a/n: Rose is becoming more comfortable and learning who she can trust. She's also compiling a list of suspected traitors. This chapter introduces two new friends who are very quirky and a bit barmy. I am embarrassed to admit I don't remember who suggested the name Matthew - my brain is melting apparently. I think it was Bittie752. Also, please keep in mind this is AU so any sciencey stuff has been tweaked.
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who and do not profit from this fic or any of the characters contained therein.
After her chat with Jack, Ianto and the Doctor in the kitchen, the Doctor walked Rose back to her room. They had stood at her door holding hands and being awkward with one another, promising to meet the next day for lunch when Donna threw the door open. In typical Donna style, she'd chastised both of them for worrying her and reminded Rose that Martha needed to look Rose over and that Harriet wanted Rose in class the next day. Rose had nodded and grinned at the Doctor. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, saying goodnight. He had been stunned and then grinned like a loon wishing her good night as Donna rolled her eyes at him and closed the door in his face.
The next morning, Rose felt surprisingly rested. Martha stopped by early to do a quick exam and declared Rose fit for class. Rose grumbled a bit but was eager to get back to doing something other contemplating the last few days. She walked to class with Donna and Martha who directed the conversation about an upcoming school picnic. Donna dropped Rose and Martha off at Mr. Delaware's class. Rose was grateful when Martha sat beside her. Several students looked over at her as she took a seat and she felt self conscious. She focused on pulling out her tablet to bring up the latest assignment. Martha leaned over and synced her tablet with Rose's to download the latest homework and gave her a reassuring smile. Just that little bit of support meant a lot to Rose.
The day went surprisingly well after that with only a few stares and whispers which were typical of any school. Rose focused on her school work but kept an eye on those around her. Anyone could be watching her and reporting back to the Master although she had one or two suspects in mind. She hadn't heard anything about Adam and wondered just what Harriet was doing with him. Her mind whirled through all the students she had met. Adric was snotty know it all who enjoyed lording his knowledge over others. He had been one of the first people to be awful to her in that infamous first day of class. She wondered if it was because he was already trying to push her out. Dr. Redfern also made clear she didn't like Rose. Harriet had said it was due to a past experience with a talent that killed someone close to Dr. Redfern but Rose wondered if there wasn't something more to it. Maybe, the Master had offered Joan Redfern a chance to exact revenge?
There was always Luke Rattigan who'd shot off the fireworks and nearly caused a fire. She'd heard he was a real arrogant twat. She'd only met him in person once in the library and it hadn't been pleasant. He had been sitting a table with Adam tapping something out on his tablet when she walked up to a research terminal near him. He'd been quite snarky and felt the need to point out the cheap romantic fiction section was three rows over.
Rose had turned him. "Oh really? Spend a lot of time there do ya?"
He'd become furious. "You should watch it. Wouldn't want you to trip over someone's science experiment and end up losin' all that blonde hair or is it bottle blonde? There'd be an experiment, see if it falls out the same or if all them chemicals…"
Rose had heard enough and walked over and yanked him forward by the ear hard enough that he almost fell out of his chair while a stunned Adam watched.
"Now, see here wanker. I'd suggest you're the one that needs to watch it. Unlike a spoiled little git like you, I grew up fightin' for everything and earnin' respect. That means I don't go 'round bein' an arsehole and tryin' to belittle people and I don't judge people on their looks. So you might want to reconsider bein' a complete prick to the next blonde girl you come across 'cos you never know when she might put her chemistry class to good use and lace your food with a little Methylene blue. Be a shame for all your little friends to find you pissing blue now wouldn't it?" she said, pleased at being able to use something she picked up from class. She let him go with a good Tyler glare before glancing down at his paper. "You might want to look at number three. I think you'll find you got that conjugation wrong. It's etes not es."
He shot her a dirty look. She smirked. "Utise pour discuter avec mon Nan. Grande femme Nan," she said in perfect French, glad that her nan had taught her a good amount of French even if most of it was cursing. She finished her research without another comment from the two boys and went on her way. She knew they were whispering about her but at least they left her alone.
Still, now as she thought about it, she couldn't help but wonder if the two were involved in something together. Were they collaborating? Then, there was her prime suspect, Reinette. She was positive she was up to no good and it wasn't just a personal vendetta either. There was no doubt that Reinette had used her talent to influence Jack into a confrontation with the Doctor. She had seemed intent on making Rose run, even going to the extent of threating Rose. That was something Rose couldn't let go. She just had to find proof.
