11. Sherlock and Dr Hart

The heat from outside hit my face as my door slowly opened. Alec crouched down to my level and tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Hey you, have you been crying?" He murmured in a low, soothing voice.

I closed my eyes and shook my head.

"Then why is your face wet and your eyes red? Let go." Alec prised my hands off the steering wheel. I sank back into my seat, finally relaxing my shoulders.

Had I cried? I hadn't even noticed, but as I wiped my hand across my face, I felt the leftover tears on my cheeks.

"Do you want to talk about it? Who upset you? Cos' I can definitely rip them a new one."

I snorted as a laugh and a sniffle fought their way out of my throat.

"Thanks but I'm okay. It's nothing." I wrapped my arms around myself.

"Are you sure?" Alec asked in a voice full of compassion.

"Is the match already over?" From the corner of my eye, I caught Hope driving past us, barely looking my way. Abigail and Finlay were also in her white VW Polo.

"Yeah. Want me to drive your Mum's car. Someone can help me get mine later."

"No. I'm okay. Promise. I'll see you at mine."

The ride home in my mum's Beetle was made in total silence. I couldn't even bring myself to turn the radio on. The muscles in my shoulders felt stiff and my stomach hurt. I hated arguing with any of my friends. Always one to stand my ground when confronted, I knew I was also one to take flight when I felt like I would no longer cope. My brief trip to France was proof alone of that fact.

Every few minutes, I glanced in my rear-view mirror to make sure I hadn't lost Alec along the way. I didn't know why I was worried about losing him when he knew exactly how to get to my house. He could probably drive there blindfolded.

My father's car was missing from our driveway as we pulled up outside my house. Remembering my mother mentioning their shopping trip, I sprinted inside, placed her car keys on their designated hook and hurried back to Alec.

I clumsily dropped into the passenger seat, slammed the door behind me and fastened my seatbelt. For someone that prided herself in staying fit and ran nearly every day, I was surprisingly winded. My heart raced, my breathing laboured.

Alec stared my way, his hand on the ignition key, waiting to start the car back up. "Alright there, puffy? You only ran from your car to your house, then to mine."

"I know right. Anyone would think I had asthma or didn't exercise all the time. It must be the heat getting to me," I stuttered, trying to take large mouthfuls of cool air in from the air conditioning system.

Alec started his Audi and pulled out onto the road. "It's not that hot, Nattie. You sure you're okay? You're all flustered and tense."

I relaxed into my seat and watched the countryside flash past. The colours blurred together, in hues of yellows and greens.

Alec wouldn't leave me alone until I admitted what bothered me, however, I didn't want to tell him about Hope. What if I planted the idea in his head and he decided he wanted the same thing as her? What a horrible friend that would make me. If it made him happy, was it my place to stop them? I couldn't help the jealousy that replaced the earlier rage that coursed through my veins. This was so unlike me. If I took one step back from the situation, took myself out of the equation, I could judge whether or not them being together was a good idea.

"I had an argument with Hope," I mumbled, not able to tear my gaze away from the view outside my window. We slowed down as he took the turning onto the road to the Hart's property.

"Oh," Alec whispered out, clenching the steering wheel a little tighter.

I shifted in my seat to face him, my head resting against the headrest. "Oh," I copied.

"You might not be too happy then. She's at my house with Abigail and Finlay. They asked to use the pool for the afternoon." He glanced at me, the corners of his mouth raising.

"Does she spend a lot of time at yours? I didn't think you two were that close. You never spent time with her before, without me or Sian with you?" My voice cracked as a ran a finger along the seam of my seat.

"It's not like that, Nattie. I promise. Abigail likes Finn, so Hope is always with her. Once he goes home, I probably won't see them around, unless we're all out together." Alec turned the engine off as we arrived outside his house.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that," I murmured out of earshot.

"What's that?" Alec shot back.

Alec was totally clueless about Hope's intentions. We left his Audi and instead of heading for the farmhouse or joining the others at the pool, Alec guided me towards the annexe.

"I thought you'd prefer having lunch here if you don't want to bump into Hope. I'd ask them to leave, but you know that's not me. It'd be rude."

I hovered around the small breakfast island, separating the kitchen area to the lounge. A solitary green apple in the fruit bowl caught my eye and after cleaning it under the tap, I took a large bite. The juice squirted out the sides of my mouth, leaving me to wipe it up with the back of my arm.

Alec, witnessing my not so graceful action, laughed. "Never change, Nattie!" He motioned for me to take a seat on the fabric corner sofa. Kicking off my shoes, I sat down, stretching my legs out and continued to eat my apple.

"I don't actually have any food in. I'll pop to the house and make us some sandwiches. What do you fancy?" Alec asked.

