Journeys Anew

Chapter Ten

Bending the Rules

When it's good, then it's good, it's all good til it goes bad

Til you're trying to find the you that you once had

I have heard myself cry never again.

Broken down in agony just trying to find a friend.

I'm safe up high

Nothing can touch me

But then why do I feel this parties over?

No pain inside. You're like perfection.

How do I feel this good sober?

Sober by Pink (no own)

"Are you sure you want to go through with this? You know you don't have to if you don't want-

"You're like a broken record! Look I wanted this long before any stupid magazine article reared its head so shut up and go sit in the waiting area like a good little super girl," Eleanor said firmly her blue eyes narrowed determinedly. Emily sighed defeated as she went and sat in one of the pink over-stuffed armchairs picking up a glossy magazine displaying models with the latest hair trends. The hair saloon was overpowered with the scent of sprays and perfumes while pink seemed to be splashed everywhere from the uniforms to the tinted mirrors. After a while everything you saw seemed to be fringed with some shade of pink.

Her nose wrinkled as she detected more chemicals being unleashed into the crammed atmosphere. How long did she have to sit and wait here? An hour or so? And when did she decide to answer to super-girl? Setting down the magazine she slouched back in her armchair taking care not to disturb the old lady next to her who seemed to be half asleep with drool dribbling down her chin. Why did Ella want her hair dyed so badly anyway? It was already a beautiful colour so why go a ruin it by dying it some other shade? In her minds eye a parade of pink-haired Ella's danced with neon coloured her. She coughed to mask her snort of derision causing the old dear next to her to jerk alive suddenly.

"Want a cough drop dear?" Offered the lady procuring a packet of red sweets.

"No thanks," Emily refused politely starting to drum her fingers on the desk. Five minutes as she was already bored beyond belief. Why hadn't she bought something to listen too or a book? She flipped out her mobile and haphazardly examined the contacts list feeling a bit stupid when there were a grand total of four numbers present - The schools, Alfies, Ella's mobile and her house number. Pathetic really, she grumbled mentally musing over her day so far. It was four in the afternoon, they hadn't gotten to sleep until two in the morning since they'd stayed up watching Pride and Prejudiced and Practical Magic. Then they'd woken up about noon, got lunch and plotted the night out which included a half an hour rant at Alfie who seemed under the impression that by a night out Emily would be going to a strip club or something.

Of course now she was beginning to have doubts. Her first three dares would be a piece of cake - in fact it was ludicrous how easy it would be to get a drink and somebody's number. Dressing up was fun and she had mulled over various ideas until finally deciding on a gothic fairy. There was great costume in the shop window of an elegant black lacy dress with silver threads and silky dark wings tinted with purple. Getting wasted? Not exactly something she wanted to do but she was prepared to rise to the challenge…getting a tattoo…not so good. For a start if she started bleeding or something she'd have to make sure all the blood was gone so nobody - by nobody she meant Torchwood - decided to analyse it. Number two - could she even get a tattoo? What if her body reacted weirdly…and she couldn't ask Al cause one he never had one and two he'd go berserk. Reason 3 - she was a class A chicken who didn't want needles anywhere near her.

"You look a bit lost deary? You look ill…are you okay?" The old woman persisted.

"Yeah, sure I'm fine…just fine," Emily said carelessly. The lady smiled adjusting her handbag and patting her grey curly locks fondly.

"I'm getting it dyed you know. I was thinking of going back to blond…I used to be blond you know. Back in the nineties…I was only in my thirties back then…thought I'd go blond after my perm in the eighties. What about you love? What you here for?" Asked the lady thoughtfully. Emily smiled taking in the soft green eyes and creamy wrinkled skin. She realised with a pang that back in the nineties this woman had probably been extremely beautiful. She wasn't even that old really…at a rough guess maybe about sixty-five which really wasn't even old anymore - not when the life expectancy was up to ninety for women.

"Nothin' my friends getting her hair dyed so I'm here waiting on her," Emily said honestly as she picked up the newspaper taking in the headlines. One of which was about some suspected space-ship spotted over the Orkney Islands which turned out to be a fake. The woman glanced over at the paper and frowned shaking her head with sadness and exasperation.

"Kids today…think it's all some sort of joke," The woman said sourly with a bitter look on her face, "Wasn't so funny all those years ago with them metal things. Thousands of people die cause of those creatures, those aliens. When I grew up they were fictional beings but now…now it's like the monsters under the bed are real." Emily shut the newspaper feeling her hearts increase slightly. She knew the general outlook on aliens in this world was hardly positive and for a moment she wondered why it should even matter to her. Her biology might be in question but her humanity wasn't…she was human…just a bit different.

