A-Levels and Aliens

Hello to Charlotte who's slowly making her way through this series, constantly interrupted by me! Hope you (and everyone else reading) enjoys this chapter!

Disclaimer: Nothing you might recognise belongs to me

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How she got through her first two lessons, Rose didn't know. As soon as the lunchtime bell went, she walked slowly outside and sat, shivering on their bench, waiting for her friends to come out.

Lauren arrived first and sat down next to her. "I am freezing!" she exclaimed, "As soon as the others come out, we are so going and finding somewhere warm to sit!"

"Yeah," Rose croaked out making Lauren instantly turn to face her,

"Hey, are you OK?"

"What's up, Rose?" Kirsty asked, appearing on the scene with Matt in tow. He looked at her pale face in concern.

"The Doctor and Jack have had to go," she explained quietly,

"Oh no! How come?" Kirsty said, sitting on Rose's other side and putting her arm around her shoulders,

"They were getting bored just staying in one place all the time,"

"Are they coming back?" Matt asked, gently, understanding shining in his gaze.

Rose nodded. "By Christmas, they said,"

"Well that's alright," Lauren said, awkwardly, "Christmas isn't too far away,"

"Yeah, I know," Rose sighed, "I'm just really going to miss them."

Her three friends smiled sympathetically.

"You've still got us," Kirsty said,

"Yeah," smiled Rose, glad that she did,

"Guys," Lauren grinned, "I think Operation Cheer Up Rose is in order…"

Rose screamed as immediately all three of her friends began to simultaneously tickle her.

"Stop! Stop! I can't breathe!" she giggled a few minutes later, gasping for breath and trying to get away from her friend's un-relentless hands, "OK, it worked! You cheered me up!"

Kirsty, Lauren and Matt sat back with satisfied grins and waited for their friend to recover, taking deep gulps of air and wiping her streaming eyes.

"God, I love you guys," she announced shortly afterwards, "Hey, who's that?"

Her friends looked in the direction she was staring. They saw a fairly tall slim girl of about their age with tanned skin and dark brown long hair.

"Oh, that's the new girl," Kirsty said, "She's in my maths class. Her name is Zoë or something and she's moved here from somewhere up north,"

"She looks lonely," Lauren commented, "Let's go say hi."

The others agreed and they wandered over.

"Hey… Zoë, isn't it?"

"Yeah," nodded the new girl, "Zoë Ziola. My parents had a warped sense of humour!"

Everyone grinned and then Rose and her friends introduced themselves.

"Nice to meet you," Zoë said,

"So how come you've moved down here?" Lauren wanted to know,

"Erm… my uncle- who I live with- got a promotion so we both moved to London over half term. I'm really lucky that this college does exactly the same courses as my old one so I could just carry on with my subjects," Zoë explained,

"Cool," Matt nodded,

"How do you like it here so far?" Rose asked, in interest,

"London is very big, busy and noisy," Zoë said, "I'm used to the exact opposite but I'm sure I'll grow to like it here,"

"Yeah, I'd guess London does take some getting used to," Rose mused, having on occasion been overwhelmed when returning home after long periods of time travelling with the Doctor,

"You can hang around with us if you like," Kirsty offered, sensing approval from the others.

Zoë smiled. "Thanks! I'd like that. My Uncle will be pleased that I've made friends with you!"

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The rest of the college day flashed past and after saying goodbye to her friends, Rose trailed back to the Powell Estate, feeling slightly grumpy that she already had two pieces of homework to do. She froze upon entering the Estate and seeing that the TARDIS wasn't there. She'd almost forgotten that the Doctor had gone travelling again. Feeling her heart plummet, Rose sighed sadly and made her way up to her mother's flat where she'd be staying until her real home returned.

"Hi sweetheart," Jackie called from the brightly lit kitchen, "I've made you a cup of tea,"

"Thanks Mum," Rose said, taking it and warming her cold hands around it,

"How was your day?"