Rose was distracted from her introspective thoughts as she entered the dining room. The Doctor practically bounced up to her with a huge grin on his face and laced his fingers through hers leading her back to a table where Jack was already seated. The two boys had set out a feast for her. She quirked an eyebrow at the Doctor who had a bunch of bananas sitting prominently in the middle of the table.
"What? They're brimming with potassium!" he proclaimed.
Rose rolled her eyes and leaned down to plant a chaste kiss on Jack's forehead. He smirked at the Doctor who shifted his chair closer to where Rose sat. The rest of lunch was spent chatting about their day, schoolwork and the trivia competition scheduled for later in the day. The Doctor and Jack were placing odds on who would win. They were soon joined by Mickey who bragged that he had the team to beat this year. With Martha and Rory on his team, they were sure to beat Adric, Luke and their replacement for Adam, a ginger haired boy named Turlough. It was all good fun although Rose still couldn't help but think of everyone as a potential leak or accomplice to the Master.
It wasn't until a few hours later that things began to get intense. Rose had just finished a fencing lesson with Gwen and was on her way to back to her room to change for the trivia competition when she ran into Reinette and two of her friends bullying a classmate, an awkward girl by the name of Idris. Idris had only been at the school a few weeks more than Rose. She was a tall, dark haired girl who often spoke in riddles or got things out of order. She was a bit timid but quick to smile or tease in her own unique way. She had her own style, very punk meets Victorian chic. Rose liked her and thought she was funky and her own girl.
Rose heard Reinette before she saw her and it set her teeth on edge.
"Child, you must take more care. Such disarray in appearance and spouting off such nonsense is beneath a student of this school. We have standards here and students are expected to adhere to them. Perhaps where you come from such mad and wild behavior is acceptable but not here. There is a certain decorum that's expected, a certain respect." Reinete tutted and her friends giggled and smirked at Idris who squinted her eyes at Reinette shifted back against the wall away from her. Reinette, feeling confident, continued. "Just look at yourself and look at us. Not that I expect someone of your…meager background to attain our sophistication and refinement. However, you could at least make an effort to meet a higher standard. If you don't…well, I am quite afraid to tell you what happens to those students who fail at assuming their proper roles in society. Harriet already sees how unstable and unfit you are both in the outside world and here and unless you want to find yourself locked away where she sends the irredeemable…."
That was all Rose could take. "Oi! Leave her alone!" she shouted as she walked up to the girls.
Idris smiled brightly and then looked at Reinette, her formerly hunched, cowed form now standing tall and proud. "The wolf is in the house. Better run and find grandmother," she said in her odd way of communicating.
Reinette looked annoyed. "Oh look, it is the murderous little chav who ran away and thinks she can come back as one of us as if nothing happened," she commented with an evil smirk. "I did warn you that bad things would happen if you stayed here. Do not disillusion yourself because Harriet took pity on you. This is not your world and it never will be. You are undisciplined, coarse and with little potential to be more than a destructive tool for someone with more finesse and elegance to wield. Perhaps not even that." She took a step toward Rose. "You are what is called a ticking time bomb, a danger to everyone. Do you know what they do with people who cannot control their abilities, who are reckless little killers like you?" she taunted. "They lock them up in a cold cell separated from the rest of the world and study them as they wither away or go mad."
Idris looked at Reinette with an odd glint in her deep brown eyes. "The red queen thinks she's white. Her rabbits will run and the Hatter will drown her in his madness while Alice's tea is filled with diamonds."
Rose felt anger rise up and confidently moved forward until she was inches from Reinette. "You don't intimidate me, Reinette. You're nothin' but poshed up slag who thinks she can get her way and push people around." Rose's eyes glowed with golden specks as she smiled dangerously at Reinette and energy danced around her. "I know exactly who and what you are and what you've been doin' and it's gonna stop. I'm not allowin' you to push anyone else round and if I even think you're manipulatin' my friends, we'll see who's still standin. Now back off."
"You impudent little bitch! How dare you speak to me that way!" she said, almost shaking in rage. Her friends wisely backed off sensing that Rose was not one to be provoked. Both looked like they were about start exchanging blows. Idris stood by the wall giggling, rocking back and mumbling about tea parties and wolves.
Suddenly and most fortunately, a long-legged, gawky, bow tie wearing boy came tumbling down the hall and tripped, falling in between Reinette and Rose. Rose jumped aside before he toppled her over while he fell against Reinette. Reinette cursed. "You imbecile! Watch where you're going. She looked down and found ink stains on her cream designer trousers. "Look what you've done!"