"What happened?" Emily asked quietly already knowing full well. She'd read up on this world history. No president, just a Prime Minister and a bunch of other strange things no present in her world. She knew about the metal men, the talking pepper pots, the children, the insane prime minister with the weird spinning spheres. She knew it all but it was only now that she found mankind's opinion on aliens so disturbing. Perhaps it was since meeting Mino - the blue extra terrestrial who had been so afraid of humans dubbing them monsters. Emily felt curious though - if mankind were monsters and if aliens were monsters that where did she fit in, in the grand scheme of monsters and heroes.

"Those metal men things happened…" The woman said shaking her head sorrowfully, "My husband was only forty…but he was in the streets when it happened…so were a lot of people. I wasn't there…my mother lives up near Swansea and she was quite poorly at the time. Things only got worse from then on, whole country went to dogs after Harry bloody Saxon and all that business with the children. All sorts of things in the newspapers about civil war and all sorts. Never happened of course but still…" The old lady finished her lament with a sad sigh.

"I'm sorry," Emily said because it seemed the right thing to say. The woman smiled sadly down at the gold band on her left finger.

"It's not your fault love, you probably weren't even born. If anyone should be sorry its those bloody aliens. Shoot the lot I say. Anything that ain't purely human doesn't have a right to inhabit our society spreading it's filth. Monsters the load of them…demons," The old woman said savagely. Emily swallowed nervously listening to her two heart beats beating in harmony. Not pure human. She was human though…there couldn't possibly be any other alternative but then why did she feel like Jew undercover in the Gestapo headquarters? The lady smiled though more cheerfully, "You look pale dear. Suppose I've gone and scared you now. Ignore an old ladies ramblings…I remarried after Nigel to Paul and I have five kids. Two of them are Nigel's…I suppose a part of me never forgets though. What about you and this friend of yours? What colour do you reckon she'll go for?"

Emily could tell the question was an obvious attempt to cheer her up and head off gloomy subjects. She forced a smile, "Dunno yet. It's part of a game…each of us have to do five dares. She wanted her hair dyed anyway." The lady gave out a hearty chuckle.

"Oh dear. And what's your one?"

"To get a tattoo…" Emily admitted sheepishly.

"Ha! Go for it that's what I say. Live for today, hope for tomorrow as my old Mum used to say," The lady advised confidently.

"Mrs Stuarts…Michelle is ready for you now," Said a hair dressed coming through. Mrs Stuarts stood up slowly and proffered a hand to Emily kindly.

"Lovely to meet you dear…what was your name?"

"Emily…Emily Smith," Emily said shaking the hand.

"Good to see you Emily. Have a good time with that friend of yours," Mrs Stuarts said with a mischievous glint in her eyes as she followed the hairdresser into the washing room leaving Emily alone with her thoughts. Her brown eyes couldn't quite peel themselves away from the newspaper and she found herself feeling oddly transparent and temporary. Not purely human…it did sound sort of Nazi-ish but then Mrs Stuarts had been a nice person. Monsters? Mino hadn't been a monster…she'd just been frightened. Even if she wasn't human it didn't mean she couldn't feel fear, anger, sadness or happiness. Just because your not human doesn't mean you don't feel. Or does it? Those metal men…the spinning spheres…they obviously hadn't cared. Then again you got murderers in all societies.

Emily examined her bracelet tracing each charm from star to banana.

Everyone was an alien on their own planet.

God knows she felt like one at times.

"You really dig the whole Goth look don't you? What's even weirder is that you actually suit it…sort of. Could do with a black hair wig really," Eleanor commented as she snuck up behind her friend who was applying more liberal amounts of dark black kohl eyeliner. Passing over her friends gothic look she couldn't take her eyes off her own reflection. After years of seeing red hair finding nothing but a deep shade of violet was incredible. Emily rolled her eyes picking up some mascara.

"Or dye my hair purple? Come on Elmo! Let me do your make-up!" Whined Emily hopefully. Eleanor glared; she already had to put up with one Smith sibling calling her Elmo so she sure as hell didn't want the other doing the same. Still, she was seriously considering letting Emily give her the whole gothic make-over. Maybe with a bit more punk added in since her hair colour was more funky than black. The hairdresser had also straightened her impossible mop…actually she looked much older with it straight - she actually looked seventeen.

Emily on the other hand didn't look like Emily at all. Her skin was a chalky pale colour, her eyes outlined in many layers of kohl and mascara, her lips a dark plum colour. The outfit she had on was beautiful in a gothic sort of way. A black dress loose to a couple of inches above her knees with threads of silver lace while her glossy wings were a iridescent purple colour. Black heels were on her feet and her brown hair was loose and slightly messy. She looked strange; you could almost walk past her in the street and not realise who she was. Eleanor had a feeling this was why Emily had done it so overdramatically.

