whole concept of friendship; and now that it was thrown his way… he had no idea how to react. Sherlock Holmes was too confused to make sense of anything.

"You don't have to look so scared Sherlock," Alexis giggled.

"I… I'm not…" Sherlock managed, which just made her giggle even more.

"Talking about friends…" Alexis continued, "It's my birthday in two days…"

"Hmmm…?" Sherlock said, still a dazed from the torrent of thoughts in his head.

"My birthday Sherlock…" she said, as the college siren rang, signaling the end of the lunch break, "I was thinking treating my friends to drinks and dinner… I'm inviting you too…"

"What…?" was all Sherlock could say as Alexis got up and gathered her things.

"Don't give me that stupid expression Sherlock," Alexis said as she began to walk away from the table, "I'm inviting you, and I'm not gonna take no for an answer" And with that, she disappeared into the crowd of students who were rushing out of the cafeteria to attend the afternoon session.

There were a lot of things that transpired in the cafeteria that Sherlock Holmes didn't understand. But one thing he knew for certain – he knew that a certain pretty lady was marking her territory in his mind palace… and he, for reasons unknown to him, didn't want to stop her.