The boy ran an ink stained hand through his floppy brown hair, leaving a dark streak and looked up at Reinette. His green eyes widened as he sprang up. "Oh, sorry! I was just…" he said, not finishing but motioning in the air with his hands.
Reinette stared daggers at him. He looked down at his hand and seemed surprised. "Oh look! Garam staining fluid! Isn't this just scrumptious! I must have brushed by it in Dr. Taylor's lab while I was evading my pursuer. He licked his hand and leaned over to Rose. "It's made from goji berries," he said, his eyes alive with enthusiasm.
Rose watched him with amusement. His timing was impeccable and she couldn't help but take pleasure in his lumbering into Reinette and ruining her trousers. It was almost karma in Rose's eyes.
Reinette was not so amused. "I shall be reporting all of this to Harriet. Running through the halls dripping with laboratory chemicals and endangering students is clearly a violation of school policy. You will be reprimanded if you're lucky," she announced.
"Oh zip it you stuck up cow. It was an accident," Rose shot back at her.
If looks could kill, Reinette would have been guilty of murder. Her friends reminded her of the trivia contest and needing to change into appropriate attire. Reinette stuck her chin up in the air and turned to leave. She paused once to look back at Rose. "Do not think this is over."
Rose shot a piercing look at her. "You got that right. This ain't over by a long shot!"
"Yes well, that was…interesting!" the lanky boy in the bow tie shouted, interrupting the tension between Rose and Reinette once again. Rose turned to him ignoring Reinette as she stormed off in a huff followed by her entourage cooing over her.
"I'm Matthew Smith," he burst out and grabbed Rose by the shoulders and kissed her on each cheek.
Rose was a little unsure how to respond to his boisterous introduction. "Um, hi. I'm Rose, Rose Tyler. It's nice to meet you. Sorry 'bout all that Reinette stuff."
He fidgeted and twitched, seeming not to know what to do with his hands and focused on something down the hall. "Going!" he suddenly burst out again and looked at Rose. "We should move or maybe walk quickly, vamoose or….escape to somewhere not here."
Idris walked over and wrapped her arm through his startling him. "I like this one," she announced grinning up at him. "He's a thief!"
"What?" Matthew responded. "Me? I never stole anything!" He looked a bit unsure about this.
Idris giggled. "Me. Are you going to steal me? You have stolen me. You are stealing me. Oh! Tenses are difficult, aren't they?"
Rose looked from one to the other wondering if she'd just fallen through the looking glass. "Right. Well, I'm glad you're okay Idris and I was sort of on my way…"
She never got to finish as Idris yanked Matthew into a snog while his arms flailed. When she pulled back he looked stunned and unsure how to respond. Idris grinned up at him. "Not as fun as biting." She looked over at Rose. "With biting it feels like there's a winner? Like this!" She tried to reach over and bite Matthew and he jumped behind Rose.
"We really must be off," he said, looking over her at Idris who appeared amused.
Idris then stilled and looked at Rose. "The only water in the forest is a River," she announced, her eyes looking off in the distance. "Rivers can take you places, give life or take it away, be peaceful or rage."
"Yes! River, that's why we must be off. Now would be good!" Matthew insisted.
Rose heard the sound of boot-clad feet click clacking on the wood floors toward them. She didn't know what was going on but Matthew seemed worried and Idris had a pensive look which Rose had a feeling was not good. She grabbed both their hands and they ran down the hall. Matthew stopped them at the stairs and yanked them upward, almost causing the girls to tumble down with his jerky movements. They eventually reached the attic where he produced an old iron skeleton key and let them into a dark, dusty room crammed with old furniture, cabinets and school paraphernalia. He made his way through the boxes and dust covered furniture to a small alcove with a table filled with mechanical components. Rose smiled as she realized this was his hidden work area not unlike the Doctor's in the basement.
She watched Matthew turn on a lantern and drop to the floor in a tangle of limbs, looking relieved. Idris spun around looking at this place as if it were a fairy world.
"You okay, Idris?" Rose asked.
Idris looked at her still smiling. "Fine is good relatively speaking. Good is…comfortable. Yes. The red queen doesn't come here. She prefers her tower never here. Her gown couldn't sparkle here."
Rose shivered at that last comment. It reminded her again of her nightmare. Idris was the second person who seemed to be aware of that nightmare. She felt uneasy as if the strings or cords of time were tightening about her and something was about to snap. She looked off to the side at a half covered mirror and stared at her reflection. Who was she now and what did this all mean? It was important she figure it out and quickly. Craig was in her nightmare too. She needed to have a talk with him. Matthew sat up abruptly drawing Rose's attention back to him
"So, you wanna tell me who you were runnin' from?" she asked, curious about this boy who was clearly clever and creative judging by the gadgets surrounding them. In fact, she bet he was the Doctor's equal in many ways, if not a bit geekier.