"Fine, I surrender to your will," Eleanor said dramatically as she slouched into her seat in front of the vanity mirror. Thankfully both Sophie, her father and Grandmother were at the Bingo. By the time they returned both she and Emily would be gone and by the time they got back the parents would be asleep in bed meaning Ella was spared their wrath for one more day. She'd also got her ears pierced a second time but she had a feeling that it would be the colour of her hair that would provoke the most rage. She couldn't wait to see Sophie's face - she welcomed another argument and a another opportunity to release the tension and anger bedded inside her.

Eleanor watched as Emily applied some dark eyeliner followed by some purple eye-shadow. The older teen had a faint idea of what she might wear. She had a purple from Christmas that she wore to the New Year Party at her cousin Kathy's. It was knee length with this straps and a black design around the hem and bust which would work well with the black tights and purple shoes. Once Emily was finished Eleanor had purple eyes and dark purple lips which seemed to add more emphasis to her hair. Slipping out of the spotlight she hastily began to do up her dress while Emily was content to stare into space. She did that a lot, Eleanor was starting to acknowledge some of her friends quirks and one of them was her tendency to drift and stare at things as though they were not quite real.

"Hey! Wake up and help me into this will you?" Eleanor pestered. Emily blinked bemused for a moment before obliging and doing up the zip at the back of her dress, "Well, at least that's me got two dares down. Now I just have to kiss a stranger and do karaoke." Even as she spoke she felt slightly queasy - she didn't know what was more terrifying - snogging some random stranger or singing and humiliating herself in front of a crowd.

"Don't forget skinny dipping. You ain't getting out of that," Emily grinned cheekily.

"Oh? I suppose you'll already have your tattoo picked out then?" Eleanor suggested sarcastically.

"That's different," Protested Emily, "I'll have it for life so it's really not fair. You'll only have it for one night."

"But I'll remember it for the rest of my life," Muttered Eleanor before glancing up at the clock. It was nearing ten o'clock so if they slipped out now then nobody would be any the wiser about her hair. Especially since they were all under the impression Ella was staying over at Emily's. She wouldn't have to face them hopefully until tomorrow afternoon. Picking up her handbag she watched as Emily shrugged her own black one onto her shoulder and tried to navigate her way out of the room without harming her wings. Eleanor laughed as she almost knocked all the magazines off the bookcase when she turned around. "Come on fairy-face. I can't wait to see how this turns out!"

"No way we'll get in there," Groaned Eleanor as they joined the queue. Emily shook her head wincing as pain strained up her ankles and feet. Why did wearing heels have to be so painful? It didn't help that people were staring at her and her eccentric costume and make-up. She'd earned herself a few disapproving looks from the granny's on the bus. Once they'd arrived in the centre of Cardiff it was only a matter of deciding upon which club to enter and somehow they'd landed themselves in the line for a place called 'Spotlight.' Loud music was blaring and a burly bouncer was at the entrance checking the ID of each potential customer. Emily could understand Ella's growing despair at being turned away at the door but she intended to make sure that ID was even a factor in their entrance.

"Have a little Hope Elmo," Teased Emily, "We'll get in. Bet you ten quid." Eleanor said nothing but looked increasingly nervous as the line progressed until they finally faced the scrutiny of the bouncer who frowned at them. Like most stereotypical bouncers he was built big and tall with a scruffy goatee and thick rings on each finger. Eleanor gulped anxiously while Emily subtly dropped her bag 'accidentally' on his foot. As predicted he made a move to pick it up and she pretended to do the same and made sure their hands brushed against each others so her fingers gently touched the skin of his forearm. "You're going to let us in. You will." Then, automatically the bouncer stepped aside and Eleanor looked dumbstruck as they both waltzed in.

"He didn't even check or anything! Wow! This is so cool…oh my God look at the DJ!" Eleanor shouted, her voice rising faintly above the thunderous music that pulsed causing the floor to vibrate. Emily nodded her eyes roaming the place avidly. Sleek black panelled walls with smooth silver surfaces while glamorous red velvet loveseats were placed around tables. The floor was tiled darkly and on a raised platform there was a DJ hovering over the dance floor which had artificial fog and bright flashing lights. Throngs of sophisticated looking people hovered at the tables with colourful drinks while crowds swayed on the dance floor. The air smelled heavily of various alcoholic liquids along with sweat and perfume while laughter and shouting roared in with the heavy music blaring from the speakers. Emily grinned brightly - not one person was staring at her outfit with disgust or frowns. Grabbing Eleanor's hand she felt buzzed and excited and strangely free for the first time in a while.

