Becoming something more
Alec had told himself he had to set off even earlier the next morning and his dad had noticed he look nervous.
"Just be yourself Alec, Rose is your friend, she's on your side," Alec was reminded.
"I know Dad but what if Mrs Tyler takes a dislike to me and stops Rose being friends with me?"
"Alec, how can she do that when she gets home late?" his dad wanted to know.
"Well what about Sundays? I want Rose to meet everyone this Sunday."
"I know you do Alec, they want to meet her as well you know, since you talk about her all the time. I can't promise your other cousin will be in though."
So Alec was leaving the house and he walked towards Rose's street, unaware that Jamie was out and was watching him and wondering why Alec was out so early when he and Rose had been getting on the bus at the next stop. Jamie had been annoyed over Alec choosing Rose over himself and it was no longer a case he was jealous because if Rose had wanted, she could have made friends first before she made friends with Alec or not bothered with him.
Why had Alec gone out of his way to defend Rose on the first day back at school anyway, just because they'd been having a bit of fun in the library but after Alec wouldn't go talk to her, he'd been thinking of doing it. Now he was watching who had been his friend and guessed he did go meet Rose every morning and not just at the bus stop.
Alec got to the corner and hesitated for a few moments. Should he go through with meeting Rose's mother, surely it was no different from meeting mothers of his other friends? He made himself carry on and had just got to the end of the short driveway as Rose came out, followed by her mother.
Rose waved to him. "Hi Alec, come and say hello to my mum."
Alec still wasn't sure it was a good idea, her mother would probably find faults with him.
"Hello Mrs Tyler, I'm Rose's friend, Alec. It's nice to meet you."
"Is it now?" her mother tried to object. "Why have ya been standing on the corner every morning then?"
"I was waiting for Rose to ask me to meet you," was all Alec could think of, apart from saying he was nervous about it.
"Yeah Mum, I wasn't sure if it was a good idea," Rose replied. "Come on Alec, we'll miss the bus. See ya tonight Mum."
Alec stood back to let Rose's mother past.
"Don't be late back tonight Rose," her mother called to her.
Rose wondered what was meant by that but hoped it didn't involve that creep Bob coming home early like she'd heard him mention, she would barely make it home if he did and she'd have to leave Alec earlier. She didn't like the thought of that as she watched her mother walk off.
"The bus Rose," Alec reminded her.
"What? Oh, yeah, sorry. Come on then," she tried to laugh, grabbing his arm and starting to run, Alec trying to keep up with her.
As they got to the road, seeing the bus down at the next stop and crossed the road, Alec let go of Rose's arm as they'd got to the corner. Rose noticed and thought maybe he didn't want anyone to say anything but those that were waiting weren't even in their class but they may know some who were.
They waited outside the bus shelter and Alec just said sorry to her. When they got on the bus, she asked what for.
"It doesn't matter," Alec told her, thinking she'd not noticed anyway.
"Yeah, it does matter. Was it 'cos I grabbed your arm?"
"Forget it Rose. Do I have to meet her every morning?"
Rose wondered if she should let him stew.
"No, maybe not every morning," she decided to tease him, giving him a nudge.
Alec saw her smiling and knew she was having him on.
"Why don't ya come back with me tonight for a few minutes until my mum gets home?" she suggested.
"Will she be mad?" Alec wondered, not wanting to get on her mother's bad side.
"No, why should she? She said she wouldn't let on to Bob that you're my friend, not Sandra but he still might find out though. You'll have to leave as soon as she gets in though, he said something about trying to get home early and mum had the nerve to suggest I started doing the cooking cheek."
"Sorry, when you do all the hard work and she gets the compliments," he replied, trying to ignore the fact Jamie would be staring at them.
Why was Jamie still acting like that? Was it what his dad had told him, that Jamie wanted Rose to be his friend? They made it through the morning, one being John's science class and they all thought he'd forgotten the question he'd asked when he had tricked Rose into talking.
"Right, so who can answer that question from the other week, bet ya thought I'd forgotten about it?" John asked five minutes before the end of the lesson. "Anyone? Rose?"
Rose wondered why he'd had to pick on her again, just because she came from London.
"I tried to find the answer, Sir," she replied. "I went to the big library as well."
"Well at least you tried I suppose?" John replied, about to give in and tell them. "So did your last teacher not conduct that experiment with you?"
"No Sir," Jamie decided to speak up.