"Ah, it's just this girl who enjoys…chasing me. A bit of psychopath but in a good way I suppose. Brilliant tracker, has a thing for blowing things up," he said wistfully.
"Okaaayyy," Rose said, nodding her head and not understanding what he was getting at. Both Idris and Matthew seemed a bit off to her but off in a good way. Her instincts were that she hadn't run into them by accident. In fact, Rose was doubting anything that happened here at this school was purely random. Everything was important and pieces to the puzzle of her dream and perhaps even her life.
Idris wandered over and settled down next to Matthew with something she had assembled. He cooed over it and declared her a screaming genius. Idris seemed pleased at this. Then, she looked at Rose in a peculiar way that only she could. "A storm is coming." She cocked her head to the side then and stared at Matthew tinkering with some new device. "Don't be late Alice or it's off with your head."
Rose frowned at her. That sounded a bit ominous but Idris did have a point. She was supposed to be meeting the Doctor and Jack for the trivia contest. After a quick glance at her mobile, she cursed. Idris was right about one thing, she would be late. Hopefully, the whole off with her head thing was some symbolic reference to the boys being annoyed. Just to be sure, Rose would be extra careful on her way back to her room.
"Um, well then you both seem to be safe so I'll just be off."
Matthew bounded up, hitting his head on chandelier hanging from the ceiling over him. He rubbed his head and quirked a smile at her. Rose giggled slightly at his awkwardness. He was a bit cute in a geeky sort of way. "You'll see to Idris won't you?" she asked.
He looked down at Idris happily taking apart something he had worked on earlier. He frowned but then his eyes lit up as he looked back to Rose. "Of course! I am the protector of damsel's in distress! I protect, preserve and defend and even secure."
"I'm sure you do," Rose acknowledged with amusement. "It was nice to meet you Matthew and I'm real glad I met you even if it was due to that cow Reinette tormentin' Idris."
"Ah yes, the evil queen," he said and then his eyes hardened. "She's a bit mad, that one." He paused again and looked at her seriously. "Rose, be careful. Things are happening here I don't understand yet. It's not safe."
Rose paled. "What do you mean?"
"Everything has an energy signature, especially here, auras, patterns, ebb and flow. Sometimes, it gathers around certain people, focuses on them, people like you and Idris here. It pulses and glows and spins and it is glorious. But, there are others, those that consume it, enslave it for their own purpose, bend it to their will."
"The Master," Rose whispered.
He didn't respond other than to walk over and hold her hands in his. "Nothing is certain, Rose. I feel many things floating around here lately. It's all a bit riveting and terrifying."
"It must be overwhelming to feel all that," Rose said, remembering how overcome she felt.
He smiled. "Oh it drives me stark raving mad, absolutely bonkers! But who wants to be all boring and dullwully anyway!"
"Is there a way around this bloke that wants to eat me?" She furrowed her brow. "I can't believe I just said that."
He grinned. "Possibly, probably; it will certainly be entertaining trying!" He saw Rose glare at him and shifted awkwardly. "What I mean to say is yes! Because…."
"The Doctor, the invincible and all the kings horse and all the kings men will howl with the wolf," Idris inserted.
Matthew looked at her. "What? Kings, horses and howling? Sounds a bit like rave."
Rose needed to go. Her mobile was buzzing with text messages wondering where she was and if she was all right. Truth be told, she was the farthest thing from all right and may never be all right again. "Yeah, well I need to be going now," she said backing away from the two brilliant nutters who she now considered friends. "You two take care and um try to stay away from anything sharp or you know exploding things."
"Oh I like exploding things!" Idris said and bounced up and down.
Matthew just sniffed and mumbled about him being the most responsible, irresponsible person there. Rose nodded and ducked out, quickly making her way through the attic and out the door, pausing once on her way down the stairs. It was easy to chalk this up to yet another weird adventure in the school, more evidence that bad things were coming and her dream was not just her imagination gone wild. Everything that happened here was important. Talking to Craig and seeing if he remembered being in her dream was a priority. Rose was equally sure she wasn't meant to take this on alone. All these people, friends she'd made were part of whatever this was that was coming. She felt a chill as she raced down the stairs toward her room. Things were progressing quickly and she could feel something closing in on her and her friends. It was time to set doubts aside.