"Come! Let's get a drink!" Emily yelled over the music giddily as she lead her friend over to the bar. She might as well fulfil another dare. Approaching the bar with renewed confidence she smiled at the bartender offering up her hand. He stared bewildered but accepted it.

"Hi, can I get…oh…uh…two cosmopolitans please?" She ordered. Without hesitation the bar tender was already pouring pink liquid into two glassed. Eleanor giggled in complete and utter surprise as he handed her a glass.

"We actually got served! This is cool! I never thought we'd get past the door!" Eleanor confessed eagerly as she took a deep sip of her drink. Emily grinned taking a gulp of hers as they sat on the bar stools. Ella still had the edge as a far as height was concerned. Tragically Emily had never grown taller than five foot two inches and even with the heels she was still an inch shorter than her older friend who was also wearing heels. At least Ella was a normal five foot four average.

"We still have to get you a bloke!" Called Emily eyeing up the potential candidates, "He's fit! Go for him!" She encouraged pointing at a tall man opposite them across the dance floor sitting in dark trousers, a navy blue shirt with long floppy black hair and faint stubble. At a guess he was about twenty although it was difficult to tell with the lighting. Unfortunately his jerked up and stared straight at Emily who blushed and promptly turned away downing more of her cocktail mortified at him hearing her. Eleanor burst out into laughter.

"He heard you! Ha! Go for it girl!" Eleanor encouraged teasingly. Emily shook her head but relaxed a little. The feeling was gone - the nagging feeling that she was supposed to be here. She didn't know if it was instinct or not but something had nudged her to go to this club tonight so obviously she was supposed to be here. Sort of like how she knew what days she could and couldn't skive school. She knocked back another large gulp thinking of school. It was the Easter Holidays - two whole weeks of normalcy before she returned to hell and she wouldn't ruin it by thinking of him.

"Lets forget about the dares right? Just have fun," Emily said setting down the empty cocktail glass. 'Fun' happened a lot sooner than she'd anticipated though, when she turned to as Ella to dance there was already a man standing next to her friend. He looked about nineteen and was quite a stocky build with a white shirt and black trousers and gelled black hair.

"I'll be back in a minute yeah?" Eleanor asked hopefully. Emily nodded and watched gloomily as her friend was lead out on to the dance floor by some complete stranger. Eleanor smiled nervously and there was a rosy colour on her cheeks as they danced. Emily sighed turning away nursing a bruise of dejection. Typical - it was like that scenario. Always the bridesmaid never the -

"Hi. Angel of Death right?" Enquired a gruff masculine voice. Emily jumped slightly but turned around to greet a pair of grey eyes. She cringed feeling her cheeks burn as she recognised him as the man opposite who had heard her. Swallowing she attempted to speak but found her throat made a dry croaking noise before finally she regained the ability to communicate.

"No…actually just a fairy," Emily explained shyly.

"Right. You want a drink?" Asked the older man pointedly. Emily glanced back over her shoulder in time to see Eleanor and the mystery man lock lips. Clearly her friend was a fast operator or she was already drunk. Probably the latter considering Eleanor's lack of experience with drink and the amount of vodka present in the cocktail. Actually it was sort of funny how it wasn't affecting her. She shrugged - maybe this was another weird body thing of hers. She glanced back up at the drinks menu searching for the most potent thing she could find.

"Tequila?" She suggested.

"Aye okay. Six shots of tequila please mate?" The man called to the bar tender before taking the seat next to Emily's that Eleanor recently vacated. He offered a hand in a gentlemanly way with a slight grin on his face, "I'm Liam Sykes." Emily accepted the warm hand and looked up at Liam. He was older than what she'd originally thought. Now she was guessing early twenties and obviously a Goth since he was wearing a nose stud and dark eyeliner. Actually the eyeliner was sort of attractive since it brought out the colour of his eyes. There was obviously no way he'd be seen with a sixteen year old two-hearted high-IQ probably-but not entirely sure human.

"R-Rose…my name is Rose," She blurted out quickly hardly having time to process what she had just said. It was then the bartender chose to lay down three shot glasses in front of them. Emily eyed the small seemingly innocent vials of liquid. How much before she got to Ella's stage? How much before she could feel that buzz of excitement again? She glanced back up at Liam who held a glass ready in his hands giving her a cheeky wink as he downed it.

"Pretty name Rose. How old are you?" He asked moving on to the next shot.

