Maria was running. She didn't know where. She wasn't just running from the Slitheen. She was running from the kiss that Luke and Rani had shared. Ever since she had returned from America, she'd seen how close Rani and Luke were. But this…was just…unexpected.
"Maria!" called a voice. Maria shook her head and wouldn't look back. She heard the Slitheen roaring and running behind her. Maria was aware that she had tear streaks down her face. She finally just gave up and tripped, letting herself tumble. She saw the Slitheen over her.
Vinegar. It was thrown over the Slitheen. Before it exploded, someone pulled her to the side. Maria buried her face into Clyde's neck, hugging him. They stayed miraculously clean. However, they heard footsteps and jumped apart. Thankfully nobody noticed.
"Maria?" Luke asked.
Maria shook her head, turned to Sarah Jane and spoke. "I'm going home." And with that, she turned and walked away. Tears were falling down her face.
She slammed into her house, next door to Sarah Jane's, and was glad for a minute that her dad was working. She ran upstairs after slamming the door shut and threw herself onto her bed. Maria began to sob.
When Maria awoke, she smelled burning. She pattered downstairs in her clothes then screamed.
There was a fire.
Maria rushed upstairs, as the door was on fire. She quickly put her more precious things in her bag and some of her best and favorite clothes and shoes. She slipped her mobile in, then shut the bag and threw it out of the window.
But the smoke was encircling her. Maria fainted.
As she stirred, she felt someone holding her hand.
She opened her eyes, and saw it was Clyde. She was in his house.
She sat up. "Clyde." She breathed. He'd come for her. She got off of his bed, and he stood up too. Maria hugged Clyde tightly and felt him hugging her back.
"I'm glad you're alright." He muttered into her hair.
"You are?" Maria asked.
"Of course I am."
Somebody cleared their throat.
Maria broke away from Clyde, and stared daggers at Rani, who looked surprised.
"Maria...your dad's..." Luke tried. Maria shook her head and sank onto Clyde's bed. "No..." she whispered softly. Tears were spilling down her cheeks as Clyde wrapped his arms round her.
"I'm going to have to stay with mum." Maria said at last, when her tears had stopped.
"You can't, I'm afraid." Carla had entered. "Your mum isn't...well, I'm sorry but she can't look after you."
"Wait, I'll have to go in care!" Maria said.
"No." Clyde said. "Mum, can't she stay with us?"
"I'll talk about it with the social services." Carla said, smiling at Maria and then walking out.
Maria stood up. "I'm going to see what's left of my old house." She said, smiling at Clyde and then going out. She paused outside the door where they couldn't see her, and listened.
"Clyde, why are you suddenly so protective?" Rani said.
"I'm not." Clyde said. "She's one of my best friends."
Maria rolled her eyes at Rani's back, then left for her house.