After less than two hours, John Noble decided anyone who said the first day of school was a good experience was a great big liar. Odd looks from students in the hallway (most of whom were not nearly as inconspicuous as they probably thought) and hushed whispers (John heard what was almost definitely "new" and "nerd" more a few times) that followed him around proved that point beyond any reasonable doubt. To be fair, the pin-covered backpack and glasses probably didn't exactly radiate an impression of "cool".

He should have been used to being the new kid by now. All the traveling and various schools throughout the past few years. This move was supposedly permanent, but his mother had said that for the last three towns too. Being new was familiar, sure, but that didn't make it any more pleasant. Some things get easier with experience. This was not one of them.

The first half of the day passed fairly quickly. Not exceptionally eventful. Calc. Bio. Chem. English. History. Hour after hour after hour of lessons he already knew. Donna almost had to nudge him awake in history, the only class they had together. It was hard for anyone to stay awake in that class though. The teacher had an impressive ability to remain at the same monotone for the entire sixty minutes. The lecture about colonization of the Americas and the clicking of computer keys from rapid note taking that would fade before the end of the first semester produced an overall soporific rhythm. By the time the bell let out its characteristic buzz, Donna had managed to type a full three pages of notes, her fingers flying across the laptop keyboard the whole period.

Lunch was when the already not so stellar day took a turn for the worse. Of course Donna had a different lunch period, where she'd probably already met loads of new friends. The firmly established social order left him with exactly one plausible option. The empty corner table, behind the most popular kids.

"Oh, look, it's the new boy," said one of the girls, with a Scottish lilt. Long red hair and a cherry lipstick smile. Heading towards the popular table, but instead stopping in front of John, who was about to sit down.

"Get away from him, Pond," said another girl coming to his defense from a few seats over.

"Nobody asked you, Tyler. I think I'll do what I want," said the girl who had been called Pond, knocking John's tray out of his hands and sending various most likely inedible food products falling to the floor. At least half the cafeteria burst into laughter at the sight.

"Oh God," said the other one, coming over and helping him wipe the spaghetti sauce and juice off the floor. "Never mind Amy. I'll sit with you. I'm Rose, by the way. Rose Tyler."

She was blonde, wearing a pink hoodie. And she was also the first person to actually speak to him all day.

"Nice to meet you, Rose. I'm John."

She flashed him a wide smile, with a happiness that spread across her face. Maybe the day wouldn't be a complete failure after all.

"I know. The whole school's been talking about you. We don't get many new people around here."

They cleaned up the last remnants of food, and Rose picked up her bag and took an empty seat next to John, ignoring the furious glares from Amy Pond and her friends. If looks could kill, Rose Tyler would have been dead a hundred times over.

"You are so - " Amy started to say.

"So going to regret this? Maybe. But I don't care," said Rose. "It's my decision to make. Not yours. Not Clara's."

Amy rolled her eyes but turned back towards her other friends, who were involved in an obviously enthralling discussion, probably about whose reputation to ruin next. And they could probably easily do it, if the last few minutes were any indication.

"You didn't have to do that," said John. "Taking pity on the new kid, right?"

"I wanted to do it. No one should sit alone, especially not on their first day. And besides, I've been looking for somewhere else to sit."

"I wouldn't think you'd want to get on Amy's bad side. Seems like a straight shot to being an outcast here."

"Forget Amy."

Needless to say, the second half of lunch was the highlight of the day. Even without food. It was the first time all day he was disappointed when the bell rang.


The only benefit of having late lunch was that there was only one class before dismissal.

It was Spanish, and he couldn't help but think about Rose and the way they hadn't stopped laughing for at least fifteen minutes straight. Her smile. Her brown eyes. How she was the only one who'd helped.

There was no way he could pay attention to conjugating irregular verbs.

He about to leave for the afternoon when he heard guitar playing coming from the music room, which he passed on the way to the front door, and a unique laugh that he would now be able to identify from anywhere.

He opened the door. There were chairs all around, set up for the school band or whatever other musical groups came in here for practice. Rose was sitting on one right in the middle of the room, with the guitar he'd heard earlier.

"Hello," he said, with a grin.

"Hello," Rose replied, with an equally enthusiastic smile.

"What are you doing here? The bell rang already. Don't want to be late."

"I could ask you the same question. The music teacher lets me use this room after school. I've been coming here since last year. Beats hanging out at home."

"I just heard you. From the hallway. Not that I was intentionally looking for you or anything. I just...heard the music and figured I might as well…"

"No need to explain yourself. You gonna stay? I think there are a few instruments in the back if you want to play something. Just make sure the band doesn't find out."

His phone buzzed from inside his jacket pocket. A text from Donna. Where are you, dumbo? Get out here so we can get home before Mum throws a fit.

Crap. He was supposed to get a ride from Donna. He replied with a "Staying after school. Leave without me."

A few minutes later there was another text.

On the first day? Someone's busy. Mum says to be back by six.

"You can keep playing. Don't mind me," said John.

Rose started into a pop tune, something John had heard on Donna's favorite radio station not too long ago. Her singing was beautiful, John thought. Powerful and genuine. She didn't miss a note. She had talent, that much was undeniable.

"You gonna play, or did you just come to watch me make a fool of myself?" asked Rose, after nailing the last high note.

"Don't be silly, that was fantastic. I play the guitar, yes, since you asked."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Let me hear."

She offered him the guitar. He hesitated, but then accepted. He played the first song he could think of, the last thing he'd learned to play. It wasn't a very difficult song, but it was nice enough.

"How was it?" he asked her, once he'd finished. "Live up to your expectations?"

"Of course."

Rose reached into her backpack and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. An advertisement.

"Battle of the Bands? Isn't that a bit of a cliche?" John said, after reading it. "I thought those only happened in movies."

"Maybe it's a bit cliche. It's still fun though, to hear all the people who come to play. The prize is nice, too."

"$2000?" John noticed, after reading a bit further. "That is nice."

"Yeah, it's available to all the local schools. It's a pretty big thing. Like I said, not much happens around here, so events like this are a big deal."

"Well, maybe we should enter. I think you'd definitely have a shot at winning."

Rose looked down, avoiding his eyes. "About that...I'm already part of a band, and there's a maximum of four people per group."

"Oh. That's fine. Fine. Great," said John. "Good luck."

"Maybe you could find your own band," Rose suggested. "You've got as much of a shot as I do."

John smiled. "Maybe I'll do that."

"Well, I dunno. I'll probably still win," Rose teased. "Cheesy pop songs are hard to compete with."

"We'll see about that. May the better band win."

"Might be a bit hard to win without a band," said Rose with a great big laugh that almost filled the almost empty room with its warmth.

"Rose Tyler, you are so on."