"N-Nineteen," Lied Emily picking up a glass. Of course there was no way anybody in this world would ever accept Emily Gallifrey. They ignored and overlooked Emily Smith. At least being Rose had it's advantages. People would never see her as Emily and if they discovered the truth they'd probably want to burn her at the stake or something like that. Even Eleanor dancing do carelessly on the dance floor would probably turn her head away in horror. Not just because of having two hearts but having her little gift. Sighing picked up her shot glass and sent a mental apology to her mother for temporarily borrowing her name, Quickly she downed the shot feeling the alcohol burn her throat as she swiftly moved to the next one.

What was it they always said? One tequila, two tequila, three tequila floor? She wondered how many it would take for her to get that way.

Eleanor tried to wriggle away from her dance partner feeling much like a spider caught in a fly trap. At first she'd been thrilled at being asked to dance but now she wasn't so sure. The high of elation and excitement had faded and now she could fully appreciate how his breath reeked of old cigarettes and how his eyes were bloodshot with alcohol. She was struggling to remember why she had kissed him so when he leaned in expectantly again she shrugged him away taking a step back as he hands went out hopefully to ensnare her waist once more.

"Babe…" He moaned.

"I'm not your babe! Get lost!" Snapped Eleanor irritably partly our of exasperation and fear. She wasn't an expect on men in general let alone drunks. She'd only felt flattered but now that was quickly disappearing she felt a bit disappointed as she backed further into the crowds for refuge while her eyes darted all over the place. With panic she noted Emily was no longer sitting at the bar like she had left her fifteen minutes ago. In fact she also noted in fear that Emily was nowhere to be seen. Urgent panic churned in her like a disease and she could feel sickness rise in her throat as she struggled to regain control of her body which no longer seemed to react to her control. Seemingly straight lines bashed her against people and her limbs felt heavy and sluggish.

"Water…" She slurred at the bar, "W-Water…"

Was it possible for your body to be drunk but your mind perfectly sober? Eleanor gulped down the water in an attempt to hydrate her body and sober up her apparently drunk limbs. Her eyes wandered around peering into dark corners for her friend. Where was Emily? A notch of guilt hitched in her mind - Ella was the oldest and therefore the responsible one. She was supposed to look after Emily, not leave her alone at a bar where anything could have happened. Flipping out her mobile phone she quickly dialled her friend's number but cursed loudly when she received no answer for her troubles.

"Where the hell are you?" She hissed aloud jumping off her stool to totter across the dance floor. Her body was really beginning to irritate her now as she groaned bashing her arms off a wall. Why couldn't it react properly? Stepping outside into the street she sighed as the loud head-banging music quietened and a cool wind fanned her sweaty face. It had been so hot in there with all the bodies crammed together. Staring around the street at the closed shops and empty arcades opposite she tried to think of what to do next. According to her watch it was coming up for quarter to midnight and they'd both arrived at the club at roughly eleven. Emily had been missing for twenty-five minutes now.

Adjusting the straps on her shoulder bag she stared around her uneasily. Should she phone Alfie? Emily would kill her if she found out but then Eleanor wasn't exactly feeling very pro-Emily at the moment. In fact she wanted to scream at her senseless for just wandering off to God-Knows-Where leaving her alone like this. She shivered trying not to think of what might have happened. What if she'd got slipped a drug? What if some strange guy had randomly taken her away? All of them were horrible possibilities and worst of all Ella was angry at herself for not looking after Emily - for not staying with her. She was sixteen…Eleanor should know better. Some genius she made…such a smart move to leave your best friend alone.

A small voice argued that logically it wasn't her fault since Emily had made the conscious decision to bugger off and leave her. Of course that just made her madder and she stared anxiously down at her watch. Ten to midnight…maybe if she went back inside and searched properly. Perhaps Emily had just gone to the toilet or Ella in her semi-drunk state had just missed her. Maybe somebody knew where she was. If she couldn't find Emily inside…then she'd have to phone Alfie…oh God please let her be inside Eleanor prayed madly as she wheeled around to step back inside only to find a thick arm blocking her path.

"ID please," The bouncer said sternly fixing her with a firm glare.

"I've just came out!" Snarled Eleanor furiously, "My friend's inside! Let me in right now!"

"Unless you have ID then you're not getting past," The bouncer announced gravely in his deep baritones. Eleanor slapped his hand away feeling a large bout of anger swelled with panic and anxiety flood her. She squared herself firmly fixing him with the most dangerous glare she could muster. Another stupid idiot trying to get in her way! Another patronising Sophie, another individual with limited intelligence. For a moment it felt like she was arguing against some completely foreign creature staring at her through brown eyes.