"I'll just have what you're having. Tuna melt, right?"

"You don't even like tuna. I can make your favourite? I have everything in the main fridge."

"It's too much trouble. Just make something quick. Want me to come and help?" I inquired.

"No sit tight. I won't be long," Alec replied, and without another word, he hurried over to the farmhouse.

I grabbed a bottled water from his fridge and flicked through Netflix on his TV. Settling on Riverdale, I relaxed back into the sofa.

I watched the episode where Archie's dad was in the hospital after being shot in Pop's Diner. The scene where Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge were sharing an extremely steamy kiss in the shower played as Alec returned with our lunch.

"What are you watching?" He placed the plates onto the kitchen island and walked over to the screen to have a closer look. He cocked his eyebrow as he glanced back at me.

"Um, it's just Riverdale."

"Oh, well I made your favourite, Avocado and egg salad on wholegrain bread with watercress, and a pickle on the side. It looks absolutely disgusting!" He snickered and turned back to fetch our food.

"With-"

"Sriracha sauce? As if I'd forget," he finished for me.

"You're the best-" I clasped my hands together briefly before grabbing my plate off him-, "but I told you not to go to any trouble." Taking a large bite out of my sandwich, I moaned in delight.

Alec had yet to sit down and join me. He stood there, just staring down at me.

"No trouble at all. I made the mixture this morning before football so it would be nice and cold in the fridge. Nothing worse than warm eggs." Alec's cheeks pinkened at his confession.

I stopped mid-chew and swallowed an enormous chunk so I was free to speak. "No one likes avocados and eggs in your family. Why would you've made it this morning?"

"Err, Finn likes it too." Alec's hand shot up to the back of his neck as his face reddened further.

Finally joining me, I looked over to his plate. "Tuna melt! So predictable"

"Says you, Alien gloop girl. I still don't get how you can eat that."

"You haven't even tried it. Here, take a bite." I thrust my sandwich into his face, leaving some of the avocado mix on the side of his mouth.

"Huuk, gross!" he gagged, screwing his nose up.

"You have a bit of food on your face," I belly laughed, clutching on to my side with one hand. Alec was not impressed. "Here let me get it." Without thinking, I wiped the food away with my thumb and popped the avocado mixture in my mouth.

With my thumb still in my mouth, I watched his eyes widen and flicker down to my lips. His hand slowly grabbed mine and removed it. "Well that was-"

"Gross, I know you said it before." I shifted uncomfortably. His hand warmed my skin as he clutched onto my wrist.

Alec cleared his throat and let go. "Yeah, definitely gross." His attention on Riverdale, he tucked into his lunch.

As soon as he finished and the plates were cleaned away, Alec turned to me so I could fill him in on our afternoon plans. I was desperate for a distraction and what better way than putting the focus on Sian. I couldn't force her to confess who her mysterious man was, but I could catch her with him.

He didn't agree with spying on Sian, but after some persuasion, I convinced him to drive me to Petersfield. After all, Alec already knew where she lived, having helped her move in, and I had yet to visit her new flat.

***

The journey to Petersfield would only take us fifteen to twenty minutes. Before leaving, I made Alec ring Sian to check if she was at home for the rest of the afternoon. He invited her over for a swim, but she declined. I wanted to call her once we were outside her apartment building to tell her I was popping by. If she was with her boyfriend, I had a feeling she would pretend she wasn't in.

Sian's flat overlooked Petersfield's square. There would be plenty of street parking within eyeshot of her place so we could stake her out. Alec found a sheltered spot on the opposite side of the road to the apartment block. He assured me Sian wouldn't be able to see us if she happened to look out her window. Her red Ford Ka was parked in a resident designated bay.

"So we are here, what now?" Alec questioned, switching the engine off.

"I'm going to call her to say I'm on my way. I can't spot James' car, but that doesn't mean he isn't here. Why else is she too busy to come swimming?" Picking up my phone, I flipped it a few times in my hands.

"How do you even know it's James? She would have told us," Alec noted. Although he disagreed with what we were doing, not once did he sound annoyed with me. That was one of the reasons I loved Alec as my friend, he was always there to help me out.

"I just know these things. You should have seen them at the lake before you arrived. Something smells fishy. I'm too impatient to wait for her to tell me. I've given her plenty of chances to," I sighed, turning back to glance at the other side of the street.

"Well, while you play detective, I'm going to grab us some coffee. There's a Costa coffee up the road or a Caffè Nero right there. Your pick." He motioned to the blue awning of the Italian coffee shop.

"Not fussed. Get the Nero one. It's closer."

Alec exited the car and strolled over to the nearby shop. I unlocked my phone and swiped on Sian's name.