"Well, we'll have to see about a demonstration next lesson along with this question. I coil up a thin piece of microwire and place it in a glass of water. Then I turn on the electricity and measure to see if the water's temperature is affected. My question is this. How do I measure the electrical power going into the coil?"
Everyone stared at him, Rose wondering if Alec's cousin thought he was teaching the sixth form not the third. Alec was also wondering how his cousin expected a third year student to answer that and where had he got his questions from while he'd be travelling?
They got outside for a break and Alec could see Jamie sitting on his own, wondering what was wrong.
"Go talk to him Alec," Rose tried to encourage him.
"He won't talk to me Rose."
"Well ya don't know unless ya try," she replied, giving him a nudge, something Alec thought she liked to do.
Billy had caught up with Jamie before the start of school, thinking he'd have some fun at Jamie's expense.
"Want to know what we all saw last night?" Billy had asked him.
"I expect you'll tell me," Jamie had replied, seeing Rose and Alec talking.
"Me and the others were on the riverbank and those two were sat talking."
"Tell me something new Billy, they are always talking," Jamie told him.
"Alec got up and held his hand out to help Rose up, bet you didn't know that Jamie?" Billy laughed, walking off.
"Did you tell him?" one of Billy's friends asked him.
"What do you think?" Billy grinned as Jamie was looking daggers at Rose and Alec, Alec sitting on the back of the bench just behind Rose and Rose was laughing at something.
Jamie bet anything they were talking about him, that they'd seen Billy and the others and Alec had done it on purpose. No wonder Alec was out early, he was probably meeting Rose so they could hold hands on the walk to the bus stop. So Jamie was stood on his own when Alec walked up behind him.
"Will you talk to me Jamie?" Alec asked from behind.
"Go away Alec, I know Rose is your girlfriend," Jamie replied angrily.
"What? No she's not, she's just my friend," Alec replied.
"Don't deny it Alec, you were seen last night, Rose was taking your hand," Jamie replied, trying to keep his temper.
"I was just helping her up off the grass Jamie," Alec tried to tell him.
"So what were the two of you doing sitting on the riverbank then?" Jamie wanted to know.
"We go down there or sometimes to the park, you don't want to come with us," Alec reminded him.
"Why would I? You wouldn't talk to her at the library Alec, I thought you weren't interested in girls," Jamie turned to him.
"Jamie, Rose was lost on her first day, I just thought if she'd seen us in the library, she would more likely feel better. We know now why she was so reluctant to talk."
"That's no excuse Alec, go back to her then."
John could see the two of them talking but kept his distance, going up to Rose instead.
"Trouble?" John asked her.
"No Sir, I told Alec to try to make up with Jamie but I don't think Jamie wants to," Rose replied as Alec walked back.
"He'll come round. So, Alec said he's invited you to meet his aunt and uncle on Sunday eh?" John grinned.
Rose wondered if he should be talking about that in the school playground.
"Well?" Rose asked Alec as he climbed on the back of the bench as John walked off.
"He won't listen Rose. Billy saw us last night and told him we were sat on the riverbank and I was helping you up."
"What? So you were helping me up, big deal," Rose replied as the bell rang.
"My dad and John were right, Jamie's jealous."
"Yeah, seems so to me," Rose replied as they got in line and ignoring Moira and Kristy in the next line, Moira blowing bubbles with her bubble gum and Rose pulling a face.
"What's wrong with you Rose Tyler?" Moira goaded her. "Don't you have bubble gum in London then?"
"Yeah but we don't look stupid with it," Rose replied, getting her a scowl from John for talking in line.
Some of the others heard and started laughing, the one behind Moira giving her a shove.
"Not so clever now, are you Moira?"
"Shut up Amy," Moira replied as they got inside.
"You lot, get to class," John reminded Moira and the other girl.
"Sir, Rose Tyler started it," Moira replied.
"Stop blaming someone else," John replied, trying not to take sides but he was already sort of doing that though he didn't want to be seen, which was why he kept any talk in the playground to a minimum.
"I'll get that Rose Tyler back," Moira huffed to Kristy, who was wondering if she was now on the wrong side, since Rose had got more followers than Moira had and didn't make a fuss about it.
Kristy had heard everyone talking in the playground and the dining room that Rose was now the one to get friendly with.
"Are you coming Kristy?" Moira shouted as they headed to their next class.
Kristy was trying to get up the courage to say no.
Now Rose and Alec were getting a ride home, hoping no-one had noticed, Rose had time to talk to Sandra for a few minutes and caught her on the way out.