"Listen here mate, are you blind or something? Or are you just so incredibly thick that you didn't just see me go in like an hour ago? My friend is in there and if you don't let me in right now, this second then I'm gonna-"

"Look. Either move aside or I phone the police. Do you get that eh Missus?" The bouncer smirked. Eleanor let out a growl of fury before turning around fighting the desire to punch him in the face despite him being almost a foot taller. Some people just asked to be punched…in fact most people for being so incredibly slow on the uptake and so incredibly stupid to not notice everything. The infuriating words of her counsellor drifted back to her as she stomped down the street. "You're very gifted Ella so it's only natural you struggle to adjust with other members of society." Great. As if they couldn't alienate her anymore they just stuck the label gifted on her and that seemed to be her diagnosis.

Glaring she pulled out her mobile again and dialled Emily's number. It was now midnight and she was nowhere to be seen. When she received no answer she came very close to bursting into tears. How was she going to explain this to Alfie? What If something had happened? With trembling fingers she prepared to dial the older boys number trying to think of what to say when suddenly a high pitched call grabbed her attention. A pair of arms were slung carelessly around her shoulders.

"Ellie-Bellie," Cried the voice, "Where you been? Huh? I found you! Look…I f-found you!"

"Emily?" Eleanor said as her fear melted away along with her anger to be replaced with concern. Emily giggled collapsing against her with wide eyes stumbling in her heels. Eleanor didn't need to be an expert to notice her friend was obviously heavily intoxicated. She could feel her own body sober up miraculously quickly as she shifter her position and Emily slung an arm over her shoulder. Nothing could sober a person up faster than the sight of another drunk person.

"I loves you! So…so are having fun yeah? Tons of fun! You wanna know what I got? I did it this time Elmo! I did it all just like supposed too cause that's what we do right? We all have fun cause we're all human here!" Emily snorted slurring her words as they came out a fast stream of gibberish. Eleanor felt a slight edge of panic but at the same time overwhelming relief. Emily was alright…not abducted…safe now.

"Where the bloody hell have you been?" Shouted Eleanor furiously feeling suddenly resentful of her drunk best friend. Emily laughed slipping up on her heels as Ella steered them further down the street. They'd have to go home back to Emily's flat and pray Alfie wasn't in. It wasn't too far…about a twenty minute walk.

"All over! That's where I wanna go Ellie-bellie…all over…everywhere! You an me an Al! We're gonna go everywhere yeah? And we're gonna do everything…like sky diving! Jumping off planes! I always…wanted to jump off a plane!" Emily shrieked staggering along. Eleanor had never really thought about how heavy the average human female was until now, especially when a pair of fairy wings were digging into her ears. Emily was obviously obliterated but how she got so drunk in the space of an hour Eleanor didn't know.

"How much have you had?" Eleanor asked as they turned a corner.

"Not fair…e-every one else gets drunk so easily but nooo…I have to down eight shots! Eight shots Elmo and I'm still no drunk yet! Stupid body! Not fair! You only have to have one…only one and you're like…out of it! Not me though! Hah!" Eleanor gaped feeling slightly stunned. Eight shots…most people were out after the first four but eight? Perhaps Emily was simply so drunk she was making up stuff or she was extremely good at drinking. What if she passed out? Ella knew the recovery position and CPR but still…why? Why did Emily want to get drunk so badly? Not because of the dares…

"Emily, when you're sober I am going to murder you," Vowed Eleanor heaving a sigh as she almost tripped up. As if walking in heels wasn't bad enough but when you had to support your wasted friend at the same time it felt like a nightmare, "I hope you get the hangover from hell. No sympathy from me…you're an idiot. A complete and utter moron!" Emily hiccupped and giggled. Did slapping somebody sober work? Eleanor was seriously considering it as they turned another street. It was dark, cold and slightly eerie to be walking the streets alone. People kept on staring at her or probably Emily. Men wolf-whistled and cat-called and each one made her jump. Heaving Emily down another street she stopped at the gap between the closed Odeon Cinema and a stray Chinese take-away. Collapsing against the wall she gasped for breath feeling glad to be temporarily relieved of Emily's weight as her friend leant against the wall for support.

"S-Sorry…Elmo…s-sorry…" Gulped Emily as tears flooded down her face. Eleanor groaned, brilliant. Now Emily was about to cry herself senseless. "W-Wanted to be like you…like everyone else…not like me…s-stupid…" Emily hunched over as salty droplets streamed down her cheeks. Eleanor felt slightly shocked by the words wishing to erase them. Be like her? Why in the world would anyone want to be like her? Emily didn't even know about her high IQ but she was bound to know Eleanor was a bit odd. Why would Emily want to be anything other than herself? Emily was funny, interesting and quirky. Why would she want to change that?

