Chapter 4 – The Lost Rose…
It had been 3 weeks since the Doctor had left. After her and Emma had gone home, the Doctor had just disappeared without even saying goodbye. School had started again, but Lily didn't go. 'Ill' was what the school had been told and Emma had promised not to say anything to contradict that. Imagine having to explain everything that had happened in the holidays at the school. Everyone had heard about it, especially since 15 students and 3 teachers had died but Lily couldn't face up to going into school. Just let them people say what they want, she thought as she stared through the window at the school bus leaving.
That's where Lily was now, staring through the open window at the cool night's sky above. She thought of her friend Kia, the year seven girl who had been killed, and wondered where the Doctor would be now. She was so upset at the thought of what had happened that she tried not to think about it. When it came flooding back to her though, Lily would cry for hours, wishing that it was just a dream.
One morning, seven days later, Lily sat up groggily in bed. 7:30, the alarm clock read. Slowly getting up, she remembered it was her first day back at school. Dreading it, Lily got dressed in her uniform and wandered slowly down the stairs. After eating breakfast and getting ready for school, she put her school bag on her shoulder and walked out of the door, noticing that it was colder than usual. Never mind, she thought as she folded her blazer around her and walked up the hill to the bus.
When she arrived at school, Lily noticed that everyone was staring at her. She had expected this but it still made her feel uncomfortable as she avoided the main entrance and walked with her head down towards the side entrance. Trying not to look at anyone, Lily managed to get half way towards her classroom before one of her teachers, Miss James, noticed her.
Lily lowered her head slightly as she quickened her pace. She couldn't bear to talk to anyone and thanked God in her mind as the pips sounded. Students came tumbling out of the classrooms as she sneaked away towards the toilets.
Locked in a cubicle, Lily wondered how she would cope with lessons. She had come into school at the beginning of regestration but she just wanted to become invisible. Images flashed in her mind as the events she had seen during the holidays surfaced from the back of her mind. The empty seat next to her, Kia's, reminded of the science corridor. Students screaming, people lying in a heap on the floor. It was all her fault, if the Doctor hadn't noticed her, he could have saved the others. Why did she have to scream so loud? They had died because of her.
Beep Beep Beep.
The pips echoed once more throughout the school and Lily took a deep breath as she slowly trapsed towards her form room. How she wished she could be anywhere else, anywhere other than the school. Her stomach dropped as she noticed someone standing in the corridor. Having been staring at the floor, Lily noticed the converses first. As her eyes wandered upwards, she noticed he, (it was a he wasn't it?), was wearing a long brown trench coat and had a boyish grin on his face. The Doctor. She could recognise him anywhere. Running forwards, Lily lept into his open arms as The Doctor scooped her into a hug.
The Doctor's face fell as he let go of Lily. "It's Rose." That was all Lily could get out of him as they walked to the TARDIS, ignoring the teachers as they stared at the unlikely pair.
Once in the TARDIS, The Doctor rubbed his face as tears formed in his eyes. Wiping them furiously, he turned around to face Lily. Her eyes seem to tell it all, concern flooding across her face.
"Lily, Rose is missing. She erm… she went to see her mum … and … when I got there her mum said…. She said that Rose had gone to the shops but she never … came back" He whispered inbetween sobs.