"Sandra, I have something I should tell ya," Rose stopped.
"What's that Rose, getting tired of poor Alec?" Sandra smiled as Alec was talking to someone.
"What? Oh, no. It's just, well my mum thinks you're the friend I see after school, or rather my mum's boyfriend thinks that, mum just remembered I told her about Alec. Sorry but he'll go crazy if I say Alec's my friend and we hang around after school. Are ya mad at me?"
Sandra just laughed.
"Well you asked for that Rose, so what do you want?"
"I just wanted to warn ya, if ya get asked. Maybe you can come and visit sometimes?"
"I live in the opposite direction Rose. Does he think I live nearby?" Sandra asked as they walked towards Alec and trying to ignore Moira staring at them.
"Yeah sorry. I hang around with Alec until my mum gets home. She knows about him but she's not told her boyfriend yet, he's a bit strict."
"Poor you. No, it's okay Rose but I don't think I can come round, sorry."
"Never mind then? See ya."
"Everything okay Rose?" Alec asked her as she got to him and they walked outside.
"Yeah, I was just asking Sandra to call round but she can't. I'll have to put Bob off for a while longer."
"Just tell him Rose," Alec suggested.
"Are you kidding Alec? Want to come with me when I do?"
"Sorry. Come on, let's go find John."
When John had dropped them off, Rose sat in Alec's kitchen, her head on her hands and resting on the table.
"Sorry for earlier Alec."
"I know Rose, don't worry about it. I know it's not easy for you."
"Mum's banned me from going out on Sundays."
"You were coming to meet everyone," Alec reminded her.
"Yeah, I can get away with this Sunday but I can't get out of shopping with them on Saturday. Maybe I can sneak out in the afternoon but I was starting to like meeting on Sundays."
"So was I," he admitted. "So what did Sandra say?"
"She thought it was funny, lucky for me. Best get our homework out of the way and what's with John, asking questions like that?"
"I've no idea, honestly, that last one though, does he think we covered the subjects before?"
"I think he's got the lessons mixed up and he's asking the sixth form questions we should be getting," she laughed.
Alec agreed as they sat opposite to get their homework done. After tea, they went to the park.
"Rose, sorry about Billy and his friends seeing us."
"Alec, it's not your fault, you were just helping me up, what's wrong with that?"
"Jamie thinks I want you to be my girlfriend," Alec admitted, sitting on the back of the bench.
"Seriously? That's what's wrong with him, he was the one who wanted to talk to me in the library, to ask me to go out with him?"
"Seems like it, sorry. Rose, if you want to be friends with just him, I don't mind."
"What? With Jamie, who's been acting like a two year old because you're friends with me? No thanks. Anyway, we're only thirteen Alec, we're too young to be thinking of boyfriends and girlfriends, aren't we?"
"Maybe in London?" Alec grinned.
"Shut up," Rose told him, knocking his leg. "Well come on, get that story with the green bog monsters then?"
Alec got the notebook out of his jacket pocket, since he'd brought it with him when they got stuck on their homework and it took a bit longer than normal. He walked her back to the apartment and Rose indicated for him to follow her.
"I'd best not Rose."
"Aw, come on Alec, ya can leave when my mum gets back."
"What if he comes back at the same time? You said he might start finishing early, what if he starts tonight?"
"He won't, come on up, I'll show ya what a good cook I am," Rose laughed as she put the code in the door.
Once in the apartment, Rose went to get everything ready then put a record on.
"Come and dance with me Alec. Why don't we ever dance at your house?"
"Maybe because you don't like my music Rose," he grinned as she held her hand out.
"I don't mind it but ya can't dance to it," Rose teased him. "Do ya think we're too young to be more than friends then?"
Alec held her at arms length, not used to dancing.
"You do. I don't know Rose, are we? Let's just be friends and we can do more dancing if you want but you normally listen to my story."
"Yeah but ya can read it at the park or by the river."
"Well I suppose so then? Would you have been friends with Jamie if he'd been the one to help you on your first day at school?"
"Well he didn't, did he? Shall I tell ya something?" she asked as the music stopped. "When I saw you both in the library, I was hoping you might come over, not Jamie. I had an idea you were wanting that book I'd borrowed."
"I didn't want to go over in case you told me to go away and stop staring at you," Alec admitted.
Rose nudged him again then went to put the record away.
"Alec, ya can go before my mum gets back, if ya want?"