"Stop being stupid," Eleanor said slightly stunned as she gave Emily's hand a gentle squeeze, "Why the hell would you want something so dumb? Why do you want to be just another sheep in the flock? You're special Emily…why change that? Why change who you are to suit other people?" Eleanor asked rhetorically. Emily choked a sob as she leant her head against Eleanor's shoulder. They remained still for a few moments until something interrupted the little scene. Eleanor felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise and her heart escalate as a number of boys walked their way.

"Is this the lezzers corner?" Snorted one of them. Eleanor froze shuffling Emily behind her as they came up. Their eyes were disorientated and unfocused and they wore baggy hoodies and reeked of cider and some other illegal substance. Eleanor felt a lump rise in her throat…three of them. Any words were abruptly lost in her throat as they surrounded her, "Lezzers eh? You look pretty cute…aww what's wrong with angel? Is she crying?" Leered the nearest one with the shaved head. It was like a really bad scene from a horror movie or one of those television crime documentaries that you watched but always thought it would never happen to you. Other people yeah, strangers you didn't know but not you. Even now she was thinking this wasn't real and it wasn't happening to her because things like this happened to other people. It wasn't until one reached out a hand to stroke her cheek that she snapped.

"Go to hell!" Eleanor shouted feeling rage swell as she slapped a finger away. They laughed, Eleanor could feel Emily shaking behind her struggling to move forwards as Eleanor prevented her. The last thing these thugs needed to see was somebody even more defenceless than she was. She felt like being sick and she knew it had nothing to do with alcohol.

"Aw. Looks like lezzy here has a problem with us touching her girlfriend," Cooed one of them reaching out again. Eleanor reached out first with her first panicked doing the only thing that came naturally to her when she got afraid. When she got scared she got angry and when she got angry she lashed out thoughtlessly. He stumbled backwards a few paces, his fellow friends laughing until her emerged with an ugly almost animalistic glare on his face/

"You stupid bitch!" Eleanor felt herself let out a sharp exhaled of breath as she flattened herself backwards her hearts beating a swift pounding rhythm like the music from the nightclub. Closing her eyes she braced herself for an impact.

"You know I really wouldn't do that if I were you." Eleanor blinked. She must be hallucinating because she could have swore she just heard an American accent. She felt something recoil in the pit of her stomach and chills climbed down her spine. Opening her eyes she looked over the heads of hooded junkies to see a tall man looming at the head of the alley. His long coat looked like it had been salvaged from a vintage range of world war jackets. He was quite attractive and he was smiling carelessly as the drunks face him bemused. There was something off though…just looking at him made her shudder and instinctively want to look away. She felt Emily stir behind her.

"Take some friendly advice. Scram," The man said self-assuredly as he march past them. The gang looked doubtfully at one another before shrugging and scampering away to some other course. Eleanor felt slightly relieved and moved aside. Emily was slouched against the wall mumbling to herself, Ella felt slightly unnerved by the man's presence…there was just something off putting about him, "Little past your bedtime don't you think?" He said offering up a grin.

"S'not right," Emily groaned feebly as she slung an arm around Eleanor neck for support, "Not right…Ella…I'm sorry." Eleanor nodded although she eyed the man cautiously.

"Hi, I'm Captain Jack Harkness," He introduced confidently. Eleanor felt slightly puzzled…she'd heard that name before somewhere. She searched mind before mentally making the connection - Torchwood. He was in Torchwood. She could remember seeing his name somewhere on the archives a few years ago, Since when did Torchwood start stalking her? Was she under constant surveillance now? She frowned pushing past him. Couldn't they find something more interesting to do with their time?

"Eleanor Marks," Eleanor said shortly still feeling slightly shaken up from the near-attack. It didn't help that Emily was shaking like a leaf and muttering apologies along with choruses of 'not right.' What was even worse was that the man - Jack or whatever his face was - had decided to follow them.

"You know most people would say Thank you," Jack continued ignoring the obvious brush off, "But then I guess your not most people right?" Eleanor bit back a furious retort. Emily wasn't walking too well and she was still crying. She paused for a second and the younger girl almost crashed to the ground but was thankfully caught at the last minute by Jack. "Wow there missy. How much has she had?" Eleanor shrugged but felt wary as he picked Emily up as if she were a rag doll. Eleanor stared at her friend who seemed to have finally passed out going limp.

"Since when did Torchwood decide to turn into my personal stalkers," Eleanor hissed quietly as she walked down the street. The trio earned themselves a few strange looks which was unsurprising considering a fairy was being carried by somebody that looked like a reject from a Word War Two movie set. Jack laughed unperturbed by her knowledge.

"So you know huh?"

"I've been hacking into your files since I was thirteen. Duh. I'm not thick," Eleanor snapped not bothering with formalities.

