Chapter 2: Disbelief and Waiting

Over the next few years, everyone Evie knew was told the tale of the 'raggedy' man that visited her house that night. To her disbelief and frustration, her tale was met with many, 'alright honey,' and a lot of, 'You're lying.' She lost hope, over time. The raggedy man faded, and so did his flying Tardis. This story takes place on her seventeenth birthday...

Ten years later...

"Happy birthday, darling!" Her mum exclaimed, flinging her arms around her.

Evie groaned. "Mum, I'm seventeen. Not six."

"I don't care how old you are, you'll still be our little girl." She looked up, to see her dad standing over her, staggering with the load of presents he was carrying.

"Mum! I told you not to get me anything!" She complained.

"I barely got you anything," her mum dismissed.

"This is barely?!" She gestured at the pile of presents, wrapped carefully in silver paper, tied with pink bows.

"Look, it's not like I'm ungrateful or anything," she explained. "But I think you spend too much money on me."

"We have a right to! You're our only child," her mum shot back. "Besides, seventeen is a big number. You're almost grown up." Beside her, Evie's dad pretended to wipe a tear out of his eye. Her mum gave him a poisonous look.

"Here," she said, handing her the smallest present from the pile. "Open it."

Evie rolled her eyes. What was that saying again? If you can't beat them, join them. She slowly tore off the silver paper, revealing a small velvet box.

She gasped. "Mum- you didn't!"

She snapped open the box, practically squealing in delight when she saw the contents. A few weeks ago, she'd begged to get a sapphire necklace she'd seen in a jewellery shop. Sapphire was her birthstone, and being superstitious, she hoped it would bring good luck. Like bringing him, she thought. Except the necklace cost a fortune, so her mum had stubbornly refused. The sapphire hanging from a thin silver chain glinted in the sunlight.

"It's...beautiful," she breathed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Evie hugged her mum so tight that she complained, so she released her. She was more cautious with her dad.

"Best birthday ever," she grinned at them.

Unfortunately for her, her birthday was on a Thursday, meaning she had to go to school, but she didn't mind. It gave her an excuse to show off her new necklace. (Though jewellery wasn't technically allowed in school).

"Your mum gave you a sapphire? A real one? Big and sparkly?" Evie nodded, making Chantelle stare at her in disbelief. "You are well spoilt."

"I know," she smiled, fingering the chain hanging from her neck. It was a typical school afternoon. Chantelle- her friend- and her were sunbathing on the lawn, desperate to catch some 'rays' before the heat wave was over.

"God, it's hot!" Chantelle wiped off some of the sweat from her neck. Evie sighed. It didn't matter if Chantelle was sweaty; all of the boys were staring at her. She happened to be friends with the most gorgeous girl in school. Being Greek meant she had olive coloured skin, piercing green eyes and dark, wild hair. It suited her- she looked like an exotic model.

"He-llo, handsome."

Evie's eyes snapped open at that comment. Chantelle was eyeing up a man that had just walked into school grounds. She took a good look at the man, avidly chatting with the headmaster.

"Why is he with Greeves? He should be over here, with me." Chantelle nudged her, waggling her eyebrows. But she took no notice of her flirty friend. She was too absorbed in staring at this stranger. He was tall-ish, with dark hair to match, that carelessly flopped over his right side. His green eyes scanned the playground- skimming over Evie, barely noticing her. He had a dark and mysterious aura about him, as he strode through with the headmaster, who had to scurry to keep up with him. He was sexy, in a weird way.

"Hey, Evie? It's rude to stare."

She was bumped back to reality. "Sorry."

Chantelle batted her eyelashes at this stranger, but it was in vain. By now, most of the girls were twisting locks of hair or shooting seductive looks at him. He took no notice of the school girls, striding confidently through with the headmaster. He looked over his shoulder, his eyes locking onto hers, for a brief moment. Evie felt like nothing else in the world was important. And then he looked away.

Chantelle's mouth dropped open. "Did you see that? He gave you, 'the eye.'"

"What's, 'the eye'?"