"She's already met me now Rose. Don't let me stop you doing what you should be. Maybe I should go?"
"If ya want? See ya tomorrow then?"
"Yes Rose, see you tomorrow and maybe we will dance instead of me reading you my stories?"
"What? Alec, I still want to hear them, I can't wait to see what happens next. Does one of them explode on the kitchen wall?" Rose smiled.
"You will have to wait and see Rose," he teased her.
"Bye then, hope ya don't bump into my mum on the way down but she takes the lift, you'll be safe on the stairs."
"Thanks for the warning. Are you mad at me for saying you should have made friends with Jamie instead of me?"
"No Alec, I'm not mad at you. You were the one who helped me, not him."
"Yeah, I suppose so? I'd best go before your mother gets here, she might tell her boyfriend."
"Alec, I'm not tryin' to hide ya from him, it's just I'm scared of what he'll say. I told ya, I might not be able to get out on Sundays after this week and I hate the idea."
"Me too Rose and I am sorry what I said about Jamie."
"I know Alec, it's okay but you'd been friends a long time, he must be a bit annoyed about it."
"If he was really my friend, he wouldn't be," Alec replied. "See you in the morning Rose. Are you allowed to use the phone?" he asked, seeing one on the hallstand.
"I've not asked. Maybe I could call ya on Sundays if I can't get out?"
"Maybe? Bye Rose."
"Yeah, bye Alec."
When Alec had gone, him thankfully not bumping into Rose's mother but he thought he'd had a narrow escape as the lift door was just closing as he emerged on the ground floor, Rose was checking the stove and hoping Bob wouldn't beat her mother home.
When her mother was making a drink as she always did, Rose tried to plead her case against being stopped seeing Alec on weekends.
"Rose, I told ya, it's Bob," her mother tried to tell her. "He doesn't think ya should be missing all weekend, we hardly see ya Rose."
Rose wondered if that meant her mother or Bob?
"Mum, ya never bothered when we were back home," Rose reminded her.
"Well this is your home now Rose, you know that and I have to go by what Bob says but I'll try and get a bit of leeway but for now, after this Sunday, no sneaking out."
"That's not fair Mum, I'm in every night, I don't get chance to go back out like Alec does."
"Rose, you know what time I get home," her mother reminded her.
"Well I could have my tea at Alec's house and stay out later," Rose replied.
"When it starts getting dark early?" her mother asked. "Who's gonna do the cooking then?"
"Mum, I could have it all ready for ya to just put on. Why don't I teach ya?"
"You know what I'm like Rose, I don't want Bob to think I can't cook," her mother replied.
"Well if I have it ready, he won't know, will he?" Rose asked. "You did okay feeding me."
"I know but men are different Rose, you'll find out one day," her mother replied. "Maybe in a while but not now, I still want ya back for tea."
Neither Rose or Alec enjoyed Saturday, Rose getting dragged around the supermarket that was newly extended and various other shops and trying to avoid walking next to Bob whenever she could. Alec didn't feel like doing much so he went to see if John was at home, he knew Peter was never there and had thought he was at university but his aunt had reminded him he was only away at college.
"So, little Cous, what's wrong with you?" John greeted him as he opened the kitchen door. "Trouble with Jamie still?"
"Yeah, how did you guess? Is this what it's like to fall out over a girl?" Alec asked him.
"Yeah, we all find out the hard way sooner or later Alec," John replied, ruffling Alec's spiky hair which Alec was beginning to hate.
"I asked Rose if she wanted to stop being my friend and be Jamie's," Alec admitted as he sat down at the kitchen table.
"How did that go?" John grinned, sitting opposite.
"She didn't like the idea. Billy and some of the others saw us by the riverbank the other night and Billy told Jamie."
John tried his best not to laugh but still spluttered.
"Sorry. So what was it they told him?"
"It's not funny John. I was only helping Rose up off the grass."
"So let me get this right. You held your hand out to help Rose up and you were seen? You'd best get used to it Alec, she'll be finding all kinds of excuses now."
Alec went all quiet. Rose already had. She had grabbed his arm the morning after when she had insisted he said hello to her mother, she had done it after they went out the night before then even worse, she kept nudging him every time he sat on the top of the bench either at school or in the park.
"Alec, if you don't want her to, you have to tell her."
"No, I don't mind, she probably doesn't realise and thinks I'm one of her girl friends. She probably did it all the time with them."
"Alec, she's trying to tell you something," John grinned.