She answered on the fourth ring. "Wilson, you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm popping to Petersfield in a bit and was wondering if I can swing by to check your new place out? You're near the high street, right?" I asked.

"Are you with Alec?" Sian questioned. I could hear some clattering in the background and Sian must have placed her hand over her phone as she let out a muffled shushing sound.

"No, I'm coming on my own. Why?" If she was alone and let me pop up, I would have to ask Alec to wait for me outside. I hadn't thought that part through.

"Oh, okay. Yeah, I'm not in right now. I'm helping my parents out at their house," she lied. The noise behind her had now ceased.

"So you're in Hawkley? I'll pop over and help you too. Have nothing to do." I pulled on the loose threads of my denim shorts, hoping she wouldn't catch on to my lies.

I was about to catch Sian out in her little web of secrets.

"Eu, yeah, so I mean-" she paused for a second. "I'm about to leave and won't be going to the flat. I need to-, I need to run errands. So busy. Have to go," Sian stuttered. She was such a terrible liar.

"Oh okay, nevermind. I'll catch you another time then."

I switched my phone off and scanned the area again for James's car. He had either bought a new one or he hadn't arrived yet. I was leaning more towards option one. Someone was obviously in there with her. I heard them in the background during our conversation.

Alec returned with two coffee cups and a bottle of water. He handed a cup over to me. "Here, it's a cappuccino. Any news with Sian, Sherlock?" He mocked.

"Hardy har har, very funny. She lied about being at her parents after she told you she was home. Wanted to know if I was with you. I think she knew she couldn't say she wasn't home if you were here too. Thanks for this by the way." I took a slurp of my drink and scolded my tongue on the piping hot liquid. "Ahh, hot, hot, hot." I held my tongue out and tried to blow on it.

Alec shot me a side glance at the noise I made. "You look like a panting dog," he laughed.

"Are you calling me a dog?" I frowned. My tongue throbbed. I wanted to scrape it across my top teeth. Unfortunately, that caused it to hurt even more.

"What? No!" He boomed.

I laughed at his flustered face, causing Alec to lean over and ruffle my hair.

"Here, have my water. It won't take the pain away, but it will cool it down. And suck on this throat lozenge." Alec leant over my lap to open the glove box and pulled out a small pack of Strepsils. "The mild anaesthetic should help numb it a bit." He held his hand, with the small pastille, out in front of me.

I took it from his palm, my fingers brushing his skin gently. They tingled at the warmth radiating from his hand. "Thanks, Doctor Hart," I mumbled.

After taking a large swig of the cold water, I popped the lozenge in my mouth. "You should consider specialising in cardiology with a name like Hart. Imagine your patients' faces," I giggled. Lowering my voice in a mock male tone, I continued, "Doctor Hart is ready to mend your broken heart." Alec rested his head on his seat and listened to my ramblings with an enormous smile on his face. "Oh, Oh, Oh, even better! You could star in your own episode of Grey's Anatomy."

"You finished yet? First off, yes cardiology would be cool but not for me and secondly, you know it's not to mend broken hearts, right?" He beamed, shaking his head.

"Pfft, yeah, I know that. I just didn't want to get technical," I brushed his comment off.

"Anyway, can we go now?" Alec asked, stretching his arms out.

"Not yet. We haven't proven anything. We need to stay here until they leave, or at least until James leaves. I need proof it's him before I confront her."

"We better get comfy then. This could take hours," he sighed.

I wanted to reassure him that it wouldn't but as it turned out he was right. As the afternoon went on, we stopped paying much attention to Sian's apartment building. They could have both left the flat and neither one of us would have noticed. We were too engrossed in each other's conversation to care about the outside world. Everyone walking past must have wondered why we were still sat there. Time seemed to no longer exist.

Not once had I felt uncomfortable or flustered, and that made me realise how much I had missed my best friend. I couldn't do anything to jeopardise our bond.

As I turned my head, I caught sight of the clock on the dash. It was nearing six p.m.

"Please tell me that time is wrong," I peered at my phone. No, it was the same time. Alec did the same with his. "Oh no no no, crap! This can't be happening." I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.

"Calm down. It's only six p.m. It's still early," Alec tried to soothe me. He grabbed my hand and stroked his thumb along the top.

"You don't understand. I need to be at home, helping my mum cook dinner. I promised! I had a fight with my dad about this, just last weekend. And Rosie will be there. I can't mess this up," I panicked.

"It's okay, Nattie. Breathe. I will take you home right this second. I'll come in, explain it's all my fault. Everything will be okay." Alec lifted our joined hands to his mouth and gave mine a quick peck before starting the engine and driving all the way back to Hawkley.

***