"Better than I thought it would be," she replied, truthfully, "There's a new girl who's just moved here and we've made friends with her,"

"That's nice," Jackie said, brushing past her to the oven, "Have you made any plans?"

"Not yet. I thought I'd spend tonight here."

Jackie smiled, pleased to have her daughter with her again. She didn't mind her living with the Doctor inside the TARDIS but it wasn't the same, no matter how many times they popped in. "We could put a film on or something," she suggested,

"Yeah," Rose agreed, "I'm just going to put my bag in my room."

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It was late, very late and Rose couldn't sleep. She'd tried all the usual tricks of getting to sleep that always seemed to work in books and movies but never did for her. She thought her insomnia might have something to do with the bed. It was the same one she'd slept in for most of her life but it didn't feel like it was hers anymore. Her bed was in the TARDIS. There was also the fact that the Doctor wasn't with her, curled up by her side with her in his arms, chasing away any nightmares and making her feel totally safe and loved. A lone tear rolled down her cheek. She wanted her Doctor. Rose sat up, switched on her bedside lamp and grabbed her mobile phone. With trembling fingers, she keyed in the TARDIS's number and listened to it connecting.

"Doctor?"

"Hey Rose." His familiar tone came down the 'phone and instantly reassured her. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she sighed, "Just miss you loads,"

"Miss you too," the Doctor replied, "What time is it there?"

Rose glanced at the clock. "Half three in the morning. I can't sleep,"

"Oh I'm sorry," said the Doctor, "How's your day been?"

"Alright considering," Rose laughed, "I made a new friend. She's just moved from up north, she's called Zoë Ziola,"

"Ziola?" echoed the Doctor,

"Yeah, it's a weird name, isn't it?"

"I swear I've heard that before. Just can't remember where," said the Doctor, sounding frustrated,

"Oh," replied Rose, "It's probably a coincidence,"

"Yeah. Now, come on, you need to sleep. Get back under the covers,"

"How do you know that I'm not in bed?"

"Magic." Rose could hear the grin in his voice, "Go on."

Rose did as he asked her, before speaking again. "You're really freaky sometimes, you know that?"

"Yeah, but you love me for it,"

"That I do," she said, softly,

"Sleep now, Rose," the Doctor whispered down the phone, "Sweet dreams and never forget that I love you,"

"Love you too," Rose mumbled, suddenly feeling drowsy,

"Talk to you soon. Bye,"

"Bye Doctor." Rose barely managed to end the call before replacing her 'phone and falling fast asleep, a smile on her face.

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The next few days passed quickly. Rose spoke to the Doctor every couple of days at the most and he never minded her doing it. He told her that he and Jack hadn't done anything too big and had just travelled to a few places of interest. Both of them constantly told her that travelling wasn't the same without her and they couldn't wait to see her again but they still needed more time. This, Rose accepted with a heavy heart but she knew they, especially the Doctor, were feeling exactly the same as she was.

At college, Zoë had settled in and had become a huge hit. Many people liked her but she still hung out with Rose and her friends. She spent a lot of time chatting with Rose and was immensely curious about her past and the mysterious Doctor. Rose told her what she could which wasn't much. Only Matt knew the full extent and he was the greatest source of comfort -other than talking to the Doctor on the 'phone- that Rose had.

It was about a week and a half after the Doctor's departure and Zoë's arrival when something happened. Rose and her friends had been eating their lunch, slouched against a radiator in one of the college corridors, when some lads from their year that Rose knew by sight but not by name passed and began making fun of Zoë's name.

"Cut it out," Rose had said, sharply, "What's it to you what her name is?"

Zoë had shot her a grateful glance but the boys had ignored her. They had continued teasing Zoë who had finally snapped and screamed at them, using some expletives that Rose imagined even the Doctor and Jack would be proud of. The lads had backed away quickly and Zoë had turned back to her friends, her face still twisted with anger. Suddenly Rose stopped in mid bite and stared at her.

Had Zoë's eyes just glowed purple?

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Review please. Constructive criticism is gladly received