"No. You most certainly are not…let me guess. You don't trust me cause I seem a little weird to you…a little wrong right?" Jack guessed with a grin. Eleanor nodded feeling taken aback by the intuition. Was he an alien? Impossible because Torchwood were sort of set up against aliens and it was hardly likely they'd recruit one.

"How'd you-"

"You remind me of a friend," Jack said enigmatically, "Lets just say the two of you have a lot in common. So how's going normal working out for ya?"

"Fine until you sent your stupid agents in to spy on me. I'm not a bomb so just back off," Eleanor growled feeling irritable at the mention. He was patronising her just like everyone else. He'd rather she sat in some laboratory all day as the governments prize pet or started developing some fantastic cure for worldly diseases.

"Can't a guy as a question anymore?" Jack said in mock defence, "And for the record we know you're not a bomb and we're just trying to look out for you. I wasn't stalking you I was just taking a walk and happened to walk into you. So what happened to the hair and why am I carrying an underage drunk fairy?" Eleanor smiled slightly shaking her head. "Ah! She smiles at last!" Eleanor sighed as she spotted a few benches opposite a vendor machine.

"Set her down there and I'll go get her some water," Eleanor said wearily as she dashed across the road slipping out a coin for the machine. Gazing up at the horizon she felt slightly comforted to discover the high-rise flats were within sight now. A few more minutes and they'd be safe at Emily's flat although how she was going to explain this to Alfie she had no idea. What if he blamed her? He didn't seem like the angry type but he was pretty protective of Emily. She didn't want him angry at her…she grabbed the bottle of water feeling slightly nervous as she crossed the road back up to the bench which Emily was slumped on.

"Em? Emily? Get up and drink this," Eleanor said attempting to rouse her friend. Emily sat up disorientated and grabbed the bottle as she slugged down the liquid. Ella felt a wave of relief - at least she hadn't refused it. Hopefully she was the type that sobered up quickly. She turned to Captain Jack Harkness and rolled her eyes, "I dyed my hair and the underage drunk fairy is called Emily and she's had eight shots of tequila."

"Eight shots huh? Kinda thought she'd be unconscious or vomiting by now," Jack said curiously. Emily seemed to finally realise his presence and quickly slinked up the opposite side of the bench away from him as though he carried something contagious. She glared drinking the water as though she hadn't drank for days.

"Yeah well it's not that I'm not grateful but I should probably get her home," Eleanor said excusing herself as Emily stood up swaying only minimally," Bye." She called over her shoulder before turning away and paying the Captain of Torchwood three no more attention. Neither her nor Emily spoke for some length of time until they finally approached the flats. Eleanor kept stealing glances over her shoulder as if to check she was not still being followed. What if he'd slipped some sort of recording device on her or drugged Emily's drink with something? At least Emily spoke before they entered the flats.

"Who was he?"

"I dunno," Lied Eleanor, " Some random off the streets."

"He seemed…off," Emily said uncertainly.

"I know what you mean," Eleanor said sardonically.

"Ella…about tonight…I'm really sorry. I didn't mean…I should have been able to help you with those guys. I should have done something…I let you down. I'm sorry Ella…" Emily said guiltily. Eleanor shook her head punching her on the arm causing her to cringe.

"That's for being an idiot and will you stop apologising!" Eleanor demanded, "I left you alone at the bar to dance with some whacked up freak. You had me terrified…and you can be such a dumbo. Crying and moaning on about changing yourself. You're fine the way you are so stop whinging!" Eleanor ordered sternly. Emily laughed slightly before looking suddenly doubtful again.

"Ella…I did something tonight…something that I can't take back," Emily said softly her voice full of fear. Eleanor froze feeling a fleeting sensation of crashing into a brick wall. Emily's head was hung and her brown eyes stared up at Eleanor nervously before she slid down the short sleeve of her costume. Eleanor's mouth hung agape at the sight on her friends shoulder.

"You have got to be kidding me!"

"No…Ella I got a tattoo!"

Amazingly I've finally got most of the plot done for this fic. I'm splitting it into two parts and I am considering doing a prequel about Rose and 10.5 Doctor. Still a long way to go with this one yet though. In the next chapter we see Alfie's less than happy reaction to Emily's tattoo plus Eleanor's families reaction to her new hair colour. It's the easter holidays though so mostly the next few chapters are humourous enough but there's a good plot point at chapter 15 and also Alfies birthday coming up.

Thanks for all the reviews, especially weeping angel even if I have to read yours twice to understand it! Insanity appeals to me though. Also I've decided to do song lyrics that go with each chapter since I do listen to a lot of music when mulling over my stories. The song with the next chapter is called Sanctuary and it's from Kingdom of Hearts.

Not budging until I get 40 though!

Daydreamer!x