She rolled her eyes in exasperation. "You really need to know more, Evie. You're seventeen, for God's sake. Don't you even listen in Bio-"

"I do," Evie interrupted. "But it doesn't explain in depth about 'the eye.'"

Chantelle stuck her tongue out at her. "Nerd."

"Geek."

"Whatever."

By the end of the day, she'd completely forgotten about the 'raggedy man.' She found the day whizzed by, laughing and joking with Chantelle with ease helped. They were on their way home, giggling about the mysterious stranger. Girls being girls, they were discussing his looks.

"You know, he was pretty fit, in a weird way," Chantelle observed.

Evie felt her heart skip a beat. "I know. I felt that too."

"Just 'cause you were making eyes at him," Chantelle teased her.

"I was not!"

"You soo were."

"Shut up."

The two friends were so deep in discussion, that they didn't notice the man approaching them. It resulted in a loud and painful collision, unsurprisingly.

"Ow!" yelped Evie, dropping her folder in surprise.

"Are you OK?" The man dropped to his knees, helping her gather up her stuff. She glanced up, to see it was the mysterious stranger she and Chantelle had been gossiping about. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

"Thanks," she muttered, standing up straight.

"No problem." He stood up too, a good few inches taller than her. "I'm the Doctor." He smiled.

That's when it hit her. He was the Doctor. The wild, raggedy man who came to her doorstep that night, gabbling about his Tardis and repairs and pit stops. He was 'the Doctor' she'd met as a young girl, who promised he'd return one day. The Doctor she'd waited for, for years. She'd lost hope. But he'd kept his promise. 'Soon,' he'd said. Probably translated into ten years.

"I'm Evie," she announced. "Nice to meet you." She ignored the flickering gaze of Chantelle, her back-and-forth eyes.

He laughed a deep chuckle. "You're probably wondering why I'm here."

"No. Not really." She shrugged, putting on her most innocent face. He knew she was playing a game.

"Don't you want to know?" It was a game of cat and mouse.

"I'm OK. Bye, Doctor." She turned, and walked off in the other direction. Thankfully, Chantelle followed.

"That was so cool!" She whispered in her ear.

"Is he looking?"

Chantelle glanced back. "Yep," she grinned. "Not only that- he's staring."

"Good."

Making sure he was out of earshot, the friends burst into celebratory mode.

"Woo-hoo!" Chantelle whooped into the sky.

"Uh-huh, that's how I roll," said Evie, swishing her hips from side to side. "High five, girlfriend!" The clap echoed into the empty school. They hadn't realised how late it had become.

She glanced at her watch. "Oh, shoot. I'm late. Mum and Dad will be wondering why I am. See you tomorrow!" She called back, sprinting off. She couldn't tell Chantelle about 'the Doctor.' Not now. Too soon.

"Have fun, birthday girl." Her friend waggled her perfectly manicured fingers at her. "You only have it once a year."

To her dismay, her mum was waiting for her at the front door, tapping her foot; arms crossed, and she was wearing her best, 'I am not impressed,' look.

"Where have you been?" She demanded.

"I'm sorry, mum- bus was late."

"You walk."

"Um... I felt like taking the bus this once?"

Her mum sighed. "Either you tell me what's going on, or I'll force it out of you."

"I'm sorry. I lost track of time."

"Were you with Chantelle again?"

Evie really hated it when her mum brought her best friend into conversation. "Mum! It's not her fault. You can't blame her for my mistakes."

"I just think it's a bad idea for you to hang around her. There are other people you could be friends."

Evie's eyes blazed with anger. "Like who? Lauren?!"

Her mum hesitated. "Well..."

Her mouth dropped open. "Oh. My. God. Lauren? Really, mum?!"

"Don't be so rude," she scolded Evie. "Lauren's a lovely girl."

"She is around you," her daughter muttered. "I'm going upstairs."

"Evie, wait-" Her mum protested weakly, but she was too late. Evie had already stormed upstairs, slamming her door behind her.

Sorry about the ton of dialogue! I'm normally all about description, but I just let the story flow and I ended up here. Don't worry, it ends well in the end. Eventually...